Review: Odd Interlude

Title Odd Interlude
By Deak Koontz
Genre Adult Horror
Pages 279

First Sentence They say that every road leads home if you care to go there.

Synopsis
Crazy, Evil adventures always seem to find Odd. It was supposed to be a simple one night stay in a small town but Harmony Corner is anything but harmonious. With and evil presence controlling the bodies and minds of the entire town's inhabitants and a secret, underground, deserted government lab, Odd is in for another creep adventure to save the day.



What it has going for it
Oh, Dean, your sick twisted imagination never ceases to disturb and delight me. I'm always so entranced in your creepy worlds and captivated by your horrific creations. How do you come up with such interesting ideas? Too many nights watching The Twilight Zone? No. Your creations are much more disturbing than anything TTZ could come up with. I love Odd. I really do. He's such a humble hero. No one in this world could compare. I'd risk living in his scary world if it meant I might meet him. His sense of humor and wit amuse me. His selfless deeds astound me. Poor Odd. My heart aches for his loss and the trials he goes through. Thank goodness he has his dog friends to keep him company. Thank goodness he saved Harmony Corner. I never doubted he would fail.

What's lacking
Nothing

Favorite moment
When Odd hijacks the semi. Hee hee!

Yea or Nay?
Yes! Don't let this one slip you by or any of the other Odd books. Rumor has it there's only one more to come.

Review: The Lucy Variations

Title Thea Lucy Variations
By Sara Zarr
Genre YA Contemporary
Pages 309
Recommended by I'll read anything by Sara

First Sentence "Try harder, Lucy."

Synopsis
Lucy used to play the piano. Not just play but perform, compete. She used to. After the death of her grandmother and the constant pressure from her family she gave it up completely. Now, watching her brother go through what she did with a teacher that has some real passion, Lucy thinks maybe she wants to play again.



What it has going for it
It's a Sara Zarr book. I can't turn down anything the woman writes. Even though I saw a few negative reviews I still has to read it. And...well, it wasn't that impressive. Don't get me wrong, it was OK. I love a book where the main character grows up and learns something about themselves and the world. Love watching their decisions and choices change those around them, as well. This one lacked some of the passion and deep thought provoking moments that Zarr's other books possess in my opinion but all in all it still had me reading and not wanting to put it down.

What's lacking
 Well, I sort of told you. It lacked the depth and angst and rawness of Zarr's other books. Lucy bothered me. It's hard to respect a girl that desires praise of adults so much that she goes looking for it in older men. Speaking of older men...The teacher. Yuck! The man drove me nuts. And not his crazy ass obsession for the spotlight and praise but his instant inappropriate actions with Lucy. Yeah, just not my favorite Zarr book.

Favorite moment
I liked all the moments...even the bad ones, with Lucy and her brother Gus. I just liked their relationship.

Yea or Nay? 
If you're a fan of Zarr then yes, of course read it. I'd love to hear what you all thought.

Review: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Title Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
By Jamie Ford
Genre Adult contemporary
Pages 290
Recommended by Book club

First sentence Old Henry Lee stood transfixed by all the commotion at the Panama Hotel.


Synopsis
Jumping from Henry's present and past comes the story of a Chinese boy in America during the Japanese American interment. Henry's relationship with a Japanese girl is threatened when she and her family are taken away during the interment.

What is has going for it
Well, this one was an easy read. I was neither dying to pick it up nor dying to put it down. I guess what I mean was the story was interesting and engaging. I liked the romance aspect. I loved seeing the history unfold in such a bright, vibrant way and I liked Henry...to a point and it is, after all, important to like the main character, wouldn't you say?

What's lacking
Honestly this one just felt slightly off. Slightly fake. Too convenient. I despised the fact the poor Ethel was settled for. This above everything else infuriated me. I also thought the whole internment thing was...I don't know, lacking in passion and sadness.

Favorite moment
When Keiko and Henry go to the jazz club.

Yea or Nay?
Personally I preferred the book Snow Falling On Ceders...if you want a book about the Japanese American Internment.

Review: The Actor and the Housefwife

Title The Actor and the Housewife
By Shannon Hale
Genre Adult Contemporary
Pages 352
Recommended by Book Club

First sentence Becky was seven months pregnant when she met Felix Callahan.

Synopsis from Goodreads
Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity hearththrob Felix Callahan. Twelve hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later, something has happened…though nothing has happened. It isn’t sexual. It isn’t even quite love. But a month later Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what’s hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends. Really. Becky’s husband is pretty cool about it. Her children roll their eyes. Her neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special…something unusual, something completely impossible to sustain. Or is it? A magical story, The Actor and the Housewife explores what could happen when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life and changes everything.

What it has going for it
Shannon Hale knows how to write a fun engaging book that keeps you glued to the story...even if it is a dumb one. Honestly, I don't have anything else nice to say.

What's lacking
Besides being way too long, this one just felt so ridiculously pointless. I had no idea why I read over 300 pages for nothing. I heard you either love or hate this one...I felt neither emotion. I just shrugged this one off as a boring story with a point I could care less about.

Favorite moment
Nothing really stands out. I do enjoy how Shannon can evoke some emotion with her writing, though.

Yea or Nay?
Meh, I'd pass on this one. It has a fake portrayal of Mormon's and was just boring and pointless. 

Review: Getting Over Garrett Delaney

Title Getting Over Garrett Delaney
By Abby Mcdonald
Genre YA contemporary
Pages 336
Recommended by Jessica

First sentence You have to understand: I've been madly, hopelessly, tragically in love with Garrett Delaney for two years now-ever since that fateful day when I looked from my list of the Top Ten Couples of All Time and saw him sauntering into the local coffee house.


Synopsis
Sadie has been in love with Garrett for far too long. When he gets into a writing camp and she doesn't and he goes away for the summer her heart is broken. Things get more and more out of hand as the summer progress but with the help of new friends and old Sadie is going to get over Garrett once and for all.

What it has going for it
I read this one several months ago and I remember liking it well enough but as I reflect on it now I realize how much I really did like it. The truths learned in this book are amazing! Yeah, it's a ridiculous fun story disguised as fluff but as I look at it now I can see how many deep thoughts there were. I won't go and list them all but I will name a few...the ones that made me love the book. First of all, I loved watching Sadie learn who she really was. Up until her friends point it out and help her out she never realized that much of who she was, was merely a shadow of what Garrett wanted her to be. She didn't even know who she was. I think...well I know that girls struggle with this no matter their age and I loved that Sadie was set free and learned who she was. Secondly, I loved the way a little distance and perspective made Sadie see things more clearly. This too is a truth that I'm learning myself. So, yeah, the book was fun and entertaining but if you like a little depth to your reading pick this one up!

What's lacking
Meh, slightly predictable and a rather neat ending but the journey was worth it.

Favorite moment
When Sadie has her full blown meltdown in the coffee shop and really realizes she has a problem.

Yea or Nay?
Yep, definitely would recommend this one.