Feed by M.T. Anderson

Whenever I’ve been in a conversation about how awesome audiobooks can be, this book has always come up as the “perfect” example.  Now I know why!  The concept of a feed is so much easier to understand when you actually experience the feed for yourself.  Basically, people have computer chips installed into their brains so that they can upload and download information, chat without talking, and do research on the fly.  In exchange for all of this connectivity, nevertheless, they are inundated with advertisements based on the purchases they have made and the places they are going.  New to a town?  Not to worry…  The feed will tell you all the hot spots you should check out!  Thinking about getting a new shirt?  All of the latest fashions will surely be brought to your attention.  Sound kinda neat?  I thought so at first, but the more you read/listen, the creepier it gets.  Man, I hope this doesn’t become a reality anytime soon!

Happy Reading!

Thirsty by MT Anderson

So, it seems that I must have been obsessed with vampires last month, but I am really glad I decided to read both books. While Stephenie Meyer’s book is more of a light romance, M.T. Anderson’s book is a creepy, adventurous, thrill ride. There aren’t any long soliloquies in which a character professes her undying love for her undead boyfriend, and there aren’t any secret rendezvous during which the characters sit around pondering their forbidden love. There IS, nevertheless, a secret rendezvous in the woods where a teenager meets up with a celestial being named “Chet” to discuss how they can possibly prevent the end of the world. If you’re anything like me, you’re reading this and going, “Huh?” This book really defies description. If I told you much more about the book, I would have to give huge explanations that would spoil a lot of the plot. So, let me leave you with a couple of questions to see if this is the book for you…

Want a book where vampires have potluck dinner where they serve casseroles containing human flesh? Want a book where vampires are so feared and hated that their executions are televised and performed in front of blood-thirsty crowds? Want a book where a teenage boy has to hide his vampirism from his family because he knows that his own mother would not think twice before turning him in to the authorities?!?

If you answered “yes” to any (or all) of these questions, you should definitely pick up a copy of Thirsty!

Happy Reading!

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party by MT Anderson

I loved M.T. Anderson from the moment I set eyes on Whales on Stilts. After reading The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen, I was hooked. I am ashamed to admit that I have not yet read or listened to Feed, but I swear I will get to it. When The Pox Party started getting to much attention on ADBOOKS, though, I knew this had to be the next book of his I read. Since it is such a long book, I took the easy way out and got the audiobook! At times, I knew I was missing out on the “feel” of the book, since I only heard what was written on the letters and posters, but I can always go back and look at the book now that I have heard the story.

In this story, we are introduced to Octavian Nothing. His mother was an African princess, kidnapped and sold into slavery. When she arrived in America, she was purchased by the philosophers of the Novanglian College of Lucidity in Boston, Massachussetts. Octavian is given a classical education, expensive garments, and fine foods. Very uncommon for a young black man in the era of the American Revolution. Octavian does not know any different, so he does not question any of the strange experiments — like how they weigh, measure, and record both his input (food) and output (feces) every day.

When the Novanglian College of Lucidity loses its funding, things begin to change for Octavian and his mother. For the first time, Octavian faces some of the harsh realities of slavery — like being stripped and beaten, wearing chains and a metal helmet with a bit, and fighting in a war for “freedom” from England when the slaves, themselves, would never be freed from their owners.

Booklist’s reviewer said it better than I could ever say it myself:
The fluctuations between satire and somber realism, gothic fantasy and factual history will jar and disturb readers, creating a mood that echoes Octavian’s unsettled time as well as our own.

A must read for anyone who wishes to know the truth about this period in American history.

Happy Reading!

The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen by M.T. Anderson

M.T. Anderson did it again! This book was HILARIOUS!!! Of course, I cannot put any direct quotes on this review because I have the Advance Reader Copy (hasn’t been through final editing yet). Still, I am sure that the final version will be well worth the read. (PLEASE, book editors, if you are reading this — let the final version include the bit about the stuffed moose head!)

I thought it was cool how Jasper was more of a main character this time — though Lily and Katie are still around for a lot of the action. It was also cool to get to meet some new characters, like the Manly Boys (definite Hardy Boys reference!) and the Cutsie Dell Twins (ever read the Sweet Valley Twins books?)…

While this book starts out with Katie vowing not to do any detective work for the entirety of the group’s vacation, there are a group of quints who go missing, a necklace that gets stolen, and plenty of mysterious people to keep an eye on. If you want to find out whether Katie keeps her promise to herself or gets roped into solving some more silly mysteries, though, you’d better read the book. (I can’t write any more about this book because I need to get started on my next post!)

Happy Reading!

ARC!

I just got the coolest mail at the library… An Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen by M.T. Anderson! Since I just opened it, I obviously am not posting any comments on the book itself, but I just wanted you all to know that I may very well have a review before the book comes out — so you will know whether or not you want to run out and get it. I am even returning The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe unread, since it was a re-read anyway, in order to get to this book faster! OK. I have to get back to reading so that I can post a review of To Scratch a Thief (hopefully, by tomorrow).

Happy reading!

Whales on Stilts by MT Anderson & Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli

In October, the Tweens Book Group read Whales on Stilts by MT Anderson. I thought it was a really good book. I especially liked the author’s sense of humor, though I think some of the jokes may be too subtle and could easily be lost on some younger readers. One example — Larry’s face looked like a “mixture of seafood and unsuccessful rhinoplasty.” Don’t know what rhinoplasty is? Look it up! If you don’t mind keeping your dictionary handy and learning a few new words, you will probably be rolling on the floor right along with the adults. If you like to laugh a lot, this book is for you! I won’t give away too much of the plot, but just think about this — if you found out that whales with mechanical stilts, misting devices, and lasers were going to invade dry land, how would you convince other people to be careful? What would you do if you and your two best friends had to defeat these whales all by yourselves? Read this book and find out what Lily, Katie, and Jasper did… and whether it worked!

For November, the Tweens Book Group read Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid by Jerry Spinelli. I would be surprised if any tween could honestly tell me that he or she has never heard of Jerry Spinelli — since he has written Maniac Magee, Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?, The Library Card, Stargirl, Wringer, Crash, Loser, and the list goes on! (He has won several awards, too.) Since so many tweens love his books, I thought it would be fun to read about Jerry Spinelli’s childhood; to compare his childhood to our own. The one thing that surprised me was that he … Oh wait! I don’t want to give anything away. Let me just say that it was an interesting book, with some very funny memories and some facts about Jerry that you may be surprised to learn. OK… I’m gonna give just one thing away! I loved it when he talked about getting all dressed up in his cowboy suit and wearing it to school. I felt humiliated for him because I have done similarly crazy things as a kid. If you want to learn anything else about Jerry Spinelli’s childhood, though, you are going to have to read the book — my lips are sealed!

OK… That’s it for now. Happy Reading!