Twisty Tales for Your Halloween

It's Halloween time, so it's time for scary stories!

Admittedly I don't love scary stories, especially movies. For one thing, I don't think murder should be classified as entertainment. For another, some horror stories get downright corny. Evil clowns and baby dolls just don't scare me because, well, they're not real. (Actually, my step-grandma has a house FULL of antique dolls. I mean literally FULL. So I completely understand how they can be terrifying. The evil clowns and monsters, however...) So I stick to the psych thriller genre, and there is some very good stuff there.

Here is my journey into my foray into the genre over the past year or so.



First up is The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty.

I come across this one unexpectedly at the bookstore one day. The concept excited me because it wasn't a traditional horror story. It's a "starter" story about a woman who enters a new relationship, only to find out that he has a stalker. The suspense was super here, because you never knew who she was or where she was going to show up. What made it not as good as it could have been were the multiple attempted subplots that cluttered the second half. They really distracted from the premise and I didn't really care about most of them, particularly the missing father. Still, this was an exciting one.



Wanting more, I moved onto another Moriarty novel, Big Little Lies.

Now this one does end in probable murder, but if you have qualms about that I wouldn't worry. It's not offensive. You'll see after you read it. It starts after someone is killed at a fundraising event at the elementary school and then starts from the beginning. Young mom Jane's son is accused of attacking another child, causing some mama drama that gradually escalates. She and her friends must grapple with it through the coming year. It also proves that thrillers can be serious with its messages about domestic violence. I did find the climax to be rather, well, anticlimactic.



The next one was The Wife Between Us.

Now, I may have been new to the genre but WOW. What a twist! And there were several! This one I enjoyed thoroughly and kept thinking about. I can't speak for aficionados, but maybe they will like this anyway. I haven't reviewed it yet because it's hard to talk about the story without giving things away. If you want a suspenseful thriller without murder, this is a must read.



Wanting it slightly darker, I moved onto You Will Know Me.

I like reading about the lives of those I don't know. In this case, gymnasts. A death rocks the gymnastics community just as the Knox family is preparing to send their daughter Devon to trials for the next level, hoping to eventually send her to the Olympics. I'm sorry, but the writing was just plain bad here. The author goes off on tangents, uses very repetitive language, writes sentences that are half a page long, and multiple other things I disliked. Plus the twist is very easy to guess once you get past a certain incident, even for bad detectives like me. This book got HEAPS of praise and I really can't understand why at all. But if you like don't mind language, feel free to give it a try....



I was hoping for something better so I tried Never Let You Go.

Our protagonist was abused by her then-lover, and he is out of jail now. She believes that he is out to get her again, so she signs up for a defense class. But is he really after her, or is a dark secret throwing its effects on her life? It's good, but nothing special. There are only so many suspects here, but the suspense is good. Definitely better than Abbott's novel.



While browsing the bookstore, I then picked up the hidden find that was The Secret Room.

Fair warning: this is actually a threequel. It can be read on its own, but once you read it you won't need or want to read the first two. Anyway, the premise is that a psychiatrist begins working at a prison and then someone or something starts killing her patients. She might lose her job if she doesn't get to the bottom of things. It's a unique story and the added bonuses of wacky patients and a prison setting make it even spookier. I liked this one. But yeah, it has the same "sudden twist" [not the major twist] that many books have when they feature a female lead. Actually, I think at least two other books on this list have the same twist! Maybe authors should find new ways to change someone's life?



I thought I'd take it a step up and moved on to A Simple Favor.

This one didn't grab me. Basically this woman agrees to pick up her friend's kid from school and the friend doesn't return. The reason for the main character's disappearance is revealed halfway through, and there are no consequences for anyone involved. Okay, so presumably I read for the sake of finding out the consequences, but then there are none, so...waste of time. There is also incest for no reason than entertainment. Um, EW. Did I mention the characters were completely unlikable, Bell utilizes a ton of cliches, and that the climax is inspired by/stolen from a popular movie? I rated this three stars; it should have been maybe two.



The last one I read was The Other Woman.

A simple premise: a woman's future mother-in-law wants her gone. She loves her fiance, so she keeps going, but that's hard to do when Pammie is making you look like the bad guy. I could see the red flags in this relationship sticking out like sore thumbs, so while I didn't entirely guess the twist (I think it crossed my mind briefly once or twice) it didn't blow me away either. I also think the characters could have been more interesting.


Not all scary stories are so very terrible. A lot of them actually come with good messages and aren't just "killing for fun." I actually prefer the domestic thriller vein myself. So if you're looking for something different this Halloween, try one of these books.

Do you prefer thrillers or horror stories? Any suggestions?

The Other Woman: Sandie Jones

The Other Woman: Sandie Jones

Genre: Suspense

Pages: 294

Published: August 2018

Adam and Emily adore each other. They're going to get married and start a life together. But one thing stands in their way: Pammie. Pammie is Adam's seemingly sweet mother, and Adam would do anything for her. Then when she meets Emily, she'll do anything to make her go away for good. And when Emily tries to point out how manipulative Pammie is, Adam doesn't believe her. 


You know the type: the standard thrilling novel with a relationship gone awry. This book includes both of these things. But this time, much of the dysfunction comes from the relationship with our protagonist and her mother-in-law. I thought that was an intriguing idea! So many people think of it as a difficult relationship, but to make it into a suspense book was an idea that makes me wonder why I hadn't thought of it before.

Readers familiar with the genre will recognize some of the elements. The characters are standard, so much so that I wish there was a little more variety. Emily herself is pretty bland. Then she has her typical best friend who serves as a shoulder to cry on and a party person. She also has a male best friend who is, naturally, gay. I doubt it would have hurt to break from these tropes a little bit, but that's a minor complaint. Because I did still like these characters.

What I had more issue with was getting into the story. These characters drink. A lot. Half the story is spent drinking, often in bars, and that's how the story starts off, with Emily meeting Adam at a bar. SPOILER ALERT (highlight): Emily even drinks when she's pregnant, saying "times have changed." Wait, we're living in some alternate universe where suddenly alcohol is okay for babies? That's not really a "trend." You don't drink while pregnant because it's socially acceptable. That's not a thing.    It's not very exciting and I wondered if I was going to finally find a book that I would DNF. The first chapter, mostly, could have been cut. Fortunately, the suspense picks up. Notice the word "suspense." It's more suspenseful than it is thrilling, hence why I picked that genre.

First, a little on the main romantic relationship. That's not exciting either. Emily and Adam don't seem to have a lot in common. Adam can be quite firm with her, especially in regards to his mom, and I saw the red flags appearing not long after the beginning. Emily wonders why people commit so early after they meet, yet that is exactly what she is doing. The only thing they really do to bond is engage in intimate evenings. This they do almost as much as they drink. Thriller aficionados might see where this is going.

Now to the suspense itself, which was good. The heart of it all: Pammie. (US readers: did anyone else catch that her husband's name was Jim?) She does a lot of things to make her seem like the good guy in front of everyone else, while making complaining Emily look ungrateful. Even I was questioning who was right and wrong. Pammie tells lies to make it seem like she is suffering. But is she truly lying, or is Emily making her out to be that way? And what really happened to Adam's former girlfriend, Rebecca? You will begin to make assumptions; not all of them will be what you think. That is one of the underlying questions throughout the story. A subplot involving Adam's brother also takes the stage when Pammie accuses Emily of cheating with him...and not unjustly so. Of course there's a double standard of sorts when Adam appears to be doing the same thing. Hmm...

If anything lessened the suspense just a little, it might have been the transitions themselves, or lack thereof. We'd suddenly be years back in time with no warning, and then eventually this sudden flashback would give way to the present again. I had to reread in a few places to make sure I was on the right track, or to clarify where the story was taking place. There is also an instance where the book jumps forward about seven months. If anything happened with Pammie in that time, we don't know about it. But that also seems like a long time for her not to have done anything. I wish Jones had established the settings and time periods a little more. I couldn't always tell when the book was taking place, or what characters were doing, or where they were. Some of the "reveals" seemed a little forced to me as well. These are often done by characters giving every detail about what really happened, like they are being questioned.

As for the twist, it's similar to others that I've read recently. Still, I didn't guess it entirely and it makes sense. The twist makes a lot of sense after you piece it together, but the issues that are touched on have been overdone in this type of story. SPOILER (highlight): Themes of domestic violence appear again. It's been done before. Yes, the twist works well. But I wonder if a different angle could have been taken.

Overall it was a solid book. The suspense kept me turning pages and me guessing and while not 100% unique, I looked forward to continuing it (after the first 70 pages, anyway). The writing could have been a bit more polished in my opinion, and the characters more fleshed out. But in a suspenseful book, I like my suspense done well, and that was what mattered.

3.5 stars

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk: Kathleen Rooney

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 284

Published: 2016

I'm trying a new format today, so bear with me! 

2018 Adventures By The Page Award Winner: Most Likely to Become a Classic

It's New Year's Eve in 1984, and Lillian Boxfish is putting on her mink coat and preparing to head out to dinner. But she has some walking to do first, and more even later. 

As a young adult, Lillian began writing copy for Macy's and worked her way up to become the highest paid copywriter in the country. She became friends with one of the illustrators and eventually married a man who also worked in the store. Years later she would deal with marriage troubles, have a son, get a divorce, and battle depression. Many of these things happened against the backdrop of New York City, so as she goes on her walk, she'll pass all the familiar places and think back to the events that happened there. But this is the 1980s and the city is gritty and scary. However, Lillian never let anything stop her before, and she certainly won't tonight as she looks back on her life. 

I love that each one of us has a story to tell. Each one of us is our own character in our own story. I also enjoy hearing tales from others' pasts, so Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk sounded like a great choice. And I know I think about many things on walks, too.

Likes

I Can Hear Your Voice
The book features Lillian, inspired by the real life figure of Margaret Fishback. Ooh, an elderly narrator. How unusual. When many authors write old ladies, they tend to be either cranky and crotchety or completely kooky. Our girl Lillian is a bit of both and is more realistic that way. She has a tough time understanding that trends in advertising change and refuses to accept them, yet also enjoys a good rap song. Her voice is the strongest point of the novel by far; Rooney does a stellar job of getting into the mind of, and sounding like, someone who is 84. This voice did seep into some of the other characters though. When Lillian meets an 11-year-old girl, Penny, she sounds eleven for the most part. However, some of her sentences sound too much like Lillian's speech. I don't think a preteen would talk that way. Fortunately, the voice is on point for most of the book. I like to "listen to" it, if you will.


Feisty Feminism
But Lillian herself is pretty interesting. She's surprisingly progressive. Can a woman be both successful at her job and happy as a wife? Not in Lillian's case. She was forced to quit her job to have her baby. And then the rest of her life took over. Many people looking for feminist books probably won't consider Lillian Boxfish, but they should!


Historical Value
New York goes through a lot of change in Lillian's time. A particularly interesting aspect was how Rooney addresses the absence of the Twin Towers even though this book takes place in the 80s. Lillian basically addresses how she might feel if they were to disappear. I thought that was clever. Or maybe I just took notice of it because September 11 was the day before I read that particular passage.


Lillian's School of Thought
I won't say I learned nothing (other than the meaning of a lot of new words). Apparently copywriters and individual advertisers could become famous for their craft, and so could modern poets. Lillian is well known for her poetic style and even publishes poems of her own. That includes in magazines. (Magazine poetry should come back!) So writers could get something out of this too, and maybe feel even inspired.

Dislikes

Which is faster: NYC cabs or the plot? 
Plot-wise, there's not a lot happening here other than Lillian's reminiscing about her life. Yes, it's a bit slow. Getting her job, getting married, and getting a divorce are the major events of her past and she spends a lot of time remembering them...and she's certainly not shy about her accomplishments! However, the highlight here isn't the plot. It's the way the story is told, in lyrical wording that may remind you of your own grandmother telling you about times past. And there are lots of times to be had: Lillian experiences new buildings, various Presidents, women's inequality in the workplace, and even electroshock therapy. New York is its own characters, and lovers of the city might enjoy seeing the changes. I did wish that Lillian described the historical events and places a little more so that those of us who hadn't seen them were able to picture them better.

Pardon My French.
Rooney seems to have a love of advanced vocabulary. By this I mean lots and lots of SAT words. Now I'm all for books that make people think, but it's also odd to have to reach for a dictionary this much in a near-contemporary book about an old woman in a city. Lillian also likes to throw around phrases in other languages. The problem is that many readers might not be familiar with them, or at least I wasn't. I'm not talking about common phrases like "au contraire" or "pro bono" or even "excellente!" I was also shocked to see that the author did the same thing in her "Author's Note." I wasn't aware that Lillian ever went to France; so why does she do this? I'm not even sure if all of these phrases were French, but you get the idea.

I don't want to complain about vocabulary that is too large because reading is an educational experience but...well, sometimes this book sounded pretty Victorian, and unnecessarily so. But I still enjoyed Lillian's style as a whole.


So What?
What would have made this a better novel was a bit more action, and more of a message about how the past and future intertwine. The end sort of fizzles and nothing truly significant is said. I would have liked more significance beyond just exploring Lillian as a feminist and writer.



It's a fine book that will make you think about change (though the vocabulary seemed more pretentious than anything), and if you like character development and people's life stories, Lillian Boxfish might hold some interest. The writing style is a good one, and it reminds me of some classic novels. Perhaps this will become one? Still, although Lillian was an interesting character, by the end I was ready to move on to something else.

3 stars

The Book Thief: Markus Zusak

The Book Thief: Markus Zusak
Genre: YA Historical
Published: 2005
Pages: 550

At the start of World War II, Liesel's life turns upside down. First her brother dies, then she is separated from her mother and sent to live with a foster family. Life isn't always easy, but when her new papa teaches her to read, she finds solace in books that she steals. 

Then her family decides to hide a Jewish man in their basement. Soon they bond over the power of words and tell stories together in the dark corners of their house. As the war descends and life gets darker, it's the power of storytelling that saves them all. But as Liesel will find out, words also have the power to destroy.

Boy, was this book all over the place in middle school. Every time a teacher did an independent reading check, it seemed like somebody was reading "The Book Thief." That among several books that were making the rounds. Fast forward to current times when the Great American Read is becoming a thing, and the novel has possibly even more interest than it did then. And there's a reason for it- the language and themes of the book make it a good pick for adult readers as well.

"The Book Thief" is most well-known as the story of a girl who steals books and whose family hides a Jewish man in their basement. However, it's a lot more than that. It's somewhat slow to truly get into as it focuses more on the character interactions as a whole. It assumes you already know the basic ins and outs of the Holocaust and doesn't go much in depth.

That doesn't mean life is easy. Liesel first deals with the death of her brother and is separated from her mother. Her foster mother isn't especially welcoming, but her new papa is, and teaches her how to read. There are bombings. Kids can be mean. Families are torn apart by war. So when she learns to read, she uses books as an escape.

But the only way to get some of these books is by stealing. And steal she does.

The idea of the power of words, for good and for bad, is talked about throughout. Max and Liesel work together to draw and write stories on the walls of the basement, powerful stories that undo Hitler's power (at least in their minds). Throughout the course of the novel they become unlikely friends, but this is just one part of her story. Liesel struggles to maintain a normal life- Hitler Youth meetings, soccer on the street, and stealing, while concealing her secret. A considerable part of the tale is just struggling to find joy in life. Zusak actually incorporates the pages from the stories that Max and Liesel create inside the story. Everything down to the illustrations and text looks downright authentic.

Someone else also has a story to tell- Death. Yes, Death is the narrator and is able to approach everything from his own perspective. (I found it interesting that Zusak chose to make Death a male.) Mostly he is amazed at the power of human evil. But he also appreciates the acts of goodness. Liesel's papa, for example, gives bread to a Jewish prisoner marched through their street. He pays for it dearly, but the act does not go unnoticed. Liesel, too, isn't fond of what is going on and is more than happy to befriend Max. You could argue that his language gets a little pretentious or literary once in a while, but his message is clear: humans can be amazing in more ways than one. I didn't like, however, how he was constantly spending time talking about what "was going to happen later." Let us get there!

Speaking of kindness, I was pleasantly surprised at how much there was of it. Even in Nazi Germany, there were people willing to lend a hand. Take the mayor's wife, who lets Liesel visit her library. Her slippers are decked out in swastikas but yet, there is kindness hidden away somewhere (probably because she is German, but still). The kids drop bread on the path for the Jewish prisoners. Everyone comes together during the bombings and listens to Liesel read her books. It's an inspiring sense of community and perspective that you don't always hear about in books that take place during this time period. Just because you weren't a Jew doesn't mean you were having an easy time of things...not that I excuse the hateful attitudes displayed by some in the book.

Yes, it's a devastating book, but it's worth reading. That includes adults. I especially love how free this book is of traditional YA tropes. There is no romance or love triangle to speak of, although it can be argued that Liesel loves Rudy and many others. Of course, it also includes a message that applies to everyone- words are powerful.


Also a SPOILER ALERT regarding the ending (highlight the space below):
Ah, the bomb. I almost forgot to address this until I saw it mentioned in another review. Normally one thing I don't like to see is the writer ending their book by literally or figuratively dropping a bomb on everyone. It usually means that they can't think of an ending, and then there is no true conflict resolution. But this is wartime and it certainly packs an emotional punch. There also isn't a clear structure to this story, so I can understand why something like that might have happened to end things. And again, it also shows the deadly impact that words can ultimately have. 

4 stars

Your Complete Guide to Being a Potterhead

It's September 1, which means one thing...time to go back to Hogwarts!

I first got into Harry Potter in third grade. Our parents were supposed to read to us every night for fifteen minutes, and we decided on Harry Potter. My sister joined us, and because the weather was improving, we would often sit on the glider on the back deck as the sun was going down. I then became a fan. I would bookmark every Potter website I could find and looked forward to the movies.

These days I'm not as much of a Potterhead. Unpopular opinion: I'm okay with not having my Hogwarts acceptance letter. I like my Muggle life just fine, I don't need magic. I don't do roleplay or conventions. None of that, ever. I did go to a book signing once, but those days are in the past. And I just can't get into the fanfiction whatsoever- too much icky weird stuff there. But I do like the books, just not regularly anymore.

New to the Harry Potter fandom? No biggie. Even if you're a Muggle, need a refresher, want to understand a reference, or you just want to get started, now you can. Dive in!


First, here's a brief rundown on types of people you'll see:

A Muggle is a term for a non-magical person.
A Squib is someone born to magical parents who shows very little magical ability. Filch is one, and Neville seems to be close.
A pure-blood is someone who is purely wizard. According to Voldemort, they are the only acceptable type of wizard.
A half-blood is someone with non-magical lineage somewhere in the family. Harry is one.

Book One: The Sorcerer's Stone 
Young Harry Potter receives a letter one day- er, many actually- telling him of his acceptance to Hogwarts. Living with his cruel aunt and uncle, this is hard to believe especially as they forbid him to go. However, life has other plans and soon he's learning about magical sports, taking strange classes, and even making some friends and enemies. But there's also a dark destiny that's waiting for him, and he'll prepare to meet the dark force that killed his parents.

It's definitely the lightest book of the series as Harry learns the ups and downs of wizard life. Hypothetically, it could stand on its own if you decided not to continue the series. The first 40% is just Harry trying to escape his family's tyranny, but then he becomes the youngest player to join the Quidditch team, meets wacky professors, and even makes friends. And besides all this there is a mystery he is keen on solving: what is this mysterious Sorcerer's Stone and why is it at Hogwarts? Could someone be plotting to steal it?
Breakout Characters:
Harry, obviously. The Chosen One who isn't afraid to get into some trouble.
Ron Weasley, Harry's fiery-haired best friend
Hermione Granger, a smart busybody who soon becomes their friend
Hagrid, an unusually large man who is the caretaker of Hogwarts and becomes a friend to Harry
Neville Longbottom, a cheeky boy lacking bravery and wizard skill
Albus Dumbledore, an old quirky wizard in charge of the school
Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard who can't seem to die out entirely. He has a snakelike appearance leading people to make fun of his not having a nose.

Book Two: Chamber of Secrets 
Harry is excited to return to school but his friends haven't been writing to him. Was the whole thing a dream? Turns out a house-elf who is fond of him is hiding them away, in an attempt to stop him from returning. This elf knows that something terrible is about to happen. And he's right. When students start turning to stone, a plot to attempt to bring Voldemort to power that lies right inside the school is revealed. And the trio wants to figure out how to stop it before any more students are harmed.

In the meantime, be sure to enjoy more Quidditch and a stuck-up new professor who gives Harry advice about being famous. There's also a ghost in the girls' bathroom that provides some interest, and a ghost party as well.
Breakout Characters:
Dobby the house-elf
Lucius Malfoy, Draco's formidable father
Colin Creevey, a superfan of Harry's
Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister
Tom Riddle, Voldemort's former self


Book Three: Prisoner of Azkaban 
Someone is after Harry, no surprise there. But this time it's the guy who had betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort. Nobody knows how, but somehow he has escaped from Azkaban prison and has even managed to get inside the school. But is all as it seems?

This book is noted for the lack of Voldemort appearances. But it's probably my favorite for the balance of dark mystery, interesting school events, and plot twists. Among the most interesting are Harry's attempts to visit the local village (his uncle didn't sign the permission form), Divination classes, and highly exciting Quidditch season.
Breakout Characters: 
Sirius Black, an old friend of the Potters
Peter Pettigrew, another old friend of the Potters
Professor Trelawney, the Divination professor who likes to predict death
Remus Lupin, a seriously cool Defense professor

Book Four: Goblet of Fire
Can Harry's life just be normal for once? This time around he's found himself entered into a competition, the Triwizard Tournament, that's supposed to be for wizards over seventeen. He must face 3 complex and difficult challenges throughout the course of the year as he figures out why in the world he's in this thing.

Meanwhile, don't forget to take time to enjoy the Quidditch World Cup and read about tabloid drama, Ron's jealousy at Harry achieving more fame, Hagrid struggling with prejudice, and first interests in girls. You'll also enjoy the arrival of other wizarding schools. Hermione also starts a legendary campaign to stand up for the rights of house-elves.

Breakout Characters:
Cho Chang, Harry's love interest
Cedric Diggory, a handsome Hufflepuff and the other Hogwarts competitor
Mad-Eye Moody, a retired Auror returning to Hogwarts to teach
                  



Book Five: Order of the Phoenix
The wizard government refuses to comprehend that Voldemort is back-so do many of the wizarding world- and thus sends one of their staff to silence Harry. This staff member is a particularly nasty Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who refuses to let them practice any defensive magic. At the same time as a group of their parents and teachers rekindle their old defense organization, Harry and the gang form one of their own where he teaches them the defense they need to know, both for exams and in the real world. In the meantime Harry tries to find ways to alert the world of Voldemort's return. At the end of the book, everyone is finally forced to accept the hard truth: Voldemort is back.

Many people consider the new professor to be the most evil character of the series, so this is not a book to be missed. Everyone goes after her in subtle ways, including the teachers. There's not a lot of subplots here, unless you want to consider the surly house elf at the Order headquarters or a budding romance for Harry.
Breakout Characters:
Luna Lovegood, an odd dreamy girl they meet on the train to Hogwarts
Professor Umbridge, the horrid new Defense teacher
Bellatrix Lestrange, an evil witch and Sirius' cousin




Book Six: Half Blood Prince

Dumbledore recruits a professor who he believes holds the key to defeating Voldemort. When Harry obtains this information, he and Dumbledore go on a mission to learn more about Voldemort's past, which will contain answers as to how to defeat him.

Talk about growing up with a book series: there's a lot of teen drama here. Love occurs, fights occur. Everyone learns to Apparate, or get from one place to another instantly, and goes to socials held by said new teacher. Also, when Harry obtains a used Potions book from the "Half Blood Prince" and suddenly becomes good at the subject, the gang tries to find out who the Half Blood Prince might be (I mean yeah, this book doesn't have the most accurate title as this is mostly a subplot but you know). Oh yeah, and your opinions on Draco might change entirely.
Breakout Characters: 
Lavender Brown, Ron's over-the-top love interest
Professor Slughorn, new teacher with a dark secret
                   



Book Seven: Deathly Hallows
This is "that camping book" you hear so much about. Harry is no longer safe at Hogwarts and leaves with his friends to go destroy Horcruxes, the items that hold pieces of Voldemort's soul to keep him
immortal. Meanwhile, the trio learns of a legend where one must collect 3 items to become the Master of Death and Harry aims to collect those as well.

This is not the happiest of books, but the ending makes everything worthwhile. You'll be with the characters the whole time, rooting them on as they move around and even camp out to stay in hiding. And there are still lots of magical moments. I like the part where Harry visits his parents' graves and the part with Dumbledore. But the battle scenes are great too, especially seeing everyone defend Hogwarts.









Hogwarts students are sorted into a house upon their first arrival. Each house has a dormitory and a table in the Great Hall. You earn points for your house by doing good, though rulebreaking loses you points. It all comes down to the House Cup at the end of the year. This is what people take so seriously! Which house suits you?

Gryffindor: The house where the big 3 characters are in. If you're brave and chivalrous, this is the place for you. Their ghost is Nearly Headless Nick, named for obvious reasons, and the Head of House is Professor McGonagall. 

Ravenclaw: Known as the "smart house," this is where you'll be if you value cleverness. It's argued that Hermione should be here, but the Sorting Hat clearly had its reasons. The house values "wit and learning," and their ghost is the Grey Lady. 

Hufflepuff: If you're just and loyal and unafraid of toil, congratulations, you're a Hufflepuff. This is J.K. Rowling's house. Their ghost is the Fat Friar and their Head of House is Professor Sprout. 

Slytherin: It's gotten a bad reputation over the years due to its love of pure-bloods (part of Voldemort's regime was trying to eradicate those who weren't). It's certainly not an evil house, especially these days. They value cunning and ambition The Bloody Baron is their ghost. Severus Snape is the Head of House for the most part, until Slughorn takes over.

While we're on ghosts, I should also mention Peeves the poltergeist. He doesn't appear in the movies but is beloved by readers for his wacky antics and love of troublemaking. He is forever loathed by caretaker Argus Filch, although the Bloody Baron can supposedly control him.

School typically starts on September 1st. They get a letter before that with books and supplies they will need, usually obtained in Diagon Alley, the little wizard downtown area if you will. On that date, students report to King's Cross station and run through the wall between platforms 9 and 10. This takes them to Platform 9 3/4, where the Hogwarts Express waits to take them to school. The first years take boats across the lake with Hagrid, while everyone else rides in carriages. Before the opening feast, the Sorting Ceremony takes place where each new student tries on a talking hat and is sorted into one of four houses.

Students traditionally take Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic, Potions, Herbology, Astronomy, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. First years also have flying lessons. In the third year they may begin Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, Divination, Muggle Studies, and/or Ancient Runes. Fifth year O.W.L. exams dictate what subjects they can continue in the sixth year, while N.E.W.T.s are taken at the end of the seventh.

Many evenings might be spent doing homework, but students might also like to hang out at their house common area. On weekends, third years and up may also visit Hogsmeade, the local village. Quidditch matches between Houses are certainly one of the most anticipated events as well.

A quick guide to your known professors:

Transfiguration: Professor McGonagall (strict but fierce)
Potions: Professor Snape (loathed by many) and Professor Slughorn
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Professors Quirrell, Lockhart, Lupin, Moody, Umbridge, Snape, and Carrow. The position has been jinxed since Voldemort didn't get it--nobody since has held it for more than a year.
Astronomy: Professor Sinistra
Herbology: Professor Sprout
Charms: Professor Flitwick
Divination: Professor Trelawney and Firenze
Arithmancy: Professor Vector
Care of Magical Creatures: Professors Kettleburn and Grubbly-Plank; and Hagrid
Flying: Madam Hooch








What types of things might one need to become a successful witch or wizard?

Broomsticks: Great for getting around, and also for playing Quidditch. They come in many models, the Firebolt being the best.
Floo powder: Toss some of this into your fireplace, clearly state the name of where you want to end up, and you will be transported there. But speak clearly!
Invisibility Cloaks: Don't count on seeing a lot of these; Harry just inherited one from his father. They do come in handy though.
Remembralls: These little glass balls glow red when you've forgotten something.
Time Turners: Very hard to obtain from the Ministry of Magic, awful things can happen when you use one. Hermione is able to responsibly use one to handle her course load.
Wands: They can be crucial to your success. Always remember that the wand chooses the wizard, so you'll know when the choice is right for you. You can also stick out your wand hand to summon the Knight Bus, which can take you anywhere you need to go, but be careful, it's a bumpy ride.
Wizard Chess Sets: Just like regular chess, but the pieces move by themselves. Definitely bring one to Hogwarts; Harry and Ron certainly enjoy it. Gobstones and Exploding Snap are other popular games.

Quidditch is the legendary broomstick sport of the wizarding world. Many places in the real world have adapted it for real play, with players running around rather than flying and a fast runner acting as the Snitch.

The goal is to score the most points. Players known as Chasers try to get a large ball known as a Quaffle into one of the three large hoops on the other team's field, while it's the Keeper's job to stop them from scoring. Meanwhile, there's a tiny, fast golden ball flying around which must be caught by one team's Seeker to earn them 150 points. This usually wins them the game (unless the other team still has more points after it is caught) and ends it. To add an element of danger, Bludgers fly around and try to knock players off their brooms. Each team has two Beaters responsible for knocking the Bludgers away from players or into opposing ones.

Quidditch is a big part of Harry's life. It was discovered early on that he was a talented Seeker and he joined the team. Ginny also spent time as a Seeker and Chaser, while Fred and George were Beaters. Ron even became Keeper later in the series. However, as the books become darker Harry spends even less time on the Quidditch field. Games are played against House teams and wins earn House points. There are also professional leagues with large followings.

Many creatures abound in the wizarding world. Here are just a few:

Centaurs: Half-human, half-horse, these creatures are prideful. Many don't want to associate with humans. When one of them left the herd to teach Divination, he faced rejection.

Dementors: Not very magical at all. They basically appear as a type of black ghost with rotting, corpselike flesh underneath. They guard Azkaban, the wizarding prison, and can suck out one's soul. The victims are worse off then they would be if they were dead.

Dragons: There are many varieties. Harry battled a Hungarian Horntail in the Goblet of Fire. But Charlie Weasley can tell you about any of them- he handles dragons for a living.

Grindylows/merpeople: Imagine a demonic mermaid and this is basically what you get.

Hippogriffs: these animals, looking like large birds, want respect. They are to be bowed down to, without blinking. If they're willing to approach you they may even let you ride them.

Thestrals: These invisible horses can only be seen by people who have witnessed death. They pull the carriages that take the students to the school.

Unicorns: Their blood is valuable and can extend your life, but at a price. It's one of the things Voldemort was after. They prefer to be approached by girls rather than boys.

Cats, rats, and toads are the traditional pets of Hogwarts students. Famous pets include Neville's toad Trevor, Hermione's cat Crookshanks, and Ron's rat Scabbers. And of course, there's Harry's owl Hedwig. Owls are especially useful, even if they're not used as pets, because students can use them to deliver and receive mail.

Here are some of the biggest debates that surround the fandom. Decide for yourself where you stand...that is, preferably after reading the books.

Dumbledore: good or bad? Many fans have criticized Dumbledore for various reasons, including but not limited to his past. His love of power when he was young led to a tragic event, and one can argue that his plans for Harry weren't good either. He's not perfect, but I don't think he's a bad guy. 

Snape: good or bad? The jerky Potions professor only likes a couple of his students. But he also takes on the ultimate role as a double agent. Once you figure out what side he's on, it can still be challenging to determine if he's a good guy. Again, Snape isn't perfect and I think to truly be a good character he would have treated Harry better, especially because his mother was her love interest. And he wouldn't have bullied his students.

Movie Ginny vs. Book Ginny Many fans state, understandably, that movie Ginny doesn't really do that much as a character. Book Ginny is definitely more developed and her romance is more interesting. Still, she comes across as a bit too perfect and the movies don't portray her that way as much.

Harry's Career: Harry ultimately becomes an Auror, someone who catches Dark wizards for a living. But many people feel that he would have been better as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. After all, he was probably tired of hunting down Dark wizards-which he really didn't want- and he would have been a great teacher. Or perhaps he was an Auror for a few years and then became a teacher. Let the fans decide.

Love triangles: Should Harry end up with Ginny or Hermione? Ginny is the popular answer, but this is still up for debate. It's also said that Hermione should end up with Malfoy or Fred, but this blogger strongly disagrees with those opinions.

Diehard Potter fans like to go to other places around the internet and share in the Potterpalooza. My computer is currently not allowing me to post YouTube links, but check them out for yourself.

Potter Puppet Pals: These wacky skits show the Potter gang at their worst. Character flanderization is through the roof. Corny-ness abounds. But they're amazing. "The Mysterious Ticking Noise" is a must-see, and be sure to check out the silly fan-made cartoons as well.

A Very Potter Musical: I haven't seen this one but I've heard it's popular.

The Leaky Cauldron and Mugglenet are also popular websites for your Potter needs.



This is a basic guide, but you'll find a lot more secrets tucked amongst the pages. Why not give the books a try if you haven't already?

A Simple Favor: Darcey Bell

A Simple Favor: Darcey Bell
Genre: Thriller
Published: 2017
Pages: 298

Wealthy PR director Emily and mommy blogger Stephanie are best friends. So when Stephanie goes to pick up Emily's son from school, she thinks nothing of it. But then Emily disappears, and Stephanie finds herself filling in to help take care of Emily's family. Maybe there was more to this "friendship" that she realized.

But is Emily really gone for good? Or does she have bigger plans? That's what she thought at first. But unfortunately, plans go wrong, and soon her original plot becomes one to get revenge. 

Reviewing a thriller is always challenging because there are details that shouldn't be revealed. But I shall try my best. 

I'm going to warn you that you won't find many likable characters here. Stephanie disgusted me, especially in the first half of the book. She has affair after affair. She's a compulsive liar. When she meets her half brother, she meets him at a motel that same day. Yeah, her half brother, who's visiting to mourn the death of their father. I wondered for a while if she was the antagonist...but then we meet Emily. She's an odd character who is just intense and then whose thoughts suddenly stray from "wanting excitement" to wanting people killed...and then she shows some signs of remorse. Maybe. Seriously, she goes from stealing her mother-in-law's ring to wanting her husband dead. Boy, that escalated quickly...It's hard to know what to think of her. At first, both appear to be decent people. They have families and kids they adore. Of course, Stephanie has her secrets but ultimately the subplots about her dad and half brother really didn't contribute to the story. (Sigh. More moping about missing fathers.) Come to think of it, Emily was also supposedly estranged from her parents, but I don't recall learning why. 

A lot of side characters border on cliche, though. There's the housekeeper-who's Spanish of course-and frequently inserts Spanish words into her speech, particularly "senora" for "woman." Really? There's also incompetent law enforcement and a victim who's way too trusting for her own good- perhaps to move the plot along. This book could have ended very easily if she had just used common sense. Then there's Emily. She's rich and successful but is also unsatisfied. Oh, and then there's a secret twin. If you've read the genre you've probably seen a lot of this before. And of course, we watch Stephanie move in to Emily's to "help out" with her son Nicky. It's not hard to guess what comes of this.

The story itself was the strongest part. Three different characters have a chance to speak- Stephanie, Emily, and Emily's husband Sean. There are also some of Stephanie's blog entries in the mix. They serve to give you a feel of Stephanie's blogging lifestyle, but other characters also read it and use it in ways to evaluate their own lives. Stephanie isn't a traditional mommy blogger who writes pages of sponsored posts- actually, I don't know many mommy bloggers who straight-up blog about their lives like she does. Either way, it's interesting and an important vehicle to drive the plot forward. And refreshing- I don't like how commercial blogging is becoming! The language of the blog did feel a little formal and poetic though. 

I also liked the alternating POVs which allowed us to see things from lying characters' perspectives, leading to insanely unreliable narrators. You know what exactly is happening (if you're good with reading comprehension), but other characters do not. Of course since there's no real ending, the lies never get explained to them so nobody learns anything, or faces consequences. More on that in a bit. The idea was also well-thought out. I did find Sean's taking out a life insurance policy to be trite; same thing for the characters pointing out "oh look, this is just like a horror movie!" Eyes will roll. 

But there are issues. Not too long ago I wrote a post on some of my biggest pet peeves in recent book trends. One of them, #4, was a vague ending. The lack of an ending can singlehandedly ruin a book for me. Otherwise, what is the point of the story? I read because I want to know what happens! And sometimes when you're reading and the pages are slowly dwindling and dwindling, you worry because there's not enough time to resolve anything.

This really bothered me because a lot of the truth had yet to be exposed to the victimized characters. Emily's husband didn't get much of an ending at all. Neither did Stephanie. There's all this buildup leading to the consequences of Emily's doing in their life, and then we don't get to find out what happens. As a matter of fact, I don't think either of them ever found out the truth. I'm sick of authors deciding to leave us high and dry just so they can convey an artsy feeling of foreboding. Judging by her picture, it looks like Bell may be a hipster, so that may very well have been the effect she wanted. I don't know. I like closure in my books. And an ending. When I buy a novel, I trust the author to tell me what happens. It's not a fill-in-the-blank writing prompt book. 

That said, the ending is somewhat exciting. Unfortunately it's basically stolen from a famous movie (which I knew before the author explicitly pointed this out. Again, eyes will roll). Still, most of the subplots don't go past the climax and that left me disappointed.

Verdict

It's hard to know what to think of this book. A Simple Favor kept me turning pages because I wanted to know what happened, but that didn't turn out so well. I didn't like the characters, but I also thought that having super-flawed people was an interesting new angle. Still, you might find yourself wondering...do I really know my best friends? Just don't go into it expecting too many twists or many answers.

2 stars

The Children's Books I Still Keep On My Shelf

Okay, granted, I don't really keep children's books on my shelf. I mean, I can't really toss a book after I get it because Frog and Toad Are Friends is taking up too much space. I keep them in my official "special items" shelves in my closet so I can look through them whenever I'd like.

Anyway, I recently did a post on YA books about college students, so here are some of my favorite kids' books that I can't stand to throw away.

Go Dog Go, P.D. Eastman
Why I keep it: Sentimental Value, Still Loved

It doesn't get better than a board book of colorful dogs. Teaching kids about over/under/up/down/whatever, these awesome illustrations make you wonder, "where are those dogs going, anyway?" The answer is revealed in the last pages. Add in a subplot about a dog trying to impress others with her hat and you have a good book. The pages also smell really good, at least in my worn copy.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants; Dav Pilkey
Why I keep it: Sentimental Value; Still Loved

My sister and I got hooked on these. We even played our own game of Captain Underpants, pretending to be the superhero as we ran around the house solving crime. It's a clever story and good for those who don't necessarily like either superheroes or reading. Shame that the books weren't as good after the first 5.

The Fudge series; Judy Blume
Why I keep them: Still Loved

These stories don't have too too much of a plot, but they're great because they really throw you into another life and let you be another character for a day. My favorite is probably Fudge-a-Mania just because it hits the dynamics of family vacations and gatherings so well, and I love the additional characters. But they're all fabulous.

Winnie the Pooh: The Haunted House
Why I keep it: Sentimental Value

Does this look familiar? No? That's probably because its...get this...a personalized book. You simply filled in an order form and a story with your name on it. The result was a story with your name inserted at points. In this case, I was a character who helped Pooh and friends figure out the mystery of a not-so-haunted house. 

Changes for Kirsten; Janet Shaw
Why I keep it: Sentimental Value

Kirsten was my very first American Girl doll that led our family to our love and enjoyment of the franchise. My mom and I used to read a chapter from the six-book series every night before bed, and the doll was great fun as well. Plus, my book is one of the originals; as in, the very original design before the covers took on new looks. It's just special holding it in my hands, like an antique.

Aquamarine; Alice Hoffman
Why I keep it: Still Loved

Two girls who are threatened by the possibility of one of them moving away bond by meeting a mermaid who's washed up on the beach club that's closing down. The lyrical prose sparkles just as much as the story and holds nice messages about friendship. You could easily read this in thirty minutes. Way, way better than the movie for those who are asking, especially since the writing style is part of the experience. In my opinion, this book suffers from "Scholastic syndrome," or the fact that it was published by a kids' publishing house. I think any adult mermaid fan should give this a try. 

Frog and Toad Are Friends; Arnold Lobel
Why I keep it: Sentimental Value

These were a classic in the bedtime story department. My dad would read a few tales aloud before bed, and now that's how Frog and Toad's voices will sound. Who doesn't love this odd couple? From hiding in bed until spring to sending mail to being self-conscious in a bathing suit, I'm hoping this stays a classic. The pages and text may be dated, but the stories are not. Too much. 

What children's books do you still love? Let's get some chitchat going here.

My Sister's Keeper: Why the Movie was Better than the Book

I'm going to turn a lot of heads here. I think that a movie is actually better than the book it was based upon. In this case, it was Jodi Picoult's novel My Sister's Keeper. This heart-wrenching novel tells the story of a family whose daughter gets cancer. They conceive Anna to, for lack of a better phrase, provide body parts to save her health. But Anna gets tired of this and decides to sue her parents to get her life back.

Beware, there are spoilers. I recommend reading the book first.

The characters act their age.

I don't like the way that Picoult writes kids (at least in the two books of hers that I read). Anna was supposed to be about thirteen, yet with all the terminology and philosophy she throws around, she sounds forty. Kate sounded a bit older herself. In the movie we can see the characters actually act like kids. There is some narration, but it's more age-appropriate. 

There's no ridiculous romantic subplot.

What? You're telling me that in a book that deals with serious things and a thought-provoking topic with interesting characters, you don't want 200 pages to be devoted to Anna's lawyer's side romance that adds nothing to the plot? Gee, I can't imagine why. Someone needs to tell this author that romance is not an obligatory component in books. I wish more authors realized this. I've had countless novels, especially in the YA realm, ruined because the author wanted to focus on a predictable boring romance instead of the initially interesting storyline. 

Actually, there are less distracting subplots in general.

The one about Anna's brother getting into trouble? The one about her dad's adventures in firefighting?  All possibly interesting, but even moreso when small issues are cut to make rom for the story at hand. Anna's was the one I really wanted to hear about. 

The ending isn't random and includes conflict resolution.

At first I thought the ending of the book was masterful. But hard-hitting doesn't mean it's good. When Anna dies it's like they spent hundreds of pages arguing and debating for nothing. Kate survives, and everyone is happy...kind of. Of course, considering that the family mostly cared about Anna because she existed to help her sister, maybe they weren't totally sad after all. I think that in writing, characters should work toward their ending. Chance incidents like in the novel do happen, but it makes everything that happened in the previous pages irrelevant. The debate is rendered unimportant.

In the movie, though, Kate and Anna make peace with things on their own. Kate sees how her sister is suffering and doesn't want that for her anymore (she's already more compassionate than the parents!). The ending, while not easy, comes a bit more natural.

Don't get me wrong. My Sister's Keeper is a thought-provoking book, though it has its flaws. It can also be argued that the book has more room to explore the issues, but when it comes to storytelling I thought the movie was the winner.

Have you read this book? Did you think it was better than the movie? 

Truly Madly Guilty: Liane Moriarty

Truly Madly Guilty: Liane Moriarty
Genre: Women's Fiction/Domestic Suspense
Pages: 517 (large paperback version)
Published: 2016

An Adventures By The Page 2018 Best Book Nominee
2018 Most Unique Story Winner

"This is a story about a barbecue." 
Or so the book begins, when Clementine is giving a talk about what really happened that day to a group at the library.

Clementine and Erika don't exactly have a traditional friendship. They're just so different, and then there's the part about how Clementine's mom forced it on her. But they're friendly enough that when Erika invites her and her husband to a barbecue with their neighbors, they accept the invitation. And then something goes terribly wrong.

Two months later, that fateful day continues to haunt each couple as they wonder: whose fault was it? Suddenly their normal lives hang in the balance and everyone is scrambling to save relationships between their friends, spouses, and even themselves. 



If I don't like anything these days, besides our president, it's probably how generations love to attack each other over the Internet. Millennials are blamed for just about everything under the sun and for being "lazy," when in reality it's harder to find jobs that it was for the previous generation. They might counter with the fact that previous generations hated black people. Yes, people are flawed. But nobody is perfect, and wouldn't it be a better world if we all learned to get along and saw things from the other's perspective? (Obviously that won't always work for some of those scenarios, but you get the idea: it's easier to point fingers and blame people than to actually see eye to eye and fix the problem if there is one.)

Of course, one of the things they love to pick on millenials for is parenting. Helicopter parenting bothers me a lot, but so does the fact that this generation apparently needs "help" from the previous one to tell them everything they think is wrong. But keeping an eye on your kids is definitely a good thing, as shown in Truly Madly Guilty. And it brings up a lot of the other issues I mentioned too.

Yay!

The book centers around the effects of what happened at the barbecue. But guilt is actually explored in many ways here, and not just through asking the question, "whose fault was it?" One parent struggles to deal with a morally questionable past, while another considers how strong their friendship with another really is...by considering a life-changing favor simply because it's "paying them back." Others feel guilt about the relationship with their neighbors. This neighbor actually becomes a good subplot as you wonder what their role in the conflict was. Even the children wonder if they had a hand in what happened. Many fingers are pointed, but you also wonder...was it truly ever anyone's fault? The message about how useless it can be to place blame on each other and ourselves hits home. (And as for who does right? The answer may surprise you, adding to some already interesting twists.)

With flashbacks and guilt come suspense. Moriarty's use of suspense is again masterful. In her traditional style, she alternates between the present day and the day of the barbecue, two months prior. You're just dying to find out what happened. I actually did manage to figure out the "who" and the "what," but even that guess wasn't 100% correct. So it's not totally predictable. And it leads up to a breaking point that's actually tense. I had previously read Big Little Lies by the same author, and while the big reveal is dramatic, the event it was built around wasn't quite as big as you would expect. In short, a bit disappointing. Not the case in Truly Madly Guilty. Readers are getting the drama and suspense they're paying for. Unlike some of her other novels, the plot twists continue until the book ends and it's not just a bunch of filler.

I't's not all about suspense, either. I haven't touched on the heart of the story: characters! They're just so real and easy to relate to. Little Ruby's hobby of personifying a kitchen item is exactly the quirk a young child might have. I liked grumpy old Harry too, even if the eventual excuse for his behavior bordered on the cliche. The couples deal with their struggles realistically and are good for each other. You have the dreamy cellist Clementine and the orderly Erika. I wanted to dislike some at first, especially Erika, but then I learned to see her as a person. Ultimately, you don't want anything bad to happen to them. Each character also gets a good amount of time for readers to hear their story. The transitions between POVs don't feel shocking and everyone gets to be in the spotlight.

All this suburban life gives way to commentary, too. I especially liked when Tiffany's body is complimented and she is hesitant to respond, believing that women expect modesty when it came to  their body (Again, there's that guilt!). That instance is one of many others. You'll have a lot to think about in the undercurrents.

Nay!

(general spoiler alert; meaning, no specific events are revealed but general ideas are)

I've said the same things before: Moriarty's ending don't always do it for me. Or rather, a few events that precede the ending. I feel like some characters resolved (or not) their conflicts very quickly. I'm thinking of one particular couple who was most affected by the events of the novel. Their ending is quick, predictable, and sudden. It doesn't take long for them to be happy again. On the other hand, two months have passed since their initial decision to fix things, so why shouldn't things be going better by that point? They certainly have their share of drama in the present day chapters. I guess what I'm saying is that I would have liked to see them work things out a bit more rather then suddenly realize things weren't going well and want to fix them. It's like when you're watching something like The Office for the first time and get annoyed in the season 4 opener that Jim and Pam are suddenly dating without you having seen any of their initial dates. But it's a documentary show that skips to certain points in the future, so it's natural that you don't see everything. 

That said, there was another couple who didn't seem resolved enough. Yet another couple seemed to stop caring about the initial conflict in the last 50 pages, so they could wrap up their own problems in a bow. I won't spoil them here, but you'll likely figure them out.

Verdict

With the topics at hand, the memorable characters, and suspense that will keep you turning pages, Truly Madly Guilty is probably one of Moriarty's best. Granted, characters could have been more involved in working out their endings, but I think readers will still be satisfied because it doesn't really detract too much from the story, which is strong. Overall the ending is fine. If you like domestic suspense, this is a must-read. A great beach book and book club choice as well!

4.5 stars

The Bookshop on the Corner: Jenny Colgan

The Bookshop on the Corner: Jenny Colgan

Genre: Chick Lit

Pages: 332

Published: 2016

Libraries are life, or so thinks Nina. Then Big Business wants to turn her cozy library into a media center and she is out of a job. A sudden impulse inspires her to purchase a van in a remote village and turn it into the Little Shop of Happily Ever Afters. Soon she is inspiring the residents to try new stories, and ends up helping a lot of people along the way. From children living in squalor to a train conductor who enjoys poetry to most people in the village, Nina is soon back to doing what she does best: finding everyone's perfect story. With any luck, she'll be able to create her own happy ending, too...as long as she's able to stick around.

I have been loving Colgan books lately because they often allow you to slip into someone else's life with them. You grow and meet new people along with the main character. There isn't always a solid plot structure, but they do imitate the flow of real life. Unfortunately, the lack of structure hurt things this time around.

There were some problems that were hard to ignore. For one, the story is almost identical to Little Beach Street Bakery except it featured a bookshop rather than a bakery. The premise was exactly the same: a woman escapes to a remote village to start a business. The character cutouts are also the same: the oddly-named best friend who likes to party, grumpy landlord, love interest in a thoroughly-unromantic profession, and the village cronies all show up in both novels. And there's a love triangle.

But there's the kicker: the love triangle wasn't predictable. I honestly had no idea whether she would end up with Lennox the farmer or Marek the train conductor. There's even a third possibility. Both relationships presented both "problems" and romantic aspects. Props to Colgan for not making it straightforward; what a breath of fresh air in chick lit.

But Nina isn't just in it for love. First she must obtain a van to sell her books, and then she has to get the books themselves. Her ultimate goal seems to be nothing more than just staying afloat. That's where the book lost me a bit. She obviously succeeds in putting a business together---you don't have to read the book to realize that; I mean, the summary and cover alone tell you it happened---so the rest of the story consists mostly of watching Nina sell books. While it's nice to see a cast of characters find books that are good for them, there isn't really a lot of conflict or storyline holding it together. It's day-to-day life. It could also be argued that finding love was a central problem, but it was never really a singular focus in the story. Another possibility for the book's conflict is is her wanting to prove to herself that she can take risks. However that too seems like a stretch, as some of the logistics (like finding a place to live) happen way too easily. 

And okay, problems pop up. For example, Nina must take action when some kids show up who are obviously under the care of negligent parents. I would have liked to see more time spent on these issues, but they get abruptly solved in a matter of pages instead. In this case, it's by handing them over to social services who are suddenly kind and helpful despite their indifferent reputation that Nina was discussing through the rest of the book....okee dokee. And it's hard to get fully invested there, too, because I felt like Colgan summarized events rather than immersed me in them. She does utilize occasional "showing," but usually she saves that for drawn-out descriptions of nature instead of important events. More action and dialogue would have been nice---not that the book is without them. But because of the lack of tangible conflict, the novel ends rather abruptly, which isn't unbelievable considering that there was no real end goal. It was missing something...what, I'm not sure. Ah, yes...*checks notes*: "the finality of a hard-fought conflict." I guess I should draft my reviews more often. Yes, there isn't really a feeling of victory at the end because I wasn't really sure what her initial conflict even was. I also felt more invested in the relationship that didn't work out rather than the one that happened. That didn't help things.

With all this criticism, why would someone pick up The Bookshop on the Corner? To be fair, I liked seeing life through Nina's eyes. As a twenty-something really looking to kick off life, Nina's story was inspiring. I liked reading the realistic cast of kooky characters who weren't so unrealistic to be believed. I'm torn here. Nina's life was interesting. But if it wasn't, this wouldn't have been a good book. It seemed rushed and a bit lazy. If you've already read Little Beach Street Bakery, I might pass this one up. And if you're not into the "daily life" type of story, I'd ignore it altogether for one of her other novels. Colgan isn't a bad writer, and I like most of her books thus far, but this wasn't her best.

3 somewhat generous stars, perhaps bordering on 2.5