ARC Book Review: The Fever

This ARC galley was provided to me by the Little, Brown and Company publishers via NetGalley for an honest review. Release date is June 17, 2014. 

GoodReads Says: The Nash family is close-knit. Tom is a popular teacher, father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and his sister Deenie, a diligent student. Their seeming stability, however, is thrown into chaos when Deenie's best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in class. Rumors of a hazardous outbreak spread through the family, school and community. As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town's fragile idea of security.

I have been so.eagerly anticipating this release! For some reason, I thought it was a YA book (um. totally not), but was pleasantly surprised that it was (clearly) written for an adult audience. Though it takes place in a high school, there is a strong theme of virginity and narratives about sex that I wouldn't necessarily want my teenager reading (though I don't believe the author intended the novel for that audience).

The story is told through three different members of the Nash family; teenage Deenie, older brother Eli and dad Tom. One after another, Deenie's friends start falling ill with a mysterious illness that makes them convulse, seize, hallucinate and suffer facial and bodily tics. There are numerous themes throughout the story; virginity, friendship, family, high school drama, parenting issues, vaccinations and the world being a dangerous place for children. I think perhaps the author had too many themes, but on the other hand, they all really fed into the resolution of the story line (which, though complete, seemed a little "last minute.")

The story benefited from three separate narrators, but I wish there was more of a distinction between the three voices in the layout of the pages. It's entirely possible that the format of the digital galley was mapped differently than the print version will be. Though it was fairly easy to tell who was "speaking," I would've benefited from more of separation (particularly because the voices of Tom and Eli seemed so similar, even though their characters were so different).

I was also totally annoyed by all of the teenage girls in this story (including Deenie), but I think that was the point. It made me look back on my time in high school, and the high school environment was the perfect environment for "the fever." (And, perhaps, "fever" wasn't the best word to use in the title. Though far less catchy, "fervor" would fit better). 

Overall: I give this book four stars and I would recommend it to others. It was thought provoking and entertaining; I really wanted to know what the heck was going on! It gives the reader ample time to reflect on their opinions of certain topics, while still maintaining enough distance to be fiction. I think it would be a great book club pick!

Favorite Quote: "Growing up felt like a series of bewildering afters."

Waiting on Wednesday - June 4

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

GoodReads Says:  Self-doubting Ruth is coddled by her immigrant mother, who uses food to soothe and control. Defiant Francesca believes her heavy frame shames her Park Avenue society mother and, to provoke her, consumes everything in sight. Lonely Opal longs to be included in her glamorous mother’s dinner dates—until a disturbing encounter forever changes her desires. Finally, Setsu, a promising violinist, staves off conflict with her jealous brother by allowing him to take the choicest morsels from her plate—and from her future. College brings the four young women together as suitemates, where their stories and appetites collide. Here they make a pact to maintain their friendships into adulthood, but each must first find strength and her own way in the world.


I can't wait to read this book, released June 26, 2014, because it's a glimpse into the lives of different, with food as a theme. The relationship between women and food is often fraught with anxiety, rationalizing and fear. 

Topic Tuesday - June 3, 2014

                                   
Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This weeks topic is:

Top Ten Books that Should Be (or Will Be) in your Summer Beach Bag

To me, summer reading is about light, entertaining books. In the summer, I enjoy humor and books that are cute but don't necessarily take too much brain power. This week, I'm going to split it up into five books that should be in your summer bag, and five books that will be in MY summer bag!

Five Books that Should be in Your Summer Bag:

1. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

2. The Heather Wells series by Meg Cabot

3. The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

4. Past Perfect by Leila Sales

5. Getting over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

Five Books that Will be in My Summer Bag:

1. Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich (series is getting predictable, but still enjoyable)

2. Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour (not a concept I would generally go for, but I've heard nothing by positive reviews of this book)

3. Undone by Cat Clarke (a little heavier than normal summer reading, but great synopsis)

4. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (sound familiar to my life currently...)

5. The Earth, my Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler (a re-read, but I love it!)

Book Review - The Bookman's Obsession

GoodReads says: Hay-on-Wye, 1995. Peter Byerly isn’t sure what drew him into this particular bookshop. Nine months earlier, the death of his beloved wife, Amanda, had left him shattered. The young antiquarian bookseller relocated from North Carolina to the English countryside, hoping to rediscover the joy he once took in collecting and restoring rare books. But upon opening an eighteenth-century study of Shakespeare forgeries, Peter is shocked when a portrait of Amanda tumbles out of its pages. Of course, it isn’t really her. The watercolor is clearly Victorian. Yet the resemblance is uncanny, and Peter becomes obsessed with learning the picture’s origins.

As he follows the trail back first to the Victorian era and then to Shakespeare’s time, Peter communes with Amanda’s spirit, learns the truth about his own past, and discovers a book that might definitively prove Shakespeare was, indeed, the author of all his plays. Published 5/28/13.

This book made me feel dumb. There were a lot of details about the main plot (the provenance of certain literary works, some that I'm not even sure actually existed) that I'm sure I didn't understand. I was hoping that the the book would focus on Amanda and the painting. 

Instead, the book focused on possible forgeries that would either prove or disprove that Shakespeare of Stratford actually wrote the works attributed to Shakespeare. There were many details about the passing down of books, about book binding, and about forgeries. The amount of characters was overwhelming at times, and I felt like I couldn't keep all the details straight. And, the actual beginning of the book, featuring the portrait that Peter finds, feels like a forgotten detail, even though it was in the opening of the book (and in the synopsis), implying that it would play a much bigger part in the overall story. 

I give this book 2.5 stars. If you're interested in a detailed, literary mystery, this book would definitely rate higher for you, and I would encourage you to give it a try. 

Book Review - The Rosie Project

GoodReads Says: Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper. Published 10/1/13

I know, I know. It's about time I read this book. It was the cover that threw me off; it looked like a mushy chick-lit type book. I'm all for fluffy reads, but I'm generally not in the mood for romance stories, especially mushy ones.

There was no mush, fluff, or chicks to be found in this book, friends.

I definitely oooh'd and awwwh'd (not words; bear with me) throughout this novel, but never once did I think "gratuitous PDA, much?" or "ugh. kiss already." If anything, I wanted the book to be longer. I was rooting for him (and Rosie), I was imagining what it would be like to be in a relationship with him, I was wondering at how well the story was written.

It was hilarious in a dry, intelligent, witty sort of humor. The protagonist was awkward, but not the kind of awkward that you cringe for him. I loved that fact that, though he's "different," there's no label put on him, and no "you deserve love, but..." story line. It's a love story without taking itself seriously. And yet, there were some topics brought up that begged for more thought.

The main character was just written so well....there are not enough good things for me to say about this book. I rented a copy from the library to read, but I will definitely be picking up a copy. I will likely re-read this book, and pick up another (I heard a rumor that there will be sequel!). : 

Waiting on Wednesday - May 28

The Fever by Megan Abbott

THIS is the book I'm waiting on! I have it on hold at the library. Amazon Says: The Nash family is close-knit. Tom is a popular teacher, father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and his sister Deenie, a diligent student. Their seeming stability, however, is thrown into chaos when Deenie's best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in class. Rumors of a hazardous outbreak spread through the family, school and community. 

As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town's fragile idea of security. 

UPDATE: Little Brown has sent me a copy to read, via NetGalley. So excited!!!!!!! Watch out for a review soon!

Topic Tuesday - May 27, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is a series sponsored by The Broke and the Bookish. This week there is no topic; I get to pick whatever I want! I've decided that this week, I'll list the Top 10 authors that I will read no matter what. (Listed in no particular order). 

1. Janet Evanovich.. The Stephanie Plum series is getting semi-predictable, but I really love the characters and the humor. Her previously written romance novels aren't something I've read a lot of (not generally my genre), but I will pretty much read whatever she writes.

2. Jen Lancaster. So, I feel like her writing has been uninspired lately (the two novels are generally the same, The Tao of Martha was boring and I haven't been in love with some of her books), but I've loved her first books (Bitter is the New Black, Such a Pretty Fat), that I will read anything she writes.

3. Anne Lamott. I love.her.so.much. She's so real, honest and inspired. Her novels are good, but I especially love her non fiction. I wish she would write a book about food/body/self esteem.

4. Wally Lamb. I have loved every novel he's ever written - and I would love to read them all again.

5. Sue Monk Kidd. I first read The Dance of the Dissident Daughter in college, and tore up that book with notes and underlining. Her novels have continued to be amazing.

6. Cathy Lamb. Every book has been funny, witty, emotional, with an entertaining love story and strong female protagonists.

7. John Green. Really. Does this need explanation? I wish I could read The Fault in Our Stars for the first time again.

8. Rainbow Rowell. This author is a new find for me, but I can't tell you how much I loved FanGirl. I've read all of her other books since.

9. Geneen Roth. Her last few books have been a little....new-agey...for me, but her original books have been groundbreaking for me, and I will definitely read anything she writes.

10. Stephanie Perkins. She's "only" published two books, but Anna and the French Kiss impressed be so much, that I will continue to read what she writes! (As you know, I'm eagerly anticipating Isla and the Happily Ever After).

What are some of your favorite authors? I'm always on the look out for new favorites!