Age Level: Teen
Format: Book
One evening, while at a club with her best friend, Clary Fray sees something that no human should be able to see - a clash between Shadowhunters and a demon. Not only is she surprised, but so are the Shadowhunters, who are invisible to the naked eye. Then, her mother disappears and Clary is attacked by a demon. What Clary discovers about her mother and her own heritage only begins to help answer the questions she has. Why does Clary suddenly have the Sight to see Shadowhunters and demons? How is her mother connected with the Shadowhunters? Will Clary be able to save her mother in time from the dark forces?
This is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series. I was hooked from page one! Though the middle did drag a little bit for my taste, it was very beneficial towards building up the plot line for the series. There are some twists in the plot I did not see coming, so it made for a very interesting conclusion. By the end of the book, I was ready to get my hands on the second in the series, City of Ashes.
If you like supernatural and fantasy stories, definitely try this!
Reviewed by Jessica
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Waking Giant: America in the Age of Jackson by David S Reynolds
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Reynolds takes a broad look at all aspects of American life from 1815-1848 in this nonfiction book. Arguing that America became truly rich culturally during this time period, Reynolds examines Andrew Jackson's influence in politics, as well as the changing attitudes of Americans that would result in religious, temperance and abolition movements, to name a few.
Readers of American history will enjoy this book. Reynolds provides a fine introduction into life in the beginning 19th century, so those who are curious about this era will also enjoy reading this. For me, this was a great way to re-think about things I had learned in history classes. Don't be intimidated by the book's length - it is over 400 pages long - despite it's size, the book flows quickly.
Waking Giant has re-piqued my interest in the Age of Jackson; I look forward to reading other books about Jackson and his influence on American history.
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Reynolds takes a broad look at all aspects of American life from 1815-1848 in this nonfiction book. Arguing that America became truly rich culturally during this time period, Reynolds examines Andrew Jackson's influence in politics, as well as the changing attitudes of Americans that would result in religious, temperance and abolition movements, to name a few.
Readers of American history will enjoy this book. Reynolds provides a fine introduction into life in the beginning 19th century, so those who are curious about this era will also enjoy reading this. For me, this was a great way to re-think about things I had learned in history classes. Don't be intimidated by the book's length - it is over 400 pages long - despite it's size, the book flows quickly.
Waking Giant has re-piqued my interest in the Age of Jackson; I look forward to reading other books about Jackson and his influence on American history.
Reviewed by Jessica
Sunday, March 27, 2011
My Korean Deli: Risking It All For a Convenience Store by Ben Ryder Howe
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
In this quirky memoir, Ben Ryder Howe recounts his adventures co-owning a deli with his in-laws, Korean immigrants. One day, Howe’s wife Gab decides to honor her mother’s self-sacrifice by purchasing a store for her in Brooklyn. For Howe and his wife, this means using their savings and living with Howe’s in-laws. Howe can only begin to imagine what it takes to own a store, operate the store’s evening hours, and maintain his day job as a senior editor for The Paris Review.
Howe includes both funny anecdotes and serious reflections about his life during this time period. Anyone looking for just a dialogue about owning a deli will be in for a surprise, for Howe also discusses his day job and his relationship with his boss, the famous George Plimpton. The balance of funny and serious really adds to the book, in my opinion – the experience leaves him with a changed perception about himself and the world, while providing a bunch of fun memories. Plus, Howe discusses some Korean customs and traditions, which I found very interesting.
Readers of humorous memoirs will appreciate this book, as well as those who have ever wondered what it is like to own a convenience store. I enjoyed this!
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
In this quirky memoir, Ben Ryder Howe recounts his adventures co-owning a deli with his in-laws, Korean immigrants. One day, Howe’s wife Gab decides to honor her mother’s self-sacrifice by purchasing a store for her in Brooklyn. For Howe and his wife, this means using their savings and living with Howe’s in-laws. Howe can only begin to imagine what it takes to own a store, operate the store’s evening hours, and maintain his day job as a senior editor for The Paris Review.
Howe includes both funny anecdotes and serious reflections about his life during this time period. Anyone looking for just a dialogue about owning a deli will be in for a surprise, for Howe also discusses his day job and his relationship with his boss, the famous George Plimpton. The balance of funny and serious really adds to the book, in my opinion – the experience leaves him with a changed perception about himself and the world, while providing a bunch of fun memories. Plus, Howe discusses some Korean customs and traditions, which I found very interesting.
Readers of humorous memoirs will appreciate this book, as well as those who have ever wondered what it is like to own a convenience store. I enjoyed this!
Reviewed by Jessica
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Alternating between present day and 1900, Moore gives readers a bit of a mystery. In the present day, the leading Sherlock Holmes expert has found the lost Arthur Conan Doyle 1900 diary and arrives at the annual Baker Street Irregulars meeting to present his findings. Only, he's murdered before he has a chance to tell his secret. And, the diary is missing from his hotel room. Recent Irregulars inductee Harold White, using his Sherlockian knowledge, decides he will discover the identity of the killer. Naturally, he gets more than he bargains for...
In 1900, Arthur Conan Doyle lives with an outraged public after he "killed off" Holmes in The Final Problem. However, he is soon drawn into a real life murder of a young woman, and he asks for assistance from his friend Bram Stoker (of Dracula fame). Doyle brings his character to life as he and Stoker follow clues to the killer's identity.
Lovers of Sherlock Holmes will enjoy this novel. Even those who love historical stories will enjoy this novel. Though I have not read any Sherlock Holmes mysteries (a situation I hope to change in the near future!), I am very glad I read The Sherlockian. Moore's writing style makes the book easy to read and follow the plot line in both centuries. With shortish chapters, he maintains the reader's interest from century to century.
The novel's mysteries may just have you thinking What Would Sherlock Do?
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Alternating between present day and 1900, Moore gives readers a bit of a mystery. In the present day, the leading Sherlock Holmes expert has found the lost Arthur Conan Doyle 1900 diary and arrives at the annual Baker Street Irregulars meeting to present his findings. Only, he's murdered before he has a chance to tell his secret. And, the diary is missing from his hotel room. Recent Irregulars inductee Harold White, using his Sherlockian knowledge, decides he will discover the identity of the killer. Naturally, he gets more than he bargains for...
In 1900, Arthur Conan Doyle lives with an outraged public after he "killed off" Holmes in The Final Problem. However, he is soon drawn into a real life murder of a young woman, and he asks for assistance from his friend Bram Stoker (of Dracula fame). Doyle brings his character to life as he and Stoker follow clues to the killer's identity.
Lovers of Sherlock Holmes will enjoy this novel. Even those who love historical stories will enjoy this novel. Though I have not read any Sherlock Holmes mysteries (a situation I hope to change in the near future!), I am very glad I read The Sherlockian. Moore's writing style makes the book easy to read and follow the plot line in both centuries. With shortish chapters, he maintains the reader's interest from century to century.
The novel's mysteries may just have you thinking What Would Sherlock Do?
Reviewed by Jessica
Monday, January 17, 2011
97 Orchard: an Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Ziegelman transports readers to New York City around the turn of the twentieth century and introduces them to five ethnically unique families that lived at the 97 Orchard Street tenement - German, Irish, German Jewish, Russian Jewish and Italian. Ziegelman explores in this nonfiction history book the foods of each of these ethnic groups and provides basic insight into the daily and social lives of the immigrants, even including a description of life on Ellis Island for new arrivals and deportees. Recipes and photographs are scattered throughout the pages, connecting readers to the discussion.
This is not a culinary history of the individual families living at 97 Orchard Street per se; rather, it is a culinary history of immigrants much like these families living in the tenements of New York City. Some readers may be discouraged that more anecdotes of the individual families highlighted are not present in the narrative. However, I really enjoyed this book because Ziegelman, beginning with a brief background of each family, tours New York City markets, tenements, work places, restaurants and other food-related haunts of different immigrant groups. By the end, readers will gain a better appreciation for our culinary heritage. Well-written and well-researched, this is a very unique look at history and one that I highly recommend.
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Ziegelman transports readers to New York City around the turn of the twentieth century and introduces them to five ethnically unique families that lived at the 97 Orchard Street tenement - German, Irish, German Jewish, Russian Jewish and Italian. Ziegelman explores in this nonfiction history book the foods of each of these ethnic groups and provides basic insight into the daily and social lives of the immigrants, even including a description of life on Ellis Island for new arrivals and deportees. Recipes and photographs are scattered throughout the pages, connecting readers to the discussion.
This is not a culinary history of the individual families living at 97 Orchard Street per se; rather, it is a culinary history of immigrants much like these families living in the tenements of New York City. Some readers may be discouraged that more anecdotes of the individual families highlighted are not present in the narrative. However, I really enjoyed this book because Ziegelman, beginning with a brief background of each family, tours New York City markets, tenements, work places, restaurants and other food-related haunts of different immigrant groups. By the end, readers will gain a better appreciation for our culinary heritage. Well-written and well-researched, this is a very unique look at history and one that I highly recommend.
Reviewed by Jessica
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