Water for Elephants (2007)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a wonderful read! I adored this book and living for a short while with Jacob Jankowski. The information about life in the circus as an animal vet was fascinating.

From his confinement in a nursing home, Jacob chafes at his treatment and escapes into memories of his days with the circus. Sara Gruen has crafted a story of love and loss that is funny, terrifying and poignant. The ending isn't realistic but it is the one the reader wants.

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New Moon (2006)

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
When I told the staff at my library that I had read and enjoyed "Twilight", they proceeded to put my name on the reserve list for the other titles, which I wasn't sure I was prepared to read. Having just finished "New Moon", I guess I will have to admit that I am hooked on Bella's story.

There was lots more excitement in "New Moon" with best friend Jacob coming into his own as a werewolf. When you try to explain the plot it sounds totally ludacris. But so far I am devouring these stories. I'll admit I sometimes scan-read paragraphs and don't linger over the prose.

Like the Harry Potter series, this book is getting young people (and no-so-young people) reading and that is a good thing. I just hope that readers move on to discover other authors and stories after like with Bella and Edward.

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Twilight Ascends

"Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series ruled the top four bestselling books for the first quarter of 2009. According to USA Today, one in every seven books sold last quarter was a Meyer book--16 percent of all books sold in the first months of 2009." Read more here.

Reading Into the Future

A Michigan librarian, who works at Southfield Public Library, has written a My Turn essay for Newsweek that explains once again why libraries are important to us all and especially in these difficult economic times. Click here to read the article.