Five Stars for Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow by Nathan Bransford

Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow by Nathan Bransford is a rollercoaster-in-outer-space. Each chapter ends on the precipice of downhill fun. Bransford understands the mind of twelve-year-old boys and he even throws in one sassy, sardonic girl to big bang things amuck. Sarah, a fan of Betty Friedan, might have been my favorite character. I figure Friedan is close enough to Margaret Atwood and I'm a girl who is a big fan of Atwood's. So, even though this seems like a book for boys, Bransford found a way to be all inclusive. Girls and boys would love this book. This book is not just about having fun, getting lost in space, and having to find your way back to Earth. This book is about the kind of friendships formed between friends before they become more than friends. It's innocent and sweet and it reminds me of cotton candy, and apples drenched in caramel. It also reminds me of how important it is to be honest and loyal to your friends. Sometimes as adults we forget the important stuff. So I would say on this level this is also a book for adults who sometimes forget what it is like being a kid. Maybe we all need a little Wonder to remind us. I highly recommend this book.

4 Stars for A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie

 

This book takes a while to get into, but once you start to build some lovely love and hate relationships with the characters, you find yourself wanting to see how they turn out. Abercrombie fleshes out his characters with an underbelly of raw truth that is sometimes vulgar, but that is countered with humor. The character of Rikke made me laugh out loud several times. Rikke is not a girl to bite back how she really feels and she feels with a big dumb heart that leads her about with her nose ring. She's also witty and can dish out an insult as much as she can laugh one off. Other characters that stood out to me: Savine (I haven't decided to like her yet. She still needs to go through more dramatic change to humble her.) Leo, memorable, but I'm indifferent to him. The wolf, because I love to hate him. I also really liked Orso, because he deserved more of my sympathy than any of the characters. Beneath his wild prowess he wants to love and do right by the people. His promise means something. I recommend this book, but know it is a slow read in the beginning, but it gets better, much better. Further, if you are a Game of Thrones fan - A Little Hatred just may be your jam.

4 Stars for Night Film by Marisha Pessl

 

Night Film by Marisha Pessl wavered between a 3 and 4 start review and not because it overflowed with a fantastic supernatural edge, a wry humor found only in particular older folk's generational timeline, and last, a romantic psychological love that crosses boundaries of class and superstition. This book contained all of these; however, I found it too long. The plot-line dragged and in the end I wanted to reap a better reward for making it to the finish line. Further, McGrath, the main character did not make a dynamic change and he really needed to make that change from a self-absorbed butt head to a better dad and a better listener. Still, this is a book I highly recommend because it dives into what of the what that makes us live to the fullest. It makes you question what makes you tear through life or makes you stand still while live tears through you. Cordova, "the monstrous antagonist" ended up being my favorite character maybe because he hid in the dark and I could shape him the way I wanted to in the end. This is a book is not a coin toss. There is not a good guy or a bad one only your choice to walk along razors edge and make what's on the other side of it - yours.