REVIEW: Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Audience: Young Adult/Teen
Genres: Realistic Fiction (Sort of)

Summary: You know the story already. Or, at least you think you do. The King of Denmark has died, and now his widow is marrying the King's smarmy brother Claudius. Hamlet, the Prince, is seeing ghosts and thinks that his father was murdered. He's acting like he's lost his mind—and maybe he has. Determined to get revenge against his father's murderer, he hatches a number of plans but he's but is paralyzed by his own inaction. Everybody dies. In this contemporary retelling, we see the story from the point of view of a teenage Ophelia. And this time she doesn't die. In fact, the entire story is told in retrospect, including transcripts from the formal investigation and from a reality show interview.

Tracy's Thoughts:
This is a very clever retelling of Shakespeare's famous play, from the P.O.V. of a character who was actually conspicuously absent through most of the original play. The plot line is pure drama—love, hate, betrayal, scandal, death, etc.—and compulsively readable. Even with all the drama, the volatile relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia is the heart of the novel. But I'd hesitate categorize the book as a romance despite the girly cover. The core relationship is borderline abusive even before all the craziness starts.

The pace is quick, and there are lots of cleverly worked-in allusions to Shakespeare's greatest lines. (Although some, like the "To be or not to be" soliloquy are disappointingly awkward when modernized.) Many of the characters gain added depth as well. The updated version of Shakespeare's Polonius, Ophelia's proverb-spouting father and a court diplomat, was particularly well done. And I loved how Ophelia's ringtone for him was "Papa Don't Preach."

All in all, I think Michelle Ray did an excellent job of modernizing the play. The intrusion of reality TV and the paparazzi added a very different—and modern—dimension to the story that made me think of the hubbub surrounding royal families today (Will & Kate, anybody?). Sometimes, though, I found the interruption of the various transcripts (mostly the reality show interview) distracting and pointless. I also wish Ophelia had had a bit more backbone. But, despite my quibbles, Falling for Hamlet was a quick, enjoyable read that I recommend to readers with a taste for scandal and drama.

DUAL REVIEW: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genres: Historical Fiction

Summary: Told through the eyes of three women in 1963 Civil Rights embroiled Mississippi, one an affluent Caucasian woman and two African-Americans who were employed as maids in Caucasian households.  This book recounts the tale of how Skeeter, a recent college graduate, writes a ground-breaking book telling the stories of twelve women employed as maids from upper and middle-class Caucasian households.  The conflict inherent between the two races is detailed throughout the book and culminates with the publication of Skeeter's novel entitled "Help".

Lucinda's Thoughts:  I picked this book up because of all the buzz about it due to the movie's (which was based on the book)  popularity.  I quickly became enthralled by the tale of Abileen, Minny and Skeeter.  Having been a history major in college I was aware of  some of the conflict that took place in the South during the early 1960s, but this book made these things more human to me.  Seeing the prejudice, assumption of inferiority, and treatment that the African -American citizens of this time received was truly eye-opening.  The lives of these women present such a contrast to those of today's women, a truly enlightening experience. 

The only reason that this book did not receive a 5 was that some of the chapters were written in dialect and thus rendered the text a little less accessible for all readers.  On the whole, this was an excellent read.  I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, or just a well-written story about three strong, but different women and the historical times in which they lived.

*     *     *

Tracy's Rating: 5/5 Stars

Tracy's Thoughts: Okay, it's downright scary how parallel our reading experiences with this book were. I was only a history minor in college, but I too was struck by how the human element portrayed in The Help allowed me to better understand the upheaval of the civil rights era. And you make a good point about the use of dialect. I got off to a really slow start because I found the dialect in Aibileen and Minnie's narratives a bit distracting. I actually almost gave up altogether. Eventually, though, I adjusted and felt like it only added to the tone and realism of the novel. (Though I recently encountered this blog post pointing out how very unrealistic much of the dialect is...)

Anyway, here's my initial review from the Summer 2009 BCPL Recommended Reading List:

The Help is a book that manages to both entertain and feel incredibly important at the same time. Pitch-perfect in its portrayal of 1960s Jackson, Mississippi and the women who live there, it follows three women—two black maids and a white “society lady” fresh out of college—who start their own quiet movement even as the civil rights movement explodes around them. It focuses on the lives of everyday people of different backgrounds who are just trying to live their lives. And yet this book made the era of the Civil Rights Movement real for me in a way that no other book, movie, or college lecture ever has. But never fear: this isn’t in any way an overwhelming or heavy-handed book. Stockett uses a Southern-laced dark humor reminiscent of Fannie Flagg that serves perfectly to balance the serious subject matter. The approachability is additionally augmented by the fully realized characterizations. There are no cookie-cutter characters in Stockett’s world; you love them or you hate them, but even the characters that you most loathe have redeeming facets. In short, I loved this book—and admired it as well. There is already speculation that The Help is destined to become a classic. I wouldn’t be surprised.

Guest reviewers wanted!

Did you ever want to be a book reviewer? Well, Lucinda and I thought that it would be a great idea to solicit guest reviews from fellow readers and library patrons. We want to know what you're reading! Love it or hate it, send us a brief review of any book you have read recently and your review may be featured on Book News and Reviews.

Here are the rules:
1. Tell us the title and author of the book you are reviewing.
2. Give a star rating to the book, based on our rating system.
3. Provide a brief, ORIGINAL summary of the book (at least one complete sentence).
4. Provide a brief review of the book (250 words or less). Did you like it? Why did you rate it as you did?
5. Tell us your name (an internet handle/alias is okay) and age/grade.
6. Please send your reviews to me at reference@bcplib.org, with “Blog Guest Review” in the subject line so I can prioritize it (You have no idea what my inbox looks like. Seriously).

Easy, right?  Feel free to send over reviews now, and I’ll start publishing them as they come in. We look forward to hearing from you!

REVIEW: Crunch by Leslie Connor

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Humor

Summary: With his parents stranded on the highway by a gas shortage, it is up to 14-year-old Dewey to keep the family bike repair business under control. But with cars out of commission and an influx of damaged bicycles, things get a little out of hand. Especially when items begin to mysteriously disappear from the shop. Plus, Dewey has to help his older sister and younger-by-a-year brother with the 5-year-old twins and keep the farm chores tended to. All five siblings must find a way to work together while their parents are detained and decide which of their friends and neighbors they can rely on. 

Tracy's Thoughts:

This is a lovely, humorous book about balancing fun and responsibility, with a bit of a mystery thrown in for good measure. Connor's dialog is light and amusing, and her characters engaging. The Mariss siblings live in a charming world, and each has his or her own distinct, quirky personality. Plus there is a sneaky, crotchety old neighbor that had me snickering and numerous mini-adventures to keep the pages turning. There is also a message of eco-friendliness and sustainability that will appeal to certain readers.

REVIEWS: Bedwyn Family Series by Mary Balogh, Part I

Background:
I've been meaning to read this series for a while now, ever since I read (and enjoyed!) A Summer to Remember, the book that first introduced the Bedwyn family to romance readers. In that book, Freyja—the eldest Bedwyn sister—is a headstrong ex-flame who turns up to cause trouble for the hero and heroine. Several of her brothers, most notably the coldly powerful Wulfric Bedwyn, Duke of Bewcastle, also make appearances. In all, there are six Bedywn siblings. 


Book 1: Slightly Married
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Summary: Slightly Married is the story of Aiden—the second eldest sibling—and Eve Morris, a woman whose security is threatened by the untimely death of her brother in battle. Captain Lord Aiden Bedywn takes the tragic news to Eve personally, determined to uphold his promise to Eve's dying brother to protect her "no matter what." As it turns out, Eve's inheritance is contingent on her marrying a gentleman within a year of her father's death, a deadline that is fast approaching. Otherwise, her smarmy cousin will inherit the unentailed estate and fortune, then toss Eve and her many dependents out on their rumps. So of course Aiden decides the only honorable thing is to marry Eve, then leave to continue his military career and never see her again. Eve reluctantly agrees since she hasn't heard from her secret fiancé in more than a year and she feels responsible for the well-being of her servants, her spinster aunt, and two young orphans. But when the Duke of Bewcastle discovers his brother's secret marriage, he insists that Eve be trained as a lady and properly presented to society to avoid damaging the family's reputation.

Tracy's Thoughts:
First, I have to make a confession: Generally, I am not a fan of marriage of convenience plots. So that may have interfered in my enjoyment of the story. But the main problem, for me, was the relationship between Aiden and Eve. I like fireworks and lots of banter in my romance reads and I found Slightly Married... lacking. I never really felt that their relationship grew or developed, or if it did, most of it happened off-scene. Their main obstacle was guilt. By the time each realizes that they actually like being married, each worries about what the other would have to give up (Aiden his career or Eve her home and dependents) so that they can be together. And that gets very old very fast.

I was much more interested in Eve's interactions with Aiden's pretentious siblings, Wulfric and Freyja. They are both unbelievably arrogant but just the tiniest bit vulnerable... I want to read their stories. Aiden's more lighthearted brother, Alleyne, was also intriguing. Aiden was a cipher through most of the book. Eve was slightly more interesting, but her habit of taking in the helpless hit me as a bit ridiculous, and a cliché to boot. Really? All of these troubled servants just happen to stumble upon Eve's country home?

Still, the Bedwyn family dynamics merit further exploration, and Balogh's writing is solid and her representation of the period is well done. I found the Bedywn family's aristocratic snobbery to be much more grounded in reality than the easy-going liberalism of many fictional families in historical romance (e.g., Quinn's Bridgertons). And yet, simply stated, Slightly Married just lacks that special spark to make it memorable.



Book 2: Slightly Wicked
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Summary: Next we meet Rannulf Bedwyn, who seems to be the rake of the family. He's off to visit his dying grandmother, who has made him heir to her estate and wants him to marry her dear friend's granddaughter. Meanwhile, Judith Law is en route to her aunt's home, where she is to stay as a companion and resident poor relation. After Judith's stagecoach overturns, Ralf and his trusty steed stumble across the waylaid passengers and he offers to give one of them—Judith—a ride to the nearest inn. Judith decides this is her last chance at adventure before a life of servitude and impetuously introduces herself as Claire Campbell, actress. Ralf also gives a false name, and the two indulge in a brief affair before Judith leaves him in the lurch so that she can face reality. But soon after she arrives at her destination, she discovers that her one-time lover is her cousin's intended suitor, and Ralf discovers that the experienced actress he bedded was really a virgin. 

Tracy's Thoughts:
I found this book much more engaging than Slightly Married. Despite the potential tawdriness of Ralf and Judith's initial meeting, their encounter doesn't come off as sleazy, and there is real conflict in this story. The main characters are nuanced and likeable, and the evolution of their relationship is believable. What's more, I actually felt like they belonged together. A few of the secondary characters—notably Ralf and Judith's grandmothers—are especially well done. Also, we see more a Freyja, who is the heroine of the next book in the series. I hated her (but was interested despite myself) in A Summer to Remember, merely disliked her in Slightly Married, and finally began to warm to her (a bit) in this book. I can't wait to see how I feel about her in Slightly Scandalous.

Lucinda's Thoughts:
Having read the whole series concerning the Bedwyn family, you are correct.  Wulfric and Frejya's stories are the most enjoyable.  Also, Mary Balogh is one of the authors I go to when I need a light, entertaining read.

REVIEW: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Social Satire/Comedy

Summary: What happens when a plane load of beauty queens from the Miss Teen Dream Pageant crash land on an island? Is there an underlying plot here or just dumb bad luck?  What secrets will be uncovered about the contestants and what will they learn about themselves as they strive to survive in unfamiliar territory? To find out, read Libba Bray's Beauty Queens.


Lucinda's Thoughts:  This book was a good read.  I classed it as a social satire because of the manner in which Libba Bray presents the contestants and the concept of beauty pageants as a whole.  With subtle, sarcastic humor and biting wit, Bray allows us to gain insight into the world of the beauty queen and what might motivate a young woman to participate in a beauty pageant.  The characters are likable, the villains quirky but evil, and the commercial breaks hilarious. While the plot is somewhat unrealistic, the underlying humor and enjoyable storyline more than compensates for it.  I throughly recommend it as a fun read for the fall!

REVIEW: Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol by Jim Krieg

Rating: 4.5/5
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Genre: Mystery

Summary: Griff Carver is a safety patrol legend, but after going too far in the name of justice he was expelled from his old school. Now he's at Rampart Middle School and determined to sniff out the corruption lurking beneath the squeaky-clean surface. Unfortunately, Griff makes an immediate enemy of the school principal after calling him out for littering, and his new partner is an overly chatty Camp Scout who is blind to the fishy goings-on at Rampart.

Tracy's Thoughts:
This is one of the best middle-grade novels I've read in ages—perhaps ever. Television writer Jim Krieg has cleverly taken the tone of a 40s' noir film and applied it to a modern-day middle school. Griff is a hard-nosed, dedicated hall cop with an uncanny instinct for crime-solving. He's suspicious of everyone and quickly catches on to a fake hall pass scheme. Along the way, he makes unlikely allies in his naive by-the-books partner, the school's ambitious girl reporter, and a wise but mysterious janitor. Plus, an arch villain emerges who is sure to butt heads with Griff in future books. (Are you listening, Mr. Krieg? We want sequels, and lots of 'em!)

The narrative is actually a blend of first person accounts, most of them made up of guidance counselor interview transcripts from Griff's perspective and incident reports from his super-conscientious partner Tommy. There are also a handful of snark-filled diary journal entries from ace reporter Verity King. I think this style allows each of the characters' personalities to shine, and will likely appeal to Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans ready for a slightly more challenging read without the cartoons. There are a few words that will challenge younger readers, but Krieg's easy, relaxed writing style will keep them eagerly turning the pages.

Overall, this is a smart, laugh-out-loud whodunit with style. Krieg creates a slightly skewed yet wonderfully realistic version of middle school, and his characters are engaging and likeable. Griff's dedication is so intense it is comical, and his pithy remarks are often startlingly funny. Tommy's bumbling earnestness is equally endearing. Griff Carver is a clever, fast-paced read, with kid-friendly humor and a vivid setting and characters. As I said earlier, I am really hoping for sequels so that I can visit again.