Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick

ER: 4/10
MR: 13-16 yrs.

To be perfectly honest, I would never have opened this book if it hadn't been given to me this Christmas as a gift. Why? Because everything about it screams trashy teen romance. If a few key words were changed, the plot synopsis on the back could have been talking about almost any teen novel written in the last decade. Change the name Patch to Edward and you have Twilight. Change 'fallen angel' to 'werewolf' and you have Blood and Chocolate. On sight, I morally objected to the seemingly formulaic structure of this novel, and loathed the idea of wasting precious hours reading it. Still, it was given to me as a gift, jokingly entitled 'blog fodder.' I considered myself obligated, and resigned to the worst, settled in to read, my expectations exceedingly low.

The premise of Hush, Hush is simple, and it's one that you've heard over and over again. Boy meets girl. Boy is attractive, but dangerous. Boy could hurt girl, but falls for her instead. Girl, idiot that she is, falls for him too. Trumpets sound and boy and girl trot off to their happy ending. In Hush, Hush, the boy is a fallen angel, Patch Cipriani, who shows up in high school biology one day and finds the love of his life. Well, not exactly life. Her name is Nora, and from the moment she meets Patch, strange things begin to occur. Convinced he's stalking her, she pops a few iron pills (she's anemic), takes out her cell phone, and calls the police. Now if that's not a recipe for romance, I don't know what is.

This book may be based on a contrived plot, underdeveloped, and poorly written, but it does have a few redeeming qualities. Length, for one. If you want a fun, quick read for a Saturday evening, this is it. Also, trite as it is, the storyline is one that will always appeal to a certain echelon of reader, not for it's quality, but for the thrill of a dangerous romance. Once or twice, I found myself caught up in the intensity of it all and forgot my many misgivings. This could be the perfect book for someone looking for a little fun, as long as they don't focus too much on quality of writing. That, to me, makes it a 4 on the 1 to 10 scale. In the right circumstances, it could be entertaining, but it is in no way great literature.

If the bad-boy romance of Hush, Hush is your cup of tea, don't hesitate to order it from Amazon, where it is available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover editions. Of course, check your local independent bookstore first. You can find a list of independent bookstores in your area here. If, upon reading Hush, Hush, you dub it a work of genius, please disregard the above commentary and comment your own below. Nothing I write should have any bearing upon your final verdict. If, however, you agree with my analysis, know that you are not alone. Someone off in the blogosphere invested the same amount of time in this novel and reached the same conclusion. I can commiserate.

Daughter of Fortune, Isabel Allende

ER: 7/10
MR: 15-122 yrs.

This is a beautifully crafted, educational piece of literature. It may not be a page-turner, and the language may be a little dense, but if you're willing to give it some effort, I believe you'll enjoy it. It is a modern classic, written in 1999, but with a lilting tone reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables or A Little Princess. It's quite a bit racier, though...

Eliza Sommers literally arrived on the doorstep in Valparaiso, Chile at only a few months old. She was taken in by a wealthy English family, though her class background and parentage was unknown. Tao Chi'en was born in the province of Kwangtung in China, to a family so poor that they simply referred to their children by number. Tao was Fourth Son. Against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush, these two very different people meet and their lives inexplicably intertwine. Their independent stories are interwoven skillfully throughout the novel, sometimes through direct contact and, in other times, only through letters. Their blossoming relationship is a elegant microcosm in which all class discrepancies and interracial issues can be seen and examined.

Now, the California Gold Rush wasn't exactly rated G, no matter what your fourth grade teacher tried to tell you. This novel deals particularly well with the harsh realities of this time. They are present without being obnoxiously thrust in your face. Still, if your moral compass cannot handle accounts of prostitution, rape, and drunken violence, you may want to avoid this book. In my opinion, none of it is too disturbing to handle, but everyone has a different threshold for this sort of thing.

If you enjoy historical fiction, and are willing to put in the extra bit of effort, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised at this novel. It is witty, informative, and well written. It's a book to be appreciated, if not full out adored. It is available in paperback, audio, and library binding from Amazon, but remember, check those independent retailers first! As per usual, you can find independent bookstores near you here. Happy reading!

First Review: The Host, Stephenie Meyer

ER: 8.5/10
MR: 14-122 yrs.

Stephenie Meyer. A name that brings squeals of joy to a small subset of the population and groans to the rest of us. Before you judge, any of you, know that this book isn't at all a Twilight novel. Not only is it geared towards young adults rather than hyper pre-teens, but it demonstrates a complexity of plot and character development not seen in this author's other works. Yes, character development. The protagonist is more than a mindless drone, and the love interest has more depth than a Ken doll. But before this turns into a rant against the Twilight Saga, let me introduce the premise.

The story begins as Wanderer, a "soul", or parasite, wakes up in the body of a young woman, formerly known as Melanie. In this Earth of the future, all free humans have more or less disappeared. The planet is populated by gentle, peace-loving parasites living in human hosts. Their goal is to restore the planet to it's natural state and end all wars and conflict. It seems they have succeeded. When Wanderer wakes up inside of Melanie, though, she knows something isn't right. In all other documented cases, the host submits immediately to the rule of its new master. This isn't the case with Melanie.

Melanie is aware, awake, and makes her presence known. This interesting conundrum, two completely different beings sharing one body, is the backdrop of a story that aptly addresses the questions that plague us in our daily life. What does it mean to be human? How far can kindness extend before it becomes weakness? And just where does love come from? As these two well-developed characters struggle to come to terms with their respective existences, Stephenie Meyer spins a tale that will keep you entertained, interested, and most importantly, leaves you with something to think on.

The only downside to this book is its length, which is overly generous. In my humble opinion, the story would have been more effective had it been a hundred pages shorter. The extra detail was nice, but a good editor could have pared it down without any sacrifice to story or character. Slow readers may find this book too long to be enjoyable. If, like myself, you don't so much read as devour, it shouldn't be a problem.

So, fellow readers, please suspend your disbelief that Stephenie Meyer could write something worthy of this kind of praise, and buy the book. It is available in hardcover, paperback, kindle, and audio editions at Amazon or your local independent bookseller. Please, treat Amazon as a last resort and keep those mom and pop stores alive! Click here to find an independent bookstore near you!