Phantom by Jo Nesbo

 

Jo Nesbo's Phantom was overwhelming, confusing, and pretty raw. But when I closed the book at 1:00 in the morning after reading the final page, I was completely satisfied. I love reading about Nesbo's Harry Hole and the impossible situations he finds himself in (and eventually gets out of).

 

My literary love affair with Harry (the second Harry love of my life, after Mr. Potter) began with Nesbo's The Snowman. I heard about it on my favorite book podcast, Books on the Nightstand. It sounded so dark, twisted, and forbidden compared to my usual reading diet of YA and MG books. Summer was approaching and I was excited to branch out and read adult books for once. I read The Snowman on my honeymoon in, ironically, Cancun, Mexico. It was the gateway drug into Nesbo's other Harry Hole bestsellers (which couldn't be translated into English from the Norwegian fast enough for me!) The Leopard, Nemesis, The Devil's Star, and a non-Harry Hole book, Headhunters. Jo Nesbo is a gifted twisted ending writer. I love the gritty life Harry leads and appreciate the fact that he is the ultimate anti-hero that you hate to love (Harry's exes feel the same way.) Since The Snowman was his first US hit, with his earlier Hole novels translated out of order, my perfectionism aches to reread them in order to follow the overall story line, but since my TBR piles are teetering precariously around me as I type this, we all know that will never happen. I'll have to be satisfied with a little imperfectionism, which I've gotten used to in my relationship with Harry.

 

Although the novels can be read out of order, I definitely recommend starting with The Snowman to see Nesbo at his finest.

 

 



Jo Nesbo is also a musician, songwriter, and
 economist and lives in Oslo (from book jacket).

 

Thirst Day 1/3/13

 

 

 

 

I am all about excuses for blogging. I came across Thirst Day on Twitter from a great librarian to follow, @LibraryFanatic. Thirst Day is a meme started by Dave Etkin over at Eat the Book. He's got all kinds of fun stuff over there!

 

 

Today's book and a drink are Jo Nesbo's Phantom and some hot Zinger tea to ward off an impending cold.

 

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday - Oblivion by Anthony Horowitz 1/2/13

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you highlight one book that you can't wait to hit the bookshelves!

I can't wait for the finale to the Power of Five series, called Oblivion by Anthony Horowitz! It hits shelves on April 1, 2013!

Anthony Horowitz is a master. I first fell in love with him when he came to town to talk to my students. He was engaging, hilarious, and, best of all, British. As if writing edge-of-your-seat stories wasn't enough, he kept my students on the edge of their seats talking about the writing process. It was magical.

At first glance, it looked like Oblivion was already out, so I was all ready to select another WoW book. However, after researching, it seems that it was released in October in the UK, and you can get copies on Amazon, but the official US release isn't until April 1st.

The Power of Five series tells the story of the 5 Gatekeepers, young teens marked for being protectors. Each Gatekeeper gets their own book (except the twins in book 3), and in this final chapter, all five come together to save the world. The books take readers all over the world, and writing the books took Anthony Horowitz all over the world. Here is a video showing the lengths Anthony Horowitz went to in researching the setting of Oblivion.

Happy Reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 11/26/12

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. I heard about it from the Teach Mentor Texts blog, which puts a "Picture Books to YA" twist on it. I like to post my MG/YA, adult, and professional reads here!

Last Week I Dived Into...
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. My teacher-book club picked this and we discussed it over sushi (ocean-themed meal?) last Sunday. It's not one that I would have normally picked up, but what a powerful first novel about choices. Every one of us that finished it cried in the final pages. I know I was overwhelmed with emotion over the pain that the characters faced because of their choices. If you are in need of a good, deep-down-in-your-guts cry, this will do the trick! 

This Week I'm Diving Into...

(still...) Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. I'm only reading this at school during our "Dive In" time, so I'm not making great progress. I did pick up the sequel Dust and Decay at our school's book fair, so I better pick up the pace!

This summer I read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, like every other woman in America, and promptly read her earlier work, Dark Places. I immediately picked up Sharp Objects as well, but only got to it this weekend after finishing my book club selections. So far, it's just as dark as her other books, and since my sister and coworker just finished it, I'm looking to carve out (eek, no pun intended) some time this week to finish it! There are moments in this book that literally make my stomach turn.

Professionally, I am reading Pathways to the Common Core: Accelerating Achievement by Lucy Calkins. I've read the first chapter, and if it's possible, I am entertained by a book about teaching standards! I am also continuing to work my way through Everyday Editing by Jeff Anderson. This is quickly becoming my go-to reference book. Fabulous.

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday - Prodigy by Marie Lu

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you highlight one book that you can't wait to hit the bookshelves!

I can't wait for the sequel to Legend, called Prodigy by Marie Lu! It hits shelves on January 29th, 2013!

Legend (from http://marielu.org/books.html): What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.


Prodigy (from http://marielu.org/books.html): June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—-June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengence, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?