Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin (9780385344135)

This book is fiction, but reads like a biography.  Melanie Benjamin did a great job of combining fact with fiction and/or speculation as to the relationship between the very real characters of Alice Liddell Hargreaves (aka Alice in Wonderland) and Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll).

Their relationship was disturbing at best.  Apparently, Rev. Dodgson had a preference of photographing young girls in sometimes inappropriate attire and inappropriate positions.  The author found that the real relationship between Alice and Rev. Dodgson suddenly stopped when Alice was around 11 years old and Ms. Benjamin using speculation as to what really transpired between them.  Whatever it was, it seemed to ruin Alice’s reputation and not only prevented her from marrying the man of her dreams, but to “settle” for a man who loved her for who she was.

Alice lived with the label of Alice in Wonderland for many years and her life seemed to be filled with sadness which she unconsciously tied to the Lewis Carroll’s book.

A very well-written book that I couldn’t put down.

Hurricane! by Arnaldo Ricciulli (9781441503978)

Daniel Mayhew is a brilliant weather researcher who has a proposal to dissipate hurricanes before they hit shore. Kelly Delaney is trying to warn everyone of the impending arrival of a category six hurricane, but her voice falls on deaf ears. Unfortunately, they have to contend with the Lucky Thirteen, a nasty group consisting of major oil companies and corrupt politicians who use the mass chaos generated by such disasters to increase their unending wealth.

The premise of this book is about global warming and I believe Arnaldo Ricciulli makes the reader aware of what is happening to our planet.

The tension builds throughout the story and I enjoyed the character development.

The Chris Farley Show by Tom Farley, Jr. (0670019232)

This book made me laugh and cry.  Chris Farley was an extraordinarily talented and unselfish human being who tragically had an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

One of my favorite Farley movies is Tommy Boy and all of his friends and family said that Chris was playing himself.  He cared so much about making people laugh that many did not know he was crying for help.

He died way too young and the world has lost a remarkable comedian and a truly spiritual man.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (0545123267)

A nice, poetic story about a young girl, bitten by wolves many years ago, who falls in love with a wolf/boy. Even though bitten, she does not shapeshift into a werewolf and her love needs to find out soon how she did it before he turns into a wolf forever.

This story is well written and very imaginative. A great read!

No Choirboy by Susan Kuklin (9780805079500)

A very gritty reality of teens on death row.  The author talks with the teens, a victim’s family who are against capital punishment and a lawyer that wants to prevent injustice in this world.  The stories are sad and very eye-opening.  A must read for high school students.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (0060530928)

This is one of the most unusual books I have ever read. Though the first chapter was disturbing for a YA book, when you read further it is about a boy named Nobody Jones who learns about friendship, family, revenge and surviving. He just happens to learn these things from ghosts and witches while living in a graveyard.

Whale Talk by Chris Cutcher (0440229383)

The Tao Jones (T.J.) is half Japanese, half Black, is adopted, and he lives in a town with bigots and ne’r do wells. However, he tries to make the best of it by finding friends where he least expects it and he has wonderful parents who support his political and moral beliefs. This YA fiction novel explores a young man’s experience with racism, mental illness and child abuse in a way you will never forget. A truly inspirational book!

Spanking Shakespeare by Jake Wizner (0375840850)

An absolutely hilarious look at Shakespeare Shapiro’s life as a senior in high school. A great YA fiction novel written by an 8th grade teacher. If you don’t laugh at loud, there is something wrong…

Lovers and Gamblers by Jackie Collins (9780446356602)

This is a reissue of the 1977 edition.

Al King is a rock singer and selfish stud extraordinaire. His brother and manager, Paul King, gets Al whatever he wants and boy does he want a lot.

Dallas is a former hooker gone beauty queen/actress. Everyone wants a piece of her and she plays hardball like the best of them.

Al and Dallas are destined to get together, but you have to wade through many pages to get there.

The other characters are thrown in for good measure.

As usual Jackie Collins gives us sex, drugs and rock and roll in the Hollywood/rock scene. It’s been years since I read a Collins book and forgot how baudy and brash they were. Be that as it may, I couldn’t put it down.

If you want a wild read, this one’s for you!!

Living a Charmed Life: Your Guide to Finding Magic in Every Moment of Every Day by Victoria Moran (9780061649899)

Ms. Moran’s guide is full of short essays describing enlightening and uplifting ways for maintaining your life and giving it special meaning to you and the one’s around you.  She concludes each of  her essays with a “lucky charm” that suggests “a specific action you can take to apply the essence of that essay”.

As one of those people who needed to be uplifted, I was excited about receiving her book.  It didn’t disappoint me.  Ms. Moran talks about the simple things in life that we take for granted and how we can embrace those simple things and make them a part of our daily routine to bring us closer to fulfillment.

I plan to use many of her ideas such as keeping a serendipity log to jot down positive coincidences and precious moments in my life, staying true to myself and tuning out the detractors.

I give this book 5 stars just for the simple fact that within 50 small essays it has inspired me to be the person I want to be.