Hatchet

Hatchet Gary Paulsen 2 / 5	Published 1986 First Sentence "Brian Robeson stared out the window of the small plane at the endless green northern wilderness below."
Publisher's Description: ALONE Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered Windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present -- and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parent's divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self pity, or despair -- it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive.  For twenty years Gary Paulsen's award-winning contemporary classic has been the survival story with which all others are compared. This new edition, with a reading group guide, will introduce a new generation of readers to this page-turning, heart-stopping adventure.
Dear Reader, It seemed like everyone and their mother had this book assigned to them in middle school. I never did, though, and because it was an award-winner, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Well? Meh. I always wonder if these books were more appealing when they were actually published, or maybe it's just that survivalist stories just aren't my jam. I suppose I was impressed by a book that could feasibly appeal to a young, male audience, which was a new idea at the time of publication. So I do appreciate that. And I know many loved this story. It just didn't draw me in. While part of me wanted to pay serious attention because you never know when you might be stranded and need basic survival skills - which I think is the appeal of the book, really - I just didn't always enjoy the minutiae of watching Brian set up camp. Part of what might have bothered me, though, was the absolute hopelessness of ever being rescued - that just felt so bleak to me, and I wondered: why bother? Of course, I understand why Brian did, but I don't know if I could have rallied quite like he did - he almost took things in stride, which I very much respect. Perhaps that is just what happens - your survival instinct kicks in before you have time to recognize your hopeless situation for what it is, because yes, food will take precedence over contemplation. Now that I think about it, perhaps the narration was also what negatively influenced the book, for me! The audiobook version featured an older male's voice which just kind of felt lethargic, and it included "dramatic music" at certain points, which I think can work really well if done right - but just wasn't, in this case. Hmm. I also do wonder if this book would have resonated with me more when I was younger. I sometimes feel as if I missed out on some great opportunities for discovering beloved books when I could have identified more with them. But, alas, such is the way life goes! I am glad that I did read this book, finally, even if it will never be a favorite. Yours, Arianna P.S. There are sequels to this book. Sequels! I can't even fathom...has anyone ever read any of them? I am just so curious. Does Brian get stranded again and again? Do we follow him until he grows to adulthood, watching how his life is affected by this formative experience? I'm SO intrigued!

Support Shelf Notes! Purchase your copy of this book here:

Paperback:

Kindle:

The Painter

The Painter Peter Heller 2 / 5	Published 2014 First Sentences "I never imagined I would shoot a man. Or be a father. Or live so far from the sea."
Publisher's Description: Peter Heller, the celebrated author of the breakout best seller The Dog Stars, returns with an achingly beautiful, wildly suspenseful second novel about an artist trying to outrun his past. Jim Stegner has seen his share of violence and loss. Years ago he shot a man in a bar. His marriage disintegrated. He grieved the one thing he loved. In the wake of tragedy, Jim, a well-known expressionist painter, abandoned the art scene of Santa Fe to start fresh in the valleys of rural Colorado. Now he spends his days painting and fly-fishing, trying to find a way to live with the dark impulses that sometimes overtake him. He works with a lovely model. His paintings fetch excellent prices. But one afternoon, on a dirt road, Jim comes across a man beating a small horse, and a brutal encounter rips his quiet life wide open. Fleeing Colorado, chased by men set on retribution, Jim returns to New Mexico, tormented by his own relentless conscience. A stunning, savage novel of art and violence, love and grief, The Painter is the story of a man who longs to transcend the shadows in his heart, a man intent on using the losses he has suffered to create a meaningful life.
Dear Reader, Ugh. This just felt like way too much of a “bro” novel to me. Perhaps it resonates with male readers, but I just could not connect in any way to the protagonist. He was this dude (it actually made me feel a bit as if his attitude was modeled after The Dude) who lives to paint and fish. Which is fine with me - I absolutely don’t have to identify with a character’s interests in order to like them! But Jim just was so … smug, and SO full of himself. He thought EVERY SINGLE WOMAN he encountered wanted to jump his bones. Every. One. It was annoying and offensive. I would have liked to have seen him brought down a peg by a woman even just once in this book, but they instead just compliment him and have sex with him, and generally support him in every way. The women in this book are flat characters, with absolutely no real value other than to play the role of backup singer to Jim. (There’s no way this would pass the Bechdel Test!)  I also realize I am not supposed to base my dislike of a book solely on my dislike of a character - but believe me, I am not. This novel felt as if it never moved. And the premise - Jim just murdering this guy because he saw him mistreat a horse this one time?! It felt like such a stretch. (Even for me, a true blue animal lover!) Granted, the author did a bit of explaining why he felt so protective of the filly later in the book, but I could have used that explanation earlier, because I spent most of the book disbelieving Jim’s motivation. Nothing seemed right about this book, or based in reality. And the ending was SO unbelievable and extremely frustrating. I want to discuss that more, but can’t give away the meat of the book, which I believe is the question of whether Jim gets caught for several illegal acts he committed. I don’t believe there was any other real point to this book then whether this smug asshole could somehow slime his way out of the debt he owes society - whether or not the man he murdered deserved it. (I am a fan of vigilantism, too - and I felt as if the Siminow brothers were certainly slimy - but perhaps I just didn't feel as if Jim, the new guy in town, was the person to make that judgment call.) I didn’t take any life lessons away from this book, that is for sure. And I didn’t even really enjoy myself during a lot of the reading! I kept finding myself drifting, having missed the last few minutes of what I’d read...and then realizing I didn’t care.  My favorite things about this book were the artist’s name - it just seems so fitting - and the scene where he did his study of the twin girls for his commissioned painting. That was the only time I saw Jim as being charming and self-effacing enough to redeem his otherwise awful character.  I added this book to my Audible queue a few years ago because it was getting a lot of hype. I am really uncertain about why it did. I was pretty disappointed.  Yours, Arianna

Support Shelf Notes! Purchase your copy of this book here:

Paperback:

Kindle:

The Hand That Feeds You

The Hand That Feeds You A.J. Rich 2/5	Published 2015 First Sentence "Yes or no:"
Publisher's Description: Morgan's life seems to be settled - she is completing her thesis on victim psychology and newly engaged to Bennett, a man more possessive than those she has dated in the past, but also more chivalrous and passionate. But she returns from class one day to find Bennett savagely killed, and her dogs - a Great Pyrenees, and two pit bulls she was fostering - circling the body, covered in blood. Everything she holds dear in life is taken away from her in an instant. Devastated and traumatised, Morgan tries to locate Bennett's parents to tell them about their son's death. Only then does she begin to discover layer after layer of deceit. Bennett is not the man she thought he was. And she is not the only woman now in immense danger ...
Dear Reader, I feel so let down by this book. What should have been a page turning thriller, not to mention well written... became an annoyance to me. A dog loving psychology student comes home to find her fiance murdered by what looks to be her dogs. That alone sounds horrifying and a good twisty mind frak. So yes, I was intrigued and wanted to stick with it and find out what truly happens. Being a dog lover myself, I was definitely on the side of "the dogs didn't do it". I'm not going to give anything away, don't worry! Let's just say that the thriller wasn't what disappointed me... One thing I can't stand when reading is superfluous descriptions that don't DO anything for the story. These needless sentences bother me so much that I can't focus. Now maybe, just maybe The Hand That Feeds You suffered from this because two Authors were cooking in the kitchen (a small kitchen) and didn't cut down on the ingredients enough?! If you don't know what I mean about "two" authors, go search online because A.J. Rich is just another pseudonym. Anyways, I guess I should back up my complaints with some examples, and since this isn't an ARC (just a plain old book I decided to purchase), this is finished work. Here's a few examples of unnecessary wording that had me so distracted:  "I hung up the black dress I had bought for the funeral. I had worn it before to a cocktail party, but this time I'd wear it with black tights instead of lace thigh-highs." -Do we REALLY need to know exactly how she wore this dress before? "I could not read any more, so I changed into a larger pair of sweatpants and continued reading more." -What?! I'm not sure if I'm missing something or what but really? Before I go any further, I have to admit that for some people, this won't bother them and might in fact enhance the story, giving even more background to the characters. I'm just not one of those people. It bothers me to the point that it takes away from all the good this book has to offer. For example, I DID not see that ending coming at all. The characters were well written and very intriguing and the story itself was very unique. I would rate this higher overall in general but I'm sticking to my low rating for me... I have to be true to myself.  Happy Reading, AmberBug

Support Shelf Notes! Purchase your copy of this book here:

Adam

Adam Ariel Schrag 2/5	Published 2014 First Sentence "Adam stared up at the tree leading to Kelsey Winslow's bedroom window."
Publisher's Description: When Adam Freedman -- a skinny, awkward, inexperienced teenager from Piedmont, California -- goes to stay with his older sister Casey in New York City, he is hopeful that his life is about to change. And it sure does. It is the Summer of 2006. Gay marriage and transgender rights are in the air, and Casey has thrust herself into a wild lesbian subculture. Soon Adam is tagging along to underground clubs, where there are hot older women everywhere he turns. It takes some time for him to realize that many in this new crowd assume he is trans -- a boy who was born a girl. Why else would this baby-faced guy always be around? Then Adam meets Gillian, the girl of his dreams -- but she couldn't possibly be interested in him. Unless passing as a trans guy might actually work in his favor... Ariel Schrag's scathingly funny and poignant debut novel puts a fresh spin on questions of love, attraction, self-definition, and what it takes to be at home in your own skin.
Dear Reader, Gah! This book is so frustrating. I'm really mad at it. Maybe that was the point? Adam is a typical teen boy with no real knowledge of the world around him. He travels to NYC to stay with his college-age sister for the summer, during which time he becomes enlightened to the LGBT community. His sister, lesbian dating transgender, brings him to parties and introduces him to a whole new world. The potential to be something great was here, and the Author did a great job (in my opinion as a cis-female) giving a nice overview and facts surrounding what someone transgender has to go through. While the beginning of the book started impressing me, the lies start stacking up... and if there is one thing I hate more than anything is the kind of lies that can destroy someone. Adam stacked his lies SO high that you knew it would crumble before the end. I don't want to give much away but it's hard for me because the majority of my gripes come from that awful ending. I'm going to make this review very brief because of spoilers BUT I will say the message the Author was heading towards was extremely thoughtful and intriguing. However, the ending unraveled everything the Author worked towards in one fell swoop. The audacity to write something so well researched and informative but then wipe all that away with a terribly offensive ending, was heartbreaking. Maybe this is what makes the book controversial but I'd rather have not read it at all. I threw the book at the wall in anguish at how terrible this made me feel, I was angry at everything it represented and I guess that might be why I should have rated it higher, it made me feel something, right? I just can't get past it... For those of you who know the ending, I'd gladly discuss this in the comments (those who don't want spoilers, avoid the comments please). Happy Reading, AmberBug

Support Shelf Notes! Purchase your copy of this book here:

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner James Dashner 2 / 5	Published 2009 First Sentence "He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air."
Publisher's Description: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade - a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up - the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
Dear Reader, Ehhh. I don't even know what to write about this one... I really have no desire to read further in the series, and I was thinking that for my own edification I might want to read a plot synopsis of the other books, but...I am not even sure I am interested in doing that. I honestly don't think I care what happens to boring Thomas and his compatriots. Maybe this is a book I would have really enjoyed as a teenager, but as an adult, I just didn't. I don't know why. The story was interesting enough, I suppose, and full enough of mystery. Maybe it was just that to me it was just so unbelievable. I could believe what happened to Katniss Everdeen as being a possibility, even when things did lean a little too on the side of magic - when nature the was too easily controlled by the game makers, for instance. But there was just too much of that with Thomas and his maze-running friends - creatures that couldn't possibly be real ended up just annoying me. And knowing there was some real reasoning behind their situation just made me frustrated, not curious. I think I also hated that the book was titled as it was: Thomas never even really got to BE a maze runner. And why, then, is it just named after ONE of them? And, are the boys who try to figure out the maze really the most important of the group? What about the leaders, what about those who feed and take care of the others? This was a group of boys, all of whom contributed in their own ways. Hmm, maybe another reason I didn't like the book was because it reminded me of The Lord of the Flies. It just felt like a "modern" retelling of that story, in a way. Even though I know the stranding of the boys in The Lord of the Flies wasn't planned. Actually, it felt like a blend of that and Battle Royale, come to think of it. But both of those books were better, to me. In my vague recollections, anyway. I guess just what I am trying to say is that if you want to spend your time reading dystopian YA literature, there is so much out there already. This isn't doing anything new, in my mind. Perhaps it is, in the future books? But not now, and this first book was where it needed to get me hooked. I just didn't care enough. (Maybe if it had been females...you know I love my feminist YA books, haha.) Yours, Arianna

Support Shelf Notes! Purchase your copy of this book here:

Paperback:

Kindle:

Conspiracy Girl

Conspiracy Girl Karen Chacek & Abraham Balcazar 2 / 5	Published January 13, 2015 First Sentence "Nina Complot was born on the sixth day of the sixth month and surprised quite a few people with her arrival."
Publisher's Description: See that flock of birds over there? Looks pretty normal, right? But Nina sees right through their mangy feathers and divines their plot to end the world in a nuclear ball of white noise. What to do? Save the world armed only with a box of cereal? Perhaps.
Dear Reader, What the heck?! This book was SO WEIRD. I don't even know what to say about it! It began amusingly enough, with a crazy extended family freaking out in the hospital when a girl was born instead of a boy. But then the second part of the book (it was broken into two very uneven sections) was just ODD. I don't even know what to make of it, and I don't think any number of re-readings would help! I am thinking maybe it's a cultural-difference sort of thing? As the author is Mexican. But, seriously. I want people to read it just because I want someone to talk to about it, to see if there is more to "get" about the book! The only saving grace for me was the AMAZING artistry - the illustrations in the book, despite being done only in green, black, and white, made the book palatable (and raised it from a less-than-one star to a "2" for me). I was cracking up at the amazing level of detail that Balcazar included in each picture - you could honestly spend ten minutes examining each page for all of its wonderful and understated inclusions. Please - if anyone else has read the book, DO let me know! I will take you 10 minutes and it's just...WEIRD. I don't know any other way to describe it. Yours, Arianna

Support Shelf Notes! Purchase your copy of this book here: