Catch Up Reviews

-Anna
The year is winding down and there is a little pocket of time to catch my breath before the new year, so it's a good time to catch up on some reviews, be they somewhat short though hopefully sweet.

My Name is Mary Sutter - I found this book boring. The characters were dry and uninteresting, propelled by motives I didn't understand.

The Pirate Bride - A fun frolic in children's literature with some great illustrations to help it along. Perfect for a bedtime story.

Mockingjay - I have finally recovered from this book. Almost. It was awesome and it was horrible. The series remains a favorite. (Not a bedtime story.)

Firefly Lane - Eh. That's a good summary of this book. It's not bad, it's not great. It's, eh.

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Her Mother's Hope - Anna's Review

Francine Rivers' skill as a writer moved me through Her Mother's Hope quickly and easily. But it wasn't until the epilogue that I discovered the heart of the book. In this post snippet, Rivers explains how the series is loosely based on her grandmother and mother. Laced with interesting family history and an insightful look at how relationships can get off course, I could only wish that the rest of the book had captivated me half as much as the ending.

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Her Mother's Hope - E's Review

Francine Rivers is one of my favorite Christian novelists. Her Mark of the Lion series is nothing short of spectacular. Set during the Roman Empire, this trilogy held me captivated and as soon as one book was finished I was starting the next.

But I digress. I am here to review Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. And to be honest, this book did nothing for me. In fact, at the end it leaves you hanging and yet I have no desire to even find out what happens let alone pick up the sequel.

I guess I can't demand perfection with every single book I read. Maybe I need to lower my expectations?

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The Lucky One - E's Review

I think my expectations are always too high for a Nicholas Sparks novel and I usually find myself enjoying the movies more than I do the books. But maybe that's just me and maybe I need to enjoy them for what they are instead of feeling let down when I turn the last page.

If you want typical Sparks though, then I say go for it. It's easy reading, mingled with love and redemption. And in this particular novel, you get a little insight into the mind of a soldier.

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Miss Pettigrew - E's Review

Lately I've had an undeniable urge to be more fabulous. I'm not sure exactly what to do with this new found desire except strive to be more like Miss Pettigrew.

I could land myself a job where I meet a new best friend, have more adventures in one day then Huck Finn, get completely made over and then, of course, I could find everlasting love.

But that's just the stuff silly romantic books are made of, no? And while they might not be true to life, they are completely and utterly charming.

So I say cheers to romantic comedies and to dreaming of being fabulous!

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July's Book Club Pick

-Anna

As I believe has been mentioned before, choosing a book for book club can be somewhat daunting. I usually scour book blogs, reviews and friends' brains in my search for a good pick. This month's hunt took me to Oprah. (http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Summer-Reading-List-Summer-Books) I don't usually go to Oprah for book advice, but let's leave no stone unturned. I admit I was surprised that I found several books of interest on the Summer Reading List, including this month's Sage Room pick: My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira.

So if we like it - well done me for such great research. If we don't - let's blame Oprah.

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In June

-Anna

The Raven Ring by Patricia C. Wrede (YA) is the kind of fantasy young adult that I love to read. The characters were strong and likable. The story line was maybe not totally original, but unique. The thing is, I don't mind predictable as long as the characters and story are good. I mean, sometimes it's okay to know where you are going, as long as the ride is fun. Anyway, I liked it.

Faking It by Jennifer Crusie (Romance) - So, I don't think I've ever read a Romance Novel before. I actually didn't know that this was a Romance novel. I just came across a review of it online, read about 40 pages of it on Google Books and thought it was fun. And it was fun, but reader beware of some adult content. Not anything harlequin (well, at least, I don't think so, since I haven't actually read harlequin), but yeah, if you are used to reading YA and Francine Rivers, it's a little racy.

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson - after I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I really didn't think I could pick up the next installment of the series. It was graphic...too graphic for me. But time passed (and I forgot some things about the book) and the movie came out (which I haven't seen), and I was ready to find out what happened next. The story is compelling, and I like the main characters, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist, but some of the content is disturbing. I probably will read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, but I think I'll wait awhile to forget again.

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The Lucky One - Review

-Anna

Well, I've done the unforgivable and waited too long to post a review about The Lucky One because now I can't really remember that much about it. Which means it wasn't a groundbreaking, goosebump giving, heart racing read. But from what I can recall, it is typical Sparks and very entertaining, a little mushy, and generally enjoyable.

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Absolute Chills

-Anna

So I realize that this is a book blog. And I also realize that I have not been blogging very much of late. So you would think that this entry would, needfully so, be about books.

Well, it's not; well, sort of not.

I just watched the trailer for the next Harry Potter, and I have goosebumps! November, why are you so far away!

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In May

-Anna

I read one book (besides book club pick) and have a pile, yes pile, of overdue library books that I wanted to read. But life, was, well...life and so, in May I read:

The Ropemaker by Peter Dickinson (YA Fantasy) follows a young girl who must go on a long journey to find a magician who can save her land and her people. I know, I know. I read a lot of books that would fit that description. But I can't help it. I am drawn to the quest, to the journey of self discovery and well to magic and mystery. And this book is just that. Evil emperors, rogue magicians, a strange sickness, magical spoons, cranky grandmothers and a girl who learns her place in the world. It didn't make my heart skip erratically, like the thought of Mockingjay does, but it definitely falls in the category of good YA fantasy.

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Miss Pettigrew - Anna's Review

-Anna

I adored this book. It was light, fun, charming. I think I had an ear to ear grin throughout the entire book. And, oh, Miss Pettigrew, what a day she had! If you want to read something that is sure to lift your spirits, then Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is just the book for you.

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May's Pick

-Erin

In the spirit of warm days and happy thoughts that accompany the season we affectionately call summer, I'm picking a book that I hope to be the kind you pack in your suitcase for a trip to the beach. Of course, I'm not going to the beach. But the lake might be a close second.

Here is The Sage Room's pick for the month of May:

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Water for Elephants - E's Review

Water for Elephants follows the story of a young man who has been hit with some of the worst tragedy you can imagine. In an attempt to forget his past and find himself, he lands a job with the traveling circus. I found this part of the story, the part about carnies and the dark lives that they led, quite interesting. It is a cultural I know nothing about and when the added elements of romance, suspense (note: READ THE PROLOGUE), and animals that seem almost human all come together, I was unable to put the book down.

Sure there were parts I could have done without but that's when my super-mad-fast-reading skills kick in. I flew through those passages barely giving them another thought. And the further away I get from reading the book, the more dreamy it seems. Dreamy in the sense of days gone by in another time and another place.

Plus, when discussed at book club, I am fairly sure I was able to persuade Anna into liking it a little more. Or maybe she just liked MY version of the story. Either way, gold star for me! ;)

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Aha!

I've finally figured out the slump/funk/what is wrong with me cycle that I am in.

See, I never actually finished reading A Farewell to Arms which as you might know was February's book choice. My book choice at that. And because of this, I have yet to write a review. I particularly don't like it when things go unfinished. So on my nightstand it awaits, sneering at me every night. It's almost as if it knows that it has backed in a corner and is just waiting for me to make the next move.

Well, I've decided that I will finish it. Someday. But until then, I must move forward with other reviews and more reading.

Now to figure out how to not fall asleep the second I open a book...

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In April

-Anna

The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen (YA) is just fun. Take a level headed princess with a secret, a mage's apprentice, a plot to destroy two kingdoms, strange dark beasts and a dragon and well, read away!


The Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede (YA) takes frontier life and mixes in magic to make the story of Eff, the unlucky 13th child. Eff's family moves to the wild frontier, a place where danger is always on the fringes and magic is used to make life easier and safer. It is here, that Eff discovers that being the 13th child is perhaps not so unlucky after all, and that she may hold the power to save the struggling settlements. Even though the story is somewhat slow and I finished the book feeling that not much happened, I enjoyed it for what it was, and am hoping that there will be a sequel.


Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass (SF) follows Kira Solomon a young woman bound to fight Shadow Avatars and demons. Set in modern day Atlanta, the book blends the urban and the mystic. I'm not usually a fan of science fiction that deals with demons and demigods and this book was no different. It had its moments, but overall, for me, fell flat.

Wee Free Men: A Discworld Story by Terry Pratchett (YA) is about a spunky little girl, Tiffany, who faces off with the Queen of Fairies to save her little brother. But she's not alone on this adventure. Some quite brave, quite funny, quite blue and quite Wee Free Men help her along the way. My sister recommended this book to me, and she was right on, I loved it.

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Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
256 pages
Published by Persephone Books

When Miss Pettigrew takes a new post as a governess, she has no idea that her life is going to change in the most startling and exciting of ways.

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I'm in a book reading funk.

And apparently a book blogging funk. So I'm writing this in hopes that it will spur my brain and body to get with it again. Maybe if I drank more coffee that would help.

And I'm off to try a new science experiment. Will report back with results.

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Beach + Books = Bliss

I'm headed to California and here's my packing checklist:
1. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (can't wait to read this one!)
3. The Secret by Beverly Lewis (I'm a sucker for Amish fiction)
4. Swimsuit
5. Sunscreen

The rest is just details.

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The Ole Switcheroo

-Anna

Pay attention or things could get tricky.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is now Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

Apparently the Major is in high demand and cannot be got from the library for ages and ages, so, well we just exchanged a Major for a Miss and we'll see what happens.

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The Wonders

-Anna





















I am one of those weird people who actually enjoyed diagramming sentences in school. Advanced Grammar was like heaven. So, you can imagine my elation at seeing this illustration (by Stephen Player) from Wee Free Men.

The Wonders of Punctuation and Spelling

1. Absolute certainty about the Comma
2. I before E Completely Sorted Out
3. The Mystery of the Semi-Colon Revealed
4. See the Ampersand (Small extra charge)
5. Fun with Brackets

Will accept vegetables, eggs, and clean clothing

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Reason #10

-Anna

Because authors like Terry Pratchett make reading FuN!

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In March

-Anna

Necropolis by Anthony Horowitz (YA) is book 4 in the Gatekeepers series. It wasn't my favorite of the series so far, but it fills in some details and sets up what I think will be the final book of the series.

Beautiful Creatures by Garcia and Stohl (YA) was an odd mix for me. It's about a boy who falls for a girl who is different and who, he discovers, has powers. Um, yeah, so far I'm in. But then there's a mix of superstition, vodoo and calling on the ancestors, so I'm back out. And there are vampires (right, because what YA fantasy after Twilight does not feel the need to include a vampire and/or werewolf?) except these vampires claim to not be vampires and go by a different name, even though they do everything a vampire would...what? Okay, so there is some lame stuff in the book, and the writing is a little, eh, but there is an awesome, secret, underground library that is only accessible certain days and hours. I can't say now if I'll go for the sequel or not.

A Sea So Far and Rising Tide by Jean Thesman (YA) these two books are just pleasant, well written stories about three girls living in San Fransisco in the early 1900's. They are nothing spectacular, but I liked them. The first book better than the second primarily because the second book harps a little too much about how unfair marriage is to women.

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Reason #9

-Anna

Because Mockingjay is coming out in 5 months!





Seriously, who is not excited about this? I myself am trembling because I CAN'T WAIT!

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April's Pick

-Anna

I have no idea if this book is going to be good or not.
Finger's crossed for April's Pick:
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand


please be good, please be good, please be good...............

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Water for Elephants - Anna's Review

-Anna

1. Non spoiler version, short and to the point.
DID I LIKE THE BOOK?
Well, I didn't hate it.
WOULD I READ THE BOOK AGAIN?
Nope.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THE BOOK?
With some big reader beware cautions and definitely not to my mother.


2. The spoiler version - pre book club discussion.
So, if something bad happens, walk away from your life and join a crazy, seedy circus. There you will meet the woman of your dreams (no, not the stripper, the pretty girl in pink sequins) who is...married. No worries. The woman of your dreams is married to a paranoid schizo and she is leaving him. So go ahead, knock her up because the Polish speaking elephant will take care of the crazy mad man and you two, or three, well you and the entire circus can live happily ever after. Until you are 93 and your family has forgotten you and then you can run away to the circus...again? Oh, yeah, and just to add some spice to the story, make sure to include some profanity and explicit sexual content!


3. The post book club discussion version.
So, apparently, I read the edited version. Part by choice and part by accident. First the accidental bit: THERE IS A PROLOGUE! WHAT! Where? Oh, there, in front of Chapter 1, the Chapter 1 that I read online, and therefore just skipped onto Chapter 2 when I got the book. ARGH to Amazon's sneak peak! Why did you jip me like this!? And seriously, this prologue is important! It creates a mystery and suspense about the entire storyline that I DID NOT GET! So, okay, most of my pre book club review stands, but well, I like the book a little more than I did, and I can't say how I would feel if I had read THE PROLOGUE!

And about the edited part by choice: I got tired of all the sex, so I lent my copy to Lisa and begged her to "censor" the rest of the book for me. She did, and I have to say, I enjoyed the rest of the book SO MUCH MORE! I actually relaxed and fell into the story, no longer worried about Too Much Information sex scenes jumping out at me. What can I say, graphic sex is not my thing. So if it's not your thing either, maybe you can get Lisa to censor for you!

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A Farewell To Arms--Lisa's Review

-Lisa
I am ashamed to say that until March 2010, I had never read Hemingway. Since this offense seems almost un-American, I'm glad to say I can now add him to my list. I thoroughly enjoyed his minimalist, to-the-point writing style. He pretty much tells it the way it is, and that was somehow refreshing to me, even though the storyline is in no way cheery. I have to admit, when I see multiple paragraphs of flowery descriptions, I skip them--I read every word of Hemingway. His characters were likable, his story was believable, and he offered a real-life glimpse into the frontlines of WWI.

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Water For Elephants

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
335 Pages
Published in 2006

The novel, told in flashback by nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski, recounts the wild and wonderful period he spent with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a traveling circus he joined during the Great Depression.

Check back soon for the Sage Room reviews of Water For Elephants.

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March's Pick

-Lisa
I've seen this book on quite a few book club lists and contemporary must-reads, but when a dear friend started singing its praise, I knew it was inevitable. This month's pick just has to be Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. A book about the greatest show on earth--let the story begin!

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In February

Anna

I squeezed in two more books this weekend!*

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (YA) - an alternate telling of WWI which includes huge walking machines and fantastic, strange animal fabrications. Also includes a prince on the run and a smart, adventurous girl disguised as a boy. I'll be looking for the next installment.

Evermore by Alyson Noel (YA) - eh, lame. Okay, it did have an intriguing premise. But that's it.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - sometimes I am just in the mood for a Nicholas Sparks novel.

*So, technically I finished The Last Song at 1AM this morning, but that counts, right?

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A Farewell To Arms - Anna's Review

Anna

Having read a few Hemingway short stories, I knew I didn't like his writing style, (yes, I know, his Oh So Glorious, Novel and Pulitzer Prize winning writing style). I had hoped I would like a novel of his better. But I didn't. His sentences were looooong. His dialogue short and repetitive. And the characters were lacking in depth. And, I found that at times, I just didn't trust Hemingway's portrayal of the characters lives and the events surrounding them. I mean, I know Hemingway was there, in Italy during WWI, but still, I felt uneasy, like, what's his angle and what's he trying to pull?

However, despite the many things I didn't like about the novel, there were several things I did like. I did, overall, like Henry and Catherine's love story. I liked the humorous scene of the barber mistaking Henry for the enemy. And I liked the moments when I actually connected with the characters and felt Hemingway was being honest.

If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry. - Frederic Henry

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Only 2

-Anna

It's nearing the end of February and I realized I have only read two books this month. So sad. I admit Hemingway put a clog in my reading machine. Maybe this weekend I can sneak in some more reading time and fit in three books read.

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A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
332 pages; written in 1929

A story that has been summarized as a tragic romance between an American soldier and a British nurse set during the First World War. It was this novel that propelled Hemingway as an author to the forefront of American literature.

Check back soon for the Sage Room reviews of A Farewell to Arms.

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Reason #8

-Erin

Because when I'm really sad I like to say I'm in the "depths of despair" and I know that others who love Anne with an e the way I do can relate.

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When You Reach Me--Lisa's Review

-Lisa
A super fun read if you're eleven. Absolutely deserving of the Newberry Medal. To me, it felt a bit more juvenile than some of the others that hold that honor, but it makes no claims to be written for adults! It was certainly well-planned and well-written, and my teacher's heart would love to read it aloud to fourth-graders or read and discuss it with seventh-graders. Don't think I would recommend it for adults, though.

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MOCKINGJAY

-Anna

OhHoOh! I could not help a squeal (okay maybe 3 or 4 squeals) of excitement when I saw the cover for The Final Book of The Hunger Games.

Release date: 8.24.10

http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/

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Reason #7

-Anna

Because I like to laugh-out-loud.

P.G. Wodehouse, you hit my funny bone every time!

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In January

-Anna

My goal for this year is to wrap up each month's books while they are still fresh in my mind, instead of waiting until the end of the year and trying to remember.

So in January, I read...

• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - I like Gaiman's writing style. This book is a little younger than YA, but it has some fun and ghostly elements that I enjoyed.
  
• In the Woods by Tana French - Really liked French's writing and character development. However (in case you missed my earlier post), I was disappointed with the conclusion of the book.
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer - I have seen this book on library shelves, book store displays, internet book sites, and for some reason I am just now reading it. What can I say, but that I liked it, and yeah, I'll be getting the next book in the series.
• Beastly by Alex Flinn - modern day, teenie soap version of Beauty and the Beast. It had some entertaining elements, and if I was 14, I'd probably love it, but it's not a book that transcends age for me.
• A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle - L'Engle is one of those authors I know about, read, love, and then forget about for awhile. Reading When You Reach Me, put her back on my radar, and honestly I think enjoyed this book more after reading When You Reach Me.

If you read some good books in January, let us know. We are always, always looking for good books!!

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When You Reach Me - E's Review

-Erin

I really liked this book. My only regret is that I wasn't 10 years old when I first read it. Now that couldn't be possible of course because it was written just last year. But what if I could travel back in time? Then I could read it when I was 10 and I am most certain it would have been one of my favorite books ever.

It would have introduced me to an elementary version of time travel long before I ever watched LOST and got totally screwed in the head. It would have showed me a girl I could relate to. A girl who needed a best friend, missed her best friend and didn't like other people reading her books. A girl who needed to grow up just a little and a girl who adored her mother.

It would have been one I read again and again. And yet at um, not 10 years old, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It left me feeling refreshed and smiling and it only took about an hour to finish.

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Goals of sorts.

-Erin

I have an ongoing list of goals I hope to accomplish this year. Among those are...

starting a record collection
building a fort
and reading the Federalist Papers again

There I said it out loud. Now I've added a level of accountability.

And while we primarily read fiction here at the Sage Room, it seemed worthy of note to let you know I'm going to read the Federalist Papers again. I work in politics and what with all that is going on in our country I needed to go back to my foundation. And this is where I landed.

I'll let you know how it goes. It will be weird reading them without knowing I'm going to be quizzed or called upon in class.

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Reason #6

-Erin

To escape. Some days more than others, I need to escape reality and find myself immersed in another world. Today might be one of those days.

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The Library on My Computer

-Anna

So, I've noticed a button on my library's website - audio book downloads - for a while now, but until yesterday, I'd never taken the time to actually find out if yes, indeed, audio books are only a click away.

They are! Last night I downloaded When You Reach Me and listened happily for a half hour, remembering again why I like this book.

Just another reason why the library is cool!

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Reason #5

-Anna

Paper. Font. Inky smell. Colorful covers. Small paperbacks. Heavy hardbacks. Shiny, smooth, rough, thick pages.

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February's Pick

-Erin

This month's pick - A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. I've never read Hemingway before which actually kind of shocks me since I am usually drawn to tragic stories mingled with love and loyalty.



Happy reading Sage Room! Or should I say happy not happy reading.

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Battening Down the Hatches

-Lisa

So if you haven't heard, an ice/snow storm is supposed to hit our little town this afternoon. And Tulsans, God bless em, are in a bit of a frenzy making preparations. With good reason, no doubt, after the storm of '07 left many of us housebound for days and without power for over a week. Grocery stores are running out of staples, hardware stores are cleaned out of generators, and gas stations are flying through propane tanks. But GOOD NEWS--I just checked and the library is not running out of books! I stopped by to grab a few extras in case I get the privilege of doing a little reading by flashlight tonight. I picked "An Old Fashioned Girl" by Louisa May Alcott (hard to believe I haven't already read it), "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway (this month's book club pick), and "If You Give a Mouse a Party" (in case I have company in bed tonight). Ice storm, bring it on! Now I'm ready!

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When You Reach Me - Anna's Review

-Anna

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In thinking about it, I can't help smiling. I just liked it.

I liked that Miranda was helping her mom practice for the game show $20,000 Pyramid (I loved this show growing up). I liked that Miranda loved to read, but really only loved to read A Wrinkle in Time. I liked the chapter titles. I liked the puzzles Miranda has to solve: the mysterious clues to future events, the mysterious actions of Marcus, the mysterious reactions of Sal, the mysterious disappearance of the $2 bills. And I liked the connectivity between Miranda's favorite book and her own life.

And while the reading level probably falls under independent reader or early young adult, I think Stead's writing will easily engage and entertain readers of all ages. And I definitely, definitely think it is a great book to read aloud to kids. In fact, I chose this book because my husband heard a blurb about it on NPR. Apparently a teacher read this book aloud to a classroom and when she came to the end, all the students clamored for her to read it again.

The twelve year old in me concurs! Read it again!

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Anna's 2009 Reads

-Anna
I would have liked to do this at the close of 2009 or even earlier this month, but well, as you can see I'm just now getting around to it. It being a quick summary of the books I read in 2009. I've decided to just make a list and rank them. If anyone wants more in depth info on any of the books, feel free to ask! (Ranked from favorite to least favorite, some being equal).

• Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia McKillip
• Heir of Sea and Fire by Patricia McKillip
• Harpist in the Wind by Patricia McKillip
  
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Shaffer/Barrows
• Chalice by Robin McKinley
• The Mystery Guest by Gregoire Buoillier
• Deerskin by Robin McKinley
• Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip
• Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip
• The Singing by Alison Croggon
• Sorcery & Cecelia by Wrede/Stevermer
• Graceling by Kristin Kashore
• Fire by Kristin Kashore
• Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern
• Vanity and Vexation by Kate Fenton
• The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
• Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
• The Ember City by Jeanne DuPrau
• Heart of the Wilderness by Janette Oke
• The Grand Tour by Wrede/Stevermer
• Cold Sassy Tree by Olivia Ann Burns
• Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenni Nimmo
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy
• Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• Nightrise by Anthony Horowitz
• Evil Star by Anthony Horowitz
• Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry
• The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
• The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
• Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
• The People of the Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
• A Country Doctor by Sarah Orne Jewett
• Agnes Gray by Anne Bronte
• If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern
• The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• Solstice Wood by Patricia McKillip
• The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
• The Thief by Megan Whaler Turner
• The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zamar
• WWW:Wake by Robert J. Sawyer
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
• Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson

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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
208 Pages
Young Adult
2010 Newberry Medal Winner

Sixth grader Miranda is faced with a few questions: Why did her best friend, Sal, stop wanting to be friends? Who is leaving her notes that disturbingly and accurately describe future events? Will her mom win the $20,000 Pyramid?

Check back soon to see The Sage Room's reviews on When You Reach Me.

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Reason #4

-Lisa

Because you can do it in bed. Read, that is.

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What, Are You 6?

-Anna

I was sulking. My husband asked, why? I replied, because, I didn't like the end of my book. He responded, what are you six? I thought, maybe.

But really, I did not not like the conclusion of Tara French's, In the Woods, and it put me in a bad mood.

The novel follows two Dublin detectives on the Murder Squad who are trying to solve the murder of a 12 year old girl. To complicates matters, the murder is in the same location as an unsolved case that is linked to one of the investigating detectives. Sounds intriguing, right? It is. It's well written, I liked the characters, I maintained during some of the drawn out details of the investigation. But I was really let down by the ending. Blarg.

The thing is, French has other novels out (coming out), that I'd be interested in reading. But now, I'm wary. I don't want to invest 400 pages and then be let down. Reading can be risky business.

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Reason #3

-Anna

Because there are few things better than a good book and a long soak in a hot tub on a rainy, winter's night.

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First Pick of 2010

-Anna

Okay, so technically it's E's turn to pick.
But she was crazy busy with her first ever photography show:

Oklahoma Magic

Which was totally AWESOME, and if you weren't there you way missed out, but of course you can always check out the pics on her blog.

But I digress.
So, since I already knew what I wanted to pick in February, we moved When You Reach Me to January and well, we will pretty much be confused for the rest of the year on whose turn it is to pick, but thus is life.

So check back soon for our reviews on When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead!

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And the winner is...

Using a random number generator...
 

The winner is...
 

Congrats! Email your address to erinconrad@gmail.com and we will send your book to you soon.

And thank you to everyone for playing. We will DEFINITELY do this again sometime! Plus I'm excited about checking out all of your suggestions.

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Reason #2

-Anna

Imagination.

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First Ever Giveaway!

One of our favorite reads for 2009 was The Road by Cormac McCarthy. We liked it so much in fact that we want to give YOU a copy! Seriously, you have to read this book.

All you have to do to enter the contest is to leave us a comment before midnight this Thursday (Jan 14th) telling us what one of YOUR favorite reads was in 2009.

We'll pick a winner and announce it on Friday.

That just made Monday worth it right there.

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We heart NY.

-Erin

I was looking back through some favorite pictures of 2009 and stumbled upon these. You may or may not know that the Sage Room took a trip to New York City this summer to celebrate our birthdays. Apparently we did some reading along the way. Or at least we LOOKED like we did.

Anna.
 

Lisa.
 

E.
 

And of COURSE we dressed up like Harry Potter at FAO Schwartz.
 

Here's to a 2010 filled with just as much fun AND lots of reading!

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52 Reasons the Sage Room Loves to Read - #1

-Erin

Hi there, 2010. Welcome to our little blog. With the start of the new year and the new decade, we at the Sage Room are hoping to have our own little fresh beginnings as well. Over the next few weeks you will (hopefully) start to see some changes around here. But change is good they say.

First we are going to host our first giveaway at the end of the week. We're also going to spruce up the blog a bit. It's quite a task keeping track of all these books we've read over the past two years!

And we are starting a section entitled "52 Reasons the Sage Room Loves to Read". These will be random, funny, spontaneous and listed once a week as they come to our minds. At least that's the goal. Feel free to play along and leave us a comment with a reason why YOU love to read. It's always fun to compare and make fun of each other. I mean. Compare and smile together :)

Note: each of us will list our own reasons which may or may not be a reflection of the other two members.

So for our initial installment of why the Sage Room loves to read:

#1 - Because Snape was essentially good. And I knew it the entire time.

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