Review: Resident Advisors

As a college student, sometimes you just need to get away from all the stress that is college.  And what better way to take a break from studying (finals are soon.  EEEEKKK) than watching a funny TV show about the RA's in a new dorm?  This series is co-written by Taylor Jenkins Reid (she's an author and we reviewed her book last year) and is produced by Elizabeth Banks (who makes a funny appearance in the series!).  I decided to look into this series since I am familiar with both of their work and I also think it's pretty neat when authors do big things (well writing a book is pretty big all on its own!).  Plus, sometimes you just need a laugh.  

This series is set in a "typical" dorm in the Silicon Valley and features the resident advisors and the students that live there.  Somehow I started with the second episode first (without realizing it) and was a little confused.  Unfortunately I did not realize my mistake until after the fact.  Soooo, I had to watch the first episode after I watched the second and continue on with the rest.  This series offers a lot of laughs as the new director (who sometimes is just a glorified babysitter of adult children) of the dorm navigates through all the chaos of college life.  There are some funny jokes (my favorites are about Blink 182 & about the girl who lived in a polygamous compound that discovers Harry Potter) and funny characters to follow (the ex-gf that can't let go...8 years later, the squatter, a dog with a sausage strapped to its back & more!) If you need a new series to binge watch and to lighten the mood from end of the semester papers, studying and preparing for finals, hop on over to Hulu and check this series out.  There are 7 episodes available to view right now!  It's freeeeeeeeee TV people and we all love free right?  

If you want to check out the series just go to Hulu here.  Also, if you want to read about the series a little bit more make sure and read this article.  

 About Taylor Jenkins Reid: Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author, essayist, and TV writer originally from Acton, Massachusetts. She co-wrote Resident Advisors scheduled to premiere on Hulu April 2015. Her debut novel, Forever, Interrupted, was optioned with Dakota Johnson attached to star. Her second book, After I Do, was hailed as a best summer reads by Elle and Shape Magazines. Her third book, Maybe In Another Life, will be out in July 2015. In addition to her novels, Taylor's essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, xoJane, and a number of other blogs. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Rabbit.

Follow her on Twitter, because is is pretty hilarious!

Book Review: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Members of the Vise Library were selected to review Saint Anything.  We received a copy of Sarah Dessen's book for an honest review.

About the book:

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.

I have always been interested in reading books by Sarah Dessen, but for one reason or another have not found the time to read any of her books.  I am so glad I was given a review copy of her newest book.  It dealt with some heavy subject matter, but I didn't feel weighed down reading it.  I thought this showed what a great storyteller Dessen is.  

Sydney's family is shaken up by a terrible decision made by her brother.  One night he hits a teenager on a bike while driving drunk.  The young boy is paralyzed and will probably never walk again.  Sydney's family is dealing with the aftermath of her brother's poor decision and all of the heartache that comes with it . Sydney realizes that her parents may not be as financially stable after all of the legal fees and decides to alleviate a financial burden.  She decides to switch from her private school to a public school in order to get a fresh start.  She is tired of living under the dark cloud that her brother cast and wants to be seen in a different light.  At first the adjustment to the new school is difficult, but she is befriended by Layla and her brother, Mac.  Here she is able to be herself and have someone to talk to about the horrible thing her brother did and not be judged for it.  

Sydney's family, her mother in particular, is really having a hard time coming to grips with what has happened to their family.  Sydney's brother, Peyton, has been sentenced to jail and their mother is trying to control and coordinate Peyton's life in jail.  She is of course trying to protect her son, but she is not focusing on the wrong that he inflicted.  She is trying to make his life easier and putting all of her focus on him.  Sydney's mom does not appear to understand what Sydney needs and cannot even see that one of Peyton's friends is not a good guy.  This "friend" of Peyton, Ames, is constantly being pushed on Sydney, even though she is very uncomfortable around him.  Everyone outside of Sydney's family is able to label him as a "creeper" but Sydney's mom and dad cannot understand why she doesn't want to be around him.  I think this showed how focused the mother was making things comfortable for Peyton and eventually something awful happens to wake the family up.  

Sydney wants to be seen, but she also wants to understand why no one in her family is apologizing to the young boy that her brother hit.  It makes her mad at her mother and her brother that no one has apologized to the boy.  She feels the need to carry that burden and take it on herself.  Sydney eventually makes a mistake to lose her parent's trust and because of the path her brother went on they are super strict on her to make sure she does not end up in the same place as Peyton.  While her mistake was very small, there was something in the book that really struck me.  Sydney tries to argue that it was just one small mistake, but her mother says that Peyton made one mistake and look what happened.  

This book really pulls at your heartstrings.  Like I mentioned before, this book had some very heavy subject matter and Dessen navigates it wonderfully.  Even though Sydney has a lot of terrible things to deal with, I never thought she played the victim in this.  In fact I would say that Sydney is very sympathetic and sad about the situation.  What her brother did not only impacted his life or the boy he hit, but everyone who knew him.  Sydney is very strong and navigates it all very well.  She finds some true friends and a boy that truly sees her.  After I read this book I knew three things: 1) I wanted some Seaside pizza, 2) I wanted to know Layla and Mac's family and 3) that I don't want to put off reading anymore of Sarah Dessen's books.  They will be moving to the top of my list! :)

Our copy of Sarah Dessen's book will be added to our catalog very soon.  Make sure that you keep an eye out for it!

My favorite quote from the book: "That was just it.  You never knew what lay ahead; the future was one things that could never be broken, because it had not yet had the change to be anything."

Buy the book:

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About the author:

I've been writing, in one way or another, for as long as I can remember. I was always a big reader, mostly because my parents were. I used to get frustrated with my mom because she bought me books for Christmas when what I really wanted were the gifts my friends got, things like sweaters and jewelry. But I did love to read. When I was eight or nine my parents gave me an old manual typewriter and a little desk in the corner of our den, and I'd sit there and type up my stories. I was the kind of kid that people always sighed over and said, "She has such a wild imagination," which usually meant "I wish Sarah would try to stick to the truth." I have a tendency to embellish: I think it's just a weakness of fiction writers. Once you learn how to make a story better, it's hard not to do it all the time."The books I read when I was teenager, the good ones anyway, have stuck more in my mind than anything since. I still love books, but while I couldn't tell you complete plots of novels I read even six months ago, I do remember even the smallest descriptive details from Lois Lowry's A Summer to Die or Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I think it was because back then books were still somewhat new to me, and when I found an author who seemed to say just what I was feeling, it really struck me and resonated. I hope that my books do that for the people who read them: I think it's the best thing to which any writer can aspire. "As far as my other life, my non-writing life, I live in the country with my husband, some lizards, and two dogs who are completely spoiled and rule me completely. I like to work in my garden---although I have not yet perfected the art of keeping everything alive----and, in my weaker moments, shop. I have a bit of an addiction to the Gap clearance rack, to be honest. I have this strange need to buy huge quantities of black pants. How many pairs of black pants does one person need? (Obviously for me, the answer is 11 and counting. But I digress.) What else can I tell you? I love Starbucks mochas but they make me way hyper. I subscribe to too many magazines. I make a mean bean salad. I could go on, but the truth is, my books are much more exciting than I am, and that's a good thing. It's always more fun to make stuff up anyway."

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Blog Tour: Storm Fall by Tracy Banghart

Members of the Vise Library were selected to participate in a blog tour for Storm Fall.  We received a copy of Tracy Banghart's book for an honest review.

About the book:

In the action-packed sequel to Rebel Wing, Aris battles for life and love . . . and not everyone will survive. 

Aris Haan gave up everything to join the Atalantan Military: her family, her boyfriend, even her identity. In the end, though, it didn’t matter that she was a war hero. When the all-male Military discovered that she was actually a woman, she was sent home and erased from history. 

Now she has a chance to go back to the battlefield—as herself. But as hard as it was to be a soldier in disguise, it’s even more difficult now. The men in her unit undermine her at every turn. The Safaran army has spies everywhere, perhaps even on Aris’s stationpoint. And she’s falling for her mysterious superior officer, Milek. But their relationship is forbidden, just stolen moments between training sessions and missions. There’s no room for love in war. 

Then Aris discovers that Safara’s leaders have set their sights on her, Atalanta’s hero. And she must find them before they find her . . .

This book is the second book in the Rebel Wing series by Tracy Banghart.  The first book in the series is Rebel Wing.  The first book of this series was action packed and had a lot more background information to it.  In this book, there is even more action and you are really seeing what is happening with the War.  Aris, at the beginning of this book, is struggling being at home after her secret time in the military.  She doesn't feel like she quite fits in with her friends at home and has really lost part of her identity.  She also is struggling with nightmares of Elom and coming to terms with what she saw on her missions.  Milek finally comes to visit Aris after she rescued his mother.  He offers her a way back in to the military without having to hide her identity.  Eventually she agrees, but is unsure what Milek wants from her as a person.  The war is getting more dangerous everyday.  Everyone is trying to figure out where Elom is and what Ward Balias' end game really is.  Not only is Aris having to deal with that, but she is also not being respected at her job.  Even though women are allowed to serve in the military, it doesn't mean that they are very welcome by soldiers or people in general in the military.  There are sightings of Elom at different places and Aris is sent on a mission to scout out an area.  However, there is something faulty with her plane that eventually she is found out and shot down.  I won't give anything away after that point, but we get to see quite a few view points of the aftereffects of her crash.

This book has a lot to it.  It has great characters and a fun story to it.  There is still an air of mystery to it with what is happening with Ward Balias.  The female characters in this book are funny, strong and not afraid to be their true selves.  I admired Aris and Dysis for different reasons.  They are both strong in their own ways and I am a little jealous of that!  This book shows you in multiple ways to seize your happiness while you have the chance.  More than one character gets a shot of redemption through forgiveness that they never saw possible.  It was great to see so many of the small characters from the first book in this series.   I love the imagination of the structures of the territories and how some characters aren't exactly what they appear to be.  I enjoyed the military and spy angles as well.  I mean, who doesn't love spies????  All and all this is a great book in a great series and I am very anxious for the third book in order to find out to the answers to some very important questions!

Buy the book:

     Amazon

     

About the author:

Award-winning author, Army wife, and mom Tracy Banghart has an MA in Publishing and an unhealthy affection for cupcakes. Her quiet childhood led to a reading addiction, writing obsession, and several serious book boyfriends.

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New Display: Jazz Appreciation Month

The Vise Library currently has a new display above the reference section.  April is considered Jazz appreciation month so we decided to create a display to show our appreciation of the arts!

As you will see from the pictures in this post we have included several books, movies and CDs on jazz and jazz artists.  Jazz appreciation month was started in 2001 in hopes that it would promote and bring attention to jazz.  This appreciation was funded largely so that people would be made aware of jazz and its history as an American art form.  Free concerts are given throughout the country.  If you are interested in finding out more about Jazz Appreciation Month, then you find more information here.  Now that you are a little more informed about this special month, stop by the library to see some of the resources we have on display - or check out a few of them!

Resources used:

http://www.jazzapril.com/

http://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz/jazz-appreciation-month

Book Review: Making Your Mind Up by Jill Mansell

Members of the Vise Library were selected to review Making Your Mind Up.  We received a copy of Jill Mansell's book for an honest review.

About the book:

Lottie Carlyle is happy enough. Living in a beautiful cottage with her two adorable-sometimes-kids in an idyllic village, on good terms with her ex-husband, and with friends all around, everything is going just fine. But when she meets her new boss, her peaceful world is thrown into delightful, exciting, and frustrating chaos. Tyler is perfect for Lottie, but her kids do not agree. To make matters worse, the handsome and mysterious Seb appears on the scene, intriguing-and distracting-Lottie and charming her children, making it more and more difficult for her to make up her mind...

Lottie is enjoying her life until her boss, Freddie, delivers some earth-shattering news.  Freddie has decided to sell his business to an American named Tyler.  Tyler and Lottie hit it off right away, but there is one problem.  Well two actually, Lottie's children Nat and Ruby.  They can't stand Tyler.  He made a few mistakes around them and they won't forgive him.  Ruby and Nat don't want their mom seeing Tyler at all.  So for her children's well-being, Lottie and Tyler decide to just keep to their working relationship.  After that decision, in swoops Seb.  He is fun and Lottie's kids love him.  However, Lottie doesn't feel that spark with Seb as she does with Tyler.  Lottie decides to stay with Seb for the sake of her children.  Eventually something happens along the way to reveal people's true feelings and nothing is the same!

I always enjoy Jill Mansell's novels.  I love how she interweaves multiple story lines together and makes the whole book complex.  She always has enjoyable and funny characters (Mario, Amber, Tedd, Jojo, etc.).  That doesn't change in this novel.  Lottie is not perfect, but she is fun and loves her children.  There are other smaller plot lines that happen throughout the book.  There is quite a bit of sadness and righting wrongs from the past.  I think it's interesting to note that several characters needed a second look, because they weren't what they appeared to be in the beginning.  You will laugh at the dialogue of this book and at the same time feel for the heartache that happens.  All in all a very enjoyable and fun book to add to your summer beach book list ! 

Buy the book:

     Amazon

     Barnes and Noble

About the author:

Hi, I'm Jill Mansell and I live in Bristol in the UK with my family. I worked for many years in a neurological hospital but for the last two decades have been a full time novelist of happy, sad, funny, feel-good fiction. Sales of my books around the world now total nine million and I've only just realized as I'm typing this now that over the years I must have made an awful lot of people laugh and cry. Sorry!

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Book Review: The Balance Project by Susie Orman Schnall

Members of the Vise Library were selected to review The Balance Project.  We received a copy of Susuie Orman Schnall's book for an honest review.

(Love this cover!!!)

About the book:

The Balance Project is a story of loyalty, choices, and balance that will resonate deeply with all women who struggle with this hot-button issue. Loyal assistant Lucy Cooper works for Katherine Whitney, who seems to have it all: a high-powered job at a multibillion-dollar health and wellness lifestyle company, a successful husband, and two adorable daughters. Now, with the release of her book on work-life balance, Katherine has become a media darling and a hero to working women everywhere. In reality, though, Katherine’s life is starting to fall apart, and Lucy is the one holding it all together, causing her own life—and relationship with her boyfriend Nick—to suffer. When Katherine does something unthinkable to Lucy, Lucy must decide whether to change Katherine’s life forever or continue being her main champion. Her choice will affect the trajectory of both of their lives and lead to opportunities neither one could have imagined.

Lucy Cooper is having a hard time balancing everything in her life at the moment.  She has a job as an assistant to Katherine Whitney who is a COO and who has written a well received book about women being able to have-it-all.  Since the book was so successful among women, Katherine's life, therefore Lucy's life, has been crazier than ever.  Because of this success, both of the women are having a hard time finding the balance that Katherine declares is easy and possible.  It isn't easy for Lucy at all.  Her relationship with her longtime boyfriend Nick is suffering BIG time.  She is not able to make her relationship a priority by missing important dates and events that involve Nick.  Lucy has a chance to make it up to Nick, but unfortunately Katherine's life interferes again and so there is no Nick & Lucy anymore.  

To add insult to injury, Katherine has not been very nice to Lucy and even sabotages something that is Lucy's dream.  Lucy is, of course, mad and hurt by Katherine's actions that she retaliates by doing something so out of character of her.    Lucy wishes she could take it all back, but unfortunately the damage is set in motion where it makes both of their lives start tumbling down.  Lucy has to find strength to go after what she wants instead of waiting for her life to happen.  

I have followed Susie's blog for The Balance Project.  She interviews women about "having it all." This book incorporates this idea by having Katherine write a book talking about this same idea.  I think it's a very interesting idea and as women we are always trying to juggle it all.  I don't have kids, so I can't imagine having to throw that in the mix, but I feel it in my own life too.  I recently got married, go to school, work, maintain our house, etc and some days it does feel like to much.  Sometimes I think to myself "How does everyone else do it?"  When we see women that seem to glide along like it's nothing.  However, a lot of women (especially people like Katherine) have a lot of outside help.  This could be nannies, assistants, or housekeepers.  They really AREN'T doing it all. In this book the main character has to change her perception of "having it all" and figure out what is the most important aspects of her life that she wants to excel at.  Like in everyday life, Lucy and Katherine are dropping the ball somewhere.  That isn't necessarily a bad thing and it doesn't mean that they are failing either.  That just means they need to decide what is most important to them and go with it.   This book is very relatable.  

Even though it is a work of fiction, The Balance Project is also what many women struggle with everyday.  There were times that Lucy forgoes her own dreams and happiness to stay as Katherine's assistant.  She feels loyal and sympathizes that there is a lot going on in Katherine's life.  She doesn't want to increase that burden.  This spoke to me big time.  I once had a job that was AWFUL and felt the need to stay even though at times I was so miserable.  I felt loyal to the company and knew my leaving would be hard on the people I enjoyed working with.  Lucy goes through the same thing.  Sometimes the people on the outside can't understand, especially when she passes up on a dream jobs.  I really enjoyed this book.  I loved the characters, the story and the message.  It made me feel better about my own life and realize it's okay if I don't get everything done.  There just are not enough hours in the day and I am okay with that.  I think this book will be fun and very therapeutic for women.  I know it was for me!  As one of my favorite singers Kacey Musgraves says, "Having it all is a state of mind."  :) 

If you are interested about Susie's Balance Project, click here.  She has over 60 interviews with women from all walks of life that give insight on finding that balance!

Buy the book:

     Amazon

     Barnes and Noble

About the author:

Originally from Los Angeles, Susie Orman Schnall graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Schnall has written for national and local publications about parenting and health. She lives in New York with her husband and their three young boys. Visit www.susieschnall.com.

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Book Review: A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Members of the Vise Library were selected to review A Court of Thorn and Roses.  We received a copy of Sarah J. Maas's book for an honest review.

About the book:

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin-one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin-and his world-forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristen Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

This book is anything but predictable and is full of adventure the whole time.  There is so much action and deception in the first novel of a new series by Maas.  Feyre is the sole caretaker of her family.  Her family is very poor and starving.  She is out hunting for food one day and kills a wolf.   She gets quite a bit of money for the wolf and feels like her family will be okay through the harsh winter.  However the exact opposite appears to happen.  Tamlin, a High Fae creature who can transform to a human-like form, tracks down Feyre.  It turns out the wolf that she killed was also a High Fae and she must either be killed or agree to live at the home of Tamlin.  She chooses to stay alive, but she can never return back to her family.

Feyre does not set out to like Tamlin or befriend his friend Lucien.  She is always trying to look for ways to escape or defend herself.  However, Tamlin does not want her as a slave. He has enough problems of his own to worry about.  There is a sickness all through his land that brings very dangerous creatures near.  Tamlin is very powerful, but the blight that plagues the land has weakened his magical abilities.  One night he is hurt trying to kill a creature that dangers his people and Feyre starts to care about and understand Tamlin.  She realizes that Tamlin is very different from the stories she has been told about the High Fae.  

Things start to escalate not only between Tamlin and Feyre, but with the evil surrounding them.  They begin to care deeply about each other, but Tamlin must send Feyre away to protect her from the very evil that is taking away his powers.  Lucien is very upset at Tamlin and so is Feyre.  What happens next is the real guts of the book.  Feyre finally uncovers the actual truth behind the curse and what part she plays in it to protect Tamlin and his lands.

This book was so imaginative and I didn't want to put it down (This is pretty much how I spent my Easter Break; sorry family!).  I wanted to find out what was going to happen next.  I found myself on edge at certain parts of the book (can't discuss those!  Sorry, you will have to read it for yourself!).  I loved seeing the change within Feyre.  I also enjoyed her finding help in some unlikely places.  There are so many parts of this book that has things not appearing as what they really are.  There are so many games of deception being played that you will be on the edge of your seat to find out who and why they are playing a very dangerous game.  If you are looking to escape to a whole new world and find adventure along the way, make sure you check out A Court of Thorn and Roses and thank me later!  (It's worth noting that Sarah J. Maas will be in Nashville May 8 at Parnassus books for a signing for this book.  I plan on being there!!)  Look for a copy of this book to be added when it publishes in May!

PS I love how Mass writes to her dog in the acknowledgements by thanking her for being the best dog ever.  A girl after my own heart!

Buy the book:

     Amazon

     Barnes and Noble

About the author:

Sarah J. Maas is the author of the New York Times and internationally bestselling Throne of Glass series. A New York City native, Sarah currently lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with her husband and dog.

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