Bookish friends are among the best kinds of friends, don't you think? I met one of my favorite friends when we were both in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps together. Honestly, I have no recollection of what brought us together but from my end, what keeps me obsessed with Alexis is the fact that she is one of, if not THE most caring person I have ever met. She is someone who actually listens to people and remembers details about their lives. I have a million and one other reasons to love her but one of the most glaring is that she is amazing at talking about books. I consider her to be a very well-read person and our tastes often overlap so I think it's also safe to say that she has impeccable taste. (I'm sure one of the traits Alexis loves about me is my AMAZING sense of humor) Even though we've been having great success with our recommendations, I knew Tatiana, Catie, and I needed a break from challenging each other in She Made Me Do It, so I decided to enlist this real-life reader bud of mine for the job of recommendation-maker. Plus, it has the added bonus of keeping us in touch since Alexis is finishing up her PhD on the east coast and I am just sitting here soaking up the fall Seattle rain. So, here we go...

Green Rider by Kristen Britain

What it's about: A young woman on the way home stumbles into a dying man and takes up his mission, delivering a message to the king.  The simple delivery turns into a major adventure.

Why I think she'll like it:  I read A LOT of fantasy books with strong female leads thrust into world saving adventures.  Green Rider doesn't break the mold, but instead fits the mold really really well.  This is a satisfying fantasy adventure romp with a great female lead that keeps you wanting more.  I recommend this to Flannery because sometimes a person is just looking for a comfort read--a classic, well written, fantasy epic.

Maus by Art Speigelman

What it's about: A graphic novel that depicts one man's survival during the Holocaust and his son's efforts to remember and understand his father's journey.

Why I think she'll like it:  This book was assigned to me in one of my first college classes.  I remember going to the university book store to buy all of my assigned books and picking up Maus and feeling so liberated.  No more textbooks!  Maus is a powerful, complex story enhanced by the visual imagery.  Since Flannery is on a graphic novel kick, I want her to read the book that started my obsession with graphic novels and remains my absolute favorite.

Terrier by Tamora Pierce

What it's about: A rookie in the Provost Guard tries to make it as a crime fighter in the roughest part of town.

Why I think she'll like it: I am always recommending Tamora Pierce books to Flan and she seems to enjoy them (although perhaps not with as much devotion as me).  I think she will like this latest installment because it is the same fun, easy reading as Pierce's other Tortall books but focuses on the seedy underbelly which makes for some unique, entertaining characters and adventures.

On Green Rider: This is probably the one I am most excited about because it has been a priority read for me for a year or two. I need the push and I hope this is the one that will get me over the finish line because I could do with a good fantasy novel at the moment, especially a female-driven one.

On Maus: This is such a classic graphic novel and I'm really ashamed I haven't read it yet. My family has had a copy of it on our bookshelves for decades and I'm fairly sure that every one of my siblings has already read it. *sigh* This is absolutely first on my list. I already checked out both volumes from the library and I am waiting until after work tomorrow to read them in case they make me cry, which I have a feeling they might.

On Terrier: Tamora Pierce is such a comfort read for me, and Alexis knows this. She's read many more of Pierce's books, maybe even all of them, but I still have many more to go. True confession: I even have two of Alexis's Tamora Pierce books sitting in a pile of books in my bedroom. Anyway, Pierce writes awesome young confident female characters and I am certain I will love this book.

Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose

What It's About: A jury of men deliberating about the guilt or innocence of a young man accused of murder.

Why I think she'll like it: Alexis is smart. She is also interested in politics and I think that interest will translate to the same kind of interest I had in this play from the 1950s. Alexis keeps up with the news and I found Twelve Angry Men to be scary--it reminded me just who makes up juries and how much trust we put in everyday people. I bet she'll find it just as compelling as I did.

Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer

What it's about: A pastry chef. Romance. You know the rest.

Why I think she'll like it: Alexis is like me in that she loves reading random contemporary romances to decompress. This book isn't earth-shattering or anything but I think she'll like it and it's very low on the attention requirement scale. I'm certain she could read this very fast but I'm also sure that she won't have any trouble dropping and picking the story back up later.

Saga, vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan

What It's about: A pair of star-crossed lovers (well, spouses) in space.

Why I think she'll like it: Well, I'm not positive she'll will, but I have high hopes. After she included Maus as one of her recommendations for me, I thought about what graphic novels she might like since I have read so, so many this year so far. I picked Saga because Alexis loves space stories (when they are well done), and I think Saga is the best graphic novel in that area.

On Seeing Me Naked: I haven't heard of this book but it does sound right up my alley and I am definitely in need of some fluffy romance to decompress.  I also happen to love books that involve cooking or baking which is an added bonus.  Flannery says I will read this quickly which is probably a good thing because I suspect I will be craving baked goods throughout.

On Twelve Angry Men: Flannery does know me well.  Back when I wanted to go to law school as a kid, this was one of my favorite movies.  At the time, it never occurred to me to read the original source material.  I will be interested to read this and go back to the movie as well for comparison.

On Saga, Vol. 1: The short blurb for this series sounds fantastic.  I am intrigued that the main characters are married--so many of the books I read these days are "will they or won't they?" romance plotlines.  My only worry with this graphic novel is that it will take awhile to identify with the main characters when one has moth wings and the other one has ram horns.  I am up for the challenge though, haha.

Hey, look!  We made it through another round of recommendations! In this dry spell of a summer that we all seem to be having, I call this a victory, even if all the recommendations are short works of fiction. The fantastic thing about these short challenges is that we have a much higher completion percentage. This time, each of us read at least two of the challenge recs. We're hoping to ease our way back into the blogging world in the next few weeks. Here's to hoping we have as much success at that as we did in this challenge. Be sure to let us know if you have any recommendations for short fiction in the comments.

Tatiana read: EVERYTHING!

Verdict: Coincidentally, I liked Flannery's recommendations in the order the appear above - from the best to less... best.

Iphegenia in Aulis was the best for me. It was such interesting twist on a familiar trope! I won't mention which trope, not to spoil things, but this paranormal story was awesome (much better than the Sookie short that was in the same collection) and probably the best work of fiction about this particular type of creature.

I enjoyed Y as well. One day all male species die out and the MC is the only surviving man. How will this women-filled world function? I didn't agree with all the extrapolations Vaughan came up with in this comic, and yet it was entertaining. I will eventually read the rest of this series.

Finally, Address Unknown. I definitely wasn't as impressed by it as Catie and Flannery had been, but to be fair, it's hard for me to be impressed by a Nazi story (I had been raised on WWII books and movies), but I appreciated the clever twist.

Great picks again!

Catie read: Hell is the Absence of God and Wenlock Edge...plus a few others from Ted Chiang and the entire volume of stories from Alice Munro.

Verdict:  I can credit Tatiana with introducing me to two new favorite authors this month, as I adored both of these collections.  I haven't read the entire Ted Chiang yet but I'm working my way through steadily (and out of order, for some reason).  Hell is the Absence of God is the absolutely frightening story of a man who lives in a world where visitations from terrifying and destructive angels are an everyday occurrence.  Heaven is populated by those who believe in God; whereas, hell is quite a bit like Earth – only without all the hindrances of corporeality.  When the main character loses his beloved wife, a believer, he as a non-believer struggles to reconcile his desire to see her again with his complete lack of faith.  The ending is a bleak punch to the face look at the darker side of absolute faith that left me feeling sick and cold.  In other words, I absolutely loved it.  Chiang’s other stories (the ones I’ve read so far) are likewise brilliant – he writes hard science fiction with an emphasis on the hard.  I would recommend his writing to those who love Ursula K. Le Guin or Bernard Beckett.

Too Much Happiness was just genius from start to finish; although, I must say that Wenlock Edge wasn’t my favorite in the collection.  Munro has a very quiet, understated way of writing that seeps into you and makes you feel more and more uneasy.  It’s that feeling of standing in a completely bland, normal looking room and just knowing that somewhere, something is terribly off.  She is an expert in building quiet tension and although her stories don’t often end with fireworks, they leave a definite mark.  My favorites in the collection were Dimensions, about a woman who can’t seem to separate herself from her abusive husband and Deep-Holes, about a mother who constantly undermines herself for her husband and children.

In conclusion, my main verdict is this: Tatiana has impeccable taste.  Thanks for another great round!

Flannery read: Fade to White and Black Step.

Verdict: Fade to White is the first of Valente's work I've read and it certainly won't be the last. I've already recommended this story to several more readers. I could absolutely picture every part of it as a movie. I WISH IT WAS A MOVIE. My heart broke for one of the characters and in such a short piece, that is a feat. I liked Valente's style, particularly the way she describes things and how her characters interact. Black Step I didn't like as much, but I think part of that could be that I wanted it to be a story by Ron Rash, one of my new loves. There were several images in the story that I loved and I am still thinking about it a few hours after completing it, which is always a good sign. Catie is right that this author and collection are good recommendations to people who enjoyed Rash's Nothing Gold Can Stay. I definitely plan on reading the rest of this collection, though I think I might enjoy Woodrell's work even more in audio format. There's something about these dark, depressing tales that lend themselves to audio performance. I suppose it is the way each of them feel like a character telling a short story--it feels like oral history. I wanted to read Squirrel Meets Chipmunk but just didn't make the time this month. I will eventually, though! Thanks for the recommendations, Catie!

Can you believe it?  We made it back here in less than six months! Sure, it still took us two months but we are going to call it a victory. It turns out that a little short fiction may have been just what we all needed.  After starting this challenge, we all ended up diving into various short stories and collections so look out for more of that in the future!  For now, we are playing another round of She Made Me Do It with each other, featuring more short stories, graphic novels, and novellas.

Here's what happened with last month's recommendations...

Tatiana read: Everything but The Gorgon in the Gully.

Verdict: Like Flannery, I ended up reading Rash's entire collection, and it's good, with stories set in different times, with different tones. It's not surprising, however, that I didn't necessarily like the same stories Catie did. Those Who Are Dead Are Only Now Forgiven broke my heart as well (drugs are BAD, people!). But I thought A Servant of History was a lot of fun too, and a nice reprieve from other dark stories.

As for Mo Willems' books, I pretty much read every book of his that my library had, including gems like Time to Pee! I think they are great fun for kids and I will definitely read them again and again, once my boy is old enough to understand them. Willems' are kids' book of the best quality. After reading a bunch of baby books already, I am sure of it.

I will read The Gorgon in the Gully one day, when it miraculously lands on my doorstep:)

I can't really rate everything I've read for this challenge individually. Let's say, they all got at least 3.5 stars from me. Most 4 and up. Thanks, Catie!

Catie read:  Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster

Verdict:  Here I am feeling like the slacker of The Readventurer, because I only read one (ONE) of the fabulous picks Flannery chose for me.  And they were all so short!  I have no option but to hang my head in shame.  Oh, and I should also probably mention that the one I read actually served double duty because it was, coincidentally, the selection for my book club this month.  So I’m also kind of a cheater.  Nevertheless!  I really did enjoy Daddy Long Legs.  Yes, it really does remind me quite a bit of my beloved Anne of Green Gables.  In some ways, I actually (gasp!) liked it even more.  Judy is practical and resourceful and scrappy in a way that dreamy Anne never could be.  And while they both share a seemingly interminable optimism, Judy’s feels darker and more realistic next to Anne’s dreams of golden pavilions and starry nights.  Anne had to come down to Earth to find her true love in the simple, reliable boy next door.  But for Judy, finding love requires expanding her dreams and hopes out of her small world.  However, there’s still the small (read: gigantic, unsurpassable) matter of the love interest.  No one, and I mean NO ONE, could ever surpass Gilbert Blythe for me.  So really, when compared to the Anne books, this series doesn’t stand a chance. 

I did end up reading the second book in the series (Dear Enemy) as well.  It was pretty charming, but there were just enough references to eugenics and the hiding away of disabled children to make me uncomfortable.  If that sounds like something that would make you uncomfortable too, I’d suggest stopping after number one.  Overall, this was another awesome edition of SMMDI.  I give Daddy Long Legs a solid 4 stars.

Flannery read: All three, as well as Nothing Gold Can Stay (one of Catie's recommendations to Tatiana).

Verdict: I had a great time reading all of these, and I am a huge, huge fan of these short recommendations. The first one I went for was Ethel & Ernest, as it was the first hold to show up at my library. The author wrote the short, illustrated book about his parents and their romance. I loved that he was able to capture simple living and a somewhat small-scale approach to life without it feeling at all insulting. My grandparents lived similar sorts of lives (or at least that was the appearance they gave a growing me) and it made me miss them and the stories they'd tell. Briggs' parents fell in love and together they experienced a lot of technological advancements as well as hard times during rationing and WWII. The book only takes about twenty minutes to read and I recommend it to anyone new to graphic novels/illustrated stories and anyone who wants to just smile at the story of a relationship.

Next, I listened to Nothing Gold Can Stay by Ron Rash, which was recommended to Tatiana in this SMMDI. Good thing I don't pay attention to what is recommended to who because I absolutely loved listening to this collection of stories. Each one begins as a regular story but has some sort of twisty ending. I had to rewind several of the endings to make sure I was getting the full weight of what was happening. I am definitely a Ron Rash fan after listening to this audiobook. I read another of his stories last week in an anthology and I now plan to read everything he's written.

It took a while for my hold on The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate to come in, but when it did I read it immediately. Firstly, it is always amazing to me when an author whose work I am reading lives in my general vicinity. I can't help wondering if I might've walked by them or seen them somewhere. This is especially true when the words they've written are lovely, as this story by Ted Chiang definitely is. Merchant is a sort of time-twisty sci fi fairy tale. I wasn't sure what I was going to get but I was very happy with how original Chiang's tale felt--sort of the middle east meets Replay by Ken Grimwood.

The last stories I went through were the two by Truman Capote. I was a bit underwhelmed by Capote's painting of Marilyn Monroe as a constantly cussing, insecure actress rather than the bombshell most of us know her as. I still liked the story but I think it lacked the depth and interest that, say, my other assigned story, Handcarved Coffins, had. Coffins is based on a true crime serial killer story. While I was riveted by the story, I have to admit that the lack of closure was frustrating. Also, this story would be an amazing episode of a television show or a movie.

When all was said and done, I rate them as:
Ethel & Ernest: 4/5
Nothing Gold Can Stay: 4.5/5
Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate: 4/5
A Beautiful Child: 3/5
Handcarved Coffins: 4/5

2013 has been a rough reading and blogging year for the Readventurers thus far. One terrific example of this problem is our last She Made Me Do It challenge, which took us (well, to be fair, me (Flann), Catie, and Maja from Nocturnal Library) SIX MONTHS to complete and close out. Our perfect solution is to make our challenge this time to be one easily completed. So, for this edition of She Made Me Do It we are challenging each other to read recommendations that are all under 200 pages in length. Many of our picks are far shorter than that; some even just a few pages long. We are all hoping to be hugely successful this time around. Let us know what we should each pick in the comments section.

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Ron Rash

What it's about: Characters spanning a huge time frame (Civil War era to present day) from the American South deal with the fleeting nature of life and their crumbling hopes.

Why I think she'll like it:  I was introduced to Ron Rash through another installment of SMMDI, so it's only fitting that I should pay it forward in the same venue.  I recently listened to the audio version of this collection and loved it even more than Rash's full-length novel, Serena.  The audio version is just over four hours and has an incredible cast of narrators, but she doesn't need to listen to the whole thing.  I particularly think she'd enjoy the title story, Nothing Gold Can Stay, about two childhood friends whose lives have changed since they discovered prescription drugs, Where The Map Ends because it has a great twist ending, Those Who Are Dead Are Only Now Forgiven because it broke my heart with how inevitable the conclusion felt, and Cherokee because it kept me at the very edge of my seat and gave me exactly what I was hoping for, only to make me realize just how awful and limited that hope was.  

The Gorgon In The Gully by Melina Marchetta

What it's about: Young Danny Griggs (Jonah's little brother!) struggles with overwhelming fear, especially for the horrible Gorgon which lives in the gully behind the play yard of his school.  When he kicks a soccer ball into the Gully's lair, will he have the bravery to go after it?

Why I think she'll like it: This is the only Melina Marchetta novel that Tatiana has not read yet.  Enough said.  Bonus - I will mail it to her myself since I know it is hard to find.

A Mo Willems Sampler 
(To be obtained at the library as separate books...unfortunately the "Mo Willems Sampler" is not a real product...yet.)

What they're about: Thoughtful, clever, and hilarious stories for kids that grown-ups won't mind having to read over and over and over (AND OVER) again.

Why I think she'll like them:  As a new mom, Tatiana might enjoy discovering some wonderful children's book authors, and Mo Willems is one of the best.  I recently ordered a bunch of the Elephant and Piggie books for my five year old daughter and couldn't help reading them all myself before giving them to her.  His stories are entertaining for all ages and while they sometimes have a lot of emotion and heart, they're never overly preachy or didactic.  Mo Willems always writes to children and for children and never down to children.  My favorites are:
Hooray For Amanda And Her Alligator - about a little girl and her favorite stuffed alligator toy.
The Elephant and Piggie Series - about an Elephant and a Pig who are best friends.
The Knuffle Bunny Series - about a little girl who chronically loses her favorite toy (the series spans her life from babyhood to adulthood and my husband can't read the end of the last book without getting all emotional).
The Pigeon Series - about a pigeon who always wants what he can't have (great for younger kids and toddlers).

Tatiana's Verdict: Well, next time I am at the library, Mo Willems' books are definitely going into my bag. It is so true, it's been a pleasure to discover children's writers. Who knew that 20-page books with pictures in them could be so interesting? I am hoping Willems will become one of my faves too. Nothing needs to be said about Melina Marchetta's book, I've been waiting to read it for ages. Ron Rash's collection might be a challenge. There is a bunch of people waiting for it at the library, fingers crossed, it won't take me months to get it. I am confident though, at least one of Catie's recommendations I will be able to finish this year, to add to my count of, what?, six full-length books read in 2013:)

Music for Chameleons by Truman Capote

What it's about: Short works (fiction and non-fiction) by one of the best American writers who never fully realized his potential (IMO).

Why I think she'll like it: I am cheating here a little bit. This collection is more than 200 pages long, but I wouldn't want Flannery to read it all, it is not even in quality. However, a couple of titles here are sure to catch her attention. Knowing that Flannery likes biographical non-fiction, a conversational portrait of Marylin Monroe "A Beautiful Child" should be of interest to her. "Handcarved Coffins" is a true crime story, and I think she will like it as well. As for the rest of the collection, short stories can be easily skipped, while some other conversational portraits are great too, but it's up to Flann if she wants to read more. I am only "assigning" these two:)

The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate by Ted Chiang

What it's about: A Middle East-flavored fairy-tale/time-travel story.

Why I think she'll like it: Well, I recommend Ted Chiang as often as I can (still waiting for Catie to read him, too). He is a SF author who writes cleverly and elegantly. This story is the most accessible of his. Flannery loves SF and time travel, plus, the story has a certain fairy-tale element to it that she, who enjoyed Fables so much, will appreciate. It is also available as an audio podcast for free here and can be easily found in iTunes. 

Ethel & Ernest by Raymond Briggs

What it's about: A lovely story of life of the author's working class parents.

Why I think she'll like it: While I don't think this graphic novel is the best ever, I think Flannery will be pleased by this charming, funny life story. It'll be a nice departure from her more beloved action-packed comics.

Flannery's verdict: I am going to read all three of these. Overall, I'm ecstatic that all three of us agreed to challenge each other with short books this time around because reading something that someone else is recommending can suck the enjoyment out of a book. This isn't because the book or the rec is bad but just because it isn't what I'm in the mood for. (I am very fickle) I had not heard of any of these picks before this moment and that excites me even more. I can almost feel Tatiana's enthusiasm for Ted Chiang in her paragraph on that book so there is no way I can skip it, but I must admit that she also hit on two of my 2013 hot spots with her other two picks -- biographical nonfiction and graphic novels. I put all three on hold and cannot wait to knock them all out. If I had access to them at this moment, I feel like I could read all three today.

Catie's Verdict:  Wow, I want to read all three of these!  I will probably at least start all three of them and see what happens.  I've been so fickle and distracted lately that almost nothing is able to hold my interest, but I think Flannery has done an excellent job with her picks.  I'm going to start with Daddy Long-Legs because I am indeed in a romance mood which is a rare thing for me and so I feel compelled to indulge it while it's here.  Flannery also knows that I love Isaac Asimov though, so that one will probably be a must.

So what do you think? Have any short recommendations for us?

In December, we started a She Made Me Do It challenge with Maja from The Nocturnal Library. Life got in the way for all three of us, as it does, but as of last week we were all able to read at least one of the challenge books. We are happy to finally close out the challenge and concentrate on the laundry list of other reading goals each of us has. We'll probably start another challenge in the next few weeks, and hopefully it won't take us over five months to complete it next time. Here's a recap of who read what and how we felt about the experience this time around...

Flannery read: Lucid and Virtuosity, and tried Discount Armageddon.

Verdict: I was so sure I was going to love Lucid. At the onset of the book and through probably about the first third or so, I was insanely curious what was going on. If anyone is unfamiliar, the book switches back and forth between Maggie, a budding young actress in Manhattan and Sloane, a typical teenage girl in Mystic, Connecticut. Each night, when they go to sleep, they dream of each other's lives, but which one is real? Both? Neither? I think the book just dragged on too long before getting to its point, but I did like the narrative style, the sense of humor and random references, and the idea behind the book. It was a 3-3.5/5 for me. I attempted to read Discount Armageddon but could not get into it on my initial try. There was nothing specifically off-putting to me besides the cheesy outfit on the cover (which actually makes sense in the book), so I will definitely try it again. Virtuosity I read in one sitting. I loved reading about Carmen and her mad violin skillz. It was also a 3.5-star read for me. Thanks for the challenges, Maja! I definitely needed the shove to read these ones.

Maja read: Holier Than Thou.

Verdict: I had a bit more difficulty with the books Flannery recommended, but not because she doesn’t know me well (trust me, she does, she even knows how to pronounce my name and doesn’t hesitate to spread that knowledge to unsuspecting mutual acquaintances), but due to a series of unfortunate events. My sudden love for fantasy made me decide to read Alanna first, so I went ahead and downloaded the audio, only to realize that I loathe the narrator. The poor book didn’t stand a chance. I then picked up Never Let Me Go from my library, but my sister was visiting at the time and she convinced me I wouldn’t like it. We rarely agree about books and I don’t usually take her advice or recommendations, but in this case, her lack of enthusiasm was contagious. In the end, Holier than Thou couldn’t be avoided any longer. I finished it just last night and liked it enough to give it 4.5 stars, although it accomplished exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid: it left me feeling melancholic, restless and a little bit sad. I will eventually read Alanna too because I’m certain I’ll like it, but I won’t be going back to that audio.

Thank you, Flann! Please don’t hit me anymore.

Catie read: The Stranger.

Verdict: I’ve had The Stranger on my shelf unread for an embarrassing number of years.  It’s one of those books that I have because I picked it up at some library book sale with every intention of reading it and then of course didn’t…possibly because of the intimidating “snooty intelligent book” waves which emanate from it or possibly because when it comes to books, I just get sidetracked easily, like a toddler at a petting zoo.  Regardless, I was thrilled when Maja finally gave me a real excuse to force myself to read this book.  Back when we started this challenge, I pulled it off my shelf and promptly started it, fully intending to finish within a week or two.  And then I chronically found an excuse not to read it for the next five months.  I’m sure you all know how that goes.  BUT, I am happy to report that I finally found my way back to good old Camus and finished this thing a couple of weeks ago.  And I loved it!  I mean, I always knew that I would.  Back in college I practically handed around my copy of The Plague to every friend I had (I was a really exciting person back then, obviously).  What got to me the most about The Stranger was that, despite its cool and disconnected tone, the simmering waves of grief and loneliness and rage were so palpable to me.  Actually, in that way it really reminds me a bit of Holier Than Thou (which I’m so happy that Maja enjoyed).  It’s also completely depressing to consider how quickly we humans will judge one of our own for acting in any way "abnormal", but you all know how I love depressing books.  So thank you, Maja for finally making me revisit Camus.  Now, which member of my playgroup wants to borrow it first?  Anyone?  Bueller?  

Maja read: Eon.

Verdict: I should start by saying that I fell madly in love with fantasy just a few months back. It started with Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, continued with Kristin Cashore’s books, and I haven’t been able to stop myself since. I should also say that, when it comes to fantasy recommendations, there is no one in this world I trust more than Catie. Out of the three books she chose for me, I picked up Eon first simply because I already owned a copy. To say that it wasn’t what I expected would be an understatement. For some reason, I assumed it would be more middle grade than young adult, and I assumed Eon(a) would be an admirable character, but neither was correct. While I didn’t adore the book like I adored Seraphina, I ordered the second one as soon as I finished reading, and it’s been taunting me from my shelf ever since. However, every time I look at it with its 600 intimidating pages, my reading schedule starts growling at me. I guess I’ll just have to wait for another challenge.

I will definitely read the other two books as well as soon as I find the time. Thanks, Catie!

Last month, we were very happy to swap recommendations with  two of our favorite bloggers (and definitely some of the most hilarious), Maggie and Noelle from Young Adult Anonymous. All the recommendations were successful (more or less) and some people kicked ass at the challenge by reading more than one of the recommendations. After recapping the results of the last edition of She Made Me Do It, we will embark on another installment, this time with the lovely Maja of The Nocturnal Library. 

On this edition of She Made Me Do It, Catie and I (Flannery) will be swapping recommendations with Maja from The Nocturnal Library. To me, Maja is like some sort of urban fantasy goddess. She seems to know everything there is to know about that genre. But, like us, she reads all over the board, so hopefully we've found something she'll be interested in reading this month. And vice versa, naturally.

Alanna: Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce

What it's about: Twins switching places. Alanna, a young girl in the world of Tortall, goes to learn the skills for knighthood while her twin, Thom, goes to a convent to learn magic. 

Why I think she'll like it: I know Maja is on the prowl for some good fantasy after recently enjoying Seraphina by Rachel Hartman and a few other fantasy books. She has yet to try out Tamora Pierce, who I definitely consider one of the repeat hit-makers in the YA fantasy realm. I've loved most everything I've read by her and Alanna is one of her highest rated and the most popular. Though there are several series I believe Maja could try to see if she enjoys Pierce's writing, I think this is a good litmus test. 

Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo

What it's about: I think Tatiana would describe this book as being about wangst, that is if Tatiana ever used words like wangst. Otherwise, it is about Holly, a twenty-something gal who is unsure about several facets of her life at once. 

Why I think she'll like it: Honestly, I really want Maja to love this book. Though contemporary is definitely not Maja's favorite genre, I definitely know that she loves a well-written Aussie contemporary book (e.g. Raw Blue, A Straight Line to My Heart) and the fact that she has this one sitting unread on her shelf makes me simultaneously excited at the awesomeness she might experience and nervous that she won't love it as much as Catie and I did. However, Maja is a kindred spirit and I think this book is a good recommendation for someone like her who thinks about life and existence and also for someone who likes funny dialogue. Half of my Goodreads friends didn't like this at all and the other half loved it. I'd like to see where Maja falls on the spectrum.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

What it's about: A young woman recalls her childhood spent at an isolated boarding school. Through her discussions about friendship, love, and realities, we find out that Kathy's life isn't quite ordinary. 

Why I think she'll like it: Maja likes darker, well-written books. She also likes evocative writing and she isn't afraid of the creep factor. This book is intriguing and contemplative, but it also has a science fiction element to it that adds an extra layer of mystery to the whole situation. (but not so much sci-fi that it would alienate her). Though I listened to this one, I hope Maja reads it in book form. I know it is also one of Catie's favorites and Maja often agrees with both of us, so I'm doubly hopeful she'll like this one. 

Maja's verdict: I’ve been meaning to read one of Tamora Pierce’s books for the longest time, and now I finally have the excuse to do it. I love that this one is about twins. I really want to read Holier Than Thou too, and I own Never Let Me Go both on audio and in e-format, so it’s good to know which one to choose. In short, I want to read all of these. *sigh* These ladies know me too well.

Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz and Ron Bass
 
What it’s about: Two girls that have never met and have nothing in common have been dreaming about each other for as long as they can remember. Each time one of them goes to sleep, she becomes the other one and sees the world through her eyes, all the while conscious of her own identity. But when they try to look for each other in the real world, it’s as if neither of them exists.
 
Why I think she’ll like it: Lucid has such an interesting premise! A lot of people compared this book to Inception, but I don’t like thinking of it like that. The first part is just a contemporary story about two girls and their everyday problems, but underneath it is the question of their existence. Are they both real? Or if not, which one is a product or the other’s imagination? I had no idea, and I think Flannery would really enjoy that. 

Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire

What it's about: Verity Price comes from a long line of cryptozoologists, people dedicated to keeping the peace between humans and monsters. Verity has just moved to Manhattan, away from her numerous family, to pursue a career in ballroom dancing. One night, she (literally) runs into an enemy agent and they end up joining forces to solve a string of supernatural murders.
 
Why I think she’ll like it: Did I mention the talking mice? No? Well, there you go. Discount Armageddon is non-stop action and adventure, very funny, and the world is extremely colorful. Although she doesn’t read urban fantasy often, I have a feeling Flannery would really enjoy it.

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
 
What it’s about: Carmen is a Grammy Award winning violinist and she has just been admitted to Julliard with a full scholarship. She and Jeremy King are the most likely finalists in the Guarneri contest. They are both just one step away from that huge, life-altering victory. Falling in love under the circumstances really shouldn’t be an option... but it is. 
 
Why I think she’ll like it: Well, for one, she really liked Gayle Forman’s books! Virtuosity is perfect for fans of If I Stay and Where She Went. This is one of those books I really enjoyed despite my reluctance to read contemporary, and I think… in fact, I’m pretty sure Flann would, too. What’s more, Martinez managed to surprise me twice, and that doesn’t happen often.

Flannery's verdict: I think I've checked Virtuosity out from the library twice now and I've seen the author at a book event and she definitely impressed me. However, I just haven't crossed the finish line on that one so I'm happy Maja added it as a recommendation. When we were working on this post together last night, Maja talked a bit about Lucid to me and basically convinced me that I must read it, so that is the direction I'm leaning, though I am actually excited to read all three of these books. As for Discount Armageddon, I am not sure what to think about that cover. It makes me feel like the book is campy and I'd much prefer to read it with a different cover because I'm not sure I could get the mental image of a woman wearing that outfit out of my head as the main character. But I did really enjoy Feed, which is by the same author (different pen name), I do enjoy urban fantasy every once in a while, and triple whammy, Maja knows me so well. If she thinks I'll like it, she's probably right.

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge

What it's about: Hathin is a young girl who belongs to a small native tribe of Gullstruck Island.  She is quiet and lives in the shadows, caring for her "supernaturally gifted" sister Arilou and keeping up a vast conspiracy that protects her tribe from the intruders who are slowly taking over the island piece by piece.  When Hathin loses nearly everything, she's forced to flee and fight and come into her own - and possibly discover that Arilou is more than she appears to be.

Why I think she'll like it: As soon as Flannery told me that Maja was looking for some more great fantasy, I knew I'd be recommending this to her.  I know that Maja loves beautiful/descriptive writing, deeper themes about war, and strong female heroines.  Plus, I'll recommend Frances Hardinge to just about anyone if given half a chance.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

What it's about: I don't think I'm spoiling this for anyone when I say that this book contains a cross-dressing girl (it's in the blurb on goodreads!).  Eon, a young dragoneye candidate, is secretly Eona.  Since girls are not allowed to commune with the elemental dragons and practice dragon magic, Eona hides her identity and trains as a boy.  However, after the ceremony in which the new dragoneye masters are selected, Eona's whole life begins to change.

Why I think she'll like it: I honestly can't believe that she hasn't read this yet!  I have to admit that after reading the second book in this series, I didn't end up loving it as much as some of my friends.  But I have this feeling that if/when Maja reads this, she will be a fan.  Call it what you will (creepy friend intuition), my book reviewer mojo is telling me that this is a Maja book.

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey

What it's about: Two timelines weave together as expendable youngest son Hahp enters a frightening and brutal school of magic and naive Sadima follows a magician and his controlling friend to the city.

Why I think she'll like it: This book is impossible to put down, and it's sequel even more so.  I think Maja will get just as caught up as I did in the slowly unfolding mystery and the very twisted magical training.  

(P.S. I feel like Tatiana is actually here in spirit because I know she'd heartily endorse my last two recommendations.)

Maja's verdict: It’s true that I’ve been looking for more good fantasy. After reading Seraphina and all three of Kristin Cashore’s books in less than a month, I’ve come to realize that I’ve been neglecting the genre altogether. I knew Catie was the right person to turn to for recommendations. These are all safe bets so I’ll be reading them all. If I don’t make it this month, I will as soon as I can. I think I’ll read Skin Hunger first, though. 

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

What it's about: A smart fifteen-year old girl becomes the apprentice of one Mr. Sherlock Holmes and in her, the now retired detective recognizes an equal.

Why I think she'll like it: Is that a trick question? Everyone likes Sherlock! And although I don’t normally read books about Sherlock that weren’t written by Arthur Conan Doyle, I think Laurie R. King is doing an amazing job both with him and with Mary Russell. (And Mycroft, I just adore Mycroft.) I know Catie’s been meaning to read this so I thought I’d give her the excuse to push aside an arc or two and read it sooner than she planned.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

What it's about: It’s about a man whose mother just died and he has no idea how to cope. He is completely detached and ends up doing things that are completely unlike him.

Why I think she'll like it: Well, to be honest, I don’t know that she will, but I really want her to read it. (That’s not as horrible as it sounds.) When I first read it (admittedly, I was fourteen at the time), I absolutely hated it. It made me miserable, which was kind of the point, but I fought against it for the longest time. However, truly powerful books shape you even when you don’t want them to, and this is certainly one of the books that influenced me the most. With our Euro-centric educational system, it’s almost unimaginable to reach adulthood and not read it at least twice. (Which is why I have holes the size of Arkansas when it comes to African, South American or Asian lit.)

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

What it's about: It’s about two very different boys, one a missionary in Africa and the other an awkward high school senior with a missing brother. It’s also about a (nearly) extinct woodpecker.

Why I think she'll like it: I just finished this one myself and I’m finding it very hard to let go. It’s one of those modest, unassuming books that take you completely by surprise. Besides, there’s been a lot of talk lately about male voices in YA and I know that, unlike me, Catie’s been reading those articles and posts. This book has some really interesting, realistic young male characters and I think she’ll appreciate that. 

Catie's verdict: Maja is one of the most intelligent people I know and I knew that I could count on her to give me some surprising recommendations.  I've actually had The Stranger sitting on my bookshelf for years but haven't had the courage to pick it up (and it's such a tiny, unassuming little volume).  I read The Plague back in college and it definitely became one of the books that shaped me the most so I'm sure that, based on Maja's description, The Stranger will be the same.  I'm already a Camus fan and I'm pretty sure that this book is also on my 110+ books list so I think I'll read it this month for sure.

I added Laurie R. King's book to my TBR over a year ago (I think) and promptly forgot all about it.  However, I LOVE Sherlock Holmes and I love precocious little girls even more so I'm so happy to be reminded about it.  (Also, I love that Maja thinks I'm all dedicated to my ARCs and would need an excuse to set them aside.  If only she knew how much I've been slacking lately...).  And the John Corey Whaley book has been on my radar for a while but most recently because Maja's been reading it!  We don't always agree on everything, but I think our tastes in YA contemporary are very similar so when she likes a YA contemporary, I pretty much immediately add it to my TBR.  

Overall, these are wonderful recommendations!  Thanks Maja!

Cliff McNish is the author of The Silver Sequence and The Doomspell Trilogy, as well as several horror novels, including Breathe: A Ghost Story and Savannah Grey. McNish lives in England. Visit him at www.cliffmcnish.com, or on twitter and facebook. 

I am most happy to make recommendations on great books for teenage guys; it's a topic I speak about in schools fairly regularly. I also tag books on my LibraryThing site with 'books for boys' if I think a title will work well for young male readers.

Some particular favourites follow:

Fighting Ruben Wolfe: Markus Zusak. Markus is best known, of course, for his amazing novel, The Book Thief. While I love that, and highly recommend it, I feel that perhaps teens might like to taste a smaller portion of his work, before tackling The Book Thief. Fighting Ruben Wolfe was Markus' second book. It's quirky and funny and tough and honest - all the best things - and all done in the unique style that has made Markus famous. And it's about brothers and boxing. What's not to like?

Nobody's Boy: Dianne Bates. I'll put my cards on the table and say that this was written by my wife, Di. However, I'm recommending it chiefly because it's a book that I think would have great appeal to teens, especially boys. It's a verse novel, which makes it very accessible for reluctant readers. It tells the story of a boy who is shuffled around from one foster family to another. All he wants is to live with his dad, but for a long time that just isn't possible. Touching and poignant and ultimately uplifting.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian: Sherman Alexie. Funny and warm, vibrant characters, and a gutsy story. This is a winner and I think teenage boys will eat it up, exactly the same as I did.

Into That Forest: Louis Nowra. Highly original and a page-turner, it's about two girls who find themselves stranded in a forest. Eventually they are 'adopted' by a family of Tasmania Tigers, a breed of wild dogs which are now extinct. Even though the main characters are girls, I'm sure the straight-forward narrative, action-packed scenes  and rich language, will make it a favourite with boys. Louis Nowra is one of Australia's leading novelists and playwrights. This is his first venture into young adult books. It's an awesome debut.

The Dead I Know: Scot Gardner. This book won Australia's coveted Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award in 2012. Scot has written many terrific books, but in my opinion, this is his best. It's about Aaron Rowe, who goes to work for a funeral director. Aaron's a sleepwalker, and has other problems to cope with, but in John Barton, the funeral director, he finds a caring man who befriends him. Some of the scenes may be a little grisly and tough to take at times, but they are handled honestly and with great compassion. A brave and memorable book by one of Australia's best writers.

Daredevils: Bill Condon. I thought I'd sneak one of my own in when no one was looking. This is about a boy who knows he's going to die, so he makes a list of things he wants to do while he still can. Daredevils came out before the Bucket List and it's a lot different. For one thing, it hasn't got Morgan Freeman in it. It's got humour and sadness, and there's even a little sprinkling of sex.
 

Deadly Unna: Phillip Gwynne. This won the Australian CBCA Book of the Year in 1999. It's about friendship between a white boy, known as Blacky, and an Aboriginal boy, Dumby Red. They play in the local football team and live in a remote country town where racism thrives. It's funny at times and sad, which makes it all very real.

The Road: Cormac McCarthy. This is for adults and may be too tough for teens to attempt, but it's worth a mention as it is such a brilliant , mesmerising book. There aren't a lot of jokes, because it's set after an apocalyptic event, which is always a downer. But the writing is incredible. I felt so much for this father and son battling to stay alive in a world gone mad. I think it's a classic.

Holes: Louis Sachar. This is brilliant story-telling. Easy to read and gripping.

The Old Man and the Sea: Ernest Hemingway. For teens who feel daunted by huge tomes, I suggest this.The Old Man and the Sea is in the middle ground between short novel and long short story. Hemingway didn't give himself much to work with here. It's about an old man alone on a boat. But Hem turns on all his best writing and it becomes an epic struggle as the old man fights a huge and beautiful fish. When Hemingway wrote well, no one could touch him.

Our very heartfelt thanks go out to each of these authors for taking the time to share their recommendations. What do you all think? Anything new to add to your to-read pile? 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews
Publication Date: 3/1/12
Publisher: Abrams
[Goodreads | Amazon]

Blurb (GR): Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

Review:

Okay, if I would've known that this book was set in Pittsburgh, I would've read it on release day. As it turns out, while this author was in high school, presumably being hilarious, I was just down the street, playing badminton in my Catholic school uniform during free period. I had to investigate a bit further, so I checked my facebook and found that my friend Jake (who now has a luscious ponytail and who I once learned to waltz with) is facebook friends with Jesse Andrews. (like that even means anything in this day and age. I think I'm facebook friends with some people I'd be more than happy never to see again in my lifetime) Here's what went down:

It's too bad you can't see the ponytail in question but if there really was a section of the bar exam on ponytail maintenance, I'm sure Jake would ace it. I digress. This book was recommended to me by Maggie from Young Adult Anonymous as part of our She Made Me Do It feature, and I am so grateful it was because it made me ridiculously happy. There's been a lot of talk in recent weeks/months about why adults read YA literature and I've always been a detractor to the "going back to high school and high school problems" argument, but I will readily admit that my favorite part of this book was that Andrews just put Pittsburgh on the page and I felt like I was in MY high school again. The people, the neighborhoods, even the slang was spot on, though I think if anyone actually tried to legitimately incorporate Pittsburghese into a book readers would wonder if there mightn't be a colony of aliens living among us. ("Yinz all gawn dahntawn ta watch the Stillers n'at?") 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is about Greg Gaines, a self-depracting, chubby teenage "surprise Jew" (because his name doesn't give it away) who is fringe friends with everybody but true friends with nobody, except for maybe Earl, with whom he makes movies that only the two of them watch. Told in first person, Greg's story begins when his mother informs him that Rachel, a girl he's known for years and once "dated" has been diagnosed with leukemia and he must go over to hang out with her. What follows is awkwardness, funny jokes, and eventually actual friendship.  The characters of Greg and Earl kept me entertained the entire time, and if the sense of humor in the book clicks with yours, you'll plow through it in two hours and love the experience. I'd love to see this book adapted as a film but the one thing holding it back a bit for me is Greg's self-deprecation. In the latter portion of the book, I started to get sick of Greg's constant whining about how lame and unfunny he is and his tryhard overcompensating drama got old as well, but I was ecstatic to see Earl and Rachel there to temper him out. In movie form, it might be too much for me to watch Greg try to saturate everything with humor.

The ending made my heart break a bit, especially just the realistic nature of friendships and growing up. It is so easy to form friendships in high school when most of us don't have a lot to worry about and we are forced to spend a large amount of time together. Especially when you go to high school in a city, surrounded by tons of other schools but also all sorts of things to do. When I saw Sherman Alexie at a book event the other day, he spoke about the sequel he is writing to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The "sequel" is actually going to be roughly the same time period, as told from the perspective of Junior's friend Rowdy, whom Alexie gets asked about all the time. The point of bringing this up is that Alexie said that the first line of the book is something like, "Everyone always talks about the ones who leave. No one ever talks about the ones who get left behind." I basically read Me and Earl right after I went to the event and I couldn't/can't stop thinking about how much I'd love to hear from Earl's point of view.  Greg mentions Earl's intelligence and there are several points during the novel where I saw glimpses of just how astute and clever Earl truly is, and it was a bit soul crushing to me to see how he was living his life, however realistic it is. (I think this is especially so considering I know of people like him and and could absolutely visualize all the settings, houses, personalities that Andrews describes so well) So Jesse Andrews, start working on Me and Someone and the Something Else from Earl's POV, mmmkay? 

Random notes: This cover kicks ass; I want to go to Pittsburgh right now.

The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts

What it's about: What is any romance about? Hot guys and their future ladyloves. In this case, four grandsons to Daniel MacGregor, a wily, undercover matchmaking billionaire. He sets his family members up like pawns and then pretends he had nothing to do with it. Every young relative of his is positive they will be able to find someone on their own and every one of them, SURPRISE! is totally wrong. 

Why I think she'll like it: Everyone knows that Nora Roberts is the queen of contemporary romance. Maggie and I have pretty similar tastes in romance books, mostly in one of our favorites, Susan Elizabeth Phillips but she's never read any Nora Roberts. I know, right? Get real, Maggie. She says she,  "doesn't know where to start." I lose sleep wracking my mind to figure out which Nora is the best to start with. My first Nora Roberts book was The Villa during my freshman year of college and it certainly got me hooked. However, this one is one of my all-time favorites. I'm curious whether the four shorter-length stories will appeal to someone who has not read lots of Roberts romances before. One of the stories is a particular favorite of mine: A formerly dowdy girl gives herself a makeover and takes over her family's bookstore. She is thrown together with a hotshot JFK Jr. type when he asks her to help him design his new library. Sa-woon. 

White Cat (Curse Workers, #1) by Holly Black, narrated by Jesse Eisenberg

What it's about:  White Cat is the first in a series that is basically YA urban fantasy. Some people are able to work magic with their hands in various ways so everyone is required to wear gloves. Cassel, the protagonist, comes from a mafia-like family of curse workers, though he himself is a normal human--or is he? His relatives can change memories, kill people, or play on the emotions of others with just a touch. A few years back, Cassel killed his best friend Lila and now he is sleepwalking and having all sorts of weird dreams. 

Why I think she'll like it: Maggie recently has become addicted to audiobooks and this series is one of the best in that format. Jesse Eisenberg narrates and is absolutely perfect as Cassel. I read the last book in the series and really regretted not finishing it off as an audiobook. I am positive Maggie will enjoy this series if she gives it a chance. Neither one of us has read anything else by Holly Black. (I don't really like fairies. I just asked Maggie if she liked fairies and she said, "You mean in stories?" (You know, because there are tons of fairies around in regular life.)  We are both fans of male-narrated YA stories and Cassel is clever and the friendships and relationships in this series are realistic. Nothing about this series annoys me and that is reason enough to recommend it to Maggie. Listen to it. Do it. 

The Verdict: Clap if you believe in fairies, MUGGLE. Urban fantasy has been hit-or-miss for me, but White Cat sounds a bit like Misfits, which I LOVE, so I'm definitely interested. Also, yay for audiobooks. Read to me, Zuckerberg.

I want to start The MacGregor Grooms right now! The matchmaking grandpa already sounds like he'd be in my "old people can be so sweet" hall of fame. And a JFK Jr type? Be still my heart. Someone tell Taylor Swift about this book.

My Most Excellent Year is the only one I'm slightly nervous about because I loathe baseball with a passion usually reserved for telemarketers and child molesters. What kind of sport has athletes that are out of shape? And lasts indefinitely?? (Answer: Not basketball.) However, I do love Mary Poppins. I'm curious to see if my Disney love can overpower my baseball hate. 

I love that Flann picked books that weren't already on my to read list. Can't wait to start! No, seriously. Give me your Kindle with MacGregor Grooms. NOW! :)

The Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain by Cath Crowley

What it's about: Soccer superstar Gracie Faltrain is the only girl on the boys team. She's as unapologetic off the field as she is on, though not quite as skilled. She's trying to navigate high school without her best friend (who's moving to London) and her father (who's traveling on business). Just as she thinks she's about to get the boy and everything else, her tongue gets her into trouble. Literally. Can she learn from mistakes? One thing is for sure, Gracie won't be staying on the sidelines.

Why I think she'll like it: It's Cath Crowley's debut -- from whence she came! This is my favorite non-dystopian YA series (sorry, Ruby Oliver!) and cemented Cath Crowley as my spirit author. I would love for this to become a TV show a la Friday Night Lights (oh yes, I'm dropping an FNL comparison) because there's so much heart. Correction: full hearts. I loved the characters and seeing how they developed throughout the series. Since Flann loves both Graffiti Moon and A Little Wanting Song, I think she would love Gracie Faltrain. (Note: I would also recommend this to fans of Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Dairy Queen series.)

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

What it's about: Adaptation meets the teen version of Larry and Leon from Curb Your Enthusiasm with a dash of Troy and Abed from Community. Plus cancer!

Why I think she'll like it: There aren't many people who would crack up at cancer. I think Flann is totally my kindred spirit in this. We've had two Netflix marathons and based on the 1:4 ratio of appropriate to inappropriate laughter and sheer number of  Arrested Development mentions, Flann is the target audience for this book. I absolutely loved this one and snort-laughed my way through it, as Jo and her old cat promised. 

Rescue Me by Rachel Gibson

What it's about: Sexy Sadie meets a SEAL. Hooyah.

Why I think she'll like it: Flannery and Maureen were directly responsible for my summer of SEP. I read 6 in a row and 11 altogether -- and only disliked 1. Once I get on a roll with an author, it's hard to switch styles. I tried reading a few romances after my SEP-a-thon, including an old favorite, but I just couldn't get into them. Until I read this Rachel Gibson book. Mother of God. Former Navy SEAL Vince Haven is as manly as Dan Calebow and as swoonworthy as Alexi Markov. It's also laugh out loud funny, which is a key element in SEP books. I think this is a romance Flannery's SEP-lovin' heart will be able to enjoy. 

The Verdict: I want to read all these books and I think I can knock them all out rather quickly. (whether I will actually do that remains to be seen) I am certain I will love Gracie Faltrain because Cath Crowley's writing is such a happy place for me. I'd love to say that I've been saving that series for a rainy day or a low point in my life but the honest truth is that I just have too many books that I am excited about. Two other reasons I think I will like/love it are that I played soccer for most of my life and I also love stories about girls breaking boundaries. As for Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, I trust Maggie to know my sense of humor. If she thinks it is funny, I'm almost positive I will feel the same. I am not above laughing about illness. You have to have a sense of humor about most things, or life would overwhelm you with sadness at points. That book also has one of my favorite covers from the past year or two. I've been meaning to give Rachel Gibson's books a try for a long time, mostly because I've seen her books recommended for fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and oo-eee, I love me some SEP. I've about finished her ouevre so I'm always looking for readalikes in the fun, sassy, contemporary romance genre. I can't figure out which one I want to start with but thanks for the wonderful picks, Maggie!

Here are two things you may or may not know about Noelle:

a)  She has excellent taste in music and
b)  She likes to create playlists for her favorite books.

So naturally, being a fellow music/book nerd hybrid, I asked Noelle to do something a little bit different with me for this version of She Made Me Do It.  We both love to ponder our favorite stories and then pair them up with songs, but could we do the opposite?  I’ve always wanted to try it, so I asked Noelle to give me a list of songs that she’d like book recommendations for.  She sent me an awesome playlist (which I’ve been listening to non-stop for the past two days) and from that list I selected the following three songs:

But I got completely sucked into this passage:

Is it in you now,
To bear to hear the truth that you have spoken,
Twisted up by knaves
To make a trap for fools?

Is it in you now,
To watch the things you gave your life to broken
And stoop and build them up with worn out tools?

Which is why I picked this book as my first recommendation:

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

What it's about: Lou is a thirteen year old prodigy who doesn’t fit in with her classmates, who are all two years older, or at home where her parents are both held by grief.  When she meets eighteen year old No, homeless and broken, she decides to interview her for a school project.  Lou comes to care for No, and despite all the objections of society, she wants to swoop in and rescue her.  No likewise wants to let Lou be her rescuer – but can simple wanting stand up to years of trauma and abandonment?

Why I think she'll like it: Honestly, the strongest reason I have for why Noelle might like this book is that Maggie liked it.  This pick is much more about the song. Both of the lyric passages above remind me of this book, which may be because I just finished it and can’t get it out of my head.  But still.  The first passage reminds me of Lou, throwing off her doubts and taking a chance.  And the second passage is basically what I’d like to ask No.  It’s an amazing book.  It’s a quiet, understated read that’s more about emotion and great writing than plot, which I’m not sure if Noelle appreciates but I had to add it to my list!

Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar

What it's about: This is a very surreal but visually stunning story about Abbie, who uses art to process her feelings and Kane, the bad boy surfer she’s obsessed with.  This book isn’t perfect, but it had a huge impact on me nonetheless.

Why I think she'll like it: Can it be true that my dear Noelle has not read a single book by Kirsty Eagar?  It is time to remedy that one.  I thought about picking the fantastic Raw Blue for this song, but I ultimately decided on this one.  Here is another thing you might not know about Noelle: she’s a brilliant artist.  I think she’ll really appreciate all of the surreal imagery and Abbie’s artistic journey.

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle

What it's about: Feisty girl Kate is kidnapped by the Goblin King Marak – which turns out to be the traditional Goblin method of finding a suitable spouse.  She’s understandably reticent about the whole idea (and seriously pissed off) but she finds more than she bargained for in the Hollow Hill.

Why I think she'll like it: I know that Noelle loves fantasy and this book is sweet and comforting and so much fun.  I’m not sure if she’ll be into the whole Beauty and the Beast/kidnapping/Stockholm syndrome thing but we shall see!

The Verdict:
First off, I'm blushing because Catie is the nicest person in the world and secondly, leave it to the wonderful Catie to point out new amazing layers in one of my favorite songs. The Kipling poem connection is just genius and I never realized that before!  That might be a d'oh on my part but I like to think it's more because she's so awesome.  I had so much fun picking out songs and wondering which books Catie would choose and these selections definitely don't disappoint.  I'm excited and intrigued about all three recommendations.  I can't wait to start reading. 

I was beyond excited when Catie mentioned her idea for a Song-Inspired She Made Me Do It.  (Like I even need an excuse to bombard people with a playlist, right?)  Whenever I listen to my iPod, I mentally assign songs to certain books but I'd never tried to do it from the other way around.  When I saw Catie's list of songs she was looking to match with a book recommendation, one song stood out immediately.

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

What it's about: Amber Appleton has it pretty rough but she's not one to let things get her down.  Even though she's currently living with her mom on a school bus, Amber remains an irrepressible source of hope to every0ne around her--whether they want her to or not.  But then, something happens that threatens even Amber's unyielding optimism.  With her belief system shaken to its core, can Amber find a way to regain what makes her so special?

Why I matched it up with the song (and why I think she'll like it):  Just listen to Brittany's voice.  That's the voice of someone who has been through some shit, you know? And ooh boy, Amber Appleton has too.  At first, I was this close to going with All I Ever Wanted by Vikki Wakefield for this song (like how I sneak in two book recs for the price of one?) but upon further listening, this song is pure Amber.  The optimistic perseverance and the mention of a higher power made it a lock.  I think Catie will be another convert to the Amber Appleton Adoration Society.  Amber is like the Borg of Hope: resistance is futile.  (And yes, Maggie I just made a Star Trek joke--but you share a blog with me so hahahaha.)

I just chose one song-based recommendation for Catie (this time around!) but decided to go with two other She Made Me Do It Jeopardy categories with a Back to the Future and a Disco Chicken recommendation for my other choices.  Back to the Future is a feature Maggie and I do on our blog that involves either a) reading a YA book that was before our time or  b) one that we missed the first time around or c) wanted to reread as an adult and compare notes.  For Catie's Back to the Future rec I picked:

On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voigt

What it's about: An innkeeper's daughter happens across a thief in the night stealing her father's boat and finds herself at an impasse.  You see, Birle is betrothed to a grade A asshole and her main prospects in life are subservience and soul sucking monotony.  What first is an instinct to reclaim her father's property becomes a chance to escape her unpromising future. When the thief turns out to have a secret identity (but of course) and a pair of oh so pretty eyes, Birle decides she wants to see this adventure through but on fortune's wheel adventures are followed by unimaginable hardships and you never know which one will come up next.

Why I think she'll like it: Honestly, this rec is based on my vague recollection of LOVING THE SHIT out of this when I was a barely-teen.  As soon as we started the Back to the Future feature on YAA, I knew I wanted to revisit this book with someone who had never read it before and I think Catie is the perfect person to give it a go.  I know Catie loves her fantasy and epic girl quests (as do I!) and if I remember right, Birle's transformation from innkeeper's daughter to a survivor /independent woman (basically your choice of Destiny's Child songs) was a great coming of age story.  Disclaimer: I haven't read this in...like, 18 years?  BUT.  That's all part of the fun.

And now, for my Disco Chicken book recommendation!  What, you may ask, is a Disco Chicken?  Well...click here.  A Disco Chicken book is one of pure fun, no regrets.  Disco Chicken doesn't want to get into deep thoughts, he just wants to dance!   Sure, you might not remember the details a year from now but you'll remember you had fun.  And that's why my third book recommendation for Catie is:

Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook

What it's about:  Oh yeah.  Drink that cover in.  Why yes, he took the precaution of protecting his forearms but thought it best to go shirtless in a sword fight.  It all makes perfect sense if you stare at his abs long enough.   (I guess we're just lucky that he wasn't wearing one of his beloved waistcoats and nothing else?) Basically: Ever since airship captain Yasmeen threw adventurer Archimedes Fox overboard, he's been smitten.  Why waste time plotting revenge when he can be plotting for her affection? When fate and some stolen documents throw them together again, he gets his chance all while searching for treasure, avoiding assassination attempts and inciting a rebellion.  You know, the usual.

Why I think she'll like it: Because it's straight up FUN.  Ignore the ridiculous cover! Heart of Steel is like a swashbuckling, steampunk Nick and Nora Charles action-adventure.  The two leads' relationship dynamic is so delightful.  This is the second book in the Iron Seas series but with the help of the author's guide (and a summary of the protagonists' brief history in book one from me), Catie should be able to jump right in.  Humor, action and adventure, some swoon for good measure and oh so much fun.  Catie...Disco Chicken is playing your song!  Don't you wanna dance? (Nanoagents optional!)

What do you think of everyone's picks? Which ones should we read? And how much do we all miss Tatiana?

If you'd like to follow Noelle and Maggie, you can find them in their natural habitat at their blog, Young Adult Anonymous, on Goodreads (Maggie and Noelle), and on Twitter. (Maggie, Noelle, and YAA)

This post reads like some sort of Anonymous meeting: "Hi, we're the bloggers at The Readventurer, and we are utter failures at reading challenges." Catie would be the person who smugly shows up to lead the group meeting, going on about how she has enough self-discipline to complete her goals. Flannery would be the person who sits in the circle, silent, hoping no one calls her name and finds out she is not doing what she's supposed to be doing, and Tatiana would be the realistic one to suggest we just scrap this month's meeting and watch a marathon of a TV show. But we recognize the problem and that's the first step to growth, right?

This edition of She Made Me Do It has been running for months now and we can't seem to finish it in our current reading moods, so we have to wrap it up.  We would like it to be said, though, that Karen is some sort of a reading goddess. Her Goodreads Reader's Advisory group can help ANYONE find what they are looking for in a book and she still rules Goodreads from atop her well-deserved throne. Karen, thanks for the amazing book recommendations!

i was very excited about all four books, and i am so glad to have been a part of this challenge!

some girls are

i liked this book a lot. catie knew i liked teen survival books, and she decided to throw me a curveball and twist my inclinations a little by giving me a book that was about survival, yes, but survival in the brutal social-caste systems of high school instead of a forest filled with zombies. although i still prefer the more traditional life-and-death situations that arise in actual survival stories, so i can pick up pointers just in case, i really enjoyed this story. "enjoyed" is a strange word to use for a book so filled with cruelty and horrific behavior, but it was a book i quickly became immersed in, and i probably wouldn't have read it without the push, so i am grateful.i have now read two books by this author, and am excited to read more.

the wednesday wars/okay for now

flannery seems to have wanted to find the warm gooey emotional center of me. both of these books are middle-grade real-life stories that focus on characters struggling with growing-up problems that in the hands of a less-talented writer, could have been very schmaltzy. but they were just good, wholesome stories that were satisfying and showed that it doesn't have to be all date-rape and love triangles and bullying to be compelling and tense. i liked okay for now a scootch more, but only because i think he was able to take the story and broaden it a little; it seemed to be a more mature work in both content and writing. again - i was aware of these books before, but i probably wouldn't have read them without the firm hand of flannery on my back!

like water for chocolate

tatiana knew i liked magical realism and food, and this book has both! i definitely loved the recipes included in here - yum- and i loved the structure of the novel, and it turns out it is a sweeping tragic romance, which is right up my alley! so a big score for this one. i am still not sure why this is considered a landmark of magical realism - it has more of a folktale/family chronicle feeling to it. magical things occur, yes, but not in the way that i typically think of them occurring in more traditional magical realism. but no matter, because i liked it, and i had never really considered reading it before, even though i knew it was well-regarded. i felt i had missed the boat on it, but tatiana shoved me aboard!

thank goodness for these ladies, really. call me anytime.

Tatiana:

I have never been as embarrassed and ashamed to write a post for The Readventurer as I am at this moment. The truth is, I've tried reading two of Karen's recommendations and ended up finishing none. I don't know if it would make her feel any better, but I've been in a wonky reading mood for months now. Barely anything appeals to me these days besides an occasional new release from a very familiar author or a comforting re-read. It's unfair of me to expect anyone to save me from this reading limbo, so, sorry, Karen, for putting in you this position. It's a tragic it's-not-you-karen-it's-me kind of reading situation.

The first book I tried was A Drama in Muslin. The comparison to Jane Austen's novels made me sure this
would be the winning choice for me, but alas, George Moore is much less entertaining than Austen, in my opinion. However, it is possible I simply didn't read enough of this novel to appreciate it.

The second attempt I can't even say I disliked. Lullabies for Little Criminals just a few months ago would have been a perfect fit for me, I am sure of it. Karen recommended this book to me as a response to my claim that I liked shocking and disturbing reads, which I do (or, rather, did). It's a dark, very dark novel, and, unfortunately, my body and mind currently reject dark books. If they didn't, I'd be reading J.K. Rowling's new filth-filled book right now and telling you all about it instead of listening to Entertainment Geekly and BBC's Great Lives podcasts and watching Fringe.

So, here was a story of my failure. I hope soon enough I will be able to escape my reading slump and finally get back to enjoying books. I miss it...

Catie:

Karen chose three spectacular picks for me and I ultimately want to read all of them.  So far, I've finished Serena by Ron Rash and it was a great choice for me - a very sinister and dark setting with an utterly ruthless heroine, who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.  Karen doesn't know this but I also picked up Winesburg, Ohio and read the first few pages.  I know that it will be something that I love, but I just wasn't in the right space for it then.  This is why I'm so horrible at book clubs/readalongs/challenges/scheduled reading of any sort.  It's like there are about twelve readers in my head at any given moment and I don't know who's going to show up when I start a book.  It could be Frank, who loves pirate adventures or Sally, who loves to cry or Ned who secretly loves romance.  It's a mixed bag.  And when I picked up Winesburg, Ohio it was like...oh, sorry Bob who loves subdued and depressing stories...but Sally just showed up and she's demanding that I read a frothy coming of age story right now.  You'll have to take a back seat.  But anyway, never fear!  Bob (and Winesburg, Ohio) will have their day.  For now, me and my twelve personalities would like to thank Karen so much for participating in this feature with us!

Flannery:

I think there was a fatal flaw in our design of this feature, so hear me out: Tatiana, Catie, and I speak through email pretty much daily. We talk about the books we start and give up on, which is probably three or four times as many as we finish. We talk about what's going on in our regular lives and what kind of moods we're in. Probably most importantly in this instance, we talk about what we've felt like reading. When Karen picked books for us, she did an amazing job. Honestly, there are very few people I know of who are more knowledgeable than her when it comes to books and right now, no one at all is coming to mind so maybe I should just say she is the most knowledgeable of all human beings with whom I am acquainted. Anyway, I was and am excited to read Karen's picks but I have only read three-fourths of one: The Sea Came In At Midnight by Steve Erickson. I was into it but at that point in time, I was mostly just listening to memoirs and couldn't concentrate on the loveliness of his writing. And it is lovely, for sure. Erickson wove together a few elements in even the beginning that had me wondering how he would sew it all together. A memory hotel where prostitutes can receive people's shared memories? The sole survivor of a mass cult suicide? A lonely man who hires a live-in girl to sleep with him but never speak to him? I have to admit that the last part felt a bit self-indulgent but not altogether unbelievable. Even while I write this, I am kicking myself for never finishing this book before it was due at the library. I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. Also, I think I might just buy a hard copy because there were several passages I wanted to underline, as I love reading about loneliness and existential crises. Karen was spot-on with that choice, and my fickle reading mood is the only thing that prevented me from finishing it.

As for the other two books, Karen got me so pumped that I bought George & Rue right away. I think my dreams want it to be an enthralling Shawshank-era mysterious crime thriller, even though I know it is factual. (or, rather, it is an imagining of a factual crime) Also, I think it might be the best choice for me of the three picks because it is 1. crime; 2. brutal; 3. written in dialect. The last one is the reason I didn't get into it straight off and also the reason I know I will like it when I do. Just read the reviews on Goodreads. The author is also a poet and there are reviews one after the next about how beautiful the writing is and how successful the dialect is. (and how raw the violence, is which I tend to love in a book) But when I look back at when the original post was published and what I'd been reading at the moment, I should've known I was doomed for failure. It is just all audiobooks and E.L. Konigsburg children's books for a few weeks and then a few new releases in series I follow and tons of YA.

Karen has the amazing ability to read like a charging army, it seems. She can and does plow through everything with seeming ease and I can only aspire to do so. I hope she can forgive me for being a complete failure in this instance, as she was unsurprisingly amazing at the challenge by reading EVERY ONE of our picks for her and reviewing them. I can only throw in the towel on this one and go back to my YA sci fi/fantasy Cybils nominees. I know when I've been beat.