Leila Recommends

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

I just discovered that this artist did the UK cover of The Hunger Games (pictured), as well as a ton of other YA/J covers, AS WELL as loads of other cool stuff AND some Magic cards.

Definitely work checking his blog out: If you read much fantasy and/or sf, you'll probably recognize some of 'em!

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

Sarah Dessen is *always* good, but I tend to think of her as a summer author: She writes contemporary YA, usually with a family story, romance and a group of friends so tight-knit and realistic that you'll wish you knew them.

What Happened to Goodbye, her newest title, is no exception.

If you're looking for a well-written story with some substance to bring with you to the beach, grab it.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

Middle of Everywhere is currently streaming at NPR, and I've now listened to it approximately 80 bazillion times. Absolutely love it, and when I buy it, I'll definitely also go back and look for his older stuff.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

A fantastic story by the author of Harriet the Spy, it's available online in its entirely, and is a total must read.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

Because Louis CK is always worth a listen.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

Good resource for book reviews.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

WICKED FREAKING COOL.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

I don't want to like it as much as I do.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

Bernard Black owns a bookshop, but he's a misanthrope who only wants to smoke and drink and read.

If you've ever worked with books, it's a very definite must, but it's wonderful regardless.

I own the entire series, and it gets pulled out on an almost unhealthily regular basis.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

At 95, Beverly Cleary (author of the Ramona Quimby books, among many others) is still inspiring, fascinating, poised and understatedly funny. Love her.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

A Regency romance with understated fantasy elements, about manners and art and, of course, love, both romantic and familial.

Beautifully descriptive and tightly written. I loved this one so much that in the future, I'll pick up anything that Kowal writes.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

There's a blurb on John Grisham's new book claiming that Theodore Boone is the most irresistible "nosy, crime-obsessed kid" since Nancy Drew.

FALSE.

And also BALONEY.

Theodore Boone cannot (and, I dare say, NEVER WILL) hold a candle to Sammy Keyes, the most hardboiled, likable (and, unlike Theo, BELIEVABLE) middle school sleuth of all time.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

A vampire novel set in an Austin restaurant! A YA vampire novel, but don't get me wrong: This is no Twilight.

It's smart, original, occasionally super grody, and all-around excellent.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

A fantasy novel that feels more like historical fiction, Star Crossed is about 16-year-old Digger, a thief-turned-lady-in-waiting-turned-spy.

It's got action, adventure, a fully-realized world with a complex political situation, romance, humor, and plenty of twists and turns.

LOVE.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

Compared with Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery's Emily Byrd Starr is criminally unknown.

Emily is as fiery, fierce, passionate, determined, loving, imaginative, and precocious as Anne, only more so.

My love for Anne is pure and true, but I love Emily more: I love reading about Anne, but I want to be friends with Emily.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

My husband was a camper and a counselor at BRC. It's a special, special place, and we love it.

This summer, we've volunteered all of our weekends to them: He's running the wood shop and I'm running the library. We just finished our first weekend there and it was so fabulously fun that I'm already sad that it has to end in a few short weeks.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

A debunker teams up with the ghost of H. L. Mencken. How could you even think about asking for more? LOVE.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

The University of Oxford just removed the Oxford comma -- also known as the serial comma -- from their stylebook. Tragedy, despair, and WOE!

The heck with them. I'm keeping it. It looks better, scans better, and sounds more natural.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 2 years, 1 month ago

Two episodes into this, the original BBC version, I turned to my husband and said, "WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY REMAKE THIS?? It's clearly already perfect." It's a bit soapy, but also smart and well-written and well-acted. It's hugely enjoyable in every way, and I love all three of the main characters.

bookshelvesofdoom recommended this 2 years, 2 months ago

I just re-read this collection for the first time in years, and was reminded of exactly why I loved it so much the first time around. It's a fantastic combination of cop drama, noir mystery and superhero story, with great dialogue (Detective Deena Pilgrim makes me laugh out loud), strong characterization and artwork that looks pop-y but has depth.