Books, books, and books
Feb. 20th, 2017 12:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
impyUgh. Pollen already?! Yes, my friends, climate change is real and it sucks and I'm going to kick the next person to rejoice at early spring. I'm going to kick them so hard their bones shatter.
So a quick trip down ugh, I feel awful alley: My face feels like someone punched my sinuses, my ankle is still shrieking at me (I really hope next week clears it up), my legs are not happy and my Valentine's gift of a period preview means my back is also not happy. Woe is me.
Anyway, I read the two AG mysteries I ordered (Melody's got me an extra month of Prime free since it showed up a day late for some odd reason) and I have thoughts.
I think we discussed this for the last round of mysteries, but what the hell, it's always worth a yearly refresher. In my mysteries, I prefer to have to figure out whodunnit and not have a neon sign over head that makes it freakin' obvious. I am willing to cut books for kids some slack because, y'know, kids. Different audience and all that. I am also not a fan of mysteries you can't solve because the solution is never really an option presented in the story. When a mystery falls under the too easy or not enough data given category, my enjoyment suffers.
Melody's book suffers terribly from a case of Too Freakin' Obvious. Seriously, the moment Leah and the red-haired man show up, you know damn well they're going to be involved. I swear, Leah appears and there was a neon arrow pointing to her and just in case I thought maybe I was wrong once the red-haired man showed up, Leah gets all weird about her grandfather and nope. You know damn well she's gonna steal some flowers and try and sell them to get the money to 'save' her grandfather and, well... that's exactly what happens.
Melody's book also doesn't feel like Melody's other books. A good historical AG book feels like you've fallen back in time and then shows you ways in which life then was different and ways in which some things have yet to change or never will, depending on whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. Melody's previous books, including the choose your own adventure Journey book all have that feel. Her mystery does not.
On the plus side, her book world is still infinitely more enjoyable than her movie world and I like getting to spend time with her family.
Overall, I'd give it a B- because it's an enjoyable read but not a good mystery. But do keep in mind that I read it while coming down with whatever ick I've got so that probably played a part. Oh, and I could've lived many a lifetime without a fat woman in a muumuu being the butt of many a joke and a laugh, not to mention a little nutty. Really, book? Really?
If I weren't lazy, I'd take a moment to show you that Maryellen and Melody have the same hair going on for their book covers (Maryellen's is just longer).
Maryellen's book I read in one go. Part of this was because it was the day I was waiting for someone to call (and they never did) and part of it was because I wanted to know how it ended and didn't trust myself to not flip to the back if I didn't read it all at once. Plus, it was fun.
That said... it wasn't my favorite mystery either. The shady station wagon was indeed the culprit (and yes, I spent the entire book fussing at Maryellen to put two and two together and not get five, dammit) but there was a bit of a twist in the Who, which was nice. Well, not nice because animal testing is horrific and no thank you, ma'am.
Alas, I think my issues with this book, animal testing aside and how weird is that as a statement, are things that come from having read similar things and thus would not necessarily apply to a kid. So make of that what you will.
However, if you've seen or possibly read The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio you will get flashbacks for Maryellen's mother's portion of the story. I also had flashbacks to Grace is Missing, the Kit mystery from awhile back, and the Dawn and the Disappearing Dogs BSC mystery.
Let's see. The Karens remain pretty much useless unless Angela is there or mentioned and then suddenly they realize they have to step up their game. Sorry, tangent time. Of all the best friends in all the AG books I've read (so some of the GOTY books are left out because I haven't read them all yet), the Karens are The Absolute WORST. Maryellen's dog is missing and they come over to help after Scooter has been missing for more than 24 hours at this point, and what do they do? They spend the entire time arguing over who gets to be Nancy Drew and putting on garish makeup as part of their 'disguise.' And I do mean they spend the entire time being completely unhelpful. It is a plot point that they wasted the entire afternoon. Seriously, when Wayne is more help than you are, there is a freakin' problem. When the little brother who can't speak properly due to a case of little kid cute lisps (no, I'm not going to find out what it's really called all TVTropes like because I'm not falling for that) is more help than you are, there is a freakin' problem. The Karens are the worst. THE WORST.
Also, I do not like this whole Wayne and Angela pairing. Like no, Angela deserves better. Ugh, book, why. WHY.
In terms of feeling like you fell back in history, I think the Maryellen book does a better job of it.
I guess Maryellen's would get a B or a B+ since my issues were personal and not really actual faults for the most part. Except the Wayne/Angela thing. No. Just no.
Overall I am underwhelmed by them, but there's still a small hope that Julie's will be interesting, whenever I get around to getting/reading it.
Oh, and I did read Tenney's first book and really only had one problem with it. Young girl befriends older woman who turns out to be a ~STAR!~ Enh. I knew going in I'd have to leave my dislike of big things happening to our heroine at the door since, duh, everything about Tenney warns you that she's pretty much baby Swift, but the moment when Portia is revealed to be the singer/songwriter of a song we've 'heard' numerous times throughout the book is just where I draw the line. I accept such things in the world of Sweet Valley because of course sixth grade Jessica is going to befriend an older actress and get acting tips and be fabulous because of course she is. But for whatever reason, I prefer my AG stories to be more grounded.
I will say that I really enjoyed Tenney/Jaya not being at one another's throats for this outing (I suspect the next book might throw that up in the air) and it's one of the few areas I don't mind Tenney being really talented because Jaya being her number one fan is adorable. Holliday as a name, however is just nyargh.
To be fair, I'm not really sure how any newer AG book would fare considering I just finished my last of the history mysteries I snagged back in November. Most of those are stupidly well written and give the warm fuzzies even though I'd never read any of them before. Also, warm fuzzies is a bit weird to say given the content of some of them but there you go.
Worth a read, any of them, but I don't think I'd pay full price for any of them. Luckily, I did not. :p
Now. Toy Fair. Who's got pictures and info?
So a quick trip down ugh, I feel awful alley: My face feels like someone punched my sinuses, my ankle is still shrieking at me (I really hope next week clears it up), my legs are not happy and my Valentine's gift of a period preview means my back is also not happy. Woe is me.
Anyway, I read the two AG mysteries I ordered (Melody's got me an extra month of Prime free since it showed up a day late for some odd reason) and I have thoughts.
I think we discussed this for the last round of mysteries, but what the hell, it's always worth a yearly refresher. In my mysteries, I prefer to have to figure out whodunnit and not have a neon sign over head that makes it freakin' obvious. I am willing to cut books for kids some slack because, y'know, kids. Different audience and all that. I am also not a fan of mysteries you can't solve because the solution is never really an option presented in the story. When a mystery falls under the too easy or not enough data given category, my enjoyment suffers.
Melody's book suffers terribly from a case of Too Freakin' Obvious. Seriously, the moment Leah and the red-haired man show up, you know damn well they're going to be involved. I swear, Leah appears and there was a neon arrow pointing to her and just in case I thought maybe I was wrong once the red-haired man showed up, Leah gets all weird about her grandfather and nope. You know damn well she's gonna steal some flowers and try and sell them to get the money to 'save' her grandfather and, well... that's exactly what happens.
Melody's book also doesn't feel like Melody's other books. A good historical AG book feels like you've fallen back in time and then shows you ways in which life then was different and ways in which some things have yet to change or never will, depending on whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. Melody's previous books, including the choose your own adventure Journey book all have that feel. Her mystery does not.
On the plus side, her book world is still infinitely more enjoyable than her movie world and I like getting to spend time with her family.
Overall, I'd give it a B- because it's an enjoyable read but not a good mystery. But do keep in mind that I read it while coming down with whatever ick I've got so that probably played a part. Oh, and I could've lived many a lifetime without a fat woman in a muumuu being the butt of many a joke and a laugh, not to mention a little nutty. Really, book? Really?
If I weren't lazy, I'd take a moment to show you that Maryellen and Melody have the same hair going on for their book covers (Maryellen's is just longer).
Maryellen's book I read in one go. Part of this was because it was the day I was waiting for someone to call (and they never did) and part of it was because I wanted to know how it ended and didn't trust myself to not flip to the back if I didn't read it all at once. Plus, it was fun.
That said... it wasn't my favorite mystery either. The shady station wagon was indeed the culprit (and yes, I spent the entire book fussing at Maryellen to put two and two together and not get five, dammit) but there was a bit of a twist in the Who, which was nice. Well, not nice because animal testing is horrific and no thank you, ma'am.
Alas, I think my issues with this book, animal testing aside and how weird is that as a statement, are things that come from having read similar things and thus would not necessarily apply to a kid. So make of that what you will.
However, if you've seen or possibly read The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio you will get flashbacks for Maryellen's mother's portion of the story. I also had flashbacks to Grace is Missing, the Kit mystery from awhile back, and the Dawn and the Disappearing Dogs BSC mystery.
Let's see. The Karens remain pretty much useless unless Angela is there or mentioned and then suddenly they realize they have to step up their game. Sorry, tangent time. Of all the best friends in all the AG books I've read (so some of the GOTY books are left out because I haven't read them all yet), the Karens are The Absolute WORST. Maryellen's dog is missing and they come over to help after Scooter has been missing for more than 24 hours at this point, and what do they do? They spend the entire time arguing over who gets to be Nancy Drew and putting on garish makeup as part of their 'disguise.' And I do mean they spend the entire time being completely unhelpful. It is a plot point that they wasted the entire afternoon. Seriously, when Wayne is more help than you are, there is a freakin' problem. When the little brother who can't speak properly due to a case of little kid cute lisps (no, I'm not going to find out what it's really called all TVTropes like because I'm not falling for that) is more help than you are, there is a freakin' problem. The Karens are the worst. THE WORST.
Also, I do not like this whole Wayne and Angela pairing. Like no, Angela deserves better. Ugh, book, why. WHY.
In terms of feeling like you fell back in history, I think the Maryellen book does a better job of it.
I guess Maryellen's would get a B or a B+ since my issues were personal and not really actual faults for the most part. Except the Wayne/Angela thing. No. Just no.
Overall I am underwhelmed by them, but there's still a small hope that Julie's will be interesting, whenever I get around to getting/reading it.
Oh, and I did read Tenney's first book and really only had one problem with it. Young girl befriends older woman who turns out to be a ~STAR!~ Enh. I knew going in I'd have to leave my dislike of big things happening to our heroine at the door since, duh, everything about Tenney warns you that she's pretty much baby Swift, but the moment when Portia is revealed to be the singer/songwriter of a song we've 'heard' numerous times throughout the book is just where I draw the line. I accept such things in the world of Sweet Valley because of course sixth grade Jessica is going to befriend an older actress and get acting tips and be fabulous because of course she is. But for whatever reason, I prefer my AG stories to be more grounded.
I will say that I really enjoyed Tenney/Jaya not being at one another's throats for this outing (I suspect the next book might throw that up in the air) and it's one of the few areas I don't mind Tenney being really talented because Jaya being her number one fan is adorable. Holliday as a name, however is just nyargh.
To be fair, I'm not really sure how any newer AG book would fare considering I just finished my last of the history mysteries I snagged back in November. Most of those are stupidly well written and give the warm fuzzies even though I'd never read any of them before. Also, warm fuzzies is a bit weird to say given the content of some of them but there you go.
Worth a read, any of them, but I don't think I'd pay full price for any of them. Luckily, I did not. :p
Now. Toy Fair. Who's got pictures and info?