No Going Back by Jonathan Langford

5 stars
R- really hard one to rate, plenty of sexuality, but more in a health class way than a risque way
Copy provided by the publisher at the request of the author

First things first-- I have spent a fair amount of time debating on how to review this without going into my feelings on homosexuality and without it turning into a huge mess.  I can't find a way to review this book without going into what I know is a deeply complicated and often painful topic.  I have received painful and even hateful emails in the past for my opinions and beliefs and would prefer not to repeat the experience, though, so IF THE COMMENTS GET OUT OF HAND, I WILL DELETE THEM AND/OR TURN THEM OFF ALTOGETHER!

Whew, glad that's out of the way.

*From the back cover-- A gay teenage Mormon growing up in western Oregon in 2003.  His straight best friend.  Their parents.  A typical LDS ward, a high school club about tolerance for gays, and a proposed anti-gay-marriage amendment to the state constitution.  In No Going Back, these elements combine in a coming-of-age story about faithfulness and friendship, temptation and redemption, tough choices and conflicting loyalties.*

This is normally NOT a subject I would read a book on.  Generally, it's a subject I'd prefer not to touch with a ten-foot pole.  Especially online for all the world to see.

But when the author contacted me, I decided (after a fair amount of internal debate), you know what?  It's a story that needs to be told.

Then I got the book and seriously dragged my feet reading it.  Why?  I was so afraid I would hate it.  I was so afraid that it would go against everything I believe and then I'd have to review it and it would just all be awful.  I wasn't positive that the author was LDS and I just wasn't sure the portrayal of Mormonism was going to be good.

And you know what happened?  I loved it.

Yes, parts were heart-wrenching and yes, there were things I didn't like, but overall I think the character of Paul is an absolutely brilliant portrayal of a teen struggling with his feelings for other men and his faith in the gospel.

Okay, quickly, what I didn't love-- the swearing.  I know it's realistic, but still.  I don't love reading it.  The storyline with Chad's mom-- it was fascinating, but really didn't belong in this book.  It wasn't fleshed out enough to stand alone and it didn't support the main storyline with how much of it there was.  I would LOVE to see Langford revisit the ideas there in a separate book, though.  Also, the narration lagged in places.  It really could have used a little more tightening up.

Other than that, I really thought it was very well done.  I'm not saying it's for everyone, but there were a lot of places where I thought "Exactly!  That's what I believe.  That's how I feel.  That's what I have such a terrible time putting into words."

Now, as far as recommendations go (and this is where I struggle a little)-- would I recommend it for teens..... yes and no.  Um, for LDS teens struggling with how they feel about homosexuality in general or their own personal feelings of homosexuality-- yes.  However, I do think it's the kind of book where it would be better if teens and parents both read it and talked about it.   Would I recommend it for parents of teens, yes.  I'm not sure I'd recommend it for the under... oh 15 crowd.  It is a mature subject.  It's a difficult subject.

I would also recommend it to LDS bishops.  I thought the character of Richard Mortenson, the bishop, was really insightful.

Really, if nothing else, you've got to give Langford kudos for even considering tackling such a hard subject.  I can think of exactly one other book that goes anywhere near it.  (The Way He Lived, for those that are wondering.  It's a lot more subtle, and really totally different, but also an excellent book.)

Now, technically Jonathan Langford lives in Wisconsin, but because of his strong ties to Utah and the fact that it's LDS fiction, I'm tagging this as a "local" author.

Shudder by Jennie Hansen

5 Stars

R- 0

LDS fiction

Source- review copy from author/publisher

I'm a regular reader of Jennie Hansen's blog, and was thrilled when she contacted me to ask if I wanted to review her latest work.

Shudder is an LDS suspense/fiction about two friends whose lives just aren't going quite as planned. (Though technically "suspense" isn't how Jennie Hansen intended her book to be classified, which she blogged about last week. I think it works, though.) First, Clare breaks her wrist. Under circumstances that seem more and more suspicious to Darcy... then Claire's boyfriend decides to become their new roommate. Um, no. I'm totally with Darcy on the "so what if he's a returned missionary, we're not getting a male roommate" thing.

So Darcy moves out. And things just kind of get weirder.

This was a pretty quick read and I really enjoyed it. Good characters (though Clare comes off as kind of an idiot, it's unfortunately a trap that all too many women fall into) and a fun story.

Definitely recommended and totally clean.

Oh, and over at Jennie Hansen's blog, she does contests twice a month! This time around she's offering Shudder! Go check it out!!

The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith

5 Stars
R- 2

"Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child must work hard for a living,
But the child that's born on the Sabbath day
Is fair and wise and good and gay."

This nursery rhyme is the structure of The Way He Lived-- and it totally works.

(Even if it's totally grammatically wrong. Because as my AP English teacher liked to say: "People are who's, not which's or that's, except for those who are witches with hats.")


I mentioned this book during Banned Books Week because it's come under fire in Florida. Now I've actually read it. I sorta kinda almost see the concern..... but not really.

I'd totally give this to my teenage sister (and likely will) while there are a LOT of other books I won't, even if I liked them.

Now, if books without a ton of resolution bug you, this may not be for you. Of the 7 main characters (6 narrators, one omnipresent) you come away sort of feeling like you know what's up with... say 3 of them.

Since Joel (the title character) is omnipresent and yet not at all present, one can only draw inferences about him. Having finished the book, the only things I'm positive about-- he was a really nice guy and he's dead. There are other ideas floating around my brain, but I can't be sure about any of them.

Tabbatha is Monday's child. Except she's not the pretty one, she's the smart one. She's also Joel's older sister.

Adlen is Tuesday's child. She's the debate captain and was Joel's debate partner. Except she hates debate.

Wednesday's child is Miles and full of woe does not begin to describe where his head is at. Joel's best friend, the only one who was with him when he died, has serious issues.

Claire comes next-- Joel's little sister. And go far she certainly does.

Norah is the epitome of giving and caring... Miles' little sister all but runs the household. What no one realizes is that she was in love with Joel and is just as broken as Miles.

Saturday's child-- Lissa-- probably has the most resolution in the end. She was Joel's neighbor, Miles' girlfriend, and it's just as hard for her. But she's also perhaps the most ready to move on.

This is not an easy style to pull off. Each narrator has their own distinct voice and style. In fact, each section is written differently. One is blog entries, then there's first person and third person sections. Most authors couldn't make that work.

All in all, brilliantly written and it really makes you think. Totally recommended.

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

You thought I'd forgotten, didn't you?

But I hadn't.

But I almost wish I had.

You'll note this review has no ratings. Because I don't know. I didn't finish it.

I wanted this to be a light, happy, funny tale. And in some ways it was... and then it also wasn't.

(And can I just say, the cover is really bugging me. Their heads are all cut off. Grr.)

Maybe I'm a shallow reader, but I didn't want to deal with the tensions in her marriage (which she was causing, though she didn't mean to) or the Bishop who just didn't come across as all that caring, or any of the rest of it.

***SPOILER ALERT***

And I sure as stinkin' heck didn't want to deal with her husband dying of cancer. (And yes, I actually wrote yesterday's post BEFORE reading this, but hello, way to illustrate my point.)

It's contrived. First his marriage breaks up then her husband dies, clearing the way for them to fall into each other's arms. (I did read the last chapter.)

Now, before I get flamed into obscurity, I'm sure it's not that simple. There were a good 150 pages I didn't really read, so clearly something else happened, but still.

And, frankly, it makes their whole friendship a bit... suspect.

I have mixed feelings on the subject of having close close friends of the opposite gender other than your spouse. I have always been one of those girls who gets along better with guys, and yes, there are still a couple I'm fairly close to, but not so close that it would threaten my husband or infringe upon our marriage in any way. As time passes, we talk less. Not because there's anything wrong with our friendships, but just because that's the way life is.

But at what point does a friendship become an emotional affair? Can you really have THAT much invested in another man emotionally? (I'm feeling flashbacks to the Jayson Wolfe books..... similar problem, but not quite the same. It's a little different if you were like siblings before your marriage. Heck, it's a little different if you KNEW each other before.)

Anyway, I'm bugged. And yes, I absolutely acknowledge that a) the dialogue was great and b) if I were in a different mood or had known it was more serious, I may have had a completely different opinion.

I'm sure this book totally works for a lot of people. If it sounds like your thing-- check it out. There are lots of laugh out loud moments. Overall, though... not working for me.

The Hidden Branch by GG Vandagriff

5 Stars
R- 0

I love these books. You already knew that though.

This came in the mail the other day and even though I had PROMISED myself I wouldn't read anything else before finishing Mormon Scientist AND even though I wasn't at ALL prepped for the TWO Stampin' Up! events I was doing in two days, I read the whole thing right then. That's the hold these books have on me.

It's crazy.

I am so sad to see this series end! By the same token, though, I love the characters too much to see this series ruined.

What do I mean? Well, have you ever read a sequel where you can tell that the author didn't really have anything else to say about the characters, but was pressured into writing more or wanted to ride the wave of success from the previous book? They suck. I'd hate for GG Vandagriff to write another Alex and Briggie story just because fans wanted more.

I do wish it had been about two chapters longer. Maybe she'll write a couple more scenes to put on her website as extras. (Hint hint, nudge nudge.... I'm pretty sure you're reading this...)

:D

Light, fluffy kind of mystery. Briggie and Richard end up in jail (naturally) and Alex ends up in the hospital (naturally) but in the end all is right with the world.

I think I've read the first two at least 3 times each. And numbers 3 and 4 at least twice.

And I'm already thinking about rereading this one..... :D
THE Hidden Branch

Hidden Branch, A Pre-Review

(Yes, I am aware that "pre-review" is not a word and is inherently contradictory.)

I canNOT WAIT to get this book in my hot little hands!!!!!! I will devour it, I tell you. I want it, and I want it now. It's not here yet, though. Sigh.

GG Vandagriff's novel of mystery, romance, and comedy, The Hidden Branch, will be released on or before September 16th. Taking place in Huntington Beach, CA, it is the fifth in the Alex and Briggie Mystery Series.

(See http://ggvandagriff.com/ for more info)

From GG--

-Anyone who buys the book on line or in the store before September 17th can qualify for an Alex and Briggie gift package and a chance to win an autographed set of the entire series by doing the following:
e-mail me your name and address through the above website
tell me where you bought the book

How cool is that?!?! A special gift package!

So, go forth and respond to the call!

(Just a little excitement here.... just a little....)

:D

Winds of Hope and Shelter from the Storm by Anita Stansfield

Winds of Hope
2 stars

In a stunning reversal of the first two books now everything that possibly can go right for the characters will go right.

• kick the drug habit
• find the gospel
• the runaway daughter comes back
• fall in love
• marry
• have more kids
• career shoots to the top again
• etc
• etc
• etc

Throw in lengthy rambling paragraphs about how incredibly blessed we all are, and that's basically the whole book.
I know, this all sounds really snarky, but seriously? I was bored. Yeah, there were a few struggles... and Stansfield threw in a couple of random arguments for the sake of tension... but really.
Now, I know that a lot of people love her stuff, and find her books uplifting and inspirational, and that's fine. Really it is. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Including me. :D

Shelter from the Storm
1 star
I figured this fourth book could go one of two ways. I mean, really, I don't get why she didn't stop after the third, because it practically ended with "and they all lived happily ever after".
So, it could either be a cute book about the daily life of a cute Mormon family, which would work for me. Throw in some humor, make it kind of Robert Farrell Smith-ish and there you go.
Or, we could rehash old issues and see if their new faith and happiness can withstand MORE trials, because clearly these people weren't subjected to enough in the first 2 books.
Can you guess which path the book took?
Yeah, the second one.

• Oldest daughter miscarries
• and can't find a job
• and can't seem to get pregnant again
• estranged parent comes back to make peace
• and promptly dies
• mystery illness
• psycho ward member
• who's bent on destroying Jayson
• and so Jayson is released from his calling
• causing him to spiral into out of control depression
• made worse when psycho flips out about him playing the piano at church
• but is miraculously solved by a counselor in a single session
• oh, and they have to speak in church

To make things worse-- the mystery illness is never solved, the issue with the psycho is never resolved, we never do actually meet her son that she's "protecting" from Jayson, the daughter still can't get pregnant AND the book ends BEFORE they speak on Sunday.
And here I was feeling happy about the book being shorter than the first three. Sigh.
Seriously, though, if you like Anita Stansfield, you'll probably like these. Don't let my bad attitude ruin them for you. :D
Oh, and HAPPY PIONEER DAY!!!!!
(A celebration of the Mormon pioneers first entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.)
Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked.......

Wednesday Morsel Answer Time

Wow. No guesses on last week's morsel. Interesting.
It was from Poisoned Pedigree by G G Vandagriff. Really really fun book.



You should start reading at the beginning, though-- Cankered Roots is first, then Of Deadly Descent, then Tangled Roots and then Poisoned Pedigree.

The Long-Awaited Review-- Lost Boys

Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card
5 Stars
R-3
Some language, violence against children.

Wow. This really was amazing.

From IndieBound: "For Step Fletcher, his pregnant wife DeAnne, and their three children, the move to tiny Steuben, North Carolina, offers new hope and a new beginning. But from the first, eight-year-old Stevie's life there is an unending parade of misery and disaster.
Cruelly ostracized at his school, Stevie retreats further and further into himself -- and into a strange computer game and a group of imaginary friends.
But there is something eerie about his loyal, invisible new playmates: each shares the name of a child who has recently vanished from the sleepy Southern town. And terror grows for Step and DeAnne as the truth slowly unfolds. For their son has found something savagely evil ... and it's coming for Stevie next."

I'd never read anything by Card before-- this was my first. The tone was different than I expected. Okay, it was entirely different than I expected. For some reason (I have no idea what that reason is) I thought this was a Lord of the Flies type thing.

It's not. It is really, in essence, an LDS mystery.

Parts of it were ridiculous. I think there were at least 10 straight pages about the prestige of various church callings. I kid you not. And while, yes, I know there are people who actually think this way... it was ridiculous. And the way each chapter starts-- "This is why" "This is where" etc.-- drove me BATTY.

But I sobbed at the end. (Briefly, anyway. I've mentioned I'm not really a crier, right?)

I knew exactly what was coming, and I still sobbed.

I totally recommend this book-- with just two little... I can't think of the word I want. This is what happens when you get so wrapped up in a book that you don't go to bed until nearly 3... reservations? I guess... or maybe disclaimers. Anyway:

1. Don't read this book late at night. (Obviously I know this from experience.) It is just creepy enough that passing dark windows going to bed is not good for the psyche.
2. DO NOT read this book pregnant. I'm serious. Very serious. If you've ever been pregnant, you probably know what I mean. If you're already a hormonal mommy mess, wait a while to read this. I will not be held responsible for the results otherwise.

Many, many thanks to Mrs. B Roth for recommending it.

Oh, I mentioned that the library is ordering more copies, right? It's a good thing, 'cause this one is old and falling apart.

(Sorry about the IndieBound link-- I was going to put the picture link on, but it's a much creepier cover than the copy I read... Just so you know before clicking it.)

Sigh (With Apologies to the Friend From Whom I Borrowed the Books)

The Sound of Rain and A Distant Thunder by Anita Stansfield
2.5 stars
R- between 2 and 3

Sigh.

I was trying to give Anita Stansfield another chance. I read some of hers as a teenager.... and realized by about the 4th that I had basically just read the same book 4 times.

I do actually own one... Towers of Brierly, which I really like and have read more than once.

But these.... sigh. These in many ways are everything that's wrong with LDS fiction... or maybe I should call it LDS romance.

For example, I used to read ALL of Rachel Ann Nunes' books. Like ALL of them, right as they came out. But after... I don't know 12 of them? I started to wonder how much tragedy an author should be able to inflict on a single character (or a couple of characters) in the space of 200-300 pages. (Don't get me wrong, Nunes has some books that I LOVE.)

I mean really.

In the course of these two books the 2 main characters--

• each lose one parent to neglect/abuse/divorce.
• lose a friend/brother to death
• lose each other (in a romance sense)
• each lose a spouse to death or infidelity
• lose more friends to death
• each lose a child to the world or death
• have misc. marriage troubles
• lose a parent (or two) to death
• suffer extreme career/financial reversals
• almost commit suicide
• become addicted to painkillers

And that's in only 2 books. Sheesh.

Now, I understand that some people's lives really are that tragic/difficult, but you know what they say about real life and bad fiction.

I am also sick to death of authors on soapboxes. Even when I agree with what they're saying (and I did in these) it's annoying. And in some cases wildly unbelievable.

To compound this irritation-- the characters are actually just compelling enough that I want to know what happens to them. (Which is interesting, since they're not terribly well-written.) Grr.

So I'll read the third book. (This had better only be a trilogy.)

But don't expect me to be happy about it.

Taking a break from Reader's Choice...

Which, yes, I just started. What can I say, maybe I have ADD.
Cankered Roots by G G Vandagriff
5 stars
R-0
LDS Mystery

I LOVE these books! Cankered Roots is the first in a series-- so far there are 4. Alex and Briggie are professional geneaologists who get themselves into all sorts of trouble when Alex decides to confront her parents about her own family history. (The first 2 books relate to her family history.)
Learn more about the books and the author at http://www.ggvandagriff.com/
These are all quick reads. I read the first 2 yesterday. They are murder mysteries, but they're entirely tame. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for a teen or even a preteen that reads a lot.