Secret Society Girl (Diana Peterfreund)

Title: Secret Society Girl
Author: Diana Peterfreund
Copyright: 2006 (Delta); 291 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-440-24389-2
Series: Ivy League #1
Sensuality: N/A
Genre: Young Adult

This story is told from Amy’s point of view. She’s a junior at a fictional Ivy League school (Eli). It’s late April, the school year is winding down, students are preparing for final exams, summer internships, and commencement. It’s also the time when the campus’s secret societies “tap” the rising juniors they wish to fill their ranks. Amy, as the editor of the campus literary magazine, knows she’s a shoo-in for the Quill & Ink. It’s tradition. So when she’s tapped by a member of the Rose & Grave, she’s suspects that maybe someone is playing a prank. The R&G NEVER taps women. It’s a “good old boys” society, reputed to be very powerful (CEOs, presidents, politicians, etc. can claim membership).

The this year’s graduating class has decided to get with the 21st century and tapped several females. Amy, after seeing her new brothers and sisters, can’t figure out why she was tapped. She’s got good grades, but she’s not nearly as smart as some of the other new members. Nor is she from a “legacy” family, or from a wealthy or politically powerful one, nor is she famous in any other way. It puzzles her, but bigger things are taking place to occupy her mind. Though the graduating class of Diggers has decided to be progressive, the board of directors and “old school” alumni aren’t happy with the decision. They are determine to force Amy and her fellow females Diggers out of the Rose & Grave and punish the seniors.

Comments:  I really enjoyed this book. I liked Amy. I liked the author’s writing style and the book had it’s funny moments. When I started reading the book, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. Despite it’s funny moments, the book has a serious point — accepting others not because of their sex, race, sexual orientation, social and economic background, or religion, but who they are as a person. Amy and her sister Diggers may have won this first battle but, from the looks of it, they’re not completely out of the woods yet.

Favorite quote:
I stood there, alone in the Calvin courtyard, and began to question the veracity of Brandon’s ongoing Hopelessly-Devoted-to You act. The man had just ditched me for intramural badminton.

Started: 29 April 2011
Finished: 1 May 2011

Rating:

Liked It A Lot!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

Three Bags Full (Leonie Swann)

Title: Three Bags Full
Author: Leonie Swann
Copyright: 2005 (Flying Dolphin Press); 341 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-7679-2705-5
Series: N/A
Sensuality: N/A
Genre: Mystery, General Fiction

From the Back: On a hillside near the cozy Irish village of Glennikll, the members of the flock gather around their shepherd, George, whose body lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George has cared for the sheep, reading them a plethora of books every night. The daily exposure to literature has made them far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep. Led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George’s killer.

~~ & ~~

1. Reason for choosing this book:
I liked the idea of sheep solving a mystery.

2. Reasons for liking/disliking this book:
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I thought the author did an amazing job of presenting what our world might look like to a flock of intelligent sheep. Even so, there were times while reading it, I remember being sometimes confused by what was really supposed to be going on — as opposed to what the sheep thought was happening, and a little frustrated when the sheep got sidetracked by something that may or may not have been important to the mystery (I’ve forgotten how much turned out to be relevant to the mystery). Re-reading the part where the sheep “explain” what happen to George to the villagers reminded me how clever the book was.

The cover of the book has 19 sheep, numbered, on it. The “dramatis oves” inside identifies which sheep is which. There is also a flip-drawing of a little sheep, that hops up and down when you fast-flip the pages.

3. Reasons for recommending this book.
Clever idea and, for the most part, cleverly executed.

Rating:

Enjoyed it!

Started: 24 October 2009
Finished: 28 October 2009

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

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Recently, I was perusing my category tags, both on-line and off.  Since I label even contemporary-set paranormals and urban fantasy as “contemporary”, it looks like I’ve read more contemporary books than historical.

My original thought behind labeling them as such was to distinguish them from historical-set fantasy and paranormal, on the off chance I read one — Mary Jo Putney’s “The Marriage Spell” — and futuristics — most of  Colby Hodge’s “Twist” is set in the future.

I’m beginning to think that this is misleading.   Readers looking for straight contemporaries might be unhappy to learn that the main female character in “Ace is Wild” is a psychic — though nowhere near the level of Feehan’s GhostWalkers or Singh’s Psy.  Fans of those series might take exception to “Ace is Wild” being labeled as paranormal.

So my question is, is it misleading?

On a slightly related note. . .

In Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews (urban fantasy set in an alternate-reality Atlanta), we learn one of the characters is a big fan of paranormal romances (not Kate — her favorite book is “The Princess Bride”).  Later, we learn that several books (or all of them) by the character’s favorite author features. . .pirates.

This got me thinking.  In Kate’s world there are shape-shifters, vampires, magic.  What would these characters consider “paranormal”?  Your average Harlequin Superromance? Chick-lit? Ye Olde  Bodice-rippers of the 80′s?

And would a comtemporary be a story about a hunk of a werehyhena romantically pursuing a heavily armed Knight of the Order?

Anyone else pondered this?

There’s a poll in my sidebar regarding the labeling .  Please take a moment to vote.  Thanks.

It started as a mission to capture a Somali warlord. It turned into a disastrous urban firefight and death-defying rescue operation that shocked the world and rattled our country. Now the 1993 battle for Mogadishu, Somalia — the incident that was the basis for the book and the film Black Hawk Down — is remembered by the men who fought and survived it.

Editors: Matt Eversmann and Dan Schilling
ISBN: 0-345-46668-3 (Presidio Press)
Finished: 19 March 2007

From the index:
“Operation Gothic Serpent,” by Matt Eversmann: As a “chalk” leader, Eversmann was part of the first group of Rangers to “fast rope” from the Black Hawk helicopters. It was his chalk that suffered the first casualty of the battle.

“Sua Sponte: Of Their Own Accord,” by Raleigh Cash: Responsible for controlling and directing fire support for the platoon, Cash entered the raging battle in the ground convoy sent to rescue his besieged brothers in arms.

“Through My Eyes,” by Mike Kurth: One of only two African Americans in the battle, Kurth confronted his buddies’ deaths, realizing that “the only people whom I had let get anywhere near me since I was a child were gone.”

“What Was Left Behind,” by John Belman: He roped into the biggest firefight of the battle and considers some of the mistakes that were made, such as using Black Hawk helicopters to provide sniper cover.

“Be Careful What You Wish For,” by Tim Wilkinson: He was one of the Air Force pararescuemen or PJs-the highly trained specialists for whom “That Others May Live” is no catchphrase but a credo-and sums up his incomprehensible courage as “just holding up my end of the deal on a bad day.”

“On Friendship and Firefights,” by Dan Schilling: As a combat controller, he was one of the original planners for the deployment of SOF forces to Mogadishu in the spring of 1993. During the battle, he survived the initial assault and carnage of the vehicle convoys only to return to the city to rescue his two closest friends, becoming, literally, “Last Out.”

Remarks:
If your only familiar with the movie, forget what you’ve seen. Most of it, anyway. This book expands the personal story of six men from Task Force Ranger. The stories overlap: several were part of the convoy, but in different places; some went back out with the rescue convoy, some didn’t. Two of the men (Wilkinson and Schilling) are Air Force personnel.

Since the stories are in first person, each soldier/airman speaks in his own “voice”. These men are not professional writers and therefore write the way they speak. Each story’s “polish” varies on his abilities to tell a story in written form, with very little outside editing. There is military jargon, but in most cases the meaning is explained and there is a glossary in the back of the book. I haven’t yet read “Black Hawk Down”, though I have it in my TBR pile. I think this book is a good starting point before tackling the denser “BHD”.

LOVED IT !!