Thursday, December 22, 2011

I almost peed my pants



This is the best audio book I've listened to in a long time. Jack Gantos has brilliantly written the experience of the awkward 11-year- old boy. Every character is meticulously flawed and charming. It's an obviously personal story.

The wide-eyed look at the quirky town of Norvelt will have you laughing out loud.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

The Prom

I'm on a roll with the prom books. I kind of love this whole one-night-story theme.

Au Revoir Crazy European Chick is not high literature but it is an intensely fun read. Perry's family gets a Lithuanian exchange student. His mom forces him to take her to the prom and she turns out to be an international assassin. Naturally. :)

The story that unfolds is a wild ride of violence through New York City (while wearing prom gear) -- kind of like Nick & Norah with guns.

There are a lot of holes in the story line, but if you can suspend your disbelief, it's a fun story. There are some interesting twists and you end up sympathizing with the gun-wielding European chick, but I wish there were more consequences in general.

This will make an adrenaline-rich movie.





I didn't know what to expect when I picked up Anti-Prom. I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of those Breakfast Club type stories with the princess, the wallflower and the scary chick all represented.

The way they're thrown together is a little thin, but once it gets started it's a good story of high school pain and bonding. A different take on the the whole, "we all suffer" theme.