Not My Usual, but Great!

So a dear colleague of mine, a lady I have known since I was a young teen brought The Patron Saint of Ugly  to a meeting and told me that her cousin had written it.  I thought to myself, this really isn't the kind of book I would usually read.  But now that I have read it, I realize that one of the reasons it isn't the kind of book that I would usually read is because this book is incredibly unique and I don't think there ARE any other books out there like this one!
Marie Manilla lives in West Virginia and teaches at Marshall University.  My friend told me that while this story is sort of based on their family, it isn't what one would call a true story.
I have to say I really loved this book.  The main character is being investigated by the Vatican because there are claims that she is a saint, one who has brought about many healings- healings of skin aliments.  Garnet is an unwilling saint, if she is one and the book consists of her audio recordings, made for the Vatican, answering the investigatory questions.
This book is truly funny and although my friend gave a copy, I purchased the audio book so that my mom could listen, too and I am glad I did.  It was well worth it.
If you are Italian and Roman Catholic, I think that you would especially like this book.  Great stuff.  I look forward to another book from Ms. Manilla.

Blooming

It is spring.  Western Pennsylvania had a pretty cold and snowy winter, for Western Pennsylvania.  But today, it does really feel like spring.  Bloomability is not a real word, but it should be.  While the cover is quite ugly, the book is quite good.  What can you expect from Sharon Creech, though?  This lady makes magic every time she touches a pen to paper, or fingers to a keyboard, whatever way, it doesn't matter.  She has become one of my favorite writers.  What I think I particularly love about Ms. Creech is that she makes me love books that I usually wouldn't even think to read.  I remember first reading Love that Dog so many years ago.  I was NOT a poetry chick.  But wow.
The same thing goes for Bloomability.  It isn't set in the US!  I rarely enjoy books not set in the US, because I rarely read them, but still, when I do, I do not enjoy them at all.  Bloomability takes place in an international boarding school in Switzerland.  Here is some information about boarding schools in Switzerland!
Dinnie is a girl from the US who has a dad who is one of those adventurer-type dads.  The dad who is always looking for the a "great opportunity" and doesn't provide much stability to his family.  He is a good guy though, a free spirit and I love the way that Creech doesn't put him down.  He is always moving on for the next big thing and then his family follows after him.  Dinnie's older sister gets married when she is in high school, has a baby.  Her older brother is in and out of jail.  Dinnie's mom is a good lady, too.  But when the chance for a "great opportunity" opens up for Dinnie, she makes her take it, giving Dinnie and opportunity that she wouldn't have otherwise.  Dinnie's mom's sister is married to a man who has become the new headmaster at an American/International boarding school in Switzerland.  Dinnie can go to the school for free.
I am embarrassed that I didn't know that Italy and Switzerland were so close!  There is even a language called Swiss-Italian!
So this is a coming-of-age story, a respectful tale of difference families and lifestyles, a story of international relations on a personal scale, and just wow, a great little book.

Love the cover, love the book, but who else would like it?

After reading Will Grayson, Will Grayson and loving it so much, I said I wanted to try another book by each of the authors. Are We There Yet? was the first to arrive when I put some books on hold. Short, great cover featuring a snow globe of Venice. My dad collects snow globes. Everywhere I go I get one for him. He has quite a few now. In Vegas I was stopped by airport security because I forgot to pack one in my luggage and had it in my carry-on. It freaked me out, getting searched and all, but the lady was super nice and told me where the post office was in the airport so I mailed it back. Who knew snow globes were a threat to homeland security. They certainly are a threat to good taste, but they are still fun. Anyway, it took tons of extra time and money and had I bought it on the air side of McCarran, it would have been perfectly fine to fly with it in my backpack. Just one more reason to drive everywhere. Alas, the Silver brothers, Danny, 23 and Elijah, a soon to be high school senior, so like 17 or 18, can't drive to Rome, but that's where they are headed in this book. Their parents have tricked them into going on a vacation together to see the cities of Rome, Venice and Florence and to bond. Danny and Elijah don't seem to get along well or have anything on common. Danny is in advertising, a rising star in the business world, full or self-control and ambition. Elijah is a dreamer, pot-smoker, sweet heart of a guy with a best girl-friend, not girlfriend, with whom he plays the ...do you ever wonder...game each night as they contemplate the curious, beautiful mysteries of life together. Neither brother knows much about the other and they are dreading their time together. During the trip we see the complexities of brotherly relations from both sides. Throw into the mix a college drop out named Julia who is, well, I don't know, personally I think she's a jerk and a waste of time, and you have Are We There. I really loved this book but I don't know if teens would love it. Maybe. I'll have to ask some. I will defiantly read more from David Levithan. He is a gifted and insightful writer with fresh, thought-provoking ideas. This book almost made me wish I had a brother. Almost.