Category: Friday Fifteen

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, everyone, and happy last day of January! Let’s end the month with some good ol’ micro-book reviews.

1. The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5) by Lemony Snicket
A fun send-up of boarding school books, and the series starts to hit its stride.

2. The Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block
Probably the darkest Block book I’ve read, but tough issues are handled well.

3. Melville: The Making of the Poet by Hershel Parker
I didn’t even know that Melville wrote poetry. Nice general bio info as well.

5. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
A love letter to readers. Ending didn’t quite hold for me, but lots of awesomeness.

4. What Happens to a Hamburger? (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Paul Showers
All you ever wanted to know about noms in a picture book.

Friday Fifteen

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Friday, I am so glad you’re here. Onto the weekend, and onto the mini-book reviews!

1. Witch Craze: Terror and Fantasy in Baroque Germany by Lyndal Roper
When you take history of witchcraft in college, you get to read books like this.

2. Big Bird’s Bedtime Story by Rick Wetzel
The story of a giant egg. Really cute and cozy.

3. Fat Angie by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo
Hard but ultimately hopeful. That group running scene killed me.

4. Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Loved getting more of Morwen, not so much Killer. Also, major cliffhanger.

5. Forest Born by Shannon Hale
Great way to round out the Bayern books; loved Rin’s anxiety about “people-speaking.”

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! Onto the weekend and onto the micro-book reviews:

1. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Just reread with friends. Karana was more stoic than I remembered; pragmatism helps you survive.

2. Prisoner of Time by Caroline B. Cooney
Didn’t grab me like the first two books. Devonny’s great, but ending felt random.

3. What Makes Day and Night (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Franklyn Mansfield Branley
Was big into question-and-answer science books when I was young. Loved the art/photos in this one.

4. Words Fail Me: What Everyone Who Writes Should Know about Writing by Patricia T. O’Conner
More about the technical aspect of writing than the creative side. Don’t remember much overall.

5. Mathemagic (Childcraft: the How and Why Library #13) by World Book-Childcraft International
I would actually read a book about math. Let that sink in for a minute.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, everyone! Let’s say farewell to the polar vortex with some micro-book reviews.

1. In the Hand of Goddess (Song of the Lioness #2) by Tamora Pierce
Alanna becomes a knight, fights evil, kisses swoony guys. Maybe my favorite of the series.

2. I. by Stephen Dixon
Don’t remember much, but the depiction of his wife’s condition was striking.

3. The Littlest Dinosaurs by Bernard Most
I loved the art in this one. Tiny dinosaurs!

4. Violet & Claire by Francesca Lia Block
Liked the contrasting screenplay/poetry formats, but not one I returned to like other Block novels.

5. Picnic, Lightning by Billy Collins
The title poem is a great take on a two-word aside from Lolita.

Friday Fifteen

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Between holidays and snow days, I almost forgot it was Friday! But, just in time, here are this week’s book reviews in fifteen words or under.

1. Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry
Pages of fun illustrations make for an awesome way to learn early vocab.

2. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Walks the line between YA and New Adult in the best way possible.

3. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
A little more mixed than I expected, but dug most stories, including the PPT layout.

4. Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities by Alexandra Robbins
Total sensationalism, but fun like a reality show. Miffed at the chapter revealing ritual secrets.

5. Happy Birthday, Kirsten (American Girls: Kirsten, #4) by Janet Beeler Shaw
I was really into playing “quilting bee and tornado.” My favorite Kirsten book.

Friday Fifteen

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It’s the last Friday Fifteen of 2013! Let’s end the year right with some book reviews in fifteen words or fewer.

1. Write Source 2000: A Guide to Writing, Thinking and Learning by Great Source
Our eighth grade source for all things essay-related. It was fine.

2. The Animal Tale Treasury by Caroline Royds
Mostly I remember the “Just So” stories and the illustrations.

3. Glass Town by Lisa Russ Spaar
Don’t remember many particular poems, but sharp, elegant writing works well as a collection.

4. A Hand Full of Stars by Rafik Schami
Read randomly in middle school; ended up being a first introduction to Syria. Very touching.

5. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Didn’t expect much based on the pants conceit, but the girls’ friendships and personalities shine.

Friday Fifteen

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Today is a very special Friday Fifteen, because it’s the 100th Friday Fifteen. That’s right, for the last 100 Fridays I’ve been reviewing books in fifteen words or under. The stats:

  • 100 Friday Fifteens
  • 650 books reviewed
  • 8 Shakespeare plays reviewed
  • 5 Harry Potter books reviewed
  • 4 Virginia Woolf novels reviewed
  • 3 Hunger Games books reviewed
  • 2 Care Bears books reviewed
  • Most views on a Friday Fifteen: 3,621 (Thanks, Freshly Pressed!)

So in honor of the 100th Friday Fifteen, how about we take a look back at some of my favorite fifteen-word (or less) reviews. Onto the reviews!

1. Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina
We read this a lot when I was little. Still love hats, don’t trust monkeys.
Originally reviewed January 6, 2012

2. Ballistics by Billy Collins
Worth it if only for the poem Hippos on Holiday. On holiday from what indeed?
Originally reviewed January 27, 2012

3. Succulent Wild Woman by SARK
I was 18 and liked journaling with colorful pens.
Originally reviewed March 16, 2012

4. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Combines my love of ducklings and my love of the Boston Public Gardens.
Originally reviewed April 20, 2012

5. About Me (Childcraft: the How and Why Library #14) by World Book-Childcraft International
I liked learning about diseases I could contract. Measles, anyone?
Originally reviewed May 18, 2012

6. The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare
Worth a read, if only for the stage direction “exit, pursued by  bear.”
Originally reviewed June 22, 2012

7. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Sara Crewe keeps calm and carries on.
Originally reviewed July 27, 2012

8. Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
This gives me unreasonable expectations about writing to and forming relationships with famous writers.
Originally reviewed September 21, 2012

9. Coyote Moon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Book 3) John Vornholt
Say it with me, everyone: “Carnie were-coyotes.”
Originally reviewed October 26, 2012

10. Feed by M.T. Anderson
It’s not all GIFs and kitten videos when your brain’s connected to the internet.
Originally reviewed December 7, 2012

11. As You Like It by William Shakespeare
Let’s all go to the forest, dress in drag, and fall in love!
Originally reviewed January 11, 2013

12. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Everyone in fifth grade cried. Except me. I have a heart of ice.
Originally reviewed February 1, 2013

13. The Baby-Sitters Club: Friends Forever : The Movie by A.L. Singer, Ann M. Martin
A novelization of the movie based on the book series. Of course I read it.
Originally reviewed June 21, 2013

14. All My Friends Are Dead by Avery Monsen and Jory John
I should read this aloud to houseplants as a warning.
Originally reviewed August 23, 2013

15. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
As a child who enjoyed retribution and hats, I would have been all over this.
Originally reviewed December 6, 2013

For the regular Friday Fifteen fans, thank you so much for checking in on Fridays and sharing your own thoughts about all kinds of books. Looking forward to 100 more brief conversations about books!

Friday Fifteen

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Another Friday, another set of blog reviews in fifteen words or less.

1. The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway
In which I learned I was not a Hemingway fan.

2. Baby Be-Bop by Francesca Lia Block
I just want to hug Dirk. A touching ending to the series.

3. The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne
A lot of humor and heart. Lit nerd in me loved the Shakespeare stuff.

4. Eloise by Kay Thompson
I still kind of want to be Eloise.

5. Rao’s Cookbook: Over 100 Years of Italian Home Cooking Hardcover by Frank Pellegrino
Classic Italian recipes from the ultimate VIP restaurant.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! Since Thanksgiving I’ve felt like I’ve been in a bit of a time warp (“Wait, is it Tuesday? Saturday? Wednesday?”) Fortunately, it is in fact Friday and time for book reviews in fifteen words or under.

1. Flour, Too: Indispensable Recipes for the Cafe’s Most Loved Sweets & Savories by Joanne Chang
Already obsessed with the second Flour Bakery cookbook. Can’t wait to try all the soups.

2. The Portable Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker
Reading Dorothy Parker makes me feel like one of the cool girls with short hair.

3. The Truth About Stacey by Ann M. Martin
Spoiler alert: it’s diabetes.

4. For the Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
YA dystopian adaptation of Persuasion. Aw yeah. (The letter made me just as emotional here.)

5. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
As a child who enjoyed retribution and hats, I would have been all over this.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy post-Thanksgiving Friday, everyone! Let’s wrap up November with a few book reviews in fifteen words or fewer.

http://www.indiebound.org/book/97812500274361. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Awesomely crafted, compelling characters and epic world-building. My new favorite fantasy series.

2. Homesick by Jean Fritz
School read aloud. I mix this up with The Inn of the Sixth Happiness movie.

3. Out of Time by Caroline B. Cooney
Sometimes you have to rescue to your time-travel boyfriend from a Victorian asylum.

4. The Stinky Cheese Man: And Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka
The book we passed around fourth grade.

5. Molly’s Surprise: A Christmas Story (American Girls: Molly #3) by Valerie Tripp
Molly and Jill bring Christmas to their family. My favorite of the Mollys.