Above by Isla Morley
Blythe is kidnapped by a cuckoo survivalist, eeek! The first half of this was incredibly suspenseful. The second half was completely unexpected. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed. That doesn’t stop me from recommending this tension filled thriller.
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
This was a great piece of historical fiction based on the true story of the notorious Jenny Bonnett. Frog Music is fulled with interesting characters. Young Jenny was surrounded by disreputable folks…and they are the most fun to read about. It seems that Emma Donoghue can do no wrong. I loved Room. I loved Astray. One of the things I learned from reading Frog Music is that I really need to read the entirety of her backlist.
The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh
Lovely and atmospheric, The Moon Sisters would be a great read for anyone who has a sibling that drives them a little mad. Be forewarned that there are some tough issues in this book. The beautiful sentences Therese Walsh has crafted makes it worth the pain.
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler
Have you ever read a book that you were sure was written expressly for you? That’s how I felt as I read Shotgun Lovesongs. It’s set in a town just a hop, skip, and jump away from me. It’s peopled with characters that are as familiar to me as my next door neighbors . I’d like to invite Nickolas Butler out for a beer. I think we’d have a great time. Yay Wisconsin!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Let me know!
The Relentless Reader 
I don't know if there's been a book that gave me as many warm fuzzies as Shotgun Lovesongs did in a long time. I pretty much threw it at my co-Michigander at my book club meeting this weekend!
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I'm hoping to read Above in the next couple of weeks. It seems like a lot of folks were kind of disappointed. I can't believe I still haven't read Room!
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Here's a question: Why is it called Frog Music? Such an odd title. What's the story behind it?Also, Above looks interesting. Is it a non-spolier-y question to ask what about it was disappointing? Was it the ending or the pacing or did it just sort of fizzle out? Might make it easier to decide if it is something I can deal with lol
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Haven't read any, but I'm looking forward to getting to Frog Music!
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I'm glad you mentioned Astray. I REALLY want to read that book, and I kind of forgot about it once its \”moment\” in the blogosphere was over. Need to go to the 'brary and snatch that one up.
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And that was me…Andi…logged into the Read-a-Thon account. Oops!
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It was like a love letter to the Midwest. I loved it 😀
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I hope you enjoy Above! Room was CRAZY GOOD. I really loved that book 😀
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The main character collects frogs for local French restaurants 🙂 The name is still a little weird, but I dig it. The answer could be a bit spoilery. The second half isn't at all what a reader would expect. That doesn't make it disappointing I guess. It just kinda fell flat at that point. How's that for a non-answer? LOL
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I hope you like it a lot!
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Ha ha, I wondered who in the world this was 😉 I think you'd dig Astray. It would be great for a readathon 😉 Hint Hint!
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I could have sworn I commented on this already. I must have read it in Feedly and then forgotten to click through. Anyhow, I have Moon Sisters sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, and Shannon and Ciska both made me want to read Shotgun Lovesongs… so many books, gah!!!
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These sound like great books…they are all getting slapped onto the Mt. Everest that is my TBR list….
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As much as it depresses me to read about kidnapping, I just can't say no to those books. I'm definitely reading the first one, Above.
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The Moon Sisters is a trippy little book :DShotgun Lovesongs is a recent big favorite of mine. I was soooo happy with that book.
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Muahahahahaha! I live to topple TBR piles, lol 😉
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I absolutely understand. That's the great thing about books! We can experience things without really having to go through them!
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I love the cover for Above! I read Donoghue's Room but haven't read anything else of hers. Looks like you read some great ones!
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Ooohhh, Above sounds right up my nutty alley! And, I'll admit it, I may be the only person in America who did not love Frog Music. Trying to write a review but may wait until it comes out in pbk to avoid the ensuing wrath.
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Those are all pretty cool covers now that I'm really taking a look 🙂
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Ha ha, I can understand why you'd want to wait. I respect differing opinions but there might be some angry readers out there 😉
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Now I definitely need to read Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (I can't decide which cover I like better… This one or the Harper Collins cover) and The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh! Thank you! Some very good books released this year, don't you think? I think my TBR list in Goodreads will reach the 2000+ mark this year.
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Frog music is on my list already (I've just read Leah's review and she is also very enthusiastic), and I didn't know The moon sisters, but I think I'll also put it on the list 🙂
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Both covers are pretty cool 🙂 This is the one I read, which is the only way I knew how to decide which photo to use! That is a giant TBR list, lol. Love it!
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I think Frog Music is going to be quite the popular read this spring 😀 I hope you like it!!
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I am on the wait list for Frog Music. I did not like Room (At all) but I want to give her another shot. I have Shotgun Lovesongs because another blogger sent me her extra copy! I can't wait to read it.
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It seems people either LOVED or HATED Room, lol. I was one of the lovers 😉 I really hope you enjoy Shotgun Lovesongs…even half as much as I did 😉
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I cannot wait to dig into Frog Music! I know you'll love Donoghue's collection of feminist fairy tales, Kissing the Witch.
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I'll have to put Kissing the Witch on my never ending list 😉
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Okay I really, really want to read Above. And I LOVED Frog Music! I must read all the Emma Donoghue! All of it!
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It sounds like you've had a lot of luck with books lately – these all sound great. I'm keen to read Frog Music – I've read two of Donoghue's previous works (Room and The Sealed Letter) but just love her writing so much I want to collect all her novels! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jen. 🙂Bits & Bobs
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Above is alllll sorts of a crazy. Even though there was that bit that didn't work for me I still totally recommend it!
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I haven't read The Sealed Letter. I want to! I didn't discover her until Room was published. Of course my memory can be shoddy. Perhaps I did read something else of hers and I don't know it? LOL
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I loved Frog Music! I need to read more of Donoghue's backlist, too.
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Interesting take on Above. . . I grabbed a copy of the book at ALA, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Also, dying to get my hands on Frog Music. I loooooved Room but haven't picked up Astray yet.
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I absolutely LOVED \”Frog Music\”! I was surprised to find out that a number of my friends really didn't like it. I think it seemed too different from \”Room\”–and that is such a completely different book. \”Frog Music\” reminded me more of O'Donoghue's \”Slammerkin\”–which was a good read, but is really dark and depressing. (Leila from Readers' Oasis)
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