Annotation # 1- The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Pull up a chair, the owl is in.

I hope you all enjoyed last week's annotation because there are more to come ( five to be exact). Some genres will be what I like, others.... well I gave a try. For the first annotation, it's thriller, which is an fast-paced  story centered around a profession  with lots of dangerous but exciting thrills and chills.

About the Owl and Thrillers- Until now, never knew that the authors that I enjoyed back in the 90s when I was teen, John Grisham and the late Michael Crichton, were thrillers. Also loved the crime/caper romps of the late Elmore Leonard (like  Out of Sight.)  I was considering revisiting a Grisham or Crichton novel ( or something in that style), but really wanted something fun. So.......


 Title: The Heist
Author: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Genre: Thriller/Caper/Humor
Publication Date: June 18, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
Series:  Fox and O'Hare, #1
Geographical Setting: California and various parts throughout the US and the world ( including Mount Athos, Greece and Indonesia)
Time Period: 21st Century
 Topics: FBI Agents, Con Artists, Swindling, Heists

Characteristics of A Thriller( as Featured in this Book)

• Moves at a fast pace, with lots of  dangerous twists and turns faced by the protagonist(s).
• Somewhat extensive  weaponry jargon that is FBI related, but does not distract from plot. Most of the plot revolves around the art of conning, which is glamorized to the point of creating a great movie.
• Being that this is a caper/heist thriller, has a bit of lighter, slapstick tone (with some dark and menacing spots.)
• Features a very strong, smart hero ( a female FBI agent.) Antihero is  a dangerously charming con artist, can't be trusted ( but is quite lovably, which is not of the norm). Also not of the norm is that although our hero ( heroine) does bring the antihero down, they end up working together ( with hints of sexual tension.) Secondary characters, such as Fox's team members and O'Hare's are developed more for humor. Villains are pathetic and wussy than menacing ( but they do get their just desserts.)

Plot Summary:  Kate O'Hare is a fierce and dedicated FBI agent, always determined to get her man. For the past five years, she's been tracking down Nicholas Fox, a handsome and dangerously charming thief who loves a thrill of a  good con. But when he's finally captured, he strikes a deal with FBI: work with them in bringing down criminals worse than him.
Along a ragtag team of con artists, wild chases,  and exotic locations, it going  take more than  a pile of Toblerone bars for Fox and O'Hare to work together and bring their man in...without killing each other first.

My Take:  This was a hooot!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And possibly by pairing with another writer, Evanovich has made me a fan again.) I loved every page of it, think Castle-meets-Catch Me If You Can. ( In fact, Nathan Fillon would be perfect as the fast-talking, handsome bad boy Fox. ). In comparing this to Leonard, this is more of a breezy beach read, doesn't really have the dark, edgy tones (and yes, there is violence, but it's more comedic than graphic.) I can't wait for The Chase, the second book in the series ( it comes later next month) and the day Fox and O'Hare become ... Fore.


Read-a-Likes ( from Novelist)-

• The Hot Rock by Donald Westlake-First in the John Dortmunder series, this offbeat caper follows a gang of jewel thieves caught up in international intrigue. (There are 12 books in the series.)
• Mr. Monk Cleaned Out ( Monk # 10) by Lee Goldberg-Based off the popular series, it features the topics " Caper novel" and " Swindler and Swindling", and plot involves a corrupt investment banker. (Currently are 17 Monk books).
• Dirty Money by Richard Stark ( aka Donald Westlake)- For those that want something as dark and gritty as Leonard, Westlake wrote another series, Parker, under a different name. This is the 24th and final book in the series ( Westlake died in 2008) and features a bank heist wrong.

Yes, I would definitely read a thriller again ( most definitely the Caper/Crime novels. There's a few Leonard books I have yet to read, like Road Dogs. Also want to read Marne Kellog's Kick series and Westlake's Dortmunder series.) I would also read the straight and serious stuff ( just finished  Midnight by Kevin Egan. Very chilling. Also saw that Grisham is now writing a  legal thriller series for kids called Theodore Boone.)

Next time's annotation is a horror classic. Oh.. fun.

Week Three Prompt

Pull up a chair, the owl is in. Before this week's annotation, here is a lovely prompt about using Novelist and other book sites when looking for something to read.

First Part 1- Using Novelist.

1. I typed in "Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter" and it instantly came up. I then set it sort  by " Volume" and after scrolling past the seven graphic novels, I found the regular books. I look for the fourth book and got-
The Lunatic Cafe.


2. I reset the search to title and typed " Prodigal Summer". Once I got the book, I click on the " Print All" on the box of Read-a-likes. Browsing over how each book is described, the one that might work for fast-paced is-  
Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani  ( it lists Pace as " Fast Paced)

3. This was been a bit of a challenge based on how I worded the search.I decided to do an Advanced  Search, so I typed in " Historical" (and set it " GENRE")  and " Japan" and  about 400 results. I then went to location and just selected " Japan" which shorten it to 287. I then clicked on genre and  selected " historical fiction" which shorten the results to 89.I would probably need to ask  what type of aspects  the patron wants to learn about historical Japan ( and maybe what the book set in China that they  read) to get a better picture of what to recommend. I might even read or show the patron some of the titles to get their opinion. Some of the recommended titles are:

• Shogun (Asian saga 1) by James Clavell (along with five other books in the Asian saga series)
• The Pure Land by Alan Spence
• Scent of Sake by Joyce Lebra
• Pillow Book of the Flower Samuri by Barbara Lazer
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

4. I typed in " Well-Schooled in Murder" and got four books written by Elizabeth George. I went to " Title Read A Likes" and got nine recommendations, including -

• Still Life by Louise Penny
• The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes

I'm thinking these titles since it sounds like the patron were prefer leisure, gentle reads than dark and edgy.
5. I entered " World War Z" in the Search Bar, then once I got the entry page, I went to Title Read A Likes. Some of the  recommended titles include:

•  Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
• I am Legend by Richard Matheson
• The Dead Run  by Adam Mansbach

Part B- What exactly do I use?

I'll be honest. I actually do not use a whole lot of book databases when it comes to selecting what I read. My method would actually need a whole another entry to explain other than it kind of works by the seasons and holidays ( for example, during November, December and maybe early January, I would be doing light, heartwarming holiday reads by Richard Paul Evans or Debbie Macomber). I do use them occasionally. Here is what I use:

• Novelist - I  use more for the patrons if needed ( actually used today because a mom was looking for a Read-a-Like similar to Fablehaven series for her 8-yr-old ( who also read all the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson books). Found Spiderwick Chronicles and a lot of YA fantasy series). I use it sometimes for myself, but not all the time ( will be to look for Read-A-Likes for the annotations).
• Shelfari (http://www.shelfari.com)) - I have an account, I use to keep track of the books I read ( currently about 1,200 books. Yes, I read a lot, about 2-4 some books a week.) 
• Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/)-Just learned about this at work ( and they do have their own account, listing a lot of the books that are part of the staff-recommended display). Other than also using it for the Read-a-Likes for the annotations, I prefer Shelfari.
•  Cozy Mysteries ( http://www.cozy-mystery.com/)- This is just a site featuring cozy ( amateur) mysteries, also regular mysteries and non-mysteries. I haven't read a cozy in a while, but love Laura Levine ( Jaine Austen), Cleo Coyle ( Coffee House Mysteries) and Laura Childs ( Tea Shop Mysteries)

Well, I hope that covers all that is required for this prompt.  Thank you for your time

The Bridge-Karen Kingsbury

Title: The Bridge
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Genre: Christian/Gentle Read/ Romance
Publication Date: October 23, 2012 
Number of Pages: 336
Geographical Setting: Franklin, Tennessee ( some storyline in Nashville and Portland, Oregon)
Time Period: 21st Century, around Thanksgiving-Christmas
Topics: Bookstores, Lost Love,  Hope, Second Chances

Characteristics of a Gentle Read

• Emotional tone that warms the reader's heart and reflects traditional than modern values.
• Language is very simple and safe, nothing offense or complex
• Characters are wonderful people you can identify with and want to care about.
• Storyline is really more about the characters and how they deal with problems of relationships, money, etc. Because this is a Christian fiction, moral values play a big role in the plot.
• Setting takes place in a small town, community is very close-knit as they work together to help the fellow members.
• Although a quick read, one could enjoy it at a gentle pace, with nothing to upset or surprise the reader.

Characteristics of a Romance

• Multiple points of view of the characters involved in the story to understand their inner problems and how they work out their relationship to a happy ending. Also features a strong, bright and beautiful woman ( Molly) and strong, dependable man ( Ryan.) Charlie and Donna are secondary, likable characters that remind readers of strong, enduring love, even during a tragedy.
• Quick read that is easy to stop and start should the reader be interrupted.
• Descriptive language sets the tone of the story, causing the reader to care about the characters until the satisfying happy ending.
  

Plot Summary- Molly Allen and Ryan Kelly were college sweethearts, chasing musical dreams and spending afternoons at the local bookstore known as The Bridge. But fate ( in the form of a misunderstanding) causes the love birds to go down separate paths: she alone in Portland playing the violin and dreaming of Ryan; he a successful singer in a country band ( til the band breaks up), longing for Molly's voice and what could have been.
For 30 years,Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, a place where people meet to talk and read good books. But flood waters and foreclose spell the end of the Bartons' dreams. Then tragedy strikes, bringing Ryan and Molly back to town save to The Bridge and reconnect in a season on miracles and second chances.

My Take- This is a very feel good book, reminds me of something one could find on Hallmark, UP or any family friendly  channel. The plot is predicable (and the resolution to the happy ending is pretty abrupt) but it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy ( and teary) at the end. I really love the message of how second chances and miracles can be possible in this day and age.  I would definitely recommend this book for those who like stories with an simple, moral-driven storyline or will get them in the holiday spirit.

Readalikes ( From Goodreads.com)
1. Angels at the Table: A Shirley, Goodness and Mercy Christmas Story by Debbie Macomber
2.A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans
3.Tidewater Inn ( Hope Beach # 1) by Collen Coble





 
 

A little about the Night Owl..

(Source: iamthecrime, via purplefairies)

Greetings!

Welcome to the Night Owl's Chair. My name is Nicole and on this blog, I will be reviewing some books of different genres for a class in Reader's Advisory. 

So a little about me..

I'm a children's assistant librarian. I love to encourage youngsters to read, whether through story time programs or advising. I'm also well informed in the realm of Disney and pop culture ( some, not everything.)

Although I do read children's books for my job ( be it for programs or reviewing for the department's blog), I've been reading adult books since I was a teen. My taste... is pretty wide. I will read almost anything, but really love chick lit/romantic comedies, mysteries (particularly cozy mysteries),inspirational, young adult, paranormal, and nonfiction ( particularly cookbooks, animals, and entertainment). I also like a lot of humor, and the girlier the better. I'm not a huge fan of westerns, horror, graphic novels, science fiction (I am giving steam punk a try) and adventure ( which is odd because I love the Indiana Jones  and National Treasure movies). Some of my favorite authors are Meg Cabot, Melody Carlson, Richard Paul Evans, Alexander McCall Smith, Karen Kingsbury, and Mary Dowing Hahn. Some of my favorite books(or series) are:

• Harry Potter series
• Twilight series
• Bunnicula by James Howe
• Someday Someday Mabye by Lauren Graham
• Phyllis  Reynelds Naylor's Alice series
• Sunday's at Tiffany's by James Patterson
• Unwind by Neal Shusterman
• The Mediator series by Meg Cabot
• Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Why the owl?
 I'm a night owl, of course. If I'm not up late reading or listening to a CD, you can find me watching old reruns of Full House, Friends or whatever. I'm also loving the whole cute owl craze ( not just for fall or nighttime anymore. I may even  be do a owl craft sometime in the spring.)

Hope see you all soon!