The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

Synopsis:
In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with "the dust of one hundred dogs," dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body-with her memories intact.

Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

Review:
I was sort of scared to read this because of all the hype. I was scared it wouldn't live up to all the rave reviews and I really hate being disappointed. But it did live up to all the hype and I really enjoyed reading D100D.

I really enjoyed going back and forth between Emer and Saffron. Their voices were very distinct and the idea of them being the same person but centuries apart is really original. The story is also so unique it really defies genre. I have no idea how to classify this book because it is so unlike anything I have ever read.

This may be the debut of A.S. King but she is a master story teller, weaving different time periods and different points of view together masterfully and creating something completely unique. I highly recommend everyone go out and get this book right away.

If anyone else has reviewed The Dust of 100 Dogs please leave a link in the comments and I will add it to the post.

This book counts toward my Spring Reading Thing Challenge and '09 Debut Authors Challenge

The Other Side of the Story

The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

synopsis from author's website
Jojo Harvey is a literary agent whose star is on the rise. In love with both her married boss and her burgeoning career, not much distracts her. Until she finds herself representing two women who used to be best friends. One of them, Gemma, has suddenly found herself from a broken home - at the age of thirty-two. Meanwhile, Lily - the woman Gemma has always blamed for stealing her one chance of happiness - is enjoying the overnight success of her debut novel. Set in the world of publishing, 'The Other Side of the Story' is about love, loyalty, glass ceilings and survival tactics - and what to do when you get your chance for revenge.

This book tells the story of three women, all connected through the book publishing world and of course, men. It changes perspective so we get each woman's story from them.

It starts with Gemma who's boyfriend left her for her best friend, her father left her mother and her job is to plan parties for the rich and fabulous who are less than easy to please. I found her story the least engaging but still funny. The emails she writes to her friend Susan in Seattle are hilarious as she spins incredible (and false) stories of her mother's new younger boyfriend and her father's miserable life with his much younger girlfriend. In her father's case the much younger girlfriend is true, but he doesn't seem miserable at all. My problem is that it seemed like a stretch that she would have to move back in with her mother and put her entire life on hold because her father left. Would your mother actually make you put your job on hold if your father left?

Up next was Jo Jo who I absolutely loved. She is a book agent who is curvy and fabulous and having an affair with her married boss. She ends up representing both Gemma and Lily who have a history despite now living in separate countries. She is fighting to make partner and beat out the slimy Richie Gant. I loved that she makes mistakes and tries to take the high road in her relationship even if it is with her married boss. It was a different take on the affair story too, Mark is the one pushing to make the relationship legitimate. That is right, he actually wants to leave his wife and Jo Jo is keeping him at arms length. I really liked the end of her story because she really does screw up and have to pick up the pieces in both her personal and professional life.

Lily lives in London with the love of her life, Anton, and her daughter Ema and she has best selling book. The problem: Lily is wrecked with guilt because Anton used to be the love of Gemma's life and she can't seem to write a second book. Her story line constantly made me sad but I really felt for her and always wanted to know what was going to happen to them. And I desperately wanted for her to have a happily-ever-after ending. But you will have to read it to know if she did.

This book made me really appreciate a happy ending and true to its title really points out that there are two sides to any story. I did feel the book lasted a little too long. With about 100 pages remaining I was ready for it to wrap up and be over. Overall, it was a good book. I am not sure I would really recommend everyone run out and read it but I would read more books by Keyes.

Favorite quote: "I tried to explain that I hadn't given up, merely reshuffled my priorities, but I didn't do a very good job of it, probably on account of being banjoed out of my head on free pina coladas. But it didn't matter. Happiness means not having to be understood."

This book counts toward my Library Challenge

A Girl's Guide To Witchcraft

A Girl's Guide To Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky

Jane Madison is a librarian forced to wear a silly costume and serve coffee in an attempt to keep her library open but when her pay is cut anyway and she is forced to live in a cottage behind the library her life changes quite unexpectedly.

In the basement of her new home is a collection of magic books that Jane learns she has the power to use. She awakens her familiar, Neko and gets a warden to help teach her, David Montrose. These characters round out her inner circle which already included best friend forever, Melissa, and her grandmother who raised her. There is also her "Imaginary Boyfriend" Jason who is a local professor and frequents her library.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I will probably read the next two in the series (mostly because I am one of those people who has to read the whole series, not because I have to know what happens to the characters). I like Jane's relationship with Melissa and the way she interacts with her grandmother and I really like how she struggles with becoming a witch but I HATED her relationship with Jason. They went on one date and danced once and she was calling him her boyfriend and inviting him to family reunions. It just felt forced and unrealistic, thats right more unrealistic that the part about her being a witch.

I did love Jane's internal rambling and her constant Shakespeare references. And I really loved how she realistically handled every bad day with mojito therapy, that is my kind of remedy.

I'm hoping without Jason I will like the next book more and I actually want to know more about her magic which there wasn't a ton of in this book.

This also counts as another book done for my First In A Series Challenge

Up Next: Accidental It Girl by Libby Street


This book counts toward my Library Challenge and First in a Series

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by A Striped Armchair and Alessandra that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

I just got back from the library and I have four new books to look forward to as well as one more to read to my four-year-old sister.
The Accidental It Girl by Libby Street

Girls Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky
Excited about this book which I read about the first 30 pages of while I was at the library. It is very cute and it fits my first in a series challenge!

E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton
I am truly addicted to Kinsey Millhone.

The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer
Also for the first in a series challenge

I also strayed into the children's section of the library and found a book to read to my little sister. Mostly I liked the cover of it.
The Paper Princess by Elisa Kleven

While I was at the library today I discovered there will be a book sale there this Saturday so I now have that to look forward to as well. Now I am off to read my treasures!