Everyone wants to be pretty. And in Tally's society, everyone gets to be. At age 16, everyone in Uglyville undergoes a surgery to turn them pretty -- a term defined over years and by determining the "ideal" look -- and they move into New Pretty Town where life is one big party. Nobody in New Pretty Town is jealous of anyone else, because everyone is pretty and nobody is ugly. And Tally can't wait to be turned pretty and make her move into New Pretty Town where she can join her best friend Peris who turned 16 a few months before she did. But then Tally meets Shay -- another Ugly who shares her same birthday. And Shay doesn't want to be pretty. Shay wants to be herself. And Shay wants to escape to the place called The Smoke, the place of legend where Uglies have run to in order to avoid the surgery to become pretty and where no one is "ugly" because no one is "pretty". When Shay leaves and invites Tally to join her, Tally is confused and frustrated that her new best friend wouldn't want to become pretty, and Tally turns her down. As Tally counts down the few remaining days toward becoming pretty, she misses Shay and their adventures, but she eagerly awaits her reunion with the now-Pretty Peris.
Tally's 16th birthday, which should have brought the coveted surgery, instead brings a thing of dread. Tally is transported to Special Circumstances and given her worst fate: a lifetime of ugly if she doesn't travel to The Smoke and betray Shay. With her life-long dream on the line, Tally determines to bring Shay back to Uglyville so that she can be turned pretty, but when she reaches The Smoke, she learns that her whole life back in the city has been full of half-truths and deceit. And she learns horrible truths about what all the surgery entails, and what all is changed on the people who become pretty. And she no longer knows if she wants to become pretty, because with the help of her new friend David, she realizes that, maybe, she already is.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Finger-Lickin' Fifteen -- Janet Evanovich
A famous TV chef, Chipotle, is beheaded in Trenton, NJ, and Lula is a witness. But she's not going this road alone, so she brings her friend, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, along for the ride! Stephanie, of course, has issues of her own: she has bills to pay, not enough money, an on-again/off-again relationship that is currently in off mode, and her only three skips are not going to make capturing them easy for her.
Facing the reality that she can't afford her bills and isn't likely to catch her skips anytime soon, Stephanie signs on for side work with Ranger, the sizzlingly hot and mysterious ex-Rambo who usually bails her out of her fiascos. Ranger is having problems of his own, because someone is breaking into the houses of people who have security accounts with his company Rangeman. Stephanie is a great solution, since she can snoop around for him, make extra money on the side, and she can enlist Ranger's help in capturing her FTAs.
Meanwhile Lula is being hunted by the Chipotle murderers, and she gets shot at as well as having an attempt at meat-cleavinering made against her. Spooked that the Chipotle killers know where she lives, Lula moves into Stephanie's apartment, and Lula's snoring moves Stephanie out of it!
In the midst of all this craziness, Lula continues undaunted in entering the BBQ sauce contest, which was what had brought Chipotle to Trenton -- and his untimely demise -- in the first place. And so Stephanie finds herself up to her elbows in fires and BBQ sauce, and even manages to find time to dress up like a hot dog!
Facing the reality that she can't afford her bills and isn't likely to catch her skips anytime soon, Stephanie signs on for side work with Ranger, the sizzlingly hot and mysterious ex-Rambo who usually bails her out of her fiascos. Ranger is having problems of his own, because someone is breaking into the houses of people who have security accounts with his company Rangeman. Stephanie is a great solution, since she can snoop around for him, make extra money on the side, and she can enlist Ranger's help in capturing her FTAs.
Meanwhile Lula is being hunted by the Chipotle murderers, and she gets shot at as well as having an attempt at meat-cleavinering made against her. Spooked that the Chipotle killers know where she lives, Lula moves into Stephanie's apartment, and Lula's snoring moves Stephanie out of it!
In the midst of all this craziness, Lula continues undaunted in entering the BBQ sauce contest, which was what had brought Chipotle to Trenton -- and his untimely demise -- in the first place. And so Stephanie finds herself up to her elbows in fires and BBQ sauce, and even manages to find time to dress up like a hot dog!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Other Woman -- Jane Green
Ellie Black is living her dream life. She is a successful career woman, working for a successful chain of hotels in England. She is in the prime of her life -- in her early 30s. And she is dating cute, dependable, gainfully employed Dan Cooper. And when Dan proposes, Ellie realizes she will soon join the perfect family and life will be all she could have ever hoped it would be.
Only sometimes, life throws a curve ball. What Ellie didn't realize is that Dan's family was not picture-perfect. Before long, Ellie starts to realize there is another woman in Dan's life, and it's his mother Linda. Linda is the matriarch of her family, and she definitely "wears the pants." So when Dan and Ellie get engaged, Linda immediately begins trying to turn Ellie into the daughter she never had (though in all truth, Linda does have a daughter of her own), and butts into their lives daily. She takes over all wedding plans, and winds up planning the wedding of her own dreams, rather than the wedding Ellie wanted. But Ellie strives to take it all in stride, and she isn't surprised when her new mother-in-law becomes even more overbearing when Dan and Ellie share the exciting news that a baby is on the way, but she is certainly quite annoyed by it!
As time goes on and life changes with the birth of a son, Ellie soon discovers that her life isn't the fairytale she thought it was going to be -- and that marriage is hard, and even harder when a child enters the mix. As Ellie struggles with the trials that come from parenthood, marriage, and over-involved in-laws, she wonders if it is really all worth it and if she made the right choices about marriage.
Only sometimes, life throws a curve ball. What Ellie didn't realize is that Dan's family was not picture-perfect. Before long, Ellie starts to realize there is another woman in Dan's life, and it's his mother Linda. Linda is the matriarch of her family, and she definitely "wears the pants." So when Dan and Ellie get engaged, Linda immediately begins trying to turn Ellie into the daughter she never had (though in all truth, Linda does have a daughter of her own), and butts into their lives daily. She takes over all wedding plans, and winds up planning the wedding of her own dreams, rather than the wedding Ellie wanted. But Ellie strives to take it all in stride, and she isn't surprised when her new mother-in-law becomes even more overbearing when Dan and Ellie share the exciting news that a baby is on the way, but she is certainly quite annoyed by it!
As time goes on and life changes with the birth of a son, Ellie soon discovers that her life isn't the fairytale she thought it was going to be -- and that marriage is hard, and even harder when a child enters the mix. As Ellie struggles with the trials that come from parenthood, marriage, and over-involved in-laws, she wonders if it is really all worth it and if she made the right choices about marriage.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Before Midnight: a Retelling of "Cinderella" -- Cameron Dokey
The day Cendrillon was born was the same day her mother died. Cendrillon's father, Etienne de Brabant, blames Cendrillon for the death of his beloved -- he wasn't even able to be present at her death, becasue he was on an errand for the king. When he returns two weeks after his daughter's birth and his wife's death, he brings with him a two-week old baby boy - a boy about whom he refuses to give any information. In fury and grief, he leaves the boy and his daughter to be raised by Old Mathilde, wishing never to see his daughter again until peace is in his heart.
So for fifteen years, Old Mathilde rasies Cendrillon and Raoul - the name she gave the baby boy. Together they, with the other workers on the de Brabant lands, keep the lands and home running and productive. One day, a soldier, young, weary, and hurt, arrives suddenly at their doorstep. He is a messenger from the land at war with their country, and he brings a message for the queen. Once the young messenger, whose name is Niccolo, has been nursed back to health, and after becoming well-acquainted with the members of the de Brabant household, Niccolo goes to court to deliver his message.
A few months pass before Niccolo's return, but when he does return, he brings with him surprising news: Etienne de Brabant has remarried according to orders from the king, and Cendrillon now has a step-mother and two step-sisters who are en route to their new home. At first, Cendrillon is treated as a servant by her new family, for that is what her stepmother and stepsisters believe her to be. Etienne de Brabant never divulged the existence of his daughter, so nobody from the city knew about her. But when the truth comes out, Cendrillon's life egins to change, and before long -- with a summons by the king to a ball for all elligible young ladies; and a summons by Etienne himself for Raoul to come to court, everyon's lives will be changed as secrets are revealed, betrayals are discovered, and love overcomes all.
So for fifteen years, Old Mathilde rasies Cendrillon and Raoul - the name she gave the baby boy. Together they, with the other workers on the de Brabant lands, keep the lands and home running and productive. One day, a soldier, young, weary, and hurt, arrives suddenly at their doorstep. He is a messenger from the land at war with their country, and he brings a message for the queen. Once the young messenger, whose name is Niccolo, has been nursed back to health, and after becoming well-acquainted with the members of the de Brabant household, Niccolo goes to court to deliver his message.
A few months pass before Niccolo's return, but when he does return, he brings with him surprising news: Etienne de Brabant has remarried according to orders from the king, and Cendrillon now has a step-mother and two step-sisters who are en route to their new home. At first, Cendrillon is treated as a servant by her new family, for that is what her stepmother and stepsisters believe her to be. Etienne de Brabant never divulged the existence of his daughter, so nobody from the city knew about her. But when the truth comes out, Cendrillon's life egins to change, and before long -- with a summons by the king to a ball for all elligible young ladies; and a summons by Etienne himself for Raoul to come to court, everyon's lives will be changed as secrets are revealed, betrayals are discovered, and love overcomes all.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
While My Pretty One Sleeps -- Mary Higgins Clark
Neeve Kearny is an up-and-coming boutique owner in the middle of New York City. Her clientele are among the city's elite, and many of them trust Neeve's expertise when choosing clothing from her store. Among these customers is Ethel Lambston, an author with a very out-spoken opinion who is preparing to publish a scathing article about the fashion industry of the city. Without shame, Ethel has made it clear to Neeve and others that her article will be less than flattering for many of New York City's top designers.
When Ethel misses a scheduled appointment to pick up her new wardrobe from Neeve's boutique, Neeve simply thinks Ethel has forgotten the appointment, so she calls to leave a message for Ethel. When nobody answers the phone, Neeve simply determines to drop the wardrobe by Ethel's house, but nobody answers the door. As the days go by and Ethel does not appear, Neeve begins to feel uneasy. She confides her fears in her father, the former police commissioner, who allays her fears with logical reasons for Ethel's absence. Yet nagging thoughts continue to haunt Neeve, and before long, Ethel's body is found in a park, and Neeve's fears are confirmed: Ethel has been murdered!
As Neeve enlists the help of her father and Ethel's new publisher Jack Campbell, she discovers many who have motive to have killed Ethel. First is Ethel's ex-husband, a man from whom Ethel has been receiving a thousand dollars a month in alimony since their divorce over twenty years before; a man who is now in dire financial straits. Second is Gordon Steuber, a designer who stands to lose his grand reputation when Ethel's article is published. Third is Ethel's dishonest nephew who has taken up residence in her apartment since her death, but never reported her missing, and has been found to have been stealing her money. Is one of these men Ethel's killer? Or is there someone else in the shadows who would benefit from Ethel's death?
When Ethel misses a scheduled appointment to pick up her new wardrobe from Neeve's boutique, Neeve simply thinks Ethel has forgotten the appointment, so she calls to leave a message for Ethel. When nobody answers the phone, Neeve simply determines to drop the wardrobe by Ethel's house, but nobody answers the door. As the days go by and Ethel does not appear, Neeve begins to feel uneasy. She confides her fears in her father, the former police commissioner, who allays her fears with logical reasons for Ethel's absence. Yet nagging thoughts continue to haunt Neeve, and before long, Ethel's body is found in a park, and Neeve's fears are confirmed: Ethel has been murdered!
As Neeve enlists the help of her father and Ethel's new publisher Jack Campbell, she discovers many who have motive to have killed Ethel. First is Ethel's ex-husband, a man from whom Ethel has been receiving a thousand dollars a month in alimony since their divorce over twenty years before; a man who is now in dire financial straits. Second is Gordon Steuber, a designer who stands to lose his grand reputation when Ethel's article is published. Third is Ethel's dishonest nephew who has taken up residence in her apartment since her death, but never reported her missing, and has been found to have been stealing her money. Is one of these men Ethel's killer? Or is there someone else in the shadows who would benefit from Ethel's death?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Angels & Demons -- Dan Brown
Leonardo Vetra, a prominent scientist at CERN -- a veritable mecca of the world's top scientists -- is found dead in his home at CERN headquarters. His murder is gruesome and puzzling, but most confusingly, it opens a frightening past about a secret brotherhood thought to be long-disbanded: The Illuminati. Branded upon the dead scientist's chest is the anagrammatical word "Illuminati." When the director of CERN, Maximilian Kohler, discovers Vetra and the brand, he immediately enlists the help of well-known symbologist Robert Langdon, whose work and research include extensive knowledge of the old brotherhood. What Langdon finds when he arrives at CERN is far more frightening than a mere murder would have indicated, because the motive for the scientist's death revolves around new technology: the technology of antimatter -- a technology with more destructive power than the world has ever before encountered. And most terrifying is the fact that the largest amount of antimatter that had been created at CERN, by Vetra and his daughter Vittoria, has been stolen from its hidden underground vault. And the clock is ticking, for when the clock strikes midnight, the antimatter will explode, and it will take with it two square miles of anything in its radius.
Through a twist of luck, Langon and Vittoria Vetra learn that the stolen antimatter is hidden somewhere deep within the Vatican, where the sacred ceremony of conclave is scheduled to take place for the election of a new pope. Working against time, they go to the Vatican and struggle to learn and follow the centuries-old "Path of Illumination" created by the Illuminati in order to find the antimatter. But the stakes have risen as well. For an assasin has kidnapped the four cardinals who are being considered for the papal throne, and he will kill one of them each hour.
With the help of Camerlengo Ventresca, the Swiss Guard, and ancient documents locked within the Vatican archives, Langdon and Vittoria trek across Rome and back again to the Vatican in a race to save the Catholic Church from it's age-old enemy, the Illuminati; and the people of Rome and the Vatican from certain death at midnight. And before it's over, people will die, truths will be revealed, and betrayal from within the ranks will become apparent.
Through a twist of luck, Langon and Vittoria Vetra learn that the stolen antimatter is hidden somewhere deep within the Vatican, where the sacred ceremony of conclave is scheduled to take place for the election of a new pope. Working against time, they go to the Vatican and struggle to learn and follow the centuries-old "Path of Illumination" created by the Illuminati in order to find the antimatter. But the stakes have risen as well. For an assasin has kidnapped the four cardinals who are being considered for the papal throne, and he will kill one of them each hour.
With the help of Camerlengo Ventresca, the Swiss Guard, and ancient documents locked within the Vatican archives, Langdon and Vittoria trek across Rome and back again to the Vatican in a race to save the Catholic Church from it's age-old enemy, the Illuminati; and the people of Rome and the Vatican from certain death at midnight. And before it's over, people will die, truths will be revealed, and betrayal from within the ranks will become apparent.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Critical Judgement -- Michael Palmer
Dr. Abby Dolan is the newest Emergency Room doctor at Patience Regional Hospital in the small California town of Patience. After only a few weeks on the job, she has managed to impress some with her life-saving skills, but she has also offended others in the hospital with her blunt orders. While striving to find her niche at the hospital and be accepted by the staff, Abby starts to realize that an abundance of her patients suffer from symptoms for which she cannot find a diagnosis; symptoms such as itching and headaches. She becomes frustrated when she cannot discover the reason for the patients' discomfort. And when her fiancee Josh Wyler starts having headaches and displaying uncharacteristically violent tendencies, Abby's fear and confusion are heightened.
As Abby begins to research these strange cases, she finds that Colstar, the massive battery-producing factory that gives life to Patience, seems to be a key player for each patient. The more she delves into her research, the more curious findings come to light. When a violent car accident that was intended to be a murder-suicide occurs, and the culprit is a Colstar employee, Abby becomes sure Colstar is responsible for all the cases - caused by Cadmium poisoning. Soon Abby finds herself an enemy to many of the doctors in Patience, as well as several people at Colstar, but she finds an ally in Lew Alvarez, another Emergency Room doctor at Patience Regional. Together they work to prove that Colstar has had a Cadmium leak and is responsible for deaths and other issues in Patience.
Yet, somehow, the puzzle never seems to come together for Abby. Too many facts won't link together, and Abby continues to search, putting herself in much danger. And soon, she begins making startling discoveries - ones she never imagined she would find; discoveries for which the price may be her life. In spite of the dangers, her drive to help the people of Patience keeps her working and acting to uncover the truth - but will she be able to prove her case? Or will her enemies discredit her before she can?
As Abby begins to research these strange cases, she finds that Colstar, the massive battery-producing factory that gives life to Patience, seems to be a key player for each patient. The more she delves into her research, the more curious findings come to light. When a violent car accident that was intended to be a murder-suicide occurs, and the culprit is a Colstar employee, Abby becomes sure Colstar is responsible for all the cases - caused by Cadmium poisoning. Soon Abby finds herself an enemy to many of the doctors in Patience, as well as several people at Colstar, but she finds an ally in Lew Alvarez, another Emergency Room doctor at Patience Regional. Together they work to prove that Colstar has had a Cadmium leak and is responsible for deaths and other issues in Patience.
Yet, somehow, the puzzle never seems to come together for Abby. Too many facts won't link together, and Abby continues to search, putting herself in much danger. And soon, she begins making startling discoveries - ones she never imagined she would find; discoveries for which the price may be her life. In spite of the dangers, her drive to help the people of Patience keeps her working and acting to uncover the truth - but will she be able to prove her case? Or will her enemies discredit her before she can?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)