Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Going Bovine



I've been reading this book for awhile. To be fair, it's a sizeable book, but I had some trouble getting into it. I kept reading, though. I've read other books by Libba Bray and enjoyed them (the A Great and Terrible Beauty series) so I thought I'd probably like this one. It's about this boy named Cameron that gets mad cow disease then breaks out of the hospital to go on a mission to save the planet (he's sent by a punk-rock angel named Dulcie). He takes the dwarf named Gonzo that shares his room at the hospital and runs into some other crazy characters (including a lawn gnome named Balder) along the way. The book is weird. The whole time you kind of have an idea that he might be hallucinating everything (because it is so trippy), but you never can be sure. Then in the end there is no clear explanation. It's understandable enough what's going on, but the ending is not satisfying. I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone - it's not awful but there are more interesting and better things out there to read.

Content note: There is a lot of swearing and some sexual activity (not too explicit) in this book.

The First Annual Teen Book Fest at Provo City Library

"The Teen Book Fest @ PCL seeks to celebrate the literature written for young adults and those who read, write, and enjoy it!  With the smashing success of the Provo Children's Book Festival, the Library wanted to develop a dynamic, innovative book event for teens.  With a cadre of national and local authors in attendance, the Fest includes author signings and panels, games and giveaways, a book character costume contest, live music, a collaborative wall graphic novel, and more!" as found on Provo Library website. 

Pick up tickets to hear Scott Westerfeld speak Friday, October 15 at the Provo Library. It is free!

Authors at the event:
Scott Westerfeld- Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras
Ann Cannon- The Loser's Guide to Life and Love
Laura Card/Dene Low's- Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone
Kristen Chandler- Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me
Ally Condie- Matched, Freshman for President, Being Sixteen, Yearbook, First Day, Reunion
Chris Crowe- Mississippi Trail, 1955, Getting Away With Murder, Thurgood Marshall, Two Roads
Bree Despain- The Lost Saint, The Dark Divine
Ann Dee Ellis'- This is What I Did, Everything is Fine
Jessica Day George- Dragon Slippers, Dragon Flight, Dragon Spear, Princess of the Midnight Ball
Nathan Hale- Animal House, The Twelve Bots of Christmas, Rapunzel's Revenge, The Devil You KnowLisa Mangum- The Hourglass Door, The Golden Spiral
Brandon Mull- The Candy Shop War, Fablehaven Series, Beyonders: A World Without Heroes
Sheila Nielson- Forbidden Sea
Sydney Salter- My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters, Swoon at Your own Risk, Jungle Crossing
Brandon Sanderson- Elantris, Mistborn, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages, Warbreaker
J. Scott Savage- Farworld: Water Keep, Farworld: Land Keep, The Fourth Nephite
Wendy Toliver- The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren, Miss Match, Lifted
Carol Lynch Williams- The Choosen One, Glimpse
Sara Zarr- Story of a Girl, Sweethearts, Once Was Lost