The Rabid Reader - Recently Updated Pageshttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/pageSearch/updatedRecently Updated Pages on http://dplbooks.wetpaint.comen-usinfo@wetpaint.comTue, 01 Jul 2008 13:25:05 CDTTue, 01 Jul 2008 13:25:05 CDTwetpaint.com60The Rabid Readerhttp://www.wetpaint.com/img/logo.gifhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.comThe Rabid Readerhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/The+Rabid+ReaderCBThttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/The+Rabid+ReaderTue, 01 Jul 2008 13:25:05 CDT
Teen Summer Reading Program 2008


The summer reading program officially started on June 30th and we already have our first review! We can't wait to find out what you thought about the books you will read this summer.

Locked in Time by Melanie Daniels


This wiki is for all of us who love to read. This is your chance to find books you might enjoy by looking at our reviews, and to share great books you have read with other readers. We welcome polite discussion and debate. If you didn't like a book, add a comment. If you loved it, add a comment.

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To add a new topic or review:
On the main page, click on “add a new page”
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Click on “add page’ and you are ready to click on the Easy Edit button and start writing your review!

So, what have you read recently?





]]>Locked in Timehttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Locked+in+TimeCBThttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Locked+in+TimeTue, 01 Jul 2008 13:10:58 CDTLocked in Time by Lois Duncan
Well, first of all, Lois Duncan is my favorite author. This book is very surprising in so many ways. In the beginningeverything is happy. In the middle it starts getting good. Nore Robbins finds something terrifying about her step-family. At the end it is all very happy. I rate this book a 5 out of a scale from 1-5. If you love a good mystery, and love a little bit of a twist in a story, then I think you should read the book, Locked in Time.

]]>Daughters of the Northhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Daughters+of+the+NorthAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Daughters+of+the+NorthThu, 29 May 2008 15:44:55 CDTDaughters of the North by Sarah Hall is about a future England in which a combination of global climate change and a fuel shortage has led to the creation of an all powerful new government called The Authority. The book is written in journal format and describes the dismal lives people lead in cramped quarters working pointless, filthy factory jobs. When Sister is sterilized against her will by the government it is the last straw. Sister risks her life with a daring escape from the city to a utopian farm community of all women. Fascinating premise, isn’t it? I thought so, and was enjoying Sister’s dramatic tale of survival until the author decided to opt out of writing a big chunk of the book. The women of the farm learn that The Authority is coming to destroy their community. They prepare to fight, then suddenly the fight is over. I was flipping back and forth wondering if pages had been left out of my edition when I see a sneaky little heading at the top of the page, “DATA LOST”. What a cop out! I don’t know if the author didn’t want to deal with writing battle scenes, (she certainly had no qualms writing about violence previously), was bored with where the story was going, or simply did not know how to end her book.

I certainly hope other authors don’t resort to this bogus trick on their readers. What if Jane Austen hadn’t known what do with Mr. Darcy and merely leapt to the ending? How about we delete the whole battle of wits between Moby Dick and Ahab and just skip to 'And I only am escaped alone to tell thee.' Ok, I am done ranting. For now.

]]>Infectedhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/InfectedAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/InfectedThu, 29 May 2008 15:43:00 CDTInfected by Scott Sigler

This Book on CD is not for the squeamish. I cringed a lot while listening but never thought of giving up. I’m not sure how I would classify this novel; science fiction, techno thriller, saving the world, they came from outer space? There was a great deal of dark humor, a fast moving plot, and well defined characters. The author does a fantastic job reading the book which is not surprising if you know that he already has a large fan base from the podcasts he does. Look for the sequel and movie to come!

]]>Shadow Yearhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Shadow+YearAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Shadow+YearThu, 29 May 2008 15:41:55 CDTShadow Year by Jeffrey Ford. It takes place in the mid sixties and follows the adventures of a nameless boy and his brother who are trying to cope with an alcoholic mom, a father who has to work too much to support his family, and all the usual school age traumas. Throw into the mix a mysterious prowler, a school mate who has vanished, neighbors who suddenly die, an insane librarian, some supernatural events, and you have an involving, nostalgic novel that is hard to put down. Enjoy a little taste of Ford’s atmospheric story telling.
The lingering twilight finally breathed its last, and that first moment of night was like a gunshot at the start of a race. Instantly, frantic kids in costumes streamed from lit houses, beginning their rounds, not to return until they had reached the farthest place they could and still remember how to get home.
We traveled door-to door around the block, joining with other groups of kids, splitting away and later being joined by others. Franky Conrad, dressed like a swami, with a bath towel around his head, eyeliner darkening his eyes, and a long purple robe, walked with us for a dozen houses. The Farley girls were angels or princesses, I couldn’t tell which, but their costumes, made from flowing white material, glowed in the dark. President Henry Mason was dresses in his Communion suit, a button on the lapel that said VOTE FOR HENRY, and his sisters were ghosts with sheets over their heads. Reggie Bishop was a robot, wrapped in silver foil, wearing a hat with a lightbulb sticking out the top that went on and off without a switch, and Chris Hackett wore his father’s army helmet and told us how his dad had gotten hand-grenade shrapnel in his ass and lost three fingers in Korea. We worked the trick-or-treat with dedication that rivaled our father’s for his three jobs, systematically moving up one side of the street and then down the other. Our pillowcases filled with candy. Old Lady Restuccio gave out Chinese hand-cuffs, a kind of tube woven from colored paper strips. You stuck a finger in each side and then couldn’t pull them out. That’s how we lost Franky Conrad. He was left behind, standing on Mrs. Restuccio’s lawn, unable to figure out that you just had to twist your fingers to free them. The slow, the hobbled, the weak—were all left in our wake as we blitzkrieged Willow Avenue and moved on to Cuthbert.

]]>Catherine, Called Birdyhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Catherine%2C+Called+BirdyAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Catherine%2C+Called+BirdyFri, 11 Apr 2008 11:41:03 CDT
]]>Above Suspicionhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Above+SuspicionAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Above+SuspicionThu, 10 Apr 2008 19:07:45 CDTAbove Suspicion by Lynda La Plante.
Many readers will recognize La Plante as the author of the Prime Suspect novels upon which the BBC TV show was based. In this new series, rookie investigator Anna Travis is brought on to a team investigating a string of prostitute murders that goes back years and seems to be at a dead end. Despite the fact that she was the daughter of a revered London detective Anna must battle her “new kid on the block” status to gain any respect. That plus her attraction to her irascible new boss, DCI Langton, gives this novel more substance than the basic British whodunit. We can’t wait for the next installment!


]]>Tell Me Where It Hurtshttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Tell+Me+Where+It+HurtsAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Tell+Me+Where+It+HurtsFri, 28 Mar 2008 08:27:45 CDTTell Me Where It Hurts by Dr. Nick Trout
It looks like we finally have a successor to the charming, heartwarming, and humorous stories of James Herriott. Nick Trout is also an Englishman, but he works just down the road from us at Boston’s Angell Animal Medical Center. The book starts off with a bang as Nick is called in to the hospital in the middle of the night by a panicked intern. A German Shepherd has arrived suffering bloat, a life threatening condition. Sage is the last gift from an elderly widower’s late wife, and means the world to him. Will the vet be able to safe the loving Shepherd, who manages to wag her tail at him through her pain? Many of the stories are very humorous like that of Taco the man hating Chihuahua and the Labrador puppy that exposes a cheating fiancé by eating the fish net stocking of his mistress. Some are sad as not all pets can be saved, no matter how dearly loved. Times have changed from what the good Doctor Herriott was able to offer and there is much discussion of modern technology and the philosophical questions it poses for vets and owners. How far should you go to save the life of your pet? This book was intriguing and enjoyable, I didn’t want to put it down.

]]>The Great Gatsbyhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/The+Great+GatsbyAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/The+Great+GatsbyFri, 28 Mar 2008 08:25:58 CDTThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
It was slightly hard to comprehend in the beginning. Though as I got more in depth with reading I became hooked. The story is about a past love reunited after years of waiting. Nick, an average guy who lives by himself moves to East Egg (the lower of the two Eggs). While living in East Egg he mets Gatsby. A notorious man with a big name and house. Nick's cousin Daisy had a long lost love for Gatsby but Nick never knew. That is until Gatsby keeps hosting lavish parties until he finds Daisy. Little does Daisy's husband know about this lost love of his wife and Gatsby. Though Daisy knows her husband and father of their only daughter Pammy, had been cheating on Daisy. The mistress is a poor wife of an auto repair man. The end results in Myrtle, Tom's mistress, dying from Daisy hitting her with her car. Then Gatsby's shot ending with split love and lost hope.

]]>Gideon the Cutpursehttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Gideon+the+CutpurseAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Gideon+the+CutpurseTue, 25 Mar 2008 13:52:49 CDTGideon the Cutpurse by Linda Buckley-Archer.
I was only halfway through this novel when I checked to see if the author had written any other books, it was that good. Kate and Peter were chasing their misbehaving Golden Retriever down the halls of Kate’s father’s scientific lab when an experiment goes awry and flings them back to England in 1763. Fortunately, Gideon, a cutpurse with a kind heart sees their dramatic arrival and decides to keep an eye on them. This is especially fortunate with Tar Man, a dangerous criminal, on the loose. The children meet highway men, thief takers, Erasmus Darwin, and King George in their quest to return to their own time. Historical details on clothes, and customs such as public hangings, as well as many asides on the smells of the period enhance this intriguing adventure story. This novel is intended for teen readers but many adults will enjoy it also.

]]>Dark Lanternhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Dark+LanternAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Dark+LanternThu, 13 Mar 2008 10:39:16 CDTDark Lantern by Gerri Brightwell
In this atmospheric novel of Victorian London, no one is who they seem to be. Mina, the wife of Robert Bentley longs to flee her mysterious watchers back to Paris, and away from a dark secret about to come to light. Jane, the young house maid is hiding a secret that could lose her her job and reputation. The Widow of Robert’s brother is an unknown quantity; is she who she appears to be? Sarah, the other housemaid, knows many secrets of the house and uses them all to her advantage. Evocative, full of twists and turns, this novel kept me guessing to the end; a real page turner!

]]>Interred with Their Boneshttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Interred+with+Their+BonesAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Interred+with+Their+BonesFri, 29 Feb 2008 15:22:46 CSTInterred with Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carroll.
After receiving mysterious box and a cryptic message from her estranged mentor Roz, Kate Stanley, Shakespeare scholar and play director, wants to toss the whole package into the Thames and go back to directing her first play at the famous Globe Theatre. But when the theatre goes up in flames and Roz turns up dead Kate decides that her mentor must have been onto something big and the biggest thing in Shakespeare-world is of course: Who was the Bard, really? This book is so much fun, it will have you looking up clues on the Internet and prowling around in your old college Complete Works of...... as you follow Kate around the world at break-neck speed searching for lost plays and hidden meanings in everything from the King James Bible to the deed to an old New Mexico gold mine. As the bodies and clues pile up, Kate doesn’t know whom to trust or even if she really wants to know the truth that a killer wants kept quiet. If you were one of those people who ran into the Library to look at our print of The Last Supper while reading The Da Vinci Code then this super-smart, complex and fast-paced book is a must read!

]]>The Sharper Your Knife the Less You Cryhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/The+Sharper+Your+Knife+the+Less+You+CryCBThttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/The+Sharper+Your+Knife+the+Less+You+CryFri, 29 Feb 2008 15:13:20 CSTThe Sharper Your Knife the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn
After being let go from a corporate job that she loathed, Kathleen Flinn decided to accomplish her life long dream of attending Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris. She cashed in her life savings and left for France while barely able to speak the language. While Kathleen learns techniques for preparing puff pastry and making stock, she makes friends with culinary students from Brazil, Japan and one from England who looks like Liz Hurley. She is tutored by the owner of her local wine shop as well as a homeless man who advises her that her sauce needs more salt. Loads of interesting characters, particularly the chefs, spice up this fun memoir of one woman’s adventure of a lifetime. You may find yourself learning a few things too. The title refers to the fact that if your knife is dull when you cut you will bruise the onion more than sharp knife, causing it to release more alkaloids that will make your eyes tear up. And there is a local tie in too. The Atlantic Culinary Academy at McIntosh College is a Le Cordon Bleu™ culinary program.

]]>Fever 1793http://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Fever+1793Anonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Fever+1793Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:15:09 CST
]]>What Ever You Do, Don't Runhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/What+Ever+You+Do%2C+Don%27t+RunCBThttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/What+Ever+You+Do%2C+Don%27t+RunWed, 09 Jan 2008 15:42:42 CSTWhatever You Do, Don’t Run by Peter Allison
Peter Allison has been charged by elephants, threatened by badgers, squeezed by pythons, and swam with elephants. As a safari guide in remote Africa he rarely has a boring day. His stories are short and often humorous. After being tormented for days by a group of monkeys who used his tent roof as a trampoline, Peter had the brilliant idea of scaring them off with a toy leopard, the monkey’s natural enemy.

I ran back to my tent, where the monkeys were in full swing. They scampered into the branches at my approach, but didn’t move to far from their game. They just sat bobbing and swaying, adding an occasional “Kwo!” which I was convinced was laughter.

“Kwo yourself,” I said, and from under the scarf whipped out the toy—a rather poor representation of a leopard, but it was enough to put the heebie-jeebies into the monkeys. They went berserk. “Kwe! Kwe, kwe, kwe, kwe, kwe! Kwe! The whole troop now moved away a few trees, but still watched the predator I held in my hand. I tossed it from side to side, and the pitch of their calls went up an octave. I was amazed at their gullibility, but took great pleasure in it and derived even more at their reaction when I threw the toy into the air. The whole troop called “Kwe!” in unision; one even fell off his branch. Then they fled, yelling a chorus of “Kwekwekwekwe!,” as they went, and I imagined they were saying, “Holy crap! Did you see that? A flying leopard!”

This is fast, enjoyable read. A good choice for reluctant readers.

]]>Mark of the Lionhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Mark+of+the+LionCBThttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Mark+of+the+LionWed, 09 Jan 2008 15:41:34 CSTMark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruda
The premise of this book intrigued me. After serving as an ambulance driver in France during WWI and seeing her fiancé die in battle, a young woman travels to Africa to solve the mystery of her fiancé’s father’s suspicious death, and find his long lost half brother. Jade del Cameron is a modern woman, with bobbed hair, great courage, a great shot, and a disregard for convention. In order to find out the truth, she must outwit stuffy British colonials and a witch doctor with the power to control the deadly animals of Africa. She faces down charging lions and lingering shellshock with the help of her outspoken friend Lady Beverly Dunbury, and a taciturn Somali gun bearer. The only mark against this novel was its heroine’s improbable name Jade del Cameron. I look forward to reading about her further adventures on the dark continent.

]]>No Reservationshttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/No+ReservationsCBThttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/No+ReservationsWed, 09 Jan 2008 15:40:25 CSTNo Reservations: Around the World On an Empty Stomach is no exception. No Reservations is a pictorial essay on Bourdain’s travels around the world, sampling all sorts of exotic meals. Its slightly cranky, brutally frank, and amusing, just like its author.

]]>If You Like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Tryhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/If+You+Like+The+Curious+Incident+of+the+Dog+in+the+Night-time+TryAnonymoushttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/If+You+Like+The+Curious+Incident+of+the+Dog+in+the+Night-time+TryMon, 07 Jan 2008 15:24:14 CSTThere’s A Boy In Here by Judy Barron

A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards by Ann Bauer

Tilt by Elizabeth Burns

Death of a Thousand Cuts by Barbara D’Amato

Skull Session by Daniel Hecht

Daniel Isn’t Talking by Marti Leimbach

Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem

The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin

Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

Broken As Things Are by Martha Witt

Born On A Blue Day by Daniel Tammet

]]>Not Yet Drown’d by Peg Kingmanhttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Not+Yet+Drown%E2%80%99d+by+Peg+KingmanCBThttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Not+Yet+Drown%E2%80%99d+by+Peg+KingmanWed, 12 Dec 2007 11:43:56 CSTThis novel started off a little slowly, but it is well worth reading through the first few chapters to get to the exotic adventures that fill the rest of the book.

]]>Cormac: The Tale of a Dog Gone Missinghttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Cormac%3A+The+Tale+of+a+Dog+Gone+MissingCBThttp://dplbooks.wetpaint.com/page/Cormac%3A+The+Tale+of+a+Dog+Gone+MissingWed, 12 Dec 2007 11:40:42 CSTCormac: The Tale of a Dog Gone Missing was a book I could not put down. Cormac is a personable Golden Retriever who rarely leaves his owner’s side. They go to work together, they hang out at home together, their bond is deep. Sonny, the author, leaves Cormac with a friend while he goes off on a book tour. The nightmare begins when he gets a phone call telling him that Cormac has disappeared. Neighbors thought they had seen him in the back of a strange red pickup truck. The pound does not have him, shelters and vets have not seen him either. The breakthrough finally comes when a young girl admits Cormac was left at the pound. The director stonewalls until lawyers are brought in and then admits that Cormac was given to a Golden Retriever Rescue in another part of the country. The chase is on to find him before he vanishes forever.
The author does a splendid job building the tension in this true life story as well as bringing Cormac with all his eccentricities to life. A treat for any dog lover.

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