Three out of four ain't bad

These days, there's a great deal of anxiously hunching over laptops because of a master's degree deadline that is rapidly approaching. Let's just say that the culminating assignment for an MLIS degree is no joke.

A tiny bit of reviewing in an actual newspaper was accomplished over the past couple of months, though. Ally Condie's final book in the Matched trilogy didn't thrill (go to the article here) but it wasn't nearly the slog of the second book of the series. Prodigy, the second book in Marie Lu's Legend series, was as solid as the first book. How often does that happen? (Check out my Prodigy review here).

Recently read and loved: Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick (hard to read but unforgettable) and Spellbinder by Helen Stringer (taking a bit from the Harry Potter playlist, but great fun nonetheless).

A very YA new year

At the top of DMO's must-read list.

Dig Me Out rang in the new year at a very cool Los Angeles party with a pack of writers who love YA books. Ones that came up in conversation: Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone (feel they blew the cover on this one -- kids don't dig the image -- but hear it's amazing), Marie Lu's gripping Legend series, the Matched trilogy, and John Stephens' The Emerald Atlas.

On top of adult book conversations were Michael Chabon's Telegraph Avenue and Cheryl Strayed's memoir. Working on Prodigy now, but the others are on the top of DMO's resolution list.

In library news, the New York Times came out with a discussion about the value of libraries. Hearing others argue about the value of you chosen career feels like someone taking apart your psyche while you sit idly by and listen, but these conversations matter.

Here's a link to the New York Times' "Room for Debate" forum, with school librarian Buffy Hamilton representing.