Book Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

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Book Review Disclosure

Previous Review:  Please Ignore Vera Dietz




Summary:


In this sequel to Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder, Desires of the Dead continues to follow the special ability of Violet Ambrose to sense the echoes of those who have been murdered--animal and human.  Only the people closest to Violet, including her best friend/boyfriend Jay Heaton, know of her ability. 


After discovering the body of a missing boy in a shipyard storage container, Violet catches the attention of the FBI.  A twist in the plot brings to light someone's dangerous obsession with Violet.  Or rather, with Jay.  And Violet is in the way.  


Jay is the one Violet always turns to for advice and comfort.  But now that they have taken their friendship to relationship level, new rules apply.  With no one to turn to, Violet begins to unravel things that places her life--and others around her--in danger.  


Review:


If you have not read The Body Finder, stop reading this and do it.  Go ahead.  This blog will still be here when you are finished.  I think.  I hope.  


First of all, let me just say the relationship between Jay and Violet is absolutely beautiful.  Kimberly Derting expresses the raw emotion of the the couple so vividly that my heart wrenches and expands at all the right moments.  


The story reminds of a YA version of the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris.  Only, you know, less . . . er, racy.  Yes, "racy" is a good word.  Although this book was not as exciting (read: creepy) as The Body Finder, it kept my attention from start to finish.  If I say too much about this one, I may reveal spoilers and I don't dig that sort of thing, you know?  


The next book in the series--there will be four, so far--is scheduled to be released next year.  


Who's excited and impatient?  Me!  


Upcoming Review:  

Photo Courtesy Goodreads

Book Review: Please Ignore Vera Dietz

Photo Courtesy Goodreads

"Is it okay to hate a dead kid?  Even if I loved him once?  Even if he was my best friend?  Is it okay to hate him for being dead?"

Summary:

Vera Dietz is an 18 year-old pizza delivery technician in her senior year of high school.  Vera's mother left years ago, so it's just Vera and her father winging it through life.  Vera's best friend since age 4, Charlie, died under mysterious circumstances the summer before senior year.  Vera is dealing with Charlie's death, but also the hurt he caused her through betrayal in the months before his death.  The changes that came over Charlie, and the way he can still communicate with Vera from beyond the grave (although, this is not considered a YA Paranormal, so just, yeah, FYI) move her to disclose information that can clear his name about what really happened on the night he died.

Review:

There are some touchy subjects in this book, such as marital abuse, disregard for marital abuse, drug use, drinking, sex (nothing graphic), bullying, and {{gasp}} those godforsaken flow charts!  Oh, and let's not forget the dangers of a pizza delivery technician and a man casually answering the door with no pants on.  Vera handles that situation like a pro, BTW. 

Please Ignore Vera Dietz  is one of those books you put down and think, "My goodness, I wish I would have thought of that."  It is not too overdone on the romance part, the "Charlie's Ghost" part, or the absentee mother/father who is a former alcoholic part.  All aspects of these aspects mix in very well together to make one cohesive, well-written YA novel that is absolutely worth its Printz award.  

The story is mostly told through Vera, but her father (Ken), her dead best friend (Charlie), and The Pagoda (yes, narration from an illegitimate object that "sits watching people do stupid crap") also make random appearances throughout.  The idea of getting Ken's POV on everything that is happening is so creative and amazing.  I mean, honestly, have you ever seen a parent's POV in a YA novel?  I, for one, have not.  And probably because it wouldn't work for most stories.  But darnnit, it works here.  

Schizophrenic Computers & An almost book review!

So it's been awhile since I blogged, and I totally blame it on my lack of computer skills.  Internet Explorer (did I just name drop?  Oopsy.)  went all kinds of schizophrenic on me and even after consulting with several techy computer folks, nothing was resolved.  It was as if I suddenly switched over to {{shudder}}dial-up.  Never had dial-up?  Consider yourself lucky.  'Cause it ain't pretty.

 It was not until I had one of those ah-ha! moments that I decided to try out a different provider.  So I clicked on (another name drop) Google Chrome and, apparently, my problems were solved.  So.  Now.  Back to blogging.

I have read quite a few books since my last blog and I am up and ready for some reviewing.  I am not going to review today, however, I am going to recommend.  Why?  Because this book is too awesome for words.  I am hooked.  Four is my new literary husband.  Tris is my new literary BFF.  I have no shame admitting the nerd-ness of those last two comments. So, without any further droning:

Photo Courtesy of Goodreads

Get it.  Read it.  Love it.