This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Current Mitunes - George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Genre: Dystopian YA
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Release Date: April 1, 2010
Pages: 256

It's been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth's climate. For Miranda Evans, life as she knew it no longer exists. Her friends and neighbors are dead, the landscape is frozen, and food is increasingly scarce.


The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda's father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda's complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.


In the final installment of Pfeffer's 'The Last Survivors Trilogy', we find that Miranda's world wildly changes as she goes from finding herself stuck in a single room with her two brothers and mother - starving and freezing to death - to greeting several others and finding a whole new world of concerns.

Pfeffer's story telling becomes even more grim as we delve further into Miranda's journey to discovering the meaning of her life, the future it may hold and where her beliefs lie. Though shorter than the previous two in the series, This World We Live In does not disappoint, rather it excels at giving the reader more than entertainment, but truth as it holds up a mirror for us to consider our own lives and hearts.

I am so sad to have finished this series for it was truly amazing. I haven't read a series like this in quite some time and I recommend it to anyone looking for not only a great read, but a quick and enjoyable one as well.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Current Mitunes - Adele's Rolling in the Deep


Bossypants by Tina Fey
Genre: Biography/Comedy
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Pages: 288

As if it needed to be said, this book is hilarious. I love Tina Fey, I really do. And this book made me love her even more.

Sure the book is filled with funny anecdotes about Ms. Fey's crazy life, her strange experiences with boys and growing up not being the gorgeous blond but a smart and witty brunette. There is great insight into the world of stand up comedy, from early beginnings in Chicago to backstage at SNL. There are also great passages about becoming a mother, of not one but two children. (Fey considers 30 Rock as her second child). All of this is done in a tasteful manner. Fey never bashes people or name drops just for the sake of selling books. Instead she sells the book with her entertaining wit, honesty and her comedic way of looking at life in all its beauty; from a failed attempt at hooking up with a guy by going on a disastrous hike, to a devastating honeymoon that results in a fire aboard a cruise ship.

However, Bossyants is more than that. It has a passionate message about women being capable of more than expected. She proves that it is worth striving for your goals, even if there is difficulty breaking into what is considered "A Man's Business". To top it all off she shows true professionalism as she recognizes all the people and hard work that go into creating a successful show like 30 Rock.


Bossypants is true inspiration (and great for more than a few laughs)