I saw a picture of this book on Tumblr and the caption mentioned that the book would be released on November 10th. That intrigued me, so I decided to find out what November 9 was about. The description of the book intrigued me even more, so I bought the book as soon as I could get out to the bookstore. I am very glad I did. Having never read a book by Colleen Hoover, I wasn't really sure what to expect. In all honesty, I had never heard of this author up until I saw the picture of November 9. However, I do believe I will be reading more Colleen Hoover books now.
Overall Ms. Hoover's writing style is pleasing. She uses a good mix of varied sentence structure and complexity to keep the reader from becoming bored and her vocabulary is satisfactory. I found her writing easy to follow but thankfully not simplistic. The only thing that I had to get used to was the story switching from one narrator to the other. Thankfully it was easy enough to follow as each chapter had its own narrator and did not switch between narrators in the middle of a chapter.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. They were well written and easy to identify with. Even when I really wanted to dislike a character, in the end, I couldn't. The characters were real. In each character the reader can find a bit of themselves. Even the most unlikeable character, Fallon's father, I ended up at least understanding and being able to peacefully coexist with.
As far as the story goes... Wow. That's really all I can say. Just...wow! The story explores so much and the characters grow so much! This book beautifully illustrates the complex dynamics between individuals and family members. Ms. Hoover does a great job of giving the characters a story that allows them to develop and learn about themselves. And the plot? Let's just say I never saw it coming. I suppose perhaps I should have, but I didn't, and that made the end of the book have so much impact.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. If you read no other book in the coming year, you must read this book. My only caution is that this book does have certain topics that are not suitable for younger readers. Nothing that is terrible or over the top, but nevertheless, I would not recommend this book for anyone under the age of a mature mid-teen reader. But don't let this scare you off! This book is amazing and should be one of the first books you read in 2016. I enjoyed the book so much, I will likely read November 9 again in the new year.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
A Gift From Bob by James Bowen
Anybody who reads this blog regularly, or knows me even a tiny bit, knows I love reading Christmas books. Nothing beats curling up with a seasonal book on a cold day. I also enjoy books about animals. A Gift From Bob fulfills both criteria. I admit at first I was a little leery of a book about a man on the streets. I wondered how on earth a book about a man who is one minuscule step above homeless could possibly make for good holiday reading. I'm glad I took a chance on this book. A Gift From Bob truly is one of the most uplifting books you could read this season. And the best part? It's non fiction!
I have to admit I like the author's writing style. James Bowen's style is not pretentious nor is his style elementary. I would say Mr. Bowen's style is simple but compelling. At no time did I find myself distracted by the author's style. I appreciated the fact that it felt as though he were sitting in front of me telling his story. This conversational style pulled me in and really helped me enjoy the book.
I especially enjoyed how well he enabled me to know the other people populating his story. Not only did he do a very good job of helping me visualize where this part of his life took place, he also made it very easy for me to make a connection with the people who were an integral part of his life.
The story itself, if you will, had me completely engrossed. I can't say that I know anything about the struggle of the homeless. I certainly never gave much thought to how, or even if, they celebrate the holidays. Neither have I considered how one goes from sleeping in the park to reintegrating into a more traditional mode of living. Mr. Bowen's story gave me a glimpse into the life of the homeless and certainly made me far more aware of the role I can play in assisting those that I encounter.
Additionally, A Gift From Bob made me think about what "Christmas spirit" really means. This book also helped me to refocus on the important things of the season. It really is less about the price tag on the gift and much more about the thought that goes into it. And truly, when things look as though they are at their worst, if you just slow down for a moment and refocus, it turns out things aren't ruined after all. But most of all, this book helped me remember that the gifts really aren't that important. It's all about who you spend your Christmas with.
All things considered, I would recommend this book to everyone. There is nothing at all bad in this book. In fact, I would encourage everyone to read this book regardless of the time of year. Of course if you can read the book during the Christmas season, I would certainly encourage you to do so. I will be reading this book again next Christmas and I will probably do so first thing in the season. Just like A Christmas Carol, this book should be read every year and should kick off the beautiful season that is all about love, joy, peace and the greatest gift man has ever known.
I have to admit I like the author's writing style. James Bowen's style is not pretentious nor is his style elementary. I would say Mr. Bowen's style is simple but compelling. At no time did I find myself distracted by the author's style. I appreciated the fact that it felt as though he were sitting in front of me telling his story. This conversational style pulled me in and really helped me enjoy the book.
I especially enjoyed how well he enabled me to know the other people populating his story. Not only did he do a very good job of helping me visualize where this part of his life took place, he also made it very easy for me to make a connection with the people who were an integral part of his life.
The story itself, if you will, had me completely engrossed. I can't say that I know anything about the struggle of the homeless. I certainly never gave much thought to how, or even if, they celebrate the holidays. Neither have I considered how one goes from sleeping in the park to reintegrating into a more traditional mode of living. Mr. Bowen's story gave me a glimpse into the life of the homeless and certainly made me far more aware of the role I can play in assisting those that I encounter.
Additionally, A Gift From Bob made me think about what "Christmas spirit" really means. This book also helped me to refocus on the important things of the season. It really is less about the price tag on the gift and much more about the thought that goes into it. And truly, when things look as though they are at their worst, if you just slow down for a moment and refocus, it turns out things aren't ruined after all. But most of all, this book helped me remember that the gifts really aren't that important. It's all about who you spend your Christmas with.
All things considered, I would recommend this book to everyone. There is nothing at all bad in this book. In fact, I would encourage everyone to read this book regardless of the time of year. Of course if you can read the book during the Christmas season, I would certainly encourage you to do so. I will be reading this book again next Christmas and I will probably do so first thing in the season. Just like A Christmas Carol, this book should be read every year and should kick off the beautiful season that is all about love, joy, peace and the greatest gift man has ever known.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber
'Tis the season! Well the season for reading Christmas books, that is. And believe me, I have plenty in my stack to read! Because I like Hallmark Christmas movies so much, I decided to start with a sappy sweet Hallmark-esque book. As Trading Christmas had been made into a Hallmark movie, I figured this was a good one to start with. Let me just say, the book and the movie only share very loose similarities. Very loose similarities!
Overall the book was fine. It really is only a short story, not even a full length novel. The author's ability to write clear, concise sentences with acceptable vocabulary was about what I would have expected from a bestselling author in this genre. Certainly, the writing isn't scholarly, but I don't expect scholarly from romance. In fact, from a purely technical aspect, I find Debbie Macomber to be one of the better romance writers. Her style isn't complex, but it is sound and enjoyable.
Likewise, I found the characters in this book appealing. Although this wasn't a full length novel, I had no problem enjoying the characters. I found the characters to be real and easy to identify with. The only character that wasn't as well developed was Heather, Emily's daughter. Of course, she was a supporting character, but she was still flat and, frankly, not very likable at all. I truly enjoyed the character of Bernice Brewster. Although another supporting character, she was quite enjoyable and entertaining. Flamboyant and dramatic, she was still lovable and made me smile every time she showed up in the story. As Charles and Ray's mother, she brought fun and humor to a story that would otherwise have suffered from being too serious.
The story itself was also easy to identify with, in as much as, it is a story about the changes a family faces as a child grows up and Christmas traditions are turned upside down. Now perhaps few people would have dealt with these changes quite on the level of trading residences, but that doesn't matter. It does happen in "real life" so at least it is still believable. And honestly, I enjoyed this perhaps unorthodox way of dealing with change. It opened up a lot of avenues for the story to develop that otherwise simply wouldn't have been there.
Perhaps my only real complaint is that the story felt rushed. I attribute this to the fact that this isn't a full length novel. However, that does detract some from my enjoyment of the story. I do believe the story would have been better served had it been written as a full length novel.
All things considered, I do recommend this book as an enjoyable Christmas read. Due to its abbreviated nature, it would be very easy to cozy up in a blanket and read this story in one sitting. There really isn't anything objectionable in this book so I can safely say anybody could read Trading Christmas with no worries whatsoever. However, that being said, I do believe this book will appeal mostly to the mid-30s and beyond set.
Overall the book was fine. It really is only a short story, not even a full length novel. The author's ability to write clear, concise sentences with acceptable vocabulary was about what I would have expected from a bestselling author in this genre. Certainly, the writing isn't scholarly, but I don't expect scholarly from romance. In fact, from a purely technical aspect, I find Debbie Macomber to be one of the better romance writers. Her style isn't complex, but it is sound and enjoyable.
Likewise, I found the characters in this book appealing. Although this wasn't a full length novel, I had no problem enjoying the characters. I found the characters to be real and easy to identify with. The only character that wasn't as well developed was Heather, Emily's daughter. Of course, she was a supporting character, but she was still flat and, frankly, not very likable at all. I truly enjoyed the character of Bernice Brewster. Although another supporting character, she was quite enjoyable and entertaining. Flamboyant and dramatic, she was still lovable and made me smile every time she showed up in the story. As Charles and Ray's mother, she brought fun and humor to a story that would otherwise have suffered from being too serious.
The story itself was also easy to identify with, in as much as, it is a story about the changes a family faces as a child grows up and Christmas traditions are turned upside down. Now perhaps few people would have dealt with these changes quite on the level of trading residences, but that doesn't matter. It does happen in "real life" so at least it is still believable. And honestly, I enjoyed this perhaps unorthodox way of dealing with change. It opened up a lot of avenues for the story to develop that otherwise simply wouldn't have been there.
Perhaps my only real complaint is that the story felt rushed. I attribute this to the fact that this isn't a full length novel. However, that does detract some from my enjoyment of the story. I do believe the story would have been better served had it been written as a full length novel.
All things considered, I do recommend this book as an enjoyable Christmas read. Due to its abbreviated nature, it would be very easy to cozy up in a blanket and read this story in one sitting. There really isn't anything objectionable in this book so I can safely say anybody could read Trading Christmas with no worries whatsoever. However, that being said, I do believe this book will appeal mostly to the mid-30s and beyond set.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon
Sometimes you just need a nice book. A book that is sweet and serene without all the things that I don't like about this world. There are plenty of things I do like, but it seems the entertainment industry, including books, focuses on nothing but meaningless sex, gratuitous violence and vulgar language. My life is stressful and sometimes I just need to escape to a world that can simply be called "nice".
And sometimes you miss the people who meant so much to you at one point in your life. At Home In Mitford is of course the first book in the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. My grandmother and her sister loved these books. I'm fairly certain they both had the complete set. (At least what had been published up to the point of their deaths.) I now wish I had my grandmother's set. I chose to read these books because I was missing my Granny and Aunt Elaine.
And sometimes you reread a book because it reminds you of a time in your life that was good. A brief time in a very hard and hurtful time that was good and there seemed there might be hope for the future. That is why I reread this first book. I originally read this book when my son, who is now graduated and in the Army, was in the fourth grade. We had no money back then. And by no money, I mean no money. I was checking books out at the library to feed my insatiable need to read. My last $20 had gone to pay for my son's enrollment in a city flag football league. I would take this book to his practices and read. It was kind of nice really. It was autumn and the evenings were pleasantly cool and I would read this book and watch practice. Times were tough, I was still hiding from my son's father, money was tight, and I was deep in depression, but on the cool autumn nights of practice, with this book in my hands, things didn't seem so bad.
So it was with these thoughts and memories that I decided to read the Mitford Series. I remembered a small amount from my first reading, but I must say I truly enjoyed this reread. With about 10 years between my original reading and this reading, I of course, bring new understanding and a different outlook to this most recent reading. Thankfully that did not change my enjoyment of the book. I still appreciate the kindness of the book. I love the simplicity and decentness of the book. Although the author pretty much simply writes about the day to day life of a village priest, the book drew me in and lulled me into a nostalgic state of mind with the beauty of small town American life.
One thing I can say with certainty is that I truly do appreciate Jan Karon's writing style. What I like about her writing style is that it's not boring. And by this I mean she clearly has a strong grasp of proper grammar. Likewise her writing is robust with varied sentence complexity and a good vocabulary. I appreciate that she is not verbose and overwrought. Her writing mirrors the dignity of the book she has written.
As for the mechanics of plot, pacing, etc, I find I am perfectly happy with this book. While the book meanders calmly through every day life in a small North Carolina village, it doesn't lack for plot. There is a plot, after all life has a plot, if you will. We don't meander aimlessly through life. As such, this book does not meander aimlessly along. Things happen, there are some mysteries to be solved, and a few things from the past that need understanding. So while the book is not fast paced, it still moves at the speed of village life and that suits this story just fine.
I can also say that the characters are all lovable. Some, of course, more than others, but each character will endear itself to you in one way or another. Just like the people you encounter in your own life. I must admit though, my favorite character is very likely Miss Sadie. Yes, I do thoroughly enjoy the main character, Father Tim. He's wonderful and real and very likable. But Miss Sadie. She just gets into your heart and you can't help but appreciate the kind, genteel lady with a big generous heart.
All things considered, I can't recommend this book enough. This book is a soothing balm to my soul once again in a trying time. But what I like most is that I can recommend this book to anyone. I can recommend this book to teens or adults and know that I'm not exposing anyone to anything offensive. I would most certainly not relegate this book to only a beach read or a weekend read. Certainly this book could be a quick read, but I find I enjoy reading this book bundled up under a blanket with a hot cup of tea. I love to read this book slowly and just savor the tranquility of Mitford.
And sometimes you miss the people who meant so much to you at one point in your life. At Home In Mitford is of course the first book in the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. My grandmother and her sister loved these books. I'm fairly certain they both had the complete set. (At least what had been published up to the point of their deaths.) I now wish I had my grandmother's set. I chose to read these books because I was missing my Granny and Aunt Elaine.
And sometimes you reread a book because it reminds you of a time in your life that was good. A brief time in a very hard and hurtful time that was good and there seemed there might be hope for the future. That is why I reread this first book. I originally read this book when my son, who is now graduated and in the Army, was in the fourth grade. We had no money back then. And by no money, I mean no money. I was checking books out at the library to feed my insatiable need to read. My last $20 had gone to pay for my son's enrollment in a city flag football league. I would take this book to his practices and read. It was kind of nice really. It was autumn and the evenings were pleasantly cool and I would read this book and watch practice. Times were tough, I was still hiding from my son's father, money was tight, and I was deep in depression, but on the cool autumn nights of practice, with this book in my hands, things didn't seem so bad.
So it was with these thoughts and memories that I decided to read the Mitford Series. I remembered a small amount from my first reading, but I must say I truly enjoyed this reread. With about 10 years between my original reading and this reading, I of course, bring new understanding and a different outlook to this most recent reading. Thankfully that did not change my enjoyment of the book. I still appreciate the kindness of the book. I love the simplicity and decentness of the book. Although the author pretty much simply writes about the day to day life of a village priest, the book drew me in and lulled me into a nostalgic state of mind with the beauty of small town American life.
One thing I can say with certainty is that I truly do appreciate Jan Karon's writing style. What I like about her writing style is that it's not boring. And by this I mean she clearly has a strong grasp of proper grammar. Likewise her writing is robust with varied sentence complexity and a good vocabulary. I appreciate that she is not verbose and overwrought. Her writing mirrors the dignity of the book she has written.
As for the mechanics of plot, pacing, etc, I find I am perfectly happy with this book. While the book meanders calmly through every day life in a small North Carolina village, it doesn't lack for plot. There is a plot, after all life has a plot, if you will. We don't meander aimlessly through life. As such, this book does not meander aimlessly along. Things happen, there are some mysteries to be solved, and a few things from the past that need understanding. So while the book is not fast paced, it still moves at the speed of village life and that suits this story just fine.
I can also say that the characters are all lovable. Some, of course, more than others, but each character will endear itself to you in one way or another. Just like the people you encounter in your own life. I must admit though, my favorite character is very likely Miss Sadie. Yes, I do thoroughly enjoy the main character, Father Tim. He's wonderful and real and very likable. But Miss Sadie. She just gets into your heart and you can't help but appreciate the kind, genteel lady with a big generous heart.
All things considered, I can't recommend this book enough. This book is a soothing balm to my soul once again in a trying time. But what I like most is that I can recommend this book to anyone. I can recommend this book to teens or adults and know that I'm not exposing anyone to anything offensive. I would most certainly not relegate this book to only a beach read or a weekend read. Certainly this book could be a quick read, but I find I enjoy reading this book bundled up under a blanket with a hot cup of tea. I love to read this book slowly and just savor the tranquility of Mitford.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Anybody who knows me can attest to the fact that I am super excited about the Jurassic World release on 6/12/15. In preparation for this, I've decided to read Jurassic Park and The Lost World before the movie opens. I am also planning to watch the first three movies as well.
Speaking of the movies...
When reading Jurassic Park, I was struck by how little the movie follows the book. Now, I'll admit it's been decades (literally) since I saw the Jurassic Park movie, and perhaps I've forgotten some things, but honestly it seems the only things the book and movie share in common are the characters and the name. Beyond that, there is so little that I find similar. We'll see when I watch the movie again if I'm remembering correctly!
As for the book...
Frankly, I truly enjoyed the book. This book appeals to me on my nerd level. It just speaks to my nerdy little soul like few other books can. There is no point in lying. I love science. And this book has just enough real science in it to tickle the fancy and make me think what if. Of course, this book should not be read if you're looking for complete and accurate scientific detail. Thankfully I am no paleontologist, nor am I a geneticist, so I am blissfully ignorant of what I am sure are the mangled finer points of each field of study. For me, this book is just good entertainment.
Of course, I have nothing to complain about with Crichton's writing ability. I find his writing easy to read. His technique is varied enough to hold my attention and thankfully he employs a decent vocabulary. I find his skills of description to be wonderful. With his descriptions, he enabled me to envision Isla Nublar and all of its inhabitants quite well. Especially my favorites -- the velociraptors!
Crichton also did a good job with the plotting and pacing of the book. Although the start was a bit slow, once all the characters were introduced and the reader had all of the necessary background information, the story really kicked into high gear. And I really enjoyed the last little part of the book that I don't remember from the movie at all. Perhaps it was in the movie, but I certainly don't recall it. I really liked how just when you thought it was all over, it was time to go find the wild velociraptors.
The author also did a great job with his characters. I feel as though Crichton knew his characters as well as one would know a long time friend. He stayed true to the character throughout. It's true you don't see a lot of character development in the classic sense, but I wouldn't expect to. This book covers a time period of not even 48 hours. The scope of this book doesn't allow for classic character development. Rather, this book demands that characters be strong and engaging throughout and Crichton certainly delivered. The only character I didn't like was Lex (the little girl). I would have loved, and I do mean loved to have read the part where my true favorite characters, the velociraptors, had a snack of whiny, petulant, spoiled brat little girl. And truly, not liking the character had nothing to do with the author's ability to create and bring to life a character. It had everything to do with I just can't stand whiny, petulant, spoiled brat kids.
And let's just take a moment to talk about the dinosaurs. I loved them! By now you know who my favorites are! But really, I liked all of them. Crichton just brought them to life with his well researched writing. The whole idea of the theme park with dinosaurs was great. And I appreciate the fact that he took the time to do research and make the dinosaurs as accurate as possible.
All things considered, I really can't think of anything to complain about with this book. I truly enjoyed the book. Perhaps I would caution those who may be turned off by gore, but even then, this book wasn't really all that gory. I just know that some of my regulars on this blog don't care for any description of gore, so I would say if you fall into that category you may want to skip this book. After all, certain dinosaurs are carnivores and humans happen to be on their food chain thus one must expect a certain amount of the "circle of life" to take place. Even so, it's not bad at all and I would recommend this book to everyone!
Speaking of the movies...
When reading Jurassic Park, I was struck by how little the movie follows the book. Now, I'll admit it's been decades (literally) since I saw the Jurassic Park movie, and perhaps I've forgotten some things, but honestly it seems the only things the book and movie share in common are the characters and the name. Beyond that, there is so little that I find similar. We'll see when I watch the movie again if I'm remembering correctly!
As for the book...
Frankly, I truly enjoyed the book. This book appeals to me on my nerd level. It just speaks to my nerdy little soul like few other books can. There is no point in lying. I love science. And this book has just enough real science in it to tickle the fancy and make me think what if. Of course, this book should not be read if you're looking for complete and accurate scientific detail. Thankfully I am no paleontologist, nor am I a geneticist, so I am blissfully ignorant of what I am sure are the mangled finer points of each field of study. For me, this book is just good entertainment.
Of course, I have nothing to complain about with Crichton's writing ability. I find his writing easy to read. His technique is varied enough to hold my attention and thankfully he employs a decent vocabulary. I find his skills of description to be wonderful. With his descriptions, he enabled me to envision Isla Nublar and all of its inhabitants quite well. Especially my favorites -- the velociraptors!
Crichton also did a good job with the plotting and pacing of the book. Although the start was a bit slow, once all the characters were introduced and the reader had all of the necessary background information, the story really kicked into high gear. And I really enjoyed the last little part of the book that I don't remember from the movie at all. Perhaps it was in the movie, but I certainly don't recall it. I really liked how just when you thought it was all over, it was time to go find the wild velociraptors.
The author also did a great job with his characters. I feel as though Crichton knew his characters as well as one would know a long time friend. He stayed true to the character throughout. It's true you don't see a lot of character development in the classic sense, but I wouldn't expect to. This book covers a time period of not even 48 hours. The scope of this book doesn't allow for classic character development. Rather, this book demands that characters be strong and engaging throughout and Crichton certainly delivered. The only character I didn't like was Lex (the little girl). I would have loved, and I do mean loved to have read the part where my true favorite characters, the velociraptors, had a snack of whiny, petulant, spoiled brat little girl. And truly, not liking the character had nothing to do with the author's ability to create and bring to life a character. It had everything to do with I just can't stand whiny, petulant, spoiled brat kids.
And let's just take a moment to talk about the dinosaurs. I loved them! By now you know who my favorites are! But really, I liked all of them. Crichton just brought them to life with his well researched writing. The whole idea of the theme park with dinosaurs was great. And I appreciate the fact that he took the time to do research and make the dinosaurs as accurate as possible.
All things considered, I really can't think of anything to complain about with this book. I truly enjoyed the book. Perhaps I would caution those who may be turned off by gore, but even then, this book wasn't really all that gory. I just know that some of my regulars on this blog don't care for any description of gore, so I would say if you fall into that category you may want to skip this book. After all, certain dinosaurs are carnivores and humans happen to be on their food chain thus one must expect a certain amount of the "circle of life" to take place. Even so, it's not bad at all and I would recommend this book to everyone!
Saturday, April 4, 2015
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
I'm sure there isn't a person alive who hasn't heard of "If I Stay". I truly had high hopes for this book. I know a lot of this book's popularity stemmed from the movie hype. Despite that, I honestly thought maybe the book had merit on it's own. Imagine my disappointment when I learned how wrong that assumption was. I thought surely they wouldn't make a movie out of a mediocre book. Obviously I've learned nothing from the ''Twilight'' debacle.
Technically speaking, I had no real complaints with the book. The author's technical ability is about what I'd expect from your typical YA author today. It pains me to say that, but it's true. Although I don't agree with it, it seems the publishing powers that be don't expect much from their YA authors in terms of technicality. Truthfully, I believe the demand for quality writing has all but disappeared across all demographics. However, that is an entirely separate post.
Back to the technical aspects of this book. As previously stated, the author's writing was about on the level of what I expected. The prose was certainly not beautiful as in some books I've had the pleasure to read, but neither did I feel as though a child had written the book. The writing was easy enough to read although I would have preferred a bit more "grownup" writing. Thankfully the author was not a fan of endlessly using the same phrase and her vocabulary, though not scholarly, was sufficient.
Perhaps the simplistic writing is why the characters felt very shallow and one dimensional. I truly did not connect emotionally with any of the characters. Yes, there were times throughout the book where certain situations made me tear up, but a book like this should have ripped my heart out and stomped on it. Instead I found myself responding emotionally to a line here or there that reminded me of something in my life. For example, at one point Mia states in her narration, ''I'm not sure this is a world I belong in anymore. I'm not sure that I want to wake up." While I understood why Mia was saying this, the tear in my eye was not for a character I really couldn't connect with, but for myself and all the times I've felt like that.
The premise of this book was so incredibly promising. This book should have been an incredibly emotional read. Instead I was left feeling like that's it? By the end of the book I was completely unfulfilled and incredibly disappointed. I feel like the author really missed the mark. The length of the book seems too short as well, but I wonder if that may simply be a result of a completely unfulfilling read. In fact, I'm almost sure of it.
As for age appropriateness, there really isn't anything horrid in the book. My only caution would be to warn that there is considerable use of the "F-word". There is also mention of premarital sex, but no detail. Ultimately, I'd say this book is safe for its intended audience.
All things considered, I truly believe there are better books out there that would be more fulfilling. However, if you're looking for a quick, easy read, this book will do.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Book Challenge 2015 Plans/Suggestions Part I
I've had a few people ask me what I'm reading for the challenge and if I had any suggestions for titles. I've got several ideas for myself and plenty of suggestions! I'll list the first 25 prompts/challenges here and then within the next few days do the other 25.
I've also had a couple people ask about the Goodreads group. You can find that group here:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/152458-ultimate-2015-reading-challenge
1. A book with more than 500 pages.
My choice: Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
You could also consider: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy; A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin
2. A classic romance.
I honestly haven't decided what I will ultimately read for this challenge, however possibilities include: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
3. A book that became a movie.
My choice: If I Stay by Gayle Foreman
You could also consider: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn; Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card; The Fault in Our Stars by John Green; The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks; The Pelican Brief by John Grisham; Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte; any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien; The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien; Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; 1984 by George Orwell; The War of the Worlds by HG Wells; Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand -- the list is endless!
4. A book published this year.
As we are only in the second day of 2015, I'm going to wait and see what comes along this year before making a decision.
5. A book with a number in the title.
My choice: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
You could also consider: Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut; 1984 by George Orwell
6. A book written by someone under 30
I haven't really made a decision on this one. I've heard a lot of people saying they are going to read I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.
7. A book with non-human characters.
My choice: Animal Farm by George Orwell
You could also consider: Any vampire book (just look in the section once known as YA); any of the Star Trek or Star Wars series; any of the novels based on Gears of War; any of the Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance series; any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien.
8. A funny book.
I haven't made a decision on this one either. I typically don't read humor. However I do have a book on my nightstand right now that's called something along the lines of How to Tell If Your Cat Is Trying to Kill You. Perhaps I'll use that.
9. A book by a female author.
There is such a huge selection, I'm not really worried about even trying to make a decision on this one.
10. A mystery or thriller.
My choice: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
You could also consider: Any Agatha Christie book. This is not a genre I typically read, so I don't have many suggestions here.
11. A book with a one word title.
I haven't even put any real thought into this one. I'm sure there are plenty to choose from.
12. A book of short stories.
My choice: A book of Edgar Allen Poe stories.
You could also consider: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Joyce Carol Oates
13. A book set in a different country.
My choice: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
You could also consider: The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard Morais; The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (one of my favorites!)
14. A nonfiction book.
There are so many choices here that I haven't even thought about this one. 41 by Former President George W. Bush is currently coming to mind, but I may use that for another category.
15. A popular author's first book.
My choice: Looking for Alaska by John Green
16. A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet.
I have no author that I "love". I base everything on the book and don't really care who wrote it. This is going to be a hard one for me. I may modify this to be a book from an author who's book I love. In which case Khaled Hosseini is a strong contender because I truly love The Kite Runner.
17. A book a friend recommended.
My choice: The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
18: A Pulitzer Prize winning book.
I haven't really considered this category. There are many books that would meet this requirement, so I'm not especially worried about making a choice this minute.
19. A book based on a true story.
My choice: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
20. A book at the bottom of your to read list.
I'd have to look at my list on Goodreads to see what is at the bottom.
21. A book your mom loves.
My choice: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
My other choice is any of the Twilight books and those of you that know me, know hell is going to freeze over before I read one of those.
22. A book that scares you.
My choice: The Strain by Guillermo del Toro
I started The Strain and got about a third of the way through and had to stop. That is one creepy book.
23. A book more than 100 years old.
My choice: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
You could also consider: Any of Charles Dickens books; any of the Bronte sisters' books
24. A book based entirely on its cover.
This will require a trip to the bookstore.
25. A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't.
My choice: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
I've also had a couple people ask about the Goodreads group. You can find that group here:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/152458-ultimate-2015-reading-challenge
1. A book with more than 500 pages.
My choice: Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
You could also consider: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy; A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin
2. A classic romance.
I honestly haven't decided what I will ultimately read for this challenge, however possibilities include: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
3. A book that became a movie.
My choice: If I Stay by Gayle Foreman
You could also consider: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn; Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card; The Fault in Our Stars by John Green; The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks; The Pelican Brief by John Grisham; Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte; any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien; The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien; Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; 1984 by George Orwell; The War of the Worlds by HG Wells; Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand -- the list is endless!
4. A book published this year.
As we are only in the second day of 2015, I'm going to wait and see what comes along this year before making a decision.
5. A book with a number in the title.
My choice: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
You could also consider: Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut; 1984 by George Orwell
6. A book written by someone under 30
I haven't really made a decision on this one. I've heard a lot of people saying they are going to read I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.
7. A book with non-human characters.
My choice: Animal Farm by George Orwell
You could also consider: Any vampire book (just look in the section once known as YA); any of the Star Trek or Star Wars series; any of the novels based on Gears of War; any of the Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance series; any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien.
8. A funny book.
I haven't made a decision on this one either. I typically don't read humor. However I do have a book on my nightstand right now that's called something along the lines of How to Tell If Your Cat Is Trying to Kill You. Perhaps I'll use that.
9. A book by a female author.
There is such a huge selection, I'm not really worried about even trying to make a decision on this one.
10. A mystery or thriller.
My choice: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
You could also consider: Any Agatha Christie book. This is not a genre I typically read, so I don't have many suggestions here.
11. A book with a one word title.
I haven't even put any real thought into this one. I'm sure there are plenty to choose from.
12. A book of short stories.
My choice: A book of Edgar Allen Poe stories.
You could also consider: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Joyce Carol Oates
13. A book set in a different country.
My choice: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
You could also consider: The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard Morais; The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (one of my favorites!)
14. A nonfiction book.
There are so many choices here that I haven't even thought about this one. 41 by Former President George W. Bush is currently coming to mind, but I may use that for another category.
15. A popular author's first book.
My choice: Looking for Alaska by John Green
16. A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet.
I have no author that I "love". I base everything on the book and don't really care who wrote it. This is going to be a hard one for me. I may modify this to be a book from an author who's book I love. In which case Khaled Hosseini is a strong contender because I truly love The Kite Runner.
17. A book a friend recommended.
My choice: The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
18: A Pulitzer Prize winning book.
I haven't really considered this category. There are many books that would meet this requirement, so I'm not especially worried about making a choice this minute.
19. A book based on a true story.
My choice: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
20. A book at the bottom of your to read list.
I'd have to look at my list on Goodreads to see what is at the bottom.
21. A book your mom loves.
My choice: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
My other choice is any of the Twilight books and those of you that know me, know hell is going to freeze over before I read one of those.
22. A book that scares you.
My choice: The Strain by Guillermo del Toro
I started The Strain and got about a third of the way through and had to stop. That is one creepy book.
23. A book more than 100 years old.
My choice: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
You could also consider: Any of Charles Dickens books; any of the Bronte sisters' books
24. A book based entirely on its cover.
This will require a trip to the bookstore.
25. A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't.
My choice: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Thursday, January 1, 2015
New Year, New Book Challenge 2015
Cruising around Tumblr a few days ago, I found the ultimate year long book challenge. This challenge is perfect! What I really like about it is that it will push me beyond the normal books I read. I'm sure I'm going to find some really great books that I wouldn't have considered otherwise.
Another thing that is great about this challenge is that it's really flexible. You can read a single book for each challenge and read 52 books in a year. However, if you're like me and just don't have time to complete a single book a week, you can use one book to satisfy several categories. Either way works and either way will still introduce you to new genres.
A few of my friends on Facebook and Tumblr are also doing the challenge and I found a Goodreads group dedicated to this challenge. I've gotten a lot of titles from that group for the categories that I wasn't sure about.
So, here's the challenge. If you decide to participate, drop me a quick message. I'd love to hear what you decide to read and hear about your progress.
Another thing that is great about this challenge is that it's really flexible. You can read a single book for each challenge and read 52 books in a year. However, if you're like me and just don't have time to complete a single book a week, you can use one book to satisfy several categories. Either way works and either way will still introduce you to new genres.
A few of my friends on Facebook and Tumblr are also doing the challenge and I found a Goodreads group dedicated to this challenge. I've gotten a lot of titles from that group for the categories that I wasn't sure about.
So, here's the challenge. If you decide to participate, drop me a quick message. I'd love to hear what you decide to read and hear about your progress.
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