Before I Fall

By: Lauren Oliver
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 2 out of 5
Samantha Kingston has it all. The money, the friends, the boyfriend, what in the world could go wrong? On the night of Cupid Day, everything did go wrong. After a house party, on the way home, an accident happened and Samantha Kingston died. But then she wakes up the next day – Cupid Day. Sam has to relive the day she dies seven times. Each time she figures out that she must save a girl who Sam and her friends drove to suicide, the greatest boyfriend ever turns out to be her geeky childhood friend, she has taken her family for granted and the friends she thought she knew aren’t the best people. Can Sam fix the mistakes she had made that day and save a life while trying to save her own?

I am in a Teen Lit Book Club and this is this month’s book. It sounded interesting a girl reliving her last day on Earth to try to fix the mistakes she has made but it really just is a book version of the movie Groundhogs Day. I thought retelling the same day seven times was a bit too much. Four days would have been sufficient to tell the story. And the ending really bothered me. The main character learns that she has to save the unpopular girl from committing suicide and the way she does it does not fix the problem, it seems as though it makes it worse. It does not seem that Sam lived out her purpose. I don’t know, I just had some questions at the end and I cannot wait to discuss them at book club. I would like to say though that if you don’t like teen books or morbid teen subjects are probably not going to like this book that much.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By: Stephen Chbosky
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5
Charlie is a freshman in high school and to cope with the stress he begins writing letters to a stranger. He writes about his experiences and his feelings throughout the course of the year. Charlie meets two seniors Patrick and Sam, step siblings who welcome Charlie into their world with open arms. They introduce him to the world of drinking, drugs and cigarettes. Then there is Bill, Charlie’s English teacher who gives him extra books to read because he is “special” and Charlie’s family who is dysfunctional and normal at the same time. All the while Charlie is still coping with the death of his Aunt Helen who was the only person besides his immediate family to ever buy him “two presents” for his birthday and Christmas. This is a coming of age story where Charlie must learn to “participate” in the world that he has now entered while keeping his insanity.

This is one of those books that you hear about every now and then and you see on the “noteworthy fiction” table from time to time. It has been on my list to read for quite some time now and I only recently picked it up from the library to read. Once I started read Stephen Chbosky’s novel I was intrigued. Written in the form of a series of letters, you learn that Charlie is a freshman in high school and he is having trouble “participating” and is still dealing with the deaths of his best friend Michael and his Aunt Helen. From the very beginning it seems as though Charlie may have some kind of social disability and it’s absorbing to read about his experiences with his new friends Patrick and Sam. From then on, you are thrown into Charlie’s world of love, drinking, drugs, friendship and issues with family. At the end, there is a twist that explains Charlie’s behavior and you finally understand. I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it to you too. It’s a great coming of age story that I would categorize with the classic The Catcher in the Rye. So if you haven’t had to read it for school, then pick it up for pleasure; I am sure you won’t be disappointed!

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones

By: Rick Riordan
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5
Amy and Dan Cahill’s grandmother Grace has just passed away and has left behind a game for all her relatives. The Cahill family is the most powerful family in history and it is a chase to see who can find out all the power that the family holds. Amy and Dan decide to partake in the journey instead of taking the two million dollars offered to them. Outrunning their cunning and mischievous relatives who will do anything to eliminate their biggest threat, Amy and Dan Cahill put aside their differences and begin the hunt for the next 38 clues that will lead them to all the family secrets. Can Amy and Dan figure out the first clue and beat their relatives to the next one all while staying out of danger?

This is the first in a series of ten books that can be found in the children’s department. Since I am back in school my time for pleasure reading has diminished quite a bit and when the last book in this series came out I decided it might be fun and an easy read to read this book. I must say I was not disappointed. Rick Riordan, the same author of the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, wrote an enjoyable and pleasant read even for an adult like me. It has suspense, mystery and things about history that I did not realize or learn in school. I picked up the second book and I cannot wait to enjoy it. In other words, if you want a fun yet easy read or want your kids to learn and like a book, try The 39 Clues series. I am positive you won’t be disappointed.

Mockingjay

By: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 4 out of 5
With the final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy we find Katniss Everdeen in the midst of the war against the Capitol. Her home – District 12 – has been bombed and is completely in ashes, she has escaped the Quarter Quell and is now recovering in the fabled District 13, and Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. Now Katniss must become the face of the rebellion – the Mockingjay – to revitalize morality among the districts and defeat the Capitol. But with Peeta being gone, Cinna dead and complicated feelings with Gale, Katniss is not sure what she wants to do. Will Katniss Everdeen become the Mockingjay, defeat the Capitol and live in peace after the war is over?

Oh my goodness! Finally the third Hunger Games book has come out! And boy is it dark and twisted. It was honestly a little slow in the beginning but about 100 pages in the action starts happening. Katniss comes out of her “mentally disturbed” and starts to fight against the Capitol. Suzanne Collins certainly uses her masterful trick of really a cliffhanger at the end of chapters with the clever return of Haymitch, and the death of important characters. At the end, I totally called the assassination of the President that Katniss commits and my pick for which boy Katniss should be with wins. All in all, it was a good end to the trilogy. However, the first book is still my favorite. But Collins left no questions left unanswered and made me seriously want to cry at some parts and altogether left a satisfying end.

My Index of Slightly Horrifying Knowledge

By: Paul Guest
Genre: Poetry
Stars: 5 out of 5
A serious and hilarious collection of poems, Paul Guest writes about the cold that winter brings and the power of a lover. From airplane noise and traveling, to letters home, to a passionate crush, Guest mixes serious language about his disability with hilarious metaphors about traveling and having a bad mood. So what does a blend of these polar opposite narratives provide? A collection of poems that is intriguing to read.

I love reading poetry and I noticed that I had not read a collection in a while. So I was browsing NPR at work and came upon Paul Guest’s anthology of poems. I must say that Guest’s language is a lot of fun to read. Here’s an example: “It is our hope that this guide/will be a valuable resource/during this long stretch of boredom and dread/and that it may be of some help,/however small, to cope with your new life/and the gradual, bittersweet loss/of every God damned thing you ever loved” (page 9). My favorite poem is “My Crush” because I feel like everyone feels the same way as the author describes when it comes to experiencing a crush and his metaphors and descriptions of never seeing more “unsunned skin than/the bus driver or the chainsaw salesman” is amazing to me. I highly recommend this collection of poems to anyone not just lovers of poetry. I am sure you will get as much of a kick as well as an impact as me – at least that is my hope.

Summer at Tiffany

By: Marjorie Hart
Genre: Nonfiction/Memoir
Stars: 4 out of 5
Marjorie Hart and her best friend Marty from the University of Iowa are going to New York City for the summer of 1945. Their sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma expressed that it would be easy for them to get a job at Lord & Taylor – a designer department store – easily and so the pair pack up and head for the big city. After being rejected by one department store after another, Marjorie and Marty finally land a job as the first female pages at the infamous Tiffany & Co. During the summer, they see celebrities like Judy Garland come into the store, go out to the hottest clubs, meet midshipmen and join in the celebration of VJ Day in Times Square. At the end of the summer Marjorie must make some decisions that will affect the rest of her life.

This memoir was certainly a charming one. For one, Tiffany’s is my absolute favorite store and so any book that involves the legendary jewelry show room will interest me. I love the details about the Fifth Avenue store and the celebrities that glide in and out. It also gives a different perspective on life in New York City during the summer of 1945 when the United States dropped the atom bombs and Japan surrendered to us. This is most definitely a fun, light summer read and so I would recommend this memoir if you’re looking for delightful book about a brilliant store and woman’s experience with it.

The Old Man and the Sea

By: Ernest Hemingway
Genre: Short Story/Fiction
Stars: 2 out of 5
It has been eighty-four days since the old man caught a fish. After a morning with a boy, the old man sets out to find a perfect fish. Venturing to far from shore, the old man snags a fish that is bigger than his skiff. The marlin begins dragging the old man and his skiff further and further into the sea. Bound and determined to bring this catch home, the old man never gives up being towed and harpoons the marlin. On the way home sharks begin attacking the carcass because of the scent it has left behind. After trying with desperation to fend off the sharks, the old man returns to shore with nothing but a skeleton left.

The Old Man and the Sea is another classic I have never read, as well as any Hemingway for that matter. I must admit that I did not particularly care for Hemingway’s style of narration. It was too repetitive and so made the story boring. I can understand why people fell in love with his writing style but honestly it did nothing for me. I am just thankful I never had to read this when I was younger because I am positive I would have never had the patience to finish it. Maybe I need to read another one of Hemingway’s novels to appreciate him and his works.

To Kill a Mockingbird

By: Harper Lee
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 3 out of 5
In a quiet Southern town during the 1930s, a child learns about the adult mentality of the time and how it can rock an entire population. Jean Louise Finch – Scout – and her brother Jeremy Finch – Jem – are the children of Maycomb County’s lawyer Atticus Finch. They live like any normal child of the town, running around chatting with the neighbors, terrorizing the mysterious Boo Radley, and hanging out with their summer friend Dill. It’s not until their father takes on a case that their world gets rocked upside down. All of a sudden adults and children are calling their father a “Negro-lover” and disapprove of their hanging around the black folks. It isn’t until the trail of Tom Robinson, a black man who is falsely accused of attacking a white woman, that Scout and Jem truly understand the nature of their world.

Normally a classic read in middle school or high school, I never had to partake in the reading of this novel. This summer I decided it was time to start reading classics that I never had to read in school and so I began with Harper Lee’s infamous piece of literature. Honestly, I am glad I never read it when I was younger because I do not think I would have had the patience to finish it. You have to read until the very end to truly understand the premise of the story and so it was boring up to a certain point. Although the writing style and language is excellent and done extremely well, I just did not find this book that timeless for me. So kids that have to read this, I am so sorry. If I could barely get through it being 23, I can’t even image how it is for you.

Sliding Into Home

By: Kendra Wilkinson
Genre: Entertainment Biography
Stars: 3 out of 5
Kendra Wilkinson is best known as being the “sporty one” on E!’s hit TV show The Girls Next Door. Being one of Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends was only the beginning for the reality star; however it wasn’t the beginning of her tough life. After her father walked out of her life at infancy, Kendra began to explore the world of sex and drugs at a young age. From dropping out of school to older boyfriends to a mental hospital, Kendra didn’t finally come to terms with her coke use until a potentiality fatal overdose. After becoming sober she went back to school and got a job as a dental assistant but soon became bored and decided to start stripping and eventually modeling. This led to Kendra being discovered by Playboy and thus her journey at the Playboy Mansion and being Hef’s girlfriend began. She gives us insights about some Playboy practices that only ever seemed to be rumors and the real “reality” of the reality TV show The Girls Next Door. After finally meeting and wedding Hank Baskett, Kendra begins a new chapter in her life with her new husband and baby Hank Jr.

As a closet fan of the TV show The Girls Next Door, I decided to read this book as soon as I found out there was one. I am not one to choose favorites but Kendra was Hugh’s girlfriend that intrigued me the most so I was definitely interested to read her story. Although Kendra’s story is enticing at times, I was not impressed with the writing and every now and then it got a little boring. There were times though during the teenage years of her life that I just wanted to yell, “Kendra what are you doing?” and so it really showed me a side of who this woman was. But all and all, despite it being popular at work and selling out in its first week, Kendra’s book was just alright for me.

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

By: Bryan Lee O’Malley
Genre: Graphic Novel
Stars: 4 out 5
Scott Pilgrim has a pretty awesome life. He is 23 years old, has an adorable high school girlfriend and is in a rock band. Everything seems perfect until a mind-blowing Amazon.ca delivery girl on rollerblades shows up in his dreams. Totally infatuated and obsessed with her, Scott Pilgrim embarks on asking Ramona Flowers – the girl of his dreams – out. Little does he know the road to love isn’t that easy. He has to face and defeat all seven of Ramona’s evil ex-boyfriends. Will Scott Pilgrim win the battle and the girl’s heart?
I am totally excited for the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. The World to come out in September and when I heard it is actually based upon a series, I just had to read them. The first volume is hilarious. It sets up the characters of Scott and his friends and what his life is like. Living with his gay roommate and sharing the same bed while dating a seventeen year old school girl that he met on the bus is only the beginning of Scott’s precious little life. Never did he imagine that it would be turned upside down by an American emo chick and he has to defeat all of her ex-boyfriends in a video game style before they can truly date. If you ask me, this storyline is pretty awesome. I cannot wait to read the next installments as well as watch the movie when it comes out!

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

By: Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Genre: Current Affairs/Women’s Studies
Stars: 4 out of 5
In this eye-opening book about the different oppressions women have to face in their lifetime, the first Pulitzer Prize winning couple Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn shows a passionate vocation to help women around the world. Everyday women – or girls – are either sold into sex trafficking and prostitution, subjected to rape, suffer from honor killings, endure the humiliation of fistulas, undergo genital cutting and much more. Kristof and WuDunn expand and explain their research and stories about each topic of women oppression and then provide examples of what is being done to help within each situation. They show that the best way to prevent most of the coercion of women is through education. Over and over they show examples of how schools in third world countries and sending girls to them can help with their future. So we see that with the oppression of women comes the opportunity to help them and make the world a better place.
I enjoyed reading this work even though sometimes it was a little difficult to swallow. I knew these problems were happening in our world today but I never realized the full extent of what unfortunate women have to fear every day. I feel so lucky for the opportunities – especially 16 years of being able to attend school – that are given to me even if I am a woman. This piece of nonfiction makes all the oppression more real because of all the personal stories that Kristof and WuDunn share with the readers. Knowing that these women had to suffer some sort of cruelty because of the mere fact that they are female but have been given the opportunity to have something better makes me want to give a chance to another woman out there. And so with one of the suggestion websites in the appendix of the book, I am researching to see what sort of help I can provide because with my help, even if it may seem insignificant, women can continue to hold up half the sky.

The Virgin Suicides

By: Jeffrey Eugenides
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 4 out of 5
During the 1970s in a suburb of Michigan, one by one the five beautiful Lisbon sisters commit suicide. Told from the perspective of the neighborhood boys, an investigation into why these young teenage girls take their own life begins - and ends - with no reason. Cecilia - the youngest at thirteen - is the first one to go. After the second and final attempt, Cecilia turns the world of her household and the neighborhood upside down. The four remaining sisters - Lux, Bonnie, Mary and Therese - are put on household arrest by their strict and Christian mother, while the boys gaze at the deteriorating house from the exterior only wondering how the world of the Lisbon sisters are deteriorating from the interior; until they reach their breaking point.
This book was adapted into a film by the famous director Sofia Coppola in 1999, one of my all time favorite movies. Considering I had never read the book I decided to see if I would enjoy the novel as much as I do the movie. And I must admit I did. The movie follows almost exactly as the book - omitting small details here and there - and uses the same perspective to explain these girls' story. My mother always asks me why I enjoy a film (and now book) about five teenage girls who kill themselves. And I could not really explain exactly why. I know I like the outside look and heartbreaking story of these five girls who know that their only escape in life is actually death. I like how no matter how hard these boys analyze everything they know about that year concerning the Lisbon sisters, they will never know the true reason into why these girls did it. Jeffrey Eugenides explores this subject that many people dare not touch and it fascinates me. Even though I truly cannot explain why my feelings toward this book and film are pleasurable, I highly recommend you read it and see how your feelings on this subject matter are.

Catching Fire

By: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5
In the second installment of The Hunger Games, Katniss thinks that life is going to become simpler. The Hunger Games are over and both Katniss and Peeta are victors for District 12. All they have to do is finish the victor’s tour and go back to their lives, essentially. However, what Katniss did with the berries in the Hunger Games has caused there to be rumors of uprisings against the Capital. With a threat on the man that she loves life from the President, Katniss is ready to run away – until the Quarter Quell’s reaping requirements are called. All tributes are to be picked from the victor’s that are still alive in each district. That means Katniss and Peeta must enter into the Hunger Games one more time. With the districts causing unrest these Hunger Games are going to be a challenge, especially since Katniss’ goal is to keep Peeta alive. Will Katniss succeed and will the Capital start to crumble?
The second book in the Hunger Games trilogy is certainly another page turner. Chapter after chapter you just have to keep going to find out what is going to happen next. I didn’t think I would read the second book in one sitting like I did for the first, boy was I wrong. Collins just knows exactly how to keep you on the edge of your seat, anticipating what is going to happen to these characters next. And I know this is going to sound girly but I love the side love triangle as well. At the end of the novel, it just ends with a cliffhanger so unpredictable that I cannot wait until the final book comes out! So make August come faster so then you and I can read Mockingjay!

City of Thieves

By: David Benioff
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 4 out of 5
A looter named Lev Benioff and a deserter named Kolya are sent on a mission by the colonel instead of killing them: acquire a dozen eggs for his daughter’s wedding cake. In the midst of the Nazi siege of Leningrad, there are no eggs because the city is cut off from all supplies. The pair has until Thursday to fight off cannibals, Nazis and the cold. Will they be able to find the eggs and make it back in time to save their lives?
One of my coworkers was right, and this is certainly an entertaining read. The story line, the situations and the characters are quite fun to read. Kolya’s character especially is amusing because he is always bringing up how long it has been since he last went number two. So Lev and Kolya will be walking along and Kolya will exclaim, “You know it has been eight days since I last took a shit!” Benioff has produced a pleasurable read that is thrilling and sad at the same time. I would highly recommend this novel.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

By: Stieg Larrson
Genre: Crime Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5
A year after the Wennerstrom affair we find Lisbeth Salander in the Caribbean; after a year of traveling she returns to find that people are after her. Mikael Blomkvist is working on a special issue of Millennium about Sweden’s sex trafficking and he has hired a man and his partner to write pieces for it. A few weeks before the issue and the book is supposed to be published the couple are found dead in their apartment. And they find Lisbeth’s fingerprints on the murder weapon. Now Mikael must pursue his own investigation of the murders and the sex trafficking to not only find out the killer but clear Lisbeth’s name. All the while Lisbeth is being hunted down for the murders. Therefore, she must undergo her own investigation and finish something she started when she was twelve.
The second installment of the Millennium Trilogy is certainly a page turner. You have three investigations and therefore many perspectives of the same story being pursued at the same time and a lot of dirty secrets being exposed. We learn a lot more about Larrson’s protagonist Lisbeth Salander and her past that she has tried to avoid all of her life. Instead of explaining a lot of Swedish financial things in the first hundred pages, Larrson jumps right into his story; from the end of the prologue I was hooked. And he keeps you hooked throughout the rest of the novel, until the cliffhanger at the end. I really recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Someone on the bus saw me reading this book and I strongly recommended it to him! I am usually a skeptic when it comes to mainstream fiction but Stieg Larrson is a terrific writer and has an intriguing story line. Seriously readers of this blog, if you haven’t already read these books, read them!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

By: Stephenie Meyer
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 4 out of 5
Bree Tanner – a newborn vampire – makes a brief appearance in the third Twilight Saga book Eclipse. We are introduced to her momentarily after the battle between Victoria’s newborn vampire army and the Cullen’s where she surrenders and meets her inevitable fate. Now this is her short story about the events taking place up to the point where she is murdered. We learn that Bree is not a normal newborn vampire, she is smart and cunning. She figures out the lies the vampire named Riley tells the twenty-two of them to fight and she meets and begins to fall for Diego – an older (older for newborns) vampire who takes her under his wing. Unfortunately, all this knowledge comes too late when she realizes that going into this battle is truly not how she wants to live this new life and all she wants to do is runaway. But the need for blood and the hunt for Bella overpower her true wishes and unfortunate Bree Tanner comes to an awful end.
Being a literary fan of the Twilight Saga, I was curious to read this book. I really did not remember who Bree Tanner was but I was intrigued to find out what her story. Although written well, I wanted more about Bree’s first three months of life. This novel only takes place within the last week of Bree’s life and I wanted more. Plus you know those movies and books such as Romeo and Juliet or The Other Boleyn Girl where you know the characters are going to die but you want them to live despite the information you already know? That’s exactly how this book ended. You have learned about Bree and realize she is different and you want her to live so badly, but sadly Bree Tanner does not fit into the ending we want for her. All in all even if you are the slightest closet fan of Twilight, this was a fun read.

The Search

By: Nora Roberts
Genre: Romance
Stars: 2 out of 5
Eight years after being a victim of the Red Scarf Killer – and the only survivor – Fiona Bristow has made a new life for herself. Running her own dog training school and volunteering as a canine search-and-rescue, Fiona has no time for relationships – or the danger that is about to find her. A new wood artist has moved into town with a terrible puppy, who seeks Fiona out to train. Simon definitely intrigues Fiona and the two become fast lovers until a red scarf shows up at her house. Although the killer is behind bars, someone is still killing women and is now after Fiona! Will she survive a second time and manage to keep the man she loves alive?
Okay I must admit that once every few months, Nora Roberts is a guilty pleasure of mine. Yes it is all cheesy romance but what girl usually doesn’t like to read about a love story every now and then? Although, I must admit I was a little disappointed with this story; it wasn’t one of Roberts’ usual love stories where the couple fight then make love then fight again. She put a lot of emphasis on the murdering man aspect, switching back and forth from his mind into Fiona’s story. I don’t know maybe it’s just me but when I pick up a romance novel I want good raw romance; so this story was a little disappointing to me, as well as long for a romance novel and rushed at the end.

Tinkers

By: Paul Harding
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 5 out 5
George Washington Crosby is dying. As he lies dying, his mind starts reeling with the memories of his childhood in New England and his father. Going back between present day and then into George’s childhood and Howard’s (George’s father) childhood and life, this story is about the relationship between a father and a son who’s story never really ends. And until George’s last moments, you are still gripped with this philosophical and touching tale.
Paul Harding’s novel has won this year’s 2010 Pulitzer Prize – and for good reason. His writing style is absolutely phenomenal and I love how he adds little tinker (clock) quotes into his story. Here is a sample of just how detailed and fantastic his writing is: “When the blood left, it was as if it had evaporated; it was as if the blood had turned to some fumy spirit too thin to carry its own minerals. And so, it evaporated and had left a residue of salt and metal along the passages of his dry veins” (Harding 182). That language is just beautiful and paints such a wonderful image. I certainly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a touching story about a parent-child relationship and some philosophical aspects as well.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

By: Stieg Larsson
Genre: Crime Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5
After being sentenced for libel and defaming a huge Swedish financer in his magazine The Millennium, Mikael Blomkvist decides to take a break. However after being summoned by Henrik Vanger to write his family’s biography and investigate the disappearance of his niece over forty years ago, Mikael gets thrown into a world of corruption and violence. With the help of Lisbeth Salander, a pierced punk who is a sneaky investigator, Mikael and Lisbeth unlock a mystery that will shock more than Henrik Vanger’s world.
It is really too bad that Stieg Larsson is no longer around to see how his novel has become such a major hit. This is really a fascinating and intriguing read. A little slow going at first because Larsson explains the Swedish financial system and also provides a lot of family history and background about the Vanger’s. But once you read past the first hundred pages, you are flung into a mystery that shocks you. I only picked this book up because so many customers at work were buying it – and now I know why. I cannot wait to read the second and third installments.

Beatrice and Virgil

By: Yann Martel
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 4 out of 5
A writer spends five years writing what he considers his greatest masterpiece. But after it is rejected from his editor, in defeat he moves with his wife to start a new life. In his pursuit of something different, Henry receives a strange fan mail. It’s a scene from a play by an old author as well as a scene from the fan’s own play. In curiosity, Henry goes to pay the fan a visit. He finds out the fan is actually an old taxidermist and has been writing this play about a monkey and a donkey for years. Henry then becomes involved in editing and listening to this odd man’s play and finds out the play may be more than he expected.
This book was interesting to me. I have not read Yann Martel’s bestselling novel “Life of Pi” so I did not know how his writing style was. But I do like his writing style. It is different from mainstream fiction writers and so it was entertaining to read and see what happens next with this man’s play. However, it was a little slow going at first, but overall a great and different read.

Little Nuggets of Wisdom

By: Chuy Bravo with Tom Brunelle
Genre: Humor
Stars: 3 out of 5
This little book is advice from Chelsea Handler’s little nugget Chuy. It’s nothing literal just little quotations of advice that Chuy thinks we should take to heart. He has advice for different categories such as when it comes to friends, families, technology, and entertainment. One of my favorite pieces of advice is: “Never sit in the front row of a theater unless you have a bloody nose and you’re trying to stop the bleeding.” See really good advice from such a little guy.

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

By: Chelsea Handler
Genre: Humor/Memoir
Stars: 4 out of 5
The third hilarious compilation of stories from her life and experiences, Chelsea Handler holds nothing back. From her telling about the crazy lengths she goes through to get a cabbage patch doll to playing a prank on her boyfriend that involves the Santa Monica pier and a dog funeral, there is nothing that will not make you laugh out loud. And the best part is Chelsea included pictures within her stories which just add to the stomach aches of laughter.
I think Chelsea Handler is absolutely hilarious and I have read all of her books. Even though I will admit the writing is not that complicated and her editor could have read it a little more thoroughly, Chelsea’s stories get me every time. I especially loved her story about her time in the Caribbean and the two black chicks she met and the pictures to prove that, hey this story really happened! I usually never laugh out loud when I read books but Chelsea certainly makes me chuckle! If you are looking for a great book of stories to make you laugh, definitely pick this up! And if you want even more laughs from her, watch her show on E!

Hush Hush

By: Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 2 out of 5
Nora Grey, a sophomore in high school, just had to switch biology partners and now she is stuck with Patch a tall, dark and handsome guy with a mysterious and dangerous edge. Once he becomes her partner, her world begins to turn upside-down. She starts seeing things – like plunging to her death from a roller coaster – and they seem so real. Then a person starts following her with the intention of killing! And somehow Patch is always around. What is he finding? And who is he really? Will Nora find out before it is too late?
So my friend at work loves teen fiction novels that are set up like Twilight. She gets so excited about them that I promised her I would read this one about fallen angels. From the start, it was sort of based off of Twilight with the dark and mysterious boy and the girl who just does not quite fit in. The story line was a little cheesy for me in this respect and sometimes a little slow. The story builds you up for all this information about Patch and Nora and then it is rushed at the end. I wish the story gave little hints of who Patch is or Nora figured it out sooner so then the suspenseful ending could have its full glory. Becca Fitzpatrick writes well but the story was just not there. But hey if you love teen fiction and Twilight as much as my friend then you will love this novel!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5
Taking place after World War II and the German Occupation, an author named Juliet receives a letter from a man Dawsey who says he has just bought a book that she used to own. They begin to correspond and he tells her about the literary society him and his friends developed during the German Occupation on the Guernsey Islands to avoid punishment for being out past curfew. Finding this story so clever, Juliet begins corresponding with all the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Hearing their stories about the German Occupation fascinates Juliet and she evens goes to visit Guernsey Islands with the intention of writing a novel about their struggles during the German Occupation.
I really enjoyed this novel. You should never judge a book by its title and I had done so when I first heard of the title of this book. However, thanks to my friend, she lent me her copy and said I would thoroughly enjoy this novel – and I was not disappointed. Written in all corresponding letters this is a fast read that keeps your attention. I loved the story line as well having it revolve around a woman writer who is trying to find her next subject to write about and then it falls right on her doorstep – literally! It is heartwarming and gives you a feel of how small islands that you never hear about like Guernsey (off the coast of England) were affected by the Germans. I would recommend this book to anyone. Just about everyone will love it.

Hush

By: Kate White
Genre: Fiction/Thriller
Stars: 3 out of 5
Lake Warren is a marketing consultant going through a nasty divorce with her husband Jack. After he files for full custody, Lake is pretty certain nothing could go worse for her. However, she is truly mistaken. Dr. Mark Keaton, a new doctor at the Park Avenue Fertility Clinic that she is working on decides to seduce her and bed her. When Lake wakes up she finds herself in Dr. Keaton’s apartment – with a dead Dr. Keaton. Now she is fighting for her kids because if word gets out she slept with Dr. Keaton and found him dead then Jack will definitely receive full custody of her kids. Lake is fighting to stay out of jail because if the detectives find out Lake was the woman Dr. Keaton had slept with the night he was murdered then all signs would lead to her. Finally, Lake is fighting for her own life when someone decides to stalk her. With all this stress pending around her, will Lake figure out the murder – and the dark secrets that the fertility clinic is hiding before it’s too late?
I will say I enjoyed this novel. I do not usually read thrillers or crime fiction and I must say Hush was pretty decent. However, the plot was a little cheesy at times and a few things were predictable. But I must admit there were a few things that sent me for a loop like who the real murderer was. But the story and writing was just okay. It didn’t bore me but it didn’t impress me. All in all it was a decent read so if you enjoy thrillers then this is a book that is worth picking up.

Arata: The Legend

By: Yuu Watase
Genre: Manga
Stars: 4 out of 5 stars

In a mythical world, humans and gods coexist and a matriarchal heir from the Hime Clan brings peace between them. Arata a fifteen year old boy is the next successor and unless he pretends to be a girl he must face death. But on the day of his inauguration, a murderous plot forces him to flee - right into modern day Japan. Meanwhile in modern-day Japan, a boy names Arata gets sucked into the mythical world replacing the first Arata and finds himself dealing with people after his life.
Manga is my gulity pleasure and I couldn't wait to pick this one up. The art is fantastic and the story line is okay so far. I am waiting for the next volume to really enjoy the plot but the art is well worth reading this volume.

Horns

By: Joe Hill
Genre: Horror
Stars: 2 out of 5
The devil comes to life in this novel about a man named Ig Perrish who is still struggling with the accusations of raping and murdering his ex-girlfriend Merrin Williams a year ago. After a night of drunkenness, Ig wakes up with more than just a hangover – there are horns growing out of his head! Not only does he have a new accessory on his head but he finds that the horns mesmerize people in such a way that they tell Ig their deepest and darkest desires and secrets. In addition to these confessions, Ig can also learn about secrets by just a brush of the hand. Trying to escape from these curses set upon him, Ig accidently finds out Merrin’s true murderer and discovers that his transformation into the devil will help him bring down the person responsible.
This is my first horror novel and I must say that I was very disappointed. To me horror should scare me to the point that I can’t read a book at night. However, this was exactly the opposite. Joe Hill just makes it bizarre and a little vulgar with his language. Although written quite well with his different perspectives of Merrin’s death, I did not particularly like this novel. I am told that this is not the best one the son of Stephen King has done and that his The Heart Shaped Box is much better but I have realized that maybe this genre is just not quite for me.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

By: Jamie Ford
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 4 out of 5
A tale of forbidden friendship, this novel shows the Japanese relocation project during World War II from the eyes of a twelve year old Chinese boy. Forced into a white school he meets the only other Asian – a Japanese girl. Henry and Keiko form a friendship that Henry’s traditional Chinese father does not approve of in the slightest. Jamie Ford offers real events and locations in Seattle during the 1940s and the prejudice that the Japanese had to endure.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that Ford produced. With his accuracy within the Seattle community at the time and present day – since the book goes back and forth from present day to WWII – the novel is truly authentic and readable. This novel shows that despite what circumstances a person might endure a friendship can survive. I especially loved how Ford invoked a desire in me to actually go visit the Panama Hotel here in the International District of Seattle where an essential part of the novel takes place. And I was not disappointed with the tea room and the display of suitcases, books and toys not yet claimed by the Japanese families who left them in the hotel for safe keeping. If you want a Chinese-Japanese take on the classic story of Romeo and Juliet than you should pick this up.

The Glass Castle

By: Jeannette Walls
Genre: Biography
Stars: 4 out of 5
A memoir like this does not come around very often and when they do, strings pull at your heart and you think, this sort of thing happens every day to some families around the country and it is just awful. Jeannette Walls is the second oldest in a family of four with a father who can barely stay sober long enough to keep a steady job and support his family while their mother is a free-spirited woman who does not want the responsibility of taking care of her family. Jeannette and her sisters and brother learn to live on their own, finding food in the school garbage at lunch when they cannot bring their own lunch or afford hot lunch as well as doing as many little jobs as they can to make some sort of incomes for themselves. Even though it is heartbreaking to see these children struggling to survive while their father disappears for days at a time drunk at a bar and their mother is busy painting or expressing her creativity as much as she can and there is never enough money or income to support them all, there are some good memories. For Christmas one year they could not afford presents so their father took them out into the desert under the starry sky and asked them to pick a star and it was theirs. Then there are the bad memories where a reader thinks “Why do these parents even have children” when Jeannette and her brother find a two carat diamond ring thinking it would find their family for at least a few months and after showing their mother all they receive is a self-esteem booster for their mother who instead of pawning the ring decides to wear it. But in the end, Jeannette Walls and her siblings have made better lives for themselves and there is a satisfactory ending to their story.
I decided to read this book after two coworkers were talking about it and one expressed that she could not finish reading the book because it was just sickening the way the parents treated their children. So I was deeply interested to see what this family was put through and I was not disappointed with the disgust I felt from the situations the narrator and her siblings were put through. It also shows the poverty that occurs on a regular basis in the Appalachian Mountains that most individuals forget happens in our country. These coal miner families practically have nothing. All in all this memoir was an eye-opening and fascinating read.

The Hunger Games

By: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5
America is no longer the 50 states we have been divided into for the past hundred years. It is now called Panem, an America now in ruins with a Capitol ruling over twelve outlying districts. To remind the twelve districts of the Capitol’s power over them they hold an annual Hunger Games where one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen from each of the districts has to participate to the death in an arena set by the Capitol. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl who has made a living off of surviving in her district. When it is time to choose a girl from district twelve to go to the annual event Katniss’ sister Prim is chosen, a twelve year old who is naïve in the ways of hunting and surviving. In a fury of emotion, Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place thus becoming the girl representative from district twelve. Thrown into the arena with twenty-three other opponents, some strong having made it their duty to win and others who are weak using wit to their advantage, will Katniss be the last one standing?
From the moment I picked up the book and read the first two chapters, I could not for the life of me put it back down. I spent half of a day starting and finishing this book. It was recommended by a coworker (I work in a bookstore so coworkers recommend books to the rest of us coworkers all the time) and from her explanation it intrigued me and I was not disappointed. Suzanne Collins has written an edge-of-your-seat novel with twists and turns and suspense waiting at the end of every chapter that you say to yourself, “I’ll read just one more chapter to find out what happens” and yet you end up finishing the book. The first in a trilogy, this book is certainly a must read. I know I cannot wait to get the second one and the third comes out in August.

Book Recommendations

Hello readers! The other day I was thinking to myself how much I truly love to read and why I cannot find a job in which I read all day. Then it dawned on me that I should write a blog recommending the books that I have read. Although it isn’t a job at least I know that some of you will take something out of this blog – at least that is my hope. I will review new books and sometimes classics, fiction and non-fiction, teen books as well as manga. I do not stick to just one genre and so hopefully there will be a book for every type of reader out there. And feel free to recommend books that you have read and enjoyed to me as well. I am always looking for new books to read. Well time to start reviewing and writing. I have a few here ready for you to read.