Fated
I have to say, I let the book of this cover draw me in. Wait, I also like the author so it's not the only thing! It's been a long time since the Immortal series but I'm pretty sure I liked it. When I saw that she had a new series out and the covers were so awesome, why not?
Well... I've read the first book and even though it's a fast read, it fell short. I'm a little more intrigued with how it ended, so I will be reading the next two books. I own the second book, so I kind of have to. For some reason, I felt like the book just dragged. I think there was too much detail on some things that weren't necessary yet. The first book was basically her finding out who she is and what her bloodline is. That's pretty much most of the book until you get to the last 20 pages. I'm not sure if it's 20 pages but it seemed like the book was almost over before anything happened. There's a few things that happen at the very end that make you wonder what is going on, which is why I will be reading the next book. I'm not that excited about it though. I'm just hoping it's not at all like the first book and there's more of a character development (all of them) and some kind of fascinating plot line.
Echo
Well I'm glad to say that the story got better. The second book was much better than the first, In my opinion. Finally there were things actually happening instead of the lead character just learning about her past and training. You finally get to see more characters come out of their shells and surprise you. I definitely got through this book a lot faster and I'm glad the finally gripped me. It's just such a pretty cover-haha! Anyways, I really like the main girl in this story because I feel like she is what you want in a heroine. She is strong and makes decisions on her own. She doesn't really rely on anyone to help her, even though they do try. I usually don't like when the main character is weak and dumb. For example, like Sookie from the True Blood show. That girl just gets on my nerves and she's the weakest lead character when she even has supernatural power! Anyways, back to the book.. it was much better and I liked where they went with the story. The ending was so crazy, I jumped right into the next book!!
Mystic
I have to say, I wasn't quite sure where the story was going to go when I started reading this. I got a little bit confused and worried it was going to go someplace else. After the first 2 chapters, I could breathe easy again. I definitely thought the author was going to make this girl into another supernatural being, which would have been totally weird. I really enjoyed this book as well. I liked how a few more characters were brought in and it wasn't weird or awkward to the story. I do have to say, some of the things going on throughout this series is a little far-fetched and weird. I'm surprised I actually like it. I do like her previous series over this one though. I mean it's good and I like them but they aren't great. I will be reading the last book that comes out at the end of this year because I have to know how it ends now. So far I have given this series 3/5 stars on goodreads.
Book Dreams
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
The Fault in Our Stars- John Green
I tried to stay away from this book because sometimes I'm like that. I don't want to read everything everyone is reading. Yeah, it's weird. I got tired of so many people recommending it me that I finally just gave in. Actually, it was on sale as a nook book for 4 dollars, so I gave in. I have to say, I'm surprised about how much I actually liked it.
I sat down Sunday an hour before dinner while my husband was playing playstation. I got through a lot of it pretty fast and was instantly hooked. I had a hard time putting it down to eat but my husband made me, haha. I ended up finishing it 2 hours after we ate. I think part of the reason I didn't want to read it is because I knew it was going to be sad. I mean it's about cancer and that's always sad. I used to read an author Lurlene Mcdaniels when I was younger and I loved her but ALL of her books are just so sad. Most of them about a terminal disease, a lot with cancer.
Anyways, the main character really had a unusual way to look at her situation. She was pretty funny too. I think that's another things that keep you wanting more is because there's a lot of humor in this book. I caught myself actually laughing out loud a couple times. My husband wanting to know what was so funny. Yeah, like I'm going to explain chapters to you so you can get one little joke! :) This is a love story and it's going to break your heart. You are going to cry but it's so lovely at the same time. Even though these are kids it's really amazing to see how much strength, courage, and love they have. Especially, with all that's going on with them, their days being numbered or filled with such tragedy, they still find a way to live.
Now, it seems that I will be jumping on the bandwagon and recommending this to everyone else. :)
I sat down Sunday an hour before dinner while my husband was playing playstation. I got through a lot of it pretty fast and was instantly hooked. I had a hard time putting it down to eat but my husband made me, haha. I ended up finishing it 2 hours after we ate. I think part of the reason I didn't want to read it is because I knew it was going to be sad. I mean it's about cancer and that's always sad. I used to read an author Lurlene Mcdaniels when I was younger and I loved her but ALL of her books are just so sad. Most of them about a terminal disease, a lot with cancer.
Anyways, the main character really had a unusual way to look at her situation. She was pretty funny too. I think that's another things that keep you wanting more is because there's a lot of humor in this book. I caught myself actually laughing out loud a couple times. My husband wanting to know what was so funny. Yeah, like I'm going to explain chapters to you so you can get one little joke! :) This is a love story and it's going to break your heart. You are going to cry but it's so lovely at the same time. Even though these are kids it's really amazing to see how much strength, courage, and love they have. Especially, with all that's going on with them, their days being numbered or filled with such tragedy, they still find a way to live.
Now, it seems that I will be jumping on the bandwagon and recommending this to everyone else. :)
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Cinder & Scarlet - Marissa Meyer
Cinder
I've been wanting to read this book for a long time now. I just didn't get around to it and then someone returned it at work (the library) and I was like okay, it's time. I brought it home and decided to put everything else on hold and read it. I read through this pretty fast and I loved it.
It's kind of a twist on the Cinderella story. It's set in New Beijing and it's a mix of humans and androids. From space, another type of people called lunar. There's also a deadly plague that is killing off the population. Cinder is a well known mechanic and a cyborg. She doesn't really know much about her past since she can't remember anything before the age of 11. She lives with her stepmother (who hates her) and two stepsisters. Unlike the Cinderella story, one of the stepsisters is sweet and her and Cinder love each other. Cinder is living a normal-ish life until the Prince stops at her table at the market to ask for her assistance. She falls for him and then things start to unwind for her as she's finding out more about herself than she ever knew.
That's all I'm going to say. I know some of it sounds weird but it's really good. I can't wait to get my hands on the second book, Scarlet. Although, there is a wait at the library. I know there will be two more books in the next year and a half so that's exciting. I just hope she can stick to her writing and deliver on the next 3 books!
Scarlet
This is the second book in this series. I plowed right through it. I just loved it. I just love the way different people spin fairy tales and this series is probably going to be one of my favorites. Scarlet is about "little red riding hood" in a way. It's not exactly the story itself but it's pieces of the fairy tale that have been imbedded in this story. It also ties in with the first book as a continuation but mostly about Scarlet. There's definitely a lot more characters now and I love them all. It's such a strange concept with the cyborgs and all that but it's definitely interesting. It's like a futuristic fairy tale. I'm interested to see where she goes with the next book, which I believe is Rapunzel.
I've been wanting to read this book for a long time now. I just didn't get around to it and then someone returned it at work (the library) and I was like okay, it's time. I brought it home and decided to put everything else on hold and read it. I read through this pretty fast and I loved it.
It's kind of a twist on the Cinderella story. It's set in New Beijing and it's a mix of humans and androids. From space, another type of people called lunar. There's also a deadly plague that is killing off the population. Cinder is a well known mechanic and a cyborg. She doesn't really know much about her past since she can't remember anything before the age of 11. She lives with her stepmother (who hates her) and two stepsisters. Unlike the Cinderella story, one of the stepsisters is sweet and her and Cinder love each other. Cinder is living a normal-ish life until the Prince stops at her table at the market to ask for her assistance. She falls for him and then things start to unwind for her as she's finding out more about herself than she ever knew.
That's all I'm going to say. I know some of it sounds weird but it's really good. I can't wait to get my hands on the second book, Scarlet. Although, there is a wait at the library. I know there will be two more books in the next year and a half so that's exciting. I just hope she can stick to her writing and deliver on the next 3 books!
Scarlet
This is the second book in this series. I plowed right through it. I just loved it. I just love the way different people spin fairy tales and this series is probably going to be one of my favorites. Scarlet is about "little red riding hood" in a way. It's not exactly the story itself but it's pieces of the fairy tale that have been imbedded in this story. It also ties in with the first book as a continuation but mostly about Scarlet. There's definitely a lot more characters now and I love them all. It's such a strange concept with the cyborgs and all that but it's definitely interesting. It's like a futuristic fairy tale. I'm interested to see where she goes with the next book, which I believe is Rapunzel.
Partials- Dan Wells
I've had this book checked out several times in print and e-book. Every time I had to return/renew it without reading it. After months of this, I finally decided to take the plunge this week. I mean it was getting some pretty great reviews and it seemed to fly through the library. It is definitely a quick read, most teen books are these days. I am now not surprised why it has sat on my ottoman so long.
It's basically a story about the human race being almost extinct after a war with the Partials, which are engineered to look identical as people. There's only tens of thousands of people left because of an RM virus. No babies are surviving because they die straight out of the womb and if not only hours later. They keep dropping the laws that make women/girls forced to become pregnant and have children. Now they are dropping the age down to 16 and it is mandatory to become pregnant before two months is up. Kira, who is 16 is a medic in training and she's tired of seeing these babies die. She takes it upon her self that she will find the immunity/cure to RM. She then decides that everything has been studied but an actual Partial. So she gets her friends to go on a mission to capture a partial to study it for the cure to RM.
I don't want to give anything away but I have to say it was kind of a boring read. I think it was more with the authors writing style then the actual story. I just didn't really care for it. It was a quick read that kind of felt like it dragged. It just didn't capture me and I decided to return the second book because I wouldn't be reading it. Who knows, maybe it gets better with the second book but I really didn't want to chance it since there are so many other books I can't wait to read.
It's basically a story about the human race being almost extinct after a war with the Partials, which are engineered to look identical as people. There's only tens of thousands of people left because of an RM virus. No babies are surviving because they die straight out of the womb and if not only hours later. They keep dropping the laws that make women/girls forced to become pregnant and have children. Now they are dropping the age down to 16 and it is mandatory to become pregnant before two months is up. Kira, who is 16 is a medic in training and she's tired of seeing these babies die. She takes it upon her self that she will find the immunity/cure to RM. She then decides that everything has been studied but an actual Partial. So she gets her friends to go on a mission to capture a partial to study it for the cure to RM.
I don't want to give anything away but I have to say it was kind of a boring read. I think it was more with the authors writing style then the actual story. I just didn't really care for it. It was a quick read that kind of felt like it dragged. It just didn't capture me and I decided to return the second book because I wouldn't be reading it. Who knows, maybe it gets better with the second book but I really didn't want to chance it since there are so many other books I can't wait to read.
Reconstructing Amelia-Kimberly McCreight
I loved this book! This was another recommendation from my Entertainment Weekly summer reads. I wasn't quite sure what it was going to be about and I just plunged in without reading about it. I'm glad to say I was not disappointed.
Throughout the book the chapters alternate between mother and daughter (Amelia). It starts off the first day of her death and then throughout the book when the mom is trying to find out what happened, the alternating story of Amelia is actually telling you what happened. You don't find out until the end what really happened from both sides. It's like once the mom figures something out then it goes on to having the actual story told by Amelia.
This is a great book to have teens read, I think. A lot of this had to do with gossip and bullying. Everything that happens to Amelia has something to do with all of those things. It also shines a light on how sometimes teachers, who you are supposed to trust, can be another person in reality. I flew through this book because I just couldn't wait to see what happened. I think it's important for teenagers to understand how things can be blown out of proportion and things are never really as bad as they seem. It's so funny to think back to when I was a teenager and thinking something was the end of the world. Now looking back, you just have to laugh and think how silly you were. Bullying is a huge part of society now and it's completely awful and there need to be steps in school systems to take actions before something awful happens. Maybe the school systems need to read this book too! LOL. Sometimes it's not just the students who are playing a part in gossip and bullying.
Matched- Crossed- Reached by Ally Condie
Matched
I really liked this book. I bought it because the cover was pretty and ended up liking the story itself. I felt like the series had great potential. I mean who can't resist a triangle love story? This book is about a girl who goes to her "matching" banquet so they can reveal who her match is going to be. When they end up showing her the match, it skips out for a second and it flashes the face of someone else. Now she's all confused and over the course of the book she ends up falling in love with him. The catch is that he's not a part of the "real" society and more like an outcast. He ends up getting taken away and then she goes on a mission to find him. That's where this book ends. Overall, I really liked this first book and was excited to see where the author went with the series.
Crossed
I remember checking this out from the library at one point and then becoming stuck in the story. I just wasn't too excited about it. Well over the last month I decided it was time to finish up this series. Well I was really confused at first and this book just didn't go in the direction I thought it could go. It really fell flat for me. I don't know if it's because of the writing or the story in general. I just feel like the whole book is one long search party and it kind of takes on a whole new theme. It's probably just me but I really didn't care for this book much. Like really, you can pretty much read this book out of order and you wouldn't be lost. I just felt like it was a completely different story. Then we get to the next book..
Reached
Now I was already two books into this series and I didn't care for the second. So why, do you ask, would I read the last one?? Well to finish off the loose end. I mean, I already invested enough time, I might as well have seen if she redeemed herself in the last book. NOPE. I felt like this book was completely a whole different world and theme than the other two. This book alone was all about a PLAGUE. The whole entire book was about trying to find a cure to this plague and I just felt like she was reaching for straws to get three books out of this series. Lets just say the interest and excitement for the first book totally wore off. I'm a little annoyed that I read this whole series. I just feel like the story did not flow from one book to the other. I mean they are like three stand alone books, really. Besides the fact that some of the "love story" continues throughout, I just didn't these books being in one series. I know they are very popular and I'm wondering why. I just didn't like them.
I'm so glad I only ended up purchasing the first book! I almost caved because I didn't want to wait for the library wait list for these books and almost spent a lot of money. So grateful I didn't now! Ugh. Oh well, this is just another case of quantity before quality.
I really liked this book. I bought it because the cover was pretty and ended up liking the story itself. I felt like the series had great potential. I mean who can't resist a triangle love story? This book is about a girl who goes to her "matching" banquet so they can reveal who her match is going to be. When they end up showing her the match, it skips out for a second and it flashes the face of someone else. Now she's all confused and over the course of the book she ends up falling in love with him. The catch is that he's not a part of the "real" society and more like an outcast. He ends up getting taken away and then she goes on a mission to find him. That's where this book ends. Overall, I really liked this first book and was excited to see where the author went with the series.
Crossed
I remember checking this out from the library at one point and then becoming stuck in the story. I just wasn't too excited about it. Well over the last month I decided it was time to finish up this series. Well I was really confused at first and this book just didn't go in the direction I thought it could go. It really fell flat for me. I don't know if it's because of the writing or the story in general. I just feel like the whole book is one long search party and it kind of takes on a whole new theme. It's probably just me but I really didn't care for this book much. Like really, you can pretty much read this book out of order and you wouldn't be lost. I just felt like it was a completely different story. Then we get to the next book..
Reached
Now I was already two books into this series and I didn't care for the second. So why, do you ask, would I read the last one?? Well to finish off the loose end. I mean, I already invested enough time, I might as well have seen if she redeemed herself in the last book. NOPE. I felt like this book was completely a whole different world and theme than the other two. This book alone was all about a PLAGUE. The whole entire book was about trying to find a cure to this plague and I just felt like she was reaching for straws to get three books out of this series. Lets just say the interest and excitement for the first book totally wore off. I'm a little annoyed that I read this whole series. I just feel like the story did not flow from one book to the other. I mean they are like three stand alone books, really. Besides the fact that some of the "love story" continues throughout, I just didn't these books being in one series. I know they are very popular and I'm wondering why. I just didn't like them.
I'm so glad I only ended up purchasing the first book! I almost caved because I didn't want to wait for the library wait list for these books and almost spent a lot of money. So grateful I didn't now! Ugh. Oh well, this is just another case of quantity before quality.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Sisterland- Curtis Sittenfeld
This was another recommendation from my Entertainment Weekly. This was an interesting, funny book! There's of course plenty of drama to go along with it. I have to say, I was not expecting for this book to take the turn it did.
For the most part this book is about two twin sisters. They both were born with the "sense" and can kind of see parts of the future. One of the twins doesn't like it and does everything she can to get rid of it, while the other practices it and makes it her career as a medium. They both have issues with each other, like most siblings, but always have each others backs. In this book it alternates chapters between the present and flashbacks of their past. It tells the story of how they grow up and face challenges and what happens to make them who they are today. The past were the parts I enjoyed the best. The present is where one twin senses that a bad earthquake is coming and the second twin then gets a sense of a horrible day. She then thinks it's the date of the earthquake and her sister goes on Live TV to predict it. This is how the rest of the book unfolds, leading up to the events of this date. What they both don't know is that the sense of the date being horrible was for a reason either one of them expected.
I have to say I will be recommending this one at the library! I liked it and even though it took me a bit to get through, I didn't really mind it.
For the most part this book is about two twin sisters. They both were born with the "sense" and can kind of see parts of the future. One of the twins doesn't like it and does everything she can to get rid of it, while the other practices it and makes it her career as a medium. They both have issues with each other, like most siblings, but always have each others backs. In this book it alternates chapters between the present and flashbacks of their past. It tells the story of how they grow up and face challenges and what happens to make them who they are today. The past were the parts I enjoyed the best. The present is where one twin senses that a bad earthquake is coming and the second twin then gets a sense of a horrible day. She then thinks it's the date of the earthquake and her sister goes on Live TV to predict it. This is how the rest of the book unfolds, leading up to the events of this date. What they both don't know is that the sense of the date being horrible was for a reason either one of them expected.
I have to say I will be recommending this one at the library! I liked it and even though it took me a bit to get through, I didn't really mind it.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
The Engagements- J. Courtney Sullivan
For some reason this book was a little tough for me to get through. I feel like there was too much going on maybe. I was really excited about this book because it sounded so interesting but I didn't love it. It was just an okay book for me.
Basically, it's the story of the lady who wrote for an AD agency, about diamonds and how "A diamond is forever" came about. Along with her story, it entwines 4 other stories along with it. These different stories start out at different points in time from the past to present. They all are at different points in life and somehow all these stories end up entwined with one diamond ring. There are five different parts to the book, each picking the story where the last part left off. Some of the detail became a bit too much. Some of the things I really didn't need to know about and made the book seem like it dragged on for a bit.
All in all, the idea of the book had a lot of potential. It just ended up falling a bit short for me. I don't know if it was the writing style or just the actual plot. It was definitely interesting and some of the stories were a lot better than others. Some of the stories were just a bit boring. It's most likely the boring parts that made it hard for me to get through this book quickly.
Basically, it's the story of the lady who wrote for an AD agency, about diamonds and how "A diamond is forever" came about. Along with her story, it entwines 4 other stories along with it. These different stories start out at different points in time from the past to present. They all are at different points in life and somehow all these stories end up entwined with one diamond ring. There are five different parts to the book, each picking the story where the last part left off. Some of the detail became a bit too much. Some of the things I really didn't need to know about and made the book seem like it dragged on for a bit.
All in all, the idea of the book had a lot of potential. It just ended up falling a bit short for me. I don't know if it was the writing style or just the actual plot. It was definitely interesting and some of the stories were a lot better than others. Some of the stories were just a bit boring. It's most likely the boring parts that made it hard for me to get through this book quickly.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
He's Gone- Deb Caletti
I grabbed this book from the shelf at the library because I saw it was new and the cover intrigued me. I read what it was about and was like, sure I'll go for it. Well, I'm glad I did. I've recommended it to a few people since and they have liked it as well.
It's about a married couple who are having a few problems. They get into an argument one night and she ends up drinking a little too much and combining it with a pill. When she wakes up in the morning she has mud on her feet and her husband is nowhere in sight. She's still angry with him so she ends up doing some chores and waiting for him to come home because she thinks he's out blowing off steam. Well Sunday night comes and nothing. He wont answer his phone and she can't find him anywhere but his car is still parked in it's spot. Monday morning she decides to go report him missing and that's when all chaos starts to happen. Throughout the book they can't figure out what's going on and she starts to wonder if maybe she had a hand in his disappearance. You start to wonder yourself if she did or not... I'm not going to say more because I don't want to give it away but I really enjoyed this book. So have the others that I recommended it too.
Me Before You- JoJo Moyes
I absolutely loved this book! I read this so fast because I just couldn't put it down. I was literally holding it in one and hand and cooking with the other because I just had to know what was going to happen next.
It's about a girl (Lou) who gets laid off because her boss is moving back to his home country. She didn't go to college and she doesn't really care where her life is headed. She is in a relationship, that is just horrible. He is obsessed with his body and working out. Well he is a trainer but still, he is quite annoying. She then has no option but to take on a job of being an at home healthcare "nurse". She hates the idea of taking care of someone because all you think about is an old person who can't wipe their butt, right? Well that's all she thinks about. To her surprise he's actually young and he had a huge name for himself before he got hit by a car and became a quadriplegic. He is having a horrible time getting on with his life because he used to go all over the world and be very active. It's been two years and his mom hires her to help him with his depression. She thinks that Lou will be able to change his mind about something he's decided to do. Well they hate each other at first but fall in love over time. What happens at the end really did surprise me. It actually makes perfect sense for it to have ended the way it did though.
It's about a girl (Lou) who gets laid off because her boss is moving back to his home country. She didn't go to college and she doesn't really care where her life is headed. She is in a relationship, that is just horrible. He is obsessed with his body and working out. Well he is a trainer but still, he is quite annoying. She then has no option but to take on a job of being an at home healthcare "nurse". She hates the idea of taking care of someone because all you think about is an old person who can't wipe their butt, right? Well that's all she thinks about. To her surprise he's actually young and he had a huge name for himself before he got hit by a car and became a quadriplegic. He is having a horrible time getting on with his life because he used to go all over the world and be very active. It's been two years and his mom hires her to help him with his depression. She thinks that Lou will be able to change his mind about something he's decided to do. Well they hate each other at first but fall in love over time. What happens at the end really did surprise me. It actually makes perfect sense for it to have ended the way it did though.
Between Shades of Gray- Ruta Sepetys
This is a book that was in a magazine that "all ages should read." I tend to read whatever I want, even if it's a young adult or teen book. This book was fantastic.
It's about a fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941 and her story. How she, her mother and younger brother get uprooted from their home and sent to a "camp". It's such a heartbreaking story and it's pretty much about faith, love, and hope. Even though, they go through some pretty unbearable times, they always have hope and never give up. This story is so powerful and can really move you. It really makes you think of what all we take for granted on a daily basis. Now because this is toward a younger audience it was a very quick read. I got through this book in no time. Also, you just can't stand to put it down. It grips you and just doesn't let you go.
It's about a fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941 and her story. How she, her mother and younger brother get uprooted from their home and sent to a "camp". It's such a heartbreaking story and it's pretty much about faith, love, and hope. Even though, they go through some pretty unbearable times, they always have hope and never give up. This story is so powerful and can really move you. It really makes you think of what all we take for granted on a daily basis. Now because this is toward a younger audience it was a very quick read. I got through this book in no time. Also, you just can't stand to put it down. It grips you and just doesn't let you go.
The Hobbit- J.R.R. Tolkien
My husband. + Legalos. That's it.
I really do owe a lot of amazing books to him. He tried to get me to read The Hunger Games way before it's blow up and I denied him. After they decided to make a movie, it was on a cover of Entertainment Weekly and decided to read them. Loved them. I heard a told you so. The Mortal Instruments is by far my favorite series Ever. He also, tried to get me to read them and I said no. I was at a Barnes and Noble holiday sale and they had the first 4 books for 5 bucks each. I thought I'd give them a go and I absolutely loved them. Yet again, another I told you so.
Now my husband loves the Hobbit and the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy. He's tried to get me to read them and there was no way. My father loved the LOTR trilogy and I spent countless times getting up and leaving the living room when they were on TV. I never got it, except seeing Orlando Bloom as Legalos. I loved him from afar and never thought to watch the movies to get more Legalos time. I even had a poster and thought the blonde was just so him. Well... fast forward to June 2013. My husband didn't see the Hobbit in December because there were a lot of mixed reviews. I brought it home from the library and that's when he watched it, while I was at work. Then I was on IMDB and they had a new trailer for the new Hobbit that comes out Dec. 13. My husband was like, "Wait, I want to see that!" So we watched it and what do you know... there is Legalos! So THEN I was like okay, I'll give this a try. So I read the Hobbit and really enjoyed it! What a surprise! haha. So then I brought home The Hobbit and watched it with my husband and that weekend we spent 9 hours watching the LOTR trilogy! I can't believe what I was missing! It only took a little over a decade haha. Even though, I should give the credit to my husband... I feel that it really goes to Legalos. He's what really got me to finally jump in!
Anyways, about the book. I have to say, it was a very fast read. It was also very enjoyable. There's a lot of different things to happen to Bilbo on this adventure. I loved all the different types of characters. I do have to say that the book is better than the movie, who knew?! LOL I have to agree with my husband about The Hobbit feels like it's toward a younger audience while the LOTR is to a more mature audience. The Hobbit feels at times like it's tended for a younger audience in the style of writing. It's a lot "lighter" than the LOTR, which feels a lot "darker," if that makes any sense. All in all, I enjoyed it and I'm glad that I finally gave it a chance! I now can't wait for the next movie, even know I know it will not be as good as the book. How they made such a small book into 3 movies, I'll never know!!
I really do owe a lot of amazing books to him. He tried to get me to read The Hunger Games way before it's blow up and I denied him. After they decided to make a movie, it was on a cover of Entertainment Weekly and decided to read them. Loved them. I heard a told you so. The Mortal Instruments is by far my favorite series Ever. He also, tried to get me to read them and I said no. I was at a Barnes and Noble holiday sale and they had the first 4 books for 5 bucks each. I thought I'd give them a go and I absolutely loved them. Yet again, another I told you so.
Now my husband loves the Hobbit and the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy. He's tried to get me to read them and there was no way. My father loved the LOTR trilogy and I spent countless times getting up and leaving the living room when they were on TV. I never got it, except seeing Orlando Bloom as Legalos. I loved him from afar and never thought to watch the movies to get more Legalos time. I even had a poster and thought the blonde was just so him. Well... fast forward to June 2013. My husband didn't see the Hobbit in December because there were a lot of mixed reviews. I brought it home from the library and that's when he watched it, while I was at work. Then I was on IMDB and they had a new trailer for the new Hobbit that comes out Dec. 13. My husband was like, "Wait, I want to see that!" So we watched it and what do you know... there is Legalos! So THEN I was like okay, I'll give this a try. So I read the Hobbit and really enjoyed it! What a surprise! haha. So then I brought home The Hobbit and watched it with my husband and that weekend we spent 9 hours watching the LOTR trilogy! I can't believe what I was missing! It only took a little over a decade haha. Even though, I should give the credit to my husband... I feel that it really goes to Legalos. He's what really got me to finally jump in!
Anyways, about the book. I have to say, it was a very fast read. It was also very enjoyable. There's a lot of different things to happen to Bilbo on this adventure. I loved all the different types of characters. I do have to say that the book is better than the movie, who knew?! LOL I have to agree with my husband about The Hobbit feels like it's toward a younger audience while the LOTR is to a more mature audience. The Hobbit feels at times like it's tended for a younger audience in the style of writing. It's a lot "lighter" than the LOTR, which feels a lot "darker," if that makes any sense. All in all, I enjoyed it and I'm glad that I finally gave it a chance! I now can't wait for the next movie, even know I know it will not be as good as the book. How they made such a small book into 3 movies, I'll never know!!
Goal is 175
This year my goal is 175 books. Last year it was 100 and I made it to 102. I'm at 110 so far. I have no doubt I'll be able to hit my goal. I think the reason was the first 4 months I didn't have a job and I just read all the time because I'm in a new city with no friends. HAH.
Anyways, I now have a job at a library and I think it's made it more difficult because I just want to read so many more books. I have tons of books going in and out every time I work and most of the time I take home more than I take back that day! I have this pile on my ottoman and it's just growing at an insane speed. It's okay though, I have found many more authors and book that I just love than I would have otherwise.
I'm so glad I found Goodreads.com last year. It's just an amazing website and I love how easy it keeps track of what I'm reading an how I can update the pages I'm on. I have been reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin since like November last year and it's been a work in progress. I have the book for 14 day intervals because I have to be on a hold list for the ebook from the library. I refuse to pay for the hardcover and it's difficult for me to read the hardcover because it's so big. So I will have to keep at the holds list for the ebook until the paperback comes out in October! All the while, goodreads has kept up with the pages I've stopped on between each time I've had the book. I also love the recommendations that I find on there. I also love how it keeps track of the books I want to read and the ones I'm own and so on. This kind of sounds like I'm being paid to promote them, which I'm definitely not. lol
Anyways, I now have a job at a library and I think it's made it more difficult because I just want to read so many more books. I have tons of books going in and out every time I work and most of the time I take home more than I take back that day! I have this pile on my ottoman and it's just growing at an insane speed. It's okay though, I have found many more authors and book that I just love than I would have otherwise.
I'm so glad I found Goodreads.com last year. It's just an amazing website and I love how easy it keeps track of what I'm reading an how I can update the pages I'm on. I have been reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin since like November last year and it's been a work in progress. I have the book for 14 day intervals because I have to be on a hold list for the ebook from the library. I refuse to pay for the hardcover and it's difficult for me to read the hardcover because it's so big. So I will have to keep at the holds list for the ebook until the paperback comes out in October! All the while, goodreads has kept up with the pages I've stopped on between each time I've had the book. I also love the recommendations that I find on there. I also love how it keeps track of the books I want to read and the ones I'm own and so on. This kind of sounds like I'm being paid to promote them, which I'm definitely not. lol
Where'd You Go. Bernadette? - Maria Semple
I work at a library- yes, shocker! This was the book of the month in June. I decided to give it a try. It was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. I'm always intrigued when a story has a little mystery in it.
This is the story of a crazy mother. HAH. It's kind of a different writing style than most books. It's the story with the evidence written in along the way. It's told by the daughter and at the end she receives all these letters and emails that show what is going on, on the other side at the time. Her mom is a little all over the place and her daughter is embarrassed of her most of the time. Her dad is this computer genius and kind of a workaholic. The daughter goes to this rich private school and a lot of the book is a feud between her mother and the other women, one of them being a neighbor. The daughter wants to go on this huge trip to Alaska. They decide to go and the mom is just freaking out and has all this anxiety about traveling. When her husband is sure that she is going crazy, he finds a doctor to intervene. This is where the story gets interesting because she goes to the bathroom during her intervention and then suddenly disappears without a trace. The last half of the story is about the daughter trying to find her mom. I wont ruin in the end. Actually, this is the most I've probably written about the actual book. I don't like to give away the details.. Anyways, it's a really good book!
This is the story of a crazy mother. HAH. It's kind of a different writing style than most books. It's the story with the evidence written in along the way. It's told by the daughter and at the end she receives all these letters and emails that show what is going on, on the other side at the time. Her mom is a little all over the place and her daughter is embarrassed of her most of the time. Her dad is this computer genius and kind of a workaholic. The daughter goes to this rich private school and a lot of the book is a feud between her mother and the other women, one of them being a neighbor. The daughter wants to go on this huge trip to Alaska. They decide to go and the mom is just freaking out and has all this anxiety about traveling. When her husband is sure that she is going crazy, he finds a doctor to intervene. This is where the story gets interesting because she goes to the bathroom during her intervention and then suddenly disappears without a trace. The last half of the story is about the daughter trying to find her mom. I wont ruin in the end. Actually, this is the most I've probably written about the actual book. I don't like to give away the details.. Anyways, it's a really good book!
Man Up! Tales of my Delusional Self- Confidence- Ross Mathews
I'm not sure about these kinds of books anymore. I usually get so excited to read books written by people who I find just so funny! For example: Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey, Chelsea Handler, Mindy Kaling.. So far it hasn't been working for me. I have been disappointed more than anything.
I love Ross Mathews. He's hilarious and I just love how he owns himself and doesn't care what other people think. I was excited for this book because I figured he was going to knock it out of the park! Well... It fell flat for me. I did laugh at some points but I thought it he kind of was all over the place. He had A LOT more detail to a story than needed. It was like he would think of other stories while he was talking about one story and be like, I want to add that too. It just didn't relate to the current story and it became too much. This trend happened a lot. I'd be reading about something happening to him during lunch and then he would add another two stories into this one tale. It just became a little unorganized and a lot of the times I felt like he was trying way to hard to be funny. I think I'm going to stay away from these types of books from now on...
I love Ross Mathews. He's hilarious and I just love how he owns himself and doesn't care what other people think. I was excited for this book because I figured he was going to knock it out of the park! Well... It fell flat for me. I did laugh at some points but I thought it he kind of was all over the place. He had A LOT more detail to a story than needed. It was like he would think of other stories while he was talking about one story and be like, I want to add that too. It just didn't relate to the current story and it became too much. This trend happened a lot. I'd be reading about something happening to him during lunch and then he would add another two stories into this one tale. It just became a little unorganized and a lot of the times I felt like he was trying way to hard to be funny. I think I'm going to stay away from these types of books from now on...
While We Were Watching Downton Abbey- Wendy Wax
Time to read: 5 hours (three days)
I was browsing at Barnes and Noble when I saw this and decided I wanted to read it because I love Downton Abbey! Once I received it from the library, I was so excited! Well I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would.
It's about 3 women who live in the same building and they are all at different stages in life. One is a writer who is taking a year off from working to write. Another who is a mom of two girls and recently divorced. The last is married but they are really rich. It is about how they all end up becoming friends through a weekly showing of Downton Abbey in the lobby of their apartment complex. Then they all end up helping each other out with certain difficulties going on in their lives. It's a sweet story and in a way too sweet. Sometimes when books end up with every single thing happening the perfect way and they all get their perfect happy ever after, I think BS. It started to get to the point that it was too much perfect. I don't know if that makes sense. Anyways, it was an okay book but not something I'd want to own because I'd never read it again.
I was browsing at Barnes and Noble when I saw this and decided I wanted to read it because I love Downton Abbey! Once I received it from the library, I was so excited! Well I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would.
It's about 3 women who live in the same building and they are all at different stages in life. One is a writer who is taking a year off from working to write. Another who is a mom of two girls and recently divorced. The last is married but they are really rich. It is about how they all end up becoming friends through a weekly showing of Downton Abbey in the lobby of their apartment complex. Then they all end up helping each other out with certain difficulties going on in their lives. It's a sweet story and in a way too sweet. Sometimes when books end up with every single thing happening the perfect way and they all get their perfect happy ever after, I think BS. It started to get to the point that it was too much perfect. I don't know if that makes sense. Anyways, it was an okay book but not something I'd want to own because I'd never read it again.
Crazy Rich Asians- Kevin Kwan
Time to read: 6 hours (over two days)
This is another book that was recommended from my Entertainment Weekly magazine. I loved this book! It's really funny and intriguing. I thought this book was just going to be another one of those books where the rich guy meets the girl, they fall in love, family hates girl, they overcome it and live happily ever after. Well that kind of happens.. but with so much more!
This book really takes you into a whole other culture. It shows you what their customs and traditions are and how much they are similar/differ from other rich people. This book really takes you on the journey of so many other characters besides the main two. It's basically about his family and all their drama and how they react to a girl that is not from a "proper rich background." They go to Singapore for his best friends wedding and that's when it all just goes crazy. Every reason they can find to hate this poor girl, they do. Most of it has to do with her status and her background. She's from "mainland China" which apparently is a no-no. She ends up finding things out about her own life that her mother lied to her about. Basically, they have to go through all these events and try to stay together, which is a pretty hard thing to do. I was just so fascinated with this book.
This is another book that was recommended from my Entertainment Weekly magazine. I loved this book! It's really funny and intriguing. I thought this book was just going to be another one of those books where the rich guy meets the girl, they fall in love, family hates girl, they overcome it and live happily ever after. Well that kind of happens.. but with so much more!
This book really takes you into a whole other culture. It shows you what their customs and traditions are and how much they are similar/differ from other rich people. This book really takes you on the journey of so many other characters besides the main two. It's basically about his family and all their drama and how they react to a girl that is not from a "proper rich background." They go to Singapore for his best friends wedding and that's when it all just goes crazy. Every reason they can find to hate this poor girl, they do. Most of it has to do with her status and her background. She's from "mainland China" which apparently is a no-no. She ends up finding things out about her own life that her mother lied to her about. Basically, they have to go through all these events and try to stay together, which is a pretty hard thing to do. I was just so fascinated with this book.
The Lane at the End of the Ocean- Neil Gaiman
Time to read: 2 1/2 hours
This is a really short book. I was surprised when I received it, how small it was! I ended up getting this recommended to me in my Entertainment Weekly magazine. I have to say, they have done pretty well with their recommendations. So far I'm 2/2.
Anyways, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book. I kind of just plunged into it without reading much about it. Since it was such a small book I figured it wouldn't take long and no big loss if I didn't like it. Well, the story kind of surprised me. It's about a man who goes back to his hometown and then remembers some events that happened when he was a little boy. It's a fantasy type story that becomes quite dark. I am impressed on how detailed the story is and how he kept it so short. I like that. There's nothing worse than an author who goes into too much depth to make a book that's 400+ pages long. All in all, I really liked this book. I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads.
This is a really short book. I was surprised when I received it, how small it was! I ended up getting this recommended to me in my Entertainment Weekly magazine. I have to say, they have done pretty well with their recommendations. So far I'm 2/2.
Anyways, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book. I kind of just plunged into it without reading much about it. Since it was such a small book I figured it wouldn't take long and no big loss if I didn't like it. Well, the story kind of surprised me. It's about a man who goes back to his hometown and then remembers some events that happened when he was a little boy. It's a fantasy type story that becomes quite dark. I am impressed on how detailed the story is and how he kept it so short. I like that. There's nothing worse than an author who goes into too much depth to make a book that's 400+ pages long. All in all, I really liked this book. I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads.
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