Good books for the holidays!

Hi Everybody!  Sorry it's been so long since my last post.  While I've been gone I've been very busy.  Over the last month I've finish a few very good books and these would all be excellent recommendations for gifts too!
The Millennium Trilogy
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

In Death Series' newest edition...
Indulgence in Death

But, next up on the docket are 3 books recommended to me by very reliable sources!  Let me know if you've read any of these are what your thoughts are!
Freedom: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)
(THE NEW YORK REGIONAL MORMON SINGLES HALLOWEEN DANCE) A MEMOIR BY Baker, Elna ( AUTHOR )paperback{The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir} on 28 Sep, 2010
Incarceron (Incarceron, Book 1)

Never Let Me Go

Last month I posted about the Jessica Darling series...I would like to retract this recommendation.  After reading the other four books in the series I found each one more irritating than the last and the narrator to be more whiny and annoying.  I apologize if you took this advice.  I had no idea the other four books would be so much more disappointing.

However, I do have a new recommendation for you.  This week I read Never Let Me Go [Paperback].  This book is similar to that movie called The Island.  However, this was much more haunting and intense.  This book still lingers with me after finishing the last page.  I think about a world like the one portrayed in this novel.  A world where clones are raised to be organ donors and this is a fate they accept.  There is no running away or escape from captors.  It is quite the opposite.  These clones have accepted their future and this is about life knowing what you are and what you're destined to be and the scary realization that your life is worth less than someone else's.  I recommend this book!

Little Bee and Sloppy Firsts

This week I read two books you all might like.  It's pretty funny but these books are complete opposites of each other in every way possible.  The first book, Little Bee: A Novel, a New York Times Bestseller, is about a Nigerian refugee and this white family from London.  The story is harsh, depressing, and intriguing but the way it is told is completely fascinating and compelling.  It starts out in present day and introduces you to Little Bee and this white family in chapters alternated by narrator and the tense changes from past to present and back again.  I would suggest this book to anyone not faint of heart and committed to strong storytelling!

The second book this week is sarcastic and light-hearted.   Sloppy Firsts: A Jessica Darling Novel, is about a girl in high school who's best friend just moved away.  Meanwhile, she struggles with the challenges of a less than understanding family and the pain of high school.   Any one can relate to this story and can appreciate the ironic and smart writing by Megan McCafferty. It's been described as a Judy Bloom meets Sylvia Plath and I would say that is completely accurate!  This book won't be for most readers, but if you feel like a drive through memory lane of your own high school experiences this may be a fun read...

The Help

Picture Mississippi during the 60s and the struggle between whites and blacks.  The Help draws a very clear picture of relationships between three women - two black maids and one white women telling the truth and being brave enough to tell it to the world.  Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it.

Let me know what you think and I hope you love this book as much as I do.
T

Not much to report...

Hi Friends! Sorry it's been so long since I posted.  And, I'm even more sorry to say that while I have been reading a ton, a lot of the books I've been reading wouldn't interest you.  So, for a change of pace I plan to read The Help next.  I invite all of you to read it with me! 


Happy reading!

T

Mockingjay, bittersweet...

The final addition to the The Hunger Games series, Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games), was released this week.  When I finished reading this book I was so happy and still sad to be leaving characters I've become attached to behind.  The adventure of Katniss and her rebels will be a story that I will cherish.  Death, survival, overcoming great sadness and battling against the odds to gain freedom were only a few of the final themes brought to a conclusion in this last chapter to the Hunger Games.  Also, Katniss finally makes her choice between Peeta and Gale.  There is also so much despair in this final book.  A death so tragic you don't anticipate and the depths of depression and betrayal. But closure is absolute.

I challenge my friends who read this blog to pick up a copy of this fabulous book and try not to fall in love.

Happy reading my friends!

Easy reading for a relaxing week...

Now that I'm not reading textbooks, I'm taking it easy and decided to read a couple of young adult books I've been holding on to for such an occasion.  Well, these books were really good and I loved both of them!  The first book is Inside Out (Harlequin Teen) by Maria V. Snyder.  I know I've mentioned other books by this author so if you liked those you'll love this one too.  The other book I finally got around to reading this week is called Fire (Graceling) by Kristin Cashore.  This is a prequel to Graceling.  I absolutely loved both of the books in this series and I suggest reading them in order of publication rather than trying to read the prequel first.

If you've read either of these or plan to let me know what you thought!

Eat, Pray and for the Love of God make this book END!

For the last year I have been avoiding Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia like the plague.  But, a close friend recommended it (and she rarely recommends books) and of course, I saw the Oprah special.  Therefore, I had to buy it. 
If you are the kind of person that likes to listen to people whine, complain, suffer and talk to make themselves feel better you should read this book and not my blog!  The best thing that came from this book is a band called Florence + The Machine which is actually the band that created the theme song in the trailer for this movie.  Yep, this book is that bad.  So buy this book if you've already cleaned the house, plucked out all your eyelashes and scrubbed your skin with sandpaper because then you may have something in common with this painful read.

Sorry, B.  I really did try.

If you like Trueblood...

Trueblood is a newer series on HBO and its only in its second season but it is hugely popular.  If you like the series you may also love the books.
A little disclaimer...I love this book set!  It is really a smart purchase because it gives you the first eight books in the series.  The only problem (if you don't have a friendly disclaimer like this one) is that the books in the box are not in order!  I think they are arranged book 1, 2, 3, 5, 4, 6....So it may not appear like they are out of order but two of them are swapped.  So please be sure to rearrange them if you buy this box set!
 

If you liked The Hunger Games...

A few people have mentioned they loved the Hunger Games and they wanted recommendations for similar reading.  These are a few younger titles with a bit of fantasy...
The Mortal Instruments Series
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones; City of Ashes; City of Glass

Maria V. Snyder's, Study Series...
Poison Study
Magic Study
Fire Study (Study, Book 3)

And, a spin off from the Study Series...
Storm Glass (Glass, Book 1)
Sea Glass (Glass, Book 2)
Spy Glass

Kristin Cashore
Graceling
Fire (Graceling)

Try these and let me know what you think...

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants is a beautiful book about a circus in the depression era.  This book will raise your heart rate, make you angry and let you fall in love with the circus.  (Warning: clowns not included)

Also, coming to a theater near you 2011.

Hunger Game series

Almost two years ago I read a book called The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  It would seem that this series including, Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) and Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) have become hugely popular.  The final installment is scheduled to release August 24, 2010. If you haven't read any of these books they are amazing and I would recommend them to anyone!  While they are considered young adult books, please don't let that steer you off.  This is an amazing story that will hook you from the beginning!  And, for those of you that have read these books and love them, you may be excited to hear that the movie is coming soon...
 

Welcome!

Whether I'm reading about a train ride through Russia, floating on a raft down the Mississippi, or surviving the rough life of a Carni, I'm enjoying a passion and love for the written word. I am by no means an authority on what makes one book better than the other. The purpose of my blog is to share amazing stories. A good book can make you scared for your life, put you on the edge of your seat and make you fall in love. You can expect book recommendations and my opinion on what I would love everyone to read and what I think you can skip. Comments on this blog are especially important. I expect that if you read my blog and take one of my suggestions that you tell me what you felt when you read the book (even if you hated it!). And, of course, if you have a book to recommend please share! So, curl up or lay out with one of these treasures! Enjoy!