Grayson

Grayson by Lynne Cox


My rating: 2 of 5 stars


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I just finished this book last weekend. When I picked it up, I flied through it in the beginning, I was hooked, but then it completely fizzled for me. It was long and drawn out and could have ended in 80 pages

Wanderlust

Wanderlust by Chris Dyer


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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A cute quick read that would qualify was "chick lit". The storylines were interwoven and I cheered for Bogie even though she had/has questionable choices. I was intrigued by the book because I have always wanted to be travel writer. It was quick read that had no "real" dialogue, but a series of emails going back and forth between the heroine and all of the other characters. It was amusing to read.

The Namesake

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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I completely and throughly enjoyed this book. I loved the multiple story lines and rooted for Gogol througout the book. I empathized with his struggle and have gained more understanding into Indian culture.
I can't imagine having a prearranged marriage or how it feels to try and find myself in a foreign land. I appreciated the stories and couldn't put it down.

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book.



While I thought it a bit disturbing in the beginning the book grew on it and I couldn't put it down.



Bod (Nobody) was a lovable character that was trying to fit in, in both a world of humans and of the afterlife.



I know that this book won a Newberry award and is found in the children's section of the bookstore...I am suprised though, because it starts out with murder in some, but not overly explict detail which I found a little too much for a child.



I'd recommend this to everyone.


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Unaccustomed Earth

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have been wanting to read this book for a while now and I am SO glad that I did.



I love to feel like I have been educated in some way when I read a book and this book did that for me in a way. I feel like I have a better understanding of Indian culture. It put together pieces for me in how other cultures live here in america. She showed us how some people change and some don't and how it affects their families.



It was great book with separate storylines that all seemed woven together in a very loose way.



I would recommend this book to everyone.


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The girl's guide to hunting and fishing

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
So I picked this book up in the bargain bin at my local library and read it about a day.



It was a quick read, kind of cutsy, kind of strange. The poor girl in the story had some strange relationships which were hard to relate to.



I am not sure if I would recommend it unless you like chick lit types of books.


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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I wish I would have waited for this book to come out in softcover, like I saw at Target today, but I am glad I read and purchased it none the less.

I have to admit was a bit of a skeptic when I first purchased this book. A book of letters...I was like ugh, how am I going to like this. But it was absolutly brilliant! I loved every minute of this book. Admittedly, I am not a very visual person and I could picture in my mind what Dawson, Eben, Amelia, Isola, Kit, Sidney and Juliet all looked like. I was able to imagine Guernsey Island and how it must have felt before, after and during the War.

I was so excited when Juliet finally decided to make a visit to the Island and made it much for picturesque and vivid. It gave me a great feel for what it was like during the occupation of the war. The stories were all sad, but showed the capabilities of the human spirit. I was so happy when Juliet found a voice for her book in the end.

It was great book. I'd recommend it to everyone.


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Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a difference the story makes when written from a different perspective. I absolutly loved that Ms. Meyer decided to give us readers a twist by writing a section of the book from Jacob's perspective. It made things much more clear and made me love his character even more. I am amazed at the length's he'd go for Bella, who wouldn't return the love he for her. I think that makes him a stand up guy, to step aside and let Edward have her, even though he was pining for her. I am glad to see the story end as and in a happy way as it had.




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Eclipse

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was given books 3 & 4 to read by my clinical instructor and managed to get them read before nursing school was even done! Writing this in hindsight, I would have to say that book #3 Eclipse was my favorite of the series. I enjoyed the story of Bella, Jake and Edward even more so in the book than ever. I was torn, wanting Bella to be with Jake so she could have a "normal" life and then torn even more because I wanted her to be with Edward. I can't imagine how a teenager could have such strong feeling for either guy at her age. She talked as though it was the only thing she ever knew. Definitely the most exciting of the series...if you don't have a a good few days to read the series beware, you'll be sucked in.


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Marley and Me

Marley & Me: Love and Life with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I finished Marley and me in a long weekend. I loved it, I could barely put it down. What is it about having pets, that brings us such joy, anger and heart break. I felt for Marley's owner's when he did something outrageous and I cried for him when he passed away. It was a great book for all animal lovers. I would recommend it to anyone who has as ever had a good or bad dog in their life.


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New Moon

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
The story of Bella and Edward continues...and I am sucked in. I realize that these are books for young adults, but I find them so intriguing. I will admit that the storyline is somewhat predictible and the writing is a little less than elloquent, but I still love it.

I cheer for Bella and Edward and always want them to be together.

I can't wait to read the next book.


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The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I learned that I totally agree. As we age we don't listen to our hearts and we aren't aware of our own Personal Legend.

It is all chance? I am trying to figure out when I stopped listening to my heart and it was probably likely to have happened once I hit adolescence. As a teenager, other things and other people become so much more important. The need to fit in and feel accepted probably had me give up on my personal legend...although I have no idea what it was. What was it that I wanted to be when I grew up? What was it I desired to do? So sad...that I can't remember.

I recommend this book to everyone. We all need a reality check. Maybe we can discover our Personal Legends as adults... I am going to try.


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The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just finished this book last night. Boy was it long one...but worth it! I especially enjoyed when the author wrote from Almondine's perspective (which is a dog). Edgar's story was one that I didn't want to end. The dynamics of Claude, Trudy and Henry, kept me turning each page just to see what would happen next. I was in tears at the end of the book. It was good read, it well deserved to be on the 2008, books to read.
Having owned pets and being attached to them makes this read even better. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves animals and anyone looking to find the truth.


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Still Alice

Still Alice by Lisa Genova.
I read this book last weekend and couldn't put it down.
It was a great read with a great storyteller. Alice leads us through her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's at the age of 50! An upstanding Hardvard professor, leads us through her ups and downs as she struggles with this disease. It was an excellent read that helped me understand Alzheimer's a little bit better than I already have. It was emotional and the family dynamics were true reflections of what the family goes through. I found myself in tears at the end of one of the chapters and couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

A goal of sorts

I have always liked reading books that have come recommeneded by other people. I was checking my email this morning and I saw an email from Barnes and Noble. It had a list of some of the best books of 2008. I enjoy reading fiction so I think a good goal would be to read all of the books that are on teh fiction list. Here is the list:
From sweeping tales of epic proportions to "small" stories that unfold with deceptive simplicity and understated elegance, here are the debut novels that dazzled us with their boldly original visions, ingenious plots, and unforgettable characters. Heading the list is Tom Rob Smith's suspenseful Child 44, a taut psychological thriller set in the nightmare world of Stalinist Russia.
1. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
4. The Boat by Nam Le
5. Sharp Teeth: A Novel by Toby Barlow
6. Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner
7. Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollock
8. The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein
9. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
10. The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart by M. Glenn Taylor

I already have the story of Edgar Sawtelle, so I am going to start with that one soon.

Suite Francaise

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky, was my lastest read.
It was good.
Very good, in my opinion. It was one of those books that I just kept itching to read even though I had other things I needed to be doing. It was one of those books I had to force myself to put down so I would go to sleep at a decent hour.
I will admit that some of the descriptions of humanity were all too realistic at times and unnerved me a little bit, but that is what made it so fascinating. I wanted to know what happened to The Michaud's, to Madeline, to Lucile and to everyone else mentioned in the book. Keep the characters straight was a little difficult (for me) and I am not sure why. I think it was because of their french names. I was distracted by Monsieur this and Madame that, but I managed to figure it out.
It was a good read that captured the esscense of human beings or animals (in a few cases).
Its a shame that Irene was captured and died in a concentration camp, I think we could have seen some wonderful things from her, had her life not been cut so short.

50 books for 2009

So by semi-stalking a friends of mine, i joined a group on the website: www.goodreads.com, called 50 books a year. So that's my goal. To read 50 books this year. I have a growing bookshelf at home in which I pickup things that look interesting, so I'll likely start with those first. Although, I have a Gift Card for Barnes and Noble that is burning a hole in my pocket and I am dying to go spend it!

I just finished my 1st book of 2009 called Suite Francaise. I'll review it in the next blog.
Book #2 is: Still Alice.

Hopefully I will finish it before I have to start seriously crackin' school books again.

3 cups of tea

I just finished 3 cups of tea last week. It was a GOOD book. Aside from that fact that found myself confused a lot of the time with the names and places, the central theme was always present. Greg wanted to help the children in Pakistan.
He had to overcome some major obstacles and came out on top in the end. I would throughly recommend this book to ANY teacher. It reinforces the fact that education can change the world and that ONE person can make a difference.