Number 7 - Gone Girl

This book was another suggestion from Susan... and it did not disappoint either.  Before I started reading I didn't really know what it was about but it quickly drew me in.  It's one of those books that keeps you guessing what's going to happen next or who is telling the truth.

It's told in the prospective of a wife and husband in alternating chapters which gives you their different view points of the story while slowly adding in new information.  I really liked style b/c when I would get done with one of their chapters I was drawn into the next.  It was also cool since it is set in Missouri and I'm a hometown/state girl so I love reading all those little additions.  (Emily Giffin's Where we Belong is the same way)

I would recommend this book and so would Quina

Susan... I'm sorry that the book jack may have a Quina hole in it now...

Number 6 - Divergent

Well... I haven't been reading as much as I hoped...

While I was in Florida I read Divergent.  This was a recommendation from my friend Susan.  She recommended it waaaaay long ago... I think when I wasn't even really reading... but I thought it could make a good beach read - and that was so the truth!

This book is a lot like Hunger Games.  It's a dystopian society in future world Chicago.  In this one kids that are 16 must pick which faction they want to live in (five choices).  I don't want to give much away, but I really enjoyed it and it was quite the page turner.

There is a sequel which I plan on reading soon.  I should get it from the library instead of just buying books, but sometimes I'm a slow reader.

I would  totally recommend this good, it's quick, easy-to-read and entertaining!

Number 5 - Fifty Shades Freed

Finally finished the trilogy...

I finished the book yesterday... yes it has taken me awhile to get through this series, but I've really only been reading them at work... so that would explain it.

I did like the third book, but really I found it much more enjoyable b/c I skipped over the sex stuff every time (learned that from the first book)... it just got sooo repetitive.  Also with this series, which we know is fiction... but really do things like this ever happen?  I'm referring to a rich, attractive guy being attracted to normal girl... wouldn't it be nice if they did?

The third book had more drama, which I enjoyed and felt like there was a more over-arching plot line, which I felt like the second book lacked.

The series was good, and it kept me entertained.  I think I'm going to miss the easy-ness of the books that I could pick up at any point and not feel lost... it's definitely a quick, easy read... you just can't expect Pulitzer writing or anything :)

Number 4 - Fifty Shades Darker

On my trip to DC I finished my fourth book this year - Fifty Shades Darker.

This story is a continuation of the first book.  It picks right back up where the first book left off.  Here's some things I have to say about it in an easy-to-read list.

• I think this whole book takes place in like 2 weeks 'real time' (that may be an overstatement)... so let me tell you it would be the most stressful two weeks... ever!
• As my mom put so well... what made the first book exciting made this book kind of annoying.  This comment is in regards to the sex element of the book... about half way through I stopped reading those passages all together... it got sooo redundant.
• This book didn't really have an over-arching plot line which I found annoying.  It was just a bunch of little events that would get resolved in a chapter or two.  This made it hard for me to want to finish it.  Mostly it made me want to go to the next chapter, but within a page of that chapter whatever it was resolved itself.
• Speaking of plot, to me it felt like the same basic plot over and over again... she loves him, he loves her, she thinks she can never be enough, he tells her she is, they have sex... rinse, wash, repeat
• How incredible would it be though to have this rich, handsome guy love you like that though... pretty unbelievable haha

Overall... I wasn't that impressed with the second book, but I'm into the third book now, and eager to see how it all turns out.

Number 3 - Fifty Shades of Grey

Yes... I know it's trendy but I just finished Fifty Shades of Grey

from NPR

(on a total side note, I was most of the way through this book before I realized that's a neck tie on the cover... I seriously couldn't figure out what it was, and even though it is reference in the book.  Finally it dawned on me... it was like the day I realized that the fancy D in Disney was a D and not just some goofy symbol)

Anyway... back to the matter at hand.  I recently finished Fifty Shades of Grey.  I had always heard that it was like reading porn... and in some ways it was exactly that.  At times it was awkward to read, but in the end I did enjoy it.  I kept wanting to figure out what was going to happen next. 

I know a lot of people think novels like this are like the death of literature...

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and I do understand that point... but here's what I have to say... novels like this one have been around forever... when I was a shelver at the library we had racks and rack of those romance novels... so it's nothing new... this one just happens to be very popular, and not really sure why. 

I enjoyed the first book and have started on the second, although I seem to be reading that one a bit more slowly... maybe they just start out slow?  I actually started this book way back in July and just recently picked it back up when I needed a book to read at lunch and this one was already in my car.

I will say that this story is a bit far fetched, haha... I mean a very attractive millionaire paying attention to a seemingly normal girl and the sex is unbelievable... hard to believe my friend.  Whatever though, that's why we read books, to be a part of something that's not real.

I enjoyed it enough.

Number 2 - Who could that be at this hour?

Here's the second book I read, Who could that be at this hour? in the All the Wrong Questions series by Lemony Snicket.

From Amazon

This is a kids book, I know... but I read Lemony Snicket's other book series - A Series of Unfortunate Events which I loved.  When I heard that he had a new series out I was totally excited.  His writing style is the same as in Unfortunate Events.  I know it is a kids book, but it's really enjoyable to read.  The story does not end at the end of this book... I think I saw there would be four in the series. 

Who could that be at this hour? follows the story of a young Lemony Snicket that works for an organization that's secret.  He ends up in a weird town and in midst of a mystery which is part of his training.  The story takes some twists and turns, but easy to follow (hey, it is a kids book!)  I love all the quirky characters he adds in his stories.  Like Unfortunate Events, they live in a world that is like ours but different, more magical at the same time.  I love that sort of whimsy. 

I'd recommend this book or any of his others.  I heard he has some more which I may look up at some point.

Happy Reading!!

Number 1 - Becoming Sister Wives

I finished my first book today of 2013.  I read Becoming Sister Wives:  The Story of an Unconventional Marriage by the Brown family. (photo from Amazon)

This book is written by the Brown family who are the focus of TLC's Sister Wives show.  I began watching their show from the beginning.  I enjoy looking into a life that's different from my own.  I quickly fell in love with the Brown family.  They were so... normal, nothing like a polygamist family I would expect.  And what became even scarier was I could totally understand some of the reason why they choose to live this lifestyle.

I was hoping that the book would give me more insight on the family.  It does seem like on the show they want to portray that they are a big happy family - and for the most part that's very true, but they weren't always that way.  This book does explore some jealousy and their past in making this lifestyle work - although in my opinion they could have gone even more in depth and I would be interested.

My conclusion of the book is making a marriage work is difficult... making 4 different marriages - all to the same guy work is even more difficult.  You hear on the show and in the book about how living this plural lifestyle makes them a better person.  To me I've always thought why would you want to force yourself to deal with jealousy all the time.  You can even more easily take on just one husband and significantly cut down on any jealousy.  But I sort of get that argument now.  Sometimes when you are in a relationship the other person helps you work on your "issues" for lack of a better word.  Right now I'm with Dan and he's a much more laid back person than I am.  I tend to worry or what to plan or whatever and he's helped me just chill out more.  I like that he's been able to do that for me, so I can see why being with a person or in a relationship can just make you be a better person.

I'm probably not making a whole lot of sense... but I will say that after reading this book and watching their show why not let them life this plural lifestyle... I may not want to do it, but they certainly aren't harming anyone by doing it.  I wish the best of luck to them and I can't wait to tune into the new season, whenever that may happen.

Hunger Games

I'm not sure if I've mentioned on this blog or not that I read The Hunger Games series.  It's a set of three books and it is so so great.  I read through them so fast.  The first book in the series is probably my favorite.  It is a very interesting read.  The story is set in a post apocalypse world.  There is a Capital the runs everything and has all the wealth.  Then there are 12 districts.  It's interesting because some parts of society are very advanced (hovercrafts, genetic testing, etc) and but the people in the districts are poor and like our heroine hunts for food.

The Capital forces each of the districts to select two children - one male, one female - (between the ages of 12 and 18) to participant in a fight to the death with only one winner, called the Hunger Games.  I know what you might be thinking - why would I want to read a book about children killing each other.  Yes, the concept is kind of crazy, but I'm dead serious when I say this was one of the best series I've read in quite awhile.  And I would recommend reading it before the movie comes out.  Not because the movie looks bad... oh, no, quite the contrary... b/c if you're anything like me you'll appreciate it a lot more before it starts gaining more hype.  I read Twilight waaaay after it became popular and after the first movie was release.  I didn't like Twilight that much... but I think I would have liked it more if I read it before it was super duper trendy.

Anyway... the full trailer for Hunger Games came out last Monday... and it makes me UNBELIEVABLY excited about the movie, which happens to be coming out the weekend before my birthday.  Since I have a few friends that are just as excited I'm hoping we all see it together.

Anyway... take a look at it, and then read the freaking books... you'll thank me someday...

Over :(

Well, it's a bittersweet moment...

The last 'new' Harry Potter thing - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 came out last Friday and I saw it last night. It's so bittersweet... sweet because we finally get to see it end in movie form (more on that later) and bitter because it is all over. I have read the seven books at least twice... some more than that. I own all the movies (Part 1 is in the mail). I love the Harry Potter series... while I don't talk non-stop about it or know all the symbolism or whatever... I love the series. I honestly can't wait until I have kids that are old enough to read the books and enjoy it right along side me.

Chad and I saw the final movie last night. Last Thursday I was feeling really bummed that I didn't get midnight tickets for it... I felt like I'm a true Potter fan, why the heck didn't I get tickets. But it ended up working better this way. Earlier this year Chad won a chili cook-off his motorcycle group had (there was no competition from the other chilis). He won emergency tickets for Weherenberg. We turned in those bad boys for tickets to HP7.2 in IMAX 3D. We had to pay an extra $10 but better than the normal price tag for two of those tickets.

We got to the theater early to make sure we got tickets... you never know with a movie like this!! We hand our tickets in hand and got a quick dinner as Psghetti's. If you don't know what that place it... it's pure deliciousness!

We then headed back to the theater to make sure we got good seats. We hardly ever do this for movies... quite honestly we just don't see movies at the theater anymore. So it was really fun going all out. The IMAX screen was awesome. And the 3D was amazing!! I don't normally think seeing a movie in 3D is that big of a deal, but I am so so so happy I saw this in 3D. There were times the effects were so great. Some of the different characters, like the dementors, looked amazing in 3D.

I thought the whole movie from start to finish was wonderful. It was excited for it all to conclude. See it all on the big screen. I think a lot of people will particularly enjoy this movie because there is finally a conclusion. You know what happens... you know how it ends. It's really sad for there to be no more, but it's also great to see it happen, if that makes any sense whatsoever.

Harry Potter series... I'm really going to miss you... you had to come to end at some point and I'm happy you went out with such a bang. I hope generations to come will enjoy you both in book form and big screen for years and years to come!!

15/25

Petals on the Wind is the sequel to Flowes in the Attic. And it was as strange or even stranger than it's predecessor. The book for me was slow at times, but toward the end it really picked up. I find it weird that the author will jump through periods of times in a matter of sentences, I guess I'm not use to reading books that span so much time. It might be that the author will spend so much time describing a certain event and then skip through 3 years in a blink of an eye. I believe there's another book in the series, and I might read it. Overall I enjoyed the book, and it was interesting (although bizarre at times.) You never know what's going to happen and that does keep you coming back.

14/25

I finished this book about a week ago, but am just now getting around to writing the review.

My awesome friend Carrie bought me this book at a book fair. I have heard of the book, but I didn't know anything about it. They are making it into a movie that's due out next year. And I'm a big fan of reading the book before I see the movie. I really enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to turn the pages. Water for Elephants tells the story of Jacob as an old man looking back on his time traveling with the circus. There were parts of this book that were hard to read, due to animal cruelty, but it was balanced well with good times and love. I really loved how the book ended... left me feeling good. I would recommend this book to others - I've already given my copy to my mom, who might some day actually read it (she's behind on my suggestions.)

13/25

My awesome friend Carrie bought me this book at a book fair. She thought she had read it, but turns out she hasn't... but that's just a side note. My second Jodi Picoult book... and I've gotta say I'm starting to become hooked. She just engages you with the characters so well. She tackles these tough topics but does so in a way that it's easy to read. Plus I've noticed with her books you want to know what happens next... or how the heck is this book going to end. I would recommend this book to a friend. I am excited to read more of her books.

On a side note as a posted awhile back, I read My Sister's Keeper. I finally watched the movie last Friday and I couldn't believe how much they changed the story. I know books and movies never match perfectly (pun anyone?? ok, maybe not so much... anywho...) they completely changed the ending and that seems slightly wrong.

12/25

I'm really starting to wonder if I'm going to reach my goal... but I'm happy I'm trudging forward.

Upon the recommendation of my good friend Carrie. This book came out in the mid-70s I believe... I had never heard of it but Carrie claims it's a classic. Overall I enjoyed the book but it was really strange and weird at times. It's about 4 kids locked in an attic together. It's interesting to see how their relationships change as well as how the cope with never getting to leave the attic. I think this book is part of a series and I'm hoping to read the other ones. I have a couple of books in my queue.

11/25

I picked up this book at Walmart when I bought My Sister's Keeper and Chasing Harry Winston. Sometimes I have good luck just picking up a random book and other times it doesn't work out so well. I did like Hope in a Jar better than Chasing Harry Winston, but it's still not a book I want to pass along. I enjoyed the going back and forth with characters and the past/present. It's a light, easy read and for the most part it kept me hooked... just not as "must read" as my Emily Giffin books.

PS I promise to be back later this week with more exciting home improvement items... be excited.

10/25

I saw this book at the store when I was buying My Sister's Keeper to read. It is by the same author who wrote The Devil Wears Prada. So I thought that I could enjoy it. Overall, I didn't really love this book. Toward the end I got more drawn into it. It's about 3 almost thirty friends in New York City.... and living in a more wealthy atmosphere. I had a really hard time connecting to the characters... they just felt distant and not relate-able what-so-ever to me... While I've been passing on a lot of these books I've read to my friends or mom... I will not be passing this book along.

9/25

My first Jodi Picoult book... and it did not disappoint. It was a very easy read, although you knew the entire time the ending would probably be sad. I really enjoyed the fast it was told from different perspectives. This helped with telling a story that has no right or wrong answer. It's a difficult topic, but well told to understand how challenging of an issue it is. Toward the end (last 200 pages or so) I couldn't put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen. I will definitively be reading another Picoult book. I kind of want to watch the movie, but I heard it has a different ending.

8/25

I found this author a few years ago when I needed a book and was at Costco. I picked up her first book, Something Borrowed, simply b/c it had a sparkly ring on the cover and needed a book to read at lunch at work. I ended up enjoying it... a lot, and since then I've read all of Emily Giffin's books (it also felt cool that I found it before it got real popular) Heart of the Matter is her 5th book. I flew through this book. It's a girly, fluffy book, but I enjoyed it, very much. I did feel a bit conflicted at time (which is ok) and it took awhile to see where the book was really headed. I enjoyed hearing the "same story" from two different perspectives. I really enjoyed this book... and hopefully she releases a new book very soon.

7/25

Finally... I'm done with this series... and honestly, I'm happy to be done. I will say that I did get into this book more than the others. Maybe it was b/c what I knew about this book was figured out early in the book. About halfway through I figured out everything I wanted to figure out... I was intrigued what could possibly happen in the last half of the book. When the pages were twindling down, becoming smaller and smaller I was wondering how in the heck they would wrap everything up. Turns out everything got wrapped up fairly quickly... While the ending worked for the book, it might seem a bit of a let down if only watching the movie series.

The bottom line of this series... it doesn't even compare to the Harry Potter series in my opinion. At times during this series the 'love' was just so over the top. I'm done with this series, but with Harry Potter, I'll probably end up reading it again (3rd time for most of the book, 4th for others). I just don't understand the complete hystaria of these books... they are ok... good even, but not worth going completely and utterly crazy over. I'm glad that I read the books, but honestly feel better eh about them.

6/25

I have much more to blog about but in the mean time...

I just finished My Horizontal Life. This is Chelsea's first book whereas Vodka is her second... so I read them a bit out of order. I actually enjoyed this book more than Vodka... I guess b/c I knew what to expect and some of the charecters. She's still very blunt and crass... but funny and witty too. It was a nice easy read. What I really enjoy about her books is they are short stories. I can read a chapter at a time and get the full story.

Next up: Breaking Dawn

5/25

I know it's been awhile since I've written a review... but well that goes with the review. It took me FOREVER to get through this book... honestly I'm not really sure why. When the end picked up I really enjoyed it and wanted to read, but I felt like the beginning and middle was dragging. Sometimes I find this 'really intense love thing' a little over the top as well. I'm going to take a one book break before reading Breaking Dawn to hope that speeds up the last book.