January is considered the saddest, most depressing month of the year so I decided to read sad, depressing books.As sad as they were all supposed to be they all actually turned out to be uplifting. Enjoy!
The Fault in our Stars
What do you get when you have two young people with terminal cancer who find love but are afraid to explore it because at the end someone is going to be left alone? The book will make you appreciate all the loved ones you have around you and to cherish all the moments even the ones when you wish you could strangle them. Totally worth the read and you will laugh as much as you cry.
Thirteen Reasons Why
There doesn't seem to be a day that goes by when you don't hear about a teenager taking their life due to the hatred they feel at the hands of a bully. Hannah is no different. What is different is she had a plan before she took her own life, she was going to make sure that the people who humiliated her, ignored her, treated her like shit would fully know they have blood on their hands with her suicide. She sets up a series of tapes where she discloses to each of the people involved in her diminished view of herself and what they did to cause it. The tapes are passed from person to person through the mail so every one hears what they all did or didn't do to cause this young girl to take her own life.
Cranked
The novel switches viewpoints between Bull and Victor with every chapter and you slowly begin to see that while on the surface the two boys are very different really their almost the same person. After years of Bull torturing Victor with taunts, name calling and physical abuse at school Victor decides to get away from the world where his family doesn't know he exists and his only physical contact is with a bully. Bull decides to take matters in his own hands in his very dysfunctional family. Both boys end up in a place neither ever imagined.
Shine
Cat's best friend has been beaten to within an inch of his life and it's believed it's a hate crime because he's gay. Going into Cat's world of poverty, drugs and intolerance where her only wish is to find the people who did this to her friend. Touching and thought provoking for sure.
Juliet-A Novel
Now for some love to make us feel better. If you like books that cover parts of history this one is for you. Julie Jacobs travels to Italy to find a buried treasure as that's what her grandmother left her in her will. Once there she is introduced to a mixture of characters who believe still in the feud between the families of Juliet and Romeo. The book flips back and forth into the present and into the days of Romeo and Juliet. A great read.
Saturday 28 January 2012
Saturday 14 January 2012
Into the Forest
Into the Forest 5 stars fiction
Nell and Eva are left alone in their home in the middle of the Northern California forest after the world seems to come to an end. No more electricity, no more gas, food supplies have run out as well as sickness has killed off many. The girls have stores of food from jarring with their father while he was still alive but those are coming to an end. The girls must find a new way to survive in this new world where everything they knew is gone. This is not an end of times every one dies type of book. It's one about survival and one I wish there was a second part too.
There is a rape scene and one other odd sex scene so if you don't like those types of things in a story, don't read it. It is not over played just a part of the story.
Enjoy!
Nell and Eva are left alone in their home in the middle of the Northern California forest after the world seems to come to an end. No more electricity, no more gas, food supplies have run out as well as sickness has killed off many. The girls have stores of food from jarring with their father while he was still alive but those are coming to an end. The girls must find a new way to survive in this new world where everything they knew is gone. This is not an end of times every one dies type of book. It's one about survival and one I wish there was a second part too.
There is a rape scene and one other odd sex scene so if you don't like those types of things in a story, don't read it. It is not over played just a part of the story.
Enjoy!
Wednesday 11 January 2012
The Lady of the Rivers
1 rotten lemon
I've got to say this was awful. It took everything I had to finish it. I can't remember being this bored by one of her books ever. All the names, the endless wars amongst themselves and it just seemed so much of it was repeated over and over again. I wouldn't recommend this one at all.
I've got to say this was awful. It took everything I had to finish it. I can't remember being this bored by one of her books ever. All the names, the endless wars amongst themselves and it just seemed so much of it was repeated over and over again. I wouldn't recommend this one at all.
Tuesday 10 January 2012
Books of 2011 continued
19. Book of Tomorrow Kleenex grabber 4 stars
Did you know the author, Cecelia Ahern, is the daughter of the Prime Minister of Ireland? Kind of a neat fact. All of her books have some form of lose in them and this is no different. With the suicide of her father Tamara has to move out to the country with her aunt and uncle. Coming from a life of privelage to be isolated on a farm with only a mobile library to keep her occupied she begins to see the importance of memories and moments versus money in your bank account.
20.Girls Guide to Homelessness True Story 4 stars
This follows the true story of Brianna as she loses her job, has no money and only a camper to her name and a Walmart parking lot to call home. I thought the book was just a true statement of today's times but I felt like the ending was just her being bitter about a relationship versus her overcoming everything. I guess that's why it's a true story and not fiction.
21. If I Stay and Where She Went Kleenex 4 stars
The books go together as the first one, If I stay, Mia is in a terrible car accident with her parents and the story unfolds as Mia watches all of her family and friends come to see her while in a coma. You hear stories and memories of her life. In the follow up, Where She Went, again focuses on Mia and her relationship with her ex Adam as the two of them reconnect 3 years after the accident and both realize all they had and all they lost.
22. Left Neglected Kleenex 5 stars
Sarah has everything in life but she's moving at warped speed trying to be the uber mom, executive and wife. A car accident takes all of that away and leaves her only with the sense of her right side of her body. A really great read.
23. Sing You Home Kleenex 5 stars
Jodi Picoult's book always bring tears and always end up in a court room making you think of what family really is. This one is no different but it does tackle the issue of gay marriage and the church's involvements in deciding on what makes a family. While I disagree with some of the ideals in this book it's still good none the less.
24. Girl Who Fell From the Sky suspense/kleenex 5 stars
How do you define yourself? By your skin colour, nationality or religion? The main character doesn't know where she fits in the world being her mother was white and her father black. A family tragedy forces her to move in with her grandmother in an all black area. Learing about the events that put her there leads to an ending I wasn't expecting.
25. End of Boys True story/mental illness 5 stars
As copied from amazon "The End of Boys follows Hoffmeister to the very brink of sanity and back, in a harrowing and heartbreaking account of the trauma of adolescence and the redemption available to us all, if only we choose to find it"
26. Weight of Silence Suspense/Mystery 4 stars
2 little girls go missing in the middle of the night. One is a mute and the other is her best friend who speaks for her. I liked that each chapter is told from the view point of someone else involved in the mystery. I read this in one reading it was that good.
27. Henry's Sisters kleenex/humor 5 stars MUST READ AUTHOR
I really love everything that Cathy Lamb writes and this is no exception. She finds humor in sadness and she really writes the best when showing conflict within the family setting. It will break your heart, make you laugh out loud and root for the family.
28. One Thousand White Women fiction/history 5 stars ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF ALL TIME
I love stepping into history and seeing it from different view points. Can you imagine if today's governement offered to trade 1,000 white women for horses to the Natives? That's the premise of the book but the women are the heart of the story. You follow them out on to the reservations and try to find their footing and place in a world that they've never heard anything good about. I just loved this book.
29. Bean Trees fiction/family kleenx humor 5 stars
Following a young woman across the US where she picks up an abandoned baby, ends up living above a garage and finding friendship, love and family. Pigs In Heaven is the sequel to this well written book and is just as good. Hated them ending.
Did you know the author, Cecelia Ahern, is the daughter of the Prime Minister of Ireland? Kind of a neat fact. All of her books have some form of lose in them and this is no different. With the suicide of her father Tamara has to move out to the country with her aunt and uncle. Coming from a life of privelage to be isolated on a farm with only a mobile library to keep her occupied she begins to see the importance of memories and moments versus money in your bank account.
20.Girls Guide to Homelessness True Story 4 stars
This follows the true story of Brianna as she loses her job, has no money and only a camper to her name and a Walmart parking lot to call home. I thought the book was just a true statement of today's times but I felt like the ending was just her being bitter about a relationship versus her overcoming everything. I guess that's why it's a true story and not fiction.
21. If I Stay and Where She Went Kleenex 4 stars
The books go together as the first one, If I stay, Mia is in a terrible car accident with her parents and the story unfolds as Mia watches all of her family and friends come to see her while in a coma. You hear stories and memories of her life. In the follow up, Where She Went, again focuses on Mia and her relationship with her ex Adam as the two of them reconnect 3 years after the accident and both realize all they had and all they lost.
22. Left Neglected Kleenex 5 stars
Sarah has everything in life but she's moving at warped speed trying to be the uber mom, executive and wife. A car accident takes all of that away and leaves her only with the sense of her right side of her body. A really great read.
23. Sing You Home Kleenex 5 stars
Jodi Picoult's book always bring tears and always end up in a court room making you think of what family really is. This one is no different but it does tackle the issue of gay marriage and the church's involvements in deciding on what makes a family. While I disagree with some of the ideals in this book it's still good none the less.
24. Girl Who Fell From the Sky suspense/kleenex 5 stars
How do you define yourself? By your skin colour, nationality or religion? The main character doesn't know where she fits in the world being her mother was white and her father black. A family tragedy forces her to move in with her grandmother in an all black area. Learing about the events that put her there leads to an ending I wasn't expecting.
25. End of Boys True story/mental illness 5 stars
As copied from amazon "The End of Boys follows Hoffmeister to the very brink of sanity and back, in a harrowing and heartbreaking account of the trauma of adolescence and the redemption available to us all, if only we choose to find it"
26. Weight of Silence Suspense/Mystery 4 stars
2 little girls go missing in the middle of the night. One is a mute and the other is her best friend who speaks for her. I liked that each chapter is told from the view point of someone else involved in the mystery. I read this in one reading it was that good.
27. Henry's Sisters kleenex/humor 5 stars MUST READ AUTHOR
I really love everything that Cathy Lamb writes and this is no exception. She finds humor in sadness and she really writes the best when showing conflict within the family setting. It will break your heart, make you laugh out loud and root for the family.
28. One Thousand White Women fiction/history 5 stars ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF ALL TIME
I love stepping into history and seeing it from different view points. Can you imagine if today's governement offered to trade 1,000 white women for horses to the Natives? That's the premise of the book but the women are the heart of the story. You follow them out on to the reservations and try to find their footing and place in a world that they've never heard anything good about. I just loved this book.
29. Bean Trees fiction/family kleenx humor 5 stars
Following a young woman across the US where she picks up an abandoned baby, ends up living above a garage and finding friendship, love and family. Pigs In Heaven is the sequel to this well written book and is just as good. Hated them ending.
Monday 9 January 2012
The best of 2011
These are my favorites that I read in 2011. Not so much published in 2011 just that I read. I don't want to give away too much of the book in my reviews because that's like opening a present already knowing what's in the box.
1. The Hunger Games 5 adventure/suspense Stars
There's just something about books that the author sets up an alternate world then the one we know. The story is basically about a teenager who is forced to compete in a competition that starts with 24 people and only the winner is left alive. This book was geared towards young adults but I know more grown adults who have read it and loved it all.
2. Murderer's Daughters 5 kleenex grabbing stars
Follows sisters over a 30 year span after the attempted murder suicide of their parents. The girls go from an orphange filled with neglect and hardships to being adults that use different methods to forget their tragic upbringing. Their father alive in prison is always there as a reminder of all he took from them. This one will break your heart.
3. The Weird Sisters 4 kleenex grabbing stars
This year must have been the year for me to read all about sisters:) Can you imagine a house growing up where your father spoke in Shakespear quotes all the time and who books became their life line to the world and never formed bonds amongst the 3 sisters. You'll for sure find one sister who you will bond with and another who you'd like to strangle as she'll remind you of one of your own.
4.War Horse 5 kleenex grabbing stars
The shortest book I read this year but the one that stole my heart the most. I have not yet seen the movie and I'm not really sure if I plan to as I believe my own imagination is just as good, if not better, then what Steven Speilberg could have come up with. The book is written from the horse's point of view and what a majestic loving view point it is.
5. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 5 kleenex grabbing stars
September 11th is forever a moment in all of our lives that we'll never forget.For Oskar Schell it's the day the 9 year old lost his dad. He's a brilliant, genius of a child (sent a letter to Steven Hawkings asking to be an assistant) who finds a key in his father's belongings which sends Oskar out on a fact finding quest to see where this key belongs. The people he meets and the stories he tells made me want to fly directly to New York City. Can't wait to see the movie.
6.Future of Us 4 suspense/what if stars
Facebook has changed the world as we know it. Some for the good such as seeing what your friends and family all across the world are up to and still allowing you to be a part of their lives no matter how far apart they are. Facebook is also one of the main reasons listed in divorces now. This is a young adult book that takes place in the early 90's. Emma gets a home computer that comes with a cd for American Online. Once plugged into the internet it takes her to a future webpage of Facebook and she sees what her life has become in the future.
7.Forest of Hands and Teeth 5 suspense stars
Another novel with an alternative world but this one is filled with zombies and small towns trying to still survive. I love books that have a strong female presence and this one is like a female on steriods. Don't be turned off by the zombies they do play a role in the book but this is not a scary book in any way. It's all about survival. This is a 3 book series.
8.Falling Together 4 friendship stars
A novel that allows you to see the quirks and love between 3 friends who will move the earth for each other well until they piss each other off at least. Who doesn't love a good friendship story?
9.Lost Memory of Skin 4 I can't believe I feel bad stars
I don't think there's a phrase such as registered sex offender that puts more fear into a community or into parents. I never thought that I would feel for one in anyway. This book takes you to a place you never thought you would go. You follow Kid who can not reside within 2500 feet from any place that children congregate which leaves very little options. He ends up living under a causeway in Florida and his story begins. Give it a try, you might surprise yourself.
10.Birth House 5 kleenex stars
Welcome to the Nova Scotia during the World War 1 years where traditional medical care and modern medical care begin a conflict into the care of women during pregnancy and labor. It's filled with humor, heart pulling strings and a heroine like no other.
11. First Day of the Rest of My Life An author with following and reading all of her stuff
Again a novel about sisters who must deal with a past they couldn't prevent or escape from. As someone who got to experiance the unbelievable love a grandmother can give this book touched me in all the right places. It's quirky, funny, so very sad and leaves you rooting for the sisters.
12. The Story Sisters 5 kleenex/suspens/hopeful stars BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
When 3 sisters carry a secret that puts all of the burden and blame onto one of their small set of shoulders nothing good will come of it. Tragedy after tragedy finds this family and you can only hope that somewhere they find light at the end of their very dark days.
13. Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb 5 stars in all categories
I really had no idea who Mr Tom Thumb was and had to google him to find out. What the book told me that even if you are only 32 inches tall you can still be a giant in life. This is a book of fiction based on Lavinia Warren. It's heart thumbing, thrilling, funny and just memorizing.
14.Turn of Mind 5 star thriller
Imagine your friend shows up at your back door covered in blood but being that she has Alzheimer's she can't tell you what happened. The book is seen through the eyes of Dr. Jennifer White as written in her journal. Some days are lucid and some are far from it.
15. What Alice Forgot 4 star romance/quirky/fun
Alice went to the gym madly in love and pregnant with her first child but after a fall she wakes up and finds that she's in the middle of a nasty divorce and a single mom of 3 kids and doesn't like who she's become.
16.All Different Kinds of Free 5 star story
Set in the 1800's Margaret Morgan is a free coloured woman who's peaceful life is over because of one mistake. This story is based on actual legal proceedings during this time. Never does Margaret lose her fight, her spirit or her honorable self in the story.
17. Before I go to Sleep 5 star thriller/suspense BEST BOOK OF 2011
Every day Christine wakes up not remembering anything about herself or her life and has to read various notes and photo albulms to remind her of who she is. One morning the book has a note that says "don't trust Ben" who is her husband. How do you not trust the only person in your life and what has he done to make him so untrustworthy?
18. The Center of Everything 5 star feel good
Poverty can change the course of your life in a heartbeat. Evelyn's life becomes a mess when her mom falls for her married boss, the car breaks down and an unplanned pregnancy is thrown into the mix. Evelyn knows her only way out is through education.
Will add more tomorrow:)
1. The Hunger Games 5 adventure/suspense Stars
There's just something about books that the author sets up an alternate world then the one we know. The story is basically about a teenager who is forced to compete in a competition that starts with 24 people and only the winner is left alive. This book was geared towards young adults but I know more grown adults who have read it and loved it all.
2. Murderer's Daughters 5 kleenex grabbing stars
Follows sisters over a 30 year span after the attempted murder suicide of their parents. The girls go from an orphange filled with neglect and hardships to being adults that use different methods to forget their tragic upbringing. Their father alive in prison is always there as a reminder of all he took from them. This one will break your heart.
3. The Weird Sisters 4 kleenex grabbing stars
This year must have been the year for me to read all about sisters:) Can you imagine a house growing up where your father spoke in Shakespear quotes all the time and who books became their life line to the world and never formed bonds amongst the 3 sisters. You'll for sure find one sister who you will bond with and another who you'd like to strangle as she'll remind you of one of your own.
4.War Horse 5 kleenex grabbing stars
The shortest book I read this year but the one that stole my heart the most. I have not yet seen the movie and I'm not really sure if I plan to as I believe my own imagination is just as good, if not better, then what Steven Speilberg could have come up with. The book is written from the horse's point of view and what a majestic loving view point it is.
5. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 5 kleenex grabbing stars
September 11th is forever a moment in all of our lives that we'll never forget.For Oskar Schell it's the day the 9 year old lost his dad. He's a brilliant, genius of a child (sent a letter to Steven Hawkings asking to be an assistant) who finds a key in his father's belongings which sends Oskar out on a fact finding quest to see where this key belongs. The people he meets and the stories he tells made me want to fly directly to New York City. Can't wait to see the movie.
6.Future of Us 4 suspense/what if stars
Facebook has changed the world as we know it. Some for the good such as seeing what your friends and family all across the world are up to and still allowing you to be a part of their lives no matter how far apart they are. Facebook is also one of the main reasons listed in divorces now. This is a young adult book that takes place in the early 90's. Emma gets a home computer that comes with a cd for American Online. Once plugged into the internet it takes her to a future webpage of Facebook and she sees what her life has become in the future.
7.Forest of Hands and Teeth 5 suspense stars
Another novel with an alternative world but this one is filled with zombies and small towns trying to still survive. I love books that have a strong female presence and this one is like a female on steriods. Don't be turned off by the zombies they do play a role in the book but this is not a scary book in any way. It's all about survival. This is a 3 book series.
8.Falling Together 4 friendship stars
A novel that allows you to see the quirks and love between 3 friends who will move the earth for each other well until they piss each other off at least. Who doesn't love a good friendship story?
9.Lost Memory of Skin 4 I can't believe I feel bad stars
I don't think there's a phrase such as registered sex offender that puts more fear into a community or into parents. I never thought that I would feel for one in anyway. This book takes you to a place you never thought you would go. You follow Kid who can not reside within 2500 feet from any place that children congregate which leaves very little options. He ends up living under a causeway in Florida and his story begins. Give it a try, you might surprise yourself.
10.Birth House 5 kleenex stars
Welcome to the Nova Scotia during the World War 1 years where traditional medical care and modern medical care begin a conflict into the care of women during pregnancy and labor. It's filled with humor, heart pulling strings and a heroine like no other.
11. First Day of the Rest of My Life An author with following and reading all of her stuff
Again a novel about sisters who must deal with a past they couldn't prevent or escape from. As someone who got to experiance the unbelievable love a grandmother can give this book touched me in all the right places. It's quirky, funny, so very sad and leaves you rooting for the sisters.
12. The Story Sisters 5 kleenex/suspens/hopeful stars BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
When 3 sisters carry a secret that puts all of the burden and blame onto one of their small set of shoulders nothing good will come of it. Tragedy after tragedy finds this family and you can only hope that somewhere they find light at the end of their very dark days.
13. Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb 5 stars in all categories
I really had no idea who Mr Tom Thumb was and had to google him to find out. What the book told me that even if you are only 32 inches tall you can still be a giant in life. This is a book of fiction based on Lavinia Warren. It's heart thumbing, thrilling, funny and just memorizing.
14.Turn of Mind 5 star thriller
Imagine your friend shows up at your back door covered in blood but being that she has Alzheimer's she can't tell you what happened. The book is seen through the eyes of Dr. Jennifer White as written in her journal. Some days are lucid and some are far from it.
15. What Alice Forgot 4 star romance/quirky/fun
Alice went to the gym madly in love and pregnant with her first child but after a fall she wakes up and finds that she's in the middle of a nasty divorce and a single mom of 3 kids and doesn't like who she's become.
16.All Different Kinds of Free 5 star story
Set in the 1800's Margaret Morgan is a free coloured woman who's peaceful life is over because of one mistake. This story is based on actual legal proceedings during this time. Never does Margaret lose her fight, her spirit or her honorable self in the story.
17. Before I go to Sleep 5 star thriller/suspense BEST BOOK OF 2011
Every day Christine wakes up not remembering anything about herself or her life and has to read various notes and photo albulms to remind her of who she is. One morning the book has a note that says "don't trust Ben" who is her husband. How do you not trust the only person in your life and what has he done to make him so untrustworthy?
18. The Center of Everything 5 star feel good
Poverty can change the course of your life in a heartbeat. Evelyn's life becomes a mess when her mom falls for her married boss, the car breaks down and an unplanned pregnancy is thrown into the mix. Evelyn knows her only way out is through education.
Will add more tomorrow:)
What are you reading now???
I seem to get that question. A lot. I read so much and so quickly that I can't possibly keep up with all the great books that I've read in a month, let alone a year. Here's my service to you my friends who are avid readers. I will post all the great books that I've read on my Kindle since I got it back in 2008. I want you to post your great finds as well. I think the only thing you won't find on my list is swarmy romance. I don't mind quirky, funny romance but if Fabio can be on the cover I won't read it. Relink this site as many places as you want as it's just books. I'll try and review them and give them some kind of star system. All the books I've purchased off of amazon.com and I will try and add the link to the books as well (if I can figure it out) I'm looking forward to see what everyone is reading and I hope you find something great on my list.
Gwen
Gwen
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