Catching Fire - review

This book was everything that I was hoping, minus a couple of things. First, I was not impressed when they had to go back into the Hunger Games I felt like it was a repeat of the first book and was hoping for something more. Second, I thought that I would be rooting for Peeta but we got to know Gale a little more in this story and I do have to say he is a MAN! I turned sides and was rooting for Gale.

This book set it up really nicely for a great finale. It will be interesting to read how the Capitol decides to deal with all the rebellions and how or if Katniss continues to be the symbol of rebellion and what she decides to do with it. Will she end up with Gale? It does make you think that she will since she admits to loving him but you never know, we might be turned back into rooting for Peeta.

What did you think?

The Finishing Touches - review

This book was everything that I wanted it to be, almost. It was a tad light on the romance side of things, but I tend to want more romance in anything I read. The story of Betsy was a great one. I loved reading about her friendships, especially with Jamie her best friends brother, they all were rich in character. I enjoyed learning more about the proper etiquette of things, especially the English version. Sometimes what they deemed as "proper" I thought was hilarious. It is a fun book. It really makes you like the characters or atleast understand them when you don't like them. Did anyone else read it along with me? What did you think?

June 15th pick & review

Yes it is almost the end of June but I couldn't let the month end without posting about this pick -- Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I really liked this book. It was kind of dark and morbid - but at the same time it did give hope and showed you that people can prevail even during the most trying times.

Just a little synopsis -- a random meteor hits the moon and causes it to be knocked off kilter a little bit. Because of this all sorts of natural disasters start happening - changes in the seasons, giant tidal waves, etc, and it is affecting mankind all over the world. We get to watch and see how one family handles the disaster and following months into winter with little heat, almost no food, sickness, death and worse.

It's eye opening and frightening and amazing all at the same time. I'd really recommend it. It's a young adult book so it's a quick read, also, like The Hunger Games was.

Handle with Care - review

I really don't know what to write about this book. It really disturbed me. The ending was terrible, and in my opinion just like her ending in My Sister's Keeper. After I read the book all I could think of was, can she think of anything else? Even my husband, who I shared the story with, said the same thing since I had told him about My Sister's Keeper back when I read that book.

It just seemed pointless to work hard and have all of this drama, but then right when it gets taken care of, something happens that makes it all pointless. (I am trying not to give any spoilers). Needless to say the ending really made me unhappy.

I also did not like that Jodi Picoult did not have any "good" stories going on in this book. If you have read her books before you know that each chapter is written in first person from someone in the story and tells the story from their perspective. Everyone's story in this book was sad and depressing. Usually in Jodi's books there is a story that you really like, someones life that is finding love or happiness, but not this book. I would have liked it a whole lot more if there had been happiness in one of the stories going on.

What did you all think???

On another note My Sister's Keeper is coming out in the theaters on June 26, I can't wait!

The Hunger Games - review

Soo .... The Hunger Games. What did everyone think? I posted that little snippet the other day saying how much I loved it -- and then I went and read it for the 2nd time -- and realized I LOVED it even more!

I think one of the reasons it's so enjoyable is that it's a very quick read and the plot of the story moves pretty quickly. You're wanting to know so badly what is going to happen to Katniss at different points in the story -- if she's going to be chosen as the representative from her District -- if she is going to even be able to survive the first days -- if she's going to be able to actually win the Hunger Games and be the last person standing -- that you literally can't put the book down and are thankful that it's such a nicely constructed book that there's not a lot of "extra fluff" bogging down the pages.

The author really strikes a great balance of what is right and what is wrong -- all throughout the book Katniss is presented with choices -- does she do the right thing or does she do the thing that will help ensure her survival? She knows there can only be one victor in the Games and that sometimes by being too compassionate she'd be putting herself in danger of being killed off. She does manage to make allys along the way, although these relationships are unfortunately short-lived, as in 12 year old Rue, that reminds Katniss so much of her little sister.

And of course weaved throughout the novel is the blossoming relationship of Katniss and Peeta -- who we learn has adored Katniss for years. But Katniss first only saw him as another opponent in the games, someone she'd have to kill. Even at the end when they're both declared the winners -- she's hesitant of him and still thinking about Gale, the boy back in her District.

The book ends so abruptly that you're just aching to know what is going to happen next. What will happen when Peeta and Katniss get back to District 12? How will their lives change? How will Katniss' relationships with Peeta and Gale both develop? And most importantly - what does The Capitol have in store for them - we're left to believe that they are not happy that there are 2 winners of the Games that seem to have outsmarted them - I have a feeling they're going to have some frightening plans for our two heroes.

Excited to hear what you all thought!

A Thousand Splendid Suns - review

I just finished this book. I am torn as to how I feel. In the beginning I liked the book. I loved reading about Laila and Tariq, they were so sweet together. I loved that Tariq beat the boys that threw pee on Laila, that is my kind of man!!! Then in the middle of the book I was ready to throw the book across the room and never speak to it again! It was very frustrating and maddening.

The hardships these two girls, Mariam and Laila, had to endure got to be to much sometimes. The life they had to live in the Middle East during the war was CRAZY! Most of the war talk was hard to take in, it was confusing and hard to understand. I can't imagine having a husband like they did, let alone the rules that they had to follow. The lack of so many things that we take for granted just because you were a women. No medical treatment, a prisoner in your own home, no make-up, no laughing, etc, sounded crazy to my American ears. It really made me upset and disturbed. I am so glad that I live where I do and I can live how I want.

The ending did make up for some of the book, it made me happy (I won't give anything away). Still a sad book, but it had moments of sweetness. It opened up my eyes to others hardships and a way of life that is totally different from my own.

What did you guys think?

Someone to Love - review

This book did not live up to my hype. It was a fine and easy read, but it lacked the sexual tension. The main characters just did not have any and I was not rooting for them. I was sad that it did not grip me like A Knight in Shinning Armor did. So sad, that was such an awesome book, defiantly lots of sexual tension.

The Secret Life of Bee's - review

This book was really cute and sweet. An easy read. This was about Lily who ran away from her Dad with her housekeeper a black women in 1964. Lily was only 14 and wanted to find out all that she could about her mother that died when Lily was 4 years old. It was interesting to be taken back to the 60's when blacks were being persecuted, so when Lily went to live with a house full of black women people did not know what to think about it. I loved that Lily found the "Women of Mary" women and learned all that she could about being a bee keeper. She found her first love, which was really sweet, as a first love should be. At the end of the book I really wanted to know more. I wanted to know what she is doing now that she is all grown up. Does she still live with the women? Is she a bee keeper or did she take up writing? I guess we will never know. Atleast I can go and see the movie now and see how that turned out. What did you think?

One Shot - review

I thought this was a good mystery and enjoyed reading it. I got a little caught up in the abrupt sentences and all the details. Lee Child just went on and on in the details, things that we really didn't need to know and I ended up skimming through alot of pages because of it. I think it would have been a better book if it had been shorter. I could not make up my mind on Jack Reacher, he doesn't seem to be the typical hero. Most of the time I was deciding if I liked him as a person. A point in his favor is that he is very thorough. What did you think?

The Time Travelers Wife - review

** REVIEW CONTAINS PLOT SPOILERS **

What to say? I loved reading this book, but now that I am finished I am mad at the book. I am getting tired of people always dying and there being sad endings. Why must that be? Can't anyone write a really great book and it have a happy ending? What is wrong with a happy ending? NOTHING.

Enough of that. OK. This book was really good. Claire and Henry are so cute together and I loved all the time that they spent together when Claire was younger. Sometimes I got confused when the "Henry's" would met up and be together and talk about everything, but it made for an interesting point of view. It was kind of cute to see Henry when he was little.

The love that Henry and Claire had for each other was palpable. I was totally drawn into it. They really were meant to be together. Everything that Claire knew about Henry, she knew him since she was 6, still made her want to be with him and not want to fight the system. What is love if not that? I don't know how I would feel being told and always knowing that I would be with this person and feeling like the choice was taken out of my hands, but Claire did not feel that way. She wanted Henry from the first time she saw him, which is really sweet.

Poor Henry. Having to lose your feet because of a time travel gone wrong, when he always would tell Claire that his feet is what saves him, without them he would be nothing. Little did he know that he would eventually be without them and this would be his downfall. How can you escape when you can't get up and run, only crawl away? You can't. It was a little weird to find out that he was shot and killed my Claire's own Dad in a hunting accident. You wonder if her father knew when he met Henry (once they met up in real time and were dating) that this the the man I killed when Claire was younger??? We will never know. Interesting though.

This book will hold a little place in my heart. I really liked that it was different, but I might be upset for awhile about Henry dying in the end. I wonder if I will want to see the movie when it comes out since I know the ending is really sad? I don't like sad endings.

The Rest of Her Live - Review

Overall I liked the book "The Rest of Her Life" by Moriarty. I think that the book started off a lot better than it ended ... even though I liked the ending. I think that the book was a lot like a Jodi Picoult book in that it took an interesting situation (in this a teenage girl accidentally hits and kills a girl with her SUV) and shows all views of it from the people surrounding the event.

I almost preferred the secondary storyline about the mothers life growing up. I think that was a little more interesting and gave us insight to her character.

I just kept expecting this book to "grab" me like it did in the first few chapters, and it never really did that. Did I enjoy it? I did. Would I read it again? Probably not. But I'm glad I read it. It made me think - and not all books do that.

Midwives - review

Ok. So I TRIED this book. I thought I would like it since my SIL, Kami recommended it, but I didn't take into consideration the amount of description there would be about the birthing process. I am deathly afraid of medical things, especially birth. I have given birth and I really don't want to repeat it, but I will because I love kids, but......this book was WAY to descriptive. I really didn't make it far because I cringed after almost every sentence. I know, I have issues, I am not denying it. This will have to be a time where one of you has read it and can review it for me.

Erin and I both are a little slow this month because we have been on vacation and have been super busy, so please forgive us. August is always a crazy month.

Breaking Dawn - review

Where ooh where to begin??????

Ok, so this is my take on the book and of course, not all of you felt the same, that is why we are here to discuss it and see what everyone thought, right???

To give you some background on me, I LOVED Twlight and New Moon I could not put those down and stayed up late to finish them, but Eclipse did not hold me as much, don't get me wrong it was great but just not as good as the other 2. I got really annoyed at Bella, I love Edward, oh no I love Jacob, fiasco. So, Breaking Dawn was a little like Eclipse to me, I could put it down, and I got a little annoyed at Bella when she was Preggers because she was willing to die to save her child and all the crazy stuff that was going on with the pregnancy I just didn't like. I thought that the baby would have to be killed anyway because it would be a crazy Vamp like every "baby Vampire" that we had heard about from the previous books, so why was she willing to die to save the baby that would just have to be killed anyway!!! I did not like that part and wanted her to get rid of the baby just like Edward and Jacob wanted her to do. I was glad that it worked out and the baby was born and was not a crazy "baby Vampire". It was great to have Edward turn Bella into a vampire, finally!!!

Besides that part I really loved all that happened. I loved the Honeymoon, boy did it get my juices flowing, good thing my husband was around. It was about time that they had sex, huh?? I LOVED Bella as a Vamp, she just kicked butt and her personality was different to me and I liked her so much better. I was happy that she married Edward, I was not a Jacob fan atleast not for her. Luckily for those Jacob fans out there, he gets what he has wanted in this book, and that is to be over Bella and to have someone of his own. I TOTALLY guess that Bella's baby was going to be Jacobs "imprint", did you??? I saw that one coming and was super happy about it because you sort of did feel sorry for Jacob. The baby's name, Renesmee, was a mouthful and it did distract me because it was hard for me to remember how to pronounce it, but she was just so sweet and I loved her ability. How cool would it be to just touch someone and show them what you feel and want and not have to speak?!?!?

I was upset about Alice and that she felt that she needed to leave, but I kept hoping that she left to help them out. So it was a great moment when she came back just in time to save them all from the Volturi. Good thing she brought Nahuel,the other half vamp half human, to show the Volturi that half vamp half humans can be controlled.

I was going to be so mad if Stephenie Meyer ended it where they all died and Jacob escaped with Renesemee to raise her. She really had you thinking that for a time and I was not happy. Who knew Bella with her super power would be the hero? She was always so clumsy and uncoordinated, I love her has a Vampire. When it ended I was still hoping for more because it seem to be an abrupt ending and needed something else. It was sort of anti-climatic with the whole Volturi thing, not having some sort of fight. Didn't you want some little bit of a fight? I wonder if Stephenie Meyer just didn't have it in her to write one.

Ok, what did you think???