Close your little eyeballs*

January = 4

February = 1

March = 1

April = 7

May = 5

June =  5 

July = 2

Total = 25

I'm a little behind with the reading...Goodreads tells me I'm 4 books behind.  Eek.  Better get on it.  I think one problem is the starting and stopping of books.  There have been several I have started and stopped.  Some because of inappropriate material I don't feel like finishing.  Others because I could care less about the characters by page 60 and I think I should care by page 60.  Anyway - no excuses.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

At work we started a little book club (I have explained about White Oprah? If not - I'll need to get on that).  This was the first book we decided to read.  I had trouble getting in to it at first, way too many characters right off the bat.  In the end I had a list of characters, spouses and their occupations...just to try and keep them straight.  The book is about a book club (appropriate for our first book). The chapters alternate between the characters depending on if it's their month to host the book club.  I think I finally figured out that two characters are in first person, while the others are in third.  Sometimes we knew what was going on in someone else's mind but not consistently, so that drove me crazy.  One character is always writing letters to her dead mom...I could have done without those letters.  The whole book has that Forest Gump feel (cause that's a thing, The Forest Gump Feel).  It covers decades in the lives of these women and they keep the book club going the whole time (but we don't witness every single month thank goodness).  Overall I actually liked the book despite my misgivings at the beginning.  It did drive me a little crazy how we would jump years ahead of the last chapter and somehow I was expected to keep their children straight in my head and care about what happens to them when they are twenty (and their mom was just pregnant with them like five chapters ago).  But what can you do when you want to cover the 60's-90's?  It was a good read and a nice break from my end of the world YA I've been sucked into lately.

Quiet by Susan Cain

I first got interested in reading this book after seeing a Ted Talk with Susan Cain and how she talked about being an introvert in a society that promoted extroversion.  Being an introvert myself (I know - shocker) I was interested in reading more of her ideas.  There were mixed reviews about this book, some people saying she's not really an introvert and others saying she doesn't know what she is talking about.  But she provided interesting statistics and research about her topics within the book and being an introvert who is accused of being an extrovert at times - I can tell you there is a spectrum.  She states in the beginning of the book that not everything will apply to the reader.  I think it would be a good read for any introvert and for people who may be parents of an introvert.

Don't underestimate the importance of body language*

January = 4

February = 1

March = 1

April = 7

May = 5

June =  5 

Total = 23

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

I REALLY enjoyed this book. The main character has been expected all her life to marry the Kind Lord because of a bargain her father made with so he would have children.  When she is seventeen she is made to marry the Lord through a ritual (without seeing him) and then is taken to his castle.  While she is destined to marry him, she has also been trained from a young age to kill him.

I thought it was well written and I liked the characters.  I loved how Hodge pulled in the gods of mythology and how she made me love the bad guy.I would easily recommend this to anyone.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafia

I hate this book.  I think TheBookGeek said it best, "This is not a dystopia, it is a romance. This is not a novel, it is a collection of similes and metaphors, most of which do not make sense. I originally gave Shatter Me two stars because that's my sort of kneejerk reaction to books I don't like, but after thinking it over for a while, I can't recall anything positive about it that would justify a rating of more than one star."  

Here are some lines I found particularly worthy of the eye roll:

"I want to lick every beautiful beat of his heart." (I also gagged at the imagery here)

"Imagining the birds soaring across his skin."

I don't even remember what it was about....OH yeah - her touch kills people, but there's one person who can touch her and she desires him nonstop.  It was a real struggle to get through.  Simile after simile that didn't make sense and a main character in serious need of some self control in the hormones department.  I get it, they rage in teens, but I've never met someone so...harlequin romancy.  I concur, I can't recall anything positive about this book. 

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

This was pretty good, there was a bit of language, and it's about a girl who gets pregnant at 16 or 17 - so you know something went down.  The father of the baby has been gone for several years and one day he shows back up and the main character battles her old feelings for him.  I liked how the main character develops over time to learn "how to love" - even though a lot of the time I was like, "No, you idiot!" when all was said and done - I liked it.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
This was a very good read.  I think I might read it again soon.  It is interesting to note that this is actually a collection of broadcast that C.S. Lewis gave over the air.  A broadcast about true Christianity and where we need to be as a society? I can't imagine that happening now a days, even though I really do think we need a reminder of how far off the path we've strayed as a society.  For the most part, I agreed with what he said and it lined up with my beliefs - there were a few things where we differ (i.e. the trinity)

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Meh - not a huge James Patterson fan (especially after Maximum Ride).  I've had this book on my literal "to-read" shelf (the bookshelf I have in my room dedicated to books I've purchased or borrowed that I will some day get around to reading) for years.  Probably since it first came out.  The chapters are short so it reads quickly.  The story is about a boy and girl who find themselves arrested and accused of being a witch and a wizard.  They of course have no idea where these accusations come from and throughout the entire book I wondered myself where they came from.  If no one had ever told them they were a witch and wizard and they'd never done magic - who ratted them out?  VERY interesting story idea, I'll give them that - but I feel like too much was left out.

Hey, you wanna have a rousing discussion about truth,honor, patriotism?*

January = 4

February = 1

March = 1

April = 7

May = 5

Total = 18

So in April I did a pretty decent job of writing up reviews after I read the book.  Not so much in May.  So as a reprieve for last month's reviews being so long - this one will be short.

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

This book is about the end of the world (as are the last two books in this review).  A virus has taken out 99% of the population and sixteen year old Lucy survived without any vaccinations (the only known person to do this).  This is book 1 of who knows how many and I suppose I would be interested in discovering if the other books answer some questions - like, "Why did she survive when others who were not vaccinated, including her family, died?"  Overall it was a good story, but there were plot holes - which like I said, will hopefully be resolved in the next books....just not 100% sure I'll get to them.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
This book drew me in almost instantly.  Blue is the youngest in a family of female psychics.  She was told from a very young age that her first love would die, so she has resolved never to fall in love.  Blue doesn't possess the gift, however she can enhance everyone else's.  So every year she is taken to a church for St. Mark's Eve where the spirits of those who will die in the next twelve months can be seen.  Blue has never seen one, until the one time she does.  Her aunt tells her that the only reason a non-seer would see the soon to be dead is either because they would kill that person or they are you're true love.  In Blue's case, she feels it would be both.  I thought this book was well thought out and kept me interested.  However, it is part of a trilogy and the second book didn't captivate me the same way.  Warning for parents - if I have anyone who reads this that has kids old enough to read these books, there is a bit of a language problem here, but its worse in the second book (lots of f-bombs in the beginning of the second book - a few in the first).  Just in case that is something you want to avoid.  Maybe one day I'll finish their story.

Act in Doctrine by David Bednar

This is an interactive book.  There is designated space for your thoughts throughout the chapters and then prompts at the end of each chapter on how you can apply it to your life.  It discusses the Atonement, the difference between testimony and conversion and why moral agency is central to the plan of salvation.  Elder Bednar is definitely about each person discovering the value of learning things for yourself rather than just being handed the answers.   My recommendation - take the time to read a chapter at a time.  It's not a book to squeeze in here and there (like I did).  I think you'll get more out of it if you have enough time to read a chapter together and then write out your thoughts.

Fragments by Dan Wells
Love. Love. Love. Repeat this overview for the final book Ruins.  Dan Wells does a great job of creating post apocalyptic America.  He has details in there that I admire as a writer because I wouldn't have even thought of it.  One is the fact that there are tons of plants/factories unmanned but left running and what they do to the surrounding environment when they start to blow up.  In this book Kira Walker travels across the wastelands - a.k.a. the mid-west.  To keep the story going there is the underlying "mission" of finding the members of The Trust, those individuals responsible for the current state of the world.  An interesting read that kept me going (and unlock some trilogies I've "started" left me wanting more).

Ruins by Dan Wells
I love how the book rounds out.  I have issues with the last paragraph, but other than that I love the character development and I appreciate the way that Wells finished up with the old world to begin a new one where Partials and Humans could coexist.  I'd recommend this series to anyone.

I'm very pleased and scared to be here*

January = 4

February = 1

March = 1

April = 7

Total = 13

    First - I apologize in advance, there is at least one book review that is long, I will try to cut it down but I'm not sure I can decide what to take out of it.   

Rebekah by Orson Scott Card  

  This is the second book in the Women of Gensis series by Card.  The first is Sarah (Sarah and Abraham).  I really enjoyed this one.  It was frustrating at times but not because it was poorly written or anything, but rather because I found myself empathizing with Rebekah and knew she must feel frustrated.  I think Card did a great job of turning this biblical story into a novel and explained/gave reasons for some of the things you don't quite understand in the bible.    

Deep in the Meadows by Lisa M. Cronkhite    

  There are few books that infuriate me. There are books I struggle to get through but not many put me in a bad mood. This one did. There are a few reasons that I thought up that would lead me to be particularly hard on this book:

• I have grown accustomed to reviewing stories with my writing group and looking for plot holes, clichés, descriptions (scenic and emotional - making sure to show not tell), and overall making sure the story is believable.

• I don’t want to sound cocky because I’m not – but I feel I write better and yet I haven’t been published.

• I feel lied to. I was told it was a great scary novel – the only thing I found scary was the writing and that an agent actually allowed it to be published (dang it- there I go again).

The main character, Bee, is flat and inconsistent. From the first page I don’t like her and the dialogue between her and her brother feels forced. Then Bee’s brother dies in a car accident and we are shot ten months into the future where her family still hasn’t even begun recovering from the tragedy. Bee is apparently the only one who is seeing a counselor (the school counselor at that), though her mom seems more deeply impacted and out of touch with reality than any other character. Bee can’t make up her mind about how she wants her parents to feel about her - in one paragraph she is hoping her dad will get upset with her for skipping school because if he’s upset it’s better than nothing. A few sentences later she's relieved he hasn't figured out she skipped school because he's been through so much. Bee needs to commit to which attitude she'll take, being protective of her parents or rebellion because they don't pay enough attention to her.

Even with the boys in her life. Since her brother’s death she’s fallen in love with her brother’s best friend and wants to be with him and yet when her brother's teammate asks her out she turns him down (despite just saying how “hot” he was) and her reasoning is that she can't bear to be reminded of her brother. Really? Hanging out with his best friend on an almost daily basis and being in love with him doesn't bring up the same problem?

Bee begins to see her brother all over the place, none of these experiences are particularly scary or even make my heart rate increase by a fraction.  The narrator tells me that he seems to want to tell her something, but I never get that impression. 

As I said, this book is supposed to be scary and I did find the writing hauntingly bad. For an example – in one scene Bee finds herself in a bathroom covered in blood (though not her own because if it were she'd be dead). She says, "the image of red has stained my mind. I was swimming in it". Then she escapes and after who knows how long of wandering through a cornfield (must be one wealthy farmer) she comes to a highway and right across the street is a comfortable looking home. An old, oblivious lady wearing a pink apron lives there. She takes in the stained clothes and asks if Bee was in an accident and despite having a swim in blood earlier does not seem to have the appearance of someone who actually needs to explain themselves because the women quickly moves on to inviting her in, having her sit on her old lady couch and then say she needs to get out of those damp clothes...damp from what? The narrator has already said the blood dried and apparently to the point the woman either couldn't tell it was blood or had bad eyesight (yet knew to ask if she had been in an accident). The women focuses first on getting her something to drink rather than checking the blood covered girl for wounds, getting her something clean to wear or getting more of an explanation before inviting her into her home, or – calling the cops like a smart person. I'm reminded several times of the kind of horror movie where the characters’ stupidity make you hate them all. Because even though Bee’s been kidnapped, taken across the state line and woken up covered in blood she thinks, "I can't let my dad know about this- he's too fragile" or “I can’t call the cops, they’ll think I did it.” Because (sarcasm font) in all those crime shows on Prime Time TV only the people who go to the cops are suspect. (close sarcasm font). The author seems to want us to feel frightened about this whole thing, so she says 'blood', 'red', and 'nightmare' a lot.

The worst – Bee finally gets home (no one really asking about all this blood she is supposedly covered in), strips off the clothes and checks herself for wounds to make sure that the blood isn’t her own….I’ve been told by the author in the first chapter that she is about 17 and smart. I know 10-year-olds who understand their body and blood loss better than this girl. Bee says she can wash the blood off of her body but she’ll never wash the red away from her mind…poetic (oh sorry – sarcasm font there).

Other lines I hated:

"Will every lie I make lead to another?" Yes. You idiot. You're not a toddler learning this for the first time- you're 17.

"Pure evil drips from his tone" Goosebumps, she must be up against the vilest villain ever conceived (sarcasm). The “bad guy” was never scary.

And every single fight Bee has with anyone because it is so forced and ludicrous it doesn’t even trick me for a second in to believing the author has ever had a verbal fight with anyone in her life.

I may have hated Bella from Twilight and not found the writing to be the strongest, but at least I was pulled in enough to rather enjoy the first three books before the fourth one and the movie ruined the whole series.

If I could give negative stars to a book – this would have a negative 5 out of 5. The only good part was that the writing is so simplistic (though aggravating) that it only took a few days to read it.

Rachel and Leah by Orson Scott Card

Oh the bibical story that always made me go, "What the?!" I only have one complaint about this one, apparently there was supposed to be a sequel.  All the other stories either wrapped up nicely before the end or wrapped up as the other one began.  This one just ended with only have the story told.  Then Scott mentions in a little segment afterwards that the rest of the story would be in "The Wives of Israel" which from what I can tell - was never published.  Nonetheless, he did a good job "explaining" the story and really making you understand Leah (I'm assuming I would have come to like Rachel in the next book because I didn't really get to see her in the first part of the story). All in all I think it was a good book, I couldn't put it down (but I did for work). 

Legend by Marie Lu

A typical end of the world teen novel.  I liked it though.  No hard feelings.

The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robins

An interesting look into the social hierarchy of high school (and even high school teachers) from all different parts of the country and all different groups.  What I liked most was that each of the main people focused on in the book were issued a challenge and the challenges helped them to break out of their label and also to see for themselves that they were more than their "friends" and sometimes family led them to believe. 

Partials by Dan Wells

I downloaded an audiobook from the library and listened to a good hour of it one day while out for a walk.  I was a little confused about a few things and thought it was interesting how the author was just jumping right in, but I can't say I didn't like it.  But then I got to a part that led me to believe I was not listening to the first book in the series...It turns out I was on book 3!  So I had to hit the pause button.  I found the first book and it wasn't in audio, so I read it on my teeny tiny phone.  But I'm thinking book 3 will make more sense now.  I really enjoyed this book, it is incredibly well written, the world is well described, the characters feel real and there seems to be real development.  Such a nice relief from that last book which I will never mention again (spit on it). 

The Tyrant's Daughter by J. C. Carleson

This book was also well written. It was a nice change of pace.  The main character finds refuge living in America after her tyrant father is murdered by his power hungry brother.  The story follows her family (her mother and little brother) as they acclimate to America and try to survive their new lives.

I think I'm finally catching up :)

It's like you escaped from a Hallmark card or something. *

January = 4

February = 1

March = 1

Total = 6

I am six books behind.  I know I got married and that should count as an excuse, but I'm still sitting here wondering what is wrong with me!? 

Anyway - on to the book

Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

First off - let me say that I never know how much to share because I would hate to write a spoiler and not realize I've done it. 

I'm not going to lie, I kind of love this book.  There are many books that I really enjoy, but I feel like every once in a while I just think, "I love this!" It was a little hard to get in to the book at first, but mostly that was because Wyndham gives you the history lesson that leads to the day when the Triffids can take over.  And the Triffids by the way are these fictitious plants that Wyndham made up - pictured here.

Thank you Wyndham for drawing and Wikipedia for providing the image

He describes the triffids well and what they can and will do is horrific. Basically they can grow to about 10 feet tall (typically in the cities they grow to be 7-8 feet tall).  They have a stinger (as seen whipping out at the top in the picture) that can reach about as long as their body is tall.  The sting is deadly, unless the plant is immature, in which case it will knock you out and make you sick for a bit but won't kill you, if you're lucky.  Once the triffid kills its prey it waits for the body to decompose a bit, and then uses its stinger to tear away bits of flesh for consumption (gross right?).  However, the triffids produce this incredible resource that works better than any oil currently found on earth.  So of course, some people harvest them for profit.  OH I forgot to mention the WORST part - see the legs at the bottom? The triffids can move - not gracefully, but they move.  And despite their capability to kill if they come to full maturation - people like having them in their gardens.  So...you know - that's dumb.  Then there is an event, like an asteroid shower or something - the shower goes late in to the night but our main character can't see it because he had some kind of eye surgery (after being whipped in the face by a Triffid.   When he and the rest of the world wake up the next day, any who were able to see the shower, are blind. And then the story really begins...

I found myself reading in the middle of the day, thinking of all the possibilities and getting a little scared.  I even started to look at plants with a little more suspicion.  I think Wyndham did a good job describing the world, the plants, and even dealing with moral issues that would arrive from there being so few sighted people compared to blind people. 

Anyway - I probably already said this before - but I would recommend it.

Tell them the horizon is an imaginary line that recedes as you approach it.*

It snowed today!  We found out at 9 a.m. that our office was closed - luckily I had already decided not to be a hero (boss' snow day motto, "don't be a hero").  I'm hoping that by posting these snow day pictures (which aren't all that exciting because I am all alone suffering from cabin fever) you won't notice how few books I read this past month.

I saw this little creature in snow today so I thought I'd get some shots....this is the only one where he wasn't super blurry.

Now for books

January = 4

February = 1

Total = 5

Weakness is Not Sin by Wendy Ulrich
This book was pretty good.  I know a lot of people who beat themselves up and I think this book addresses those fears and insecurities that people might have.  Here's a quote I sent to a friend:

 "I realized that my weakness was not in my unwillingness to make sufficient sacrifices, which is what I expected the Spirit to whisper.  My weakness, the one God wanted me to humbly bring to Him, was my unwillingness to receive God's grace as enough.  Even if God does not spare us hardship, He can spare us despair.  The comfort and sustenance of the Spirit can truly be enough if we will let them in.  My problem is less my struggle to sacrifice and obey and more my struggle to receive."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So that's it - I only read one.  I hit a bump in the road when the person whose library card I use to access library books got a fine and I got restricted.  I think we should take a moment to consider how our actions affect other people...just kidding, I should probably go get my own library card.  I've added it to my "to-do list" that I never seem to accomplish.  Hopefully I'll finish a book or two before next month's book post.

Brr...it's cold in here*

And so it begins.

Chewy reminded me that I had said back in 2013 that this year I would read better quality books (not that everything I read last year was junk!) Dune and Jesus the Christ have been on my reading list for a while and if you’ve seen those books you know they are doozies.  I of course forgot all about that when I decided to read 50 books again this year.

With that being said – I am fully prepared to not reach this goal in 2014.  I hope I come close, but if I read the thicker books on my “to read” list I will be content to count it.  We’ll see. 

By the way – I am on track right now, but I also splurged in some teen books (and will continue to do so ok!? I could claim I’m learning my art but really, I have an addiction).

*shuffles papers and eyes crowd suspiciously* don’t judge, ok?

January – 4

Total = 4

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

I think it’s long been known that I have a thing for Peter Pan.   Not a thing in a romantic way, eww gross, or in Starbucks coffee way (please see http://sixthdonbro.blogspot.com/2008/05/man-with-obsession-is-man-who-has-very.html)  but there’s something about the story that I like.  However, I’ve never actually read the story.  I’ve seen a million versions of the story in movies.  It was time.  I liked it, it was like blending all the different versions together (Disney, 2003, Hook).

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick

I really liked it. It’s a dystopian novel about a kid they call Spazz because he suffers from epileptic seizures.  These seizures have made him different in another way though, because of them he can’t use probes, which the people use as a drug to escape their lives.  Because of probes, people don’t read books and they don’t remember things well.  This makes Spazz special.  The book is his adventure across “the world” or rather between the “latches” leading him to Eden.  I think the world building Philbrick does is pretty good and there was only one point, near the end where I was a little let down – but that would be a spoiler, so if you ever read it, send me a message and we can talk.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

This book has shown up on recommended lists a lot for me and I would keep skimming past it, determined not to read another werewolf/vampire-ish book.  I finally caved to see what it was all about.  I think it is well written but I’m not sure I am enticed to read the next one (is there a next one? I assumed there might be – the end leaves it open to a sequel but wrapped up nicely if not).  I think I just have a problem with the Bella-like characters – not that Grace (one of the main characters) is like Bella – I didn’t want to strangle Grace and she didn’t seem helpless and useless.  The book is written from two perspectives, Grace and Sam, and I have to say, I like being able to see Sam’s perspective as well.

The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

This was one I randomly picked up from “the library” (the Overdrive app).  I’m not a huge fan of reading books on my tiny phone, but it comes in handy when I have a few minutes here and there to kill.  Lucy is a young concert pianist who has gone rogue.  She walked out of a concert in Prague 8 months before we pick up on the story.  I think the thing I like most about this story (for me at least) is the moment the main character realizes that she is being a selfish brat and blind to what is most important in her life.  Okay – the way I said it sounds harsh, but there are a few pages (maybe only a page in the real sized book) where everything becomes clear to her, that she has been blaming other people for things and that she’s been making her decisions for the wrong reasons. And the characters felt fleshed out, real in a way I want to challenge myself to write characters better.   I liked it.

Of course I love bananas, I'm a monkey! Don't be ridiculous!*

Blog Bucks: Congratulations to G-Sauce, Murbaton, and Sarah! I love Indiana Jones too!

January - 4

February - 3

March - 4

April -2

May - 2 (+1)

June - 4

Total = 20

 
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Can I tell you how incredibly happy I was when I finally finished this book!?  I was incredibly happy!  I really thought that my trip to Utah would be long enough for me to finish a few books (two at least) - but when Atlas Shrugged is one of them, I guess that isn't an option.  I enjoyed this book, I saw some similarities to our day.  I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is looking for a light read, it is heavy, it is thick, and it is full of Ayn Rand's philosophy.  If you're ready for that challenge - have at it, I doubt you'll be disappointed, if not, move on to something else.  Oh - and I bought 5 books for under $30 the DAY I finished the book.  Hallelujah!

Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

So Comedians definitely make you laugh harder when you can hear their voice and inflection...and see their facial expressions.  I over all liked the book (3 stars on Goodreads) but I struggled through parts.  I am pretty certain that parents will find this book hilarious though because the parts I laughed hardest at were the parts where I related and was able to think about my nieces or nephews and how they behave.  I'm loaning it out to my sister (mother of 4) to see what she thinks.


The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
Chilling.  This story follows a thirteen year old girl who has grown up in a polygamist community.   There are strict rules that she can't read, can't talk to outsiders, and she can't choose for herself who she can love.  When she is told that she has been chosen to marry her 60+ year old uncle, her family tries to get the decision changed, but they are afraid to disobey "the prophet'.  So she must find her own way.  I think this book was well written and has a prospective into a world that most of us do not know or understand.

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Uh - I loved this book.  I think the writer did a great job addressing her audience (teens...and me).  From what I have been learning about YA Fiction, the adults came across as helpless (either because of grief or fear of the Prince), the main character has to work through her own grief but also is charged with helping to save the city.  It was a good read, the writing was smooth and transitioned well and I don't recall any lulls.  I basically read this one in a day (I didn't intend to - but I couldn't put it down and was taking a "me" day anyway).  Can't wait to get and read the sequel.