Yes, I have been reading

So I have been reading the last couple of weeks. Just not as much as I would like darn it!

I read a great book last week and now cannot think of the title. But the cover was black with white writing. Does that help me remember?

Busy weekend of reading

So this weekend I had the opportunity to read some great books!

David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary, was a unique and raw look at emotions and relationships. I may have to re-read this book, with a dictionary in hand! I love the way he tied the stories of his relationship to great words. One of my new favorite books!

One Summer by David Baldacci is a story of letting go and finding your way amid grief and unforeseen circumstances. The story was a bit trite for me but I still enjoyed this story of a family trying to move on with their lives.

What would you do if your forever best friend stopped speaking to you? What if you caused something to happen that you cannot even begin to imagine? What if someone you loved did something so unspeakable you lost them both?

Exposed is a story about friendship and family and losing them all, but somehow finding your way. Told in prose this story is full of heart ache and teen issues. Really, really enjoyed this book!

I started reading Winter's Bone and realized I had already read it! Great story and a great movie. I highly recommend this title.

Tried to read Winter Birds by Jim Grimsley but could not get into it this weekend. It will go on my to read list.

Best of Me

So I started reading The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks last week and could not get into it. Decided to turn it back in to the library for the long line of people waiting for it since I obviously was not hooked.

Many more titles on my shelf today!

Skipping a Beat

So I decided I needed some adult books for a while and selected Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen. Being married I was intrigued by the plot- a husband that changes the rules of the game and the choice the wife makes. I have to admit I was not invested in this book. I found the wife to be a bit whiny. I understand the emotions, the feelings of betrayal but seriously her boo-hooing was a bit tiring. I felt the ending was trite and after giving away the mass fortune he still leaves her $4 million so she would be taken care of...which goes against his mission to live a simpler life.
An ok fluff read but was a bit disappointed.

Recovery Road

So after the heavy reading of the Hunger Games trilogy I needed to read something a bit more light- so Recovery Road seemed to fit the bill.
A story that many teens today can relate too- alcohol and drug addiction, co-dependent relationships. I was disappointed that the parents were portrayed so negatively in the book, but in reality maybe that is the case for many teens today.

Hunger Games- finally!

So this weekend I finished Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Yes, I know months and months after the rest of the world has read them.
I must admit that I loved the first book the most, the final book was so full of violence for violence's sake that I was exhausted when it was over.
I am looking forward to the movies to see how my idea of Panem fits into the Hollywood version.
Great series!

Bumped

A society where everyone over the age of 18 is unable to bear children so teens are hired to be surrogates for adults with too much money is absolutely fascinating. A moral dilemma, a conscious choice, a life created as a gift and a way to pay for college or retirement.

Book 2 Thumped is due April 24, 2012.

Death in a Prairie House

So anyone who knows me knows I am fascinated with Frank Lloyd Wright and have been to Taliesin West in Arizona, as well as toured various homes in Chicago. This book was an academic read and shed some light on the man behind the genius. Or the madness depending on your view. I admire his vision and style but his personal life left a bit to be desired.

Crossed

I love this series! I cannot speak enough about the concept behind a society that is mapped out for you- everything about your day is planned for you and then you are watched to make sure you do what they want you to do.
LOVE THIS BOOK!

Wonder Struck

Let's Take the Long Way Home

I had seen this title at the airport and I must admit that the cover drew me in. I knew I had to read this book after the brief synopsis and cover captured my attention. Unfortunately this book did nothing for me. I could not get into this story or the characters to save my life! I did not have empathy for the two women and the struggles they faced. I also admit that I did not finish the book. It is one of those books that I will have to come back to some other day.

A Monster Calls

I absolutely love Patrick Ness! His writing style and books draw me in and leave me wanting more. A Monster Calls was the premise of the late Siohban Dowd. I could not help but wonder how she would have written the story and what she thinks of his take on her concept. I flew thru this book in a few hours. I could never tell what was real and what was in his head. The black and white images in the book helped to set the stage for the oppressive dread that filled the main character. I loved this book!

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

WOW! Another fabulous book that I read in a few hours. I cannot wait to read the second book. Also, I never thought I was someone who liked sci-fi but am finding more and more that this genre appeals to me. It helps that the young adult titles are absolutely fabulous!

Hunger Games

What took me so long to read this book? It was a fabulous afternoon read while camping a few weeks ago. I loved it! I have to find a copy of Catching Fire immediately!

Sky is Everywhere

Annexed

Numbers

Would you want to know the exact day friends, loved ones and even strangers were going to die? If you did know would you tell them? Could you stop it?

Life on the run with no one to trust is a hard life to live. Or are you really alone?

Magician's Elephant

Finding out that your life has been a lie from a fortune teller shakes Peter to his core. How do you find your lost self when you are alone in this world.

One Day

A love hate relationship that spans 20 years. Have not seen the movie but looking forward to seeing how Hollywood presents this friend love story.

Graveminder

The Summer of Skinny Dipping

Turn of Mind

A heart breaking story about dementia. How a life is stolen and another is taken.

Not a fan of the format but it was a captivating story.

Gemini Summer

Being a Gemini I had to read this book. Of course it had NOTHING to do with that at all but I can be simple minded.


Two brothers, friends and enemies. One devastating afternoon changes it all. A dog. A dream. The Gemini mission.

A must read for summer.

Queen of Water

Imagine being a young girl, only 7 years old and you are forced to leave your family. Forced by wealthy people to be their maid, nanny, cook...their slave. Your are beaten, tormented, verbally abused, belittled.
Then one day you find the courage to go home. But what is home?

A beautiful story of finding your family, your place and changing the way you look at yourself.

Books I Remember I Forgot

Last Summer (of You & Me) -Brashares

The Seeing Stone

What Can(t) Wait

For Marisa planning a future is hard to do when home won't let you go. This story weaves two cultures and the hopes of one young girl and leaves you wanting to know how it all ends.

Blank Confession

How far would you go protect the people you cared most about in the whole world? What would you do if they were at risk or in danger? Would you lie to protect them?

Weekend Reads

So I have read countless books over the last month or so just have been too lazy to post them.

This weekend on a lovely camping trip to Springy Point I had the pleasure of reading Matched and The Last Good Place of Lily Odilon. There is a third book that I finished but am now unable to remember the title. Oh and there was Warm Bodies a lovely book about zombies.

Last month I read The Reliable Wife which I loved!

So I like Lily but I loved Matched and A Reliable Wife. Both great books for different reasons. Matched weaves a story of secrets and all things forbidden-including running in public. I was fascinated by this story and wanted to know what happened once I turned the last page.

Reliable Wife captured my attention after a recommendation from Cassie. A personal ad, poison, a damaged son, secrets. This story is a tangled web and I loved it!!

April titles

I really need to remember to write down the titles I read...I have read 4-5 books in the last couple of weeks and see that I have not kept very good track.

Kristin Hannah
Silver Boat, by?

UGH!

Destroy All Cars

This quick read accompanied me on the flight from Spokane to Phoenix on Monday. By the time I got on the plane in Oakland my book was done. Fun story full of angst, drama and high school stuff! A good choice for reluctant teen boys. Also some environmental issues that will appeal to a different audience.
Fun and quick read!!

Keeper

You Wish

A birthday gone wrong. Imagine if all your wishes came true. Only they came true at the same time on your 16th birthday. Your Raggedy Ann doll becomes life size and real. Ken pulls up in his convertible to pick up "Barbie". Gumballs fill your bedroom. The list goes on. Including kissing your best friends boyfriend. If you could make a wish what would you really wish for??

Revolver

Set in the early 1900's this story about a young man and his sister struggling to survive takes places over the course of a few short days. A main character-The Revolver- plays an integral part of this terrifying story. Being terrorized in your own home, the loss of your father, the disappearance of your step-mother, the harsh elements and a mystery you know nothing about. It is true...dead men do tell stories.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

Browsing the gift shop at the airport this month always surprises me. I had heard about this book and was happy to find it for my quick trip. My father was raised Mennonite so I was excited to read more about his life (not that he is a middle-aged woman who was left by her husband for Bob from gay.com but you know what I mean) and the Mennonite traditions. Tinged with bits of laughter and heart-wrenching pain I began to understand more about my father through the eyes of this woman. I shared this book with my father who said the book made him sad, remembering his wonderful childhood and the walk down memory lane. We love the recipes at the end, as they resemble the recipes my grandmother, his mother, shared with us. Family traditions. Something I cling to like a life raft in the harsh seas.

The Girl She Used to Be

Song of the Humpback Whale

I love Jodi Picoult. Her stories seem to touch parts of my life and always teach me a lesson. While this story jumped around and I was not thrilled with the ending, I did enjoy the story line and sent it with my sister for her weekend getaway.

Sing Me to Sleep

What an amazing love story. I love that a story is written with such heart and truth about how bullying can forever change how it impacts their life. Seeing her struggle while she is bullied, then during her transformation she struggles to find herself and in the end when she finds love. Spoiler alert: when the love of her life dies (AARRRGGHH!!!!) she turns immediately back to her best friend. Not sure how I feel about the quick turn around but the story came across as true to life and it kept me up until 2am, crying, needing to know how the story ended.

Turtle in Paradise

During a difficult yet magical time a young girl learns a hard lesson about love and family.

Our Little Secret

I love true crime! It completely fascinates me how someone can commit an unthinkable crime and "get away" with it. In this case, an entire town knew the truth and did nothing. Our Little Secret has a few layers to it and it amazed me how a small town and small town politics work. The writing style was not great but the story line kept me reading so I could find out how an entire town could protect a killer. A teen killer at that. Oh and did I mention the man that they killed was abusive and vile?

Bonechiller

You have to be intrigued by a book called Bonechiller. I am not a fan of scary or horror but I needed to know about this book. Fascinating concept, teens being stalked and killed by a creature for the last hundred years. No one ever put it together that this was happening they just assumed the kids ran away. It all ends in a flash and a bang and happily ever after.
Great read for boys or girls who like a bit of excitement. Not scary but enough chill to make it worth the read.

Once Was Lost

A family hiding a secret. A father not sure how to cope with changes. A daughter feeling lost. A young girl goes missing.

Dealing with betrayal of a father, first kiss from a confused and scared brother, teen angst, mom in rehab, friend missing...fear.

This book deals with a variety of teen issues and does not shrink away from dealing with all the emotions of being a teen.

Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club

This title is completely out of my normal range of books but was looking for something new. A simple read that did not touch much on her personal journey. Having to deal with betrayal and death as well as moving to a new home all seemed to be brushed under the carpet. I was expecting more about the underlying story. Overall a good story.

Rainbow Party

Not what you think...or maybe it is. Eye-opening story about teen sex and their fears, their exploration and what really goes on behind bathroom stall doors.

Fall for Anything

I love this book! In the course of a few short hours I was taken from the depths of despair to the pillar of hope and then dashed to heartbreak with a slight glimmer of hope.

What do you do when someone you love dies? What if that person commits suicide? The question of 'why' can eat you alive. What if someone comes along and tells you they can answer the question for you. Do you follow them??

Each page pulls you along, desperate to find out what really happened and how do you heal when someone you love dies.