Beneath the Surface by Michael Phelps
Summary: The autobiography of swimmer Michael Phelps and his attempt to win 8 gold medals in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: I enjoyed this because I respect Michael Phelps and all he has accomplished. But there wasn't much to it. A nice travelogue, nothing life changing. And I want to know about Bejing.
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Summary: Narrated by Susie Salmon, a 14 year old girl who is raped and brutally murdered, the story of her family and their attempts to move on without her.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: Certainly not for everyone. Emotionally hard from the beginning. But I couldn't stop reading. I was so intrigued and I wanted Harvey to get what was coming to him. In that, I was more than a little disappointed. The ending didn't do it for me. I gave it four stars for readability and such an interesting premise, as well as the fact that this story will stay with me. But I must admit, I was a bit let down at the end.
Summary: Narrated by Susie Salmon, a 14 year old girl who is raped and brutally murdered, the story of her family and their attempts to move on without her.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: Certainly not for everyone. Emotionally hard from the beginning. But I couldn't stop reading. I was so intrigued and I wanted Harvey to get what was coming to him. In that, I was more than a little disappointed. The ending didn't do it for me. I gave it four stars for readability and such an interesting premise, as well as the fact that this story will stay with me. But I must admit, I was a bit let down at the end.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Summary: Juliet, a popular newspaper writer, finds the story she has been looking for as she inadvertently connects with a literary society on the island of Guernsey.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: I just didn't love this book, and I had such high hopes going into reading it. I just didn't connect with it.
Summary: Juliet, a popular newspaper writer, finds the story she has been looking for as she inadvertently connects with a literary society on the island of Guernsey.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: I just didn't love this book, and I had such high hopes going into reading it. I just didn't connect with it.
When You Reach Me
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Summary: Miranda, a sixth grader, receives strange notes about her future and must conclude that someone who knows her also somehow knows what is going to happen in her life.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Comments: Loved it more than I can say.
Summary: Miranda, a sixth grader, receives strange notes about her future and must conclude that someone who knows her also somehow knows what is going to happen in her life.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Comments: Loved it more than I can say.
Catching Fire
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Summary: After wining the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta return home to find that nothing is as it was before, and their lives are more in danger than ever.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Comments: Almost as good as the first book, loved every single page!
Summary: After wining the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta return home to find that nothing is as it was before, and their lives are more in danger than ever.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Comments: Almost as good as the first book, loved every single page!
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Summary: The love story between a woman and a man who involuntarily travels through time.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Comments: I had put off reading this book after hearing about its numerous offensive content (sex and F-words). But I finally gave in, deciding I would try to see past it. Now, having read it, I can't in good conscience recommend it to anyone. The sex and the F-words are both, in my opinion, way over the top and ruin what could have been an amazing book, one that is life changing. In other words, I couldn't see past it.
That being said, if you are not particularly sensitive to language and sex, it is an incredible story that sucked me in emotionally, even though I was determined not to get involved. Although the book jumps around in time, it is easy enough to follow and the ending, which ties everything together, is so fresh and new it is almost enough to salvage the rest of the book for me. Almost, but not quite.
Summary: The love story between a woman and a man who involuntarily travels through time.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Comments: I had put off reading this book after hearing about its numerous offensive content (sex and F-words). But I finally gave in, deciding I would try to see past it. Now, having read it, I can't in good conscience recommend it to anyone. The sex and the F-words are both, in my opinion, way over the top and ruin what could have been an amazing book, one that is life changing. In other words, I couldn't see past it.
That being said, if you are not particularly sensitive to language and sex, it is an incredible story that sucked me in emotionally, even though I was determined not to get involved. Although the book jumps around in time, it is easy enough to follow and the ending, which ties everything together, is so fresh and new it is almost enough to salvage the rest of the book for me. Almost, but not quite.
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Summary: Becky Bloomwood is a journalist at a financial magazine, but can't seem to get her own finances under control.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: Much different from the movie. Fun read, nothing too spectacular.
Summary: Becky Bloomwood is a journalist at a financial magazine, but can't seem to get her own finances under control.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: Much different from the movie. Fun read, nothing too spectacular.
The Glass Castle
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Summary: The author's memoir of growing up in a series of homes where indoor plumbing and consistent meals were optional.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Comments: Not since reading Faulker in high school have I wanted to throw a book at the wall. This book made me want to do just that. No one should have to grow up the way the author did, and my heart breaks just thinking about it.
Summary: The author's memoir of growing up in a series of homes where indoor plumbing and consistent meals were optional.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Comments: Not since reading Faulker in high school have I wanted to throw a book at the wall. This book made me want to do just that. No one should have to grow up the way the author did, and my heart breaks just thinking about it.
Extras
Extras by Scott Westerfield
Summary: Aya is obsessed with increasing her popularity and is certain that by tagging along with a group of daredevil girls, she will be able to break a story that will make her famous.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: Once again, I appreciate the world Westerfeld created, but I wasn't nearly as impressed with this book as I was with the first couple in the series.
Summary: Aya is obsessed with increasing her popularity and is certain that by tagging along with a group of daredevil girls, she will be able to break a story that will make her famous.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: Once again, I appreciate the world Westerfeld created, but I wasn't nearly as impressed with this book as I was with the first couple in the series.
Wings
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Summary: Laurel is appalled when she realizes that the bumps on her back are actually wings of some type, and that she is a faerie.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: Sort of a Twilight type story involving faeries. I am typically not that into fantasy books, so this was just okay for me. Interesting story, without being too much of a copycat. Loved the love triangle.
Summary: Laurel is appalled when she realizes that the bumps on her back are actually wings of some type, and that she is a faerie.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Comments: Sort of a Twilight type story involving faeries. I am typically not that into fantasy books, so this was just okay for me. Interesting story, without being too much of a copycat. Loved the love triangle.
How to Take the Ex out of Ex-boyfriend
How to Take the Ex out of Ex-boyfriend by Janette Rallison
Summary: 16 year old Giavanna breaks up with her boyfriend when she thinks he is choosing his friends over her, yet regrets it as she realizes she is far from over him.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: I love Rallison's clean, teen romances. She is a breath of fresh air, and I wish we had more authors like her. Another one I enjoyed that I would recommend to younger girls!
Summary: 16 year old Giavanna breaks up with her boyfriend when she thinks he is choosing his friends over her, yet regrets it as she realizes she is far from over him.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: I love Rallison's clean, teen romances. She is a breath of fresh air, and I wish we had more authors like her. Another one I enjoyed that I would recommend to younger girls!
Gym Candy
Gym Candy by Carl Deuker
Summary: The story of a high school football player who is looking for a competitive edge and turns to steroids to make him stronger and faster.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: Interesting perspective of an athlete and why he chooses to use steroids. Seems entirely too plausible. A lot of description of football, which I'm sure appeals more to fans of the sport, and may be a bit boring to the average female reader. Still, a good read.
Summary: The story of a high school football player who is looking for a competitive edge and turns to steroids to make him stronger and faster.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: Interesting perspective of an athlete and why he chooses to use steroids. Seems entirely too plausible. A lot of description of football, which I'm sure appeals more to fans of the sport, and may be a bit boring to the average female reader. Still, a good read.
the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Summary: The story of Junior, a teenage boy living on an Indian reservation in Oregon and his attempts to break out of what is expected of him.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Comments: Read a lot about this book before I actually read it, so I was prepared for the stereotypical portrayal of Native American people (the way they are all drunk and have no future), so I wasn't offended by it. I appreciated it for what it was. Some language issues, and a lot of sexual content I could have done without.
Summary: The story of Junior, a teenage boy living on an Indian reservation in Oregon and his attempts to break out of what is expected of him.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Comments: Read a lot about this book before I actually read it, so I was prepared for the stereotypical portrayal of Native American people (the way they are all drunk and have no future), so I wasn't offended by it. I appreciated it for what it was. Some language issues, and a lot of sexual content I could have done without.
Alvin-Ho
Alvin-Ho by Lenore Look
Summary: Alvin-Ho is afraid of everything, including girls, school and anything else that may pose a threat to his comfortable life.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: Quick read, for a younger audience. Funny, yet easy to relate to this scaredy-cat. I enjoyed it.
Summary: Alvin-Ho is afraid of everything, including girls, school and anything else that may pose a threat to his comfortable life.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: Quick read, for a younger audience. Funny, yet easy to relate to this scaredy-cat. I enjoyed it.
Speak
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Summary: After a horrific event at a party, Melinda withdraws into herself, unable to deal with her feelings.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: Interesting story, I sympathized tremendously with the main character. Tough topic to write about, but felt it was handled well.
Summary: After a horrific event at a party, Melinda withdraws into herself, unable to deal with her feelings.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments: Interesting story, I sympathized tremendously with the main character. Tough topic to write about, but felt it was handled well.
The Book Thief
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Summary: Narrated by Death, the story of a girl and her experience in World War II.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Comments: Beautiful language, pure poetry. Amazing story. One of those books that has stayed with me for months. One I will definitely read again.
Summary: Narrated by Death, the story of a girl and her experience in World War II.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Comments: Beautiful language, pure poetry. Amazing story. One of those books that has stayed with me for months. One I will definitely read again.
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