Books I've read in 2016
Since I tend to read a fair amount of books, I thought it would be fun to share what I've read and give a short recommendation on the book. If you see something you enjoy, click on the photo and it will take you to our card catalog to see if it's checked in.
July
This is the book I'm currently reading. More information coming soon.
As I mentioned, Stephen King is my favorite author. Which is why whenever I have a lull in my reading schedule he is my go-to. I picked up this book in college and started reading it dozens of times but I finally made it pas the first chapter...and...well it wasn't my favorite by him but still a good book.
Mostly, I didn't like the ending. Which isn't unusual for Mr. King's work. He has a tendency to get to the end and wrap it up with something out of left field...like a time lord puppeteer, or aliens, or even weird ant-people. This time he kept it classy...in the fact that instead of adding a weird ending he just stopped. A lot of build-up and then the story just ends. Like he left out part 4. I suppose it's better than ant-people, but still disappointing.
Short story: Clay Riddel is in Boston on October 3rd, hoping to finally sell his graphic novel (which he does), when all of the sudden everybody around him goes savage. Turns out it was just everybody who was talking on their Cell Phones. After escaping the city, and making some friends along the way, they discover that the crazy "phonies" are evolving and becoming less zombie-like everyday. They need to figure out a way to stop them, and hope that he can find his son before he becomes one of them.
I give it: 3/5
Mostly, I didn't like the ending. Which isn't unusual for Mr. King's work. He has a tendency to get to the end and wrap it up with something out of left field...like a time lord puppeteer, or aliens, or even weird ant-people. This time he kept it classy...in the fact that instead of adding a weird ending he just stopped. A lot of build-up and then the story just ends. Like he left out part 4. I suppose it's better than ant-people, but still disappointing.
Short story: Clay Riddel is in Boston on October 3rd, hoping to finally sell his graphic novel (which he does), when all of the sudden everybody around him goes savage. Turns out it was just everybody who was talking on their Cell Phones. After escaping the city, and making some friends along the way, they discover that the crazy "phonies" are evolving and becoming less zombie-like everyday. They need to figure out a way to stop them, and hope that he can find his son before he becomes one of them.
I give it: 3/5
June
I really liked the book series this author wrote before (called Monument 14) and this book sounded intriguing. But I have to say, it was really cheesy. I enjoyed the plot. But the characters were kinda lame with little development by the end of the story...and the ending, man I hate a bad ending. Ugh. Without giving anything away, in the end it was all for nothing. That's all. That all being said, it was a fun read. If you go in knowing it's going to be a cheesy book...it's not bad. Kind of like Pretty Little Liars, or passing by a Train wreck you can't look away from.
Short story: Laurel is you average teenage girl. A little on the awkward side, and a few curves that she loves. Her friend Viv on the other hand has the same curves and wants them gone like yesterday. A new product, called Solu, is being released that is an artificial sweetener that will help you lose weight fast. A fancy cruise is launched with celebrities and the lucky few who could come up with the money to be the first ones to try it. Viv and Laurel happen to be among them, but Laurel gets sick and can't even try it! Then weird things start to happen to everybody on board who did try it...and she's not sure if will make it out alive.
I give it: 3.5/5
Short story: Laurel is you average teenage girl. A little on the awkward side, and a few curves that she loves. Her friend Viv on the other hand has the same curves and wants them gone like yesterday. A new product, called Solu, is being released that is an artificial sweetener that will help you lose weight fast. A fancy cruise is launched with celebrities and the lucky few who could come up with the money to be the first ones to try it. Viv and Laurel happen to be among them, but Laurel gets sick and can't even try it! Then weird things start to happen to everybody on board who did try it...and she's not sure if will make it out alive.
I give it: 3.5/5
Another area that I am intreagued by, but also kinda gives me the willies, is the sinking of the Titanic. The thousands of stories that may never be told from that night, all the lives lost that changed history forever...but at the same time such a tragic incident that makes you kind of shudder and hope it never happens again.
Well this book tells another side of the story. One I hadn't really known about. I really liked reading about that, but it was kind of a mixed bag overall. It really read more like a non-fiction book...but with the liberties of a fiction book. It was a little dry, and going between the perspectives of so many people was a little confusing. The best part for me was the last couple chapters at the end that really are a work of fiction.
Short story: There's a ship resting in the ocean, stopped because of ice. It sees a ship in the distance. The midnight watch guy sees some things that look like flares. He's not really sure, but he reports it to the captain who tells him to keep watching but do nothing. The next morning the Titanic is gone. Meanwhile, a reporter back in the states is eager to write one of the biggest stories of his career. The more he digs the more horrified of the facts he becomes. The captain denies having seen the ship. His crew backs him up. But the facts tell another story.
I give it: 3/5 stars
Well this book tells another side of the story. One I hadn't really known about. I really liked reading about that, but it was kind of a mixed bag overall. It really read more like a non-fiction book...but with the liberties of a fiction book. It was a little dry, and going between the perspectives of so many people was a little confusing. The best part for me was the last couple chapters at the end that really are a work of fiction.
Short story: There's a ship resting in the ocean, stopped because of ice. It sees a ship in the distance. The midnight watch guy sees some things that look like flares. He's not really sure, but he reports it to the captain who tells him to keep watching but do nothing. The next morning the Titanic is gone. Meanwhile, a reporter back in the states is eager to write one of the biggest stories of his career. The more he digs the more horrified of the facts he becomes. The captain denies having seen the ship. His crew backs him up. But the facts tell another story.
I give it: 3/5 stars
Stephen King is my favorite author. He is an amazing storyteller and a great character writer. A lot of times he delves into the weird and supernatural as well and doesn't skip any of the gory details. That all being said, this book was the third book in the Mr. Mercedes trilogy. These books are a nice change of pace in the world of King. They are detective novels that up until the second half of this book pretty much stay in the world of normal people. I highly encourage them...but you really should start at the beginning.
Short story: William Hodges is a retired detective who helped solve the Mr. Mercedes murder spree in 2009. The man responsible, Brady, is safely rotting away in a vegetative state at a mental institution. Or is he? Inside Brady's head things start to evolve an it's not good for his old nemesis Mr. Hodges who is back on the case trying to figure out how a video game about tapping fish can be responsible for deaths springing up in the area.
I give it: 4.5/5 stars
Short story: William Hodges is a retired detective who helped solve the Mr. Mercedes murder spree in 2009. The man responsible, Brady, is safely rotting away in a vegetative state at a mental institution. Or is he? Inside Brady's head things start to evolve an it's not good for his old nemesis Mr. Hodges who is back on the case trying to figure out how a video game about tapping fish can be responsible for deaths springing up in the area.
I give it: 4.5/5 stars
This book is really intense. It's about a school shooting told the the point of view of four different students and each chapter is only 2 or 3 minutes in real time. I could not put this book down. Books about school shootings are always a little bit scarier because they really can happen. You hope that it won't be you and your school...but it's always in the back of your mind.
The Short Story: At the end of an all school Assembly, they realize somebody has locked all the doors from the outside...and then he steps forward with the gun.
**His sister is terrified, knowing he is angry because she wants to leave this place after she graduates.
**His sister's girlfriend is scared because he knows their secret and thinks she has corrupted his sister.
**His sister's girlfriend's twin brother was on a mission of his own in the principals office, and knows he must do something to save his sister.
**His ex-girlfriend is at track practice outside when shots ring out from inside the auditorium.
They all must fight to survive his wrath.
I give it 4/5 stars
The Short Story: At the end of an all school Assembly, they realize somebody has locked all the doors from the outside...and then he steps forward with the gun.
**His sister is terrified, knowing he is angry because she wants to leave this place after she graduates.
**His sister's girlfriend is scared because he knows their secret and thinks she has corrupted his sister.
**His sister's girlfriend's twin brother was on a mission of his own in the principals office, and knows he must do something to save his sister.
**His ex-girlfriend is at track practice outside when shots ring out from inside the auditorium.
They all must fight to survive his wrath.
I give it 4/5 stars
May
When I'm reviewing a book that's the first thing I look at, was I able to easily slip into the world like watching my own private movie? or was I reading it because I wanted to finish it and be done already. This book was definitely the first one, I was swept up into the dreary England setting even though I've never been there and have never read any of the Bronte sister's books (Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Agnes Gray etc.) The book was fun, but not to cheesy. Most of the plot points were logical, not just to spice up the story. You really felt like she was going crazy (and you along with her) as the story progressed...but then it all wrapped up nicely in the end.
Short story: Samantha is the last remaining descendant of the Bronte sisters, and as she starts her freshman year at Oxford she uncovers a lot of secrets left behind by her father and becomes slightly obsessed with figuring out what her inheritance, "The warnings of experience", really is...because it certainly isn't the lost Bronte riches everybody thinks she has.
I give it: 4.5/5 stars
Short story: Samantha is the last remaining descendant of the Bronte sisters, and as she starts her freshman year at Oxford she uncovers a lot of secrets left behind by her father and becomes slightly obsessed with figuring out what her inheritance, "The warnings of experience", really is...because it certainly isn't the lost Bronte riches everybody thinks she has.
I give it: 4.5/5 stars
This is the second book in the "Red Queen" teen series.Depending on who you talk to, you either love it or hate it. I'm in the percentage that loves it. This is one of my favorite Teen series since probably Hunger Games. (sorry Divergent fans.) Mare is torn between two worlds and a revolution that she doesn't really understand. She's not a leader, but she's forced into the role. In this book she is trying to find herself and makes some mistakes along the way but is becoming a stronger person. I can see how people might dislike her, but I got so wrapped up in the story I'm excited to see how it turns out...but there's two more books at least a year a part, so it's going to be awhile before we find out.
Short Story: Mare has barely escaped with her life from the Silver Blood Kingdom, with a list of other red blooded people with powers, like herself. With the help of her band of mistfits, she must find the people before the evil King Maven does to save them from his wrath.
I give it 4.5/5 stars
Short Story: Mare has barely escaped with her life from the Silver Blood Kingdom, with a list of other red blooded people with powers, like herself. With the help of her band of mistfits, she must find the people before the evil King Maven does to save them from his wrath.
I give it 4.5/5 stars
April
March
For March/April my friend and I are reading "Cozy Mysteries." These are those books you see that have terrible puns for titles, and always involve a mysterious dead body. This was the first time I actually picked one up to read, and I have to say I loved it. It was definitely a guilty pleasure read, but I sat down on a Saturday afternoon and read the entire book. It was fun, and I love trying to figure out mysteries...plus, it has a cat as one of the lead characters which is always fun.
The short story: Minnie is a librarian for a seaside community who recently got the money to buy and start up a bookmobile. On her first day, her mischevios cat sneaks onto the bookmobile with her and they accidently discover a dead body...the man who donated the money for the bookmobile! It's a small town mystery where everybody is a suspect but a lot of fun.
I give it 3.5/5 stars
The short story: Minnie is a librarian for a seaside community who recently got the money to buy and start up a bookmobile. On her first day, her mischevios cat sneaks onto the bookmobile with her and they accidently discover a dead body...the man who donated the money for the bookmobile! It's a small town mystery where everybody is a suspect but a lot of fun.
I give it 3.5/5 stars
February
Keeping in line with reading more of the Classics, I chose to read Frankenstein. Now there are some stories that grip you, and really draw you into the story to the point you just can't put the book down...and there are stories that you just can't wait to be over. For me, this was one of the latter. There are a lot of good themes you can discuss, but I'm not somebody who likes to read those kind sof books. I like to be entertained...and Dr. Frankenstein was the most whiney, egocentric, self centered character I've met in a long time. The only part of the book I like was when the Monster told his story, and that was only like three chapters. Also, it got a little confusing being a story told within a story, and part of it within THAT story.
The short story: Dr. Frankenstein is obsessed with trying to discover the meaning of life as it pertains to science, along the way he creates a monster that was pieced together from non-living parts. He instantly regrets this, runs away and has a mental breakdown leaving the Monster to fend for himself. The Monster gets angry and starts stalking the Doctor trying to convince him to make him a wife. Chaos insues.
I give it 2/5 stars
The short story: Dr. Frankenstein is obsessed with trying to discover the meaning of life as it pertains to science, along the way he creates a monster that was pieced together from non-living parts. He instantly regrets this, runs away and has a mental breakdown leaving the Monster to fend for himself. The Monster gets angry and starts stalking the Doctor trying to convince him to make him a wife. Chaos insues.
I give it 2/5 stars
January
This is the first in another trilogy. The second book comes out in October, but it had a nice ending that wasn't a big cliffhanger. I'm excited to read the next one, but not left in suspense.
The short story: In the future, when you turn 16, you receive a memory that your older self has sent back in time to you. This helps you figure out what you will do with your life. When Callie gets her memory, it shows her killing her younger sister. As a result, she is thrown in "limbo" which is jail for those who will commit crimes in the future. Eventually she escapes and starts learning truths about what's really going on and she has to struggle with her fate, because she loves her sister and can't imagine what would make her do it.
I give it a solid 4/5 stars.
This book was made popular when it was turned into a movie back in 2004. I'm not ashamed to say it's one of my favorite movies (when I'm in need of a good cry). It came on TV the other day and I realized I had never read the book, so I decided it was time to give in and read it...after all the book is always better than the movie, right?
Nope. I finally found a book that was not better than the movie, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, it was good and it had a few more details into the lives of the characters you don't see in the movie...but I have to say, this time it just better to watch.
The short story: An aging old man tells a love story to an Alzheimer's patient every day about a young couple who had a summer romance when they were young, than drifted apart only to be reunited 15 years later when the girl has to decide between her fiance and the long lost love of her past. The story brings the old man and the Alzheimer's lady together in unexpected ways.
I give it 3.5/5 stars
Nope. I finally found a book that was not better than the movie, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, it was good and it had a few more details into the lives of the characters you don't see in the movie...but I have to say, this time it just better to watch.
The short story: An aging old man tells a love story to an Alzheimer's patient every day about a young couple who had a summer romance when they were young, than drifted apart only to be reunited 15 years later when the girl has to decide between her fiance and the long lost love of her past. The story brings the old man and the Alzheimer's lady together in unexpected ways.
I give it 3.5/5 stars
This is is a classic tale that many are required to read in High School. For whatever reason, I wasn't...and I never really thought too much about it. Then one of my co-workers stated it was her favorite book and found out that I had never read it. Well after that she insisted I read it...so i did.
That all being said, I really loved this book. You got really invested in the characters and the story. It was interesting seeing the story through the eyes of a young girl instead of an adult, which brought a unique spin on things. I'm not sure I would recommend this to young teens, but definitely High School students and adults.
The short story: A young girl named Scout is growing up in the South during the 1930s, under the care of her single father Atticus Finch who is a lawyer. It's a coming of age tale as she starts to see things in a new light when her father is chosen to represent a colored man in a controversial trial.
I give it 4.5/5 stars
That all being said, I really loved this book. You got really invested in the characters and the story. It was interesting seeing the story through the eyes of a young girl instead of an adult, which brought a unique spin on things. I'm not sure I would recommend this to young teens, but definitely High School students and adults.
The short story: A young girl named Scout is growing up in the South during the 1930s, under the care of her single father Atticus Finch who is a lawyer. It's a coming of age tale as she starts to see things in a new light when her father is chosen to represent a colored man in a controversial trial.
I give it 4.5/5 stars