The Vision by Jessica Sorensen

The third book of the series, there is apparently is a fourth book coming out in February.  I am not sure whether or not I will be reading it, I am working on expanding my selection of books to include works of greater works of literature.  I will however admit that I do wish to find out how the story ends.  That was one of the pulling factors that lead me to read all three of these books so quickly!

The Underworld by Jessica Sorensen

This is the second of The Fallen Star Series which I have been reading constantly for the last few days.  I barely have time to update my blog!  While this is no award winning writing, I did enjoy reading it.  I seem to enjoy YA fiction more than any one person probably should, but what can I say I am a sucker for such books!!

The Fallen Star by Jessica Sorensen

I got this book simply because I needed a book to read with Mr. Darcy, my new Nook Color (Thank you Grandmother Sir!!).  I did not have the patience to wait for the ones on hold through the library, so I go this book.  I then proceeded to finish it in two days!!

I will say this, it is definitely entertaining.  Not anything award winning, but fun in the same way the Rick Riordan's books were fun.  Quick and easy to read, relatively good plot with a good number of twists, and pretty good characters.  Worth picking up if you need a book and cannot find or decide on anything.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

I have been hearing about this book for the longest time, everyone who told me about it always said I had to read it and then started becoming more and more cryptic about the actual story.  Of course I now understand why, it is so much better when you come in to the story knowing nothing about it.  I have heard good things about the movie too.

So instead of trying to give some kind of description and be annoyingly vague, all I will say is to read it.  I really enjoyed this book, extremely well written and with a very refreshing and twisted plot.  My only caution to you is that it is a bit sad, so keep that in mind when you start.  Enjoy!!

The Puppy Diaries: Raising a Dog Named Scout by Jill Abramson

I received this book as part of one of my temp positions.  I finally read it because Matzah had recently had a litter and I thought it was relevant.  While it was somewhat relevant to the having a puppy fact, the rest of it was not at all what I expected.  To tell you the truth I had no idea what would become of this book, but I did hope it would be more than it was.

At the end of the day it was a great book for first time dog owners who are having a hard time training their dog.  Aside from that there is very little that will come from it. It is interesting but not life changing!

Th Fountainhead by Ayn Ran

Well, I finally did it! It took me long enough, but I am done reading this book. I am very sad to say that it is no Atlas Shrugged. I did enjoy it, but I kept waiting for some big speech or something to move me...the way Atlas Shrugged had, but it did not come. Maybe if I had read this book first, who knows. However, I am happy that I finished it and will now move on to a less dense book, maybe a cheesy one with a happy ending!!

For all of you who say you love The Fountainhead, all I will say is to go read Atlas Shrugged, if you have not done so already! It will blow your mind away!!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

This book was outstanding! So many great twists and turns that keep you on your toes and make it really easy to finish in a day. I actually forced myself not to read it while I was stuck inside thanks to Hurricane Irene. I wanted to be able to spread it out...so I picked it up Monday afternoon and finished it around 1am! Totally worth the sleepiness at work, but I had nothing to read on the subway today!

I will say this though, I was not too fond of the ending. I kept thinking it was a dream and she was going to wake up and get back to the story...except she did not! Once I finished the whole book it felt like the last few chapters had been written by someone else and rushed to end it. Despite this I will still re-read this series and add them to my must by list!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I am going to start by saying that one of the reason this post is so much more upbeat than the post of the first book is because I already have the next one sitting on my dresser. Oh yes, I learn from my mistakes...I requested the next book before even starting this one! So now for the review...

HOLY COW!! This book is amazing! If you thought the first one was good...boy are you in for a treat! This one takes the series to a whole new level, it is really very exciting. I think the only upside to Hurricane Irene hitting New York City this weekend is that now I do not need an excuse to read all day long. Not even the dogs will make me feel bad, because they will not want to leave either!

The bottom line is...READ IT!!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I am currently trying really hard not to yell...'It's not fair!!!!' I just realized this morning that I would very likely finish the book today and had yet to request the next one! And of course there are 52 people ahead of me and I just finished the book! And all I want is to pick up the next one...Ahhhh!!!

I have been hearing great thing about this series for a while, and actually had the book for a few days before I actually started reading it and it took me a few to get going. Not because it was slow, but more because I was busy and did not give it the time of day...of course as soon as I did I finished it fast! Probably too fast, but it was just so good...When you think you know what is going to happen it throws you through a loop and then another and another....again I just want to yell!!

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Well it took me long enough...but I have finally finished the full version! I borrowed it from the Library and I cannot bring myself to return it! It is full of post-its marking my favorite parts, and somehow writing down the page number is just not the same...that and I also keep feeling the urge to start all over again!!

I am not sure there is anything I can say, other than "READ IT!!" that would be worthwhile. Truthfully it is competing with Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice for my favorite book. I know that it can look intimidating and it may seem easier to put it aside for a better time...but there is no better time than the present! So if you have not read it...please pick it up! It may take a bit to get in to, but I promise it will all be worth it!!

I will also add that I spent a while trying to find a quote to add in to my blog...and like my other to favorite books...could not find just one thing that was good enough!! I would have ended up with a couple of pages at least!!

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook

I am a fan of this movie and had no idea it was based on a book...I came across it browsing for audiobooks and decided to give it a try. HILARIOUS!! The movie is witty and romantic, and (as usually is the case) the book is even better! I watched the movie again after finishing it and really wished they had stay truer to the book. I was falling out of my chair laughing, and trying really hard not to look like a crazy person cracking up for no reason! So if you are looking for a good summer book this a good one to pick up.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I will admit I read this back in high school...but I barely remembered what happened. It was as if I was reading it for the first time, I was happy, sad, angry and pleased all over again. Such a wonderful book!! And so completely different from Jane Austen, which was another thing I forgot and was very excited about. I am not sure what made me think that she would be inferior to Jane Austen, but Charlotte Bronte is far from it...different, but very good in her own way.

If you have not read this classic, then put it at the top of your list. If you have and it has been a while, then do the same. And if you are in to the audiobooks, which I now enjoy often during my long hours at work, there is a great version on podcast available on iTunes (great narrator)!!

Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher

I have been looking for a new series to get in to and thought this might have potential...it does not. I finished it and have no interest in finding out what happens next. I was actually falling asleep during the last few chapters, if that is not a tell-all then I am not sure what is! Maybe it dragged on a little too much and kept adding new random characters making it hard to follow...either way not reading the next one. I will continue on my hunt for a series!!

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Ohh Sookie Stackhouse...how you entertain me so!! I cannot wait for the next book, I know there has to be another one because of all the loose ends. Probably multiple books if I am being realistic. And I wonder who the next guy is going to be...maybe we will get a new character...oooohhhh another hunk (hehe)!! We are due for a new man.

I have to admit that I am really unsure about which other character I like, the author does such a wonderful job with making me love and then hate characters...and then love again. I do not like to give books away, so I will be very cautious with my words. I will say that I almost laughed myself off the couch when the whole Alcide thing happened!!

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

I really cannot say what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but I can definitely say that it was not this. I will not say much about this book because I want others to form their own opinions. I will, however, say that I was very disappointed. There were endless possibilities of where this story could have gone, the one the author chose would not have been mine!

I have similar feelings as when I finished The Time Traveler's Wife and wished the author would find a new profession. I am inclined to think the Chris Cleave should do the same. I know this may sound harsh, but his only other opinion would be to go out and find true horror stories to write about openly and stop hiding behind the veil of fiction. I could just as easily read the world news and history books...

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Abridged)

I will confess that I purchased this book as an audio book...my very first audio book. I was so concerned with the reader that I did not pay attention and accidentally got the abridged version, which I did not realize until the end of the 10 hours. I learned my lesson...I am going to go get the actual book from the library! (The copy my cousin gave me is in a box, inside another box in storage on the other side of the country!)

I will however say that I am in love with the abridged version!! The story is fabulous!! I cannot wait until I read the entire book. I will then give a full review to it....until then...Who is John Galt?

Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult

Now I remember why I stopped reading Jodi Picoult's books...they are all the same!! If I had not read a few of her books earlier I may have liked this one. However, I was annoyed that the end of the story is told within the first 50 pages!! I fell bed writing such a short review...but there really is not much more to say.

The Dark Is Rising Series by Susan Cooper

This series was entertaining. I wish I had read it back in middle school, I think then I might have appreciated it a lot more. Now that I am older and have read a greater amount and variety of books, I found this series to be slightly childish. Because of that I was limited as to how much I was really able to enjoy it.

Despite that I found the whole idea and imagination behind the series to be wonderful. If written for an older audience it would have been truly incredible. I think I will get this series for my little brothers, it might me a bit too tame for them since all they do is play video games...but they would like the dark and twisty side.