Saturday, November 29, 2008

Multiple Blessings


Title: Multiple Blessings
Author: Jon & Kate Gosselin
Series: None
Genre: Non-Fiction



I love Jon & Kate plus Eight. I watch it every Monday. When I heard they wrote a book I decided I was going to read it. I was a little leery because I knew they are religious and the book talked about that.

The story tells of how Jon & Kate met, got married mere months later, had the girls and the babies as well as the hardships they faced. I definitely learned new things about the family and when I watched it this Monday I felt like I was making extra connections and saw them in a new light. A lot of it was old info, but it was still interesting to read. It told a lot about the time between the babies being born and the time they turned one. I enjoyed learning where some of Kate's friends came from and hearing more about the family that we never see.

If you like the show, I thought it was a good read. It did deal with religious aspect of things, but I thought that it was fine. It wasn't like you were beat over the head with it, it just explained what they thought and felt at the time. I only skipped over the numbered list with 6 things relating to God. I tried to read that and it wasn't for me. There was also additional pics of the family that I hadn't seen before.

It was the perfect book to read over Thanksgiving, because it talked a lot about that.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Uglies


Title: Uglies
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Series: Uglies (Book 1)
Genre: Young Adult




What an interesting concept for a book. I'm always intrigued when I read a story that is suppose to take place in the future and seems to make some sort of statement about the way we live now and how it will impact the future.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, is the first book of a trilogy (that current has four books, figure that one out). It is about a future society where at the age of 16 everyone undergoes major plastic surgery to become a Pretty. They pretty much all look the same. It has said to stem from hate crimes and other problems such as discrimination based on looks in the past. Uglies and Pretties do not live together or basically ever interact. It is a highly interesting society that is full of technology.

But, not all people want to become Pretty, go figure, there are always noncomformists. There is a runaway town called Smoke, where people go to stay the same. The powers that be in the cities (where the Uglies and Pretties live) have been on a look out for this place for a long time. It is not acceptable that everyone does not want to conform.

This story follows Tally. She makes a new friend (after her old one turned Pretty) and eventually learns that the new friend, Shay, does not want to become a Pretty and is running away. Tally wants more than anything to become a Pretty, so she stays behind. Tally eventually gets blackmailed by basically the government to lead them to Smoke following the cryptic directions that Shay left her. Otherwise, she can not become a Pretty.

It's interesting to see how they refer to what is life now, calling us Rusties. The ending left me wanting to go out and grab the next book, and I am going to do just that.

I am also not 100% sure where I think the story will go after the second book, it should be interesting.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Annie's Song


Title: Annie's Song
Author: Catherine Anderson
Series: None
Genre: Romance



Wow, I think I just finished what has now become one of my all time favorite books. I took out Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson from the library because I had read about it on another book blog.

The beginning of the story is a bit sad, but it turns out wonderful. Annie is basically the town idiot. She's made fun of, acts like a 6 year old, isn't allowed to talk or make any sounds, can't make her own decisions, can't go to church or out on the town, ect. In the first chapter of the book she is raped.

When Alex, the older brother of the man who did this, finds out, he is appalled. He vows to do whatever needs to be done to right the situation, but Annie's parents (total assholes for most of it) don't want to press charges because it might hurt the father's political career. Four months down the road, they learn she is pregnant. Alex steps up to the plate and marries her.

It is then that Annie begins the long journey to blossoming. Alex finds out that she is not stupid, but instead is deaf. No one ever thought that. She has some pretty amusing misconceptions (like she's going to lay an egg much like birds) but is overall very sweet.

The slow win for Annie's affection and trust is just beautiful. This truly was one of those make you feel good stories. I didn't want it to end.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Into the Flame


Title: Into the Flame
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: Darkness Chosen (Book 4)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Today I finished the Darkness Chosen series by Christina Dodd. I must say that this was my favorite book of the four. I discussed the other three here.

Into the Flame is the final book in the four part series. I can't really say much about it, because there is a shocking twist right in the beginning that is dealt with throughout the story.

I can say, however, that all hell breaks loose as over a hundred Varinskis come to the Wilder's valley home to exterminate them. I think all this action is what made the story such a good read. I must admit, I am sad to be leaving the Wilder family after these four stories.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Walking in Circles Before Lying Down


Title: Walking in Circles Before Lying Down
Author: Merrill Markoe
Series: None
Genre: Chick Lit


What a welcomed change in my reading line up. I walked past this book at Target and was immediately drawn to it. Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe was a joyful read that had me laughing.

In this book we meet Dawn. The first few chapters are really back views on her life. We learn about her first dog, her first marriage as well as other things. Then her dog dies, she gets a new puppy and is dumped by her boyfriend. Then it gets interesting.

In her grief she talks to her dog and is shocked to hear him talk back, "Couldn't you smell her on his pants?" He asks. From that point on Dawn can not only hear and have conversations with her dog, but all of the dogs.

Life from the point of view of a dog had me laughing. The dogs like to swear, and have the most interesting comments to make. I loved the conversation she has with the dogs when they follow her into that bathroom. She wonders why they do it and they have an answer for her. I know my dog always wants to follow me into the bathroom (cat too!) so I definitely felt where she was coming from.

There are also some other points of plot such as the All Holiday Tree and her sister who is a Life Coach. I understand they are part of the story, but I could have cared less. It was, however a comical and quick read.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Darkness Chosen

So a while back I read two books in the Darkness Chosen series by Christina Dodd. I liked them and then forgot about the series until one day I looked and learned not only had one new book came out - but two! Hurray!

The basic idea behind the series is a family called the Varinskis. The head of the family (father) made a pact with the devil. Now the Varinskis only have sons, never marry and the can change into wild animals. Well, each person can change into just their animal. The only way to break this pact is by finding 4 pieces of a Madonna and joining them. There is one part of the family that doesn't like the Varinskis ways so he moves away to the US. He gets married *gasp* and has 3 sons and a daughter *gasp*

Scent of Darkness is the first book. It follows Jasha - he can turn into a wolf. His secretary really has the hots for him and decides to surprise him while he is away at one of his houses. Unfortunately they meet at the house when he is in Wolf form and she is scared away. She runs through the forest, he finds her. They are eventually hunted by the Varinski and must run away. Jasha helps Ann while they are running in the wilderness. The first icon is found in this story.

Touch of Darkness follows the son Rurik. He works on ruins. The photographer in the story who captures whats in the ruins is Tasya. They have had a relationship previous to the story beginning. They too get hunted by those horrible Varinskis and had to run away. Surprise - the second icon is found in this story.

Into the Shadow is Adrik's and Karen's story. Karen is a site manager over a hotel that is being built in the worst of places. Strange things happen - one being her phantom lover that comes to her each night. Eventually there is a disaster and Adrik (phantom lover) saves her. He captures her and doesn't want to let her go. Eventually due to some circumstances, he does let her go and she hopes to never see him again. Of course that's not true, and again the Varinski's pose a threat. Karen also finds the third icon.

Next up is Into the Flame - which tells the sister - Firebird's story.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Untamed


Title: Untamed
Author: P.C. & Kristin Cast
Series: House of Night (Book 4)
Genre: Young Adult



So I finally got the newest House of Night novel in from the library - Untamed. I previously talked about the other books in the series here.

As I returned to Zoey Redbird where I last left her, her friends had deserted her and she was *gasp* boyfriendless. Things weren't too great for her, and had been hard almost the entire time she'd been at the House of Night. There was also something not right about her mentor.

Well to put it mildly - in this book all hell breaks loose, quite literally. The happy fact is Zoey gets her friends back, starts to like a new boy, has something interesting interactions with Ex-Eric and has a revelation in regards to religion. On the negative side, more people die, all hell breaks loose (did I mention that?), and Neferet turns real bad.

The way this book ended reminded me a lot of the way Faefever ended. So needless to say, I'm left waiting again for the next book to come out. It is entitiled Hunted and isn't released untill March 2009. Looks like I have a lot more waiting to do.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Bitten


Title:Bitten
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Wow - a week between posts, I'm embarrassed.

So yesterday I read Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. It's the first of another series, the Women of the Otherworld.

The story tells of Elena, who was bitten by her fiance (a werewolf) and became the only female werewolf ever in existence. She is part of the Pack (an all powerful group, almost like royalty in my mind) She's not really fond of being a part of the Pack (or so she thinks) and chooses to run away and try for a "normal" human life. She thinks it's going great, with her wonderful live in boyfriend when she gets called back by the Alpha. Elena's reluctant - but she goes.

Someone is threatening the Pack and killing them off while Elena is there. She and the rest of the Pack must show them whose boss no matter the cost.

A good book - I know the second book Stolen is about Elena too, however after that it seems to stray to a different main character I have yet to meet. I wonder at the connection.

Perhaps our mysterious main character will make an appearance in Stolen.

Monday, November 3, 2008

The Host


Title: The Host
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Series: None
Genre: Science Fiction



Reading the Twilight books and enjoying them immensely, I was excited to learn that Stephenie Meyer had written another book for adults, The Host. Apparently I wasn't the only excited, and I have spent the last three months on the waiting list at my local library.

It's a long book - at about 625 pages I knew I needed to set aside some time and read it. That happened to be the last two days. I read the story of "Wanda" and Mel and their lives in an earth that has been taken over by parasites that infiltrate your body and mind and live your life while you waste away.

Now when I was younger I enjoyed the Animorphs series. This series includes aliens, Yerks that crawl into your ear and do exactly what these aliens in The Host do.

I must say, although I enjoyed the story, I was hoping for more. The Twilight series (for the most part) reminds me of teenage sexual frustration. I thought - she wrote a book marketed for adults, maybe there is a reason it is written for adults. As far as I can tell - I don't see a reason. There is probably less physical togetherness in this book then in the Twilight books. Now I wasn't looking for a romance novel...but I was hoping for an adult novel.

That said, I enjoyed the struggle between Wanda, Mel, Ian and Jared, as well as the overall love and joy that came from Jamie. I definitely cried a few times in this book.