The Lovely Bones

Last year, I saw one of my friends reading this book and the first thing that appealed to me was the cover. It is really pretty and it interested me, which I know is a bad way to judge a book. My friend told me she really liked it and it was one of her favorites ever, so I decided to read it this year. It's an interesting, unique story. I like it, but it is kind of disturbing to me. Some parts of it are creepy and frankly disgusting how this little girl was treated. I think the story is well written and suspenseful. I'm looking forward to seeing if they catch the man who killed her. I hope they do, but you never know with books.

Dear John - Finished

I finished Dear John tonight and it was a great book. I am really excited to see the movie now that I know the story. I can compare the director's vision of it to Nicholas Sparks's vision of John and Savannah's romance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a sweet, romantic, relaxing love story. It's not an exciting, suspenseful, action packed book, but it is still enjoyable to read. I would recommend reading it over the summer, when you can really sit down and enjoy it. I really like Nicholas Sparks's style of writing and I may read some of his other books.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

This book is living up to its reputation. It is captivating and romantic and all around a great story. It is one of the best love stories I've ever heard and the characters are created so well. I can really get a sense of who John and Savannah are and feel like I know them. I understand their backgrounds and their love for each other. I can also understand and feel how devastating it is for them to be apart from each other, but the letters they send each other are so cute. I like the style of writing in this book because it is very easy to read and relaxing. I am glad that I decided to read this because I love it.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

I chose to read this book because I saw the movie advertisements. I didn't want to watch the movie until I read the book, though, because the book is always better. I thought the movie might ruin the book for me if I saw it first. I was expecting a lot from this book: romance, excitement, etc. I was really excited to finally read a great love story. I haven't read much yet, but so far I am kind of bored. The beginning mainly talks about John's childhood and his relationship with his father and grandfather. The love story between John and Savannah hasn't heated up yet, so I am looking forward to that part.

Riddles of Epsilon by Christine Morton-Shaw

The more I read this book, the more I like it. It is really suspenseful and the plot is really interesting. It is a unique book and unlike anything else I've read. I really like the author's writing style and can't wait to read more. It's quick too because it isn't difficult to read. I like easy reads that go by quickly because they are more relaxing. When I read this book, it's like a movie playing in my head, which is a good thing. I haven't had much time to sit down and read, but when I do I love it. I can't put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an easy, suspenseful, interesting book.

The Riddles of Epsilon

This book was recommended by one of my friends - she said that I may like it because it is suspenseful and filled with action. Those are the types of books I like: interesting and exciting stories. I'm glad that I listened to her because so far I really like this book. It is easy to read and is really interesting. Its a mystery story, and the reader isn't totally sure of everything that's happening so far. The ideas are cool though: the main character is somehow connected with someone from 1894. They had a "mirrored dream" which is when they each have the exact same dream - but about the other person. Also, the main character and the character from 1894 seem to do similar things and their lives are progressing in the same way. It's weird and confusing to think about, but it's a really clever idea. I also find it interesting that the main character, Jess is being watched. We don't know who is watching her, but they know everything about her. There is definitely other things that the author hasn't revealed to the reader, and I can't wait to read more and find out what's going on. So far, I am really enjoying it and it is unlike anything I've ever read.

Barefoot By Elin Hilderbrand

This book is the perfect summer-time story. It takes place in a Nantucket cottage during the summer and focuses on the lives of 3 women. Each of them have their own story, and hardships to share. One woman, Vicki, has been diagnosed with cancer that will kill her soon. Her sister, Brenda, lost her job after having an affair with one of her students. The third woman is their friend Melanie, who was invited to the cottage to forget their problems and have peace. Melanie finally got pregnant after numerous failed attempts, but now her husband is cheating on her. These three women seek comfort and an escape from their problem some lives, which is why a trip to Nantucket is necessary. That is their tradition, and they believe it can heal any wounds. Hilderbrand writes this story with incredible description and vivid imagery which makes me feel as though I am in the cottage too. I like the feeling of the story - it's warm and filled with love. It's a sweet story, but kind of slow. It would be more ideal as a summer book because I could sit and relax and read it for however long I wanted. It would be more enjoyable that way, but overall it is so far pretty good.

The Lost Symbol (Finished)

I finally finished the Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and honestly I'm glad. It was a lot slower than his first two books and didn't really pick up at all until about 100 pages into the story. I feel like his books are all very similar and have common themes. They all deal with historical mysteries and secret societies. Additionally, they all center around the same character, Robert Langdon. I like the fact that Langdon is the protagonist in his novels, but they can get quite repetitive and boring sometimes. I was disappointed with this newest novel, but I definitely recommend his first two - The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons. They are great stories for anyone who likes mystery, action and suspense.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I was really excited to read this book because I absolutely LOVED both of Dan Brown's books that I've read. I couldn't wait to read The Lost Symbol because it was the 3rd and newest edition to the mystery/action stories starring Robert Langdon. I forced myself to wait until 3rd quarter though because I wanted to space them out - I didn't want it to appear that I only read his books and no other genres. I finally started reading, and honestly I'm very disappointed. Compared to his other books, this one is boring. I have no incentive to continue reading other than to get through it. The story line is not as exciting as Angels and Demons, which was my favorite. I am really sad that this book is not what I expected, but hopefully it will pick up soon. I am past page 100 and it is still slow, so I am beginning to lose hope. I am going to stick it out though and hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Dry - Finished

I finally finished this book and to be honest, I'm glad it's over. There was nothing wrong with the book - it was fine, I just like to read things that are more suspenseful, "can't put this down" type of books. This was a "sweet" story and it made me sort of sad that it was a memoir. To known that someone actually struggled this much and had such a hard life made me appreciate mine more. I was disappointed with Augusten toward the end of the book though, because he relapsed and started drinking again. Alcohol wasn't the only thing he gave in to, he also started doing other drugs to ease the pain of his friend's death. He was trying to cope with this death, and felt bad that he hadn't been there for his friend once he found out his friend had AIDS. Augusten had alot of regrets in his life. I liked the ending though, because it finished with Augusten believing his friend was sending him messages from heaven. This gave him a sense of hope, which I think he really needed. All in all, this was a good story but not my favorite genre. I recommend it for people who like realistic fiction or memoirs. Hopefully for my next book I'll read something more exciting.

Dry by Augusten Burroughs

This book is not a thriller, and frankly it is not exciting at all. It is more of a story that someone would tell about their life. This is because it is a story about someone's life - it's a memoir. Augusten was doing so well after getting out of rehab; he didn't have any urges to drink and he cleaned himself up really well. I was proud of him until he agreed to meet his friend Jim at a restaurant with a bar. Jim convinced him that it was a nice restaurant, and guilted Augusten into going. I was angry with Jim because he wasn't helping Augusten with his problem, rather it seemed he was rubbing alcohol in his face. It worried me that Augusten was weakened by Jim and could have started drinking again, but I was proud that he decided to leave when it got to be too difficult for him. This is sort of a slow reader for me because I am not really all that excited to sit down and read it. It's a nice story though.

Quarter Three: Dry by Augusten Burroughs

This book is different from anything that I've read in a while, it's a memoir. It's a true story based on things that actually happened. I am so used to reading fiction books that this one is a nice change of pace. It is not as exciting as the other books I've read this year, which is why I am reading it at a slower pace. There isn't really any suspense with this book, it just tells an unfortunate story of an alcoholic and how the drug ruined his life. It is a very powerful book and I was happy when Augusten finally realized that he was an alcoholic and drank way too much. I like how the book is written, I can hear his voice come through. He is not afraid to write what he is thinking, even if it includes a curse here and there. But in a way that makes the book more real for me. I don't think this book is going to pick up any more, but I am looking forward to seeing how Augusten gets over his addiction.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This book was interesting because it was a common plot, yet written in a different light. It is the story about a teenage boy going through high school, and all the troubles he faces. The book had many relatable components since I am a teenager in high school as well, which made it nice to read. The thing that made this book different is that it was written in the form of letters to an unknown receiver. The person never wrote back, he or she just kept receiving letters that explained everything that was going on in Charlie's life. I could really get an image of Charlie's personality from the way he wrote his letters. He seemed sort of unaware of certain things and like a sensitive, kind kid. He also seemed to be a "newbie" with the whole high school experience. Something else that I also really liked about this book was the fact that it was a quick read. I was able to finish it in 2 days which was a change. The only negative I have about this book was that the ending was sort of confusing. I didn't really understand who Charlie was writing to even after I finished the story. It was an easy, relaxing read. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to finish a book quickly and likes realistic fiction.

Catching Fire - Finished

I finished this book rather quickly as well. As I read, the pages just seemed to fly by without me noticing. When I finally looked down out of curiosity, I would be on something crazy like 150 all of a sudden! That's how I know I liked this book. I didn't feel like I was reading, rather I was watching a movie or something. I wasn't aware of the words on the page, just the images. Suzanne Collins did a great job with this book just as she did in the first one, The Hunger Games. Yes, the plot is very unique and interesting but I don't know if everyone would enjoy it. Her stories take a bit of imagination and acceptance, and I think someone who likes a thrill would enjoy this book. She ends each chapter with a cliff hanger to make you want to read more. The only negative thing I have to say about this book was that the ending was sort of confusing. I wasn't entirely sure why not everyone died, although she did make an effort to explain. There is a third book to this series coming out soon and I can't wait to read it. I am a fan and I love that I can breeze through one of her books easily without having to over think anything. It was in a strange way relaxing.

Catching Fire

Collins does not disappoint in her second novel, Catching Fire. As I continue to read, more surprising things occur. The Capitol is still mad at Katniss for challenging their power and making them look weak during the Hunger Games. She found a way for both her and Peeta to survive by almost committing a Romeo-Juliet type suicide involving poison berries. The Capitol hates Katniss for this, and they also tracked her post Hunger Games. They found out that she has another guy friend, Gale and is aware of the fact that he kissed her. Now, they know that Katniss had been pretending to love Peeta the entire time, which is another act of defiance on her part. As Katniss and Peeta now go on tour to the different districts to accept awards and give speeches, Katniss is in a tough place. The Capitol is executing anyone who supports her or follows her lead. This is done to prevent uprisings and revolutions. I feel bad for Katniss because she is obviously very confused, feeling guilty and under a lot of pressure. Still, I can't put this book down and I can't wait until I can read some more.