Shopaholic books 3 and 4 by Sophie Kinsella

This is my first post of the new year. I got busy around Christmas and didn't mention that I finished Shopaholic and Ties the Knot and Shopaholic and Sister. I think I made it clear in my last post that I didn't love the first two books. The characters annoyed me a little yet the story had me interested, and despite my annoyance with some of her choices I still felt bad for her in lots of instances and want to see where her life leads her.

One of the things that bugged me the most about Becky was her constant lying. She continued this trend in Shopaholic Ties the Knot, and it got her in a lot of trouble. That is one of the things I do like about these books, the fact that she does get herself in some difficult situations. As much as I dislike her attitude, I feel for her as well, and understand that she was only trying to do the right thing and keep everyone happy. She grows as a person as the series continues and she learns her lesson afterwards (for the most part). She does truly try to be a better person and that makes her someone that grows on you. I continue to hope that her life will turn out perfect and she will change for the better.

I have to say Sophie Kinsella is a great writer who keeps me glued to the pages.  I picked up Shopaholic and Sister almost instantly after I finished the previous book. In this book I liked Becky a lot better. She was a little naive to think that as her sister would be just like her, but she was also determined to get along with her and tried everything to forge a relationship. And she did learn and fixed her mistakes like she always does. She made good friends and saw life from the opposite point of view. Her sister was hard on her, but I think that was what she needed considering everyone else in her life seems to coddle her.

She seemed to be trying a lot harder to fix her money problems and although she was a little misguided in her methods she did succeed.

Shopaholic takes Manhattan

I'm taking a little break with the Outlander series right now and reading another popular series that I missed out on when they were new releases.

I was never really interested in reading the Shopaholic series when I saw it is stores, but out of curiosity I did see them movie when it came out. I did enjoy the movie for the most part so when I was offered the entire series from a friend I figured, why not?

I skipped ahead to the second book Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. I knew the plot line of Confessions of a Shopaholic already from the movie, so didn't want to read the book.

I'm really torn trying to decide if I liked the book or not. On the good side the book was well written. I was attached to the story and was interested to find out how Becky got out of her mess. The fact that I've already started the next book proves that the story is addicting and and interesting.

I often felt bad for Becky during the book, she was constantly getting herself into trouble and the people around her treat her bad. Especially at the neighbours wedding. I think in that case I would have handled that situation the same way she did. I also felt bad for her because in a lot of ways she is seriously trying to be better when it comes to her "problem". She just does a very bad job at it and is very weak willed. She always talking herself out of doing the right thing, and justifying her addition.

The one thing that really annoys me while reading is how much Becky lies. She lies about everything! It's not just to cover up her shopping addiction either. Sometimes she does do it cause she is trying not to hurt peoples feelings, but really sometimes there IS a nice way to say no. I just really hate it, all I can think when I'm reading is "if you just told the truth in the beginning you wouldn't be in this situation."

Anyways, I don't think I'd ever be friends with Becky if she was real, but I think I will finish the series, even if I spend the whole time complaining about her.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I read The Great Gatsby in anticipation of the upcoming movie. I was not expecting too much. I find that classic books can be hit or miss, some of them I really like while others I find boring. This book was one that I liked. One of the great things about it was that it did not read as an older book. The content and storyline was still relevant and it could easily have taken place in the modern world.

The book is a romance novel and a man's unconditional love for a women and how it ruled his life and ultimately caused his downfall. I liked how the story was not told from the perspective of the lover or his attraction, but instead from the view point of his neighbour and friend. Because you hear the story from an outsider you are open to interpret the characters actions. Some people reading the story may feel different then others about the main characters and their actions. I personally felt sorry for Gatsby but also considered him a fool.

I am very excited to see the movie and how Leonardo DiCaprio will play the character. He seems to do well in movies that are period pieces from the early 20th century.

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

I finished The Pilot's Wife last night. I can't say I enjoyed the book but I can see why it was an Oprah book club pick.

This book isn't very long, but the beginning is very slow and dragged on for me. In the very beginning the knock comes to the door which informs Katheryn that her husband has died in a plane crash. From this point on to almost three quarters the way into the novel not much else happens. Speculations are made as to the cause of the crash, and we get to see the effects this has on both the wife and the daughter. I think I was bored of the book at this point because it focused a lot on the wife's thoughts and feelings. This is of course important to a good novel but sometimes the best part of a novel is imagining yourself in the situation, and how you would feel in the characters position. I never really felt any attachment to the wife's character and I did not agree with a lot of the things she was thinking.

The novel didn't get interesting until the wife actually decided to do something about what happened and find out the truth about the crash. At this point the book got really good. I wanted to know what really happened and I felt like I'd been waiting forever to find out. I wasn't disappointed either, I liked the husbands story I thought it was interesting and well thought out. It also posed a lot of difficult questions about love and marriage. I personally think that he still loved his wife, and I didn't feel that he was a bad person. He may have made several bad choices but I felt he was trying his best to lessen the hurt he could have caused, although in the end it didn't quite work the way he planned.

Another part of the book I liked was the flashbacks. When in the mind of a suspicious wife the stories seemed to have two sides. The reader like Katheryn is wondering if there was another meaning hiding behind some of the events. Is something that seems innocent and sweet one moment take a different meaning when seen from the critical eyes of Katheryn.  

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

I finished Shadow of Night last night on a train ride from visiting a friend. I was very excited when it was first released. I really liked the first book, although it is about witches, vampires and daemons it is meant for adults and does not read at all like a cheesy teen novel. Although I like those as well sometimes.

For a long book, I believe I finished it in good time. It was easy to read and it didn't drag on, yet I was still disappointed in it. There were very few twists and turns in the plot line. It followed exactly what was laid out at the end of the last book. Diana and Mathew went to Elizabethan Europe so Diana could learn magic and they could try to find Ashmole 782. Not much else happened, the two spent the majority of the book travelling to different parts in Europe, talking to historical figures, and trying not to affected the future too much. Their new marrige was tested and grew as they learned more about each other. 

Harkness clearly did a lot of historical research into this book. Perhaps one of the reasons I did not find the book as great as the first one, is that I don't know a lot about European history. Mathew turns out to have been friends with several important historical figures, including Walter Raleigh and playwright Christopher Marlowe, both who I know nothing about. So I am sure I  missed out on several inside jokes. Whenever a new character was introduced I always wondered if they were in fact a real person, and if Diana and Mathew involvement was a role reserved for an unknown person in today's history books.

Despite my disappointment I will still read the last instalment. The third book will be back in present day, with the fight with the congregation continuing. I expect the ending of this series to be as exciting as the beginning. With everything that has happened and everything we have learned about Mathews history and family, I think this slower second novel is is leading up to a big finale.

The Fifty Shades Series by E.L James

I am going to combine my reviews for Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed into one post. I read the three books back to back, so where one ended and the next began is a blur to me.

My review of these two book are similar to what I said for the first. What was different in Darker, was that we learn more about Christians past, which helps a lot in understanding the way he acts. In Freed we get to see them build a life together, and how Ana deals with Christians moods and how Christian learns to take part in a real relationship.

I can say for sure that the third one was my favourite. It went beyond the romance genre and added some action to the story. I stayed up past my bedtime a few times because I couldn't put the book down until I knew everything was going to be okay. A lot of people who liked the first two books didn't like the third as much, but I thought it was good.

Instead of reviewing I would like to address some of the negative complaints the books have generated. I know not everyone is going to like it, and that is okay. I just don't like when people go all out and bash something. It has faults of course, I am not going to deny that. I agree that is was not the best written book I've read, but I choose my favourite books based on the story more then the writing style. I also agree that Ana can be very immature at times, but that is her character, if you changed that she wouldn't be the same person. Also her inner goddess could be really annoying.

In one guy's review I read, he was very disturbed about the contract in the first book. Now this I can see both sides. If any normal guy was to ask for this I would have been very creeped out as well. But considering the extreme things he wanted to do I think I was a good idea to address what was and was not acceptable. So in case any lines were crossed you can go back and prove what you agreed too. As he said it was for her protection as well. Also in the case of being sticking rich I would like to have some guarantee my business is not going to be leaked all over the papers when the girl gets dumped.

I was also very offended when this same person claimed the reason the books were so popular was because Christian is very good looking, and if he was ugly they books wouldn't be as well received.. I would like to remind him that this is a book, and in fact we can not actually see Christian at all, if it was a movie I might agree more. And for his information I picture all main characters in books as very good looking, this book was no exception. I do not read or enjoy books more based on how the physical appearance of the characters is described, that is just stupid.

The next time I hear a guy complain about this book I might be tempted to point out that the really reason he hates them is because he doesn't understand women, and what they want. Loving these books does not mean you secretly want to be spanked, beaten, and controlled. It means you want a man who loves you unconditionally, wants the best for you, puts your happiness first (in and out of bed ), will do anything to protect you, and will change for you. The control freak aspect is disappointing, but everyone has faults and she handles it well.

Please leave me comments and let me know if you love or hate this series.

The Birth House by Ami McKay

 The Birth House takes place in the small Halifax village Scots Bay. It follows the life of a young girl, Dora, who was born to a family of all boys. There is a legend about her family name Rare. I can not tell the story as well as the book, but a young wife promises to bear her husband all male children. Dora is the first girl born in several generations. Some think she is a witch, and she curses their livestock, while others think she is special and born with the sight to see what others can not. The book follows Dora as a young girl in her family house with all her brothers, to a young adult learning the trade of a mid wife.

The most interesting part of the story was the struggle between mid wiving and modern medicine. Some of the advice the women of the town get from the doctor is crazy. The things he wanted the women to do surprised me. I can't believe how wrong the doctors were back then on the subject. For example when the women were in the last stages of their pregnancy and swollen and having trouble getting around, the doctors said their problem was they were not getting enough exercise and advised them to walk around more. It was Dora who finally spoke up and said that, no she needs to rest and lie down.

The story also brought in elements of the past such as WW1 and the stigmas attached to young men who did not enlist, and the big Halifax explosion. I really like it when stories are built around elements of truth, to me it makes them even more alive and believable. Even though Dora's character was fictional, it made the book more interesting knowing that some of the experiences she had were experienced by real people at one time.

There was a lot of women's rights issued that aroused from the wives of Scots Bay. They ranged from husbands who beat them, feeling they were obligated to please their husbands in bed, and wanting to have a say in having children. I think Dora was a women who had modern ideals but was still able to see the wisdom of the past. She fought for what was best for the women of Scots Bay, regardless of how her views were seen by the men in the town. She was stuck between fighting for women's rights, and holding on to the traditions of the past, which made her disliked by many. She seemed to be either an offense to proper traditional women, or an offence to modern science. The way that Dora was treated resembled the witch trials in many ways. She acted as a scape goat for all the troubles that happened. Yet she was strong and not afraid to stand up for what she thought was right, but also knew when to back down. Of course like anyone she had faults too, and I think that it was her ability to deal with them in her own way that made me respect her character.

I really enjoyed this book and would be happy to read another by Ami McKay.

Broken Wings by Alexandrea Weis

I recently finished reading Broken Wings by Alexandrea Weis. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, but I'm glad I decided to read it. I very much enjoyed the book and was surprised by how quickly I finished it.

It started as a typical romance. The reluctant woman who has sworn off love, meets a dangerous yet sexy man, and their relationship grows as he is slowly able to break down the barriers preventing her from letting him in. This books carries on from that story and brings a lot more into the picture. There are more characters such as an ex-husband, his new wife, and her best friend. Her ex husband made the perfect villain, I think I hated him as much as she did. Her best friend Carol, made me laugh several times.

I liked how the main character Pamela decided to spend her life taking care of sick and damaged animals. It seemed like a more realistic reaction to a hard divorce then some other books. I have gone back and forth trying to decide whether the sick animals signify Pamela or Daniel, and who healed who. Both of them had been hurt in different ways, and needed someone to care for them. No matter who it is, the animals did a great deal to soothe their problems.

About half way through the book I couldn't stop reading it. There were some unexpected plot turns, that lead to hard choices for Pamela . There were several points where I was unsure how the book was going to end. In most romances it is usually obvious that the book will turn out with a happy ending, but this book kept me guessing and wondering if the happy ending we all want was possible. Even at the end of the book with only a few pages left I was caught up in the story. I had my fingers crossed, hoping everything would turn out ok.
This book is available on Amazon for only 4.99! So if you don't feel like spending ten dollars for a good story, you can grab this great read for half the price.

I would like to thank the author and Bostick Communications for providing me with the e-pub so I could have the chance to read it.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I finished Sense and Sensibility today and I enjoyed it for what it was, a romantic classic novel. You can't really judge a book written to long ago in the same regard you would a modern book. It was a little bit of a slow book to read, but given the language it was written, that was because I had to pay extra attention to the words to understand what was being said. Like other Jane Austen books there were several characters and at times I was confused who was who, and how they were related.

For an older book I was surprised that I was very interested in the story. The two sisters were very difference people and it was interesting to see how each of them reacted differently to similar situations. Elinor was very calm, sensible,considerate, and kept her feelings to herself. While her sister Marianne was emotional, and felt everything deeply. Perhaps even a little childish.

This book shows the danger of being both too open in love and too closed off.

Elinor was the more mature sister, she was the older of the two, but I don't think it was by much. I felt she was more of a mother figure towards Marianne then their own mother was. She was always putting her own feelings aside in order to comfort her sister and take care of her. She put alot of thought into what others would think and how she was being protrayed. The mother was like Marianne and a little flaky in my opinion, although a positive influence. Marianne did redeem her character in my eyes at the end of the book, when she acknowledged her sister's help and apologized for the focus always being on her problems. 

So far I like how in all of Jane Austen's novels she puts a positve light to all those that marry for love. The people who marry for position or money seem to have more of a negitive light and act as the "villans" of her books. Austen is a true romantic and I will at some point finish reading her collection of stories.

Hotel Vendome by Danielle Steel

This is a very nice father/daughter book. I was surprised how much I liked it. I've read two of her books before but didn't really enjoy them. I found them boring and felt as if nothing really happened. Although this book is the same format, I was so engrossed in the story. The story follows a single father who owns a hotel in New York and his daughter Heloise. The book is very touching because Hugues loves his daughter so much, and would do anything for her. His whole life is occupied by the hotel and his daughter, that he doesn't have time for much else. Despite her lack of a mother, Heloise grows up in a loving atmosphere, full of people who love her and mother figures that only want the best for her.

This is a romance if I ever read one. Its the love between a father and daughter, and how their deep connection effects their personal lives. Like any family Hugues and Heloise have problems. Sometimes when you try everything to protect your children from hurt, your end up causing the pain you never wanted them to experience.

This book is also a coming of age story of a young girl. Its about the pains of growing up. It's about becoming an adult and learning that your parents are people too, with their own feeling and faults. Heliose has to learn to adjust to the adult world she finds herself in. At first I found her character rude and stubborn. She acts a little spoiled at times but no different I guess then any teenage girl. This book reinforces the idea that love doesn't have a limit, it grows, and has different forms.

I would really recommend this book as a touching drama about an unconventional family. It's loving and sweet, even if you don't like Danielle Steels, I think you will enjoy this story.

The Five People you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

The Five People you Meet in Heaven is a short book, but a sweet book.
When Eddie, an old maintenance man at a amusement park dies, he is sent to heaven to meet five people. Each of them have a story to tell him about how he affected their lives. Their stories explain to Eddie the meaning in his life.

I loved this book and could not stop reading it. It takes what appears to be a grumpy old man, and shows you his life from his point of view. When all his life's most important moments are laded out, you start to understand his love, his hate, his pain, and his loneliness. The part that touched me the most, is that while you are learning all about him, Eddie is learning about himself. With a long life filled with an inner bitterness Eddie finally gets to see all those moments he missed. With each revelation he better understands his emotions and is able to let go of all his pain.

I felt sorry for Eddie while he was finding that he didn't really know as much as he thought he did. What seemed like little things to him at the time, ended up making huge impacts in his life that he could never have guessed. This book teaches us to think of the effects our actions can have, and also that sometimes what does happen is not our fault at all. That sounds confusing doesn't it? That you can be the cause of something, but at the same time it's not your fault since you didn't know the results your actions were going to have. Perhaps the main lesson is to forgive yourself and others for their mistakes. We all make some, after all.

Everyone wants to feel peace, and the thought that one day everything will be explained is something we all wish for. If heaven means no more what if's and why me's? then I think everyone will welcome it.

I think you should read this book. I give it 5/5

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Here it is. I finally finished the book. I am not relieved because it was a bad book; I actually enjoyed it a lot. Usually when I read books this long I get bored of the story and find myself wondering how much more is left. In 1Q84 I noticed that the book was long when reading it, but I was not in a rush to finish it. The story stays interesting throughout the entire novel and I never bored of the characters.The storyline flowed easily, each character had a purpose, and their story felt important. While I was reading I kept sensing that there was some deep meaning behind everything that was happening. It makes you think, what am I missing here and what does all this mean?

I noticed that there were some sexual themes in this book. I don't know why they popped out at me, they are not inappropriately sexual or misplaced in the storyline. I would describe them as honest. All adults think and experience sex, and this book is not afraid of it and chooses to include it in the thoughts and actions of its characters. Maybe I noticed it because it was not the same as  the romance books we are used to where the scenes are designed to be romantic, these scenes are just a natural part of the story. I think the author uses them well to get her point across, although it can be a little unsettling at times. Only because they are so unashamed by it. Sometimes I find talking about sex has become a little foe paux in our society. Of course we joke about it all the time, I am referring to serious discussions, everyone is a little uncomfortable giving their kids that talk.

I would classify this as a science fiction novel as well as a drama and a mystery. In order to enjoy this book you have to appreciate the unexplained and unusual. Keep an open mind, some of the ideas are hard to understand and I was often confused with what exactly was happening. The book starts with a simple question of what happened to Aomame when she climbed down from the highway. Instead of having this question answered each chapter opens up new questions. I was constantly hoping for answers, and each time something was revealed it seemed that several more questions took its place. Tengo's story started a little slow but since the books layout has you switching from Aomame to Tengo every chapter, I got threw his chapters quick because I was trying to get to the next chapter to see what was happening to Aomame.Tengo's story does pick up later. The constant cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, kept me wanting to read on. For example, if I was left hanging at the end of a chapter involving Tengo, I would have to read through a chapter with Aomame (or perhaps another character) before I could find out what happened. This was a good strategy to keeping the reader always looking towards the future of the book. It disguises its length a little.

There is also small romantic part to the book, between the two characters Tengo and Aomame. It is not the main theme but it is an important part of the decisions and actions of the two characters. The characters are both very interesting and I kept wanting the learn more about their lives. The author made them both very believable by slowly giving information about their past. In each of Tengo's flashbacks, you learn a little more about him, which explains his actions and who he has become in the present day. Each dip into the past made me more curious about what weird event was happening to them both, and if their experiences were in any way related.

I would recommend this book, to anyone who is not afraid of a long novel. The author has created a very unique world, that asks questions about cults, religion, and our perception of the world around us. It is a very smart book that made me think about fate and if our paths are pre-chosen.

Girls in White Dresses by Emily Close

I'm having trouble deciding if I liked this book or not. It was about three best friends Isabella, Mary and Lauren. Yet it took me about half the book to figure this out. The book is laid out with each chapter focusing on a different person. It opened with Isabella and Mary and I was sure I was going to love the book. Then it switched characters and I was introduced to Lauren, Ellen, and Shannon. Their story was also good and at this point I was still impressed with the book. The next chapter went back to Isabella, but this time focused on her relationship with her boyfriend. (Lauren made guest appearances) This is how the book continued, each chapter switching to a different character focusing on their love lives and careers. Since I neither loved nor hated this book I decided to split this review into two parts: the good and the bad.

The Good:

The good thing about multiple characters in a book is that the book is able to cover many different circumstances, and the reactions of different personalities. I like how none of the characters in this book had perfect lives. They dealt with situations that everyday people face, like hating your friends boyfriend, not being satisfied in your career, and having friends you don't really like. The most refreshing part of this book was that their relationships weren't perfect. They fought with their boyfriends. They broke up with them. They dated people that were bad for them. They had questions about their relationships, they didn't love their partners unconditionally and think they were the most perfect person ever. Their partners had faults, and it annoyed them. I think this book reflected real life more then most books do, and I liked it for that.

The bad:

Too many characters! Every time I started a new chapter I had to go back to remember what happened to that character last. I kept flipping back to remind myself which boyfriend she had before, was hers the political guy or the one who went skiing? A couple times they jumped years ahead and suddenly had new boyfriends or different jobs. I would be confused for a moment trying to realize if this was the first time it was mentioned or if I missed something. I think it would have been better if the story was only told from the perspective of the three main characters only. The others characters could still be in the story just not have chapters dedicated to them. Saying that, I think the chapters on Abby and Cate were unnecessary and perhaps the one on Shannon too.

I think this is a book you have to read twice. Read it again after you are familiar with all the characters, and I think it would be a much easier read. I think then I could appreciate it more.
I think the author should have made this a series of three books. She had so many good stories to tell and I would have enjoyed getting deeper into some of the characters. Although I was often annoyed with the changes I still found the book easy to read and the chapters individually were well written and kept my interest. If you have a good memory and can keep track of all the characters, I would recommend this book to you. If not just read it twice. 3/5

Get it on Amazon
Get it at Chapters/Indigo

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

If the first book was survival, and the second one rebellion, then this one is war.

Mockingjay doesn't sugarcoat war. The characters are faced with hard choices, like when is it okay to kill, and who is it okay to kill. They don't all agree on the answers, and their differences of opinion strain relationships.
The characters in this book don't come back from battle triumphant, giddy over their victory, and laughing at the expense of their enemies. They come back broken people, forever changed by the atrocities they saw and the savagery they had to take part in.

Friedrich Nietzsche said, That which does not kill us makes us stronger, but that isn't always true. Sometimes, what doesn't kill you changes you forever.

Review:

I'm not sure if I liked Katnis in this book. I did like how the author tried to make her character believable. In lots of book characters go through unbelievable circumstances and it appears to not affect them at all. Katnis becomes irrational at times in this book, and at other times completely closes her self off from the world. What I liked about her in the previous books was how she stayed calm and rational on the outside, even when she was angry or scared on the inside. She still has the amazing instincts and strong combat skills which she demonstrated in the other books, but is more vulnerable and is often found huddled in a corner after the action has died down.

A lot of time in the beginning of the Catching Fire was spent with Katnis at her home in district 12. Although I found this part slow at the time, it was necessary to get to know the characters in her village and see her interactions between the other characters. All of that played a role in this book, because it didn't just focus on Katniss and Peeta, but her village as well.

Katnis spends a lot of time in this book contemplating her position as the Mockingjay, and how she feels about this position she never asked for. There was also a lot of planning in the book. They discussed how to win the war, how to get back at Snow, and how survive in this new world, and how to deal with the things you have done. Sometimes I was wishing there was more action and less talk about it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was more grown-up then the previous two. While the first two were predictable at times, I found my self surprised  by the plot twists in this story. The characters were more grown up too. They took on separate roles in the war, and changed from the previous books. I was even more attached to this story then the other two. In the others there was a clear end, either she survived the hunger games or not, but this time anything could happen. Everything was in such turmoil surrounding Katnis, that I had to find out how it was going to end, and who was going to survive.

In my opinion the best of the three. 5/5

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

If the first book in the series was about survival this one is about rebellion.

I stayed awake past my bedtime to finish this book. I couldn't stop so close to the end without knowing what was going on. Which reminds me of another thing I like about this series. You are Katniss throughout the entire novel, you hear her thoughts and see the world completely through her eyes. In some books you jump between characters, you hear other peoples thoughts, and you learn things that the main character does not know. But in The Hunger Games you are always by Katniss' side. You worry with her when Peeta isn't near by and you don't know what trouble he may be in. You feel her confusion when she doesn't know who is her ally and who is just playing the game. And you feel her anger when she is left out of the plan, and doesn't understand what is happening around her.

This book took a little longer to pick up then the last one. The beginning is a little slow as you live through Katniss' life after the hunger games. The author gives you time to see how much her world has changed and how it was affected by her victory. But don't stop reading because it picks up later, the action and adventure from the first book is back, but this time the stakes are higher and Katniss has more then just her own life and Petta's to worry about.

As everything has meaning now and is more important to everyone, Katniss struggles more then in the first book. She has amazing survival instinct, but has to learn to think of the consequences before she does anything. The world is full of hidden doors, danger, and mystery. Even if she doesn't know it, her best ally is her love for Gale, Peeta, Prim, Haymitch, and her mother.

Great story, 4/5

Buy it at Chapers/Indigo
Buy it on Amazon

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

When I started this book I knew it was for teenagers so wasn't expecting any profound insight or an in-depth story. In a way I was right, there wasn't any surprise plot twists. It was predictable, but so are most romances. That doesn't mean that is wasn't a great book. I was glued to the story and I loved Katniss' character. The other characters were a little weak, but that was OK because they weren't the focus of the book. 

One of the things I loved about it was the world that Collins created. I know this isn't an unique concept, a dystopian world controlled by the state, but I still thought her world was unique. I know this isn't how it is portrayed the book, but I pictured their world like a flower, with the capital in the center and the 13 districts surrounding it. I liked how each district had its own identity, how the goods that it produced shaped the skills and personalities of the people living within.

I loved Katniss (if you missed it the first time) the book did a great job of letting the reader get to know who she was. Her ability to distance herself from her emotions saved her life. She stayed calm and was able to observe her situation, because of this she learned a lot that she used later to her advantage. She wasn't completely cut off either, she still felt emotions, she just hid them from the public and only let them out in private. Yet this was also her weakness. At times she appeared cold to the other characters, and she hurt people who were important to her. I felt bad for her a times because I understood that she was only trying to protect herself and those around her. She may have appeared cold but it was just her way of dealing with the hard circumstances around her. She is a strong female character, who doesn't like that?

I also like how the book rewarded compassion. It did a good job of saying that when you are kind to others, even if its seems pointless at the time, it will come back later to help you when you most need it.

I thought this was a great book. It gave importance to the qualities kindness, resourcefulness, compassion, and braveness, and made them something you have to have in order to survive. All within the dangerous and brutal war that is the Hunger Games.

A 5/5
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Love the One you're With by Emily Giffin

The one thing I like about Emily Giffin, is that her books are realistic. This one appealed to me because when I saw it I thought wow if I was to write a book, this is exactly what I would write about. I always wondered what it would be like to run into my ex. After all the books I've read lately, its nice to have one I can relate to. Like my past reads, I don't have a presumed dead ex who is a military trained assassin and possibly crazy; I don't think its very likely that I will be kidnapped and held in a shed for years; and I'm definably not a witch in love with a vampire.

So when I see a book like this, I pick it up, perhaps because I'm hoping for advice from its pages. From the moment I started to read I understood Ellen. I haven't yet come across the luck in life that she had; the perfect husband, the passion for her work, or the success in her career, but I felt the internal struggle she had when it came to her feelings for her husband and her ex. She had a lot of hard choices, but despite them all, I think she managed to do what made her happy.

There are a lot of questions this book brings up about relationships. It talks about the obsession two people can have about each other. The relationships between sisters and best friends. What happens when feelings are pushed away and not resolved. The difference between love as passion. And what qualifies as cheating.

Ellen has many unique characters to help her in her journey, all with different backgrounds and experiences in life. Each offer her different advice based on their relationships. Each time Ellen came across a choice I thought what would I do in her position. I didn't have to think hard, I know I have a weakness when it come to two particular men in my past. And if I ran into either one of them, I'm afraid I would make the wrong choices. I would drop everything I have now to create what I always wished had happened with them. I picked up this book because I wanted it to tell me that I wasn't alone having these thoughts and regrets, and they don't make me a bad person. The book didn't answer my questions, but it did make me think about whether I want to risk what I have now with my boyfriend, for something that might never work out.

It may have taught me not to sell what I have short, but it wont stop my heart from jumping whenever I see an armored truck or smell that particular brand of cologne. (Just to make that clear my ex used to drive an armored truck, we didn't try to rob one together or anything like that)

I think this book would be great for anyone who has those little unresolved feelings, or the "what ifs" in the back of their mind. I give it a 4/5

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Quinn by Iris Johanson

As you know I started Quinn very excited. The book continues exactly where it left off in Eve. Following the pattern in Eve, Quinn begins by establishing the relationship between Eve and Quinn. This book starts by introduces us to when Quinn and Eve first meet, and we follow them as they get to know each other and become a couple. I'm feeling a lot better about Quinn's character now that I've got to know him better in this book. He still has the character traits that I was uncomfortable with in the last book, but this time I understand him better, and because the majority of the book is in his voice I can see why he makes the decisions he does and what he is thinking during them. He still has the Superman complex, where he must swoop in and save the day, and is always intent on protecting Eve from any harm. I found this annoying and although I still don't like this part of him, he is still a good character.

I read the first half of the book quickly because I just wanted to get through it and into the good present day stuff. Although it was nice to see how Quinn and Eve met, it wasn't very exciting since we already know that they get married. It all took place right after Eve lost  Bonnie, so the backdrop to their relationship was Eve's search for Bonnie's killer. Separately this could be a good story line but didn't hold my interest since I also know that Eve is not going to find the killer.

After the well written, yet un-climactic beginning I finally got to the present day. From here the book picks up and I couldn't put it down. Catherine plays a bigger role in this book then she does the last. This book focuses on two searches, the search for John, and the search for another possible killer.

The book ends in a spooky setting, with gripping action, and high tension. Then it stops, right in the middle of it all. I was even more disappointed then last time. At least in Eve they wrapped up the search for Paul Black, then left us with a new mystery and a new enemy. This time nothing is concluded. And the name of the next installment... Bonnie. Judging by the formats of the previous books, I'm going to assume that this one will start with Bonnie's perspective right before she is taken. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope this is the last one and it wont be followed by another book titled Catherine or Gallo.

Ok, its getting a 5/5 too, because of how much I am anticipating the next one.

Ease of Reading: 4/5
Lasting Effect: 4/5
Amusement: 5/5
Creativity: 4/5
Length: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

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L.A Noire: The Collected Stories

If you don't pay attention to video games I'd like to point out that this book is related to the recent game L.A Noire. In the game you play a cop in 1950's L.A, solving your way through the gangs, murders, drugs, and arson's in the city. When I picked up this book I expected it to go deeper into the cases that you deal with in the game. Perhaps reveal the story's behind the murders, and what really happened. Instead this book is a collection of short stories that take place during the same time as the games plot. There are a few related points, such as the Polar Bear ice company. The book explores deeper into the company showcased in the game, but covers a non related incident.

Many of the stories end abruptly, without explaining what happened. When I read a story I prefer to finish knowing what has happened and why, so I don't enjoy short stories that leave unanswered questions.

Don't get me mistaken this is not a bad book. There were a few of the stories that I enjoyed such as 'School for Murder.' This story focused on one character and developed him well, it had a clear ending, and even featured some surprises and unexpected developments. Besides that the book wasn't for me. Luckly it was pretty short, and I got it free online.  2/5

Lasting Effect: 1/5
Plot: 2/5
Creativity: 3/5
Length: 3/5
Characters: 2/5

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Emma by Jane Austen

I like reading classics once in a while as well as best sellers, and only having read one Jane Austen novel previously thought I should try her once again. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was quick to assume that the book was going to be long and boring, but this was not the case. The language was not that hard to understand, as long as I didn't have anything to distract me like a TV or loud talking in the background, I could read it just as I would any modern novel.

Speaking of Emma's character at first I did not like her. I thought she was snobby and very concerned with a persons status. I understand that this was written in old England where prestige and birth right was important. But sometimes I was a little put back by her quick judge of character and her strong emphasis on manners.

This book's focus is on marriage and Emma's opinion of it.

I was torn at times as to the message Austen was trying to give in this novel. Emma was often concerned with a persons status in the community and who they should marry based on that. As the book progressed I felt that Emma was learning that perhaps marriage should be based on who you are compatible with, and who makes you happy. Yet all of the characters ended up marring within their rank and when they tried to search above their status were often left disappointed. So then perhaps Austen was trying to say that a person will find happiness only when they search in their own social circles.

Moving on to the book itself, there is one complaint that I have. Especially when starting out I found it very hard to keep track of all the characters and their names in the book. To make it easier for anyone wanting to read it I will explain a few of the main characters.

Firstly there is Mr. Woodhouse and his two daughters Emma and Isabella. Isabella is married to John Knightly. Miss Taylor/Mrs. Weston was their governess before she got married to Mr. Weston and moved out. Mr. Weston's son is Frank Churchill who went to live with his aunt (Mrs. Churchill) after his mother died.
John Knightley's brother Mr.Knightly lives close to the Woodhouse's house and is friends with Emma along with Mr. Elton.
Mrs. Bates and her daughter Miss Bates are friends with Mr. Woodhouse. Their niece/granddaughter (Jane Fairfax)  lives with her deceased fathers good friend from the military Mr. Campbell. She is staying with her aunt for the summer.
Emma's befriends Harriet Smith whose lineage in unknown.

Those are the most important characters that I found confusing at the beginning. Here's what I thought..

Ease of Reading: 3
I had to use a dictionary a few times to understand what was going on, and a few times I lost track who was speaking, but no one can complain that the book is not very well written.

Lasting Effect: 2
I did like the book, but I don't think it will stay with me long after I've finished it. I read one Jane Austen previously and don't remember one thing that happened in it. Yet if this book proves different I promise I will come back and change my opinion.

Amusement: 3
There are several awkward situations between the characters that were amusing. The fact that the characters are so refined though makes it hard to develop any humour that compares with modern stories.

Plot: 4
Austen developed a very integrated story between all the characters, with several twists and unexpected outcomes.

Length: 4
At the beginning I was worried that I would find the book unbearably long, but as I got acquainted and comfortable with the characters the book proved to be the perfect length.

Characters: 4
I base this mostly on Emma's character since the book is all from her point of view. She was a very believable person who grew and learned through the book. Hearing her every thought and opinion you get to know her very well and respect her by the end.

Good book. Like always :) 4/5