Still Reading

Hey, all (and by all I mean the few of you that might actually read this).  I came to a point a few months ago where I would dread finishing a book because I knew I would need to write a blog post on it and give my recommendations and it was kind of exhausting.  I still like to keep track of what I read so I can go back and reference them, but the self-imposed pressure to write extensively about the book was grating.  A couple of nights ago I had what I think was a pretty good idea.  From here on out I'm going to write about the books I read on Pinterest.  That way there's a picture (you know I like to do that) and a brief description/opinion about the book.  If you want to keep up with what I'm reading, you can find the board here.

Thanks,

Ginger

I Still Read: Supernaturally and Mockingjay

Hey readers, whoever you are.  I'm still quite busy, but I'm still always in the middle of something.  I just finished a couple of books.  First Supernaturally.  Let me tell you, I enjoyed this book even less than the first one in the series.  It had the same obnoxious main character with less of an interesting plot.  I don't know if I'll even read the third (though my obsessive compulsive tendencies make me want to).

One thing I did enjoy is the idea of a vampire that feeds on the blood of other supernatural beings for increased power.  It wasn't focused on very much in the book, but I think that's a concept that should be further explored and written about.

After I finished Supernaturally I re-read Mockingjay.  It was only my third time through the book which is quite strange since I LOVE the Hunger Games series.  I realized the problem about two-thirds of the way though and I'll let you in on the secret.  There are spoilers ahead, but I'm posting them anyway because the book has been out for well over two years at this point.

It's all about Peeta.  Don't get me wrong.  I don't think the love story aspects of the series are the main reason to read.  This is not Twilight or anything like unto it.  But in Catching Fire and even the first book you could always count on Peeta.  When everything else in the world of Panem was going to hell in a hand basket (please pardon my language), Peeta was always there being good, being strong, and loving Katniss no matter what.  Then comes Mockingjay and Peeta is captured and his brain is hijacked.  The worst part? He never gets better.  It's not like the end of the story comes and Plutarch and Beetee come up with a great solution to get his memories of Katniss back to their normal state.  Nope.  He gets through part of it and is able to control himself, but even at the end he has to occasionally brace himself on a chair to fight the memories altered by the tracker jacker venom.  Thanks, Suzanne Collins, for ripping the rug out from under me and removing my heart from my chest and NOT EVEN BOTHERING TO PUT THEM BACK.  

In conclusion, yes.  Mockingjay is a wonderful book with an amazing plot and a great twist at the end, but it will never be my favorite in the series because of all that was taken from me (and all of the readers for that matter).

Oh, and one last note: if you haven't read The Hunger Games yet, just get on it already!  Don't wait on a list at the library, go buy the book or order it on amazon and read it.  I haven't heard of anyone yet that didn't love it.

The book I'm reading right now is religious in nature so I won't be blogging about it here, but a post about Harry Potter is coming soon. 

Divergent

Folks, I promise I'm still reading, but with being so busy teaching my reading has definitely decreased.  I finished the Midnighters series and read a few other things, but you know I don't like to post about sequels because it feels awkward and forced.

I don't remember who recommended Divergent to me or why I chose to read it, but it came up at the library from me putting it on hold.  Basically this girl, Beatrice, lives in a dystopian society (SHOCKER).  People are sorted into four factions: amity (which focuses on kindness), candor (focuses on honesty), erudite (which focuses on intelligence), dauntless (which focuses on bravery), and abnegation (which focuses on selflessness).  Each group chose their focus based on what they think is society's greatest weakness.  Kids live with their parents until they're 16 at which point they take and aptitude test and choose whether they would like to carry on living in their own faction or move to one that suits their personality better.  This is where the story begins.

It took me awhile to get into this book, but it was very interesting.  Not terribly unique in this time the market is flooded with dystopian novels, but a good read nonetheless.  I'm not sure if there's plans for a sequel or not.  The way the book ended, it could go either way.  The story was complete enough, but there was some cliff hanger and unfinished story lines.  Either way, I hope nobody tells me about it if there is.  I just don't want to know because then I'll have to read it and I'm currently drowning in the amount of books I have to read and other things to do.  If you need something to read, give Divergent a try.  It's pretty good read with a solid story and great descriptions.

Bossypants

So, Tina Fey's autobiography: not a classroom book.  This goes without saying, yes?  But we're all allowed to read a grown up book on occasion, also yes?

Listen, it took me forever to read this book, but not because it's unreadable.  Simply, as I previously stated, I was insanely busy and insanely busy people don't get to sit for three hours and finish a book.  That's just how life works.  Tina Fey is funny, thus this book is funny.  Also, the cover freaks me out.  Let me just say, though, that if you're ultra sensitive to content and some crude humor (Harry Potter makes me want to spell that humour) and language then don't read it.  It's not the kind of funny for you.  I really enjoyed the stream of consciousness kind of jump around plot line that none the less presents a full and complete story with some personal insight.  Recommend? Yes, but it's not for everyone.

Percy Jackson

Hey all, sorry I dropped of the face of the planet.  I got a teaching job at the last minute and had a lot to do.  I finished the Percy Jackson series and quite enjoyed it (the fourth and fifth books were my favorites), but not enough to start reading the other Camp Half-Blood books and wait for them to come out.  I think the series as a whole is a great fantasy read for kids and you don't really have to be concerned much with content except for the youngest readers.  Perhaps I'm a little too liberal on this front, but I don't think any of the content would prevent me from letting a reader of any age read it.  It's not nightmare material in my opinion.

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that I am still reading (and my books are currently late to the library) and I'm alive.  What are you reading these days?

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Sea of Monsters

Folks I finally read the next book in the Percy Jackson series and the word is in: I enjoyed it.

I avoided the Percy Jackson books for a long time because of the frequent comparison between them and the Harry Potter series.  Now that I am reading them I do think they're good, but the juxtaposition baffles me even more.  Sure, they both have young, male, slightly magical protagonists, but that's it.  Oh yeah, there's a prophecy, but they aren't even related.  Stop comparing them, they're not the same.

In this book Percy is trying to find the golden fleece (yeah, that same one from Jason) and save camp half-blood.  Luke is still around working his wickedness and rebelling against the Olympians.  Annabeth is helping Percy and Grover is stuck in a doomed relationship.  I really hate reviewing sequels because you don't want to ruin the first book by giving stuff away and usually the plot points are related and it's so frustrating.  Listen: chances are if you read the first one and liked it you'll read this one like I did and you'll like it too.

I think I figured out why the Percy Jackson books are so fun and enjoyable.  They read like a good blog.  The first person, the hilarious chapter titles, the matter of fact way of writing that creates a casual tone, it's just good stuff.  So I'll read the third book.  I'm not chomping at the bit like I was with Harry Potter to get my hands on anything even remotely related, but I do enjoy them.  

Delirium

Delirium is another dystopian novel.  Shocker.  In this story love has been classified as a disease and everyone must undergo a procedure to receive "the cure" when they turn 18.  The government then matches them with a person of the opposite gender and sets them on a life path as an upstanding member of society.  No pain, very little crime, and minuscule divorce rates.  

Sounds like a pretty decent premise and right up my alley, but I didn't love this book.  The plot felt too much like it was trying to be Uglies.  Not only that, but this book is long (around 450 pages).  I don't have any problem with long books if the story is long, but this one suffered from a lack of editing.  The story dragged and lagged at places and the set-up took approximately forever.  Take out about 50 pages and I think I'd like this book 50% more.  It wasn't terrible, but not one I'm recommending as my most favorite of all time (hasn't that been the case with a lot of my books lately?).  Also boo, I just found out there is going to be a sequel next year.