I've decided to make a "scale"for my preferences:
- 1: terrible book, don't even bother picking it up
- 2: not the greatest book, could have been much better
- 3: it was good, but details, characters, and settings could have been improved
- 4: good book! kept me entertained
- 5: I loved it and would suggest it to anyone!!
Here are the books I have read this summer so far (to be continued...):
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
- This was another story that is considered a classic read. It is the story of a woman who ends up going a little crazy. It is set in the 1930's and 40's where shock treatment was used to cure all kinds of "brain diseases". The most interesting part of the story was that it is considered somewhat autobiographical of the author, who ended up committing suicide after the book was published. Reading it with that knowledge gave the book a better entertainment angle.
- I give this book a 3. I didn't want to put the book down because it left me hanging often; however, this is not a book that I would read again or readily suggest to someone.
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- A classic book that I've wanted to read for years, was finally accomplished. I have to say The Giver was one of my favorite reads so far this summer. It is the story of Jonas, a boy reaching manhood where he has to establish himself in the community with a specified career given by the government. His career is more unique than anyone else's though... he is the Receiver. He is trained by the Giver to receive all the emotions and feelings from the community. In the end, he has to make some tough decisions regarding the future of his beloved community.
- I give this book a 4.5. It was a story that I wanted to continue. I love science fiction novels and this was among the best. I would recommend this to anyone.
- Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussman
- I can't say that I was ever able to connect the title to this story, although I think it has something to do with a poem (ignorance). Anyway, it was a book that reminded me of Wuthering Heights and The Great Gatsby. The story takes place in the 1940s and extends through the 1960s. It is about a pair of cousins, their marriage, their children, a summer home, and a murder. Each section is from a different character's perspective. I loved the beginning and I loved the ending... the middle was fairly uninteresting.
- I give this book a 3.5. It was a very mysterious read, but the story did not get truly interesting until the last 1/3 of the book. Overall it was entertaining.
- Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante
- I don't think I have ever read anything like this story before. It is the story of Dr. Jennifer White who is forced to retire as an Orthopedic doctor because of early stages of dementia. As the story continues, she continues to lose her memory. The real problem, however, is that her best friend of 30 years is found dead with four fingers perfectly cut off. Dr. White is accused of the murder, but can't remember if she did it or not. The story unravels (told from her perspective) as snipets of her life and the incident are recovered.
- I give this book a 3. It gave me a better understanding of how my Grandma's mind works which was beneficial. It lacked a certain, thrill though. Overall, it was a unique and somewhat interesting book.
- The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek
- I found this little gem at the Dollar Store. I found out later its $25 at places like Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Lucky find because it was a great book! It's the story of a young woman that moves to New York to inherit her late aunt's beach house at the Hamptons. She has to get along with her dramatic cousin, but finds a little fun in the summer adventure of that old beach house. It is a parallel story of The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald with a twisted ending (of course!).
- I give this book a 4. It was an easy and fun read!
- True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
- Anyone that has read Nicholas Sparks pretty much knows what to expect. He is a romantic author that gives easy, fun reads to his audience. True Believer was no different. It was the story of a journalist/writer from New York that makes it big because of his honest exposures of people that commit fraud (such as psychics or ghost hunters). He wants to do the same thing to this mysterious town filled with "ghost lights", but along the way falls in love with the smalltown librarian. The story is filled with love, passion, stress, and of course (because its Sparks) sadness.
- I give this book a 3. It was enjoyable and a quick read, but overall a typical Sparks book.
- The Big Four by Agatha Christie
- I have always enjoyed Agatha Christie. She was a fantastic mystery writer of her time and always a good read. This book was nothing short of a mystery. The famous Hercule Poirot is at it again cracking down the four most powerful con artists he's ever met. It was a hunt worth reading about.
- I give this book a 2.5. It was a typical Agatha Christie mystery with a surprising ending.
- A Series of Unfortunate Events (the first) by Lemony Snicket
- First of all, it is a great book just because of the author's pen name. What a whimsical name! This is a children's bookset, but since I am going to be a teacher I figured I should dabble in some children's literature. What a great children's bookset this is too! The first of the many, many books in the set is the introduction to the three Baudelaire children who lose their parents to a fire and have to live in the unfortunate situation of their distant cousin, Count Olaf.
- I give this book a 4. It was a mysterious, whimsical, unfortunate story with an enticing ending.
- The Truth-Teller's Lie by Sophie Hannah
- This was a purchase from a used book store. I read the back and thought, "hmm sounds good" and bought it. It ended up being pretty interesting. It is the story of a woman with a dark secret that she uses to defend the one she loves. It is a twisted, detailed, unexpected story with a not-so-good ending.
- I give this book a 3.5. It was a book that kept me from putting it down, but it had a terrible ending and made me feel a little sick at the end.
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