Summer Reads Round Two

Once again, I'm already five books in for my summer reading. I LOVE TO READ! I just wish I had the time to read more often. I know my fiance hates when I read for two reasons. 1. I get so wrapped in the book that it affects my outlook on life. If the book is depressing, I'm depressed. If the book is a romance novel, I'm head over heels for Michael. 2. I read non stop with a good book.
Oh well! He'll have to just accept that part of me :)

Here is my list so far this summer. I will rate them, as I did last summer. My rating scale is below.

• 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!!

The Hunger Games Series (all three) by Suzanne Collins

• These books were very easy reads. It is the kind of series that you can jump right into and enjoy. There are no deeper meanings or alliterations that the reader has to interpret. When I first started reading these, I actually disliked them for that reason. But after I accepted the fact that it is juvenile fiction and embraced the interesting story of making humans kill in game-like fashion I got over myself. I liked the books, but did not like the ending all too much. That seems to be the consensus though about the ending. 




• I will give this book a 3. It was just a solid 3 for the fact that I flew through it, enjoyed it, but now its over and I'm moving on. It is not something I went gah-gah over, but I liked being able to mindlessly glide through a fun read. 




The Maze Runner by James Dashner

• This book is part of a series, but I have only read this book alone. I have ordered the others and hope to get to them this summer. Overall it was a good book. It is that same distopian/sci-fi book that seems to be popular now (like The Hunger Games). It is about this boy that wakes up in this "land" filled with other boys. Every day before the gates/wall close, the boys run through this life-size maze to find the exit. They don't know how they got there or where they are going. I did not know this book was a part of a series, so the ending left me hanging... ugh. I guess it's going to be a movie soon too, so that's cool. 
• I will give this book a 3.5. It was exciting and thrilling. The characters kept me guessing and the suspense in the book was unnerving. I might even put this book closer to a 4, but I want to finish the series before I do that. 

Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood

• Mrs. Hemingway is about the four wives of Ernest Hemingway. I had been craving a 1920's styled book and found this one at the library. I had no clue Ernest Hemingway was such a jerk!! I don't really like any of Hemingway's book and I guess I don't like him now either after reading this book. It was historically accurate, but fictionalized conversations were added to make the story flow. Overall it left me feeling pretty sad. 
• I will this book a 2.5. I wouldn't recommend someone reading this unless they liked reading about that era (I do!). His four wives were left out to dry and it was depressing. 

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

• Daphne du Maurier is responsible for writing my favorite book of all time, Rebecca. I have read that 3 times and plan on doing it again this summer. IT IS PHENOMENAL! So when I found out she has written more books, I went straight to the library to pick this one up. It has much the same taste of Rebecca. The late 1800's language and style with the mysterious feel of relationships leaves you craving more. It was a good book about love, passion, betrayal, and mystery. 
• I will give this book a 4. It was NOT Rebecca, but it was thrilling. It was a book that kept me guessing, which I always like. The characters developed in MY mind, which I love. I hate being told what the characters are thinking and feeling. I like to do that myself and du Maurier does a great job of helping me do that. 

MORE BOOKS TO COME. STAY TUNED!