Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

TITLE:  Ender's Game

AUTHOR:  Card, Orson Scott

GENRE: Science Fiction

MY RATING:  4.5/5

DATE FINISHED: 5/31/2011

I just finished the second half of this book in less than a day.  The second half of it definitely moved a lot faster than the first half did.  I enjoyed it quite a bit!

Overall, I feel this book cannot be outgrown.  It's a fantastic read for middle-schoolers and middle-agers alike.  It takes a little while to get used to the world and the terminology.  But once you do... you're hooked.

***Photo by B. Bumble***

Aging of Books

I am still in the middle of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, and it is proving just as fantastic as before.  Reading my brother's old copy made me think about how books age, both on the shelf and in our hands.    Books hold more than just words; they hold the memories of the times when we've read them.  Have you ever read a book before, and come across an old bookmark, or a dog-eared page?  I always smile when I see these sorts of things, and I am dedicating this post to the aging of books and to the memories we leave behind within them.

I suppose the most common place to find something like this would be in a cookbook.  My mom and I have always loved to cook, and just turning the pages of a cookbook brings back many wonderful memories, and the dog-eared pages of favorite recipes (including some leftover crumbs).

I've found my memories within books in a lot of strange ways.  I just went camping with my family this past weekend, and when I picked up the book after I got home, it still smelled of the campfire (and even had some ashes smudged on the pages!).  It brought me right back to roasting marshmallows for s'mores.

But perhaps my favorite memory that I've found was from our old family cat.  My mom was reading to my brother and I when we were little, and our cat jumped up onto the bed with us and took a nibble right out of the corner of one of the pages!  Normally that would be upsetting... but whenever I go up to my old room, I pull out that same book and find the page with the corner missing, and remember that moment.

So whether it's a torn page, which may seem sacreligious to book lovers or not (see Dead Poet's Society), or a coffee stain from a rainy day... books hold many memories for us all.  So next time you find one, take a moment to appreciate the history your books keep.

DISCLAIMER:  Please be kind to your books.  Don't dog-ear pages.  Use a bookmark!

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

TITLE:  Something Borrowed

AUTHOR:  Giffin, Emily

GENRE:  Fiction

MY RATING:  4/5

DATE FINISHED: 5/26/2011

I have to say that I absolutely loved this book!  It made me reevaluate all of my own relationships with "best friends" throughout the years.  Something Borrowed explores that ever-loving, can't live without, love you-hate you, can't stand you, competitiveness that almost everyone experiences with a "best friend" at some point.

What I love most about this book, is that - in a way - it disguises itself as a romance.  I feel that it definitely has romantic notes to it, but the core is about the romance and art of the frenemy (I hate that term, but had to use it at least once!).

This book appropriately showcases many different types of love and friendship, and how they can morph into a mess or something downright spectacular.  It answers the age old question, what if you met the love of your life, but you were engaged to someone else?  Would you just let them pass you by?

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Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

TITLE:  Angelology

AUTHOR:  Trussoni, Danielle

GENRE:  Fiction

MY RATING:  ?/5

DATE FINISHED:  TBA

I know I probably seem flighty lately because I keep putting books down.  But, sadly, Angelology was not exactly the thrill ride that I had hoped for.  There definitely was a fantastic story line, but it just took me way too long to feel connected to the characters, or to the plot for that matter.

There is a lot of history on angels, and the majority of the book deals with a convent.  I felt that the bulk of the story revolved around explanations, and less around actual plot and character development.

And if you've read my blog up to this point, you know I'm huge on plot and character development.  Maybe I'll pick it up again someday soon because I have heard good things about it.

***Photo by B. Bumble***

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

TITLE:  The Help

AUTHOR:  Stockett, Kathryn

GENRE:  Fiction

MY RATING:  5/5

DATE FINISHED:  5/16/2011

This book has been compared to To Kill and Mockingbird.  I loved (absolutely adored) that story and feel like it changed my life.  We could all use more books that change out lives. 

There are few books in your life that truly change you, and the way you think.  This is, without a doubt, one of them.  Everything about this book is absolutely charming.  It doesn't leave you wanting more (because it's perfect just the way it is).

The description of everything within the book is delicious to read.  The location, the dialogue, and most importantly, the characters.  Throughout reading The Help, you make crucial connections and care deeply about each character's fate.  Aibileen, Minny, Skeeter... every single one of them.

There are so many heartfelt lessons to be learned from this story, and I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.  It's a lovely book to sink into like warm, Jackson, Mississippi weather.  I loved it!

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Meet Me in Venice by Elizabeth Adler

TITLE:  Meet Me in Venice

AUTHOR: Adler, Elizabeth

GENRE:  Fiction/Mystery

MY RATING:  3/5

DATE FINISHED:  5/11/2011

One of my friends gifted me this book a while ago, and I've finally decided to pick it up.

I finally finished this book!  It was a really quick read.  I would have finished it must faster if I hadn't been interrupted by graduation and a trip home.  In fact, I finished the majority of it on a bus ride.

The characters and settings were fun to read about.  All of the different cultures seemed to be portrayed very realistically.

This book was definitely a summer beach read that didn't require a lot of thought.  But sometimes, that's exactly what you need!

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Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

TITLE:  Water for Elephants

AUTHOR: Gruen, Sara

GENRE:  Fiction

MY RATING:  5/5

DATE FINISHED:  5/4/2011

A new month, and a new book.  I have started this new book because my dearest friend told me I must do so.  After tantalizing me with tales of nights not being able to put it down, she simply pushed it towards me and said, "You need to read this.  And don't go to see the movie."

What a marvelous story!  I absolutely could not put this book down.  And for that I must thank my most dear friend.  It was indeed a fantastic choice!

The setting was impeccable.  Everything was set in the marvelously decrepit world of a 1930's traveling circus.  It was eerie and magical at the same time.  In addition, the characters were phenomenal!  Each one had a complexity and possessed the ability to jump right off of the page and stand in front of you.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to escape for a few days.  This book will drag you into a land, wow you, and remind you of the importance of following your heart.

Please read this book and share it with others!

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A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

TITLE:  A Game of Thones (A Song of Fire and Ice #1)

AUTHOR:  Martin, George R. R.

GENRE:  Fiction/Historical Fantasy

MY RATING: ?/5

DATE FINISHED: TBD

This is certainly an epic.  A little hard to chew on, but I love it so far.

However, another book has fallen into my lap, so I am putting this one on the shelf temporarily.  Unlike, A Feast of Love, I have made huge connections to these characters, and I want to find out what happens.  However, I also must remain loyal to the rules of book juju.  When someone places a book in your hands and says, "You need to read this," you must oblige.  And so I must...

Will return soon!

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