The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

TITLE:  The Fault In Our Stars
AUTHOR:  Green, John
GENRE:  Fiction

DATES READ:  5/24/2014 - 5/25/2014

MY RATING:  4/5

I saw the movie preview for this story, and have been curious about it for some time now.  I want to make sure to read it before seeing the movie, but it looks extremely sad... here goes!

Wow.  My heart is wrenched after reading this.  It takes a lot for a book to make my cry.  And John Green has succeeded.  This story is both beautiful and stirs emotions you didn't even know you had.  You will fall in love with both Hazel and Augustus.  Their story is fleeting, tragic, fragile, and infinite.

Breath-taking, and bittersweet.  Recommended if you don't mind a tear or twenty.

Will read and write soon!

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Fragment by Warren Fahy

TITLE:  Fragment
AUTHOR:  Fahy, Warren
GENRE:  Fiction

DATES READ:  5/12/2014 - 5/24/2014

MY RATING:  4.5/5

This book came highly recommended by my sister-in-law, so I'm going to give it a try.  The cover related it to Jurassic Park, which is a favorite of mine.  I guess we shall see...

And the verdict is... What a BLAST to read!!!  This book was a rip-roaring good time!  I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, even though they were plentiful and one-note.  What really sold me was the imaginative environmental.  The creatures were chilling and fascinating to read about (and definitely reminiscent of Jurassic Park!).

I loved how all of the theories mentioned throughout the book came together in the end.  Even with all of the initial chaos, everything has it's place, and everything is in its place.

I would highly recommend this book as well.  Notably for anyone who loves science, thrilling adventure, and surprised.  It definitely kept me guessing until the end!

Will read and write soon!

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Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

TITLE:  Lost Lake
AUTHOR:  Allen, Sarah Addison
GENRE:  Fiction

DATES READ:  4/22/2014 - 5/10/2014

MY RATING:  4.5/5

I originally got this for my mom as a birthday present, and she just lent it to me after she finished.  In her words, "you have to read this".  And so I yield... :-)  I love sharing books.

I adored the plot of this story.  It was consistent with every Sarah Addison Allen book I've read (what can I say?  sometimes a write just rings true for you!).  I cared for each of the characters.  From Lisette, Elsy Pim (I mean her name, come on!!!), Selma, Buhladeen (again!), Wes, and Devin.  It's very rare for my to be able to keep so many characters resonating in my heart, and trust me... they're all there!  It's wonderful.

I fell in love with each character in his/her own way.  Mostly, the greatest character of all.  Lost Lake herself.

This is a book that will make you believe in second chances, and understanding in both love and loss.

Will read and write soon!

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Charming by Elliott James

TITLE:  Charming (Pax Arcana #1)
AUTHOR:  James, Elliott
GENRE:  Fantasy/Supernatural

DATES READ:  3/30/2014 - 4/22/2014

MY RATING:  2/5

I received this book from my sister-in-law for my birthday in 2013.  I can't believe I haven't picked it up until now.  Love the cover!!  I opened it and immediately got sucked into the story.

I'm not going to lie... there are quite a few cheesy/campy moments in this book.  Not an all-out cheese fest, but dangerously close.  I liked it overall, but when a book gets too "jokey", for lack of a better work, it's just not my style.

Sig was okay, but none of the characters seemed realistic at all.  I can appreciate this style of book, but it's not really my thing.  I would recommend this toward people who enjoy more sarcastic supernatural bits of fiction.  It's definitely for lovers of action, who enjoy the type of charm reserved for Ferris Bueller types who talk directly to the camera (reader).  A fun easy breezy read, just not my cup of tea.

Will read and write soon!

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Sutton by J.R. Moehringer

TITLE:  Sutton
AUTHOR:  Moehringer, J.R.
GENRE:  Historical Fiction

DATES READ:  3/5/2014 - 3/30/2014

MY RATING:  4/5

This book was a birthday present from my mom this past year!  And I found out, throughout reading, that it's about a bank robber I heard of during my tour of Eastern State Penitentiary last year.  That made it even more fascinating for me!!!

It was a little difficult to get into the story because it constantly switches back and forth between past and "present" (a.k.a. late in the 1960's).  But once you get used to that, the story speeds along quite nicely.  I adore historical fiction and this book was a treat.  It made me more curious about Willie "the Actor" Sutton's life story, and how he got to his bank robber royalty status.  I loved the setting and the time period, and the characters were so fleshed out and real.

This is definitely a must for any historical fiction buff.

Will read and write soon!

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

TITLE:  The Book Thief
AUTHOR:  Zusak, Markus
GENRE:  Historical Fiction

DATES READ:  2/5/2014 - 3/5/2014

MY RATING:  4/5

This book was a Christmas surprise from my mom.  The bigger surprise was that I had the same book waiting for her, all wrapped up under the tree (you would be amazed at how often we have done this).

Within The Book Thief, Zusak takes a difficult subject matter and molds it into something brilliant.  He presents it in a manner that is poetic and grimly beautiful; through the eyes of an innocent young girl, and through the eyes of someone who has much more experience with loss.  Very few books make me cry, and this one did.  I will forever adore the character of Hans Hubermann.

This book was truly touching.  I hope my mom reads it soon!

Will read and write soon!

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The Arrivals by Melissa Marr

TITLE:  The Arrivals
AUTHOR:  Marr, Melissa
GENRE:  Science Fiction/Fantasy

DATES READ:  1/19/2014 - 2/5/2014

MY RATING:  3/5

The book was lent to me by my brother and his wife with much commendation.  It had been sitting on my nightstand for sometime, so I finally decided to pick it up.

The setting of this book is odd, but both jarring and strong.  I felt completely transported to this desert world that felt completely alien.  It was disturbing at points, but mostly reminded me of my introduction to Star Wars.  Everything is new and strange, with shades of the familiar.

What really kept drawing me back to the pages was Melissa Marr's characters.  Some books out there will beat you to death with "bronze hair" and "piercing green eyes".  After a while, these repetitive descriptors become monotonous.  It was refreshing to have an author give more vague descriptions of her characters, and free your imagination to fill in the details of their appearance.

Will read and write soon!

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