Christmas Carol

I read this just before Christmas (2010) and really enjoyed it! I have watched the Albert Finney film (Scrooge) every year since I can remember but I'd never read the book. I don't particularly like Dickens (so dark and depressing) and I always thought it would be really long. It turned out to be really short and a quick read and the dark descriptions didn't bother me so much in this book, either because they were well balanced with lighter scenes or because it was just a shorter book. It was uplifting and when I finished reading it I was happy and wanted to be a better person. No movie could really do it justice, definitely worth the read!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I forgot to post these books. Loved them! It's kind of a Harry Potter story but with greek mythology.

I didn't watch the movie because it looked lame. So if it was and you saw it, don't judge the book. Movie previews showed some completely off things so I didn't bother seeing it.

Percy Jackson is an 11 year old demi-god and discovers it when his teacher turns into a monster and tries to kill him. After he joins his place with all the other half gods Zeus' lightening bolt is stolen and he's the prime suspect.

The series follows with The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian. Each series gets better and better. There are rumors of a new series based on the rise of the new oracle. So excited!

The Hunger Games

I just finished reading the Hunger Games and it's sequel Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I enjoyed reading both of these books. It was really weird in the beginning of the first book but once you understand what is going on it is really interesting. It takes place in the future in a place called Panem that arises after North America is destroyed. Panem consists of the powerful Capitol and 12 poor districts. In the first book, the main girl, Katniss, has to try and survive the Capitol's Hunger Games, which is a form of punishment the Capitol has placed on all of the districts. In both of these books there is always something deeper going on that you find out at the end of the book. I recommend reading these books. They are both an easy read, unfortunately the third book doesn't come out for a few more months.

The Host

This was easy reading and very interesting. This is a story about after the aliens take over. Only a few humans are left, and are in hiding.

The aliens are like parasites; they take over the human body and live off it. They over take planets when they feel they can change it for the better.

The story is told from the perspective of the alien. When the alien takes over her host body, the host doesn't leave. Having someone elses mind in her own shows her a lot about humans and more importantly the memories of the guy the human was in love with who is still in hiding. So the alien and human escape from the rest of the aliens in search of the guy they are both in love with.

Sounds cheesy and dumb? Try describing Twilight. Stephanie Meyer has a good way of making simple stories/plots amazing. This is a story that lingers in your mind when you're done, not because it was deep, but because it's this adventure story about castaways in the desert on an alien inhibited planet. She makes it fun to imagine and think about.

This is a modern tale of the story of Cain and Abel. It wasn't easy reading. I had to force myself to read it, but by the end of the book is was worth it.

The story is about a man and his relationship with his twin sons. The mother was psycho and left after they were born. The father takes years to overcome his grief and even longer to want to love his sons. Throughout the book the story of Cain and Abel is disected, mostly by his chinese servant, and how the story is relevant to him and his sons. The whole theme of the book is about choices. We have the choice to choose. I read it over a month ago and I still can't stop thinking about the story. A very meditative read.

Time Traveler's Wife

I read The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Simply put, I hated it. Which is weird because it would appear to have everything I would like, a unique plot, thoughtful and educated characters, many references to art and literature, and a sweet love story. In spite of all of these good things there was a crassness to the book that disgusted me. A lot of vulgar language which included frequent references to sex as f***ing. Could you repulse me any more? And even though the characters are "educated" they seemed to have very bohemian attitudes toward morals, healthy relationships and just plain happiness. These themes were underlying and subtle but came through more and more as I got into the book and became kind of an ethical turn-off for me. There was also way too much graphic sex for my taste and, like I said, a lot of dirty language. By the end of the book I had to make myself finish it. 2 thumbs down.

French Women Don't Get Fat

I just finished this book and I loved it. It was less of a diet/nutrition book and more about enjoying life, having balance, having a routine, and appreciating the seasons, not only with food, but the seasons of life. She explains why french women don't understand why a woman would go to a gym, go on a diet, etc. She shows you a different approach to life, love and of course, food. Amazing recipes in the book as well.

Angels & Demons

The first book in the "Robert Langdon" series (Da Vinci Code being it's sequal). Robert Langdon is called to CERN (some big nuclear science place in Switzerland) in the middle of the night to shed some light on a symbol burned into the chest of one of their top scientists corps, murdered only hours before. The symbol is of an ancient group, The Illuminati, that has it out for the catholic church. Robert Langdon is skeptical but by the time he's in Vatican City and more things come into play he's risking his life to stop The Illuminati from a series of murders (the top 4 cardinals) that are occuring on the hour, every hour until midnight, when a final blow will threaten to destroy the entire country. One thing is for certain, The Illuminati has people working closely in Vatican City. Who, how many, and why are the questions you'll be asking yourself the entire book. Even if you think you know, you don't. Unless you saw the movie already. Along the way you learn about symbols, art, history, and other random facts in a very entertaining way, and you also get some good discussions on religion vs. intellectualism. It's a fast action book from start to finish. Hard to put down!

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Well, I don't know if I would have read the book if it wasn't the only book at the grocery store that didn't look like a perverted romance novel. It was really cheap and since I can't afford or have the time to go to the movies, nothing to do at work, and I'm going crazy without my husband, I bought it.

I'm only halfway through and so far there doesn't seem like any really good plot line, but I feel like I'm watching a movie when I'm reading. It's such a light read and I think it's really funny. I will definitely finish it tonight. Again, I can't decide if it's boredom or really, REALLY good. So far, there are a ton of OMG in there which REALLY bothers me reading it more than hearing it, and 2 f-words which doesn't bother me as much reading it as it would hearing it. Don't ask me why that is. Reading about her debt kind of stresses me out about my own... but the main character isn't ditzy or stupid at all, except about money, and is pretty relatable. I REALLY want to see the movie now, but I'm scared it just won't add up to the book. If you want to read a romantic-comedy this is the book. I'll let you all know if I still feel the same when I'm done.

Ender's Game

I read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card last month.  I was surprised at how much I liked it, I'm not usually into reading science fiction.  It's the story of a little boy named Ender who has essentially been genetically engineered to save the world from another invasion by aliens.  His 2 siblings were rejected because one was too nice and one was too mean.  Ender goes to Battle School with other genius candidate children and ultimately saves the world.  Bored yet?  The surprising part was how much this book focuses on symbolic imagery and psychological challenges.  It has more to do with people and their motivations than about aliens and spaceships.  It delves into Ender's fears and thoughts, his relationships with his siblings and others.  The ending was amazingly beautiful and peaceful, with lots of twists (some you see coming and some you don't).  I'm dying to talk to somebody about it.  

My Sister's Keeper

I just finished reading "My Sister's Keeper," by Jodi Picoult. I thought the topic of this book was very interesting. The older sister is diagnosed with a certain kind of Leukemia when she is two years old. If she is going to live much longer then she needs to find a perfect donor. So the parents decide to have a "designer baby" so whenever the older sister gets sick the younger sibling can always donate whatever she needs. After many surgeries, the younger sister decides she doesn't want to donate anymore to her sister. So the book is about how the younger sister gets a lawyer to file for her own medical emancipation. I really liked this book and it really makes you think about what is right and wrong. The end also has a big twist that the reader doesn't expect.

Princess Academy

I was SO put off by the title but I didn't have time (2 crazy kids) to find something else when I was at the library.  It was really short so I read it and it turned out better than expected.  The story is set in a fictional place about a girl who lives in a tiny village on a mountain where the sole occupation is working in the quarry.  None of the members of the village had ever been down the mountain and they are only vaguely aware of life in the lowlands.  Through some ritual the priests of the country divined that the prince was to choose his bride from among the young girls in the village.  An academy is created for the girls to study for 1 year in order to be properly prepared to meet the prince.  The book is about growing up.  I liked how the main character tries to find the balance between her earthy and simple past and a material and complicated future.  It's definitely written for a younger audience but it's cute and entertaining, and a short read.

These Is My Words - Nancy E. Turner

This is the first book in a series of three. I have yet to read the other two.

Another slow starter, but well worth it. The author wrote this story based on the diary of her great great grandmother.

I loved this book because although there are a few love stories involved, it is not the focal point of the novel. Written in diary form, you really feel the story in reality, not like a sappy love story with a fairytale ending. Her life was hard, and takes you for an emotional ride as she faces bandits, Indians, death, heartbreak, and more. Her life was hard and the book leaves you feeling like you've grown right along with her.

I can't wait to finish the series.

The Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux

This book is slow getting into but is well worth it in the end. Heather's assurance that it was really good kept me going.

The story is nothing like the play or any movie I've ever seen. The history of Erik (or the Opera Ghost) is very interesting, and his genius is much more than music.

The play seems to me more about seduction and love whereas the book is more about fear and freedom.

A definite must.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

I listened to this on CD just after I had Emerson so my memory is a little hazy but thought it was really cute.  It made for a good chuckle anyway.  

It's about a single, 30-something woman that has yet to get married because she's secretly addicted to the BBC Pride and Prejudice and compares every man to Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy.  Her wealthy great aunt (I think) bequeaths her a week at Austenland, a british estate that provides the uber wealthy a chance to live out their Jane Austen fantasies.  

It's funny, hasn't everyone gone through a Colin Firth stage, and a cute read.  Nothing deep but light and entertaining.  I just recently found out Shannon Hale is LDS and heard that some of her other books are pretty good.