Book #13 of 2013... DONE!

Fat Kid Rules the World

I know that I say that every book is GREAT... I wouldn't blog on here about a not-good-book!


But, last night I finished my 13th book of 2013 and it was GREAT.  I was literally cheering for the main character at the end, my heart was racing, and I could not wait to know how it would end for him.

The book Fat Kid Rules the World is by K.L. Going.  It's a coming of age story told by Troy, a 296 lb. teenager who struggles so much with his weight and self-image.  It's really well done and reminds me a lot of anything and everything by John Green.  If you liked Will Grayson, Will Grayson, you'll like this one too.

These books always speak to me as a teacher about the importance of teaching our students to be kind!  And even though you don't see Troy being bullied or anything like that in the book, he talks about how it's happened in such a straight forward and accepting way... it makes a girl's heart sad!

Troy's struggles with his weight and self-image are so real and true... things we all (at least, me!) think from time to time.  And then there's Curt... the homeless, druggie, unreliable, amazing guitar player who literally saves Troy's life and is a major player in the book too.

Anyway, this book had me laughing and crying and sympathizing and empathizing all at the same time.  It was a great read!  I hope you'll check it out!

:)
Christina

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry was published in 1993. Why haven’t I already found this awesome author? If you read Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Among the Brave series, you’ll enjoy this.

This is also a futuristic account of a community where everything (and I do mean everything!) is regulated. At age 12, children are given their life assignments. Jonas's assignment is The Receiver. There hasn't been one in ten years and he's frightened!

Students love this book. I had to be put on the waiting list at my school. I can’t wait to read the next book The Messenger.

Try it out! You’ll love it!

♥ Melly♥

Stapler's Strategies 

Matched, Crossed, Reached

I just finished the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie and it was a good treat!

It's the usual dystopian future society uprising, but with a really interesting twist where the Society controls everything about a person's life by analyzing and sorting according to a statistical equation.

The story begins when Cassia goes to her Banquet to find out who her match is, but something odd happens when she gets home... the person who she was matched with at the banquet isn't the one who's image pops up on her microcard when she gets home.  Thus begins a love triangle and a journey to discover what's really going on in the society and, hopefully, unravel it.

Apart from Cassia being WAY too wordy and "poetic" at times, it was really good.  I loved that the 2nd and 3rd books are narrated by alternative perspectives in each chapter.  I liked reading things from each of the main characters' perspectives... espcially since they are not together at time sin the story.

If you're a dystopian fan, I'd recommend it!  I read Divergent  and  Insurgent by Veronica Roth a bit ago, and so this was right up my alley!

:)
Christina

For His Pleasure...

It has been such a long time since I have shared my good reads with all of you.  I have read...a lot...but time passes and things get in the way.  I wish I could post about all of the books I have read since we last spoke, but that would take up a week of our time, so today I am focusing on books written by Kelly Favor.  Her, For His Pleasure... series, to be exact.

There are 14 books in the series, so far, with more to come.  They are cheap (around $2 on Nook) because each book focuses on a few chapters.  Genius, I tell you!  I don't even want to know how much this book will have cost me by the time the whole series is written, but the minimal investment each time makes me happy.

The first book starts with Red Jameson (think Christian Grey) and his exploits.  He turns to Nicole (yup, Anastasia) for, you got it, HIS PLEASURE.  It will hook you and you will keep reading.  By the time you get to 14, Red and Nicole are in the past, but there are plenty of couples to pick up where they leave off.  BDSM is quite hot (when I read about it, not from personal experience, lol).  I tend to think I am still a prude because I blush when I read and I can't even bring myself to tell my husband.  I would love to think I could be just like these daring divas, but alas, I will only read about them every chance I get.

Here are the books, in order:


                 

So there you have it, just look at those covers, and you will understand where I am coming from.  Come back and tell me what you think, I will be waiting.


Janine

The Painted Girls

So I've been part of a book club for years, but it's the worst book club ever. People gave up on reading books and instead, just drink wine and talk about the Real Housewives. So I've joined a new club.

Oh, I'll still drink wine, but I'd like to read and talk about it, too.

My new book club is still a pseudo-club. We have a little facebook group, share titles, and share responses. The first book we collectively decided to read was The Painted Girls, by Cathy Marie Buchanan.

This book is about three young girls who are struggling to survive in the 1800s in France. The two younger sisters join the Paris Opera Ballet as ballet students, where the painter Degas observes them to use as models. It's basically the fictional backstory for this piece, among others:

You can visit Wikipedia to read more about the statuette.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was written in an interesting time, with characters dealing with issues that we just don't see.

Happy Reading!

Gone Girl

I know, you've forgotten who I am because it's been ages since I posted last. Ages.

But it's been winter break and I've been allowed to read again!

The book Gone Girl was recommended to me by a friend who told me that she questioned the author's mindset. After reading it, I was questioning the author's mindset as well. It's a great read - read it in two days - because you honestly don't know what's coming next and you spend pages trying to fit together these two different versions of a story.

Gone Girl is about Nick and Amy, a clever couple who have been married for five years. On the day of their fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing and a search ensues. The book details the thoughts of Nick and Amy before and during the time she is gone. I don't usually like crime-y novels, but this wasn't mostly about the crime. This was more like a psychological suspense novel. 

A great read; the pages won't turn fast enough!

Deceptions and A Tangled Web

Deceptions and A Tangled Web by Judith Michael are about twin sisters, Sabrina and Stephanie who decide to switch lives for a week. I read Deceptions a few years ago. Then I read it again...and again. The storyline was that good. It amazed me that Stephanie would do what she did. I like to think I'd never, ever do that. The "deception" just kept growing...and growing... It ended in tragedy!

Then I'm in the library, looking at Debbie Macomber books and notice Judith Michael. I recognize the author (actually authors...
wife is Judith, hubby is Michael). I begin looking through the titles and reading the blurbs. Then, I see A Tangled Web: the Sequel to Deceptions! Oh my! Could it be? YES!! Oh man! I can't wait to read this one!!

Sometimes a sequel does not live up the first novel. Well, this one is well worth the wait! It picks up right where Deceptions left off and the story is amazing! It's almost like the authors wrote the entire book as one, realized it would put readers off with the sheer volume of it, and decided to separate it into two novels. This is a fantastic story which uses romance, intrigue, and danger to really prompt a person to think deeply.

Enjoy, friends!

♥ Melly♥