Oct 21, 2011

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen


Title: Water for Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Pages: Paperback 335 pages
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Date Published: April 9th 2006
Genre: Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance
My Rating: 








Goodreads

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

My Review

A ninety-something year old remembering his days working for a circus during The Great Depression.  Doesn’t sound as interesting? Yeah that is what I thought until I read it and it was more than just a book to me.
This book has joined My Favorites list. I was not expecting much from this book; actually I expected to not like it. I only read it because the movie was coming out but I seriously fell in love with it. A well-written and well-researched book. Very unique and I really enjoy knowing that I learned a couple of things from it since it is based on true historic events and I will admit I am not a big history fan so this helped me get into it.

I recommend this book to everyone, it is definitely a must read!

Oct 12, 2011

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1) by Stieg Larsson


Title: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1)
Author: Stieg Larsson
Translator: Reg Keeland
Pages: Hardcover 465 pages
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Date Published: September 16th 2008
Genre: Mystery, Mystery Crime, Suspense
My Rating: 
 







Goodreads

Once you start The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, there's no turning back. This debut thriller--the first in a trilogy from the late Stieg Larsson--is a serious page-turner rivaling the best of Charlie Huston and Michael Connelly. Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.
--Dave Callanan

My Review

Mikael Blomkvist is a journalist one day and another he is hired to be a private investigator but isn’t quite sure what it is he should be investigating since his case has already been investigated by police and has been unsolved for nearly forty years. Later on he gets help from an incredible computer hacker with big issues, Lisbeth Salander.

This book was hard to begin; it was a little slow at the beginning and only picked up at around one third through it. I actually really liked it, but I didn’t read it all at once, I did pause for a month or two. Great plot and characters. It was suspenseful and interesting. I am not a big fan of Mystery Crime novels because they seem a little boring to me but this book was different maybe because it is easier to connect to these characters than with other ones in other Mystery Crime books, at least in my opinion. Lisbeth Salander is such a fascinating character it is hard not to like her. Once you read this book you will be shocked at the types of problems she is in and you won’t help but feel bad for her. Larsson isn’t afraid to be explicit; there will be a couple of things that might shake you.

I recommend this to anyone that is into the Mystery Crime genre and to anyone that is willing to read something different.

Oct 4, 2011

Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano


Title: Wither (The Chemical Garden #1)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pages: Hardcover 358 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Date Published: March 22nd 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance
My Rating: 
 





Goodreads

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings. Editor's recommendation.

Better summary of the book go here!

My Review

Amazing. Absolutely, remarkable.

What a strange book. By strange I mean this book goes nowhere but goes everywhere at the same time. Confusing, I know. The setting of this story pretty much stays the same throughout the whole book, you don’t go on an adventure like most in most books but this story proves that you don’t need to! From the beginning this book captures the reader’s attention, from there on you become part of the story. I seriously felt I was there with the characters in that house, even felt imprisoned. I felt seriously connected with this book.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the guy characters, Gabriel I can stand but I still feel he was missing something but I really can’t handle Linden, I really dislike his character he annoys me and even grosses me out I have no idea why. I like the rest of the characters, each one is very unique, my favorite is Jenna, and even Linden’s father is an interesting character. This book was different, besides the love triangle, there is no book like it, the story was morbid at times, I just loved it.

Okay one last thing, out of all the books I’ve read I have only cried with at the most three, not even One Day made me cry, its hard for me to get emotional with just anything, but this book had a section where I couldn’t help it, it was way too sad and unexpected.

I recommend this book to EVERYONE!