Little Girls...

I have been putting off this post for a while as Lolita was one of the weirdest books I have read in a while. In this book, Humbart falls for Lo after her mother dies. Their affair shapes Lo's life as she runs into a hard dramatic life. While I can see how the book was recognized for its writing, the content was so far off, I had a hard time reading it.

It was one of my least favorite book of the year. Before I decided if I liked the characters, they were being asked to make major life decisions. As a whole, I think I could have spent my time reading other books.

Such is life. On the whole, I am glad I only have one day left of the semester at work. The holiday season is busy and fun, but hard on the reading schedule. Over the next 10 days, I will be reading mighty fast! Here we go!

Happy Reading!

RED RUM

Please pass the...Rum.. that is about how I feel after reading Stephen King's The Shining. In a true Halloween spirit, I read two haunting stories back to back. Not the brightest idea I have ever had. I am not impressed with either.

Parts of the book make you squirm and turn every page. Other parts of the book I was left wondering how in the world this related to the story. Additionally, after about 400 pages into the book, I figured out most of the story (200 pages in I figured out over half of the story). E for effort, but I have heard there are other King books that are better.

Stephen King is known for being a wonderful writer. I am just not sure I like horror writing. I think I will give him another chance...

Now I am reading Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?  It is hard to believe the end is in site. I will post November books soon!

Happy Reading!

Do you need proof to believe?

Wednesday, I picked up Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. (Side note: Lynn Vincent from Same Kind of Difference as Me was a contributor.) I am not sure what I was expecting as the book has had much hype and media over the last two years since its release.

Heaven is for Real takes a look at a family's life after a little boy almost died from appendicitis. While near death experiences are powerful and are valid, everyone has their own understanding of faith, heaven, and beliefs.  People pray and their answers do not always come right away.

While it was a sweet book, it very much preached a one way to heaven mentality. While I am not saying I have all the answers, I am not sure I want to take this book as my view of heaven. It is an okay read,but not a book I would read again.


Currently finishing The Fellowship of the Rings. Excited for some upcoming books trying to finish this book this weekend!

Happy Reading!

Just what is that Catch 22?

So I decided it would be a great idea to read Catch 22 on the beach...

Let me tell you this was one of the harder books I have read. Joseph Heller wrote and published this WWII novel in the late 1950s and released the book in the early 1960s. All 400 pages describe a not so patriotical view of military life primarily in the 1940s Mediterranean Sea.  The story is centralized around Yossarian desire to quit the war since he has flow his required number of missions. His support group of friends and comrades allow the readers to see how Yossarian boarders on brilliance and craziness. Morality, respect, family, loyalty among others come together to shape this interesting book.

Catch 22 refers to the idea that he is crazy for constantly flying out to the war zone to have the chance of being killed, yet he will be called crazy for asking to leave the war as well. In a sense, it is a lose-lose situation. Reflecting back, I have heard this phrase used before and it is part of everyday slang or lose American language. I am not sure everyone uses it correctly. When you are stuck with no good solution, you are forced to chose the best alternative. These situations are not always Catch 22s as sometimes they are portrayed. Looking back at Stephen Covey and The Secret, they would tell us there is always an alternative if we try hard enough. I'm a pretty positive person and I look for the good in things. I say try to avoid the Catch 22 in your life.

Heller is well-praised and sited for this work in Catch 22. It is an atypical portrayal of military life. This book however, did not make my favorite lists. It is tough book to manage with non-chronological story telling, detailed character descriptions, and weird plot twist. I appreciate this book and I am glad I read it, but it was not a good choice for the beach.

Reading this book made me appreciate the amazing English teachers I have had in the past. I was able to navigate this book just fine because I learned how to read literature for themes, plot, characters  etc. through their guidance. This book showed me I was okay doing it on my own. Read the book if you like classics or if you want to understand Catch 22 a little more.

Happy Reading!

(Vacation put me a little behind on blogging. Lovely Bones post and June Books coming today!)

When books are not what you expected...

After nine long days of reading, I finally finished The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling.  I am not sure what I was expecting, but it was not this. I love how JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter and all in all I think she is a great writer.

On a whole some people criticizer her for writing the Harry Potter books with not enough character development. However, they are children's books and have growing character development and interwoven depths as the characters age.

While I was not expecting Harry Potter, I was expecting an entertaining plot with a different story and maybe some of JK Rowling signature details. Instead JK Rowling decided that we should all know she can and will spend pages developing her characters even if it sacrifies the plot.

On a whole the basis of the book surronds Barry Fairbrother dies and his local seat in the Parish Council goes up for election. In this rural community in England, dirty politics, discontent for the poor, rape, welfare, scandals all sound like they would make an excellent plot. Instead tedious details and chapters of information make the first 350 pages drag. While the last 100 pages are pretty good, final answers to some of the stories questions are not always.

All in all this book was ok. If you like character development and literature read it, if not skip it.

Happy Reading! Off to catch up... Guy Not Taken and then Lean In (so excited)

Satire.. The Good and Bad

I am America (And So Can You).... Stephen Colbert take on how to live your life, to live the American Dream, and to read a book.

I guess I knew what I was getting to when I picked up this book. I have to admit although I like the Colbert report it was not my favorite book. Half of the topics, comments, and ideas and right on point and  even address issues directly that are usually brushed off ( class relations, sex, gender distinctions).  However, in addressing these hot button issues he says what he thinks without any regard to the larger life picture.

On the other hand, many people will take this book word for word as the golden way to approach life. Stephen Colbert will laugh and you and so will I. One of the best parts of this books is figuring out the literary and political satire. Colbert jumps around so much though it is hard to tell which part is which or where the book is going.

Overall, I would say this is an okay fast read. Not my favorite book, but would make a decent table read.

Now off to explore another adventure book in Gulliver's Travels!

Happy Reading!