The Hunger Games

Wow!  I just finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  It was so good, I don't know if I could do it justice to write words about it.  You need to go get this book and read it!

The Hunger Games is about a futuristic place called Panem which is where North America used to be.  The area is divided in to districts that are ruled by "The Capitol".  The districts are barely surviving, having to ration food, and work for the good of The Capitol.  Each year, each district has to give up two children (age 12 to 18), one boy and one girl, for the Hunger Games - a competition devised to keep the districts in line by reminding them that The Capitol has the power, and also for entertainment purposes.  The contestants in the Hunger Games are put into a large outside area called "the arena" where cameras follow their every move. It is like the most brutal form of reality TV.  In the competition, there can be only one winner, every other competitor must die. 

The main character is a girl. Katniss, from District 12.  It is a heart wrenching story of how she competes in the Hunger Games, doing what she has to in order to survive.  She has to constantly weigh survival against humanity, and love.  This was a fantastic book that pulled me in immediately and has yet to release it's grip on me, and I am finished the book.  The description of the places and the way the characters feelings are made known without having to spell them out made this book a real page turner. The Hunger Games is the first book in a trilogy. The second book, Catching Fire is already out.  I cannot wait to read it!

Happy Reading!

The Lost Symbol

Dan Brown's latest Robert Langdon book, The Lost Symbol was another conspiracy theory book, this time involving the Masons and a hidden portal that would lead mankind to the power of the Ancient Mysteries. This one, while entertaining and enlightening, was not as much of a thrill ride as the other two books in the series (The DaVinci Code & Angels & Demons). As always, with these books, the reader is left wondering: Is this really possible? Could this really be the truth?

This adventure takes place in Washington, D.C., our nation's capitol. Many familiar and unfamiliar places in D.C. are included in this novel, making it quite interesting reading. Robert is on a quest to help save his friend and mentor from a monster who is trying to reveal the Ancient Mysteries for evil purposes. Along the way, he must decipher a pyramid that has code within code, and has been protected by the Masons for centuries.

For those who love Brown's conspiracy theories and code cracking intellectual prose, this book does not disappoint. It was less action packed than the other two books in the series, however. It seemed to take longer to read and was not as much of a page turner as his other books. This book felt like it was the same formula as the other books; too much of the same thing. The theories in it were interesting. The basic one being that man is God because we were created in His image, and that our minds are incredibly powerful, if we learn how to harness and use that power. Would make for interesting debate, but I am not sure the novel was worth the time it took to complete it. The book did make me want to take another trip to our capitol city, to see the buildings that were included in Robert's adventure, from his perspective.

Happy Reading!

A Touch of Dead

A Touch of Dead is a short story collection featuring Sookie Stackhouse, part of Charlaine Harris' popular series. This book contains five short stories that take place in between various Sookie novels. There is a fantastic introduction that explains the time frame for each story and other notes from the author about inspiration, or why she wrote the story.

This was a very enjoyable selection of short stories. I highly recommend it for any Sookie fan. I loved the author's insight in the introduction. The stories are just fun, and make the perfect compliment to the novels. Just a taste of Sookie for those of us who have become crazy Sookie fans, and a perfect way to wait for the next novel's release in May 2010. Please keep these stories coming, Ms. Harris!!

Happy Reading!

The Wednesday Letters

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright was an enjoyable book. Three grown siblings come together to bury their parents, who passed away. While going through their things, the siblings come across letters that their father wrote to their mother. Every Wednesday he wrote her a letter. At first, the letters are a sentimental look into a side of their parents' life that the children weren't privy to: a look at their parents as a couple, not as just a mother and a father. But while reading the letters, a secret is unveiled that changes everything. After anger, soul searching, a service where people come from all over to honor their parents, and some other revelations along the way, the children discover that the secret that changed everything, didn't really change anything at all.

This book was a fast read. It was a page turner. I couldn't wait to see what was going to be revealed next or what the characters would do with the knowledge that they had just gained. The story turned out to be more about the kids than the relationship between their parents. I would have liked to see more of that side. I would have liked to have seen more of the Wednesday letters. That side of the story interested me a little more than the lives of the children. It does give the reader a satisfying ending. While I enjoyed the book and would recommend it as a sentimental read, I think the author could have done more. He could have engaged me more, if more of those letters had been revealed.

Happy Reading!

2009...Year in Review

Thirty-seven books this year. That is four more than last year. I love that I can look back at last year's year end post and compare that to this year.

In the last few months I have become obsessed with the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. For 2009, those eight books would have to top my favorites list. Other favorites this year would have to be Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, and Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah. Both of those were very emotional, coming of age type novels. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is also one of the best reads of 2009. Night Fall and Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille were two of my favorite mystery/action novels. Of course, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels for this year Plum Spooky and Finger Lickin' Fifteen make my favorites list, too.

It has been a good year, marked by some good fiction. I am looking forward to checking more books off of my want to read list in 2010, and hoping that I can break this year's total of 37. Maybe I will make it to 40!

Happy Reading!


2009 Book List
Dead and Gone
From Dead to Worse
All Together Dead
Definitely Dead
Dead as a Doornail
Dead to the World
Club Dead
Living Dead in Dallas
Dead Until Dark
The Beach House
You Had Me at Halo
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre (book club)
Dreamland
Hold Tight
Lost and Found
Stripped
Wild Fire
Night Fall
Immoral
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters
Finger Lickin' Fifteen
Pride and Prejudice (book club)
Snakes Don't Miss Their Mothers
Beyond Recognition
Monkey Love
The Shack (book club)
Water for Elephants
Sailing to Capri
By the Light of the Moon
The Nosy Neighbor
Firefly Lane
The Expected One (book club)
Plum Spooky
Forever in Blue
Girls in Pants
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Family Tree

Dead and Gone

Dead and Gone is the ninth novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. This is the last novel in the series that I have to read until the next book comes out in May of 2010. I thought that I was going to be sad that I would have to wait five months for more of Sookie and her adventures. But I have to say that after reading this one, I can wait for the next one. I don't want to give anything away, but the author made me a little upset at the end of this book.

The premise of this edition of Sookie's adventures is a war between two factions of fairies. Her great-grandfather on one side, and his enemy on the other. The enemy is out to get Sookie because of her importance to the Fairy Prince (her great-grandfather). As always, the character surrounding Sookie are entertaining. Some of those characters that typically surround Sookie play more minor roles in this novel, and I found myself missing them. There is one favorite character that comes back in a good way, too. That was a long awaited encounter and very satisfying. Sookie also faces more grave danger in this novel. It will be interesting to see how that affects her in the next one.

Overall, of course, I would recommend the book. This is an excellently entertaining series. This is not one of my favorites though, and I wish the author had included more of my favorite characters and hadn't made certain choices. So now I wait until May to see what happens in Sookie's always entertaining and dangerous affairs.

Happy Reading!

Charlaine Harris - Sookie Stackhouse Novels

I have not had time to post, as the holidays are upon us and life is extremely busy. But I have been reading in my free time. Since I have only been reading one thing, I am combing all of the books into one post. I have read the first eight books in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, and From Dead to Worse.

I am addicted to these books. I love Sookie Stackhouse and all of Harris' characters. The series is about a barmaid (Sookie) who is a telepath. In these books, vampires have become part of mainstream society. Sookie meets a vampire, gets involved with him, and her world changes drastically. Her ability, something that she has always seen as a curse, is desired by those in the vampire community. Throughout the series she forms friendships and business relationships with vampires and other supernatural beings. Her life becomes a series of misadventures.

This series is highly entertaining and addictive. These books contain action, romance, comedy. The heroine is so incredibly likable. She is flawed, and modest. I love how she has to rely on herself, and find an inner strength to get through the adventures. She is a strong lead female character who doesn't have to rely on anyone else, which I find refreshing.

I highly recommend these books. I can't wait to start the ninth book, Dead and Gone. It will be a long wait until book ten comes out in May 2010!

Happy Reading!