The Distant Hours (~)

I told you I was going to be finishing a book shortly, and I did! I actually finished it last night only because it had taken about 2mos to read it. Mostly, because I was reading other books during. Some that were taken out from the library, others that were loaned to me (The Hunger Games trilogy). I've finished the book: The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. Anyway, this book was LOOOONG and drawn out with twists. I guess the twists in the ending made it more intriguing to read, especially as you were nearing the end. The reason I gave it the rating I did was because it was so long, and really not that interesting. It gave a lot of backstory which is nice, but I don't think it was always necessary.

This book is about a woman named Eddie who learns that her mother was an evacuee during the war, and lived with a strange family in a castle. She went to the castle and discovered a mystery surrounding what happened to one of the sisters' (who lived in the castle) fiances. She goes about solving it, but never really gets to the whodunit part because the castle burnt down with the sisters inside. It does explain it through flashback chapters after the castle burns down and so you learn what happened exactly. Of course there was a twist in the whodunit, but that's to be expected with this author.

It's a nice mystery without a lot of murdering and serial killers, but still with a twist. I've read a novel by this author previously, so I will probably read more of hers, but I might not do it right away. I'm debating whether to read a Jodi Picoult novel, or if I should read a Phillipa Gregory novel. We'll see!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Mockingjay (~)

I finished this book a couple weeks ago, but completely forgot to write about it! I finished the last book in the trilogy, Mockingjay. It is so much darker than the others, focussing mostly on the horrible deaths during the rebellion as well as the nasty injuries that occurred.

Basically, this novel focuses on the rebellion that Katniss started by rebelling in the Hunger Games in the first book. It goes throughout her fighting against the president, and working through the problems she's had with Peeta, and ends (kind of) happily.

I can't remember much, since it's been a couple weeks since I finished it, but it was an alright book. But it's hard to be as awesome as the first novel in a series, but it was still pretty epic, but also horribly graphic. I did find it difficult however, to visualize what was going on, as well as the surroundings, but I don't know if that's because of the author's ability to illustrate via words, or if that's just imagination's fault. Hard to tell, haha

Anyway, I'm going to be finishing another book very shortly, so you'll see another post quite soon. Until then, Happy Reading!

Catching Fire (↑)

I've finished the 2nd book in The Hunger Games series. This one being Catching Fire, which is written by Suzanne Collins. It's another amazing read (although I still enjoyed the first book better). I find with a lot of series, that I really enjoy the first novel (or the first few novels) in a series, and then the last couple novels were crap. However, this isn't true for the Harry Potter series, I really enjoyed the end of the series more than the first few novels, probably because of the deeper storylines.

Anyway, this book is about Katniss again. She and Peeta did a tour of the districts, and started a true rebellion, which had horrible consequences for the districts. It was a Quarter Quell that year, and the Hunger Games involved 24 past victors (including Katniss and Peeta) vying to win.  What occurred however, was something the Capitol did not expect.

I can't wait to read the 3rd novel. So until then, Happy Reading!

The Hunger Games (↑)

I've finished another book. It was an awesome read, and I can't wait to continue reading the rest of the trilogy. Although it was written for young adults, you can see that there could be some hidden meaning further down, if you keep digging. As I'm sure you've probably noticed, that's not really me, so I haven't dug for that hidden meaning.

This novel is set in the future in a dystopian North American country. After a rebellion, the government of the country decided that in order to exert control over its citizens, they would force 2 children from every district (there are 12) into what's called the Hunger Games, and they must fight 'til death. It's incredibly disturbing to think that a government would do such a thing. But I suppose that could almost go on in the Middle East, and we'd never know. However, the Games are televised nationally so that everyone can root for their own tribute. Anyway, this follows a 16-year-old girl who ends up winning the Games, but is now going to have to fight for her life in order to survive after the Hunger Games.

Not much else to say other than, READ THIS BOOK!!! I don't know when I'll get to read the other 2 novels, so I'm going back to reading another book. Until next time, Happy reading!

Year of Wonders (~)

I've finished another library ebook: Year of Wonders: a Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks. It was actually quite an interesting read. As usual, it's a historical fiction, so I learned a lot about the time of the Plague in a small village. I actually found it more interesting to read than most historical fiction I read, mostly because it's not based off of a real person's life, but rather a fictional character following real life events.

This novel follows a year in the life of Anna Frith. A woman living in a town that gets ravaged by the plague. She becomes an medicine woman of sorts, working with the reverend's wife trying to sooth those who have the plague and attempting to stop the spread of the plague. By the end of the novel she is a good friend of the reverend's wife, who ends up getting killed. She then has to move on to another place to escape from a murderous rich man. I know the end sounds kinda over the top, but honestly, it's not, I just didn't have any other way of explaining it, other than that way, without giving away too much information.

So there you go! I am now going to move onward to the Hunger Games (it's lent to me by my friend S., so I am going to attempt to read this one quickly also...) Until next time, Happy reading!

The Alchemist (~)

I've finished another book quite quickly. It's The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It's a well written novel, but it's quite spiritual, which I hadn't expected so it's kind of a deep subject. It talks quite a lot about a 'Personal Legend' which I assume is another way of saying, 'finding yourself'. I'm not really sure, as they didn't really go into depth.

This novel is about a young shepherd boy who has a vision one night about an old king who tells him to go on an adventure to find treasure in Egypt by the Pyramids. He sells all his sheep and heads out on his adventure meeting an alchemist along the way who helps him discover the Soul of the World and how to turn lead into gold, and make the Elixir of Life. It continues on until he finds his treasure and decides to go back to the woman he loves and marries her. It's quite a short novel, and quite spiritual, so I don't think I will recommend it to anyone unless they want some heavy reading.

I have another library ebook to read, and then I will go back to reading books I already bought or someone loaned me. Until next time, Happy Reading!

Alice I Have Been (~)

I have finished a book! Finally! I didn't think I was that busy with school, but apparently I have been...Either way I've finished Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin. It was an alright book, but I don't think I would re-read it, or recommend it. It certainly wasn't boring, but it wasn't exactly thrilling either. It was well written, but I guess it just wasn't my style.

The novel is about the true life of the star of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and how Alice become a muse. It was kind of creepy because the author fell in love with an eleven-year old girl, and he was 31. Her parents found out and from there on out, she could never find love again and she led a loveless life.

Sorry for the horrible post but I am so tired, I can't think straight. Until next time, Happy Reading.