A Game of Thrones (↑/~)

Finally, finally, FINALLY I finished a book! This one was a hard one to rate because it took me so long to finish! Honestly, I did like the book, and I'm quite glad I picked it up (well technically I downloaded it...) Anyway I finished reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I wasn't sure of it at first, mostly because it's classified under the fantasy category, and honestly, I'm not usually a huge fan of fantasy novels, but this one I feel almost has more of a medieval feel to it, as well as a little bit of fantasy mixed in. Other than it taking FOREVER to finish I really really enjoyed it. I'm not sure if it took so long because I was busy, or I just wasn't that into it, but let's just say the last 100 pages, I didn't want to stop reading it!

Anyway, for those of you who don't know what A Game of Thrones is about, it follows a number of families who basically are all plotting against one another to steal the throne and rule the kingdom. It has a lot of twists and turns, but really it's just about who is going to rule over the kingdom. I could go into more detail, but honestly, it has so many crazy details, I don't think I could really do it justice.

All I can say is that I really enjoyed the book, even though it took me forever to finish it. Hopefully the next one won't take me as long!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

The Piano Man's Daughter (↓)

FINALLY finished another book. I think a multitude of factors affected why it took me so long to finish this one. Anyway, I finished the book The Piano Man's Daughter by Timothy Findley. I honestly didn't like this book. I don't know if it was the fact that it bounced around in time, and changed the narrator constantly, or if the fact that the storyline was a bit scattered, but it certainly isn't a book I want to read again. When I read the synopsis I thought it would have more about Charlie's daughter, than about his great-grandmother, grandmother and mother, but there really was limited information about his daughter.

This book was about a man named Charlie who found out that his ex-wife had a little girl who is his. He was afraid that this little girl would have the same 'sickness' his mother had, and that she would continue to suffer throughout her life. Basically this book follows the life of his great-grandmother, grandmother and mother so that the reader can fully understand what his life and his mother's life was like with her sickness. Definitely not what I expected.

I just want to clarify that, it's not that this book isn't well written, it's just not what I personally like in a story-line because of how it changes narrators without specifying. I also found it frustrating that the author didn't specify what kind of illness the mother had. I know part of it was epilepsy, but I'm almost wondering if she also had schizophrenia because of the visions she had. Anyway, unfortunately I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

Anyway, I'm going to try to re-read The Hunger Games trilogy because the movie is coming out soon, and I want it fresh in my mind when I see the movie. But if I don't get to read it in time, I'll probably find/start Game of Thrones or something like that. Anyway, until next time, Happy Reading!

Three to Get Deadly (~)

Finished the last of the 3-book bundle of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. This one being Three to Get Deadly. Not a whole lot to say, honestly.  I'm excited to move onwards to something with a bit more depth to it. I've had enough of chick lit.

Basically this follows Stephanie as she tries to apprehend the neighbourhood candy man. Only it gets her into bigger trouble than she had ever expected. This book (as with the other 2 I had read) are over the top in antics, but it's an easy read to take your mind off of life.

I'd only recommend it to people who want to read something fast and amusing, but doesn't use much brain power. Anyway not sure what I'll be reading next, so until then, happy reading!

Two For the Dough (~)

Finished another one by Janet Evanovich called Two For the Dough. It's part of the Stephanie Plum series. I don't really have much to say because I found it to be pretty much exactly like the first book I read in the series. I think now the only reason I'm reading the 3rd book is because I bought it in a bundle and I don't want to waste my money. I have to admit though, they are amusing reads, and they are quick reads. I can't say that they make me laugh out loud though.

This one follows Stephanie as she attempts to bring in a crazed man who jumped bail. At first she thought it'd be pretty simple, but as she continued on, it made her realize that she was getting into more than she bargained for and it was a lot more dangerous than she suspected. But as always it ends with her catching the man.

Anyway, if you want a quick mindless read, I suggest this series. Anyway, until next time, Happy Reading!

One For the Money (~)

Pretty quick in finishing up this book. It's One For the Money by Janet Evanovich. It's a simple read. I guess it could be called a mystery. Well a chick mystery. It's not quite chick lit, but it's not quite mystery either. It didn't exactly grab my attention, but it was easy enough to read that I didn't exactly have to focus in order to follow the story line.

This book followed Stephanie Plum who becomes a bounty hunter because she was unemployed and had no idea where her next income was going to come from. Anyway she was given the file for a man who had been in and out of her life multiple times and seemed to be a 'slippery' character. It follows her 'adventure' to capture this guy with a lot of hijinx along the way.

This book really wasn't anything special, but I must admit the characters were pretty funny at times, especially Stephanie's grandmother. I will probably continue to read the series only because they're easy reads, but I unno if I'd recommend them. I bought the first 3 in the series, so most likely I will read all 3 and then move on to another series. Anyway, until next time, happy reading!

Sarah's Key (↑)

I'm on a roll finishing books quickly! I actually finished this book on January 17th, but I never got around to doing this blog entry (work and whatnot). Anyway I finished Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. It's an amazing book about a girl losing her family to the Holocaust in the 40's. It's amazing because it really depicts the struggle she faces when she realizes she's the only one of her family who's left. It really makes you feel like you've lost your family also. It also made me think of what it'd be like if I did in fact lose all my family and what I'd do if I did. The only thing I didn't like about the book is the story that's set in modern times. I didn't mind the investigative part about finding out who and where Sarah was, but the part about the divorce. I thought that was a bit pointless. However, maybe it's a reflection of the woman losing her family and how to survive it. I'm not really sure.

Anyway this novel follows a journalist who is writing about the Vel' d'Hiv' (the round up of Jews in Paris during WWII) when she discovers that the apartment her family and she are moving into used to be owned by a Jewish family who were rounded up during Vel' d'Hiv'. She then went on to investigate what happened to the family and discovered that one of the children of the family survived the round-up and she went on to see what happened to her. At the same time she realizes she's pregnant and has to go through some tough decisions and decide whether her marriage means more to her than the new life growing inside of her.

I really recommend this book to anyone interested in the Holocaust as well WWII. It's a terrible part of history but it's still best to know about it because if not, we're bound to repeat it. Until next time, Happy Reading!

Sing You Home (↑)

Wow is all I can say. I really can't expect anything less from Jodi Picoult honestly, but this book amazes me.  It brings up two extremely sensitive topics: gay rights and religion. This book is Sing You Home the newest book by Jodi Picoult. It was able to make me angry by the religious views expressed. It allows one to realize how the Bible really can be interpreted any way a person wants if they read it a certain way. It's frustrating though that people can't seem to accept that people who are homosexual are born that way, and that they don't have a choice who they fall in love with, and that although they need help to reproduce they can raise 'normal' children, and that no amount of influence can make a child a homosexual or heterosexual. But of course, these are the same people who don't believe in evolution and that scientists planted the dinosaur bones to 'prove' that theory. But anyway...

This novel is about a couple who went through fertility treatments, and unfortunately were not able to conceive a child. The last time they tried, it ended tragically, and the husband decided he had had enough and wanted a divorce. It proceeded from there where the wife fell in love with a female school counsellor and they got married. They decided they wanted children, and when they went to gain the consent of the ex-husband, to their detriment he said no. The husband had joined a church and 'got religion', and a lawsuit ensued. This novel follows the lawsuit, and the reasons why and why not the homosexual couple should have the embryos. Of course there's a twist at the end, and I suppose it is what you're expecting, but still a twist nonetheless.

This book is definitely worth the read! Anyway not sure what I'll be reading next, but until then, Happy Reading!