I've finished another Jodi Picoult book, Plain Truth. It was an alright read, nothing spectacular like the one I read previously. It does make me think about how important family is and the lengths parents and family members will go to save and protect their family members. This novel is about the Amish. Although my family is not Amish, I wonder if perhaps my family is similar to them and would protect me from things, or if they would rather I learn from my 'mistakes'. I don't know which is better, being sheltered and protected from you life and living without consequences, or to be sent out into the world and attempt to survive without help. Well I doubt my parents would let me drown out in the world, they'd help where they could, but I hope you understand my meaning.
This book is about a neonaticide in an Amish community. It follows the complete trial, and discusses how the Amish feel about confessing. It's different than from the English way of things. When you confess guilt, you are condemned for it, but for the Amish, if you confess guilt, you are then forgiven and not punished. I don't know which is better. To confess and then be severely punished by prison, or to confess guilt and be forgiven, but shunned for a few weeks. I suppose depending on the criminal, one would be better than the other. For a hardened psychopathic criminal, they wouldn't care. So doing time in prison might be the best thing for them, rather than to shun them and let them go free. While for a person who was just doing something to save their family or something similar, shunning them and then forgiving them would be okay. But it also depends on what type of community they lived in. If they lived in a little rural town like I do, then it would have more of an impact, but if they lived in a big city, then obviously the shunning wouldn't be quite as effective. I guess the Amish way of dealing with criminal acts really wouldn't work unless everyone knew everyone. It's still interesting to think about.
Anyway, I'm not sure what I will be reading next, but until next time, Happy Reading!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
House Rules (↑)
I've finished another novel called House Rules by the lovely Jodi Picoult. I really really enjoyed this book mostly because the main character had Aspergers and I could really relate things back to what I've been learning in the program I am taking. There were a few things I really didn't like...The portrayal of Jacob (the kid with Aspergers) didn't seem very true to the typical Aspergian theme. But of course I don't really know what it's like to have Aspergers seeing as I'm a neurotypical human. I've read a book that also used a high-functioning autistic person as the main character it seemed a little bit more realistic. Although I didn't really think her description of how Aspie kids think was accurate, it was still an interesting take on it and I guess it makes it a little easier to understand how kids with autism feel and why they do certain things. Another thing I didn't really like was the ending. It didn't really tie up the loose ends although it was apparent what was going to happen. It just would've been nice to have a bit more clarity on it. I guess I have that complaint with most of her books, but honestly, it's only a minor thing. I still enjoy reading her stuff.
So, this book was about a kid with Asperger's who becomes implicated in the murder of his social skills teacher, when she is found dead in the house she is looking after. It switches from Jacob (the Aspie kid), his brother Theo, his mother Emma, his lawyer Oliver, and the police officer Rich. It follows the whole investigation including to the end of the trial where some new evidence comes up which might change the outcome of the trial (although you never learn what happens, which is frustrating! I hate cliff-hangers! Well I don't mind them when they are in a series, but with a book like this, it's not a series so it needs to have a good ending!).
Reading this book makes me want to write a book myself about the hardships a family with a child with disabilities must endure in trying to get the supports they need. However, I would put a bit of a twist on it, and instead of having a family that has 'adult' parents, I will put parents that are young 20's or even teenagers. I haven't quite decided how it will play out, but I want to plan it more so that I can write it (even just for myself).
Anyway, I'm going to read another Jodi Picoult book, so I will probably be writing another blog quite quickly, so until then, Happy Reading!
So, this book was about a kid with Asperger's who becomes implicated in the murder of his social skills teacher, when she is found dead in the house she is looking after. It switches from Jacob (the Aspie kid), his brother Theo, his mother Emma, his lawyer Oliver, and the police officer Rich. It follows the whole investigation including to the end of the trial where some new evidence comes up which might change the outcome of the trial (although you never learn what happens, which is frustrating! I hate cliff-hangers! Well I don't mind them when they are in a series, but with a book like this, it's not a series so it needs to have a good ending!).
Reading this book makes me want to write a book myself about the hardships a family with a child with disabilities must endure in trying to get the supports they need. However, I would put a bit of a twist on it, and instead of having a family that has 'adult' parents, I will put parents that are young 20's or even teenagers. I haven't quite decided how it will play out, but I want to plan it more so that I can write it (even just for myself).
Anyway, I'm going to read another Jodi Picoult book, so I will probably be writing another blog quite quickly, so until then, Happy Reading!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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!
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!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
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!
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!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
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!
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!
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