To Say Nothing of the Dog (~)

I've finally finished another book. Of course it took me FOREVER, which I apologize for. But you know how it is. I'm now currently employed at 2 jobs, so that's taken up a lot of my time, not to mention the Christmas season came upon us, so that was quite busy. But I'm now going to try and make some time to read during my day (on breaks or whatever). Anyway, I finished the book: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. I found it to be an interesting read, because it involved time-travel, but at times it was quite heavy on the sci-fi. However, it was interesting seeing how everything seemed to connect together even though it seemed completely random.

This book follows a main character by the name of Ned Henry who is a historian/time-traveller from the future. His main job was to bring back an ugly vase (I guess you could call it that haha) for the consecration of a cathedral. He was sent back however, into the 19th century to fix an incongruity that had occurred because of a fellow historian. He tried to fix it, and yet seemed to make things worse. The time-space continuum fixed the incongruity itself without the help of Ned. After the 19th century incongruity was fixed, Ned focused his attention on trying to find the bishop bird's stump (the ugly vase), which in the end he found.

Anyway, as you can see the plot of this book is incredibly complicated, and at times hard to follow. But as long as you don't take long pauses between chapters/reading it, you can make out just fine. HOWEVER, if you do, then you're kind of sort of screwed. Even though it was complex, I still enjoyed reading it. I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone, unless they had a lot of time to read it.

I'm not sure what I'll be reading next, but I'm sure it will probably be an ebook. Until then, Happy Reading!

The Pact (~)

Unfortunately, it's taken me FOREVER to actually finish a book. I don't know if it's a combination of busy-ness, work, laziness, or just not wanting to read. But anyway, I've finally finished The Pact by Jodi Picoult. It says this is a love story, and technically it is. It really made me think about love, and finding that undying love where you give yourself completely to someone, and you are willing to do anything for them, including helping them commit suicide because you can't bare to see them in pain, emotionally or physically. I would love to have this kind of love, but also not. Only because it would be a burden to my partner. The fact that my pain was hurting someone else just as much as it was hurting me would be almost unbearable. Thinking about it now, I don't think I've ever had this kind of love. I think I've been in love, but not to the same extent as was described in the book. I almost feel that I'm selfish though, in my love. I care about the other person, and would make sacrifices for the other, but I don't think I could give myself self-lessly to someone. But I guess that kind of love is one that doesn't occur often, or I've yet to experience it. Maybe someday I will, but we shall see.

Anyway, sorry for that random tangent haha, recent events in my life have been making me sentimental, and this book apparently made it worse. So, this book was about 2 teenagers who have been best friends since birth and became lovers when they were teenagers. The girl becomes depressed and pregnant and is not able to deal with this and decides she wants to commit suicide. She confides in her boyfriend/best friend, who then tries everything he can to stop her, but in the end can't. It follows the trial of the boyfriend who is on trial for first degree murder for shooting his girlfriend.

All in all, it was a good book (I can't expect anything else from Jodi Picoult), but the rating was lower only because it took so long to get through, and it really didn't draw my attention like others I've read by her. Anyway, not sure what I'll be reading next, so until then, Happy Reading!

Stuck in the Middle (↓)

This book took me forever to finish, not because it was a hard read, but rather because I a) didn't have much time to read and b) I really wasn't interested in reading it. The book I finished is: Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith. I thought it would be just a normal chick-lit book, a story of a woman 'finding herself and some romance along the way'. It was like that, however, a lot of religion was thrown in there too. She discovered how God works in mysterious ways, etc. It's a fluff book, and honestly, I don't think it really deserves a full synopsis only because I'll never read it again haha. As long as I have it written down somewhere that I read it, that's all I care about.

So, if you're interested in chick-lit religion reads, choose this one, but other than that, it was a blah read. I'm going to be reading a Jodi Picoult book next, so until then, happy reading!

Still Alice (↑)

Although I have no job yet, I've gotten busy the past few weeks, and so this blog post was a long time coming. It took me forever to finish the book, but not because I didn't like it, but rather because I didn't have the time to read it. I've finished the novel, Still Alice by Lisa Genova. This book made me sad because it really hits home what it feels like to have Alzheimer's Disease. Everyone always hears about it from the caregiver's view, but it was refreshing to hear about it from the individual suffering from it. It was sad as it continued on the fact that she basically seemed like a zombie, without thought or simple thoughts. It was like she was a child. A woman who was so intelligent brought down to that level. It was also upsetting to read when she forgot her children's names, or didn't recognize them, and it got even worse when she didn't recognize her husband. I hope that when I get older I don't develop Alzheimer's or dementia. But honestly, I don't know what would be worse...losing my memories/mind or losing function of my body. Both would be terrible.

Anyway, this novel is about a woman who finds out she has Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. It follows the disease's progression throughout 2 years until basically she is without a memory. It follows her thoughts and frustrations as she loses her language ability, her ability to remember her children and family and ability to dress herself. It's a sad novel, but one that raises awareness for others as to what it feels like.

I have to say that I would recommend it to people who are caregivers for those with Alzheimer's or are interested in learning more about it. I look forward to reading her Lisa Genova's next book.

I'm not sure what I will be starting next, but most likely it will be on my ereader (which has to charge) so until then, Happy Reading!

The Help (↑)

Wow is all I can say at the moment. This is certainly going on my Top 10 favourite books list. I suppose I should give you the title: The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I can definitely see how people will compare it to To Kill a Mockingbird, seeing as it has a similar storyline, and it definitely brings about feelings of rage and sympathy for African-Americans. I really felt for the characters. They are well developed, and full of emotion and colour (no pun intended!). It's hard to say who my favourite character was. I definitely can say that I absolutely hated Miss Hilly. So many times I wanted to punch her in the face for being so mean and ignorant towards Aibileen and Minny. When reading some of the opinions the 'white folk' had of the maids, I had to stop myself to calm down and say that it was a different generation. Hell, I have to do that now with my grandparents! It's nice to see that where I live, and the people I know don't harbour such racism anymore. However, I can't say that everyone feels the same way. Last year for example, there was an act of racism not even an hour away from where I live. My only question is why would someone feel this way towards another human being? Even if they are white, black, Indian, native, asian, etc.? We are all the same on the inside, we all have feelings and thoughts and families. It's not right that our society should be stuck 50 years in the past.

This story is based in the 1960's, and follows 3 main characters: Miss Skeeter, a young white woman who views the world differently than her white friends, and wants to make a difference in the world, and she also wants to make her place, seeing as she just graduated from university; Aibileen who is an older, single black woman who is a maid for Miss Leefolt, who really isn't a bad person but is easily influenced and self-centred; and then there is Minny. Minny is an opinionated black woman who works for a social outcast Miss Celia and is married to a drunkard. Miss Skeeter joins forces with Aibileen and Minny during a time where black rights are just coming into focus. They write a novel that is based off the stories of help in the surrounding area. It gets published, and then they have to deal with the wrath of Miss Hilly, the villain of the novel. Although the ending doesn't tie up loose ends, it does make you feel 'freer' in a sense that the main characters are starting their new lives, and the help who helped write the novel also had some changes occur in their work lives.

This novel certainly isn't a feel good novel. It's one where you read it, and it makes you outraged at society and how people are treated unfairly (even in today's day and age), but the ending allows for a positive light to shine through, and gives you hope. Yeah, this sounds cheesy, but honestly, it's the truth. I definitely will recommend this book to ANYONE! I borrowed this book from a friend of my mother's, but it will go on my list of 'books to buy', so that I can keep it on my bookshelf. Anyway, onward to reading Still Alice. Until then, Happy Reading!

Water for Elephants (↑)

I've finished another book. This one was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I had already watched the movie back in May, which is strange for me considering that I usually read the book before watching the movie. I had the opportunity to watch it for free, so instead, I decided to watch it, and then read the book when I had the time. Anyway, I REALLY enjoyed this book. The movie followed it exactly except for a few little spots (but that is true for almost all books-into-movies, isn't it?). It really made me feel like I was back in that era at the show. I did however get a little confused and frustrated trying to remember all the character names, as well as trying to imagine what they circus looked like, but that's not the author's fault, but rather my own. I have to say though, I really really enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it to others.

This book follows Jacob Jankowski who lost everything when he found out his parents were killed in an automobile accident, at that time it was the Depression, and not having any other option, he hopped a train which happened to be a circus train, and joined the circus as a vet.  It followed his 3.5 month stay with them until a tragic incident occurs and sets him and his love Marlena free to continue their life. This book switches from Jacob's 20-something year old narrative to him as a ninety-three year old complaining of being forgotten about, and of course other things old men like to complain about.

Anyway, this was an excellent book, and although the print was tiny, I was still able to read it rather quickly, and I'm sure others could also. The next book I'll be reading is The Help (I want to see the movie, so I'm going to read the book first!). So until then, Happy Reading!

The Postcard Killers (~)

I've finished yet another book, this one was a mystery by James Patterson and Liza Marklund called The Postcard Killers. It was an alright read, not a favourite, but certainly not terrible. The plot development is okay, but not intricate like most mysteries I read. It makes it easier to follow, but for a mystery, it solved the mystery part quite early for a book that is 420 pages. The characters weren't all that well developed either coming away from this novel, I felt that I hadn't really gotten to know the characters, and I certainly didn't feel for them. I guess you could almost say the characters appeared emotionless. Although they tried to make the American detective seem angry, I just didn't feel it.

So basically this book is about murders that have been occurring in Europe where the killers mail postcards to local reporters, and then polaroid pictures of the murder victims after they have been killed. An American detective becomes involved when his daughter and her fiance is one of the victims. He becomes obsessive and tracks the killers and attempts to stop them from killing again. In the end, you can guess what happens, and voila, it's the end!

Interesting plot-line, and if it had actually had a bit more thought put into it, I probably would've given it a higher rating. I'm not sure if I'm interested in reading another James Patterson, especially with how this one is written, but I suppose I could always blame it on the fact that there are in fact 2 authors, and perhaps James Patterson by himself is a little better. I guess we'll see, and I will attempt to read another one of his novels later!

Not sure what I will be reading next, but until then, Happy Reading!