I adore you. <3
Yeah, more about that later... (y'know, about how I'm a lousy friend).
In the meantime.
WANT:
Ivanhoe, the 1928 edition.
Birthday gift? :D
Sigh. Friggin' vintage.
20 May 2010
This is for Yasmeen Rasheed
who checks my blog everyday like a little creeper because it's the closest she gets to communicate with me.
I adore you. <3
Yeah, more about that later... (y'know, about how I'm a lousy friend).
In the meantime.
WANT:
Ivanhoe, the 1928 edition.
Birthday gift? :D
Sigh. Friggin' vintage.
I adore you. <3
Yeah, more about that later... (y'know, about how I'm a lousy friend).
In the meantime.
WANT:
Ivanhoe, the 1928 edition.
Birthday gift? :D
Sigh. Friggin' vintage.
09 May 2010
Hi, I'm Looking For A Good Read.
Look no more!
Okay so a couple people have been asking me for book recommendations and I promised them a list, and here it is! I've listed the books in order of difficulty (on a scale of 1 to 5), and I've added a "genre" for each one. Let me know how you like them! :)
1. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
Level of Difficulty: 289 (Yes, on a scale of 1 to 5)
Genre: Hilarious
Length: 80 pages (with pictures!!)
Synopsis: Although Junie B. is a kindergartner, she's sure to make middle graders laugh out loud when they read about her adventures on the first day of school. Even the most insecure readers will feel superior because they know so much more than she does. The occasional black-and-white pencil illustrations are appealing and reinforce the mood of the text. Junie B. is a real character; she talks a lot, is funny without knowing it, and honest to a fault. This book will get lots of peer recommendations, and younger kids will enjoy listening to it when read aloud. It's a real hoot!
Feedback: Junie B. Jones > You. Think I'm joking? I read this series religiously when I was a young'n. Sigh, the good ol' days.
2. Saint Iggy by K.I. Going
Level of Difficulty: 1.
Genre: Teen Read
Length: 272 pages
Synopsis: This is the story of Iggy Corso who is kicked out of school for allegedly threatening a teacher. He finds himself seeking to do something good in order to change others' minds about him.
Feedback: This was a quick read, in fact you can find it on Google Books (just click the title, it should link you to it). I'm not a big fan of teen reads, but this book was pretty good.
Genre: Teen Read (Drama)
Length: 304 pages
Synopsis: The series follows the lives of four girls — Spencer, Hannah, Aria, and Emily — whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their leader, Alison. Three years later, they begin receiving text messages from someone using the name "A" who threatens to expose their secrets — including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew.
Feedback: This is the first book in a series of eight, the final one to hit the shelves sometime in June of this year. Let me keep this short and simple: its desperate housewives, in a high school environment. Scandalous, dramatic, with a mystery twist. If you like Gossip Girl this is definitely up your alley. I hear they're making it into a series on ABC Family as well.
Genre: Science Fiction/ Thriller
Length: 384 pages
Synopsis: It introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world where a powerful government called the Capitol has risen up after several devastating disasters. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the ruthless and evil Capitol randomly selects one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts, who are then pitted against each other in a game of survival and forced to kill until only one remains.
Feedback: Read. This. Book. If you like Stephen King, this is the book for you. It's an easy read, and as of now, its a trilogy, with the third book set to hit the shelves in August. It has that "grip the edge of your seat" effect, which is always a plus in my books. They're making it into a movie said to be released sometime in 2011, so make sure you get your hands on it before then!
Genre: Get Ready To Bawl
Length: 304 pages
Synopsis: Forced to watch his father escorted out of their lives by Turkish police, his brothers shot to death in their backyard, his grandmother murdered by a rock-wielding guard, and his sister take poison rather than be raped by soldiers, 12-year-old Vahan Kendarian abruptly begins to learn what his father meant when he used to say, "This is how steel is made. Steel is made strong by fire." Up until 1915, Vahan has lived a cosseted life as the son of a wealthy and respected Armenian man. But overnight his world is destroyed when the triumvirate of Turkish leaders, Enver Pasha, Talaat Bey, and Djemal Pasha, begins the systematic massacre of nearly three-quarters of the Armenian population of Turkey, 1.5 million men, women, and children. Soon Vahan is an orphan on the run, surviving by begging, pretending to be deaf and mute, dressing as a girl, hiding out in basements and outhouses, and even living for a time with the Horseshoer of Baskale, a Turkish governor known for nailing horseshoes to the feet of his Armenian victims. Time and again, the terrified and desperate boy grows close to someone--and loses him or her to an appalling, violent death. Through three years of unspeakable horror, Vahan is made stronger by this fire, and by perseverance, fate, or sheer luck, he survives long enough to escape to the safe haven of Constantinople.
Feedback: I read this book back in 9th grade, and boy did I bawl. It simply is a must read.
Genre: Young Adult (Drama)
Length: 262 pages
Synopsis: Thyme Gilchrest is a model student who participates in numerous school activities and is definitely college-bound. She has an excellent reputation --- but that is about to change. This upper-middle class teen walks a very fine line, or straddles a pretty wobbly one, depending upon your point of view. Thyme is not your average drug dealer.
Feedback: I really liked this book, simply because of how descriptive it is and how twisted the plot is. I read it in one sitting.
7. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Genre: Memoir
Length: 352 pages
Synopsis: At 32 years old, Gilbert was educated, had a home and a husband, and a successful career as a writer. However, she was unhappy in her marriage and often spent the night crying on her bathroom floor. She separated from her husband and initiated a divorce, which her husband contested. She entered into a relationship with another man, but this relationship did not work out either. While writing an article on yoga vacations in Indonesia, she met a seventh-generation medicine man who told her she would come back and study with him. After finalizing her difficult divorce, she spent the next year traveling around the world. She spent four months in Italy, eating and enjoying life (Eat). She spent four months in India, finding her spirituality (Pray). She ended the year in Bali, Indonesia, looking for "balance" of the two and found love (Love).
Feedback: Honestly, I can't give any worthy feedback on this book since I haven't finished reading it, but from what I read so far, its a great book; very spiritual.
Level of Difficulty: 2.
Genre: Autobiography
Length: 352 pages
Synopsis: The chapters alternate between James McBride's descriptions of his early life, and first-person accounts of his mother Ruth's life, mostly before James McBride was born. The novel depicts the conflicting emotions that James endures as he struggles to discover who he truly is, as his mother narrates the hardships that she had to overcome to educate her children. The novel also depicts the emotional struggle James has with uncovering his true identity only through discovering his mother's past.
Feedback: Ever read Black Boy by Richard Wright? This is better. Definitely a must read.
Genre: Get Read To Bawl
Length: 512
Synopsis: When Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe’s daughter, Willow, is born with severe osteogenesis imperfecta, they are devastated – she will suffer hundreds of broken bones as she grows, a lifetime of pain. As the family struggles to make ends meet to cover Willow’s medical expenses, Charlotte thinks she has found an answer. If she files a wrongful birth lawsuit against her ob/gyn for not telling her in advance that her child would be born severely disabled, the monetary payouts might ensure a lifetime of care for Willow. But it means that Charlotte has to get up in a court of law and say in public that she would have terminated the pregnancy if she’d known about the disability in advance – words that her husband can’t abide, that Willow will hear, and that Charlotte cannot reconcile. And the ob/gyn she’s suing isn’t just her physician – it’s her best friend.
Feedback: As always, Jodi Picoult has impressed me with yet another of her works. I didn't even know what O.I. was before I read this. Definitely one of my favorites.
Level of Difficulty: 3
Genre: Get Ready To Bawl
Length: 544 pages
Synopsis: House Rules is about Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject – in his case, forensic analysis. He’s always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do…and he’s usually right. But then one day his tutor is found dead, and the police come to question him. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger’s – not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, inappropriate affect – can look a heck of a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel -- and suddenly, Jacob finds himself accused of murder. House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way – but lousy for those who don’t.
Feedback: Everyone knows someone who is autistic. So what, right? Well I'm gonna be honest, I thought autism was just another reason to put a bumper sticker on the back of your car, or a colorful pin on your coat lapel. What I didn't know is that it's so much more than that. It is estimated that between 1 in 80 and 1 in 240 with an average of 1 in 110 children in the United States have an ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder. Yes, there's a whole spectrum for this disorder! House Rules explores Asperger’s Syndrome, an ASD on the severe side of the spectrum. Imagine being locked in your own world, against your own will, and still wanting to communicate with the outside world, but you can't. As of now, this is my favorite Picoult book, especially since it targets a disorder so common to Americans these days.
Level of Difficulty: 3
Genre: Romantic Mystery
Length: 432 pages
Synopsis: The World War II love affair between lovely Frenchwoman Solange Bertrand and American GI-turned-actor Sam Walker burned too brightly and ended in tragedy, leaving their three young daughters orphaned. Megan, the youngest, adopted by a loving family, grows up to be a doctor in Appalachia. Alexandra, adopted by a wealthy family, marries a powerful man with an impeccable pedigree. Hilary, the oldest (and the only one who remembers her sisters), enters the sordid world of foster care before going out on her own to work her way up to being a New York news producer. In the pursuit of success and stability, Hilary foregoes building a personal life, especially when her efforts to locate her sisters hit a dead end. But when high-priced private investigator John Chapman is hired to reunite the three sisters, the secrets and lies that kept the women apart--and bound them together--are revealed and the love only sisters can share blossoms again.
Feedback: Ah, this book brings back memories. I used to hoard Danielle Steel paperbacks back in high school; I could swear I was her biggest fan. I'm not as big a fan now, simply because I'm no longer a romantic-mystery fanatic and also because her plot lines became predictable, but this was always one of my favorite books by her. There's actually a 1990s movie adaptation of this book as well.
12. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Genre: Thriller/ Crime Novel
Length: 608 pages
Synopsis: Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family. He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, ruthless computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from almost forty years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history. But the Vanger's are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.
Feedback: This is the first book in the trilogy, and again, I can't give a sound review because I haven't read it yet, although I've heard so many friends rave about it. There's a 2009 movie adaptation of this book as well.
13. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction Novel
Length: 464 pages
Synopsis: In The White Queen Philippa Gregory brilliantly evokes the life of a common woman who ascends to royalty by virtue of her beauty, a woman who rises to the demands of her position and fights tenaciously for the survival of her family, a woman whose two sons become the central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower whose fate remains unknown to this day. From her uniquely qualified perspective, she explores this most famous unsolved mystery, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.
Feedback: I should let you know I'm a major English-Royalty novel fiend. This book, Philippa Gregory's latest, was one of my favorites by her. I know you're probably thinking something along the lines of, "Why would I wanna read a history book?" AMIRITE?? Well the way Gregory writes it, it makes it seem like a story. Give it a try, and have patience. It really is a great book.
Level of Difficulty: 4
Genre: Historical Fiction Novel
Length: 672
Synopsis: A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history: two beautiful sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII.
Feedback: The Other Boleyn Girl is without a doubt Philippa Gregory's most well known novel. I'm pretty sure everyone has at least heard of the movie, yes? I was already familiar with the whole King Henry VIII and his six wives thing in the historical sense, but this book definitely fleshed things out for me. This was my first Philippa Gregory book, and it wasn't my last. Two thumbs up!
Genre: Literary Classic (Realist Fiction)
Length: 864 pages
Synopsis: Anna, who has never been in love before, is swept off her feet. At first she tries to resist the Count, but then leaves her husband and son. This brings more suffering than joy. The society turns its back on Anna and Vronsky, Anna cannot see her son whom she terribly misses. She wants to divorce her husband, but he refuses. She and Vronsky live together unmarried. Slowly, things seem to be turning around - they have a baby girl, and some of their former friends re-open their homes for them. But happiness is still not there. Anna doesn't seem to be very interested in her little daughter. She is tortured by doubts, she is not sure whether Vronsky still loves her and wants to be with her. [I'm not including the next four sentences because they're spoilers. You're welcome ;) haha]
Feedback: This is a classic novel of love, betrayal, and death. I'm only 54 pages into this one, so I can't give a proper review (but it's great so far, seriously). It reminds me of an Arabic soap opera, no? haha!
Genre: Short Story
Length: Like four pages?
Synopsis: A young man, recently returned from the Army goes to Florida with his wife. His wife has a telephone conversation with her mother during which the mother speaks about the young man as though he were mentally deranged but the girl reassures her that she is not afraid. The husband, on the beach, goes for a dip in the ocean with a small girl, who is a guest at the hotel. He seems to get along perfectly with the child. When he gets back to his hotel room, where his wife is asleep, he calmly pulls out a gun and shoots himself.
Feedback: Need I say more? (Click the title link for the full text of the story. Analyze away!)
Level of Difficulty: 5
Genre: Allegorical Novel
Length: 601 pages
Synopsis: East of Eden is a novel by John Steinbeck, often described as his most ambitious in its portrayal of the intricate details of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, and their interwoven stories. As Steinbeck stated: "It has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years." He further claimed: "I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this."
Feedback: Okay, if John Steinbeck himself said that this was pretty much his magnum opus, who are you to think any differently? This book is nothing short of amazing. It's so involving, evolving, and definitely unforgettable; it makes you think.
Genre: Fantasy Classic
Length: 688 pages (of goodness!)
Synopsis: The world's greatest fantasy classic is the magical epic of King Arthur and his shining Camelot, of Merlyn and Guinevere, of beasts who talk and men who fly, of wizardry and war. It is the book of all things lost and wonderful and sad. It is the fantasy masterpiece by which all others are judged.
Feedback: You see what it says up there on the book cover? It says, "The world's greatest fantasy classic." And you know what? They ain't lyinggggggg! We've all heard the kindergarten version of the Sword in the Stone story, where only the purest knight can pull the sword out and become king. This is that story, told much more wonderfully. They say chivalry and romance are dead? You can still salvage whatever is left of them in this novel. Seriously guys, this is one of my top five favorite novels of all time, OF ALL TIME!
Genre: Literary Classic (Adventure, Action, Drama, Romance, Everything!!)
Length: 1,312 pages
Synopsis: Dashing young Edmond Dantes has everything. He is engaged to a beautiful woman, is about to become the captain of a ship, and is well liked by almost everyone. But his perfect life is shattered when he is framed by a jealous rival and thrown into a dark prison cell for fourteen years. The greatest tale of betrayal, adventure, and revenge ever written, The Count of Monte Cristo continues to dazzle readers with its thrilling and memorable scenes; including Dantes's miraculous escape from prison, his amazing discovery of a vast hidden treasure, and his transformation into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo-- a man whose astonishing thirst for vengeance is as cruel and it is just.
Feedback: Okay, so I know you're looking at the number of pages in this book and thinking, "Oh hell naw!" but trust meeeee, it's so worth it! All you need to do is print out a copy of the character chart off wikipedia (the names are French, and a little confusing), sit in your favorite reading spot with a warm cup of tea (or coffee, depending on your preference), and have patience. You'll thank me later. (There's also a 2002 movie adaptation of the book but READ THE BOOK FIRST!)
Genre: Literary Classic (Romance/ Thriller)
Length: 400 pages
Synopsis: Emily Brontë’s only novel, Wuthering Heights remains one of literature’s most disturbing explorations into the dark side of romantic passion. Heathcliff and Cathy believe they’re destined to love each other forever, but when cruelty and snobbery separate them, their untamed emotions literally consume them. Set amid the wild and stormy Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights, an unpolished and devastating epic of childhood playmates who grow into soul mates, is widely regarded as the most original tale of thwarted desire and heartbreak in the English language.
Feedback: Forget that Dear John and The Notebook love-story crap. You want a legit romance novel? Look no further. This is my favorite book. Ever.
And now for a bonus!
Level of Difficulty: 5
Genre: Literary Classic (Romance)
Length: 624 pages
Synopsis: A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre has dazzled generations of readers with its depiction of a woman’s quest for freedom. This updated edition features a new introduction discussing the novel’s political and magical dimensions. Having grown up an orphan in the home of her cruel aunt and at a harsh charity school, Jane Eyre becomes an independent and spirited survivor—qualities that serve her well as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she finds love with her sardonic employer, Rochester, the discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a choice. Should she stay with him whatever the consequences or follow her convictions, even if it means leaving her beloved?
Feedback: My second favorite Brontë novel. For some reason, this is one of those books where you just relate so well to the characters, on so many different levels (for me at least). Unforgettable.
Okay so a couple people have been asking me for book recommendations and I promised them a list, and here it is! I've listed the books in order of difficulty (on a scale of 1 to 5), and I've added a "genre" for each one. Let me know how you like them! :)
1. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
Genre: Hilarious
Length: 80 pages (with pictures!!)
Synopsis: Although Junie B. is a kindergartner, she's sure to make middle graders laugh out loud when they read about her adventures on the first day of school. Even the most insecure readers will feel superior because they know so much more than she does. The occasional black-and-white pencil illustrations are appealing and reinforce the mood of the text. Junie B. is a real character; she talks a lot, is funny without knowing it, and honest to a fault. This book will get lots of peer recommendations, and younger kids will enjoy listening to it when read aloud. It's a real hoot!
Feedback: Junie B. Jones > You. Think I'm joking? I read this series religiously when I was a young'n. Sigh, the good ol' days.
2. Saint Iggy by K.I. Going
Genre: Teen Read
Length: 272 pages
Synopsis: This is the story of Iggy Corso who is kicked out of school for allegedly threatening a teacher. He finds himself seeking to do something good in order to change others' minds about him.
Feedback: This was a quick read, in fact you can find it on Google Books (just click the title, it should link you to it). I'm not a big fan of teen reads, but this book was pretty good.
3. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Level of Difficulty: 1.
Genre: Teen Read (Drama)
Length: 304 pages
Synopsis: The series follows the lives of four girls — Spencer, Hannah, Aria, and Emily — whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their leader, Alison. Three years later, they begin receiving text messages from someone using the name "A" who threatens to expose their secrets — including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew.
Feedback: This is the first book in a series of eight, the final one to hit the shelves sometime in June of this year. Let me keep this short and simple: its desperate housewives, in a high school environment. Scandalous, dramatic, with a mystery twist. If you like Gossip Girl this is definitely up your alley. I hear they're making it into a series on ABC Family as well.
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Level of Difficulty: 2.
Genre: Science Fiction/ Thriller
Length: 384 pages
Synopsis: It introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world where a powerful government called the Capitol has risen up after several devastating disasters. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the ruthless and evil Capitol randomly selects one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts, who are then pitted against each other in a game of survival and forced to kill until only one remains.
Feedback: Read. This. Book. If you like Stephen King, this is the book for you. It's an easy read, and as of now, its a trilogy, with the third book set to hit the shelves in August. It has that "grip the edge of your seat" effect, which is always a plus in my books. They're making it into a movie said to be released sometime in 2011, so make sure you get your hands on it before then!
5. Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian
Level of Difficulty: 2.
Genre: Get Ready To Bawl
Length: 304 pages
Synopsis: Forced to watch his father escorted out of their lives by Turkish police, his brothers shot to death in their backyard, his grandmother murdered by a rock-wielding guard, and his sister take poison rather than be raped by soldiers, 12-year-old Vahan Kendarian abruptly begins to learn what his father meant when he used to say, "This is how steel is made. Steel is made strong by fire." Up until 1915, Vahan has lived a cosseted life as the son of a wealthy and respected Armenian man. But overnight his world is destroyed when the triumvirate of Turkish leaders, Enver Pasha, Talaat Bey, and Djemal Pasha, begins the systematic massacre of nearly three-quarters of the Armenian population of Turkey, 1.5 million men, women, and children. Soon Vahan is an orphan on the run, surviving by begging, pretending to be deaf and mute, dressing as a girl, hiding out in basements and outhouses, and even living for a time with the Horseshoer of Baskale, a Turkish governor known for nailing horseshoes to the feet of his Armenian victims. Time and again, the terrified and desperate boy grows close to someone--and loses him or her to an appalling, violent death. Through three years of unspeakable horror, Vahan is made stronger by this fire, and by perseverance, fate, or sheer luck, he survives long enough to escape to the safe haven of Constantinople.
Feedback: I read this book back in 9th grade, and boy did I bawl. It simply is a must read.
6. Rx by Tracy Lynn
Level of Difficulty: 2.
Genre: Young Adult (Drama)
Length: 262 pages
Synopsis: Thyme Gilchrest is a model student who participates in numerous school activities and is definitely college-bound. She has an excellent reputation --- but that is about to change. This upper-middle class teen walks a very fine line, or straddles a pretty wobbly one, depending upon your point of view. Thyme is not your average drug dealer.
Feedback: I really liked this book, simply because of how descriptive it is and how twisted the plot is. I read it in one sitting.
Level of Difficulty: 2.
Genre: Memoir
Length: 352 pages
Synopsis: At 32 years old, Gilbert was educated, had a home and a husband, and a successful career as a writer. However, she was unhappy in her marriage and often spent the night crying on her bathroom floor. She separated from her husband and initiated a divorce, which her husband contested. She entered into a relationship with another man, but this relationship did not work out either. While writing an article on yoga vacations in Indonesia, she met a seventh-generation medicine man who told her she would come back and study with him. After finalizing her difficult divorce, she spent the next year traveling around the world. She spent four months in Italy, eating and enjoying life (Eat). She spent four months in India, finding her spirituality (Pray). She ended the year in Bali, Indonesia, looking for "balance" of the two and found love (Love).
Feedback: Honestly, I can't give any worthy feedback on this book since I haven't finished reading it, but from what I read so far, its a great book; very spiritual.
8. The Color of Water by James McBride
Genre: Autobiography
Length: 352 pages
Synopsis: The chapters alternate between James McBride's descriptions of his early life, and first-person accounts of his mother Ruth's life, mostly before James McBride was born. The novel depicts the conflicting emotions that James endures as he struggles to discover who he truly is, as his mother narrates the hardships that she had to overcome to educate her children. The novel also depicts the emotional struggle James has with uncovering his true identity only through discovering his mother's past.
Feedback: Ever read Black Boy by Richard Wright? This is better. Definitely a must read.
9. Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Level of Difficulty: 3
Genre: Get Read To Bawl
Length: 512
Synopsis: When Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe’s daughter, Willow, is born with severe osteogenesis imperfecta, they are devastated – she will suffer hundreds of broken bones as she grows, a lifetime of pain. As the family struggles to make ends meet to cover Willow’s medical expenses, Charlotte thinks she has found an answer. If she files a wrongful birth lawsuit against her ob/gyn for not telling her in advance that her child would be born severely disabled, the monetary payouts might ensure a lifetime of care for Willow. But it means that Charlotte has to get up in a court of law and say in public that she would have terminated the pregnancy if she’d known about the disability in advance – words that her husband can’t abide, that Willow will hear, and that Charlotte cannot reconcile. And the ob/gyn she’s suing isn’t just her physician – it’s her best friend.
Feedback: As always, Jodi Picoult has impressed me with yet another of her works. I didn't even know what O.I. was before I read this. Definitely one of my favorites.
10. House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Genre: Get Ready To Bawl
Length: 544 pages
Synopsis: House Rules is about Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject – in his case, forensic analysis. He’s always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do…and he’s usually right. But then one day his tutor is found dead, and the police come to question him. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger’s – not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, inappropriate affect – can look a heck of a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel -- and suddenly, Jacob finds himself accused of murder. House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way – but lousy for those who don’t.
Feedback: Everyone knows someone who is autistic. So what, right? Well I'm gonna be honest, I thought autism was just another reason to put a bumper sticker on the back of your car, or a colorful pin on your coat lapel. What I didn't know is that it's so much more than that. It is estimated that between 1 in 80 and 1 in 240 with an average of 1 in 110 children in the United States have an ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder. Yes, there's a whole spectrum for this disorder! House Rules explores Asperger’s Syndrome, an ASD on the severe side of the spectrum. Imagine being locked in your own world, against your own will, and still wanting to communicate with the outside world, but you can't. As of now, this is my favorite Picoult book, especially since it targets a disorder so common to Americans these days.
11. Kaleidoscope by Danielle Steel
Genre: Romantic Mystery
Length: 432 pages
Synopsis: The World War II love affair between lovely Frenchwoman Solange Bertrand and American GI-turned-actor Sam Walker burned too brightly and ended in tragedy, leaving their three young daughters orphaned. Megan, the youngest, adopted by a loving family, grows up to be a doctor in Appalachia. Alexandra, adopted by a wealthy family, marries a powerful man with an impeccable pedigree. Hilary, the oldest (and the only one who remembers her sisters), enters the sordid world of foster care before going out on her own to work her way up to being a New York news producer. In the pursuit of success and stability, Hilary foregoes building a personal life, especially when her efforts to locate her sisters hit a dead end. But when high-priced private investigator John Chapman is hired to reunite the three sisters, the secrets and lies that kept the women apart--and bound them together--are revealed and the love only sisters can share blossoms again.
Feedback: Ah, this book brings back memories. I used to hoard Danielle Steel paperbacks back in high school; I could swear I was her biggest fan. I'm not as big a fan now, simply because I'm no longer a romantic-mystery fanatic and also because her plot lines became predictable, but this was always one of my favorite books by her. There's actually a 1990s movie adaptation of this book as well.
12. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Level of Difficulty: 3
Genre: Thriller/ Crime Novel
Length: 608 pages
Synopsis: Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family. He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, ruthless computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from almost forty years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history. But the Vanger's are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.
Feedback: This is the first book in the trilogy, and again, I can't give a sound review because I haven't read it yet, although I've heard so many friends rave about it. There's a 2009 movie adaptation of this book as well.
Level of Difficulty: 4
Genre: Historical Fiction Novel
Length: 464 pages
Synopsis: In The White Queen Philippa Gregory brilliantly evokes the life of a common woman who ascends to royalty by virtue of her beauty, a woman who rises to the demands of her position and fights tenaciously for the survival of her family, a woman whose two sons become the central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower whose fate remains unknown to this day. From her uniquely qualified perspective, she explores this most famous unsolved mystery, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.
Feedback: I should let you know I'm a major English-Royalty novel fiend. This book, Philippa Gregory's latest, was one of my favorites by her. I know you're probably thinking something along the lines of, "Why would I wanna read a history book?" AMIRITE?? Well the way Gregory writes it, it makes it seem like a story. Give it a try, and have patience. It really is a great book.
14. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction Novel
Length: 672
Synopsis: A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history: two beautiful sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII.
Feedback: The Other Boleyn Girl is without a doubt Philippa Gregory's most well known novel. I'm pretty sure everyone has at least heard of the movie, yes? I was already familiar with the whole King Henry VIII and his six wives thing in the historical sense, but this book definitely fleshed things out for me. This was my first Philippa Gregory book, and it wasn't my last. Two thumbs up!
15. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Level of Difficulty: 4
Genre: Literary Classic (Realist Fiction)
Length: 864 pages
Synopsis: Anna, who has never been in love before, is swept off her feet. At first she tries to resist the Count, but then leaves her husband and son. This brings more suffering than joy. The society turns its back on Anna and Vronsky, Anna cannot see her son whom she terribly misses. She wants to divorce her husband, but he refuses. She and Vronsky live together unmarried. Slowly, things seem to be turning around - they have a baby girl, and some of their former friends re-open their homes for them. But happiness is still not there. Anna doesn't seem to be very interested in her little daughter. She is tortured by doubts, she is not sure whether Vronsky still loves her and wants to be with her. [I'm not including the next four sentences because they're spoilers. You're welcome ;) haha]
Feedback: This is a classic novel of love, betrayal, and death. I'm only 54 pages into this one, so I can't give a proper review (but it's great so far, seriously). It reminds me of an Arabic soap opera, no? haha!
16. A Perfect Day for Banafish by J.D. Salinger (may he rest in peace)
(It's a short story; there's no book cover lol)
Level of Difficulty: 4Genre: Short Story
Length: Like four pages?
Synopsis: A young man, recently returned from the Army goes to Florida with his wife. His wife has a telephone conversation with her mother during which the mother speaks about the young man as though he were mentally deranged but the girl reassures her that she is not afraid. The husband, on the beach, goes for a dip in the ocean with a small girl, who is a guest at the hotel. He seems to get along perfectly with the child. When he gets back to his hotel room, where his wife is asleep, he calmly pulls out a gun and shoots himself.
Feedback: Need I say more? (Click the title link for the full text of the story. Analyze away!)
17. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Level of Difficulty: 5
Genre: Allegorical Novel
Length: 601 pages
Synopsis: East of Eden is a novel by John Steinbeck, often described as his most ambitious in its portrayal of the intricate details of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, and their interwoven stories. As Steinbeck stated: "It has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years." He further claimed: "I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this."
Feedback: Okay, if John Steinbeck himself said that this was pretty much his magnum opus, who are you to think any differently? This book is nothing short of amazing. It's so involving, evolving, and definitely unforgettable; it makes you think.
18. The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Level of Difficulty: 5
Genre: Fantasy Classic
Length: 688 pages (of goodness!)
Synopsis: The world's greatest fantasy classic is the magical epic of King Arthur and his shining Camelot, of Merlyn and Guinevere, of beasts who talk and men who fly, of wizardry and war. It is the book of all things lost and wonderful and sad. It is the fantasy masterpiece by which all others are judged.
Feedback: You see what it says up there on the book cover? It says, "The world's greatest fantasy classic." And you know what? They ain't lyinggggggg! We've all heard the kindergarten version of the Sword in the Stone story, where only the purest knight can pull the sword out and become king. This is that story, told much more wonderfully. They say chivalry and romance are dead? You can still salvage whatever is left of them in this novel. Seriously guys, this is one of my top five favorite novels of all time, OF ALL TIME!
19. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Level of Difficulty: 5
Genre: Literary Classic (Adventure, Action, Drama, Romance, Everything!!)
Length: 1,312 pages
Synopsis: Dashing young Edmond Dantes has everything. He is engaged to a beautiful woman, is about to become the captain of a ship, and is well liked by almost everyone. But his perfect life is shattered when he is framed by a jealous rival and thrown into a dark prison cell for fourteen years. The greatest tale of betrayal, adventure, and revenge ever written, The Count of Monte Cristo continues to dazzle readers with its thrilling and memorable scenes; including Dantes's miraculous escape from prison, his amazing discovery of a vast hidden treasure, and his transformation into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo-- a man whose astonishing thirst for vengeance is as cruel and it is just.
Feedback: Okay, so I know you're looking at the number of pages in this book and thinking, "Oh hell naw!" but trust meeeee, it's so worth it! All you need to do is print out a copy of the character chart off wikipedia (the names are French, and a little confusing), sit in your favorite reading spot with a warm cup of tea (or coffee, depending on your preference), and have patience. You'll thank me later. (There's also a 2002 movie adaptation of the book but READ THE BOOK FIRST!)
20. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
(Save the best for last, eh? haha)
Level of Difficulty: 5Genre: Literary Classic (Romance/ Thriller)
Length: 400 pages
Synopsis: Emily Brontë’s only novel, Wuthering Heights remains one of literature’s most disturbing explorations into the dark side of romantic passion. Heathcliff and Cathy believe they’re destined to love each other forever, but when cruelty and snobbery separate them, their untamed emotions literally consume them. Set amid the wild and stormy Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights, an unpolished and devastating epic of childhood playmates who grow into soul mates, is widely regarded as the most original tale of thwarted desire and heartbreak in the English language.
Feedback: Forget that Dear John and The Notebook love-story crap. You want a legit romance novel? Look no further. This is my favorite book. Ever.
And now for a bonus!
21. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Genre: Literary Classic (Romance)
Length: 624 pages
Synopsis: A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre has dazzled generations of readers with its depiction of a woman’s quest for freedom. This updated edition features a new introduction discussing the novel’s political and magical dimensions. Having grown up an orphan in the home of her cruel aunt and at a harsh charity school, Jane Eyre becomes an independent and spirited survivor—qualities that serve her well as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she finds love with her sardonic employer, Rochester, the discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a choice. Should she stay with him whatever the consequences or follow her convictions, even if it means leaving her beloved?
Feedback: My second favorite Brontë novel. For some reason, this is one of those books where you just relate so well to the characters, on so many different levels (for me at least). Unforgettable.
Happy reading! :3
02 May 2010
For Z, With Love (Uhm, Sorta?)
This is Z.
This is Z on drugs.
Any questions?
Haha! So I was looking for a file I had saved on my laptop earlier today, and guess what I found? (No, not the file I was looking for :\ unfortunately...)
(by the way, this is my favorite picture of you.)
This is Z on drugs.
Haha! So I was looking for a file I had saved on my laptop earlier today, and guess what I found? (No, not the file I was looking for :\ unfortunately...)
However, I did find a video dated November 5th 2009. If I remember correctly, this was the day before your ecology common exam.
Anywho, I decided to share our stupidity with the world by uploading the video to YouTube.
Duuuuude, I can't believe you're graduating!! :(
(...even though I don't even like you that much. Don't get your hopes up or anything).
Well, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Here's the video.
P.S. This is your graduation present. Public humiliation. :D
P.S. This is your graduation present. Public humiliation. :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)