The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a wonderful book! There are only a handful of books you read that your are going to remember years later and this is one of them. I LOVED this book! It goes fast and is almost impossible to put down! It tells the story of Liesel Meminger, who loved to read books, but that is just one part of the story. There are so many story lines in The Book Thief that keep your interest. Just read this book, enjoy the story. It captures the human spirit that I hope is in all of us! I give it 5+ stars.
(Gerard's review 1/20/10)
I read this too but found it very slow and felt I had to force myself to keep plowing through it. I know a lot of people think it is great, but it did not appeal to me. I finally gave up on about about halfway through.
(Karen's thoughts 1/27/10)
Read if for yourself and see who you agree with, Gerard or me.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
"Pack of Two" by Caroline Knapp
Pack of Two, The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp--MUST READ BOOK! 100 STARS!
Every week our local paper has a column written by a woman who calls herself the “Dog Lady.” In answering a question, she said the best book she ever read describing a relationship between a dog and a person was this book. Boy, was she right! I’ve read over 50 books this year so far and I rank this book as THE BEST! This is just a wonderful book! If you have ever had a dog, have a dog, or thinking about getting a dog, you have to read this book. It’s funny, sad and just so good!
It’s the kind of book I wish I owned instead of just a library book. I could read it again and again! I wish I could have walked my dog with Caroline. When Caroline passed on, her dog was right there with her. Rest in peace, Caroline, and thanks for this book. I loved it!!
(Gerard's review 12/18/09)
I read this book too just because Gerard liked it so much but I really didn't care for it. There was very little about the dog, mostly about the owner's feelings and relationships in her life. A lot of it was short snippets about how other dog owners view their dogs as well.
I did agree with her though about how having a dog builds bridges to people. When you walk your dog you meet other dog owners who are usually friendly and it seems that neighbors tend to talk to us more when we walk down the street with our dog. I bought this one for Gerard since he loved it so much.
Karen's Opinion 12/26/09):
Now you have to read it and decide for yourself.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Every week our local paper has a column written by a woman who calls herself the “Dog Lady.” In answering a question, she said the best book she ever read describing a relationship between a dog and a person was this book. Boy, was she right! I’ve read over 50 books this year so far and I rank this book as THE BEST! This is just a wonderful book! If you have ever had a dog, have a dog, or thinking about getting a dog, you have to read this book. It’s funny, sad and just so good!
It’s the kind of book I wish I owned instead of just a library book. I could read it again and again! I wish I could have walked my dog with Caroline. When Caroline passed on, her dog was right there with her. Rest in peace, Caroline, and thanks for this book. I loved it!!
(Gerard's review 12/18/09)
I read this book too just because Gerard liked it so much but I really didn't care for it. There was very little about the dog, mostly about the owner's feelings and relationships in her life. A lot of it was short snippets about how other dog owners view their dogs as well.
I did agree with her though about how having a dog builds bridges to people. When you walk your dog you meet other dog owners who are usually friendly and it seems that neighbors tend to talk to us more when we walk down the street with our dog. I bought this one for Gerard since he loved it so much.
Karen's Opinion 12/26/09):
Now you have to read it and decide for yourself.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
"A Merry Heart" by Wanda E. Brunstetter
A Merry Heart by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the first of the “Brides of Lancaster County” series about a school teacher who is very bitter that her old boyfriend dumped her for someone else and blames God for not answering her prayers. She struggles with the temptation of falling for a man outside of her faith but eventually she yields to God and experiences joy in her life with her Amish husband who she married for convenience.
Slow moving romance but gave insight into the Amish community through the main character and her family. I really didn’t care for the main character throughout most of the book because she was so bitter over being dumped by her old boyfriend. I liked how the book showed her inner struggles and her journey to having a merry heart in the end which I liked. I liked it enough to continue on with the series. Even includes a recipe for Chunky Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies which sound delicious!
(Karen's review 12/31/09)
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Slow moving romance but gave insight into the Amish community through the main character and her family. I really didn’t care for the main character throughout most of the book because she was so bitter over being dumped by her old boyfriend. I liked how the book showed her inner struggles and her journey to having a merry heart in the end which I liked. I liked it enough to continue on with the series. Even includes a recipe for Chunky Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies which sound delicious!
(Karen's review 12/31/09)
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
"The Overlook" by Michael Connelly
The Overlook by Michael Connelly is not your usual murder mystery. Most of the novel centers on the crime investigation tension between the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI when the homicide turns into a national security issue. Harry Bosch is pretty much a rogue detective in the special homicide department who has a lot of experience and is breaking in a new young partner. He cares more about solving his case than protocol which makes for tension between him and his new partner as well as Special Agent Rachel Walling of the FBI. The murderer almost pulls off the perfect crime, manipulating the evidence to lead the investigators on a wild goose chase. When Bosch and Walling finally share their findings with each other and get a lucky break, things become clearer and they solve the mystery.
This is a good crime story but moved sort of slow in the beginning but picked up speed as I went along. I loved the chase scene at the end when Harry and Rachel teamed up and worked together on their own. This one was not as thrilling or gripping as other mysteries I read. It doesn’t have as much suspense as I like so does not get five stars from me.
(Karen's review)
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
"House of Reckoning" by John Saul
I liked House of Reckoning by John Saul because it was so strange and gripping. It made me want to keep reading to see what would happen and drew me in right from the start. I immediately liked the main character, Sarah, a 14-yr. old who was plowed into by her drunk father on her way to the bar to bring him home and was put into foster care when her father was taken to prison for killing the man he fought with at the bar. She was befriended by a boy at school who was an outcast because he hallucinated so was viewed as a nut case.
That’s when spooky things began happening. The ending was just so far out that I felt it pushed the book into the fantasy or science fiction category. When the house actually became alive, it was even beyond creepy and eerie. This isn’t the type of book I normally read but it made for a great change of pace.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
That’s when spooky things began happening. The ending was just so far out that I felt it pushed the book into the fantasy or science fiction category. When the house actually became alive, it was even beyond creepy and eerie. This isn’t the type of book I normally read but it made for a great change of pace.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?
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