Review: Half a Life: A Memoir - Darin Strauss

Genre: Non Fiction
ISBN: 9780812982534 - ARC
Pages: 191
Format: Trade Paperback
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Read: August 2011

To start, I got bored. I feel that this book was probably more for him then for the audience. I liked it and then...like I said I got bored and I do feel kinda bad about it because if it were the other way around I would hates for someone to rate my real life with such a low rating, but I didn't really hate the book. I found it quite interesting...

I should tell you that this book is about a guy who had killed a girl with his car, by accident, when he was in high school. This is 20 years later and he talks about how he lived with the guilt and how it was a process, a long one I might add, of how he came to terms with it. It was crazy of what he had to deal with and of all the ups and downs and the B.S. he had to endure but I still felt that it would have been a great article or essay. I don't really know why I am giving it 2 stars maybe its because I thought it as simply just "Okay".

Review: Where She Went (#2) - Gayle Forman

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Pages: 264

ISBN: 9780525422945

Series: If I Stay #2

Rating: 4/5 Stars

It took me some time to read this but for personal reasons only. I think I would have read this is a day if I had the opportunity. It was a very good read. It was interesting to really understand the minds of the young couple, Adam & Mia. There were time when I just couldn't believe the decisions that they made being as young as they are but I guess it can happen. I really liked the book just the way it was. In the beginning I was a little angry because I thought it was going to end entirely different but it ended perfect and I couldn't ask for anything more.

The first book in the series, If I Stay was more about Mia and her thoughts and this book, being the second in the series, was more about Adam. It was nice to think that in such height and weight of the story it still turned out to be very touching.

Review: The Ghost Trap - K. Stephens

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 326 (ARC)

Format: Oversized Trade Paperback

Published: 2009

ISBN: 978098151471

Rating: 4/5

Another great free copy from the TNBBC via the publisher. At first I thought that I wouldn't like it as much as I did but I trust Lori (the super-mod from TNBBC) and she gave a pretty sweet review and how could I pass up a free copy??? SO I gave it a shot and boy am I glad I did!

This book sets the stage for lobster wars in Maine and how small towns function as a whole and the daily lives of it's people and how important it is to them all. These so-called wars are insane and get never let things go but it makes for a great story. Of course I loved Anya and Jamie but I just wish there was more sensitivity on Jamie's part since Anya's head injury. I can totally understand why Jamie gets a little off the handle with her because it can be frustrated. It is hard to handle someone like this especially since he has she her better and happy and now sort incompetent and fragile. But I just felt she was trying and she needed a little more support from him. Things could have worked out better but I don't think Jamie belongs in a small town and even though he made his way to big cities in the past, I don't feel like he is in the right mind set as the rest of the small townees.

I just love the way Stephen writes. She write the way people today talk (tawk). I like how she really describes the community. She has a real sense of description. I saw everyone and everything and then I looked at Stephen's website and there she had images of Maine and her friends and it made total and complete sense. The only negative I have is that some times I was a little lost and confused at where things were gonna go but then after a second or two I started to follow. I just hate to work so hard at books but I still gave it a high rating so my argument is small!

Want to Win a Kindle?

So you can win a great Kindle by just purchasing this awesome book!

Go to his page to win http://www.markarayner/marvellouskindle/

His book is titled Marvellous Hairy Check out the reviews on Goodreads!! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6696136

Get another chance to win by "like"ing his Facebook page. Just look up Mark A. Rayner and Good Luck!!

Of course I got my copy now go and get yours!!!

Review: Memories of My Melancholy Whores - Gabriel García Márquez

Genre: Fiction (?)

ISBN:

Pages: 115

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Format: Small Hardcover

This little book packs so much emotion! It sounds creepy to be an old man of ninety who recounts his life and love affairs. As he nears the end of his life he wants a virgin of such a young age (fourteen!). This book takes you on a journey of life in every decade. You really have to read the poetry in this book to truly understand it's beauty and to accept what we would normally not. I would like to think that I can have such emotions as I near such a late stage in life. He is old but the way he speaks you would never know it.

The Imperfectionist by Tom Rachman

Genre: Fiction

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 269

ISBN: 9780385343664

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

I just couldn't finish it. It is not that it is a bad book or anything I just simply could not stay focus and I had no drive to continue on. I got half way through and just was stuck and could not move on. So I went to another book and I know I am just not going to get back into it.

This is not a book I normally would read but it was a work book club read and some one let me borrow it so...

It just dragged and some parts were interesting and could hold me for a bit but when I got to the next "chapter" I just was bored again. There were lots of different characters and I am sure they connected at some point but it just took too long to get there.

Stripper Pole to Heaven - Hunter Hayes

Genre: Adult Fiction

Format: ebook

ISBN: 9780615231129
Pages: 426

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I was lucky enough to get a first read chance to read this and it was such a good read. I mean Wow! What a realistic read. Hunter Hayes "tells it like it is," so she reeled me in from the very first chapter...Her words evoked laughter,sadness and truth in a way that will make a fan of her work from now going onwards.

Goodreads

I am sure you are all well aware that I am an active member of Goodreads aka GR. I have my own GR group called Everyone's Choice. Please feel free to join in on the discussions and/or simply create your own. There we do Book Challenges of all sorts. If you have tried it yet, I highly recommend it. I have use Shelfari and LibraryThing but GR is better by far.

I have also won 9 books from the site so far. They have the contests that you enter and what you have to do, besides enter, is put it in a folder (or bookshelf) and name it First Reads and by entering in the contest you are required to post your review as soon as you finish it. The more you do this the more you win. It is a great way to spread the word of new books and also it is great for the authors and publishing companies to hear reviews before the are officially released to the public. I love to see which books I win. They are so random! Here is a list of what I've won thus far

1- Hummingbirds: A Novel by Joshua Gaylord

2- Eating Animals by Jonathan Safon Foer

3- Courage of Fear by Barbara Foyer

4- Paulo Coelho: A Warrior's Life - The Authorized Biography by Fernando Morais

5- Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

6- Sleep No More by Susan Crandall

7- The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

8- The River in Winter by Matt Dean (to be read)

9- Heavy Metal Pulp: Pleasure Model: Netherworld Book One by Christopher Rowley (to be read)

I always mark them ARC's (even if they are not) when I review them here so that people now that it may not be released yet.

I hope this helps and I hope you join my group. It is very comfy and cozy!