Book Review: The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games 
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Star Rating: 4.5/5
Network: Shelfari | Goodreads |
Buy: Amazon

My Summary: When Katniss Everdeen's little sister Primrose is selected to compete in the annual "Hunger Games," Katniss steps forward and volunteers to take Prim's place. She will have to compete against 23 other "players" to win the Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live television, broadcast throughout the country.

My Review: If you have been following my reviews for any length of time, you know that I don't give out half stars. I'm a tough grader, and in fact, most books don't get a four, let alone a five star rating. However, I made an exception in this case. The book is incredible and very much worth the read.

I've read that The Hunger Games Trilogy is geared toward Twilight readers. I would argue that Suzanne Collins takes a combination of a couple of Stephen King's Bachman Books (specifically The Running Man and The Long Walk) and builds them into her Hunger Games.

The only reason I don't give The Hunger Games a full five stars is because I feel that Suzanne Collins didn't pull off the present tense narrative. The first person was believable, but the present tense could be jarring, as she went back and forth between past and present and it was, at times, confusing, even for an experienced and wide reader like myself.

Excellent novel!

Book Review: A Respectable Trade

Title: A Respectable Trade

Author: Philippa Gregory

Pages: 488

Format: Paperback

Genre: Historical Fiction

Star Rating: 4/5

Network: Shelfari | Goodreads | Librarything

Buy: Amazon

My Summary: Mehuru is a priest in the African nation of Yoruba who is captured by (black) African slavers and is sold to an English slave trader.

Frances is the niece of Lord Scott and is left orphaned and unmarried when her father dies. In desperation, she accepts the marriage proposal of a trader, Josiah Cole.

Circumstances bring Mehuru and Frances Cole together, for better or for worse. Philippa Gregory tells an amazing story of their relationship in this novel.

My Thoughts: I wept throughout the entire novel. When I say "wept" I'm not talking about the tears that often fall when I am touched by a story -- I'm talking about being moved so deeply by a book that I know that it will stay with me forever.

I've seen Amazing Grace and as much as the movie explored the depth of suffering on the slave ships, it didn't sink in fully until I had read about it, able to apply my own imagination to the story of Mehuru and his friends. And when Mehuru met Frances, it was all over for me.

This book would be very easy for me to spoil, and I want to be careful of what I say. I've been asked recently to give more detail in my reviews about what I enjoyed (or didn't enjoy) about a book -- specifically. In this book I have to say that what touched me the most was the relationships between the slaves, particularly Elizabeth (who's African name I don't know) and Mehuru. I also really liked the way that the author went out of her way to describe the way that black and white "saw" one another so differently from their own people, almost as though they were an entirely different species. As someone who is in her thirties in the 21st century, I find this so difficult to relate to, but it helped to bring me closer to real understanding of what it might have been like in the 18th century.

I enjoy Philippa Gregory and look forward to reading more from her!

Book Review: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Title: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Author: Fannie Flagg

Pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Genre: Chick Lit

Star Rating: 4/5

Network: Shelfari | Goodreads | Librarything

Buy: Amazon

My Summary: A very character-driven book, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe follows the story of the people who live in Whistle Stop Alabama from the late 1920s all the way through to Birmingham in the 1980s. The story is told in second and third person, going back and forth between conservations between Evelyn Couch and Ninny Threadgood.

Themes: Racism and race relations before the civil rights movement and after; vague GLBT themes; small town life

My Thoughts: I loved it! This book is a new favorite of mine, which took me by surprise.

I really enjoyed reading about the various lives in Whistle Stop, Alabama and the stories that were threaded throughout the novel. I also felt that this was well-accomplished and neatly done by Fannie Flagg, though there are many others who disagree (see reviews on any of the networking sites listed above).

If you haven't seen the movie (and I hadn't, would you believe it?), please be aware that this book jumps around in time quite a bit, from the twenties to the thirties, to the eighties to the forties to the twenties and back again, over and over. Sometimes story lines drop off entirely only to be picked up again much later in the book. This worked for me, but I can see how others might have struggled with this.

I hear the movie is better than the book -- it's going to have to work hard to do that for me when I get a chance to see it!

Book Review: Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

Title: Wild at Heart
Author: John Eldredge
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Christian Living
Star Rating: 4/5

My Summary: Wild at Heart is a book about finding the authentic heart of a man. It is about the spiritual wound that all men suffer and which must be healed.

Wild at Heart gives men the tools which are necessary in order to begin searching for their own hearts, but it is written in a way that is inviting to the women as well (if not more so).

My Thoughts:  I liked this book a lot. Not only did Eldredge illustrate God in a way that was new and enlightening for me, but I felt as though this book showed me how to pray for my husband in a way that was more meaningful than simply paying lip service to our marriage. Whether this was Eldredge's intention or not, I am not sure.

I did, however, have some misgivings. Eldredge consistently uses feats of daring or the "wilderness" as a means of defining the wildness of a man, and yet focuses perhaps too little on the man who's dream was to become a musician, or another who dreamed of becoming a doctor. The man who finds a cure for cancer will not have lived any less adventure than the man who brings down the biggest buck. My concern here is that some men (and women) will be discouraged by the feeling that manhood is defined by a certain kind of wildness.

All in all this is an excellent book, and I recommend it for everyone, male and female alike. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from John and Stasi Eldredge!

I received my copy of Wild at Heart free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I have not been paid to give a glowing review of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold

I picked up The Lovely Bones on a whim, not long before the movie was released to the theaters (and I still haven't seen it). I figured that I probably ought to review the book while the title was still a popular term on Twitter and in the search engines. Truth be told, I was hoping for a traffic boost that never came (on my old blog).

Whatever my intentions for picking up and reading this book, I am very glad that I chose to read the story of Susie Salmon, a fourteen year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered by her neighbor. The story is told from Susie's point of view as she speaks from her version of Heaven, looking down on her family as they grieve her loss.

The story of The Lovely Bones is less about Susie and more about her father and her sister, both of whom suffer greatly due to her loss and struggle to uncover the mystery of the man who killed her and hid her body where it was never found.

The Lovely Bones isn't a mystery novel: that disappointed me. Right from the beginning (the first chapter) we know who the murderer is (enough that I'm comfortable putting that information in a review!). Instead, the story is about a family's redemption following the murder of a loved one. This is a subject that most families never have to think about, and it is very touching indeed.

Two months after having first read this book, I can look back and say that while I certainly enjoyed it and can recommend it to others, it isn't a book that has stayed with me. As emotional as the reading was, I don't find myself attached to any of the characters in the book, and would classify The Lovely Bones as largely unmemorable but very much worth the read!

You can get your copy of The Lovely Bones on Amazon.

Book Review: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

The Other Boleyn Girl is a book that has haunted me since the movie was released. Although I didn't see the film until after I had read the book (and thank goodness, too!), the book kept calling to me, mostly because I had heard the title and the concept sounded interesting -- the story of Anne Boleyn, told from the perspective of her sister.

Who doesn't know the story of Anne Boleyn, the woman who dethroned Catherine of Aragon and married King Henry VIII? It was Anne Boleyn who helped Henry to found the Church of England, and it was Anne who was the first executed wife of King Henry the VIII, put to death on charges of incest, adultery and treason.

The stories of the other Boleyns are less-told: George and Thomas, Mary and Elizabeth (Anne's Mother, not her daughter) are less well known. The Other Boleyn Girl begins to tell the story of Anne's siblings, Mary and George, and the relationships that they had with one another and with Anne.

In spite of my intense desire to read The Other Boleyn Girl, I was disturbed the idea that I believed the book would be dry. I pondered the length of the novel (nearly 700 pages) and the content (I am no a history buff by any means) and several times overlooked the book. I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on this novel.

When I ran into The Other Boleyn Girl at a used book store, however, I snatched it up eagerly and perhaps a bit greedily and read it promptly.

While Philippa Gregory takes some license with the story line regarding Mary, George and even Anne, I felt that this book was a wonderful, fast-paced and easy read. I was able to pick it up and put it down during waiting periods and still finished reading it within a week of having started the book.

I highly recommend The Other Boleyn Girl and look forward to reviewing other books in the Tudors series!

You can get your copy of The Other Boleyn Girl on Amazon.

Book Review: The Unlikely Disciple, by Kevin Roose

The Unlikely Disciple is the story of Kevin Roose, a student at Brown University who decides to take a semester at "Bible Boot Camp" in order to explore more deeply the "God Divide." Coming from a liberal secular background, Roose isn't sure what he's going to find at Liberty University, and he doesn't get quite what he expected in the beginning, either.

Kevin Roose was the last person to give a print interview to Rev. Jerry Falwell before his death in 2007, and he never revealed to the University president that he was not, himself, an evangelical Christian.

The Unlikely Disciple amazed me. When I first picked this book up, I was expecting a difficult-to-read book that was more analysis than it was experience. Understanding and having accepted Kevin Roose's journalistic background, I imagined that the book would be at best dry and at worst downright boring. I picked it up initially because I was interested in understanding my own past as a somewhat secular pagan in comparison to myself today, as a deeply spiritual Christian. More than anything, I was looking to find some kind of personal affirmation in Roose's book: I wanted someone to, in essence, tell me that it was okay for me to have been a Christian-basher for sixteen years of my life. I wanted to not be alone any longer.

My expectations for this book couldn't have been much further from the mark. Not only is Kevin Roose's style of writing far from journalistic, but he is entertaining and witty. In fact, The Unlikely Disciple drew me in from the first few paragraphs and kept me reading in a manner that I find is unusual with works of non-fiction. I couldn't put this book down!

The Unlikely Disciple was, for me, a chance to relax with the kind of book that can easily be devoured in the span of a few days rather than being slowly picked at bit by bit. The style of the book is very easy to read and it flows well. Although the format is something like a journal (which gives you the opportunity to really see into Roose's thoughts during his semester at Liberty University), the story is written with a great deal of skill.

I was impressed with this book. I learned a lot from it, about myself, the secular liberal I used to be, and the kind of conservative (spiritual) Christian that I want to be. This is an excellent opportunity for us to learn from one another, secular or Christian.

You can get your copy of The Unlikely Disciple on Amazon.

Book Review: The Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett

The Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett, was the first of the Discworld novels that I read. It was this book that fused me (seemingly irreversibly) to the character of Death and his granddaughter, Susan. The Hogfather made me fall head-over-heels in love with the Discworld and with Terry Pratchett's always humorous and sometimes poignant characters.

I'm far from having read all of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett, but I have read several of his books. Re-reading The Hogfather this past Christmas (2009) made it very clear to me that beginning with this book was a mistake: I missed a great deal of the humor and "tone" of the Discworld novels. That being said, it is also one of my favorites among Pratchett's Discworld series. So much so, in fact, that I try to read it every November/December!

The Hogfather impressed me largely because at the time that I first read this book, I was a lover of horror fiction (and only horror fiction). As a child I devoured Stephen King novels (and had them confiscated by well-meaning teachers) and for this reason I developed a deep and abiding passion for anything that genuinely scared me.

In several places The Hogfather literally made me shiver. The book is laced throughout with philosophical truths that make the reader want to look more deeply into the history of religious culture throughout the world (but particularly in Europe).

The Hogfather explores several different and varied concepts of belief and the way that belief functions. The book is philosophical, often (very) frightening, and as always with Pratchett, incredibly entertaining.

In this book you will be reintroduced to such characters as Susan (Death's Granddaughter), Death, and the Wizards of the Unseen University. You will get to know Teatime, a frightening member of the Assassin's Guild (with a capital A thank you very much!). You will meet the "oh god" of hangovers and the verruca gnome.

The Hogfather will take you on a journey literally to the ends of the Discworld as Susan struggles to save The Hogfather (the Discworld's version of Father Christmas) from an "untimely" end at the hands of a band of assassins. You will be enchanted, entertained, and pulled through an intellectual and philosophical obstacle course.

Discworld purists have heard (and read) all of this before. Those who are new to the Discworld will enjoy this book, but may miss some of the "inside" jokes or references to other characters.

In my opinion, The Hogfather is one of Pratchett's best!

You can get your copy of The Hogfather on Amazon.

Book Review: The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

The Christmas Sweater was a beautiful and timely read for me, not only because I read this book at the holiday season, but because the book spoke directly to my heart and reminded me of things that I had yet to learn in my own spiritual journey. I needed this book and am very happy that I found it in the time frame in which I did.

Based on a true story, The Christmas Sweater tells of how the fictional character of Eddie experiences a Christmas when he is twelve years old. It is a Christmas in which Eddie desperately wants a new bike and is certain that the bike will be his. It is the story of a boy's disappointment when instead he receives “A stupid, handmade, ugly sweater that wasn’t a bike.”

The Christmas Sweater is a moving and emotional book, much as I expected it to be. The short novel reminded me to treasure the things that are important in life, such as family, friends and faith, but the book, and the journey that Eddie (a representative of Glenn Beck) takes is transcendent.

This book touched me especially because I am a knitter, and this year I am working on making all of my Christmas gifts for friends and family by hand. While I know that my friends and family will appreciate these gifts because they are either old enough to have developed an appreciation or too young to know the difference, I can feel strongly for Eddie's mother in the story, and understand how she must have felt when her son rejected her heartfelt gift.

Anyone who has been poor (either as a parent or as a youngster) or who has lost a parent at a young age will be able to connect with Eddie and his family. It is difficult not to fall in love with these characters and to want to reach out to them personally.

I found The Christmas Sweater to be a heartfelt and realistic representation of a family experiencing difficult times emotionally and financially. I felt that it was difficult to separate myself from the fact that this was a true story, with some names and details changed enough to make this a work of fiction and to afford the element of fantasy to the story.

Glenn Beck is, as always, amazing. This book was written in such a heart felt way that it was possible for me to read the book as though I could hear him reading it to me. The Christmas Sweater was certainly well written and well voiced.

This book is an easy, breezy read. If you're anything like me, you will find it difficult to put down. I finished reading The Christmas Sweater in less than two days (and I'm a slow reader).

I believe that most readers will enjoy The Christmas Sweater, by Glenn Beck. This is an all-round inspirational book and an easy (and quick!) read that will touch your heart.

You can get your copy of The Christmas Sweater at Amazon.