Gone Girl: 4 Stars

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 

Wow.....just wow. That's honestly how I wanted to leave this review. I literally just wasn't sure what else to say. 

The story takes place from two perspectives: Nick and Amy Dunn. Nick and Amy's marriage is less than happy and life just isn't going as planned. Both lose their jobs and Amy's trust fund money is soon gone.  They are struggling to get by.  Then, on their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy disappears. All possible explanations point to Nick. And Nick is doing nothing to make you believe otherwise.

This book is dark, twisted and evil.  I liked it because it was well-written and executed. I haven't read this well-written of a book in a long, long time. I give Flynn heaps of kudos for a job well done.

But there are a number of reasons I rated this a four and not a five.

• I hated each and every character. I seriously liked no one. I thought maybe I'd start to like Go, Nick's twin sister, but nope. 
• It was so dark and evil, it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I totally think this was the author's intention, but man is this book just chalked full of evil. I felt like showering after I read it to get the stench of it off me. 
• The language was almost too much for me.  Language doesn't typically bother me, unless it's the "c" word.  I really really hate that word. I can handle all language except that word. 

Given that list, maybe I should have given this a three instead of a four, but I was thoroughly impressed with the author's eloquence. Its was masterfully written and I give her mad props.

Rating: R (loads of language)

Top Ten Tuesday: Movies that Lead me to Books

Its time again for The Broke and The Bookish's top ten Tuesday.

This week's theme:  Top Ten Tuesday REWIND! (Pick from previous topics that you want to do again or may have missed)

I decided instead to do my own: Top Ten Movies That Lead Me To The Book. Every once in awhile I see a great movie and find out it was a book.  If the movie is good, I assume the book is even better.

1. Psycho by Robert Bloch:  I grew up on the Hitchcock classic Psycho, so I decided it was about time I read the book that lead to the movie.

 

2. Runaway Jury by John Grisham:  As a huge Grisham fan, its amazing I saw the movie first, but I did.  And I really really liked it.

3. Midnight in Paris lead to Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler: Midnight is Paris is a cheesy chick flick that my husband made me watch (yeah, we are a weird couple). In the movie, Owen Wilson's character is a writer in Paris who finds a passage to the past where he meets Hemingway, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Picasso, and many more. I saw this book and thought of that movie and decided to read it.  I loved the book! (Side note: Tom Hiddleston is an adorable F. Scott.)

4.  It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini: I saw this movie during an interesting time in my life.  My husband and I had just been married when our car died. It was a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta with less than 70,000 miles on it and I had taken excellent care of it. After spending about $5,000 in repairs over the course of six months with four different mechanics including a specialist, no one could figure out what was wrong or why it wouldn't work. So we parked it and became a car-less couple. One day, my husband decided we needed a date. We rode the bus to a restaurant and then walked across the street to see a movie. Then we walked about 3 miles home in the dark.  It was one of the best dates I have ever been on. The movie was awesome and we both loved it, so of course I needed to see the movie.

5. True Grit by Charles Portis:  This movie (the remake) was adorable and I loved it, so of course, I had to read the book. :)

6. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: I know, I know. Its amazing it took me so long to read this. I saw the BBC min-series with Colin Firth.  Amazing.

7. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien:  Yes, his is another that took me forever to read.  I saw the first movie with Martin Freeman (love him!) and ended up deciding to read the book before seeing the rest.

8. Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsey:  I love this series on Showtime (except the finale...ugh!). 

9. The Lovely Bones by Alice Rebold:  I saw the movie mostly because of Mark Wahlberg.  I loved about half of the movie, and hated the other half.  I read the book hoping it was better.  While it was better, the ending wasn't any better.

10. Death of a Salesman:  I saw this in high school, the version with Dustin Hoffman and John Malchovich (with hair!). 

Making Up For Monday: Not So Classic

It's Time for Making Up For Monday!

Question: What classic shouldn't be a classic in your opinion?

This one is an easy one for me:  The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

That book was boring, pointless, and pompous.  All I remember thinking while I was reading it was "Seriously?  THIS is a classic?" 

Ugh....never again Hemingway.  Never again.



Check out more from Making Up For Monday! 

Pride and Prejudice: 4 Stars

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I start my journey in the Classics Club with a story I have been meaning to read for about 15 years. Pride and Prejudice is a story told over and over again in several ways. I have seen quite a few versions of this story on television and movies.  My favorite is the BBC version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  Seriously though, how could I not love that version?  Just look at that face!

Anyhow, in case you are in the dark, this story is about the Bennett family in 19th century England. The family consists of a mother and father and five daughters, two of which are at the age to be married and the mother is eager to get them married off. When a new man of wealth moves close by, the mother is eager to introduce her daughters, Elizabeth and Jane.

The man, Mr. Bingley, is incredibly nice and is immediately taken with Jane. His sisters appear to like Jane as well, but in reality do not.  Bigley's best friend, Mr. Darcy, however, does not come off very well and seems rather stuck up.  Elizabeth is the one most annoyed by him and doesn't hold back how she feels.

Mr. Bingley and Jane continue to see each other (because they like each other and because Mrs. Bennett is annoyingly pushy) and, therefore, Elizabeth continues to see Mr. Darcy, never improving her opinion of him. They also meet a few soldiers courtesy of their two youngest sisters, Kitty and Lydia. One of the soldiers is a charming man named Wickham, who clearly has a past with Darcy.  Elizabeth and Wickham seem to bond as they discuss their dislike for Darcy.

Eventually, Darcy and Bingley leave without even saying goodbye and Jane is crushed.

While visiting a friend for the summer, Elizabeth meets Darcy again.  He makes easily the worst proposal ever, insulting her as he does so.  She doesn't hesitate to turn him down and tell him off.

Later that summer, her uncle and aunt take her to his home for a tour while he is out of town.  When he comes back unexpectedly, he is surprised to see Elizabeth there and she is surprised at how kind and sweet he acts.  She also learns to truth about Bingley leaving and that Wickham is not as he appears.

The story is a fantastic one, of course centering around pride and prejudice.  This is displayed namely in Darcy and Elizabeth, who both display elements of each.

The BBC version that I love is surprisingly spot on!  I was amazed at how accurtate they stayed to the story.

I, of course, adored Mr. Darcy from the beginning and I wonder if that is simply because of Colin Firth.  :)

Guest Post (Danylle): The Maze Runner: 4 Stars

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I loved this book, I couldn't put it down!  

Thomas arrives to the Glade in the "box."  He has no memory of his past other than his name.  The other boys tell him that a new boy arrives on the same day every month.  All of the boys are pre-teen or teenagers. None of the boys remember anything more then their name before arriving to the Glade.  All they know is they must survive, they need to solve the Maze to go home, and no one should find themselves outside the walls after dark.

The Creators (as the boys call them), sent the first group of boys to the Glade 2 years ago.  Since then, some have been lost, some have died, and the others have developed a "do or die" routine to help them survive and find their way out.

Almost as soon as Thomas arrives, it's apparent that he is different.  Some boys say they recognize him, although they don't know how. This has never happened before and stirs distrust in some of them.  The day after he arrives, they receive another new kid.  A girl.  The first girl ever.  She comes with a warning, everything's going to change and she is the last arrival.....EVER.  Soon, it becomes clear that all the rules are changing.  It's more important than ever that they solve the Maze and get back to wherever they came from.

This book is full of mystery and action from beginning to end.  Leaving you in a cliffhanger, ready to read the next book.  The first in a trilogy, you'll want to have book 2 close at hand when you finish this book.  Luckily all 3 books are out now and I intend to read them all.

Rating: PG-13: No Language or anything, just complicated storyline & and suspense/death.  I think pre-teen would be the youngest I'd recommend.

Valentine's Day at My House

I know this is a little late but I thought I'd tell you a little about my Valentine's Day.

For my husband, I signed him up for the Dollar Shave Club. This is an awesome club.  For a small price each month ($1-$9), they will send you a new cartridge of razors each month. That's four razors a month, or about one a week. I got him the most expensive razor and he loved it!  I highly recommend checking this out.

For me, my husband got me some used books.  I LOVE used books.  The older they are, the better, and my husband did not disappoint.

 The top book is a German Bible from 1854. Here's a shot of the inside.

The second book up is a Mark Twain book that is part of a set. It has a stamp that all the books have.  In doing some research, the first books said "This is the authorized Uniform Edition of all my books-Mark twain".  After 1917, the word "all" was dropped.  Now my husband and I are going to look for more of the set whenever we go to old used bookstores.  Maybe in 20 years, I'll find a complete set.  :)  

The Silver Pigs (Didius Falco #1): 3 Stars

The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis

Didius Falco is basically a private investigator in ancient Rome. Once day he sees a beautiful woman running as if being chased and, taken in by her beauty, helps her hide while he tries to find out who she's running from.  She ends up getting killed and now Falco is on a mission!

Hired by the woman's uncle (the Senator) and his daughter, Helena Justine, Falco is trying to find out who has been stealing silver from the royal silver supply.  The silver is mined by slaves or prisoners and is then transported to the Emperor. Falco immediately dislikes Helena Justine and she too dislikes Falco.  Falco views her as a high-class snob. He takes the case to help her poor dead cousin and despises her in the process.

It surprises no reader to find out that Falco and Helena's hatred soon turns into love as they go through this adventure together.

With quick wit and sarcasm, I enjoyed this novel.  Helena and Falco have a fun and entertaining relationship. However, due to the modern language and wit, I had a hard time remembering the setting was ancient Rome.  I also was confused by a lot of the language and references and found myself Googling words more than I enjoyed.

But it was fun a read and I will likely carry on reading some more Falco adventures.

Rating: PG

Top Ten Reasons I Love Being A Blogger/Reader

Its time again for the Broke and the Bookish's Top Ten Teusday. 

This week's topic: Top Ten Reasons I Love Being A Blogger/Reader

1. I get to work on my writing skills. As a wannabe writer who spent the first eight years out of college editing medical reviews, my writing skills got a bit rusty.

2. I get to talk about what I just read. Don't you hate when you finish a book and no one else has read the book or really cares to hear about it? 

3. I feel like I get to escape into a new world often. I love cracking open a new book and getting lost in it.

4. I am tackling my ever growing TBR list. To be fair, the more I read, the more my TBR list grows, but the fact that my "have-read" list is growing is such a great feeling.

5. I get to meet some of the greatest characters. I love meeting a new fantastic character!

6. I understand a lot more literary references than I used to. Do you ever watch shows or movies where they reference a classic book and you haven't read it so you don't really get it?  I hate that.

7. I have expanded my horizons with suggestions. I have read A LOT of books outside of my comfort zone.  Some have been disappointing, but some have been phenomenal!

8. I love snuggling on the couch with the dog. Seriously, I love snuggling up on the couch with my dog.

9. I get to talk to my husband about everything I read and write. When you are married and have been for awhile, plus you both work from home, keeping up new conversation is really helpful.

10. Free books!Seriously....I love free books!

Making Up For Monday: Reading Spot

Its time for Making Up For Monday!

Question: Where is your favorite place to read?

Here's mine!  I found the couch at a yard sale for $10. My husband and I are working toward buying a home so I am not making big purchases or changes, so we are out of book shelf space, hence the book everywhere.  

I also prefer to have my dog by my side.  :)

Check out more from Making Up For Monday! 

The Killer Angels: 4 Stars

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

As part of my Pulitzer Prize Challenge, I read the book The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. The book won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1975, but did not gain popularity until 1993 when the movie Gettysburg came out, based on the book.

The book is a novelized version of the Battle of Gettysburg. Shaara centers around specific people on both sides on the Civil War, giving a unique view on the war itself.

Now, as a kid/teenager, I remember learning about the Civil War in school.  We were always taught that the war was started because the North wanted to free the slaves and several states in the South did not.  The South revolted and the war began. It wasn't until I got to college that I realized that history books do not contain all the facts, are generally biased one way or another, and that the war was over many things.

The Killer Angels illustrates this fact, especially with the character of Chamberlain of the Union. As a college professor who left his cozy job to fight in the battle, Chamberlain is more educated than the typical solider. While he believes himself to be fighting for the liberation of slaves, he finds that this is not necessarily true with many of his comrades.  He finds them to be incredibly racist and is disgusted.  This is until he comes across a freed slave and feels repulsed.  He is then disgusted with himself.

The book also focuses on Longstreet and Lee of the Confederacy.  Lee is a respected solider and general who is stuck in his ways.  Longstreet, while he respects Lee, often disagrees with Lee's tactics, arguing that they should take a defensive approach.  Lee refuses and eventually, very confident in his men, he orders Pickett's Charge.  Needless to say, this is a rather bloody battle and marks the unavoidable end for the Confederacy.

The book also talks about two men: Hancock and Armistead. These two men are good friends, but each take a different side.  Throughout the war, they worry about each other and finally face each other in the Battle of Gettysburg.  This is just Shaara's example of just how difficult the war was, fighting neighbor against neighbor.

The book also talks about the challenges of the generals on both sides, especially those in the Confederacy.  Many used to be in the United States Army and feel great sadness in fighting the the very people they once fought to protect.

At the end of the day, even though this is a novel and technically fiction, it illustrates just how complex the Civil War was for those who fought.

Beautifully written. I would like to read more by Michael Shaara and his son, Jeffrey.

Side note:  One of the Confederate Generals is a man named Jubal Early.  I recognized this name from the final episode of Firefly, Objects in Space.  Joss Whedon found out that Nathan Fillion is a descendant of the man and named the character after him.  The actor who plays Jubal Early is, ironically, African-American. 

Rating: PG-13 (only in that it is a very bloody battle)

The Confession: 4 Stars

The Confession by John Grisham

A priest meets a new patron of his church one day, only to find out that the man is a convicted rapist who is now confessing to a murder he committed years before. He has an inoperable brain tumor and is on the verge of death.  There is also an innocent young man on death row for the murder who is days away from execution. The rapist refuses to go to the authorities and instead wants the priest to help him jump parole and go to Texas to confess to the man on death row's attorneys.  What is the priest to do? Can he save the young man from execution?  Can he trust the convicted criminal to follow through?

This is yet another gem from John Grisham.  The story keeps you wanting to go further and further and never put it down. The characters are in depth and complex.  The rapist is initially hated (well always hated), but as you learn about his life, you start to see just how troubled his life has been.  The priest is incredibly sympathetic as he battles his conscience.  Do you help a murder break the law to attempt to help another?  What if its all a lie? Its a complex story with a fantastic grip on your senses.

What more can I say other than "Read it!"?

Rating: PG

The Yoga Store Murder: 4 Stars

The Yoga Store Murder by Dan Morse

As a fan of true crime books, I was super excited for this one. The Yoga Store Murder: The Shocking True Account of the Lululemon Athletica Killing is exactly that. Perhaps because I live on the other side of the country, or because I have a hard time watching the news anymore, I hadn't heard of this particular crime. So I read it not knowing how it ended.  I think that is the best way to read this.

One night, two yoga store employees are attacked. One is killed and one is left for dead. This book takes you through the crime like you are an investigator.  You get the information like they do. You start off, much like the cops, believing one thing.  Then you start to question everything. But frankly, you don't want to believe that you're right. It took all the self control I could muster not to Google how this one ended.

I loved this book. It was gripping and well-written.  Although it's a non-fiction book, it was written like a fiction book, keeping you hooked to the story. You really felt like you were there, involved in the investigation. You get a great sense of the whole ordeal, since Morse gives you great background on most people involved.

I will say one thing: It was hard to get through the description of the murder. Since this really happened and isn't just a story, the description of the actual murder disturbed me. You get to know the young woman and her family.  And the murder itself is horrific and brutal. Actually, I don't think horrific and brutal are strong enough to describe what happened. It is so sad to think about this poor girl and what she went through. Unfortunately, this really did happen and the book wouldn't have done it justice without the details.

I would recommend this book to anyone who like non-fiction and/or crime books.  It was awesome!

Rating: R (graphic murder description)

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon

It's time for The Broke and The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday! 

This week's theme: Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon

I am not much of a swooner...so I could only come up with 6.

1. Pride and Prejudice: I love me some Mr. Darcy!

2. I've Got Your Number: Just a cute little romance story.

3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: I have a mad crush on Charlie Weasley!

4. Silver Linings Playbook: I also love Pat Peeples!

5. The Shadow of the Wind:  Julian Carax is the heart throb for me in this one.

6. The Fault in Our Stars: Augustus Waters....there's a sweet kid.

Making Up For Monday: Book Boyfriend

Its Time for Making Up For Monday!

Question: Which literary character would you most like to have a 'significant relationship' with?

I would like to chose between a few:

#1 Charlie Weasley from the Harry Potter Series: Dragons?  What a stud!

#2: Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice: Who doesn't love this guy?

#3 Huckleberry Finn from Huckleberry Finn: I have always had a mad crush on Huck.

Check out more from Making Up For Monday! 

Middlesex: 4 Stars

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

For the first step into my Pulitzer Prize challenge, I decided to read Middlesex. I had actually purchased this book from Powell's Bookstore the last time I was in Portland, so it was a logical first step.

Middlesex is about a hermaphrodite named Cal/Calliope in the 1960's. Calliope was born a girl and at age 16 discovered that she was actually more genetically a boy and became Cal. The novel starts by telling us about how Cal's father wanted to give his wife a daughter so he tried different tactics upon conception to make the baby a girl. Cal's grandmother predicted that she would be a boy, despite the father's attempts to make a girl.  I guess, somehow, they both ended up right. 

The story then goes back to Cal's grandmother, Desdemona. Desdemona was born in Greece and decideded to escape to America with her brother Lefty.  Having fallen in love with Lefty, Desdemona did not tell anyone that they were actually brother and sister once they left Greece, and they themselves tried to forget that fact.  It wasn't until they conceived their first child that they found out the genetic problems that can occur when siblings procreate.When their son was born without any issues, they assumed they were safe.

At this time, Lefty and Desdemona are living with their cousin, Lina and her husband Jimmy.  Lina and Jimmy are also pregnant and they have a girl.  Desdemona and Lefty's son eventually marries Lina and Jimmy's daughter and together they have two children: Chapter Eleven and Cal.

The story jumps back and forth between Cal's story and the story of his grandparents.

Cal eventually falls for his friend, a girl, when he is 14 years old. He has sexual encounters with both her and her brother.  After an accident, Cal is taken to the hospital and his intersex issue is discovered. Cal runs away, assuming for the first time the identity of Cal.  It is not until the death of his father that Cal discovers from Desdemona that his grandparents are actually siblings. 

Wow....that was my first reaction. This book is easily one of the most unique stories I have ever read.  It incredibly interesting to read about Cal and the struggles he has in life.  He struggles to find his place in a world that neither understands or accepts him. He hides his past and hates that is ashamed.  He wants to be able to just be himself.

My younger sister had a friend in elementary school with this particular challenge.  He was a boy in elementary school (although upon meeting him you would swear up and down he was a girl).  When they transitioned into middle school, he went to a different school where he knew no one and became a girl.  Although he/she lives in a much more accepting time that Cal, society still struggles with the acceptance is this rare, yet not unheard of issue.

I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story and they way it was told.  It was very eye-opening. There were a little more sexual encounters than I am comfortable with, but they were applicable to the story so I understand them.

Rating: PG-13

The Help: 5 Stars

 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have been meaning to read this book for a really long time and finally got around to it. This book has been raved about by quite a few people that I know and was eventually made in to a movie. 

The story is from the perspective of three different women in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's: 

1. Aibileen Clark is a African-American maid for the white Leefolt family. Elizabeth Leefolt is heavily involved in the community and follows the orders of her influential friend, Hilly Holbrook.  Aibileen also spends her day with the Leefolt's daughter, Mae Mobley, and does her best to be a positive influence on Mae Mobely due to her mother's constant criticism of the young girl.
2. Minny Jackson is also an African-American maid for a white couple. Her employer is Celia Foote, who is trying to get her foot in the door of the society women, but since she is a wee bit naive to etiquette and has married Hilly Holbrooks' ex-boyfriend, the society women are ignoring her. Minny has a hard time keeping her mouth shut and has been fired more than a few times for saying what she thinks.
3. Skeeter Phelan is a young white, college graduated who is home and trying to fit in with her old friends who are all married and have children now. Her maid growing up, Constantine, was mysteriously no longer employed by her parents when she returned and she was never able to get the full story of what happened or where she went. Troubled by the way her friends treat their maids and aspiring to be a writer, Skeeter convinces Aibileen and Minny to help her find other maids to anonymously tell their stories, both good and bad, for a book titled, The Help. 

This book was fantastic. It captured the feeling of that town and the tensions very well and made me feel like I understood what it was like to be a member of that society.  I found it easy to relate with Skeeter (and not just because we both have frizzy, curly hair that everyone else thinks they know how to tame). The story is not sugar coated and doesn't always go the way the reader might hope it would.  It is true to its plot and doesn't try to just end on happy notes. 

I highly recommend it and it's movie counter-part. 

Rating: PG

Sorta Like A Rock Star: 4 Stars

Sorta Like A Rock Star by Matthew Quick

Wrapping up my reading of all published Matthew Quick books, I read his YA book, Sorta Like A Rock Star. This book is all about 17-year-old Amber Appleton.  Homeless and hungry, Amber fights back by being the "Princess of Hope".  Befriending a group of misfits, teaching Korean woman English, helping a psychologically-damaged veteran,  and visiting the elderly, Amber helps out in her community in every way she possibly can. But when tragedy strike, Amber is ready to give up her positive title and give in to the all negativity.

This book actually took me a lot longer to get into than I expected.  The book is written in the voice of Amber and it uses a lot of slang and nicknames.  It was really really obnoxious.  Seeing that I work with a lot of teenagers and was once a teenage girl myself, this voice sounded nothing like a teenage girl and more like middle aged man trying to sound like a teenage girl.  Even if you can find me a teenage girl who DOES talk like this, I doubt I could handle talking to her for more than five minutes either, no matter how great her attitude. It was just really annoying.  Here's an example:

"He digs me, and he knows that Lex Pinkston needs to be kicked in the shin and slapped every so often, if only to maintain the balance of power within the student body so that evil doesn't get out of control; the boss man sees this because deep down, Prince Tony is a good man-even if he is a wimp who plays both sides of the political fence-and like Billy Budd, Prince Tony needs a Captain Vere to protect him from the evil people in the world. I fancy myself a more adroit and less dreamy, less starry Captain Vere. Captainess Appleton, at your service, Word, all you lime-suckers." 

It was just very distracting for me. Maybe I was being oversensitive, but the wording was just way too much.

Anyhow, eventually I was able to get into the story and look past the teenage slang. The story really is an excellent one that kept me reading. Amber is a great example for young kids and this is a great book for teenagers who need reminders that even at the worst times, you can make life better and have a positive outlook.

Rating: PG-13

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry

For this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, they want to talk about books that will make you cry. The problem is, I don't cry over book.  I never have.  I guess I must be heartless...ha ha ha.  So I just listed ten sad books.

1. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini: This one is sad because the books ends with so much hope, but then in reality, the author committed suicide.  So sad!

2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: This book always tugs at my heart strings.  Atticus is trying to hard to be a good man and make sure right prevails, but he knows the entire time he's fighting a losing battle.

3. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: This book starts out and you know full well, it isn't going to end well.

4. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion: This woman wrote this book after her husband dies unexpectedly. 

5. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: Do I need to explain this one?

6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling:  It's not called the DEATHLY hallows for nothing.

7. Boy21 by Matthew Quick: The two main boys in the book both live rather tragic lives.

8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: Teenagers with cancer....there is no way this won't be sad.

9. Calico Joe by John Grisham: This book is about a wonderful, humble young baseball player who shocks the world with his sheer talent.  But his fame is short lived, thanks to someone's jealousy.

10. Red Rain by R. L. Stine:This book is on here because it was terrible and frankly ruined my childhood a little bit.  I loved Goosebumps, but were they as poorly executed as this book?  I don't want to know!

Making Up For Monday: Genres

It's time again for Making Up For Monday!

Question: What is your favorite genre of book and how frequently do you read outside of that?

My favorite genre tend to be: Myster. I love a good mystery!  I guess I can blame it on all the Scooby Doo I watched as a kid.

 

But I do tend to go outside of that genre a lot.  I love variety and trying new things. 


Check out more from Making Up for Monday!