Click each month to expand and view the books read in that time period.
August 2012
01. A Storm of Swords-George R. R. MartinSynopsis: "Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. . . ." Read more and buy the book at Amazon.
My Thoughts: The first two books kept me entertained. I often have trouble getting through longer books because I lose interest, but I had no trouble with those. The characters are well developed, the story is fresh, and NO ONE is safe from death. However, A Storm of Swords was a bit slower and harder to get through. I will continue to read the series, but I'm not as invested in their world as I was.
Synopsis: "A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family. Fifteen-year-old Mosey Slocumb-spirited, sassy, and on the cusp of womanhood-is shaken when a small grave is unearthed in the backyard, and determined to figure out why it's there. Liza, her stroke-ravaged mother, is haunted by choices she made as a teenager. But it is Jenny, Mosey's strong and big-hearted grandmother, whose maternal love braids together the strands of the women's shared past--and who will stop at nothing to defend their future." -Amazon
My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, kept me entertained, and although the story felt familiar, I was still surprised by the twists and turns of the story. I thought Liza's stroke was portrayed accurately and added a depth to the story. The only real problem I had with the book was the dialogue of Mosey and her friends. Mosey's dialogue sounds like a forty-year-old mother trying to sound like a teenager (and I guess that's what the author is doing). It's a little forced, there's a little too much abbreviations in the texts, and it just read as false to me. Overall, I'd give this book 3/5 stars.
Synopsis: "Marriage can be a real killer. One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work 'draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction...'" Read more here.
My thoughts: This book was definitely different. I had a bit of an idea what was going on, but not all together. Things just keep changing in the book. You like some characters at the beginning who you hate at the end. It’s bizarre.
Synopsis: "Enter Robert Mann, forensic anthropologist, deputy scientific director of the U.S. government’s Central Identification Laboratory, and, some might say, the Sherlock Holmes of death detectives. When the dead reveal some of their most sensational, macabre, and poignant tales, more often than not it’s Mann who’s been listening. Now, in this remarkable casebook, he offers an in-depth behind-the-scenes portrait of his sometimes gruesome, frequently dangerous, and always compelling profession..." Read more here.
My thoughts: This book isn’t for everyone. You have to be at least a little interested in forensics, and you can’t be squeamish. That being said, you don’t have to have any knowledge of forensics to read the book. It sticks to layman’s terms and any technical terms used in the book are defined.
Synopsis: "An orphan girl's progress from the custody of cruel relatives to an oppressive boarding school culminates in a troubled career as a governess. Jane's first assignment at Thornfield, where the proud and cynical master harbors a scandalous secret, draws readers ever deeper into a compelling exploration of the mysteries of the human heart."
Free for Kindle
My Thoughts: I read this back in the eighth grade. Well, actually I was supposed to read it, and I didn't make it through it. I decided to give it a second try. I did better this time. I made it through the whole book, but I can't say I'm all that impressed. I enjoyed the middle of the book, but I trudged through the beginning and the end. I know this is some people's favorite book, but it's not mine.
Synopsis A Love Triangle of Unspeakable Horror...
Elena
Searching for the ultimate thrill, she vowed to have Stefan.
Stefan
Haunted by his tragic past, he struggled to resist her passion.
Damon
Driven by revenge, he hunted the brother who betrayed him.
The terrifying story of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them. Buy it
My thoughts I love the show, so I wanted to read the books. The book, actually, isn't as good as the show. Elena and Katherine seem to have switched personalities from the book to the show, and Elena just isn't as likable in the book. However, I liked the book. It kept me engaged. I would recommend reading books 1-3 at one time though because the book didn't have much of an ending at all.
Synopsis Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. When his mom tells him the truth about where he came from, she takes him to the one place he’ll be safe—Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island). There, Percy learns that the father he never knew is actually Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon Percy finds himself caught up in a mystery that could lead to disastrous consequences. Together with his friends—a satyr and other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. Buy it.
My Thoughts This is a great book for tweens and young teenagers! It talks as if greek mythology is real, but neither confirms or denies a greater God, so it could be appropriate if you are worried about religion. Read the book yourself if you are worried about inappropriate themes before passing it along to a younger teen.
September 2012
08. Defending Jacob-William LandaySynopsis: "Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student." Read more and buy the book
My Thoughts: I liked it. I was surprised by it. I have read so many books at this point that I can usually guess the twists, but I didn't guess this one. I think the ending is fantastic. I would recommend this to anyone who likes legal dramas and mysteries.
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