Gina's Book #8: Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

I've always been a Michael Crichton fan. Although his books vary greatly in subject matter, he always seems to know exactly what he's talking about whether its time travel, dinsosaurs, or pirates. I usually find his books to be easy reads and to-the-point, and Pirate Latitudes didn't let me down.

The main character is a man named Captain Charles Hunter. He lives in an English colony in Jamaica in 1665.  He is a privateer, which is basically a legal pirate.  If provoked, crews can steal from Spanish ships and split the treasure with the English powers that be back in Jamaica, and not be hanged for piracy.

The plot line follows Hunter as he assembles a crew and attempts to pull off what is thought to be an impossible privateering mission. Sort of an Ocean's Eleven story but with pirates. There is a lot of adventure and little romance, as is common with Crichton's novels.

This book was a nice change from the other's I've read during this challenge.  Sometimes you just want an easy read to take your mind off things. However, it isn't a book that stuck with me after I was finished, and I doubt I will give it little thought in the future. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.

An interesting fact about this book is that it was published after his death. One of his assistants discovered the completed manuscripts on his computer, along with an unfinished novel called Micro.

Holly Book #7 50 Shades Darker ( I no longer have hope for the human race if this is the best-selling book in the world right now)

Well I continued reading the 50 Shades series and I have to say this book was more annoying than the first. The author really loves using the exact same expressions and words over and over again. All the sex scenes seem exactly the same to me in just different places. Idk it's just very hard for me to get past the author's writing style, it seems very middle schoolesque.

The plot line of this second installment is basically whether ana and grey can overcome their differences and make it work. You learn more about Grey's past and their is also some random storyline about one of his exes stalking him thrown in.  The ending is so unrealistic and contrived! I can't get over it, but I guess I need to finish the series now that I started it.

Honestly, I don't understand why this series reached such popularity. I understand that their is a lot of sex in it and sex sells? but it's basically just a normal over the top love story that has been told 100 times before.

I also did some research today about the whole twilight connection, I guess this was originally published online on some fan literature site (where fans of books write their own versions of the story) and all the characters were named the same as twilight characters and then the author moved it to a new website and changed all the names. This is also the fastest selling softcover book in the UK beating out Harry Potter which just astounds me. It basically gives me little hope for humanity if this is the best reading we can do nowadays.

Oh well. Maybe if people spent more time reading they would realize that their are much better stories waiting for them out there and the world wouldn't suck as much as it does.

Jamie’s Book #8: One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

This is the first of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels. It’s a fun story, based on a young woman named Stephanie who loses her job and is forced to take a position at her cousin’s bail bonding company to pay the bills. She has absolutely no experience in bounty hunting, and her first big case happens to be a past love interest, now an experienced cop wanted for murder. Stephanie is a likeable, funny character. You’re rooting for her the whole time. I’m hooked on the series and already bought the second and third books. Overall, I rate this a 7/10.

Gina's Book #7: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Two words: Don't bother.

Also the ending has a very strange "Flowers in the Attic" feel.  My advice? Stay far away.

Olivia's Book #3 : 50 Shades of Grey

I honestly can not figure out why this book has gotten the recognition it has. I found very little enjoyable about it and though I finished it relatively quickly, I had  to push myself to get through it. 

Like Holly said, it's about two people "falling in love" who are completely wrong for one another. However, the whole falling in love part seemed nonexistent to me. Neither of the two main characters were  likable in my opinion and I certainly would never swoon over Christian Grey.

The similarities to Twilight are there. Like Bella she has always felt the need to take care of her mother for example, she doesn't realize she's pretty, she falls for someone "dangerous"who wants to buy her expensive things she won't accept and so forth. In addition, both series are written terribly. I can't count how many times I read, "He smelled of body wash and Christian" or the line "Fifty shades".  Even the more sexual scenes had the characters saying the exact same things and in similar situations. 

Unlike Holly, I honestly have no desire to continue on to the next book, though I suppose I will for the purpose of this blog. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone and am disappointed that this is what the world now considers a good read. And if it becomes a movie like it is said to, well I'm just speechless. Bunch of weirdos. 

Holly Book # 6 Stone of Tears

Just finished the second book to the Wizard's First Rule Series. I have to admit about 100 pages in I wanted to quit because I felt like I was reading a plot line that mirrored the first. Good has to defeat evil once again, the good guys must sacrifice everything to save the world, blah blah blah.  However Gina insisted I keep reading and after a few more chapters the story line did get more interesting and went in a somewhat new direction.

Their were a few battle scenes in this book that I thought were pretty interesting and I liked how all of the main characters had very distinct and separate story lines from eachother in this 2nd installment. These new stories don't really get going until a few chapters in but if you stick with it I think you will enjoy it.

I picked up the third book while I was at my sister's today so I will be starting that tonight. While these books are super long I don't mind reading them. This weekend I took a break from this one to read 50 shades of Grey which is a much quicker read, and then started this one back up this evening and finished it.

Holly Book #5 50 Shades of Grey

This weekend I read the recent cult favorite about 50 shades of Grey.  This is definitely not a literary classic but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

If you choose to read this book you're going to get a lot of sex and a bit of romance? Some parts will probably make you laugh at loud and be prepared to get slightly annoyed with the author's writing style, she repeats herself a lot.

At it's core this is a love story between 2 people who have little in common but somehow decide they can't live without each other. This story is completely unrealistic but I think that's why people like it. I guess this has been compared to twighlight, I suppose I can see the similarity. Grey feels he's too dangerous for Anastasia and they both fight their own common sense that says they do not belong together.

It's a quick read and at the end I did feel the need to start reading the next book in the series.

Jamie’s Book #7: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium, the second installment of the Delirium series, is a much better book than the first.  I started it at 7 pm, and was finished before bed. I literally did not move from the living room chair the entire night. As Holly said, Oliver uses some creative writing techniques to keep things interesting (now and then style) although in the beginning, her attempt to be creative and dramatic was a little annoying. She quickly gets over that though, and the book picks up quickly. I felt for the characters, and really connected with the story line. The last page literally made me gasp in surprise and now I cannot wait until the next one comes out, which I believe will be in October. I rate this book an 8/10.

Olivia's Book #2: Clockwork Angel

Since Gina did an excellent job giving a brief synopsis already, I feel that I can skip that part and just go directly into my opinion on this book. I seemed to have enjoyed it more than Gina, maybe it's because I'm younger. Although I suppose there is nothing extraordinary about Tessa, the main character, I liked her enough. I enjoyed that rest of the characters even more though. There is a very Dark Visions type vibe with the two love interests, however in this book both of the boys have troubled pasts and secrets that are intriguing. It makes it much more difficult to decide which character you want to root for, where as Gabriele was the obvious choice in L.J. Smith's series.

This book was able to keep my interest up until the very end. I had gotten to the last two chapters in less than a day but at that point seemed to have hit a wall. I think the author over did the ending by putting in too many elements and twists. It made it so I was just waiting for it to finally be over.

That being said, I wanted to read the second book and am interested in where the series will go. I would recommend this book as a summer read, but not as a novel one would want to read countless times.

Gina's Book #6: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

This is the second book in Cassadra Clare's series Infernal Devices. The plot of Clockwork Prince seems to be set around Tessa and her friends at The Institute fighting the powers that be to remain in control of the institution. To do this they must find the magister, who escaped at the end of Clockwork Angel, and so begins their journey researching the magister's past while uncovering some of Tessa's along the way.  While Clockwork Angel focused more on Tessa's relationship with Will, this novel concentrates on Jem. 

Clockwork Prince was a little bit slower than the first.  There were a few times that I got bored and started skim reading and honestly I have no idea who the Clockwork Prince is. I have a guess, but I don't remember it actually being put into writing, although that could very well be because of my lack of attention at points in the book. I can't decide if I like the storyline where they took Will. It helps make sense of his behavior in the first book, but also annoyed me somewhat.

Still I'm hooked on the series and because these are the only two book printed so far I have to wait a couple months for the next one to come out. I think I read that should be early next year.

I would rate this book a 6 out of 10. I would love to hear some feedback from others on what they thought.

Jamie’s Book # 6: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Quick summary: The  main character Thomas wakes up to learn he has lost all his personal memories other than his name. He can’t remember his age, family, or where he came from. He finds himself in a small development coined the Glade, which is surrounded by an enormous maze with walls that change every night and is home to terrifying creatures called Grievers. The development is run by teens like himself who also have no memory of their past lives. Their only hope is that if they solve the maze, they can escape the Glade and search for answers. Thomas’ arrival sparks a chain of events that change everything.

I seem to be subconsciously hung up on dystopian novels, because The Maze Runner also fits this category. Its intended audience is young adults, which is clear from page one. At times I felt like I was reading a book I was too old for. Often, (definitely in the beginning) the writing style irritated me. For instance, Dashner’s use of made up slang words seemed contrived. Every time I read one it bugged me, which was distracting. It took me a while to get into the plot line, but by about the halfway point, I was hooked and started to feel invested in the characters. The ending sets the stage for the sequel, The Scorch Trials, which I plan on reading. Overall, I would rate this a 6/10.

Holly Book #4 : Wizard's First Rule

If you enjoy Tolkien then this is a great series for you to get into. An adventure story with witches, wizards, dragons, far off lands, magic, evil and of course a romantic love story for you to get lost in.

This story by Terry Goodkind follows the journey of Richard Cypher as he discovers who he really is, falls in love, plays with magic and hopefully saves the world. The tale is fast paced, descriptive and intriguing enough to keep you turning all 900 pages.  While the core of this story is fairly generic, good must conquer evil, love can conquer all yada yada yada the characters themselves are interesting enough to add a new twist.

I find myself using the Wizard's First Rule in my daily life now and I promptly dove into the second book of this series after finishing the first :)

Gina's Book #5: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

A quick summary:

Clockwork Angel is the first book in the series Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare.  It is reminiscent of L.J. Smith novels in that there is a secret society of vampires, warewolves, shape-changers, shadowhunters, and many other kinds of creatures that exists beneath the notice of humans. 

The story begins with American Tessa Gray traveling to 1878 London to live with her brother after her aunt dies. Once off the ship she is immediately kidnapped and sent to live with the dark sisters.  The dark sisters claim that she has the power to change, which is the ability to transform herself into someone else, living or dead, by holding onto any item which once belonged to them.  If she doesn't cooperate they threaten to kill her brother, who they say is hidden somewhere safe.  Tessa plays along in order to ensure her brother and only living relative's safety, and is astounded to find out that she does in fact have this power.  After six weeks of developing her ability, the dark sisters tell her she is ready and she learns that she is meant to marry a mysterious individual known as the magister. 

The same day she is meant to meet the magister, a dark and brooding shadowhunter named Will comes and saves her.  She is whisked off to a place known as the institute which is home to other shadowhunters. Shadowhunters are a race of humans born with angelic blood who exist to fight and kill demons. It is their job to protect humans and keep the accords in place that keep peace between downworlders and humans.

Tessa's appearance in London sparks a chain of events that lead to a secret plot that could destroy the accords and their world as they know it.

My take on the novel:

I did like this book, but it is definitely not a classic by any means. The writing isn't anything spectacular. The main character isn't as likeable as I would have hoped, although she does love to read which is probably the best thing she had going for her.  The love triangle is okay, but I don't find myself getting very much attached to either of the boys.  Will and Tessa are constantly quoting lines from their favorite novels and poems, which in the end just made me feel like the author was showing off her extensive reading experience. 

That being said, there is something about this genre of novel that I love and Cassandra Clare was able, in my opinion, to keep all the necessary elements of a secret world in place while putting her own spin on the piece.  I was interested enough that I stayed up later than usual a few nights to keep reading, and I have continued onto the next book in the series, Clockwork Prince.  Besides I can never say no to a love triangle that involves the dark mysterious loner vs the kind and gentle old soul.

Jamie’s Book #5: Animal Farm by George Orwell

 Animal Farm tells the tale of the animals of Manor Farm, who revolt against their human owners and take over their land, renaming it Animal Farm. At first, the animals are much happier on their own, but slowly the corruption and greed of the pigs, who are smarter and more cunning than the rest, lead the animals into a life that is colder, hungrier, and more tired than the last. The story is meant to be an allegory of the events leading up to and during the Stalin era before WW2.

I received this book as a Christmas present from Gina, but I was not able to get past the first few pages until now. I’m glad I did because it’s a classic I’ve always felt I missed out on. You really get attached to the animals! Poor Boxer :(

The preface in my version of the book was also interesting. It was written by C.M Woodhouse. A few of his thoughts that most stood out to me are:

“Orwell called the book a fairy story. It is also a political tract, a satire on human folly, a loud heehaw at all who yearn for utopia, an allegorical lesson, and a pretty good fable in the Aesop tradition.”

“The passage in which the loyal but stupid workhorse Boxer is sold to be turned into glue because he is no longer useful is written out of controlled and icy hatred for the cynicism of the Soviet system – but also out of despair for all deluded people who served it gladly.”

“Those old enough to remember the wartime spirit of the 1940s may be startled to realize that Orwell started work on Animal Farm in 1943. As he discovered when he went looking for a publisher, Stalin’s Soviet Union was so popular that year in Britain and America that few wanted to hear anything critical of it.”

 

Gina's Book #4: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

My first experience with The Hobbit was the 1977 cartoon adaptation.  At the time I was so young I didn't really understand most of the plot, but I remember finding the film fascinating and terrifying all at the same time.  Although I found it interesting, I did not like the movie, and it always gave me a bad feeling in my stomach to watch it.The next encounter I had with The Hobbit was in my 5th grade class. My teacher Mr. Clark would read a chapter of the book to us a day.  He was a great teacher and when he read, he would use accents and get into character as best he could.  I liked the book, but still I think I was too young to appreciate it.

Now that I am older I have read The Hobbit on my own countless times, and never seem to tire or get bored of it.  Of J.R.R. Tolkiens works, it is by far my favorite.  The writing style is much different than The Lord of the Rings trilogy in that I find it a much more fun and humorous read.  The characters are all very likable and endearing in their own ways. When J.R.R. Tolkien first introduces the dwarves, I found myself highlighting their names and numbering them to help myself keep better track of who is who.  My two favorite characters are Frodo and Gandalf. 

Frodo in my opinion is hiliarious, always making witty remarks with his dry sense of humor. He is a creature of comfort that gets talked into going on this crazy adventure. Half the time he is regretting it and wanting to be back home in his hobbit hole, the other half he is coming up with daring plans to get the drwarfs out of horrible fixes and feeling quite proud of himself.

I think everyone would like to have a Gandalf in their lives. Each character looks up to him as someone who gives sound advice and knows everything. He is the voice of reason and every character feels ill at ease when he is not there.  He believes in Frodo and sees in him something no one else sees, not even Frodo, until the very end. 

This book is one of my favorites and I was happy to have a reason to read it again. For those who have not read the hobbit, I would highly recommend it. The triliogy is also worthwhile, although much more of a demanding read and not nearly as fun. Currently a new movie is in the works and you can find updates on it by visiting the following link: http://the-hobbit-movie.com/

Jamie’s Book #4: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

“In April 1992, a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher McCandless He had given $25,000 in savings to a charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet and invented a life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter.”

Clearly, Jon Krakauer isn’t worried about a surprise ending, as this paragraph is on the front cover of the book. “Into the Wild” looks back at the events and decisions that led 24 year old Christopher McCandless to his lonely death in the Alaska wild. It is a true story.

I specifically chose this book because it is not my normal genre and one of my goals for this challenge is to expand my reading comfort zone. I don’t typically like non fiction to be honest, and I was uneasy about this one from the start since I already knew the ending was not going to be a happy one. However, there is no denying this is a good book!

A few interesting things:

Christopher’s final words in his journal: "Beautiful Blueberries."

 A page torn from Louis L'Amour's memoir, “Education of a Wandering Man” was found near his body with the words “"I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!" written on the back.

A note found on the abandoned bus he spent his last days in read: “"S.O.S. I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out. I am all alone, this is no joke. In the name of God, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless.”

Jamie’s Book #3: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Keep in mind we have very few rules for this book challenge.  Some books we may all read and review and others only one of us might be interested in. Additionally, we may even choose a book we have already read before, with the stipulation that it must be reread before writing about it.

That being said, Holly has already written about Delirium, so I am just going to add my thoughts to her synopsis. For the most part, I liked it. It’s an easy read, which is nice because you can jump right into the story line. You won’t have to go back and re read a section for better understanding or look up words in a dictionary for this one. It’s the kind of book you can pick up when you are stressed out to get your mind off the real world. To me, reading it was relaxing, even though there are definitely some suspenseful scenes.

Until the end. It stressed me out and I cannot stop thinking about it. I’m not sure I want to read the second book (I probably will though.) I get why Lauren Oliver ended it the way she did, but I think she had better options. If I had known the ending from the start, I’m not sure I would have read it. Most likely, since I already started it I will finish the trilogy and I suppose I can make my final decision about it then.