Jamie's Book #14: The Death Cure by James Dashner

This is the third and final installment of the Maze Runner series. It kept me somewhat interested through out the entire book, but the big finale fell short. A twist was thrown in without any hints or clues leading up to it. A new important character was also introduced who had a pretty major role in the ending but again, they were not mentioned in the other two books, and I think they should have been... It feels like they were an after thought. I like when the ending comes together and you realize you had all the pieces all along. This felt like Dashner kept a piece of the puzzle to himself until the last page. Additionally, it is clear a man wrote the romance plot. Frankly, it is not very romantic. Overall, somewhat disappointing. 6/10

Holly's Book #16 The girl who played with Fire

After very much enjoying The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo I decided to read the next book of the series, The girl who Played with fire.

Again I enjoyed this book and I was happy that the storyline was just as interesting at the first book of the series while being entirely different. Often I find book series to end up being a bit repetitive but this author was able to keep the same characters but show you a totally different side of them in the next book.

This book gives you MUCH more background on Lisbeth Salander and focuses much more on her then in the last book.

My only complaint is that I found in both books that the author builds up the story and mystery so much that when the big twist of the storyline is finally revealed it falls a tad flat of what you had been envisioning in your own mind. Regardless, the storyline is still interesting and this book was much easier to get into than the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which was a bit slow in the beginning.

I'm currently reading the 3rd book of this series and will let you know my thoughts on that as soon as I finish.

Mamacita's Books #4: MERCURY- An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury

This biography written by: Lesley-Ann Jones was a fascinating read.  From his Parsee roots and Zoroastrian religious background, to the loneliness of his childhood when, at eight years old, he was sent away to boarding school, the author paints a remarkably vivid picture of the early years of Mercury's life, without boring the reader by lingering too long on those days.  She then chronicles his rise to fame and all that came with it, without imposing her own perspective on the reasons behind his lifestyle choices and various relationships.  Unlike many authors, she appears to respect the intelligence of her readers and their ability to draw their own conclusions, by themselves.

The legendary parties, the drugs and the promiscuous lifestyle are all included, but never in that exploitative style utilized by the tabloids to garner their readers. More importantly, she shares the background to the music that the band Queen provided, and the respectful way the band-mates worked together, always mindful of the contribution that each member made towards the band's success.  
She has written an excellent book about an artist whose life was cut too short; a victim of AIDS, who contracted the disease in the early days before its dangers were recognized. The reader is left to make what they will of the mystery of what compels anyone of us to live the life that we choose.  I find that very fitting for a man, that when asked about the meaning behind one of his works, "Bohemian Rhapsody," provided this answer: "Does it mean this, does it mean that, is all anybody wants to know. Fuck them, darling. I will say no more than what any decent poet would tell you if you dared ask him to analyze his work: if you see it, dear, then it's there."

Gina's Books 10 & 11: The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials

I agree with everything Jamie said about the Maze Runner. I found The Scorch Trials a little slower but will read the next book when Jamie receives it in the mail.

Jamie's Book #13: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Again, another classic that surprised me. I thought there was a romance to it, but there is not. The story is told through the eyes of a laywer named John Gabriel Utterson, but of course it is really about his friend Dr. Jekyll, whose experiment to eliminate his inner evil, "Mr. Hyde," goes terribly wrong. Instead of separating from his inner devilish self, he finds that it becomes the stronger and more real version of him. Instead of taking a potion to become Mr. Hyde, he must drink it to remain Dr. Jekyll.

I enjoyed this story. At first I was worried it would be a difficult read, but once you get into it, it's pretty easy to catch on to. I love reading the original, as the story has been diluted by pop culture. I give this an 8/10

“He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why. He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn’t specify the point"

"He put the glass to his lips, and drank at one gulp. A cry followed; he reeled, staggered, clutched at the table and held on, staring with injected eyes, gasping with open mouth; and as I looked there came, I thought, a change—he seemed to swell—his face became suddenly black and the features seemed to melt and alter—and at the next moment, I had sprung to my feet and leaped back against the wall, my arm raised to shield me from that prodigy, my mind submerged in terror.

“O God!” I screamed, and “O God!”again and again; for there before my eyes—pale and shaken, and half fainting, and groping before him with his hands, like a man restored from death—there stood Henry Jekyll!"

Jamie's Book #12: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Scorch Trials is the sequel to The Maze Runner. If you try the series, I would plan on reading  one relatively soon after the other. It's been weeks since I read The Maze Runner, and some of the characters and relationships have already gotten fuzzy, thus I felt less attached as I read the second installment. The beginning was slow for me. I had to get past the annoying slang all over again and reconnect with the characters, but at about the half way point I got interested and moved through the rest very quickly (this is exactly what happened to me with the first.) I am looking forward to reading the next book, The Death Cure.

Quick summary: Thomas and gang have barely made it out of the maze when WICKED gives them a new seemingly impossible mission. Their only hope of survival is to play along and hope they make it through the Scorch alive. The Theresa sub-plot takes an unexpected turn that I don't really like, but I will see where Dashner takes it in The Death Cure before I pass judgment!

Rating: 7.5/10

MAMACITA'S BOOKS #3: EXPERIMENT ELEVEN-DARK SECRETS BEHIND THE DISCOVERY OF A WONDER DRUG

This non-fiction book is the story of the discovery of Streptomycin; the antibiotic "wonder drug" that was used against tuberculosis. It details the efforts of Albert Schatz, a graduate student working towards his Ph.D. degree. at Rutgers University, in Selman Waksman's Department of Soil Microbiology.  Through his efforts he discovered streptomycin, while under Waksman's tutelage; however his place in history as the co-discoverer of the drug went unmentioned and unrewarded for almost his entire life, due to his professor's own quest for recognition and financial gain. It tells the surprising and heart-breaking story of how Waksman went on to win the Nobel Prize for Medicine, in 1952, while limiting any mention of Schatz's very significant role in the drug's discovery.
Although Waksman convinced Schatz to sign off on his royalties to the drug and give them to Rutgers University, he himself made a fortune from antibiotic patents, while also working hand in hand with Merck Pharmaceuticals, unbeknownst to his student.  When Schatz discovered this deception he went on to sue Waksman and Rutgers University and received a substantial cash settlement, but lost favor in the scientific community in the process.

It was an interesting read, but not one that I would necessarily recommend to anyone.  It was a very detailed account of the science involved in the discovery which some may enjoy, but, for anyone else, a quick look on the internet can give you the bare basics needed, to learn the story.

Mamacita's Books #2: YOU GOT NOTHING COMING; NOTES FROM A PRISON FISH

The first time I read this book, authored by Jimmy Lerner, I found it so riveting, that, upon finishing it, I immediately read it again!  I am delighted to say that I had the same inclination when I read it this time, several years later, for purposes of this blog review.  Jimmy Lerner was not a famous author when he penned this story; in fact, he had been employed by a telephone company for many years, prior to his writing this  book.  It began as a journal of sorts, designed to help him keep  his sanity, as he served his time in prison, following his guilty plea for voluntary manslaughter.
The book chronicles the journey of the author, a divorced, middle-aged father of two, with no prior criminal record, who suddenly finds himself navigating through some very turbulent and unfamiliar waters, as a prison fish; a term used for inmates incarcerated for the very first time.  Despite the fact that he is white and Jewish, he forges a surprising friendship with his cellmate "Kansas," the young leader of a white supremacist prison gang, and their relationship plays a significant role in his survival. He also befriends members of the black prison population as well, as he somehow manages to stay true to himself, often reflecting on his career at the phone company and his many training seminars, as he applies the strategies, quite humorously, to his life in prison.

This book has humor, but, also, moments of horror, as any honest book about prison life must have.  The author's ability to capture it all, as he jumps back and forth between the language of prison life and the language of his own middle-class upbringing, lends an amazing aura of authenticity to his work.  Definitely two thumbs up, for this fascinating narrative.

amy's (aka mamacita) book #1: THE UNDEAD: ORGAN HARVESTING, THE ICE WATER TEST, BEATING HEART CADAVERS-HOW MEDICINE IS BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH

My first book, by Dick Teresi, is a non-fiction work, that shares information regarding the practices involved in organ harvesting.  The author, a science writer and journalist, offers a look into the evolution of organ donation over the years, as well as the very definition of death itself, as it has been viewed through the ages. It enlightens the reader as to the surprisingly, dated methods that are used to determine if an individual is dead, (for example, a brain wave test, known as an EEG, is not mandatory and is seldom utilized in determining "brain death," but the Ice Water Test, wherein ice water is poured into the individual's ears to see if the cold causes a reaction in the eyes making them appear to "shudder" is) and also shows how advocates for organ donation are often a very real presence in our emergency rooms.

Having undergone three major back surgeries, which employed the use of donor bone for purposes of fusions, I am particularly grateful to those whose generosity has improved my life, so immensely.  Their gift has spurred me to become a organ donor myself, and I will remain one, even after reading this book.  I do, however, believe that the author does make a solid case for more transparency, regarding the practices of organ donation, and the possible conflicts of interest that may be involved in procuring those organs.  

The book is certainly food for thought, although the author's perspective does not always feel like that of an unbiased journalist.  The subject matter was not always pleasant, and, at times, the book seemed to include quite a bit of filler, but, still, I am glad that I read it, due to its thought provoking nature.

Holly's Book #15 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Just read Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  I liked the story a lot although the beginning was a little slow.  I haven't seen the movie yet but this book was made into one. 

I don't want to give up too much of the plot line but this book has a very interesting mystery plot and well-developed characters. I have actually started reading the 2nd book in this series and Im enjoying it just as much.

Holly's Books #12 #13 and #14

These last three books I read are all by the author Janet Evanovich and were the first three books in the Stephanie Plum Series ( One for the money, Two for the dough and Three to Get Deadly)

I actually hadn't expected much from these shorter novels ( each are only about 200 pages) but all three stories were actually quite funny and entertaining.

The plots follow Stephanie Plum as she learns how to become a bounty hunter in New Jersey. These books have an element of romance, mystery and action while being surprisingly comical. It's very rare that a story makes me laugh out loud but I found myself chuckling during all three books, especially the second one.

While these books don't take themselves too seriously, the writing is quite good and you can fly through the books with ease. The first of the series was made into a movie which I have not seen yet but would like to watch now that Ive read the books. There are also a number of other books to this series that I also would like to read.

Great books if you are looking for an easy read that will keep you interested.

Jamie's Book #11: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I have always wanted to read this book, but it ended up being different then what I expected. I knew the general plot - the story of a futuristic fireman whose job is to burn books, not stop actual fires. I thought the story would be more about the job of the fireman, but in actuality, it's mostly about the fireman's life after he realizes the books he's burning might be the very things that can save him from the meaningless life he lives.

“We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?”

“There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.”

“If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn.”

“Nobody listens anymore. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me, I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough it'll make sense. And I want you to teach me to understand what I read.” 

“The terrible tyranny of the majority.”

8/10

Jamie's Books 9 & 10: Two for the Dough and Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich

Books 2 & 3 in the Stephanie Plum series have definitely kept me interested. The more I learn about Stephanie's character, the more edearing she becomes. As odd as it sounds when referring to a female lingerie buyer turned bounty hunter, there is something very real about her. She has flaws. She loves food as much as I do and hates exercise more than I do. She has awkward moments around guys. It makes her very likeable. Books 2 & 3 also develop her relationship with Morelli further. I like that their story is slow moving. It keeps you guessing. I did like the plot in Two for the Dough better than Three to Get Deadly, though. Overall: Two for the Dough 7.5/10 and Three for the Money 7/10.

Holly Book #10 The Devil In the White City by Erik Lawson

I actually read this book a few years back and wasn't sure if I liked it or not. I thought maybe I was too young to appreciate it so I re-read it this weekend to see if my opinion had changed.

The story itself is very interesting. It juxtaposes the building of Chicago's World Fair against the story of one of the United States most evil serial killers Herman Webster Mudgett. I think the part that is most fascinating is the fact that the story really happened and that the men who built the fair ended up shaping much of America's culture in ways I recognize today.

The author does an excellent job weaving the two stories together and his writing style was a welcome change to some of the poor writing styles I've subjected myself to lately.

My only complaint is at times the story can seem a little slow, the author goes in-depth into the construction of the fair, and I found myself getting bored during some of those parts. I also think that in an effort to use foreshadowing and be clever the author sometimes left me feeling annoyed.

Overall though this was an excellent book and would be a fascinating read for anyone interested in American History etc.

Holly Book #9: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ( Such a bust!)

This book made me so mad! The author of this just wanted to get rich off an already awesome story by ruinign it with zombies that aren't even called zombies ( They call them unmentionables) . Don't get me wrong, if zombies had been used correctly this would have been the best book ever, but it's like the writer just threw them in as an afterthought. They add no new value to the storyline, they're just there and not even very often. I know they are making this into a movie and I hope the screen writer does a better job at incorporating them into the plot because this author did not. I kept waiting for the author to explain how the zombies came about and to just go more in-depth to it or have some conclusion with them but there is nothing. The author just adds zombie fight scenes in randomly and that's about it. In my opinion the author should have strayed more from the original story-line and really added something to the classic. It had so much potential but just ends up falling flat. I was really excited to read this so it ended up being a big disappointment :(

Holly Book #8: Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

After the 50 shades of Grey debacle I wanted to change directions so I read this Pirate book by Michael Crichton. Gina was accurate when she said this was kind of like Ocean's 11 but for pirates. To be honest, I found the story line a little boring and never got very invested in the characters. It was an okay read, but definitely seemed a little under developed for Michael Crichton. I feel he would have made some changes before this was published if he had been alive.

Gina's Book #9: Foundation by Issac Asimov

A few weeks ago I was at Barnes & Noble with Holly and I randomly chose this book from the classics section. The book was wrapped in plastic with nothing written on the back. I truly was judging the book by the cover. The cover was purple with a picture of a strange old man, sitting in what looks to me like a wheel chair. He is wearing a white suit coat and his legs are covered by a funny blue blanket with gold moons and stars over it. Behind him are tall purple structures that are clearly of a different planet.

I had never really thought of science fiction novels being considered classics so I was interested. I also liked the idea of reading a book I had never heard of and hadn't even read a summary on. Even when I opened the book there was no description anywhere.

I have been putting off writing this review because I am not sure how to summarize it without giving away too much. I think it will suffice to say that the book revolves around the plot line of a scientist who develops a science which is able to predict the future by looking at actions of mass mobs of people. Through this science he is able to foresee a collapse of the current empire, a collapse that will lead the universe into 30,000 years of barbarism and a loss of scientific knowledge. By the time he realizes this it is too late to prevent the collapse, but he puts a plan in action to shorten the period of universal anarchy to only 1,000 years. This is all given away in the first chapter.

The story line is fascinating as a whole, but the book itself is a little dry. Each chapter jumps continuously forward into the future so you are constantly meeting new characters and leaving old ones behind. Still, it was a good book and part of a trilogy that I will finish.