I wish I was shopping for crayons...

It seems like just yesterday my biggest problem was if the crayon pack for the new school year came with a sharpener. Things  have changed. This post is at the end of my 2nd day of school and, well, let's just say naps shouldn't be just for preschoolers. I have quite a lot of homework, and maybe signing up to do a Westminster Confession (10-20 min) speech with only a week to prepare --wasn't the best idea, oh well. But this isn't one of those posts where people go on and on about how hard it is to grow up, nope this is not one of those. I do love school really, I love learning, and I love some of the benefits of growing up (lack of sleep isn't one of them, but that is mostly my fault.) One benefit is that I get to eat those lovely chips that you see above.  So its pretty darn good. This is getting really rambly and I now apologize. I just really felt the need to tell someone that I have way too much homework, but I love my life. So far school's going well though, my classes are cool, I like my teachers, and I love my fellow inmates (did I just say that out loud, I mean students.) In addition, I won't be reading as many books this year, so the ones I post will be mostly required reads like The Inferno, with maybe a few  personal books I can sneak in. I am running out of books from this summer  (it takes me a lot less time to write about a book than to read it.) Here is one last book.

Of Thee I Zing by Lauren Ingraham

What it is about: The current downgrade of American society told in a humorous and very conservative viewpoint.
@ rating: @@@ out of five. It is straight to the point and, along with the obvious social defects (if it doesn't fit don't wear it), it also has some other not so often mentioned social downfalls.
Not so wonderful aspects: The whole book is criticism of America, which can get tedious, and they are very much her opinions, so I wouldn't try to put them in a bill. The biggest downer for me is that she offered no solution to the endless problems our country seems to possess.
Overall: This book is worth the read, but take it with a grain of salt. ( I don't actually know what that phrase means but people seem to use it in this context.)

I hope you enjoyed this rambling post, and I will try my best not to use the internet as my personal shrink. Hope this makes your day a little bit better.
Cheese...Milk's leep toward immortality. ~ Clifton Fadiman

Well that worked out better than I planned....

   Hello dear world, I hope you are having a lovely Sunday. When I was planning this blog I wasn't going to do much writing on books because I honestly thought that no one would want to read it...apparently I was wrong. So I decided to continue sharing my thoughts on my summer reading list, and go a little more in depth into plot and stuff. I will also be linking under every book to where you can obtain the book off the internet as was suggested to me by one of my fellow bloggers. I was shocked at this idea and my first thought was 'I think my readers know how to use the library' but after some thorough consideration I decided I would try it.



And now your feature presentation...

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

What it is about: This is the fourth book (as seen above) of the Gallagher Girl series, which is features the character Cammie Moran as well as her friends and all the trials, tribulations, and adventures that come from attending an all girl school for spies. These cleverly named books are packed with adventure and lots of amusing side notes that would come from a spy's life such as having to designated language (such as French, Arabic, or Mandarin, which I thought was a kind of orange) at each meal.

Quippy Meter: @@@ out of five. I enjoy these books thoroughly, they are adventures without being gory, and glorify team work (even if you don’t really like your team). It also shows how our differences are what make our bonds stronger. (Much like the Church.)

Not so great parts: This is a chick book, and though the author doesn’t dote on shoes and lipstick, it is mentioned..a lot. It also has a lot of aspects of secular teenage books such as relationships, which isn’t bad but does the main character have to fall in love in every book?

All in all: This is a charming adventure that every 14 year old girl would love, though 18 year old boys Im not so sure.

http://www.amazon.com/Only-Good-Young-Gallagher-Girls/dp/B0046LUTVO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313960393&sr=1-1

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

What it's about: The two opposite lives of the young daughter of a rich banker and an old immigrant woman that works as a concierge at a French hotel. Both of these characters are hidden geniuses with a lack luster for life and strange self imposed theology.

@ Level: 0 out of five. That’s right; it doesn’t even get a rating, because I couldn’t even make it past the first 20 pages.

Why it stunk like old eggs in August:

1. wacked out theology that shouldn't even count as theology

2. The two main characters are a hateful old woman and a 12 year old that plans to murder her family and then kill herself on her 13th birthday

3. The purpose of words is to show as clearly as possible the thoughts, feelings, and ideas that humans posses. That is why instead of just good we have wonderful, benevolent, joyful, et. This book contains on every page words that my 2000 page dictionary doesn’t contain. Why write a book with words know one knows?

4. It’s a translation, originally written in French, it doesn’t always work out well so there are random phrases in French that I as an American, do not know.

5. I wanted to give a reason from every @ it didn’t get but do I really need to say any more on the awfulness of this piece of so called literature.

In case you don't believe me and want to see it for yourself http://www.amazon.com/Elegance-Hedgehog-Muriel-Barbery/dp/1933372605/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313961283&sr=1-1

Mr.Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons

What it’s about: A Jewish man and his wife who immigrate to England from Germany at the start of WWII. Once they reach England the man is handed a pamphlet on how to be Englishmen, it hits a nerve with the man who from that point one’s life goal is to become an Englishman. After 15 years of living in London Mr.Rosenblum decides that to be truly English he must play golf. But due to his history no golfing group will accept him, so he makes a decision, to build his own golf course. He sells his house (with out even telling his wife) and moves them to a completely run down cottage with 40 acres on a hill, and begins the process of building a golf course himself.

@ Rating: @@ out of five. This is a touching story of hard work and placing goals. Through the process Mr.Rosenblum reunites with his wife (I've heard of mortal enemies that talked more than this couple in the beginning of the book), learns that memories are important, makes true friends, changes his name, and learns what it means to be a true Englishmen.

Not so fantastic parts: The main characters immigrate from Germany and German phrases are used. But this is where my personal bias comes in. My mother is fluent in German, and through my life I have learned enough to roughly understand these phrases. Also it has language, in the beginning of the book they are all in German but as the book progresses the author becomes more comfortable with bad words and the s-word (and I don’t mean stupid) is used often along with some British words that are bad but do not really count in America. The book dwells on the sadness of leaving ones family which can get very sad indeed. The activity that the couple enjoyed when they were newly married but don’t any more (not talking about hiking) is mentioned twice and once crosses the line in my view. I don’t know where your line is but they crossed mine. Some form of alcohol is consumed every other page.

All in all: This is a charming book though it doesn't really move anywhere and is not fighting for your' interest making it kind of a slow read. If you like nostalgia, don't care about language this is the book for you.

p.s this book doesn’t really have anything to do with dreams and is called Mr.Rosenblum's List in England.

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Rosenblum-Dreams-English-Novel/dp/0316077593/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313963516&sr=1-1




House by Tedd Dekker and Frank Peretti

What it’s about: An astringed married couple through a series of unfortunate events gets stranded in the middle of no where and stumbles upon an empty and beautiful bed and breakfast. Soon they are trapped with another couple in this demented house and are forced to play the mind game of a serial killer who claims to have "killed God."

@ scale: @@@@ 1/2 out of five. This book was recommended to me by an awesome guy who writes an amazing blog ( http://dont-tread-on-this-guy.blogspot.com/?spref=fb) he writes mostly about politics and not books (but we wont hold that against him) however I find it fascinating. 

Back to the book, this is the most intense, scary, thriller book I have ever read! I could not put it down, the story never stops and neither does the suspense.

Not so wonderful aspects: This is "haunting" story, demons are all over the place, and God is said to have been killed (thought know one believes the killer who claims it.) Also the owners of the House (who later turn out to be demons) son (who is like 40) decides to that one of the girls is to be his bride, though he is portrait as having (though they never come right out and say it) some form of retardation and doesn’t fully understand the concept he still tortures her and later the other girl as well. Bad words are spoken of but not actually written.

All together: This is a haunting story but it shows the demons in a way that books a written about werewolves, scary but not half as evil/bad as they would be in real life. Also the main atheist character grows through the book to accept God and prays in desperation. Through the whole ordeal the main guy learns that he really does love his wife and that their problems can be worked out. This book is not a book to be read at 1 in the morning (which I did) but don’t break out the holy water either, its a fast paced scary adventure that just happens to feature the most un-demon like demons I have ever heard of.

http://www.amazon.com/House-Frank-Peretti-Ted-Dekker/dp/B001E9004W/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313963925&sr=1-2

A not so short selection from my summer reading list

                                 
First post ever, it is all very exciting really. I should probably check and make sure nothing terrible happened in history on the day of my first post, but that is to much work. So it seems logical to me for my first blog post to be about what has been on my mind lately, which in this case has been (no surprise) books. A little background. I, being the only 16 year old in the world who doesn't have a license (I know I am wrong but it sure feels like it) has spent a vast amount of my summer at home while my other siblings were being shuttled around to whatever team or class (and there were many) it was the time for. All this quiet time paired with the fact that due to heavy school load last year I wasn't able to read any books of my own choosing resulted in a vast amount of reading this summer ( reading happens to be one of my favorite occupations, isn’t that luck). I think I will tell you about some of the books I have read and what I thought of them.

1. At Home: A short history of privet life by Bill Bryson

This book is ironically the longest book I have ever read for fun in my entire life (and I've read Jane Eyre).

What it is about: This book is basically about how everything we have in our home came to be there, from light bulbs, to beds, and wallpaper.

@ (because stars are so generic): @@@@ out of five. It was completely interesting for a history person like me. It gave me lost of incite I will be able to use for the rest of my life such as, why Yankee Doodle called a feather macaroni, and why Van Gaughs stars were so round and he was so crazy.

Not so good parts: This book gives a tour of this man’s entire house and he points out how just about everything came into that place. I do mean EVERYTHING, hence forth there are some chapters that should be skipped. Here they are: The Bathroom and The Bedroom. I will now give you a short summery of what interesting information is in these rooms so you don't  have to pick out the good from the bad. The Bathroom: Pluming is good. The Bedroom: Beds were not very comfortable bed bugs were a secret issue for a long time, and that one of the greatest fears of the Victorian aria (no help from Poe) was being buried alive (which happened).

In the end: It really is a wonderful book which I would highly suggest reading. I also temporarily obtained an audio version of the book, which was helpful although it was read by the author who can sometimes be hard to understand.

                                                                                                 2. Stepping Heavenward: One woman’s journey to Godliness by Mrs. E. Prentiss

pg #. 341

What it is about: A young lady from age 14(ish) until death, and all the spiritual struggles she encounters.

@: @@@ out of five. The whole book is completely relatable, and you grow to feel her pain, sorrow and joy.

Not so good parts: It is written in diary form and that can get a little annoying, she isn’t always as clear on the parts you wish she would be clear on, such as her children’s names.

3.House Rules by Jodi Picoult

pg # 532

What its about: A 18 year old boy with Aspergers syndrome and a obsession with Crime Busters. His therapist is murdered and he soon becomes a suspect, but his disabilities make him often seem guilty, yet he his therapist was his only friend in life. Did he commit the murder and should he be given exceptions in the court room because of his disabilities.

@ angela scale: @@@@ out of five. This book mixes relatable characters with real life problems (the aspergers not the murder) and a chilling twisting plot that keep you reading long past bed time.

Not so good parts: Jodi Picoult is a well know atheists and it seeps through in small parts of her book. The divorced mom spends the night at their lawyers (who the whole family has grown close to) apartment.

Over all: Now I’m a sucker for a medical/investigative drama. I also am fan of this author before this book so I am a little bias, but I truly enjoyed this book and I think it is a great read for grown up-ish audiences.

4.Till We Have Faces: A myth retold by C.S. Lewis

pg # 309

What it is about: The love story of Cupid and Psyche told from the view point of Psyches ugly uber-overprotective sister.

@ scale: @ out of five. First off, I started this book at 1 in the morning after finished House Rules minuets earlier. I had "mental whiplash" as my little sister calls it. This book is a Greek myth henceforth it has lots of random magical acts to keep you on your toes.

Not so great parts: Where do I start, first of all there is lots of references to rooms and unless you already have a understand of Greek architecture (which I assure you I don’t) it’s quiet confusing. Also there is lots of references to the gods and temples and such which aren’t really explained. There is language, abuse, and "High class working girls" as a choreographer on SYTYCD puts it. And (man I hate starting a sentence with and) to rap it all up the writing style isn’t really that enjoyable. The plot doesn’t carry enough to make you want to keep reading it. C.S. Lewis you have disappointed me.

On that happy note, there are a few of the books I have read this summer (I’m on my 9th) I would think I shall try and post on the rest of them at a later date.

Thank you for reading my very first blog post, I hope you enjoyed it. They won’t all be so critical often and I hope to make to make it more interesting. Comment or email me, I would love to hear how I can make it better, also please link me to your blogs. I love getting connected to people, and I think blogs are a great way to do that. I shall end with a quote, because I feel that is a wonderful way to end a long rambly post.

"Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you." ~ Elsie De Wolf

Have a wonderful book filled day. <3 Quippy.