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
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