Thursday, December 1, 2011

I didn't participate in No Shave November, but rather No Book November!

I think, after last month, I was a little burnt out on reading. So I didn't start a single book until the 6th. And other than the first four books, I just couldn't keep up the same pace as last month. So let's see how (not) well I did.

Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I have had people trying to get me to read these books for quite a while. No idea what took me so long. I read the first one on Sunday the 6th and the second on Monday the 7th. I just couldn't put them down! I did take a quick break to re-read my book club book (more on that later), but went immediately back for the third book as soon as I could. For those who haven't read them, the series is about a girl named Katniss. She lives in a future North America that has been ravaged by hunger and rebellion. To punish the rebellion, each year a boy and a girl from each of the 12 districts of the country are forced to compete in the Hunger Games, a battle royale of epic proportions. This year, Katniss and her co-tribute put a hitch in the plan. They are "star-crossed lovers.". Or are they? Their victory triggers the country and uprisings begin again. In a strange twist, Katniss and Peeta are sent back to the Games because it is a 25th "anniversary" year in the second book. The third book begins immediately after that year's Hunger Games, where Katniss has again made a fool of the Capital (the city that controls their country). The war for freedom has begun. While I was pleased with the outcome of the war, I was NOT pleased with the ending of the book. Katniss has two loves in the series. And she isn't actually given a choice- one leaves her and she "realizes" that she's always loved the one she ends up with. I did enjoy this series, but the first book was by far the best. Katniss' character seems to change throughout the series, and not in a good way. She is actually rather disappointing after her successes in the first book. But it is what it is. And I'm glad I've read the series. And I REALLY can't wait for the movie!!

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. This was my book club book, and also a re-read for me. I loved it the first time and loved it again this time. It's the fictional story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley. These types of books are some of my favorite, these historical fictions. The facts are true, the words between the characters are not always. Hadley was nearly 9 years older than Ernest when they met. After a short courtship, they married. And immediately moved to Paris. They traveled, they loved, they drank. They befriended amazing people- Gertrude Stein and her wife, Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, many other famous names. They did eventually have a son, nicknamed Bumby. And they finally divorced, after 6 years of marriage. The catalyst of their divorce, a divorce of two people who were madly in love with each other, was another woman. Isn't it always? But this time around, it was one of Hadley's best friends. While Ernest went on to marry three more times and have countless lovers before he shot himself, Hadley remarried only once. And stayed married for the rest of her life. I really enjoyed this book, as I had no idea anything about Hemingway's Paris wife. Even though she willingly left the public life behind when she and Ernest divorced, it seems like she was an amazing woman.

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. I always tell myself I'm not going to read another Nicholas Sparks book because they are always pretty much the same. Young love, ripped apart because they aren't of the same social circle. Eventual rekindling of the relationship. And some sort of regret. And of course, death and sacrifice. I'll be the first to admit, I always get a little teary-eyed when I read a Nicholas Sparks book. And then wonder why in the world I keep reading the same story over and over again. Darn addictive Nicholas Sparks....

Horns by Joe Hill. I've had this book on my shelf to read for quite a long time. I'm not really sure why I decided to buy it. But I'm really glad that I did. It was great! A year after the brutal murder of his girlfriend (a crime he is accused of but never charged with), Ig wakes up with horns growing out of his head. Yes, solid bone horns growing out of his head. These horns seem to grant Ig a special power- people just confess their sins to him, tell him all the bad things they have ever done. And then forget that they have seen him. He decides to use this power to find the real killer. Because once he finds the monster who killed his beloved, there will be hell to pay. Quite literally. Because the hell he's been through since her murder has quite literally turned him into a devil who is bent in revenge. The concept of the book was ridiculously intriguing. I had a hard time putting it down. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Kitty Kitty by Michele Jaffe. I've read some of her other stuff before and didn't think it too horrible. I didn't realize that she apparently writes juvenile lit in addition to her adult lit. And I'm not sure I'm a big fan. I bought this book quite a while ago and now I'm wondering why. In this book, high school senior Jas is forced to move to Venice (yes Italy, so I'm not sure what she's bitching about) the day before her senior year of school begins (okay, maybe I understand the bitching a little bit). As it turned out, the story was pretty cool (Jas solves a murder and is nearly killed in the process). But the fact that it was juvenile lit just about killed me. And we are talking totally stereotypical juvenile lit.