Split Second Book Review

Title: Split Second

Author: David Baldacci

Genre: Drama/Fiction/Action

Rating: 4 out of 5

Why Did I Read? So this is the first book in the King and Maxwell series.  I had been wanting to read a book by Baldacci and they sounded like a great series but then I accidentally got the 3rd book....went back in time of the books to start with the real 1st one. 

Summary: After Michelle Maxwell messes up her job with the Secret Service, she needs to fix it. Sean King can totally relate--except the whole fixing part since his guy died. They start on a journey to solve the weird turn of events that are happening around King while Maxwell tries to fix her job, they realize that the cases are related. 

What Did I Love:

• I liked how the plot just seemed to twist and turn the whole time.  I would think I had it figured out and then something else would happen.  
• The characters seem to have this likability.
• It was very well written 

What Did I Hate: So while I liked the plot twists, it almost had too many plot twists...it was almost like--just be done already! I think that things could have been wrapped up a bit quicker so that it didn't seem to drag on.

The Book Thief Book Review

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Genre:  YA/Historical Fiction

Rating: 5 out of 5

Why Did I Read? We decided to read it for book club and it was on my TBR Pile Challenge List.

Summary: It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. (Summary from Amazon.com)

What Did I Love: EVERYTHING! Seriously though, this was a great book.

• My favorite part of the whole thing was the fact that the author puts in all of these great history moments throughout the book.  It can be a great help to history and/or English teachers that need a resource to teach about the Holocaust and/or foreshadowing.  A great companion book to Number the Stars, Diary of Anne Frank, etc. 
• The idea of having Death be the narrator
• The way that it told a story with little stories inside of it

What Did I Hate: NOTHING! It got the coveted 5 out of 5.  Though I do not recommend listening to it on audio....I tried that back in the day---it gets a bit confusing with the definitions and interjections if you haven't read the book before.

TBR Pile Challenge June Update

It is sad to RoofBeam Reader taking a step back from his blog...but I get it.  I haven't updated this blog as much because of the craziness in my life.  I am hoping that the craziness is dying down in the next few weeks.  **Keep your fingers crossed for me**  But I should at least do my once a month update.

So this is my list from last month:
My list was:

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (2009)
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2006)
3. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (2010) 
4. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (2007) FINISHED!
5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (2012) FINISHED!
6. The Perks of Being a Wildflower by Stephen Chbosky (1999)
7. Matched by Ally Condie (2010)FINISHED!
8. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (2011)
9. The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry (2007) CURRENTLY READING!
10. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (1817) 
11. Lady Susan by Jane Austen (1791)
12. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2004)

Feeling really good about having five left to start.  I feel like I can really do it :) So excited to keep reading.  Hopefully have some more book reviews soon!

Before I Fall Book Review

Title: Before I Fall

Author: Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA

Rating: 3 out of 5

Why Did I Read? This seemed to be a popular YA book that my students were drawn to. I wanted to know what the hub-bub was about.  I stuck it on my TBR list as part of the RoofBeam Reader Challenge (Happy 5 years this past Saturday!)

Summary: Our main character, Samantha/Sam, starts her day with the big high school moment of "Cupid Day" the Friday before Valentine's Day.  We quickly learn how popular Sam is and how her clique of friends seem to be the ones that serve as the "royalty" of the school.  After a party that night, they are in a car crash--except Sam doesn't die she just lives that day over and over.  She tries to figure out how to end the repeat, and fix the world around her in the process.

What Did I Love:

• Read by Sarah Drew--I was so excited to hear her voice on the audio recording.  She is currently one of the doctors on the Grey's Anatomy and the character really fit her voice and she did a great job reading it.
• The romance that starts to develop in the story between Sam and a friend was really sweet...It made me really wish that she didn't die at the end for his sake

What Did I Hate:

• The drinking and drug use and sex that just seemed okay for teenagers--it really drove me crazy!
• The necessity to repeat certain things word for word like 5x....I get twice...maybe 3....but seriously we get that the day is starting over yet again

Love the One You're With (book review)

Title: Love the One You're With

Author: Emily Griffin

Genre: Fiction/Chick Lit

Rating: 3 out of 5

Why Did I Read? I liked the movie Something Borrowed when I caught it on TV. I have wanted to read an Emily Griffin book ever since because I really enjoyed the story line.  I found this audio book on OverDrive as well narrated by Katharine McInerney. 

Summary: Ellen and Andy have been married for a year now, and everything has been going great.  Marrying her best friend's brother was the greatest thing that had happened to Ellen-or so she thought.  She runs into her old boyfriend Leo--and all of those old feelings came back. Ellen then starts to flirt with that line of do I cheat or do I not cheat? 

What Did I Love:

• The narrator did a really nice job
• I liked the what if storyline overall but..
• It was nice for a chick lit--mindless goodness :)

What Did I Hate:

• I didn't really like the cheating aspect