Hey!

Hey everyone,

So I know this is suppose to be a book blog but I just wanted to say hi. I hope these last few weeks have gone/will go by fast. Seniors good luck with college or where ever life takes you! Juniors just relax soon you will be graduating too. Next year will fly by just wait and see. I'm not sure if there are any Sophomores in the class, if so sucks to be you. Just kidding stay in there, your time will come. Well I have to go finish my project board. Have fun with your blogging and if you find a good book let me know! I finally have time to spare. :)

TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY

Amazing, that is all I can say about this novel. From the moment I opened TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY by Jay Asher I could not put it down. It shows how what you do, no matter how insignificant it may seem, it could be a reason why.

Hannah Baker committed suicide but instead of leaving a note she left 13 tapes. The suicide tapes were passed around to the 13 people who Hannah felt lead her to suicide. These unfortunate people ranged from the school guidance counselor, to a boy she went on a date with, a couple girls that she thought she was friends with, to the boy she fell in love with and would miss. The story is told through the eyes of Clay Jensen, the boy she fell in love with, as well as Hannah. He follows the tapes through the town and sees how Hannah's life slowly fell apart. From the stop sign being knocked over that lead to a classmates death or the witnessing of a classmate being raped. Hannah explains the pain she went through and Clay understands her reasons why.

So I have said it for other books and will probably say it again soon but as of right now TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY is my favorite novel ever. I loved Jay Asher's writing style, how he found a way to connect with the readers even though the subject of the story is a hard one to talk about. The suspense Asher creates drives me crazy yet I felt so intrigued and couldn't put the book down. It's the perfect teen book. It relates to everyday teens with the problems Hannah goes through.

Unfortunately this is Jay Asher's first novel. But there is an amazing website called TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY. It has other reviews on it. As well as a link to Asher's blog and a blog called Hannah's Reasons. On the website you can listen to Hannah's tapes and follow a map through her town. I have taken the time to listen to each tape. Please wait to listen to them till after you have read the book. I don't want the book ruined for you.

As of this moment there isn't a movie but soon will be. Universal Pictures and Strike Entertainment have the film rights and it is said that Selena Gomez will be staring as Hannah Baker. Currently it is in development and is scheduled to come out in 2013. Other details are not known at the moment but if I find anything out I will let you know.

Again book suggestions are welcome. Just let me know what you would like me to read!

The Time Traveler's Wife

Looking for an amazing book? The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is defiantly amazing. Within a few chapters I knew that this novel would become a favorite of mine. The Time Traveler's Wife  is a story about two people who are destined for each other.

Clare Abshire met her husband when she was only 6 years old. You may not think that's strange, people marry childhood friends all the time. Well her soul mate was Henry DeTamble, though only eight years older, was 36 when they first met in the meadow behind Clare's home. Henry is a time traveler, he has no control over when or where he travels. Triggers (stress, even the flickers from a television) cause Henry to move back and forth in time. Clare and Henry's lives are entwined from the beginning. They met when she was young, and he traveled back in time to be with her. When they met in real time he knew nothing about her, this was a first she knew more about him. They marry and try surviving through life with his genetic disorder. Clare wants to start a family but Henry is concerned that their child will end up with the same problem as he. This is all that I am going to share about the story. I don't want to spoil the ending.

I loved The Time Traveler's Wife. Niffeneggers writing style was a little confusing, especially when she jumps back and forth not only between points of view but with time periods as well. Other than that I think she did an amazing job. Her story line is so unique and is defiantly something that I am very interested in. The "voice" that it is written in is so believable that I felt like this could actually happen. I'll give you the same warning my Lit teacher told me. It can be grafic at some points, please be mature when reading it. The story feels like a romance and a tragedy rolled up into one book. I recommend it to anyone who wants a compelling novel.

Audrey Niffenegger also wrote another novel. Its called Her Fearful Symmetry. I haven't read it yet but am seriously thinking about it. I hope it is written similar to The Time Traveler's Wife. If you have read it please leave a comment to let me know what you think.
The Time Traveler's Wife was made into a wonderful movie in the year 2009. Rachel McAdams plays Clare and Eric Bana plays Henry. It was given a 7.1 out of 10. As usual I haven't seen it yet. On my list I promise. But I was told by a classmate that it was amazing. Again comment to let me know your opinion.

I want to apologize for this post being a little lame. I've been busy with class projects and getting ready for college. Promise my next one will be awesome, though I haven't decided which book to read yet. Any suggestions?

In Cold Blood.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote was an amazing, suspense filled, true story thriller. My American Lit teacher recommended it to me and now I'm suggesting that each of you take the time to enjoy this wonderfully written recreation of the 1959 brutal murders, hunt for the killers, and trial.

The story starts out going through the lives of the Clutter family, [ Herbert (father), Bonnie (mother), Nancy (daughter) and Kenyon (son)] on the day of their brutal, no motive murders. After a brief look into the lives of the victims, the story then focuses on the killers, Richard "Dick" Hickock and Perry Smith, as well as those trying to solve the crime. As the story progresses the readers get an in depth look into the lives of the killers while the detectives search for clues. Capote follows the investigators and killers from the murder to "end".

I really liked In Cold Blood. Many of my favorite books are recreations of actual events; such as Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. It is very interesting to see how the authors make a real event seem almost fictional in the way it is written. Capote jumped back and forth between points of view giving insight into the mind of the killers, the murdered family and the investigators. He goes into unsuspecting detail about many actions that take place and it make the reader feel as if they are watching in the room as everything occurs. Sort of like a fly on the wall in every room. I couldn't put the book down once I began reading. I was captivated by the details and strung along by the suspense Capote created. Anyone who is interested in recreation novels should take the time to enjoy In Cold Blood. Though I enjoy this book, I am still saddened that it came to be because of unnecessary murders.

Truman Capote also wrote multiple other novels. A Christmas Memory, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Other Voices, Other Rooms are just a few of his books. I haven't had a chance to read any of these but I heard good reviews about Breakfast at Tiffany's. Let me know if you get a chance to read the previous story and your opinions about them. I'd love feed back on any of them.

So I said in my last post that I would start looking to see if the novel I am talking about was made into a movie. In 1967 In Cold Blood was premiered earning a rated "R" because of the violence and graphics. What is interesting about this movie is some of the scenes were filmed where they actually took place at the time of the murders. Places including the Clutter house where the murders took place. I do not recognize any of the actors/actresses but the film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards. Which, I think, means it is possible pretty good. Unfortunately I havn't  had the opportunity to view the movie yet. But hopefully soon (I still need to view the other movies of the past books). I'll let you know my opinion on the movie at a later date.

Please feel free to leave a comment with your opinions on this book. I know many honors and AP English students have been forced to read this novel. It would be awesome to hear some other ideas and points of view.

Wait, it's a movie?

So recently I discovered that the books that I have previously and are currently reading have been made into books. From now on in addition to the reviews and summaries on each book, I will state if it has been made into a movie. Also I plan on viewing each movie and if I get the chance to see it before I post my view on that particular story then I will discuss the movie as well. If not, I plan on posting in a few weeks my opinion on the movies made about the past books. My opinion will be about if the book and the movie were closely related or if the directors/actors didn't visualize the story the way I did. If for some reason I don't say the book has been made into a movie please let me know! I really want to view each movie, for my own benefit as well as yours. Thanks!

Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie is a heart-touching true story about life's greatest lessons. It leaves each reader with an insight on what life is really about. If you are looking for a book which that holds a story of love, friendship, and getting a second chance to learn about life, then this is the perfect book for you. 

 Mitch, the author, heard that is favorite college professor, Morrie, was suffering from a terrible illness, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also know as Lou Gehrig's disease. This disease causes Morrie's body to slowly shut down, starting from his legs then proceeding up. Mitch, after many years of losing himself in his own life, went searching for Morrie after seeing him in an interview on television. Morrie welcomes Mitch with open arms as if they had never spent 16 years apart. They slowly go through many important things in life. Each time they met is on a Tuesday, just like it was back in college. Every time Mitch visits he brings food and questions/topics that he wishes to discuss. Such topics are the world, family, death, regrets and forgiveness. Morrie may have taught Mitch many things in his classrooms, but through his dying and death, Mitch learned life's greatest lessons.

I greatly enjoyed this story. Morrie's lessons with Mitch taught me a few things as well. It helped me think about "dying well" as Morrie would say. Forgiving others and not feeling sorry for myself. I couldn't believe it ended, I want to start reading it over again just so I can learn everything once more from Morrie. Part of me wishes I could have taken classes with him. He seemed like a professor who be a best friend, or a dad figure like he was to Mitch. His answers to Mitch's questions, questions that some people would deem as being complex, are so simplistic that the reader will almost feel like they should have known the answer all along. The effect of this book will be great on both me and anyone who wishes for the insight on what life should truly be about.

If you find this book to be as amazing as I did then try reading other stories by Mitch Albom. He also wrote The Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, and Have a Little Faith. From what I've heard about these stories is that they will also leave an effect on you similar to Tuesdays with Morrie. If you get a chance to read any of these please leave a comment letting me know your opinion on them and if you think I should read them.

The Secret Life of Bees

Looking for an easy read? Something quick for a book report? Well The Secret Life of Bees would be a good choice.

 This novel is about a young girl, Lily, and her search for acceptance, coping with loss and finding the truth.. Lily's mother died when she was four, the only story she knows is that she was the one to kill her mother. After years of being abused and neglected by her father Lily runs away with her "mother figure" Rosaleen, an African American servant, to a small town in South Carolina. They stumbled upon a house owned by three amazing African American ladies who own their own honey/bee business. There Lily discovers love, friendship, forgiveness, and hope. She finds truth to her past and compassion for her father.

In my opinion, The Secret Life of Bees is a great novel. Sue Monk Kidd did a fantastic job in portraying the emotions of a young girl who is trying to cope with the loss of her mother and find love. As you read, it's hard not to feel attached to the characters. Slowly you start to feel what they feel. Take your time when reading this wonderful novel, before you know it the story is over but you feel as if you want to read more.

Sue Monk Kidd has also written multiple other novels through the years. Such novels are The Mermaid Chair, Traveling with Pomegranates, and Firstlight. I recommend these novels to a reader who is interested in a story that will leave a lasting impression. Giving you the feeling of love and hope.