The Night Circus

The Night Circus Plot Summary

So sorry that I'm way behind on my blogging I just haven't been feeling the reading vibe as of late..been having more of the sleeping vibe =/.  I read this book about a month ago while on vaca and have not really gotten on a real computer for more than a few minutes since then; my smart phone has made me lazy when it comes to getting online.  Anyway on to more important subjects like The Circus!!!  I loved this book, the story is not laid out for you all at once like in most books, instead you are given the story in little pieces that you have to put together as the story progresses.  It was kinda like looking at a picture up close, it doesn't make sense until you back up and see it's a full picture, if that makes since to anyone other than me...  Moving on, I was immediately drawn in by the name of this book, everyone likes the circus and one that takes place only at night when the mystery is greatest is intriguing, the fact that this circus was also full of magic just adds icing to the cake.  Needless to say it  took very little effort from the book synopsis writer to further convince me to walk to the cash register with the book.  The story centers around an unkonwn competition between a male and a female magician, real magicians not just illusionists.  The object and location of  the competition are set by the couplets teachers, but the students/readers are not given ANY details; what they are competing for, how long the competition lasts, what the are trying to achieve over the other, or even who their competitor is.  This makes the book confusing in some parts  mostly in the beginning but the magic, pretty colors, and circus attractions that are explained in very specific detail are an excellent distraction from your confusion.  I will say the writer has a very good imagination and translated it well into a book that I couldn't put down even on a vacation in Italy, I kept wanting to know who would win and what new attractions would show up at the circus.  I've already given this book to a friend to read and will suggest it to anyone looking for a fantasy read.

 

 

Good for the magic enthusiast

 

 

Rating~~1!!



The Scottish Prisoner

The Scottish Prisoner Plot Summary

Ok guys sorry for my super long delay in getting posts up but August was a busy month for me! Between work, vaca, and Ms. G's tendency to over talk in her stories I just couldn't get around to finish reading much less reviewing.  As i've learned andiamo lets go; this book is techinically part of the  Lord John series, but includes some of the lost Jaime Fraser years as well, which is why I got it.  If you don't know who Jamie is see my review of The Outlander and read it immediately its awesome.  I will say it has been a while since I read the series so I had a little trouble making the proper character connections, but overall she does well in connecting the dots for you.  This is not a book you can just jump into without context from at least one of, either the Lord John or Jaime books.  As always I enjoy Jamie's character and the building relationship with Grey.  There was lots af action, military scandal, and political back and forth in this book.  The details were very good and what I assume from the length and general details is quite accurate for a fictional book.  Though written detail has never been a problem with Ms. G considering the length of all her books whether they are a novella or an actual novel.  It was nice finally seeing details from Jaime's life after  Claire left him and how he was expected to live and move on a as a traitor to his country.  Not to mention you get a little more insight on how Jaime went from hating John to besties in the later outlander series.  There is a lot of male bonding in this book but not in like a TMI way..much.  There were murders and duels, plots to take over the crown again and suicide that made for an interesting story; and if there wasn't quite so much filler and easy book to want to finish.  I will say that the author just dosen't seem to know when to say when,she can draw a story out until the end of time i'm sure of it.  The meat of the story is good but sometimes the unneccessary side stories get a little tiresome.

Good for an action read very little girly stuff

Rating~~3



The Mystery of the Black Jungle

The Mystery of the Black Jungle Plot Summary

So this book was added to my library by request!  My lonely member Warren asked for it a few months back and I am just now getting to finishing it.  I tried several times, but I kept getting distracted by different series'.  I started and finished this one on a plane this weekend and it did pretty well in keeping me sidetracked while waiting around the airport.  This is a classic story of love at first sight, the damsel in distress, and of course violence, death, human sacrifice, and exotic animals!  It was very interesting to learn about other religions through this book, I assume its accurate but I'm a snotty American and I don't know anything about other cultures =/  The extent that the main character went to save the girl was admirable and if he didn't kill so much worthy of a Disney production.  I won't lie though all the stabbing and strangling was refreshingly different, because this was back in the day before everyone and their mother had a gun.  You actually had to be strong and accurate at taking someone down, and not rely on a point and hope for the best attitude.  Now this was a translation so some of the wording is a little funny and there is an overuse of certain phrases like "or we are done for"  but other than that I liked the writing as well.  It did take a bit in the beginning to catch on to what the author was saying and form a mental picture of what was going on in the story, but there were even foot notes in the book to help better understand what was happening.  A successful read the action was good and ended with an " until we meet again" feel, so I may look into other books by this author.

The original cover in Italian is featured on the wikipidea page in the link above; I really like the original cover but alas I don't speak Italian  (not for lack of trying).  Warren if you still read tell me what you think

Good for a adventure story with minimal romance aspect

Rating~~3

City of Glass

City of Glass Plot Summary

Well I just finished the final mortal instruments book!  Wait...there are more?  Well shit, I considered it the last one because I am D-O-N-E with the series.  It was good and kept me mostly interested, but I knew the ending of all the books way ahead of time and had already worked out the major plot twist for this book at the end of book two.  I just read the synopsis for book 4 and I already know who did it why and how that will go.  So I'm moving on without continuing this series at this point we are just creating problems to have more books.  All good things must come to an end J.K. Rowling knew it and Stephanie Meyer knew it looks like Cassandra missed the memo.  I thought this book wrapped things up nicely, like it was going to be the end then the author was like...eh...never mind lets just see how far we can take this until people get bored.  Most importantly, I am a native Arkansan and I must say the incestuous relationship in this story is stretching my tolerance.  I understand what the author is trying to do, but I think the author could have done better than oh no I'm in love with my brother/sister what do I do?  Hearing that the main characters want to make out every time they see each other when they are supposed to be siblings makes me a little queasy and I'm usually very open-minded when it comes to fictional books. 

good for a final book not a continuation

Rating~~4  

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz Plot Summary

**Major Motion Picture**

I read this book several months ago and realized that I didn't write about it! How I missed it I don't know but I am remedying that oversight right now.  First of all do not go into this book thinking of the movie; the book was much stranger,  more Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland strange than Disney AiW. (If that makes since to anyone other then me)  Like in AiW its all a dream so you get some very interesting characters in the mix, but it gets kinda creepy toward the end.  I finally get the lions, tigers, and bears reference because you learn of all the scary critters in that forest or a combination of the three.  I really like the use of color in the book, p.s. Dorothy's shoes were really silver, but I was sad to see that the horse of all colors was absent from the book.  All the towns based on the cardinal directions have their own base color not just the emerald city.  Also in the book Dorothy is way more independent and a little spiteful to the wicked witch and I find that pretty awesome she is brave and doesn't just succumb to the witch's tricks she is a fighter.  There is so much more explanation in the book especially about the trips made by the characters; to the city, to the witches, and back, then the attempted journey home.  They meet many disturbingly creative creatures, people, and situations along the way this book definitely does not lack diversity!

good for goth type read

Rating~~3

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden Plot Summary

This is the good sitting around passing the time book, it could also be added to the rainy day library and the children's bedtime story library.  All very important but the children's story being the most appropriate.  This is a book that was good for adults to read but so descriptive that it sparks a kids imagination and interest in nature.  In fact, kinda made me want to start a garden and watch things grow ad become pretty.  The story revolves around two sort of orphans and their struggle to get through their problems together and become normal kids.  The kids growing with the garden was a nice touch.   It did get a little long in places, but it was very relaxing, like doing yoga for the mind...lol.  It did leave a few holes that the many movies had to fill in for me; for example the book said something about a tree in the garden being shaped  like a chair and  the other kids didn't want to explain it's significance to Colin but the author didn't say why.  This was mildly annoying because if you are going to add something then explain what the significance to the story is, from watching the movies I know the significance of the tree but not from the book itself which kind of blows.  I also thought that the story ended a little abruptly I would have liked to see more but English literature was never the happily ever after kind of writing and I shouldn't expect every book to be that way I guess =/ 

Good for kids and to relax

Rating~~2

Rapture

Rapture Plot Summary

The final book in the fallen series and the series definitely ended so much better than it began.  There was a scavenger hunt to the end of the world and the big fight between groups to get the "magic" stuff and an AWESOME library.  There was a lot of talk about God and the creation of everything, but it worked for me and well in this story, I have said before that I am not a religious person that does not mean I did not love this book.  Also huge plus was that God aka "The Throne" had to change forms so that the angels could see and speak to the Throne so it transformed into a woman! Love it, I always knew God was a woman! And finally the big question is answered where the hell did Daniel and Luce meet?!  I will say that I really liked the answer and it goes along with how Luce plays into the grand scheme of things.  I'm glad to say that I just couldn't seem to put it all together.  Maybe I'm slow on the uptake and it was obvious to everyone else, but I enjoyed not being able to just guess the ending and only continue to read to find out how it tied together.  As for this book I love it and will re-read it but as a series as a whole ehh stick with book 3 and 4 for the second time around.  

Good for lovey dovey girly types

Rating~~1

50 Shades of Grey

50 Shades of Grey Synopsis

Here is the best selling book according to EVERYONE!  One of my besties sent me this book and said you have to read this, my mother-in-law called and said have you read this?! you must! (in hindsight gross) I read the synopsis several times to understand what the hype was about and didn't get it.  Well I bowed to peer pressure and read the book and I say BORING!! OMG it had good parts but the writing in this book was awful if I never read the words "baby," "groan," or "delicious" ever again it will be too soon.  It was the same thing over and over again, by the end I was skipping pages just to get to the end.  The last 30 pages or so it finally starts getting interesting but not enough to make me want to go into the second book.  It will just be more of the same and bleh it was hard enough the first time around.  The love story was ok, the heroine is strong in some aspects and I like that, but the entire book builds to a decision that is decided on three different times and still changes.. so annoying.  And the poor hero has a predominately f'ed up up bringing. Here is a controlling bastard, but the hints of his abuse as a child and the denial of his abuse during his teen years is upsetting. not to mention he continued a relationship with his abuser well into adulthood always reminding him what happened, no wonder he was messed up I would be too. BTW on a tangent what woman who knows she has freaky hard core sex constantly, wears white cotton panties to see her man?  That is completely ridiculous no 23yo wears white cotton panties these days especially if she expects to have sex! I think people were just surprised by the sex scenes in the book and S&M is not THAT interesting.  I know how the trilogy ends you know how it ends everyone knows by about chapter 5.  I almost gave up at chapter 4 and wouldn't have missed much if I had.  All in all skip it move on unless you need a boost in your sex drive/life.  No offense to my peeps who loved it, I love you still but not this.

Good for the sex drive

Rating~~5

Passion

Passion Plot Summary

So after the second book in this series I was hopeless and about to give up completely on it, but I happened to find the third book at the used book store for half price so I thought what the hell it can't be that bad right?  Well turns out this book was AWESOME which is made obvious by the amount of time it took me to finish!! I was really surprised at how good this book was, I couldn't manage to put it down.  The difference between this book and the previous books was that there was a goal in the end, the main character was striving for something and she knew what she was aiming for not just wandering in the dark, like it the previous two books.  This book was basically a hop from lifetime to lifetime describing Daniel and Luce's past lives and love together.  You get to see where their love grew from and what all went into their idea of "soul mates."   It still doesn't answer the nagging ever present question of where in the hell did Luce and Daniel meet?! That is the question I really want answered and I am still left wanting, damn it they better answer this in the finale known as Rapture whenever it is released. (which by the way they set up the finale story very well in the end here, i'm looking forward to it.)  This book goes all the way back to the beginning of time through Egypt, Mayan, and Shakespearean history it was pretty cool.  I am a big history buff so the idea of going back in time is interesting to me , there are no factual events that happen but whatever that's not the point the romance mixed into different eras is the point.  I would say that this book makes trudging through the first and second book worth it.     

Good for romance mixed with history enthusiasts

Rating~~1  



City of Ashes

City of Ashes Plot Summary

 

The second mortal instruments book, I only continued on because my friend assured me that the series did get better after the first book, turns out she was right.  This sequel can be added to a short list of books that I classify as better than the original book.  The action really picked up in this book which made it more interesting right off the bat, and there was less of the poor me love triangle BS that gets old fast.  There were a few unexpected turns in this book which proved one of my previous complaints incorrect.(too predictable)   There is still the very odd love story present throughout but fortunately, it isn't as prominent in this book as it was in the mourning teenage drama original.  This book is more of finding out what the villain will do next and why, the real history of what happened to the main characters, and the love of family it just has more sustenance. The villain still has a seductive lure to his son in the book and you catch yourself wondering if his kid will fall for it all.  I still believe I can predict the way the romance story will end, and if the series is any good how it will end, but after the second book I am more inclined to find out what happens in the middle.  I have requested from my friend the third and fourth book of this series and hope that it continues with the mystery and violence(PG) to an awesome climax.  There are quite a few books in the series so lets hope the author doesn't over write the story just for more books/money.

good for girls/women most ages

Rating~~3 

City Of Bones

City of Bones Plot Summary

** New Major Motion Picture**

  A friend of mine pointed me in the direction of this book.  This time around I was having trouble deciding what I wanted to read and started several different books to no avail.  I started reading this on a flight and I got hooked into the odd story.  I have come to accept in books that I need to disregard what age the author has placed the main characters in always, some of my fav books the actual ages of the characters are completely ridiculous.  Anyway rambling..these guys are supposed to be 15 (who remembers what they were like at 15) and hot demon killing badasses!! Yea well in my minds eye they are more like 23 but that is because i'm getting old and  jaded about the teen age.  The book started kinda slow but picked up after a few chapters.  This girl character is very damsel in distress; having the chick just let the boys save her when necessary and not arguing so much about it is ok once in a while.   The male character it the typical sexy emotionally and physically scarred badass with a soft spot for the new girl.  The creepers through out are pretty cool and described in good if somewhat confusing detail.  I had trouble picturing some of the characters or places in the book just because I couldn't wrap my mind around what the hell the  author was talking about. (some say this is a evidence of a good writer, one to stretch the imagination of the reader)  I was, of course I think I'm seeing a pattern, disappointed in the end  of the book or at least the big "twist" in the end slightly grossed out and just bummed so much so that I will continue with the second book but if I'm not more impressed I may stop the series, at this point I could probably tell you how it ends if the direction doesn't change. 

Good Teen Book

Rating~~4

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride Plot Summary

One of the best romance movies of all times, watching the grandpa read to the kid in the first part of the movie always made me want to read it.  I some how managed to be at a Barnes and Nobel (astonishing) and I passed this book on the shelf and I jumped on it thinking FINALLY!  I saw this cover of the book and was slightly disappointed; because I thought it had the movie cover, so I looked for a different copy, turns out this is a drawing based on the movie (technically not the same thing) so I was free and clear to buy this copy.  The Princess Bride, transformed from pages to the silver screen more accurately to the original story than I've ever seen; turns out that was because the author of the book also wrote the script for the movie. (for future reference in order not to ruin a book this should be the eternal rule for all book to movie revisions)  I'm sorry to say that the book was not as good as I'd hoped. The book was written in fourth person?lol?  Basically the idea is that this is an abridged version of a story written by a second man.  This is all a fake out, there is no 2nd author, but since the story is told in the point of view of this fake author its a weird perspective to follow.  We have author 2(fake) and author 1(goldman) who during the entire book comments, in personal asides, on the ludicrousness of author 2s telling of the story even though they are the same person.  Confused yet? It was a little hard to follow and I will say I kinda started skipping over the asides by the end.  As a whole the story was still a good one and clearly fictional despite the authors constant attempts to persuade you otherwise.  This style of writing made the story more confusing and  for me less interesting to much back and forth to concentrate on the the main story.  I think this is the only time I will ever say the movie was better...whether that's because it was a childhood favorite or whether the book was just not written well as a novel I dunno; I would like to think its because of the way it was written so I look less biased but whatever makes you warm and fuzzy is fine.


Good for a movie not a book

Rating~~4

The Lucky One

The Lucky One Plot Summary

**Major Motion Picture**

I know I said that I was done with Mr. Sparks after the horrendousness that was Dear John, but I decided to give this book a chance.  I am not gonna lie it was partially because Zach Effron was in the movie looking super hot so I actually looked into the book (at least I admit to my shallowness) and I have to say I may have misjudged Mr. Sparks on first read.  I loved this book, the end was what I wanted it to be and yes it is very predictable and mushy gushy but I still loved it.  After seeing that he is not always doom and gloom I may finally break down and read The Notebook.  I like the writing style used where the chapters are different main characters perspectives; this gave me a more rounded look at the story. The romance aspect did have a very sketchy start considering it is a little creepy from the chick side of things; A guy walking across the country because he liked to walk to some unknown location to meet mystery lady ? I mean really creepy, but I thought it was sweet, after explanation and considering how things turned out.  It's nice to live in a world of make believe where men are actually considerate and do things for a woman the love because they want to, or gone out of their way to make a woman feel special.   Most guys would call this guy gay, which would make me want to be a gay man. 

Good for the girly mushy fans

Rating~~1

 

The Only Living Witness

THe Only Living Witness Plot Summary

 

Creepy psycho killer Ted Bundy's story, I will say this book was much better than the BTK crime book. The authors gave you the case facts helped you put it together, but didn't force a blatant story on you.  That's not to say the story didn't have that rose colored tint on the side of the police, that was apparent when the author's poked a little fun at Bundy's tactics and mistakes.  The author's tried to use his inevitable mistakes to  "prove" even the most elusive and sick criminals miss a step and the PO-PO will always be there to get you...bad boys bad boys wacha gonna do... you know the cops always prosper like CSI or whatever.  It was disturbing to see into the mind of  a psycho.  You don't get specific gross details and there are no pictures so the gag factor is low but the cringe factor is significantly higher, you get more of the raw facts. (like stain was found here and the body like this what does that suggest?)  Bundy's  reference and manipulation of women is a little creepy all throughout the book especially in his direct quotes.  The book takes you through his various known murders, how he acquired his victims all the way through his trials, appeals, and final electrocution.  He was admitting to killing women on his last day of life.  Its' weird to think that for every 1 caught there are 3 more out there.  That's why I don't do statistics



Good for a psych paper

Rating~~3 

The Help

The Help Synopsis

This suddenly popular novel addresses being in the deep redneck south from the point of view of, several maids working in their white lady's kitchen.  All of these stories are told to one of the more open minded white lady's who is taking all the information and making it into a book. (how ironic)  It is nice to see both sides of the stories and how they are being received by each side.  You will learn a story from the maid and see how it affects the lives of the other characters.  I would love to say that this is a complete fabrication of what us southern white ladies behavior is really like...but I can't.  The "head cheerleader" of the book was what I found accurate.  In small towns the popular's from high school tend to roll over as the important's in your adult life.  Sad but true and portrayed as such here (Jackson not really small now but you get it)  I wish we could have heard more of  the maids stories, thought that was kinda of the point of the book, but not so much.  Some of the maids you found out their name but nothing else, not who they worked for or anything.  The stories from the few maids were very good, I like that there was not just a total smack down on all the white ladies there were good and bad attitudes toward and between the maids and their employers.  These women spend so much of their lives together raising children and participating in each others daily life, its good to see that some of the women have a real relationship a bright spot in the middle of nasty background; that not everyone was a huge douche and some people considered these women family. Just shows you shouldn't judge people by what they do as a profession.   


Good for a historical eye opener

Rating~~2

Mockingjay

Mockingjay Plot Summary

 Hunger Games series finished...the trilogy took me about a week and half or two to devour.  The final book was just as easy a read as the other two were.  The rebellion is highlighted in the finale and it is violent and bloody considering this is a teen book, but some of the ways people die is kind of awful.  The last year of fighting once again brought about a type of hunger games scenario, run through the maze killing everyone in your way, the last ones alive win. This means that it is easy to lose 2 hours in a big fight scene and not realize it because you just want to find out who comes out in the end.  I will have to say there is a lot of death all around the board and I know this is hard on the main character, but I find it interesting that a 17 year old girl spends so much time in a drug induced haze to avoid her mental anguish.  Hahahaha sorry just kidding most everyone is like that at 17 no matter their circumstance, what I found interesting is that the author drew pretty obvious attention to the affects of drug use.  It took this thought, and the end of the final book to see the cliché author metaphor, while obviously a fictional story this was a book that had a strong ring of reality running through it, only a few tweaks to the circumstances could bring this to modern day. (not the killing kids thing but the war thing).  On first finishing the book, I was disappointed it didn't have the ending I wanted: I wanted a happy story book ending (which the author tried to remedy with the epilogue..bleh) but in real life there are no story book endings.  There was very little happy to be drawn from this series it was a story of a death and politics and how manipulation gets you what you want.  I enjoyed it not for this depressing reason, but because its comforting to see someone standing up for what's right not what's easy. Its how good stories start; with a hero.  None the less it could have used maybe a little brighter ray of sunshine somewhere before the epilogue.

Good for sensitive guys  if there are any

Rating~~3 

Catching Fire

Catching Fire Plot Summary

Yes, that's right I have finished another one!  All that's left is the final book in the trilogy and I think I will move from series' for a bit.  I'm sure its getting old.  Anyway, this book further proves my theory of disliking sequel.  The book got considerably better in the end, but in the beginning all I could think was really? We are doing this again?!  It also had a very twilighty feel in the beginning with the main female character being "caught" in between two beautiful awesome men. Oh to be so lucky...not saying she doesn't pay an enormous price that I wouldn't want to pay but none the less a place most women would want to find themselves.  In the beginning they could have changed her name to Bella.  After he finally makes a decision it becomes less so and the story gets interesting.  The games are just as evil especially considering the group of  victors expected to fight.  The clothes are marvelous as usual and  the games while horrifying was interesting.  Its nice to have a popular book no revolve completely around someone's relationship.  Don't get me wrong there is that mushy feeling stuff in there a lot but not quite so obviously dramatic.  While I was not particularly crazy for this book it did it's job; build up to the finale and make me wanna finish the series.  I'm told the last one is really good and I hope to see some rebellious and foolish choices along with maybe some more stellar clothes! =)

Good for hard-ass Bella fans mostly

Rating~~3

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games Plot Summary

**Major Motion Picture**

P.S. readers I do try to set up my synopsis link to the authors sites.  With the HP books this was not possible so I had to scour the internet for something neutral and wikipedia won out most times.  With me moving on i'm trying to revert back to the author sites so yall will have the chance to look for sequels or other works by that author

So in a mere 4 days I have succumbed to the requests of my FB friends and my one lonely vote on my blog  poll and read The Hunger Games.  I will admit that I wanted to see the movie but, felt that I should read the book first and I am so glad I did.  After reading books that I  already knew how the ending came about, I forgot how good a new story can be.  Routing for whichever side you want to win and staying up until the wee hours of the morning  promising yourself it will stop when you finish this chapter.  Due to this temptation and lack of sleep I finished this book in three days!  I loved it in a sick and disturbing way.  What these people do is gut wrenching and how people stand by and let this happen is ridiculous.  Not saying that people are not capable of it of course (holocaust) but I like the world of people not condoning the death of so many for outright entertainment.  Alas then there would be no storyline right!  Some of my favorite parts are that the chicks are just as bad-ass as the dudes if not more.  The main character I also love because she is essentially the dude in this whole story: hard, independent, ruthless at times unlike most girl vs. boy stories.  The action is good and mostly continuous and, even when there is a lull, the story is so intense I don't get bored or even really notice the lull.  Overall great read and while I despise sequels I do look forward to seeing what happens next to the bad-ass 

Good for future apocalyptic action adventure chick

Rating~~1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows $$POILER$

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Plot Summary

Note: the $ sign indicates the sentences with spoiler information
It's done the final review for the Harry Potter series has come.  This is the second time i'll be writing this because of a borrowed computer and the first shot at this was completely deleted and this system immediately saved it so all gone...As always my motto the movie sucked and the book was marvolo-us (ha ha right).  Action, magic and mystery all my favorite things.  I LOVE finales they pack in all the good stuff up to the last chapter and this was the same way no more boring back ground info because the story doesn't keep going, this is it!  I find it interesting as a whole that this teenager has taken all this in stride and everyone is ok with that, the whole town could hate a 15-17 year old and want to kill him is a horrible thought.  In saying that I will be completely hypocritical and say I that I was
$-slightly disappointed in the end of the book I know everyone likes fuzzy cuddly endings but this was
$-building up for 6 books all his family was already dead I think he should have kicked it i'm sorry but him $-magically back to life is kinda annoying.  It was his destiny to go out with a bang not come back and
$-live 20 years and have kids, kinda lame.  Otherwise, I like to see personal conflict and a large conflict in the main cast I  think its nice that the kids aren't impervious to the massive pressure they are under, and it is not  just glanced over as a minor detail.  I am sad to say that many of my favorite characters died in this book which upset me slightly, not gonna lie.  Some of them tortured not in a literary graphic way but, enough to avoid this as a bedtime story. The whole story was like the maze from book four, you go in different directions all the turns lead to something different and at the end it was so much bigger than you thought.  I enjoyed the ending whether or not I agreed with the outcome or not, especially how the whole story was summarized so that I understood the whole story in a non cryptic way.  It can get a little confusing in the end trying to tie all the shreds of information together otherwise. Maybe I just forget all the threads and this helps me remember whichever it is greatly appreciated it.

Good for older kids like the last few

Rating~~1

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Plot Summary

Duh duh duh duhhhhh!!!!   The second to last book, and the last of the HP books I have actually read, no matter how long ago.  The book was pretty great other than the awful but necessary ending.  As the story itself  goes I really enjoyed it, lots of action and some puzzle working, though one of the main conflicts is maddining, if I didn't already know the end (which is why the book usually comes before the movie) I would be livid with the whole of this book.  Not in a bad way,the build up to the final is awesome so much so I even sat and read in the middle of the afternoon until I finished it. There was only like 200 pages left but the point is I sat down and just read.  I forget how nice it is to sit and read on a nice day.  I do wish that I remembered how I felt after the first time I finished reading HP 6; before I knew how the whole story went down.  Yet another reason that TV is evil, it sucks you into a movie  series and you want to finish watching the movies but it then ruins the book.  On an off note the editor of this book must have fallen asleep on the job. I lost my groove several times trying to figure out the context of a word. Maybe I just don't know enough about a Brits word usage to realize twilit is in fact a word and used in 2 different tenses. Not the only mistake but one that stopped me several times while reading sad day. Anyway this book may be tied with HP 4 for my favorite HP and am looking foward to the final chapter. I'm almost glad she didn't cop out for the money and fame by keeping the series going after its prime.  I will warn readers that Harry takes and even deeper plunge into the dark side so if there are parents reading this keep this in mind for the young 'uns reading.  Death and torture in MILD doses.

Good for the darker HP fans  

Rating~1

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix Plot Summary

To start with I want to bring attention to the survey I have posted to your left! To my few, but awesome readers I would ask that you pick a book and give me a push in one direction or the other of what to read when I finish the HP series.  So I have FINALLY finished the LONGEST Harry Potter book.  I'm sad to say it was somewhat of a chore to get through entire book.  In all fairness I was sick for three days and didn't feel much like reading, so maybe I lost my groove and it ruined the story for me.  Now saying that and being a glass half empty kind of person I am going with it was so-so.  There were definately good parts in the book but I feel there was way more filler than neccessary.  With the combination of the new defense teacher and the ministry being huge tools we didn't need 300 pages telling us how huge of a rusted hammer (cheesy, but eh) these people were.  I am hoping all this information may become useful in the books to come otherwise kind of a waste.  I think the biggest problem I had with this book was that Harry was kind of me..me..me.. to everyone whether he deserved it or not.  Of course he is a 15 year old so I guess that is typical just midly annoying.  The book started getting better towards the end  when the action and information became available.  Now, this is where the books start getting very dark and twisty.  In the early books they always ended with a happy care free feeling, that ends in this book, now Harry enters the world of a powerful Voldermort and a less than sure future. 

Good for PG kids and up

Rating--4

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Plot Summary

It is been brought to my attention that the font I chose for  my blog was hard to read, sooooo we will see if this new font is any better and I changed the font color a little to help with that too.  Well enough with niceties on to fabulous number four! This horribly cheesy line possibly borrowed from an Evonivich novel may acctually apply here.  While I do not remember much from the last half of the series I do remember this book being my favorite!  I love all the  the tasks and what the champions have to accomplish in order to survive them. Maybe I just like seeing what the brilliant wizards of the magical world can put together to prove what  a champion is made of and how the students either exceed or fall short of everyones expecations.  Not only is there a huge competition for the school to unite together but there is of course the Voldermort story.   I'm happy to say his tale finally takes more of a role in this book; not just as a memory or via a minion, this story involved him in a plot that unraveled finto the capture of one HP! Love it.  There is less information on any school proceedings; i.e. quidditch, the house cup, classes.  There is some touch on the boys divination class and of course the studying for the tasks but nothing too in depth  Not that, that is bad its just a sidetrack in the story that I enjoy.  I have to say I love Quidditch and its not really in this story much =(

Good for~ Olderish  kids due to the presence of death 

Rating~ 1!!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Plot Summary

OK  HP 3. I'll have to say I remember very little about this book from the first time that I read it and am a little surprised to say I liked this book pretty well.  I watched the movie and it was so horrible I thought the book would be...bleh like the second book was.  Not true! While there is no appearance of Voldermort himself, the book was more about learning at school and on the Quiddich field, but I was not disappointed in the storyline at all or lose motivation to continue reading on like in some sequels.  I liked this story because it developed more of Harry as a character than the previous books.  He has time to have a life at school, or at least you hear more about it and, not only do you get more development with Harry but also with the teachers. Knowing that a very dangerous person is after you and randomly shows up everywhere you are is enough to make for enough suspense through this building of characters.  If I thought some crazy mad man was looking for me and showed up in my bedroom i'd freak out and pee myself, seriously.  The ending does not let down for a huge climax and triumph as the other two books so overall good read.  Do not let the awefulness of the movie deter your chance at a good read.  On the kid side of things I would say the graphic death quota went up.  This book actually addresses an autopsy and mailing missing appendages to a family.  So beware of children if you are anal about violence or you have a really young reader. (under 8?) 

Good read for PG magic fans

Rating~~1 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets





 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Plot Summary

The second book in the famous HP books.  From the other books that I have read this book was one of my least favorites.  Maybe i'm just not a sequels kind of girl I don't know but i'm beginning to see a pattern in my reading.  Maybe its because that I am so impressed by the first book I want the second to be just as awesome and its hard to live up to a best seller hype on a deadline.  That may be what ruins it.  The author may spend years on a first book perfecting it and trying to get it published.  If it hits the best seller list unexpectedly then an author is forced to hurry a sequel for the fame or the money and sometimes sacrificing a good sequel.  On that note this book while having more action taken against the student body and less on Harry himself I found it to be somewhat slower and less interesting.  Not less enough to not continue the series but just in the grand scheme of things, I mean bad guy via book and silly ignorance eh.  Good to know what happened in the end but not exactly the most entertaining plan(absolutely nothing like the movie btw, for more action the movie makers switched the order of the ending).  On the other hand this book was aimed at kids.  The  evil  little bastard was smart as hell though especially for a student, and I can appreciate that but not what i'm looking for in witchy entertainment.

Good for a more of a mystery read

Rating--1(because I did)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone Plot Summary

So we all knew that this day would come that's right it's Harry Potter! I have read these books before but I was like 13 so I don't remember the important little details that help put the whole story together, so i'm starting from the beginning.  The next few books will be the entire HP series all seven.  So, just in case you have lived under a rock  for the past 10 years, this is the orphans dream book.  Harry the orphan finds out he is a famous wizard after living with hateful family members for the first eleven years of his life.  He finds that in another world, not only was he important, but so were his parents. After attending a magical school Harry finds he is constantly reassured of how much his dead parents really loved him and what having a family is really like.  I liked this series the first time I read it at 13 and now after reading it as an adult I can safely say I still enjoyed it.  Books always go more in depth of course than movies and I liked the ending in the book so much better because it was more eventful!  The main characters had to show a little more confidence in their knowledge of magic in the book version which I think adds to their characters as a whole. It is only slightly ridiculous that the greatest wizards in this school set up several of the "hardest" obstacles they could come up with; in order to guard something so important, but a group of first year students were able to get thru these obstacles with relative ease. On another note, despite previous opinions I do not see how this book could damage the psyche of americas youth.  The violence level is PG at best and written well for the age demographic aimed at.  Fortunately the story it is not overly young for avid fantasy/magic lovers.

Good for  magic buffs young and old

Rating--1

Torment

Torment Plot Summary

So I have continued the fallen angel series.  This book would be what I call the big long build up to the next book.  It was kinda like the second twilight, a book of history a little hint at the future and an idea of what the good stuff will be next.  I'm not saying the book was bad (especially compared to the second twilight eggg) It was just one of those books that you know served more as a stepping stone than as part of the story. Anyway, if I am to continue on with the series this was a necessary read to get important information, just not all that entertaining. It was however, a very good representation of a 17 year old girl testing her boundaries at a new school.  I think we all remember those days so at least if your a girl you can relate a little minus the whole magical power angel thing of course.


Good from a continuance to a third book

Rating--4

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children Plot Summary

Good news!! My mother in law got me a gift card to books and million so I got a whole new hoard of books! I'm so excited...wow i'm a nerd.  None the less that means more sum ups for you guys.  This was the book I was most looking forward to reading after I saw it on a book shelf  a few months back.  I found out AFTER seeing it on a best seller shelf that, what do you know, its a teen book..SURPRISE!!!  Anyway, I'm sad to say that it was not as good as I had hoped.  While the idea was really promising and the cover was awesome that is where it ended.  A fictional story framed around authentic antique pictures, I know was a challenge but they were being generous in calling this book teen fiction.  I would classify this as more pre-teenish book or younger.  There is  a little bit of  violence but no more than a video game now.  This  was more interesting on the outside than the inside.  The story basically sums up as a 5 year olds dream sequence.  A boy looses his grandfather to a "monster" in the woods and a spectacular life that he never knew he was a part of suddenly unfolds in front of him.  Very cheesy book.  Good for the kids they can relate adults avoid it not worth it.

Good for a pre-teen

Rating--5