State of Wonder

State of Wonder Plot Summary 

 I just finished another book and it definitely was not what I expected.  I haven't really decided if I liked the book, but it was interesting.  This book is more on the scientific side and in no way an action packed or even sprinkled book.  If you're looking for a book that you just cannot put down this is not that book.  This was a book you can read when you have other things going on like waiting for an appointment or the laundry to finish.  It was very easy to set down and pick back up at will.  This was a slow paced book almost like the ebb and flow of the river that the story centers around.  On that note the location and research mixed with the natives are what we made the book worth reading.  The descriptions were well done and there were relatable characters that also carried my interest.  If you went to college you would have had a teacher like at least one of these scientists, if you were a science student you may have had them all.  Unfortunately, there is no real climax and I was rather disappointed in how the book ended.  Not so much as to damn the book to my never read again category but when the story ended I was scratching my head in a bad way.  The main reason for my disappointment was a problem I have run into before, the author wrapped up the ending too quickly causing an abundance of unanswered questions most in the last 7-10 pages.  I really hate when they do that, just "oh I'm tired of writing so let's just end it abruptly".  I seriously doubt there will be a sequel so there are these questions forever unanswered.

Rating ~ 3

Zoo

Zoo Plot Summary

I've made it through another book.  I seem to be doing a better job picking books that keep my interest.  Maybe I need to steer away from the chick books for a bit, since they don't seem to be doing it for me as of late.  This book however was awesome.  Obviously a guy wrote it, I can tell by where he put his emphasis in the story line.  More on the action and science than on romance and relationships.  I'm absolutely not faulting him for this, it was refreshing.

Let me preface this entry by saying; i'm a huge lover of animals, not in a crazy vegan eating save all the animals no matter what kind of way, but more like animals deserve to be treated with respect considering they keep us alive and happy kind of way.

This book is not for kids or those who aren't ok with violence that is somewhat graphic.  I wouldn't say it was overly so but there were definitely times when I thought "Ouch, that would really suck," and added a line to "the ways I would never want to die" list.  The storyline was definitely an interesting view on how human pollution can affect the animal population, so much so that it resulted in catastrophic unforeseen consequences.  There also seemed to be a thought process that the animals (or more specifically mammals) were acting as the executioners to humanity as a result of their own selfish actions.  Hopefully, this does not reveal to much more than you would read in the synopsis if it does let me know.
The author jumped around a lot, usually at the most frustrating times and for which I became a little irritated.  They were like little cutaways that didn't have anything to do with the main story line (other than death by animal).  Of course I know this was to build and continue the suspense but arrg! Touche Mr. Patterson Touche.  This is a book that can be enjoyed by men and women which I find to be a rare occurrence.  Women are drawn by the animals men by the violence.  Yes, I'm stereotyping a little but hey they exist for a reason.  There is also a lot of scientific and political tones spread throughout the book but it isn't nauseatingly bad.   This is my first Patterson book and I must say I am impressed.  Good story line, seems well researched (not really my area but sounds accurate) and most important good grammar.  All of this attributed to my positive favor of this book, managed to finish it in about 3 days.

Rating ~ 2

The Martian

The Martian Plot Summary

So when I stared reading this book I didn't realize that it was about to be a movie.  A friend of mine gave me the run down on what it was about and e-mailed me the book.  Yes, that's right e-mailed.  This was my first experience with an electronic book.  I had to download the kindle app and read it on my tiny iPhone screen.  While I appreciate my friend giving it to me i'm so glad I never got an e-reader y'all techies can keep 'em i'll stick to my paper copies.  I know they take up more space but they don't require batteries and they don't make my eyes/head hurt after reading for too long.  On a separate note since this was an electronic copy I had no cover so I just went with the basic non-movie cover.

I really enjoyed this book.  The main character was funny and likable, I actually laughed out loud while reading this book which doesn't happen often.  The main guy was easy to root for all alone in that wasteland.  He kept good spirits despite insurmountable odds and horrible loneliness. The technical stuff and NASA protocol from what i've heard is pretty accurate and incredibly in-depth.  The writer really did some major homework to make sure the book was as accurate as possible. On the down side, there were times that I zoned out while reading just like I did in school.  I never claimed to be a genius, except in boastful jesting, and reading this book made that fact glaringly obvious.   The main reason for the wandering mind was on several occasions I had no idea what the hell the main charter was talking about; mechanics of oxygenators, engineering tasks, and scary math are not my forte.  It's hard to stay focused on what I could never comprehend, but at least I can admit that.  Other than the content that skyrocketed over my head I enjoyed this book, which says something because when stuff gets too technical I get bored.  This is one of the few non-chick books I've read in a while and it was totally worth it.  As always my best advice is read the book before seeing the movie!


Rating ~ 2

The Virgin Suicides

The Virgin Suicides Plot Summary

So I bought this book at Half Priced books with the movie cover.  Since I hate that I found this one cover I liked better.  Kind of a spoiler on what happens but that happens within the first chapter anyway so it's not that big of a spoiler.

  This book was written very well.  Very descriptive, a little wordy, author got off topic at times, but good.  Other than being sad, which with a title like that you shouldn't expect anything different, I enjoyed the majority of the book and finished it in about a day.  There is no foreplay in the beginning you get about 1/2 chapter of description and bam!  You basically hit the ground running with this one.  The middle of the story I found a little annoying only because I was screaming at the parent characters "Are you morons?!"  it is basically a manual for what  not to do with your teenagers at a time of tragedy.  I did get invested in the girls which I believe is a sign of a good book.  I do not mean to offend anyone but the parents went about things in all the wrong ways.  The dad tried but he let the wife make the ill-advised decisions.  They may have had good intentions but they managed to make things so much worse.  Good read but I don't suggest it for the emotionally unstable especially if it's a youngish person who can relate to  any of the characters.  Am I saying this book will incite suicide in the youth of our readers?  No I'm not, but let's not add fuel to a fire.  
    One of the oddest things about this book is what I found in it.  Like I said I bought this from Half priced books meaning it was used.  I found a hand written note in the front that said "Chris I want you to have this.  For when we fall to pieces.  I love you, wholly -Kerry 1/27/2006"   There were various passages underlined throughout the book, some were very odd.  I can't decide if the person was trying to explain something or justify something, I can only hope they didn't take a page from the suicide playbook.  

Rating ~ 3

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby Plot Summary

  I finally finished The Great Gatsby after 5 months of avoiding it for whatever reason.  It was a good book I don't why I was being so difficult,  maybe because it had the stigma of being required reading in school.  I mean no one wants to read something they are required to read. Once I shook that feeling I was reminded that I actually liked this book then and now.
  The language/dialect was difficult for me initially so I drifted in and out some but over all I land firmly in the yes column for read again. I find to my dismay that language and dialect tend to hinder me a lot in reading, so I will no longer hold that against the author unless it's really ridiculous.  Guess that's that Arkansas education coming out... Moving on...
  If you know nothing of this book then know this, the book is definitely a tragedy.  If you are looking for a feel good then pass on this book for now but come back to it when your more in the mood, it's worth it.  I'm not always one for the sad and depressing but this wasn't jump off a bridge sad, more like look at  baby pandas afterward sad. This is definitely one of those book club jackpots, if your into that kind of thing, lots to discuss and argue over.  I think the tragic parts balanced out with the very deep underlying moral, and some really great quotes.   The story centers around Nick who befriends his very rich and mysterious neighbor.  Nick's new friendship with the obscenely popular yet somehow lonely neighbor (Gatsby) lands him in the middle of a Days of Our Lives style plot line.  Our friend Gatsby tries desperately throughout the book to regain something he lost long ago, Gatsby did not seem to grasp that once lost you can't get some things back; no matter how much you want them.  "There are all kinds of love in the world, but never the same love twice"  It's was a hard lesson Gatsby had to learn.  "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."  As I stated Nick was caught in the middle of a very awkward orgy if you will.  I kind of felt bad for Nick, he just was being nice and trying to make a friend, not get all wrapped up in this drama.  The ending had the biggest moral of all and may have shown the authors less than positive opinion of the rich and powerful.

Rating -- 2

The Dark Heroine Dinner with a Vampire

The Dark Heroine Dinner with a Vampire

 First of all sorry for anyone who tried to visit my site and it redirected you to Spam.  Thanks to a super great computer whiz I know hopefully that problem is fixed.

So I have had little time lately and though I would decompress with my fav genre, vampire books.  Unfortunately, this was not a good one to get back in with.  The little stamp you see in the picture was a total lie.  This was not the sexiest romance of the year and if it was then those bestowing this award should really get out more.  There was like one sex bit and after that the sex scenes are just breezed over.  I' m thinking this was a teen romance or hoping so to explain the sexy scenes, but if that was the case the editors should not have advertised the book with that stamp it's false advertising.
Warning there are some spoilers to follow... but the title is a spoiler in and of itself so I guess you better get used to it.  This was a predictable book from the very beginning, predictability is not always a bad thing as long as the story to get there is worth my time.  I mean  come on I liked Twilight and those vampires sparkled for God's sake!  This book was a waste, it was basically a book about Stockholm Syndrome, which they mention on several occasions so of course my mind kept going there.  The female character started out with morals and beliefs and aside from crying every other page was an ok character.  She really did cry an obscene amount she had good reason i'll giver her that, but come on suck it up "girly" you can't cry your whole life.  Of course in the end she caved and gave up on everything she stood for the man who kidnapped her, treated her like dirt, hurt her, and left her to die.  Sounds like a healthy relationship to me.  The fate bit wasn't to bad I liked that part and kept me reading.  I'll admit I really like the fate idea, which may make my opinion of the female character tossing her morals hypocritical, but it's my opinion.
  
**SPOILER** Worst part of the book is there is no real climax, there was two huge build ups in this story and both ended with great disappointment.  The first was between King and Daddy and NOTHING happens, no fight no nothing just a talk of "disappointment" between father and daughter and the end...gag.  The second was the hype of the main female character becoming a vampire, it begins in basically the first few chapters and goes all the way to the end  and the book ends before she even turns!! I wanted to throw the book out the window.  I lost sleep for this horrible ending  What a disappointment.  Around the middle I was actually hooked and thought that it might actually get better, but it didn't. 

Rating ~~ 5

Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore

Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore Synopsis

So I totally splurged and bought a bunch of books recently, so hopefully I will be able to get them all read and more reviews for whoever is still reading!

 This one I think I enjoyed, I know how that sounds but I just couldn't decide.  So Mr. Penumbra lands right in the middle.  The good parts included the book store and the mystery surrounding it's purpose.  Its a secret society kind of thing but for big code nerds.  This of course means there was a lot of computer stuff that I didn't much understand.  I tended to check out when they were going over the computer programming stuff which may have caused me to miss more than I meant to in the story. That was not really the authors fault though, it's mine for being a cyber dud.  During the computer stuff was when my indecision occurred,  the story was not bad I just didn't get it, which means I had trouble staying interested.  Overall, I would say this book was a good way to spend my time I don't feel like I lost out on anything. I just wouldn't consider it one my my favorites.  That doesn't mean I won't suggest it to someone who may get more out of it than I did.



Rating~~ 2.5

The Kitchen House

The Kitchen House Plot Summary

  Finally it has happened after many long months of meh.  A book I enjoyed and couldn't put down!  There may be hope for me yet.  I finished the book in one day, not even the pull of a Law and Order SVU marathon could sway me.

This book was sad but great.  If you've read The Help it had that kind of writing style to it I think.  There are two main characters whose stories, while intertwined, are separated through chapters.  A lot of the plot is pretty predictable but that's not always a bad thing, there was a little bit of a shocker at the end.  I was surprised by this book in a good way, I stayed interested and didn't want to stop reading.  One of the big surprises was that the slaves were so willing to interfere with the house family, especially when the results so often ended in being sold, death, or often severe physically altering punishment. This book was not particularly graphic when it came to punishments but it did insinuate some pretty terrible behavior.  I liked the end even if it was kind of sad.  Overall love it!


Rating~~ 1