Along Came A Spider by: James Patterson

Review:  Suspenseful and shocking.  I thought that I had predicted the whole book but there were lots of twists.  Once the murderer/kidnapper is caught there is still so much more to the mystery.  I appreciated that the time line in the book was more realistic, it didn't just start with a kidnapping and end a few weeks later with an exciting finish and the kidnapper gets justice.  It took place over a  two year period and the kidnapper being put in prison was only part way through his master plan.  This book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end.

Synopsis:  Two children, with high profile parents, are kidnapped from a private school in Washington, DC.  Detective Alex Cross teams up with FBI agent Jezzie Flannigan as they attempt to find this intense psychopath who is out for fame by committing the crime of the century.  After one child turns up dead the media goes crazy.  Once the kidnapper is caught more mysteries between what really happened begin to surface.  Cross seems to be the only person out for the truth.

Rating: 7

P.S. I Love You by: Cecelia Ahern

Review: This book made me mist up at almost every chapter.  Every letter Holly opened was a trip into the pain she was feeling and also the love that she had experienced.  I don't think I've ever welled up so much while reading.  Her pain is so tangible and real, however the book is fairly predictable.  Overall it is a pleasant read that makes takes you through not only a coping process but through all emotions.

Synopsis:  Holly Kennedy is almost 30 and recently widowed.  Life has stopped for her yet the rest of the world is moving on without her.  A couple months after his death she comes across a large folder filled with envelopes labeled for each month until the end of the year.  Each letter from Gerry brings him back to life for Holly.  He leaves specific instructions to help Holly come and move on with her new life without him.

Rating: 7

One for the Money by: Janet Evanovich

Review:  This book was more of a joke than a criminal mystery.   Nothing about this drab storyline caught my attention or made me want to continue with the series.  The lead role  is utterly unbelievable as any kind of bounty hunter.  Basically, she has a lot of luck when it comes right down to it.  I am still surprised that this series is a best seller.  Its mild violence and mediocre mystery.  Absolutely anyone could write like this, the plot was not well thought out at all.  The only reason I finished it was because it was such an easy read and I held on to the hope that it would get better.

Synopsis:  Stephanie Plum is having some money trouble, and what better way to make some quick cash than by becoming a bounty hunter.  Plum begins working on PG cases and then has to track down an alleged murderer who just so happens to be an attractive ex cop who took her virginity.

Rating: 3

House Rules by: Jodi Picoult

Review:   This book gave many different perspectives into the sudden death a grad student who was tutoring a young man with Aspergers.  I couldn't help but skip ahead to the end;  I just couldn't tell if Jacob killed his tutor Jess or if someone else did.  Picoult puts the answer in front of your eyes but its all the perspective changes that make the answer so hard to see.  Once you start its hard to put down.  The characters are all wonderfully written and well thought out, and each point of view is addicting.

    There is also the added ingenuity of having a murder suspect with an autistic disorder.  Asperger's separates Jacob from other murder suspects with his tics and lack of emotional response.  He is also a genius when it comes to forensic science and knows more than most of the police department.  Its an eye opener for readers who are unfamiliar with the disorder.

Synopsis:  When the body of Jess Oglivy is discovered near her house the prime suspect ends up being Jacob, an eighteen year old boy with Asperger's.  Jacob can't make eye contact with people, can't express emotion, and hates the color orange.  Forensic science is his passion and he will have a meltdown if he misses the 4:30 showing of Crimebusters. He finds himself on trial for this murder, yet he never quite grasps that his future is on the line.  Jacob is the key to this mystery, but its up to his family, lawyer, and the police to piece together what really happened to Jess.

Rating: 8

Safe Haven by: Nicholas Sparks

Review:  Of course this book is predictable, just like the majority of Spark's novels.  This plot, however, has more suspense in it, along the lines of The Guardian by Sparks.  The ending was change from his usual writing; Spark's skips the lovesick tragedy and goes for a thrilling edge of your seat ending. Safe Haven was a fast and captivating read. It was refreshing reading something more dangerous from such a romantic writer.  Although it is still a mild violence but after all it is Nicholas Sparks and not Lisa Gardner writing the story.

Synopsis:  A woman moves to a small town to escape her past.  After slowly adjusting to life in a quiet town she begins to feel safe and let her guard down.  She becomes friends with the widowed shop owner who quickly pieces together her secret.  An abusive husband still desperate to track his wife down and prevent her from ever leaving him again.  Soon things begin to unravel as the psychotic husband learns her whereabouts.

Rating: 8

Assholes Finish First by: Tucker Max

Review:  Max's first book was hilarity from beginning to end (see review for I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell), maybe it was high expectations, but I was disappointed.  Tucker Max is still the sex crazed, arrogant, binge drinker but this collection of his stories just didn't do it.  I re-read his first book earlier this year and still was laughing so hard I nearly wet myself, but not with this new book.

     Basically, Tucker Max is 35 now and his stories of debauchery are hysterical, but when  performed by someone in their 20's.  At 35 I find his shallow life style sad and pathetic.  I am 25 and I love to go out but I don't still do the things I did when I was in college. Most of my friends are settling down and getting married and think I'm an alcoholic. 

     Also another probable reason for the lack of laughs may be due to the fact that his first book was so funny yet this new book did have stories from before the first book was published.  So basically, these stories did not make the cut for his first book, so he saved them for his second? There was clearly good reasons for not putting them in the first book.  Although with that book being a best seller who wouldn't want to write #2 knowing people would buy it because the first one was so awesome. 

     I did enjoy that Max took the time to write about two different relationships he was in.  It was surprising to see this different side of him.  Also I did appreciate the end where he realizes that he is being used for sex.  I made this connection very early on and wondered if Max ever would admit it.  Because of these two parts I am glad I finished the book. Plus its a simple read and didn't take much time.

Synopsis: Check out my review of his first book, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.  Its pretty much the same except the stories are not nearly as ridiculous (except the TuckerFest story because that is crazy).

Rating: 5

Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister by: Gregory Maguire

Review: This is not the enchanting story that Cinderella fans may be hoping to find.  Magic is very slight and only near the end.  However, the twisted take on this classic fairy tale is welcome.  A refreshing story through the point of view someone painted as the villain for ages is insightful.

     While reading this novel I kept thinking, this really could have happened.  Which tended to slow the book down a bit, at parts it was more like reading a historical bio than this revamped children tale that the world is very familiar with.  

Synopsis: The story of Cinderella but through the eyes of her step-sister (just in case the title did not give it away).

  

Review: 7

The Lost Symbol by: Dan Brown

Review:  Unlike Brown's other novels, this one both starts and ends slow.  Slow to the point where I can't believe I powered through it.  Brown rambles on and on at the end.  After all is said and done and the bad guy is dead there is still like 60 pages left where they go into depth about this 'lost symbol.'  Waste of time, why don't we just wrap it up in 10 pages or less once the adventure is over. Thanks Dan Brown. 

     Maybe it was high expectations from reading his other fast paced and exciting novels.  In this book though, I was unimpressed.  The Lost Symbol just does not pick up the momentum like the other Langdon novels.

Synopsis:  Robert Langdon is suddenly finds his old friend murdered.  This mystery pulls him into secret world surrounding the Masons.  Clues, puzzles, and the Lost Symbol are themes in this story.  And to be honest, I forget the rest.  I remember being bored and hoping for suspense. 

Rating: 2

The Devil Wears Prada by: Lauren Weisberger

Review:  A light quick read.  Very entertaining and hysterical.  Personally, I drew lots of parallels between Miranda and someone I work with, so it sucked me in a bit more.  To be far, no one is nearly as bad as Miranda.  At some points I was just awe struck that someone could be so selfish and inconsiderate.  It was amazing that just because this one woman was a genius fashion editor everyone else had to spend their time catering to her.  I can't believe any company would allow such a waste of company funds and resources would be spent just to appease this woman; that was the fictional part.  

Synopsis:  A young aspiring writer fresh from college, Andrea, stumbles across the 'dream' job assisting Miranda Priestly the chief editor of Runway.  Unfortunately for Andrea, Miranda is beyond impossible to please.  Miranda never gives enough information to accomplish any task, criticizes everything, and she demands the world. However, after one year with Miranda she can get you a job in any publication you want.  Andrea tries to stick out the job for her one year sentence, but the job immediately consumes her life and destroys her relationships.  One year begins to feel like a life sentence. 

Rating: 8

The Dead Room by: Heather Graham

Review: This is a different kind of ghost story, the spirits in this novel actually help the heroine.  The ghosts lead the archaeologist Leslie, to grave-sites and  even try to warn her or stop harm from befalling her. Also Leslie is not afraid at all of ghosts, she has learned to help them.  All very different concepts when you open a book you know will be suspenseful. 

     Overall, I would have to say that this book is only a mild suspense/mystery.  There is minimal danger and description of it.  I did think that I had predicted the entire book, but it was nice to be wrong.  I was surprised by the villian, and at how the book ended.  A good read for someone who doesn't want anything too scary or messy.

Review:  Leslie is an archeologist who's fiance was tragically killed in an accidental explosion, one that nearly killed Leslie as well.  She returns to the scene a year later and with a new ability to communicate with ghosts. Leslie begins working with Joe (the cousin of her dead fiance) on a case to help find prostitutes that have gone missing, in addition to working on a large dig near the place of the explosion.

     Leslie is desperate to connect with her lost love, Matt, and he is trying just as hard to break through to her as well. Strange 'accidents' begin to happen around Leslie and she struggles to find clues to lead her to the missing women. Matt is trying to help in his own way, and Joe feels the strong need to protect Leslie and find the missing girls.  With the help of some spirits the story unravels.

Rating: 7

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by: Tucker Max

Review: Beyond hysterical, sometimes horrible but laugh out loud funny nonetheless. There are several stories where I actually came close to peeing myself. I find a lot of Tucker Max's story a bit absurd and have trouble believing that he isn't embellishing.  Either way Tucker Max's writing style brought me back to my college days; I'd even picture my favorite bars and match up my friends with the characters in Tucker Max's life.

  Tucker Max is a self-admitted asshole and he isn't embellishing there.  Tucker Max and his friends sole focus is alcohol and sex, yet each story is remarkably different.  His sense of humor is the same as the vast majority of college students, he just takes it to the next level.  His drinking and sexcapades will leave you breathless.  Also, the reader will be left unable to put the book down.  I read it in less than a day and immediately went out and bought more copies to give to friends who I knew would love it.

Synopsis:  Tucker Max tells the different stories of his out of control boozing and crazy man-whore ways.   Not even Tucker Max can predict where he will end up next.  One day he is trying to out drink himself with the breathalyzer he bought and another day he is crapping his pants in a hotel lobby.  These are the true adventures of an asshole.

Rating: 10

Shutter Island by: Dennis Lehane

Review: Absolutely gripping! This was one of the only times that I had seen the movie before reading the book.  After reading this story I was shocked by just how closely the movie did follow the book.  Both were incredibly suspenseful and entertaining. 

    Shutter Island is a fast paced read that you don't want to put down.  The twist in this psychological thriller keeps you guessing right up until the end and even after that.  But everyone's mind is going to interpret it as they will (the movie will leave less to the imagination).  In this case I recommend both the movie and the book, but if you don't like spoilers check out the book first. 

Synopsis:  Teddy Daniels is a detective sent to Shutter Island to search for a missing patient who vanished from the asylum and it would seem, off the island itself.  A storm maroons Daniels and his partner for longer than he originally thought.  He begins to unearth some strange stories from the patients about illegal experiments and other disappearances. Soon Daniels realizes that if he doesn't escape it could be him next.

Rating: 8

The Mortal Instruments Series by: Cassandra Clare

Review: Fairly creative, and quite predictable.  All three books are quick, captivating reads.  Once again I find myself reading a story with a heroine who is an uncoordinated idiot.  And once again she has two guys that are in love with her.  It was discouraging for me when I first started reading it, but I got over it. The character development is limited but enough that the heroine is not nearly so pathetic come the end of the series.

     Clare does create an interesting world involving warlocks, vampires, shadowhunters, and many others.  However, her story line is quite predictable.  At the end of the first book a "twist" is revealed, however it is made quite clear what the real story is.  The main characters are just to blind to see the truth until the end of the third book.  This is also frustrating, because the truth is painfully obvious.

Synopsis: Clary Fray is at a dance club in Manhattan when she witnesses a strange murder.  She suddenly becomes sucked into a world that exists within our own, hidden by 'glamour.'  Her mother has been kidnapped and Clary and her new shadowhunter friends are out to get her back.  Her best friend Simon, who is a mundane, comes along for the ride and in the middle gets turned into a vampire.  Clary finds herself attracted to the shadowhunter Jace and the feelings are mutual.  She also discovers her uncle is a werewolf.  

     The most shocking discovery for Clary was that her mother was a shadowhunter who was married to Valentine, a shadowhunter bent on destroying all the downworlders, and those who sided with them.  Valentine died in an uprising, or did he? The mortal instruments are being stolen and each holds dangerous powers that can be manipulated by the beholder.

Rating: 7

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by: David Wroblewski

Review (spoiler alert): After hearing rave reviews of this book from People magazine and Oprah, I decided that I had to read it. It had a very slow beginning, considering that this story is about what happens to a mute boy and his dogs after his father's sudden death. Well, the father dies like close to the half way point in the book and you are just waiting for it. And waiting and waiting. Once he begins his adventures in the woods and the quest to find his father's killer it almost starts to get interesting but just doesn't.

I powered through this book expecting a fantastic ending, but was sadly disappointed. In fact I was horribly pissed off when both the boy and his uncle, who killed his father, both die.  Blurbs about this book can sound enticing, a mute child, ghosts, fictionally smart dogs, and a mystery.  Don't be pulled in.

Synopsis:  A boy born mute out in the country where he and his parents breed exceptionally smart dogs.  One day his Uncle appears into their live and problems begin to arise.  Under strange circumstances the father dies.  The boy eventually realizes it was his uncle's doing and escapes with some of the dogs he was training into the woods.  Eventually he returns and everything falls apart. 

Rating: 0

The Bone Garden by: Tess Gerritsen

Review:  Completely captivating, Gerritsen's writing pulls the reader right back into the 1830's for a suspenseful mystery.  Gerritsen paints a vivid picture for the imagination with her descriptive writing. And in addition this book was emotionally enthralling as well.

     The plot was well thought out and had me guessing right up until the very end.  I loved the back and forth from the present to the past, although the past was my favorite part.  This book read like a movie, I still have the images in my mind.  

Synopsis:  After going through a divorce, Julia buys a house out in Boston.  While gardening one day she happens to dig up a skull and unearth a mystery.  She begins to research the former occupants of the house, even driving up to Maine to visit with an elderly man connected to the resident.  What she finds is a string of unsolved murders from the 1830's.  Pregnant women dying during childbirth and nurses all  murdered.  

     In the 1830's Rose is an attractive and poor Irish immigrant whose sister just died giving birth to her niece.  Someone is after the baby, and Rose is the only person to have seen the dark shrouded figure who murdered her sisters nurse and possibly her sister.  She takes the baby and goes into hiding.

    Norris is a poor and talent student studying to be a doctor.  He has the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes the prime murder suspect. Norris goes in search of the one person who has seen the real killer.  Together they work to find the answers behind these deaths and stop the killer.

Rating: 10

The Host by: Stephenie Meyer

Review:  Not nearly as captivating as her Twilight Saga, most the characters are extremely forgettable.  The writing is mediocre and it matches the storyline.  The storyline was a twist on an old classic, pod people taking over the world.  This plot had potential to be a great story, but its long and drawn out.  Meyer needs to shorten this book by 300 pages and it'd be a much better read. 

Synopsis:  Aliens take over the world, they are silver almost worm like creature implanted into humans brain. The alien host has to deal with the memories from its former human.  One alien, Wanderer, struggles in a constant mental battle with her human host, Melanie.  Eventually, she succumbs to her human and goes in search of her brother and the man she is in love with.  

      Wanderer stumbles on a hidden human colony living in the desert including the two men she was looking for.  The humans debate whether or not to kill her; she may be bringing the other aliens to wipe out their rebellion.  After a time they begin to trust her and incorporate her into their world.  She begins to sympathize with the humans, and doubt the decisions of her species to just take over another.  Wanderer becomes a great ally, she teaches them about her species and even helps them on raids into civilization.

Rating: 7

Something Borrowed by: Emily Giffin

Review: Currently, I am the maid of honor in a wedding and could not resist reading this book.  I couldn't put it down; it is a quick and easy read so I wasn't holding onto it for too long.  When you read the synopsis you think, how could any MOH do that to her best friend! I was appalled, but then at the end of the book you really feel for the main character.  This book really shows the reader that there are two sides to every story and not everything is as cut and dry as you want to believe. 

Synopsis:  On the night of her 30th birthday, Rachel suddenly finds herself in bed with a man who is not only engaged, but she is the maid of honor in the wedding.  Rachel has always followed the rules, went to a good college, never had one night stands, and was a solid friend.  She doesn't know how to process what she did to her best friend, Darcy and soon she finds herself falling in love with Dex, the fiance.  The feelings are mutual and Rachel becomes torn between the most powerful love she has ever experienced and a lifetime love for her best friend. 

Rating: 8

The Alchemy of Stone by: Katerina Sedia

Review: A weird, uninteresting book.  I should have stopped reading it but I persisted.  At one point a machine and a man have intercourse; I thought to myself "Why am I still reading this?"  The book made no sense either.  The main character is a very advanced automaton, yet they live in a town where carriages are pulled by giant lizards and orphans are molded into deformed creatures to work in the mines.  They don't have machines to do this, but they have robots that can mimic human intelligence? Really? The didn't invent automated vehicles first?!

Synopsis: Maddie is a free automaton and an alchemist.  Her master is a mechanic and also holds the key to her 'heart' which needs to be wound for her to continue to function.  There is civil discourse in the city between the Gargoyles, Mechanics, and Alchemists.  Maddie finds herself in the middle of all this. 

Review: 0

The Nanny Diaries by: Emma McLaughlin & Nichola Kraus

Review:  When I picked up this book I had very low expectations and was pleasantly surprised when I couldn't put it down.  The Nanny Diaries is a hysterical and emotionally captivating read. McLaughlin and Kraus have a different writing style, and I personally loved it.  They write out there thoughts in the way I imagine I would if I were to ever write something bigger than a blog.  Its that style of writing that makes the reader laugh out loud.

Synopsis (Spoiler Alert):  A broke college student living in NYC takes a nanny position with a rich family on Park Ave.  Nanny quickly learns that Mrs. X takes no real part in her childs upbringing despite the fact that Mrs. X does not work, cook, or clean.  Nanny is at her constant beck and call.  Nanny and the child, Grayer, have a rocky start but soon form a tight loving bond.  As the marriage of the Xe's begins to crumble Nanny is pulled in.  The ending is horribly depressing.

Review: 9

For One More Day by: Mitch Albom

Review:  A quick, easy, touching read. This book really make the reader contemplate their relationship with their mothers.  It puts a perspective on life and how the ones you love can really make all the difference. It only takes a few hours to read and it will make you think about your loved ones and the effects they have on your life.

Synopsis: Chick Benetto was a washed up sports player with an alcohol problem. His wife leaves him and his daughter doesn't even invite him to her wedding. Chick's failed attempt at suicide results in him spending one more day with his deceased mother.  She takes him to several appointments with people from the past.  She shows Chick just how much she loved him and everything she did out of love.  Her story becomes his story and when he survives he treats life like the wonderful gift that it is.

Review: 7

The Lucky One by: Nicholas Sparks

Review: A much more upbeat and unusual love story for Spark's, and the ending isn't as tragic as many of his works.  Besides the more positive ending, Spark's deviates from his usual writing.  Instead of the two characters falling madly in love in two weeks, Thibault and Elizabeth actually take the time to get to know each other.  These two differences are what made me really appreciate the story, more than almost all of Spark's novels. The concept was a bit too far fetched, but it is still fiction.

Synopsis: Thibault is a marine fighting abroad in the war, when he comes across a photograph in the desert.  He picks it up and tries to find the owner, after no one claims it for some reason he holds onto this picture of a woman he has never met.  Thibault begins to beat the odds and miraculously survive in numerous fatal scenarios. One of his comrades tells him that this picture is what is saving his life.  After his time in the Marines is up, Thibault returns to the states and begins to search for this girl.

     After walking across most the of country he finds Elizabeth, sister to a deceased Marine.  He begins working right next door for her grandmother's kennel.  Slowly he gets to know Elizabeth and her son, and all too soon, her insane ex husband who is also a police officer.  Elizabeth's exhusband is not ready to give her up to this stranger, and seeks to rid the town of Thibault.

Review: 9

Lucky by: Alice Sebold

Review: This book is based upon a life changing traumatic experience, but after you get past the horrible incident it becomes quite dull.  I feel awful for what this woman experienced, no one should have to go through that.  The true story of a rape that took place near the Syracuse University campus was what prompted me to pick up the book.  It did make me realize how long and strenuous the after math of a rape can be, especially for the rare few who want to convict their attacker. But the long drawn out way it was written was hard to get through.  I felt that there was a lot of unnecessary parts about the detailed legal aspects, which caused me to lose interest. Kind of like reading the dull parts to Law & Order: SVU.  It was still a decent real look into how someone copes when something life changing and horrible happens.  I will always remember this book.

Synopsis:  A young college girl is raped on her walk back home one night.  She eventually sees her rapist on street near the school and he is finally apprehended.  The book then details the legal process. Also the horrible ordeal this girl was put through as well as her healing process. As it may be expected, she has issues with men after;  she also has an issue with drugs. She appears overcomes them and write this memoir of her experience.

Rating: 6

The Neighbor by: Lisa Gardner

Review:  In the beginning I found this book to be a bit mellow compared to Gardner's other works. However near the middle I started making connections to another book by Gardner, one of my favorites of hers.  That idea drew me right in.  Being a huge fan of Gardner's I have read everything she has written, but not realizing most of them had an order I read whatever one I could get my hands on at the library. The Neighbor is one of her newer books and I had read everything else prior to picking up this book, thank God! It was amazing when the light went on in my head and I made that connection.  That made me appreciate the book on a whole new level. 

   For those of you interested, read Say Goodbye first.  Say Goodbye was terrifying and one of my favorites (that review will come another time though). I highly recommend reading these books, although honestly, I recommend everything by Lisa Gardner. 

Synopsis:  A wife suddenly goes missing from her home, and the only person who was there is her 4 year old daughter.  The husband becomes a prime suspect as he begins to hide evidence and doesn't seem to want to help police officers find his wife.  On the outside they look like the perfect couple, but Detective DD Warren begins to pull at the threads unraveling more than she ever dreamed possible.

Rating: 9

Deception Point by: Dan Brown

Review: Although not nearly as well known, Deception Point was one of my favorite of Brown's books.  The storyline is fast paced from the beginning and doesn't stop til the end.  Also this book doesn't have the strong ties to religion like some of Brown's more famous books; a point that I greatly appreciated in Deception Point.

    Instead Deception Point brings the reader to think about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. However, that short lived idea bubble is popped and the reader is given nothing but suspense as a plot to sabotage NASA is revealed.  

Synopsis:  A colossal meteorite is found buried deep in the Milne Ice shelf, Rachel Sexton of the National Reconnaissance Office is asked to go and confirm the findings.  Once she arrives she quickly realizes why this meteorite was so important, it contains fossils of extraterrestrial creatures.  This discovery will be huge for NASA, especially with the new politicians argument being to severely cut funding and open space travel to the public.  A finding of this magnitude will renew the peoples faith in NASA and crush this political battle.  

   But something is off with these findings; a small group of scientist and Rachel discover that this meteorite is a fake.  Their lives are now in danger as they race to contact the President of the United States and warn him before he can go public with this information.  The fate of NASA, the Presidential election, and Rachel's life all depend on how fast she can inform the President and find out who is behind this sabotage.

Review: 9

Percy Jackson & The Olympians by: Rick Riordan

Review:  This series was a very creative and enchanting story for young adults.  An easy read for any over the age of 14, but still a fun adventure for all ages.  I greatly enjoyed this series; although I did wish that Percy Jackson was older at least to make me feel better about myself for reading a kids book. But I've read them more than once (not like it took long) and still love it. After reading it through for the second time I did feel that it was just a bit too easy.  There are parallels to Harry Potter (my favorite YA series, still waiting to review that one) and that can be a bit annoying.     

      However, Riordan's concept was original and I loved the fact that it was based on ancient Greek religion.  Riordan does what J.K. Rowling did (although not nearly to the same extent) and create a world.  He draws inspiration from ancient Greece, yet he makes it his own.

Synopsis:  Percy Jackson is just your average kid with ADD and mild dyslexia, and trouble seems to follow him everywhere.  Well, that's how it seems until Percy learns the truth; he is a demi god.  His mother is an average mortal woman, and his father is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Percy begins his training at Camp Half Blood, and learns that his father is one of the Big Three, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, all of whom made a pact not to have anymore children.  Throughout the series Percy and his friends battle fabled monsters such as Medusa and the Hydra.  Percy befriends some Gods and makes enemies of others. All five books lead up to a choice Percy will have to make.  He is the half blood of the prophecy and the fate of the Gods rest in his decisions.

Review: 8

Jurassic Park by: Michael Crichton

Review:  Lots of scientific mumbo jumbo threatens to overwhelm the reader, but just when you are about to lose interest Crichton pulls you back in with something exciting and suspenseful.  If the science portion would have been shortened it would have been much better (and faster).  Its easier to get past the slow parts if you've seen the movie because you know that more adventure is coming.

Synopsis:  Scientists discover a way to extract dinosaur DNA from fossil, and actually bring back many varieties of dinosaurs.  Looking to capitalize on this idea, a theme park is created on a remote island.  Specialists are called in to take a tour and be the first to experience Jurassic Park when things awry.  A power outage allows many of the dinosaurs to escape their habitats, soon everyone is fighting for survival and a way off the island.

Review: 4

Dear Catastrophe Waitress by: Brendan Halpin

Review: When I opened this book I expected a cute, predictable love story; it was definitely cute but not as predictable as I expected.  I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed a storyline like this.  Halpin does a great job of developing his characters, which I feel certain authors (especially romance authors) don't take the time to do.  This is what makes the difference, each of the main characters experience so much in their separate lives and then they finally meet. The character development makes the reader wonder, if they had met when they were in their teens would it have worked?  The trials and tradegies the characters experience shape them into who they become as adults, this is such a foreign concept in love stories.

Synopsis: Mark meets his first girlfriend in college, and falls madly in love with her.  They each have experienced the loss of a loved one and Mark feels that it is something they can bond over.  His girlfriend pursues a career as a punk rocker and creates a hit song called "the Two Minute Man."  Mark becomes infamous at college, this song ruins his dating life as it becomes a chart topper.

     Philippa is living with her father in London at the time and dating a loser singer, who only uses her for money and sex.  Philippa decides she is going to end it, how ever before she does her boyfriend catches her cheating on him.  He writes his own chart topping song called, "Philippa Cheats."  After making her life a nightmare in the UK she moves back to the states.

     Years go by and both Mark and Philippa experience even more challenges from relationships.  That is until the day that they finally meet.

Review: 9

Dog On It by: Spencer Quinn

Review:  Dog on it is a funny, cute story. Its a quick read, and provides a good view of the world through a dog's eyes. You fall in love with the dog quickly, and laugh. Dog owners would really appreciate this book, because it really puts a voice to a dog's thoughts. It can be a bit repetitive, but that's because of the dog's memory.

Now clearly, unrealistic story, but besides that this dog is both extremely smart and stupid at the same time. I feel that Quinn did not put a lot of research into it. The dog in the story, Chet, just barely failed out of the canine academy, yet there will be times when he doesn't stay when he is told to, or is doing something he shouldn't, etc. I have actually interacted with a dog that just barely failed out of whatever school dogs go to to become helper dogs. And honest to God if you told this dog to stay, it stays until told to move. I'm talking hours if the dog is forgotten. But most people don't have this knowledge and wouldn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but it bugged me occasionally.

Synopsis:  Chet helps, his private investigator owner, Bernie sniff out the disappearance of a missing girl.  Chet's prime suspects are Prince, a cat owned by the girls father and a parrot owned by the mother. However unlikely his suspects are, Chet does find where the girl is now its just a matter of remembering and getting Bernie to understand.  

Rating: 6

Message in a Bottle by: Nicholas Sparks

Review: By far my least favorite Nicholas Sparks book, it was painful to get through.  The concept had the potential to be adorable and sappy, yet Message in a Bottle was an unrealistic tragedy.  Sparks has had a lot of books that I have enjoyed, so I recommend just skipping this one and pick up The Notebook, The Lucky One, or almost any other book Sparks' has written.

Synopsis (Spoiler Alert): While on vacation a woman finds something, (I bet you can guess) a message in a bottle.  After some research Theresa unearths a couple other letters and magically pieces together enough to go and find the man who wrote these love letters. They meet, and here's a shock, he's single too and her age. They fall in love in a two week span. After a long distance relationship and a fight, he dies.

Review: 0

The Green Mile by: Stephen King

Review:  Let me preface this review by saying that I did see the movie first, which I normally read the book first.  This book followed the movie very well, way better than most book to movie translations.  I was quite impressed because I still love the movie and I now love the book.  The Green Mile will fill the reader with a sense of awe and wonderment.  It will touch your heart and leave you in tears.  And John Coffey really teaches you that you cannot judge based on appearances.

Synopsis:  Paul Edgcombe has been working the Green Mile for years.  He has walked many of the worst convicted killers down that hall, the last steps they will ever take, towards "Old Sparky."  When he meets John Coffey, a giant of man, who thinks like a child and is afraid of the dark.  Coffey has been convicted of heinous crime, and says nothing about his innocence or his guilt.          

         Miraculous things begin to happen around Coffey and on the Green Mile. Edgcombe will soon be faced with the choice of believing what should be or believing what he sees.  The truth John Coffey shows him will change his life forever.

Rating: 9

Smashed by: Koren Zailckas

Review:  For a story about a young girls struggle with alcoholism it almost brought me to drink.  It was painfully slow.  The only thing that kept my interest was that this girl attended Syracuse University, where I am also an alum.  So I knew what bars she was talking about even without her being able to say their names. Other than that I probably should have called it quits on this one, but I pushed through hoping it would pick up.  Instead I wasted my time and money reading about a girl who did nothing but get wasted.

Synopsis: Girl starts drinking at 14, attends SU where it gets worse, graduates, and quits drinking. Boring. 

Rating: 0

The Help by: Kathryn Stockett

Review:  This isn't a book I would normally have picked up to read, but after joining a book club this was what everyone was reading.  I was surprised when I absolutely loved it; I couldn't put it down.  Stockett takes the reader through all emotions;  its suspenseful, funny, enraging, uplifting, and heart breaking.  

    The Help brings the reader directly into Jackson, Mississippi during segregation.  You really feel what the characters are experiencing.  Its an eye opener for younger people  who didn't experience segregation.  Although, I cannot help but draw parallels to the way homosexuals are being treated today.  Its appalling that in 2010 there are still people who are not allowed to marry someone they love.  Just like not so long ago when it was illegal to have interracial marriages.

Synopsis:  After graduating from college, and not managing to nail down a husband 22 year old Skeeter doesn't know what to do with her life.  She moves back home to Jackson, Mississippi during a time when segregation is at its peak.   She aspires to become a writer but needs something controversial to write about. She decides to start interviewing the black maids who work for white households.  These maids raise their children for them, and once these children grow up they cycle repeats.

     Abigail and Minny are two black maids who agree to help Skeeter, at great personal risk to themselves.  They each have their stories to share about the different abuses they have witnessed or have experienced first hand.  A young black man in the community was beaten with a tire iron just for accidentally using the white bathroom. Another young maid was forced to use "special" soap when she washed, it was actually undiluted bleach.  These are just the side stories Minny and Abigail tell, knowing that a fate much worse than a tire iron will happen if they are found out telling the truth.

Rating: 10 

The Perfect Husband by: Lisa Gardner

Review: I am a huge fan of Lisa Gardner and have read all her books, this one is an older one and it was terrifying!  I couldn't put it down. Gardner's imaginative thriller has you on the edge of your seat. Don't read this Gardner book before bed or you won't sleep and if you do, expect nightmares.

Synopsis:  Tess married the man of her dreams, a well respected cop who rescued her from her abusive father.  Quickly Tess learns she is married to an even more abusive, totally psychotic man.  Scared for her life Tess helps get him convicted of ten brutal murders.  Constant fear is all Tess knows even with her husband locked up.  Her cunning husband manages to escape and begins to hunt Tess down.  Tess finds help from an ex-marine and an FBI profiler, as the manhunt spins out of control and the bodies keep piling up. Tess turns from the prey to the predator because she knows the only way for her to live is for her husband to die.

Rating: 8

Escape by: Carolyn Jessop

Review:  This is an eye opening non-fiction book about a woman born into the Fundamentalist Church of the Latter Day Saints (FLDS), which is a polygamist sect in Arizona.  Jessop provides an inside look into the practices of this cult.  This book read like fiction, I could not put it down.  The whole time I kept having to tell myself that this really happened and this cult still exists today.  Jessop escaped in 2003, that is only seven years ago.

Synopsis:  At the age of 18 she is married off to a man who is 32 years her senior.  Several of his daughters from his other wives were in Jessop's high school class.  This book shows the abuse and discrimination practiced in this cult and preached as the only way to find salvation.  

     Jessop goes on to have eight children by her husband, one of the children is severely disabled and needs constant care.  The new profit for FLDS begins to make some drastic changes to the community while preaching about the apocalypse, and Jessop realizes it is time to get out. Determined to leave with all eight of her children and maintain custody of them.  Her husband and his wives are all against her.  She leaves with no money and barely enough gas to get out of town.  From there it only gets worse for Jessop. 

Rating: 10

The Wicked Series by: Gregory Maguire

Review: Wicked was a long slow read, Son of a Witch really picked up and had some interesting story lines, slows right back down for A Lion Among Men.  The fourth book has yet to come out, but the third ended with such a cliff hanger I'll push through it.  I've invested this much time into the series I have to see how it plays out.  

      What slows the series down is that the reader anticipates more magic, compared to the subtle undertones that Maguire uses.  If you read any other Maguire books you will find that this is how all of his books are.  However, this series was painful compared to the other works of Maguire's that I have read.

Rating: 4

The Twilight Saga by: Stephenie Meyer

Review (spoiler alert): The Twilight Saga is to books what The Jersey Shore is to television.  Addicting but has no real value to your life.  Don't get me wrong I read all the Twilight books and enjoyed them, I even re-read them multiple times.  I also watch Jersey Shore re-runs, it doesn't make it any better.  

    For those of you who think this is a book about vampire and werewolves, let me set the record straight, this is a LOVE story that happens to include vampires and werewolves. The main character Bella is an unintelligent, uncoordinated, normal mortal girl.  Her boyfriend is an overbearing, sometimes pretentious vampire who is desperately in love with her.  She also has a werewolf who is desperately in love with her, and the more I read this series I couldn't help but think WHY?? How does this idiot girl have two mythical men fighting for her? I'd have been shocked if she had one normal mortal boyfriend.

    Once I get past the obnoxious Bella Swan the series was compelling and addicting.  Very quick reads and fast paced.  The beginning of New Moon drags a bit but other than that it keeps the reader gripped to the pages.  Only in Breaking Dawn does Meyer flex her creative talents when showcasing a varying degree of vampire special skills, the other three books lack imagination.  I still could not get over the fact that in Breaking Dawn, Meyer brings vampires from all over the world to battle the Volturi and they use their words, there is no battle, no blood is shed. What a waste!

Synopsis:  Bella Swan is an average high school student living in, the always rainy small town, Forks with her father.  She soon meets some strange, beautiful people in her high school.  One of them stands out to her; they are drawn to each other.  Soon Bella learns the truth that Edward Cullen is a vampire, yet he abstains from drinking human blood.  They quickly fall madly in love.  Throughout the books there are dangers that threaten Bella's existence and the existence of those around her both humans and vampires.  Bella also become acquainted with the werewolf pack that lives on the reservation.  Soon the werewolves and the 'vegetarian' vampires team up help protect Bella, Forks, and their own families.

 

Rating: 9

The Hobbit by: JRR Tolkien

Review:     An enchanting precursor to the Lord of the Rings.  This book captivates the reader from the start, the adventure begins almost immediately and doesn't relent until the end.   It is a fast read and  written for a younger crowd, but all ages will appreciate it. 

Synopsis:   Bilbo Baggins is quiet, respectable hobbit minding his own business in the Shire when he greets an old man walking past his house.  This old man is a wizard named Gandalf the Grey, and Gandalf deems that Bilbo is to be the fourteenth person for an adventure.  Bilbo has no idea of the wizards plans until the next day thirteen dwarves show up on his doorstep.  The dwarves tell a tale of an old city, gold, and a dragon.  The next day they set off to slay the dragon and take back their treasure.  The road is perilous, especially for a hobbit used to more than just three square meals a day and a cozy bed every night.  Bilbo and the dwarves face trolls, goblins, elves, and other terrible creatures on their way to face the great dragon, Smaug.

Rating: 10

Introduction

  As an avid reader I decided to start a blog to write my own reviews or synopses on books that I've read.  I mainly enjoy fiction books, but the occasional non-fiction is thrown in.  I try to have an eclectic book taste when reading, so I have read varying books from Dear John by Nicholas Sparks and Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.  

Warning: There may be spoilers in some of the reviews, so read with caution.

Rating Scale (0 to 10): 0 is a waste of time and I should have stopped reading at some point, most of these probably won't make my blog; unless it was so bad I feel the need to warn those who may read this. 10 is an absolute favorite and a fantastic read; also a 10 is very hard to attain so they are rare, they will most likely crop up  a lot while i get my blog going, because I want to review my favorites.  9 is really the best most books can hope to achieve.