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