REVIEW: "An Abundance of Katherines"- BY: John Green

Welcome to another book review! I'm happy to be bringing you another John Green review. I'm kind of on a mission to read every John Green book. With the exception of 2, because I just don't think I will enjoy a book that he has collab writed with.
Anyways... I want to sort of keep this review short and sweet.
"An Abundance of Katherines" is right off the bat, not my favorite John Green book. I didn't realize that this book was published in 2006. This does explain something to me because that was quite some time ago. I was about 13 or 14 back then... (That just made me feel old). I assume this book was at the start of John Green's magical writing. Plus, not every book you write is going to be a hit.

Colin Singelton is a genius. He can anagram most every word and even won a nice sum of money from a trivia game show. He seems to have a lot going for him. But if you ask Colin, he may tell you another story. His life is plagued with the curse of the Katherines. Colin's type just happens to be girls named Katherine. And he has dated and been dumped by 19 of them (well except one, we later learn.)
After been dumped by Katherine-19, Colin leaves town with his friend Hassan. They embark on a mission to figure out the meaning to his life, as well as figure out his "Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability," which he hopes will help him predict future relationships and help him find the girl for him.
*Side Note: this book has math equations. This might be a reason why this book fell a little flat for me.However, I do applaud him on the fact that all the math was legitimately created by a math genius. *

On this adventure, Hassan and Colin stumble upon an tour of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand's death plot. This pit stop became more than a pit stop, it became for all intents and purposes, their home. Now enters, Lindsey. She gave Hassan and Colin the tour and later introduces them to her mother who employs the boys in her factory. Lindsey teaches the boys about the town and the factory that keeps the town going strong. Lindsey, Hassan and Colin go on many adventures and learn a lot about love.

In the end, Colin completes his Theorem and finds that love can not be defined. It can't be explained but that it is infinite. Colin and Lindsey end up falling for each other. Therefore, breaking the curse of the Katherines and also the predictability of the Theorem.

I didn't particularly find this book enthralling. It didn't really keep me coming back other then the fact that I wanted to finish it so I could review it for the blog. The math equations throughout the book definitely threw me off. I felt that it took away from the real story line and message that the book could have. Regardless, John Green still has a way with words that still makes you want to know how it all ends.  The characters were hilarious and full of unique complexities. It wouldn't necessarily recommend it but if you're a John Green lover then this is still a must read.

REVIEW: "Where She Went"- BY: Gayle Forman

Hey book lovers,

Let's get started with another book review. I'll make this short and sweet because well, spoiler alert, that's pretty much how I feel about the book.

"Where She Went," is the sequel to the ever popular book turned movie "If I Stay." No doubt "If I Stay" is a classic. I also reviewed it on this blog a few months back. You might want to check out that post before you read this one. But if you are all caught up I will get on with this review....

"Where She Went" is told from Adam Wilde, Mia's boyfriends, point of view three years after the tragic accident that killed Mia's parents and her little brother. After the accident, Mia went off to Julliard and basically left Adam in the lurch.  As you could probably surmise, Adam was completely devastated by this. However, his anger and depression fueled him to write the hit album Collateral Damage that launched his band Shooting Star into mega stardom. Adam had the life. He was living like a rock star and had a celebrity girlfriend named Bryn.
On the East coast, Mia was fulfilling her dream of because a concert cellist. She was making waves at Julliard and even graduated early.

The book picks up in the present when Adam is in New York, where Mia is, about to do an interview. However, Adam doesn't like the rock star life. He is just going through the motions but still distraught over Mia leaving him high and dry. Music doesn't speak to him anymore and he is really ready to quit the band but he has a tour that he has to leave for the next day. Adam erupts during the interview which gives his manager a clue that he needs some time off. Adam gets another day to recoup.

Adam takes his time off to go explore the city and stumbles upon a poster advertising that Mia will be playing a concert that night in the city. Adam decides to go under the radar. However, at the end of the concert, Adam was requested by Mia to go backstage.

This starts the night that will rekindle the lost love between Adam and Mia. Mia takes Adam on a tour of her favorite parts of the city. They talk and reminisce about the old times and at first skating around the bigger issue which is why Mia left Adam. But when they get to the Brooklyn Bridge, Mia lets out everything and Adam loses it. He finally breaks down everything that he had been feeling for the past 3 years. They talk some more and then they go back to Mia's place where they fall asleep. The next morning Adam walks around her apartment and realizes that neither of them want to let each other go. They kiss and everything falls right back into place.

Okay,... so maybe this won't be so short. BUT I do have some valid things to say. This book is extremely unnecessary. I can understand that the way "If I Stay" was left off was made to seem like a sequel was necessary but it wasn't. I can't say that I hate the  book but it just seemed so played out. I like using my own imagination to decide what happened after Mia decided to stay. And I understand that not everyone will feel that way. It was a beautiful story, something I can't deny. And something else is that it was nice to know exactly where the author decided to go with the story but it felt like a waste of a book. Literally, all it was is within the span of two days they find each other talk  and fall in and out of love all over again. Yes, it has a beautiful happy ending like I love but it seems like not something I would waste my money on. Maybe borrow it or go tot he library.

I hate to sound so harsh but if I am one thing, I am honest.

That's all I have for you today. If you have any other questions or comments. leave them below!

Ciao,
Cheryl

REVIEW: "Gone Girl" - BY: Gillian Flynn

Welcome back Book Lovers! 

I'm pretty excited to bring you a review of "Gone Girl." I'm probably late to the party again, but that's just my style. Not much of a follower... ya know?!

Anyways, "Gone Girl" is probably not new to you and if it is then I feel pretty good about myself because I just taught you a little something ! :) 

Regardless, "Gone Girl" is basically a house-hold name. You've maybe seen the movie and better yet you read the book before you did. I don't know about you but the trailer of the movie definitely mislead me about the book. My impression of the book, just based on the trailer, made me feel as if this was going to be some middle aged women's version of a mystery/crime scene. That sounds a little harsh but mainly what I'm trying to say is that it could be very blase and not the style I'm impressed with. 

I haven't seen the movie yet because I just finished reading the book. As the natural order should go. It was definitely on my radar because of all the interesting things I've heard about the book. 

I was intrigued from the first sentence. The writing style was beautiful. It was fluid, clear and enticing. I kept finding myself trying to play detective. I was trying to think one step ahead of the author. I went through various stages where I thought maybe he did because it sure did seem like it ... but then just when you thought you had it pegged down, she would flip it on you and you were thinking of a totally different scenario. It was a very natural progression but one that definitely shocked you and you love it for doing that.

Something that I love about books is the hold they can have on you. The hold can be before you read it, while you are reading it or after you read it. This book definitely had all 3. I was excited to read it, couldn't put it down and didn't want to let it go. 

I hate to give some big plot or round up about the gist of this book because it has been so popular in the media. However, I will implore you with a small bit about the book that I feel will help you get a good idea and make you read it or not if you haven't already done so.

Amy and Nick have been married for 5 years when Amy suddenly goes missing from their Missouri home. Nick doesn't freak out but is definitely curious as to how this could possibly have happened. He tries to keep his tracks clear because he knows the story with missing wives and the husbands have nothing to show for it. Nick knows his marriage wasn't great. They both turned into different people after they happened to be married for a little while, but Nick denies any involvement in this disappearance. We slowly learn the true inner workings in the mind of Nick and Amy through narration and "diary" entries that Amy has written. Don't count Nick out just yet. Don't let your mind slip into feminist paranoia towards men. Maybe some women are driven  mad and would do anything to seek their "rightful" attention. 

There is a lot about this book that I love. I love the way it is laid out. Every chapter is either in the voice of Nick or Amy. You are constantly getting a contradiction or rather understanding of what you just read in the last chapter. Its enticing and totally "revolutionizes", if I can say that, about the way I feel towards murder mysteries or disappearances. I never really gave them much thought but I'll probably never think of them the same again. And maybe there is a lot of fictionalization that you can't apply to real life but I always say, "Never say never!"

BUT.. I will leave you with something that still seems to keep plaguing me is the ending. For a book that is full of such suspense, insanity and intrigue the ending still makes me sit and wonder what I just read. Maybe it has a deeper meaning then I can truly wrap my head around at the moment. But it felt like an awfully odd way to let things go. 

Either way, it is what it is and I'll let you go by saying: Yes, read the book enjoy it and let me know what you thought about the ending. I definitely want to hear some thoughts about this book! 

Ciao!

UPDATE: Playing The Game

Good Hello my book lovers!

I wanted to take a moment to talk to my loyal followers. Sometimes it is nice to take a break from reviews and just reflect on some things that are happening in your life. I have been very busy lately with a new job that I have acquired. I'm working as a supervisor in a retail position right now, while I am trying to figure out my next move. I feel very blessed that I have been given this opportunity. As you know, I was struggling for a little while and sometimes I feel like I still am, but I feel like this new job was exactly what I needed. It has allowed me to unburden myself from the growing anxiety I had felt towards what my future was going to look like. I feel like I finally stopped holding my breath.

But nothing in life is ever guaranteed and it is surely the most unpredictable thing in existence. My life has strange timing but timing nonetheless. Meaning..., I believe that everything in my life is meant to happen when it is EXACTLY supposed to in order for me to either learn a lesson, grow from an experience or have something fall right into place. Nothing that has ever happened in my life was  meaningless and I know that now.

Like a lot of things in life, practice is required in order to perfect something. Reading to me is a "sport." I use that term lightly but I believe it all comes from a place of passion. This blog was sparked from a passion for reading and I think that I am still practicing on being a better blogger. I hope to continue to grow this blog into bigger and better things. It will just take some time and practice. I brought up this particular imagery and message because life is a sport. You have to go through all the obstacles, stumble and get back up a million times before you get to reach your goal. You will face lots of losses and experience some amazing wins but we are all players in the game of life.

Ciao,

Cheryl xoxo

REVIEW: "The Catastrophic History of You and Me"- BY:Jess Rothenberg

Hello book lovers!

I know what you're thinking and I'll spare you my long list of excuses. BUT truthfully ever since I finished reading "The Catastrophic History of You and Me," I've been super busy. I got a new job that is keeping me away from reading and writing as much as I would like too. And this review has been put off long enough.

Full disclosure though, I don't see this review being of great help to anyone truly wanting to understand the book better. This one will be short and mostly work off what I felt about the book, which is all good things might I add. Since it has been some time since I turned off the Nook and said good-bye to the book, it's hard for me to remember exactly what the book entailed. I can't say I'm happy with myself that I waited this long. This book was not something I hated or could have easily just said well it's not worth my time. But this book is worth it. Personally, when I think about it long enough... if I were to talk completely about the plot of the story, I would be giving too much away. Perhaps my feelings are the best way to entice you and engage your emotions towards the book.
Recently, I've been getting re-inspired to read because we all know reading inspiration is the best kind of inspiration. Anyways...

"The Catastrophic History of You and Me," appealed to my fantasy side. The side that believes in the afterlife and the magic that the "other side" can hold. Life after death books are books that speak to my soul... no pun intended. It's so fun to read about how someone else interprets the other world. For Rothenberg, she believes that we meet our soul mates in heaven... well sort of. Brie dies from a literal broker heart. Her heart completely breaks when her boyfriend breaks up with her. Her life in the after world is what I would equate to purgatory. She hasn't entered the pearly gates, she is in this limbo state where she hasn't really left her hometown but she is still so far away. She spends days at this "other world" pizzeria and awaits what happens to her next. Because there will be things that happen to her. Brie needs to learn a lot more before she enters the next phase of her other life.

Brie meets Patrick in her other world. Patrick is the one who will guide Brie through her stages of grief. But Patrick ultimately becomes more to Brie then just a mentor. He becomes her soul mate. And through their friendship she learns all about how the other side works. And how some souls get a second chance to live another life in the real world after they die at the cost of another soul in death. Brie was a previous dead soul that went back to heaven when given a second chance by Patrick and Patrick waited many years for Brie to come back.

This book definitely holds a special place in my heart. It is beautifully written and beautifully told. It's a magical story with both the ups and downs that compels you to push forward. Something interesting about this kind of life after death book is that there is a lot of time that you can spend walking around all your familiar places. And you can even harness the ability to actually touch and feel things. One of my favorite parts is that Bries dog could even see her and he even stays with her in her journey through the afterlife but still goes home in the end.The love story between Patrick and Brie can only be equated to a fairy tale. Patrick looks at Brie like she is the only thing that matters in the entire world. Brie takes some convincing but once she begins to understand the connection they have, then the magic truly begins.
There are so many good things I can say about this book, but mostly I just want you to read this book.You won't feel robbed of your time but only feel more full of life than ever. There is a special place on the top of my list for this book.

REVIEW: "The Storyteller"- BY: Jodi Picoult

There's a lot to say about "The Storyteller." But first, what I would like to say is that I'm very happy that I chose this book. I found this book at Target back in the summer and had plans on reading it on vacation but the summer got away with me and I had to put it off till now. 

Something that is hard to find at times and truly get your head into reading is: historical fiction. I love history and truly enjoy reading a book that can give you a perspective on major historical events.

"The Storyteller" is historical fiction based on the Holocaust. Just by reading the back of the book, you would have no idea that this book is about the Holocaust. So I was definitely a little surprised when a large section of the book was devoted to the main character's grandmothers story of survival during the Holocaust. Without this section, I think this book would have fell flat. 

The book had three sections. The first was developing the main character and the story line that leads up to the second section, which is about the Holocaust. Sage is the main character, and she has been through a lot. She is only 25 and lost both her parents. The one thing in life she is sure of is her ability to bake bread. She works at a bakery during the middle of the night so that the bakery can be full by morning. Once her shift is over, she goes home and sleeps. She classifies herself as a loner. She only gets of the house when she is meeting up with her lover, who is married. They met at her moms wake because he was the funeral director. She walks around trying to hide the large scar she has on her face. But you never find out why she has the scar. 

Josef, a very old but respected man in the neighborhood comes into the bakery everyday. Sage against her will talks to Josef because she feels bad that he comes in all alone. Before long, they build a friendship and Josef tells her that he used to be an officer during the Holocaust and did the wort imaginable things. He ask her a huge favor. He wants her to help him die. Josef feels that he is being punished because he can't die and he has no one left in his life. 

Sage battles with this decision, But she ultimately feels she needs to tell the authorities. She gets in contact with Leo, another main character, whose job it is to convict former Nazi's. 

This leads us up the section where, Leo and Sage get to listen to her grandmother, Minka's story about her time in the Holocaust. It was one of the most vividly, amazingly examples of historical fiction I have ever read. It was full of real emotion and it made me wonder just how horrible some things in life truly are. It made me so grateful to be where I am today. 

Eventually, they find out that Josef was the man that killed Minka's friend during the Holocaust. This was enough to get him convicted. However, Minka dies the night after she tells the story. Now they no longer have a witness to identify the man to the murder. Their only next course of action is to get Josef to confess to the murder on tape. Sage successfully completes that mission but is still torn on whether she should help him die. Leo wants him to go to jail but ultimately Sage takes it upon herself and poisons him and doesn't tell anyone she is doing it. Leo and the police find him dead in his house. 

However, when you think the book is over, the plot twists and leaves Sage completely speechless. I don't like to give away the ending of books because I'm not running a spoiler blog but I truly believe this book will help you to grow as a person and change your perspective on different cultures and walks of life. 

REVIEW: "Paper Towns" - BY: John Green

It's not a surprise that John Green can write a good book. He is quickly becoming my go- to author if I'm ever stuck wondering what to read next. Coincidentally, that is exactly what led me to read this book, "Paper Towns."
If you go look back through my blog, you can see I've read 2 other John Green books and if you have read those blog entries, then you know that I must have had VERY high expectations for this book. However, for some reason I find that I have an almost sixth sense about books. I can take one good look at the book without almost barely reading the synopsis to know if I will like the book or not. This book set off my sensors and I told my expectations to simmer down a bit. I held off reading this book for quite a bit for those same reasons. I just was not ready to be disappointed quite yet, but privy to my needs I thought of my wonderful blog and knew I needed to suck up my inhibitions and dive right in.

Set in sunny Orlando, Florida, where Quentin ("Q") and Margo lived just right next door, you would find a mostly normal suburban families. Q and Margo were friends since day one and Q began to fall in love with her from that day. However, when they were around 9 years old, Q and Margo went to the park alone and stumbled upon a body of a man who had just killed himself. That one experience could surely scar a young kids life. For Q he was able to adjust normally. However, for Margo it ignited Margo's sense of mystery and wonder and she was never the same again. Margo and Q never saw each other again after that day at the park, even though they still lived next door.

Where they left off, the book picks up many years later, just a few months away from Q and Margo graduating from college. Q never stopped loving Margo but from a far. He saw her like a precious jewel that you love to stare at but too afraid to touch. Q made other friends but mostly drifted through high school. However, Margo was part of the popular crowd. She was someone that everyone envied. But Margo had a mysterious side. She would randomly run away and go missing for a few days because she had a tough home life and most importantly for this book, because she felt like a paper girl in a paper town. She had real fears of being stuck in a paper town...

One day Margo climbs through Q's window and persuades him to take a revenge adventure with her. Margo planned this elaborate scheme to get back at all those who wronged her and she also let Q get some revenge of his own. At the end of their night long journey, Q thought this was going to be the start of something really special between them, however it wasn't exactly in the way he had planned. The next day Margo disappeared again but this time she didn't go come back. Margo left some clues behind on where she was headed and it took Q two months and on graduation day to figure it out. Q, along with his pals Ben his girlfriend Lacy  and Radar went on an almost 24 hour road trip to find and save Margo. Q thought once he found her he could bring her home and start over, but what he found was a girl who was not willing to leave and be a paper girl in a paper town. She was a mystery and a mystery she remained.

Now I wish I could tell you what a paper town is or even what a paper girl is ... and I don't want to discredit John Green for his attempt at an explanation, but I just don't get enough understanding of the main underlying theme of this book and for that it makes  this book almost lack luster. There is so much potential for this book and truly it reaches some high points because John Green yet again delivers with deep and profound prose that make you look at life in a much more spectacular way. But the ending leaves me wanting so much more, it is so difficult to wrap my head around a young girl who runs away to the middle of nowhere in an abandoned barn all alone. Also, her family basically disowned her which is just about the nail in the coffin. It's hard to fathom this kind of reality and I feel a lot of this book will go right over people's heads, but what saved the book for me was John Green's magnificent charm that just never seems to disappoint.