Listen by Rene Gutteridge

Well, I haven't done one of these in a little while. Hope you enjoy the review.


About the book:
The sweet, fairy tale like town of Marlo is perfect. Voted best place to raise a family it seems nothing could upset this quaint city; until, it seems that someone is listening. Someone is posting private conversations online for all to see and read, word for word. People laugh and dismiss the writings until they read about themselves, spoken in situations, when no one thought any one was listening. It's friend against friend as careless comments and hurtful accusations turn the town upside down. The police scramble to catch whoever is doing this before people get hurt - or worst.

But what responsibility do the residents of Marlo have for the words they say when they think no one is listening.


My thoughts:
Rene acknowledges this to those whose lives have been forever altered by words. That alone is compelling enough to read this book.

This book was amazing!!! I mean, can I just say super thought provoking. This was an amazing one-of-a-kind book! And, if it means anything I was reading this as 2011 became 2012 and then finished the book one hour later.

First, before I get on with my thought I have to say, read the Acknowledgements and Prologue. This book is so beautiful and it becomes even more meaningful when you read both the Acknowledgements and Prologue.

The plot was excellent and thrilling. The characters had depth and growth throughout the book. The ending was unbelievable! Rene Gutteridge really has an amazing gift for writing, and not only is this book. It is amazing but very thought provoking.

The book follows a couple of different characters as the town of Marlo unfolds into chaos. Everyone is in a panic to stop whoever is posting their private conversations for all to see, yet at the same time everyone has become addicted to read other peoples conversations. In this book Rene brings up a thought provoking question; do the words we speak when no one is listening still have power or affect?

"but no human being can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison. With is we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God." -James 3: 8 - 9

page number: 409
genre: Fiction / General
recommend for ages: 14 and up
bad stuff: There is of course very hurtful things people say. / One
character has memories of someone calling her a slut. / One character suspects
his son of looking at porn. / One scene {in the prologue} goes through
the thought process of someone committing suicide.
romance: None
recommendation: I'd give this 5 out of 5. Wonderful book!

The Hunger Games {the movie}

Well, first I'd like to apologize for my lack of posts this last month. NaNoWriMo, a trip to Seattle, Thanksgiving, school, and speech have made it very hard to get around to writing blog posts.

Alright, now straight in my topic for today, the Hunger Games. This popular book series is becoming a movie! And a very promising one at that. I am really excite about most of the characters and can't wait to see it.

If there are those of you out there who aren't excited for the movie {which was me about two days ago} then I urge you to watch the official 2012 Hunger Games trailer. It is epic! I am so excited! Yay!



And on top of the movie looking awesome I only have to wait until March 23, at which I will try to see it opening night. Wouldn't that be super cool?

So what about you? How are you feeling about the Hunger Games movie?

Very good, Jeeves! {book review}

After watching a couple of NCFCA speeches on some of P.G. Wodehouse's books I couldn't help but find a few and read them myself, and I must say I was very impressed. I did only read one but I make plans to read many more of his.

Today I have the pleasure of reviewing P.G. Wodehouse's book, 'Very Good, Jeeves!'.

About the book:

Very good, Jeeves! is a collection of short stories starring Bertie Wooster in eleven alarming predicaments from which he has to be rescued by peerless gentleman's gentleman. Whether Bertie is tangling with a red-headed ball of fire such as Roberta Wichham, dealing with an irate headmistress, placating a cabinet minister, puncturing the wrong hot water bottle, singing 'Sonny Boy', or simply trying to concentrate on his golf handicap, Jeeves is always there to help through rarely in ways which his employer expects. These brilliantly plotted stories give the essence of Wodehousean comedy.

(taken from the back of Very Good, Jeeves!)

My thoughts:

These funny and amazingly witty stories are forever going to be listed as one of my favorite books. I found this collection a joy and pleasure to read. I will most definitely be going to read more of his. The plot lines are amazing and his characters are even more brilliant. I would take the time to read this all over again. 

page number: 297 pages

genre: A fictional novel of the wittiest sort.

bad stuff: Only about one or two swear words throughout the whole book

romance: Every once and a while.

recommendation: I would give this a five star out of five.

Princess Penelope's Parrot {a book review}

About the book:
Spoiled Princess Penelope cannot get her new parrot to talk, even after threatening it and calling it nasty names. But when Prince Percival comes courting, the parrot gets revenge on the greedy princess in a hilarious and fitting conclusion.

My thoughts:
I think this is an adorable book I remember from when I was a little kid. The story is cute, the book has great illustration, and a fun story line.

page number: 32
genre: picture book
recommended for ages: 5+
bad stuff: The princess says some mean things to the parrot. ☺
romance: No
recommendation: I give this a 5 out of 5

Do you have thoughts or questions on this book? I'd love to hear and answer them.

Curse of the Spider King {book reveiw}

About the book:
The Spider King's minions are crossing from Allyra to Earth to hunt for seven unsuspecting thirteen-year-olds who are royalty from a foreign world. Stopped once by an ancient curse the dark forces are determined to finish the job. The Seven's only hope for survival is a remnant of exiled Elves intent on restoring their kingdom - but can they be trusted.

Navigating the tangled web of the Spider King, the teens must make a perilous choice: go to Allyra and face an uncertain destiny or remain on Earth and risk the lives of the ones they love.

My thoughts:
Um...I am a huge fan of Wayne Thomas Batson, but this book didn't meet the expectation I had for it.

Some lines in this book:

"I don't understand," said Thomas, feeling like he might have blown a fuse in his brain.

Such as this ↑, look like they came from an amateur writer. I don't really understand where a sentence like this come from amazing authors such as Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper.

The plot line was cool and I did really like the characters. The suspense was okay, the spiders creeped me out! I thought that the tree creatures were unoriginal, being they make me think of ents from Lord of the Rings.

*spoiler alert*
I thought the main element of the books suspense & plot line was very predictable. I don't understand it, the Spider King is the only one who has the power to shut down the portals that connect the Earth with the Elve world, Allyra. And all of the portals shut down except for one in Scotland, and so all the Elves gathered to that one portal and they seem surprised when an ambush is waiting for them from the Spider King. Maybe it's just me, but I found it somewhat predictable
*spoiler alert ends*

So, as you read, I am unhappy about the book. I think if the authors would have read through it a couple times and edited it, it would be much better. Both of the authors are amazing writers, but I think the book needed a little bit more thought.

page number: 361 pages
genre: children fantasy/ fiction
recommended for ages: 12+
bad stuff: There is a little bit of violence
romance: A very small amount
recommendation: I would have to give this a 3 out of 5.

Do you have any questions? What are your thoughts on this book? I'd love to hear and answer them.

The Beloved Dearly by Doug Cooney

About the book:
Ernie, a twelve year old boy who is always on the look out for a quick buck, and he comes up with some crazy, but smart, ideas. But this idea will top them all, pet funerals. So he grabs Dusty (a decorator of pet funeral boxes), Tony (an expert hole digger), and Swimming Pool (an awesome crier). Dressed in his fathers suit and tie he is ready to make some money, but learns that friends are more important than all the money can buy.

My thoughts:
I loved this book. It was a funny and wonderful read, the characters were awesome and the plot was so cute.

Despite it's hilarity there are some serious notes to this book. Ernie's mother is dead and so he goes through trying to build a relationship with his dad. And Swimming Pools older brother ends up deciding to leave the house. And Swimming Pool secretly watches him struggle to make money.

This is a sweet, cute, fun book that I would recommend.

Page number:192
Genre: children's fiction
Recommended for ages: +10
Bad stuff: Ernie is disrespectful to his dad.
Romance: Nope.
Recommendation: I would give this a four and a half out of five

Any thoughts, questions, or comments on this book? I'd love to hear and answer them.

Heir Apparent

First, I'm SO sorry about disappearing for a week. I was over in Portland for Regionals. It was a blast! I had so much fun and met so many new people.

Second, don't be mad at me. I know it's another book review, but my goal is to review half the books I read. And I'm not keeping up with that goal. ;D

Here I present to you the review of 'Heir Apparent' by Vivian Vande Velde:

About the book: In the future video games get WAY cooler. Instead of watching the game on a screen, you are part of the game. You hear the sounds, smell the smells, and feel the annoyance of dieing over and over again. ☺

Giannine Bellisario, the main character, is just a normal girl. But in the video game, heir apparent, she becomes a heir to the thrown. Her goal? To become that heir...without dieing. Sounds easy? It isn't.

What's ever worse, After some weird crazy people come and damage the gaming equipment, Giannine gets stuck in the game. So it's win the game, or start over, and over, and over, and over, and over...

There's just one catch, she has to win before her brain has an over load of video gaming. So it's not just finish, it's finish quickly.

My thoughts:
Not a very original plot, but Vivian is such a great writer. Mind you I would not pick up all of her books, but this one is good.

The characters were well written. I could easily picture them in my mind through out the book. Like I said above, the plot wasn't very original but Vivian has a really good writing style.

I loved the fact that most of the video game characters got to be bad guys one way or another. Giannine approaches the game in so many different ways, it aloud a lot of the characters to change in how they acted.

Page number: 315

Genre: Sci-fiction/Fantasy

Recommend for ages: +14

Bad stuff: Occasional language. One of the characters that pops up, around the end of the book, is dressed REALLY immodestly and uses it to get what she wants. And then some violence. Nothing detailed or gory. But she does get killed, in the game, over and over again.

Romance: None that I can recall.

Recommendation: I would have to give it a three out of five due to things that didn't need to be added to the book.

Vivian has some great books out there, it's just trying to find them. I will be doing a review of one that I whole heartily recommend, 'The Rumpelstiltskin Problem'.

Any comments or questions. I would LOVE to hear or answer them.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Update: Hello, my blog followers. I'm quiet sure I am having a fun time but am very tired, and I can't wait to be home tomorrow.

I realized that I had only reviewed three books. *gasp* Being a huge reader I think I need to being doing these reviews more often.

Today I bring you the book review of Savvy, a sweet book about a family who have unique...savvys. ☺

About the book:
In the Beaumont's house thirteen is a very special year. Thirteen is the year that Beaumont children find there savvy. With a brother who can create a hurricane. And another that can summon electricity, Mib's is eager for her thirteenth birthday.

But just before the big day, Mib's father gets in to a car accident. Convinced she can help him, along with her brother and the preachers kids, she sneaks onto a bus that is supposed to be going to the hospital. This book is full of talking tattoo's, pink bibles and really cool savvys.

My thoughts:
I thought that the plot was very unique. You always hear of super heroes with super powers. But a savvy isn't a super power, it's something that make all of the Beaumont's unique. I thought the characters were fun and in depth. I really liked the main character, which is important in a story, and it has a sweet ending.

Recommended for ages: 10+
Bad stuff?: None.
Romance: Two kisses.
Recommendation: I would give this a five out of five. I would definitely recommend this book.

Any questions, thoughts, or comments. I would love to hear and answer them.

Castaways of the "Flying Dutchman"

First, let me say Happy Saint Patrick's day. My day has been full of green, a lot of good food and the finishing of another book, the book being reviewed here. ↓ And being a really good book I had to write a review immediately.

By Brian Jacques, this is an amazing book! Imaginative, fun, and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

About the book:
The legend of the Flying Dutchman, the ghost-ship doomed to sail the seas forever, has been passed down throughout the centuries. But what of the boy, Neb, and his dog, Den, who were trapped aboard that ship? What was to become of them? Sent off on an eternal journey of their own, the boy and his dog roam the earth through out the centuries in search of those in need. Braving wind and waves and countless perils, they stumble across a 19th-century village whose very existence is at stake. Saving it will take the will and wile of all the people--and a very special boy and dog.

I thought that this book had a great plot. The beginning had a great hook and didn't get boring. Around the middle of the book I got a little confused but it all picked up again around the end. I heard there is a second one, and after reading this, I totally want to read the next one.

Recommended for ages: 12+
Bad stuff?: Nope. This is a very fun clean book.
Romance: No.
Recommendation: I would give it a four and a half star out of five.

Any comments or questions about the book? I would love to hear and answer them.

The Hobbit

The Hobbit, a story that will continue to go down in history as an enchanting tale. This prequel to 'The Lord of the Rings' is completely amazing!

About: Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse, unknown dangers. Finally, it is Bilbo-alone and unaided-who has to confront the great dragon Saug, the terror of an entire countryside...
(taken from the back of the book)

Other:
-There is nothing in this book that would prevent me from picking it up. This story was originally told and written for J.R.R. Tolkiens kids, but became a story I think all of us would love.

Have any questions or comments? I would love to answer and hear them.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Amazing, Delightful, Unforgettable

I can easily describe this book as that. The amazing plot and delightful characters make this book unforgettable.

About: One cruel night, young Meggie's Father, Mo, reads aloud from Inkheart and an evil ruler, named Capricorn, escapes the boundaries of fiction (along with other characters), and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books.

Somehow, Meggie and Mo must learn to harness the magic that conjured this nightmare. Somehow, they must change the course of the story that has changed their lives forever.

(Taken from the inside cover of the book)

Other:

-This book does have some occasional swear words, but not enough to make this not fun to read.

-One of the side characters in superstitious and continual talks about ghosts and curses.

All in all, this is an wonderful book that is amazingly written. Like I said above, with an amazing plot and delightful (and real) characters.

If you have any questions or comments about the book I'd love to answer and hear them. ☺