The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I picked up this book because I know a lot of people who really liked it. Also, I was able to fit it into the Summer Book Challenge! Here's a description of The Hunger Games from Amazon:

"In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives."

I'm so glad I read this book because I loved it! After I started reading it, I just couldn't put it down. I loved how independent and strong Katniss was. I think the author could have picked a better name, though. I mean, Katniss? Really? It sounds too much like "cat piss." Oh well, she's still a great main character. I can't wait to read the next book. I don't want to wait until September 1st though! Hopefully I can win Catching Fire from Goodreads.

5 out of 5 stars!

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Don't read this review if you haven't read the first books in this series, as it may contain spoilers!

Dead to the World is the fourth book in Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series. Here is a description from Amazon:

"(Dead to the World) continues the story of psychic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who has fallen out with her undead lover, Bill. Bill has no sooner departed for Peru, than Sookie finds the head vampire, Eric, running naked and terrified through the rural night. She helps Eric, and discovers his memory has been destroyed by a coven of unscrupulous, astonishingly powerful witches, newly arrived in her small Louisiana town, and offering a huge reward for Eric. Sookie tries to hide Eric, but her brother sees him--and immediately disappears. And Sookie finds herself caught in a war among witches, vampires, and werewolves."

I absolutely LOVE this series! The books just keep getting better and better. I know I say this all the time, but Eric is so amazingly hot and sexy! He makes Edward Cullen seem dull and ugly. I found a way to fit this book into the Summer Book Challenge. Yay! I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. My mom has the next one, so next time I go to her house I'm stealing it!

5 out of 5 stars

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I can't believe I had never read this book before. I decided to read it for the Summer Book Challenge. Here's a description from Amazon:

"Guy Montag is a book-burning fireman undergoing a crisis of faith. His wife spends all day with her television "family," imploring Montag to work harder so that they can afford a fourth TV wall. Their dull, empty life sharply contrasts with that of his next-door neighbor Clarisse, a young girl thrilled by the ideas in books, and more interested in what she can see in the world around her than in the mindless chatter of the tube. When Clarisse disappears mysteriously, Montag is moved to make some changes, and starts hiding books in his home. Eventually, his wife turns him in, and he must answer the call to burn his secret cache of books. After fleeing to avoid arrest, Montag winds up joining an outlaw band of scholars who keep the contents of books in their heads, waiting for the time society will once again need the wisdom of literature."

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was similar to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. In both books society is controlled through pleasure. As long as everyone is happy and entertained, the government can get them to do whatever they want. I found it particularly frightening that the government didn't just take books away suddenly, but most people just stopped reading altogether. I couldn't imagine not reading. It's my favorite hobby of all time. I'm always in the middle of a book. I brought 4 books on my week long vacation. I probably won't get to all of them, but I like to have my options. Anyway, I really liked Fahrenheit 451, and I think everyone should read it.

5 out of 5 stars

Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot

I read Queen of Babble for the Summer Book Challenge. It's one of Meg Cabot's adult books. Here is a description from Amazon:

"Lizzie Nichols, a fashion-history major, wants nothing more than to graduate college and then fly off to London to be with her boyfriend, Andy. But at her graduation party, Lizzie finds out that she can't graduate until she writes a senior thesis. And when she lands in London, Andy turns out to be a liar, gambler, and a fashion disaster. Lizzie, stuck in London with a nonchangeable ticket home, escapes Andy via the Chunnel in hopes that her friend Shari, who is catering weddings for the summer at a French chateau, can help. On the train, Lizzie meets a stranger, Jean-Luc, and spills everything that has happened, only to find out that he is the son of the chateau's owner. At the chateau, Lizzie continues to babble when she shouldn't, ticking off Jean-Luc, shocking his mother, and upsetting a bride. Will she ever learn to keep her mouth shut?"

I thought this book was pretty cute. Lizzie annoyed me a lot at first, but I grew to tolerate her by the end of the book. I hated when she was making up excuses for Andy's behavior. I just wanted to slap some sense into her. I know some people say that Heather Wells, the main character from Meg Cabot's other adult series that begins with Size 12 is Not Fat, is really annoying, but I think Lizzie is way worse! I liked the story, though, and Luke made up for the fact that Lizzie was so annoying.

3 out of 5 stars

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

I rarely read non-fiction books, but this was for the Summer Book Challenge. Here is a description of Outliers from Amazon:

"Outliers begins with a provocative look at why certain five-year-old boys enjoy an advantage in ice hockey, and how these advantages accumulate over time. We learn what Bill Gates, the Beatles and Mozart had in common: along with talent and ambition, each enjoyed an unusual opportunity to intensively cultivate a skill that allowed them to rise above their peers. A detailed investigation of the unique culture and skills of Eastern European Jewish immigrants persuasively explains their rise in 20th-century New York, first in the garment trade and then in the legal profession. Through case studies ranging from Canadian junior hockey champions to the robber barons of the Gilded Age, from Asian math whizzes to software entrepreneurs to the rise of his own family in Jamaica, Gladwell tears down the myth of individual merit to explore how culture, circumstance, timing, birth and luck account for success—and how historical legacies can hold others back despite ample individual gifts."

This book was actually quite interesting. I loved learning that a lot of people who have enjoyed great success have luck to thank for it. I guess it makes me feel better about my own lack of great success. It's not my fault; I'm just not that lucky. I was born in the wrong year, I have the "wrong" background, I grew up in the wrong area, etc. (Obviously, those aren't the only reasons, but hey, I'm making myself feel better!) I can't believe that just because someone was born in the first three months of the year means that they have a much better shot at becoming professional hockey players. I'm glad that this book was recommended to me. I really enjoyed it. Plus, now I know why Asians are so good at math!

4 out of 5 stars

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

Summer Sisters is one of a few of Judy Blume's adult books. Here's a description from Amazon:

"Caitlin lives with her mother in Sante Fe, but spends summers on a New England island with her father, brother, and stepmother. Both parents give her free rein, and her beauty, independence, and talent for getting away with outrageous behavior make her an intriguing star to her middle school classmates. Victoria can't understand why Caitlin would single her out to be her "summer sister" on Martha's Vineyard as she sees herself as quiet and dull. She senses, though, that this vacation is an important turning point and convinces her conservative parents to let her go. The girls become fast friends, sharing six unforgettable summers together."

This book was...interesting. I read it for the Nest Book Club and the Summer Book Challenge. I can't believe this book was written by the same woman who wrote Superfudge. There was so much sex! I had a hard time identifying with the character's in this book. If I were in Vix's shoes I would not have stayed friends with Caitlin, but then the book would have been over after 90 pages or so. Anyway, I thought this book was OK, but I definitely won't be reading it again.

2 out of 5 stars

Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty

Don't read this review if you haven't read the first book in this series, as it may contain spoilers!

Second Helpings is the second (duh!) book in Megan McCafferty's Jessica Darling series. Here's a description from Goodreads:

"Jessica Darling is up in arms again in this much-anticipated, hilarious sequel to Sloppy Firsts. This time, the hyperobservant, angst-ridden teenager is going through the social and emotional ordeal of her senior year at Pineville High. Not only does the mysterious and oh-so-compelling Marcus Flutie continue to distract Jessica, but her best friend, Hope, still lives in another state, and she can’t seem to escape the clutches of the Clueless Crew, her annoying so-called friends. To top it off, Jessica’s parents won’t get off her butt about choosing a college, and her sister Bethany’s pregnancy is causing a big stir in the Darling household."

This book was as good as, if not better than, Sloppy Firsts. I really enjoyed it, and can't wait to read the third book. I still love Jessica's snarkiness and attitude. I definitely would not allow my kids to read this book unless they were well past their sixteenth birthday. I don't remember young adult books having so much sex in them when I was younger. (Wow, I feel so old having said that.) I still love this series even with all of the references to sex. I'm well past my sixteenth birthday! ;-) Anyway, this book also counts for the Summer Book Challenge.

5 out of 5 stars

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Don't read this review if you haven't read the first books in this series, as it may contain spoilers!

Club Dead is the third book in the Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris. Here is a synopsis from Goodreads:

"There's only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with (at least voluntarily) and that's Bill. But recently he's been kind of distant - like in another state distant. Bill's sinister and sexy boss Eric has an idea where to find him, which is why Sookie ends up in Jackson, Mississippi, mingling with the under-underworld at Club Dead. It's a dangerous little haunt where the elitist vamps can go chill and chow on some prime flesh. But when Sookie finally finds Bill - caught in an act of serious betrayal - she's not sure whether to save him, or sharpen some stakes."

I really liked Club Dead a lot. I love that Eric has more of a role now. He's definitely my favorite character. I realize that Charlaine Harris is trying to show that it's dangerous for Sookie to be Bill's girlfriend, but come on! Nobody gets beat up that many times in just a few months. It's teetering on the edge of over the top and lame. I still liked the book, but I'm liking Bill less and less. I think Sookie should leave him for Eric! His morals may be questionable, but he is incredibly sexy. Yum! I can't wait to read the next book! This book counts for the Nest Summer Book Challenge as well.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Sloppy Firsts is the first book in Megan McCafferty's Jessica Darling series. So many people have recommended this series, so I decided to get the first book from the library. Here is a description from Amazon:

"When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?"

I'm so happy I read this book! It was so cute. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series. I love how funny and angsty Jessica is. She's hilarious. Marcus kind of reminds me of Heath Ledger's character in 10 Things I Hate About You. He's definitely very intriguing. I can totally relate to Jessica because I remember what it was like to be 16. Actually, I was sixteen when this book came out. I would have really enjoyed it at that age, too. I read this book for the Nest Book Club's Summer Book Challenge. It's for the category, "Read a book considered a beach read." I'm going to go put the next book on hold at the library now.

5 out of 5 stars

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I had never read To Kill a Mockingbird before, so when I found it at the thrift store for 25 cents I was very excited. In case you haven't read it, here is a synopsis from Amazon:

"Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman."

I'm so glad I decided to read this book. It's definitely my favorite "classic" that I've read so far. Also, it's on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list. I was very surprised that it was in the perspective of such a young girl. I really had no idea what the book was about before I read it. I liked that Scout eventually realized that all men really are created equally by the end of the book. I think this is definitely a book that all people should read. It's very good.

5 out of 5 stars