Book Updates : Upcoming Releases and New Releases. The New York Times Bestseller's List: Combined Print and eBook Fiction

8 Days until Christmas. If you need some quick-trip shopping, some of the books below might help you out.

Upcoming Releases:

 

• D.C Dead, by Stuart Woods (release date: 12/22/11)
• Cover Affairs, by W.E.B Griffin (release date: 12/22/11)
• Stephen King: Three Novels (Carrie, The Shining, and Salem's Lot)(release date:1/6/12)
• Death Benefit by Robin Cook (release date: 12/27/11)

New Releases:

• Harry Potter Page to Screen by Bob McCabe.
• War Room by Michael Holley
• Vigilante by Stephen J. Cannell

Another list to take a look at is the Combined Print and eBook Fiction. I only place the Top 10 from the the list. If you wish to take a look at the rest of the list and more lists from The New York Times, here is the link. http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html

1. RED MIST, by Patricia Cornwell

2. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett

3. 11/22/63, by Stephen King

4. THE LITIGATORS, by John Grisham

5. THE DROP, by Michael Connelly

6. KILL ALEX CROSS, by James Patterson

7. DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY, by P. D. James

8. EXPLOSIVE EIGHTEEN, by Janet Evanovich

9. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson

10. THE BEST OF ME, by Nicholas Sparks

If you wish to save a little money, you can always head down to the Rubaiyat in Caldwell. They have great prices, and a wonderful selection. I know for a fact they have a fairly decent hardback copy of  The Help. 

Thanks for reading!! Don't forget to leave comments!

     

Dune by Frank Herbert. BBC Top 200 List #39 (2003), # 52 (2010)

Finals are over!!!! Due to the amount of studying I needed over the past few days, I have not been able to post. But now that the semester is complete I have a whole month of freedom.

To continue with the BBC Top 200 List, I have Dune written by Frank Herbert.


About the book:


With all honesty, I cannot really give you the plot of this novel. If I wanted to create a sufficient description of this novel, I would have to write a 5 page report on the whole book. Since I do not have the time to do this, and I asssume you don't want to read that, I will keep my description of the book to a minimum.

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, a young boy, the story tells of the boy Paul Attreides and his adventure to become the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib. He plans on avenging the plot against his family and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.

Does it deserve to be on the BBC Top 200 List?


Since the book is labelled by almost everyone as science fictions supreme masterpiece, I would have to say that yes it does belong on the BBC List. Almost everyone that has read the book tells me that they love it, and  read it over and over again. My uncle originally gave me a copy for Christmas a couple years ago, and although it took me awhile to read it, I definitely enjoyed it. I will give Dune a 3 out of 5.


Does it deserve its spot on the BBC Top 200 List?

I think the creators of the BBC List got this one right on the money. As far as I am concered, the book fits perfectly in the 30-50 range. The book should not be in the top ten in my opinion, but it definitely deserves some praise. If you have not read this book yet, and you enjoy futuristic- society books, then I would tell you to add it to your list of items to read.


I have a few new books on my list. For those of you who like Clan of the Cave Bear, I am just starting the sequel, The Valley of Horses. I also have a Janet Evanovich book for you all (hint: its the newest one) and a couple other books from the BBC List you might enjoy.

Keep Reading!!

Life of Pi by Yann Martel. BBC Top 200 List # 51

I was in the third grade when Life of Pi was first published. I remember hearing a lot about it, (and I mean a lot) but I never was able to pick it up until about a week ago. Now that I have completed this novel, I think it is in the Top 5 of my favorite books

About the book:


 The story begins with Piscine Patel (also known as Pi), finding himself stranded in a life boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. To make matters worse, a 450 pound tiger is his his shipmate. With nowhere to run, Pi is forced to train the tiger as a lion tamer would to a lion. In order to survive Pi must be able to handle the tiger, and handle himself.

The novel is written extremely well. The book is really hard to put down once you start it, and when it's finished, you will be thinking about it for hours. I do not recommend finishing this book just before heading to bed. I'm giving Life of Pi a 4.5 out of 5.

Does this book deserve to be on the BBC List? 


Yes. On the surface of the book, you have a compelling story of survival (which is a little hard to believe). However, underneath the top layers is the real story, a story with a message that I think everyone should at least consider at one point in their lives. The book is definitely worth your time, and the next time you see a copy of it, grab it.


Does this book deserve its spot on the BBC List?


I'm very happy with where this book is placed. I think 51 is the perfect number. As much as I enjoyed the book, I do not think it should be any higher. The creators of the BBC List got this one right on the money.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. BBC List # 47 (2003), # 81 (2010)

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is officially December. You all know what that means!

Yes, it is Christmas time. Time to put the tree up, set up lights, and turn on the Christmas music (my personal favorite is Baby, It's Cold Outside by Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer).

And when you get some spare time, you can relax to a Christmas classic: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens


About the book:


Ebenezer Scrooge, a grumpy (but extremely wealthy) buisness man, with no room in his heart for compassion,  is greeted by his old (and very dead) friend Marley. After Marley warns Scrooge to change his life to prevent a miserable afterlife, Scrooge is visited by three additonal ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, each visit Scrooge that night to try and change him.

Does it deserve to be on the BBC List?

ABSOLUTELY YES!!

Seriously, who has not heard of the story of Scrooge. This story is a textbook example of what the BBC List should be about. If you haven't read the book, I say now is the time to do it. I give A Christmas Carol (and probably the only time I will do this) a 6 out of 5 stars. This novel is phenomenal.


Does it deserve it's spot on the BBC List?

Without question, this novel should be in the top twenty. This story is probably the most known story on the planet. Even if the book has not been read by everyone, the thousands of plays, musicals, and movies that have been produced should give A Christmas Carol a top twenty, or even a top ten, spot on the List.


Thanks for reading!! I hope you all enjoy the blog.

New York Times Bestseller's Lists: Paperback Mass Market Fiction, Paperback Non-Fiction, Hardcover Fiction

Christmas is less than a month away. Have you bought all of your Christmas presents? Well if you haven't, taking a look to see what's new in the book world is a great place to browse. Below are three Lists' from the New York Times. I only post the Top 10 from each list, so if you wish to see more, I will have a link to the New York Times website at the bottom.

Hardback Fiction

KILL ALEX CROSS, by James Patterson.

11/22/63, by Stephen King

V IS FOR VENGEANCE, by Sue Grafton

THE LITIGATORS, by John Grisham

DEVIL'S GATE, by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

THE BEST OF ME, by Nicholas Sparks

ZERO DAY, by David Baldacci

STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC : REVAN, by Drew Karpyshyn

THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING, by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

1Q84, by Haruki Murakami

Paperback Non-Fiction

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, by Rebecca Skloot (note: if you attend Boise State University, this is your Campus Read for this year!)

UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS, by Jennifer S. Holland

OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell

_____ FINISH FIRST, by Tucker Max

THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, by Max Brooks

THE GLASS CASTLE, by Jeannette Walls

MONEYBALL, by Michael Lewis

EMPIRE OF THE SUMMER MOON, by S.C. Gwynne

I, STEVE, edited by George Beahm

Paperback Mass Market Fiction

SMOKIN' SEVENTEEN, by Janet Evanovich

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS, by Debbie Macomber

CRESCENT DAWN, by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

SECRETS TO THE GRAVE, by Tami Hoag

CROSS FIRE, by James Patterson

WHAT THE NIGHT KNOWS, by Dean Koontz

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT, by Fern Michaels, Elizabeth Bass, Rosalind Noonan and Nan Rossiter

TOUCHED BY ANGELS, by Debbie Macomber

HOLIDAY IN STONE CREEK, by Linda Lael Miller

THE VALCOURT HEIRESS, by Catherine Coulter

I hope that these books give you some suggestions for your holiday shopping. If you want to save a little money, you can always go down to the Rubaiyat in Caldwell. They have a great used selection to choose from. 

Keep tuning in!! Later this week I will have Life of Pi posted on. It is one of my BBC books. I also have A Christmas Carol on the way, and a few other posts relating to books. If you have a Twitter account, you can follow the blog, just click on the Follow Me button on the right hand side. I usually tweet every day, giving you updates on where I am in the books and what I have planned for the blog. Comments are welcome, and requests are always taken. If you have a book for me to read, just shoot me a tweet or an e-mail and I will get to it as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!

Stephen King's 11/22/63

In 1973, Stephen King published his first novel Carrie. After almost forty years, Mr. King publishes his first novel involving time travel. 11/22/63 revolves around the story of a man going back to prevent the JFK assassination. 

Jake Epping, a divorced english teacher, is drafted by a dying restaurant owner who discovered a "rabbit hole" that takes you back in time. The only hitch in the plan, is that the hole takes you back to a specific time. This particular hole takes Mr. Epping back to 1958, five years before the assassination.

I have always been a devout King fan. I have read almost all of his works, and I own 55 books by him. 

This novel however, is one of the few books that I don't particularly enjoy. 

11/22/63 started out fantastic. It was textbook Stephen King. But as it got into the middle of the book, I found it harder to connect to the story. I finally gave up halfway through the novel.

If you really enjoy Stephen King, I wouldn't hesitate to read this book. Some of his best-selling novels are one's that I can never get into ( like the Stand for instance). From me personally, I give 11/22/63 2 stars out of 5. Maybe sometime in the future I can complete it and give it a different rating.

If you are a "tweeter", I now have a page up for the blog on Twitter. If you click the follow me on twitter button on the right hand side, it will take you to my page where you can follow me. I tweet almost everyday, giving updates on what I am reading, what my future posts will be about, and when I post a new blog.

As always I have a Poll on the right hand side. Everyone is welcome to answer, you do not have to be a follower to give an opinion. You can also give suggestions and constructive criticisms by commenting on my posts. I read every comment and usually reply to them immediately. If you wish to give me suggestions on what to read next. you can e-mail me at CodyWolf2011@gmail.com.

Keep Reading!

Murder on Cell Block 9 by L.D Webb

Since I am in college, I do not get the opportunity to read as much as I would like. But one book I am glad to have read, is this one.

L.D Webb, an Idaho author, shares the story of an infamous drug dealer Richard Holmes. With several charges against him, he was sent to the Idaho State Penitentiary. While he was there, he was brutally stabbed and tormented. The worst part...... the guards and SWAT team were ordered to stand down.

I don't want to give the whole story away (and that is hard to do, let me tell you), but this book is the perfect fit for anyone who enjoys a story with drugs and police brutality. I give Murder on Cell Block 9  3 stars out of 5.


If you wish to purchase your own copy, you can find them at The Rubaiyat in Caldwell.

I would also like to mention that L.D Webb has been noted as one of the best authors in Idaho. I applaud her for her success, and look forward to another novel (if there is one).



I am sorry to say that because of the holidays, I will not be posting for the rest of the week. I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving, and don't forget to read a couple pages after your family get togethers. If you happen to have a twitter account, I have set one up for my blog. On the right hand side of my post, is a Twitter Update box, you can see my latest "tweets" there, and you can follow me by clicking the 'Follow Me on Twitter" button. I usually tweet everyday, discussing how far I am with my books, what I have in store for the blog, and when I post a new review. Twitter is also a great way to contact me if you wish.

Thanks for reading!!

Kathryn Stockett

If you happen to recognize the name of this woman, you have most likely heard of her bestselling  novel The Help. I personally have mentioned it a few times, and if you have not read her book I seriously suggest you do. 

The Help is Mrs. Stockett's debut novel. And let me tell you, it's probably one of the best debut novels out there. I think that Kathryn has some real talent, and if she ever gets the opportunity to write another book, I will be one of the first to purchase it.

Born in 1969, Jackson Mississippi, Kathryn Stockett was raised by an african- american domestic worker. After graduating from the University of Alabama, she moved to the big apple to work in publishing for nine years. 

It took Mrs. Stockett five years and 60 agents to reject her book before The Help was finally published. As of August 2011, The Help has sold 5 million copies and has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 100 plus weeks.

Mrs. Kathryn Stockett, I applaud you for your success and I sincerely hope I see another book with your name on it. 

For my readers, I have quite a few surprises in store for you. As of this morning, I am halfway through Stephen King's new book 11/22/63. Hopefully, I will have it posted early next week. I also have another BBC title for you (I cannot say which), I will have it up by Monday. And for those of you who support Idaho authors, I have L.D Webb's book right around the corner. 

Keep Reading!!

Sources:

1.Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' Turned Down 60 Times Before Becoming a Best Seller". More Magazine.

The Chronicles of Narnia: BBC Top 200 List #33 (2010)

I remember in second grade, when my aunt gave me the original version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie. I really enjoyed the story, and watched the movie to death, but it took me several years to read the series. In fact, I didn't read any of the books until I was given a box set for Christmas by my grandmother.

About The Chronicles of Narnia:

The series consists of seven books, all revolving around a magical world called Narnia. Some of the books share characters, while others are independent. The series has been released in two different "versions". After a few years, the series was re-published in a different order (but the books are still the same). Below I have the publication order, and the chronological order.

  Publication Order

1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2. Prince Caspian 

3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 

4. The Silver Chair

5. The Horse and His Boy

6. The Magician's Nephew

7. The Last Battle

Chronological Order

1. The Magician's Nephew 

2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

3. The Horse and His Boy

4. Prince Caspian 

5 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

6. The Silver Chair

7. The Last Battle

If you haven't read them, I recommend the Chronological Version. It helps put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Do they deserve to be on the BBC List?

Yes. The books are very entertaining. Almost everyone has at least heard of them (or one of them) and the story will continue on for generations to come. C.S. Lewis is a master at his craft. I recommend the books to anyone who enjoys a classic fantasy read.

Do they deserve its place on the BBC List?

Absolutely. I am not huge on fantasy novels, but these were phenomenal. They are almost as good as The Lord of the Ring series (but not quite). I feel they earned their spot at 33. If you are one of the few people left who hasn't read them, I seriously suggest you get to it. It's worth your time.

As always, thanks for reading! If you have questions, concerns, suggestions, etc... you can always leave a comment, or if you wish you can e-mail me directly at CodyWolf2011@gmail.com. There is a Poll on the right hand side of the blog, everyone is welcome to answer. Please do so, it's anonymous and I always value the opinion of my readers. 

Keep Reading!

The Clan of the Cave Bear: #92 (2003)

A few months ago, Jean M. Auel released the sixth and final book in the Earth's Children series The Land of the Painted Caves. When it was released,  my uncle got his hands on a copy and he was so ecstatic he gave the book 6 stars out of 5 on his reading list. Since I had never read any of the books (and saw the first one was on my list) I decided to read the first book.


About the Book:

After a vicious earthquake, little 5 year old Ayla is left as an orphan, forced by nature (or spirits) to survive on her own. On the brink of death, she is discovered by a travelling clan, homeless due to the same earthquake that murdered Ayla's mother. With a little persuasion and maybe luck, Ayla is permitted to stay with the Clan.


Does it deserve to be on the BBC List?

No... Do not get me wrong, I really, really, REALLY enjoyed the book. In fact, it is a book ( and a series) I plan to keep in my adult library for a long time. But as far as being on the Top 200 list, I do not think so. In my honest opinion, the book doesn't deserve a spot. It is a hard to pick 200 books out of how many books that have been published, but I just cannot say The Clan of the Cave Bear was good enough for that kind of praise. I will however recommend it to anyone who likes adventure stories, dealing with social acceptance, and the finding of one's self. In a couple years, I will definitely read it again. I give The Clan of the Cave Bear 3.5 stars out of 5

There is one available copy at The Rubaiyat located in Caldwell, ID 720 Arthur St. I recommend going down to purchase that book, and others you may see on my blog (they do have quite a few BBC books).
Comments are welcome, everyone can leave one if they so wish, and there is always a survey on the right hand side of my blog everyone should answer before leaving.


Keep Reading!

Book Updates : Upcoming Releases, New Releases, and the Top 10 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Hey everyone,

This November, there are quite a few hot releases. I see a few that are are ones I can't wait to read.


11/22/63 by Stephen King (released 11/811)




Inheritance (Eragon series  #4) by Christopher Paolini (released 11/8/11 




Destined (House of Night Series #9) by P.C. Cast (released 10/25/11)






Kill Alex Cross( Alex Cross series #18) by James Patterson (release date: 11/14/11)






Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum series #18) by Janet Evanovich (release date 11/22/11)




I hope some of these book tickle your fancy. I know quite a few people that read all of these series (and the Stephen King books) so I hope you can enjoy them as well



I also have a Top 10 list from the New York Times Bestseller List. This time we will do Non-Fiction.

1. Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson. 

2. KILLING LINCOLN, by Bill O'Reilly 

3. THINKING, FAST AND SLOW, by Daniel Kahneman

4. BOOMERANG, by Michael Lewis

5. UNBROKEN, by Laura Hillenbrand

6. THREE AND OUT, by John U. Bacon

7. THE END OF NORMAL, by Stephanie Madoff Mack

8. SERIOUSLY ... I'M KIDDING, by Ellen DeGeneres

9. THIS IS HERMAN CAIN!, by Herman Cain

10. JACQUELINE KENNEDY: HISTORIC CONVERSATIONS ON LIFE WITH JOHN F. KENNEDY

For detailed descriptions, and more categories, please follow the link. http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html


I hope you all received at least one new book title to add to your list. Keep tuning in, I'm in the middle of  The Clan of the Cave Bear as your reading this, and hopefully (pray for my teachers to not assign a lot of homework) I will have a review in a couple days. And I might even have a scary (or is it?) book in store for you.


Keep Reading!

A Chair Fit for Bookworms

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but I hate having to get up to retrieve a book all the way across the room when I am already comfortable in my chair!


Thanks to the Italians, we no longer have to endure through such a dilemma

Let me introduce to you the bibliochaise. Built by Milan-based Nobody & co.this incredible invention holds five meters of books in pockets along the back, sides and bottom of the chair (and the foot rest, if you wish.)

After I saw this, I immediately decided that I needed one. If you want to order one as much as I do, you can check out the Nobody&co. website. Here is the link. http://www.nobodyandco.it/

Keep Reading!

A Town Like Alice: BBC Top 200 List #37 (2003) #96 (2010).

If you tend to read what I read -exciting, fast paced, maybe a little terrifying adventurous stories- the book I am about to review may not seem like something you would want to read, but on a rainy (or snowy), stressful day, you may just want a nice story. A Town Like Alice would be the perfect fit.

About the Book: 

The book starts off with the narrator describing how he met a certain (and may I say special) client of his. Jean Paget, a mere secretary for a shoe factory, learns that a distant relative of hers has passed away and she has come into a large sum of money. Bewildered by the idea of having enough money to not have to work the rest of her life, Jean Paget explains to her trustee what she plans on doing with her riches. 

The book, as I have mentioned before, is not fast paced by any stretch of the imagination. The story just flows along like a stream with a small rapid every once and awhile. It is not , however, the flow of the story that is important, it is the message hiding in the story. I give A Town Like Alice as strong 4 out of 5

Does it belong on the BBC List?

Yes. The novel may not have mystery or suspense, but the messages that come with the story I feel should be told for everyone.

Does it deserve its place on the BBC List?

In 2003, the book was 37th out of 200, in 2010, it was 96th out of 100. In my opinion, I think the book should be placed 37th out of 100. The novel is a great read, and a book with a message is always preferable. It's a book everyone should have in their adult library. 

Thanks for reading everyone! Don't forget to follow my blog if you do not already. Comments are always welcome and suggestions are needed! Also do not leave this website without answering the question to my poll on the right hand side, everyone can answer! 

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: BBC List # 42 (2010)

About the Da Vinci Code:

Growing up as a kid, I was never really told the story of the Holy Grail (and as far as I know it is not in the Bible). As a matter of fact, I never got the full story until I read this novel. The book revolves around the story of the Holy Grail, and of course, a theory as to where (and what) it is. The main character, Robert Langdon, is investigating a murder that took place in the Louvre Museum. The victim is posed like Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting, the Vitruvian Man, with a cryptic message written beside his body, and a pentacle drawn on his chest.  In order to solve the murder, Robert Langdon has to go back centuries to discover who is at fault. 

The Vitrivian Man by
 Leonardo Da Vinci

If you enjoy a great mystery, leaking with suspense, and full of history, I seriously suggest it to you. 

Does it deserve to be on the BBC List?

Absolutely. This book is probably one of the most controversial books to be released in the last one hundred years. Dan Brown rekindled the debate of the Holy Grail, the relationship status of Jesus Christs and Mary Magdalene, and not to mention the ever going discussion of what the Roman Catholic Church hid from the public. 

 Does the Da Vinci Code deserve its spot on the list?

No. To tell you the truth, I think this book should be placed higher on the list.  This book as far as I know, is still the best selling English language novel of the 21st century (and the second biggest in any language). The book caused controversy all over the globe, and it is full of  science and history (although some of it is a little inaccurate). I would place this book in the top 25 of the BBC List. It's a fantastic read.

If you haven't already read it, I would advise you right now to go retrieve yourself a copy of The Da Vinci Code (I happen to know, if you live in the Caldwell area, that the Rubaiyat located on 720 Arthur St. has a few copies available). After reading this book, you may also enjoy Angels& Demons and The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Both books are from the Robert Langdon series.

Thank you for reading the blog!! I hope that you will leave me comments on what you think, and suggestions are always welcome. I also have a Poll located on the right hand side of my blog. The question this week is "Have you read the Harry Potter series?" Everyone is welcome to answer. 

Harry Potter Series: BBC Top 200 List # 4 in 2010

I think it is safe to say, that everyone nowadays has heard of Harry Potter and his story. If you haven't read the books, you may have seen one of the eight movies.

I started reading the series when I was in the fourth grade. I finally finished them all in my freshman year of high school.

Does the series belong on the BBC Top 200 list?


Yes. The books themselves are great reads. They are adventurous, full of suspense, friendship, and beneath the top layer, the story of a kid finding himself.

I think the books are great for all ages. The books in my opinion, are instant classics. They will be read by children and adults for generations to come.


Does the series deserve its spot on the BBC Top 200 list?


No.  When I saw how high the series was on the list, it reminded me of Alice and Wonderland. All of the books are great, but I really do not think they deserve the # 4 spot. I would place the series probably in the 75-80 range. I do however, recommend them to everyone.

.....................................................................................................................

THE RUBAIYAT 

If you live in Caldwell, I would like to inform you that the only used bookstore in town- The Rubaiyat - has moved to a new location. The address is 720 Arthur St. They are across the street from where King's used to be.  I recommend that everyone should go down and check them out. They have reasonable prices, great service, and they even have a great selection of Idaho Authors!

I hope to see you there!

Wrong Side of the River: A Memoir by Cliff Johnson

For a couple months now, I have been meaning to read this book. I heard nothing but great feedback from the local community, and of course I am always interested in Idaho authors.  Finally yesterday I was able to get my hands on a copy of the book, AND I also had the honor of  meeting  the author.

As a young kid, I always complained about something. If my parents wouldn't let me have something, I would get frustrated and complain about how awful my childhood is. Looking back now, I  realize that I had a great childhood. Cliff Johnson's book demonstrates the exact 180 of my childhood.

From an uncle who tries to kill him, to grandparents drunk 24/7, to a mother who is constantly in and out of jail for writing hot checks, Cliff's childhood has been filled with poverty, despair and traveling from place to place, and  family member to family member. The book revolves around Cliffs child hood and his pursuit to find happiness, a home, and more importantly, ultimate acceptance and love from anybody.


From a critics aspect, the book is practically flawless. It is written extremely well, has no errors in the text, and is constructed soundly.

But more importantly, from a readers aspect the book has a fantastic story. The reader throughout the whole book feels like he/she is actually watching the life of Cliff Johnson instead of reading it. You will find yourself crying out to the young Cliff, and cheering for him. This book really puts life into perspective. Once you pick this book up, you will not want to put it down...ever. Cliff, I give you kudos for this book and your success!

I give Wrong Side of the River 4.5 stars out of 5.  If you ever get a chance to read this book, you will not be sorry.

..................................................................................................................................................................


I hope you all enjoyed the post for today, please don't forget to follow my blog if you do not already. I have a Poll located on the right hand side of the blog, you all should express your opinion on it. Feel free to leave comments, and I hope you have a great day. Tell your friends about me!

George Orwell's 1984: BBC Top 200 List # 8 (2003 and 2010). Also we have a Top Five from the New York Times Bestseller List!!

About the book
     I had the opportunity to read this 1984 last year, and I automatically took a liking to it. The book was written by Eric Blair (more commonly known as George Orwell) in 1948 giving a view on what the world might be like in the future. The picture he painted was a communist world in constant war and a control on the people that seemed impossible to break.
    The book is told from the perspective of a man who tries to overrun the government. Whether or not he succeeds is for you to discover.

Does it deserve to be on the list?
     OF COURSE IT DOES! This book is fantastic. I absolutely think that it deserves the reward of being on the Top 200. The novel makes you think just what the government does and doesn't tell the people.  I seriously recommend that everyone read this book.

Does it deserve its ranking?
     Yes: This book is written perfectly, has an utterly fantastic plot, appeals to romantics and conspiracy theorists, and even if you aren't a theorist, the book still leaves some questions(What if the government is hiding things? How much freedom do I really have?).




As good as 1984 is, I also really enjoy seeing and reading what new books are coming out, and a great way to find them is The New York Times Bestseller's List. They have several categories, and each one has a Top 15. Here is the top five from one of them.

PAPERBACK TRADE FICTION

1. The Help, Kathryn Stockett

2. The Sixth Man, David Baldacci

3. Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay

4. Don't Blink,  James Patterson and Howard Roughan

5. Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese 

For more books on the list and reviews, please follow the link you will not regret it.

http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html

 

Alice's Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol. BBC Rank: In 2003, #30. In 2010, #29

About The Book:
   Probably one of the most popular children's stories ( thanks to Disney), Alice in Wonderland has survived through the ages as one of the most honorable classics in our age. The story reminds you of how magical and mysterious everything seemed as a child. From smoking caterpillars to furious queen's with short tempers, Lewis Carrolls Alice's Adventure in Wonderland keeps you entertained through out the whole book. In my opinion, the novel is a great story to tell your children before they themselves are able to read.


Does It Deserve to be on the BBC List?
   Absolutely it does: The book may not be a challenging read, but it goes without saying that the story is influential in current American society. I feel that the book gives everyone a chance to really reminisce their childhood, and children that do read it are without doubt given imagination that is important as they develop.



Does It Deserve the Rank it Has on the BBC List? 
  No: The book is very entertaining, well written, and all around has everything a good book needs. The only problem I have with it being ranked 29-30 is that it is a little childish. It definitely deserves to be on the list, and it deserves to be in the Top 100, but I would place more around the 50-75 mark. I think there are several other books out there that deserve the 30 mark more that Alice in Wonderland. I do however, still recommend that everyone reads it. I did really enjoy the book, and it's a quick, easy read.

What's Next?
   Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, George Orwell's 1984, and the Harry Potter Series (not in that order)
Stay tuned!

New Project!!

Hello everyone, sorry about the lack of blogging. Since school has started, I have not had the time to read, and thus, had nothing to write about. But, I have returned and I have a great idea for me and for the blog.


A couple days ago, I was given a copy of the BBC Top 200 list from 2003, AND the BBC Top 100 list from 2010. It technically was a shopping list, but as I was glancing at the novels on the list, I came to the conclusion that I should read all of them! So thats what my blog will be centered around for awhile. Of course I will have books that ARENT on the list, and we will still discuss other topics (New York Times Bestseller List, authors etc...)


I hope you all will follow me on this project, and if one great read comes out of it, I will consider it successful.


P.S I will NOT be going down the list in order. Since I have both of the lists meshed together, I will be informing you of what number they are on the list for both years, and since I have read some of the books on the list, I will write another review for the sake of the project. The first book I have to review is Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. Hopefully it will be up by Monday or Tuesday! Thanks for reading!!!

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Do you ever think about what life would be like if we lived in a communist world? Where the government can do whatever they wish at the expense of the common man? Well, The Handmaid's Tale provides us with an example of what might have been.


In this world, women have been turned into nothing more than items. Man and wife no longer make love, they use a handmaiden to reproduce. The whole plot of the story is depicted from the point of view of a handmaiden named Offred.

As I was reading this novel, I had several deja vu moments. The Handmaid's Tale (although a completely different scenario) runs right along with 1984. Both books show the struggle of the common man (or woman) trying to overcome the communist government. Unwind by Neal Shusterman also shares the same circumstances from the point of view from children.

I give The Handmaid's Tale 4 stars out of 5. I will definitely be reading this book over and over again.

Hello!!

Hello again everyone! I apologize for my lack of blogging, but things have been fairly busy lately. Unfortunately I have not had the chance to read as much as I would like (mostly my fault, I can always take an hour out of my life to read). With football season approaching (hopefully), my time has been devoted to preparation.

But I am here to tell my fans, that I am back and I am ready! Here in a couple days, I will have a few books for you. These titles include The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Fatal by Michael Palmer, and a few other books worth a look at. Thank you everyone for your patience.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (or is it a trilogy?)

Thanks to Hollywood, almost everyone in this day and age has heard of The Lord of the Rings . But how many of you have actually read the books?

J.R.R Tolkien began writing the Lord of the Ring series with The Hobbit in 1937. The book describes the story of Bilbo Baggins and his finding of the ring of power. The Hobbit barely has anything to do with the Lord of the Ring trilogy. It acts as a Prequel basically, but if you haven't read the series, I recommend you read the Hobbit first.

The Fellowship of The Ring starts the Frodo Baggins era of the series. In this book, Frodo is given the ring, and along with it the terrible task to destroy it. The young boy starts his adventure with his gardener Sam and his two friends Mary and Pippin.

This is how the adventure begins. The next two novels deal with the conclusion of the story of the ring.I have read all four novels, and let me tell you that you haven't read anything until your read these books.

Why do I hate Barnes & Nobles? And more books!

A couple posts ago, I briefly mentioned that I have a wee grudge with B and N. Well I received a few e-mails from fans asking me why, so here you go.


A few months before I began writing this blog, I had made a few purchases online through Barnes & Nobles. I was given a gift card for my birthday and I had decided to use it. Unfortunately, when I typed in the card number, the website didn't register it. After about ten different attempts it finally took my card, but I still owed about seven cents. So, I was forced to pay seven cents on a debit card.

Two weeks later, I was still waiting for my books. Then four weeks later, I was still waiting for my books. And finally after a whole six weeks, my order arrived. To say the least I was irked.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is why I have a beef with Barnes & Nobles. I seriously recommend you go to Borders for your online shopping. You can get a Borders Rewards card for free and get great deals (at Barnes and Nobles you have to pay!).



For those of you who like to follow my blog, you might have noticed the new books I have on my list. Well today I bought A Wrinkle in Time and Expanded Universe from my favorite book store, the Rubaiyat. If you have not yet been down there and live in the local area, you be in your car and on your way now. The address is located on the right hand side of the blog. But before you go, dont forget to follow the blog and leave comments!

Hey Guess What?!! I Went to the Library!!

Thanks to gas prices (nowadays 3.63 is a bargain), the lack of jobs in my local area, and just the little nickles and dimes that are lost while living, my wallet holds little more than dust in it. But by all means that shouldn't affect my reading.


Your local library has many benefits. For one, of course, it's free. Two, well it's free. And three, uhhh it's freaking FREE. Besides those three points, the library also allows you to read through a book before you purchase it. Then if it's worth being in your own collection, you can buy it and feel great about it.


There are of course some downsides to the public library. If you want new books fast, then I wouldn't recommend the library. If you are a slow( and I mean really slow) reader, the library may cause problems( its not always free). And , if you like to read books that are in impeccable condition, don't go to the library.


Today I went to the local library and rented three books. Two Stephen King's ( I won't post about them because they are short stories) and a non-fiction work about one amazing coach ( Vince Lombardi), and one coach who should have picked a better team to coach (Tom Landry). The book is written from the perspective of Pat Summerall who served under them when they were both assistant coaches in New York. This book will be posted after I finish the King I am reading now( Needful Things).

In other news, I have a sweet little button below this post. It's called the comment button. Why don't you leave one? I strongly accept recommendations, criticisms, and just plain old conversations with my viewers. Also on the right had side I have a Poll. The question this week is What is your favorite genre? Also if you aren't already, follow this blog. Thanks for reading:)

Book Updates : Upcoming Releases, New Releases, and the Top 10 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Today, while I was making my morning preparations, I ran a cross an idea. Why don't I research what books are upcoming and post them on the blog? I'm always waiting for a novel to be released, but I'm never quite aware of it until it is released.

So for my sake and yours, once a month( or thereabouts) I will post what I call a book update. These posts will deal specifically with Upcoming releases (a general list and specific books I feel will interest my readers), New Releases, and the top 10 on at least one of the lists on the New York Times Bestseller List. 

Upcoming Releases: 

• Smokin' Seventeen a Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich. Available June 21, 2011.

• Hell's Corner by David Baldacci. Available June 28, 2011.

• The Rebel by J.R Ward. Available June 28,2011.

• Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Available August 2, 2011.

• Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva. Available July 19, 2011.

If you want to learn more information about these titles I mentioned and others that I don't have enough room to type, this link will take you to the Borders website (me and Barnes and Nobles do not get along, so I refuse to advertise for them). http://www.borders.com/online/store/Landing?view=2&type=1&kids=false&nav=5185+5216&simple=false

New Releases: 

• Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow.

• The Reluctant Vampire by Lynsay Sands. 

• The Kingdom by Clive Cussler.

• One Day by David Nicholls.

Once again if you need to do more research you can click on the above link, go to the book section and look up new releases (don't go to Barnes and Nobles) 

New York Times Bestseller List: Hardcover Fiction 

1. Dreams of Joy by Lisa See
2. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
3. 10th Anniversary by James Patterson 
4. Buried Prey by John Sandford
5. The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry
6. The Sixth Man by David Baldacci 
7. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (third volume of Millennium trilogy) by Stieg Larsson 
8. The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel
9. Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh
10. Trader of Secrets by Steve Martini 

For the detailed information and more books and list's head on over to the New York Times website. I personally love it. Here is the link http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/ 

If you wish for me to discuss an upcoming book release or a new release on the blog, please leave a comment. If you wish for me to look up new or upcoming releases from a specific author, comment me and I will probably post on it. Comments can be posted anonymously if you prefer to keep a low profile. I have a new poll posted on the right side of the blog, and I hope you all can take two seconds to vote. Thanks so much for reading!

Desperation by Stephen King, and The Regulators by Richard Bachman

Have you ever wondered if any of the old sci-fi time warp novels actually have some truth to them? Is it possible for another parallel universe to exist with all of us in it, but playing different roles? Stephen King along with Richard Bachman have written two stories with this idea in mind.

 I would like to stress that these books aren't part of a series, they are two seperate novels that are able to stand completely on their own without the other. It doesn't matter which you read first (I read The Regulators first only because I found it in the library thinking it looked cool), and you don't have to read both, but i suggest you do if you are a King fan.


Richard Bachman's The Regulators 


A few months ago, I was glancing through the Caldwell Library's King collection (not half as good as mine I would like to mention) and I discovered this novel. It was first of all mis-shelved ( I assumed a King fan recognized the pen name and then accidentally placed it back in the King section) and my intention was to place it back where it properly belonged, in the B- section.  But a quick glance at the cover made me take a peek at the first few pages. A few chapters later, I decided to bring it home.

The book takes place in Ohio, on a nice street called Poplar. The whole community is having a happy go- lucky day. The birds are chirping, the sun is shinning, and the nice little paper boy is making his rounds. Well the paper boy was making his rounds until an idiling van decides to shoot the kid into next week. But that's just the beginning of problems on happy go- lucky Poplar street.


Stephen King's Desperation 


When you drive through Nevada, you might remember everyone calling Highway 50 the loneliest highway in America. But for seven individuals( who all happen to drive across the highway at some point in time)their stay in Nevada will be a memorable one. Of course you might remember it too if a serial killing, six-seven foot and three hundred pound cop was chasing you.


Both of these books to me are really cool. I thought it was genius to make two different stories and different scenarios for the same characters. I really can't give away a whole lot, but the "bad guy" is the same in both books. The other characters vary in the books, but if you want to understand more then you got to read them.

I also thought it was genius for the publishers of each book ( Dutton for Bachman's and Viking for King's) to match the covers together. The picture above is the cover for both books (first editions) and when placed side by side, they create one picture. Also the back of each book has a window to see the front cover of the other.

For The Regulators, I give it 4 stars out of 5.

For Desperation, I also give it a 4 out of 5. Both books are great, and both authors deserve kudos for their work.

NOTE* Both books have explicit content in them. Explicit language is used, and there are quite a few scenes where gore and sexual references are mentioned. In Desperation, there are a few scenes dealing with religion.

The Silent Land by Graham Joyce

For most skiers and snowboarders, avalanches are elemental factors that have to be dealt with. But what do you do when you get caught in one?

Jake and Zoe Bennet are enjoying a nice ski trip on the slopes when, all of a sudden, their world comes crashing down above them. An avalanche. But this is the least of their concerns. After they struggle themselves free, they head back to the hotel to find it completely deserted of life. In fact, the whole village is empty.

Another bone chilling fact. Food doesn't spoil, fire doesn't burn, and flesh doesn't bleed. What kind of weird world did these two love birds get into? Well you got to read to find out.


I really wish I could write more about this book. From page one it had me captured and I couldn't put it down. But as I got closer and closer to the ending, I lost interest in the novel. So I didn't finish it.

I will give Graham Joyce credit for the beginning of the book. It was written well and it was full of suspense. But his writing style irks me in some ways. First of all, he cusses when it's unnecessary. It seemed to me like he put in those words just to have them there. And Mr. Joyce also writes.... well he simply just bores you sometimes. The action in the book is great, but in between it's extremely hard to read through.

I give the book a 2 star rating out of 5. I don't think this book is really worth anyone's time.