Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Panther by Nelson DeMille.

Cover of The Panther


Hello Everyone,

I know it has taken me a long time to complete this novel and to be 100% honest, I am still about 200 pages away from the end. Unfortunately, I left it at my grandmothers house and was unable to get it back until a few days ago. I will go ahead and post on it, considering I am a good percentage through the book and I don't give up the ending anyways.

John Corey and his wife Kate are anti- terrorists agents. Their job is to make the Homeland safe, and so far they have. However, in order to keep our country safe, we must keep Al-Qaeda out of the Middle Eastern countries. One of these countries, Yemen, is on the brink of being overrun. With a weak government, territorial tribes all over the landscape, and Al-Qaeda the new kids on the block, Yemen doesn't seem like a safe place to live. And to top it all off there is a panther on the loose.

Al-Numair, the Panther, is on a mission to destroy America. He has decided that John Corey and Kate are perfect candidates to murder and show how great he is.

Trying to destroy the Panther, John and Kate are shuttled to Yemen to track this man down and arrest him, or terminate him, whichever comes first.


If you enjoy this kind of novel, you will probably enjoy the book. I have mentioned before, that it is the latest book in the series. I highly recommend you read them before reading this novel. I myself found this book to be a little dry. The previous five books are great, but this one just seems to have a lot of plot setup, and not enough action. However, I think the end is going to be great,and I am looking forward to finishing.

I will not rate the book now, but when I finish it I will place it in this blog. I will notify you when I do so.


On a local note, tomorrow is the annual Christmas tree lighting in downtown Caldwell. Take your family and friends and go have a good time. The tree is located by TVCC on Blaine street. While you are there you can go get a couple books at The Rubaiyat and buy some delicious coffee at The Bird Stop. The Bird Stop is also having a benefit concert for Joe Wheeler. Music will be preformed by the local talents Marshall Poole and BlooVooDoo. Feel free to go down and have a good time.

Well everyone, have a fantastic afternoon. I will try to post a few more times before turkey day, but if I don't have a Happy Thanksgiving!




Sunday, November 11, 2012

Seven Patients by Atul Kumar

Hello Everyone,

This morning I finished my first novel on my Kindle, called Seven Patients. Before I begin discussing it, I wanted to mention that it is not available in hardcover (as far as I know).

The story begins with an introduction to Rajen Mok, a third year medical student who begins his internship at a prestigious hospital. The book revolves around Rajen working at various areas of the hospital.

The book is a mere six chapters, each having a short story affect (meaning they aren't connected as a regular novel is). They are loosely connected and all have the same characters, with a few additions here and there.


The book is written fairly well. There is not a huge dramatic ending, or a romantic twist to it, but it does keep you reading and is enjoyable. The book has a lengthy medical vocabulary with definitions in the back to inform the reader. All in all I will give it a 2.5 out of 5 stars. For a four dollar novel, with no need to hurry through it, it would be a good casual read.



There are a few other features about the Kindle I didn't previously know about. When you finish your book, you can be directed to a page where you can review the novel,and see what others thought of it. It will also show you the most highlighted areas of the novel.  You can also X-ray the novel, which shows you where the characters are in the novel and how often they appear.


I know this was a short post, but I promise I have a lot more good reads coming your way. There are also a few events coming in the future you may want to place on your calender.

Everyone have a great Sunday and Keep Reading!

Friday, November 9, 2012

The Amazon Kindle Fire





Good morning Everyone,

As most of you know, I hurtled into the technology world of reading by purchasing my first e-Reader. A few weeks ago, I went to Best Buy and bought a Kindle Fire.
Today I will be reviewing this device specifically.

To start off, the screen is about 7 inches large ( rough estimate, don't quote me on it), and is colored.
When you first open the Kindle you are given a brief overview of how to work your device. It is quite helpful, and very short.

As you discover the settings, you can adjust the volume for your device, and the brightness. You will also be able to change Wi-Fi settings.

Once you are ready to go, you can browse easily through your games, apps, books, music, and videos. When you begin browsing the store, you will be able to find some  free books to get you started. You will also find that new releases are cheaper than the shelf price at your local new bookstore.

When you enter a novel you are reading, you can adjust the font, the font size, the background color (personally I prefer sepia because it is not as bright), how wide the margins can be, or whether you want the text to speech. You can also "bookmark" pages that you would like to refer to later. When you bookmark a page you can go through Notes and see where you marked (may be good for those of you who would like textbooks).
The larger screen allows your gaming experiences to be more enjoyable. Angry Birds is ten times more fun than your phone.

One major downside to the Kindle (or any device) is the battery life. That is one feature that books will always prevail in. The Kindle's battery life is fairly long, but when you need to charge you are unable to do anything on your device. You must wait for it to charge before you can continue reading.

My Kindle does not have 3G capabilities. I chose not to buy the devices with the 3G because I am almost never in a place that does not have Wi-Fi. You can however play your already downloaded games and books without Wi-Fi if needed.

When you purchase your device, I recommend that you also purchase a carrying case (range from 20-50 dollars). This will save your device if you drop it. You may also consider buying a pen to use instead of your fingers. Screen protectors are also something to consider.

All in all, I think the Kindle Fire deserves a 9 out of 10.

I chose not to buy the Kindle Fire HD, because I don't think 40 extra dollars is worth it. With my Kindle Fire, the case, and the pen, it cost me 215.00. The Kindle Fire HD itself is 200.00.

The Nook I hear is a good buy, but I don't know anyone with it, and I was skeptical to purchase one. I also would rather have Amazon as my book provider rather than Barnes & Nobles.
Comparison of the Kindle Fire and the Nook Color

If you are still curious about e-Readers, please browse around the internet. Consumer Reports is a great source for information, and I used it personally to help make a decision. If, after browsing the internet and talking to friends, you cannot make a decision on whether you want one or not, don't buy one. Regular books may be your best option.

I hoped this helped you, please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions about the Kindle Fire. Everyone have a great morning!

Keep Reading.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Nelson DeMille's Plum Island

Hello Everyone,

I haven't yet finished The Panther ( it's getting there), but I thought I would talk about the first book in the series and see what you guys think.

John Corey is introduced as a retired NYPD homicide detective who was shot in the line of duty. He convalesces to Plum Island for a break. Little did he know that two of his friends were shot dead. Considering that both of the victims worked at the offshore animal disease research site, it was rumored that germ warfare was involved.

With his vacation in the garbage, he pursues the killer. In turn, he finds himself.


The book has a lot of interesting features. All of the jokes are from a mans point of view, and thus, it is more or less a man's series. Most men will think it's hilarious, and most women will think it's childish and immature. Don't let the jokes fool you, it is filled with action and suspense. The characters are priceless, and you will never be able to forget them once you meet them.

This book is one of my favorites in the series and is a favorite among every book I have ever read. I suggest you give it a try if you enjoy mystery. I give Plum Island a 4.5 out of 5.


Next up is my review on my Kindle Fire. I should have it up by Monday, but no promises. As a side note, the interview I promised by Amy Perry has been postponed due to technical difficulties. Unfortunately I do not know how to post it on the blog after I have recorded it. I am currently working on resolving the issue. If you have any tips, they are greatly appreicated!!

Everyone have a great weekend, and Keep Reading!!

 



Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde BBC#118



Hello everyone,

Today, I thought it would be best to go back to our BBC list and discuss a book I think is... well interesting.

A couple months ago, a few friends and I decided to start a book club. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend because of school duties. I did however try to read the book, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

About the book:

The book begins with the tale of an artist, Basil Hallward, painting a young gentlemen by the name of... you guessed it, Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray is claimed to be handsome, innocent, and an all around sweet guy. Basil, who becomes great friends with Gray, puts it upon himself to keep him innocent for as long as possible. However it is not to be. Dorian soon becomes like everyone else in the world; tainted with bad news and ill fates. Although as the years progress, Dorian notices that he is not aging. In fact, the portrait that Basil painted of the man is aging. Afraid, Gray hides the portrait and denies anyone access to see it, even the painter himself.

What I thought of it:

To tell you the truth, I could not get into it. The beginning is, in my opinion, quite slow and very boring. After 150 pages, I moved on to other texts. The first pages deal with the set up of the plot, and the romance that occurs ( you would have to read to find out about that). I will hopefully be able to finish the novel, but I thought I would post on it, to give everyone a heads up. I did hear that it has a fantastic ending, very Stephen King like. So, if you can get past the first ten chapters or so, let me know if it's worth continuing. As I stand now, I will give it a 2 out of 5. If I do finish it, I will repost with perhaps a different outlook.


Does it deserve to be on the BBC?

I want to say no due to the beginning being slow, but I will say yes because of its message. I think everyone should get an understanding of the words between the lines of this book. Does it deserve to be number 118? Probably not. I think it should be farther down on the list, like very far down.



On a side note, I decided to become part of the reading revolution and buy a Kindle Fire. I will be rating and reviewing this particular eReader soon. I can say that so far, it's a nice thing to have (just don't let it replace your favorite printed novels).

I noticed that most of the classics are free on Amazon. I find this helpful because I get to read a good portion of the BBC books for free. If you are following what I read, and you have a Kindle, it might be a good idea to check those out ( I do know that The Picture of Dorian Gray is free).

I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween! I find that the Legend of Sleepy Hallow is a great read for tomorrow night:)

Keep Reading.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Michael Palmer vs. Robin Cook

Hello Everyone,

As promised, I have a comparison of the top two medical suspense novelists, Robin Cook and Michael Palmer.

I personally enjoy medical suspense, due to the fact that medicine has a wide variety of interesting subjects. The two stars of this genre are probably the ones we are discussing today

Robin Cook has great talent ( how many books has he sold again?) and he writes about a wide variety of medical areas. Whether it be in the hospital, or in the morgue, you can bet Robin Cook has written about it.

Michael Palmer on the other hand, varies in a different way. Most of his early novels involve doctors that work in a hospitals, while his later works are more political, dealing with Presidents, Senators, and other officials( but are still medical).

Both authors are doctors, and have adequate knowledge in regard to what they are writing about.

Robin Cook has the upper hand when we talk about experience. Cook has been writing a few years longer than Palmer.

As far as writing talent is concerned, I think that Palmer has the upper hand. He tends to keep you enthralled in the story, while Robin Cook can't keep me interested, he tends to get wordy.

Looking at who won, I would have to say... it's up to you. I am a little biased due to the fact that I have read only one Cook, and several Palmers. I suggest that you go and judge for yourself. If you have an opinion, feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me. I enjoy hearing your comments:)



Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I am halfway through The Panther by Nelson DeMille. I should have it finished this coming up week. I also went to Hastings the other day, and found the sequel to a book I enjoyed very much, Unwind. If you are not familiar with the novel, I have a quick review of it in a previous post. I should hopefully have that book starting soon.


If you have a book you want me to read, let me know and I will add it on my list. Otherwise, have a great Sunday!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

Hello everyone,

Well, here we are. I've completed the last book in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. It is kind of a sad day for me, but all good things must come to an end. I will definitely be reading them again soon.

The last book in the series is an addition to the second novel. The plot lines are very close together, and if you don't read The Girl Who Played With Fire it won't make sense.

The book, to be honest, is a little slow in the middle of the book. It uses other stories that aren't apart of the main plot as fillers. The beginning is very entertaining, as well as the ending. The conclusion to Lisabeth Salander's story is very dramatic and leaves you satisfied.

I will give this book a 3.5 out of 5. It is not as good as  the other too, but it is worth reading till the end.

 I have a couple tips for reading the series

READ them in order. The first one is not completely related to the other two, but it is a great book and if you read the second novel, it will give the ending away.The last two books are completely related and should be read in order. 

Make memos. The book uses names that are uncommon to our language, and writing names and a brief description of who it is will make your life easier.

And finally, if you are uncomfortable with sexual content in you novels, you might want to consider reading these books. There is not A LOT but I always try to make the reader aware.


On another note, I have bought The Panther by Nelson DeMille. I am not very far into it, but so far it is pretty good.

This book is the sixth addition to the John Corey Series, here are the books in order if you are interestted.

Plum Island

The Lions Game

Nightfall

Wildfire

The Lion

The Panther


They are great books if you enjoy mystery crime fiction. I suggest you read them.


Everyone have a great Sunday! I should be posting again in the next couple days, so keep tuning in.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

What Am I Up To?



Hello Everyone,

I was thinking about what I wanted to post on today, and before you log off thinking I'm going to ramble on about myself, it is about books.

Since I only get to mention what I am reading AFTER I read it, I do not get to really share with you on what's ahead (unless I do it at the end of the blog).

So, instead of giving a brief mention of what I am up to, I thought it would be an interesting idea to write a whole post on what you as my readers have to look forward to.

As of this morning, I have knocked out 500 pages in The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest, I hope to finish it before this weekend.

The next book on my agenda is one I mentioned a couple posts ago. Nelson DeMille released a new novel in his John Corey series( one of my favorite series'), and I intend to give it my undivided attention. I should also post about the series in general ( which I have not yet done) so if you have not heard of it I will give you an brief description of the five books in the series, plus the recent sixth addition. Of course I can not mention a whole lot in the novel( due to the fact that it arises from the previous five and I do not intend to ruin those books for you:) but I will give you a taste.

 When I get around to it, I will hopefully be able to finish the last five books in the Janet Evanovich series everyone seems to be enjoying. I also heard from a little birdie that the 19th addition to that series is being released soon. I should have these and all the previous books I have not discussed coming your way ( I can discuss these in more detail, since the books are only remotely related to each other).


Michael Palmer is also in my huge stack of books to read. I have four books on my shelf and I intend to get them done  before summer rolls around again. I also have a few I have already read that need to be mentioned.
http://vicbooks.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/bending-bookshelf.jpg

I have already stated this in a previous blog, but soon I will have my first comparison of authors (coming rather soon actually). The two contenders will be Michael Palmer and Robin Cook. Now, I am sure most of you know who I think the winner will be ( I have several Palmer books and only one Cook) but there are strengths and weaknesses in both authors. I hope this will give you some insight on who you would prefer to read in the medical suspense category.

Besides what I have previously spoke of, I have Stuart Woods, James Rollins, James Patterson Michael Connelly, Pearl S. Buck, and a few good non-fiction titles such as David McRaney's You Are Not So Smart, and Stephen King's On Writing on my long list. As always, look for BBC Titles, they seem to come out of nowhere (hint: one may be coming soon!)

On a local note, If you happen to be in the Caldwell or Boise area, please stop by  The Rubaiyat on Oct. 25th for an event from 4:00 to 6:00pm. Bob Sobba, Michael Dittenber & Sandra Bernsen (all local authors) will be there, along with great local wine, food, and wonderful company. Please stop by and get to meet some of treasures Idaho has to offer.

I will also have an audio interview with Amy Perry, owner and operator of The Rubaiyat. We will discuss the aspects of owning a used book store and the enjoyment she has in running it each and every day. The interview will be posted on my blog, and on The Rubaiyat's Facebook page (link on the right hand side of my blog). You should expect it early next week


Well, that's all follks!





Keep Reading!




Picture Sites
http://vicbooks.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/bending-bookshelf.jpg

 http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHOaRmkJrNK-hdJUSUhdmjcQtOWWDYItuBu8HoTGlv0rn2bE9qCvAOfme3


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Michael Palmer's Miracle Cure

Hello Everyone,

I have been fascinated by Michael Palmer's writing over the past few months, and I know possess 10 of his novels, and I hope to finish them all shortly.

One of his earliest works, Miracle Cure, has proven to be (at the moment) my favorite of his books, and one of my top reads so far this year.

The main character is Dr. Brian Holbrook, a recovering addict of prescription meds. He was found smuggling drugs he ordered for himself and was revoked of his doctor status. After dealing with his addiction, he tries to return to his previous profession. This is where the story starts

picture fromhttp://www.michaelpalmerbooks.com/miracle-cure

Brian's father, Jack Holbrook, has been having heart conditions, and is in serious trouble. A recently discovered drug, that supposedly cures atherosclerosis (the Miracle Drug). After seeing the results on trial patients, Brian is convinced that his father should be on the drug as soon as possible.

However, as Brian digs deeper into the trial patient. He notices that some of the first trial patients are dying suddenly. Does the Miracle Drug have a factor in these deaths? Did Brian potentially sign his fathers death certificate without knowing it?

The book is great... if you enjoy medical suspense. I personally cannot get enough knowledge about human anatomy, so I covet these types of novels. On the other hand, if you do not know a whole lot about anatomy, you will not be boggled down with terminology.

I will give the book a 4 out of 5. If you like this kind of stuff, you will definitely enjoy this novel,and probably all the others by Michael Palmer.


Please keep tuning in for more books!! I have had a great turnout after my drought of posting, and I appreciate those who did not forget me. More Michael Palmer's will be posted on ( newer novels by him) and I will also try to compare him with another medical suspense author.. you guessed it, Robin Cook.

Stay tuned also for my first interview!! It will be a recorded interview with Amy Perry of The Rubaiyat Used Book Store. Hopefully that will be coming to your ears before the end of the month.

Everyone have a great week!!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Upcoming Novels, New Releases, and New York Times Bestseller's List

Hello Everyone,

I found some great books that are coming up,and I thought I would share them with you all.

I know for a fact that Stephen King released another Dark Tower novel, and I hope to get my hands on it soon and read it. I also hope to read a couple more books by him in the upcoming months.

Jean M Auel has the final book in the Clan of the Cave Bear series published (not really new but it's new to me) and I will have the whole series to post on shortly.

J.K Rowling has also released another book... for ADULTS (matter of perspective). I have been eying The Casual Vacancy for a while now and it looks very promising.

Nelson DeMille has a new book in the John Corey series (# 6 in that particular series). If you have not read that series, and you enjoy mystery/police novels, I recommend you read this series. I think they are absolutely great and John Corey is one of my favorite characters.

James Patterson (of course) has another novel being releaseed soon, and even though I have not read any of his novels (I have one on my list) I think his books are noteworthy enough to mention. I mean how many books has he released? A lot of people like his books so they must be worth something.

If you are interested in American history, Colin Woodard's

American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America is available , and could be enjoyable for those history buffs out there.

 

 If you are looking for new books, The New York Times Bestseller List is a great way to start. 

 Please check out the list, see what's new and if you happen to find a good one and you want me to read it, shoot me a comment or an e-mail.

 

I have some great reads ( and a couple not so great) coming up, so stay tuned!!  


Saturday, October 13, 2012

The Girl Who Played With Fire

As a young college student, I don't get the chance to read as much as I would like. It took me about three months to finish the second novel in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. My plan was to finish the 700 page book within the next two weeks and attend to Michael Palmer and his novels on my shelf ( I find that taking a break from authors gives the books they write a better feel as you read them).





I ended up finishing it Thursday morning (right before my English class), and immediately after  I pulled The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest out of my backpack and started reading.


To say the least, even though it took me three months, The Girl Who Played With Fire is a great sequel to the first novel

The book begins a couple months after the conclusion of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. There is a new plot ( almost nothing to do with the previous one), tension between the main characters, and a storyline that makes you stay up all night to finish. Lisabeth Salander is by far one of the most memorable characters in mystery novels, and I suggest you get to know her well. I highly recommend having the third book, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest, on your bedside table when you finish this book.

Lisabeth Salander from The Girl Who Played With Fire


NOTE: I did not mention this in my blog on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but these books do contain adult content of the sexual kind. If that is offensive or unappealing to you, please do not read these books!

Currently, I have knocked out a little less than two-hundred pages in the third novel. If my teachers are willing, I can finish the book within the next week or so.


Upcoming Reads:

Here pretty soon, I have a few novels in store for you that I have been holding to post on.

James Rollins Subterranean, Michael Palmer books, and of course, more BBC books.

I do have a selection menu on the right-hand side of my blog for posts specifically on my BBC books. I am working on it currently, but as I go, you may click on the ones I have set up and look at them. They will be in numerical order from 1 to 200. If you do not see one I have posted yet, you can always go in my Blog Archive and find them there.

As always if you would like to e-mail me, you may do so, my blog e-mail is codywolf2011@gmail.com. I also have  Twitter page and you can follow me by clicking the follow button on the right hand side. I'm also trying to set up a facebook page (got to be patient with that one).

 Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!

Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo


About a month ago I went to my favorite bookstore in Caldwell, The Rubaiyat. I decided to give The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a chance, so I read it. To say the least it was probably one of the best books I have spent money on.

I know all of you have heard of it, and I am sure that most of you have or know someone who has read it. But I am here to talk about it anyways.


If you enjoy mystery as much as I do, you will enjoy the book. The plot line in this story reminds me of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None (Great book. If you haven't read it please do) mixed with Stephen King to throw in a pinch of weirdness. However, this book is in its own class of talent. I place it on my bookshelf as an equal to my Stephen King novels.

Currently, I am in the tail end of the sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire. Hopefully it will be posted soon and I can get started on the Michael Palmers I have waiting for me and all the other books I need to continue on.

If you would like to purchase a copy of this novel, or most others I post on, please take a drive to The Rubaiyat. They reside at 720 Arthur St. in Caldwell next to The Bird Stop Coffee House (they have great coffee and smoothies!) Get yourself a nice book, a nice cup of coffee and enjoy downtown Caldwell.

Thanks for reading!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Textbooks

I may not be able to post every day, or every week, or even every month (considering my last post was April 15th). I can, however, continue my blog and try to post as frequently as possible



Today's topic doesn't involve the Presidential Election (that is your job to decide who you want to vote for, I will not do it for you), it involves the most important item for any students anywhere. Of course I am talking about textbooks.

As I sit here writing this, I have three out of six textbooks sprawled next to me. I have two from previous semesters sitting atop my bookshelf, and I intend to keep many more throughout my college career.

Most of my books are published by Pearson (probably the head of textbook material). My chemistry, math, and biology books are all published through this business. As far as I am concerned, Pearson is a great resource for students. I remember using the same brand in high school, and even middle school (in fact, my biology book this semester is the same version we used in my AP Biology class my senior year).

Do I intend to use the books I keep? Absolutely yes. Biology is something I can read over and over again and still enjoy it. I mean come on, I have a copy of The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin for my own entertainment. My anatomy book is great to look up illnesses and facts about our body. And not to mention my handy dandy Pocket Style Manual to give me pointers on Works Cited and grammar ( something I need all the time).

So what makes a book worthy of keeping? Well, it's easy to assume that books related towards your major are worth keeping, and that is true. But what about those that don't? I do not intend to keep my Pre-calculus book, and I will probably use this information throughout my life. It's all about interests. I love Medical Terminology, but it's not related to my major. But I kept it anyways. English and math are vital subjects for education, but the fact is I will never use my math books and English books again (besides the Pocket Style Manual), so I don't keep them.

Remember, college teaches you what you love. So highlight your books, study them like you study a bestseller novel, and enjoy the ride.


For all the local authors out there, I do need more to place on my wall :)
So send me a pic and some info, and I'll talk about your book and place it on the Wall of Local Authors.

Keep Reading!



Sunday, April 15, 2012

The Time Machine by H.G Wells






If you ever wonder what life will be like in the future (and I think everyone has done that at least once in their life) H.G Wells idea is definitely one to consider. The story revolves around a time traveler ( who I am fairly positive remains unnamed) teaching his colleagues how time travel works. He then demands them to come back in a week to hear his marvelous adventure.

The book, I found, was slow to begin with. It took Wells a significant amount of time to reach a climactic point and even then, I didn't find it that exciting. The book does have a good message ( hint: social classes) and Wells brought interesting points in regard to evolution. I give this novel 2.5 stars out of 5. If you are a fan of time travel and science fiction novels, you may like it more. 

However, I give fair warning that if you have seen the movie (either of them), I have to say that the movie and the book are absolutely nothing alike. The only similarity is that they share the same name. Do not expect to see romance of any kind in this novel. 

On that note, keep reading! I have a few good selections from the BBC coming your way ( don't tell anyone but one book starts with Oliver and ends with Twist), two more books in the Clan of the Cave Bear series, and the popular Hunger Game series.  Of course, I also have Book Updates coming , hints/suggestions for identifying first editions and tips on how to read more books in a year!


Well that't all folks

Keep Reading.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

School, School, SCHOOL!




If you are reading this, you know now that I am still alive, and I will be posting again shortly. Between college, friends and family, and my new job, I do not get a huge opportunity to read. But I promise that I will start up again soon. The last time I posted, I was in Seattle and I had listed the four books I purchased while up there. I have read none of those yet (I know I know my bad), but I have read a few more books in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, two more books in the Clan of the Cave Bear series, and I finished the Hunger Game series along with a few single books. These will all be topic of my post for the next few weeks, and I also have a few pointers on identifying first edition novels for those of you who are interested. I need to thank everyone for being loyal enough to wait this long, and I promise your wait is over!

Keep Reading!!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Books, Books... BOOKS!





So, technically I am on vacation, and when a person goes on vacation, they do things they enjoy. And for me, going to used bookstores equals  fun!

So I bought some books!!! YAY!

For a grand total of four, I bought:


The Lace Readery by Brunonia Barry. I have owned a copy of this before, but I figured it is worth another shot.



 Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. This novel is one of Charles Dicken's many famous novels and it is on the BBC List. I am very excited for this book and look forward to it.






The third book I had to buy while on vacation is the only non-fiction book I bought.

The novel is called, You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney.

I probably will not post on this for awhile, due to the fact that I won't read it all at once, but it automatically caught my attention and I definitely can't wait to start.

And fourth and finally, I bought Running the Rift, by Naomi Benaron.

The local bookstore I went to seemed to really like this book, and I figured it was worth my money to buy.





Well, thats it for now. All of the books I mentioned today should be posted on, so you have something to look forward to.



Keep Reading!!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel

The Valley of the Horses cover.jpg

Hello everyone! I hope the holidays were good and you enjoyed spending time with your family and friends.

I know I haven't been posting often lately, and I am afraid that it may not change due to school starting up again, but I will keep posting and I have a good selection ahead for y'all to try.

A couple months ago, I read the first book in the Earth's Children series, The Clan of the Cave Bear. And finally after about a month of reading, I finished the sequel, The Valley of Horses.

The book begins almost immediatly after its prequel, with Alya leaving her only home (and her son) to go find her own kind. After travelling North several miles, she makes camp in a cave near a valley previously occupied by horses (check out the name!).  After settling in to her new groove, and adopting new guests, Alay has to chose whether to stay in the Valley in solitude, or travel on to find the Others who may or may not accept her.


I'm going to warn you, that the book really starts off slow in my opinion. It took me awhile to bear through the first 200 pages of the book, and for some of you it may turn you off. But once you get into the last few hundred pages of the book, it picks up.  I do not think the book is as good as the first one. I suggest that if you liked the first book, then you should read the second.


Warning: The book has a lot of sexual content. My girlfriend read a section of it, and called it straight- up porn. But if you can get past that, and enjoy the plot of the book, it's really a good read.

Warning 2: If you have not read the first book, do NOT read the second one! With some series you can read in whichever order you wish, but with this one I do not suggest it.


As of right now, I am in Seattle with my aunt and uncle on a mini vacation. So, this week could be hectic for my reading schedule. However, I did finish The Time Machine by H.G. Wells right before I left and that should be up on the blog within the next few days. I also have The Hunger Games series coming up, and as we speak I am about one hundred pages into The Mammoth Hunters (the third book in the Earth's Children series).

I hope you all have a fanastic next few days.

Keep Reading!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Best Books of 2011!

Happy New Year everyone!!

2011 has been a really good year, and it was full of really good reads. Looking back over this last year, I can think of several fantastic books that I got to read. So, I would like to give my Top Ten reads of 2011



10.  The Ruins by Scott Smith. Here is the link for my review. http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/03/ruins.html


9. Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
 http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/12/life-of-pi-by-yann-martel-bbc-top-200.html


8. Wrong Side of the River by Cliff Johnson.
http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/10/wrong-side-of-river-memoir-by-cliff.html


7. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute.
http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/11/town-like-alice-bbc-top-200-list-37.html


6. The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel (just finished the sequel!!!! should be posted on soon)
http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/11/clan-of-cave-bear-92-2003.html


5. Alice's Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/10/alices-adventure-in-wonderland-by-lewis.html


4. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/05/unwined-by-neal.html


3. 1984 by George Orwell
http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/10/george-orwells-1984-bbc-top-200-list-8.html

2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-book-store-and-also-help.html


And finally the number one book of 2011......... Frankenstein by Mary Shelly!
http://readabook2011.blogspot.com/2011/05/frankenstein-by-mary-shelley.html

Thanks for a great 2011. I'm sure 2012 will be even better!