Dead Rock Stars by Wes Funk

I really enjoyed this book. Wes Funk is a Saskatchewan author. (Also the third Saskatchewan author I've written about on my Book Blog).

I've been reading this book during my lunches. I finally got to the point today where I couldn't put it down. I stopped reading when lunch was over, and counted down the hours until I could get home and finish it.

It's a short novel, but was the perfect length for lunchtime reading.

I really liked it. I wasn't sure when I started reading it, but liked it more and more as I got through it. Being from a small town (but not a farm), I kind of understood a lot that he said about the small town in the novel. My situation was obviously not the same as his (anybody who has read this knows why), but I still liked the small town theme. 

It was about family; it was about lost love and new love. It was also about getting over loss.

I sometimes feel jaded when I read love stories (or a love story within the novel). I never see it happening like it does, but I know love does come quickly for others. 

This is going to sound terrible (and a bit like a plug, but it's not), but now that I've written my unpublished book, I see different things. I actually think the love interests were similar. As I was writing him, I kept wondering if he was too good to be true. I felt the same about this guy. 

Anyway, it was a good read, and it feels good to have finally finished a book. I've taken too long off from reading, and it feels good to get back at it.

Six Years by Harlan Coben

I recently was reading a blog somebody was writing, and it had book reviews as well as life stories. I loved it, but it reminded me that I have not touched this one in a long time.

I'm doing two blogs right now that are pretty important to me, but this one is just as important. It's about reading! I am pretty sure I loved reading before I loved writing.

So I will talk about the book I just read.

Six Years By Harlan Coben

First of all, I'm pretty sure I've talked about other books he's written. They all have twists and turns and usually keep me interested until the end. I finish these books quickly (usually two days) because I'm excited to see how everything ties together.

I think this is his second newest book. I am sad to report, I didn't love it. I didn't love all the tie ins, and I actually was getting pretty frustrated (as the characters would have been as well) about the situation, and upset that nobody could figure out what was going on. (THIS MIGHT BE A SPOILER) Some of this may have been mob related because I guess they like to beat people up or shoot them instead of asking questions and talking. Although it seemed that was the case with pretty much all of the characters, mob related or not.

I did read quickly, and I must have enjoyed it because I didn't set it down, but I wasn't really happy with the ending. I think maybe I wanted more happiness. They focused on six years of unhappiness and missing somebody, and even more so on the two weeks (or so) of mostly terror and confusion. It made me tired and sad.

I know I'll read more by him though. I'll admit, I'll put down another book I'm reading to read one of his because I know it'll be a quick and pleasurable read. Plus, Harlan Coben is funny. His books aren't funny, but I have a feeling his characters have his sense of humour.




And that's my start back into writing about novels. We'll see how often I post. High hopes on this end.

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

I recently reread this book. I bought the book one day, a few years ago, and read it right away. It's a quick read -anybody who has seen it will know why. Basically each page is a new note left on the refrigerator between mother and daughter.

Although, I loved the book, and was impressed the author was able to make me feel the way I did with essentially 'notes' and no actual dialogue or action. The situation in the book was heart breaking, and I hope never to experience it. Although, I also hope to never have to live in a house with somebody and never have an actual conversation with them other than notes on a fridge. Saying that, I do have to remember that they talked, I just didn't see it. I was only shown certain glimpses of their lives.

I'm sure I'll read it again. As I said, it's easy to get through. It's kind of like watching a sad movie. When I feel like I need a cry, I can read it.

I've already read something else by her as well, so she's won me over. So far, it looks like she just writes for young adults. I'd be interested in reading something for adults.

Just some trivia, she also writes from Saskatchewan, and I'm pretty sure she's married to Yann Martel. What an interesting household that would be to grow up in. Almost magical.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I read this a while ago. It's pretty terrible that I procrastinate from writing about books I write. It's my own blog, and I shouldn't have to procrastinate something I choose to do.

So... Life of Pi.  I've been hearing about this book for a while, and thought it was finally time to read it. I especially wanted to read it before the movie came out. (Which it now has.)

It took me a while to get into it, but from what I've heard, I'm not the only person to feel like that. I was intrigued from the start, but still didn't get to the point where I couldn't put it down until half way through. I was a bit disappointed by the end of the book, but that's because of the way I think.

I would like to read other books by him, just to learn more about his writing. I also, will admit, I want to see the movie. There were some moments in the book, that I couldn't imagine, but I'd like to see how somebody else saw it. I'm not really looking forward to the goriness in the movie, I'm sure there will be some, as there was in the book. I different kind of gore than I'm used to... animals against animals. Somehow, I'm more immune to human violence, but not so much to animals hurting each other or getting hurt.

Anyway, I don't know if I'll read it again, but I'll read others by him, I'm sure. Plus, he's a Saskatchewan author, and that's awesome!

Lost by Joy Fielding

This is another one of those books that I could read over and over again... and I have.

Joy Fielding has this amazing ability to present female characters, that are in bad situations, and seem weak, but when faced with these situations, they fight back, and will do anything to improve their situations, and fight for happiness for themselves and people around them.

This seems like a common theme in all her books.

I am not a mother, so a book about somebody with two daughters (one young adult and one teenager) that has been through a divorce, isn't something I have experience with. It's not really needed when I read her books though. I experience things through the characters. I don't always agree with the way things are handled, but I pretty much know things will be better in the end. It's a nice feeling some days.

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

I am behind on my book blogging.

I read this one in summer. The most interesting part about this book was the back of the book. I really thought I was in for a wonderful read.

It personally wasn't my kind of book. I can't remember it all exactly now, but I won't be giving it a second chance. I think the phrase 'ohmygod' was used too many times. Exactly like that. I know that's a silly thing to judge a book about, but I am anyway. Believe me, if that was the only thing, I could probably deal with it.

It was about three teenage girls who decided to get pregnant. A pregnancy pact. I think that actually did happen somewhere. To be honest, the idea of the novel sounded good to me. I just didn't like how it played out. I thought at times it was preachy. I also was really annoyed by the teenagers. Possibly because I'm not a teenager anymore, and I can't put myself in that selfish mind set, but I hope not all teenagers are like those girls, and it was over exaggerated.

It was a quick read, and I did finish it. Mostly because I hate quitting things when I've started them. Even bad books.

I'm pretty sure I've read something else by that author and enjoyed it, but I wouldn't read this one again. I actually feel bad writing that, but it's true.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I have finally read the third and final book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. It was starting to get to me. I didn't mind waiting, but really wanted to find out what happened to the characters. I'll admit it, I wanted to know who Katniss chooses to be with as well. (If any were to survive).

This last book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me angry. I also couldn't put it down. I read it on a weekend, which was good because work didn't interrupt.

I know part of the point of this novel is loss of life, and the unfairness of the situation, but one of my favourite characters was killed, and I am still a little upset about it. This isn't really a spoiler, as characters continued to die or be killed through the entire series.

I'm not going to go on about this one. You'll either read it or not. Chances are, if you were going to, you have already. I really enjoyed them. I'm looking forward to the movies, even though I know they won't be as good. I actually don't think I'll read them again. I'm not sure why, I just don't see it happening. Who knows though.

So, that's it. Finally finished the series, and I'm happy I did. I'll admit, I wasn't sure about reading any of them because of how popular they were. Glad I didn't make my decision based on my snobbery.