Shannan's Review of "1984"

Okay, I am just cutting and pasting this from Goodreads, so I hope that is okay!

I have a hard time deciding whether to give this book 2 or 3 stars. I had a hard time getting into the story. I am not much for politics, so the over explanation of how the government worked at the beginning was a little boring. I didn't really care for Winston until he started actually doing something of his own will. Then he kept my attention until he started reading "the book". I had already got the idea of how things were, and that was just too much of the same repetition. Granted, I ended up skimming the pages until the part was over, so there could have been something I missed. But Winston says it wasn't anything he didn't know before. And even Julia fell asleep when Winston was reading it to her, so you can't blame me! The end was facinating, eerie, and depressing, and I liked it very much. But it wasn't enough to win me over with the entire book.

I would read this if you want to just for culture's sake. That's kind of why I read it, just because it is such a famous book and I had always wanted to. But I didn't really enjoy it that much. It is really political and I also had a few other books I was really wanting to read, so I just hurried to finish it.

So, I had my first book club meeting tonight and it was really fun! And you will never guess what book we are reading for next month - "These is My Words"! So I am already to go. Also, my friend found out there are 2 more books about Sarah. I think I might check them out soon! Do you guys have any good book club book suggestions?

1984

Meghan, I am finished, so let me know when you are so we can "discuss". Good luck!

Shannan's Review of "The Hunger Games"

This was recommended to me from one of my friends here in the desert. She has wanted to discuss it with someone and everyone she asks hasn't read it. So I read it so we could talk about it. Now I see why she needs someone to talk about it with! It was really good. (The author is Suzanne Collins, in case you wanted to know!)

The story reminded me a little of "Uglies" at first, just because it is set in the future. There has been a war and now all that remains of North America is the capital, Panem, and 12 districts that surround it. Basically, the capital has the best of everything and controls the districts. The people in the districts are poor and at the mercy of the capital. Every year, the capital holds The Hunger Games where 2 kids between 12 and 18 are chosen from each district to fight each other to the death until there is only one person remaining. The games are basically to let the districts know that the capital is still in charge and could wipe out everyone at any time.

It sounds a little gruesome, but it really isn't. It is a very intriguing story, and I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend reading this. I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

(Meghan, I am going to read 1984, too. I saw that you were reading it, and we have it, and I have always wanted to read it, so we'll read it together, if that's okay?)

Erin's Review of The Time Traveler's Wife

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was written by Audrey Niffenegger and it is pretty hefty at close to 600 pages. It is one of those books that once I started reading it and got into it I was too intrigued to put it down. The language (more specifically the f-word) was a little much for me and if I wasn't already into it by the time I figured out that the language was a little much for me I might not have read it although I did really enjoy it so I can't say I am sorry I read it. It also seems like some of the descriptions of the love scenes are a little over the top (see I have already tried blocking it out because I don't specifically remember even though I just finished it not too long ago).

Anyways, about the story - It is about a guy named Henry who has "Chrono Displacement Disorder" which means he has a hard time staying in the present, especially when he is under stress. With no warning at all he will find himself in the past or future. Nothing can travel through time with him so he finds himself naked in random situations and has learned how to steal money and clothing and pick locks, etc to help him get by until he travels back to the present. As a result of Henry's time travels, he meets Clare when she is 6 but at the present time he is already in his 40s and is already married to her. Clare essentially knows from the time she is a teenager that they will get married but Henry doesn't know until he meets her because all of their encounters while she is young is when he is older and already knows her. Confusing? I guess you will just have to read it. The story switches back and forth between being told by Henry and Clare. It is definitely an interesting concept and like I already said I was pretty captivated by the storyline from the beginning. I guess if you can look past the language and love scenes then I would recommend it because it is a good book, but don't say I didn't warn you.

"These is My Words"

I just finished this book and I loved it. Erin already did a review, but I wanted to say how glad I am that we have our reading blog. If we didn't, I wouldn't have known about this book, and that's what this is all for, right? I really enjoyed every minute of this book. It made me laugh and cry. Thanks for the recommendation, Erin! I know Adrienne has read this before, but if you haven't, Meghan, than you should, when you remember what reading is. :)

Shannan's Review of "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan"

This book I read fairy quickly. I am pretty interested in Chinese culture, so I think that is why it kept my attention. And it kept up at a good pace.

There is a girl, Lily, who comes from a poor family. Because of her feet, the matchmaker realizes that if they are bound properly, she could be married into a very well off family. (There were a couple of chapters about foot binding that were pretty intense. I just cringe to think that people actually used to do that!) Also because of this, Lily is able to make a laotong match, which is when two girls make a contract to be best friends forever, with a girl named Snow Flower. The book follows the story of these two characters' lives and their relationship.

There are a couple parts that were a little inappropriate, but other than that, it was an interesting story. I really liked it when I finished, but the more I have thought about it, I have realized that I really didn't like it as much as I thought. I seems that if I finish a book quickly and it keeps my attention, then I automatically think it was a good book. I am trying to change my way of thinking. So, I would say that this is a good book, especially if you want to read about Chinese cultures, but I wouldn't rush out to read it.

Shannan's Better Review of "Deerskin"

I am obviously terrible at writing reviews. I don't even know what I was trying to say in the first one I wrote about this book. I am going to try again and hopefully not be quite so vague.

Yes, this is a fairy tale, but Robin McKinley writes it so that it is very real. In that, I mean that it isn't all hearts and flowers and happily ever after like most fairy tales. In this book, there is a king and queen, and the queen is the most beautiful person in all of seven kingdoms. Because everyone is so obsessed with how beautiful she is, after she dies, a lot of people aren't even able to function any more because they just can't believe that this most exquisite lady could die. Even the princess, Lissla Lissar, is affected by this when her father becomes obsessed with her as he realizes how much she looks like her mother.

She ends up having to flee from the kingdom to get away from her father. She has to fight to stay alive with the help of her dog, Ash, the only true friend she has ever had. She is given a second chance at life by a sort of fairy godmother, and from then on we watch her struggle to make a new life, build new relationships, but also face the demons from her past.

It is a great story, and in writing this, I am already looking forward to reading it again. Don't give up on it yet, Erin! And I am not sure what book Adrienne is talking about that I didn't like, except maybe the Orson Scott Card book, "Pastwatch". I should give that one another try, too, as long as I don't read when I am tired!