The Prisoner of Cell 25, Michael Vey

My friend recommended this book and I decided to read it, but had no idea what it was about. I thought it was an adult non-fiction book about a man in prison, boy was I wrong! This is a teen book and a fiction for sure. This was a fun and easy read. A typical wimpy-kid-turns-superhero type book. I had a little bit of a hard time getting past the shallow way the teenagers talked, but I guess that's actually more realistic than I'd like to believe. Still, I find it difficult to believe that these kids who can't even carry on a single conversation without insulting each other can hop in a car without telling their parents and drive across 5 states to an unknown designation without a map and then all of a sudden become experts at tactical warfare. Come to think of it, my son will probably love this book, every boy's dream right?

These Is My Words

This book was recommended from a friend/author who said that it is one of the best books she has ever read for character development. I would have to say that I agree wholeheartedly. I also enjoyed this book for it's rugged adventure, heartache and sorrow followed by life consuming happiness, and events that can be applied to my daily life for strengthening in tough times. I kept finding myself referring to "the book I'm ready right now" in conversations with friends about life struggles. The only part of the book I couldn't get used to was the romantic undertones. I don't read very many books with romantic scenes and there were a few that made me blush in this book, not that they were inappropriate, I'm just not used to it. There are some violently graphic scenes that might bother others, but didn't phase me a bit, so to each his own. Also, as an avid journal writer/blogger, I enjoyed the journal-style of the writing. There were a few times when I felt like the entries were unbelievable, but that's fiction right? Overall, I really liked the book.

Heidi

This was one of my favorite books as a child and I loved sharing it with my kids. They loved it. It has some great themes to talk about as a family and gives a beautiful depiction of life on the Alps. Plus we got to eat goat cheese at book group and it was so yummy!

Unbroken

This book was so inspiring. I can't believe what these soldiers had to endure. It seems humanly impossible. It really makes me think twice about judging those vets on the side of the road. Also, if I could just remember this book, I will never feel like I have problems in my life. Because of this book, I have started recording my own trials (not that they compare) and my road to overcome them hoping that some day my stories could help someone else like this story helped me. Although this is non-fiction, it is very riveting and kept me interested from page 1 to the end. I have recommended this book to many and find myself referring to it often.

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

It was fun. I mean, what kid doesn't love a man who can talk with animals, traveling to an island, volcanoes, pink snails...what's not to love. My favorite part of it though is what it tells about the world at the time it was written, a time when British domination was the norm, a time when cannibalism was not unheard of and most of all, it reminds me of stories of my great grandfather living in the British East Indies. Fun stuff!

The Door in the Wall

It was okay.  A little slow to get through, but some good values are taught and it opens a little window into what Medieval life may have been like.

The Book Thief

I think from now on if anyone ever asks me what kind of books I like to read, I will answer, "Books like The Book Thief." It was perfect. My friend who lent it to me said, "You have to read about 50 pages in before it gets really good." Dear friend, I totally disagree, I was hooked at word one. The narrator - Brilliant. The imagery - amazing! I love words, I love to write with them, play with them, dream about them and this book did more with words than I could ever imagine. Plus, I love historical fiction and have always been a sucker for books set in Nazi Germany. For some strange reason, when I am reading, I love to have my heart ripped out and trampled on and this book did that. Interestingly enough, I did not cry like a baby, just a few well placed tears is all. It probably has a lot to do with the narrator's nasty habit of telling you the end of the story before it actually gets there. But, as one friend observed, that leaves you open to truly experience what Liesel is going through rather than wondering what is going to happen next. Now that I am done reading, I really miss Liesel and Rudy, Hans and Rosa and the rest of the family of Himmel Street.