Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

This is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. It was just as shocking as the first one, but as usual I probably would say the first one is better. The last fourth of the book was a little confusing and I felt like maybe I was missing something, but the gaps were filled in the last three pages. I don't want to say too much and give the whole series away... but here goes: The Hunger Games continues for the 75th year, and each 25 year anniversary is called the Quarter Quell. Each Quarter Quell has a twist in the rules. For example, the previous one sent in twice as many people into the arena to fight to the death. And the change for the third Quarter Quell is both shocking and devastating to the main characters we have come to love. It seems as though President Snow and the Capitol are trying to take control over Katniss and her act of rebellion at the end of the last novel, especially when Districts are now starting an uprising. Not only is there the epic battle in the arena, but Katniss struggles with her loyalty to Peeta and her love for Gale. Can't wait to see what the third installment has in store!

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

It took me a while to get into this book, but by the end of it I was totally hook and involved with the characters and their love and loss journeys. It starts in 1968 where Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded. They have been long forgotten by their families. But they have fallen in love and manage to escape the school. They find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone, Lynnie has just had a baby girl. The baby is not Homan's but a result from a horrible night caused by School officials. The police have caught up with them, Lynnie is caught and Homan goes on the run. Before leaving Lynnie manages to get out the words, "Hide her." So this is exactly what Martha does. The rest of the book is a 40-year journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia to figure out where the paths of love and loss cross.

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

This was my second audio book, which was very enjoyable. It had you giggling one minute and tearing up the next as it told the story of a dog that essential reincarnated until he had fully served his purpose. It is the dog that tells the story and in his first life he is named Toby. He was rescued by a woman that did not have a license so sadly he is taken away by animal control. In his second life he is a golden retriever from a puppy mill. After he is rescued he is named Bailey and falls in love with his boy, Ethan. Even though he thinks he has served his purpose with Ethan, he is born yet again as a female German shepherd named Ellie. After getting used to the idea of being a girl she is used as a police search and rescue dog. Once again he feels he has done his job, so is very surprised to be reborn again as a black lab named Buddy. It is in this life he finds his true purpose when he is able to connect to the one person he truly loved. By the end of this book I was a blubbering mess, and I would recommend it to any animal lover.

White Girl Problems by Babe Walker

I added this book to my book list because it had some great reviews for being a new release. I have to agree that it was a humorous read, but it kind of dragged on for me. It went on and on about her diet problems, and spending problems, and fashion problems.... aka White Girl Problems. It was funny at first, but then it was over the top annoying at times too. It was this way especially during parts about fashion designers that I am not familiar with, and have no desire to be either. I doubt that this is actually a memoir as it states, but if it is they definitely have problems because they spent over $250,000 during a meltdown in Barneys. I would say this is GossipGirl, meets Celebrity Rehab, meets Chelsea Handler... so if you're into that kind of thing, go for it.

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

I have read other books by Cecelia Ahern and this was by far the best one yet. Her other books have more of a fantasy feel mixed in with the romantic plot. I read this book because it has been on my shelf for a while, and I also LOVED the movie. Unlike most movie and books, I can't really say one is better than the other because they have some big differences. The movie has obviously been Americanized as both of the characters are from the Europe in the book. The main characters are still Holly and Gerry and it's a story of their love. Gerry gets a fatal brain tumor and leaves 10 notes for Holly to read throughout the rest of the year, all signed "PS, I Love You." She goes on a roller coaster ride of emotions as her friends continue on with life and she struggles to live her own with out Gerry by her side. I loved this book, and it makes you wonder if we all have a guardian angel guiding us through life.

Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres

This was probably my first book by a comedian this year that was actually funny. Just reading the back of it you know Ellen is going to deliver her usual spunk. I love watching her show because of her humor and quick wit, and this book is full of it. When you get past the funny parts, it basically tells you how to enjoy life and be happy. Some of the parts were a little reduntant like explaining why I'm writing the chapter." If you like Ellen you will enjoy this book, but otherwise it was just an okay quick read.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

After hearing all the hype about this book from my kids from this year and last year, I finally gave this book a chance. I was not disappointed. It was so enthralling to me that I sat down and read it for a few hours straight. It takes place in the future and the United States has collapsed from disasters like war and famine. It has been replaced by Panem, which is a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year every district must choose a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the Hunger Games. This is basically where the 24 unlucky ones literally fight to the death until a winner is left standing, while being televised for entertainment. The main character is Katniss, and she actually fills the spot for her younger sister. During the course of events there are changes in the rules, alliances are formed, and some chances for romance. This book was amazing, and I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy as well as see the movie when it come out in March.

Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell

The seventh book in the Kay Scarpetta series was about solving the murder of an Associated Press reporter who was killed while scubadiving in an abandoned navy yard. Throughout the course of the novel Scarpetta becomes a target as well. There was a cult causing terrorism, and technology, which I was not a big fan of. It was still a quick read however for me, just so I can make it through to the next part of the series. I hope the next one is better.

The Chose One by Carol Lynch Williams

This young adult novel was so enlightening and interesting to read that I sat down and read it in one morning. I'm not sure how much of it is based on true facts, but it a story about Kyra, a 13-year-old born into an isolated polygamist cult. Here, Kyra is bored with life and sneaks behind the adult's backs to read books, which have been forbidden. (Loved that part!) She also has fallen in love with a boy from the compound, but is heart broken when she is told by the Prophet that she is to marry her 60-year-old uncle as his seventh wife. Yes, uncle. Young boys are being chased off the compound so the extremely young girls can be given to the elderly men. (We've heard of this really happening in the news). To leave the rest a mystery, she does not like this idea and acts upon it. I learned a lot from this novel, if in fact it is true. For example, they believe that men can not get into heaven unless they have at least three wives. They also do not let babies survive that are born with developmental diseases. It was a quick read that I quickly got lost in, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for something a little different from the norm!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

 

I saw the Night Circus on a best reads list for last year and so I gave it chance even though it was not on my reading list for this year. It is definitely mystifying, I've never read another book like this. It is about a circus that only opens at night, and it shows up in places unannounced. It is the stage for performers with real talents, making it have an atmosphere of fantasy to it as well. The circus is used for a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood just for its purpose. They find out as they go only one of the illusionists can be left standing, which creates a catastrophic problem as the two fall in love.  The must find a way to beat the fate they have been cursed with, or leave one with a broken heart. It feels like you are actually there in the circus experiencing the acts with them. Great read!