Forgot One....

I read the first book in the series earlier this year, and then this sequel sometime this summer. However, I forgot to list this one.

I really liked the initial story of Sam and Grace. It was sweet, original and romantic. Then I read the sequel. Everything that the original was not. Trite and predictable.

I won't be reading the next book in the series, which is really sad because I really cared about the characters initially. This is yet another example of how commercialism spoils an otherwise great story.

13 Reasons Why

This is the story of Hannah Baker, and the 13 reasons that impacted her decision to end her life. I started reading this book because my 5th and 6th grade girls like supernatural stories. I thought this would be right up their alley.

This book is so powerful and though this is his first book, Jay Asher has an incredible voice. He was able to speak to how even the smallest of events can and do impact the lives of other people. I think that this is a wonderful book for all young adults and people everywhere can read. It's a powerful reminder to all of us about the butterfly effect that our actions take - a word spoken in anger, an act of dishonesty, saying and doing the wrong things because of peer pressure.... it's all in there!

For any and all, I highly recommend this book!

The Distant Hours

Kate Morton does it again! Earlier in the year, I read a book called the "Forgotten Garden". It was an amazing story full of unpredictable twists and turns. I didn't think that she could do it again. I was so very wrong.
The Distant Hours is about a young girl who gets evacuated from London during the Blitz. It was fascinating. The story travels basically through three generations - the Blythe sisters, Meredith and her daughter, Edith.
The story sucks you in and keeps you guessing.
This was a must read. I just loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone!! If you enjoyed The Forgotten Garden, I will so highly recommend The Distant Hours. It starts off strangely, but stay with it. If you like mystery or horror, historical romance... this book has something for everyone!!

The Fall of the House of Walworth

This book was plugged as a real life "Fall of the House of Usher" - notice the similarities in the name alone. This is the story of Manfield Walworth, an author of little note, and his wife, Ellen and their son, Frank.
Manfield and Ellen had a sordid relationship that included, but was not limited to many episodes of domestic violence.
Frank, through concern for his mother, commits the most heinous crime of all - patricide.

I wanted to hear more aobut what drove Frank to commit this terrible crime. Much was alluded to, including an inappropriate relationship between their father and Frank's younger sisters. Little was actually stated though.
The book starts out with the murder and some minor background details. After Frank is arrested, the author goes off on some historical tangent - going back and discussing even Mansfield's father and his marriage, political associations and more. How is this relevant to the story at hand? It was never clear.
I have to say that, as of today, December 17, this book has earned the dubious distinction of being the biggest Stinker of the year.