Reading: Book 4 ~ Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants

By Sara Gruen

I loved this book and would recommend it but with caution. This is not a book for young readers. There are some very adult scenes in this book (of sexual and explicit nature). 

The main character in this book is an elderly man (in his 90s) and goes back and forth from him in present in the nursing home in which he now resides and back to his youth when he unknowingly became part of a traveling circus.

This book definitely kept my interest and was not only easy to read but I could set it down to get things done around the house (unlike "Hunger Games"). This book was made into a movie that came out just about a year ago and I have yet to see the movie. In the notes from the author, it seems this book was semi based on several different recorded circus stories from this time period. Throughout the book there are several pictures of circuses from this time period. It was definitely a different world.

I enjoyed this and recommend it (to adult readers).

Reading: Book 4 ~ The Help

The Help

by Kathryn Stockett

To try to keep on my reading this year, I made a list of books that I wanted to read. The first three books were in a series and hard to put down, so I finished all of them in just over a week. Then I took a break for a bit. When I went back to reading, I decided to pick a book off my list that was on the New York Times Bestsellers list. I figured if that many people liked reading the book, it would be "easy" to read...plus I really want to see the movie and I won't watch the movie until I've read the book (the Harry Potter series being the only exception to that rule that I can remember).

I think this was an excellent book.  Though it definitely deals with civil rights issues, there is so much more to this book. The three characters highlighted in the book give it a nice well rounded feel. It depicts a time in the early 1960's and tells the story of two black maids and the white women that interviews them to tell their story.

It was another book I just could not put down. I read it over a few days. I can't wait to see the movie and plan on adding a little post about the comparison between the two though I have heard it keeps to the story fairly close until the ending. 

I would definitely recommend reading this book.

Reading: Book 3 ~ Mockingjay

Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

This is the 3rd and final book to the "Hunger Games" series. Each of the previous books ended with such a cliff hanger that I had to immediately begin the next book. This final book starts with the main character Katniss being pulled from the arena in the Quarter Quell Hunger Games for which she was a tribute.

She is taken to district 13 which was believed to be destroyed 75 years ago but instead it became an underground society. She finds out that her district was completely destroyed by the Capitol but her family was able to get out in time and is also living in district 13.

This district wants to start a revolution against the Capitol with the other districts and is preparing for war. They want Katniss to represent them as a figure head for the movement though she does not want to participate in this. She finally gives into their request and joins the war against the Capitol. 

This books takes you through this journey at district 13 through Katniss' journey to the capitol in war with an interesting cast of characters. I will say that the end of the book was very disappointing and I wished I had not spent a week loosing sleep to stay up late and read these books. The 1st book, "Hunger Games", was outstanding but I felt the 2nd book, "Catching Fire" and this final book "Mockingjay" fell short...far short.

There will be a moving of the "Hunger Games" coming out in March and I am looking forward to seeing how they will depict this book. I always think that books are far better than the movies based on books but enjoy seeing them. I won't go see a movie that is based on a book until I read the book. It is a great incentive to me to continue to read new and different books, maybe even books I wouldn't normally read.

Reading: Book 2 ~ Catching Fire

Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins

This is the 2nd book in the Hunger Games series. This book picks up right where the first book left you hanging (at the end of the 74th hunger games). The main character, Katniss goes home to district 12. She moves to the big house that she was rewarded at the end of the games.

Her defiance to Hunger Games in the first book has created a movement that has caused disturbances in the other districts though she is not aware of this being there is no communication between districts. She begins to learn about these disturbances and then the president of The Capitol tells her she need to put this to an end on her victory tour. Instead of putting an end to these disturbances, she creates more problems.

This year is considered a Quarter Quell in which the Hunger Games always have some new twist (every 25 years). This year it is decided that the tributes will be chosen from the previous tributes. Being Katniss is the only girl that has won from her district, she will be going back to the arena, her worst nightmare.

This book takes you through the journey of Katniss on her victory tour through the Quarter Quell Hunger Games and once again leaves you with a cliff hanger which caused me to begin the 3rd book immediately. 

Reading: Book 1 ~ Hunger Games

Okay, I'm going to start this first post about the books I'm reading this year by saying that I am not a book reviewer. I am just sharing some of my thoughts on these books. I won't give away the book for those who want to read it. In order to reach my goal of 30 books this year, I will be reading several series. I found they get me hooked and I read more often.

Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

This is the first book of a trilogy. The second book is Catching Fire and the third book is Mockingjay. I did read all three in the series. This is considered a series for young adults and therefor were easy reads for me.

The premis of this book is that the world that we know today no longer exists. Through natural disaster, war, and pollution, there is very little left. In what used to be North America is now The Capitol and 12 colonies. Early on there were 13 colonies that rose up against The Capitol and the 13th colony was destroyed. In order to keep the colonies in line, The Capitol instituted The Hunger Games.

Each year there is a reaping where one girl and one boy between the age of 12-18 is selected from every district as a tribute. They are then taken to The Capitol to be prepared to enter an arena where they will fight till the death until only one child remains. The child that remains is given a nice house in which to live in their district and money. Their district is rewarded with food throughout the year. This is to remind the districts that The Capitol is in control of their lives. Each district has something they produce or make to provide to The Capitol. This story is based on a girl from district 12, which is the coal mining district.

This book takes the reader through the journey of the main character, Katniss from before the reaping, her as a tribute for the hunger games and through the completion of the 74th hunger games. I found this book to be entertaining and ends with a huge cliff hanger which caused me to want to read the next book right away. I read the entire series over a few days.