This is the 3rd book in a YA series that is slightly Stephen King-ish.
In the series, everyone over the age of 15 disappears from the town of Perdido Beach in one moment. As the remaining children struggle to survive, some of them start developing X-Men-like powers.
I really enjoy this series. The first book especially is really hard to read because the author doesn't shy from talking about really horrible stuff, like dead children and child on child violence. But the story is so fascinating. Yes, there are some funky things that happen in the book, but it's worth the ride.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Book 24-The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
I finished this book last week, but I needed to simmer on it for a while before blogging about it.
This is the story of Golden, a polygamist with four wives. The family is in shambles and this is their story.
It took me a long time to get into the book. I HATED it the first 40 or so pages and almost put it down, but I suffered through it. I think this would be for people who enjoyed The Corrections or other books where the characters make horrible decisions and are just generally not really good people. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I am glad that I finished it. The fourth wife was a really good character and I would rather have had the entire book center on her.
This is the story of Golden, a polygamist with four wives. The family is in shambles and this is their story.
It took me a long time to get into the book. I HATED it the first 40 or so pages and almost put it down, but I suffered through it. I think this would be for people who enjoyed The Corrections or other books where the characters make horrible decisions and are just generally not really good people. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I am glad that I finished it. The fourth wife was a really good character and I would rather have had the entire book center on her.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Book 23-The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebeeca Skloot
Yum! I love non-fiction books with a good "plot." This book was amazing.
This is the story of Henrietta Lacks, who died in the 50s of cervical cancer (and probably radiation poisoning). The doctors took some of her cancer cells to try and grow them in a lab, something that they had been doing for years, with disappointing results. But lo and behold! Henrietta's cells grew like gangbusters! Over the years, scientists used her cells to test vaccines, the atomic bomb, and even the effects of space travel on human cells. But this is only half the story. The other half of the story is the beautiful relationship the author developed with Henrietta's children: specifically her only living daughter, Deborah.
While labs are selling vials of HeLa cells for hundreds of dollars, Henrietta's children and grandchildren struggle with poverty.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys really interesting non-fiction. Like Devil in the White City or Outliers...
This is the story of Henrietta Lacks, who died in the 50s of cervical cancer (and probably radiation poisoning). The doctors took some of her cancer cells to try and grow them in a lab, something that they had been doing for years, with disappointing results. But lo and behold! Henrietta's cells grew like gangbusters! Over the years, scientists used her cells to test vaccines, the atomic bomb, and even the effects of space travel on human cells. But this is only half the story. The other half of the story is the beautiful relationship the author developed with Henrietta's children: specifically her only living daughter, Deborah.
While labs are selling vials of HeLa cells for hundreds of dollars, Henrietta's children and grandchildren struggle with poverty.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys really interesting non-fiction. Like Devil in the White City or Outliers...
Book 22-Matched by Ally Condie
This is a young adult novel that my friend gave me to read. I think there is already talk of making a movie of the trilogy...and Ally's only written the first book!
This is the story of a distopian society where all choice is taken away. The powers that be have used statistics to pick which people will be happy together (and make the best babies), what job each person would be best at, when people should have babies, etc. Anyone with an independent thought is labelled an aberration and kicked out of "the good life."
This follows the typical YA format in that there is a heroine who has two guys who are in love with her and she has to choose between her best friend and the guy who makes her heart go flutter.
I enjoyed the book as entertainment. It was a quick, easy read and I will probably read the other two books in the trilogy once they come out. BUT it was not nearly as awesome as the Hunger Games.
This is the story of a distopian society where all choice is taken away. The powers that be have used statistics to pick which people will be happy together (and make the best babies), what job each person would be best at, when people should have babies, etc. Anyone with an independent thought is labelled an aberration and kicked out of "the good life."
This follows the typical YA format in that there is a heroine who has two guys who are in love with her and she has to choose between her best friend and the guy who makes her heart go flutter.
I enjoyed the book as entertainment. It was a quick, easy read and I will probably read the other two books in the trilogy once they come out. BUT it was not nearly as awesome as the Hunger Games.
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