Thursday, September 27, 2012

Book 30: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

This is the third and final (?) book of this apocalyptic tale of the world post-devastation.  This book brings together the two characters from the first two books a year after the moon was hit by an asteroid and moved closer to Earth. 

I really liked this series, although it was terrifying because the scenario seems so plausible.  As I've probably stated before, my biggest fear is surviving the end of the world.  I think that the author is very realistic and my only critique would be that the writing is a little simplistic...but that makes sense when you realize that the book is supposed to be the journal entries of a 16 year old.  She is definitely not the precocious narrator that many YA authors use to cover their own misunderstanding of what a teenager is really like. 

I would recommend this series for other lovers of YA fiction.  It's a quick read and fascinating, in my opinion.

Book 29: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

I listened to this book after finishing the wonderful Bossypants by Tina Fey.  This book, in comparison, was a little disappointing.  While I find Mindy funny, smart, and beautiful, this book paints her as a stereotypical female airhead.  She worries about her weight, her clothing, boys, etc.  Ugh.  I'm so far past that point in my life that I was just bored by her story.  There were a couple of funny parts, but I can't remember them now, which should say something...

I'm really afraid that, somehow, Mindy Kaling will read this review and think that I'm a horrible person...  I'm sure that's unfounded as this is such a minuscule blog, but stranger things have happened.  So I want to make it perfectly clear that this book did not speak to me as a 33 year old mother of five who only shops for herself once or twice a year.  My colleague loved this book and found it hilarious.  But she's in a different place in her life...  So, would I recommend this book?  Nope.  But I know someone who enthusiastically gives it two thumbs up...

Book 28: Gold by Chris Cleave

This is the 3rd book I've read by Chris Cleave and is probably my second favorite.  I don't know why, but Little Bee just didn't grab me the way it grabbed most people I know.  I loved Incendiary (his first novel) the best because that book made me think about life in a different way. 

This book is completely different, in my opinion.  This is the story of three Olympic-grade cyclists and a little girl who is fighting cancer.  The book explores the price of fame, the price of a happy family, and the price of friendship.  I was sucked in and couldn't put it down for the last 50 pages, something that I haven't felt in quite awhile. 

Has anyone else read any of Cleave's books?  Did you love Little Bee?  If so, why?  Maybe I'm misremembering the book...