Pet Sematary

    By Stephen King

        I read this classic tale of horror when I was younger, but couldn’t remember most of the story details. This book was written at the zenith of King’s horror period, and this story certainly lived up to my expectations.
       The story involves a typical American family; a mother and father with a son and daughter and cat. The Creed family has moved from Chicago to Ludlow, Maine where Louis is going to be the doctor for a small university. The family moves into a nice home, on a very busy road. They are quickly welcomed into the community by Judd, their neighbor across the street. Everything is wonderful with the family, as they begin to settle in to their new home. However, Louis’s first day at the university is a sign of what is to come. A college student is brought in to the medical center after being struck by a car. The incident resonates with Louis’s daughter, Ellie, as it is her first introduction to death. More importantly, the horrific death resonates with Mrs. Creed. Rachel Creed was exposed to death at a very young age, when her sister contracted and slowly died from spinal meningitis. Rachel was traumatized by the death, and becomes very cross with Louis when he decides to have a frank conversation about death with their daughter. Ellie’s cat is then killed by an Orinco truck on the busy road in front of their house. Judd decides to take Louis to the pet sematary, and to the Indian burial ground which holds a forbidden secret. Soon Louis is struggling with a bigger problem than his daughter’s dead cat. 
         I found this book to be a very interesting read. While the story was sufficiently interesting, what impressed me the most was how relatable the characters were. The emotions and conflicts are so well described that it is easy to put yourself in their shoes. The action wasn’t fast-paced, but the thrill was in the anticipation on what was going to happen next. I would definitely recommend this book; it is a great example of what people think of when they think “Stephen King.” 


Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Bunsen Burners 


Up Next: The Camel Club by David Baldacci

Safe Haven

by Nicholas Sparks

Katie Feldman is a young woman seeking refuge and anonymity in a small new town. She moves to Southport, North Carolina into a cabin for a fresh start. She takes a job at a local restaurant to try and make some money. Katie quickly starts a friendship with her neighbor Jo who lives next door. No one would suspect that she is hiding from an abusive husband and a life she was desperate to escape.

Trusting people is obviously something that Katie is wary of given her past. Soon after moving to Southport, Katie meets Alex, a store owner, and feels drawn to him and his two children. Katie starts to let her guard down and a relationship begins to form. Both of these unsuspecting characters have no idea what is about to rock their finally stable world.

Nicholas Sparks is known for his romances. Some of his books have even been made in to successful motion pictures. Safe Haven will not disappoint Spark's fans - it's a quick and easy read, a love story, and a general feel good book. For me this book was a fast read that I had a hard time putting down. It is full of several twists and turns. Some you see coming, some are unpredictable. This book is part romance, part mystery, part thriller. What is not to love?

My few critiques are that the book could have ended a few pages earlier and I would have been satisfied. The final twist was unnecessary in my opinion and I could have done without it. Having said that, I still thought it was a great book and I would recommend it to any Nicholas Sparks fan. Or anyone looking for a good beach read this summer!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Christian the Lion by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall

 

A Cup of Tea

by Amy Ephron

       It is 1917 in New York during World War I when a prominent woman, Rosemary Fell, walks down the street and sees a woman under a lamp post, shivering against the elements.  The woman is obviously penniless and Rosemary, on a whim, decides to invite the young woman home for a cup of tea.  Rosemary clothes the girl and gives her something to eat.  While at Rosemary's house, her fiance Phillip comes in to visit her and he looks a little too longingly at the homeless young woman.  The woman returns this gaze.  Sensing something is going on, Rosemary quickly pushes the woman out of her life as fast as she came in, but little does Rosemary realize, the damage is already done.  Soon Rosemary's high society world is crumbling at her fingertips all because she took a chance to try and help a woman.

        This book is a very short book, so as to not give too much away, the review will mirror this.  This book has a very interesting concept.  Not many books have a plot with the main character giving a helping hand and it ends up hurting their lives forever.  This book has many twists and turns which keeps readers hooked.  Each chapter is only a few pages long so this read will not take many of you very long.  Take a chance on this short story and enjoy!


Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Up Next: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks  
  

The Gathering

by Kelley Armstrong

Those who know me well know that I'm a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong's "Otherworld" series.  Since I'm all caught up and awaiting the next volume (impatiently I might add), I was intrigued by her new series The Gathering.  Like her "Otherworld" books, this one also involves the supernatural though less overtly so.

The book opens in a really off-the-beaten path and somewhat secretive village in Canada.  There, a whole town exists to serve a corporation run by the St. Clouds.  No one is exactly sure what is going on within the compound but all the families work at their medical research facility.  They were brought there for various reasons.  Mainly to serve the needs of the company.  Each family was given a home and their kids are given the best of the best in regards to everything.  But things are not what they seem in this town.  There is a mystery afoot right from the get go and it only gets more and more mysterious as time goes on.

Maya is our protagonist.  She's an adopted child with Native American roots.  She doesn't know much about her history or who her real parents are.  One of her most unique characteristics is a pawprint-shaped birthmark on her hip.  Of the other kids in the town, she's closest to Daniel.  But soon, another boy takes serious interest in Maya: Rafe.  He's known as a player and a bad boy.  At first, she's not interested in him at all.  But soon, she finds herself falling for him and it turns out he knows more about her than she does. . .

This book is written for older teens so it's not quite as in-depth or grisly as Armstrong's other books.  The characters are well-written and believable and the book flows smoothly.  I found myself not surprised by some of the developments as the story went on but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the work.  Fans of the "Otherworld" series will note some crossover in this book and be excited to see how that pans out in the future.

While this book wasn't the page-turner I have found her other works to be, I still had some difficulty putting it down.  I found myself saying "Just one more chapter. . ." a few too many times.  ;)  While the ending did leave me wanting more, I didn't feel like I was on pins and needles awaiting the next volume.  The book simply ends like the next chapter was left off of it.  No serious cliffhangers.  No glaring mystery still left to solve (aside from the ones pervading the entire book).

I certainly enjoyed this book and it was a nice holdover while I await the next book in the "Otherworld" series.  I'm also really looking forward to reading the other books in this new series as soon as they come out.

I would give this book 4 out of 5 wheeks.

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

by Chelsea Handler (and friends)

       I bet some of you have thought you pulled off amazing pranks on unsuspecting friends. Oil on the floor to watch them slip and fall, telling them swallowing a tablespoon of cinnamon will taste amazing, or that 3D movie glasses will be ruined in the regular light of the movie theater. Let me tell you now, you cannot begin to hold a candle to Chelsea Handler's pranks.
 
    "Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me" is written by Chelsea's family, friends, and co-workers, infused with a little bit of Chelsea's own writings. They each write their own chapter describing the pranks and comedic onslaught Chelsea has unleashed on them throughout their time knowing her. From very public emails, to prank phone calls, fake pregnancies, ridiculous lies, and nonexistent floods in hotels. You will absolutely marvel at the woven stories and lies Chelsea is able to pull over on unsuspecting victims. Many of her friends and family know that Chelsea loves to prank others, however she is still able to make them look foolish. That takes pure skill. This book is a quick read and it will make you laugh.
   
     This book is hilarious and I loved the different perspectives all describing the elaborate ways they were all embarrassed by Chelsea. She is obviously brilliant at her craft (making people look dumb) whether it is on her show or behind the scenes. She is so clever in her execution of the practical jokes. I especially love how her friends and colleagues just go along with the pranks without knowing about them ahead of time. If you enjoy Chelsea Handler this book will not disappoint you. It is a very amusing look at her personality outside of the show, when she is surrounded by her family, friends, and coworkers.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron

Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

  While many think that the The Hunger Games trilogy is a love triangle between Katniss and the boys that love her (Gale and Peeta), that is not the root of these books. As much as I love a good romance, this book has a taste of that, but it is not the sole interest. The main theme is the District's rebellion against the Capitol, which Katniss becomes the face of.

    As the "Mockingjay" of the rebellion, Katniss finds herself trying to encourage the other Districts to join her fight against Capitol rule. It means a lot of strategic planning and face-time in front of cameras to get her message out. Katniss suddenly finds herself as a soldier in a war. Katniss make sacrifices and struggles daily. She realizes others are dying for her cause, but that she also has to be strong to lead the rest for the good of the Districts. Keep in mind, she is only 17 years old. All of this responsibility on her shoulders makes for a trying and emotional journey. Not to mention adventurous as the Districts and Capitol's turmoil comes to a head. As to not ruin the rest of the trilogy, this review will stay short. Read these books with the understanding that it is not a romance. This is not the Twilight series. Enjoy the ride of reading 3 books that have a strong and determined young, unselfish, female character who faces challenges along the way. You will enjoy it even more with this mentality.

     As I said in the other two, I love the band of characters in this series. Katniss Everdeen is a fantastic female heroine who fights for the right reasons and the good of others. Her strength and intelligence was impressive throughout the entire series. The other supporting characters are vital to the story as they help to develop and contribute to Katniss's story. Collins is a fantastic writer who should be applauded for this series. I have recommended the book to all ages and genders. All have exclaimed how much they enjoyed it and could not put the series down. Who can say no to books like that?

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me by Chelsea Handler

Death with Interruptions

By José Saramago

     I picked up this novel by suggestion from my good friend and fellow blogger, Deputy Dawg. He was reading it a while ago and had told me about the premise of the book. I started this novel knowing only that it deals with some ideas about death and what would happen one day if everyone suddenly stopped dying.
    While the idea of the book was clear to me, the story was far from what can be anticipated. I’m not sure that after reading my review here a reader will be prepared for what this book offers, but I am ready to do my best to make it so. The book begins in an unknown Country; at the stroke of midnight death has been suspended. After a few days, people begin to take notice that no one has died. The infirm and weak persist in a vegetative state, unable to cross over into whatever lays beyond this life. From omniscient third person perspective, we eavesdrop into the dialogue among those affected by the absence of death. Insurance companies, hospice care facilities, hospitals, and morticians all struggle as their livelihood has been fundamentally changed. We see how society changes to deal with this new condition, and how their morals are challenged. For example: people residing in the present Country cannot die, is it permissible to take the infirm beyond the borders to allow them to die? While death is a topic most people see as an unfortunate consequence of life, putting the perspective on the living shows what a necessity it really is for normal life. Additional ideas are discussed in the novel, such as the idea that death could perhaps provide a 1 week warning to those whose life will soon end. How will people choose to use this extra time? Will they elect to make amends to those they have wronged, say goodbye to family members, or indulge as they have nothing to lose?
      The book really reminded me of a book that might be assigned for a college class. One which can facilitate a great deal of discussion, reflection, and change of perspective. This would also probably make for a good book for a book club. Before I continue, let me temper my praise of this book with the following: I enjoyed reading this book, but it was very different from any pleasure reading I would typically undertake. The dialogue takes quite a while to get used to. The writing style is unique, being narrated from the third person omniscient through a flow of consciousness type of style. The book reads a bit funny, which may be attributed to the fact it was translated from Portuguese. Punctuation also stood out to me in this book. Some typical elements, like capitalization and quotation marks, were omitted from the text. Perhaps related to the flow of consciousness style, commas were also ubiquitous, which sometimes made comprehension a bit more of a challenge. It is not structured to have a flowing story or the typical progression of a work of fiction (think dramatic structure). What it does well, however, is make the reader think about things. This book will certainly not change your life and it won’t give you a new perspective about mortality and life as we know it. But I don’t believe that was the author’s intention in the first place. If you like to think and keep an open mind, this book would be an interesting read for you. And I would recommend this book to readers out there who are engaged in a book club, as the collaborative discourse might provide further significance to this book which I was unable to gain reading it on my own.
     Rating: 4 out of 5 Bunsen Burners Up Next: TBA (I am currently reading the Hunger Games trilogy, but will not be reviewing them as they have already been reviewed by Kady. Where appropriate, I will include my thoughts about the books in the comments section of the previous reviews).

Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins

      After loving the first book the Hunger Games, I needed to feed my new Hunger Games addiction and read the second book in this trilogy.  No surprise, it took a day and I was hooked.  Due to how much I enjoyed the first book, I was afraid that this book would not deliver.  Luckily, Collins proved me wrong.  The author made Katniss such a likable and courageous character in both these books.  While this book was vastly different in subject the characters and Collins simple, but exciting writing style kept my interest.


Unfortunately this review will be shorter than the others so I don't spoil anything (since it closely follows the first book).  Catching Fire continues where the first book left off.  Katniss finds herself as the (unintentional?) face of the a multi-district wide rebellion against the Capitol (and you know how if you read the first book).  Of course President Snow and the Capitol will not let her do this without consequences. Yet again, Katniss finds herself in unfortunate predicaments and frightening experiences.  Her courageous attitude, unbelievable intelligence, and impressive physical strengths are tested at every turn.

     Obviously from my review, I enjoyed reading this book.  I think Collins created a brilliant plot to follow the first book with.  While it picks up where the Hunger Games leaves off, it is a wonderful book by itself.  The author again impressed me with her writing and vivid descriptions.  Collins really knows how to fully involve a reader into her books because she leaves many chapters with a cliff-hangers that keep you up late into the night wanting to know more. I can't say I liked it as much as the first one, because it was a completely different piece of literature, but I was not disappointed.   I don't think it will be a surprise to say Mockingjay (the third book) is up next!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Up Next: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Third book in the Hunger Games trilogy)