Book Suggestions

Hey guys,

Having a hard time finding something to read? Maybe you've asked your friends, family and co-workers for suggestions but your literary interests are just NOT similar, at all. If this is the case I highly recommend joining the social network GoodReads. Members of GoodReads get to develop virtual bookshelves and utilize a recommendation engine that analyzes over 20 billion data points to suggest future readings that will suit your personal fancy.
Monthly the site is visited by 5.6 million people. If it didn't work I'm sure they wouldn't keep returning. Join and let me know how it works for ya!

Now that school is back in session, has anyone been assigned to read any books that they actually ended up enjoying? Last week I was assigned Life of Black Hawk or Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, which is a true dictation from the view of the Indian warrior, Black Hawk. I am personally not interested in novels like this, and my suggestion, even for readers out there who do enjoy reading historic non-fiction... Don't waste your time. This book bored me to sleep. The entire content is summarized in the twenty-three page introduction and everything beyond that is repetitive. So if for some reason you really want to know about this man's life and experiences, do yourself a favor and google him.

I'm Back!

Hi All,

I've had a very busy summer so I haven't been keeping up with my reading and posting, obviously. BUT, school is back in session so I will be back at it; posting summaries, my opinions and everything in-between on current novels and popular young adult lit.

Kyrsten

What Have You Been Reading?

I guess some of my professors are getting just as antsy as us students about the semester winding down because I haven't been assigned a novel worth finishing in a couple weeks. Certainly nothing I care to waste my time, or yours talking about. However, I do still love to read and need some suggestions! Let me hear what some of your favorite books are and why you would suggest them.

A Monster Calls

An idea developed by the late Siobhan Dowd was brought to life by Patrick Ness after Dowd passed away due to cancer. A Monster Calls  follows thirteen year old, Conor, who is suffering from a reoccurring nightmare that just won't go away. His nights are difficult, but his days are even worse because his mother is ill with cancer and unable to care for the home. To make matters worse he is outcasted at school, has a grandmother that doesn't understand him and a father who abandoned him to start another family in a different country. As a reader it is hard to not feel bad for this young boy. Maybe if his life had less stress his hours meant for sleep wouldn't be full of horror. 

This book is deep, full of sadness and will leave you thinking about the relation between reality and dreams. What is the relation exactly? How do the two affect one another?

Current Amazon/Kindle Price- $9.34
Length- 205 pages

You May Also Like: 
Everybody Sees The Ants- A.S. King
Bluefish- Pat Schmatz

Flight vs. The Absolutely True Diary...

Looking for a novel full of dry humor and sarcasm? Sherman Alexie is the author to read. Alexie has written multiple young adult novels from the perspectives of different young Indian males. These speakers have interesting personalities that come alive in the pages which makes the stories hard to stop reading. A reader, as young as 14, could easily relate to the struggles and appreciate the content. But which novel should you choose?

Flight begins with a troubled, young foster child who has nicknamed himself "Zits", due to his appearance and lack of self confidence. One day Zits meets a boy his age and under his new friends influence, Zits attempts an armed robbery at a nearby bank. During his attempted robbery something goes wrong and Zits is shot in the back of the head by security. This blow to the head triggers a sort of time travel where Zits finds himself in different time periods, living as different characters. Throughout these experiences he matures and realizes the error in his past decisions.

Current Amazon Price- $6.63 (paperback)

Length- 181 pages

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is narrated by Junior, a young Indian boy who would describe himself as an ugly, untalented outcast. One day Junior is given the opportunity to leave the impovrished reservation he and his family live at. He changes schools and becomes a student at a rich, all white school where he should stand out worse than before. However this new school brings lots of positive lessons to Junior's attention, and he eventually brings what he learns back to "The Res" and applies it to his life.

Current Amazon/Kindle Price- $ 7.99

Length- 288 pages

Beautiful Disaster

By: Jamie McGuire

If you're looking for a twisted love story without the raunchy, inappropriate Fifty Shades scenes than this book is for you. This story is based on a "good girl" falling for the "bad guy" in a college setting, and while the idea seems overdone and cliche Jamie McGuire actually does a terrific job of keeping it realistic, fresh and full of suspense.

The main character Abby is new to school after running away from a troubled past and indecent home. Now that her heads on her shoulders and her life is in line  she has no issues, except the temptation radiating off of the school's popular bad boy, Travis. After shooting him down multiple times she eventually gives in and their dysfunctional relationship unfolds throughout the book. 

Beautiful Disaster displays violence, gambling, drug and alcohol abuse, as well as some mild sexuality and profanity. With that said I would not recommend it to younger readers. I believe the target audience to be anywhere from 16- up.  


Current Amazon/Kindle price- $7.36
Length- 432 pages

You may also like:
Slammed- Colleen Hoover
Fifty Shades of Grey- E.L. James