Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

This is the second book in the Hunger Games series.

So far so good, however I am not yet liking it as much as the first. We'll see if I still feel that way when I'm finished...

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

I started this book while on vacation in Hawaii and after reading the Hunger Games, I found the beginning of The Road to be a little slow moving. But it did pick up and I ended up quite enjoying the book.

Well, maybe enjoying is the wrong word to use, this book was just very depressing. It's another post apocalyptic book where there are only a few people still alive on Earth. The story follows a father and son as they travel South in hopes of warmer weather and civilization with "the good guys". They have to travel discreetly in order to avoid "the bad guys" who are the humans who have banned together to become cannibals and are in constant search of a "meal".

Gross, I know. But don't worry, it's a good book, however I was a little disappointed with the ending which was a little short and abrupt.

It is now a movie that should be coming out soon, I'm curious to see how well they adapted the book into a screen play. I will definitely be seeing the movie and I definitely recommend this book but it is not one I will be reading again. Too depressing.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I read this book while in Hawaii and loved it! It's one of those that you can't put down. It's a novel that takes place in the future which is in sort of a post apocalypse circumstance. The world is now divided into districts that are controlled by one division called the Capitol.

The Capitol forces the districts to each send one boy and one girl to participate in The Hunger Games, which is basically a fight to the death with only one winner. All other 23 participates are killed during the games.

The storyline focuses on one particular girl, Katniss, and her struggles living in the most poverty stricken district and participating in The Hunger Games.

I'm usually not into the sci-fi type books but I really loved this one. I can't wait to read the second book in the series, Catching Fire.

Show No Fear by Marliss Melton

I won this book at a giveaway Alexis was hosting over at Running Away? I'll Help You Pack! This was one out of three books I won on her site!

I just started it yesterday (11/12/09) but I'll give you a little synopsis from the author.

Lucy, a CIA agent, takes on the assignment to rescue American hostages in Columbia where they are being held captive by rebel terrorists. She is pretty excited to take on the assignment until she finds out that her partner will be Gus Atwater, the man who broke her heart many years ago. The plot follows the two on their adventure trying to free the hostages and I'm sure a love story will be intertwined as well.

I'm not usually into love stories but this one seems to have suspence as well so I will let you know what I think after I finish.

Pobre Ana by Blaine Ray

This book is probably not even worth posting here but it's what I'm reading right now so I guess I will.

It's all in Spanish, it's a great book for beginning Spanish speakers. (like myself!)

Sarah Bellum's Tales of Wit and Charm

I love Sarah's blog! I've been reading it for a over a year now after she was interviewed on a local news station with Dooce. I also love her tweets. I don't know where she comes up with this stuff but it is brilliant. Plus I can totally relate to her because she is a Utah native and a recovering Mormon just like me.

Confessions From A Mormon Bachelor Pad

Oh man, I am loving this blog. For anyone that moved out to go to college, whether Mormon or not, has got to read this. Holy crap does it bring back memories from the good ol' college days!


It is totally anonymous so these guys post everything about their lives. Mostly their dating lives, who doesn't want to hear dirty gossip about horny RMs? Especially if you are a girl who used to date those horny RMs?!?!

(Yes De & Hev, this includes you!)

Real Simple

So I have this magazine overflow problem so I decided I better put them to use and read them! Even though Real Simple doesn't have any crosswords, it does have a lot of cool ideas for your home so I like it anyway.

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

Kasey from Beautiful Mess told me about this book and since I was on a polygamy kick earlier this summer, why not continue it with this one?

It's a novel that has two story lines. The first is of the 19th wife of Brigham Young back in the 1800's, and the second is of a current day wife of a polygamist. I found that the second story line of the current day sister wife was lacking. I really just wanted to skip over that story and continue with the wife of Brigham Young. I really don't understand why he even had that second story line, I think it took away from the book rather than added entertaining fiction.

The is a novel so it does not claim to be non-fiction but it does tell of a true story and includes journals and other non-fictional writings. It was very interesting to read especially because it spoke of real life events that happened right where I live and I could actually visit the places spoken of in the book.

I'd be curious to hear of a Mormon's opinion of the book and if they think it correctly depicted the Mormon religion.

Take Better Family Photos

An Easy To Use Guide For Capturing Life's Most Treasured Events.

I found this book at the library thinking it might help me understand photography better but just flipping through it, I've noticed most of it is pretty common sense. I hope there are some instructions to help me understand how to use my camera better.

We'll see.

Mommie Dearest by Christina Crawford

I don't quite remember what compelled me to read this book. I always hear something somewhere about a book or band and then I just have to go find out more. So I decided to read it. So far, it is long! Okay so I'm only on Chapter 4, but it seems so long because she is just giving the background of her mom's life right now.

Oh, I guess I shouldn't assume everyone knows what this book is about! The author is Joan Crawford's daughter who writes about her life growing up with her very crazy mother. I've only seen parts of the movie "Mommie Dearest" so I want to read the book before I see the whole thing.

You know me, I love reading about when bad things happen to good people. Why? I have no idea.


Update 9/9/09

So I'm almost done with the book and have noticed that I've lost interest in the second half. The beginning of the book is great when Christina documents the interactions between her and her mother but the second half of the book is full of their correspondence through letters. Which gets a little tiring and a bit on the boring side.

However, it does make me want to watch a Joan Crawford movie!

When Angels Intervene to Save the Children by Hartt Wixcom

I don't know why I picked this book up at the library, I just grabbed it and left. It's a really quick read and I have to admit I didn't really finish it all the way through.

It's about the Cokeville, Wyoming bombing incident on May 16, 1986. Some crazy guy held an elementary school hostage asking $2 million dollars per kid. The authors of the book are parents of one of the student hostages and they describe the events leading up to the bombing as well as the after math.

I thought the book was interesting up until after the bombing. That is when the authors go all spiritual and try to convince you that angels were present and saved the children. I'm not saying I don't believe in angels and spirituality or anything like that, it's just that the book got boring during that part.

I know, I'm weird, if it doesn't keep my attention then I just don't finish it. I can't say that I would recommend the book, but I didn't think it was quite a waist of my time, it kept me busy when I was bored.

In Plain Sight by Tom Smart & Lee Benson

I loved this book. The author is Elizabeth Smart's Uncle who reveals everything that went on behind the scenes in the Elizabeth Smart investigation. How the police did not investigate important leads because they just wanted to close the case. Their suspect was dead and they just wanted to wrap it up.

It was so interesting to learn about how the media influenced the investigation. I remember the day they found her because I was at work and she was found just down the street from my building! I love true stories and this one obviously hits close to home for me.

Mommywood by Tori Spelling

I just love Tori. I read her other book, sTori Telling, and loved it. I love her reality TV show "Tori & Dean - Home Sweet Hollywood".

She is seriously hilarious! I love how open she is on her show, you should check it out.

No Man Knows My History by Fawn M. Brodie

This is my second time reading this book but I thought it'd be a good end (hopefully) to my little polygamy kick. It's a pretty controversial book about Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church. Believe you me I've got a lot to say about the Mormon church but because most of my family is Mormon, I will keep my opinions to myself.


At least for now.

Stolen Innocence

After reading Escape, I guess I'm on some sort of polygamy kick. I was so appalled by Escape that when I found Stolen Innocence, I just couldn't stop myself.



Update 7/7/09:

I just finished the book last night and it was a good read. At first I felt the author repeated herself a lot while telling about her childhood, and at times did not pay attention to chronological order, but in part II it really got better.

This is a nonfictional book and the content was truly shocking about the FLDS culture. Unlike Escape, this book goes into the trial against Warren Jeffs which happened right here in Utah so that was interesting hearing it from the witness's perspective.

Overall I loved the book, definitely worth a read!

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

I love reading Non-Fiction and haven't done so in a while. This one is about a woman who grew up in a Polygamist FLDS community and how she was able to escape.

I seriously cannot believe that these people live like this! I just can't fathom how they can believe that what they are doing and the way they are living is what God wants them to do!

Makes me sick. This book was such a good book, kept me reading right through to the end. This woman's story is incredible you've gotta read it!

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

I had to put the True Blood series on hold again so that I can read this book before I see the play this Saturday. I can't wait to go!

I just started it and I was surprised at how adult the book is. Since it's a spin off from The Wizard of Oz, I thought it'd be a kids book. But definately not! It's the Wicked Witch of the West's side of the story and how she grew up to be the witch she is today.

So far it's pretty interesting. The writing may be a little hard to follow at first because it is written in an old fashion style, but you get used to it pretty fast.

I'll let ya know what I think when I'm done!

Update: 5/6/09 Didn't finish it before the musical but it didn't really matter because the musical is WAY different from the book. Still reading though...

I LOVED THE MUSICAL!

It Sucked And Then I Cried, by Heather B. Armstrong

I had to put Sookie on hold because I finally got this book in the mail last week. I had pre ordered it back in January!

So far I love it. No surprise because I love her blog dooce.com. The book is about her pregnancy and postpartum depression, among other things. Her writing is just so entertaining in itself and the story is good too.

I can just relate to her in SO many ways and not just because we are both stuck in freezing Utah! I'm just waiting to run into her at the grocery store someday and then we'll be BFFs forever.

LOL

Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris

On to the next book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Too bad Eric is no longer under that spell, it was kinda nice to have a naive Eric in the last book.

Now who is Sookie gonna end up with? I'm still waiting for her to get back together with Bill.....we'll see!


(Oh, and does anyone else think that the title's of her books are just cheesy?)

Dead To The World by Charlaine Harris

Okay, I'm back to my Sookie Stackhouse series!


Just finished and I though this was a good one. No Bill in this one either which I was okay with because Sookie had an interesting time with Eric. I like Eric a lot better when he has no memorie of who he is....much better!

Plus what happens to Sookie's brother makes me excited to start the next book to see what happens to him!

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Ok I finished this book and it has changed my life! Want to know the secret to life?

Read. This. Book.

It is my new Bible. I keep it at my bedside to reference it anytime I need to. With the secret you can basically accomplish anything that you want to in life! Loose weight, get rich, cure diseases, or just get happy!

Everyone needs to read this book, suddenly everything in my life makes sense. Everything I've learned as a child and everything I've experienced as an adult all makes perfect sense.

I highly recommend this one! Thanks Dennelle!

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

I finally finished this book and I loved it! If your looking for a page turner, this is it! I liked it better than the Da Vinci Code for sure and I can't wait for this movie to come out. They better not screw it up or I'm gonna be pissed!

I'm seriously amazed with Dan Brown. He must have done years of research to write his books! All the crap he knows is crazy, it really is so interesting. When Alex read this book he would stay up until 2 am because he couldn't put it down. I woke up one time and there he was next to me in bed on his laptop looking up some interesting facts from the book.

So if you can't tell, I highly recommend this book to anyone.

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Just finished! I really liked this one, definately better than Living Dead In Dallas.

This book reminded me so much of the 2nd book in the Twilight series. You know the one where Edward leaves for the whole book and Bella spends all her time with Jacob? Yep, pretty close to the same plot line here...

...hmmmmm...