Naomi
BY FAR MY FAVORITE!!!!! lets hope mockingjay is just as suspenseful. The Hunger Games series leaves you yearning for more...and that is why I ran to Borders to buy the last two books in the series before they close... haha
A refreshing change to the romance formula that she usually defaults to in her books. Thoroughly enjoyed the “Beauty and the Beast” inspiration for this story.
I think this was a good book, not as great as Justina Chen Headley's first book “Nothing But the Truth and a Few White Lies” but still showed the values of being Chinese American. This story chronicles the life of Syrah, the youngest daughter of her billionaire father and his much younger second wife, which already causes family problems between her and her two older siblings, Wayne and Grace. Both following the footsteps of their father in the business world, Syrah feels neglected by those who don't acknowledge her true passion of snowboarding.
Not only does Syrah have family problems, but also has insecurities about her inner feelings for her best friend. The typical teenage drama surely follows this theme such as the jealous girl who tears two best friends apart. The people who are super rich and only like you because of your name and not your personality amongst other cliched ideas.
What made this book worth continuing was the importance of family and how you need to stand up for what you believe in no matter how many times you have been put down in life. Headley did a nice job incorporating the sentimental aspects such as Syrah's mother's struggles in life to get to where she currently is. Her stiff, rigged persona was softened and it brought her closer to her daughter for the first time. Grace's stuck-up and stuffy attitude was also cooled down as we realize her jealousy for Syrah's in-your-face attitude and determination. Luckily not every single character changed at the end then it would have been the ending of a typical soap opera.
Lies, insecurities and alot follow Syrah's life but at the end, it was still something worth reading for the most part.
I read this book in 8th grade, but decided to read it again because I forgot alot of stuff in it. But I do remember really enhoying this book because the book centers itself around such themes that made up a black america in the 1950's and 60's. The main character Troy Maxson is a middle aged man who has settled down with his wife and two sons, taking care of his care-free brother and his unsettling job as a garbage collector. His dream was once to be able to become a baseball player for the MLB but because of the racial discrimination that faced him, he never acheived that dream, and doesnt want the same to happen with his younger son Cory. At first, I was confused why a book like this would be called Fences, but if you read it, you see how August Wilson used dialogue written in the format of a play in able to put his perspective out there about the world, the colored man and the society that they try to survive in every day.
at first, I thought that this book was boring and didn't live up to the same expectations as the previous books. But as I kept reading, the characters got deeper and more relatable. It became so much better and the author's message became more clear to me. Fortunately, I did not abandon this book because now I think it is one of my favorite books!
This book is the follow up of four best friends named Lena, Carmen, Bridget and Tibby; and how their lives transition from high school life into college.There are ups and downs from all four of them including break ups, loss of identity, forbidden love etc. but the pants that kept them connected through hardships and good times, thought them that they were too dependent on the pants when really memories kept them together.
[b:Toni Morrison 6149 Beloved Toni Morrison http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165555299s/6149.jpg 736076] is a great author who really wrote a compelling novel called The bluest eye. I thought it was really sad to see how ugly one girl could be; and becomes an outcast to society.When in actual life, it is the people who viewed her as ugly,were the ugly ones themselves. Pecola Breedlove is the protagonist in this book who was raped by her father and had to go through changes as a little girl, from getting her first period, to getting bounced from house to house, to getting pregnant. She wishes for blue eyes because during the 1940's, white little girls and boys with blue eyes and blond hair were percieved as beautiful and others are not beautiful. So she prays to God everyday for blue eyes just so she can fit into society. And what is so good about this book is the fact that there are some actual facts that can/could happen in real life, so you have more of a visual image as well as a deeper connection/understanding with the book.
On March 2nd and 3rd 1859, American history was forever changed when the largest slave auction was held in Savannah,Georgia. A total of either 429 or 436 slaves were sold due to the fact that the slave owner, Mr. Pierce Butler was a gambler, and couldn't afford to pay off his debts. Though the Butler family and the slave auctioneer in the story are actual people and the story is based on historical events of that family, the writing is historical fiction. Julius Lester writes this novel in the form of dialogue in order to capture the stories that weren't told, the voices of the slaves can be overpowering and heard much louder than the long days of rain that flooded such a dehumanizing event. “The Weeping Time” was what they called that period of time in which those hundreds of slaves were sold under that heavy rain, and once it was done, the sun shone bright. This is a really good book if anyone is interested in historical fiction. Lester is a really good writer so thats the main reason why I decided to read this book and its definitely a page turner.
This book was a trainwreck. Poorly written and all over the place. I am confused about the critical acclaim that it has received.
My only criticism is the fact that Coco didn't get a backstory the way that Ailey, Lydia and multiple family members/ancestors in their lineage had. It would have been interesting to hear a perspective from a lesbian Black woman in the South and how she came to terms with her identity, in the midst of the stories that were interwoven. OTHERWISE. This book is up there like Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing. A spectacular saga, an emotional ride, a book I'll always cherish. Truly brilliant.
This was a good book to read, and it was a quick read as well. Although I got confused at times, I do believe that Billy's story can reach out to the audience, especially at times like these when America is in their own war; this anti-war novel will always affect society. Vonnegut Jr. had a nice writing style which made the book interesting.
4.5 stars. Would have given it 5 but I felt like the Epilogue did a disservice to the journey of the Logan family. It felt rushed and misplaced. I wish Taylor gave us a little more about how Cassie ended up as the decades past by, more of an oral dictation to the next generations of Logans about her family and the land and the changing landscape of Mississippi.
Otherwise, I loved the book, and loved immersing myself back into the world of the Logan family. As someone who first picked up Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry ~20 years ago, it was a full circle getting a chance to see how the family saga came to an end.
After reading Twilight, I became addicted to the series so fast. Stephenie Meyer returns with the exciting and anticipated sequel to Twilight, New Moon. The second chapter of this story leaves off with Bella turning 18, which disturbs her since she's now going to be older than her true love, Edward. Being the danger magnet that she is, Edward needed to find a way to keep her safe, so he ultimately breaks up with her, and his whole family moves to Ithaca, NY. Undergoing a hard depression, Bella detaches herself from her friends, family and even herself, until her father threatens to send her back to her mother in Florida. Trying to pick up the pieces, Bella begins to hang out with a family friend Jacob Black, first using him to help herself get over Edward, but later, she realizes that he is the best friend that she ever had (also knowing that he is deeply in love with her, but the love isn't returned). Just as she thinks she might become normal again, she learns a dark secret from Jacob, that he is a werewolf. After alot of ups, downs and exciting drama, Stephenie Meyer does reunite the lovable modern vampires-mortal Romeo and Juliet together but new obstacles surface when Bella has to face the possibility of becoming a vampire herself; which means leaving her mother and father behind forever, and her best friend Jacob (who tells her that vampires are werewolves worst enemies). But if she doesn't become a vampire, she may face death from James's avenging lover Victoria, and the ancient “royalty” vampire clan, the Volturi of Italy.I was extremely angry at Edward for a majority of the book, because of his abandonment of Bella and I definitely was on TEAM JACOB. Yes I was rooting for a Bella/Jacob relationship. Yes he's no Edward, but Bella deserves better! But hehe, he comes back and I am happy again for the Bella/Edward relationship. (I'm super sad for Jacob too, he deserves better = )This book is just as amazing as Twilight, and it definitely kept me up all night reading. I'd advice people to do their homework first before reading the twilight series because you will not put it down.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Spoiler: this book would have been perfect except for two things in my opinion: the underdeveloped queer storyline which would have been a fantastic addition to the things that challenged Gifty's relationship with religion/God. Second, I felt like the ending didn't fit the story. To be honest, chapter 54 should have been the ending, with us questioning whether Gifty ended up with Han, or started her own research center. I think that would have made it more hopeful that she was able to find peace, happiness, and herself. The ended felt kind of off.
Otherwise, I have no complaints on a near perfect sophomore book. It was heart-wrenching, beautifully written, personal, relatable.
The third book of the Logan family series, now all the kids are grown up and seeking jobs and finishing their schooling. Cassie Logan and her brothers still stay strong with the help of their family and the land that kept them undefeated from the other white landowners in Mississippi. This books was extremely good because now, Cassie and her brothers, and best friends have matured into young adults, and are more aware of the hardships that they face in this world. Even though they try to avoid it, it always seem to catch up with them one way or another. When Cassie's best friend Moe attacks three white men with a crowbar after humiliating him and degrading Cassie (who he is secretly in love with), Stacy,Clarence,Little Willie and Cassie must help him escape to Memphis where he can start a new life and possibly return,maybe oneday. The trust they had in the only white man they could call a friend suddenly is in question, and now at the age of courting, love and what it symbolizes confuses Cassie and those that surround her everyday. Its a great book to read and I consider it one of my favorite of all time.
The sequel to Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Lola, Sam, Ella,Morty and the infamous Carla Santini are back in this never ending war at Dellwood High. They have graduated from high school and are almost about to enter the real world. But their summer would repeat the same old teenage girl battles in order to claim the throne as Queen of DEADWOOD. Lola wants to be in a movie that is being shot in DW, and The Santini is going away to Europe for the summer. But with lola's lies claiming she was in the movie to get Carla jealous, instead, she cancels her talked about european trip of the year so she can get a role in the movie and stomp on Lola Cep for good.The story then goes and explains the struggles and embarassing events that lead up to a triumphant ending. It is a very funny book which you can't stop reading because Lola's eccentric ways keep you up all night!
[2.5 stars] It started off very shallow, and by the end, became something I could tolerate. So far, my least favorite of the series. I want more from the series besides the same tropes but swapping out new characters.
The series just gets better and better as Stephenie Meyer lures her audience back in the third installment of the Twilight series, Eclipse. It is hard to say which is the best so far, because all three have been as engaging and fascinating to finish as soon as possible...yet not wanting to reach the last page. In this installment, the Cullens and the Quileute's have to join forces against all the negative tension between the two, in order to save Bella from the avenging Victoria and her new coven of thirsty newborns. Bella graduates from high school this year, and eventually will have to face the most life changing decisions of her life; leaving her parents and her best friend Jacob Black in order to join the Cullen family. The love of Edward and Bella prevail above all obstacles, even though she has finally come to accept the facts that she is and always somehow be in love with Jacob as well...but he would have been her soulmate only in the former world, the human world that she has decided to separate herself from. The love cycles and all the page turning events that take over your mind do not fail to dissapoint you. Although at some point, Jacob's jerkish attitude (at times), Bella's selfishness and Edward's overprotectiveness and controlling persona annoyed me at times, you're bound to love these people (well, not all of them are human...)