Along Came A Spider James Patterson

My friend told me if I were to read any James Patterson book, it should be "Along Came A Spider" and since I really liked "Mary Mary" I decided to try this one. I think because this book came before the other book, Patterson mentions much more descriptiong of Cross and the other characters. It completly changed the way I imagined Cross in my head. Its like when you read a book before the movie comes out and the actor they cast it completly different than how you pictures, except I had justed missed the vital details Patterson lets on. Like that Cross is over 6 feet tall, a characteristic thats hard not to imclude when I picture him now. I also came to the realization that the 'grandma' that lives with Alex isn't his kinds grandma, his mother, but his actual grandma. I often reread books because there the little things that people tend to scan over and things just make so much more sence when the whole picture is finally put together.

Twenties Girl Sophie Kinsella

I have read other Sophie Kinsella books and really enjoyed them. Although their quick reads, Kinsella's books always have humor and I like to see the vocabulary difference since she is a British author and majority of her books take place in the UK. Her characters are always sassy and fun to keep up with. In this particular book there were two characters that really got alot of attention and humor. There two attitudes reflected off eachother and it was amusing to watch their relationship grow between themselves and others in the book. Because one of the characters, Laras great aunt, was from the times of flapper girls and where dancing was practically required to get around, I actually learned alot about the twenties and basically what is was like to grow up in that time period. It was a easy read and suggest it to anyone who likes a laugh.

Mary, Mary James Patterson

This is the first James Patterson book Ive read, and I really like it. Unlike thriller movies and other books I have read before, the perspective of the book switches from the killer and to Agent Cross. Its interesting to see how the two stories overlap and how you want clues to fit in, but your not sure where there leading; its fun to try and put it all together and discover whats going on. Like in this story, a screen play writer basically loeses his mind and becomes apart of his stories, a story of killing. Until the point where he's no longer himself but the character hes trying to create. Cross seems to come across this idea through the emails the killer leaves, he also determined to defy the authority on there elimination of a male killer. Cross is a intriging character and Im sure ill end up reading another Patterosn book in the future.

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti

I really enojy Caletti books becuase even though shes well beyond her teen years she writes like she actually is the character. Her conversations throughout the book aren't over abstract and could actually hear in real life. In this book Indigo, a struggling waitress tips a stranger on her opinions on cigaretts. Taken aback by Indigos care, he (a multimillioniar) write her a tip for 2 milliosn dollars. At first she tries to give it back, thinking it to be a mistake, but later he refuses to take it bake because hes given up his old job to travel and see the world as a common man. It's funny how the saying 'money isnt everything' is so underrated. Its so easy to say and so hard to do once you posses it all. Indigo goes through this phase when she realizes that money wont make her any different and has to use it to support her family and spend it wisley because it wont last forever. I enjoyed this book and it would be a great summer read.

The Help Kathryn Stockett

In 1950's Mississippi, Minny, Skeeter and Aibeleen share something that most white and black people dont. Aibeleen and Minny both are housemaid, taking care of white womens children...rasinging them until their just like their own mothers, ordering the maid that had once been more like a mother then their own. Skeeter, a younge enexpirienced journalist wants to uncover the story of what its like to live under these conditions; having a seperate bathroom, raising someone elses child, and even agreeing with a white womens comments in hope theyll see their paycheck. I really enjoyed this book because learning about this point in history doesn't seem tangable in a textbook or classroom. Its easier to connect to these people by reading about chracters like them. Inside their heads, their opinions, views, and way of life. They have their own seperate world and it's amazing how different things are now. Although their still issues today concering racial issues- it seems so far away from what used to be going on. I would highley recomment this book to anyone, it was a great medium read.

The Villa by Nora Roberts

A surprising murder mystery, Sophia and her long line of Gambelli family are doing their best to protect their wine buisness as competition and old ties try to ruin everything they have. Because at the time I was working on a art project with wine and one of my teachers just recently told us about their secret passion for wine tasting I decided a book about wine would only be appropiate. It amazes me how much work goes into producing and marketing wine; alot of issues Sophie and her family come across through the course of the book. As the murderer gets anxious and more risky one of the first issues that erupts is the production of tainted bottles. Just a few in a case doesnt seem like it will affect a buisness; the poisen not even strong enough to kill, but even this small problem brings the buiness to ruins. They loes sponsers, buisness, money to make sure all products are checked and returned, and liability. Sophie has to work nonstop to make sure she keeps the name Gambialli respected--something that is alot harder to do then it seems to be. Aside from the whole mystery and plot capturing interest, The Villa really taught me alot about wine. Acidity affects, soil types, and how greatly weather can change the whole taste of the grapes that are essentially the wine. Running a buisness purley on chance that the end product is just as great as it was inticipated to be seems entirley impossible, but their are so many great vinyards and owners that go through these issues and buisness everyday. I believe this is really a great book and can open new interests to anyone.

Undomesticated Goddess by Sophie Kensella

Growing up in a buiness tied family, Samantha finds it normal that she works in 6 minute intervals, is tied to three phones, and constantly checks her email. As a top lawyer in London Samantha has been striving to become a new partner, but when she thinks shes made a huge mistake in a work file runs for it. Waking up with a hangover shes barley recalls how she ended up in a mansion with a maids job. For the first time she has to learn house jobs such as making coffee and turning on a washing machine. I really liked this book and love hearing all the different slangs becuase Kensella is a british writer. Its interesting on how some of their perseption on things is so different and sometimes the mention of an american joke adds to the humor. Ive read most of her other books and her stories are always funny with interesting characters. Her books are usually around 300-400 pages but their quick to get through if someones interested.

Confessions of Georgia Nicolson Louise Rennison's

Ive been reading these books since 5th grade and sad that this 10th one is the last. Georgia is just an average teenager in the UK describing her life in funny talks and details of her physco cats, oblivious parents, school and friends. I was surprised to hear that alot of the books characters and story was based off real people in Louise Rennisons life; she even said her mother has read them--though claimed to be nothing like herself in the book. I think it's funny how she could make such a humorous book out of her life and become a best seller that way. There a fun and easy read and would suggest this book to someone who likes a light and funny book.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I would suggest this book to anybody because the story can connect with anybody. As a struggling racecar driver, Denny and his dog Enzo are trying to live through the horrors of lossing Eve, Dennys wife, and getting custody of his daughter. Because Dennys racing league, unlike NASCAR actually races in the rain, hence the title, hes able to learn lessons about life and how to handle things through the difficulties of driving. The reason why I believe this book sets itself apart from others is it perspective, which is not from Dennys, but from his dog Enzo. Because his addition to the history channel hes convinced that he will return in his next life as human. He strives to follow human customs, yet struggles to communicate because of his 'lose tounge'. He wants to support Denny and speak up for what he knows about the custody case for Dennys daughter after hes convicted of 'child molesting'. Though it may sounds like an odd book, its refreshing and a great read for anyone.

Dear John Nicholas Sparks

Yes, another Nicholas Sparks book, but I like to read books before the movie comes because if the opposite is done, I feel like the characters in the movie influence your own thoughts and imagination of the characters and plot in the book. And since the movie was on its way out, I'm glad I picked it up. Yes, another sappy story, but I was dissappointed in the ending because it wasnt the "happily ever after" many books turn out to be. Which I love and hate. Love becuase its how I always want it to end, but then its so predicted its not as exciting as it should be. But unlike alot of books the ending killed me because it did not end OK. I dont want to give it away but my favorite characters did not end with what they wanted, which killed me, but I also think it left the reader more attached to the story because it became more real because rarley in life is their a fairy tail ending.

Alices Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Copywrited in 1941, Lewis Carroll tells his tale of Alices adventures. Because like many kids, I grew up watching every Disney movie, I never really understood Alice in Wonderland. Just that a younge, curiouse girl, kept growing and shrinking talking to odd creatures including a catipillar and dissappearing cat. I'm glad I picked up this book because it really was an interesting read. Falling into a sleep and telling the story of her vivid dream, Alice questions things nonstop. Why is it always tea time? How can a rabbit even read time? She reflects back on events that occured through her life and always second guesses the odd creatures of her dreams. Like the movie, theres a scene where a catipillar is smoking Huka and it seemed so odd becuase there would never be such a thing in a child story now with all the parental issues and censorship. Even though it is a child story, I really believe it mentions other matteres that do appeal to other people, like many child movies or books that are produced now.

Book Review:

At first glance, the appeal of Alice springs from the visual richness and variety of the stories. Quite apart from any perceived meaning of the plot or any level of characterization, the books can be read as a glorious gambol, an infinite feast of eye candy. Strange wondrous creatures in a fantastical land -- what more could the reader ask for? Indeed, the surface flash of Alice should not be discounted, as it's what younger readers will latch onto first. I remember reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass as a child in just this way, analogous to my child's perspective of Gulliver's Travels. Such books puzzled me, but I liked the way they sparked my imagination (in particular, I remember being fascinated with the scene where the Lilliputians try to tie down Gulliver, and similar scenes where Alice becomes much bigger or smaller than others). As an adult, I still crave that sense of wonder and Carroll never lets me down. Swift's book is not so easy to re-read with the child's perspective as an adult -- Swift's complex screed against the follies of humanity (to characterize the meaning of the book somewhat baldly) obtrudes on the consciousness. It's trickier to discern Carroll's intent with Alice, if there is one, and so it's easier to enjoy the books at the most obvious level. More on the hunt for meaning in Alice in a minute.

--James Schellenberg

I agree with Schellenger about the interetsing take of the story and that its so different then children stories we have now and the strange characters make the book so rememberable.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

A magical adventure through out, I really enjoyed this book. Told from the two perspectives of Sam and Grace, they retell the struggles of their childhood and strange encounters through their years. This becuase during her senior year, Grace finds odd things have been happening around her quiet town in Minnasoda. Once the mysterious solved shes almost relived to find out the wolves that so magesticly reside in the near woods happen to be "werewolves" in a not so werewolfy way. I liked the authors take on her idea of mystical creatures and also her crisp descripition and down to earth dialoge was refreshing.