The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling

I know I wrote in a previous blog about this series and how everyone should read it. However, since I have just re-read them again in their entirety, I feel like I needed to make a post about it. I shall, sum each book and my thoughts. In the interest of not boring the reader or myself, I will try and brief.

Harry Potter and the Sorceress Stone  - 

In this first installment we meet Harry Potter and learn of his mysterious beginnings and  the strange truth about who he is. He goes from being an 'ordinary' boy to a wizard over night. He goes from friendless to meeting some of the best friends anyone could ever hope for. He goes from not knowing his parents, to learning of their heroics. Its a startling beginning to a wonderful, enriching series. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - 
This book brings with it more adventure, more lies and more truth. Harry and his friends must uncover who or what is behind all the strange things going on in Hogwarts, or someone they love will get blamed for and maybe even, the only place that Harry has ever truly felt home, will close for good. 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - 
In this story Harry meets on of the most important people he will meet in their series. He learns more of his fathers amazing past, learns to fight his fears, and save a few lives in the process. He learns that who he thought was enemy is friend and who he thought was friend is foe.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire - 

The four book, while not on of my favorites, is  one of the most important. The thing that must never happen, happens. Also this book marks the first death. Perhaps one of the hardest, since we went four years with out one. Harry faces more tasks, more fears, more challenges, with the help from friends. He enters the final task of the triwizard tournament with ideas of wining, he exits, with terrible news and fallen friend. 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - 
Voldermont has arisen, he has grand plans of over taking the wizarding world, killing Harry Potter, and finally ruling over all muggles. But first he needs something, something he didn't have before. He will stop at nothing to retrieve it. Unfortunately, Harry now is linked to Voldy through his scar. He dreams of hallways and doors. He is frustrated that no one will let him fight, he is angry that the ministry doesn't believe him. His temper and his defiance get him into much trouble over the course of the year, but nothing prepares him for the final battle and the loss of another friend. 

Harry Potter and the half blood prince - 
Before I start the analyse, I actually threw this book across the room the first time I read it. Not believing what I was reading. That being said. 
This book finds Harry alone, scared. Finally the wizarding world knows Voldy is back, but at what cost? He feels angry, depressed, guilty. Still there is still fight in him, and because of that he purses his ambitions of being coming an Auror. He also gets special lessons from Dumbledore and digs so much deeper into the history and man known as Tom Riddle. Knowledge that will hopefully help destroy him. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - 
The seventh and final installment of Harry Potter, here it all ends. This book is by far the darkest. There are deaths in this book that I couldn't believe. It seem to me that J.K was just finishing off anyone she could. It was hard to read. People you have grown to know through seven books, just dying. All of them senseless. The final battle is fought, as perhaps it was always meant to be fought, at Hogwarts. Here Harry and everyone else make their final stand against evil. 

To say that this is a good series is an understatement. I have said it before and I will say it again. This is a phenomenal series, woven in such rich detail, by a masterful storyteller. Any child say ten or over that is struggling with wanting to read should pick this up. I feel this is a 'gateway' book to other books. It is so wonderful to escape into his world. To live through him, and his friends. I remember reading it the first time and so wishing that something like this did exist. Imagine a world of magic, living right along side us. What an amazing thought. (and I still haven't lost hope that there isn't) I think everyone should read this. I don't think it should be banned (as I know it is in some schools) I don't think any book should be banned but that is another post. 
Enjoy Harry, let him into your life and heart. You won't be disappointed  
 

Robopocalypse: A Novel - Daniel H. Wilson

This book was interesting to say the least.
I was expecting more from it.
The writing was good. The plot was interesting. I enjoyed the lay out. I think (there are rumors that Spielberg picked up the movie rights), and I think it will make a great movie, especially done by Spielberg.

This is written as log by one of the survivors. He ends up finding the brain computer and the computer shows him all the images of before, during and after the war. You have key characters through out the book, and you see how their lives, no matter how far apart they are, intertwine. You see, how each person, not matter who or what they were before, have the ability to become hero's. And, I enjoyed that it wasn't too far fetched. This is something that seems very plausible.

I would recommend it for people who like robots, who like apocalyptic books. Other then that, I wouldn't run out to read it. It wasn't that it was bad, it just didn't keep my attention.

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

I didn't want to like this book. Two reasons, A) I knew it was part of a series and B) I am trying to read more "adult books". But hey, I have a weakness and its Young Adult fiction. So be it.

This book has a lot of the same underling themes that a lot of young adult fantasy novels have. Girl meets boy, boy ends up being...not quite human, girl and boy must fight evil, and their ever growing attraction for each other. The End.

Except that as always you fall for the characters and get wrapped up in their world. Nora is an average high school student who spends most of her time studying or with her friend Vee. When the Biology teacher decides to shake things up a bit and rearrange the seating chart, Nora gets paired with Patch. A transfer student who hasn't said boo to anyone. Between her growing attracting, and her underlying fear of him, she tries to find out everything she can. Unfortunately, his past is mystery and he has a hard time answering questions. Of course, there is the dark stranger hell bent on killing her...or driving her crazy. Is the stranger Patch? Or something more sinister.

I enjoyed this book, I am kind of looking forward to the sequel even though I didn't see a need for one. I think now that we have gotten over the wizards and the vampires, fallen angels might be the next "thing".

Enjoy Hush, Hush for what it is...a good fun read.

Chasing Fire - Nora Roberts

 

Nora Roberts' books have the same underlying theme. Strong willed, independent, doesn't need anyone girl meets, strong, independent, doesn't need anyone boy and they fall in love.  Its completely predictable. So, why read her. 

Because that is where the similarities in her books stops. Her strong woman usual have unusual jobs, talents, friends, etc. So that you are forced into a life that you don't have any knowledge of. Its amazing to me that she has written over 190 books, just under her own name. She also write as J.D. Robb. 

Now onto Chasing Fire. In this book Rowan is a fire jumper - and that pretty much is what it sounds like. She jumps into forest fires to wage the war of putting them out. Her father, Iron Man, did it for years before her, and now its her era. A new bunch of rookies arrives in the Spring and one of them, Gulliver has the hots for Rowan. They, of course, start and affair in which neither of them is sure will last. During all this, they fight fires and have the not so fun pleasure of dealing with someone trying to sabotage their operation.

I will tell you what this book did, it made me re-think forest fires. Yes I enjoyed the writing and characters and everything but at the end of the book, what it really came down to was it made me re-think forest fires. You see them on the news all the time it seems. Raging, destroying everything they touch. You see it, but Nora made you feel what its like being in it. Sweating, burning, choking, bleeding in it. There are real men and woman fighting those fires. Real men and woman with families, risking their lives to fight those fires. What this book did for me is just made me appreciate all those people. Not just the fire fighters but everyone who is out there day in and day out keeping us safe. Doing the work we aren't strong enough, or brave enough to do. I thank them. I do. So this wasn't just a book. This was an eye opener. This was journey to another life style. And as always, with her books, I fell in love. The people, the job, everything about this life, Nora made me love it. 

I recommend it to anyone who loves Nora Roberts.

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Di-ver-gent adj: 
1. differing; deviating 
2. pertaining to or causing divergence 
3. (Of mathematical expression) having no finite limits. 
All three describe Beatrice Prior. So what is she to do with herself when it comes time to chose which faction she will be in. Should she stay with her parents in the selfless people of Abnegation? Join the honest souls in Candor? Perhaps the peaceful of Amity or the knowledge hungry group of Erudite or the brave and daring Dauntless. For whichever she chooses will define her, and be her faction...for life.

That is just the beginning. This book, is a page turner by every sense of the word. When you are not reading you are thinking about it. Beatrice renames herself Tris (which I like better) and she meets some great and not so great friends in her new faction. Its hard to know who is friend and who is foe...I cheered her on, I cried with her, I was angry with her. I absolutely can not say enough about this book. I think fans of Hunger Games will enjoy this. I think anyone who likes dystopian books will like it. I think any one who can string words to form a sentence will enjoy it. Seriously. Great. Book. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the books, which as of this writing I haven't found information for. Keeping fingers crossed its not years from now!

Dead Beautiful - Yvonne Woon

This book was wonderfully written, with rich characters and interesting story line.
Renee thought everything in her life was ordinary, which suited her just fine. Then on her sixteenth birthday she finds her parents, dead, of apparent heart attacks. Their deaths open up a series of questions, with no easy answers. To make matters worse, her distant grandfather, is her legal guardian and has decided that she should attend an elite privet school 3,000 miles away.

When she gets there, she realizes that its not just the classes that are different, some of the students are as well. Finally questions are answers, but she has a hard time coming to terms with them.

I enjoyed this book right up to the last page. The last page, I turned and damn near threw it across the floor. Not because there will be a sequel, but I just wasn't happy with the ending. Its rare that I am, but this time I was really unhappy. So be warned.

All in all I thought this was a good book. I would look for more by her. (hopefully she isn't as cruel in her others books).

The Good House - Tananarive Due

Do you like Peter Straub? Stephen King? Dean Koontz? Then I am pretty sure you will like this book.

It is classified as horror, but I didn't find it scary at all. Course I grew up on Stephen King, so I could be jaded.

The story follows a family with deep spiritual roots. Angela's Grandmother, Marie, was a voodoo priestess and unknowingly awakened the baka. Seventy odd years later her grandson Corey, brought him out. Its up to Angela and her friend Miles to banish him once and for all.

I found the book wordy, though I am not complaining, just a fact. I am not sure if I will run out to read the rest of her books, but I feel like she will always be there for me to pick up when I am short on suggestions. A solid B+ in my opinion.