Bumped - Megan McCafferty

First off let me warn you there will be a sequel...

I liked and I didn't like this book. I enjoyed McCarfferty's writing style. I even enjoyed the idea, a Virus that makes people over a certain again infertile would be pretty grim. However, I had a hard time reading this for many reasons. The first, and most important reason probably, because I have huge issues with teen pregnancy. Huge. So the whole time I am not only reading about girls who are as young as 13 pregnant, but who are doing it for profit. Teenagers having sex just to get pregnant. It was a hard concept to read. By the end of the book though, I was so wrapped up in it, that I didn't...notice as much.

This book is about two sisters, identical twins, who were separated at birth. One, Harmony, grows up in Goodside, where they still have God. It's kind of like an Amish community. Very close knit and very religious.
The other, Melody, grows up on the Otherside and knows since she was little, that it is her destiny to bred, and bred well. To the highest bidder. Her foster parents have done everything to make sure she is perfect.

When the two sisters meet, everything they both planned for falls apart. Now they have to decide which future they want, which one is right, and what it truly means to be family.

This was a great book, like I said. Once you get over the teen pregnancy it becomes an easy read. I look forward to the next one...which is rumored (from McCafferty's page) to be called Thumped and is hopefully due out Spring 2012!

Also she has a series called the Jessica Darling Series, first one in the serious is called Sloppy Firsts. I may check it out...

Before I fall - Lauren Oliver

This is the second book I have read by Lauren Oliver and once again I was not disappointed.

This story starts with the death of Samantha. The book continues while Samantha is forced to relive the day she died for a week.
I will admit, I hated Samantha at first. I wasn't at all sad that she died. In the beginning she was wretched little brat. One of those girls I hated in high school and still can't stand today.

By then end of the book though, is another story. This book is a lot like Groundhogs Day with Bill Murry. (she even mentions it). Every day she wakes up, and is February 12th all over again. The same classes, same party, same drama, same death. By the end of the week, she starts to learn and finally understand, he life, her death and the meaning of it all.

This was a wonderful, heart wrenching book. I think Lauren has a fantastic talent to pull you in and keep you enthralled right up to the last page and beyond. Her characters and stories stay with you, long after you have you put the book away.

I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good fiction novel. 

Passion - Lauren Kate

Book three of the fallen series. So if you haven't read the first two...bugger off till you do then come back.

In this Luce has jumped through an Announcer to travel back through her past lives. She is searching for a reason Daniel loves her, why she loves him. And is there a way to break the curse for good? 

Along the way she travels to some interesting times in human history. Becoming a Princess and a slave and everything in between. The only constant is Daniel and their love for each other.

I actually was at first bored and the quickly warmed up to this book. I think I was bored because I got so angry at the pair of them. Him for not being honest about...well everything...Angel's are so secretive. And her of course, for running off. But it was interesting to read about her past lives. I did enjoy that. I look forward to the fourth and final one, Rapture which is rumored for Spring 2012.

2030 - The real story of what happens to America - Albert Brooks

2030...doesn't seem that far away anymore. Albert Brooks is better known for his acting, he was in Finding Nemo as Marlin and played in Weeds as Lenny. While I think he did a fantastic job as Marlin, and I never knew him in other roles, I must say he makes one heck of an author.

I found that he wrights much like the late Micheal Crichton. It has the same feel when you are reading his book, as Crichton's do. Of course, I loved Crichton's work so enjoyed Brooks from page one.

This books tells of a story that is completely believable if not a damn near prediction to what may come. In the year 2030 we have cured cancer. People are living longer then ever imagined and living well thanks to all kinds of new longevity drugs on the market. This angers the young kids who are watching their parents struggle, and their grandparent reap the benefits. The kids know that they will never be able to have it as good as the 'olds' and something needs to be done about that.

To make matters worse, the worst natural disaster in history hits California. A 9.1 earthquake and a few 8.9 8.0 aftershocks level LA. Thousands of people injured, homeless, sick. Hundreds dead. The big problem comes when they learn that the country has no means to put it right.

As the nation loses hope, and new deals are made, a more silent war is being fought over the rights of the younger generation, and the rights of the ones 'living beyond their years'.

This is a fantastic book, filled with dark humor and thought provoking ideas.



*As an addendum - I just want to say - Crichton writes medical/political type books. Brooks' book is defiantly a little political and obviously touches on medical issues, but not even close to what Crichton wrote about. I compare their writing styles only. Not subject matter.

The Silent Girl - Tess Gerritsten

I lost count of which Rizzoli and Isles book this is...ten maybe? Anyway, this one does not disappoint.

If you don't know Jane Rizzoli and Isles - then start with The Surgeon, this is where you will first meet Rizzoli - a tough Homicide Detective from Boston. You meet Maura Isles later in the series. Although, I wouldn't consider them a 'team' as the new TV show makes them out to be. They certainly work together to fight crime, one being the detective and the other a medical examiner. There isn't, however, girl bonding and shoe sharing. Anyway, that being said moving on to the book.

IN this we find Jane in the middle of a strange homicide in Boston's Chinatown. At first, the only mystery is the woman, who had a severed hand and almost severed head, and who wanted her dead. Then things get weird. Are they chasing a person or some mythical Chinese legend. One thing is for sure, its a case that isn't easily solved and requires the Boston detective team to look in places they never thought to look.

I enjoyed this, as I do all Gerritsten's books. She has a medical degree, so there is rich detail when she describes anything with the human body. She also does her research. At then end of her books you see countless people she thanks for their advice and knowledge. You can tell she really puts everything into a book, every page you turn because the detail is there. You feel like you a right there with Jane, looking at clues and wondering who done it.

I would recommend, of course, reading all the books from the beginning, but with her books, you don't need to. Its just nice to have the extra background. Then you feel like, one of the guys...or girls.

* The Surgeon - Introduces Jane Rizzoli 
* The Apprentice - Introduces Dr. Maura Isles 
* The Sinner
* Body Double
* Vanish
* The Mephisto Club 
* The Bone Garden
* The Keepsake 
* Ice Cold
* The Silent Girl

Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick

The sequel to Hush, Hush. Honestly I didn't think there was a need at the end of, Hush, Hush for a sequel, this book, however, defiantly made me want the third.

In this book, after saving Nora's life, Patch becomes a guardian angel, her guardian angel in fact. Things seem like pretty close to perfect. Its summer, Nora's biggest plans involve hanging out with her best friend and of course, he boyfriends/angel Patch. All this goes awry when Patch decides to start spending time with her Nemesis since grade school, Marci. It is one thing to be replaced, its a whole other thing to be replaced by the one person you truly don't like. To make matters worse, if that we possible, Nora feels like she is slowly losing her mind as well. She keeps "seeing" and "hearing" her father. Making her question his death. Was it really a random shooting? Or was it something more? Add to that, an old childhood friend named Scott comes back into town bringing with him his own secretes and mysteries.

I thought this book was better then the first one, it defiantly had a faster pace and more meat. I am looking forward to, Silence, which comes out in October. Although, to be honest...kind of getting sick of the squeals.

Hereafter - Tara Hudson

 

I enjoyed this book with out really know why. Hudson is a great story teller. I found myself turning and turning each page, never wanting the book to end and when it did, I found myself not disappointed but happy. I enjoyed the ending. Not many books do that for me. I enjoyed the story and was caught up in it, and I liked the ending. 

In this, Amelia is wandering around after her death. She can't remember much of her life, just her name and some small bits and pieces. Then she meets Joshua, when is drowning. She helps save his life, and from then on he can see her. They start this forbidden friendship that is in jeopardy on both ends. 

Its kind of a Romeo/Juliet except, in this story one of them is already dead. Again, I enjoyed it, even if I can't give a good reason why. Its a quick, enjoyable read that stays with you after you turn the last page.