Mockingjay (re-read)

Here's my previous post on Mockingjay, but I think I actually liked the book a lot better the second time around.   I think it helped to know how the series would end; I felt like I could think things through better.  I had a clearer perspective and so just seemed to enjoy the book more.  I felt a lot better about how the author tied things up at the end.

Catching Fire (re-read)

After re-reading The Hunger Games, I had to re-read the rest of the trilogy.  That's what these books do to you.  I already wrote a post about this book on the blog, so I'm not going to write another one.  I just wanted to mention that I read it for the purpose of just keeping track of what I read.

The Hunger Games (re-read)

In preparation for seeing the movie, I decided to re-read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  I summarized this book previously on this blog when I wrote about the sequels, so for a summary, read here.

This book is really an incredible book.  I don't know how the author does it, but this book just consumes you!  I just never wanted to put the book down.  I nearly cried like 5 times in just the first small chunk of the book--the author just creates such deep, compelling characters and situations that I felt completely a part of their world.  This is also one of those books that you keep thinking about even when you're not reading.  Really a fabulous book, so even though I'm not a big re-reader (since there are so many other books out there to read), I'll probably re-read the sequels now too.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Mighty Miss Malone

I saw a book review for The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis in the Washington Post's "Mini Page," which, yes, I still read it on occasion.  I've read some really great books by Christopher Paul Curtis (especially Bud, Not Buddy) and was excited to see he had a new book.  This book is about Deza Malone, a smart, talkative 12-year-old who lives in Gary, Indiana during the Great Depression.  When rough times hit their family, Deza's dad leaves for his hometown in Michigan to try to find work, leaving Deza, her older brother Jimmie, and her mom to wait to hear news and try to make the most of the times they're living in.

This was a fabulous book.  The book was engaging and kept me guessing how things were going to turn out.  Deza is an endearing character whose strong personality just kept me laughing.  She was interesting to follow throughout the book, and I loved her perspective on the things that happened in their lives.  This was also a really good book to get a glimpse into life during the Great Depression.  Another wonderful read by Christopher Paul Curtis.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Midnight in Austenland

I'm a big Shannon Hale fan, and even though I didn't love Shannon Hale's book Austenland, I read some sneak peek chapters of Midnight in Austenland and thought it seemed pretty good.  It is about Charlotte, who after her divorce finds solace in Jane Austen books.  Soon she's off to a vacation in England at an estate that reenacts a Jane Austen time period life style, with actors for romantic interests.  She starts getting really into Austenland, but soon there are some mysterious events going on--and she thinks it's murder but doesn't know if it's part of the script or not.

This was a fun read.  Shannon Hale is a really good writer, and Charlotte was a really funny character.  I loved things like her conversations with her Inner Thoughts and also just her character growth throughout the book.  I didn't like, though, like with Austenland, that as a reader, it's hard to tell what's real in her time in Austenland and what's not.  It just makes it hard to make good predictions in the book and to be excited about what is to come.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

True (...Sort of)

I loved Katherine Hannigan's book Ida B, so I was really excited to see she had a new book out--True (...Sort of).  This book is about Delly, a girl who considers herself all trouble and no good--no matter how hard she tries.  She loves surpresents (presents that are surprises) and feels one on the way on the day a new girl comes to town--Ferris Boyd.  Ferris doesn't speak and cannot be touched, so Delly has no clue how this is supposed to be her surpresent.  But soon Delly realizes that maybe there is a solution to all her trouble.

This was a wonderful book.  Just like in Ida B, I just loved the characters.  Each main character (Delly, Ferris, Brud, RB) have such depth that I just understood them and loved them.  Delly was a hilarious character with a Dellydictionary in the back of the book for all the words she makes up (mysturiosity, chizzle, Dellyday, Dellymergency, etc.).   The story was engaging, and I always wanted to keep reading.  It had lots of great messages but not overdone.  Really enjoyed it.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)