Matched

I have heard people recommend Matched by Ally Condie, and so when I saw it on a friend's bookshelf, I asked to borrow it. It follows Cassia, a 17-year-old in a dystopian society (comparable to those in Hunger Games, The Giver, and other such books). When there is an error in her "match" (who she is statistically best matched to marry), Cassia starts to question lots of different things relating to her society and its Officials and decides that she won't go down gently.

This was a really good book. It was very addicting, so I finished it in like 2 days because I just kept wanting to read to find out what happened. I liked the storyline, and I am excited for the sequel, especially because the book didn't really leave me hanging but just left me interested. I wasn't completely convinced by the book, though, in that I couldn't really understand Cassia's sudden obsession with Ky. (I won't elaborate on this since I don't want to give anything away if you want to read the book.) But, it was still a really great, engaging book.

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

The Help

A few months ago, a lady in my old book club was moving and getting rid of lots of stuff--the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett was among the things I took. I saw it on my bookshelf this week when looking for something new to read and started it. Two days later, I was finished. The Help is a novel about three women in the 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi--a young, white woman and two black maids--who come together on a brave and risky project.

Why have I never read The Help before now? This was a really amazing book. It was beautifully written, and the characters were distinct and interesting and real. It was a very inspiring book and gave me a glimpse of what life was like in a southern town leading up to the Civil Rights movement. The book kept me so engaged that it was hard to put it down (even when I should've...like when Emmeline woke up from her nap or when I should've been sleeping last night), and I thought about it all the time. It just kept a few elements of mystery in the story that I wanted to keep reading to figure out. This was a wonderful and beautiful book that helped me better understand the time period and glimpse the good and bad in the 1960s lives of black domestic help--who I consider to be really inspiring people.

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

Gathering Blue

Connor and I continued on our reading of The Giver series by reading book 2--Gathering Blue, also by Lois Lowry. This book does not follow the characters or world from The Giver (but subtly refers to Jonas toward the end). Gathering Blue is about Kira, a girl who was born with a deformed leg.  When Kira's mom dies, others in the village want Kira thrown out to the beasts since she can't contribute much.  But, the Council of Elders instead takes her in to use her gifts with threads to repair the Singer's robe.  Kira's new life is luxurious, but she soon learns more about the village where she lives and begins to wonder if she is really free.

This was another really good book.  I wanted to read it more often and more quickly, but reading together doesn't really allow for that.  :)  The characters were so easy to get to know because they were distinct and well described.  I loved all the side characters (Kira's friends) and was anxious to see how things would turn out in the story.  Some questions were left unanswered, but I think the series is going to tie things together in book 4.  Can't wait!

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

Imperfect: An Improbable Life

I saw Imperfect: An Improbable Life by Jim Abbott and Tim Brown recommended in the Washington Post one time and added it to my to-read list. It is a memoir about Jim Abbott, a baseball player (pitcher) who was an Olympic gold medalist and also threw a no-hitter as a Yankee. And, he was born with no right hand. The book tells his life story from childhood until his retirement from baseball--following the highs and lows.

This was a really good book! I was almost surprised that I ended up reading it all the way through because before I started, I thought I might get bored with it. (I was wrong.) It was interesting and inspiring. I had a decent level of baseball knowledge before reading it, but I learned more (but was also still confused by lots of the details sometimes). It was just really neat to hear about this guy's accomplishments and how he didn't let his disability define him.

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

The Selection

My friend Katherine recommended The Selection by Kiera Cass to me. It is about America, a teenager who is a Five in the caste system--meaning she has some food to eat (not as bad as the Eights), but her family never has leftovers. When the time comes for the prince to get a wife, America's family wants America to apply for the Selection--because if she is in the running, their family gets some extra money. When America surprisingly makes it as part of the Selection, she leaves behind her family and boyfriend in a competition for something she doesn't even want--or so she thinks.

This was a super engaging book. I read it super fast (although that could also be because we are an empty house with no Internet and so my time-wasting Internet time was instead spent reading). From the very beginning, I was pretty hooked into the story. It reminded me of several other books I read and enjoyed--just had parts of lots of good books (Hunger Games, Princess Academy, Uglies, etc.). Even though the book was sometimes a little cheesy or sometimes had a tell-rather-than-show explanation, I thought it was a fun story and a cute chick flick. The characters were great, and the story stayed in my mind after finishing it.  Unfortunately, it is Book One in a series, which I didn't realize until the end when I could tell the book was not going to be able to conclude in the few pages I had left. Bummer! I wanted to see what would happen, but I guess I will have to wait until book two.

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

Hattie Ever After

Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson is the sequel to Hattie Big Sky, a Newbery Honor book I read and loved years ago. This book is about Hattie moving to San Francisco trying to make it as a reporter. The book follows her adventures in trying to write stories as well as trying to uncover more about her Uncle Chester's past. And, of course, it follows her relationships with Charlie as well as Ned--a reporter she works with.

This was a really good book. I loved the characters and thoroughly enjoyed any parts having to do with Hattie/Charlie.  It was a fun plot, but it took awhile to really pull me in. The book was a little too historical for me at the beginning sometimes--seemed to take away from the story itself. But, it was a fun read with some good twists and admirable (and not so admirable) characters. It was also fun to get a glimpse of the time period and what life was like for women. I was really happy to follow Hattie in another story and would be excited to read a third book if the author wrote one.

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

The Giver

I read The Giver by Lois Lowry several times in my past (childhood then again in high school or college).  Lois Lowry has written several companion books to The Giver, including a new one called The Son.  I wanted to read The Son but figured I should re-read all the other books first.  So, I decided to start with The Giver.  Even better, Connor and I decided to read all these books together, so we read this one, reading aloud over the past week or so.  This book is about Jonas, who lives in a futuristic community that has embraced Sameness.  Their lives are pretty perfect--no pain or real emotions in their orderly society.  When Jonas is selected to be the next Receiver, he realizes that there is more to their lives than he ever knew.

This is such a great book.  It got more and more engaging, and finally last night, we just had to stay up late and finish it up because we couldn't put it down.  The book has great characters and is super thought-provoking and deep.  I love how it (like many good books) is both funny and sad.  (I even had to pass the book over to Connor to read a couple times when I got teary.)  I'm glad we re-read the book, and I'm looking forward to Gathering Blue next.

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