Book Worm

Reading is something which gives me pleasure. A man who is friends with books will never feel lonely. Books are real companion and a good hobby. Reading is like a never ending ocean, you keep traveling but never get to see the land, same way how much ever you read ,  there are still many books left to read. This is simple blog about the books I read. It will help me to keep a track on the books I read, and to others it will help to know about books.

So the journey of my reading begins……………. Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to comment and discuss about books which I will be mentioning about in future posts. Happy reading 🙂

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R.Carey

”The Girl with all the gifts” by M.R Carey is a dystopian thriller. It is the sort of book I normally prefer to read. I was thrilled to read the first half with but second half fell from the original story line and I was bit disappointed.

Melanie is ten and she is in a base. Her entire world consisting of her cell, a corridor, a shower room and a classroom. Five days a week, Melanie is strapped into a wheelchair, fastened securely and wheeled into the classroom where she, and her fellow classmates are taught. Melanie is a bright and quick learner, who worships her teacher Miss Helen. Although Melanie is content enough with the world that she knows, she is concerned when two children from her class suddenly disappear, taken by the aggressive Sergeant Parks to Dr Caroline Caldwell’s lab, never to return.

First part was great, but second part was full of zombies and stuff like that. It felt like reading 2 different books. Interesting twist at the end and it ended abruptly as if to indicate the hope for the better world. There is 2nd installment in this ”the girl with all the gifts” series and it is called as ”The boy on the bridge”-Published on May 2nd 2017.

My rating: 2 out of 5. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate this book.I can’t describe it, because part of its wonderful but then part two begins and almost all of that is thrown out the window.

The Giver by Lois Lowry (The Giver,#1)

I don’t know how I missed out on this book for so many years? I love YA, that too dystopian books are my favorite. The Giver by Lois Lowry is the first book in ‘The Giver’ series and in 2014 it was made into movie. I have watched the movie, but as usual I liked the book better.

Jonas lives in colorless and ideal community where questioning is not allowed. He is content to live there until he receives his life assignment as the receiver of memory. He comes to know the ancient way of life and hidden secrets which were kept from community. He starts to see the bleak and uninteresting existence they are following blindly.

I liked this book, the concept is very interesting and fast moving. As soon as I finished the book I wanted to read the second installment. My rating: 3 out of 5. Its been 3 years, now I don’t exactly remember why I gave this book 3 in spite of liking it. I guess I was bit disappointed with characters.

Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan

I had to get away from all paranormal and horror stuff for a while, so I chose this ”Love and other Foreign Words” by Erin McCahan. I wanted a sweet escape, that is exactly what I got from this book. It has love, humor and lots of emotions.

16 years old Josie loves languages. She speaks High School, College, Friends, Boyfriends, Break-ups, and even the language of Beautiful Girls but none of these is her native tongue — the only people who speak that are her best friend Stu and her sister Kate. When her sister gets engaged to a guy and they both speak the same language of love which Josie cant understand, all she want to do was break them apart. But will she be able to do that when they are so madly in love and seems inseparable? This gets crazy when Kate announces her wedding date. Josie is forced to examine her feelings for the boyfriend who says he loves her, the sister she loves but doesn’t always like, and the best friend who hasn’t said a word — at least not in a language Josie understands.

Heroine of this book is super likable, she is witty and a good person by heart. I didn’t like her sister Kate, she was mean and selfish, always thinking  about herself. The comment she made about Josie’s appearance was too much, it seemed like she was full of herself and she didn’t deserve Josie’s love.

My rating: 3 out of 5. A quick contemporary kind of read, I would recommend to YA fans out there.

The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

I wanted to get scared, after ‘the exorcist’ and ‘Dracula’ I didn’t come across any book that scared the hell out of me. I want horror books to haunt me, I love watching horror movies and reading about real life incidents. Don’t get me wrong, I am not the bravest person, actually no where near brave 🙂 I am just fascinated by the idea of all these. I can get scared in plain day light 😉 🙂

So  I picked this book which was in horror category. It says real life story so I had to read this. I did a quick research about  Ronnie DeFeo, 23, was convicted of shooting his parents, brothers, and sisters. George and Kathleen Lutz thought it was ideal place to move into with their 3 kids after buying this place complete with finished basement, swimming pool, and boathouse. Twenty-eight days later, they fled in terror, leaving most of their belongings behind.

It was a good read, but bit slow. By coincidence  I started waking up in between 3 AM to 4 AM after reading this book. I really got scared to even go to washroom, cause in the book, at the same time scary stuff happened to the people who were at that house. I used to wake my husband and ask him to stay awake until I return from wash room 🙂

I read in internet somewhere that George Lutz was into black magic. I think that is why he chose that place believing that Ronnie DeFeo killed his family under the influence of devil and he might be able to practice his black magic in that house. But something went terribly wrong and his magic backfired on him. I read that one of his kids accused him of practicing Satanism and magic even before they moved to into the quiet suburban neighborhood on the south shore of Long Island, New York. He recalled the family’s bookshelves lined with books on the occult and demonism. Anyways we don’t know what really happened. But this story is interesting if you are a horror lover. My ratings: 3 out of 5. A one time read which I can’t forget easily.

The Last Echo by KImberly Derting (The Body Finder, #3)

”The Last Echo” is the 3rd installment in ‘The Body Finder’ series. I kinda had mixed feelings for this series from the beginning. I was torn between 2 and 3 stars for this book. I would rate 4 stars for the series, but for this particular book somehow I want to give 2 stars.

Violet is back with more action, as usual she can find the dead body and by some magic she can connect that to the murderer. Now that she is working for Govt, she has few gifted people who work with her too. But then things are not so easy, there is this serial killer who is on a killing spree in the name of love.

Violet’s  struggles to keep up with normal life and normal boyfriend is getting harder as she starts mingling with her new friends form work. Especially a boy who she kinda falls for, Rafe. Rafe can understand Violet on entirely different level, where Jay will never be able to. This book is more of a Rafe than Violet. But this is not the final book, there is one more book called ”Dead silence” which I might read someday. Somehow I feel that this book could have been the final book in the series.

Dog Days by Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #4)

Dog days is the 4th installment in Dairy of a Wimpy kid series. I have always read these books in one setting, easy to read and interesting too. I read this series when I want to take break from major crime, fantasy and romance novels. These are more of a summer read types. I always admired author’s humor and the way he narrates the book.

Gregory is having a summer time playing video game all day long. While his family is running after him to do something in summer. His dad brings a dog to the house. With failed attempts to earn money, a falling out with his best friend, and a crazy dog. What more do you want in summer!

 People who want to read something light and realistic fiction should definitely pick this up. What a strange feeling, it brings me back those not so pleasant but still pleasant memories from elementary and middle school.

Back to blogging heaven..

I am back, yes! I took a long break.. Almost more than 2 years. But I never took a break from reading. Taking a break from reading is like taking a break from breathing, oh wait 🙂 just kidding. I have taken few short breaks but I cant stay longer without holding a book in my hands and letting myself absorbed into beautiful world of words.

I am a mom now, that was the reason I couldn’t write any reviews. I was busy raising my baby, once you have a baby it is 24/7 work and no break. Even though I had free time all I  wanted to do was sleep, read and browse for baby related stuff. I wanted to spend more time with her, so I took care of her needs and cooked home made food for her. She is actually very light sleeper so I hardly had time to do house chores. But I managed somehow with the help of my husband, who is very supportive. He considered its his duty to be there as a parent rather than thinking he is helping me, as most men see it. Our baby girl is 2 now and I thought let me start with few things I took break from.

There are around 50 books to be reviewed. I am sure I am going to enjoy this, hope to catch up soon.

Edited: My baby girl is a little book lover already, she has a shelf full of books and enjoys holding and turning the pages now and then. Sometimes she pretends to read a story by saying few things about the pictures she sees in them. I cant wait to discuss about books with her. Sigh! she is only 2, its a long way to go 🙂

Keep reading books, see you around

Purple

The Chosen by Celia Thomson (Nine Lives of Chloe King, #3)

‘The Chosen” is the 3rd book in the series- ‘Nine Lives of Chloe King’. I originally picked up the first book becuase I liked the idea of cat girl and I haven’t read any books related to were- cats  before. I liked the previous 2 installments and I enjoyed reading it but the third book upset me a little bit becuase of it’s unfinished ending. Some characters fell flat due to insufficient character development. I won’t say this is the perfect finale to the series, it could have been more action and drama filled.

Now everyone knows that the Chloe is the chosen one. Chloe is cool with it as she doesn’t want to jump into anything she is at home with her mother, going to school and hanging out with friends. But when you are destined to do something you can not avoid it. Dangerous war is about to start and it is going to destroy her people unless she steps in and decides to accept her destiny. Its a war where she won’t be able to recognize her enemies and friends.

My rating: 3 out of 5. It is an average read compared to the first 2 books. If you want to find out how  Nine lives of Chloe King Trilogy ends then it a must read.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Lately I am into Dystopian and post apocalyptic novels, it opens my mind to a new imaginary world which is far more exciting than the real world. Margaret Atwood’s ”The Handmaid’s Tale” is a brilliantly written dystopian  novel published in 1985. Imagine a world where woman are not allowed to read, go out or handle their won money. Imagine where power is overtaken by religious rights and due to man made viruses and pollution fertility rates are low. Few fertile women are treated like government property and they are moved from one house to another to be inseminated by men of power under their wives care.

Offred is such fertile woman who lives in Republic of Gilead. She is allowed to leave the commander’s house once a day to walk to the market and get supplies. She has to sleep with the commander once a month and wait to get pregnant. Her past life, husband and daughter are just memories now. Her goal is to get pregnant, give birth and move to another commander’s house where her life will be same as before.

My rating: 4 out of 5. Ending was a bit abrupt and disappointing for me other than that it was a well written book. I recommend this to all dystopian fans out there. I am going to watch the movie as soon as possible so that I can compare it with the book.

The Boook of Life by Deborah Harkness (All Souls Trilogy, #3)

”The Book of Life” is the 3rd installment of ‘All Souls Trilogy’, I was waiting to read this final book from a long time. Finally when I read it I was totally shocked! What a epic let down! The discovery of witches was one of my favorite reads from 2011 and from there I kept following this trilogy. Second book was also pretty successful read for me. My expectations were sky high for the 3rd one and now I am disappointed.

After traveling through time in the second book historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont are back to present. But this time they are not alone, Diana is pregnant with Mathew’s babies and twin miracle is on the way. But  missing pages from Ashmole 782 is still a priority, and when this couple will find out the missing pages its going to get ugly. Mathew’s blood thirsty son is hunting for Diana, no one is safe anymore.

My rating: 2 out of 5. There were so many characters and boring stuff everywhere, which was hard to follow and remember. Mathew and Diana were no more young lovers in love they were more like an old couple who over reacted to everything. Finally All souls trilogy ends here and I successfully completed another series.