The Hunger Games Trilogy: Oh, How I Miss you!!

For the month of January, I am sticking to reading devotionals and faith filled books as a part of a 21 day journey I have decided to embark on. I am currently reading "Glory Revealed" by David Nasser which is really awesome. In case you didn't know, Glory Revealed is a musical project, put together by a group of some of my favorite Christian recording artists. Mac Powell from Third Day organized this "creative retreat" for all of these people - Mark Hall from Casting Crowns, Brian Litrell of Backstreet Boys, Kari Jobe, just a bunch of really talented people... and they prayed together and wrote songs together to bring bible scriptures to life through music. If you haven't heard it yet, I suggest you get the Glory Revealed CD. Sooo good! Anyway, there is a book that goes along with it and I am reading it and it's great.... but can I just admit something?? I CANNOT WAIT to pick up a good piece of fiction again!

And I mean GOOD fiction! Something with an addictive story, fantasy, feel good, light reading. The last thing I read like that was The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and I miss it so! I cannot wait for the movie to come out in March so that I can relive it again.

Have you read The Hunger Games? No? But you must!!! Seriously guys it is so good. It's about a post apocalyptic society called "Panem". It is where North America used to be and has been divided up into 13 districts. Each district specializes in a trade and all the districts are controlled by "the capital". In order to maintain this control and discourage a rebellion, the capital hosts an event called "The Hunger Games" every year where two teenagers (one boy, one girl) from each district are placed in an arena to fight to the death.... oh, and it's all on reality television! The last "tribute" standing is the winner and that person gets all sorts of prizes (money, food etc.) for his or her district.

Well, the main character.. her name is Katniss and as I am sure you have guessed by now - she goes to compete in the games. She is NO damsel in distress and I love her... she's bad ass. I loved reading this story and I simply devoured it. I think I finished the whole trilogy in a week. SO good you guys!  My only complaint is that the end felt a little rushed and it all just happened too fast for me. I thought the author would take her time a little more in wrapping things up but still, it was a  great read.

So, your homework for this weekend is to go out and get a copy of The Hunger Games and tell me what you think :) Also, I am taking suggestions for a good piece of fiction to read next! Let me know people.

Have a great weekend!
XO,

Centaurs, Satyrs and Demigods Oh My!

Sometime last year, a friend of mine introduced me to a book series for kids called "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" by Rick Riordan.

Let me explain, a few years ago my sister-in-law told me I had to read this book called Twilight. Now, I know that this is teen fiction she said but it's soooo good you will love it. Well, she was right, I LOVED reading Stephenie Meyer's melodrama about the young girl who fell in love with the hot vampire. I didn't go into it expecting a great piece of literature, I just wanted to read something for fun and pure entertainment. I like many others got completely sucked in and obsessed. After I was done reading the Twilight series I felt empty. I needed to experience that again! I needed a story that was so fantasy, such an escape from reality and an easy read so that I could relax with a cup of tea and take a break. So then, someone recommends that I read Harry Potter.

Again, I became completely obsessed and LOVED this series even more than Twilight. Now, let me just say that in my opinion, Harry Potter is written much more eloquently and is far more clever and "meaty" than Twilight. I cannot say any fantasy series I have read again has topped that and once I finished it, again I felt sad. So in comes my friend who assures me that this series about Demigods called "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" is my "next Harry Potter".

Since it's a series it will be kind of tough to review but I just finished the second book of the spin-off series and it was soooo good! This story is basically about demigods (half human / half god) from Greek mythology but with a modern twist. There is a camp where demigods are trained to fulfill their destiny and of course lots of adventures follow. Mount Olympus is at the top of the Empire State building!

As a kid, I loved learning about Greek mythology in school and though the author of this series puts all of this in modern America, he is incredibly true and accurate to the stories in Greek mythology. I found myself going down memory lane and enjoying the very same stories I enjoyed as a child. I grew an attachment to the characters and wanted to know what happened next as I finished each book.

I know I'm a total dork but I just LOVE fantasy stories. For a while it was vampires & werewolves, then it was wizards and the wizarding world, and now it's centaurs, satyrs and demigods... oh my! So yea, if you're into this stuff and want a fun read you MUST check out Rick Riordan's series.

Water for Elephants: It's a book review!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am book-worm. Reading is easily one of my favorite if not my very favorite thing to do when I have alone time. This has always been the case for as long as I can remember. I was that kid with all the stars on her summer reading list and I used my library card constantly. There's just something about a good story that brings joy to my life, a momentary escape, and a fullness I can't quite describe. Fiction is definitely my favorite but I also like a good memoir. My bookcase at home just doesn't fit anymore books so I was sooooo excited on my birthday last year when I got the NOOK e-reader as a gift from my hubby and friend (they got it together) and it has been put to good use!

Recently, I finally read the book "Water for Elephants" and I'll admit I wasn't really expecting much but this story BLEW ME AWAY! Without spoiling anything, here is a quick synopsis from Wikipedia:

The story is told as a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a "ninety or ninety-three year-old" man who lives in a nursing home. Jacob is told what to eat and what to do.As the memories begin, Jacob Jankowski is a twenty-three year old Polish American preparing for his final exams as a Cornell University veterinary student when he receives the news that his parents were killed in a car accident. Jacob’s father was a veterinarian and Jacob had planned to join his practice. When Jacob learns that his father was deeply in debt because he had been treating animals for free and had mortgaged the family home to provide Jacob an Ivy League education, he has a breakdown and leaves school just short of graduation. In the dark of night, he jumps on a train only to learn it is a circus train belonging to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. When the owner of the circus, Uncle Al, learns of his training as a vet, he is hired to care for the circus animals

The story really fascinated me in that it told of "circus life" during the depression era in this country. The author really researched and dug deep into this lifestyle and I was so intrigued! It made me want to jump on a train and join the circus... or not..

She described the animals in great detail especially one of the main characters, the elephant "Rosie" and I simply fell in love with her. It reminded me how precious these creatures are and just how important it is for human beings to appreciate and respect them. I remember going to the Coney Island Circus about 2 summers ago and feeling really sad for the animals, this is exactly how I felt when reading about Rosie.

The love story was a unique one, and frankly a breath of fresh air since I know as a writer that there are only so many ways you can tell a love story. Jacob falls for Marlena, Marlena is tangled up in a mess of her own and his love for her felt so real to me as I read his narrative and got wrapped up in his words. The author also did something that I thought was so clever; she made it so that the story of Jacob and Marlena paralleled the story of Jacob in the bible... and if you don't notice it's totally fine (doesn't take away from the story) but if you do, it is a neat thing to discover.

This was one of those books that really affected me (in a good way) and it's been several days since I finished and I don't know what I'm going to read next. I can't wait for the movie to come out on DVD so that I can at least relive the book in some way and see how the movie measured up =)

I highly, highly recommend Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Soooo good!