The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Goodreads Reviews


This book was refreshingly different. The first 50 pages or so were a little slow. The book is a compilation of letters that tell a story. Reading a ton of letters one after the other kinda slowed my interest down a bit, but eventually the story became so interesting that I was looking forward to the next letter. It's amazing how the author captured their personalities so well through only letters. It was interesting historically as well! (World War II) Where could you go wrong with this book. I hope everyone gets a chance to read this book. I'm glad I didn't put it off any longer. I would've missed out!

The Handmaid's Tale

By Margaret Atwood

Goodreads Reviews


If ever a book has been labeled as "disturbing," this book takes the cake. All I can say about this book is, Ewwww!, Ugh!, Wrong!, and why would someone write about this?! I got to the point that I was reading the first sentence in every paragraph only. I do understand how this book became famous because it's turning the idea of femanism completely upside down and showing what life would be like without it, but REALLY! This was a bit much. Just because the book is controversal doesn't make it amazing literature! It's about a handmaid, obviously, kind of like the handmaids in the bible (given to husbands when the wives couldn't conceive). So the book basically trashes the bible, and the idea that men should provide for women all at once. The author is conveying her idea that if you took away femanism, that women would pretty much be considered worthless, childbearing robots who could do nothing unless they were protected by men. She's obviously portraying the need for balance, but I'm thinking she's a bit messed up. Is she married? Her poor husband! Stupid! So Wrong! Do Not Read This Book! I have to hurry and read another "feel good" book just to try to forget about it. Bleh!

Island of the Blue Dolphins

By Scott O'Dell

Goodreads Reviews

The thing that is most amazing about this book is that this woman really existed. Crazy!! It's not a love story, but it was still a fantastic read. I sat down in a couple of hours and finished it. It's written more as a documentary. The book has been referred to as kind of a "female Robinson Crusoe." I felt like I was reading her diary. I don't feel like I got to know the character that well, but really, how much personality can she show all by herself on an island? This is a great quick read. Definately deserved the Newbery Medal.

Books to Read Thanks to Soozyreads

I now have five new books on my t0-read list. These are books that I keep hearing about, but never go to the library to get.

• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell


• The Handmaid's Tale by Maragaret Atwood


• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer


• Cinders by Michelle Davidson


• The Undaunted by Gerald Lund

Thanks soozyreads.blogspot.com.

Summers at Castle Auburn

by Sharron Shinn Goodreads Reviews I devoured this book. This is not YA fiction, but it sure read like it was. I was flipping pages as fast as I could. This novel is about court life mixed with a very tiny bit of fantasy (very small). The book had a few plot holes, people that were't necessary, and quite a few of the author's ideas really needed some more delving into, but I still gave the book 5 stars just for the sheer "must-read-faster"-ness. I don't know anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book A LOT!

The Help

By Kathryn Stockett

Goodreads Reviews

OOOH! I liked this book. It wasn't a page turner, but I loved it all the same. It's about women in the south and deaing with racism. I can't imagine loving a non-page turner, but I did. Read it! It will be good for you. Same goes for Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. That is a MUST READ!

The Truth About Forever

By Sarah Dessen

Goodreads Reviews

Wow. I guess this is good if you don't want to read a book with, you know, content. This is just a bunch of fluff of girl meets guy. I thought I'd try out the author because I've heard about her so often, but this can't really be considered literature in my opinion. More like someone just trying to tell a romantic story. I need more than just lovey dovey. Not just "Oh, he's neat. I like him" and "oh, she's got such a fantastic personality, and had such a hard life. Too bad we have so many problems in our way so we can't really get together." Not for me. I will not be reading more of her books. Plus she had some language issues too!

Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood

By Meredith Ann Pierce Goodreads Reviews Meh... It was okay. I didn't really get into it. To me, it seemed like a new fairy tale or some sort of mythological story that I've never heard about. I guess this is what I get for just grabbing a book off the shelf with no recommendations for it. One nice thing was that it was NOT A SERIES! I actually finished the entire plot in one book. Crazy concept! It reminds me a lot of the Patricia A. McKillip novels.

Inside Out

Also by Maria V. Snyder

Goodreads Reviews

This book is way more Sci-Fi than I imagined. Not really up my alley, but still it was a fun book. She's a great author. It's kind of a like City of Ember...I guess. A dystopia novel...kind of. I don't really know how to explain it. I'm going to read the next in the series just because it's a book, and it's good, but I don't feel like I need to run to all the neighbors to tell them to read it.

Poison Study

By Maria V. Snyder Goodreads Reviews This book was GREAT! It's a little bit of magic, but not enough to be considered fantasy really...yet. I haven't read the others in the series, so we'll see how out there it gets. The plot just WORKS, and it was such a fulfilling read. I'm excited to read the next book. There were a few swear words I could've been happy without, but other than that, awesome.

Books on my Mantle

This is a list of books I plan on reading. On my mantle I have Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn, Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood by Meredith Ann Pierce, Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (first in a series, supposed to be great...reading it today!), and Inside Out, also by Maria V. Snyder. Let me know if you plan on reading them with me. I would love to hear thoughts! Obviously I'm in a YA book phase, but I'll come out eventually. I go in spurts. This one has just happened to last like...6 months. The Sharon Shinn novel isn't YA though. :) I would love recommendations. Please!!!!

Entwined

By Heather Dixon Goodreads Reviews This is a fairy tale retelling of the 12 dancing princesses. I thought it was an awesome cute book. I enjoyed that it had so much more than just the boring old fairy tale plot. The author is comparable to Robyn McKinley, if you've read Beauty. The sisters all had distinct personalities which is so hard to do, seeing as how there are TWELVE. It was a fun book. I would especially recommend it to young girls.