Book Reviews

I was unable to finish "The Vampire Diaries" trilogy of books that I have. After the first one I just couldn't do the second one. Somewhere along the line I saw an ad for the TV show and even though it seems to stray greatly from the book; it still had enough info that I just didn't have any zest for the reading. So keeping that in mind, I review waht I have read since returning to actual "literature.". However, it is very possible that I have been deceived and poisoned by my previous trash books. I am pretty sure that an Archie comic would have seemed substantial. With that, I will introduce two of them. The third book that I have read was "The Secret Lives of Saints: Child Brides and Lost Boys in Canada's Polygamous Sect." I had planned to write my seething review of it with these two books however a literary pal of mine passed along three more books of the same subject. I figure once I finish them I will prepare to go a few rounds with the Fundamentalist Mormons.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

I have to say that of all the three books this was my least favorite. It is not a bad book but the story seemed so implausible to me that I had a hard time "getting" it. The story itself hinges around this catastrophic event that sends the lives of the characters hurling in different directions and then finally together. I guess I just didn't see the catastrophic even in the same way that the author did. It was a tragedy obviously, life altering and heart breaking but I did not see it as a big "secret" needing to be protected. I also found some of the characters useless and the story ended a little abruptly for my taste. Speaking of abrupt endings....I gave James Frey a chance in his post-Oprah spanking, first fiction venture with "Bright Shiny Morning." What a load of s#*t and every book with an abrupt ending will now be held to this POS's standard. I digress....I actually would have enjoyed this book more if they had kept it in the detention facility that opened the book. There was a lot of potential story to be created within those four characters and I would have gladly read on. All in all, didn't mind it but I didn't have any "post book depression" that I often have when saying good-bye to well loved characters that I will never know again. So read it or don't read it....either way your life will be no different than it was before.

This is where I leave you by Jonathan Tropper

Now this book on the other hand was fantastic! I loved it! I loved it so much that I found myself fascinating about the movie it would make...then realized that it would,in fact, make a superior stage play. The characters were flawless, honest, unapologetic. The author created within them both strengths and weaknesses and used both soundly. There were surprise reveals, obvious "surprise" reveals and some predictability which made this a really even story. There were ups and there were downs. It really did a great job of illustrating how dirty family dynamics can really get. At least how I know families. It felt really honest to me while evoking feelings of sadness, compassion and joy. I really felt as though I was along for the ride with this family for better or for worse. I think that anyone can see themselves within the text and likely their own family members,too! I read this book in an entire day while driving from Saskatoon back to the Koots. I could not put it down and leave it for long. It was just so engaging. I honestly laughed aloud at times. This is by far one of the best books that I have read in quite some time. You know a story is good when you find yourself reminiscing about the characters as though they are actual people you just haven't seen in a while! Read it! I am just not lending you my copy because I don't want to lose mine!