Follow Friday 40 And Over!

Hosted by Java at http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com.

Book Review ~ Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen~

From Goodreads:

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

My Thoughts:

This is another novel that I was hesitant to read, due to all of the hype. When I started seeing the movie previews on TV, I picked the book up and began to read.....and hated to put it down. What a wonderful, engaging story! I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. Jacob tugged at my heartstrings, especially the scenes of him in the nursing home. There were characters that I hated in the beginning, but grew to love toward the end. And, of course, there was Rosie the Elephant. I loved her the most, I think. This novel is also filled with real photos from circus's past. I found it to be a very memorable read....and I am listing it as one of my top reads of 2011. If you haven't read it yet, you need to! You're missing out on a five star story!

ISBN

1565125606 (ISBN13: 9781565125605)

www.saragruen.com

Outstanding!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love

My Thoughts:

This is a book that I did not think I would ever read, let alone enjoy. When I found a paperback copy of it at TJ Maxx awhile back, I picked it up, thinking....."maybe I'll save this for a rainy day." Saturday morning, after steam-cleaning my carpets, I decided to curl up with a book for the rest of the day. It was overcast and the weather people were calling for storms, so I browsed my shelves, and picked up The Hunger Games. Awesome choice! I read for the rest of the day, during tornado warnings (we are all fine....luckily the tornado missed Garner but did unfortunately hit downtown Raleigh, NC) and finished it yesterday. I was surprised at how much I loved this story! This week I will be looking for Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I am glad that I finally read this book. I know that I am probably one of the only bloggers left that had not read it....I am not one to give into a lot of hype over a book. I'm glad that I had put this one away for a rainy day....it was well worth it!

Highly Recommended!



Outstanding!

A Short Post

I'm back....sort of. I still don't have the reading spark BUT I am slowly making my way through Diane Chamberlain's The Courage Tree....which is pretty good. I am reading at a very slow pace. Which is fine, actually...I have all the time in the world, now that I have not been bringing any more books into the house. I have not received any books at all, since January. That has given me a kind of "peace"....I felt so panicked before....so many books, not enough time. Since the New Year, I have sat back and relaxed, and realized that I was making reading more of a chore than an enjoyment. I felt stressed to read read read, then review review review, that it took the fun out of reading AND my blog. So! I am back, but at a slower pace.

Other BIG news......my husband and I were finally able to achieve a huge dream of ours...we bought a condo at the beach! It is not on the beach, but is on the Intercoastal Waterway, in Little River, SC. We found a place that we fell in love with, and everything else seemed to fall into place. Our closing was on 3/31, so we have enjoyed a couple of weekends down there already. We are going back Easter weekend, and I can't wait!

What's been going on with everyone else????

XOXO

Missy