I started and finished A Sense of Direction in one evening; I couldn't really stop thinking about it, so I couldn't put it down. I found it...
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Move over Katniss, there is a new female hero in town...Tris. The book is set in the futuristic, wasteland setting of Chicago. The population has decided to separate into five factions to ensure peace: Abnegation (selflessness), Candor(Truth), Dauntless(Bravery), Erudite(Intelligence) and Amity(Peace). The belief is that if you are true to the ideals that you believe will prevent war, war will simply cease to be a threat. You are expected to be loyal to your faction (which you can choose of your own free will at sixteen), but you must leave your family behind. The faction is now your family. It's a concept with so many flaws that I couldn't imagine how the story would develop...but I found myself hooked after the first few pages. This is an insightful book on human nature and instinct, and how evil will always find a way to emerge. The best part about this book is that it makes you think about your own beliefs and what the consequences can be when you get more focused on being right than looking for a compromise. What an amazing debut book by author, Veronica Roth. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Do I hear, movie deal?
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Wow...what a book! When I picked it up from the library, I couldn't remember what it was about or why I put it on hold. That's right...it was on the short list for the Man Book Prize, so I wanted to check it out. That makes it funny that this book centers on the imperfect memory of the main character. I've always been drawn to british authors...I just love the style of writing, the words chosen and the general feeling created. The book begins with Tony Webster telling us about his days in school...a bit Dead Poet's Society ...but the story flowed with purpose. This is a very short book, approximately 150 pages, but that doesn't mean that it lacked content. The book was surprisingly full of detail and the ending was absolutely flooring. Usually I fly through a short book, but this one made me want to take my time and absorb all of the words. What struck me most, was how well the author captured Tony and his friends as teenagers and young men. The idealism, the pretentiousness, the need to differentiate yourself from your parents...you are so much smarter, you feel things so much more deeply, you are so much more affected by philosphy, music, art, etc. If you weren't like that in your younger years, you certainly had friends that were. It's a phase that, thankfully, you grow out of, as you should. The writing was thoughtful, intelligent and engaging. The main character is nothing special, which made the book all the more interesting to me. Tony was an average man, who lived an average life. I wonder what Tony's life went on to be like after the story ended?
This book had all of the elements of an amazing book...richly drawn characters, a beautiful backdrop, an intertwined romance/mystery, complicated family relationships, self-discovery and the bringing together of the past and present. This story had many moving pieces, expertly woven together, to create a vivid, yet heartbreaking story. Living in the Northwest myself, I don't think this book would have affected me as much if it hadn't taken place in an an area I am familiar with. Though some may read this in a sitting and see nothing more than a light, romance. I think there was a deeper moral to the story regarding love and how one chooses to behave in a relationship. The instinct to lash out and cause pain when you are hurt is strong, but can and should be overcome, in order to move forward and find happiness. A stubborn nature typically leaves you alone in the end. I thought this story was tragic, yet beautfiul. The extreme happiness and pain experienced by all of the characters was powerfully written. I can't wait to read this author's next book.
Oh my god...I just finished this book and all I can say is....it was AMAZING!!!! This was the last book in the Fever series and it did not disappoint. I was so upset when I got to the end of the last book and realized that the author had left us with a HUGE cliff hanger. But the first few chapters of this book made it all worth it. I have no idea how to review this book without giving away the ending. What I will say, all of the plot twists that we came to love in the first four books continue. Nothing was straightfoward...and every time I thought I had the ending figured out, a new fact was revealed. Looking back at all of the books, you can see how the story was destined to end the way it did. This is a series that I will definitely want to read again! I can't wait to read more of Karen Marie Moning's books.(
This book made me cry..but what Nicholas Sparks book doesn't make you cry. As usual, Sparks manages to catch the subtle and raw emotion of the human experience, while remaining firmly lodged in realty. I am disappointed when I read reviews that criticize Sparks for not always having the traditional "happy ending". Frankly, that is why I choose to read Sparks books. If I want to read a guaranteed happy ending, I choose Nora Roberts or some other traditional romance author. I read Sparks books because I find them moving and I like being swept up in the story and seeing the painful decisions that are made. Because in real life, the easy path isn't always the right path. I commend Sparks for staying true to his writing style. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for the next journey he takes me on.
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The Book Goddess has commented on (15) products.
Divergent (Divergent Trilogy) by Veronica Roth
The Book Goddess, April 4, 2012
Move over Katniss, there is a new female hero in town...Tris. The book is set in the futuristic, wasteland setting of Chicago. The population has decided to separate into five factions to ensure peace: Abnegation (selflessness), Candor(Truth), Dauntless(Bravery), Erudite(Intelligence) and Amity(Peace). The belief is that if you are true to the ideals that you believe will prevent war, war will simply cease to be a threat. You are expected to be loyal to your faction (which you can choose of your own free will at sixteen), but you must leave your family behind. The faction is now your family. It's a concept with so many flaws that I couldn't imagine how the story would develop...but I found myself hooked after the first few pages. This is an insightful book on human nature and instinct, and how evil will always find a way to emerge. The best part about this book is that it makes you think about your own beliefs and what the consequences can be when you get more focused on being right than looking for a compromise. What an amazing debut book by author, Veronica Roth. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Do I hear, movie deal?(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
The Book Goddess, March 25, 2012
Wow...what a book! When I picked it up from the library, I couldn't remember what it was about or why I put it on hold. That's right...it was on the short list for the Man Book Prize, so I wanted to check it out. That makes it funny that this book centers on the imperfect memory of the main character. I've always been drawn to british authors...I just love the style of writing, the words chosen and the general feeling created. The book begins with Tony Webster telling us about his days in school...a bit Dead Poet's Society ...but the story flowed with purpose. This is a very short book, approximately 150 pages, but that doesn't mean that it lacked content. The book was surprisingly full of detail and the ending was absolutely flooring. Usually I fly through a short book, but this one made me want to take my time and absorb all of the words. What struck me most, was how well the author captured Tony and his friends as teenagers and young men. The idealism, the pretentiousness, the need to differentiate yourself from your parents...you are so much smarter, you feel things so much more deeply, you are so much more affected by philosphy, music, art, etc. If you weren't like that in your younger years, you certainly had friends that were. It's a phase that, thankfully, you grow out of, as you should. The writing was thoughtful, intelligent and engaging. The main character is nothing special, which made the book all the more interesting to me. Tony was an average man, who lived an average life. I wonder what Tony's life went on to be like after the story ended?The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
The Book Goddess, February 13, 2012
This book had all of the elements of an amazing book...richly drawn characters, a beautiful backdrop, an intertwined romance/mystery, complicated family relationships, self-discovery and the bringing together of the past and present. This story had many moving pieces, expertly woven together, to create a vivid, yet heartbreaking story. Living in the Northwest myself, I don't think this book would have affected me as much if it hadn't taken place in an an area I am familiar with. Though some may read this in a sitting and see nothing more than a light, romance. I think there was a deeper moral to the story regarding love and how one chooses to behave in a relationship. The instinct to lash out and cause pain when you are hurt is strong, but can and should be overcome, in order to move forward and find happiness. A stubborn nature typically leaves you alone in the end. I thought this story was tragic, yet beautfiul. The extreme happiness and pain experienced by all of the characters was powerfully written. I can't wait to read this author's next book.Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
The Book Goddess, January 1, 2012
Oh my god...I just finished this book and all I can say is....it was AMAZING!!!! This was the last book in the Fever series and it did not disappoint. I was so upset when I got to the end of the last book and realized that the author had left us with a HUGE cliff hanger. But the first few chapters of this book made it all worth it. I have no idea how to review this book without giving away the ending. What I will say, all of the plot twists that we came to love in the first four books continue. Nothing was straightfoward...and every time I thought I had the ending figured out, a new fact was revealed. Looking back at all of the books, you can see how the story was destined to end the way it did. This is a series that I will definitely want to read again! I can't wait to read more of Karen Marie Moning's books.(The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
The Book Goddess, December 31, 2011
This book made me cry..but what Nicholas Sparks book doesn't make you cry. As usual, Sparks manages to catch the subtle and raw emotion of the human experience, while remaining firmly lodged in realty. I am disappointed when I read reviews that criticize Sparks for not always having the traditional "happy ending". Frankly, that is why I choose to read Sparks books. If I want to read a guaranteed happy ending, I choose Nora Roberts or some other traditional romance author. I read Sparks books because I find them moving and I like being swept up in the story and seeing the painful decisions that are made. Because in real life, the easy path isn't always the right path. I commend Sparks for staying true to his writing style. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for the next journey he takes me on.1-5 of 15next