I was at my local Library, checking out the new section which isn't new books but the books that the library has just gotten. I didn't know that at the time I picked up House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker, which was published in 2006, but I don't think it really matters now that I've already read the book, because It's an amazing book. It's a book that gives me chills just by reading a single sentance, have to try and be niceand that is something to rave about.
The main characters of the book are Stephanie and Jack. They are a married couple who are toying with the idea of getting a divorce. Steph is a rising country singer/songwriter on her way to a show with Jack. He is a writer; somewhat bitter and pessimistic but strong-willed. While on their way, they take a detour and are pointed to a backroad that will get them back on time for their trip. But, there are spikes on the road that op all the tires on their car and leaves them stranded in front of a strange Inn.
They find the Inn empty except for another couple, who aren't exactly a couple. Randy is the owner of a chain of hotels and restaurants and Leslie is a professor of psychology at a University. They are not 'together' but they are close and are staying together. But, soon the owners show up; a creepy bunch they are. Betty is an older woman, Stewert is a crazy guy who hates disrespect and Pete is their adopted son who used to be in the circus. Pete is big and strong and is in love with Leslie.
Dinner gets out of hand when all these people have to try and be nice. But, it gets worse when a serial killer comes to the house for the guests. He has a few rules; rule #2: He will kill anyone who steps foot in that house, and rule #3: Give him one dead body by dawn and he might let the previous rule slide. In a sick, sadistic game, the four realize that they have to either kill one of them and all live, or not kill anyone and all die. It's not long before they start to turn on eachother.
RED'S ALL STAR REVIEW: 3 3/4 out of 5. This book was thrilling and shocking. I love the psychological elements. If you love this book, then see the movie, which is rated R, but very good as well.
Click here! to buy this book on Amazon!
So, you may have noticed the title of this post. No, Markus Zusak is not a book, he is an author of a few amazing books. If you are not familiar with his work, shame on you; some of his novels are worldwide famous. When I found out Zusak have a book come out recently, I had to read it because I know how great an author Zusak is. So, I picked up his novel, I Am The Messanger, and it is totally a classic.
The story opens to Ed Kennedy, who you could say is a loser with no purpose in life, in the middle of a bank heist. He's face down on the floor with his three best friends while some guy points a gun around while he waits for the counter girl the pack up his money. But, he didn't expect Ed and his friends to ruin the plan. So, Ed stopped the robber, and is now being threatened by the robber that he caught and turne over to the police.
But, as strange as it may souns, Ed has bigger problems that threats. He gota playing card in the mail, the Ace of Diamonds, with the names of three streets and a time next to it. Ed doesn't know what it means, but eventually he goes to the first address. There, he witnesses something terrible and realizes that he was sent there to stop it. He goes to the other addresses and find people in need of a message or an action to help them. Ed was picked because he cares.
As he gets new orders from strangers and more playing cards, he learns how to help others around him as well has learning to control his own life. He bonds with a priest and an older lady with demensia, he gets beaten up by some thug teenagers, he falls in love with two girls, neither of which he can have, and he finds a way to better his relationahip with his family. But, the missions are getting worse on Ed, and he just hopes that he can make it through them and be done with it.
RED'S ALL STAR REVIEW: 4 out of 5 stars. I love the way Zusak writes, and I love the story. Click here! to buy this book on Amazon!
By now you're probably wondering what the other book is since it is a Two For Tuesday, right? Well, I'm going to let you decide. The books I would reccomend by Markus Zusak are the Wolfe brothers trilogy: Getting the Girl, Underdogs and Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and my personal favorite, and the most well known, The Book Thief. These are all great books, but I do insist that everyone read The Book Thief at some point this summer.
Lately, there have been a lot of new books flooding into my local Barnes & Noble, and creeping up on me when I search Amazon. I picked up a few that sounded really good, or had really good authors. I'm going to kick this new book surge with a brand new book that had me hooked from the first ten pages all the way to the end. I picked it up, hoping it wasn't another cliched vampire romance, and it wasn't entirely. I was pleasantly surprised with Kristi Cook's Haven.
Violet McKenna had visions of her fathers death only months before it happened. Still scared and confused, she has just moved to New York with her stepmother, Patsy. She was strangely drawn to Winterhaven Academy, and now that she is attending, Violet is excited to start a new life here. The people are nice, including her roommate, Cece, and everything just seems to good to be true. Within a week, Violet has a new group of fierce friends, great classes and a high spot on the fencing team, and Aiden.
Aiden Gray is unlike anyone Violet has met before. He is tall, mysterious and seems to have an enchanting effect on every girl in school. But Aiden picks Violet. He tutors her, hangs out with her and even helps her through the terrifying visions that she keeps having. Violet and Aiden would be the perfect couple, one that would make all others jealous, if Aiden wasn't so difficult. He has so many secrets and wants to keep them that way, even when Violet is at the end of her rope.
But, Violet soon realizes that Winterhaven is no ordinary school. Every person there has some special psychic ability. For some, its telekinesis or empathy; for Violet its her visions. Violet can't control them like her friends can control their abilities, she is terified of herself unlike her friends. Violet doesn't want to be this different, she just wants everything to be simple and normal. But, there is trouble at Winterhaven and Violet is right in the middle of it with Aiden, and she knows that she must do something to stop it, even if it means sacrificing herself or killing the boy she loves.
RED'S ALL STAR REVEIW: I picked up this book thinking it was just another supernatural thriller-romance. But, it turned out to be one of the better no-conformist vampire books. It is so monotonous, how people make vampires seem, but Cook really brings them to life by denouncing some of the oldest myths about vampires. Also, If you like this book, then read the sequel, Mirage.
Click here! to buy this book on Amazon!
As my followers know well, I don't blog too much on nofiction. Sure, I have my Non-fiction Saturdays and a few Memoir Mondays, but moslt this is a fiction blog. But, I feel that reading some non-fiction and memoir stuff is essential to becoming a fluent reader and a well-rounded writer. So, I'm just going to throw a great non-fiction book out there, one that has a setting different from most books.
Epileptic by David B. is a graphic autobiography, which basically means that it's written like a comic, except that it's an entire book. Here's a few samples of the comic-like drawings.
David B. is not the author's real name; it is Pierre-François Beauchard, boy who lived near Orléans, France. He recalls about his childhood growing up with his extremely epileptic brother, Jean-Christophe, and his moving around France with his family on a desperate search to find a cure.
Jean-Christophe and Pierre-François grew up in a normal neighborhood, with a gang of mischevious kids who pulled pranks and got in trouble and had battle scenes with homemade swords. Jean-christophe wasn't epileptic then, he was a normal kid, if you caount normal as being war-obsessed. But, nevertheless, It wasn't until one day where Jean-Christophe collapsed that Pierre-François's life started to revolve around his brother.
The family went around from hospital to therapist to try and find something to ease Jean-Christophe's now constant seizures. The only help they found was at a hosptial where a crackpot surgeon wanted to try a new operation to try and relieve Jean-Christophe's seizures. But, one slip of the hand and he could be dead, or worse, so the family went to seek help elsewhere. They found the solution in Master N, who is depicted in the book as a giant cat-like man.
Trough Master N's radical treatments, Jean-Christophe finds himself going from three seizures a day, down to one and then he is completely seizure free. The family, during the summer, goes to live on a commune for people being treated with the same methods. Jean-Christophe, Pierre-François, and their younger sister, Florence, would go out after finishing their meals and play with the neighbor kids. They loved being on the commune, until the worst thing imaginable happened.
One day, after returning home from the commune, Pierre-François's mother found out that Master N. has left the country and gone to America. He can no longer do the treatment to Jean-Christophe, and soon, his seizures return. But the seizures are getting worse, and he has to be hospitalizedat times. Pierre-François and his family are stuck and need to find a way to stop Jean-Christophe's seizures before they end up killing him.
RED'ALL STAR REVIEW: 3 out of 5. The drawings are excellent, and the story is interesting, but sometimes the author gets away from the immediate story for a while.
Click here! to buy this book on Amazon! But, be careful! Make sure you buy it in English.
I have noticed, as I have been watching T.V., that many great books have come alive on the silver screen lately. Titles that include The Hunger Games, The Lucky One, the last Harry Potter movie is finally out, and many others that I cannot even name. But, I want to take a look at some more books that are going to be turned into movies or are being released this year. Here is my list of the top ten books being turned into movies in 2012.
Book #10. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
I realize this is a few years old, but it is a very commonly known piece of work and has been highlighted in Plath's career as her best novel. The story is of Esther, a girl who seems to just have it all. She is extremely talanted, beautiful, brilliant and succesful in her life so far, but she is struggleing with herself. She may just be going insane for the last time, but this time it won't go away. This book is scheldualed to be produced and released later in the year.
Book #9. Life Of Pi by Yann Martel
This story has been in every pre-teen and young adult section of every library I've encountered, and for good reason. This is a classic story of the fight to survive in the worst possible scenario. Pi Patel is the son of a zookeeper, and he is moving from India to Canada, but on the way, the ship wrecks. Now, Pi is stranded on a 26 foot lifeboat with a bunch of animals, including a large tiger named Richard. Soon, Pi and Richard are the only two left, and they must survibe for 227 days drifting on the ocean without any food source. It is supposed to be coming out in 3D, so it ought to be thrilling.
Book #8. Wake by Lisa McMann
I read this book years ago, and I loved it. The storyline was unlike any I've heard of before. It goes like this; 17-year old Janie can see people's dreams. She doesn't mean to, but when someone near her falls asleep, she is paralyzed and forced to experience it as well. But, not all the dreams are good. For Janie, the dreams are getting worse, especially surrounding Cabel. Cabe's nightmares seem to real and too frighteneing for Janie, and she needs to figure out what to do about it. The only problem I have with this movie is that the lead roe of Janie is supposedly played by Miley Cyrus, who doesn;t have the best record with legit movie acting, so this worries me a great deal, but I will push asid my bias and recommend the book at least.
Book #7. Divergent by Veronica Roth
This is fairly new trilogy, one that has been creating quite a buzz. The book is a little out-there, much like the critically aclaimed Hunger Games, in concept. In the dystopian world of Chicago, there are five work categories that 16-year olds must place themselves in for life. Beatrice wants the most out of her new life, and she chooses the option the surprises everyone she knows. Now, she is being trained for her new life, and for the hard work ahead of her. But, trust is being tested, friendships will be crossed and romance will blossom in the most unexpected places. But, not everything is as perfect as she wishes it could be. There is a secret that could bring everything she cares for crumbling down. I have high hopes for this movie, because the book was pretty mind-blowing.
Book #6. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
This book caught my attention for the minute I picked it up. The concept is ridiculous and super-strange, but it really sucks you in. The nook is about Incarceron, a prison that is more than a prison. It has cities and woods and forests inside as well as cells and corridors. For Finn, Incarceron is home; he has always been there ever since he can remember. But, he knows that he came from outside, and the secret to getting back is in the warden's daughter, Claudia. Together, the two will try to escape a prison that only one person has ever escaped from. Strange, right? I know it seems a little out there, but trust me, it's a good read. The movie is supposed to have Twilight's Taylor Lautner and Emma Watson.
Book #5. Beautiful Creatures by Kim Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Yes, I have already blogged about this book, but that was a year ago and it wasn't planned on beoming a movie yet, which bring out much excitement in me. Ethan Wade has lived in a small southern town forever, where everything's the same and nothing changes. Until Lena Duchannes moves into the town with her estranged uncle. She is everything the town despises, she is mysterious, beautiful and she also has supernatural powers. Ethan is drawn to Lena and her inability to control her powers, but that may not be for the best. Lena and Ethan are connected for some reason, which is unnatural, but even Lena's uncle cannot deny the connection. But, as the time for Lena to choose goodness or evil comes, new problems occur that make Lena question everything she knows. Trust me, this book is good. I loved it, as well as the sequels, Beautiful Darkness, Beautiful Chaos, and Beautiful Redemption. Already casted are Alice Englert as Lena and Emmy Rossum as Lena's evil cousin Ridley, andKyle Gallnerfrom A Nightmare On Elm Street and The Haunting In Connecticut is playing Larkin.
Book #4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Oooh, what a thriller. This book will keep you at the edge of your seat for two reasons: what does everything mean and what will happen next. The book starts out strangely. Thomas wakes up in an elevator lift, and when he reaches the top, there are many other teen boys there to greet him. The place is called the Glade, and it is a large area surrounded by a maze. The door to the maze close every night to keep out monsters, and the maze rearranges itself every day. Also, every thirty days, a new boy is sent to the Glade. But, the day after Thomas comes, a girl suddenly arrives and is too sick to talk, but once she does, she brings a message that makes all the guys fear for the end. This book in currently in development, and should be out later in 2012. Can't wait for that one.
Book #3. Matched by Ally Condie
It seems that making books not in this present world is common, but the one that takes the cake for controlling is this book. In Society, all your choices are made for you; what you read, what to believe and who to be with. At her Matching Ceremony, Cassia is paire with Xander, who she should be glad to get, but on the screen, someone else appears before it fades to black. Ky Markham is what Cassia really wants, and she believes that he wasn't just a computer glitch, as she has been told. As she falls for Ky, she will have to choose between love and a perfect match. Wondefully written and told; I'm sure the movie will be just as good, almost.
Book #2. Daughter Of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Ok, so this will sound strange, so follow with me here. In Prague, there is an art student with a strange past, involved in a deadly non-human war. Karou seems strange to people. She draws pictures of monsters that could be real, she dissapears on 'errands' that no one else knows about, she speaks many languages, including some non-human ones, and her bright blue hair grows naturally out of her head. She doesn't know who she is, but she knows a few people who could have answers. The beautiful, fire-eyed stranger, Akiva ofers to tell her when they fall for eachother. But, Karou wonders if it is worth knowing such a horrible past with such a star-crossed love. One of these that I look forward to the most because of the peculiar
Book #1. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My most highly anticipated book--->movie in 2012. This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate
than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and
devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is
writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his
life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted
territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new
friends. This is such a touching story that will be an amazingly classic movie. Already casted are Logan Lerman(Percy Jackson; The Three Musketeers) as Charlie, with Harry Potter's Emma Watson, The Vampire Diaries's Nina Dobrev and Mae Witman co-starring.
Honerable Mentions: Stephanie Meyers' The Host, which has better book reveiws than her Twilight series, if you ask me. Abigail Breslin, Hailee Steinfeld and Hugo's Asa Butterfield in the sci-fi classic, Ender's Game. Star Trek and Terminator:Salvation's Anton Yelchin will be cast in the horror/thriller Odd Thomas, coming out later this year. And, not so YA fiction, but the amazing Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina will be coming out this year. I'm sure all the Fantasy fans will be awaiting the final arrival of the Lord Of The Rings prequel, The Hobbit. There's the thriller City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare, and another strange thriller, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. And last, but not least, is the incredibly awesomely named Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, set to come out in early 2013.
Again, I will follow the same pattern as Tuesday and blog about one amazing series. A series full of murders, mysteries, betrayals and, of course, a couple of psychopathic killers. Who wouldn't want to read about this? Well, if you do, stay on because this post will make your summer that much better. This amazing, thrill-seeking series? Todd Strassers's Thrillogy.
Book #1. Wish You Were Dead
The day after anonymous blogger Str-S-d wishes the popular girl would die, Lucy
vanishes. The students of Soundview High are scared and worried. Especially
frightened and wracked with guilt is Madison Archer, Lucy’s friend and the last
person to see her the night she disappeared. Days pass, and there is still no sign of Lucy, and before long, two more of Madison's popular friends go missing. Madison starts to recieve notes that might mean she's next, but she doesn't know who to trust. She wants to trust the new student, Tyler, but he has his own msyterious background and Madison is starting to think he may be involved.
Time is ticking, and Madison needs to find Lucy and the others before they die, but it may be too late for them, and for her.
Book #2. Blood On My Hands
When Callie Carson discovers ice queen Katherine Remington-Day sprawled on the
ground one night, she bends down to help her. It’s only natural—the party’s been
a bit wild, after all. And it’s only natural for her to pull out the fake knife
she discovers, irritated at one more example of Katherine’s callous disregard of
other people’s feelings. But the knife is real and bloody. And
then Callie hears the click of one cell phone, followed by another, and another.
In minutes, images of her holding the bloody knife have gone viral.
Now
Callie is wanted for murder, and she is on the run from the police. All the evidence points
to her guilt, but she’s determined to prove her innocence, which means the real killer is still out there, and she has to find out who it is.
Book #3. Kill You Last
Shelby has always been comfortable in Soundview. Her father is a photographer of teen models, which pays very nicely. But, girls start to go missing in local towns. But, these girls have one thing in common that puts Shelby's life on hault. The girls are all clients of her fathers. Shelby's life turns upside down as she starts getting threatening e-mails, not to mention the press and media that is turning the town against her and her family. But, Shelby is persistent on clearing her dad's name beause she is certain that he's innocent.
But, as the secrets of her father start to come out, Shelby starts to doubt everything she knows, including the fact that the killer is so close to her, and may have it in for her.
RED'S ALL STAR REVIEW: 4 to 4 1/2 out of 5 for all of the books. These really are thrillers and they will have you guessing all the way until the minute you find out who the killer really is. I think you'll be surprised.
Click here! for all three books on Amazon.
So, the two books I have picked today are actually in one series. but both of the books are so good that they both need to be included in my post. The story is of a missing person and the search to find them when there is nothing to go on except instinct. The story is that of high school student, Christopher Creed, in Carol Plum-Ucci's critically aclaimed series.
Book #1: The Body Of Christopher Creed
Christopher Creed was the biggest freak at the high school in Steepleton. He was constantly bullied and no one stood up for him because he was just so wierd. But, then Chris goes missing. But, not just missing, he just dissapears. Usually there is some kind of evidence left behind, a note or a bus ticket or something. But for Chris Creed, there is nothing to indicate that he's anywhere; he's just gone. The town is being ravaged by the oddness of the dissapearance, and its affected everyone inside Steepleton. Sixteen-year-old Torey Adams decides to investigate the dissapearance as much as he can, but it leads him to a world of lies, pain and the need to blame someone for what has happened.
Book #2: Following Christopher Creed
Four years later, the dissapearance has still not been solved. Chris Creed is still missing, but not for long. A body is found in Steepleton, which brings hope to people that the case will be closed. Torey Adams blogs about the finding, which catches the eyes of a college reporter, Mike Mavic,eager to make the big-times. So, he sells his laptop, jups a plane to Steepleton and tries to dive into the mystery surrounding Christopher Creed. But, the town is still on edge from what happened four years ago, even though thwey have tried to forget it, and they just want to put it behind them. But, Chris's little brother, Justin, just wants to find out what happened to his brother, even if it takes his life or his sanity.
RED'S ALL STAR REVIEW: For both books this is a no-brainer. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars easy! These books have so much suspense and thrills, you will not put these down until its over.
Click here! to get to the amazon page for these books, and others by Carol Plum-Ucci.
