Eclipse

(5.0/5.0)

New Moon

"Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me." (p.93)

There is not much that I can say about New Moon that hasn't already been said. This was my second time reading it (which I almost never do) and it had the same effect on me as the first. I read it last year and some I had forgotten. It's a story of love and of friendship. Stephenie Meyer did an amazing job delivering the emotion of this story. When Edward left, my body physically ached. Maybe it's because I've been there, I'm sure we've all been there. When he returned, I wasn't so quick to forget, to trust again. While he was gone, Jacob was her saving grace. Time passed, as it always does, and he was there to help her heal. Believe it or not, this story transcends time, but I believe that Ms. Meyer has told it in a unique and unforgettable way. (5.0/5.0)

Speak

This story is a required reading for Jonathan's 9th grade English class. When he started reading it, he said that it was good, so I read it, too. It is an excellent story and I can see why it is required in so many high school English classes. The narrative style held my captive attention. Melinda is a very sympathetic main character that may, hopefully, encourage teenagers to find compassion for an outcast, understanding that there may be more than meets the eye. It's been awhile since I read a book that was hard to put down, but Speak was just that book, young adult or not. (5.0/5.0)

Lock and Key

I chose this book because I really liked This Lullaby also by Sarah Dessen and I when I find a book that I like, I'll try others from the same author. I liked Lock and Key but I was a little disappointed. To be fair, however, it is a Young Adult book and I think that most "young adults" will enjoy it. I felt that the main character, Ruby, really overcame her conflicts too easily, as did the other characters in the story. Fiction beats reality, though, in this case. The story flowed well and definitely kept my interest. It was just more for the younger generation. (3.0/5.0)

This Lullaby

My friend and I were discussing this story and she made the comment that it was hard to picture Remy, the main character, as an 18 year old because of her experiences. I had the opposite thought, that I felt that it was an excellent portrayal of a coming of age young adult, because of her experiences. Because of her experiences with her mother and father, she’s very cynical about love and relationships and determined to keep control of her heart, not willing to take any risks. At one point in the story, I really felt the pain that she’s worked so hard to keep out. She went to the edge of risk and turned back. I have to say that I loved Remy and thought that Sarah Dessen did an excellent job with the dialogue. If you like the Young Adult genre, you’ll love this book. (4.0/5.0).

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I bought this book about 7 years ago for my stepson (he was 7 or 8 at the time) and it has stayed on my bookshelf, unread, since then. I have managed to not read or watch anything Harry Potter, since the beginning. Not because I'm against it for any reason, it's just that I have not been traditionally interested in fantasy or sci-fi. After many conversations with a friend of mine about the Harry Potter series, I decided to give it a try. So, I pulled out this book, dusted it off, and jumped in.

Since I'm sure that I am the only person alive who hasn't read the book, I will spare you the details. However, I will just say that I did enjoy it. It was obviously written for a younger audience than myself but I thought that it was suspenseful and entertaining. I will continue on with the series as I have now become curious how it will develop. (3.0/5)