The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters (Book Review)

"I'm staring at the insurance man and he's staring at me, two cold gray eyes behind old-fashioned tortoiseshell frames, and I'm having this awful and inspiring feeling, like holy moly this is real, and I don't know if I'm ready, I really don't."

Review: An asteroid is headed to Earth and no one can stop it. Oh, there are plans from just about every country and government, but it is impossible. You'd think with the end coming, slowly, but quickly, all at once, solving a murder would be the LAST thing on ANYONE'S mind? Think again, because Detective Hank Palace doesn't just stop doing his job because there are bigger destinies at play. There's been a string of deaths where his co-workers see suicides at an all time high, maybe because they're scared of the impending doom so they are projecting what they cannot do themselves on the dead they encounter? Regardless of the circumstances Detective Palace does not believe these deaths are suicide. He believes they are being murdered and their deaths are staged to appear like suicide.

I found, as I was reading this book that the dialog as well as the first person narrative reads best out loud. I'd start reading it silently in my head, but then I found myself starting to say the sentences out loud because it sounds almost like a comic strip. A detective comic strip. Filled with the innermost thoughts of a detective torn between the people he loves around him and the work he feels he must do.

In short, this whole, end of the world thing is something the United States government did anticipate. It is rumored, and believed, by many, that the government has put in place a plan to remove certain high ranking and intelligent people off planet Earth and relocate them to the moon, if ever a disaster should occur where that was the only solution. Sounds crazy? Well it does to Detective Hank Palace who just will not believe that it's possible. He believes, and I would be inclined to agree, that it sounds like some freakish Twilight Zone episode. Live on the moon? Seriously?

If you like classic Noir detective stories, but with a post apocalyptic feel to it, then you'll love this book. Winters is able to seamlessly mix mystery, impossibility, suspense, romance, and doubt into this first book of a trilogy. It started off slow by by the middle I just could not put it down. It's not cheesy at all like I thought it might be and I actually found myself understanding Detective Hank Palace. Just because the world is ending doesn't mean he should stop doing his job, or care less about it. So while he's not exactly the last policeman, he is the only one willing to solve the murders, even if it means uncovering a truth he refuses to believe.

By the end I found myself wondering, what would I do if I knew the exact date and time the world would end? Would I still live my life as I am now, or would I throw caution to the wind and behave recklessly? Am I Detective Hank Palace or his sister Nico? If I admit the truth to myself I'm probably Nico. Read the book and tell me who you relate to most?

Synopsis: Winner of the 2013 Edgar® Award Winner for Best Paperback Original!

What’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway?

Detective Hank Palace has faced this question ever since asteroid 2011GV1 hovered into view. There’s no chance left. No hope. Just six precious months until impact.

The Last Policeman presents a fascinating portrait of a pre-apocalyptic United States. The economy spirals downward while crops rot in the fields. Churches and synagogues are packed. People all over the world are walking off the job—but not Hank Palace. He’s investigating a death by hanging in a city that sees a dozen suicides every week—except this one feels suspicious, and Palace is the only cop who cares. 

The first in a trilogy, The Last Policeman offers a mystery set on the brink of an apocalypse. As Palace’s investigation plays out under the shadow of 2011GV1, we’re confronted by hard questions way beyond “whodunit.” What basis does civilization rest upon? What is life worth? What would any of us do, what would we really do, if our days were numbered?

The Last Policeman #1 (Trilogy)

by Ben H. Winters

318 pages

Quirk Books, 2013

Fiction

Finished in 5 days

Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon | BN

The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore (Book Review)

"They waited at the dock, the three Venetians, for the fool to arrive."

Review: This book is a sequel to the ever popular Fool. I love all Christopher Moore books and in person he is just as funny as the characters he writes so well.

If you've read Fool you know that it's a very naughty twist on an old classic written by the famous bard himself, William Shakespeare.

Moore is able to take the classic language of Shakespeare and construct it in such a way that maintains the authenticity of the time and characters while seamlessly adding his own sense of brilliant destruction and hilarity. I still don't understand how he does it besides acknowledging his genius and his madness. For only a mad genius could come up with the countless tales he has spun for us (and specifically for me) his fans.

I've managed to meet Christopher Moore twice (briefly) by attending the book signings that have taken place here in New York City and now I have all 14 of his books signed by him!

This book weaves together not one, not two, but THREE Shakespeare plays! I leave it up to you to decipher which ones. Far be it for me to spoil that discovery for you! But trust me you'll want to read this book (and his first, Fool), as soon as you can! Be warned of the many foul words used as well as the scenes of a sexual nature. They are all necessary to the story and in good fun!

And, as I will always do when reviewing a Christopher Moore book, I urge you to read Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, without delay! It is the book that introduced me to the insane mind and world of Moore's, of which I am forever grateful. Regardless of how you feel or what you believe about religion, keep an open mind and you won't be able to hold back the laughter to the point of tears! You'll thank me later... so now, be gone with ye, and read his many books! Aaarrr!

Synopsis: Venice, a long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from the Queen of Britain: the rascal-Fool Pocket.

This trio of cunning plotters—the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Montressor Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago—have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising an evening of sprits and debauchery with a rare Amontillado sherry and Brabantio's beautiful daughter, Portia.

But their invitation is, of course, bogus. The wine is drugged. The girl isn't even in the city limits. Desperate to rid themselves once and for all of the man who has consistently foiled their grand quest for power and wealth, they have lured him to his death. (How can such a small man, be such a huge obstacle?). But this Fool is no fool . . . and he's got more than a few tricks (and hand gestures) up his sleeve.

Greed, revenge, deception, lust, and a giant (but lovable) sea monster combine to create another hilarious and bawdy tale from modern comic genius, Christopher Moore.

Note: The book, too, is a veritable work of art. Rich creamy stock is enhanced by two-color printing, featuring part/chapter titles, running heads, and folios printed in red ink. The text block has blue-stained edges. The book opens to reveal two-page spread endpapers decorated with a sepia-toned antique map of Venice; an antique map of Italy graces the book’s front matter, printed in red. The jacket sports a matte finish with embossed author and title type; gold foil embellishes the title and illustration detail.

The Serpent of Venice

by Christopher Moore

316 pages

William Morrow, 2014

humor / fiction

Read in 4 days

Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon | BN

To learn more about Christopher Moore, visit his site here.

Read of the Town: The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

I was going to start this by saying that Spring into Summer is the best time for book releases but when you think about it, ANY time of year is the best for book releases. In the world of books there is something for everyone and I like to use my "Read of the Town" time to share books that either I think are worth reading or have become so very popular that it's gone beyond being mentioned solely among the book bloggers world. Of course, this does not mean that I personally will purchase whatever book I showcase. Some of them I will or already own. This book is one I will definitely be buying!

The cover I love because it's eye catching in a way that isn't normally expected when it comes to books; the Font color and type! Normally a book that has some radical imagery or cool art is what will catch my eyes and draw me to it. In this books case it was the title and the letter Font used. I wonder if as much time as I assume was actually used to get the Font perfect for this book? Don't ruin it for me if the answer is 'no.'

Aside from the cover Font the other part (and probably the most important) is how it's been described along the same lines as the Harold Frye book by Rachel Joyce which I L-O-V-E-D! I actually thought of that book the second I saw the cover. So reading it straight away will happen before the Summer ends that's for sure.

My list of TBR is growing and growing, and taking time off from reading to write my own novels will slow me down, but I will not be deterred. My hope is what I do now will make it possible for me to have even MORE time to devote to reading and writing. My two greatest passions.

Synopsis:

In the spirit of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Gabrielle Zevin's enchanting novel is a love letter to the world of books-and booksellers-that changes our lives by giving us the stories that open our hearts and enlighten our minds.

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto "No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World." A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

A. J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island-from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who's always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.'s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It's a small package, but large in weight. It's that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn't take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.'s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn't see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (Book Review)

"I may how found a solution to the Wife Problem."

Review: Wow, did I love this book and did I need this book as well! That's probably why I read it in just 5 days time! This year has been pretty slow for me in the reading department so I figured I would try something a little out of what I've been reading lately. I think I made an excellent choice. I felt about this book the way I felt after I read The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. I just felt good. Sometimes we need that feel good book the way we need that feel good movie.

I just wanted to stay in the frame of mind that this book gave me for ever and ever. It's how I feel at the end of Sleepless in Seattle or Notting Hill. Two movies that were mentioned in this book by the way. It's essentially how I feel sometimes when it comes to "dating" and why go through the hassle of it. 

There's this guy named Don, who I swear is me if I were a nerdy guy. He analyzes everything and his social skills are seriously lacking. Except, again this is like me to a T, he counteracted that by being the class clown in school! That's totally what I did. Instead of allowing others to pick on me I made myself funny to others before they could do it to me. Anyway, this book, is the guide to my life, and probably to the life of others because he decides to devise a questionnaire in order to find the perfect life partner. Why didn't I think of that? Oh, I know, because it would never work! But Don thinks he's created a questionnaire that will quickly eliminate unsuitable women as well as those who may not be 100% truthful in their answers. 

He has all of two friends, a married couple, Gene and Claudia. The husband sleeps around on his wife but "it's okay" because they are in an open relationship. I don't have to tell you what happens there! Anyway, Gene, (as a joke I guess?) sends Rosie to Don, who thinks she is meeting with him as a possible candidate to be his wife. Of course, Don has tried out his questions on several other women and social meeting settings, all of which have failed. Except for Rosie who fails the worst out of all the applicants. But, there is just something about her that makes Don start breaking rules and creating reasons for needing to be around her and near her. Thus romance and happiness and love follows.

Unlike most romantic love stories though, this one isn't as clear cut and simple as you might expect, which is why I love it. It's not all that mushy yet it does have a feeling of romance and reality that I can appreciate. It's been optioned by Sony Pictures (I think) so I hope to catch it as a movie very soon.

Summary: THE ART OF LOVE IS NEVER A SCIENCE

MEET DON TILLMAN, a brilliant yet socially challenged professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife. And so, in the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs the Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, the late arrivers.

Rosie Jarman is all these things. She also is strangely beguiling, fiery, and intelligent. And while Don quickly disqualifies her as a candidate for the Wife Project, as a DNA expert Don is particularly suited to help Rosie on her own quest: identifying her biological father. When an unlikely relationship develops as they collaborate on the Father Project, Don is forced to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that, despite your best scientific efforts, you don’t find love, it finds you.

Arrestingly endearing and entirely unconventional, Graeme Simsion’s distinctive debut will resonate with anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of great challenges. The Rosie Project is a rare find: a book that restores our optimism in the power of human connection.

The Rosie Project

by Graeme Simsion

292 pages

Simon & Schuster, 2013

Fiction

Read in 5 days

Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon | BN

To learn more about Graeme Simsion visit his website here.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (Book Review)

"A fug of tobacco smoke and damp clammy air hit her as she entered the cafe."

Review: I'm actually writing this review MUCH LATER than anticipated (after having read 3 other books in between) so you must excuse me if it seems a bit all over the place and disjointed. I promise to get back into the regular habit of reviewing a book immediately after I've read it. Most book bloggers would probably have just decided NOT to review a book if it was read several weeks ago? I'm not that kind of blogger. I feel if it was worth my reading cover to cover, it's worth my taking the time to review it. SO, with that said...

I had decided last year to read this book after seeing it several times in the book store and being intrigued by it's title and cover. I mean, look at that cover! Tell me you wouldn't AT LEAST pick it up in a bookstore and read the back just to see what it's all about?? Well, last year, when it was still in hardcover, that is exactly what I did. I became even more intrigued. However, my wrist being as delicate as it is, the weight of a book has become one of my main determinants when it comes to what I read. I'm not against reading a book in the comfort of my own home, but I find reading while I'm on the train to and from work (or wherever) is best for me. And I've sprained my wrist carrying a book one too many times for my liking. Hence why I opted to wait till this year when I knew the paperback edition would be released, making the weight a bit more manageable. If this is a factor for you as it is for me, I hope this paragraph was helpful!

Now, onto the story and structure. It's a bit different that anything I've ever read. I'm not unfamiliar with the idea of jumping around in history, even if it happens to be decades at a time. That was fine and expected seeing as this is about a woman who strangely dies and is "reborn" in a sense over and over again in a multitude of ways in her lifetime. It's a bit more complicated than that, but you get the idea.

Ursula is her name and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the scenes that covered her youth with her siblings and her mother. The idea that a child would understand what's happening to her so much so that she does all she can to prevent her own death or the death of those around her, if she can, is commendable. I felt for her and found the way she convinced herself what she was doing was right, to be something we all battle within ourselves all the time. The human condition...

The second half is Ursula all grown up and I honestly didn't care for it. There were too many decade changes happening and much too quickly. I had to keep back tracking to the first half of the book just to remind myself the year Ursula was born and what happened them versus what's happening to her now and so on. It can make you feel like you're reading a 1,000 page book as opposed to a just over 500 page book! I feel as though, in an effort to seem creative Kate Atkinson lost the humanity and dove head first into the bizarre and just plain impossible.

Don't get me wrong, in the first half she had me believing that this little girl really was dying and then living again, only to die again, over and over and over. It was as easy as one breathes for me to believe it because children, or childlike minds, don't allow outside doubts or negative outside forces to interfere in the impossible. As she got older and hardened by her very existence, so did I, with her. I guess that would make Kate Atkinson a great writer? Probably. But while I was expecting something a little less macabre by the end I'm afraid that's all that was left. Then it was over almost as quickly as it began.

Summary: What if you could live again and again, until you got it right?

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born, the third child of a wealthy English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in any number of ways. Ursula's world is in turmoil, facing the unspeakable evil of the two greatest wars in history. What power and force can one woman exert over the fate of civilization -- if only she has the chance?

Wildly inventive, darkly comic, startlingly poignant -- this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best.

Life After Life

by Kate Atkinson

529 pages

Back Bay Books, 2014

Paperback 1st Edition

fiction

Finished in 10 days

Rating: ★★

Amazon | BN

To learn more about Kate Atkinson visit her site here.

Forever Odd by Dean Koontz (Book Review)

Forever Odd

An Odd Thomas Novel #2

by Dean Koontz

364 pages

Bantam Books, 2005

fiction/suspense/thriller/mystery

Read in 5 days

My Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon.com | BN.com

"Waking I heard a warm wind strumming the loose screen at the open window, and I thought Stormy, but it was not."

Review: I know I'm gay and all, but can I still harbor a secret crush on Odd Thomas? I think he wouldn't mind since he's hopelessly devoted to Stormy, his fiancé. There's more to her story but I won't ruin it for you. I just hope you've read Odd Thomas before daring to read this book. Of course you don't have to. The mark of an excellent author seeking to carry a character through many books, is that he can move the new story forward, all the while reminding you of little nuances from the previous book(s). Dean Koontz is a master of that. He's also a master of suspense and throwing curves you don't realize until you've read the words and your face starts to scrunch up in disgust at what you JUST read! Yeah, that's happened to me once or twice while reading this book for sure.

The difference here is the mystery starts almost immediately. No need in laying the ground work here on who Odd is or what his ability is or any of that back story. By the end of the first chapter you are well aware of the danger and that Odd will most assuredly be headed in its very direction. Aside from his ability to see the dead who are lingering in this world, not able to move on, he is also able to assist some of them to make that move to the other side. Elvis Presley is his most talked about ghost that visits him often. In the case of this book though, Odd has to rescue a very dear friend of his who he considers like a brother. He has this brittle bone disease that reminds me of the movie Unbreakable. I think the character in this book and the one Samuel L. Jackson plays in that M. Knight movie have the same, or similar, bone disease. Anyway, some psycho woman preys on Danny (Odd's friend) and his vulnerability when he seeks her out through a "phone sex" hotline. Long story short, this insane woman thinks Odd is some magical, mystical, wizard, communicator and conjurer of the dead. Of course he is NONE of those things. But in her warped mind he's supposed to help her see, communicate, and manipulate ghosts.

Like I said, it's a great read. Quick read too. I almost want to jump right into the third book, Brother Odd, if I didn't have SO many other books on my TBR list that must not be left waiting any longer. I will say though, after finishing this book I now know why the third book is called Brother Odd. But I'll let you read this one and figure that out on your own.

Summary: I see dead people. But then, by God, I do something about it. Odd Thomas never asked for his special ability. He’s just an ordinary guy trying to live a quiet life in the small desert town of Pico Mundo. Yet he feels an obligation to do right by his otherworldly confidants, and that’s why he’s won hearts on both sides of the divide between life and death. But when a childhood friend disappears, Odd discovers something worse than a dead body and embarks on a heart-stopping battle of will and wits with an enemy of exceptional cunning. In the hours to come there can be no innocent bystanders, and every sacrifice can tip the balance between despair and hope.

You’re invited on an unforgettable journey through a world of terror and transcendence to wonders beyond imagining. And you can have no better guide than Odd Thomas.

To learn more about Dean Koontz, visit his site here.

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (Book Review)

Odd Thomas

by Dean Koontz

446 pages

Bantam Books, 2012

fiction/suspense/thriller/mystery

Read in 5 days

My Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon.com | BN.com

"My name is Odd Thomas, though in this age when fame is the altar at which most people worship, I am not sure why you should care who I am or that I exist."

Review: I don't think I've ever read a book that made me need a soundtrack playing in the background in order to feel more at ease with the story. This book definitely requires a soundtrack and with that said I should start with who that soundtrack needs to be!

That's right, none other than the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley. When you start reading the book you will see what I mean. Anyway, I quickly found myself listening to all his music, even his moody blues and his gospel music as well. I listen to him regardless of the book because he is one of my all time favorite singers and actors (I've seen all his movies) but listening to him while reading about Odd Thomas just seemed right.

But listen to me, I haven't even said anything about the actual story yet! It was gripping and page turning and heart pounding all at once. There was a great pace too. It wasn't like Dean wanted to pack all the suspense in a few pages and that was that. No, instead he gave us about 4 or 5 different climactic points throughout the story. The gist of it all is obviously about a young man by the name of Odd Thomas. This is one instance where you should totally let the name fool you because Odd Thomas is definitely odd to say the least. What is his oddity? He can see dead people. And not in the Sixth Sense kind of Hollywood antics either. This is definitely no M. Knight kind of movie or book whatsoever. 

Odd is a normal kid with a seemingly normal life. He has an amazing girlfriend, a job he enjoys, even if it is just a fry cook, and friends who understand him as well as accept him. His gift, while not usual for most people, is one that he does not take lightly. If he is called upon to assist someone who comes to him for help then he does it, so what if that person needing help happens to be dead. Odd Thomas is a do-gooder. Possibly because he had quite a terrible childhood that no child should ever have to face. 

In this first installment of a series of Odd Thomas novel we are introduced to those who know of his gift at different levels and we are also introduced to him and how exactly it works. Along the way of solving a mystery where many could possibly die we get to peel back some layers to the mysterious life of Odd Thomas and how he got to be where he is today.

I find it interesting that he is visited by Elvis Presley (quite frequently actually) who finds joy and pain in his own music whenever he hears it. Don't believe me? Well read the book and see if I'm lying. I dare you!

Summary: "The dead don't talk. I don't know why." But they do try to communicate, with a short order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Stormy Llewellyn." "Maybe he has a gift, maybe it's a curse, Odd has never been sure, but he tries to do his best by the silent souls who seek him out. Sometimes they want justice, and Odd's otherworldly tips to Pico Mundo's sympathetic police chief, Wyatt Porter, can solve a crime. Occasionally they can prevent one. But this time it's different." "A mysterious man comes to town with a voracious appetite, a filing cabinet stuffed with information on the world's worst killers, and a pack of hyena-like shades following him wherever he goes. Who the man is and what he wants, not even Odd's deceased informants can tell him. His most ominous clue is a page ripped from a day-by-day calendar for August 15." "Today is August 15." In less than twenty-four hours, Pico Mundo will awaken to a day of catastrophe. As evil coils under the searing desert sun, Odd travels through the shifting prisms of his world, struggling to avert a looming cataclysm with the aid of his soul mate and an unlikely community of allies that includes the King of Rock 'n' Roll. His account of two shattering days when past and present, fate and destiny converge is the stuff of our worst nightmares - and a testament by which to live sanely if not safely, with courage, humor, and a full heart that even in the darkness must persevere.

To learn more about Dean Koontz visit his site here.

The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket (Book Review)

The Miserable Mill
A Series of Unfortunate Events #4

by Lemony Snicket

194 pages

HarperCollins, 2000

young adult

Read in 2 days

My Rating: ★★★★★
Amazon.com / BN.com

Sometime during your life--in fact, very soon--you may find yourself reading a book, and you may notice that a book's first sentence can often tell you what sort of story your book contains...But this book begins with the sentence "The Baudelaire orphans looked out the grimy window of the train and gazed at the gloomy blackness of the Finite Forest, wondering if their lives would ever get any better."

Review: FINALLY the series is starting to pick up speed and interest me. For a second there I thought I was gonna have to stop reading it altogether since the last book but this one made up for it big time.

The orphans are put in a sticky situation yet again only this time they don't discover Count Olaf's dastardly plot to gain their fortune until the very end of the book. I think that helped the story move along faster that way. Of the four I've read so far, this book had some of the better characters outside of the siblings. "The Boss" for instance, who no one knows how to pronounce his name, and his partner, who doesn't exactly seem very much like a partner but like more of a servant, portray stupidity and compassion together. Then there is Phil, the VERY optimistic mill worker who manages to see the bright side of things even after his leg is smashed.

As usual this book does have a very tragic death that befalls a guilty party but does not make it any less final. I must say for a book that gradually grows from being for a child to young adult, even someone my age and my moms age (who is also reading the series) Mr. Snicket is quite ingenious. I look forward to The Austere Academy next.

Summary: I hope, for your sake, that you have not chosen to read this book because you are in the mood for a pleasant experience. If this is the case, I advise you to put this book down instantaneously, because of all the books describing the unhappy lives of the Baudelaire orphans, The Miserable Mill might be the unhappiest yet. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumber mill, and they find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log. The pages of this book, I'm sorry to inform you, contain such unpleasantries as a giant pincher machine, a bad casserole, a man with a cloud of smoke where his head should be, a hypnotist, a terrible accident resulting in injury, and coupons. I have promised to write down the entire history of these three poor children, but you haven't, so if you prefer stories that are more heartwarming, please feel free to make another selection.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Accidents, evil plots, and general misfortune abound when, in their continuing search for a home, the Beaudelaire orphans are sent to live and work in a sinister lumber mill.

To learn more about Lemony Snicket visit his site here.

The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket (Book Review)

The Wide Window

A Series of Unfortunate Events #3

by Lemony Snicket

214 pages

Harper Collins, 2000

fiction/steampunk/mystery

Read in 1 day

My Rating: ★★

Amazon.com / BN.com

"If you didn't know much about the Baudelaire orphans, and you saw them sitting on their suitcases at Damocles Dock, you might think that they were bound for an exciting adventure."

Review: Another book about the Baudelaire orphans and I have to say I'm disliking the story telling as I go along. I hope they get better soon because this one is the worst I've read thus far. It actually felt a bit rushed to me. And of all the relations the movie version went over, this family member is the one I remembered most, so I was surprised at how quickly the book went over it. By now I'm onto the M.O. of the books where the children are passed on from relative to relative because Count Olaf manages to show up in their lives in a bad disguise and kills whomever they are left with in order to regain control over them and their fortune in some dastardly way. I have no issue with the premise at all. For children I think it's an easy concept to understand and learn many lessons from. But it can get "old" so I try not to read them too close together.

This story goes over a distant "aunt" who they live with. The only problem is ever since she lost her husband in a freak water accident (leeches is all I'll say about that), she's become afraid of EVERYTHING. And I mean that as an understatement. She won't even answer or use her phone for fear of being electrocuted. She eats everything cold because she won't use her stove or oven. Even rugs on the floor scare her. What if someone were to trip on it, fall, and break their neck? The crazier thing is her house is literally on the edge of a cliff being held up by rickety pieces of wood barely nailed together. Yeah, you can imagine the unfortunate events that befall them in this one.

I guess I was disappointed in the lack of thought that went through Count Olaf's plan on how to get the children. Also in how quickly he was discovered by the adults involved. The adventure was a bit too short for me. It did leave me wanting more so I guess it wasn't half-bad. I will be reading the 4th book soon.

Synopsis: Fortunately for young readers, Lemony Snicket has dedicated his life to informing readers of all the misfortunes that plagued the three Baudelaire orphans -- the unluckiest children to ever live. In The Wide Window, the third book in the series, the Baudelaire children are sent to stay with a distant aunt who lives on a cliff's edge overhanging the aptly named Lake Lachrymose, a foreboding body of water serviced by the Fickle Ferry and filled with sharp-toothed leeches who have deadly appetites.

Of course, the tale wouldn't be complete without the presence of the evilly scheming Count Olaf and one or more of his twisted sidekicks trying to get their hands on the children, or more accurately, on the children's fortune. Once again Olaf is in disguise, though the children recognize him immediately thanks to his unibrow and the bright, evil shine in his eyes. The tell-tale eye tattoo on his ankle seems to be missing, however, since Olaf's disguise this time is as a peg-legged sea captain.

The childrens' newest guardian, Aunt Josephine, is a master of phobias and an expert on grammar. She's frightened of tons of things -- some of them reasonable, such as the deadly leeches in Lachrymose Lake who took the life of her husband, and some of them not so reasonable, such as her fear of using the telephone. One thing she isn't afraid of, however, is correcting improper grammar. And as the Baudelaire children get several impromptu lessons on proper usage, so do readers. In fact, it's Josephine's obsession with language that helps the children uncover Count Olaf's latest scheme.

To learn more about Lemony Snicket, please visit his site.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (Book Review)

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Diaz

352 pages
Riverhead, 2007
fiction
unfinished
Another Review...

My Rating: n/a

Amazon.com / BN.com

"Our hero was not one of those Dominican cats everybody's always going on about--he wasn't no home-run hitter or a fly bachatero, not a playboy with a million hots on his jock."

Review: This is not the first book I have been unable to finish and it certainly won't be my last. It is however, my first review of a book I have been unable to finish. Just to give you some perspective, the last book I was unable to finish was 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James and before that was Me by Ricky Martin. Otherwise, it's rare for me to start a book and NOT finish it. This means it takes A LOT for me to put down a book and be resigned to leave it unfinished.

This book, as a male friend described to me, is like a modern-day Catcher in the Rye. I am inclined to agree with him. This is a boys book. It's not to say a female couldn't or shouldn't read it, I'm just saying that some books tend to be more girly than others, therefore men won't be drawn to it. The same can be said for this book. Although I've more women reading it than men. If I can be more specific, I've seen more Hispanic women reading it.

My review of the book will only come from the first 150 pages since that is all I read before giving up entirely. One of the factors that caused me to stop was how long it was taking me to read it. If I'm headed into the second week and I'm not even at the half-way point then something is not right. The story of a man coming into his own through various life experiences is a good one. I was a little confused with the character change from Oscar's point of view to his sisters. I'm sure there's a valid reason for this and there probably is a going back and forth between different characters point of view, I just found it distracting.

The dialogue is a mixture of English and Spanish, something else that turned me off to the book. I've never read a "Spanglish" book before and I don't think I ever will again. It helped that I know Spanish quite fluently but to the average person who might not know Spanish but wants to read this book because it's a bestseller and everyone else is or already has read it, I suggest having a handy English/Spanish dictionary with you. Some of the dialogue, if you don't know Spanish, could be easy to decipher based on the surrounding sentences, but I'm usually not looking for a book that has me over analyzing the words instead of the meanings behind them.

Then there's the footnotes. And I'm not talking one or two sentence footnotes, I'm talking paragraphs so long the footnotes go on to the next page and even then might take up more than half of it. I understand there is some important facts that run parallel to the timeline of the book, but it was too much and confusing to have to go forward one page to finish the massive footnote then turn back a page to find where the indication of that footnote was, so you can pick up where you left off.

Lastly, I must mention the lack of quotation marks around the dialogue. I'm guessing there was a specific reason for this that someone who has heard Junot Diaz speak would have the answer to. I would be surprised if during some Q&A he wasn't asked about this very thing. Now, maybe I'm not as smart or well read as I think I am, I have read many classics and bestsellers in my day, but this one was just not to my liking. I'd say it's a hit or miss with this author but in reading other peoples reviews they tend to lean the same way I am, so I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Maybe after I've read a few other books that are more to my liking I will give "Drown" a try which was his first published book, a collection of short stories. In the meantime, I will add this book to my short list of those I have left unfinished.

Synopsis: This is the long-awaited first novel from one of the most original and memorable writers working today.

Things have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. From his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his old-world mother and rebellious sister, Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love. But he may never get what he wants, thanks to the fukú – the curse that has haunted the Oscar's family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and, above all, ill-starred love. Oscar, still waiting for his first kiss, is just its most recent victim.

Diaz immerses us in the tumultuous life of Oscar and the history of the family at large, rendering with genuine warmth and dazzling energy, humor, and insight the Dominican–American experience, and, ultimately, the endless human capacity to persevere in the face of heartbreak and loss. A true literary triumph, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao confirms Junot Diaz as one of the best and most exciting voices of our time.

To learn more about Junot Diaz, please visit his site.

Top Ten Series I'd Like To Start But Haven't Yet

 

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

I know this is a top ten on "series I'd like to start" but I'm also going to mix in a few "series I'd like to finish!" because there are a few that the author has completed but I haven't had the time or opportunity to get to them. You will see what I mean by my list below. I try not to get too invested in series especially in the YA variety because there are SO many and I like to read different genres whenever possible. So without further ado...

Now bear with me. The first set will be series where I've read at least the first book in the series, and although all the books in the series have been released (and probably in paperback editions already) I have not had the time to finish where I started:

And now for the series I want to read also but because my TBR list for 2013 is already so bogged down with great books I hate to pass up I might not get around to reading them this year:



I realize the majority of these books are Young Adult in genre. Most of the "adult" books I read that are a series, like Sue Grafton's Alphabet Series or Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels, I wouldn't add on here because they are a series that are essentially "on-going"... Except for Sue Grafton which will probably end when her series reaches the letter Z...

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller (Book Review)

The Bridges of Madison County
by Robert James Waller

174 pages
Warner Books Inc., 1992
fiction
Finished in 1 day
Another Review...

My Rating: ★★★★ 

Amazon.com / BN.com

"On the morning of August 8, 1965, Robert Kincaid locked the door to his small two-room apartment on the third floor of a rambling house in Bellingham, Washington."

My Review: For a book that is only 174 pages in length it sure did pack a lot of emotion! I've read novels that are over 400 pages simply because that is how much space the author needed to convey what Robert James Waller was able to do in simple sentences. I was instantly placed into the shoes and life of this photographer and farm wife. And while this truly is a love story to end all love stories I did not find it corny or as uncomfortable as I've been apt to find those I've read. I place it in a category such that Gone With the Wind has only been able to fill. My only issue with the story is the fact that the farm wife is a wife! I think it's overlooked because she is unhappy and her life doesn't truly begin until she meets this photographer who is just passing through. Does this promote adultery? Perhaps. But I suppose back then that wasn't the point? The point was the passion that the reader was looking for, that Francesca and Robert were desperately looking for, and all parties involved found it in abundance, on a little farm, near a cleverly hidden bridge, in Madison County.

I have not seen the movie nor do I think I ever will. Not because I don't love Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, because I do appreciate their great body of work. But because I feel some works of literature should remain as such and nothing more.

The only thing I would have appreciated and feel would have helped move this story along faster was if there were more photographs. Otherwise, if you are looking for a feel good book that will make you laugh, cry, and feel such passion that you haven't felt in a long time, this is the book for you. I guarantee all you'll need is a couple of hours in your busy day to finish it. Enjoy!

Summary: The legendary love story, the bestselling hardcover novel of all time, and the major motion picture starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. This is the story of Robert Kincaid, the photographer and free spirit searching for the covered bridges of Madison County, and Francesca Johnson, the farm wife waiting for fulfillment of a girlhood dream. It shows readers what it is to love and be loved so intensely that life is never the same again.

A timeless, universally appealing story of love and loss. In just four days, two people find one another and commit themselves to each other for a lifetime even though they remain apart.

To learn more about Robert James Waller please visit his wiki page.

My Overstuffed Bookshelf Challenge

Divergent by Veronica Roth (Book Review)

Divergent
By Veronica Roth

487 pages
HarperCollins, 5/3/2011
Young Adult
Finished in 7 days
Another Review...

My Rating: ★★★ 

Amazon.com / BN.com

"There is one mirror in my house."

My Review: Choosing to read this book right after Under the Never Sky I can't help but to compare them. Unfortunately, I liked Veronica Rossi's book better. Possibly because the romance aspect wasn't until the very end of the book as opposed to this book which had it present from the middle to the end. 

However, the concept of 5 factions that each adhere to one purpose/goal and nothing more reminds me of a book I started (and intend to finish this month) called Agenda 21. It's the idea that a small government controls the masses. In the case of this book it is Abnegation that decides the laws of the other factions. It makes sense that they are chosen to do so above the others because they are selfless to a fault. Because of their selfless nature they are most able to know what's best for everyone. The story of this unknown world/time is told through the eyes of Beatrice (Tris). She is at the age where deciding which faction she wants to live in for the rest of her life. You only get one choice and no one is allowed to help you once the decision process is made. There is one helpful tool used, and it's a form of hallucination that puts it's subject in a particular set of situations. The choices each individual makes serves as a guideline to determine which faction they are best suited for. Beatrice originates from Abnegation. It is expected that the children should remain where they are born and bred but that doesn't occasionally that doesn't happen. If a child should choose to separate from the life they were brought up in with their family it doesn't appear favorably for the parents or that faction.

Needless to say Beatrice's results are "inconclusive" meaning she is an unspeakable and dangerous word; divergent. Hence the title of the book. Someone who is divergent is someone who is capable of being more than one faction, having more than purpose in life. This is unacceptable to the leaders of each faction because this means that person cannot be controlled. And having control over the actions and behaviors of others is power. She mustn't tell ANYONE that she is divergent or she will be killed. 

In the meantime, she chooses to leave Abnegation and join Dauntless. They are the brave and courageous faction who's sole purpose is to protect and defend the land they inhabit from unknown outsiders. I like to think of them as the military arm of the 5 factions.

Here is a quick list of the factions:

Abnegation - selfless
Dauntless - brave
Erudite - intelligent
Amity - peaceful
Candor - honest

If I had to choose which one I'd be best suited for I think I would choose Erudite. I love to read and I find wealth and power in knowledge. Although, I like Four (Tobias') answer to Tris that he tries to be a little of all 5 in his daily life when explaining why he has all 5 faction symbols tattooed on his back.

This book leads up to the great fight that will surely be going on in the second book. It turns out the Erudite faction is trying to start up a revolution, using Dauntless as their weapon, to remove Abnegation as the sole rulers and allow everyone to have a say. As most corrupt governments go, this reminds me of another story, Animal Farm, where when the animals take over all it does is put a new breed in charge. I predict something similar happening here. The Erudite start out with a good plan of giving equal voice to all factions but they will just as quickly decide to simply be the new rulers of the others. 

Great idea and great story. I'd just prefer this all to happen without the need for a love story. But this is a young adult book so I should expect that by now.

Oh, and one last thing. I did find it a bit hard to handle all the significant deaths that happen in like the last 50 pages of the story. I'm sure they serve a later purpose but still, it was a bit too much for me.

Summary: In a future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

To learn more about Veronica Roth please visit her official site.

My Overstuffed Bookshelf Challenge, 52 Books in 52 Weeks & A to Z Challenge

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut (Book Review)

Breakfast of Champions
by Kurt Vonnegut

303 Pages
Delacorte Press, 1973
satire
Finished in 4 days
Another Review...

My Rating: ★★

Amazon.com / BN.com

 

"This is a tale of a meeting of two lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men on a planet which was dying fast."

My Review: This book reminds me of one of those paintings you see hanging in a museum. You wonder to yourself, or sometimes out loud, how the HELL that painting was chosen to be put on display for hundreds of thousands of people to see?! You know the one I'm talking about. It might just be a black canvas with a colorful dot in the middle. Art they call it. I call it crap. Not to say that this book is crap or that the painting I described is crap either. Beauty and art is truly in the eye of the beholder. I, unfortunately, found no beauty in this novel written by Kurt Vonnegut. There was plenty of art found in random places throughout the book, however. If you want to call his very simple sketches art (as many have been known to do).

But all kidding aside, the story was, for me, complete and utter nonsense. The more I tried to find the beauty of the story the more I realized it was probably his intent to confound me, the reader, all along. That has GOT to be what true genius is because the man's a legend in his own right. I mean, I did buy the book, read, and then finish the book. Lord only knows how many other millions like me did the same?

I'm sure you've heard of Kurt Vonnegut before and of his most popular, and probably most widely read novel, "Slaughter House Five"? In which case you'd be asking yourself why did I pick this book instead of that one? Well, I like to live outside the box from time to time. If at all possible I prefer to take an author who is considered a classic novelist and look at his or her entire body of work and then pick one that sounds mildly interesting while not picking the one read by millions. On a quick side note, I will be reading Slaughter House Five this year.

In many ways this story reminded me a lot of Samuel Beckett's play "Waiting for Godot." I sure hope you've read this play at some point in your life? Or seen it performed on stage? If not, no bother, just click the link highlighted above and it will take you to the wiki page where you can get a brief understanding of it. At least enough for you to get why I make the comparison. In both instances the story is controlled by a narrator whom you could think of as "God" or portraying a God-like figure. In Kurt's novel, he is simply the writer who can make things happen or not happen at his own whim. In Beckett's play it's...well, no, I won't delve into Beckett's play. Instead I suggest you read it if you have not. I actually enjoyed having to read it in college so many years ago (oh God was my Freshman year truly 8 years ago already!).

In any event, Kurt tells a story of two men whom you wouldn't think could ever meet, let alone influence each others lives so dramatically. But they do meet and their lives are forever changed because of it. How do they meet? Well because the narrator/writer Kurt himself makes it happen. I don't think what I'm about to say is a spoiler but in case it is you should stop reading here. Kurt places himself in the story to watch his own creation of these two men unfold. Their names are irrelevant. You can say, and I think Kurt would agree with me, they could be any man really. And if not for the obvious moral implications and hidden political, economical  and financial messages embedded throughout this book, it would be far too ordinary a book to have even been published.

I wonder if Kurt Vonnegut really feels about the world, being a place filled with machines whose only purpose in life is to destroy the planet, the way he wrote it in this book. Was he really as racially aware and inappropriate as he was many times in the book when it came to Black people or was he trying to paint a much bigger picture, send a much bigger message, that unfortunately could easily get lost in translation? I'd like to think the latter is true. He painted quite a masterpiece and I'm sure if I had the time I would spend some of it further analyzing his characters the way I did to those in Waiting for Godot.

Synopsis: In Breakfast of Champions, one of Kurt Vonnegut’s  most beloved characters, the aging writer Kilgore Trout, finds to his horror that a Midwest car dealer is taking his fiction as truth. What follows is murderously funny satire, as Vonnegut looks at war, sex, racism, success, politics, and pollution in America and reminds us how to see the truth.

To learn more about Kurt Vonnegut please visit his official website.

My Overstuffed Bookshelf Challenge & 52 Books in 52 Weeks

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (Book Review)

The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1)

by Michael Scott

369 pages

Random House, May 2007

fantasy/thriller/fiction/mythology

Read in 7 days  

Another Review...

My Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Amazon.com | BN.com

"Ok -- answer me this: why would anyone want to wear an overcoat in San Francisco in the middle of summer?"

My Review: I made the mistake of reading opinions of others before reading this and in doing so my judgement of this book was a bit clouded as I read. I would hope you decided to read this book without other peoples opinions involved. Removing what others had to say, I found this book flowed well and had great imagery in its descriptions. There were several times throughout the book where the author would remind you of what you just read which can seem a bit repetitive but I welcomed the reminders since there is a lot of information to retain in the book.

The characters are real, with the exception of the two main characters, the twins, Sophie and Josh. Nicholas Flamel is real and so are those he encounters and battles in their pursuit to save the world. The book takes place in modern times and the author wastes no time in reminding the reader of that, by having the main characters use google and wikipedia several times as well as making reference to cell phones and iPods. It’s a balance of the modern with the ancient which I enjoy.

If you enjoy learning some truth about legends you will find this book and I’m sure (as I continue to read them) the series, quite fulfilling.

Summary: He holds the secret that can end the world.

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.

The records show that he died in 1418.

But his tomb is empty.

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

Sometimes legends are true.

And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.

If you want to learn more about Michael Scott please visit his site.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Book Review)

Mockingjay (Hunger Game Series #3)

by Suzanne Collins

290 pages

Scholastic, August 2010

science fiction/young adult

Read in 6 days

Another Review...

My Rating: ★★★★

Amazon.com | BN.com

My Review: While this trilogy does not compare to the Harry Potter series, and I was pissed and cursing this book with every page I turned, I cannot deny my inability to put it down. I was sucked in from page one and if not for having a life outside of reading, I would have finished this book in half the time.

I will try to leave no spoilers since this is an ending that will truly keep you shocked at every turn. The first two books were TOO predictable for me. Suzanne Collins probably did that to lull her readers into a false sense of security so that when we get to the epilogue we are so exhausted by the ride we don’t know whether to be pissed or pleased. I finished the book feeling a healthy dose of both emotions.

If you came to this Trilogy looking for something other than teenage confusion, deep loss, senseless murder, and unresolved relationships, you came to the wrong place. This book, on it’s own, is full of all that I just mentioned and then some!

My only criticism, on just this book, without giving away much of the ending, is how she chose to wrap up the relationships that we got to know from the very beginning.

I recommend this Trilogy to anyone who is looking for a quick, fascinating, and (for some) satisfying read.

Summary: The greatly anticipated final book in the New York Times bestselling Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.

The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Who do they think should pay for the unrest?

Katniss Everdeen.

The final book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins will have hearts racing, pages turning, and everyone talking about one of the biggest and most talked-about books and authors in recent publishing history!!!!

If you want to learn more about Suzanne Collins please visit her site.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Book Review)

Catching Fire (Hunger Game Series #2)

by Suzanne Collins

391 pages

Scholastic, September 2009

science fiction/young adult

Read in 5 days

Another Review...

My Rating: ★★★★

Amazon.com | BN.com

My Review: Unlike the first book in this series I found I was able to read this book much faster. And although she recounts several key elements of the story from the first book in this one (in case for some reason you are choosing to skip the first book and start in the middle, which I never recommend when reading a trilogy) it doesn’t seem repetitive at all.

The book begins only a few weeks (at the most) from where the first book ends. A bit of a non-spoiler here, but all of those we’d consider “main characters” live so they are all recurring in this book. Of course there are Hunger Games in this book, with a bit extra since this happens to be the 75th anniversary of said games! At every quarter mark (called the Quarter Quell) there is a little more excitement as to what happens during the games. At the 50th anniversary, there were double the amount of tributes sent into the games. If you thought 23 deaths were bad (with one survivor) imagine how well 47 deaths were? And the winner of that year just so happens to be the mentor for both Katniss and Peeta (our main characters and one sided love birds).

For me, this books delves more into the adolescent mind of Katniss, fighting internally with herself over the two guys (Gale and Peeta). Both of them clearly love her and where their heart out on their sleeve to her. She, on the other hand, just like a woman, is difficult in making a final decision and truly sticking to it. She loves them both and no matter how hard she tries to love one and distance herself from the other, it fails every time.

The actual games really begin by part three of the book. If you haven’t figured it out, each book is written in three (almost) equal parts. What’s most important in this book is not so much the games but the rebellion and uprisings that begin because of Katniss’s actions at the end of the Hunger Games where both her and Peeta were the winners. She defied the Capital and that cannot and does not go unnoticed by President Snow who insists on making her pay and in doing so, calming the people in the poor districts. The Hunger Games purpose is no longer enough of a reminder to districts 1-12 to remain in control by the Capital. The fact that district 13 was supposedly wiped out means nothing. Katniss has defied them and lived. This is reason enough to bring fighting and action from the lower class against the Capital. The mockingjay, a symbol, a pin, given to Katniss by Madge (one of her ritzy acquaintances and daughter to the mayor of district 12) turns out to be the very sign used by traitors against the Capital.

The ending is more of a “cliffhanger” compared to the first book. It leaves you wanting more which is what a good cliffhanger is meant to do when you think about it, right? If I leave you with one last spoiler it is that, as far as I know, all the main characters (and a few new ones) remain living. At least going into the final book of the trilogy…

Summary: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

If you want to learn more about Suzanne Collins please visit her site.