Book Review: Matched

Matched by Ally Condie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was such a beautiful book.  After I've read it, I'm trying to think of what happened that was so amazing, but I can't.  I just know that it was poetic and lovely and I can't wait to read the next one.  The author totally ripped off "The Giver" by Lois Lowery, but I don't care.  "The Giver" is one of my all time favorite books, so this just felt like someone else's story who lives in the same place and time as "The Giver".  It raises so many important questions-one in particular is about choice.  More specifically I think of "should you choose to stand up for the one you love and what you think is right, even if you're going to hurt everyone else in your life that you care about.  This is a question that isn't really addressed very well in "The Giver".  Jonas just leaves his family behind, not thinking for more then a few minutes about the fact that he's leaving his family and everything else he loves behind. What will be the consequences for them?  I'm glad that Matched recognizes this dilemma.  I also found the part about the prisoners dilemma very interesting.  My favorite thing about the book was the use of the poems.  I love poetry anyway, but I love how in this story the poem's were more then just beautiful words to listen to and imagine.  They actually influence Cassia's, Ky's, and her Grandfathers actions. 

Read it, it was awesome!



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Book Review: True Grit

True Grit by Charles Portis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved, loved this book.  The writing is so smart, it's hard to believe that it's completely fiction and that it isn't written as a first hand account. It's just a great story.  I loved the movie, which really follows the book, almost exactly.  However, reading it let's you slow down and really just enjoy the writing and the humor.  Anyone who likes a good adventure story, you should really read this!



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Book Review: Learn Me Good

Learn Me Good by John  Pearson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was ok. It's just a bunch of stories from what happened in his third grade class.  Which were funny.  I wasn't really driven to keep picking up this book, but when I did I was interested enough.  I would have liked this book a lot more if I was a teacher.  So, if your a teacher I definitely recommend this book to you.



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Hawaii!!

First day before we got on the ship. This is the moment where we should have grabbed Brad's watch. But we wouldn't realize that for about an hour into bumper to bumper traffic...

9 mile run that turned into a trail run, that turned into a hike, that turned into bushwhacking up the mountain. It was so beautiful at sunrise.

Waiting for the Ship to Sail.  Jerry's brother's Brad, Cort and Randi, and me.

Our scooter gang in Maui.  It was so much more fun then I thought it would be.

My man!

Walking through an industrial part of town looking for the beach, we found this taking a short cut through a parking lot.

Me and Ruth.

Banyan Drive. A bunch of celebrities/important people planted these trees in the 1930's. Here is Amelia Earheart's, in honor of my sister Amelia.

Babe Ruth's Banyan tree.

Cliff Jumping in Hilo

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One of my very favorite things to do.

Botanical Gardens on Coconut Island. Right by the Cliff Jumping place.

They had a class on the ship so I learned how to and made my own Lei.

Waimea Canyon. Like the Grand Canyon of Hawaii.

We went up to see Twin Falls, then ran down the canyon. It was so beautiful! A great run.

View on the run down from Twin Falls.

Catching some last minute sun the last day on the ship.

The Na Pali Coast on the North Shore of Kauai. It is only accessible by boat, airplane, or hiking over to it. Honestly breathtaking. This picture can't describe how amazing this is.

What a hottie!

Unexpected extra day in Hawaii. Our flight was canceled.

Where I belong.

There are certainly worse places to be stuck for a day!

 

 

View from Diamond-head looking out over Honolulu.

We had such a wonderful trip!  What more can I say?

Book Review: The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I Loved this book!  It was so good.  Granted, it was long, but once I got over that and just enjoyed the story, it was amazing.  Think of it as undertaking a television series.  Usually you want it to be long.  To go on for 8 seasons (or something like that) so that all the characters and story lines can be fully developed.  If it had been short, like a 2 or 3 season long TV show (like Pushing Daisies -did anyone else feel like that ended way too soon?) It wouldn't have been as good. Actually, it would be an awesome TV show...
Anyway, It did take me 4 months to read, but I read like 5 or 6 books in between as well.
The movie of The Count of Monte Cristo is so good, but so condensed and completely different.
So read it.  You will love it.



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