Title: Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior Author: Leonard Mlodinow Genre: Non-Fiction Quotation: “That realization doesn’t bother me; it gives me a greater appreciate of my unseen partner, my unconscious, always providing the support I need as I walk and stumble my way through life.” Would recommend to: people who are introspective about their behavior / readers who want to branch out from fiction This is one of the first books I’ve read that has no story-line. I usually stick to the fiction side of the bookstore, but I am really happy I chose to sneak out of my comfort zone with this choice. While I was reading this book, I had a…
Friday Night Lights : A Review
Title: Friday Night Lights Author: H. G. Bissinger Genre: Non-Fiction Quotation: “Odessa is the setting for this book, but it could be anyplace in this vast land where, on a Friday night, a set of spindly stadium lights rises to the heavens to so powerfully, and so briefly, ignite the darkness.” Would recommend to: football fans who don’t normally like to read. I finished “Friday Night Lights” last evening — it was phenomenal. Since I just finished it, I’m also going to include three initial thoughts. 1. Texas is football crazy! You don’t believe it until you see it, or at least read 300 pages about it. I had watched “Friday Night Lights” on…
The Book That Had Me at the Edge of My Seat
Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Author: Steig Larson Genre: Fiction Quotation: “Everyone has secrets. It’s just a matter of finding out what they are.” Would recommend to: anyone who enjoys “Gone Girl” or a mystery to unravel Now I see why everyone raves about this book. Larsson did a phenomenal job of combining various plot lines and sub-stories into one novel that intertwined in the end. I really enjoyed how every occurrence in the book connected in some way to the larger plot line, and I thought he did an amazing job of dividing the book to maintain order. “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” isn’t really about a girl with a dragon…
Opinions May Vary
Title: Side Effects May Vary Author: Julie Murphy Genre: Young Adult Fiction Quotation: “I don’t want the easy kind of love. I wanted the crazy love, the kind of love that created and destroyed all at the same time.” Would recommend to: people who appreciate a different story. This was my “young adult” choice of the past month, and I don’t have any regrets. The book chronicles a girl’s life before and after she found out she was cancer free. You follow her through her acceptance of her cancer, how she copes with the news that her life may be coming to an end, and finally how all of her actions have shaped her life…
Pony Up
Title: The Outsiders Author: S.E. Hinton Genre: Coming of Age Quotation: “Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren’t so different. We saw the same sunset.” Would recommend to: anyone feeling lonely or lost. I know, second week in a row that I’m featuring a book you were probably forced to read in high school, but I promise this one is SO GOOD. I read this the summer before my sophomore year of college, and it really hit home for me. The book covers the importance of family, blood -elated or not, in the face of tragedy. It also portrays a unique perspective on appearance versus reality. I love the deeper look Hinton takes…
Human Madness
Title: Animal Farm Author: George Orwell Genre: Fiction Quotation: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Would recommend to: anyone who likes a simple story with great meaning. “Animal Farm” is one of those books you probably hated reading when you were high school, but luckily, I didn’t have the misfortunate of encountering this book through required reading. Therefore, I loved it when I read it. Here’s a brief overview: The animals on the farm don’t like being “oppressed” by the humans, therefore they stage a coup and overthrow the humans to gain control of the farm. Things seem to be going well, until someone lets the power get to his…
There and Back Again
Title: The Hobbit Author: J.R.R. Tolkien Genre: Fantasy Quotation: “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” Would recommend to: any one who wants to take another adventure. For shame on me for not reading this amazing tale until the end of my sophomore year in college. I know this was meant to be a children’s bedtime story, but I can’t help that I love this book. I finished it in a matter of days when I read it and have actually dreamed about reading it again. The tale surrounds a homely hobbit named Bilbo who embarks on an adventure with 12 dwarves to reclaim…
Survivor
Title: Unbroken Author: Laura Hillenbrand Genre: Biography Quotation: “Where there’s still life, there’s still hope.” Would recommend to: any who likes to root for the underdog. Laura Hillenbrand’s novel chronicling the life of Louis Zamperini is both informative and inspiring. By telling the tale of Zamperini’s life, Hillenbrand also informs readers about the truth behind prisoner-of-war situations during WWII. I’ve always been very interested in history, and I’ve even heard people talk about their time in POW camps. But I can honestly say that nothing made me feel more emotions than hearing what Hillenbrand reported of Zamperini’s struggles. He was definitely the underdog of his own story. Although you believe he is the star after…
A Praising Review for Leibowitz
Title: A Canticle for Leibowitz Author: Walter M. Miller, Jr. Genre: Dystopian/Sci-Fi Quotation: “Back then, in Saint Leibowitz’ time, maybe they didn’t know what would happen. Or perhaps they did, but could not quite believe it until they tried it…” Would Recommend to: Fans of 1984 or Brave New World Miller’s tragic and poignant Hugo Award winner still rings true A canticle, from the Latin canticum, is commonly translated as a song or hymn of praise. A Canticle for Leibowitz is a stark look into the dystopian future, where humanity may not be praiseworthy at all. Divided into three main sections, the novel is centered on the Leibowitz Abbey, a…
In History’s Blood
Title: In Cold Blood Author: Truman Capote Genre: Historical Non-Fiction Quotation: “Imagination, of course, can open any door — turn the key and let terror walk right in.” Would recommend to: people who love unraveling a mystery. Recently, I have been trying to branch out with my reading interests. I’ve picked up books from sections all over the bookstore, and I’ve really liked it. I’ve discovered some books I never would have otherwise — one of those books being “In Cold Blood”. ICB is about the Clutter family murder in 1959 in Kansas. It sounds morbid — I know — but it’s actually extremely interesting. I flew through this book due to…
