Friday, March 8, 2013

Books, Books, and More Books

I am really quite late in posting these book reviews. On my trip to Disneyland I read a LOT, since we spent about 20 hours on the road both on the way down and back. So I am FINALLY going to share with you the books I read.


Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as an illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction - at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful - and completely unforgettable. 

I really didn't know what I was expecting from this book, but to me it was one of those books that wasn't ever really working towards anything. It's not like a suspense or a thriller where you are waiting to find out who the murderer is, or chick lit where you are just reading and waiting for the guy and the girl to finally be together. But, somehow I still managed to keep picking it up. I think the thing that really interested me the most was the historical knowledge that I came away with. This is a culture that I know NOTHING about, so I feel like I learned a lot, even though it is a fiction.
Overall I enjoyed it, but it's not my favorite type of book. I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Heart on a Chain by Cindy C Bennett

17-year-old Kate has lived her whole life in abject poverty, with an alcoholic father and drug-addicted mother, who severely abuses Kate. At school, her second-hand clothing marks her as a target. Her refusal to stand up for herself makes her the recipient of her classmates taunts and bullying. That is, until Henry returns. Henry Jamison moved away six years earlier, just as he and Kate had begun to develop feelings for one another. He returns to find the bright, funny, outgoing girl he had known now timidly hiding in corners, barely speaking to anyone around her, suspicious of even him. Kate can't figure out what game Henry is playing with her - for surely it is a game. What else would the gorgeous, popular boy from her past want with her? Kate finally decides to trust Henry's intentions, opening her heart to him. Just when it seems he might be genuine in his friendship, tragedy strikes, threatening everything Kate has worked so hard to gain. Can Henry help her to overcome this new devastation, or will it tear them apart forever?

This story is so sad. A teenager who has no escape from her life anywhere. But then along comes this guy who, literally, saves her life. One of those classic "opposites attract" kind of stories. It's definitely a young adult book, and it was a very quick read for me. But I really enjoyed the story.
4 out of 5 stars.

Crash by Nicole Williams

Jude Ryder and Lucy Larson are this generation's Romeo and Juliet: Explosive. Sizzling. Tragic.
A steamy summer encounter with bad boy Jude means trouble for Lucy. Her sights are set on becoming a ballerina, and she won't let anything get in her way . . . except Jude.
He's got a rap sheet, dangerous mood swings, and a name that's been sighed, shouted, and cursed by who knows how many girls.
Jude's a cancer, the kind of guy who's fated to ruin the lives of girls like Lucy—and he tells her so.
But as rumors run rampant and reputations are destroyed, Lucy's not listening to Jude's warning. Is tragedy waiting in the wings? This racy romance is hot, hot, hot!

I don't particularly like Amazon's description, but it gives you the general idea. Talented ballerina meets juvenile delinquent. They fall in love. There is drama. There is romance.
Another young adult book that I read through really fast. It kind of had the same kind of theme as Heart on a Chain where one person is saving another from their lives.
I give this one 3.5 out of 5.

Well friends, those are my most recent reads. Sorry I held out on you so long!




2 comments:

Shoshanah said...

I haven't read any of these. But while I don't know a lot about it, someday I'd still love to read Memoirs of a Geisha.

Janie said...

Ooh I've been wanting to read Crash! Sounds good :)