Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins...I read this in November 2008...but decided I should re-read it because the third book of the trilogy comes out in August.  I haven't read the second book yet...but I wanted to refresh my memory.  What a delightful re-read.  I loved it even more the second time around...finished it in an evening and loved reliving the excitement of a book that pits teens against each other TO THE DEATH in a world of the future.  Not so futuristic that you will roll your eyes, in fact, it is really rather realistic.  Now on to the second book in the series CATCHING FIRE.  I can't wait to read what happens next.  If you haven't read this book, I would recommend for adults of all ages...and teens of course!  Lots of action and suspense with some survivalist stuff as well!

The Carrie Diaries

By Candace Bushnell...wasn't sure what I would think of this book.  I have read (or struggled to read) some of her other books without much success...this I finished just a few moments ago and LOVED it!  I have been a huge fan of the TV series (I own it on DVD) and have seen one of the two movies...and am anxious to see the other.  I LOVED meeting Carrie in high school.  Her friends, her loves, her family and her trials as a teen.  This talks about her love for writing and how she gets into that...her choice to head to New York City, and this is a book to laugh and cry over (okay, maybe not cry, but feel sorry for).  I recommend!

Sundays at Tiffany's

By James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet...I had been curious about this book though I am not a huge fan of Patterson.  I bought the book to take with me to read while a plane took off and landed (can't use my Kindle during that part of the flight).  The story was sweet, slow moving and romantic.  Not usually my cup of tea..but an interesting premise.  We meet Jane as a young girl with an imaginary friend and then Jane grows up...and she meets a man that looks a lot like her imaginary friend.  Is he real?  As I said, it was sweet, not something I would normally recommend or even read myself, but I finished it!  If you love the light fiction, light romance, a little supernatural, this is the book for you!

Henry's Sisters

By Cathy Lamb...I finished this book awhile ago (so I can't count this as my summer reading book).  I had been recommended Julia's Chocolates by the same author and loved it.  So, I decided to try this one as well.  The story is happy, sad, tragic, vivid, and about family.  There are so many facets to the story.  The story focuses on a man named Henry who is disabled...and the one thing that unites the family.  His sisters come back home to care for him and their grandmother while their mother goes in for surgery.  This is a story about the bond of sisters, friendship, love of a community, forgiveness, and trust.  I would recommend, though I would warn there are a couple parts that are pretty graphic in the story, though that is not the focus of the book.

The Lady of the Lake

By Mavis Admundson...a quick read.  I picked this little paperback up while on a trip to the Olympic Peninsula.  We had just stayed in a cabin on Lake Crescent and while nosing around the gift shop I came across this gem.  A body of a woman was found by a couple fishermen in Lake Crescent in 1942.  Due to the temperature of the lake and how it had been tied, the body was well preserved...which led to the capture and conviction of her killer.  It was an interesting read and historical as well!  This was nonfiction and I recommend to anyone.

Shiver

By Maggie Stiefvater...I was asked to read this book by SEVERAL people...and finally broke down and read it.  What a good read!  Star crossed lovers Sam and Grace enter the world of werewolves and humans in this very touching, very romantic story.  Who is watching Grace from the woods?  What happened to Jack, her classmate?  Why is Olivia acting so strange?  Some of the twists and turns you don't see coming...and it is fun.  I recommend to teens who are done with Twilight and adults who enjoy reading YA fiction!

Summer Reading Program

This year the theme of Summer Reading is Make a Splash, Make Waves, or Water Your Mind depending on your age.  I have decided that I will keep track of all of the books I read between June 19 and August 21.  I am curious how many books I can read and what sorts of books I can get my hands on.  The summer reading program at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library is for ages 4-104 and I would encourage anyone to participate.  At the very least you can get a reading log and earn a free book!

Happy Reading!

The Girl Who Chased the Moon

By Sarah Addison Allen...another great story from this author.  I loved every minute of it.  The ties of magic, mystery, drama, and light romance make for a great, fun read!  Highly recommend if you need something to keep your interest while sunning by the pool or catching rays on a boat!  I have to say that many thought this was the best she had written...my fave by this author was Sugar Queen.

Fahrenheit 451

By Ray Bradbury...I had never read this book.  I guess it slipped through my school years somehow.  I heard a teen in the library say they had to read the book and they thought it was awful...and it peaked my interest.  I immediately checked out the audio book and on a trip to Seattle read it.  I have to say I was immediately hooked.  A fireman who burns things?  Interesting!  The more I listened, the more I got hooked.  The characters, the plot, and the answers to why anyone would burn a book...EEK as a Librarian that makes me cringe.  I decided to listen to the interview at the end of the disc.  I wondered about when this was written, what was going on in the world.  This was written right before the McCarthy era...and fear in the U.S. was running high...interesting to know what an author will guess may happen based on this fear.  Have I hooked you yet?