Extremely unexpected...

and, incredibly different.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.


Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer is not a book that I would recommend to just anyone. I would like to describe this book as extremely contemporary and incredibly blunt. Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is a boy with very few inhibitions. And, in this story he tells it like it is. Oskar is unlike any other boy you are likely to meet, he loves to play his tambourine, write letters to those who have inspired him, invent instead of sleep (cause ever since the "worst day" he can't sleep anyway), use the words "extremely" and "incredibly" (I found myself highlighting these 2 words each time I saw them), and is so unbelievably intellectually curious and imaginative that it is often crippling for him. This book filled me with so many different types of emotions and feelings. I found myself highlighting words, sentences, and paragraphs on almost every page. Oskar seems to me to be struggling/living with a mix between autism and OCD and I felt, probably all to often, that I could relate with what he was feeling and doing- from his need to make sure that no one is mad at him, or to make sure he hasn't done anything wrong, to his irrational feelings towards giving himself bruises. I fell in love with Oskar- his words, feelings, and his story. I loved this book (minus the vulgar words and a few almost x-rated scenes- see what I mean about not recommending this book to just anyone?). This book is for mature audiences only, and even if you consider yourself to be a mature reader there are still a few parts that would probably just be best to skip over. But, despite those few things, this story has the power to be life-changing in many ways. Here is my favorite quote from the book- "Why didn't I learn to treat everything like it was the last time." This quote along with many others from this book become part of the many "themes" that I like to live by in my life- things that make me, me. I truly enjoyed reading this book.

A big thank-you to the man at Deseret Book.

A few weeks ago, while in St. George with my family, my aunt Jil and I took a quick little trip over to Deseret Book, which was right across the street from our hotel, where the man working there recommended to us this book, Adventurers Wanted Slathbog's Gold by M.L. Forman. If I could I would thank-him, several times, because I don't know if I would have found this book otherwise, and it was quite a good read.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

From page 1 all the way to the end, this book kept me wanting more, and even once it was over all I wanted was more, more, more! What a cute, creative, funny, and magical book this is! Adventurers Wanted Slathbog's Gold is a perfect mix for young adult readers between The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Eragon/Inheritance series. In my opinion, it is better than Eragon, and easier to understand (for young adult readers) than The Lord of the Rings can be at times. (Well, and for those of you readers out there who have tried to read The Lord of the Rings and found it to be too wordy and/or descriptive this book is much more fast-paced.) And, although from the very beginning 15 year old Alex isn't quite sure what he is getting himself into he is more than ready to be out on the adventure of a lifetime, meeting new people, learning all about magic (including the magic that is hidden within him!) and, of course, all while facing a bit of danger along the way. This book was such a great read that you and your kids for sure don't want to miss out on!

I love Daniel Radcliffe because...

I love Harry Potter, of course!

And, that is what inspired this read, The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. I saw the previews for the movie, found out it was a book, and because of my obsession for Harry Potter decided I would really enjoy reading this book and then seeing the movie with Daniel Radcliffe.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.


But, I maybe actually give it 3.5 stars ish? This book really wasn't too wonderful or amazing or anything. It actually wasn't even that scary. But, I think I probably enjoyed it more just because of the mere fact of thinking of going to see the movie. But, don't get me wrong I did quite enjoy reading this British horror fiction novel as I tagged along with Arthur Kipps as he revisited Crythin Gifford, a small market town on the east coast of the United Kingdom, one last time in hopes to purge the last of his fears and haunted feelings by finally writing down his scary ghost story for the first time. From the very beginning, this book has a mysterious feel too it, and throughout my reading I kept wondering what amazingly scary thing I would discover/uncover. I waited, and waited, wondered and wondered what scary things awaited Arthur Kipps in the haunted house of Mrs. Drablow. But, nothing very scary, or all that crazy happened, yet, I could feel within the words of this book Arthur's fear rise along with I'm sure, his blood pressure, and the mood of the story continued to tense. But, I was still quite skeptical. The story was almost at its end and I still wasn't sure what Arthur Kipps was still so afraid of at the beginning of the story, after hearing about his ghostly experience from so many years before. And, then the ending happened. I was in complete shock and awe. I just simply couldn't believe the story could end this way. Although, I got exactly what I wanted and if I had gone through what poor Arthur Kipps had gone through I would be scared too.