Sammie's List of 2013

[Samantha]

Since getting my job in October, I fell WAY behind in my reading, so I'm gonna start the new year off with a good note :) I'll add the book I read and just a little info about what I thought of the book.

[Samantha]

I liked this book. It wasn't a favorite though. There would be times where the story is really building and you can see it going somewhere, but then it turns into pages and pages of description and nonsense that doesn't move the story along at all. I do like the concepts the author was addressing, which are still concerns to this day. It can be a thought provoking book, but you have to deal with a lot of description to get there.

[Joy]

Samantha wrote: "The Picture of Dorian Grey

I liked this book. It wasn't a favorite though. There would be times where the story is really building and you can see it going somewhere, but then it turns into pages ..."

I read this a few years ago, and liked it, but I, too, thought there was sometimes a lot of minute description that kinda droned on and on. Alot of Classics have this, I notice. Well, book #1 down! Great job!

[Samantha]

I really liked this book. I'm not into non-fiction much because sometimes it gets too caught up in dates and names. This book does a wonderful job of telling history as it should be told - as a story, but also including the necessary information and facts to remind you it is a work of history. It did focus on the Fair more than I thought it would, but I found myself emotionally tied to the outcome of the Fair and the people connected to it. It's a very good book that I recommend.

[Samantha]

I really loved this story. There was enough action spread out to keep you going, wondering what was going to happen next. The ending definitely surprised me; it was not what I expected, but it was a good ending. The only complaint I have about the book is the number of dwarves. There's so many of them that you only get to know a few of them while the rest are just names. Even though it's a critique, it's not nearly enough to demote the book from 5 stars to 4. It's a very good, well-written book and I would recommend it to anyone :)

[Samantha]

For Shakespeare, I was able to understand what was going on pretty well. It's definitely meant to be a comedy, which usually isn't my thing, but it's a good story. For people who are not used to reading Shakespeare's work, this is definitely a good one to start off with.

[Samantha]

This was an absolutely beautiful book. I love how it was from the perspective of a non-Jewish German instead of a Jew. It was an incredibly powerful story that I just couldn't put down. The beginning is a little slow to get through, but once Max is introduced, there's no way you can leave the book alone for more than 8 hours. I definitely would recommend this book. It's well-written and well-told.

[Joy]

Samantha wrote: "

This was an absolutely beautiful book. I love how it was from the perspective of a non-Jewish German instead of a Jew. It was an incredibly powerful story that I j..."

This is definitely on my "To read one day" list!! I've heard only good things!

[Samantha]

This book was definitely interesting. Once I started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down, just like I did with the first two books. To me, Katniss is a character I can identify with and I like how she's not pretending that she's invincible, but not crying in the corner being useless constantly. The only thing I was kinda eh about was that the war didn't really seem long enough, as weird as it may sound. The war seemed to pass by too quickly, so you don't feel the strong connection to see the end of the war as you do in, say, Lord of the Rings. There were definitely a lot of deaths of people close to Katniss, but everything happens so quickly that it doesn't seem to really sink in. Otherwise, I think it was the best way the trilogy could end. I enjoyed reading it and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

[Samantha]

I liked reading something different from the norm. I actually saw the movie before I read the graphic novel, so I knew what was going to happen, but it was still interesting on how it was put together and the way it flows. It's definitely an interesting concept and I kinda liked the way it ended. It's worth checking out.

[Samantha]

Now, non-fiction books are on my resolution list because I have a hard time getting through them, even though I love learning about history. Sounds weird, but then again, I'm weird too. This book was good for a non-fiction book. It's what I call an academic non-fiction book, where all the background is explained and there's dates and names that are sometimes hard to keep track, but are necessary to know the history of the person or event. With Sojourner Truth, I really didn't know anything about her except that she was a freed slave and was famous for something. This book did a good job of explaining how she developed into the person she was and cleared all the myths surrounding her name. What I also like about this book, which is another reason why I call it academic, is the author states when she just doesn't know what happened in certain periods of Sojourner's life. Biographers should only go off of what is documented and no one documents every moment of their life. It's definitely something I admire in the author, even though she's only doing her job. For not knowing anything about Sojourner Truth, I think this is a book to check out.

[Samantha]

I read this book due to one of my book group's challenges was to read a book on the Man Book Prize list. Didn't have a clue what the Man Booker Prize was. Apparently it's for books that are unappreciated and this is definitely one of those books. I'm surprised it's not a best-seller. I usually don't read books about different countries because there's so much background and cultural differences that I don't understand much of what is going on. With this book, it's not like that at all. You're able to grasp what is going on and really feel yourself being pulled into the book. It's a beautifully written book and I would say that it is a MUST READ.

[Samantha]

I've got to play a little catch-up. I've been reading, but I haven't had time to post my reviews on them yet, so here we go!


This was a pretty good book to have in between reads. The storyline was actually pretty good and it kept ya hanging all the way to the end. I would read it again :)


I REALLY liked this book. I loved the short chapter because it helped make it appear a quick read, even though it's over 400 pages long. The action kept the story line moving and kept me into the book. I also liked how the plot didn't use the typical fake Jesus crucifixion theory that's out there. It looked at it from a different angle and I like that. Being a Christian, I found this to be a very enjoyable book.


I'm a bit biased of this author because we share the same name XD Beside that, I really did like this book. I loved the story line, it just fits right up my alley. Definitely a book I can just sit and read over and over again :)

[Samantha]

After reading this book, I can see why it's a classic. It definitely stands out on its own due to the imagination of what the future would be like. The last line of the book just really brings it all together. It gives it all a sense of completeness and wholeness. Ill let you find out what the last line is for yourself :)

[Samantha]

My mom had a lot of the Nancy Drew books, but I never got around to reading them. It took a while, but I'm so glad that I did! This was a delightful book to read. It's definitely simplified for middle-school readers, but I love to story to it. I can't wait to follow Nancy along on her future adventures :)

[Samantha]

I really liked this story. Poirot is a brilliant character that is enjoyable to picture in my mind. The mystery had me second-guessing my own theories constantly. It was a great book that I can't wait to read more of!

[Samantha]

I can see in this book why Agatha Christie is the best mystery writer of all time. I love how I come up with my own theories, but the pieces never add up until it is all summed up at the end. I didn't see the end coming at all and it was amazing how everything fit just right. I found it kind of odd that it is a Miss Marple mystery and yet she didn't really appear much in the book until the last 1/4 of the book. In summary, definitely a good mystery that's easy to read :)

[Samantha]

This book was quite different from anything I've read before. It was kind of like a mystery novel because there were so many things that you were trying to figure out and piece together. It also really wasn't a mystery because it read like a story about someone's life (definitely not a boring life though). I really enjoyed this book. I had a difficult time putting it down because I had to be somewhere due to wanting to figure it out and finding out how everything fit together. Definitely a book you should try out.

[Samantha]

Another good Nancy Drew read. I realized this in the first book, but this is definitely a series for the rich girl reader it seems. Nancy seems to have the world at the tip of her fingers. I still enjoy the stories and she has guts, but when those grown men confessed after two sentences, it's a little cheesy. Although, this is a book for girls, so I shouldn't nag too much. Still a good book to relax with :)

[Samantha]

This was...I don't even know what to say yet. This book definitely challenged my way of thinking. I was right there with Winston throughout the first two sections. I'm a rebel in nature and all of his thoughts and actions seemed normal for me. The third section was what really through me through a loop. I'll leave it up to you to discover for yourself, but it was definitely a book that NEEDS to be read.

[Samantha]

I had seen the original movie before I read this book and I'm happy to know now how accurate the movie stayed to the book. Ya, there were a couple minor changes, but I'm satisfied with the adaptation. The book itself was very good. I like how it was set up to have the recollections of the event scattered throughout while you were reading what was going on in the minds of the people involved. It was a quick read (being only 181 pages) and was a good thriller. A definite read :)

[Samantha]

I really do enjoy reading these Nancy Drew stories. I think I would've enjoyed them even more as a kid. I like how she gets into bad situations, but that she has the wit to get out of them. I also like how there is a big emphasis on contacting the police and letting the police know about any information at all. It's cheesy in the book with the way it comes out, but it's good to drill it into kids' minds how important it is to call the police when you're in trouble. Love the mystery and digging for more!

[Samantha]

To be honest, I don't know why I love this book so much. After I finished reading it, I knew that I was going to pick it up again and re-read it someday. I wasn't as emotionally tied to the characters as I am with some other books that I re-read constantly (ex. Harry Potter), but there is something so true to life that entrances me about this book. I think it's Gatsby who really makes the book. His feelings for Daisy and his entire life's work being dedicated to her really resonates to me. I don't know if other people feel the same way about this book as I do, but I'd say that you have to try it at least once. It's a quick enough read and not difficult to get through. See what you think :)

[Samantha]

Here's a super big update. I've been so busy with work that I haven't been near my computer in a few weeks! Here we go :)


I absolutely loved this book. I usually don't read adventure stories, but this was a great story to open up the genre to. The story kept moving along, which isn't what I expected for a book this old. I loved the characters and the relationships they formed. The language tripped me up a few times, but that's what the glossary in the back of the book is for :) It ended really well and I definitely would read it again!


With every book I read in this series, the more I fall in love with it. It's the perfect filler I was looking for after Harry Potter ended. The story is complex and is developing very nicely. I liked how they split up Kendra and Seth to add more information into the storyline and it was done very well. I absolutely loved this book and am so excited to keep reading it. It's definitely a series for ANY age!


I really liked the transformation that happened in this book. The Joker fits perfectly into the story of what is going on with Batman and I really liked the conclusion of this book. Although, if I didn't know that there was a third book, I wouldn't have known to look for it because this book ended in a way that could've been final. By the way, if you didn't know, the third one is Batman: Crimson Mist :) Overall, pretty good sequel to Red Mist.


Considering how dark this comic story was, I think it ended just right. I really liked the flow of the story and its conclusion. The only thing I've had a problem with is getting caught up in Batman's eloquent words. In my mind, I know that Bruce Wayne was rich and sophisticated, but I don't hear him talk like that in my head. The words flow beautifully, but they don't fit my image of Batman, even if he is a vampire.

[Samantha]

I found this to be a very interesting book. If I had read this book before "1984", I probably would have found it more profound since they're both based off the same concept. Animal Farm almost seems like a prequel to 1984, in its own way. The presentation is very unique, which is probably a big reason why it's a classic. It's definitely a book you should read, but I found 1984 more...compelling. Although the last sentence, just like in "1984", really makes the book :)

[Samantha]

I absolutely LOVED this book! At first, I kept comparing it to Lord of the Rings because the story lines seemed so similar, but as I got to know the characters and became familiar with the land (thanks to the map at the beginning that I referenced numerous times lol), I realized that it was its own story. It's the only epic fantasy book I've read (haven't read LOTR yet, but it's on my to-read list!) and I was very impressed with it. The pictures in the book didn't really match up with what I pictured in my head for the characters, but I wasn't too bothered by that. I really liked these characters, a lot. I definitely, DEFINITELY, recommend this book.

[Samantha]

So, I read this book as part of one of my book clubs because the challenge was to read a realistic fiction book. I had no clue what that was, but this was one of the authors they recommended. I tried it out and I actually really liked it. I work for Boys Town and Ruby reminded me A LOT of the kids that I work with every day. I liked how you were able to see her develop with the other people around her. I was expecting a little more romance than there was, but it worked out really well. I think it was the right balance, with the focus being on Ruby's change instead of just her and Nate. It is a young adult book, but I would recommend it for anyone. It's a good insight into what a teenager might be going through and could maybe be a tool to help a teen (prolly more a girl than a boy for this book) get through some tough spots in life.

[Samantha]

This was a really good story. I think I would've been really surprised about how it would go if I hadn't seen Tim Burton's movie multiple times before reading this book. Although, my heart was racing as I was reading, thinking about being in the situation Coraline was in. I wish I would've read this when I was a tween. I was really into Goosebumps and this book would've been right up my alley. I'm just glad I was able to read it eventually. If you haven't read the book, you REALLY should. It's a good story and a quick read :)

[Samantha]

This is the second time I've read this book and I'm sure it won't be my last. I first fell in love with Garth Nix's work with the Necromancer series, and then I stumbled upon the Keys to the Kingdom series. I love the characters, the idea of the story and am very interested to see where this goes. I have read Monday and Tuesday, but a good length of time has passed so I decided to re-read the series before I get to Wednesday. I'm interested to see how the characters develop throughout :)



I love this series. I have especially grown to love the development of Seth's character. He is becoming more and more interesting and complex with each book. I especially like how I don't know how things are going to turn out because characters DO die. There are even some characters (I won't mention who) that you don't have a clue what is going to happen to them by the end of the book. It's a SERIOUS cliffhanger at the end of this book, but it's done well and I can't wait to finish off the series!

[Samantha]

I saw the movie first and knew that I had to read the books. I've had them for years, before the movies even came out actually, but never took the time to read it. I'm so glad that I did now. I love the development with the characters. It definitely helped to see the movie first so I can get all the characters straight in my mind, BUT there are major differences between the two. Even though I'm usually picky about this, I still love the movies, but I also love the book. It's definitely a must-read, but I would recommend watching the movie so you can visualize it as you read.

[Samantha]

I've read one of these "The Cat Who..." books from later on in the collection, but I always like starting from the beginning. I just love how it's light-hearted, even though it is a murder mystery. I puzzle through it and have my smiles throughout the story and always get caught up in how it all fits together. I absolutely love it. Who definitely recommend them to anyone, especially cat lovers!

[Samantha]

This story just emphasizes why I love Stephen King so much. I love how he brings the characters to life for me. I don't feel like I'm reading a fictional character's life or I'm seeing it from the perspective of a character. I actually live the role or I feel like I'm a part of the story and the main characters are people I actually know. I don't know what it is about Stephen King that is different from other writers, but it just boggles me how I become entranced in his works. It was interesting to read a "mystery" by him. It was more of the "coming of age" story than a mystery, but the mystery was there. When it came to basically the only clue throughout the entire book, I couldn't figure it out for the life of me until King unveiled it. I sat in my chair, after having read many mystery novels/stories, and thinking to myself "I feel dumb for not realizing this before". It really threw me for a loop, which is what a good mystery is supposed to do. It has Stephen King's little quirks, like the gruesome details and the character development, but it is somewhat different from his normal works. I'd say give it a shot and see what you think :)

[Samantha]

Late entry, sorry!



I've read Skip Beat already (or at least, what's published so far) and just fell in love with it, so I started buying the manga and re-reading it again. It's a different storyline from any other manga that I've read and I like how the relationship between the love interests is not quite your usual mix. Whenever I think of this series, I think of these first 3 volumes and the story arcs they hold. It really captures what this manga is all about.

[Samantha]

I started watching the Rurouni anime back when I was a teen and never had an opportunity to read the manga. I've finally started collecting the manga and just absolutely love it. It's a great story about Japanese history that has a little over everything in it (action, romance, comedy). For someone who wants an introduction into manga, Rurouni Kenshin is definitely a great story to start with.



Same thing as last time with Skip Beat. Especially with the beginning story arcs, I really get into the development of the relationship with Ren and Kyoko. Just absolutely love it!



I picked up this book because the teenage boys I work with have been reading them and I want to be up with what they're reading. I found that I really enjoyed this book. It somewhat satisfies my hole that I've had ever since Harry Potter ended. I loved the Greek mythology that is in the book because Greek mythology has always been interesting to me. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It's an easy and engaging read.

[Samantha]

I love the Sookie Stackhouse series SO much! I love that it's all of my favorite things in one series: romance, mystery, and vampires. I also love Sookie's character. She's not the typical female character that wants to stick with the person she cares about and suffers incredible hardship about it against her own good *cough Twilight cough*. She's actually got a tough skin and isn't afraid to dump a guy or be on her own to figure hings out for herself. I get so involved in the storyline. I just love it so much!


Garth Nix seems to be one of those amazing authors that gets shoved into the shadows of current authors that aren't as nearly as talented. I'm just fascinated with the creativity of Nix's stories. It's unlike anything else and there's this constant wondering of how things are going to turn out in the end. I think it's a great young adult series that should be read by anyone looking for something different.

[Samantha]

I really do like the Sookie Stackhouse series, as I've said many times, but I only gave this one a 4 instead of the usual 5 because it seems like Sookie is juggling numerous men and can't make up her mind. I didn't mind it when it was between two or three guys. The problem is when at one point it seemed like she had a thing between Bill, Eric, Sam, Alcide, AND Quinn! That's just a bit ridiculous -.-



Ok. I've seen both renditions of "The Shining" and while the Stanley Kubrick version is extremely scary and the mini-series version is more accurate to the book, the book itself is definitely the best. All of us know that our imaginations are what make reading so engaging and enjoyable. This book plays to your imagination and brings the horror to life in a way movies couldn't. I swear I felt myself getting dragged into the book as if the hotel wanted me as well. There are a few scenes in the book that are NOT included in either movie and the ending is different from both movies as well. If you've seen the movies and feel like that's good enough - so wrong. NEED TO READ THE BOOK!

[Samantha]

This book felt a little different to me compared to the other books in the series that I've read so far. It almost seemed like a segway from one main theme to the next. It was basically a transition book. Lots of things wrapped up nicely and some things were definitely showing that there's a new beginning to some of the stories that were just introduced in the previous book. Not great as a stand-alone book, but I have a feeling it was a good set-up for what is going to come next. We'll see what happens from here.



This was a wonderful ending to an amazing series. I truly enjoyed reading this from page 1 of the first book to the last page of this one. This book does a very nice job of finishing everything up and leaving you with a feeling that everything ended just the way it was supposed to. This is a good equivalent of the Harry Potter series. There are not as many side stories as with Harry Potter, but it is definitely a family-friendly series that I would recommend to kids as well as adults. You won't be disappointed!

[Samantha]

I loved the stories that JK wrote for this book. They go with the Harry Potter series and having the background info coming from "Albus" is a really nice touch. It's a great book to have for any Harry Potter fan. The stories are ones that you can read over and over again. I wish there were more stories, but I also understand that Beedle's Tales were only meant as a supplement tool to the main story and not an actual book of its own.

[Samantha]

Being a psychology major, I always wanted to read Oliver Sacks's books. I like how they are unique cases that you don't typically see every day. At times, his wording and phrasing can be complex, but I still found it enjoyable.

[Samantha]

So, this is a different story line from what I've heard in the past, which is nice. Especially since a lot of the book deals with classics monsters (vampires, werewolves, warlocks). I liked how the pieces of the puzzle were coming into place as the story went along. Some of the pieces I put together sooner than the book did, but that's all right with me. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the end of the book....

*Little spoiler alert*

(view spoiler)[I don't like how they've been building up this romantic relationship between Jace and Clary, then make them into biological siblings. I mean, it's not like they're no blood relation at all - they both come from the same mother AND father. After wanting these two to hook up throughout the entire book, it makes you feel a little gross at the end to realize they never can and that they never will. (hide spoiler)]

Because of this, I think I understand why City of Bones (book 1) was always gone off the shelf in the library, but City of Ashes (book 2) was always on the shelf. It was a well written book with an interesting storyline, but the spoiler I wrote above is...well...weird enough to throw people off. I'd say, give it a shot and see what you think. It's worth the read but be kind of prepared for a weird ending.