52 Books in 52 Weeks (2011) discussion

Book reviews for week 20.

You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Bought this book in a hurry when I had five minutes to spare before catching a train and needed something to help pass the time on the journey. I had never heard of the author before and only picked it up because it was discounted. Sometimes the best reads come along so unexpectedly it seems like fate. This is a fast paced story, a real page turner that grips from the very beginning and does not let up until the last page is turned and finished.

The past had caught up with Mike. A past he knows nothing about and has never been successful in finding any information about, it threatens, him, his wife and his daughter and he does not know why. The story shows the power of a loving relationship and the strength of the bond between parent and child.

At one point I questioned why the bad guys were so determined to hunt Mike and his family down when he did not know the secret he carried within him. I am glad the question was answered but you have to be paying attention to spot it. Only a sentence in a short paragraph to explain why he wasn't left in peace but hunted down with fierce determination.




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By Stieg Larsson
2.5/5 stars

I almost considered giving this 2 stars but the end of the book was a little better. The first 300 pages of this book were so boring I thought my head was going to explode. I really don't get the hype about this series at all. I've heard that the next two in the series are much better, and I really hope they are. I thought there was a lot of unnecessary filler in this one and it was such a pain to drag through. I liked the mystery and I like the characters but I think it went on wayy too long. I wouldn't say I liked it but it was slightly more than just okay..so maybe more like 2.5 stars.

ratings: 2.5/5

Tina Fey. It is a name that was enough to make me grab this book and read it as much as I hate autobiographies. Tina Fey has become an inspirational figure. She made it to my list of "women who defied the ordinary".

In Bossypant she talks about a lot of things. about her life, family, career, ideas and challenges. I liked and shared most of her opinions. I liked how she talked about personal stories, like her honeymoon, her father, her journey in the Second City and most of all her advices to women (yeah I can't help it :) ). It was absolutely hilarious and I had enjoyed reading parts of it. I also admired her style of writing. However, it failed to deliver in some parts. I would be reading one of them and then later would forget why it was brought up.

It is a funny book you can read while you're bored and learn some things. But due to my VERY high expectations of it, it was disappointing.

Between the Numbers 5 by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lizzy bakes cupcakes for a living. The best cupcakes ever tasted. She lives in a house inherited from her great aunt , in Salem. All she wants to do is have quiet life, bake the cupcakes, earn enough to pay the mortgage and write a best selling cooking book. Then into her life enters Diesel and everything turns upside down. Before she knows it she is looking after a monkey and a one eyed cat. And has discovered a power for finding things that are lost. This isn't a laugh out loud story in the way the Stephanie Plum books are but I found this a light hearted entertaining read that made a pleasant change from the usual crime fiction I seem addicted too.



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The Disobedient Virgin (The Ramirez Brides #3)

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85...

5/5

J.R.R. Tolkiens Classic the Hobbit by Patricia Gray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


ok woke up from my sleep to finally finish this torcheris book lol just kidding it was good i have to admit it was just not my mood thats why i took so long trying to finish it but im so glad i did loved the ending so much thogh the ending was one of the funnest parts but overall i loved the ridels and the optimis in theme.



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Uglies

my rating: 4/5

Uglies, a novel I heard about a lot and as most overrated things, I believed it's not worth all this talk. That's the problem with judging books by their cover (or by hearsay in my case). However, I am always happy to be proven wrong and blown away with those I judge as bad or unworthy.

When I started reading this book, I was reminded of The Hunger Games. Like Katnis, Tally is a strong, rebellious and independent girl who is forced to make choices and forced to do things to redeem herself. Not gonna talk more about the plot, as you can read a synopsis online.

I really liked this book, liked its characters. I was able to be inside their heads and know what they're thinking but they manage to surprise me sometimes. Scott Westerfeld managed to draw this huge virtual world where we moved with the characters through completely different cities while all of that contributed to the plot of the story. As to the story, I find it exciting, thrilling and very gripping. I didn't want to let this book out of my hands, I even sleep with it still in my lap.

I admire the writer who can make his characters seem alive to the readers and can connect with them with such ease as if the reader is an eyewitness to the events. This factor is crucial when it comes to my books or tv shows. Absolute joy!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


this was funny and fun unfurtunetly i read the second book before the first but i had seen the first movie in the last summer break.



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هروبي إلى الحرية
by علي عزت بيگوفيتش

5/5

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

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سلالم الشرق
by Amin Maalouf

4/5

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Title: The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Author: Milan Kundera
Rating: 2.00/5.00

I've heard a lot of noise about this book. Waves of glorifying reviews about how amazing this book is, and how brilliant Milan Kundera is. It was on my reading list for quite a while, with the only thing delaying parting its covers was its lack of presence in my book collection. So, as soon as I bought a copy I was already very eager to see what the great fuss was about.

Well, I still don't know what it’s about!

Maybe I've just lost tolerance for these kind of stories- those of love and betrayal, sprung by weak beings and topped with misogynism. But really, where is the enlightening philosophical thought pattern that is supposed to be flowing between the pages of this story? Where is that idea that is supposed to leave you wondering and pondering after you turn the last page? Ok, dark and light, two extremes… Got it! But what more?

The author's own narrative voice was too loud. It impeded any personal reflections or interpretation of the story from occurring. The main protagonists were unbelievably annoying. I couldn't sympathize with any of them. They did not even seem human! Eh… maybe that is what was supposed to be so light about their beings!?!

I am sure that many people would find this book exceptional. But it simply just was not my cup of tea. I am also glad that I didn’t buy all of his books (just one more that I have to read!).

My Reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

By: Julie Kagawa
5/5

Incredible! This book had it all; action, romance, and humor. I look forward to the next installment of books by Kagawa!

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Who Moved My Cheese?
by Spencer Johnson
rating: 2/5

Meh :\

Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




CHAOS.
Insane, and I love it. Made it to my most favorite novels of all time.
Extremely well-written, and captivating.

After reading Fight Club, Survivor, and then Diary (and liking it less), I was really scared of the thought that maybe Palahniuk cannot shock me anymore; which was a really sad thought because I'm mad about Chuck and his writing. Well, I was wrong. Seriously wrong.
Personally, it was definitely the most disturbing novel of his that I've read so far, simply because it's the most realistic. Just, how applicable it is.
I've shelved this in 'philosophy' because, in essence, it was really that.

Interesting fact:
This was supposed to be his first published novel, but it was rejected by the publisher for being TOO DISTURBING. So, Fight Club got published first instead.

Recommended to anyone who's not afraid of being confronted with crassness and foul language/ideas.



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Bird Cloud
By Annie Proulux
3/5

Recommend to readers who are interested in the West and history of the West, Montana. Also about birds, building a home and contractors.

Word of Mouse: The Marketing Power of Collaborative Filtering
John Riedl

4/5

A great introduction into the power of collaborative filtering and recommender systems.

Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?
Michael J. Sandel
5/5
Reading this book is like getting the famous course in Harvard which is called "Justice"
It's an interesting book that talks about Justice in politics, economy, and moral in a philosophical ways using some famous theories and how each of these theories deals with each case.

Lovemarks: The Future Beyond Brands by Kevin Roberts

Interesting read. It talks about how marketing research doesn't always show you what exactly is going on in the market and it's important to interact and engage with customers. I loved the idea of "lovemarks" and loyalty beyond reason. It brings to mind a number of brands and ideas all around us.

I recommend it to anyone interested in branding or marketing.

I gave it 3 stars.

The Wilt Inheritance by Tom Sharpe

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I think I picked up the wrong book, in what seems like a series. I liked the main character Henry Wilt, and I suppose there is some wit, but the book was mostly dry and a tad bit stifling, to be honest.



The other characters were a bit tastless and highly annoying. I don't know. I _would_ give the first book a shot, if I ever come across it, so I guess this book wasn't entirely a loss.



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3/5

"picked up the audio book knowing nothing about it, but it ended up being really funny, it really cracked me up, and with Tina reading it, it was even better and better. Tina/liz for the win! "

عالم صوفي
جوستاين غاردر
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