Snow Flower and the Secret fan

Another China historical fiction. But I loved this book. It takes place in the early 19th century. It follows the lives of two Chinese girls through childhood feet binding. (which made me sick) arranged weddings, child raising and old age. It is so interesting to see their culture and experience it with them. It brings a lot of understanding about foot binding and what was considered beautiful. After reading it and see why they did it in hopes of better lives for their children. Even though they crippled them for life. I pretty much could not put it down. After you read it pot on here what you thought. Would you have bound your children's feet? Do you think with time that you would have been a kinder mother in law? Or do you think that that was their way of avenging themselves in their old age for the way they were treated?

Mao's Last Dancer

This book was our book club book for this month. It is kind of difficult to find at stores (at least here). So you may want to check out Amazon. There are also 2 versions of this story. One is an Adult version, one is a young adult. The Adult one has more history, and is about 200 pages longer. I read the young adult and kind of want the other one just for more info.
This story is a biography of a boy that grew up in China under the reign of Mao. It talks about the cultural revolution in China from the perspective of an 11 year old. He was then trained in ballet, and found a way out of communism. It is very well written. Lots of history. It is also being made into a movie. It is a rare glimpse into that country.

Water for Elephants

So this book was suppose to be our new book club book, but I had to veto it because of content. Warning chapter 3 is a very descriptive stripper scene. Not really appropriate for a church book club. Also it is laced with the f-word. All in all it really is on the morally low books, the plot is an affair and a murder, you get the picture. While I wouldn't recommended the book, the author's notes on the book were fascinating. She studied circus's in the 1930's. There are real photo's and some of the plot was based around actual events. The circus's back then truly were a freak show. From parasitic twins, to electrocution of elephants (no animal rights) it was graphically fascinating to me. I would recommend reading the research the author put into this book. But the book itself a little to crass for me.

Scotch Trials

So this is the second book in the Maze runner series. Number 3 is not yet out. This one follows the characters from book one through another trial, also known as the scorch. They are trying to illuminate the week, but they are not accomplishing this as quickly as I guess they would like. I liked it, and it keeps the story going but it was not nearly as good as the Maze runner.

Jane Eyre

So this was our book club for the month. I am pretty proud that I finished it really. Not saying that it wasn't really good, but it was a difficult read. A lot of description! But the story is amazing. Whenever I ask anyone about this book the say they read it in school. I didn't but I am so glad I have read it. The one thing that stands out to me in this book is the character of Jane. She has the most pure character. She is honest with others, but more importantly with herself. That quality is one that is so precious, I want to be more like that. Throughout the book she is never dishonest with herself. I highly suggest reading it if you didn't already ion high school.

The Maze Runner !! Amazing!

Ok put down what you are reading and go start this book!
So I have not been good at updating this blog, but this book had to be on here before I went ahead and added my last months worth of books. This is a new favorite! I put it on the shelf with the first Hunger Games. I seriously could not put it down. And I can put about any book down. So today we didn't do laundry, or homework, or dishes, or make dinner. You get the idea! So it is about a group of boys that find themselves in a maze with their memories wiped. They can't get out, they are pretty much self-sufficient there, but they are trapped. Then their world changes, and they have to get out! You must read this book. Then tell me how much you love it!

The Help

THis is one of my new favorite's. THanks Mindee for the reccomendation. This book is historical fiction, it takes place in the 1960 in Jacksonville, Mississippi. This story follows some white families and their black maids during the time of civil rights. The characters are amazing. I laughed and cried, multiple times. This is one I think I will buy because I would read it twice, and I usually never read a book twice. Because there are so many new ones to read. So I highly recommend it.