Beastly

So I thought I had added this but it looks like a missed a few books here and there. This is a really cute modern day version of Beauty and the Beast. How do you make this story modern? Well you just turn a punk gorgeous rich kid into a beast. Pretty far fetched but a very cute story. If you are in the mood for a fairy tail I highly recommended it. The weirdest part of the book is the internet chat group it starts with. If you think it is stupid (like I did) skip over the odd text it adds very little to the actual story. Also this book is now a major motion picture. I haven't seen it yet but I plan it.

Hex Hall

So this is a young adult series about a girl who is part demon. She is put in a school (Hex Hall) for witches who are out of control. There she finds out she is different from everyone else and falls in love with the wrong guy. It is a cute story clean language, mystery, a little action and a little romance.


Book two just came out, I finished it in about 1 day. It takes place in England during their summer term. Here Sophie finds out about the war waging on all of her kind. She must make a choice between family and love. She also gets put on the front lines of a war with out of control powers. The most annoying part about this book is the cliff hanger ending. And book three is not yet out.



If you liked this book check out the series "The Awakening" it's on this blog as well. Very similar storied. And "The Awakening has all it's books out.

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.