The Girl In Between

The Girl In Between
Laekan Zea Kemp
242 Pages
The Girl In Between Series

Overview: Laekan Zea Kemp's website (https://laekanzeakemp.wordpress.com/books/)
Bryn Reyes is a real life sleeping beauty. Afflicted with Klein-Levin Syndrome, she suffers episodes of prolonged sleep that steal weeks, and sometimes even months, from her life. But unlike most KLS patients, she doesn’t spend each episode in a catatonic state or wake up with no recollection of the time she’s missed. Instead, Bryn spends half her life in an alternate reality made up of her memories. For Bryn, the past is a place, until one day a boy she’s never met before washes up on the illusory beach of her dreams with no memory of who he is.
But the appearance of this strange boy isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Bryn’s symptoms are worsening, her body weakening as she’s plagued by hallucinations even while awake. Her only hope of finding a cure is to undergo experimental treatment created by a German specialist. But when Dr. Banz reveals that he knows more about her strange symptoms than he originally let on, Bryn learns that the boy in her head might actually be the key to understanding what’s happening to her, and worse, that if she doesn’t find out his identity before it’s too late, they both may not survive.

Opinion:
Omg magnifique. I legit could not but this book down. It has me hooked. Bryn was very interesting; I thought she was a strong independent female character (i love those types of characters), until Duncan was introduced into the story. Then Bryn got a little annoying. She knew Duncan was bad news. Even though I know this happens in real life, i still wish it wouldn't happen in books. I liked mystery boy. He seemed fun and cute. The story was great; i just wish the shadow mystery was resolved. I kinda feel like they are from another planet. That would be cool. Lastly, this is the first time i have ever heard of Klein-Levin Syndrome. So that made the book even more interesting. The Girl In Between isn't a must read, but it is a worth-while one. Continue on with the series once you are done as well.

Until next time, Adieu!

The Book Thief

  


The Book Thiefby  Jaystab (COVER ART)

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

550 pages

Overview: Amazon.com ("Robot Check." Robot Check. Web. 9 Nov. 2014. http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Thief-Markus-Zusak/dp/0375842209. )

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

Opinion:
OMG! This book was amazing. Before I read the book, I saw the movie and I cried. I rarely cry during a movie, but The Book Thief stole my heart. The same for the book though i didnt cry this time. I loved the characters; all of them. They were all so beauitfully written and portrayed; they seemed like real people. Leslie, Max, and Rudy were my favorites though. I felt their angst and struggle. Rudy was too cute with his kiss requests. I was waiting for the day she finally gave in and gave Rudy what he deserved. Rosa and Han were beautiful people and foster parents; Im glad Leslie went to then and that they made her into the fabulous book thief that she was. Isla Hermann, the mayor's wife, was an important character as well. And Max's book was beautiful. It was perfect. I pretty much have soo many words that I want to say about how i loved this book, but none will come out. The first and last page of the book hooked me to it forever. And then how the narrator was Death. WOW!! I think that is the one simple word that describes the book. Get it and read it. A MUST READ AND A MUST HAVE. It is [insert every possible positive word her]!!!!!

P.S. I want the book and movie for Christmas.

P.P.S For the cover, i have no idea why dominoes are included.Anybody have a guess.

A Lesson before Dying

 
A Lesson Before Dying
Ernest J. Gaines
256 pages

Summary: Amazon.com
("A Lesson Before Dying (Oprah's Book Club)." Amazon.com. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. <http://www.amazon.com/Lesson-Before-Dying-Oprahs-Book/dp/0375702709>.)

 A Lesson Before Dying, is set in a small Cajun community in the late 1940s.  Jefferson, a young black man, is an unwitting party to a liquor store shoot out in which three men are killed; the only survivor, he is convicted of murder and sentenced to death.  Grant Wiggins, who left his hometown for the university, has returned to the plantation school to teach.  As he struggles with his decision whether to stay or escape to another state, his aunt and Jefferson's godmother persuade him to visit Jefferson in his cell and impart his learning and his pride to Jefferson before his death.  In the end, the two men forge a bond as they both come to understand the simple heroism of resisting—and defying—the expected.

Ernest J. Gaines brings to this novel the same rich sense of place, the same deep understanding of the human psyche, and the same compassion for a people and their struggle that have unformed his previous, highly praised works of fiction.

 My Opinion:
This book was interesting. Jefferson's death was inevitable, so pretty much the only conflict in the book was Jefferson's thinking and Grant's thinking. Now let me tell you I really dislike Grant. His pessimistic, almost depressed, egoistical attitude got on my nerves. He didn't seem to truly care about other human beings beside himself, not even Vivian. His perspective on things was also very narrow-minded and closed-minded. I really wonder how Tante Lou was able to put up with him for so many years. My big question is how old Grant is? It was never explained; I suspect more than 20. Grant didn't deserve Vivian and she could do so much better. Grant never even told us more about Vivian's children. What were their names and ages? All these questions that wont be answered.Now about the Reverend Ambrose, i like that he wanted to save Jefferson's soul, but his approach was atrocious. He seemed so fake. Most of the men in this book didn't understand tact and other simple things about interacting with others. Miss Emma, Vivian, and Tante Lou needed more chapters diverted to them and their strong wills. They seemed like fabulous people and Strong Independent Black Women, although Tante Lou and Miss Emma's view on mulattoes was uncalled for in my opinion. If you took out all the complexities of the characters or just the characters in general, the symbolism in this book was beautiful. I can relate to some of the issues in 2014. The Mulatto vs. African American is now light skinned vs. dark-skinned. The vicious cycle for black men is still jail or death. The thing between church and atheism will always be around. Ernest J. Gaines went in deep for this book; he made me think. I cant say i thoroughly enjoyed the book, but I can say i didn't hate it like some of the other school books I have been forced to read.

*When i say mulatto, i am only using the term from the book. In regular everyday language, i would say mixed and it wouldn't be in a negative manner.*

p.s. My class is watching the movie and it is way different from the book, but a lot of the actors are well-known and famous. It also seems like i have seen it before.