Breathe To Read

Breathe To Read

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Extra Book #8 - Fun Home

This book I am reviewing today is called

Fun Home



This book is a graphic novel.  I read it because I was interested in seeing the Broadway Show, and I do like the music.  So I picked up the book.  It is a fast read, because it is a graphic novel.  The story is also a true story of the author's life.

Here is what Amazon says about this book:

Meet Alison's father, a historic preservation expert and obsessive restorer of the family's Victorian home, a third-generation funeral home director, a high school English teacher, an icily distant parent, and a closeted homosexual who, as it turns out, is involved with his male students and a family babysitter. Through narrative that is alternately heartbreaking and fiercely funny, we are drawn into a daughter's complex yearning for her father. And yet, apart from assigned stints dusting caskets at the family-owned "fun home," as Alison and her brothers call it, the relationship achieves its most intimate expression through the shared code of books. When Alison comes out as homosexual herself in late adolescense, the denouement is swift, graphic -- and redemptive.

I enjoyed the graphic novel.  She had an interesting and somewhat tragic childhood which lead to a tragic loss of her father when she was 20 years old.  After reading the book, I am curious to see how it plays out in a Broadway play.

If you have seen the musical, or have heard about it, I think it would be worth the read.  Please be aware that this book is not for children/pre-teens.  There are a lot of adult scenes/conversations in this graphic novel.

Stars:  3 1/2

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Extra Book #7 - The Last Town

Last of the Pines Triology

This book was called:  The Last Town



Time moves slowly in these books.  Between the start of the last book and this one, only a week has passed.  Ethan has learned that the children at the school have been being taught that David Pilcher - the town's founder - is a god.  No one is allowed to leave.  If you ask questions, you take a chance of being killed.

But Ethan knows the towns secret, and he is one of the only people.  He is trying to decide if he should keep this secret to himself, or share it with the towns people.  His decision will change everything.  (whether that is good or bad, you will have to wait to find out).

Interesting end to the series.  The books was going along great, but the ending was a bit of a let down.  I think it was because it left me wanting more.  I wanted the story to continue to see where it went.  Maybe the author will write another book.  Or maybe the TV show will further the story.

I would say read all three.  Each book covers such a small time period, it would be hard to just read one.

Stars:  3 1/2

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Extra Book #6 - Wayward

Book #2 in the Pines Triology!

This book was called Wayward



Two weeks have passed since Ethan has arrived in the strange town of Wayward Pines.  He has found out that there are only 461 people that live in the town, he has found out the truth of the fence, and the town, and he has found his ex-partner.  He has also been made sheriff.   None of the residents know how they got there.  As Ethan starts to talk to them, most of them were in some kind of accident and ended up where they are.  They are told where to work, how to live, how to marry.  Some think they are dead.  Some think they are part of an experiment.  But Ethan knows the truth and what lays beyond the fence of the town is terrifying and worth staying where they are.

Again - I know, vague.  But I don't want to give it away.  It is more fun to figure it out yourself.   This book was kind of like the TV show, but mostly went its own direction.  It wasn't a bad direction at all, though.  The TV show just chose a different direction and chose to feature different characters.  I enjoyed this book as much as the first.  It is an easy read, so I say continue to book three!

Stars:  4

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Extra book #5 - Pines

Oops!  I was reading and not posting.  I have read 4 books since my last post, so I will post one a day.
Today's book that I am going to review is called

Pines



This book is a trilogy and I read all three.  I decided to read these because Mat and I watched the TV series called "Wayward Pines", and it just got renewed for a second season, so I wanted to see what was coming.

Unfortunately, the TV show and books were not that much a like.  Well, I shouldn't say unfortunately - both are good, but both went different ways.  And from what I can tell, it took all three books to tell the story that was the first season of "Wayward Pines" so who knows where the second season will go.  Reminds me a bit of "Under the Dome" - but that show just went crazy, so let's hope not.

Anyway - Pines.  This story is about a secret service agent named Ethan that is sent on a mission to Wayward Pines, Idaho to look for his missing ex-partner and another agent.  He is a car accident on his way into Wayward Pines, and wakes up in the hospital.  He is confused and agitated and escapes the hospital several times trying to find his ex-partner and his way out of a town he doesn't understand.  He isn't able to get phone calls through to his wife and son.  He doesn't know why there is an electrified fence around the town.

Now - this is as much as I am willing to tell you because I don't want to ruin what the main plot of the book is.  I did love this series, and I thought it was a neat idea (and something I could see happening), so I recommend you picking it up and trying it.  Hopefully you will enjoy it and will want to read the other two.

Stars:  4 1/2

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

They keep on coming! - Thirteen Reasons Why

These last two books I read were two fast ones.

The book I am reviewing today is called Thirteen Reason's Why


This book is about a high school girl who commits suicide.  The whole town is reeling with why it happened.  One day, our main character receives a package at his door - inside are cassette tapes.  He doesn't know who they are from or what they are doing at his house, but he finds an old tape player and begins to listen.  He quickly realizes they are from the dead girl.  She wants to take an opportunity to explain what lead her to her decision to kill herself and the 13 people who were involved with that decision.  Each person on the tapes is to receive them at some point, and then pass them on to the next person.

Our main character, Clay, is a good guy.  He takes the time to listen to the tapes and follow her path to what lead her to commit suicide.  And in the end, he passes the tapes on to the next person who is to receive them hopefully to help everyone heal.

This was an easy read.  It was definitely a young adult novel, and a good read for those in high school.  It talks about the signs of suicide and how one thing that happens to lead to many more, and for young people, it should not be taken lightly.  She made connections to everyone on her list and why she made her decision.  It was a little sappy, but again, it was YA.  If you are looking for something that talks about a very serious topic but does it in an easy read, then this book is for you.

Star rating: 3 1/2 

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Book Review - Dark Places

Still waiting for the year to end so I can start our next challenge.  So now I am just reading things that were on my shelf or that didn't fit in a category from last year's challenge.

This books was Dark Places


This is a story of a girl whose mother and two sisters were murdered when she was 7 years old.  She believed that her brother was responsible, and he was jailed for the murders.  Now she is in her early 30s, and people are questioning if she was right.  She spends the time interviewing people from her past and her brothers past to uncover the truth.

I enjoyed this book.  I enjoyed Gillian's first book - Gone Girl - so I was excited to read something else by her.  I wasn't disappointed.  I thought the story was well written and I think it flowed well.  I do wonder if Gillian has a very dark past, though.  She seems to write very dark stories.

I recommend this book.  And I think if I am given more time for free reading, I will pick up another one of her books.

Stars: 4 1/2