Breathe To Read

Breathe To Read

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

2016 Challenge - Book 52 - A Game of Thrones

This was another whopper sized book, so it took me a bit to read.  Plus - I am actually finding that summer is harder to find time to read rather than easier.

Today I am reviewing:  A Game of Thrones



It is under the category: A book recommended by a spouse

This is a story about a land where there are 7 kingdoms, and many people who want to rule them.  Right now there is one King.  There are lords that rule the other areas of the kingdoms, but they all bow to one King.  There is magic, dragons, lords, ladies, princes, princesses, soldiers, sorcerers, and seers.  In this land, summers and winters can last for years without end.  There are many who want to be King (or Queen) of the seven kingdoms and will do anything to make that happen.

I really enjoyed this book.  I was worried it was going to be boring and overly nerdy.  My husband and I watch the show together, but mostly because he loves it and I am in the room at the same time.  But I have grown to like some of the characters, so when he suggested I read the book, I gave in.  I am so glad I did.  It is really well written.  It is not for the faint of heart.  This is not a love story.  This is a story of war, and power, and wealthy people getting what they want.

I encourage you to read it if you like fantasy fiction.  You will not be disappointed.

Stars: 5

Thursday, August 11, 2016

2016 Challenge - Book 51 - Watership Down

Today's book I am going to review is

Watership Down



This was under the category:  A Book About an Animal

This book takes place in one of England's Downs called Watership.  It is a story about a group of rabbits to decide to leave their Warren due to some foreseen danger predicted by one of the rabbits.  This rabbit has been known to be a bit of a seer, so his closest friends believe him and leave the Warren together.  They set out to find a place to settle down.  They meet several rabbits and other creatures along the way - some who become friends, and others who become enemies.  A few rabbits don't make it to their final home, but most do.

Once settled, they start to realize they will need does to form a complete Warren.  (the band of rabbits that traveled were all male).  They use the help of a new friend - a bird - to search out warrens near by for does.  They then take their bravest rabbits to visit the warren to see if they can encourage some of their does to follow them to their new Warren.

The rabbits overcome impossible odds to settle a new Warren and begin a new life.  The guidance of their leader, Hazel, makes it possible.

I enjoyed this book.  It was a slow start, I have to admit.  But as I got into it, I become more and more involved in the stories of the main characters, willing them to live through every battle, and every mission.  When one of the main rabbits seemed to be doomed for good, I worried what would happen to the morale of the whole group.  They had come so far together, and there were so few of them from the original Warren.

The book has a whole language thought up by the author, which after awhile I started thinking about in my every day life.  He has a glossary of terms in the back of the book, which was nice for when you forgot what one of the "rabbit language" words meant.

This is a mature book - definitely suited more for middle school students, but children ages 13 and over would enjoy the story.    I say give it a try.  The battle scenes went on a little long in my opinion, but don't let those get in the way of enjoying the overall story of this book

Stars: 4

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

2016 Challenge - book 50 - I Am Legend

Lucky number 50!!!  If I was doing my original challenge, I would be at the end.  But I have chosen to do a 75 book challenge, so onward we go.

This book is:  I am Legend



It falls under the category:  A book by an author that writes under more than one name

This is another "end of the world" type of story.  There has been an illness that is causing people to turn into vampires.  (I know - for real).  The main character's name is Robert.  He is pretty sure he is the last man on earth that isn't a vampire.  During the day time, he goes out into the city hunting vampires who sleep like the dead (and won't attack him) and hunt for food and supplies.  At night he has to hole up in his house to try and keep the vampires out.  They know he is in there, and are constantly trying to break in.  He can't get away from the city where he is because once the sun goes down, he has to be back in the safety of his house.

Robert also spends a lot of time at the library trying to figure out if there can be a cure for the people who are not "too far gone".

This is a really short story.  The book has many short stories in it, and this is just one of them.  I have seen the movie "I am Legend" and it is nothing like this book.  Well - almost nothing.  Yes there are vampires and yes there is Robert, but that is where the similarities end.  So I was shocked when I read it - expecting it to be similar.

The story holds its own.  Robert is very infested in finding a cure.  He is desperate for human contact.  He hardly sleeps because at night the vampires scream for him to come out and join them.

The ending was the same as the movie (if you have seen it - no spoilers if not), but it just happens in a different way.

You could try this book.  It wasn't really my cup of tea.....maybe because it was so short.  I never really got as invested in the characters as I would have liked.

Stars:  3

2016 Book Challenge - book 49 - The Stand

Wow - I have been missing for awhile!  I have read a few books, but one was huge and took me a long time.  Let's start with that one.

The book I am reviewing is:  The Stand



This was under the category:  Book Originally Published the Decade You Were Born

This is the story of good versus evil.  A patient escapes from a testing facility where everyone has died from whatever has been released into the air by accident.  He makes it half way across the country before he stops - too sick to continue.  Along the way he has infected anyone he has come in contact with.  They call it "the flu".  There are few people who are immune.  Everyone else dies of the flu within a week or so of becoming infected.

The people who remain form two groups.  One is lead by 108 year old Abigail Freeman who follows God's calling.  The others are lead by Randall Flagg who represents the devil.  These two people come to the remaining survivors through dreams - calling them to join them.  In the end, there is a stand against evil to help restore humanity.

This is one of my favorite stories that Steven King wrote.  I try to read at least one of his big books each summer.  (this one was a whopping 1100 pages).  I have seen the TV miniseries and love it.  IT is a great story, and exactly how I imagine it would go if the population was invaded by a deadly disease and what was left were people who were good and people who weren't.

I definitely recommend this book.  Yes, it is a doozy to read, but you will not be sorry.

Stars:  5