THE HUNGER GAMES

I read The Hunger Games maybe two years ago and loved it. It was really great to read it again. I really wish I had the second and third books so I could read them again. SO GOOD!

In Cold Blood

Yay! I finally finished In Cold Blood. My mom read it a million years ago, and she told me it was supposed to be really scary, but it wasn't. It was actually a little boring.

This isn't LIFE!!!

I recently finished reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." I really liked the book, up until the last 20 or so chapters. The book is really beautifully sad and it shows the strength of those living in the slums of America. It also demonstrates what getting an education can do to help you better your situation, whatever it may be. However, *SPOILER ALERT* it almost gets TOO good. It didn't feel realistic that life could get so much better SO FAST. I would have been happy with Francie staying with a job in Brooklyn, and it was sad to see her leave. she talked briefly of what happens to Brooklyners (Brooklynites? Anyway..) who get to a better place. I didn't want to see Francie forget her home and I wanted to see her stay. I also didn't agree with the Nolan's decision to raise Laurie as McShane's daughter instead of Johnny's. Very sad.
Anyway, I would still recommend it as it is good for the other 36 chapters. For a big book, it's a pretty fast read.

Since I last posted and why I prefer to BUY books

So, I finished Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, then I read Water for Elephants, The Handmaid's Tale, and To Kill a Mockingbird. I think it would be best to give my reviews on these books because I'm not far enough into my new book to say much about (I'm on maybe page 5.) So let's begin!

Water for Elephants: This book is so dirty. Half of it is about the circus and the main character's life as an old man. The other half is just sex. It's really well written and the plot's good, but I think the author could've made better choices. You don't have to use sex to get people to like your book. I'm a prude, let's be honest, so someone else might not see it the same way. It's not so uncomfortable that you have to stop reading, but it's enough that you wouldn't recommend it to your mom. I thought it related a lot to Hotel because of the story set in the past and the present, as well as the theme of "forbidden love." I would give it a 7/10 stars.

The Handmaid's Tale: So good. this is probably one of the best books I've ever read. It takes place in future where women are horribly suppressed into the roles of wife, Martha or Handmaid. The Martha's are servants and the Handmaids' are basically surrogate mothers for the wives. The main character Offred (get it, "of Fred" because she is considered a belonging) is a handmaid who describes her life now and the short bursts of memory that remind her of the past when she had a husband and a daughter. At first, I was confused but after a couple chapters I got enough of it to enjoy it, while still being confused enough to want to learn more. I thought this book would be more biased, but I liked that the author told a story without thrusting feminism down our throats. My only complaint? I want a sequel so bad. 9/10 stars.

To Kill a Mockingbird: I really, really, really, really (I think you get the idea) wish we would have read this book. It's so good. And it doesn't make me feel bad for being white. I like the perspective and characters the author chose for this book. I think many of us have had to read African American literature and I definitely some of us have had to read books that make us feel awful because it's kind of our fault. But, I didn't feel that way with this book. I felt sympathy for the African American characters and I understood the need for equality. I liked Scout and Jem, so I wanted to (and did) agree with them in their desire for Tom's freedom. Atticus Finch is also a very likeable character, so you want to follow his example. The author did a great job because she showed a case where the accused was obviously innocent, so that you could understand the inequality and learn to hate it. I wish that some how there could be a children's version of this because it would be such a great teacher of equal rights. 10/10 stars.

I was reading In Cold Blood and about 3/4 of the way through when the library wanted my book back even though I hadn't gone through 3 renewals and there was only ONE request and THREE books checked in. So I'm finished.

Marty is a Jerk and I hate him.... Just kidding!...No I'm not

So I'm a little to far into my book to give a very good summary of what has happened because so much has happened. Basically, it tells the story of Henry Lee in 1986 and 1942, when he is an old man and when he is a boy. As a boy, he experiences the racism against Asians during WWII. He has a Japanese friend who is sent to "camp." As an adult, he discovers the belongings of many evacuated Japanese families in the basement of the Panama Hotel. He also deals with the death of his wife and his strained relationship with his son, Marty.
To be honest, it's all Marty. I like Henry and I think he tries to be a good father but Marty is just awful. He doesn't try to get to know his dad. In the chapter I'm reading, he comments on how extremely "Chinese" his father is, and how Henry doesn't except others especially Japanese. He then learns that Henry had a Japanese friend, but even then doesn't take all of Henry's words as fact. Marty is awful and I do not like him.

Warbler Cry!
Maddie

Parasols Are NOT Meant for Rain

So, I recently started reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and it's beautiful. It's so good, and I like how the author writes about the main character, Henry, as a child and an old man. But before I write about the book, I want to show you the cover and rant a little bit.

On the cover, they show a boy with an umbrella and a girl with a parasol. On an obviously wet street. Now, I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure parasols aren't meant for rain. They actually get ruined when wet. Hence the name "parsol". As in "para sol" or "for sun".So why does she have one now? Either she made a mistake or he did because you can't use an umbrella when it's sunny.

I guess most people wouldn't care that
much, but I'm not most people. That sounds like something from romantic movie. I'm such a loser sometimes.

Warbler Cry!
Maddie

Wait, so, you're supposed to be in 9th grade?

Welcome to my brand new 10th grade reading blog! I will post every week before Wednesday at midnight because I was asked to do so by my lovely English teacher! She is the greatest and I am confident that I will receive an A!

But, seriously, I am excited to blog about reading and probably Grant Gustin as well because we're pretty much dating....
Look at his face. He's obviously thinking of me.









Warbler Cry!!!
Maddie