For the military fans, this one's for you!
This is an amazing story of a young man, Jack Odgen, who comes from wealth, priviledge, and opportunity and makes the selfless act of joining the Marine Corps against his family's wishes. His father tells him never to speak to him again, although his mother and sister do come around. It takes you on the path Jack took through Parris Island for basic training and even to the last of his days and beyond. Through his diary kept at PI, his letters to and from his family, and his family's thoughts, you'll learn of the difficulties new Marines face in training, the hardships of Jack going against his family for what he knew was right, and best of all, what became of that young Marine...and his child.
Overall Rating: A+++
Great story, although it does bring tears at certain moments.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
KM- Cut - Patricia McCormick
This book was one of my favorites when I was in high school. It's the story of a young teenager named Callie who is a "cutter". She is put into Sea Pines after a school nurse notices the lacerations on her arms, and the story is a great vessel that takes you into the mind of a troubled teen.
We can all relate to a time when we felt absolutely overwhelmed and felt utterly hopeless. Callie's story is one that will touch everyone's heart. She is going through treatments at Sea Pines and isolates herself behind a wall of silence. You'll be taken behind the scenes to how it all started, what provoked her, and best of all, how she finally got help.
It's a young adult book, but I think anyone of any age could appreciate this book. It's a very powerful story.
Overall Rating: A+
We can all relate to a time when we felt absolutely overwhelmed and felt utterly hopeless. Callie's story is one that will touch everyone's heart. She is going through treatments at Sea Pines and isolates herself behind a wall of silence. You'll be taken behind the scenes to how it all started, what provoked her, and best of all, how she finally got help.
It's a young adult book, but I think anyone of any age could appreciate this book. It's a very powerful story.
Overall Rating: A+
Friday, January 16, 2009
CM - The Hour I First Believed - Wally Lamb
This book was extremely well written and flowed nicely for the reader. I kept seeing the book everywhere, and as someone who takes a hint pretty quickly, I decided to read it. It was a work of fiction about a schoolteacher named Caelum Quirk and his wife Maureen who works as a school nurse. However, the book places two fictional characters at the scene of Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. If that makes sense...Caelum and Maureen were fictional characters, and their story was fictional, but all the facts surrounding Columbine were legit.
Had I not known better, I would have surely believed that these two people were real and so was their experience. That gives credit to the author for writing such an enthralling book. In April of 1999, Caelum returns home to Conneticut to be with his aunt, the only living member of his family and also the only one who ever cared about him. His aunt "Lolly" had suffered a stroke and although she was unable to talk, she manages to say "Cae", so he went. While he was there, he receives bad news followed by horrific news. His wife Maureen finds herself in the school library at Columbine (where the majority of the killings occured) locked in a cabinet saying Hail Mary's and etching a note to her husband in the cabinet fearing that the sadistic teenaged killers had only a matter of time before they found and killed her too. She survives, but not without cost...she is unable to recover from the trauma.
The effects of chaos are not so easily put right, and further tragedy ensues. I have to admit this book caught me off guard. What I thought was meant to be a book about Columbine turned into a eye-opening read. It questions the faith that lies at the heart of everyday life and questions why those who claim not to believe in God, nevertheless turn to Him in times of trouble and in the face of tragedy. I can't give away too much more because that would defeat the purpose of you reading the book, but it was a worthwhile novel. Great read. Oprah even picked Wally Lamb's books to go in her bookclub. I am personally envious of the fluidity in which he writes.
Ratings:
Hey, if its good enough for Oprah, it's good enough for you.
Great read, thought provoking, well written, I give it an A
Had I not known better, I would have surely believed that these two people were real and so was their experience. That gives credit to the author for writing such an enthralling book. In April of 1999, Caelum returns home to Conneticut to be with his aunt, the only living member of his family and also the only one who ever cared about him. His aunt "Lolly" had suffered a stroke and although she was unable to talk, she manages to say "Cae", so he went. While he was there, he receives bad news followed by horrific news. His wife Maureen finds herself in the school library at Columbine (where the majority of the killings occured) locked in a cabinet saying Hail Mary's and etching a note to her husband in the cabinet fearing that the sadistic teenaged killers had only a matter of time before they found and killed her too. She survives, but not without cost...she is unable to recover from the trauma.
The effects of chaos are not so easily put right, and further tragedy ensues. I have to admit this book caught me off guard. What I thought was meant to be a book about Columbine turned into a eye-opening read. It questions the faith that lies at the heart of everyday life and questions why those who claim not to believe in God, nevertheless turn to Him in times of trouble and in the face of tragedy. I can't give away too much more because that would defeat the purpose of you reading the book, but it was a worthwhile novel. Great read. Oprah even picked Wally Lamb's books to go in her bookclub. I am personally envious of the fluidity in which he writes.
Ratings:
Hey, if its good enough for Oprah, it's good enough for you.
Great read, thought provoking, well written, I give it an A
CM - Manhunt - Colin Wilson
This book is titled Manhunt - The Definitive History of Serial Murder Investigation. Being a criminal justice major, we tend to love reading these twisted accounts of human evil. This book is both a look at the sadistic killers themselves and the innovative techniques detectives have used to track them down. It describes in detail how psychological profiling is used to read "personality fingerprints" and create a profile to help catch and stop serial murderers. Although serial killers make up less than 1 percent of murders each year, their crimes are usually so grumesome that it makes detectives and the public alike wonder how they commit these heinous crimes with no compunction about doing so again and again.
This book embodied the stories of some of the most notorious criminals...that being said, their crimes are not bedtime stories. To anyone with a beating heart and a shred of human emotion, their crimes are unthinkable. It included but was not limited to the following: Karla Homoika (who looked like your everyday blonde but was driven by a desire to present her fiance' with a "surrogate virgin"-schoolgirls to rape), the infamous Charles Manson, the "Boston Strangler" Albert DeSalvo, Ed Kemper (who once stated that "to have a particular experience with a person, and to possess them in the way I wanted to, I had to evict them from their human bodies", which he did frequently and was famous for his cruel acts of necrophilia), Gary Ridgway the "Green River Killer" who was charged with 48 counts of murder after being caught in what was once the largest unsolved murder case in American history, Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins, David Berkowitz a.k.a. the "Son of Sam", John Wayne Gacy, and a slew of other "celebrities" that have gone down in history as the "worst of the worst" for lack of a better phrase.
I of course found this book to be enthralling and quite interesting, but it is definitely not for the faint at heart or the weak stomached. It's nightmare material for most. The only complaint I have about this book is that the print was incredibly tiny and hurt my eyes after awhile. Other than that, I can't exactly give ratings to serial killers individually, so if you're interesting in criminal profiles, serial killers, etc, this one was a good read.
This book embodied the stories of some of the most notorious criminals...that being said, their crimes are not bedtime stories. To anyone with a beating heart and a shred of human emotion, their crimes are unthinkable. It included but was not limited to the following: Karla Homoika (who looked like your everyday blonde but was driven by a desire to present her fiance' with a "surrogate virgin"-schoolgirls to rape), the infamous Charles Manson, the "Boston Strangler" Albert DeSalvo, Ed Kemper (who once stated that "to have a particular experience with a person, and to possess them in the way I wanted to, I had to evict them from their human bodies", which he did frequently and was famous for his cruel acts of necrophilia), Gary Ridgway the "Green River Killer" who was charged with 48 counts of murder after being caught in what was once the largest unsolved murder case in American history, Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins, David Berkowitz a.k.a. the "Son of Sam", John Wayne Gacy, and a slew of other "celebrities" that have gone down in history as the "worst of the worst" for lack of a better phrase.
I of course found this book to be enthralling and quite interesting, but it is definitely not for the faint at heart or the weak stomached. It's nightmare material for most. The only complaint I have about this book is that the print was incredibly tiny and hurt my eyes after awhile. Other than that, I can't exactly give ratings to serial killers individually, so if you're interesting in criminal profiles, serial killers, etc, this one was a good read.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
KM- Terminal - Robin Cook
Robin Cook mainly writes medical thrillers, and I've never really been into them, not because of a dislike for the genre, but more because I've never really read any books from that category. I was quite pleased with this book.
It's the story of a young med student named Sean who comes from an Irish family and is currently attending Harvard. He begins working at the Forbes Cancer Center, since his main research goal is an oncogene project which could help cure cancer. This Center seems to have a 100% success rate for treating a certain type of brain tumor, called medulloblastoma. It usually affects young people, and suddenly he starts to realize that the statistical analysis of their patients just doesn't seem to check out, so he begins to dive into an abyss of conspiracy, politics, and overall underhanded schemes.
I was a little confused at times because the novel does contain a lot of medical jargon, but if you pay attention, it's not hard to keep up, and you can actually learn a lot about the condition and how it works.
I'd recommend it for any medical thriller fan, and adults who are looking for something a bit more intellectual to get into.
Overall Rating: B+
It's the story of a young med student named Sean who comes from an Irish family and is currently attending Harvard. He begins working at the Forbes Cancer Center, since his main research goal is an oncogene project which could help cure cancer. This Center seems to have a 100% success rate for treating a certain type of brain tumor, called medulloblastoma. It usually affects young people, and suddenly he starts to realize that the statistical analysis of their patients just doesn't seem to check out, so he begins to dive into an abyss of conspiracy, politics, and overall underhanded schemes.
I was a little confused at times because the novel does contain a lot of medical jargon, but if you pay attention, it's not hard to keep up, and you can actually learn a lot about the condition and how it works.
I'd recommend it for any medical thriller fan, and adults who are looking for something a bit more intellectual to get into.
Overall Rating: B+
Sunday, December 28, 2008
CM - WTF? - Gregory Bergman and Anthony W. Haddad
The book is titled "WTF? How to Survive 101 of Life's Worst F*#!-ing Situations". I was immediately intrigued. It was decent variety of situations, I could count quite a few I've already experienced. They varied from "You forget where you parked" to "Your girlfriend gives you herpes." Although I frequently forget where I've parked, I can't say my girlfriend has ever given me herpes...but if that situation should ever prevent itself I guess I'm prepared.
This book gives you options that are occasionally offensive, sometimes illegal, certainly inventive, and always hilarious. Although I wouldn't buy it as an actual self-help guide...only a dum-dum would, it was pretty funny. I especially liked the things to say to get telemarketers to stop calling, I'll have to try some of those. Although the book didn't suggest this option, I find it works well. Ask the telemarketer for their home number. When they reply with some lame "company policy prohibits me from giving my home number out", say that you understand, most people don't want complete strangers bothering them at home. Wait 10 seconds for it to sink in.
Anyways, all in a all, it was a funny read.
Ratings:
I'll give it a A-
This book gives you options that are occasionally offensive, sometimes illegal, certainly inventive, and always hilarious. Although I wouldn't buy it as an actual self-help guide...only a dum-dum would, it was pretty funny. I especially liked the things to say to get telemarketers to stop calling, I'll have to try some of those. Although the book didn't suggest this option, I find it works well. Ask the telemarketer for their home number. When they reply with some lame "company policy prohibits me from giving my home number out", say that you understand, most people don't want complete strangers bothering them at home. Wait 10 seconds for it to sink in.
Anyways, all in a all, it was a funny read.
Ratings:
I'll give it a A-
Thursday, December 25, 2008
CM - The Heroin Diaries - Nikki Sixx
Born Frank Feranna, Nikki Sixx moved to LA at 17 and in 1981 became the bassist/songwriter for Motley Crue. His book, the Heroin Diaries is a compilation of journal entries he wrote while he self-destructed on a concoction of alcohol, cocaine, pills, acid, and his poison of choice, heroin. “Alcohol, acid, cocaine…they were just love affairs. When I met heroin, it was true love.” – Nikki Sixx
The reasoning behind the book? I’ll quote Nikki Sixx “Someone asked me why I was writing this book and I said, maybe one person will read it and it will help them. They said, that’s not very rock ‘n’ roll is it? I said, fuck off and smirked because I know it’s the most rock ‘n’ rock thing about me – doing what I wanna do in life.”
With more money than he could spend, Nikki Sixx put most of his resources up his arm. He spent years in a state of paranoia hiding in his closet with his drug paraphernalia and guns. The journal gives you a look at his childhood, his relationship with his mom, sister, etc. It also gives you a preview of his lifestyle in Motley Crue. Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, no surprise there.
Kudos to Nikki Sixx for having the courage to face his demons in a very public manner. The critics and reviews promised a raw look at “one of the most unique memoirs of addiction ever published.” I wouldn’t have gone that far. Although it was a good read, you can only read about getting high so many times until it gets monotonous and slightly repetitive. It was interesting to read the opinions of the people who surrounded Sixx and knew him. He was rather ballsy when he asked the co-author Ian Gittins to get the other sides of the story and Sixx wanted all the insults and atrocities itemized in the book- no editing.
As a bonus, almost every page of the book was decorated and animated in a way that made it easier to read. Some of the drawings and quotes were intriguing.
Ratings: I give it a B+
The reasoning behind the book? I’ll quote Nikki Sixx “Someone asked me why I was writing this book and I said, maybe one person will read it and it will help them. They said, that’s not very rock ‘n’ roll is it? I said, fuck off and smirked because I know it’s the most rock ‘n’ rock thing about me – doing what I wanna do in life.”
With more money than he could spend, Nikki Sixx put most of his resources up his arm. He spent years in a state of paranoia hiding in his closet with his drug paraphernalia and guns. The journal gives you a look at his childhood, his relationship with his mom, sister, etc. It also gives you a preview of his lifestyle in Motley Crue. Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, no surprise there.
Kudos to Nikki Sixx for having the courage to face his demons in a very public manner. The critics and reviews promised a raw look at “one of the most unique memoirs of addiction ever published.” I wouldn’t have gone that far. Although it was a good read, you can only read about getting high so many times until it gets monotonous and slightly repetitive. It was interesting to read the opinions of the people who surrounded Sixx and knew him. He was rather ballsy when he asked the co-author Ian Gittins to get the other sides of the story and Sixx wanted all the insults and atrocities itemized in the book- no editing.
As a bonus, almost every page of the book was decorated and animated in a way that made it easier to read. Some of the drawings and quotes were intriguing.
Ratings: I give it a B+
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
KM- The Long Hard Road Out of Hell- Marilyn Manson with Neil Strauss
This was an amazing account of one of the most controversial artists of our time's life, from an awkward child attending Catholic school to a minister in the Church of Satan. From drugs, sex, and rock and roll, you hear of his firsts in everything.
I know most people are thinking "Oh. Manson. Nah, I wouldn't be interested." Or even worse, are judgemental characters that throw out accusations that he worships Satan without knowing his story. Once you read this, whether or not you like or hate him, you will have a whole new perspective of him.
Some of the best anecdotes he writes about in this were: exploring his grandfather's forbidden basement; how he got his band together (Twiggy Ramirez [whiskey and speed!!!], etc.) and how he came up with the concept of their names; his first acid trip; touring with Trent Reznor, encountering Courtney Love, etc... The high points, the low points, they're all great!
Overall, I think this was a great read. I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart, because there are times when things he and his friends do are pretty much debasing to other people, but it's interesting nonetheless.
Thanks Coran =D
Ratings:
A++
I know most people are thinking "Oh. Manson. Nah, I wouldn't be interested." Or even worse, are judgemental characters that throw out accusations that he worships Satan without knowing his story. Once you read this, whether or not you like or hate him, you will have a whole new perspective of him.
Some of the best anecdotes he writes about in this were: exploring his grandfather's forbidden basement; how he got his band together (Twiggy Ramirez [whiskey and speed!!!], etc.) and how he came up with the concept of their names; his first acid trip; touring with Trent Reznor, encountering Courtney Love, etc... The high points, the low points, they're all great!
Overall, I think this was a great read. I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart, because there are times when things he and his friends do are pretty much debasing to other people, but it's interesting nonetheless.
Thanks Coran =D
Ratings:
A++
Sunday, December 21, 2008
CM - You Suck - Christopher Moore
This was the first I've read from Christopher Moore, the title jumped at me from the bargain section in Waldenbooks. I must admit that I had to keep reading sentences over and over again to make sure I was reading them right, that started upon my reading the first sentence of the book "You bitch, you killed me, you suck!"
Anyways...the book was about Tommy Flood and his girlfriend...the bitch that killed him...or not really killed him just turned him into a vampire, Jody. Christopher Moore wrote the book in such a way that you had to keep reading...not in a suspenseful way but more like humor to me.
Throw in a Las Vegas call girl that is literally dyed blue, a clan of turkey-bowling vampire hunters, a minion named "Abby Normal", and a homeless guy that has a sign that reads "I am poor, and my cat is huge"...later changed to "I am poor and someone shaved my huge cat"....don't ask, I can't explain, you'd have to experience this one for yourself. I'd recommened it to anyone with a twisted, non-conformist sense of humor.
For example, one of my favorite quotes of the whole book:
Tommy: I bet it smells like peppermint...
Jody: What?
Tommy: Elf sex.
Tommy: Or maybe cinnamon...yeah that's it, cinnamon.
Ratings: I give it an A for an abundance of random-ness and for making me laugh
Anyways...the book was about Tommy Flood and his girlfriend...the bitch that killed him...or not really killed him just turned him into a vampire, Jody. Christopher Moore wrote the book in such a way that you had to keep reading...not in a suspenseful way but more like humor to me.
Throw in a Las Vegas call girl that is literally dyed blue, a clan of turkey-bowling vampire hunters, a minion named "Abby Normal", and a homeless guy that has a sign that reads "I am poor, and my cat is huge"...later changed to "I am poor and someone shaved my huge cat"....don't ask, I can't explain, you'd have to experience this one for yourself. I'd recommened it to anyone with a twisted, non-conformist sense of humor.
For example, one of my favorite quotes of the whole book:
Tommy: I bet it smells like peppermint...
Jody: What?
Tommy: Elf sex.
Tommy: Or maybe cinnamon...yeah that's it, cinnamon.
Ratings: I give it an A for an abundance of random-ness and for making me laugh
CM - Sundays at Tiffany's - James Patterson
I guess writers go through phases; James Patterson apparently had his "romantic" phase and wrote Sundays at Tiffany's, Sam's Letters to Jennifer, and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. All are un-related but similiar in tone, mood, and theme.
Sundays at Tiffany's was about a little girl named Jane. She's lonely because her mother is a Broadway producer and makes time for her only to take her on their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's, or to criticize literally almost every facet of this child. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. Only Jane can see him.
On Jane's 9th birthday Michael has to break her heart after her mother already forgot about her birthday. He was there to help until she was old enough to manage and then had to go help other kids who needed him. He leaves on her birthday and promises that she'll forget about him soon enough, that's how it always happened.
Or so they thought. Years later, Jane is in her thirties and still wrestling with her overbearing mother, not to mention a real jackass of a boyfriend. When one day out of the blue, she sees her imaginary friend from when she was 8 years old. Same impossibly green eyes...but how? Why? Is she just stark crazy?
Although he may have been going through a phase, James Patterson didn't completely change genres on us, you can still taste a hint and twist of suspense. The overall plot was a bit funky, but all in all, it was a good read. Didn't turn out like I expected, but at least it didn't reek of "happily ever after" OR "what a tragedy I wish I never read it"...but you'll just have to form your own opinions.
Ratings:
Overall: I give it a B+
Sundays at Tiffany's was about a little girl named Jane. She's lonely because her mother is a Broadway producer and makes time for her only to take her on their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's, or to criticize literally almost every facet of this child. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. Only Jane can see him.
On Jane's 9th birthday Michael has to break her heart after her mother already forgot about her birthday. He was there to help until she was old enough to manage and then had to go help other kids who needed him. He leaves on her birthday and promises that she'll forget about him soon enough, that's how it always happened.
Or so they thought. Years later, Jane is in her thirties and still wrestling with her overbearing mother, not to mention a real jackass of a boyfriend. When one day out of the blue, she sees her imaginary friend from when she was 8 years old. Same impossibly green eyes...but how? Why? Is she just stark crazy?
Although he may have been going through a phase, James Patterson didn't completely change genres on us, you can still taste a hint and twist of suspense. The overall plot was a bit funky, but all in all, it was a good read. Didn't turn out like I expected, but at least it didn't reek of "happily ever after" OR "what a tragedy I wish I never read it"...but you'll just have to form your own opinions.
Ratings:
Overall: I give it a B+
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