Nights in Rodanthe ****GIVEAWAY****

Everyone who knows me knows how much I love books. Nothing makes me happier than a REALLY good story. A story where you feel for the characters and fall in love with them. Nights in Rodanthe is a REALLY good story. If you are a person with a decent heart you probably cried as much as me in the Notebook. Nights in Rodanthe is written by Nicholas Sparks, the same author of the Notebook.

I'm not going to give too much away, but this is the story of a mother and a daughter, father and a son, father and a daughter, and two lovers. Yeah some of these are the same people. But all of the interesting character dynamics and relationships are AMAZING! Yeah it is some what predictable at times, but it is a story of life, love, loss, and redemption. It's a book that will make you feel warm and happy, sad and tearful all in 200 short pages.

Now for some bad news...the movie is HORRIBLE...it is nothing like the book and I wanted to walk out in the first 10 minutes. But its kinda good news because I just saved you $10.

Now here is AWESOME news...I love this story so much that I want to pass it on so others can share in my love. So if you would love to read this AMAZING story just leave a comment. I'll do a drawing next week. And just for a little side note I'll be doing a book give away like every week or two so keep checking back!

Twilight

Disclaimer: This coming Tuesday I start my summer job and will resume bento postings :) Stay tuned :)


This is the second in my series of alternatives to Harry Potter. If you are a girl especially you have to read the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I know it's about high school, but the series is SO addictive. It's about a girl named Bella who moves to Washington to live with her dad. Bella is typical, unassuming, and clumsy. Bella meets a beautiful boy named Edward and beautiful family the Cullens. Bella soon learns that Edward and his family are vampires. And the plot thickens and expands to 4 books (the 4th and final will be release on August 2nd). When you start reading Twilight it is a little slow, but just keep with it. If anyone local wants to borrow my copies let me know :)

Quick Review:
Stars: ***** out 5


Summary: Bella has come to the small town of Forks on the gloomy, rainy Olympic Peninsula live with her father, Charlie. At school, she meets a group of five extremely beautiful teens, who sit together in the cafeteria but never eat. She meets Edward and starts to like him. It is then that she learns their secret they are all rescued vampires. The head of the family, Carlisle, trained them to reject human prey for animals. The Cullens welcome Bella, but the family is divided when a roving group of tracker vampires fixates on Bella. The Cullens must protect the fragile human in their midst.


If you like: Harry Potter, Vampires, Anne of Green Gables meets


Smut Rating: I would rate Twilight PG for the violence and high school themes. The other books I would rate PG -13 because they have a little bit more adult themes.

Reading challenge

Ok wow three posts in one day and NONE of them bento related :( Well right after I hit post I discovered a cool reading challenge here. And there is nothing I love more than a challenge. I am going for Quest the third. Why not? So here are my four books:



1. Mythology-undetermined yet
2. Fantasy-Peter Pan
3. Folklore-The Romance of Tristan and Iseult-Loved the movie so I am going to try to read this book
4. Fairytale- Princess Bride-I've had this book on my shelf for a long time and can't wait to read it
5. Midsummer's Night Dream

As I was making my list I realized the ones I had so far were movies so I decided to keep with that theme.

For Harry Potter Fans (part one)

So if you are a Harry Potter fan and you are wondering what to read now that Harry Potter is over- I am going to offer you three choices. These books are not like Harry Potter in the sense that none of them are about kids going to magic school. All three of these books are very different in writing styles and themes. Only one of them is suitable for grade school readers. I am recommending these three books because they are 1. All of them are a series (two are trilogies) 2. All of them promote the same kind of friendship as Harry Potter 3. All of the main characters are outcasts in their own way 4. All of the books contain some kind of magical or fantasy element.



Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Inkheart is the story of 12 year old Meggie. I love Meggie so much because she loves books. In fact I would say she more than loves books, she adores them. Cornelia Funke's writing in this book is amazing. As it draws you in as you learn that Meggie's father Mo can read characters to life from stories. It is obvious from her writing that the author respects and adores books as much as Meggie does. She even starts each chapter out with a quote about words or books. I love this story because as they set off to find the author of Inkheart the story becomes a world within a world. The suspense in this book is from the start and keeps you going until the end. The imagery in this book is amazing and will make you excited to read the second book, Inkspell (the third is not release yet). This is by far the most magical of the three and the least realistic. A book about the occult and sorcery it is not (although the villains are pure evil).

Quick Review:
Stars: **** out 5


Summary: Meggie is a 12 year old girl who loves books and lives alone with her father Mo. When a strange visitor, Dustfinger, shows up at Meggie's house-Meggie learns that Mo can read characters to life. Mo read Dustfinger out of the story Inkheart and read Meggie's mother into the story. Mo also release Capricorn, a villain who likes to murder people. Meggie, Mo, Dustfinger and Meggie's great aunt Elinor set off on an adventure to find the author of the book Inkheart so that he might re-write the ending. On their pursuit to find the author they are hunted and captured by Capricorn's henchmen.


If you like: Harry Potter and other magical stories, The Book Thief (Meggie and Liesel are the same in some ways) , If you share a great love for books.


Smut Rating: I would rate this book a PG for the violence in this book. I would compare it to the violence in any fantasy type book. I would for sure recommend this book for grades 4 and up because Capricorn the villain is just a wee too violent for younger ones. There are also some minor cuss words in the book.

Pillars of the Earth

There is NOTHING I love more than a good book. I have always been a fast and voracious reader since I could read. I have such fond memories of books. Every Valentine's Day my mom would give us a book for a present. I still average one to two books a week. How do I do it? I try to cut out as much television as possible. I am even in a book club, which is so much fun! Since I read so much I'm going to try and post some book reviews.



Pillars of the Earth (how do you underline on this thing?) was recommended at my book club. When the book was first explained the girl said she couldn't stop reading it and that it was one of her most favorite books. Okay, I was intrigued. Then, she said it was about Medieval Times and I was put off. When she added that it was close to 1000 pages two things happened: 1. I was put off 2. I felt challenged. So I bought the book from Amazon.

I have to say it was one of the MOST amazing stories I have ever read. Even if you are not interested in Medieval Times, like me. Pillars is a story of family, friendship, and survival. There are so many strong and likable characters, as well as, characters that you love to hate. And like the girl at book club said I could not put it down and finished the book in a week. Yup 1000 pages in a week.

And while the author does describe things he does not go into boring monologues or over describe things, which often happens in period books.

Pillars is not a recently written book...it was written in 1989 (which while some of you may like to think was recent...its close to 20 years ago). However, Pillars recently soared in fame from being an Oprah selection. The author was right in his forward...Pillars is a word of mouth book. You love it and you spread the word. And there is a "sequel". I put sequel in quotes because it takes place 200-300 years later, but the characters are related to the ones in Pillars.

Quick Review:
Stars: ***** out 5


Summary: Pillars of the Earth is about Prior Phillip's quest to build a huge Gothic cathedral in 12th century England, Tom Builder who is Phillip's architect, and Aliena a wealthy girl with a shameful secret. This epic novel is about the struggle for survival and family during a time when England was war-torn and the impact the feudal system and the Catholic church had over the people.


If you like: There is really nothing I have read like this book.


Smut Rating: I would rate this book a solid M for mature audiences. There are graphic sex scenes and disturbing scenes of violence. Although I must clarify this book is more centrally based on the struggle for survival and following dreams
then smut.