Sorry about waiting so long, I am currently planning a wedding and moving to a new country so even though I kept up with my reading I have neglected to write about anything. That being said, most of these will probably be short. Do not think that because they are short I enjoyed them any less and hopefully it comes across when I write about them.
Anywho, we'd better get started...
Being a nurse, I see a lot of confused patients so the description of a man trying to politely go insane really captured my attention. It was enlightening seeing a mental health issue from the patients perspective. At one point the main character did not want to make a toast and he ended up hiding in a bush and at no point did I think 'that is where he went into a crazy thought'. Every step made perfect sense at the time but the string of things together led him into crazy things, like trying to remove a lesion from his thigh with some scissors in the bath tub. The wife and two children's storylines were all compelling. I wasn't bored by any of them and each storyline had a satisfying ending.
Enjoyable level 7.5/10
I wrote this title on my list of things to read a while ago and then when I went to the bookstore I saw the other The Alchemist, which is of course the first in the Nicholas Flamel books I wrote about in an earlier post. Later, in another bookstore (I basically spend 90% of all my free time in bookstores and usually every date my fiancee and I go on includes a bookstore) I saw this and remembered that I had read this back cover before and wanted to read it. I cannot say it enough, I LOVE this book. It is about taking risks to find and follow your life's destiny and persevering through difficult moments holding you back from the things you want. My fiancee and I are in the middle of moving to London from the US and jobs/visas/housing (just a few of the things currently driving us crazy) have caused us endless worrying sessions the past few months. Reading this book was such a good reminder that jobs can be found again, money can be made again, but an opportunity to do something you love is always worth trying and struggling for. Inspirational. Love it.
Enjoyable level 9.9/10
Ted Dekker is one of my absolute favorite authors, if you haven't read Thr3e by him you should go read it. Now. I'll wait. ....Okay, so on to the book at hand, cowritten with Tosca Lee. The story is similar to The Giver and Divergent only it is feelings that have been stripped from the world in an apocalyptic manner. A few individuals have a serum that make them an exception to the unfeeling human race and they have a mission to try to bring feelings back to the world. The plot seemed straightforward, enjoyable but very familiar. Also, you may notice the fine print above the title says The Books of Mortals. Yep, this is, very sneakily, the first of a series, which I did not find out until I got to the end and though 'wait, there are so many things not tied up'. No time to continue to the series now, but I wouldn't mind continuing when I have more time.
Enjoyable level 7/10
Orson Scott Card is another of my favorite authors. When I bought this book it had a sticker on the bottom middle of the cover so, like the Forbidden, when I got to the end and said, 'hey, where's the rest of the story?' I found out it was the beginning of a series. The book incorporates evangelical christians and sorcery/superstition, playing them off of one another. The powers that the seventh son of the seventh son had were incredible and it was unique that his power was tied to an element. I really liked that the universe was almost the nemesis in that the world was working to destroy this boy who was so powerful and unnatural in the world. It also allowed to see a small view of medicine in the past which is always a topic I am interested in. I would read this again and definitely hope to read the rest of these books.
Enjoyable level 8.4/10
I recently read 'The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto' by Mitch Albom and numerous times while reading it people suggested this book so the next time I saw it on the shelf I bought it. The book was wonderful, a touching depiction of an intergenerational relationship. I loved the story because it understood the perfect amount of plot, not invoking unneeded twists and turns, and instead encourages stimulating dialogue.
Enjoyable level: 8/10
A historical fiction book about a female disguising herself as a man and becoming the Pope. Brutally honest about the lives of women during the Medieval times. The main character really resonated with me, Joan is a dreamer, a scholar, and a fighter. There was a surprising amount of action (I bit my nails numerous times hoping she wouldn't be discovered) and I was delighted to find out from my fiancee that it has a film adaptation which I desperately hope to see.
Enjoyable level 9.2/10
I could write so much more about many of these books but due to time constraints and being halfway through yet another book, this will have to do. Cheerio, next time I write will be from across the pond!
