madameblogalot

My reading is not at a very high level these days, but at least I got some done this past month!

The Giver: I have not read this book before. It is a very compelling young adult fiction book. My daughter is required to read it this year. It is disturbing in some ways and very thought provoking. I have to say that it was a HIT with me.

The Great Gatsby: This is another book I had not read before. I think I could have gone on without reading it. I only read it because I think my son will be required to read it this year. I have to say that I hated this book. Perhaps maybe only because I was reading it as a “preview” for my son. I just think this book is inappropriate for high schoolers. I can see that folks would like it and perhaps learn from its theme and final conclusions. But I feel like high school is too early for this one. So for this reading of this “great American novel” I have to say it was a MISS for me.

Gathering Blue: This is another installment by Lois Lowry. For me, I guess it was mostly a HIT, though there were a couple of MISS aspects in the book. Of course, for me, I don’t like crude language in a story, particularly one for kids-including teens. However, that was not the biggest drawback. What was the worst part for me I would likely call an editing error, twice! Yes, twice in the story, a certain character was called by another character’s name!! That is disappointing. However, overall, I guess the story itself was not bad.

Messenger is the last book in the loose trilogy by Lois Lowry. This book was a MISS for me. I did not enjoy the story as much. Also, something that frustrates me is when an author writes a book but forgets the details of previous stories. This happened a couple of times in Messenger. When referring back to the previous story, some of the things told in this book were not what happened in the previous story. I know that I am reading them only a few days apart and it took the author years to write, but why not go back and read the first story you reference to make sure the details fit?!

East of Eden: I did not technically read this book. I started it and read the first few chapters. I won’t finish this one. It was recommended to my husband by one of the teens at church. I told him I’d read it for him. But, as with other Steinbeck novels, I started and then decided I did not want to waste my time reading through it. I don’t like it and since my son won’t be reading it, at least not this year, I decided I didn’t have to waste my time! Without being given a fair chance, I am rating it as a MISS for me.