Divergent

Divergent, one choice can transform you. Let's meet the factions. We have Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Erudite, and Dauntless. Each of these factions rely on each other to live. The kids within each faction have to take an aptitude test when they turn 16. This test gives you two choices, the faction they're already in or a faction they can switch to. However, Beatrice Prior, got three. This makes her divergent. Being divergent is a good thing and a very, very, very bad thing. Her brother, Caleb, leaves Abnegation for Erudite. Beatrice also leaves Abnegation, but for Dauntless. She takes on the new identity of Tris. She is fearless. During the initiation, they go through different hardships and trainings. While there, she gets her first tattoo, and her very first kiss. She falls in love with Four, the one training them. Not to mention, all hell breaks loose when Erudite starts using transmitters to control most of the Dauntless. They open fire on innocents in Abnegation, and start a war of factions.

Looking for the rest of the series?

Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Allegiant (Divergent #3)

Four (Divergent #4)

Looking for other books by Veronica Roth?

Carve the Mark (CTM #1)
The Fates Divide (CTM #2)
The End and Other Beginnings

Chosen Ones

The Metamorphosis

 

 The Metamorphosis is exactly what it says; Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning as a disgusting and horrifying bug. He tries to talk to his family and his boss, but winds up terrifying them. He lays in his room trying to adapt to his new body. His 16 year old sister picks up the task of cleaning his room and bringing him food. While he is very grateful for her doings, she doesn't know. She sees her brothers as an atrocious bug. The family is slowing losing more and more money, so they rented out 3 of the rooms in the house. Gregor wrecked that plan. One night, while his sister was playing violin for the roomers, Gregor wandered into the living room only to be run back into his room. The family talks of giving up hope that Gregor will ever actually come back. They feel as if they must get rid of the bug. The next morning, Gregor is found dead in his room. All of the other reviews I have read on this book have said it has a deep underlying message; fear, loneliness, and isolation. I feel like I missed that part of the book. If Kafka would have written more of Gregor's feelings in the book, it may have made more sense.

The Boy with the Thorn in His Side

 Clandestine Industries Presents: The Boy with the Thorn in His Side. These 43 pages put you inside the head of Pete Wentz. He starts out saying this story absolutely does not have a point; it was just one of his reoccurring nightmares. We meet The Boy. We follow him through this new world he has created. His parents may not notice him, but the sisters, Rattail and Flattop do. They show him the happy things about this world. Later on, they see what they think is a person. It is The Boy's old Buddy doll, hanging from a noose in the tree. This world is really just all of the forgotten and misled things. It was a little odd, and a little dark, but it makes you realize that this is really everyday life. Pete Wentz's message came across loud and clear to me. The Boy is gold.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

 

My boyfriend begged and begged me to read this book; I finally caved and decided to pick up a copy. This book is a bit all over the place. But what do you expect when you're reading the writings of Hunter S. Thompson, Doctor of Journalism. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is all about the trip he and his attorney took to Vegas to cover a story on the Mint 400, a motorcycle race. But lets not forget the insane amount of drugs they had in their rental car. Not to mention the massive amounts they were taking all throughout the book. The attorney actually leaves town about halfway through the book, only to come back with a young runaway named Lucy. After ditching Lucy, they get called in to cover the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Conference, which they attend on drugs. The paranoia kicks in and they realize there are police all around them. Fleeing the Conference, they stumbled upon a Georgia officer and tell him all about the Manson Murders, scaring the hell out of him and the bartender. Hunter and his attorney take us on tons of wild adventures in Las Vegas. We follow the 1970's culture to a point no one has ever tried to bring forward before. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was actually written as a 2 part story in the Rolling Stone Magazine, but eventually was turned into this book. Quite frankly, this book was so jumbled it took me a much longer time to read than I expected. It's safe to say this was not one of my favorites. Maybe the movie was better? I guess I'll have to find out!

Rest in Peace
Hunter S. Thompson
February 20, 2005 

Rolling Stone The '90s

 

The cover says it all, the inside stories from the decade that rocked! Who didn't love the '90s?! Even though I was just a baby, I can imagine how awesome being a teenager was during the '90s. This book covers everything from Tupac, to Nirvana, to the Backstreet Boys. It takes us back in time to rehash the good times. Remember when the Red Hot Chili Peppers only wore socks? Or when Justin and Brittney showed up at the VMA's wearing straight denim? Lets not forget the Battle of the Bands: The Backstreet Boys or N'Sync? This book also tells you which album had the #1 spot each year. Which band or artist had the top single of the year. And a timeline highlighting the high's and lows of the decade. Lets not forget it's jam-packed with tons and tons of pictures! My favorite part was at the very end, Rolling Stone tells us the Top 100 Albums of the decade! One of my absolute favorites, Nirvana's Nevermind, holds the top spot! We wind our way down from there and end with Moby's Everything is Wrong. This was one big book of wonderful to me. I suggest everyone who loved the '90s to take a peek. :)

Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie is the story of Mitch Albom's old college professor, who is dying. He has ALS. Mitch hasn't spoken to Morrie in 16 years. He was too absorbed in his everyday life, he had almost forgotten when he caught wind of the Nightlife episode where they were interviewing Morrie. Almost 40 years ago, Mitch and Morrie wrote their first thesis together. This one, would be their last. Back in the college years, they would meet on Tuesdays to have lunch or talk. Some 20 years later, Mitch finds himself sitting in the study with his old professor every Tuesday. For a 78 year old man who had ALS, Morrie was happier than ever. He was embracing death. He wanted to make death his "final class". He was receiving letters from all over the world with people thanking him for being such an inspiration. This is a rather heartfelt book and an amazing memoir. Morrie and Mitch's final thesis is one to be remembered for many, many years. This book will help to make you feel at peace with yourself. This is one great read, I encourage everyone to pick up a copy.

Looking for other books by Mitch Albom?
The First Phone Call from Heaven

Letting Ana Go

Everyone, I think I have an obsession with these published journals... I read Letting Ana Go in a total of 4 hours. For some reason, her journal took ahold of my heart and actually made me cry. It was shocking reading about a 16 year old girl who thought she was fat, when she only weighed 125 lbs at most. This is her story of what she calls "willpower". She ran track and had to keep up with her calories for the coach. However, her best friend, Jill was a ballerina who had to keep up with her calories as well. They were both obsessed with losing as much weight as possible. They were addicted to being thin, they both created forums where they would post pictures of themselves looking like skeletons. It broke my heart reading this journal. It hit me, this was a recent thing. Ana writes about going to see Perks of Being a Wallflower, which I also did a review on. That movie came out last winter. The fact that this is happening to my generation is honestly heartbreaking. Girls, you are all beautiful. Weighing as little as possible isn't healthy, the severity of what happens next is what scares me the most. Everyone please read Letting Ana Go. I promise it will open your eyes to things you could have never imagined.

Looking for the rest of the series?
The Book of David
Calling Maggie May
Lucy in the Sky
Breaking Bailey

Go Ask Alice

 

Looking for books that feature this series?

Unmask Alice