The Host by Stephanie Myer

Despite all the negative things I had heard about this book, I actually really really liked it. I was facinated by the imagination of the author and how she could come up with such a clever idea for a story. It did take me a couple of chapters to grasp the concept of the story and where it was going. Then as I got more deep into the book, I found myself not wanting to put it down. I feared for the humans and tried to understand the souls. I loved the ending and am so glad it was a happy one. I stopped reading with 2 chapters left thinking that was it, then I turned the blank pages and saw that I wasn't finished. That's when the happy ending came! YAY! I want to know more about what happens with the humans and with Ian and Wanda. And I'm excited they met other humans that also kept souls. It was awesome and highly recommend this book with two thumbs up!!!!!!!!

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

So I am not officially finished with this book, but I have to say that I am excited and super impressed by the good feelings I got when I read it. I was so excited to change my "thoughts" and direct my feelings to good. I feel like I have so many questions for the "Secret Team" about the whole concept of it, but overall, I totally believe in the law of attraction. I used to think it was karma, what goes around comes around. I have put it into practice since I started reading it and have nothing but positive results. I want to have a good attitude and stop thinking about what I don't have or dont' want. I am blessed with so much and am thankful that I can use my mind for powerful things, like shifting my feelings. And what is the harm in thinking positive? I have been happier and my outlook in life is nothing but joyful. I think being LDS and having the Gospel has also helped me with this, but The Secret has just brought it out in a different way and reminded me that I have the power within me to be whatever I want. I'm excited to finish up and I'm sure I'll have more to say when I'm done.

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

BEWARE OF READING unless you have finished this book. I give away too much! Sorry!!!

I just finished the much-awaited book of the Twilight Series. Whew! It's nice to have my life back... When I first started reading, I cried and cried as I felt Jacob's heart break as Bella gets married and suffers through so much pain as she carries the half-breed baby. Yet he sticks around through all of it with a flicker of hope, but knowing full well his heart is going to break again when she becomes immortal or dies because of the "fetus". I was very mad at Bella for making Edwars suffer so much and for everyone around her suffering because she was in so much pain. I didn't understand why she'd let the fetus break her! I mean, I understand the love of a mother and child, but I couldn't see this as a child...yet! Then it just turned nasty as Bella had to drink blood to survive. Eeeeeewww! I really thought Bella was going to die. (Sidenote: I loved how Jacob narrated the 2nd book. He has a great sense of humor and I just love how he is so real and still immature!) Then everything changed when Bella became a vampire and wasn't the typical "newborn". I liked how she was so hard core and tough and graceful and strong and so un-Bella like. It went from this happy make-believe world to this hard reality of the Volturi coming to destroy everything they had. I really thought the Voltori were going to come and kill everyone. Only because of Alice and what seemed like doom. I knew that she couldn't just leave, though. I cried when Bella prepared to say goodbye to Renesmee. And I really thought that Jacob and Renesmee would be the only ones left. I'm so glad it had a happy ending, but it isn't so final that Stephanie couldn't come up with a 5th book...although where on earth could it go that it hasn't already been??? She got her cake and ate it too!! She got to have Charlie in her life and have her baby and Jacob and of course forever with Edward. Unbelievable! Loved it!

Wuthering Heights

Try as I might, I could not get through this book. I wanted to read it so that when I read the Twilight Series again, I'd know what they were referring to when they referenced this book. I ended up reading the Cliff notes for it instead. So I know the jist of it. Interesting...And a little sad and vengeful.

The Book Thief

I just finished this book and my eyes are still puffy! This was a serious book and it took me a few chapters before I could really get into it. Afterall, it's a book about war and death and human suffering. But it's also about kindness and friendship and love. It was difficult to read about Hitler and all the things that accompanied the Nazi's and the Jews. However, I found it so interesting that "Death" was the narrator. It was actually one of the main reasons I liked this book. Death didn't sugar coat things or give you hope when there was none. I appreciated the little glimpses (is that a word...glimpes?) of the future and of tragedy so I wasn't surprised or shocked. There were a lot of characters that I liked. I loved Liesel and Rudy and wanted so much for him to live. But death waits for no one. I am so glad she kissed him, even if he was dead. He was so good to her and their relationship was sweet and real. I wanted to know more of Liesel's life after the bombing. I loved Hans, too. He was so special to Liesel and filled her heart where there were so many missing pieces. The way it tied in with the accordian was cool. And I loved how the Hubberman family really did have the capabilities of compassion when they helped Max so much. Although, I thought the chapter when Max came to find Liesel at the end should've been a little more detailed! And what did they do after they saw each other? It was so heart-wrenching when Liesel saw him in the street marching with the other Jews that I thougth their reunion would've been a little more drawn out. I was glad he was alive, though. The Book Thief (Liesel) was saved because of her love of books and writing. That was awesome. I loved the books Max wrote for Liesel and I only wish they would've been saved in the bombings. Overall, a great book. I give it a thumbs-up. 4 stars out of 5.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

I just finished this book and really enjoyed it. I will admit after reading the "Twilight" Series by Stephanie Meyer, it's hard to jump so completely into another book, as you do with that series. However, this was a fun, easy read that I liked. I know there is a movie about this book, but wanted to read the book first so I could get my own sense of things. I was kind of confused as the book jumps from girl to girl, and I had a hard time picturing what Tibby looked like. They are writing letters to each other in the book, and I would have to re-read the next paragraph after each letter a few times b/c it would jump around and I wasn't sure who it was about. BUT I did love each of the girls stories and characters. I want more!! So I went to the library to find the second book, but they are out, so we'll just have to wait! I balled when Bailey died and felt so sad for Lena leaving Kostos. I didn't understand why Bee wouldn't snap out of it after her fling with Eric and I wanted shake Carmens dad and tell him to wake up!! It's fun to see the relationship that these four have and it makes me wish I had 3 girlfriends that lived so close! Why do you think the pants are so magical? And the only rule I would have to disagree with is the washing part. Eeew!