Book reviews

A friend recommended this book. I'm not usually a fan of World War II fiction, simply because there is such a vast amount of non-fiction, firsthand accounts from the war to read.
With that being said, my friend is an avid reader, so I knew if she enjoyed the story, I should give it a try.
I was not disappointed.
Code Name Verity is the wartime fictional story of two friends. I can't describe the plot without giving away key information, so you will just have to read it for yourself.
It is well-written. The characters are believable.
The ending made me forget to breathe for several seconds. I sat there in shock, open book in my lap.

I have always like Anderson Cooper and his reporting style. He seems genuine (as far as I can tell from the television), and has led an interesting life.
His book, Dispatches from the Edge, was written in a conversational tone. The story switches back and forth between his childhood and experiences in war zones and disaster areas. His dad passed away when he was ten years old and his older brother committed suicide when they were in college. It was interesting to read his perspective. He has reported from every conflict and disaster zone since the early 1990s, and seeks out challenging situations. You would think he would be brimming with self-confidence and assurance. In the book, he reveals how his dad's death left him feeling abandoned and his brother's suicide caused him to have an overwhelming sense of guilt. He admits that he sought dangerous situations where suffering was palpable in order to deal with his own pain.
I finished the book with an even deeper respect for his ability to report and see the names behind the numbers. He is one of the few reporters I've seen who appears to sincerely care for the people who are telling him their stories.

I chose this book from a shelf in the library due to the cover art. Superficial, but true. Sometimes I do judge a book by its cover.
It is the story of three children whose parents vanished ten years prior. There are castles, dwarves, orphans, a magic book, creepy creatures, and sibling rivalry. As I read it, quite a bit of the plot seemed vaguely familiar; then I realized--the story was a mixture of Narnia, Lemony Snicket, and Lord of the Rings! It was as if the author pulled bits and pieces from every fantasy/magical children's story ever written and combined them in a story set in the 21st century. The book wasn't boring, just repetitive. 

I'm not a fan of people in the news media (aside from Anderson Cooper). With that being said, I was bored, so I picked up one of Bill O'Reilly's newest books. He made some valid points within its pages, and overall, it held my attention. I read the entire book in under an hour, so it is a quick read.

Homesick is the true account of Jean Fritz's early childhood in China in the 1920s. Her father worked for the YMCA and she was born in China. Her family returned to America when she was in middle-school.
As I read the story, I realized I knew nothing about that time in China's history.
I want to find out more. A good book ignites curiosity.

So, the stack of books on my desk has shrunk by five.
Time for another trip to the library.