BSchultz19

I didn't even know this thread existed I really liked The Giver but I don't own any of the others. I've wanted to read them though.

I really want to read Only Ever Yours as well. Can't wait to see what you think of it!

I read this once before and didn't understand squat because I kind of skimmed and then forgot to come back and actually read and make comments I find the rhyme scheme interesting. It starts of ABBA then goes like CBBC and then finishes DEDEDE. I think that is typical of rhyme scheme in sonnets if I'm correct where it shifts after the eighth line. Also that shift represents a change in the poem. The first eight lines are looking back on the good and bad times of life that casted a shadow on her. The next six sort of "resolve" the conflict. The mystic shape moves around her and she assumes it is death, but it is actually love. What the whole poem symbolizes, I'm not sure. Maybe that death and love are closely related and almost indistinguishable? Or that both when heading towards death and when heading towards love we tend to look back on the past experiences of our lives? I'm really not sure...

Yeah the only character is Patrick. I was misleading by saying characters. No pressure to read it soon, but I do think that you will enjoy it. Hope I'm not wrong

Me too. It's been such a dull weekend without it I do mind if you tease me. Not allowed. I really liked it. It was the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. It's top ten in the country in my program, so actually above cornell I could never afford Cornell

I'm really glad you liked Perfect Match. It is hard to be say "excited" when it comes to that book because the topic is so serious. I really loved the legal aspects as well. What is interesting is that some of the characters in Perfect Match are also in Nineteen Minutes and I know Nina Frost is another one, but I can't remember which one. I don't think I have read it yet. It is interesting to see crossovers in some of her books.

I didn't get nearly any reading done this weekend. I was on a college visit the last two days and head back to school tomorrow. Don't want to say a waste of four days, but lots of reading time squandered.

The first article was very interesting. I would have to agree that 1925 was a pretty great year for literature for all the same reasons that she argued in the article. World War I ending, prohibition in America, the roaring 20s. All of that expressed in literature along with the modernist movement which changed literature in a big way. This article is basically the same words but in different order and on a different website. The author did quote the BBC author, but there was zero new information.

That sounds really interesting Frankie! However I don't know if I would enjoy it because I would probably understand about 1% of the references to pop culture

I'm about halfway through now and I really like it. As some others have mentioned with the bluefin tuna situation.

I'm nearly halfway through The Rosie Effect. Even though I was already reading another book, Plain Truth, I couldn't keep myself from reading TRE because I just could not wait any longer I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's nice to see the same characters in a new setting and facing a whole new problem.

The Last Juror by John Grisham Summary In 1970, one of Mississippi s more colorful weekly newspapers, The Ford County Times, went bankrupt. To the surprise and dismay of many, ownership was assumed by a 23-year-old college dropout, named Willie Traynor. The future of the paper looked grim until a young mother was brutally raped and murdered by a member of the notorious Padgitt family. Willie Traynor reported all the gruesome details, and his newspaper began to prosper. The murderer, Danny Padgitt, was tried before a packed courthouse in Clanton, Mississippi. The trial came to a startling and dramatic end when the defendant threatened revenge against the jurors if they convicted him. Nevertheless, they found him guilty, and he was sentenced to life in prison. But in Mississippi in 1970, life didn t necessarily mean life, and nine years later Danny Padgitt managed to get himself paroled. He returned to Ford County, and the retribution began. (from goodreads) Opinions This story was really good, but I expected more courtroom drama and fancy lawyering. This is the first Grisham book I've read and I've heard that they are usually full of courtroom stuff, so maybe this one was just different. Even though I was disappointed in this aspect, the story itself was really good. Quite a lot of insight into the world of the south in the 60s and 70s. Families that buy off sheriffs, witnesses, etc., lingering racism, fighting desegregation. It was really interesting to see the way that things were run in the south. In one part the narrator says that in 72 they had the national election, in 73 the county elections, 74 the state elections and so on. The people liked voting so much that they spread it out over every single year. He also commented on the fact that not many african americans were registered voters in the south because they either had to pass an impossible literacy test or were scared out of even trying. This becomes important when the jury is selected because only registered voters can be selected for jury duty. The first black woman in the county (according to the book) is selected for the jury and people are angry because they though african american jurors would be too sympathetic towards the defendant. When the vote goes a different way than the people in the town want, many townspeople blame her for it. It's sad to think that the world not so far from me was like this at one point. It is even sadder that we aren't all that different now. Racism in the south lasted for a long time and still exists in a big way. I wish we could change this. I would recommend this book, but it wasn't outstanding. The story was nice, but wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Rating

Oh I love his voice. He's a great singer, but he can also sing in a way that's comical. That song is just so annoying

YAY! I hope you like it. Lots of pressure on me for recommending it

The Pact isn't super long. It's more medium sized compared to her other books. Her books average around 400 pages I would guess. Yes! Stand by is a good way to put it. I'm worried about when I run out hopefully that won't be too soon because she has so many books I can't wait until saturday YES that was what I was thinking of. I refuse to watch it The song will get stuck in my head. That's one of my favorite episodes though. Since you liked The Pact, I would really recommend Nineteen Minutes. I read them one after the other and found a lot of similarities. Lots of courtroom stuff, but also an interesting story going on the whole time.

I can't really say if it is good or bad. I have heard people say both. However by different and weird I meant the whole dynamic of her world changes and it isn't confusing really, but just like whoaaa way out of left field. I think the series would have been better if she made the second book longer and ended it somehow in there. But that's just my opinion . I still think you should finish reading it and finish out the series.

I've already jumped on the wagon for so many other books. Why not add another?

Yeah no such luck Each book is like $17 which is WAAYYYY beyond my price range. edit: Just put The Rosie Effect on hold. Will pick it up Saturday

I've heard of and wanted to read both Reasons to Stay Alive and The Humans. Sorry that you didn't like this one

As an extra little add-on about Jodi Picoult: The first book of hers that I read was The Storyteller because it was on sale and Barnes & Noble and I had heard of her writing, but never actually read it myself. I guess I could include that in the list of ones that I have really enjoyed, but I didn't actually give it five stars according to goodreads. Anyway, I read that one and was so amazed with her writing that I had to read more, so I read Perfect Match and My Sister's Keeper and Perfect Match is one of the best books that I have read. It only made me more impressed with her writing. The rest of the ones I have read have been good (there have been great ones and not so great ones), but I think the reason I keep going back to her is that it's kind of the safe choice. Even her ehhh books are good, so I know that I can always count on checking out one of her books or buying one. I know I will be entertained no matter what. They are great because they make me think and they aren't too difficult to read. So I guess her being my most-read author over the past couple months doesn't necessarily mean that she is an amazing-totally perfect-best-writer-ever writer, but I know that she will keep me entertained. So that would be why I read more of her stuff. I kind of discovered this as I looked back and realized I hadn't given her books that many 5 star ratings. Of the 10 that I've read only about half of them have received 5 stars.

Interesting. I have The Pelican Brief but I haven't read it yet. I plan on doing it at some point. I felt the exact same way about Change of Heart. It was good, but not great compared to some of her other ones. Some of the ones I have really enjoyed are: Perfect Match Picture Perfect Nineteen Minutes The Pact see above I am when it comes to reading. When it comes to other things. . . maybe not so much I hope I can get it soon too. I just realized I will be home this weekend. Duhh

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult Summary The acclaimed #1 "New York Times" bestselling author presents a spellbinding tale of a mother's tragic loss and one man's last chance at gaining salvation.Can we save ourselves, or do we rely on others to do it? Is what we believe always the truth? One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen. For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child. Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish? Once again, Jodi Picoult mesmerizes and enthralls readers with this story of redemption, justice, and love. (from goodreads) Opinions I had my ups and downs with this book. There were certain parts that I really liked and definitely made me think a lot (like Picoult has a habit of doing), but there were other parts that somewhat conflicted with my beliefs. I'm glad that in the end I had a little change of heart (totally did not intend on that but those are the words that came to my head ) about some of the events in the book. Like I mentioned on the March activity thread, I found it a little predictable. I'm thinking this is more due to familiarity with her work than with it actually being predictable, because I don't think I would have guessed what I did if I hadn't read many of her other books. As far as ranking among her books, I wouldn't say it was the worst but it definitely wasn't close to the top. It was more meh. But even though I found it meh, I kept wanting to read it and practically devoured the 400+ pages. I guess that's why I find her such a great author. She can talk about the difficult subjects and she has a way of dragging the reader in. I did like how the title of the book could have multiple meanings throughout the book. I always like it when the title actually means something rather than just being something the author came up with because they needed a title. Rating (I would probably say more like 3.5, but I rounded up)

Honestly I didn't really dislike the song until watching the episode of The Office when Andy sings it over and over because he's annoying And it is one of those songs that gets stuck in your head forever

Yeah I enjoy parts of it. The story is great, but I find some of the things that happen hard to believe. I'm about 90% finished. It also contradicts my beliefs a little bit and parts of it have been predictable. But that could also come from reading so much of her work that I know how she writes

Currently checking prices to buy The Rosie Effect. The only problem is that if I buy that one I will want to buy the first book too because I can't have just one part of the series...