Tommy: The Gun That Changed America by Karen Blumenthal
This is not something I would typically choose for myself to read, but it came with rave reviews from my school librarian and the copy room secretary. Based on both of them, I knew I had to check this out.
The beginning of the book focuses on the origins of the gun itself, how it is an incarnation of the Gatling gun. It also discusses the creator, John Thompson, and how his fondest wish was to create a gun for the US Military. Unfortunately for him, that didn't really happen until just before his death.
A large portion of the book dealt with how the Tommy gun was used by criminals. Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, and John Dillinger's escapades are all mentioned. Admittedly, this was the most interesting section of the book.
Lastly, this book dealt with gun legislation. What I liked about this section is that it was unbiased. The author never said which side of the controversy she was on, and I think this was a good thing so that it wouldn't alienate readers.
Overall, this was a pretty interesting read.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Saturday, March 5, 2016
The Person Left Behind
I Was Here by Gayle Forman
Having read other books by this author, I felt this would probably be a good read, and I was right.thin
Cody's best friend, Meg, recently killed herself. She was meticulous in her preparations. She got a hotel room, left a note and a good tip for the maid, sent an email to her parent and best friend that would be delayed until after she was gone, emailed the police to tell them where to find her body, and then swallowed a very poisonous chemical. Cody is asked by Meg's parents to go to her college and pack up Meg's things, and Meg's meticulousness continues there.
While packing up Meg's room, Cody meets a guy that Meg had a one night stand with, and Cody seems to think he is connected to her suicide somehow. He's not, but it leads Cody to find out all she can about why her best friend, the person she thought she knew so well, took her own life.
Cody enlists the help of one of Meg's roommates to help her with the technical aspects of her search. She sets herself up as prey on the same site that Meg went to when she was thinking of "catching the bus." Cody needs to do this to find closure, to know that the rift that started to form shortly before Meg's death wasn't the cause of her suicide.
I enjoyed this book, not for the fact that it was about suicide, obviously, but because this seems like a real reaction from someone left behind after a loved one's suicide. It touched me.
Having read other books by this author, I felt this would probably be a good read, and I was right.thin
Cody's best friend, Meg, recently killed herself. She was meticulous in her preparations. She got a hotel room, left a note and a good tip for the maid, sent an email to her parent and best friend that would be delayed until after she was gone, emailed the police to tell them where to find her body, and then swallowed a very poisonous chemical. Cody is asked by Meg's parents to go to her college and pack up Meg's things, and Meg's meticulousness continues there.
While packing up Meg's room, Cody meets a guy that Meg had a one night stand with, and Cody seems to think he is connected to her suicide somehow. He's not, but it leads Cody to find out all she can about why her best friend, the person she thought she knew so well, took her own life.
Cody enlists the help of one of Meg's roommates to help her with the technical aspects of her search. She sets herself up as prey on the same site that Meg went to when she was thinking of "catching the bus." Cody needs to do this to find closure, to know that the rift that started to form shortly before Meg's death wasn't the cause of her suicide.
I enjoyed this book, not for the fact that it was about suicide, obviously, but because this seems like a real reaction from someone left behind after a loved one's suicide. It touched me.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
TAYSHAS 13
There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake
I'll be honest, for the first half of this book, I had to force myself to read this. It was frustrating because the synopsis/blurb thing made it sound so promising, so good. And once I hit the halfway mark, it was.
Shelby is almost eighteen. She lives with her mother, is homeschooled, enjoys batting, and having ice cream for dinner on Fridays. One Friday, she is hit by a car, and her life is turned upside down. She goes on a road trip with her mother, but it is not the fun kind of road trip. No, this is one where they are running from Shelby's father because he is abusive. Or are they?
Additionally, we follow Shelby as she goes to the Dreaming, an alternate universe, if you will, that has to do with Native American lore. Until the end, I was bored out of my mind reading these parts, which is part of why this book was hard for me to work through.
I'll be honest, for the first half of this book, I had to force myself to read this. It was frustrating because the synopsis/blurb thing made it sound so promising, so good. And once I hit the halfway mark, it was.
Shelby is almost eighteen. She lives with her mother, is homeschooled, enjoys batting, and having ice cream for dinner on Fridays. One Friday, she is hit by a car, and her life is turned upside down. She goes on a road trip with her mother, but it is not the fun kind of road trip. No, this is one where they are running from Shelby's father because he is abusive. Or are they?
Additionally, we follow Shelby as she goes to the Dreaming, an alternate universe, if you will, that has to do with Native American lore. Until the end, I was bored out of my mind reading these parts, which is part of why this book was hard for me to work through.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Alas Poor Yoric
Srsly Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Courtney Carbone
In the vein of YOLO Juliet, it is a classic Shakespeare tragedy told in text lingo and emojis. It was ok. I mean it is the story of Hamlet, but without all the beautiful language. If you need to know the plot, this would be ok. If you read this because you think you can get by on a test with this text, you may be sadly mistaken. If you want a quick read to learn a little bit to get the gist, this is for you. I was disappointed that they left out "Alas Poor Yoric, I knew him well."
In the vein of YOLO Juliet, it is a classic Shakespeare tragedy told in text lingo and emojis. It was ok. I mean it is the story of Hamlet, but without all the beautiful language. If you need to know the plot, this would be ok. If you read this because you think you can get by on a test with this text, you may be sadly mistaken. If you want a quick read to learn a little bit to get the gist, this is for you. I was disappointed that they left out "Alas Poor Yoric, I knew him well."
Monday, February 22, 2016
TAYSHAS 12
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas
It was in the cards for me to read this one. My librarian recommended it. Then I saw it was compared to Game of Thrones. After that, it was either free or nearly free for my Kindle. It was meant to be.
Feyre and her family used to be wealthy. Then they lost their money, and their father became disabled. Her older sisters we "too good" to work or hunt, and before her mother died, she made Feyre promise to take care of them all. One day, Feyre was out hunting and happened upon a doe. This would provide several days of meals, and she could sell the skin for cash. Too bad there was a wolf trying to get the doe. So, Feyre kills the wolf, skins it, and takes the doe with her. Things look good for a little while.
Then, Feyre finds out that she killed a fairy. Oops! In doing so, she has broken the treaty. In exchange for the fairy life she took, Feyre must live out her days in the fairy land. All kinds of diabolical characters come out of the woodwork to try to do her harm. After a while, Feyre and her captor, Tamlin, fall in love, which makes things more dangerous for Feyre. So, Tamlin sends her back to the human lands and her family.
Ultimately, Feyre discovers that things for Tamlin are worse than when she left, so she goes back to the fairy lands to try to fix things. She ends up in the hands of a sadistic, mentally unstable fairy, and must prove her love for Tamlin in order for them both to be set free.
Admittedly, it starts a little slow, but once you hit the halfway point, it picks up, and you won't want to put it down.
It was in the cards for me to read this one. My librarian recommended it. Then I saw it was compared to Game of Thrones. After that, it was either free or nearly free for my Kindle. It was meant to be.
Feyre and her family used to be wealthy. Then they lost their money, and their father became disabled. Her older sisters we "too good" to work or hunt, and before her mother died, she made Feyre promise to take care of them all. One day, Feyre was out hunting and happened upon a doe. This would provide several days of meals, and she could sell the skin for cash. Too bad there was a wolf trying to get the doe. So, Feyre kills the wolf, skins it, and takes the doe with her. Things look good for a little while.
Then, Feyre finds out that she killed a fairy. Oops! In doing so, she has broken the treaty. In exchange for the fairy life she took, Feyre must live out her days in the fairy land. All kinds of diabolical characters come out of the woodwork to try to do her harm. After a while, Feyre and her captor, Tamlin, fall in love, which makes things more dangerous for Feyre. So, Tamlin sends her back to the human lands and her family.
Ultimately, Feyre discovers that things for Tamlin are worse than when she left, so she goes back to the fairy lands to try to fix things. She ends up in the hands of a sadistic, mentally unstable fairy, and must prove her love for Tamlin in order for them both to be set free.
Admittedly, it starts a little slow, but once you hit the halfway point, it picks up, and you won't want to put it down.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Wienies are the Best!
Adventures of the Wiener Dog Extraordinaire, Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund by Ryan Beauchesne
I first discovered Crusoe a few years ago on Facebook, and fell in love with the little guy. I love dachshunds and have had four amazing ones in my life thus far. So, reading about Crusoe's adventures online and seeing him in his costumes meant I was hooked in no time. When I saw that he had a book coming out, I knew I had to have it.
This is more of a coffee table book. Its primary purpose is to look at Crusoe and his brother, Oakley, in their cute getups while on their adventures. What's nice is that there are stories that go with the pictures that are narrated by Crusoe himself. I'm telling you-this is THE book to own.
I first discovered Crusoe a few years ago on Facebook, and fell in love with the little guy. I love dachshunds and have had four amazing ones in my life thus far. So, reading about Crusoe's adventures online and seeing him in his costumes meant I was hooked in no time. When I saw that he had a book coming out, I knew I had to have it.
This is more of a coffee table book. Its primary purpose is to look at Crusoe and his brother, Oakley, in their cute getups while on their adventures. What's nice is that there are stories that go with the pictures that are narrated by Crusoe himself. I'm telling you-this is THE book to own.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Road Trippin'
Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid
This is billed as being the next Paper Towns. I wouldn't quite go that far, but this was an endearing story.
Hudson, Bree, Elliott, and Sonia. Four teenagers in four parts of the United States who have nothing in common except for Leila. Leila is on her way "north," specifically to see the Northern Lights. The reason she gives each of her new friends varies, but you do find out her story by the end of the book.
This is in five sections-one for each person Leila spends time with and herself. The stories are as varied as the locations where they take place. I found myself unable to put this one down.
This is billed as being the next Paper Towns. I wouldn't quite go that far, but this was an endearing story.
Hudson, Bree, Elliott, and Sonia. Four teenagers in four parts of the United States who have nothing in common except for Leila. Leila is on her way "north," specifically to see the Northern Lights. The reason she gives each of her new friends varies, but you do find out her story by the end of the book.
This is in five sections-one for each person Leila spends time with and herself. The stories are as varied as the locations where they take place. I found myself unable to put this one down.
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