Books 31 - 40
I'm pretty sure I didn't post my 31-35 reads, so I apologize if I'm reposting them. Book Title links are to Amazon, the other links are to my long winded reviews on a website I take part in. Please visit it.. we need some more traffic.
31. The Total Money Makeover
, Dave Ramsey
Genre: Nonfiction, self-help
This book talks about basic principles of managing money, including writing down a budget (and sticking to it!), and not buying new cars. Pretty helpful if you don't have a clue where to start, or even if you thought you did.
Rating: 4.5/5
32. Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life
, by Edward Feinstein
Genre: Religious?
Though intended for individuals about to become a bar/bat mitzvah, this is still a very good introductory book to Judaism. It posed some interesting concepts as well, such as the idea that 'God' is not a noun, but rather a verb, and the author even leaves his contact information if you want to contact him with more questions.
Rating: 4.5/5
33. Deep As The Marrow
, by F. Paul Wilson
Genre: Political Fiction
The ending was too abrupt, too much was left unsaid, and I didn't like all the political nature of the novel. It was nicely written, but the plot just didn't appeal to me, and I really struggled to get all the way through it. It did, however, pose some interesting theories about the legalization of drugs.
Rating: 2/5
34. Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
Genre: Nonfiction
I think I liked Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul series better than this one, but, as always, there are some very heartfelt stories in here that I will remember for quite some time.
Rating: 3.5/5
35. The Blue Notebook
, by James Levine
Genre: Literary Fiction
Check out a thorough review here. In a nutshell: It was very difficult to get into, but I got engrossed about halfway through. Still, I'm not sure whether this was because of the subject matter (how disturbing it was), or how interested I actually was in the plot.
Rating: 4/5 (Note that this book begins a different rating system, where equal credit is given to plot, character development, insightfullness, setting, and readability)
36. The Boleyn Inheritance, Phillippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction
Anyway, this edition covers the lives of Anne of Cleves, Jane Boleyn, and Katherine Howard, two of whom are Henry's wives, and two of whom end up dying for their 'treachery.' This novel certainly shows how demented Henry likely turned out to be. It's easy to get inside the characters' heads, and I love Gregory's take on the historical events.
Rating: 4/5
37. Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules Verne
Genre: Classics, Science Fiction
I really need to stop reading these books with the movies in mind. I think I can pick out two things in the scenery described that are similar between the two, but that's about it. Still, it was an interesting and pretty easy read, so no complaints here.
Rating: 4/5
38. The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards
Genre: Fiction
Since I already wrote a long winded review of this one, I'll just say that it was good, and I enjoyed it.
Rating: 3.5/5
39. The Speckled Band, Arthur Conan Doyle
Genre: Mystery
A quick read of Sherlock Holmes' adventures that's the Big Read on DailyLit. Since it was only 13 sections, I finished it in two days. I enjoyed it, and it was certainly creative how it ended.
Rating: 4/5
40. The Burning Skies, David J. Williams
Genre: Science Fiction
What to say about this one. Well, I'll deflect you to my long-winded review for the details, but I just want to say that despite what the author intended or the publisher proclaims, this is not a book you can read without reading the prequel. And the summary on the back of the book sucks. It hardly describes the book at all.
Rating: 3/5
31. The Total Money Makeover
, Dave Ramsey
Genre: Nonfiction, self-help
This book talks about basic principles of managing money, including writing down a budget (and sticking to it!), and not buying new cars. Pretty helpful if you don't have a clue where to start, or even if you thought you did.
Rating: 4.5/5
32. Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life
, by Edward Feinstein
Genre: Religious?
Though intended for individuals about to become a bar/bat mitzvah, this is still a very good introductory book to Judaism. It posed some interesting concepts as well, such as the idea that 'God' is not a noun, but rather a verb, and the author even leaves his contact information if you want to contact him with more questions.
Rating: 4.5/5
33. Deep As The Marrow
, by F. Paul Wilson
Genre: Political Fiction
The ending was too abrupt, too much was left unsaid, and I didn't like all the political nature of the novel. It was nicely written, but the plot just didn't appeal to me, and I really struggled to get all the way through it. It did, however, pose some interesting theories about the legalization of drugs.
Rating: 2/5
34. Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
Genre: Nonfiction
I think I liked Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul series better than this one, but, as always, there are some very heartfelt stories in here that I will remember for quite some time.
Rating: 3.5/5
35. The Blue Notebook
, by James Levine
Genre: Literary Fiction
Check out a thorough review here. In a nutshell: It was very difficult to get into, but I got engrossed about halfway through. Still, I'm not sure whether this was because of the subject matter (how disturbing it was), or how interested I actually was in the plot.
Rating: 4/5 (Note that this book begins a different rating system, where equal credit is given to plot, character development, insightfullness, setting, and readability)
36. The Boleyn Inheritance, Phillippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction
Anyway, this edition covers the lives of Anne of Cleves, Jane Boleyn, and Katherine Howard, two of whom are Henry's wives, and two of whom end up dying for their 'treachery.' This novel certainly shows how demented Henry likely turned out to be. It's easy to get inside the characters' heads, and I love Gregory's take on the historical events.
Rating: 4/5
37. Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules Verne
Genre: Classics, Science Fiction
I really need to stop reading these books with the movies in mind. I think I can pick out two things in the scenery described that are similar between the two, but that's about it. Still, it was an interesting and pretty easy read, so no complaints here.
Rating: 4/5
38. The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards
Genre: Fiction
Since I already wrote a long winded review of this one, I'll just say that it was good, and I enjoyed it.
Rating: 3.5/5
39. The Speckled Band, Arthur Conan Doyle
Genre: Mystery
A quick read of Sherlock Holmes' adventures that's the Big Read on DailyLit. Since it was only 13 sections, I finished it in two days. I enjoyed it, and it was certainly creative how it ended.
Rating: 4/5
40. The Burning Skies, David J. Williams
Genre: Science Fiction
What to say about this one. Well, I'll deflect you to my long-winded review for the details, but I just want to say that despite what the author intended or the publisher proclaims, this is not a book you can read without reading the prequel. And the summary on the back of the book sucks. It hardly describes the book at all.
Rating: 3/5