Category: 5 stars

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

2 Comments on Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss

Product Details

  • Pub. Date: December 2010
  • Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
  • Format: Hardcover , 384pp
  • Sales Rank: 987

Synopsis

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris – until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he’s taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.
As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near – misses end with the French kiss Anna – and readers – have long awaited?

My Thoughts

First, let me say that I has so much anticipation to read Anna and the French Kiss.  I had read review after review and they all had wonderful things to say.  I was a bit nervous that for some reason I was not going to like it, but I had nothing to worry about.  I loved this book.  Stephanie Perkins did a wonderful job with not only the story line but really building full and complete characters.  With as many as there are in this book, I was pleased to see the level on detail on each and everyone one of them.
What would seemly be an amazing opportunity to be away from your parents for your senior year of high school was a disaster for Anna but though meeting a group of friends right of the bat it is getting easier day by day for Anna.  Though she does not realize it right away she is falling for St Clair and she does not know how to handle it – he is taken and she has a guy she really wants back home.
One of my favorite parts of this book is Anna’s love for movies and the descriptions of the movie theaters in France.  I loved this touch and it made Anna such a deep character.
I high recommend this book.  It is a great fun loving read.  I know I didn’t want to put it down.

My Rating

5 stars – great read – perfect to curl up on the couch or hang out at the beach with.
*This book was purchased by myself and this is my honest review of it.

Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

Product Details

  • Pub. Date: July 2010
  • Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
  • Format: Paperback , 384pp
  • Sales Rank: 44
  • Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.

My Thoughts

So it has taken me a while to get to read this book, but I am so glad that I did.  I loved this book and cannot wait to read the other two!  Suzanne Collins build a dynamic world in the nation of Panem with clearly defined and interesting characters!  The book is well written and there is never any drag in the story.
The story start on reaping day – Katniss and her best friend Gale spend the morning in the woods hunting before they both have to prepare for the reaping ceremony in their district, 12.   Every young person between the age of 12 and 18 are required to participate in the Hunger Games (a fight to the death with only one winner) – one male and one female child are chosen from each of the 12 districts.  For each year they age, an additional ticket with their name is added to the large glass bowls where the name is drawn from each year.  In addition, each child can make the decision to take additional entries in order to get food for their families.  Both Katniss and Gale have taken additional entries to feed their families after their father’s died in coal mining accidents.  Katniss has needed to take over the care of her mother and her sister, Prim.  So it come time for the names to be drawn and her younger sister’s name is drawn in her very first year, she is but 12 years old.  Katniss responds immediately and takes her sisters place.  The male drawn is Peetra, the boy that save her when her family was starving with bread from his family’s bakery.  The two are able to say goodbye to their families and off they are taken to the Capital where they meet a whole group of people who will advise them and make them look good for the opening cerebration.  What happens from here is wilder than anyone could ever imagine.  Who will win?  How do they fair against the other districts?
 
This story is written in amazing detail.  It almost feels as though it is a movie playing in your head when you read the story.  The plot is well thought out and works extremely well! All in all, this book made a lasting impression on me!

My Rating

For sure 5 of 5 stars!  Well done Suzanne Collins!
 
 
 

Review:Skipping A Beat

Skipping a Beat: A Novel

Product Details

  • Pub. Date: February 2011
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
  • Format: Paperback , 327pp
  • Sales Rank: 620

Synopsis

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR HUSBAND SUDDENLY WANTED TO REWRITE THE RULES OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

My Thoughts

I loved this book!  It was one that I just could not put down.  I very easily connected with Julia and where she was in life.  She has a successful business and is married to a go-getter, Michael.  There were able to escape West Virginia and the pain of having a father who has a gambling problem.  All seems wonderful in their world from the outside looking in, but they are living two different lives.  Julia has given up most of her dreams, including having a family, for Micheal and his business. Life just keeps moving around them until he suffers a sudden heart attack and dies for 4 minutes.  Once revived, Micheal gives up everything he has – all of his millions – yet wants to rekindle his relationship with his wife.  Julia is very upset about losing this life and begins to work out if she can survive on her own.  Now, it seems that the prenuptial agreement they signed will save her.  Michael begs her for just 3 weeks to try to understand his decision.  Along the way, he tells her he is going to die again.
This is a very touching story about what is important in life and what we think is.  I cried numerous times in the story.  The story development is great.  There is just enough mystery to make to you want to sit and read this book in one sitting.  There is great character development – I felt as though I really knew these people and could feel where they were in life.  Ms. Pekkanen take us on an amazing journey and inside look at marriage, heartbreak, and the healing power of love!

My Rating

I highly recommend this book!  I give it 5 stars – it quickly became one of my favorites this year.