Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Review

My first impression, INSANE! Wow, this is my first time reading anything by Hunter S. Thompson and this didn't disappoint. 

This book is about the author's trip to Las Vegas to cover a story about a bike race and it's filled with drugs, crazy situations, and a guy I'm wondering how he ever got to be an attoney...

This book has been out for decades now but I haven't had the chance to be introduced to Gonzo Journalism. This is great. Filled with paranoid drug induced reactions and just living life they way they did was just, well insane. As surprising as it was to know they didn't die, it was kind of nice to see a life being lived that way. Not that I would ever want that drug state to be my life but to see such insanity would be cool for a day or so. 

Now, is that kind of drug life still around? Are there journalists that go that far or are they already like this? I don't know but it is a unique lifestyle. Brutal, seems like a better description for me. This story took me into a world I have not had any experience in and don't want any, but I enjoyed the ride. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Genre: Gonzo Journalism, Comedy

Pages: 204

Publisher: Vintage Books/Random House

I give this a 4 out of 5.

Pretty Disgusting

So as I was flipping through my library book, The Gun Slinger, I noticed something I just somehow missed when I picked the book up....

Please dont put hair in your books. Why would someone be this gross? I know people don't wash their hands and whatever else they do, but this is disgusting.

Blockade Billy by Stephen King Review

I have never read anything byStephen King (well completed anything). I picked this short story up at my library.

This is the story of Blockade Billy's short time playing baseball. Set around te 1950's time frame (or earlier...?) Billy's story is told to Mr. King as a retelling of what actually happened to Billy.

Now, I am not a baseball fan and did get lost in some of the jargon, but I kept up with the book. I was interested in it one, because I have started The Gunslinger and wanted to check out something shorter I could get through to get more of a feel for his style. Two, I needed something short to get through to help get through my goodreads challenge. (I am 8 books behind schedule!)

I read this book in one sitting and I enjoyed it. It has a good twist and brought on a slight creepy factor around Billy's character.

Since this is the first King book I've read, I can't say this is typical of him but it's a great introduction for me and perfect length. The book didn't feel rushed or long at all. It flowed along great.

I look forward to finishing The Gunslinger and reading more by the obviously very popular author in the future.

Genre:     Fiction, Thriller
Pages:       112
Publisher: Cemetary Dance

I give this a 4 out of 5.

Half Wild by Sally Green Review

It has been a very long time since I updated this blog. I wish it hadn’t been that way, but oh well. I am back. Kind of refreshed. Needing this. Some way to express how I feel about one of the few things I still enjoy doing.

So here it is my Half Wild review by Sally Green. 

This is of course the sequal to Half Bad. It picks up where it left off, but honestly, I forgot some parts of the story. This book took a good while to come out! Of course there are some refreshers! So Nathan is still continuing to try and save Annalise, his love interest, but things in the witch world are getting worse.

The Council leadership is changing for the worse and both the White and Black Witches must decide how to save themselves.

I will admit that this book dragged a bit. But then again, I think I am impatient with some books at times. But it was well worth it. The end had enough twists to get me excited for the next book in the trilogy!

Genre:Young Adult

Pages: 412

Publisher: Viking

I give this book a 4 out of 5 !

Growing Money A Complete Investing Guide For Kids Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, due to my life and changing the way I am thinking about things, I decided to tackle my finances.  Even though I have a job and make contributions to things, I decided to start fresh with and get more into planning. So how do you tackle a topic that seems intimidating, seems impossible? You go to the kids section and get an introduction! 

This book explains investing as well as gives definitions for financial terms used, to how Wall Street works, the stock market works, to how planing for you financially future can impact you. 

I found this great book is not only a refresher, but explains things in a kid friendly way. To bad it's geared towards kids in the title. I would recommend this book to any adult that is interested in learning some basics before tackling bigger goals. 

 I love this book and it has motivated me to take more control of my finances, (well situations in my life have lead me here as well.) For all the curiosity seekers, kids and adults alike, grab this book at the libary or go buy it (though I wonder if there is a more recent one???) and get reading!

THERE IS NO REASON FINANCES/FINANCIAL TOPICS SHOULD INTIMIDATE PEOPLE! :)

out of 5

Mass Reviews

So I have been busy with work, which makes me lazy with this and a lot of other things I should be working on....I have loaded up, once again on books I need to be reading. Anyway, here are the books that I have gotten to and finished!

The Big Tiny by Dee Williams

I got this book because I am definitely into the tiny house movement. The book is about Dee’s life as she sets out to begin the build of her own tiny home. In it, she talks about her health issues and her struggles to downsize from her dream home into one that sits on a trailer. For people that would like a firsthand view of why a person would choose this kind a life, I suggest picking up this book. I enjoyed it.Guess I didn't take a pic of this book! :(

 out of 5 hearts!

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

Well the cover certainly sucked me right into this short book. I have never read any works from Murakami but was definitely excited to finally take time to read this. Unfortunately, I wish I had had a better introduction.

This book is about a boy who gets trapped in a strange library and his trials as he attempts to escape. Will reading the book I kept waiting for the next big thing to happen, but it never did. The story felt empty and the ending flat. This is one I would suggest people definitely go out and pick up at the library. I won’t let this book deter my interest in reading more from Murakami and I am hopeful the next book will make up for this one.

 out of 5 hearts. Yeah, this was a let down.

The Anxiety of Kalix by Martin Millar

The third book is the great series. This continues the adventures of Kalix, a werewolf banished from her clan. I wont go into much detail because this is part of a series. The characters are still great. This book has a great cast of characters, a lot of emotion, enough action, humor and love. This is definitely one of my favorite series and I hope Martin Millar has a lot more coming!

 of course this is 5 hearts!!!!

The Blood Vivicanti by Becket

A new series that I am really excited to read more about. Becket is the assistant for Anne Rice, who any true book reader should have at least heard of! Anyway, The Blood Vivicanti is about a girl, Mary, who has this ability to read people’s memories through their blood. This is just Part 1, so it begins with her lonely but pretty interesting childhood to 17. Can’t wait for the next in the series!!!!!!!!!!  

 out of 5 hearts!

Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith and Weedon Grossmith

I can’t remember why I decided to download this book to my kindle, but I thought I would read it and hopefully remember why…anyway this is about a man, Mr. Pooter, who decides to start journaling again. This story takes place in England (I guess) probably sometime in the early 1900s (I am not history buff) With old stories, I enjoy reading the language. Words like “eatables and drinkables”pop up but not that often. The story is easy to understand so no worries about having issues with outdates phrases.

Mr. Pooter is a family and has one son. To me, he is a conservative man and places upmost important on respect, for himself and for others. I’m at currently at location 1261, 73% in, and his life seems pretty normal for a middleclass man. His friends seem to stop by constantly and Mr. Pooter loves his wife, Carrie, deeply.

I look forward to seeing how this diary ends. Even though he is just a regular man, reading about the parties he goes to and life at this time is interesting. Simpler.

So I finished it and this guy, Mr. Pooter is just a stubborn, conservative man just living his life. Compared to my version of today’s society, it’s a little backwards, but there is something nice about this time. Something clean, respectful, honest about this time.

I give this 2 and a half stars

Wyn (The Blood Vivicanti Pt 2) by Becket

So I do love this series. It great that each part is so short as well. I feel like I’m moving right along. In Part 2, we see Mary begin to feel herself out as a newly created Vivicanti and why she become one.

Another reason I am liking this series is because it is a new twist on the whole vampire genre. Not that I am tired of vampire stories, but sometimes old ideas need freshening up.

out of 5 and sorry, no picture... :(

Theo (The Blood Vivicanti Pt 3) by Becket

The series continues with Mary learning more about what being a Blood Vivicanti does to her and ones she drinks from. This part also introduces new characters, Nell and Lowen, who are definitely a mystery that needs to be figured out! Still enjoying this series a lot!

out of 5!

The Origin Blood (The Blood Vivicanti Pt 4) by Becket

Ok, well this origin story was a let down. It felt like a joke and it was a major part of the story. Well it helps to know the bad guys back story but couldn’t it have felt less like an afterthought? Two hearts.

out of 5, ohh the let down... :(

Lowen The Dark Man (The Blood Vivicanti Pt 5) by Becket

The story continues with the fight between good vs. evil. If felt a little long but there is plenty of action. On to the next part in this series!

out of 5 hearts.

The Locamotive Deadyards (The Blood Vivicanti Pat 6) by Becket

So the further I read along, the more disappointment I feel. I love this idea of these Blood Vivicanti’s not being vampire, but something new but this is turning into a sci-fi thing and I’m losing interest fast. This latest part still continues with the fight of good vs evil, but I am over it and the series may not be over with…I really don’t want to pay for Part 7 if it ever comes out.

out of 5.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth Feb 1, 2015

Ahhh! This series is done! At just over 500 pages if felt long but after finishing this story, I am glad for it. The final book still has Tris battling for her life and what will become of the world she knows.

What I did love about the series it the theme of love. All the ways love shows itself among this varied cast of characters. Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t some sweeping epic love story, but I was able to see things in the book that I either saw in my life or want in my life.

The book didn’t end like I expected it to. I'm satisfied with it now I guess.

I love how Veronica Roth gets us inside Tris and Tobias’ heads.  I love how she gets us to feel their pain, love, and anger.

I wasn’t as drawn into this series and I have been with others but this is a good series. Maybe one day I will actually watch the films….

 out of 5 hearts.