52 Books in 2012

Each book is given a star rating with five stars being the best.
Click on a book's cover to view information about that movie, a summary, and a small, personal review.
A faded book cover means I haven't finished the book yet but will soon.
* indicates a reread
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The Help (2009)

Title: The Help

Author: Kathryn Stockett

Pages: 451

Summary: Skeeter, a young, aspiring journalist, write a book with the help of Aibileen and Minny, two black housemaids about living in the deep South and working for white families during the 50s.

Date Finished: January 2nd, 2012.

Likes: The character development.

Dislikes: Was a little slow in the middle, very similar to the movie so I got bored at a few parts

Review: Definitely a worthwhile read, even if you have seen the movie. Has many funny and sad parts, and makes you think.

*The Titan's Curse (2007)

Title: The Titan's Curse

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages: 312

Summary: When Annabeth goes missing, Percy and his friends must go on a quest to find her, as well as the goddess Artemis.

Date Finished: January 7th, 2012.

Likes: Greek mythology.

Dislikes: Nothing.

Review: Number 3 in the series, so don't read unless you have read the first two. Although it is more for younger children, I still really like these books.

*Catching Fire (2009)

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

Pages: 391

Summary: Second installment in The Hunger Games series. Katniss must deal with the ramifications of how she won the last Hunger Games, and deal with a rebellion being blamed on her.

Date Read: January 11th, 2012.

Likes: Everything.

Dislikes: Nothing.

Review: My favorite part of this series is the strong main female character- there aren't too many of them in young adult fiction books. If you haven't read these books yet, please do!

The Time Traveler's Wife (2003)

Title: The Time Traveler's Wife

Author: Audrey Niffennegger

Pages: 536

Summary: The story of Henry, a man with a genetic mutation that causes him to time travel, and how he met his wife.

Date Read: January 15th, 2012.

Likes: I like the premise of this story- time travel has always interested me.

Dislikes: The main focus of this story is on the romance, but I wish there could have been more about the actual time travel parts.

Review: I actually started reading this once before, and never got around to finishing it, but since all my applications are done, I figured I might as well try and finish it! I read the whole thing in one sitting, it took me about four hours, and I was hooked. I didn't really like the ending, but I understand why it had to end that way. Definitely read it if you like romance novels and books that make you think.

Anna and the French Kiss (2010)

Title: Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Pages: 372

Summary: Anna is sent to a French boarding school, where she meets Etienne St. Clair, who is perfect, except for that he has a girlfriend.

Date Read: January 17th, 2012.

Likes: It was a really cute romance novel, I liked how I didn't feel bored while reading it.

Dislikes: I thought it was a little ironic that Anna complains about how her dad uses cancer as a plot device, but the author does the same thing in this book.

Review: A really nice quick read, definitely a cute story, not something that is entirely thought provoking but something that will make you smile.

*Mockingjay (2010)

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins

Pages: 390

Summary: The third installment in the Hunger Games series

Date Read: January 18th, 2012.

Likes: I like the idea of these books, because I do like dystopian type books.

Dislikes: The second half of the book was a little boring for me, because it got kind of philosophical on Katniss' part, and the fighting scenes don't really appeal to me. Also, I felt like some of the deaths were excessive, but I see why the author put them in.

Review: Definitely read this book if you haven't yet, because overall its amazing. It has a pretty bittersweet ending, I cried a lot the first time I read it.

*Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)

Title: Battle of the Labyrinth

Author: Rick Riordan

Pages: 361

Summary: The fourth installment of the Percy Jackson series

Date Read: January 19th, 2012.

Likes: I really like how these books blend together modern elements and Greek mythology.

Dislikes: I don't like how Nico is portrayed as someone much older than 11.

Review: Definitely a fun book to read, I read the series a few years ago so I have been slowly making my way through them again whenever the books are available at the library.

Nineteen Minutes (2006)

Title: Nineteen Minutes

Author: Jodi Picoult

Pages: 454

Summary: The story of a school shooting, and how it changed a small New Hampshire town forever.

Date Read: January 20th, 2012.

Likes: I think that Picoult is a wonderful writer, I cried at quite a few points of the story.

Dislikes: Although I did enjoy her writing, at a few points, I felt that the story was too drawn out, and got too analytical for me.

Review: The book was really good, and had a twist at the end that I didn't really expect. It's definitely a thought-provoking book, and it did make me cry at a few parts.

*The Hunger Games (2008)

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Pages: 374

Summary: The first installment in The Hunger Games series.

Date Read: January 22th, 2012.

Likes: I love this book so much, especially the idea behind the story, and Katniss' character.

Dislikes: I can't really pinpoint any one thing that I didn't like about this book.

Review: Seriously though, if you haven't read it, I can't really help you anymore.

The Emperor of All Maladies (2010)

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