Bookstore of good books

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

2013-02-11T03:50:00.003-08:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a series of books that are written by Jeff Kinney and are hugely popularly because of the humorous touch, jokes and pranks that are used in the books and make the story entertaining for the readers. Due to the huge fandom of these books movies based on them have also made their way onto the big screen and turned out to be equally popular.

Wimpy Kid... again!

The Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel is the seventh book of the series to be published and it is as much entertaining as all its other parts and does not fail to make the readers laugh and enjoy with the character of Greg Heffley who is in middle school now.The character of the “Mad Pantser” is also quite entertaining and a source of loads of funny moments in the book, some of which turn out to be quite embarrassing as well but are sure to make your funny bone tickle.

The story circulates around Greg and even shows some of the “memories” from his days in the womb. Greg’s recollections of his deadbeat uncle, the controversy caused in the school over a toiler paper, the turmoil he went through in order to get a date for the school dance and the embarrassing moments caused by the “Mad Panster” make the book much more hilarious and fun to read. Just like in the other Wimpy Kid books the errors in judgment made by Greg still keep the readers entertained as it leads to some of the most hilarious situations.

Laugh with Jeff Kinney

Jeff Kinney

Jeff Kinney is one author whose work has the capacity to make his readers laugh at the silliest of jokes and just like his words his illustrations make the story much more alive and enhance the storyline triggering the imagination of his fans and making it a memorable experience for them. Although his previous books were very much written for the younger kids but this book mostly deals with the life of the kids in middle school. The readers will not be disappointed as the Jeff Kinney’s illustrations and his ability to make his character do the most embarrassing things will keep you laughing till your stomach hurts.

The Racketeer by John Grisham

2013-02-04T01:21:00.001-08:00

John Grisham’s books mostly have a story that circles around fugitives, victims and runaways but this time around in “The Racketeer” the readers will find a bit of a change from the usual storyline. The main character of this book is Malcolm Bannister aka Mal who has the nerve to defy law and authority and is often found mocking the federal investigators in his own style as he says, “There is simply no section of your vast federal code that you can possibly use against me.”

The Racketeer - a new approach

The Racketeer by John Grisham

John Grisham’s “The Racketeer” sure is an unusual change from all of his other books as it is not written to promote justice and teach lessons about it but rather it has a much more deceitful and tricky aura about it. At the start readers might find it going on the same track as the other Grisham books where a lawyer finds himself in the middle of a legal trouble but the story takes a twist and becomes much more exciting as Mal takes control and sends his pursuers on a wild chase.

The story starts with Mal being a convict who used to be a lawyer and found himself in a serious situation when he was accused of being involved in racketeering and fraud alongside a crooked dealer known as Barry the Backhander. Although Mal didn’t deliberately violate the RICO law but he was sentenced for 10 years for it due to the involvement of his law firm in one of Barry’s real estate transactions. Unlike the other Grisham stories this book has a more conniving touch to it and tells us the story of Mal as he hones his skills while spending five years as a jailhouse lawyer and then uses his brains to create a brilliant scheme to take revenge. The readers will be delighted to see the change from Grisham’s nonfiction books “The Innocent Man” and “The Confession” as “The Racketeer” is not a story about the courtroom justice triumph or failure. The plot in this case is set around a legal and official principle which is known as Rule 35. Rule 35 is part of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and is a loophole according to which there can be a reduction of the sentence period in case the suspect provides “substantial assistance in investigating or prosecuting another person.”

Grisham’s way of using the Rule 35 in order to make the story full of adventure and suspense is surely going to keep the readers hooked to the book.

Just another great John Grisham book

John Grisham

The author’s main character always does things a few step ahead of the story and it will keep the readers guessing his plans until they unfold themselves as the story moves on. One of the most interesting and enjoyable aspects of the story include Mal’s impersonation of a documentary filmmaker which is the highlight of the book for sure and a real delight for the readers.“The Racketeer” uses various ways to outwit the FBI and disrupt financial systems and the readers will just have to keep on reading till the end to find out if crime pays and justice is served or not.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

2013-01-31T05:32:00.001-08:00

Who can forget the amazing Lord of the Rings books written by J.R.R. Tolkien? Not only the books but the movies based on these books also gained much fame and won a great number of Oscars. Such is the work of J.R.R Tolkien that keeps us spellbound even in The Hobbit which is considered to be one of the best works of Professor Tolkien. It was first published by George Allen and Unwin in 1937 and has been translated into more than 50 different languages and sold over 100 million copies which shows the popularity and fandom of the book and the author himself.

Hobbit - a not too dark book...

THE BOOK

The Hobbit is much lighter than the Lord of the Rings and provides great delight to the readers containing all the elements that are essential for a good and entertaining storyline. It has adventure, humor, songs and heroism that the readers can enjoy along with the characters of Bilbo, Gollum and the great Gandalf. The home of the hobbits “The Shire” is described in a way that will keep the readers in awe of its beauty. The story starts as Bilbo leaves the Shire in search of peace and comfort and encounters creatures like Elves, Dwarves, Eagles, Goblins and even Wizards while passing Rivendell, Mirkwood and The Misty Mountains and moves on to the Lonely Mountain in order to get the treasure that was stolen by Smaug, the great dragon.

Even J.K. Rowling love Hobit !

THE MASTER

The best thing about this book is that everyone can relate to it whether a child or an adult, it stirs up the internal desire of having an adventure and to discover something new by setting out on a journey into the unknown world which is a fantasy and dream of many. Even authors like J.K. Rowling and David Gemmell find this book an inspiration over their own work which clearly states how brilliant this book really is.

Overall it can simply be said that this book is exciting and adventurous and if you want something more than you can get your hands on the illustrated version as well which contains amazing artwork by Alan Lee and makes it even more entertaining and a real delight while reading.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

2013-01-27T05:29:00.003-08:00

Nicholas Sparks is the undisputed emperor of love books. In the book, Safe Haven, the base of the novel is Katie, a youthful lady planning a clean start. She moved to the small Southport in North Carolina. She discovers a petite, comfortable bungalow to live in and she starts working as a waitress at the home cafeteria. Southport is a calm southern township that goes well with Katie. Her goal is to have a settled down life and to forget her past.

The love arrives in Safe Haven....

Sparks’s smash hit

As she does her daily tasks, Katie bumps into a local superstore holder. Alex is at once fascinated by this enigmatic, good-looking young lady. He is a widower with two little kids rising on his own. He recognizes that Katie had hard life and not an easy past. Bit by bit, closeness is begun and a romance develops. They are very careful with their emotions. Notwithstanding their early uneasiness, they start the romance. And it is a gratifying romance. Not considering of Katie's endeavors to not look back in to her past, the past still arrives. The past intimidates her opportunity for contentment with her new darling, Alex. As always in these kinds of stories, their love triumph above all the difficulties.

Just another love book of Nicholas Sparks ...or not?

Yes you are right; Safe Haven may appear like the usual love story. Still, Nicholas Sparks has succeeded successfully to engage the reader with the plot. The story leading, as the two main characters get to know each other and fall in love, is just magnetic. The dark elements of Katie’s past all the way through the book just not allow to distract reader's attention. This modus operandi was evocative in the writer other books also. The writer is just a magician who knows to use this magic wand to make the reader chained to the book.

The undisputed emperor of love books

Safe Haven is certainly to be a new Sparks’s smash hit but it also shows shadows what you can find many times in his writing. It’s a story that beside that keeps amused and what’s more enlightens, brings all the needed elements to authentic horror.

Obsidian by Laurann Dohner

2013-01-22T02:31:00.002-08:00

For all the people who like to read extraordinary stories the New Species books by Laurann Dohner are sure to capture your attention. The first seven books have been quite interesting for the readers and they have been waiting eagerly for book eight and now finally their wait is over as the New Species book eight called Obsidian makes its way to bookstores. New Species male 880 has been in coma since he attacked the Mercile employees in revenge for killing his mate and almost died in the process himself. Since that time he has been under the observation of Doctor Allison Baker who is not only fascinated by him but is also thoroughly obsessed with him.

The New Species arrive in Obsidian

Obsidian by Laurann Dohner

When the New Species decide to take male 880 off the life support Allison kidnaps him from Homeland thinking that she can wake him up by giving him the scent of another woman. When they are attacked by the Homeland security 880 defends Allison and develops a liking for her by imprinting on her scent even though he is angry at first when he finds out that she is one just like the people who killed his mate but after imprinting he does not want anyone but Allison.

Allison on the other hand thinks that 880, who has taken up the name of Obsidian, just wants a replacement for his mate and decides that they should stay away from each other which is not acceptable for Obsidian. However the real question arises when they are separated. Will Obsidian start getting along with the other New Species males for the sake of his love for this woman or not?

Characters of this book you will just love

Laurann Dohner

The character of Obsidian will be liked by readers although he is a bit of a bully at times. However, Allison should have stayed strong throughout the story like she was in the start when she decides to kidnap Obsidian. She should have shown the same courage in dealing with other situations that made their way to her. Considering all these things it was still fun to read this book and if the author decides to write the next book making a New Species female the center of the plot then it can make the story much more fascinating and spellbinding.

For any housewife who has a loving husband and adores her kids and loves to read romantic novels, this is the novel that she can enjoy greatly over a cup of coffee in her home.

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

2013-01-19T04:16:00.001-08:00

Louise Penny is one of the most celebrated mystery writers of out time and this new brilliant novel The Beautiful Mystery by her is one of a kind that is sure to win another award for the incredible storytelling. This novel is set in a monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups in Quebec where there are two dozen monks living in peace and harmony. Their day to day life consists of planting vegetables, tending to chickens and making chocolate. One other thing that they do is sing. These monks are famous for their amazing voices and the effect that their voices have on the listeners is so profound and intense that it is known as “the beautiful mystery”.

... and the beautiful mystery begin....

Louise Penny's beautiful mystery

The plot starts with the murder of the choir director and that leads to the entrance of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec into the boundaries of the monastery. As they investigate they find clues that shatter the silence and break the harmony of the monastery and as the peace crumbles Gamache has to face his own fears and demons besides the ones that are haunting the very walls of the monastery. To solve the mystery the Chief has to tread carefully and make each move cautiously if he wants to find the killer and restore the peace.

Louise Penny

Louise Penny is a Canadian author who is well known for her mystery books and has received a lot of nominations and awards for her brilliant work. Born in 1958, Louis Penny started her career as a radio broadcaster for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After that she decided to try writing and won quite a number of awards for her work which includes the Agatha Award that she won for four years in a row from 2007 to 2010 for best mystery novel of the year. Besides that she also won the Anthony Award for two of her novels and got her work published in 23 different languages. She also tried writing a historical novel but after a while she turned her attention back to the mystery writing. Her first novel was Still Life and she entered it in the "Debut Dagger" competition in the United Kingdom which earned it a second place out of 800 entries. Besides that, the novel won quite a number of other awards some of which include the "New Blood" Dagger award in the United Kingdom, the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada, the Dilys Award, the Anthony Award and the Barry Award in the United States.

Her work is exceptional earning her great nominations and awards for her brilliant storytelling.

Bones Are Forever by Kathy Reichs

2012-10-08T07:26:00.001-07:00

Kathy Reichs

Mystery and crime novels are always the best for capturing the attention of the readers as they provide suspense and thrill that is very much missing from the lives of many people so they are drawn to such novels and are fascinated by them. That is the reason for the success of crime and mystery novels one of which is Bones Are Forever by Kathy Reichs. Kathy Reichs is not only a New York Times bestselling author but is also the producer of FOX television series Bones.

Bones Are Forever is a fascinating and spellbinding book that features Tempe Brennan who is a forensic anthropologist. This book has everything for the readers from murder to corruption set in the world of diamond mining.

The Bones Are Forever...the story starts

The story starts when a woman enters the Montreal hospital, calls herself Amy Roberts and complains of uncontrolled bleeding. After finding evidence of recent birth when the doctors are about to treat her Amy Roberts disappears. The police go to search her home at the address found in her medical form and after finding bloody towels in the trash they take the case to Tempe Brennan for investigation.

During his investigation Tempe Brennan comes across the decomposing bodies of three infants in a beat-up apartment. After questioning the landlord he finds that a woman named Alma Rogers lives there while another man shows up at the same place looking for someone named Alva Rodrigues and thus various questions start popping up. Whether Amy Roberts, Alva Rodriguez and Alma Rogers are the names of the same woman? Were the infants her own and she killed them? Most importantly where is she now?

Bones Are Forever

Leading the investigation is homicide detective Andrew Ryan and Sergeant Ollie Hasty both of whom have a history with Tempe and together they start the search for this woman. Following her trail they reach a remote diamond-mining city named Yellowknife where they find something so terrible that neither of them could have imagined it in their wildest dreams.

Another Masterpiece by Kathy Reichs

To find out what happens next the readers will just have to buy the book. Kathy Reichs’s style of storytelling is one that the readers will enjoy immensely. Her books are praised in The New York Times Book Review as “cleverly plotted and expertly maintained series” and Bones Are Forever is the fifteenth novel of the series which is sure to catch the eye of the readers.

Last to Die: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen

2012-09-27T08:19:00.002-07:00

Jane Rizzoli's exciting Adventures

All the fans of Tess Gerritsen’s novels are in for a real treat with the publication of the new novel named Last To Die. There are a number of reasons that would cause the readers to fall in love with this book. First of the all the readers will be glad to see the Boston Police Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles removed from the Massachusetts environment. Another thing that will capture the attention of the readers is that they will get to see the Mephisto Society again that consists of a group of individuals whose lives are governed by evil. One other thing of great interest for the readers, especially the old readers who have been loyal to the story throughout, is the new turn that the relationship of the two main characters takes in this one as compared to the other installments.

Jane Rizzoli's new Adventures

The story is very compelling and spellbinding taking the readers on a roller coaster ride of mystery and puzzles. It starts with Rizzoli and Isles investigating a crime scene where a whole family consisting of husband, wife and three foster kids has been murdered. The only one who survived is 14 years old Teddy Clock who saved himself by hiding under the bed. The thing that strikes as unusual is that Teddy escaped death two years before as well when his parents were murdered.As the story continues Isles sets off to Maine to a boarding school called Evensong which is run by the Mephisto Society. While there she finds two students named Will Yablonski and Claire Ward who also happen to be the victims of the same tragedy that had struck upon Teddy Clock. They too had escaped twice from death when their birth parents and foster families were murdered. Rizzoli decides to take Teddy to Evensong so that he is under protected and safe environment.

Every road leads to Rome

After the arrival of Teddy to Evensong something ghastly is discovered in the woods that surround the grounds of the boarding school and leads to form a connection between the life stories of the three students. One other thing that connects their tragic events is the presence of an unknown woman who helped Claire and Will at the time of the second attack on their lives. To find the answer to this mystery the story goes back in time to a deadly tableau in Rome and the readers will have to buy the book to find out what happens in the end.

The new Magic of Tess Gerritsen

Tess Gerritsen - the writer

The plot of this book and the twisting mystery is something that will delight the readers. Just like the previous books, Gerritsen is not afraid to take chances with this one either and tries to build a different plot fearlessly which makes Last To Die an important part of the whole series.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2012-09-23T10:08:00.002-07:00

The Hunger Games

A trilogy that has captured the hearts of many readers and stands in comparison with bestselling series like Twilight and Harry Potter is none other than The Hunger Games written by author Suzanne Collins. She was considered one of the Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2010 due to the success of the first two installments of The Hunger Games series. These series not only provide a compelling storyline but also give an insight about the fears and obsessions that rule our daily lives which include war, fashion and authoritarian government. Young adults that are fond of a bit darker novels will surely enjoy the intense story that this series provides to the readers.

The Hunger Games - The Story

The story is of Katniss Everdeen who is sixteen years old and lost her father in a mining accident. Ever since that day it has become her job to do all she can to provide for her family. For this purpose she often goes off the boundaries of District 12, which is illegal, to hunt for animals so that she can use them in exchange for food or other items. She has quite a skill with bow and arrow and with her ability to track down the animals she has helped her family survive through thick and thin. To provide even more for her family she signs up for tessera each time where you get rations in exchange for placing your name in a lottery for reaping which is a ceremony to pick a representative of each district for participation in the Hunger Games. The names of kids from age 12 to 18 are always placed in the lottery and Katniss exchanges her name each time for tessera which increases her chances of getting picked but instead of her the name of her sister Prim Everdeen is called.

Suzanne Collins´s great story

Prim Everdeen is only 12 years old and she is the closest person to Katniss. Katniss loves her with all her heart and knows that if Prim goes to the Games she will be killed. To save her sister Katniss volunteers to replace her sister as a tribute from District 12 to participate in the Hunger Games. Katniss is well aware of the benefits that will be bestowed on others if she becomes the winner from District 12 and her skill with the bow and arrow will give her the advantage but what she does not anticipate is the selection of the other participant from District 12 that turns out to be Peeta Mellark, the baker’s son. Peeta had helped Katniss once when she and her family greatly needed it and now she owes him for that and finds herself in a dilemma because if she survives then that means Peeta dies.

Suzanne Collins

She is taken away from her family and best friend Gale to the Capitol where she is to be trained along with Peeta by Haymitch. Haymitch is the only tribute from District 12 who was a winner in the Hunger Games but it turns out that he is reluctant and not good enough to teach them. Hence Katniss decides to take matters into her own hands and realizes that if she has to survive then she will only have to rely on her own strength.

As the story continues the readers will enjoy it immensely and will keep on turning the pages till the very end. The character of Katniss is very strong and determined however, there are times when her actions will cause the readers to wait and think whether she chose the right option and made the right decision or not. Katniss’s feelings split between two boys will also be something that the readers will sympathize with. Overall it is a thrilling and interesting story that is sure to keep the readers hooked till the end.

This Is How It Ends by Kathleen MacMahon

2012-09-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

The writer

If you are looking for a story that has romance and tragedy in it with a touch of intelligence then Kathleen MacMahon’s novel is the one that you should read. She is an Irish writer centers this book around a love story that takes place in Ireland during the time of 2008 U.S. presidential elections.

This Is How It Ends - The Story

It tells the tale of a middle-aged American named Bruno Boylan who sets out on a trip to his father’s homeland. Not only does he get mesmerized by Ireland but also falls in love with Addie Murphy. Addie Murphy lives her life taking care of her father and loving the kids of her sister. Whenever she has spare time she dives into the waters off the Dublin coast and loves to swim around with her dog Lola, whom she adores.

A fantastic book

Due to a recent loss, Addie now leads a single life while Bruno has already been married twice and both the times it did not go so well. Although a long term relationship between the two seems difficult as Bruno plans to go back to the US if Obama gets elected but they still fall in love with each other irrevocably.

Kathleen MacMahon´s Piece of Art

This story is something that will keep the readers hooked till the end as Kathleen MacMahon shows Ireland in all its beauty alongside highlighting the political and historical backgrounds throughout her novel. This is her debut novel for which she got a good advance with a number of countries taking the rights to This Is How It Ends. All the fans of the Irish writer Maeve Binchy will definitely like to read this book if they are looking to revive the same feeling with Kathleen MacMahon’s words and will surely fall in love with it by the time they turn the last page. While for all the other readers who would like to have a change from all the supernatural and mystery novels This Is How It Ends will surely be a pleasure to read.

The Odyssey of KP2: An Orphan Seal, a Marine Biologist, and the Fight to Save a Species by Terrie M. Williams

2012-09-17T14:08:00.001-07:00

The Odyssey of KP2

The Odyssey of KP2 is a story of a Hawaiian monk seal that is especially fond of humans and loves to hang around them. This story is written by Terrie M. Williams, a wildlife biologist, who shares her experience with this amazing monk seal known as KP2 with the readers.

The Odyssey of KP2 - the Story

When he was only 2 days old the islanders witnessed that he got attacked by a male seal that may be his very own father. Seals are the most endangered species in the Hawaiian Islands as it is evident from the viral epidemic that was responsible for wiping out the European Harbor seals at the end of previous century. Any type of similar epidemic can prove to be very fatal for the Hawaiian monk seals.

Terrie M. Williams - the writer

When Williams visits Hawaii in 2009 and finds KP2 the feeling that she gets after seeing him is written by her as, "The little black pup who'd been abandoned on a lonely Kauai beach would become an icon, a rogue and a threat. The survival of an entire species would one day come to rest on his small and once discarded shoulders." Not only KP2 is a local celebrity but is famous on the internet too with his videos posted all over YouTube.

A great story told by Terrie M. Williams

William’s attempts to save this monk seal as well as his species are very well written in the book as she writes “I soon had the strange feeling that this little monk seal was following me.” As KP2 kept going back to the beaches over and over again it was important to remove him from such a dangerous environment and after battling with the critics Williams finally wins and takes this Hawaiian monk seal to her lab in California. “The troublemaker seal with a fondness for people was the one Hawaiian monk seal we could study in detail,” she writes. There are so many questions that need to be answered. Will this monk seal be able to swim? Will he gain weight? So many questions need answering to provide a better chance of survival for these species. And the readers who would like to know what happens to KP2 they will just have to read the book to find out. All those people who love to read animal stories, The Odyssey of KP2 is just for you!

And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman

2012-09-14T10:49:00.001-07:00

Laura Lippman - the autor

If you are looking for a book that deals with guilty pleasures then And When She Was Good is one novel that you should get your hands on. It is an incredible novel written by Laura Lippman who describes the life of a suburban madam Heloise Lewis.

And When She Was Good in few words

Heloise Lewis has a son named Scott and although she may seem to be a successful businesswoman besides being a madam but she has wrapped herself and her son in a shell of innocence to keep themselves secure from the treacherous outside world. It takes a strong woman to lie to herself to keep the facade of brilliance intact. Laura Lippman portrays the character of Heloise Lewis brilliantly showing the love of a mother towards her child and at the same time fighting with her own life believing that she is in control of everything that happens to her. Getting physically and emotionally abused by her father who was enabled by her mother lead Heloise Lewis to such a life in her adulthood. Even if she decides to change her life it is not as easy as it seems during the tough economic times.

A great writer of last years - Laura Lippman

And When She Was Good - the Book

Laura Lippman who is already famous for her crime novels gives this novel a bit of the same touch at times. Not only her crime novels are popular but she has done it again with And When She Was Good for the delight of her readers. If you like to watch television series such as The Client List then you will surely enjoy this novel too as it shows how a victimized woman battles with her inner turmoil while keeping a balance between what is facade and what is a reality.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

2012-09-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

The Light Between Oceans is a real masterpiece created by M.L. Stedman that centers around the life of a married couple and the decisions that they have to make during their life. The story tells about the tale of Tom who recently comes back from World War I and marries a woman named Isabel. Both start living on an island off Western Australia, where Tom serves as the keeper of the lighthouse, and long to have a child of their own. After having two miscarriages and a stillbirth when Isabel is burying her child she happens to find a little babywashed up on the shore with her dead father.

The Light Between Oceans - the story

The Light Between Oceans

Isabel decides to keep the child and raise the little girl as her very own while Tom who is a man of principles is vary of her decision. As the story continues we find out about another woman, a mourning mother, who has also lost her child which gives an interesting turn to the events. As the story continues the baby grows into a very intelligent child which makes the readers keep turning the pages of this novel by Stedman. Besides that, the bond between Tom and Isabel is highlighted very beautifully by the author. The relationship they both share is strong with Isabel giving all she has to the man she loves when Tom has learned to expect little after his life at war and with his own messed up family.

Why to choose the masterpiece of M.L. Stedman ?

M.L. Stedman - the author

Readers will love the way the story is written by Stedman and the strong sketch of all the characters including the little child will amaze the readers.The tough decisions that the characters have to make, Isabel’s conflicting emotions and Tom’s inner turmoil of keeping the secret within himself is enough to make the story come to life for the readers. Readers will hardly find such a piece to read anywhere else as the twists and turns of the story make it quite exciting to read. Without a doubt M.L. Stedman has done a fabulous job with The Light Between Oceans!

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

2012-09-08T01:25:00.002-07:00

Where'd You Go, Bernadette is really a fun story created by Maria Semple where she draws the picture of a peculiar family with some really interesting characters that the readers will fall in love with.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette - the book

It is a story about Bernadette’s family which comprises of her husband Elgin and her daughter Bee. Bernadette is an erratic architectural genius who has done nothing besides designing a single house. Her daughter Bee who is in middle school had heart problems when she was young and is a very intelligent kid. Her husband Elgin is a genius who works at Microsoft and spends most of his time in his office.A character that the readers will really enjoy is that of Bernadette’s neighbor Audrey who is always suspicious and absolutely loathes Bernadette’s who in return calls Audrey a “gnat”.

Maria Semple´s great characters

Another fascinating character is that of Soo Lin, the Microsoft admin, who adores Elgin and is in love with him. Besides that, one other character that the readers may find intriguing is of Manjula who shares a special bond with Bernadette. Manjula is an online travel agent who is actually a Russian gangster and Bernadette’s secret keeper. All these characters keep the story light and humorous and will make the readers enjoy the novel immensely.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette is just great to read

Maria Semple - the writer

The way Semple uses letters and faxes to show conversations between the characters is also fun to read. The story takes a turn when Bernadette suddenly disappears from the picture leaving behind her husband and daughter. To find out what happens in the end you will just have to buy the book. Overall Where'd You Go, Bernadette is hilarious and a real page-turner that will give you a joy ride when you are reading it.

The Graves Are Walking: The Great Famine and the Saga of the Irish People by John Kelly

2012-09-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

Famine and starvation are terrible experiences that make a man do terrible things that he never imagined to do in all his life. John Kelly draws that very picture in his book The Graves Are Walking with magnificence. John Kelly’s research shows that the death toll was staggering during the potato famine of 1845 where more than one million Irish people died due to starvation and disease and those who tried to run faced death on their journey to a so-called New World. The scholar Terry Eagleton calls it an event “with something of the characteristics of a low-level nuclear attack” which was clearly the worst disaster of the 19^th century. The author conveys all the feelings of the horror of that world to the readers in a very dramatic and convincing way.

The Graves Are Walking

Coming to the talk about the scene of the famine in 1847 he writes, “Ditches, glens, coach stops, abandoned cabins, the peddlers who sold lice-infested clothing on the roads, the unburied dead: there were disease vectors everywhere now.” He talks about the people fighting desperately for food and water with disease spreading around every corner and people without coffins mourning the deaths of their loved ones. The author describes the reality as Phytophthora infections spreads killing the people and turning the once ripe potato fields of Ireland into dead rotting ground piling with dead bodies. People who were once happy now victims of hunger, death and disease are looking nothing more than ghosts with rotting flesh.

All these are contributions of the filthy rich landowners and Irish Lords who thought nothing of the poverty of their people and kept the prices of provisions above the capacity of a farmer or peasant. They were not even concerned about the people who were ready to provide help to the poor and disease stricken population which caused them to fail. Ireland's "Liberator" and political icon Daniel O'Connell or Britain's treasury czar Sir Charles Trevelyan with the best of their intentions were also unable to handle the crisis that faced the population of Ireland which ended in 1850s with devastating results.

John Kelly

It is a tale for the lords and landowners of today too as there are many who still think their farmers and peasants are petty and unworthy. The chilling sensation that you get after reading this book will surely make you feel the intensity of the crisis which the people of that time faced and which you are fortunate enough not to encounter in the world of today. A great tragedy is described in The Graves Are Walking with such perfection by John Kelly that it gets to the core of your soul and throttles it to see the darker side of the world.

I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

2012-09-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

James Patterson’s character Michael Bennett is one of the main reasons for the success of his books besides the amazing storyline. This character is an NYPD detective and a widower having ten kids. Although one might think that handling ten kids as well a job as an NYPD detective is impossible for someone but Bennett manages it quite easily with some help from his kids’ full time nanny Mary Catherine (his former love interest)and his grumpy but quite lovable grandfather Seamus.I, Michael Bennett is the latest installment of the series and it is a masterpiece written by Patterson and co-author Michael Legwidge.

A great episode of the Michael Bennett series

I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson

The book starts with the tale of Michael Bennett trying to capture Manual “The Sun God” Perrine who is a drug kingpin notorious for running the most violent and dangerous drug leagues. Capturing Perrine is Bennett’s prime goal when he finds out that Perrine is planning for an assault on him and his team in New York. Bennett devises a plan to catch the criminal and succeeds in doing so but Perrine’s bodyguard Marietta escapes the NYPD’s clutches and devoted as she is to Perrine, Bennett knows that she will try to rescue him at all costs. Bennett who has faced a major personal loss during the capture of Perrine is now faced with the dilemma of how to stop Perrine from functioning from inside the walls of the jail.But Perrine will stop at nothing;he continues to run his empire from prison and when he is finally brought to the trial all hell breaks loose in the courtroom. Bennett is not save anywhere he goes and his family also gets pulled into this nightmare on a vacation in Newburgh. The dangerous game that the two characters play with each other gets more and more serious with each one trying to defeat the other. Bennett is not easily intimidated and Perrine is not to be denied. As the book reaches its climax it will leave the readers in awe of its brilliant conclusion.

If you love good action, this is your book

James Patterson

For all the action lovers out there I, Michael Bennett is a must read. After reading this book people will desperately wait for the next installment to see what happens to their favorite character Bennett. It is a major improvement from all the previous books and clearly shows the brilliant ability of both the authors at storytelling. This book is not one of those “Eight is enough” novels, it is hilarious as well and the “Sesame Street” based joke will definitely give a jerkto your funny bone.If you haven’t read this book yet then get your copy now, I bet that you will enjoy it immensely.

Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins

2012-08-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

Mocking Jay is the third installment of The Hunger Games series. Although you may have mixed feelings about the first two books and may be you will find yourself asking the question that how come these books became so famous. I personally felt like I was on a rollercoaster of emotions, one minute everything was completely clear and making sense and the next I was totally clueless about what was going on.The third installment is the grand finale of the series.

The Mocking Jay - the story

Read Mocking Jay - you won´t regret

In this book the 54^th Hunger Games takes place and Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself for it in order to save her sister’s life. Her plan was just to survive throughout the game but as she moves on she becomes a symbol of hope, a Mocking Jay, for all the people who are tired of the tyrant rule of President Snow and the Capitol. This book consists of many twists and turns where Katniss has to make life-changing decisions. No matter what the consequences she has to stand tall and reach up to everyone’s expectations. The readers will experience moments of joy and sadness with promises being made and broken and life-changing decisions being made.

Valuable part of Hunger Games series

The Hunger Games

With this book people will actually experience the feelings of a person falling in love with two people at the same time. Mostly will consider it utterly foolish but others might find it interesting and engaging. Overall, this last book is a major improvement from the second book (Catching Fire) of the Hunger Games series and it is my personal favorite.Although the ending might disappoint a few of the readers but the pace of the book is fast and it is a thrilling story with action and emotion perfectly balanced together. So, if you are a fan of the Hunger Games series then I would highly recommend that you should buy this book and let the game begin!

Gone Girl

2012-08-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

Gone Girl is a third novel by Gillian Flynn that revolves around the story of a man named Nick Dunne whose wife Amy goes missingand it becomes a national obsession destroying the little of Nick’s life that he has left. Although the start of the book is a bit boring but as the tale continues it does get a little interesting for the pleasure of the readers.

Gone Girl - a few word about this intrigue story

Gillian Flynn - Gone Girl

After his first press conference Nick is considered to be a suspicious man who is telling lies about his wife’s disappearance. When the press finds out about his failing business and an affair with a 23 year old girl it further destroys his image as a husband. After his mother’s death and losing his job when he moved to Missouri he knew that his wife was unhappy with the move and it reminded him of their early days together that they happily spent. His wife’s diary that gives an account of their lives together contrasts with the things he says and eventually his own lawyer decides not to believe Nick’s side of the story living him helpless.

Nick is suspected to be involved in his wife’s disappearance because the night before Amy’s disappearance they had a fight so loud that cops had to be called. Whenever he is asked a question about it Nick tries to avoid answering it that gets him stuck deeper into the web of suspicion. The author gives a deep insight into Nick’s character and the life that he had with his wife. At times the author makes the reader believe in the happy life that the protagonist had with his wife before her disappearance so the readers feel sympathy for the protagonist.

A great summer thriller

Gillian Flynn

In the Gone Girl Flynn successfully takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions where both the character’s trust on each other breaks down at one point. Nick goes through a series of emotions at one time falling prey to the grief with the realization that his wife is dead while the next thinking that she is playing a game with him to make him pay for the unhappy life he made her lead. The author makes the couple doubt each other making them fight and at the end making the readers think that neither of the two characters is willing to tell the truth. The Gone Girl is an intriguing work for the people who have an eye for tragedy and misconception and it is bound to keep you engaged till the very end.

The Fallen Angel

2012-08-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

When you start reading The Fallen Angel written by Daniel Silva you get the feeling of “been there (The Da Vinci Code), done that (Angels and Demons).” Although this novel mimics the murder and corruption in Vatican from the Dan Brown’s books but the difference is that The Fallen Angel deals with stolen art and antiques.So, it is safe to say that it is not entirely like the Dan Brown’s mystery books.

The Fallen Angel...Vatican again!

The Fallen Angel book

The story starts with a murder in St. Peter’s Basilica and as the reader goes deeper in he finds himself in the middle of an international web of politics, war and religion. The protagonist of the story, Gabriel Allon, is portrayed as an expert art restorer. Besides being friends with the Vatican he also serves as an intelligence agent for the Israel government and sometimes as an assassin.As an expert on Roman Catholic and Jewish religion as well as European and Middle Eastern geography and history Daniel Silva tells this researched tale to the readers in a very detailed manner. This book has an exciting storyline but at times too much attention to detail makes it a little heavy for the readers. Although this book does not have the mystery of breaking the codes and solving the puzzle like Dan Brown’s novels but there is still much to intrigue the readers and getting them hooked to reading this novel.

Daniel Silva’s master piece

Exciting books by Daniel Silva

Many of Daniel Silva’s books like The Unlikely Spy, The Mark of the Assassin and The Kill Artist have been successes; some of them have the same protagonist.This book shows the character of Allen going about his job of restoring artwork when he is asked to investigate the murder of a young woman named Claudia Andreatti. An employee of the Vatican Museum, Claudia Andreatti is thought to have committed suicide by jumping off the catwalk in St. Peter’s. But Allon does not buy the whole story and thinks that she was murdered. The Fallen Angel revolves around Allon trying to solve the mystery behind the murder leading him to discover that Andreatti was trying to gain knowledge about the missing artwork and antiques when someone found out about her secret and made her pay for it. In order to avoid public humiliation and another such tragedy the church decides to keep Allon’s investigation a secret.

“Rule number one at the Vatican,” Allon is told, is “Don’t ask too many questions.”

The whole book is full of suspense and Silva takes his readers into a world full of spies, thieves, historians, art experts and archaeologists mystifying them at each step of the way till the very end.

50 Shades of Grey

2012-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Everybody loves the story where a young girl falls in love with the most popular, successful and charming man, especially girls because I guess every girl dreams to have a man like that in real life.50 Shades of Grey is one such book that revolves around the story of Anastasia Steele, a student of Washington State University who falls in love with a business tycoon named Christian Grey.

50 Shades of Grey The (e)-book

The 50 Shades of Grey

One of the Fifty Shades trilogy was originally an e-book written by E.L. James, a British television producer, but gradually become so popular among the readers that it finally made it to print in June 2011. It portrays Anastasia, her friends call her Ana, as a soon-to-be graduate who spent her four years studying English classics and envying her roommate’s love life while Christian Grey is every girl’s dream, moody, demanding and charming with particular sexual tastes. Ana meets Grey while interviewing him for the university newspaper and despite her inexperience with love and warnings from her friends to stay away from Grey she cannot help but fall in love with him.

So what is the book Fifty shades of grey about ?

50 Shades of Grey is the first book of a trilogy showing just a few weeks of the relationship the two characters build up. It is an intense story and if you are a fan of such books then this is a must read for you. The author has written this piece brilliantly showing Anastasia whose love for Grey grows stronger even though knowing that he will never be able to reciprocate her love. Another plus for this book is the way the author shows the inner battle of the protagonist. Anastasia’s voice of desire that is her “inner goddess” wants to satisfy the sexual demands of the handsome Grey while her subconscious tries to put some sense into her. What is sure to catch the attention of the readers and make it interesting is the inner monologue and the conflicting emotions of the protagonist delivered brilliantly by the author.

This book mainly focuses on the sexual experience of Anastasia and the repetitions of lines and words like "My breathing hitched," or "Oh my" does get a little boring here and there but overall it is an excellent book for the people who prefer to have some romance in their lives. The way the author has written the characters makes it very much believable and that is probably one of the reasons of its success. This book is accessible to everyone as it can easily be downloaded and due to its popularity it grabbed the top spot on the New York Times’ bestsellers list.