What a magical book. And honestly I can't believe that this is my first time reading it. I really didn't know what to expect when I first started, excWhat a magical book. And honestly I can't believe that this is my first time reading it. I really didn't know what to expect when I first started, except to compare it to all the many movies that they have made based around this classic Christmas story. And I was surprised just how well some of the movies that I have seen match almost perfectly with the story that is told on paper- even down to exact wording throughout many parts. I got teary eyes reading this book many times. I love the moral of this story- we all know it- mankind is our business and we should be helping others and spreading Christmas cheer all the year long. I'm glad I finally got a chance to sit down and read this book. ...more
For the most part I really enjoyed this book. Especially throughout the first half of the book- I felt like I was learning a lot about myself and my rFor the most part I really enjoyed this book. Especially throughout the first half of the book- I felt like I was learning a lot about myself and my relationship with my husband and just what I needed to do to be a better wife and show more and better love to him. The second half of the book I stopped enjoying as much. I am not sure how to explain why this change came about, but I felt that overall the first half of the book was more beneficial for me. The book covers a lot a good ground in regards to marriage and I believe any married couple to read this book would probably benefit from it. I'm glad I read this book, it helped me to realize just how amazing love is if it is centered around God's everlasting love for us....more
**spoiler alert** For the longest time I wondered, what happened to Tally? She really doesn't play much of a part in this book at all, which kind of s**spoiler alert** For the longest time I wondered, what happened to Tally? She really doesn't play much of a part in this book at all, which kind of surprised me. This book was by far my least favorite of Westerfeld's series. Although I liked Aya and getting to know her, I was sad not to know more about Tally, and when Tally did come back into the picture she kinda annoyed me. My feelings that I had at the end of Specials came back and Tally, for me, turned into this girl that thinks it is her "special" job to watch over the whole world. The inhumans or "extras" that come up in this book are a little vague for me. Were they once just normal people? I think that is what Westerfeld is alluding to... Frizz is my very favorite character in this book. He reminded me a lot of Zane, and I really liked Zane and was very sad when he died. The one thing that I appreciated in this book about Tally was when she pointed out to Frizz the importance of being brave enough to tell the truth on his own instead of with radical honesty. Truth-slanting and radical honesty were for sure my very favorite themes in this book. ...more
**spoiler alert** Well, from the very beginning of this book I was not at all sure what to think. The idea that Tally is not only a special but also t**spoiler alert** Well, from the very beginning of this book I was not at all sure what to think. The idea that Tally is not only a special but also the fact that she is a cutter just had such a weird effect for me. Especially the cutting thing, I think it is so gross and slightly inappropriate for young adults to be reading. Tally changes a lot as a special and it is so sad to me how much the change effects her feelings for Zane. As the book progressed I started to like to more, and like the other books in the series I always felt a pull to keep reading so I could find out what was going to happen. Zane dying killed me! I really liked them a lot as a couple, and I feel that Zane had a pretty good grip on things. (Perhaps that is why he was the best to die out of all of them? Cause he was the most ready?) The end of this book is horrible. What is up with that letter that Tally writes to everyone?! I think it is a really lame ending. It kinda makes me feel like Westerfeld didn't know quite how to end things? Does Tally really think that all of the sudden that she is strong enough and ready to face the world? And is she only choosing to be with David because Zane is dead? I did like this book, but it also kind of freaked me out. Westerfeld has definitely created a world worth analyzing and exploring. This book leaves me thinking and brings up within me many questions about society, humanity, humankind, and freedom. ...more
**spoiler alert** Besides the fact that this book is insanely easy to read, Scott Westerfeld keeps me WANTING to read because there always seems to be**spoiler alert** Besides the fact that this book is insanely easy to read, Scott Westerfeld keeps me WANTING to read because there always seems to be something new happening. I really like the ideas behind this book. Although this book is for young adult readers I kinda doubt most teenagers would notice all the issues that arise in this book centered on society and humanity without the help of a class or teacher. In my senior thesis class for English we studied Frankenstein in literature and film and this series by Westerfeld was compared as a "Frankenstein" type story for the young adult audience. In many ways I think this is true and really would love to delve in deeper into that comparison. So all in all, although this book can be pretty silly at times and somewhat predictable I really enjoy finding out where and what Tally will be doing next. The love connections in this story also intrigue me. At the end of Uglies I was for sure rooting for Tally to make it back to David, now I really want Tally to be with Zane. (And at the end of this story I really wonder what will become of Zane now that he is sick and is being handed over to Special Circumstances and Tally is, most likely, being turned into a Special!) Oh, and what's up with David's mom? All the sudden she seems like such an unfeeling jerk in this book when Tally meets up with her again. Is she just being protective of David? And if so why is she so willing to leave Zane behind when he didn't ever do anything wrong. In the last book Maddy seemed like a really nice and genuine person who cared about the good of humanity and everyone that wanted to be a part of a better society. Weird. Anyways, I just bought Specials and I am ready to see what will happen next....more
So even though this edition of Tom Sawyer has both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, this time I only read Tom Sawyer. This is my first time reading ToSo even though this edition of Tom Sawyer has both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, this time I only read Tom Sawyer. This is my first time reading Tom Sawyer since I was pretty young, and when I read it then it was a simplified version with lots of pictures. I love this story though and it took me back to when I used to read it when I was younger. Mark Twain is such an amazing writer and he does such a great job and giving his readers classic and real life characters, ones you will never forget. I love Tom and Huck and their adventures together. I love how this story unfolds. I love how Twain lets us see inside Tom's head and we always seem to know exactly what he is thinking and why, even if it only really makes sense to Tom himself. These boys have such great imaginations! And they are also so superstitious! This book was constantly making me smile. I think this book is perfect for young adult readers. Especially boys, Twain does a great job to relating to the wild and free life each and every boy desires to live. ...more
This book is amazing. As I am reading the different talks given by President Thomas S. Monson (before he was the prophet) I can hear his voice saying This book is amazing. As I am reading the different talks given by President Thomas S. Monson (before he was the prophet) I can hear his voice saying the things he has written to me. This book is inspirational. I have been keeping notes in a special notebook that I have for spiritual things and as I look at my notes and try to pick a favorite of all the discourses that are given in this book I am at a loss. I cannot pick just one favorite. I have enjoyed reading this book for many reasons; it has lifted me up spiritually, I have used some of the gospel principles in this book on my new blog risetoit-lifeisanoccasion.blogspot.com, and I feel I have come closer to our dear prophet and leader of our church President Thomas S. Monson. ...more
Throughout the years I have heard about this book over and over again and how great it is. I've always wanted to read it, but I didn't for a long timeThroughout the years I have heard about this book over and over again and how great it is. I've always wanted to read it, but I didn't for a long time because there was always something else that I wanted to read more and I thought I knew enough about the book that reading it really wouldn't change anything. Boy was I wrong! This is such an amazing book that points out so many important aspects that are part of a loving marriage relationship. I honestly feel that now that I have read this book that I can and will apply its concepts for my own marriage. This book has taught me the importance of being more selfless. It has taught me that even though I feel love in one way that Justin doesn't necessarily feel love in that same way. In fact we have found out that we don't have the same love language at all. My love language is physical touch, and Justin's is words of affirmation. I really feel that if we can both work on reaching out in these ways towards each other that our marriage will be stronger, we will be happier and our love tanks will be full. ...more
This is really quite a good book. I usually am not really into self help books but this book points out some really good aspects of how to have betterThis is really quite a good book. I usually am not really into self help books but this book points out some really good aspects of how to have better conversations, even in the hardest of conversations, or the most "crucial." I feel that I have been able to learn a lot from this book, but I also realize that it is going to take a lot more than reading this book one time for me to be able to put all of its good advice into play in my own life. ...more
Oh my goodness I loved reading these books! I have always loved the movies and had never really had the desire to read the books until I was assigned Oh my goodness I loved reading these books! I have always loved the movies and had never really had the desire to read the books until I was assigned to read The Hobbit in one of my English classes. And I fell in love with The Hobbit! Out of this series my very favorites are The Hobbit and The Return of the King. I especially loved the very ending of The Return of the King when the hobbits return to the Shire. These books are magical for me. This is the type of book that I could and will read over and over throughout my life and still fall in love with them again each time. ...more
When I first borrowed this book from the library I felt kinda silly to be checking out a Christmas book and I even told the ladies that were standing When I first borrowed this book from the library I felt kinda silly to be checking out a Christmas book and I even told the ladies that were standing nearest to me that I didn't understand why my ward book group would pick a Christmas book in September! And I was quite surprised by their reply. They said, "Maybe its good to read it now, it will give you some good ideas that will take time to work on." I smiled and said "Maybe," not at all believing that that could ever be the case.
I read this book in one day. And no it isn't the greatest piece of literature that I've ever read. In fact there where many times that as a was reading I thought the way the story was written was quite poor. But the story itself. The mystery of the CJ and its affect on so many people amazed me. And I don't know how (cause we hardly ever use cash to pay for things) but, I would really like it if my husband and I started our own Christmas Jar and thanks to my book group in assigning this book in September we now have enough time to try to save a substantial amount. Way more than we could have ever saved if I would have waited to read this book until Christmastime. ...more
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