Bookworm

The past couple weeks, I have been completely consumed with some new book finds.  Literally, every night, I was called a bookworm by my husband.  I read during my meals, during commercials of our favorite shows, in the bathtub, in the bed (with my new Kindle light!!).. I'll admit, it's been a little ridiculous.  In the past two weeks, I have read FOUR books.  Last Saturday, I read one of those books from start to finish.  Needless to say, as much as I would LOVE to continue my obsessive reading streak, I'm going to have to take a break for a little while.  I've got stuff to do that just isn't getting done!  So now that I am taking a little breather, I figured I would share these books with you so YOU could go on an obsessive reading streak as well!

At the beginning of last week, I went to Destin with my cousin and her family.  Her husband is one of our state senators, and he had to go to an economic development conference or something like that.  In order for them to go to the events, they needed a babysitter for their eleven month old little girl.  She's a little finnicky when it comes to people and new places.  In short, she wouldn't let her mom out of her sight, so the babysitter thing didn't really happen.  So I read most of the trip.  My cousin told me about this new trilogy that she had just finished reading called "The Hunger Games."  

"The Hunger Games" consists of three books: "The Hunger Games," "Catching Fire," and "Mockingjay."  The books are targeted toward adolescents, so I was a little worried that they would be childish.  That couldn't be farther from the truth.  When my cousin first told me the plot, I thought it would be a little weird, and if I'm being honest, parts of it were, but I was sucked in from page one.  The story takes place way in the future in a place called Panem.  North America is no more, and Panem was formed by people who survived the destruction of America.  Panem is divided into districts, with each district specializing in different fields, i.e. mining, agriculture, technology, etc.  Years before the story begins, one of the districts, District 13, rebelled against the capitol.  The district was destroyed, and, as a reminder to the other districts that they cannot rebel against the capitol and win, every year each district must randomly select one boy and one girl to represent them in the Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games take place in a different location every year.  The tributes are placed in an arena and must fight to the death, with only one tribute remaining, claiming the title of victor.  

Literally, it was like watching an action movie.  I didn't think I would like it as much as I did, but I just couldn't put it down.  The book that I read from start to finish in one day.. yeah, that was one of these.  I would dream about it at night.. I know that makes me sound like a complete nerd, but it was just so consuming.. haha.. The best part is that they are currently filming a "Hunger Games" movie! Excitement!!

The fourth book that I read was a total deviation from the track that I was on.  

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This book broke my heart.  I knew it was probably going to be awful to read about, but I couldn't really prepare myself for some of the things that Phillip Garrido made her do as a little girl.  I recommend it for the sole purpose that it will make you extremely grateful for the life that you have lived.  At the same time, it will make you completely fed up with the multiple failures of the government.  I had heard that there were a lot of time when parole officers would stop by and not even check the backyard, but I was amazed that the number of times they came by.  I was amazed by how often they went out in public and how many people she came in contact with.  It just blew my mind.

Now, if any of you know of any really good can't-put-it-down books, give me about 2 weeks, and then let me know!

Happy reading!