Different: The Odd Couple

The Odd Couple(1966)
Simon, Neil
Comedy, Romance
6/10 Rating
Disclaimers: Mild language, no F bombs.

A Gang of friends play poker every Friday. When one Friday one of their friends named Felix does not show up, they wonder why and soon learn that Felix is getting divorced from his wife. Felix finally arrives at the poker game. One friend named Oscar, who is also divorced, realizes he has been roughed up and offers Felix to live with him. Felix takes the offer and goes to live with Oscar. Oscar is a very sloppy and unorganized person with an "I don't care attitude". Where as Felix is the exact opposite. Felix constantly cleans up after Oscar and soon enough, he gets sick of it. So he moves out. When Felix comes to get his clothes, he and Oscar decide that they can put their differences aside so they can live happily with each other.

In the end when Felix moves out, they both realize the importance of friendship. And they see how both of them need somebody to lean on in times of trouble and hardship that they have both been through.

Simon is the kind of author that really focuses on getting the moral of the story across. He does this easily by making them drive each other crazy at the right times and finally just letting loose. He also keeps you  reading with the humor that he throws into this Tom and Jerry type plot line. But because this is a play you never realize these things in the way he writes.

This book is intended more for adults. It has adult language and has things in it that you need to have a quick mind to pick up on. I also think that this is especially for people that like plays and have read plays before. It is more difficult to read a play than a normal book. I also did not like this book that much because I am the type of person that does not even like to go watch a play. So that is why I believe that you need a taste for these kinds of books to want to read it.

I would not recommend this to any one who despises plays. I believe that I would have loved this book if I liked plays. I do, however applaud his writing style. In fact The New York Times says "His skill is not only great but constantly growing... There is scarcely a moment that is not hilarious". You know that is true also because New York Daily News confirms that by saying "Fresh,richly hilarious and remarkably original. Wildly, irresistibly, incredibly and continuously funny". Simon did do a slick job at keeping me decently entertained by weaving humor into his romantic story. Please read this book if you like plays because I have a feeling you will love it.

Life or Death

   

The Hunger Games
Collins, Suzanne
Adventure, Fiction
9/10 Rating
Warnings: Some nudity, intense action, and violence.

This novel is about a girl named Katniss who lives in the twelfth district of Panem. She explains how her family is poor, and how she hunts and struggles to keep them alive. On top of worrying about her family, is the Games. She tells how the Hunger Games is where the Capitol gathers one male, and one female from each district to compete in these last man standing type games. These games are held each year so that the Capitol can stay empowered by striking fear into the hearts of each district. Katniss also tells how her sister Prim was chosen randomly as a contestant and how Katniss volunteered as a tribute instead to protect her younger sister. While being a contestant she finds her male counter part named Peeta falling in love with her in the arena of the Games while she still struggles to kill off the other contestants so she can be the last one standing and see her friends and family again.

As Katniss goes through this deathly adventure, she realizes how important friends are. While she is fighting in the Games, she misses her sister Prim and her mother, along with her best friend Gale. She realizes how much she needs them in her life and how much she truly cares and loves them. She also discovers that the lessons learned from her parents such as hunting and healing are very invaluable. In the end she is forced into a tough situation and learns that it is important to do what is right regardless of the consequences.

The Hunger Games is an intense adventure that is told in first person and tells what Katniss is thinking. Though it is in first person, the way Collins writes is so descriptive that you feel as if you are there.It gives a perspective of what it might be like as a competitor in the Games. The way she writes is kind of unique by how she keeps you going. Collins ends the chapters at the exact right times. Just at the climax of the chapter or section she ends it. She writes so smoothly and knows how and when to make thinks tense and when to make them more mellow. Not a lot of authors have the talent to write this way. What also makes her writing so unique is that she gives small hints as to what might happen next. If you really pay attention and are able to put two and two together you might realize that through these little and yet descriptive details she hints a lot.

This novel is more of a high school aged novel. It requires a little bit more maturity to understand and read. It gives more  adult references. I believe that most would find this novel to be very good. I have not found anyone high school aged or above that has not fell in love with the story and plot. The author somehow finds a way to appeal to such a wide variety of people. Between the star crossed lovers and the action of every fight scene she keeps every one's eyes glued to the page no matter what gender you are.

I have never in my life found an actual book that I truly liked, until I read this one. The other books I have read this term have been some of the best books I have read in my life, but they don't come even close to this book. It has plenty of good qualities to go around. In fact, Publishers Weekly's says "Best Books of the Year". I never really found myself bored. I only found myself wanting to read more, and asleep once cause I stayed up reading it too late. 
I recommend this book because of the wonderful job Collins does at keeping you going. USA Today says "[A] plot-driven blend of suspense, science fiction, and romance." Collins really brings your imagination to life with this plot. Los Angeles Times said “...enthralling, imaginative and creepy...”. The author does a fine job at making you feel involved while telling of these district twelve nobodies trying to fight on against all odds. I would recommend this book to anyone who has good imagination and loves an intense adventure.

Rising up

Potevka's Gifts (2012)
Ramsdell, Mike
Auto-biography
7/10 stars
warnings: Prepare to laugh a little.

This book is a sequel to A Train To Potevka, which was the last book I wrote a review on. This book is not like your average sequel though. Potevka's Gifts is a bunch of short stories about his experiences as an author of A Train To Potevka at book signings, while being a keynote speaker, and at experiences while making the magnificent book A Train To Potevka into a movie. He shares stories of people he meets, times where he meets old friends while speaking in places, and even silly book clubs that he goes to.

In Potevka's Gifts Ramsdell points out that if you believe in yourself then you can turn out as successful as he has been in his life. He also points out that you never know how much you can affect other people's lives until you try.

Ramsdell has a little bit of a different style of writing in this book than his last book. In this novel he writes in a similar way to the Calvin And Hobbes books, funny and short stories. However, he gives a  real perspective of what it might be like to stand right at his side through each and every experience. He gives such great details of  the people he encounters or the situation he is in. I also think that Ramsdell is a unique author because he is able to share all of his thoughts while still making it clear about what is going on.

Ramsdell wrote the novel for the mid-teens and older age groups. Even though he is telling funny or unique stories, he still uses more of a mature vocabulary. I also believe that only the people who have read the first book and liked it will be able to understand and enjoy this book, because then you would be able to understand some of the references and the bits of Russian sayings that he puts into some of the stories.

Ramsdell does a smooth job in this story of keeping you interested and entertained. Just when you are practically eating out of the palm his hand, he ends a story and allows you to be able to put the book down  and pick it up later and not miss anything and keep you entertained. The online site, thebookdepository.com says "Mike Ramsdell is a great story teller", and I couldn't agree more. I never found myself saying bad things about it. Ask anyone and I would bet they would rate this novel well. In fact Google Books says "What an awesome book! Loved this as an interim book between A Train to Potevka and Russia Rags and Riches - Spies and Lies." These are only a fraction of the infinite compliments there are for this book. And that is why I recommend this it as well.