Review: Crossed

Crossed by Ally Condie

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I really enjoyed Matched and expected to have two more books to enjoy. Didn't happen. This book falls far short of any expectations based on Matched. I didn't finish the book, eventually getting tired of every character by the halfway point.



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Review: The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why

The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why by Amanda Ripley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Fascinating book that looks into people's reactions to disasters. This was a book that was so filled with intriguing details and surprising stories that I found myself repeatedly telling my husband, "Oh, I just read the most interesting thing. Did you know..." Included are stories of big disasters - 9/11, tsunamis and hurricanes - as well as ones about individuals and their personal disasters. It's a long read but well worth it.



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Review: Deception Point

Deception Point by Dan Brown

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I like books that have a science/tech feel. Probably filled with inaccuracies and impossibilities but I enjoy it. I typically avoid books that involve politics, especially scandals, but the two themes are often tied together.

I liked the tech, didn't care for unbelievable escapes, enjoyed the plot twists. This is a good book to read when you have time to kill and want something solid enough to keep you reading.



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Review: Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues

Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues by Michael Brandman

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Perhaps this would be a better book if I wasn't listening to it. The audio version made me want to stab myself in the ears, though.

This is how it reads:
"Hello," he said.
"Hi," she said.
"What's up?" he said.
"Nothing," she said.
"Oh," he said.
"Yeah," she said.

He said, she said, he said, she said. Over and over and over and over. I couldn't even hear the dialogue after awhile because all I could hear was the never ending litany of saids after each short sentence. I couldn't even make it through the first disc. Horrible, horrible book to listen to on CD!



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Review: Kill Me If You Can

Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was *this close* to putting this book away when an interesting twist occurred and kept me reading. I can't say what it was without a spoiler but if you are considering whether or not to finish, at least wait until you get to a point where you sit up and say, "NOW it makes sense." If you put it down at that point, I wouldn't blame you, though.

I had a lot of issues with this book. I hate when a book comes down to a damsel in distress situation. I like to think that super villains are too smart to allow their loved ones to be captured. I mean, doesn't something set them apart from regular villains?? And then, how do characters that are portrayed as the all around good guy (even if he isn't) justify a plan that includes the potential for large numbers of innocent casualties? They wrapped up one 'victim' with a pay off but there was too much loss for the saving of one life. Blech.



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Review: Your Survival: The Complete Resource for Disaster Planning and Recovery

Your Survival: The Complete Resource for Disaster Planning and Recovery by Bob Arnot

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Not what I was expected. This book should be thought of a preparedness binder instead of a resource book. While it does talk about disaster planning and gives examples of the issues you will deal with after a natural disaster, it isn't much of a resource. If you do get this book, purchasing it is a better idea than checking it out of a library as it's designed to hold papers and collect notes/lists. I recommend an actual preparedness book for techniques and tips and would suggest that this is for the uber-prepared that have so much planning complete that they are ready to tackle potential landscaping projects to get their house ready.



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Review: Beginners Guide to Family Preparedness: Food Storage, Back to Basics, Survival Facts

Beginners Guide to Family Preparedness: Food Storage, Back to Basics, Survival Facts by Rosalie Mason

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



If you are looking at long-term storage for the first time and you need a book to explain the basics, this would be a good book. If you have started the process or have a preparedness plan in place, this is too basic.

The book was written in 1997 by someone I suspect is a Mormon (based on the 'this is not an official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' disclaimer,) mom of many (based on title page) that has real-life experience in food storage and rotation and has probably taught hundreds of other similar women to do the same. I also think this is a great person to learn from as real-life experience is valuable.

That said, the book was just too unfinished. There are so many books out there that cover everything in this book plus include so much more and it would be easier for you to find a larger, more complete book that can eliminate the necessity of keeping multiple resources on hand. Also, the book is outdated. It may have been republished in recent years but the text has not changed, making the examples too old for relevance. For example, the pricing descriptions are completely unusable.



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