Nineteen Minutes: Keep the Kleenex Handy

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

PLOT

Nineteen Minutes is all it took to turn the small New Hampshire town of Sterling upside down. When one of the local high school students, Peter, walks into the school and opens fire, the whole town is forced to take a closer look at themselves as they all search to answer the most important question…Why? Josie, the main character, witnessed the tragedy but cannot remember what happened. Her mother Alex, a local judge, tries to balance her personal and professional life, while trying to understand the world her daughter lives in. Peter’s parents try to understand how their son could have done this. The story is full of complex characters and issues where nothing is black and white but everything is in a shade of gray.

SCOOP

I encourage everyone to read this book because it does bring up real life issues we should all think about. Reading this book made me feel sad and angry. I felt sad for the victims of the shooting, the main character, the parents and even the shooter himself. And I was angry at all of them, too. One thing I have found with Jodi Picoult is that she has a way of capturing the essence of real life. Unfortunately life is all to often unfair and ugly and it will leave you feeling sad and angry. This is not a light read and unless you are a robot, the story will have you wrestling with your emotions, but it is a good book regardless.

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I Love You, Ronnie: An American Love Story

I Love You, Ronnie; The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan by Nancy Reagan

There is no plot in this love story. This book is a compilation of letters former president Ronald Reagan wrote to his wife Nancy Reagan. Alongside the letters, Nancy chronicles their life together. The book contains pictures of the couple through the years and many of his letters and notes are reprinted in their original format.

Whether or not you agree with his politics, I recommend you read this book for two reasons. First, it is truly a beautiful love story. The love Mr. Reagan felt for his wife is so obvious in his letters. Second, this book will give you an insight into the softer, sillier side of a man who often seemed so straight-laced. This book will make you smile and make you feel warm inside. I read this book several years ago and as I pick it up today and read some of the letters, that huge grin is back and so is that warm feeling.

If you’ve ever wanted to read what true love is like, this is better than any fictional love story that could ever be written.

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The Ultimate Reading Quest

I’ve decided to attempt the ultimate reading quest. For Christmas this year was given a copy of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. Flipping through this book I realized I hadn’t read most of the books listed. A few of them I read back in school, but that was long enough ago (and I no doubt rushed through them to get the assignment over with) that I really didn’t feel like I could check them off the list. So I’ve decided I’m going to try to read all 1001 books. So far, I’ve manage to read 3 of them; a slow start but it is a start none-the-less. The three I’ve managed to read are:

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

I’m currently in the middle of another book on the list and will post updates on my journey to complete this daunting, but exciting task.

The Birth of Venus: A Sexy Book

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

THE PLOT:

The story takes place in Florence, Italy during the Renaissance and the reign of the Medici family. Alessandra, the only daughter of a wealthy family, is every bit a child of the Renaissance who finds her life disrupted when her father employs a struggling artist to paint the chapel ceiling in their home. Alessandra is instantly drawn to this young man, but her family is determined to keep them apart. Alessandra is horrified when she learns she is going to be married to a man who is much older. As Alessandra is forced to leave her painter and her family, the city around her is in turmoil. A fundamentalist monk is working to gain control of the city and suppress the Renaissance movement. As the situation in the city continues to grow worse, Alessandra discovers that her marriage was built upon a secret, and she finds her thoughts continually returning to the painter. Just as the chaos around the city erupts, so does her personal life.

THE SCOOP:

This book is amazing to read. I will admit that I am a bit of an Italian Renaissance junkie so stories set in that time period already have a point in their favor. But there is more to this story than just the time period it was set in. The sexual tension between Alessandra and her painter is intense. I found myself reading as fast as I could just to try to find out whether or not they ever got to be together because I could almost feel their longing myself. The book is beautifully written and the descriptions will have your imagination running rampant with vivid images. This is a must read for everyone. I told one of my friends to read it and she dubbed it a “sexy book.” And what a sexy book it is!!!

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1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die; Editor: Peter Boxall; Foreward: Peter Ackroyd

If you love to read and you love challenges, this is the book for you. Over 900 pages fill this anthology of reviews of books everyone should The books that made the list are grouped by the century in which they were written beginning with Pre 1700’s to the current 21st century including authors from all over the world and a variety of genres. The reviews include titles of old favorites such as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby and titles I’ve never heard of such as Blood and Guts in High School and Love in the Time of Cholera. Each book on the list is accompanied by an enticing review which will make you eager to grab a copy of each book and begin reading.

If you are into challenges, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die presents the fun challenge of getting them all read in your lifetime.

If you aren’t into challenges, use 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die as the greatest reading list ever compiled.

This is one book that every reader should keep in their collection.

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