The Poisonwood Bible

The worst book in recorded history! I truly wish I had more to say. I had to read this book in college one year and all my friends were aware of just how disappointing a read this was because I was very vocal about it. Every time I got to a point where it made no sense (characters were switching roles and acting not at all like the beginning of the book wrote them to) I'd throw up my arms in exasperation.

The characters were very flat and 2-dimensional to begin with, but upon further dissection you realize they barely even had that. They're introduced and they have their roles to play, and not one of them seems to be any more than the stereotypical design of that character mold (which had been done to death for every archetype here). And yet, the end of the book in a sum up it's clear that not a single one does what their characters actually would do. Which isn't to say that they surprised you by being unpredictable and 3-dimensional, but that they acted so against how their characters were written and designed to that it drives you even further away from the book and any attempt you could have had at enjoying the very bad storyline that attempts to support these characters.

And the story...a WAY overly done and overexposed storyline about a family attempting to bring religion and society to a world they deem to be beneath them and without culture of any kind. And what a shock, being in this world that isn't their own changes them and makes them all see the world in a different way then they might have originally ever gotten a chance to if they hadn't gone.

Truly in my life I have never read a book that was this abysmal - and I've read hundreds upon hundreds of books in my life. Never have I had to force myself to get through a book as much as this one. Never once have I wanted to tear my flesh and scratch out my eyes because the writing style/story was so bad it actually caused me physical pain to continue reading.

I was devoted to my studies and I did well in school, but I've always remembered this book as if it were a personal vendetta my teacher had against me monopolizing the classroom conversation during discussion.

Hunger Games Book 3 - Mockingjay

Thankfully the ending of the second book wasn't AS MUCH of a cliffhanger as the ending of the first book, so I was able to get a good night's sleep in between finishing the second book and picking up the third.

I read a bunch of other reviews of this book and I don't agree with what the consensus seems to be - that there were far too many loose ends left open at the end of this book. I felt it helped tie up any and all loose ends rather well.

Everything makes perfect sense by the end of the book, but of course....that's getting ahead of ourselves. The Questions we have at the beginning of the book about District 13 and what goes on there are quickly answered. There's even mention of the runaways we meet in Book 2 and whether or not they ever made it all the way to 13 with the rest of the exiles who have run away over the years.

A friend who was into the series as I was posed a question that Katniss posed as well about why 13 wasn't as involved as it had been throughout the other two books and how if they have the resources they appear to have why they weren't more well known throughout the other districts other than the source of myth and legend that they've become. I don't agree with my friend on this point, I think the books offer up a very valid explanation of these things and there really isn't anything left to question on that front. But I suppose I would be considered a very Coin like thinker in that sense. I happen to agree with the leadership of 13 in their belief that making themselves known too soon, despite how much it may have helped others throughout the districts would have only led to more trouble and suffering for the rest of the districts, and sadly the residents before anything could be done to help them, and despite their resources, if they don't have the people to hold the weapons and plan the attacks then there is no point in acting at all. They would be crushed immediately and then any advantage they may have had would be gone.

This was the biggest point for me, as almost everytime the conversation comes around to these books between me and friends and family they all seem to make this statement about how 13 should have been involved more throughout the series and throughout the years leading up to the series but it's one that I'm in complete defense of Coin on. I don't agree with all of her decisions and choices, but on this particular issue I think she acted exactly as she had to and had no other choice but to act as. But apparently, I'm one of the few people who see it this way. I think she did good.

And overall, now that I've finished the series, I'm eagerly anticipating the movies. But as my friend stated after reading only the first half of the first book "I'm already fearing the differences the movies will make to the story I am already madly in love with".