The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Dear Readers,

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one of the few books I have re-read. I read this book about two years ago and instantly feel in love. When  I saw it on the buy two get one free book stand at Barnes and Nobles I could not help myself, I had to buy it. After re-reading I am sure that was one of the best purchases I have ever made. I could not survive with out this book. It is amazing!!
I read it the first time because a friend recommended it. I was gushing about a wonderful World War II fiction book I had just finished, and she told me that I might like this one. It does not take place in the war, but right after and deals with the affects of the war on the people of the small Channel Island of Guernsey. She even went as far as to lend me her book. If the description did not make me want to read the first page sealed the deal. The cover opens up to a page with a quote from the book, "I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers". That made me want to dig into the book even more.
Reading this book a second time was like coming home, or snuggling up it in the familiar pair of pajama pants. It was familiar. I knew the story. I knew I would love it. I did not remember every detail, but I knew the outcome. I rediscovered the reasons I love this book so much.
The book itself has a different set up from many of the other books I have read. The book is written entirely in letter and telegrams and notes. You learn everything you know about the characters from their communication. There is never any actually dialogue, just in the stories the characters tell each other. Most of the letters in the novel are written by or to the main character Juliet.
Juliet is a spunky 32 year old English writer. During the war she wrote a column called Izzy Goes to War. She took a light hearted view on the war, and made people laugh which is what they needed in the difficult time. After the war Juliet is looking for a subject for a book she wants to write. As her and her publisher, Sidney, who is also a close friend, correspond you learn she has no idea what to do. She is lost.
Inspiration comes in the form of a letter. Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey Adams. A man who lives on the small island of Guernsey. He came across a book that used to be Juliet's, and thoroughly enjoyed it. He writes to ask her if there were more books by that author. Juliet writes back and they begin corresponding, not only about the author but also about the island, the Occupation, and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a group that was created during the Occupation of the island during the war. One night some islanders found a pig to roast and decided to have a supper party with proper food that they had not seen for months. The supper was great and so was the conversation, so great infact that they stayed out an hour after curfew talking. While trying to sneak back home they were stopped by some German soldiers. Elizabeth, one of the party guest and later a Society member, was quick on her feet and told the officers that they were at the Guernsey Literary Society meeting and they got out very late. The officers believed her, and the club was created. At first was to just keep their story, but after a while the members went because they liked the meetings. The reading distracted them from the horribleness of their situation.
Juliet finds this society very intriguing and decides to use it in an article she is writing about the affects of reading. She begins to write letters with more society members than just Dawsey. She quickly becomes friends with islanders. The rest of the story is the wonderful journey of their friendship. If I tell you more then it would just ruin the book for you, so you will just have to read it.
And when I say read it I mean drop everything you are reading now and pick up this book. It is amazing. It will take you away from real and bring you somewhere new. Somewhere with good people, wonderful books, good food, and wonderful scenery. I can not give a higher recommendation to any other book. This book is a readers book. It perfectly encompasses my feelings on reading. Reading is an escape when needed, it bring revelations, and most importantly it brings people together. It can bridge gaps other things can't. It can bridge the English Channel or the entire Pacific ocean. Books brought together the people on Guernsey and it kept them from going insane in a time that made absolutely no sense. Reading made these people strong. Reading gave them something to live for. Reading ended up saving their lives.
I am going to leave you with my favorite quote from this book. After reading this book you will find this quote extremely true. "Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books."
Keep on reading, dear readers!!
Lindsey

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

Dear Readers,

A friend once told me that Jodi Picoult is one of authors that you can only read one of their books at a time. The problem with that is Jodi Picoult writes so well that after one book I feel like I need more.
I have read many Jodi Picoult books in the past. Her books are almost a forbidden fruit for a teenage girl. They are definitely adult fiction. Many of her novels contain a court case, a love story, and an unexpected ending. Which all add up to amazing books.
If you have not read a Jodi Picoult book I would recommend picking on up. Everyone has their favorite, but personally I like Second Glance. Each book is wonderfully woven with different characters, plots, and sub-plots crossing in unexpected was. Most of her books are written from many different perspectives that add to the richness and depth of her novels. Vanishing Acts fits into the model of her typical books.
You start out the story with Delia. She is the main focus of the book. She is also the main focus of the many other characters lives. Besides Delia you hear the story from her father Andrew, her fiance Eric, her friend Fritz, and her mother Elise. Many other character parade in and out of the story. Delia has lived in New Hampshire with her father Andrew for as long as she can remember. Eric and Fritz have always been by her side. She has always been surrounded by people who love her and look out for her. But something has always been missing in Delia's life, her mother.
At the age of five her mother died in a car crash. Delia always hoped that the hospital was wrong and her mother was still alive. She always hoped that one day her mother would be the one on the other side of the door when someone knocked. She always hoped that she was on the other end of the line.
Delia starts having  flashbacks. Flashbacks of a life she thinks was not hers. She remembers a lemon tree in a hot dessert, but she only remembers living on the east coast with her father. Her question all seem to be answered when a police officer shows up at her door with a warrant for her father's arrest, but this actually turns into the beginning of new journal for Delia in which she will question everything about her past.
Vanishing Acts centers around its stunning characters. All of the acts to commit are so human, that is hard no to relate. Everything they do is a natural reaction to their situation. Many of the difficult situations in this book involve parenting. Delia's father lied to her for 28 years, but everything he has taught her has made her the parent she is to her five year old, Sophie. Elise, Delia's mother, had the unthinkable happen to her daughter. Delia must put everything aside to parent her daughter right. Parenthood, especially the hard parts, is one of the main focuses of this novel.
Jodi Picoult wonderful pieces together this story that keeps you reading. You never really know what is going to come on the next page. If you have not read a Jodi Picoult book before this novel is a stunning example of what she can do.
Lindsey

Spinning Out by David Stahler Jr.

Dear Readers,

It has been a few weeks since I have finished a book. For a while there I was on a role, but then college came... Moving and getting ready took a lot of time. But now that I am settled and have lots of free time in the mornings before class I have started reading again.
I wanted something light and easy. More for entertainment. I received this book for free from the Battle of the Books Grand Battle. I thought "hey its free, I will read it sometime". And I finally have.
This book incorporates one of my favorite musicals, Then Man of La Mancha. I discovered this musical a few years ago on the movie channels. I insistently fell in love with the characters, music, and plot. Spinning Out had the same affect.
Frenchy and his close friend Stewart decide to try out for their schools musical, which happens to be The Man of La Mancha. Frenchy assumes that it will be another one of their various pranks they have pulled over the four years of high school, but Stewart is serious this time.
As practice starts and the preformance comes closer Stewart become more and more serious. Frenchy starts to notice a change in his friend. He tries to convince Stewart to get help, but Stewart refusing says Don (Stewart's part in the play) is all he needs.
Frenchy is faced with many more things besides Stewarts craziness. He has found a girl, his mother who was recently widowed started dating a douche bag, he has to memorize his lines, and he has to deal with his grief over his fathers death. It seems as if his life is spinning out of control.
Telling you the end of the book would break the 12th commandment, so I guess if you want to find out you have to read the book!
Spinning Out takes in interesting look at the life of the sidekick. Stewart lands the lead role in the play Don Quixote, the crazy old man who charges windmills. Frenchy naturally takes the role of his sidekick best friend Sancho. As Stewart starts taking his role off stage and into real life, Frenchy must take up the responsibility of watching over his "master". Most books have a lovable, best friend character. Like Sam in Lord of the Rings or Ron in  Harry Potter. These character often offer backup to the main character, act extremely loyal, and end up providing comic relief threw their silly actions or stupid mistakes. Unlike most book or stories however this book is about the sidekick. Frenchy is suppose to have Stewarts back. He is suppose to stand up for him. He is suppose to be there for him whenever Stewart needs it. But who stands up for Frenchy?
Besides it interesting its interesting look at the sidekick, this book offers relatiable, funny characters, an intriguing plot, and wonderful references to one of my favorite musicals. If you are look for a fun, but interesting book I would definitely recommend picking this one up.
Lindsey

1984 by George Orwell

Dear Readers,

Mr. Orwell is a genius. I thought that Animal Farm was a good book, but boy was I blown away by 1984. Animal Farm and 1984 had many similarities. They both compared humans and animals, used the many of the same words like comrades and food stuff, and had corrupt governments which kept their people in the dark with fake statistics and dirty tricks. I cannot say which one I enjoyed more because they are very equal; however, 1984 contained some themes, symbols, and plot twists that I loved.
Let's start with a basic plot overview without giving to much away! Winston Smith. Our main man. A committed Party member. A worker in the Ministry of True. A typical man. Or so you think. Winston however has some things hidden under the surface. Things that the telescreen cannot see. Winston is harboring unsafe thoughts. He hates the Party. He hates Big Brother. He wants to be free. He wants to be able to carry on life in the manner he sees fit.
Why does Winston hate the Party you ask? What did they ever do to him?
Well the Party is the government of Oceania, a future state the encompasses like a third of the world. The Party has three basic principles.

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

The main goal of the Party is power. They want to be in power and remain there till the end of time. The Party is immortal. Individuals are expendable. To control the future and the present the Party controls the past. Events that happened in the past are not set in stone. If they do not fit what the Party wants they will be changed. All records the defy what the Party says are changed and the originals are demolished. "Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past." On top of destroying the past the Party preforms many other atrocities. 

Now that you have some information on the Party let us dive into themes. It is my strong belief that themes are the main purpose of books, not symbols. Symbols are merely as vehicle by which the author conveys their themes. The themes in this book are golden, as are the symbols that transmit them. 

One of the most poignant themes is the destruction of self. Besides destroying the past the Party is slowly destroying the English language. The Party developed a new language called Newspeak. This language slowly decreases in the amount of words. They combine words and get rid of words with the sole purpose of restricting what people think. They are making it so the citizens cannot revolt or have thoughts against the Party because there are no words to describe how the feel. People's ability to think for themselves is slowly taken away. The Party is destroying the individual. By taking away language the Party is reducing humans to their primal instincts. They are slowly turning them into animals. (Which is interestingly the opposite of what happens in Animal Farm.) 

To show the slow demises to primal instincts Orwell uses many interesting symbols and literary deceives. One of the most interesting ways he communicates the theme is by comparing human to different animals. He compares Goldstein, the supposed leader of the Botherhood an anti-party organization, multiple times to a sheep. He compares one Party work to a beetle. Another member he compares to duck. This passage in particular shows the change from human thought to animal instinct, "It was not the man's brain that was speaking; it was his larynx. The stuff that was coming out of him consisted of words, but it was not speech in the true sense: it was a noise uttered in unconsciousness, like the quaking of a duck." The man did not think about the words he said anymore. The man did not need to think. There was no need. Winston listened to the man in curious observation. He was seeing the future the Party wanted. Not only does Orwell compare individuals to animals, he compares an entire social group to animals. The "Proles" are the lowest class of humans. Slaves are below them, but the slaves are more property that passes between conquers than human being. Proles are not Party member. Proles are the people deemed not intelligent enough. Proles are said to be like animals. They are dumb. They have no real purpose. The Party seems to think that are like animals, but in fact the are completely wrong. The Party is full of animals. The Party is the group that is returning back to basic instincts. The Proles retain their humanness. They work. They have relationships. They love. The Proles actually live. To compare them to animals is showing how much the Party is wrong. 

Another theme that is sometimes over used, but also very prevalent is standing up for what you believe. The problem with the Party is that they break down anyone and everyone who stands in their way. They do not let people think for themselves. Winston is one out so many who sticks up for what he believe in. He remembers that the past is not just the crap the Party is feed them. He remembers, and he stands by his memory. Winston decided that "Being in a minority, even a minority of one did not make you mad. There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world you were not mad." Winston clings to this truth. He clings to the truth in the face of death. He knows what is right and what is wrong. Somehow in this world of animals Winston manages to remain human by clinging onto the truth. 

Mr. Orwell provides us with depths of knowledge in this novel. He gives us a guide of how to remain human while facing our primal instincts. We need to cling to the truth. "Truism are true, hold onto that! The solid world exists, its laws do not change. Stones are hard, water is wet, objects unsupported fall toward the earth's center." Cling to the truth. Cling to the human identity. 

"Freedom is the the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows." 

Lindsey 

The Fuck Up by Arthur Nersesian

Dear Readers,

This was one of those books that I bought and read because I knew that my parents would disapprove and I needed to be a little rebellious. I will not lie the title is what drew me to the book, but after I read a few chapters I started to like the story as well.
I found this book to be rather similar to The Catcher In the Rye. It was about a man, so young he is almost a kid, wandering around New York basically fucking up his life. The difference was I did not completely hate the main character and he also found sort of redemption and meaning at the end of the story.
This review would be a lot easier if I could remember the name of the main character, but for the life of I cannot. Its not that I wasn't paying attention; the book is told wonderfully in first person. The main characters name is seldom mentioned. So I will just refer to him as he or him.
When the book starts out he has an okay life, but after some poor decisions that all goes down the tube. He loses his girlfriends and therefor his place to live because he was "dating" (more like going on walks in the cold and not getting any) with a girl from the movie theater where he worked. He gets fired from his job, so he has no money.
He ends up on his friends couch. Still torn up from his break up he doesn't do anything, he doesn't shower, he doesn't eat, he just lays there. Eventually Helmsley, his friends, get him up, showered, feed and sends him out into the world. He tries hard to look for a job, but with no qualification and no degree (he dropped out of college right before graduating) he can't find one.
Eventually he finds work at a gay porno theater (don't worry there is no pornographic descriptions in the book). This job brings in a colorful cast of characters and a messed up set of events. He drifts between women, houses, and sexuality.
After losing his job at the porno theater for stealing money, getting attacked twice and sent to the hospital, meeting two women and losing them in a matter of days, getting a poem published in a magazine, having a friend die, and getting seriously drunk multiple times, he ends up at a men's shelter.
This was my favorite part of the book. It is sad. He suffers. He finds him self in the same place with the bag men he has always sneered at. He realizes that people are not just in this situation because they can't find a job. After starving, freezing, and peeing in doorways he is finally picked up out of the gutter by the most unlikely person. I don't want to spoil the surprise if you read it, but it kinda makes you reconsider you first impressions of people.
I read this book mostly to be rebellious, but I ended up learning a few things. People are not always who we think they are. Bag men are not always lazy people who don't want to find a job. Sluts from the Broncs are not always awful people. It would do us all good to look beneath first appearances, and remember that sometimes we all fuck up. 
Lindsey