The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Dear Readers,
This book had been getting such reviews that I thought I must read it. I liked it, but it was not the best thing since sliced bread. For a young adult book it was okay. It was cute. The characters were kind of interesting and the plot was intriguing enough to keep me reading it. I did not feel a instant attraction to it though. For me it was just okay.
The main characters have cancer. So it is a cancer book although it tried not to be. It's sad. People with cancer die and when you become attached to characters their deaths are sad.
People say they really loved the characters and here is where I mostly get lost. I liked the characters. They were funny at times, but at others they were cliche teenagers. The thing that really turned me off about the main female character was when she said V for Vendetta was a guy movie. Seriously could that me anymore of a stupid teen girl thing to say. I have not read other John Green books so I can not say this for sure but it felt like he did not know teen girls at all. The main girl was just very stereotypical. The main male character was cool, but he was just a teenage boy in love, something I have read many times.
Over all okay. Just like in the book they use okay instead of love or always my reaction to the book is okay.
Lindsey

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Dear Readers,
Recently I am finding things not intended to be comical, funny. This book is included in that category. In the book store it was under the Horror section, but that is not very accurate. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is a wonderful mash up of a historical biography and a horror/fantasy book.
The book starts out with 6 old leather bound journals and various other old documents given to a young store owner in Illinois. These journals turn out to be Abraham Lincoln's account of his vampire hunting days.
When Abe was a young boy he watched his mother die. She was murdered by a vampire when given a small amount of vampire blood. Abe was furious. He was filled with a strong hatred for the creatures that murdered his beloved mother. While Abe grew so did his hatred. He researched, planned, and prepared to kill vampires. He first attempt was not successful. In fact if it had not been for the help of another vampire he would not have survived.
Abe was knocked out in the fight and when he awakes he finds himself in an underground house. Henry Sturges introduces himself. Abe finally puts two and two together and comes to the conclusion that Henry is a vampire he tries to move and escape but it too weak and also is restrained. Once well and in less of a rage Abe is released from his restraints. Henry begins to teach him the proper way to hunt and kill vampires. He sends Abe off with his new skills and promises to send him names of those how need to be visited.
When the first names come he sets off to kill. The names continue to come and Abe continues to hunt.
The book follows Abe through his life. He meets the love of his life, then she meets an untimely death. Again Abe falls in love. He is married. He also begins his study of law and politics.
The book follows Lincolns life very accurately with many events and actions explained by his drive to ride the world of the creatures that take so many loved ones from him. When Lincoln finally becomes president and begins the civil war it is explained that he is doing so to win the war against vampires who intend to take over the U.S. The vampires have allied themselves with the Southern Slave Traders with promises of freedom when they enslave humanity. Of course the book ends with Abe's murder, but it is explained that John Wilkes Both is a vampire.
This mash up of two genres that really should never work together is fantastic. Seth Grahame-Smith writes with such accuracy it makes you almost believe that Abraham Lincoln really could have been a vampire hunter.
Lindsey

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Dear Readers,
This book makes me want to be an artist, a desire that is not common to me. I enjoy life, but normally have no desire to put what I see onto canvas. Painting and drawing can only capture one sense (not even my favorite sense). My Name is Asher Lev made painting more interesting. It made it into something I almost wanted to try. Almost.
I must again say this book was different than what I thought it was going to be. I find that is true about most books, which means I need to stop judging them before reading. In my defense I heard many book review and such high praise about this book that it altered my view before reading. The book lived up to the praise. In many ways it actually exceeded my expectations.
Again I did something with this book that I do with too many. I thought the book was above me and it was going to be hard to read. For some reason when people tell me that books are great and have a deep meaning it translates to difficult and boring. Asher Lev, the narrator of the book, turned out to be very personable and well spoken without be lofty.
Asher Lev was from a Jewish family in New York. His father and mother came from very important Jewish families. Asher was next in line to be very important. Instead of following his father into working for the rebbe he fell in love with art. From a young age he was said to have a gift. He would paint or draw everything he saw. His father did not approve. Many times he was told to stop this silliness and grow up. Asher was told that God did not approve of his drawing and it was a sin to continue on with something so childish. The rebbe however had different ideas.
The rebbe says Asher is to learn to paint. He is to be taught by a prominent Jewish artist. While studying the different types of art Asher learns to turn his passion and raw talent into beauty.
What else can I say but read it?
Enjoy!
Lindsey