Duma Key by Stephen King
This book took me FOREVER to read. AS much as I love Stephen King’s works, I have to say this one kind of disappointed me. It’s taken me so long to read it that I’m not even sure what went on. It couldn’t hold my attention at all.
It was about a guy who was involved in a construction accident and as a result, lost an arm and sustained a traumatic brain injury. His life as he knew it is over; he loses his job, his wife, and decides to move to this remote island off the Florida Keys. There, he befriends this guy who lives up the beach who cares for this mysterious old woman. He also picks up painting, which he soon learns that he can paint things he doesn’t know anything about, like the future, or events happening elsewhere that he would have no way of knowing, etc.
Trust me, it sounds better than it actually was. He’s written much better stuff.
Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte
Another classic down. This one was actually very good, albeit dreary and depressing, of course. Most everyone knows the plot:
A man lives in a sprawling English mansion along the moors called, “Wuthering Heights.” He has two children, and brings home a third, an orphan named Heathcliff, who is unruly and morose. Catherine, the little girl, befriends him and they end up being sweethearts as they grow older. The family doesn’t accept this, and even Catherine has her hang-ups with it, so Heathcliff runs away, and returns years later a mysteriously rich man, and Catherine has already married the boy next door. Heathcliff views revenge on both families for not allowing the two lovers to be together.
Heathcliff’s a tortured, miserable soul. They all are, in this book. It’s hard to find any redeeming qualities in any of the characters, really, but I think that’s why I liked it. It showed human nature at its rawest core, and what can happen to someone who’s scorned and devotes their life to making others as unhappy as they are.
For my next classic read, I think I’ll try to find one a little more light-hearted on my list.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling (Year 1)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling (Year 2)
I know, I know. I’m WAY behind the times. I’ve never seen a Harry Potter movie and I hadn’t ever read a book until now. The only reason I became intrigued was because out of all my friends who’ve read both Twilight and Harry Potter, most actually prefer the Harry Potter series. As much as I loved Twilight, I had to get into Harry Potter to see what the hype’s all about.
So far, I wouldn’t say I prefer the HP series over Twilight, but it’s actually really good. It reminds me a lot of Roald Dahl’s style of writing (remember James and the Giant Peach?) or maybe a nod towards Lewis Carroll or Shel Silverstein. I’m enjoying them so far. I’m halfway through the third, now, and trying to find the movies on TV to watch. Better late than never, right?
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Again, kinda behind the times on this one, too, but this book was fantastic. It was like reading a third party chronicling the aspects of my life. Seriously, I could relate to everything the narrator went through. I totally understand the justification for buying something you don’t need, just because you might have seen it in your favorite magazine on a celebrity you like, PLUS it’s on sale. You obsess over it; you must have it, regardless of the price, right??
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I’m going to have to see it soon. I plan on reading the others in this series, as funny as this was.
Beach Road by James Patterson
Another book that couldn’t hold my attention to save my life. I usually love his stuff, and ive heard fantastic things about this book from several friends, but for some reason I just couldn’t stay with it. In fact I don’t even feel like talking about it, it was so bad.
