4 books you should read

I have been a reading machine lately...4 books in less than 1 month. Whew! It helps that they were 4 really awesome books so I could hardly put them down. I read on my lunch break, at the car wash, every night before bed, at Happy Hour waiting for my girlfriend to get there (dork)...EVERYWHERE and every free chance I had. Here is a little bit about them & why you should immediately start reading them:


GIRLS IN WHITE DRESSES

Girls in White Dresses, by Jennifer Close, follows the story of Isabella, Mary and Lauren (as well as many of their friends) as they progress in life through different jobs, falling in love and getting their heart broken and the endless round of wedding showers. It seems like everyone in their lives is getting married and every weekend they seem to be at someone’s wedding or bridal shower, wearing pastel dresses, cooing over toasters and drinking their champagne by the case load. Aside from everyone else getting married Isabella, Mary and Lauren have to contend with their own lives. Isabella is working for a mailing list company but is unsatisfied and wants more from her job. Every day Isabella has to contend with a boss who says she is on a diet every day, yet if Isabella does not bring her the morning chocolate muffin she turns into a monster. Mary is ecstatic when she meets the man of her dreams and falls in love. The only problem is, it seems he loves his mother more than he could ever love Mary. And then there is Lauren, working as a waitress she hates her job and swears she won’t fall for the sleazy bartender. Will that be a promise she will be able to keep? The three girls have to deal with how to live their lives after graduating college when everyone but them seems to have a plan that involves a great job, a suitable boyfriend, and impending marriages and babies on the way.

I read this book in 1 day. I texted my best friend, Holly, on Saturday and asked her what I should read next; she recommended this book so I downloaded it on my Nook and spent Sunday reading it. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are hilarious and I think almost every woman in their 20's and early 30's can relate to at least one of them. The book tells stories of bad dates, bad jobs, life in NYC, endless bridal showers and much more. I remember the days when all of my friends were getting engaged and I felt like I was one of the only singles left...If you are in that stage, you will completely relate to this book! Each chapter focuses on a different character and her current situation, so at times it was a little confusing...but this was still a great, fast read and I highly recommend it!




The Hunger Games Trilogy

Never in a million years did I think I would like this type of book. It is set in a time period after the apocalypse and it is kind of "sci-fi". Totally not my type of books. I kept hearing people talk about how good this trilogy was and reading reviews on blogs that I follow and I just kept thinking "no thanks, not for me." But, I finally gave in and started the trilogy. Now that I have read all 3 books I have tried telling people about them and tried to explain to them why they should read them but it is really hard to explain. Here is a short summary of the the first book in the trilogy:

The Hunger Games portrays a dystopian vision of the future of North America, now the nation of Panem. In Panem, a powerful and technologically advanced city—The Capitol—rules mercilessly over 12 outlying districts, each named simply for their number. Every year, The Capitol requires that each district select two teenagers by lottery—one boy and one girl—to represent the district at the annual Hunger Games, as “tributes”.

The Hunger Games are a cross between the reality show Survivor and the Roman Colosseum: the 24 teens fight to the death on live national television in a huge outdoor arena (we’re talking many square miles here), which encompasses a range of natural geography that varies from year to year. The Capitol stages the Hunger Games as a continuing reminder of the districts’ subservience, and as a brutal warning about how rebellion is dealt with.

Katniss Everdeen—the protagonist of the novel—becomes one of the tributes from District 12, the poorest of the districts, along with Peeta Mellark. The bulk of the book features Katniss and Peeta’s violent struggle for survival in the arena, and their interactions with other tributes and citizens of The Capitol. Will Katniss survive the arena? Will The Capitol own her as she fights to survive? These are the anxious questions that drive the story forward.

I read all 3 of these books in less than 3 weeks. Like I have said in other posts, I could barely put them down. I could not wait to keep reading but at the same time I did not want them to end. There is a little bit of everything in these books...romance, suspense, action; they have it all! I know most of you are probably thinking exactly what I was before I read them but you really should give them a try! I promise you will not be disappointed! The first book is currently being made in to a movie and will be released in March 2012...I.can.not.wait. =)

Now...what to read next?? Suggestions?

Happy Reading!!