The Priest's Graveyard

Ted Dekker

Summary:

Two abandoned souls are on the hunt for one powerful man.

Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother’s life. Now he’s a priest. Yet that does not stop him from acting as an avenging angel on those who stay within the criminal law but live outside the laws of love and compassion.

Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in that pursuit.

Danny and Renee: Soon their paths will cross and lead to one twisted fate.

Plot:

Woah...this story will take everything you believe in, make you question it and then make you question the fact that you questioned it. An incredible story, although at times almost too dark and brutal to take, it’s thrilling and horrifying and mind-altering. The strange perspective of a killer for a hero, and the incredible twists throughout makes this a completely unique and very unsettling story.

Characters:

The characters in this book is way too complex to explain. I didn’t always understand their motivations, or their reasoning, but I still connected to them. I wouldn’t call them relatable exactly and yet I really started rooting for the main characters, even though they were doing truly awful things. The main male character is a serial killer, and it’s fascinating to see his reasoning and justifying of the truly horrible things he does. The female main character is a little less impressive in my eyes, but still a very interesting character.

Who should read this:

16+, the violence is truly disturbing, and so is the overall feel of the book. I would definitely recommend caution with this book. If you enjoy thrillers and want something different I don’t think I could think of a better choice for you...except maybe another one of Dekker’s books. This is the darkest book I’ve read by him, but I think it’s my second favourite, after Thr3e, it's definitely one I'll remember. Brad Meltzer said-'The Priest's Graveyard will haunt you-long after you want it to', and I agree.

My rating:

This book scared the living daylights out of me. Not just because of the violence etc, but because of the way it made me think. It’s an incredibly well-written book that is completely original and unlike anything I’ve read before. In the end I loved it, but the violence was a bit extreme. 4/5

Quote:

I had done some right to fix the wrong, hadn’t I?

Five Quarters of the Orange

Joanne Harris

Summary:

Beyond the main street of Les Laveuses runs the Loire, smooth and brown as a sunning snake – but hiding a deadly undertow beneath its moving surface. This is where Framboise, a secretive widow named after a raspberry liqueur, plies her culinary trade at the crêperie – and lets her memory play strange games.

Into this world comes the threat of revelation as Framboise’s nephew – a profiteering Parisian – attempts to exploit the growing success of the country recipes she has inherited from her mother, a woman remembered with contempt by the villagers of Les Laveuses. As the spilt blood of a tragic wartime childhood flows again, exposure beckons for Framboise, the widow with an invented past.

Plot:

This is an exceptional work of fiction, brilliantly written and fascinating from start to finish. It keeps you guessing by giving you tiny bits of information, but makes you wait for the full story. Harris’ writing style is excellent, descriptive without being boring or overdone. This story will keep you thinking long after you’ve put down the book.

Characters:

Again Harris shows her genius in creating characters that are much too complex to describe in a couple of words. All the characters have major flaws, which makes them all the more interesting. Some are surprising, others are more predictable. The dynamics between the characters are also very interesting, how they change and develop.

Who should read this:

(13+) Mainly for language and non-graphic, but still upsetting, violence and sexual content. If you enjoyed Harris’ other books I would definitely recommend this one. Also if you like books with atmosphere and intrigue that will pull you in this might be the one for you. This is not a light or simple book, but it’s easy to read and understand.

My rating:

I almost like this book better than Chocolat, I though the descriptions were exquisite and the storyline intriguing. I’ll definitely read it again, because I think you could discover something new every time. 5/5

Quote:

“I let it go. It's like swimming against the current. It exhausts you. After a while, whoever you are, you just have to let go, and the river brings you home.”

South Beach

Aimee Friedman

Alexa & Holly #1

Summary:

HOT SAND. HOT CLUBS. HOT GUYS.

What more could two girls want? Try the same guy.

SPRING BREAK. SOUTH BEACH. 'NUFF SAID.

On a trip to a place where anything can happen (and does) two ex-best friends discover that a chance encounter can lead to the chance of a lifetime.

HOLLY: Dream date or bad fate? She wants true love-and a break from her strict parents. Perhaps a spring fling will do?

ALEXA: Flirting with destiny or flirting with disaster? The guy of her dreams turns out to be her friend's first love. How far is she willing to go?

This year, Spring Break is going to be scandalous!

Plot:

This is a pretty predictable and slightly overly-dramatic story of two teenage girls who decide to go on spring break together, along the way they learn about themselves and each other as they make some pretty stupid mistakes. Of course there are a couple of boys involved along the way too. It’s not an incredibly original storyline, but it has it's moments and might appeal to a certain group of readers.

Characters:

Both main characters start out a bit annoying, although one is slightly more so than the other. One is spoiled, the pretty girl who always gets what she wants, the other is timid, and cannot stand up for herself. Both develop as the story progressed. None of the characters really stand out as unique or even all that interesting, but that may have been the author’s intention, as they’re all relatable in some way.

Who should read this:

(13+) Mainly for sexual content and maybe some mild language. If you’re looking for an easy, quick and light read and you aren’t over twenty you might enjoy this. Don’t expect great literature, this is definitely not a masterpiece.

My rating:

While I didn’t hate this book it really was too dramatic and predictable for me. It’s an easy read that requires very little concentration, and I don’t think I’ll even remember the storyline in 2 weeks’ time...2/5

Silver Linings Playbook

Matthew Quick

Summary:

Meet Pat. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending for him -- the return of his estranged wife Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent time in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat's now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he's being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of therapy. Plus, he's being hunted by Kenny G!

Plot:

This is a great story that keeps you interested throughout. It keeps you guessing, but never gets too complicated or hard to follow. It’s a simple story, but the author manages to turn it into something unforgettable and unique.

Characters:

The characters are the best part of this book, they are unique and interesting, yet still relatable. The main character, Pat, sees the world in a different and fascinating way. He’s an optimistic guy, who tries his best to be a good person, and except for some slight lapses succeeds. You definitely start rooting for him, and want him to be happy. The other big character, Tiffany, takes a little longer to be likable, since she’s pretty messed up, yet you start feeling sorry for her and rooting for her after you hear her story. Even though none of the characters are what you would call normal, they’re still relatable.

Who should read this:

(13+) Mainly for language. Tiffany especially curses in almost every sentence she speaks. Also the themes of this book are pretty mature, and, I think, would be lost on younger readers. If you like books that are deep and thought-provoking, yet easy to read I would definitely recommend this one.

My rating:

I really enjoyed this story, the author’s writing style is great, and I loved Pat’s perspective of the world. 4/5

Quote:

“Life is not a PG feel-good movie. Real life often ends badly. Literature tries to document this reality, while showing us it is still possible for us to endure nobly.”

As the Crow Flies

Jeffrey Archer

Summary:

Charlie Trumper’s earliest memory is of hearing his grandfather’s sales patter from behind his costermonger’s barrow, and when Grandpa Charlie dies, young Charlie wants nothing more than to follow in his footsteps-his burning ambition to own a shop that will sell everything: ‘The Biggest Barrow in the World’.

Charlie’s progress from the teeming streets of Whitechapel to the elegance of Chelsea Terrace is only a few miles as the crow flies.

But in Jeffrey Archer’s expert hands it becomes an epic journey through the triumphs and disasters of the century as Charlie follows a thread of love, ambition and revenge to fulfill the dream his grandfather inspired.

Plot:

This is a wonderful story of one man’s extraordinary journey to follow and achieve his dreams. It has many twists, turns, sad parts as well as humorous moments that make up Charlie’s life. Archer manages to capture the characters entire existence in one book without leaving too much out, yet not overdoing it. It keeps you guessing, and has a great ending.

Characters:

Archer uses a different tactic in this novel, creating memorable characters and making them more than just part of their story. Also we get to see things from most of the main character’s perspectives as well as a 3rd-person narrator. This is a very interesting technique that gives the reader great insight into the story as well as the characters.

Who should read this:

(13+) there are some sexual content and violence, but nothing extreme. This is a pretty long novel, but it’s not hard to read, although some people may find the size of the book a little daunting. If you enjoyed books like ‘Great Expectations’, that is also about a man’s life, but want something a little easier to read, you might like this one. It does get a little complicated at times, Archer isn’t known for simplicity, but it’s never overly hard to understand.

My rating:

This is probably my favourite Archer novel, perhaps because it was the first I read, or the interesting narratives from the different characters, or just the intriguing storyline...I don’t know. 5/5

Quote:

When Grandpa asked me what I wanted for my fifteenth birthday I replied without a moment’s hesitation, “My own barrow,” and added that I’d nearly saved enough to get one.

Hadassah: One Night with the King

Tommy Tenney

Summary:

Bestselling author Tommy Tenney expands the extraordinary story of Esther like no novelist has done before. Both a thriller and a Jewish woman's memoir, Hadassah takes readers to ancient Persia (now known as Iran), into the inner sanctum of the palace and back out into the war zones of battle and political intrigue. This gripping drama of a simple peasant girl chosen over many more qualified candidates to become Esther, Queen of Persia, captures the imagination and fires the emotions of men and women alike.

Plot:

This is an intriguing story, even for someone who knows the basics of it. It started off a little confusing, as there were two characters with the same name, but living in different times. It was a little hard to decide in what time-zone the story was being told, but it soon got easier as you started understanding what the author was doing. The story itself isn’t a new one, but based on the bible-book Esther. It had just enough historical content to make it authentic, but enough personal looks into the character’s thoughts & feelings to save it from being boring. The historical parts are also very well-written and exciting.

Characters:

It’s fascinating to see those well-known yet slightly vague characters come to life. While I don’t know how accurate the descriptions of these characters are, they are relatable, imperfect and yet they have a regal air about them that make them stand out.

Who should read this:

(16+) Mainly for very violent scenes, but also for quite a bit of sexual content (which is not extremely graphic, but implied and mentioned frequently throughout the book). If you enjoy historical, Christian fiction, this is definitely something I would recommend for you. This isn’t a light read, but it’s not hard.

My rating:

I really enjoyed this book. The violence was a little much for me, but I know it was necessary. The writing style was better than I expected and I wasn’t bored once...4/5

Quote:

I knew then that being chosen Queen was the only way my life – or his – would ever be made right. Beyond that, it was in YHWH’s hands.

The Best Book and Movie I Read/Watched in 2013

I saw the Thousander Club (another blog about books) did a post about the best books they read this year, and I decided I'll do the same. Only I'm going to try to choose one movie and one book. These may not have been published/released in 2013, but I read/watched them this year.

The Book:
Not a very easy decision. Thank goodness for goodreads, so I can see everything I've read! But my favorite book I read in 2013 is: Thr3e by Ted Dekker. As I was scrolling down my 'read' list I found myself looking for this book. It's kind of strange that my favorite should be a thriller, since I used to dislike them, but this book and the others by Dekker completely changed my opinion on that. Truly an eye-opener that I will definitely recommend and that changes your perspective on people completely.

The Movie:
Easiest decision ever, I've never loved a movie like I love this one: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This movie is life-changing and every time I watch it it touches me and makes me feel so many emotions that I can't even describe. This is the first movie I can call my absolute favorite, and I'll always love it. You can also go read the post I have on my other blog about how this movie makes me feel...

The links are to my reviews of the book and the movie.

Also I based my choices on books/movies I watched/read for the first time this year and reviewed, not ones I've already read before I started blogging, or that I read for the second time this year.