When The Wind Blows by: James Patterson

So, I started this book because I thought it was the beginning of James Patterson's young adult series Maximum Ride. Well, from the sounds of things, he wrote this and a sequel and then took the idea but changed most of the characters and background story for the series. Oh well, it was a good read none the less.
I have never been a big fan of James Patterson (have only read one other book of his that I liked) but this story was very interesting and unique and really pulled me in. His style is very different with the narration jumping around, which I actually like and really moves the story.
When The Wind Blows is the story of a group of scientists and doctors on a mission to genetically engineer a better, more powerful human race. They run The School, which houses children that they conduct their experiments on. Maximum and her brother, Matthew are kept at the school and have never been outside it's walls. They are under strict watch. They also have wings!
When a sloppy guard accidently leaves a door open, Max and Matthew make a break for it for fear of being "put to sleep", like all the other "rejects". Max narrowly escapes with her life but Matthews fate is unsure. Luckily, Max is found by a local veternarian, Frannie O'Neill, who cannot believe what she is seeing and, with the help of Kit, a mysterious FBI agent, they uncover Max's secrets and put their own lives on the line.
The Sci-Fi element is really intriguing although not overly detailed, which can get confusing (at least for my small brain). The story moves very well and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I really got into this book and am looking forward to reading the sequel, although am undecided on whether to go onto the young adult series afterward. It may bug the hell out of me if the names are changed or the story background is way off from the others. I like consistency!
Not sure what will be next on the reading block! I have a growing stack from the library and an even larger pile of books I own that I haven't read yet. Stay tuned for where my mood takes me :-)

The Tea Rose by: Jennifer Donnelly

I have just finished a book that captivated me throughout the entire 544 pages. The Tea Rose by: Jennifer Donnelly is, in my humble opinion, one of the best books I have read in a long time. Set in late 19th century London, the story revolves around a young girl named Fiona Finnegan. Fiona and her family are poor but make due with what little wages are made. Most importantly, she is happy and in love with a boy she has known her whole life, Joe Bristow. Having grown up together, just a house away, they dream of a life together with their own tea shop and have been saving any meager coins they can spare.
Unfortunately for Fiona, her life is about to change completely and send her on a path of revenge that leads her where she never imagined. Her father is killed in a supposed accident at the dock where he worked for one of London's most powerful men, tea merchant William Burton. Fiona and her family are forced to leave their home for a rented room when money runs dry and no compensation for her father's death is forthcoming. Things go from bad to worse when her beloved Joe, after a night of heavy drinking and the scheming of his rich boss' daughter Millie, tells Fiona that he is being forced to marry Millie after getting her pregnant. Fiona is completely devastated. Shortly after she learns this, her mother is murdered, her baby sister dies from an illness and her oldest brother, Charlie is found floating in the river after running away in shock from his mother's death.
After going to stay with a family friend, taking her last living sibling with her, she attempts to confront the man who could make things a littler easier for her, her father's former boss William Burton, and get the compensation she rightly deserves. When she is turned away at the gate, Fiona sneaks to Burton's office only to overhear him discussing her father's death with another man and learn that Burton had orchestrated his murder and made it look like an accident to get rid of the man who could cost him by forming a union. Fiona is enraged and in a rush to leave, is found by Burton and his man. She screams that she knows what he did to her father and is chased from the building.
Fearing for her life, Fiona takes her brother, along with some cash she inadvertently pocketed from Burton's office, and heads to New York where she has an Uncle. When she arrives and finds things are not as she expects, she takes matters into her own hands and begins to build a life like she dreamed. Successful beyond her wildest dreams, Fiona plans to bring down Burton and avenge her father's death.
When unforeseen circumstances take her back to London, now a rich and powerful woman, she will learn more truths than she ever thought possible and turn her life onto an unexpected path.
This book has everything...murder, romance, wit and thrills. The characters are rich and everything is so well detailed that you feel part of the story. I have never been so emotional while reading a book. There are so many ups and downs that you do not see anything that is coming. The ending is totally unexpected and very pleasing...to me at least! I highly recommend checking this book out. And don't be intimidated by it's size! It flows so smoothly and quickly and you won't want to put it down.

HSW Book Club's November Pick - The Eleganec of the Hedgehog by: Muriel Barbery

So my book club's pick for November was The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, translated from French. From the get go, I knew this book was not going to be a light & quick read. There is much talk of philosophy and large words that my public school educated mind could not wrap around. Not to say that it wasn't a good book, it just took me awhile to get through the extremely intellectual writing style...and having to reread the French names over and over didn't help.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog is the story of a high class apartment complex in France, housing many families of the wealthy set and overseen by a more-than-middle-aged, plain & widowed landlord of sorts. The reader is also introduced to the musings of a suicidal preteen genius who is a resident of the building and has a very specific agenda. Through the minds of these two very different women, we learn that genius is not always seen for what it is or appreciated. Both hiding who they truly are, the girl and the widow stroll through life not really observing what is right in front of them.
The tale takes an interesting turn when a very wealthy Japanese man moves into one of the recently vacated apartments and turns both of the ladies lives upside down.

I did enjoy reading this book even though the ending left me somewhat disappointed (a side from the fact that I pretty much saw it coming). The author does have another book coming out which I will probably add to my ever growing list of books I want to read. I would recommend The Elegance of the Hedgehog for some serious reading...just be sure to keep a dictionary handy.

*Up Next for December:  How It Ended: New & Collected Stories by: Jay McInerney*

Totally worth it...now, where's my coffee

Seeing any big movie at the midnight showing it always totally worth it in my opinion...and New Moon is no exception. You are guaranteed to be around true fans and people who are just as excited, if not more so, to see the movie as you are. The energy in the theatre is always so great and makes the movie-going experience that much more enjoyable. Luckily, we were at a theatre that was well prepared and enforced a "no cell phone" rule. And as much as I was expecting to have complaints about the screaming tweens, the audience we were a part of was respectful and kept the girlish giggles and coos to a minimum.

Of course, as with Twilight, this will not be the only time I see the movie in the theatre, but the first time is always the best! The movie was excellent and totally worth the complete lack of sleep I am dealing with at work today. Coffee will be my best friend.

*Patiently awaiting Eclipse in June*

TwiHards Rejoice!

So the excruciatingly long wait is finally over...The Twilight Saga: New Moon premieres tonight at midnight...and I will be there with all of the screaming, prepubescent girls trying not to look too out of place, since I haven't seen my teens in quite some time (and it feels even longer).

I love the books and, so far, have not been disappointed by the movie versions. New Moon promises to be even better than the first with a bigger budget and CGI wolves! It also doesn't hurt that Jacob appears to be sans shirt throughout most of the film ;-)

So, wish me luck as my friends and I try to wade through the sea of tweens to view the latest installment of what will probably be one of the biggest film franchises in cinema history.

*Team Edward* ;-)