Orange is the New Black- Book Review

When I first picked this book up, I did it because the show was so popular. Everyone kept saying how great the show was. Well, I figured if the show was that good, then the book must be better. I can't tell you about the show because I haven't watched it yet but, I can tell you that the book is a real eye opener. 

When the book first starts she briefly discusses the history that led her to prison. I felt like she kind of downplayed her part in the drug and money exchange. She made herself seem a little more innocent than what I think that she probably was. Of course, she is writing the book and might have been looking for some sympathy factor with the fact that she did time for a 10 year old sentence. It kind of set the tone that she didn't belong with your typical "prison type" woman. 

When she finally gets to the woman's correctional institute in Danbury, CT she finds herself surrounded with kind souls, this is where things got to be interesting for me. I didn't know what exactly to expect when I picked the book up but, I thought I would find more fighting and heinous people. I did not find that at all. She writes about the kindness that is bestowed on her since she obviously was a newbie who didn't really know what to do. I expected people to make fun of her and maybe even try to fight her; this was not the case. 

Piper Kerman shows the American public the many faces of people who are in prison. While she was in a minimum security prison and therefore divided from those who might have been incarcerated for more violent crimes, she shows that each person is in there for simply making a mistake. I loved how she showed the good side of even the people that she didn't care for. How they somehow helped her when she least expected it or nicely asked her for help and admitted their ignorance of a subject. She shows how prison tears apart mothers from their children and husbands from their wives. Everyone has someone that loves them and when they are in prison they are torn apart for an extended period of time. 

I loved how expressed that most of her time was made easier due to the overwhelming support of people around her and that most in the prison system do not have a support system, which is part of the reason they landed there in the first place. Her fiance was a wonderful support as well as friends who were constantly sending things. I know there are programs for sending books to prisoners and this made me want to think about signing up for that program to send some books! 

One thing that I took from the book is how our prison system needs to be re-examined. We pay almost 30,000 a year for one female prisoner in the system (Source: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman).  I think that there might be better ways to spend our tax dollars for criminals with smaller crimes. Maybe instead of a year 6 months would be enough to think about what you had done, or instead of a minimum six month sentence, 1 month would be okay. From what she described, I think one month of those living conditions would be enough for those who learned their lesson. For repeat offenders, obviously more time would need to be sought after. 

The book teaches patience, kindness, friendship, and the "things can always be worse" lesson. It is a very eye opening account of the American prison system. I enjoyed it and I look forward to seeing what the show has to offer! 

The Book Thief: A Review

"I Have Hated Words and I Have Loved Them and I Hope I Have Made Them Right"

- The Book Thief

First of all, what a stunning and beautifully written novel. It was written a little differently than what I am used to but, it fit the story so well. What a heartfelt and beautiful story to be told. 

When I first heard of The Book Thief and that it took place in Germany during WW2 I knew I had to bump it up on my "To Read" list. I have always been interested in such a sad time in our world's history. I enjoyed Elie Weisel's "Night" and I have read Anne Frank's "Diary of a Young Girl" at least 3 times. I have also seen "Schindler's List" a few times, although long and sad. I think what gets me the most is that, in a sense of time, it is recent history. There are still people living who remember it quite vividly, including my 90 year old Grandfather. 

The book is narrated by Death. Morbid right? Not at all. It makes death seem more peaceful and not alone. I loved that it was narrated by "someone", for lack of a better word, who had the outside set of eyes, who seemed to love this tale just as much as the reader would. I also loved how they told you what was going to happen in the book but then, at the end, it is not what you expected and all the pieces fit together. 

Liesel Meminger is an extraordinary character. She is full of love, hate, confusion, innocence, and memories. She cherishes all of it. She knows the world that she lives in is not a fair one but, that speaking out about it would deem dire consequences for her and her family. I think her innocence saves her on more than one occasion. 

Her friendship with Rudy is one that everyone can relate to. They play nice, they play mean, they get into mischief and they do what they need to do to survive this war torn world that they live in. It made me think of how simple childhood is while at the same time, all the challenges that youth face since they don't always understand why things are the way that they are, especially in war torn Germany. 

Then there is the character of Max, I felt like he really showed what it was like to be Jewish in Germany during World War 2. The secrets, the hiding, the hatred, and the longing for things to be better. I think I liked Leisel's character the best when she was in the company of Max. Her innocence truly shone while in his presence but, he ignited the spark in her that would never be put out. 

The story itself was reminiscent of other WW2 stories that I previously mentioned. You can feel the fear of the world during that time and the sadness that encompassed the people of Europe as war raged on in their backyards. The sacrifices they made and the way they survived. I always feel like the stories are heroic even though they are of ordinary people since it took heroism to survive war torn Europe if you were not a prominent member of the Nazi party.  

I do not wish to share much more with you because I think this is a book that has to be read and appreciated. I think it is a novel that will become a classic and hopefully be read for years and years to come. 

Sunday Ramblings

My weekend has been anything but exciting, this Navy wife is ready for her husband to be HOME! 

Lets start with Saturday. I attempted to go to our local Wal-Mart (only because its 45 min to the closest Target) which was a total hot mess. Let me remind myself never to make that adventure after a huge snow on the first of the month again. 

In good news when I got home my new neck pillow was waiting for me! It is Luna from Sailor Moon and I can not be more excited about that! 

It has worked wonders on my neck while I read and I am so excited about it I could burst! Where do you get one of these delightful neck pillows? I got it off Etsy at a place called Comfort By Felicia Rose. She has all sorts of neck pillows that she hand makes. I have to say the quality is fantastic. She also has a Facebook page which you can find here. 

Saturday night I enjoyed my neck pillow as I read some more in my book Allegiant which is the 3rd book in the Divergent series. I have to say, I already like it much better than the second but not as good as the first. I can't wait to write a review on that one! I also watched Gone With The Wind since it was on TV. One of my absolute favorite movies! I always wonder what it would be like to live in those big beautiful houses and wear those huge dresses. Things seemed so simple then although I'm sure they didn't think things were simple just like we don't always think things are simple. 

Today I am watching a The Walking Dead marathon on AMC. It is one of my favorite shows and even though I have watched every episode I watch it again. I can wait for it to return on February 9!  I think I have a thing for stories that involve an alternate world in which we live. Maybe that's why I enjoy reading so much. I intend to read The Walking Dead comics after the show runs its course. Reading them beforehand might spoil what's going to happen. 

Today is also the last day of my Clomid. I have an ultrasound on Wednesday to make sure the baby making process is on course. Lets hope it is and that I'm not setting myself up for heartbreak. 

Despite missing my husband so much when he is gone, I never let it get me down. I wish he was here to make fun of me for watching gone with the wind and using a neck pillow but, I make the best of it while he is gone. Luckily, this is just an underway and he will be home soon! (Only to leave again in a few weeks)

We now have a Facebook page that you can access here and an Instagram account under the name "lifeonthebooks"

Insurgent- Book 2 of Divergent series- Book Review

I finally finished the 2nd book in the Divergent series. I was a little disappointed that I didn't feel that this book was as good as the first one. Although I'm sure the things that might make this book good to some people, almost made me not want to read the third one! 

The title character, Tris (Beatrice Prior), is very wreckless in this book and sometimes I felt like she was truly showing her age of being 16. I didn't feel that way in the first book, Divergent. She pushes away her love, Tobias, away and makes wreckless mistakes that I didn't see her character doing. I liked her being a strong character who is taking the lead and instead I got a weak and wreckless character who could not shoot a gun and made careless mistakes. Towards the end of the book, I finally started seeing the strong character again, which of course compelled me to pick up the third one in the series. 

I like how the author, Veronica Roth, is not afraid to kill off characters. She doesn't drag out the bad characters and instead brings out new twists and turns and shows characters who are evil in one chapter and someone's saving grace in the next. I like how each character seems to have two sides, even the main characters. 

It will be interesting to see what is revealed in the third book now that what they were fighting for is gone. I would like to know how the world they live in ties into a world "beyond the fence". I also am also interested to see how they face this new challenge against the factionless since they are the ones who created it. I love the romance between Tris and Tobias and I want that to continue as well. 

I tried to type up this review without to many spoilers. If you haven't read the series it is one I would definitely recommend! 

Divergent- Book Review (spoilers included if you have not read this book)

I am now totally addicted to the Divergent series! When I first began the book I was not sure what it was about, I was just told that it was an addicting read. Once I got a few chapters into it I began to see it as another Hunger Games series, which I think is one of the reasons why I like it so much. 

Let me first start with comparing The Hunger Games book 1 with Divergent book 1. There is a teenage female heroine who is slightly confused as to where they completely belong  in both novels. Both live in an America that has been changed and divided, although Divergent takes place in what was once Chicago and nothing is mentioned as to what might be beyond the city.  Both female heroine's have a love interest that at first eludes them but in the end is a beautiful relationship although both were unsure of what a relationship was before meeting the leading male role in the series. In both Divergent and The Hunger Games, both females are put to tests by their new government in order to prove their place or fight for their lives essentially. They both have arch enemies who they are determined to outsmart and outwit in order to win. Both females end up successful in their endeavor although I did feel that Divergent left you longing for the second book more than The Hunger Games did. 

With Divergent I felt that the storyline was easy to follow and at sometimes a little predictable but, I loved it. I loved how the character grew but at the same time maintained her personality that you loved. The love between Tris and Tobias ( Four) made me feel like I was in a teenage love story again. That feeling when a romance first begins and it is a kissing and loving romance that sends shoots of electricity through you at every touch.  I also did not see it coming at the beginning. Throughout the story I feel like I can connect with Tris and her shame for leaving her faction but also at her bravery for joining a new and sometimes intimidating faction. The ending keeps the reader on the edge of your seat as you try to determine whether or not Tris will successfully be able to get away from the dangers of the Dauntless faction. 

The book left me hanging as the characters attempted to escape the evil of the Dauntless and Erudite leaders who will surely be after them after ruining their plan of dominance over the Abnegation faction. 

I can't wait to see what Insurgent brings!