Confessions of a Shopaholic

Submitted by: Ashli Carlson

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Sophie Kinsella

published: 2001

350 pages

Becky Blooomwood, a twenty-five year old British woman, finds herself in a dilemma: she is a shopaholic. She can not ignore a cute pair of shoes or an amazing silk blouse in the shop window: she has to have it!
As a result of impulsive shopping and her low paying job, Becky can not keep up with her bills. Her credit card company and her bank plague her with tons of unwanted bills of substantial amounts of money. In order to stop the overflowing bills in her flat, Becky resigns her shopping ways and even tries to make more income, but there’s always that adorable coat in that boutique’s window and one little thing won’t hurt Finally, Becky finds something she actually cares about--more than shopping--that changes her life forever.
I love this book-it’s probably my favorite chick-flick-ish book. It has humor, tragedies, and of course, romance. Sophie Kinsella’s style of writing is delightful and witty. I love the way she writes from Becky’s point of view and the way she is so detailed about the shops and items Becky encounters. I find the novel believable and can somewhat relate to some of the problems Becky faces.
It’s a quick read: I’d say about a day to a day and a half, and you won’t be disappointed. Even though The Confessions of a Shopaholic is not a series, Kinsella has written several separate novels about Becky Bloomwood and her obsessive habit, each are as equally entertaining as the other. I would give this novel four stars because while it is very entertaining, it can get a bit cliché for my liking.
****

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Submitted by: Amber Burn

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

By: J.K. Rowling

2007

759 pages plus epilogue

This book was written by J.K Rowling and is the last book of the series. It is in the fantasy genre. The main characters in the book are Ron, Hermione and of course Harry Potter who are all seventeen and would be in their last year of Hogwarts.
The setting starts out in London, then the burrow, Grimmauld Place, Godric’s Hollow, many forests, the ministry of magic and lastly Hogwarts. In this book the trio are racing against time to find the last Horcruxes. With Dumbledore gone they have no one but themselves and Voldemort that know about the horcruxes. Dumbledore has left them each a clue one that they can't figure out.
Throughout this book there are more deaths, plots, betrayals, fights and devastation. Harry also finds things about the people that he once trusted and those that he never did. People prove to have more courage or cowardice then anyone thought possible. Harry meets and makes friends with those he never thought he would
. Will Harry defeat Voldemort? What really happened to Dumbledore?
This book consists of 759 pages which also includes the epilogue. I really liked this book
a) because we finally find out the whole story. The wait is over!
B) This book is like a roller coaster ride. You never know what’s going to happen and are constantly thrown surprising turns and rooting for people you never thought you would.
C) There are some moments when you get angry at what’s happening but by the next page you’re gripping the book to find out what happens.
I would give this book. Four and a ½ stars out of 5.
****1/2

Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People

Submitted by: Sam Horsch

Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People

1999, updated 2004

169 pages

This is a great biography written all about Dave Matthews Band published first in 1999 and then a second time with up to date material in 2004, and is 169 pages long. This biography is all about how Dave Matthews Band first became a band, and all met each other. It tells the story of Dave Matthew’s life growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, then moving to the United States and starting the band in Charlottesville, Virginia. It tells of how the band members all got started in Dave Matthews band, and each member’s involvement. This biography also goes through all of the albums the band ever recorded, and the process that they had to go through to become one of the biggest known bands with one of the biggest fan-bases.
My opinion of this biography is that it is a great factual read of how Dave Matthews Band became to be what they are today. It is complete with interviews with the band members, a discography, and gigography. However, if the reader does not like Dave Matthews Band, as weird as that sounds, they may not like or enjoy reading this biography. I give this book five stars.
*****

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Submitted by Sammy Fegen

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

JK Rowling

1999

355 pages

It's a new year at Hogwarts where Harry, Ron, and Hermoine go to school and this year Harry gets into a lot of danger. Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban and he is out to get Harry. The dementors really scare Harry so every time he is near them he faints and cannot see. All the professors are trying to look out for Harry and help him learn everything he can to escape from Sirius. What Harry later finds out is that Sirius is trying to help him. I thought the book was a very good book and I actually enjoyed reading it. It is a little long but I always wanted to keep reading and I always had a picture in my head of what was going on. It is a fiction book and it has to do with alot of magic. the point of view is third person and i liked the book because it was easy to read and was very easy to understand. I would give this book 4 stars.
****

33 snowfish

Submitted by: Torri Myers

33 snowfish

Adam Rapp

Published in 2003

179 pages

33 snowfish is told through the views of three homeless teens that band together to protect one another. Each has a troubled past of their own; struggling with drug addiction, murder, neglect and abuse. With some, in the end there is forgiveness and love. Unfortunately, it is too late for others to find the same comfort they've been longing for.

Rapp's writing is intense and thoughtful. He really shows you the struggles from the teens' pasts and how it affects them throughout their whole life, as if their future will never let go of the past no matter what. I liked being part of their hope to better themselves.

With Rapp's writing comes his use of language. Since his characters have been through such tough times, they don't really speak as nicely as they should. If you want to read this book, I suggest that having a mature attitude would help you along the way of enjoying and going into the lives of these three characters.

3.5 out of 5 stars

***1/2

Gossip Girl

Submitted by: Anonymous

Book: Gossip Girl (first of series)

Author: Cecily von Ziegesar

I'm not a big reader, i only read things that really get my attention. This is one of those books. This is the first book of a fairly large novel, which is written in the author's point of view. This is a very modern and sophisticated book with it's twists. This book is about a group of teenagers that are connected in some way whether it be that they are friends, lovers, enemies, or employers. This book is about all the obstacles they have to overcome.
There is so much drama in this book. One minute people are friends, another they hate each other. There are a lot of issues in this book that teenagers deal with in real life but in a much more dramatic way. This is a pretty fast paced book, and a little hard to follow in the begining, but once you know characters it's an easy read.
On a scale of one to five i definitely give it a five. The book is about rich boys and girls that have way too much time on their hands. One of the girls comes back from being gone for over a year. When she comes back there are so many rumors about her and the friends she thought she had weren't really friends at all. One boy is in love with his girlfriend, and her best friend. Thats just a little bit of the drama. This is definitely a book that you never want to put down.
*****

To Kill a Mockingbird

Submitted by: Anonymous

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee
Published in 1960
Number of pages: 281

To Kill a Mockingbird is based on a time period when America wasn't at its best; a time of power, pride, prejudice and fear. To Kill a Mockingbird is a touching story of one of the families during the Depression. I guarantee you will get something out of this book. I recommend this book to high school students because it is fairly difficult to understand some points and because it is written a little differently than most (1960s). I give To Kill a Mochingbird five stars bacause it has changed the way I view the past during the Depression and bacause it is fun to read. I guarantee you will probably get a little something out of it, too. It's emotional and funny. You will like it. Check it out!
*****

You Don't Know Me

Submitted by:Kirstie Anderson
You don’t know me
By: David Klass
Pub. 2001; 262 pgs.

This story is about a guy named John that thinks he is a “nobody”. He doesn’t think anyone understands him and to be honest they really don’t. I like the way this book is written. It is all about John’s thoughts when things are happening like his “dad that is not his dad” beats him, when he is at school and his confusion with girls. Because of this, it is written in first person. This book really makes me think about how cruel abuses are and how it is really hard to distinguish who is being abused and who isn’t. The people being abused are so scared for their life, and how much they keep it to themselves because of the threats the abuser puts upon them. John doesn’t deserve it, nobody deserves it. This book is very sad, but yet very moving!
John is only 14 years old and he is in middle school. He doesn’t have many friends and he keeps to himself most of the time. He is in band and plays the tuba, only because he needs an extra curricular activity not because he thinks he’s at all good. Although, he is actually good and even earns a solo in a song written by the band instructor himself! You learn about the normal drama that happens in school, how confusing girls can be. And just go through a normal life of a teenage boy. Except it isn’t at all normal. How so you ask? You will have to read to find out!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes excitement and books that they cannot put down. You don’t know me is definitely a page-turner and an easy and fast read! I would give it 4 out of 5 stars!

A Wind in the Door

Submitted by Shabana Basha

A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle (1973) 211 pages.

“There are dragons in the twins' garden. Or there were. They’ve moved to the north pasture now.” The second book about the Murry family, A Wind in the Door is about Charles Wallace, Meg’s youngest brother, who becomes really ill. Also he claims to see things in his garden such as dragons. With the adventure of getting better, along with Meg and Calvin O’Keefe, it will take them out into galactic space and then into the unimaginably small world of the mitochondrion.

My feelings throughout this book were hopeful, suspense, anxious, unhappy, and worried. This book is perfect for me because I love mystery/science/suspense books. I have already read A Wrinkle in Time and just loved it.

Another thing that I really find interesting in L’Engle’s books is that some of the science in this book is really cool. It talks about space, galaxies, all the way to mitochondria. I pick up little details, and later look them up on the Internet to learn something new.
Also, my opinions of this aren’t negative at all. I agree with everything that L’Engle wrote.

You may be interested to know:
This book is science fiction
Charles – 7 is really intelligent, Meg – 14 is vulnerable, Calvin – 16 is caring and brave.
Takes place in the U.S in present day.
The author’s style is great; vivid imagery, explains everything. The point of view is first person.
I absolutely love this book! I really like reading books and science fiction is one of my favorite genres. I think the author did a great job of writing this book.
* * * * * (five stars)

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