All the Books.

"Bruce Lee was an incredible man but he was also only human. Through his many writings, his daughter, Shannon Lee, has managed to compile and gather together what her father was trying to realize every day of his life. He was a constant work in progress, as we all are, and Shannon Lee helps us realize that that is not a bad thing. Bruce, and his daughter, help us realize that all we must do in this life is "flow", "be free" and that, is where our true power lies." 4 Stars Pros:  Honest, genuine and powerful. Though Shannon Lee does not remember her Father well, she has worked hard and collaborated with many people to study his teachings and do as much as she can to incorporate them into her own life, as well as all those around her, who wish to learn/The idea of "flowing", being free, seems so simple at first but it will take time, effort and courage, but Lee makes you feel like you have the power within you to do whatever you want in your life. ...

"A coming of age story that follows the path of one teenager who's close relationship with her Uncle leads to a burgeoning friendship with his "special friend" Toby, after her Uncle's death." 3 Stars Pros:  It was interesting to have the setting be in the mid-late 80s when the AIDS epidemic was ravaging the Country and people didn't know how to react.  Cons:  The relationship between June and Finn was a little odd at times/Greta was an obnoxious, self destructive beast through most of the book but aren't all teenagers?  Full Review:  Finn Elbus' dying wish is to paint a portrait of his two nieces, Greta, the talented, pretty, actress and June, the younger, insecure, awkward one. Finn is dying of AIDS, a sickness that the Country is currently attempting to wrap their heads around and most people think that it's being used as a weapon, that people are giving each other AIDS purposely and thus killing them. It shows how close minded people are a...

"The overdone "someone from one side of life meets someone from the other side of life and teaches them that the world they so staunchly believe in is inherently flawed" story set in a post-apocalyptic (I'm guessing) world where there is the Republic and then the Colonies, with which the Republic is constantly at war. It had its moments but for the most part this was your stereotypical, teenage angst/falling in love cause they're teenagers story and left me wholly unimpressed." 2 Stars Pros:  Lu's good at hinting at the fact that there was some sort of catastrophe or cataclysm that led to the Country being split into the Republic and the Colonies (so topical it hurts.)  Cons:  Bad boy is actually good boy but in trouble with the law for trying to protect his family. Good girl is actually good girl but wants to be like bad girl and is fascinated by bad boy who is actually good boy. They fall for each other and make each other see the error of their ways c...

"If you haven't seen the movie, reading the book is basically just like watching the movie, only on paper and you can use your own imagination to fill in the characters. It gave more detailed backgrounds to beloved characters such as Inigo and Fezzik and though some parts were added and others removed, for the most part, it was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to watching the movie as a way to round the whole thing out." 3 Stars.  Pros:  It gives more background to the characters of Inigo/Fezzik/Some of the best lines from the movie are in the book since Goldman wrote the screenplay.   Cons:  Buttercup's Baby was an interesting "sequel" but how Goldman left it off was just...well...it's left to interpretation but at the same time, as a reader, you want to know what happens/Goldman's afterword was just the tired, angry rant of a spurned author and almost made me put the book down before getting to Buttercup's Baby.  Full Review:  If y...

"The title gives the book away. Elizabeth Gilbert ate, prayed and loved while traveling through Italy, India and Indonesia. She gives detailed histories of each Country that she resides in and her exploits are both entertaining and educational. She learns a lot about herself and the reader too, learns to take a breath, be grateful for everything that they have and simply let it go and know that "God" is always there, loves unconditionally and will always be there, no matter what." 3 Stars Pros:  Gilbert herself is honest about all her strengths and all her weaknesses. She doesn't have much of a plan with this "travel around the world and write about it" idea but she makes it work. She's kind, compassionate and resourceful. She's flighty but somehow, things always seem to work out and her search for God, divinity and balance within herself is motivational and eye opening. The histories of the different Countries that she travels to are interesti...

"In true Shusterman fashion, it's a book about death but more importantly, what comes after, or more precisely, what comes after for those who don't "get to where they're going." It was an interesting read but in the end it all felt a bit one dimensional." 2 Stars.  Pros:  The idea of Everlost, a world that exists between life and death, a kind of purgatory, is true Shusterman, just eerie enough to make your skin crawl but enticing enough to make you want to read more and find out what happens.  Cons:  The characters just didn't seem that fleshed out. They were all pretty one dimensional, though there were a few revelations at points that were surprising. It was just something about the narrative, geared more towards a younger audience that made this title fall a little flat.  Full Review:  Nick and Allie are involved in a fatal car accident but are knocked out of the tunnel and away from the light and find themselves in a world called Everlost. A ps...

"A beginning with a catch good enough to keep the reader engaged, planting the seed of "I have to know what happens" but overall, the narrative was overly verbose, arrogant and the story itself was a disappointment." 2 Stars Pros:  It was an interesting look at friendship and how the environment in which we grow up can have a profound impact on our lives.  Cons:  The frenetic passion of Barry and his behavior overall was both confusing but also curious, so you wanted to find out what happened/All the characters are egotistical and basically pretty obnoxious.  Full Review:  Neil Countryman and John William Barry meet at a track meet in High School. John William beats Neil in the half mile and after a chance encounter the following weekend, a friendship is formed. The book follows the details of both of their lives and how vastly different they are. John William is passionate, paranoid, obsessed, takes unnecessary risks and is determined to be "free" of the ...