Review of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey

By Ken Kesey, Chuck Palahniuk, Robert Faggen - Penguin Books (2007) - Paperback - 281 pages -ISBN 0143105027

Ken Kesey's 1962 novel about a group of patients in a mental ward. We meet Big Nurse Ratched and the orderlies who prod the patients through the daily choirs, therapy, and medication that make up life in the institution. Things begin to go awry when a new patient arrives, Randle Patrick McMurphy. A street smart tough who thought that the mental ward would be better than the prison work farm he was sentenced to. McMurphy resolves to prove Nurse Ratched is nothing to be afraid of. As the two clash day in and out, the workings of the institution start to change and Chief Bromden, a giant mute American Indian, watches as the fog of madness comes and goes.

I really enjoyed the rebellious character of McMurphy and was captivated by Chief Bromden's observations of the madness he lived in. A must read. 

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Twilight Stephanie Meyer

Ah, Twilight. Most of us probably know what Twilight is about, but here is a refresher. Isabella Swan moves from Phoenix, Arizona to live with her father, Charlie in Forks, Washington. She meets Edward, a pale skinned and good-looking vampire. Bella finds out what he is, and falls in love with him.

I love Twilight. I introduced the series to my mom and two of my sisters, and now they love them too. I think females of almost any age enjoy these books, even though I think they are more for teenagers. I don't know about guys but if you like vampires, go for it.

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Witch & Wizard by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Wisty and Whit Allgood, a sister and brother, are taken out of their house in the middle of the night and accused of being a witch and wizard by the new government that has taken over. Thousands of young children have also been kidnapped, though some have been accused and put in jail, many remain missing. The new leaders will stop at nothing to repress the lives of normal teenagers and make the world into what they see as perfect.

This is another one of James Patterson's books, which I seem to always like. This book is a great young adult book. I really hope that they write a sequel, because it is one of those books that leaves you wanting more.

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The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer

Remember the newborn vampire in the end of Eclipse, the one that get tortured by Jane then killed? The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is the last few days of Bree's life as a vampire. Despite her reluctance and paranoia, Bree makes a friend, Diego and they discover they have been lied to by Riley. Then they are told they must fight the strange yellowed eyed enemies of their creator, who they only know as her.

I wasn't exactly sure how much I would like this, because you already know the ending. But I did like it and I could hardly put it down. I liked the lack of chapters, there were none. The book was really short, and I think that all Twilight fans would enjoy this book.

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Geektastic- Stories From the Nerd Herd

I got this book because of the name. "Geektastic that sounds like just the book for me!!" It is a lot of short stories by the authors; M.T. Anderson, Holly Black, Libba Bray, Cecil Catellucci, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Hope Larson, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Tracy Lynn, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee and Sara Zarr. The stories deal with different levels of geekiness and my favorite story is The Stars at the Finish Line by Wendy Mass. Between the stories there are comics of things like Top Five Words or Phrases You Need to Know in Klingon, and, What Your Instrument Says About You, also, What Kind of Geek are You? If you feel the need to let your inner geek come out, get this book.

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The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson is the first book in the Manximum Ride series. This book is about Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel, six kids who are two percent bird and have wings. Created in a place called the School by evil scientists, they escaped four years ago with Jeb Batchelder, a scientist at the School. Jeb disappeared two years after they escaped and Max has been leading the flock ever since.

This book was awesome. It is really funny and you will fall in love with the characters. I would recommend this to teenagers/pre-teens. It doesn't look very short but it is a fast read and very well written. James Patterson has written many books; When the Wind Blows, Lake House, Witch and Wizard, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, and all of the other books in the Maximum Ride series.

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Review: "Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare" by Darren Shan

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A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan is the first book in the Cirque Du Freak series. The second book, The Vampires Assistant, was recently adapted into a popular movie.

Darren is a regular kid that gets tickets to go to a freak show with his best friend Steve. At the show Steve discovers that one of the performers, Mr. Crepsley, is a real live vampire. After the show Darren happens to witnesses something that changes his life forever.

A Living Nightmare is a good book, it's short and is a fast read. It is more suited for younger readers, but some teenagers and adult may enjoy it as well.

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Review: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief is the first book in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. After a field trip gone wrong, Percy Jackson finds out that he is a demigod. He now has to go to Camp Half-Blood and be trained on how to stay alive while facing monsters from the darkest myths. Things take a turn for the worse when Zeus' lightning bolt is stolen all the evidence points to Percy, starting him on a quest to get it back.

I loved this book, and it has also been adapted to a movie, so bonus points. It's a fast read and it's kind of short, so pre-teens would like it as well as teenagers. If you are interested in Greek gods and mythology this book is one you should check out. If you saw the movie and like it you should definitely give the book a shot.

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Review: Kaimira, Sky Village, Book One by Monk Ashland

Mei's mother has been kidnapped by machines, so her father takes her to the Sky village, an intricate web of interconnected hot-air balloons that floats above China, while he tries to rescue her.

In Las Vegas, Rom must save his sister, who has been taken by a pair of terrifying demonic creatures. He has to go underground and become engaged in arena fighting  where mechanical-beast demons fight for the entertainment of gamblers.

Even though they are half a world away from each other, they communicate with the Tree Book. It reveals that they both have the Kaimira gene, entwining beast and machine qualities in their DNA.

This book was really well written. I think it would be a great read for people who like futuristic fantasy/sci-fi books.

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A Review of "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac

On the Road is one of Jack Kerouac's, a Beat Generation founding father, best known novels. Based on the real life journey of Kerouac and his friends across post-World War II America, it introduces us to Sal Paradise and his friend Dean Moriarty as well as many others. It is both a wonderful look back at that quaint period of American history as well as an eye opening description of drug use and debauchery during a time known for poodle skirts and sock hops. From New York to Denver, up to San Francisco, then down into the South and just about everywhere in between Sal explore the country and its people. Kerouac takes the reader into the heart of the beat movement as the characters drag from one club to another never sure of what the night has in store. Jazz, jalopies, and junk fuel the coming of age story as Sal  learns a little bit more about life than when he left home. A must read for historical, cultural, and literary reason.

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