Challenge: 50 Books discussion

In 2013:

- read at least 50 books
- read all of the unread books on my shelf
- buy less books (I have a serious book buying problem)

Angela wrote: "I am with you on the buying problem, only since I got my kindle it has been the free books problem!"

Me too Angela! Too many books not enough hours in the day.

#1. Siddhartha

Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: This book is definitely a great book to start the new year off with. It gives you a fresh outlook on life itself, and cleanses one's soul (if you will) to the point where you feel very productive, positive, and all together excited about living. Although the main character did bother me at times, I agreed with his outlook on everything he encountered. This book also included probably the greatest advice I've ever heard about sex, which was unexpected to say the least. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Buddhism or just religion/self-discovery in general.

#2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Rating: 5/5

Thoughts: Being a fan of this movie (Martin Freeman - *swoon*), I felt extremely guilty for never reading it to begin with. I was very young when the movie came out though, so it was justifiable. Anyway, I absolutely fell in love with this book. Douglas Adams is extremely witty, and reminded me why I adore British humor. This is essentially my sense of humor in a book, and I definitely plan on reading all of his other books. It was a quick, easy read, and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This is probably the only book that has ever made me laugh out loud as well, so that's a plus. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates laughing and science fiction.

#3. Feed

Rating: 3/5

Thoughts: Okay, so I want to start off by saying that I really appreciate what the author was trying to convey. The overall message was clear, and for that, I commend M.T. Anderson. BUT, with that being said, I think it could have been written better. The beginning was very slow, and it wasn't until the book was halfway over that I started to understand where the plot was going. The main character was in no way likable to me. It's hard to like a book when you want to punch the first-person narrator in the face for every thought he has. The main character's love interest had a well-developed background, but no depth. It was easy to relate to her, but you almost didn't want to. The ending was unsatisfying, and I didn't get that accomplished feeling after finishing a book. Maybe I'll pick this book up again someday and reread it to try to get into it more, but I most likely will not.