Book #4 The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Ok, so I thought that this book was really really really good! I seriously couldn't put it down! 

The description McCarthy used throughout his novel was so detailed, it felt like you were there. However, he kept it vague enough where you were guessing about what had actually led up to "burning of the Earth" that led to everyone's disappearance and their wandering homelessness. You also wondered if they were actually human or if the other "bad creatures" were actually human. It was a very interesting book that I couldn't put down.

However -- don't read this if you want to read the book and haven't yet!!--

what was the point? Someone wanna help me out? I mean they walk around this desolate Earth, which we NEVER find out what actually happened to, and try to survive off of each other. The boy pisses me off sometimes because he's just a selfish child that thinks he knows what he's talking about but he really has no clue. The father has a great disposition when it comes to this novel. He's VERY noble to his son and he does everything in his power to push him on. However, his care lessens more and more as they get closer to the shore. I wonder if this is supposed to show the child's maturity and the fact that the father can rest at ease after a certain point of raising his son. 

However, back to my main question... what the--- haha! I mean I was SO intrigued by this book and I finished reading it like, "wait a sec, there has to be a section missing." I mean, what happened to the Earth? Where is EVERYONE? Why are there "bad creatures." How long have they been wandering? What does it mean that they are the ones that "carry the fire"? I mean i have SO many unanswered questions that it's kind of ridiculous!! haha..

Other than those few things... I truly enjoyed the book. I thought it was very interesting and very intriguing... just slightly disappointing...

Philosophy or Art History

Public question:

I have to pick a "western cultures" class for next term because its part of the university's core academic program. So I can either do Philosophy (Classical) or Art History (1-3). The thing is once, I start the sequences I can't interrupt them and I have to take 3 of them. For example I can't take 2 art history classes and 1 philosophy class, or some other combo like that...

So what do you think?

Philosophy or Art History??? 

Book #3: Lifeguard by James Patterson

This was a good book. It kept me wanting to read to the end. However, it was a typical James Patterson, murder-mystery. I enjoyed it particularly because it was set in a place in Florida where I have a timeshare. So, when the author was referring to certain roads to landmarks, I knew what he was referring to. It was kind of entertaining. I also found it interesting because the FBI agent in the novel was an art major, and I'm currently contemplating whether to take a Philosophy or Art History class next term...and I'm leaning toward the Art History... but it was just interesting to hear about these missing pieces of art in the novel and how they were cherished, and blah blah blah...

But, this book was nothing special... just a regular James Patterson...

Family

The book the lifeguard brought up an interesting quote that I kind of wanted to reflect upon. He said, "You cannot choose your family, but you can choose who decide to make your family."

Now, I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, but I find it interesting. Because that's true, you can't choose your family. But why wouldn't you want to make your family, your family? Sometimes friends become as close to you as a family member would, but what makes that a family-like relationship? Obviously something in the present family has characteristics that cause an individual to associate a friendship or relationship to that of their family. Right? Because if a person was never introduced to a great family relationship, then how can they make a strong friendship into a "family relationship."

SO

Does this mean that if you have a sucky family, then you have sucky family-like friends?

_________

I'm confusing myself, so I think I'll stop here. But I can't imagine having a relationship stronger or close to equal than that of my family. Yeah, they're annoying sometimes. Yeah, sometimes I wanna deck some of them. But they're my family and I love them TONS. Sometimes I don't think people realize how much family means until they leave them...

Coming to school in California and leaving my family that far back has definitely given me a different viewpoint on family (same thing happened in Switzerland). I think that's why I like going distances... so that I can realize the things that I had but didn't bother to realize HOW MUCH they meant to me because they were always there. When you go somewhere far away and realize that you can't have that thing that was always there. It makes you appreciate the little things I think... Just a little food for thought...

When You Know Your Life Sucks...

So, I started reading the Lifeguard by James Patterson the other day. And I couldn't help but shake my head and chuckle at this poor kid's terrible luck. 

First of all, he's a graduate from BU on an academic scholarship. Great right? Turns out he was actually going on a sports scholarship, but he injured himself and there went his scholarship. Anyways, the school gave him a chance to get good grades and keep a scholarship of the same value and he did. Good. So he gets his degree. Goes into teaching.

He's this great history teacher at a high school for students that have played with the wrong crowd. Sort of like he did. He helped them out, gave them good grades for their efforts and became an inspiration friend to many of his students. One in particular, a female, he took interest in. She had the dreams that he had, but she never thought she could achieve them because of where she grew up. He was her inspiration. Until she said something that went down the social chain and turned into him assaulting her. Bam! There goes his teaching career regardless of the fact that the girl eventually came forth and said it wasn't true. Tell me that doesn't suck. But it doesn't stop there.

Since that little incident is on his permanent record, he becomes a lifeguard.

While he's lifeguarding he meets this beautiful woman that he probably wouldn't have a chance with, except this one time. Tess was her name and she was a knock out. He went on a few dates with her and really thought his luck was changing.

BAM! Tess is murdered. Tell me that doesn't suck. But he doesn't know this yet...

His friends (he calls them his family) are plotting this amazing robbing scheme to steal 3 paintings from a rich man and sell them for 5 million dollars. Great plan. It's going well. Ned is doing everything he's supposed to be doing. BAM! They were set up and BAM! His whole family is killed on a murder spree by an inside job. Tell me that doesn't suck. And after he finds this whole thing out, he drives by Tess' house only to find that she was murdered as well.

Now he's lost his family and his lover. The only thing he has left is his mother, brother, and father. (By the way, his older brother was murdered in a shoot out by a job set up by his father... tell me that's not messed up!) He goes to Boston to get away from the FBI... and to get a hold of his dad who probably set up the inside job for his best friends that ended up killing them all.

Tell me that doesn't suck.

Book #2: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

This book was O.K. Considering it took me about twice as long as the first Twilight novel because I was just not that into it, I was slightly disappointed. The first Twilight book was so exciting and so adventurous that it took me about 3 days to finish it...which is remarkable for a slow reader like me! 

If you like the Twilight Series, I'm sorry if I have offended you all, but I'm shying away from Twilight books. :(

This book was just too slow for me, and not as adventurous as the first...

New Book(s)

Ok, so here's the deal. I have this thing where I buy two books at a time and read them simultaneously. Kind of out of the ordinary, but it's because I read one "easy" novel on the elliptical every day and one "more-dense" novel before I go to bed. It's just how it goes...

So last night, I finished the Twilight Novel: New Moon and The Shack because of my awesome little workout/relax routine :).

Right now, I'm reading the Lifeguard by James Patterson (that's my elliptical book) haha! And The Road by Cormac McCarthy.