100 Top Novels

OH how I would love to read all of these!

http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/

Quotes I Love by Gayle Forman

"Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you." -Gayle Forman from If I Stay

"I realize now that dying is easy. Living is hard." -Gayle Forman from If I Stay

"I needed to hate someone and you're the one I love the most, so it fell on you." -Gayle Forman from Where She Went

"I look at her there in the shadows of the shut-down city, her hair falling onto her face, and I can see her trying to figure out if I've lost it. And I have to fight the urge to take her by the shoulders and slam her against a shuttered building until we feel the vibrations ringing through both of us. Because I suddenly want to hear her bones rattle. I want to feel the softness of her flesh give, to hear her gasp as my hip bone jams into her. I want to yank her head back until her neck is exposed. I want to rip my hands through her hair until her breath is labored. I want to make her cry and then lick up the tears. And then I want to take my mouth to hers, to devour her alive, to transmit all the things she can't understand." -Gayle Forman from Where She Went

"Her hair, long and dark, is down now, swimming damply against her bare shoulders, which are still milky white and covered with the constellation of freckles that I use to kiss. " -Gayle Forman from Where She Went

"But still, I find the need to remind myself of the temporariness of a day, to reassure myself that I got through yesterday, I'll get through today." -Gayle Forman from Where She Went

"If we didn't entirely understand the other person's obsession, it didn't matter, because we understood our own.  -Gayle Forman from Where She Went

Beautifully Written

The paragraph below is a comment I found on goodreads by Heather, describing the book If I Stay by Gayle Forman. I can’t say my likeness for the book is as strong as hers but I can say her description is beautiful. I can’t help but read it over and over. I wrote her an email to tell her how much I liked it lol!

"In art, the brightest colors appear beside the darkest of lines and in this book, the most endearing, tender and happy moments are surrounded by grief so palpable, that you will laugh through your tears and sob with a smile. It is filled with happiness and sorrow, laughter and tears, birth and death, love and loss. By writing a book filled with parallels, Forman proves that life has no opposite and thus leaves readers with an overwhelming since of joy and hope despite tears and grief that they are bound to feel."

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I just finished reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman. It’s an easy to read, 200 page book, written from the perspective of a 17 year old girl, Mia, who has just experienced a horrible accident. She is taken to the hospital and continues her out of body experience there. Each chapter switches back and forth from the past to present and focuses on family, friends and life’s choices. This book is filled with several parallels that keep you intrigued and turning the page. I look forward to reading the sequel, Where She Went. Goodreads (additional reviews)

Point Proven!

Malcolm Gladwell has great books but in Tipping point he talks about an Airwalk commercial from the 90s. I was interested so I YouTubed it and when I read the comments it looks like everyone got the idea to search it after reading his book proving his tipping point logic. It's so interesting how stuff like this happens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qv4DeSTMmw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Tipping Point: the magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.

Malcolm Gladwell explores the tipping point phenomenon, and presents a new way of understanding why change happens soon quickly and unexpectedly as it does. Gladwell examines the social epidemics that surround us today and gives great examples to support his way of thinking. 

If your like me and love asking questions like, how does an unknown author end up as a national bestseller, then you'll find this book very enjoyable. Goodreads (additional reviews)

Quotes I Love by Lisa See

"When you don't have much, having less isn't so bad." -Lisa See from Shanghai Girls

"You can always count on people to crowded your party when you're in glory but you should never dream of people sending you charcoal in the cold." -Lisa See from Shanghai Girls

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

The book tells the story of two sisters, Pearl and May, who, thanks to their father’s flourishing business live pretty well off… until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away everything and in order to repay his debts he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from California to find Chinese brides. The story evolves into a journey of a lifetime taking you on all the ups and downs.

At the heart of this book is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends who share hopes, dreams, but like sisters everywhere they also harbor jealousies and rivalries. They equally love each other; however each knows exactly how to hurt the other the most. Along the way they face terrible sacrifices, make impossible choices, but through it all they stay true to who they are–Shanghai girls.

This is a great book and I would recommend it to every woman with a best friend or a sister! Goodreads (additional reviews)

Aftermath

“I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness.” -Emily Dickinson

Quotes I Love by Kristin Hannah

"We all make mistakes, its horrible, I can't handle it, there are several things I regret." -Kristin Hannah from True Colors

True Colors by Kristin Hannah

True Colors is a story about three sisters whose once-solid world is broken apart by jealousy, betrayal, and the kind of passion that rarely comes along. Winona is the oldest sister and is consistently searching for her father’s approval. Aurora is the middle sister and is considered the family peacemaker. She tries to keep everyone happy even as she hides her own secret pain. Vivi Ann is the youngest sister as well as the star child. She is beautiful, has a kind heart and everyone in town loves her. Vivi Ann’s life seems so easy until a new person comes to town.

All of a sudden the sisters are torn apart, loyalties will be tested and secrets revealed, and a terrible, shocking crime will shatter both their family and their town. This novel is about sisters, rivalry, forgiveness, redemption and ultimately, family. It’s a great read for over the holidays. Goodreads (additional reviews)

Quotes I Love by Anne Frank

"Paper is more patient than man." -Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." -Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy." -Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

AMAZING! I love reading about history and this story is not only written about World War II its written during World War II. Anne Frank has been officially added to my dead people I want to meet list. For a young 12 year old to have not only witnessed  such a significant part of our history but to have also documented it from her perspective is pure genius. Her writing is magnificent and the fact that she was only writing for herself is truly remarkable. I can’t help but think about the amazing author she would have become had she survived.

This diary describes in detail the horrible situation the Frank’s as well as the Van Daans are confined to while in hiding. It really makes you think twice about your current life situations and circumstances. You see Anne develop from a young girl into a mature 15 year old who ponders questions that I don’t think half the adults today have thought about. She tries to come to grips with what is going on around her while you try to detach, knowing that with each page turn your going to have to let go of her sooner than later. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who can read and if you can’t read, get it on tape. Goodreads (additional reviews)

Quotes I Love by William Nicholson

"We read to know that we are not alone." -William Nicholson

Quotes I Love by Amanda Hodgkinson

“Memories shrink. Like a soap bar used over and over, they become deformed, weaker scented, too slight and slippery to hold.” -Amanda Hodgkinson from 22 Britannia Road

22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson

This is a heart wrenching story about a Polish family, Silvana and Janusz and their son Aurek. Not long after Silvana gives birth to Aurek the Russians and the Germans invaded Poland and the couple is forced to separated. Janusz joins the military and Silvana and baby Aurek flee to the forests of Poland.

The story begins with Silvana and Janusz reuniting after their six year long separation however both have experienced so much during their time apart that it’s a struggle to put the pieces back together. Husband and wife struggle to connect as secrets from the past six years isolate them while Aurek struggles to adapt after being raised in the wild. The effects of war are portrayed tragically beautifully through these characters. At times its heartbreaking to read but in the end the story comes full circle and leaves you satisfied. Overall a good read. Goodreads (additional reviews)

Quotes I Love by Alice Hoffman

"Certain things need not be said, and there's nothing, not a whisper, prayer, not a sacrifice, not a payment of any price, that would change what's about to happen." -Alice Hoffman, quote from Local Girls

"One morning when the air was misleading and mild with hope...."  -Alice Hoffman, quote from Local Girls
"...he had a way of taking your hand which made it clear he'd have to be the one to let go."  -Alice Hoffman, quote from Local Girls
"Still, she knows one thing for certain: never judge a relationship unless you are the one wrapped up in its arms."  -Alice Hoffman, quote from Local Girls
"He'd thought he was lost, but now he recognized that eternity was around him, like salt from a shaker or stars in the sky."  -Alice Hoffman, quote from Local Girls

Local Girls by Alice Hoffman

I must say one thing I love about this book is how beatuifully its written. The story it's self is told through a collection of stories which is a little different for me. One story might be told from Gretel with the next being narrated by Hoffman. It's not as confusing as I may be making it sound its just different. I felt that the book was lacking a little something but I'm not sure what, possibly more details. The book felt too short and I'm not excatly sure how to rate it. I have heard so many good things about the books written by Alice Hoffman and with this being my first book I sort of feel out of the loop, like I may have missed something. I won't say I'm giving up on Hoffman yet but I will do some research on the next one I pick out instead of grabbing whatever is checked in at the library. Goodreads (additional reviews)

Quotes I Love by J.K. Rowling

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." -J.K. Rowling from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)