Benediction by Kent Haruf

I found this book a waste of time.  I shouldn't have continued to read it once I was 1/4 through.  Did nothing for me.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Well this book made me wonder how they will make the second movie.  Because I'm pretty sure at the end of the first movie they kill off someone who clearly needs to be in this book.  They also didn't explain an incident which comes into play in this book / would be important to include in the movie.  So clearly I am upset that they missed out on some details in the first movie.  I really like this series, they are easy, quick and interesting reads.  There is a new problem they try to solve in this book.  And it ends with a hook making you want the third book in your hand.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Going into this book I knew that it would be similar to the Hunger Games, but I was excited to read it.  Once I started it I didn't want to put it down and every time I had to, I couldn't wait to pick it back up.  I read it in 5 days and the movie comes out tonight.  I hope to make it to the theater on Tuesday to compare the movie.  Books are always better anyway, because there is a lot that can be described with words that are missed in a film.  I feel like there were a lot of parts that were important to the story and I'm wondering how they will be depicted in the film without the words.  Unless parts are narrated.

Anyway, in this world, when you turn 16, you get to pick a faction.  You either choose to stay in the one you were born into or you pick one of the others.  There are four or five, I can't remember.  So when you choose there is a ceremony and then you start initiation.  If you complete it successfully you will become a member of the faction.  If you are cut (ranked low) you become factionless which is something nobody wants.

So the story follows Trish about her faction and what faction she chooses, her initiation, etc.  There is danger involved.  And death.  And brutal fights.  It's action packed, and futuristic.  Can't wait to read book two, although I'm 4th in the library hold list so it will be a while.  How unfortunate.

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Ok so this is the second book in the Maze Runner trilogy.  This book was a little less weird than book one, but still pretty weird.  The things these kids encounter and go through is crazy.  In book one they were all locked in a maze and had to figure out how to get out, in it's most simple form.  In this book they think they have been saved, but they are led into false security and discover they only finished part one of the trials.  This book takes them through part two.  As the title indicates, it is a scorch trial.  They get transported to this area that is like a desert, but worse.  The sun is so bright, hot, and unbearable but they need to make it to a specific location before they are safe.  And as in book one there are all sorts of crazy elements trying to prevent them from being successful.  Some of them die.  I wonder what will happen in the third book.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I was so happy to see that our library now had this book to borrow.  Before they moved to their new location this was the only one by her they didn't have.  I took a break from the big books (Outlander series) as I really needed to feel more progress in my reading and wanted a few I could finish quickly.

She is a very creepy writer.  This book matched her others but was shorter.  I was waiting for a twist and there was a small one at the very end.  Unlike her other books, I could put together what was happening before it was revealed.  But maybe that is because I knew she likes to switch things up and what you think is right usually turns out wrong.

1984 by George Orwell

I read this because it seemed to me a lot of people say this is their favorite book.  This book wasn't for me.  I kept reading it hoping it would get better.  And it did, a little bit, not much.  Part One seemed terrible, Two got a bit better and Part Three was the best of the book.  But through the entire thing my thoughts would wander.  I would read and be thinking and not know what I had just read.  I like books with dialogue.  This book just doesn't have a lot of that.  It is just so much explaining.  Not for me.  Maybe if I got the book at the end.  But I didn't understand it, I don't think, on the level that it was meant to be understood.  So glad it's done.  It was slow and took too long because I wasn't enjoying it.

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

This is book four in the Outlander series and I found it very interesting.  What I liked about it is that it wasn't only about Jamie and Claire.  But it went to present day to follow Brianna and Roger.  And back and forth until *spoiler* they are all together!  I didn't like however that it describes Roger's journey through the stones and on a ship to get to the main land, and not Brianna's.  It isn't all sunshine and roses in this book (it never is).  Poor Jamie and Ian mistake Roger for the lad that raped her and sends him with the Indians.  A terrible fate in this time.  My least favorite part in the book is when Claire, Jamie and Ian travel to the Indian tribes to fetch Roger and the lovable Ian has to stay with them in order for Roger to be able to leave.  Ian is initiated and they leave him behind.  It really saddened my heart!  I hope their paths cross again one day and he can go back to living with Claire and Jamie.  I'm looking forward to reading book five to see what happens.  Although the friend I'm borrowing the books from said that book four was her favorite and the next one may not be as good.  I am reading one short book in between them so will post that when I'm finished!