Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Twelve Years a Slave

Bibliography
Northup, Solomon. Twelve Years a Slave. Auburn: Derby and Miller, 1853. Print.
image from: http://i43.tower.com/images/mm124192110/twelve-years-slave-solomon-northup-paperback-cover-art.jpg

My Thoughts
I couldn't get through this book. I couldn't even make it half-way through this book, and it's only 138 pages long!

Solomon is a free black man. Through some trickery, he is enslaved and is headed to Louisiana. That's as far as I got. The story does not compel me to read more. It is certainly written in the style of the time--very descriptive and formal.

I watched the movie (did get through that), but it did not inspire me to finish the book. Maybe another day...probably not. 

Monday, June 16, 2014

The One

Bibliography
Cass, Kiera. The One. New York: Harper Teen, 2014. Print.

image from: https://p.gr-assets.com/540x540/fit/hostedimages/1380860857/3138132.jpg

My Thoughts
Well, it's been several weeks since I finished this book, but with the end of school and inventory and Upward Bound starting, I'm just sitting down to blog about it.

This is the third installment of America and Maxon's story. The book released May 6, and I bought my own copy that weekend because I couldn't wait until I could buy a copy for the library. This story was good and I had to find out which way did America choose--would she be Aspen's or Maxon's wife? I figured the title would help me know, but I was not banking on it, and with the turns Cass provided in this third story, I was correct in being suspicious.

It's down to four girls, "the Perfectionist, the Sweetheart, the Diva...and me" (Cass 213). Maxon & America learn more about their country's history when they meet August. They share a tension of what their future holds. They are anxious about admitting their love and anxious about learning of each other's past.

I marked some pages that I thought were interesting, but now that time has passed since reading this book, I'm not sure I want to share what I marked on this blog. This story is one to be experienced, and I'm afraid anything I write will spoil the story.

I will say that I'm glad I read a book "out" of my genre. This series has been delightful!