Chicken Soup for the Soul (20th Anniversary Edition) by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark

Chicken Soup for the Soul (20th Anniversary Edition)

by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark

Publisher: Chicken Soup for the Soul (June 2013)

387 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

This is a book full of inspirational stories, centering for the most part on keeping or developing a positive attitude, perseverance and paying it forward. This book contains all the stories from the original publication, plus 20 “bonus” stories. Each story is around 2-5 pages in length, and I think they are best consumed one or two at a time, instead of all in one sitting. It would be a good book to read over the course of a year, reading one story a day. By the end of the book I found the common themes in the stories a little repetitive and almost hyper-optimistic, but they were worthwhile themes. I particularly enjoyed the stories of people who did crazy little things to brighten another’s day, hoping they would pay it forward. Nice collection that manages to be inspirational without being particularly religious.

Howl by Allen Ginsberg

Howl by Allen Ginsberg

Publisher: HarperPerennial (2001)

Where I Got It: The Poetry Foundation (Howl, Footnote to Howl)

12 pages

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Ratings:

Violence: Mild-Moderate-Brutal

Swearing: Clean-Light-Filthy

Sexual Content: White-Pink-Red

Summary:

Howl is a free verse poem in three parts with a footnote, and contains social commentary from the perspective of the “Beat Generation.”

My Thoughts:

This contains very vivid imagery of a generation of intellectuals beaten down by social rules and pressure for conformity. The homosexual imagery was shocking and controversial for its time and led to an obscenity trial, which ironically probably only served to make it more popular. Some of the imagery is beautiful, some is sad and some is more than a bit angsty. This is definitely something you could read over and over and continue to find new things in.

Quotes:

“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked—“-Allen Ginsberg, Howl

“—a lost battalion of platonic conversationalists jumping down the stoops off fire escapes off windowsills off Empire State out of the moon—” -Allen Ginsberg, Howl

“—the one eyed shrew that does nothing but sit on her ass and snip the intellectual golden threads of the craftsman’s loom—“-Allen Ginsberg, Howl

“—with the absolute heart of the poem of life butchered out of their own bodies—“-Allen Ginsberg, Howl

Dumbledore's Army Reunites at Quidditch World Cup Final by J. K. Rowling

Dumbledore's Army Reunites at Quidditch World Cup Final 

by J. K. Rowling

4 pages, eBook

Where I Got It: www.today.com

Story Rating: 3 Stars

Content Ratings:

Violence: Mild-Moderate-Brutal

Swearing: Clean-Light-Filthy

Sexual Content: White-Pink-Red

Brief - Fleeting - Snapshot

Summary:

This is a short update on the characters from the Harry Potter books as they meet up at the Quidditch World Cup Finals, as reported by Rita Skeeter.

My Thoughts:

Nice little treat for those who enjoyed the series and wanted just one last taste, but it didn't really give the reader any more info than the epilogue in the last book, just a few more pieces of gossip.

Power in Praise by Merlin R. Carothers

Power in Praise by Merlin R. Carothers

Publisher: Foundation of Praise (May 2013)

176 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $6.99)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

This is a self-help book that urges people to praise God for not only the good things in their life, but also the bad things, because when we praise God for the bad things in our life it “releases the power and guidance of God.” This book is very repetitive and contains a heavy dose of evangelical belief systems. The author believes that when we don’t praise God for bad things, we offend Him because we are questioning His wisdom and His “perfect plan” for us, because even the bad things that happen to us (the author believes) happen for a reason and for our own good (or otherwise part of His master plan). I think the overall message is good. Worrying over things, harping about annoyances, and griping about past wrongs, definitely get in the way of people moving forward in a positive way, and I can see why it would be beneficial to look on bad things in a positive light so you can move past them, but I’m not so sure I want to believe that God is immature or petty enough to become offended by anything we ignorant humans do; and I don’t particularly think He is vain enough to need our constant praise or attention in order for us to stay in His good graces. This book contains a horde of testimonials collected by the author, many that reference his bestseller Prison to Praise (which carries much the same message), and as this book was originally published in 1972 some of the testimonials are a little dated, but not too bad. Definitely gives you something to think about.

A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen

A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (July 2013)

320 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

A recovering drug addict and street musician is struggling to make a living on the streets of London, when he meets a stray cat that suddenly appeared in his apartment building looking in tough shape, so James took the cat in and named him Bob. Though it took James a little while to realize it, Bob arrived at just the right time in his life when having a cat to look after was just what he needed to help him get back on his feet. This is a great story, whether you are a cat lover or not, and I found their adventures on the streets of London entertaining. Great story of a man and the special bond he has with his cat.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Publisher: Speak (January 2012)

337 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Sexual Situations

Hazel is a sixteen-year-old girl with terminal cancer who has become depressed and largely cut herself off from life, that is until she meets Augustus, a seventeen-year-old boy who’s lost his leg to cancer and meets her at a support group for teens with cancer. Now this sounds like a really depressing read from the description, and I had put off reading it for some time for that very reason, but I finally tackled it, and though there are inevitably some sad parts, the overall feelings I got from the book is strength, hope and taking full advantage of the present. Hazel and Augustus, despite their medical problems/diagnoses, have a very normal teenage courtship, and even with all the heavy issues they are dealing with, I think that really comes through. Both Hazel and Augustus were such fun, quirky characters, you can’t help but get wrapped up in the story. Great read!

Movie Adaptations:

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff

Movie Rating: PG-13

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (November 2008)

304 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing and Sexual Situations

Sutter is an alcoholic high-schooler who’s focus is on the here and now, his life is one big party, and he has a series of girlfriends that thought he was fun for a while but eventually moved on to someone else, when they realized how little direction his life has. Aimee stumbles upon him one early morning on her paper route, finding him passed out on someone’s front lawn, and though they seem to have nothing in common at first, Sutter decides to make it his mission to draw out this shy girl and give her some confidence. In the beginning, I’m not sure if Sutter’s influence on Aimee is a good thing or a bad thing, but by the end I think it has been positive overall. This story in tone and as a coming-of-age story, reminded me a lot of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I would say this story and the ending in particular were just a bit too realistic for me, and though I understand Sutter’s noble reasoning for what he did in the end, I was hoping for something a little more optimistic. I will say the movie gave me the ending I was looking for.

Movie Adaptations:

The Spectacular Now (2013)

Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Kyle Chandler

Movie Rating: R