One of the most remarkable books I've ever read. Around 120 pages, and told completely in second-person narrative, I've never been so fully captivated by a book. The story concerns a man named Morris Magellan, a businessman with a wife and two kids. The story essentially concerns you as well, as the story narrates Morris' alcoholism as if its happening to you.

"By now, however, you have exhausted that. There seems to be no energy left - if you had discovered alcohol earlier it might have saved a few broken hearts. For you, alcohol is not the problem - it’s the solution: dissolving all the separate parts into one. A universal solvent. An ocean." (pg 23)

Each sentence seems perfect. Perhaps tediously crafted, but all of them come together beautifully for a true journey with Morris. I read this book slowly, often reading a sentence or paragraph out loud. I know I'm going to read this book many times, and I recommend it to anyone curious about a book written in second person, and anybody who considers themselves a writer - I have a new favourite.

Wonderfully written; I'll probably turn to this story at least once a year in the future...

Pike is so re-readable because there's always some matter of folklore or legend intertwined into his storylines. Though the plots may seem especially young adult, with titles like "Monster," there is much more involved in making his books creepy in a most realistic way. This book begins with a high school girl crashing a party with her shotgun and killing two people and trying to kill a third before her friend, Angela, stops her. I loved Angela's evolution through the book - the final page really gave me goosebumps.

For all the hilarity and spoof-ness of this book, I'm still giving it four stars for creativity. I thought the book would merely insert zombies every now and then to Austen's prose, but the author actually created a world in which a zombie plague exists. The characters' behaviors and histories all change accordingly: the Bennett sisters have been trained in the "deadly arts" by a master in China. A walk to town means to have swords and muskets in hand in case they are attacked. Elizabeth is still headstrong, and even more fierce as a deadly warrior against the "unmentionables" and somebody who would kill someone if her honor was crossed. The militia's main purpose is to protect the countryside against the zombies.

The fates of all the characters are similar yet different - most drastic being that of Charlotte Lucas and the annoying and dreadful Mr. Collins. Mr. Wickham's actions are even more deplorable and updated to be more specific.

As the original P&P is one of my favourite books, and one I've read countless times, each detail changed was interesting and usually led to me laughing out loud. The great thing is that the main storyline, the love story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, though changed in some basics, remains just as good. There are zombies all over this book, but it makes sense - it was so strange to realize that.

Oh, and Darcy makes tons of double entendres about balls (the ones you dance at and the ones men have). I think I cracked up the loudest at these moments.

I quite liked this fast-paced thriller, but there was definitely something "off" while I read it. The language at times was stilted, and while mentioning this to my good book friend Zan, she informed me that there were indeed some problems with the tranlation, as commented on by the translator himself. It wasn't hugely detrimental, but it took me out of the story at times.

I've always been a huge fan of Michael Crichton fast-paced thrillers, and I've enjoyed Dan Brown's works as well. I just haven't ever gotten into any other mainstream thrillers besides these authors because of the genre's tendency towards triteness and rather lame characters. Stieg Larsson's novel, however, is different than the usual, and I think perhaps it's because of its European backdrop and sensibilities, along with interesting characters.

The story itself was intriguing as mystery thrillers should be, and I definitely stayed up nights trying to get to the next puzzle piece or solution. The two main plots of the book were intertwined, sort of, and when one gets resolved, I was confused by how many pages were left. I suppose it made sense, but the second plot wasn't wholly necessary. I understand the driving force of the book is its characters, which were interesting in their interactions and how they reacted to the plots and twists. I liked them so much, that I know I'll definitely be reading the next two books.

I've grown attached to the Jessica Darling series and the characters within since I read Sloppy Firsts years ago - the first-person voice of a teenager writing in her journal was witty from the beginning. The first two books I regarded with adoration in the way McCafferty wrote a teenager: it's perfect! I get her, I am her! Kind of.

However, the format didn't do anything for me in the third or fourth books. I couldn't connect with Jessica anymore. Her voice grew tiresome. I had no idea what to expect from this fifth book, only knowing that it was the final in the series. I was immensely and pleasantly surprised to find the entire book written in third person: finally the story would be told from an observer's point of view, mingled with that of Jessica and Marcus. And Marcus! I was relieved to finally hear what he thought - how he thought. There were many revelations about his character, and I was so happy to find out where these two were in the world.

The book was a great ending to the series. I feel a sense of closure, and Jessica's words in a moment of realization made me almost cheer her on. I suppose I've been doing that this whole time, over all these years.

That said, there were a few things that made this a bit hard to get through at times: it spans very little time and takes a little bit too long to really get to the story. There is too much exposition, though I can see how one might deem it necessary. Near the end as well, there are sequences that bored me to death nearly while Jessica slept. The best? The chapter of haikus written between Jessica and Marcus, and made me smile as I read along. No matter what I don't like about the books, I do cherish them and the characters.

Post Script: As much as Twilight made me angry and want to write an actual teen book for the garbage that was passed off as gospel - this series also inspires me to write, only instead of out of anger, I aspire to write such three dimensional teenage characters, so much more vivid than the vapid sketches of the vampire series.

I didn't know Chelsea Handler was as hilarious as this. I often cracked up out loud, even if I was in public. Great, fast read with enough anecdotes to make you want to read a chapter out loud to whoever's nearby. Totally enjoyed this book; am looking into keeping up with her tv show now.

I really disliked the only other piece I've read by Salinger, Catcher in the Rye, so I didn't know what to expect with Nine Stories. This book was a gift, and I really quite enjoyed it. Salinger's short stories are precise and evoke exactly what is necessary, with no filler. His portrayal of children, which show up in most of the stories, definitely reminded me of that certain precociousness that is so hard to describe. This might mean that I have to read Franny & Zooey now...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Larson's novel-like account of the true events surrounding the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. I was taken aback by how much of its history I did not know; and how much I knew - but did not connect so closely to the time and the place. Larson's descriptions really portray a bustling Chicago landscape and a dark, seedy undercurrent. Much like the two men's lives he focuses on in the book: the Fair's lead architect Daniel Burnham, and a notorious serial killer of his time, H.H. Holmes, whom, until this book, I'd never heard of. Burnham's storyline intrigued me in a way I never really have been by architecture before; I gained a bit of respect for the innovations of the time. The story centering on Holmes was indeed scary if only for the descriptions which are obviously accurate due to Larson's complete research. To think these two men's lives are now accounted for and survive as a memory due to letters and newspaper articles and diaries can only attest to my own thoughts of writing this down or blogging or e-mails to journalists now and in the future. The main reason I docked this book a star was because though these two men lived in the same era, and city, there's too little connection made between the two stories. It's as if Larson wished to write about the World's Fair and picked the two most interesting stories to come out of it, and wrote the book about the two instead of a book each. Perhaps there wouldn't be enough material for a whole book each? Either way, the book jumped between the two men almost as if it was between "good" and "evil" - maybe the point. All this aside, it was an easy, enjoyable read with many fascinating (and sometimes gory) facts. I highly recommend it!

I really like slow-paced, unraveling narratives - which is the main reason I liked this book. Everything was interesting, but the plot thickened without me realizing it until moments later. The descriptions are fantastic; I was severely creeped out by the house, called Hundreds Hall, where most of the story takes place. This was also helped by the fact that I have an irrational fear of certain types of hallways or rooms or being the only person in a large house going to sleep. Yes, I never read this book if nobody was in my small, Brooklyn apartment. The ending, which I literally just finished 10 minutes ago, left me with enough answers and enough mystery. I also enjoyed the way the main character/narrator was written; what he would tell the reader as opposed to what I would surmise enabled my brain to do some thinking while I was being thoroughly entertained.