Drink, Play, F@#k by Andrew Gottlieb

Drink, Play, F@#k: One Man's Search for Anything Across Ireland, Las Vegas, and Thailand by Andrew Gottlieb

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I couldn't decide if this book was fiction or non-fiction in the beginning. By the end, I felt like it was actually a mix of the two. I just don't think the entire thing was made up. Anyway, the section on Ireland was my favorite. It was fast to read and most of it rang very true to me. The Las Vegas section was overall pretty good too. I experienced Vegas for the first time not that long ago and many parts of the story rang true, as well. The Thailand section is sort of where he lost me. Now, I've never been to Thailand so I didn't have any first hand knowledge to work with while reading. But, most of that section did not have the organic feel of the first 2 sections. Maybe I was just expected to suspend too much disbelief. I'm not sure, but I know I didn't love the last section of the book and it affected how I felt about the book as a whole.

Divine by Choice by P.C. Cast

Divine by Choice by P.C. Cast

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What can I say? I really like this installment in the series. I love getting to see a little bit of how Rhiannon handles the modern world especially. I enjoy Shannon, but I'm also very curious about the story from the opposite point of view. I'm just drawn to hearing both sides of it all, I guess.

I am a little sad about some of the events in the book, particularly the death of a character. It feels a little weird and possibly unnecessary. There is another death centric scene that was quite a bit disturbing and I wasn't in love with it. However, there are other parts I really enjoy. For example, I love the name of ClanFintan's mirror in Oklahoma. I find it highly entertaining for some reason. I also enjoy the plot for the most point. I look forward to reading the next installment soon. :)

Divine by Mistake by P.C. Cast

Divine by Mistake by P.C. Cast>

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am glad my cousin recommended this book to me because it is a really fun read. When I returned this one to her, I asked to borrow the rest of the series. Admittedly, I wasn't sure what to think when I read the back. But after I started, I found I was having a great time and enjoying the ride. I like the world the author created and how the main character handles it. Part of me is curious about Rhiannon's experiences with Oklahoma, but that is not addressed, at least not in this installment. (I just started book 2, so I don't know if that will change or not). I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

1984 by George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Surprisingly, I was never given this book as an assignment for a class. I took it upon myself to read it because it is a book that is found on every "must read" book list. I'm glad I read it, even though it did not do a lot for me. When I read Fahrenheit 451, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and On the Road, I immediately understood why these books are considered classics and on "must read" book lists. They intrigued me and stayed with me long after I put them down. Will 1984 have that same impact? Probably not. I am glad I read it and I did enjoy the freaky parallels between Orwell's dystopian future and our present. But, for some reason, the story didn't move me the way I anticipated. It felt like a chore to read and I was secretly pleased I'd never had to read it for a class. I was even more pleased that I didn't have to write a paper on it! :)