The MaddAddam Trilogy - Margaret Atwood

one sentence summary:
what happens after the plague changes life as we know it?
review:
these novels are rather brilliant. The writing is superb and the characters are so well drawn out that even the most unbelievable attributes become logical. Atwood always writes with unforgettable voices and this is no exception. The world she as created is a beautiful as it is terrible. I highly recommend these to anyone who enjoys good writing / post-apocalyptic dystopias / Canadian authors. They are typical in tone of Atwood, that is to say a bit dark but with their own twisted humour thrown about for good measure. I would say of this series that the world she created surpasses the characters (which is a-typical of her work as usually the characters are the strongest point... on the other hand the world she created is almost like a character onto itself, especially as it is further flushed out in the third instalment.)
8/10

if you enjoyed this check out Huxley, Bradbury and Iain M Banks

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

one sentence summary:
the more idealistic something seems the less idealistic it actually is.

review:
this is a novel specifically designed to make the reader feel uncomfortable, and it does a fantastic job of it. that is all i am going to tell you about it. The writing is fantastic and the characters are well developed, so much so that you may end up resenting the attachment you feel towards them. This is often categorized in Science Fiction though that is not where I would put it (don't ask me where to put it because I have had that issue myself, it ended up in general fiction but I felt kinda guilty putting it there.) This is another one that i recommend only for serious readers who don't mind being a bit put off by what they are reading.

7/10 (though it is one of my favourite books)

the Odd Thomas Series - Dean Koontz

one sentence summary:
Odd Thomas is a bit odd, he sees dead people.

review:
This is a highly entertaining series, full of wit and wisdom. The protagonist is so endearing that you are anxiously awaiting the next instalment,you genuinely want to know what happens next. The settings are all very well researched and a bit gritty. The language used is to about a grade 8 level, I would say pretty much anyone (who isn't a hard core no supernatural anything christian) would find entertainment in these novels. These are easy reads, perfect for a day at the beach or a rainy afternoon.
8/10

The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway

one sentence summary:
after WWI there came a generation of men who drank to much and made terrible life choices.
review:
This is not for the uninitiated reader the style is not what I would call easy reading, it is the novel that made Hemingway into the legend of "great American author" that he is today. The style of writing is a bit difficult to get used to but once you have adjusted is a lot of fun to read, very colloquial and a bit disjointed, it is very fitting for the amount of alcohol consumed between the pages. That said this is an entertaining read, the plot is pretty swell and the characters are all swell people. I also enjoyed the language used in the novel, it is just swell. you will love and you will be annoyed with the characters, but they will stick with you. I recommend this to anyone who genuinely enjoys reading.
6/10

Languedoc Series - Kate Mosse

one sentence summary:
through out all history there has been a rumour of a codex hidden in the mountains, these are the stories of it.

review:
I liked that this trilogy entered an over-saturated, Knights Templar myths, market with one unique thing, they aren't about a specific person, they are about an object. The writing is fantastic, though a bit over descriptive from time to time. The characters are all relatable and the historical settings are well researched. I recommend them to anyone who enjoys historical fantasy mysteries.

7/10

if you enjoyed this author may i suggest you pick up a book by Kathleen McGowan, David Gibbins, or Will Adams

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick

one sentence summary:

Hugo is just a boy, a boy with big ambition.

review:

This is a picture book, a really, really well executed picture book. The story combined with the illustrations creates a whimsical world, a strong protagonist and a grand adventure. It has all the elements of great writing and all of the illustrations could be hung in a gallery, they are all beautiful and full of detail. I recommend everyone, adult and child look / read this book. Also it would be a great gift for any child's birthday, just be sure to get a gift receipt encase other people are as up on great kids books as you. 

10/10

James Herriot (his adult books)

*yes, I know this is a book review blog, but all of his books are basically the same kind of amazing*

one sentence summary:
James Herriot (aka Alf Wright) was a small town English farm vet, he recounts his experience with wit and candour.

Review:
James Herriot speaks of his own experiences as a farm vet and that really shines through in his stories. he writes in a way that is down to earthy and entertaining, making you almost want to be his vet assistance, but then he will go into details of his practice that will make you glad you work retail (or whatever you do) instead. the characters are all wonderful and the stories are all unforgettable. The format of his writing makes it an easy read, a collection of short rememberings. It makes an ordinary life into something extraordinary. I recommend anyone who likes animals and humour check his writing out!

8/10

Charlotte's Web - E. B. White

one sentence summary:
a spider and a pig team  up to save a little girls best friend.
Review:
This is a beautiful coming of age story  that touches on all  the major life  lessons  from honesty to friendship to death.  This short  novel  is  guaranteed  to make everyone have sad feelings...  even grown men have been known to tear up reading it. I recommend this to everyone.  Especially kids who are experiencing death  for the first time.
10/10

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

One Sentence Summary:
Ivan is in a Soviet labour camp, this is his life. Review:
This is a horrible, could-be-true story. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in history, it tells the tale of the Soviet era forced-labour camps in such startling detail you will never forget it. This is above all a story of joy, it seems impossible that a novel with this setting could be almost entirely about the joy of day to day life but that is what it is. Ivan shows us that life is what you make of it, that no matter the situation you are in you can make it your own and appreciating everything and embracing the small daily joys. I think anyone would be better off for having read it, but most especially those interested in history.
8/10

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

one sentence summary:
a horribly depressed boy and a rather annoying girl become friends and teach each other important lessons all while helping an old man realize that his dead wife would not want him to spend his whole life mourning her and secreting away what she was once proud of.
review:
another one of those novels I read as a child by a christian author that got me super interested in reading and in the magic of nature in particular. This is a beautifully written work that resonates with everyone I know who has read it, of course by today's standards there are some very inappropriate remarks about different races and a womens/girls place. You will hate all of the characters at various points and love them at others, they are all really well written, flaws and all. Everyone should read this book, or have it read to them.
10/10
10/10

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle

one sentence summary:
what is really in the fifth dimension?
review:
Another of my early forays into fantasy/time travel (as a grown up I find it entertaining that the very novels (this, CS Lewis, The Hobbit etc)  that set me on that early path to atheism were by devoutly Christian authors projecting their faith into their works with a heavy hand), I loved every detail of this story. I found the messages about friendship, family and the different kinds of love we have enlightening (possibly because I didn't have many friends, so was only familiar with familial love.). I think I related well to the protagonist as well, I imagine that this novel would relate far better to girls than to boys. I recommend this to everyone when they hit middle school age.
10/10
10/10

On The Road - Jack Kerouac

One Sentence Summary:
All the angst of 1950 Americana captured on the page.
Review:
This is an american classic, though in my opinion is a bit weak to be in that category. This is more a piece of art than a standard novel and has to be read as such. The prose is unique, it has a rhythm all its own. If you are a teenager you will probably love the protagonist, if you are an adult you will probably think he is a self centred shit who takes advantage of everything way the eff too much. I recommend it only if you really want to read it... there is nothing I can really compare it to.
6/10

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

One Sentence Summary:
What would you do for your friends.
review:
This is a classic for a reason, it is well written and thought provoking. I highly recommend it to everyone. The characters will stay with you forever and the prose will make you want to time travel to a depression era California. I really enjoyed the "novel" it is a quick read and will make you think.
10/10

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

one sentence summary:
Alice finds he self in a strange, strange world.
review:
This is a super fun adventure. I highly recommend you read it, the Disney movie does not count. Well written and guaranteed to increase any child's vocabulary this is perfect to read with your kids, or nieces and nephews. the novels are written in a rather disjointed fashion with one vignette moving into another with no real transition. Which in my opinion makes them even more fun to read! It is full of entertaining phrases that kids seem to pick up and repeat ad nauseum. It is a particularly fun book to read out loud if you are one of those awesome people who give the different characters different voices. I recommend it highly to those people.
10/10
10/10

Tuck Everlasting - Natalie Babbitt

One Sentence Summary:
a young girl meets an immortal family (not Bella and Edward, but well written)
Review:
As a grown up this is a quick read, but when I first read it I was maybe 9 and easily enchanted this was by far my favourite story. It is well written, enjoyable even as an adult, the plot is great and the characters are the real strong point. It teaches new readers lessons about life and death and what can happen if you don't keep a secret. I recommend everyone read this, preferable to a child, or as a child.
10/10
10/10

If you enjoyed this I recommend Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume

A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett

One Sentence Summary:
The story of a little girls fall from wealth
Review:
I loved this story when I was younger and it still resonates with me today. The way that Sara used her imagination to escape the reality of her life resonated well with me because I had done a very similar thing as a child, escaping the bullies in my imagination. The writing is really great, with characters you can relate to and using language that your average fourth grader will have no problem reading on their own. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants an entertaining and heartwarming read.
10/10

10/10

if you enjoy this check out Louisa May Alcott, E. Nesbitt, and L.M. Montgomery

The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

One Sentence Summary:
a little boy visits different planets.
Review:
This is a Children's book and as such will be reviewed with the illustrations taken into account. It is a fun read, full of whimsy and illogic. The story is well thought out (with a few exceptions in plot) and the illustrations are awesome! From all accounts the translation from the French is accurate. This story packs a lot of real-grown-up-world lessons into an idealistic template that everyone should read at least once.
10/10
10/10

if you enjoyed this I recommend everything by Edith Nesbitt ... also E.B. White

The Alex Cross Series - James Patterson

One Sentence Summary:
Alex Cross is a police detective, his life sucks.
review:
I no longer feel the enthusiasm I once did for this series, it has gotten repetitive and the story line has gotten a bit convoluted. That said I do feel an attachment to the characters and thus will continue to read the series. The first 8 books are all rather original and enjoyable, fun reads full of intrigue. Cross' family dynamic adds a layer to this mystery series that sets it apart from the rest of the genre. The writing is solid, though a bit repetitive, the character development is solid and the plots are quick and to the point. I recommend it as beach reading for anyone who doesn't like smut.
6/10 (the first 8 books get an 8/10)

 

 

 

The Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis

One Sentence Summary:
There is a magical world called Narnia which is full of unrest and struggle.
Review:
These books were a corner stone of my childhood. They are very well written, though the do have a fairly obvious Christian allegory running through them. The stories are all really well thought out, as are the characters. Lewis describes the world of Narnia with such vividness you really want to travel there. Full of adventure and great characters I highly recommend this series to any middle schooler looking for something to read over the summer.
8/10
8/10

If you enjoyed this check out:
George MacDonald
Madeline L'Engle
L. Frank Baum

The Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Series - Faye Kellerman

one sentence summary:

a hard hitting cop meets an Orthodox Jew and falls in love. 

Review:

This series starts with a punch and 20 books later is still going strong. The real strength in the series are the characters of Rina and Peter, they start out knowing nothing of the world the other is from and gradually build a world together. Each novel has a hard punching crime fiction type plot, as well as religious conflicting undertones and amazing reflections of human nature. The writing is really good for the genre, better (less repetitive  than many of the "best" authors in the genre (yeah I am talking to you James Patterson). I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and/or is interested in a relationship where one person is Orthodox and one is not (because really that is what the whole series is about).  

8/10-6/10

If you enjoyed this series check out:

J A Jance

Sara Paretsky

Linda Fairstein