A Million Ways to Die in the West by Seth MacFarlane

A Million Ways to Die in the West by Seth MacFarlane

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the creator of "Family Guy" and director of "Ted" comes a hilarious first novel that reinvents the Western.

Mild-mannered sheep farmer Albert Stark is fed up with the harsh life of the American frontier, where it seems everything and anything can kill you: Duels at high noon. Barroom brawls. Poisonous snakes. Cholera-infected drinking water. Tumbleweed abrasion. Something called "toe-foot." Even a trip to the outhouse. Yes, there are a million ways to die in the wild, wild West, and Albert plans to avoid them all. Some people think that makes him a coward. Albert calls it common sense. But when his girlfriend dumps him for the most insufferable guy in town, Albert decides to fight back--even though he can't shoot, ride, or throw a punch. Fortunately, he teams up with a beautiful gunslinger who's tough enough for the both of them. "Un"fortunately, she's married to the biggest, meanest, most jealous badass on the frontier. Turns out Albert has just discovered a million "and one" ways to die in the West. "From the Hardcover edition."

My Review:

So, I do not usually read others reviews prior to writing my own. However, I did in this case, and I may be going against the norm. Oh well.

I rarely read such humorous books, so I'm not sure what is generally expected. What I do know is what I expected out of this book, and it didn't disappoint. I laughed out loud quite often, which is what I was hoping for.



This was a quick story full of laughs, vulgarity, and just plain ridiculousness. It may not have been historically accurate, or the characters may not have been fully developed, but that didn't matter. I got the gist of things well enough to have enjoyed myself. I even talked about this book with my significant other more than most other books because it piqued his interest. We haven't seen the movie yet, but it's next on our watchlist.

Favorite Quote:

“Don’t go snackin’ if you been tobaccin’.”

Read from November 25 to December 03, 2014

Top 5 Genres*: Fiction, Humor, Western, Humor/Comedy, Novels
*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the
author)

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Most people think 15-year-old Charlie is a freak. But then seniors Patrick and his beautiful stepsister Sam take Charlie under their wings and introduce him to their eclectic, open-minded, hard-partying friends. It is from these older kids that Charlie learns to live and love.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the story of what it’s like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie’s letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives or to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and music—when all one requires to feel infinite is that perfect song on that perfect drive.

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

My Review:

Wow!



This was a sad and confusing tale of a young boy experiencing his first year in high school after the death of his friend. High school is already an intimidating place, but to face it alone is another story. I enjoyed the chances Charlie took, his experimental side, his loyalty, and his honesty (in his retelling of the stories). I loved how Patrick and Sam took him under their wing, albeit they may not have been the best of influences, they were good to him.

Charlie was an extremely sensitive guy and somewhat intuit. However, I felt that he cried an awful lot, but the fact that his friends didn't seem to mind made me a little envious of their unbridled acceptance of him.

My personal high school experience was completely different, and on another level, much more innocent. I couldn't imagine being faced with some of the situations Charlie, Sam, and Patrick had. In the end when they explained some of Charlie's "craziness" as being a victim of molestation from his beloved aunt, I was blown away and everything seemed to make sense all of a sudden. This was definitely a haunting tale of growing up, but I think it hit the nail on the head.



Favorite Quotes:

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”

“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.”

Read in January, 2014

Top 5 Genres*: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult/Coming Of Age
*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

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The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm.

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.

Filled with tender romance and terrific suspense, The Lucky One is Nicholas Sparks at his best—an unforgettable story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love.

Did You Know?---

Zeus was modeled after one of Nicholas’s dogs?

Nicholas had to do more research for this novel than any other?

The setting of the novel is fictitious?

This was the first novel Nicholas wrote in the limited third-person omniscient perspective?

My Review:

This was a great story. Both haunting and tender. Of course I was leery of Thibault but soon fell in love with his quiet, confident self. I also immediately came to dislike Clayton. I especially loved Nana. I thought the interactions within the characters had just the right amount of friction. Although the story ended in an exciting but heartbreaking way, I see no other possibility if it were to be a happy ending. I especially liked that the author kept you guessing to the very end as to who survived.

This is not my normal genre, and this is my first Nicholas Sparks book (although I've seen a few of the movies) I was impressed and glad I took a chance - much like Elizabeth.

Read from January 06 to 21, 2014

Top 5 Genres*: Romance, Fiction, Women's Fiction/Chick Lit, Contemporary, Adult
*According to Goodreads
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My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews