I have decided to go back to the classics I never got around to reading.  A teacher highly recommended Cannery Row by Steinbeck so I went with it.
I don't know if it's because I grew up around fishermen, but I loved this book!      It was like reading about characters I knew and loved from long ago.  Steinbeck really captured a moment of Monterey, California history during the peak of the fishing industry with these quick-witted, entertaining, and endearing characters.  If you have to read a classic try Cannery Row!
                 

Any suggestions for my next classic?

    It doesn't happen often that I personally know and grew up with an author, but this is the case with Laura Daleo and her debut novel Immortal Kiss.  To be honest, I wasn't too excited to dive into this novel, another vampire book? But I was pleasantly surprised.  It's great!  The author has a completely different take on the myths of vampires and while there is a love story, there is also suspense, mystery and not to give too much away, but it all goes back to the Ancient Egyptians Gods.   I didn't see that coming! I think  Immortal Kiss is like a smash up of Twilight and Percy Jackson.  I can't wait for the sequel!

Paper Towns

by John Green (author of The Fault in our Stars)

Read the book before the movie comes out this summer-2015!

Spring Time = Book Time!

    I had the opportunity this Spring to hear Gene Luen Yang speak, author of American Born Chinese, which of course inspired me to read his book.  Now, I am not a fan of graphic novel/manga type books.  In fact, this was the first of this kind of book I have ever read, and to be honest I am still not a fan.  I enjoyed hearing Yang speak (he is an excellent public speaker!  If you ever get the chance, do it!) and hearing his explanation of the book.  However, I still found the various plots confusing and odd.  I don't know, maybe it's just me...?

Me and my new friend Gene after he signed a book just for me!

   I did read quite a few books this Spring that I highly recommend ( for the more advanced reader...)  If you read and enjoyed Gone Girl, then I would suggest you read The Good Girl by Mary Kubica.  This is about a wealthy girl who gets kidnapped, but there's a twist!  It's told from the different perspectives of the various character, which I always love in a book.  It is a thrilling read!  

And I know this book has  been out for awhile, but I finally read the Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.  No, it is not just a clever title, it is really about a time traveler and his journey meeting and maintaining his relationship with the love of his wife.  It is exciting, interesting, surprising, and endearing.  Again, it is one of those novels that are told from the different perspectives of the two main characters and it was made into a movie quite a few years ago.

   On a much lighter note, I read Hold Me Closer by David Levithan which is a companion novel to Will Grayson, Will Grayson (co-authored with John Green).  Make sure you read Will Grayson first otherwise, Tiny's musical will not make much sense.  I thought it was entertaining and worth the quick read!