The Strain

  It's Ephraim Goodweather's "perfect" weekend off work, and he's spending it the best way he possibly could; with his son, Zack.
  That is, until he gets a call from work. Apparently a plane has been found with all of its passengers....dead. Dr. Goodweather is stumped for the cause of death. There's no clues as to how this happened....and the fact that the corpses suddenly vanish doesn't make the case simpler.

  It was somewhat of a relief to read a book about vampires that don't sparkle. Hogan and del Toro have written an epic apocalypse book that is original but also familiar. I loved how it switched points of view, giving the readers a better understanding of what was going on (and of course wrenching our hearts so that we couldn't put the book down!).

The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, #1)

  Amy and Dan Cahill have the craziest, meanest family. Their parents died years ago, putting them into their Aunt Beatrice's care (who only took them in due to family obligation. Otherwise they'd be in foster care). The only Cahill who doesn't bully Amy and Dan is their grandmother Grace, and sadly, she's gone.
   But only in certain aspects. At Grace's funeral Amy and Dan, along with several other relatives, are told that their family has a secret--a dangerous secret that can only be found by finding and following 39 clues. Thus begins the most dangerous, life-changing journey of Amy and Dan's lives.

   While these books may be a little below my reading level, they are just as enjoyable as any of Rick Riordan's works. I loved the characteristics and uniqueness of the Cahill family, I loved the relationship between Amy and Dan, and I can definitely relate to Amy's love of libraries. The only thing I didn't like was the unresolved ending; it leaves you begging for more, that's for sure!

The Great Gatsby

 The Great Gatsby takes place in the 1920s, the Jazz Age, is narrated by Nick Carroway, and focuses on the rich and mysterious Jay Gatsby, who is also Carroway's neighbor. Gatsby has a romantic history with the lovely Daisy Buchanan, the cousin of Carroway. They'd met years before, and Daisy, married now, isn't even sure if Gatsby is alive. 

  Sound boring? I thought so, too. I'd heard the book was brilliant, but the synopsis never appealed to me. (Mainly because the first thing they start with is how the book is Fitzgerald's best novel. It seemed to me as if they were trying too hard to sell the book). So I saw the movie, thought it was excellant. I bought the soundtrack, loved it. That's when I gave the book a chance, and OH MY GOSH. I was right to do so. (I'm almost always right ;) )
   Fitzgerald's writing flows smoothly. It feels as if you're not even reading, you're just gliding your eyes over the words. He has a fantastic way of giving you a clear picture without using that many words. It's incredible, really. Definitely one of the best books I've ever read. 

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre follows reserved, serious, thoughtful Jane through her life; first at her mean aunt's home, then at her school, then as a teacher, and finally, as a governess at Thornfield, where she surprises herself by finding more than just a job there.

  The length and classic-ness of this book was daunting to me, which is why I hadn't read it sooner. The only real reason I read it now was because my English class assigned it. But I am glad I read it, because it wasn't half as scary as I'd expected, plus it doesn't take long to read at all. Jane Eyre has the flowery writing similar to the Jane Austen novels and the kind of story that stays with you, like Harry Potter. And while it's one of the saddest books I've ever read (Getting Near to Baby is the saddest) it's a great read.