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Friday, December 27, 2013

Book Review: Me Before You

If you have a lot of friends who are avid readers, or you frequent any book recommendation sites like I do, then you have heard of this book. From the first time I read the description, I knew I had to read it. It only took one personal recommendation from a friend for me to buy this book, and I’m very glad that I did. Warning: Do not go into this book thinking that it will be all fun and games, because this book is extremely emotional. But the lessons you will take out of it will absolutely be worth the heartache.

The story follows Louisa Clark, a small town woman living in England who has just been fired from her cozy job working at a café. She still lives at home with her parents, who are struggling to support themselves. Out of desperation and necessity, she takes a job as a caretaker for a quadriplegic man with an overbearing mother and a negative outlook on life. Without giving too much away, I will say that the rest of the book explores the relationship between Lou and Will, two people who grew up in the same town but led completely different lives.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from everyone at the Lone Book Club! We hope that it is filled with love and joy!

There will be no blog post today so that we can all spend time with our friends and families. Don't worry, there will be a review post coming this Friday!

Hope none of you got too much coal this year!


Friday, December 20, 2013

Book Review: The Promise of Stardust

The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley came as a bit of a surprise. Advertised as the Kindle Daily Deal, the title seemed interesting so I downloaded the sample, which I flew through in about ten minutes. Desperate for more, I purchased the book (the Daily Deal really is quite a deal), finished the book I was currently reading (which was akin to torture), and then proceeded to read Stardust in about two days.

It was amazing. I laughed, I cried, I...mostly cried. This is a powerful book, not for the faint of heart, because it grabs a hold of yours and doesn't let go.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Traveling Book Project

We at the Lone Book Club had lunch one day with the goal to come up with new and exciting ways to spread interest in our blog and, more importantly, interest in reading. A few margaritas, side topics, and fits of laughter later, we came up with something. Something good.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Book Review: Degrees of Wrong

2013 has been a year of trying new things for me, so it stands to reason that I close out the year on the same note. Thus I decided to give the romance genre a try; sci-fi romance, more specifically!  Just looking at the cover of Degrees of Wrong by Anna Scarlett had me intrigued and ready to dive in.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Literary Charities

Christmas is mere weeks away! If haven't already grabbed sweet gifts for your friends and family, we highly suggest these books. And perhaps send that list over to someone buying you a present this year, so you can get some excellent reads for the holiday too. 

But let's not forget the true spirit of Christmas; giving. This week, we at the Lone Book Club have put together a list of five literary themed charities for you to consider this season of giving. There are many less fortunate out there who deserve to have the joy of reading under their tree, stuffed in a stocking, or however it may come.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Book Review: Eleanor & Park

Having already posted a review of one of Rainbow Rowell's other works, Fan Girl, you can tell we are big fans of hers. But another of her books, Eleanor & Park, legitimately caught me off guard. I was not expecting to fly through it, nor feel all of the things I did while reading. 

Eleanor & Park is one of those books that becomes a part of you.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Top Books For Holiday Gifts

There is always pressure to get your loved ones a good gift for the Christmas and holiday season. And a book can be just the perfect thing. Giving a book is very personal, especially if you've read the book you're gifting. It says, I enjoyed this, and I want you to share in those feelings, and it also says that I was really thinking hard about what you would like.

So we at the Lone Book Club have come up with our top book suggestions to wrap up this holiday season, and we've broken it down by each family member to make it even easier to shop!

Friday, November 29, 2013

Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of The Universe

It is a huge coincidence that the book I am reviewing today shares a lot of the same attributes as the book I reviewed last month. This particular subject matter, that I will delve into later, is not particularly the type of story that I gravitate towards. That being said, I’m glad I happened upon this book right after This Is How You Lose Her, because they complement each other well. The protagonists in both stories are Mexican American adolescents who are navigating the tumultuous path the manhood, but Aristotle chooses a very different path than Yunior.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe tells the story of two teenage Mexican-American boys who grew up in the same neighborhood.




Wednesday, November 27, 2013

DIY Book Crafts for Christmas

The Holiday Season is upon us! Thanksgiving is tomorrow (AH! I've been cooking for days!) and Christmas is right around the corner. For all of you DIY fans, this means crafting, lots and lots of crafting. I am one of these people, and this holiday, I wanted to make my crafts a little more unique. So I immediately took to Pinterest and researched Christmas crafts that incorporate one of my favorite things: books.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Book Review: Life After Life

I stumbled upon Life After Life by Kate Atkinson at the top of the Kindle Best Books of the Month list. With an interesting and unique premise and raving reviews, I had to go for it.

And I'm glad I did, but I'm also on the lookout for anyone else who did too. Life After Life is a book that must be discussed for, it is is a book that will affect everyone a different way.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

5 Ways to Find Your Next Book

It's a recurring problem faced by many a book worm; you have just finished a great, spectacular, Earth shattering book, you don't know what to do with your life and one desperate question comes bubbling up to the surface, "What do I read now?!" 

Fear not, book lovers! For I will guide you on your way to the next excellent literary escape that will leave you sniffling and saying, "I'm not crying, I just have allergies!" to your co-workers.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Book Review: The Bridge of San Luis Rey

I was given this book by an old friend, who is very much in the habit of giving me books, especially if it might give her an excuse to trap me in an annoyingly philosophical conversation about the nature of the human condition—a subject that has surely been tired by the likes of us since our colleges days. So on the occasion that I happen to have the time to sit down and read all the books my dear friend has actually given me, I’m afraid I’ll be lost for years in a contradictory state of spiritual confusion.

But upon receiving The Bridge of San Luis Rey, I had no idea that it was written in the 1920s or that it’s considered a “perennial fiction classic,” (whatever that means), or even that it was adapted into a Robert Dinero movie in 2004 that nobody saw. I read the book because it’s short and I just so happen to have an ardent fondness for bridges. And who doesn’t? They’re quite lovely.





Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Tricking My Way Through NaNoWriMo


Welp, it’s week two of November, which for me means it’s week two of National Novel Writing Month. This time of year, you may see or hear “NaNoWriMo” thrown about pretty frequently. Established in 1999 by a group of writers who for some reason thought there was no better way to spend November than by abandoning sleep and social interaction for copious amounts of coffee and cramped fingers, NaNoWriMo has since become an international sensation. As I type this, this year’s participants total nearly 300,000 worldwide.

The rules are simple: write one 50,000-word novel in 30 days.

50,000 words in a month amounts to about 1,667 words a day, and hitting that word count every single day is hard. I’ve found the best way to get my butt in the seat and my mind on the blank page is by tricking myself into it. Here are my four best tricks:

Friday, November 8, 2013

Book Review: Fangirl

My first book review! Well, here’s hoping we all survive this experience.

I’ll admit, I shied away from reading this book when it first came out because I had a feeling it would hit too close to home. I eyed the cover art (by Noelle Stevenson) with suspicion, yet curiosity. Truth be told, I come from the old school fangirl tradition, one of mailing lists, IRC, AOL chatrooms, web crawlers, and after-school Internet fixes limited by the whims of *gasp* dial-up. But I know the new-school ways well enough. Would I be able to bear a novel-length portrayal of a lifestyle with which I was so intimate?




Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Movie Review: Ender's Game

If you read my review of the Ender's Game Saga, you probably got the impression that I loved the books. And I do, so when I sat down in the theater this weekend to see the adaptation of the first book in the series, I was very nervous. Ender's Game is a complex story filled with science fiction and raw human emotions. I enjoyed reading it so much, I didn't want the movie to ruin it.  My verdict: it was surprisingly better than I thought but not as good as I had hoped.

And before you continue, know that there will be spoilers, and you should probably only read the post if you've read the book and/or seen the movie.


Friday, November 1, 2013

Book Review: This Is How You Lose Her

I should start off by saying that I went into this book with the hopes that I would come out an emotional wreck. A book hadn't moved me in a while and I really wanted this to be the one that did. But if you, like me, are picking up this book to indulge yourself in some romance, you may want to reconsider. This book is definitely not what it seems from the title, or the summary provided in the front cover. That being said, I was PLEASANTLY surprised with what it actually is; an inside look into the mind of an honest, flawed, emotional and passionate man.

The book centers around Yunior, a young Dominican boy who grows up in a (mostly) single parent household, in a neighborhood where he doesn't really fit in, with a brother who he doesn't understand. The collection of short stories take us from Yunior's childhood until he reaches his late 20s. The format of the book contributes to the overwhelming feeling that the book is being narrated directly to you by a friend who has possibly had a little too much to drink. The stories are so painfully honest that sometimes it is difficult to comprehend why someone would ever reveal such details to another person. They are emotionally raw and told with such intricate detail that it is clear from the beginning how important these specific memories are to Yunior. We start the book wondering why Yunior would cheat on his girlfriend, whom he seems to love deeply. We spend the rest of the book building an explanation from shattered fragments of a man's life.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Meet Our Contributors

So a few weeks ago, Lone Book Club had a big announcement. No longer will it be one voice but four. Now it is time for you to get to know each of us in preparation for the new reviews!

We are all very excited and can't wait to bring even more book reviews to you all.

Get ready for our new contributors to start posting this Friday! 

Meet The Contributors


Alexandra Peters - Founder, Contributor
Alex grew up right outside of New Orleans, LA, and went on to study film at the College of Motion Picture Arts at Florida State University. An avid reader and house cat enthusiast, Alex now lives in Los Angeles, California with her boyfriend, Chris, who supports her reading habits and makes her hot chocolate upon request.



Kaley Lankenau - Contributor
Kaley grew up and went to school in Florida, but has recently made the move to Los Angeles. She is grateful for the relationships that she has maintained with her favorite books, because they can always make her feel at home, no matter where she reads them. A chai tea latte, a comfy sweatshirt and a film score are her ideal companions for an afternoon tucked away with a book. She wants a bunny. 


Julia Zerr - Contributor
After working her way up to become one of the most esteemed and feared business tycoons of the Ice Museum Industry in Fairbanks, Alaska, Julia decided that her days of whale watching and evading authorities (she knows what she did) were more than enough adventure for any one lifetime, so she settled down somewhere in the Chesapeake region to devote the remainder of her life to philosophy and the arts. Among her many accomplishments, Julia has managed to perfect the I-don't-give-a-f**k stare, which she largely reserves for people lacking an appreciation for adorable animals.
 



Mish - Contributor
Mish reads books. Sometimes she actually finishes them. Sometimes she gives them away before she can. The only other interesting thing about Mish is that she once mistook a peach for a plum and found herself spending an entire evening contemplating the difference between Belief and Truth, which isn't that interesting at all. One would be wise not to start a philosophical conversation with her.
 


Monday, October 28, 2013

Allegiant: YA's Biggest Controversy

Last week I read and posted a review of Veronica Roth's Allegiant, the final book in the Divergent trilogy. I talked about a major spoiler in the book, but I didn't discuss the biggest spoiler of them all: the ending. Even though I debated doing it, I decided to leave some mystery and surprise for everyone who hadn't read it yet. 

But after seeing the internet's response to Roth's unexpected ending, as well as receiving a rather nasty comment from someone who I can only assume is a grieving fan, I decided to revisit the review and talk about how I felt about that big, gigantic, shocking ending that has taken YA by storm.

This will be a complete and total SPOILER post. Don't continue if you don't want to know.



Friday, October 25, 2013

Book Review: Allegiant

As some of you know, a little while ago I reviewed Divergent and Insurgent the first two books in Veronica Roth's trilogy. And as some of you also know, I didn't like them very much. But because I'm neurotic and have to finish what I started or whatever, I preordered the third and final book in the series, Allegiant. It was oh-so-conveniently delivered to my kindle this past Tuesday morning, and I set out to finish the journey Roth had started.

Now, this book has a lot of the same problems as the first, but I am pleased to say that it is by far the best out of the three, and I was pleasantly surprised.


Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The Book Release Party

I've never done it. But apparently book release parties are a big deal.

I guess I kind of understand. I have stood in many a line at the local mall waiting for the clock to strike midnight so some underpaid teenager with an attitude problem can give me my pre-ordered Harry Potter book. It was glorious. 
So I get the hyper-excitement behind a new book release. But what I don't get is having a party for it.

If I get a new book that I'm super excited about, I don't want to see people for the next 24 hours, because I will be busy devouring it. I really don't want to be interrupted by guests and finger foods. 
But maybe I'm getting it all wrong. Do you have the party before the book release, and then troop down to the book store, get the book, and then party's over? Or do you all get the book, and the party is everyone sitting around silently reading the book with the occasional exclamation of, "OMG page 165! Steamy!"

And just to be clear, I'm not talking about an official book launch party where you go and get the book and hear the author read excerpts and you have fancy cocktails, etc. I'm talking home-thrown, themed, most-likely costumes mandatory party. That's what I want to get to the bottom of.

So, I think, basically, what this post is, is me asking someone to invite me to their book release party. Teach me your ways. I'm sure I'd have a great time!

Have you ever thrown or attended a book release party? Tell us all about it!

Friday, October 18, 2013

Book Review: The Woodcutter

Set in the land of fairy tales, The Woodcutter by Kate Danley, is a different type of fantasy. It's dark and ominous, filled with almost every fairy tale character you can think of.

When I started it, I honestly didn't think that I was going to like it very much. But slowly, The Woodcutter pulled me into the Wood and on an adventure.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Big News for the Lone Book Club

Starting November 1st there will be a big change coming to the Lone Book Club. I will no longer be the only reviewer and am happy to announce that three new book lovers will be added to the ranks!

Don't worry, there will still be a great review every Friday. But now the author will rotate every week in order to bring a more diverse book selection and point-of-view to all of you. These three lovely ladies are fellow book enthusiasts and are really looking forward to reading and writing about some great books!

We will soon reveal our three new Lone Book Clubbers, so keep a look out for changes to the About page to get to know them all.

Keep reading!!


Friday, October 11, 2013

Book Review: Beautiful Ruins

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, is a beautiful book. With the story taking place within the world of Hollywood movie-making, the book almost feels like an old classic film. And for anyone who loves movies, the story will remind you exactly what about them made you fall in love.

But I was a little disappointed that this beautiful feeling didn't last throughout the whole book.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

How to Read Every Book on Your List

So many books, so little time. We've all thought it, and it's 100% true. There just isn't enough time in the day, month, year to read everything that we want. Without a conscious effort, many of us wouldn't find time to read at all.

These are some techniques that I use to make sure I can fit enough reading into my day in order to keep me sane as well as continue to bring reviews to all of you.
  • I turn off the TV. I could watch six episodes of Breaking Bad in a row, or I could watch one...well ok three... and then turn the TV off. If I have time in my day to watch a show, I could easily spend it reading instead.
  • I read before bed. This can lead to waking up with a book or kindle on my face, but it's a great time to get some pages in. I'm relaxed, comfortable, and my mind is slowly shutting down for the day. I find that I can be more focused on a book at the end of the day.
  • I will have designated reading time. This one is definitely harder to do, but it works. If I need to get some reading done, I will schedule a time to do it. I picked this one up from my mom who would make my brother and I have reading time each day so our brains wouldn't turn to mush during the summer.
  • I bring my book/kindle everywhere. I think this enables me to get more reading done than any of my other techniques. If I'm in a waiting room, if I'm waiting for a friend at lunch, if I'm getting coffee, if I have down time at work (use caution with this one), I will always have my book to read. I highly suggest an e-reader for this so your shoulders aren't hurting from carrying around books in your bag, but that's just a suggestion.
So those are my major ways of getting as much reading done as possible. What do you do to keep up with your book list?
My reading buddy also helps me get pages in.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Book Review: The Ghost Bride

When I first saw the cover of The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo, while stunning, it looked like it could have been another run-of-the mill romance. It looked like it could have been set in a foreign culture written and represented badly. It looked like it could have been bad. But it wasn't.

The Ghost Bride is none of these things. The story is as stunning as the cover. It is a haunting, beautiful tale of life, love, and death. It journeys through this foreign culture and world seamlessly. It is wonderful.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Reading it Again

Great books stay with you. They linger on in your thoughts and can influence the way you see the world. But sometimes letting a book linger isn't the ultimate show of admiration. It is the re-read that truly says, "Yes, book, I love you."

And man do I love a lot of books, and I love, love, love re-reading them. I feel like I get something new out of it every time. I have re-read several of my favorites several times, and I'll even re-read books that I wasn't a huge fan of, just to give it another shot when I'm at a different point in my life.

Now, I'm kind of an extreme example of a re-reader. So extreme that I have, in fact, read the Harry Potter series at least 10 times. In my defense, I had to re-read them all before each book came out, and of course I had to read them all again before each movie! So it just became a habit of reading them every year. I've already done my re-read for this year, but I'm already getting the itch again. I can almost see my boyfriend's eye-roll as I type this.

But I know I'm not alone. My mom used to re-read The Lord of the Rings every year, until us kids came along and took up a lot of her time. Sorry, Mom. And my dad loves him some Tom Clancy (RIP). I think I've heard a few of his audio books at least three times over the years of our family road trips.

So that's me and my book worm family. What about you? Do you have favorites that you read every year? Or are you more a fan of retiring a book to the shelf once you've finished it?

Friday, September 27, 2013

Book Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

This book is simply beautiful.

Written by best selling author, Neil Gaiman,  The Ocean at the End of the Lane, is an adult fairy tale that is thoughtful, beautiful, terrifying, and nostalgic all at the same time.


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Interview with an Author: Valerie Wicks, Part 2

Last week, I published the first part of my interview with first time author, Valerie Wicks. Valerie is the author of the middle-grade/Y.A. series Seven Spectral. The first book in the series has been released and the second is due out this fall. 

With seven books in total, this is an ambitious book series. But what makes it even more ambitious is that Valerie has been self-publishing. It is a very involved process that requires dedication and research, and I was able to get an insider look into just how much it takes.
Valerie Wicks signing copies of Into the Red World

Friday, September 20, 2013

Book Review: The Cuckoo's Calling

J.K. Rowling thought she could get away with secretly publishing her latest book under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. But we caught her! As soon as it was revealed that Rowling had published a new book, the sales of The Cuckoo's Calling went through the roof, and you should definitely add to that profit margin. Not to mention the new announcement that Rowling will be drafting a script based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them! You've got to get back in full J.K. mode.

I did have mixed feelings about her first departure from Harry Potter, The Casual Vacancy. But I was left with no mixed feeling about this one. I loved it, no questions asked.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Interview with an Author: Valerie Wicks, Part 1

The Seven Spectral Series is a seven-part middle-grade/Y.A. series that takes place in a very interesting universe. There are seven worlds, each one completely toned one color of the rainbow.

The first and only published installment of the series, Into The Red World, is a promising start to what will be a long literary journey. The next book The Orange World Outlaw is due to be released in the fall of this year.

After I read the first book and learned that the author, Valeria Wicks, had six more to come, I knew it would be a great opportunity to do an interview and get a behind the scenes look at this ambitious series from a first time author.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Book Review: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

Yes, that's really the title. And the book is as unique as its title. But in a really good way.

Written by Swedish author Jonas Jonasson, the book is literally about a centenarian, Allan, who climbs out of his window at the nursing home (because he dislikes the head nurse and could really use a drink) and disappears on an adventure. This unbelievable adventure includes stealing a suitcase full of cash, a disorganized crime organization, an elephant, misprinted bibles, and plenty of alcohol.

But it is also about his one-hundred years of life leading up to this new adventure. And the reader is in for quite a surprise as to what Allan has been up to for the past 100 years.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Adaptations: The Book vs. The Movie

The latest trend in Hollywood seems to be leaning towards making anything but original content. There are sequels. There are movies based on plays, based on video games, based on other movies! But the most popular things to base movies on are books.

This is great for the kids in high school who have refused to do their summer reading, because there's probably a movie based on whatever book they've skipped. But is it great for all of the book fans of the world? It's fun to see your favorite characters come to life, but it can be heartbreaking when it's done poorly.

I work in the entertainment industry, and I know that movies can't be the same as the books. There are certain things that work in a book that just will not work on screen. I get it. And yet I still get disappointed if my favorite scene is taken out or something is just completely wrong. But what really disappoints me is when the adaptation misses the whole point of the book.
The Lovely Bones, for example, is a great book that is about how everyone deals with death differently, including the deceased. I felt like the movie adaptation missed that. It was a thriller, a mystery who-done-it, which does make for a better movie, but everything I loved about the book seemed to be muted in the background.
And let's not even talk about Life of Pie! I LOVED the book, and really did not like the movie. It was so bland compared to the book. The book inspired so much awe, I got goosebumps while reading. The movie was just me thinking how fake Richard Parker looked.

But there are some movies that, I think, actually enhance the book. The Help is a great book and movie. The two compliment each other. And I don't have any problems with the changes made for the big screen, because the movie stuck to the heart of the book.
The Great Gatsby is another great example of this. I am not a huge fan of the book. The characters, especially Daisy, were spoiled and boring to me. But when I saw them in the theater, I understood them. They truly came to life for me. Now, if you don't like Baz Luhrmann's style, you probably won't like the movie. But I actually liked it more than the book.

So what do you think? Do you love adaptations? Hate them? Do you get really excited or really nervous when you find out one of your favorite books will make it over to the big screen?






Friday, September 6, 2013

Book Review: The Ender's Game Saga

I'm sure many of you have seen the movie trailers and posters for the upcoming holiday movie Ender's Game. Based on the best selling book by Orson Scott Card, this adaptation is most likely going to take the holiday box office by storm. 

If you're wondering whether you should try and squeeze in a quick read before the release, I'd say definitely. And don't stop there. Even people who have read Ender's Game don't realize that the book is just the beginning of an epic saga. But you better believe that I have (almost) read the entire thing and am going to try my hardest to convince you to as well.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

eReaders vs. Books

This will be a fight to the death, and I think we all know which one will inevitably come out on top. With iPads, Kindles, Nooks, and other reading tablets being so convenient, books in hard copy really don't stand a chance for much longer. And I think that's really sad.

I love the bookstore, the smell of books, and how cool and intelligent I seem with an overflowing bookshelf. I love being able to flip through pages and see and feel my progress. I love seeing the the spine get new creases as I keep reading. And don't even get me started on my love of bookmarks.

But I also love my Kindle.
I'm so guilty! I used to carry around books everywhere, and my shoulders would hurt from my purse being so heavy. Now, I can carry around as many books as I want with barely any weight. Plus being able to download samples, highlight and save quotes, and buy whatever book whenever I want is oh so wonderful.

However, I don't think I will ever buy a Kindle version of a book I already own, and I will still go to the bookstore and buy a book in hard copy if I want to.

I don't want books to die! But I'm afraid they will soon.

What do you guys think? Do you have a preference between e-readers and books? Do you have both? Would you be upset if books as we know them were no more?




Friday, August 30, 2013

Book Reviews: Divergent and Insurgent

If you watched the VMAs this past weekend, you may have noticed a Miley Cyrus slut train wreck. But you also might have caught the premiere of the trailer for what could be the new Young Adult movie hit, Divergent. And if you didn't know, this movie is based on the first installment of Veronica Roth's Divergent book trilogy.

Divergent and Insurgent are the first two books in this trilogy. The third in the series, Allegiant, is due to be released in October of this year and is available for pre-order now.

So if you're wondering whether to jump on the newest Y.A. bandwagon, I'd pass. And if you haven't already read the first and second installments, I wouldn't start now. Although the books are occasionally insightful, they don't offer enough originality to make them worth reading. So why is it on the verge of being the next tween sensation?




Friday, August 23, 2013

Book Review: Ready Player One

I read this book in one day. If I could have, it would have been one continuous sitting, but I have to work along with other responsible adult things, so I did have to take breaks. But I was still able to finish it in under 24 hours.

From the very first page you are hooked. The author, Ernest Cline, just does a spectacular job of reaching out and grabbing your attention. 

If you like video games, you're going to love this book. If you don't like video games, you're going to love this book.



New Forum Feature

We have added a new and wonderful Forum Feature to The Lone Book Club!

Now you can start a discussion about the books you're reading too! Right now there are three main forums: one to discuss the books we've reviewed, one for sending us book suggestions, and one for discussions on books you've read.

It's now a real virtual book club where you can have active discussions about whatever books you want!

Check it out here: LBC FORUM

Keep Reading!!!!


Bonus Cat!



Friday, August 16, 2013

Book Review: The Caual Vacancy

Well...... it's not Harry Potter.

And I didn't expect it to be. But I felt like from the very first page author J.K. Rowling was shouting it from the top of her lungs along with, "I CAN WRITE ADULT BOOKS TOO!" But for her first go round... eh.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Book Review: The Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy - Oh yeah, We're going there

You typically get two types of reactions when Fifty Shades is brought up: 1. The eye-roll and scoff or 2. The swoon. After reading all three books, my reaction lands somewhere in the middle, but I lean closer towards the eye-roll.

In this post, I'm going to discuss what I believe makes these books worthy of both reactions. And please note before continuing, this post will have adult content and language (duh) as well as spoilers. If you haven't read the books by now, you probably aren't going to and you've probably heard all about them anyway.


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The Lone Book Club

I read. A lot.
We're talking at least four books a month a lot. And that's when I'm busy. I can get antsy when I'm doing something else and there's a great book I'm in the middle of. My mind will wander back to the characters I'm getting to know, the new worlds I'm exploring. If I have two minutes to spare between tasks, I will take the opportunity to get a least one more page in. 

Like I said, I read a lot.

And because I read so much, I have a lot of opinions about the books I read, which I am dying to share and discuss with others.  But herein lies the problem. I really don't have anyone to talk to. 

Now, I have lots of friends and co-workers, and even a boyfriend, but very few of them read as much as I do and even fewer have the time or neurosis to read as quickly. (I held the Red Wedding in for a long time.) And I also tend to get a little obsessive and perhaps a bit over the top, therefore deterring any friend, relative, or the occasional perturbed party goer to sit down and talk about the latest J.K. Rowling book. So since I cannot talk to many of the people around me, I have decided to talk to the world of lone readers like me instead.

I have decided to throw my thoughts into the internet to see if anyone else throws any back. In this blog I will review the books I read. There will be no theme, no order, no reason. I will read whatever I want whether it is recommended by a friend or I choose it on a whimsy, and then I will write about it.  And maybe someone will read it

So this is a blog for me, and for all of you who read rather than doing those other things you could push until tomorrow, for all of you who have that terrible "what now?!" feeling after finishing a great book, and for all of you who may or may not own a sweater that proudly states, "All I need is a book and my cat." 

The Lone Book Club is for all of you.