Really Behind

Well, I've seriously neglected posting reviews and keeping my challenges updated here. I will try and be better for the rest of the year.
Here's my current list of books read this year:

http://amzn.com/l/R4JQZVM1Z42QL
http://amzn.com/l/R3TMIQNSIMR3WS

I am hoping to hit 50, at least.

The Stoning of Soraya M.: A True Story

This is the true story of Soraya, who was stoned to death in Iran for a "crime" she did not commit. Soraya's husband has become bored with her and needs a way to get rid of her, yet his greediness does not want to give up the dowry he received from her. After a close friend of Soraya's dies, she helps to take care of her family she left behind. Her husband uses this to claim that she has commited adultary. According to Islamic "law", if a woman is accused of adultary, it is she who must prove her innocence. Knowing that men have control of everything, Soraya knows she is doomed, even though she is innocent. Soraya is very close with her aunt, a very outspoken woman, despite the fact that men rule the land. The journalist was told the story through the eyes of the aunt.

The story was a quick read, barely being over 100 pages. Yet it was powerful enough to make me sad, angry, and greatful all at the same time. What happens to this young woman is heart wrenching. To die for something that you didn't do is one thing, but to die in the manner that she did and then be disrepected as a human being even after death is horrible. I'm so angry that these people have the nerve to use religion to back their horrendous crimes. To say that God wanted her to die by being stoned is dispicable. These men have the nerve to call themselves men of God while making up own laws that suit their wants. Reading this story made me greatful that I was born into the country that I was born into. Most of these women in smaller villages in these countries have no clue that how they are being treated is wrong and inhumane.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Set in the future, this book is about unwanted kids who are "unwound". Once a child hits a certain age, if they are an orphan, a troublemaker, or even for religious reasons, they can be sent to a harvest camp and be unwound. This means that they are harvested for their body parts....killed, to those who read the book, but the society believes that they are still living, just in many many pieces in different people. The story follows three different teens who are trying to escape from being unwound. One girl is a ward of the state and they are making room in the state home; another is born to religous parents who's religion has them sacrifice one of their children; and the last is a boy who has been labeled a trouble maker.

************

I love dystopian books and was glad that I was able to get into this one. I have tried to read a couple other YA dytopian books and couldn't manage to finish them. The book definitely raises ethical questions. Obviously with so many teens being unwound, there's no longer a wait on organ donor lists, so it's interesting to see what the different characters think of things like this.

Good start to 2010's reading.

First in a series challenge

I'm into several different series', but there are more on my wish list, so I thought I'd give this one a try. You can find it here:
http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/1st-in-series-challenge.html

Books Read / Name of Series

1. Shop Till You Drop by Elaine Viets
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. The Shunning (The Heritage of Lancaster County #1) by Beverly Lewis
4. The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
5. Killer Mousse (Della Cooks Mystery) by Melinda Wells
6. The Tea Rose: A Novel by Jennifer Donnelly
7. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

Thriller & Suspense Book Challenge

Got me another one to join in on! This one is to read 12 suspense/thriller books. It can be found here: http://www.bookchickcity.com/2009/05/thriller-suspense-challenge-2010_01.html

Books read:

1. Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon
2. The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton
3. Harvest by Tess Gerritsen
4. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
7. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
8. Intensity by Dean Koontz
9. Dark Prophecy: A Level 26 Thriller Featuring Steve Dark by Anthony E. Zuiker
10. Caught by Harlan Coben
11.
12.

Young Adult Book Challenge

Time to start some book challenges for 2010. This one is for a young adult challenge.

CHALLENGE:

Read 12 Young Adult novels in 2010.

Books read:

1. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
2. Witch & Wizard by James Patterson
3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
5. All Hallows' Eve: 13 Stories by Vivian Vande Velde
6. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
9.
10.
11.
12.

Where to find this challenge:

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-reading-challenge-2010-young-adult.html

Keeping Busy & Staying Cool

Not a whole lot going on here other than trying to stay busy and cool. It's been running a bit above 100 the last few days but last week was pushing 110 with the heat indexes running around 115-117. Now, I like the humidity because I breathe so much better and my skin isn't nearly as dry and there's no static electricity....but BOY does it make you sweat. LOL! We went and got a clothes line to save on the electric bill (boy was it high) and just taking a load down, I'll come in with a forehead covered in sweat. Any amount of time outside results in back sweat. Yum! LOL! But hey, this is way better than New Mexico, so I'm dealing.

The kids have their last swim lesson tomorrow. It's amazing at what they've learned in 6 short lessons. The money was definitely well spent. They've got to build up their stamina, though. Jacob gets tired pretty quick. But they're excited that they can go in the deeper water now. I need to take them to the pool on base where they've got a slide, but they charge here and I'm kinda like, eh. I don't really feel like paying just for a slide.

Chris is almost done with his school and then the real pain begins. Maybe if we're lucky he'll get a few days off after school is done, but I'm not counting on it. Speaking of school, I am enrolled for 2 of the last 6 classes that I need. I'll be taking Adolescent Psychology and Geography of Terrorism. Should be interesting. Darn books took a chunk out of the pocket book, though. I hate that about school. Is it really necessary to charge over $100 for a BOOK?

We've got some friends coming down for Chris' graduation, so we're looking forward to that. Should be a fun time. Other than that, nothing really going on. Going to be getting Sea World passes here soon, so I'm sure we'll try and hit the water park up quite a bit before the summer is over. There's about 6 weeks of summer vacation for the kids left....hope I survive. LOL!