The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

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The Choice is one of the, if not THE most amazing book I’ve ever read. I am so in love with it, it’s not even funny!

At first I was like “there is no way that this tiny book is going to be a good read, it’s probably one of Nicholas Sparks crappy books.” I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing! Anything Nicholas writes is GOLD!

Honestly, Travis is the most amazing fictional man in the world. Better than Noah (from the Notebook), better than Brendan (from Sam’s Letters to Jennifer), better than any guy you can think of! Even better than Edward Cullen! (GASP!) Yeah I said it! And I mean it. Travis is amazing. That’s the blueprint for the man I want to someday marry.

The first part of the book had me laughing out loud most of the time. It was so fun to read. I seriously had a smile the entire time I was reading the first part of the book. Travis and his sister cracked me up. And the whirlwind romance between Travis and his neighbor kept me glued the entire time.

The second part of the book had me at the edge of my seat. I mean, literally, at the edge of my seat. With Nicholas Sparks you never know if you are going to get a happy or a sad ending so I was dying to get to the end of the book. I’ve never wanted to know what happens to anyone so much in my life.

I loved everyone in this book. With the exception for Gabby’s parents, but they really didn’t play a role so they’re just “misc info.” I think this is the second time in the history of books I’ve read, that I don’t have to hate any characters. I love that!

I cried, and I would have cried a lot more if I didn’t have to go out and get things done. I give this book a 20 out of 10. That’s how much I love it. It’s so short too; there is not reason to not read it.

-Mimi

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The Choice is another reason why I think Nicholas Sparks is one of the best authors of my generation. This book is another amazing one! It is pretty short yet you fall in love which these characters again and again.

Sparks does a great job with having you keep guessing what is going to happen in the end of the book, and the end was a perfect one I thought.

The book is about Travis and Gabby, who are neighbors, and end up falling in love but something HUGE happens to bring them apart.

Travis is possibly one of the most perfect male characters I have ever read about (other than Edward of course.) He is smart, good looking, sweet, and loves Gabby with all his heart. But like the name of the book, Travis is faced with a huge choice that would change their lives forever. I won’t tell you what the choice was, but I will say that I don’t know If I would have been able to do the same thing!

So if you have a few days to kill, pick up the book and give it a read! If you end up reading it, let us know what you thought!

-Christina

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The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

I read this book about 6 years ago, but it was so awesome that I still remember the story well. I was lucky enough to get this book on the clearance rack and just picked it up and as soon as I started reading, I was hooked.

When a nun is found dead, and her baby found at the bottom of a lake, detectives go on the most interesting search for the killer. You will NEVER guess who did it. It was truly shocking!

It was by far the most thrilling book I've ever read.

These types of books aren't usually my cup of tea, but I'm telling you, it was awesome. I would totally read another book by Tess again.

-Mimi

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Mimi had already read The Sinner and she said it was really good, so I decided to give it a try. I am sure glad I did!! I was on the edge of my seat the WHOLE time and I found myself playing detective trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This book reminds me of Law and Order SVU, which is why I think I enjoyed it so much.

All the twists and turns kept me thinking, and even up to the end I was in shock.

Mimi get's mad at me for always doing spoilers so I won't tell you what happens...if you figure out who the killer is...you DESERVE to be a detective or something because that crap was CRAZZZYYY.

My favorite Character was detective Rizzoli. She was such a hard ass and was such a strong character..she basically reminded me of Mimi. Throughout the book she was struggling not to fall in love- for fear of being hurt. I think she is like so many of us who are afraid to open up and let love in. I will tell you that her story has a great ending..which made me extremely happy.

The other main character, Maura was struggling with the same thing. Her ex husband wanted her back but she was scared to give him another chance. Her ending was... different...but I thought it fitting for how the story went.

The last thing I will say is that there is a priest in this story..that was described as extremely handsome..and very nice and sweet. I just wish the author, Tess Gerritsen would have made more of a love connection between him and Maura because they basically were extremely attracted to each other. And let's face it..any story with a hot ass priest can only get better when there is a sex scene with him involved. (Don't even act like you don't agree!!)

Something like that! LMAO!!

Ok.. I am done.. if you like books that keep you thinking and trying to figure out what will happen next.. you WILL LOVE IT!

-Christina

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

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I read Memoirs of a Geisha when I was in High School and I loved it then as much as I do now.

It is a great book because it is set in a different country, Japan, in a total different time period. So not only do you get to learn about other cultures while reading, you get an amazing story at the same time.

Sayuri, the main character, grew up very poor and was sold at a very young age. She grows up in a geisha house while her sister is sold to a brothel and is forced to be a prostitute.

One thing you learn from this book is what being a Geisha is all about. They are not prostitutes, (weeeeelll eh they are paid to have sex but I would NOT put them on the same level as prostitutes) but more like companions that are paid to go to events and to perform dances. (Not like a stripper dance, a traditional Japanese dance.

There are a few parts of the book that really made me upset.

*SPOILER SPOILER*

like how shitty Hatsumomo is to Sayuri. She is basically a selfish hating bitch and is threatened by Sayuri’s beauty and brains.

Another part that really pissed me off is how Sayuri is forced to sell her virginity and the highest bidder gets to have her. That must be so scary for her and confusing at the same time.

And that is where things start to get juicy. (no pun intended) A love triangle begins to form and Sayuri is in love with the one man she cannot have. Luckily, in the end, all turns out ok! :)

*SPOILER OVER*

The book is actually loosely about a former Geisha, Mineko Iwasaki, and since the book has been published, she has written an autobiography called “Geisha, a Life.” Supposedly this book shows a very different picture of geishas so I plan to read it soon!

I would recommend this book to any girl in high school or older. I give it a 10/10 because it is one of my favorite books of all time. The movie is amazing as well and they do a great job keeping to the book!

-Christina

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This is the first time I read a book after watching the movie. The worst part is that I watched the movie a day before I started reading it too. Bad idea!

The book was awesome. I love learning about other cultures and I like that I know what a Geisha is. A Geisha is thought to be a prostitute. That is not true. A real Geisha is an artist, she is taught from a young age to dance, play instruments, sing and how to move gracefully. Although her virginity is sold, it is not her choice, not even being a Geisha is a choice. They have a danna, which is the one and only person they are allowed to sleep with. The danna helps out the okiya where the Geisha lives and might give her gifts, but I do not believe this makes her a prostitute. If you believe that, by all means, you are very entitled to your opinion. But stop being ethnocentric for a second and see that not all cultures are like yours, nor is your culture the all-righteous one.

The book had a lot more than the book. Especially the end, something happens in the story that was not even hinted in the movie. You will dislike a lot of characters and be grossed out by others. The only characters you will like are Chiyo a.k.a Sayuri and Mameha, but even she will make you mad at times.

It is a beautiful story about a girl who refused to just let destiny and culture tell her what she can and can't have. Chiyo was a fighter her whole life. She's an admirable character.

It’s by far one of my favorite movies, but I think I ruined it for myself by watching the movie first because I really wasn’t hooked on the book. Maybe I’ll read it again later after the details of both the book and the movie are fuzzy. I really wished I would have read the book earlier.

I still recommend the book to everyone. It’s really a great story.

-Mimi

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Quotes of the Week

What are we but our stories? - Sam's Letters to Jennifer

If you're going to look back at something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now. - Sam's Letters to Jennifer

He who does nothing is the one who does nothing. - The Choice

If conversation is the lyrics, laughing is the music. - The Choice

A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. - Memoirs of a Geisha

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

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Firefly Lane is one of my all-time favorite books. It’s not a love story at all, it’s about friends, which was really great because a romantic relationship, although one of the most important in our lives, isn’t the only one.

The story starts out when Tully and Kate were just little girls, then it goes into the college years and then their forties. So you get to watch them grow as women, mother, career woman and so forth.

There are two characters that I really hate. One is Tully the other is Marah.

I understand that Tully had it tough growing up, but she was such a bad influence. And as good as Kate’s family was to her, the least she could do was be the best person in the world to Kate. I found Tully to be a self-centered, selfish bitch and I think Kate should have kicked her ass!

As for Marah, I just hate her! I won’t spoil it and tell you who she is, but I will tell you that her role should teach us all a lesson. We need to appreciate the people in our lives, and every single day we have with them is a blessing.

There is no doubt in my mind that Kate found love. At times you may doubt her husband’s love for her, but I know that he loved her very much.

I honestly LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. I have never cried as much as I did with this book. NEVER! I’ll admit, I can name a load of other books that made me cry like a wounded child, but this one really had me for a LONG TIME! If I wouldn’t have used my shirt, I think I could have gone through an entire box of tissues. NO LIE!

I would strongly recommend this book! It’s one of my top five favorite books of all time. I made Christina read it. I know she really didn’t want to, but she called me after she finished and told me she absolutely loved it. Seriously, It’s great! A MUST READ!

-Mimi

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When I first saw firefly lane I felt like I would never finish it. It is a pretty big book, and I thought for sure this book could not be as great as Mimi said it was. Like usual, she was right. What an AMAZING BOOK! First of all, I cried more than I usually do. These characters are so real you feel like they really exist.

The story is about two best friends, Tully and Kate and their lives growing up and into adulthood. It may sound like any other ordinary book, but I promise you that it’s not.

Like in real life, the characters go through so many ups and downs and you hurt when they hurt, laugh when they laugh, and cry when they cry.

There are a few characters you will love to hate. I hated Tully many times because of her selfishness but once you get to know her, you understand why she is the way she is. I also loved her many time as well. She had such a drive and such determination to get to where she wanted to be in life, she could do anything she set her mind too. I really enjoyed reading about a strong woman for once because I find so many authors make women weak. Her crazy ass was so obsessed with making it on TV that she reported LIVE during a robbery and she was even shot during it. But for her, the show must always go on!

And of course I can’t forget to mention the marriage of one of the characters. ( I won’t tell you who of course!) But she is so lucky for finding such a great and honest man. You will all fall in love with him by the end of the book.

I promise you will LOVE this book, especially if you have a best friend. It will remind you how lucky you are to have someone in your life that you can always go to when things get rough.

If you have read it, tell me what you thought!

-Christina

The Last Song Movie Review

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Very rarely do I like movies about books I read. Especially my favorite books, but this movie was amazing. It was way better than I expected! And Miley did a great job.

I honestly didn't think I was going to cry at all because I had cried enough reading the book and I thought no scene could surpass that, but there was a scene with Ronnie and her dad that just got the water works going. She made me feel Ronnie's pain all over again. I really like when an actor or actress can really make you feel what they are feeling.

There were a few things that they took out of the movie that I believe were important in the book, but it wasn't too bad. The end and the purpose of the story stayed intact and that's all the matters in the end.

I also have to say how much I LOVED Jonah. He was my favorite character in the book, and his character in the movie didn't disappoint! He was sooo funny and so cute! I love him! I was cracking up when he took breakfast out to Will and Ronnie. Hilarious! One of my favorite parts in the movie.

I loved Will too. Aside from the fact that Liam Hemsworth is a total HOTTTTTIE, Will was so nice, and so funny. I think my favorite part of the entire movie was when they were singing to Maroon 5 in the car. It was soooo funny!

I would totally recommend this movie to all my fellow ladies. Guys might be "too cool" to want to watch it. I saw it with my mom and my younger sister and they both loved it. So you see, there is not age range. I give it an 9 overall. Don't miss out! Go watch it!

-Mimi

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The last song was an amazing book, and it was also a great movie. Although some of the events happened differently between the two, it was still genuine and very enjoyable. I dragged my parents go with me, and they both liked it! My mom was even crying..and shuush..don't tell anyone but my dad did also!

It is hard not to fall for Will, played by Liam Hemsworth

just look at him! Seriously! Wow!

I also read a lot of reviews where people were saying Miley Cyrus did a bad job, I on the other hand think she did great. Her crying felt real, although some parts felt a little fake, for the most part I was impressed.

The person who impressed me the most was Jonah, Ronnies little brother. He was so funny in the movie and was so great at crying! If you see that movie and don't cry when you see him cry, well than you must be a heartless bitch! :)

Usually Mimi and I get mad when we watch movies that are also books, but I am here to report that I give it two thumbs up!

-Christina