Plank's Law

An insanely fast teen read, I had this bad boy knocked out in no time flat. I feel though for what it was trying to achieve, the book should have been a little longer. Trevor has Huntington's Disease and he knows it's only a matter of time before he kicks the bucket. Unsure of what to do about life he passes time watching sci-fi movies and not doing much of anything. Then one day as he contemplates jumping off a huge cliff he sees an old man telling him to just go on ahead and do it already. This launches their friendship and the old man introduces, Planks Law,  which is essentially "just live." Nothing fancy but Trevor takes it to heart and decides he wants to do something about all the items on his bucket list, most importantly, find a girlfriend. He eventually works up the courage to talk to the pretty smiling girl they see at the hospital and eventually they try to check different items on Trevor's list. I felt that the book was a little rushed, things happened too fast and it's hard to care about some of the characters who don't get a lot of time on the page. This is a good book for teens who like "The Fault in our Stars" and other " sick lit."

The End of Your Life Book Club

A moving memoir about a two person book club that is formed when a son's mother is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. To pass the time during chemo they form a bond reading literary novels both modern and classic, the novels help open up discussion about his mom's childhood, spirituality, world issues, and more. Inspiring and sure to give readers a longer reading list, this book will remind you to have those talks with loved ones, treat others with respect, and make the world a better place. Told from the son's perspective, he is candid and honest about his relationship with his mother, his fears, and overprotectiveness. His mother was a very awe inspiring person who led a rich life helping those less fortunate than herself and her son does a great job keeping her memory alive with this memoir.

The Fault in Our Stars

So I've already read "The Fault in our Stars" and written a review for it (in 2013) but in light of the movie coming out and it being our chosen read for book club I just HAD to reread it. And let me tell you what. It was just as good the second time around! I still ugly cried all over it. Augustus is amazing. Hazel is amazing. Their romance is amazing. Their banter is amazing. Everything about this damned book is amazing. I could quote it all day long. It's beautifully written. It really truly is. If you haven't read it yet, what in the hell are you waiting for?!? Go get a copy now! But be warned if you go to the library to get it, you're going to have a bit of a wait. My library system has nearly 30 copies and there is still a waiting list of about 60 people. Just goes to show you what good advertising movie adaptations are for books. Seeing the movie tonight with my Reading Between the Wines Book Club. Can't freaking wait!

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

This was a touching story about an old man who lost it all (although he never really had it to begin with) and got it all back by opening up and actually living his life. Harold and his wife Maureen have been unhappily married for many years; they hardly speak, sleep in separate bedrooms, and do their best to stay out of each others way. That all changes one morning when Harold receives a letter from Queenie, an old friend. He hasn't spoken to hear in nearly 20 years and is dumbstruck to discover that she has inoperable cancer. Desperate to right his wrongs he writes a letter to Queenie but soon realizes it's not enough. On his way to mail the letter, he decides to keep walking. He will walk over 500 miles to save Queenie and do something with his life. Armed with nothing but his wallet and yachting shoes he sets off across England in this funny and moving novel about life un-lived, forgiveness, and redemption.

The Fault in our Stars

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I totally would. Holy hell it was fabulous. So amazing in fact that I almost became enraged at my grandmother for interupting my reading so I could get her some much needed groceries. I did not want to put it down, I read it in 1 day. Spoiler alert, this book will make you have emotions. You will care for these characters more than any others you've read in a long long time. And you will cry, if you don't it's possible you have no soul. I sobbed/bawled my way through the last 50 pages. My eyes were on fire (thanks mascara), my hair was soggy, and I'm pretty sure I was the epitome of beauty (not!). This book made me FEEL and I haven't had a book do that in a while. I literally cannot stop thinking about this book, it's just too good.

I will attempt to decribe this book without giving too much away or making it sound depressing. The story follows Hazel, a sixteen year old girl with terminal cancer. Her best friends are her parents and she hasrelaxed into a routine that involves not doing much of anything. Her parents desperate to get her out of the house make her go to a cancer support group for kids and it is there that she meets Augustus. Augustus is in remission but his battle made him lose a leg. He doesn't dwell on it though, he uses his charm (and good looks) to befriend Hazel. In no time at all they're inseperable, they read the same books, help their friend Isaac get through the loss of his eyesight, and try to make the best out of being sick. I think I enjoyed this book so much because it isn't about the poor sick little cancer kid that needs to be pitied, this is the other side if the story, this is what it is really like for these kids living with cancer. They don't need to be pitied, they need to be understood.

Again, this is a must read. It is without a doubt added to my list of all time favorites and I cannot wait to read his other works. Side note, for all you Hoosiers or Vonnegut lovers, there is a Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. reference in here. So it goes :)