Book Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I am a long time lover of the book series called The Last Apprentice. The Graveyard Book found its way to me when it was recommended by a co-worker, because of my love for the formentioned series.

I liked this book. At the very beginning of the book, we have the young toddler, Nobody (Bod) Owens immediately partaking in adventure. You always can tell that a book will be good when it starts out with adventure.

Possibly the best part about this book is that we have ghosts, goblins, and so much more. We also move through his various relationships/friendships. I often wondered why the ghosts of Mr. and Mrs. Owens (Bod's parents) were not mentioned more often or why Bod's relationship with them didn't seem very strong. Then there is Silas, Bod's Guardian. Silas is good character; he's a little stand-offish but that is to be expected of someone dead and alive. There is also Scarlett, Bod's only human/living friend. (She is my second favorite character in the book.) She doesn't make too many appears, but she shares a "special" connection that only two humans, a boy and a girl can only share. When Bod loses his only living friend towards the end, we almost feel the need to cry for him. Lastly, we cannot forget about Bod's friend, Liza, the graveyard witch burried on "unholy" ground. (She is my most favorite character in the book. She is always there for Bod in all time of need; if he is locked in a closet or having trouble learning to fade. The audience also does not necessarily pity Liza but feels horrible that she cares and wants to be with Bod, but cannot due to her ghostly state.

Like most books we also have our evil villian: the Man Jack of the Jacks of All Trades. He is the perfect villian for the audience. He is not too evil but not evil enough to make one have nightmares about him.

The one thing that I did not like is that the book did not have a enough adventure. At times the book would leg on causing the reader to slow in interest. However, when adventure did arise it was very difficult to put the book down.

This book is perfect for the young adventureous person looking not to get too scare but looking for things not of this world.

Book Review (or at least part of): The Host by Stephenie Meyer

I recently read the prologue and first and second chapters of The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Or rather, I listened to the prologue and first and second chapters.

I, of course, like many other females my age have read and own all four copies of the Twilight Saga. I loved Twilight and Breaking Dawn. I find that Meyer's writing tends to vary from book to book, because New Moon was the slowest,most boring of all the Twilight books. Eclipse started out slow and boring but eventually picked up the pace and become likeable. So, like most I decided I needed to read The Host.

I got the book or rather the book on CD from the local library. I hadn't listen to a book on tape/CD for an incredibly long time, so I thought this would be something good. Plus, the only reason that I really got it on CD was because I was a lower number on the hold queue.

Anyway, back to the book. I made it through the proloque and first and second chapters. But became very bored quickly and did not want to fall asleep while driving.

I don't know if it was the aliens and trying to keep them all straight or if I didn't get to far in the book. I wanted to know more about the girl on the table, but the book was going so blan that I just couldn't get into. I tried; I mean it became interesting when the Wanderer went into the girl's memories, but I wanted more of that.

In conclusion, you may enjoy the book and you may not, depending on the type of person you are. I may not have enjoyed the book for these reasons two reasons: 1) audiobook and 2) aliens. I wish my best to those of you who decided to read it.