BOOKS FROM THE LAST TWO WEEKS

I didn't update my book list last week so this week you get two weeks worth. I've also decided to add something new to each listing... my  favorite line of the book.

Books read the week of February 12 - 18
1)  The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner Trilogy) by James Dashner / YA / ***
Favorite quote:  “He turned to look just in time to see the rain start falling out as if the storm had finally decided to weep with shame for what it had done to them.”
2) The Death Cure (Maze Runner Trilogy) by James Dashner / YA / ***
Favorite quote:  “Sometimes they do things to make me do the opposite of what they think, I think, they think, I am going to do.” 
These books are the final books in the Maze Runner Trilogy.   I read the first one (The Maze Runner) last year while in the Caribbean.  I believe Darren read it too.  I like dystopian books so this was right up my alley.  It is a story of teenagers trapped in a science experiment designed to help scientists find a cure for a deadly disease called "The Flare".   At the end of book one, the teens have escaped the giant maze in which they live and find a world devestated by sun flares and disease.  They have to decide of the agency conducting the expirements really has the best interest of the world in mind.
The story kinda dragged here and there for me and I just couldn't get as engaged as I wanted to be.  It had all the elements of scariness (mindless flesh eating zombies! devestated cities with danger lurking around every corner! evil governments intent on destroying the world!) but it just never felt intense enough to be scary.

Books read the week of February 19 - 25
3) Decision Points by George W. Bush  / A / ****
Favorite quotes:
“Pray as if it all depends upon God, for it does. But work as if it all depends upon us, for it does.”

and
“I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.”

and from when his days as president were done

“Barney spotted our neighbor's lawn, where he promptly took care of his business. There I was, the former president of the United States, with a plastic bag on my hand, picking up that which I had been dodging for the past eight years.” Now you can see why I read so few books this last little while. This one took me a while to get through. It was chosen by Melissa Winters for book group this month.  I had only made it to page 11 by the time we had the discussion but the conversation was enough to get me interested to keep going.  I had forgotten just how much had happened during the 8 years President Bush served.   It was interesting to read about Katrina, Afghanistan, Iraq, and 9/11 as I had memories of my own from the time period.  Rather than being a straight autobiography, it outlined some of the key decisions he made in his personal and presidential life.   I enjoyed some parts more than others.
I learned a lot from this book - I had no idea just how much we had invested in resources into Afghanistan.  I was touched by the words shared from letters of military families who had lost loved ones in conflict.  I was amazed at just how much work it is serve as President. I found myself wondering WHY anyone would ever even want this job.  It also helped increase the mistrust I have of the media and the way things are reported. I'm getting really tired of having to be wary all the time of  being tricked.  I found this quote:  "You control the message, you control the people.
However, you control the media, you control both."

4) Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven) by Brandon Mull and Brandon Dorman / YA / ****
Favorite quote:  Seth waved a finger. "No. You are definitely not my sister. Know what you are? You're a pig! I've never seen anyone down so many Cocoa Krispies!"
Darren and E2 both said this was their favorite of the Fablehaven series and I have to say I really enjoyed it as well. I love how the characters are growing and changing.  The character I could not stand (Seth) is now one of my favorites.  This series is turning very Harry Potter-esque.  I am loving the search for magical objects, the imaginative and well described new scenes, and the witty dialogue.