PRABE Week 2

After spending more time this week on The Gift and my eventual "aha" moment that lead to me no longer reading it, I have moved on to The Help. I'm already happy I did. From the beginning, Kathryn Stockett does well to draw the reader into the lives of each of the women she portrays. I feel myself hurting for Aiblieen as returns to work before she's fully mourned the loss of her son. I'm disgusted with Miss Leefolt and her eagerness to please her "friends" yet her unwillingness to offer any love or affection to her own child, Mae Mobley. I hold my breath every time Minny speaks knowing that most times, it will get her in trouble. And yet Miss Skeeter's demeanor and way of thinking, have me both anxious and hopeful.

My "Aha" Moment

I've still been reading The Gift and I’ve still been struggling to like it. There were story lines I didn’t recognize or felt I should know more about, but didn't. I would even backtrack what I read to see if, by chance, I misread something. I had no luck. I decided to do some research of the book to see what others thought about it. That's when my "aha" moment occurred. Apparently Witch & Wizard is a series by James Patterson and Witch & Wizard: The Gift is book 2! It's no wonder I felt so lost. I think when books are in a series, they should be labeled in the order in which they are to be read. Clearly, had I seen a number 2 anywhere on the novel I would have been tipped off and moved right along. I'm not sure if this series is already doomed with me because of the initial lack of interest and confusion but at this point, I am moving on to The Help! :)

Success!!

Persistence has paid off! Another check at the library and I walked out with The Help. I'm so excited to start reading it but am still giving The Gift another chance. I've read at bit more and still not overly interested in the read but I'm trying to see it though. We'll see how much longer I can hold out...

PRABE - Week 1

     I was very excited to be assigned 90 minutes of pleasure reading. Who wouldn't love that? Since my time has been very limited lately, I wanted to make sure I picked a book that was worthy. I decided I wanted to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett but of course our limited, little base library only has three copies and they were all checked out. Then I remembered I'd been meaing to read Dear John by Nicholas Sparks, but of course, checked out again. After checking a few other books and not finding any, I felt defeated. I know I could easily buy the Kindle Editions but I haven't quite warmed up to reading on the iPad.
     After several trips to the library hoping that one of my choices would be there, I gave up and picked a random book. Though I've heard of James Patterson as an author, I've never read any of his novels. With no previous knowledge of Witch & Wizard: The Gift, I left the library with high hopes. So far, I'm having a hard time getting into the story. A sister and brother, Wisty and Whit, are on the run from a New Order (NO) regime that wants to execute the pair for "engaging in free thought and creativity". They are part of a Resistance that is standing up to the NO but have already lost a friend and been on the run. They are on a quest to free the Half-Lights from the Shadowland, the dead spirits of the NO's victims that reside in an alternate plane. Since their parents, Whit's girlfriend and Wisty's best friend have all been sent to the Shadowland their quest is personal and they are determined.