Review - Rules of Engagement

I have a rule when i read books. If I can't get into it by 100 pages, I will give up and move on. I figure there are plenty of interesting and imaginative books out there and I don't need to be wasting my time anymore. I rarely give up on a book. But This book, Rules of Engagement, by Stephanie Fowers met my rule.

The plot is this: 25-year-old Samantha Skyler is a BYU co-ed who wants to find her true love but has virtually no experience in dating. Harrison Bean, an attractive boy who lives in the same apartment complex develops a method for Samantha to be more successful in the manhunt. But when someone discovers the plot they do everything they can to sabotage it.

After 100 pages I was inundated by a number of ridiculous conversations and premises. I overlooked the fact it was set at BYU but it was just too much for me. Time to move on.

Now I'm working on When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. It was last year's Newbery Award winner.

Review - City of Ember

I just finished listening to City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. I really enjoyed this book.

Our catalog describes this book "For centuries, the residents of the underground City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights and quiet contentment. But when the City's massive power generator begins to fail, the streetlamps fade - along with the hopes of the townspeople. Now it will be up to two courageous teenagers to follow a trail of clues left by the ancient builders to find the way out of Ember before their world is plunged into complete darkness."

I found several similarities to The Giver by Lois Lowry in that the characters were assigned different life roles that they did not fully understand. But when the characters start doing their jobs they discover how they change their lives while being at great risk.

I'd easily recommend the book, especially to an upper grade school reader or older. People of Sparks is the sequel and I'm looking forward to listening to it (whenever it becomes available). But for now it's Adam Calfield of the Slash by Michael Winerup.

Review - Arctic Drift

I recently read Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler. I am a fan of Cussler and like his work but it seems like he is getting a little stale.

After a mysterious rock id discovered to prevent global warming, the lab where the discovery is made is destroyed and the scientist is nearly killed. it all leads back to a megalomaniac businessman who engineers a near-war between the United States and Canada. Dirk Pitt comes to the rescue. of course he saves the world but only after nearly dying. this book also included his children as characters but only have limited roles.

It was okay. read it if you are a Cussler fan but don't anticipate a plot any different than his other Pitt novels.

For me now it's on to Rules of Engagement by Stephanie Fowers.