Book #4 and #5

Well it's been a while since I've updated, which means that I have done a lot of reading.  Next up on my mental list was Inheritance by Christopher Paolini.  But, it's the fourth book in a series that I last read at least 3 years ago.  Because it had been so long, I really felt like I needed to reread the first three so I could really enjoy and understand the last one.  While the first three don't count for the list (I have already read them) I thoroughly enjoyed reading through them again.  After that I read Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.  I really enjoyed them both.  Blue Like Jazz will get it's own post (to keep this from getting painfully long) but here is an individual breakdown of the other two:

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini:

This series is the younger crowd's version of Lord of the Rings.  Action, adventure and general teenager-turned-hero growing up antics (including an interesting background love story.) The author wrote the first one when he was 15, which is quite impressive.  While his age and lack of experience sometimes shows in the writing and storyline, the books are still really well written and the story is so compelling.

After getting through the first three (Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr) I was so excited to finally find out how it all was going to end.  There was so much going on in the first three books I wondered how he was going to wrap it up.  I think he did a pretty awesome job of it.  The only thing I was disappointed in was how the love story ended.  He ended it like a guy and I thought it was a bit unrealistic based on how he had painted the characters.  But alas, it is his story, so he can end it however he wants.  I am secretly hoping he was setting it up for another book (I love the characters, so I would be excited to continue following their story!)


Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery:

I grew up watching these movies (or shows?) but, GASP, had never read the books.  So when I came across them at the library I thought they would make an excellent summer read.  I really enjoyed this one (the first of six.  I think.)  It brought back all of the memories of watching the shows as a kid (they were pretty true to the book.)  I now want to add these to my collection because I they will make great read aloud books when I have kids one day!

If you have never heard of the series (which is a tragedy in and of itself), it is about an orphan girl who goes to live in a small town with an older brother and sister who never had their own children.  She is full of life and is always getting into crazy situations.  This makes the book funny and charming (although the beginning was a little too full of her imaginative ramblings, but it definitely got better).  I am excited to read the rest of the series!