Pages

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Six Sentence Saturday

Welcome to Six Sentence Saturday.
Where I try to express my thoughts on recent reads using only 6 sentences!!!!.
At the end of each review I will post a
rating scale of 1-5 using the cute and original (lol) Playing Cards.
Rating scale will be as follows:

5 of Hearts- You must read this book NOW!!
4 of Hearts- A great read, put it on your TBR list.
3 of Hearts- Happy that I read it...a good read.

2 of Hearts- Just O.K but nothing to write home about.
Joker Card - Don't bother (why did I?)


The Bite of the Mango- This is the true account of Mariatu Kamara's harrowing ordeal of being attacked, tortured, and maimed for life by rebel soldiers outside a small village in Sierra Leone. I was absolutely horrified about what Mariatu witnessed and then later experienced at the hands of boys and girls who were not much older than herself. She is brutally honest and at times it made me flinch, but those of us who have never experienced war or the realities need to read this book as a wake-up call to what is happening in other parts of the world. I was so thankful that Mariatu finds a sponsor who wants to bring her to Canada and help her get on with her life. Mariatu takes this new lease on life and runs with it. Even though this book is harrowing, it is a must-read for those that are concerned about the suffering of others, especially children. Do yourself a favor and read this one and to round out your reading experience also pick up 'A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier' by Ishmael Bael. He met Mariatu while in Canada and gave her the courage to tell her story.
My Rating:







We Have Always Lived in The Castle
by Shirley Jackson
This book is seriously: creepy, gothic, chilling, dark, and very sinister.
Can't tell you any more than that because you must read this one for yourself!!!! Shirley Jackson is the Queen of Subtle Horror!!!
My Rating:

25 comments:

  1. I do not know if I could read it, I would be so sad and angry. It is a book that should be read but I just do not always have the courage for it

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really liked Jackson's novel, too. Finished it during a power outage on Halloween last year - very spooky!

    The Bite of the Mango is new to me. It sounds like a book I'd enjoy, and A Long Way Gone has been on my tbr list forever...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your review of The Bite of Mango. I recently picked up a memoir called Warchild: a child soldier's story, which I have not read, but which sound similar to A Long Way Gone.

    An I am definitely going put We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I adore Shirley Jackson and you are spot on about her being the Queen of Subtle Horror.

    Thanks for these reviews!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I know what you mean about The Bite of the The Mango. I always feel so two ways about those books - thinking everyone should know, and yet it being horrible to read about!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd really like to read The Bite of the Mango, even though I know it would be a very difficult book to get through.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ohhhhhhhhh that second one sounds eerie!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That Shirley Jackson book has been on my list forever. I definitely must read it at some point.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Need to add the 2nd book to my wishlist!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Creepy! Gothic! Chilling! Dark! Sinister! You sold me sister. I love those types of books. Off to check it out and decided whether to get the paperback or on my nook. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. These both sound really good. You know I've never read anything by Shirley Jackson yet. Yikes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I read A Long Way Home and could not get it out of my head for forever. Very disturbing. I'll have to work myself up to handle this one. I pass on the creepy one.

    ReplyDelete
  12. They both sound interesting, especially the second book!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have Jackson's other book the House on Haunted Hill, I think that's the name. Unfortunately it's at the bottom of my pile :( THanks for the reviews Staci :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oooo, I may have to check out We Have Always Live in the Castle.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The first book sounds like a tough read and the second would probably scare me too much. I'm such a wimp.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I agree Staci--where did 2010 go??? I loved We Have Always Lived in the Castle and hope to read her Haunting of Hill House this year for a Gothic challenge I am considering...
    Have a happy December weekend!
    *smiles*

    ReplyDelete
  17. I read A Long Way Gone - what an eye-opener! I'm adding The Bite of the Mango to my TBR list. That's a new title for me.

    I need to check out Shirley Jackson.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Umm...now I want to read both of these!!!! Thanks for sharing and adding to my TBR list as usual :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I loved Castle! So glad you did too :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've had We've Always Lived in the Castle on my list list for too long. I really must get to it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I must really check this one out...every once in awhile, creepy is a good thing. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  22. oh I think I'd better read that second one :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Have we talked about the biography of Shirley Jackson; Private Demons by Judy Oppenheimer?? Staci, it is one of the best I've ever read. In fact, I read it twice. Unprecedented in my reading life. And not long ago, I bought my own copy so I could read it a third time. Truly a riveting story. And I also bought her two cheery books - nonfiction about her life as a mother. I'm not fond of the titles, but the books are excellent. Raising Demons, and Life Among the Savages. As for her fiction, I think I've read only The Lottery. I'm not too big on horror. It tends to stay with me. :<)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I LOVE We Have Always Lived in the Castle!

    ReplyDelete
  25. "We Have Always Lived In The Castle" is on the list of classics I'm suggesting for my book club for the coming year.

    ReplyDelete

Hello Friends!! I want to take this moment to say thank you. Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and thank you for leaving me a comment.

* Because of the excessive spam I have decided not to allow anonymous users to comment.

Happy Reading!