BSchultz19
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Posts posted by BSchultz19
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I've spent to much time thinking about this.
I've decided that a 30-hour day would work better for me. Two for sleeping and four for playing. 
Yes! That sounds perfect
It would give that extra little boost of time to relax and actually do some things for pleasure rather than for school or other things I have to do. I rewatched the first film a few months ago and it made me cringe. However, I stand by the soundtracks of the first two films. Fantastic collections of songs, both.
Yes the soundtrack is great! I can't think of the band that did a lot of it, but it was para something I think.
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11/22/63 by Stephen King
Summary
Life can turn on a dime—or stumble into the extraordinary, as it does for Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine. While grading essays by his GED students, Jake reads a gruesome, enthralling piece penned by janitor Harry Dunning: fifty years ago, Harry somehow survived his father’s sledgehammer slaughter of his entire family. Jake is blown away...but an even more bizarre secret comes to light when Jake’s friend Al, owner of the local diner, enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination. How? By stepping through a portal in the diner’s storeroom, and into the era of Ike and Elvis, of big American cars, sock hops, and cigarette smoke... Finding himself in warmhearted Jodie, Texas, Jake begins a new life. But all turns in the road lead to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald. The course of history is about to be rewritten...and become heart-stoppingly suspenseful.
(from goodreads)
Opinions
This was my first Stephen King novel, so I had to get used to his style and kind of pick up on the way he writes but he writes so well that wasn't difficult. I like the premise of this novel, a time-travel mixed with history and alternative history type thing, but there were a lot of parts that seemed really slow to me. For example, when he goes back into the past multiple times the same thing happens and so a lot of it is retold, which kind of has to be done but I felt like it was really slow in those parts and others.
That said, it was a great book. I like that it surrounded around this one big historical event, but also really had the character fall back into the times. It felt like I was experiencing the 60s as well. It was kind of fun to see Jake Epping realize that some of the phrases we view as normal sound ludicrous to people living in the late 50s and early 60s. I also found it interesting that King decided to focus around this one specific historical event, because there are many other "watershed moments" that he could have picked. He kind of talks about why he chose the Kennedy assassination in the end notes though. He says that he originally wanted to write the book around 1972, but it seemed too fresh in people's minds, so he put it off and wrote and published around 2010.
I suppose that one of the main reasons to focus on this event was the large amount of conspiracy theories about it, mostly because Oswald was shot before he could go to trial and people could hear what really happened. I also learned things that I didn't know from American History classes (we barely made it to learning the 60s) like that the FBI did not like Kennedy, so some think they turned a blind eye to threats and warnings.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable book but also very long. It slowed down my total count of books reading wise, but I don't regret reading it because it was a good one.
Rating
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Ya ditto and ditto. I took Russian for 4 years straight and learned really basic things, words and sentences like Laura. I also think it is awesome the way the posts on here are flawless English, a lot of times Gaia and I have to laugh at our expressions/ slang.
In California, though, Spanish is a serious deal. Not only is our state (and others like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) inundated with the Spanish language, there are more Mexicans in CA than any other nationality. My daughter has a bilingual class, for the most part. Most of the children in her school speak Spanish and English, they even have a book bag that gets exchanged every Wednesday, all 3 books included are with a Spanish translation on the opposing page.
Wow! That's really interesting that they have books with both languages. I live in the midwest so other than Chicago there aren't that many immigrants in my region. Learning spanish could be helpful or could not. I took German because I liked the German teacher better.
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That was actually a great and very interesting answer! Sometimes I wish that in America we had to learn one language the whole way through school like European schools do with English just so that we could be fluent in reading, speaking, and writing another language. I guess to some extent Spanish is like that for us, but it's honestly not taken grammatically seriously until high school so the years spent in Spanish before that are wasted. I only took it for a few years before I went to private school and I learned basically nothing other than counting, some simple phrases, and the months.
I'm currently taking German for the second year, but I still probably couldn't read a book in German. I might be able to read and somewhat understand a paragraph or two if I had a dictionary for some of the words I don't know. So basically, I just wish we had one language to learn besides our native one because I think it is an important skill to have.
I think it is so cool that you can read in three different languages. So many more options for reading because as you mentioned one translation might defer from another.
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Haha yep. I was obsessed for a while, and I used to like the first film too. What was I on?
I know I'm the same way. But now if I went back and tried to watch the first film I think I wouldn't make it ten minutes without turning off that garbage. I actually when to he midnight premiers of the third, fourth, and fifth movies. I was such an ignorant child 
I'm loving The Rosie Project. So far behind most on this forum
Just frustrating because I have so little time to to read ATM and I want to devour it
I have that same problem too. I'm reading a great book, but I have so much stuff going on that I have to either neglect the book or neglect my schoolwork and friendships. Why is there not more time in the day?
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Ohhh ya, I just read about this one. Did you read it on Spring Break? How was Orlando? I am anxious to read Nineteen Minutes now. Maybe after my long 1,088 page Ken Follett lol It requires some dedication.
Yes I did read it on Spring Break, mostly while I was at the pool but also in our hotel room/villa. Orlando was amazing
! My tan is incredible according to my friends, and I had a ton of fun. Nineteen Minutes is a good one and I'm excited for you to read it! I'm also currently reading a long book which makes me feel like I'm lagging behind, but I'm basically reading the amount of pages of two or three books in one.
I really liked this book too. I'm so glad you enjoyed it
! Great review.It is one of my favorites that she has written and that says a lot.
Great review, BSchultz! This sounds like just the kind of book I want to read: there's a crime, forensic stuff, and someone with Asperger's (I like mental stuff). I was going to add it to my wishlist but the synopsis sounded familiar and I thought I probably already have it on my wishlist... And yep, Athena's review made me add it there some time ago
It's really great, I hope you enjoy it when you do get to reading it!
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That sounds like a very interesting book, but also a very depressing one. I would like it because it would make me think a lot, but also wouldn't like it because it would be so tough to read and realize that people are actually living like that in the world.
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I never really noticed this until now, but do you tend to read more books in your native language during read-a-thons because you can read easier? Or is it just a coincidence? How different is it to read in your native language compared to English?
Sorry for all the questions....I'm just really curious because my first language is English so I don't really have that problem. I can barely speak another language.
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I'm nearly two thirds of the way through Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano. I like it in the way I liked Twilight - I'm compelled to keep reading it despite pretty bad writing and virtually zero characters I give a toss about, simply because the weak world-building alludes to a world I could love if it were done well. (And I like some of the premises.)
This is such an accurate description of reading the Twilight books
I felt the same way. I wanted to read them all super quick, so I thought they were good and then I took a step back and was like whoa these are terrible
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Athena you always blow me away with your numbers during read-a-thons
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I finished Fault in our stars by John Green today and totally understand the following it has. It made me cry bucket loads. Not sure what's up next might have to bring in the book jar, hopefully it will be something light.
Glad you liked it! It's a great book, but not even my favorite John Green book.
I'm still going on 11/22/63 and hope to have it finished before the end of the week. It's a long one.
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I read maybe 150 today and over 200 yesterday, so not bad considering I'm on vacation. I finished House Rules which I only just started on Monday, so pretty happy with that.
I will probably read a little tomorrow of 11/22/63 and maybe some of Yes Please which I have also started on kindle. Not bad
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House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Summary
When your son can't look you in the eye...does that mean he's guilty?
Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject - forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he's always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he's usually right.
But when Jacob's small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob's behaviors are hallmark Asperger's, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are directly in the spotlight. For Jacob's mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob.
And over this small family, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?(from goodreads)
My Opinion
I really enjoyed this book and I found it extra interesting because I have been reading more about people with Asperger's and this only added to my knowledge. I love that Picoult always puts extensive research into each book so that all parts of it are accurate. In the extra interview part of the edition I have she talks about that her cousin has AS and she also interviewed in person and on paper over 16 teenagers with AS. I think that helps the reader have confidence in the legitimacy of the story she is telling.
I thought this was one of her better books because I honestly had no freaking clue who did it the whole way through. I had my guesses and they changed pretty much every chapter. I love that there was a good amount of courtroom drama, but unlike in some of her other books it wasn't a star lawyer for the defense. I thought that was a nice change of pace and more realistic based on the fact that a single mother with a child with autism would not have a lot of money.
Once again Picoult discusses something tough and sometimes even uncomfortable to some people with great grace and class. I think that is what I admire most about her writing. She helps tell the story of people who might not be able to tell their own. This made me understand people with AS a lot better and made me think that I have some of the same symptoms so I can sympathize although I am pretty sure I don't have any kind of AS.
Great book. Great story. Would totally recommend it.
Rating
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How exciting! Say Hi to the Mouse.
I have decided against Gathering Blue, so I will begin Jumpstart today, if you want to read it tomorrow. It should only be a 2 day book for me and a one day for you
I haven't even seen the Mouse. He's a pretty busy guy I guess. Mostly we have been spending the days at the pool because we have all been here at least 5 times if not more, so I have been able to read quite a bit!
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Some interesting reads there! I don't own Leaving Time yet as I'm waiting for the paperback release. I don't own The Goldfinch but I've heard good things. I don't own Revival or Gray Mountain either, but anyway, I hope you enjoy all the new books
!All the ones I got were New York Times Bestsellers recently, so I figured I could give all of them a try. I'm not sure when I'll get to them, but I knew that I needed more books on my kindle just in case I get caught in a situation where I don't have a book, but I have my kindle or tablet.
I have The Goldfinch on my TBR pile, and I read Revival last year (and wasn't overly impressed with it).
Sad to hear that. I have only read 1/2 of a King book and I liked it, so I've been trying to reach out more into some of his less horrific and creepy stuff.
Oh! Unbroken was a great, powerful read.
I've heard such great things about it! I've heard of the basic storyline, but I'm excited to read the book and see for myself. After that I might watch the movie too
Ooh I haven't read any of those but I might eventually read Yes Please, as I quite like Amy Poehler. Are you a Parks & Rec fan?
This is probably the book I'm most excited about out of all of them. I love Amy Poehler. I loved her on SNL and loved her even more on Parks and Rec if that's possible
so yes I am a Parks and Rec fan. -
I have started reading House Rules but I'm still working on 11/22/63. I only started reading the other one because it is a lot easier to take to the pool, which I am doing every day this week. Both are going great
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Wow, that's a lot of pages in one go! I'm glad you really liked the book. I was thinking of reading Nineteen Minutes as my next Picoult read as well, or Plain Truth. We could always read Nineteen Minutes together if we both feel like reading it around the same time, I mean if you want to. Don't feel pressured though, we don't have to read it together or anything. It was just a thought. I won't be reading a Picoult book soon after the previous one so I don't think I'll be reading any in the next month or so, anyway, but I just wanted to mention it. I'm glad you liked this book and want to read more of Picoult's books. She is one of my favourite contemporary fiction authors.
I get this problem too, sometimes I feel some of my reviews sound a bit samey.. 'great characters, good plot twists, nice writing style...' etc. I'm not sure what to do about it though, if I enjoyed a book, I enjoyed a book.
Yes I feel the same with mine. I feel like with the books that I like I say the same thing over and over. Especially when I read the same author or genre over and over I feel like I've already said everything I need to say ten times.
I can't quote you Gaia, because of having to respond on my Kindle, but that sounds great!
Schultz, have a good time on vacation, I am guessing Spring Break?
Yes, spring break! I'm in Walt Disney World Florida
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#17. OMG! Is This Actually My Life? Hattie Moore's Unbelievable Year! by Rae Earl
Blurb: I am TOTALLY telling you that this year I am going to FIND MY REAL DAD. Can you EVEN BELIEVE I don't know who he ACTUALLY IS? I WON'T be stopped my my mum, my brother, my totally mental gran OR the evil dog that lives 3 doors away. AND ANOTHER THING – with the help of Dimple and Weirdo Jen, I will become a TOTAL Hotness Goddess AND defeat the dark forces of Mis Gorgeous Knickers and her gang. This is going to be the most OMG YEAR EVER!
Thoughts: I read this book because it's by Rae Earl who kept a diary of her fat mad teenage years and got it published back in 2007. As I'm still on hold for the sequel of the diary, I really wanted to read this fictional diary by her.
It was 'hand written' which I thought might annoy me but I ended up getting along with it just fine. It made it seem more authentic. Totes authentic, as Hattie might say
I don't know if this book really stands out in any way from all the other teenage novels, but I like it anyways. And it suited my reading mood perfectly, as I'm currently not up to any of those difficult novels.
Not sure if I would recommend this to anyone in particular, but if you like this sort of literature, go for it! I do wonder if there's a sequel in the making, as the thing I'd been waiting to happen in the novel never did take place, and I got the impression that that might be another story in itself.
4/5
For some reason this blurb makes me think of Luke's daughter in Gilmore Girls
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Wow what a great idea to post a summary of your reading quarter! I am amazed, but not entirely shocked that you read a book in less than a day. And those books average about 250 pages. That's crazy!!
I only skimmed the post, but it looks like 2015 has been great for you so far
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Have some down time now, so I'll post the list of books I got for kindle.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Killing Patton by Bill O'Reilly
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Revival by Stephen King
Gray Mountain by John Grisham
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Just downloaded some new kindle books
Quite a few, it's a little late, and I'm on vacation so I will post a list later on.
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Great review of Plain Truth, the book's gone on my wishlist!
And it was great to see your bookshelves
I love looking at what books other people have and how they shelf them 
Kudos for Hemingway
Your Dad has great taste I hope you get to it at some point soon. I really liked it
He mainly likes Hemingway because of his style, but the topics he discusses are also more things my dad likes as well. I guess I got something from him, I like Hemingway a lot as well.
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Yes, the last 200+ pages all in one go! The trial part really picked up the action, I was worried it would slow things down, as I don't like to get mired down in courtroom dramas.
Thanks for the recommendation. I wish I had written a better review, I usually begin notes around 30%, but this book really didn't need too many. Straight forward, some twists and an easy read. I think I will choose Nineteen Minutes next, as I will definitely continue to read her work.
Yeah I have that problem with a lot of books I read. They're so straight forward that I don't have a lot to say.
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I'm glad you liked it! I had a lot of the same opinions about it
Schultz Reading 2015
in Past Book Logs
Posted
I think reading a little about it on Wikipedia would probably be a good idea before reading the book just because I think it helps to have some basic knowledge of the times and the event itself. I don't think you need background knowledge to read it though, it would just be very helpful and you might enjoy the story better with that info already in your mind