Insurgent Book Review and Divergent Movie Review

Insurgent (Divergent) by Veronica Roth was the next book in the series which I picked up right after the first.  I was very excited to get the second book and a little sad that I didn't have the third one already from the library as soon as I was done.  It is a great series (even if it was with young adult books) because it is great for young and old alike.

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.  Make sure you check out this book to find out what happens!!

I started this after finishing the first and still couldn't put it down.  This was as fast a read as Hunger Games or Harry Potter where everything else including sleeping takes a back seat.  I was super sad when I got to the end and didn't have the third book already.  I reserved it at the library shortly after finishing and I was 7th on the list so it just came into the library a few weeks later.  That is the benefit of having a huge county library system because there are so many copies of the book.  Sad thing is that they were all checked out but luckily it didn't take long to get the next one.

In order to hold me over, I watched the movie of the first book that just came to DVD.  I enjoyed the movie but I was hoping for some more.  I often have that problem when I read the book first because the book gives you the opportunity to have more information about all of the characters.  I loved the casting and once I settled into the idea that I just had to imply things in that were in the book that didn't make it into the movie, I was pretty okay with the movie.  At least it helped me while I was waiting for the third book to come in!!

What did you think of the movie?  How about the book?  Did you read the book first or the watch the movie?  Do you think that matters because it always seems to make me question the movie if I read the book first!!!

Menu Plan Monday (or Wednesday) 1/5

Monday- Chicken Nugget Wraps and homemade fries
Tuesday- Cinnamon Sugar Waffles
Wednesday- Leftovers
Thursday- Bisquick Chicken with chicken rice
Friday- Salsa Sloppy Joes on homemade rolls with mac and cheese
Saturday- Leftovers/???
Sunday- Leftovers/???

Well, this week came up on my fast.  I was super busy last week and I didn't realize that I didn't post the menu plan for the week but don't worry, I did have one.  We had a busy week last week with working on the new house.  This week was a fast start because my son went back to school and there was more contractors to meet with to try to hire someone to do the work at the house.  Then, we got snow and school was delayed.  Everything was up in the air and crazy!  So this is partly what we had at the beginning of the week and what is planned for the rest of the week.

I am working through everything in the freezer and doing a good job of it.  I have done a great job at it but now we have company coming for the next few weeks again and that always throws things up in the air so I am trying to nail down what we are doing so that I can finish up the meal plan for the week.  We will know when we know how many people we are feeding :)  Hope you are having a good week!!!

Divergent Book Review

I had a list of books that I was reserving forever at the library but put on hold.  I was still getting new books and not reading the ones on the list so I let them all come off the reserve list so that I could finish them in the current year and start the new year off clean.  I let all the books come in and I started reading.  This was really far into the pile because it is almost 500 pages!!  Divergent (Divergent Series) by Veronica Roth was the huge book that I picked up after finishing some other shorter books.

One choice can transform you. Life in this book is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice Prior must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions to be more true to herself. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous. Through Beatrice's growing up as a 16 year old girl in this world with different factions, you learn a lot about her character and the values of others around you.


I really enjoyed the book and it was a fast read especially given the length.  I couldn't believe how much this was like the Giver and Hunger Games.  It talks about the people changing their behavior because the government is set up to make a "better" life.  They are looking to control the behavior of the people in order to make sure that they don't have war.  With all of the attempt to change the people and make them fit into the set factions, they discover that there are other people who are divergent and don't fit the molds for the factions.  It was really interesting and quick to get into all of the characters and the story.  I can't believe how hard it was too put down once I started!!  I hope that that you check out this book at your local library or bookstore.  It is a great book which I know you will enjoy.  Make sure you get the next book in the series before you start the first one because you will want to pick it up as soon as you are done with the first book.

The Handsome Man's DeLuxe Cafe Book Review

I went to the library for an event for my son and I saw a book in the new release section that made me very happy.   The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (15) by Alexander McCall Smith was the 15th book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  I hadn't read any of those books in a long time so I was happy to scoop it up and put it in the pile to take home with me.

In this book, a kindhearted brother and sister have taken in a woman known only as “Mrs.”—a woman with no memory of her name or of how she came to Botswana. And so it’s up to Precious Ramotswe, owner of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and her new co-director, Grace Makutsi, to discover the woman’s identity.  Meanwhile, motherhood proves to be no obstacle to Mma Makutsi’s professional success. As she settles into her role as partner at the agency, she also launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man’s De Luxe Café, a restaurant for Gaborone’s most fashionable diners. But even Miss 97 Per Cent isn’t fully prepared for the temperamental chefs, drunken waiters, and other challenges that come with running one’s own business. Help may come from an unexpected source, if only Mma Makutsi can swallow her pride and ask.  Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is all too familiar with the difficult decisions of business owners as the owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors.  Mr. Matekoni is finally forced to make a tough choice, one that will bring major changes to both organizations.  With sympathy and indefatigable good humor, Mma Ramotswe and her friends see one another through these major changes and discover along the way what true friendship really means.

I enjoyed this book so much!  I love the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series (and most of the other books by Alexander McCall Smith).  This was no exception!!  I was happy to see it in the new release section because I haven't read anything in the series in a long time.  I was a little sad when I got home and realized that I did miss the previous release.  I will have to add it to my list and I can't wait to read that one too!!  I hope that you check out this book if you have read the series and if not, I hope that you check out the series.  I loved every book and the writing is so amazing.  It is in the mystery category in the library but I wouldn't consider this book a mystery in the normal sense so hope that people try it even if you aren't a mystery person!  Enjoy the great characters and great writing in this book and all other Alexander McCall Smith novels.

Darned If You Do Book Review

Okay so the real title is actually not in the subject of the post but I was just a little leery about putting the first word of the title of the book in my post.  I know that I have turned a little silly but as a mom, I don't want my son using that language and so I have edited my title.  Robert B. Parker's Damned If You Do (A Jesse Stone Novel) by Michael Brandman was the next in the series

Jesse Stone, Paradise Police Chief, is called out to a seedy beach front motel because there is a murdered girl who looks like she is barely out of her teens.  She looks a little familiar, not exactly beautiful, but she’d tried to make the most of her looks.  The state police try to help and Jesse has to go to Gino Fish, local mobster, in order to learn who the murdered girl was.  In the process, he gets himself in between Thomas Walker and Fat Boy Nelly who are rivals for the prostitution business.  This book is a lot of action that you won't want to miss.  Make sure you pick it up and find out for yourself what happens.

I really enjoy the characters and the books in this series.  Whether written by Robert Parker or Michael Brandman, I feel like the town and characters are the same.  This book was particularly great because there was so much action going on and it was all around one case.  Normally, they are balancing more than one case because there isn't enough action in one case but this one is different.  There are warring pimps and mobsters involved which makes you really see this book being acted out on the big screen!!  I hope that you check out this adventure for yourself and enjoy all the action.  I know that I loved it and I hope that you like it as much as I do!!!!

Happy Holidays!!!

I hope that all of your families have a happy holiday and enjoy some time with your families.

Fool Me Twice Book Review

Robert B. Parker's Fool Me Twice (A Jesse Stone Novel) by Michael Brandman was next on the list in the series of Jesse Stone books.  I grabbed it while I was at the library looking for all the new books written with the characters after Robert Parker's death.  The great part is that the new author carries the same character and writing style forward so it doesn't miss a beat.

In this book,  there are multiple cases going on at the same time in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts.  The first is caused by the Hollywood movie company coming to town with the huge cast and crew moving into this quiet little town and causing great changes.  The troubled Marisol Hinton is afraid of her husband who she is separated from so police chief Jesse Stone introduces Crow as a body guard.  There is a high school girl that is headed down a bad road who ends up in a horrible collision caused by distracted driving while texting.  Her parents are very well connected and get her out of the arrest and charges.  Jesse makes it his mission to make sure that the girl doesn't fall through the cracks and cites her two other times for talking on the phone while driving.  At the same time, there is some complaints about the water prices going up and Jesse is working on balancing all of the things going on in this usually quiet town and making sure that everyone gets justice.  You have to get the book to find out how all of it turns out but you might be surprised!!


I loved this book as much as all the others in the series.  I started reading the Robert Parker books with the Jesse Stone series so I love the series and it was so much shorter then the Spenser series which really left you wanting more.  The stories are full of mystery and intrigue with a lot of special attitude from Jesse which is the needed icing on the cake of great writing.  The even better thing about the Jesse Stone books is that many of them have been put into movies so I totally see the main character as Tom Selleck and can't get that out of my head.  It was the perfect casting and I loved adding to the series with these new books.  I am super excited to find that there is more reading that I can enjoy with these great characters in this wonderful town.