Guest Blogger Beth Whitney-Lanier: "Birthday Books!"

I'd like to thank my sister once again for doing a great guest blog today!  This is her third one, and they have all been great.  If you missed her first two check them out in the blog archive.  Enjoy!!!

BethWhitney-Lanier
Source:  My Photo

On July 20th, 2011 I turned 29 years old.  It's hard to believe I'm almost 30, but that's beside the point.  They say the older you get the wiser you become.  I hope that's true in my case.

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."    -Socrates 

Anyway, I had a great birthday and received some cool gifts from different members of my family.  Since this blog is about books, I will tell you about the birthday gifts I got from my sister, Amy.  I received two books from Amy,  The first one I read was The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which is also currently being played in movie theaters.  This book takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the year 1962.   It takes you into the lives of black maids and what they had to endure at the hands of their white bosses, especially the white women they work for.

source:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4667024-the-help

There are actually some funny parts in this book, but mostly you see how horribly these maids where treated.  It is a shame how human beings can treat each other.  I read The Help in about a week and a half.  It was a fast read as well as an interesting, eye opening story.  Any of you who might be participating in the The Southern Belle Challenge this month along with my sis, Amy, should consider reading The Help.  I really enjoyed reading this book.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the other book Amy gave me for my 29th birthday.  Ironically, this book is also in the process of being made into a motion picture.  Now, if you check books out at the library this one will be in the Juvenile Fiction section.  In my opinion, however, this book is anything but juvenile.

source:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games

I have not read a book like The Hunger Games  in a very long time.  At first I wondered how I would like the book and if I would even enjoy it.  However, this futuristic thriller totally surprised me!   It takes place in what used to be the United States of America and things are nothing like what we know now.  The US has been taken over and shaped into 12 Districts and ran by the Capitol.  Once a year they hold The Hunger Games.  The surprising part is who they choose to compete in these games and the violence it ensues!

This book is filled with tons of heart pounding action and suspense.  It is definitely a page turner and constantly keeps you guessing about what in the world can happen next.  It was quite a read and I enjoyed the change in style and genre.  I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  

In closing, I just want to say that I loved my two "Birthday Books".  Reading books and talking about them always gets me excited.  To be given a book as a gift is an awesome thing for me.  When you receive a book from someone you might get a wonderful book that you wouldn't ordinarily read.  Actually, I don't think I have ever gotten a book as a gift from anyone but Amy.  She never fails in getting me a book I like or might even come to love.  Three book that are in my Top 10 Favorite Books of All-Time were gifts from Amy and her family.  I received Little Women, Little Men, and Jo's Boys as a Christmas gift about 2 years ago.

Thanks for the books, Amy!