First Book of 2011! Ape House

Ape House
by: Sara Gruen
Finished: Jan 2011
rating: 6+
I wanted it to be better! At first it was good, then it got a little slapstick. The writing was good, the initial story was good. Water for Elephants and Riding Lessons were WAY better.

A woman, Isabelle, works with Bonobo apes. People protest, there is a bomb, the apes are sold. Isabelle is injured and devastated about the loss (they didn't die, they were sold) of the apes. The story is about their and her recovery. There is also a journalist, John, who is married and his wife, who is an author. It seemed like a serious book, then she put in the silly slapstick stuff. It was like she was trying to make her serious book to be more silly. Didn’t work for me.


The Passage
by: Justin Cronin
finished: Dec 2010
rating: 6 thru 9

Honestly, I can't decide my feelings about this book! I have complained that it is way too long...800 pages! I would have liked this book way better if the author had made this one book into two. I have read several reviews and that has helped me understand better what I read. Here is a synopsis:

In the future at least in the 2014. Colorado got infected with bad virus that turns people into something like vampires…strong, they infect others by biting, hard to kill. They are called Virals. The virals finish off most of the human race. Just a few people left. They try to save what they have. It was good. Interesting story. Interesting people. It was just too long.

It was like telling the story of Noah and the Ark, but starting with Adam and Eve. What the inside cover tells of the book finally happens around page 500. Then at the end, it ends badly. You have hope; things will be ok, then that last sentence you read you find out that probably everybody that you care about dies. About an 800 page book.

Now, I have found out that this book is a TRILOGY! It must have been an intriguing book because I keep thinking about it! In the Twilight books, the vampires are handsome, kind, and desirable. Here the vampires are as they should be, scary, dangerous, deadly. After I have let the book marinate in my head for awhile, I think I like the book better. There is a good chance I will read the next installment.

If you see Tatia, tell her to read this book...we can discuss!