It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini Part 1

Have you ever read a book solely based on it's title? Well, quite honestly, that's one of the biggest reasons I chose to read Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of a Funny Story. I've always been enamored by the titles of books and movies. My experience has always been that the most interesting titles turn out to be the most thought-provoking and I love books and movies that make you take a look around and think. Of course, there are some exceptions, but hopefully this book will satisfy.

It's Kind of a Funny Story follows the story of Craig Gilner, a teenager who strives for simplicty, but has some mental problems. He goes to a psychologist who already understands his odd terminology and his desire to be alone to experience the simplicity that seems to be nonexistant in other surroundings. I'm way too early in the book to know that much about Craig and the plot, but so far I've really enjoyed Craig's narration and his odd ways.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

After hearing so many positive things about John Green's Looking for Alaska at school, I decided to finally read it this summer. With very high expectations, I began reading and I honestly did not like it at first. But, I kept on reading it with the hope that it would get better, and by the last page, I realized how great of a book it really is.

Looking for Alaska is narrated by the main character, Miles "Pudge" Halter--an unpopular boy from Florida who memorizes last words. Francois Rabelais' last words were "I go to seek a great perhaps" and this is exactly what he intends to accomplish by going to Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama. There, he is exposed to drinking, smoking, enemies, pranks and so much more. His roomate, Chip "The Colonel" Martin dubs Miles "Pudge" despite his lanky figure. He is also thrust into the world of the wild Alaska Young who he is enamored by. Simon Bolivar's last words were "How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?" and Alaska is and has always been looking for the answer.

This book is separated into Before and After in reference to a huge event in the lives of Alaska, Pudge, The Colonel and another friend, Takumi. Green describes each of the characters so well and because they all have such strong and distinctive personalities, it makes the book a fun read at times. More than anything though, it teaches you about life and incorporates the ideas of the Great Perhaps that Pudge is always seeking and how to get out of the labyrinth of suffering we are in. This is such a thought-provoking book that teaches lessons about life and still provides time for a lot of pranks and many new experiences for the characters.

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Since reading My Sister's Keeper and Nineteen Minutes, I've been wanting to read another of Jodi Picoult's books. Her courage to write about such controversial topics that require so much research and fact-checking has been remarkable. From a girl who sues her parents over the right to her own body to school shootings and The Pact's focal point of teenage suicide, Jodi Picoult has covered many issues that plague the world today that most authors dare not touch. When I read her books, it's as if I'm journeying into the minds of all those who took part in the events to see what was really going on. It's this and the many other aspects of her writing that led me to read The Pact: A Love Story.

Chris Harte and Emily Gold are lifelong neighbors and best friends. Their parents are best friends too and the two families are practically inseparable, so it's no wonder that both sets of parents have always hoped that they would end up together. Then suddenly, Emily is dead from a gun shot while Chris is in the hospital and being investigated for her murder. He initially claims that the two were planning to kill themselves together--a suicide pact.

Through the use of flashbacks and the present state of all the characters during the trials, Picoult conveys how they feel well. The point of view is from Chris, his lawyer, Emily, each of their parents, and even more. However, some characters' stories are a little more interesting than others which made the pace feel very slow at times. The book is also split up into three parts: Part I: The Boy Next Door; Part II: The Girl Next Door; and Part III: The Truth. The title of each part tells exactly what it was mainly about.

The one part of the book that I really felt the emotion in was Chris' "confession" during the trial. I won't give anything away, but the description of what actually took place that fatal night was so emotional that I even cried. I felt how Emily felt, I felt how Chris felt and I knew exactly how both of them felt about each other even if they didn't know it themselves. It was the deciding factor of the whole trial.

All in all, I really enjoyed The Pact. Learning about the characters' true feelings and dark secrets allowed me as a reader to put some of the pieces together myself. There were only some minor flaws like the epilogue and some of the ending. Still, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Picoult's books.