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Book review: First Love by James Patterson

Axi Moore is a "good girl": She studies hard, stays out of the spotlight, and doesn't tell anyone how all she really wants is to run away from it all. The only person she can tell is her best friend, Robinson--who she also happens to be madly in love with. 

When Axi spontaneously invites Robinson to come with her on an impulsive cross-country road trip, she breaks the rules for the first time in her life. But the adventure quickly turns from carefree to out of control after the teens find themselves on the run from the police. And when Robinson suddenly collapses, Axi has to face the truth that this trip might be his last. (Goodreads synopsis) 

Definitely not your typical Patterson book but worth the read. James Patterson dives into the teen fiction arena and scores a win.  The story of Axi and Robinson is a story of romance that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.  Much like real life.  

I enjoyed and was very envious of Axi and Robinson's road trip.  I wish I ad the guts to just jump in the car and see the country.  All though I don't think i'd steal any cars.  

I gave this book four out of five stars. 

Book Review: 11 22 63 by Stephen King

Dallas, 11/22/63: Three shots ring out.
President John F. Kennedy is dead.

Life can turn on a dime—or stumble into the extraordinary, as it does for Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in a Maine town. 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. (Goodreads Synopsis)

I am an avid reader of books about JFK and I love time travel fiction.  So obviously this book was one I wanted to read desperately.  I must admit the size of the book scared me. As a result, it took me awhile to get around to reading it.  But I am so glad I finally read it.

 King gives you a great glimpse into the late 1950's and 1960's. I love his details about life during the era,especially his description of how the food tasted and how the towns people interacted with the main character and each other.  The part about the bathrooms in North Carolina was especially good but didn't seem to fit with any other part of the book. The story line about high school in the south during the early 1960's is so good it could have been a book all by his itself.  

I'm sure there are a few inaccuracies but I don't care it was a work of fiction and a great story. I love all of the historical information.  The Kennedy part of the story started slow but that was due to the fact that he had years to wait.  Boy did it pick up in the end though.

I must say I have mixed feelings on the end of the book.  The ending seemed a little dark, scary and extreme.  I will say this I do like that King didn't go with the obvious.  He easily could have played it safe and given us the obvious results of everything being wonderful and perfect.  But he didn't do that.  He made us think and really contemplate what might have been.

I loved this book.  This book is definitely going on my favorites list.  A five star read and highly recommended.