Synopsis

According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.

That's right! I'm going old school. This is the book where I can trace my love of "guys in leather, bad boys with criminal like appeal, and hearts of gold" to. The Outsiders was release in 1967 and is still considered a classic. I was shocked though, when a recent trip to the bookstore with a good friend, revealed that she had never read it. The story and its underlying meaning still has a profound affect on me today. 

The book, although set in the late 50's, tells the struggles of two distinct groups - the Socs and the Greasers - told through the eyes of Ponyboy, as he writes a story detailing devastating events that have previously occurred.

The characters in both groups are judged by their peers on looks and social stature. The Greasers are thought of as the criminals, the bad boys to stay away from. The Socs have the money, the cars, and the girls. They are the "good guys", right? But as Ponyboy's story unfolds, we learn that everyone has secrets and sometimes peer pressure and life out-ways what a person knows is right. In one night, a cruel twist of fate will lead Ponyboy and his friend Johnny to learn that life is precious and to "Stay Gold".

This story was eventually made into a movie - which was freaking awesome! and introduced us to, well, some of the most gorgeous and famous bad boys at the time - but even without seeing the movie, it is still one of the BEST books ever written. The poem written in its pages, I can still recite by heart. It is as beautiful and meaningful today, as it was when The Outsiders was released.  

*This is not the official trailer, but according to Ms. Hinton, it reflects "a better snapshot of what the movie is about." - Dayreader Reviews is not the creator of this video, but it is really good!

S.E. Hinton, was and still is, one of the most popular and best known writers of young adult fiction. Her books have been taught in some schools, and banned from others. Her novels changed the way people look at young adult literature. 

Her other works include Rumble Fish, That Was Then, This is Now, and Tex.
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Synopsis:
In many ways, Carrie Parker is like any other eight-year-old—playing make-believe, going to school, dreaming of faraway places. But even in her imagination, she can't pretend away the hardships of her impoverished North Carolina home or protect her younger sister, Emma.

As the big sister, Carrie is determined to do anything to keep Emma safe from a life of neglect and abuse at the hands of their drunken stepfather, Richard—abuse their momma can't seem to see, let alone stop.

But after the sisters' plan to run away from home unravels, Carrie's world takes a shocking turn—and one shattering moment ultimately reveals a truth that leaves everyone reeling.
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This book sucked me in immediately! I listened to this on an audiobook and the narrator did such a great job reading it! I loved her accent. Now this story is a wonderful tale!  You just feel so sorry for these sweet girls and you just want to help! Elizabeth Flock has a great way of getting you emotionally invested in this tale! Emma is the strong willed little sister of Carrie. Carrie is a weaker version of Emma but they are perfect together. This story is told from Carrie’s perspective, which I think really makes the story even better! Emma and Carrie have to live with their step-father who physically and verbally abuses them as well as their mother. As the story continues to worsen for Emma and Carrie, you are hoping Richard will get his and in the end he does….just not in the way you may think. I don’t want to give away the ending, so lets just say this is not a book to be overlooked! I loved this story and will sing its praise to all I know! I rate this story 5 rightful stars

Former journalist Elizabeth Flock reported for Time and Peoplemagazines before becoming a television reporter and anchor in San Francisco, California. After moving to New York, Flock became an on-air correspondent for CBS News covering breaking news both in the United States and abroad. Notably, reporting from Havana, Cuba, for Pope John Paul II’s visit with Fidel Castro; reporting from London following the death of Princess Diana; and reporting from Hong Kong where she covered the handover from the British to the Chinese.

Set amid the austere beauty of the North Carolina coast, The Notebook begins with the story of Noah Calhoun, a rural Southerner recently returned form the Second World War. Noah is restoring a plantation home to its former glory, and he is haunted by images of the beautiful girl he met fourteen years earlier, a girl he loved like no other. Unable to find her, yet unwilling to forget the summer they spent together, Noah is content to live with only memories...until she unexpectedly returns to his town to see him once again.

Like a puzzle within a puzzle, the story of Noah and Allie is just the beginning. As it unfolds, their tale miraculously becomes something different, with much higher stakes. The result is a deeply moving portrait of love itself, the tender moments and the fundamental changes that affect us all. It is a story of miracles and emotions that will stay with you forever.

I read this book for this weeks Throwback Thursday because I saw the movie and wanted to know if there was any big differences between the film and the book. Just so you know...there isn’t much difference! The movie does expand on their summer together.
    I really enjoyed the book. This is the kind of book that will lift your spirits; wether you are lost in love, or are feeling left out of love..The Notebook will give you hope! The imagery alone makes this a calming read. You have to take this story as it is. It is a sweet love story,  with no crazy twists, or suspense. The Notebook is a good bath and glass of wine read.
    Noah and Allie’s love is something that I think many of us strive for. Their love was once  lost and found again...but will it continue. Allie has to face the struggle that an upper class woman sometimes has to face. Should she marry for true, soul shaddering love, or should she marry for status, and a comfortable life. Although she loves both men...she loves them differently.
    Noah has just the right amount of romanticism, and manliness. Allie is feminine and artistic. They are a beautiful combination of love, and deepness. Their love story is something that can be told over and over again!
    I rate this book a 4.

There's a place along Interstate 50 that some call the loneliest place on Earth. It's known as Desperation, Nevada.
It's not a very nice place to live. It's an even worse place to die.
Let the battle against evil begin.
Welcome to ... Desperation...

Located off a desolate stretch of Interstate 50, Desperation, Nevada has few connections with the rest of the world. It is a place, though, where the seams between worlds are thin. Miners at the China Pit have accidentally broken into another dimension and released a horrific creature known as Tak, who takes human form by hijacking some of the town's residents. The forces of good orchestrate a confrontation between this ancient evil and a group of unsuspecting travelers who are lured to the dying town. This rag-tag band of unwilling champions is led by a young boy who speaks to God.