Fruits Basket Volume 16 by Natsuki Takaya

Title: Fruits Basket, Volume 16 
Author: Natsuki Takaya 
Type: Manga 
Genre: Shoujo 
Series: Yes, Vol. 16 of 23 
Pages: 200 
Copyright: 2007 
Publisher: TOKYOPOP Inc. 
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary: from Good Reads
The world's best shojo manga opens a new chapter in the Sohma family's story.

Tragedy continues to smother the Sohma family. It seems to be spreading to those connected to the Sohmas. Kyo has met Tohru's mother in the past. His memory involves Tohru's birth. Is she ready to hear the truth about her mother and father? Meanwhile, Yuki declares his independence from the actions of others. How will Akito handle Yuki's declaration?

Feelings:
I enjoyed this volume it gave us a little bit more about Tohru's mother. It was interesting that we get this from Kyo who met her in the past but I thought that was a good addition to the story. We didn't really know much about Tohru's parents before this and now we have a better idea who they are.

This series is doing a good job maintaining the strength through out the series. I'm interested to see what will happen in the future with the characters. It seems like we might have some romance coming.

I would recommend this series to those that like Shoujo manga. I also feel like it is a good introduction to shoujo manga.   

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

Title: Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
Author: Dan Ariely
Type: Audiobook
Narrator: Simon Jones
Genre: Economics
Series: No
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: HarperAudio
Rating: 4.5 out of 5


Summary: from good reads
Why do our headaches persist after taking a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a 50-cent aspirin? Why does recalling the Ten Commandments reduce our tendency to lie, even when we couldn't possibly be caught? Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save twenty-five cents on a can of soup? Why do we go back for second helpings at the unlimited buffet, even when our stomachs are already full? And how did we ever start spending $4.15 on a cup of coffee when, just a few years ago, we used to pay less than a dollar?

When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we're in control. We think we're making smart, rational choices. But are we?

In a series of illuminating, often surprising experiments, MIT behavioral economist Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. Blending everyday experience with groundbreaking research, Ariely explains how expectations, emotions, social norms, and other invisible, seemingly illogical forces skew our reasoning abilities. Not only do we make astonishingly simple mistakes every day, but we make the same types of mistakes, Ariely discovers. We consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate. We fail to understand the profound effects of our emotions on what we want, and we overvalue what we already own. Yet these misguided behaviors are neither random nor senseless. They're systematic and predictable — making us predictably irrational.

From drinking coffee to losing weight, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, Ariely explains how to break through these systematic patterns of thought to make better decisions. Predictably Irrational will change the way we interact with the world — one small decision at a time.

Feelings:
I never thought I would enjoy learning about how we make irrational decisions in predictable ways. One of the clear take aways from the book for me was that having relationships that are social with corporations or business doesn't make since because we will be hurt when they turn from using social norms to market norms. This may be whey banks are having such a hard time right now.

Looking at economics from this point of view we see that we don't always make the best decisions and it is hard to change once we have created a habit.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn about behavioral economics and decision making.

12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

Title: 12 Years a Slave
Author: Solomon Northup
Type: Audiobook
Narrator: Louis Gossett Jr.
Genre: Memoir
Series: No
Copyright: 2013(original copyright 1853)
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Rating: 4 out of 5


Summary: from good reads
In this riveting true story, Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr., masterfully transports us to 1840s New York, Louisiana,and Washington, DC, to experience the kidnapping and twelve-year bondage of Solomon Northup, a free man of color. Published in 1853, this account was a bombshell in the national debate over slavery leading up to the Civil War and helped tilt public opinion in favor of abolition. Solomon captures the reality of slavery in stunning detail as we learn about the characters that populate plantation society and the intrigues of the bayou. Eventually a friend attempts a courageous rescue that could either result in Solomon's death or get him back to the arms of his family.

Feelings:
I thought this would be a harder book to listen to than it was. A free man sold into slavery would surly have a story that would be heart wrenching. However, the way this was told did not dwell on the pain and suffering but tried to deliver facts.

I did find the delivery of the story of Solomon to be a bit dry at times. We went from fact to fact and didn't get bogged down in the emotions. When emotions were involved we didn't get caught up in them but seemed to observe from a distance of time. I think that having written the story in this way was good as it did give some distance from the horror that was slavery. However, it did make the story a little bit difficult to get into.

I have not seen the movie that was made from the book. The visuals of film would add to the story and emphasis the emotion and pain more than the book did in my opinion. I recommend the audiobook the narrator did an excellent job making what was at times a dry narrative interesting.

Fruits Basket Volume 15 by Natsuki Takaya

Title: Fruits Basket, Volume 15 
Author: Natsuki Takaya 
Type: Manga 
Genre: Shoujo 
Series: Yes, Vol. 15 of 23 
Pages: 200 
Copyright: 2006 
Publisher: TOKYOPOP Inc. 
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary: from Good Reads
Yuki's past finally is revealed! But is it all too much to bear? His sickness takes a turn for the worse, and after Akito reminds Yuki how loathed he is, his will to live might finally be drained... Meanwhile, as Tohru is getting ready to perform in Cinderella, the class decides that they have to rewrite the play. But no amount of revision will prevent Tohru from improvising her loving feelings for a certain someone. Just who is the mystery man? A little bird tells us that the answer is right inside this next volume of the super-popular Fruits Basket, the world's #1 shojo manga!

Feelings:
I thought that the history with Yuki's past was very interesting and gives us a better idea of why the relationship between Yuki and Kyo is the way it is. I think the back story is what is really helping the current time's story remain interesting.

The school play, a sort of Cinderella story was interesting but I think the fact that the class didn't really want to do the play and the casting was off made it seem a bit forced and I didn't think it was nearly as good as it could have been.

There are parts of this that were stronger than others but overall the series is still very interesting.

Eona by Alison Goodman

Title: Eona: The Last Dragoneye 
Author: Alison Goodman 
Type:  Young Adult Novel 
Genre: Fantasy 
Series: Yes, Book #2 
Pages: 637 
Copyright: 2011 
Publisher: VIKING 
Rating: 3 out of 5


Summary: from good reads
Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon's army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona's power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the selfstyled "Emperor" Sethon. Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power - and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans. . . .

Eona, with its pulse-pounding drama and romance, its unforgettable fight scenes, and its surprises, is the conclusion to an epic story only Alison Goodman can create..


Feelings:
Eona picks up where Eon left off with Eona having revealed that she is not a boy to some. The struggle for the power of the dragons continues and while Eona is scared of Ido she realizes that she needs him to be able to learn about the dragons. Kyo the Prince does not trust Ido but he realizes the power of Eona and while he truly cares for her he cannot sacrifice his kingdom.

This was a wonderful conclusion to the series. I did not expect the ending to be what it was. A surprise is always good. I recommend this series. 

Eon by Alison Goodman

Title: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
Author: Alison Goodman
Type:  Young Adult Novel
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Yes, Book #1
Pages: 531
Copyright: 2008
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Rating: 3 out of 5


Summary: from good reads
Also Known As: Two Pearls of Wisdom, Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye, and Eon (All the same book just published with different publishers)

Swordplay, dragon magic--and a hero with a desperate secret

Twelve-year-old Eon has been in training for years. His intensive study of Dragon Magic,, based on East Asian astrology, involves two kinds of skills: sword-work and magical aptitude. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye--an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.

But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.

When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life.

Feelings:
I really enjoyed this book. It follows a boy who is training to be coming become Dragoneye. Eon has secrets though and when he is picked by the Mirror Dragon, who has been absent for over 500 years, those secrets threaten to undo all the work he has done to become a Dragoneye. Because Eon is really Eona and girls are not allowed to be part of the Dragon lords nor are they supposed to have standing in the kingdom.

I greatly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the second book Eona. 

Fruits Basket Volume 14 by Natsuki Takaya

Title: Fruits Basket, Volume 14 
Author: Natsuki Takaya 
Type: Manga 
Genre: Shoujo 
Series: Yes, Vol. 14 of 23 
Pages: 208 
Copyright: 2006 
Publisher: TOKYOPOP Inc. 
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary: from Good Reads
Isuzu loves snooping through Shigure's life, especially when she's totally convinced that he is hiding something. But when Tohru finds a passed-out Isuzu in the house, she tries to drag Isuzu to the hospital. Meanwhile, Yuki goes to the ASB student council room only to find it trashed again! But as the secrets of who vandalized the room come out of the closet, Yuki accidentally gets locked in one. Who will be the one to help him get out? The answer is right inside this next volume of the super-popular Fruits Basket, the world's most popular shojo manga!

Feelings:
We get to know Rin a little more in this and understand why she feels the way she does about her family. I thought that this was a bit darker than the past volumes. I didn't mind that but I wondered why we had a change. It seems that each member of the zodiac has had a traumatic childhood and they all have some kind of baggage.

The volumes now seem like they are about character development and growth. I like that and amazingly the series is still holding my attention. I would recommend it.