Forrest Gump by Winston Groom

8/10

I read this book six or seven years ago. It was written about eight years before the movie came out. The movie is probably my favorite of all time, at least top three. The book isn't in my top three but it is still amazingly hilarious. And it's actually quite different than the movie. It has mostly the same characters, but Forrest's adventures are different. For example, Forrest actually becomes an astronaut and goes to space with a monkey who becomes his pal. They then crash in the ocean somewhere just off an island and become prisoners to these cannibals. There he learns to play chess and becomes super amazing at it (instead of ping pong). There are other examples as well, such as the circumstances of his relationships with his best-good friend Bubba (they meet at college, not the army) and Jenny (they are off and on in both but never marry in the book).

If you love the movie then you will love the book and enjoy Forrest's other adventures. I imagine if I had read the book first though that I would maybe have been upset with how different the movie was. So I'm glad I read it after seeing the movie. And I guess there's a second book called "Gump and Co." which was written after the movie came out. I guess I'll have to put that on my books to read list.

Truth Restored by Gordon B. Hinckley / Gospel Principles

7/10

I read this on the mish many moons ago. It was the last of the 5 Missionary Reference Library books that I read, for obvious reasons. Not that this one is bad or unappealing, but because the other ones are way more awsomer. It was a good book. Truth Restored is a little recap of the the foundation of the church and such. Gospel Principles is several lessons about basic doctrines of the church. My true fans will know that I have already made a separate post about Gospel Principles.

I would recommend this book, but not before other fun Missionary Reference Library books such as Jesus the Christ, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, and Articles of Faith.

For some reason I didn't underline much in this book so I couldn't locate too many quotes, but I will leave you with this one from the Gospel Principles portion of the book:

"When we choose to live according to God's plan for us, our agency is strengthened. Right choices increase our power to make more right choices."

Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card

7/10

I read this probably about 4 years ago, and made hilarious shadow puppets on the wall a few days ago much to Mallory's delight. It is the third of the four books about Bean. And, for some reason, I still haven't read the last book.

This one was enjoyable enough, although no where near as good as Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, obviously. I don't recall a whole lot of specifics from the book other than Achilles from battle school plots a whole bunch of different traps in an attempt to kill Bean (and others). He gets his come-uppins. It's a fun enough read for those who like learning about the goings on of the various battle schoolers.

Quotes:

"To know and refuse to know what you know, that is foolishness."

"Self-delusion dies hard."

"It's better to believe that some high purpose guides our steps than to think that nothing matters except our own small miseries and happinesses."

"It's hard to stand when you have no spine."