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Morgan's reviews
Rating: 2 stars
I stumbled across a free copy of this book online, and with the gorgeous cover and intriguing premise, I dove into it right away. Oh, how I wish I looked at the Goodreads ratings first.
I should give anyone reading this a warning. I will be ranting. A lot.
Firts off, this was the weirdest, most ridiculous, juvenile, annoying book I've read in a long time. And the most painful thing is that it could have been great. It really could have. Underneath the mess of a plot were some good, orginal ideas. Unfortunatley, several things ruined it.
Let's start with the narrator. Beth is supposed to be smart. She is a seventeen year old senior finishing high school early and taking college courses. Instead of a sophisticated young lady, we get a narrator who is fond of bathroom humor and nonsensical slang. Seriously, she is constantly talking about bodily functions, and refers to her name as Pee Poo. She'll be in a dire situation and be all "Oh, yeah. My name is Pee Poo." Her slang isn't cool or hip, but something a twelve year would be embarrassed to say. She refers to her visions as "grooze" or "feelsees", and uses them casually in conversation as if anyone can tell what the hell she is talking about. She is not witty either, just very cheesy. Beth devotes the same amount of energy to worrying about body odor as she does in life-threatening situations. I just cannot believe some of the stuff the author wrote. My eyes were in constant eye-rolling motion.
Then there is the romance between Beth and Richie aka Hot Guy. Who is Richie you may ask? Richie is the attractive older guy who suddenly falls for our narrator after spending five minutes with her for no apparent reason at all. Other than that, I have no idea who he is. I have no other physical description of him other than that he is hot, and his only personality trait is that he is "sweet". I know he has a younger sex-obsessed brother and an alcoholic mother, but these concepts were just pushed aside in order for Beth and Richie to have more "omg we can't make-out or else risk electrocution" time.
Other than that, it was just flat out weird and weirdly written. I have no problem strange if it is at least written well, but this is not the case. Bendinger would rely far too much on the visual, assuming her readers know what the hell is going on. She might as well have been describing a keleidoscope. She would often clump up the supernatural. Some parts would be devoid as so much as a "feelsee", then others were just leadened with it. The ending was rushed, but nothing was resolved anyway.
I'm not sure whether this book is a result of an author trying to be hard to be trendy, or an author having a good idea lazily executed. I just pretty much hated it the entire way. My lip was constantly curled in a snarl. You might be asking why I bothered to finish it then. Once I have an answer I shall get back to you.
I will not be reading the sequel.
Oh, and one more thing. Song-gasms. WTF!?
Rating: 4 stars
I decided to read this book based off a Sparknotes recommendation. I've always been interested in Ancient Rome and historical-fiction, and this seemed to be a perfect combination.
This classic account by Robert Graves takes the form of Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus's autobiography. Claudius is dismissed as a lame simpleton since his birth. Surprisingly, this is why Claudius manages to survive the murders and betrayals that surround him during the reign of three emperors, only to become emperor himself.
This is a good book. I realize that and repsect that. It just wasn't for me. The endless lists of characters were confusing, and their relationships to each other were very difficult to keep track of. Since there were so many characters, none of them were very much developed. The whole thing just seemed a little impersonal. My favorite parts were when Claudius actually had a conversation with people instead of just describing distant wars.
I did like the humor that was sprinkled in, and some of the characters were delightfully evil (I love you, Livia!). I read this very slowly, only reading around 60 pages a day. I think I absorbed it better that way. I wonder how accurate Graves was. I won't be checking out the sequel to this book, but I'm gonna get the miniseries on Netflix and see if I like it.
Rating: 3 stars
I most likely wouldn't have read this book if it wasn't offered to me free. But the title was so blunt and the cover so funny that I couldn't turn it down. I went into this book expecting nothing more than your typical shallow chick-lit.
The title and cover pretty much explains the plot. Helen and Lauren have been best friends their entire lives. That all changes at the end of eighth grade when Lauren betrays her best friend for the sake of popularity. Helen moves away and returns three years later with a new look, new name, and a new attitude. Watch out Lauren- Helen is looking for revenge.
Despite myself, I liked this book. It's not winning any rewards and isn't particularly original, but it was fun. The best part of it was that it wasn't painful to read. Some young adult novels nowadays try too hard to sound like teenagers, but I didn't get that impression from this book. The characters are two-dimensional and stereotypical, but not unpleasant. It was also pretty clean- no swearing or sex. And of course the heroine realizes her mistakes by the end and does the right thing, proving some morals. This book was fun and undemanding, a nice little tribute to The Count of Monte Cristo.
Rating: 3.5 stars
I'm a sucker for historical-fiction so when I saw this book at the library it looked like candy.
An orphan, Eliza Sommers is raised in the Chilean house of a Victorian spinster, Miss Rose, and her rigid brother, Jeremy. At the age of 16, Eliza falls for dirt-poor Joaquin Andieta, a clerk for her uncle Jeremy. In the year of 1849, Joaquin decides to search for his fortune in the Californian gold mines, and Eliza, pregnant with his child, follows him.
This book was slow-going for me. The writing was good, but I would have loved to read this book in its original language. The beginning was rather dull, but did get progressively better when Eliza finally arrives in California. Each character has a detailed back-story and their own share of vices. My favorite aspect of the book, being a romantic, was the relationship between Eliza and Tao Chi'en, and I wished that was the main focus of the book. The book could become a bit tedious, at times appearing to be a documentary of California during the Gold Rush. I also felt Allende was a little preoccupied with prostitutes. She tried to account for every single hooker that set foot on California soil. But still, the only part that really pissed me off was the last page. It was just so abrupt, letting the reader, in this case me, to make their own happily ever afters. I HATE THAT. I spent this whole book waiting for the thing that Allende kept hinting at to happen, but then I get nothing. It was just so frustrating. This book got three instead of four stars because of it.
Rating: 4 stars
When my English teacher told us we had to read this book, I groaned. I already attempted to read it, and didn't like it. Nonetheless, I read it again.
This book centers on a group of British school boys who crash on a deserted island. They attempt to establish leadership but end up bringing out raw human nature.
I liked it better this time. Perhaps I matured as a reader from the last time I read it, or was just in a better mood. One thing I still dislike about it though is the prose. I often had trouble figuring out who was speaking and just often had a hard time following it. I did, however, pick up on all the symbolism and yada yada yada....
Anyway, I recommend this book. Everyone should try to read this once (or twice, in some circumstances) because its one of the books that you can always allude to when you want to look smart.
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Rating 3.5 stars
I was really excited when I won this book on Firstreads because it looked absolutely adorable.
Living in a small town in 1955, 10-yr-old Teaspoon sometimes seems larger than life. She fights, fibs, talks too much, and has a passion for singing. But Teaspoon wants to change in order to be "respectable" for Teddy, the boyfriend that her mom abandoned her with 5 years ago. So Teaspoon joins the Sunshine Sisters, a mentoring program, and her Big Sister is none other than Brenda Bloom, the daughter to the richest and most respectable family in town.
I greatly enjoyed this books cast. All the characters are well-drawn with big personalities, the biggest belonging to the narrator. Teaspoon is delightfully naive and very funny, even when she doesn't intend to be. However her voice did waver on the thin line bewteen charming and irritating, as all ten year olds sometimes do. The plot was good, if somewhat predictable.
I did enjoy this book. I feel it would make a really good movie one day. I'll be smiling about Teaspoon's summer for a while, but if I never hear the words "affliction" or "respectable" again, it will be too soon.
Rating: 3 stars
I'm no stranger to Neal Shusterman, so when I saw this book with his name on it at the library, I had to pick it up. Once I read the back, I convinced myself that it would be interesting.
When fourteen year old Jared and his friends decide to form a club of "second-bests" and play anonymous tricks on each other's arch rivals, the harmless pranks escalate until they become life-threatening.
This book had more potential than it did worth. It was all right. Very quick, I read it in less than a day. But it could have been more, ya know? If only Shusterman could have went deeper and really explored his characters then it would have been fantastic. I felt the characters were nothing more than a name on a page, instead of well-developed individuals. The story was kind of disturbing and a tad unrealistic. Like these guys were in a life-threatening situation and are making jokes about piss. Anyway, I would say the writing is for middle-schoolers, but the material might just satisfy older readers too.
I don't particularly recommend it, but if you like Neal Shusterman, give it a shot. I don't think I'll seek the sequel, but if I come across it, I might read it.
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Rating: 4.5 stars
I've been wanting to get my hands on this book for ages. It was receiving good reviews and was promoted everywhere I looked.
This book, written in epistolary format (points for using a new word!), follows Juliet, an author living in London just after WW2, who receives a letter from a man living on Guernsey who happens to notice her address in a second-hand book he has. They begin a delightful correspodance and Juliet gets sucked into the story of Guernsey's occupation and of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
This book was so delightful and charming it was like a cute old lady. I've never read such a light-hearted book about WW2, and it was a nice change. I fell in love with every single character mentioned. Especially Isola. If it was possible for me to go into a book and kidnap a character, it would be Isola. It's only a pity she doesn't have any super powers. Anyway, I didn't find the letter format confusing, execept for the occasional confusion over the difference between Susan and Sophie. I got sucked into the book more and more as I turned the pages, and by the end I couldn't put it down. However, as it went on, it also got progressively less believable. So some mild disbelief-suspension is required to enjoy the book. I also felt I learned a lot about the Occupation.
I do completely recommend this book with 4.5 stars. It's only a shame that Ms. Shaffer died before the completion of her first novel. I would have read more things from her.
Rating: 2.5 stars
I've only heard good things about the trilogy and I've gotten the impression that it was a must for fantasy lovers.
Here's the summary: "Sabriel, daughter of the necromancer Abhorsen, must journey into the mysterious and magical Old Kingdom to rescue her father from the Land of the Dead."
Nah. I wasn't impressed. At the most, it was okay. I just couldn't get into it. I would find myself unconciously skimming it before reminding myself that I was supposed to be paying attention. I guess the fantasy was unique, but it was hard for me to picture. Despite it being action-packed, the overall plot progression was slow. I could easily put it down without being compelled to pick it up again. The prose served it's purpose but wasn't particularly well-done. I was also never really sure what Sabriel's goal was or who the bad guys were. By far my least favorite part of the book was the characters. All the characters, including the MC, weren't granted even the thinnest wisps of personality. They were simply names of the page, used as plot devices. I never felt any connection to them at all. Sabriel was the "perfect" character. She didn't have any flaws and did everything without the slightest bit of difficulty. Perhaps if Nix had made the book in first person POV it would be more compelling. The "romance" between Touchstone and Sabriel made me gag. Don't make me mention the talking cat...
Anyway, do I recommend it? No. Will I read the sequels? Possibly.
P.S. My little cousin Michaela wants me to say that the girl on the cover looks like Michael Jackson.
Rating: 3 stars
Vampires are kind of a guilty pleasure of mine, so this novel, of course, was a must. I saw reviews going both ways, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This is also my first time reading Anne Rice.
I was not a very big fan of this book. The story was good, but I absolutely drowned in the writing. I still can't believe how blood thirsty vampires can seem so dull. Too many mindless descriptions, and I was often confused with what was metaphorical and what was actually happening. Other than that, it was just slow-moving. I'm sure there was action probably everywhere, but my eyes too dulled over to notice it. I didn't like Louis as a narrator; he just seemed like a whiny little baby to me. I understand that he was supposed to be all conflicted and depressed, but did it have to fill every paragraph? The vampires overall were enjoyable. At least they killed people, unlike these pussy "vegan" ones nowadays.
I did like the story, I just wish it was written differently. Much differently. I'll watch the movie, but I doubt I'll pick up another Rice novel anytime soon.
Rating: 3.5 stars
I do like Mitch Albom. I've read two other books of his, The Five People You Meet in Heaven and For One More Day, and they are both so different from other books I read. Going into this one, I was expecting some serious reflection on my life.
This book follows Albom in his interaction with two "Men of God". His childhood Rabbi who has asked him to do his eulogy, and Pastor Covington, a reformed drug dealer who is struggling to keep his decaying church afloat. Both men teach him profound things about life, love, and faith.
This book claimed it would inspire me, and it did. It is a quick read, but it has a lot to say. Some of the writing was downright beautiful, and there are quite a few memorable quotes. My favorite was this: "The story of my recent life. I like that phrase. It makes more sense than the story of my life, because we get so many lives between birth and death. A life to be a child. A life to come of age. A life to wander, to settle, to fall in love, to parent, to test our promise, to realize our mortality- and in some lucky cases, to do something after that realization." This book was just filled with little moments that shine, and the characters are so exuberant, I wish I could meet them.
If you ever feel the need to be spiritual, to feel better about yourself, this book will give you the opportunity.
Rating: 1 star
This book was offered to me free online, and it looked interesting. I've always found slave stories intriguing, if not frightening.
This one follows 14 yr old Ayanna, or Sarah, or Anna (whatever her name is), who has been enslaved since the age of four, on her quest for freedom. So she runs away and settles in a little town, where she sets out to be a teacher.
As you can tell from my rating, I didn't much like this book. I just despised the writing. I couldn't read more than a paragraph without the horrible writing yanking me out of the story. I don't know exactly what I detested. Just somethings about it was some clumsy and the overused adjectives were misplaced. There were too many anachronisms to count. I didn't like the narrator at all. She was stubbornly naive, but the author tried to make her perfect and it just wasn't working. The other characters were bland. Despite the authors extensive research, it just wasn't realistic enough.
It's been done better before, and I'm afraid I can't recommend this one. I really tried to like this one. I read ths book for a month and only got halfwaay through. I couldn't take anymore.
Rating: 3 stars
My two friends have been raving about this book for days. They lent me a rather battered copy, at least by my tastes (I don't even like dog-earing). The premise sounds interesting, the reviews are mixed, and the title and cover looks like something out of a Kotex add. Here we go.......
.................
All right. This book is about 15 year old Laurel, who discovers she's a faerie after a flower blooms out of her back (faeries are apparently plant people). Anyway, her old house is on some special land that trolls (aka the bad guys) want a hold of. So she has to stop them. But she is not alone in her adventures. She has her super-nice human friend David(who is in love with her) and her attractive faerie friend Tamani(who is also in love with her) to help her out.
Hey, it was okay. I thought the whole faerie mythology thing original. But that was probably the best part. The characters were a little cookie-cutterish, and Laurel was the perfect girl that everybody found likable. I guess one faerie power is to have insta-friends, because on the first day of school she already has a guy pining after her. (Guess what class they have together. That's right! Biology!) There is also a love triangle folks, between the sexy dangerous guy, and the cute dependable friend. I'm rooting for you, David! I thought Tamani was too big of a creep, and I never found Laurel's and his connection too palpable. Plus David deserves it, him being whipped and all.
The writing was pretty simple. It was a little too easy to read. More like middle-grade. Content-wise, the book is pretty clean. No swearing other than one s***, I believe. Some kissing, no real sex. Menstruation is mentioned, which might make guy-readers a little uncomfortable. But honestly, what guy would read this book?
Overall, the whole pick seemed like a set-up for a series. Just an introduction of the chracters and plot. Not all the loose ends are tied up either. I'll probably read the rest of the series, but I won't pay for the books.
On a side note, Miley Cyrus as Laurel? Yuck. I was thinking more like Anna Sophia Robb. Same look as Laurel and she can act. If Disney wants Miley in it so bad, she can be Chelsea and they can create a bigger part for her or something.
Rating: 3 stars
I've always had a thing for well-written ghost stories.
This book, written in verse, centers around Ava who blames herself for her boyfriend's death. Before she has time to get over it, she finds herself haunted by Jackson, who may or may not let her move on.
This book reads very, very quickly. Not only did it have a short length, but it's possible to read each poem in a matter of seconds. I liked the ghost story well enough, but I wanted more. Sure the verse thing was creative, but I would've gotten more out of it if it were written in prose. But thats just a personal preference. I know some people find this kind of writing beautiful and original, but I'm not one of them. I do like the story, I just wished it was more fleshed out.
I guess novels in verse just don't do it for me.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Originally, I wasn't too interested in this book. From the plot description, it looked pretty cliched.
This book is about 16 year old Sydney Biggs. After getting into some trouble, Sydney's parents send her off on a six-week canoeing trip for the summer in the Canadian wilderness. Sydney's best friend, the rich and beautiful Natalia, is also going, but Sydney isn't all too happy about that, because with Natalia there, Sydney must constantly face an awful truth: she is pregnant. Over the course of the summer, Sydney must decide what to do about the baby, whether it means losing her best friend or her future.
Surprisingly, I adored this book. The first few chapters were meh, but once Syndey got to campe, I couldn't but the book down. I absolutely loved the complex and lively cast of characters, and the setting was a nice change. It was decently written and pretty realistic. I think de Gramont perfectly captured the troubles of a pregnant teen and brought up some interesting points. I didn't find it predictable and Sydney's decision surprised me.
I really enjoyed this book. I'll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
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Rating: 3 stars
When I first saw this book, it looked charming. Nothing earth-shattering, of course, but charming.
This book is about Sarah, the shy best friend of the beautiful Brianna. Sarah has always done her best to be the perfect friend for Brianna, whether its being there when Brianna's parents screw up again or just making Brianna feel needed. But one thing is threatening their friendship: Sarah seriously likes Brianna's boyfriend, Ryan, and that feeling is only magnified when Ryan and her kiss. Now Sarah must make a decision. Who's more important in her life? The cute artistic guy she's liked since eighth grade?, or her demanding best friend?
I liked this book. My favorite thing about it was Sarah's parents. They were adorable, quirky, and caring. YA fiction seriouly needs more parents like these. I even liked Brianna's depth. It would be one thing if she was just a bitchy mean girl, but she's a bitchy mean girl with reasons for her bitchiness. I also liked all the little awkward moments between the characters, because they were all too realistic.
Now there were things I didn't like. Amongst them the writing style. It was a little too informal and conversational, like it was straight out of the thought-process of a teen. I wasn't too big a fan of the narrator either. She was a little too meek and her constant fretting about the kiss could get annoying. I wanted to shake her sometimes, and yell at her to stand up for herself. And I still have one question left at the end of the book. Why did Ryan go out with Brianna in the first place if he liked Sarah so much? If the answer is in there, and I missed it, please let me know. I also found the character roles a little bit of a cliche. I think I've had enough shy-girl-with-beautiful-best-friend-discovers-herself stories for a while.
I did like the ending. It surprised me.
Overall, a cute little book. It reads quickly and there is a little message wrapped up in it.
Rating: 5 stars
I am a huge fan of Laurie Halse Anderson, so I was super-excited to read this book.
Wintergirls is about Lia, an 18-yr-old anorexic. The book starts off when Lia is told that her former best friend, Cassie, was found dead in a hotel room. Cassie was bulimic, a fellow wintergirl, a girl trapped in the border of life and death. Cassie and Lia made a pact a long time ago to be the skinniest girls in school, but it evolved into a deadly competition. Lia must come to terms with Cassie's death while dealing with her own disorder, and things become more difficult when Cassie begins to haunt her, begging her to join her.
I absolultely loved this book. I loved the style and I loved the characters. I know a few people with anorexia, and this gave me greater insight into their mental state. The style was unique, and it really added to the story. The writing was equivalent to a stream of conciousness. I didn't get the impression that Anderson was just trying to be clever. Lia was not a perfect character, or a reliable narrator, but I developed sympathy for her. I didn't think it was a "how-to" guide for anorexics, as some people are saying, but rather a warning. Chances are, if you are anorexic, you know all the tricks anyway. I liked all the metaphors and symbolism especially, and it gave another level of depth to the story.
Honestly, I can't pick out anything I didn't like. Laurie Halse Anderson remians one of my favorite authors.
Rating: 2 stars
When I won this on firstreads, I got excited. It looked really good.
Polly and Liv, two American friends at Cambridge University, both find themselves for Nick, the perfect English guy. The three work together on doing research for a blind professor named Gretchen Paul, who wants to write a book about her mother, a famous author. But one day Nick disappears and in the aftermath, secrets come bubbling to the surface.
I was not a big fan of this book. I did not like the characters or the writing style, and the plot was just too outlandish. The story is told in 5 parts, each narrated by a different character. I liked some parts more than others. Liv's was just flat-out weird.
The writing, I don't know.....there was just something that irked me about it. It was jumpy, never flat out just saying anything. It was hard for me to picture anything and the author assumed I could fill in the empty spaces. There was a lot of reading in-between the lines.
And as I said, the characters were unlikable. They were compltely impulsive and I never knew what was up with them. They were just crazy sometimes. I never felt any sympathy for any of them.
It takes a while for the plot to figure out where it wants to be, but by then, I was already dissatisfied with the book. The plot was pretty much all over the place, and pretty much completely unrealistic. It thrived off of coincedences. And also, I don't think the end wrapped up nicely enough.
There wasn't much to enjoy with this book. There were some good moments, but I don't think puddling through all the muck was worth it to get to them.
Rating: 4 stars
Ivy's life is far from picturesque. Orphaned at a young age, she moves in with her in-laws, a poor family of scoundrels. At the age of five, she runs away and finds herself an addition to a troupe of thieves, in particular, the "skinner" Carroty Kate. In order to silence Ivy's screams in the middle of the night caused by nightmares, Kate starts giving Ivy laudanum, one drop at time.
Eleven years later Ivy is back home with her family, when her bright red hair and pale beauty catches the eye of a pre-Raphaelite painter, who wants her as his muse and model. Ivy is forced into an arrangement with the artist, Oscar Aretino Frosdick, by her bullying Cousin Jared and her "invalid" aunt, who desperately want the money. But not everyone is happy with this, including Ivy who escapes through her addiction and Frosdick's jealous mother. Ivy must now decide what she wants from her life, only made more difficult when her past comes back to haunt her.
I really enjoyed this book. I love books set in London, particularly the Victorian-era, so this book definitely was a treat. I loved how this book was romantic, but not in the traditional "girl-loves-boy" kind of way. The intentionally anachronistic writing oozed charm and humor, and the chapter headings were great. An example is "Chapter Twenty-five: In Which Oscar's Physical Well-Being Is Once Again at Risk."
The plot was very Dickensian, and I couldn't help comparing it to Oliver Twist in my mind. The characters were quirky, and Ivy was a good protagonist. She had flaws and strengths. I liked how despite everything she has been through, she still maintained a childlike fascination with animals.
I do recommend this book and it's beautiful cover art. I went in expecting some typical rags-to-riches romance, but was pleasantly surprised.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Sixteen year old Naomi is given the chance that hardly any of us have. With her recent bout of amnesia, she is now able to re-evaluate her life from an objective point of view. But this oppurtunity does not come without it's burdens. She can't remember her friends, her parents' divorce and their respective new partners, her boyfriend, French class, why she likes yearbook so much, why she has birth control pills, or even how to drive a car. Naomi must decide whether or not to try to relive her old life, or to reinvent a new one.
This memory loss occurs right in the middle of high school, where people try so hard to fit in, not that Naomi remembers anything beyond sixth grade. Naomi seems to be popular- or at least her tennis-playing boyfriend is. She seems to be well-involved with the school- she is co-editor-in-chief at the school yearbook committee along with her best friend, Will. She seems to hate her mother for starting a new life with her new family and her father's new fiance. But everything is looking pretty much okay. Then why does it feel so wrong?
Personally, I did not like the narrator one bit. I just didn't "connect" with her, if you will. I had no sympathy. I couldn't care less if she never got her memory back. I thought she was kind of harsh, to be honest. Every now and then she would catch herself being bitchy, but not enough to make up for it. I didn't like James at all. I just wanted him to go crawl back in his emo corner. Usually I'm all for the bad boy type, but James was a whiner who strands his girlfriend at the beach alone, without a cellphone, on the opposite side of the country from home. Not cool dude. Ace wasn't too likable, but I don't think Zevin wanted him to be. Actually, I wanted him to be even meaner. Maybe that would give him some life. Will was probably my favorite. I thought he was cool, yet quirky. A good best friend, if not a boyfriend. The dad was cool too. As for the rest of the characters, Zevin never gave them much personality or page time.
But I never saw why Naomi hated her mom so much. Yes, she is allowed to be angry (her mom did cheat on her dad afterall), but not speaking to her mother or little sister who is completely innocent in the situation (and completely adorable)? I thought that was harsh. I also didn't understand many of Naomi's decisions, but hey, I'm not a amnesiac now, am I?
They way it was written was okay, I guess. I had a hard time pinning down the tone. In the beginning, it was humorous. In the middle, it was all angsty. By the end, it tried to get all philosophical on me.
The ending wasn't too good. Nothing really happened to conclude the book. Zevin just kinda decided to make a touchy-feely scene, plot be damned. To me, it made the rest of the book pretty pointless. I didn't see much of a difference between recent-amnesia Naomi and post-amnesia Naomi. Truth be told, I never felt compltely convinced of Naomi's amnesia to begin with. Yes, I understood she couldn't remember her friends and stuff, but besides that, she never felt that scared or helpless, like I imagine an amnesiac would feel.
Overall, it was kind of a miss for me, which is a shame because I really liked Elsewhere by the same author. I would rate it 2.5 stars.
Rating: 4 stars
I was really excited to read this book when it first came out. But being short on money (like always), I had to wait an entire year for it to come out in paperback. You should have seen my face when I spotted it's cover at Borders. It immediately went to the enormous pile I was lugging around (sadly, I had to put half the books back, because it would be called stealing otherwise).
This book is told from the perspective of Mary, a young woman growing up in a small, isolated village surrounded by a fence that keeps the unrelenting zombies out. But they are not called zombies in this book (in fact the word zombie never mentioned), but rather the Unconsecrated. Trust me, they are true zombies. They eat flesh and babies and everything. Anyway, Mary grows up believing that her village, run by the dubious Sisterhood that claims that their little pocket of humanity amidst the formidible forest is the last of mankind. Mary, of course, questions this and is not content with her future as a member of the Sisterhood or married to man she doesn't love. Instead, she dreams of the ocean and the other stories her mother used to tell her of generations long gone.
From the first chapter, Mary's life is turned upside down. Her father walks among the dead, and her mother goes to join him. She is turned away by her brother and is sent to live in the Cathedral with the Sisterhood, which has well-kept secrets in every room.
This book is very well-written. Fluid and suspenseful, I had a hard time putting it down. While it did have some zombie-slaying action, it wasn't the focus of the book. Instead what kept me going was the sense of mystery and doom. Nothing good ever happens to Mary and the questions just kept coming with little-to-none answers. Mary was an unreliable narrator and a little crazy. All what the reader sees is first filtered through her eyes. She selfishly clung on to her dream of the ocean and refused to settle for anything less, even when it cost her the people she cared about. But hey, she is still one of the few chracters alive at the end, and the only one with a chance at a life, so she must have been doing something right. The rest of the characters wouldv'e gotten eaten long ago if Mary wasn't there to drive them.
This book is severely creepy, what with zombies relentlessly moaning in the background. I got skeeved out in a couple scenes (zombie baby). Like I said earlier, nothing good really happens at all. This book isn't for the faint at heart as it can be somewhat depressing. But I still found it intelligent and refreshing. It's so nice to read a young adult novel without a saintly narrator and a perfectly happy ending.
My least favorite part of it though was the love triangle? rectangle? I don't know what to call it. But the gist of it is Mary is in love with Travis. Travis is in love with Mary, but is engaged to Mary's best friend, Cass. Cass is in love with Harry, but Harry is engaged to Mary. Harry likes Mary, but I wouldn't call it love. I think he just wants a wife. Oh, and Travis and Harry are brothers. It's just a mess of duty and love. No one wants to marry who they are supposed to, but feel like they have a duty to do so. So, its complicated without ever being really interesting. I never really saw what was so great about Travis. Mary nursed him and her previous crush on him turned into full out love (or so she says). This might sound weird, but I could never tell when they were kissing or not. The scenes between them were written oddly, and I kept thinking they were kissing, but later on in the page I was proved wrong. Their lips were just really close together and they were almost kissing. My bad.
Anyway, despite some personal preferences and little annoyances, this book was really good. Not for everyone, but I recommend everyone try it. I'm sooo looking forward to The Dead-Tossed Waves, where some questions might finally be answered.
Rating: 3 stars
I've read The Body of Christopher Creed and What Happened to Lani Garver by Carol Plum-Ucci, and I have to say I liked this one about the same.
Plum-Ucci has a way of mixing teen problems with almost-supernatural mysteries. I've long ceased expecting any definite conclusions to come from her work. While there was A LOT of talking in this book, I give props to the characters. The characters in this book, particularly Grey, and complex and endearing. The plot was a little slow, and I wasn't at the edge of my seat, but by the end of the book I was certainly absored. And I still have oh so many questions.
If you liked other books by the author, than you will like this one.
Rating: 3 stars
Jessica Packwood is just your average American teen looking for a great senior year. Everything is looking good...until Lucius Vladescu comes to town. Lucius Vladescu is a sexy new foreign exchange student from Romania- who claims Jessica is a vampire princess and his betrothed. Jessica reluctantly transists into her vampiredom with a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions and with some tough decisions to make. Jessica is an ordinary girl, is she ready for eternity with a complicated, ruthless vampire?
From the title I was expecting some light and funny satire, but that's not exactly what I got. I'm not sure what this book wanted to be. At times it was hysterical, sometimes silly, occasionally sexual, and other times heavy. I didn't know what to expect. My favorite part of the books was whenever Lucius wrote letters back home to his uncle. His commentary was hysterical. I wish the whole book was from his eyes. Jessica was okay, but not really that interesting. She was sometimes funny or witty, but most of time was pretty dry. I am kinda sick and tired of nice narrators that guys unexplicably fall for. Jessica wasn't as bad as other narrators, but that makes me for frustrated because I see what she could have been.
The book overall was pretty unique- if slightly predictable, but what isn't nowadays? The book was slow-going sometimes, and there could have been more action. Some parts were ridiculous, like the Wuthering Heights drama and the stake-thrusting mob. And (sorry if this confuses you), I wanted more! It ended too abruptly. As soon as it gets juicy in Romania, I get shut down. I was like "Nooooo!" I don't get a nice little epilogue? A postcard? NOTHING? Alas, I guess that is life...
One thing I have to point out is this random phrase that had me staring at it for like 12 minutes: "phantasmagoric edifice". Wicka wicka WHAT? And it wasn't the fancy European guy who said it either, but rather the farm girl from....I forgot where she's from. Some farm place.
Anyway, not exactly what I was expecting, but entertaining enough. If I see something else by this author, I'll pick it up.
Rating: 5 stars
This novel follows the tale of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob barely mentioned in the Old Testament. In the Hebrew Bible, she is seen as a young girl who a handsome prince took advantage of, and that the following slaughter was the result of her family defending her honor.
I went into this book solely expecting a rich, entertaining story and that's what I got. I never read the story in the Bible, so I didn't have any expectations in regard to being accurate.
I learned much from this book and I could picture the vivid scenery. The way it was written was just so beautiful. Scenes that I would have otherwise found awkward were handled tenderly with grace. This family saga is a tribute to women and mothers everywhere, even those we have forgotten. I saw some reviews saying how this book treated men poorly and two-dimensionally, but I disagree. Dinah treated her male relatives with respect, and her later hatred of them was for personal reasons only- not just because they were men. The reason the men weren't as fleshed out as the women is simply because Dinah did not know them as well. She was surrounded by women, so that's what would have stuck with her.
It seems the more impressed I am with a book, the less I have to say about it. Overall a beautiful, sad story about womanhood and family that I whole-heartedly recommend.
Rating: 3 stars
Okay, I will start off by saying this isn't my first Meg Cabot book. I knew what I was getting into. I knew I wasn't about to engage in literary gold when I opened this book. Anybody who would expect that needs a reality check because....well, look at the cover. It's pink and purple for crying out loud.
This book was very quick and entertaining. It's fluffy, girly brain candy. I always have trouble rating books like these because my wanna-be intelligent self is like "you're too good for these books, go read Chaucer instead", while my teenage girl self enjoys them. Alas I am a conflicted soul.
I went into this all haughty, believing it to be all too predictable, and it was for the most part. Meg Cabot leaves little hints before hand so you know what's going to happen before the narrator does and then repeats it often enough for the especially dense. But then came the twist....those things always make me feel like an a-hole.
The narrator is likeable enough. I didn't want to drown her, which is something special considering most of the heroines in YA nowadays. But then she committed the Ultimate Offense in my mind- claiming some guy is your soulmate after two days. Ugh, I HATE characters like that, especially when they are in high school. Hey, the guy who sits next to me in math class is pretty hot, but that doesn't mean I want to spend eternity with him. I guess I let it slide this time because these characters are reincarnated and have know each other for centuries, which is plenty of time to get to know someone (but do we ever really know someone hmmm?).
Some of the plot points were pretty ridiculous and had me holding back chuckles of disbelief. I know...you guys are probably like "Well, it is a fantasy set in highschool, what did you expect?". To that I say IT'S MY REVIEW AND I GET TO COMPLAIN IF I WANT TO.
The characters weren't as fleshed out as they could have been. Particularly Lance. Poor Lance, he is practically brushed aside in this retelling. And did Jennifer HAVE to be a cheerleader? (guess what color her hair was). I also would have liked to see some other Arthurains characters and more (dare I say it) education. This book barely touches the surface of the tale it's based on. And for those who enjoyed the book and want to read more Arthurian fiction- whilst still be entertained- I recommend The Once and Future King.
The writing is nothing challenging and is meant to be read quickly. No moments of beauty here. Just straight-to-the-point-prose with the occasional dash of humor.
I have to give it up to Meg Cabot. She sure knows how to get people to read her books. I knew I wasn't going to love this book before I went into it, and yet I read it anyway. God help her fans.
Rating: 3.5 stars
I read this one after taking a small break from Jodi Picoult. Her books, no matter what order I read them in, just seemed to get progressively worse. But still, I began this one with a smile.
I wasn't exactly impressed. It was just a book. Not tremendously horrible enough for me to rant about, and not incredibly fantastic enough for me to rave about.
I just found the whole thing kind of anticlimatic. I get waiting for Jodi's trademark twist....but nothing. Did I miss it? Was it not even big enough for me to qualify a twist or was it simply not there?
I just think that she honestly didn't know how to explain Faith, so she just left it hanging. No conclusive endings here. Just unanswered questions. The more righteous among you might say "well, life has unanswered questions, so I suppose she was just being realistic." Well BOO. This is fiction, damnit! Make up some new fancy I-See-God disease if you have to!
It would have been something different if I liked the characters more. Mariah was a twit and Colin was a tool. The grandma was spunky, but a little stereoptypical. Even though Faith was supposedly the entire reason for the novel, I felt distant from her. One thing I can't understand is why Mariah was chosen as first person POV, and nobody else was. It would just make more sense to me if Faith was in first person if anyone was. Oh,and the relationshop between Ian and Mariah...Can you say sappy? I can. Sap sap SAPPY
But the writing was good like always. Picoult sure knows how to make a sentence. Even though there was less "OMG. This quote is so good! So true! So powerful!" this time around.
I shall conclude this review by saying I did not particularly enjoy this book, but it did provide distraction and allowed me to procrastinate my studying further.
Rating: 4 stars
I've seen this book in libraries, on best-of lists, and pretty much everywhere. But I've always dismissed it because of the cover and the premise which just seemed corny and something meant for 14-yr-old StarWars fans. So I was surprised when I saw my math teacher reading it. My math teacher is pretty, in her early 20's, and a conservative Bible-thumper, so I was curious to what she saw in it. Once I see somebody with a book in their hands, I become very nosy. Her rave review convinced me to read it.
What can I say about this book is that it's very fun and entertaining. I read it in one day. The sci-fi itself was pretty basic, and the most interesting part for me was Ender's trials at Battle School. Even though I had trouble following the null gravity battles. I did not understand Ender's explanation at all. It seems I would not be fit for Battle School :(
The most unbelievable part for me was the age of these kids. They were very young, yet talked like your average adult. I understand they were supposed to be genius's and everyone was chosen as the best in something, but the only I saw that in Ender. I wish I could have known the other characters more.
The "twist" ending didn't surprise me as much as the final chapter did. It just seemed so completely different from the rest of the book. I'm not sure whether or like it or not. This book definitely made me think in places.
Overall, I recommend it to sci-fi and non sci-fi fans alike. I'm interested to read the sequels to see what happens to their universe afterward, if I can find them at the library. The library has a nasty habit of only carrying some books in a series- and never the ones I want.
Rating: 3.5 stars
I can sum this book up in one word: ridiculous. But strangely, I enjoyed it all the same.
Gigi Lane, our narrator, is an over-the-top caricature of herself. She is the mean girl. The top-dog. The future prom queen. I'm sure you know the type, if not from real life experience, then from pretty much every teen movie ever made.
Anyway, the book starts off at the end of her junior year at Swan's Lake- an all-girl private school run by the beautiful, powerful Hot Spot. The Hot Spot is a trio of flawless, uber-popular seniors which make sure the schools stays in order. They assign the first years tasks (such as cleaning window, vacuuming, etc.), they keep the cliques in line (the Cheerleaders, the Glossies, the Vox Foxes, etc.), have a mysterious Den of Secrecy, and are part of The Network- powerful connections that will have you set for life. Sounds awesome, right? Gigi, who is next in line for the Head Hottie throne, is super excited for her senior year. But as you can imagine, and correctly assume from the title and premise, things go wrong.
I loved this book, though I didn't start out that way. By Chapter Three, I was convinced this was the most unrealistic bag of BS I've ever read. Had the writer ever been to high school in the least? I wanted to stab the very unlikable Gigi with a fork. Then Gigi came back from Alaska (read the book and find out), and a light shined down from the heavens as I finally understood what this book was. It was supposed to be over-the-top bullshit. It was sattire! Ohhhh
After that, the book was a whole lot more enjoyable as I laughed at Gigi's bizarre antics and the absurd plot. Even though it was sort of predictable in the beginning, some of the twists at the end genuinely surpised me. And Gigi changed for the better.....sort of.
So overall, I don't know. This will either be a hit-or-miss for some people. You'll either appreciate the humore, or give up on Gigi from the start. Most of the negative reviews on here complain about Gigi being "unrelatable", to that I say well, duh.
Rating: 3 stars
This book was beautiful. No, not in the writing, in the presentation. I lovvvvve pictures. I would stare at the illustrations, and kept turning back to look at the map inside the cover. Even the pages were nice and snow white- especially rare since I got this book at the library. Presentation wise, I give this book an A. However, things aren't that simple.
I like steampunk. It fascinates me, and if not for my extreme dislike for the feel of metal, I would love to live in a steampunk setting. Leviathan is no normal steampunk. It contains fabulous fabricated creatures right out of man's imagination. Messenger lizards, floating giant jellyfish, six-legged hydrogen sniffing dogs, and best of all- a humungous flying whale. That's right.
Scott Westerfeld's imagination will never cease to amaze me.
Then there is the more traditional eight-legged walkers and zepplins, you know the usual. These machines are created by the Clankers-Germany and Austria-Hungary, enemy of the Darwsinists- England and France. Both sides have reasons to distrust each other. The Clankers find the fabricated creatures unGodly and the Darwinists don't believe in the reliance on machines. Then World War I happens, and that's where the story starts.
Aleksander is a prince from Austria Hungary and is on the run from the people responsible for the murder of his parents. Deryn Sharp is a girl disguised as a soldier aboard the Leviathan (the aforementioned flying whale). Of course these two main characters are very different, but there is no story unless fate drags them together.
Then some action happens and the story ends openly for a sequel. I was a bit annoyed with that actually. I knew it was going to be a series, I just didn't expect such a cliffhanger. As for the action- there was plenty of it. It was confusing truthfully, and I would have been completley lost if not for the nifty illustrations.
While I preferred Alek as a character, Deryn's story was much more interesting. Both characters, however, where written very young. I couldn't picture them as 15 year olds, but rather as pre-teens around the age of 12. That just seemed to fit their actions better and it suited the middle-school level writing. For being actioned filled, it went slow for me. I just couldn't get the motivation to read it.
If you are expecting romance (as I was), prepare to be disappointed. There was hints of it, of course, but Alek doesn't even Deryn is a girl by the end. I have a feeling any romance in this book will be drawn out verrrrrry slowly.
Overall, its not what I expected. It was an adventure novel for middle-school boys essentially. The pictures were my favorite part. As was the concept of a flying whale with people walking around in it (kinda biblical, ain't it?).
I will most likely read the sequel and have only one demand....
I WANNA MOVIE!!!
Rating: 4.5 stars
Four or five? FOUR OR FIVE? FOUR OR FIVE? Let's see how I'm feeling by the end of the review.
Okay, this book kinda takes place where the last one left off. Give or take twenty to thirty years. Instead of the lovely Mary, the narrator this time is Mary's daughter, Gabry. Now, I understand most of you are like "OMG, who's the father?" I know I was. But I can't say for threat of being flagged as a spoiler.
Anyway, Gabry has a very different upbringing from her mother. She lives in a ligthouse on the outskirts of a little town called Vista. She has a best friend and a crush on her best friend's brother. But most of all, she grows up safe and secure, without all that moaning in the background. But then, of course, it all goes wrong......dun dun DUN. Gabry and her friends take a little midnight hike over the Barrier and zombie hell breaks loose. The night ends with death, betrayals, and with half of her generation gone or imprisoned, life will never be the same for poor, sweet Gabry.
I have to say, this was a hell of a sequel. I thought it was actually much better than The Forest of Hands and Teeth aaaaaand all my questions were answered (well, about 88%). There were even some guest appearances and moments when I felt smarter than the narrator because I knew what something was and she didn't. What more can I gall ask for?
The writing was very much the same. It was beautiful in places, mostly sad, but hope shined through. I managed to read this in a period of 24 hours, which is no small feat when you have school and homework and yada yada yada. My point is that it's compelling and unputdownable (which is officially a word).
The world that Ryan sets up is just incredible, honestly. I find it completely convincing. It's mysterious and dark and scary. Just normal life with fewer good parts....and it has zombies.
I found Gabry more likable than her predcessor, but I don't feel fair comparing the two because they have totally different personalities.
Once again, the weakest part for me was the love triangle. I'm sick of those things. I always choose the wrong guy, then have a grudge against the author for having different taste in men. But this time I think I routing for the right guy.....I think. I have to wait and see if he dies first. Even though Gabry bounced back and forth between the two contestants, she never seemed ho-ish. Just confused.
But once again I could never tell if the couple was kissing. Does that make me weird, or does anyone else have that problem with these books? I don't know, there would be pages of getting close and comfy with one of her man-friends then they would get pissed or something, storm off, and Gabry would try to relive their "almost-kiss". And I would be like "Man, I though for SURE they were lipsmacking that time!"
Overall, I really liked this book. And if you want this book to be a stand-alone, go ahead. This book could do well without it's predcessor, although it's cliffhanger ending may be too much for someone with poor will power (aka me). I recommend this book to everyone, except those who like fairy-tale endings, "perfect" narrators, or can't handle flesh-eating corpses.
I've decided to go with five stars.
Rating: 4 stars
I am a little bit sad. For the past two weeks, my life (well, my book life) has been revolved around reading this series. I re-read the thrill rides which are Gone and Hunger-- then it was time for the main event, the newest installment in the Gone series. Lies.
I have to say it wasn't my favorite in the series. The flaws I had previously brushed aside in the first too became so blatant in this one that I couldn't ignore them. Don't get me wrong- it was still fantastic and I enjoyed it immensely, but it just wasn't my favorite.
The first disappointment was the length. Hunger was a monster, but this one was like it's runty cousin. I was confused about that. Usually books get longer as the plot thickens, and I didn't see why that wasn't the case for this installment. I mean, it was certianly possible to make it longer. There were plenty of loose ends and point that could have been ellaborated on. Perhaps he wanted to leave that to the next book (Plague!!). Also, maybe the fact that the time period for this one was shorter (only a few days as opposed to a couple weeks) had something to do it.
All the characters were great though. They become darker, more complex. Gone (yay for puns!) are the innocent children. Now they are intense. Every person to the smallest tot carries a weapon. Everyone is looking out for themselves, most concerned only about getting food. They aren't hesitant to kill, either, or do what they have to to stay alive. And yes, everyone lies. Big manipulative lies that are the reason for the title. Everyone is changed though, for the worse or for the better. We are also introduced to some new characters, which makes up for the loss of some of the old ones (kinda). I really think Michael Grant is accurate is portraying the desperation these kids would have.
The writing was meh. I mean, it was never amazing to begin with, but in this book it got worse. I think he should get a new editor. Many typos and things that didn't add up to previous infromation given in the previous books. Sam said Caine and him where half brothers, when they are twins. Dekka said she loved Brianna from first sight, where in Hunger, she said she fell in love with Brianna when they were imprisoned. And where did Astrid's powers go? After the first book, they are never mentioned again.
The plot was kinda jumpy. I really love how he tries to get everyone's point of view in, but it didn't pull together that nicely. It was very character driven, and there was less sci-fi (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). It was also more slow-paced than the previous two.
Overall, I still really enjoyed it. This is one of my favorite series. It's thrilling and thought-provoking and dark. All the things I didn't quite like about Lies, I shall attribute it to being a middle book in the series. I am very excited for Plague and cannot believe the release date is an entire year away! Fortunately, Michael did some foreshadowing, which leaves me with great material for speculation.
And does anyone mind telling who the kids on the back cover are supposed to be? I'm guessing Brittney and Drake, but I'm not sure.
Rating: 3 stars
I've been wanting to read this book since it first came out, but was good and waited until it came out in the cheaper paperback.
If I Stay is about 17 yr old Mia, a talented celloist, who is in a coma following a car accident that kills her entire family. While in this coma she must make the ultimate decision: stay alive with grief and an uncertain future or join her parents and brother in death
I have to say this book isn't at all what I expected, and because of that, I may be a little disappointed. It was a surprisingly simple story. There was nothing supernatural about it and all the conflict was an internal struggle. It went back and forth between Mia's stay in the hospital, and her memories which only seemed to complicate her decision.
Truthfully, I didn't find it all that entertaining. Good thing it read very quickly, or else I probably wouldn't have finished it. For some reason, it never absorbed me. Perhaps it was the meandering pace. Even the question of Mia's choice couldn't make me feel interested.
Mia's memories served the purpose to give some background to Mia and help flesh out the story. I kind of felt that they were repetitive. They didn't show anything that couldn't be guessed atfrom the first chapter. Mia's loves her little brother. Mia loves her "hip" parents. Mia loves her punk boyfriend. Mia loves music. That's about it.
I guessed I just missed out on the genius of it all. I'm hearing that it was "beautiful" and "beautifully written", and while I admit that it had more substance than most YA literature, I still wasn't feeling it. A blurb on the front cover said it "will appeal to fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight", and I don't see that at all. I didn't like Twilight, but these books are nothing alike. On top of it all, I hear Summit bought the movie rights to this book. Did I miss something?
Rating: 2.5 stars
I wasn't exactly looking forward to reading this book. I read Life As We Knew It and had so-so feelings about it. But I saw it in the library and was looking for something to read, so I really had no excuse not to read it.
This book was more a companion novel than an actual sequel, and it was based around the same catastrophic event: moon craziness. This time the main character was a 17 yr old Puerto Rican from NYC, named Alex. This book follows his story as he and his two younger sisters struggle to survive.
The main problem for me was the main character. He is a Puerto Rican from NYC, so why didn't the author make him Puerto Rican? I mean this boy is very pious, being the Vice President of his class at a Catholic school. And the only thing that the author attempted to do to portray his latina heritage was having him say random words in Spanish. Not quite. Hey, I can say random words in Spanish too! Mama mia! Wait--that's Italian......
And besides that, the plot was just kind of boring. We get it, you're starving. Point made. Although, I did think the book progressively got better. By the end, I was actually interested.
I also didn't think there was much difference between The Dead and the Gone and Life As We Knew It. They both were about starving families stuck in their situation, one way or another. Except one was a rural setting and was an urban setting. But the main characters had very similar voices.
The only way I shall be reading the third one was if it comes to my local library.
Rating: 3.5 stars
First thing first: I love Sarah Dessen. She is a remarkable YA author, and writes with a distinct style and her books have substance. More than I can say for some other YA writer's out there. (I do NOT have a specific vampire novelist in mind...)
Anyway, Sarah Dessen is dependable. Her work is always something I can come back to after a literary dry spell. That being said, this book in particular wasn't my favorite. I had a feeling it wasn't going to be, which is why I was in no rush to read it. I waited for it to come to me...and then it was time.
It's about Auden, a girl having the summer of her life before going off to college in the fall. Auden is a studious girl, her parents always have valued academics over fun, so much that Auden never got the childhood she deserved. While she is staying with her father's new wife and baby for the summer in a quiet beach town, she meets Eli-- a fellow insomniac and a former BMX-er (yes, that's a word) with some issued. Together, they just might be what the other one needs.
The characters, with the exception of Eli, were awesome. It has always amazed me how Sarah can give each character such a specific personality. They are complex, flawed, likable, and fun. And they all have their issues. But then there was Eli....him and me just never hit it off, okay? Auden was a little predictable, but hey, aren't they all? (Props for using a quote from the book)
The writing was good. There were many moments of what I call "quotable material". Although sometimes, Auden's thoughts would jump from the past to the present, and the transistion wasn't always smooth. One moment she will be working, the next spent with Eli, then it will go back to her working. My easily-confused brain took a while to figure that out.
But *sigh* the plot....Sarah, can't we spice it up a little? This is coming from a long-devoted fan. Sure, this book is awesome to a girl who hasn't read the same thing five times before, but that's not me. I'm sure if you read more than one Sarah Dessen book, you know the formula. Girl with personal issues does something out of character, leading to new experiences, new quirky friends, and of course, a sweet sensitive guy with issues of his own. She grows and develops as a person for while until something bad happens that sends her back into her little hole. Then she reaches some epiphany and everything is all happy again.
One thing I loved was all the little Easter eggs hidden through-out. We get returning characters from Keeping the Moon and The Truth about Forever, which are my two favorites. I love cameo appearances. They make my soul happy.
Anyway, did I like it? Yes, I did become absorbed. Was it my favorite? No. Oh and I have a rating clarification. I would give it 3.5 stars if it was possible. It feels like more than a three, but giving it a four seemed too misleading.
Rating: 4 stars
When I first heard of this book, I dismissed it. It looked cheesy, predictable, and nothing new. And I hated the cover (I would have prefered it if Alex had his shirt off, thank you). But then, I kept seeing more and more rave reviews, so I gave in. On my next trip to Borders, this book found it's way into my pile.
Now here's a story you've all heard before: boy from the bad side of town and the perfect good girl beats the odds and fall in love. The bad boy in this case is Mexican gangbanger, Alex, who does what he has to in order to protect and support his family. The good girl is Brittany, the head cheerleader who leads a seemingly perfect life, but it's all an act as her family is falling apart. Both these characters put on a show for the world, but as they work together on a chemistry project, they might just see what's under the other one's mask and fall in love.
Despite myself, I became absorbed in this novel. I kept making excuses so I could slip away for a few minutes and read a chapter or two. I don't know what it was about the writing that made it so inviting, but it worked all the same.
But even the writing couldn't detract from some of the cheesiness that oozed off the page sometimes. I mean, some parts were realistic, but others were just like cheez-whiz.
And why oh why did Alex and Brittany have to be chemistry partners!
Between chemistry and biology class, who needs dating websites? Just take a science course, and there is a 99% guarantee your true love will be assigned to you. Don't worry, if you and your partner seem opposite, that only adds to the sexual tension! Gah......I just don't know anymore.
Oh, and the scene where Alex and Brittany finally do it (I probably should have indicated spoilesr, but oh well) I was like WTF. Great morals, Brittany! Sleep with a guy to get him to remember you, and if he never sees you again...well, at least you distracted him enough (SPOILAHS) to get his best friend shot. Way to go.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a total romantic. I like happy endings, but not at the cost of being unrealistic. So, I'm not sure whether or not I liked the epilogue.
So I enjoyed it. Kind of like a guilty pleasure. It had plenty of faults, but I enjoyed it just the same. And I read a little excerpt in the back from Rules of Attraction, and I'm excited to read it as soon as I get my hands on it.
Oh, and I was very disappointed when I found out the name of Alex's gang. I was hoping for it to be called the Sharks or the Jets.
Rating: 4 stars
This book could have very nearly been a disaster. It could have taken the sour young-adult fantasy route that I'm experiencing more and more these days. It even had the dreaded love triangle. But, I was pleasanlty surprised in the end.
This books is about a girl, named Aura (the name made me cringe), who can see ghosts. Which is not unusual because everyone born after the Shift can see the voilet figures of people who once were. The night of his 17th birthday, Aura's boyfriend, Logan, dies. He isn't completely gone though, and haunts her whether she wants him to or not. Then enter Zach: the sexy foreign exchange student who has a secret nearly as big as Aura's own.
This book moved quickly and fluently, without just being comprised of action. I was sucked in nearly immediately. I was reading this on my laptop, so I began taking my laptop everywhere. The writing, while not particularly stunning, was fluidly done.
The characters were strong. Aura, the main character, was no Mary Sue. Assertive and passionate, she was quick-witted enough to hold her own in the tensest conversations. Logan was perfect in that he wasn't perfect. He had a temper, but was overall very sweet. Even though he was dead for 90% of the novel, he managed to develop through out the story.
And then there was Zach. Oh. My. God. I think I'm in love. All foreign exchange students are sexy, but a Scottish one? *melts* Smith-Ready must have dived into the deepest parts of my psyche, because he is a man of my dreams. And the love-triangle was well-done. All the emotions Aura felt were believable, and I think readers will be conflicted as to whom to favor.
This was a smart paranormal read. The plot was original without being completely out-there. It was exciting and entertaining, with plenty of unanswered questions left at the end. Once the sequel comes out, I guarantee ya I'll be one of the first in line.
Oh, and I thought the cover was ugly, but that besides the point.
Rating: 2.5 stars
I wanted to like this one. I really did. It seemed like it was made for me. Morganville? Morgan? You can't ignore the connection. But sadly I was disappointed.
The volume I read was an omnibus of the first two books. I wish I just would've bought the first one. The series is about Claire Danvers, a 16 yr old student living in the college town of Morganville. She moves into the Glass House, but not all her roommates might be living. She soon finds out that Morganville is no ordinary college town, but one infested with vampires.
I strongly disliked Claire. Very strongly. I mean, what was the purpose of making her 16? To make her even more annoying?? She was immature and whiny and......*simmers down*. In the second book, all the other characters were like "Oh, what happened to the little mousy girl?", I would go "She's right here guys. Just because its a new book doesn't mean she underwent a personality change."
The other characters were somewhat unlikable. Out all of them, I liked Michael the best. I wish he could have been the love interest. Which brings me to Shane......I just don't get his appeal. He's just some hotheaded "gorgeous" guy. I don't like him. I wish he would have been torched. Him and Claire were just so awkwardly matched. It seemed forced to me. After little to no interaction, Claire is all up in his lap calling him her boyfriend (although that didn't stop her from going on that date with Ian). The romance between them was gag-worthy, honestly. The whole "let's play baseball thing". Yuck. And of course they can't really do it, because of the age difference. Gotta build up that sexual tension.
And, sorry for all the people who liked this series, I'm going to be hatin' on the writing now. It was bad. Real bad. It didn't make any sense. It was in third person, but wanted to be in first person. Pick a POV already!!! I had the most difficul time trying to figure out who was speaking or acting at any given time. And Caine would put random words in italics to prove a point. They were everywhere.
And some of the action didn't have a purpse. It seems Caine would just get bored and go "hhhmmmm, let's go over here now so we can over-complicate things!!"
The main problem was I never was emotionally invested enough. I didn't care what happened. It never held me in suspense. I was just waiting for it to be over
Rating: 4 stars
don't have too many strong feelings about this book.
My favorite aspect of this book was the concept. I really liked all the curse-worker stuff, and the blowback idea was great. In this book, actions had consequences, whether it'd be killing a man with one touch or just changing the odds of a game in your favor. Most fantasy nowadays, people just do whatever they want with the unrealistic threat of "dire consequences". Well, this book has a system. I like systems.
Cassel was a pretty unreliable narrator. I mean, he was wrong about his own life for about 80% of the novel. I found his personality pretty generic. Yes, it is cool who his family is and that he a super-cute conman, but the personality? He is whipped by a dead girl. Speaking of the dead girl, Lila was awesome. She was tough, mysterious, and a bad-ass. I actually liked Cassel's entire family, even his brothers. I know they aren't exactly the good guys, but I thought they were more realistic that way.
Oh, the plot was nice, albeit a little predictable. The twists smelled from a hundred pages away. Except perhaps the one that ended the book...it will be interesting to see how that plays out in future books.
This book was engaging, the concept was great, and I'm interested to see what happens next.
I didn't like the cover though. I dislike it when the author's name is more prominent than the title, and the smoke thing at the top is annoying.
Rating: 4 stars
Wow. I actually really liked this book. It wasn't flawless, but was certainly enjoyable for a classic.
The Things I Didn't Like:
1. The narration. It was just a mess. It would be a narration inside a narration inside a narration. I had no idea who the "I" was whenever it was mentioned. And I just find it a tad bit unbelievable that Nelly Dean was a witness to it all. I kept cracking up because I would imagine Nelly hiding under tables or behind doors, listening in on all these intense conversations. I would have preferred it in third person.
2. The names. I can't count how many time I was confused because I lost track of which Catherine, Linton, or Heathcliff, Bronte was talking about. I think I ended up guessing more than once.
3. Joseph's accent. Oh, Lord. His dialogue was practically in another language. I ended up kind of skimming his parts because it wasn't worth the five minutes it took to decipher one paragraph.
The Things I Did Like:
1. All the characters. They were just so crazy, flawed, unlikable, dramatic, and awesome. I loved them and I hated them.
2. When it was written. It just blows my mind that this was written 150 years ago. Besides the language, it just seems so modern to me. Not the setting, but the plot seems like something people would enjoy today.
3. Romantic but not romantic. I loved how every action and conversation was so filled with passion. It wasn't a romance in the traditional sense, and that made it seemed more realistic. Heathcliff was both the antagonist and protagoninst. He definitely wasn't swoon worthy like the other heroes of his time, but he was darker, more coplex.
I'm really surprised by how much I liked this novel. I wish Emily lived to write another one.
Rating: 4 stars
This book was an odd little novel, one I was not expecting.
This is about Eliza Naumann, a normal girl who family has resigned themselves to her ordinariness. This all changes when Eliza surprisingly wins her school spelling bee, opening doors to herself that she never even knew existed. Eliza's family is strongly impacted by this sudden change. Her father, Saul, is a Jewish scholar, and is determined that his daughter use her abilities to the best advantage possible, resorting to the old leather tomes in his study for guidance. Her brother, Aaron, is thrown off by this sudden change of his father's affection, exploring any way to be closer to God. Her mother, Miriam, is not what she appears, and this sudden change in the family dynamic brings her secrets to light. All this happens because of one girl's ability to spell.
This book has a whole lot shoved in it. Jewish mysticism, Hare Krishnas, kleptomania, obsessive compulsion, complicated families, and spelling bees. It really is like nothing I've ever read before. It was more complex than I was expecting, and I read it slowly in order to soak it all in. The characters and all their actions wer well-developed and intricate. I just really enjoyed the journey it took me on. And, as an added bounes, my vocabulary has been hereby expanded.
I can see how it's not for everyone, and I don't exactly recommend it. This is a book people have to stumble on for themselves.
My only complaint was the ending, which I felt was a little unclear.
Rating: 2 stars
I wasn't expecting much from this book to begin with, so I can't consider myself disappointed.
Claire is having the best birthday of her life. Her pool party is off the chain (people still say that, right?) and Hottie Matthew is starting to show interest in plain old Claire. Emphasis on plain. But when the full moon surfaces, her mother tells her a dark secret, both her and Claire are werewolves. Now Claire life becomes a lot more complicated. Not only does she have to deal with all her bodily changes of becoming a furry beast, she has to hide her secret from everyone, including her best friend, Emily, and Hottie Matthew. But there is also a rouge werewolf on the loose, on that is killing humans and endangering the existance of Claire's pack. To make the plot even twistier, Hottie Matthew is also the son of some deranged scientist hellbent of capturing and "curing" werewolves.
Okay, okay. I know this is a fantasy book. I know it has very little basis in the real world. But I can't help but bring forth some logical impossibilities this book passes off. There will be some spoilers ahead, although I shall try to use hypothetical situations only.
Say everyone knows werewolves exist. Say everyone thinks werewolves are bad, without even one PETA activist to wave a mighty pickett sign. Say there are enitre government organizations dedicated to researching and controlling lycanthropes. But despite all this, people know nothing about werewolves, at all. They don't know, or suspect, that they are all female (one thing I did like about this book was all the werewolf girl-power), and don't know their habits or anything. So instead of, I don't know, researching and studying one of the few werewolves they manage to capture, they lock it up in a cage in some unguarded lab, until they can "cure" it. Now, does this make sense? What kind of respectable lab, holding some a valuable specimen, doesn't even have surveillance cameras and puts the key to the cage of this valuable specimen IN THE REFRIDGERATOR!!!!!!
Oh, and say, you were a bloodthristy werewolf. You like sunflowers right? And after killing some poor dude, you get your picture taken with a sunflower blocking your face. Uh-oh. I would be careful now. Because some ditzy teenager will walk aimlessly into your house, see a sunflower (which could or could not be the same one), and when they later see the incriminating picture, they will automatically link you to the scene of the crime. So be careful in the future.
Oh, and apparently bodies smell enough to be gag-worthy after 15 minutes of being deceased, and lupine body language is diverse enough to have complete nonverbal coversations with specific wordchoice and every thing. Even when you are not even freaking LOOKING at the werewolf you are having a conversation with.
Okay, with that off my chest....on to the characters. I have decided I dislike the name Claire. It just is a soiled name. Every time I hear it now, it brings to mind some annoying teenage "heroine". No offense to the Claires out there. You can't help what you are named at birth. So even though my first impression of you is shot to peices, you still have the possibilty of growing on me. All the characters in this story were just so completely underdeveloped. Not a likable or memorable face in the bunch. Everyone just filled their stereotypical role. Claire the "sweet" and quiet narrator, who only wants to protect her friends and family. Hottie Matthew, the attractive and understanding love interest who inexplicably falls for Plain Janes. Emily, the talkative and bubbly biffle. And Marie, the type-A mother. Mix in some wolves and bad guys, and there you go.
The plot was poo. I would say it was predictable, but I did fall prey to the red-herring for the longest time. I am acutally quite ashamed I didn't figure it out sooner. So props there. And there was just no action or suspense. Just Claire fretting and worrying. I had no problem putting this book down.
Oh, and what is the mysterious Goddess that created werewolves?
Don't let my bitchin' and moanin' stop you from reading this book if it sounds interesting, really. It's just books like these make me bitter.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Okay, let me start off by saying how misleading the cover and title are. I was expecting some light, two-star read. Boy, I was wrong.
It's been two years since Ally Ryan's father swindled millions from the wealthiest families of Orchard Hill, and she and her family were forced to leave town in shame. But now she is back, even though not all of her old friends are happy to see her. When Ally goes to visit her old mansion, she finds someone else living there. The smokin' Jake Graydon who has taken her place among her former Crestie friends. The two feel the sparks, but it ain't so easy because it isn't just them in the equation.
I really like this book. It was one of those that take you completely by surprise. I was sucked in immediately, and I had a really hard time putting it down. The writing was easily consumable, and the characters were a blast. The plot had some twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and it refrained from being gimmicky for the most part.
There were two narrators to this story; Jake and Ally. They provided a nice balance for each other. And surpisingly, I liked both of them. Ally was a great female character. She was athletic and confident, while still having vulnerability. I liked how she wasn't all about "getting her man" and then whining about it. She stood up to the people who tormented her and was always in the game. Jake was swoonworthy and a pretty believable guy. He was arrogant, but had a conscience. I liked the romance between them. It wasn't all about the lust, but had some heat.
The teens acted like teens. Some of the girls were bitches. Some of the guys were dorks. They cussed and partied without being of Gossip Girl proportions. Trevor and Todd reminded me a lot of the Weasley twins. Annie was fun. I really liked the whole cast. Maybe the whole Crestie/norms thing was a little unrealistic, but then again, I don't have any mansions around where I live.
This book is really one of the best of its kind. Entertaining without frilliness. But the one thing I did not like at all was the ending. For all of you that are going to read it, know right now that it is not a stand alone, and that it is the first of a planned trilogy. I was not aware of this going into it, and was very put off by the cliffhanger ending. My rebellious side was like "Nuh-uh, hell no. We ain't gonna get sucked in by this ploy." If the book was of a lesser quality, then I defintely wouldn't read the sequels. It is just because it is so good that I am going to be first in line for the second book.
This is off-topic, but one thing I don't understand is why Kieran Scott uses her pen name for some works, but her real name for her others. What is the point of a penname at all if everyone knows it's a penname?
Rating: 5 stars
OH man. I devoured this book is a few hours depsite its rather large size. I was so absorbed and the pages (get ready for a pun) flew by.
This book continues Matt Cruses saga. When it starts, he is serving as an intern on the airship Flotsam. The Flotsam gets blown off course and as it rises to heights untraveled, it discovers a 40-yr-old mystery: the location of the Hyperion, a ghost ship legended to have riches upon riches on board. Because of some complications, the Flotsam must end it's journey, but that doens't mean the journey ends for Matt Cruse. With the Hyperion's coordinates and thoughts of riches in mind, Matt Cruse along with the heiress Kate de Vries and a mysterious gypsy named Nadira, set out on a perilous journey.
I think this book maybe even better than Airborn. It was filled with the same swashbuckling action and ripping good adventure, and the romance between a certain cabin boy and young heiress grew even tenser. Now there was even a love-quadrangle of sorts with some other new characters thrown it. I think the character development was considerably better this time around, and we finally got some emotion from Mr. Cruse.
There is just something about these books I adore. They are fun and thrilling, and there is nothing about them that makes me groan in dismay. I think that why these books get five-stars. I'm sure they could be better, but there is nothing about them that I dislike. And the visuals are awesome. I've said it once and I'll say it again: these books would be GREAT movies.
If you any reluctant male readers, recommened these books to them. They appeal to a wide audience. Easy enough for middle school readers, but older readers will love them too. Both boys and girls.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Girl meets boy. Girl dates boy. Girl breaks up with boy. Boy writes song about girl. Girl becomes famous.
You know, I really wasn't expecting this novel to be as unique as it was. It could have easily been annoying and cliched, but instead it was fresh and humorous. And when I say humorous, I mean it. This book was laugh-out-loud funny. So I advise you not to read this book in public. We don't want the person sitting next to you on that 5 hour flight to think you are on some new medication.
Audrey was such a refreshing voice. She was witty, vibrant, and confident. I loved her sarcasm and tone. Most authors try to impose personality traits on their two-dimensional characters, but Audrey lived it up. Instead of the author telling me Audrey liked music, she made me believe. This girl goes to concerts, blows out speakers, jams out to mix tapes, and discusses her fave bands. I also like how Audrey isn't obsessive about her appearance or too self-depreciating. Anything we know about her we find out from other characters in passing.
All the rest of the cast was equally enjoyable. I would want to sit at thier table at lunch. Audrey and Victoria(like the Queen) had a very believable friendship, filled with inside jokes and shared interests. I even had a thing for Jonah, who was the perfect best friend's boyfriend. James was adorable (but not in a little brother kind of way) and I wish there were more redheaded love interests out there in bookdom. Even the parents were awesome in their obliviousness and almost-hipitude.
The writing was very, very enjoyable. While some of it seemed over-the-top, it never seemed like Benway was trying too hard. The humor was just effortless. My favorite line would have to be this: "'I'm having a life crisis. Pass me the Teddy Grahams.' He handed over the box. 'All that's left are little paws and legs at the bottom of the box,' he said. 'It's a massacre.'" The writing just rang true for me. And yes, that means there is cussing and sexual/drug references, so if you have a problem with that, then don't read this one.
Overall, a great debut from an author I'm expecting will be a star in the land of YA literature.
Rating: 2.5 stars
I have really conflicted feelings about this book. I was expecting some cheap Hunger Games rip-off, but it wasn't like that at all.
This book is about Lyn, who has had seven gladiator fathers, due to her mothers career as a Glad wife. As a substitute to war, and entire Glad culture has arose, blood sport being just as common as football. Lyn's life is ruled by bylaws put forth by the Gladiator Sports Association. It is these bylaws that say she is required, through a chain of unfortunate events, to marry Uber, the warrior who defeated her seventh father in the arena. Rather than give in to these demands, she proposes an alternative: fighting him in the arena.
Initially, I thought I wasn't going to like this. At first it was because I thought it was a rip-off. Then it was because the writing and formatting was odd and distracting. And then it was because I realized that the action would be slow-coming. But then, about half-way through the book, I realized I kinda liked it. Lyn, the narrator was endearing, and the writing was starting to grow on me. I stopped with the exectations and just went with the flow. By the end, I didn't hate it as much as I did to start with.
The writing is not typical of a young-adult book, and that threw me off for a while. I appreciated that the author was doing something different. And I shall warn everyone right now, this book has no quotation marks. This drove me insane to begin with, and I was frustrated with the author. I mean, why couldn't she use quotation marks like a normal author? But in no time, I didn't even realize the difference.
I liked Lyn. She was endearing. She wasn't a Mary Sue, yet she wasn't a stereotypical bad-ass robot. I understood her motives. But I did not understand her brother. Her little brother, who is autistic, is also supposedly a prophet/oracle. I thought this book was set in an alternative now. I don't get the whole mysticism thing. And I also didn't get how they had things like You Tube still, but also virtual living machines that can create a functioning virtual being. But I did like the whole history of GSA. That does seem odd enough to be true.
Don't expect a hardcore thrilling action novel. Despite being about violence, this book had very little action. Lyn wasn't even in the arena until the final pages. I think this is misleading on the marketer's part. This book is way more contemplative than it sounds. I got bored in some places, but I was overall absorbed.
I am still confused about my feeling for this book, so I apologize for the possible wishy-washiness of this review. I can see how some people hate it, some people love it. It's an odd little book.
Rating: 3 stars
Okay, I was never expecting much from this book, especially after I saw that it had been optioned for a film by Disney. But I was hoping for some James Bond/Cody Banks/Spy Kids action.
This book is about Cammie Morgan, a student at the elite Gallagher Academy, which is essentially an all-girl school for spies. Cammie is a pretty normal student at Gallagher, besides the fact that her mother is the headmistress, and she has a reputation for being "the Chameleon." Cammie knows fourteen languages and how to kill a man with a piece of uncooked spaghetti, but when it comes to boys, she's clueless. However, some boy advice will come in handy when she starts up a secret relationship with a normal boy- who thinks she is just a normal girl.
This book was cute. Nothing more than that. It had some humor, not enough to make me laugh out loud, but enough to keep the mood light. That's the thing, I thought this book was TOO light. I never really bought in to any conflict. Don't you think in a book about spies, there should be some bad guys? Essentially, this book is about a girl who meets a boy. The spy stuff is just kind of tacked on. Cammie seemed more like a normal girl than a genius. But she did have a level head on her shoulders. But of course, all her friends wer super-model gorgeous while she is average looking. And she is the one with the boyfriend. Right. The characters and plot were all just a bit bland for me. Not much action to speak of. That was a tad disappointing. But there was some genuine guy advice, which readers will appreciate.
I don't know. It's cute, light, and I'm sure tweenage girls will eat it up. I won't read the sequels though unless they fall into my hands.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Everyone had read this book but me, so I needed to give it a try.
This book is about Grace, who was attacked by wolves when she was 11 years old. Ever since then she has been obsessed with the wolves that live in the woods behind her house- especially her yellow-eyed wolf- the one that saved her all those years ago. Every summer her yellow-eyed wolf becomes a yellow-eyed boy named Sam, but his time as a human is being numbered. Now that Sam and Grace have met and confronted their feelings, nothing will keep them apart.
I didn't love this book, but I definitely liked it. My first impression of this was that it was Twilight for Jacob fans, but that's not exactly true. The only thing that made me think of Twilight was the whole "sleeping together without actually sleeping together" thing. If my mother read this book, she would be checking my room 10 times a night, making sure I wasn't getting cozy with some strange-eyed boy. The writing was much better than Twilight however, and Grace was a much better heroine. Enough of the comparisons though.
Books like Shiver get my hopes up. I mean, boys like Sam don't exist. And if they do exist, they are gay. Sam likes cooking, poetry, writing sentimental love songs, taking girls on dates to candy shops and book stores.....
Grace is cool. Even though her parents need a stern talking to. Jeez, they might be a plot device, but they are a plot device that needs parenting classes. I liked Isabel though. I can't wait to see more of her and read more about her "perfect ringlets". Trust me, if you read this book, you are never are lacking in detail. Every thing is described very well. Some would even say beautifully.
Overall, a good YA fantasy book. While I won't rant and rave about it, it didn't make me run for the hills.
Oh, and the cover is very good. I didn't even see the wolf on there until I had the book in my hands. And the drop of blood is a very nice touch.
Bring on Linger.
Rating: 3.5 stars
I have get something off my chest. *takes deep breath* I bought this book for it's cover. I didn't even read the description first.
This book takes place entirely in an enchanted theater ran by The Book. The Book is what bounds the Players to the roles they were born to play, and it domineers over the magical scene changes. 17 yr old Bertie is not a Player nor a crew member, but has called the Theater her home for the past 10 years, not knowing where she came from. Bertie and her companions, the four mischievious faires from A Midsummer Night's Dream and Nate, a minor pirate from The Little Mermaid, have been known to get into trouble. After a particularly bad incedent, it looks like Bertie's time in the Theater has finally come to pass. But Bertie has one final chance to prove that she can contribute: become a Director and sell out a performance. Of course, not everything goes smoothly as the Players become more and more unsettled with their given roles.
Bertie, while kind of immature for a 17 year old, is strong and funny in her own right. How can you expect a girl who grows up with the most dramatic characters ever to grace the stage not to be colorful? And I love her choice of hair color. The fairies that follow Bertie around and join her in her antics are some of the funnest and funniest characters I have ever experienced. I want one for myself. I'll just have to remember to hide my Twinkies. Nate is a little dry, but sweet enough. I just hope Mantchev fleshes him out more. Ariel's name bothers me. I think of a red-haired mermaid. This made things difficult for me when the romantic tension was being built.
The setting was easily the best part of the book, even though some times I had no idea what was going on. It's not a point of pride for me, but sometimes I couldn't follow the action. It seemed to jump from one point to the other without much of a bridge in between.
I liked the book. Not as much as I could have, but I'm definitely glad that lush cover pulled me in. And the cover also helped in my visualization of Bertie and the fairies. Alexa, I agree with you. This book would be awesome as a animated film by Mr. Miyazaki.
I will read the sequel when I have the chance. I'm looking forward to being drawn into such an imaginative world again.
Rating: 3 stars
Let's get this straight. I did not read this for Lauren Conrad, I read this because of Lauren Conrad. I was intrigued. I despise reality TV, and I thought Lauren Conrad was a thoughtless bimbo, so I wanted to see how this all transferred to bookform.
This novel, the first in a trilogy, is centered around Plain Jane, and her bestie, Scarlett, who move to LA to start their new lives. Soon afterward they meet a TV produer, who wants them to star in what he calls "a reality version of Sex and the City". They accept, and the rest of the book is how they handle the immediate fame, and all the drama that goes with it.
Jane isn't written to have a vibrant personality, but is written to be "relatable", the same reason given to her being cast on the show. Jane is almost a little too naive in some parts. And while Jane may be the main character of the series, there are plenty of chapters that give us a reprieve from her, as they center on other characters. I like Jane's best friend Scarlett a whole lot more. Scarlett is a beauty with brains. If one looked at her sexual escapades alone, they might call her a slut, but somehow her intelligence makes it all okay. She also naturally clashes with the Hollywood lifestyle in general, and resists the show's demanding producers the most. Another girl cast in the show is the spoiled bitch, Madison, who is used to getting whatever she wants, even if she has to go through other people (mostly Jane) to get it. My favorite scene with her is when she intially decides not to immediately publish the incriminating photos of Jane. I thought this was a nice attempt at depth. The fourth and final girl is Gaby, who doesn't have much of role in the novel except to play the token airhead. This girl is at the intellectual level of Jane's goldfish. Throw in a manipluative producer, a playboy, a gay friend, a cute crush, a boss to rival Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, and a hardcore editor, and that pretty much sums up the cast of L.A. Candy (the book, not the show). All of them are shallow and cliched, but ain't that reality TV? The plot was typical too.
Despite myself, I enjoyed it, but this is the closest I ever want to get to Hollywood. This writing is nothing spectacular but better than I was expecting from Lauren Conrad, assuming she actually wrote it. Overall, not bad for a guilty, light beach read.
Book Freaks
Books mentioned in this topic
The Carrie Diaries (other topics)Girl, Interrupted (other topics)
Glimpse (other topics)
The Poison Diaries (other topics)
Linger (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Candace Bushnell (other topics)Susanna Kaysen (other topics)
Carol Lynch Williams (other topics)
Maryrose Wood (other topics)
Maggie Stiefvater (other topics)
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I will add reviews as I read the books.