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B00MMENBPS
| 3.63
| 22,149
| May 05, 2015
| May 05, 2015
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really liked it
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Win a pre-order of this book by joining my giveaway on Twitter! Click this for details! [image] ---- Now I see why people love this author. Truth be told, Win a pre-order of this book by joining my giveaway on Twitter! Click this for details! [image] ---- Now I see why people love this author. Truth be told, when I read Cruel Beauty not too long ago, I remember being very frustrated with it. Yes, the prose flowed exceptionally well; yes, the characters were complex; yes, the world-building was fascinating and all that, but I just couldn't find myself liking it completely. It was a fantasy that read too much like a romance (although it can be debated that it's romance first in a fantasy setting...), and I remember being overwhelmed with the talks of love and kisses. I don't like it when a love between two people is shoved in my face; rather, I want it to be subtle and in the background and happening naturally. Because of that experience, I was wary of starting Crimson Bound, as I feared being overwhelmed once more. Obviously, as you can see, I gave in and tried it last night, and just finished it 5 minutes ago. And all I can say is: this book is way better than Cruel Beauty. I mean, if you value her Fussiness' opinion, of course (I am too nitpicky for my own good). First of all, the setting. As you all know, Hodge's writing is really good - she has a way of weaving words that really immerses you. Yeah, you're reading it, but for some reason, the way it's written makes it easier to visualize the place in your mind. She made the place so surreal, so realistic, and so fantastic at the same time, if that makes any sense. I really felt like I was in a medieval time in a distant region in France à la Beauty and the Beast, just with a living, breathing forest breathing down the people's necks. The cities, the towns, the peasants and the noblitity, to the castles and their descriptions... they were amazing. It also helped a lot (and made the Francophile in me terribly overjoyed) that the book had a lot of French names: Palais du Soleil, Château de la lune, Lévée, among other things. Bottomline: her writing is fucking good. I mean, yes, it still read like a romance sometimes, because the narration and everything felt dreamy and delicate, as if I was walking on a cloud of soft cotton candy... ...But what made it even better was the heroine. The overall writing gave the book a really divine and heavenly flavor, but Rachelle Brinon, our young heroine who serves as the King's Bloodbound (akin to his personal Champion in Throne of Glass terms), gave it a gritty edge that would pull you back to reality: if she doesn't find the mythical weapons that can defeat the Devourer, the world will end in absolute darkness. Heavenly and brutal at the same time, the Hodge way. So let's talk about Rachelle. She was raised to be a woodwife in a remote village, sewing charms that would keep the Devourer and the nightmares of the forest at bay, until she dared to face a Forestborn to prove that she can, only to eventually pay the ultimate price. Usually, I am able to classify heroines into these categories: the reckless, the average, the practical, and the self-loathing kind. The last one is what I hate the most with a blinding passion, because the self-pity bullshit rarely works with me, and Rachelle was that, but interestingly, it didn't annoy me as much. You want to know why? Because Rachelle was a complex character. She hated what she had become, and she thought she didn't deserve to live, and that it had been better if she had died, but despite thinking those, she accepted who she was with a grim defeat and wanted to live anyway, and so she tried using her newfound nature to solve a problem everyone else was too afraid to admit was actually happening. She had her dark moments, which she acknowledged, but despite being filled with this, she recognized she had other things to live for, and gave her best for that. She didn't lie about who she was and what she was fighting for and shrugged off sideway glances even if they did bother her. And for me, that just made her such a relatable and real character. And you know what's even better? The fact that other characters are just as important and just as complex. They are not black-and-white caricatures of people we often see rehashed in many other YA novels. They have a reason why they do what they do, and have a reason why they say what they say however twisted they may be. That's why the "love triangle" here didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. When we see a love triangle, usually the first thing that comes to our mind is that there were no other ways to create a relationship conflict so a useless second dude was thrown in, but it wasn't the case here. Since all the characters were complex and had deep background stories that are deeply rooted in the plot, the "LT" - if you can even call it that because it was anything but a traditional love triangle - just seemed a part of the story in a whole and not an individual drama on its own. I hope I make sense. Plus, Love Interest #1 was like a Eugene Flynnrider double the mischievousness, and Love Interest #2 was like another Eugene Flynnrider but more quiet, reserved, and thoughtful. DOESN'T THAT SOUND INTERESTING TO YOU?!?!?! Bottomline: characters are awesome, the plot is awesome, the MC is awesome, so no worries there. If there's something that I didn't like, however, it's the fact that whenever romance was put in, especially in the early parts, it felt kinda forced. I was 23% into it when a lot of "kissing" talks happened, and I may have raged with my friends for a while, because they seemed so out of place and too early for that. But otherwise, everything else was really good. This book may even be considered philosophical, in many ways. This is what happens when characters are explored to their fullest potentials and have their histories interweaved with the plot: they end up asking deep questions that prompt us readers to ask ourselves as well. Not only did this book keep me on my toes, it also made me stop for a while and ponder about life in general. When a book pushes you to do that, you know it has done its job successfully. All in all: WHAT A GREAT BOOK THIS BOOK. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 03, 2014
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Dec 05, 2014
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Dec 03, 2014
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Kindle Edition
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1616951966
| 9781616951962
| 1616951966
| 3.29
| 920
| Jan 01, 2013
| Oct 29, 2013
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did not like it
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Since we're way past the time when Paranormal Romance was the trend, many have deemed it proper to attribute their dystopian books to the one and only
Since we're way past the time when Paranormal Romance was the trend, many have deemed it proper to attribute their dystopian books to the one and only that started this "Dystopian Craze", the Hunger Games. However, when books get compared to this precious book in their blurbs and synopses, I instantly become wary and suspicious, not only because I'm against riding the success of another novel, but also because, more often than not, the excitement that was built would only result to mere and utter disappointment. "For fans of the Hunger Games!" "Like the Hunger Games!" "Similar to the Hunger Games!" I could just drown in the amount of blurbs that had these only to find out later that they were very subpar. I just find it absolutely sad that there are attempts to make a half-assed dystopian book just to ride the bandwagon. I guess publishers has noticed this, so they decided to put in another great series to the mix to attract readers: Game of Thrones. My friends, if you've watched and read the books, you'll see that GoT is very, very complex. It features an intricate and intriguing web of relationships and scandals that can even shock the hardest of hearts. It features twists and turns that would make a reader cry and throw the books in good frustration. Relic doesn't even come close. Did it frustrate me? Hell yes, it did. I am utterly offended how it even dared to say it's for fans of the Hunger Games AND the Game of Thrones when its premise is so ridiculous and simple. I am offended how the blurb said it's a high fantasy when it's nowhere near like it. I'm offended how it promised me a good read when throughout reading it, I was either a.) bored out of my frigging mind; b.) laughing my heart out because of how nonsensical it was. Okay, first, the premise. It was ridiculous. I understand the need to give something original, but holy mother of god, this is not something I would've considered for any book even if I were high on drugs. So some apocalyptic event happened that killed billions of people on Earth (not explained what it was yet), and a handful of people evacuated to the icelands in the North and found a new settlement called New North. Two hundred years later, the community became more backward than forward with the women doing maidenly, demure roles who can't possibly do hard work as the men, and the men being chivalrous and shit and blah blah blah. There is obvious marginalization and there are even classes where some are deemed higher than the others. Right, I'm expected to believe something like that when their ancestors just came from the world we have today. But alright, for the sake of this book, I'll go along with that. Then, we find out that this new civilization worships some sort of sacred book that dictates their laws and traditions called The Lex. And their leaders tell the people that the world has ended due to certain evils. What are these evils, you ask? They blame the end of the world on man-made medicine like Tylenol, Advil, Prozacs for ruining the mind; on sodas like Coca-Cola for weakening the bodies; on cards like Visas, MasterCards, American Express for toppling rulers; and on the super tech company Apple... yes... that Apple with a quarter-bitten fruit as a logo. They believed their ancestors worshipped this god, with the tablets like iPads as their altars and shit like that. Granted, the book explains later on (albeit rather shakily) that things are not what they seem and that there is a huge (gasp) lie, but sweet baby jesus, what the flying fuck is this??!! Sure, I've never seen something like this before, but there's a good reason why it has never been seen before, and it's because it's just beyond ridiculous. Am I supposed to take something like this seriously? When you're making a dystopia, the book has to make sure the premise is believable. You have to make sure that the reader would also think the setting is feasible in the future, and that you instill an internal fear of what is going to happen and what may happen. Tylenol, Advil, Coke, Mastercard, Apple... yeesh, yeah right. Take all of that and forget about wars of conquests, or religious wars, or attempts of making nuclear energy and weapons, just blame it on poor Santa Clause Coke for making us all obese and unhealthy. The book tried to be serious and different, but it still read like the same formulaic books we've been given throughout the years. There's a hierarchy, some Triad leaders, and of course, there's the competition where the brightest of the generation go against each other in the cold wild to look for relics from the past that would remind the community the role these relics had in the destruction of the world two hundred years past. Eva, the main character, who only had a few months of training compared to the others who have prepared for this all their lives, go against them and all odds, to win for her deceased twin brother. Okay. Here's the thing. The internal first-person narration of Eva was awful. Absolutely horrible. It was very monotonous and robotic, and very telling than showing. Paragraphs upon paragraphs, pages upon pages, I'd been given descriptions of what the main character was seeing, the description of the surroundings, what she was doing, etc. etc. that her personality, if ever she had one, wasn't shown. She was as bland as a cardboard, and as interesting as watching paint dry. Usually, when we have first person narratives, it should be more personal, more intimate. I should be given a deeper relationship with the character, but because it was so fucking dull, I didn't feel for her and didn't even root for her. I just wanted to get this book over with already. And the times where there were personal thoughts, it would be in the form of questions. ALL THE FREAKING TIME. Question after question after question, giving the impression that she's really deeper than what we think her to be, but I've always found this a cheap tactic. There would be questions like (non-verbatim): Is Jasper really who I think he is? Or did he just come up to me to make me believe he was really hurt or was he just spying on me? There were a lot more but I've forgotten most of them. These are just some of the questions that I thought from the top of my head, but probably aren't the questions word-for-word. But, in any case, the deal here is the narration never felt personal to me. It was too formal for my taste. It was dull, it was lifeless, and I skimmed so much that I didn't even miss anything vital. And did I say she had no personality whatsoever? Yeah, that and kept on mentioning her twin brother all the time. "But I'm stronger now because I have Eamon's strength with me." "I struggle, but I remember that I have Eamon within me, too." "This is not just for me, but for Eamon's dream as well." OTL And seriously though, the competition's supposed to be the hardest thing ever, but she's conveniently winning challenges after challenges without ever finding any real obstacle. As a character, she didn't grow at all. She was monotonous and dull from start to finish, and the scenes that were supposed to be exciting were dragged along by her lifelessness. It was just mind-numbingly boring. And lol, the entrance of the romance in the end was so anti-climactic. Here we are, talking about lies and scandals and then, "Can you not see my feelings for you?" Dudes and dudettes, have you ever heard of the word "transition"? Also, what is up with the jargon of words sprinkled all over the book? There were a lot of unfamiliar words placed here and there that I never really understood and never really thoroughly explained, like "upernagdlit", "inuit", "nunassiaq", and "quiasuqaq". DAFUQ, MAN?! Overall, I'm sorry to say but I cannot recommend this book. You're free to read it for yourself and form your own conclusions, but I, personally, did not enjoy it, and would not wish my family and friends to endure the same torture. Do not let the blurb fool you - aside from the competition theme, it's not similar to the Hunger Games, and it's not even half as close to the Game of Thrones. If you're going to read this book with the expectation of reading something like those series mentioned, you will be sorely disappointed. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 14, 2013
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Aug 16, 2013
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Aug 14, 2013
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Hardcover
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0374351384
| 9780374351380
| 0374351384
| 3.90
| 26,964
| Sep 17, 2013
| Sep 17, 2013
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really liked it
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[image]
This was a really beautiful read. You see, while dystopias, apocalyptic, and science fiction stories are generally my favourite genres, I do [image] This was a really beautiful read. You see, while dystopias, apocalyptic, and science fiction stories are generally my favourite genres, I do enjoy a sappy, sad story every once in a while. Reading about situations that force your throat to tighten and your heart to squeeze makes me feel somehow alive. Is it weird that I actually look forward to being a sobbing, snotting mess when it comes to books like this? Maybe, but I always loved that feeling. But This Song Will Save Your Life takes it up a notch higher. Aside the poignant, emotional writing that efficiently the messages it wanted to send across, this book is so good because it's so relatable. I, for one, never experienced bullying in school or from my peers. When I was in middle school and high school, I had absolutely no idea that was actually going on. Everyone was so nice, everyone had their own group, nobody antagonized the other. At that time, I've always believed that was just something you see in TV shows (I know now that this is not the case, and it makes me sad this is still ever-so rampant). I had groups of friends, but there were times I was also lonely. I never identified myself with one group. I jumped from this to that, back to this again, in hopes that I'd be able to finally find a clique I could truly associate myself with. I may have had a lot of groups to hang out with, but I wasn't really... there. I was in an all-girls school, and seeing how the tomboys (or wannabe tomboys) were the ones who were the most popular, who were the most sought-after, I actually tried to become one. I sported boyish clothes, learned the boyish walk, forced myself to look at cheerleaders and single someone out to be my "crush" (this is really funny now, in hindsight). But that façade was exhausting, and it wasn't who I was, and it was during that time that I felt lonelier than ever. And this book truly hit the nail on the head when it came to feeling that way. The need to fit in. The need to be liked by others. The need to be acknowledged and identified. And how it would just mean the world to you to be finally accepted. It's kind of hard to express those needs in words, and it amazes how this book seamlessly and effortlessly expressed all of that and more with its voice. It was just so honest and genuine. You can truly feel the loneliness and frustration of the main character from the pages, that I couldn't help but feel sad during the first few parts of the novel. Yeah, it had a few jokes here and there, and there were attempts to lighten up what were heavy scenes, but it was melancholic throughout — raw and intense. The only problem I had here was Elise's being... judgemental. Yes, she didn't like being judged for her clothes, for her taste in music and whatnot, but she frequently judged others, too. She was absolutely proud that she loves 70-80s music, that she thought people who liked otherwise were less intelligent human beings. I didn't like this side of her, this pretentiousness, and I wished there were less of that. I get it that you loved old bands, but come on, girl, there's no need to be condescending... it makes you look like a hypocrite. Other than that, this was a fantastic book about growing up and broadening your horizon. Anyone who has ever felt loneliness will easily find themselves relating to Elise's situation and troubles, making it quite a painful (in a good way) and uplifting experience. Elise found herself in music, and perhaps you will also find a piece of yourself in her journey, too. An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 31, 2013
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Jul 31, 2013
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Jul 31, 2013
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Hardcover
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1250017599
| 9781250017598
| 1250017599
| 3.93
| 4,027
| Jul 30, 2013
| Jul 30, 2013
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really liked it
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[image]
This book surprised me a lot. I can't believe how I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'm a little cautious of films, series, or books that are set [image] This book surprised me a lot. I can't believe how I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'm a little cautious of films, series, or books that are set in a school for rich kids, because, you know, Gossip Girl (which I didn't like very much), but wow! This was a lot of fun. Prep School Confidential is your usual murder mystery book, except this time you're dealing with really powerful people, and in an environment where everybody has something to hide and where no one's absolutely innocent. Everywhere you go, there are shifty eyes, there are hidden agendas, there are backstories that can blow your mind. I loved how it kept me second-guessing everyone, from thinking "oh, this guy's totally innocent" to "holy shit, I know it's him!" and ultimately to "what the flying fuck is going on?!" And that's not a bad thing, by the way. Bottomline is: this book has a lot of twists, a lot of juicy, sizzling secrets, and a lot of intrigue. It initially looks fun (don't be fooled by that cover!) but it gets darker later on. DON'T TRUST ANYONE. Even though it was a little predictable, I still thought it managed to hold itself to make it interesting and engaging. I attribute it to its easy writing and voice. It's set in 1st person POV and our narrator is Anne, a young girl from New York who accidentally set her school auditorium on fire and was eventually sent to a rich boarding school in Boston. She's wild, young, and reckless, but when the moment calls for it, she can be so kick-ass. I loved her humor, her wit, her overall personality - she totally carried this novel. Sure, she wasn't that likeable at first... she appeared to be shallow and selfish, but she changes later — from being someone superficial to smart and righteous, willing to stand up and find the truth when everybody else doesn't. My only complaint is her being wishy-washy. You see, there's a love triangle here, and while I normally don't mind love triangles, it bothered me to no end how she couldn't (or wouldn't) decide which one she likes more. She'd think of Guy A, then wonders about Guy B. She'd blush at Guy A, then feels nauseous with Guy B. I was flabbergasted each time she'd think of these guys in the middle of a murder investigation, how she kept on thinking how cute they were, how attracted she was to both of them, how she felt something for BOTH of them... That really turned me off. Hopefully this will end in the next book and she finally decides who's really for her. The plot is linear as it's a traditional whodunit book. I just love that there are so many secrets, how the whole thing is a tangled web of lies, deceit, and scandal, that we still have a lot of room for more detective work in the future sequels. It doesn't even end in a cliffhanger! How cool is that? Overall, I totally recommend this book to those who want to read a fun and dark whodunit mystery in a rich-family setting. The level of intrigue is exponential. I can't wait for Anne to expose everybody's bullshit! Imagine Revenge x Gossip Girl. Something that awesome. With a spunky lead. If that doesn't entice you, I don't know what will! Final Verdict: 4 / 5 stars An ARC was given in exchange for a review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 21, 2013
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Jul 21, 2013
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Jul 21, 2013
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Paperback
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1619631334
| 9781619631335
| 1619631334
| 3.46
| 715
| Sep 03, 2013
| Sep 03, 2013
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it was ok
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UPDATE: You can now see some pictures of my stay in Montmartre on the blog, along with this review! Click here to check it out! [image] There were a UPDATE: You can now see some pictures of my stay in Montmartre on the blog, along with this review! Click here to check it out! [image] There were a lot of reasons why I really wanted to read Starry Nights. La première raison:The setting is in France. I love France. I studied there for a while, stayed for a bit in Strasbourg, Paris, and Épernay, and spent time with a few foster families. My boyfriend is French. I love their champagne. You get the picture. I'm not the ultimate Francophile, but that country has a special place in my heart. C'est claire? La deuxième raison: J'adore les arts! I absolutely love art. The time I spent walking inside Musée du Louvre was one of the best 3 hours of my life. Art coming to life sounds pretty awesome, if you ask me, so this book really took the word "excitement" to a whole different level. Starry Nights therefore had the perfect recipe. I was absolutely ready to devour this book and love every minute and every page, ready for it to give me that precious nostalgia of my time in France - all that art, history, and l'amour... but alas! It was not meant to be. In the end, I only felt disappointment that left an overwhelming bitter taste in my mouth. First of all, it's set in France. In Paris. Paris, while not exactly my favorite city in the world, is still a magical place that's very distinct from other cities; it has something that sets it apart from others. Be it la tour Eiffel, or the lack of high-rise buildings, or that coffee shop Paul that seems to be everywhere, whatever. The thing is... Paris is different. So why the hell wasn't it described enough? You can't just throw in the picture of Eiffel tower on the cover and expect us to just imagine the place automatically. Throughout the book, I was waiting for the details of the place, but there were almost none. Paris wasn't represented enough, wasn't illustrated enough. I couldn't picture anything. It didn't give the City of Love justice. Sure, it's not a travel guide. I'm not expecting this book to give me a vivid, bright picture of what Paris looks like, but DUDE. What's the point of putting the characters and the plot in a different setting and not describe it at least in moderate detail, not give enough information with regards to what it looks like? I was expecting this book to take me back there, to give me that French vibe, but honestly, with the way the novel turned out, it felt like it could've taken place anywhere. It threw the names Musée d'Orsay and Musée du Louvre around, but lol, it felt like it could've been any other Museum. It didn't feel special at all. Like for example, the place Montmartre was thrown. They were supposed to meet some people there, and the only description I've gotten was the fact there was a steep hill with lots of streets. LOL!!! Really? REALLY? I stayed in Montmartre for a few days and I can describe it better than what was given in less than a minute. There's Moulin Rouge, there are at least two metros (there are probably more though), there's like a street full of sex shops, there's a steep hill with a famous restaurant that was in a Hollywood movie once, on top of the hill is Le Sacré Cœur, and there's a sort of bazaar nearby full of artists that would sell their works from €30-€200. And oh, there are a LOT of shady kids waiting by the metro entrances that would ask you to donate money for the blind and would NOT leave you the fuck alone 'til you do so (unless you're stealthy and sneaky). Anyway, before I get sidetracked, what I mean to say is the setting was very underwhelming. The city, the museums, it didn't give me that magical feeling, not even the feeling of nostalgia, or that feeling we're somewhere different from the usual American town/city, and this aspect therefore turned out very disappointing. It definitely had so much potential, but in the end, it felt like being given a hamburger with no meat (I'm hungry, okay >_<). One of the things that made this story interesting at first was its paranormal aspect. For Julien, the things or people in the paintings he's surrounded with come alive at night. They go out of their bronze or silver frames and manifest themselves in the flesh, totally giving us that Night at the Museum vibes. Unfortunately, this aspect felt underwhelming. Once again, I'm not expecting an art guide or anything like that, but Paris is the city of art and history. Centuries ago, art thrived here. It lived here. And until now, countless paintings still hang the walls of different museums all around the country, including paintings from the 13th century and those even older than that. You'd think more pieces of art would be featured, even in passing, but it just fell short. This is another reason why Musée d'Orsay and Musée du Louvre felt lacking - not many paintings were presented, at least the paintings that make Musée d'Orsay THE Musée d'Orsay or the Louvre THE Louvre. Get what I mean? Thus, it felt like it was any other museum. In short, it did not feel French. It did not feel like it was in France. And therefore, I didn't even connect to the characters because everything else felt so inadequate and inefficient. I wish I could care more, care about Julien's powers coming to light and his falling in love with one of the paintings, but I couldn't. I didn't. And besides, insta-love? Really? :/ I never understood this one... you hang out for a couple of hours and you love each other already? Sure, it must have happened in real life several times, but it's often exaggerated in fiction and I can't get its appeal. There were a lot of things about the plot that bugged me, too. Dude, Musée d'Orsay and Musée du Louvre are really bigshots when it comes to the preservation of artifacts and history. These institutions are well-guarded, and I'm pretty sure there are CCTV cameras all over the place, so how the frack did Julien sneak in and get away with it every night? It must have been explained later, and I may have missed it, but it was still unbelievable how he stayed a little before midnight, touched the paintings, and sneaked out at 2 or 1 o clock in the morning each and every time. Uhh... sure... It also really bugged me how his best friend easily accepted Julien's "paranormal powers" like they were just talking about the weather. The build-up was lacking, there wasn't enough tension to build excitement... the list could go on and on. And that ending? SUPER CONVENIENT. Ugh, it still pisses me off whenever I think about it. I didn't even feel sad because I kind of knew things would become all right without much trouble, and I felt crushed when my hunch was right. Perhaps I am not this book's audience. Perhaps it would appeal more to those who are looking for a fluffy, romantic read, those who don't overanalyze and those who don't care for much exposition. If you're that kind of person, you may enjoy this. Despite my complaints, I did think it was a decent story, but it just wasn't for me. Final Verdict: 2.5 / 5 ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 12, 2013
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Jul 14, 2013
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Jul 12, 2013
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Hardcover
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0778315339
| 9780778315339
| 0778315339
| 3.31
| 15,765
| Aug 27, 2013
| Aug 27, 2013
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it was amazing
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I am still at a loss for words. It's amazing how the stories of fictional characters can push you to look deep within yourself, encouraging you to fin
I am still at a loss for words. It's amazing how the stories of fictional characters can push you to look deep within yourself, encouraging you to find your own answers to the same questions asked. Very rarely do I feel so connected that my heart bursts with emotions so raw and intense, that my soul feels broken but also warm and complete at the same time. Reading this book was a unique and uplifting experience, and I kind of understand why it had a bidding war for film rights. It's that good, folks. It's that good. In this book, there's a crisis. The world is encountering a phenomenon never seen before. The dead are returning, unaged, looking as they were when they died, confused and oftentimes treated less than humans. Instead of following one person's story in a line, we get to see other people's lives, too — how they took the news of a deceased loved one coming back to them, what they have felt about it, and what they've learned from it. It shows a web of relationships where one's little story is related to another's, and as a reader, we learn something from each and every one of them. And that, somehow, makes everything a wee bit harder. We mainly follow the lives of Harold and Lucille Hargrave, whose 8 year old son, Jacob, arrived on their doorstep, their son who 50 years ago drowned at a nearby river. For fifty years, they've lived on without their child. It's been a hard journey, but they survived, and meeting their son again was like fate giving them a chance to remember how it was to enjoy life and its simplest pleasures, to love again, to forgive, and to let go. Sure, the world-building is a bit sketchy, and there's a bit of plothole in which it was never explained why the Returned came back, but I didn't care. The whole book gives you this feeling where there are just some things that can never be explained, some things that are best left just as they are and appreciated for what they are. That sometimes, we just need a little bit of faith and hope, and find meaning in it. I don't know, but you can say it made me think about things a lot. About my life. About my relationships with other people. It made me philosophize about the meaning of life. After turning the last page, I choked up and felt an urge to go to my family and friends to say I love them and that I'd risk my life for them. Until now, whenever I think about this book, I can't help but feel teary-eyed. The impact was just too great. I'm not going to say a lot about this one to you guys. You'll have to read it and find your own answers and interpretations; let the magic come to you in its own way. It's very powerful, emotional, and poignant, with stunning prose and real characters whose feelings and hardships are not hard to empathize with. Human nature can be scary, but at times, it can be so beautiful, too. Thank you, Mr. Mott, for writing such a masterpiece. Needless to say, in one way or another, my life was changed. Let it go, Harold. Love him. Then let him go. An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. PS: The trailer of the show is here. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 05, 2013
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Jul 08, 2013
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Jul 05, 2013
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Hardcover
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B00AFGKSDS
| 3.68
| 18,127
| Oct 29, 2013
| Oct 29, 2013
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really liked it
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[image]
WARNING: THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, FOR THOSE HANGING ON TO THEIR LAST SHREDS OF SANITY, AND FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT TAKE CRAZY [image] WARNING: THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, FOR THOSE HANGING ON TO THEIR LAST SHREDS OF SANITY, AND FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT TAKE CRAZY PLOT TWISTS. IT'S INSANE, I TELL YOU. INSAAAAANE! This is what Parasite by Mira Grant made me feel: * It made me want to go on youtube to look for videos of carnivorous plants. Needless to say, I stumbled upon the weird part of that crazy site again. CANNOT UNSEE WHAT HAS BEEN SEEN. * It made me fucking scared of elongated little buggers who may just have the capability to enter your body and stay there... FOREVER. * It made me want to sit in my little corner and rock myself until the end of time. * It made me want to put protective gear... IN MY SKULL. * It made me want to die now before I feel nature's wrath upon us. * Basically... [image] This book is both disgusting and fascinating, both disturbing and engaging. I've never read anything by Mira Grant before, but holy hell! I'll surely buy her books from now on! This one was mad crazy good! I mean, sure, I blame the sudden appearance of my fears of parasites/worms/carnivorous plants or whatever thingies on this author, but to be honest, I regret nothing. Here we have Sal who's had an accident, and thanks to a tapeworm installed inside her body, she finally got the chance to live again. When she woke up from her vegetable state, she remembered nothing - not even her language, the name of her parents, absolutely nada - and had to start at zero. 6 years later, she's finally better and is a contributing member of society. Yeah, she still gets therapy sessions and medical check ups at SymboGen, the institution who helped her live again, and is still guarded by her parents day in and day out, but at least she's living. Then suddenly, people are transforming. There's a sickness going around where people suddenly stop being themselves and become empty, lifeless shells moving about. SCARY EH?! For the first 40 or so percent, we're left in the dark about almost everything. It was very slow, and it gave us an overview of Sal's life and her relationships with other people. But honestly, I didn't mind it very much because it made me understand what the heroine was going through, and the hardships she was facing. Grant really has this uncanny ability to make these fictional people feel so real and genuine; nothing sounded forced or unnatural at all. You can feel Sal's frustration and insecurities overflowing from the pages, while also sensing the tension escalating all around. There were small scenes here and there, but you can totally feel the eerie atmosphere building up as you put the pieces of the puzzle together. And then everything went loose after 50%, where you get your answers and some shocking plot twists that I didn't see coming. I swear, at exactly 52%, my jaw dropped to the ground, with my mind going WTF WTF WTF?!?!?! It's that intense and gripping, dude. I have no other words. Sure, there were a lot of scientific terms dropped here and there, and I'm no zoologist, virologist, or heck, I'm not even that good at science, but I still enjoyed reading all about them. [image] Also, there's some good character development here, too, with regards to the heroine. At the beginning, I didn't really like her that much (although I understood her) because she came across as too whiny, and too forceful with her feelings of rebellion against.. well.. everyone else! And the fact that she kept on saying she didn't know what to do, she didn't know what else to do, when the answers were kinda obvious... BUT!! She matures in the end, and I really liked how she stopped whining and finally did something for herself. You go, girl! You need to respect and love yourself more! All in all, it was a fricking awesome read. I can't wait to read Book 2 and Mira Grant now officially joins the ranks of other authors in my to-watch-for-future-novels list. This book is hauntingly compelling and amazingly creepy. It gives a lot of food for thought when it comes to biotechnology and bioengineering. It sure taught me that not all progress is good progress! I sure hope the sequel is along the way! FINAL VERDICT: 4/5 STARS ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 03, 2013
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Jul 06, 2013
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Jul 03, 2013
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Kindle Edition
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1250040884
| 9781250040886
| 1250040884
| 3.35
| 1,249
| Jul 30, 2013
| Jul 30, 2013
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it was ok
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[image]
Have you ever had dreams where they were so surreal and weird that they didn't make sense at all? Those kind of dreams where the most rando [image] Have you ever had dreams where they were so surreal and weird that they didn't make sense at all? Those kind of dreams where the most random of things meshed together in a gruesome way, making them visually look like Dali's paintings, except only ten times more bizarre? It's this book. A huge sloppy mess that gave this out-of-the-world feeling, like you're frozen in time and surrounded by distorted faces and deformed objects. I wish I could describe it better, but in a nutshell, this was how All Our Pretty Songs felt like to me. The story could have been pretty decent, you know? Two girls who are co-dependent on each other, both of them being each other's strengths and weaknesses. They've gone through a lot since they were kids, and have only each other to rely on. The nameless narrator describes herself as a bit tomboyish, and describes Aurora as free-spirited and beautiful. Then a musician named Jack appears, the narrator falls in love with him, making her spend less time with Aurora. Aurora meets a skeleton-looking man who promises her things she can't resist. A dark story of a strong yet also fragile relationship. But of course, there were things that got in the way... 1.) The writing Here's the thing. I hate walls of text. When I turn a page and I see a lengthy paragraph, I internally groan inside. Huge paragraphs make me sad and grumpy, and they demotivate me from reading any further. They feel boring, read boring, and they make me exhausted. Unless that paragraph is explaining something about the world, I don't want any of it. Nada. Zilch. Unfortunately, this book was full of it. Walls of text after walls of text, and the worst part is? A lot of them have purple prose. You see, the narrator has this tendency to talk about certain things in metaphors and similes, over and over. Jack would play a song, and she would give dozens of sentences comparing it to the sea, to the moon, to the grass, to the barking of dogs, to a deep internal despair that it's like "an animal is living inside you", on and on and on, back and forth, yada yada yada blah blah blah. IT WAS EXCRUCIATING. Like, I get it. He owned that song. His voice was great. Is it really necessary to continue giving it flowery descriptions that mean the same thing anyway? I didn't see the point. I understand that it was meant to make the prose more poetic, that the narrative of stream consciousness was supposed to make it deep and dream-like, but it was highly annoying and over-the-top. I just rolled my eyes and balled my fists to control my growing annoyance. Here's an example: A single note, faint and sweet, travels all the way from the stars to fall lightly to earth, and then another, scattering soft as rain. His music is like nothing I have ever heard. It is like the ocean surging, the wind that blows across the open water, the far call of gulls. It catches at my hair, moves across my skin and into my mouth and under my tongue. I can feel it running all through me. It is open space and mountains, the still dark places of the woods where no human beings have walked for hundreds of years, loamy earth and curtains of green moss hanging from the ancient trees. Salmon swimming against the current, dying as they leave their eggs, birthing another generation to follow the river back to the sea. Red-gold blur of a deer bounding through the woods. Snowmelt in spring, bears lumbering awake as the rivers swell, my own body stirring as though all my life has been a long winter slumbered away and I’m only now coming into the day-lit world. As he plays the party stills. Birds flutter out of the trees to land at his feet and he is haloed in dragonflies and even the moonlight gathers around him as though the sky itself were listening. The music fills every place in my body, surges hot and bright in my chest. AND THAT'S THE INCOMPLETE PART OKAY. AND THERE ARE MORE OF WHERE THAT CAME FROM. Honestly, I really appreciate McCarry's way of connecting words and making them sound more beautiful than they are. I don't have that gift, and it's a struggle for me to do the same, but there's a limit where it gets too much too quickly. There's this line where it doesn't give the book justice anymore and only muddles them (coughShatterMecough). In the end, it only made me want to gouge my eyes out. Walls of text + purple prose for me is a bad, bad, BAD idea, and it only makes me feel disoriented. I guess you can say that while I was reading this book,I envisioned it as a Dali painting (which are awesome, but they're bizarre...) 2.) The Paranormal Aspect That Popped Out of Nowhere Even though there was an abundance of lengthy paragraphs and purple prose, I liked where the first half of the book was going. It totally gave me that contemporary feel of growing up and finally becoming your own person separate from your best friend. The fact that they've been together for so long and then having their own identities seemed like a good story that I was willing to forgive the purple prose and walls of text... but around 60-75%, it became one huge clusterfuck and I found myself shaking my head and wondering if I was reading a new book altogether. Suddenly we have talks of people transforming into beastly creatures, of visiting Hell, of meeting Satan, of draining your souls, etc. etc. and I'm like... WHAT THE FLYING FUCK IS GOING ON?! The transition was horrible. And things were jumbled enough already and the PR aspect just had to make it worse! I have no idea why this is a trilogy and how this will be continued, but one thing is for sure: I am not continuing. Aside from these two complaints, I found the nameless narrator annoying. She insta-loves this musician dude who's way older than her and gets jealous easily. I mean, I'm all for age gaps and stuff like that, age is just a number after all, but their romance wasn't developed enough in my opinion. The narration had too much flowery descriptions and flashbacks, a lot of them unnecessary and irrelevant, that it was just left out and we're simply expected to accept their relationship as the best thing ever. But I do appreciate how the narrator realizes later on that the world doesn't revolve around her. I do love how the book gives the message that there are things out there that are larger than us, that our loved ones may love something more than you (like art, music, careers). But that's it, I guess. Overall, I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book. Sure, it's dark and kind of gritty in a certain sense, but I'm not kidding about the walls of text and purple prose. If you don't like that, I recommend steering clear. Otherwise, feel free to try it out. Many others have given it 4-5 stars, and it may be a hit for you, but it was definitely a miss for me. A copy was provided in exchange for a review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 19, 2013
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Aug 10, 2013
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Jun 19, 2013
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Hardcover
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1423176375
| 9781423176374
| 1423176375
| 4.02
| 23,968
| Aug 01, 2013
| Sep 03, 2013
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really liked it
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Hey, PH readers! Want to win an ARC of All Our Yesterdays? And to the rest of you, want a finished copy of the book? Join my giveaways now! Head on
Hey, PH readers! Want to win an ARC of All Our Yesterdays? And to the rest of you, want a finished copy of the book? Join my giveaways now! Head on over the blog to get a chance to win!
[image] Wow. That was one fantastic ride. Just so everyone knows, I love Time Travel stories. This adoration started after I read Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor, where a young woman finds a man from the 1500s transported in her time and she to his later. The idea of changing the future by going back to the past was just excitingly intriguing to me, and I've been on a hunt ever since for books with the same concept and quality. Unfortunately, the ones I've found were very disappointing, and I was beginning to think I wouldn't be able to find a book as good as Deveraux's. Then came All Our Yesterdays. And right now, all I'm thinking is, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!?! This book is seriously mind-fucking good. I don't even know where to start. I loved how it has that sense of urgency, that feeling where if we don't read fast enough, we'll run out of time, that everything will end, and our two characters' efforts will be for naught. Into the future, we see the tale unfold in Em's eyes, as she and Finn must go back to the past to make things right, and the only way to make it right is to kill him. This proves to be quite difficult, however, as they find themselves running against time, especially since the sight of their younger, inexperienced selves make the task even harder. The plot is incredibly fast-paced, and kept me on my toes every single page, my heart pounding, my throat tightening, as I anticipated what was going to come next. I kid you not when I say there was never a dull moment in this book. And you know the best part is? THEY EXPLAINED VERY WELL THE SCIENCE STUFF! We all know the paradoxes that can result from time travel, but it was explained here very well how time is not exactly linear, and that there are forces that avoid such things from happening. So those loopholes that I've found? Poof! Right out of the window. You can really tell the plot and world-building were well thought-out and I absolutely appreciated that, especially since I'm quite cynical. But the strongest factor of this book is neither the plot nor the world-building. What made All Our Yesterdays spectacular were the characters - Em, Marina, the two Finns, and even James. They were so three-dimensional and well-rounded that I couldn't help but imagine they were real people, and that made me feel so much for them. Em is absolutely kick-ass – she knows what she needs to do and understands the gravity of their situation, but even though her heart has hardened and her resolve like stone, she still has gentleness within her that makes her hesitant into becoming a killer. Many times she had the opportunity to kill the one she had come to kill, a person who was very dear to her in the past, but in these same instances we see her reluctance, her resolve unwavering at the sight of their younger, innocent selves. And Marina? Even though she did questionable decisions and was whiny, insensitive, and mean sometimes, I got to love her, anyway. She was insecure and badly in love that her actions were merely because in her heart, she believed she was doing the right thing. The intentions were all there, and even though some of what she did were not exactly the best things to do, you know that she's got heart, anyway. It was so heartrending to see this bubbly sixteen year old and then Em, so hardened with the miserable experience she had and what Marina will endure as well if they don't change things. It's the contrast of the before and after that got to me, and made me understand how much the future Marina wanted to protect the younger one as much as she possibly could. This book also has one of the most bittersweet endings I've ever read. I don't want to spoil it (even though throughout reading it, I've restrained myself greatly from taking a sneak peek of the last page just to see if things will be alright in the end) as it will take the magic away, but it seriously made me tear up. On the outside, it may not really look that powerful, but the context of the whole novel and the understanding we get from the future selves made its impact just so emotional and equally thought-provoking. Overall, I'm excited for the rest of the world to read this. This novel is more than just a sci-fi thriller. It has values as well, and reminds us that technology is a double-edged sword, and that too much power can even blind people with good-intentions. More importantly, this book also calls everyone to love and respect ourselves more, to be strong and confident, to be humble. This is a stunning debut, and Hyperion hit the nail on the head with this one. Final Verdict: 4.5 / 5 stars! An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for a review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 11, 2013
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Jun 12, 2013
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Jun 11, 2013
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Hardcover
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0345539788
| 4.27
| 536,240
| Jan 28, 2014
| Jan 28, 2014
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it was amazing
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EDIT: READ THIS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN PREPARATION FOR MORNING STAR AND IT WAS JUST AS GLORIOUS AS THE FIRST TIME. Like bloody hell, Darrow is a Gary
EDIT: READ THIS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN PREPARATION FOR MORNING STAR AND IT WAS JUST AS GLORIOUS AS THE FIRST TIME. Like bloody hell, Darrow is a Gary Stu in all manners and forms but I am just SO addicted to this series!!!! Read this and my other reviews at The Social Potato! An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. WOW. JUST... WOW. And here I thought I've read all sorts of dystopians out there. Here I was, egoistically thinking I know the genre by heart and that nothing can surprise me anymore. MAN, WAS I WRONG!!! Ever since The Hunger Games took off, the community has seen an onslaught of young adult dystopian books left and right, and needless to say, it has somewhat saturated the genre that used to be so magical and fascinating to me. I've been disappointed too many times, severely dismayed in a few instances, so when I read in another review this book will blow everyone's socks off, I was ecstatic, and, in a way, a bit wary. What if I'll be disappointed again? What if this doesn't exceed my expectations? And honestly, my expectations are rather high. But worry not, friends and reviewers alike! If anything, Red Rising made me excited about this genre again. I haven't been this pumped up since I read Blood Song by Anthony Ryan, and that was last year! This book reminded me how much I love dystopian, how much I love stories about tyrannical governments and underground rebels plotting to reclaim what was once theirs - the right to be seen as fellow human beings. Goodness gracious, mon dieu, dios mio, oh lala! You think the The 5th Wave was the next best thing? HAH! I'm sorry to burst your bubbles, but I wholeheartedly disagree. Red Rising will be the next big IT. As in, the one everyone - adults and teenagers alike - will go completely gaga for. This book, in my honest opinion, is seriously one of the best this genre can offer to the community. This has real suffering, full of instances and scenes that will make your heart cry out, sharing in the pain of the main characters. This has real crooks, people you just want to see burn in hell for all the atrocious things they've done, bastards you look forward to being ousted and outwitted, madmen you want to strangle and choke yourself. This has real questions and discernments on humanity, with situations so gravely appalling, you'll feel sorry for the people, being treated less than insects, trapped in a cycle of greed and oppression. As Litchick have said in her review, YOU'VE SEEN NOTHING!!!!!!!! So, yes. Make way, 5th Wave. Make way, The Hunger Games. You have been dethroned. And thank you, Pierce Brown. You've brought new life to the genre and rekindled my interest and love for dystopia. You da man, sir! YOU DA MAN! *fistbump* So, okay. Enough gushing and fangirling. Let's talk about the book. Years into the distant future, humankind has reached new heights. They've conquered the solar system, invading nearby planets and moons for resources and what have you. The story takes place in Mars, in which a colony has been placed, and human life thrives. There is structure. There is society and civilization. There is a government. And there is a well-established hierarchy. For as long as Darrow, our young main character, can remember, his clan, the Red, has been drilling the rocks underground to ready the planet for living. He believes this. He lives this. Despite the oppression and the tough life they have to go through, he sincerely thinks that one day it will all be worth it. Until something happens and he discovers they've been lied to all this time. I love Darrow. He's such an amazing character. He's like a younger version of Vaelin, my favorite character ever from Blood Song, an inherently good person but someone who knows he has to dirty his hands in order to fight for a greater cause. It was so interesting for me to read his self-doubts and moments of clarity, his sheer brilliance and comebacks to his enemies... they made me smile and made my heart roar out of pride. He's the kind of character who may have flaws, but you embrace everything of him anyway, and you'll be there cheering for him through thick and thin, come low or high water! I wish I could tell you guys the awesome scenes that made me crazy, and there are a lot of them, but I can't as I want you to experience the magic for yourself, but I guarantee you this: you will cry. You will get angry. You will be sad, frustrated, and you won't help but feel his pain and the pain of others. You will find yourself jumping up and down, cheering, grinning, fistbumping the air, and other what have you. YOU WILL HAVE THE GREATEST, EYE-POPPING, HEART-POUNDING EXPERIENCE OF YOUR LIFE! 100% GUARANTEED! Why do I say this? Because aside from the awesome main character, the plot is equally incredible. You have a government that is hell-bent on continuing a hierarchy, a system that encourages discrimination and oppression toward the lower classes, and you have an underground group called Sons of Ares that are determined to make a difference and let the outside world know they are not insects and slaves to be trampled on. We all know just how overused this formula is, but Pierce Brown put it up a notch and made this journey a remarkable, refreshing experience. He made such a worn out scenario engaging, breathtaking, and super exciting, placing his writing prowess into use and putting elements and characters never seen and experienced before. What may have been a simple premise transforms itself into a highly brutal and violent setting, full of blood, hate, vengeance, and ultimately hope - a hope to make a difference amidst the sins of the world, amidst the blood on their hands. Such a spectacular novel. Overall, this is a fast-paced story that breathes new life to a worn-out genre. Pierce Brown has heard our calls of distress and answered with this gem of a book. In terms of character, values, and plot, Red Rising wins them all hands down. It is no doubt one of the best of this genre that I've ever had the utmost pleasure to read. It speaks volumes when I'm at 70% and am already having withdrawals. It's THAT good, folks. This book will rise and will be the best of them all. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 03, 2013
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Jun 04, 2013
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Jun 03, 2013
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Hardcover
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0765334607
| 9780765334602
| 0765334607
| 3.38
| 425
| Jul 23, 2013
| Jul 23, 2013
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liked it
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Disclaimer: An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. I love reading horror. Ever since I wa Disclaimer: An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. I love reading horror. Ever since I was a wee kid, I've been watching Japanese horror films like The Grudge, The Ring, and One Miss Call. Asian films of this genre scare the shit crap out of me, and I relish the feeling! This love was strengthened even more when I read R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books, encountering monsters, paranormal creatures, and creepy circumstances that have never once crossed my imagination. So there's really no wonder why I quickly pushed the REQUEST button when I saw EXTREMITIES. Stories of Death, Murder and Revenge? Dude, count me in! So, I just finished this. Verdict? Enjoyable. I'm a bit torn between 3.5 and 4, so let's leave it at that. Even though the stories are very, very short — some of them only 3 pages long — they pack a lot of punch. I really appreciate that not all of them end in a gore-y and tragic manner, in which the hero finds himself a victim of his own curiosity, as quite a good number of them have a happy and satisfying end after a gruesome adventure with the unknown. I'd definitely read more from the author. His straightforward way of narrating is pretty neat and effective in setting up a looming atmosphere. This book reminds me of the manga called Screaming Lessons . They're episodic, too, and each chapter tells of a creepy story, but most of the time, the hero/heroine ends up not having the last laugh. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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May 30, 2013
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May 30, 2013
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Hardcover
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B00BABSZBO
| 3.87
| 247
| Jan 01, 2013
| Jul 02, 2013
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did not like it
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Read this and my other reviews at The Social Potato! An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my t Read this and my other reviews at The Social Potato! An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. Thank you so much, Strange Chemistry! Disclaimer: This can get quite ranty. And spoiler-y. Read at your own risk Mother of all migraines. If there's a book that pushed me to become an angry Hulk, it's this. Playing Tyler is definitely one of my biggest disappointments this year, as it was successful in making me rage, stomp the floor in frustration, and put down my kindle because my brain was having its own form of seizures. There are just no coherent ways of expressing my utter hatred for this book.UGH. First, don't get me wrong. I didn't go into this book expecting to hate it. I'm not the kind who'd willingly punish herself to get a kick out of it. To make things straight, the synopsis of Playing Tyler absolutely captivated me in its web. I have this soft spot for stories that have "game" concepts but eventually turns out to be more than what it is. There's just something so exciting and bewitching about characters being so into something that initially looked innocent, only to feel betrayed later on when they find out about the horrible truth. Such a concept has potential to be an awesome and epic book, but Playing Tyler... did not play its cards well. There were just so many problems that I don't even know where to start. The blurb is somewhat misleading. It gives us that thriller, fast-paced vibe of uncovering truths and conspiracies within corporates and governments, but the first 60% of the book is like... drama. A long-winded, dragging, soap opera that is just so cringe-worthy that the word "failure" doesn't even cover it. So there's Tyler, a teenage guy with ADHD who's apparently a legend in online games. OK. Fine. I'll go along with that. He gets invited to beta-test this new flight simulation game, and if he plays long enough, he'll be offered a place in an aviation school so he can fly for real. Ok. Fine. I'm still nodding here. AND THEN... he meets the programmer, who turns out to be Ani, who's - dun dun dun duuuuuuun - also a legend in the online gaming world! And of course, Tyler goes, Ohhhemmmmgeeeeee a guuuuurl gaaaameerrrrrr OMFGHAXORZ!!! And it's not just any gurl-omg-gamer, it's THE gurl gamer, like, she was number 1 until I dethroned her!!! [image] This book made it seem like guuurrrrrrl gamers are sooooo rare and it's just so utterly unbelievable that they can be as good as guys, and as a gamer myself, I am deeply insulted. But that's not the focus here. It's the pointless drama-rama. So, ok. Upon recognizing the girl, Tyler's eyes immediately goes Ka-ching INSTALOVE! and he transforms into one creepy mofo stalker. NO JOKE. If you thought Edward Cullen was creepy, you haven't seen Tyler yet. He freaking adores and worships the girl, keeps on thinking how she's so cute and so awesome and so cute and so awesome and so so so cute, as if saying it a gazillion times just wasn't enough. I know he has ADHD, but it was just so tiring for me to see him repeat it over and over without commas and periods because authenticity, yo! Anyway. Right. He wanted to ask her out, to date her, to make her his girlfriend, but she made it clear from the very beginning that she doesn't want to. So you know what he does? He texts her. Over and over. He sends her an e-mail every day for WEEKS ON END. Pleading, wanting to know her, wanting to visit her, wanting her to visit him, etc. etc. OMFG. If I were Ani, I'd have run for the hills already!!! But nooo... not Ani. Of course not. She eventually gives in, they gorge on pizzas, have a kiss outside (with Tyler describing his excitement of that kiss and the fact that he was kissed for a page or two), and they fall in love... and... there goes the first 60% ... -_- (It is at this point I'm internally screaming: "I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS!!!") [image] But even if the romance part was nonexistent, Tyler as a character was fucking annoying as hell. (view spoiler)[He later finds out that the game is not what it seems to be, and that he's actually harming, killing people in real life. To terminate certain people, he kills tens and hundreds of others. In the beginning, when he still had zilch idea about the truth, he was enjoying all the rush the game had to offer. He kept on commenting how the simulation "felt so real", how the "voices" of the "NPCs" seemed so genuine. He thought to himself how talented the voice actors were for really sounding authentic. But when he realizes the truth after seeing it on TV and after confronting his boss, Rick, he justifies what he was doing, saying he's "good at it" and "he's doing something right for America", all because he doesn't want to believe his best buddy Rick, a shady character who's had military training, is really deceiving him. It was so obvious from the very start that it really annoyed me how the two characters acted all surprised much later when the epiphany bell hit them. I MEAN, HELLO?! A simulation with drones that "seem too real", a project that's not even known by the company, a TV news confirming the death and destruction in Afghanistan that Tyler left the night before... and they act all... GUH. (hide spoiler)] Whatever. Fuck you, Tyler. Fuck you. Anyway... the prose is easy to read but it can be very very annoying in Tyler's POV. He has ADHD so he narrates with run-ons that are oftentimes lacking commas and periods. For authenticity I guess that works, but I just couldn't deal with it. It bothered me too much and it failed to connect to me. If it's full of I want to kiss her oh my god she's so cute and so pretty and so awesome look at those eyelashes she's really so cute ah I wanna kiss her so bad for half a page, then I'm sorry, it's not going to work with me. Nice try for that, though. Other people could probably appreciate them but count me out. Why doesn't he care why doesn't he just now I need him why can't he see and now I'm going to fucking die and no one will be here to save him to care when he dies to cry when they put him in the ground and all I ever wanted to do in my life was see him get better and now we're both hit. ._. At the end of the day, I couldn't deal with Tyler and his endless focus on kisses and his cute girlfriend and their eyelashes that "go on forever" (x_x) and the overall execution of the plot. The pacing was just so off... if we go by content, it was more of a romance than anything else... a romance that was seriously badly developed and weird and disturbing. The real plot could've been good but Tyler and Ani, who has a pretty bland personality, were just too big epic failures I couldn't ignore. I wanted to love this, because that blurb is fucking perfect, but unfortunately, I've found too many problems and thus have to conclude this review by saying this gets nothing more than 1 STAR from me. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 29, 2013
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Jun 13, 2013
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May 29, 2013
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Kindle Edition
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0758289162
| 9780758289162
| 0758289162
| 3.97
| 8,969
| May 28, 2013
| May 28, 2013
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really liked it
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An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way. So far, the Elemental series has been a pretty mean An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way. So far, the Elemental series has been a pretty meaningful, albeit a bit rocky, ride. We had Storm, a fast-paced introduction to the Merricks brothers who found themselves in danger of being killed by a Guide; Spark, a character-driven book that focused on Gabriel's internal conflicts while also meeting love along the way; and finally, we have newly-releasedSpirit, a novel that featured Hunter who wasn't a Merrick but vital to the overall story all the same. Storm was okay, Spark was better, and Spirit, after deep discernment, was the best instalment of the three. It's not everyday that you find an author who can write teen boys with different personalities and voices as effectively as Brigid Kemmerer. And here I thought I loved Gabriel... but it turns out Hunter stole my heart in the end. If anything, Kemmerer just keeps getting better and better book after book after book. What I really liked best about Spirit was how Kemmerer successfully integrated a plot full of suspense, intrigue, and drama while making it also significantly character-driven. In the previous books, I never really liked Hunter all that much as his actions were very inconsistent and those only made me suspicious and wary of him, but reading his thoughts and struggles in this book made me sympathize and understand him more. I couldn't help but imagine myself in his shoes and feel angry and frustrated myself. Even though the Merricks had good reason to not completely trust him, I still felt angry and sad at the same time, having many episodes of "Dude! It's not what you think, really!!" I do think he was a believable character and had a very genuine voice that's lacking in this demographic nowadays. His internal conflicts and his evasive nature were effectively written as it evoked strong reactions from me. Given, not all of them were positive for Hunter, but the thing is, I felt connected, and that's the most important. And surprisingly, the love interest this time around wasn't as annoying as the first two! While I found Kate sometimes questionable, she was overall a good, level-headed heroine. Definitely a fresh air from Becca and Layne who made me want to pull my hair out strand by strand just to numb the anger I felt for them. Despite there being a romance blossoming between the two (as always), it wasn't the central factor of this book... it was more of a background than anything else, and something that moved the storyline that ultimately led to an exploding climax. I really like it when authors make bold moves with their characters. It only shows how great of a writer one is when they're not afraid to take risks AND do it well. But because I read from other reviews about a rather violent "twist" near the ending, it kinda decreased the impact for me as I was expecting SOMETHING VIOLENT to happen (yes, I expected that scene). I definitely think it was over too soon and felt it could've used a little more emotion, a little more angst and narrative. I mean, a scene like that SHOULD summon strong reactions, but Hunter's scene with his grandpa was more powerful and heartbreaking than that one. *shrug* Now, to the nitpicky stuff... There were a few things I didn't appreciate in this novel. These are, of course, subjective, and only got some attention from me because I'm nitpicky like that, but I can't deny these things made me scream and rage and insane. Nitpick #1.) I couldn't stand the insta-love at first. Okay, it was more of insta-attraction, but still. Hunter met Kate and was completely mesmerized, and all the way to class, he only kept on thinking about the smell of cinnamon and apples and the blonde streaks of her hair. I thought Hunter was more... composed than this, know what I mean? When I read that scene, my eyes went a full 360 at least three times. [image] Nitpick #2.) I really don't know how to explain this coherently, but there's really something about Hunter and Kate's astonishment in certain things that bugged me. I know their situations were similar and stuff and I'm okay with that, but I seriously question the redundancy of some particular "omg, nobody has done that to me before!!" scenes. Examples (made-up but they could be close to what was in the book...): Oh, someone listened to me! "I am amazed! No one has ever listened to me before." Over and over and over... It drove me nearly mad. [image] Nitpick #3.) Around 60%, Hunter and Kate were bantering with each other about something. That's not uncommon. But what got to me was the fact that while Kate was arguing with him, Hunter suddenly KISSED her to shut her up. Like... wtf. That's not only wrong, but that's also cliché, old, and annoying as fuck. I can't stand this kind of scene; I don't get its appeal at all. Every time I encounter this, it feels like hearing a nail scrap a blackboard. It doesn't help that Kate enjoyed it and what ensued was a make-out session. [image] *END OF NITPICKS* Overall, I think this is the strongest book out of the whole series. The straight-forward way of narrating is pretty effective, and successfully puts the feelings of the characters across to the readers. Spirit is definitely better than Spark and Storm combined, and I am only excited to see what else Kemmerer has in store for us. She knows her stuff and she knows how to write a damn good story and male characters. I wouldn't have the books in any other way (okay, maybe the previous heroines could use a bit of tough love - they were annoying!). Final verdict: High 3.5 / 5 ...more |
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1
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May 26, 2013
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May 27, 2013
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May 26, 2013
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ebook
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1442459530
| 9781442459533
| 1442459530
| 3.60
| 2,399
| Jul 23, 2013
| Jul 23, 2013
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really liked it
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[image]
Starglass has a premise that we've all seen before - a community thriving in a spaceship, traveling the vastness of empty space in search f [image] Starglass has a premise that we've all seen before - a community thriving in a spaceship, traveling the vastness of empty space in search for a new home. One notable book that's similar is Beth Ravis Across the Universe series, which I adore and hold close to my heart. And just like aforementioned series, this one also has conspiracies and plots going on behind the scenes, in which a rebellion is brewing and is about to lose control. Because this has been used over and over again in literature, be it in a spaceship or in a dystopian setting, I was especially wary, but surprisingly, while the premise wasn't original, the execution and delivery of it were well done, making the read a refreshing experience. For a book that spans 448 pages, the plot didn't feel dragging at all. I loved how in this setting, you really can't trust anyone. Everyone's so suspicious! One moment you'd think they're on the good side, later on, you'll see that their actions are very inconsistent. All sides have their fair share of good and bad apples, and like the heroine, the reader can't really tell who to believe until the very last page. But that doesn't mean it's a linear good versus evil... I think it's more of people who believe they're right and have valid reasons for feeling so versus people who are the same. In other words, it's a kind of scenario where one doesn't really trump the other, a scenario that can only be resolved not by dominating the other but by negotiating and comprising. I appreciated it wasn't all black and white, there were some gray zones as well. There are also some sub plots scattered throughout that will make you sad with grief. However, there were times that it felt like there were too many things that was going on, so there were instances in the middle part that were just so exhausting. But otherwise, the overall plot was really good, and I loved how the rebellion and the hidden motives and agendas of certain individuals unfolded. I also appreciated the diversity of the cast of characters here. There were a lot of neat people that you don't really see much in Young Adult literature. I won't really spoil it for you guys, so I'll say just this: expect the unexpected! Haha. Terra, on the other hand... well, I liked her, most of the time. I shared with her pain of losing her mom and the trials and tribulations she went through in the book, but there were times she made some decisions and said some words that I don't really condone. Her weak character became her disadvantage as it made her vulnerable to manipulation, but I really liked how she broke the chains weighing her down and finally decided for herself. By the end, you'll feel proud of her as she finally stood on her own two feet. That part where she ultimately determined what feels right for her was such a monumental moment. You'll truly appreciate the Coming-of-Age aspect here. Overall, this book was really good. There were some things that I didn't like, but generally, I found it well-done with the right pacing and enough scenes that would make you drool for more. Even though the premise is not original, Phoebe North still gave us content that provided something new to the genre. I am definitely looking forward to book two! An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 20, 2013
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Apr 21, 2013
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Apr 20, 2013
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Hardcover
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0738736430
| 9780738736433
| 0738736430
| 3.82
| 2,954
| Jun 01, 2013
| Jul 08, 2013
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it was ok
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An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any way. Once again, a book that is stamped An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any way. Once again, a book that is stamped with such a lovely, eye-catching cover, but with a storyline and heroine so bland and dull that it hurts. Honestly, I expected a lot because that pretty dress made of flowers and sepia tint just screamed "UNIQUE" in bold, capitalized letters. And it's true, it is unique. The premise was definitely interesting. I mean, dude, how often do you see a story that portrays personified emotions - with their own feelings, faces, and personalities - in fiction? Not much, I bet. But I think we're all too familiar with books with great premises but subpar delivery and execution. Some Quiet Place is one of them, truth be told. What could have been a great read was dampened nearly halfway through. As the other 2 stars reviews of this book have said, the story started excellently - beautiful, almost musical narration, a practical realistic protagonist void of any emotions, and side characters that I felt were unique and dynamic. It had a great start, but after some "twists" were introduced almost halfway, I found myself getting tired and exhausted that I stopped reading this book and put it aside for a few months. Main Character eventually becomes too bland and empty for my taste. And she's already emotionless to begin with, so that's like adding insult to injury. I didn't feel for her at all, and there were times I wished she'd just disappear from the face of the earth (I know, how mean of me...). Despite the vivid and expressive details and whatnot, it was hard for me to take her seriously. She became extremely annoying, too - from practical and realistic to just downright infuriating. Like, I know you have no emotions whatsoever, but girl, seriously. If you're being slapped around and beaten up by your dad, you fricking defend yourself, call the cops, or ask for help! You don't just limp there and do nothin'. T_T Thanks to the heroine being so useless and dull, it kinda quenched the reading experience, and I only felt exhausted whenever I tried picking it up again. Sorry :( The twists and turn of events which linked the MC to this strange, mysterious, dead boy just made things confusing. Another one of the factors that contributed to the headache this book has given me. As previously stated, it started excellently, but as I read further, the escalation of events and the revelations just made me scratch my head and wonder, "What the flying fuck is going on here?? I thought I missed some things and would go back, and then become even more confused. Also, the dream scenes felt pretty lame and dragged out, and I just couldn't appreciate them overall. When I got to the end, I only felt relief from the fact I was finally free of this book. Don't get me wrong, friends. This isn't a bad book, but it just didn't work out for me. In the end, I couldn't appreciate it and eventually disliked it. A lot of my points were subjective, so if you wanted to try this book out, by all means go ahead. A lot of people did, but it's just not my cuppa tea. I will still read the author's future books, though. She does have a musical prose :) Read this and other giveaways at The Social Potato! [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 16, 2013
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May 02, 2013
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Mar 16, 2013
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Paperback
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1616951273
| 9781616951276
| 1616951273
| 3.59
| 650
| Mar 12, 2013
| Mar 12, 2013
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really liked it
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An ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review. All the thoughts here are mine, and were not influenced in any way. Ok, if you know me, I'm An ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review. All the thoughts here are mine, and were not influenced in any way. Ok, if you know me, I'm a person who likes to be honest and real with those who read my reviews (and if you are, I sincerely thank you from the pits of my heart), and this instance is no exception. I'll be truthful here - there are good things and bad things to be found in this book. I'm not saying those are concrete goods and bads, though, because what I will disclose are purely subjective; that is to say, you may like 'em, you may not, and whatever your position/stance is regarding them may break or make the novel for you. Let's get to the bad first. For starters, this book has too much drugs, alcohol, and sex. Remember Gossip Girl, this show of powertripping kids who live and drown in these three things? If those stuff disturbed and disgusted you, you may wanna reconsider trying this novel out, because the storyline pretty much centers on drugs (a drug cartel, to be specific), and intense party goer kids who have sex and hook-ups everywhere. And they all get away with it. There's an air of entitlement, of elitism, and of an arrogance that's just a wee bit annoying. Granted, I'm not someone from the upper class, so I have zilch idea whether such a situation really does happen. I'm a bit skeptical, but maybe it does realize itself here and there - a whole population of people (or at least the majority of it anyway) involved in a drug cartel, under the noses of the administration, without even arousing any form of suspicion. How convenient, huh? Echoing what I said, if this bothers you, reconsider. There's too much of it. But for me, it was easy to overlook, thanks to the amazing narration and the curious, determined heroine. The narrator of this story is Devon, a girl who got into this prestigious school thanks to a scholarship. She used to be a shy individual, seemingly cautious and wary of making friends with the rest of the student populace, but this all changed when she met and got trapped with Hutch, one of the school's Legends for having Keaton alumni in his family, while trying to get milk and cookies. But that was before. At the present time, Hutch is dead, and she becomes a peer counselor to the deceased's friends. Deep inside her, however, she knows that Hutch didn't kill himself; her one memory with him, of him, of the person she got to know deeply, didn't indicate a guy who'd end his life just like that. And so she'll try to find out, however possible. If you like a narration that will quickly suck you in and engross you in the story, this book is one of them. I had a lot of fun reading the heroine's thoughts and "assumptions" as she worked about her inner Nancy Drew. Even though she's mainly acting as someone merely observing and listening to other people, it still has this personal touch because the deceased was someone she knew, and that intimacy made it even more suspenseful. The build-up is slow, the tension and escalation of events steady, but the suspense will keep your toes curling. Did Hutch really kill himself? Was there more to the story? Was it a murder? If so, who? There is also this uncanny air of sadness in the atmosphere, making the read more intimate than I thought possible. Throughout the story, we are given flashbacks of that one night Devon spent with Hutch trapped in the kitchen when they went out to get milk and cookies during their freshman year. As a reader, we already know that he's dead, and their antics make everything a lot more melancholic. Like Devon, we, readers, get to know more about him like how he's more than just the operations he does, how there's an innate kindness and carefreeness inside of him, contributing to a sympathy for the both the heroine and the could-have-been. The author was able to write what I said above very well, and this, I think, made the book a spectacular one for me. The feelings from this factor alone is powerful and haunting: the feeling of looking back and regretting what you could've done, the feeling of knowing a person's worth only after they're gone, the feeling that there was a chance, an opportunity at something so formidable, and if only you took it when it stopped by your door. To me, it stirred up a lot of emotions, and it was because of this that I couldn't get away from the story. My only regret is that I wish I read it earlier. All in all, get this if you want a powerful and at the same time, a suspenseful whodunit mystery read. While it may be true there is a disturbing amount of drugs, sex, and alcohol, it is easy to overlook them if you're mainly looking for a good narration, mystery, heroine, and values. In the end, there are lessons to learn from, and it is in my belief that these are the most important of all. [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 14, 2013
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Apr 18, 2013
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Mar 14, 2013
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Hardcover
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1620612429
| 9781620612422
| 1620612429
| 3.55
| 8,797
| Apr 02, 2013
| Apr 02, 2013
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really liked it
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Okay. Let's be realistic and honest here. If you're looking for a profound book, or a dramatic plot that could easily rival those latin soap operas, o
Okay. Let's be realistic and honest here. If you're looking for a profound book, or a dramatic plot that could easily rival those latin soap operas, or a title that would leave you wondering, pondering and thinking about the cosmos and the meaning of life for days on end, then I advice you right now to turn your heels around, walk away, and don't look back, because this book isn't it. BUT!! If you're itching to read a fun book, a novel that will leave you giggling, chuckling, and laughing inside, a read that will make you all warm and fuzzy, a plot quite predictable but will still keep you going nonetheless because it's that good, then buckle up and get this book, 'cause you're in for a fun ride. I didn't expect anything at all when I started The Collector. I read the synopsis and immediately thought "Mmmmeh. The dude's probably a jerk, and the love interest's a whiny girl who can't get enough of him." Man, did it prove me wrong, and for some odd, otherworldly reason, I just couldn't get enough of it. Yes, it is a bit formulaic; yes, it probably won't win the next nobel prize for literature, but damn, the lasting impression it left on me was just formidable. All I can say are three words - love, fun, and awesome! Dante, the main character, is one of the funniest and snarkiest narrators out there The narration is the best asset of this book. It's so made up of win. At first glance, it may seem like Dante's a jerk or a douchebag, or even a wannabe gangster with all the "yo, got swag, yo!" vibes, but if you read further, you'll find out he isn't really all that bad. He's just a really funny The love interest, Charlie, is just so adorable! Girl characters can easily be divided into a couple of categories. There are the feisty ones full of snark, wit, and rudeness; in this corner are the angsty ones who wallow in their own self-pity; over at the left side are the dramatic ones who a.) can't believe this hot guy likes her because she's so plain or b.) how dare that bitch steal him away from me?!; and over at the right side are the Mary Sues who are just so good at everything, who are loved by everyone, who are so gentle and brittle they couldn't possibly have the heart to kill a ladybug. I'm sure there are others out there, but let's just say these are the four main archetypes. And truth be told, a lot of YA heroines right now are Mary Sues BUT there is a fine line between being a Mary Sue, and being someone with innate goodness. Charlie's one of the latter. Charlie is one of the most endearing love interests I've ever had the pleasure to read. She's insanely sweet, kind, caring, and loving, but even though this is so, there's no air of "trying hard" in her. She's just naturally good, and you feel it, making her so hard not to like. I guess I could put her up there with Meg Corbyn from Written in Red by Anne Bishop, or Mikan from the graphic novel/manga Alice Academy, who are also both very innocent and kind, but not a Mary Sue. Like Meg, they are both vibrant, and the things they do are always out of a genuine kindness we don't see much in our society nowadays. Even though we see the story from Dante's perspective, I applaude the author for still having captured Charlie's sincere personality in paper and words. The romance is swoon-worthy and nicely developed! I love how the romance was portrayed here. The development and blossoming between the two is just astoundingly well-done. Dante starts off as an overly confident and egotistic individual, someone who couldn't care less about others if it doesn't benefit him. He thought that Charlie would be someone who he could easily fool and forget, but the girl's innate kindness and sincere goodness have won him ten times over. Slowly, but surely, he develops a kind of fondness for her, and finally realises how big her worth is - more than himself, more than the freedom he was promised if he could continually deceive her. I appreciated the development and the romance a lot. It gradually made Dante show the goodness of the world; it made him discern about himself and his actions. It was like seeing a cold-hearted individual learn to love not just someone else, but himself as well. Many times throughout the book, I found myself going "Awww!" and melting due to the sheer romantic-ness. I definitely can't wait how it will continue to unfold in Book 2 :) I only had one problem with the plot, though... By the second half, we find out that there's more to the story than what we initially thought. It's bigger than Dante, bigger than Charlie, bigger than the whole world. To be honest, I couldn't really appreciate the twist because it seemed a bit superficial and... I don't know, random? It felt like it came from out of nowhere. Yes, it was unexpected to a certain extent, but it evoked an empty reaction from me. I don't really want to spoil it here for the rest of you, but let's just say I just found it a bit out of place. OVERALL... I recommend this book to those who's looking for a paranormal chick lit that will tickle your funny bone. The narration is not something to be missed. To be honest, I can easily imagine this book being turned into an entertaining chick flick movie (if it does get turned into a film, please have Kevin Zegers as Dante!!!). The romance is heart-warming, and the changes Dante undergo are deeply satisfying. A solid 4/5 stars from me! An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley for reviewing purposes. This did not influence my review in any way. Read our other reviews at The Social Potato! [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 10, 2013
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Apr 11, 2013
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Feb 17, 2013
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Paperback
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0062201808
| 9780062201805
| 0062201808
| 3.49
| 3,270
| May 07, 2013
| May 07, 2013
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liked it
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An ARC was provided in exchange for a review. This in no way influenced my thoughts in any way. Almost more than 24 hours later, I'm still a bit stumpe An ARC was provided in exchange for a review. This in no way influenced my thoughts in any way. Almost more than 24 hours later, I'm still a bit stumped and at a loss. No, no, it's not because this book gave me something to ponder on for days on end, rather, I simply found it difficult to gather my thoughts and coherently put them into words. Did this book have zombies? Well, yes, close enough. Was it entertaining? Yes. Did I like it? Yes and no. If that sounds fickle to you, it probably is, but let me explain why I'm torn between "fuck yeah awesome" and "I'm outta here". The premise is original and intriguing. Like any other zombie fiction, it mainly revolves around the heroes' survival, but what kept the story from going to the "been there done that" pile were the game concept as well as the heart warming relationship between Michael and Patrick. These two brothers have been on their own since Halloween, the End of the World. They've been relying on each other all this while. They're in a "game", in which the objective is to get to the Safe Zone and meet their mother. To do this, they have to fight the Bellows, dead people walking that distort your words and echo them back to you, as well as follow the instructions from the Game Master. If you're looking for a darker plot than most YA survival stories, this one here is right up your alley. It is absolutely thrilling, creepy, and sinister. This is a world where you only have yourself to trust, because even those alive have proven themselves equally dangerous. I found myself glued to the pages, unable to keep myself away as the escalation of events became even more suspenseful. The atmosphere is emotional, a sense of urgency is present, and all of these are intensified thanks to the close bond between Michael and Patrick, who are dependent on each other for both of their sanities, a realistic relationship of protector and the one being protected. It is a riveting plot that would put you at the edges of your seat, a story of lies, manipulation, and survival, and for me, it could have been a fun ride from beginning to end. Note the could. Alas, in the end, it wasn't meant to be. What dampened my enjoyment was the way the narration was written. It was hard for me to get used to it at first as the style was a bit different, and unfortunately, I think I was uncomfortable to the last page. The author made the voice sound like from a teenager's, which is quite weird since it's told in third person anyway, but it only felt unnatural and forced to me. It felt like the narration was trying hard to reach out to me and have me relate with my inner teen, but... yeah, no. Most of the characters were also annoying as hell. I think I only liked one person, and that was Bobbie, an old grandma who managed to survive with the small group of survivors in the Capitol. The rest - bah. Despite the heartwarming relationship between Michael and Patrick, at least, the protector vs. damsel in distress kind, I also disliked both of them, as in, I wouldn't have cared if they were killed anyway; I just wanted them to finally stop talking. Patrick sometimes acted like a three year old kid, and then talk like a ten year old, and then revert back to being too cutesy. Each time, I only wanted to yell, STAHP IT!! Don't get me wrong, I love kids, but it was so exhausting to read his dialogue and his antics, and the only thing I thought in my mind every time he'd come up was "Please let it be over soon; o, have mercy!! Michael, on the other hand, was decent with his "I'm the macho guy, I can take care of all of ye" attitude, but there were times he infuriated me as well. While questionable, I understood some of the actions he did; those were merely done because he believed it was for the best interests of his younger brother, and I guess that tidbit gave him more depth. The "love interest" was also one of the ficklest characters I've ever had the displeasure to read, and one of the most irritating as well. She said she cared for the brothers, but every time she did something for them out of that "care" and "goodness", she only made things worse not only for them, but for everybody else. And how truly convenient that she was Michael's age, too! What are the odds of encountering someone like that out of the blue, huh? Their "romance" felt superficial, too. Ugh. Overall, this is not a bad book. The storyline, despite the annoying characters and unnecessary romance, is something those looking for a darker and more sinister plot would find appealing and would probably enjoy. I advice reading this with no high expectations, lest you might be disappointed, as I was. Nevertheless, it's still a solid 3/5 stars for me. Read this and other reviews at The Social Potato! [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 16, 2013
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Apr 23, 2013
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Feb 17, 2013
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Hardcover
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1442441798
| 9781442441798
| 1442441798
| 3.60
| 2,221
| Mar 05, 2013
| Mar 05, 2013
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liked it
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The Murmurings definitely had a very good start that left me wanting for more. It was able to capture the voice of a lonely and confused girl, isolate
The Murmurings definitely had a very good start that left me wanting for more. It was able to capture the voice of a lonely and confused girl, isolated by her peers due to the unfortunate and unwanted conditions that surround her. Her sister just died in a crazy way, her mom's an alcoholic and not able to move on and forgive herself, and everyone thinks she's a freak. Grand, right? I loved how her voice was very personal and detached at the same time, and loved it even more that it stayed consistent throughout. The way her internal narration was written was a pleasure to read. Her impulsive approach to satisfy her curiosity, especially on what happened to her sister and what was going on in the mental institution she was placed in, unfortunately bothered me. This isn't the book's fault, though - I simply just cannot appreciate people who make decisions without thinking. For example, she knew Dr. Keller was strange, bizarre, and even dangerous, yet she just had to go to the mental institution knowing the dire consequences. Alone. That scene really bothered me because no one in their sane mind would do something like that, unless they're completely naïve. I'm aware that this must have been necessary in order to move the story, but it felt incredibly annoying knowing that the nutcases in there will find a way to contain her. Despite my lack of appreciation towards Sophie's character as a whole, I still did like the pace of the story overall. It was slow, yes, but I believe the tensions leading to the climax and ultimately to the finale were nicely written. I was able to feel sorry for Sophie because I understood how alone she must have felt. Her mother was in her own world, her Aunt worried more about her mother than her own niece, everyone else shunned her away, and she was hearing voices to boot. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes. The raw emotions dealing with this loneliness was effectively expressed, and I applaud the author for that. However, I did feel the romance aspect to this felt unnatural. I thought she fell in love with Evan a little too quickly for my liking, thus making it seem a bit forced and unnatural. I definitely think making them as friends first would've worked better, and the romance later on. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 20, 2013
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Feb 28, 2013
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Feb 17, 2013
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Hardcover
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1908844558
| 9781908844552
| 1908844558
| 3.45
| 338
| Apr 30, 2013
| May 07, 2013
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it was ok
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An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any shape or form. You want the truth? I'll An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any shape or form. You want the truth? I'll give you the truth. The synopsis of Zenn Scarlett didn't suck me in - the cover did. If y'all follow my reviews, you must know by now how insanely obsessed I am with anything related to space. Paste a picture of the cosmos on the cover of your book, overlay or screen it with warm yellow-orange-red colours, and you got yourself a follower, my friend. Just look at that sweet, sweet baby. I'd love to have a big poster of this book and hang it on my bedroom wall. It would be a spectacular sight. But, unfortunately, as a book blogger, I do not review covers. They're simply a bonus For starters, the premise is unique and highly interesting. It does not only take place in another planet and involve intergalactic travel, it has aliens. Alien animals. I found myself deeply intrigued, especially since the only extraterrestrial lifeforms I've had the pleasure to watch were from Alien vs. Predator movies and a few others I cannot recall right now, so I was looking forward to this book riling up my imagination. However, this aspect kind of fell short. Yes, the alien life forms introduced were interesting, but the descriptions of the creatures didn't reach out to me. Don't get me wrong, they were all described nicely, but I felt it seemed a little too technical, with big and unfamiliar words as well as scientific names inserted here and there, that I just couldn't picture them in my head. In the end, the aliens simply became mere sentences and words to me, not a being I could envision and imagine. This really dampened my mood, because they were what I looked forward to the most in this book. To be honest, I do not want to read a paragraph three times over to get what was being said or described. Granted, I'm not a native speaker, and I guess I could use a little more vocabulary on the technical side, but still. I checked Amazon and it was listed there that the intended audience for this book was 12 years old and above, and I really doubt that the lowest denominator could trudge on those descriptions about aliens, procedures, and equipment, without consulting a dictionary. I felt that the words could have been simpler to make it easier for non-natives of the English language like me and for those young 'uns, otherwise, it's akin to giving us a blank page. What's there to visualize if you can't even understand what's going on in the first place? The plot, on the other hand, was predictable and simple, but nevertheless enjoyable to follow. So Zenn is living in a human settlement in Mars, together with her Uncle, and studying to become an exovet. Their clinic gets a lot of huge aliens to help and take care of, and this riles up the rest of the humans because they're (gasp) monsters and pests. It also doesn't help they have been cut off of all contact with Earth, and are thus limited to the alien planets in the Accord. The clinic has debts to pay, mortgages to worry about, and animals running loose suddenly without any explanation, and oh, yes. She suddenly has this ability to feel the animals. What's a girl to do, right? The plot here is easy to follow, and like I said, quite simple. I only feel that it could have been given more shocking events, because it felt as if the pace was really slow, or that things were, majority of the time, uneventful. However, the ending implies a bigger and more sinister plot, and I guess that's a plus, but it felt totally random in the end because it was like "la la la la nothing's really happening here oh crap an animal is let loose, oh, no, it's speaking to me, I'm linked to it!, oh, it's fine now, aha!, so it was you all along and you did that for what?! How dare you?!, okay, back to normal la la la la" and then suddenly wham! you're given a twist that spans galaxies and worlds. Um, ok. While that threw me off guard, I found myself to have enjoyed the plot nonetheless. The world-building was decent, but I felt it could have given a bit more "umph". When I finished, I still couldn't exactly picture the human settlement in Mars. Other planets are mentioned, but what they're like are not totally explained. How the Indras work, though, I thought, was nicely done and kind of made sense to me. If there is a second book (and I am certain there will), I would really want to know what else this world has in store for us. The author has a huge imagination, and I'd love to see more of it. The heroine, though, annoyed the fricking hell out of me. We're told that she's smart, level-headed, and things like that, but throughout the book, her actions and recklessness merely spelled fickle, stupid and annoyingly naïve. How can someone who's been studying to become an exovet for the longes time, has an "edge, or so she says, be distracted and forget important procedures? Every time she spaced out and forget a thing or two here, I couldn't help but want to go inside the book and slap the lights out of her. I also hated her stupid Rule regarding no attachments because boo-fucking-hoo! If I have friends, they'll only leave me! They'll only hurt me! They'll only give me pain! Me, ME, ME! Who cares if the most important is the memories, or the connection, or whatever - relationships or opening myself up to people will only make me suffer! Boo-hoo! T_T Really, sister? Really? What the flying fuck, girl? GET A GRIP! THE WORLD DOESN'T REVOLVE AROUND YOU, AND NEVER WILL IT REVOLVE AROUND YOU! Those kind of sentiments are really selfish, and I really wince a lot whenever I encounter such a situation. I also didn't get her action in the ending. I won't spoil it, but what the fuck? How could you do that? All in all, this is not a bad book. Far from it, actually. I liked it enough to give it three stars, and enough to look forward to the second instalment. There were just a few bumps in the road, a few things that caught me off guard, but otherwise, it has a refreshing premise and a lot of promise. I'm sure it will get better; there's a lot of room for improvement. Give this one a try come May 7! Read this and my other reviews at The Social Potato! [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 21, 2013
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Apr 22, 2013
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Feb 13, 2013
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Paperback
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my rating |
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3.63
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really liked it
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Dec 05, 2014
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Dec 03, 2014
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3.29
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did not like it
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Aug 16, 2013
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Aug 14, 2013
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3.90
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really liked it
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Jul 31, 2013
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Jul 31, 2013
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3.93
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really liked it
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Jul 21, 2013
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Jul 21, 2013
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3.46
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it was ok
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Jul 14, 2013
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Jul 12, 2013
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3.31
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it was amazing
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Jul 08, 2013
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Jul 05, 2013
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3.68
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really liked it
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Jul 06, 2013
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Jul 03, 2013
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3.35
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it was ok
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Aug 10, 2013
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Jun 19, 2013
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4.02
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really liked it
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Jun 12, 2013
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Jun 11, 2013
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4.27
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it was amazing
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Jun 04, 2013
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Jun 03, 2013
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3.38
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liked it
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May 30, 2013
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May 30, 2013
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3.87
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did not like it
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Jun 13, 2013
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May 29, 2013
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3.97
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really liked it
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May 27, 2013
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May 26, 2013
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3.60
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really liked it
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Apr 21, 2013
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Apr 20, 2013
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3.82
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it was ok
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May 02, 2013
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Mar 16, 2013
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3.59
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really liked it
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Apr 18, 2013
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Mar 14, 2013
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3.55
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really liked it
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Apr 11, 2013
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Feb 17, 2013
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3.49
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liked it
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Apr 23, 2013
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Feb 17, 2013
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3.60
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liked it
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Feb 28, 2013
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Feb 17, 2013
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3.45
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it was ok
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Apr 22, 2013
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Feb 13, 2013
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