Zipped through this one really quickly. Haddix's writing style probably works really nicely for its target age level, since she explains every little ...moreZipped through this one really quickly. Haddix's writing style probably works really nicely for its target age level, since she explains every little action and emotion from Jonah's perspective. (It's a little exhausting for an older reader - but I'm not the target audience!) The concept of the story is still interesting but I am getting rather bogged down in the mechanics of it all. I don't know if I'll read the next book.(less)
Somehow I'd never read this before so I zipped through it. I have to say, I wasn't terribly impressed. I did appreciate the ending; if this was writte...moreSomehow I'd never read this before so I zipped through it. I have to say, I wasn't terribly impressed. I did appreciate the ending; if this was written today - in the age of Twilight and its 10,000 similar YA paranormal stories - you know it would have ended differently.(less)
Not as much fun as the first book, partly because one of the main characters was just doing incredibly stupid things... but the premise was interestin...moreNot as much fun as the first book, partly because one of the main characters was just doing incredibly stupid things... but the premise was interesting and it made me want to read up on Richard III and the princes in the tower. (Hmm.. maybe a good time to start the Alison Weir book sitting on my shelf?)(less)
So, after a few years of having this on my shelf, I finally picked it up.
I should hate this book. It's full of murder, sex, rape, sex, peopl...moreSo, after a few years of having this on my shelf, I finally picked it up.
I should hate this book. It's full of murder, sex, rape, sex, people doing horrible things to each other... and more sex. This should not be a Julie book. But I really liked it. It's written well in that it flows smoothly and I found myself caring about the main characters despite all the horrible things they had done and were doing. They even get to redeem themselves a bit and by the end, I was rooting for them. I think it says a lot that the author was able to do that.
I'd recommend it to people who like a suspenseful read.(less)
This is one of those books that, however much you're not supposed to select books this way, drew me in because of the cover design. Its stark combinat...moreThis is one of those books that, however much you're not supposed to select books this way, drew me in because of the cover design. Its stark combination of black, white and red tents first looked to me like some kind of harlequin doll. The book was chosen by our book club, and then I found I could get the ebook from the library, et voila, as they say.
The book is mesmerizing. Its atmosphere is dreamlike with just a hint of danger at the edges. The story is fanciful but you can feel the weight it has for its characters as they stumble through the "game," trying to figure out what is going on and how to get out intact. The descriptions of each tent are enchanting, and the politics and intrigue going on behind the scenes were just enough to keep me quickly turning pages.
Everyone had their part to play, and those parts intertwined to make a fulfilling whole.
I'd highly recommend this to pretty much anyone. I also think it would make a great movie, as the black/white/red imagery would lend itself well to film (see Sleepy Hollow, etc.) and the plot has lots of twists and turns, and a climactic ending. Are you listening, Hollywood? I can even tell you who I would cast in some of the roles. :D(less)
My friend Krystel lent me this book on my nook. It's a fast, exciting read with a compelling setting and characters that I genuinely liked. It seemed ...moreMy friend Krystel lent me this book on my nook. It's a fast, exciting read with a compelling setting and characters that I genuinely liked. It seemed like a pretty original story (even being based on parts of a well-known and widespread faerie legend). I like Stiefvater's writing style; somehow it seems more developed and has more depth than most of the YA that's being cranked out right now. It definitely made me more likely to finish the Shiver trilogy (I only read book 1 and while I enjoyed it, I liked this more), and also to pick up Ballad and Lament.
Thanks for the lend, Krystel!! I probably never would have gotten around to this book without your offer.(less)
While I didn't like the main characters very much, this book is a good entry in the series because it gives you an idea of what was going on before th...moreWhile I didn't like the main characters very much, this book is a good entry in the series because it gives you an idea of what was going on before the underground city of Ember was created. It's a pretty simplistic story about morals and ethics and how absolute power corrupts absolutely, which meant that the plot was very obvious and the issues discussed were thrown right in your face - but it's a kids' book and I don't see any of that as a negative, necessarily. The idea is to make you think.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who read the previous Ember books.(less)
Wow. I thought this sounded right up my alley, but the stories made less and less sense as the collection progressed. The author also seemed to feel t...moreWow. I thought this sounded right up my alley, but the stories made less and less sense as the collection progressed. The author also seemed to feel the need to get darker as time went on and by the end even the death of a little girl is just glossed over like it's no big deal. I'm also extremely disappointed that the princess in the garden story was never really resolved. Ugh.(less)
Interesting and suspenseful without being so gory I couldn't hack it... Which is about all I ask from these books. Getting a little too into Alex's lo...moreInteresting and suspenseful without being so gory I couldn't hack it... Which is about all I ask from these books. Getting a little too into Alex's love life, but at least I still like the character. Interesting approach to the point of view but I did know who Mr. Smith was from moment one.(less)
Much better than book two. Much more suspenseful, and without moments of wanting to ditch all Patterson novels completely. I can see why people keep g...moreMuch better than book two. Much more suspenseful, and without moments of wanting to ditch all Patterson novels completely. I can see why people keep going back to his books - at least the ones that weren't mostly written by someone else and have the most irritating main characters ever.(less)
Had a rough time with this one. It very literally made me almost ditch all the Patterson books I have on my shelf (thankfully I've picked them all up ...moreHad a rough time with this one. It very literally made me almost ditch all the Patterson books I have on my shelf (thankfully I've picked them all up at yard sales and book sales). At the end I decided that the problem I had was mostly with the highly sexual nature of the case. I like the character of Alex Cross but it really disturbs me that this stuff comes out of people's minds, and that they are always best sellers. Seriously - most people are reading it for fun, but you know there are readers out there who LIKE the subject matter and read it to gratify deeper desires. Creeeeepy.
Amazingly enough I've decided to plow on with book three, because at least it's about political murders, and not sexual.(less)
On The first try, this book did not grab me. I read half of the first story and ended up sorta half-skimming the rest. Then I started story two and re...moreOn The first try, this book did not grab me. I read half of the first story and ended up sorta half-skimming the rest. Then I started story two and realized that they were all going to be connected, and that I was going to have to pay better attention. I started the book over and enjoyed that first story much better the second time around; if nothing else, she had me at describing a slice of cake as "Harry Potter volume seven thick." I read on, and quite enjoyed the rest of the book, definitely getting into the spirit of rooting for the collection of characters by the end
It's a fun holiday-themed read with clever dialogue and an interwoven story that won't all make sense until the end (kinda like the movie Snatch).(less)
After feeling like the ball was dropped re: Cam in the previous book, I was glad to find he had a book of his own. It was a really fast read. I find t...moreAfter feeling like the ball was dropped re: Cam in the previous book, I was glad to find he had a book of his own. It was a really fast read. I find that I like Cam way more than I like Quinn.
Also, some of the writing really bothered me this time around - overuse of similes, stilted dialogue (especially for the residents of "Outer Earth," and even one place where the entirely wrong word was used. It really pulled me out of the story.
Anyway, it's a cute story for mid-level readers.(less)
Arrrrrgh. This was just an ok book for me, and I was really annoyed that the ball got dropped as far as Cam was concerned... So of course now I find o...moreArrrrrgh. This was just an ok book for me, and I was really annoyed that the ball got dropped as far as Cam was concerned... So of course now I find out that there's a second book.... all about Cam, which I will now have to hunt down and read. Grarrrr.(less)
Fascinating and also difficult to read at times. Very intense. I was so emotionally involved that I had to skip ahead and find out what happened to Ph...moreFascinating and also difficult to read at times. Very intense. I was so emotionally involved that I had to skip ahead and find out what happened to Phil, and I cried when I did. What went on in the camps was horrifying and hard to read about, but it's important to do so. At the same time, it's important to embrace the spirit of forgiveness while still acknowledging how awful it really was. My grandmother tried to explain to me her fear and disgust in regards to the Japanese after WWII, and I can understand it better after reading this book (and others such as Iris Chang's Rape of Nanking). However, it's also important to try and understand that this behavior grew in part out of the culture itself: highly militaristic, with no respect for retreat or defeat or weakness. Having read the memoir of a kamikaze pilot it's obvious that the brutality displayed in the camps was also present even in the regular training of Japanese soldiers; as Hillenbrand suggests, some of the violence against POWs stemmed from the desire for low-ranking soldiers to lord it over the lower man on the totem pole. That said, I'm certainly not trying to excuse it or play it down. Many of the guards were pure sadists and psychopaths, sometimes chosen specifically for those qualities. Hillenbrand makes an effort to show that just like with anything else, there was a range of behavior, with moments of goodheartedness battling the brutality. The most important thing we can do is to look at the picture as a whole and try to understand all sides of it, in an effort to prevent this from happening again.(less)
A fun read with likable main characters, although having read the other three in the series first, this seemed a bit repetitive: locked-room mystery, ...moreA fun read with likable main characters, although having read the other three in the series first, this seemed a bit repetitive: locked-room mystery, magical chaos, etc. What I REALLY want is the backstory.... Which I suspect I may be getting soon as I just ordered Blue Moon Rising..... So. Excited.(less)
ARC copy from my mom, from a school library conference.
This is a quick read (I read it in one day) that would appeal to the younger YA crowd...moreARC copy from my mom, from a school library conference.
This is a quick read (I read it in one day) that would appeal to the younger YA crowd. The concept of the language of flowers is interesting, although I'd almost rather read a non-fiction book on the subject. The protagonist was a bit of an idiot, as YA protagonists tend to be, but then again, she's fourteen - her actions are pretty typical for someone that age, as human beings generally ARE idiots at that age.(less)
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