Slow, but the writing was beautiful. I got really into it by the end, and that cliffhanger ain't exactly doing wonders for my sanity.
Sorry for not doi...moreSlow, but the writing was beautiful. I got really into it by the end, and that cliffhanger ain't exactly doing wonders for my sanity.
Sorry for not doing full reviews lately. Hopefully, I'll get to them. Currently my laptop is out of commission (juice spill), and its hard typing on my phone. (less)
I am a girl and I love fantasy and I love strong heroines. Do not ask me why it has taken me this long to read a Tamora Pierce book. Could it be that...moreI am a girl and I love fantasy and I love strong heroines. Do not ask me why it has taken me this long to read a Tamora Pierce book. Could it be that the first book of all of her series are mysteriously missing? (Seriously, this always flippin happens). But one day, I saw this and leapt on it before the magic fairies could whisk it away again (Not as seriously).
In the Tortall world, this is an odd place for me to start. Most of everything has already happened. Although, it wasn't impossible to catch up and keep the facts straight, it wasn't too easy either. And I kept feeling like I was missing something. Some of Pierce's characters from her other Tortall novels kept making cameo appearances, and I felt left out, like I should have been more enthusiastic. (The Lioness, woohoo!). I know how excited I get when Sarah Dessen leaves me with one of her little Easter eggs, so who knows how excited I would be if I had at least read the Alanna books first.
The writing was clunky and serviceable. Not gorgeous prose or elaborate descriptions here. Just phrases like "Nawat picked up his bow and went to patrol the perimeter." (This excerpt is not an excerpt at all, but a random sentence I just pulled out of my butt). It also seemed a tedious sometimes. Some paragraphs were more of a list than anything else. There is just so much information Pierce wants to share with her reader, but she doesn't always do it in an intrinsic, natural way. Even with the prologue-thing that set up the story, there were times when a situation would be created just for the purpose of info-dumping.
The politics were intriguing, but made my head spin. There was a multitude of characters, while mostly flat, they have potential, and I hope to delve more into their personalities with the following book. Also, the girly, romantic side of me wants more romance. More romance, please! And I am reallllllyyy looking forward to Aly's identity reveal. I kept looking for opportune moments in this book. I would imagine situations in my head where Aly reveals her identity to her charges, and was frustrated that it hasn't happened yet. I know I am a mega-dork. I know.
Overall, this will certainly not be the last Tamora Pierce book I read. A good fantasy for those looking to get out of a paranormal rut. (less)
For some reason, My review keeps coming up twice because the "more" is right in the middle of the spoiler, so I'm ad...more Transformer cat will eat you! RAWR
For some reason, My review keeps coming up twice because the "more" is right in the middle of the spoiler, so I'm adding extra characters to see if it helps.
"Eh." That pretty much sums up my assessment of HAVEN. Kristi Cook is a smart cookie (heh, unintentional pun!). She travels some pretty well-worn territory that is guaranteed to get her a solid YA audience. Her book really doesn't have anything original, but is rather something more like a composite of popular YA series. (view spoiler)[ Like Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, some Shiver, and a little bit of Buffy thrown together in a "girl goes to boarding school" tale. (hide spoiler)] The result left me pretty much uninterested.
I could see what Cook was trying to do, but unfortunately she never truly succeeded. I could tell that she wanted to have:
1. A smart, enduring heroine. The main character....Violet (yes, I did forget her name for a second), isn't all that original. Although technically smart, as evidenced by her honors classes, Violet was a bit slow on the uptake. Some readers may be frustrated with Violet's denial and disbelief (I just think she's dense). Cook managed to give Violet some powers of her own, but nonetheless Violet has the Bella-syndrome of fainting constantly and having her boyfriend save her. Violet was also just plain old boring. Her voice was bland and nothing she ever did stood out. I know Cook was trying to make her "relatable", but I hate that. I would rather have a main character who pisses me off than one who is bland as corn flakes.
2. A hot, mysterious love interest. Pshhhh. Adrian's such an Edward wannabe. I don't even like Edward, but he still has more personality than this guy.
3. Powerful, intense love.........Nah. I wasn't feeling it in the least. I didn't feel anything. Not a gut-flutter, or spine-tickler. I didn't have to put down the book and start pacing around the room as I do when I get really involved in a book and need to calm down. I wasn't feeling the attraction. I believe Cook tried to make the romance more believable, by making it a little hot-and-cold. But she went a little overboard. I couldn't even tell that they liked each other. One chapter they were all like "I lurrrve you" then the next Violet is all "Fuck you!". Just back and forth through the whole book, but there wasn't enough emotion behind any of the characters to back it up.
With Twilight (yes I'm comparing this book to Twilight because that's really what it deserves), when I was Twi-tard, I would stay awake at night, unable to sleep because I was so immersed in the Twilight universe. It actually made my chest ache, I loved it so much. Now I think its shit, but that's besides the point. This book, no matter how much it tried to, couldn't immerse me like that. It just wasn't enough. It tried to do a little bit of everything and succeeded in nothing.
But I didn't hate it. Which is both a good and bad thing. Books I hate are memorable in how much I dislike them. This book was just boring and on the great shelf of "meh". It just didn't work up enough emotion in me to warrant an overwhelming response. I didn't like it, but I didn't hate it either.
From looking at the other reviews, there are definitely people who enjoy this book. It definitely tailors to a specific audience, one that will most likely enjoy this book. To me, it was merely inoffensive and generic.
This is one of those books I was reeaaally hoping to love. All my friends did. But, honestly, I don't see how. It wasn't anything special.
For one thin...moreThis is one of those books I was reeaaally hoping to love. All my friends did. But, honestly, I don't see how. It wasn't anything special.
For one thing, I found it unrealistic. Yes, I know its a paranormal, but that should make it illogical, not unrealistic. In real life, at least at my school, there is very little open hostility between goths and jocks. Sly commentary, maybe but straight out violence? Nope. And truthfully, there are few goths anymore. Most of them turned either emo or scene. And of course the main character had to be a cheerleader (the stereotyped opposite of gothness) and her boyfriend had to be a quarterback because thats just how the world works, dunnit? It just didn't seem true for me. I don't know. Maybe things are different in the South.
I didn't like the writing. I prefer first person. I dislike third person that wants to be first person. There were sentences like: "Isobel tried the door. There was no one there. Duh". Who is the one duhing? Isobel or the narrator who thinks like Isobel? And I didn't like the random quips. I found them a little cheesy and unfunny.
I wasn't a big fan of either Isobel and Varen. They were stereotypical, and Isobel annoyed the heck out of me. I kept wanting to call her Brittney for some reason. She was very rash, sort of immature, and quite cheesy. She didn't quite make it on my annoying characters shelf, but she was close. Varen, I'm sorry ladies, but he was boring. He did nothing. If he was a girl, everyone would call him out for being bithcy, but since he is a guy that is somehow sexy. And besides, there is only one goth boy in my life: Erik Derenksi. Hear that Erik?! We are gonna get maaaaaarried!! Aw, don't run away! *shrugs* He acts like he hates me, but he loves me. He does. And guess what, Kim! He hates babies too! You guys can sit on them together. Oh whats that in the distance? Hmm, I believe it is my point, running far far away from here........Anyway, Varen did not make me swoon.
Oh, and Gwen? A totally obvious plot device. She appears out of nowhere at the most convenient times. I wish I had a friend that was willing to drop everything to deal with the drama in my life.
And I felt the end was inconsistent with the rest of the novel. The beginning was slow-going, a crazed raven here, a funky dream there, but the end was like WHOOSH. Kind of like the Incredible Hulk coaster at Universal Studios. Here you are just cruising along the track, chugga chugga chugga, then KABMLAM! You are being shot of cannon and taking an upside-down plunge. The ending was just some crazy paranormal hodgepodge. I nearly got whiplash. The pacing and content didn't match, and that bothered me.
Overall, meh. Nitpicks aside, I liked it but I never got the OMG THIS IS SO GOOD feeling. It was a solid three stars, but I'll give it a virtual half-star more because I think the cover, particularly Isobel, is gorgeous. (less)
If you ever read a Jodi Picoult novel, you know the drill. Multiple perspectives, courtroom tension, controversial topic, a little twist, insightful l...moreIf you ever read a Jodi Picoult novel, you know the drill. Multiple perspectives, courtroom tension, controversial topic, a little twist, insightful little quotes here and there. Lately, though, I haven't really liked her novels, the more of them I read, the less I like them. However, this one wasn't too bad. It wasn't my favorite by any means, but it wasn't her worse either. It divulged into corniness sometimes, but there were some humorous moments that, in retrospect, I really wish I had written them down.
My main complaint of this book is Picoult's one-sidedness about the topic at hand. Usually she is very good at maintaining a sympathetic POV on either side of the case, but in this book it is clear she favored one side. On one hand, we have the religious zealots who will do anything to prevent gay marriage, and on the other hand, we have a lesbian couple just trying to get a baby. Just from that description, you can probably tell what side I favor, and it was just as obvious in Picoult's novel. Her treatment of the Christians in this novel was just so harsh. She portrayed all of them as obnoxious, oppressive fanatics, who hide their fear and hate behind the Bible. There was no one in the book that was mildly religious, just obsessively so. Even though I have been confirmed as a Catholic, I don't really practice any faith, but I still felt kind of offended bythe stance Picoult took. I know she was being sympathetic to the defense of gay marriage, a cause I am all for, but she risked being offensive towards religious people, which I did not like.
A minor complaint, but I also felt the timeline of the story was bit rushed. So all in a period of around six months, the principle character, Zoe, has a miscarriage, gets a divorce, has a new best friend, falls in love with the best friend, embraces lesbianism, gets married, decides to have baby, and gets taken to court............gah. Know what I have accomplished in six months? Poo. All that has changed is that my Senioritis is reaching its boiling point.
Overall, I liked it. Even though my review is mostly criticism, I really liked the book. Enough to give it four stars immediately after reading. In retrospect, perhaps it deserves less, but I will leave it as is. A solid Jodi Picoult. A good transitory novel for readers looking to get into Picoult, as well as a solid read for fans.
Thanks, SImon & Schuster for letting me read an advanced copy. (less)
Andi Alpers, a troubled Brooklyn teen, is always one step away from the edge. The only thing keeping her going over is her love of music, but even tha...moreAndi Alpers, a troubled Brooklyn teen, is always one step away from the edge. The only thing keeping her going over is her love of music, but even that doesn't seem enough at times. Two years ago her younger brother, the glue keeping her family together, died. Now her mother, a talented French painter, is suffering from a psychotic break down, and her father, a workaholic scientist, refuses to acknowledge his old family while he lives a new life. Andi is content with flunking out of her prestigious liberal high school, but her father, in a rare burst of parental concern, forces her to come with him to Paris so she can focus on working on a project that might save her grade. Her father is called to Paris because a colleague of his, a famous historian, needs his help in identifying a shriveled up heart encased in crystal that might just belong to the young Louis XVII, the son of King Louis XVI, who was guillotined in the French Revolution. While shifting through some artifacts, Andi discovers the long-hidden journal of Alexandrine, an aspiring actress and companion to young Louis, who is struggling to save herself and her charge. Whilst reading this diary, the fates of the two young women are woven together, and Andi will come to discover that internal revolutions are just as affecting as external ones.
I loved this book. It was lovely. The writing was beautiful, lyrical, and intricate. Andi was intriguing and relatable. Sometimes her constant negative attitude, especially towards the beginning, could become bothersome, but she was extremely interesting. Her sarcastic comments were often funny, and she had a lot going on underneath the surface. Her feelings, as well as her love for music, seemed to transcend the page. I loved Alexandrine too. Although she was in the book less than Andi, her role in it was just as vital. One thing I loved about this story was how everything connected. I could mentally see the puzzle pieces coming together, and it was a thrill to watch everything unfold. Also, I learned a buttload about the French Revolution, but it never seemed like I was reading a text book. I can tell Ms. Donnelly did her research, and it was very in-depth and well-done.
The only thing I did not like were the hints of the supernatural. To explain myself without giving away to much of the plot, I will say that this book is a lot like the movie Happy Feet. I do not mean to allude that there were dancing penguins in the streets of Paris. But, you know how towards the end of the movie, the plot does a complete 360, and the film is no longer about cute tap-dancing birds, but rather some heavy-handed environmental message? This book is kind of like that. Towards the end, it took a really sharp turn, and I'm not sure whether what happened was real or not. I mean, I guess it worked, but it shook me out of the story for a little bit. That's what kept me from giving this novel 5 stars.
Anyway, I recommend this book. I recommend it to fans of A Northern Light. I recommend it to fans of historical-fiction. I recommend it to those interested in a more personal look at the French Revolution. I recommend it to music lovers. And I recommend it for anyone looking for a satisfying, thought-provoking read.
An awesome read that will stay with me. I have a feeling it will help me when my history class studies the French Revolution next month. (less)
In this book, not only are vampires real and known, they are taking over the world, with only small numb...more At least thats one thing this book got right.
In this book, not only are vampires real and known, they are taking over the world, with only small numbers of Hunters to fight them off. The Salamancan Hunters are a band of Hunters, the first of its kind, and by the way things are going, it may be the last. This hodge-podge band of fighters are having a wee bit of trouble getting along. Even though they are based in Spain, they all come from different parts of the world. There is Eriko, a former Japanese school girl, and the silent leader of the band; Jamie, a hot-headed Irishman with an immense hatred for werewolves, vampires, and the English; Skye, a witch from England with a dark secret threatening to rear its ugly head; Holgar, a secretive Danish werewolf; Antonio, a Spanish vampire severely devoted to Catholicism; and lastly, Just Jenn, a nothing-special from California. Not only do these hunters have to fight the prejudices and suspicions amongst themselves, they have a full-out war on their hands. Jenn's younger sister has been kidnapped by a manipulative and powerful vampire, and the group must come together to get her back, hopefully alive.
Gah. Sounds like an interesting cast, right? Not exactly. Jenn, the MC, is pretty much insufferable. She has worse self-esteem than Charlie Brown. Jenn refers to herself as "Just Jenn", meaning that she feels inferior to the rest of the group. Well, most of the time, she is right. It was only when she is California by herself that she shows any sign of bad-assery. Whenever she is with Antonio (her lurver), she turns into some limp noodle that must be carried from room to room because she is too distraught and tired to pick her own ass up. Characters are constantly insisting that she is "special", but she insists she's not (a point I can agree on). But still. She should have some confidence. She went to an academy with 90 young adults in her class. Out of those 90, only one-third of them made it to graduation. Out of the thirty that graduated, only 16 or so survived the final test. Out of those sixteen, only six got to be hunters. So have some pride, girl, you've obviously had enough balls to get you this far.
The rest of the characters were also unlikable. Actually, I take that back. I liked Holgar. He was nice and didn't annoy me. Eriko, I didn't really like or dislike. She was rarely in the story, and was uninteresting for the most part. Skye was annoying because she is keeping a secret that could get them all killed, and chooses her secrecy over the well-being of the rest of the group. Also, she gave no explanation as to why she was in love with Jamie. Personally, I think she should end up with Holgar. I was sensing some vibes. Jamie was a douche bag. There is a line between being charmingly hot-headed and being a jackass, and he was one the jackass side of the line. Seriously, this guy needs to STFU. He had too bring up his werewolf prejudice in every goddam conversation, and its him that will get the group killed, not Holgar (Holgar, I gotcha back). And then there was Antonio......Guess what he wanted to be when he grew up. Go ahead, guess. That's right! He wanted to be priest. Howdya know? Could it be that it was mentioned on EVERY GODDAMN PAGE?! You're Catholic. I get it. You probably shouldn't be trying to get in Jenn's pants then.
The romance between Antonio and Jenn, supposedly a driving force behind this novel, was the most lackluster, chemistry-less coupling I ever read. Seriously, it was horrible. I won't even got into how absolutely terrible it was because it makes my lip just now stopped curling, and I don't want my face to get stuck in a grimace.
This novel tried to give it's characters depth through multiple perspectives, which is a tool, when done right, is extremely interesting and effective. This book failed miserably at it. The narrative had absolutely no focus, and would shift perspectives in the middle of the page, which made it confusing and frustrating. It also failed in creating three-dimensional characters, because in attempting to give everyone a voice, it skimped out on everyone. I couldn't care less if everyone in this book died. I have absolutely no attachment to them, and frankly, I was hoping someone would stab Jenn most of the time. Ironically, the only truly intriguing character was the villain, but unfortunately, to finish hearing out her story, I would have to read more books in the series, which is something I will not do.
The writing was just bad. There was nothing unique, purposeful, or enjoyable about the style, and for some reason, I despised it. As soon as I read the first paragraph I was like "Oh shit". I knew then I was in trouble. But yet I hoped the characters or plot would pull through. Nope.
Overall, this book was a such a flippin' mess. The writing irked me to no end, and the characters were all pretty stupid. I ended up skimming most of the second half of the novel. Most people say it starts out slow, and then gets better, but no. It pretty much sucks the whole way through.
I'm just kidding. When there is a zombie apocalypse (no, not if), I'm about 98% sure I would not survive. I would be like those...more
I am. I so am. BRING IT
I'm just kidding. When there is a zombie apocalypse (no, not if), I'm about 98% sure I would not survive. I would be like those chicks in horror movies who get killed off in the opening credits. But there is the 2% I do survive initially, and then after that, I have a plan.
I am skilled in no way shape or form. I hate the wilderness and physical activity. I am not a quick thinker and I panic under pressure. So basically, I am screwed unless I find Tom Imura. Tom Imura was one of the main reasons I enjoyed this book. He is basically a calm, sexy zombie-slaying Samurai. My plan is to marry him. I know, I know. How Mary-Suish of me. Well STFU, in retrospect this is for the good of America. This way we can have lots of half-Japanese zombie-killing offspring, and God knows the world needs more of those.
Benny, the MC, is not as good as Tom. He is like a non-sexy, less-Asian bratty version of him. In the beginning of the novel, he was close to insufferable and I wanted to stab him with a katana (This book taught me Japanese!). Think of him as Harry Potter a la Book 5. But he did show growth and development and yada yada yada and by the end of the book he actually resembled a likable human being. But still not as awesome as Tom.
I liked this book, but it was nothing close to fantastic for me. Despite the heavy themes, I was never emotionally invested in it. I disliked the writing, and even though the characters are developed, I never felt an attachment to them. This is entirely personal, however, and thats why I won't make too big of a stink about it.
It was a good zombie book. Not all about the braaaaaiiiiinzzzz. Zombies are people too. Albeit, dead ones.
The Demon's Covenant, the second book in a trilogy, takes place a few weeks after the events that occurred in The Demon's Lexicon. It follows Mae, onl...moreThe Demon's Covenant, the second book in a trilogy, takes place a few weeks after the events that occurred in The Demon's Lexicon. It follows Mae, only a secondary character in the first one, who now has to deal with the fact that her brother, Jamie, has magical powers and is being recruited from magicians everywhere, including the deadly Obsidian circle, now run by Gerald. Mae once again enlists the help of of brothers Nick and Alan, who are entangled in their fair share of dangerous magical dealings themselves. If you had not read the first one yet, I suggest not reading the rest of the review, as it is impossible to discuss this one without mentioning some major plot twists of the first book.
It took me forever to get into this book. It took me five days just to get through the first half (which is incredibly slow for me). But just around the halfway point, I sat down to read it for more than five minutes at a time and actually got sucked in. I'm not a big fan of the writing, I think that's it. It's in a limited 3rd person POV, which is a little strange. I'm spoiled with first person. I also don't like Mae too much.
Come to think of it, I like hardly any of the characters. Nick is an ass (albeit a hot one), Jamie's out-of-place flamboyancies can get annoying, and Mae is just frustrating. I like Alan though. He's sexy in a smart, nerdy, one-step-ahead-of-you way. But I'm glad the book isn't in his perspective or else I wouldn't get the joy of his deceptions and motives being revealed. I'm not really attached to any of the characters. I feel distanced from all of them, despite the fact that Nick and Mae have narrated. If they died, I would just shrug my shoulders. I do like how Brennan seems intent on sticking with her characterizations of the first book. Nick's a demon, incapable of human emotion, and goddammit he will stay that way. Romantic touchy-feelyness be damned.
This book is a helluva a lot more complex than the first one, especially with the characters and their romances. I nearly drew myself a chart. Everyone is in love with the wrong person (except Nick who can't love anybody) and it turned out to be nearly Shakespearean in proportions. Everyone also had their own motives and plans. I didn't know where to look or who to trust.
Perhaps my weak mind finds this series kind of overwhelming, but I just don't understand the magic system. I mean, I get it, but not really. I'm confused as to where a magician's power ends and a demon's power begins. How is it that Jamie can wield magic if he's never made an offering to a demon? Does the magic ever run out? Where do the demons go? How do people get to know about the magical universe if they are not magicians, messengers, or demons? Are those the only magical beings? I just don't understand. I also could not understand the action sequences for the life of me. I was all "Wicka wicka what?" And all the *ahem* witty dialogue coming from the peanut gallery was a little distracting.
Overall, I do kind of like this series. It's not bad, but not a favorite of mine. I definitely will continue on to the next installment. But if you absolutely despised the first installment, I doubt it'll get much better for you. If you did like first one, but largely because of *sarcastic swoon* Nick, then you probably won't like this one as much as you have less of him and more of our pink-haired heroine.
East was written when fantasy could still be fantasy. When young adult books weren't required to have a love triangle, a sexy love interest, and a her...moreEast was written when fantasy could still be fantasy. When young adult books weren't required to have a love triangle, a sexy love interest, and a heroine with low self-esteem. Rose, this novel's main character, is intelligent, resourceful, and courageous. She has a strong drive and a true moral compass. The plot reminds me of more classical fantasy that involves epic journeys over several countries over the course of years. The book is chaste and simple, which makes me think its more suited to a middle-school audience nowadays.
Yet, despite the intriguing premise, I found myself bored with it. There was little to none action, for instance. Since the book had such a large scope in following different characters over an extended period of time, it read like this: "We journeyed across the tundra. Weeks passed." (not an actual quote) It was just very slow pace, and there was more telling than showing.
Also, being a romantic girl, I wanted there to be more immediate romance. The romance was slow-building, more about trust and compassion, than about physical lust. Which, don't get me wrong, was certainly refreshing, but the novel was slow-paced already, and having nothing in the romance department along with nothing in the action department lead for a bored Morgan.
I did like this book, but when you are used to action-y, romance-y YA, it can be a bit too slow. I do appreciate it though. It was an altogether pleasant change of pace. (less)
If I had been home long enough, I would have read this book in one sitting. But then again, maybe not.
I had to keep putting the book down because it...moreIf I had been home long enough, I would have read this book in one sitting. But then again, maybe not.
I had to keep putting the book down because it would get so intense. I felt hyper-aware of people watching me read this book, and I dreaded the question "Whats that book about?". My friend did ask me that, and when I told her, she said "But they're not really brother and sister, right?" Her face looked horrified. And I understand that. I have a younger brother and EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWW times a million. Yucky Yucky poo poo.
But disgust was only one of the various emotions I felt while reading this book. And despite everything, you do route for Maya and Lochan to somehow find a way to be together. The character development of the book was just plain awesome, as was the writing. Just read the first couple sentences:
"I gaze out at the small, crisp, burned-out black husks scattered across the chipped white paint of the windowsills. It is hard to believe that they were ever alive . I wonder what it would be like to be shut up in this airless glass box, slowly baked for two long months by the relentless sun, able to see the outdoors- the wind shaking the green trees right there in front of you- hurling yourself again and again at the invisible wall that seals you off from everything that is real and alive and necessary until you succumb: scorched, exhausted, overwhelmed by the impossibility of the task."
I read that and was like "Daaaaamn."
I connected to all the characters, including the little kiddos. I loved them and could imagine them as real people. I wanted to punch the mother and much more that I cannot say because I am a lady.. I am going to make a terrible parents shelf in her honor.
And I didn't cry while reading the book. I cried afterward. It was just an emotional journey, and any book that can make me feel like that is a good book in my opinion.
I wouldn't have picked this book up under normal circumstances. But everyone I talk to here on Goodreads adores it, so I felt compelled to give it a shot. And I'm glad I did. (less)
I liked this one considerably less than the first for a variety of reasons. It just didn't (pardon the pun) have the magic of the first.
I preferred t...moreI liked this one considerably less than the first for a variety of reasons. It just didn't (pardon the pun) have the magic of the first.
I preferred the story when there was less fantasy aspects, and it was mainly just a survival story. Now it is your typical I'm-so-special-because-I-gots-magic story. That just seems, I don't know, so conforming.
I also found the plot tedious. How many times can Yelena get captured and rescued? Apparently every flippin' times she goes outside.
And I hated everyone's attitude towards Yelena. They were either in lurvvvve with her or wanted to kill her. Quite extreme.
There were also useless characters and events that happened just to fill the pages. They had no significance on the plot or outcome of the book whatsoever.
Most of all, I hated what happened to Valek. Don't worry, people who haven't read this book yet, Valek is physically fine, if you don't count being whipped. I miss the old sexy mysterious Valek, the one who always had ulterior motives and something up his sleeve. I liked how his and Yelena's relationship developed in the first book. But now, I kind of wished that never happened. Valek is a changed man, and a boring one at that. We see him hardly at all in this book, and the times we do, him and Yelena are either jumping into bed or he is rescuing her one the many times she needs to be rescued. Yelena just tells him to do something and he does it. No mystery. And if I hear (or read) him say "My love" one more time, I will find him and punch him in the face. Yeah, I think I can take him.
Overall, I guess I liked it. It did get pretty annoying though. Hopefully, the third one will redeem it. (less)
I'm not a big fan of verse novels. The only exception was Sold by Patricia McCormick. That is, until now. I still don't like the fact that this book w...moreI'm not a big fan of verse novels. The only exception was Sold by Patricia McCormick. That is, until now. I still don't like the fact that this book was written in free verse, but I was able to get past that and enjoy the story underneath.
Glimpse is about 12-year-old Hope and what happened after she found her older sister, Liz, in the bathroom with a gun in her hand. Liz becomes virtually silent and is sent off to a mental care facility. Meanwhile, Hope is trying to cope with things back home. Her mother isn't the best role model around. She's selfish and turn tricks to bring in cash. Hope suspects that her mother knows something as to why Liz almost killed herself that night, and resolves to bring Liz back to a safe home.
I definitely got caught up in the story. The mother is probably one of the worst fictional parents I ever encountered. I wanted to go in there and call DCF myself. I was just amazed at the atmosphere. At first I thought the book took place a few decades ago in the South, but I came to discover it took place in modern-day Florida. It made me realize how poverty and ill-treatment can really isolate someone.
The big secret as to why Liz was suicidal is pretty easy for the reader to figure out, but that doesn't lessen the emotional impact. Poor Hope and poor Liz.
I don't see why this book had to be in verse, though. Is it because they are in style? That the author thinks it makes the work seem more emotional? Original? I would have enjoyed it more if it was written in prose. But it was a quick, emotional read, nonetheless. (less)
OH man. I devoured this book in a few hours despite its rather large size. I was so absorbed and the pages (get ready for a pun) flew by.
This book co...moreOH man. I devoured this book in a few hours despite its rather large size. I was so absorbed and the pages (get ready for a pun) flew by.
This book continues Matt Cruses saga. When it starts, he is serving as an intern on the airship Flotsam. The Flotsam gets blown off course and as it rises to heights untraveled, it discovers a 40-yr-old mystery: the location of the Hyperion, a ghost ship legend to have riches upon riches on board. Because of some complications, the Flotsam must end it's journey, but that doesn't mean the journey ends for Matt Cruse. With the Hyperion's coordinates and thoughts of riches in mind, Matt Cruse along with the heiress Kate de Vries and a mysterious gypsy named Nadira, set out on a perilous journey.
I think this book maybe even better than Airborn. It was filled with the same swashbuckling action and ripping good adventure, and the romance between a certain cabin boy and young heiress grew even tenser. Now there was even a love-quadrangle of sorts with some other new characters thrown it. I think the character development was considerably better this time around, and we finally got some emotion from Mr. Cruse.
There is just something about these books I adore. They are fun and thrilling, and there is nothing about them that makes me groan in dismay. I think that why these books get five-stars. I'm sure they could be better, but there is nothing about them that I dislike. And the visuals are awesome. I've said it once and I'll say it again: these books would be GREAT movies.
If you know any reluctant male readers, recommend these books to them. They appeal to a wide audience. Easy enough for middle school readers, but older readers will love them too. Both boys and girls. (less)
It's Kind of a Funny Story is about 15-yr-old New Yorker, Craig Gilner. Craig is highly ambitious, spending his entire middle school career studying t...moreIt's Kind of a Funny Story is about 15-yr-old New Yorker, Craig Gilner. Craig is highly ambitious, spending his entire middle school career studying to get into an elite high school. Once there, Craig realizes maybe he isn't so smart after all. He has to work twice as hard as his classmates just to get by. All this pressure causes Craig to suffer from depression, preventing him from sleeping or eating. On a particularly bad night after Craig stops taking his medication, he nearly kills himself, deciding to call the suicide hotline at the last moment. From there, Craig spends the next five days in a mental hospital, possibly the most influential five days of his life. He learns to eat and sleep again, he creates friendships, discovers a passion for drawing, and he finally confronts the reason as to why he is so unhappy.
I loved this book. For a book about depression, it was amazingly light-hearted. The tone was clever and humorous and very real. The cast of the novel was original and entertaining. Craig himself was a brilliant character. I don't have depression, yet could sympathize with Craig on so many levels. Craig is a teenage boy, and acts like one. He makes mistakes, but every now and then has a moment of insightful clarity.
The topic of depression and mental illness was treated carefully. These people were messed up, but never seemed inhuman. All of them were very real. While the plot wasn't suspenseful, it was gripping and had me flipping the pages without hesitation.
The only thing I found doubtful was Craig's miraculous recovery. Maybe with some that may be the case, but not many. It would have been difficult if they book ended any other way however, so I'm not too upset about it.
It's Kind of a Funny Story was a truthful and funny story about depression I won't soon forget. (less)
This book was boring for the most part, although there were some odd moments of humor. In a way, I'm looking forward to going over this with my Englis...moreThis book was boring for the most part, although there were some odd moments of humor. In a way, I'm looking forward to going over this with my English class. Hopefully, I will get more out of the book that way. (less)
I've never seen Sex and the City, nor have I read the books or seen the movies. So I went into this with an open mind (well, not completely open).
And...moreI've never seen Sex and the City, nor have I read the books or seen the movies. So I went into this with an open mind (well, not completely open).
And I was pleasantly surprised. This book really wasn't half bad. It's nothing intellectual, but its fun enough. Actually, it reminded me a lot of my mom and all her high school stories. And that's not necessarily a bad thing since my mom is "cool". So it was interesting. (less)
There will be spoilers at the end of this review. Don't worry; I'll give you plenty of notice. I just hate clickin that little spoilers box, because i...moreThere will be spoilers at the end of this review. Don't worry; I'll give you plenty of notice. I just hate clickin that little spoilers box, because if the rest of the world is like me, no one will read this review because of the energy it takes to open the page.
Cameron is just your average teen guy. He's lazy, aimless, and the highlight of his day is smoking pot in the school rest room. But then the unexpected happens: he get's mad cow disease, which is fatal in every single case. The only chance that Cameron has to save his life is to undertake a mission to save the world. His companions include a punk-rock pink-haired angel, a video game obsessed dwarf with an overprotective mother, and, my personal favorite, a Nordic god in the form of a lawn gnome. It's gonna be a hell of a ride.
I loved this book. It was funny and fantastic. Cameron was typically frustrating teenage guy who needed an attitude check. I have to give it up for Libba Bray. If she's as random in real life as she was in this book, she must be a blast to be around. I found it hard to believe that this is the same author as A Great and Terrible Beauty as the two books are in no way similar.
The journey was just spectacular and I loved it all the way. I think the length of the book was perfect. Not too long as to be endless, but long enough to bring closure. Jolly good.
But, of course, the real reason I loved this book was Balder. I love that little guy. He is so frickin BA. Seriously. Every time he showed up on a page, I gave an inner happy squeal.
But, given my four-star rating, this book wasn't completely perfect, and in order to explain the reason(s) why, I'll have to reveal parts of the ending. So, unless you want to spoil the book for yourself, look away.
As a consolation, here is a picture of Balder after a long night of partying. That's my boy.
Okay, now. Seriously. Look away.
Reasons why I didn't give this book five stars. 1. The predictability of the ending. Was Bray going for the obvious, or do I just watch too much TV? I knew the ending almost completely. I even got some of the quotes right. I was telling people about the "its-all-a-dream-thing" before I even opened the book. 2. Cam and Dulcie. I'm sorry. That just seemed all a bit rushed. All of the sudden it was all about Dulcie. I just wasn't feeling it. 3. SHE FUCKIN KILLS BALDER QWI43VCa32434Q35WZqz45WES,B45W45XBV!!!!!!!!! What is this!!! How she can do that!! I am VERY UPSET!!!!! DFUDFNNCUJDS#*%vgnb*^%rBBV55B!!!! Its bad enough he wasn't introduced until the second half of the novel but then she go and kills him? NOT COOL. Viking funeral be damned.
I wanted to like this one. I really did. It seemed like it was made for me. Morganville? Morgan? You can't ignore the connection. But sadly I was disa...moreI wanted to like this one. I really did. It seemed like it was made for me. Morganville? Morgan? You can't ignore the connection. But sadly I was disappointed.
The volume I read was an omnibus of the first two books. I wish I just would've bought the first one. The series is about Claire Danvers, a 16 yr old student living in the college town of Morganville. She moves into the Glass House, but not all her roommates might be living. She soon finds out that Morganville is no ordinary college town, but one infested with vampires.
I strongly disliked Claire. Very strongly. I mean, what was the purpose of making her 16? To make her even more annoying?? She was immature and whiny and......*simmers down*. In the second book, all the other characters were like "Oh, what happened to the little mousy girl?", I would go "She's right here guys. Just because its a new book doesn't mean she underwent a personality change."
The other characters were somewhat unlikable. Out all of them, I liked Michael the best. I wish he could have been the love interest. Which brings me to Shane......I just don't get his appeal. He's just some hotheaded "gorgeous" guy. I don't like him. I wish he would have been torched. Him and Claire were just so awkwardly matched. It seemed forced to me. After little to no interaction, Claire is all up in his lap calling him her boyfriend (although that didn't stop her from going on that date with Ian). The romance between them was gag-worthy, honestly. The whole "let's play baseball thing". Yuck. And of course they can't really do it, because of the age difference. Gotta build up that sexual tension.
And, sorry for all the people who liked this series, I'm going to be hatin' on the writing now. It was bad. Real bad. It didn't make any sense. It was in third person, but wanted to be in first person. Pick a POV already!!! I had the most difficul time trying to figure out who was speaking or acting at any given time. And Caine would put random words in italics to prove a point. They were everywhere.
And some of the action didn't have a purpse. It seems Caine would just get bored and go "hhhmmmm, let's go over here now so we can over-complicate things!!"
The main problem was I never was emotionally invested enough. I didn't care what happened. It never held me in suspense. I was just waiting for it to be over.(less)
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