This book was simply magical. I really didn't know that there were certain writing styles that could leave me speechless, but then again I've never re...moreThis book was simply magical. I really didn't know that there were certain writing styles that could leave me speechless, but then again I've never read a book like this.
I picked this up yesterday and plowed through it, even resigning myself to my room so that nobody would bother me while I embarked on an adventure into seventeen year old Lennie's fragile brain. Nelson is an author unlike any other I've read, tying ordinary themes into extraordinary works of art. Her words managed to squeeze themselves into my ears and turn my brain into a big sloppy pile of pink mush. Every one of these 277 pages was so heartfelt, so pure and full of romance and loss, that every turned page was painful to read because I simply did not want the story to end. And yet, I couldn't stop reading.
I was inspired to read this book because of the many glowing reviews I read, and I was not disappointed at all. Hurry and read this book before my cornball statements of praise turn your brain into mush, too!(less)
**spoiler alert** This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful that I'm silently kicking myself for not having the energy to write a proper review. Unfo...more**spoiler alert** This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful that I'm silently kicking myself for not having the energy to write a proper review. Unfortunately, I am suffering from insomnia and I haven't been getting enough sleep, so I don't have the energy to write anything constructive. However, I do feel that a book as wretchedly gorgeous as this one needs at least a little effort, so I will list everything about this book that made me gobble it up like Thanksgiving dinner. (excuse the lame metaphor, did I mention I'm dead tired?):
1. The realistic hardships of married life (and the little perfections, as well). Clare was often moody. Henry always wanted sex. Perhaps six miscarriages is a little extreme but there is always a reasonable enough explanation. Henry and Clare go through predicaments both large and small while still pertaining their love for each other. Clare was fiesty, tempermental, and strong willed. Henry was wise and dashing while being a bit of a wimp (you'd never notice, of course). I loved the characters and I loved the realistic (and unrealistic) situations they went through.
2. The Henry/Clare/Gomez love triangle. I really liked Gomez, though I'm not sure if that was what the author was going for. I thought he was quite a character, though there were times when I really didn't like him. Nonetheless I was happy that Clare repeatedly chose Henry over him. I did not like the parts where Clare succumbed to his charms (let's be honest here: does he even have any?), but it provided for more realistic situations. I am so sick of the cliched "I love my partner so much that even when he's away from an extraordinary amount of time and possibly dating other women I'm going to be faithful" type of thing, so this triangle contributed positively to the novel.
3. Alba. What can I say? If there was one character that made me blubber like a baby, it was Alba. I loved that kid so much. Blue Jello-O, anyone?
4. The magnificent, heartbreaking ending. I'll try not to give away too much but here's one fact for the road: you WILL cry. If you do not cry, I applaud you and your dysfunctional heartstrings.
I think that this concludes my poorly written review. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some sleep to catch up on. :)(less)
I began this book just after reading Beautiful Creatures, so perhaps that is why I enjoyed it enough to give it 3 stars. Or perhaps the unique plotlin...moreI began this book just after reading Beautiful Creatures, so perhaps that is why I enjoyed it enough to give it 3 stars. Or perhaps the unique plotline and the believable characters were a refreshing change to the common "boy meets girl, boy falls in love, girl follows suit" plotline. However, this book did not cut it for me.
I found myself constantly annoyed with Keenan. At first he reminded me of an Edward Cullen-esque man with enough confidence to woo any girl he happens to lust after (and what do you know? He's exactly that!). However, I found him becoming extremely irritating near the end of the novel. I suppose he had (some?) reason to bawl like a baby during Ash's little tempter tantrums, but it was just an unattractive edge to the story and I didn't enjoy it.
Also, what is up with Donia? She's just so....ergh, she's annoying! Perhaps I'm just evil, but I just wanted her to die. I was terribly upset with the ending.
The only character I really liked was Seth, but if I had to be perfectly honest, he doesn't strike me as the player type...
So my synopsis is this: It has a beautiful plot and believable characters, but the story itself didn't meet my standars, resulting in a 3 star rating.(less)
This was the kind of book that halfway through reading it I burst into tears. Not because it was sad, but because I dreaded the thought of finishing i...moreThis was the kind of book that halfway through reading it I burst into tears. Not because it was sad, but because I dreaded the thought of finishing it and ending the story that is Jace and Clary.
The characters are so funny and real, and the idea is very complicated yet creative. Many people compared this novel to Harry Potter but I saw no true resemblence other than the fact that both J.K. Rowling and Cassandra Clare both know how to write a breathtaking series. I love Jace! :)(less)
Normally I wouldn't think there was a need for another book after the last one ended so well, but considering that Jace and Clary thought they were si...moreNormally I wouldn't think there was a need for another book after the last one ended so well, but considering that Jace and Clary thought they were siblings for the majority of the series, I think we deserve to see more of their relationship. I honestly don't think I can wait till 2011 though. Haha.(less)
While browsing the shelves of my local bookstore, I came upon an accumulation of books by Susane Colasanti with beautiful book covers and promising(th...moreWhile browsing the shelves of my local bookstore, I came upon an accumulation of books by Susane Colasanti with beautiful book covers and promising(though perhaps slightly cliched) storylines. After I had staggered through the first chapter, I realized that Edwin Rolfe and Lester Fuller really knew what they were talking about. You really can't judge a book by its cover. Here are just a few things that made me want to give up on this book entirely:
1. The constant referral to 'fate' as a recurring motif throughout the story when considering the main character, Lani. In fact, anything involving Lani provided me with a sense of discomfort. For one thing, her main interests include obsessing over horoscopes and discussing the colors and shapes of various brands of bottled water. I have never had the opportunity to drink Poland Spring, but I doubt I would ever make the connection and apprehend that it tastes like a "red circle". But what bothered me most about Lani was the fact that she wouldn't stop droning on and on about fate. She would put every ounce of her stale personality into preaching about astrology and her obsessive infatuation for horoscopes and palm readings. What's more is that fate seemed to be equally infatuated with her and in the form of a dapper young man named Jason, which leads me to the next vexation...
2. Jason's whole purpose in life must have been to take form as Lani's lapdog (or 'French bulldog', if you will) because he has no 'popular guy' attribute whatsoever. Though he was dating Erin (who I will rant about later), he found himself immersed in conversations with Lani about the importance of raspberries and the wonders of kite flying. He is famous for drawing perfect circles and has kept the same Little Prince poster since he was four. And to top it all off, he knows that his water tastes like an orange rhombus. Funny thing too, because Lani is equally interested in every one of these things, so I shouldn't have been surprised that within one week of meeting each other, Lani and Jason were sitting together in their own private table in the cafeteria, completely isolated from Jason's popular guy friends and his girlfriend, Erin, who also happens to be Lani's best friend. And speaking of which...
3. Erin was a cold hard bitch. Lani spoke of her as if she were the world, but all she ever did was talk about boys and cast away her best friend to go talk to her boyfriend and see how he felt about her (which is a whole new matter entirely, considering that if he really was your boyfriend, you could have just as easily asked him about his feelings yourself). And after it became apparent that Lani and Jason were obviously destined for each other, Erin went ahead and ruined Lani's life to the point of making vicious websites, turning her classmates against her and banning her from seeing Jason. And what did this solve? Absolutely nothing. So forgive me for thinking that Erin and her group of "Golden Kids" were a bunch of languid morons.
4. And speaking of the "Golden Kids", who exactly put them in charge of the school? All they ever wanted to do was help the environment and make the world a better place; honorable qualities, but not the kind you'd find in a prominent high school crowd. I was forced to conclude that Susane Colasanti had no recollection of what it was like to be a teenager in high school.
Overall, I just found this book to be very monotonous to the point of near hilarity (I'm still trying to figure out how Evian tastes like a sky blue triangle), and even during the "serious" parts I found myself doubling over in fits of hysteric laughter. I would only recommend this book to fans of romance with no regard for well-written love predicaments.(less)
I really wish that Stephenie Meyer included the meadow scene. It was a shame that this was leaked, and I hope she finishes it. I haven't read Twilight...moreI really wish that Stephenie Meyer included the meadow scene. It was a shame that this was leaked, and I hope she finishes it. I haven't read Twilight in five years so Midnight Sun was a good way to refresh my memory without providing me with unnecessary deja vu.(less)
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