I think this might be one of my most favorite books ever. Like... Ever. WHY CAN'T THERE BE MORE!?!?!?!? Review to come, as soon as I can form coherent...moreI think this might be one of my most favorite books ever. Like... Ever. WHY CAN'T THERE BE MORE!?!?!?!? Review to come, as soon as I can form coherent sentences again, because this book BLEW MY MIND. (less)
This is an incredible book. I am not normally a huge fan of books not in the YA genre, but this has got to...moreMy Thoughts: Fantastic. Beautiful. Amazing.
This is an incredible book. I am not normally a huge fan of books not in the YA genre, but this has got to be one of my favorite books I've read in a while. It was so great, filled with a story that made me smile, cry, laugh. I loved the characters and the plot and everything in between. I devoured the book with ease... This is a very special book.
I have not read the first book in this series, Raising Gillian's Wolves, but I really didn't need to. There were a few details that I was unsure about in the beginning, but it was pretty easy to look past that, considering this is an entirely different story. I have no clue who Gillian is, other than the fact that she lives in Amsterdam and is Edward's best friend, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is this story! The book begins with partners Sam and Edward living together and happily, but Sam is wanting desperately to become a father. Edward, though hesitant, agrees and they take in Ginger as a foster child. Ginger's had a very, very terrible life and a past that is unimaginable. At twelve years old she knows how to seduce men, wears tons of makeup, and is completely, and utterly broken. She steals and lies, but she also worms herself into Edwards heart. Sam's, not so much. Edward and Sam begin having problems, as Ginger is so much to handle, and not what Sam was expecting. But Ginger is a smart girl and knows how to get Sam to warm up to her. But she's also a fragile, hurting little girl who has been abused in the past in a way that will bring tears to the reader's eyes. The book follows Sam, Edward and Ginger's journey to find family and love together, while all healing from their pasts... Especially Ginger.
I was completely immersed in this book. It was one that had my emotions on a huge roller coaster ride. I laughed, I cried tears of joy, and tears of sadness. I had moments where I wanted to scream and rip my hair out because of the cruelty in this world, as well as moments where I couldn't stop smiling because of how incredible this little family's story was. Ginger was a little girl with a horrific past that makes me tense up in anger each time I even think about it. She will always hold a place in my heart now, for she is a very special character. She is clever and cunning, sad and hurt, and just doesn't really know how to be a twelve year old. But Edward and Sam help her with that and she learns to trust them and love them. I loved all of the characters. Sam and Edward were both a delight. They each had pasts that were a bit traumatic but they had no clue what it would be like to take in Ginger. Edward was probably my favorite character, just because he was so likeable. He was rational and loving and cared so much for both Sam and Ginger. He would do anything to keep the three of them together.
Another thing I loved about this novel was the fact that the story had so many different aspects to it, but it was never confusing, really. It was just a book about two men, trying to raise their new, twelve year old daughter. Sam and Edward were not a fairytale couple. They had fights and disagreed and they were just a normal, everyday couple. It wasn't all fluffed up. The story was about how their lives went on with Ginger now in it. They had to adjust work and social lives, what with it being summer, she had no school. So she went and worked with a woman in the lab at the university Sam works at, working with rats. Edward continued with his photography, trying to get a book published. They had their synagogue and Sam teaching Hebrew to people for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Ginger had to adjust to being in a Jewish family and making friends with Ora, one of Sam's students. It was just a normal book, about normal people with a daughter that came from a traumatic past. I loved all of the characters in this book, with the small town feeling not too dramatic, but there enough to feel it.
I could continue about this book, but I shan't considering I need to get to sleep. I loved Raising Wild Ginger. It was a fantastic read and I wish everyone could read it. It's a great book about family, healing, love and parenting. If you come across it, please check it out! I'd love to hear what you thought of it, or Woolpy's first novel! If you've read Releasing Gillian's Wolves, let me know what you thought of it! (less)
My Thoughts: SOOOO GOOD. Undescribably amazing... But I'll try. ;)
By now, most of you have probably s...moreWOW. Roth has done it again. 5/5: review to come.
My Thoughts: SOOOO GOOD. Undescribably amazing... But I'll try. ;)
By now, most of you have probably seen at least one review of Insurgent. Why? BECAUSE IT'S THE INCREDIBLE SEQUEL TO DIVERGENT!!! Veronica Roth has done it again. She has left us with a jaw-dropping book and we have to wait another for the next book. (Yes, I read Divergent at the beginning of this year, but it still felt like an eternity waiting for this one!) Insurgent impressed the heck out of me. It's probably one of the best 'second-books' or 'sophomore-books' I've ever read. Roth has kept the fast paced plot that we loved in Divergent and personally, I think her writing has improved greatly. While Divergent left me confused and disoriented in the beginning of the novel, Insurgent was clear and controlled. I never felt the need to go back and read something over again, (unless it was super shocking and I just couldn't believe it) and this made the 525 page book as quick of a read as it could be!
Insurgent has a pretty different feel from the first book, when it comes to Tris and Tobias' romance. I knew it had to happen, but I just wasn't really prepared. They are very tense and stiff around each other a lot of the time, but then other times they're pretty much back to that sweet couple we know and love from Divergent. Tris is very upset after Will's death and becomes suicidal... We see just how much she is hurting, as well as how she is hurting Tobias. The only thing he wants the most is for her to be safe but she insists on lying to him and go out on dangerous, life-threatening missions. It was hard for me to see Tris this way, because of how much I love her character. There was also one point where I was worried Tris and Uriah were going to have a 'thing', but as soon as that didn't happen, I was relieved. This series is great so far with the no love-triangle thing it's got going on.
All in all, Insurgent was a fantastic sequel. It was incredibly well-written, has that fast-paced, action-packed adventure we love and an ending that will literally take your breath away. I almost threw the book across the room, but, I didn't want it to get hurt... If you've read Divergent, you should really go pick up a copy of this, if you haven't already. It will NOT disappoint. I can't actually say much else, because this book is just so awesome! (less)
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