Suzanne Schultz Pick's Blog: bookblogarama, page 39

Review of The Princess Diaries: Book #1

What? A princess

Me Yeah, right.

Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there's nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra.

Is she ever in for a surprise.

First Mom announces that she's dating Mia's Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia. And guess who still doesn't have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance?

I can’t tell you how much I liked The Princess Diaries. Well, I guess I can.

As I mentioned before, I got this book as my first audiobook on Kindle through the library. I needed something to listen to in the bath, and since this is one of those books that everyone is supposed to have read, I really wanted to give it a try. I was honestly surprised at how much I liked it. Anne Hathaway reads this so well and shows the character of Mia the way she was intended. That’s the best part of this book; the character of Mia. While this is just the start of her journey as a princess, the voice of Mia was really endearing. She’s funny and clueless and overdramatic and you want to keep reading her diary. She’s a good role model too, so she’s definitely a positive female lead in a novel, even though it’s a pink cover and about a princess. I love books written as a journal or epistolary style as well – they just give you a nice, strong sense of who the character is and what they’re going through.

I know that it is a little predictable for Josh Richter, the cutest boy at school, to end up being a tool, and Lilly ending up being her best friend again after she sees what kind of crap Mia’s been going through. And Michael being the real object of Mia’s affection was totally obvious, but I loved that anyway. It had all the charm of a typical teenage movie. I have seen bits of the movie with Anne Hathaway, but I’ll have to watch it on Netflix this week to see if it really did the book justice.

A lot of fantasy books I’ve read are basically this whole idea of a young girl discovering she’s a princess. This is just done so much better than the books who sort of force you to feel bad for them, since they’ve inherited some magical kingdom or something. It’s no secret that I don’t love high fantasy, so a cute, contemporary, young adult novel really pleases me. I would most definitely read more of The Princess Diaries books in the series.

The Princess Diaries

Review of The Princess Diaries: Book #1

What? A princess
Me Yeah, right.
Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there’s nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra.
Is she ever in for a surprise.
First Mom announces that she’s dating Mia’s Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia. And guess who still doesn’t have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance?

I can’t tell you how much I liked The Princess Diaries. Well, I guess I can.

As I mentioned before, I got this book as my first audiobook on Kindle through the library. I needed something to listen to in the bath, and since this is one of those books that everyone is supposed to have read, I really wanted to give it a try. I was honestly surprised at how much I liked it. Anne Hathaway reads this so well and shows the character of Mia the way she was intended. That’s the best part of this book; the character of Mia. While this is just the start of her journey as a princess, the voice of Mia was really endearing. She’s funny and clueless and overdramatic and you want to keep reading her diary. She’s a good role model too, so she’s definitely a positive female lead in a novel, even though it’s a pink cover and about a princess. I love books written as a journal or epistolary style as well – they just give you a nice, strong sense of who the character is and what they’re going through.

I know that it is a little predictable for Josh Richter, the cutest boy at school, to end up being a tool, and Lilly ending up being her best friend again after she sees what kind of crap Mia’s been going through. And Michael being the real object of Mia’s affection was totally obvious, but I loved that anyway. It had all the charm of a typical teenage movie. I have seen bits of the movie with Anne Hathaway, but I’ll have to watch it on Netflix this week to see if it really did the book justice.

A lot of fantasy books I’ve read are basically this whole idea of a young girl discovering she’s a princess. This is just done so much better than the books who sort of force you to feel bad for them, since they’ve inherited some magical kingdom or something. It’s no secret that I don’t love high fantasy, so a cute, contemporary, young adult novel really pleases me. I would most definitely read more of The Princess Diaries books in the series.

WWW Wednesday 08 May 2013 (Find out what I’m reading this week)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

 

I listened to The Princess Diaries on the Kindle during our holiday to Liverpool this weekend. I’m almost finished with it. Such a cute book.

What did you recently finish reading?

Divergent was the last book I finished before the holiday. I still have to post a review for it on here.

What do you think you’ll read next?

I just got Along for the Ride online from the library for my Kindle this morning. I want to keep up with the non-fantasy, contemporary YA for a bit. I’ve had two Dessen books in the past that I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t finish. (Is it perfectly normal to be impressed with someone’s online presence as much as I am with Dessen’s?)

Happy Reading and Happy Wednesday!

Monday Mashups for 6 May 2013

Monday Mashups are a collection of interesting book-related items that I’ve found recently.

[1st Books] Allie Larkin: Fake-Out (or, How Not to Write a Novel) at She Writes
Video: Sarah Dessen Reveals Details About ‘The Moon and More’

Happy Reading and Happy Monday!

Friday Reads for 3 May 2013

I have The Princess Diaries on audiobook for my Kindle. I finally tried downloading one from the library (I know, not only am I way behind on The Princess Diaries, but I’m behind on using my Overdrive app.) I listen to this in the tub, when I’m washing dishes, and when I’m getting around town on the bus. I love it. Anne Hathaway does the narration and she’s so good. I don’t think anyone could have done a better job as the voice of Mia than she does. I’m almost 47% through it, or so, and I can’t wait to finish it. It’s such a cute, funny little book. If you still haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds:

 

Why Can’t I Be You by Allie Larkin

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Happy Reading and Happy Friday!

WWW Wednesday 01 May 2013 (Find out what I’m reading this week)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

 

I know I’m way behind on this, but I started listening to The Princess Diaries on audiobook from the library last weekend when I needed something to listen to in the bath. Anne Hathaway reads it so well – I just love how much life she puts into the character’s voice (and I’m not a huge Anne Hathaway fan.) I got the book in Kindle format to read as well.

What did you recently finish reading?

 

I just finished Divergent this morning, so I’ll try to write a review this weekend or so. I didn’t hate it as much toward the end.

What do you think you’ll read next?

 

Again, I have Delirium to finish. I just needed a break from the violence and dystopian world for a bit.

Two Things Tuesdays for 30 Apr 2013

Two Things Tuesdays is a quick and simple way to give a teaser of insight to the book I’m currently reading. These could be quotes or thoughts and reactions.

“In Abnegation no one has committed suicide in recent memory, but the faction’s stance is clear: Suicide, to them, is an act of selfishness. Someone who is truly selfless does not think of himself often enough to desire death. No one would say that aloud, if it happened, but everyone would think it.” p. 307
“I realise that if we had both chosen differently, we might have ended up doing the same thing, in a safer place, in grey clothes instead of black ones.” p. 338

I’m still reading Divergent. I have about 100 pages left to go, so I’ll hopefully be able to review it this week. I enjoy it more now that things are coming together, but 3/4 of the book are just ridiculous. If no one was that depressed or selfish to commit suicide in a faction, why wouldn’t everyone want to be in that one? Why wouldn’t Tris want to be in that one? (She has some quote about how peace in Abnegation was suffocating or something ridiculous.) But not until the revelation of Four and his past (no spoilers) is revealed to I feel the least bit sorry for him or any of these characters. He had a reason to get out. Tris doesn’t really, she just connects with her Dauntless side without really knowing why. It makes more sense 300 pages in and I hated everyone and their faction a little less.

Monday Mashups for 29 Apr 2013

Monday Mashups are a collection of interesting book-related items that I’ve found recently.

Booklist Webinars include “Dazzling Debuts: Hot New Names in Fiction”
Ask Hugh Jackman ‘Wolverine’ Questions for May 2 Twitter Chat (Hey, it’s comic book related!)
Read the first 70 pages of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey for free!
Posterous is shutting down .
I also started following Jera’s Jamboree in lieu of a book tour for Aubrie Dionne’s next book in the Colonization series, Reconnaissance.
The Outsiders turned 46 last week.
And finally, I do have a Shelfari profile where I included my last review. Feel free to connect with me there if you are using it. I tend to stick with Goodreads though (they have an app!)

Friday Reads for 26 Apr 2013

I’m still reading Divergent. I had to return the eBook on my Kindle to the library, but I have the print copy to finish up with now. I’m still only a quarter of the way through it. I’m up to the part where Tris realizes her mother was Dauntless. She even says a few times that their training methods aren’t a big secret so, hello, why would you sign up to have knives thrown at you? I can only assume we’re supposed to empathise with Tris as she turns cold and spiteful, but then she’ll redeem herself later on in the book.

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

My finds:

  

Sweet Evil by Mindy Higgins

Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing by Claire Kehrwald Cook

Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace (read the first chapter here.)

WWW Wednesday 24 Apr 2013 (Find out what I’m reading this week)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I’m at Chapter 13 of Divergent. I’m not really sure how I feel about it, or the story of Tris. She’s chosen to be in the toughest faction in Chicago, even though she’s lived there for sixteen years, surely she had somewhat of an idea of what she was in for. (And therefore, why in the world would you choose that life? It’s like a really tough fraternity that she’s pledging for mixed with some kind of twisted boot camp.)

What did you recently finish reading?

I finished The Future of Us in a couple of days. Not done that since I read Before I Fall.

What do you think you’ll read next?

I still haven’t gone back to Delirium because I keep getting library books that I have to finish first. Since I’m on a dystopian kick, I’ll probably be more apt to finish it soon.