Rita’s Comments (group member since Jul 23, 2010)

Rita’s comments from the Unlocking Books group.

I can't remember for sure if the author actually used, "She smiled as if she were happy." But he did that kind of thing a lot. And it wasn't that she was faking it.

It would have worked if he'd written "She smiled as if she were happy, but inside, she felt empty." OR "She smiled as if the sun had just peeked out on a cloudy day."

But it made me learn something (to watch out everytime I use the phrase "as if"), and for that, I am grateful.

I will read the next few books by this author. I think he has so much potential.

Kyle wrote: "YA is seriously lacking in interesting, realistic male POVs...its annoying.

I guess that's a good challenge for yourself.

There were two things that really annoyed me about Maze Runner. The first was the way the author described emotions: She smiled as if she were happy. He turned pale as if he were scared. He explained every visual indication of emotion as if we couldn't figure it out for ourselves.

The other was that his main character was the only one to figure it out. It seemed more like the author was being convenient than that Thomas (was that his name? it's been a while) was really that good.

But I thought that if the author was willing to grow the sequel to Maze Runner could be pretty good. Maze Runner was a great concept.

With Eragon, I was reminded of the first book in Wheel of Time--farm boy called on a mission to save the world. But the author of Wheel of Time made every side character a POV and the story became too big (IMO). That's why I liked Eragon. The story stuck to one POV and so was much faster paced.

Speak has made quite the splash in the news lately. It's a book about rape, encouraging girls to speak up when this has happened to them, but some people claim it is "light porn".

What do you think? Have you read the book? Should the book be banned?

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter is the story of a girl who attends a private high school for elite girls. For super-genius girls. Her curriculum: 14 languages, college-level chemistry, cryptology, hacking, martial arts, and how to go through someone's trash to learn all their secrets.

The one thing her education does not cover is how to understand and talk to that strange species called the human male. Using every ounce of her training, she's determined to figure boys out. Or at least, one particular boy.

Her cover story is ready...

Have you read this book? Tell me what you think.

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini? I've read the first two in that series and was impressed with the author's amazing story. I haven't yet gotten to the 3rd one.

I'm currently reading The Book of Lost Things as an audiobook for my drive to work, but I'm really not liking it. The writing is great, but the story is rather dark and brooding.

Welcome, Nasuesue. Can you tell us what your name means? I really like it. I like the way it rolls off my tongue.

"You insert key into slot and turn. It's not that hard," the man said.

"Why do you want me to open this door? What's behind it?"

"We don't have time for questions, girl!"

"I don't want to make a mistake just because you rushed me."

He smiled. It was a pleased sort of grin. "Good. You've finally learned a few things over the centuries."

What? Centuries? I am sixteen years old!

, but someone behind me was ...

But just then the book snapped shut and ...

of the Mad Hatter's Spell."

Then he jumped up and ...

In the dim light, I could barely make out the wooden planks set in the stone floor where the keyhole lay. I shuddered to think what might be hiding below the basement and scurried past.

"Don't dillydally. We don't have all day. You're the only one with the key!" The man with the white beard beckoned to me and then gestured toward the rickey door in the wall. The faint light glowing through the cracks invited me closer.

underwear.

I opened the book to the page where...

sewers of...

There isn't a jealous bone in my body. Well, maybe one. But it's also my funny bone.

sea monsters that guard the...

Standing before me was a short man with a white beard that went down to his toes. So short, his head barely came to my shoulder. He hunched over a cane. This couldn't be the man you had hit the door until it nearly splintered to pieces, could it?

"Thank goodness; you have finally come. Don't just stand there gawking. There are troubles to be dealt with." He turned and moved deeper into the house.

My oldest daughter Makani memorizes every bit of information she reads and can spit it back out verbatim.

We homeschool our kids, and I was giving a science lesson on honey bees. I cut out a lot of information for the sake of the younger kids. Every five minutes, Makani had her hand in the air to remind me about something in the book that I hadn't said or to give her sisters a "pop quiz." Oh my gosh, I thought, she's Hermione!

I don't think she was showing off or anything. She was just so excited about the topic as science is her favorite subject.

...turned her purple.

In my hand, I clutch...