Title: Sky on Fire Author: Emmy Laybourne # of Pages: Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis:Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.
Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .
Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . . Review: I'm as surprised as you are that I actually got to reading the second book so quickly (especially since the first book wasn't exactly what I would call "stellar").
I wanted to read at least one more book this year, and I felt that this would be the best choice. I was not disappointed it. It's a short, fast-paced read (I finished it in a matter of hours). And the ending bit was suspenseful.
However, I was shocking and discouraged when I realized there was POV switching. It wasn't as bad since most of the events did not overlap in the chapters...but I still didn't like it. And, although I wasn't paying as much attention to the writing style as I should have been since I was in a rush, I did notice in the beginning (during Alex's chapter) that there was some redundancy...
Another aspect of the POV switching that bothered me was certain parts of one POV would affect the other POV. For example: How could Dean possibly suspect there was a "rubber shortage outside?" (80). The reader knows that there's some weird white substance eating away at the tires, but would Dean immediately assume something was happening to rubber specifically? It would be more likely for him to suspect that so of the tires were deflated and that people were (for some reason) unable to re-inflate them.
If you enjoyed the first book, then yes, read this one. I might read the third book, but I am still unsure since I am quite satisfied with the ending in this book.
Title: Partials Author: Dan Wells # of Pages: 528 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Synopsis:Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. But sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to find a solution. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that that the survival of both humans and Partials rests in her attempts to answer questions about the war's origin that she never knew to ask. Review: I almost threw this book out of a window.
I wanted to quit reading this book so bad...but I was determined to finish it so I wouldn't have to pick it up ever again. Seriously...it was torture. I had to force myself to read even ONE page and then I would become preoccupied with some other task. The world was not developed enough and there is WAY too much fluff (which is probably why this book is longer than it should be!). For example:
"She bathed, brushed out her hair, and chose a bright-colored outfit from her 'flirty' section: a silk shirt with Chinese embroidery, a pair of high-heeled sandals, and a pair of jeans just short enough that she paused to worry about the weather. It was summer, but a cold one, and another rainstorm could really make her wish she'd gone with something heavier. She killed over the decision, comparing the jeans with a longer pair, and finally decided to go with the shorts. They looked better with the shirt, and better on her, and she needed the boost. She could risk cold legs to feel like a normal person again for a while." (Wells 82).
Yes, I did just re-type that whole paragraph. It's fine if you didn't read it all; I just need you to understand how much unnecessary description is in this book. I'm SURROUNDED by preppy teenage mind in real life, and I've heard this thought processes way too many times. The reader DOES NOT need a full description of the character's outfit; it's not an important part of the plot AT ALL. No wonder why this book is so long.
Title: Monument 14 Author: Emmy Laybourne # of Pages: 352 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Synopsis: Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.
In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel Monument 14, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart. Review: And I had such high hopes for this book too.
I almost gave this book three stars, but I didn't think that would be fair to group Monument 14 with other books that were just that much better. Laybourne tries to make her book more interesting by throwing in every possible natural disaster she can. True, some of it was interesting, but very overdone.
The beginning was sloppy (and confusing for me; I hate it when a whole bunch of characters are thrown at me at once, and I'm expected to remember them all), and I felt a lack of a connection with Dean until the middle-end of the book. He's more of an observer than a do-er.
The romance is not interesting at all.. This might be at the fault of our "exciting" protagonist....
But, nevertheless, it could have been so much worse. I am actually considering reading the second book. Do I recommend it? Perhaps not.
Title: I am the Messenger Author: Markus Zusak # of Pages: 360 (paperback) Genre: YA, Contemporary, Mystery Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis: Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That's when the first ace arrives in the mail. That's when Ed becomes the messenger. Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission? Review: I'm still confused.
I'm not exactly sure what I just read. The whole book seemed quite ridiculous. This guy thinks he's a messenger and HAS to interfere with people's lives? How does he know this by receiving the ace in the mail?
The following are notes I've taken while reading:
- How does Ed know that he's suppose to involve himself with these people? What if he was just suppose to observe...?
- How can Ed even see into these houses? Don't people have blinds?
- "It strikes me that without the man there, they might not have enough money coming in to pay the bills. On the other hand, he probably drank a lot of the money away, and I'm fairly certain she'd prefer being a little poorer in return for his absence." (167). EXACTLY! If this whole ordeal wasn't planned out, and he interfered with a random person's life, he could be screwing them over.
- The way he describes Angie Carusso eating the ice cream (and the way he seems to be intently watching her) is really creepy.
"Then her tongue rescues the steams on the side of the cone."
"She works her mouth around the peppermint and onto the passion fruit now, nice and slow."
Maybe my mind's in the gutter....but those descriptions are really detailed in the wrong ways.
- Why is Angie Carusso accepting ice cream from strangers? Everyone's so trusting.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Book Thief, but I do think you should give it a shot if you've read Zusak's books before...
Title: A History of the World in 6 Glasses Author: Tom Standage # of pages: 311 (paperback) Genre: Nonfiction, History Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Synopsis: Throughout human history, certain drinks have done much more than just quench thirst. As Tom Standage relates with authority and charm, six of them have had a surprisingly pervasive influence on the course of history, becoming the defining drink during a pivotal historical period. A History of the World in 6 Glasses tells the story of humanity from the Stone Age to the 21st century through the lens of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. For Tom Standage, each drink is a kind of technology, a catalyst for advancing culture by which he demonstrates the intricate interplay of different civilizations. You may never look at your favorite drink the same way again. Review: This isn't a book I would read for fun.
Someone had told me that I would enjoy the book because it had a plot line. When she said that, I thought she meant that there would be a protagonist and somehow learn about these six glasses through his or her story. But it's purely informational.
I only realized it after I read a discussion question, but it this book is very European centered. For tea, there could have been more focus on the Asian countries for the tea section other than how to related to Europe.
It's not the hardest book to read, and it shouldn't have taken as long to read as it did. But it fails to engage the reader. Standage could have done better. Not recommended for recreational reading.
Title: Mockingjay Author: Suzanne Collins # of Pages: 390 (hardback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis:Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans--except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost. Review:Original Review: January 16, 2013, 4 stars, reading date unknown
Yes, I do love the Hunger Games series. But this one, out of all of them, had to be my least favorite. It seemed a little rushed, though still had the overall great quality that was found in the other books.
Second Review: 3 stars
It feels like I've never read this book before.
Seriously, it's as if I had looked up a summary online; I only remember the main points. Most of the events described were new to me, and I realized my imagination had begun to create its own parts of the book.
I'm not one for these big rebellion-endings. A lot of dystopian books tend to end this way, but it becomes extremely messy when the reader has to remember all the characters and try to recreate the scenes with their imaginations (this step can define whether the scene is comprehended, especially if certain points of the plot depend on picturing an area correctly). This book was no exception. It was very time consuming to read and re-read descriptions to reach to full effect of the book.
Katniss isn't as strong of a protagonist in this book. She needs to learn to cope with the situation she finds herself in and to gain control of her mental state. Overall, she's not a very good role model.
One scene that I had fabricated was the epilogue. Instead of the disappointingly short, two page nothingness that was actually provided, I thought there would be at least five pages, and Gale would be there. He would stop by to visit Katniss and Peeta in an amazing car with a fancy suit and (in a way) be showing Katniss what she missed out on. Of course, Gale wouldn't be that big of a jerk about it, and Katniss would still be good friends with him...but this is no joke. I was looking forward to this scene until I realized it didn't exist!
The whole Gale-made-the-bomb-and-is-kimda-responsible-for-killing-my-sister-so-that's-why-I'm-going-to-end-up-with-Peeta is ridiculous. The whole situation/encounter was just a way too obvious plot device to enable Gale to fade away...I mean, he's not even in the epilogue!
A really confusing part for me was when Katniss agreed that there should be a final Hunger Games. Then, when I thought about it, it came to me that she might be being submissive in order to ensure she could have a shot at killing Coin. But the problem with that is she doesn't seem to be entirely sure if she is going to kill Coin until the very last moment. So, after reading a few opinions on the 'net, I also came to the conclusion that she wanted to prevent the destruction of the entire Capital population by sacrificing a smaller amount (who would die anyway if the other option was put into action). And someone also said that when Katniss says "Yes...for Prim", she is, in a way, volunteering for Prim for the last time (and, after all, Katniss never felt like she completely left the games) and to enter a new game/faces a new challenge where her goal, instead of to stay alive, is to avenge Prim's life. But this whole ordeal took way took much time post-reading.
I was left with a lot of questions. How exactly was Peeta able to regain so much of his former self? Why were the rebel medics so eager to rush in to help the Capitol children, and why did they not find it strange to be sent out to be in such an area with so many Capitol people? I felt like there was a lot left unanswered.
Book/Movie Comparison
It's shocking how much of the book was rearranged for the movie. For example, some of the dialogue said by Plutarch and Fulvia (Plutarch's assistant) in the book is said by Effie in the movie. I'm pleased that the dialogue is in the movie, but the differences are surprising.
However, in regards to the dialogue given to Effie...I wonder if this is a scene they had to film after Hoffman's death. I know they filmed part 1 and part 2 of the movie together, and they didn't necessarily have to film it in order. Also, I heard from the an article that one of the few parts in the movies he had to complete was from part 1 and was later rewritten and assigned to another character.
"We decided to rewrite the scenes and give his dialogue to other [actors]," he explained. "There's a scene in 'Mockingjay Part 1' that Elizabeth Banks took over for, and there's a scene in 'Mockingjay Part 2' that Woody Harrelson took over for." -Francis Lawrence
But another notable dialogue switch is between Effie (movie) and Finnick (book) with the quote, "'They'll either want to kill you, kiss you, or be you.'" I understand that for the flow of the scene, it may have been easier to use Effie for the line, but now you can tell who has/hasn't read the book based on who they credit these words to.
In fact, Effie seems to have a bigger role in the movie than in the book! A lot of lines that belong to characters who have been cut from the movie have been given to her!
I'm think that the reason why I made up scenes and some how forgot most of the book was because I was so underwhelmed by it all. It's not the stunning conclusion I wanted; in fact, the ending was sloppy. If you've gotten to this point in the series, go ahead and read it. But lower your expectations.
Title: Catching Fire Author: Suzanne Collins # of Pages: 391 (hardback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia Rating: ★★★★☆ Synopsis: Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create. Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying. Review:Original Review: January 15, 2013, 5 stars
There's not much to say here. This book is fabulous. Read it, if you haven't. Read it again if you have.
Second Review: 4 stars
While I still enjoyed reading Catching Fire, I found that it dragged in the beginning. Half of the story isn't even related to the 75th Hunger Games (which is what I wanted to read about). And there was A LOT of characters thrown at you at once, to the point that if I didn't have the movie as my guide, I would have gotten them confused like I did the first time I read it.
Catching Fire seems to be more of a bridge to the last book...but I still recommend reading it.
Title: The Hunger Games Author: Suzanne Collins # of Pages: 374 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia Rating: ★★★★★ Synopsis: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Review:Original Review written January 13, 2014 Rating: 5 stars There's not much to say here; it's one of the most popular books of the present. Second Review: 5 stars (November 23-25, 2014) I decided to reread the whole Hunger Games series after realizing how much content I had forgotten when I watched Mockingjay Part 1. It's not as perfect as I remembered it to be, probably the result of the movie (which planted a completely different interpretation of the story in my head) and time (which often is the reason for change, for better or fore worse). I can see why people would dislike it, especially after it became more mainstream (mostly when the movies start coming out and a different type of fan base formed). There's something about books/movies that people only praise that make some people - including me sometimes - want to find something to criticize. Also, it's always disappointment when a reader expects something really, really good only for the book not to meet his or her expectations. There's a lot of coincidental situations. While Katniss is a strong protagonist, I question her abilities in the games (is that a spoiler? I say not); is she as amazing as the reader is led to think she is? Or are outside forces that happen to act at the right time what make her seem so incredible? I was surprised on how my image of Katniss changed since I watched the movies. Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss seems to have more emotional restraint (which I prefer) while the book Katniss is one to "throw herself on her bed sobbing" (this is almost a quote from the book...). Some scenes and dialogue lacked detail and left a lot to the reader's imagination. Reading this again after seeing the movie helped me understand how some vaguely described situations could be interpreted, but without the visual reference, I may have been more irritated with this book. I was still able to enjoy the book, although not in the same way I did the first time. I still highly recommend it!
I saw Mockingjay Part 1 yesterday! There were close to 200 people in the theater and a lot of the showings were sold out! I already want to go and see it again, hopefully sometime this week.
The beginning was somewhat boring. It lacked the action-excitement that the Games had brought in the previous movies. But one of the scenes near the end (I don't want to spoil anything!) was exactly what I was hoping for. I wish it had ended right after that scene though, but I suppose the extra bit was fine too.
I'm seriously considering rereading The Hunger Games series now! I was disappointed on how much I couldn't remember! Here's Katniss/Jennifer Lawrence singing The Hanging Tree from the movie:
Title: Night Author: Elie Wiesel # of Pages: 120 (hardback) Genre: Memoir, Classics, Holocaust Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis: Night is a work by Elie Wiesel about his experience with his father in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944–1945, at the height of the Holocaust and toward the end of the Second World War. In just over 100 pages of sparse and fragmented narrative, Wiesel writes about the death of God and his own increasing disgust with humanity, reflected in the inversion of the father–child relationship as his father declines to a helpless state and Wiesel becomes his resentful teenage caregiver.
Review: I feel cheated.
I read the "new" translation of this book (in English) by Elie Wiesel's wife, Marion Wiesel. While I felt I could learn from Elie's story, I felt as if significant parts of it are missing.
Is it the translation that is the problem? Maybe. Is it the changes the author made to the new edition? This is more likely the reason. In the preface, he says he took out parts of the end of the story about his father and the Liberation because they were "too personal, too private." I am thankful that he did include an excerpt of what he removed because I realize what I have missed by reading this version.
The "personal" and "private" parts of the book are what I wanted to read about. It's these parts that really connect with me, not the inexpressive words Elie replaced them with.
For this version, I give three stars. But a book with the old excerpts leaves me wondering how much better the original is and wanting to see more of the book that allowed Elie to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
For those of you who have not read this book: it reminds me a lot of Animal Farm. It's short (but far from sweet) and easy for the masses to understand. However, a significant amount of meaning is lost (even to me; there are section of this book that I feel I do not fully understand) unless the reader looks for importance of every aspect of the book. Yes, it is one of THOSE books (sorry people who are reading this for school!).
The reader needs to be pretty aware of the background/history of the Holocaust, or at least be willing to learn along the way. Another reason why I lacked a connection with the book was my difficulty UNDERSTANDING: the Holocaust, the religion, the war. If you don't do your research, this book will be even less meaningful.
I do recommend reading this book (don't expect a happy read), although perhaps not this version.
Title: The Warrior Heir Author: Cinda Williams Chima # of Pages: 426 (paperback) Genre: YA, Fantasy, Adventure Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis:Before he knew about the Roses, 16-year-old Jack lived an unremarkable life in the small Ohio town of Trinity. Only the medicine he has to take daily and the thick scar above his heart set him apart from the other high schoolers. Then one day Jack skips his medicine. Suddenly, he is stronger, fiercer, and more confident than ever before. And it feels great - until he loses control of his own strength and nearly kills another player during soccer team tryouts. Soon, Jack learns the startling truth about himself: he is Weirlind, part of an underground society of magical people who live among us. At their helm sits the feuding houses of the Red Rose and the White Rose, whose power is determined by playing The Game - a magical tournament in which each house sponsors a warrior to fight to the death. The winning house rules the Weir. As if his bizarre heritage isn't enough, Jack finds out that he's not just another member of Weirlind - he's one of the last of the warriors - at a time when both houses are scouting for a player. Review: Original Rating: 5 stars
Second Rating: 3 stars
Why did I make the decision to reread this series...
I read this book years ago, and I loved it. The Warrior Heir is the first book I read from Chima and the wonderfulness of it led me to read The Demon King (and the rest of the series), which I love a lot. Since The Enchanter Heir was published last year (2013?), I thought rereading The Heir Chronicles will give me the full effect of the new book.
One aspect of the book that bugged me is the third person POV switching. Although I don't htink it is as bad as first person POV switching, it still disrupted the flow since there were time overlaps.
Also, the development overall for the story was poorly executed. Most of the background was done through dialogue through rapid-fire question and answer between characters. To top it off, some aspects of the magically world would repeated throughout the book to other character BECAUSE OF THE POV CHANGES. The reader doesn't need to hear the exact same fact twice just so you can show that a certain character is informed of the information.
The plot didn't progress as quickly as I remembered it; not much happens in this book in general. There were too many contrived plot devices.
One example of this is how Jack escapes from the church, and Linda is able to convince Longbranch that Jack is dead. Why didn't Longbranch look for more proof?! It seems to be that our supposedly intelligent antagonist is extremely gullible...two traits that don't mix well in a character.
It should be noted that The Warrior Heir is among the first of Chima's books, if not THE first published work of hers. Her writing has improved in The Seven Realms series. It's a little bit like John Green's books; many people began to read his books starting with The Fault in Our Stars and then working their way BACKWARDS through his works (which means his writing becomes worse and worse and worse...).
I was forced to drop my previous perfect rating of this book down two stars. It wasn't bad, but it was far from the amazing book I once saw this book as. I recommend that you check this book out at your local library and give it a try. However, if you've read The Demon King and loved it, don't expect The Warrior Heir to be as good.
Hey guys! It's been a while! There are a lot of big events occurring in the book and movie realm around now, and I have a lot I'd like to share! So mark your calenders; there's a lot of important dates coming up!
1. If I Stay on Blu Ray/DVD
If I Stay is going to be sold on DVD starting November 18, 2014! To be completely honest, I'm not THAT excited for the release date because (don't kill me) I'm not going to buy it.
If you've read my review for the book, then you'll know that I didn't enjoy it THAT much. It was a meh story in both the book and the movie (but the book was a bit better because I didn't particularly agree with the casting choices and their acting).
2. Maze Runner on Blu Ray/DVD
I thought this movie was aMAZE-ing in theaters, so I'm super, super excited for it to come out on DVD! It comes out on December 16, 2014, which happens to be right before Christmas...no coincidence there.
The film was pretty close to the book, as far as I can remember (although it's been FOREVER since I lasted picked up The Maze Runner). Sure, it's not exact, but we can't have our cake and eat it too (as the saying goes, although it really doesn't make any sense at all. What's the point in having a cake if you can't eat it? And is the opposite suppose to be true: you can't eat your cake and have it too? Because once you eat, I'm pretty sure it's yours...).
3. Mockingjay Part 1 in Theater
THIS AMAZINGNESS IS COMING OUT ON NOVEMBER 21, 2014 HOW CAN I SURVIVE UNTIL THEN?!?! It's so close, yet so far away...I have to finish a whole bunch of other crap before it comes out or I'll feel guilty watching it. Boo work.
The main thing I'm worried about is how crowded it's going to be at the theaters. Sure, it was pretty crowded on opening day (as in Friday, the actual opening day, not Thursday) for Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but the fan base is so much bigger now with those movies out and all the time people have had to read the books.
Lorde has released on song on the Mockingjay soundtrack! The original version of Flicker is about and the Kayne West rework is below!
4. Insurgent Teaser Trailer
Although Insurgent won't be in theaters until March 20, 2015, a teaser trailer was released on November 11, 2014.
I had been watching the trailer by myself, and I noticed that the beginning part was really quiet. But then I jumped because I was totally not expecting what happened in the trailer to actually happen (sorry if that's confusing; I'm trying not to spoil the trailer).
But what bugs me is that this scene isn't even in the book! Sure, I understand that they are going to be putting scenes in that are based off the book, but they spent SO MUCH time and effort with all of the special effects on something that doesn't even seem that important...!
People also seem to be upset by her short hair...but it actually doesn't bother me that much. In fact, I think I might actually prefer it; it's not like I liked her hair that much before, and it's not the weird haircut she had when playing Hazel.
Title: The Shade of the Moon Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer # of Pages: 288 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Synopsis: It's been more than two years since Jon Evans and his family left Pennsylvania, hoping to find a safe place to live, yet Jon remains haunted by the deaths of those he loved. His prowess on a soccer field has guaranteed him a home in a well-protected enclave. But Jon is painfully aware that a missed goal, a careless word, even falling in love, can put his life and the lives of his mother, his sister Miranda, and her husband, Alex, in jeopardy. Can Jon risk doing what is right in a world gone so terribly wrong? Review: I thought this was the conclusion to the series where the moon is moved closer to the Earth...
Oh, wait...it is?! I hardly noticed considering the fact that the moon was BARELY MENTIONED.
It's been a while since I read the first three books, but I know for sure that it wasn't anything like this. Clavers and grubs? Where did this terminology come from?! And why do so many people accept this system when it obviously echos the past of the black enslavement? I know that history can be boring, but SOME of the characters had to have made this connection. We study the past so we don't make the same mistakes, yet that is exactly what is happening in this society. And the fact that the concept isn't even consistent with the other books in the series just makes it that much worse.
Another unpleasant change in this book was the protagonist. I was expecting Miranda or Alex again, but instead I found that it is Jon. And Jon is not a suitable protagonist. At all.
He's a sexual abuser, a coward, and flat out rude. I was hoping I would see growth in his character as the book progressed, but I was disappointed. He claims he sees grubs differently than before, but not by much. Jon still sees his domestics as something to boss around, even if he is (supposably) politer to them.
Sarah and Jon's relationship escalated way too quickly. I didn't even think they saw each other like that, and they just met!
The characters are over dramatic.
Sarah starts crying over such a small argument with Jon in the garage. (page 23)
The mom gets pissed at Jon on the phone. There isn't enough to description of how the characters are talking; it's always "Jon said" and "Mom said". It makes the mother's anger seem spontaneous. (page 42-44)
And when the author tries to use more descriptive words other than "said", she uses words such as "screams" and "cries" when the dialogue isn't that extreme.
And when I (finally) finished the book, I noticed there was an author's note...
"...my vet asked if there was going to be a fourth book. So...I wrote an entire fourth book and sent it off to Karen. She read it. Everyone at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt read it. And although they never actually said so, they hated it."
I wonder if that version was better than this book. I can't imagine a version of this story worse than this.
"My vet has since retired, so he probably won't be asking me if there's going to be a fifth book. And since I'm writing this before The Shade of the Moon is published, I don't know if anyone is going to ask me that."
Her vet won't be asking her if there's going to be a fifth book, and that's not just because he retired. I know I won't be asking for another book in this series. Also, the vet never said that he actually wanted her to write another...
Pfeffer should have quit after the third book. I do not recommend this book.
Synopsis: Two misfits. One extraordinary love.
Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.
Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.
Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.
Review: I should have known I wasn't going to like this book.
At first, I couldn't remember why I didn't buy this book earlier; it was in the popular young adult novel section, and it received so many good reviews! But when I got home, I found the reason.
It changes point of view.
But I had to give it an honest try. And I really did try to like it. But I couldn't. The story is way too shallow, Eleanor annoyed the crap out of me, and the ending was disappointing.
Eleanor needs to grow a little backbone. She cries way too much and is super sensitive to what Park says. Sure, Richie is screwing up her family life, but everyone needs to find a way to deal with the problems they face in life.
She becomes so upset when she finds out Park had dated Tina! She seems so unreasonable; the past is the past, and Park chose her! Overall, there's a lot of teen angst...
"I'm sorry that things aren't perfect here all the time for you...But this is our life now. You can't keep throwing tantrums about it, you can't keep trying to undermine this family \ I won't let you.'" -Eleanor's mom, page 187.
Even though these are harsh words to hear from her mom, they really show what I'm trying to get at. Whining and moaning about her life (example: she keeps mentioning how Richie sent her away for a year) isn't going to get Eleanor anywhere; she has to grow up a little.
Shortly after Eleanor's mother tells her this:
"Eleanor put the wadded-up fifty in her mother's hand. Her mother didn't even thank her." -pg 187
Is she trying to play the victim here? Is she trying to buy some pity from her mother by giving her the money? It's not even her money that she earned; it was Richie's money a half an hour earlier.
This book did not impress me at all. Not recommended.
Title: The Ask and the Answer Author: Patrick Ness # of Pages: 517 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis: Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town?
And where is Viola? Is she even still alive?
And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode... Review: August 24,2014-September 5, 2014
Pages 1-213
I have temporarily stopped reading this book because I have a lack of time to do so. I plan to finish the book in the future; for now, it will remain unrated.
Reading notes:
I've been really busy lately, so I haven't had as much recreational time as I would prefer. However, I am sure I'll get through this book, no matter how long it will take me!
Up to the end of Part 1, Todd in the Tower, everything seems grand. The book starts pretty much where the first one left off, and the writing is the same. However, when I turn the page, I am met with a surprise.
This book has a POV switch.
You cannot believe me anguish in that moment. The first book was wonderful, and I've heard so many good things about this one. But then THIS happens...it seems like a horrible nightmare.
And of course after reading a few pages, it's as bad as I was suspecting. There's the overlap of Todd's and Viola's chapter, which I find really annoying. I've already been told that that event has occurred; you don't need to tell me it again through a different person.
October 31, 2014 - November 2, 2014
Pages 213- end
While I am still disappointed by the POV switching and how it disrupts the flow of the book, I was still moved by the ending. I don't want to give up too much, but Ness knows how to get the reader in the end. His back and forth writing style instills the chaotic-ness of the situation in the reader.
I'm really hoping that in the last book (which I am defiantly planning to read) Ness will not find it necessary to switch between Todd's and Violet's point of view as that would improve the series immensely.
Title: The Glass Castle Author: Jeannette Walls # of Pages: 288 (hardcover) Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir Rating: ★★★★☆ Synopsis:When sober, Jeannette's brilliant and charismatic father captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want the responsibility of raising a family. The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered. Review: One main thought came to my mind when I was reading this book; this family is crazy.
Now, based on the synopsis, I thought this was going to be a sob story. The cover didn't help as a grudgingly picked up this book. But Walls' approach is fantastic in The Glass Castle. She's not complaining about her life; she's just retelling it the way it was with some of it positive and some of it negative. Just how life is.
The Walls family is so different from my own, I wasn't sure of what to make of it. But I loved it. I didn't realize it, but I didn't know the true way a family like Walls' was like until I read this book. And it shows the reader that you can't label a child based on his or her parents' characteristics, habits, etc.
Title: This Star Won't Go Out Author: Esther Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl # of Pages: 431 (hardback) Genre: Non-fiction, YA, Biography Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis: A collection of the journals, fiction, letters, and sketches of the late Esther Grace Earl, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 16. Photographs and essays by family and friends will help to tell Esther’s story along with an introduction by award-winning author John Green who dedicated his #1 bestselling novel The Fault in Our Stars to her. Review:
"I don't know what I've been doing...people online are still saying things like, 'thank you, you're an inspiration' 'yr amazing' 'wow you're famous' 'you're so beautiful inside and out.' ...But I'm still Estee and I've done nothing else????" -Esther Earl, This Star Won't Go Out, page 305
This quote is defiantly not the most inspiration or positive quote in Esther Earl's This Star Won't Go Out, but it does a good job of summing up the book.
TSWGO is about of girl who, like Hazel from The Fault in Our Stars, finds herself "quite unextraordinary" (Hazel, The Fault in Our Stars). And to some, she would be if it weren't for her cancer.
And this may or may not be true. I'm not even sure myself. We won't know if she would have ever made as big of an impact on people if she didn't have cancer because she did. Due to this, I am certain of one thought; she was defiantly not unextraordinary.
I struggled with my opinion on this book. Judging by the time it took me to read it, I know that it wasn't the ideal read because I did not feel pressured to read it, to find out what happened next in her story. But it was by no means a bad book either.
The quote at the beginning of this book resonates what I felt I learned from her memoir. Esther was just a regular girl with "normal" (because really, what's normal?) interests who happened to be really, really sick. There's often that barrier between people who have cancer and people who don't. Cancer patients are sometimes thought to be too different from others because they're dying, or because people think they need to be pitied, or because people think they're suddenly idol/celebrity, or for whatever reason people have created this division. But they aren't that different. Aren't all of us dying? Haven't we all at some point been been/wanted to be pitied? Aren't celebrities human too?
Of course, everything I'm saying now could be pointless to some of you reading. I'm sure all of us know somewhere in our mind that cancer patients are indeed just like normal people (especially if we have know the people pre-cancer). And now that I go back over what I've written, I realize I lost track of what I originally wanted to say...
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wanted to know more about Esther, the girl who was a nerdfighter and loved Harry Potter and a lot less of Esther, the inspirational girl who had cancer and was so brave and strong...
That was what frustrates me the most. The majority of the documents used to create this book mostly told her cancer story. The cancer seems to overshadow HER (although it became part of her). But I could hear about the cancer from so many others. I want to know what made the members of Catitude think she was amazing.
I'm giving this book three stars for being interesting overall, but lacking focus on important aspects of Esther's life.
Title: Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon Author: Steve Sheinkin # of Pages: 266 (paperback) Genre: YA, Nonfiction, Science Rating: ★★★★☆ Synopsis:IN DECEMBER OF 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery, dealing with the tiniest of particles, launched a cut-throat race that would span three continents The plays were the greatest scientists, the most expert spies, hardened military commandos, and some of the most ruthless dictators who ever lived. The prize: military dominance over the entire world. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb. Review: A word of advice: try not to read this book in public.
I had been reading this book among a group of people I was only barely acquainted with, and I was receive many strange glances when the passed by me. It wasn't until one of the squinted at me and said, "I'm watching you!" did I realize that they were reading the header of the section: How to Build an Atomic Bomb.
Of course, feel free to read this out in public. Most people won't really care. All jokes aside, this was an amazing nonfiction book. The story and the concept of the atomic bomb was very easy to understand while also being entertaining. There are A LOT of different people involved, which means there are a lot of different names. Sheinkin tries to remind the reader ever so often of who's who (and if all else fails, there's an index in the back), but trying to remember everyone involved was a little disruptive of the flow of reading.
If you are looking for a good nonfiction book, give this one a try!
Title: Animal Farm Author: George Orwell # of Pages: 140 (paperback) Genre: Classic, Science Fiction, Fantasy Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis: As ferociously fresh as it was more than a half century ago, this remarkable allegory of a downtrodden society of overworked, mistreated animals and their quest to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality is one of the most scathing satires ever published. As readers witness the rise and bloody fall of the revolutionary animals, they begin to recognize the seeds of totalitarianism in the most idealistic organization and in the most charismatic leaders, the souls of the cruelest oppressors. Review: This is the second time I've read this book.
I don't have much to say other than the fact that I thought it wasn't nearly as interesting the second time through as it was the first. Animal Farm is a very quick read that can be understood by a broad range of people and is appropriate for many ages. However, deeper thinking and understanding the Russian Revolution is required if you want to completely appreciate this book.
Title: The Notorious Benedict Arnold Author: Steve Sheinkin # of Pages: 368 (paperback) Genres: YA, Non-fiction, Biography Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis:Most people know that Benedict Arnold was America’s first, most notorious traitor. Few know that he was also one of its greatest war heroes. This accessible biography introduces young readers to the real Arnold: reckless, heroic, and driven. Packed with first-person accounts, astonishing battle scenes, and surprising twists, this is a gripping and true adventure tale. Review: I had attempted to read this book first in January 2014. I gave up, but decided to give it another shot earlier this month (around September 7).
I've finally finished it.
I'm not really into history, and I had very little interest (and knowledge) on the topic of Benedict Arnold. But it was pretty interesting. Steve Sheinkin is a wonderful writer when it comes to the dry history stuff.
It wouldn't be exactly my first choice for a recreational reading - but then again, I don't usually read non-fiction for fun. If you need/want to read a non-fiction book (assuming that you don't usually read non-fiction for fun either), then I recommend that you give this one a shot!
Title: Shatter Me Author: Tahereh Mafi # of Pages: 340 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Romance Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Synopsis:Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. Review:The book was terrible. This book was weird.
And to think that I was considering giving this book five stars.
The beginning was so good! I thought it was going to be one of my new favorite books. I had already planned out part of this review in my head; I was going to describe Shatter Me as "beautiful" and "artistic". But the romance ruined every thing. It was cheesy and cringe-worthy. And unfortunately made up 80% of the book.
Title: My Life Next Door Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick # of Pages: 394 (paperback) Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis:The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.
As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself? Review: Well, I suppose it lived up to my expectations.
I had seen this book in an ad one day, and it's cute, refreshing-looking cover stayed in my mind ever since. Now, over a year later, I have finally gotten my hands on a copy and took the time to read it. I was hoping for a romance that was squeal worthy at least, but I didn't get my hopes up very high for a book who's focus is the romance.
Now, if you compare it to other YA romance books, such as Shiver, this one was quite good. Jase and Samantha's relationship is very cute (I'm not marking this as a spoiler because this fact is mentioned in the synopsis, and I would have hoped the anyone who hasn't read the book yet would have already assumed that the main guy and girl would get together in a romance novel)!
However, when it's compared to all the other books I've read in my life time, this one is just decent. The romance didn't satisfy me as much; I was a bit exhausted of romance in general from young adult novels. The ending had a lot of drama in it that, while making the book much more interesting, did not match the flow of the rest of the book.
Now, after I finished the book, I felt incomplete. Not all of the conflicts that arose were finished. When I found that there was going to be a sequel, I was relieved, but only for a moment. The second book would be from a different character's point-of-view, and any kind of POV change (whether it's in the middle of a book or in the middle of a series) bothers me.
One of the biggest unresolved conflicts was Samantha's relationship with Nan. I would have liked them to either have been friends again, or both come to the understand that their relationship could not go back to the way it was.
Other than the ending, I was disappointed of the lack of confidence Samantha had in herself. She knew what the right thing to do was, yet she caved into Clay and tried to distance herself from Jase and his family. Sure, I understand why she didn't speak up about her mother's wrong doing, but she shouldn't have let Clay try to control her.
Everyone in the book is always telling Sam about how smart she is, and yet she isn't even smart enough to realize that distancing herself from the Garretts isn't going to help anything? The least she could have done was stuck around to support the family.
If you are really into romance, then, yes, I recommend this book to you. However, if you want a good read that has a broader focus, I would look elsewhere.
Title: The Giver Author: Lois Lowry # of Pages: 179 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Fantasy Rating: ★★★★★ Synopsis:Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back. Review: Original review post on Goodreads - 5 stars
This was one of the first dystopian books I read, and it was because of this book that I'm hooked on anything dystopian today. It's sweet and short, yet so full of detail. And when I was craving for more? I read her other "sequel" to it.
Second review, third reading - 5 stars
"Almost everyone citizen in the community had dark eyes...But there were a few exceptions: Jonas himself, and a female Five who he had noticed had the different, lighter eyes" (Lowry 20).
Those are the darkest lighter eyes I have ever seen.
I reread The Giver after I watched the movie because, after I saw it, I realized I had forgotten parts of the movie. So in able to a full compare and contrast, I had come to the decision to read this book for the third time.
After finishing the book, I was shocked to find how inflated the romance is in the movie. The book barely has any of that; some romance is hinted at, but is not one of the focuses of the book.
Instead, The Giver focuses on different types of love and caring: the love for family, friends, and even the people around you. And exploring that aspect love is a beautiful experience, more beautiful that what is shown in the movie.
Questions/Comments that Arose
Is it implied that people with lighter colored eyes are the ones have the ability to be a Receiver of Memory? Do any dark eyed people have a chance at this position?
The memory transferring process is unclear. How is it that the ability to see color can be taken away, and how is it that memories (such as memories of color) can be returned to only certain people?
Since Jonas can now see color, couldn't he describe people's eye color instead of using words such as "lighter" and "darker"?
I love how the ending is ambiguous! This book can stand alone and be a wonderful book, but Lois Lowry's other books allow the reader to see what else happens if the reader wishes to know.
Compare/Contrast the Book to the Movie
One scene that didn't make the movie was the apple throwing scene. This scene was suppose to be the first time Jonas realizes something is different about the world and begins to see color. However, in the movie, he seems to be able to notice all kinds of colors - not just red. When he was biking, they showed him noticing the green of the leaves and the blue of the sky. Then they skip to the scene where he see the red of Fiona's hair (which was exactly as "red" as I was hoping).
The movie is shorter than I was expecting. Sure, the book is quite small too, but it would have thought that would have allowed more of the smaller details of the book to appear in the movie adaptations. But, alas, that is not the case. The development of the dystopian world was not satisfactory, and the plot seemed rushed when it didn't need to be. The movie wasn't even two hours long!
The people who live in The Giver's dystopian society have a morning ritual where they discuss their dreams with member for their family unit. Jonas describes his dreams as "fragments afloat in his sleep" (34). However, in the movie, it was implied that people typically didn't have dreams because of the injection (which everyone, even someone as young as Lily, had to have). The injection is not even part of the book! Instead, there are pills for when people begin to hit puberty, or experiencing their first Stirrings.
Although I noticed that Lily's age in the movie was an Eight becoming a Nine (instead of Seven becoming an Eight), I understand that the change was to show how (and when) children receive their bicycles.
The movie made the city seem like it was on some mystical island/hill surrounded by mist; however, the city in the book seemed to be more of a normal piece of land separated from the rest of the world by a natural boundary, such as a river.
What I don't understand is why they changed Jonas' number. He was 19 in the book, a decent number that allows building anticipation while we wait for the announcement of his assignment and plenty of time for Jonas to stress about why his number was skipped afterwards. 52 (?) is a good number too, but is there a reason for this particular number? Why not 50 or 53? Of course you could ask them same question about 19, but that was the number that Lowry chose. Why not stick with that number?
Fiona and Asher get different jobs (Nurturer/Caretaker of the Old, Some weird pilot job/Assistant Director of Recreation). It would have made more sense if Asher was an Assistant Director of Recreation - it didn't quite make sense to me why he was hanging out among the younger children after Jonas saw the war memory.
I can understand why they changed the format of Assignment instructions. A big folder of papers would have been hard to show in screen, so the digital instructions being read aloud were helpful. Also, the movie people appeared to have cut down Jonas' rules from eight to five. And I'm glad they changed the transmission process of the memories; the way it is described in the book may not be appealing to see on the screen.
The book states that Jonas' training will be in the Annex behind the House of Old, therefore still within civilization. But the movie puts his training on the very edge of the whole community in some random, weird little house.
The fact that the Giver loses the memory once it is given to Jonas is not stressed in the movie. In fact, the Giver seems to keep all the memories he shares with Jonas, such as when he was reliving the war memory and it was accidentally transmitted to Jonas.
I love how Jonas thinks choosing your own mate and job would be unsafe, emphasizing how different this society is. This was lost in the movie.
The plan in the movie was rushed and was more of a reaction to the realization that Gabe was going to be released. But the book shows that Jonas and the Giver's memory release plan was thought out more carefully. However, it is true that the actually escape from the community did occur in response to the news of Gabes release (in which Jonas took him from his house, not the Nurturing Center), but the Giver was unaware of this until later.
It is implied that the Giver will request to be released after his work in the community is done, which is something that was not mentioned in the movie at all.
The ending was not the same at all. Asher was not flying one of the many search planes that were looking to Jonas. Jonas never had to jump of a cliff with his bike because he was being chased by the police, nor did he have to fight to save himself and Gabe from drowning. There was not discussion of a memory boundary that will release all the memories once it is crossed.
It seems, however, that the memories do get released back into the community. But the creators of the movie made up a some-what logical explanation for why this is so, while in the book, the event is mysterious. Many parts of what Jonas is exposed to does not always have a logical explanation; just like emotions, the process of how the memories are transmitted from one person to another can be hard to understand. This further shows how different the society is to the world Jonas learns to understand, reasonable versus mythical. But this is not demonstrated in the movie.
Not only that, but the movie's ending was not ambiguous. It clearly shows Jonas arriving at a home, thus a "happy" ending. A mysterious ending would have been better and would have left the viewer thinking.
Despite the many difference between book and movie, there are also many similarities. There are many parts of the dialogue that are taken straight out of the book.
I absolutely recommend this book! Read it before you watch the movie!
Title: Breaking Point Author: Kristen Simmons # of Pages: 416 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Romance Rating:★★★☆☆ Synopsis: After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.
Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper's true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….
Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.
Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.
With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back? Review: I actually had a hard time finding what I didn't like about this book. But the major tip off that I didn't like it was the fact that it took me over a week to finish it. It just didn't grab my attention. So after finishing, I sat where I was for a moment and thought about why this book was not as amazing as the book.
I finally concluded that there wasn't enough focus on the main characters' romantic relationship. Sure, there were romantic parts present, but not as much as I was hoping for.
I wasn't fond of the focus on Tucker and let's-change-the-reader's-perspective-on-this-bad-character thing. And it didn't seem like very much was achieved...
I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone since it wasn't very interesting.
Title: Where She Went Author: Gayle Forman # of Pages: 274 (paperback) Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Synopsis:It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.
Review: I didn't see any improvement in this book compared to If I Stay. Where She Went has about the same flashback format as the first book in order to fill the reader in on what happened during the (unnecessary) three year time skip.
If anything, this book is completely unnecessary. It would have been better if what happens to Mia and Adam's relationship was left up to the reader's imagination. Nothing is accomplished in this book that wasn't already assumed at the end of the first.
While it's a quick read, I would not put this book as a priority read.
Title: The 5th Wave Author: Rick Yancey # of Pages: 480 (hardback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Fantasy Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Synopsis:After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. Review: And I had such high hopes for this book!
The 5th Wave is way to disorganized with the constant POV switching and flash backs. The romance between characters seems rushed, cliché, and took away from the quality of the book. And Yancey defiantly could have created a more unique concept for the aliens.
Below are the notes I took while reading The 5th Wave.
Do the aliens speak English? The message they sent out was in English (see page 31). And if they're so smart, why would they talk like a lowly human?
Lizbeth has got it all backwards in this conversation:
"'There's so much I wanted to do,' Lizbeth said, 'I've never even...You know...What about you?'
'About "you know"?'
'Oh I know you haven't "you know"...I'm talking about our lives, Cassie! Jesus, this could be the end of the freakin' world, and all you want to do is talk about sex!'" (Yancey 32).
She's the one who brought up the sex topic after all. Since we're on the topic of sex, it seems like a good time to bring up another quote for discussion:
"'What makes you think I'm a virgin?' I asked.
'You wouldn't have hit me if you weren't'" (65).
This quote comes from a conversation between Crisco and Cassie after Crisco is hit in the nose by Cassie when he suggested that they should have sex. Crisco's description is incredibly undesirable, and I think more than one woman would have hit him if he tried to force them to do it with him, virgin or not. Just because you've had sex before doesn't me you're going to be fine with have sex with anyone.
It seems that the layout consists of a lot of flashbacks, which reminds me of If I Stay. The difference is that If I Stay needed to have flashbacks or the story would be pretty boring. But The 5th Wave? There's plenty of story worthy material in the situation Cassie is currently in. If the flashbacks are necessary for the development, the story should have started in with the flashbacks!
And then I reached Part 2: Wonderland. At first, I was extremely confused. Was there suddenly a time skip? No. There was a POV switch.
Well, there goes a star.
What I don't understand is why Dr. Pam made Ben kill off his companion. AND even more so, I don't understand why he was so quick to kill him. What if they found a way to remove the infestation later?
Moving on to Part 3 of the book, which holds yet ANOTHER surprise! We have switched to third person, from the silencer's point-of-view! It really isn't looking good for this book. But another question arose from reading part 3; was part 1 suppose to be a diary entry? It was. So we have three modes of telling this story; first person (part 2), first person through diary (part 1), and third person (part 3).
Although this book is turning out to be below my expectations by the end of part 3, I do applaud Yancey for the use of the word "fangirly."
In part 4, anyone can sense that Evan and Cassie are going to have a relationship. But this immediate closeness isn't the kind of romance I was hoping for. And it escalated too quickly; I'm not feeling the chemistry between the two of them.
And in part 5, we find ourselves with yet another POV: Sammy in third person. The POV changes to come one completely different in part 6 (Zombie). But it seems like he's the same person as Ben? It is. And my guess is that Private Nugget is Sammy. I'm not feeling the chemistry between Ben and Ringer either.
Part 7 is from Cassie's POV again, and my suspicions brought into the story: Could this guy be the Silencer in part 3? This part had a creepy-horror movie like feel.
Part 8, 10, and 12 are from Ben's POV. Part 9, 11, and 13 is from Cassie's.
It's SO convenient that Cassie is some kind of crazy master at karate. She called her past self a typical teenage girl, but, if you go by feminine stereotypes, most girls aren't a master at karate. Some experience? Sure. But to the point where karate lessons are boring? No.
Wait, did Evan die? I guess that's what the other books are for. But I'm really hoping there won't be a love triangle; I mean, Ben doesn't even KNOW her. At least Evan and Cassie have spent time together for a while like how Ben has spent time with Ringer. The pairing is obvious.
Don't be fooled by the cover! I don't recommend this book!
Title: These Is My Words Author: Nancy E. Turner # of Pages: 384 (paperback) Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction Rating: ★★★★★ Synopsis:A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author's own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier. Scrupulously recording her steps down the path Providence has set her upon—from child to determined young adult to loving mother—she shares the turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that molded her, and recalls the enduring love with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot that gave her strength and purpose. Review: This book had a terrible first impression on me.
The title worried me; I was anticipating a very long and boring read. I am also not very fond of reading books in diary format, especially after having the displeasure of reading Anne Frank's (I did not enjoy reading her diary, if you couldn't tell). The first fifty pages seemed to fall right into my expectations, which is why it took me over a week to get through them.
But after that, the romance hit.
I wouldn't have even known that it was a romance if it weren't for the synopsis. I usually try not to read the synopsis because most of the time, it contains spoilers. But I read a short synopsis in a review, and I realized a lot of people liked it for the romance.
And I am one of them.
I loved the relationship Sarah and Jack had! There relationship was unique, however, they did remind of two couples in two popular YA books; Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars. Spoilers for these two books ahead!
Just like Hazel and Gux's Okay? Okay, Jack and Sarah say to each other "Don't ever leave me" and "Not ever." Just like Hazel and Gus, and Issac and Monica, that was there promise to each other. And it's adorable.
Tris and Four are not only in love with each other, but they trust each other when they're stuck in a undesirable situation. Tris and Sarah are both able to use a gun, and they are both as capable to fight as their men. Sarah and Tris are not your typically damsel in distress, and neither pair are your typical fairy tale couple.
And what links all three of them together? One of each pair, (Gus, Tris, and Jack), die early. Which kinda sucks.
Despite how much I loved this book, I do not plan to read the sequel in the future. Most of what I wanted to know about the characters was covered in the first book of this series, so I do not feel the need to read more about Sarah's life (and I would be incredibly sad to read about her without Jack).
True, the book still read like a soap opera, but I was finally able to submerge myself in the book! I was hit by many emotions through Sarah Prine; I felt her joy, her fear, her anguish! It was an amazing experience. There is a bit of graphic content, so this book is not for everyone (after all, it's classified as adult fiction). Otherwise, recommended!
Title: Requiem Author: Lauren Oliver # of Pages: 391 (paperback) Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Romance Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Synopsis: As her country erupts in open rebellion, Lena fights for the resistance and must make a heartbreaking choice between two loves.
After saving Julian from a death sentence, Lena escapes with him and other members of the resistance. But as she embraces her love for Julian, a boy from her past returns and causes her to question everything.
In the meantime, Lena's best friend, Hana, is engaged to Portland's young mayor and is living a safe, proscribed, loveless life. The story is told from both Lena and Hana's points of view.
Review: After seeing the title of the first chapter: Oh no.
It's always bad news when the chapter title is a character's name. More than likely, the next chapter will have someone else's name as it's title AND will be from his or her point of view.
I wish my hypothesis of POV switching would be wrong. But I wasn't. After reading the second chapter from the other character's POV, I have already knocked the book down to four stars.
I didn't buy Requiem to hear a different character's story! I wanted to hear Lena's! After the cliff-hanger in Pandemonium, I needed to know what happened next in Lena's romantic life. I didn't care too much about anything else. '
The POV switching also sets alarm bells ringing in my head. Why is Oliver doing this for THIS book? This wasn't how she wrote the previous books, so why the change? I know why Roth did it for Allegiant, and I was afraid that something similar is the reason for the change in Requiem.
Of course, now I know that is not the case. I'm not exactly sure why Oliver felt the need to change to point-of-view. The Hana chapters were considerably shorter than the Lena chapters, and all we learn from it is that Fred is bad, proving that Lena's side is the good side after all! But we didn't need to know that Fred was bad to realize Lena and the others are good. That has already been established. As far as I'm considered, most of the beginning Hana chapters are pointless. We've already seen the world inside of society through Lena in Delirium!
I can't believe Lena would accept Alex's "I never loved you" excuse. I would have thought that she would have known better than that. But then I thought that maybe she was just in shock because he had said such a mean thing to her. However, near the end of the book, she still is refusing to believe that Alex loves her, even when Coral tells her so! It's all very frustrating.
Some of the descriptions are...un-appealing, such as "I wonder whether Celia knows what happened last summer: how Steven and I breathed into each other's mouths, and let feelings pass between each other's tongues" (312). It almost sounds as if they're performing some sort of ritual together. This is one of many examples of awkward descriptions.
Oliver also tends to repeat herself. For example, on page 302, the reader is told that Coral "has barely spoken since Alex left." BUT this same point is made AGAIN on page 318 in which it is stated that "since Alex left, [Coral] has gone almost completely mute." A bit unnecessary, yes?
It's as if Oliver just wanted to finish the series. It felt as if there was only half of the book! Then ending was not the final kind of end that I like. And the romance at the end wasn't very good.
If you liked the other two books, go ahead and read this one just to finish the series. But if you haven't, it's not worth your time.
