Title: Let it Snow Author: John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle # of Pages: 352 (paperback) Genre: YA, Romance, Holiday Rating: ★★★★☆ Synopsis:An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve
buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets off a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to win a race to the Waffle House ( and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista.
Review: This book contains three interconnected stories written by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. I decided that, for this review, I would rate each story separately and then average the three ratings for the final rating.
The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson
Rating: 4 stars
I've read Johnson's work in Zombies vs Unicorns but other than that, this is the first time I've read her work.
At first, I was a little put-off by the beginning. I usually don't like it when the characters talk to the reader, but Johnson did a really good job. I thought that Julie and Stuart's relationship was really cute, but a little rushed. Although I understand that the plot had to progress faster than usual because of the limited amount of story each author was allowed to write (I assume they all agreed to write a certain amount of pages), I think there could have been a bigger focus on Julie and Stuart and less on everything else.
A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green
Rating: 3 stars
I have to say, I'm a little disappointed in John Green. But, then again, I shouldn't be so surprised that his story wasn't as great as his later works (aka The Fault in Our Stars)since this was written in 2008, a whole four years difference.
I wish I knew how these three authors decided what to write. Did they form a plot line and then assign a part of the story to each author? Because, in all honest, Green's plot line sucked. He had to write about two testosterone-happy dudes and their friend (who they don't even consider a girl, which she is) make the STUPID decision to go to a Waffle House just for a bunch of cheerleaders THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW. It's all just a bit too ridiculous for me. So I gave it three stars.
The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle
Rating: 4 stars
I don't think I have ever read one of Myracle's works, so I wasn't sure what to expect. By this point, the scene is set. Most of the character development is finished, and she even get the honor of writing the big ending. The ending was great, although I felt as overwhelmed about the situation as Addie did. The beginning...not as great. There was a lot of description on how big of a jerk she is, and I don't think I'm the only one who doesn't like reading about jerks. Just saying.
But she had me sold with the ending. I thought it was so sweet how everyone was able to find love...and out comes my hopeless romantic side. However, if she did NOT write the ending, like let's say she had to write Addie's story in the middle, then her rating would have dropped dramatically because Addie isn't a good enough character.
I was pleasantly surprised on how the story turned out! And I love the interconnected-ness of it all. But I do recommend that you read this before Christmas versus during the summer (after all, it's a winter-looking book).
Title: Before I Fall Author: Lauren Oliver # of Pages: 470 (hardback) Genre: YA, Realistic Fiction, Romance Rating: ★★★★☆ Synopsis: What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?,
Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.
The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.
Review: I think it's funny that when I read the back of the book, I thought, "Hey, it's like that Groundhog's Day movie!" and then almost the exact same thing is said IN THE BOOK! It was obviously an inspiration to Oliver.
However, knowing this, I prepared myself to hate the book. The proof is right there in the book itself; the plot isn't going to be original. Plus Sam, our protagonist, is one of those mean-popular-girl types; not exactly very likable.
She makes bad choices and her boyfriend sucks, which is why it bugs me when she said some crap about me being just like her.
Here's a quote:
"Is what I did really so much worse than what anybody else does? Is it really so much worse than what you do? Think about it" (Oliver 81).
Well, Sam, I did exactly what you asked. I went ahead and thought about what you did; bully a girl just because your friend doesn't like her, treat a childhood friend like crap, get in a car with an irresponsible driver, etc. etc. And then asked myself, "Self, have I ever done these things before?" The answer was no. No, I don't hate a person when I don't even know them because I DON'T know then. If my friend has a problem with a person, then it's HER problem. Unless someone has done something to ME that pisses me off, I'm not going to poor beer on her head (not to mention that I wouldn't DRINK beer at her age). Kent didn't do anything to her except become a person that HE wants to be, not a person society wants him to be. Yet Sam acts like he personally offended her or something. The next one's pretty obvious; there are about a billion ads on the internet about it (although there are a whole bunch on TV now about texting and driving).
Yet, somehow, in someway, I grew to love the book. Sam is able to fix the mistakes in her life by reliving her last day seven times, and how much she grew from the beginning of the book really touched me. The only little, itsy-bitsy detail that bugged me was that Sam was driven by a selfish need. She didn't want to that to be stuck in the time loop forever; she knew she was dead and she wanted to hurry up and move on to the next world. The only reason why she fixed her mistakes is because she wanted to go to the afterlife.
But, selfish or not, it's in interesting thought. What if everyone is forced to relive their last day to realize and fix their mistakes? Everyone, in that week of their last day, would learn to appreciate their life a bit more and get the closure that they really need, just like Sam. She got to see her parents happy as she left home that day. She gave her sister their grandmother's necklace, which allowed Sam to see her sister's joy one last time. Sam got to kiss Kent and, most of all, got to save a life. Even though these actions may have been a day late and a dollar short, they allowed her to finally be at peace with herself.
So, yes, there was some stuff that I really, really didn't like, which is why I didn't give Before I Fall five stars. But I found it entertaining, and it touched my heart. Do I recommend it? Of course I do!
Title: Pandemonium Author: Lauren Oliver # of Pages: 375 (paperback) Genre: YA, Dystopian, Romance Rating: ★★★☆☆ Synopsis:After falling in love, Lena and Alex flee their oppressive society where love is outlawed and everyone must receive the "cure" - an operation that makes them immune to the delirium of love - but Lena alone manages to find her way to a community of resistance fighters. Although she is bereft without the boy she loves, her struggles seem to be leading her toward a new love. Review: LOTS OF SPOILERS!!!
The cover freaks me out. Her face is too big and her body is made out of flowers. What a creep-o.
Let's cut to the chase; the book was as boring as...I don't know. Stuff. I don't know what I'm talking about. Please hold while i go and get my notes.
...
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... I'm back!
First off, the book is freakin confusing! Oliver thought it would be all fine and dandy to keep switching back and forth between "now" and "then" which got me all confused. I actually had to READ the chapter title! It's too much work >.<
Um, this isn't a complaint...not really...but Lena keeps reminding me of Beautiful Creatures ^_^ But the story line is really boring :( I had a hard time paying attention to the book. I skimmed over a lot of the details.
My copy of my book has really thin pages! I don't know why I put that in my notes, but it's true. The pages are really, really thin. I was afraid I was going to rip one! And the chapters are too short. Boo. And the scenes with Julian (or whatever his name is) and Lena are awful! I mean, it just so happens that Lena wakes up to see Julian "bathing" himself and IT JUST SO HAPPENS that Julian walks in the room when Lena doesn't have her top on. Goodness. It's way too obvious that Oliver wants them to get together.
It makes me feel a little silly when I figure stuff out before the characters in the book. Like the code that was hidden in the clock? The character are looking around thinking 9 and 3 blah 3 and 9 Bleh. And I'm sitting there shouting "IT'S 0915 YOU BIG FAT DUMBOS!" And then seconds later they're all like "Oh! it's 0915!" *facepalm*
"'Hey, hey, hey!' A policeman is waving to us from up ahead, gesturing with his walkie-talkie..."
Yes, I have a weird mind. But that's just how I think.
