1. Sisterhood Everlasting 4/5
2. Legend 5/5
I loved this one. It reminded me a lot of The Hunger Games Trilogy. It centered on a boy named Day, who is a rebel in the Republic. He ends up meeting June who is undercover for the Republic. Chaos ensues. Yadda Yadda. But it was really good. Ready for the next book.
3. The Six Rules of Maybe 2/5
Not very good. Suffered through it.
4. Dr. Horrible and Other Horrible Stories 5/5
Loved these little short stories!! Great background info on the characters of one of my favorite Joss Whedon productions
5.Between 4/5
Having read Jessica Warman's book Breathless last year I knew that I would love her writing style in this book as well. I loved the story and how Liz was forced in her afterlife to face something she was most ashamed of and feared the most in her life. It was lovely to see the transformation and even though I had figured out the story's twist pretty much from the beginning, I loved figuring out the smaller details along the way.
My one big issue with this story was the repetition. Liz talked about Josie and the rumors about Nicole and her father constantly throughout the book. I got a little tired of hearing the same thing over and over without any new information.
The thing about the psychic and beware the redhead was a great add in. I honestly couldn't figure that one out even though I had my suspicions about Josie from the beginning.
Overall I loved this book and I am ready to read anything else Warman has written.
6. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Tales 4/5
I really liked this. The stories are unique and yet deal with the Buffy universe. "Spot the Vampire" was my favorite. So cute! Good writing and good drawing.
7. I'll Be There 4/5
Let me just say that I love the cover of this book. Like seriously. I could just stare at the cover. I love the colors and the scene with the stars in the background. The shadowing. Everything. Except that it has nothing to do with the story, but then I focus on the image again and forget about that tiny detail and fall in love with the cover again.
The book started a bit slow for me, but that could have been because I was reading at work during my class' nap time and was constantly shushing people and calling students' names in a stern tone that meant "shut up and lay down! don't you know how lucky you are to get a nap time?". Anyways... after finally giving the book my whole attention I started to plow through this story in a hurry. I loved the constant switching of the narrators. I often find this annoying but Sloan did it in such a way that it deepened the story. The characters were pretty basic in their emotions and such but I got to say Riddle suprised me. It was amazing to see his transformation after he finally got the attention he needed.
The premise of these two kids who have never had anyway look after them and no stable home was interesting. No education and no knowledge of how the world worked was an astonishing concept. Overall I pretty much loved it. Like seriously. Some things were a little farfetched but that was ok because the story was so engaging and I felt so connected to the characters and what was going to happen to them.
Definite good read and I am looking forward to more from Mrs. Sloan in the future.
8. Sweetly 3/5
I gotta be honest, I didn't like this one as much as the first one. I felt it was really repetitive with the whole twin thing. And the ending doesnt make much sense to me. Maybe because I was rushing to finish it and about to fall asleep. But still. I felt there were lots of holes in the story.
Sidenote: So is Sam related to Silas? Same last name and all. And he mentioned having more brothers and sisters.
9. Hunger 4/5
I really liked the concept of this story. It was something different that I haven't read a million times before. And it did not follow a typical young adult plotline.
That being said I, like everyone else apparently, thought it was too short. Really short. I feel like Lisabeth didnt spend much time being Famine and we did not get the chance to know her very well.
I loved the writing though, but still. Needs to be longer.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Year!
Time for a new year, so new challenges.
1. Read 125 books
2. Find a job
3. Move out
4. Lose 20 pounds
Ready Set Go!
1. Read 125 books
2. Find a job
3. Move out
4. Lose 20 pounds
Ready Set Go!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
reading challenges
I am gonna do the support your local library challenge. Basically I am gonna check out and read 40 books in the next year.
1. Before I Fall
2. Shiver
3. City of Bones
4. City of Ashes
5. City of Glass
6. Linger
7. The Graveyard Book
8. The Trickster, Harold Bloom
9. I am Number Four
10. Tudors
11. If I Stay
12. Dead in the Family
13. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
14. Practical Magic
15. Lost Encylcopedia
16. Chloe Doe
17. A Room on Lorelie Street
18. For Keeps
19. Jerk, California
20. Flipped
21. Just Like That
22. I am the Messenger
23. Claiming Georgia Tate
24. Breathless
25. After
26. Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs
27. Out of the Dust
28. One Mississippi
29. Ophelia
30. 50 Books That Changed the World
31. Impossible
32. Hold Still
33. Dream Factory
34. Brutal
35. The Orange Houses
36. Burn
37. The Forest of Hands and Teeth
38. Bonechiller
39. Something Borrowed
40. Thirteen Reasons Why
Reached my goal by May 15th!!
41. The Red Pyramid
42. Dead Reckoning
43. Backseat Saints
44. The City of Fallen Angels
45. The Summer I Turned Pretty
46. The Dead-Tossed Waves
47. Where She Went
48. Between Shades of Grey
49. Bruiser
50. Its Not Summer Without You
51. Bumped
52. Abandon
53. Jane
54. Story of Beautiful Girl
55. Unwind
56. The Throne of Fire
57. The Knife of Never Letting Go
58. The Ask and the Answer
59. The Carrie Diaries
60. Looking for Alaska
61. Scott Pilgrim 4
62. Scott Pilgrim 6
63. Will Grayson Will Grayson
64. Goodnight Tweetheart
65. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
66. Bossypants
67. Forever
68. Anna and the French Kiss
69. The lover's Dictionary (how fitting that it is #69)
70. Nick and Norah's Playlist
71. Across the Universe
72. Beauty Queens
73. Elsewhere
74. The Day Before
75. Birthmarked
76. Luxe
77. Birthmarked
78. Lockdown
79. The Second Summer of the Traveling Pants
80. Life as We Knew It
81. Unearthly
82. Solitary
83. The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Cinema
84. Angel After the Fall Volume 1
85. Angel After the Fall Volume 2
86. Angel After the Fall Volume 3
87. Angel After the Fall Volume 4
88. Divergent
89. The Lying Games
90. The Walking Dead Book 1
91. The Mindset Lists of American History
92. Sisters Red
93. Summer in the City
94. Daughter of Smoke and Bone
95. Perfect Chemistry
96. Rules of Attraction
97. Split
98. Girls in Pants, The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
99. The Walking Dead, Book Two
100. The Walking Dead, Book Three
101. Forever in Blue, The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
1. Before I Fall
2. Shiver
3. City of Bones
4. City of Ashes
5. City of Glass
6. Linger
7. The Graveyard Book
8. The Trickster, Harold Bloom
9. I am Number Four
10. Tudors
11. If I Stay
12. Dead in the Family
13. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
14. Practical Magic
15. Lost Encylcopedia
16. Chloe Doe
17. A Room on Lorelie Street
18. For Keeps
19. Jerk, California
20. Flipped
21. Just Like That
22. I am the Messenger
23. Claiming Georgia Tate
24. Breathless
25. After
26. Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs
27. Out of the Dust
28. One Mississippi
29. Ophelia
30. 50 Books That Changed the World
31. Impossible
32. Hold Still
33. Dream Factory
34. Brutal
35. The Orange Houses
36. Burn
37. The Forest of Hands and Teeth
38. Bonechiller
39. Something Borrowed
40. Thirteen Reasons Why
Reached my goal by May 15th!!
41. The Red Pyramid
42. Dead Reckoning
43. Backseat Saints
44. The City of Fallen Angels
45. The Summer I Turned Pretty
46. The Dead-Tossed Waves
47. Where She Went
48. Between Shades of Grey
49. Bruiser
50. Its Not Summer Without You
51. Bumped
52. Abandon
53. Jane
54. Story of Beautiful Girl
55. Unwind
56. The Throne of Fire
57. The Knife of Never Letting Go
58. The Ask and the Answer
59. The Carrie Diaries
60. Looking for Alaska
61. Scott Pilgrim 4
62. Scott Pilgrim 6
63. Will Grayson Will Grayson
64. Goodnight Tweetheart
65. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
66. Bossypants
67. Forever
68. Anna and the French Kiss
69. The lover's Dictionary (how fitting that it is #69)
70. Nick and Norah's Playlist
71. Across the Universe
72. Beauty Queens
73. Elsewhere
74. The Day Before
75. Birthmarked
76. Luxe
77. Birthmarked
78. Lockdown
79. The Second Summer of the Traveling Pants
80. Life as We Knew It
81. Unearthly
82. Solitary
83. The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Cinema
84. Angel After the Fall Volume 1
85. Angel After the Fall Volume 2
86. Angel After the Fall Volume 3
87. Angel After the Fall Volume 4
88. Divergent
89. The Lying Games
90. The Walking Dead Book 1
91. The Mindset Lists of American History
92. Sisters Red
93. Summer in the City
94. Daughter of Smoke and Bone
95. Perfect Chemistry
96. Rules of Attraction
97. Split
98. Girls in Pants, The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
99. The Walking Dead, Book Two
100. The Walking Dead, Book Three
101. Forever in Blue, The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
Books read... in December
1. Crash Into Me 3/5
Didn't feel any connection with the book and found it really predictable.
2. Crossed 5/5
Definitely a great addition to the series. I loved how Ky and Cassia are each on a journey together, but are going in opposite directions. I wish there had been more about Xander. I feel like Cassia is leaning more towards Xander at the moment, which is something that I like (not a Ky fan). Ready for the next one!
3. Split 5/5
Loved this. It started a bit slow, but really really picked up. Jace was an amazingly interesting character. His brother was a little annoying. Great storyline, and a pretty good ending.
4. Girls in Pants, The Third Summer of the Sisterhood 4/5
Great addition to the series. I did have a problem with the fact that the characters haven't really changed much from the second book. I felt that the action was very slow until the end, and everything was a bit predictable. But sometimes predictability is nice. Can't wait to read the last 2!
5. The Walking Dead Book Two 4/5
Great addition to the series. I loved the drama in this one and the way the characters are evolving and changing (or in some cases devolving). The crazy action was pretty intense. I felt like some one died every few pages and they probably did. The writing was good, but sometimes the characters get a bit "speechy" where they are making these huge statements that last forever and doesn't sound like natural conversation. I also had a bit of a problem with the artwork. I feel like it is getting harder to separate some of the characters. Most of the male characters looked very alike. Of course now there are so few left that it is getting a bit easier. And everybody killing themselves? Seriously. They find a pretty decent place to live and people want to kill themselves? Over somebody cheating or just because? Really?! Very strange behavior.
Book three should definitely be interesting and (SPOILER) I think by now we all know that Lori's baby is definitely Shane's. I mean come on!
6. The Walking Dead Book Three 5/5
Great collection again! This story takes a weird turn this time. A few people find another colony set up but find that it is not what they hoped it would be. Lots of crazy crazy shiz goes down. This book was definitely more graphic than the ones before it. Lots of more mature plot lines. I think the showdown between Michonne and the Gov went a bit too far and I was actually really grossed out. Glad to see some action about to happen at the end. We can expect a showdown coming soon, with plenty of death and such. Ready for Lori to have Shane's baby, cause hasn't she been pregnant long enough? And very excited about Glenn and Maggie.
Book four? Please come in soon!
7. Forever in Blue, The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood 4/5
Ok so this one was better than the third one to me. All the characters went through such a transformation. Carmen lost herself, Lena grew up, Tibby pulled back into herself, and Bee finally learned her lesson. In the end, the loss of something very important to them brought them back together. Very good book and I am hoping the last one is just as good.
Didn't feel any connection with the book and found it really predictable.
2. Crossed 5/5
Definitely a great addition to the series. I loved how Ky and Cassia are each on a journey together, but are going in opposite directions. I wish there had been more about Xander. I feel like Cassia is leaning more towards Xander at the moment, which is something that I like (not a Ky fan). Ready for the next one!
3. Split 5/5
Loved this. It started a bit slow, but really really picked up. Jace was an amazingly interesting character. His brother was a little annoying. Great storyline, and a pretty good ending.
4. Girls in Pants, The Third Summer of the Sisterhood 4/5
Great addition to the series. I did have a problem with the fact that the characters haven't really changed much from the second book. I felt that the action was very slow until the end, and everything was a bit predictable. But sometimes predictability is nice. Can't wait to read the last 2!
5. The Walking Dead Book Two 4/5
Great addition to the series. I loved the drama in this one and the way the characters are evolving and changing (or in some cases devolving). The crazy action was pretty intense. I felt like some one died every few pages and they probably did. The writing was good, but sometimes the characters get a bit "speechy" where they are making these huge statements that last forever and doesn't sound like natural conversation. I also had a bit of a problem with the artwork. I feel like it is getting harder to separate some of the characters. Most of the male characters looked very alike. Of course now there are so few left that it is getting a bit easier. And everybody killing themselves? Seriously. They find a pretty decent place to live and people want to kill themselves? Over somebody cheating or just because? Really?! Very strange behavior.
Book three should definitely be interesting and (SPOILER) I think by now we all know that Lori's baby is definitely Shane's. I mean come on!
6. The Walking Dead Book Three 5/5
Great collection again! This story takes a weird turn this time. A few people find another colony set up but find that it is not what they hoped it would be. Lots of crazy crazy shiz goes down. This book was definitely more graphic than the ones before it. Lots of more mature plot lines. I think the showdown between Michonne and the Gov went a bit too far and I was actually really grossed out. Glad to see some action about to happen at the end. We can expect a showdown coming soon, with plenty of death and such. Ready for Lori to have Shane's baby, cause hasn't she been pregnant long enough? And very excited about Glenn and Maggie.
Book four? Please come in soon!
7. Forever in Blue, The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood 4/5
Ok so this one was better than the third one to me. All the characters went through such a transformation. Carmen lost herself, Lena grew up, Tibby pulled back into herself, and Bee finally learned her lesson. In the end, the loss of something very important to them brought them back together. Very good book and I am hoping the last one is just as good.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Books read... in November
1. Angel After the Fall Volume 3 4/5
Lots of battles. Lots of talking and strategies. Lots of changing the plans at the last minute. Lots of unclear stuff. But beautiful artwork. And the Illryia and Spike thing was awesome too. I think the relationship between Spike and Illryia/Fred is really underrated and not used enough. It always seem to focus on Wesley and Fred, but Spike was important to her too and their memories together were used to save everyone in this volume.
2. Angel After the Fall Volume 4 4/5
I loved the ending to this! It was a good ending for this season. Everything is "back to normal" except that everyone remembers what it was like in the Hell dimension of LA. Would be really interesting to see what happens if there is another season. By the way.... I love Spike.
3. Divergent 5/5
Got to say, I loved this one. Good writing and twists. People turned out to be different than I thought (Tris' parents, Caleb, Al, Four), while some were pretty much what they seemed (Peter, Eric, Jeanine).
Tris started out pretty annoying but after she choose her faction, I feel like she changed and her behavior became more normal. But Four! Oh my goodness Four was amazing. I can just picture him in my mind. And yes the whole sex talk between Four and Tris was weird and not at all realistic but still. Four was so charming, and confusing, and just oozing sexy.
Excited for the next one, and I cannot wait to see what will happen to Tris, and Four, and all the others left.
4. The Lying Games 3/5
My one main concern about this book is the switching povs. I feel like Sutton and Emma's switching every few paragraphs was confusing. Unlike the show (which I started before I read the book), Sutton is dead at the beginning of the story. Emma is "tricked" into taking over Sutton's life while trying to find out how Sutton was killed and by whom.
Ethan wasnt as good in the book as he is in the show (LOVE him in the show). Emma is about the same but Sutton is definitely different. The Lying Games is explained a lot more than in the show. It is basically some pretty serious "pranks" where they almost kill each other and try to scare each other to death. Fake guns, strangling. Weird stuff.
Pretty good start, ready for book 2.
5. Cinder 4/5
I received an ARC copy of this from netgalley and I could not wait to start it. I have read a lot of hype about it and I have to say it was pretty amazing. I really enjoyed the story and how it was similar to the Cinderella but unique as well. My main complaint is the lack of information about the world it is set in. We don't know much about the world or the state it is in or how it got that way. So more background info would be nice, but maybe that is going to be in the next book.
6. The Walking Dead Book 1 5/5
Loved it! The artwork leaves a little to be desired since all the characters look the same but other than that it was pretty good. So different from the show! Different characters, and some characters who don't even make it through the book that are still on the show. I love how the book and show are different because that way you can not guess what is going to happen next. They are each their own stories.
7. The Mindset Lists of American History 2/5
Not my favorite. Not what I thought it was going to be actually. The list were good, but the chapters following the lists were very dry and boring. Could hardly make it through the book.
8. Sisters Red 4/5
Pretty interesting retelling of the story of little red riding hood. Scarlett and Rosie were both kind of annoying characters at times. Very indecisive and a wee bit whiny too. Silas wasnt the best guy character in the story. It seems he just moved from one sister to another because he could. And why did Rosie like him, why did he like her? The "Suprise" was a little predictable, and I had it figured out early on, but still. Not very suprising ending, but not a horrible read either. Looking forward to the next in this fairy tale retelling series.
9. Summer in the City 4/5
The second story of teenage Carrie Bradshaw. This time she is in New York for the first time. A good addition to the story and I loved that there was an introduction to two of the main four. The conversations between some of the characters were really horrible at times, and Carrie is about as clueless as she can be. She must learn a lot and grow a lot in the next few years if she is going to become the Carrie from the show. I think the characters names are a little crazy too. I mean Capote? Really. Even people in the south aren't that mean. Overall a good addition to the series and I am excited about what is going to happen in next book after that ending.
10. Daughter of Smoke and Bone 5/5
So I pretty much loved this! I even grew to like Karou's name by the end. Karou is a pretty great character, she is strong, stubborn, funny, and incredibly smart. Yeah she was dumb about Kaz but still. My only problem was with the last 100 pages or so. No mention of the people around her like her friends and Kaz. She just forgot about them and left. I am sure we will see them in the next 2 books at some point.
I was confused about Karou and Akiva's relationship at first, kind of a why are they together and why do they love each other. But it is explained by the end.
I am worried about Brimstone and the crew.
Excited for the next book!
11. Hallowed 5/5
I really liked this one. I received the ARC copy from netgalley and I was so excited. But now I just have to wait longer to get the 3rd one. But anyway..
So Clara "failed" her purpose and now we are going to find out what happens. Or do we? Yeah we kinda do and kinda don't.
Tucker is still amazing.
Christian is still mysterious.
Read this when it comes out!
12. Perfect Chemistry 4/5
Ok so I was pretty sure I was going to hate this after the first few pages but I decided to keep going before judging it. The girl's name is Brittany, ok? Like how lame. Can that be more stereotypical. Yes her name is Brittany, she is the perfect girl, the diva, and the most popular girl in the school. Gag me with a spoon.
But Alex was also the stereotypical bad boy, in a gang, with tattoos and a motorcycle. So I was pleasantly suprised that about 100 pages in I started to like it. I liked that Brittany had a sister with a disability and that is what affected her home life so much. And that Alex was in a gang to protect his family. So this book did have some good suprises. I did not enjoy the epilogue so much. Because I know in the 3rd book they get married, so I would have rather seen an epilogue dealing with all 3 Fuentes brothers and their futures.
Lots of battles. Lots of talking and strategies. Lots of changing the plans at the last minute. Lots of unclear stuff. But beautiful artwork. And the Illryia and Spike thing was awesome too. I think the relationship between Spike and Illryia/Fred is really underrated and not used enough. It always seem to focus on Wesley and Fred, but Spike was important to her too and their memories together were used to save everyone in this volume.
2. Angel After the Fall Volume 4 4/5
I loved the ending to this! It was a good ending for this season. Everything is "back to normal" except that everyone remembers what it was like in the Hell dimension of LA. Would be really interesting to see what happens if there is another season. By the way.... I love Spike.
3. Divergent 5/5
Got to say, I loved this one. Good writing and twists. People turned out to be different than I thought (Tris' parents, Caleb, Al, Four), while some were pretty much what they seemed (Peter, Eric, Jeanine).
Tris started out pretty annoying but after she choose her faction, I feel like she changed and her behavior became more normal. But Four! Oh my goodness Four was amazing. I can just picture him in my mind. And yes the whole sex talk between Four and Tris was weird and not at all realistic but still. Four was so charming, and confusing, and just oozing sexy.
Excited for the next one, and I cannot wait to see what will happen to Tris, and Four, and all the others left.
4. The Lying Games 3/5
My one main concern about this book is the switching povs. I feel like Sutton and Emma's switching every few paragraphs was confusing. Unlike the show (which I started before I read the book), Sutton is dead at the beginning of the story. Emma is "tricked" into taking over Sutton's life while trying to find out how Sutton was killed and by whom.
Ethan wasnt as good in the book as he is in the show (LOVE him in the show). Emma is about the same but Sutton is definitely different. The Lying Games is explained a lot more than in the show. It is basically some pretty serious "pranks" where they almost kill each other and try to scare each other to death. Fake guns, strangling. Weird stuff.
Pretty good start, ready for book 2.
5. Cinder 4/5
I received an ARC copy of this from netgalley and I could not wait to start it. I have read a lot of hype about it and I have to say it was pretty amazing. I really enjoyed the story and how it was similar to the Cinderella but unique as well. My main complaint is the lack of information about the world it is set in. We don't know much about the world or the state it is in or how it got that way. So more background info would be nice, but maybe that is going to be in the next book.
6. The Walking Dead Book 1 5/5
Loved it! The artwork leaves a little to be desired since all the characters look the same but other than that it was pretty good. So different from the show! Different characters, and some characters who don't even make it through the book that are still on the show. I love how the book and show are different because that way you can not guess what is going to happen next. They are each their own stories.
7. The Mindset Lists of American History 2/5
Not my favorite. Not what I thought it was going to be actually. The list were good, but the chapters following the lists were very dry and boring. Could hardly make it through the book.
8. Sisters Red 4/5
Pretty interesting retelling of the story of little red riding hood. Scarlett and Rosie were both kind of annoying characters at times. Very indecisive and a wee bit whiny too. Silas wasnt the best guy character in the story. It seems he just moved from one sister to another because he could. And why did Rosie like him, why did he like her? The "Suprise" was a little predictable, and I had it figured out early on, but still. Not very suprising ending, but not a horrible read either. Looking forward to the next in this fairy tale retelling series.
9. Summer in the City 4/5
The second story of teenage Carrie Bradshaw. This time she is in New York for the first time. A good addition to the story and I loved that there was an introduction to two of the main four. The conversations between some of the characters were really horrible at times, and Carrie is about as clueless as she can be. She must learn a lot and grow a lot in the next few years if she is going to become the Carrie from the show. I think the characters names are a little crazy too. I mean Capote? Really. Even people in the south aren't that mean. Overall a good addition to the series and I am excited about what is going to happen in next book after that ending.
10. Daughter of Smoke and Bone 5/5
So I pretty much loved this! I even grew to like Karou's name by the end. Karou is a pretty great character, she is strong, stubborn, funny, and incredibly smart. Yeah she was dumb about Kaz but still. My only problem was with the last 100 pages or so. No mention of the people around her like her friends and Kaz. She just forgot about them and left. I am sure we will see them in the next 2 books at some point.
I was confused about Karou and Akiva's relationship at first, kind of a why are they together and why do they love each other. But it is explained by the end.
I am worried about Brimstone and the crew.
Excited for the next book!
11. Hallowed 5/5
I really liked this one. I received the ARC copy from netgalley and I was so excited. But now I just have to wait longer to get the 3rd one. But anyway..
So Clara "failed" her purpose and now we are going to find out what happens. Or do we? Yeah we kinda do and kinda don't.
Tucker is still amazing.
Christian is still mysterious.
Read this when it comes out!
12. Perfect Chemistry 4/5
Ok so I was pretty sure I was going to hate this after the first few pages but I decided to keep going before judging it. The girl's name is Brittany, ok? Like how lame. Can that be more stereotypical. Yes her name is Brittany, she is the perfect girl, the diva, and the most popular girl in the school. Gag me with a spoon.
But Alex was also the stereotypical bad boy, in a gang, with tattoos and a motorcycle. So I was pleasantly suprised that about 100 pages in I started to like it. I liked that Brittany had a sister with a disability and that is what affected her home life so much. And that Alex was in a gang to protect his family. So this book did have some good suprises. I did not enjoy the epilogue so much. Because I know in the 3rd book they get married, so I would have rather seen an epilogue dealing with all 3 Fuentes brothers and their futures.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Books read... in October!
My favorite month of the year!
1. Birthmarked 4/5
I really enjoyed this book. It started a little slow which is typical for a dystopian book. You have to learn alot about the world that the book takes place in. The world is set like 300 years in the future, and the world has gotten a lot hotter. Lakes have dried up and water is scarce outside of the wall. The privileged live in the Enclave while the poorer people live outside the wall. It is a hard life outside the wall in the town of Wharfton. Gaia has lived outside the wall her entire life, dreaming about what it would have been like to grow up in the Enclave. She works as a midwife with her mother, and has started advancing babies as well. Three babies born each month are advanced, meaning taken from the mother and given to the Enclave. They are then adopted and allowed to grow up with the rich. It is thought of as a service to the Enclave to have a baby advanced. Gaia sees no problem with this until her world is flipped upside down when her parents are arrested.
A good story, with a great character and a great love interest, which I always find as a plus. Gaia is flawed, both physically and otherwise, which makes her more easy to relate to.
2. Lockdown 4/5
I really did not know what this book was going to be about when I got it from the library. I noticed it on a lot of lists on Goodreads so I just added it to my hold list. And I really honestly liked it. The way the book was set up was nice. Shorter type chapters to mark your progress always makes a book go by faster to me. The main character Alex was very believable. He was generally honest and you as the reader got to watch him go through this prison life and watch him change in ways while still trying to remain the same. The book has a horrible ending because I just need to know what is going to happen next. Such a cliffhanger ending. And Donovan. I loved him and I need to know that they are going to be able to save him somehow. Not sure yet. Ready for the second in the series for sure.
3.The Second Summer of the Sisterhood 3/5
I figured since I read the first one I should read the whole series. So I picked up the second one and started on it. I felt like the more I read, the bigger the book got. I never seemed to be making any progress. The first book seemed to be mostly about love. Lena meet Kostos, Carmen started to accept her new family (course she is the angriest person in a book ever), Bee fell in love at soccer camp (then gave it away and fell out of love), and Tibby meet Bailey (then proceeded to lose her to cancer). The second book was all about anger and sadness and being angry at your parents. Tibby is sad about Bailey and angry at her mom for some reason. Causing a big blowout and disappointment all around. Lena broke it off with Kostos but still wants him like crazy. Fights with her mom about every little thing. Kostos drama, followed by more moping. Bee finds new family, the happiest story in the book which is kinda sad, and gets back to her old self. Then meets a boy from her past. Yada yada. Carmen acts like a serious bitch to her mom. Jealousy all over the place. Always angry. Hopefully the 3rd book with be better.
4. Mercury 4/5
Graphic novel that I picked up from BAM in the clearance section for 4 dollars. Very good actually. It follows two stories between two girls. One lived in the 1800s and the other in present time. Two love stories, one happy and the other sad. Very interesting to see how the two stories affect each other. Good quick read. Great artwork.
5. Life as We Knew It 4/5
Very good book! I loved the idea, something I haven't seen before. An asteroid hits the moon and knocks it off its course. This causes catastrophic repercussions. Huge tsunamis, volcanoe eruptions, and earthquakes. The main character is Miranda, and we are reading about this event through her journal. We get to witness all her feelings about what has happened, what will happen, and the people around her. This is not necessarily a happy story. Quite a few people die and there isn't a concrete ending. But definitely enjoyable.
6. Unearthly 4/5
This book was definitely a suprise for me. I have read the Mortal Instruments series and I pretty much hated them in the end. But this book I loved. Its similar to Mortal Instruments being that it is about angels and half blooded angels and that their is a love triangle. That is where the similarities ends. This book was incredibly well written compared to other "Angel" type books. The main character did not seem as conflicted and annoying and was sure of what she wanted most of the time. The book succeeded at being humorous, and witty, but serious when it needs to be.
Clara (horrible horrible name) moves to a new school after having the first visions of her purpose as an Angel. Things do not go as planned (obviously) when she moves with her family. See for yourself when you read this book. Impatiently waiting for the next book.
7. We'll Always Have Summer 4/5
Finally! I got to read the third book. Been on my library hold list forever.
Ok so let me just say Jeremiah was always my favorite of the Fisher boys. Conrad was whiny and jerky. So I was happy to see that Belly was dating Jeremiah in the beginning. But I hated that Han had him cheat on her within the first few chapters. That is not something that his character would do. But they got over it, just competely dropped it. Kinda weird.
Overall I liked this book. It was a good ending to the story and I was glad to know that Belly ended up waiting and was alone without the Fisher boys for a while.
8. The Dark and Hollow Places 4/5
I honestly wasn't expecting to like this one. I knew it was going to be from Annah's pov which I wasn't sure that I would like. So I was hesitant to read this one. Also its been awhile since I read the first 2 books. I love that Ryan allowed the reader to follow three different pov's and three different but cohesive, overlapping stories. The writing was as good as it has always been. The one thing that I felt was missing for me was likeability. I didn't really like Annah. She seemed so whiny, about her looks, about Elias, about leaving Abigail/Gabry, about Catcher, and about her lifestyle. I understand that the world is crappy with all the Unconsecrated zombies going around, people dying, Elias left her, and she left her sister, but still. I still love the series and I am glad that it has left off with everyone together. Elias was with Abigail/Gabry, Annah was with Catcher. I do wish we could have flashed forward a little in the end to see how they were doing a few years down the road. But overall good. Glad to have finally finished the series.
9. The Son of Neptune 4/5
10. Solitary 4/5
Incredibly good, especially since my expectation were kind of low. I knew this book was going to take place in the "hole" so I was wondered as to what the book would actually be about.
We get to see a different side of Alex which I loved, and Zee became a bigger character since Donovan and Toby were gone. Met some new characters like Simon, Pete, and Ozzie. And we finally learned the fate of Donovan, poor guy.
Good read and ready for the next one!
11. The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Cinema 4/5
Very informative. I saw this in the new section of my library and decided to pick it up. While I did not read every single word of this book, I feel that it has a lot of great information. It starts by detailing the history of film, a decade at a time. Lots of details without feeling bogged down. After the history, Bergan goes into deeper explaination of how a film is made, starting with pre-production all the way through to interviews by the actors after the film is out.
Bergan also explores the different genres, foreign film, and the top 100 movies. While I may not agree with the top 100 movies, I do like that there is a lot of diversity in his list.
There is also an a-z list of directors, some big names and some I have never heard before.
This book has many different lists of movies and I have now added quite a few to my netflix to watch. Good read overall, very helpful.
12. Angel After the Fall Volume 1 3/5
Not my favorite. I was unsure of what was going on since it has been a while since I've seen Angel and the finale. So it took a while to get into since I was so confused. Lots of action. Great images. Love love love Spike!
13. Angel After the Fall Volume 2 5/5
I loved this one a lot more than the first volume. The seperate issues about different characters was amazing. Just awesome. Lots of backstory as to how people ended up where they are now after the season finale.
1. Birthmarked 4/5
I really enjoyed this book. It started a little slow which is typical for a dystopian book. You have to learn alot about the world that the book takes place in. The world is set like 300 years in the future, and the world has gotten a lot hotter. Lakes have dried up and water is scarce outside of the wall. The privileged live in the Enclave while the poorer people live outside the wall. It is a hard life outside the wall in the town of Wharfton. Gaia has lived outside the wall her entire life, dreaming about what it would have been like to grow up in the Enclave. She works as a midwife with her mother, and has started advancing babies as well. Three babies born each month are advanced, meaning taken from the mother and given to the Enclave. They are then adopted and allowed to grow up with the rich. It is thought of as a service to the Enclave to have a baby advanced. Gaia sees no problem with this until her world is flipped upside down when her parents are arrested.
A good story, with a great character and a great love interest, which I always find as a plus. Gaia is flawed, both physically and otherwise, which makes her more easy to relate to.
2. Lockdown 4/5
I really did not know what this book was going to be about when I got it from the library. I noticed it on a lot of lists on Goodreads so I just added it to my hold list. And I really honestly liked it. The way the book was set up was nice. Shorter type chapters to mark your progress always makes a book go by faster to me. The main character Alex was very believable. He was generally honest and you as the reader got to watch him go through this prison life and watch him change in ways while still trying to remain the same. The book has a horrible ending because I just need to know what is going to happen next. Such a cliffhanger ending. And Donovan. I loved him and I need to know that they are going to be able to save him somehow. Not sure yet. Ready for the second in the series for sure.
3.The Second Summer of the Sisterhood 3/5
I figured since I read the first one I should read the whole series. So I picked up the second one and started on it. I felt like the more I read, the bigger the book got. I never seemed to be making any progress. The first book seemed to be mostly about love. Lena meet Kostos, Carmen started to accept her new family (course she is the angriest person in a book ever), Bee fell in love at soccer camp (then gave it away and fell out of love), and Tibby meet Bailey (then proceeded to lose her to cancer). The second book was all about anger and sadness and being angry at your parents. Tibby is sad about Bailey and angry at her mom for some reason. Causing a big blowout and disappointment all around. Lena broke it off with Kostos but still wants him like crazy. Fights with her mom about every little thing. Kostos drama, followed by more moping. Bee finds new family, the happiest story in the book which is kinda sad, and gets back to her old self. Then meets a boy from her past. Yada yada. Carmen acts like a serious bitch to her mom. Jealousy all over the place. Always angry. Hopefully the 3rd book with be better.
4. Mercury 4/5
Graphic novel that I picked up from BAM in the clearance section for 4 dollars. Very good actually. It follows two stories between two girls. One lived in the 1800s and the other in present time. Two love stories, one happy and the other sad. Very interesting to see how the two stories affect each other. Good quick read. Great artwork.
5. Life as We Knew It 4/5
Very good book! I loved the idea, something I haven't seen before. An asteroid hits the moon and knocks it off its course. This causes catastrophic repercussions. Huge tsunamis, volcanoe eruptions, and earthquakes. The main character is Miranda, and we are reading about this event through her journal. We get to witness all her feelings about what has happened, what will happen, and the people around her. This is not necessarily a happy story. Quite a few people die and there isn't a concrete ending. But definitely enjoyable.
6. Unearthly 4/5
This book was definitely a suprise for me. I have read the Mortal Instruments series and I pretty much hated them in the end. But this book I loved. Its similar to Mortal Instruments being that it is about angels and half blooded angels and that their is a love triangle. That is where the similarities ends. This book was incredibly well written compared to other "Angel" type books. The main character did not seem as conflicted and annoying and was sure of what she wanted most of the time. The book succeeded at being humorous, and witty, but serious when it needs to be.
Clara (horrible horrible name) moves to a new school after having the first visions of her purpose as an Angel. Things do not go as planned (obviously) when she moves with her family. See for yourself when you read this book. Impatiently waiting for the next book.
7. We'll Always Have Summer 4/5
Finally! I got to read the third book. Been on my library hold list forever.
Ok so let me just say Jeremiah was always my favorite of the Fisher boys. Conrad was whiny and jerky. So I was happy to see that Belly was dating Jeremiah in the beginning. But I hated that Han had him cheat on her within the first few chapters. That is not something that his character would do. But they got over it, just competely dropped it. Kinda weird.
Overall I liked this book. It was a good ending to the story and I was glad to know that Belly ended up waiting and was alone without the Fisher boys for a while.
8. The Dark and Hollow Places 4/5
I honestly wasn't expecting to like this one. I knew it was going to be from Annah's pov which I wasn't sure that I would like. So I was hesitant to read this one. Also its been awhile since I read the first 2 books. I love that Ryan allowed the reader to follow three different pov's and three different but cohesive, overlapping stories. The writing was as good as it has always been. The one thing that I felt was missing for me was likeability. I didn't really like Annah. She seemed so whiny, about her looks, about Elias, about leaving Abigail/Gabry, about Catcher, and about her lifestyle. I understand that the world is crappy with all the Unconsecrated zombies going around, people dying, Elias left her, and she left her sister, but still. I still love the series and I am glad that it has left off with everyone together. Elias was with Abigail/Gabry, Annah was with Catcher. I do wish we could have flashed forward a little in the end to see how they were doing a few years down the road. But overall good. Glad to have finally finished the series.
9. The Son of Neptune 4/5
10. Solitary 4/5
Incredibly good, especially since my expectation were kind of low. I knew this book was going to take place in the "hole" so I was wondered as to what the book would actually be about.
We get to see a different side of Alex which I loved, and Zee became a bigger character since Donovan and Toby were gone. Met some new characters like Simon, Pete, and Ozzie. And we finally learned the fate of Donovan, poor guy.
Good read and ready for the next one!
11. The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Cinema 4/5
Very informative. I saw this in the new section of my library and decided to pick it up. While I did not read every single word of this book, I feel that it has a lot of great information. It starts by detailing the history of film, a decade at a time. Lots of details without feeling bogged down. After the history, Bergan goes into deeper explaination of how a film is made, starting with pre-production all the way through to interviews by the actors after the film is out.
Bergan also explores the different genres, foreign film, and the top 100 movies. While I may not agree with the top 100 movies, I do like that there is a lot of diversity in his list.
There is also an a-z list of directors, some big names and some I have never heard before.
This book has many different lists of movies and I have now added quite a few to my netflix to watch. Good read overall, very helpful.
12. Angel After the Fall Volume 1 3/5
Not my favorite. I was unsure of what was going on since it has been a while since I've seen Angel and the finale. So it took a while to get into since I was so confused. Lots of action. Great images. Love love love Spike!
13. Angel After the Fall Volume 2 5/5
I loved this one a lot more than the first volume. The seperate issues about different characters was amazing. Just awesome. Lots of backstory as to how people ended up where they are now after the season finale.
Friday, September 30, 2011
books read in.... September
1. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist 3/5
Not my favorite. I kinda liked the movie better. Lots of extra stuff not seen in the movie, but I didn't really enjoy all the deep thoughts by all the characters.
2. Across the Universe 4/5
I really liked this book. It had a good storyline and I loved all the twists in the end about the ship and Elder. I actually felt bad for Amy which is good since that is obvisiously what the author wanted. My main problem is that the book did not really explain why Godspeed left Earth. Was there a huge war that was threatening the population, disease, alien invasion? That would have been good info to add. Maybe it will come up in the next 2 books. The "villians" were very clear from the beginning of the book. Obviously Orion was not normal and more than meets the eye, and Eldest was never a good guy. But my one big problem was the conversations. Some of them did not sound like what normal people would say. Still a good book and I'll definitely read the other 2 when they come out.
3. Beauty Queens 3/5
Incredibly sarcastic which I loved , it got a little annoying after a while. Slow start for me, but the middle picked up. I think there were too many storylines going on at one time which made it hard to keep track of everybody. It almost seemed like Bray wanted to put every stereotype and plot idea in there, which was a bit much. But overally I enjoyed it. Would I reccommend it? Not really, but if you have the time and want to read an overexaggerated story then go right ahead.
4. Elsewhere 3/5
This is another dead girl book. It follows Liz through her afterlife, after being runover while riding her bike. She dies and travels to Elsewhere which is essentially Heaven. There people age backwards until they are babies again and must travel back to Earth and be reborn. Overall a pretty good story. A bit whiny, but still.
5. The Day Before 5/5
I loved this book. Seriously. Amber meets Cade while on the beach and they spend a crazy good day together. This is their "last" day of freedom and they spend it growing close. Its a sweet story, but I probably would have liked it more if it was an actual novel instead of in short verse.
6. Luxe 2/5
Not so good. Very long and way to many details about the surroundings. I love to be able to visualize and everything, but the details literally got in the way of the story. A little confusing in the beginning with all the different characters with similar names. Predictable ending, especially since the beginning starts with one of the characters death. Not very interesting and do not know if I will read the sequels
Not my favorite. I kinda liked the movie better. Lots of extra stuff not seen in the movie, but I didn't really enjoy all the deep thoughts by all the characters.
2. Across the Universe 4/5
I really liked this book. It had a good storyline and I loved all the twists in the end about the ship and Elder. I actually felt bad for Amy which is good since that is obvisiously what the author wanted. My main problem is that the book did not really explain why Godspeed left Earth. Was there a huge war that was threatening the population, disease, alien invasion? That would have been good info to add. Maybe it will come up in the next 2 books. The "villians" were very clear from the beginning of the book. Obviously Orion was not normal and more than meets the eye, and Eldest was never a good guy. But my one big problem was the conversations. Some of them did not sound like what normal people would say. Still a good book and I'll definitely read the other 2 when they come out.
3. Beauty Queens 3/5
Incredibly sarcastic which I loved , it got a little annoying after a while. Slow start for me, but the middle picked up. I think there were too many storylines going on at one time which made it hard to keep track of everybody. It almost seemed like Bray wanted to put every stereotype and plot idea in there, which was a bit much. But overally I enjoyed it. Would I reccommend it? Not really, but if you have the time and want to read an overexaggerated story then go right ahead.
4. Elsewhere 3/5
This is another dead girl book. It follows Liz through her afterlife, after being runover while riding her bike. She dies and travels to Elsewhere which is essentially Heaven. There people age backwards until they are babies again and must travel back to Earth and be reborn. Overall a pretty good story. A bit whiny, but still.
5. The Day Before 5/5
I loved this book. Seriously. Amber meets Cade while on the beach and they spend a crazy good day together. This is their "last" day of freedom and they spend it growing close. Its a sweet story, but I probably would have liked it more if it was an actual novel instead of in short verse.
6. Luxe 2/5
Not so good. Very long and way to many details about the surroundings. I love to be able to visualize and everything, but the details literally got in the way of the story. A little confusing in the beginning with all the different characters with similar names. Predictable ending, especially since the beginning starts with one of the characters death. Not very interesting and do not know if I will read the sequels
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