Monday, December 30, 2013

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

 I know that this blog wasn't initially intended to be a "story of my life" type of blog, and I think that's the problem with it. Its too impersonal, and I think that's why I sometimes don't really know how to write reviews, and they start to all sound the same or merge together - to me at least. I want to be interested in this blog, it is something that I like to do, and I want to be good at it. Besides, I believe that a person's opinion on a book mainly derives from where said person is in their life - what is meaningful to you now may not be meaningful to you in 5 years, and letting y'all in on my thought process when I read and review a book is something that I have to work on. With that in mind, I've decided to renovate my blog, with the help of a friend (because let's face it, I am really bad with the whole technology thing) and I hope to have this new blog up and running soon. To go along with this new change, I also wanted to redo the vlogs, and with that there will also be changes. I'm hoping for these changes to be completed by maybe the middle of January, so stay tuned for that folks! 

I hope that everyone has had a happy holiday, and a fantastic 2013, and I will most definitely see you all next year. :) Happy reading. 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand



On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit. Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.


This book strays from my typical teen fiction/fantasy/paranormal romance novel, and I have to say that I was a bit worried about it at first. I was assigned to read this book in my English 101 class and while most other students in English 101 were reading The Working Poor by David K. Shipler, my professor assigned my class Unbroken. Boy am I glad she did!

I didn't want to read this particular book for class, because I thought that, because it was assigned, I'd hate it. I'm incredibly relieved that I was wrong. I have to say that this book made me want to read more nonfiction. It also made me want to take a WWII history class again. 

I love history, and Louie's story is so meticulously and artfully documented that I felt as though I was on the raft and at the camps with Louie and the other PoWs. I connected with Louie's mother and the rest of his family while they waited, patiently for news from, or about Louie. By the end of this book, I felt like I knew Louie, and that he became (as many fictional characters do) an essential part of me.

Hillenbrand did a miraculous job researching and documenting Louie's story and, once I'd finished reading it, I wanted to read it again and again! If you haven't read Unbroken and are looking for a good nonfiction story, I'd definitely check it out. Although it might help to know a little about WWII beforehand. 

5/5 stars 

Friday, August 9, 2013

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones



With the release of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie in just a few weeks, I've decided to voice my thoughts on the trailer.

This trailer looks AWESOME. It looks so close to the book and I hope they keep it that way. I'm incredibly anxious for this movie, and I hope they do a fantastic job. The acting looks superb, the color and the graphics look fantastic and I hope that this movie lives up to the book. From these clips, it looks like they're keeping the realistic feel to the movie--everything seems like it could happen. I am SO excited to see the final product. I can't wait! I hope that, if the movie is as good as I'm expecting it to me, we'll be able to see the rest of the books come to life. I'll definitely be re-reading City of Bones in preparation for this film. :)

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

July Haul!

Incarceron - Catherine Fisher

Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)
Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells and corridors, but metal forests, dilapidated cities, and wilderness. It has been sealed for centuries, and only one man has ever escaped. Finn has always been a prisoner here. Although he has no memory of his childhood, he is sure he came from Outside. His link to the Outside, his chance to break free, is Claudia, the warden's daughter, herself determined to escape an arranged marriage. They are up against impossible odds, but one thing looms above all: Incarceron itself is alive . . .








Vampire Chronicles - Anne Rice


Interview with a Vampire
Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force—a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write.

The Vampire Lestat
Once an aristocrat in the heady days of pre-revolutionary France, now Lestat is a rockstar in the demonic, shimmering 1980s. He rushes through the centuries in search of others like him, seeking answers to the mystery of his terrifying exsitence. His story, the second volume in Anne Rice's best-selling Vampire Chronicles, is mesmerizing, passionate, and thrilling
 
The Queen of the Damned
In 1976, a uniquely seductive world of vampires was unveiled in the now-classic Interview with the Vampire . . . in 1985, a wild and voluptous voice spoke to us, telling the story of The Vampire Lestat. In The Queen of the Damned, Anne Rice continues her extraordinary "Vampire Chronicles" in a feat of mesmeric storytelling, a chillingly hypnotic entertainment in which the oldest and most powerful forces of the night are unleashed on an unsuspecting world.

Gameboard of the Gods - Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1) In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

 
Comic-Con (Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki cover)

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1)Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the kind of guy she's been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire. Worse than that, hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind.

And when one of Sookie's colleagues is killed, she begins to fear she'll be next ...


I started this book having some idea of what was going to happen; the whole cliché vampire thing was actually starting to annoy me for a while there. For some reason, however, I decided to pick this book up and read it. I didn't know much about the True Blood book series--I'd read one of the graphic novels and have watched parts of the first season of the TV show--so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was giddy to realize that the book was almost exactly the same as what I'd remembered from the show, and I liked that. Not many book to movie/book to tv show adaptations do that, that I know of anyway, and it was refreshing to see that someone's idea remained theirs throughout different mediums. Anyway, I'd give this book a 4/5, because it kept me entertained and I wanted to read more and know more about these creatures.

 Some might hate me for saying this, but I felt that the main character, Sookie, was really, really annoying at times. She was the stereotypical man-loving girl who didn't do anything without the say-so from her boyfriend. That's one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to female lead characters. I like characters with a lot of backbone, characters that can stand and fight by themselves. It seemed that this character just couldn't do anything without consulting her boyfriend or her brother, it's like, without them she was useless. I just couldn't get past it for a while, and when I did, I realized that she'll probably learn more and be able to stand up for herself more later on in the series.

I'm already addicted and I can't wait to see what Harris has planned for the next novel.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

June Haul!

I went on vacation...and found books.


Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the kind of guy she's been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire. Worse than that, hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind.

And when one of Sookie's colleagues is killed, she begins to fear she'll be next...


Wicked - Gregory Maguire

In Baum's land of Oz, animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. Green-skinned Elphaba, future Wicked Witch of the West, is smart, prickly and misunderstood; she challenges our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. 
The Warrior Heir -

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.

Let It Snow - John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Kissing Doorknobs - Terry Spencer Hesser


Kissing DoorknobsDuring her preschool years, Tara Sullivan lived in terror that something bad would happen to her mother while they were apart. In grade school, she panicked during the practice fire drills. Practice for what?, Tara asked. For the upcoming disaster that was bound to happen?

Then, at the age of 11, it happened. Tara heard the phrase that changed her life:
Step on a crack, break your mother's back. Before Tara knew it, she was counting every crack in the sidewalk. Over time, Tara's "quirks" grew and developed: arranging her meals on plates, nonstop prayer rituals, until she developed a new ritual wherin she kissed her fingers and touched doorknobs....

I read this book for my AP Psych class and I absolutely loved it! I was so happy to find out that my final project for that class, instead of setting up an experiment, was to read a book! I LOVED this book! I loved the main character and the story and almost everything about this book was fantastic! I liked the way you saw her mental illness progress and that you could see that she couldn't help what she was doing and you got to experience her frustration at not being able to do "normal" activities. The only problem that I had with this book was the end of it. I felt that the ending was kind of rushed and that the last character that was introduced should have opened the story up to more options, not finished the story. Overall, I'd give this book 4/5 stars, only because of the odd ending.

If you've read this book, let me know what you think! I'm curious!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.


This was my last book project in my high school career, and I have to say that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I thought this book was good, and it kept my interest in the beginning and the end, but there was that murky middle area that I didn't quite enjoy. I think that this book was definitely unique in it's perspective, and I loved the way that Christopher's quirks were explained and shown throughout the book. I don't really know what else to say about this book, except that the title of the book is extremely long, which is why I've been referring to it as "this book." This book is hard to explain, but it's about much, much more than a curious incident of a dog in the night time. If you like books with quirky characters, this book is definitely for you. 3/5 stars.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Haul!

I know that I haven't been blogging in a while. I've been busy with school--graduating from high school and starting college and whatnot. Anyway, enough of my excuses and on to the haul!

 
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there's always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

Switched (Trylle #1) - Amanda Hocking

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) - Richelle Mead

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

 
Oh My Gods - Phillip Freeman

The Greek and Roman myths have never died out; in fact they are as relevant today as ever in their sharp observations about human nature. For thousands of years they have inspired plays, operas, and paintings; today they live on in movies and video games. Oh My Gods is a contemporary retelling of some of the most popular myths by Philip Freeman, a noted classicist. These tales of errant gods, fantastic creatures, and human heroes are brought to life in fresh and modern versions. Powerful Zeus; his perpetually aggrieved wife, Hera; talented Apollo; beautiful Aphrodite; fierce Athena; the dauntless heroes Theseus and Hercules; and the doomed lovers Orpheus and Eurydice still inspire awe, give us courage, and break our hearts.

From the astonishing tales of the Argonauts to the immortal narrative of the Battle of Troy, these ancient tales have inspired writers from Shakespeare to J. K. Rowling. In Philip Freeman’s vibrant retelling they will doubtless inspire a new generation of readers.


Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3)

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.


Now that I've got the books... The question is: Which one do I read first?

Friday, March 15, 2013

Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) - Kristin Cashore

Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1) His eyes, Katsa had never seen such eyes. One was silver, and the other, gold. They glowed in his sun-darkened face, uneven, and strange. She was surprised that they hadn't shone in the darkness of their first meeting. They didn't seem human....

Then he raised his eyebrows a hair, and his mouth shifted into the hint of a smirk. He nodded at her, just barely, and it released her from her spell.

Cocky, she thought. Cocky and arrogant, this one, and that was all there was to make of him. Whatever game he was playing, if he expected her to join him he would be disappointed.

In a world where people born with an extreme skill - called a Grace - are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

I had just been coming down from my Hunger Games high (as I call it) when I started Graceling, and seeing as both books deal with powerful female main characters, I was extremely tempted to start--and finish--this book.

Graceling starts off well, and I really enjoyed a lot of the character development, not to mention the setting. I loved the relationship between both of the main characters and how it grows, but I wish that it would have been elaborated on a little more. We get that they're in love and they know it but they also don't know it at the same time, but I just felt like there could have been a smoother progression of their imminent love. Another thing that I wasn't really fond of was the detail throughout the end of the book, I felt that some of the detail just wasn't necessary to the story and it distracted me (a little, not as much as the Iron King, which I just couldn't finish) from the plot of the story. Also, much like Breaking Dawn and City of Glass I felt that the ending to the story was just too soon and lacked a lot of detail. Once again, the story was set up for a fantasticly menacing ending, and then it just... ends. Just like that.

Overall, Graceling was a good read. It wasn't one of the best, but it also wasn't one of the worst. I definitely want to continue with the series, but it's not high on my to-buy list.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Lullaby (Watersong #2) - Amanda Hocking

Lullaby (Watersong, #2)Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers.

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life. Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world. It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs. Just as she's drifting far away from her old life, Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed. All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

Prepare to fall under the spell of
Lullaby, the second book in the Watersong series from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

It took me about a day to start and finish this book, and I enjoyed it as much, if not more, than I enjoyed the first book. Amanda Hocking is starting to really grow on me, and I want to read her other series... I just have to get through a few more books on my currently reading shelf.

Now, on with the review!

In this book, Gemma has left and Harper and her father have to pick up the pieces of their once again broken family and try to make some sense of this situation. Because of Gemma's decision to run away and be with Penn and the girls, Lullaby focuses mainly on Harper--which I loved. I became more awe-struck and connected with Harper's character, and her friends' as well. I just could not for the life of my put this book down. I just couldn't do it. It wasn't possible. This book started off with a little cliffhanger and then ended with an even bigger one! Please, Ms. Hocking, between The Walking Dead, Cassandra Clare, Supernatural and Sherlock, I cannot handle any more feels. I just can't. So, please, please, please keep what's left of my heart in tact.

I appologise for this small review, my emotions are just to everywhere for me to pin them down and write them out. Just, please, read the seires if you haven't already.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Wake (Watersong #1) - Amanda Hocking


Wake (Watersong, #1)Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.


My first Hocking! I was SO excited to read this, and I definitely wasn't disapointed.

As it turns out, Wake isn't about mermaids as I'd previously thought. I'm not going to tell you what it's about though. That'd be giving away a major spoiler, although, the signs are pretty obvious once you eliminate the whole mermaid thing.

While reading Wake, there was one question on my mind: Gemma, Gemma, Gemma. What are we going to do with you? On one hand, I enjoyed Gemma's character - she reminds me of my little sister: determined and stuboorn. On the other, however, I found Gemma to be extremely annoying at times, and I really just wanted her to make up her mind, for the most part. One thing that bothered me about this story relating to Gemma was that we don't see much of her social life, besides swimming and being at home, her social life is seemingly non-existant, and it threw me off a bit. Although, this could just be me picking at something that doesn't need to be picked at. Gemma's lack of social life didn't deter from the plot, or the pacing, of this first novel, and I was extremely happy for that.

Harper is someone that I can definitely connect with. I see a lot of myself in her, actually, which is why she's my favorite character. I enjoyed reading from Harper's point of view more than I enjoyed reading from Gemma's. She just seemed more "with it" for lack of a better phrase. And, she works at a library - my dream job.

Anyway, I'm going to quit talking about the characters now, and actually get to the recommendation part. If you like mysteries about creatures, teenagers, and the paranormal struggles of first love, this book is definitely for you. 4/5

Friday, February 15, 2013

Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion


Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies, #1)A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love—with a human—in this astonishingly original debut novel.

R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Not just another zombie novel, Warm Bodies is funny, scary, and deeply moving.


I thought that this book was going to be another one of those horribly over done paranormal romances... Boy, was I wrong! I was very skeptical in starting this book. Judging by the movie's trailer, I thought that it would be sappy and there would be a lot of mushy love moments. I was both happily and unhappily suprised when I realized that this wasn't going to be one of those books. Warm Bodies  was bruitally honest and funny. I couldn't believe that one person could make me I feel so much and then make me burst out laughing with the next sentence. The characters in this book were fantastically written and the twist on the zombies was unique to me, which made Warm Bodies all the more surprising. I loved every second of reading this book and I highly recommend reading it if you haven't already. Please, pick up this book if you have any interest in zombies or in the workings of the world in general. You definitely won't regret it.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Infinity - Sherrilyn Kenyon

 Infinity (Chronicles of Nick, #1) At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he's next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?


More fighting skills than Chuck Norris? Well, now I just had to read that!

I started this book thinking that it was going to be just another paranormal whatever and in a way, it was and then... it was so much more. It wasn't completely centered on one age group, there was something there for everyone. I do realize that this book is only the first in a series, and that it will get better, which is part of the reason that I'm being completely honest while typng this review.

Some things in this book just didn't make much sense to me, and maybe it's because I haven't read this book in a while, but somethig ns just didn't completely add up. Part of me is saying that I feel that way because it's just the mystery of the series, and I hope that's the case.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought that it was new and different and I liked learning about different cultures, though they weren't the main focus of this book, they were still interesting. Nick and his mother are both fantastic characters and I feel like I was connected to them in a way. That's the best part about reading, you know? When you can legitimately connect with a fictional characer and it's almost as though you've known each other forever.

If you haven't read this book and are looking for something new to read, you should definitely pick it up! I give it 4/5 stars. :)

Friday, February 1, 2013

First Book Haul of 2013!

Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.



Lullaby (Watersong, #2)
Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers.

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life. Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world. It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs. Just as she's drifting far away from her old life, Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed. All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

Prepare to fall under the spell of Lullaby, the second book in the Watersong series from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.


Anna KareninaNow a major motion picture starring Keira Knightly, Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, directed by Joe Wright from a screenplay by Tom Stoppard.

Leo Tolstoy’s classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky.

In their world frivolous liaisons are commonplace, but Anna and Vronsky’s consuming passion makes them a target for scorn and leads to Anna’s increasing isolation. The heartbreaking trajectory of their relationship contrasts sharply with the colorful swirl of friends and family members who surround them, especially the newlyweds Kitty and Levin, who forge a touching bond as they struggle to make a life together. Anna Karenina is a masterpiece not only because of the unforgettable woman at its core and the stark drama of her fate, but also because it explores and illuminates the deepest questions about how to live a fulfilled life.

Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude

Les Misérables
Now a major motion picure, adapted from the acclaimed Broadway musical, starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, and Sacha Baron Cohen

Victor Hugo’s tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience, when, owing to a case of mistaken identity, another man is arrested in his place; and by the relentless investigations of the dogged policeman Javert. It is not simply for himself that Valjean must stay free, however, for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of Fantine, driven to prostitution by poverty. A compelling and compassionate view of the victims of early nineteenth-century French society, Les Misérables is a novel on an epic scale, moving inexorably from the eve of the battle of Waterloo to the July Revolution of 1830.

This striking edition features the widely celebrated and eminently readable translation by Norman Denny.


Warm Bodies
Now a major motion picture from Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the blockbuster Twilight series and the upcoming movie Insurgent, starring Academy Award Nominee John Malkovich, Nicholas Hoult, and Teresa Palmer and directed by Jonathan Levine.

R is having a no-life crisis—he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he’d rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.

And then he meets a girl.

First as his captive, then his reluctant guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R’s gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn’t want to eat this girl—although she looks delicious—he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can’t imagine, and their hopeless world won’t change without a fight.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Or, the Modern Prometheus: With ConnectionsShelley's classic hints in part at the possible dangers inherent in the pursuit of pure science; it also portrays the injustice of a society which persecutes outcasts such as the "Monster." Disturbing and profoundly moving, Frankenstein has become part of our own mythology.
I had the pleasure of reading this inspiring classic in my Brit. Lit. class this year. I enjoyed it, to an extent. I saw profound character development and I even felt sorry for both of the main characters at times, but sadly, I read this book for school and with that comes some form of a headache. I'm not sure if I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would because of the notes and such that I had to take for class, or because some of the insane attention to detail just annoyed the crap out of me. I had that same problem with Kagawa's Iron Fae series, so maybe it was just the detail. Either way, I liked and somewhat enjoyed this book. Shelley was definitely ahead of her time, and Tesla would definitely be proud of her book. (If you understood that reference, thank you.) Overall, I'd give this book a 3/5, and I will say that I believe that everyone has to read this book at least once, because the movies have it wrong. Blasted Hollywood.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Triangles - Ellen Hopkins


TrianglesTHREE FEMALE FRIENDS FACE MIDLIFE CRISES IN A NO-HOLDS-BARRED EXPLORATION OF SEX, MARRIAGE, AND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE.

Holly: Filled with regret for being a stay-athome mom, she sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Will it bring the fulfillment she is searching for?

Andrea: A single mom and avowed celibate, she watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband?

Marissa: She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay, rebellious teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts.As one woman’s marriage unravels, another’s rekindles. 

As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s reconfigures into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.Unflinchingly honest, emotionally powerful, surprisingly erotic, Triangles is the ultimate page-turner. Hopkins’s gorgeous, expertly honed poetic verse perfectly captures the inner lives of her characters. Sometimes it happens like that. Sometimes you just get lost.Get lost in the world of Triangles, where the lives of three unforgettable women intersect, and where there are no easy answers.


I love reading Ellen Hopkins' work. I adore her  writing style and each time she writes something I am awestruck by her ability to sucker punch people using only her words. This is her first adult novel (At least, I think it is...Right?) and I was once again amazed by it.

I was a little cautious at first, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to completely understand the demographic (I am not a mom, or a wife) so I didn't know if I'd be able to completely relate to the characters. I first picked this book up because I knew I wanted to read her YA companion to this book Tilt, and I figured that I'd read the first book first, because unless you're reading The Mortal Instruments series, or something, that's how these things usually work.

Once again I was amazed at Ellen Hopkins' briliance, and I admired many characteristicts and characters in this book, while simultaniously wanting to slap the crap out of others. I didn't completely connect with this book, because I am not the audience that it was intended for, but invisible rules are made to be broken, right?

Anywho, I enjoyed reading about these characters. They were all lovely in their own way, and I can't wait to read Tilt and figure out just what the heck these kids were thinking, because they were just... ugh!
4/5 stars.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Going Bovine - Libba Bray

All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

I know I've been gone for a long, long, Long-with-a-capital-L time. I am very, very sorry about that. Between work and school and life, I just haven't had much time for blogging. And, at the moment, I'm thinking about redoing my YouTube channel because, to be honest, I don't like it much. It could be SO much better. I'm too lazy to change it now, and it's almost my bed time, so I must get on with this review and stop talking about things you guys don't care about.

This, my dears, was my first Bray. I probably should have read this book when I first saw it, I was younger then and probably would have liked it more than I do today. At any rate, let's get on with the review!

It took me about a week (give or take a few days) to finish this story. Between work and school and life, I just don't think I can handle much reading at this time. Anyway, I thought that this story was fantasticly creative, and that it was new and fresh and something that I just haven't read about before. It was nice to read something different for a change. While this book did have it's magical influences, there were no vampires or werewolves or fae, (Shadowhunters would have been cool, but that's another story all together.) This story was strictly what it was, and I am okay with that. The characters were loveable (Especially the Little ones! They're my personal favorites) and they were very believeable, the setting was great, I almost felt like I was road-tripping with the gang, and the story was as believeable as it possiblly could have been, give in the nature of the story. Libba Bray's writing style is much like the way I think, and I found myself relating some of her words to my life as it was as I was reading. (If you didn't understand that, don't worry, it's not important. Just know that Bray's writing was fantastically enthralling and sarcastic and wonderous

There was just one thing that made this book somewhat annoying: The middle lasted FOREVER. There are only so many ways that you can go on adventures and end up in (pretty much) the same situation!

The ending of this story was fantastic, I loved every bit of the ending and I wish that the "villian" had more face time. He's an ominous presence for the most part and he had so much potential.

3/5

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

True Blood, Vol. 1: All Together Now (True Blood #1)

Blood and sex mix on a hot rainy night at Merlotte's, when Sookie and her friends are trapped by a vengeful spirit who feeds on shame. People die and dirty secrets are revealed as Sookie, Bill, Eric, Sam, Tara, Jason, and Lafayette and are all coerced to dig deep and tell painful memories from their past....those things we all have locked within us that we never tell another living soul Bon Temps, Louisiana has never been stranger, or more twisted, in a story co-plotted by True Blood series creator Alan Ball, with a script by David Tischman (Bite Club) and Mariah Huehner, and lush art by David Messina (Star Trek: Countdown).

I had just finished watching Season 1 of True Blood (Yes, I know I'm a tad behind, but I don't get HBO) and I needed a fix when all of the sudden this fantastically amazing Graphic Novel poped out at me while I was perusing through my local library. I was so excited to read it that I went straighht home, shut my door, and read until I finished it (This was the day after Thanksgiving and the left over turkey was calling my name, so this took a bit of effort on my part.) Anyway, I'm happy to say that I've finished this first novel and OH MY GOODNESS. I absolutely ADORED it.

Some things in this novel didn't really make sense to me , but I chalked that up to me not watching Season 2 of True Blood before I started reading. I loved learning some of the backstories of my favorite side characters, although I think the Vampires should have opened up a bit more... Maybe it's just my wild imagination, but I think they have a lot more skeletons in their closet...

Either way, this was an extremely entertaining read and I can't wait to pick up the second book!
4.5/5 stars.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year Y'all!

Happy new year everyone! i am pleased to inform you that I didn't die in the apocalypse, and you didn't either, I'm guessing. :) New year, new start, more books! I can't wait to share with the books that I've gotten throughout the time I was gone. Now, this year, I'm going to make a few New Year's Resolutions:
  • Read More
I know I've been an extremely bad blogger through out the past few months, and I am incredibly sorry for that. There were multiple family emergencies and I hadn't been able to keep up with reading and blogging, let alone vlogging. I plan to work on that this year, and schedule my posts so that there will always be something posted.
  • Blog More
I also know that I've been a bad vlogger, and this is because I just haven't had either the time or the energy to vlog about books. I also plan to change this. And get editing software because sometimes I tend to ramble....a lot. Which I'm going to stop doing now.
  • Read outside of my comfort zone
I feel like I get bored while reading, not because the stories that I read aren't great (most of the time they're wonderful), but because I think I need more variety when I read. I did read outside of my comfort zone last year by picking up a few Graphic Novels, which I actually liked. Maybe this year I'll try and read at least 3 biographies, because they're not my favorite material ever.
  • Read more book-to-movie adaptations

The last three resolutions are there just because I've started to really become intrigued by movies--good movies, anyway--and I know that good movies usually stem from good books, so, I've decided to read a few books that have or will become movies, and then see how the story comes to life. To date, I haven't read/watched that many book/movie adaptations, so this year, I've decided to give it a try.
  • Read a few classics
I think that this particular bullet is on my Resolutions list every single year. I don't know why I don't read many classics, but just don't. So, I've decided to fix that this year and read some classics. :)


I'm not sure what the posting schedule is going to be, mainly because I'm working and I'm going to take a few AP tests in May and then I graduate.... I GRADUATE. Holy crap. No. Not gonna think about it. No. I'm going to try and post at least twice a month.

Anyway, thanks to all of you for being fantastic reading individuals and fantastic individuals in general. :)
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