There has been very mixed opinions about Shatter Me in many reviews that I had read. When I first saw the novel's original cover, I was excited becausThere has been very mixed opinions about Shatter Me in many reviews that I had read. When I first saw the novel's original cover, I was excited because it was absolutely stunning: The shattering wall, the dress, the text with a line scrawled through it, I knew that I wanted to read this book. And no matter if it reminded people of an X-Men rip off, I was wound up to read this exciting dystopian novel.
Tahereh Mafi has a unique writing style. The use of the strike out feature. She is vivid in description with beautiful narrative and poetic style. There were so many lines that I really loved reading, they were put together perfectly, making me envious at such a gorgeous style of writing. Though there are multiple words that Mafi likes to repeat and then strike out in the text, I found that dynamic to become a repetitive motion that lost its effect after the first few times and then started to agitate me many times later into the novel. So even with the pro of elegant writing style, there is also a con of repetitiveness that weakened the novel in certain portions.
As the story goes, I enjoyed the artificial world that Juliette lives in. A world where she prays to be free and go where the natural light and the beauty of the world exists again. A world where she is seen as normal rather than a monster. I loved the idea that Juliette had not been touched in days, not just days, over hundreds of day, close to a year. No form of endearment, no comfort, no accidental brushing of skin--nothing. Locked up in an asylum, her thoughts are all over the place but statistical. Numbers are huge in her life. They are constant. And there is a feeling inside me while reading, a feeling that pities her condition and a feeling that wishes the best to happen to her. You want Juliette to escape and be free, live a normal life.
In the reviews I read, many people loved Warner, the main antagonist. I had no care for him. I had no cares for Adam, the main love interest of Juliette, the boy she's known as a kid and the one determined to save her from a cruel fate. I was just focused on Juliette the whole time, watching her struggle time and again, her strength keeping her from crumbling. She was my main focus. Not the romance, not the sort of love triangle, not even Kenji (who happened to be my other favorite character in this book, he made me smile whenever he came into light in the story). It was just Juliette and what was going to happen next.
Final Summation: I am excited to see what will be going on in the second installment of this series. Though I wasn't all that impressed with the ending, I do expect Tahereh Mafi to bring an action packed, kickass sequel. Hopefully my hopes won't be crushed. And for whoever has yet to read this novel, I definitely recommend it to all readers. The style is quite something, very unique....more
City of Bones was definitely one of those books that just sucks up your attention with no More reviews at
City of Bones was definitely one of those books that just sucks up your attention with no intent of letting go. A very good book when you're looking to just sit on the big comfy couch and stick your nose in that book. The hours just fly by and I honestly didn't know that the sun set when I put the book down. My day flew away as my attention was grasped by Cassandra Clare's City of Bones.
One thing that I truly enjoyed reading within this book was the action and fighting. It wasn't weak where the violence was lacking. Some books water the fighting down but not in this one. The fast-paced action shots were vivid within the writing and the imagination.
The character development within the book had me grown attached. In the beginning I was with Clary all the way with seeking to find her mother. Though sometimes I wanted to throw a book at her, to open her eyes to what was right in front of her. It's not that she was oblivious...well yeah, she was oblivious. And Jace. The lovely, gorgeous "Mr. Golden", Jace. He's that character who's sly charm and smooth moves, or should I say self-absorbed nature just draws you in. I wasn't extremely enthralled with Jace, to tell you the truth. The high and mighty nature was nit picky within me. I don't hate his character, though there is some minor irkage dwelling within.
Another thing about City of Bones is the twists and turns within that always keep your attention spot on. I couldn't tell you how many times I was smacking my face because of what what going on. Usually I find plot twists, when over used or used incorrectly, abhorred in nature and I can't even finish a book, but Cassandra Claire really had me going and I didn't even mind it! The shocks were enjoyable, some of them I could see coming, but biggest one at the end OH BOY! And CoB fans know what I'm talking about!
Final Summation: Definitely, if you haven't read this series, go and get it. ...more
This novel was so much fun to read. Especially on a long car ride down. Finished it in onlMore reviews at
This novel was so much fun to read. Especially on a long car ride down. Finished it in only a few hours with my music blasting and the windows rolled down. Honestly, the idea of coffee and chocolate being contraband would kill me. The chocolate part most of all. And having mobsters rule the illegal distribution was such a crafty and enjoyable idea. That's what made Anya's story so wonderful.
The hardships that Anya has to go through, taking charge as the head of the family after her father's death, taking care of her dying grandmother, her siblings, and falling for the son of the assistant D.A. make this story an engrossing one. And with her ex-boyfriend being poisoned by chocolate and Anya taking the blame and the authority come after her, there is never a dull moment in her not-so-normal life.
As far as strong characters go, Anya is definitely one of my favorites. Her witty commentary and the strength she has to stand up for who she is, what she does, and for her family even with hardship after hardship after hardship gives her my respect. She is a character to look up to even though the choices she has to make may not be the ones she wish she made.
Final Summation: All These Things I've Done is a unique novel that does deserve the chance to be read. If you have the time, go out and buy or take this book out from your library because you will not regret it one bit and I'm sure that you will adore Anya as much as I do....more
First off let me say that I enjoyed the first book much more than I did the second. And thMore reviews at
First off let me say that I enjoyed the first book much more than I did the second. And the one reason why I did in the first was that there was more suspense and less emotion hopping. When you start off in Catching Fire Katniss and Peeta are going around each district on their Victory Tour, and it's just so BORING! Sure there were some parts that were made to draw you in because who wants a boring beginning in a book. No one, that's who. My brother, who never reads but loved The Hunger Games, didn't finish this book because of how the beginning took off on the wrong foot. Beauty and riches, parties and dresses. I wanted what the first book had, not a protagonist who couldn't pick and choose which boy to throw herself at and was pampered to every beck and call.
Katniss, oh what happened to you? The Hunger Games. She suffers from the woes of a teenage beating heart and two boys who will do anything for her. But she doesn't have the balls to pick, and uses President Snow as an excuse. I'm not one for whiny main characters but Katniss just took things to a whole new level. And her undying resolve to keep Peeta alive doesn't help her case because it's just really annoying.
The reason why I didn't stop reading the book, from the first time Katniss pissed me off to no end or the boring beginning putting me to sleep, was one character: Finnick Odair. Literally the only reason. The whole entire second half of the book had gotten so much better because there was so much Finnick in it and from the action that I was looking for from the very first chapter, not pretty pampered Katniss. Having won the Hunger Games back when he was only fourteen-years-old--Fourteen!--Finnick is strong, loyal, and cunning. And he's nice on the eyes, too. I will read the next book, even though I know how Mockingjay ends and what happens in between, only because my love for Finnick is just too strong to stay away. And because the cliffhanger was really good I must confess.
Final Summation: Finnick. Yes, I have found a character that I can adore. After bashing most guys in YA, I have found one that is thankfully not a main love interest and whipped. The action towards the ending and the cliffhanger was definitely the one of the best things the second book had going for it. Katniss was not a factor that I liked in this book and I wish there was more good character development rather than cold, emotion-flipping, pampered, boring old Katniss. I wanted what the first book supplied in her, but I got something that I never wanted in a strong main character that she was. Oh well....more
There was literally not one thing that I dMore reviews at
Breathless. Exhilarated. Completely Enthralled.
There was literally not one thing that I disliked about this story. The characters: realistic, diverse, all around gorgeous depictions of everyone. I fell for every character (besides Vaughn /choughcough) and I could not choose between Linden and Gabriel for Rhine. I had fallen for both. And if the circumstances were completely different I would have loved if Rhine truly fell for Linden. My heart is still strung for him.
Such a big fan for Dystopian, I am. The whole premise of this story was delicious. Women only life until 20 years of age and men for 25. To think about such ages actually being our limitations and early acceptance into death... It's horrifying. I would, like Rhine, have 4 years left (3 in late November) and such a conscience realization is traumatic.
The writing is vivid, descriptive, rich. I was engrossed in the pages from the very start, unable to leave. I never wanted to put the book down, honestly. I was distraught when I had to set it aside for moments at a time. Doing school work while this amazing story was tantalizing me; it just wasn't fair! But the torture was worth it because the ending was so bittersweet and the realization that the sequel release date isn't too far along brings a smile to my face....more
I can say that I absolutely adored The Hunger Games , every single moment, every single woMore reviews at
I can say that I absolutely adored The Hunger Games , every single moment, every single word. I was lingering on every move that Katniss made.
When I fist heard about The Hunger Games I had already finished Battle Royale and was indeed hooked on that book. I was weary of reading this book for I would have seen it as a copy of Battle Royale but after giving it a chance, it most certainly is not a copy but a wonder in its own way.
I love dystopian novels and The Hunger Games is up there. It hasn't beaten out Battle Royale, I hold that one close to my heart, but it's still up in my top favorites with The Uglies series. Suspenseful, thought-provoking, and enticing, this novel was well paced and always made me hungry for more action and dished out in large engrossing portions.
Bravo, Hunger Games you have me revving up for Catching Fire...more
I practically begged my boyfriend for Christmas to gift me this book and he did. I had higMore reviews at
I practically begged my boyfriend for Christmas to gift me this book and he did. I had high expectations for this book but the bar increased ten fold after reading. The phenomenal story of June and Day's lives sucked me into a world I never expected. Where revenge sparks the cause and lies run the rules, Legend is a novel whose action drags you and whose characters leave an imprint.
Dystopian genre is a huge market out in the literary world but Legend has to be one of my favorites of the 2011 year, up there with Divergent. The dual POVs always happen to be a favorite of mine, allowing a wider spectrum of character thoughts and depth in the story line and does Legend give you that. With June, our prodigy and youngest military officer sparked with revenge after her brother's death, and Day, the youngest and most dangerous criminal within the Republic. Two minds to look through, two stories to adore.
Marie Lu did an absolutely fabulous job with completing the novel in present tense. Reading in past tense and third person past tense with most novels, it was nice to bask in the glory of the present. The thought of them living their lives while you read, fighting and going through tough decisions gives chills and keeps an air hanging because you know what they know.
I am highly anticipating the next novel in this series to leave me breathless as the first had. The months seem so far away until its release....more
I likey. I likey a lot. The cover did me in. And a big thanks to Anna and her giveaway becMore reviews at
I likey. I likey a lot. The cover did me in. And a big thanks to Anna and her giveaway because without it, it would have taken me ages to go out and buy the book. Jumping into this book after reading dystopian after dystopian was a wonderful change of pace and scenery. The writing and the characters had a certain air about them that made me enjoy the book a whole lot more.
The beginning blew me out of the water. The whole explanation and viewing of being frozen was both beautifully descriptive and eerily haunting. The thoughts that go through her mind while she's panning in and out of consciousness for years and years, the ideas of being alone with only your mind and memories until you are released from your frozen slumber sent chills down my spine. If I had the choice to go through such a painful experience and end up being alone, in a container, with just me and my thoughts, I'd go insane. God bless Amy for such a brave and sad choice.
During the duration of the book, while Amy is out of her chamber, the reader gets a good look of what is actually going on throughout Godspeed. Lies. Murder. Mating. And let me tell you the mating scene with all the inhabitants was the weirdest, freakiest, and scariest thing I have ever read. Not expecting something like that to happen. Oh, and Hartley was my favorite character. The end. He was just a beautifully crafted character with emotion and flaw and his actions were heart wrenching.
Final Summation: A glorious debut novel that left me wanting more. Beth Revis's ability to craft and describe was absolutely beautiful in this tragic tale woven with lies, murder, and romance. This is a novel that should be picked up and read immediately....more
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