Review: Catching Fire Movie

Before I start this review, I have to admit that I am not a Hunger Games fan at all. I never liked Katniss and still don't. There were certainly some aspects of the book that I liked, but it wasn't enough for me to a) finish Mockingjay and b) like the series (which is also evident from my ratings on Goodreads). However, Catching Fire was my favorite book of the two that I read, so I was a little bit more excited about this movie. I also have to say that this series is one of the rare instances where I think the movies are better than the books. But without further ado, my review.

I think the most important aspect to hit upon first is the characters/acting. I've been feeling very conflicted on this because the movie has changed some of my thoughts on the characters from when I read the book. But I'm going to break this down in some of the different characters. I suppose I should talk about Katniss first. Like I said above, I never liked Katniss. The movies have not changed that, and I'm not sorry to admit that. I certainly think Jennifer Lawrence is a great actress, but I've been wondering how much I've been enjoying her performance. In some ways, I was first thinking that this (and The Hunger Games) was one of her weaker performances on screen. But before you yell at me, let me explain. I saw Katniss to be very emotionless in the first half-ish part of the movie. I know a lot of you will argue with me about that, but that's how I saw it. Later on, I do think it got better, but there was still something that irked me. Jennifer Lawrence's performance didn't honestly help me at all. I still feel the same way about Katniss, and if anything, the movie reinforces how much I really don't like Katniss. I get why a lot of other people do like her, but I think the bad parts I see far outweigh the good that they see. And that's when I realized that maybe that made Jennifer Lawrence a good actress who has done a great job representing Katniss. What I mean is that for those who like/love Katniss, the movies have reinforced that, but for me, among the minority, it just reminds me of everything I don't like about Katniss. Lawrence's performance is good in that I guess she has done a great job playing who Katniss really is, for better or for worse.

Next, there's Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Let's start with Hemsworth first. I just...no. Sorry. Unlike many, I didn't mind Gale in the books (maybe because I never read past ~5 chapters of Mockingjay). But I don't think Hemsworth has captured the character's essence. Maybe part of it is the writing, but I think a large part of it is that he really seems unemotional, and that doesn't fit him, at least from how I interpreted Gale from the books. His performance has really made me dislike Gale. Who knows, maybe that's the point. Josh Hutcherson, on the other hand, I feel has done a great job. I don't even know why, but I was never fond of Peeta in the books, which is weird because in real life, I probably would like him. But I think Josh has done a great job of understanding and portraying Peeta, with a ton of emotions and expressions, and it's made me really like Peeta a whole lot more.

Haymitch and Effie are just as great in this movie, if not better (particularly Haymitch). Also, that mahogany reference? Perfect! Cinna is also still magnificent in this movie, and I'M SO SAD BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM LIKE WHY. (Just as a note, my favorites from the books were Haymitch, Cinna, Finnick, and possibly Johanna (I say possibly because I don't remember much from the books, so I don't know if I liked her).) Speaking of Finnick, MY GOSH SAM CLAFLIN. Yes, yes, yes, yes. He was so perfect as Finnick, and I just love him even more! And speaking of loving a character, Jo-freakin'-hanna! I fricking love that girl. Jena Malone, you are my favorite (not really but okay, maybe in this movie yes). Johanna was so beyond fantastic. I loved how snarky she was, and I loved her unique personality. You could definitely see the hatred she had towards the Capitol. And her attitude and personality and just everything just blew me away. I think Malone's performance was one of the best, if not the best, out of all of the actors.

On a last note about characters after that mini freak out, I don't know how I feel about how Mags was portrayed. I still loved her, and you could still understand her personality, but I didn't really like how she didn't talk. I know it was probably to get around the speech issue that I don't remember but was apparently in the books (you can see how much I didn't like the series in general...also it's been a long time).

Next, on to everything else. I loved the clock arena, and it was definitely freaky. I didn't really like that they didn't at least introduce all the tributes, which made it confusing when they showed the dead. I get that they weren't important, but I'm picky, and I couldn't stop thinking, "Did we ever see that person? Who is that?" I don't know if they were mentioned in the books, so maybe that's why, but still. But the arena was really well done in general. I also loved the Snow scenes, and the parts with his granddaughter were really well done. Caesar's scenes were hilarious as well.

I didn't really understand the huge jump in advanced technology. I get that it's the Quarter Quell, and I get that they had a much higher budget (the movie, I mean), but I don't know...it felt so weird to see such a vast difference in technology in, I believe, less than a year. I know it's not real and whatnot, and I do think that some of the technology did help to add to the movie and to make it look cooler, but I think the movie would have been just fine without that huge jump. Maybe I'm just being over picky.

The last nit-picky thing for me was the awkward scene cuts. It was definitely a lot better compared to The Hunger Games, but there were still a couple of times when this bothered me, particularly the one that cut abruptly from a dark scene to a light scene, making my eyes go WOAH NO.

In general, I really enjoyed this movie. As much as I'd hate to admit it, it's definitely one that I'd see again, and I think it was VERY well done. I would gladly freak out about the movie, as I have a bit already, just as long as you don't mention the book series to me (maybe Catching Fire is the exception but I don't really remember it) and push it in my face.

Basically, as a whole, I think the acting was phenomenal. Almost every actor brought something to their character, whether I personally enjoyed it or not. The pacing went well (if you don't mind that the arena lasted roughly 2 or 3 days and a lot of time was spent on everything before), and I loved the arena. The ending was perfect, and Katniss' facial expression? Awesome. Everyone really stepped it up a notch with this movie, and it really helped to make this epic. While I will never say that this is my favorite book-to-movie adaptation (despite its flaws, I'll always go with Harry Potter, and I'm not sorry about that. Argue with me all you want, but I will never let anything, especially THG, take over that spot. I'm stubborn that way), it's probably on my top ten list, as much as I'd hate to admit that.

Seriously, if you can, go watch it (if you haven't already). It will possibly almost blow your mind away by its greatness.

Review: Altered by Gennifer Albin (ARC)

Altered by Gennifer Albin
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, Giroux (BYR)
Release Date: October 29th, 2013

Life. Possibility. Choice.

All taken from Adelice by the Guild—until she took them back.

But amid the splendid ruins of Earth, Adelice discovers how dangerous freedom can be. Hunted by soulless Remnants sent by Cormac Patton and the Guild, Adelice finds a world that’s far from deserted. Although allies are easy to find on Earth, knowing who to trust isn’t. Because everyone has secrets, especially those Adelice loves most. Secrets they would kill to protect. Secrets that will redefine each of them. Torn between two brothers and two worlds, Adelice must choose what to fight for.

In this thrilling sequel to Crewel, Adelice is about to learn how tangled up her past and future really are. Her parents ran to protect her, but nothing can save her from her destiny, and once she uncovers the truth, it will change everything.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from a giveaway held by the publishing company. This does not affect my thoughts on the book.

I was so beyond excited to receive an ARC of Altered after being blown away by Crewel, the first book. I had high expectations, and while some of them were met, this fell short in many aspects. (Also, as a note, I now have both the ARC and a final copy, but since I read the ARC, I'm listing it as such.)

Altered picks up right after Crewel ended, with Adelice, Eric, and Jost falling down to Earth. We're then introduced to a bunch of new characters, including Dante, whom I'm still conflicted over. We also meet Kincaid, who's almost like the Cormac Patton of Earth. We also learn a lot more about Adelice's parents and what they were involved with, although the full truth only comes out later on in the story. There's a lot about the Cypress Project and the interesting man and scientist, Kairos. Don't worry, you'll learn more about all of that when you read the book. And one of the best parts, at least for me? Learning about what "The Agenda" is. If you've seen Albin's Twitter campaign and promotions, you'll find that she had a bunch of stuff set up relating to the book and using the hashtag #JoinTheAgenda.

The plot was generally well-written, and there were a few plot twists that took me by surprise. Albin continues to weave a fantastic new world, leaving the reader captivated and generally engaged. There were a few times here and there where the plot moved a lot slower, but there was also a lot of character development and influential decisions that were made. It was interesting to see where all the characters were headed towards, even if it wasn't exactly what I would personally want.

But speaking of characters, I want to discuss that aspect in particular detail. I still love Adelice, but there was something about her that irked me at times. I think part of it may have been her stubbornness, though given her, ah, family, I can't say I'm surprised. Despite this, I can understand where she's coming from. Most of her emotions, feelings, thoughts, decisions, and actions are understandable. And it's wonderful that she's not strong all the time and that she's affected by her weakness.
Jost, however, really bothered me. He seems to have turned into someone completely different, and while I understand the reasons why, I hate how he's turned into someone else. It feels almost icky, but I'm holding out hope that this will change when/if he finds his daughter and gets her back.
I'm still stuck on Eric and Dante. Eric also seemed to be very different from how he was in Crewel, but there's still something that doesn't sit right with me. Dante...he's a very interesting, complex character, and I love that about him, but there was always a little part of me that was annoyed with him.
I think that Albin is really pushing for that "love triangle" or whatever it's more appropriately called between Jost and Adelice and Eric and Adelice. But it all felt so unnatural and fake. None of the potential relationships seemed real to me anymore. I had been a pretty ardent Adelice/Jost shipper, but with Jost being all...weird...it didn't fit right anymore, but it also always felt like Eric was up to something. We'll see, I guess...

Yet despite all of this, I still did enjoy the characters in terms of their complexity. I feel like a lot of what I said above are personal opinions that have more to do with how I read and understand the characters than the characters themselves. They're all interesting and very three dimensional. They all have something that they want, and they're all willing to do what they can to get that. I think that this book highlights a lot of their individual characteristics. The decisions they make reflect where they are in THIS book, and I think it sets up well for Crewelest.

Also, can we talk about that ending?! I'm glad that Adelice made the decision, even though I kept shouting "NO!" I think it showed how much Adelice learned and changed throughout the book. I think that making such a big decision and an even bigger sacrifice is monumental to her as a character. But can I just say, [SPOILER] WHY AMIE?! [END SPOILER]

All in all, while I still enjoyed the plot and Albin's storytelling, the book suffered from Second Book Syndrome. I'm hoping that Crewelest will be even better though, especially the way that this book sets it up. I'm excited to read the final book to the series! And remember to #JoinTheAgenda! ;)

You can find Gennifer Albin on: Official Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest | Tumblr

You can find Altered on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | The Book Depository

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: March 30th, 2012/August 7th, 2012

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined. 

Where do I even begin? Before I started the book, I had kept hearing about how great this book was. Everyone seemed to just absolutely LOVE it. And rightly so! I'm just one more blogger that agrees.

I guess I'll start with the characters. They're all phenomenally written, and what I think Maas did best was that she made sure that all of the characters had flaws. Celaena, who is one of my favorite heroines of all time, was so well-written and so real, partially due to the fact that she wasn't perfect. She had her own moments of weakness, and getting to see both sides of her was great. (I also found it interesting to see how girly Celaena could be despite her, ah, profession.) And of course it wasn't just Celaena. There was also Chaol, Dorian, Nehemia, the King, and everyone! Maas builds up her characters extremely well, and they're all very well-rounded characters.

Next is the plot itself. I've always been a fan of epic/high fantasy, and Throne of Glass made me fall in love with the sub-genre all over again. The world building was beyond phenomenal. Of course, there's also a map at the front of the book. Awesome, right? Anyway, back to the plot. It felt perfectly paced, and it was suspenseful and intriguing enough to keep me interested and invested in the story through the entire book. I never wanted to put it down! If it were up to me, I would have spent the entire day reading it. Seriously, why didn't I read this book before??? I'm also really glad that although there was some light romance, it didn't overshadow the main plot. If anything, it enhanced it. And I personally thought there was enough in it for you to at one moment want her to be with Dorian and the other to be with Chaol (I was originally a Dorian fan, but I think I'm siding more towards Chaol now; thinking back on it now, especially having started Crown of Midnight, it's obvious she was never meant to be with Dorian, and they didn't seem to really come together naturally). It's interesting to see how the different relationships, all of which are very different (as in not just romantic relationships), affect the plot. I don't really know how else to describe everything I loved about this book. It was just everything!

What else do I talk about? (It's been too long since I've written a review, clearly.) Basically...intriguing, complex characters with compelling relationships, great character and world building, perfect pacing, extremely invested in the story, enjoyable style (at least personally), and a really well executed plot and story in general.

I kind of just love everything about the book, so I highly recommend it.

You can find Sarah J Maas on: Facebook | Twitter | Official Website | Blog | Goodreads

You can find Throne of Glass on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound | Goodreads

Review: My Yellow Umbrella by Chris Robertson

My Yellow Umbrella by Chris Robertson
Publisher: Xist Publishing
Release Date: October 15th, 2013

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author. This did not affect my review in any way.
Reviewer's Note: This is the first time I've reviewed a picture book, and I have no idea how to do this well, so this will be very short.

The Yellow Umbrella is short, cute, and imaginative. The illustrations are very well done and go right along with the words. It's a truly inspirational read, and I think everyone can get something out of it, no matter how old one is. I definitely recommend this to parents to read to their children.

Review: Fearsome by S. A. Wolfe (ARC)

Fearsome by S. A. Wolfe
Date Published: 10/1/2013

Jessica Channing’s big city life should be more exciting than sixty-hour work weeks and popcorn nights with her girlfriends, but it’s not. She has worked hard fulfilling her role as a child prodigy and graduating college years before her peers. She’s the good girl, the brilliant girl.

Unfortunately, she’s also the dateless young woman.

That all changes with one phone call. Jess’s rigid, predictable life upends when she must visit a small, obscure town to deal with a relative’s death. This isn’t just any little speck of a town, though. Long lost memories come crashing down on Jess’s world when two men, the Blackard brothers, seem to lure her in.

Dylan is cover model handsome, and pursues Jess the minute she comes to town. Then there is tall, dark and gorgeous Carson, who hides his own secrets behind his hardened reserve.

For someone who has been governed by her own obsessive behaviors and fears, Jess lets her guard down and jumps at the opportunity to have an affair with a man she actually finds attractive for a change.

There’s just one problem. Jess discovers that she can’t have a simple romantic fling because true passion does indeed come with some very big strings attached to it. She will have to own up to her own truths about love and face the two extraordinary men; both troubled in their own ways and both determined to have her.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for a tour, and it did not affect my review or rating of the book whatsoever.

Let me start off by stating the obvious. I don't normally read NA, and I'm probably still a bit young to be reading NA, but the book did intrigue me, so.

In it's most basic form, the story isn't bad. A little predictable in some ways, perhaps, but in other ways, also very surprising. There were some revelations about characters that I was not expecting, and there was enough tension at the very least to keep me reading. The tension between Carson and Dylan was particularly interesting to read, and I liked seeing their relationship evolve. (And personally, I don't like sibling love triangle plots, so that was a bit of a turn off for me.)

But I did have a problem with Jess. I just could get myself to like her. I couldn't connect to her, and while I could sometimes understand where she was coming from, she wasn't someone that I liked very much. She was bearable enough to read the book, but there was something unsettling to me about her and the way she treats people. Her reactions seemed extreme most of the time and they didn't seem to fit who I thought she was at the beginning.

There were other characters, however, that I did like. I'm still a little hesitant on Carson, but I absolutely loved Lauren and Imogene. They were hilarious and fun. Perhaps they weren't as complex as I would have liked them to be, but I think that it balanced out Dylan, Jess, and Carson, who were all so complex that it almost overpowered everything else. Thankfully there was always Lauren and Imogene.

All in all, this was a decent read. I didn't particularly enjoy the apparent telling over showing, but it was more along a fine line than completely being too much. There were a few characters that I really enjoyed and some others that were decent and interesting enough to get me to finish the book. I don't know if I'd recommend it, but I definitely think it's a bit too erm...steamy for younger readers, even if they're my age.

You can find Fearsome on: Smashwords | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
You can find S. A. Wolfe on: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: Hudson Lights by Hudson Lights

Hudson Lights

Composed of 4 vocal artists from the Rocky Mountains, Hudson Lights creates a fresh fusion of contemporary pop and jazz like you've never heard before! World-class harmonies and consummate showmanship make this an unforgettable music experience. Equal parts thrilling, inspiring, and effortlessly charming, Hudson Lights brings a classy edge back to mainstream pop.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the CD to review for a tour.

Firstly, let me just say DAMN. These guys can sing, and they can sing WELL. Like exceptionally well. Their voices and their harmonies just blew me away. I was expecting something decent, but they were far more than exceptional. 

The album starts off really strong. Hold On to Me was extremely well done, but I think one of my favorites was Brave. Perhaps part of it is that I love Josh Groban, but these guys also give so much to this song. There are so many times when they sound just like Groban! Beautiful Day is a very close second, and it was these three songs that took me right away. The latter songs are also fantastic. There is so much depth to their singing, and you can tell that they're giving it their all. Their harmonies flow so well together, and it sounds like something you'd hear in heaven.

The one thing that I personally felt was that the first half was much more upbeat than the second half. It made me feel a little tired at the end, although their singing continued to be fantastic. Perhaps it's just me, and perhaps it was just poor track order. But nevertheless, upon hearing it for a second and third time, I really came to appreciate and love the last few songs too. Maybe it just takes a bit more of a push to get into it.

The variety in the music also really highlights how talented this group is. It may sound like a strange mix at first, but it shows how versatile Hudson Lights is. They adjust to the song, but they execute it well. They can be soothing, upbeat, fun, sad, and plenty more. And they make the listener feel the same way! Really well done!

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this! I, for one, am going to be on the look out for their other stuff.

Review: Rook by Monica MacDonald (ARC)

Rook by Monica MacDonald

Could you be the monster to save who you love?
Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to review for a tour. It did not influence my rating or review in any way.

The plot of this novel completely intrigued me. It was interesting to see all the pieces fall into place, and it was paced relatively well, albeit being a bit slow in the beginning. I don't want to give too much away, so!

Next the characters were pretty interesting too. They each have very unique personalities and the interactions between the characters was fun to read. They each have their own issues, and even the characters that you shouldn't like, you'll probably like. The other great thing about the characters is that you can tell the difference between the past and present. Kate and Kali's voices are very distinct yet enjoyable.
Yet, I also found myself finding it hard to concentrate while I was reading it. There was a lot more telling than even I normally enjoy. At the same time, there was quite a bit of description. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, I can personally never read too much description before I just start skimming and skipping sections. I don't think it really took anything away from the book, but I felt a bit guilty not reading everything.

Additionally, I found the pace at the beginning to be a bit slow and dull, although there was a sense of foreboding. I knew something big was coming up involving the characters, and there were plenty of clues about the characters to make me suspicious of a few of them. But I think that the amount of telling also took away from it and made it less exciting.

All in all, a very interesting book with a really thrilling plot. The characters are also spectacular and each is very unique.

You can find Rook on: Goodreads | Amazon

You can find Monica MacDonald on: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: Ascension to Omni Bundle (NCIS:LA)

Ascension (Aired 9/24)

This isn't related to the episode, but confession: I'm TERRIBLE at remembering TV show plots. I'll know that I've watched an episode, but I won't remember the ending (most of the time), and after a few days, I would not have a clear recollection of the episode. But anyway, I shall review it to the best of my ability.

Moving on, the episode was on the one hand predictable, but on the other hand, the execution was done so well that you're thinking about more than that. It was an extremely emotional episode, but I think the cast and writers did a great job of really portraying not only the characters and their reactions to the events but also of portraying PTSD. So many shows try to show trauma, but they don't execute it well, unlike this episode.

I'm also really glad that they got in a solid Sam and Deeks scene without making them out of character. Sam's apparent ability to bounce back fits his character, as he's an ex-Navy SEAL. And Deeks' reaction fits him and his personality as well.

And not to get to in depth with my own biases, I'm glad that they brought up, in some ways, Deeks and Kensi's current relationship. You can visibly see them treading on thin water, but you can still see the affection there. Clearly, the events have to affect Deeks and thus his relationship with Kensi. And I suppose it was their way of addressing the kiss. I'm glad the showrunners aren't rushing to get them together, but I do hope that the showrunners are smart enough to learn from NCIS and not drag it out too long. At the moment, I think they'll find that happy medium.

They really used this episode to tie up some loose ends from the last season. But the one thing that was extremely predictable and a bit frustrating was that they kept Janvier alive. It was clear that NCIS:LA wasn't going to get rid of him, but honestly, I think they need a new arc. They got away with it for so long because it made sense because of both Callen and Janvier's personalities. But it's gotten to the point where I'm just like, "Come on! I know what the finale will probably relate to..."

Impact (Aired 10/1)

This episode definitely makes the list as one of my favorites. If Ascension handled PTSD well, Impact did so with flying colors. I am so happy that they didn't dismiss the effects of torture on Sam because even the toughest of guys will break down. I loved seeing Nate back because I just love Nate, but it's clear that he still has a close relationship with the team. I'm glad that he was the one brought in to talk to Sam and Deeks, even if neither of them wanted it. Not only did Nate bring up a hidden side to Sam, but he was really able to get to the heart of Deeks' relationship with Kensi.

This episode was definitely a lot more character driven than anything, but I'm glad they're taking the time to develop and delve into the effects of the traumatic events from last season. They could have easily brushed it off, but they're using it to their advantage. And for that I am grateful.

And lastly, of course, I HAVE to bring up the Deeks/Kensi scene at the end. I liked seeing them just hanging out as friends. You can tell how much Kensi really cares about Deeks, even if she's scared to admit it. It's a sweet, touching scene. It hints at possibilities, but it leaves enough open that anything could happen. And I love that.

Omni (Aired 10/8)

I was so disappointed in this episode after the last two episodes, but maybe it was just me.

Firstly, I felt that the case was pretty easy to figure out, and I pretty much knew who had done it as soon as we first met the guy. It was probably enough to convince and trick some people, but I'm sure that for many people, it was predictable. And this episode was a lot less character-centric as the previous two.

Now, that doesn't mean there wasn't anything. There was still a lot about Deeks recovering, but it fell a bit flat in both that area, as well as others. Yes, of course the whole deal with Deeks and shooting is going to be a hot topic, but I still felt like something was missing. The way that Kensi joked about Deeks' ordeal seemed so insensitive in a time wen she should have been on high alert.

I did enjoy the Nell/Eric scenes, but even that seemed to be a filler. Sure, it was hilarious, and it was so great to see Eric stumbling over his own words, but there wasn't really any need for the whole pants and girl's night out ordeal. It seemed like the producers were trying to hard to show things building up between Eric and Nell, but it wasn't executed as well as they probably thought it was.

I'm still a bit iffy on how I feel about this episode, but for now, my rating:

Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)
Release Date: Sept. 17th, 2013

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

There's so much to say about this book. I love it to pieces, and it's on my list of favorite books for sure. The thing is, I think that only some people will get as much out of the book as I did. If you've never been in Elise's situation, or at least to that extreme, then let me be honest, you probably won't love it as much as some of us do (you might though!).

This is a heart-wrenching book, but it's a book that totally gets it. Elise's thoughts are spot-on, and I connected with her in so many ways. She was real, and I saw myself in her. And that's part of why I loved the book so much. I've struggled in situations similar, but not quite the same, as the ones Elise struggles with. Elise never came off as annoying or whiny to me, possibly because I've been there. The way that Leila Sales can get into a character such as Elise's brain so perfectly really amazes me.

I also love the incorporation of awesome music. It enforced the whole DJ-ing aspect of the book, and I liked how it allowed me to find out about more awesome music! I also enjoyed that romance wasn't the focus of the book. It focuses on friendship, family, honesty, and a different kind of love.

A lot of the side characters are also incredible. Whether you love or hate them, they're complex and have their own problems too. They feel real, and it's like they could be real people. I really came to love Vicky and even the security guard (I currently feel a bit brain-dead, so I can't think of his name right now). They all brought something to the table, and each person had their own agenda, whether it went along with Elise's or not.

In the end, I think it's a book that you can only truly appreciate and understand if you've been there. I'm not saying you won't like it if you haven't, but there's a deeper connection to it. There's something about it that just pulls you in if you've gone through something similar, particularly if you've found friends and something you love like Elise did. There's something that you can't grasp or understand if you don't know what it's like. And I think that's why there are people that didn't enjoy the book as much. You don't get as much out of it. If you don't really have a million "yes, yes, yes;" "THIS!;" or "THIS JUST GETS IT" moments, then yeah, you probably won't enjoy it as much as someone who does. (Again, I'm not trying to say that this fits every person, but.) It's an inspiring book, really, and it's very much character-based, but there isn't as much drama or any of that stuff as compared to other contemporary books and just YA books in general. But for me, this book was almost beyond perfect because it just got it. It showed me that people understand, and that I'm not alone.

You can find the book on Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books a Million | Powell's | IndieBound

You can find Leila Sales on Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | her official site

Event Recap: Books of Wonder Signing 9/22/13

This is long overdue, but here's a quick recap of the Books of Wonder signing that I went to in September. It was my 2nd book signing ever and my first as a blogger. Needless to say, I was beyond excited.

So the author's present were Alex London, Robin Wasserman, Patrick Ness, and Gene Luen Yang.

Robin was running a bit late so it started about 15 minutes after it was supposed to. Robin explained how she had just flown back to NYC and how she had been up since 5:00 in the morning. The others, especially Patrick, teased her about it. They started by introducing themselves and explaining how they each got the idea for their books. Robin explained how she was freaking out over the fact that Patrick was there but also about how she had grown up reading a lot of horror. Alex talked about how the MC in Proxy just came out and how he never really intended to write a gay character. Gene talked about his Asian American roots, which I definitely relate to. Patrick talked about how he had always wanted to write something like More Than This but that it had never been the right time.

Then they answered some questions. I didn't write anything down and didn't have enough space on my iPod to record them, so I don't have that. (I am very sorry about this. I remember quite a bit of it, but I don't remember exact words or questions.) But they did talk about their writing habits and about writing advice. Robin talked about the word "influence," and how one of her professors had prohibited them from using the word. Patrick joked around a LOT. He's extremely entertaining and funny, and if you ever get the chance to see him, GO! Alex and Robin joked around about how Robin usually NEEDS a brownie at 2:00, but she wasn't able to get one because of her flight and then the signing, and Alex was eating a cookie. Gene was pretty quiet, but he's really nice (well, all of them are). All in all, there were just a lot of jokes, including some about Twilight and about how even though a lot of people don't see it that way, Stephanie Meyer wrote the book that she wanted to write (they were talking about advice and how you should write what you want to write about, not what others want you to write about). 

Really, it was just really fun, and they're all funny, kind, enjoyable authors. And of course, there was the signing itself. Patrick's line was HUGE, but I really excited to meet Robin. I also felt really bad because I didn't buy Proxy. :(

Anyway, here's some pictures from that.

(I was kind of hyperventilating b/c Robin is made of awesome. Also, I worked up the courage to tell her that I loved her picture with Zelda (on Maureen Johnson's twitter), but I was so nervous and excited to talk to her that I couldn't form a sentence very well. Also, I was really excited and nervous to meet her because I just learned that she had really bad scoliosis when she was younger, and as someone who has scoliosis, it's always nice to find someone that understands. (Which reminds me of a funny story Patrick told, but if you want to know about it, you'll have to ask me either in the comments or on Twitter.))

(Gene Luen Yang--He's an amazing drawer, and I got a signed poster too! Also, we talked a bit about being Asian American, which was cool.)

(Patrick Ness)

(Alex London (and Robin)--I still feel bad for not getting Proxy.)

I was originally going to take pictures of the signed books, but I haven't gotten around to it.

But here's a list of the books that I got:

The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

More Than This by Patrick Ness

Boxers&Saints by Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Invisibility by David Levithan and Andrea Cremer (both of whom were supposed to be there but weren't able to make it; the book was signed though)

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller (free)

Sadly, I do not have a giveaway. Apologies!

Review: A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard

A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 23rd, 2013

Following an all-out battle with the walking Dead, the Spirit Hunters have fled Philadelphia, leaving Eleanor alone to cope with the devastating aftermath. But there’s more trouble ahead—the evil necromancer Marcus has returned, and his diabolical advances have Eleanor escaping to Paris to seek the help of Joseph, Jie, and the infuriatingly handsome Daniel once again. When she arrives, however, she finds a whole new darkness lurking in this City of Light. As harrowing events unfold, Eleanor is forced to make a deadly decision that will mean life or death for everyone.

I wanted to love this book so badly. I loved the first one a LOT. But after fighting it, I just couldn't. Don't get me wrong, a lot of the same aspects that were in the first book were present in this book, but there was so much that was also missing. And with this, there was definitely "second book syndrome."

It was a bit obvious that this was a connecting book, aka the second book to a series. While it still had some of the same elements, it wasn't as big of a deal anymore, and the plot was slightly anti-climactic. I was able to, once again, predict a major plot twist, though there were also a few that got me.

But what made me the most upset while reading this book was that the characters I had grown to love in Something Strange and Deadly were almost non-existent. Sure, they were in the book, but they weren't themselves. Eleanor, whom I loved in the first book, really annoyed me in this one. I think that was one of the main reasons why I didn't like it as much and couldn't really get into it. She didn't have the same spunk, and she made so many reckless choices. I get that what happened was extremely traumatic, but it changed my connection with her. And it wasn't just Eleanor. (I was also confused by her longing for Clarence. I know she felt something towards him, but it was never to that extent.) I also get that it may not have been what the characters would have opted to do, but their personalities changed so much that I just couldn't feel the same way about them. Daniel was cold and distant. He was polite. He and Eleanor clearly didn't have the same spark. They were civil, but they didn't have the same connection. I get that Eleanor was upset, but it made one scene of the book seem...out of place, I guess. Then there was Joseph. I absolutely adored him in the first book, but he also felt so much more harsh and non-sympathetic. He didn't have the same charm, and he didn't respect people in the same way. I understand his anger, but I just didn't feel the same way about him anymore. Only Jie had hardly changed, but then she wasn't even in most of the book.

The new characters also didn't affect me the same way the characters in Something Strange and Deadly. Oliver REALLY annoyed me. And the others didn't ever feel important enough to bother with.

But the thing is, the book wasn't bad. It was slow, but I think that the main reason I was so bored by it was because I was expecting a lot. I was expecting the same characters I'd come to love. I was expecting a slightly more exciting plot. This was definitely more character driven than plot driven. I just don't know that it was executed as well. I think Susan's writing was the same in terms of style, but everything that's hidden behind the words was much more lacking than in the first one.

But nevertheless, there was a lot that I did enjoy. As always, I loved Jie. I also liked seeing how the pieces all fit together. I liked how there was forgiveness, but also a lost chance, at the end. I absolutely loved the setting. I love Laure. I loved the end. I love how things didn't move too quickly between Eleanor and Daniel. I loved seeing the conflict between Daniel and Oliver, even if I b*tched about it while I was reading.

The thing is, I like Susan's writing. There's something about it that reminds me a bit of my own. There's a lot more "telling" than many author's would have, but that works for me. I write like that. I like reading like that. Maybe it takes a bit out of reading, but at the same time, it allows me to focus on other aspects of the story.

I know I talked a lot about the negatives, but in reality, I did enjoy the book. I can't exactly pinpoint why I liked it so much despite all the aspects I didn't like. I JUST DID. :P

You can find Susan Dennard on: her website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

You can find A Darkness Strange and Lovely on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound

Review: Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff (ARC)

Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile 

Release Date: October 3rd, 2013

Mila has an exceptional talent for reading a room—sensing hidden facts and unspoken emotions from clues that others overlook. So when her father’s best friend, Matthew, goes missing from his upstate New York home, Mila and her beloved father travel from London to find him. She collects information about Matthew from his belongings, from his wife and baby, from the dog he left behind and from the ghosts of his past—slowly piecing together the story everyone else has missed. But just when she’s closest to solving the mystery, a shocking betrayal calls into question her trust in the one person she thought she could read best.

Let me preface this by saying that this'll be a short review because if I elaborated, I might have gotten a bit mean.

This book just wasn't for me. I couldn't get into it, and I didn't feel any connection to almost any of the characters. I think that one important aspect of a book, at least for myself, is understanding or at least liking the protagonist. But I just couldn't connect or feel almost anything for Mila.

Now, the books isn't terrible, but it just wasn't great, in my opinion. The plot felt very lacking and slow. The book was pretty anticlimactic. There was one plot twist that I enjoyed. That was when I think it really started to get better. I actually quite liked the ending, which is why this is 2/5.

Another aspect that bugged me was how there were no quotation marks around the dialog. I think that the main reason it bothered me was honestly because I had just finished reading The Road, and I just wanted to read a "normal" book again.

All in all, I think that part of this was a it's me not you type of book, but I just really couldn't get into the book at all. I pushed myself through it but not because I really enjoyed the book. I liked that it made me think at the end, but it was just very lacking in general.
***If anyone is interested in possibly getting this book from me (note that it's a galley), please let me know! I might be willing to send it or swap it. :)

You can find Meg Rosoff on:  her blog | her official website | Twitter You can find Picture Me Gone on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review: Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano (ARC)

Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts on the following book.

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Book for Young Readers

Release Date: October 1, 2013

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

This is the first time I've read any of Lauren DeStefano's books. And boy was I glad that this kicked things off. I plan on reading her Chemical Garden Trilogy someday, but for now, let's go into my review of this fabulous book.

Let's start with the cover. It has got to be one of my favorite book covers of all time. Not only is it perfect and pretty and eye-catching, the inside is just as beautiful. And I don't just mean her writing and her words. I mean, just look at this:


But moving on. The concept was what originally drew me to the book. It's what made me request an ARC. It's new and fresh. It's interesting. I knew right away that it would be a book that I would enjoy as long as it was pulled off right. And it was. Some twists were easy to spot and guess, but it didn't detract much. I enjoyed the originality mixed with dystopian themes and ideas.

Secondly, Lauren't writing BLEW ME AWAY. It is fantastic. She really has a way with words, and I'm so jealous. She can weave sentences together in such a beautiful way. There were so many quotes that I wanted to remember forever. There's a flow that is hard to break when you read her writing. That's what I loved most about this book, to be honest. The writing just captivates me, and it allowed me to enjoy the book in a different way.

I also enjoyed the characters. There was a darkness to each of them, but at the same time, they were all so amazing. They all have to deal with so much, each handling their own problems, and then they all come together at the end to deal with a bigger issue. And they're all so unique. I know I say that about book characters a LOT, but it's true! I especially loved Pen, Basil, and Alice. But all of the characters were interesting. They had different perspectives, and it was cool to see them come together and understand one another better by the end.

However, there were a few things that kept this from being extremely amazing. The first is that it starts off pretty slowly. In fact, a large portion of the book was slow. It didn't necessarily feel that way while I was reading because Lauren's writing is so good, but as I thought back, I realized this. There's a lot that has to be set up and explained, so I guess having a slow beginning is better than a quick info-dump. It also allowed us to get to understand and know the characters more. So it wasn't bad, per say, but.

Secondly, a lot of my questions were never really answered. The main one was what was going on with Pen? Was there really something that was bothering her? If so, what was it? Or even how was Morgan able to take [SPOILERS] her parents' deaths so...easily? It's not that she wasn't upset, but she just seemed okay with it, in my opinion.[END SPOILERS]

Lastly, back to some aspects of the book that I liked, I love how it made me think about society. I think that most dystopian books do this, and Perfect Ruin is no different. There can't ever be a perfect society, but it's interesting to see how the governments in all of these books interpret what perfection should be like.

All in all, I thought this was fantastic and lovely. I wish I could just read the rest of the series already. I also wish I had enough money to buy a finished copy. If you're a fan of pretty writing, read Perfect Ruin. You won't be disappointed.

You can find Lauren DeStefano on: Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | her official website

You can find Perfect Ruin on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Publisher: Knopf
Release Date: September 26th, 2006

A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

I realize that no one probably even cares about this book or whatever. I wouldn't either. But I had to read it for my summer reading assignment. So let's talk.

I went into this knowing that there were extremely mixed reviews. After reading it, I could see why. It's not really my type of book, and I had a lot of reasons not to like it. But it wasn't terrible.

The plot actually wasn't that bad. It got really repetitive, but Cormac actually wrote it well and there was something compelling about it. It can get boring at times, but I really loved the symbolism in the book. I liked that it made me think. I actually enjoyed the ending a lot, or at least until the last paragraph. I still have no idea what that was supposed to mean, and it just made a strong ending weak.

And there were so many other aspects of the book that I had trouble with. The first and foremost was the grammar an writing itself. McCarthy made good use of diction and syntax, but I wasn't willing to throw away everything I knew about writing just to get through this book. There's the lack or punctuation or misuse if them. There were fragments and ridiculously long run on sentences. There were no quotation marks, making it very hard to follow along with whoever is speaking. There was just so much that I couldn't get used to and couldn't push away. Maybe that was part of McCarthy's lesson. Who knows?

Honestly, I have no idea why anyone would want to make a movie out this. It was mostly predictable. It was extremely repetitive. The characters didn't even have names for goodness sake. 

Should you read it? Maybe. Would I ever re-read it? Maybe. But I wouldn't put this on your TBR list, at least not anywhere near the top.

Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: September 10th, 2013

In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

I've been excited about this book ever since I found out about it. And it lived up to my expectations in every way. Okay, so maybe there were a few flaws, but come on, nothing's perfect, but for me, this book felt perfect.

First, I'm going to start off with the few things that did bother me a bit but not enough to detract from how much I enjoyed the book. The first is that we never find out what happens between Wren and their mom and Cath and their mom. So I can assume about Cath and her mom, but it seemed like both left that hanging. And the second is that towards the last fourth of the book or so, it seemed like Levi was pushing Cath to have sex with him. It seemed a bit out of character, but it was written in a way that made it seem less forceful and just more eagerness. I get it though, I do, and it was something that I got over quickly as I read.

But onto everything else!

I could relate so well to Cath. Sure, I don't write fanfiction (though I'd love to), but Simon Snow to her is like Harry Potter to me, and I honestly think that it was meant to parallel Harry Potter. I know many people have compared the two. She's awkward and has social anxiety. And while I haven't started college yet, going to the pre-college programs this summer made me feel very much like Cath. I felt out of place, and it seemed like nobody liked me or wanted to talk to me (at Brown but not so much at Barnard). I didn't want to eat alone, but I did anyway, which I guess makes me a step up from Cath, but anyway. I was the one that tried to stay in her room instead of going out every night before curfew. So I completely understood. She didn't feel whiny or anything, and I think a lot of people may interpret it that way if they've never felt that way. It may seem like she's creating the problem, and the solution would just be to get out and try to make some friends. But if you know what it's like, you know that it's so much more than that.

My second favorite thing about the book is the characters. There's Cath herself, then there's Reagan, Wren, Nick, Professor Piper, Cath's father, Courtney, Laura (their mother), and of COURSE Levi. Every one of them is actually quite interesting and complex, possibly with the exception of Professor Piper and Courtney but only because we don't know much about them. But they're all interesting and complex and different. You come to dislike Nick, love Levi, and everything else in between. You cheer for their father, cry with Wren and Cath, and you want to yell at Laura. They feel so real, and they're just so well written. They're all incredibly flawed, but the thing is, everyone in life is flawed, and that's why it works so well.

Another part I actually really liked was how Rainbow leaves just enough to your imagination. She'll lead you into a scene and then cut to the next chapter, which takes place after the scene just so you can fill in the gaps as you'd like. I enjoyed imagining scenes and the snark and banter and sadness and anger. It's never fun when the author tells you everything and doesn't leave you room to think. (It also lends well to fanfiction. hehe)

A smaller part of the book that I enjoyed was the fact that she includes pop culture references ranging from Battlestar Galactica to the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. It kept the book real and grounded, and it made the characters more real. Many of us have grown up watching the Suite Life, and if the characters had been real, they probably would have too. In the world of Simon Snow, it allows the reader to go "Hey! I get that reference! Cool." I think that's awesome.

I also enjoyed the plot itself and seeing the characters learn and grow. There are some plot twists, some more predictable than others, but Rainbow played with my emotions so well. I cried at least 3 times while reading this, if not more. It's what happens when you get sucked into the story and become emotionally invested, I suppose. But she also made me laugh and smile. And agghhh, I just loved every minute of it. I loved seeing the characters in their moments of weakness but also their moments of strength. I loved how relationships formed and changed. It was all just beautiful, and I couldn't put down the book. It's a character-driven novel, so thank goodness it was done so well.

Lastly, I know some people were bothered by the inclusion of the fanfiction and Simon Snow writing, but I actually quite enjoyed it. I liked seeing how each part fit into the chapter sometimes. Plus, I think it allowed you to see into Cath's head in a different way. Or maybe it was because I actually found it interesting...

I just really loved this book a lot, and it's definitely one of my favorites. I recommend it to everyone!!!

You can find Fangirl on: Goodreads | iBooks | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

You can find Rainbow on: her official website | Tumblr | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads