Reached by Ally Condie
The last book in a dystopian trilogy, this was different than most books in that genre. Why? Usually, there's a revolution to overthrow the bad government, but not here. No, they use the plague to overthrow the government. The whole book is about this plague, and finding a cure for it because the cure they thought they had doesn't work. Kinda boring.
The Cassia, Xander, Ky love triangle is on the boring side too. Cassia makes her choice, and the one she doesn't choose is cool with it because he found someone else.
This series had such potential. The first book was great, which is why, months later, I read the others. The second started getting boring, but I thought the third would redeem it. Sadly, that was not the case.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Summer Book #4
Crossed by Ally Condie
This is the second book in the Matched trilogy I began ages ago, before the TAYSHAS list consumed my reading list.
This book is told from two points of view: Ky and Cassia. If you'll recall, Cassia is a citizen, who was matched to two different boys at her matching ceremony: Ky and Xander. Because Ky is an aberration, and therefore unworthy of a citizen, Xander is most likely Cassia's match. However, she loves them both.
Ky has been banished to the Outer Regions, but he tries to make his way back to Cassia. Cassia, on the other hand, gets herself assigned to a work detail that causes her to end up in the Outer Regions. She finds a friends, Indie, and they cross the Carving to find Ky. This is based on information they receive from a reliable source. Cassia and Ky end up finding each other, but disagree on whether to join the Rising, a rebellion against the Society. Cassia wants to, Ky doesn't.
This was not the most interesting book, but it was an easy read. I knocked it out in a few days' time. I am looking forward to the last book in the series. I am hoping Cassia ends up with Xander. They are more alike, and I feel he is more worthy of her. They have the same goals.
This is the second book in the Matched trilogy I began ages ago, before the TAYSHAS list consumed my reading list.
This book is told from two points of view: Ky and Cassia. If you'll recall, Cassia is a citizen, who was matched to two different boys at her matching ceremony: Ky and Xander. Because Ky is an aberration, and therefore unworthy of a citizen, Xander is most likely Cassia's match. However, she loves them both.
Ky has been banished to the Outer Regions, but he tries to make his way back to Cassia. Cassia, on the other hand, gets herself assigned to a work detail that causes her to end up in the Outer Regions. She finds a friends, Indie, and they cross the Carving to find Ky. This is based on information they receive from a reliable source. Cassia and Ky end up finding each other, but disagree on whether to join the Rising, a rebellion against the Society. Cassia wants to, Ky doesn't.
This was not the most interesting book, but it was an easy read. I knocked it out in a few days' time. I am looking forward to the last book in the series. I am hoping Cassia ends up with Xander. They are more alike, and I feel he is more worthy of her. They have the same goals.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Summer Book #3
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
What took me so long to read this?! I have been hearing good things about this book for a while, it's about to be coming out in theaters, and I just bought it last weekend. Impulse buy, but so glad I did.
This is the tale of Nick and Amy Dunne. On the surface, they seem to be very happy people. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Amy remembers every little slight, and ultimately uses them to get back at Nick. Including faking her death, and making sure he gets framed for it.
The book was a wild ride. Did Nick really kill Amy? Why? Then you find out that Amy isn't dead, so you have to wonder why she did this to Nick. Sure, he was a cheater pants, but framing him for murder? That seems a bit mental to me. And I am totally right about the mental thing. Amy definitely has issues.
I did watch the trailer for the movie, and they have Ben Affleck playing Nick. Bad choice. Ben is too much of a pansy to carry out the Nick I read about in the book. Plus, his acting sucks. I'll still go see the movie though because that's what I do.
What took me so long to read this?! I have been hearing good things about this book for a while, it's about to be coming out in theaters, and I just bought it last weekend. Impulse buy, but so glad I did.
This is the tale of Nick and Amy Dunne. On the surface, they seem to be very happy people. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Amy remembers every little slight, and ultimately uses them to get back at Nick. Including faking her death, and making sure he gets framed for it.
The book was a wild ride. Did Nick really kill Amy? Why? Then you find out that Amy isn't dead, so you have to wonder why she did this to Nick. Sure, he was a cheater pants, but framing him for murder? That seems a bit mental to me. And I am totally right about the mental thing. Amy definitely has issues.
I did watch the trailer for the movie, and they have Ben Affleck playing Nick. Bad choice. Ben is too much of a pansy to carry out the Nick I read about in the book. Plus, his acting sucks. I'll still go see the movie though because that's what I do.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Summer Book #2
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
On Saturday, I almost bought this book. I have almost bought this book on multiple occasions. What finally made me buy it and read it? I saw the trailer for the movie that they made from this book.
Mia is a cellist. She is a senior in high school, and recently applied and auditioned for Julliard. One morning, there is a snow day, so her family decides to go visit friends. On the way there, their car is hit. Mia's parents both died at the scene, but Mia and her brother, Teddy, are both alive, though barely.
The story is told by Mia, although it's her conscious, I guess, and not actually physical Mia. She sees herself with all the tubes and wires, but she is unconscious. Anyway, Mia has to decide whether to join her family in death or live without them. She reflects on her life, her best friend, her boyfriend, her family, and uses these memories to determine whether to live or die.
This pulled at my heartstrings, and made me nearly cry several times. So worth the read.
On Saturday, I almost bought this book. I have almost bought this book on multiple occasions. What finally made me buy it and read it? I saw the trailer for the movie that they made from this book.
Mia is a cellist. She is a senior in high school, and recently applied and auditioned for Julliard. One morning, there is a snow day, so her family decides to go visit friends. On the way there, their car is hit. Mia's parents both died at the scene, but Mia and her brother, Teddy, are both alive, though barely.
The story is told by Mia, although it's her conscious, I guess, and not actually physical Mia. She sees herself with all the tubes and wires, but she is unconscious. Anyway, Mia has to decide whether to join her family in death or live without them. She reflects on her life, her best friend, her boyfriend, her family, and uses these memories to determine whether to live or die.
This pulled at my heartstrings, and made me nearly cry several times. So worth the read.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Summer 2014 Book 1
The Mortal Instruments: The City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clay
This is the last book in the series, which, I guess, is good. I am not sure where else the author can go with these characters.
This book picks up where book 5 left off: Sebastian is still a douche-bag, wreaking havoc wherever he goes. His plan is to get the Shadowhunters and Downworlders in a war against each other, so that he can rule the world. He has a weird crush on his sister, and wants her to rule with him.
As always, good wins over evil. The epilogue was nice. It wasn't a happily ever after, like one series I could name. No beloved main characters died, like another series I could name.
The book itself was not as good as it's predecessors. I couldn't stay focused. I do have high hopes for the new series coming out next year though.
This is the last book in the series, which, I guess, is good. I am not sure where else the author can go with these characters.
This book picks up where book 5 left off: Sebastian is still a douche-bag, wreaking havoc wherever he goes. His plan is to get the Shadowhunters and Downworlders in a war against each other, so that he can rule the world. He has a weird crush on his sister, and wants her to rule with him.
As always, good wins over evil. The epilogue was nice. It wasn't a happily ever after, like one series I could name. No beloved main characters died, like another series I could name.
The book itself was not as good as it's predecessors. I couldn't stay focused. I do have high hopes for the new series coming out next year though.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Peculiar
Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
This is the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, which I loved and couldn't put down two years ago. The premise of it was neat. Weird pictures from the past provided the ideas for the story, and it was brilliant. This one, not so much. I feel like the author tried to hard to make the story work around the pictures, and it felt contrived.
It took forever to read this one too. I started it one weekend when I ran out of TAYSHAS books, and I had a hard time staying focused. Then, nearly a month ago, my ginormous puppy thought it would be a good idea to eat the hardcover off of the book because he didn't get enough attention from my husband one night. Just this week, I met with my librarian friends, and, using the dust cover, turned this damaged hardback into a paperback. I was finally able to read it again a few days ago. Still, it was hard to stay focused, and I felt like I was forcing myself to read this. We were in the car for roughly six hours today, and it was the perfect opportunity to finish.
This book picks up right where the first one leaves off. The peculiar children are having to escape their island with their injured ynebryne to try to find someone who can help her back into her human shape. Along the way, they meet some interesting animals, gypsies, and other peculiars. Not to mention that they have to go through several loops to accomplish their task. Will they manage to get Miss Peregrine back?
Hated the last twenty or so pages of the book, and it was left wide open for a third installment. I dearly hope it is better than this was. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.
This is the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, which I loved and couldn't put down two years ago. The premise of it was neat. Weird pictures from the past provided the ideas for the story, and it was brilliant. This one, not so much. I feel like the author tried to hard to make the story work around the pictures, and it felt contrived.
It took forever to read this one too. I started it one weekend when I ran out of TAYSHAS books, and I had a hard time staying focused. Then, nearly a month ago, my ginormous puppy thought it would be a good idea to eat the hardcover off of the book because he didn't get enough attention from my husband one night. Just this week, I met with my librarian friends, and, using the dust cover, turned this damaged hardback into a paperback. I was finally able to read it again a few days ago. Still, it was hard to stay focused, and I felt like I was forcing myself to read this. We were in the car for roughly six hours today, and it was the perfect opportunity to finish.
This book picks up right where the first one leaves off. The peculiar children are having to escape their island with their injured ynebryne to try to find someone who can help her back into her human shape. Along the way, they meet some interesting animals, gypsies, and other peculiars. Not to mention that they have to go through several loops to accomplish their task. Will they manage to get Miss Peregrine back?
Hated the last twenty or so pages of the book, and it was left wide open for a third installment. I dearly hope it is better than this was. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Percy Jackson #1
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
I started this book before Christmas. It was one I would read when I ran out of TAYSHAS books at home, and needed something to read. I wanted to read it because it is one of the few books that held my daughter's attention, plus, I like the movie. Good thing I can keep books separate from their movie counterparts.
There were so many differences between the book and the movie. First, in the movie, Percy is 16-17 years old. In the book, he's 12. Mr. D was not in the movie, nor was Clarisse, but they figure in somewhat when Percy is at Camp Half Blood. Percy goes on a mini quest for Ares, and that wasn't in the movie.
I enjoyed this first book in the Olympians series. How could I not? It deals with Greek mythology, but told in a more modern way. I can see why my daughter was interested, and hope we can talk about this series more as we read it. Sadly, it will be a bit before I move onto the next one in the series, since there is a stack of books on my end table to be read.
I started this book before Christmas. It was one I would read when I ran out of TAYSHAS books at home, and needed something to read. I wanted to read it because it is one of the few books that held my daughter's attention, plus, I like the movie. Good thing I can keep books separate from their movie counterparts.
There were so many differences between the book and the movie. First, in the movie, Percy is 16-17 years old. In the book, he's 12. Mr. D was not in the movie, nor was Clarisse, but they figure in somewhat when Percy is at Camp Half Blood. Percy goes on a mini quest for Ares, and that wasn't in the movie.
I enjoyed this first book in the Olympians series. How could I not? It deals with Greek mythology, but told in a more modern way. I can see why my daughter was interested, and hope we can talk about this series more as we read it. Sadly, it will be a bit before I move onto the next one in the series, since there is a stack of books on my end table to be read.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)