Despite the countless recommendations I had received for this book since it was published, I decided against reading it until recently for the sole reason that I just wasn’t that interested. The plot seemed dull, and I have never been much of a dystopian kind of person. Now, I wonder what the heck I was thinking. As James Dashner would say, holy shuck! The Maze Runner was AMAZING! This book has officially made it up to my top five best reads of the summer; I was completely blown away. I always find it so much more difficult to write reviews for books that I adore than books I despise, mainly because it is so hard for me to express in words just how phenomenal said book is. I seem to have encountered this recurring problem once again with The Maze Runner, but nonetheless, I will attempt to write a review worthy of this fantastic book.
I must start off with the plot. Thomas wakes up to find himself in a box that opens up to the glade, the central part of an elaborate maze where monsters dwell. From the moment of Thomas’s entrance into the glade, he works to try and recover any part of his memory while also trying to solve the maze and stop the deaths of the boys who live in the Maze with him. It seems as if dystopian books nowadays are sort of merging together; essentially, they all follow the same storyline. Dashner brings something completely different and new to the table with this book. Kids purposefully being trapped in a maze and subjected to countless atrocities for the sake of all of humanity? This idea is so unique and overwhelming; it is completely unfathomable to me how Dashner could come up with a plot idea so new and execute it flawlessly. The plot is very intense and suspenseful, and (much to my delight) eliminates the romantic aspect so many popular dystopians feel the need to include (yes I’m looking at you, Michael Grant). Not that I have anything against a good ole’ romance once in a while- I just feel that (unless done very very well) romance is completely out of place in a dystopian novel. I could go on for hours on this topic, but this is a review on The Maze Runner- not a rant on the many faults of dystopian romances.
Now onto my next favorite part of this book: the pacing. I love how we were kept in the dark along with Thomas. Right from the start, I was utterly bewildered and disoriented- I had no idea what was going on. I could almost taste the frustration radiating off of Thomas; Dashner purposely keeps us confused to build suspense. Some think it’s tedious and slow, but personally, I say it’s genius. The apprehension leaves readers squirming in their seats, flipping pages frantically, dying to know what’s coming. But all the frustration and blind reading was well worth it, for when Dashner finally tells us what is happening I am utterly flabbergasted. Can you say plot twist? From there the whole story picks up speed. Everything is explained, I am no longer confused and Dashner has moved onto the action! The pacing is done perfectly; a slow introduction, slowly picking up pace and then
BAM! Non-stop action from then on out. I love it.
I fell in love with the characters. Dashner has created the perfect mix here. You’ve got the gruff and opinionated Alby, the sweet and naive Chuck, the hard-working and determined hero Thomas, the beautiful and smart Teresa, the strong and hilarious Minho, the likeable second-in-command Newt, and the closest you can get to a secondary antagonist: Gally. There wasn’t a single character that really stood out for me with this book; I just loved all of them all as a whole. They are introduced to us and crafted so perfectly throughout the novel. By the end, they have all grown and developed so much- most become very three dimensional for me. I say “most” here for a reason. One character who I liked, but wished could have been developed a bit more was Teresa. I didn’t feel that I got to know here very well (seeing as she was in a coma for most of the book). I had hoped Dashner could focus on her role in the plot a bit more in the last little section of the novel, but much to my chagrin, this wasn’t the case. I only hope this issue will be cleared up in the next instalment of this series.
As for the writing, this is one of those times you either hate it or you love it. I have to say, for this book, I’m on team “love it”! Dashner includes quite a few made up slang words, sometimes in
place of swear words. For example, “holy shuck”, “go take a klunk”, “shank”, “good that”, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Originally, I hated this aspect of the writing. It seemed hokey and out of place for me. However, as the story progresses, these words seem to just flow from the tongue, as if they were part of normal vocabulary. I get used to the idea of these strange words and I learn what each means. As a result, the new words lose their irritating side and begin to seem cute and downright hilarious. You can’t help but laugh when adorable little Chuck tells Thomas to “go take a klunk” (klunk being the made up word for poo) or when Thomas unknowingly calls the big boss Alby “shank” (shank being the made up word for newbie). These words popping up everywhere prevent the writing from being poetic or beautiful, but the book is undeniably well written. Dashner definitely has a way with words; he is extremely descriptive and his story just comes alive in my mind.
One last note: the ending. Wow! Dashner sure knows how to end off a book! One of the most suspenseful cliffhangers I have ever read about. I was completely satisfied, but somehow desperate to read the next book.
I set in to this book with high expectations, and James Dashner delivered. I am very pleased with this novel. The plot was unique, the characters were relatable, the pacing was flawless, the writing was good and the ending was the perfect way to tie everything together. I would recommend it to those who enjoy dystopians and suspenseful novels. Overall, a fabulous novel. Now I must get my hands on the Scorch Trials! Can’t wait!
Books Read this Summer :D
Well, everyone else was making a list, so I figured - why not!? :D
These are the books I've read and re-read this summer. I might even post a little blurb on the one's I feel strongly for. Stealing Ashini's rating system. :)
1. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson: AMAZING. Re-read for the fourth or fifth time.
2. The Blue Light Project - Timothy Taylor: Okay
3. Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen: Good
4. Just Listen - Sarah Dessen: Amazing.
5. World War Z - Max Brooks: AMAZING. Best zombie book out there.
6. Saving Francesca - Melina Marchetta: Good
7. The Piper's Son - Melina Marchetta: Good - Amazing
8. Bitterblue - Kristin Cashore: Good. I was harsh on Ms. Kristin, because I believe in her.
9. Steal Like An Artist - Austin Kleon: Okay - Good
10. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier: Amazing
11. Beauty Queens - Libba Bray: Bad. BAD. Why, oh why Libba?
12. Article 5 - Kristin Simmons: Bad - Okay
13. House of Leaves - Mark Z Danielewski: Good
14. The Immortal Rules - Julie Kagawa: Good - Amazing
15. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline: Good - Amazing
16. Airhead - Meg Cabot: Okay
17. Come, Thou Tortoise - Jessica Grant: Good
18. Teen angst? Naaaah - Ned Vizzini: Okay
19. The Flame Alphabet - Ben Marcus: Bad - Okay
20. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green: Good - Amazing
21. What Alice Forgot - Liane Moriarty: AMAZING. For the dorky, little romantic in you.
22. The Lab - Jack Heath: Okay - Good. Probably not my style, a little too much action?
23. The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein: AMAZING. Cry til there's no water left.
24. Evermore - Alyson Noel: Bad. Urgh, typical paranormal romance.
25. Girl of Nightmares - Kendare Blake: Amazing.
26. House - Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker: Good - Amazing
27. Beastly - Alex Flynn: Good
28. Cloaked - Alex Flynn: Okay - Good
29. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith: AMAZING. Maybe my favorite book of all time.
30. Lips Touch Three Times - Laini Taylor: Okay
31. Absorbed - Penelope Crowe: Bad - Okay. Indie attempt number one. Danger, System faltering.
32. Valor - Taylor Longford: Bad - Okay. Indie attempt number two. System failure. System shutdown.
33. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher: Good
34. Angelfall - Susan Ee: Amazing. Re-read, how could I forget?
35. Unwind - Neal Shusterman: Good - Amazing
I'm not sure if that's all of them, if I can think of any more, then I'll add them again. Wow, I just realized that A LOT of these are re-reads. XD
Update *Added some more I remembered. :)
These are the books I've read and re-read this summer. I might even post a little blurb on the one's I feel strongly for. Stealing Ashini's rating system. :)
1. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson: AMAZING. Re-read for the fourth or fifth time.
2. The Blue Light Project - Timothy Taylor: Okay
3. Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen: Good
4. Just Listen - Sarah Dessen: Amazing.
5. World War Z - Max Brooks: AMAZING. Best zombie book out there.
6. Saving Francesca - Melina Marchetta: Good
7. The Piper's Son - Melina Marchetta: Good - Amazing
8. Bitterblue - Kristin Cashore: Good. I was harsh on Ms. Kristin, because I believe in her.
9. Steal Like An Artist - Austin Kleon: Okay - Good
10. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier: Amazing
11. Beauty Queens - Libba Bray: Bad. BAD. Why, oh why Libba?
12. Article 5 - Kristin Simmons: Bad - Okay
13. House of Leaves - Mark Z Danielewski: Good
14. The Immortal Rules - Julie Kagawa: Good - Amazing
15. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline: Good - Amazing
16. Airhead - Meg Cabot: Okay
17. Come, Thou Tortoise - Jessica Grant: Good
18. Teen angst? Naaaah - Ned Vizzini: Okay
19. The Flame Alphabet - Ben Marcus: Bad - Okay
20. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green: Good - Amazing
21. What Alice Forgot - Liane Moriarty: AMAZING. For the dorky, little romantic in you.
22. The Lab - Jack Heath: Okay - Good. Probably not my style, a little too much action?
23. The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein: AMAZING. Cry til there's no water left.
24. Evermore - Alyson Noel: Bad. Urgh, typical paranormal romance.
25. Girl of Nightmares - Kendare Blake: Amazing.
26. House - Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker: Good - Amazing
27. Beastly - Alex Flynn: Good
28. Cloaked - Alex Flynn: Okay - Good
29. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith: AMAZING. Maybe my favorite book of all time.
30. Lips Touch Three Times - Laini Taylor: Okay
31. Absorbed - Penelope Crowe: Bad - Okay. Indie attempt number one. Danger, System faltering.
32. Valor - Taylor Longford: Bad - Okay. Indie attempt number two. System failure. System shutdown.
33. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher: Good
34. Angelfall - Susan Ee: Amazing. Re-read, how could I forget?
35. Unwind - Neal Shusterman: Good - Amazing
I'm not sure if that's all of them, if I can think of any more, then I'll add them again. Wow, I just realized that A LOT of these are re-reads. XD
Update *Added some more I remembered. :)
Poll Update...
First off I just want to congratulate everyone who took the
time, thought and effort to submit an entry to our 2 contests this summer. We
are thrilled with the caliber of work and are impressed with everyone's creativity.
Our reasoning behind these contests was to get you to think critically about
what you are reading and to find another way to express yourselves, which you have
done.
Unfortunately we have noticed a bit of foul play occurring
with respect to voting practices. Our motivation behind creating a poll was to
not only display your work, but to remove any bias in determining a fair and
honest winner, this can only work if everyone plays fair.
I`m at a bit of a loss as to how to deal with this issue, as
I feel it is important to display your work. As a result, we would like to keep
the poll going until the deadline, but ultimately the library will make the
final decision on the winners.
I hope everyone understands and is satisfied with our decision.
Top 5 Best Books I've Read
5. Schooled by Gordon Korman
4. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
2. Hunters of the Dusk by Darren Shan
1. The House of Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Machine Man, by Max Barry
Charles Neumann has a deep relationship with his phone. So deep that when he spotted the device after he mis-placed it one day, he immediately reached for it - forgetting that he was in his lab and in the middle of initalizing a large clamp. You know, literally in the middle of the clamp. He says goodbye to his leg, when not one paragraph before he had proclaimed "The equipment had safeties but your primary piece of protective equipment was your brain. There was a presumption that anyone entering this room was intelligent enough to keep away from hot things, sharp things, and things carrying large stores of momentum." Ironic? Pretty sure Max Barry likes to think he's pretty clever. And he is, look at Charles' last name: Neumann. Haha.
After losing his leg, Charles, scientist at research company Better Future and MIT engineering grad ala Tony Starks, starts buliding his own leg in his lab. Unlike Tony, Charles is not a diva or a hero. He's not out to show-off his fireworks shooting mech which just happen to have evil-combating side features, he just wants parts for himself. Before his accident, he was physically scrawny and weak, nobody paid much attention to him. Equipped with his new mechincal leg suddenly everyone finds him fascinating. The Company fully funds his artifical parts resarch and gives him a huge team of lab assistants.
The rest of the book is a little predictable - of course the intentions of the Company are not completely honorable - this is a Max Barry novel, remember that novel of his he named, um, well "Company"? Charles becomes obessed with building better and better parts for himself. Of course, every system from chemical reactions to CPU processor stage pipelines are limited by their slowest part. The slowest part becomes a bottleneck. Charles contiunally feels hampered by his biological parts. Completely logically, he chops off his remaining leg. Then he chops off some fingers. Wouldn't everyone do the same? And yet, when Charles' team comes up with Z-lenses and Z-contacts, eyewear that lets the user zoom in and out in real life, Charles feels distrubed. He's distrubed by lenses that zoom when his leg has wi-fi. Great guy. Then the company starts jumping in and things start getting messy.
At this point in the novel my mind started wondering when my attention was completely held before. Regardless Machine Man is a well-executed novel, stoically hailrious in parts, and gruesomely gory in others, that will make you question how far technology should go.
After losing his leg, Charles, scientist at research company Better Future and MIT engineering grad ala Tony Starks, starts buliding his own leg in his lab. Unlike Tony, Charles is not a diva or a hero. He's not out to show-off his fireworks shooting mech which just happen to have evil-combating side features, he just wants parts for himself. Before his accident, he was physically scrawny and weak, nobody paid much attention to him. Equipped with his new mechincal leg suddenly everyone finds him fascinating. The Company fully funds his artifical parts resarch and gives him a huge team of lab assistants.
The rest of the book is a little predictable - of course the intentions of the Company are not completely honorable - this is a Max Barry novel, remember that novel of his he named, um, well "Company"? Charles becomes obessed with building better and better parts for himself. Of course, every system from chemical reactions to CPU processor stage pipelines are limited by their slowest part. The slowest part becomes a bottleneck. Charles contiunally feels hampered by his biological parts. Completely logically, he chops off his remaining leg. Then he chops off some fingers. Wouldn't everyone do the same? And yet, when Charles' team comes up with Z-lenses and Z-contacts, eyewear that lets the user zoom in and out in real life, Charles feels distrubed. He's distrubed by lenses that zoom when his leg has wi-fi. Great guy. Then the company starts jumping in and things start getting messy.
At this point in the novel my mind started wondering when my attention was completely held before. Regardless Machine Man is a well-executed novel, stoically hailrious in parts, and gruesomely gory in others, that will make you question how far technology should go.
The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins
Goodreads summary:
Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
My review: This was an exceptional read, it was very interesting and could capture the readers attention easily. It's easy to like the book, but hard to hate it. The plot was pretty fascinating and rather exciting, but I had my expectations too high and so I ended up a bit disappointed. I could easily predict some parts of the novel so there were also parts that didn't intrigue me enough. So...final verdict: 8/10
Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.My review: This was an exceptional read, it was very interesting and could capture the readers attention easily. It's easy to like the book, but hard to hate it. The plot was pretty fascinating and rather exciting, but I had my expectations too high and so I ended up a bit disappointed. I could easily predict some parts of the novel so there were also parts that didn't intrigue me enough. So...final verdict: 8/10
Books read this summer)
1) Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by J.L.Smith, bad
2) Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, amazing
3) Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, amazing
4) Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, good
5) Forever by Maggie Stiefvater, good
6) Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita, okay
7) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, okay
8) Fallen by Lauren Kate, good
9) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, okay
10) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, okay
11) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Ugly Truth, bad
12) Ready or Not by Meg Cabot, okay
13) Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging by Louise Rennison, good
14) Airhead by Meg Cabot, okay
15) Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, amazing
16) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, bad
17) Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins, amazing
18) Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins, amazing
19) 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, amazing
20) Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees, okay
21) Jinx by Meg Cabot, good
22) Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, amazing
23) Future of us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, good
24) Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, good
25) Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares, okay
26) Divergent by Veronica Roth, amazing
27) Delirium by Lauren Oliver, amazing
P.S. I didn't include the books that I re-read.
2) Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, amazing
3) Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, amazing
4) Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, good
5) Forever by Maggie Stiefvater, good
6) Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita, okay
7) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, okay
8) Fallen by Lauren Kate, good
9) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, okay
10) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, okay
11) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Ugly Truth, bad
12) Ready or Not by Meg Cabot, okay
13) Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging by Louise Rennison, good
14) Airhead by Meg Cabot, okay
15) Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, amazing
16) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, bad
17) Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins, amazing
18) Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins, amazing
19) 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, amazing
20) Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees, okay
21) Jinx by Meg Cabot, good
22) Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, amazing
23) Future of us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, good
24) Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, good
25) Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares, okay
26) Divergent by Veronica Roth, amazing
27) Delirium by Lauren Oliver, amazing
P.S. I didn't include the books that I re-read.
Books I read (and re-read) this summer :D
This is a list of all the books I have read (and re-read) this summer! I was inspired by Juliette, who did a list similar to this one yesterday. Next to each title I have included a rating: bad, okay, good or amazing. The list is in no particular order.
1. Gone - Michael Grant; amazing
2. Hunger - Michael Grant; good
3. Plague - Michael Grant; good
4. Lies - Michael Grant; good
5. Fear - Michael Grant; amazing
6. Unearthly - Cynthia Hand; amazing
7. BZRK - Michael Grant; bad
8. Evermore - Alyson Noel; bad
9. Blue Moon - Alyson Noel; okay
10. Crossed - Ally Condie; good
11. Matched - Ally Condie; good
12. Halo - Alexandra Adornetto; bad
13. Hades - Alexandra Adornetto; bad
14. Heaven - Alexandra Adornetto; bad
15. The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak; amazing
16. Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain; good
17. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; amazing
18. Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare; amazing
19. Fire - Kristin Cashore; okay
20. Bitterblue - Kristin Cashore; okay
21. Forever - Maggie Stiefvater; amazing
22. Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick; bad
23. Fallen - Lauren Kate; bad
24. Torment - Lauren Kate; bad
25. Passion - Lauren Kate; okay
26. Divergent - Veronica Roth; good
27. Glow - Amy Kathleen Ryan; okay
28. The Power of Six - Pittacus Lore; good
29. Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare; amazing
30. Uncommon Criminals - Ally Carter; good
31. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer; bad
32. The Gift - James Patterson; okay
33. City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare; amazing
34. Just One Wish - Janette Rallison; good
35. The Calling - Kelley Armstrong; amazing
36. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver; amazing
37. Eighth Grade Bites - Heather Brewer; okay
38. Ninth Grade Slays - Heather Brewer; okay
39. Spell Bound - Rachel Hawkins; amazing
I've probably forgotten some, but I think that list is pretty accurate. I want other people's lists/ratings :D What books did you guys read this summer?
1. Gone - Michael Grant; amazing
2. Hunger - Michael Grant; good
3. Plague - Michael Grant; good
4. Lies - Michael Grant; good
5. Fear - Michael Grant; amazing
6. Unearthly - Cynthia Hand; amazing
7. BZRK - Michael Grant; bad
8. Evermore - Alyson Noel; bad
9. Blue Moon - Alyson Noel; okay
10. Crossed - Ally Condie; good
11. Matched - Ally Condie; good
12. Halo - Alexandra Adornetto; bad
13. Hades - Alexandra Adornetto; bad
14. Heaven - Alexandra Adornetto; bad
15. The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak; amazing
16. Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain; good
17. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; amazing
18. Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare; amazing
19. Fire - Kristin Cashore; okay
20. Bitterblue - Kristin Cashore; okay
21. Forever - Maggie Stiefvater; amazing
22. Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick; bad
23. Fallen - Lauren Kate; bad
24. Torment - Lauren Kate; bad
25. Passion - Lauren Kate; okay
26. Divergent - Veronica Roth; good
27. Glow - Amy Kathleen Ryan; okay
28. The Power of Six - Pittacus Lore; good
29. Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare; amazing
30. Uncommon Criminals - Ally Carter; good
31. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer; bad
32. The Gift - James Patterson; okay
33. City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare; amazing
34. Just One Wish - Janette Rallison; good
35. The Calling - Kelley Armstrong; amazing
36. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver; amazing
37. Eighth Grade Bites - Heather Brewer; okay
38. Ninth Grade Slays - Heather Brewer; okay
39. Spell Bound - Rachel Hawkins; amazing
I've probably forgotten some, but I think that list is pretty accurate. I want other people's lists/ratings :D What books did you guys read this summer?
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunity
You mentioned that you liked hearing about some of the
volunteer opportunities, so here is another one. We are looking for teens to
help us out with our upcoming math night. It will take place on Tuesday,
September 11th from 4-7pm. Basically we are looking for teens to
oversee a math station with very neat (and fun) math activities – so no, you
don’t need to be a math genius to help out.
We realize that 4-7pm is a weird time and right in the
middle of dinner etc, so if you cannot volunteer for the entire evening, that’s
ok, just let us know your availability.
Books I Read This Summer :D
1) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling
2) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
3) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
4) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
5) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
6) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
7) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
8) Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
9) Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
10) New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
11) Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
12) The Twilight Saga: the official illustrated guide by Stephanie Meyer
13) Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
14) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
15) Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
16) I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
17) Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
18) Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
19) The Fledgling Handbook 101 by PC Cast with Kim Doner
20) Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
21) Kane Chronicles Book 2: The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
22) Twilight Graphic Novel Volume 2 by Stephanie Meyer (adapted by Young Kim)
Rapture by Lauren Kate
The story once again, revolves around Luce and Daniels love, a love that has become somewhat irritating. They do everything they can to stop the erasing of the 7 thousand years after the initial "fall". I couldn't help but wonder; would it be so bad for time to rewind? Would it be so bad for humans to start over again? If it were to occur, would history repeat itself, or would humans make better decisions this time around and harm the earth less? Or perhaps they would harm it more? Would all the problems of our time on earth due to human activity still be existing or would everyone's biggest worry be the colour of dress they were going to wear the next day? If so, would erasing time not be a good thing? But, I digress. What I really meant to say is that Lauren Kate never explained why the time shift backwards is horrible and should be stopped past the short explanation on the tenth page that Luce would lose all her understanding and learning "who she is and what she could be". I don't know about you, but the foundation of the story, from the very beginning seemed extremely weak and to be honest, I didn't want to read past the first chapter. Maybe losing her memories is the en of the world for Luce, but In what way can the reader relate to the protagonist if the only driving force behind her actions is some melodramatic love story?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Here's my review of the widely-read novel:
I love adventures and challenges and the Hunger Games just raise my spirit of adventure! I have to say I have learnt a whole lot from The Hunger Games. Bravery, sacrifice, alliance, and pretence for survival are all taught through Katniss Everdeen's excellent play in the Games. It's intriguing to see Katniss encounter one obstacle after another and finally overcome them, having faced the inevitability of death a few times but escaped fortunately. If you think of the existence and the so-called necessity of such an annual game to honour the history of war, it doesn't really make sense, at lease to me. Traditions should not be blindly followed, especially when they bring about any form of harm to the ones who practice them. In this case, the sacrifice of a tribute's life is the harm, which I believe is caused by a lack of critical thinking and questioning of the Hunger Games on the Gamemakers' part. On the other hand, of course, if it wasn't for the presence of such a brutal competition of survival, all the greatness of the heart-stopping story that we are able to savour would not have happened. :)
Vote Now! Voting ends September 7th
If you'd like to refresh your memory and reread the original blog posts you can search (at the top left hand corner) for either “photo representative” or “alternative book cover” and all of the entries should show up! Good luck!!
Absorbed, Penelope Crowe
This is a short story. Now, I've never really been overly fond of short stories because nothing really ends up getting developed when you read them. The plot, characters, and setting are usually meant to be more symbolic as supposed to something or someone you'd get attached to, get to know, end up loving and crying for. This book is not excluded from said description, except for the fact that there really isn't any meaning to the plot, characters or setting, so as you can guess, overall, I did not enjoy it in the least.
Absorbed is about a passive, gentle woman named Violet. She has a boyfriend whom she loves, however, he has a bit of a mean streak. He's abusive. After continuously blaming herself for the bruises, fights, and insults, one day she receives a gift to counteract it all - a beautiful ruby red necklace on her doorstep. She has no idea who the sender is, but none the less, decides to accept the gift. With the necklace she feels empowered, without it, scared and insignificant. So, wearing it might not be such a bad idea right?
Wrong, so very wrong. In fact, this was how I felt about the story, it was so very wrong for me that I simply could not enjoy it. This is a short story pretending to be a book. I don't like this type of format, it just simply doesn't work for me. I felt nothing towards the characters, I never really got to know them and everything just happened so fast, WAY TOO fast. Mr. Boyfriend got set off instantly when he showed up. Maybe that's what happens in abusive relationships, but I didn't get to see much more than that, he was just the loud, drunk guy that you were supposed to hate. Basically, Flat. Appropriate word for the characters in the story.
The writing was good, not brilliant and maybe a little choppy, but still decent. I didn't like that the story was in first person, but that's probably just a taste thing for me personally.
The idea behind Absorbed was interesting, the execution however, was not. I really shouldn't be complaining though, as the book was free. For those of you that are looking for hipster points, there are indie books on kindle you can get for free. It changes daily, this is how I stumbled upon this story. I got a couple that looked kind of good and downloaded them. "Malaika", "Valor", and "The Two Pound Chick Magnet" are the ones I'm going to give a try. Hopefully I'll enjoy them better than this one (although those are actual books so, the chances are better that I will). The link is below.
BTW, Final verdict: 5.0 - 5.5/10.0 (mainly because it was a short story, so I wasn't expecting much and it WAS free)
In Time Movie
If you like dystopian novels, I think you'll like a dystopian movie. This movie is one of my favourite. So, here's the plot:
In near future time is money. Literally. Genetic alteration has allowed humanity to stop aging at 25. 'Living time', which can be transferred among individuals on body-contact, is displayed on a clock implanted in people's forearms. When that clock reaches zero, one dies instantly. The protagonist is the 28-year-old factory worker Will Salas (Justin Timberlake). One day he gets 100 years...
The movie has everything a good dystopia should have: oppressive government, biological issues, lack of choice and, of course, romance) What is more, it's even kind of inspiring, because it shows the value of time.
I didn't likethe plot as much as the idea of time being a currency. I know the idea isn't new, but I don't know any good books that use it.
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about.
His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.
Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls.
But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.
Okay, so this book was super predictable (I knew Lucy was going to end up with Ed :/ The summary totally screams it.) Nevertheless, I still loved this book. I loved the beautiful and free atmosphere, I loved the electric characters, I loved Shadow's art form of graffiti. So many things to love in this book...
Graffiti Moon was more insightful than I imagined it would be. It showed teenagers in a very realistic way. Flawed, but hopeful. Melodramatic, but idealistic. Animated, but at the same time philosophical. I know the story was set for one night, but it really seemed like a week. I got to know the characters so well. I could understand the reason for their actions and relationships between them. I crossed my fingers for them, and I sympathized with them. That is how well Crowley writes.
Other than writing exceptionally realistic and relatable characters, Crowley also uses very descriptive, vivid words. I could visualize Shadow's graffiti pieces and found myself wishing that they really existed. Crowley dealt with love, growing up, illusions, conflict and forgiveness in very artistic ways. She has the ability to evoke emotions through words as an artist does with paint.
“I escaped onto the wall, a painted ghost trapped in a jar. I stood back to look at it and I knew the sad thing wasn't that the ghost was running out of air. the sad thing was that he had enough air in that small space to last him a lifetime. What were you thinking, little ghost? Letting yourself get trapped like that?”
Most of all, I loved all the art forms mentioned in this novel. Shadow with his graffiti art, Lucy with her glass sculptures and Poet with his...well, poems :D The talent these characters have, the way they talked about it their passion is quite inspiring. It was in no way pretentious, it was just who they were. The idea that two lost boys would put their feelings, their insecurities into public art without ever showing their real identities was awesome and innovative.
9/10 A mesmerizing, well-writen contemporary tale. Definitely worth reading!
Contest #2 Entry: Alternative Book Cover
I recently read The Fault in Our Stars and LOVED the content. The surface? Not so much. It's very clean and minimalist and eye-catching. However it is also very plain and does not tell a potential reader what the story may really be about.
This is a summary on TFIOS: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.
Okay, so to the right is my alternative cover to The Fault in Our Stars. My cover is a better representation of the story in many ways...
In the novel, Augustus is a big fan of metaphorical and symbolic resonances. He often puts an unlit cigarette in his mouth as a metaphor: "You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don't give it the power to do its killing."
The "stars" on this cover are symbols because they are not stars, but apartment building lights. I took a photo of a few clustered apartments and flipped the photo upside down. Why did I do that? Well, it's easy to mistake the lights as stars, which is what I wanted them to appear like. Each "star" represents a person, living their "quietly desperate life", as Augustus puts it. See, Gus struggles to leave a mark in the world, he fears oblivion. He wants people to remember him for some brave, heroic deed he completed. But the truth is, he has cancer and is growing weaker by the day. With this knowledge, Hazel and Augustus become more bitter of the cancer that has robbed them of more time.
Cassius says this famous line from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, "The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." Green states that this quote was the inspiration for his title; for the fault is not in Gus and Hazel's cancer-ridden bodies, and is no one else's. No one can be blamed for the pain they are going through. And that pain is not an excuse to live life desperately. It is an inspiration to live life beautifully and gracefully, with laughter and love. Augustus finally realizes that, although he may never save the world, he can positively impact those struggling around him, namely Hazel Grace. So back to the "stars". We always get so caught up in perfecting our lives, we can't see how wonderful we already are. Cheesy, I know. It's true though. Each individual "star", each individual life is amazing and perfectly capable of doing good. You just have to know where you're needed. And whenever an obstacle comes along, you have to work with it, because you can't blame anyone for the problems that were specifically thrusted upon you. Problems designed to make you learn and grow.
If you've noticed, there are two "stars" that stand out on my cover. The symbolize Augustus and Grace. Their "stars" are lower than everyone else's due to the fact that they are both terminally sick. Falling stars.* Their lives may end much quicker than everyone else's, but they're still capable of living life and helping others.
On to the quote I've included on top of the title: "The world is not a wish-granting factory." I chose this quote because here I had "stars" on the cover, common wish-granters. When both partners have cancer, relationships are undoubtedly difficult. Often, Augustus and Hazel would wish, wish that they weren't born with their particular lives, their cancer preventing them from living life the way they want to. After these wishes, they would remind themselves that, not everything is going to be the way you want it. The world isn't fair and that's the way it's going to stay. We can wish as much as we want, but only our own actions are going to get us somewhere.
Finally, I left some dark space for the title (which looks absolutely magnificent thanks to that font! :D) and Green's name. The dark is symbolizing the unknown, the unoccupied. Heaven or that captial-s something. Whichever one you believe in. When we die, most people believe we go up. When stars "die" they fall down.* So the dark is the unknown that Augustus and Hazel will soon be venturing into when they pass away. (Not implying anything of course ;D)
“It seemed like forever ago, like we've had this brief but still infinite forever. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”
*Just to let you guys know, falling stars are not actually stars... I know, I'm sorry I mislead you, but I needed to explain why the two stars were "falling" into a dark space. The falling or shooting stars are actually small rocks or pieces of meteors that fall into the Earth's atmosphere, burning up and creating what looks like a tail :)
Weekly Winners...
Congratulations to Drizzyfan, Aman0909, and MBL Tan as they are the winners for this week. They will receive a book, a full meal to White Spot, swim pass, pass to the Richmond Oval and their choice of another great prize.
Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan
Synopsis from Amazon:
"Darren Shan and his two schoolmates are excited when their friend Steve comes across a flyer advertising the Cirque Du Freak. The boys pool their money but can only purchase two tickets, so they play a game of chance to see who will go with Steve. Darren closes his eyes, and almost as if by magic, the ticket floats into his hand.
Darren and Steve are mesmerized by the fantastic and disturbing show, but when they get caught up in a deadly trap Darren must make a deal with the only person who can save him. And that person is not human and only deals in blood. . . ."
Review:
Reading the first book by Darren Shan, I am most likely to admit that you will all find yourself yearning to read the second..then third...then fourth...and so on. I can finally understand why Darren Shan is such a popular and phenomenal writer that many of my friends talk about. His novels are both engrossing, fascinating, and vivid in your mind. I can visualize what is happening with the outstanding effort and descriptions that Darren adds and puts into the book. I would rate this book a 9/10
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Goodreads
synopsis:
“All year
the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the
odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every
god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.
While the
Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his
advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now
it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of
Time.
In this momentous
final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy
surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western
civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying
suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.”
Review:
Best book in
the Percy Jackson and the Olympains series in my personal opinion. This book starts off where ‘The Battle of the
Labyrinth’ left off and everything moved on in an intense pace. This book was
filled with excitement on every page and I must say, it was a page turner. Though
some points, I just had to skim through because it was bland/ Riordan is a
talented author and I am almost always satisfied when I finish the last page of
his novels. It’s such a shame that the
series ended because it was just so impressive how the whole plot was thought
out. I admire the writing style and how there was a little humor in the story.
The book was close to flawless and there’s nothing much I wish to complain
about it except for the insipid events. Rating: 8.5/10.
Contest #1 Entry: Photographic Representation
Above is my entry for Contest #1 (the photographic representation). This picture represents the book "Pandemonium" by Lauren Oliver.
Here is a short summary of Pandemonium: In DELIRIUM Lena Haloway dared to fall in love with Alex and escape the cure, the government-mandated procedure that renders a person immune to the disease of love. Lena and Alex staked their lives on leaving their oppressive society, but only Lena broke free. PANDEMONIUM continues Lena’s gripping story. After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again.
I believe my picture is a good representation of the book Pandemonium for many reasons. Pandemonium was given it's title for a reason! The theme of this book is chaos; Lena's world is crumbling away before her eyes, leaving her helpless and desperate. I tried to capture this aspect of the novel in my picture; I wanted to make it seem as if everything was very crammed together and disorganized. There are many things going on at once. Further, uncontrolled fire is often a cause for panic and disarray. The massive flames dominating my photo are meant to represent both this sense of hysteria as well as form a literal representation of the actual forest fire that occurs in the book. In Pandemonium, Lena and her fellow escapees take part in an intense battle against the goverment, in which many of them are wounded by the weapons and fury of the government-controlled city. The fire, darkness and red tinge of the photo are all meant to represent this battle and the injuries sustained by Lena's friends. There is also an air of mystery about this book; many things are left to the imagination. I attempted to capture this mysterious aura by keeping numerous parts of my picture shrouded in darkness. Darkness is the universal symbol for mystery, sadness and despair (all three of which are recurring themes in this novel). The winding staircase in the centre of my photo represents Lena's growth as a person. She has made the long journey to adulthood and has developed into a strong, determined young lady by the end of the novel. Finally, the old wooden doors, brick walls and chamberpots lining the ground are meant to represent Lena's new life in the wild. The escapees living in the wild do not have much access to modern luxuries, and the scene depicted in my photo portrays just that.
This picture was taken by me in August 2012 during the "Sirens of TI" show at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. I used pixlr.com/o-matic for the editing. Props to bendavis for the site. When editing, I sharpened the picture a bit and added a black border to give it a more polished look.
Edit: I think I was hacked or something because I clearly remember calling this post "Contest #1 Entry: Photographic Representation", but when I logged back in a couple hours later the title was appearing as "Contest #1: Photo Representative". I don't know what's going on. :/
Edit: I think I was hacked or something because I clearly remember calling this post "Contest #1 Entry: Photographic Representation", but when I logged back in a couple hours later the title was appearing as "Contest #1: Photo Representative". I don't know what's going on. :/
Dead is a Battlefield (Dead Is #6) by Marlene Perez
"Jessica Walsh is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High and trying to forget about the tragic events surrounding her brother’s graduation. She wants to have a normal high school experience. But that’s easier said than done in Nightshade.
When a new boy shows up at school, the girls are infected with a case of seriously creepy crushes. But when their obsession turns to violence, Jessica and her friends start to wonder if there’s more going on than just a little friendly rivalry. Are the smitten girls turning into love zombies?
And Jessica has other worries—like her crush on Dominic Gray, the cute but moody new singer for Side Effects May Vary, and the mysterious tattoo that appeared on her arm one day and lets her know whenever there is trouble brewing. Jessica learns she's a Virago, a woman warrior chosen to fight evil whenever it threatens her hometown. But does a lowly freshman really have what it takes to keep Nightshade safe?"
Marlene decides to change characters in this particular story and settled on Jessica, Sean's younger sister. When I first picked up the book, I realized that the protagonist altered and had a great disappoint due to the fact that I admired Daisy Giordano, the past protagonist, so much. As the story proceeds, I soon gave in and decided that Jessica is not a bad character to put as the center of the story. I noticed myself soon enjoying the story more and more and realized that Marlene could never disappoint me. This was a outstanding read, though I kept hoping that sometime during the story, Daisy would take over again. She was an amazing mystery solver and I revered her personality and determination to solve cases. Well enough about hoping for the things that probably wouldn't happen, :( Jessica was an interesting teenager to read about when she soon realizes that she is a Virago. I still love the series and is now seeking for the next installment. Rating: 9/10
Wake (Watersong #1) by Amanda Hocking
"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."
After reading Switched, I thought to myself that I definitely HAD to read another book from Amanda Hocking. :) This novel wasn't a disappointment, it was rather good but I would have to say the Trylle trilogy would be more interesting. I loved the romance, as usual, in the story where Gemma has her own little relationship and so does her sister. I realized that the synopsis of the story seemed like Gemma is the protagonist and the story really revolves around her, but really, her sister is another main character in this novel. Gemma's sister, Harper, was more responsible while Gemma was imprudent and more chill. Gemma is a talented swimmer and plans to go to the Olympics one day. Some may find Harper the easier one to relate to and I would most likely agree. Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone out there. Rating: 8.5/10
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
"Colie expects the worst
when she's sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while
her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an
outcast -- first for being fat and then for being "easy" -- Colie has
no friends at home and doesn't expect to find any in Colby, North
Carolina. But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets
fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet
volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see
herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all
along"
I admire and found all the characters in this novel very amusing, they were all different in a way. It showed how Colie changed throughout the book and slowly grew less insecure of herself. I love how Sarah Dessen's novels all have a great, meaningful message behind the whole plot. Most of her novels are all really relatable and enjoyable to read about. Just like this one, I would rate it a 9/10 because of how easy it is for the reader to sympathize with the protagonist. Colie undergoes significant change and realizes who she really is...she discovers her inner beauty. This book is for teenage girls and has some cheesiness to it, but it's an amazing short and good read.
Haiku Contest
Judging by all of the amazing cover art entries we have been getting, you are one creative bunch! So here is another contest for you to showcase your poetry skills. Online entry forms and more details can be found here: http://www.yourlibrary.ca/contests/haiku/
Contest ends September 22nd, Good luck!
HP and Chamber of Secrets
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
- Albus Dumbledore
I did not enjoy Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as much as I did it's predecessor, but I will still happily grant it 5/5 stars- a testament to J.K. Rowling's fabulous writing. HP and the Chamber of Secrets was filled with all the hilarious moments and magical wonders I have come to expect of all Harry Potter books. This book is the unique one out of the series because it is the only one which intertwines a mystery into the already-thick plot. What is the Chamber of Secrets and what monster lies in it's depths? The intense action and terrifying mysteries will leave you quivering in your seats.
I always find the most amazing quotes from J.K. Rowling's writing. I can't help but start my review with one of her quotes (which, not surprisingly, comes from Dumbledore). I have lost count of the number of times I have said this, but I will say it again. Rowling is hands down the best writer I have ever read. The writing in HP and the Chamber of Secrets completely blew me away.
We now know who we adore and admire (Harry, Dumbledore) and we know who we despise with all our hearts (Snape, Voldemort). We were introduced to all the characters through the first book in the series, so Rowling can go ahead and get into the action for book two. And that's exactly what she does. The mysterious air really compliments the action in the book, which is peppered in just the right places throughout the book. That's one of my favorite parts of Rowling's work. She doesn't have non-stop action throughout the whole book. She has character development and loads of fun to mix up her stories and make them more interesting.
HP and the Chamber of Secret's is all about testing Harry's bravery and valiance. This book really shows us what a phenomenal human being Harry is and makes us fall in love with him even more. On the other hand, we are introduced to Professor Lockheart (the new DADA teacher). What a despicable human being. He is vain, shallow and irritating beyond belief. It was quite the experience to have someone I hate so much be on the good side. I'm ashamed to say I was very pleased when his memory charm backfired and he lost his memory.
Overall, another fantastic novel from J.K. Rowling. The perfect sequel to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, this book has it all. Best series... ever!
- Albus Dumbledore
I did not enjoy Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as much as I did it's predecessor, but I will still happily grant it 5/5 stars- a testament to J.K. Rowling's fabulous writing. HP and the Chamber of Secrets was filled with all the hilarious moments and magical wonders I have come to expect of all Harry Potter books. This book is the unique one out of the series because it is the only one which intertwines a mystery into the already-thick plot. What is the Chamber of Secrets and what monster lies in it's depths? The intense action and terrifying mysteries will leave you quivering in your seats.
I always find the most amazing quotes from J.K. Rowling's writing. I can't help but start my review with one of her quotes (which, not surprisingly, comes from Dumbledore). I have lost count of the number of times I have said this, but I will say it again. Rowling is hands down the best writer I have ever read. The writing in HP and the Chamber of Secrets completely blew me away.
We now know who we adore and admire (Harry, Dumbledore) and we know who we despise with all our hearts (Snape, Voldemort). We were introduced to all the characters through the first book in the series, so Rowling can go ahead and get into the action for book two. And that's exactly what she does. The mysterious air really compliments the action in the book, which is peppered in just the right places throughout the book. That's one of my favorite parts of Rowling's work. She doesn't have non-stop action throughout the whole book. She has character development and loads of fun to mix up her stories and make them more interesting.
HP and the Chamber of Secret's is all about testing Harry's bravery and valiance. This book really shows us what a phenomenal human being Harry is and makes us fall in love with him even more. On the other hand, we are introduced to Professor Lockheart (the new DADA teacher). What a despicable human being. He is vain, shallow and irritating beyond belief. It was quite the experience to have someone I hate so much be on the good side. I'm ashamed to say I was very pleased when his memory charm backfired and he lost his memory.
Overall, another fantastic novel from J.K. Rowling. The perfect sequel to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, this book has it all. Best series... ever!
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Well, I gotta say I expected a light, hopefully somewhat amusing read, although what I got instead was a deep, passionate story, that I couldn't put down from the moment I picked it up to the moment I put it down. I felt so much for the main character, Macy, witnessing her Father's death, the one person in her family, who truly understood her. Macy always feels small and unimportant, trying to be the perfect poster child. Although it changes when she starts work at a catering company. I really loved how Dessen portrayed the relationships Macy had with people so well, they felt so real. A lot of people say "Someone Like You" and "Just Listen" are the best Dessen books, but I personally think this one is. Sarah Dessen really knows how to pull at your heartstring. I loved this book and I know anyone else who reads it, will love it too.
Chinese Art Workshops for Kids (in English) - Sunday August 26th
Is anyone volunteering for the Chinese Art Workshop on Sunday?? I want to meet more people!
Contest #2 Entry: Alternative Book Cover
Above is my entry for Contest #2. I chose to create an alternate cover for the book Fear by Michael Grant.
Short summary of "Fear": It's been one year since all the adults disappeared. Gone. Despite the hunger and the lies, even despite the plague, the kids of Perdido Beach are determined to survive. Creeping into the tenuous new world they've built, though, is perhaps the worst incarnation yet of the enemy known as the Darkness: fear. Within the FAYZ, life breaks down while the Darkness takes over, literally—turning the dome-world of the FAYZ entirely black. In darkness, the worst fears of all emerge, and the cruelest of intentions are carried out. But even in their darkest moments, the inhabitants of the FAYZ maintain a will to survive and a desire to take care of the others in their ravaged band that endures, no matter what the cost. Fear, Michael Grant's fifth book in the bestselling dystopian Gone series, will thrill readers . . . even as it terrifies them.
My cover is a good representation of the novel Fear in many ways. The barrier going dark is a huge part of this story as it signals the end of light and happiness in the FAYZ (fallout alley youth zone). The kids believed it was "the beginning of the end". The sunset on my cover is meant to symbolize the sun leaving the FAYZ for the last time, thrusting the kids into total darkness and leaving them trembling, afraid and vulnerable in the dark. Sam (the protagonist of Fear) has the unique ability to shoot killing light out of his palms. He is also able to control his power to form little balls of light (christened "Sammy Suns") to provide some light in a world of darkness.The little ball of light that is the sun in my picture is also supposed to represent a "Sammy Sun". I chose to use a girl cupping the sun in her palms on my cover because I wanted to portray the huge role Diana plays in "Fear". The fate of the FAYZ rests on her and her baby's shoulders; she holds the world in her hands. The girl on my cover is Diana, and the sun she is holding is her world (the FAYZ). The other reason I chose to use a human cupping the sun on my cover is because I wanted to get across the idea of man and nature working together. "Fear" is all about the battle between man and nature. The kids in the FAYZ are trying to overcome the laws of nature to stay alive. And eventually, they end up working with nature to achieve this. I chose to use red as the main color in my cover because red is the universal color for fear. As fear is essentially what this novel is centered on (hence it's title) I thought it fitting to inject a feeling of fear into my cover. I also tried to portray feelings of fear with the font; I wanted something bold, dark and frightening. Finally, I would like to mention asthetics. My cover is very pleasing to look at. It's colors and theme are eye-catching, which makes it pop out from the shelf. Hope you like it!
Original cover:
Strange Angels - Lili St. Crow
This novel was okay. I liked the plot, the characters, the writing, the theme. But there were just too many flaws for me to give it more than 3/5 stars.
Couple things I disliked:
The confusion/poorly explained. Whenever there is any action or any sort of dramatic scene at all, St. Crow suddenly gets all excited and insists on rushing the paragraph. As a result, I don't understand what the hell is going on. For example: the werwulf scene (which is all told within a page). This giant werwulf (that is somehow supposed to be on fire?) attacks Dru. She fights him (nevermind how, we aren't told) and throws him into a fountain. And he dies. Just like that. ??? What? It's just a big jumble of words that put together make no sense at all. It's enough to make me insane.
The stupidity/repetition. Dru and Christophe are in mortal danger. If they don't get the hell out of the house within the next thirty seconds, they are probably going to end up dead. But they don't rush out as fast as their little legs can carry them. Nope. They get into a fight about who's going to drive. Really? REALLY?? On many occasions, there have been conversations where Dru says something to Christopher and gets an answer. Then she asks the EXACT SAME QUESTION again and gets the same answer. AND THEN... she asks the same question and gets the same answer. What is up with that? Complete waste of words.
Couple things I liked:
Dru was kick-butt. She was not annoying or bratty or shallow. YAY! I liked her don't-mess-with-me attitude and the fact that she didn't fall for either of the two guys who were living with her (more on that later). She was strong, proud and tough. But she was also sweet and opened up about herself. Perfect protagonist (in my opinion).
The romance. :D There was none. Period. There were guys and girls but no relationships. This is a YA paranormal fiction novel. It's about a 16-year-old girl and two guys (perfect love triangle set-up), AND THERE WAS NO ROMANCE. YAY! I'm very proud. First YA paranormal novel I've read with no romance. Props to St. Crow :)
I liked how Dru was both taking care of and being taken care of (if you get what I mean). She was superior to Graves in that she knew more about the Real World, but she didn't know as much as Christophe (who was a pro hunter). It was a nice balance.
Overall, great book. 3/5. Also why is it called Strange Angels? It has nothing to do with Angels!
Couple things I disliked:
The confusion/poorly explained. Whenever there is any action or any sort of dramatic scene at all, St. Crow suddenly gets all excited and insists on rushing the paragraph. As a result, I don't understand what the hell is going on. For example: the werwulf scene (which is all told within a page). This giant werwulf (that is somehow supposed to be on fire?) attacks Dru. She fights him (nevermind how, we aren't told) and throws him into a fountain. And he dies. Just like that. ??? What? It's just a big jumble of words that put together make no sense at all. It's enough to make me insane.
The stupidity/repetition. Dru and Christophe are in mortal danger. If they don't get the hell out of the house within the next thirty seconds, they are probably going to end up dead. But they don't rush out as fast as their little legs can carry them. Nope. They get into a fight about who's going to drive. Really? REALLY?? On many occasions, there have been conversations where Dru says something to Christopher and gets an answer. Then she asks the EXACT SAME QUESTION again and gets the same answer. AND THEN... she asks the same question and gets the same answer. What is up with that? Complete waste of words.
Couple things I liked:
Dru was kick-butt. She was not annoying or bratty or shallow. YAY! I liked her don't-mess-with-me attitude and the fact that she didn't fall for either of the two guys who were living with her (more on that later). She was strong, proud and tough. But she was also sweet and opened up about herself. Perfect protagonist (in my opinion).
The romance. :D There was none. Period. There were guys and girls but no relationships. This is a YA paranormal fiction novel. It's about a 16-year-old girl and two guys (perfect love triangle set-up), AND THERE WAS NO ROMANCE. YAY! I'm very proud. First YA paranormal novel I've read with no romance. Props to St. Crow :)
I liked how Dru was both taking care of and being taken care of (if you get what I mean). She was superior to Graves in that she knew more about the Real World, but she didn't know as much as Christophe (who was a pro hunter). It was a nice balance.
Overall, great book. 3/5. Also why is it called Strange Angels? It has nothing to do with Angels!
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
OK, I know everyone in the world, over the age of 9, have read this book. So why even tell you the summary, we all know what happens, and well we all know its an amazing book. I just felt the need to review it. I've now read it about 4 times. It just never gets old. If your a Hunger Games fan you know what I mean. I read this book in a swoon, compulsively. It was an amazing reading experience, that sucked at times because its basically impossible to put down. It's the kind of book where you read into the night nervously looking at the clock as it passes 1 o'clock, then 2'o'clock knowing full well you'll have to leave for work in 6 hours. That honestly is the only reason why I hated the book, because it was impossible to put down. If that's the only thing I hate about the book, then that must make the book amazing. If your one of those very few that haven't read this yet, then you really haven't lived your life yet.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
If you haven't read this book yet, you should really read it now. This book is really confusing and hard to explain, its just something you have to read. I think the writing is written to actually confuse you while your reading, not that the writing is bad, its amazing. Before I read this book, I always wished for a life without pain, feeling, war, and just to have peace in the world. After reading this book you seriously question why you ever thought that to begin with. This is one of the best dystopian novels I've read. I know I didn't really describe this book well enough, but it's just so hard to. Everyone really needs to read this, so here's a quick synopsis.
Summary: Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
This book was like the highlight of my summer. It was happy and fun, but at the same time it had depth, and passion. This is one of my favourite Elizabeth Scott books. The writing is amazing, its like your reading a song almost. Although this book is a little different from your average teenage novel. Its about a girl who is secluded from a normal teenage life, because her and her mom travel around the world as professional thieves. It honestly is a really cool idea for a book. The main character Dani is a surprisingly likable character, her mom on the other hand was just plain selfish. I think that Dani being able to handle her mom was why I really liked her character. She was strong, and determined. Generally "Stealing Heaven" is a good read, that tells a real story.
Freegal Music is here!
So obviously you love books, but I bet you love music too! The
Richmond Public Library now has Freegal – a LEGAL downloadable music service stocked
with thousands of your favourite songs. If you are a Richmond resident and you have a Richmond Public Library card, enjoy your 3 free “weekly” downloads. For more information, check out our website: www.yourlibrary.ca/freegal
John Green
http://adauntlesspotterjay.tumblr.com/post/30048611924/john-green-nice-eyes-john-green-a-dash-of
Because if you've ever read a John Green book, you know it's true.
- John Green: nice eyes
- John Green: a dash of wit
- John Green: perfect sense of humour
- John Green: a pinch of angsty outlook on the world
- John Green: beautiful face
- John Green: tons of courage
- John Green: some acceptable flaws
- John Green: leave to simmer
- John Green: I have created the perfect character!
- John Green: now die!
Because if you've ever read a John Green book, you know it's true.
Supernaturally by Kierstan White
Supernaturally by Kierstan White is the second novel in the series Paranormalacy. Supernaturally begins immediately after the finish of Paranormalacy where the main character who lacks a full soul herself has chosen to live a normal life rather then continue to be IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency)'s greatest asset. Though she's chosen a life that doesn't include IPCA, she begins to find herself wanting to work for them again. Though as one disastrous mission leads to another she finds herself becoming more and more entwined with the faeries she tried so hard to stay away from.I really enjoied this book, I like the way the author writes as if we're actually in the protagonist's head hearing her thoughts. I find that kind of writing style isn't typically paired with paranormal fiction thus setting this series just slightly apart from the others. Though it may be a biased opinion on my part do to my total adoration of any novel that includes the fey and their courts, I would give this novel a 9/10.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Once a year, the Hunger Games is held in Panem, the dystopian nation. One girl and one boy with the ages 12 to 18 will be picked from 12 anxious districts by a yearly lottery to contend in the Hunger Games. It's an event where 24 kids are picked at fortuitous and only one can survive. The contender? A sixteen year old girl, Katniss Everdeen from District 12 who offers to volunteer as tribute to take her little sister, Prim's place for the 74th annual Hunger Games. They must fight to the death while being televised.
I found this book really captivating, I was so obsessed with it that I just couldn’t stop reading it. This book is like AMAZING!! Katniss Everdeen is so courageous. She reminds me of Joan of Arc. She would do anything to keep her family and friends alive even if she has to risk her life and she knows a lot more than anyone else does.
This book is about love, sacrifice and definitely survival and i loved that about the book. It tells us that it’s not just about 24 kids put into this terrible game trying to kill each other, it’s more than that. Like what Peeta said when he was on the rooftop with Katniss, he wanted to let the Capitol know that he is more than just a part of their games.
Overall, I really loved reading The hunger Games, such an extraordinary story!!
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