Wednesday, June 6, 2012

City of Bones


Oh my goodness this book is strange.
The basic idea is that it's about these people (Shadowhunters) who hunt demons. And there's also werewolves and vampires - but they are more like Dracula than Edward Cullen.

I'll start with what I like. The characters are interesting and the backstories are well thought out. The whole Shadowhunter world is very detailed and specific. The plot is overall grabbing, so you'd like to know what happens next whether you're actually enjoying the book or not. It's very popular (or so I've heard). It's a definite read if you are a fantasy fan.

Now for what bugs me. Throughout the entire book, the only characters who I could really picture in my head were Clary's mom, Magnus Bane, Isabelle and Alec. The rest just seemed difficult to imagine. Also there were just some plot elements that were just weird - like that whole thing with Jace (that I can't say anything about without completely spoiling it). It's so cliche it's not even cliche anymore. Also, I feel so bad for poor Simon! The author just loves to torture him!

So I can't decide whether to be disgusted or in love with this book. Whichever one - it's got me intriuged. It's part of a series - I'm on the third.

Um yeah. I think it's worth a try for people who are okay with the whole "fantasy in the real world" genre.*

Peace, Love, and SIMON WINS AT LIFE.


* Which reminds me, I've been meaning to write a little thing about my opinions on genre... Hm. Maybe you'll see that soon.


(And also, don't let the fact that the three quotes on the book jacket are either the Stephanie Meyer quote or have the word 'sexy' in them scare you.)

Friday, May 11, 2012

Matched







SORRY SORRY SORRY. I took a month off to deal with school and other such business.
Yeah. But I'm back for another review!

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Quick Summary -
"Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black."
Source: www.goodreads.com




I had heard good things about this book. It won some sort of award, and I knew the sequel had sold very well, so I had high hopes when I checked this out of the library.


The plot is pretty interesting, but Cassia (the main character).

Oh, Cassia.

I found her quite bothersome. She had the thought process of a toddler.

Now, I understand that since this book is Dystopian, then she is allowed to be sort of ignorant.
That's not what bothers me.

What bothers me is that Cassia is matched with her freaking BEST FRIEND, but when a "computer glitch" gives her a different face for a second - she decides to suddenly lose half of her ignorance and decide to listen to everything the government tells her EXCEPT the part about the computer glitch. I understand the natural curiosity, but really?



Cassia is sort of slow and difficult to connect with. It bothered me a lot.


Now, don't get me wrong. I know lots of people really enjoy this book. I'm just not one of them.


But if you want the same sort of plot idea, just better written, I'd go check out Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

The Fault in Our Stars


The Fault in Our Stars by John Green has been on the New York bestseller lists pretty much since it came out.

And wow, does it deserve it.

I started and finished it in one day, barely stopping to do anything.
Well, except for school.
But you know what I mean.

It's wonderfully written, every sentence just exploding with a voice that makes you laugh and cry and yell alongside Hazel (the main character).

From John Green's website -

"The Fault in Our Stars is the story of Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters, two Indianapolis teenagers who meet at a Cancer Kid Support Group."
Except it's so much more than that.

John Green can take a normal action or sentence and breathe life and power into it. The characters are as far from 'fairy tale' as you can get, with real life problems and emotions and personalities.

And I admit, I cried at the end. 

In conclusion, this book is revolutionary. It's stunning. I think it'll become a classic.

So listen up, all of you. Go read it. I don't even mind if you don't like it, but go read it.

Unless you're ten or eleven years old, because it's sort of mature-ish. Then you might want to wait a year. And I know, I remember being eleven and reading that a book is 'mature' and being like, "HAH! You can't tell me what to do!" and then going and reading it anyways. But I do suggest not reading it yet. ***

Peace, Love, and The Power of Words.

*** Actually, if you're ten or eleven, you should click here and read my review of Wonderstruck. It's by the guy who wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which they made a movie of called "Hugo" which dominated the Oscars earlier this month.

And on another note, the Hunger Games movie just came out!
AAH!!!! SO EXCITING!!!
Unfortunately, I haven't seen it yet, even though pretty much all of my friends got to go to the midnight premiere and are all talking about it. When I see it, I'll write a review :)




"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once."
- John Green, The Fault in Our Stars