Thursday, December 13, 2012

Beautiful Disaster Review

This one has been on my to read list for ages! I don't usually go for normal books about normal people doing normal things. I actually cringed at the thought of a love story about college kids LOL. I fell in love with this book pretty early on, devoured it for two days & was sad to see it end. Travis was sexy, damaged to perfecting & Abby was an interesting twist! Loved how they played off each other though I wanted to bang their heads together a few times. It was sweet & I really enjoyed it.
 

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Hush, Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick


-->"He grinned when I didn't protest, and lowered his mouth toward mine. The first touch was just that - a touch. A teasing, tempting softness. I licked my lips and Patch's grin deepened.
"More?" he asked.
I curled my hands into his hair, pulling him closer. "More."

I picked up this series because I fell in love with the idea of Fallen by Lauren Kate. Where she fell short Becca Fitzpatrick succeeded. Hush, Hush was sweet, confusing, sexy, badass and above all a page turner.

Story follows Nora Grey a "normal" girl who one day meets a boy at school. An equally sexy & dangerous looking boy named Patch, a fallen angel. I fell head over heals in love with him right along with Nora always wondering if he was good or evil.  The story was great though Crescendo wasn't my favorite. I am really looking forward to Finale this fall. It's an exciting read and full or twists and turns.

I HIGHLY recommend this series, it's YA Fiction, like most of my reads but still fantastic even for grown ups ;)

Rating: 5/5 - Just read it, you will be swept away.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

Quotes:
"Don't touch any of my weapons without my permission."
"Well, there goes my plan for selling them all on eBay," Clary muttered.
"Selling them on what?"
Clary smiled blandly at him. "A mythical place of great magical power."
 
"I don't want tea," said Clary, with muffled force. "I want to find my mother. And then I want to find out who took her in the first place, and I want to kill them."
"Unfortunately," said Hodge, "we're all out of bitter revenge at the moment, so it's either tea or nothing."
 
"That does it," said Jace. "I'm going to get you a dictionary for Christmas this year."
"Why?" Isabelle said.
"So you can look up 'fun.' I'm not sure you know what it means."
— (City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2))
"There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then."
— (City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3))
"What's the point in wasting a perfectly good brick wall when you have someone to throw against it, that's what I always say."
— (City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4))
"He’d burn the whole world down till he could dig you out of the ashes."
— (City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5))
Once again I read too fast & blog too slowly.

The Mortal Intruments Series is one I have wanted to read for quite a while and I was not disapointed!

The series starts out with Clary & her best friend Simon going clubbing in NYC, where they witness a murder... of a demon. They are then thrown into the world of Shadowhunters, who hunt & kill demons. A world that seems crazy at first but she is more connected to it than she ever knew.

Each and every book has a fantastic story and character development. And some insane problem plagueing mankind. The battle of good & evil in it's basic forms: Heavenly beings vs. Hellish demons.

The Shadowhunters are Jace, Isabelle & her brother Alec. All fierce and brave and kick some serious butt. I loved them all. Cameo's of every kind of supernatural beings including Fairies, vampires, werewolves, worlocks, angels and all manner of goulish demons all described with excellent detail. I loved this world they live in.

I really rooted for Jace & Clary and the other couples. This series would be a great summer read. It will hook you in and keep you wanting more. The sixth book will not be released until 2014, so you have time to read them all!

Rating: 5/5 - Best series I have EVER read!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

Quotes:
--"Hey Mason, wipe the drool off your face. If you're going to think about me naked, do it on your own time." [...]
"This is my time, Hathaway. I'm leading today's session."
"Oh yeah?" I retorted. "Huh. Well, I guess this is a good time to think about me naked, then."
"It's always a good a time to think about you naked," added someone nearby, breaking the tension further."
--"Belikov is a sick, evil man who should be thrown into a pit of rabid vipers for the great offense he commited against you this morning."
"Thank you." I said primly. Then, I considered. "Can vipers be rabid?"
"I don't see why not. Everything can be. I think. Canadian geese might be worse than vipers, though."
"Canadian geese are deadlier than vipers?"
"You ever try to feed those little bastards? They're vicious. You get thrown to vipers, you die quickly. But the geese? That'll go on for days. More suffering."
"Wow. I don't know whether I should be impressed or frightened that you've thought about all of this."
--"Most fathers don't threaten to disembowel their daughter's boyfriends."
"That's not true. And anyway, that's not what I actually said. It was much worse."

I am going to lump this series of 6, yes SIX books into one review because quite honestly it would take forever to review all & some aren't worth the time ;)

The series is about two girls. Lissa, vampire royalty and her guardian/bff Rose. The girls live in the vampire world where there are three types of vampires: Moroi the royal leaders who have special powers, Guardians the protectors of the Moroi & Strigoi the evil vampires.  

The girls get in all manner of trouble but the series gets off to an expected slow start. The first book was a bore with all the character intro's and vampire history but I was expecting that since I still had 5 books ahead of me so I knew the first one would be setting up the story.

Rose is a rebel, always up for a fight and always thinking up these insane plans to get them out of even more insane situations. From kidnapping, tourture, prison break, murder, international road trips and assasinations. She kicks butt and I love her for it. Lissa is a royal so she is a proper delicate flower and I didnt really care for her but her character develops nicely through the series.

There is love, natually, some really passionate moments that take your breate away and chaos and I really enjoyed how the story developed over the books. Though not all books are created equal. Each has its own merrits but 4 & 6 were my favorites. They are quick YA reads but all in good fun.

I reccomend this as a fun summer read. A lot of funny moments for a 'serious' vampire series.

Rating: 4/5 

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Maze Runner Review


Maze Runner by James Dashner

"shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?" Minho asked, pulling Thomas's attention away from Alby.
"Go ahead" Newt replied.
Minho nodded and faced the crowd. "Be careful," he said dryly.
"Don't die."
James Dashner (The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1))

Maze Runner starts with a boy named Thomas waking up in a black box his memory wiped. Greeted by kids, in a 'community' they call the Glade. A place where they all live and work. They tell him they are trapped there, around their little world is a maze in all directions. They work during daylight hours trying to solve the maze. Once a week they get supplies and once a month a new boy is sent there. No explanation. Until the day after Thomas gets there a GIRL is sent through the box, the first girl any of them has ever seen. She carries a message.

I put this book on the shelf more than once. I read a lot of books with romance and Maze Runner has ZERO romance. A bunch of boys and ONE girl. Sounded like Lord of the Flies to me. It was a really good read. A lot was going on and it spooked me a few times, good suspense and not predictable. The slang they use took me a few chapters to get used. I loved the description of the Glade & maze, James Dashner painted a very fantastic picture.

The next book in the series The Scorch Trials is out already as well as a few prequels to Maze Runner. I am excited to read more about these kids and see what else they are put through. The Epilogue was VERY interesting and raises more questions than it answers. I recommend this for suspense lovers or if you ladies want a break, like I did, from the same old story of "two kids in love saving the world".

Rating: 4/5 - Excellent Puzzle.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Crave Review

Crave be Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz



I will be honest, I didn't have very high hopes for this book. I read a few bleak reviews but it sounded like a good story and frankly the dude on the cover looked hot. Sue me I am a sucker for a great book cover.

Shay is our resident heroine, she has been sick her whole life, some rare blood disorder which makes her get transfusions more than once a week. Her "new" treatment of blood makes her feel better than ever but gives her these surreal visions of being someone else...a vampire named Gabriel. She falls for him & sets out to see if he is real.

I liked Shay and I liked the connection she has with Gabriel. But the flashes between her "visions" and swapping narrators mid-chapter was confusing. It could have been a lot better. I will read the sequel Sacrifice only because I am an optimist when it comes to books.

Rating 2/5 - Slow Going.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Shatter Me Review


Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

"The soldiers stomp stomp stomp through the rain...They dont understand the freedom in feeling the universe on their skin. They dont care. I wish I could stuff my mouth with raindrops and fill my pockets full of snow. I wish I could trace the veins in a fallen leaf and feel the wind pinch my nose"
- Shatter Me #1 by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me opens with Juliette in prison, solitary for the past year. We find out she has been locked up since she was 14. Juliette has never been loved or touched in her life because her touch is lethal to humans. Her whole world is the dark cell and the thoughts in her head.

One day they tell her she is getting a cellmate and it turns out to be a boy. He tells her about he world outside how bad it has gotten. She is taken from her small four walled world and throw into the lap of luxury and asked to use her power to torture and kill. If she does not they will throw her back in prison forever. She doesnt know what to do but she knows she needs to find a way to escape.

I loved the style of this author, it felt like poetry and I couldn't get enough. So many quotes stuck with me. Some really great sexy, charged moments in this book too! The characters are written really well and even the "bad guy" I find incredibly sexy!

Give it a go you will love it!

Rating 4.5/5 - Sexy & Dangerous!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Pandemonium Review


Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Delirium Series #2


"Fire in my legs and lungs; fire tearing through every nerve and cell in my body. That's how I am born again, in pain...
I run, and when I can no longer run, I limp, and when I can't do that, I crawl, inch by inch, digging my fingernails into the soil, like a worm sliding across the overgrown surface of this strange new wilderness. I bleed, too, when I am born"
Lauren Oliver (Pandemonium (Delirium, #2))

I was looking forward to this book for quite a while. I was yet again swept up in the story Delirium began.

Pandemonium is almost the opposite of Delirium. In this story she is on the outside of civilization as an Invalid. She runs from the gory scene that ended Delirium watching Alex die before her eyes and then running into the wild, completely alone in her grief.

Lena runs for a days, lost in her desperation, the feeling of everything she ever loved has been taken from her. She is discovered, nearly dead, by the Invalids in the wild and they nurse her back to health, not back to her old self but as a newer, stronger, braver, hardened version of herself. They become her family. Life on the outside is hard and full of loss. Lena is thrown in with a "uncured" poster boy for the cure, Julian after being kidnapped and they get close. But she is still haunted by her love and loss for Alex. Chaos ensues and you guessed it, they fall in love.

Its a fast paced and it's deeply painful to read Lena's loss of hope. I am such a fan of Lauren Oliver's writing style and this story line I fell in love with after Delirium and now will be counting down the days until her next novel.

Highly recommended! Had a feel of Scott Westerfeld's Pretties . Check it out.

Rating: 4/5 - Fast paced & full of love & loss.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Passion Review

Passion by Lauren Kate
Fallen Series #3

"All that is good in Heaven and on Earth is born of love. This war is not just. This war is not good. Love is the only thing worth fighting for."
Lauren Kate (Passion (Fallen, #3))



The third book in the series opens with Luce jumping into an Announcer on a quest to find out why her and Daniel's relationship is doomed and find out why she has to die over and over again for their love.

This is a roller coaster ride through time with Luce bouncing between ancient times and each time reliving their love and her death. Luce is trying to find out if there is an end to this curse and if their love is worth it for her and for poor Daniel who is felt to mourn her after each death. Daniel is chasing her through time hoping to reach her before something terrible happens.

I really enjoyed the different eras she experienced, so many details in the clothing and the locations. Like a history lesson with a Angelic twist. My only concern is not enough of our beloved demon Cam. He is by far my favorite fallen angel and I would have liked to see more of him. But aside from that I loved this novel as I have loved all of them in the Fallen series.

Luce & Daniel's love story of the ages is wonderful. I highly recommend this novel and keep your eyes open for Rapture the fourth book in the series being released June 15, 2012. Also, there is a Valentines Day novel with short love stories about SOME of our favorite characters: Shelby, Miles, Ariane, Roland, Luce & Daniel. This is different but I have to say I am dying to read it! Not sure how much it has to do with the series but rest assured I will review it when I am finished :)

Rating: 4.5/5 - History Lesson in love.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Torment Review


Torment by Lauren Kate
Fallen Series #2

"Sometimes beautiful things come into our lives out of nowhere. We can't always understand them, but we have to trust in them. I know you want to question everything, but sometimes it pays to just have a little faith."

"Yeah,there was a whole chapter on you in my eight grade History of Angels textbook," Miles said.
Arriane clapped. "And they told me that book was banned!"

"I have to go," he said at last, getting to his feet. "I shouldn't even be here, but I cannot keep my self away from you. I worry about you in every waking moment. I love you, Luce. So much it hurts."
Lauren Kate (Torment (Fallen, #2))

The battle for good & evil, Heaven & Hell continues with our girl, Luce and her fallen Angel boyfriend, Daniel. Our favorite Angels & Demon reappear in this book as well as some great new ones.

Luce is moved into hiding from the Outcasts, at a school called Shoreline in California. Which is basically a finishing school for Angel half breads, ran by 2 fallen Angels one a Demon on the dark side, one an Angel on the good side, so as to not sway the students to either side. Luce learns a lot about the shadows that have followed her for her whole life. Now realizing they are a way to glimpse her past with Daniel she sets off to find out more about their past including her families in each past life who were left to mourn her untimely death.

Daniel is elusive as ever and I am never really sure if the whole truth is being told to Luce. If a fallen Angel tells you that you are the love of his life, should you believe him? And why? Luce keeps thinking how much simpler her life would be if he had never fallen in love with her to begin with.

I am knee deep in this series and am loving every word. It is written beautifully with so much detail. I am still, after 2 books, on the fence whether Luce is being lead astray by these angels and what the real story is behind the truce and the war.

I highly recommend this book and Series. next up is Passion. I am swept up by this story and its strong cast of characters. There is a fine line between Good & Evil, sometimes it's hard to see where you stand. Read it you wont be disappointed.

Rating: 4/5 - Angel fantasy delivers!


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Fallen Review


Fallen by Lauren Kate

"She had sand in her mouth and between her toes, the briny wind raising goose bumps on her skin, and the sweetest, spellbound feeling spilling from her heart.
She could, at that moment, have died for him."

"He dipped her low and kissed her fiercely, as if he were angry, and each time his lips left hers, even just for half a second, the most parching thirst ran through her, making her cry out."
Lauren Kate (Fallen (Fallen, #1))


In the case of this novel I judged a book by it's cover and I am glad I did.

Fallen is about a girl, named Luce (Lucinda) who is sent to a reform school where she meets many strange and interesting characters. Two boys catch her eye. Cam, is sweet and kind and Daniel who is NOT sweet or kind and treats her like a pesky infatuated child. Luce is drawn to him in such a powerful way and doesn't know why. Big surprise there, aren't girls always drawn to the guy who ignores them.

She is torn between the two guys and starts digging into Daniels past to try to find a reason for her powerful feelings for this perfect stranger. What she discovers starts to unravel her whole world and everything she believes.

It took a while for this book to get going. Knowing it was a trilogy I wanted the story to get to the point which it didn't do until about half way into the book. I am not a patient reader and it took me 4 days to read this, which for me, is a long time. BUT, that being said, once the writer got to the point I was hooked. I could fill this review with spoilers but that's not my style. Its a good fantasy novel and I enjoyed the last half and am about 5 minutes away from starting in on the next in the series Torment.

I reluctantly will recommend this but only because the story got good, really good and I am excited to see where the trilogy takes Luce & the other characters. I hope the reason for the slow start was due to the necessary intro to all the characters that will be popping up in the next 2 books and not just her style of writing. Fingers crossed.

Rating 3.5/5 - Slow & steady wins the race.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Blood & Chocolate Review


Blood & Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

"Why me?" she asked, holding on to him.

"Because you cared," he whispered. "You cared so much for your people, it broke your heart to see the pack in ruins. You cared so much for your mother, you risked your life for hers. You cared enough to save someone who wanted you dead. And because you walk like a queen."
Annette Curtis Klause (Blood and Chocolate)



I can't tell you what a treat it is to read a novel that is ONE novel & doesn't have a trilogy waiting in the wings!

Blood and Chocolate is about a girl, Vivian, who just happens to be a werewolf, living with her pack in suburban Maryland. After a terrible fire they lost pack members including her father, the pack leader and had to relocate. Which has left them fighting over who will take over as the new leader. Vivian feels lost among her people and ends up falling for a human boy named Aiden.

Aiden loves all things magical and Vivian gets caught up in love and pretending to be human. Something her pack is not thrilled about
because the men want her for themselves. Especially the incredibly sexy, aspiring leader Gabriel. She loves the bond and security the pack provides but is sick of the constant fighting.

One of their own is killing humans and they need to find out who it is before the locals start asking questions. I didn't LOVE this book but I enjoyed it.

I like the twist that the girl is the werewolf and the boy human, it made for interesting read and her transformations were written really well every muscle shifting & changing. The ending was perfect with some good twists and for once I wasn't ranting about how it should have been.

For anyone who likes a little fantasy this would be a nice quick read, can be read in a day or two. If you have seen the movie, this is completely different. I honestly have no idea why they would change so much of the story, it works better as it is written as with MOST books made into movies! But that is another rant for another day.

Rating: 3/5 - Give it a go :)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Million Suns Review


A Million Suns by Beth Revis

"And here we are, in the middle, surrounded by a sea of stars.
A million suns.
Any of them could hold a planet. Any of them could hold a home.
But all of them are out of reach."
Beth Revis (A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2))



The second book in the trilogy following 'Across The Universe'. The story of a girl, Amy, waking up on a ship after being frozen for 300 years. And a young man, Elder, thrust into power before his time and having to rule a ship of 2200 people who are aware for the first time in their lives.

The story continues after the chaos of Across The Universe. The people have been taken off the calming sedative that has been put in their water for generations to boost productivity. Elder is trying to lead them with the people being awake but leading a group of people JUST discovering free will is difficult to say the least.

Secrets covering more secrets is all Amy & Elder find and the plot thicken when they discover something that will effect every person on the ship. But how much information can the people take before they snap and rebel.

Again, a lot going on in this book, like the first. I really enjoyed the VERY slow development of a relationship between Elder & Amy. There is something sweet there. Some unsavory characters return in this book and a few new ones rear their ugly heads. A good mystery set in space.

Good read and I am looking forward to the next novel in the series Shades of Earth coming Early 2013. They are quick reads and I enjoyed my first "space" series.

If you liked the first one you will really like this.

Rating: 3.5/5 - Strong Second Book.


Sunday, February 5, 2012

The Host Review


The Host be Stephanie Meyer

“It's a strange universe,” he murmured.
“It's not fair,” I complained, echoing Sunny's words. It wasn't fair. How could I find this, find love–now, in this eleventh hour–and have to leave it? Was it fair that my soul and body couldn't reconcile? Was it fair that I had to love Melanie, too? Was it fair that Ian would suffer? He deserved happiness if anyone did. It wasn't fair or right or even…sane. How could I do this to him?
“I love you,” I whispered.
“Don't say that like you're saying goodbye.”
Stephenie Meyer (The Host (The Host, #1))



Don't let the 'Author of Twilight' fool you this is a great novel. A grown up novel compared to Twilight and all that angst.

Wanderer is one soul among millions that has been placed INSIDE a human body. It is how her species called "souls" have taken over our world. A peaceful species that thought they could fix earths violence with their invasion.

She is placed in a captured wild human which is never done but Wanderer is on her eighth world and is ready for the challenge, to find out where the other wilds are. But she encounters a force within her she cant ignore, Melanie.

Melanie refuses to die her thoughts still echo in Wanderers head and will not be silenced. They set out on an adventure to find Melanie's family. Each step of the way Wanderer is falling away from her own kind and sympathizing with the humans.

Trying to find peace amongst humans that hate her very existence is hard for her but the story pulls you in and doesn't let go.

Sci-Fi for people who don't like Sci-Fi. Meyer writes characters so well we fall in love and root for the alien! With some great action and some really beautiful moments. I laughed out loud and cried and cheered.

I recommend to anyone who like Sci-Fi with a twist to their stories, and there are more than a few twists. Made me long for the desert air.

Rating: 4.5/5 - Great Read!


Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Across The Universe


Across The Universe by Beth Revis

"Power isn’t control at all — power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn’t someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own."
Beth Revis (Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1))





Here's the jist of it. Amy has been cryogenic frozen with her parents who are part of a team heading out on a 300 year trip to Centauri-Earth to set up a colony. Amy is 'unplugged' fifty years early by an unknown person and she isnt the only one, someone is unplugging the frozens & leaving them to die.

Elder is the next leader of the ships crew, which is basically a small town of people who live, work, breed, & die all on the ship for generations. The ship is their whole world, no one sees out no one has ever stepped foot on Amy's Sol-Earth.

There is a lot going on in this story with the relationship between the 'Eldest' the current leader of Godspeed & his protege Elder as well as the relationship between the people in different areas of the ship. The people on board hate anything different, and Amy is definitely that.

I have never read a "space" book but i enjoyed this one. It doesnt have aliens or laser fighting ect ect. The narration flips between Elder & Amy who we really want to find away to be in love. But as usual chaos ensues!

If your looking for something different give it a try, Beth Revis paints an interesting picture of a life without all the beauty of Earth & how people find the courage in themselves to carry on when it feels like there is no hope.


I do recommend this book but have really nothing to compare it to, it is a trilogy so there is more to come. It does have a 'near' rape scene which was hard to read but it was moving to say the least.

The sequel A Million Suns was just released January 2012 and the last book will be coming in 2013 called Shades of Earth.

Rating: 3.5/5 - Something different.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Possession Review


Possession by Elana Johnson


“He walked close enough to hold hands and far enough away that words could never repair the damage we'd done to each other.”
Elana Johnson,
Possession











I love the first scene of this book. It gets its hooks into you right from the start. Vi is arrested & thrown in prison for the unthinkable at least in the Goodlands...walking in the park, at night, with a boy.

Strangely they throw her in the same cell as Jag a boy from the Badlands, a place she has been told her whole life is full of terrible people. But they soon find out there is something special about them & why they are brought together.

Vi & Jag can control people by thoughts & voice and the leader of the Goodlands wants them to brainwash it's citizens in exchange for their release.

It's an action read & of course Vi & Jag fall for each other. Two crazy kids trying to change the world & find a way to just be happy in love. There are so many twists & turns, keeps you on the edge of your seat. I went into it thinking it was a stand alone novel and when I reached the end, I was horrified to read it would be continued, so I was left sad & wanting more. Which I guess is a good thing ;P

I really cant reveal anymore with out ruining it for you. It is another novel in the list of great Dystopian Fiction. I recommend it to anyone who liked the Uglies Series.

Rating 4/5 - Mind controlling fun!

Look for the sequel: Surrender coming out June 15, 2012.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Divergent Book Review


Divergent by Veronica Roth

"Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up. I've seen it. It's fascinating." He releases me but doesn't pull away, his hand grazing my jaw, my neck. "Sometimes I just want to see it again. Want to see you awake."
Veronica Roth (Divergent (Divergent, #1))



The concept pf Divergent s this: Every person in belongs to one of 5 factions; Amity (Peace), Abnegation(selfless), Dauntless(bravery), Candor(Truth), Erudite(Knowledge). At age 16 the children get to chose to either stay with their parents or change factions and never see them again. Faction before blood.

Tris (Beatrice) was born a selfless Abnegation and choses to join Dauntless the pierces & tattooed faction that scares most people. Once there she under goes tests of bravery and weapons training as her initiation. Where she meets Four, one of her trainers & they fall in love.

Never has the number Four been so sexy, he is the epitome of bad boy. A gun shooting, fighting, knife throwing tattooed sexy as all heck, bad boy. I fell for him too ;)

Chaos ensues and the story get better & better. Veronica Roth write those electric moments between two people so well. And the scenes with them stick in my head STILL after reading the book twice in a row! It has a Hunger games feel to it and we go into knowing it will be a trilogy. The next book release date is ...well check the countdown to your right ;P

I am a huge fan of Dystopian Fiction and this one is my new favorite! I recommend it to anyone who liked Hunger Games.

Rating: 4.5/5 - Fantastic!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

In The Heart Or In the Head

What makes a writer.

I have struggled witht his question for years. Mainly because I wish I was a writer. I mean I write, I love to write. I have a constant inner monologue contemplating the mysteries of the earth my heart & choices I have made. I have never submitted anything and honestly dont know how writers can put their inner most thoughts out into the world to be judged and edited and picked apart LITERALLY sentence by sentence.

I wonder if its possible to become a published author if you did NOT go to college? When I pick up a book I always read the write up about their life, where they grew up, when to college and there is a common theme. They ALWAYS went to college BA/MFA ect ect. making an uneducated person like myself feel that I will never learn the things they have because of the circumstances of my life and the fact I never felt good enough for anything in my life when I was 'young enough' to go to college. Perhaps the reason I have never put my work out there s that I dont want someone else to say it stinks. Schrödinger's cat (google it).


My question to put out there is this: Is the talent & art of being a writer in the heart or in the head? Or both perhaps. Maybe you cannot be a writer without rejection after rejection
you can only attain from a stuffy professor (who has been rejected a million times themselves) rejecting you and your work. I had a Literature teacher in high school tell me I wasn't a writer & I had no forseeable future doing it. Now my 35 year old self would love to go back and tell him what the hell does he know about writing & how dare he take the dream of a 16 year old girl & throw it in the trash.

I guess if I thought about it, I could say he was testing me, if I couldnt handle one meaningless person telling me I was no good I would never have the ...er...balls ... to get out there and do it. But college, for me, like many others, was never an option. The circumstances and location of my childhood would never have allowed it.

I met a boy once upon a time, he was in university and he KNEW in his heart of hearts that he would be a writer, at least thats the confidence he showed me. I wonder if there were times when someone told him he was crap & to give up? Why didnt he listen? Why did I? He didnt grow up with this perfect childhood, was he told day in day out by his loving parents how he could be anything he wants and he had all the potential in the world? Doubt it. He had it in himself. He told himself these things and he believed them, because he did it, he wrote and wrote and worked and worked & achieved his goal of getting published. I envy his inner monologue. Mine has failed me, why is it easier to believe all the bad things & none of the good things about ourselves. Perhaps I need therapy ;)

I am fascinated with the process of writing, how the ideas flow, how the writer develops them. do they take notes, do they sit down in front of a computer or typewriter (do people still use them?) and type in Chapter One I just begin. Did they see a photo or a moment in time that sparked the idea in them. Maybe that's the difference in being a writer in your heart & in your head. I am a writer in my heart but have a hard time getting my voice to come out. I hope that one day I do find a way to tell a story, and I hope I get rejected because I think it would be a badge of honor saying I didn't succeed but I TRIED. And no one could take that away from me.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Delirium: Book Review



Delirium by Lauren Oliver

“Love: a single word, a wispy thing, a word no bigger or longer than an edge. That's what it is: an edge; a razor. It draws up through the center of your life, cutting everything in two. Before and after. The rest of the world falls away on either side.”
Lauren Oliver, Delirium


Ah, the beauty of a love story. I am a lover of love and this book that toys with the idea that love is a virus and can be cured at age 18, intrigued me.

Alex and Lena's love affair is something that sticks with me. Lauren Oliver has a way of writing how people fall in love that moves me. Little moments made huge by dire circumstances. I felt like this book was slipping through my fingers too fast knowing it would never end the way I had hoped but still turning each page hoping... hoping.

“I'd rather die my way than live yours.”

I am awaiting the second book in the series, Pandemonium due to be released February 2012.


I recommend this book for someone looking to be swept away in love, hopeless and powerless and yet the most powerful thing we have. Enjoy it.

Rating: 4/5 A Distopian Nicholas Sparks ;)

Friday, January 20, 2012

Before I Fall Book Review

Premise: A girl dies in car accident & keeps waking up reliving that last day.

Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day.

I know to some people that sounds like a bad review but I happen to LIKE Mean Girls & Groundhog Day.

Honestly I hated the main character so much that I was looking forward to her demise! But I loves the Romance in it and although i could turn on any tv movie & see this being played out I have never read a book like this. I loved seeing her change & the few beautiful moments with Kent make it a great book and I would recommend it. Its definitely YA Fiction but sweet and raw and shows the twisted gong show that is High School. If only we al had 7 tries to make it all right.

Rating 3.5/5