The Path by Peter Riva 3.5/5 stars

Hey guys! A few days ago, I decided I would put Food: A Love Story and Darkest Before Dawn on hold for a little while.  I needed a break from them and decided to dive into The Path by Peter Riva.  I enjoyed reading it, but it did have a few drawbacks.  I received it a while ago from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

The Cover:

The Cover:

The cover shows rather Simon or Agent Cramer doing... something to the System, I imagine.  While I was looking at the cover, trying to think of something else to say about it, I noticed that its the first in the Tag SERIES? I thought that this was a standalone book.  I can easily say that I have no idea where the rest of the series will go.  This book did not have the feel of an opening book of a series...

My Description:

Simon Bank's job is to go into the System (the computer system that controls all of American life from national security to food production) and give it human interaction.  He basically tries to mess it up, and theoretically it will learn from him to better itself.  Except this plan works too well.  The System becomes sentient, and the task of fixing the derailing System falls to Simon.  Simon has help though from an agent of Control, Cramer, who while loving chocolate is rude and loves to be in charge.  Things go from bad to worse as Simon, Cramer, and a few others attempt to save everyone in America and maybe even the entire world.

My Review:

The good parts? 

Everything had a greater significance than it first appears.  The plot built on itself in complex yet understandable levels.  There were frequent plot twists, and you could never tell where anyone's loyalties truly lay. In fact, there was a huge mystery element to the entire book. I was definitely intrigued and zipped through this book. 

It also had a very unique universe in which it took place.

The bad? 

At times, it was a bit confusing for a number of reasons. (1) Abbreviations.  There were probably thirty or forty different things that were all identified by their initials, and I had a little trouble keeping them straight. (2) The Fictional Universe. I never felt that I fully understood the rules of the world the story took place in.  They would introduce a new story element and I would have no idea that that was even possible before it became a critical part of the plot.  There was no gradual integration into Simon's world, the reader is mainly just shoved into the deep end. While I figured it out, I wish I didn't have to. (3) Transitions and the Like.  I found myself having to reread entire pages because I couldn't figure out who was talking or what the characters were talking about to begin with. (4) Technology. There were many long complex computer programming moments in this book. While I found that I could follow them mostly, I am afraid that some people would be completely lost during them.  In general, they didn't effect your understanding of the book but be warned.  

I also had trouble comprehending the plans that were created by the characters, and there were a lot of plans.  Some of them just didn't make any sense. (SPOILER: What was the benefit of giving Cramer invincibility? I don't think that it helped anyone! SPOILER OFF.)  Some of the plans were so complex and dependent on others ignorant reactions that I just didn't buy them.  That being said, the plans weren't horrible.  I am always a little skeptical of the plans that books propose.  

All in all, I enjoyed reading The Path.  I was interested.  There were a few issues that I had with it, but they were minor.  I suggest reading it if you were interested in the description, but if not, I recommend holding off.

Phrase:

Mary's a Genius

Happy Reading!

Currently Reading

Hey, guys!

The last few days I have been alternating between reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, Food:A Love Story, and Darkest Before Dawn.  To tell you the truth, I'm not really enjoying any of them.

Their Eyes Were Watching God is a book that I'm reading in English class.  Its kind of interesting, but it only has so much potential, being titled what it is. (I don't think that don't-judge-a-book-based-on-its-cover counts for titles...)  It's about black Americans and especially black women during the Harlem Renaissance. While slightly boring, it isn't terrible; however, I find myself getting irrationally angry while reading it.  I suppose that means that the book is fulfilling its purpose, but it is not fun for me.

Next, I've been trying to read Food:A Love Story since October.  Whenever I pick it up to read, I immediately regret the decision.  I love Jim Gaffigan (the author)'s stand-up, but I don't think that he has the gift of writing, sadly.  However, my problem is less the writing style and more the lack of direction the book seems to be going on.  I figured, when deciding to read it, that it would be funny or a memoir or something like that.  It's more of a research paper on food.  I'm hoping that it will get better soon. (Full Review to come, eventually.)

Lastly, I've been slowly making my way through Darkest Before Dawn.  It's the sequel to Knightfall, which I reviewed earlier.  I'm finding it a bit slow and boring.  Most of the problem is that I don't care about the characters.  The main character from the last book, the only character that I do not actively hate, is barely in a single scene in this sequel.  He never narrates, and he's just become an ensemble member of the cast.  I'm more than half-way done, so maybe it will reach its climax soon.  (Full Review to come.)

I'll keep you guys posted, and will try to write at least a little post on all the books I read this year.
And, as always, Happy Reading to all of you out there!

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 4.9/5 stars

Hey guys!

A few days ago, I finally caved and read Hush, Hush.  It's been on my to-read list practically forever, but I never had a chance to read it.  Until now.  This is just going to be a mini-review but it should give you guys the gist!

Cover:

Cover: 
I really like this cover.  Its simple, but elegant.  It shows Patch... falling from heaven.

Official Description:

A SACRED OATH

A FALLEN ANGELA FORBIDDEN LOVE
Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

My Review:

This book wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it.
The characters were complicated and complex. The plot had me hooked.
Really the only issue I had were the characters' lack of concern over certain details. For example, if your best friend tells you that a boy physically threatened her, would you really push to go camping with him? (If you answered yes, you are rather a (A) terrible friend or (B) asking to die.)
Oh, and also the fact that Nora is supposedly doing well enough in school to go to an Ivy League college. If that was true than none of the event in this book could happen because of homework, etc. (I'm aware how nit-picky that is, but I'm getting sick of books where school is not as time consuming as it really is!)
All in all, a good book. I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading!

This is How it Ends by Jen Nadol 4/5 stars

*Note: This books was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

This is How it Ends was a very interesting book.  The entire book was filled to the brim with mystery. As soon as one thing was answered, two more would come to take its place.  It was a good book.
The Cover:

The Cover:

The cover shows Riley, the main character, with Sarah.  This scene was one of the visions that Riley saw in the binoculars, but I don't agree with it being on the cover.  It makes this book seem like a romance, which it wasn't.  Romance was an element, yes, but it was very subdued.  (It's just as much of a romance as Harry Potter is.)

Official Description:

If you could see the future, would you want to? After the disturbing visions Riley and his friends see turn out to be more than hallucinations, fate takes a dangerous twist in this dark and suspenseful page-turner.

Riley and his friends are gearing up for their senior year by spending one last night hanging out in the woods, drinking a few beers, and playing Truth or Dare. But what starts as a good time turns sinister when they find a mysterious pair of binoculars. Those who dare to look through them see stragne visions, which they brush off as hallucinations. Why else would Riley see himself in bed with his best friend's girlfriend-a girl he's had a secret crush on for years?

In the weeks that follow, the visions begin to come true...including a gruesome murder. One of Riley's closet friends is now the prime suspect. But who is the murderer? Have Riley and his friends really seen the future through those mysterious binoculars? And what if they are powerless to change the course of events?

My Review:

This is How it Ends is one part murder-mystery and one part time travel book (though it was more like time watching than time travel).  There were a lot of seemingly unrelated mysteries that overlapped in spectacular ways.  What do the binoculars show? Who killed Natalie's dad? etc.

The characters were all unique and complex.  There wasn't a lot in the way of character development, but I was still satisfied with how the characters were portrayed.

I was completely sucked into this book's plot.  It was fast-paced and interesting throughout.  

That being said, this book was missing the piece of the story that grabs you by the guts and forces you to be part of the book (with some books its the narrator's voice, others relationships between characters, other plot).  In other words, it was missing the ummph. I still really enjoyed This is How it Ends and read it in a single day, but it needed something to make it stand out. 

I loved reading this book, but I imagine I will not remember it in the long run.  

I would recommend reading This is How it Ends by Jen Nadol if you were originally thinking about reading it or if you think the concept is interesting.  If not, I'd recommend another book.

Phrase:

My inner fourteen-year-old

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson 5/5 stars

*Note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review*

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley was a truly fantastic book! I loved every minute of reading it, which, sadly, wasn't very long because I was so interested!  It was a whirlwind of love and hate, joy and despair, and life and death.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and hope you will give yourself the opportunity that is this book (i.e. you should read it).

The cover:

The Cover:

Andrew (Drew) is on the cover.  I like this cover, for some reason, but there really isn't much to say about it, though it works.  I'm not even annoyed by the "A Novel".  (That's a pet peeve of mine.  I don't get the need for clarification.)

My Description:

Drew is a teenager who lives at the hospital, though he's not a patient.  He works in the cafeteria and never leaves, sleeping in an abandoned wing of the hospital.  He entertains himself by writing a comic book, Patient F, and through the friends he's made at the hospital, such as a few kids with cancer and the ER nurses.  Drew won't let anyone know him too well, otherwise they might notice that he's not who he says he is.  

However, when a boy, Rusty, is brought into the emergency room after being burned alive, Drew finds himself wanting to help the other boy in any way that he can, and he slowly realizes that he can't stay in the hospital forever.

(I thought that the official description had a few too many minor spoilers in it, but if you want to read it... Link to Official Description )

My Review:

I really like The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley, but I have to warn you that it is depressing.  It isn't a book that entirely focuses on tragedy.  There are points of pure happiness, but the sad moments, while less in number than you would anticipate, can be pretty sad.  (I imagine you picked that up from the title, but one can never be too careful.)  Aside from the tragedies, this book was actually really sweet.  There were multiple romances occurring in the hospital that were insanely cute at certain points.

I loved all of the characters.  There weren't just unique, but they were like-able!  I felt every character's pain and joy like it was my own.  They were complex and very, very complicated.  They also had this amazing thing, character development! Drew ended the book as a completely different person than he was at the beginning.  Even smaller characters, like Drew's boss, Arnold, had extreme character growth over the course of the novel.

The plot was amazing.  It kept me in complete suspense.  Shaun Hutchinson kept just the right amount of details from the reader to make the characters' backstories a mystery that was worth solving.  

At the end of every couple of chapters was a one or two page excerpt from Drew's Patient F comic book.  I really enjoyed this small aspect, as the life of Patient F mirrored Drew's life perfectly and added to the experience of reading this book. Still, there was not too many comic book panels, so it did not detract from the story.  (It was done in a way that kind of reminds me of Winger by Andrew Smith, it supplemented the story.) 

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley was both sweet and heartbreaking, but it was mainly wonderful.  I would highly recommend it! To be warned, it does contain some adult themes such as death, so don't give it to your seven year old niece, but for the rest of you, I strongly recommend that you try to read The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley.  It was a really great read.

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson comes out January 20, 2015

Phrases (I can't decide):

Andrew. Andy or Drew. Whatever.

AND

Death likes scrambled eggs