July 27, 2015

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 3.5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  I just finished reading Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (also known as the author of Eleanor & Park).  I entered into this book thinking that it would be a wonderfully cute love story where the main character was a giant nerd/fangirl.  While that was still what it was, I found the story lacked the umph/the connection that really got me engaged.

The Cover:
The Cover:
It shows Cath writing Simon Snow/ Baz fanfiction while Levi tries hopelessly to get her attention. It's a simple cover that it kind of cute.  I love the cover but I think it gives a bit of a misconception about what the book is about.  (More on that later)  A+ cover.

Official Description:
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?


My (Mildly Sarcastic) Description:
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.  However, she is not a quirky nerd who just glows with excitement about fictional worlds.
No.
Cath would rather sit in her room, not speaking to anyone and write fanfiction.  Her dorm room is where she will sit like a bump on a log through perhaps two or three hundred of these four hundred and fifty pages.  On her laptop she sits while complaining about how lonely she is, apparently not recognizing that she brings it on herself by not even speaking to her new roommate for the first month or so of college.
She will make you, however awkward you are, seem like a social butterfly.
Why read a story about someone on their laptop when you yourself could be doing the same thing? you might ask.  I don't know.  The best response I have is to read the love story that picks up about 3/4 of the way through this novel.

My Review:
As you can probably tell, I was bored by this book.  It wasn't poorly written; the writing style was actually quite interesting, and you can definitely tell that Rainbow Rowell knows how to write. However, I just do not think that she should've chosen this particular topic.
Firstly, you can tell that she doesn't quite get the whole "fangirl" thing.  Sure, she gets the basics down, but the overall feel was... off somehow.
Also, she couldn't quite get the whole awkward thing right either.  (Well, it was definitely awkward, but it wasn't the right kind of awkward to get across a story.)  I have definitely read my fair share of stories with crushingly awkward protagonists.  (See: If I Fall, If I Die and Boo) But, those books made me relate to the characters instead of just wincing.  
I'm also not going to lie that it irritated me beyond belief how much "Simon Snow" was a blatant rip-off of Harry Potter, a boy wizard in a boarding school to study magic.  It wasn't just that though. Here's a quote so that you can see how deep it ran: "'Baz's hair is sick,' Wren said during Simon Snow and the Selkies Four [fourth movie].  All the actors had longer hair in this movie."  Maybe being mildly upset about this is just because I know way too much about Harry Potter, but still!
My final complaint was that the ending was the definition of anti-climatic.  It was almost as if Rainbow Rowell just lost interest in the book and shrugged and called it done.
All of Fangirl's shortcomings aside, the writing style was still very interesting, and the dialogue was funny.  While most of this book was boring, the parts that were a little exciting were all brilliant pieces of writing.  However, these great spots were few and far between.
I would not recommend Fangirl.  I really hoped to like it and was sorely disappointed, and I think you will be as well.  All in all, I would say that I've definitely read better books and, even, better fanfiction.

Phrase:
Range Management

Happy Reading!

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July 22, 2015

The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (AKA Stephen King) 5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  A few days back, I posted about the first book I read in The Bachman Books collection.  I had already read Rage (which was interesting and mostly enjoyable) and decided to start the second book, The Long Walk.  It was one of the best books I've ever read.  The premise was fantastic, the characters incredibly complex and fascinating, and the writing... just perfect.  

The Cover:
It shows the dotted yellow road line extending farther than you can see in the distance, a shoe that had fallen off a Walker on the ground and a storm brewing on the horizon.  It works really well for this book, I think.  It's not eye-catching per se, but it does link with the book in the perfect way.  One of the covers that you look at after you finish reading and think, "I get it."  A+ cover.

My Description (There isn't a very good one officially):
The Long Walk is an annual competition.  100 teenage boys enter each year to see who can walk the furthest and win fame and a prize of their choice.  The rules are that you must keep walking at a pace of over 4 mph.  If you go under that speed, you get a warning.  After four warnings you are out.  The catch is that when you are out, you are shot by the soldiers lining the road.  There is only one winner, the other 99 must die.  
Ray Garrity enters this competition during The Long Walk, and he must battle physical and mental strain just to stay alive.

My Review:
Saying that I was a ball of pure stress while reading this book would be an underestimate. Considering that it was basically a book about characters walking in a straight line, you wouldn't imagine that I would be so stressed.  However, the way that The Long Walk was written, it kept me so far on the edge of my seat that I was almost on the floor.  If you could read this book without getting a knot in your stomach/ experience physical pain, I would be shocked.  This excitement was caused by anything and everything: a steep hill that was almost impossible to go up at 4 mph, a friend being shot for stumbling too many times, an exhausted stumble, or just the realization that literally everyone was going to die.  
The mental and physical hurdles of the Long Walk were also crazy.  The Walkers walked for hundreds of miles with breaking pace.  Not for sleeping, eating, or even going to the bathroom.  The other boys dropped like flies from everything from a cramp, to exhaustion, to the inability to continue walking in their own pus filled shoes.
If you were to ever feel guilty for sitting down while reading a book, this is the one to do it.  You can't feel very good about laying in bed while reading about Garrity fantasizing about the calm, painlessness that was death.  
The characters were some of the most well-thought-out and unique characters that I have ever read about.  I couldn't help but to love them, but only one character would be left standing.  I had to sit by as all the characters that I grew to like were slowly worn down past their breaking point, walked for miles in desperation, and then were shot.  It could be quite traumatizing if you are a person who can't handle character deaths!
The plot, the characters, the ideas that it makes you think of, the writing style were all perfect.  My only complaint about the entire book was the last page.  It was fully wrapped up, but left for a bit of interpretation.  I understand why Richard Bachman/ Stephen King did it, and it did work well for the story but I wanted a little bit more of an ending!
Even with the ending, I would recommend The Long Walk with all of my heart.  It was one of the best books I've ever read.  Just, please, please consider reading it!

Phrase:
Jelly sandwiches

Happy Reading!

July 19, 2015

Rage by Richard Bachman (AKA Stephen King) 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  A few days ago, I bought a collection of four Stephen King novels that he wrote under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman in the eighties.   The books were Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, and The Running Man.  I picked it up mainly because I have been really wanting to read The Running Man, and the whole collection was three dollars (it was a used book store) so I thought that even if I hated the other three books, I would have a good deal.  Let's just say that based on just the first book, I've already more than gotten my money's worth!

The Cover:
The Cover:
I don't like this cover.  It shows Charlie, our protagonist, sitting at the front of Mrs. Underwood's class with the pistol in his lap.  That's fine, but the expression on his face is too cruel.  It doesn't match the tone of the book at all.  C cover.

Official Description:
A disturbed high-school student with authority problems kills one of his teachers and takes the rest of his class hostage. Over the course of one long, tense and unbearable hot afternoon, Charlie Decker explains what led him to this drastic sequence of events, while at the same time deconstructing the personalities of his classmates, forcing each one to justify his or her existence.

My Review:
I loved the idea of this book.  It is a book about a school shooter, from the shooters's perspective.  He seems perfectly reasonable, and I found myself rooting for him, as absurd as that sounds.  The most interesting part of this idea was how chill Charlie's hostages were.  They also seemed to be rooting for Charlie.  I don't want to spoil anything for you guys because this book was a roller-coaster ride of subtle shifts that ended up... where it did.  (Wow, what an ending!)  Rage was a very interesting view on humanity, insanity, and schools.  It is definitely worth reading and I'm glad that I did!
A good portion of this book was Charlie completely wrecking teachers and policemen as they tried to talk him down, and it was hilarious!  That alone was fantastic.  
The only drawback of Rage was that a few of Charlie's stories were a little long-winded.  It wasn't a big deal but it did slow the book down a bit.
Also, I need to warn you that this book is for the older folks.  If you are not in high school yet, I would not read this book.  There are a few scenes that are a bit racy that could make you uncomfortable.  Even if you are in high school, I would give a warning.  You know what you are comfortable with, keep it in mind!  The scenes in question have some variation of language,  violence, and sexual situations.  The last one is the one that I'm mainly warning about.  Decide for yourself.
I still definitely recommend Rage as it has a unique view on humanity and the way that society works.

Phrase:
The next time you ask a question...

Quote:
"What must it be like for a suicide coming down from a high ledge? I'm sure it must be a very sane feeling.  That's probably why they scream all the way down."

*Note: I was browsing the internet because I thought there was a movie version of this to draw your attentions to (there isn't), and I noticed that Stephen King has stopped the printing of Rage because he is afraid about inspiring school shooters.  You can still find it in The Bachman Books collection and libraries, but you may be unable to buy a new copy.  Sorry!
To read more: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/07/15/stephen-king-discusses-book-he-doesnt-want-anyone-to-read/

Happy Reading!

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July 16, 2015

The Heir (The Selection #4) by Kiera Cass 4/5 stars

Hey, guys!  I just finished The Heir by Kiera Cass.  It was the fourth book in The Selection series.  If you missed my first few review, click here for The Selection (#1), The Elites (#2), and The One (#3).
The Heir was a bit of a letdown compared to the last book in the series,  The One.  I probably could have prevented much of my disappointment if I had read some description or another before I began reading it.  Instead of being a continuation of the earlier story, like a book four would suggest, it took place at least twenty years later and centers around America's and Maxon's daughter's Selection.

I think it would have been a better decision to have The Heir be the first book in a sequeling series instead of just a continuation.

The Cover:
The Cover:
Again, there is not much to say.  We have our main character, Eadlyn, is a grey dress.  The mirrors reflect her is a wedding dress, which I think was a nice touch.  There is also a crown over the title.  I like this cover more than the previous books in the series.  A cover.

Official Description:
Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.
But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

My Review:
My thoughts during this book mirrored The Selection.  I was a little offended by the idea and thought it was too predictable until I got invested in the plot.  These books are very character-driven, and after the switch to a new protagonist, I thought I wasn't going to be able to continue the series.  Eadlyn is a MUCH less relatable character than her mother.  I would read about America and think that she was awesome, which was the highlight of the series really; I would read about Eadlyn and want to punch her (she is bratty, spoiled, and quite a bit fake).  About halfway through the book, though, I started enjoying the book as the characters developed and the plot picked up.  That isn't to say that I grew to like Eadlyn or that it became less predicable (I think I could tell you without a bit of doubt who she will end up with).  
I didn't enjoy The Heir nearly as much as I enjoyed the previous three books, but it was still interesting and worth reading.  I look forward to the next book when it comes out.

Phrase:
Always need butter

Happy Reading!


July 12, 2015

Staff of Serapis by Rick Riordan 4/5 stars

Hey, guys!  This is going to be a really quick review.


Rick Riordan wrote this short story as a sort of sequel to his earlier short story, "The Son of Sobek", which stared Carter and Percy from The Kane Chronicles and Percy Jackson.  This short story centered on Annabeth and Sadie as they met on a train and attempted to defeat Serapis and his staff.

It was pretty good but was not worth buying.  It was about the same as two or three chapters.  It felt a bit forced, to be honest.  Sadie would say something that really would never come up in conversation to remind the readers of something from The Kane Chronicles.  In fact, these references were so heavy that I thought that they were designed so that people who had read only the Percy Jackson series would wonder about penguins or whatever and choose to start Sadie's series.
All of that wasn't to say that I didn't enjoy it.  I just felt like it wasn't as good as it could've been.  I love, and probably always will love, Rick Riordan's writing style and characters, but I felt like this could've used some work.
All in all, I would not recommend buying it, but I would recommend reading it.  Don't expect much going in and you will probably enjoy it.  Go see if you can borrow it from a friend, your library, or something else.

Until next time, guys!  Happy Reading!

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July 8, 2015

The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass 5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  So I just finished the third book in the Selection series.  If you missed my earlier reviews of this series, click here for book one and here for book two.
The Cover:
The Cover:
It yet again shows America is a dress in front of mirrors.  It's not too exciting, but I do like the use of white, like a bride, on the cover.  It works pretty well for this book even though it contains no wedding dresses.  B+ cover

Official Description:
The time has come for one winner to be crowned.When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

My Review:
I read this book in a single day.  Almost a single sitting.  It was by far the best book in the Selection series so far.  They toned down the unneeded drama (such as the love triangle) and increased everything else.  The cuteness factor increased, the danger increased, the revolution increased.  Basically, the awesomeness increased.  It was perfect.
The characters remained the fantastic, complex balls of emotions that they've always been.  It is also important to note that I have not been disappointed by a character and started hating them yet, which is a true accomplishment in a third book in a series.  Usually someone will get whiny and I'll be hoping for them to get killed off, but that was not the case in The One
The plot was much more exciting than the previous books.  It moved quickly and kept me on the edge of my seat.  
My only real concern is that this book was told exactly like the final book in a trilogy.  I found out that there is another book, The Heir which follows this novel.  I'm concerned that it will be bad because this book was supposed to be the end, you can tell, and I don't want the series ruined for me... Who knows though?

Phrase:
Northern Rebels

Happy Reading!

July 5, 2015

The Elite (Selection #2) by Kiera Cass 5/5 stars

Hey, guys!  So I finished the second book in The Selection series by Kiera Cass.  If you haven't read my review of book one, click here.  I really enjoyed it so here's a brief review!

The Cover:
It shows America dressed up in her ball gown.  Really not much to say about this one.  It's not an embarrassing cover but it's also not eye-catching.  B+ cover.

Official Description:
The Selection began with thirty-five girls.Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?
America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.  

My Review:
This book was fantastic.  It was romantic and cute at certain points and surprisingly intense and action-packed at others.  It was definitely better than book one.  My favorite parts, such as the characters and their fierce independence, remained the same and the parts that I didn't enjoy, such as its predictability, faded a bit.  
It was a quick read that definitely left me starving for more.  I also loved its ending!  If you enjoyed the first book, you will love the second!

Phrase:
Ear-tugging

Happy Reading!

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July 2, 2015

Dearly Devoted Dexter (Dexter #2) by Jeff Lindsay 4/5 stars (and first book)

Hey, guys!  So, I just finished the second Dexter book by Jeff Lindsay.  I read the first book last summer and didn't review it, so here's a quick review before I start on the second:

Darkly Dreaming Dexter (book one): 4/5 stars

Official Description:
Meet Dexter, a polite wolf in sheep’s clothing...a monster who cringes at the site of blood...a serial killer whose one golden rule makes him immensely likable: “he only kills bad people.”
Dexter Morgan isn’t exactly the kind of man you’d bring home to Mom. Though he’s playful and has a wonderfully ironic sense of humor, Dexter’s one character flaw (his proclivity for murder) can be off-putting. But at heart Dexter is the perfect gentleman, supportive of his sister, Deb, a Miami cop, and interested only in doing away with people who really deserve his special visit. Dex is quite good-looking but totally indifferent to (and, frankly, a bit puzzled by) the attentions paid to him by women. Despite the fact that he can’t stand the sight of blood, he works as a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami police department, a job that allows him to keep tabs on the latest crimes and keep an eye open for his next quarry.
Dexter’s well-organized life is suddenly disrupted when a second, much more visible serial killer appears in Miami. Dex is intrigued, even delighted, by the fact that the other killer appears to have a style reminiscent of his own. Yet he can’t help but feel that the mysterious new arrival is not merely invading his turf, but reaching out to him as well. This new killer seems to be doing more than copying Dexter—he seems to be saying, “Come out and play.” Dexter’s secret life makes for a lonely existence...even a lovable monster can be intrigued by the prospect of finding a friend.
Introducing one of the most witty and original narrators in years, Jeff Lindsay’s Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a fresh, surprising, and brilliantly executed novel that is sure toreceive wide acclaim


My Brief Review:
I watched the TV show first. I know, I know, a terrible crime, but I didn't even know it was a book until most of the first season was over. However, I did decide to pick this book up and give it a read. Of course, my perspective was colored differently, but I did enjoy it. 
They differed in a bunch of ways, starting about halfway through the book, in Very different and plenty surprising of ways. 
My main complaint with Darkly Dreaming Dexter was that the ending was slightly unclear. Sure, the epilogue helped but I'm still kind of confused as to how the entire event happened...
All in all, in my entirely biased opinion, I'd give it three and a half stars, but I'll round up to a four.



Dearly Devoted Dexter (book two): 4/5 stars


The Cover:
It's understated but still kinda neat.  There's not much to say about it.  Solid A cover.

Official Description:
He's a charming monster... A macabre hero... A serial killler who only kills bad people.
Dexter Morgan has been under considerable pressure. It's just not easy being an ethical serial killer - especially while trying to avoid the unshakable suspicions of the dangerous Sergeant Doakes (who believes Dexter is a homicidal maniac...which, of course, he is). In an attempt to throw Doakes off his trail, Dexter has had to slip deep into his foolproof disguise. While not working as a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department, he now spends nearly all his time with his cheerful girlfriend, Rita, and her two children, sipping light beer and slowly becoming the world's first serial couch potato. But how long can Dexter play Kick the Can instead of Slice the Slasher? How long before his Dark Passenger forces him to drop the charade and let his inner monster run free?In trying times, opportunity knocks. A particularly nasty psychopath is cutting a trail through Miami - a man whose twisted technique leaves even Dexter speechless. As Dexter's dark appetite is revived, his sister, Deborah (a newly minted, tough-as-nails Miami detective), is drawn headlong into the case. It quickly becomes clear that it will take a monster to catch a monster - but it isn't until his archnemesis is abducted that Dex can finally throw himself into the search for a new plaything. Unless, of course, his plaything finds him first...With the incredible wit and freshness that drew widespread acclaim toDarkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay now takes Dexter Morgan to a new level of macabre appeal and gives us one of the most original, colorful narrators in years.


My Review:
Dearly Devoted Dexter was better than the first book in the series.  My favorite thing about this series is the narration style.  The sarcasm could not be matched.  I loved the dry humor in it.  The plot was pretty good.  My main issue was that the ending was very... anticlimatic?  The big bad guy in the book was taken out in about half a paragraph and I was a bit disappointed.  The ending was just not satisfying at all.  Overall, it was a decent book.  I plan on reading the sequels, but it wasn't anything spectacular.

Happy Reading!

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