Monster (Gone #7... kind of) by Michael Grant 3/5 stars

Hey, guys! Sorry, I haven't posted much recently. There's much less time to read at college!

As long-time readers will know, I loved Michael Grant books. The Gone and BZRK series are some of my favorite series of all time. They felt so real to me, and I loved the action and ideas behind them. When I heard that Michael Grant was writing a sequeling series to Gone (so Monster is technically book 7 but has different characters), I was skeptical. I've read some great sequel-series and some awful ones. I wondered what the story would even be since everything was resolved. I'm honestly still wondering that after reading it. 

I decided to give it a shot because I had faith in one of my favorite authors. Now, I'm not sure if that faith was justified.

The Cover:

The Cover:

It shows the main character, Shade, running with her insect persona shadow behind her. It's a kind of cheesy cover, but the image itself fits the book surprisingly well. A- cover

Official Description:

When the dome came down, they thought it was the end of the troubles. Truth is, it was just the beginning.
Shade Darby witnessed events that day, with devastating consequences, and vowed never to feel that powerless again. Now, four years later, she gets her hands on a part of the meteor that began it all – and that’s when she changes.
Trouble is, Shade’s not the only one mutating, and the authorities cannot allow these superpowers to go unchecked...

My Review:

This book was basically an alternate version of the Gone series but with adults and teens getting powers and where there isn't a dome (and, therefore, isn't like Lord of the Flies). More meteors like the one at Perdido Beach are falling across the earth and more people are getting powers. Also, instead of getting fun superpowers like telekinesis, they get weird superpowers like being half-insect. 

Honestly, my first impression of this book was wondering who would actually want the power. You can shapeshift into an ugly monster. Why do you want that? I read the book, and I have no clue. Yet, people knew what they were getting into and still snorted the alien, power-giving rock like it was cocaine. 

The actual book was exciting. It was fast-paced and obviously setting up what will be an epic series. It was fast-paced, and I ended up reading it mainly in an afternoon (in an airport without WiFi but who's counting). 

However, the characters and the writing were lacking the Michael Grant charm I've learned to expect. 

The characters were too flat. They all had a defining characteristic that they stuck to the whole time. There was Shade: the mysterious girl; Malik: devoted ex-boyfriend; Dekka: honorable but depressed. Everyone stuck to their roles for the entirety of the book. Any character development that occurred was obvious from the beginning. 

Michael Grant also decided that he was going to appeal to the current hot topic in YA books in order to sell more books. He tried to be inclusive and prove a point by being progressive. For example, the protagonist's best friend is a trans girl. I have no problem with making efforts to be more inclusive and have representation for all groups, but it can be well done, and it can be poorly done. It feels as though someone told Grant to be more inclusive to sell more books, and he took their advice without it really being a part of the story. It can feel natural and inspiring (the books we need for these groups) or artificial and just sleezy feeling (this book). In order for some of these themes to fit in, they have to be authentic. It's not just books. For example, in TV you can see this. The gay relationship in How to Get Away With Murder is much more woven in and authentic than the one in Gotham. It's just a matter of execution. Some sentences were forced into Monster to prove a point of inclusivity, and these sentences felt so out of place that I'd often have to reread them to make sure I didn't miss a change of subject. 

One big example was when Grant called one of the characters a "big white boy" many, many times (roughly 15 times in 30 pages). I understand that our current society has a problem with having a "default race" of being white. I agree that this isn't fair, that you should have to declare each characters race if you do one. Sure. I'm all for that. But, each time you mention him? It's excessive. They didn't mention Dekka being black more than like twice in the whole book, and she was a much bigger character. Each time "big white boy" was mentioned, I paused. While it isn't a good system, I am used to the "default race," so I would question each time if he was just "big" or is he "big for a white boy"? There's a different meaning, and it just caused me some confusion that ruined my immersion.

For fans of the Gone series, there are cameos from other characters. Dekka is a main character and Drake and Sam are mentioned a few times. I get the impression that the earlier characters will make more appearances as the series goes on, so there'll be plenty of chances to read of your favorite characters again!

Overall, the book was fine. On the surface level, it did everything the description promises. I just wasn't hooked by the characters and found the superpowers to just be gross and unappealing. (Everyone wants to manipulate gravity, but does anyone want a lobster-claw hand?) I don't think that I'm going to read the next one, but I did finish this one. It was a solid 3-star book, definitely not up to the 5-star rating I expect from Michael Grant, but it was still decent. 

Phrase:

Just swallow the rock down with some peanut butter

*Note: Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review*

Warcross (Warcross #1) by Marie Lu (4/5 stars)

Hey, guys! Sorry that posting has been a little less consistent. I've just started college and have much less time to read!

Anyways, after reading Marie Lu's earlier books (Legend series and The Young Elites series), I was excited to hear that she was writing another series, Warcross!

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows the title of the book forming a virtual cage of some sort. It shows both the technology side of Warcross as well as how not everything is as pretty as it seems, that danger lurks. It's a fun cover that can relate to the book if you stretch it a little. A- cover

Official Description:
For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

My Review:
Warcross was an interesting book. The writing was great, typical for what I expect of Marie Lu. The main characters were complex. The plot started out great. Then, it took a plot twist that, honestly, it would have been better to leave out. More on that later.

The writing style was captivating. It mapped out the scenes beautifully, and, as a result, Warcross was very easy to get sucked into. The writing itself was the best part of this book.

The characters were also interesting. You have Emika, the main character, who makes her own path and retains her independence. Then, you have Hideo, a successful businessman at a young age and with an air of mystery to him, who may end up being the bachelor Emika doesn't even know she wants yet! In all seriousness, Hideo is a very well formed character with his own thoughts and ambitions. The rest of the characters in the book were indistinguishable from one another. These characters really weren't that important, so I doubt it mattered that I could barely tell them apart.

Now, the plot. It was a bit of a mixed bag. I'm a sucker for virtual reality books (see list of my favorites at the end of this post). And, Warcross just doesn't stand out from the other VR books I've read. The only real difference was that Emika was a bounty hunter. 

However, I was starting to get really into the plot. I was ready to see more of the competition to win Warcross. Instead, right as I was really starting to love this book, it took a complete 180. I'm not going to spoil it, but a plot twist occurs which just derailed the book I wanted to read. Instead of a winner of the game being announced, Marie Lu decided to start an apocalypse plot. It was such a questionable decision. It felt like Warcross was meant to be a single book, but someone decided to merge it with a different series to continue to make profit. 

Overall, Warcross was a good, but not great, virtual reality book. I'd recommend reading it if you like more of the bounty-hunting side of the description than the VR side. The writing was good, but some of the plot was a little haphazard.

Warcross comes out September 12, 2017.

Phrase:
My father's artwork

*Note: I received a pre-release copy of this book from edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

Favorite Virtual Reality Books:
Ready Player One
The Reality Bug (Pendragon #4)
More Than This
The Eye of Minds
BZRK

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling 3.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I found a beat-up copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that my library was giving away (because the condition was so terrible). It was exactly what I expected. 

Official Description:
A copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them resides on almost every wizarding household in the country. Now, for a limited period only, Muggles too have the chance to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats, and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to improving and saving the lives of children around the world, which means that the dollars and Galleons you exchange for it will do magic beyond the powers of any wizard. If you feel that this is insufficient reason to part with your money, I can only hope most sincerely that passing wizards feel more charitable if they ever see you being attacked by a Manticore.

-Albus Dumbledore

My Review:
Fantastic Beasts is a copy of a textbook from Hogwarts. While more interesting than most textbooks I've read, it reads like a textbook. It really wasn't very entertaining. In 60 pages, it covers seventy-five beasts. Each beast has about a paragraph of a description. There is no real depth to it. 

The most interesting part of this book was the introduction. It describes the process of classifying beasts vs. being, among other things and was long enough to do into some details. 

This "textbook" was exactly what I expected. A lore-dump of quick descriptions of magical creatures. A lot of creativity went into it's production. I just wish it focused less on the number of creatures and went more into details about each.

Phrase: XXXXX MOM rating

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

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Release by Patrick Ness 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Patrick Ness (links to my reviews of his books at the bottom of this post). When I heard about Release, I was super excited. A new Patrick Ness book? Count me in! 

The only problem was that it's been released for a month or so in the UK but wasn't supposed to be released in the US until September. I've been jealous to say the least. Thankfully, Edelweiss and the publishers provided me an ARC of the US version to read and give you guys an honest review.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows Adam desperately holding on while the world turns upside down. It's simple and still communicates a lot of the feeling behind this book. A+ cover

Official Description:
Adam Thorn doesn’t know it yet, but today will change his life.
Between his religious family, a deeply unpleasant ultimatum from his boss, and his own unrequited love for his sort-of ex, Enzo, it seems as though Adam’s life is falling apart.  At least he has two people to keep him sane: his new boyfriend (he does love Linus, doesn’t he?) and his best friend, Angela.
But all day long, old memories and new heartaches come crashing together, throwing Adam’s life into chaos. The bindings of his world are coming untied one by one; yet in spite of everything he has to let go, he may also find freedom in the release. 

My Review:
Release tells the story of the day that Adam Thorn's life seems to fall apart. It is a deeply captivating, character-driven story that blew me away, mostly. I read this book in a day and loved it. 

If I was just reviewing the main storyline, I would give it 5 stars, no questions asked. However, in every chapter, there was a page or two revolving around a different, supernatural storyline. In a gist, it was about a dead girl in the town who got to roam the earth for one night. She is accompanied by a faun who is making sure she doesn't cause too much trouble. This storyline is almost entirely unrelated to the rest of the book (barely any tie-in to Adam's story) and is just distracting. You can just skim over it pretty easily and ignore it, so it doesn't ruin the book. However, it seemed completely unnecessary. (I suspect it's only added as a nod to Septimus in Mrs. Dalloway, which Ness claimed to model Release after.)

Ignoring the supernatural subplot, Release was spectacular. The characters were complex and realistic. Adam was easy to root for and likable, in part, because of his flaws. He was a character that you could get behind and relate to. The supporting characters had depth to them as well, and their relationships felt natural. 

The writing skill in this book is what really brings it to life. While the story is simply a day in a teenager's life where he gets in an avalanche of bad news and tough situations, it feels riveting. I was on the edge of my seat, heart aching on behalf of Adam. Release sucks you into its world. 

Overall, I would recommend reading Release. It was an amazing book with memorable characters and writing. You'll love it. Just don't get your hopes up for a tie-in with the supernatural plot.

Phrase:
Sexual Harassment Claim

Other Books by Patrick Ness:
The Rest of Us Just Live Here
The Knife of Never Letting Go (book 1) / The Ask and the Answer (2) / Monsters of Men (3)
More Than This
A Monster Calls

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

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The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon #3) by Dan Brown 3.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! After reading Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, I was ready for the next Robert Langdon mystery. They both blew me away. I could talk about The Da Vinci Code all day; I could talk about Angels & Demons all day (and all night); but, I could talk about The Lost Symbol for maybe 15 minutes before I got bored.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows a Masonic seal holding together a torn coded page, above the city of Washington D.C.. The cover fits well with what the book is theoretically about. Or, at least, it fits the good parts of the story, what I expected the book to contain. A- cover. 

Official Description:

WHAT IS LOST...

WILL BE FOUND
The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling - a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths...all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, DC., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.
As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object - artfully encoded with five symbols - is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation...one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.
When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon - a prominent Mason and philanthropist - is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations - all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.


My Review:
I was disappointed in The Lost Symbol. It's focus was much less on decoding and solving a mystery while explaining a secret organization (in this case, the Masons) than the previous books. While the decoding was still an element, the book centered more on how crazy the bad guy was. The majority of the book was from the villain's point-of-view to try and prove how crazy he was. 

Large chunks of narration from a villain's point-of-view is one of my writing pet-peeves. It makes the main characters look dumb, while making the book uncomfortable to read and boring. This style made The Lost Symbol feel less like a Dan Brown book, and more like a Silence of the Lambs book. Specifically, it felt about 80% similar to Red Dragon.  

The Lost Symbol is much the same as the earlier amazing books by Dan Brown, but it replaced some of the unique code-breaking and conspiracy-style history with thoughts from a madman. It really wasn't my style, and I'm disappointed to say the least. This book has taken me three weeks to read, and honestly, wasn't worth my time. It just didn't hook me like the other ones did. 

I think I'll still try book four, Inferno, but I know I'm going to wait awhile and catch up on other books first.

Phrase:
Tattoos

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Da Vinci Code
Angels & Demons
Silence of the Lambs

If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!

Happy Reading!

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Dragonwatch (Fablehaven Adventure #1) by Brandon Mull 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! About seven years ago, I finished the Fablehaven series. I really enjoyed it. It's a fun kids' story about magical creatures with solid characters and an exciting plot.
In October at YALL Fest, I got to meet Brandon Mull (nice guy) and he told me that he was working on a sequel series to Fablehaven. I knew I wanted to read it, and then, edelweiss provided me a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The Cover:

The Cover:

It shows a dragon blowing fire at the neutral area between humans and dragons, I believe. I don't like this cover. It just looks cheesy and isn't directly related to the story. C- cover.

Official Description:

In the long-awaited sequel to Fablehaven, the dragons who have been kept at the dragon sanctuaries no longer consider them safe havens, but prisons and they want their freedom. The dragons are no longer our allies....
In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.
No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help.
As Kendra and Seth confront this new danger, they must draw upon all their skills, talents, and knowledge as only they have the ability to function together as a powerful dragon tamer. Together they must battle against forces with superior supernatural powers and breathtaking magical abilities.
How will the epic dragon showdown end? Will dragons overthrow humans and change the world as we know it?

My Review:
Dragonwatch picks up a few months after the original series ends. It stars the same main characters, though some of the supporting characters change. The feel of the book was the same. The adventure and characters still felt the same as they did seven years ago. The only difference is the setting (a Dragon Sanctuary) and the enemy (the dragons).

Once you get past the immediate disbelief (is sending Seth and Kendra in really the only option?), Dragonwatch is a really enjoyable read. It goes by quick with a fast pace and lots of adventure. 

The characters are the same ones that you know and love. Even the satrys make an appearance. There are a few minor characters that are added. For example, Kendra and Seth's cousins are visiting Fablehaven, and Seth gets them into all sorts of trouble. At first, I was worried that this series would just be a repeated of Fablehaven, just from the cousin's point of view. This is not what happened. They were an important plot device that actually worked really well!

The ideas in Dragonwatch were original and fun to read about! The change of focus was refreshing. This book did not feel like a rewind of the previous series. The characters are (mostly) the same, but the situations are not.


Overall, I would recommend reading Dragonwatch only if you have already read the Fablehaven series and liked it. The format is similar, but you'll find a new story that you'll love.
Phrase:
What do you look like before the milk?

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
A World Without Heroes
The Sword of Summer
Five Kingdoms series

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Happy Reading!

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Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon #1) by Dan Brown 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! After being blown away by The Da Vinci Code, I couldn't stop myself from reading the first book in this series. I loved this one, too. Maybe even more than The Da Vinci Code but for different reasons.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows Langdon running toward an explosion in one corner and the ceiling of a church on the other side. The contrast of heaven and hell, angels and demons, while still being heavily related to the plot! A cover

Official Description:
When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol—seared into the chest of a murdered physicist—he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati ... the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth. The Illuminati has now surfaced to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy—the Catholic Church. 

Langdon’s worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces they have hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival. 

Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair ... a clandestine location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.


My Review:
One of the hallmarks of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series is its catchy writing. The pace of the book flies by, to the point where you look up and realize that you have been reading for hours.

I imagine that is also due to how action-based this novel was. Comparatively, The Da Vinci Code is a lot more about history, while Angels & Demons centers on cults (the Illuminati) and action (racing against a literal time bomb). 

A book is nothing without it's characters, and Angels & Demons definitely had some good ones. Robert Langdon is a mix between your typical nerdy professor, a suburban dad, and an adrenaline junky. It's an odd mix that works very well for his character. As a result, he is very easy to route for, and his character feels very natural. The other leading character is Vittoria, a strong, smart female who is portrayed not simply as "the love interest" but as a capable woman who can (mostly) handle herself. Vittoria is a strong character, who I'm definitely glad was added.

Another hallmark of the Robert Langdon series is tackling religion. Angels & Demons talked much less of the "theory" of religion, but it definitely covers it. It discusses the politics of relgions, namely involving naming a new Pope, but also it's relationship with the media and the public. Also, about how it's had to adapt with the times. It was really interesting and the way that Dan Brown handled it was masterful. It wasn't made to contradict any religious feelings you may or may not have. Instead, it dances all over the issue without treading on anyone's feet. As a Catholic, I wasn't offended by anything but rather intrigued.

Yet another thing I loved about this book was that there wasn't much from the villian's point of view. I find that that always ruins the element of surprise and suspense. While there were a few moments from the antagonist's POV, they didn't give too much away and kept the element of suspense alive. 

Overall, this book sucked me in like no other has been able to in a long time. I was in the world. While reading, I actually gasped out loud at some points. There are copies of this book in every library and used book store in America. Do yourself a favor and grab one the next time you see it. 



Movie Thoughts:
After enjoying the book so much, I found a copy of the movie somewhere. I thought I'd give it a shot. I cannot recommend reading the book first more! The movie takes all of the main plots points but leaves the significance of this events behind. 
You would ruin the suspense and genius of the book without understanding the actual point of the book. The movie changes the whole point of the book (in much the same way as The Shinning). The movie does a poor job of showing motivation for actions. 
It's a decent movie, but pales in comparison to the book.

Phrase:
Branded

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Da Vinci Code

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Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! Yes. Fight Club was a book before it was a movie. I was just as surprised as you are. A long time ago (before I probably should have), I watched the Fight Club movie. I enjoyed it, and when I noticed there was a book, I bought it. Fast-forward about eight years (after I forgot almost all of the movie). I decided that after The Da Vinci Code, I needed a short book. At 200 pages, Fight Club definitely flew by. 

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows a fist was bloody knuckles coming to hit you in the face. Short and not-so sweet. This image almost perfectly sums up this book, too. A+ cover.

Rating: 
R  (for basically everything: violence, language, gore, sex, etc.)

Official Description:
Every weekend, in basements and parking lots across the country, young men with good white-collar jobs and absent fathers take off their shoes and shirts and fight each other barehanded for as long as they have to. Then they go back to those jobs with blackened eyes and loosened teeth and the sense that they can handle anything. Fight Club is the invention of Tyler Durden, projectionist, waiter and dark, anarchic genius. And it's only the beginning of his plans for revenge on a world where cancer support groups have the corner on human warmth.

Alternate Description:
Chuck Palahniuk's darkly funny first novel tells the story of a god-forsaken young man who discovers that his rage at living in a world filled with failure and lies cannot be pacified by an empty consumer culture. Relief for him and his disenfranchised peers comes in the form of secret after-hours boxing matches held in the basements of bars. Fight Club is the brain-child of Tyler Durden, who thinks he has found a way for himself and his friends to live beyond their confining and stultifying lives. But in Tyler's world there are no rules, no limits, no brakes.

My Review:
I'm incredibly torn about this book. It is both a five-star book and a three-star book. The good parts are fantastic and the rest is just decidedly average. I decided to split the difference for a four-star review. My difficulty in rating this book is possibly because of how different this book is. 

This book is very "in your face". The manliness of the characters, the plot twists, and the gross (seriously gross) descriptions are meant to hit you in the face. The embodiment of this book would be someone invading your personal space and yelling "Do you want to fight?" in your ear. This leads to an aggressive writing style that isn't very eloquent or "good". Yet, the unpolished, abrasive writing fits the book perfectly. Do you see what I mean? Fight Club is a polished attempt to be unpolished.

Fight Club is told in a scattered sort of way. It is a collection of a bunch of snapshots of memories and current events. Each thought is a few pages long, and then will switch focus to another snapshot. It is an interesting sort of approach (similar to Slaughterhouse-Five) that keeps you hooked but leaves you feeling as if you are not quite up to speed.

The characters in Fight Club are fairly one-dimensional. The unnamed narrator has a bit of personality, but like the narrator of The Great Gatsby, he seems to be more of an observer of this work he writes about than anything. The other characters have distinctive characteristics for sure. They are unique and memorable, but not very complex. This might be due to the narrator not caring about actually knowing the people in his life, in fact, it's a plot point in Fight Club.  


Overall, Fight Club... I'm not sure what to think about this book. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? Definitely not to anyone I know in the real world. This book is just gross. It will make your skin crawl (again, the point). It's very interesting though, so if you aren't squeamish, give it a shot. You might love it. You might hate it. Either way, you'll know by the first few pages how you'll feel throughout the rest of the book.

Phrase:
You wake up in O'Hare.

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
Slaughterhouse Five

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The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! Wow. The Da Vinci Code blew me away. I had heard of it, of course, with its controversy and everyone and their brother reading it. When I finally decided to start it, you would think I would have expected how much I loved it.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows the Mona Lisa peaking through a crack in the paper. It's a cool cover that is simple but gives a general impression of the book: art ridden with secrets/conspiracy. A+ cover

Official Description:
An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe. An astonishing truth concealed for centuries . . . unveiled at last.
While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.
Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.

My Review:
The Da Vinci Code is a mystery novel full of conspiracy, police chases, and art history. It is an interesting combination that works wonderfully! 

It's a mystery novel that is actually mysterious. It gives you a glimpse of the danger without doing too much of a "villain's perspective", which I appreciate. When I see everything from the villain's POV, I undoubtedly end up thinking the main characters are stupid. It's frustrating (*cough* Silence of the Lambs and Mr. Mercedes *cough*). While there are a few chapters from an assassin's POV, it doesn't ruin any of the suspense. It actually adds a bit to the book.

The most interesting part of this book is the history and conspiracy. Dan Brown takes famous paintings and artists plus biblical stories to work together in a surprisingly believable conspiracy. It was really a fun thought-exercise at the very least to follow the logic of Brown's secret society. It really gets you thinking!

The characters were interesting. Nothing too exciting, but Robert Langdon is a likeable enough guy. He seems like the type to like barbecues, etc. He made me think a little bit about an adventure-seeking suburban dad, which worked well for his place in The Da Vinci Code. His leading lady, Sophie, was an intelligent, strong female character. She was a master codebreaker and seemed to fit in her role. Again, likeable enough but doesn't stand out a lot.

The action scenes, on the other hand, were very exciting. The whole book was very fast-paced with police chases, an assassin on the loose, and other unexpected dangers. The story moved fast, and it was hard to put this book down!

Overall, I would definitely recommend The Da Vinci Code. It was exciting, thought-provoking, and just a fun read. It's been one of the best books I've read so far this year! Try it out!

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