May 31, 2009

Review | Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen



I've been reading this book for a while, and I'm glad I finally got through it. It's not that I wasn't enjoying the book, I really was, but I guess I'm trying to read too many books at once and I keep getting distracted with another. I enjoyed this one, but not as much as Pride and Prejudice. It is my second Jane Austen novel, and I'm really looking forward to watching the movie actually. I've heard good things about it and I love Kate Winslet.

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May 27, 2009

Review | 100 Bullets Volume 2: Split Second Chance By Brian Azzarello and Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon

Split Second Chance, the second collection of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's acclaimed crime series 100 Bullets, will bring you deeper than ever into their raw and unforgiving world of gutter crime and sanctioned retribution. With a seemingly simple gift--an untraceable gun and a hundred rounds of ammunition--the mysterious Agent Graves offers the powerless and wronged a chance at vengeance. But beyond the decision of whether or not to pull the trigger, a deeper question is beginning to emerge: just who is making this possible--and why?

In this second volume of the series 100 Bullets, I think the plot is starting to take off. There's a glimpse into what's going on with Agent Graves, the Trust, and Mr. Shepherd, all important characters. There is also a few new characters introduced, which I personally liked better. You start to get the feeling that there is something deeper, and how everyone might somehow be connected. I enjoyed this volume more than the first one, and I actually want to read what happens next. There is about thirteen volumes in the series, and I hope there is no big reveal soon, or else the series will most likely lose its appeal. It is a "noir" type of novel, and there are some dark and a few disturbing parts, so I would recommend it if you enjoy that sort of thing. I am no expert on graphic novels, but I have read a few review on this series, and the art seems particularly popular.


While parked at the gas station, Rhonda sees something so incongruously surreal that at first she hardly recognizes it is a crime in progress. She watches, unmoving, as someone dressed in a rabbit costume kidnaps a young girl. Devastated over having done nothing, Rhonda joins the investigation. But the closer she comes to identifying the abductor, the nearer she gets to the troubling truth about another missing child: her best friend, Lizzy, who vanished years before.
This book alternates between the past and the present, and although I was a bit skeptical about that at first, it really helps to develop the story. I was captivated in just a few chapters and finished it rather quickly. I really enjoyed McMahon's style of writing, and the character development was well done.
The story is split into two, the past in which Rhonda's best friend disappears, and the few years that lead up to her disappearance and the present, in which Rhonda witnesses a kidnapping and after doing nothing, is consumed in the investigation. As she gets deeper into the case she starts to uncover secrets of her past and how maybe her best friends disappearance could be closely connected with the kidnapping that took place right before her eyes. The ending, I have to say, was quite surprising. I for one, thought I had it all figured out and it wasn't until the last few chapters that I realized I was completely wrong. It was a compelling read, and I definitely want to read more by this author.

May 20, 2009

Review | God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo



When I was twelve, a fortune teller told me that my one true love would die young and leave me all alone. Everyone said she was a fraud, that she was just making it up. I’d really like to know why the hell a person would make up a thing like that.”
Probably one of the best books I've read all summer. I really loved it, and it was quite a simple story. I was sitting in front of my English class, waiting for the professor to show up when I finished it, and I cried. The somewhat sad ending left me a little surprised, but it ended the book well I believe.


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Review | Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Tally had finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted. But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom- is a nagging sense that somethings wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold. Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life--because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

When I read the first book of the Uglies trilogy a few months back, I really enjoyed it. I was captivated by the story, the way the characters were and the way the whole book evolved. When Tally made her decision to be pretty at the end, I was pretty surprised. Even though I really enjoyed the first one, this one disappointed me a little. From the beginning, Tally's confusion of being pretty and her foggy past bothered me. I didn't get used to the "pretty talk" and it was annoying at times. The story all together seemed to be a little mixed up. It wasn't until about half way that I think it started to pick up and I was able to read the last hundred or so pages rather quickly. But even in the end, the situations were similar to those of the first book, a bit redundant, making me want to skim through the book instead. I don't think the ending was too satisfying, but since it was sort of a cliff hanger, I was left with a small urge to read the third one to see how it all ends.

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May 13, 2009

Review | Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery



WANTED: -Single mom seeks billionaire's pocketbook to fund dying son's research cure.
Will seduce if necessary.
Blackmail is not out of the question.
Miracles welcome.
-Cynical billionaire seeks working mom with a heart of gold for PR campaign to improve his standing in the community.
Must be willing to attend social events.
Anyone looking for love need not apply.
It seemed like the perfect match… until the unthinkable happened.
Very quick and simple read. It took me a few days longer than expected because of the busy weekend. I liked it a little, but it was a bit slow to start off, and it was pretty predictable. The last twenty pages had me crying my heart out though, so that's got to count for something. It wasn't too well written, but there were some pretty funny parts that had me laughing out loud. I'm glad I didn't purchase this book,and supported my local library instead because I will most likely won't read it again. There were some cute moments, but I wasn't able to connect with the characters as much I like to.
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May 4, 2009

Review | Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer




By far, one of my favorites of the Twilight Series :) I loved the fast-paced story and the ending. I was satisfied with the ending, I really was. It surprised me that they were married and pregnant before the book was even half-way through. There was some good stuff going on there, and I was happy that there was finally a "The End" on the last page of the book.


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May 3, 2009

Review | A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare



I haven't ever really been a Shakespeare fan, but I loved this book. The story was lovely and although I was a bit confused of course, I really enjoyed reading it. I've only read a few other of his books, like Romeo and Juliet of course and As You Like It. The new old friend let me borrow this book, and although I am infamously known for keeping every book ever given to me to borrow, I always return a copy. It may not be the same copy but it's still the same book. So I was browsing through Borders recently and I was looking through for a copy of this book. Instead I had the bestie pick out any Shakespeare book. He picked up Richard III, I believe. Although I didn't buy it, it's my goal to read that Shakespeare book next. Whenever next is, because I'm stuck on quite a few books at the moment.




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May 2, 2009

Review | The Luxe by Anna Godbersen



Surprised I fell into the hands of another young adult novel? Not at all. Seriously, not more for the next two or three months OK? Good.
So the book follows five Victorian teens who are caught up in scandals, money and family problems, and engagements they can't break but don't want. It switches point of view between all the characters, and although it has somewhat of a surprise ending and a sequel, I'm sure I will not read it. It held my interest long enough to finish it, but not enough to want to know much more. I gots many other books to read...
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