Rate and review the last book you read

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos (Talisman #1), 4/5
Not a typical vampire book, so that was a nice change. Sometimes I was a little distracted by the author's writing style, because in times it was way too observant, without adding to the story. But it was a nice read and I'm definitely picking up The Sapphire Talisman.

A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse short stories), 4/5
A book filled with short stories that take place in between the books 1 - 9. I found them enjoyable, a nice addition but I wouldn't have missed them when I hadn't read the book. I actually only read it because it was part of my Sookie Stackhouse boxed set, and I don't think I would have picked it up if I'd had to order it seperately.

The Mayor of Casterbridge - Thomas Hardy - 3/5

10/10 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

9/10 We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan - 3/5

Sing You Home - Jodi Picoult. This was definitely on of my favourites of her's. I found the subject of music therapy wonderfully interesting and it left me wanting to read up more about it afterwards. But of course it's the controversial subjects within the story which make it so brilliant, because at the end of the day I found it such a wonderful love story and fell in love with the characters. The soundtrack was amazing as well, complimented the book and its themes wonderfully and made the reading experience all the better. 5/5

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge (The Iron Codex #1), 4/5

My second steampunk. I'm still not sure if it's really for me, but I enjoyed reading it. It took me 50 - 60 pages to start semi-liking it, and around a 100 more to be fully enjoying it. I liked it though and I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald. 9/10 A wonderful classic full of awesome symbolism and wonderful twists. I didn't dislike certain characters as I "should have" *cough* freelantzer *cough*. But it was an excellent read.

The Princess Bride William Goldman. 10/10 I absolutely adore this novel!!! It was so gripping and well-written, and I could gush forever, but I'll spare all of you. :D I need some clarification with "Buttercup's Baby" though. Was that scene with Stephen King real? Was he actually going to do the sequel? I did not like "Buttercup's Baby" though. I did not find it as.... intriguing (?) as "The Princess Bride."
But still.... Amazing! :clap:

10/10 Love, Stargirl -Jerry Spinelli
Such a cute, lovable story.

10/10 Love, Stargirl -Jerry Spinelli
Such a cute, lovable story.

Oh, I'm glad you liked it. Cute is the right word for it, :D.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1), 5/5

I REALLY liked this book, but that stupid twist near the end ****** me off. Excuse my language.

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens, 9/10. I was a bit bored with it at the beginning, but it got exciting and very moving towards the end.

did not like "Buttercup's Baby" though.

:wow: Are you refering to the chapter at the end of The Princess Bride or the actual Novel??? (Is there a novel???? - As far as I know Goldman has had writers block for over a decade)

I just finished "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks. I bought it in the airport on my way home from Paris to occupy myself on the plane and finished it the same day. Nicholas Sparks has written a lot of amazing love stories, but I wasn't impressed by "Safe Haven". I thought that it was all a bit too much and that the love that developed between the two main characters was a little unrealistic. It did manage to keep my boredom at bay, though! Over-all, I'd give it a 5/10.

I just finished "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks. I bought it in the airport on my way home from Paris to occupy myself on the plane and finished it the same day. Nicholas Sparks has written a lot of amazing love stories, but I wasn't impressed by "Safe Haven". I thought that it was all a bit too much and that the love that developed between the two main characters was a little unrealistic. It did manage to keep my boredom at bay, though! Over-all, I'd give it a 5/10.

Oh I've read that recently, I thought it was really good, although I liked Dear John more. Did you see the twist coming at the end?

Bloodline by Mark Billingham. Really enjoyed it, always like interesting main characters and this book balanced perfectly the crime and the personal drama of the main character. Loved the twists and turned and the way the book opened, giving you a glimpse of what was to come and then going back and revealing the events leading up to it. 5/5

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #3), 5/5

I really liked that Collins didn't baby her characters. There was something that was really bothering me:


Even though I'm Team Peeta all the way (since book 1), I hated the way Gale just disappeared. He got a fancy job in 2? I know they had been fighting a lot and everything, but they were best friends for 5 years and now he doesn't even say goodbye or whatever?


What I did like:

I like the way that Collins didn't make it a "and they lived happily ever after" ending. She wrote about the struggles Peeta and Katniss were facing, and how they were still coping with that 20 years later. I REALLY appreciate that she did that. It was so believable. It also made it more real. They went through two Hunger Games and a rebellion with all kinds of mentally draining stuff and that takes it's toll. I'm really glad that she incorporated that in the story.

Also, I was sad about..

Prim dying. It was like Rue dying all over again. So sad. So, so sad. Also: Finnick. I didn't really like him in the second book: he seemed arrogant and fixed on himself, but I grew onto his character and I really liked him. He was an ally, a friend, a shoulder to cry on and a good person. I was really sad when he died. He do think he died a hero: he died while defending the rest of the party from the mutts. (I'm glad Collins gave him a baby boy later on, that was what I was hoping for while I read that he died).


Er, that was kinda long. Sorry about that :P I finished reading it a couple of hours ago (a couple.. More like.. 8) and I'm still thinking about it. It's such a powerful and raw story. (but I have to say that I think The Hunger Games was the best book in the trilogy).

:wow: Are you refering to the chapter at the end of The Princess Bride or the actual Novel??? (Is there a novel???? - As far as I know Goldman has had writers block for over a decade)

The last chapter! I don't think there is a book. But wouldn't that be amazing? I liked some of the last chapter, but most of it...... :huh: I thought it was questionable. But I did like the way it began. I thought that was great.

There was something that was really bothering me:
Even though I'm Team Peeta all the way (since book 1), I hated the way Gale just disappeared. He got a fancy job in 2? I know they had been fighting a lot and everything, but they were best friends for 5 years and now he doesn't even say goodbye or whatever?

Well, he met her on the morning of the execution and while it was not actually 'goodbye', it made it clear that Prim's death will alway stand between them. Besides Katniss needed time and support to get over her sister's death and Gale's presence wouldn't have helped that.
I might be biased though, I never really liked Gale, even as her friend, :whistle:.

Agree with everything else you said :D.

Thanks for the spoiler tags. :)

Well, he met her on the morning of the execution and while it was not actually 'goodbye', it made it clear that Prim's death will alway stand between them. Besides Katniss needed time and support to get over her sister's death and Gale's presence wouldn't have helped that.
I might be biased though, I never really liked Gale, even as her friend, :whistle:.

Agree with everything else you said :D.

Yeah I kinda agree with you on that..


I wasn't a fan of Gale either. He only made it clear that he was in love with her when he saw her with Peeta and I found him to be... I dunno. Something off. I can't put my finger on it. I think I just thought he was too selfish or something. He kind of assumed they would get together and marry or something, that was what I got from him.

I can understand that Prim's death would linger between them, but I would have liked a more 'consious' choice between Peeta and Gale - although I really like how Collins wrote their coming together again not as a happily ever after, but an ongoing struggle to cope with their experiences. Or even a more clearly 'I'm going away' would have done it for me. It seemed off, because they were so close.

I can't say I complain with the 'outcome' tho.. Team Peeta FTW! :')

Fahrenheit 451 -- 9/10

Definitely worth the read. I figured this book was about someone who went around burning books because they were against the law. I was partially right there. But in a way it turned out to be even more than that.

I really liked how the fireman character, Guy Montag... changed his mind about destroying books themselves. Yes he still burned them, but instead of just doing that, he took the time to read and memorize them.

The ending was good as well with him going off with another group of people who wanted to do just the same and then someday rewrite them for others to read.

A hopeful ending to an otherwise dystopian future kind of tale.

The Price of Spring

After the events of An Autumn War the Characters are trying to recover and rebuild their world

I liked this book as much as the others, it deals with characters who are older and the world changing around them. I like how you can see where the characters are coming from, even if their actions are misguided and directed at the wrong people. one thing i was kinda dissipointed with the ending because it felt it was sorta rushed and kinda came out of nowhere.

8.5/10

I finished Lord of the Rings. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I'm not in love with it. I don't hate it. I'm in the middle.
The last chapter really touched me. I didn't like Frodo leaving Sam, but I understand. I felt bad for Sam, but he's married and has a child now so that's what's important to him. He wanted to name the child Frodo, but it was a girl!

There's a lot of things I didn't understand. Maybe it was me. I don't know. Frodo and Pippin. Didn't they both die? One minute they're dead and the next minute they're alive. I'm so confused. I'm guessing they didn't really die, but the wording of everything says they're dead. That's the way it's written. It's not written that they could be alive. They're dead. Believe they're dead. Be surprised when you find they're alive, but for now believe they're dead. And Gandalf. He could be wherever Tolkien wanted him to be. The Fellowship had to go on a journey in order to get where they need to be. Gandalf could bypass all that, like he knew a shortcut or could travel faster than them. There had to be something I was missing, because I didn't understand that.

I prefer the chapters centered around Frodo, though the Pippin centered chapters towards the end were really interesting, too.

I love the characters, I do. After spending 1000 pages with them how can I not? I'm not just fond of the storytelling.

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I wasn't too keen on the last book I read by this author but thought I'd check out this series, and actually quite enjoyed it for what it was, a bit of a light read and something fun. It had me laughing throughout and I loved the way it was written. Some of it was a bit cringeworthy but overall I enjoyed it! 4/5

I finished Lord of the Rings. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I'm not in love with it. I don't hate it. I'm in the middle.
The last chapter really touched me. I didn't like Frodo leaving Sam, but I understand. I felt bad for Sam, but he's married and has a child now so that's what's important to him. He wanted to name the child Frodo, but it was a girl!

There's a lot of things I didn't understand. Maybe it was me. I don't know. Frodo and Pippin. Didn't they both die? One minute they're dead and the next minute they're alive. I'm so confused. I'm guessing they didn't really die, but the wording of everything says they're dead. That's the way it's written. It's not written that they could be alive. They're dead. Believe they're dead. Be surprised when you find they're alive, but for now believe they're dead. And Gandalf. He could be wherever Tolkien wanted him to be. The Fellowship had to go on a journey in order to get where they need to be. Gandalf could bypass all that, like he knew a shortcut or could travel faster than them. There had to be something I was missing, because I didn't understand that.

I prefer the chapters centered around Frodo, though the Pippin centered chapters towards the end were really interesting, too.

I love the characters, I do. After spending 1000 pages with them how can I not? I'm not just fond of the storytelling.

I enjoyed the last chapter as well, I was shocked that Frodo left Sam. :sad: I also thought that Pippin had died as well, and then to later find out he had indeed survived, how did that happen? :hmm:

I enjoyed the last chapter as well, I was shocked that Frodo left Sam. :sad: I also thought that Pippin had died as well, and then to later find out he had indeed survived, how did that happen? :hmm:

Where or when did anybody think Pippin had died? :huh:.

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1), 4/5

Nice read. I've heard great things about the series and I think this book may be indeed the start of a great series. The second book is on its way :)

Zombies Vs. Unicorns

The one about the girl Alison and the Unicorn...that was hilarious. And the one with the girl Sophie in England? Amazingly horrifying. And the FIRST zombie story...you know what, I liked about 7 out of the 12 stories, only because some didn't hold my interest for too long. But it was still an awesome book.

Where or when did anybody think Pippin had died? :huh:.

You're asking me to find it in the book! In the battle. He's fighting and...oh, gosh...I'll look it up. The end of the Book 5, Chapter 10, The Black Gate Opens.

'So it ends as I guessed it would,' his thought said, even as it fluttered away; and it laughed a little within him ere it fled, almost gay it seemed to be casting off at last all doubt and care and fear. And then even as it winged away into forgetfulness it heard voices, and they seemed to be crying in some forgotten world far above.
"The Eagles are coming! The Eagles are coming!"
For one moment more Pippin's thought hovered. "Bilbo!" it said. "But no! That came in his tale, long long ago. This is my tale, and it is ended now. Goodbye!" And his thought fled far away and his eyes saw no more."

Yeah, that would be the part. :err:

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safron Foer - 5/5. Regardless of your feelings about meat eating, this is worth the read. Not only is it compelling, compassionate, thoughtful, intelligent, complex, and extremely well-researched, it's also a piece of stellar writing.

6/10 The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore - Benjamin Hale
I'll admitt that it definitely started off good and caught my interst, but after awhile it got boring. It picked up again towards the middle, but kind of lost itself again. It's definitely something different, and if you've an interest in chimps, it might just be right for you. Although, be aware that it has very strong adult themes, and if you have a weak stomach for certain matters, this isn't the book for you. :shrug:

10/10 The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Woah, this book really took me by surprise. I didn't really know what is was about, but I'd been hearing some fuss about it. If only I had decided to pick them up sooner.

The Body in the Library - Agatha Christie - 6/10

The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #1), 3/5


I find it hard to believe that a fierce warrior, with his curse and the demon of Violence and the history of Hunters that come after him and his brothers, goes all lovey-dovey and cutsie with a woman he just met.


I liked reading it though, and will probably end up picking up the next book as well (even though the plot was completely predictable)

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide - Stephenie Meyer - 8/10

If you are into the Twilight Saga, and want more after reading the books, the Illustrated Guide is wonderful. Great look at the saga, including character history, a few pictures of how some of them look like in Stephenie's mind, FAQS, Steph's music playlists for the books, Fan-art she picked out to be in the book, and more. Many of the things are very interesting. Love some of the stories behind the characters. Some shocked me.

Now, things I did not like:
I wanted more pictures of some of the characters. My favorite character (Leah Clearwater) didn't have a pic.
A few of the character histories were a bit boring.
I noticed a couple mistakes about the bio going along with character history. Didn't seem right.

Overall, I say this is a very good read for people who like the Twilight Saga. It is a little short, easy to look through over the span of a couple days.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly #1), 4/5

I'm not sure I really like the ending, but overall I liked the book more than I thought I would. Looking forward to the second book in the series (why does every title have a sequel these days?)

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld, 5/10. It was so predictable and half of the stuff was boring and didn't relate to the plot. I didn't particularily like any of the characters. And the author sometimes just leaves you to fill in stuff with your own imagination, it also lacked descriptions and explanations at many points (considering the fact that he's writing about a different world than ours), not to mention making every obstacle so easy for the characters to overcome, that it makes the villains look like a bunch of fools, when they're supposed to possess extra power.

Midnight Alley - Morganville Vampires #3 - 8/10 - Great story, better than the previous 2.

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld, 5/10. It was so predictable and half of the stuff was boring and didn't relate to the plot. I didn't particularily like any of the characters. And the author sometimes just leaves you to fill in stuff with your own imagination, it also lacked descriptions and explanations at many points (considering the fact that he's writing about a different world than ours), not to mention making every obstacle so easy for the characters to overcome, that it makes the villains look like a bunch of fools, when they're supposed to possess extra power.

Huh. There some of my favourite books. I find them very well written. :hmm:

The Dragon's path by Danial Abraham

One group is trying to mess up the monarchy and another is trying to keep it they way it is. Also there are a couple other stories mixed in as well.

After enjoying his last book series The Long Price qautret I was dissapointed .I felt like the main story(or what seemed to be it) could have been explained a bit more. I only had a decent idea of what was going on. there was a few points where i was like "Why are they doing this again". I actually enjoyed the other stories that were mixed in. I liked the charecters, or disliked them, due to their actions.

7/10 could have been better with some more explaining.

8/10 Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban - 10/10
Still consider one of my favorite Potter books, tied with two others. Loved the whole mystery behind Sirius Black and finding the truth of his innoncence, and his friendship with James and Lupin.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #2), 4-/5

Okay. This is so obviously an inbetween book, that I had trouble reading it and rating it. I felt let down by this book because CoB was SO good, and this one was good, but it didn't have me hooked and the ending was simply NOT satisfactory (not in a good way). For now, I give it a 4- out of 5, but I'm not sure if that's going to be my final rating..

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare, 8/10. It was an interesting read, I really liked writing style and the conversation. However I was disappointed in some characters, whom I expected the author to develop and pay more attention to, than she did.
I'm mainly talking about Isabelle, here. I thought she'd turn out to be an 'exceptional' character, to have a bigger role than that, but she didn't. In the end she remains to be the good-looking girl with the whip, the story had begun with :shrug:.

Very nice 'twist' on Clare's part. Although, I actually guessed it correctly halfway through the book, (through completely irrelevant clues, :rolleyes:). Overall, the book was good, but I don't know when I'll be picking up the next one.

9/10 Catching Fire - Suzane Collins

9/10 Catching Fire - Suzane Collins

I've nearly finished this. Its awesome so far :)

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini: 7/10 - I preferred the previous 2 books but some parts of it seemed boring.

Farthing
HalfPenny
Half Crown

By Jo Walton

Trilogy set in 1949 Britian, but a 1949 Britian that made peace with Nazi Germany in 1940.

The first book is on the surface a 'House' mystery but one where there is an attempt to pin it on the one Jewish guest and the fact that the victim is the one person standing against Britian voting itself a Fascist state.

The second is a thriller that switches back and forth between two characters; one is character caught up in a plot to assassinate a visiting head of state, Adolf Hitler, and the policeman who is trying to prevent that assassination.

The third is how it ends. Walton has a wonderful knack for dialogue and creating memorable characters and mixing genre. They are quick reads. All three have one guest narrator and one common character (the police inspector) and in the first two, the police inspector seems to be the designated un-favorite.

Highly recomended.

5/10 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I wanted to read this because of the big hype behind it, but I just could not get into it. Especially the first few chapters; it was a struggle to get through. It did get better as it went on and there were entertaining parts, but the ending could have been something really big and I was slightly disappointed.

9/10 Water for Elephants
This book is right up my alley in terms of genre and I loved it. It wasn't a typical love story, which made it even better and I loved the little bits that were unpredictable because if there's one thing I hate, it's when I know the ending half way through. And sure, it's obvious who the end couple is going to be, but how they get there is what I'm referring to.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - 9/10 Brilliant need to know how it ends now :D

Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie, 10/10. It was brillaintly-written, the characters were so real,the plot was perfectly presented and resolved. I came up with many explanations, but none of them were correct - or let's say all of them were correct, :lol:.

The Handmaid's Tale - 9/10

White Cat by Holly Black (The Curseworkers #1), 3/5

Okay. This book was soooo slow on the uptake. It took me around 125 pages to get into the story (the entire book is 310), and even then I didn't think it was more than okay. Which is a shame, because I really like the idea for the story - in this world there are people who can curse other people with a touch of their bare hands, the so called 'workers' - but it just didn't really work out for me. It was refreshing to read about a male main character though. Different.

I'm not sure if I'll be picking up Red Glove, but I might because people keep telling me how much better it is than the first book. We'll see. So far, I'm totally unimpressed.

Gregor The Overlander - Suzanne Collins, 7/10. Nice book, although incomparab;e to the Hunger Games Trilogy, imo. Also, it's probably aimed more at 9-12 age group than YA. According to the author, the books was influenced Lewis Carol's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but I felt that it was quite influenced by the Chronicles of Narnia, as well.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, 5/5

My first John Green book and man, it was good!! This book had me laughing out loud multiple times in the first chapter. I loved both the WG's, but Tiny Cooper stole my heart. I loved the entire book and I was kind of sad that I read it so quickly - it was over too soon!!

I would definitely recommend this book. It's kinda rude, but hilarious. I need more John Green!

Been on a reading spree in the past month.

Finished with the fourth installment of the Song of Ice and Fire : A Feast For Crows. I can now gladly and openly say I've read the greatest work of fantasy ever written (no, not the book individually, the series as a whole). This one gets to you. It is ridiculously funny, shockingly cruel, and a book that finally matches to the magnificence of the Lord of the Rings and a little more. Tyrion Lannister is one of the greatest characters of fiction created in a LONG, LONG time. BAM on the center 10!

Also, Slaughterhouse-Five. What a book! You can read it in a day and it is fantastic. The way Vonnegut goes on about Dresden and the Tralfamadorians is wonderful and not to mention, the infamous 'And so it goes'. A must read literature classic. 10/10

I'm currently reading 'The Wise Man's Fear', the second book of the Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss. Needless to say about the epic that was the first book, 'The Name of the Wind', this book is so far living up to it's pre-release hype and much more. The characters are lively and the plot thickens blisteringly. Another must-read fantasy novel. 10/10.

The Dead-Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands and Teeth #2) - 7/10 - The story was okay but parts of it seemed to fall flat.

Next I'm going to try reading some Stephen King and see if he's as good as lots of people say.

8/10- The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Picoult does it again- starting the story in one direction and ending up somewhere completely unexpected. I just didn't expect it to end up in Alaska. And I thought that if she was going to write about a serious issue such as rape, it should have been made more the main focus and more real. I did like how she worked in Dante's Inferno which gave me something to think about when I was finished.

The Book Theif - Markus Zusak, 9/10. I loved Zusak's style! It's unique, creative and really witty. The book's progress is a bit slow, but still very enjoyable. I also loved the main charachter a lot; Leisel is by no means perfect, but it's not difficult to understand her and like her. I found all the characters likeable, in fact. One thing that annoyed me just a little bit, is that the narrator sometimes goes backward in time, then jumps ahead and spoils some events (although, when he reaches them, they're still very intriguing to read about, :agree:). Over all, I enjoyed the book, even though I wasn't really interested in the subject at the beginnig.

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I loved the way the story developed and the way the information about the characters was revealed slowly, keeping the suspense up all the way through. The tension in some of the more dramatic scenes was perfect, creating an un-put-downable story with some genuinely hair raising moments. The characters were intrigueing, and it captured the sense of being a teenager without becoming too cliche. The end has left me desperate to pick up the next book in the series, I can't wait! 5/5

Tales of the Unexpected by Roald Dahl - 4/5. They were unexpected, and some of them are fairly chilling. A thrilling read.

Jackdaws by Ken Follet - 5/10. I've officially grown out of these kind of 'thrillers' :yuhup: Nothing thrilling about this one. It was a page-turner, but so predictable and I got absolutely nothing out of it.

The Great Partition: The Making of India and Pakistan by Yasmin Khan - 9/10. Amazing book that shakes you out of the myths that you've been taught about partition and the months leading to it. A must-read for anyone interested in India or Pakistan.

Just finished re-reading Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. 10/10 And possibly one of my favorite books ever. It made me realize just exactly how disgusting war is, and how cruel humans can be (Paul Larazzo will forever be my nemisis). The lesson from the Tralfamadorians (I think that's how you spell it, I can't even remember) is one that will forever stick with me. I highly reccomend that everyone give it a read, although it does contain some foul language at times, as well as being sexually explicit at times, and like most war books, the topic of death is prevalent through out. But, once you look past that, you'll find a wondrous novel with a beautiful message. :D

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #10), 3/5

This felt like an inbetween book that lacked a good plot. I feel like this book was building up to the events planned in Dead Reckoning, so the next book might be a lot better, but this one wasn't much in my opinion. I felt there was not really something that built up tension and the ending felt rushed. Also, I thought Eric acted a little odd (and yes, I know there were reasons for that, but I like the old Eric so much better!)

Jackdaws by Ken Follet - 5/10. I've officially grown out of these kind of 'thrillers' :yuhup: Nothing thrilling about this one. It was a page-turner, but so predictable and I got absolutely nothing out of it.


"Chack, chack, chack". :rotfl:

Lark Rise to Candleford by Laura Thompson - 8/10

A fascinating insight into hamlet life in Victorian Oxfordshire, especially the gradual changes which were indicators of, and resulted in, today's more homogenised society. It's really more a series of vignettes and anecdotes than one coherent piece, but hugely enjoyable nevertheless.

"Chack, chack, chack". :rotfl:
:lol: I should have just reread Blyton :p I would have enjoyed that so much more!

Lark Rise to Candleford by Laura Thompson - 8/10

A fascinating insight into hamlet life in Victorian Oxfordshire, especially the gradual changes which were indicators of, and resulted in, today's more homogenised society. It's really more a series of vignettes and anecdotes than one coherent piece, but hugely enjoyable nevertheless.
I'd love to read this! Sounds fascinating indeed.

The Summoning - Kelly Armstrong, 8/10. I enjoyed the book, I think the author did a good job laying out the main character's problem and her confusion over what it was, then slowly coming to understand that it wasn't exactly a 'problem'. I found the characters nicely-written, and for a book written from first-person perspective, I actually found the main character really well-written and likeable. I felt that the conversation dragged on in some parts, I mean, a whole chapter for one (unimportant) conversation makes it rather boring. I liked the twist in the end, it was quite unexpected.

Extras by Scott Westerfeld
8/10
I read Ugiles, Pretties, Specials and enjoyed them all and had no intention of reading Extras. But I was bored, so I gave it a go. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this book more than the ones in the trilogy. I don't know if it's because it's so current while being so futuristic, or if the plot was just tighter in this one. Either way, if you've read the others in this series, pick up this one too.

The Warlock (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott
8/10
As with the other books in this series this is a mile a minute read. So much happened in such a short amount of time, with so much of the series coming almost together in this book - it was impossible to put down. A great fun adventurous read. I recommend all the books in this series.

From Dead To Worse (Sookie Stackhouse #8) by Charlaine Harris - 8/10. The series keeps getting better and better :)

Just got done reading War and Peace. It was a much better book than I thought it would be. Especially when it comes down to the characters themselves. 8/10

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan, 9/10

I loved the novel, even though I've read it before. I fell in love with the world the author created for her characters, and the contrast between the generations that the main characters live in was fantastic.

10/10Pet Semetary - Stephen King
:eeep: Probably my second favorite King novel and definitely his most creepiest.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr; I give it 6/10.

I tried really hard to like this book, but for some reason I ended up kind of disappointed. I know a lot of people love this book/this series, but I just could not get into it. No matter how hard I tried to enjoy it, it just couldn't capture my attention. It wasn't a bad book at all, I guess I just couldn't get into it.

The Skye in June by J. Anherst 3/5. It was a choice between 3 and 4, but ultimately I went with 3. It was a good book. The story was thin to begin with and sometimes I felt June was written older than she was, but overall I enjoyed it,

5/10 I Love This Bar -Carolyn Brown
This is the last time I read a cheesy romance novel. This isn't myarea of reading, but I had read one other book by this author and it turned out alright. I should've left it at that. :shrug:

Finished my reread of Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher last night. This one feels like a shift away from the stand-alone stories and a move toward the overarching mystery of The Black Council. :tu:

The Pact by Jodi Picoult - 9/10

I LOVED this book. True, I'm a sucker for romance, but I loved what Jodi was able to present here. It's teen romance kicked up a notch and hitting at some difficult issues. It kind of hit home for me because I was closet depressed/suicidal and Emily's story really put things in perspective for me, mainly making me glad that I am still here today.

My only complaint is that it read like a lot of her other books: crisis/crime, relationship(s) fall apart, and ends in court with the revealing of the truth. And the ending wasn't quite as shocking as I was expecting it to be, but then again, I surmised as much halfway through the book.

Nobody's Girl by Sarra Manning - 9/10.

It's about a girl who, after her holiday in Spain goes pear-shaped, decides on the spur of the moment to go to Paris and find her father, whom she's never met before.

I suppose genre-wise it could be called YA, but it's not even a tiny bit as predictable as most YA books and the protagonist, Bea, has lots more going on in her life than worrying about boys and clothes. It's also great fun.

The Hunger Games--:tu:
It was a page-turner. I enjoyed almost everything about it. I guess if I were to find fault with anything it would be that it is not really complete in itself. The ending is a cliffhanger in a way; you feel you have to read the second book to get the full resolution of Katniss and Peeta's relationship. Also the central issues raised in the first book I guess will be resolved in the rest of the trilogy, although I expected them to be dealt with more in this book.

7/10 Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
:sad:

The Hunger Games--:tu:
It was a page-turner. I enjoyed almost everything about it. I guess if I were to find fault with anything it would be that it is not really complete in itself. The ending is a cliffhanger in a way; you feel you have to read the second book to get the full resolution of Katniss and Peeta's relationship. Also the central issues raised in the first book I guess will be resolved in the rest of the trilogy, although I expected them to be dealt with more in this book.

You finally read that? :D What's your opinion on the Peeta vs. Gale matter?

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #2), 4/5

This series is starting to be very addicting. I read this very quickly and I can't wait to read the third book. Zsadist is proving to be a lot more interesting than I would have guessed after reading Dark Lover!

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell - 9/10

Long, witty, captivating account of 19th century English society with some great characters.

Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian: 6/10.

This book was like a little roller coaster. I really loved it at first, I could sympathize with the main character a lot. But then about halfway through, the plot became EXTREMELY predictable. I was actually pretty disappointed in the way it turned out.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - 7/10

Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov - 4/5 - it's a play, so it's fully realized on stage, but it spoke to me in text, too.

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson - 10/10

This is the ultimate read for any nerd out there.

The Lady Elizabeth, by Alison Weir. 8/10
An enjoyable read, a mix of fact and fiction. It's a little bit disappointing that the author added in a fiction aspect that she firmly disputes as a historian, and some parts are a bit repetitive, but still a good read.

The Mimic's Own Voice by Tom Williams 5/5
It's a novella of about 97 pages. It's written in this scholarly style. It feels like reading about a real person's life. I can't describe. I truly enjoyed it. It's about a mimic, someone who can accurately imitate voices, growing up in a time long after mimicry is popular. He becomes the most famous comic of his era.

8/10 A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin
It took me awhile to get into this only because it jumps from different characters' perspectives in each chapter, and I personally don't like books that way. However, having gotten associated with *** characters themselves, I found it easier to follow and it got very interesting, especially about halfway through. I can't wait to start the next one. ;)

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein -- Lost Souls -- 6/10

I was rather disappointed by this entry in the series. It was ok for the most part, but it wasn't as good as previous entries were. I think it was in part due to the lack of action (there was some, but no real fighting per say) was partially why.

I hope future installments are better.


Next -- Michael Crichton -- 8/10

Found this one randomly at the library recently and it was interesting to say the least. It dealt with the whole issue of who owns genes, etc. Not a perfect book, but it definitely made me think.

Supernatural:Witch's Canyon:6/10

OK, let's catch up with the literary review.

A Morbid Taste for Bones and One Corpse Too Many, by Ellis Peters: 7/10 adn 7.5/10.

Excellent reading for holidays. Mystery and characters very well written. I'm afraid that the translation could be better, but indeed that's not the book's fault.

Scandal Takes a Holiday, by Lindsey Davis: 6,5/10

Not the best Falco novel, but as interesting and funny as usual.


The Prisoner of Zenda, by Anthony Hope: 9.5/10

Perfect swashbuckling novel. Lots of action, mystery, and a so sweet love story. Loved it!

Catching Fire -- :tu: While I thought it was tired of Collins to send them back to the games, I did find the Quarter Quell more interesting than the previous games.

Mockingjay -- mild :tu: I finally got to see some of the revolution and more of Gale, but . . . Why does Collins always have Katniss pass out right when the most interesting thing is happening? Then we just get a summary of events after the fact. It's just poor writing; she builds toward a specific event but then doesn't know how to deliver? It would be okay if it happened once, but she uses it again and again. It's a copout.

The Art of Racing in the Rain -- :tu: I love dogs, so I'm inclined to love this book. The struggle with cancer also touches close to home.

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson - 8/10
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling - 9/10 :)

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

9/10

It's such a solid work. The characters, language, and plot are masterfully constructed. My only complaint is perhaps a petty one:

The lengthy intrusion of Tom Sawyer in the last phase of the story irked me somewhat. Throughout this portion I found myself wishing Tom would go away and let Huck and Jim finish their journey together. And they do, eventually, but I came close to setting down the book for a while.
Anyway, I highly recommend it.

The Book Thief
Hauntingly beautiful. One of the best books I've read in a while.

Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich
Historical fiction about a German-American community between the world wars. It focuses on one family in particular. Interesting plot twist near the end. Erdrich does a great job of making her characters interesting. 8/10

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I really liked the mix of characters in this book, thought they worked well together. The start if the book was a bit tricky just because of the amount of new termionology introduced in a short space of time, and I'm no good at remembering what everything is straight away. I think the main character seemed to accept everything very quickly which made it harder to keep up. Other than that, the story was brilliant, I really enjoyed it. Some of the twists I saw coming but they held enough back that there was still suspense and surprises towards the end which made it a satisfying ending. Really excited to read the other books in the series. 4/5

Covet by J.R. Ward (The Fallen Angels #1), 3/5
I had a hard time getting into this book and felt like it went on too long. Yes, it had a climax, but because it took so long to get there, even the climax felt stretched. The book was 500 pages long and I feel like it could have done with less, but maybe it was all needed for the next couple of books.. Not sure if I will be picking those up.


A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford (Touch Mortal #1), 4/5
For a YA debut for 2011, I really enjoyed this book. I liked her twist on angels and fallen angels and everything in between, and found the main character easy to follow around. I didn't like the ending Clifford wrote, but that's mainly because I was like 'what, you're just going to leave me hanging here?!' so yeah, I will definitely be picking up A Touch Morbid when it comes out.


The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (Summer #1), 4/5
This was a really great book for summer. I read it in 2,5 hours while sitting in the back yard enjoying the sunshine. The book is a great summer read, but not just all fluff. I like how it centers around Belly's lovelife basically, but it also pays attention to divorce and illness. It was sad at points, which made me tear up. There are two more books in the series, and I will be definitely picking those up to read in July and August.

10/10 Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton
A thrilling novel. It sparked a renewed interest of donosaurs. ;) There were changes in thwe movie that I kind of disliked, like how the character of the creator of the island was changed, and his death. Now I keep imagining there are velociraptors hiding under my house. :eeep:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling, 5/5 (duh)
Reread! I just felt like it and now I want to try and read the entire series before the premiere..


Breathe by Sarah Crossan (Breathe #1), 5/5
I really liked this one! It's a dystopian book, but I feel like it'll also appeal to somewhat younger teenagers. The focus is on the personal relations in the book a lot, which sometimes annoyed me, but other than that I loved reading this book. A real pageturner. Four different POV's made it really nice to read as well :)

Mohandas by Rajmohan Gandhi - 10/10 Oh yes, a perfect ten for an unforgettable, brilliant biography of a man who changed India and indeed the world.

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes, 3.5/5

Somehow I thought this book was some form of retelling of the myth of Hades.. Which it wasn't. I didn't like the instalove in the book, but I liked the way Hayes developed the story.

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult - 7/10
The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket - 9/10

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (The Steampunk Chronicles #1), 5/5

By far my favorite Steampunk so far. I'm not that familiar with the genre, but the other ones I read were lacking (for me) in some points and this one didn't - I also love that there was little attention for romance, yet there was quite an amount of attention for personal relations and feelings.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - 10/10

It's not only a beautiful book, it has become so personal, filled with great memories and incredible nostalgia. I loved reading it again after such a long time and understanding why I fell in love with such a great series :)

Finished The Awakening by Kelly Armstrong yesterday. I'm going to give it a 6/10. The characters are very-well written, and so is the conversation. I think Armstrong can write action scenes quite well. I gave it a low rating, due to the fact that the plot in the book seems almosst inexistent; I can summerise the plot-related things that happened in the whole book in two or three lines, (and yet she manages to keep the book from getting boring!)

10/10 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Definitely the turning point in the series and it's so complex. I remember being so shocked at imposter Moody, intrigued at Snape leabing at the end, and the most powerful, thrilling moment when Lord Voldemort returns. I still get chills to this day reading that chapter. Also the long waot between book four and five, it kept us wanting more. :clap:

Finished White Night by Jim Butcher--reread :tu:
There was a lot more here than I remembered. The first time I read it, I think I was reading so fast to find out what was going to happen! This time I noticed so many layers Butcher put in relating to the overall war, the Black Council, Outisders, Harry's mother, etc. Can't wait to see these things all play out as the series progresses.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
10/10
Gotta be one of the best books I've ever read. It was the perfect ending to a perfect book series. I cried a lot during the first time I read it and I still do, especially in the part where Fred dies. But it's simply amazing.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (Chemistry #1), 4-/5

Enjoyable read, though some point were predictable. Her writing style was nice so I gave it a relatively high rating because it read so easy.

The Reckoning - Kelly Armstrong, 7.5/10. The book dragged on a bit, nothing new happening all the time. I liked the development of the characters in this book, though; actually I've grown really fond of one my least favourite characters: Tori. I still think the plot was weak and predictable, it's mostly the characters and the conversation that kept the book from getting boring. The end was not unexpected, but I didn't guess it completely correct.
Overall, I thought the series was okay, and I might actually give Armstrong's other books a try.

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan (Kane Chronicles #2), 4/5

These books are so enjoyable because of Riordan's brilliant sense of humor. I love reading the stories and the jokes and humor he puts in them. Plotwise it felt a little like an in between book with only a 'minor' plot, but it was still a great read. I can't wait till the third and final book comes out.

10/10 Columbine - Dave Cullen
A very intriguing read of the horror which occurred in 1999. It cleared up many wrong things that I thought had happened, and insight of the cover-ups by the police. It also lets you see inside the killers and the reason behind what they did.

Looking for Alaska by John Green, 4/5

I really liked John's writing. I missed some closure in the end, but overall it was a great read. Looking forward to reading more of John's work :)

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - 9/10

Such a charming, beautifully written story about love and multiculturalism set in a beautiful, quaint English village. Lots of witty observations on society that Austen fans would absolutely adore. I definitely recommend it!

Jessie hearts NYC by Keris Stainton, 4/5

It was a cute read, quick and easy, but not that original imo. But it was a feel good story and I finished it within 2,5 hours, I thought it would make a great beach read :)

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - 9/10

Such a charming, beautifully written story about love and multiculturalism set in a beautiful, quaint English village. Lots of witty observations on society that Austen fans would absolutely adore. I definitely recommend it!I can't wait to read it now! :D

I can't wait to read it now! :D
I am quite sure you'll love it :D Do let me know what you think once you read it!

I am quite sure you'll love it Do let me know what you think once you read it!I will!

A Dance with Dragons by GRRM

7/10 I would like to rate it higher but GRRM failed to edit a few excruciatingly boring story lines. I know that he had trouble fitting AFFC and ADWD together and it's a task I don't envy. It must have been immensely challenging. But his solution to drag out certain story lines didn't quite work for me. On the other hand, it is a capturing novel with lots of interesting twists and I enjoyed the read overall.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 5/5

Busy with my re-read of the entire series :)

10/10 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
One of my favorites when I was younger and still as intriguing today.

10/10 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
One of my favorites when I was younger and still as intriguing today.
What about The Book Thief? :whistle:

The Chronicles of Narnia (omnibus edition) 7/10

I read them in published order, not chronological order. Some were better than others, Voyage of the Dawn Treader being a favorite, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe being my least favorite. I had to just sort of allow the religious references to go over my head, since I'm not very religious myself. It misses the complexity of HP but it's still an enjoyable read!

10/10 The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

10/10 The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
You finally finished! :clap: I told you it was amazing!

Wildefire by Karsten Knight, 4-/5

I had difficulty with the writing, but the story was awesome. And that ending o.O Darn you Knight for making the last 5 pages like that and then make me wait for the second book!!

When Joy Came to Stay by Karen Kingsbury - 4.5/5 stars

It's predictable, yes, but Kingsbury has a way of telling the story and developing characters that it's easy to not care about the predictability of the story. I had tears in my eyes at the end. It was beautiful.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest -- 10/10

Big improvement over the other two books in the series. Nicely written and paced and kept me reading from cover to cover.

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter - 8/10

This is the follow up to Heist Society. I found this book impossible to put down and a really fun read. I thought the. Author touched too lightly on the relationship of the main characters but it was fun to see all the gang from the first book back in play. Unlike the first book, I saw where this one was going but that didn't take away any of the fun of reading it. I think this was a bit if a transitional book to many more tht are bound to come in this series.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone, 10/10. Even though that's probably the tenth time I've read this book, I'm still finding it as gripping and exciting as ever. I like how the plot is neatly revealed and resolved, how real the characters feel. It's really such a wonderful read.

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen, 4/5

Typical story, nothing special there, but I found Dessen's writing very pleasant to read. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work :)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson 10/10

The end of the trilogy. while the characters I wanted to get together didn't end up together I think it wrapped the series up well :)

Plus Lisbeth Salander is badass

Under The Blood Red Moon by Mina Hepsen 4/10

It's 321 pages of historical fanfiction, basically. The female protagonist is a special snowflake who can read minds, the male protagonist is the most powerful vampire alive and the plot is utterly predictable. Also, it was written by a writer who has zero idea about the aristocracy, titles and manners of the 19th century, beautifully illustrated by her calling a drawing room 'receiving room' and letting her British nobles say things like 'okay'. I was entertained for about three hours, which was how long it took to leaf through it.

Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel.

10/10. :tu: I can't even put into words what an amazing read it was...I closed the book and the whole world seemed sharper. I wish I could say more, but it honestly was one of the best books I've ever read, and really tore into your heart and asked huge questions about life and death that no-one can ever really resolve.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White - 8/10

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - 7.5/10

It was pretty good, but I thought some scenes were awkwardly written. Plus, I didn't much like Peeta.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare - I enjoyed this more than the first book in the series, but there were still some things that held me back from rating it higher. I enjoyed the story though, I liked meeting the new character of Maia and thought she added a new dynamic to the group. There were twists I didn't see coming, which really made it a gripping read, but I found some of the plot points a little bit convenient and felt they hadn't been explained or built up enough. But apart from that I really enjoyed it, I liked the story, and the way it unravelled, and the characters really came into their own. 4/5

A dance with dragons

5th ASOIAF book follows the charectors we didn't get in A Feast for Crows and then joins it.

This book is much better than AFFC was, not to say that the oither was bad, but was pretty boring at times. while this follows the same timeline mostly, I felt like a lot more was happening than in the other book. There was also a sense of "Stuff is about to go down" and while a lot of stuff that the book seemed to be building to looks like it will happen in the next book, this one still sets the table nicely.

The main problem that took it so long to come, trying to get some characters to where they needed to be in order for a big event to happen is obvious as for some chapters are really boring while we wait for the charecters to get there.

8.5/10

Sense and Sensibility -Jane Austen, 10/10. Needless to say I really loved the book. Much better than the first time over. The characters are so beautifully written in that book, and that's saying something considering that almost all of Austen's characters are real and well-written, :tu:. Also I liked the complexity of the conflict in this book, much more than any of the others, which made me even more fond of the characters, as it it's not difficult to feel for them. It's the only Austen book in which I have actually cried a bit. I liked how the book was full of surprises and how unpredictable it was, until the end.
It feels so sad to be done with all Austen books, but I'm planning to re-read them all again, starting with Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, :).

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, 5/5
Loved this book. Not too original, but I loved the story and the way it was told.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young (Dustlands #1), 4.5/5
Wonderful story set up in a dystopian future that is different from the other dystopians that I've read so far. Looking forward to the sequel! *waits a long time*

8/10 The Lost World - Michael Critchon
Not as suspenseful as the first. :shrug:

Gone With The Wind - Margaret Miller

7/10. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I know this book is a bit old, but I'll put spoiler tags just in case ;)

I will say that I despised Scarlett's character. The only trait I did admire in Scarlett was how strong she was, that she was willing to do what it took to keep food on her table for her family, after nearly starving at Tara. And the fact that she didn't care what other people thought of her running a lumber mill.

On the other hand, I despised her selfishness, and how she treated her children, especially Wade, just because he wasn't Ashley's child.

Now Rhett, he's probably my favorite character simply because of how interesting his character was.

I'm looking forward to seeing the movie now :)

Firebrand by Gillian Philip (Rebel Angels #1), 3/5

It was just not my kind of book. I liked the story, but it lacked in the character department when it came to side characters. All those names ending with -an, -ar and -ag didn't help either when I didn't have a face with the name. It felt choppy at times - especially when starting a new paragraph or chapter when the author skipped some time. I had to figure out what had happened in the first half page before I knew what was going on.

I liked what the author did with the ending tho. Sad, but good.

Gone With The Wind - Margaret Miller

7/10. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I know this book is a bit old, but I'll put spoiler tags just in case ;)

I will say that I despised Scarlett's character. The only trait I did admire in Scarlett was how strong she was, that she was willing to do what it took to keep food on her table for her family, after nearly starving at Tara. And the fact that she didn't care what other people thought of her running a lumber mill.

On the other hand, I despised her selfishness, and how she treated her children, especially Wade, just because he wasn't Ashley's child.

Now Rhett, he's probably my favorite character simply because of how interesting his character was.

I'm looking forward to seeing the movie now :)

I agree on just about everything you've said about Scarlett. :agree: Rhett's probably my favorite character as well.

Sorcerer's Stone.

Might be like least favorite book of the series, but it's still good, i forgot how fast paced it is though. 8/10.

Changes by Jim Butcher (reread) :tu: --even better than I remembered. Can't decide which is better, this or Turn Coat.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Maze Runner #1), 4.5/5

Really liked reading this book. At some points I felt like it was all too easy for Thomas - when he needed to remember something, he suddenly did, when they tried to figure out something about the Maze, Thomas was the genius. It didn't bother me enough to not like this book though. I'm glad I've ordered The Scorch Trials, the second book. Looking forward to reading it :)

The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde, 9/10. Strange book in a great way. I liked the idea and I think it was very-well carried out. I liked how the author had woven the events of Jane Eyre in his book and made them seem quite believable. Also I liked the parallels the author had drawn between the characters from both books.

I have slight issues with the book though. As much as I liked Thursday, I can't think of any weaknesses in her character. I think the author played up the heroic bit in her, a little bit too much in some parts. I think others around her should have contributed a bit more in taking down the villain with her.

Another thing is; I hoped Fforde would provide some explanation as to how Hades had managed to commit such acts unseen, and how he managed to affect people's wills that way. Considering the author had given so much 'page-time' to Mycrofts inventions, I rather expected we would learn something about Hades'. I also think his death should've been given more attention than it got. I think it should've had a much more stronger effect, but it didn't seem to come up later :shrug:.

Overall, I liked the book. It was unexpected, funny and gripping. And I'd love to pick another book by Fforde soon :agree:.

Smokin' Seventeen - Janet Evanovitch, I believe. 8.2/10

It wasn't horrible, because there was some really good characterization - I just never felt that Stephanie got much. Maybe it's because I haven't read the previous sixteen books. I also didn't feel that enough attention was set on finding the killer, that there were too many subplots.

Slide by Jill Hathaway, 5/5

Our main character, Vee, is able to slide into other people's minds when she touches an object on which that person has left an emotional imprint. I really really really liked this book, it was really well written and I loved the mystery in it. I would never have guessed the ending! The ending seems a little open, but Hathaway is writing Slide 2 now so hopefully she'll make it a worthy sequel :) I found this to be an excellent debut!

Slide by Jill Hathaway, 5/5

Our main character, Vee, is able to slide into other people's minds when she touches an object on which that person has left an emotional imprint. I really really really liked this book, it was really well written and I loved the mystery in it. I would never have guessed the ending! The ending seems a little open, but Hathaway is writing Slide 2 now so hopefully she'll make it a worthy sequel :) I found this to be an excellent debut!

How did you get this already? It's not due to be released (at least in the US) until the end of March 2012. :hmm:

Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison 3/5

Parts of this novel were amazing and engaging, and I actually wanted to read it. About 3/4 of it, however, were dreadfully boring, much too descriptive, and a bit murky. It was rich in symbolism and hidden meanings, as well as allusions. Sadly, most of them were over my head. While reading it, I felt out of the loop and oblivious to a lot of things. Maybe it's just not suited for my age group yet, even though it was an assigned book. :lol:

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini 5/5

.....Wow. That's still my reaction to this novel, even though I finished it a few days ago. It was full of heavy topics, and it addressed several very important issues in society, but it was amazing. I never thought a male author could create a convincing female character, let alone two splendid, deep, meaningful female leads. Laila was such an inspiration to me, and Miriam proved to be just as influential to me through her actions at a certain part in the novel. I think the thing I appreciate the most about this work was the culture shock, though. Women in Afghanistan were prohibited from doing things that I wouldn't even think about doing, things that are just second nature to me. I would highly recommend this to a lot of people, but do beware, as it's intended for mature audiences. :)

The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks 6/10

Meh, maybe it's because I'd already watched the film or that I'm not really into romance novels but I wasn't really impressed by it, especially with all the hype it's got. I did nearly cry at the end (I probably only didn't because I was reading in the same room as my dad and brother) but the rest of it was a bit boring. I also found it hard to tell when the PoV was swapping over, one minute it would be from Noah's point of view and in the next paragraph it would be Allie, which was confusing.

Mercy by Jodi Picout - The main part of this book I liked was the characters, and throughout the book you come to care about what will happen to each of them, and how the relationships will work out. I was a bit surprised to find that was the focus of the book, given the title and the premise, and that more of the story wasn't focussed on the situation on which the story is centred around, but looking at the characters in depth was a way to compare the situation to each of them and whether they would be able to do the same, which was effective. I was gripped all the way through, and it was definitely one of the more enjoyable of her books, but I felt like it needed a little bit more in way of a conclusion, the end was definitely lacking. 3.5/5

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins! 8.5/10.

I would have given the book a nine or even a ten (it was that good!) but I found some parts way too predictable. That being said, however, I am IN LOVE with Sophie! The main character is sarcastic, smart, sweet, nice, and can kick some serious butt! I enjoyed the book from the first page on and read it in one sitting. I seriously couldn't put it down! The love story is sweet and I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!

How did you get this already? It's not due to be released (at least in the US) until the end of March 2012. :hmm:
I got an advance reader copy for review :)




---------------------

He's After Me by Chris Higgins, 4/5
A wonderfully written story about an unbalanced relationship because the guy is obsessed. Love gone wrong, basically. I was hooked from the first pages and read it basically in one sitting. The ending is heartbreaking. A really touching story.


Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley, 4/5
Cute story about a girl who wants to meet the artist behind the graffiti in the city - Shadow. It reminded me of You've Got Mail because Lucy (MC) doesn't know that he's right in front of her.


A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies, 3/5
I had high expectations of this one and the book didn't meet those expectations at all. It was a slow, nice read, but it lacked in plot until almost at the end - it felt like 'oh, wait, I need a purpose for this. Let's put this in.' and that was the plot. The plot doesn't reveal itself until the last 5 - 10 pages or so and that annoyed me. Halfway through the book I was constantly thinking 'Where is this going?' and that took away part of my reading pleasure. I liked the contrast between Asher and Devin and thought the writing style was nice, but this book didn't turn out to be what I thought it would be.

The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman

9/10

This is a fictional account of Richard III and covers the last years of the War of the Roses. The book is told from the points of view of many different characters, which really gave the reader a very good picture of what was happening. I found myself really liking his oldest brother, King Edward IV. The book was long, about 936 pages, but with all the different characters and the span of time, I never lost interest in it. The character development for most of the main characters was really good. I found myself cheating a little by looking up some of the history of the real life characters. The author spent 12 years writing the book, and it shows in the vast amount of detail and research in it.

If you like historical fiction, this is well worth it. :)

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, 4/5
A beautifully written story. Heartwrenching at times, but I expected to be more touched by the story than I was. Nonetheless, the storyline is brilliant. Sad, but brilliant.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - 8/10. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it but nearer the end I was hooked. Its one of those stories where I didn't really like the main character at first, but then by the end I wanted everything to work out for them.

A Murder is Announced - Agatha Christie, 10/10. That was one wonderful read. It's one of those Christie books where you suspect absolutely everybody in the book - except for the right person. By the end of the book I've actually grown to love the characters and their little village, that it was really sad when one of them got killed, no matter how little we've been exposed to that certain character.
Also I'm glad the whole story was recounted and explained in the end, because it had become really confusing at some point
when we found out that Letitia was actually Charlotte. I didn't know if they were both alive, or if Charlotte was impersonating her sister
So glad there was an explanation, otherwise I might've had to do a quick re-read, because it's taken me a long time to read, and there were a few details that I must've forgotten.
Anyways, great plot and great writing that I had enjoyed very much.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett gets a 10/10. A wonderful book though I didn't expect the ending. I can't wait to see the movie.

Twisted by Sara Shepard gets a 10/10 also. I really liked the book and the way it was written. I can't wait for the tenth book in the PLL series to come out. This book was awesome.

Eve by Anna Carey (Eve Trilogy, #1), 4/5

I really liked reading it, but I'm not sure how I feel about the story as a whole. The ending bothered me, and I guess that's because there'll be two more books, but I was hoping for more.. Anyhoo, I might adjust the rating later, but now I feel like it's a 4 star read :)

A Game of Thrones - George R R Martin 9.5/10

I was very impressed with this book. I watched the series on TV first and loved it so couldn't wait to start the book. It was such a page turner, even though I knew what to expect (the show kept very true to the book) it gave alot more insight into the mythology and history that there was never really a place for in the show. The characters are all very well developed, each with their own individual voice. I love the form of the narrative, how the story is told via a single voice per chapter but it moves seamlessly. I'm already 300pages into the second!

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton - 8/10

I enjoyed this book, even though I'm not a huge fan of these kinds of novels. I had heard that it is a well written book, and it was. My biggest mistake was to read one of the scarier parts just before bed. Dinosaurs were chasing me all night long. :scared:

The movie follows the book very closely, so if you've seen the movie, you know the plot. The difference are minor and don't change the story very much.

It was a fast, enjoyable read, and my only complaint is that the dinosaur attacking part lasted a little too long.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton - 8/10

I enjoyed this book, even though I'm not a huge fan of these kinds of novels. I had heard that it is a well written book, and it was. My biggest mistake was to read one of the scarier parts just before bed. Dinosaurs were chasing me all night long. :scared:

The movie follows the book very closely, so if you've seen the movie, you know the plot. The difference are minor and don't change the story very much.

It was a fast, enjoyable read, and my only complaint is that the dinosaur attacking part lasted a little too long.
It was the velociraptors, wasn't it? :eeep:

Girl with the dragon tattoo
A disgraced journalist is hired by a rich person to find out what happened when his neice dissapeared over 30 years ago.

This is a good but flawed book. I liked the main story, and lisbeth's side story was good though depressing. the things I didn't like was the beginning and end, both were boring and i couldn't care less about them. There really wasn't very much charectorization either, it makes really hard to feel for Blomkvest sometimes. The good thing was although i was somewhat right on my prediction of who was involved, they took on roles that i didn't think were possible. so I was only somewhat right on both the dissapearance itself and who was involved. I was wrong on how it went down.

7.5/10 like i said good but flawed.

Jane Eyre - 10/10 - this was perfection.

See I'm not the only person on this page reviewing this book :D

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin - I had managed to stay away from any spoilers before reading this, a feat given the hype around it! So I entered pretty blind as to what to expect, and wasn't entirely sure it would be "my thing". Tales of kings and queens and castles aren't usually up my street, but this book had me gripped. It wasn't a hard read, as this genre usually is, which made it all the more enjoyable. The characters were brilliant, from one extreme to the other, the wickedly evil and the ones that broke your heart. The action was well written, and exciting, and the twists and turns kept me hooked! I marked it down because I feel after 800 pages, you need some sort of conclusion, and whilst I appreciate it's the first in a series, I felt a little let down by the ending. It took me a lot of effort to get through it all, I usually try and stick to shorter books so I needed a bit more for the time I had to put in I think, but that's a personal thing. 4/5

Well crud. I've been contemplating Game of Thrones but was worried it would be too cumbersome to read. The reviews here are making me think it might be alright (although long). It's being described as a page-turner, and that's how I felt about The Hunger Games...I could not stop reading. If Game of Thrones is the same, I'm never going to get any reading done this semester for the classes i have to read!

XVI by Julia Karr, 3/5

The beginning was slow and dull and to be honest, I couldn't make myself care about what happened to the characters. It got better around halfway in, but still it's not one of my faves; it's just an okay book.

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott. I really don't know how I feel about this book. At some points it was really captivating and made me care a lot about the characters and what becomes of them, at others, I felt it was really badly written, and uninteresting. One main objection is the romance scenes, I personally felt they were awkwardly written, espeacially all that went between Meg, Jo and Mr. Brooke, Mr. Bhaer. The only set whose scened I didn't mind was Laurie and Amy's. Also another thing I didn't exactly like was how straight-forward the author is, about the 'moral lessons' she wants to deliver. I'd rather read and analyse on my own, and not be so directly adressed by the author's own ideas, without any chance for the reader to form their own ideas.
Not to mention that up until the first quarter of the book, I felt that it was merely disjointed scenes and incidents without any detectable storyline to connect them. I think it was intended to show what sort of people the main characters are like, but I hadn't begun to feel that it was all connected until the bit where Beth had got sick.

Anyways, I found most of the characters to be well-written and likeable with really few exceptions. I found I could relate to the four sisters each in one aspect or another. The story was sometimes very touching, that it brought me to tears at more than one point.
Overall I enjoyed it, but it also annoyed me at some points, so I'm going to give it 7/10.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey #1), 5/5

What an amazing story! I put reading it off for so long that I wasn't expecting to really like it.. And I ended up loving it. The world building and description of the faeries is just so lively and wonderfully done. I could see the entire world while reading the book. I cannot wait to read The Iron Daughter!

Jane Eyre-- Charlotte Bronte 10/10

Oh. My. Goodness! What an amazing story!!!! Seriously, I am bashing myself for not having found this story sooner!! The romance, the Gothic qualities of this story, the battle between the heart and mind; what's wrong, what's right; AMAZING! Jane is such a powerful (and feminist!) character! She's strong and knows exactly what she believes in and how her self-respect can wreck havoc where the heart is concerned, she knows how difficult that fight is, but she doesn't shy from it! This story is a lesson in humility, self-respect, inner strength, love, and forgiveness. I have no idea what kept me from this story, but I am so glad I finally found it!

Jane Eyre-- Charlotte Bronte 10/10

Oh. My. Goodness! What an amazing story!!!! Seriously, I am bashing myself for not having found this story sooner!! The romance, the Gothic qualities of this story, the battle between the heart and mind; what's wrong, what's right; AMAZING! Jane is such a powerful (and feminist!) character! She's strong and knows exactly what she believes in and how her self-respect can wreck havoc where the heart is concerned, she knows how difficult that fight is, but she doesn't shy from it! This story is a lesson in humility, self-respect, inner strength, love, and forgiveness. I have no idea what kept me from this story, but I am so glad I finally found it!

I second, third, and fourth this because this book cannot be praised enough. :agree:

I'd also add the storytelling mastery and the breathtaking style of Charlotte Bronte are basically unparalleled (not in my reading experience anyway).

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - 6.5/10

With this, I've finally completed reading all six of Austen's most popular books. Mansfield Park is the most unconventional, grim and intriguing of her works, IMO. Of the four main characters, I thought two were insufferably boring: Edmund Bertram and Fanny Price. Henry Crawford and his sister Mary, though not exactly likable, were definitely fascinating. And Mrs.Norris (the namesake of Filch's cat) is a creation of genius. I will admit, though, that I had to put in a lot of effort to keep reading the book, possibly because I wasn't that invested in the characters. Austen's social commentary is brilliant, as always. MP is worth a read for being, in many a way, the antithesis of Austen's most popular work Pride and Prejudice.

The Lost Daughter by Dianne Chamberlaine - I was unsure at the beginning of this book whether I'd be able to warm to the main character, as her naivety seemed extreme and it was hard to believe anybody would do what she did. However over the course of the book I grew fond of her, and of the other characters who were introduced along the way. The story was gripping and perfectly paced. I didn't want to put it down! The last third of the book especially as everything starts to come out. A great read and definitely a book I'd recommend, just takes a bit of getting into. 4/5

One Day by David Nicholls - I loved this book, the humour was right up my street! I loved the characters, flawed as they were, the conversation always felt natural and the format worked brilliantly. I liked that it was filled with ups and downs, and you were never quite sure what was coming with each chapter. The information was revelaed in a way that kept you glued to the book to find out more. There were some really heartbreaking bits, but uplifting too. 4.5/5

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - 10/10

You're missing out on a delightful experience if you haven't read this beautiful little book about the Queen discovering the world of books and what that means to her staff and her people. Buy it, read it.

The Dark Tower - All in all, I was kind of disappointed by the last three books of what could've been the most unique - and possibly best - 7-book saga ever written. They felt rushed - as if King had felt something I've felt: that he'd begun something and had to finish it, but didn't really have his heart or mind in it. Book 7 in particular is basically just a mishmosh of pop culture references that also deprives the reader of any confrontation the first six books built up. Books 2-4 were masterpieces of character, conflict, and universe development. What could have been one of the most brilliant schemes in history, an author's self-insertion into the saga's universe, instead ended up as an open source for multiple deux ex machina-style plot rescues. Occasionally King does demonstrate he's still the modern master of descriptive prose (see final two paragraphs on this page for example (http://www.wattpad.com/119674-the-dark-tower-7-the-dark-tower?p=46)), but all in all, not that impressed. It says a lot when the author actually publishes an excuse for why he wrote a book the way he did. Since the thread says "rate," I guess I have to give it a number, so I'll call it a 4/10. That would be the only King book I've ever read that I'd put below an 8, except for Dark Tower book 6.

The Catcher in the Rye - I really don't see what all the rage is about with trying to ban this book from schools and libraries, as it contains no sexual content, perhaps one actual incident of what would at any point in the past 30 years be considered vulgar language, no adult themes at all. Nor do I really see how it prompted assassinations like that of John Lennon - the book doesn't contain any violence, violent messages, messages remotely inclined towards violence, or... anything, really. The issue is that, well, that "anything" doesn't just refer to R-rated content; it refers to a coherent plot as well. It's basically a book about nothing. But its writing style saves it - the book feels like a conversation with Holden. You exit feeling you know him, whether you like him or not. I personally do, knowing how he feels about "phonies," though he's definitely got some growing up to do in many areas and could stand to do a little more thinking before forming conclusions on everything. The Unreliable Narrator trope is played very straight here, perhaps more than in Lolita, so the experience is focused on the reader rather than the author. All in all, I'd probably give it a 7.5/10 since Salinger does prove he has a way with words.

Shadow Runners by Daniel Blythe, 3.5/5
Really liked it until I was around 60% in. There was a whole lot more explaining from then on and that took away a bit of the pace, which was one of the things I really liked about the book. The plot felt a bit rushed, and overall it made me just didn't appreciate the book as much as I did until around halfway in.


Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris (Kate Grable #1), 4/5
Thoroughly enjoying and highly hilarious debut. Zombies have never been this funny! I really really really liked this book and I cannot wait for the second book to come out (hurry up, Carrie!)


Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, 5/5
When I picked this book up, I thought I'd like it and it would be a relatively easy read. I didn't expect to get as emotional as I did while reading it. Something about the whole unbalanced relationship that Ruby has with her mom and the way she tries to build up a new life just got to me. Also the relationship between her and Nate really got to me. I really loved how this story managed to touch me emotionally and I cannot wait to read more of Sarah Dessen's books.

L'Amant by Margeurit Duras - 6/10
The Glorious Nosebleed by Edward Gorey - 10/10
The Loathsome Couple by Edward Gorey - 8/10
My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl - 2/10 - this is possibly the most offensive book I've ever read. Rape! Stealing people's DNA! Rape! Homophobic slurs! Rape rape rape! And it's not even remotely funny. The characters are flat, the writing is lazy, the style is bland and forgettable. And if the people who gave it to me for my birthday had read it beforehand, I'm hesitant to call them my friends.

8/10 A Clash of Kings - George R. R. Martin

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (The Heroes of Olympus #1), 5/5

BLOODY BRILLIANT!! I would give it 10/5 if I could. I didn't think it was possible, but this book was even better than the books in Percy Jackson and the Olympians and that series is EPIC. I really liked how Riordan incorporated the Roman side of gods into the story. Cannot wait for The Son of Neptune to come out!! Only 2 weeks!! EEEEE!! *excited*

Grace Williams says it Loud by Emma Henderson. I didn't really like this book, mainly due to the writing style. I found it difficult to read, mainly because of the child's perspective and the quirky way things were phrased which left me having to reread things to understand them. I also found the way it jumped back and forth in time to be very distracting, especially as the book was set out in chapters dedicated to each year in chronological order, yet the time jumped all over the place within the chapters. And the final thing that bugged was the unnessecary swearing, and I'm not that anti-swearing so it's unusual for something like that to annoy me. I did like the characters and the overall story though, it's just a shame it was such a chore to read. 1.5/5

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. 8 and 1/2 out of ten.

First off, I loved this book. So. Much. I got so caught up in the plot, and so attached to the characters. I was tearing up at the end of the book. And I felt so bad for poor Tess. :upset:

Getting into the nitty gritty now, I was ready to throw the book against my wall in anger when Clare asked Izz to accompany him to Brazil. I lost almost all faith in him. And I pitied Tess and her inescapable past. I loved the theme that Hardy weaved into the novel, about how fate is an inevitable thing, as is one's past. It really made me think. :D

I'm not her by Janet Gurtler, 5/5

My eyes couldn't stop leaking when I was reading this book. I had to put it aside for a bit because I was crying so much, I couldn't read the words anymore. That's how emotional this book was to me. The story is about a brainy girl who lives under the radar until her beautiful popular sister is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly everyone wants updates on her sister. I loved reading this because I could really connect to the story - even though I haven't been in the same situation. I'd definitely recommend this book with a box of tissues!

The Prestige, by Christopher Priest 6.5/10

I would probably have liked it more if I hadn't seen the movie, but knowing the main plot twist beforehand really harms the book. The storyline about Andy and Kate doesn't add much except showing how Angier and Borden's enmity passes through generations, but since it gives you no clue of their fathers' motivations, it finally feels a bit pointless.

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare - If I had any flaws with the two previous books in this series, it was that they didn't feel complete enough, and each book needed more of a conclusion to make it stand alone a bit more. But reading this book finally makes me see how well the series works as a whole, and as things start to come together, it makes me forget any issues I had with the previous books. This was by far the best of the series so far, more excitement and action and so much emotion that you felt completely wrapped up in the characters and what happens to them. When certain things were revealed I was practically jumping up and down and other moments had me on the verge of tears! I've rarely felt so connected to the story as I have with this book, and I loved it from start to finish. 5/5

This thread is not for reviewing our fellow members, it's for reviewing books we read.

I've deleted a few posts.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - 5/5

This book was fantastic. I was hooked from the very first page, and I finished all 400-some pages in just 3 or 4 days. I loved how the story was told from 3 different points of view, and the author did a superb job of writing the different characters. Aibileen's southern drawl had me thinking in "southern" for days. The plot line wasn't anything gripping or suspenseful, but the way the book was written still managed to hook you in and keep you guessing. It also addressed some very important issues in American History. Such a great read, fantastic all around!

6/10 The Lost World - Arthur Canon Doyle
This book wasn't exactly exciting as it could've been. :whistle: There wasn't too many encounter with dinosaurs as I'd have liked.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking #1), 4/5

First up, the writing style is completely different and all kinds of weird and unusual, but it fits the story perfectly. I loved how the writing comes across like it's the thoughts pouring out of Todd's head, like the Noise everyone hears in the world they live in. It took me around 3 chapters to really get into it, but once I did, it was addicting and a really exciting story. The ending is quite open though, so now I need to scrape together some coins to be able to buy the sequel, The Ask and the Answer..

the unbecoming of mara dyer by Michelle Hodkin. 8/10

It was a very interesting read. I spent one night reading it, and when I tried to go to sleep I couldn't! My heart was going bonkers because of what was going on. It's eerie, romantic, solemn, and sad. It's an overall very good book.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. 6/10

I was hoping to loooooove this book but I didn't. It had its parts, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I liked the Mortal Instruments series. Part of the plot was plain weird. Some of the main characters were not likeable in the least. Unlikeable characters sometimes kill a book for me. I will definitely be reading the next book, Clockwork Prince, just because I'm hoping this series gets a little better. :sigh: Kind of a disappointment, really.

7/10 Johnny Got His Gun - Dalton Trumbo

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Nightshade #1) 2/5
One and a half, actually.. The love triangle in this one was so annoying that I couldn't even finish the book. It wasn't so much about the things that were going on with the wolves. The main focus was on Calla and Shay and Ren and I HATED it. Unfinished, unfortunately.


The Host by Stephenie Meyer (The Host #1), 1/5
Where do I begin to describe to describe how much I disliked this book? Ugh. The horror. I've read 350 pages about the way the Soul feels and the way the Host feels (who is still there) and the color of clay in a stupid cave. Too much doubt about herself (them?) and the love interest and too much attention to all the nooks and crannies in the stupid cave. I gave up on this one. I couldn't do it anymore.


The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, 4/5
I really liked reading this one, but it lacked some of the Sarah Dessen spark that really connects to me while I'm reading. It was good, but out of the four SD books I've read so far, this one is my least favorite.


Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, 5/5
Stephanie Perkins is a genius and if you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss yet, I'd recommend you do! This is a companion to Anna and I loved it. In my opinion it's not as good as Anna, but still brilliant. Funny and romantic, and yes, cliché, but that doesn't matter when you're reading a Stephanie Perkins book.



I *think* that's it xD *checks list*

There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale by Sean Astin - 1/10

Self-indulgent, self-important, sycophantic and unbearably long-winded. Astin did himself no service by penning this, in my opinion. The three-quarters that I managed to get through left a bad taste in my mouth.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Nightshade #1) 2/5
One and a half, actually.. The love triangle in this one was so annoying that I couldn't even finish the book. It wasn't so much about the things that were going on with the wolves. The main focus was on Calla and Shay and Ren and I HATED it. Unfinished, unfortunately.



Gah. I couldn't finish this one either. I had heard so many terrific things about this book and for me it just fell...flat. I couldn't get past the love triangle and how annoying Calla was. I was deeply annoyed at the fact that I actually paid for this book. :grumble:

Gah. I couldn't finish this one either. I had heard so many terrific things about this book and for me it just fell...flat. I couldn't get past the love triangle and how annoying Calla was. I was deeply annoyed at the fact that I actually paid for this book. :grumble:

Me, too! It was such a disappointment.



----------------------


The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus #2), 5/5
OH EM GEE. EPIC. That's the only word that can do this book justice! Rick Riordan is the only one who can make life treathening battles as hilarious as they are exciting. His humor is amazing and I love his story telling! BUT RICK DARN YOU FOR YOUR CLIFFHANGER!! How am I supposed to be able to wait an entire year to read The Mark of Athena?!

the blade itself

This book is the first book in the first law trilogy, and it feels like that. this book sets up pretty much the next book, and a lot of the stuff seemed like it wouldn't have a big effect on the rest of the story. But it's still entertaining. 7.5/10