Sunday, July 21, 2013

Review: Eve


Life in the wild or becoming a human breeding machine? Sounds like a women's liberation right. Thankfully, Eve made the right choice by running away. Women aren't objects, although I admit it was puzzling as to why they were taught how to read and write only to be enslaved afterwards. 

Anna Carey added several characters to keep us entertained throughout the novel. First Eve is forced to escape with her school nemesis, Arden. A girl who would beat you up rather than give you a hand. And then, of course, Caleb. A love interest that is both protective and sweet. Eve's school lessons gave her a charming "Wendy from Peter Pan likeness" when she reached the boys camp and learned to survive. 

Enough action scenes to anticipate a great sequel. 

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Caught my arrow # 20

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.


You know that weird moment when you go from nothingness to a full platter in like a second. That's what I felt this week at the library as I went to scan a book and got told that all my reservations arrived at once.


Origin
The Madman's Daughter
The Boyfriend List
The Catastrophic History of You and Me
Clockwork Prince



A big thank you to Booksneeze for sending me a copy of Anomaly. It's a new Dystopia book and I can't wait to read it. 



Also, I purchased a copy of Summer and the City after watching the show. 


What are you reading this week?


Friday, July 19, 2013

Feature and Follow Friday: Universal Reading

Parajunkee Alison Can Read


FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back




Q: Book Vacay: Where is the best destination reading spot for you? (Where do you like to go to read other than your home)

Funny story. On my last vacay, I believed I had found the most perfect place for a light read.

The Jacuzzi. 

So I went in with a book, blinded to the fact that the jet button was under the water and that turning pages with one hand (only one dry) is a difficult task.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

What's My Name Again

J.K.Rowling got so many mixed reviews with The Casual Vacancy:

"Still, this Rowling person may have a career as a writer before her." Kirkus 

"But the worst you could say about it, really, is that it doesn't deserve the media frenzy surrounding it. And who nowadays thinks that merit and publicity have anything do with each other?" The Guardian

It's no wonder she used a pen name for her second post Harry Potter novel. 





Below are some famous YA authors who chose pen names as well. 



   

Lois Lowry born Lois Ann Hammersberg

Cassandra Clare born Judith Rumelt

Stephenie Meyer born Stephenie Morgan

Ally Carter born Sarah Leigh Fogleman

Christopher Pike born Christopher McFadden

Lauren Oliver born Laura Schechter

Libba Bray born Martha E. Bray

If you were to write a book, would you use a pen name or keep your own?

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Review: The S-Word



Slut.

Grabs your attention, right? It certainly grabbed Lizzie's when she read it on her school locker after getting caught in bed with Angie's boyfriend. If I had been the one to catch my best friend and my sweetheart in bed on prom night, this story would've had a different ending. See, I'm glad Angie caught them. Rather than angry and savage -- she was disappointed. And so Lizzie killed herself. Jumped off the roof of the school. Of course, no one kills themselves after one week of bullying. There had to be bigger reasons for such a drastic action. What was Lizzie hiding?

This is a debut novel, and although I see a lot of talent between the lines, several things made this story difficult to follow. No one wants to be reminded they are reading a book: 

"I know what you are thinking. Kids? Liquor? No Way! Relax. I'm not saying I was an adolescent boozehound." 

Not only was Angie judgmental of everyone in the story, but us too? Her constant insinuations that everyone bullied Lizzie for her sake, so it was her fault, made no sense. As she was neither a popular kid in school, nor did she participate with the others. 

And although it is true that certain people change their minds a lot, switching from "I like you, I like you not," several times in one book, this coming from both characters in the relationship, is quite confusing. Bisexuality is not a new topic, and sadly, Chelsea struggled when it came to pull it through. 

All in all, the story would've been more much interesting with a stronger main lead.