Title:Dating: No Guts, No Glory: A Novel Author: Joni Hilton Series: N/A Number in Series: N/A Copyright: 1989; Covenant Communications, Inc. Genre: LDS Fiction: Romance / Self-help/ YA Pages:154 ISBN:9781555033279 My Rating: 0.5 / 5 Content Rating: G
Yes, I rated this book 0.5 (a half) star. No, I am not joking. Seeing as relationships are an area of interest of mine (*cough*mymajor*cough*), I thought this book might be enjoyable for a quick read. Boy, am I glad I only paid $1 for it!
There are very few books I strongly dislike; most are a result of too much swearing/vulgar language or sexuality. However, this book had neither of those (it being an LDS novel and all), but there was one HUGE issue I had...
It lacked any kind of a story-arc whatsoever.
Where was the build-up? When did the climax occur? What about the conflict? Are you kidding me?
This book revolves around the main character experiencing different relationships--none of which add anything to her character, nor do they have any significant impact on the story (in other words: the scenes existence was useless). I felt like every relationship she had could have been it's own story so-to-speak (with build-up, conflict, climax, resolution, etc.). Instead, the author skims over them, as they are trivial to the "over all story." Hate to break it to you, but if you want the story and characters to be remembered, make the interactions with their self and the environment meaningful. Personally, I only recall a handful of other characters--most of which being the family members that are continuously around.
Now, I should probably stop and tell you that Hilton often "pauses" the "story" to directly address the reader in lecture-like format. This really bothered me. I felt like I was reading a nonfiction book on dating with a few fictional stories thrown in as examples of the concept being addressed.
The other huge issue I saw with this, is because it is a "novel," whenever the characters within the story quote someone (such as a general authority), there is absolutely no reference. Isn't that plagiarism? Now, granted this book was first published back in 1989 and rules have become stricter since then, but still! A reference to a talk would have been nice.
I don't mean to rant on this book, but if you call something a novel, it should serve at least one basic purpose:
The other day I was on Goodreads.com and looked at my recommended books. Needless to say, this book grabbed my attention. I laughed out loud for a good five minutes after reading the synopsis and decided I ought to give it a read.
Not to mention it had a VERY high rating (4.5 stars out of 5) with thousands of reviews. This book, is none other than the masterpiece entitled...
"Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (1990).
Here is the synopsis straight from the back of the book:
According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner. So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing. Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon--both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle--are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.
And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist...
It has been quite some time since I have read out of my genre (YA paranormal/fantasy) so I figure it might be time for a change of pace. And what better book to make the transition than this one involving the end of the world, angels, demons, and comedy? It has been around for a long time and the story sounds phenomenal! (Hence the reason it is still around!) I can't wait to read it this weekend!
It feels like forever since I have written! A lot has happened (other than school...)
Remember this post I did back in February about Panser and how great she is? Well I just so happened to send her a package in the mail...
The poster of Panser and magnets I made for her.
The poster was purchased at DistrictLines.com
Just the magnets...
Magnet Pikachu close-up!
I wanted her to sign the poster and keep the magnets. I also included a hand written letter to her. She gets a lot of stuff in the mail and I wanted to give her something unique. On top of that... check this video out where I am mentioned in the first 1:35!
Great, right???? I was ECSTATIC!!!!! And she said she was going to send me something back (on top of the signed poster!). Well yesterday... guess what arrived in the mail finally?
Yep!
"Melissa, You're in my [hearts] ^_^ /2 Panser"
(For those who don't know, "/2" is her TradeChat logo)
So she sent the poster back signed, utilizing her famous "sign-off" saying ("I love you all, you're in my hearts"). She also sent back one of her handmade hair bows (super cute!) and her business card (the cute animated Panser) that has all her contact information on the back of it. Needless to say, it made my day!
And in other news... for my birthday my dad gave me something truly wonderful:
Birthday 2013
My dad knows how much I love "Rise of the Guardians" (2012) and I was so excited to start reading these! I actually finished a few weeks ago and they are GREAT! They help to shed a lot of light on the characters in the movie (mainly their back stories). I found Bunny to be very different, but I LOVED the book version of Bunnymund and especially his "rivalry" with North. Though the book series isn't finished yet (the movie is supposedly years after the books end), I am anxious to see how things turn out. I'm also surprised that NONE of Pitch's back story made it into the movie!! It's so heartbreaking...
These books are a great and easy read, especially if you enjoyed the movie or like C.S. Lewis' style of writing (as though you are sitting on your grandfather's knee and he's telling you a story). The world Joyce has created is fantastic and magical!
Dad and I also adopted a new cat! Needless to say, her and Squeaky have yet to get along...
Meet Abbi!
She's one year old!
Now that she is more familiar with the environment, we have found she is an incredible talker. We have decided she is mostly mane coon because she displays a lot of the characteristics of that breed, including talking and loving water (she plays in her water dish). She also has the pointed ears (see first picture) which is a sign of mane coon.
Hopefully she will get along with our 9 year old cat soon... I think they would make great companions for one another.
Switching topics! (Do you like my transition there?) ^-^
School is keeping me super busy (hence the lack of posts). But I found out something amazing last week...
I may be able to graduate with my
Bachelor's Degree next spring!!!!
Whaaaa??? I was rather overwhelmed and had a quarter-life crisis! I don't know what I want to be when I grow up! What am I supposed to do when I don't have to worry about homework or paying for tuition? Does such a world even exist?
I just don't know.
These are just a few of the things that have been happening in my life recently. A lot of changes have occurred and a lot of growth has happened. This semester seems to be rushing by!
So until next time! Go out and enjoy the sunshine! (If you are experiencing it, that is. If not, enjoy the sunshine when it decides to come out!)
I have so much I want to get done before school starts up again in January,
and I'm worried I will blink and the break will be over and I will have
accomplished none of my goals to kick back and relax! (Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?)
I want to read several books, watch all 5 seasons of Big Bang Theory,
and simply enjoy spending time with friends and family!
So I thought I would start off by reading some good books...
Wouldn't that be great? Talk about a wonderful vacation!
But I also realize that if I were to do absolutely nothing, I would be bored out of my mind and not functional. I need to be doing things in order to save what little sanity I have left. Take yesterday, for example. I read all morning and became restless, so I went out and started watching Season 2 of Big Bang Theory. After a while, the restlessness set in again. In response, the crazy side of my brain proposed, "Why don't you start cleaning the office! You could sort through papers while watching the show!" Of course any normal person wouldn't go in and tackle an office of paper stacks and litter them around the living room floor right before Christmas. We don't even have our tree up yet! (And we may just pull a Grandma move and go for the tiny tree on a table with presents underneath.) The reason for this is because since we had a leak in our roof, we had to move furniture. In the process, we decided to simply replace all the old furniture with new (this being our family Christmas present), but we also want our carpets cleaned prior to the delivery of the new furniture. And we don't want to put the tree up if the carpets need cleaning...
Therefore, our living room is completely empty...
Aside from the mess I made yesterday... which I will finish with tomorrow!
You see, even on vacation I still have to find something to do to occupy my time. I can't simply lay around and leisurely read the piles of books that have stacked up. Oh goodness no! I must spend my precious free-time cleaning... Why? Because I might just go insane if I don't.
And let's face it, when school starts up again, who has time for big cleaning projects? =P
**I do apologize for the immense amount of criticism and sarcasm in this post. I blame it on the book I am currently reading and my creativity breaking out of the closet...
This year, there haven't been too many movies that had me super excited. The Amazing Spider-man looked lame from the trailers (I had assumed it to be a retelling of the first Spider-man, but was pleasantly surprised with how good it was). Madagascar 3 created some excitement, but I was also rather nervous because I didn't want to see the producers end an epic series badly (and they didn't!). Dark Knight Rises didn't necessarily do it for me either, because Dark Knight was so... well dark! I was worried this third one would be the same (again, pleasantly surprised). I am somewhat excited for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Les Miserables, however I am upset that they are splitting The Hobbit into THREE movies! And where I haven't read the books for either of these, I don't know exactly what to expect in the movie... thus I am not as excited.
But today marks the release date of a movie I was excited to see. Honestly, I haven't been this excited since Harry Potter 7-2 was released last year.
This movie is...
Of course, Rise of the Guardians.
Prior to today, the more I saw about this movie (trailers, TV spots, etc.) the more excited I became. For starters, the concept of childhood myths being not only real, but also being guardians of the children was unique to me. Then the villain entered... Pitch...
You may call him the Boogieman, Pitch Black, or the King of Nightmares. When I first saw him I knew he was going to be a good villain!
So, the overall story theme I received from the trailers was Pitch has entered the playing field and is spreading fear across all the children of the world. And if the children do not believe in the Guardians, they will disappear and lose their powers. So, the Guardians must "rise" together and help protect the children of the world from this new darkness.
Well, I had the great opportunity to finally see this movie today (opening day). I was very excited, but there was a small part of me that worried I had built it up too much, and that I would be disappointed with the final result.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Despite all my excitement... it still blew me away.
Now, I know there are some out there who say, "This is your simple story of good vs evil." Well yes, but you know what? In a time when movies are so popular and everyone is trying to create elaborate and complex stories (*cough*Inception*cough*), it's rather refreshing to go back to the basics. This was one of the main draws for me. I'm tired of the complex storylines, the mind boggling twists and turns in plots and character development... just give me a good movie that has excellent character growth and development, with twists and turns that actually make sense but are not predictable, with little to no profanity/inappropriate material, and then I will be happy.
Tonight, I am pleased to announce that I. Am. Happy.
I found this movie to be unique (as I said earlier) and very entertaining. The writers did a good job to keep the story flowing by adding bits of humor through-out (the elves are hilarious as is the rivalry between Bunny and Jack). I felt the characters all experienced growth throughout the movie, and especially our main character: Jack Frost. One of those changes actually happened within myself. Now, how can this be, right? I'm not in the movie? Well, good writing creates changes in the viewer, and there's a point where Pitch "bears his soul" to Jack... and I sympathized. (Side Note: This is key to developing a good villain in any story.) It helped me realize what he has been through and it's no wonder he is the way he his and why he does what he does (again, this is key to developing a good villain). Therefore, Pitch's character was beautifully crafted and well rounded in the end, as were the other main characters. The only one I didn't see a great change in was Sandy, and if you see the movie you'll understand why. But I loved him just the way he was anyway! He's perfect! (One of my favorites, can't you tell?)
Switching gears, there are many morals and messages portrayed through-out the movie (not just at the end as it is with most). Things like who we are now is not dependent on who we were before, and that each of us has a purpose while in this life, we just need to find it. It was one of those movies that simply leaves you feeling uplifted and full of hope and light. I love these kinds of feel-good movies. I believe that's what all movies should do: Uplift us and take us away from reality. I live in reality, why would I want to see a movie that portrays the same thing? Give me two hours away from this life to imagine something greater, something better, and I feel much happier with my reality when I return to it.
Also, Alexandre Desplat produced the music for this movie. For those who do not know, he is the brilliant mind behind several of the amazing Harry Potter Soundtracks! The music was simply stunning and I think I know what to ask for when Christmas rolls around! Here's a sampling of the type of music on the album:
Speaking of little facts, did you know that this movie is based off of a book series? I had no clue!! It is entitled, "The Guardians of Childhood" by William Joyce and includes picture books as well as young reader books. I actually started reading the "Nicolas St. North" book online and it talks about how Pitch awoke and how Jack Frost came to be (the movie never exactly explains how Pitch came back). The series looks rather interesting.
I simply love this movie. I think it was well written with a good story and great characters, and excellent music is a bonus!
Now go and have your spirits uplifted and enjoy a good story of good vs. evil!
Title:Angelfall Author: Susan Ee Series: Penryn and The End of Days Number in Series: #1 Copyright: 2012; Feral Dream LLC; Amazon Children's Publishing. Genre: YA / Supernatural / Paranormal / Suspense / Apocalyptic / Angels Pages: 284 ISBN:9780761463276 My Rating: 4.5 / 5 Content Rating: PG-13 / 15+ (for some alcohol/drug use, violence, some swearing, blood and gore, scary images, and suspense)
This book was impossible to put down.
It pulled me in and refused to let me go until the very end... even now I still feel it clinging to me.
Within the first paragraphs, I was already in love with the author's writing style. Not only do we have a heroine who has a strong powerful voice, but she also has purpose to that voice and why she is the way she is. The author did an excellent job of portraying that in a very narrative way.
This story takes place after the Apocalypse has occurred. Only, in this war, angels were not there to protect the humans of the world... they were the destroyers of it. The angels attacked, wiping out nearly all civilization. The few who survive now hide from the terror in the skies. Even the deadliest gang members retreat to their safe houses when the night falls.
The day belongs to the refugees and raid gangs. But at night, they all clear out, leaving the streets deserted by dusk. There's a strong fear of the supernatural now. Both mortal predators and prey seem to agree on listening to their primal fears and hiding until dawn. Even the worst of the new street gangs leave the night to whatever creatures may roam the darkness in this new world.
p.3
Enter Penryn, with her schizophrenic mother and paralyzed little sister. They are attempting to escape in order to find more supplies and hopefully a safer place to rest their head. It's night and the streets are quiet. As they move through the destroyed city in Northern California, it's only a matter of time before an attack happens.
It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister, Penryn, will do anything to get her back.
Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fight his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where Penryn will risk everything to rescue her sister, and Raffe will put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.
--Book synopsis
One thing I absolutely love about this book is that it is not a romance. Yes, romance tales are wonderful, but this author has a way of telling a main story where each character has their own agenda, and falling in love is not one of them.
I felt Ee did a good job at keeping the action engaging, even during the "slower" times in the book, like when Raffe and Penryn are getting to know one another. Not only does this keep the pace of the book going strong (continually drawing you in) but when the intense moments arrived, you knew they arrived. These dramatic moments were pronounce.
By having this story told in first-person, it kept us in the action. I know several YA books written in first-person, but I haven't read one quite as thrilling as this. Ee does a masterful job at telling a story from this perspective.
Finally, the author's amazing ability for twists and turns throughout the story is mind boggling. There were things I did not see coming (especially towards the end during the climax). Ee has an amazing imagination and really takes a spin on angels in a way I haven't seen done before. Not only is this a war against the humans, but it's a war between angels--a political war nonetheless--all because the Messenger was killed:
Like most people, my first introduction to angels was through the looping footage of the Archangel Gabriel being shot. I can't help but wonder if the angels would have been less hostile if we hadn't immediately killed their leader. At least, they think he was killed. No one knows for sure because the body wasn't recovered, or so they said. The legion of winged men floating behind him dispersed with the panicked crowd, quickly disappearing into the smoky sky. I wonder if Raffe was part of that legion.
p.101
This book is rather intense and has more blood/violence than I normally care for (hence the 15+ rating). However I do admire Ee's creativity with angel mythology and how angels run things. The characters felt "alive" and well-rounded for me, more so than other YA books I have read. Penryn is an awesome female lead character with an attitude, and Raffe isn't your normal "tall, dark, handsome, bad-boy" sort either. Yes, he does have good looks (he's an angel after all), but there's a lot more to his character than what we read in this book. There's a wall he hides behind and we don't get a glimpse into his character until the very end. Even then, it's not much to go on, but I love how Ee is developing him.
Also, one of my favorite characters is Josiah. He's great, though I'm still on the fence as to which side he's fighting for... You'll know understand when you read about him. He definitely sticks out in a crowd, and his eyes are to die for. ^-^
Overall this book is well written, very engaging, full of twists and turns, with major battles being fought (both external as well as internal).
The way in which the book ends leaves me thirsty for more.
As I sit here, waiting for my caffeine to take effect so I stop procrastinating chores, I thought it would be fun to create a blog dedicated to something that is very near and dear to my heart.
The night before last, I finished a great comic. Some of you might even know it.
January 2, 1986
That's right, Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson.
I received the Complete Collection for Christmas (or rather, I saw it on the Amazon "Lightning Deal" and purchased it, at which point my father paid me back so I would wrap it and put it under the Christmas tree). I finally finished reading all 3 books in the collection... a total of 1,454 beautifully colored pages of the highest quality. Simply gorgeous...
Since I have now finished reading this amazing collection, I yearn for more. I do plan to purchase all the Calvin and Hobbes books at some point, and I happened to find another one yesterday! I went on a treasure hunt, and found the first Calvin and Hobbes book for cheaper in the store than on Amazon. Of course I immediately purchased it. And the best part?
August 16, 2012
It's dedicated to me!!!
Apparently it was meant to be. ^-^
[Okay, it's really not really dedicated to me... But she has the same name!!]
Well, since I've been on somewhat of a Calvin and Hobbes high because I read it every night before bed (it makes the perfect bedtime story) I would occasionally mention something to my father. He would look at me and ask, "Why do you find Calvin and Hobbes to appealing?"
That's a very good question. To anyone it appears to be a hilarious comic about the adventures of a six-year-old boy and his stuffed tiger that only comes alive for him (see comic above).
But there is so much more to Calvin and Hobbes than what meets the eye. Take the following strip for example:
October 26, 1988
One of the greatest things I loved about Bill Watterson's writing, is how he is able to teach life principles through metaphors. This one is a bit more obvious, but in other strips it's more subtle. Watterson believed that by analyzing nature, we can then resolve issues in our own life. He sought to inform us readers about his perceptions of the world in which we live by using these lovable characters.
I also absolutely love Calvin's humor. He's the little, selfish, opinionated voice that exists somewhere inside us all, no matter how dormant it may be.
Not to mention the awesomeness of his snow sculptures! I plan to make one of these someday!
January 21, 1995
So, in the end, why have I enjoyed reading this amazing adventure?
Calvin and Hobbes is a comic about asking the bigger questions in life. It's about presenting simple solutions that help us survive in this crazy world. It's about realizing there are bigger things in the world than just you or me. It's about releasing our inner child and giving in to our dreams as we strive to make them a reality.
But most of all...
It made me laugh.
Calvin and Hobbes makes me feel happy, safe, and warm. No matter how my day is going, Calvin and Hobbes will always be there to increase my mood. There are many instances where I was having a bad day and I would read Calvin and Hobbes before going to bed, only to have it make my whole world bright again. It helps me feel at peace with the world.
Am I sad that Bill Watterson stopped the strip in 1995? Yes. But I understand why he did. I also understand why he didn't want his characters exploited to the marketing world (hence the reason there's hardly any Calvin and Hobbes merchandise). Watterson had a great opinion about materialism (hence the reason Calvin only focused on the material aspect of Christmas) and Watterson didn't want to add to the merchandising message his characters would send to the world if he allowed "product" to be made.
However, I do wish I could find a legitimate stuffed Hobbes... ^-^
This journey has been an amazing adventure. I wouldn't trade it for anything. As Calvin himself said in the very last strip ever written:
"It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy... Let's go exploring!"
Other than watching more of Vampire Diaries (which I'm secretly obsessed with) I started reading a new book. Shortly after starting the book, I began to notice some things: My mood started getting darker whenever I read the book. Never a good sign. The whole concept--though it sounded fascinating in the store--went against my beliefs, and not in a good "fantasy" type of way either. I kept getting the thought that I needed to stop reading it. But I battled with myself and said, "But I have a reading goal, and if I just finished this book..." But then the other voice would whisper, "Is 300 pages really worth this change in your life?" After reading to page 144, I put the book down and resigned myself to the fact that I needed to stop reading this book, despite how fascinating it may seem. Not to mention the fact that there was way too much swearing--nearly a word or more per page--which I somehow missed when glancing through it in the store, and I just couldn't handle it anymore. Combine that with the whole concept, and I decided the 300 pages was not worth the price I was paying.
And since I stopped reading that book, my world has become brighter! Who would have thought, right? Clearly the Spirit was whispering to me to stop reading... I'm grateful I listened.
So, after I stopped this book, I had a choice. What book should I read next?
As you know, I have several "new" books to read stacked up on my floor. Two of which are very recent purchases that I'm really excited about. However, for the last couple months, I have been wanting to read The Hourglass Door trilogy by Lisa Mangum again. I have put it off because I knew I had other books to read, stories I had not read before. But alas, I gave in to my temptation...
I'm reading my favorite series... again.
But even though I've read this series several times before and know everything that's going to happen, it still doesn't make the story any less magical. To me, the story and writing speak to me... It's like, if I were to ever write a story, it would sound like these books (though, not nearly as good I'm sure!). But the way in which Lisa writes and the characters that come to life just make me... happy. I don't know what other word I could use to describe it.
It's like finding a part of yourself that you thought had been lost...
It's like coming home.
That was how it felt when I started reading this book for the first time. And even after two and a half years, I still get those same feelings of excitement and comfort. Like hot cocoa on a cold winter's eve, with the snow gently falling outside while you sit next to the fireplace and dream of the future.
I'm grateful I decided to read this series now. After feeling the chill the previous book left in my life, it was nice to "come home" and warm up with Abby and Dante.
And yes, I would choose Dante Alexander over any other fictional character that exists.
In other book news, I also finally finished reading Orson Scott Card's Characters & Viewpoint. It has taken me a while, but the knowledge I have gained in the process has been monumental in the way I view characters (whether they be my own or created by others). It's absolutely fascinating what Card taught me regarding characters, especially character development. He also gave extremely helpful advice for trying to decide which POV to write in (which has been a struggle of mine for quite some time):
"First-person and omniscient narrations are by nature more presentational than limited third-person--readers will notice the narrator more. If your goal is to get your readers emotionally involved with your main characters, with minimal distraction from their belief in the story, then the limited third-person is your best choice."
p. 212
After reading a couple chapters on viewpoints and seeing numerous examples of each, I have come to the conclusion that, as Card explains above, limited third-person is the best for me. Notice how I said "for me." It may not be true for you. Also, I realize each story is different and may require a different POV style. But as for right now, especially in regards to my Destroyer Series, I plan to use limited third-person. This decision has been reached thanks to Card's ability to explain and help me see the bigger picture, along with many inner battles fought.
In the end, I have enjoyed what I have read so far this year, and I look forward to reading my favorite series up in the mountains during my family vacation this weekend... maybe even with some hot cocoa! ^-^
Title:Of Grace and Chocolate Author: Krista Lynne Jensen Series: N/A Number in Series: N/A Copyright: 2012; Covenant Communications, Inc. Genre: LDS Fiction: Romance / Suspense Pages: 194 ISBN: 9781608618651 My Rating: 4.5 / 5 Content Rating: PG (for some alcohol/drug use, and an intense scene)
This story is about a 25-year-old girl named Jill who tries to keep everything perfect in her life: clean apartment, a small dog, and is even writing a book! She works at a publishing company and when they express interest in one of her manuscripts, she rushes back to her office to locate her flashdrive for the file to send them. But it's not there. Neither are her keys its attached to. Her phone is also gone, replaced by one she doesn't recognize. It rings. On the other end is a voice she recognizes. He's attempting to ask her out. Little did Scott realize his clever "trick" to get her attention has sent Organized Jill through the roof--for if she doesn't get that manuscript in her boss's hands ASAP, she may just lose the chance of getting something published--her dream. When Scott realizes his mistake, he's horrified and tries to make it up to her. She won't have anything to do with him. With the chaos of the day behind her, she heads home, only to find her drug-addicted long-lost sister standing on her porch in the rain with a baby to her chest. Jill invites her in, not having spoken to her sister in nearly two years. She looks terrified. Offering to let her stay, Jill settles down for the night. In the morning, Jill awakes to find her sister gone... the baby crying on the couch. From there, Jill's life becomes increasingly more strained and dangerous. People wreck her apartment, go after her father, and even threaten her friends; all in search of finding her sister who had obviously crossed the wrong people. On top of all that, Scott keeps showing up in her life and she can't help but feel the pain he caused her years ago... and he doesn't even remember it.
This was a fast read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had everything I liked from romance to the suspense and mystery. I feel the story was laid out well and flowed along quite smoothly. The fact that Scott kept appearing was rather humorous and added depth to the story. Watching the characters grow and change was my favorite part. I understood how Evie (the sister) felt and why she left the way she did. I also can understand Jill's bewilderment at suddenly having to provide for a baby (something I don't even have knowledge about, so it was easy to sympathize with her). The author did a great job at painting each character's personality and emotions, while revealing their secrets at just the right times.
One of the things I found interesting was the climax. Because the majority of the book is Jill running from the perpetrator who is after Evie, when the believed climax occurred, I was disappointed. As the book went on, I was thinking, Well, that was a lame climax, and I let my guard down, trying to enjoy the remainder of the book. Little did I know the author had another twist coming and the true climax was much more than I expected. And because I had let my guard down, it genuinely surprised me.
The following lines are Jill's summary of the book she is writing (which ironically enough, is entitled "Saved by Grace and Chocolate") and I feel it sums up this book very nicely:
"...And then there's God's grace. Those things that happen and, for all the laws and powers of reason, they shouldn't happen, but theyd o , and someone is given a chance..."
"Mercy."
Jill turned to Laura. "Yes. Mercy." She swallowed. "The book is about a girl who is given mercy and then learns that mercy, that grace... is not always painless... It's not always graceful."
p.62
In the end, this book turned out to be quite the tear-jerker. In ways, I even feel changed from reading it. Crazy, I know, but it's true. I simply love the message that grace truly is not always graceful. Often the Lord blesses us in ways we don't expect, even ways we don't want. But once we get passed the trial and look back, we see how His hand was in our life the entire time, weaving all the stray parts together to form a masterpiece.
Title:The Ruins of Gorlan Author: John Flanagan Series:Ranger's Apprentice Series Number in Series: Book #1 Copyright: 2005; Penguin Group Genre: Young Reader Fiction: Action / Adventure Pages: 249 ISBN: 9780142406632 My Rating: 3.5 / 5 Content Rating: PG (for minor swearing and some intense action scenes)
Some background to start off: This story is about a young boy named Will who was orphaned at a young age. When children in the castle wards turn fifteen, they are eligible to be chosen as an apprentice to one of the masters of various crafts. Hoping to be chosen as a knight like his father, small Will voices his opinion when asked for it. However, the Battlemaster says Will is "too small" and he is disqualified. When no one else wishes to claim Will as an apprentice, that is when Halt the mysterious Ranger steps forward. Thus begins an epic journey of adventure, mystery, and growth in the pursuit of stopping one of the most powerful beings in the kingdom: Morgarath.
For some reason this book took me a long time to get through. I think a large part of it is because this book deals a lot with setting: Being the first book in the series, we need to see the world and understand some of its cultures/traditions/etc which takes time. The book didn't pick up until a little over half way through for me... when the action started (with the wild boar hunt).
On a technical side, the book was extremely well written. I can see how this would be a popular book for schools and English classes. However, one of my main complaints is the fact that Flanagan will change POVs without warning. I'm sure his attempts were to make the narration flow smoothly, however it caught me off guard several times. Other times, the POV change is very clear (like when we switch from Will's training as a Ranger to Horace's training at the Battleschool). But throughout the chapters, there would be a POV randomly thrown in (like the Baron's thoughts in the early chapters, when the POV is clearly Will's). This may have also been to give the reader a more omniscient view of the world, but I found it almost confusing at times. So making the POV changes more clear or flow more smoothly would have been nice.
The story started off really slow. However the overall arc and growth of the characters was fun to watch. Especially as Horace and Will both grew in their own ways.
I find there were several morals being taught in this book--all of which I think are beneficial for children to know and understand. Things like bullying is wrong, the importance of friendships, fighting for what is right, and even trusting your heart are all covered in some detail. For example, Halt the Ranger teaches this on p. 173:
"Once you best a man, never gloat. Be generous and find something in his actions to praise. He won't enjoy being bested, but he'll make a good face of it. Show him you appreciate it. Praise can win you a friend. Gloating will only ever make enemies."
After the action started, it was kind of difficult to stop. I will admit, I was able to predict the climax and how it would go down, however I did not predict the twist in the story regarding Halt. I knew there was a twist, but it was not the one I was expecting. It was a pleasant surprised though.
Overall, this book was well written and had a decent story. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the other characters (like Jenny, Alyss, and George), but perhaps that comes later in the series. It moved a little slow in the beginning, but I understand why. I am glad I have read it and I may just read some of the others in the series.
If I'm going to keep buying books... I really need a new bookshelf unit, or I need to sell some movies and free up space. *sigh*
I went and found 3 more books today (shopping is my cure for boredom on a day off from work). All YA (young adult) of course. I can't wait to read them, but I have to get through the book I'm currently reading. For some reason I'm seriously struggling with it. A book that should have only taken a day or two to read has stretched to over a week, because the story hasn't pulled me in (I don't find myself wanting to read it). It must be because this book deals more with the setting (or "milieu" as Orson Scott Card calls it) and I enjoy more character or event stories. I won't go into too much detail here (I shall leave that for my book review), but I will finish it soon and put the review up. Until then, my new books continue to pile high on my desk beside my bed, waiting to be read with love.
I blame the recent book splurges this summer on the fact that I received a coupon to my local "bookstore" that was good from May - July and can be used an unlimited amount of times before it expires. It's rare for these books to go on sale (for it's not a "normal" bookstore like Barnes & Noble so they don't have the margin to allow for many discounts), therefore I've been taking advantage of this coupon. Sadly, it has also been taking advantage of me via my disappearing paycheck and dwindling space on my bedroom floor.
Speaking of books to be read, my Amazon order arrived yesterday! "Story" by Robert McKee looks awesome but will take some time to read because of how much digestion will be needed (yet another book sitting on my desk).
"Independence Day" by Frankie Negron is AMAZING!! I'm so glad I purchased it! The songs simply speak to me and I have been listening to it almost constantly since yesterday. The songs that are jumping out are "I Still Remember" and "Stand By Me and Fight." I'm currently trying to locate a video with "I Still Remember" so I can share it with you! However, I can't seem to locate it. When I do, I will definitely be posting the lyrics to this amazing song.
Well, I have had a very productive morning so far and seeing as I don't have work today, I shall go and hopefully, HOPEFULLY get through my book so I can start a new one! After all, I have a New Year's Resolution to meet! And once school starts back up in the Fall, I know I won't have as much time to read...
So I am enjoying my freedom while it lasts! I'm going to read as much as I possibly can before school starts at the end of August. My goal: Reach at least 16,000 pages (if not more). That leaves 9,000 pages to read before the end of the year (and I do have several books coming out in the fall). 8,000 pages shouldn't be too bad for a two-month period, right? After all, I am planning on re-reading the Hourglass Door trilogy by Lisa Mangum (my favorite series/author) and I would love to re-read the Tiger's Curse series before the fourth book is released at the beginning of September. Those six books alone should give me around 2,000 pages.
I used to set several goals on Sundays and then strive to achieve them during the week. However, I think I expected too much of myself and would set too high of goals (or too many) and over the last several months, the habit has slowly faded. But last week I made the goal to:
Write.Every.Day
I am please to announce that I was able to meet this goal. Granted, some days it was only a blog entry (you may have noticed more activity on this blog like it's been reborn), other days I did a more creative venture. I worked a little on my Destroyer Series--finally realizing that because I diverged from my original plotline, I have hit a major writer's block, therefore I will need to go back and change some things. Aside from the Destroyer Series, I also worked on a new concept I came up with a while ago having to do with dreams and nightmares. I've done more with my dream story than I had anticipated (since I ran into a stumbling block with Destroyer Series).
Nevertheless! I have achieved my goal! And as a reward (for all goals should have a reward) I ordered two things off Amazon (YAY for having giftcards!!):
Granted, it was Christopher Paolini's recommendation that triggered my initial interest. When I found it on Amazon, the reviews were very positive. The second thing that caught my eye, was the price. $40 normal retail. What book costs $40 (unless it's a textbook)? I then realized it was a hardback and over 400 pages. W-O-W. Luckily, it was on sale for around $21. Super excited to read this! I looked over the content and it looks like a fantastic resource! Even if it is directed at screenwriting, I bet there will be a lot of good material for the novel writer as well.
Random, right? Well, I happened to stumble across a song of his on YouTube the other day (see below) and I fell in love with his voice and his sound (partly because he reminded me so much of David Cook's style). On iTunes, the album was $9.99... on Amazon (for a hard copy) it was $9.98! Now, seeing as I enjoy material things, I would much rather pay nearly the same price to have the actual CD in hand than a digital download. This is only my preference, of course. I look forward to listening to more of his songs. They all sounded pretty good on the preview.
"Holding On To Love"
Frankie Negron
Now, as I look back on this last week, one thing is apparently clear: Writing helps me deal better with life. I find I am happier if I can write--especially in the morning! I find I have more energy, restored vitality, and an overall sense of well-being. How is this possible? I am honestly not sure, but I have my theories. I just know that writing makes me happier and that is all that really matters.
As I was writing my last book review, it dawned on me how many books are being released this fall that I can't wait to read! This list continues to grow! Most of these books are out in September (nearly a new book every week).
Title: Tiger's Destiny Author: Colleen Houck Series: Tiger's Curse Number in Series: #4 out of 5 Release Date: September 4, 2012
I cannot WAIT to read this book!!! The Tiger's Curse series is stunning and it'll be interesting to see what the movie turns out to be like! But I have enjoyed the journey with Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan very much and I look forward to this book with great anticipation. I'm hoping to re-read the other three before its release to get everything fresh again.
On a side note, Colleen Houck has announced that this is the book that will break the curse, but there is still one more book left (Tiger's Dream). Makes me wonder what that book will be about!
I am so happy I was able to meet Colleen and have my books autographed! I have a feeling life will become very busy for her (especially after the movie's release) and she might not be able to do as much touring.
Title: After Hello Author: Lisa Mangum Series: N/A Number in Series: N/A
Release Date: September 12, 2012
Lisa is my favorite author! She wrote the Hourglass Door trilogy, which is stunning! I have also met her in person (being a local author) and she is way nice and personable.
I look forward to this new adventure about Sara and Sam! Here's the description available:
What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had?
Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for
the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot
camera, especially on her first trip to New York City.
Sam is a
finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a
first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find.
When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for
what they will find out about each other—and about themselves when they
form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of
art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their
talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able
to overcome fate? This new novel from award-winning author Lisa Mangum
explores what happens after hello.
Title: Entice Author: Jessica Shirvington Series: The Violet Eden Chapters Number in Series: #2
Release Date: September 18, 2012
A continuation of the book I just reviewed, Embrace. I suspect I will read it... just to know what happens.
Title: Casual Vacancy Author: J. K. Rowling Series: N/A Number in Series: N/A
Release Date: September 27, 2012
How can I pass up the amazing talent of J. K. Rowling? The story sounds interesting, though definitely different. We'll see how this turns out!
When Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.
Seemingly an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an
ancient abbey, what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at
war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is
not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes
the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph
in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected
revelations?
Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.
Title: Finale Author: Becca Fitzpatrick Series: Hush, Hush Saga Number in Series: #4 out of 4 Release Date: October 23, 2012
The final book of the Hush, Hush saga! This has been a crazy emotional ride for me. Hush, Hush was the first angel book I picked up three years ago! One of the biggest things I love (and hate) about Becca's writing is the incredible cliff-hangers she leaves with every book. I just about died with the cliff-hanger of book two, Crescendo. I couldn't wait to read the next one! And now, the stakes are even higher seeing as Nora has just become the leader of a Nephilim army and has to make decisions that will lead to a war between Nephilim, Archangels, and Fallen Angels. Yep, it's going to be quite the ride!
Title: Inheritance Author: Christopher Paolini Series: Inheritance Cycle Number in Series: #4 out of 4 Release Date: October 23, 2012
Yes, it is the paperback version. But this is because the other books I own from this series are also in paperback, and me being my OCD self, have to have them matching. I look forward to reading this final book (as I have not read it before). I'm excited to see how everything ends for Eragon, Saphira, and Murtagh.
All in all, this fall will be quite busy! Not only do I have several new books to read, but I will also be busy with school. I suppose it's a good thing I'm trying to save my money this summer... for I will not have much of a paycheck come September...
Title:Embrace Author: Jessica Shirvington Series:The Violet Eden Chapters Number in Series: Book #1 Copyright: 2010; Sourcebooks, Inc. / Artwork 2012 Genre: Young Adult Fiction: Supernatural / Romance Pages: 369 ISBN: 9781402268403 My Rating: 3.5 / 5 Content Rating: PG-13 (for swearing, some alcohol use, and implied sensuality)
First of all, I have noticed a trend in the YA fiction. Of course we started with vampires and then slowly moved to more werewolves. I often found myself asking the question, "What will be the next 'big thing'?" We've already covered wizards (Harry Potter) so what was the field going to do next?
I'll tell you.
Angels. Yep. I have seen so many angel novels it is starting to get redonkulous (oh yes, I did just go there!). However, seeing as I myself am writing an angel series, I have an invested interest in the genre and have read several of these angel novels that are currently "popular."
Here is what the book states on the inside flap:
It starts with a whisper.
"It's time for you to know who you are..."
Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there's a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he's only half-human--oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.
Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.
But if angels seek vengeance and humans are warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden...
Personally, now having read the book, the flap does not accurately describe what's going on. It's too vague. Plus there's absolutely no reference to the love triangle (that's so very popular these days). Here is the text from the book trailer.
Violet turns 17 today.
And finds she is more than human.
The boy she loves will betray her.
Her enemy will defend her.
In a timeless war, where angels seek vengeance, and humans are the warriors...
It will end with a choice...
Who will she... "Embrace"?
That's a little better, in my opinion.
Now, like with all other angel books I have read, 17 is the age their "powers" are revealed to them. This story is no different. However, the way Shrvington went about it was different.
Instead of simply finding out she is half-angel, Violet learns she has powers to become what is called a Grigori (half angel, half human for lack of a better definition). You see, her own mother died shortly after giving birth, and there are forces at work that if either parent dies within 12 days of birth, the child's aura allows an angel to impart a portion of its essence. These powers are then awoken at the age of 17 and the child gets to choose whether to "embrace" these new powers and fight a war, or to choose to go back to their own life... unprotected.
Shirvington also goes into great detail talking about dark and light angels (not exactly "good" or "bad" for they have a little bit of each). She also explains that what we would call "fallen angels" are actually "exiled angels" that have chosen this life over their angel life--either for the sake of power (they are always thirsty for power) or to simply experience the world as we humans do (with the five senses). They then can take human form however, the longer they are in that form the more their power slowly deteriorates.
There continues to be a great war between angels and exiles, for the exiles want to destroy all Grigori for they are the ones protecting humanity. Grigori defend themselves by sending back the exiles to the angel realm or turning them completely human. Not to mention the battle between the light and dark exiles themselves (for light an dark do not get along very well).
Violet's powers are such that she is unique. She doesn't know which rank of angel she comes from (for there are nine different ranks classified by strength, and then a tenth unclassified rank called the Sole), and all her senses are ignited when an exile is near (most Grigori only have one or two senses triggered).
So welcome to Violet's world.
Her desired "boyfriend" is Lincoln, who just happens to be her Grigori partner but they are forbidden to get close--for their powers start to drain (sounds like Hancock to me). He's extremely loyal and sweet... perfect boyfriend material! But they are forbidden to be together and the secret he has kept from Violet for over two years causes hurt feelings whens she finds out the truth.
Enter Phoenix. He's mysterious, dark, and extremely powerful. Also... an exile. If Violet is to embrace her Grigori powers, Phoenix would become her enemy. However, she is drawn to him because he has been truthful with her about her questions regarding this new life she had been thrown into. There appears to be no dishonesty (unlike with Lincoln).
So what will she choose?
If she stays human (chooses not to embrace her Grigori powers) she will become vulnerable to the exile's attacks, but she can be with Lincoln. If she embraces, she not only can't be with the one her heart belongs with (Lincoln), but the one she desires most will become her enemy (Phoenix).
Overall, I found this story entertaining and unique--especially the part about the creation story with Adam (it gave the story a unique spin, but obvious clues were dropped during that scene, which solved a big mystery of the book for me--making it rather predictable when the moment of truth arrived).
One of the biggest things I had a problem with was the swearing. There's quite a bit more than I would like to see in a YA novel. That I am certainly not fond of.
My other issue has to do with the arc of the story. Now, normally a book will start out low and then gradually climb with little climaxes that accelerate the story to one final climax, at which point it will taper back down. However, the way Shirvington did it, there were "smaller" climaxes that seemed too large, and when the story continued on--to build toward another climax--I almost had to stop and take a breath. Because of this, when the final climax did occur, it was shadowed by the previous ones and therefore losing its luster. I personally would have liked to see the final climax more dramatic, more memorable.
Also, by the end of the book I didn't feel like the story had ended. Granted, I know this is a series, but even with a series there needs to be a sense of closure at the end of each book. There were far too many loose strings to even possibly pass for a rounded story. If you're going for the cliff-hanger, do it like Becca Fitzpatrick did with Hush, Hush series and really give us a cliff-hanger of an ending...
Overall, the concept of the story was unique enough in its own way to stand out, however the story arc needed some more work: making the truly "epic" moments more epic so they stand out in brilliant color next to the rest of the story.
Is this a book I'll read over and over again? No. Will I continue the series? Possibly. Depends on what's in store for book 2 (out later this year in September). If anything, I'm just interested in what Phoenix is going to do next... (I have a thing for the "bad boys").
To summarize, I feel the following quote is very applicable and sums up this book very nicely:
"At some point, we all have to try to have a little faith that, even in the chaos, there's a purpose." - Griffin, p. 362
