Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Young adult, fantasy, mythology

Read April 2012

4.5 Stars

My Review:
I am rarely a crier in books. I didn't cry when Dumbledore or Dobby died. I didn't cry when Prim died. If I do cry, it is usually when someone is having really familiar emotions to something I've felt before. With that background, I did not cry in this book. However, I can see how many might cry. Everneath has a lot of strong emotions in it. If you tend to be a crier, then get your tissues ready.
I appreciate the nuggets of wisdom that Brodi Ashton included in this book. It was thoughful and mature. I would not call this a fun, teen read. It is not a quick, easy, move on to the "next which is just like it" book.
The only reason I gave this book 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because I like books tied up in a pretty bow. I don't mind the drama, but then give me happy. It is purely an opinion and this book would have been a 5 for me if it were a little bit "happier".

Warnings: Just a few swear words and they weren't the really strong ones.

I would let my 14 year old read this book.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, published 2012

Young Adult, dystopian, sequel to Delirium

Read April 2012

4 Stars

My review:
Spoilers ahead.

I'm not sure what I was expecting with this book. After Delirium I think I pictured a book full of Lena living in the woods in the Wilds and her struggles there. Of course, this book gives us some of that. But it also gives so much more.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this book as interesting and at times even better than the first book. The author threw some serious curve balls. I especially enjoyed the developing relationship of Lena and Julian. This was a roll reversal for Lena and I appreciated the growth and perspective that she brought to the relationship. I also found Raven's character to be fascinating. For so long I was thinking, Who is this girl? Where did she come from? I am glad we got glimpses into who she is and what has made her into the person we see in the book. She is strong and yet so flawed. One of my favorite moments is when Lena decides to take her own life into her hands again. She shows great character at this time.

It wasn't all perfect for me though. There was too much swearing. Some may find it benign, but it was too much for me. And, I'm a little mad at the author for leaving us with so many questions. Of course, she is a very smart lady because I will be waiting somewhat patiently for the next installment.

Warnings: The occasional f-word, but a lot of other more common swearing. Some violence.

I would not allow my 14 year old to read this until she is older, maybe 16. I know already that she would be kinda annoyed with the swearing.

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter, GUEST REVIEWER

Hello! I am your guest blogger for this post. The name is Carter. Emily Carter. xDDDD

Anyway, I'm going to be... reviewing Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter. No, there is no relation.

This book is in a series of wonderful stories that I call the Gallagher Girls series. To understand this book, you really have to read the rest of the stories. I recommend it highly.

The blurb says "For the first time in months, my three best friends and I were alone. How many hours had we spent walking those halls together in the early morning or middle of the night? Sneaking. Planning. Testing our limits and ourselves. But standing there, we were all a little too straight-our posture a little too perfect. It was as if we were strangers, trying to make a good impression. 'Stop looking at me like that,' I told them when it finally became too much. 'Like how?' Liz asked. 'Like you didn't think you'd ever see me again,' I said. 'Cam, we-' Liz started, but Bex cut her off. 'You don't get it, do you?' Her voice was more hiss than whisper. 'Until forty-eight hours ago, we didn't.'

So, basically, this book is about Cammie, and how after being missing, found, and forgetting a whole summer by herself, she struggles to remember anything from June to October.

The beginning of the book is a little bit frustrating at first, but after a while you kind of get happier. And I must say, it is my current favorite book.

I GIVE IT 5,000,000,000,000 STARS OUT OF 5.


I highly recommend it.

OH, Uhm... YES, Brooke would let her 14 year old daughter read this. Her daughter read it before her.

Thank you Emily (my daughter) for your review. I would add that I give it 5 Stars as well, with no warnings (other than frustration when things don't go the way I want them to go in the book. I guess that is what makes the book interesting, gives it a plot, and makes me happy when the frustration eases.)

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor, published 2011

Young Adult, fantasy

Read March 2012

3.5 Stars

My Review:
Wow! Laini Taylor has written a book that is very different from anything I have read. She uses a familiar mythology of chimaera and seraphym, but then creates a world with them that exists within our world through a portal. I was fascinated by this story and truly didn't know what to expect next, which is refreshing in a young adult book. I also really loved that a large part of the setting was in Prague. I think it is a beautiful city.
Having said that, I was occasionally lost in this book. There were times that the author jumped from one time frame to another and I had to go back and remember what was happening before she went into this memory. And, as much as I enjoyed this book, I had a hard time visualizing some of the characters and remembering which chimaera was which animal and how they related to each other. I think this has a lot to do with my lack of imagination in this particular fantasy world.
If you enjoy fantasy, then this is the book for you. It has an interesting world, an intriguing story, and a romance that spans the worlds and time.

Warnings: Teen sexuality, not described in detail.

I would not let my 14 year old read this just yet. I would recommend this for an older teen and up.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, published 1811

Classic Regency, romance

Read February/March, 2012

5 Stars, I liked it more this time than I ever have.

My Thoughts (it's not a review this time):
Up above I have 2 pictures of different covers of this book. This is the first time I have gone through a book in 2 forms; I read it on my Nook as well as listened to it on a Playaway. So I included the covers of both versions I read.

My first exposure to Sense and Sensibility was the Emma Thompson version of the movie, released in 1995. I loved the movie. Many years later someone (sorry I don't remember who) bought me the DVD. I recommend watching the movie with the commentary of Emma Thompson on. It is so funny and also insightful. I then delved into the book. "Ummm, who are these characters? They weren't in the movie, why are they here? This isn't right at all!"

I found the "mean" characters in the book 10 times more mean than they were in the movie. I found Edward to be almost non-existent. How did Elinor fall in love with him when we barely see him? And when did Marianne fall in love with Colonel Brandon? I need more! I finished the book with the opinion that Sense and Sensibility is an annoying book and really, I like the Emma Thompson movie better than the book.

It has been many years since this reading of the book and countless viewings of the DVD. And, since then, the BBC has produced another production of Sense and Sensibility. I watch all things Jane Austen that I can get my hands on. And luckily, my two daughters are willing to watch them with me and even enjoy them. We do not own the new production, but have gotten it from the library a few times. On watching it again last month, I realized that there were enough differences in the movies that I would really like to read the BOOK again. What is the true story, rather than a retelling. Thus I prepared myself to drudge through the mean characters again.

This time I had a much different experience with this book. I started reading it on my Nook (it is free, like many other classics). I frequent the library and saw that they had it on Playaway. I've never listened to a Playaway, but my daughters have gotten them from school before. So I thought I would give it a try for those times I don't feel like reading and would just like to listen. In general, I prefer to read books than listen to them. Well, this changed over the last week.

On Saturday I listened to Sense and Sensibility for 2 hours straight while I organized the play room in the basement. Everyone was out of the house, I had time to myself, and I was plugged in and busy. I've never had my work go so easily and non grudgingly. The voice of the reader at times bothered me, but it was nice to hear her read and "talk to me" while I was doing my work. Then I found myself listening to it when I would lay down for a few minutes of rest. Tuesday morning I listened while I swept the floors, did the dishes, and dusted my room. The dusting doesn't get done very often and yet I was looking for chores to do so that I could keep listening. It was wonderful! I did read on my Nook at times at home, and I read when I was out in public (How weird would it be to be staring out into space or laughing out loud around other people who have no idea that you are listening to a book, besides it being a bit rude. Reminds me a bit of people who talk on their phones with ear thingies in and they wave their arms and talk to space.) Needless to say, this was a much pleasanter experience reading Sense and Sensibility than the first time.

I now view Sense and Sensibility as a book with really mean people in it, with really strong, capable, loving women as well. Somehow in my first reading I was all caught up in the differences from the book and the movie that I wasn't able to realize the incredibly wonderful characters that Jane Austen created. Elinor is truly a gem. I love her. She keeps going when the outlook is dim. She faces her trials with a smile and gives hope to those around her. Edward, although not seen very much and a bit of a bumbling idiot at times, is an upstanding, genuine gentleman. Colonel Brandon is a kind, self sacrificing, generous man. Do these characters have faults as well? Of course, but this time I was able to see the big picture of this book. I was able to appreciate the awful parts, the funny parts, the wonderful parts, the sad parts, and the incredibly happy parts all together.

Do I still hate John Dashwood? YES!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth, published 2011

Young Adult, dytopian, romance

Read, February 2012

4 Stars

My Review:
I have read several young adult dystopian romances. After awhile, they seem to run together. Some elements are just the same, it is dystopian and the characters are fighting for something. So when I start a new book of this genre, I wonder what this author is going to bring to the table. What is Veronica Roth going to write that I haven't read in some way before?
I was concerned as I started reading Divergent that the book didn't draw me right in. I had a couple of false starts. I must have read the first chapter 3 times before I went any further. I just couldn't get into it. I wasn't seeing the world that Roth created. At this point, having finished the book, I blame it on being dystopianed out (I have recently read 2 other novels of that genre, see old posts). So, if you have a hard time with the first few chapters, KEEP GOING!
Once Roth got through the set up and put the main character, Beatrice, on her path, this was a wild ride. There was action, romance, heart break, friendships, bullying, familial relationships, suicide, self sacrifice, facing fears, death, etc. This book has it all. I couldn't put the book down.

Warnings: This book has violence that at times was hard for me to read. (I haven't read it in a while, but I would say that the violence is on par with the Hunger Games Trilogy).

I would NOT let my 14 year old read this at this point. She has read the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins and was upset by some of the violence and death that happened in the final book, Mockingjay. With that knowledge, I would say there is no reason for her to read this book at this time.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Midnight in Austenland, by Shannon Hale, published 2012

Mystery, romance

Read, February 2012

4 Stars

My Review:
If you liked Austenland, then I think you will like Midnight in Austenland. I was thinking this was going to be an Austenland romance for a new character, but essentially the same story. Yes, this has a woman going to Austenland for a vacation, and yes, she is looking for romance, but this book was much different than Austenland. This book is a mystery! I had no idea when I started it that it was going to have a mystery involved with the romance. It was a nice little twist.
One of the things I liked about the book was the main character Charlotte. I identified with her insecurities. I may not have the same situation as her, but her "inner thoughts" were thoughts I would have as well.
There were a couple of points in the book where I thought, "this could end now, why isn't it ending?" I have come across many books that end when the gentleman declares himself to the lady. This book continued to work on tie ups with the mystery and other characters in the book. And, I liked that it gave a bit of closure. Part of me wishes it would even go on further to tell us how everything worked out, maybe a year later, but alas, I'll have to dream that part up for myself.
I love Shannon Hale's writing. She is so witty. I found myself laughing out loud and then turning a page with heart pounding suspense. And of course there is romance. I love the way Shannon Hale describes the feelings within Charlotte, her confusion, excitement, and just letting go.

Warnings: Marital infidelity and homosexuality (mentioned in a neutral way)

My daughter turned 14 this weekend. I would let my 14 year old daughter read this book. Like many books that would be ok for her to read, I don't think she would understand some of the feelings and situations discussed because of her age and experience.