I liked the time jumps in this book, then to now. It was so much better than just telling Lena's story in a linear fashion. And while it was predictable what happened with Julian and a certain other character at the end, that doesn't mean I don't want to run out and get the last book now!
There are a lot of loose ends that will hopefully get tied up in Requiem. I'm still on the fence as to how I feel about Raven and Tack, after knowing they put Lena through that on purpose. Did they really not trust her?? And what will happen with Julian if his cancer returns?
Once I saw the last chapter encompassed 60+ pages, I couldn't stop reading. I think Oliver's writing is beautiful and poetic yet again. She can capture a moment with the best authors. In this world, the fleeting moments are all these characters have...
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Review on Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
I liked this book. It certainly had its good moments, and Franny is a wonderful protagonist. However, it felt a little forced at times, like it was trying too hard. Franny's "relationships" were questionable. She, like a lot of us, couldn't see what was right in front of her. I'm kind of glad everything didn't end too neatly, but I was very happy that she finally seemed to get her big break. I love the title, and Franny's quirks. I didn't feel that the other characters were very developed, even her best friend. I liked spending time in Franny's world, but I'm not aching that I'm finished.
I read it because it was by Lauren Graham, and I'm guessing a lot of people would say the same.
I read it because it was by Lauren Graham, and I'm guessing a lot of people would say the same.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Review on The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter
I liked this collection of stories much better than book 2 in the series! Book one I found to be somewhere in the middle. The stories explain a lot -- it probably would have been better to read them after the first book. Finally I understand all the background Carter has created and all the baggage these gods and goddesses carry with them. The rivalries and battle lines are much more clear. I still don't know if I want to read the third book. If I do read it, it won't be because of Kate. It'll be because I want to know how things turn out for Henry. He is by far the most interesting character.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Review on Delirium by Lauren Oliver
I wasn't so sure about this book, honestly, until about halfway through. I loved Before I Fall, so I knew I had to give Oliver's 2nd book a chance. She dazzled me again, I'm happy to say!
Her writing is so beautiful and moving. I feel like I made the transition with Lena from ignorance to knowing. In Lena's world, love is a disease that humans have learned to eradicate with a procedure administered on a person's 18th birthday. Lena has been raised by her aunt and uncle because her mother had the disease and killed herself when Lena was just 8. Lena's cousin also was taken away (she was a "resistor"), so her children Grace and Jenny also live in the same house. Everyone views Lean's family as tainted.
In the beginning, Lena counts down to her procedure, but that all changes once her evaluation is messed up because of a protest. Good thing too, because she was actually giving real responses that the evaluators weren't liking. That's also the moment she first sees Alex.
For awhile, not much changes. But then she goes to find her friend Hana at an illegal party and hears music that isn't "allowed". It changes her, and of course, she find Alex there as well. Later, she tries to save Hana and Alex during a raid night, and though she ends up injured, she also begins to fall in love. Love, the forbidden word in a world where Romeo and Juliet is a cautionary tale instead of a tragic love story.
During the brief weeks that Alex and Lena steal time to be together, my heart broke for them. You just know that something horrible will prevent them escaping. When they finally do make their plans to escape to the Wilds, where Alex comes from (only after Lena learns something horrific about her mother), they are caught. The ending leaves you wondering what happened to one character, while another makes it over the fence. Such a compelling read once it got going!
Her writing is so beautiful and moving. I feel like I made the transition with Lena from ignorance to knowing. In Lena's world, love is a disease that humans have learned to eradicate with a procedure administered on a person's 18th birthday. Lena has been raised by her aunt and uncle because her mother had the disease and killed herself when Lena was just 8. Lena's cousin also was taken away (she was a "resistor"), so her children Grace and Jenny also live in the same house. Everyone views Lean's family as tainted.
In the beginning, Lena counts down to her procedure, but that all changes once her evaluation is messed up because of a protest. Good thing too, because she was actually giving real responses that the evaluators weren't liking. That's also the moment she first sees Alex.
For awhile, not much changes. But then she goes to find her friend Hana at an illegal party and hears music that isn't "allowed". It changes her, and of course, she find Alex there as well. Later, she tries to save Hana and Alex during a raid night, and though she ends up injured, she also begins to fall in love. Love, the forbidden word in a world where Romeo and Juliet is a cautionary tale instead of a tragic love story.
During the brief weeks that Alex and Lena steal time to be together, my heart broke for them. You just know that something horrible will prevent them escaping. When they finally do make their plans to escape to the Wilds, where Alex comes from (only after Lena learns something horrific about her mother), they are caught. The ending leaves you wondering what happened to one character, while another makes it over the fence. Such a compelling read once it got going!
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Review on Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
This book was absolutely captivating. Lauren Oliver is a beautiful writer able to capture detail and emotion so precisely. The main character, Sam, manages to redeem herself in the only catastrophic way possible by the end of the book. It's both beautiful and tragic.
It starts with Sam and her 3 popular friends tormenting and harassing everyone on "Cupid Day" senior year. At a party, Lindsay drives them home drunk, but instead of dying outright, Sam wakes up to relive the day. This happens 7 times...7 February 12ths. She dies the same way the 2nd time, sleeps at Ally's house and learns of a suicide the 3rd, goes completely crazy the 4th, spends time with her little sister and tries and fails to save Juliet, and wakes before/during a kiss with Kent the 5th, gets closer to redemption on the 6th and has a real kiss, and finally gets it right the last time. She somehow knew it would be her last try.
I raced to get to the end of this book. I wanted to know if she really was dead, though I knew. There are some great life lessons in this book about enjoying your life and all the precious moments, putting yourself in others' shoes, and accepting yourself, flaws and all. I highly recommend it, and I can't wait to read more of Oliver's books!
It starts with Sam and her 3 popular friends tormenting and harassing everyone on "Cupid Day" senior year. At a party, Lindsay drives them home drunk, but instead of dying outright, Sam wakes up to relive the day. This happens 7 times...7 February 12ths. She dies the same way the 2nd time, sleeps at Ally's house and learns of a suicide the 3rd, goes completely crazy the 4th, spends time with her little sister and tries and fails to save Juliet, and wakes before/during a kiss with Kent the 5th, gets closer to redemption on the 6th and has a real kiss, and finally gets it right the last time. She somehow knew it would be her last try.
I raced to get to the end of this book. I wanted to know if she really was dead, though I knew. There are some great life lessons in this book about enjoying your life and all the precious moments, putting yourself in others' shoes, and accepting yourself, flaws and all. I highly recommend it, and I can't wait to read more of Oliver's books!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Review on True Colors by Kristin Hannah
This is a short one:
I'm not sure why I finished this one. It's not the first of Hannah's I've been disappointed with, but I guess I read the whole thing because I enjoyed the beginning so much. After Dallas was accused and tried, I lost interest. The characters crumbled, not that there were more than 2 developed characters to begin with. It's really sad to think about anyone spending that much time in prison if s/he is innocent. I would recommend her book "Winter Garden" over this one any day.
I'm not sure why I finished this one. It's not the first of Hannah's I've been disappointed with, but I guess I read the whole thing because I enjoyed the beginning so much. After Dallas was accused and tried, I lost interest. The characters crumbled, not that there were more than 2 developed characters to begin with. It's really sad to think about anyone spending that much time in prison if s/he is innocent. I would recommend her book "Winter Garden" over this one any day.
Review on Sever by Lauren DeStefano
This book had tons of surprises and revelations, so I wouldn't read this if you don't want to spoil anything!
Things revealed: Madame is Rose's mother! I didn't see that coming. I mean, we know she was somehow connected to Vaughn, but still...shocker. Vaughn took Rose at the age of 11, telling her her parents were killed while telling her parents she was killed. This was after Madame refused an engagement. Great for Linden, but wow, Vaughn is a total jerk.
Vaughn has an awesome brother, Reed. He takes in Rhine while she heals. He's kind of a crazy inventor/tinkerer. He and Cecily don't get along at first, but he comes around. Speaking of her, she got pregnant again only 1 month after having Bowen.
Vaughn's first son's name was Bowen.
Rose's child was malformed. Jenna was also said to have a malformed uterus.
Plus, the biggest thing of all is the "virus" only exists in the continental US. Vaughn (and Rowan, who he's been studying, surprise!) has a lab in Hawaii, where people live normally. He's got Rowan snowed, and Rowan has been working with him willingly.
I'm glad that we finally got to meet and know Rowan. The bond between him and Rhine is completely real. When Rhine learns the truth about her parents, that she and Rowan were created experimentally and treated a bit like Linden, he's there for her and he understands completely. Cecily starts to become paranoid about Vaughn, for good reason, and Linden finally grows some balls and stands up to him. He promises Rhine he'll never get his hands on her and makes a similar promise to Cecily. Cecily, in about her 4th month, has a violent miscarriage and almost dies. I didn't realize how much she meant to me and this series until this moment. Linden in totally devoted to her. Even though this is after he takes off Rhine's ring for an annulment, he still wants her around in the hospital. (Btw, I thought Rhine showed incredible character when she chose not to kiss Linden and further lead him on. She easily could have because she does have love for him. She realizes, though, that it won't ever be the way it was for him and Rose, or even him and Cecily. When Cecily returns to Reed's, he teaches her to use a gun. I knew this moment was significant, so more on that in a bit. After all is revealed to Rhine, she is torn. She wants to hope for the cure, but she hates that Vaughn is the one to finish her parents' work. She agrees to cooperate with Vaughn because he has Gabriel under sedation at the mansion. So, everyone is now trapped there again: Linden, Cecily, Bowen, Rhine, and Rowan. At an eerie "family" dinner, Vaughn asserts himself about the twins remaining under his thumb always, and Bowen and Linden too. Cecily knows she's done for. She gets increasingly paranoid, as she should.
The big moment of shock happens when Reed gets his junky airplane to function. Rhine and Cecily talk Linden into going with them on the first flight. Vaughn comes to the property just in time to see the fateful landing. Linden, who was sitting in front, and who just heard the truth about the cure from Rhine, has been fatally injured. His death causes everyone to go berserk in their own way. Vaughn even shows his human side and buries him in the orange grove. Eventually, Rhine and Vaughn end up at the graveside. Unexpectedly, Cecily fires the gun that Madame gave her (surprise!), killing him. You go, Cecily! I was so proud of her in that moment. Vengeance for Rose and Jenna and the baby and everyone he ever experimented on against their will.
Rhine and Rowan continue their treatments, and eventually their friends are eligible to receive the cure as well. Rhine turns 21 happily with Gabriel with her. It's implied that Cecily and Silas get together, which I find unlikely. Gabriel's love for Rhine is absolute; they share a sweet moment when he tells her he loved her since the moment he first stole that atlas for her, but I just don't know how much passion she feels for him. Oh well. I'm so glad this group survived. Sad about Linden, but at least Cecily will live to see Bowen grow up.
We can assume that eventually the cure will be more widespread and the US will rejoin the world, but I don't mind that DeStefano left us wondering about that.
Excellent series of books!
Things revealed: Madame is Rose's mother! I didn't see that coming. I mean, we know she was somehow connected to Vaughn, but still...shocker. Vaughn took Rose at the age of 11, telling her her parents were killed while telling her parents she was killed. This was after Madame refused an engagement. Great for Linden, but wow, Vaughn is a total jerk.
Vaughn has an awesome brother, Reed. He takes in Rhine while she heals. He's kind of a crazy inventor/tinkerer. He and Cecily don't get along at first, but he comes around. Speaking of her, she got pregnant again only 1 month after having Bowen.
Vaughn's first son's name was Bowen.
Rose's child was malformed. Jenna was also said to have a malformed uterus.
Plus, the biggest thing of all is the "virus" only exists in the continental US. Vaughn (and Rowan, who he's been studying, surprise!) has a lab in Hawaii, where people live normally. He's got Rowan snowed, and Rowan has been working with him willingly.
I'm glad that we finally got to meet and know Rowan. The bond between him and Rhine is completely real. When Rhine learns the truth about her parents, that she and Rowan were created experimentally and treated a bit like Linden, he's there for her and he understands completely. Cecily starts to become paranoid about Vaughn, for good reason, and Linden finally grows some balls and stands up to him. He promises Rhine he'll never get his hands on her and makes a similar promise to Cecily. Cecily, in about her 4th month, has a violent miscarriage and almost dies. I didn't realize how much she meant to me and this series until this moment. Linden in totally devoted to her. Even though this is after he takes off Rhine's ring for an annulment, he still wants her around in the hospital. (Btw, I thought Rhine showed incredible character when she chose not to kiss Linden and further lead him on. She easily could have because she does have love for him. She realizes, though, that it won't ever be the way it was for him and Rose, or even him and Cecily. When Cecily returns to Reed's, he teaches her to use a gun. I knew this moment was significant, so more on that in a bit. After all is revealed to Rhine, she is torn. She wants to hope for the cure, but she hates that Vaughn is the one to finish her parents' work. She agrees to cooperate with Vaughn because he has Gabriel under sedation at the mansion. So, everyone is now trapped there again: Linden, Cecily, Bowen, Rhine, and Rowan. At an eerie "family" dinner, Vaughn asserts himself about the twins remaining under his thumb always, and Bowen and Linden too. Cecily knows she's done for. She gets increasingly paranoid, as she should.
The big moment of shock happens when Reed gets his junky airplane to function. Rhine and Cecily talk Linden into going with them on the first flight. Vaughn comes to the property just in time to see the fateful landing. Linden, who was sitting in front, and who just heard the truth about the cure from Rhine, has been fatally injured. His death causes everyone to go berserk in their own way. Vaughn even shows his human side and buries him in the orange grove. Eventually, Rhine and Vaughn end up at the graveside. Unexpectedly, Cecily fires the gun that Madame gave her (surprise!), killing him. You go, Cecily! I was so proud of her in that moment. Vengeance for Rose and Jenna and the baby and everyone he ever experimented on against their will.
Rhine and Rowan continue their treatments, and eventually their friends are eligible to receive the cure as well. Rhine turns 21 happily with Gabriel with her. It's implied that Cecily and Silas get together, which I find unlikely. Gabriel's love for Rhine is absolute; they share a sweet moment when he tells her he loved her since the moment he first stole that atlas for her, but I just don't know how much passion she feels for him. Oh well. I'm so glad this group survived. Sad about Linden, but at least Cecily will live to see Bowen grow up.
We can assume that eventually the cure will be more widespread and the US will rejoin the world, but I don't mind that DeStefano left us wondering about that.
Excellent series of books!
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