Clockwork Prince

By Cassandra Clare

(Warning this book review will not make sense if you have not read my review for the first book in the series called Clockwork angel.)

HMMMMMM.... where to start... WELL, while reading this book... it took some of my hair, my self control, and my soul. No big deal.

Like the first one it had me shocked, and all I wanted to do was scream. In my opinion, that's how you tell if a book is good or not, by how much it affects you. Well this one killed me inside so I give it a full 10/10.

As Tessa learns more about the truth, what she might be and what really happened in her past, the Shadowhunters also discover more. On there search for Mortmain, which is the evil Magister in the last book, they realize they are in deeper than they thought. There is a lot more than meets the eye, including dreadful conspiracies and crushed alliances causing more harm than good. What will be the consequences if they choose family? What will be the consequences if they choose law? A choice no one person should ever have to make.

The second book in the Infernal Devices series focuses on the hunt for Mortmain, for if the Shadowhunters in charge of the London Institute don't find him in two weeks, they will lose the institute. Its a rush of time as the Shadowhunters must confront truths they don't want to believe are true, and hunt down people from their past that might have some answers. Tessa has to go through this all while having to deal with her relationship with Will. She knows she has feelings for him... but it doesn't matter because she feels he doesn't have feelings for her since hes always treating her badly, but could there be a specific reason for that?
There is one side of him that always seems to be pushing her away, but then there is another side that checks on her when she has a nightmare, or if shes hurt. Leaving Tessa with confusion and pain                                                               of him not wanting to be with her.

As it always goes, for every bad thing there must be something good, right? That would be Jem. Wills best friend, and Parabatai... which makes him as close as a brother. As Will pushes Tessa away, she gravitates towards Jem, the person who is always there for her.
                                                       
Soon enough Jem and Tessa have an unbreakable bond of friendship.

Will true feelings make themselves known?
Or will it be to late?

This book really caught me off guard... multiple times. I couldn't hide how surprised I was at some of the things that happened, causing me to complain to my whole family at how the book ended. It took some part of my heart! I cant wait to read the next one, this is definitely one of my favorite books. I hope for those of you who have read it, or decide to read it, will enjoy it as much as I did. :)

This book really deserved the rating 10/10. It is the first individual book I have rated to receive 10 out of 10! It is very well deserved!


Have you read Clockwork Prince?

Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 

Love without control, 

And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :) 

Clockwork Angel

By Cassandra Clare


Cassandra Clare has done it again.
Being my favorite author, I can honestly say she did not disappoint me in this book.
She has a special way of writing that always makes you want MORE. She gives you just enough information to grab you... but refuses to give you just enough to make you feel satisfied... so you'll read more. Cassandra really is a gifted evil genius.

This story takes place in gloomy London, year 1878. The main character Theresa, (Tessa) a sixteen year old New Yorker, has received a note from her brother that she should come to London to stay with him due to their aunts passing. When she arrives on the docks of London, expecting to see her brother Nathaniel, she is surprised to instead be approached by two ladies who go by the name, "The Dark Sisters." They tell her Nathaniel sent them to pick her up, and they would take her to him.

Flash forward six weeks later, Tessa's entire world has been flipped upside down. She doesn't know where her brother is, The Dark Sisters have captured her and tortured her, forcing her to change, to use her 'power' she wasn't even aware she had. If she wouldn't do as told, they would kill Nathaniel. The Dark Sisters told Tessa they were preparing her power for a man called "The Magister." She was to marry him after the Sisters were done training her. This new found power of hers lets Tessa be able to turn into anyone who has ever lived... as long as she is holding something that belongs to them. In my opinion, it sounds like a really cool power to have. Tessa, however views it as a curse. The night she is to wed The Magister, something happens. These strange people with tattoos and black clothing show up, and rescue her, but not before she sees The Dark Sisters true form.

Now Tessa is in the home of her rescuers, not knowing whether they can be trusted or not. Shes confused, and afraid, all she wants to do is find her brother. Her saviors, (also known as Shadowhunters) told her they would help her find him... if she would help them in return. At this point Tessa doesn't know what to believe. Shes finding out things about herself that makes her question her whole life.. including even who her parents are, or what they are.

This definitely makes my top list of favorite books. Its addicting to say the least, with action, suspense, and things you would NEVER expect to happen. It left me with a gaping mouth. Its a roller coaster that takes you right along with it, with characters that you will fall in love with.

I would definitely recommend you read this book if you're a fan of surprise, suspense, and romance. This would be perfect.

Overall I give it a 9/10. Only because its the first book in the series.

Have you read Clockwork Angel?
Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book ?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 
Love without control, 
And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :)

Don't Close Your Eyes

Lisa McMann

This is a very unique book, with an interesting plot that id bet I wouldn't be able to come up with myself.
Before I explain what this book is about, I want to explain that "Don't close your eyes" is actually three books put into one, its a series and you can buy them separately. Their individual titles are "Wake, Fade, and Gone."


The beginning of this book I found to be very confusing... it kept jumping around from different times to different years all throughout Janie Hannagan's life, but as the story settled in it got much better.

Janie has a gift, (or a curse...) depending on how you look at it. She is a dream catcher. Which means she has the ability to go into other peoples dreams. That sounds pretty cool huh? Well it comes with a catch. She has no control over it. If someone falls asleep in the same room as her, she is automatically sucked into their dream. So you can imagine if she happens to be driving and someone fell asleep with their window open in the house on the side of the street... it could be very dangerous. She looses all her senses when she is about to go into someones dream. She cant feel her arms or legs and she ends up as worthless as a rag doll. Until the dream is over and she regains her vision.

Janie is lost, confused, and angry that she was chosen to suffer with this curse. All while having to put up with her alcoholic abusive mother. With all this bad going on in her life, there must be something good, correct?
That would be her love Cabel, the one good thing in her life.

As the story goes on it gets a lot more complicated, she finds out even more downsides to her 'gift' as if things couldn't get any worse. She finds her long lost father she never knew, that is in a... coma!

It seems that in the book for every bad there is something good, which is a good life lesson, teaching you that something good can always happen. There are a lot of surprise twists and unexpected events that every good book should have. Lisa Mcmann did an excellent job with the twists. Overall Ill say this is a good book, not a waste of time, but if it were this book vs something Cassandra Clare wrote, Id choose Cassandra in a heartbeat.

This book isn't the worst, but its definitely not the best. Overall I give it 6/10 stars.

Have you read Don't Close Your Eyes?
Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book ?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 
Love without control, 
And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :) 

THE SIREN

This weeks review is "The Siren" by Alison Bruce

                                            Author Alison Bruce





This story begins with a matchbook from a club dropped and left to burn in a kitchen sink and a little boy named Riley who only wants to watch Thomas the Tank. While peacefully snuggling with her small son, Kimberly sees a news bulletin of a car being pulled out of the water and the passenger identified.

This disturbs her as more than a random news event, since she knows very well who was in that car and worries that the whole event is coming back up, literally in the form of the car and figuratively in the form of murder.

Her first inclination is to talk with someone who already knows the details, her best friend Rachel. Rachel is married to the unlikable Stefen. Within a short twist of events, and while babysitting Riley, Rachels house ends up on fire. The police are able to find the body of Rachel but not Stefen or little Riley.

Thus the entrance of police investigator Gary Goodhew.He finds Kimberly understandably distraught but reluctant at the same time to give any information that might help find her son.

The characters in this book are very well defined and easy to get inside of. You are able to relate to and understand each of their motivations which is a great ability this author has.

Goodhew comes across as a quirky but highly capable detective and part of the enjoyment in reading this book is seeing how he relates to everyone in his life. While not detracting from the solving of the mystery itself, this adds another note of flavor to the readers senses.

The author is British so there are British phrases and terms used as well as the description of places and things uniquely British in origin. This is not a deterrent to the story however. Her descriptions are so well written that it is quite easy for an American reader to immerse themselves in the story through out.

This book is part 2 in a series of 5. I read it first as it was given to me and I didn't realize that it was part of a series featuring detective Goodhew. It is well enough written though that I will go on to read the other books, if for nothing else, it will be interesting to see how Goodhew evolves as a character. He is hard to forget when you put the book down. 

If you would like to read the series from the beginning, the first book is entitled "Cambridge Blue". I think a reader will heartily enjoy meeting this intuitive and character and his offbeat approach to life.    

Indie
http://thebookloverz.blogspot.com/

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries. - Rene Descartes

A long long sleep

By, 

Anna Sheehan 

Imagine your whole world, everything you care about, love, the small things you take comfort in, gone, right before your eyes. You were put into stasis, by your parents, the head owners of one of the largest companies in the world. They were supposed to wake you up when they got back from their business trip, but instead you find out they died in a helicopter accident while you were asleep, leaving you all alone, no one to wake you up.  

You wake up 62 years later, to a boy standing over you, once he realizes who you are, your world changes even more. Now 'you' are the soon to be owner of your dead parents business, once you come of age of course. You just woke up, you're drained with stasis fatigue, your overwhelmed by loss, and you have all these responsibilities. You have to find your place in a world where everything has changed, technical wise, to the way people speak, to going to a new school and dealing with students who hate you for reasons you cant even understand... sounds pretty bad huh? Well that isn't even the worst part. 

Who's living this horrible life? Sixteen year old Rosalinda Fitzroy. Once you read this story you will be super thankful that, that isn't your name. Now I know what I was thinking while reading this book, 

"Seriously? How could her life get any worse?"

Although if you think about it, the story line is sad, and for those of you who don't like sad stories, you probably don't care to read this book, but ill tell you this book isn't a waste of time. There is always something about it that grabs you and intrigues you to turn the next page to see what happens. It is well written, and lets you be able to connect with the characters. Its full of surprises and unexpected turns, that at first lets you think you understand everything and you know whats going to happen, then it takes a sharp right and you're left in an intriguing shock. 

One thing I enjoyed from this book is how despite everything that happened, Rose would find something she still enjoyed doing, like painting or sketching, and focused on that. Or how she would take comfort in her dog that was given to her. I'm not sure if that was the Author was trying to go for, but it spoke to me, how there always seemed to be something good in her life, even through all the bad. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes in The Hunger Games series. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Ill give it... 6 out of 10. I strongly recommend. 

Have you read A long long sleep?
Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book ?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 
Love without control, 
And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :) 

The Fault In Our Stars
John Green 

To be kind, I will start this post, not being 'myself.' I will leave my opinion out of it, for now...

The Fault In Our Stars, where to begin? Well, its a best seller, its written by a man, (which you don't see in teenage books as often) and its a very touching story that really lets you understand the true value of life and loved ones.

Sixteen year old Hazel Grace, (or as she wishes to be called 'Just Hazel) is the main character in the book. Sadly, Hazel is diagnosed with thyroid cancer, unfortunately it is stage 4, and there is metastasis forming in her lungs. Wishing she could be a normal teenager, Hazel spends mostly all her time, watching Americas Next Top Model, or reading her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction. Her mother wants her to go out, and live her life and make friends, by going to a support group, but honestly, there's not much Hazel hates more than support groups, but she wants to make her mom happy, so she agrees. She constantly feels guilty about her disease and fears the day when she dies, knowing it will destroy her parents.

One day, while suffering her way into support group, she notices a new face shes never seen before, and believe me, this is a face she would've remembered.

His name is Augustus Waters. Seventeen year old boy full of metaphors. His type of cancer is Osteosarcoma, which caused him to lose a leg, but thankfully its been a little over a year and his last PET scan said he was cancer free.

Immediately Augustus and Hazel are attracted to each other, but Hazel doesn't want to get in a relationship with him simply because she views herself as a grenade, she will explode and hurt the people around her, and she doesn't want to do that to Augustus.

This story is full of great life lessons, and gives you a new way of thinking about the world.
It really does a good job showing the struggles of whats its like to have cancer, from people treating you different out of pity, and giving you free stuff, or how people view them as infectious, and admire their inspirational 'battles' with cancer, but really all Hazel wants is to be treated like a normal person.

This book can really open your eyes to new points, otherwise never would've crossed your mind. Its very honest, and true, but boy, the whole idea is depressing.

My opinion: No, just no....
unless you enjoy very sad stories and like thinking about death,
than no.

I enjoyed the meaning behind some of the quotes, it gave me a new way of thinking... but overall I did not enjoy the book.

It was difficult to bond or draw close to the characters for me, and the love story part didn't really seem true. It just was written like two teenagers who liked each other and then they hooked up, there was no loving mad passion that causes deep, love.

I know this is the type of story you think the characters would be deep, and very emotional, but quite honestly, that couldn't be more from the truth. Despite everything, the characters seemed, light hearted and never missed a moment to joke around. That may work for some people, but to me, I don't think a deep drama should clash with funny go lucky humor.

Another thing that bothered me was it bounced from one scene to the other. One moment Hazel is with (blank).. then the next moment, (blank) is dead. Which just left me like..... "wat."

I think what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't give you time to prepare... but that's just my opinion.

I saw the trailer for the movie that will be coming out in June, and it brought tears to my eyes. I think, for the first time in history, (write this down) the movie will be BETTER, than the book... I know, crazy, right?


Overall, I'd give this book,

                                               

                                                     
                                                          3 out of 10 stars



Have you read The Fault In Our Stars?
Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book ?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 
Love without control, 
And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :) 

IF YOU WERE HERE

Alafair Burke
http://alafairburke.com/


Who do you trust?

That is the ultimate question in this latest mystery thriller by lawyer
Alafair Burke.

  McKenna Jordan is a reporter just doing her job. Its a slow news day and she is chasing  leads on some less then promising story lines. When an event comes up about a woman rescuing a boy who fell on the tracks in the subway seems like just another story - at first.  

Only when she reviews the cell phone recording of the incident made by a 
bystander, something gives her pause . The way the woman moves when she runs, her profile as she lefts the boy off the track and on to the platform, all have an eerily familiar look. Is it her good friend   Susan Hauptmann, who disappeared and was never found 10 years ago? 

McKenna uses her contacts as a as lawyer-turned-journalist,  to dig deeper in to the story and what appeared at first as a human interest piece quickly becomes a life and death hide and seek. Not only for McKenna but for those around her. The more she tries to unravel the mystery, the more people get hurt. 

The second half of the book zigs and zags  quickly and with less character dialogue and more action  a complex storyline  is pulled together leaving no loose ends. 
  
This book is well written but starts off slow. If you can endure that, you will enjoy reading it as it picks up about a third of the way through and carries that tensile quality all the way to the last page. 

This is a second novel by an up and coming young writer you will want to keep your eye on.  Not the best book I have ever read but the ending has enough twists to make this book weigh in as a good read. ~

till next time, keep reading!

Indie
http://thebookloverz.blogspot.com/

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries. - Rene Descartes

DIE FOR ME
AMY PLUM

If you're in the mood for a light read to pass the time... this is the perfect choice.

This story of romance, fear and death is read from the point of view of Kate Mercier, a 16 year old girl who is sucked into grief and sorrow from her parents untimely death.
She is forced to move to Paris, to stay with her grandparents, along with her party animal sister, Georgia.

Each of the sisters had there own way of coping, Georgia goes to parties hoping to dance the pain away, and Kate, (When she isn't rotting away inside) goes to art museums, and gets lost in books.

Her family worries about her and her well being, so they make her go to a coffee cafe down the block for fresh air. While there, sitting at her table in the corner, she sees three good looking men that stand out in the crowd like no one else. But to her surprise one of them staring at her, and that is when she meets the love of her life, Vincent. The only thing, is that Vincent isn't like ordinary guys. Hes a Revenant... which means he is immortal, and he spends his immortality sacrificing himself for other people by saving there lives... by giving his own. Yes they die, but they come back to life to die again. Weather if its a mortal committing suicide or being a victim of an accident, Vincent and his family will be there to save the day, its what they live for. The beautiful cycle continues. Apparently that's an issue for Kate. She doesn't want to see him die over and over again, EVEN THOUGH he will come back. If there was a chance he wouldn't come back, any risk at all, I could understand that, but there isn't. You tend to learn after a while that no matter how many times superman gets shot he will be FINE.

Now ill be honest, this book does not take a place in my top favorites, but like I said, if you're bored and have nothing better to do, this book would be entertaining enough to hold you through.

I think my biggest problem with this book is how it was written, it seemed too simple... It tended to skip a lot of information and details. Kate would be at a coffee shop in one paragraph, then in the next she would be at home talking to her sister. It also contradicted itself quite a few times. One moment she was depressed and felt like doing nothing then she'd go downstairs and laugh and joke with her sister... it takes you through a roller coaster for sure, but not the good kind.

Overall, I would recommend quite a few books to you before this one. :)

I give it, 4 out of 10 on the big burger of things.

Have you read Die For Me?

Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 

Love without control, 

And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :) 

DEEPLY ODD by Dean Koontz

Probably one of my favorite writers of all time, Dean Koontz brings us his latest offering and doesnt disappoint.

Deeply Odd
Dean Koontz
Bantam Books 2013



This is the 6th in a series of 7 books in the Odd Thomas series.

Our story opens with Odd Thomas using his extra sensory intuition to try to find the "rhinestone cowboy trucker" who has powers of his own.

If you have read the other books in this series you will have a better grasp of his character but that is not necessary to experience this book fully and enjoy it in all its twists and turns.

If you have not read Dean Koontz before be prepared to go off the deep end of literary waters as he writes from a deep and intuitive place he alone inhabits and you can follow along if you dare.

In the first few turned pages of Odd Thomas the reader is already being exposed to the idea of a long ago battle fought in an exotic place called Thermopylae by the Spartans and the Persians. Weren't expecting to read about Xerxes? Well there you go! This is what I mean when I say that you will go off the deep end of wordsmithing. His writing doubles back on itself more than the roads of Carmel and is chock full of his own internal chats and dialogue.

I would recommend this book but then I would recommend any book he has ever written. There is no equal to him among current authors and he should be appreciated for the treasure he is.

This is one writer who can make the most mundane hold a fascinating interest just by the way he places his words. If that is not enough to whet your appetite, I will leave you with a small appetizer:

Before dawn, I woke in darkness to the ringing of a tiny bell, the thimble-­size bell that I wore on a chain around my neck: three bursts of silvery sound, a brief silence after each. I was lying on my back in bed, utterly motionless, yet the bell rang three times again. The vibrations that shivered through my bare chest seemed much too strong to have been produced by such a tiny clapper. A third set of three rings followed, and then only silence. I waited and wondered until dawn crept down the sky and across the bedroom windows.

Later that morning in early March, when I walked downtown to buy blue jeans and a few pairs of socks, I met a guy who had a .45 pistol and a desire to commit a few murders. From that encounter, the day grew uglier as surely as the sun moved from east to west.

My name is Odd Thomas. I have accepted my oddness. And I am no longer surprised that I am drawn to trouble as reliably as iron to a magnet.

Nineteen months ago, when I was twenty, I should have been riddled with bullets in that big-­news shopping-­mall shoot-­out in Pico Mundo, a desert town in California. They say that I saved a lot of people in my hometown. Yet many died. I didn't. I have to live with that.

Want to read more? Try the Odd Thomas series. You will fall in love not just with the characters but with the author as well.

till next time, keep reading!

Indie
http://thebookloverz.blogspot.com/

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries. - Rene Descartes

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-conversation-20120729,0,4931427.story#axzz2qmOP6LRL

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS:
CITY OF BONES
By: Cassandra Clare

Although, this book may not be as well known as Hunger Games, The Fault In Our Stars, Twilight, or Divergent... it is by far my favorite. If you read my other reviews on Hunger Games or Twilight, you should know that I love those books, and me saying I love this one more than those, its really saying something!


I came across City Of Bones one day, looking through the book store for Divergent, actually. I passed a table, and it was filled with all these different pieces called, "The Mortal Instruments". It had merchandise, posters, and the whole book series, laid out on top of it. It caught my attention of course, I mean, who wouldn't be curious about a whole area filled with things that didn't look like they were from this world?

(I was also near it because it was right next to The Hunger Games Books as you can see here :P)








I examined the covers, and read the summary, and came to the conclusion that it really wasn't going to be that interesting and I shouldn't waste my time when I could be reading better books. So I moved on, and gave my attention to Game Of Thrones. 

Later that night, I went to red box, and saw a movie called, "The Mortal Instruments, City Of Bones" and I was like "Wow! What a coincidence!" I thought I should give the movie a try, and see if my guess about it being not interesting was correct. Plus, on the cover it said, "Better than Hunger Games". Seeing that made me want to prove it even more wrong, I was like, Ha, not possible. 

I was wrong. By the end of the movie, it felt like I was a different person. I knew I had to read those books. First of all,, I know the books are always better than the movie. And secondly, I NEEDED to know what happened next! I'd like to believe 'fate' led me to this book. ;)

Thus was born my new addiction.

City Of Bones starts you off on a journey filled with, action, romance, comedy, and adventure. One thing about this book that is different from most other books I've read, it is through a 3rd person point of view. Which makes it feel like you're there, WITH the characters on all their journeys.

The main character in this book, is 16 year old, red headed, Clary Fray. She lives an ordinary 16 year old's life, spends time with her best friend Simon, goes to his band practice, and loves to draw. One day while being a normal teen, she goes into a club, where she sees these strange people go into another room, curious, she follows. Three of the four people confront another man. She could tell them apart from each other because the three people were covered in these strange marks. While eavesdropping, she is able to pick up names. The one called Jace, lifted up a weapon that looked like a sword, and he was about to slay the man without the marks. She ran out, panicked, trying to make them stop and distracted everyone. Everyone except the no mark. He lunged at Jace and started attacking him. The others all fought together and killed no mark, but they were still angry that she got in the way. They threatened her, but Jace, insisted they let her go.

She goes home, terribly confused, but who could she talk to? Simon thinks she might be going crazy, because he didn't see the fight happen, and her mother didn't want her going out in the first place. Trying, without success to forget about the incident, she goes with Simon to a poet reading at the place where they always drink coffee, Java Jones. But while shes there, she sees the person who killed that man in the club, sitting right behind her watching her. He leaves and she follows him, confronting him about the night before. Hes just as confused as she is, and explains a whole supernatural world, going on all around people that normally, they cant see, including himself, but she can see him, how can that be? The world is filled, with magic and myths. Her normal teenage life, might not be as normal as she thought. 

This book takes you through a whirlwind of surprises, and things you would never expect to happen... haha... believe me on this one. It keeps you on the edge of your seat with the constant torture of "what happens next!?" the whole entire time. While reading this book, -Along with ALL the rest of the books in the series- I literally had to fight, with myself not to go ahead and see what happens next. Even if its skimming to the bottom of the page to see what mystery character had showed up. 

This book series, is my favorite series, of all time. Starting off with the fantastic first book, "City Of Bones" 
WARNING: It will reel you in, and never, ever let you go, until you finish the last book, "City Of Heavenly Fire" that has not yet been released... and even then, this book will stay with you and always hold a special place in your heart like it has with mine.

                                       I will give this individual book, 9/10
                              Although if you were asking me to rate this series,
       No questions asked, there are not enough good words in the world to describe it.

                                                  

Have you read City Of Bones?

Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book or movie?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

                                                   (Very true with this one!!!)

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 

Love without control, 

And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :) 

STITCHES by Anne Lamott

STITCHES

Anne Lamott
Published 2013 by Riverhead Hardcover

A slim volume that might escape notice at first. Anne Lamott  has once again hit the literary ball straight out of the park with STITCHES - A Handbook On Meaning, Hope And Repair. 

Touching on everything from death to alcoholism and all challenging issues in between, each topic is handled with a delicate touch. Even the Newtown tragedy is addressed briefly, a thing which most modern writers are not even beginning to broach yet but as well all know has to be talked about eventually. Good for Lamott for "going there" and attempting the impossible. In fact, she repeatedly "goes there" and brings up the darkest topics. While not pretending to have all the answers/ she does at least look directly at the questions themselves It is that quality that makes her book avoid the trite and the saccharin and is in fact its saving grace.   

With chapters entitled with ubiquitous words such as "Forward" and "Beginning" and of course, "Stitches, it is vital not to miss the deep workings her words weave in favor of the obvious simplicity. Really, all universal truths are simplistic in origin, thus their ability to sick in our collective memories to be pulled out when most needed. That is just one of the points gently presented in these collective words.

As mentioned above this is a not a large book, only 96 pages. Even though small in the amount of space it occupies, this book is huge in thought, heart and soul. It is a rich resource for anyone looking to take 5 minutes on a coffee break for a thoughtful meditation on life and why it is so very worth going on with, in spite of and because of each and every challenge. 

Till next time dear friends, keep reading - keep thinking~

Indie
http://thebookloverz.blogspot.com/

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries. - Rene Descartes

TWILIGHT
STEPHENIE MEYER 

Now I'm very familiar with all you "Twilight Haters" Out there. But for those of you who are Twilight Haters, and you haven't read the book, I really think you should give it a shot. I have seen all the movies, and I do like the whole idea of Twilight. The mythical creatures, the magic, the powers, the love story. That's all right up my alley. But for those of you who aren't into that kind of stuff, I wouldn't recommend this series to you. :)

For you Twilight Haters who have seen only the film, I can relate to you. My biggest issue with the movies is Kristen Stewart's acting... but that's just me. Everything else in the film I'm totally fine with. I don't like to waste energy on disliking anything. :P I just try to look at the positives of the film.

But let me tell you, there are more differences in this book compared to the movie than any other book that has been made into a movie. There are more differences that you can count than there are similarities. There are a lot more scenes, and so much more details they don't care to add in the movie. Now I know all books that have been made into movies sound like how I just described, but in my opinion, it is literally, like, a different story, and the best part? No Kristen Stewart!

Twilight takes place in the small town of Forks, Washington. Isabella (Bella) Swan, just moved to Forks from Phoenix Arizona to go and live with her father, (Charlie.) Since her mom found a boyfriend and decided to drop all responsibilities, and go follow him while he travels to play baseball, leaving Bella with Charlie. At first, Bella doesn't like Forks, its wet, cold, rainy, a big change from Arizona heat. Not to mention having to go to a new high school, but to her surprise, instead of being ignored and made fun of, they treat her as just the opposite. She makes a lot of friends, and several of the boys try to win her attention. Well, all but one. On Bella's first day of school, she gets seated next to the stunning Edward Cullen. The only problem is he looks at her like a piece of used gum on the floor. He seems absolutely repulsed by her. When she gets the courage to demand what his problem is, he doesn't show up to school for days.

When he returns, he apologizes, and tries to become her friend. They start warming up to each other, but something just doesn't seem right for Bella. One day at school, clumsy and unaware Bella almost gets crushed by a van while staring at Edward. He was standing across the parking lot, and in a flash, he was right next to her and guarded her from the van, stopping it with just his hands. She knows what she saw, his speed, his strength. But hes just insisting she imagined it..

As the book goes on, Edward cant bring himself to stay away from Bella. He feels protective over her, and ends up saving her again... and again. Bella ends up finding out what he 'is'... but she cant bring herself to stay away from him either, no matter how dangerous it might be.
Every second they're together, they just grow closer and more inseparable. But like every relationship, there comes struggles, and a test of their love. The only difference between this couples struggles and other couples, is this couple is fighting against a blood thirsty vampire who wants to kill Bella, for fun because hes a tracker. "Its all fun and games until a psychotic vampire gets a hold of your neck" I always say. :P

Does the crazy vampire, get a hold of Bella? Does he turn her into a vampire too? Does this issue separate Edward and Bella altogether? Read and find out! Ill say this book is absolutely not a waste of time. :)

I really really enjoyed, and loved this book, and for all you readers out there who have a soft spot for love stories, i'm positive you will love it too!


                                                   I give this book, an... 8.7 out of 10!
                                                                 Very  Excellent
                                                         

Have you read Twilight?
Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book or movie?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 

Love without control, 

And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :) 

The StoryTeller

Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Atria (Simon & Schuster)
Publication date: February 26, 2013

When you start this book be prepared for a story within a story.

Sage is a baker with something she wants to hide. So it suits her just fine to work nights in a coffee shop shaping and kneading 100 pounds of dough in to the various bagels and yeast cakes and cinnamon rolls she will leave proudly in the glass bakery cases each morning as she slips out the back door of the bakery. Such an anonymous life suits her just fine until the girl with a lot she wants to keep private encounters 95 year old man who wants to confess a secret. A terrible weight he wants to unburden himself of. The weight of his confession causes Sage to deeply listen with new ears to her grandmothers tale of being young.

And it is here with the grandmothers (Minka) tale of long ago that our story within a story begins to unfold.

Minka's story is heavy and dark.  A Gothic description of her life as a young Jewish girl. Anyone who has ever read anything about the Holocaust will be familiar with the basics of  Minka's story but it still makes for the best part of this book. 

As for the 95 year old man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, his secret is truly awful. The question becomes, is there anything too bad for forgiveness? By drawing Sage in to his secret, she now has to face that question as will you the reader. 

Lest this book sound too dark it has plenty of light moments as Sage is overall a girl as light at heart as some of the breads she rises so delicately under her hands. For instance, the scene when her beloved mother dies and she has promised her that she will make sure the Judy Garland version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is played at her funeral. Sage has dutifully given the music to the funeral director but unwittingly downloaded the wrong song from iTunes and unfortunately and to the great horror of Sage's distraught sisters, the song that plays is "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead"! 

The moment, rather than reverting to the macabre is told in such a tongue in cheek way by Sage that you smile in spite of yourself.

This book is long but moves fast. There is a lot of back and forth dialogue plus the two story lines (that of Sage and the old man, plus  Minka's) to keep track of but the writer does a good job of not bogging down and the story moves along briskly. 

The heavy subject matter is combined with some truly lovely people that you meet along the way as well as the delicious and constant baking that is going on as  subtext and that will leave you needing a cinnamon roll as soon as you put the book down.

The larger questions of forgiveness and when and for whom make this a  a great book to stimulate discussion among a book club or just to examine in the privacy of ones own thoughts.


Till next time, happy reading!
Indie
http://thebookloverz.blogspot.com/

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries. - Rene Descartes

WHITE FANG
 Jack London 

I really enjoyed doing this review because White Fang is my favorite classic book. Not just because I love wolves, but its also a very touching story. It's not what one would expect from a story about wolves, but this story is very humane.

The story first takes you through the life of a wolf pack, their fight for survival, they are all starving and if they don't find something to eat soon, they will starve. Leaving them no choice but to stalk these two men, (Bill and Henry) whose only mission is to deliver a coffin to a little town called Fort McGurry. They have to travel through the harsh northern weather, guided by only their sled dogs. But their loyal dogs can only take so much, because of the weather, they're forced to stop.

While waiting for the weather to lighten, the realize they are being stalked by a pack of starving wolves. One by one, their sled dogs are disappearing, and they know once their sled dogs are gone, they're next. They end up facing and fighting the wolf pack, you can only imagine how that goes.

Skipping ahead to the actual story of White Fang, he is born, and his parents want nothing more than to protect him and keep him safe, because you see, all his siblings didn't make it. But being a pup, he doesn't understand that, so one day while his parents are away hunting desperately for food, this curious pup, decides to travel.

He ends up OK, thanks to his parents who fought off the animals of the forest that tried to eat him. But did that teach him a lesson, nah. You know how stubborn kids, and pups, can be.

Later in the book, he gets taken by a man, who is awful and mistreats him, then gets sold to another man, who just wants him to kill other dogs. Basically, he gets sold from owner to owner, and every owner he goes to just wants him to be vicious and kill. So that's all White Fang knows to do, its very sad.

But eventually, he gets rescued by a nice man, and moves to California. But this man is not nasty like the others, and this one disapproves of aggressive behavior. White Fang has to learn a whole new life style, which isn't easy for a dog. He's confused at first, and the family is afraid of him and wants to get rid of him because he showed aggressive behavior. But the man who saved White Fang has grown attached to him and doesn't want to give up on him. In the future, it pays off. The touching part of the story that could make anyone go, "Aw" is when White Fang learns to love these people, his family, and he would give his life for them. As a matter of fact, he ends up saving one of the family members lives, yeah, I bet they're glad they didn't get rid of him now. :P

The book lets you connect to White Fang on a personal level, it takes you on a tour through his life. Brings you through all the struggles, the survival, the dog fighting, and all the horrible owners. But its all worth it in the end when he too, gets his happily ever after.  :)


Overall, because of its happy ending and touching story that could make anyone like me cry... i give it..

                                                                       7/10   ^-^

Great story! :) 

Definitely recommend.

Have you read White Fang?
Do you Agree/Disagree with my opinions?
Are you a fan of the book or movie?
Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!

To: All my viewers...

Always remember, 

Laugh often, 

Love without control, 

And smile till your cheeks grow sore... and then just a tad bit more! :)