Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Genre: Young Adult
On Sale: September 7, 2010

Synopsis: With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki -- the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda's rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can't resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she's risking not only her life but the draki's most closely guarded secret.

Review:
Plot: 5 stars

I don't think I've ever read a book about dragons and drakis before -- not to mention humans turning into them. This was such a pleasant surprise, as I thought it was perfectly executed. It was intriguing and it kept me interested and curious the entire time. I wanted to learn more, and read more. It's just an addicting and a fresh new take on a topic not often explored.

Characters: 3.5 stars
Jacinda is believable as somebody struggling to choose between two difficult and different options. While I do have to admit, she's not exactly a favorite character of mine, I still liked her. I truly felt for her, and empathized with her throughout her entire journey in this book. On the other hand, it was Will, who I truly adored. It's nice to read about a multifaceted male protagonist who doesn't fall into the usual "bad boy" stereotype we've been seeing lately. He is character just seems genuinely realistic and believable -- and not a character that is at all cliche.

Cover: 5 stars
Have you seen the cover?? I mean, that alone will make me pick this book up even if I had no idea what it was about! It's gorgeous! A bit creepy, yes.. but definitely eye catching.

Overall: 4.5 stars!
I highly recommend this to those who read and love the YA/Paranormal genre. It is entertaining, new, unique, well-written, and just plain fun to read. I am very much looking forward to reading the sequel for this one. I can't wait to find out more and see what happens next!

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Movie Review

To read the synopsis, let Wikipedia help. This review contains no spoilers.

What a strange film. Very, very strange indeed. In fact, I am not exactly sure what I had just watched. Did I like it? Absolutely. Did I understand it? Well enough. But to recommend or not to recommend, that is the question, as they say. All I'm going to say is that this is most definitely not for everyone.

It took me quite a while to "get" the film, but I do think that is part of its charm. Ultimately, I have to say, I actually enjoyed it a lot. There are a lot of great aspects about it; perfect casting, the acting, the costumes, the movie's overall mood, among many others. You can tell how the tragic death of Heath Ledger -- who was terrific, by the way, as expected -- might have taken the movie to a whole other route, but Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell did a great job with the roles given to them. I also loved Lily Cole who played the role of Valentina. She was pretty awesome. As for Christopher Plummer, well, as expected, he fit the role very well. The Sound of Music anyone? He will never get old, I swear.

My favorite part though has got to be the fantastical elements that are included and that are a huge part of the story. Simply breathtaking! It's beautiful and dark, scary and amazing all at the same time. It truly is something unique!

If you decide to give the movie a chance, do expect to be transported to a whole other world; somewhere you've never been. At first, you will be reluctant to stick with it, but in the end, let it take you away. Immerse yourself and let your own imagination wander. Perhaps in the end, that would be the main key to see the real beauty of this very strange and twisted but wonderful world of the imaginarium and of Dr. Parnassus himself. Again, if you decide to watch this, one advice: Watch it with an open mind. You'll need it ;)

An Education: Movie Review

This review contains no spoilers.

An Education tells the coming-of-age story of a teenage girl living in 1960s suburban London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her age. The screenplay itself is written by Nick Hornby; author of High Fidelity, About A Boy, among many others. While I have to admit the story itself has been done many times before -- young girl falling in love and "awakened" by an older man -- this film brings something else to the table by offering superb acting, evocative 60's atmosphere, strong points of view, and brilliant writing.

What I loved about the movie is the main character, Jenny, and the actress that played her, Carey Mulligan. Both are beautiful and strong. But one of my favorite parts about An Education is the atmosphere; the fashion, the style, the culture, the fact that Paris plays a part in this, and the actual era itself. It is depicted so well, I can only wish to live in it! Everything about is just beautiful! That being said, it's truly the overall appeal and vibe of the film that made me fall in love.

Not to say that it doesn't have anything else to offer, because it certainly leaves us with strong and much-needed messages as well. What is education anyway and why is it so important? And when we say the word, "Education," do we mean it in a literal sense, or are we talking about the kind that expects people to grow and mature as human beings? The film asks these questions and leaves you figuring them out for yourself.

As far as recommendations go, truthfully, the film is probably not for everyone, but I still highly recommend you try it and see for yourself. The story is mediocre, but the acting is great. The overall mood is GORGEOUS, and the message is enlightening. Personally, I loved it.

I'm just going to go ahead and end this review with a quote from the movie itself; "The life I want, there is no shortcut." It's such a simple quote, yet that perhaps, might be, the biggest -- not to mention, the most difficult -- lesson of all.

Remember Me: Movie Review

This review contains no spoilers.

Remember Me has gotten a lot of negative feedback from critics and other movie reviewers. They say the story is predictable, trite, and contrived. While I'm no professional movie critic, and I certainly am no professional reviewer, I do love to watch a lot of movies. I have to admit, I had my predictions, assumptions, and initial impressions before watching this. After seeing this though, I threw all of them at once because the movie proved me wrong. Now I can honestly say that having been able to see this, I don't think I have ever been this pleasantly surprised with a movie in a while.

The characters, first off, are multifaceted and complex, lovable and believable. The writing and the overall feel and mood of the movie was brilliant. But the best part about this are the actors themselves. They were hands down, superb. And yes, people, Robert Pattinson can act. So please -- please! -- do not let the fact that Pattinson plays the leading role deter you from watching this movie. I do feel that Robert Pattinson isn't getting enough credit, mainly because he is stuck in the whole Twilight world that fans (and people who are not exactly fans) know him for. But he is beyond Twilight and he is most definitely beyond Edward Cullen. This is coming from somebody that's not exactly a huge fan of the Twilight saga. By the end of the movie, I have discovered a newfound respect for him as an actor.

When the movie was finished, my friend and I -- who were watching it together -- just sat there, feeling dumbfounded and introspective, lost in our own thoughts. So contrary to what the critics say, to me, this movie is extremely unpredictable. It's no big blockbuster, but Remember Me is original, unique, thought-provoking, intense, unexpected, and just plain good. It certainly asks the toughest questions in life you wouldn't even want to think about, but should. Also, it will make you think, challenge your emotions, and leave you feeling reflective. That being said, go ahead and see this. I highly recommend it. It's a good movie; plain and simple.

About A Boy

Synopsis: Will Lightman is 36-years old, but lacks goals and ambitions, and is a self-proclaimed 'playboy. He finds that the perfect girl for him would be... who else, but a single mother? After dating one before, he has developed an idea that single moms fear commitment, and would not rush into marriage any time soon. With this 'knowledge,' he makes up an idea of being a single parent, and joins an organization called SPAT: Single Parents Alone Together.

There, he meets one of the sons of a group member; a boy named Marcus-- a 12-year-old new kid and an outsider at school. For some strange reason (or possibly a twist of fate), these two form an innocent bond as friends. Eventually, through each other, the other learns to grow up and the other to act his age.

Review: I have read other works of Nick Hornby, such as High Fidelity, etc. As expected from any Nick Hornby novel, the usual dose of good writing is there -- with a touch of wit, wisdom, and sarcasm. These three things combined might not work for others, but for Hornby, clearly, they do.
I have to admit though, I was just a little disappointed with the book. I have seen the movie adaptation long before, and though I am not the type to compare moviestobooks, for this one, I think I have to make an exception. This is one of those rare instances that the movie was portrayed a lot better. I'm sorry for the lack of explanation, but sometimes, you just feel the way you do, just because. That is exactly the case with this.
Don't get me wrong, as I thought there were many funny moments in the book. The story is generally entertaining, and the characters are likable. I thought the development -- plot and character -- were believable. Overall, About A Boy was a quick and 'good' read. If you're going to read this, expect to be entertained, but don't expect too much. It's one of those 'take it or leave it' kind of book. It's a good read, yes, but the truth is, it's nothing spectacular.

The Sea of Monsters

For this book, I will not write my own synopsis. If you are interested, and would like to read more about it, you can learn more about it here.

Review: The only complain I have is that this second installment in the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series is that it ended way too soon. I just finished a couple of hours ago, and I was literally, just staring at the cover of the book, thinking to myself, "What am I going to do now?" Seriously.

I just wanted it to go on and on, and I honestly wouldn't get tired of it. That being said, it's pretty obvious I also loved this one, as much as I loved The Lightning Thief. Actually, my review for The Lightning Thief, is pretty much identical to my review for this sequel -- because everything I loved about the first book, was brought back here. The same originality, excitement, and writing are all there. The only additional comments I can say is that, the plot and the characters are more developed, and I think I love them even more, if that's even possible. In fact, my favorite character really is Percy Jackson himself. For me, it's quite rare that I find the main protagonist in series like these to be my favorite, but with this exciting and original story based on Greek mythology, I think I've made an exception.

I can not wait to read the third! I will actually try to call Half Price Books today to find out if they have it in stock. If they don't, I guess I'll be making another trip to Target again -- tonight! *tsk, I can almost hear my conscience -- and my mom? -- telling me to stop spending so much $$ on books!*

Ahhh. It's worth it ;)

Good Grief

The synopsis is quite simple: Good Grief is a story of a recent widow, who lost her husband to cancer. This is about her struggles, as she goes through the five stages of grief.
And then some...

Review: I picked this book up, not really expecting much from it. But I have to say, I really liked this book. I enjoyed it a lot, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys women's fiction. I mean, yes, it is nothing inspirational, or life-changing, but not every book has to be one to be a good read, right?
To me, this book is funny, sad, and uplifiting all at the same time, with good writing -- all I could ever really ask for.

Like I mentioned, one of the best parts about this book is the writing. It was entertaining, and the words flowed easily, making its pace just right.
The main premise is simple, but intriguing. Also, while there were a lot of sub-plots involved, and even though I thought I wouldn't like them at first, I actually liked them all. I thought they all fit and made sense. It didn't seem as if any was contrived at all, or that the author was trying too hard to fit all these stories in one book. Every sub-plot contributed to the main idea, and supported the characters involved.
Speaking of the characters, I have to say, I also enjoyed learning about them all. The development of each of them was just perfect -- not rushed, not too slow either.
I think though, my favorite would actually be the main character herself. She was a multi-layered character who was believable, was easy to relate to, and was easy to empathize with. The way the author wrote about her thoughts, emotions, and the actual events happening to her was just perfect. I found myself rooting for her, wanting to tell her, 'No rush, you're doing a great job.' Again, it's probably the 'believability' factor that made me feel for her.
Overall, I just really enjoyed the entire thing as a whole. And in the end, Good Grief has a simple story, simple writing, and simple -- but complex -- characters. But put them together, and what we have is a fascinating and believable take on a woman struggling with grief.

The Hours

Synopsis: Virginia Woolf is living in London in 1923, and is beginning to write and work on the now-famous, Mrs. Dalloway. Concurrently, a woman in Los Angeles in 1949, finds herself unhappy after three years of marriage with her husband. Despite this, she is trying her best to be a good wife and a soon-to-be-mother. One day, she picks up Woolf's novel, and begins to read. In it, she finds herself getting lost, as she sees the parallels and similarities between her life and the story. Meanwhile, in present time, there is 52-year-old, Clarissa Vaughan, a self-proclaimed modern version of "Mrs. Dalloway." She is preparing a party dedicated to her former lover -- a poet -- who is now dying of AIDS.

This book surrounds three completely different women, leading very different lives and having their own different stories. In the end, they find that their lives are touched and interwoven together across time, by one powerful and important novel.

Review: First of all, this, no doubt, has an intriguing premise and offers a unique perspective on things.

With clarity and sincerity, the author makes a genuine take on common people, like us, and their ordinary lives, through multifaceted characters. It is really not at all difficult to relate to them, not exactly because of their situations, but mainly for the emotions that they feel and the thoughts that they ponder on. I realize that, everybody feels and thinks about these things. Some, more often than others. And this book, simply, shows that sadness -- that depressing -- side of life, that everybody goes through at one point or another.

As for the writing, I thought that the author did a great job showcasing his talent and skill appropriately, by perfecting the book's pace and flow. Also, he made it all work through his poetic but effortless wordplay. It was simple and easy to grasp, but on-point and complex. It also just had the right amount of drama and emotion, without getting too corny, sappy, or cliche.

I have to admit though, there were a few negative things about the novel. There were few, but they're there nonetheless. I found that at times, it was difficult to figure out who's narrating. The speaker changes constantly, and their voices are not as distinct the way their personalities are, in my opinion.

Also, I have heard a lot from people (friends, family, other reviews) that they did not enjoy this one. One reason is probably because of its dark and "depressive" mood and atmosphere. Also, another possible reason, would be that at times, there were a few lengthy, and even unnecessary, descriptions every now and then. Some people don't mind the long descriptions, others do.

Despite this, I still do recommend it. I also would give it 4 stars -- definitely an entertaining and emotional read, but not "You-have-to-read-this-now!" sort of great. It is more of a "Add-this-to-your-TBR-if-you'd-like" kind of good. I guess though, in a way, this is just one of those books that you either like or you don't. Personally, I liked it.

The Butterfly House

Synopsis: Bobbie Lee does not have a favorable childhood. Most of the time, she feels lost and alone. This forces her to find ways to seek refuge. Eventually, she finds this escape in her best friend, Cincy Jaines.

Cincy and her mother, Lenora, automatically accepts Bobbie as family, in their house in Rockhaven. Over time, these three women has managed to form an unbreakable bond. But in one fatal night, this magical house --"the butterfly house"-- becomes a place of tragedy, that will separate the three of them and change their lives forever.
Ten years later, Bobbie, still troubled by the tragedy, is surprised by an unexpected visitor. This immediately brings back the shadows of her past, haunting her again. She is then forced to face the truth, and to go back to the night she has been running from all these years.

Review: Let me start with some of the good points.
The poetic and engrossing prose is something worthy of a good review. The pace was just right, and the flow of words were effortless. Also, every chapter that was included was important -- not too much information, but enough back story to help the readers learn more. As for the characters, I thought they were well-developed, well-defined, and believable. It was easy to relate to them, and feel for them and their situations. The truth is, I feel as if without these complex and genuine characters, this would just be a pretty 'blah' plot -- one without much substance. This now leads me to the bad points.
Personally, I thought that the actual story itself, even with its twists and 'secrets,' wasn't anything special. The plot, also, has been done many times before, and didn't offer anything new to the table. It didn't "wow" me in any way whatsoever. In fact, instead of "wow-ing" me, I felt let down by it.
As for the ending.... well, let's just say it was what made up my mind and made me say, "This book is not good at all.." The conclusion was rushed and anti-climactic. This of course, left me disappointed.

I know I'm making it sound like it's such a bad book, which probably isn't fair, because it wasn't that bad. Like I said, there are some strong points. For one, it is entertaining. At times, it was even thought-provoking. It does have its moments. Unfortunately, these moments were just not good enough. To be honest, if I haven't picked this book up or read it at all, it wouldn't have made much of a difference. I'd still forget about it in a couple of weeks. But that's just me.

Quick Reviews # 3

For quick reviews, I simply give my general view and opinion on the books included. If you are interested on reading more about the plot of these novels, simply click on the titles and it will lead you to a website (Amazon.com, usually) and the synopsis can be found there.

When My Name was Keoko by Linda Sue Park

• This book is highly recommended simply because it is a good story, and is beautifully told. Despite the two narrations by the two main characters and the heavy topics covered, this is a simple book that is easy to grasp and understand.
  
• I thought it was also quite refreshing to read a book that covers a difficult time of discrimination and unfairness, yet be delivered in such a way that it is about hope and not about revenge. Again, as I have already said, this is a highly recommended book.

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

• It's kind of awesome to have most of the books in this 3rd quick review to be ones that I can recommend to others! This one is definitely not an exception, because I really, really liked this book. It paints such an honest picture of a woman suffering from one of the most misunderstood psychological disorders. But mostly, this is about the woman's children, suffering from what their mother has, through abusive ways and difficult situations.
• It is written in such a believable way, that at times it really was hard to continue reading, because some of the situations were just simply sickening. I was really able to feel for these children, and for the mother as well. The author's way of writing is just engrossing. It was amazing how she was able to write so well about such a sensitive topic like this. And yes, I literally could not put the book down. It kept me up at night, because I didn't want to stop reading it. I dislike saying that because it's so cliche, but for this book, it holds true to its meaning. Also, long after finishing this, it still stuck to me; the characters, the events, the writing, everything. So yes, again, highly recommended to both teens and adults.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

• In my opinion, the main characters in this book will remain a classic for me. The effortless pairing of the two was pretty much what made the story. Of course, the plot and the storyline itself were impressive as well. The writing.. yes, good also. The developments were simple, but done so well. To begin with, the premise is both interesting and intriguing already. In fact, now that I think about it, I can't really think of any huge flaws from this novel. Even the minor flaws didn't really matter to me. I didn't mind them at all, because overall, this novel is pretty awesome. Having said all these, I highly recommend it. I think this is an excellent story, and is even backed up by smart and intelligent writing.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

• I wanted to at first write an entire review for this book like I usually do, but thought otherwise, because I thought I would be too harsh on it.
• I read this second effort by The Time Traveler's Wife author with expectations, because that was one of my favorite books I have read about two years ago. Unfortunately, this was a huge let down, and found myself extremely underwhelmed by the whole thing. First off, the main characters were NOT likable at all. To me, they were written based on stereotypes and generalizations. Also, nothing much happens in the story itself. No excitement, no suspense, no nothing. I felt like this would've been much better if it was made as a short story, and probably would've been more effective that way. Another thing, also, is the ending. It was really bad. I was so disappointed with how predictable and unsatisfying it was. I don't know how Niffenegger was able to write such a good debut in TTTW and then write her second as bad as this. But seriously, the entire time, I was simply forcing myself to finish it, hoping it'd get better by the next chapter.. and the chapter after that.. and the next. Unfortunately, it did not get better at all. Instead, it stayed flat all throughout and fell right at the end.
• Obviously, based on my rant-like review (Sorry) I do not recommend this book at all. Save yourself, skip this, and read TTTW instead.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

• I loved the concept of this young adult book. It is capable of making its readers think outside the box. And overall, I was entertained by it and it kept my interest all throughout. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read who are 13years old +. It covered certain topics, and dove into philosophical ideas, insights, and viewpoints, that I thought were all interesting. Also, the main character in the story is very likable, and found myself rooting for her the entire time.
• The conclusion was satisfying, as I thought it was handled and delivered well. This is recommended to YA readers.

Deadline by Chris Cutcher

• I really do think young adult readers and teenagers will like this book a lot. The premise is very good, main character is extremely likable, and the entire book was well-written and well-delivered. Also, I have to add, I know "sappy" is not exactly a good way to describe a book, for it usually means "corny" or "juvenile." At times, sappiness causes a book to seem contrived. Honestly though, for this book, sappy is a good thing. It was easy to relate to, and I found it easy to feel for the main character and the situation he was facing. Overall, this is a great book if you are interested on reading a fiction story about a teenager literally living his day as if its his last. Recommended to young adult readers.

Quick Reviews # 2

For quick reviews, I simply give my general view and opinion on the books included. If you are interested on reading more about the plot of these novels, simply click on the titles and it will lead you to a website (Amazon.com, usually) and the synopsis can be found there.

Seizure by Robin Cook

• I am not going to prolong this review, because I feel like I might be too harsh on it.
  
• I have read most of Robin Cook's mystery/medical thriller novels, and despite the fact that he is an extremely talented writer, I have not actually found any that I liked. One thing I noticed was that all of them had very promising storylines, with very bad endings.
  
• This book is not recommended. If you are interested in medical/thriller-ish type, try other authors please. Skip this one, despite the author's credibility and mass popularity.
  

Everything Bad is Good For you by Steven Johnson (non-fiction)

• This review will come off totally as a a biased personal opinion simply because I didn't really agree with most of what the author was saying. But I do recommend this book despite this, because this book is generally interesting and entertaining.
  
• The concepts and viewpoints are easy to grasp and understand, despite its critical and very detailed views on society. But I think there were a few important things here and there that he missed, and most of his thoughts on things were too general and came off as too biased. Like I said, I don't really agree with everything the author is trying to say, but I do get where he is coming from, and how he is saying all of them. His writing was engrossing, and was not boring at all. It didn't give off the feel of a lecture room and a professor. Generally, I do give him credit for this book as it gave a lot of good arguments without being too preachy. Overall, a recommended book if you like non-fiction, and if you like reading more about views on society today.
  

The Crimson Portrait by Jody Shields

• If you have read the plot and synopsis for this one, it probably raised your interest. So from there, I'd like to say, that yes, the plot is very intriguing. The premise is interesting. And then I read it. Unfortunately, despite of a few well-defined main characters, the book failed on so many levels.
  
• It dragged on a lot and found myself having a hard time keeping myself interested with it. There were many times I wanted to put this down and quit even trying to finish it, but I finished it anyway. In truth, I wasn't even that interested in finding out how it would end. I did not care much about the other characters, except for a few, and even those few were pretty flat.
  
• I don't think it was a horrible book. Obviously, it wasn't good either. I believe the proper words to use are: mediocre and bland. Not recommended.
  

What Matters Most by Nicole Bokat

• Though the writing was good, I didn't think it was enough to hold my attention. First of all, I personally did not like the main character. I thought she was too self-indulgent, and it also didn't help that she didn't develop much at all. Also, the plot was simple, and could've been drawn out in a lot of many other more interesting ways than the author did in here. In truth, there really aren't a lot of things to say about this book. Like I said though, if you would like to still take this into consideration, the writing was not bad. The delivery on the other hand, was. Sorry, not recommended.
  

The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales

• This was a fun book about diversity, family, culture, and traditions that was both well-written and entertaining. It was also a very fast read, for the chapters are pretty short. The vivid characters and events will also for sure capture not only your attention but your imagination as well.

• Overall, recommended if you would like to venture out into a more different path compared to the usual contemporary fiction novels.

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot

• If you liked the previous book from Meg Cabot, and liked it, you will not be disappointed with this one.
  
• Coming from Meg Cabot, it's quite expected that this chic lit would be readable, humorous, and entertaining. These are all true when it comes to Boy Meets Girl. Though a bit predictable, I didn't really care because I was thoroughly entertained! I thought the characters were engaging, the plot complex, and the writing as usual is also very good. Overall, I thought it was simply enjoyable, fast-paced, and found it hard to put it down. Literally.
  
• Highly recommended if you are a fan of chic literature, or if you simply want a fun and easy summer (or perhaps a rainy day?) read.
  

The Rope Walk

Synopsis: Set in the summer time, this coming of age story is about a young, white girl named Alice. On her 10th birthday, she meets a young, black city boy named Theo.
Due to Theo's mother's depression, he is eventually forced to live with Alice and her family. They become closer friends, discovering about the world around them, and life itself. Most importantly, together, they learn about themselves, and grow to be who they are truly meant to be.

Review: I liked this book a lot. I thought it was entertaining, thought-provoking, and memorable.
I think the main reason why I liked this was because the author did a good job contextualizing childhood, innocence, and discovery in a realistic manner. It was all very believable, and did not seem in any way contrived. The way she wrote about the two main characters, Alice and Theo, was simply effortless. It was easy for me to picture them; how they were acting, thinking, and feeling. In a way, it's almost like I was sinking in to their world, and leaving mine. It's not often that an author can do that, at least for me. Mostly I believe this is because her writing fit just perfectly with every character and every word in the book. It was not difficult at all to see the scene she has painted.
Of course, there were some minor flaws. There were times that the descriptions seemed too much or that chapters became too wordy. Despite these little mistakes I would've liked to see gone, I still do recommend this very underrated book.

Quick Reviews

The Fan Maker's Inquisition by Rikki Ducornet

• The Fan-Maker's Inquisition is about the thoughts and life of the Marquis de Sade, written in letters and written entries during his imprisonment.
• I was really interested with reading this one. In the beginning, it seemed as if the characters would hold up, and the plot would develop and become even more interesting. The writing was promising, with its good use of deft words and poetic prose. However, in the end, it was just pretty flat and empty. So I do not recommend this, simply because I don't think anyone should waste their time with a book that starts off with a lot of potential, only to let them down in the end.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

• This is a young adult book, set in New York city IN 1899. Girls and women are expected to be demure, sophisticated, and elegant. In this novel, it shows four young women, doing the exact opposite of what is expected in their social standing. If these wrongdoings and their secrets are revealed, things are not going to go exactly as what anyone wants..
• While the author does a great job creating a compelling plot that is engaging and interesting, backed up with fast-paced writing, the characters do not exactly match up so well for they are not as interested as promised. They are unconvincing, unbelievable, and unrealistic.
• With this one, it's either you like it or you hate it. I didn't totally hate it, but I did not love it either. Having said that, I don't really recommend this, because I can think of so many other young adult titles if you are interested in stories with plots and settings like these.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

• This novel consists of several short stories all set in Maine, and all linked to one woman named Olive Kitteridge.
• I have to agree that Elizabeth Strout's writing is exceptional, and is what ultimately kept me interested all throughout. The way she dealt with the words and how she managed to make them flow with little to no effort was pretty awesome. Also, the main character, Olive Kitteridge, is a well-defined and complex character, that is easy to get to know and like at the same time. However, I was a bit distracted from the story with the way the stories were cut and arranged.
• This novel was (and I believe, is still) a very popular bestseller and was recommended a lot of times again and again. I wasn't disappointed, but I didn't think it was GREAT. It was good, and I don't regret reading it, but it's nothing spectacular. I also don't think I'd be re-reading it again. I do recommend it though, if you don't mind the unique (and sometimes odd) cuts and format of the stories.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

• I have read, I think, all of Kinsella's work in the chic lit department. Whenever I'm in need of a good one from that genre, Kinsella never fails. Although this book is not as good as The Shopaholic Series, this book definitely doesn't disappoint.
• Coming from Kinsella, it's quite expected for it to have the same wit and humor. The pace was quick, and overall, the entire novel was a page turner. It was simple, and straight-forward, nothing complicated.
• Overall, this is a great rainy/lazy day read. It's quick, entertaining, and humorous. I recommend it if you like chic lits,and if you are also a fan of Kinsella.

The Night Villa by Carol Goodman

• This is a combination of mystery, Gothic atmosphere, suspense, thriller, literature, history, and academics. Mostly, this is a good book full of masterful writing matched up with a great setting and a list of believable characters.
• I liked this story a lot, although there was something missing. Maybe a bit more excitement, a bit more of a "pizzazz" as they often say. And while I do recommend it to those who would enjoy a good mystery every now and then, I'm not exactly jumping up and down for it.
  

The Weight of Silence

Synopsis: Petra, a 7-year-old young girl, is a selective mute. She has been for years now, but not all her life. Nobody really knows why she is, but one day about 4 years ago, she just suddenly stopped talking.
Then one day, Petra has gone missing. When her parents found out, they started calling the police and all of her friends. It turns out that Petra's best friend, Callie, is also missing.
In this novel, Callie is the narrator, speaking not only for herself, but for Petra as well.

Review: I liked this book because the premise and the main characters were really interesting. Also, I liked it because of the many different themes involved and that all of them were tackled carefully and delicately. It also intrigued me with its mysterious situations and events, that lead to a satisfying conclusion.

The writing overall is okay. The plot is generally comparable to Jodi Picoult's. (Picoult writes better) And though this is not exactly an "incredible" book that I am raving that much about, I would recommend it if you're looking for a dramatic, dark-secret-in-families sort of a story. It is a bit on the heavier side of things, when it comes to its story line and background, but simple and straight-forward nonetheless.

The Hiding Place

Synopsis: Set in the 1960s, this is about the Gauci family, and the cruelties of a father, who never wanted his six daughters. He doesn't think they are of any good, as much as they would be if they were sons instead.
With the youngest in the family narrating with her own point of view, along with her sisters', she tells the story of their suffering and struggle living with a haunting past with a selfish father and an oppressed mother.

Review: I like authors/writers that are able to describe in full detail the scenarios and the characters without droning on with description. I like it when they use the story's heart to capture my imagination. This author and this novel are able to do that.
First of all, the entire book was simply honest, relentless, and fearless. There were times that I knew to myself, I wasn't just reading words anymore, but listening to hidden characters burst out with their secret heart break and sorrows.
Speaking of, the characters were extremely likable, and relate-able, with their own distinct personalities and capabilities. I found them to be very believable, especially with how they would react to certain situations and events. And like I said, the best part was that the book didn't just make me think, but also feel for them.The author obviously took time to build these characters, developing them smoothly and effectively. The plot, also, had good development. As we learn more about these characters, we also dig deeper into the reasons why and how they have become like that.
Having said that, I think the writing was intelligent, and full of compassion and understanding of human condition and nature.
Also, I know the pace is important when people pick books to read, and so yes, I can say that this was fast-paced, easy to read, and had a nice flow to it. It's kind of hard to imagine that this was really the author's first published novel. Her efforts are really just good, and none were juvenile and naive. Even when there were moments that were disturbing and difficult to read (and accept), I read on because I really did find myself completely drawn into the story.

A premise like this could easily have spiraled into a cliche and corny Lifetime movie, but Azzopardi does such a great job making it as realistic as possible. With clarity and grace, the author weaves an engaging, haunting, and inspiring fiction story that is both powerfully tragic as it is beautiful. For sure, this one will stick with me for a while.
Highly recommended!

Shanghai Girls

Synopsis: This is a novel about two Chinese sisters, Pearl and May, leaving Shanghai and migrating to Los Angeles in the mid-1930s. When they got to United States, they found themselves detained and treated badly for months, undergoing many trials and terrible circumstances. Even when they got out, they still found that it wasn't going to be any easier for either of them, for they not only have to face the many possible challenges in store for them, but also keep a secret that might threaten their lives overall.

Review: Having read Lisa See's previous books, Peony in Love and The Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and being more of a fan of the latter, I had quite a few expectations. Some were delivered, but most weren't.

First off, I have to say it, the author is a very good story-teller, and is able to give us many views and sides of Chinese culture and traditions. Also, it was an easy read. It was simple, yet direct, and was easy to understand.
However, I thought that it lacked a great deal of excitement to keep me interested throughout. The characters were okay, but they weren't as likable as I would have wished them to be.
Also, I thought that there were too many plots and sub-plots on top of one another, that there were a couple of times I really thought the book was getting too long. At the same time though, I was still curious and decided to just invest more time with the story, and see what would happen next and how it would end. Having said that, unfortunately, I wish I didn't spend too much time on this one. The author wrote with too many unnecessary details and information. I could've skipped them all, for they did not really contribute much to the actual story, but like I said, I decided to just stick with it and see how it would go.
Again, unfortunately, I was quite disappointed after finishing this. It seemed like the potential was there, but the delivery fell short.

In the end though, I really do think the author is talented, and is able to weave stories about family relationships as well as culture very well. I don't hate the book, but I am not exactly raving about it. I don't recommend it as much as I would recommend The Snow Flower and the Secret Fan better if you are looking for a Lisa See book. And if you were really interested in checking out books about Chinese culture and the like, I wouldn't suggest Lisa See as much as I would suggest Amy Tan. Nevertheless though, this is, overall, an engaging read, but backed up with a couple setbacks.

The Dante Club

Synopsis: If you ask some of the major literary figures, Longfellow, Lowell, Holmes, and Dante to get together to solve a mysterious murder case, and you were wondering how it would play out, this novel would be your answer. The Dante Club is a novel full of history, literature, suspense, and fast-paced thrill.

Review: First of all, kudos to the author for making such a unique and intriguing premise, and for starring these real life characters in a fiction story. Another kudos for the fact that it truly came off that the author did a thorough and careful research. Historical facts were stated, characters were on-point, there were barely any plot holes at all, etc. Also, the way the author wrote and talked about the setting was good too. I was able to really picture Boston (I have never actually been there) right after the Civil War. I think it had most to do with the author's way of writing his details and descriptions, without really giving too much information. I liked that it was subtle, but direct.

I do have minor complaints though. There were some situations and events that were too over the top or exaggerated. Another thing that I thought was too over the top were the other characters aside from the four main ones. The others were all pretty much based off stereotypical nonsense. Because of these negative aspects, I didn't find any of these very believable, and so I had a hard time relating myself to the book and completely immerse myself to it.

Please don't get me wrong though. This book is not terrible. I can't even say that it was bad. It has its good points and it also has its bad points. I liked it in a way, simply because it was interesting and fast-paced. I also do recommend it, but only to certain readers. If you like historical fiction, and if the plot itself about the four literary characters intrigue you, then go for it. If you are neither though, I really do suggest you skip this one.

The Lucky One

Synopsis: They say everyone has their own good luck charm. It can be anything from an old rock to a special coin to a sentimental ring. For U.S. Marine Logan Thibault, his lucky charm is none other than a picture of a woman he has never met. He has said that it is how he made it alive and well through a couple of his duty tours in Iraq. When he comes home from his duty, he decides to find the woman in the picture.

Review: Nicholas Sparks has a total of 14 books to date. I have read all of them. Like I said in The Last Song review, to me, a Sparks books is either a hit or a miss. Nothing in between. This statement really is true, in my own personal opinion. For this one, I'll say it right out. It's a bit of a miss. Not too much, but a miss nonetheless.

Let me start with its good points. First off, if you are reading a Sparks book, it is bound to be fast-paced, modern, interesting, and easy to read. The premise is almost always intriguing, and is bound to hold your attention. The setting (which he usually always sets in North Carolina), is also well described and detailed. The dialogues were not juvenile or cliche. And I think the best part about any Sparks novel is his characters. He is able to create these characters that hook you in the story from the very first chapter.
And so, speaking of the characters, I thought that in the beginning, they were well-defined and complex.

Unfortunately, midway through the book, it started to fall apart. The character development just stops almost immediately. And then, they just get stuck in that place somehow, and they didn't develop more than I hoped they would. Also, midway, it got a bit boring. It was dragging, and I felt as if Sparks was just trying way too hard to make the story exciting by being "emotional."
Another big complain is the ending. It was too melodramatic for my taste, and the delivery was not very believable. It was too clean, too tidy--almost as if it was rushed. I had a hard time buying it, because it all of a sudden became too forced.

To sum up my review, I liked the premise. The build up was good. It had a lot of potential. But overall, it just fell short.

I don't really recommend this book, most especially if you are just starting to get into reading Sparks' work. If you want to read a good one for him for your first, this might not be the best option for you.

Under the Dome

Synopsis: A small town in New England is just like another normal, average town. Until one day, when it found itself cut off from the rest of the world when a huge and clear dome-like barrier appears, trapping them inside and separating them from the outside. People have different questions; What is it? Why is it there? What will happen to the townspeople? When will it disappear? When will things go back to normal? As the situation escalates and eventually becomes an emergency situation, different people in power and position (government, scientists, etc) try to solve the mystery of this barrier and ultimately, break it down.

Review: I've read few of Stephen King's popular books, and I've always been in awe with his work. I like how he is capable of not only instilling fear in his readers, but making them think about that fear, long after the story is finished.
This one is a little bit different from his usual work, mainly because it's not about ghosts or supernatural beings anymore. This novel works with the horror of reality--of the world today, and what humans are capable of doing at a time of need.
I have to say, this is a unique and a very interesting story line. I was eager to find out more about it, and as I was reading, found my interest still there. The characters are well-developed, as well as the events leading up to its satisfying conclusion. However, this is probably NOT AS good as King's other works of horror. I don't know if it's because it was a bit too disturbing for my taste (but I guess it shows the point of showing human ugliness) or.. I'm not entirely sure.

I do recommend it, only if you would find this plot appealing to you. Again, this is a disturbing book, just to let you know ahead before you dive into it. If you have read it already, please tell me how you felt about it and what you think about it. This is just one of those books, I have mixed thoughts and feelings about it.

Sarah's Key

Synopsis: In this novel, the author brings a fiction story based on the 1942 Paris roundups and deportations, where Jewish families were arrested and transported to Auschwitz.

Julia Harmond, a forty-five-year-old writer for an American magazine, has been assigned by her editor to cover the coming 60th anniversay of the Vél' d'Hiv' roundups. While doing this assignment, she learns that the apartment she is planning to move into with her husband was once the house of a Jewish family that were part of the deportation 60 years ago. The more she learns about the family, especially about the 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, who was the only one who survived, the more she learns about her husband and his family's background, France, and ultimately, herself.

Review: In this book, the author used an effective method of alternating the past (1942) with the present.The historical plot and storyline makes this compelling, interesting, and intriguing. But even though there were good points, I don't think it was that good overall.

It started to lose its appeal by the middle of the book, that it lost me with it as well. There were unnecessary ramblings, and random events that might have been better if they were taken out or edited better. The modern life overshadows the tragedy of the past, making it seem like a book full of rants and complains of a not-so-likable character, suffering from mid-life crisis. (Sorry)

In short, the story had great potential. The writing was good, but nothing special. The issues were not used and dealt with efficiently.

I just feel that if only it was handled differently by another author, it would have ultimately be a better book. Don't get me wrong, it is not a HORRIBLE book, but it is not GREAT either. Also, I can think of so many other different titles dealing with this storyline and issues that you will find so much better. This one is not so worth it. Personally, if I were you, I'd skip it.