Once upon a time...

Tournament of Heroines

2011-12-16T14:38:00.001-08:00

Heard about the YA Tournament of Heroines yet?
I'm voting for Karou from "Daughter of Smoke and Bone"!
Enna Isilee over at Squeaky Books is hosting a contest involving this book, so be sure to heard over there and check it out!
And make sure to vote for Karou!

Top 100 YA Books List

2011-10-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

Bolded: ones I have read
Italics: ones I started but didn't finish
Underlined: ones I want to read

1. Alex Finn – Beastly
2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
3. Ally Carter – Callagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)
4. Ally Condie – Matched
5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills
7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)
9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)
10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)
12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)
13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret
15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)
16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)
17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3)
18. Christopher Paolini - Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)
19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)
20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)
21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)
22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse
23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply
25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)
26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere
27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest
28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)
29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)
31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why
33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)
34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines
37. John Green – Looking for Alaska
38. John Green – Paper Towns
39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)
40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2)
41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)
42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)
43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3)
44. Lemony Snicket - Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)
46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)
47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
48. M.T. Anderson – Feed
49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)
50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)
52. Markus Zusak - The Book Thief
53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger
54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
55. Mary Ting – Crossroads
56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)
57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)
58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now
61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)
63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road
64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)
67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion
68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline
70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust
71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )
73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)
74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks
79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)
80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip
81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride
82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key
83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
85. Scott Westerfeld - Leviathan (1, 2) And they're both sitting on my bookshelf. I know I'll read them eventually.
86. Scott Westerfeld - Uglies (1, 2, 3)
87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days
88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy
89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)
90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)
92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host
93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)
94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees
95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)
96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)
97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)
99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)
100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped

So I would say I definitely don't agree with some of these. Personally, I think Shannon Hale's books should be way further up the list than they are, as well as The Queen's Thief books. But I don't know who made the list, so it doesn't matter. Besides, this kind of thing is a matter of opinion, so it doesn't really matter if I agree or not.

SIS Read-a-Thon, hosted by Enna Isilee at Squeaky Books

2011-06-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

So originally I had planned to just do friday, and try to put in as many hours as I could before I got to Vancouver, but I'm going to count today too. I'm pretty sure I read more today anyway.

Update: I really wish I had gotten more time, because it's kind of sad how little I read.
Total books read: 2/3 of a book.
Total pages read: 400 (the book has 600 pages so this explains why I didn't even finish one book)
Total time read: 4 hours
How I'm currently feeling: wishing I could have had more time to read, but I went to a wedding today, so that makes up for it! Maybe next time I'll be able to read more.

And now for report #2, since I'm too late for the first one.

1.First of all, give us an end-of-read-a-thon status update. Books read, pages read, you know the drill!
Since this is all in one post, I've already listed it above.
2. What is your favorite book you read during the read-a-thon?
Ha, only read one book, and didn't even finish it.
3. Did you participate in any mini-challenges? Which ones?
Yes, challenges 1, 6-8, and 11.
4. Which mini-challenge was your favorite?
I think 6 was my favourite, because it's always interesting to think how two characters would get along.
5. What has been your favorite thing about the read-a-thon?
Just trying to find the time to read. I haven't been reading as much as I normally do lately.
6. Are you satisfied with how much reading you got done? Did you do more than you expected? Less?
I am not satisfied with how much reading i got done, but I think it would have been different if I had today free to just read.
7. What did you think of the updates? Too close together? Didn't like the time limit?
I think if I had been doing the read-a-thon normally, just at home, I would have enjoyed posting updates.
8. If you could change one thing about the read-a-thon, what would it be?
Maybe the time limit for the updates, but I'm only saying that because I wasn't at home for the whole thing.
9. Would you participate in another read-a-thon hosted by Squeaky Books? Why or why not? (Again, I won't cry if you say "no")
Yep, I definitely would, and I'd probably get a lot more read a second time. If you actually end up reading this Enna Isilee, I really hope you do another one!
10. Any last comments on the read-a-thon?
Good job on your first read-a-thon! I think you organized it really well and the updates with the mini-challenges are a fun idea.

Enna Isilee had us do a a bunch of updates and mini-challenges, but since I've only just gotten home, I thought I'd do them all in one post. Plus nobody reads this blog anyway, so I can do whatever I want. I'm in Canada, so I can't win anything now, but I figure it's fun to do anyway.

Mini-challenge #1:
Favourite and least favourite movie adaptation of a book. Sadly my answers are super similar to Enna's. Apparently we read similar books. But I'd say Harry Potter has been my favourite movie adaptation. They've been really faithful to the books, especially with splitting the last book into two movies. There was too much in that last book to capture in one, so I'm glad it got split up.
And my least favourite adaptation is Ella Enchanted. I loved that book growing up, and originally I was excited about the movie. However, the movie was not faithful to the book, tried to add in modern pop culture references, and added a lame villain. It disappointed me in so many ways. And it gave the book a bad name! I thought it was terrible.
Oh and another favorite movie adaptation was Howl's Moving Castle, because it is awesome.

Mini-challenge #6 (because it's my blog, so I choose which ones to do!): Choose 2 characters from a book and why they go well together.
Going to say Eugenides from The Thief, and Bartimaeus from The Amulet of Samarkand (I'm currently reading the sequel). I feel like they would get along really well, because they're both clever, cheeky, and sneaky. I think they could be friends easily.

Mini-challenge #7: Pick a book that should be taught in school
I am an admitidly biased fan of The Queen's Thief series, but I think it should be taught in class. MWT's books are so clever, they make people smarter. And the first book is so great for middle school ages. I think it could be good in high school too. Good thing I'm going to become a teacher!
I also think that Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" series should be taught. It's a really important subject for many young girls, and it addresses their concerns about looks. Plus I think dystopians are awesome and should always be taught.

Mini-challenge #8: If I had bookshelves full of my favourite books, how would I organize them? This is kind of a boring question for me. The same as I organize them now: alphabetically, and within series.

Mini-challenge #11: If you could live in the world of one book, which would it be?
So first up dystopians are off the list. Probably a book based off of a fairy tale. Because obviously I'd either be a princess, or become one :) Is it cheap for me to just say the world of Grimm's Fairy Tales? I have their complete collection after all.

The Seer and the Sword-Victoria Hanley

2011-06-12T13:43:00.001-07:00

This book was a surprise to me. I found it while browsing at the library, which I don't do very often. Usually I request books online rather than getting them on a whim. But I'm so glad I did! This book was so not what I thought it was going to be. It was inventive, and surprised me. This book is apparently Victoria Hanley's first YA novel, and I think she did very well.
The book is about Princess Torina, and her friend Landen, prince of Bellandra, a kingdom Torina's father has conquered. So going in I had some ideas about what the book would be like, what would happen, but I was totally wrong, and glad for it. The author creates believable twists to the story. The book is well written, and very believable. It's a story about two people who have everything taken away from them, and their slow paths to redemption. And about two people who take years to reunite.
I'm so glad I picked up this book. I think this one is a definite re-read in the future. It's a very complex story, but because it's a YA novel and not an adult novel, it's easier to read.
I'll stop the review here so I don't go gushing about how awesome some of the characters develop to be.
Going to give this one 4.5 stars, for being awesome.

Squeaky Books's Read-A-Thon!

2011-06-02T20:11:00.000-07:00

This post is to announce to the world that I'm participating in the Spring into Summer read-a-thon hosted by Enna Isilee of Squeaky Books!

This read-a-thon is going to be so great! It's two days where you try do NOTHING but read. It's a great chance to get rid of some of those books that have been sitting on your TBR pile forever.

But that's not all! There will also be awesome mini-challenges and a TON of giveaways! In fact, just for signing up you are entered to win a $25 gift card to Amazon! SO GO SIGN UP! And if you say that Clairedelune sent you, you'll get 5 extra entries to win that gift card! CLICK HERE to enter to win, and know all there is to know about the read-a-thon.

Here's my goal:

I plan to participate on: FRIDAY ONLY
I plan to read:3 books or 600 pages
I hope to read: The Druid's Tune, the Book Thief, and the Seer and the Sword.

Well, have you signed up yet? DO IT NOW!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Edit: had to change two of the books I'm hoping to read. I had to return one of them to the library without reading it, so I can't read the next one either.

My views of ebooks

2011-06-02T18:03:00.001-07:00

So I recently began trying out ebooks, because a year ago for Christmas my parents gave me an ereader. I've been getting books from netGalley, but I'm finding it kind of hard to actually read ebooks. I much prefer solid books that I can physically turn the pages of. I'm going to give it another shot though, because the one book I have from netGalley at the moment, C. S. Lakin's Wolf of Tebron, sounds really good. It's just hard for me to get into a book when I have to stare at a screen to read it. If I do end up reading this book, I don't think I'll try any more ebooks for a while. Especially not when I have eleven books on my floor waiting to be read.

The Princess and the Snowbird-Mette Ivie Harrison

2011-06-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

So this book was a bit of a lucky find. I happened to chance upon it when I was browsing the library. I had heard about it, but I hadn't known our library had it, so I was very pleased. I saw some reviews for it on Goodreads, and what really puzzles me is that there are so many negative reviews! I don't really understand why people didn't like it, but I guess people are just different in their tastes. As for me, I loved this book. It read like a dream, had no lulls, and was very engaging. I really liked both the main characters, and I really enjoyed reading it. I've read both the two books before this one, and I found myself liking it as much or even more than the previous book. Harrison's writing style is marvellous. The book feels a bit like a fairy tale, only with more substance. I really got into the book. There were definitely a few parts where I was so engrossed, that some of the more dangerous scenes for the characters had me very anxious for them! All in all, I thought this book was great, and it comes highly recommended, especially if you read the previous two books and enjoyed them. 4 stars

Beauty-Robin McKinley

2011-05-15T19:01:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to read this book for a couple years now. I've really enjoyed most of McKinley's books, and only disliked a couple, so I knew I'd be in for a treat with this one. I wasn't disappointed.

This book was so well paced. It reads very easy, with no convoluted long sentences that I've found in other McKinley books. I liked that she stayed quite close to the original fairy tale in her adaptation. I also really liked the characters in this book. The fairy tale focuses on Beauty and her father, but this book made her sisters convincing and sympathetic characters, and I really enjoyed that. Occasionally Beauty's stubbornness was annoying, but this was very minor. It really was only annoying when she insisted how plain she was, even when others told her otherwise. However, I didn't find it realistic that she somehow had gotten pretty red hair by the end. Unless I'm mistaken, hair can't turn red from blonde. People have to be born with it. But that obviously is a very minor annoyance and I'm rambling now.

Overall, this is a great adaptation on the classic tale Beauty and the Beast. Well written and very enjoyable, it's one of my favourite McKinley books. 4 stars!

In the Forests of Serre-Patricia A. McKillip

2011-05-13T12:18:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this book. I've never read a book by McKillip, but I think in the future I'll have to. I really loved her writing style in this book. It was languid and flowed well, like a dream or a fairy tale. I loved all the fairy tale elements in this book. I don't think I've read a book like this in a while. Her writing style is very well done, with an excellent choice of words. She knows what should be said and what doesn't need to be. I think the book ended well; the conflict was resolved, but I was left still wondering at what might happen to a couple of the characters. The little bit of wonder left at the end of this book was just perfect. Overall I greatly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to lovers of fairy tales. 4 stars.

Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban

2011-04-30T22:07:00.000-07:00

This book surprised me. I felt it had a slow start, and it took me a while to get into it, but once the real story started, I really enjoyed it. This book didn't turn out anything like what I expected, and I really enjoyed that. I figured that it would be all about her time in California and less about her own world, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was a little bit confused about the time differences between the two worlds though. Andrea started the book at around 14 years old, but when she was in California, the equivalent age was 17. I was a bit confused because I figured her immaturity came from her young age, being 14, but that might not be the case. Nonetheless I found her character to be the most believable in the book. I really enjoyed the whole second half of this book. The author's writing is quite good, but I felt the dialogue was a bit awkward at times, simply because the characters occasionally used a word or phrase that didn't really fit with the medieval setting, but I was able to ignore that and focus on the story, which was intriguing. I felt that the language problems were brushed over a bit too easily as well, but I was also able to ignore that. I'd definitely recommend this to teens who enjoy an interesting book. 3 stars.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

I'm home for Easter this weekend, with only one more exam to finish on Wednesday. I'm glad to be almost finished the school year! It'll mean many more books for me to read, which means more book reviews! Can't wait. Although the only thing about the summer I'm less enthusiastic about is the fact that I need to find a new job. I have no idea what to apply for. Maybe a job at the library. We'll see. Anyway, I'll have a new book review up within the next two weeks!

-Clairedelune

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

2011-04-13T15:14:00.001-07:00

Goodreads summary
As some of my past reviews have shown, I've loved some of McKinley's books, but disliked others. However, I really loved this book. Her description is just beautiful, and rather than making me lost, it brought me deeper into the world she's created here. She's really thought out the concept of pegasi, and her descriptions of their world make sense. I love the contribution she's made to pegasus mythology here. Although I got annoyed with the character a few times, her actions made sense. The writing of this book is really good, and I loved the story, however when I finished this book I found it was one of two books. McKinley normally doesn't write sequels, but this book will have a sequel sometime in the future. The downside to this was the point in which McKinley decided to end this book. I felt that it ended midscene, which created a really jarring effect when I was done. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot better if she had ended the book at a different point. It didn't make sense to me where it ended, and that was a disappointment to me. However, I really enjoyed the book, and I would recommend reading it if you can stand waiting for the sequel. Or better yet, wait until the sequel is out and then read both. I'm excited to see where she goes with the story, and I'll definitely be reading the sequel with it comes out. Overall, a rating of 4 stars, because of the ending.

Court Duel

2011-04-10T20:05:00.001-07:00

The Goodreads summary for this book is very brief, but basically it's a sequel to Crown Duel, and is about a court following the removal of a corrupt ruler. I've been re-reading it over the past day, and it's really renewed my love for this book. It's wonderfully written, and it had me completely engrossed in the story. Sherwood Smith is excellent in her description of the world of this book. It seems very realistic, and the extra touches about court etiquette were really interesting. This book was great as a re-read, because I noticed so many little things that went right over my head the first time. The prose is well-written, and the dialogue doesn't sound forced at all. Unlike other books I've read where they try to use language to evoke a sense of the medieval, it felt natural. Also, I loved the romance in this book. Meliara is such a well-written character; she stays true to herself and is willing to admit her own faults. Overall, a great read, and highly recommended. I love this book so much that it kept me from studying for finals! I'd give it 4 stars.

Reckless by Cornelia Funke

2011-04-01T22:47:00.000-07:00

Summary on Goodreads
After a long hiatus, I'm back, hopefully for good. I recently read Reckless, and loved it! It was everything I was wanting in a book: fairy tales, complex characters, adventure, and wonderful writing. I loved the new world Funke gives us here. I also really enjoyed the relationship between the two brothers! The pictures at the beginnings of every chapter were a bonus, but one chapter near the beginning really freaked me out because of them! All in all it was a good read, although I felt there were a few loose ends. I would recommend reading this if you're a fan of Funke and fairy tales. (Bonus alliteration!)

Haven't posted in a while...

2010-09-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

Hi!

So I haven't posted in a really long time, since I had decided to go on a hiatus from blogging. It takes up too much of my time! But, I'm considering restarting again. So, let me direct your attention to something going on at Enna Isilee's blog, Squeaky Books:

Have you been following Enna Isilee's birthday bash? No?! Well allow me to inform you:

Enna Isilee is the operator of the YA book-blog Squeaky Books, and from August 23rd-September 22nd she's been celebrating her birthday in style with author interviews, guest posts, and giveaways featuring some of the hotest YA titles. It's been a blast so far! CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE SUMMARY OF EVENTS

The bad news? IT ALL ENDS TONIGHT!

That's right, all FIFTEEN (15) giveaways end at 11:59 pm MST tonight! But don't worry! You still have time to enter! Below I've listed all of the possible things you can win. The winners will be announced tomorrow (September 22nd) on Squeaky Books.

If you live in the US you are qualified to enter every giveaway! Most giveaways are open to Canadian residents as well. Sorry international friends, no contests are open to you. But if you have a friend in the US or Canada that will mail to you then you are welcome to enter!

So? Have you entered yet? NO?! What are you waiting for? Check out the links below and enter to win some wicked sweet prizes!!

Paranormalcy By Kiersten White!

Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala!

One of the GORGEOUS UK Versions of Shannon Hale's Books

ARC of Pegasus by Robin McKinley!

Swag and an ARC of Dust City by Robert Paul Weston!

Swag and a signed copy of Spy Glass by Maria V Snyder!

Swag and a pre-order of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer!

Win one of three sets of punctuation earrings!

A signed copy of Ice by Sarah Beth Durst and some Enchanted Ivy swag.

Pre-order of Matched by Ally Condie

UK edition of The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Win I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Swag and a copy of It's a Mall World After All, by Janette Rallison

Two different Janette Rallison Books

Pre-read SIGNED ARC of Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Graceling and Fire

2010-01-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

So, I've decided to combine Graceling and its sequel Fire. I'm sure most people have heard about these books by now, so I'm not going to go into a summary.
My opinion: these books were great! The second was about completely different people, set in a different region, but I didn't mind at all because Graceling was finished so well it was clear the author was done with those characters. I really liked the pace of these books, and thought they were really well written. I liked that the author was able to create realistic "villains", because I sometimes find these kind of characters are less developed. The character of Cansrel was particularly intriguing. All in all, I really enjoyed these books. (They were my Christmas presents!) 4.5 stars.

New Layout

2009-12-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

I decided to change up my layout a bit. I was getting bored with that old one and wanted to try a premade one. Do you like it? I was a little annoyed that the layout doesn't let me put a header with the title of the blog. Anyone know how to do that? It would be greatly appreciated if you could tell me. There are a couple other layouts I want to try, so I think I'll test this one out for a few months and see if I like it. What do you think?

Secret Santa

2009-12-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

So this year I decided to take part in a secret Santa that was hosted by Kate at The Neverending Shelf. Since her website is mostly about books, everyone was sending out various books to an assigned partner in their country. I was very pleased with the ones I got, which were Aurelia, which I've been meaning to get for a while, and a book I hadn't heard of called The Stepsister Scheme. That one seems to have a fairy-tale theme to it, which i'm sure I'll love. I'll post the reviews of those books soon. I won't mention what I got my partner, just in case she hasn't gotten her package yet.
And on a side note, I'm almost done exams! Yay! First term is almost over. And I watched Mulan last night too. In an all guys house, where I was the only girl in the room. Who knew they liked Disney that much? Well it was fun, but I've got to go study now.
Happy reading!
-Clairedelune

An actual new book review

2009-12-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Yay, I started reading again! I went home for Christmas a few days ago, and it's great. So of course I had to take a trip to the library in between frantic shopping and baking of cookies. And I picked up Alex Finn's new book A Kiss in Time. Her last book was Beastly, which I also reviewed. Oh, and look! It was my first book reviewed too. I think that was quite a while ago, maybe two years? Anyway, about the new book:
Although I didn't like the title of the book because it made it look like one of my mother's romance novels, I did like the story. Alex Finn has again chose to base her story off of a fairy tale, and this time it's Sleeping Beauty. I really enjoyed this book. At first I thought the boy in it would be like in Beastly: a jerk turned into a good guy. But Jack was already a nice guy. The story line was interesting, and I liked that there were actual underlying reasons for the "bad" character's actions. All in all, a quite entertaining read. If you liked Beastly, you'll like this. 4 stars.
I'll be back for a few more books this winter break.

Quick Update

2009-11-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update. I don't have a new book to review, since this week I have 3 essays to write, but up next week will be a review of Anne Michaels' stunning book Fugitive Pieces. University life is awesome as always, and I've made a few new friends! Make sure to enter Enna Isilee's contest for Cleopatra's Daughter!
Clairedelune

The Maze Runner

2009-11-04T22:01:00.000-08:00

Just look at that cover. Looks creepy, right? Well, it is.
This book is full of mystery and suspense. Almost every chapter ended with a cliffhanger! So it didn't take me very long to read it.
Here's the summary.
You'll notice it says this book is part of a trilogy. What? I didn't realize that until I finished and it said "End of Book One". I really enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to learning more about this crazy horrible world they live in. But I also think this book can be a stand alone. I didn't think it needed another one, until I hit the epilogue, which throws something new at you. I thought this book was original, and creepy in a Lord of the Flies kind of way. It was perfect for a late birthday present to myself. (hehe) It was incredibly gripping, and interesting, and therefore deserves 4 stars. You go James Dashner!

Hmm. You may notice in the next week or so a certain lack of posts. I'm sorry! I already don't post that often, but I have a midterm and 3 term papers to write. I'll tell you all about it when I'm done.
Oh and something cool is you like musicals: my residence does a musical every year, and I'm going to audition this year. And a possible musical is Beauty and the Beast! I want to be Belle so bad. I am her, in almost every way. I really hope I get the part if we do it. I'll keep you guys updated on that as well.
Cheers,
Clairedelune

Ice

2009-10-26T19:06:00.001-07:00

...So I haven't vanished from the face of the earth. I'm just in university. And I went to the bookstore yesterday! Yay me! So I picked up Ice by Sarah Beth Durst, and The Maze Runner by James Dashner. Planning on reading the latter after I've finished my English term paper on Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. I'm actually excited about this paper. Shocked? Here's why:
One of the topics centers on how the play is kind of like a dramatic fairy tale. What? I get to discuss fairy tales... for my term paper? Sign me up!
So basically I'm quite excited for that paper, especially since in our lecture today, the prof talked about elements of a fairy tale, and I got a new book that I need to read. It's called When Dreams Came True: Classical Fairy Tales and their Tradition.
And now on to the book on my left. Yes, that one with the pretty cover.
Ice is based off of the classic fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. I know, I've already read (and possibly reviewed) a few of these books. Like Belle of Beauty and the Beast, "it's my favourite!" Sorry, had to put in a reference there. Anyway. Ice is set in modern times, and involves a very practical heroine. Her mother was promised to the Polar Bear King, but things got complicated. Sarah Beth Durst gives a refreshing take on this story. It's completely different from any of the other retelling I've read, and I loved that. This story was compelling and interesting. I did predict in a way the ending, but I didn't mind that. I think the fact that I finished in one day shows how good a book this was. 4.5 stars!

I think I'm going to add something new to my blog in an attempt to have something to actually write about. After all, my lack of posts doesn't stem from a lack of ideas but from a lack of books to read. (and time to read them) So in the future there will be a new style of post. I'm hoping those of you who read my blog before haven't abandoned me. Come back, please! I'd love to hear your comments on this book, or, if you've read it, The Winter's Tale.

-Your time-management challenged friend,
Clairedelune

The Cellist of Sarajevo

2009-10-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

This was such an incredible book. It is set during the siege of Sarajevo, an event that occurred from April 5, 1992, to February 29, 1996. The story revolves around the people of the city, who simply try to survive as they watch their city die around them. One day, while waiting to buy bread, 22 people are killed by a mortar attack. This causes the cellist to decide to play his cello every day at 4 for 22 days, for every person killed. This actually happened. The book is an eloquent portrayal of 3 residents of Sarajevo. It is shocking, moving, and strangely beautiful. I highly recommend this book.

...And I got to meet the author! He came to my university since he lives in the area and he gave a lecture on the book. It was so interesting and was really cool to meet the author. And he signed my book. That made my day.

Ah, university life. Stressful, fun, exciting, new! I have a quiz tomorrow and a midterm Monday for math, and an in-class essay for English. I haven't even been here for a month and I love it. I've had so much fun so far, and I've met some really cool people. And it's exciting living away from home. And my birthday is in 10 days! I really recommend that you read The Cellist of Sarajevo. It is a great piece of Canadian writing, and I loved it.

Excited

2009-09-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

My first full week of classes has ended, and brought a lot of reading with it. I'm supposed to start reading a new book for english, called The Cellist of Sarajevo, and it sounds so good! I read chapter one today, and I think I'll be reading this one pretty quickly. But you know, I'm starting to miss my constant reading. I don't have much time for it, and i don't have anything to read. At least right now I have the novel for english, but after that I will have a problem. Any recommendations for me to read?
Oh, and a note to self: why didn't I take calculus in high school? I don't understand it at all!

I'm determined to make the most out of this year, and experience new things. Problem is, i'm so shy! I guess that's just something I'll have to overcome this year.
And guess what! The newest Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog, is coming to theatres in November! I'm so excited for this movie, mostly because it'll be like the old Disney classics. Well, homework beckons.

Waiting for Godot

2009-09-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

So, as I told you, I'm now in university. But I want to try to continue this blog. I just won't be posting as often anymore.
University is awesome! I've had one full week of classes now, and i'm loving it. It is a bit rainy, but I'm used to that sort of weather. And it is kind of cool living in residence. I found a small group of friends pretty quickly, and it's really cool because it feels like we've been friends for longer than we have been.
Now, for the book/play mentioned in the title. It's written by Samuel Beckett, and is required reading for my enriched english course. And, well, it's kind of boring. The idea of the story is interesting, and it has a deep theme. But the way it achieves that theme is kind of boring to read. It's more interesting to read aloud. The play revolves around two old men, who are waiting for a man named Godot. They bicker. Then two more old men appear, and they all bicker. The recent arrivals leave, and act one ends with the arrival of a boy, Godot's servant, who tells the men that Godot will not come tonight, but tomorrow. Act two starts the next day, and the exact same thing happens. In fact, they even talk about the same things. But there are two differences. The two old men who appear later are now blind and mute, and the tree that was bare the day before is covered with leaves. But the most interesting/strange thing? No one remembers the past day except for one man, and the fact that his companions don't remember frightens him. He is the only one in the play who remembers anything. We're not finished discussing it, but I'm intrigued. It is kind of frustrating to read, though. Thoughts about this? has anyone else read it, or even heard of it?

Forest Born

2009-09-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

Yay! I finally got Forest Born, and read it. I really liked it. I like how every book was about a different person, and it was really cool to see how much the other characters have grown since their books. I liked the character of Rin. She was interesting to read about. And I really like Razo, so I loved having him in most of the book. But I didn't think this book was as good as the first, though I still liked it. Four stars.

And a sidenote. I know there aren't that many of you who read my blog, but I'm going to let you know now that I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post, because I'm going to university now and so i'll be pretty busy. Just check this page every two weeks, and there will probably be something. Does anyone want to hear about university? I'm taking math, enriched english, medieval studies, classical studies, and history. Sound interesting? Post a comment. And talk to you later then!

Catching Fire

2009-09-04T16:29:00.001-07:00

Wow. I just finished reading this book literally one minute ago. It was incredible. It had everything a book lover would want in a story. Wow. The story was so gripping, so full of twists, that it made me so excited to read it. I swear, at parts of the story i actually got up and started jumping around. Not because something good happened, but because the author is so clever! Anyone who has already read The Hunger Games needs to read Catching Fire. Now. 5 stars, for being incredible, and captivating, and everything I wanted in a sequel. How can I wait for the third one now? Oh, I loved it! I think I'll go reread it. Right now.

Fragile Eternity

2009-09-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

This book didn't take me very long to read, but for most of it I didn't seem to be enjoying the story. I'm not sure why; I liked Wicked Lovely. What i didn't like about this book was the feeling and pace of the first half. It felt sort of like reading Twilight, where the plot went nowhere and characters agonized over their problems. This is what happened with Fragile Eternity.

I understand why Seth was so concerned over the differences between him and Aislinn. But that didn't mean the first half of the book had to be entirely about that, because it really felt like that. Reading this book, I thought, 'haven't I read that somewhere?' and I had, in Twilight. That same feeling of "I want to be what you are but you don't want me to be" was there. I didn't like it. It's not particularily interesting. But after a while, the pace picked up, and I liked it much better. I didn't know there were more books though. i thought this was the last one. But the book got closer and closer to the end, and I thought, ' isn't she going to finish it?' and I got to the end... and realized there was more. I went to her website, and found that there are two more. What? That surprised me. Hopefully her next book I'll enjoy more. I like her writing style, and the characters, but this one book for me wasn't as good as the first. So, 3 stars, because I like it at the end but did not love it.

P.S. I'm reading a very interesting book right now. It's called How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading literature, or studying it.
...And, Catching Fire is out today! I'll try to buy it in the next couple days, but I'm moving so I'm not sure if I'll end up doing that. But I'd love to have that to read on the ferry!

The Ropemaker, and Dragon Spear

2009-08-29T15:47:00.001-07:00

Instead of showing the covers of both books I'm reviewing, I'm only showing the cover for Dragon Spear, because it's easier than trying to put two pictures side by side, and because it's pretty.
Dragon Spear is the third and final book in the series, and concludes Creel's adventures. All seems peaceful for the dragons in their new home when Creel visits them. But all too quickly that peace is shattered when Velika, queen of the dragons, is kidnapped. This book was just as wonderful as the first two, with the same quickness of plot and interesting characters. The plot was wrapped up very well, with no real loose ends. But it didn't seem like a contrived ending; it just made sense. I really liked this book and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good story. 5 stars.

And, The Ropemaker. I also liked this book. I'm kind of bad for judging books by their cover, which I know traditionally you aren't supposed to do. So at first I was a little apprehensive about this book because the cover looked kind of dumb. But I read it anyway, and I really enjoyed it. I actually stayed up until 7:30 in the morning the other day reading it. It has an interesting plot, although some of the characters felt a little flat to me. Overall it was a good book despite that, and I'd also recommend it. I give it 3.5 stars, because I liked it, but I didn't love it.

In a couple of days I'll post my review of Fragile Eternity, which I waited a long time to finally read!

Forest Born

2009-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

So Forest Born is now out, as of yesterday. I was so excited to go buy it, so I went to the nearest Chapters bookstore. And they didn't have it. They had a full table of Twilight-themed stuff, including t-shirts, but they did not have Shannon Hale's latest book! I think something is wrong about that. And I searched their computer, and the other outlet of the bookstore doesn't have it either! I was shocked, and dismayed. Why didn't they have it? I have no idea. it doesn't make sense. Whenever a new book like that is released, they always have it. Not this time. The only book by Shannon that they had was Enna Burning. I think I'll keep on checking their website to see when they get it. Hopefully before I leave. What do you make of this?

September

2009-08-23T17:45:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you guys, but I'm super stoked for the fall. I'm moving on to university, and moving out! I have just under 2 weeks now until I move into the school's residence dorms. My twin sister has already got an apartment, so we'll be living in the same city which is good. She going to a different school, one that doesn't have residence. So right now I am packing... and realizing how much stuff I need to take! I've already got 4 boxes fully filled, and 3 half-filled. And I've barely started with my clothes. I decided to bring most of my books, because I just can't bear to part with most of them. It's so exciting starting school! I'm going to study what I want to, not only what's required of me. Anyone else doing the same thing and going to university this year? Any advice?

Oh, and you see that the book on the left is Wuthering Heights? Guess what that little red sticker says? "Edward and Bella's favourite book." I was shocked when I saw it. They ruined a classic, a book that has been loved for over a century, by associating it with Twilight. That made me really sad. I suppose they're only doing it to get kids reading, but still! What do you make of this?

Forest Born

2009-08-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

Anyone else excited for this book? The other day on Shannon's website I read the first chapter. It's absolutely beautiful, and is as enchanting as the other books. I think what I love most about these books is the lyrical style of writing she does so well. The stories really have that fairy-tale sense to them, and I really love that. So I think there are four more days until this one, and after that I'm heading to the nearest bookstore!

Another book I'm excited for: Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games. I bought the first one, so I have to buy the second one too. And in October, (just in time for my birthday) The Maze Runner comes out. Yay for books!

And, on a side note, has anyone else seen the movie of The Time-Traveler's Wife? I saw it a few days ago and loved it. What did you think?

Two Books-The Amaranth Enchantment, and Austenland

2009-08-20T16:51:00.001-07:00

My first book is Austenland, by Shannon Hale. I'm actually surprised I never read it before now. So I decided to give it a try, because all other Shannon Hale books have been well-received by me.

I really liked this book. It was witty and charming, and very enjoyable. I discovered a side of the author I hadn't seen before. I liked the parallels to Pride and Prejudice, and I thought that the book was well-researched. 4 stars for being a witty and very entertaining book to read.

The Amaranth Enchantment is kind of a Cinderella-type story. Lucinda lives with her uncle and his wife, who fits the evil-stepmother archtypal perfectly. She's and orphan, and lives a miserable existance under her dominating aunt. But one day she has the chance to change it when two powerful people enter her uncle's jewelry store.
I found this book to be pretty entertaining, but I wasn't all that captured by the story. Maybe it was because of the age group it was aimed at? I'm not sure. But it really was a lovley story, and was quite funny at times. Good for passing time on a long trip. I give it 3.5 stars.

Any suggestions for books to read and review? And in the next two weeks I may not have much time for blogging because I'm going to start university in September so I have a lot of things to do to prepare.

Cybele's Secret

2009-08-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved this book! It's the sequel to Wildwood Dancing, which is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale. It had everything a good story needs: mystery, adventure, romance, and good heart. I also liked the love triangle, and I usually don't. The pace was good, and the story was exciting. I liked that I wasn't able to predict farther than the middle of the story. I liked the characters, especially Duarte. He was an interesting one; not quite who you think he is. Some things I found a bit predictable, but I didn't mind.

In this book we find that first impressions aren't always as they seem. This was a wonderful sequel to the first book. I think I even liked it better, and I loved Wildwood Dancing. 5 stars! Highly recommended.

Sunshine-Robin McKinley

2009-08-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

I picked this book because it's Robin McKinley, and she's supposed to be an awesome writer. I've read Deerskin and Spindle's End by her, and generally liked them, even if I thought Deerskin's ending was very strange. This book is set in our world, but there are added dangers, like the ever prevalent vampires in novels today. It's the story of Sunshine, a baker at a coffeehouse, and a strange vampire she happens to befriend.
At first the book seemed promising. The colloquial style of the writing allows for more of a connection to the narrator, Sunshine. But while it starts out well, I found the book to get increasingly slower and not enjoyable to read. Mere seconds of events take pages to occur because Sunshine stops to discuss something else to the reader. While the information is probably necessary, the info dumps make a reader want to skim rather than fully read. And one of the strangest things I found about this book was the randomly inserted incredibly graphic almost sex scene. I was not expecting that. It made no sense to happen. I didn’t pick up this book intending to be scarred. If I had wanted to read something that graphic, I could have picked up a harlequin book. So this book disappointed me.* I think it could have been better. One star, for starting off well and ending with a crash.

*This review is only my opinion. If you read this book and liked it, then that’s great. But it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Children of the Serpent Gate

2009-08-03T23:24:00.001-07:00

So with this book, Sarah Ash ends her trilogy. This book developed ideas that were only starting to emerge in the previous book, until they took over the plot. In some ways I liked the takeover, but it got a bit tiresome sometimes. There were so many subplots in this book. Things happened, but some never were concluded, which annoyed me. A major problem was ignored at the end, reduced to, "oh I'll figure it out later." Lame, Sarah Ash. Lame. I think the exact wording was, "she would find a way; she was sure of it," which is kind of dumb, in my opinion. Except for that one thing, most of the loose ends were tied up well. But that thing bugged me. A lot. Why put in a major plot twist, and then leave it hanging? It seemed almost as if she couldn't think of how it would be resolved. But I liked the sense of myth that came into the story, and cultural beliefs. That was cool. So overall, I enjoyed this series. Nice writing style, full characters, and an interesting plot. 4 stars, I'd say.

Prisoner of the Iron Tower

2009-07-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

I decided not to give another summary for this book, because I already put one for the first book. So this novel continues the story of Gavril. The plot starts to thicken. Political intrigue develops. The nature of the Drakhaoul starts to reveal itself. And an interesting twist develops.

I liked this book a little better than the first one, I think. Some of the characters got more developed in this book than in the last. But some didn't change at all, which isn't necessarily bad. I would recommend this book to be read only if you liked the first one though. Many subplots develop, and unless you like the story enough to follow it, it'll get a little confusing. Sarah Ash continues to write well, and I liked the many POV's which helped me to understand characters motivations better. 4 stars. Great story!

Lord of Snow and Shadows(The Tears of Artamon Series)-Sarah Ash

2009-07-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

"In this excellent start to a new fantasy series from British author Ash (Moths to a Flame), Gavril Andar, an idealistic young artist, falls for the nobly born Astasia Orlova, whose portrait he's been hired to paint. Luckily, he's attractive enough for Astasia to return the favor. He doesn't know he's also Gavril Nagarian, son of the recently assassinated ruler of the wintry kingdom of Azhkendir, and that fate is about to deal him a dreadful blow. Like his father before him, Gavril becomes soul-bound to the Drakhaoul, a creature that grants awesome power at a terrible price. Kidnapped, Gavril finds himself trapped in Kastel Drakhaon, reluctant to draw on his new magical abilities, as their use only makes him more beast-like and less human. But with Prince Eugene of Tielin threatening to reconquer all of the Rossiyan Empire, he may have no choice. Fascinating and unpredictable, Gavril's tale gains richness from the grand scope of Ash's narrative, with its echoes of Russian history under the czars."

Originally, I was going to do a review for the entire series. Then I realized that the books had way too much material for me to talk about them all in a single post. So I'm starting with the first one.
I found this book on the website What Should I Read Next?. I'm very interested in books set in Russia or the North, so I decided to give it a try. What I came across was a well-written and intriguing story, set in a country resembling Russia. What starts off as a simple plotline very quickly gains new twists that take over the story. Things seem to go from bad to worse for Gavril, but he overcomes his challenges in surprising ways. The struggle of his character is a main part of the story. Where other people would be happy to use the power he has gained, Gavril, clearly a more noble sort of man, turns from it. The first book ends with a second book anticipated. (Good thing there is one!) One of my favourite characters in this series was Kiukirilya (what a mouthful of a name!), who has a pure and brave heart, although she can be a little empty-headed. 4 stars for this one.

And for tomorrow(or in a few days) Prisoner of the Iron Tower, book two in the series.

Gone-Michael Grant

2009-07-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

"In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else..."

This was quite an adventure of a novel. Things quickly go from normal to weird, and from weird to supernatural. It reminded me a lot of Lord of the Flies, but with its own twist. There are some slightly disturbing parts in this story, so reader beware. But other than that, this was a superb story that kept me wanting to read more. And at around 600 pages, it's quite a long story. But Michael Grant keeps it from ever getting stale or boring with all the new twists the story takes. And there are many. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat. I'm really excited for the next book, Hunger, which is already out. 4 stars.

Inkdeath

2009-07-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

"Ever since the extraordinary events of Inkspell, when the enchanted book Inkheart drew Meggie and her father, Mo, into its chapters, life in the Inkworld has been more tragic than magical. Dustfinger is dead, having sacrificed his life for his apprentice’s, and now, under the rule of the evil Adderhead, the fairy-tale land is in bloody chaos, its characters far beyond the control of Fenoglio, their author. Facing the threat of eternal winter, Mo inks a dangerous deal with Death itself. There yet remains a faint hope of changing the cursed story–if only he can fill its pages fast enough."

Wow. Inkdeath was really something. The Inkworld is so rich in description and characters. Funke's writing is wonderful in this story. It has everything a good book needs: wonderful description, intriguing plot, strong characters, and a beautiful lyrical style of words. I thought that the characters were excellently fleshed out; everyone from Mo to the Adderhead were vivid, and seemed like real people. This was an amazing story, was well written, and highly entertaining. 5 stars, hands down.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

2009-07-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

"In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?"

This is not a book for those who like happy stories. Mary's story is filled with light and dark, happiness and despair. This book is very somber, but it was a good story. It's another book set in the future, but is nothing like The Hunger Games. The story is very dark, but in all the darkness there is a sliver of hope, and that is what moves the main character. While at times she appears selfish, her trait of holding on to the little hope she has is commendable. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a very interesting book, and one that, although it did make me cry, I enjoyed.

On a sidenote: I've decided to start some sort of rating system for the books. I'm not going to be creative, so I guess I'll just use the 5-star system. So, I give The Forest of Hands and Teeth 3.5 stars.

New Review-The Hunger Games

2009-07-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Hunger Games is an amazing book that came out a few months ago. Here's the description from Amazon.ca: "In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor tohis or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love."

I loved this book. For some reason these types of books appeal to me. It made me think of 1984 in some parts, maybe because of the surveilance during the games. This book catches you in its grip and doesn't let go until the final page. I loved the development of Katniss's character, and the moral dilemmas she faces. Katniss's strength was admiring to read about as the book went on. I didn't really like the whole Roman names in the Capitol though; that felt a little bit contrived. In some parts I felt that the writing style was a little less impressive than it should have been, but feel free to disagree with me on that. But for me the only bad point was that it felt like the author was directing the story to a younger audience, making the writing seem more colloquial. But other than that, I felt that the story was incrediably riveting and moving. I highly recommend this book to others.

First post in a year...

2009-07-17T00:06:00.000-07:00

So I've decided to start up this blog again. I figure, why not? It'll be good experience reviewing books. I have a lot of books I've read lately, so be ready for a torrent of reviews.

And now, on another topic: I saw the newest Harry Potter movie last night. And I loved it. I thought it was very entertaining, and had the right mix of seriousness and comedy. I think it developed the story well, because up until the previous movie, I guess the evilness of some of the characters wasn't really felt. In this movie it really hits you that Voldemort isn't just some bully, he really is evil. Did anyone else feel the same way about it? And what did you think?

About Me

2008-08-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well, as most of you have probably gathered by now, I love to read. I've been reading since I was two years old, and have loved it all my life. I also love ballet, which I've taken for 4 years. I intend to study English Literature in university. I'm not going to be too specific about where I live, but I'll just say it's in the Western hemisphere. I created this site as a place for me to review books I've read; something I've wanted to do for a while. While I love most books if they're well written, my favourite topic to read about is fairy tales. I've had a fascination with these stories since I was very small, and it continues to dominate my choice in books. I hope you like my blog.

Clairedelune

Hush

2008-04-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

Hey, now for my next book: Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale.

The book is described on Amazon like this: "Melkorka is a princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom in mediæval Ireland -- but all of this is lost the day she is kidnapped and taken aboard a marauding slave ship. Thrown into a world that she has never known, alongside people that her former country's laws regarded as less than human, Melkorka is forced to learn quickly how to survive. Taking a vow of silence, however, she finds herself an object of fascination to her captors and masters, and soon realizes that any power, no matter how little, can make a difference."

I really enjoyed the book. I read it fairly quickly. But it is not for people hoping for a happy ending. The book is fairly grim for most of the story, but I found it to be an incrediably interesting and captivating book. It's written very well, and the author describes the places visited with skill. You really get to like the main character, and I liked how she did not just gie up like many people would have. The fact that she had hope gave the book a happy ending in an otherwise unhappy situation. I love that this book takes place so long ago, because I love history as well as english, and Donna Jo Napoli described ancient Ireland so well. I was not disappointed by anything in the book, and I especially loved the author's subtle use of words and meanings. If I did a rating system, this book would get 5 stars. i definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of historical fiction or a twist on a fairy tale. (The book is based on an ancient Icelandic saga)

Coming next: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Beastly

2008-04-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so the first book I'm going to review here is...Beastly by Alex Flinn. It's basically a new version of Beauty and the Beast, written from the Beast's point of view, and set in present day New York.
I really liked this book. It's fresh, and very entertaining. I wanted to read it in one sitting, so the whole day at school I kept on wanting to reach into my bag and start reading, even though I should have been paying attention. I liked that the book told about what it was like for Kyle/Adrian before he was changed. Most Beauty and the Beast stories tend to start after the fact, and I liked the new take. I liked the fact that instead of making the story too modern, the author still kept a lot of the fantasy of a fairy tale in it. The chat room sequences were also pretty funny, especially if, like me, you can tell which fairy tales each speaker came from. The only bad thing I can say about the book is that I found some parts to be a tad cheesy, especially when Adrian took to calling Lindy by terms of endearment in his head. But it was overall a very good book, and I recommend that anyone who likes retellings of fairy tales read it.

Coming Soon: Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale by Donna Jo Napoli.

First post...

2008-04-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

Hmm. So I've never had a blog before, and i guess i feel kind of dumb as I write this right now. But I'm not expecting many people to see this, or even anyone to see it. Frankly, i don't care that much if no one ever reads this. But of course it would be cool if someone did. But i guess maybe i should write a little about myself. I'm alwasy careful about what i put out into the internet, probably because my mom has made me paranoid and convinced me that people can find me easily. But anyways, a little about me:
I love to read books, and have since i was little. I also love english, and i think i might want to be an editor. Or a book reviewer, which is what i'm going to do on this blog. That is, review books.
But a warning: I am a complete nerd. Others, mainly my boyfriend, would disagree. (I think.) But I am; I'm a complete bookworm, and an English nerd. So if you have an aversion to nerdy people(which i doubt since you are reading this. i think.) then i suggest you don't read this blog. Um, okay then i guess I might post here often, I might not. The question is: will there be anyone to read them?