New Layout

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

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

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

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

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

...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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

"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

"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

"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

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...

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?