Zombies Vs. Unicorns by Holly Black & My Life As a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

Part of Velvet's September's Zombies Event!

Genre: young adult, zombies, fantasy
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from library
Published: 2010
Pages: 415
Content: zombie violence and unicorn mayhem.


Summary: The best darn humorous zombie and unicorn anthology ever!


Funny. This is an anthology of stories on zombies and unicorns (separate stories). Holly Black is a unicorn fan and Justine Larbalestier is the zombie lover. They both have little dialogues at the beginning of each story describing why respective story beats out the unicorn or the zombie! They're both very witty. The stories are each unique, and some are funny and some are violent. You just never know what you're going to get. One has a unicorn farting rose-smelling farts, one has zombies as everyday Joes.


I loved me some unicorns as a little girl but now that I'm older and "mature," I love me some brainzzzz ;) So go team ZOMBIE!!!!!


Rating: 4 stars

Genre:  paranormal, urban fantasy, zombies, mystery
FTC Disclosure: bought from Smith's
Published: 2011
Pages: 310 
Content: Lots of zombie brainzzzz and lovin'.

Summary: Surprisingly awesome rendition of zombie lore, humor, and crime fiction!

The cover alone made me wanna get it! It's just awesome. And the story does not disappoint. Angel is a white trash loser. Pain killer addict, lives with her abusive dad, and can't keep a job...til she wakes up in the hospital with a poor memory of how she got there and a desire for brainzzzz. All she gets is a note that says go to the morgue, you've got a job, along with a some bottles of brain goo.

It takes her a bit to figure out she's dead and a zombie but it's fun getting there. It's fun watching her change and get her life together. And she's a zombie!!!! Rowland's zombie world is just awesome. Zombies can be the good guys; they just gotta eat the brains!!! They don't even have to be fresh. Throw in a cute cop romance...and her trying to solve who made her a zombie and why people keep turning up with their heads missing. Only a mystery Angel can solve. Brainzzzzz.

So yes, go pick up this book. Go!!! Eat your brains first, though.

Rating: 4.5 stars

The Iron Druid Chronicles (Hounded, Hexed, Hammered) by Kevin Hearne

Genre: Urban fantasy
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from library
Published: 2011
Pages: 289
Content: It's got blood, some language, and lovin!
Reason for reading: I saw the cover on Goodreads and knew I had to read it!

I just can't say enough how much I am loving this series. The first three were just released with three more early next year. Atticus is a 2500-year-old butt-kicking, smart, witty, and all around loveable Druid who is being hounded by all sorts of gods and their henchies for a magical sword he took a few hundred or so years ago. He has found a way to bind himself to an iron elemental which makes him really uber powerful when it comes to fighting demons, fey, demi-gods, and gods themselves. He also happens to have an agreement with his goddess the Morrigan, who has agreed to never take his soul...not that it'll stop another reaper from doing it...


Yeah, this is just one hilarious romp. Hearne knows his stuff, both historical and modern. He's up on the pop culture and has a lot to say through these wonderful characters. He combines elements of mythology, science, history, religion, everything into a fascinating world. In this world Thor is a big old meany and all the other gods hate him, Jesus likes beer and has a sense of humor. We also get to meet other lightning gods, Irish gods, Norse gods, Native American spirits and gods. Yup, it's all in here and it all meets together for one amazing and fun time. I can't recommend these books enough. Oh, and he has a wolf hound that he can talk to telepathically who thinks Genghis Khan got a bad rap...!


So yes, pick up these books and fall in love like I did!!!! Go...yes, go!


Rating: 5+ Stars!!!!

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Genre: young adult, paranormal
FTC Disclosure: bought from Walmart
Published: 2011
Pages: 348
Content: Some bloody bits. 

Summary: A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

One Line Review: A creative idea for a book with the old, weird pictures. 

Ransom Riggs is definitely creative and did a great job with splicing together a story from an old set of photographs.

But that also is somewhat why it's not quite a four star for me. The story seemed a bit contrived at times, which it was since he had to make stuff up to fit the pictures.

Also the ending was...lackluster. I was expecting something pretty big to happen and all we was something like if the Harry Potter series had ended with Harry walking into the forest to face his doom...I hope there's a second book because so much is left unanswered and in the air. If there's not one in the works? Shame on Riggs.

Overall, it was a fun and different read. I loved the crazy old photos and enjoyed his story telling.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

image source

Genre: classics, historical, romance
FTC Disclosure: bought from Barnes & Noble
Published: 1817
Pages: 249 (via e-book)
Content: Nothing offensive.

One Line Review: Smart and witty social commentary with a yummy sailor and more annoying family members!

I hate to admit this but Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Jane Austen novel (just because everyone's favorite is P&P and I so want to be different...), but Persuasion is definitely make second favorite!

I just love the story of lost love found again. Wentworth and Anne grow more in love and more as people through their years apart. It's a great love story. This is the second reading and I loved it even more!

I read this as part of the Classics Bribe Reading Challenge by the Quirky Girls!

Where I Play Short 'N Sweet Book Review Updates!

It's been a really busy month so I haven't been keeping up on my book reviews like I want. So I'm just throwing short versions out of all the books I've read this last month or two!

1. Bloodshot by Cherie Priest (read March 19-April 7): Fun story and premise but Raylene (vampire protagonist) was really annoying but no "Angel," which was a nice change. Overall a fun story and I look forward to more in the series. 3.5 stars.

Genre: urban fantasy
FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2011
Pages: 359
Content: Bloodsucking violence and language!

2. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (read April 6-15): Zusak can write, that's for sure. But I didn't enjoy the moral ambiguity in this one. The ending was lackluster for me. I enjoyed The Book Thief more. 2 stars.

Genre: Young adult

FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2002

Pages: 356

Content: Mild violence, sex, and language.

3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (read April 15-22): Fabulous! This one was just pure pleasure and fun. Anna's journey is one to be remembered! 4 stars.

Genre: Young adult

FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2010
Pages: 372

Content: Language and sexual themes.

 
4. Where She Went by Gayle Forman (listened from April 21-26): This is the sequel to If I Stay. This was a perfect ending to the story. Forman really knows how to punch out emotion and make you feel like you've been crying all night. Beautiful, just beautiful. 4 stars.

Genre: Young adult

FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2011

Pages: audiobook on 5 discs
Content: Language.

5. Matched by Ally Condie (read April 27-30): Not my favorite dystopia teen novel. Characters were a bit boring, and I have a good idea how it'll end...but it was an overall decent read. 3 stars.

Genre: Young adult, dystopia
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from friend

Published: 2010
Pages: 366

Content: Implied violence.

6. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathon Safron Foer (read May 11-17). I loved following Oskar on his journey to discover the last vestige of his father after his tragic death in the 9-11 terrorist attack. Beautiful writing, beautiful characters. It's weird and different, and I loved it! 4 stars.

Genre: contemporary fiction
FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2005

Pages: 326
Content: Language and violence.

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers and Giveaway! CLOSED!

As part of vvb32 reads's ...and a bottle o'rum-Pirates all May, I be reviewing On Stranger Tides and be givin' away a brand new book as part of me bootie!

Genre: adventure, piratey
FTC Disclosure: bought from Amazon.com
Published: 1987
Pages: 336
Content: zombie and pirate mayhem and a bit o'romancin'....

Ahoy, me hearties. This be a grand adventure fer any pirate! We follow Jack Shandy as he be taken captive aboard the Jenny...he be fightin' the bocors, the zombies, and the dreaded Blackbeard, as well as savin' t'love of his life, Elizabeth. Lots o'rum to be had, swords t'be fought, and zombies t'kill in this harrowing tale of t'Fountain o'Youth and the strange tides that be....

Ratin': 4/5 stars! Ahoy! A pirates life for me!!!!

If this book be o'interest please leave your name, email address and why ye be lovin' t'pirates' life! That be all, me hearties. Ye be havin' til Friday at midnight to enter MST and me wee lil' boy will be drawing randomly from 'is pirate hat! Winners will be notified by email and please be respondin' within 24 hours or I will be forced to choose a new winnah! Arrrr, me be not wantin' to do that. Name, email, why ye be lovin' t'pirates life! Or no entry....

Dead men tell no tales....Arrrr....Enter at yer own risk!!! ;)

CLOSED GIVEAWAY

Random Magic by Sasha Soren

Genre: fantasy, humor
FTC Disclosure: received from author for review
Published: 2010
Pages: 397
Content: Nothing to get antsy about
  
This was definitely a different book. It was really quirky and zany and kind of tough to understand what was going on with whom and why and how even. A few parts got more serious and were easier to understand and then it got zany again and back to bewilderment. She has a lot of mythical and literary references that just went completely over my head. I'm sure over half the book went over my head in that case. I'd like to read it again one day and take the time to look this stuff up!

But I loved Winnie. She's the best thing about the whole book. She's strong, smart, funny, zany, sassy, etc. A great heroine. I love strong female characters. Henry? Henry who? Yeah, I don't really have much to say about him since he wasn't a strong presence in the book. He didn't really have any qualities I remember...Plus the one time he's alone and not with Winnie the book goes all serious and hits us over the head with morality and right and wrong. I'm not sure if the author was doing that on purpose or not...the book is crazy, whacky fun...so it could be.

This book definitely isn't for everyone. I liked it but I just didn't understand a lot of it and that made it hard to get through. I liked what she was trying to do, though and I'm sure there are some really smart people out there who get most of it and makes it amazing.

I received the book courtesy of the author and this in no way affected my review.


Rating: 3.5/5


Join me later today for my piece on how to dress like a pirate!

Thanks for dropping by, hope you enjoyed your visit here! Here's another
interesting tour feature for the Random Magic Tour that you might also enjoy.

 
The main Rum + Plunder treasure hunt is open internationally!
Here’s a fun way to win something piratey and cool:
Browse prizes at vvb32 reads or join the hunt… (click coin for more info).

Click here

Bonus: Find even more pirate plunder, with Little Pirate Prizes,
these aren't marked on the schedule and they're not part of the hunt,
but they're out there for visitors to find, so have fun finding some
cute pirate things. Follow the tour schedule!
 
Have fun and good luck!

Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Genre: tall tale, fantasy, magical realism
FTC Disclosure: bought from a second-hand store
Published: 1989
Pages: 256
Content: language, sex

Amazon.com summary: Each chapter of screenwriter Esquivel's utterly charming interpretation of life in turn-of-the-century Mexico begins with a recipe--not surprisingly, since so much of the action of this exquisite first novel (a bestseller in Mexico) centers around the kitchen, the heart and soul of a traditional Mexican family. The youngest daughter of a well-born rancher, Tita has always known her destiny: to remain single and care for her aging mother. When she falls in love, her mother quickly scotches the liaison and tyrannically dictates that Tita's sister Rosaura must marry the luckless suitor, Pedro, in her place. But Tita has one weapon left--her cooking. Esquivel mischievously appropriates the techniques of magical realism to make Tita's contact with food sensual, instinctual and often explosive. Forced to make the cake for her sister's wedding, Tita pours her emotions into the task; each guest who samples a piece bursts into tears. Esquivel does a splendid job of describing the frustration, love and hope expressed through the most domestic and feminine of arts, family cooking, suggesting by implication the limited options available to Mexican women of this period. Tita's unrequited love for Pedro survives the Mexican Revolution the births of Rosaura and Pedro's children, even a proposal of marriage from an eligible doctor. In a poignant conclusion, Tita manages to break the bonds of tradition, if not for herself, then for future generations.

Wow. This is quite the different book. My first book with magical realism was Garden Spells. So I'm not sure how other books in the genre are...but this one was a far cry from realism! I would say this is more of a myth/tall-tale. While interesting, it just wasn't my book. Glad I read it but it was just a bit too bizarre for me. I went into it expecting a little more realism. Though, the movie now interests me. I wonder how they went about making this one...


The story does have a theme of love conquers all (even an overbearing abusive dead mother)!

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

goodreads.com

Genre: young adult, fantasy, supernatural
FTC Disclosure: bought from Amazon.com
Published: 2009
Pages: 563
Content: mild language and violence.


Garcia and Stohl really opened up a new world with this series. I've been looking for a fun series to really sink my teeth into and this one is it. It's not the greatest but it's fun and different and has a rich storyline.

The story is told from Ethan's point of view...a boy's voice. Definitely different but I honestly didn't notice so his voice as a boy wasn't really distinct! Anyway, he lives in a small Southern town called Gatlin where everybody knows everyone and outsiders are just not welcome. That's where Lena comes in. She's the niece of the local crazy "Boo Radley." He's a recluse and the town hates him and thus hate her. But Ethan can't get her out of his mind because she's the girl he's been dreaming about for the past year and 2, she literally is in his head...telepathically. Strange things happen when she's around and Ethan eventually realizes that she is a Caster/witch.

This was just a fun story. I enjoyed their budding relationship. I enjoyed the mythology of the Caster world. I liked that there weren't any love triangles. Those really bug me right now and neither was a "bad boy" who treated the one they love like sh**. So it had all those things going for it.

Some of the bad things...sometimes the story dragged on a bit too long. Also, the essence of the story is like every other paranormal teen novel. We have one person who's some kind of supernatural being who loves a mortal human and somehow they can't be together...sigh.

But overall, a fun story and looking forward to the next in the series.

Rating: 4/5 Stars 

Other Covers:

Bulgarian

Catalan

Dutch and Flemish

French

German

Serbian

 Quite a few covers for this one. I had no idea! I really like the Serbian cover and the German cover. They give it a more personal feel. The French one, I don't get. That pic doesn't really have anything to do with the story. The Dutch/Flemish version feels like a throwback to the 70s...just does, don't know why! The Catalan cover is more like the American version but more bland. The Bulgarian one is mysterious. I like that one too. But my faves are the Serbian and German covers. What about you?

All cover pics were taken from goodreads.com.

Room by Emma Donoghue

Genre: contemporary fiction,
FTC Disclosure: bought from Barnes and Noble
Published: 2010
Pages: 210
Content: abuse theme, psychological trauma


 There may be a spoiler or two in here! Sorry!

I went through a lot of emotions with this book, and I think that makes for a great book in the end. The whole story is told through the eyes of Jack, a five-year-old boy. His whole world is contained within a tiny room with only his mother for company. We soon learn that she was kidnapped at age 19 and has been held captive for seven years in this tiny room...after two years she had Jack.

The book goes through so many themes/ideas. One that struck me was this woman's relationship with her son Jack. She worked really hard to make his life as normal as possible given the circumstances...I kept thinking what I would have done in a situation like that. She said that Jack was her miracle. I think it was her way of being able to hold on and keep her own sanity. But that also got me thinking about what that really means...she had Jack for purely selfish reasons...and it shows after they escape and start to integrate into the real world. But that's what makes this book so intriguing. There are just so many emotions that run. I have no idea what I would really do in a situation like that, but I can tell you what I'd think I do. And isn't that what we always do when we here about other people's experiences and situations?

One thing I didn't like was the perspective of Jack. The storytelling was distracting from his point of view even though it also made it different. There were some inconsistencies as well in his dialogue...like he'd know a word at one time and then not know it later on. It was kind of weird. Also a few plot holes, too.

I thought the last half of the book really picked up after they try and reintegrate. We see how Jack's mother completely loses it after having kept it together soley for her son during their captivity. I liked how Jack was able to slowly start opening up to his other family aka grandparents, uncle, aunt, cousin. I'll admit, though, it was brutal to see how Jack's mother treats him after their escape. That's where the selfish part of her comes in. Since the book was written from Jack's perspective, he is the one character I truly care about. So I found myself really getting angry with his mother when she starts shutting down and not paying attention to him for a bit...but then I would think about what she went through...yeah, it's understandable.

Whew. Basically, this book made me think. I got really mad at times and then wondered why I was mad. I had to think from so many different perspectives...mine, mother, Jack, his grandparents. It's a journey that tears you down and then builds you back up.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Genre: memoir
FTC Disclosure: bought from Dragons and Fairytales
Published: 2006
Pages: 288
Content: Violence and language

Summary: Jeannette Walls puts all her childhood memories into a book and explores the good and the bad of growing up with crazy, crazy-smart, and crazy-negligent parents.

Review: Jeannette describes her crazy, poverty-stricken childhood. Her parents were definitely off their rockers and were pretty much horrible parents. Her mother hardly seemed to care whether they were there or not and pretty much left them to raise themselves. Her father was overly paranoid, an alcoholic, and put his kids in a lot of dangerous situations.

She starts off when she was three and was making herself a hotdog over the stove and her dress caught on fire and she received third degree burns. She writes from an unemotional distance. It's like she was separating herself from the traumatic events of her childhood. I thought this was a little off-putting and one in which I couldn't quite connect with her or her family. She does put a few quotes in or lessons she learned after the crazy stuff but not much...in the end it just was done. I expect a memoir to be a bit on the uplifting side and this one just didn't pack the emotional oomph I was looking for.

The kids turned out OK, but I'm not sure what she was trying to tell us about her story. "Look how crazy my family was and how I turned out???" Maybe she just wanted it told and that was that. I don't know, maybe I was expecting too much from this one.


But overall, it was a fascinating and yet horrible story. It was like a train wreck...you just couldn't look away.

Rating: 3/5 stars 


Other covers:

I like the car jumper! It definitely pops the story for me.

Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch

Genre: Science fiction, romance
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from library
Published: 2010
Pages: 389
Content: Sex, violence, language.

Yeah, it's all about Kitty Kat. She's the one perfect woman on Earth and every straight man, whether alien, parasite, or human wants her...

This was a very silly book. Kitty happens to take out Superbing aka human-infested parasite while coming out of jury duty. She's quick on her feet and says a lot of sarcastic and snappy things, oh and she's beautiful. So the Men in Black/Armani pick her up and take her to their secret headquarters and recruit her in their battle to save Earth from the evil parasites that turn into Superbeings when they take on human/mammalian hosts. So yea, lots of silly fun stuff going on here...like all of the aliens are from Alpha Centauri and are just humans but a million times better...better looking, faster, stronger, etc.

Make a long story short...it's silly and it's fun. It's got lots of action and witty and not-witty dialogue. But I could never buy the actual story. It wasn't coherent enough for me. There were so many plot holes and inconsistencies with Kitty that I had a hard time really loving this one. I'm not sure if the author was trying to literally say Kitty was the perfect woman or not. But having her pretty much solve everything and do everything that many aliens and humans couldn't over so many years was just something I wasn't buying. 

There were a few other things I didn't like about Kitty/the book or I should say the author...she made Kitty out to be not overly religious and yet super religious. Her parents brought her up a freethinker and yet her daddy treats her like her virginity is the most precious commodity she has ever had. She believes in God, she doesn't know, then all the bad people in the book don't believe in God...sigh. She has lots of great sex but feels horrible about it. She calls herself a slut and other horrible things. She talks about the double standard of men and women regarding this issue and yet still believes it. Ugh! I don't get it, Gini Koch! Just because some people may not believe in God doesn't make them evil parasitic Superbeings and just because people have a healthy sexuality doesn't make them sluts!!! For crying out loud!

This book reminds me of those blockbuster action movies. Lots of action and witty dialogue but no real substance or storyline to speak of. Get your thrills and move on.

 Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Genre: young adult, fantasy
FTC Disclosure: Nookbook from Barnes and Noble
Published: 2010
Pages: 256
Content: Nothing offensive.
 
I really liked this one. It was different and that is definitely good in the inundated market that is YA fiction.

Olivia has just moved to San Francisco with her parents after the death of her twin sister Violet. She's devastated and is trying to find a way to fit in at her new school and deal with her sister being gone. The author takes us back a bit so we get to know Violet...as the exact opposite of Olivia. Violet was outgoing and fun, she had all the friends and the great fashion sense.

Olivia eventually finds Violet's last dress she bought and decides to wear that for her mom's party, only it has a rip and needs to be mended. This takes her to Posey's shop. She's the modern-day fairy godmother! Olivia gets three dresses to make three wishes with.

Mayhem ensues when she wishes her sister back...as a ghost along with the other two wishes.

I enjoyed the sisters' interaction, how Violet tried to help Olivia get friends and the new boyfriend. It was a cute story about moving on and learning to live.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Other Covers:

German version

Polish version

Paperback English version

So which one do you like best? I like the overall design of the Polish cover but the model looks like she has a baby bump starting and she looks really annoyed with those rolling eyes! The German version is simple and pretty. I also like the paperback version with a closeup and the disappearing sparkles for her dress.

My pick would be the German cover! But all are pretty in their own way.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Genre: Young adult, fantasy
FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2010
Pages: 354
Content: Mild violence.

I was expecting a lot more from this one...

Sydelle lives on the outskirts of her kingdom which is all but forgotten by her king...until the wizard North shows up to change everything. Her kingdom is going to war with another one and she and North must make it to negotiations with important information.

But North wants her for a reason...she's really great at weaving and can even patch up his wizarding cloaks without breaking their magic. Weird things seem to happen whenever she is sad or angry...another wizard is following her and North. North himself is moody and is holding secrets.

This all sounds great and it could've been. It really fell flat for me. Some of the scenes were confusing. I didn't know where people were and what actually was happening until after the fact. I also didn't get their attraction. After North is unconscious a friend of his tells her that she should love him since he hasn't had a lot of it in his life...so she does! Oh, poor North, even though he's a big jerk and treats me like I'm 2 and yet calls me Darling for no apparent reasons, I guess I'll like him, no love him. Yeah, I didn't buy it.

Also, the world of Brightly Woven wasn't described very well. It makes me wonder if she's planning more books in the future. But the world and its magic and the characters in it just didn't have any meat.

I'm being generous with the 3 stars since the story was different and I do enjoy fantasy and there wasn't a love triangle...so bonus.

I wish she had decided on an adult fantasy so she could have fleshed out the characters and turned it into a trilogy with details and character development, then it could've been something.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Image Source: Goodreads

German cover:

I really like the U.S. cover the best. The German one doesn't have the fantasy feel to it that goes along with the story. Which one do you like best?

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Genre: young adult, romance, Austen-inspired
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from library.
Published: 2011
Pages: 231
Content: Nothing offensive.

This is a super fast, light, and fun read. I breezed through it in a couple of hours.

Pros: It was short and sweet.
Cons: It was short. It could have used a bit more, not much, just a tiny bit more with character development and story. The relationship between Lizzie and Darcy felt a bit forced. The language was also a bit cheesy. But it's not supposed to be a masterpiece. I think if someone hasn't read Pride and Prejudice before this would be a fun way to get them introduced and onto the real thing.

Rating: 3/5 Stars 


Image Source: Goodreads

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

*My copy

Genre: Modern classic, Jane Eyre-inspired, mystery
FTC Disclosure: bought second-hand.
Published: 1938
Pages: 380
Content: PG for mild violence. Nothing really offensive.

Mrs. de Winter lives in the shadow of the former Mrs. de Winter, Rebecca. She thinks everyone loved her more, especially her new husband Maxim. But she soon learns that all is not what it seems, especially Rebecca and her housekeeper Mrs. Danvers.

Pros: The mystery was excellent. Who was Rebecca? What really happened to her? Mrs. Danvers? Yup, it was good. I definitely saw the Jane Eyre influences throughout the book, which was also fun. Du Maurier really had a way of describing the setting. I could see the big house they live in, the garden and ocean, etc.

The main thing I enjoyed was her moral ambiguity at the end...SPOILER ALERT....................................................................................................................................................................










Maxim is not a very likable guy either. He's mean and brutish and moody and demanding but he seems like a decent enough person....and then you find out he really did kill his wife. I kept thinking it would be some sort of accidental death by him or Rebecca was so devious she convinced him that he had done it when she really had just killed herself...but, nope, he did it and he wasn't really sorry about it.  In order to avoid the awful controversy of divorce with his sociopathic wife, he'd rather just kill her instead. Granted, it wasn't premeditated murder but he still brought the gun and shot her dead. So I was left to ponder some things. Was what he did really justified? No. He should definitely have gone to prison for what he did. But you kind of feel for him and his new wife and they painted such a horrible picture of Rebecca so you don't feel too bad she died....but still. Anyway, good stuff.





END SPOILER ALERT!

The ending was just kind of left in the air...what happened? She never wrote a sequel...sigh. Good stuff.


Cons: I just had a hard time caring about our protagonist Mrs. de Winter...she was just so timid and shy and didn't seem to have much of a backbone. She was always whining about trying to please her husband all the time...would he like this, is he mad about this, etc. I understand why she was like this...but this didn't make her sympathetic. Maxim wasn't likable, either. I kept thinking he was kind of a pedophile, I mean, he kept referring to her as a child and treating her as one...petting her head, making her feel stupid, etc. She was half his age, but still....kind of creepy.

But overall, a great classic mystery! And is definitely worth a read!

Rating: 4 stars

Other Covers:

+

=

I wish I had gotten my hands on one of these editions! I really like them both but the blue R-ed one really stands out to me.

*Image Source from Yet Another Wordpress Blog.
+Image Source from Book Stains.
=Image Source from The Bookish Type.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Genre: Young adult, dystopia, sci-fi
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from local library
Published: 2011
Pages: 398
Content: Adult situations, nothing really offensive.

Description from Goodreads.com:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

This looked like a fantastic read, a sci-fi/dystopia, and a beautiful cover!!! I knew it was going to be great....OK, not so much.

Good Things: The story is interesting. I liked the plot of a teen getting unfrozen before her time and coming to grips with a new life and a crazy dystopian regime on a spaceship. Revis could have gone a lot of place with this one.

Bad Things: The sad thing is the story could have been so much better, everything could have been so much better. The main characters Amy and Elder were pretty one-dimensional and I didn't really care much about them. Another thing, Revis kept bringing religion and non-religion into her storyline...like since this is a totalitarian regime they must not believe in God anymore because only nonbelievers are cruel and eat babies or something and think Hitler was the best leader in the world and would white wash world Earth history....sigh. I also didn't like her views on sex and love...Amy kept being ashamed of herself and feeling guilty about stuff. This book really felt like a really weird Sunday school parable lesson.

The story could have been great but the delivery was poor. I'm not planning on picking up the next ones...maybe I'll just cheat and read the last chapters.


Rating: 2/5 stars

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Genre: contemporary fiction, social commentary
FTC Disclosure: bought from Target
Published: 2008
Pages: 266
Content: There is some language, violence, and sexual situations.

In a Line: I liked it! I really liked it!

I just really enjoyed how Cleave was able to tell the story by using two completely different women. I loved each woman's perspective. They each had something to learn and something to share.

Little Bee is a refugee from Nigeria fleeing for her life. Sarah is a magazine editor who has just lost her husband. Little Bee seeks out Sarah since she is the only person she knows in England after she leaves the refugee center. Sarah struggles with mourning her husband, raising her son Charlie, and figuring out how to deal with the skeletons in her closet. Little Bee has secrets too...But they both learn how to forgive, to move on, and to love.

Sarah isn't perfect, far from it...but it made her more real, a deeply flawed and human character but one that can rise above it all and live. Little Bee is young and yet so wise beyond her years. She is able to sense what is needed and provide it. The bond that forms is truly remarkable.

The story is horrific and beautiful and I really enjoyed being along for the ride. This is an important story to be told on immigration and refugee centers as well as commentary on how Africa continues to be forgotten. It's a beautiful wake-up and I recommend it for everyone.

Quote: I felt my heart take off lightly like a butterfly and I though, yes, this is it, something has survived in me, something that does not need to run anymore, because it is worth more than all the money in the world and its currency, its true home, is the living. And not just the living in this particular country or in that particular country, but the secret, irresistible heart of the living. I smiled back at Charlie and I knew that the hopes of this whole human world could fit inside one soul.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly

Genre: young adult, historical
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from library
Published: 2009
Pages: 340
Content: G, nothing offensive.

Thoughts in a line: Calpurnia learns about who she is and what she wants and how to deal with life with the help of her scientist grandfather.

Almost twelve Calpurnia, being the only girl out of seven, and living in 1899 in Texas, learns a lot about what is expected of her as a girl and as a girl who carries the name of Tate. Her mother wants her to be a socialite and learn to cook and sew and swoon so she can catch a good husband. But all Calpurnia wants to do is learn and be who she wants to be.

The summer of 1899 Calpurnia finds to courage to go talk to her "scary" grandfather who spends all of his time doing experiments in the shed out back. Her grandfather is so excited to share what he knows with her and to have someone actually in the family care about what he is doing, he takes Calpurnia under his wing and begins to teach about science and how to apply it in her everyday life.

Nothing huge happens in this story. It takes place over about six months. It is just the telling of how a little girl begins to dream and begins to see how she can realize her dreams. She can do and be what she wants; it's her decision. Her mind opens up and expands to take in the whole world. This is such a beautiful novel. Every young girl should read it.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Genre: youth fiction,
FTC Disclosure: borrowed from library
Published: 2007
Pages: 288
Content: PG-13

In a Line:  Powerful commentary on how our lives touch others in so many ways for the good and for the worst.

We meet Clay as he receives a box of cassette tapes...they are from a girl Hannah who recently committed suicide. He listens hauntingly as her voice explains why she she has done this...She gives 13 reasons why she decided to commit suicide and Clay desperately wants to find out why she did what she did and why he is on the tapes.

This was a really clever idea. We get into Hannah's head and find out who she is and what led her to the unthinkable act of taking her own life. We slowly learn how Clay fits into all of it and how Hannah has affected his life. Everyone on the tape starts connecting to each other....At first I wondered what would be so horrible to tip her over the edge but as time went on I realized that it's not necessarily big stuff. Everyone is different. We each have our hangups and problems. I think Asher's main point was that you never know how your actions can affect others. The things that happened to Hannah...well, probably most teens would learn to deal somehow, graduate, and move on...but sometimes that's not the case. I think it's a good wakeup call to really think about how we treat people and the effect it can have, good or bad. So sometimes it is the little things. And yeah, it is really messed up what Hannah does by making and sending those tapes...which is why I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't just a cliche reason...there is no real rhyme or reason to why people decide to take their own lives; that's the point. People's lives will forever be changed by Hannah's actions, her suicide, and now her tapes. What are those people going to do? Give up or move forward?

Asher wrote a very compelling and complex novel and it opens up dialogue, another reason for read this book.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Other cover...

I think I actually like this version better. It feels more to the point for me. This must be the UK cover.