Top Ten Tuesday: I Almost Put Down But Didn't

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - There was a moment at the beginning of this book the first time I picked it up when I thought that I wasn't going like it, but I was so wrong.  And I'm so happy I continued to read it.

2. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick - This book is strangely beautiful and it tackles a couple really tough subjects. (These kind of books are often favorites of mine.)  This one I listened to and the rental expired before I could finish, so I almost didn't renew it, but I couldn't help myself.  I needed to know how the story ended.  

3. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan - I wanted more Percy Jackson when I finished Riordan's first series and I thought this series could give me more.  I almost put down this book because the characters weren't the characters I came to love in the Olympian series.

4. Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - I almost didn't pick this one up at all, and when I did I almost immediately put it back down, but there was something  (or maybe lots of someones) telling me to keep reading and I'm glad that I did!

5. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - This book began slow for me, but it picked up the pace.  It's all about the power of books and knowledge and oppression, which I love.

6. The Giver by Lois Lowery - There was a moment at the beginning of the book when I wasn't sure I wanted to continue, but thanks to my I-must-finish-everything-I-start mentality I didn't put it down. And thank God for that!

Champion

By Marie Lu

Published: 

Pages: 369

It's been eight months since June and Day have seen each other, but when June comes calling, Day doesn't hesitate to move Eden and himself back to Denver.  However, June hasn't been completely honest with her reasons for wanting him to return.  Day still has not told June his reasoning for leaving either.  It's a web of lies and half-truths that could ultimately cause the greatest war between the oldest of enemies: The Republic and The Colonies.  June and Day seem to be the only ones able to make the sacrifices necessary to saving the planet from war, but are they willing to do it?

My first thoughts after finishing this book were: now that's how you finish a trilogy. Recently I've been let down by the third book in several trilogies so my hopes were not high for this one. But I was blown away by this conclusion, however frustrating I initially thought it. The story telling in this novel is excellent. The pace was steady with high action and resolution in the perfect place to keep the narrative compelling.

The characters we met in the first two books come into play big time. Even the infuriating end of Prodigy fuels this book with just the right amount of stubborn angst and tension to keep me coming back for more.  There are a couple of places characters say and do things that I thought puzzling because it seemed slightly out of character but those moments were few and far in between. 

The best part about this novel is that even though there is clearly loads of romantic tension it's not goddy, to use one of Day's favorite words.  There is something at stake besides the happiness of the romantic leads, which can sometimes be overshadowed by teenage angst.  That is not the case here. There is a real sense that something important is about to happen, the worst may not be over like June and Day hope. The tension between The Republic and The Colonies is by far the most palpable. 

Marie Lu has created a world in which I would not want to live, but however many issues I have with it, her characters are aware of their faults. They struggle with the difference between using their hearts and logic to live in the only world they know and there are consequences to actions. That's what I love about this series.  This is a series that I would read again and again and find something new every time.

PS. The cover is gorgeous!

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"Remains masterfully true to its themes of loyalty, necessity, and dreams, eschewing any easy outs that the plot could offer."
     -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The exhilarating finale to the dystopian Legend trilogy delivers on the promises of the genre without ever being predictable about details.  Ever respectful of the capacity of its readers, this series offers a satisfying conclusion of potential rahter than a neatly wrapped denouement."
     --Kirkus Reviews

Top Ten Tuesday: Beautiful Book Covers

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

The End Games

By T. Michael Martin

Published: HarperCollins, 2013

Pages: 369

Michael has one goal: to get his five-year-old brother, Patrick, to the safe zone.  Since Halloween, he and Patrick have dodged the brainless Bellows who are quickly evolving from wandering flesh-obsessed undead.  They aren't playing by the rules of The Game and neither are the new survivors that Michael and Patrick meet.  In order to survive, Michael needs to figure out who they can trust and follow The Game Master's instructions if they ever expect to get to the safe zone and end the game.

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I searched high and low for it and when I found it, I was ecstatic.  But I feel as though I hyped this book up far too much in my mind.  I did enjoy reading it, but not as much as I thought I would.  It took me a while to get into the book, though I did I sneak in a page or too whenever I had a moment to read.  

I  found myself falling in love with a five-year-old. Patrick's innocence along with his disability, touched me. In a world where Bellows run free and nothing makes sense, this boy gives a stark contrast - he is the hope this book needs. Michael's innate desire to protect Patrick, even before the apocalypse, makes their relationship tender. I love the contrast between the world they live in and the one that Michael creates for Patrick, however flawed it may be. Along with Patrick, some of the other characters, Michael and Bobbie particularly, were dynamic and intriguing.  I routed for them wholeheartedly despite the stupid decisions they may have made.

I had a little bit of a tough time with the voice of the story at first.  It seemed choppy and over the top.  I'm not sure what I expected, but this particular 17-year-old narrator annoyed me, which may be why it took me longer than usual to get into the book.   That being said, the narration grew on me as I got to know the characters.  I ended up sympathizing with Michael and finding his way to seeing the world engaging.

This was my second read into the zombie genre, but it's so much more than a zombie book.  It gives me hope for other zombie books.  As far as a debut book goes, it is incredibly imaginative and well done.  I am looking forward to T. Michael Martin's next book, with the hope that it will be even better than this!  

Stars: 3.5/5

Praise:

"I feel like calling The End Games a zombie apocalypse novel will deter many of the readers who will love it most.  It's brilliant, fun, and blisteringly intelligent fiction that happens to feature a zombie apocalypse.  I can't recommend this one highly enough."
     --John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars

"The best of the undead bunch, meshing relentless action, intelligence, and emotion.  The plot rockets forth like a single exhaled breath.  Any last words? Yes: Very. Exciting. Book."
     --Booklist, starred review

"It's full of both jaw-dropping action and heart-twisting beauty."
      --Sara Zarr, National Book Award finalist

Notable Quotable: Veronica Roth (#34)

"Like a wild animal, the truth is too powerful to remain caged."
     --Insurgent

Top Ten Tuesday: Non-book bookish wants

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I have many non-book bookish desires these are just some that happen to be on my mind right now.

1. A library with a spiral ladder leading to balcony. Something like this only without the tv and more books.

2. A secret room/window nook (in aforementioned library)  for my reading pleasure.  

3. A book clutch: These are so pretty and I carry a book everywhere I go anyway.

4. This Harry Potter Ring: I keep seeing this ring everywhere online and every time I see I want it even more.

5. This Harry Potter Hoodie: I found this on Etsy and I really liked the fact that the titles were on the back.

6. This shirt designed by Karen Kavett: As soon as I saw Karen talk about this print on her Youtube channel I decided that I needed to have this.  

7. This Great Gatsby shirt: I've wanted this shirt for a couple of years, and I still want it.  I like the other one too, but the colors on this just pop.

8. These literary tattoos: This is a cool way to have a bunch of awesome literary tattoos for my ever changing mind.

9. This tea mug: I love mugs and I love Pride and Prejudice and so this is a natural must have for my mug collection.

10. This Harry Potter Necklace: I love Harry Potter and I think this horcrux locket is really cool.

City of Glass

by Cassandra Clare
published: EcElderry Books
page: 541

The time has come for the Clave to oppose Valentine, but he has no intentions of submitting, putting both the Shadowhunters and the Downworlder on edge.  Clary, Jace and the gang travel to Alicante to warn the Clave of Valentine's immense power. But will the Clave be convinced and take the necessary precautions against him?

I was very happy to see the familiar characters in a new setting. It was a great way to stretch their character and explore the world we heard about for two books.  I really enjoyed the descriptions of this beautiful, sacred land for Shadowhunters. What a fun world Cassandra Clare has created. 

Being in Alicante lends itself to back-story. There is a rich history in Idris that reveals more about characters that grew up there like Luke and Clary's mother.   We also get to find out more about Valentine and his followers in the place that they formed and then were exiled.    It is awesome to finally get answers to the questions that came up in the first two books.

I knew this was supposed to be the end of the trilogy and it wrapped up the story very nicely (I'm not saying that everything is peaches and cream) so I'm interested to see how Cassandra Clare will continue this story.

Stars: 4/5

Praise:

"Clare's concluding volume of The Mortal Instruments trilogy is complex and striking.  Not to be missed."
     --Kyrs Tourtois, Schuler books & Music

"Derivative though it may be, melodramatic emotional wollowing has never been so much fun."
     --Kirkus Review