Heartless

Heartless by Gail Carriger

(Parasol Protectorate #4)

Published: July 1, 2011 by Orbit

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

Read my review of book 3: Blameless, here.

My review of book 2: Changeless, is here.

       I love this series, something proven by the fact that I am still so into the story at the 4th book. Usually the 4th book is where I start thinking the story is gonna get dragged out forever and dump the series altogether. I just found out that Gail Carriger has planned for Timeless (coming March 2012) to be the last book in the series and I'm already reluctant to let go of these characters. This book is just as hilarious and absurd as the first 3 books. If you haven't read Soulless, go do so now! (There's a great deal over here if you need to catch up.)

Reasons I love this book:

• Alexia- I love her so much! She's insane and hilarious in the way she interacts with everyone around her so calmly and considers humans like her sisters to be out of their minds. She's always held her own, but here she's 8 months pregnant and still not willing to sit still. In her eyes, if she has her parasol she's good.
• backstory- we finally get some backstory on Lyall which is nice since he's always so calm and put together. Here we get to see the lengths he is willing to go to for those he cares for.
• Akeldama's house- SPOILERS! An 8 months pregnant Alexia waddling back and forth between 2 houses on a drawbridge and living in Akeldama's closet? Hilarious! END SPOILERS!
• Ivy- surprisingly, Ivy turns out to be quite useful and more competent than ever before
• I love that I can never tell what's going to happen. These books are so off the wall crazy and I love it. I never see any of the plot twists coming!

Huh, what?:

• Madame Lefoux's machine- I was shocked when the purpose of her machine was revealed! Has she lost her mind?
• Countess Nadasy- she's a vampire queen so clearly she's already crazy but she steps it up in this book
• Felicity- for a glimmer of a second she seems almost tolerable, but is quickly proven to be even more annoying than I'd thought possible
• Lord Akeldama- usually a great characters, he reveals his selfish side near the end of this book and looks like a total jerk. He is always aware of what his actions will cause, making his move even more despicable. 

The boyfriend factor:

• My boyfriend has always loved these books. He despises Felicity even more after reading this one.

Favorite quotes:

• "We had to lock him somewhere, and that room has no windows."              "I understand. But claw marks are murder on wallpaper."       - Alexia + Professor Lyall  pg. 136
• "Any child as difficult as this one has been from the start must, perforce, be male."     Alexia snorted. "As if my daughter would be calm and biddable."    - Alexia + Conall   pg. 231

5 Robots

I absolutely love this series and highly recommend it!

Acquired: Bought

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Movie)

Harry, Ron and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord once and for all.

     Obviously, you guys know what this movie's about and that there are MAJOR SPOILERS for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the book), and well as some for how the movie turned out. This movie is very somber from the start. There is a lot of silence and stillness mixed in with the action, but it is generally true to the book and very exciting. Overall, I enjoyed Part 1 just a bit more than Part 2. 

Reasons I love this movie:

• It's Harry Potter.
• Ron- one of the 1st things I noticed was how Ron (Rupert Grint) suddenly looks every bit like an action hero
• Helena Bonham Carter- she's already a scene-stealer as Bellatrix, but her portrayal of Hermione as Bellatrix (thanks to the trio's old standby, Polyjuice Potion) was so brilliantly convincing. I was doing double takes wondering if that was Emma Watson made up to like Helena Bonham Carter.
• Neville- Neville (Matthew Lewis) finally gets his chance to shine, emerging as a hero and reminding us super geeks of how easily it could have all been Neville rather than Harry. (And in case you haven't been looking up pictures of anything having to do with this movie lately, Neville grew up quite nicely. )

• Snape- we learn along with Harry just how integral Snape (Alan Rickman) is to the entire story in a touching flashback after Snape's surprisingly violent death scene

• I can't list everything great about this movie, but some other highlights to watch out for: Molly vs. Bellatrix, Ron defending Hermione, any scene with McGonagall, and Luna making Harry listen to her

Huh, what?:

• not enough Ron and Hermione kissing- their very 1st kiss is sweet, but all we see is Ron's head blocking the kiss. I was bummed, especially after the Harry and Hermione make-out session in the locket destroying scene of Part 1. I know it's not a love story, but we've waited 7 movies for this to happen.
• Harry and Voldemort jump off the school- Harry grabs him and jumps off the roof (you've probably seen this- it's in the trailers), but then they fly around grabbing at each other's faces and their faces blur together. Um,ok...this scene baffles me- it's just really strange and unnecessary. My brother defended it by saying but it shows how closely linked they are...I'm not buying that explanation, but it does give it some purpose. 
• although I think they'd make a cute couple, Neville does not end up with Luna as is implied in the movie
• the death of important characters are unseen and don't make much of an impact on the viewer (possibly because they are unseen...)
• Harry and Ginny's son at the end, as well as the other kids just looked very modern to me- like they somehow didn't fit into the world of Harry Potter

5 Robots

I mean, what can I say? It's Harry Potter. Go see it!

Defiance

Defiance by Lili St. Crow

(Strange Angels #4)

Published: April 19, 2011 by Razorbill

Now that sixteen-year-old Dru's worst fears have come true and Sergej has kidnapped her best friend Graves, she'll have to go on a suicidal rescue mission to bring him back in one piece.

That is, if she can put all of Christophe's training to good use, defeat her mother's traitor, Anna, once and for all, and manage to survive another day . . .

Read my review of Book 3, Jealousy, here.

   This is a series that started off with a bang, but for me has fizzled. After being disappointed in the third book I was hoping that this one would kick it back up and make me interested in the series again. I was disappointed again. While the books are unique and the premise is interesting, I've found that I don't really care anymore what happens. I honestly think this is the end of the line for me and this series, which is really a bummer because I do really like the characters. 

Reasons I love this book:

• Dru- she's stubborn and wants to be able to keep up with the guys and beat them too. She scared to death when she stops to think about it, but most of the time she's too busy kicking butt. 
• Dru + Christophe- these 2 are kinda like oil and water most of the time- they can't agree on anything, but there's a little spark between them that's entertaining
• Nathalie- it's so nice to have a girl around so there's a break from Dru talking to the guys all the time

Huh, what?:

• Ash- I've lost interest in this storyline because it's been the same for almost 2 entire books and I don't know what it's accomplishing. It almost seems like an afterthought, even for Dru, like Hey haven't seen Christophe lately so I should probably go pursue this forgotten storyline over here.
• Graves- *SPOILER ALERT* he's my favorite, although the romance with Christophe is nice too. But. Graves only shows up at the very end when the action starts. *END SPOILER*
• danger candy- thank goodness the author named it, if I had to hear about wax oranges all the time again it might've been too much
• This is another book full of Dru running and avoiding the baddies, with the only major event that happens in the book being crammed into the very end. I'm just tired of reading these books where nothing important happens until the end. The 1st and 2nd books were a lot better because a lot more happened. The 3rd and 4th books, nothing happens in 200+ pages and it's very frustrating.

Favorite quotes:

• "Your task is the hardest, Dru. It is to wait and to train. I would change it if I could." My chin jutted stubbornly. He read the mutiny on my face, plain as a billboard. "Don't even think about it."            - Christophe  pg. 45
• "Let me-" Christophe's other hand flashed forward, caught at my clenched fists. His skin was warm, but his fingers hurt, digging in with more than human strength.       - pg. 113

3 Robots

A series worth a shot, but expect the books to get lackluster despite the interesting characters

Acquired: Bought

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Published: May 3, 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her. 

       This is a highly anticipated new dystopian book, the start of a trilogy, that definitely lives up to all the hype surrounding it. It's great to see so much interest in a debut author, especially when she's only 22 (! don't I feel like a slacker now...) and being published by an indie company. And despite her age and the way everyone seems to be comparing every single dystopian book ever written to The Hunger Games, Veronica Roth delivers an intense story that has me wanting more. There's not much I didn't like about this book. The pacing and mix of action and introspection was pretty much perfect. *Minor spoilers ahead*- it's not really a secret or a surprise which faction Beatrice chooses, but if you don't wanna know, don't read the spoilers. 

Reasons I love this book:

• Tris- She's a strong character- I mean, how could she not be with everything she has to face? SPOILER! When she chose Dauntless she didn't know how intense her initiation would be, but she knew they jumped from moving trains. So she had guts choosing them, plus she is crazy curious about everything. END SPOILER!
• Four- I really love his character- from the way he opposes Eric in how he feels the initiates should be trained, to his struggle to return Dauntless to the honorable faction it once was- plus he's sweet but a little dangerous, which is sexy
• world setup- the setup in this book is great and it lends itself to a lot of moral conflicts, which are starting to become evident as the faction system begins to break down
• initiation- I wouldn't want to go through it- it's brutal physically, mentally, and emotionally, just as the Dauntless leader intended- it makes for a lot of twists and turns and is crazy exciting to read about
• Tris' mom- you'll have to read the book to fully understand this, but from the beginning you get the feeling that she will support whatever decisions her children make, even if it means they must leave her

Huh, what?

• Eric- he's a jerk and a traitor, plus the complete opposite of Four- I know we're supposed to hate him, but he's sadistic and bloodthirsty
• Peter- the person he manages to manipulate into betraying Tris made me sad. The lengths he goes to just to up his ranking shows what a despicable coward he is.
• Jeanine- the Erudite leader, obviously the factions' pursuits were meant to be strong suits, but she is taking advantage of her faction's responsibilities in order to advance Erudite and lessen the other factions
• weird names- I'm not someone who has a problem with odd names, except when it distracts me from what I'm reading. Beatrice is old fashioned, Four is a little odd, and Tobias? That just makes me think of this:     

(Tobias from Arrested Development)

The boyfriend factor:

• He liked it, but didn't love it and commented that the faction names were unoriginal and that he would've gone nuts it Beatrice has chosen any other faction.

Favorite quotes:

• I hold my breath as her turns the last knife in his hand. I see a glint in his eyes as he pulls his arm back and lets the knife fly. It comes straight at me, spinning, blade over handle. My body goes rigid. This time, when it hits the board, my ear stings, and blood tickles my skin. I touch my ear. He nicked it. And judging by the look he gives me, he did it on purpose.    - Tris  pg. 164
• "But what..." Peter yawns through is words. "What does firing a gun have to do with...bravery?" Four flips the gun in his hand, presses the barrel to Peter's forehead, and clicks a bullet into place. Peter freezes with his lips parted, the yawn dead in his mouth. "Wake. Up," Four snaps. "You are holding a loaded gun, you idiot. Act like it."     - pg. 77

5 Robots

A book with action and intrigue. I'm looking forward to more!

Acquired: Bought

Drought

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Published: January 25, 2011 by Egmont USA

 Ruby dreams of escaping the Congregation. Escape from slaver Darwin West and his cruel Overseers. Escape from the backbreaking work of gathering Water. Escape from living as if it is still 1812, the year they were all enslaved. 

When Ruby meets Ford- an irresistible, kind, forbidden new Overseer- she longs to run away with him to the modern world, where she could live a normal teenage live. Escape with Ford would be so simple.

But if Ruby leaves, her community is condemned to certain death. She, alone, possess the secret ingredient that makes the Water so special- her blood- and it's the one thing that the Congregation cannot live without.

Drought is the haunting story of one community’s thirst for life, and the dangerous struggle of the only girl who can grant it.

       This is a book that I loved, but had a hard time reviewing. I was so emotionally invested in this story and was outraged at the Congregants whenever Ruby was, but I have so many unanswered questions! Plus, when I read a book, I tend to like the characters I am meant to like and dislike the ones I am meant to dislike. BUT, Pam Bachorz doesn't make it that easy, and I'd like to believe she does so intentionally. I thought I knew what I thought about this book when I finished reading, but a couple days later and I was questioning why I liked this character, why I disliked this part of the book, etc. This book was also so radically different from Pam Bachorz' first book, Candor, yet they both hold some of the same themes of control.

Reasons I love this book:

• Ruby- even though she knows the risks, Ruby knows there's a possibility that she can escape from her horrible existence and she's smart and gutsy enough to take that chance, unlike the older and "wiser" Congregants
• Ford- he is amazingly real- he's conflicted and caring, he's willing to suffer for those he loves and risks everything to see Ruby and try to help her escape
• control- the overall feel of this story to me was who has the right to decide Ruby's life? Ruby's mother and the Congregants (who are all older than Ruby) are relentless in their opinion that they know best (seriously they will stop at nothing!). Ruby feels like she understands something that they don't, but her opinion doesn't matter because she's young (even though they've all been living 100s of years supposedly...), so what could she possibly know right? Who is really in control of how the rest of Ruby's life plays out? It's her choice to obey or rebel, but her blood is the key to the Congregants' long lives... would you want so many deaths on your conscious? 

Huh, what?:

• Ford- he seems like a decent person, but he's an Overseer. He's also selfish- he thinks he and Ruby can have a relationship like they live in the normal world he's used to, but he risks her life every time he's near her. He also took her out one night, away from her mother who was badly injured. A question my boyfriend brought up: If Ruby hadn't returned Ford's feelings how helpful would he have been? 
• all my unanswered questions! I have a feeling some (if not all) of these things were left up in the air purposely, but I like closure.
• the Visitor- he's creepy- how is he literally sniffing Ruby out? Who is this guy? 
• Otto- does Otto exist? Does he know there's a cult group of slaves worshipping him? Does he care?
• long life- why are they living for 100s of years? There's an explanation as to how but none for why. What is the point of their longevity? 
• the Congregants- they are all so blind and readily willing to kill to keep things as they are even though they are captives. They all insisted that their great and mighty Otto wanted them to suffer and endure, yet not make any attempts, no matter how small, to better their situation. And this made me want to punch something. 

The boyfriend factor:

• My boyfriend didn't trust Ford, as shown clearly by his question above. If Ruby hadn't like Ford, would he have cared if she escaped her life as a slave? Would he have helped? 

Favorite quotes:

• "Would your mother be proud of you?" I ask, loud enough to make sure he can hear me. I can't tell for sure, but I think Ford shakes his head. His back is turned to me and he's looking up at the cisterns. No. I won't let him ignore me. I walk close to him. "What won't you do?" I ask. "Is there anything you wouldn't do to keep your mother alive?"           - Ruby  pg. 209
• "There's nothing you need to tell us," Mother says. "I've told them everything." She's told them everything she wants them to know. But what of my side? Words tumble over my lips. I sound frantic, but I don't care. They have to listen. "I want to explain. I want to tell you why I didn't leave. I want to tell you about Ford-"  "Don't say his name," Hope says, her voice gravelly.   - Ruby  pg. 331

4 Robots

This is a book that'll make you think. I really enjoyed both Drought, and Pam Bachorz' first book Candor (which never got much attention in my opinion). 

Acquired: Gifted

City of Fallen Angels

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

(Book 4: The Mortal Instruments)

Published: April 5, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

       Ok, so. This series is one of my favorites of all time and Clary and Jace keep me reading these books. If you haven't read the 1st book, City of Bones, GO READ IT NOW PLEASE. You won't be sorry :)

Reasons I love this book:

• it is as riveting and insanely addicting as the first 3 books- the Shadowhunters and the world Clare has created are amazing
• Jace- does this even need to be said? He's sexy and there were a few scenes in this book that were so hot they actually made me blush.
• Kyle- obviously we kind of need some new characters at this point in the story and Kyle is great- he's sweet and the way he fits into the story is seamless
• I didn't suspect how everything was going to fit together at all and all of the lore and legend of Shadowhunting is so clever

Huh, what?:

• Jace- boy you need to get over yourself and stop torturing Clary because you don't think you deserve her! After all these 2 have gone through to end up together I can't believe Jace is STILL holding back. As stubborn as Clary is, I kept waiting for her to go smack some sense into him but she didn't...what happened there? 
• Simon- dude spent years being in love with his BFF Clary and all of the sudden he's over her and with TWO chicks? Simon, you deserve to be smacked around some. I dislike Simon even more now so I really didn't care about his storyline, which takes up a lot of this book.
• the ending- OH MY GOD WHY?! Why would you do this to us, Ms. Clare? I'm glad you're writing more in this series because it's awesome, but if I'd known what you had in mind I would have begged you to leave theses characters alone after the 3rd book!
• Will?- I guess I get how he ties in with these characters, but I don't get his connection to Magnus Bane...maybe I need to re-read Clockwork Angel but I thought Magnus was only in it very briefly. What Camille seems to imply makes no sense to me.

The boyfriend factor:

• My boyfriend loves these books and had trouble reading this one because he was so mad at Jace the whole time. 

Favorite quotes:

• "I can keep a perfectly good eye on Simon, thank you. He's my neophyte Downworlder to mock and boss around, not yours."              - Jace  pg. 144
• It was the sort of lingering kiss that turned her insides to water. The sort of kiss that might have made her feel that nothing was wrong, that things were as they had been before, and he was only glad to see her. But when his hands went to lift the hem of her T-shirt, she pushed them away. "No," she said, her fingers wrapped around his wrists. "You can't just keep grabbing at me every time you see me. It's not a substitute for actually talking."        - Clary (and Jace)   pg. 241

4 Robots

If you've read the first 3 books, this is a must! If you haven't, go read City of Bones!

Acquired: Bought

What Happened to Goodbye

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Published: May 10, 2011 by Viking Juvenile

Another town? Another new school? Mclean really doesn't mind. In fact, she welcomes the chance to try on a new persona. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, she ad her father have been on the move, leaving the unhappy past behind them. And each move has brought a fresh opportunity for Mclean to reinvent herself. Perky rah-rah girl. Drama mama. All-round joiner.

But here in Lakeview, for the first time she's putting down roots, making friends, and just trying to be someone she hasn't been in a long time: herself. Dave has something to do with it. He's the most real person Mclean's ever met, and he thinks he's falling in love with the real Mclean. Mclean doesn't even know who that is anymore, but she wants to find out- before it's time to move on again.

       Sarah Dessen books pretty much define contemporary YA for me. With the exception of Dreamland, That Summer, and Someone Like You, I have been head-over-heels for all of her books. She creates the best male characters: Wes, Dexter, Owen... This book is no different- it has family drama, inner turmoil, and a sweet guy and turned out to be one of my favorite Dessen books so far. Although nothing can touch The Truth About Forever or This Lullaby. 

Reasons I love this book:

• Mclean and her dad- It seems to me that in Sarah Dessen books, for the most part, there is usually a mother-daughter conflict while the dad is either gone, dead, or unimportant. (There are exceptions of course- namely Along for the Ride) Mclean's relationship with her dad is so quirky and unique.
• Dave- Dave is made of awesome. He's sweet and geeky but has a good heart. I love how he and Mclean first meet, and all of their encounters are great.
• Deb and the town model- Deb is a great character who is a lot more than she seems to be, and when she takes over building the model of the town she really breaks out of her shell. Deb's kind of nuts but it's hilariously real- how someone can turn out to be nothing like you expected.
• obsession with basketball- These details are what makes Sarah Dessen books so real, plus it really helped to show how close Mclean and her dad are. 

Huh, what?:

• Mclean's fight with her mom- Usually Dessen's main character has a struggle with herself and finding love, while her family issues are secondary. Here there was a lot of time devoted to her fight with her mom and less than I would have liked to see and Mclean and Dave. 
• Lindsay Baker- Ugh. She's some kind of politician and she leaves up to the stereotype of shiny and fake fake fake. She's extremely annoying, but then that's who her character is meant to be.
• There's a really weird transition after Mclean has a heart to heart with her parents. All of the sudden it's days later and she's acting like everything is fine and nothing ever happened. It was like the equivalent of a fade to black in a movie and really threw me. 
• The cover blurbs for Dessen's books have always bugged me a little. The blurbs make the books sounds incredibly cheesy like they're Lifetime movies. If my friends hadn't begged me to read them, I would have never picked any of them up after reading the blurb. 
• (This is not really about this book in particular, but I went to buy this one and the cover price was $19.99! What?! I know that's cheap for adult hardcovers, but did I miss when YA book prices skyrocketed from like $16?)

Cameos:

• I love the appearances by other characters and places- here are the ones I spotted:
• Jason
• town of Colby
• the Last Chance
• Heidi and Thisbe
• Jackson High
• Ume website
• Comment if you found any I missed!

Favorite quotes:

• Then, though, I saw the single figure at the back of my house, walking away from the back door. And another person, a girl, running through the side yard, where the hedge would have been, while someone else, with a badge and flashlight followed. There were three people under the basketball goal, one lying prone on the ground.                           -  pg. 388-389
• "Wait," he said, moving over to the next cabinet and opening it. Empty. "Is this... What going on here? Are you, like, survivalists or something?"                        -  pg. 213

4 robots

What can I say- it's a Sarah Dessen book so you should go read it!

Acquired: Bought

Delirium

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Published: February 1, 2011 by HarperCollins

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

       I love dystopian books: the Chaos Walking trilogy, the Scorch Trials books, the Hunger Games...all some of my all-time favorites. Now, if you think that this thing about love being a disease is cheesy, give it a shot anyways because that's exactly what I thought before I read it. When I finished this book I had teared up and had to Google if there would be a sequel even though it was after 2 AM. I do not cry in books or movies (well, ok, I can count on one hand how many times I have) so this is a big deal. 

Reasons I love this book:

• Lena- she infuriated me pretty often and I had to keep telling myself that she acted the way she did because it's a dystopian society and that's all she's ever been told about love. So, she ticked me off, but I respect authors who make me care that much about characters I don't instantly love. 
• the plot- it's awesomely executed, and to me the idea of love being a disease sounded C-H-E-ES-Y, but I read Oliver's Before I Fall and going through disliking the main character and then rooting for her anyway made me trust Lauren Oliver to deliver with this idea- it was great
• Alex- I'm in love with this boy- from how he and Lena meet (my favorite part) to his backstory, he's a great character
• I really like the little chapter intros from the official book about why love is bad and its effects. They're pretty funny and they really help set up the society this story takes place in.

Huh, what?:

• there's not a lot of dialogue in this book and I found my attention waning sometimes because Lena was in her own head and not interacting with anyone
• once Lena had fallen for Alex there was a part of the book where everything was going well for them- it felt like your typical chick flick montage where the stars are making kissy faces at each other- I could have skipped that part and still loved the book
• Alex's secret- it was a little obvious and too easy to guess for me, mainly because there's only one option set up to be something he could be hiding that would be frowned upon
• the cover under the jacket...have you seen it? It's horrifying. I never read hardbacks without taking the dust jacket off- but I took one look at that cover and put it right back on. I don't know what it is about it, but I find it to be really creepy. 

Look away!

Is this the end?:

• Thankfully no because this book ends on one MAJOR cliffhanger. As I mentioned, I had to immediately check to see if there was a sequel. It will be a trilogy, with the next book, Pandemonium expected in February of 2012. Of course by then I will have forgotten what happened to make me so desperate for the sequel!

Favorite quotes:

• He's been hanging back, standing a few feet behind us, and ever since we came up the hill he hasn't said a word. Which is why I nearly jump out of my skin when he leans forward and directs a single word into my ear: "Gray."         - pg. 67
• Best friends for more than ten years and in the end it all comes down to the edge of a scalpel, to the motion of a laser beam through the brain and a flashing surgical knife. All that history and its importance gets detached, floats away like a severed balloon. In two years- in two months- Hana and I will pass each other on the streets with nothing more than a nod...          - pg. 190    

5 robots

An awesome read with a lot of depth and a promising start to a series.

Acquired: Bought

The Big Crunch

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

Published: January 1, 2011 by Scholastic Press

June and Wes do not "meet cute." They do not fall in love at first sight. They do not swoon with scorching desire. They do not believe that they are instant soul mates destined to be together forever.

This is not that kind of love story.

Instead, they just hang around in each other's orbits...until eventually they collide. And even after that happens, they're still not sure where it will go. Especially when June starts to pity-date one of Wes's friends, and Wes makes some choices that he immediately regrets.

       This book is one that I haven't seen much of anything about in the blogosphere. I was sold on that summary...About 2 lines in I knew I needed to read this book. Plus look at that awesome cover! Anyway, this book deserves way more attention than it's currently getting. 

Reasons I love this book: 

• it's a contemporary that isn't shallow- there are a ton of books floating around out there that are not my idea of a good read (Gossip Girl-like novels just aren't for me), and this one is different. It's not as deep as a Sarah Dessen novel, but it's just the right combination of realistic and ideal love
• indie vibe- I really like indie movies (ok...mainly popular ones like Little Miss Sunshine and (500) Days of Summer) and this book reminds me of one because it's very clever
• Wes + June's narration- totally unique and entertaining- this book's narration (especially Wes' parts) reads like a John Green book and I love me some John Green
• the cover- I love illustrated covers, and there's an abundance of Katherines (oooh what a geeky joke...), I mean an abundance of photographs on YA covers. I just love the storyboard kind of feel to this one and the colors are perfect- it's what made me pick up this book I hadn't heard anything about

Huh, what?:

• how Wes + June behave right after they're separated- it's probably the closest thing to reality, but they each do such stupid things!
• Jerry Preuss- something about him is so annoying- maybe his fanatical obsession with becoming class president? Or his interfering with Wes and June getting together? Both? I think both.
• my book is upside-down- anyone out there read this and have an upside-down book? The title is pressed into the "cover" but it ended up being the back...just something that messed with my head (since I always lay my current read down resting on its front cover- it's a weird habit)

Is this the end?

• Yes, I'm pretty sure this is a stand-alone book, which is nice since I'm a bit overly emotionally invested in a ton of series right now. 
• there's an author's note at the end about where the original draft ended and I'm glad it didn't end there- it would have been about half as long. If you pick up this book, read the author's note because it's kinda cool to think about how different the story would have felt

Favorite quotes:

• Also, the orange juice in Minnesota tasted like gasoline. Even worse than Kansas and Illinois. She thought about that as she pulled on her parka. Why should the orange juice taste different in Minnesota? Didn't it all come Florida?                                  - June  pg. 58
• Spontaneous Human Combustion- that was the answer. He willed himself to burst into flames. He felt a spot of warmth in the vicinity of his liver, but it didn't last. That was the problem with SHC. It never happened when you needed it most.                         - Wes  pg. 195

4 robots

A book that deserves more attention! I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a good contemporary read.

Acquired: Bought

Fallen

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Published: December 8, 2009 by Delacorte Press

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

     So this book is one that people seem very divided over, they either hate it or love it. It was recommended to me by a friend who loved it (but then again, she's Team Gale so I'm not so sure about her judgement...) so I figured I'd read it. It sucked me in pretty quickly, which surprised me because to me everything about it screamed melodramatic love story and I'm not exactly on the hunt for books that are similar to Twilight. 

Reasons I love this book:

• Sword and Cross- I usually don't enjoy boarding school settings, but this one I liked. It was a nice twist having a rundown school by a graveyard instead of another fancy rich kid school like I typically see in other YA books (maybe I'm just reading the wrong books?)
• Daniel- he's kinda sexy and mysterious, plus he's just the right amount protective of Luce where it's sweet and not overbearing
• plot- yes, this book is about fallen angels (I'm guessing you figured that out from the title) but that's not all it's about. From the first page you know that it's about love throughout time and reincarnation, and watching Luce figure out what was going on kept me reading. (If you like books with love stories about reincarnation I highly recommend The Pace by Shelena Shorts!)
• Penn- she's the most believable/normal character and even though Luce doesn't always value her friendship it was refreshing to read their interactions (p.s. what Penn goes through is no bueno)

Huh, what?:

• big revelation- this seriously missed the mark for me. You know, the important part when the heroine finally finds out what's going on? Well, I was completely sucked into this book until I hit that part. All the sudden it's like everyone Luce has ever spoken to is dropping in revealing that they're part of what's going on. It's like the author was almost done and then decided she could make this into a series so she threw all the characters she liked into the mix. One was hinted at in the book and another one is a surprise that makes sense...but the others are just...there going "oh by the way we're important to the series too". 
• Cam- I just think he's bad news every time he shows up but Luce is a sucker and I'm sick of heroines who blindly follow anything with testosterone. Who goes off alone with mysterious dudes without so much as telling a friend where they're going?

Is this the end?:

• Nope; the sequel, Torment has been out for awhile and is getting a paperback release mid-June. The 3rd book, Passion, is coming out the same day as that paperback, June 14. (I hate the Passion cover by the way)

Favorite quotes: 

• She tore past the rows of plain headstones. At one point they must have been upright, but now they were so old that most of them tipped over to one side or the other, giving the whole place the look of a set of morbid dominoes.            - Luce  pg. 86
• And Luce brought up the rear, considering what might happen if she were to give her parents her own personal tour of the cemetery. Here's where I served my first detention... And here's where a falling marble angel nearly decapitated me... And here's where a reform school boy you'd never approve of took me on the strangest picnic of my life.                 - pg. 275

3 robots

Kept me reading but unraveled completely at the end. I'll probably read the sequel. 

Read Fallen instead of Hush,Hush and read The Pace if Fallen is your kind of book. (Heck why not read it anyway-it's good)

Acquired: Swapped for on swap.com