If I Stay – Book Review

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If I Stay has it all. A flourishing friendship, bittersweet romance and enduring family. While this story was set in an insanely short space of time, Gayle Forman still manages to create a beautiful novel so effortlessly that I grew to love.

Gayle Forman puts readers in a position that other authors never have before. And I see why many authors may not have tried. Because it’s hard. It’s difficult endeavour, and Forman did a darn good job at making this story, a moving and powerful story. Life was good for Mia before the car accident. She had both parents, a little brother, boyfriend and best-friend. But after the accident, she’s only got a boyfriend and a best-friend.  When Mia finds herself looking down at her butchered body, she needs to decide, if she goes, so she can be with her family or if she stays. A short novel expanded my momentous flashbacks, we watch Mia’s past seventeen years like a film, and us readers, get torn between the decision as well. Stay or leave?

I found it hard to engage with Mia – but considering she was disconnected from the word I’m not surprised that I was disconnected from her.  However it wasn’t hard to not like Mia. Given her tragic conditions – on the death bed, her passion for music was rather a huge bonus. Music has always been part of my life, and I am a fan of classical music and playing it – it soothes me when I go crazy. Her relationship with music and love was beautifully written and I thought it was very interesting way to look at the world. Mia’s best friend, Kim also happened to be one of my favourite characters. She was so fiery and full of love for Mia, I honestly wish I could have Kim as my bestie.

But no one beats Adam. Yes, he got irritated easily but being flawless is rather unattractive, right? There are so many quotable sentences by him I simply must share a one of my favourites:

“If you stay, I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I’ll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it’d be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I’d do it. I can lose you like that if I don’t lose you today. I’ll let you go. If you stay.”

This is a beautifully written novel about love and life. It Kind of snuck up on me. I didn’t think I was into this story but I started to tear up during one of the scenes (it was the one when Gramps came in to talk to Mia) and I had to reach for tissues. I’ve heard such great things about Gayle Forman’s books and I’m so glad that I decided to read one. I will definitely be n the look out to read more from this fantastic YA author.

 

Ana

Lola and the Boy Next Door – Book Review

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 I stupid-love Anna and the French Kiss. Like, there are few books out there that make me as happy as that book does. I haven’t swooned and giggled over a book like I did with Anna in a long time, and I was exceptionally worried that Lola would always be second best. But to my delight, I found Lola to be an even better book than Anna, even if it didn’t have that enchanting, otherworldly quality that Anna had due to the presence of Gay Paree. No, what Lola had going for it was a reality, a sort of grounded eclectic-ness due to the heroine and the setting, the fabulous-as-always San Francisco. It also had Cricket Bell, who is worth all the stars ever.

Lola Nolan, is an aspiring fashion designer, who can’t wait to grow up. There were moments when Lola seemed too mature for her own good. I was a little taken back when I realized that her boyfriend, Max, was so much older than her. I understood Lola’s attraction to him – what teen girl doesn’t go swoony when a hot musician pays attention to her? What I couldn’t understand was why Max was so attracted to Lola. I spent a large portion of the book being angry with him. Lola wasn’t allowed to be a teen when their relationship was weighing her down. Max was forcing her to act older and forsake her friends and family. While I appreciate that Perkins painted this as a dysfunctional relationship, I was still really bothered by it. What disgusted me the most about Max was the fact that he makes Lola into a weaker character by degrading her and letting herself question who she is.

A couple of the unexpected twists in the novel are Lola’s two gay dads. It was incredible seeing how seamlessly Perkins weaved such amazing characters into a novel that deals with accepting differences. Lola herself is extremely unconventional. But it doesn’t simply stop at her appearance, but at her choices in love.

Cricket Bell adds another delicious layer to Lola’s heart struggles. He’s a hard one to resist. I liked that he was as endearing as St. Clair, but he didn’t seem like a recycled version of the boy who had already stolen my heart. Cricket is sweeter and shyer than St. Clair. He doesn’t have that strong charisma and sense of self. In many ways, he is a mirror of Lola. Neither of these characters sees themselves clearly in the beginning. Cricket is the handsome nerd who gravitates toward the girl he has known his whole life who is full of sparkles and light. I loved that he knew what he wanted and never wavered – even when Lola was being difficult. He is the type of guy that ever girl should dream about and every parent should wish for in a significant other for their child. Stephanie Perkins is a master at creating fictional boys that capture hearts and inspire romantic musings; her hot boy writing skill is one of the best out there.

The pacing of the novel is awesome. I loved that Perkins does not conclude her story where most authors would, but instead satisfies our curiosity by continuing until the events beyond the book are obvious. The dialogue is sharp and witty, effectively demonstrating the characters’ personality.

There are several things I loved about this book: The setting, the childhood memories, the romance, the awkward situations Lola constantly manage to get into, get to read a little about Anna and Etienne relationship.

Even with its faults, Lola and the Boy Next Door is a great read for a rainy day, or just for lounging around the house. I recommend Perkin’s novel to fans of her previous novel Anna and the French Kiss. Also, if you love romantic Y/A fiction and protagonists who speak their mind and have their own special quirks, then you just might end up loving this one.

 

Ana

 

The Darkest Minds – Book Review

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What can I say about The Darkest Minds that will sum up its total awesomeness? I was a little worried about starting it because of how much hype surrounds it, but I wasn’t let down at all and I ended up loving it.

What made this such a phenomenal read? The characters, by and far. Ruby, the protagonist, grew on me as the book went on. Although her experiences are unlike anything I (and most readers) have ever been through, her emotions are easily understandable. It’s the supporting cast, though, that really stand out. Liam (oh, he’ll make you melt), Zu, and especially Chubs are just perfectly created. Chubs, much to my surprise, became my favorite character by the story’s end. His development is done so naturally and his attributes are revealed in small but endearing ways. Zu is another great example of Bracken’s skill; she doesn’t say a single word the entire novel, but is one of the sweetest, funniest characters. One of the challenges of a first book in a series is to get readers fully invested in the characters so early on in their stories, but Bracken succeeded. It’s because of this cast that I choked up twice during TDM.

It’s so easy to get lost in the world created in The Darkest Minds. I was so invested in the lives of the characters that I felt what they were feeling. My facial expressions must have been a sight to witness when I read this because the imagery used makes everything feel very realistic. Not to mention that I’m the same age as many of the characters so, if this was real, I would be in the same situation. Let me tell you that I would not survive a day.

The camps reminded me a lot of Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War and there were many similarities – the human testing and the harsh work, for example. I can’t imagine being put into one of the camps, helpless and frightened. The camp that Ruby was in, especially, was extreme and I would have been petrified.

So yes, you could definitely say that this book is packed with emotion. It’s a rollercoaster ride- to use a cliche- one that I couldn’t put down. Because there’s just as much action as there is emotion.  You never know what’s going to come next, but whenever anything is going well for these kids, you know that’s going to change fast.

I think my very favorite part of the book was the plot twist at the end, but at this moment I’m not really sure of my emotions. I both hated and loved the ending. Ruby grew so much as a character because of the decision she made, and that’s why I think it’s my favorite part of the book.

Overall, I think THE DARKEST MINDS has a great dystopian foundation.

 

Ana

 

My Life Next Door – Book Review

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It’s rare to read a book you love through and through, from beginning to end. My Life Next Door was that book for me. Sometimes when I love a book so much as I did this one, it’s hard for me to put my feelings into words, so bear with me.

My Life Next Door is the kind of story that you expect to be light and fluffy . . . but then it surprises you.
I thought this book would be very cliché: little rich girl falls for the boy next door; gets a whole new perspective on life through the eyes of a financially-strained, but very happy — unlike her own — family; and learns something big about herself over the course of one short summer. In a lot of ways, that is what this book is about. But, in truth, it is about so much more.

Samantha has lived a sheltered life and you could say she comes from the ‘right side of the fence’.  She has a sister who is just a bit older than she is and they live with their Mom, Grace.  Their father walked out when Grace was pregnant with Samantha.  To say that Samantha’s mom has issues is a bit of an understatement.  For example, she is obsessed with the vacuum cleaner.  When they leave the house she goes behind them to ensure that the carpet is vacuumed (the lines of a freshly vacuumed carpet must always be viable) and this is repeated several times a day.  However even with these little ‘quirks’ her mom has managed to become pretty successful, the help of her own trust fund helped tremendously I would assume.  She entered into politics and managed to become a Senator in their state of Connecticut.  Grace likes things controlled, orderly and neat.

Enter the Garretts.  They move into the house next door when Samantha is seven.  From the moment they move in it is clear to Samantha that she is not to socialize with them.  They are a large family and her mom wants her and her sister to have nothing to do with them and she is always making rude and snide comments about them.  However, Samantha finds them fascinating and has always found herself watching them.

The 2 oh-so different houses next door set a fabulous backdrop for Jase to rescue Samantha from drowning in the quiet and order as her mom is further consumed with her political career while dating her campaign manager.   For years, Samantha has wondered and dreamed what it would be like to be a Garrett from the little ledge outside her room.  Little did she know, Jase was wondering the same.

The bulk of this novel is about Samantha getting to know — and fall for — both Jase and his family. But towards the end, as the publisher synopsis says, there is a big obstacle that is dropped on Sam’s and the Garrett’s heads, an obstacle that is not overcome easily. I wish there could have been a bit more resolution at the end with it, but as a whole I think the climax was handled well.
And, on a side note, can I just say how utterly sexy some of this book is? I wasn’t expecting that, either, but I love surprises.

The first thing that stands out with this book is how realistic it is, especially in terms of first love and sex—especially sex. I’m going to be completely honest and say I have never read a book that dealt with teen sex so well. Ever. (Spoiler alert: Samantha and Jase have sex, in case you hadn’t gathered that.) The two romantic interests discuss having sex beforehand, Samantha mulls it over in her head and is understandably nervous, they buy condoms together beforehand, and when they do have sex after (having discussed it and thought it over for a while), it’s awkward and messy and not, you know, butterflies and rainbows, etc. I was unbelievably impressed with that aspect of My Life Next Door. Actually, I think it was the best part; young adult fiction needs more portrayals of sexuality like this one. Bravo, Ms Fitzpatrick. Bravo!

Truly, I don’t feel that my words can properly describe how much I loved this book, or how much I got out of it, or how much I wish more people would discover it and feel for it what I did. Does that mean this book was perfect? No, because no book is. But honestly, it was perfect for me. I’m extraordinarily pleased with it — so much so that I plan to reread it this summer — and will certainly be reading more from Fitzpatrick in future.

Ana

Fangirl – Book Review

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This book scared me.

There were so many quotes in it that seemed copy-pasted from my own life, like this was some sort of fan-fiction about myself. I saw myself in this girl even though we do different things, make bad decisions but in totally different scenarios… really, it’s scary. Because you see, I still think that this girl is boring, and now I can’t shake this feeling that, in a way, I might be boring too.

I was never a big fan of fan-fiction. I lose interest so quickly and I don’t trust other people with my favorite characters – maybe I’d read for a bit, let myself be entertained for a while, but then I would get to the point when I would think: [insert character’s name here] would never say that, or do this; this wouldn’t possibly happen in this world.
So this me, not a fan-fiction fan.. I’ve never been, at this point it’s quite impossible for me to ever become one.

But my favorite types of books are the ones that speak to you; directly to the reader. The ones that resonate so deeply within your psyche that you feel as though you’re actually learning things about yourself in the process. That is exactly what I experienced while reading Fangirl. If you were to judge by the cover and blurb alone, you may think this story is nothing but a quirky, fun read about a girl addicted to writing fanfic. But I persuade you to take a peek inside, because it’s really so much more…

Fangirl introduces us to Cath and Wren, twin sisters who have always loved Simon Snow. Cath writes fanfiction, hangs out in forums and isn’t ready to give him up even though Wren has. Wren has decided that she wants to forge her own path in college and leaves Cath on her own for the first time.

What I liked the most about FANGIRL is the dynamics between the characters: Cath’s relationship with Nick, with Raegan (her roommate), with Levi (which might or might not be one of Raegan’s boyfriends, and whom might or might not like her back), with Wren (her sister who used to share her passion for Simon stories), with her mother (that one day decided that she was too young to have kids), her father (with whom she had a lovely relationship), with her teacher (that saw the talent in her and wanted to expand her horizons).. is there any relationship in this book left aside, or not having some over-the-roof importance?

The dialog was hilarious, believable, and it never made me cringe (which might not say much, but when it comes to YA stories it’s such a big plus), the writing was beautiful and clever.

On the other side there was this big minus: Cath did nothing to help herself through her misery. If it weren’t for other people that tried to talk to her, to spend time with her, to make her smile.. well, her life would have been so dam sad.
I got angry at her, I wanted to scream at her: get out, live your life! Do what you have to do, that silly story is not the only thing important in life, you know?!
But she never, ever listened! Damn, stubborn girl!

I won’t speak about the story itself, as sometimes it is better to go blindly into a book, but another thing that was quite cute is the romance. I liked both characters, their shyness and the friendship, the confusion, the awkwardness.. everything. It doesn’t take a whole lot of paper space (at least up until some point), but.. yeah, so sweet!

All in one a wonderful story.

 

Ana

Looking For Alaska – Book Review

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I said it before and I will say it again, John Green is absolutely brilliant. This is by far one the best books I’ve ever read. Sadness, guilt, anger, mischief, trust, love, John Green penned these in a way I’ve never encountered in any other books.

John Green’s debut novel Looking for Alaska has been labeled as “young adult” fiction. This is surprising because the book is so very engaging, mature, and complex. The apparent difference between young adult fiction and regular adult fiction seems to be in subject matter. Looking for Alaska is about Florida high-school student Miles Halter and his foray into what he calls “the great perhaps,” a reference to Francois Rabelais’s dying words (dying words being the one thing Miles is interested in). Miles leaves his bland middle-class high school and journeys to Culver Creek, an elite boarding school in Alabama. Before Culver Creek, Miles’s life was boring. No real pain or pleasure seeped into his days; no friends or enemies or challenges of any kind. Culver Creek throws him into a different world, one with all that he lacked before. His first real friend is Chip, his brilliant white-trash roommate also known as “the Colonel.” Chip heads up the gang of kids that Miles falls in with, the most stunning and hypnotic of these is the gorgeous, sharp, troubled, sweet Alaska Young.

I read this book in one siting; it’s haunting and compelling in the simplest of ways. This is a story of one boy’s journey to seek a Great Perhaps, a story about friendship unlike any told before, a story full of quiet incidents with larger than life lessons. This is not a love story; this is a story about love. After reading and re-reading it again and again, I’ve decided that the Great Perhaps is not a destination, but a journey instead. And I think Pudge (Miles) found it within himself.

The character development in Looking for Alaska was amazing. I felt so deeply connected to these characters which is why this book was so incredibly heart wrenching. I have to say that Alaska Young  is a character that is going to stick with me for a long time. The funny part is Alaska is the type of character that I am least likely to ever look up to. Alaska enjoys sex, drinks and smokes excessively. There is something brilliant about Alaska that I just haven’t quite put my finger on yet. She was the character I grew most attached to during this novel. I think part of it was the mystery behind Alaska. She was quick to ask about Pudge and The Colonel’s life, but very seldom would she share her secrets.

John Green created a book full of mystery. He starts out with Before, but we have no idea what Before he is talking about. I had all these ideas running through my head of what Before could be. Then Before happened and it was least what I expected or wanted Before to be. When Before happened I was brought to tears and I started to deny that it ever happened. I felt my heart rip to pieces over this Before.

This book may be short, but Looking for Alaska changed my life. I was making up my 10 favorites of the 2nd half of 2013. I left two spaces in my favorites for the books I hadn’t read yet. Now I understand why I did that. I know I have read The Fault in Our Stars and that is supposedly the best John Green book, but I think Looking for Alaska may be MY favorite John Green book. I did not feel as many emotions reading The Fault in Our Stars as I did over Looking for Alaska. I left a space in my favorites for a reason. That reason is sitting right here in my hands. Looking for Alaska is a brilliantly written novel that will resonate with me for a long time. My only regret is how long it took for me to read this amazing novel.

 

Ana

Eleanor and Park – Book Review

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I will star by being completely honest by admitting that  I had this book sitting on my desk for a few months and I don’t know why exactly, mostly because I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s such a wonderful book.

If I could use one word to describe this story, it would be “adorable”. Eleanor and Park fell in love on the bus listening to ’80’s music and reading comic books. Can it get any cuter than that? I submit that it cannot! Told in alternating points-of-view, this story will grab onto you and not let you go until the ending.

This book gave me that melty, clenchy feeling in my chest, the warm fuzzies in my stomach. I was basically a mess throughout the entire thing. These two characters had my emotions going up and down like someone was beating on them with one of those sledgehammers at a carnival, trying to get them to climb to the top of that lit up pole again and again. And every time I thought they couldn’t go any higher, Park would do or say something else that sent me flying up, up, up…

Eleanor is the new girl in school. She describes herself as chubby and plain. After her mother’s abusive husband kicked Eleanor, she moved in with some family friends. Now, a year later, she’s back living with her mother, step-father, and siblings in a new town and a rather cramped house. The first day of school she gets on the bus and every kid pulls a “you-can’t-sit-here” (think Forrest Gump). The only seat available is the one next Park, and he is less than welcoming.

Eleanor refers to Park as “the stupid Asian kid,” which totally made me giggle. Unlike Eleanor, Park has a relatively normal family. The son of a Vietnam war veteran and Korean native, Park is a music junkie and a boss in taekwondo. Most of the time, he keeps to himself. He doesn’t want to like Eleanor, but it doesn’t take him long to realize that fighting his feelings is a losing battle.

Their love story was slow-building, which is probably my favorite kind of love story (Just like The Fault in Our Stars and Anna and the French Kiss). Park lends Eleanor his headphones and Sony Walkman, and she is immediately drowning in the emotions the music evokes. The adorableness continues when he makes her mix tapes and brings comic books especially for her. It doesn’t take long for their seat buddy status to change from acquaintances to friends to something more. Leading up to the “shouting-from-the-rooftops I love you” moment, Eleanor and Park share secret looks and stolen glances.

Let me tell you, Eleanor & Park contains the hottest hand-holding scene of ALL TIME, hands down (pun intended).

Park always tugged on Eleanor’s scarf or nudged her with his shoulder, but he never actually touched her skin. The build-up to this was almost unbearable.

“As soon as he touched her, he wondered how he’d gone so long without doing it. He rubbed his thumb through her palm and up her fingers, and was aware of her every breath.”

“When he touched, Eleanor’s hand, he recognized her. He knew.”

GAH. I cannot with him. Can. Not. He’s definitely top-five-book-boy material. I don’t think I’ve ever flailed so hard over a simple hand holding scene.

Eleanor tries hard to hide her family life from Park, but he eventually finds out the horrible truth and is willing to do anything to help her get out. His protectiveness and caring nature is what I love most about him. He no longer cared what anyone at school said about her or what his family thought of her. He only wanted her. Just her. No matter what.

Sadly, as Park and Eleanor learn the hard way, sometimes not all first loves are meant to be forever…or are they?

The end of this book left me in tears. Like, legit streaming down my face, stuttering, had to get up and leave the room so that my cat wouldn’t think I was crazy. Any book that as that effect on me usually goes straight to my favorites pile, but I’ll admit, I knocked this one down a star because this ending – though it made sense -was…kind of unfulfilling. I wanted more! I wanted her to CALL HIM. I wanted her to write him back! I just wanted more. Just a teensy, tiny, little bit.
Open ended endings aren’t my favorite, and though what I’m left with tells me I can picture a happy ending for these two young lovers…I still question whether or not it actually happened if the author doesn’t tell me herself. I admit that it keeps me awake at night, not knowing. Basically, it was a bit of a disappointment after all my happy-swoony-puddly feelings from the beginning.

But don’t worry you may not even cry, most people that I know that read the book didn’t cry. You may, however, be sighing throughout the whole freaking book.

 

Ana

The Fault in Our Stars – Book Review

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This book as become one of my top favorites.
I just can’t get over how amazing it was.

John Green has been critically acclaimed for some time within the writing community, but only lately some of his novels like ‘Looking For Alaska’ and ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ have managed to achieve mainstream success.
Green typically writes books for young adults, and more often than not, they end in tragedy. But not the kind of tragedy that leads you into a depression, instead it’s one that makes you analyse life in a way that makes you appreciate what you have.  See, it’s Green’s subtle talent to translate his thoughts into relatable words and make you believe that what happens in his books could have happened to you. He writes for you rather than to you, and he presents the events in such a way that you don’t feel like you’re reading someone else’s story.
When I first jumped into The Fault In Our Stars I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into, considering that so many people were recommending it to others and that it had such an unbelievable rating. I’ve fallen into the trap of people recommending popular books that left me wondering why they were so successful in the first place many times before.

The Fault in Our Stars is about a young cancer-ridden girl, Hazel Grace Lancaster. Surviving on borrowed time, Hazel’s story takes an unexpected turn when she meets Augustus Waters, a handsome young man who fought cancer himself. While cancer is a touchy topic from any angle, Green masterfully uses that to his advantage as he explores the love story of people who literally have to appreciate every moment and the end result is beautiful.

The Fault in Our Stars is an exceptionally powerful story. It is told completely from Hazel’s point of view, and her unconventional thoughts on her disease and experiences are surprising and refreshing.

Augustus is also a fascinating character, perhaps partially because the readers aren’t in his head, and he’s therefore more of a mystery than Hazel. He’s definitely eccentric, and he proves this early in the book when he puts a cigarette in his mouth. He explains he never smokes, but says it’s a metaphor: “You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don’t give it the power to do its killing.”

I just have such strong feelings about this book, that I can’t seem to find the right words to write.

I totally recommend this book, is such an amazing read, full of love, laughter and the inevitable tears.

This was my first John Green novel.  I Loved it with a capital “L”.  The exquisite and emotional story tugged at me in ways very few novels have.  I can probably tick them off on one hand, honestly.  Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters are like two star-crossed lovers in my mind.  Fated, but their infinity together is unfairly small.  Bound together by cancer, they bond, not just with each other, but with the idea that they will not live forever, so they must live now.  And live they do.

John Green doesn’t keep The Fault In Our Stars all sobs and heartbreak.  He somehow knows what it’s like, that to have cancer, you must have a sense of humor about life and all the things in it.  So many scenes, or small quotes from the characters themselves had me laughing out loud.  I quickly fell in love with all of them.

One of the things that I most loved about this book  is the realistic concept, rather than a, “Surprise!  You’re cured!” approach I think some authors would take. There is no happily-ever-after in this story.  There is only before and after.   Green is not afraid to make his readers feel, or think.  And that’s what The Fault In Our Stars does:  it makes you think, about life, death, mortality, the Before and the After, and what you are making of your life now.

Basically what I’m saying is, this book deserves the highest praise and I bow down its greatness and John Green.
I just have such strong feelings about this book ❤ ❤

 

Ana

Anna and the French Kiss – Book Review

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Absolutely LOVED this book!
If you haven’t read it, please do yourself a favor and go and buy this book.

Everyone was telling me to read this book, how it has amazing reviews on goodreads and that I should give it a try. So, eventually I purchased the copy on my kindle, soon after finishing the book I went and bought the hard cover. I just had to have this book!

For those of you who don’t know what this book is about, I will give you a brief description;
Anna Oliphant’s father is shipping her off to France to attend her senior year of high school at the School of America in Paris. She is leaving behind a little brother whom she adores, a best friend who is her other half, and a budding relationship with her very attractive co-worker. All these things she is being forced to trade for a country who’s language she doesn’t speak, where she is an outsider and she doesn’t even want to go. Her senior year looks bleak, to say the least, and then things start to look much better, when she meets Etienne St. Clair: one part American, one part British, one part French, and all parts everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. The only problem is that he already was a girlfriend…

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins is a wonderful read, filled with humor, romance and those sentimental moments that make you tear up and get the stomach butterflies. It just so well written that it sweeps the reader up into the story. Not to mention the trip through Paris that the author takes us, exploring the food, culture, landmarks, and so much more. The secondary characters add both drama and a whole lot of humor. The main protagonist is clueless in a sweet kind of way, avoiding getting on my nerves through out the book.  And her love interest is just an adorable man-boy with a side of extremely smexy (sexy and smart). He was one of those characters that made my heart skip a beat just by reading his name alone. 😛

One of the things that I love the most about this book is that Anna and Etienne’s relationship is a slow build. Their attraction to one another is clearly apparent from the instant they meet, and yet Stephanie Perkins takes the time to build a strong foundation for their relationship based on common interests and personality, a definite departure from the seemingly more popular trends of late of couples falling blindly in love with one another at first sight, it’s refreshing and fun.

To summarize Anna and the French Kiss is beyond hilarious, sweetly romantic, and simply awesome. I could read this book a million times over and never tire of it. Please,please don’t hesitate about this book…READ IT!

Ana

Divergent Trilogy Review

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I have to admit that I wasn’t that keen on reading this books, I don’t really know why, but they were on my reading list for months.
So last month I decided since the movie is coming out soon, I might as well give it a go before watching the movie.
To anyone out there that is having second thoughts on reading this books, please don’t! It was quite a good reading, with quite a few disappointments, but still, worth the time.

The series is set in a dystopian version of Chicago, where the population is divided into factions, kind of like in The Hunger Games where the world is divided into 13 districts (or 12 if you don’t count District 13) or even in Harry Potter where they are divided into different houses.  Divergent is set after a terrible war, everyone lives by one of five principles: the selfless Abnegation, the brave Dauntless, the intelligent Erudite, the peaceful Amity, the honest Candor. At sixteen a person takes a test to see which principle they best emulate, and then they must choose to either stay in the faction they were born, or choose to leave their family to emulate a different principle and live with a different faction.

The young adult series has firmly landed Veronica Roth on the top of the best-seller list, but I have to say I wasn’t terribly impressed with the trilogy as whole. Maybe because I don’t really agree with finale and the third book seemed I little rushed to me. The first book – Divergent – was probably my favorite. It tells us all about this new fascinating world, and the main character, Tris, was compelling and engaging in a not obnoxious and whiny way like some of the YA protagonists out there. All three books are narrated from Tris perspective (except the last book of the series, which is alternated from Tris to Four). Tris is a Divergent – someone who doesn’t categorize in just one faction – and the series revolve mostly around that fact.

I’m a big fan of the romance in this books.  Tris becomes romantically involve with Four – also called Tobias – who she first meets because he is her tutor/teacher. I know that some people didn’t quite agree with the idea of the heroine being involve with a Teacher, but I just don’t see what’s the problem. It’s a completely different world, he is only two years older than her and there is no rule against it. So I say why not? I would love to be romantically involve with Four. 😛

Unfortunately, the things I liked about Divergent didn’t get carried through the series very well and Insurgent and Allegiant developed far more problems as the series went on.

I could argue that Insurgent is the worst of all three books simply because it features far too much of Tris and Four bickering and arguing, with a lot of sexual tension in between. Now, I get that Veronica is apparently deeply uncomfortable in writing love scenes, but that doesn’t mean that you can make the rest of us feel frustrated about it. I think that with so much bigger problems to be discussed, Veronica, decided to focused on the problems of their relationship and to not resolve them until the end of the book.

The plot of Allegiant revolves around human nature and requires an explanation of genetics. Most portions of this explanation are straight up wrong, and genetics isn’t exactly complicated science either. So yeah, a “science fiction” series which is anti-science is probably not the best thing for me to be reading, and may have biased my opinion. Still I more than happy to discover that Tris and Four overcome their relationship issues to establish a bond of mutual trust and respect.

That said, I think there are several fundamental problems with the series on the writing front. Veronica seemed to eager to finish the series and didn’t really took time to think the second and the third book through. The majority of the characters are not very well-developed. The protagonist, Tris, and several of the major villains have their motives extensively detailed, and Tris in particular fights an interesting psychological battle with herself over the course of the series. But most of the minor characters are woefully underdeveloped, and large portions of the population tend to act as the plot tells them too, and not in a natural or convincing manner. The author seems to have particular issues with portraying male characters realistically, and I felt the most prominent male characters, Tobias, Marcus, Perter and David were all forced to act against the characters established for them in order to provide resolution for the series.

With this in mind,  I liked the first book, and thought it showed promise, but the second two books really fell flat for me. Still I recommend this series, at least the first book.

One last note,  and this may be a little spoilery so if you haven’t read the series and plan to you may want to skip this last paragraph. Love also becomes a central theme, true selfless, sacrificial love. While many readers were angry with the conclusion to the final book (I have to say that, I was one of those angry people in the beginning, because I couldn’t understand why would the author, after making the characters go through so much pain, would not give them a happy ending), keeping these themes in mind, the book concludes exactly as it should, and is ultimately beautiful, true and poetic.

Ana