In My Mailbox [20]

In my mailbox is a weekly meme created and hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren and consists of a post about books you have either bought, received, or borrowed during the previous week.

This week I just picked up two books from my library, since I have been trying to save some of my money. Luckily both of these arrived at my library at the same time, since I had put them on hold. So here they are: [:

Borrowing:

'A Million Suns' by Beth Revis
'You Against Me' by Jenny Downham

I now have both of these high up on my tbr pile since I won't be able to renew them or anything, so make sure to keep an eye out for them here and on my Goodreads! [: I have only heard good about both, so I cannot wait to read them.

Make sure to leave a comment if you have read any of these and let me know what you thought! Also make sure to link your IMM, if you had one this week, so I can stop by. [:

'Paper Towns' by John Green

Length: 305 pages (paperback)
Publication Date: September 22, 2009
Publisher: Speak
Source: bought own copy
Overall rating: 2.5 / 5 stars

I want to start by saying that 'Looking for Alaska' by Green was one of my favorites that I read in 2011. After reading that, I knew I had to get my hands on 'Paper Towns.' I was so excited when I started reading it and hoped it would be as amazing as 'Alaska', but sadly it didn't even come close for me.

This book is broken up into three sections and sadly the only section I liked was the first third. I was hoping to connect with the two main characters, Quentin and Margo, like I did in 'Alaska,' but instead ended finding them frustrating and predictable.

I really enjoyed the first third of this book, I kept wanting to read and see what Green had in store for Margo and Quentin's adventure. I really liked the idea of Margo's character, finding her very spontaneous and carefree. It made me want to go on all their adventures with them and bring down some revenge on some people. [: But sadly it was the high of the book and the rest was boring and lackluster to me.

The book follows Q, as he tries to find Margo after she runs away from home. For years Margo had completely ignored Q and I felt it wasn't realistic and was stupid how much he felt like she left just so he, and only he, could find her. After awhile Q started to irritate and piss me off, since I couldn't understand how their past meant nothing to him as he searches for Margo. His search seemed to involve a lot of dead ends and conflicting views on Margo, it felt like everytime he thought he started to understand her, he was just wrong.

I did really enjoy the dialogue though, something that I have found to be a strong point in Green's writing. My favorite character was definitely Radar, he was very different and unique compared to many other YA side characters.

The end is what really didn't sit well with me. Without giving away much, I will just say that it ended up making me dislike Margo and her self centered ways. After I finished it I kind of just sat there and thought 'what was the point of that?' and then nothing stayed with me after it. Usually I end up thinking about books for a few days after finishing them, but this definitely was an exception. I kept thinking it was building up to something meaningful and maybe even epic, but it just didn't.

I know many people have really enjoyed this one over the years, so I would say give it a go if you have been planning too. But if it isn't one you had on your wishlist, I personally wouldn't recommend adding it. Read 'Looking for Alaska' instead, especially if you hadn't read anything by John Green.

It's Monday! What are you reading? [12]

'It's Monday! What are you reading?' is a meme hosted by Book Journey and consists of sharing what you have read this past week, what you hope to read this week, and whatever else fits in too. So here are my books for this week:

JUST FINISHED: 'Paper Towns' by John Green

READING NOW: 'Blood Promise' by Richelle Mead

TO READ NEXT: 'Jenny Pox' by J.L. Bryan

My review of 'Paper Towns' should be up in the next few days, really whenever I get a minute to sit down and write it. [: So make sure to keep any eye for that. And I just got 'Jenny Pox' on my kindle last week, but since I like to have an ebook going as well, I am thinking I will probably start it tomorrow or so.

 

Comment below if you have read any of these and let me know your thoughts on them. And also make sure to link your 'It's Monday! What are you Reading?' if you are participating this week. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

In My Mailbox [19]

In my mailbox is a weekly meme created and hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren and consists of a post about books you have either bought, received, or borrowed during the previous week.

I have been trying to save some of my money lately so I haven't been buying books, but when I saw these first three so cheap on Amazon, for my kindle, I knew I couldn't pass them up. So here are my books for this week! [:

eBooks Bought:

'Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Sight' by Beth Fantaskey

'Jenny Pox' by J.L. Bryan

'Entwined' by Heather Dixon

Recieved from Giveaway:
ARC of 'Hallowed' by Cynthia Hand

In addition to the books I purchased for my kindle, I also received one in the mail from a recent giveaway that I won over at Katie's Book Blog! Thanks again Katie, I cannot wait to read 'Hallowed.'

Make sure to leave a comment if you have read any of these and let me know what you thought! Also make sure to link your IMM, if you had one this week, so I can stop by. [:

TGIF [9]: 1/20/2012

TGIF was started over at GReads! where the blogger re-caps their posts during the past week and answers the question that is proposed for that specific Friday. I haven't participated in a couple months, so here is me trying to back back in the swing of it since it is one of my favorites to do. [:

Recommend It: Which book from the last 10 you've read would you recommend to a friend? So I am actually going to recommend two books from the last ten that I have read. I can't decide between these two so am just going to go with two so there is a better chance you haven't read it. [: I will also link my review so you can check that out as well. So here they are!

1. 'Unwind' by Neal Shusterman - I have really been loving dystopian lately and this was no exception. I feel not as many people have read this as some others, but it is definitely one of my favorite dystopians so far. Definitely check it out. There are rumors out there that a sequel in the works, so keep an eye out for that as well. I definitely plan on looking into more of his books.

2. 'Unlovable' by Sherry Gammon - Really enjoyed all the elements that Gammon pulled into this one. It was a great contemporary story with equal parts crime and equal parts suspense. Really enjoyed this and recommend checking it out. The main character, Maggie, continues to pull at you heart throughout the story and I loved the development of both Maggie and Seth. And I cannot forget Maggie's mother, a big storyline that still manages to not overshadow everything else.

And now for the recap of my last week of posts. You can click on the link to be taken to the post.

1. TGIF [8]: 1/13/2012
2. In My Mailbox [18]
3.  Review: 'Fracture' by Megan Miranda
4. Waiting on Wednesday [18]

And that is it! Make sure to comment below and leave a link to your TGIF, if you participated this week.

Waiting on Wednesday [17]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights a future release that you are eagerly waiting to come out.

'The Immortal Rules' (Blood of Eden #1)
by Julie Kagawa
Length: 304 pages (hardcover)
Expected Publication: April 24th 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

[Synopsis from Goodreads]
  
So I haven't read anything by Kagawa before, but once I read the synopsis for this, I knew I had to add it to my wishlist. Most vampire stories I have read don't involve the main character turning, so I cannot wait to see how this is. Comment below on your thoughts about 'The Immortal Rules'' and link your WoW, if you participated this week.

'Fracture' by Megan Miranda

Length: 264 pages (hardcover)
Expected publication: January 17, 2012
Publisher: Walker & Company
Source: netgalley.com
Overall rating: 4 / 5 stars

I want to start out this review saying that it definitely wasn't what I thought it would be when I first started reading it. And that is a good thing.

I originally thought it wouldn't be very different from a lot of the other YA books out right now and that it wouldn't be anything unique or original. Luckily, I was really wrong and definitely ended up enjoying this one.

I guess I will start with the two main characters, Delaney and Decker. The story follows Delaney and her life after being underwater for eleven minutes, something she shouldn't have survived. Decker ends up saving her, something that really changes the dynamic of their friendship.

After everything that happens to Delaney, I thought the progression of their friendship was very realistic, often not knowing how the accident had changed things. One of the only things I didn't connect with was how the two of them kept making the same mistakes over and over and learning from them almost too late. As Delaney tries to deal with why she is still alive, she also begins to realized something has changed and she isn't the same as she was.

This story ended up being a lot deeper than I thought it would be, often drawing a line between life and death and what it really means to be alive. Miranda wrote the story beautifully and leaves the reader with many life questions long after reading the last page. She succeeds at pulling at the reader's heart strings and really makes you go through all the ups and downs with Delaney.

Overall it wasn't a typical YA book and I think that it was a big part of the reason I enjoyed it. Many YA novels, especially more paranormal ones, don't always dig into big life and death issues, but Miranda managed to beautifully and left me wanting more from her. This is definitely a 2012 debut that I recommend picking up, hopefully you won't be able to put it down, like me.

[An ebook copy of this book was provided by the publisher via netgalley.com in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions, and overall review. I received no compensation for this review.]

In My Mailbox [18]

In my mailbox is a weekly meme created and hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren and consists of a post about books you have either bought, received, or borrowed during the previous week.

So I haven't done an IMM in about a month, but now that I have some money to spend since the holidays are over, I now have some books to report! So here they are:

'Girls in Trucks' by Katie Crouch

'Wintergirls' by Lauria Halse Anderson

I got both of these hardbacks this last week at my local Big Lots and each for only $3. I absolutely love the cover of 'Girls in Trucks,' but haven't heard anything about it before. And I picked up 'Wintergirls' for a giveaway I am planning, so make sure to keep an eye out for that! [:

Make sure to leave a comment if you have read either of these and let me know what you thought! Also make sure to link your IMM, if you had one this week, so I can stop by. [:

TGIF [8]: 1/13/2012

TGIF was started over at GReads! where the blogger re-caps their posts during the past week and answers the question that is proposed for that specific Friday.

2012 Must Reads: Which books are at the top of your list to be read this year (new or old releases)? So it was definitely hard to narrow this down to a reasonable number but I gave it a shot. Some will be released this year and some I just really want to get around to reading soon! [: So here they are:

And I think I will stop there! [: There are so many more I could add to this list so if you are interested to see anymore, check out my wishlist and to-read bookshelves on my Goodreads page. [: Comment below and me know your thoughts on the books above and link your TGIF! [:

'Lola and the Boy Next Door' by Stephanie Perkins

Length: 338 pages (hardcover)
Publication Date: September 29, 2011

Publisher: Dutton
Source: library
Overall rating: 4 / 5 stars

Many of the reviews I have read in the past few months on this one having been comparing it to Anna. Many people seem to compare the two and often results in which one they liked more. Although they are both contemporary YA stories, I felt they were extremely different and that it is worth reading both.

So instead of comparing the two, I am just going to focus on what makes Lola a great stand alone book. First off there is Lola, an amazing individual and unique character. She is so quirky and confident, but still manages to be relate-able through her insecurities that come out towards the end of the story.

And then there is Cricket, the perfect boy next door that comes back into Lola's life when she least expects. I loved the development of the friendship of these, especially since things weren't left on a good note when they last saw each other. It felt very realistic and how things may plan out in the real world.

In addition, I really enjoyed the family Perkins put together for Lola, they were all very strong characters that didn't start to mesh together. Lola's family life was also a big part of the story, something that was refreshing to see since many YA books focus so heavily on the romantic relationships.

Lately I have been loving books where the main character is discovering who they are and what that means for their relationships. Lola was no exception and left me wanting more from Perkins. I highly recommend Lola to YA readers, especially those that enjoyed Anna. I personally enjoyed Lola and her story a bit more since it felt a bit deeper and realistic and feel that most contemporary fans will connect with Perkins' story.

Check out my review of 'Anna and the French Kiss' by clicking here!

2011: December Recap & January TBR

Three months ago I started a monthly post with a monthly recap and tbr pile for the next month. I have decided to do that again this month to help keep me on track and let you guys know what reviews will be coming soon from me. Of course, what I read in January is subject to change. [:

For the monthly recap, I will be listing the books I read that month and linking to Goodreads since neither review is up for them. And the tbr and current reads will be linked to its Goodreads page, in case you want for info on that book. So here it goes:

DECEMBER RECAP
'Lola and the Boy Next Door' by Stephanie Perkins

CURRENTLY READING

'Fracture' by Megan Miranda

JANUARY TBR PILE
'Blood Promise' by Richelle Mead

'Paper Towns' by John Green 

'Fade Out' by Rachel Caine

'City of Glass' by Cassandra Clare
'Invisible Monsters' by Chuck Palahniuk

As I am sure you can see, I did not do so well in terms of reading this December. I think it was a combination of being in a reading slump, finals, and the holidays. Plus I had to return a library book even though I only had 50 pages left. Those three combined equals one book this month. ]: I should be finishing up 'Fracture' soon though so hopefully that can be the start of an amazing reading month for me.

Comment below if you have read any of the books on my tbr pile and which ones I should start with. Hope everyone had a good December and has an even better January. [: