Archives for April 2013

HISTORY LESSON | Shakespeare & I (Birthday Edition)

April 23, 2013 Leave a Comment

As many of you know, it is dear Shakepeare’s birthday.

And what is an awesome way to celebrate his birthday? I introduce a new segment in my blog called – History Lesson. In this segment, I either discuss my history with certain authors/books or general historical background/tidbits about those authors/books. We should get started!

Shakespeare and I have a rocky relationship. Actually, it is more like a rocky history. I can’t pinpoint my feelings for him and his writing; it’s like I can’t help but feel conflicted. I know my feelings are all over the place. I like him and then I don’t like him. I’m sure many readers have felt this way – as if they’re being jerked around by the arm. (Don’t be a jerk, Shakespeare! Ha!)

Lists

TOP TEN TUESDAY | Series I Haven’t Finished Yet

April 16, 2013 Comments : 4

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where we list our top tens! This week’s topic is a rewind, so I picked “top ten series I haven’t finished yet.” I haven’t finished a lot of book series, purely because of three reason – 1. laziness, 2. forgetfulness, and 3. absolute hatred. I will eventually finish these series eventually (even if I hate the books), but for the moments, we have this lovely list.

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

I have read books 1-5. I had a weird Harry Potter reading system when the fifth book came out. I would buy the new one (that was just released), but I wouldn’t read it. Instead, I read the previous book and once I was finished with it, I waited until the next book to come out to read the previous one. Get it? Yeah. It’s a little confusing. Basically, when the sixth book came out, I bought it but didn’t read it. I’d read the fifth one. The cycle continues. But this system did not work. By the time the seventh book came out, so much time had passed that I could not remember what happened in the fifth book. And since I couldn’t remember, I gave up reading it. Yes, I gave up. I vowed to my best friend that I will finish the series. One day!

Curseworkers series by Holly Black I read the first book last year and fell in love with it. How can I not fall for thieves, cons, supernatural powers? It’s everything I could ever want. I had borrowed the other two from the library, but I got so busy that I wasn’t able to read it. The good news is that I won a gift card from TBD and ordered the other two. Yeeeeee. I cannot wait for it!

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I believe I read the first book in elementary/middle school and never finished it. I don’t know why, but I distinctively remember that it made my head hurt. Ha! I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn’t get into it. Maybe being an adult may change my views?

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

I read the first book, but never got around to reading the rest. I think it has something to do with my bias toward the Bloodlines series. I may have started that series first before reading VA and I fell in love with Bloodlines that I can’t invest myself in the VA world.

Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick I CANNOT WITH THIS BOOK. It was such a painful read. The female character had no agency whatsoever and the guy was an unredeemable sociopath. Why is she in love with a guy who told her he was going to kill her? It really makes me angry thinking about this series.

Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar

I know, I know. I read the first three books back in high school. I was sooo into the books, but I didn’t have the money to purchase all of it. I don’t have the desire to finish this series. Probably because there are better written books then this.

Significance series by Shelly Crane
I read the first book because I was intrigued by the idea of soul mates, but ugh. I couldn’t get into it. It was too cheesy. It made my insides curl in a really horrible way. And it didn’t help when I wanted the girl to get together with the guy who wasn’t her soul mate. Whoops?

Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong I loved the first book because of the characters, but most of these books do not feature Elena and Clay, which is a damn shame. I’m sure the other books are good, but I just couldn’t get into it. I am loyal to Elena/Clay/the pack.

The Archers of Avalon series by Chelsea Fine I read part of the first book? The book made me feel too much like the Significance series. It made my insides quiver, almost like it’s trying to hide from the tired cliches that the book continually points to.

Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead
I read the first book and was pretty indifferent to it? Sure, I loved that Georgina was kickass and works at a bookstore! However, the book felt entirely lackluster. I was just bored (with the plot and Seth), which is a shame because I adore Richelle Mead.

What is on your list?

Reviews

REVIEW | Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

April 5, 2013 Comments : 4

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
September 29th, 2011
Dutton Books
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

SYNOPSIS (from Goodreads):

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion…she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit–more sparkly, more fun, more wild–the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket–a gifted inventor–steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

First line: “I have three simple wishes.”

I LOVE THIS BOOK. YOU WILL LOVE IT TOO! It’s one of those books I can read over and over again and I never get tired of it. It’s very sweet and light. And the characters, oh man! Such wonderful personalities! Basically, after reading this book (for the fifth time), I want Lola’s life. whatiliked

Lola!

Girl of my heart! Can we talk about the first two paragraphs of Lola and the Boy Next Door? What a way to introduce Lola! The two paragraphs immediately sets up what type of person Lola is – a girl who has her quirks, a girl who is not your typical “girl next door,” a girl who dresses impractically but that is her way of expressing herself, a girl who doesn’t seem to let anything hold her back (and yet she’s full of surprises). I know people find her annoying, but I didn’t. She felt like a teenager – she was somewhat immature and selfish; she complained, but that’s what teenagers do. She is everything I wish I was when I was teenager.

The romance! (+ Cricket)

I am a sucker for stories about childhood sweethearts/next-door neighbors getting together. Stephanie Perkins manages to create a story where we may have seen the plot before but the characters are completely unique and realistic. I wish I had my own boy next door pining after me. Oh, Cricket Bell. You do not know how much I adore you. Here, we have a boy who is completely in love with Lola and is absolutely honest about it. And to top it off, he sounds like a fantastic dresser. I’ve been in love with many characters that are the “bad” guy or the assholes, but here is Cricket Bell, the good guy with the heart of gold (excuse the cliche). Guys, I really love him a lot.

I love the development of their relationship. The looks they would give each other, the shyness of it all. Cricket knows what he wants, but out of respect of Lola (and her boyfriend Max), he steps back. Honorable guy. And he loves Lola (and her unique love to costume). He’s extremely earnest. How can you not fall for this guy? I don’t know why I love the trope. I think I love it because I wish I had a childhood sweetheart of my own? (I mostly terrorized boys when I was a child, but not because I had a crush on them. Nope, like most kids, boys were icky. I found it amusing to see the fear in their eyes/body as I chase them around a playground). Although Lola and Cricket’s romance tropes may have been done before, their romance is still sweet. They managed to get over their past misunderstandings, but they start giving each other lovesick looks from across their rooms. THE WINDOWSILL IS THERE FOR A REASON, YOU TWO. I want them to squish their faces together every time I read that Cricket has a bashful look on his face.

Lola’s parents!

I have read a lot of YA novel that has parents that annoy the hell out of me or is practically neglectful/nonexistent (aren’t parents suppose to be a main fixture in their children’s life, grounding them or giving parental wisdom?). However, Lola’s parents are fabulous. They felt extremely realistic (especially their concern of Lola dating an older guy) and they aren’t riddled with gay stereotypes. They are concerned for her well-being. They know when to pick their battles. And the things they say made me laugh. Who wouldn’t want parents like Nathan and Andy?

The setting!

It’s set in the Bay Area (specifically San Francisco)! I get giddy reading all the references to Mission Dolores, the Castro, UC Berkeley, Telegraph. Only because I live in the Bay! whatididntlike

There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. Although, I did not like the way Lindsey, Lola’s best friend, was treated in the book. She was pushed in the background. I wanted more interactions between Lola and Lindsey because I didn’t really believe the two were best friends.

The cover art!

It’s very cute! The girl is everything I imagined Lola to be! (But her outfit isn’t as outlandish or quirky as how she dresses from the description in the book.) And the boy, ehh. Not exactly what I pictured Cricket to look like at all. It’s kind of discouraging, so I avoid looking at him. Overall, I think the cover is perfect. The fact that they are sitting on a windowsill makes my heart want to jump out of my chest because that’s where they first interacted when Cricket came back home to San Francisco. (I know the book will have a new cover that will be released in the summer, and it is really fabulous. Simplicity is better!)

Max.

I found him…interesting. Max seems like a rational guy (albeit, he gets a bit jealous and a bit possessive). He is willing to do things for Lola that he doesn’t want to do (like having brunch with her parents). I like that he felt apprehensive about getting together with Lola. He has some harsh words for Lola, and I didn’t hate him for it? Because he’s completely in the right for feeling and expressing it. She is an enigma, one he doesn’t understand. I like how realistic their relationship was – problems and all.

Etienne + Anna!

I was sooo happy to see them together. Their scenes just evoke a grin from me.
gradeB

Waiting on Wednesday

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY | The Program by Suzanne Young

April 3, 2013 Comment : 1

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“Waiting On” is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

The Program by Suzanna Young
April 30, 2013
Simon Pulse
Blog | Facebook | Goodreads
Pre-order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Is it shallow of me to say that I was pulled into this book because of the cover? I just love how simple and clean it is! The synopsis intrigues me. Only because I wonder how the book will address suicide. Although I am full of curiosity I’m a bit anxious. Suicide can be an extremely tricky subject to write about it, and I really hope the book doesn’t treat suicide (and other illnesses) lightly or in a dismissive manner.

What books are you waiting for on this Wednesday?