Young and in Love?

While reading updates on my favorite blogs, I cam across this post in Persnickety Snark's blog. I couldn't agree more with everything she wrote.

Its hard to portray love to others. In both movies and in print, sometimes it can come across insincere. It's not love, but lust and obsession, and although love can include the other two, the presences of the former does not equal love.

Lately, books have not been satisfying my expectations. Matched a was great book. Unique and clever, emotional as well. However, it was still lacking. I can't exactly tell you what I didn't enjoy, but something was missing. I am definitely going to reread it later, with less expectation and see if I enjoy it more the second time around. But back to my point, Matched has not been the only disappointment this past year.

One of the main things that has bugged me has been the easy and simple endings, especially in contemporary novels. Oh the person causing trouble moved away, or the other guy I was interested in got a new girl and is so happy. Paranormal novels and series can get away with it more because series need material to keep going (though they can push away a reader that way) and paranormal novels are just that not normal situations.  I like real endings no matter how sad they are. Which is why I loved Fall for Anything.

SO a Thank you to some of my favorite authors for always keeping it real. I look forward to what 2011 brings around.

Sneak Peak: Delirium

Just read a preview of delirium, OMG. I am even more excited for it to come out now. I think it is going to be even better than Matched!

Find the preview here.

Review: Shiver

Book: Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 1)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks

Pages: 400

Date Read: 1/6/2011

From Amazon:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Yani's Analysis:

Shiver is a beautiful poetic story about of love. As clichéd as that sounds, there is no denying that the emotions of the young adult in this novel was just that. Hearing that this book was about werewolves made me avoid it. I believed it would just be another paranormal novel on “love” which was really just lust. There were so many beautiful moments that had nothing to do with the supernatural aspect of the story. I never expected to fall in love with this book, but it captivated me to the very last page.

I really enjoyed the back and forth narrative between Grace and Sam. It felt like an elderly couple, sharing the story of how they met. Lately, I have been disappointed with the romance side of novels. There was never enough action. I never understood where the love came from.

I know many people feel Twilight is not well written and its cheesy, but that happens to be one of my favorite books. The funny thing is, is that there really isn’t that much action and the love was almost instantaneous between Bella and Edward. However, just like Shiver, you cannot deny their love. That was not the only similarity between Twilight. Both males leads where chaste, while both female leads where more scared of losing their partner’s love than the physical danger in being with them.

But Shiver had something Twilight did not. Inside the romantic story of Grace and Sam was an emotional and gripping tale of Sam’s past. I don’t think any author has created a paranormal love interest that is so well developed as a person outside their supernatural side. Sam could be that cute emo guy across the street – I’m definitely looking at him differently now – or that cute guy in your music class with sad eyes. He just felt so normal to me.

I don’t think I could say enough good things about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even the poetry –which I usually do not understand- was woven in perfectly. No wonder so many people have called Shiver lyrical. Will definitely be starting Linger ASAP! Watch out Twilight, Shiver might just beat you out.


Ratings:

Plot: 4/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Uniqueness: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

 

Similar Titles:

• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
• Blood and Chocolate by Anette Curtis Klause
  

Memorable Quotes:

"I sat there silently, hiding behind my book, knowing that she needed words from me -- words I wasn't willing to give. I wasn't sure which of us was being more selfish -- her, for wanting more that no one could promise, or me, for not promising her something that was too painfully impossible to want." -Sam

"Humans disappeared. Humans made monsters out of us." -Sam

"I wondered if he realized that the way he looked at me was far more intimate than copping a feel could ever be." -Grace

Review: Fall for Anything

Book: Fall for Anything

Author: Courtney Summers

Publisher: St. Martin Griffin

Pages: 224

Date Read: 1/3/2011

From Amazon:

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

Yani's Analysis:

"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." That is what this title reminds me of. Eddie has no idea what to think after her father's suicide and she is in a very vulnerable place. Ready to believe anything that will bring her closer to the answer.

I have to say Summers didn't disappoint. I have loved all her works. I guess I am a bit of a pessimist and thought there was no way she can write another great and unique novel. And she proved me very wrong. This is probably my favorite of her novels. I enjoy her writing style. How she creates dramatic pauses with her writing, and using isolated phrases to capture a moment. I could really here Eddie's voice in my head. Some authors are so descriptive, taking up pages to describe a scene or moment, but Summers creates a picture using a minimal amount of words that is even more beautiful and provocative. You can the scene in your head, and see whats underneath the picture as well.

I loved the story progression as well. It was unpredictable in the sense that just when you thought you knew where Summers was taking it, its made a sharp left and headed into another direction. SPOILER ALERT (Highlight): I had a bad feeling about Culler, but then he would do something sweet and I would shrug it off. It was easy to see how Eddie in such a vulnerable position would do the same. I also liked that none of the male leads where perfect, and how there was a love triangle, but the story wasn't about love.

Summers is definitely one of the most realistic and beautiful contemporary authors out there. I can't wait to see what else she comes out with and I can't recommend this book enough.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Uniqueness: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

 

Similar Titles:

• Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
  

Memorable Quotes:

"I am always leaving, but I never go anywhere." -Eddie

HTML I Did Not Miss You

Like yesterday, I believed today would be the day I would get some reviews in and maybe even read another book. But of course the perfectionist in me kept wanting to change elements of my blog. So for the past 4 hours I have been adding borders. Yes borders. Three little borders have taken me four hours!? How can that be?????

I used to be very familiar with HTML, I wrote all the codes for layouts in my blogs and Myspace (when I used to have one). Today, I had to use the world wide web to help me out. Yes the WWW, is very informative, but it also have a lot of bulls**t. So sifting through that took up a generous amount of my time. So I am heading to the library to get a book on HTML for dummies. Look back later today or tomorrow for the full review of Fall for Anything!