Saturday, June 4, 2011

Book Review : Divergent

Book: Divergent (Book #1)
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Date Published: May 3, 2011
Pages: 487
Source: Kindle and Bookshelf (yes so good I bought two copies)
Date Read: May 3, 2011


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.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Summary Taken from Goodreads
Yani's Review:
Wow. I am pretty sure every blogger starts their review of Divergent with those words (well not every blogger but at least 90% of them do), because even if people had little complaints about the world building -which I didn’t- or the reason they where split into factions -I didn’t care why- this book packs a hell of a punch. I am not going to go into too much detail about what Divergent is about because I am sure by now you know, and if you don’t read the blurb above.

So I am not going to write a long review, just something short about why I loved this book and why I think you should read it....

First off, the world... now is it realistic that everyone would split into factions - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) - no not really, because how can someone be just one of these. And I think that is the main point of this book. These people are trained to believe it is better to be the best in one, than well-rounded in all. And it makes for a extremely intriguing story. Some of my favorite highlighted quotes comes from the different sayings of the faction, because in spite of it all there is some truth in their beliefs. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was how extremely they follow their faction and their beliefs...
“Faction before blood.”
I would have liked to learn more about how the factions came to be and how other cities work, but I guess time (and the other books) will reveal more.

Second, which I probably should have listed first, I love Four! Like I am absolutely entranced by him. I love the way the romance was built, I love how vulnerable they are only with each other, and I love that there wasn’t a love triangle - if one comes in later I don’t know what I will do because no one can take Four’s place in my heart, NO ONE.

Third, I love how things aren’t easy for Tris. I don’t know how better to explain this other than she had to struggle and fight for what she wanted and make tough decisions. I won’t say more, because if I keep writing I know I will give something away. But let me just say I can totally see how this will be an awesome movie as there are amazing stunts and nail-biting action sequences, along with hot and sweet loving moments.

I can’t stress how much I loved this book and I am DYING to read more! I know I said I would keep this short but I couldn't help it =D

Ratings:
Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:
The Hunger GamesDelirium

Memorable Quotes:
It must require bravery to be honest all the time. I wouldn't know. - Tris
and another one...
Human reason can excuse any evil; this is why it's so important we don't rely on it. -Tri's father

Friday, June 3, 2011

TGIF # 7

TGIF is a feature over GReads to re-cap the week's posts  & to propose a question for all the followers.
 
This Friday's Question:
Book Love: Do you share your books with others? Who was the last person you sent a book to?


Yes! I love to share my books because it means more people to talk about the books I love! And really though most of the time, when will you pick that book up again? So why not send it out to someone who hasn't read it.

To be honest until I heard about the BookSoulmates RAK program (awesome blog by the way check it out here), I really never thought of sending my books to other bloggers and they just sat in my shelves lonely and screaming to be read again. And then there are some books I just loved so much and I knew other people would love to *but there was no way they are getting my copy =P * so I bought and shipped one to them. For example, Ginger had never read Perks of Being A Wallflower. I was like WHATTT??? And I went to amazon and sent her one. She is after all my contemp YA twin, and that book has left such an impression on me, part of the explanation of my tattoo can be found in the pages of that book.

The last person I sent a book (well books in this case) to is Jude. I sent her a box of books I either had two of or just has no space for and I thought she would like them!
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Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee.

What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen? (Both of which could be terrifying.)

Apparently I would die because I am in no way prepared for Zombies or Mel Gibson's return. Maybe I should just execute my hurricane preparedness plan: RUN and HIDE.


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Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy For Books.
Share your favorite post from the last month and tell us why it's close to your heart!

I don't think I have had a favorite post. I like them all =D
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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Book Review : Firelight

Book: Firelight (Book #1)
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date Published: September 7, 2011
Pages: 323
Source: Library
Date Read: May 2, 2011

A hidden truth. Mortal enemies. Doomed love. 


Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Summary Taken from Goodreads
Yani's Review:
The first thing about this book I really liked was it is not your typical vampire/werewolf paranormal romance. Jacinda is a draki -dragon- that can hide in human form, her kind's best kept secret. Her mom takes her away from the pride (her group of draki) because she doesn't agree with the pride's plan for her daughter. They want to use/abuse Jacinda's gifts as the only fire-breather to breed more like her. While Jacinda's mom and her twin could care less about the pride, being draki is a part of who Jacinda is and she could never give it up.

When she meets Will there is an immediate connection/zing that passes between them. Despite knowing he is a hunter and his family may have killed her father, she can't help but what to be near him. He brings out her inner draki, the thing her mom is desperately trying to kill. This is kind of a Romeo and Juliet paranormal type romance.

I would say the only thing that really bothered me was the immediate love thing. Although I understand the call and the attraction they felt, I just feel like somewhere in the plot a few scenes are missing. And while they have an amazing, intense attraction that I loved to read about, I wanted more.

Overall, I was thoroughly intrigued by the draki lore and what would happen with Will. My favorite parts where when Jacinda would describe her struggle with her mother trying to take a way this huge part of her, instead of understanding that it was something she couldn't give up. I can't wait to see what happens next in Vanish.

Ratings:
Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Characters: 4/5

Similar Titles:


Memorable Quotes:
"Well what are you waiting for," Mrs. Hennesy asks.

For it to get easier. For life to stop being so hard.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

From The Secret Life to the In Between...

Hello Everyone! Jude Henderson Here! Wanted to let you know that I'm taking of from The Secret Life Of An Avid Reader, But not without saying how much I Love being here and thanking everyone for your lovely comments in my reviews and also thanking Yani for letting me be a part of such an amazing blog! and also for introducing me to the world of Blogging, teaching me how to use html code - royal pain - and encouraging me to start my own:


In Between Writing and Reading.
Because we Love to Read, Because we Love to Write,
But sometimes we need a little space In Between.

In Between Writing and Reading is My Blog, you can find all of my reviews there and new ones to come!

So I'm taking of from The Secret Life to the In Between...

Thank You so Much to everyone and specially Yani!! Hope you'll stop by the In Between Blog and also hope that you guys liked my reviews!

-Jude <3

Waiting on Wednesday # 17

Waiting on Wednesday:
Lola and the Boy Next Door


WOW is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.
From Goodreads:

In this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they think
For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, 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 move back into the house next door.
When the family returns and Cricket - a gifted inventor and engineer - 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.

Why Yani is Waiting on It:DUH because its LOLA!! I am sooo jealous of all the people that got this at BEA, but at the same time the anticipation is making me that much more excited to read it. And it comes at a perfect time where I will be on break because I will be done with school but not working full time yet.

Can't wait for this book coming out: September 29, 2011
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