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Showing posts with label Paula. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paula. Show all posts
Friday, 2 August 2013
Author: Lauren Morrill
Date Published: November 13, 2012
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Meant to be or not meant to be... that is the question.
It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").
But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.
Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.
Review: I completely devoured this one, man, I had such a good time reading it. I think it was definitely the most fun I've had reading a book in a long time. Like some reviews are saying, I found Meant to Be similar to Anna and the French Kiss: Cute, quirky, FUN.
Reasons why Meant to Be was meant for me :)))
1. Firstly, the cover screams adorable YA romance (okay I admit I kind of judge books by their covers)
2. Julia, the main character, is one of the most lively, animated characters I've had the pleasure of reading about in a long time. She's awkward, witty, undoubtedly clumsy, a swimmer, a "book licker", a rule follower, and undeniably hilarious. Her voice is strong and constant throughout the entire book. Not only did her observations and thoughts make me laugh out loud every other page, I found Julia crazy relatable, as I saw so much of myself in her character.
3. Jason, I admit, came off annoying and arrogant in the beginning, (spoiler... however you should all see this coming anyways) but like Julia, I ended up falling for him hard. His care-free personality and optimism makes him incredibly lovable- how can you not fall for a boy who takes you to a small British Cafe and dances with you? Or serenades you with your favorite Beatles song in a skatebaording park?
4. The unlikely romance formed between this couple, the strict rule follower and the laid back rule breaker, is swoon-worthy. Watching this young couple experience first love together- without them even knowing that they're falling for each other- is so exciting. It's how most girls my age dream of falling for a guy. Not to mention it takes you on a ten day adventure around London.
5. Just when you think the story is becoming predictable and you feel as if you already know how everything will end (because that's what I initially thought)- BOOM, Lauren Morrill inserts a twist or two into the plot. I thought the ending was great, perhaps a little rushed though.
Overall, Meant to Be was a book filled with comedy and romance (kinda like a romcom in book form?). The story kept you on your feet and the characters worked perfectly together. It also offers a little reminder that sometimes, the image we conjure up in our heads of a perfect "happily ever after" can be completely different from reality. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a happy-go-lucky, fun read.
Have fun laughing out loud to yourself with this one!
PAULA :)
Have fun laughing out loud to yourself with this one!
PAULA :)
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Date Published: March 13, 2012
Grade: A
Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.
Review: I just finished this book a couple minutes ago and I'm still stuck in this sort of trance. As I turned that last page, I was already on my way to the computer, prepared to write Wanderlove's review.
The term "wanderlove" is described as "the places you get, the places that stick in your heart". Throughout the book, this term became more and more clear to me, and it hit me harder and harder, as if I were discovering it for the first time alongside Bria. "Wanderlove" can't exactly be explained; It's a sort of feeling that really makes you feel, like those breathtaking moments where the beauty cannot be captured by a camera, instead you just have to experience it. The book was a bit like that for me, I don't think I can do it enough justice by trying to write a really good review, you guys just have to read it and experience it for yourself. But I will try.
This book blew me away. It was such a good read. I've always been a huge fan of travelling books... But this one was so different from the typical travel book where girl meets boy abroad, girl falls for boy, girl achieves some sort of self discovery, etc. Although Bria did basically end up doing all of those things, it was so much more than a cute novel about finding one's self. And the writing was incredibly good; the whole story flowed smoothly and perfectly from chapter to chapter, day to day, adventure to adventure. It is also the perfect book to read while on vacation because whilst reading Wanderlove, I had the craziest urge to jump on a plane and backpack around the world.
Bria, the main character, is an eighteen year trying to re-invent herself. She signs up for an organised tour around Guatemala, in hopes that this new country will bring out a completely different Bria, one that doesn't have to face her ex-boyfriend back at home or the pile of art college admissions at her doorstep or her parents who don't seem to care about her. It's amazing to watch Bria decide to let go of the things that make her sad, and find herself again- bit by bit, drawing by drawing- Seriously, it's one of the most beautiful things about this book. Journeying alongside Bria and watching her not only learn about the liberating life as a backpacker, but also about love, is incredible, to say the least. Bria was so relatable and Hubbard did such a wonderful job of making the readers feel what Bria felt. I loved her as a character.
The development and growth of Bria and Rowan's relationship is also a beautiful thing to experience. You know how a lot of books have a really frustrating chemistry between two characters who you just know will end up together? When the only thought that goes through your mind while reading their scenes is "KISS ALREADY OKAY!? JUST UGHH HURRY UPPPPP". Well, although Bria and Rowan (SPOILER, BUT NOT REALLY BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY PREDICTABLE) do end up getting together fairly late into the book, their entire relationship throughout the whole book is pretty magical to read. Not to mention, he's adorable.
Enchanting. That's the word that describes this book perfectly. It was enchanting. Inspiring and beautiful, Wanderlove is such a wonderful book about self-discovery, risk-taking, and being happy. It's an important reminder that our pasts do not define us. We cannot cling to our mistakes, but we should not run away from them either. Instead, we need to appreciate the present and look forward to the future. I can go on and on about all sorts of life lessons I've learned from this book, but I think you guys should read it and experience wanderlove for yourselves. A beautiful and extremely well-written story :')
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Monday, 29 July 2013
Author: Ernest Cline
Date Published: August 16, 2011
Grade: A-
Goodreads Summary: It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.
And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them.
For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved--that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.
And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.
Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt--among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life--and love--in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.
A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?
Review: I know, I know, this is definitely out of character for me- reading a sci-fi book? About a dystopian land where a Global Energy Crisis is occurring? About video games?? Let me explain. I was scrolling through my Kobo's "Must Reads" list, and then this book appeared on the screen. After reading the summary/description, I decided to give it a try because of the raving reviews and the super interesting premise.
Ready Player One is a dystopian novel that takes place thirty years from now. The novel shows how technology will become so addictive and advanced, that by the year 2044, humans will go to school, work, spend money, meet friends, go to parties, and basically live their lives in a virtual universe where they get to choose what they look like, sound like, and act like. There is rarely any more human to human contact, and most of the world chooses to communicate through their avatars online.
I am not going to lie, I was definitely confused at the beginning because I'm not exactly a computer/video games master. The first part of the book contained a lot of video game jargon, explanations about computers and how they work, along with dozens of 80's references. But when Wade found that first key, and the real action began unravelling, the story became so addictive- I just couldn't put it down. I don't think I have ever been so excited while reading a book; It was fast paced, smart, and entertaining.
Wade is basically a genius. At times, it was hard keeping up with his train of thought, but I think overall he is a really solid character. Imagine a young teenage boy, living on his own in a trailer park, a typical outcast of society who is completely devoted to "the hunt". Although flawed, Wade is a witty, super smart underdog. He's that character we sometimes see ourselves in, that character who we cheer for, who we want to see succeed. Wade's growth from an introverted "outcast" who depends on nothing but his computer to survive, to a real human being who falls in love, makes unexpected friends, and emerges an international hero, is so much fun to read. I think Ready Player One is a very good reminder that we cannot solely depend on ourselves to succeed in life. It is also an interesting warning about consumerism in the near future.
Ready Player One has been my first sci-fi read in a very long time and I can honestly say that I genuinely enjoyed reading it. Although this book isn't one I would typically pick up, I am very glad I chose to read it. Informative, refreshing, and oh so clever, Ready Player One is a wonderful read, especially for you sci-fi readers out there, or for those wanting a break from the typical YA novel.
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Author: Una LaMarche
Date Published: May 16, 2013
Grade: B-
The summer we were nine: Emma was branded “Skylar’s friend Emma” by the infamous Adam Loring... The summer we were ten: Maddie realized she was too far into her lies to think about telling the truth... The summer we were eleven: Johanna totally freaked out during her first game of Spin the Bottle... The summer we were twelve: Skylar’s love letters from her boyfriend back home were exciting to all of us—except Skylar...Our last summer together: Emma and Adam almost kissed. Jo found out Maddie’s secret. Skylar did something unthinkable... and whether we knew it then or not, five summers of friendship began to fall apart.
Three years after the fateful last night of camp, the four of us are coming back to camp for reunion weekend—and for a second chance. Bittersweet, funny, and achingly honest, Five Summers is a story of friendship, love, and growing up that is perfect for fans of Anne Brashares and Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.
Review: This book was picked up randomly one day at Chapters; I hadn't heard about it or seen it on Goodreads before, but after reading the summary, I decided it could be a good, fun, light-hearted read- perfect for when you're feeling bored on a hot summer's day. I find myself usually rating the light-hearted books I read fairly low. The reason for that is because most light-hearted, quick reads leave you with a sort of "oh okay" feeling. Nothing too spectacular, nothing too special, nothing that will make you see the world from a different point of view. Although Five Summers was a fun book that kept me engaged most of the time, it didn't seem to have any sort of emotional impact on me once I turned the last page. All I could really think was, "huh that was nice".
Five Summers is often compared to Anne Brashare's series, The Sisterhood of Travelling Pants, which I adored. I'm a huge fan of both the books and the movies. I know many people find it cliché to read about a group of girls who are "best friends", but I personally love it, which is why I really enjoyed reading Five Summers for the most part. Although the girls, Jo, Maddie, Emma, and Skylar were no where near as lovable and complex as Tibby, Lena, Bridget, and Carmen, they were still interesting to read about and each girl had her own qualities that were fairly well developed (although three out of the four girls got on my nerves quite often).
Continuing the comparison of the two, I found the friendship in Five Summers quite disappointing compared to The Sisterhood. I don't think readers were able to really see how close the four girls really were because there was just so much drama within the pages. I definitely didn't fully buy their "everlasting" friendship because right from the start, it seemed as if there was always a weird tension in the air between some of the girls, and this tension didn't feel completely resolved at the end. Furthermore, in The Sisterhood, there are some pretty solid love interests (like Kostos, he's pretty perfect, okay...). However, if you're looking for a similar read filled with romance, Five Summers isn't the book you're looking for. The male characters in Five Summers were not ideal, nor romantic, nor adorable- basically, there were realistic, average seventeen year old boys- immature and often exuding with confidence.
However, because of the drama filled pages, the book was very fast paced and I never once found myself getting bored. Una LaMarche did a great job of keeping readers engaged, even during the sappy, somewhat cheesy "let's make up!" scenes. There was no huge twist and the plot itself was pretty predictable. Five Summers was overall a simple, quick read about friendship and change.
Hope everyone's summer is going great!
PAULA :)
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Author: Kasie West
Date Published: July 2nd, 2013
Grade: A :)
Goodreads Summary: Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.
So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.
She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.
Review: Ah this was such an adorable book! I had been waiting for The Distance Between Us for the longest time- but it was definitely worth the wait. Although the book was pretty short, it had all the elements required for a great, young adult read.
Ever since reading Pivot Point, I have adored Kasie West's writing. Her voice is so strong, it always keeps you one hundred percent engaged in the story. West's writing is also undeniably hilarious, I found myself chuckling every other page (you know it's a good book when it can make you laugh). There's something about her writing that flows so nicely together, it's simple, yet addictive. Kasie West also has this wonderful ability to create the most adorable male characters, characters whom she develops so well, all us female YA readers fall head over heels for.
Let's talk about Xander. At first, I was kind of hesitant on whether or not I liked him... But then, twenty pages later, I get to the part of the story where he brings her hot chocolate and shows up on her doorstep and he's all smart and funny and witty and can handle her sarcastic comments and then BOOM. This happens.
Actually though, even if you hold some grudge against Kasie West and you don't like her writing or whatever, READ THE BOOK FOR XANDER AND CAYMEN'S CHEMISTRY. It's so much fun watching their characters develop with each other. The sarcasm and humor that occurs between the two is refreshing and funny. Caymen was also a great character. Typically, I dislike the female protagonists in books, but from page 1, I loved Caymen's wit and "dry humor". She is independent and hilarious, a sass master who has perfected the art of sarcasm- Honestly, she's the type of girl you want as a best friend. Kasie West also made sure she wasn't perfect. Of course she made mistakes, but that just made her that much more relatable and lovable.
The plot itself was smooth and worked well. Nothing really awful ever happened, so there was no huge life changing climax or anything. However, I really loved the story. I loved the little twists and turns throughout the book. My one complaint would be that the ending felt pretty rushed, although I liked the final twist. The Distance Between Us was definitely an addictively funny, happy, summer read, one that had me smiling the entire time I was reading it. I definitely recommend it for you YA readers looking for a light, cute read with the two most sarcastic, funny protagonists of all time.
Happy reading y'all!
PAULA :)
Friday, 28 June 2013
Author: Jessica Verdi
Date Published: April 2, 2013
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.
And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?
Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.
Review: When I first read the synopsis for this book, I really didn't know what to expect. The summary on Goodreads was intriguing; What drastic, life changing challenge will Lucy be having to face? I wondered. This book really exceeded my expectations; It was heartwarming, thoughtful, well written, and informative- with just the right amounts of realism, romance, self discovery, and dream chasing thrown in as well.
Lucy is a sixteen/seventeen year old actress in the making, a smart and talented girl who has her entire future ahead of her. After what seems to be an awful week, she makes some bad decisions that leads to a life changing event- Lucy is diagnosed with the sexually transmitted disease, HIV. My Life After Now shows how Lucy transforms from being ashamed of herself and shutting those she loves out of her life, to a girl ready to make the best of the rest of the life that has been given to her with the ones she loves. Along the way, not only does Lucy learn a ton about HIV/AIDS, she learns how to love again- She learns to love herself, even with what she considered an "infection running through her", and she learns to love the people around her again.
I loved Lucy as a character. Although she made plenty of mistakes, this made her relatable, real, and her flaws only proved how realistic her and her story was. Lucy was funny at times, and still completely fearless when she needed to be. The connections she had with her friends and parents (the two gay dads aspect of the book made it really fun to read!) were also really enjoyable to read because of the genuineness of all the characters. The romance felt powerful as well, and because both Lucy and Evan were such developed characters, I found myself being more and more drawn in by their story.
It felt really nice to read a book that tackled such a serious issue, an issue that normally is avoided. The author, Jessica Verdi, did an amazing job of informing the readers, and at the same time, keeping us engaged. I loved this book. Not only does My Life After Now bring awareness of HIV/AIDS to the lives of teenagers, it also reminds us that life is short, and that we should make the best of what we can. I highly recommend this book to those ready for an addictive, highly compelling, and eye opening read.
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Author: Lisa M. Stasse
Date Published: July 10, 2012
Grade: B
The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
Review: The Goodreads summary is what initially drew me in so quickly about this book. Lately, I've been really falling in love with dystopian novels. Along with this whole Lost similarity, with an island and a higher power controlling things, and different "sides" of the island, mixed in with a bit of Lord of the Flies and Hunger Games, I had very high expectations for The Forsaken.
Let's start off with what I liked. It was definitely a refreshing read because it was so different compared to the young adult novels I've been reading lately. The Forsaken is a very fast paced book, filled with action and adventure, I never found myself bored and my eyes leaped from page to page, desperately wanting more. Along with the many mysteries lurking within the story, there are also many twists hidden for the readers as the book goes on, which is always fun to read.
Although this novel did have a "romance" in it, 1) there was an annoying love triangle (which I found unnecessary and tiring to read) and 2) I never quite believed in the relationship between Liam and Alenna because it all happened so fast. She literally met him, talked to him once, and then they decided they were "apparently" in love with each other. It was pretty hard to feel their connection because they rarely had moments that showed their true personalities. Which leads me to my next point- most of the characters didn't really have much of a personality, especially Alenna, the protagonist. I don't think she showed enough emotion at all, and even when she did, it was boring to read. I didn't really like Alenna- her priorities seemed muddled up. At times, she would be like "Yeah! I'm an independent girl ready to go fight for myself and keep on trekkin'!" and then the next thing you know its all "I miss Liam.". LITERALLY THOUGH. It was irritating jumping back and forth between her two identities. Also, there tended to be a sentence italicized randomly every so often. I don't think it made the sentence any more dramatic. It was just weird.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Forsaken because of its quick pace and really interesting, engaging story line. Although this book was definitely not perfect, with its flat characters and questionable romance, I will definitely stick with the series and I anticipate the release of The Uprising, which is the second book in the Forsaken series.
Happy reading!
PAULA :)
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
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Author: Sarah Dessen
Date Published: June 4, 2013
Grade: C+
Goodreads Summary: Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.
Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.
Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby? Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?
Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer
Review: Okay, so ever since, like, grade eight, I have always loved Sarah Dessen novels. Her books were actually what sparked my love for young adult novels. With stories such as The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, and Along For the Ride, along with her amazing male characters such as the swoon worthy, lovable Wes and the comforting, silent, strong Owen, and finally, the quirkily intriguing Eli, Sarah Dessen really set some high standards for herself. Unfortunately for Dessen fans such as myself, I found The Moon and More extremely disappointing for a number or reasons: the whole plot in general, the "love interest", and the lack of developed characters. As I dove into this book a couple days ago, I was looking for a refreshing, summer read; However, personally, I found that the book lacked interest, romance, and it was unnecessarily long.
The novel centered around Emaline, this eighteen year old girl, as she basically just lived her life during the summer. I found it boring. Nothing that exciting or engaging ever truly occurred; I think it had the potential to be a really great read because Sarah Dessen chose such a beautiful setting for her book- a small town by the ocean, one where everyone knew everyone, a place with a board walk, a beach, and even a ferris wheel. The setting screamed perfect, especially for a young adult book. However, throughout the novel, I found myself questioning the whole point of the story multiple times. There was so many little things going on, but nothing felt significant enough to be the main point of the story. Also, it felt so choppy, as if the scenes were disconnected, resulting in a confusing and tediously drawn out story.
I couldn't relate to Emaline very much either. Although I did respect how she stood up to Luke, there was nothing that drew me in about her. She seemed like a "goody goody" type girl, one who was good at literally everything- lacking flaws (which resulted in a boring character). It felt as if she was missing personality, and constantly being pushed around by everyone around her. However, I do give her credit for her somewhat sassy and "bad-ass" (quoted from the book itself) responses at times. Secondly, OH MY GOD THEO WHAT. So Emaline's apparent "love interest" of the summer was first portrayed as this really quirky in all the right ways, super-in-love-with-her boy, Theo, while her boyfriend Luke, was presented as this over-confident, average guy. Then, as if Sarah Dessen suddenly and completely changed her mind about the two, the roles were reversed multiple times and boom bada boom we have ourselves a mess here. I'm still unsure whether or not there was a love story. I mean Theo, the apparent love interest (I think) ended up being the most arrogant, condescending, and down right pretentious "love interest" I have ever met. I didn't feel any connection or chemistry between Emaline and Theo, it was really rough. Apart form Morris who I found funny, the rest of the characters in the book were pretty flat and undynamic as well.
I might have been very harsh in my review on The Moon and More, but I had pretty high expectations for this new Sarah Dessen novel. I've seen mixed reviews about it and I'm sure this disappointment is not faced by everyone... But personally, if you're looking for a looonnng read filled with lots of eye rolling and exasperated sighs and no romance whatsoever, I think that this is definitely the book for you.
Monday, 24 June 2013
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Date Published: April 23, 2013
Grade: B+
Goodreads Summary: From Sarah Strohmeyer, author of Smart Girls Get What They Want, comes this romantic comedy about one girl's summer job from hell. Think The Devil Wears Prada set in Disney World.
When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?
Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money. Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?
Review: How Zoe Made her Dreams (Mostly) Come True was definitely a fun read. A fluffy one, as well. I think if was a great way to kick off the summer because it was so easy, warm n' fuzzy, and light-hearted to read.
Firstly, what made me pick up the book was the idea behind it. I was super excited to read about the adventures of Zoe and her perky, loyal cousin Jess as they journeyed through Fairyland, basically what is the equivalent to Disneyland. The story was mostly about this group of teenagers who all worked and lived in Fairyland for the summer, as actors who played "Disney characters", such as Cinderella, Snow White, Prince Charming, Little Red Riding Hood, etc. This whole premise really intrigued me, because I had never heard of anything quite like it before. In the end, I thought Sarah Strohmeyer executed this idea pretty well, although at times it was confusing.
The story started off pretty slow, to be honest. I didn't really feel the book until a third or so of the way in. When the characters each began to develop more, I only then began to get sucked into the book. One of the main reasons I liked this book, is because I really liked the main character. Zoe was super sassy when she needed to be, she was funny and independent, she didn't make any really stupid decisions, she tried hard, she was selfless, and all the while, she was still just a teenage girl going through a time patch in her life. There was never any angst between Zoe and her cousin Jess either; Jess was always loyal and faithful towards Zoe, and she never doubted Zoe's intentions. I loved their relationship because it was so unwaveringly strong- none of this backscratching and turning against each other stuff we see so often in most Young Adult novels these days. Finally, I also really liked the chemistry between Zoe and her love interest (I'll omit his name for spoiler reasons). I found it believable and adorable right from the get-go.
I ended up giving this book a B because of it's "climatic" scenes. I don't know if this is just me, but I began getting a bit confused while reading the scenes- maybe that was the author's intention? To portray the chaos going on? However, during these scenes, I found it hard to keep up with the story line because so much happened in such a short period of time, my brain never really processed any of it. Furthermore, all of the problems in the book seemed to be solved just like that *snaps fingers*. Seriously though, everything was resolved unusually quickly, it felt pretty forced and really quite unrealistic.
Other than those little problems, I thought the overall story line was really well done! It is evident to see that Sarah Strohmeyer is very talented at interweaving different stories to make one giant plot that ends up fitting together quite nicely. The writing was engaging, smart, and funny- I even found myself laughing out loud a couple times. This was definitely the right book to start off the summer with, as it was such a fun, light read, it gave me lots of momentum to pick up some more books and dive right in them.
...And they lived happily ever after (with their books)!
What are you guys reading this summer?
PAULA :)
Friday, 24 May 2013
Author: Kasie West
Date Published: February 12, 2013
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through... and who she can’t live without.
Review: EVERYONE LISTEN UP I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE. I AM VERY, EXTREMELY, SUPER EXCITED AND PLEASED TO WELCOME A NEW FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTER TO MY LIST OF BOOK BOYFRIENDS. YAYYY.
Normally, I'm not one to love supernatural/super power books and I prefer to stick to the reality young adult novels. However, this book was incredible and has completely changed my attitude towards supernatural books. Just the concept of a community with people each having a different power- it almost reminded me of Divergent, except with a cuter, more believable romance and slightly less fighting/action- is a pretty neat concept. Unlike the normal supernatural concepts we come across as young adult readers (vampires/werewolves etc.), this cool idea of mind powers and abilities really stood out to me as original, engaging, and fascinating to read.
Gah. And the characters and romance in this book.. GAHHH. By the end of the 350 pages of this book, I felt as though I knew the characters so well, the main ones were all so well developed and complex- each having their own challenges and obstacles to face. Addie is super-relatable and lovable, expecially being a teenager who loves to read and does somewhat dorky things, and experiences the things normal teenage girls go through. Most of the characters also worked super well together. Especially the romantic chemistry between Addie/Trevor and sometimes Addie/Duke. The chemistry between these two was incredibly enjoyable to read. Addie and Trevor's relationship also felt very consistent, never faltering. They were just so funny and adorable with each other, always responding to each other with witty comments, and saying the cutest things at just the right moments. Trevor- *sighs* -was the cutest thing ever, with his cowboy boots, smart and clever responses, and his sensitive and artistic side. I seriously wish I could have seen more Traddie moments (They already have a relationship name! That's how much I ship them!). Aaaaand, like I said earlier, he has officially made my top ten list of book boyfriends! Welcome Trevor!
Kasie West's writing is also really quite amazing. Her writing is easy to follow and extremely engaging. I never found myself bored. She's not the type of person who needs millions of metaphors and deep quotes to grab your attention, her writing is straight forward and fun to read, not to mention straight up hilarious at times. This was definitely a book that I was not able to put down!
The ending of the book killed me. No- actually what killed me was the adorable chemistry between Traddie... And then I came back to life after calming myself, and then I died again after finishing it. "Why?" You might ask? Well, the ending came so suddenly, and everything was so chaotic, and not everything was resolved, and I was upset! Then, I checked Goodreads and HALLELUJAH, a sequel to Pivot Point is supposed to come out next year! Thank goodness. So now, I'm back, alive, and really looking forward to next year. This book is definitely one you do not want to miss, especially if you're a fan of cute romantic chemistry (duh, who isn't?) and supernatural stuff. And don't make the mistake that I almost did of turning away from this book because if has supernatural stuff. It's a really great read and I highly recommend it.
PAULA :)
Friday, 17 May 2013
Author: Cath Crowley
Date Published: August 1, 2013
Grade: Solid A
Goodreads Summary: "Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers."
It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about. His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.
Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls. But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.
Review: I MUST MAKE AN APOLOGETIC STATEMENT RIGHT NOW. I AM SORRY CATH CROWLEY, I AM SORRY SARINA, I AM SORRY MY GOODREADS FRIENDS WHO TOLD ME TO READ THIS BOOK A LONG TIME AGO BUT OBVIOUSLY MY STUBBORN, STUPID SELF DIDN'T LISTEN. Let me explain. Alright, so a year and a half ago, Sarina came up to me, excited, telling me about this super great book that I had to read because it was "asdfghjkl-good". I had a couple books on my plate already so I sort of glanced at the back summary and read the first couple pages and thought "meh", and decided that it didn't seem so great. So I gave it back to her saying I didn't want to read it. Then, a couple weeks ago, I was in need of a good YA book to read and I remembered the raving reviews about this one, so I re-borrowed it from Sarina to give it another try- and I read it almost all in one sitting and now here I am, about to tell you the amazing adventure I had with the most lovable, funny characters, Lucy, Ed, Jazz, Leo, Daisy, and Dylan. I miss them already (I am going through serious post-book-achy-sulky-feeling).
The thing about Graffiti Moon is that it only happens in one night. And that's actually one of the things that turned me away from the book initially- I thought the characters wouldn't be complex or the story would become slow or something dumb like that... But no! It was quite the opposite actually. Even though I only got to spend a mere ten hours with the characters, I completely fell in love with them. Especially Ed and Lucy. They're romance/tension-between-them-that-was-obviously-flirty-tension was so, so much fun to read. They were hilarious together. They just seemed to get each other. They could talk about anything with each other, from the deepest things to the most ridiculously funny things. During the entire book, all I could thing was "KISS ALREADY DAMMIT KISS. OH MY GOD JUST KISS PLEASE KISS OKAY". Jazz and Leo were also such great characters. Leo's poems and Jazz's psychic abilities made the book that much more interesting to read. And Dylan and Daisy were just straight-up funny. All the main characters in the book were so well developed and each had so many layers, they all had their own dreams and goals and problems and wishes. This might be my favorite overall cast of characters ever, especially considering I LOVED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM (which is extremely rare).
The story itself was really interesting to read, told in alternating points of views by Lucy, Ed, and some of Leo's poems. It was funny seeing some of the story overlap and intertwine, because that way you got to see what both Lucy and Ed was thinking during the same scenes. It was pretty special to see Ed and Lucy fall for each other as each hour passed by and they had more and more discussions about life and art and love. The writing was so vivid and brilliantly written, Crowley described all the artwork so well. It was beautiful. As I was reading this book, I kept imaging two teens running through a city at night in hopes of finding an adventure together, with the lights of the city surrounding them, as if they were stars, guiding the way. Beautiful.
When I finished the book, I had this kind of achy, sad/beautiful, *deep-breaths* feeling in me. I wanted morrrreeee. Overall, this book was such a great read and I am so glad that I finally read it! Engaging, hilarious, beautiful, this book has it all. A must read for lovers of YA novels. I hope you fall in love with Graffiti Moon as much as I have!
PAULA :)
When I finished the book, I had this kind of achy, sad/beautiful, *deep-breaths* feeling in me. I wanted morrrreeee. Overall, this book was such a great read and I am so glad that I finally read it! Engaging, hilarious, beautiful, this book has it all. A must read for lovers of YA novels. I hope you fall in love with Graffiti Moon as much as I have!
PAULA :)
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Title: Two-Way Street
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Date Published: June 26, 2007
Grade: B
It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.
Review: I was very doubtful whether I would like this book or not. After reading some pretty tough reviews about it, it sounded dreadfully cheesy and frustrating. Surprisingly, I did enjoy it much more than I had initially thought. It wasn't a life changing, amazing novel, but it acted kind of like a guilty pleasure read. A light, super fast, and engaging read about first love and heartbreak.
*SIDENOTE* The cover... Doesn't exactly have much to do with the story (other than a boy and a girl on a road trip). 1) Jordan isn't a blonde, he is supposed to have dark brown hair. 2) It's not supposed to be a small, roofless car- it's Jordan's truck! and 3) I don't think they ever get stuck on the road are are forced to open the hood of the car.
Okay well, firstly, I really liked how the book was from both Courtney and Jordan's points of views. It made the plot fast moving and extremely engaging. I loved seeing both sides of the story. For instance, one of my favorite parts of the book was when Courtney didn't want Jordan to think she was interested in his conversation, so she tried to look busy by rummaging through her bag, even though she was very interested. Then, when we get to Jordan's perspective, he tells us how disappointed and sad he feels because he thinks Courtney didn't care about his conversation. I found that funny.
Jordan... The more I read, the more I liked him. At first, he seemed like an obnoxious, stereotypical "thinks he's so cool" player. But I really fell for him by the end. You could tell he really loves Courtney; the way he held her hair back when she was sick, how he left eighteen messages on her phone, how badly he wanted to be with her. Oh gosh, it was so cute. Courtney was kind of the opposite for me. I liked her at the very beginning, I found her funny and somewhat relatable (I too, would have made an itinerary). But as I read on, she annoyed me more and more. Especially at the end when she was mad at Jordan. I couldn't understand why she was so upset. Courtney seemed so self centered, she rarely thought about things from the perspective of Jordan. And she often over-reacted to everything. However, I think they worked well together as a couple, and I really enjoyed reading about their chemistry.
Although a lot did happen throughout the novel, there didn't seem to be a real climax. Just a bunch of events that happened one after another. Readers had known about the big "twist" since near the beginning of the book. Furthermore, the "twist" was kind of anti-climatic.
Overall though, I found this book very light. It didn't really fulfill me very much. There was no sudden greater life realization that occurred to me while I read it. It's not a book that will stick with me for a very long time. Two Way Street was simply a fun and cute little read.
PAULA :)
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Title: The List
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Date Published: April 1, 2012
Grade: B+
It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.
This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.
Review: This book. Ugh. From the start to the finish, I found myself constantly rolling my eyes, sighing in frustration, and shaking my head, annoyed. Yet, somehow, for some crazy unknown reason... I just couldn't put it down. I mean, sure, it was super cheesy and frustrating half the time, but how do you rate a book so negatively when it was near impossible to release from your grip? Obviously, this book had great aspects to it. It tackled many major and realistic teen issues that teenage girls face in high school today; rejection, anorexia, cliques.
Let's start with the characters. Vivian tackled a pretty big feat by having the points of views be from eight different characters. This had both its advantages and disadvantages. It kept the plot interesting and complex, and at the same time, it was impossible for the characters to each be completely developed, therefore making it hard to really invest into a character. Some of the characters' stories were more interesting than others. For instance, Danielle's storyline was my favourite to read because she was a swimmer, and it was easy to relate to (also someone should go punch Andrew), rather than Lauren's storyline, which was pretty boring for me to read. Furthermore, although the characters were very annoying at times, (I guarantee you will want to throw every single one of them off a cliff as some point) they were still- unfortunately- pretty relatable.
This being said, I was extremely annoyed with the ending. I was left with a very unresolved ending, which made me frustrated in ways I cannot even begin to describe. Out of the eight characters, only a couple of them had their ending's resolved. The ones that weren't mentioned again kind of just faded away as if they weren't important (like Danielle! :( ). Also, it wasn't exactly a happy ending, not to give away any spoilers or anything, I just didn't feel entirely happy after finishing the book.
The writing itself was decent. It felt really simple, and I guess that can be a good thing if you're looking for a light read. Overall, The List really was an interesting read. It did a pretty good job of showing the different perspectives of teenage girls facing different challenges throughout high school. It showed how much pressure is put on girls to look "beautiful" in society, and it did a painfully good job of showing how most girls depend on the opinions of others to feel good, or bad, about themselves. Although it did focus on a bunch of serious issues like anorexia, it was still a really easy, light contemporary.
Thanks for reading!
PAULA :)
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Name: Eleanor & ParkAuthor: Rainbow Rowell
Date Published: February 26, 2013
Grade: B
Goodreads Summary:
"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
Review: After reading John Green's review of Eleanor & Park in the New York Times, claiming that he's "never seen anything quite like it", I was so unbelievably excited for this book. I was about to go on a trip and so I packed it in my carry on bag to read on the flight over because it seemed like such a happy, cute read- perfect for sitting on the airplane. I will admit, it was a captivating read and I ended up reading it all in one sitting, no bathroom breaks and no food breaks (which is a wonder for me). But when I turned that final page and closed the book, I didn't feel satisfied and I was left with a longing for more closure. Something in that book just didn't quite click for me.
I was wrong about one thing, that's for sure. While Eleanor and Park did have their happy, cute moments together that made me smile and go "awwe"... It was pretty dark read, tackling real issues that occur in the present world such as self-esteem, bullying, and domestic abuse. Although I wasn't really prepared for these issues to be in the book, I'm glad that they were there because it helped ground the book into reality. Even though it hurt my heart to read about these issues, they acted as reminders that life has obstacles and learning to get over these obstacles shape us as people. The contrast between the two households juxtaposed the different obstacles Eleanor and Park were having to go through. It was also adorable seeing Park offer not only his love, but the love of his warm, perfect family, to Eleanor. Another aspect of the book I really liked, was how both Eleanor and Park narrated the story, it allowed us to see their characters develop together and separately, in a magical, beautiful way.
One thing that just bothered me so much, and will continue to bother me if I ever do re-read it, is the fact that their relationship felt a bit one sided. I mean, by seeing things from Eleanor's perspective, we knew that she did love him and she did need him, but she rarely told Park what was wrong and he had to push so hard for her to let him in. Park would continuously tell her he loved her and yet she wouldn't say it back. It was so frustrating to read! I loved Park though. I loved his love for her. In the beginning, I admit that their relationship was painfully slow to read- It wasn't painful as in boring, it was painful because I just wanted so badly for them to hurry up and be happy together. When they were together, however, and when everything was going well, their relationship was like a warm cup of hot chocolate, so satisfying and sweet and heartwarming. Overall, it was pretty wondrous seeing this misfit of a couple fall in love for the first time together, and it made me happy to see how happy they made each other.
*SPOILER ALERT IN NEXT PARAGRAPH*
I didn't like the ending. I think that's one of the biggest problems I had with the book. Everything was happening so suddenly, and then *poof*- I was left with basically nothing. Kind of like a flame that just dies out, leaving no light behind at all. It didn't feel special in the slightest way- on the contrary, it felt boring and normal for such a special relationship. It was a bit depressing as well because throughout the book, it seemed as if Eleanor knew that there would be no "after" in their relationship. And throughout the whole book I had been silently cheering for them to be high-school sweethearts and get married and have a happy life and yaddiyaddiaya. But I was proven wrong, and Eleanor was proven right. And that is depressing to me. I might have been a bit harsh on my grade for this book because overall it was a lovely read with easy-to-love protagonists and for the most part, a storyline that made me feel, really feel quite a lot.
Thanks for reading!
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
Review: After reading John Green's review of Eleanor & Park in the New York Times, claiming that he's "never seen anything quite like it", I was so unbelievably excited for this book. I was about to go on a trip and so I packed it in my carry on bag to read on the flight over because it seemed like such a happy, cute read- perfect for sitting on the airplane. I will admit, it was a captivating read and I ended up reading it all in one sitting, no bathroom breaks and no food breaks (which is a wonder for me). But when I turned that final page and closed the book, I didn't feel satisfied and I was left with a longing for more closure. Something in that book just didn't quite click for me.
I was wrong about one thing, that's for sure. While Eleanor and Park did have their happy, cute moments together that made me smile and go "awwe"... It was pretty dark read, tackling real issues that occur in the present world such as self-esteem, bullying, and domestic abuse. Although I wasn't really prepared for these issues to be in the book, I'm glad that they were there because it helped ground the book into reality. Even though it hurt my heart to read about these issues, they acted as reminders that life has obstacles and learning to get over these obstacles shape us as people. The contrast between the two households juxtaposed the different obstacles Eleanor and Park were having to go through. It was also adorable seeing Park offer not only his love, but the love of his warm, perfect family, to Eleanor. Another aspect of the book I really liked, was how both Eleanor and Park narrated the story, it allowed us to see their characters develop together and separately, in a magical, beautiful way.
One thing that just bothered me so much, and will continue to bother me if I ever do re-read it, is the fact that their relationship felt a bit one sided. I mean, by seeing things from Eleanor's perspective, we knew that she did love him and she did need him, but she rarely told Park what was wrong and he had to push so hard for her to let him in. Park would continuously tell her he loved her and yet she wouldn't say it back. It was so frustrating to read! I loved Park though. I loved his love for her. In the beginning, I admit that their relationship was painfully slow to read- It wasn't painful as in boring, it was painful because I just wanted so badly for them to hurry up and be happy together. When they were together, however, and when everything was going well, their relationship was like a warm cup of hot chocolate, so satisfying and sweet and heartwarming. Overall, it was pretty wondrous seeing this misfit of a couple fall in love for the first time together, and it made me happy to see how happy they made each other.
*SPOILER ALERT IN NEXT PARAGRAPH*
I didn't like the ending. I think that's one of the biggest problems I had with the book. Everything was happening so suddenly, and then *poof*- I was left with basically nothing. Kind of like a flame that just dies out, leaving no light behind at all. It didn't feel special in the slightest way- on the contrary, it felt boring and normal for such a special relationship. It was a bit depressing as well because throughout the book, it seemed as if Eleanor knew that there would be no "after" in their relationship. And throughout the whole book I had been silently cheering for them to be high-school sweethearts and get married and have a happy life and yaddiyaddiaya. But I was proven wrong, and Eleanor was proven right. And that is depressing to me. I might have been a bit harsh on my grade for this book because overall it was a lovely read with easy-to-love protagonists and for the most part, a storyline that made me feel, really feel quite a lot.
Thanks for reading!
Paula :)
Author: Gayle Forman
Date Published: January 8, 2013
Grade: A-
Goodreads Summary: A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay. When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines. Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels.
Review: I remember Sarina and I excitedly talking about this duet of novels one day during PE class, both swooning over the titles "Just One Day" and "Just One Year", freaking out about how cute the books will be and how much we loved If I Stay and Where She Went. So naturally, I was expecting quite a lot as I cracked open its spine, excited to begin my adventure with Allyson and *fangirls silently* this blonde, tall, european actor. Did he have the potential to make our list of most adorable male fictional characters? You see, I had high hopes.
Just One Day easily captivated my heart right away because Allyson was so easy to relate to; She had no idea what she was expecting of the future, she was only trying to please the people she loves instead of trying to make herself happy, and she would way rather be in her room watching movies than outside partying. By the end of the novel, I felt so attached to her and it seemed as if I were her best friend/sidekick, journeying along with her through the streets of Europe. One of the reasons why I enjoyed this book so much, is because I am, to simply put it, a teenager. When I read about her longings to be in love, and how she fell for the mysterious enigmatic blonde actor, and how she notices all the little things he does, I completely understood what she was searching for, or rather, why she was searching so hard to find him.
I hate to say this, but it was surprisingly hard for me to like Willem and as I was reading, I always felt kind of suspicious of him. Like, in reality, what stranger would spontaneously ask a girl to miss her train home and come join him for a day in Paris? I'm all for sudden moments of cuteness but I just couldn't seem to wrap my head around why Willem was so secretive of his family and why there were so many girls who recognized him and were eager to greet him. It was almost as if Forman was setting us up to dislike him? I felt as if I were Allyson's parents shaking my head discreetly thinking "hmmmm this boy seems like trouble...". The only part of the book I enjoyed reading about Willem was the boat ride where his excitement showed some young, vulnerability- which is always adorable Personally, overall, he just seemed to lack charisma and I couldn't quite fall for him. The more I learned about him, the more I disliked his character.
As most reviews have pointed out, the theme of this novel is self-discovery. So even though I didn't really appreciate the romance Willem and Allyson had, I loved the book because it represented so much more than just a one day fling. That day in Paris with Willem wasn't about finding simply a boy to love, it was the start of finding who she really was. The rest of the book really focuses on Allyon's coming of age as she grows from a reserved, shy, unadventurous "goody two shoes" to a whole other person. Someone who doesn't need to hide behind the nickname "Lulu" anymore to be herself. One of my favourite parts of the novel was when Allyson decides to stop making an effort to keep the awful Melanie, her former best friend, in her life, and instead makes room for new people like the hilariously charming Dee, and her other room mates. By the end of the novel, I felt very proud of Allyson for being so independent, hard working, and self-appreciative.
When I finished the book, I had that familiar feeling of abruptness. The ending felt so quick and short and I wanted to call Gayle Forman up and be like "WHAT HAPPENS NEXT PLEASE TELL ME SWEET MOTHER OF GOD I NEED TO KNOW". But to be fair, I can't judge the ending like that because it isn't really the actual ending of the book, is it? It's the beginning of the next book. I hope that in Just One Year, Willem's character, as well as his and Allyson's relationship, is developed more. Overall, this book is one that will take you on a whirlwind of emotions, and I cannot wait to continue their journey.
Thanks for reading!
Paula :)
Author: John Green
Date Published: March 3, 2005
Grade: A
Goodreads Summary: Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. After. Nothing is ever the same.
Review: This book had been on my too-read shelf on Goodreads for many, many months now, and after reading so many reviews about it, I decided to finally pick it up and read it myself. It was truly an amazing, inspiring, and heartbreaking read, however, because I recently read John Green`s newly acclaimed novel The Fault in Our Stars (which I found AH-MAY-ZING), I put a lot of pressure on Looking for Alaska and my expectations of it were extremely high. Even though I was trying to refrain myself from doing so, it still felt as if I were comparing the two books; the characters, the storyline... It`s not like I was disappointed by the book, it still left me applauding Green thinking "Whoa. He has done it again, that talented talented man", it just didn't seem to pull me in as much as The Fault in Our Stars was able to. This being said, I think it is still a very special, captivating, book that shows us the power words on paper can hold. While most YA novels I have read lately contain themes such as the stereotypical teenage romance, this novel brilliantly tackles the ideas of belonging and finding a greater meaning in life.
The first thing I noticed right when I began reading was the fact that there were no chapters, instead, there are days counting down leading to an event. The book is divided in two parts, "Before" and "After". The structural purpose of doing this is pretty obvious once you read the sections, but I think there's a deeper meaning to it, something related to Pudge's coming of age and growth. I'll let you guys figure it out for yourselves.
Although I couldn't seem to relate to the characters very much, I enjoyed reading about them and found myself fascinated by their quirks, and their flaws seemed to make the characters more real to me. For example, Miles, also known as Pudge, memorizes last words and his roommate the Colonel is pretty much an almanac who knows all the countries in the world, and their capitals. And then there's Alaska. I'm not even going to try and explain her character because, well, I can't. She's one of the most dynamic characters I have ever met, and although she annoyed me the half of the time- with her mood swings and Jake, her boyfriend, she is also the reason why this book is so stunning. That's all I can really say about her character because I think it's hugely important for readers to experience her as they read.
Personally, I thought it was really interesting reading the book from a boy's perspective- It was adorable being inside the mind of Pudge as he fell for Alaska. Like I would be reading along and suddenly, a really beautiful, deep thought would pop into his head. My all time favourite quote, which is probably really overused and you've all seen it a million times on Tumblr, happens as Pudge stares at a sleeping Alaska, wanting so badly to warp his arms around her, "But I lacked courage and she had a boyfriend and I was gawky and she was gorgeous and I was hopelessly boring and she was endlessly fascinating. So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunch, thinking if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane". *Sigggghs*. The only part of the storyline that I didn't like all that much, was how one-sided the romance was. I mean, after reading all about Gus and Hazel's unrequited love, it was sort of hard not having those adorable moments of two people hopelessly fallen for each other. Pudge and Alaska both seemed to always hold back their feelings (yeah, yeah she had a boyfriend... but still.) towards each other- whenever I sensed a romantic, cute scene about to happen, I was left sort of disappointed because one of them would fall asleep, or get angry, or leave. I guess that's just the romance craving reader inside of me.
I think this novel is one filled with raw emotion and power and I am really glad to have finally read it. Although heartbreaking, it wasn't *let me cry on my bed for hours with a box of tissues I hate the world* heartbreak, it was more of a satisfying *the world goes on and people go on and we just gotta appreciate what we have* heartbreak, as cheesy at that is. Looking for Alaska was beautiful and brilliant and touching and stunning all at the same time. Instead of the normal fairy tale ending most YA novels have, the ending of this novel will leave you with a much more powerful sense of love.
Thanks for reading!
Paula :)
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