Review: White Cat by Holly Black

Title: White Cat
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster)
Source: Hardback book/Goodreads.com
Rating: 3/5

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

Review:

Holly Black's books and writing style are one of those type of things where you either love it or you hate it. I really liked her first series Modern Faerie Tales (Ironside, Tithe, and Valiant, haven't read the third one), but this series was pretty unique and differen't from any other book I've read in a long time.It took me a while to finish this book. I had to put it down a lot, but as you can see I finially finished. I really don't know what it was that made me think of it as okay. It's just one of those feelings that were neutral. I didn't hate it nor did I think it was spectacular or mind blowing it was just, oh...well that was new and interesting and cool.

It was something I'd read to tie me over whenever I'm anticipating another book or don't have anything else to read. The plot was well thought out. I loved the mafia and curse worker theme and everything. It had a LOT (notice it being capitalized) of twists and turns.You thought one thing was going to happen but then something you didn't even suspect would have happened, but it did.

The characters were decent. Cassel was just too wimpy and a push over. I really wish he could have some strength in him, muscle wise, so he could at least win one fist fight when he starts mouthing off to the wrong person. Overall the main thing that I really loved was the plot and theme. It takes a really talented author and a lot of research and etc to pull off the twist and turns, the whole mafia thing and etc which, I give her credit for but character wise...I was hoping for a little bit more from them. I might read the second book Red Glove,that I got from Galley Grab, but I'm not sure yet, even though it looks really intriguing. I Guess I will just have to wait and see.

Book Hop (7) and Follow Friday (9)

"What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?"

Ah, Gee wizz there are so many I'm looking forward to seeing published in 2011. For starters, the fourth book to the Mortal Instrument Series (City of Fallen Angel) by Cassandra Clare, the second book to If I stay ( Where She Went) by Gayke Foreman, Delirium (which comes out hmm.. I think next week :D) by Lauren Oliver, The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (her newest series). I can go on for forever lol







What is/was your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject in school will always and forever be anything related to english.I like social Studies also but I like to move on with the future and not think and remeber the past much, but sometimes I do anyway.English is just my passion :). I guess that's why I want to major in it next year when I'm off to college haha.

Teaser Tuesday (2)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

My teaser:

"Once someone's hurt you, it's harder to relax around them, harder to think of them as safe to love. But it doesn't stop you from wanting them.Sometimes I actually think it makes the wanting worse." -pg 53 from White Cat by Holly Black

" My mother wants to tak to you. She says that what you did was a cry for help."
"It was," I say. "That's why I was yelling 'Heeeelp!' I don't really go in for subtley."-pg. 20 from White Cat by Holly Black

What is your book for Teaser Tuesday? :)

P.S sorry for not putting out another book review, I've been busy with school and etc since we just started a new semester and all. Have a review soon :) you guys are awesome!!

Delirium's Official Fan Song, book is by Lauren Oliver

So far as I can tell, almost every blogger in the YA blogosphere has either read or has heard of the book called Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I Did a review on it here: Delirium.Well I was surfing youtube looking at other blogger's vlogs (and also Harper Collins youtube channel) and I ran across this clip of Delirium but its a fan song tributed for the book and I fell in love with it and just wanted to show it :). Even though the quality of the person singing sounds like they are far away, you can still hear the song and ect.

Follow Friday (8) & Blog Hop (7)

" Who do you cheer for?"I'm not really into sports, but if I had to choose a sports team to cheer on it would probably be USC (Gamecocks), but everyonce in a while i'll watch soccer or ice skating.

(question to come soon)

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly memo hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This is my first In My Mailbox and i'm so excited I can finally share what's coming up for me to read and review :).

Bought:

Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

Gift:

Matched by Ally Condie

Borrowed:

White Cat by Holly Black (Library)

ARC's (provided by Simon and Schuster galley grab beta):

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Wither by Lauren Destefano

Red Glove: Holly Black

Haven by Kristi Cook

Darkeness becomes her by Kelly Keaton

Film Feature: Beastly

Beastly is basically about the classic story that almost everyone knows about a guy who gets transformed into a beast and he has only a limited amount of time to find someone to love him and he return the love also.

I just did a review on it Beastly review. I already seen the trailer for this movie and I already see a couple of things that's not like the book, but then I had to think it is hollywood something has to be changed to something thats already perfect. I think it's going to turn out fine.

Even though most people don't want to see it because of Vanessa Hudgens. I really do believe she some what portrays Linda well with the soft easy going and nice girl.

March 18, 2011 Movie date in theaters

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
Publisher: Harper Teen
Released: 2008
Rating: 5/5

I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

Review:

Kyle Kingsbury is the most vainest person you will ever meet. He's rude, mean, selfish and most of all conceited. But all that changes when he meets a witch, who turns him into his "true self," a beast. Now that he's a beast, he has no family, friends, not even a pet to love or care about him. His dad abandoned him in a house with only his tutor and housekeeper, his girlfriend left him because of his outer apperance and everyone when they see him, they scream and runaway.

Each day he's reminded, by his apperance, about how ugly he's been to people and how sorry he is for eveything he's done, but that's not enough to break the curse. To break the curse he must find someone to love him within 2 years, but thats not the hardest part yet. He has to find someone to love him in return. But the question is who could ever love a beast? Beastly is truly a wonderful book about how its not about the outer part of someone that makes them beautiful, but the inner part that matters.

Of course in the beginning it was slow, but after he's transformed into a beast it starts to pick up.I just couldn't put it down. The girl who falls in love with him, Linda, I truly love becasue I relate to her so easily. Everything about this book is truly divine. I really wish books like these would be in the english curriculum at school instead of books that doesn't really have a moral to the story or anything useful to you in life. I love this book and I can't wait to see the movie, that comes out March 18, 2011.

Quotes:

"You shouldn't miss someone who don't miss you, right?"
— Alex Flinn (Beastly)

"A beautiful thing is precious, no matter the price. Those who do not know how to see the precious things in life will never be happy..."
— Alex Flinn (Beastly)

"when you're a kid, they tell you that it's what's on the inside that counts. Looks don't matter . But that's not true. Guys like Phoebus in The Hunchback, or Dorian, or the old Kyle Kingsbury-- they can be scumbags to women and still get away with it because they're good-looking. Being ugly is a kind of prisoner."
— Alex Flinn (Beastly)

"You are ugly now, on the inside, where it matters most...you are beastly."
— Alex Flinn (Beastly)

Book Hop (6) & Follow Friday 7

"Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it?"

I never really thought about the reasons why I read majorly YA genre. I mean, I read other genres too, but nothing really comes close to how much I read YA. I guess, I read it because in some books I can relate to a lot of the situations the characters are going through and whenever I read about them, I feel like i'm home. Even though the book isn't real, the situations are and the character's feel pain just like any human would, like there real, and I just feel like i'm not alone. Also because I feel like I missed alot of experiences in my early teen years and even now, so since I don't experience the "cliches of teenage years" what better way to feel like I have through reading. i'm not sure what draws me to it. I guess because i'm still a young adult, and everything else I said for the first part of the question.

"What makes up your non-human family?' Sadly, I don't have a non human family. The closest thing I have to non- human family are books :).

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Harper Teen
Rating: 4/5


In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .


Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

My Thoughts:

For some strange reason it's really hard for me to give a review on this book. As I sit here racking my brain to come up with a least one little bit of info for this review and I come up with nothing. Not because it was bad, but because it was simply awesome.I'm just so speechless. Everything was just pretty much awesome from the characters, the writing, the plot, and everything else that I am missing that makes a book.

Once reading the first chapter I just couldn't put it down. The plot was well thought out, it wasn't forced or predictable, everything was twist here and turn there with some hilarious, and cute moments. The characters were lovable and so realistic, they will always keep you on your toes, always wanting to know what they are going to do or say next. It's prety much hard to say who is my favorite chracter because i'm so attached to them all. The reason why I gave it a 4 out of 5 instead of 5/5 like I wanted to was because I felt like it was drawing out (but not enough to annoy me like some books) some things dealing with Clara and her mother when it came to why her mother was always keeping information from her and never wanting to open up to Clara, but expects Clara to open up to her.

Maybe it's me being impatient wondering will her mom ever open up and say why she's like the way she is. Always putting up a wall, pushing people away, and ect, but then again it might not. Other than that Unearthly is great story on family, friends, first love and trying to decide between following your heart or following your destiny. I can't wait for the next book.

Quotes:

"Sam: I always thought you were the most beautiful of all the Nephilim.
Meg: That's ironic because I always thought you were the ugliest of all the angels."
— Cynthia Hand (Unearthly)

"I beat at him uselessly with my fists. I scream. My mind races. I'll pee on him. Puke, bite, scratch. Sure, I'll lose, but if he's going to mark me I am going to mark him, too, if such a thing is possible."
— Cynthia Hand (Unearthly)

"What do you see in a guy like Christian Prescott," he asked me that night when he dropped me off from prom. And what he was really saying then, what would have come through loud and clear if I hadn't been so blind was, why don't you see me?"
— Cynthia Hand (Unearthly)

Quick Note/Question:

To anyone else who's read this, did Tucker ever remind you of Mator from the movie Cars only just a smarter, cuter, and human version?

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Title: Where she went

Author: Gayle Forman

Publisher: Dutton (Penguin)

Release Date: April 5, 2011

It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton (Penguin)
Source: Hardback Book
Rating: 5/5

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

My thoughts:

I must say at first I was kind of skeptical about reading/buying it, until I saw how many five and four stars it was getting on reviews and I thought why not give it a shot, and I'm I glad I did. I love it!! Stephanie Perkin's writing is brilliant.You've got your Nicholas Sparks wanna be dad, best friends who betray you, lessons to learn, feelings to be shared, and more looking/thinking with your head when it comes to knowing who and what is right for you, I mean come on who wouldn't love this book. Her character's are so realistic, you forget that they are fictional.

The plot was kind of predictable on a lot of spots, but it still had it's twist and turns in the story line, that kept me interested. Anna's witty mind always kept me laughing and also the other character's especially Ettienne. *swoons* Who wouldn't love an "International" boy, who's part American(nationality), French(name), and British(accent).I think i've fallen for a fictional character. He's sweet, nice, caring, an awesome accent, and he's hot. Who wouldn't want a guy like him. Anna and the French Kiss is a story about love, betrayal, and friendship. It's funny, witty, and very romantic.

Quotes:

"Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?"
— Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss)

"Why is it that the right people never wind up together? Why are people so afraid to leave a relationship, even if they know it's a bad one?"
— Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss)

"Will you please tell me you love me? I’m dying here."
— Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss)

"A moment of reserve. "That was it? The whole story?"
"Yes. God, you're right. That was pants."
I sidestep another aggressive couscous vendor. "Pants?"
"Rubbish. Crap. Shite."
Pants. Oh heavens, that's cute."
— Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss)

"Soap?"
"School of America in Paris" he explains. "SOAP".
Nice. My father sent me here to be cleansed."
— Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss)

Book Hop (5) & Follow Friday (6)

"What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

Well, that's kind of a hard question for me since I've never read one that has dramatically changed my life, but I like to think of each book I read as life changing or influences me. Some more than other's, like If I stay by Gayle Foreman, Before I fall by Lauren Oliver, and Looking for Alaska by John Green (mainly books about life and death). I have really bad depression and don't take pills for it because I have my friends who lifts me up whenever it hits, but whenever they aren't around or can't help, I just crack open a book and start reading and when i'm finished I feel better. Depending on what the book is about sometimes it opens my eyes to a completely different world for a split second or a day. I guess what i'm saying is everybook influences or changes my life, since most of the books I read (that aren't paranormal) helps me when the time comes to a situation that i've read about before. It makes me stop and think more about the outcomes and ect.

What book(s) have you discovered lately from someone's book blog?

hmm.. I would have to say mainly books that aren't out yet or just came out, like Clarity by Kim Harrington, Fixing Delilah by Sarah Oakler, and some others I can't think of right now.