Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Rating: 4/5

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Review:

Don't be a chutz, just buy and read the frexing book!! Beth Revis is a genius mastermind who I think is probably secretly trying to invent a way to slowly take over our minds and blow it up with her epicness,like Eldest does in her novel,but with with good intentions. As most of you know I rarely read science fiction genre, so when I first heard about it I was interested in it, but I wasn't fully committed to it. I was like oh, ok, love the cover and sounds nice.But when there was so much hype about this book, I was like ugh!, it's probably just another sci-fi book with it's galaxy far far away crap, when really its not....okay it kind of is depending how you look at it (read it and you'll know what i'm talking about). This book deffinitely hit my favorite book list of this year. I just couldn't put it down, even though the begginning like most books have was a little slow, I still couldn't put it down.

I really don't know how to start with this review...besides saying this book was completly well thought out and everything fit just like a jigsaw puzzle. The characters I loved, particularly the two main characters Elder and Amy. I felt both of their pain, loss, and understanding and misunderstanding when it came to certain topics and events that happened on the ship. The plot and dialogue was just simply amazing. Some questions or statements that Amy,Elder, and even the bad guy Eldest said, made me stop and think about the stars and hopes and longing. If you were stuck on a spaceship for years or maybe centuries, and the only thing that kept your hopes up for landing on another planet were your children or someday seeing the stars. The real stars and not just fake ones they used/lied about to keep the hope alive and chaos from happening on board. How can something that everyone in real life see everyday give these fictional characters so much hopes and dreams, from just wanting to see the stars. Is it weird that right now I'm thinking about Disney and how they always tell you to wish upon a star, and talk about dreams, and wish's?

There were a lot of twist and turns, mysteries, and suspicions. One minute you think you know something and the next your like how is that possible?When did that happen? Everything just grabs your attention. This review really doesn't give the book any justice what so ever. I can't stop gushing about it. The only disappointment I had with the book was there not being a cliff hanger at the end. I was so hoping for one. I loved how it ended, bit I was just hyped for a cliff hanger. Besides everything else, I loved Across the Universe!!

Follow Friday (12) & Blog Hop (11)

Share your current favorite television show! Tell us a bit about it...

Well My favorite television show used to be and kind of still is Gossip Girl! I'm absolutly in love with that show. Even though lately after the second season it started going down hill. Either nothing good is happening or they're just repeating certain crap with different characters but have a twist at the end and it' not entertaining much anymore. with certain shows that are based on books, especially clique type books. There are only so much you can write without repeating or the writers getting bored which I can tell. Gossip Girl is based on a book Gossip Girl. After the Second or third book I stopped reading it and just watched the show. My favorite season of this show is second season and my forever will be fav. couple is chuck & Blair. Another show I love is Glee. At first I wanted to hate it so much, but I went out and bought the first season to see what the hype was about and I found myself a new show to like haha.

The link wouldn't let me embed it so you have to click on the link to watch the clip :( sorry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J1_unVQh2E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx1MXaFb3rw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yohd6ULPFGo&feature=related

"Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something differnt?"

hmm...sometimes I wish I would have named it different, like Read Now Enjoy Later or something else, but I like my blog name even though it's kind of long because of the dots, but giving a blog or anything a name is like naming a child or pet. It defines that person and who or what it's going to be and the name has some type of meaning to the person who chose the name.

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

Title: City of Fallen Angels
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release date: April 5th, 2011

“City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.”





Title: Department 19
Author: Will Hill
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date:March 31, 2011

In a secret supernatural battle that's been raging for over a century, the stakes have just been raised -- and they're not wooden anymore. When Jamie Carpenter's mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds himself dragged into Department 19, the government's most secret agency. Fortunately for Jamie, Department 19 can provide the tools he needs to find his mother, and to kill the vampires who want him dead. But unfortunately for everyone, something much older is stirring, something even Department 19 can't stand up against!

Daily Dose #1

This is my first Daily Dose :). I love photography a lot and just thought this was an awesome meme to do. All you have to do is find pics that are inspiring or I guess have something meaningfull in them :). It's hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly.

Author Interview: Alex Flinn

Author: Alex Flinn
Website: http://www.alexflinn.com/
Books:
Beastly(an upcoming movie)
Clocked(recently came out on February 8, 2011
A Kiss in Time
Breathing Underwater
Diva
Nothing to Lose
Breaking Point
Fade to black

In your books you love to re-write classic stories. How come?

I loved these stories as a kid, and now that I am older, I enjoy the idea of revisiting them and thinking about what was going on "behind the scenes," so to speak. Why was the Beast all alone? How could Sleeping Beauty live happily ever after with a stranger. Stuff like that.

When it comes to love do you think society is stead on looks more than personality and if so what do you think might help change that?

I don't know if that is the case or not. It's definitely the case with some people. I wonder if, now that more and more people are meeting online, it makes people more likely to look past looks.

What are some hopes that you have for the future?

I hope to keep writing forever.

Are the cast for the upcoming film of your book Beastly exactly how you portrayed in your head?

Well, of course not. The characters in my head are in my head, and the producers of Beastly had to fill the roles with actual people who not only looked like the characters but could act like the characters and also, could carry a movie. They couldn't just find some random girl who looked like Lindy. To me, the changes are minimal. I've seen fans complaining that they didn't like the (usually because Vanessa Hudgens doesn't have red hair), and I think it is sweet that they are so loyal to the book. But I have to say I haven't seen any suggestions that would be better (Emma Stone, for example, is a frequent suggestion because she has auburn hair, but I really think she is just way too mature and tough to play Lindy -- she's playing an adult role in The Help). I think Vanessa has both Lindy's sweetness and intelligence, and that is more important than hair color. I do think Alex Pettyfer looks just like Kyle.

From all of the books you wrote what is one thing you hoped readers learned, received, or got out of reading your books?

I really just hope they enjoyed reading them and took something away from them. It would be different for every book, and every reader.

Thanks!

My Review on Beastly:
Beastly Review

Trailer for Beastly Movie

Book Hop (10) & Follow Friday (11)

If you are a fan of Science Fiction what is your favorite book? If you haven't read Science Fiction before...any inkling to? Anything catch your eye?

I'm not really a science fiction type person. I rarely read them, but the book I'm reading now that has that science fiction feel and is close to it is Across the Universe by Beth Revis. I'm not so far along in it to tell if I like it or not, but hopefully it's as awesome as everyone says :D.

"What movie would you like to see made into a movie?"

I wouldn't mind seeing Beautiful Creatures, Looking for Alaska, and well two of the movies I hope would be a movie are actually at work no :). Mortal Instrument series and Hunger Games

p.s Don't forget to check out my latest review Cryer'sCrossbyLisaMcMann

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

Title: Rival

Author: Sara Bennett Wealer

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: February 15, 2011

What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Small Thoughts:

Even though this book came out two days ago I'm stll technically waiting for this, since I haven't bought it yet. I've seen nothing, but good reviews on Goodreads.com and I just hope that it's not as cliche as it sounds and is a lot different than the normal wannabee books. I love the cover.

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Title: Cryer's Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster)
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Rating: 3/5

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

My Review:

After reading the Wake series by Lisa McMann, I was so excited to know what she was going to write next. When I found out that she was writing this book I was so excited and when I read the summary I got so anxious, I just couldn't wait. Cryer's Cross wasn't really what I expected and hoped it would be. After reading this book, I felt neutral about it. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't something I'd want to gush or call my all time favorite book either. It's one of those books where you can part ways with without any attachment whats so ever.

Even though Cryer's Cross was eerie, cute, and leaves you haunted for a good five minutes after reading it. I couldn't help, but expect and want more from it. I felt like it was lacking a lot of stuff that makes a strong and good read. It was lacking emotion, some characterization, and most importantly plot. The plot I felt like towards the middle and some what towards the end, that it was a little rushed. Everything happened so fast and it wasn't really explained well. The characters you don't really know much about them except the basics. How they look, talk, and what they hate and love and what's happening to them. You never know anything else about them that makes you attached to a character or make you feel like you both can relate some how. And lastly the emotions is what kind of bothered me a lot through out the book. I know the main cause of the book lacking emotion is Lisa McMann writing in third person, but really when you have a main character that has a disorder and other crap that is going on, writing in third person isn't really the best choice to go with since it doesn't give you much on how that person feels and how they really deal with their disorder. All you receive is "Kendall felt nervous.""Kendall didn't like that." You can't really get intuned with a character that way, since it's third person dialogue when stating an emotion was like stating the sky is blue or the girls stomach is growling. It just didn't do much for me.

though it was lacking a lot of areas that a book covers it was still a pretty cool/short read. It was eerie, haunting, and had some cute moments with Kendall and Jacien. So if you love short reads, that has an eerie feel. Then this book is for you.

NightShade by Andrea Cremer

Title: Nightshade

Author: Andrea Cremer

Publisher: Philomel Books (Penguin YA)

Release date: October 19, 2010
Rating: 4/5

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Review:

Exciting.Adventurous.Romance.Loyalty.Trust.Witty.and about all Destiny!What do these words have in common with, one word NightShade. Nightshade is a spectacular 2010 debut, and I just want to kick myself for putting it off so long, just letting it sit on my bookshelf collecting dust. Everything about this book, I absolutely loved. Most people at the first reading of the summary they put it down because they expect it to be just another werewolve story when really it offers more than just werewolves. It offers, Icubus's, Shadows, Wraiths, and so much more.

The plot was well done, evern though on the maybe last 150-100 pages it became a little predictable but it was a little less than predictable since it gave a lot of hints here and there what's going to happen, but besides that it's predictablility is pretty low so you still had your oh my gosh! moments and etc. The characters, I absolutely loved especially Ren. *coughs* yes I am Team Ren haha I was Team Shay but at the end of the book my heart reached out to Ren the most. you could tell in a lot of chapter he's absolutely in love with Calla and would do anything for her. Yea, he may have his moments when he's a total jerk, but sometimes he means well. Andrea Cremer's characters are funny, witty, a blast to be around, caring, loyal, and will always have your back, but the thing is I wanted more from her other characters, I mean yes the book has it's main characters, but I kind of felt like I didn't know the rest of the characters well like I knew Calla, Ren, and Shay. That's why I gave it a 4/5 because I felt like it needed more info on the other characters since they are kind of part of the main characters as well since they always travel in a pack.

Again I loved the variety of paranormal creatures in this book. Guardians,werewolves,wraiths,icubus's, and so much more. Nightshade is an awesome read and everyone should read it even though some parts a lot of people,females in general, didn't like it because it has a lot of sexism in it. Where the girl is being the typical girl. She's in the kitchen, popping out babies, always under the male, and the list continues. The guy is the head, he can do what he wants when he wants, he can whore around, but the female can't and again the list continues. I must say I didn't like it much, even though I'm not much of a feminist I should say, but I do believe the females in the book should stand up to the keepers and any other male who thinks they have authority over them. When really if you say your in a pack together and your both alphas and running things, then you both should be equal with everything from being in command to everything else. So if you don't like sexism..I suggest don't read it, because it's basically throughout the whole book.Even though you have to look at it this way, it's a werewolf book. The female from what I've read in other books are never the commander in chief and etc. She is second in line, whether or not the guy she's working with has the same title, the female is always second. Either way from the highs and lows of this book, I absolutely loved Nightshade even though it kind of reminded me about a lot of books with the same theme, but with different paranormal creatures.

Quotes:

"Ren watched us as he leaned casually against the table, holding a pair of scissors. I'd never seen a classroom tool look so dangerous."
— Andrea Cremer (Nightshade)

"I'll help you with whatever's made you upset," he said. "But this morning you blew me off and I'm not going to kiss you today just so you can tell me to go to hell tomorrow."
-Shay"
— Andrea Cremer (Nightshade)

"I didn't realize I needed to point out that if we are attacked by a fire-breathing bitch, you can change forms."
— Andrea Cremer (Nightshade)

"This isn't about love, it's about survival" "No Calla" His voice became hushed "This is only about love"-Andrea Cremer (NightShade) (my favorite line)

"Ansel, I'm not the sun, stop orbiting and get in here."
— Andrea Cremer (Nightshade)

Follow Friday (10) & Book Hop (9)

"What is your favorite romance hero-type? Stereotype wise. Do you like the strong silent type or the brute macho man?"

That's a really tough question. Hmm..Iwant to say it's a little bit of 50/50 really. I like the strong, silent, and mysterious type, but I also like when a character guy is macho and takes charge and knows what he's wants and doesn't play games, but I like the romance hero type to be a mixture of both, but when it comes down to it, if he's a charmer, funny,has some type of personality, and is cute, I'm hooked on either one so I guess it's both ways :D!!

"Tell us about one of your posts from this week and give us a link so we can read it (review or otherwise)!"

The book I reviewed this week (or more like a couple of minutes ago) is called Nightshade. It's about this girl who's a werewolve and she's challenged to choose between sticking to what she knows or to follow her heart. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. It's an awesome read

Book Hop (8) & Follow (9)

"What are you reading now and why are you reading it?"

Right now I'm reading Nightshade by Andrea Cremer and I'm thinking about reading another book also but it's between Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg and Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa. But I might just stick to one since I'm swamped right now in school. I'm reading it because the summary seemed awesome and it's been sitting on my bookshelf for the longest since I kept putting it out and reading other books I wanted to read badly before that.

"What is the book you are currently 'pushing'?" (Pushing mean trying to get people to read it)

hmm..ALmost everybook I read I push my reading friends to read it but lately I haven't been doing that. If I had to push a book on to someone it would be Hunger Games, Unearthly, Anna and the French Kiss and Looking for Alaska.

Paper Towns By John Green

Title: Paper Towns
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton (Penguin)
Rating: 3/5

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life - dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge - he follows.
After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues - and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.

Review:

John Green, ever since reading his first novel, Looking for Alaska, has become one of my favorite authors. After reading Looking for Alaska, I had to get my hands on Paper Towns. Assuming by judging his first book being awesome the second book will sure to be better. But when I started reading I kept looking at the cover to make sure my friend who bought me it bought Paper Towns and not Looking for Alaska. The characters from the first book are pretty much the same charecters in Paper Towns, but just with different names, different state, and a kind of different situation. I was some what kind of disappointed in this book.

I mean don't get me wrong I still like it, but really how can you try a new type of gum made by the same factory of your old gum when the new type of gum taste like the old one you love? As in the Looking for Alaska there were some funny parts and parts in the book that made me want to stop and think and store a certain line in my head to use on my friends one day if they ever need some wisdom, that I can't come up with on my own, but there really wasn't much to Paper Towns.

Again it was the same as the first book, Miles=Quentin, Captain=Ben, Asian kid= Radar, Alaska=Margo, and foreign girl= Lacey. But I must say I kind of relate to Margo alot when it comes to the "paper town people". Where everyone follows the same plan. You graduate high school, go to college, fall in love, get married, have babies, and etc. I feel like there is more to life than just the original plan that almost everyone follows and have to get away from it all and start at a new place. A fresh start to make my own plan and rules and etc. To get away from small town feel. Anway Paper Towns was a good read, it's just I hated that it's a replica of the LFA.

Quotes:

"That's always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they're pretty. It's like picking your breakfeast cereals based on color instead of taste."
— John Green (Paper Towns)

"Dude, I don’t want to talk about Lacey’s prom shoes. And I’ll tell you why: I have this thing that makes me really uninterested in prom shoes. It’s called a penis."
— John Green (Paper Towns)

"Poetry is just so emo,' he said. 'Oh, the pain. The pain. It always rains. In my soul."
— John Green (Paper Towns)
(I find this hilarious because my friend Chelsea and Robert told me the exact same thing when I told them I wrote a poem haha)

"You just gotta tell her, man,’ I said. ‘You just gotta say, “Angela, I really like you, but there’s something you need to know: when we go to my house and hook up, we’ll be watched by the twenty-four hundred eyes of twelve hundred black Santas."
— John Green (Paper Towns)

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Title: Posession

Author: Elana Johnson

Release Date: June 7, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Goodreads.com

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.