Book 65

Day 85

Back on the reading train, not doing much else while I'm sick. First time reading in my new bed and it is really nice to be able to just stretch out, cuddle up with my animals, and read a book. 300 books to go! Damn that sounds like a lot haha.

Book 65: Sever

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Pages: 371

Series: Yes, book 3 of 3

Purchased or borrowed: Borrowed from the library

Date Read: March 25, 2013

3 stars

This is the closing novel in the Chemical Garden trilogy. The world is now a place where a virus kills women at age 20 and men by age 25. Women are abducted and sold into polygamous marriages or prostitution. Many of the marriages hope to produce children as their population doesn't live very long. The only other people are the first generations, those that were genetically created to prevent sickness and disease and it was their children and grandchildren that began dying off. Rhine was captured and sold into marriage with three other women to Linden, the son of Vaughn a wealthy scientist who is trying to find a cure for the virus. Rhine has a twin brother named Rowan that she is trying to find for most of the book with the help of Linden and her fellow sister wife Cecily. The twins have heterochromia, a mutation with two different color irises that leads Vaughn to believe that their scientist parents had a plan for their future. Vaughn is twisted by his love for his son and his effort to succeed that he will go to every length, including harming his son and those that he cares about. 

I think the notion of a deadly time bomb virus is very interesting and it is easy to see how love and the hope for a cure through science could warp someone's mind into doing some of the twisted things that Vaughn sees as necessary. However, I didn't feel particularly attached to the characters besides Cecily. For me I think that Rhine seemed emotionless to me, even when she was showing emotion. She always seemed to be surface level. I really enjoyed the first novel, Wither, but feel that the trilogy has gone down a bit since then.

Maybe a bit more reading of a new book then off to bed. 

xo,

Erin

Back, again, books 61-64

So, I've been slacking. That is for sure. I'm quite a bit behind, but not so far that I can't make it up. There have been a number of things that have helped to put me behind schedule. First it was my several illnesses, then my trip to Florida, and then it was my boyfriend's spring break, and now here we are and I'm sick again. But I do want to be able to do this even though it is definitely harder than I thought it would be, and harder than it seemed to me in the beginning. Lately I just haven't felt like reading, sometimes you want that solitary time, and other times all you want is to spend some time with people you love and do things other than sitting down and reading a book. That is where I've been lately. I'm finally back and writing about the books that I did read while in Florida. I will be back on the reading grind starting tomorrow!

Book 61: The Sword in the Stone

Author: T.H. White
Pages: 352
Genre: Fantasy, Classics
Series: Yes, book 1 of 5
Purchased or Borrowed: Borrowed from the library

3.5 stars
This is the classic story of the young King Arthur, known for most of the story as Wart. It tells of his adventures with Kay, Merlin, and Robin Hood, as well as dangerous encounters with Madam Mim and animals ready to eat him.

I was initially drawn to this story because of the beloved Disney classic. However, I am aware that many of Disney's movies are not told true to the originals so I was interested to see how this one would match up. I enjoyed Wart's adventures and thought surprisingly that the Disney version worked well, as the book was a bit long winded and near the end felt as if it was dragging on. Though I really did enjoy Wart and Kay's adventures with Robin Wood, known to many as Robin Hood. It was an interesting story crossover that I felt worked.


Book 62: Unravel Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pages: 461
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Series: Yes, book 2 of 3. Book 3 is not yet released.
Purchased or Borrowed: Borrowed from the library

3 stars
Juliette was born with the ability to kill using only her touch. Unfortunately this keeps her from creating bonds with others, so she feels very isolated and alone. There are only two people that can touch her, Adam, the man she loves who is suddenly acting very odd after finding out that this ability to touch her drains him, and Warner, the leader of the Reestablishments son who is not a good person but still deeply cares for Juliette. They have all come to Omega Point, a home for people with gifts as they prepare to fight back to try and regain the world from the Reestablishment.

This books is basically about Juliette's decision between two men, the one she loves but touching her hurts him, and the one she is drawn to despite all he has done. I think that an important quality in a book is relatable characters. Juliette did not feel relatable. In fact, she came off as sulky, whining and a bit irritating. I understand that she is in a very tough spot, but it still did not make me like her more.

Book 63: The Runaway King

Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Pages: 352
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Yes, book 2 of 3. Book 3 is not yet released.
Purchased or Borrowed: Borrowed from the library

4 stars
Only weeks after Jaron has taken the throne an assassination attempt by a former friend and rumblings of war force Jaron into hiding as the only way to save Carthya. Hiding is a bit different for Jaron as he masquerades as a thief in order to get in with the pirates who still have a price on his head after failing to kill him four years ago, and who plan to help his enemy with his tidings for war. Jaron hopes to persuade them to fight for him, but he is in a very dangerous position as many people want him dead, even those that may seem friendly.

This was a very good second installment in this trilogy. I loved the first book and in my opinion the middle book is always challenging as it is generally coming off a well received first installment and must set up for the ending in the third book. This book was good and I enjoyed the characters and change of scenery but at times it definitely felt like it was mainly there to lead into book three.


Book 64: Becoming Attached: First Relationships and How they Shape our Capacity to Love

Author: Dr. Robert Karen
Pages: 512
Genre: Psychology
Series: No
Purchased or Borrowed: Borrowed from the library

4 stars
The parent-child bond is one of the most important relationships in life and one that goes on to shape our future. Dr. Karen examines important aspects of attachment, such as how the theory was developed as well as important characteristics and questions that relate to it.

This book was very important as attachment is a guiding and pervasive characteristic throughout life. I found this reading especially interesting as child psychology is my field of choice and their emotional development is key when seeing problems in a child. It read a little dry at times but I feel that he tried to make the information interesting and accessible to all.

And now it is time for bed and to get rid of this sickness!

xo,
Erin

Book 60

Day 66

Like I said yesterday, I quite enjoy reading books that have been or will be made into movies. Through Goodreads I have discovered some new books, many from movies I have already seen and did not realize were based upon books. I enjoy the comparison, and this one did not disappoint.

Book 60: War Horse

Author: Michael Morpurgo
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 165
Series: Yes, book 1 of 2 but it is not necessary to read both
Purchased or borrowed: Borrowed from the library
Date Read: March 6, 2013

3.5 stars
This is the story of the horse Joey, told from his perspective. He is bought at an auction by Albert's father and becomes a farm horse until he is sold to the war effort and becomes a strong and valiant war horse with many adventures. Albert meanwhile joins the army in an effort to find his way back to Joey.

I thought that this was an enjoyable short story. I love horses and this movie so I liked reading it. The movie stayed relatively true to the book which I always prefer. However, I think in the case of this story because the narrator was a horse, it was a bit easier to feel the emotions of the story in the movie. I think it was an interesting choice to use the horse as the narrator, although he is obviously the primary focus of the novel.

I think I'm going to head to bed now relatively early because tomorrow is a busy day. I have lunch plans, will be hitting the gym and have to do all manner of errands before we leave for Florida on Friday! Hopefully I'll be able to get a lot of reading done then, I've already packed my books ;)

xo,
Erin

Books 57 and 58 reviews and book 59

Day 65

Busy and tiring day today, but I know I need to get these written. I finished two books yesterday and one today. Today I also went to the doctors, the library, to pick up food, and to the gym and now my head is aching and all I wish to do is sleep, so now to the reviews.

Book 57: The Island of Dr. Moreau

Author: H.G. Wells
Genre: Classics, Science Fiction
Pages: 209
Series: No
Purchased or Borrowed: Borrowed from the library
Date Read: March 4, 2013

3 stars

Edward Prendick is shipwrecked when he is picked up by a boat full of strange animals and saved by a man named Montgomery. Montgomery is returning to a remote island with the animals and a peculiarly disfigured gentleman. Once on the island he meets Dr. Moreau, a man who left England to continue the strange experiments that had left him an outcast in the first place. Prendick is soon fighting for his life against the island's strange inhabitants.

I decided to read this book after I read The Madman's Daughter which was based upon this novel. The book was interesting and there were some plot ties to the other book which made it interesting to read. It was a quick and easy read, though definitely a bit out there with its subject matter but intriguing nonetheless.


Book 58: Princess of the Silver Woods

Author: Jessica Day George
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Series: Yes, book 3 of 3
Purchased or Borrowed: Borrowed from the library through Marina
Date Read: March 4, 2013

4 stars

This is the final installment in the trilogy about the dancing princess. Princess Petunia is the youngest of twelve sisters and until she was seven she was forced to dance every night in the Kingdom Under Stone. Now Petunia is on her way to visit a kindly grandmotherly figure when her carriage is accosted by bandits and soon Petunia finds that both the grandmother, and the bandit and Earl, Oliver are not who they appear to be. The girls are dragged back into the Kingdom Under Stone in the evil effort to enact a decades old curse and with the help of Oliver as well as others they just might be able to win.

So I've read the other two books in this series and was definitely looking forward to reading this book and I enjoyed it. It takes on the tales of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood with a new twist. The book is full of magic, danger, secrets, and love so it is an enjoyable mixture and an easy read. I liked reading the tale of the dancing princesses, and have read something similar previously with the book Entwined which I loved.


Book 59: Stardust

Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 333
Series: No
Purchased or Borrowed: Borrowed from the library
Date Read: March 5, 2013

3.5 stars

Tristran, a young man of half-fairy parentage and hopelessly in love decides to cross the Wall to fairy-land and bring back a fallen star for his love. It turns out that the star is an injured and hot tempered woman who is less than pleased that Tristran has decided to keep her captive. They begin to make their way back to Wall but encounter many adventures and dangers on their way, many from others who are determined to get the star for themselves.

I found a list on Goodreads about books that were turned into movies. I love the movie Stardust and surprisingly had not heard that it was based off a popular book. The author, Neil Gaiman is a popular one, and I read one of his books early on in this challenge and did not particularly enjoy it. The opposite was true here. I think it is hard when I read a book and then end up comparing the movie to it, which is generally why I try to read the book first and keep that as the forefront in my mind. But that was not the case here and I ended up generally comparing the book and the movie. In some ways the book was better, there were more adventures and things were well described. Surprisingly though, there were a lot of ways in which the movie was actually better. The love story was told more in depth as well as the adventures, and I enjoyed the ending a lot more in the movie than I did in the book.

Now, time for sleep. Hopefully if there is snow tomorrow I'll be snuggled up inside reading to catch up! :)

xo,
Erin

I'm back! Books 57 and 58

Well, I'm back and am working on catching up! Two books down today but it is now nearly four am and I have some things to do tomorrow and need to rest! So reviews to come tomorrow afternoon :)

xo,
Erin