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Thursday, 26 February 2009
Specials by Scott Westerfeld
Review:- Tally Youngblood has been made into a Cutter, a part of the Special Circumstances. Dr Cable has created these teenagers as weapons of destruction, from their bones, strength and reflexes they were built to control and to fight!
Tally goes to see Zane and due to the problems with the cure pills Zane has some disabilities which Tally cannot see beyond. His slight disability is seen as disgusting in Tally's eyes but yet she still feels love for him and wants him to be a Special like her. By having him "changed" into a Special he will no longer have his slight disabilities and it will be back the way it was between the two of them.
Shay, being the leader of the Cutters' main aim is bring the New Smoke down. Tally and Shay creates a plan where they get both their objectives achieved. They will help Zane with a clever escape where he will lead them to the New Smoke. Through this it will prove to Dr Cable that Zane is a "Specials" material and Shay will get to bring down the New Smoke. Unfortunately things didn't turn out as planned, their actions causing more trouble than worth and at the end neither of their objectives were accomplished.
Out of the three books I've read in the series this is the one that I disliked the most for several reasons. For starters Tally's attitude was just shocking in this one and it took too long into the book before she sees her evil ways. Westerfeld also did things within the book that I couldn't understand his motives for it. The most disappointing thing about this book is that it didn't give me the happily ever after ending that I was hoping for and the most likable character in the whole series, Zane, was killed off! However, if you've read Uglies and Pretties and enjoyed it, you'll still have to read Specials just so that you know how it ends, but it's not a happy ending.
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Review:- Tally Youngblood is a Pretty, a member of the most prestigious clique "The Crims" and their leader, Zane is Tally's boyfriend. What more can a girl want? A brain of her own perhaps?
As Tally is celebrating one of the bash (party) at New Pretty Town she gets a visitor from the past. Croy, a member of the New Smoke gives her instructions to retrieve something. Zane and Tally curious and following the clues and instructions come across a hidden pouch which contained a letter and two little pills. The letter was addressed to Tally from Tally, telling herself that she had given consent to trial Maddy's cure from being a Pretty. Special Circumstances were fast on their trail so Tally and Zane takes a pill each.
The couple are convinced that they are both cured but Zane is constantly getting bad headaches. This is un-pretty like and they feared that Special Circumstances would realize. They decide to escape to New Smoke to be free and to get help for Zane's headaches. This is where their adventures begin.
Out of the first 3 books in the series, Pretties is my favorite. Uglies does come a close second. Uglies and Pretties have a similar plot line where Tally goes for an adventure to try and "fix" things and make things right, the main difference between the two books is the leading men. Uglies, Tally had David and Pretties she had Zane. I think that I really liked Pretties because I really enjoyed Tally and Zane being together. They seemed to have had a lot more of a connection than Tally and David. Zane's presence changed Tally that she became a more likable character. I really liked Zane's characters and since he is one of the main characters in this book it was highly enjoyable.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
The Guernsey's Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Review:- This novel is like no other that I've read, it's a compilation of letters to and from the characters. I didn't realize that this would actually be an effective method of telling a story but for this book it worked a treat.
This is certainly not a book that I would have picked up on my accord, which cements my decision in joining several book clubs, it has introduced me to books that I would normally not read. This is the scheduled book for both Book-a-month and Bookies Too, both Yahoo groups.
This book is set in the post-war era. A London-based writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a Dawsey Adams from Guernsey. He had come across a book by Charles Lamb originally owned by Juliet, she had written her details on the book. By contacting Juliet, Dawsey had hoped she could give him contact details of local London book stores that may stock more Charles Lamb books. During the correspondence he mentions the Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society which, with a name like that obviously piqued Juliet's curiosity. Hence, this was the beginning of the stories to come.
Juliet stating her interest on this strangely named group started receiving letters from other members with their own tales of their lives and experiences during the war when the Germans had invaded Guernsey. The correspondence became intense and Juliet was soon invited and happily accepted a visit to Guernsey where both herself and her new friends all learn something about themselves, their lives and each other.
To be honest I'm not quite sure how to put my thoughts about this book onto a post. I don't even know at this stage whether I actually liked the book or not! However, I had read the book in less than 24 hours so it definitely sustained my interest but it wasn't your usual "I can't sleep till it's read" page-turner.
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society is definitely very interesting and enjoyable. It's an easy read which is something that I appreciate considering it's heavy topic of war. I find that most war books are quite monotonous, being a very sad and depressing topic it's quite hard to find the right balance, but Mary Ann Shaffer did a wonderful job. Having said that, this book is still quite in depth regarding themes hence I will await till I have read and participated in the book club discussions before I write the conclusion of this review. Please bear with me till then.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Top 100 Book Launch
Yesterday I attended a "Top 100 Books" Launch sponsored by our local Angus & Robertson which was held at one of the branches of my local library. It was quite an event, which included the local mayor Nick Lalich and world-renowned author, Pamela Freeman (pic below).
I was really quite embarrassed as the librarians loudly introduced me to all and I was the youngest person there. There were a lot of women aged around my Grandmother's age so I really felt out of place but nonetheless I love reading and books enough to endure and the attendees were wonderful! They were all so friendly and tried to help me feel more at home. I didn't regret attending at all.
I also purchased two books by Pamela Freeman from the Castings Trilogy. This is her first foray into writing for adults, she is normally a young adult and children's book author. Deep Water is the second book in the trilogy and was recently released, I was lucky enough to get both autographed by Pamela. She was amazing and prior to meeting her I had emailed her and she personally replied, within the same day! I was ecstatic!
Anyway, I had a great day and was thrilled to have attended such a lovely event. Hope that I could attend similar future events, now I could only hope that I could get all my books signed by the respective authors LoL...dreaming right?
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Review:- I've read two series by Scott Westerfeld and finally come to the series which introduced me to this writer to begin with. I'm just glad that I've finally got to read it, I read it in less than 24 hours. It was great, once again, I applaud Westerfeld for the creative world that he has created for this series. Like his other series, it's always unique and new, even if the themes aren't. Somehow he is able to write it as if it has been a theme that only he has created. However, Uglies, is definitely an original.
In Westerfeld's Uglies series everyone are "Uglies" until they turn 16 where they undergo an operation which turns them into "Pretties". Tally Youngblood is turning 16 in a few months, she is lonely as her best friend, Peris, just turned into a Pretty leaving Tally all alone in Uglyville whilst he parties and creates a new life with new friends at New Pretty Town.
When sneaking to New Pretty Town to talk to Peris, a highly dangerous and criminal activity, she meets Shay. Shay being the youngest in her group of friends is also alone and friendless as all her friends have turned 16, however, unlike Tally's friends, Shay's friends haven't all gone to live in New Pretty Town. The two fast become best friends and soon the eve of their shared 16th birthday had arrived.
That night Shay arrives at Tally's dorm encouraging Tally to runaway with her to a town where they don't need to undergo the operation to turn Pretty. Tally is sad as Shay leaves but doesn't go with her. However, as Tally wakes up the next morning ready for her Pretty operation a "Special Circumstances" officer, an FBI-like authority in Westerfeld's world, tells Tally that she is unable to turn Pretty unless she works with them to find Shay, who had apparently ran away to a town filled with rebels.
This book is is fast paced and contains many adventures. The plot is quite straight forward but its a highly exciting and original plot that keeps you wanting more. Unlike most first books in a series, Uglies was highly exciting and a page turner. Highly recommended! I've now started "Pretties" which is the second book in the series. Hopefully a beautiful box set will come out when the series is complete.
Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld
Review:- This book goes straight into adventure. Like I said in the review of the first book, I've noticed that the first book of a series is always not as good nor as exciting as it always has to introduce the readers to the world created by the author and it's characters, but once the first book is completed I've noticed it's much more fast paced after that. Hence, just be patient with the first book and if it's got a plot that's good, persevere with the rest in the series. So lectures aside...
The Midnighters are just getting over their last adventure of saving one of them from being turned into a half-ling when in the middle of the day, whilst at a pep rally the Midnight hour arrives. In search for answers, they find another human, unfrozen and a non-Midnighter, stuck in the midnight hour. They save the girl, but in doing so they soon unfold the answers to their questions.
The Midnight hour has a physical hole, one where the midnight world and the normal world coincides, allowing humans to be within it, unfrozen, which would mean that Darklings are able to hunt them. As if that's not bad enough, it seems that the hole will remain open once a year for 25 hours, leaving Darklings with an "all you can eat humans" for 25 hours. The Midnighters need to find a stop, a way to seal this hole, to keep the Darklings existence to the one midnight hour.
Like I said this book went straight to adventure but I personally didn't like the ending, there was no happy ending for the Midnighters but I'm unsure whether there are going to be other books to the series, so maybe that's not the ending after all. I'm really amazed that despite Westerfeld's unrealistic created world, I still enjoyed reading it.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Review:- Rose Hathaway and Princess Lissa Dragomir has finally been caught and returned to St Vladimir Academy, a college for vampires (Moroi) and half-breeds (Dhampirs). However, it soon turns out that their return to the safe threshold of the college is not as safe after all, when someone within the college starts leaving dead animals in Lissa's path, tempting her to heal.
Lissa's magic to heal is a secret, only known to Rose, Lissa and a teacher who was seemingly crazy and was taken away, but before she was taken she had warned Rose to take Lissa far away and ensure that no one finds out about Lissa's ability to heal. Rose followed the instructions and hence why she and Lissa ran away to begin with.
Now back within the Academy it seems someone else knows the secret but why are they forcing Lissa to heal? And why are they going about it like this? Luckily for Lissa, Rose, her best friend and future guardian have a very unique and strong bond where Rose is able to get within Lissa's mind, this is what eventually saves Lissa at the end.
I know that the summary isn't that great but I suppose that's all I can give without ruining the mystery within the book. I do like this book and have already borrowed the second book in the series, "Frostbite" and looking forward to reading it.
Like Scott Westerfeld's Peeps series I like how Richelle Mead has created a totally different atmosphere, environment and history for her setting. It wasn't the usual vampire story and it is very adequate for Young Adults as it has many themes that teens can empathize and sympathize with. It shows that despite them living within this vampire underworld they were still susceptible to the high-school miseries. I think because of this normality within the book it seems to be more realistic as it's not all fights and vampire stuff. I enjoyed the book and it wasn't at all too childish for my liking. Definitely a must read for those that enjoy the vampire genre.
Touching Darkness by Scott Westerfeld
Review:- The Midnighters are finally gathered, organized and Jessica's power is known to her. She brings working technology into the Midnight hour and use that as weapons against the Darklings. In this book they realize that they're enemies do not only belong in the Midnight hour only, they are also from the daytime.
Jessica finds herself being stalked, a man is pointing a camera at her window at exactly midnight, someone knows about the Midnighters. They search and soon discover the mysteries behind the disappearance of the initial Midnighters 50 years ago. A family in the neighboring town, Broken Arrow, has been communicating with the Darklings through the use of a half ling, a Darkling who has placed a Midnighter inside of them, hence having their combined powers.
The current half-ling is weak and dying, but the communication with these day lighters are important, one hour a day is simply not enough, they need these humans to do their bidding during the day. They need the Midnighter inside the half-ling replaced but who will they choose to take?
This is another good book from Scott Westerfeld and so much more fast paced than the first book. It has heaps of mysteries that have got you constantly thinking, it's definitely a page turner and this trilogy is just getting better by the book.
The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld
Review:- Did you know there are 25 hours in a day? According to Westerfeld's created "Midnighter's" world at the stroke of midnight the rest of the world freezes and an hour ticks on. Only those born at midnight have the opportunity to live through this extra hour, The Midnighters.
At Bixby, Oklahoma there are four, all have their own powers; Melissa the mind caster, Dess the polymath, Rex the seer and Johnathan the flyer. They've never felt any purpose for their powers nor the extra hour, it was merely used for their personal enjoyment, their secret playground until...Jessica Day arrived.
Jessica has recently moved to Bixby with her family and soon finds out about the whole Midnighter world that she belongs in, but unlike the rest of them her powers are unknown to her nor are they openly visible to the rest. They need to find out what Jessica is or what her powers are and fast as the Darklings (dark and evil creatures, enemies of the Midnighters)have sensed Jessica's arrival and are determined to get rid of her before she does any harm to them.
This is a great Young Adult fiction with a lot of creativeness. It is suitable for an Adult to read and the language and writing style is not at all simplified. The start of this book was a bit slow paced, but understandable as I've noticed that most books that carry sequels tend to be slow going at the start of the first book as the Author provides history, introduction to the characters and the environment. The sequel to this book is quite fast paced from the beginning, hence my theory. I also enjoyed that the characters of the book, despite it being targeted at teens were still three dimensional not like most teen novels. I'm really quite impressed with all the different worlds that Westerfeld has created in the books that I have read of his.
Monday, 16 February 2009
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Review:- The Earth has been invaded by aliens called "Souls". They use human bodies as their "host". Melanie Stryder, one of the few humans still uninhabited was seen and chased, she jumped hoping to die, she'd rather die than be inhabited.
Wanderer is the "soul" that has been assigned to Melanie's body. She realizes that Melanie is not going to give up her body without a fight, she is within, alive and determined. Wanderer starts seeing Melanie's memories which starts the longing and loving for two humans, Jamie, Melanie's younger brother and Jared, Melanie's boyfriend. Wanderer sets out to find them.
However, when she finds them they don't believe that Melanie is still within her. They are hard to convince and they live with a lot of humans that are just simply not going to take the risk of them being found, which would mean that their bodies will also be inhabited. Wanderer, or rather Melanie's love for these humans keep Wanderer determined and soon she starts winning the humans over. Things get more complicated when another human, Ian, falls in love with Wanderer, the Soul.
I had high expectations for this book as I love Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series and by reading the summary it was a great and creative story line, but I felt that it dragged on a bit. I personally felt that the story could have been told just as good with half or three quarters of the pages that Meyer used. Having said that, this book was still a good read, despite the parts dragging on, the main plot was great and the love story really gets you involved. I will definitely be reading the sequel but unlike the Twilight series, I don't think it holds quite the same addictive properties.
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