Page to Screen: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

March 28, 2013 by 3 Comments

The Book
After having loved the Twilight books so much, I was actually a little hesitant to read The Host back in 2008. As a matter of fact, the only reason I even bought a copy was to be able to attend Stephenie Meyer’s signing and I didn’t plan to read it for a while. I don’t know what compelled me to open it up, but I soon found myself completely immersed in the book. I love alien stuff, and though admittedly these aren’t the aliens I usually want to read about (gimme the creepy!), I came to truly love Stephenie Meyer’s story. I can tell you now that I have re-read this book so many times that the spine is actually falling apart.

Though the first few chapters were a little slow moving for me, once Wanderer got to the desert I was all in. I loved the conflict between Wanderer and Melanie because they were so different and it was interesting to read how they handled being in one body. While Wanderer is so peaceful and such a pacifist, Melanie is more fiery and rash — mainly because she’s doing all she can to protect Jared and Jamie. Melanie’s presence is (almost) always there, but Wanderer is the central focus and I enjoyed falling in love with Earth and the humans along with her. Another highlight was learning about her past lives. Other readers may be disappointed by how light the sci-fi elements are in The Host, but I personally enjoyed how accessible it was and there were enough details about the other worlds to allow a vivid picture.

Since this is a Stephenie Meyer story, yes, there is plenty of romance to go around. From the summary I went into the book expecting a love triangle between Melanie/Jared/Wanderer and that was true. Kind of. Yes, having access to all of Melanie’s memories, Wanderer did grow to have feelings for Jared and, yes, Jared did have all sorts of conflict due to having Melanie’s body in close proximity. Plus, you know, Melanie is still in there and she has plenty to say about what Wanderer is feeling, mixed in with her own turmoil of Jared being out of reach to her. OH THE DRAMA. That was all great and dandy, but then came the unexpected in the shape of a human: Ian O’Shea. The book has been out for years, and he’s popped up enough in the movie promotional material, but I still feel kind of spoilery even mentioning him so I will just say the following: he is one of my absolute favorite characters and he completely took me by surprise.

Stephenie Meyer gets a lot of criticism for this and that, but I love how she tells a story. She had me hooked with both Twilight and The Host and I know I’ll be reading any of her books in the future.

The Movie
I was able to see the movie at an early screening a few weeks back, and now that I’ve had time to sit on my thoughts, I have to say that I’m not too in love with it. It wasn’t bad in any way, and I do think it was better than the Twilight films, but it didn’t excite me in the way that I hoped it would. The cast was great, and I loved the final scene with Melanie and Wanderer, but I feel that certain parts and character growth were rushed. I know they can’t include ALL THE THINGS in a film adaptation (dammit!) but I do wish there had been more heart to the story, like in the book. Would I recommend it? Yeah, probably, especially if you’re a fan of the book, but overall I think it was rather forgettable. (Still, Stephenie Meyer needs to write the sequel asap so I can have more of Ian in the books and see more of Max Irons’s face in the movies, thanks.)

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Book Review: Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson

January 14, 2013 by 3 Comments

Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Source: Netgalley
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Back in her hometown, Tori Beaugrand had everything a teenaged girl could want—popularity, money, beauty. But she also had a secret. A secret that could change her life in an instant, or destroy it.

Now she’s left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the one friend who truly understood her. She can’t escape who and what she is. But if she wants to have anything like a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unusual… talents.

Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears and gives Tori some bad news: she hasn’t escaped her past. In fact, she’s attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-cop turned investigator for a genetics lab.

She has one last shot at getting her enemies off her trail and winning the security and independence she’s always longed for. But saving herself will take every ounce of Tori’s incredible electronics and engineering skills—and even then, she may need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free. – Goodreads

Review:
When I found out that R.J. Anderson’s Ultraviolet was getting a sequel, I was pretty pumped because Ultraviolet had left my head buzzing with possibilities of what was ahead. Then, when I found out that it would be told in Tori’s POV, I have to admit I was a little bummed because I had really enjoyed Alison’s narrative, thought her ability was really cool, and there were still loose ends in her story. As it turned out, R.J. Anderson was able to make Tori’s story equally gripping and tie both books together seamlessly.

With Tori and her family on the run, and them having changed their identities (Tori is now Niki), one could anticipate a thrilling, intense read. Tori is constantly having to watch over her shoulder and think every move carefully so that her past doesn’t catch up with her. But then it does in the form of Sebastian Faraday and it all goes to crap. I don’t want to get too into depth about what danger Tori is in, but I held my breath through so many scenes and felt a rush whenever Tori was able to find a way out.

Tori is so different from Alison and I loved how R.J. Anderson was able to transition into her voice effortlessly. Her passion for engineering came across as authentic and I enjoyed that it played a major role in the book. I also have to give R.J. Anderson two thumbs up for having Tori’s identity be so unique from what I’ve found in other YA books. That’s super vague, but if you read the book, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

As crazy thrilling as Quicksilver was, the highlight of the book was Tori’s friendship with Milo. It was so genuine and I kind of want to go spazzy over how well they fit together. More friendships like these, please, authors!

Quicksilver had my blood pumping and had me feeling like a ticking time bomb with its fast pace. If you’re looking for an engaging sci-fi read, look no further than Ultraviolet and Quicksilver.

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Book Review: The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

April 16, 2012 by 13 Comments

Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness
Release Date: 2009 | 2010 | 2011
Publisher: Candlewick
Pages: 479 | 519 | 603
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee — whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not — stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden — a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought? – Goodreads

Review:
Finishing Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking books has been a long time coming. I first read The Knife of Never Letting Go in October of 2010 and I loved it. But I was also crushed by certain events, so I was terrified of what was to come in the following installments. I had The Ask and the Answer sitting in my bookshelf since then and I kept saying, “I’ll read it soon, I’ll read it soon,” but I never quite got the courage to actually pick it up. Aylee’s reviews (here and here) were definitely a motivation, but it wasn’t until my friend Linda sped through the series, and then began nagging me to get a move on, that I finally decided to go for it. I’m so glad! It was a draining roller coaster to read the series, but it’s easily become one of my absolute favorites. Here are some thoughts on each of the three books:

The Knife of Never Letting Go – Like I said, it’s been well over a year since I read it so here’s my initial review from goodreads: This one kept my heart pounding! With a first person, present tense narration, complete with Todd’s own dialect, it was very easy to get pulled in. With Todd being so young I wasn’t sure how much I would relate to his character, but I found myself valuing his growth as he learned the real meaning of becoming a man.The book went to some very dark, dark places, leaving me absolutely drained; I’m still mourning over a certain character’s death. I felt enough questions were answered along the way, but of course I’m anxious to get a start on the sequel. Fantastic read!

The Ask and the Answer – Can I just immediately say how seamlessly Patrick Ness is able to alternate between POVs? His character’s voices are so distinct, so different from the other, and he easily kept me fully immersed in both. Todd and Viola endured through SO much and their character arcs are some of my favorites in recent memory. Similarly, this book confirmed the complexity of the world and characters that Patrick Ness created. Though his book is set in another world, the themes he presented are so easily applicable to ours. Certain side characters? Wow…I had no idea that they could be redeemed and that I could grow to care for them so much. And, yes, I sobbed.

Monsters of Men – TODD AND VIOLA. THESE KIDS. I wanted to hold them close and keep them safe, but I was also so proud of their maturity, strength, and how they’re such genuinely good people. Thinking back to the first book it’s so easy to recall their innocence; it makes me so sad that they had to experience so much loss and so many struggles throughout the course of the series. Their relationship was subtle, beautifully depicted, and I loved how they drew strength from each other in the most bleak of situations. Patrick Ness continued to make a mess of my emotions with his characters. There was no clear good and evil in this series because the characters were so layered with flaws and complexities that captured the very essence of human nature.

Patrick Ness easily has one of my favorite endings for a book series in Monsters of Men. I know there are readers that are clamoring for more, but there was enough and there was hope — the perfect way to end it, in my opinion.

After having read this series and A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness easily earns a spot in my favorite authors list and a guarantee that I will read anything he writes. He is brilliant and captures so much emotion in his writing. Oh, and he makes me ugly cry every single time. I can’t wait to see what he writes next and I urge you to give Chaos Walking a read.


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Book Review: Insignia by S.J. Kincaid + Pre-order Giveaway

April 5, 2012 by 31 Comments

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 444 (ARC)
Source: Won from author (thank you, S.J. Kincaid!)
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him? – Goodreads

Review:
I was going to wait to review S.J. Kincaid’s Insignia because, hey, July is still months away, but I figured there’s no harm in gushing over its brilliance a little in advance. Before I received my copy, I thought it sounded interesting and I liked that it gave me somewhat of an Ender’s Game vibe. Although I was a little worried that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, I made it my first read of the year and the pressure was on! You guys… I loved this book!

There are so many sci-fi reads where the government and world building just doesn’t ring true to me, but the one here? Spot on: full of corporate greed, bribery, and corruption. It wasn’t difficult at all to make parallels to our economic situation today.

Secondly, Insignia includes so much technology and it was effing COOL. I was on board as soon as Tom first played in the VR parlor, but it only got better from there: plugging in to download data (homework!), the meal bars, programming and, of course, the simulations; the list really goes on and on with all of the awesome and I was always eager to find out what S.J. Kincaid would introduce next.

And then there’s the cast of characters. They were diverse and had different backgrounds which I LOVED. It’s a true testament to S.J. Kincaid’s writing that I feel that her characters are my friends. I feel like such a cheeseball saying that, but the level of comfort that I felt with them at the Pentagonal Spire is not something I often encounter in my reads. I love characters, sure, and I grow attached to them, but what I encountered here can only be compared to what I felt with the trio in Harry Potter: inside jokes, familiarity, and a sense of belonging. There were so many moments where I burst out laughing due to their antics (this book is FUNNY!) and even more moments where I began to dread the end of the book. Missing them was immediate, but I’m glad there’s still more to come.

While, yes, this is the first book in a series, another thing to admire about Insignia is that S.J. Kincaid offered a clear beginning, middle, and end to the book. I am dying to make my return to the Pentagonal Spire with these characters, but that’s because of my love for her story and characters, and not because she left me suffering with an evil cliffhanger. There’s still much to explore, but I’m glad that S.J. Kincaid was able to have a full story arc take place.

Come July I will be pushing this book into as many hands as I possibly can. It’s such a refreshing, humorous, and thrilling read that I really hope it blows up into something huge… I have a good feeling that it will!

Ah, yes, time for a giveaway! I can’t offer up my ARC because it’s signed, but I can offer a pre-order of the book! It’s open internationally as long The Book Depository ships to you (check here) and it will run through May 5th. You must be 13 years or older to enter and the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. Extra entries are available. Fill out the Rafflecopter:


a Rafflecopter giveaway



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Book Review: Variant by Robison Wells

September 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Variant by Robison Wells
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 384
Source: Netgalley
Rating: ★★★☆☆ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Benson Fisher thought a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible – Goodreads

Review:
This was an interesting read for me. Up until the point where we begin the story, Benson had been a part of the foster care system and, as can be expected, transferred from home to home. Maxfield Academy was his way out of the situation and he looked forward to finding a semblance of stability through the school. Of course we can’t have that and he very quickly discovers that the school has its secrets. For starters, no one can escape.

There was a disconnect for me from the first half of the book. I felt that we moved too quickly from Benson’s arrival to the school to his urgency to leave it. I get wanting to have a fast pace, but it was difficult for me to care about him finding a way out when 1) he had only just gotten there and 2) I didn’t even know him as a character. True, the idea of possibly being confined there wouldn’t be appealing to anyone, but he didn’t even try to find out any other details about the school. He hadn’t seen anything really crazy yet! The cameras and security were creepy, of course, but I can’t think of many kids that wouldn’t at least be intrigued by the idea of no adult supervision. Benson is an exception to this and he quickly begins to try to form plans to get out. His determination, while admirable, came across as whiny at times and, unfortunately, didn’t allow much room for other character development. He lacked a certain depth and emotional range to make me truly care about his desperation to leave.

Somewhere in the middle of the book there’s a twist that I didn’t see coming. I immediately sat up and, from then on, I was glued to the pages until the very end. My detachment to Benson remained to a degree, but suddenly there was a reason to really want him to escape — I needed answers! The cliffhanger didn’t leave me with much but now, trying to put the pieces together, I’m beginning to think that the disconnect I felt from Benson makes perfect sense… *insert dramatic music here*

I’m excited to see where the next book picks up from here! While the book didn’t pack as much emotional punch as I usually want from my reads, Robison Wells has a very interesting story taking place and I’m anxious to find out more.

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