Mini Review Revival 4

Whatta ya know? Another mini review revival post!

A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

I loved the blurb for this book. Anything with the description, "sharp and cheeky 12 year old" is always fair game for me and I have to say... I just really enjoyed this novel. Mary O'Hara, the main character is every bit as feisty and "cheeky" as the blurb promises and she's such a fun character. The whole mother-daughter bit was adorable and I guess the main thing about this novel is that it's not a really serious book, it's not a huge "thinking" novel, overall it's just a really fun read. I liked the setting and the fact that these characters were Irish... a nice little break from all the books set in U.S.

Exiled by J. R. Wagner

Oh. my. word. Do you see that cover? Isn't it marvelous? It's absolutely gorgeous. And you know what? Wagner's world is just as gorgeous! The writing was superb, the world-building was fantastic and the entire magic thing is so complex, it was at times hard to follow. Regardless of the complexities in the novel, it's still a beautiful, thrilling ride the entire time. This novel was a wonderful YA read... I would highly recommend this one!

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2012. This cover is gorgeous and it leaves SO much to the imagination. Like...whats up with the lightning? Why is the street in rubbles? What is this chick doing?! Ahh. I couldn't wait to dive into this one. There were quite a few things I liked and several things I didn't. Firstly, I loved the premise that Mia, the main character is repeatedly struck by lightning that effectively turns her into somewhat of an obsessive lightning addict or something. Such a unique premise for a YA novel! I wanted to love Mia as much as the premise but I just couldn't. For some reason her personality fell short for me. Something that REALLY bothered me about the novel was the whole foundation for the cults and premise is that it's built around religious themes. I felt that the religious overtones were not needed to build up this world and it was way too much. I really did like the premise, the setting, the whole "idea" of everything. I'm just not sure the execution was perfect. I would have liked to see this novel go in a different direction, but Bosworth's writing definitely made me want to read more from her.

The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls by Julie Schumacher

I have to admit something extremely nerdy right now...I'm such a sucker for "book club" type of books. I mean in that the whole premise is centered around a book club theme. Why do I love this you ask? Well because I feel like my life is kind of book club 24/7! I'd heard that this was a "fun, beachy type of read," and that's exactly what it was. I would say that this book is this generations "Breakfast Club" type of story in book form. 4 girls, all dislike each other at first, but despite their differences, learn to somewhat get along. Sprinkle in some mother-daughter relationship stuff and you have a perfectly fun beach read. I really enjoyed this book and I think anyone, regardless of age, would enjoy reading this novel.

The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland

Well, with a cover like that... one would expect a fun, summer read. Before I even started this one, I had a feeling by the title and blurb it would be a coming-of-age story. However, I wanted more Now and Then type of story and what I got was disappointment. There was entirely too much telling and hardly any showing...I found myself highlighting section after section of sentences that were all telling and no showing. Sigh. Also... very predictable story with a very predictable character. If you're looking for a light, fluffy beach read...this might be a book for you. It wasn't my cup of tea however.

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Okay, so I actually LOVE and HATE this cover. Haha...I know, that's weird. But seriously. It's very pretty and sensual and I love the title font and the little attention to detail. I love the coloring of the lips and the closed eyes. At the same time...I always get distracted that I can kind of see up her nose and then the attraction of the cover gets lost. But anyways. The story inside... it was... alright for me. I think mostly because historical fiction novels are always hit and miss for me. I usually either LOVE the book or I don't like it very much. This one was almost an in-between which makes this review hard to write. I'm not very knowledgable about the time period this book was set in nor am I all that familiar with King Henry (I skipped A LOT of my history classes...oops). I know enough to either be intrigued or not interested. I thought the naming of characters was kind of ironic, (Kitty and Cat... get it?) although I know they supposed to be real people. The characters were hard for me to feel invested in, I thought some of the pacing was a little on the slower side and by the end, I kind of felt apathetic towards the characters and the premise. What I LOVED about the novel was Longshore's ability with words. Holy cow. There were some really beautiful lines in this novel that really spoke to me. I just wish they would have spoken louder and allowed me to have more confidence in the story.

**I received this book free from the publisher through www.netgalley.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Mini Review Revival 3

Wahoo...another round of mini reviews!

The Last Song by Eva Wiseman

I debated back and forth on whether this novel was up my alley. I enjoy historical fiction, especially when there is such an interesting premise involved like the blurb of this novel promised. I was extremely disappointed to learn this was not at all what it promised. I loved the idea of all of this interconnected history with the Spanish Inquisition, but there was just too many other things going in the story that made everything bogged down. The "religious" aspect was too much for me and it seemed to me that the author was trying to portray one group of people as one way and the other group as another way and I think that's too black and white. It's not that easy to pinpoint one specific group down to just a few certain characteristics. I also found myself bored and detached from the characters. Overall, this really wasn't my cup of tea and I'm sad to say I wasn't a fan of this book.

The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks

Oooh! I love the creepy cover (although, I'm not too sure about the pink lines on the sides...seems kind of silly to me). I also loved the whole "let's find the dead girl's murderer" story line that the blurb gave me. This was an enjoyable read for the most part. I liked Rain, the main character, and I thought the mystery was interesting (even if, a little predictable). For a young adult mystery, I thought Fredericks did a great job with it. I'm interested to read more from Fredericks. 

Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton

I immediately wanted to read this novel after hearing such amazing things about Lupton's Sisters (which I still haven't read...but still intend to). Unfortuantly, it wasn't a hit with me like I hoped it would. Firstly, I've been DYING to read a novel using the second person POV because I'm not sure I've ever read an entire novel in that tense or if I have...I don't remember it. After reading this novel in that tense, I'm not sure I like it. It was very difficult for me to read. Maybe because it took me out of the story, maybe because it was hard to follow along since it was such a unique POV. The main character seemed stereotypical, stuck up and I didn't feel a dang thing for any character and that's sad...given the circumstances surrounding the plot of the story. I'm really nervous to read Sisters now even though I've heard nothing but praise for it. There might be some who will still favor this novel despite the things I've listed as it's shortcomings so I recommend you read it for yourself and find out!

The World's Creepiest Places by Dr. Bob Curran

As many of you are aware, I LOVE anything that has to do with murder, ghosts, creepy crawly scary things. This book did NOT disappoint!!! I loved learning about what Dr. Curran thought were the "creepiest" places in the world. I have to agree that several of them are uber creepy while some of them were just okay. I probably could have written this book and added WAY creepier places but I still enjoyed this book quite a bit. I love that we're not just given the creepy place and expected to gather for ourselves why. Dr. Curran explains his reasons for choosing each place and I can see why he chose each one. This is definitely a great Halloween read!

Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

First off, that cover. It's just SO unique and fresh. I think the cover model is stunning but I'm not sure that really represents who "Chloe" is. When I read this, I was just off a binge of dystopians and fantasy novels so reading this was a breath of fresh air. I honestly thought it was going to be one of those typical contemporaries with an oh-so-boring plot, but while it was a bit predictable and "fluffy," I thought it was such a cute, endearing novel. I thought the premise was unique for a YA contemporary and I liked the whole radio personality bit. Chloe was a bit too happy and enthusiastic at times, which was annoying but the difference between her and other characters is that Coriell wrote her in such a way that I didn't mind her annoying-ness. If you're looking for a light but enjoyable YA Contemp...this is your book!

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQueery

This was hands down one of my favorite covers of 2012. It's so intricate, so beautiful, so steampunkish. I absolutely fell in love with this cover and I wish I could say the same about the story inside. It was also one of the biggest disappointments of 2012. I had SUCH high hopes for this novel. I haven't read a whole lot of steampunk so I was excited to read this novel. First off... the pace moves... at... such... a... slow... pace. I almost put the book down several times. Then it would get exciting! Then it would slow down. Then it would get exciting again! But by that point it was too late. :( Lena was not a character I felt invested in and I couldn't get into her personality because half the time she was annoying and the other half she would be fine. The whole "steampunk" thing didn't really make itself clear but maybe I'm just confused on what exactly steampunk is or isn't. This book might work for some die-hard steampunkers if they are more in-tune with the genre, but it didn't work at all for me. 

**I received this book free from the publisher through www.netgalley.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Mini Review Revival 2

Another segment of Mini Review Revival

After the Snow by S. D. Crockett

This book was kind of like a rollercoaster for me. One on hand, I really liked a lot of aspects about this novel and on the other, I didn't. What I LOVED about this book is that it's not just another YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel...it has a strong male narrator, and believe it or not, almost ZERO romance. I actually loved that. It was refreshing to read a story that didn't rely or depend on a romantic subplot to drive the story. I know a point of contention to many was the dialect in the book, but I liked it. I thought it made the character feel more real given his situation and circumstances. What I didn't like was that I felt the plot and pacing was a little slow. I struggled to keep reading because I kept losing interest. There was sometimes when the inner monologues of the main character were a little too much and I could have done more with the outside world rather than the inner musings of the character. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, just one I would recommend to readers that okay with a slower read. 

Dying to Know You by Aidan Chambers

I don't know why, but I just love this cover. Another one of those simple yet effective covers. This was another unique YA novel because it's mainly narrated by a 60 year old man. I really liked this coming-of-age story... I thought it was sweet and I enjoyed the interaction between the main character, Karl and the unnamed narrator...it was a unique take on a YA contemporary love story. I recommend this novel for lovers of YA contemporary stories!

Whatever You Love by Louise Doughty

I was really hoping for a gritty, dark read with this novel given the blurb and the one-liner from Hilary Mantel on the front cover. This wasn't that story though. Don't get me wrong, it was really emotional and it was fast paced but it was really less about a mother's revenge than it is about a woman coming to terms with her daughter's death. The writing style was okay, and it was gripping enough to keep me reading but it was just missing something in terms of the thrilling, revenge laden plot that was promised.

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

I absolutely love anything revolving around Jack the Ripper. I find him and his stories fascinating and I was hoping this book would live up to my expectations. While it didn't exactly "live up to" my expectations, it didn't completely fail either. I liked the historical context and the writing style of the novel and I found Abbie to be a good narrator for the story. I'm not sure I liked the paranormal twist in this novel...mainly because I think there are other Ripper novels that have done it better. I think this would have been better as a straight historical novel, but that's just my take. Overall, I enjoyed the story, I thought the historical facts (from what I've gathered through my own research) are pretty true to form and I recommend this novel for anyone who likes reader Ripper novels.

The White Oak by Kim White

Look at that beautiful cover! It's gorgeous and unique however, this book was just not my cup of tea. The whole sinkhole/underworld thing was a little odd and out there for my tastes. I like science fiction/fantasy but I think I might have been a little over my head with this novel. It certainly was an interesting premise but I can't get over how confused and detached I felt from the plot and characters. Cora, the main character, could have saved the novel for me but I felt completely apathetic towards her. I wanted to like her and I wanted to root for her, but I found myself not caring about anything she was doing. This book might be better suited for someone who enjoys this genre a bit more than I do.

Emerald City by Alicia K. Leppert

Very pretty cover, kind of confusing story. I am usually a fan of duel POV's especially with mixed tenses....I think it's a unique blend when done right. However, I found myself confused with the way it was executed and the worst thing--it was terribly predictable and like many paranormal romances it was pretty trite. You know the formula-- incredibly hot male with a dark, secret past who the main character is inexplicably drawn to. I couldn't help feel like this novel was maybe modeled after Twilight? I can't say for sure but it all felt very...familiar.

**I received these books free from the publishers through www.netgalley.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult Review

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Publisher: Atria

Publication date: February 26th, 2013

Goodread's Summary:
Sage Singer befriends an old man who's particularly beloved in her community. Josef Weber is everyone's favorite retired teacher and Little League coach. They strike up a friendship at the bakery where Sage works. One day he asks Sage for a favor: to kill him. Shocked, Sage refuses…and then he confesses his darkest secret - he deserves to die, because he was a Nazi SS guard. Complicating the matter? Sage's grandmother is a Holocaust survivor. What do you do when evil lives next door? Can someone who's committed a truly heinous act ever atone for it with subsequent good behavior? Should you offer forgiveness to someone if you aren't the party who was wronged? And most of all - if Sage even considers his request - is it murder, or justice?

Per the usual, Jodi Picoult's new book was on my shelf the day it came out. She's on my automatic pre-order list and I own the books the day they are released. I was hoping with all my heart that this novel would be better than her last one. My kind readers, the Jodi Picoult I know and love dearly... IS BACK. (For now). Oh. My. Word. This book. It was SO good you guys. It was everything I hoped it would be and in perfect Jodi Picoult fashion, it was mesmerizing  haunting and tantalizing. It was the type of story that made me fall in love with her books in the first place. Perhaps I have a bit of a soft spot for the subject matter since one of my novels also deals with WWII in a more contemporary setting, but it was really a breathtaking novel. 

Ah. I'm not sure where to even start here. The characters, perhaps? I'll be honest, I didn't fall in love with the characters until the middle portion of the book. They are wonderful characters, but the first half, I feel like it's more plot driven than character driven, and for this novel--that works. But by the end of the novel, I really had fallen in love with Sage and Leo. Though Sage is the "heroine" per say, her grandmother is really the heart of this story. Minka is the meat to this haunting depiction of WWII and the Holocaust. The thing is, though Minka is fiction, the fact that the bones of this story ARE real, makes her seem more real than most characters I've ever read. Her story is not unusual for Holocaust survivors and THAT is what it so sad and horrifying. I did enjoy the slight love story that played out between Sage and Leo, though I saw it coming a mile away. Although, I also did like the whole Sage and Adam angle as well because it was written so much different than most "men-who-cheat-and-tell-their-mistress-they'll-leave-their-wife" situation. What Picoult does so well in this novel (and many of her other ones) is take an ethical/moral question or event and turn it on it's head. She twists it in a knot so intricately, by the time you're doing reading the novel, you forgot what side of the issue you stood on. Or maybe you don't. Maybe you still know what side you stand on, but you've been softened by the blow of the other side. This novel in particular though, goes beyond what she's ever written in a way because of the horrific acts she's talking about. She does an incredible job of showing both the evil and brutality of the Nazi's but there are a few shining slivers of humanity weaved in. Because you know what, I don't believe every single German was evil. Some were good. Some were kind. Some were rebellious against their own country. That's what this novel tries to explore. Quite possibly the best and in a way, worst, part of this novel is the way the lives of Jews and Nazi's during the Holocaust are portrayed. I've read my fair share of WII and Holocaust novels, but this one was utterly heartbreaking. I've never read such a novel that goes into such terrifying detail as this one does. (I know they exist and I'm sure there are plenty--I just haven't read those ones). There were literally moments I had to put down the book and walk away for a moment because what I was reading was so disgusting, so vile that I couldn't bear to read one more second. It's almost worse to read a novel where you know the events were actually true because you can't imagine how such evil, terrible people exist. My grandfather fought in WWII and liberated two concentration camps and it's not until reading this novel that I realize how huge that is. What a magnificent evil he helped squash. What an incredible future he gave to the survivors.

I haven't even touched on the "forgiveness" theme that is the belly of the novel... I guess because I'm still grappling with it. What would I do if I were faced with the same issue Sage is? Could I forgive someone who aided in the genocide of millions even if the individual amount of lives they took is far less? Could I forgive someone was directly linked to trauma of a relative? Is it even MY place to give forgiveness? What about the plea to help kill? Could I do that as well?

I don't know. That's what I gleaned about myself by the end of the novel. I don't know these answers. I've had a hell of a time trying to figure it out though. I hope I never have to be put in the position Sage is put in because it's an awful position to be in and one without an answer or solution I'm afraid.

Sigh. There's SO MUCH more I could talk about in regards to this novel, but I've been rambling for way too long about the good things. 

Honestly, there's not too much I didn't like about this novel. Mainly they are a couple nit-picky things. As I mentioned, while I like the Sage/Leo love story--I felt that it happened a little quickly. Almost insta-love. One minute they're working on the case, and the next minute they are in bed together. Granted--the few short days they spend together are intense and emotional...and the sexual tension and attraction is evident BUT. I still think the relationship was a little rushed. On the other side of the coin, we have Sage and Adam. Adam is married. But unlike most of the stereotypical relationships like this one in novels, Adam seems different. Yes, he says he will leave his wife but that it's "complicated" and yes he says he'll "file for divorce," but it's the other things about him, the subtle things that make me think he truly does love Sage. 

Also, in Jodi Picoult fashion--there are multiple POV's in this novel and I don't think all of them were necessarily...Leo's for one. I really enjoyed his character, but Picoult is a skilled enough writer to show his personality and quirks through Sage's eyes. I really don't think Leo's POV added anything to the actual story. The "story within a story" POV was a little confusing at some points until I understood what was going on but even then, I think it could have been weaved in better. 

Overall, this book was INCREDIBLE. It was addicting, beautiful, horrifying, sad, hopeful and so many other things. It felt incredibly authentic, but I'm not an expert in WWII, so I couldn't say for sure. Honestly, this book SHOULD be a book that everyone reads. If only to get a fictional feel for what the Holocaust  was and how it affected the lives of millions. Trust me on this one--this is one of Picoult's best novels. You should read it!