Divergent by Veronica Roth
11 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: abnegation, amity, candor, chicago, dauntless, divergent, dystopia, erudite, faction, four, veronica roth, ya, young adult
Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
pages: [hardcover] 487
Divergent #1
memorable quote: Sometimes the best way to help someone is just to be near them.
favorite characters: tris & four
summary:
In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue–Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is–she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are–and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series–dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.
review:
WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK.
Nearly 500 pages, and I finished it in two days because I literally could not put it down. The characters . . . the premise . . . how the plot was carried out . . . I have nothing to complain about. Nothing. And there hasn’t been a book like that for me in a while. Why, why, why did I take so long to read this?
Tris has to be one of my favorite leading ladies I’ve ever encountered in YA. Surprisingly, she doesn’t fall for every guy she meets. There isn’t even a love triangle. Weird, right? I hate that things like that are becoming so commonplace that it’s odd when you find a book that has romance with the girl not constantly agonizing over guys. Tris is easily relatable and real. She can be selfish, cruel, giving, kind, vulnerable, and tough as nails, all at once. While staying in character. She makes mistakes, doesn’t always do the right thing, but she’s not despicable, either. She’s like most teenage girls . . . just stuck in situations practically no one has to deal with.
Even the main love interest is wonderfully flawed. And, I don’t want to give anything way, so I’ll pretty much leave it at that. Though it’s practically assured that you’ll love him.
If you start reading this book, prepare to do nothing else for a long time. It grabs you and doesn’t let go, with action and suspense that begin at the Choosing Ceremony and continue until the end. I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into, and maybe it was better that way. There are tons of twists and surprises that you will never expect, that left me gaping at the book and half wanting to throw it across the room. But, I wanted to finish it instead.
Now, I’ll need to wait until the sequel comes out. Can I wait? Not at all. I need it now. May is much too far away….
EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE. 5/5 stars
Read it. Now.
One Day by David Nicholls
08 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in 5 stars, fiction, romance Tags: book, summary, novel, movie, review, quote, emma, dex, one day, david nicholls, dexter, em, jim sturgess, ann hathaway, paperback, sylvie, jasmine
One Day
Author: David Nicholls
pages [paperback]: 435
memorable quote: “Do you think it’s a conspiracy, people secretly ganging up to be nice about you?”
favorite characters: dex & em
summary:
review:
OH. MY.
I loved this book so much! With the simplistic writing style, fantastic characterization, and gripping plotline, One Day is at times charming and devastating. It had me laughing at the absurd, lovely moments between Dexter and Emma, or either of them and the other characters that populated the novel. It had me frustrated with their quirks and how it kept them apart, had me realizing just how precious time really is. Because although twenty years seems like an extremely long time, this book shows that it can go by quickly.
What I particularly liked about Dexter and Em was that they weren’t sweetened into farces of people, instead of being shown as the unique ones they could be; filled with weird traits and ideas that made them different from everyone else, and made the two of them seem more real. In fact, nearly all of the characters in One Day are like this.
The tone of the novel, which paints everything with a humorous edge and manages to make even the worst of situations have a bright, comical side, was brilliant. Without it, this wouldn’t be the book it is, and would have stayed much more depressing while dragging on and on. Instead, I flew through the pages, wanting to know what each year brought the two, whether they were first meeting, together, apart, across the world from each other . . . It was hard to keep myself away.
One Day is a heart-wrenching, gut-busting must read for those who like romances that aren’t mushy, stories of love and friendship, tales of growing up and finding yourself, or something that has all of the above. This will definitely be one of my all-time favorites, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone.
STRIKING. 5/5 stars
January 2012 Wrap Up
03 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
A new year! New books! Chances to fall in love with something unexpected or hate something you thought you’d like…
Well, let’s think possible. We’re only one month in, after all. I read:
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Don’t Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Books I purchased : 1
Won in Contest : 0
Borrowed from friend : 4
Checked out from library : 3
Review books : 3
Pages read : 3299
Challenge Status:
Finishing the Series : 0/2
2012 Book Blogger Recommendation : 3/15
The Dusty Bookshelf : 1/15
Fairy Tales : 1/12
January was AWESOME. Really. I mean, I hope the rest of the year is as great. With lots of fantastical things (both literary and not 
) on the horizon, I’m really looking forward to February. ^.^ How was your January?
The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
02 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in young adult, Fantasy, fiction, series, 3 stars Tags: book, summary, young adult, fiction, review, rick riordan, percy jackson, mythology, carter, sadie, horus, gods, egyptian, ya, the throne of fire, kane chronicles, ra
The Throne of Fire
Author: Rick Riordan [also wrote:
Pages : [hardcover] 452
Book 2 in the Kane Chronicles
Book 1: The Red Pyramid
memorable quote:
Sometimes, it takes us a while to appreciate something new, something that might change us for the better.
favorite characters: bes & walt
summary:
Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven’t given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians.
And now their most threatening enemy yet – the chaos snake Apophis – is rising. If they don’t prevent him from breaking free in a few days’ time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it’s a typical week for the Kane family.
To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished.
First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?
Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.
review:
I’ve been in love with Rick Riordan’s novels ever since I picked up the first Percy Jackson book two years ago. He has an awesome amount of creativity when it comes to reimagining mythology in the modern world, whether it be Greek, Roman, or Egyptian. While I’ve never disliked anything I’ve read by him thus far, I do have to say that the Kane Chronicles isn’t my favorite. Or, as Sadie would say, just isn’t my cup of tea.
I know a lot of people like to compare this series to the Percy Jackson one, which I don’t think is very fair, even if it is written by the same person. Sure, there were a few references to those books in The Throne of Fire, which made me laugh and were definitely awesome, that’s about where the similarity stops. Oh, and the fact that they both involve mythology. But that’s a given. Egyptians and Greeks don’t really have much in common, when they’re immortal and all-powerful.
Sadie and Carter narrate this novel alternately, and I can’t tell which voice is my favorite. They both have their up and down points, and it’s entirely frustrating when one of them gets to an interesting part and hands the microphone off to the other one for a while. Seriously. Mr. Riordan is in love with suspense. There were times when I wanted to skip ahead just to see what was happening to one set of characters while the others went about their own business. Thankfully I was interested enough in all parts to not rifle through the pages, but there were some droll points that were harder to wade through.
Overall, I liked The Throne of Fire, though it took me a while to get into it. I’ll be continuing this series, but won’t be jumping to get it. I’ll probably rent it from the library, eventually, after it comes out.
IMAGINATIVELY INTRIGUING. 3/5 stars
Crossed by Ally Condie
29 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in 5 stars, dystopia, fiction, romance, series, young adult Tags: book, cassia, crossed, dystopia, Eli, future, ky, matched, quote, review, sequel, series, society, trilogy, xander, ya, young adult
Crossed
Author: Ally Condie
Pages [hardcover] 367
Matched #2
Book 1: Matched
memorable quote:
Everyone has something of beauty about them.
favorite characters: eli & cassia
summary:
The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy
In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky – taken by the Society to his certain death – only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander – who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart – change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.
review:
I’ve been dying to read this book ever since I finished ‘Matched’! That was one of those books that I heard everyone loved, so I decided to read, but still had my doubts about it when I picked it up. Luckily, they were blown away when I actually read it, and I think Crossed was even better. Something that I thought I would easily dismiss has turned out to be one of my favorite dystopian trilogies.
This time around, some mysteries from the past were cleared up, secrets were revealed, and friendships were tested. New characters were introduced, and while I absolutely loved some of them, I couldn’t quite figure out others-and not only because they were purposefully trying to be mysterious. I loved having every other chapter told from Ky’s perspective. At first I didn’t think I’d like the new voice-though there was no other way to tell what was happening to him in the Outer Provinces-and allowed his character to develop and let the reader understand some of the difficult decisions he is making.
I loved the integration of ‘Do Not Go Gentle’ into Cassia’s personal rebellion as well as the theme of the book. That poem has practically followed me around all of my life, and it’s one of my favorites. I’m glad it’s one of the few that’s managed to survive despite the Society’s best attempts to eliminate all other pieces of art.
The ending seemed abrupt and forced for me, as if there wasn’t a good point to leave off for the next book. I didn’t think it fit in with the pace of the rest of Crossed, and although I wasn’t happy with it, there was still enough to make me come back for the next one. I’m definitely sticking with these characters to see what happens next, because this book was more of a transitional ‘journey’ book, getting from point a to b. While I liked reading it, finding out more about the characters-particularly Ky and Xander-I think what I’m really looking for will happen in the next installment. I can’t wait!
GREAT CHARACTERS, GREAT FUN. 5/5 stars
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
21 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in 4 stars, fiction, horror, romance, series, young adult Tags: anna, anna dressed in blood, book, cas, fiction, first, ghost, hunter, kendare blake, kill, murder, mystery, review, series, thesius, ya, young adult
Anna Dressed in Blood
Author:
Kendare Blake
Pages: [hardcover] 316
memorable quote:
“It feels so separate, like I’ve touched something that’s taken the color out of me. Or maybe I’m in color now and they’re in black and white.”
favorite characters: Thomas & Cas
summary:
Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.
review:
I started this thinking I was in for a good, creepy ghost story, and knew that somehow romance would be thrown into the mix. Even though I knew it wouldn’t be a conventional paranormal story, it fell slightly short of my expectations, though I still enjoyed it.
For those looking for a psychological horror, this isn’t for you. It’s full of horrific ghosts, murders, mayhem, battles with spirits-and great descriptions of all of those. The writing in that respect was brilliant, and I could easily imagine a movie being made of this. The dialogue fell a little flat, as did the characters. Some of the things they did didn’t seem to make any sense, with their pasts, and some didn’t have reactions at all when something extremely life changing happened to them, just because they weren’t the main guy. Even he had his down moments.
I liked the new-ish take on the bad guys. While it’s hard to be original about ghosts, these weren’t the typical bump in the dark kind. Each one had their separate story, their own tricks up their sleeves, and a knack for killing people who happened to wander their way. This book isn’t for those who get squeamish at death scene descriptions.
I did not, however, know that this is going to be a series. While I’m going to read the next book, whenever it comes out, I really need to start paying attention to that, so I’ll know what to expect. I thought everything would be resolved by the end of Anna Dressed in Blood, and while most was, there was still enough to keep me hooked. Which was the point. And . . I think it could have worked well enough as a stand alone.
GHOULISHLY GRUESOME. 4/5 stars
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
20 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in 4 stars, Fantasy, fiction, romance, series, young adult Tags: ash, book four, chase, conclusion, fairy, fey, fiinal, Iron, iron knight, julie kagawa, knight, meghan, Oberon, prince, princess, puck, queen, series, titiana, trilogy
The Iron Knight
Book 4 in the Iron Fey series
Book 1: The Iron King
Book 2: The Iron Princess
Book 3: The Iron Queen
Author: Julie Kagawa
Pages: [paperback] 361
memorable quote:
“Geez, you guys. I know I’m popular and all, but seriously, you’re a bit too co-dependent for me. I’m going to need you to step away from my personal bubble.” A wispy vine-woman curled ivy tendrils around his arm, and he sliced through them with his dagger. “No! Bad Wraith! No touchie!”
favorite characters:
puck & grimalkin
summary:
Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.
review:
Halergr;ogljrgaerifrlaqoiereo.
I think that about sums up all of my love, frustration, and Team Puck-ness for this fourth and final installment of the Iron Fey series. Or maybe it’s just a bunch of random letters.
I first fell in love with Julie Kagawa’s characters all the way back in 2010 . . . Okay, not so long ago, but that’s nearly two years of anxiously wanting to get my hands on each installment and devouring them as fast as possible, then still wanting more. While I was disappointed to learn that this wouldn’t be from Meghan’s point of view, as it’s all about Ash’s journey and wouldn’t really make sense any other way, I liked it more than I thought I would. (Possibly because Puck was in nearly the entire thing. But I won’t let my review be partial to him . . . much. 
)
Filled with the humor, suspense, romance, and action that I’ve become accustomed to in the Iron books, The Iron Knight is equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking. The world Ash lives in isn’t the safest place to roam in, and more than once I was convinced they would all end up dead, stuck somewhere, and the rest of the book would be empty pages, to fool everyone. Maybe that was just paranoia. But that would be a good, unexpected tactic to use . . .
One thing that I didn’t like about it was how some parts-and I can’t point them out specifically without being spoilery-seemed to drag on longer than I thought necessary, while others were rushed over or plainly summarized when I thought they could have used more explaining. At one point, I knew what was happening and wanted to know what would happen next, but was stuck in a writing-rut for a while to get to where I wanted to go. And I’m glad that, picky as this is, it’s the only thing I can think to complain about in this finale.
The characters were, as always, awesome. (And not just Puck. I swear.) Ash the stoic, brave knight he needed to be; Grimalkin, the cunning and ever-clever cat; even the Big Bad Wolf was exactly how I’d picture he would be, did he exist as a manifestation of his many incarnations.
I love Julie Kagawa’s writing style, and can’t wait to read more by her. Now that this is over. That’s painful to type. But, good news on the horizon! I heard she’s at work on a new series, this one about vampires. Not sure about that transition, but I’m definitely reading it. Bring it on!
A STUNNING CONCLUSION. 4.5/5 stars
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
19 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in 4 stars, classic, dystopia, fiction Tags: classic, commander, dystopia, future, gilead, handmaid, luke, margaret atwood, nick, offred, ofglen, society, tale, the handmaid's tale
The Handmaid’s Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
Pages: [paperback] 311
favorite characters: ofglen & nick
summary:
Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining fertility, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now…
Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid’s Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.
review:
And just when I thought I was getting used to the creep factor brought on by most dystopian novels, I read this.
Okay, so it could be worse. But not by much. Picturing a society where every woman’s movements are so controlled they’ve had to do their best to make sure there’s no way they can commit suicide, throw in all the forced attempts at pregnancy and tearing apart of families and . . well, I don’t really want to list everything in the novel, but, goodness. Margaret Atwood sure knows how to create the perfect imperfect world. Ha.
While I can definitely appreciate the books that have more symbols and other devices imbedded within the work, The Handmaid’s Tale makes it fairly easy to pick out what’s important and what can be discarded. The narrator herself-and we never learn her true name-comments on how this or that now means something else, and the ironic tones are never left untouched for long. Thank goodness.
Originally, I was disappointed and frustrated with the ending, for reasons I won’t specify for fear of giving anything away. But, thinking back on it now, it’s perfect. I don’t think I’d have wanted it to be any different, if I could change it myself, and after this reflection, I’m glad that I can’t. Score one for Margaret Atwood!
I think what makes this book so appealing, so powerful, is the knowledge that something like this might actually happen. Maybe not exactly this; it’s impossible to predict the future. But it’s easier to take away liberties than to hand them out, and it’s not hard to imagine a world, years from now, with a more controlling government (a more censored internet?) and a whole lot of creepiness. Everywhere. And while dystopian authors might be trying to warn us, or entertain us, or try to prove some other point altogether, I think all that matters is picking up a book (like this: it’s worth it, I swear) and learning something from it. Something positive, hopefully. I don’t want to go around telling people to get bad habits . .
Heh. Like the habits they wear in this book.
Anyway, go read this. Not everyone has a school to force them to, so use that free will of yours, and give into peer pressure. About books like this, at least.
DISTURBINGLY INSIGHTFUL. 4/5 stars
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
15 Jan 2012 4 Comments
in 4 stars, books to movies, fiction, history, young adult Tags: automaton, book, brian selznick, children, clock, clockwork, fiction, hugo, illustrated, image, magic, picture, quote, review, summary, the invention of hugo cabret, ya, young adult
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Pages [hardcover]: 533
memorable quote: Even if all the clocks in the station break down, thought Hugo, time won’t stop. Not even if you really want it to.
Like now.
favorite characters: Hugo & Etienne
summary:
Orphan Hugo Cabret lives in a wall. His secret home is etched out in the crevices of a busy Paris train station. Part-time clock keeper, part-time thief, he leads a life of quiet routine until he gets involved with an eccentric, bookish young girl and an angry old man who runs a toy booth in the station. The Invention of Hugo Cabret unfolds its cryptic, magical story in a format that blends elements of picture book, novel, graphic novel, and film. Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick has fashioned an intricate puzzle story that binds the reader like a mesmerist’s spell.
review:
I was really looking forward to reading this book-mostly, I’m not going to lie, because of the pictures. Yeah, that’s right. There are so many of them, because Brian Selznick is going for a new feel in this book. Sort of a cinematic reading experience. Sounds crazy? Maybe it is, but it sort of works. Seeing pictures of a fight scene helps me picture everything better than simply reading about it, but some chases in books can be particularly descriptive, too. I can just say it was a good experience, the images were wonderful, and I hope to read more books like this in the future. Pictures shouldn’t be just for kids!
This book was a bit predictable, which disappointed me. I was looking for some conspiracy, some twist, that would shake me up and make me look at the book in a different light. I know not every novel can work out that way, but I don’t want to be able to see the end from before the middle of the book. While I kept reading on, that definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the entire thing.
This is really a quick read! I read it in a few days, but could have easily done so in a couple of hours. What with the big font, small pieces of writing, and page after page of illustrations, I was literally flipping through the pages to see what would happen next.
While I recommend this book, mainly for the unique premise, I wouldn’t see to hold your breath while waiting to read it. It’s a sweet little story, but not one that knocked my socks off.
PREDICTABLY PLOTTED. 3.5/5 stars
Don’t Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
10 Jan 2012 3 Comments
in 5 stars, fiction, romance, young adult Tags: asthma, blog tour, book, don't breathe a word, giveaway, holly cupala, holygoditwasawesome, review, runaway, stree, tell me a secret
Don’t Breathe a Word
Author: Holly Cupala [also wrote Tell Me a Secret]
Pages [hardcover]: 320
Favorite Characters: Creed & Joy
Summary:
Joy Delamere is suffocating…
From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.
Joy can take her cruel words until the night they go too far.
Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe…if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.
Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the hurt of bullying, the meaning of family, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.
Review:
This book was amazing! I loved Cupala’s first book, Tell Me a Secret, and was excited to read something else by her. Little did I know that once I picked up this book, I literally wouldn’t stop reading it (except to catch a few hours of sleep) until I finished it the next morning. The plot is so captivating, the characters are interesting , and I desperately wanted to know what would happen to everyone next!
Joy seemed like she would be a flat, unimpressive character at first . . . Then, as I began to learn about her past and every decision that led her to this point, I realized she was more complex than I could have imagined. What she does, thinking that it’s the right and only way for her to live her life, has a grave impact on herself, and those around her.
From the despicable, like Asher, to the lovable, like Creed, every character has a chance to reveal themselves for better or for worse. Joy lets us know what she thinks of everyone, but the reader’s left to form their own opinions about the characters, as sometimes she doesn’t see what’s right before her eyes.
Even though I can’t say I like asthma, I do think it added a lot to the story. It gave Joy something to deal with that she didn’t really have control over, and that drove her and the ones who had to look after her crazy. I know most people would react the same in that situation.
The plot is packed with so many twists, I could never expect how things actually ended up. I loved the end because it fit perfectly with the story, but I hated it because it ended everything! This is one of my new favorite books, and I’ll read it over and over!
LEAVES YOU BREATHLESS. 5/5 stars
Chatting it up: