Book Series Review: The Selection Trilogy

So, I recently started a book series and then ended up finishing it all in one week. It included a lot of late nights and completing chapters during nap time, but seriously...I couldn't put the books down!

I'm talking about the The Selection series, a trilogy of "dystopian romance" books that have been pitched as The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor (some of you may already be rolling your eyes, I know). Via Amazon- "In a world where everything is determined by social castes, America was born a five, one of the lowest castes. This year, a Selection will be held to find a bride for Prince Maxon. America's mother thinks that having her daughter participate will be the solution to all of their problems but America doesn't want to participate for one simple reason - she is secretly in love with Aspen." I'll stop there to avoid giving anything away, but after finishing the third book I almost felt like maybe I should keep them as my dirty little secret. I mean really, the books are silly. I wouldn't go as far as to say dumb, but this is TRUE beach reading, fluffy stuff that is all entertainment and not a lot of thinking involved. I'm almost torn as how to even review it, because on one hand I was completely sucked in, but on the other I found myself very irritated at the main character, America Singer (her name even bugs me), and found myself wanting to roll my eyes and say "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" more times than I can count.

However, even though I find America irritating, The Selection is a good story, and if you're in the market for a light-hearted, easy read that will absolutely engage you, then go for it. I really did enjoy all three books, beginning to end. But if you are someone who would probably tease me for still kind of liking The Bachelor and is a little more cynical of silly romance story lines, these might not be for you.

But really, for $2.99 it's worth a shot- maybe you'll end up liking the silly fluffiness of it all. I know my sister and I did!

xoxo

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Book Review: Delia Ephron's Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc.

I've been meaning to do an actual post about Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc. forever, and today's the day. I've talked about it a couple of times since beginning it, but I wanted to finally finish it before I even shared my opinion just in case there was a part or two I ended up not liking. But spoiler alert- there wasn't.  And to delay the process even more, once I was a couple of chapters in I decided to read and reread it as slowly as possible, so I could savor every bit...I loved it that much.

I thought long and hard about what I could say about this book because it's so many things; it's a books of essays, one, but it's also a book about love, family, friendship, sisterhood, food, dogs, I mean I could go on. So on one very simple level I connected with it. I have all of those things in my life and felt, even in the beginning of the book, that this would be a favorite because I was perpetually nodding my head as I read along. But if you go deeper, a million little "ding, ding, dings" went off in my brain as I felt connected to each little bit she shared. In some ways I feel I could have written parts of it myself, which is always the very coolest sensation when reading a book.

There's so much to say about the various essays- some of them I loved, some of them I liked a lot, and a couple I want to print out and hang up so I am continually inspired to be as open and vulnerable in my own writing. The stories themselves range from light-hearted to more serious, and that's kind of the way you feel throughout it. You'll be reading an essay on banks or bakeries or Jewish book festivals and out of the very ordinariness of it all, you'll feel that deep pull inside of you when you know the author's hit the nail of an emotion right on the head.

Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc. is simple and serious, funny and bittersweet, all in one. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great memoir full of well-written stories about one woman's everyday, ordinary stuff- her sister, mother, husband, dog...etc.- that becomes truly extraordinary in the telling.

Happy reading!

 p.s. I'm currently reading this book and loving it- more on it later.

and p.p.s. I used Amazon Affiliate linking in this post. To visit Amazon without it, please click here.

Book Review: The Husband's Secret

The Husband's Secret is one of those novels that is perfect for a night spent in, cuddled up in a comfy armchair, book in hand. Or it's perfect for a whole day out on the beach, under the shade of a big umbrella. Point being, you're going to want to find a cozy place to dig into this book, because once you dive in you won't want to put it down.

I'd consider this novel a beach read- well-written and engaging, but nothing spectacular or life-changing. It's entertaining, will keep you hooked, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it, from beginning to end. In a nutshell (and in my usual style of not giving too much away), it's a book that tells a lot of different stories that all are connected in one way or another. Each chapter goes back and forth between the different characters' sub plots, and to be honest in the beginning I was a bit confused and almost considered taking notes. But stick with it, and by the time you get to the third or fourth chapter you won't be confused at all. On a side note I always marvel when books seamlessly do that. Do you know what I mean? There are a ton of characters, and you feel like you could be lost, but somehow the author manages to make it all work, and before you know it they all seem like old friends with no way you could ever confused one for the other. Or maybe that's just me, and I'm just a super nerd. ;)

Anyway, the book tells the story of Cecilia, a woman living in Australia, who finds a letter from her husband that is marked "only open in the event of my death." I'm sure you can guess what happens next (no spoiler- yes, she opens it!). What she finds, and what transpires between all of the characters, is fascinating.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is looking for an engaging read that will keep you on your toes and totally involved in all of the different types of stories woven throughout the novel. You'll find romance, suspense, sadness, disappointment, new love, old love, the list goes on.

Have you read The Husband's Secret? What did you think? And if you do decide to pick it up, please let me know if you enjoyed it too.

Happy reading!

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If you'd prefer to view the book without my affiliate link, feel free to click here instead! :) 

Book Review: Before I Fall

Last week I mentioned on Twitter that I had just finished what might be my favorite YA book of all time, and possibly my favorite book of 2013 so far. And what is this mysterious book called? Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. Last week I finished up the Delirium trilogy (also by the same author), and because I loved those books so much I thought I would try out her debut novel and see if I liked it too.

Here's the little blurb from Amazon:

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? 

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last. 

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

After I read this I was a little hesitant, thinking it would be an overly-repetitive Groundhog Day type of teen novel; I mean reliving the same day SEVEN times in one book? More than anything I was curious how the author could possibly make that interesting. So I ordered the sample for my Kindle, and got to reading.

The story is told in the voice of Samantha, who is a popular teenager at her high school. The author gets her "teenage voice" spot on, and when I first started reading the sample I wasn't sure if it would get annoying. But it didn't. And as the sample went on, I got hooked, and I had to know what happened next.

That was kind of the theme of the novel for me- I couldn't put it down, and had to see what would happen with every turn of the page (the electronic page?). I finished it in two days. I'm not sure if this book is for everyone- I could see some people thinking it was a bit juvenile, but I LOVED it. I thought that the book was incredibly well-paced, and I found myself getting super invested in the characters because you got just enough of them, at just the right time. It was weird to feel like I evolved right along with Sam- at first I didn't really like her, but by the end I was holding my breath that everything would be okay.

There are all sorts of things going on in the story: suspense, romance, lots of teenage drama. And I'm not sure if this book is for everyone, but it's for me. I related to many parts of it, and oddly enough it had me crying, which is not how I would have pictured my reaction back when reading the sample. But I found SO much inspiration within these pages. It reminded me that life is short, that (most of us) only get one go-round at life, and surprisingly, made me feel incredibly appreciative of my own little world.

I highly, highly recommend this book to you if you are a fan of YA literature, and don't mind the point of a view of a teenage girl who still hasn't quite found her place. Two thumbs up, for sure.

Let me know if you decide to read Before I Fall, and be sure to keep me updated on what you think once you finish it. Enjoy!

image above via Amazon
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Book Review: Delirium

 

Oh, YA novels, I love you so. I've been thinking about how much I enjoy reading dystopian literature while spending some time organizing our bookshelves this week, and realizing just what a long love-affair it's been. It started off at an early age with A Wrinkle in Time (although I suppose that book is much more sci-fi, really), and continued with The Handmaid's Tale, and then exploded as more and more awesome books appeared while I taught high school English. It was a treat discovering all of them right along with my students, and I think that's one of the main facets of teaching I miss; all of the reading and discussion.

This book I'm reviewing though, I tried to avoid for quite some time. I'm not really sure why, but I would see Delirium in my recommended Amazon titles every time I would log into the site. I had read the short summary a few times, but after reading so many other trilogies that sounded so similar, it just didn't hook me, and yet there it was, the same cover, always annoyingly begging to be read.

Then a couple of nights ago I couldn't sleep so I decided to just give it a go (at least it would finally get off my recs list!) and downloaded the sample to my Kindle. Of course, because this is just how things work with me, I was hooked. First off, the writing is really great, but even more so, the story is truly captivating.

You know I don't like to give much (if anything!) away, but here's a super short little hook for you. It's all about a regular old girl, living in a regular old place (a futuristic Portland, Maine), who is just trying to live her life in the confines and insanely rigid structure the government has set in place. In this world "love" is seen as a disease, and around your 18th birthday you get the cure, although many people become "infected" before this, which is dangerous and deadly, as far as society is concerned. I'm sure you can guess what maybe happens next, but trust me, it's worth the read.

Delirium had me on the edge of my seat, and crossing my fingers that it would all work out. It's a wonderful read- a fast book that keeps on moving- and it's book that makes you think about what we deem important in our own society, and what we see as important in our own lives. With a protagonist you want to root for, and a society you'll end up hating, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about love, adventure or a world gone bad that might have a little good left in it, somewhere (this is the part where I always feel like I'm on Reading Rainbow).

Let me know if you decide to check it out!

image above via Books Complete Me
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Book Review: Beautiful Creatures

You know when you see something once, then all of a sudden see it everywhere? That's kind of what happened with Beautiful Creatures. I had never heard of it before, but suddenly after seeing mentioned on a morning news show, I saw movie previews, Amazon recommendations, you name it. And then later that week I was between books when I decided to just give it a try, even though it looked kind of cheesy. Thank goodness for book samples on the Kindle, right?

So I downloaded a sample and was immediately hooked. I LOVED it, and bought the book right then and there. I stayed up for a good hour or so reading and enjoyed every minute.

A couple things about this book- it's a YA title, so it's in the same vein as Twilight. I wouldn't compare it to Twilight as far as writing (the writing in Beautiful Creatures is much better) but I would say that it's in that same genre- magical, mysterious, with a fantasy element. But that's where the comparision ends. The story is a Southern Gothic, and tells the tale of Ethan Wate, a high schooler living in a small, sleepy South Carolina town whose entire world is turned upside down upon the arrivel of newcomer Lena Duchannes, even though she has haunted him in his dreams for months. I don't want to say another word because I feel like part of the magic for me was knowing nothing about the story- but just know that I was left holding my breath until the very end, thoroughly enjoying the magical journey these characters took me on. And at 563 pages, it's a long journey- which was so welcome. So many YA books these days feel rushed but because the book is so substantial, characters were incredibly well-developed and I was really able to get into the plot.

And even better? When I finished the book I realized it was part of a four-book series. I started the second right away and it was JUST as good as the first. I'm on number three now and loving it too.

I highly recommend Beautiful Creatures (and the series) if you're looking for a little escape- if you like fantasy and suspense, or even if you just like romance. Some people may find parts of it cheesy (I didn't at all, but I know I'm not always the most cynical person). Overall though, I feel like most readers would enjoy this book, as there's something for everyone. 

Have you read it? What did you think? If you do decide to give it a try, please let me know your thoughts!

xoxo

Book Review: The Silver Linings Playbook

Earlier this week I tweeted, "Ever finish a book and want to cry because it’s over and you’ll never get to read it for the first time ever again? Yeah, that." I was talking about The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Honestly, it's hands down one of the best books I've read in a long time, kind of on the same level as The Fault in Our Stars. It's hard to explain all of the emotions it brought out of me; at times I was crying, then laughing, then shaking my head at the sheer happiness it brought out of me. It's funny and touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming, all at once.

I first heard about this book because of the movie. In fact, I had no idea the book even existed. But while watching the Golden Globes it was impossible to miss- the movie was mentioned a million times, garnering many nominations and a win too, for Jennifer Lawrence. I didn't really know anything about the film though, from the 5-second clips I saw over and over, and I wasn't exactly interested outside of just wanting to know what the hype was all about.

So last week while on Amazon picking out samples for my Kindle (one of my favorite things to do), this book was in the middle of my recommendations. I actually thought it was the DVD at first, so I skimmed over it, but when I had a hard time finding books I was excited about, I went back through my recommendations and clicked through. And I'm SO happy I did.

I started the book that night, and immediately got lost in its unique perspective and story. It's beautiful. The story centers upon its protagonist, Pat Peoples, who is released from a mental hospital at the start of the book. I hate summarizing books for fear of giving anything away (I prefer to know nothing about a novel going into it), but just know the book deals with Pat's life; his "recovery," with love, with hope, with family...and with Kenny G.  There were so many times I found myself just smiling ear to ear as I read- and unable to put the book down. I read it in two days and was thoroughly depressed when it was over. To me it was part Catcher in the Rye (odd comparison, maybe), part The Fault in Our Stars, and part any wonderful, sweet novel I've ever read that inspires hope. And yes, even though it's a novel that deals with dark topics, in its own quirky way I was left feeling inspired, hopeful, and smiling.

Read it, and when you do, let me know how much you loved it! Hank's reading it now, and when he's done I can't wait to see the movie together, which I heard is wonderful too.


image above via Amazon
I used Amazon Affiliate linking in this post. If you'd prefer to view the book without my affiliate link, feel free to click here instead! :)  

Book Review: The Age of Miracles

I finished The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker this evening, after poring over every word, reading and rereading every line in it. I'm not really sure how to even begin talking about it besides telling all of you to read it- to just go get it, to go pick up this novel that is somehow more like a long poem, page after page.

The Age of Miracles is fiction, although I feel like it could be real, which is strange and scary all at once. Without giving too much away I will say that it is about our world right now gone wrong- how a "slowing" of the Earth's rotation suddenly happens, and it's about what happens next. The writing is beautiful, pages full of the sharpest imagery and words that just click together like they were meant to be written precisely in that way. There are many stories in one- the Earth's story, a family's story, a growing up story that reminds me a lot of my own sometimes awkward adolesence, and a love story...a beautiful, touching story that brought me back to being 11-years old myself, falling in love with the boy on the skateboard.

This is a special book, a book for adult fiction lovers, YA fiction lovers, Sci-Fi lovers....anyone who loves good read. It made me laugh and cry, and I found myself squeezing in 5 minutes, 10 minutes of reading whenever I could.

Just watch this trailer for the book, then get yourself a copy...and let me know what you think.

xoxo