Thankfully much more enjoyable than the last Percy Jackson novel. I thought maybe the series had simply outlived my interest but The Last Olympian proThankfully much more enjoyable than the last Percy Jackson novel. I thought maybe the series had simply outlived my interest but The Last Olympian proved me wrong. The underlying story and character developments finally moved along, breaking the stagnation that had made it hard for me to enjoy the last few installments. Still, I'm glad this was the final book as it means I finished the series on a high note. ...more
I like the mythology behind this series and given that it's the fourth book I've gotten caught up in the stories of the individual characters, but it'I like the mythology behind this series and given that it's the fourth book I've gotten caught up in the stories of the individual characters, but it's lacking compared to the previous book. Percy's quest has its usual amount of mishaps and adventure that manage to somehow make him look simultaneously naive and a hero. But I'm not digging the romantic triangle that seems to be forming, no matter how oblivious Percy is to it. It seems too vague to be convincing. I'm going to chalk it up to the fact that this is a plot developing book in the series. Taken as a whole, though, the series is still a strong (yet fun) one that I'm really enjoying....more
If you've read any of the Percy Jackson books you know what they're like. The style never really changes; just the particular god or goddess around whIf you've read any of the Percy Jackson books you know what they're like. The style never really changes; just the particular god or goddess around which the story revolves. I liked this one more than the last two but there's also a slow development of plot going on (it is a series after all) and there was the hint of a romance budding here. I think I'm finally reaching a point where I'm attached to certain characters and their individual stories, as well as how those characters overlap one another. They're great go-to books when I need something fast paced that I can zone out to....more
I read the third book in this trilogy and thought I was perfectly fine not going back and reading the first two. Then a friend of mine started readingI read the third book in this trilogy and thought I was perfectly fine not going back and reading the first two. Then a friend of mine started reading them and I found myself paying more than I should to download it on audio so I could listen to it right away. Having read the finale first this seemed a bit lacking in adventure and suspense. So I had to step back and take into consideration that this is the intro to Gemma Doyle and therefore there's a good amount of character and plot development going on. Even knowing the ending to it all going in I caught myself getting wrapped up in the story that was budding. There's something spunky about Gemma that I just love. I'm itching now to get the second book downloaded and even re-read the third one (cause I'm bound to have forgotten stuff over the past year)....more
HI-LAR-IOUS! I went into this already knowing I was a big fan of Libba Bray but this was still far better than I expected. Growing up I was one of thoHI-LAR-IOUS! I went into this already knowing I was a big fan of Libba Bray but this was still far better than I expected. Growing up I was one of those girls that was equally fascinated by beauty pageants and repulsed by their blatant idolization of makeup and perfect figures. They're like a train wreck, I swear. But apparently pageants can make an awesome basis for teen novels as well. Bray has a talent for knowing how much sarcasm is enough to bring a lightening effect to the story without it being too much. Her style, added to the built in absurdities of the beauty pageant world, made for one humorous read. Granted, it does get slap sticky at parts. But I wasn't looking for a deep, insightful work of literature. I wanted a fun, yet still well written, parody of beauty pageants and that's exactly what I got. Note: Listening to it on audio is a MUST. Also, not a great choice if you're prudish or have a strong love of capitalism and reality TV. ...more
I have a special spot for Hiaasen’s book s since I’m a Florida girl. He has a way of highlighting the states quirkiness without making us seem crazy. I have a special spot for Hiaasen’s book s since I’m a Florida girl. He has a way of highlighting the states quirkiness without making us seem crazy. This is the first of his YA books I read and I’m glad to report it held its own as much as his adult novels. There’s so much going on in the book and yet you feel like you’re just following along in the daily grind of the characters. The different story lines are interwoven well enough that I wouldn’t always notice when one left off and another picked up. I was at the end, unraveling all the little secrets, before I realized it. Definitely a book I would recommend for kids (and fun loving adults). ...more
Not really sure what the point of this was other than to make some extra money off readers. The three short stories are lack luster and overly dramatiNot really sure what the point of this was other than to make some extra money off readers. The three short stories are lack luster and overly dramatic and the interviews are rather pointless if you read the series. It’s like the author had a few scenes that he hadn’t managed to fit into any of the other books, so he threw together the interviews to fill the collection out a bit and released another book. Kind of sad considering how good the series is. ...more
Still a good kids book but didn’t quite keep my interest. I like the mythology that is woven into the stories and there just isn’t as much of that in Still a good kids book but didn’t quite keep my interest. I like the mythology that is woven into the stories and there just isn’t as much of that in this particular book. Without the mythology it’s easier to pick up on the cheesiness of some of the scenes and the mediocrity of the writing is more noticeable. ...more
A surprisingly enjoyable story for a children’s book. Some of the scenes didn’t quite hit the mark for me (such as the arcade), but overall the integrA surprisingly enjoyable story for a children’s book. Some of the scenes didn’t quite hit the mark for me (such as the arcade), but overall the integration of the different Greek gods and mythology kept the story interesting. I really like the premises behind the book, but the actual follow through in regards to plot line and writing quality just weren’t quite substantial enough to earn a higher rating. ...more
Still highly imaginative and fun, but it didn’t keep me hooked as much as the first one. I’m thinking these are better suited for pre-tweens looking fStill highly imaginative and fun, but it didn’t keep me hooked as much as the first one. I’m thinking these are better suited for pre-tweens looking for something quick and easy to get into. The books are well enough written for them to be good gateway books to get kids into reading other books with more substance. Fun to read, and bound to give the reader a chuckle here and there throughout, but in the end nothing all that memorable....more
A new favorite on my list of children’s books. It reminded me a bit of Coraline, but it’s more developed of a story plot and I found Olive to be a mucA new favorite on my list of children’s books. It reminded me a bit of Coraline, but it’s more developed of a story plot and I found Olive to be a much more likeable (and believable) main character. Olive’s adventures into the paintings of her old, Victorian home take the reader on a fantastical journey filled with talking cats, little boys trapped in oil paints, and magical spectacles. Despite the story being set against a backdrop of fantasy, it still feels relatable. The idea behind the story is one that could have easily come across as cheesy or juvenile, but West surprisingly pulls it off. Another reviewer compared her style to that of Neil Gaiman and Roald Dahl, and I couldn’t agree more. Dahl was a favorite of mine as a kid, and The Books of Elsewhere sucked me in much the same way his books did. ...more
I had a lot going on when I read this, and I think it kept me from truly getting into the story. None the less, I like this series because they lend tI had a lot going on when I read this, and I think it kept me from truly getting into the story. None the less, I like this series because they lend themselves so well to storytelling. They do great at working in adventure in a way that lends the books to being read aloud to children each night, leaving them with just enough of a cliff hanger to be looking forward to the next night’s chapter. I’m setting this aside for when my kids are old enough to enjoy it, and in the meantime, I will be tracking down the next book to find out what misadventures Peter finds himself in next. The transition from Mollsuk Island to London brought about a much darker and danger filled plot in this installment, and I’m curious where they are going to go from here....more
Laughed my ass off with this one. Wittiness is generally something that passes me by, but Troost seems to click with my off beat sense of humor. I canLaughed my ass off with this one. Wittiness is generally something that passes me by, but Troost seems to click with my off beat sense of humor. I can relate with his need to escape and appreciate the trials and tribulations that come with running away from daily life. There are few books that I am willing to place back on my book shelf to read again, but I will be re-reading this probably multiple times down the road....more
I think I actually lost some IQ points listening to this. Initially I chalked up its lameness to the fact that it is written for teens. I don’t reallyI think I actually lost some IQ points listening to this. Initially I chalked up its lameness to the fact that it is written for teens. I don’t really believe that the fact that a book is written for teens should excuse it from being held to the same standards as an adult novel, but I was trying to give it a chance. It doesn’t take long to realize just how undeveloped the characters are or how predictable the story plot is. And even if I could have looked past all that, there’s no way I could forgive the atrocious writing. A second grader could have written this! Anyone who thinks this is worth even five minutes of their time needs a serious lesson in what good literature is like....more
One of the funniest books I’ve read. Some of the one liners had me laughing out loud in my car like a freaking lunatic. What makes this story work is One of the funniest books I’ve read. Some of the one liners had me laughing out loud in my car like a freaking lunatic. What makes this story work is that as outlandish as it is, the characters are solid. Cameron reminded me of a number of guys I knew in high school. Yeah, he’s a bit whinny and he could clean up his language, but he’s a teenage dude...that’s what they’re like. Granted, some of the other characters are a bit out there (such as the garden gnome/Norse god perhaps) but given that this is a fantasy we’re dealing with, it works. The only thing keeping me from giving this book a better rating is the ending. It’s hard not to see what’s coming given that Cameron has essentially an incurable disease, but the story hits a point where it kind of just dwindles down instead of reaching a solid closure. I got the same disjointed feeling from the ending of That Sweet Far Thing...maybe endings aren’t her strong point. Regardless, Bray has earned a place on my bookshelf. On a side note...I would love to sit down and talk to Bray and find out how you go from writing the Gemma Doyle series to writing Going Bovine. Her style is evident in both, but they are so drastically different in content. Kind of reminds me of MT Andersons jump from the Octavian Nothing series to Feed. I wish I could have a fraction of their talent. ...more
As a standalone book it was ok. As a finale to the series it was ok. So I guess overall it was ok. This was disappointing given how captivating the fiAs a standalone book it was ok. As a finale to the series it was ok. So I guess overall it was ok. This was disappointing given how captivating the first book was. But that’s a common problem with trilogies it seems. Each one gets subsequently less intriguing to where the last book is always a pale comparison to the first. And yet they are generally well liked because by that point the reader has formed a relationship with the characters and crave the closure it offers. We have to know how the love triangle works out and whether Katniss succeeds in overthrowing the capitol...questions neatly wrapped up by the end. There was a certain level of excitement in this book that was missing in the second but it’s kind of deflated by the lack luster resolution of Katniss’s love life. I was expecting a bit of a bang in that department and it was more like a slow fizzle. In the end, if you’ve read the first two books you can’t not read the finale and the series overall is DEFINITLY worth reading....more
I’ve come to appreciate audio books that offer interviews with the author at the end. It’s interesting to hear what they were striving for when they wI’ve come to appreciate audio books that offer interviews with the author at the end. It’s interesting to hear what they were striving for when they wrote the book and compare it to what I got from it. Boyne addresses the issue of the need to suspend disbelief when reading this story, which is definitely a key aspect of its enjoyment. Bruno is painfully oblivious to what is going on in the concentration camp, even when faced with it head on. At times this causes the story to lack credibility, especially when he finds himself caught in a gas chamber. Boyne’s stance is that it is always easier to look back at an event and point out the obvious, whereas at the time that this would have been happening, information was not readily available. I agree with him...to a certain degree. I get that Bruno is meant to be an extremely sheltered child, so I can accept a certain level of his naiveté. But the character still comes across a bit unrealistic. Despite this, the story has a compelling message about the atrocities of Nazi concentration camps and the writing is fairly engaging. There is apparently a debate as to whether or not this would be appropriate for children, which I’m at a loss to understand as this seems like the ideal audience for it. It may deal with dark issues, but who better than children can relate to Bruno and learn from his experience. It’s important we teach future generations to feel empathy for those who suffered actions such as these so as to avoid history repeating itself, and the sooner the better....more
Wow. What a powerful book. It’s creepy, disturbing, graphic, unsettling, and yet I loved it. I know people who do not like to read books that make theWow. What a powerful book. It’s creepy, disturbing, graphic, unsettling, and yet I loved it. I know people who do not like to read books that make them uncomfortable. They have no wish to focus on death and pain and the limits of humanity. I understand where they’re coming from, but I have great respect for a book that can evoke strong emotions. I had never heard of this author before, but I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her books in the future. ...more
I’m kicking myself in the ass for reading this before the third book was out as well. I never should have picked any of these up until they were all oI’m kicking myself in the ass for reading this before the third book was out as well. I never should have picked any of these up until they were all out and in my possession so I could have a nice, reclusive weekend where I could read them all at once. But that is not what I did, so I about threw the book across the room in frustration when I reached the end and realized it was even more of a cliff hanger than the first book. Seriously, WTF.
Hunger Games set high standards for this series, and Catching Fire managed to hold its own. It almost aggravated me with the whole love triangle, but just when I was getting ready to start bitching about it, they were back in the arena and the action started to break loose. From what I understand, this is meant to be a trilogy. The second books in trilogies are notoriously the worst because they are building the story and offering background info. If this is the low point, I can’t wait to see what the finale is like. It took me a bit longer to get into Catching Fire, but once I was hooked, I was up till the wee hours unable to put it down until I finished it. ...more
This is one of those books that is obviously written for young teens given the characters and the setting, but deals with so much more than typical teThis is one of those books that is obviously written for young teens given the characters and the setting, but deals with so much more than typical teen angst. I love books like Hunger Games and Octavian Nothing that push the boundaries for what is considered “young adult”, and while this isn’t quite of that caliber, I think it definitely sets a higher standard for young adult literature.
The story is told in a style similar to The View From Saturday, where the events are told in a reverse chronology of a sorts. Miranda is talking to an unknown person to whom she is writing a letter. They have asked her to tell a story, and she is retracing back to where it all started. Initially, it seems like your average narrative about a kid trying to adjust to crossing over into teen-dom, abandoned by her best friend and forced to make new friends. As events unfold, however, there is a much larger plot that begins to come into focus. The numerous references to A Wrinkle in Time begin to have a greater purpose, and the reader is forced to re-evaluate their perspective on certain characters and events. ...more
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