Christmas Book Haul

Happy New Year to you lovely folk. We are well into 2015 and I still haven’t posted a Christmas book haul. I got a lot of books both given to me and purchased by me so I wanted to share my nerdy excitement here!

1.       Scarlet and Cress by Marissa Meyer

My sister heard me cry out and came running to my room, asking me what was wrong. I said, “Cinder finished. And I don’t’ have the second one.” She bought me both sequels. My sister is the greatest. (Read my Cinder book review here.)

2.       I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

Sometimes the world is horrid. I am saving this book for when I need to know how to survive human cruelty. Malala is a young woman standing up against the Taliban by going to school and speaking out on behalf of oppressed young women. At 17, she is possibly the greatest human alive with a Nobel Peace Prize under her belt and a survivor of brutal gun attacks. I already know this is going to be a massive book for me particularly as feminist literature.

4.       Landline by Rainbow Rowell

If you haven’t yet picked up a Rainbow Rowell book I really don’t know what you’re doing. I am seriously excited to start this one. This author has taken the young adult and adult contemporary genre by storm, particularly in 2014. Her novel Eleanor and Park remains my favourite youth fiction romance ever. Fangirl –omg Fangirl-  is incredible. Go read Rainbow Rowell.

5.       Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

A fantastic new addition to my bookshelf (one that I bought myself) in the form of a teen urban fantasy-suspense. I remember reading Westerfeld’s Uglies series in my early teens and being enchanted by his world-building and plot driven storyline. This is one book to watch.

6.       Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

I purchased this by suggestion of a friend who promised me a mighty heroine and a premise which would blow my mind. I’m hesitantly excited but I trust Richelle Mead – author of Bloodlines which I love - with my fragile fangirl life. I am always excited to start new series.

As always, you can follow the links of the books you like the sound of to Goodreads. Now the only question is: where to begin? Ciao.

Mockingjay Book and Movie Review

Status: read all the books and seen all the movies. 
Rating: 7/5 stars

*** Warning contains movie AND book spoilers. Do not be spoiled ***

After seeing the movie, I decided it was time for a reread of one of my favourite trilogy's conclusion. Collins' words are harsh and bleak. They speak of the pain and greed which scars the victors of the Hunger Games.

The story unfolds in the depths of District 13's underground bunkers which are about as cheerful as they sound. Although I was slightly unimpressed by the lack of imagery of 13 when compared to the lavish descriptions of the Capitol and District 12, the setting reflects Katniss's caged feeling as she refuses the role of rebel symbol.

I loved the role of minor characters such as Hatymitch and Finnick in the novel. This was something the movie definitely lacked. It was in these intimate interactions between the victors that readers truly appreciate the effects of the "circuses" of Panem have had on individuals. Finnick and Haymitch's stories add a depth to their characters which is downplayed in the movie. Particularly Finnick's story which is used as almost background noise to the real action is sorely missed by fans of his character. This downplaying of the victors' roles may decrease the emotional effect of some characters' deaths in part 2.

Katniss's sarcasm and bluntness shines when she grates against Plutach's optimism and enjoyment of the war. As a character, she has unprecedented complexities as a young female protagonist in youth fiction. Her assassination of the President shows balanced on the weight of a profound promise of honesty shows her rebellious nature and her struggle with accepting hard truths.

I loved this novel more this time around particularly after seeing the first half of the story played out on a cinema screen. I am very very very very excited for the last film.

Let me know what you thought about the movie adaptation. Ciao!

Cinder by Marrissa Meyer - Book Review

Status: Have already purchased books two and three.
Rating: 7/5 stars.

I haven't had a book completely blow me away like this since The Fifth Wave or The Hunger Games. I went into this thinking it was a retelling of Cinderella and boy was I wrong. I was hooked from the first page. We are immediately introduced to a mechanic who has just detached her own foot. This is not your classic Cinderella. This is Cinder.

Cinder is a mechanic girl adopted by a horrible stepmother and living in New Beijing. She is first approached by Prince Kai to fix his personal android which contains important information not available on the imperial internet. Just a normal boy meets girl scenario. Except that Cinder is cyborg, 36% machine and a servant to society at large. She is volunteered by her stepmother to become a vaccine tester for medical research undertaken to cure the plague spreading to the Commonwealth. What follows is an epic adventure through a new world, government system and some bad ass  non-Disney princesses.

The novel was heavily reliant on dialogue to keep a fast pace. Not many witty one-liners but certainly lots of chemistry with Prince Kai and Iko. And the pace was what made this book for me. I was never bored and was always ready for the next mystery to present itself.

In short I ate this book up. I reveled in its creative homage to the classic fairytale and the fantastic twists and turns I never saw coming. The world-building was truly amazing and akin to the dystopian worlds I hope I can build for my stories in future. This is one series to keep on your YA fiction horizons.

Favourite quote: 
It was not her fault he had liked her. 
I was not her fault she was cyborg.
She would not apologize.

What a good book should do.

Reading slump right now. Mostly it is because I am being forced to read something I don't want to read. This is the only thing I want a book to do:

That is all. Ciao.

BookFest Haul

A few weeks ago I went to Brisbane Bookfest (a massive charity book rummage in the Convention Center) and got a few bargains. Just a few.

1. Balance of Power by Paul Paler.
The President of the USA dies from suspicious causes and the First Lady finds herself suddenly privy to many secrets and at the heart of the mystery. I picked up this book as I'm interested in the US democratic model -which is very different to Australia's- and like strong female characters. It's a little out of my comfort zones as far as genre but am interested enough to give it a shot.

2. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.
Confession: I have not seen the movie. I do not know what happens at the end. I know I am in for a wild ride, this is a novel which has been highly recommended by friends and their parents.

3. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding.
A modern, gritty retelling of Pride and Prejudice is all I needed to know. I have since read the book and thought it was very different from the movie. The tone was there but the overall characters and plot wasn't. Thoughts anyone?

4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Not any people believe me when I say that this is a hilarious book. It really is! The family dynamic is so life-like and fantastic. And let's not even mention Darcy. As far as I'm concerned, this is the original chick-lit novel.

5. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding.
Ahh the excitement of continuing the series!

6. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper.
I am largely uneducated about American literature and seeing as this is one of the most popular novels from literature courses, I want to add it to my repertoire. Once again, I have little to no idea what it is about apart from the French and Indian war.

7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling.
A repurchase because my other copy- which I also purchased second hand- did not have THE FIRST CHAPTER! What even? I had to correct this horror immediately.

8. Imperium by Robert Harris.
From the author of Pompeii comes the historical fiction of Cicero, the young Roman lawyer and orator who wanted to attain supreme power in the state. I have a huge interest in ancient Rome so this sounded like my kind of story.

9. Refuse to Choose: What Do I Do When I Want to Do Everything? by Barbara Sher.
The perfect book for me.

10. Heist Society by Ally Carter.
This is one of the books that got me into writing. The ending was just amazing! The ending! Am I right?! This tells the story of Kat who was born into a family of thieves and left the family business. She must find and return the painting that her father was accused of stealing with the help of her cousins, a rich kid and a wildcard.


Those are the books I bought at Bookfest for the grand total of $15. Am I not the most dedicated book addict and bargain hunter?  Let me know if you have read any of these in the comments. If any of them sound interesting all the titles are linked to Goodreads. Ciao.

Review of the Juliette Chronicles by Tahereh Mafi

I finished the Juliette Chronicles by Tahereh Mafi. This was one of those series that I liked as a whole experience rather than its individual parts. The fluency of the series including its novellas read extremely well and I highly recommend it.

The basic premise of the first book Shatter Me is that a girl called Juliette is in an asylum after the Revolution. Due to radioactive activity in the new world, she has developed the power to inflict pain on anyone in contact with her skin. Badass right? Wrong. Juliette starts off as a wimp, she is terrified of herself and of accidentally touching anyone. She sits on the ground the whole day and counts cracks in the wall or her breathing. This changes when she gets a roommate in her cell called Adam who so happens to have gone to her old school. Adam is a soldier sent in by sector 45's commander, Warner, on recon to see if the reestablishment by can use Julliette as a torture, if she is so far gone as to become part of Warner's army. Warner, the head of sector 45 as the privileged son of the country's commander, pushes Juliette to her emotional limits and finds her more intriguing than just another experiment.

I can't tell you anymore of the first book without spoilery but I can tell you that the plot and the world building skills were out of this world. The saving grace of the whole series was the complex and incredible character arc of these three characters. 

The novellas

I have high praise of how Tahereh Mafi used the novella structure to her advantage. I've found that in most series novellas have been used as little "extras" ie. non essential character background to the story. Both of these novellas are overwhelmingly powerful as they connect readers to characters we hadn't previously formed a huge connection with. Adam's story brought us closer to understanding his priorities so much so that I immediately knew he would not be the winning bachelor. Warner's story was so interesting and enlightening. He was unashamedly honest - a refreshing change. I empathised with both boys a whole lot more. 

The series as a whole

(Some spoilers included)

Adam remains the least developed of all three characters. His priority is keeping his brother safe. This is understandable and mature. His behaviour though was another story. As soon as he felt his relationship with Juliette weakening (bound to happen) he clung on to her like a life vest he didn't even need. I was so ready to be rid of him by the middle of book 3.

Warner is very interesting. He and Juliette are completely messed up but in a way that weirdly complement each others' flaws. I like how brave he is to say what he wants and express his feelings to Juliette. For instance the speech in Ignite me where he says, "I have been forced to do terrible things in my life, love, and I am seeking neither your forgiveness nor your approval." I was so proud! You tell her Warner! It was so refreshing to see how all the information in his novella plaid a HUGE part in the third book. He was perfect for Juliette. Now she just had to accept it.

Juliette was very Bella Cullen at the beginning of the series and I am SO PROUD of her finally growing into her own skin. The fact that by the end the sentences were far less rambly and crossed out allowed readers to see obvious change. Although I found it unlikely that she become a successful political leader, I was past the point of caring; in the end, I was just too excited for the moment when she would realise she and Warner were perfect. And the moment came. And it was beautiful and heartwrenching. I loved that she came to it on her own terms. Her elated talk with Kenji and him saying "Do what you gotta do" was so so.... it just made me really happy. And when her revelation made Warner so happy.... I was grinning like an idiot for ages. 

Favourite quote (Ignite me)

I've tripped over a planet and I don't know anything anymore - Juliette.

Needless to say her progression as a character was remarkable and incredibly natural. The author did a fantastic job at developing not only the protagonist but also the love interest. This was particularly important in light of the character's emotional and mental difficulties coming to terms with their past and with themselves. I would recommend this series to fans of character driven novels and to see some awesome romance and drama. 

Let me know what I should read next. Ciao!

Teaser quote #1

"I'm beyond rational thought. Beyond words, beyond comprehensible ideas. Seconds are merging into minutes and hearts are collapsing and hands are grasping and I've tripped over a planet and I don't know anything anymore..."

Tomorrow's review will be on the series from which this quote originated. If anyone guesses it right in the comments you win a thousand book points ;) Happy reading.