Love Life and Reading

Monday, April 11, 2011

REVIEW: Devoured

Devoured by Amanda Marrone
Pages: 304- US Paperback Edition
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: September 22nd, 2009
My Rating: 3/5
Book Summary: Megan’s twin sister Remy died in an accident nine years ago, and she’s been haunting her ever since. Knowing how crazy that sounds, Megan keeps this secret to herself and tries to lead a normal life. But when she takes a summer job at Land of Enchantment to keep an eye on her new boyfriend and his lovesick best friend, Samantha, she meets fellow employee Luke who can see Remy, too. Things get even twistier because Megan’s new friend Ari is sporting a massive crush on Luke, who seems to be developing a massive crush on Megan…making for a love triangle that’s positively possessed. Megan wants to keep her distance from Luke, but when Remy’s visions get crazy violent; she knows she needs his help. Because someone’s definitely in danger...the only question is who?

My Thoughts:
Okay, first of all, First Review post and I am super excited! (Imagine Jazz Hands) Okay so here we go! I read Devoured in about 2 and a half days, which is my average when I am working, and I must say I am kind of struggling in what exactly I should say. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it (hence the 3 rating). I recently reconnected with Amanda Marrone, after reading her chilling Uninvited many years ago and I still love her writing. She knows exactly how to write from a teenager’s point of view, I was highly impressed with how realistic the dialogue was between Megan and her mother.

When I read, if I can’t emotionally connect or feel sympathetic for the main character in the first chapter then I’m ruined for the rest of the book and I develop this negative attitude towards the character and can’t feel sorry for her. Unfortunately, that is what happened with Megan. Within the first couple pages of me getting to know her, I found her dry and uninteresting. One upside of Megan that I did enjoy was her totally obvious disdain for her boyfriend’s friend, Samantha, which I found hilarious. Everyone has experienced the threat of opposite sex friendship in relationships, and Amanda Marrone got the emotions on point.

The saving grace in the story which is what turned my whole opinion around is what drew me to the book in the first place, the plot. Don’t get me wrong, I love all paranormal books but my absolute weakness is a great ghost story. Megan’s interaction with her dead twin sister, Remy, just about broke my heart. With a few simple words, Amanda Marrone showcased Megan’s torture in losing her sister and her obvious frustration/confusion on why her sister is still roaming the earth. The parts where Remy appeared to Megan chilled me to the point where I caught myself sinking down in my bed and further under my covers.

So if you are like me a crave a great ghost story and dig Amanda Marrone, I’d say you should go ahead and read it. It’s a quick read and overall a decent story. I might have not connected with Megan or any of the other characters but I still enjoyed the suspense and got spooked at the ghost parts, which is really all I need to satisfy my ghost craving. Oh also I forgot, there are some pretty awesome references to the classic fairy tale, Snow White, which is a fav of mine. I love fairy tales and incorporating them into modern day books is something I am all about. If only there were more…

REVIEW: The Sky is Everywhere

Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Pages: 288-US Paperback Edition
Publisher: Penguin Group
Released: March 9, 2010
My Rating: 5/5
Book Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

My Thoughts:
Talk about a heart-wrenching, stuck in your brain, take over your thoughts, can't let it go story. Let me just throw this out there so you can all get an understanding on just how emotional this book was... i have never once cried in a novel. Have i felt deeply saddened? Yes. But shed a tear? No-until The Sky is Everywhere came along. I was a mess at the end of this book. My heart was heavy and i didn't know how to carry on throughout the day bearing all these emotions that Nelson gave me through her words.

I really cannot even begin to describe to you how gorgeous the writing in this story is. Every sentence is filled with utter heartbreak. You could feel every single drop of emotion that Lennie was feeling while coping with her sister's death. Losing a family member is terrible as it is, let alone that family member also being your best friend. Two people gone in one death.

Jandy Nelson really shows us how even in some of life's hardest struggles, there is always a light at the end of that dark tunnel. She showcases how powerful true and raw emotion really is.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Big Deal Post

I have a pretty big announcement ladies and gents, we at (i.e. meaning me) Love Life and Reading will be having some pretty big changes around here. I've decided to take on a partner in crime and have my book obsessed best friend join the blog. Don't worry, you'll like her.... most of the time.

Introducing:

Elise.

Pst. That's us. another pst.. that's me with super short hair.

Note from Elise: "Hey guys super excited to start blogging and get to know each and every one of you. I've always loved reading and now i get to turn that into a freaking sweet hobby! I'm really looking forward to my first review and getting your feedback."

REVIEW: Evernight

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Pages: 327-US Paperback Edition
Publisher: Harper Teen
Released: June 1, 2008
My Rating: 3.5/5
Book Summary: At eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in. When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas, he warns her to be careful-even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart... and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

My Thoughts:
I've been sitting here staring at my computer screen for probably a good 10 minutes now, trying to figure out how i actually feel about this book . There were parts that i absolutely loved, and some parts i definitely could have done without. The book had me pretty intrigued.. but that didn't start until about half way through. There was something about it that really got under my skin. Maybe it was the overused tell tale fate of boy meets girl, girl falls in love after one day. I feel like Bianca and Lucas really lacked a sense of getting to know each other even the slightest bit.

However, even though the first half of the story was a bit cliche, and yes a bit overdone... after pushing myself past the 180 page or so mark, i really began to take interest. Why is that you ask? Right now i'm going to use the 'na-na-na-boo-boo i'm not telling you' line. But trust me with this, you really shouldn't find out. Be forewarned though, i advise reading this book when you're not in a public place. People will think you're strange for gasping out loud and rambling sentence after sentence about how you had no clue this twist would happen.

Gray's writing is what really made a pretty cool story, even cooler. She really knows how to make the movie screen that is your mind play. The description she gives, and the way she writes it really is fantastic. From page one i was Bianca, and Evernight Academy was my world.

And oh yeah, Bianca ends up being a pretty big badass. Whoops, i'm saying too much already. Go with faith on this read. You shouldn't be disappointed.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Teaser Tuesday-The Sky is Everywhere

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read*

*Open to a random page*

*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page*

*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)*

*Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!*

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

pg. 42

"He rests the flower on my leg and I feel the brush of his fingers through my jeans. The brown bag is empty now. He hands it to me, and then we're quiet, just listening to the wind rustle around us and watching the sun filter through the redwoods in impossibly thick foggy rays just like in children's drawings."

Monday, April 4, 2011

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Sunday, April 3, 2011

In My Mailbox(4)

So over the last week or so, i've taken a slight hiatus. But now i'm back and it's going to be better than ever! This IMM post is going to be a combination of the last 2 weeks. Enjoy!