Saturday, July 30, 2011

Book Review: Wish by Alexandra Bullen


This was another one of those see-at-the-store-get-at-the-library books. :)

Wish was an amazing novel. I loved it! Olivia and her parents move to San Francisco but Olivia just feels...nothing. No sadness over leaving the town she grew up in, no anger over switching schools halfway through the semester, no excitement at living in a new city and making new friends. She doesn't even feel hungry anymore. But at least she knows why she doesn't feel anything. Nothing seems to matter since her twin sister, Violet, died. So when Olivia gets the chance to make three wishes, of course she wishes to have her sister back. And, BAM, there's Violet sitting on the window sill. It's great having your dead sister back, but it's a bit confusing when you're the only one who can see her, and that leads to a couple of problems. Violet invisibly coaches Olivia on how to make friends and live. Olivia has two more wishes she can use, but she feels like she has everything she needs now that Violet is beside her again. But then the drama starts, and magic can't fix all your problems.

This is Alexandra Bullen's first novel, but I will definitely read anymore she decides to publish. She is a fantastic writer because she was able to make me feel what Olivia felt. She also surprised me by having some pretty insightful lessons to learn; you usually see the lessons as big, flashing lights in YA novels, not subtle so that you have to recognize it on your own. I liked that a lot. I got absorbed in this book. It was stellar (and clean) and I highly recommend it!

P.S. Borders is going out of business (SOB!), so they are having big sales right now. Go check them out and get some cheap books! Happy reading!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Book Review: To Catch A Prince by Gillian McKnight


I first saw this novel on the shelves at Barnes & Noble. Now, I'll let you in on my trick. I go to book stores and see a gajillion things I'd like to buy. But instead of spending money, I type the titles and authors into my phone and then request the books at the library. It's much cheaper. (College student, remember?)

Anyways, To Catch a Prince is about Alexis and Helene - best friends and stepsisters. They get to spend their summer in London doing internships: Alexis with Vogue, and Helene at an art gallery. Helene has a giant crush on Prince William, and to make things exciting this summer, the two girls make a bet. They will each try to "catch" Prince William by the end of the summer. Obviously, this causes rivalry and quite a few disagreements (between girls who hardly ever have a true argument). Throw in two very cute and flirty boys, and you get the perfect lying-on-a-hammock read.

I really enjoyed this book. It was just plain fun and cute, and I actually did read it while lying on a hammock. I am about to request the sequel from the library, so I think we can easily say that I recommend this book!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Book Review: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen


I got this book on CD from the library to listen to in the car on the way to Idaho. (I can't read in the car, it makes me sick. SO unfortunate for a book fanatic like me!) The total time? 11 hours. Whoa. But worth it. :)

Lock and Key is about Ruby, a teenage girl with a troubled and dramatic past. Her mother finally ditches out for good, the social workers find out after a few weeks, and Ruby gets dumped at her now married sister's house - the sister who vanished from Ruby's life 10 years before, but not under the circumstances Ruby has been led to believe. Her sister has a fancy house, a rich husband, and a nervous dog (who's afraid of the oven) - all things Ruby is not used to at all. She has to finish her senior year of high school at a preppy school that her old school used to make fun of. She gets a job working for a high-maintenance lady who makes and sells jewelry, slowly becomes friends with the boy next door, and basically learns a ton of life lessons in a few months.

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of meaningful symbolism and messages, like most of Sarah Dessen's novels. She does not write fluffy novels, oh no. You will learn from her books and be impressed with the symbolism that she ties in so effortlessly. She is an outstanding writer. I highly recommend this novel.

Friday, July 15, 2011

HPDHp2

I SAW IT. AMAZING. that is all I will really say, to spare those of you who are so unfortunate as to have not seen it yet.

Favorite quotes:
*Bewitched goblin getting roasted by dragon*
Ron: "That's unfortunate."

Magonagal after being completely awesome: "I've always wanted to use that spell."

Mrs. Waesley and Bellatrix!
NEVILLE.

Ah! SO GOOD!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Silver Shoes and Much to Do

My super awesome, also-a-writer friend, Krista, also has a pretty cool blog. She recently posted a review/rant all about Water for Elephants. I consider her quite an expert on the quality of books and movies, seeing as how she's a writer and a great film-maker. You can read her review here.

And sorry for the lack of book reviews lately. I am heading out of town soon, so there's a lot to do...hopefully Krista can help make it up. :)

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Harry Potter Frenzy

The Oregonian (Oregon's state newspaper) posted this Harry Potter quiz today. Let me know how you do!

I am so crazy excited for this movie! I can't wait for Neville to show everyone how awesome he really is, because he really deserves some credit. Speaking of Neville, have you seen this? AH! He's so cool! Did you know that when they first started making the movies they were asking J.K. Rowling what they could cut to shorten the time, and they asked to cut Neville? The books were not done yet when they were making the first movie, so Rowling told them no. They asked why and she said she couldn't tell them. But really it's because he (SPOILER ALERT - but you should've read the books anyways!) is the one to kill Nagini. She couldn't cut him when he destroys a horcrux! And he's also important since he could've been the boy in the prophecy. He is so great.

FIVE DAYS!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

It all started with a book...


I saw this line on a sign at Barnes and Noble and I loved it! I've been reading Harry Potter since I was in second grade, so I can easily say I grew up with the Harry Potter books. I know I will be a bit sad after seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) at midnight next week, because the journey of Harry Potter will sort of be over. I guess I'll just have to go visit Harry Potter Land (or whatever the real name is) in Florida sometime soon! haha

My sister has been re-reading the HP books in expectation of the movie. She recently posted this on her blog. So cool, right??? Ah, J. K. Rowling is just oh-so clever. And so is my sister for recognizing this!

The next eight days will be spent in happy anticipation for me! And on midnight on the 15th, you will find me in the movie theater, bouncing in my seat, proudly wearing my Maurader's Map t-shirt!

Book Review: Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson


This book was just SO cute! Scarlett lives with her quirky family in an old, falling apart hotel, the Hopewell, in NYC. Her brother is an actor with very little acting, her gorgeous older sister is dating a very rich guy who she may not love, and her little sister is an obnoxious cancer survivor. The novel follows Scarlett through a summer as she deals with her family's financial and relationship problems, her friends all having much more exciting lives than her's, a crazy boss with too many weird ideas, and a certain very cute boy who also happens to spend a lot of time at the Hopewell. Scarlett is a cute girl, with unruly blonde curls, and I think she is pretty easy for teenage girls to relate to. Every so often, there would be a line that was just unnecessary and annoying, but overall this book was clean. I recommend this book as an easy and quick summer read.