Oh Book Sanity

PUBLICATION: April 24th 2012 by HarperTeen

GOODREADS SUMMARY

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

REVIEW

This book would have to be one of my favourites! I didn’t expect for my fascination towards this book to be that much. The Selection is a dystopian but as I was reading it, I find it hard to see it as that. It felt more like a fairy tale to me. It was filled with class, dresses, etiquette, and I felt like a princess while reading. They have a caste system in this world that goes from one to eight. One being very rich and Eight being very poor.

I loved the writing and that it’s in the 1st person point of view. It was so easy to read and Kiera Cass did an outstanding job at giving the readers a very clear visualization of what is going on.

I love America’s character. She’s a five and her family is makes their earning through music and art. I love that she is unselfish that she joined The Selection for her family’s sake and also to spare herself of the pain that she would be causing herself if she returns home. I can relate so much to her, not because I joined a contest or what, but because of her relationship with her parents and ex boyfriend. It just hit right in the feels.

Let’s talk about the prince whom I’ve been rooting for since the beginning. I love him! I think he is a great guy, even though he is the prince he has insecurities. He is also very down-to-earth. I loved how they first met. I actually like the fact that despite the fact that there are 35 girls to choose from, cat fight didn’t happen that much. I was expecting too much backstabbing and sabotage.

Aspen, the ex, on the other hand is a guy full of pride. He cared so much about the caste system that he chose to let go of America like she didn’t have a say about it at all. I think he no longer has the right to fight for her. You cannot break someone into bits and expect her to come running into your arms when you change your mind. No dude, get out of here. I like Maxon more than Aspen, but Aspen definitely has his moments and it makes you feel a little sorry for him. But still!

I absolutely loved the book that I read the second one right away. It was filled with elegance and entertainment. 

I expected for the unanswered questions to finally be answered in this book. But no.Some people liked it, some don't. I belong to the latter. I was really disappointed. Although I would not say that everything about it was upsetting, the suspense was there, character development is there BUT It felt like the book had no specific direction. It was all over the place. It And the title made no sense at all. 

PUBLICATION: July 1st 2013 by Point

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

On a misty cliffside, mystery and romance await. . . .

Ivy Calhoun's life has been turned upside down. Her new stepdad has uprooted Ivy and her mom, bringing them to live in an actual castle in the misty Scottish countryside. There are stone-faced servants and shadowy corridors, and the ancient walls seem full of secrets. Ivy is at once frightened and intrigued.

Especially when she meets Logan, a gorgeous, elusive ghost who has haunted the castle grounds for decades. Ivy is immediately drawn to him . . . but Logan is not the only spirit around. Something dark and deadly is afoot, and soon Ivy finds herself in mortal danger.

Is Logan exactly what he seems? Could his mysterious past be tied to Ivy's present? And can Ivy stop herself from falling in love with him? 

Review: 

I am in love with this book! I’ve been looking for a light read so I went to different BookTubers and noticed that a lot of them have been recommending this specific book, and I did not regret that I picked this one. I read it in one seating. It had the perfect mixture of mystery and romance and just a touch of adventure. I’ve never read anything of Cindy Miles’ works but after reading this one, I am definitely up for more. I loved her concept of a mortal girl and a ghost slowly falling for each other. When I heard the premise, questions immediately came in mind such as how would that kind of relationship be possible, how in the world will their relationship work out if ever, and many more, which made me not think twice about reading it. I loved that the book did not only focus on the romance, but it also had mystery. It was very well put. The plot-buiding was very good.

I absolutely loved the setting! Miles had a very excellent way of describing the place that made me feel as if I was transported within the walls of Glenmorrag and Scotland countryside. The writing was genuinely beautiful. Even though there were ghost and spirits involved in the book, I didn’t scare me, but it remained a spooky atmosphere that definitely made up for the romantic touch of some events.

The characters were easy to love. I really adore Ivy, the protagonist. She is very different from the other characters you would find in other YA books who tend be bratty. I love how her pink streak shows her rebel side and she does not like being told what to do. But despite that, it is very obvious that she has a caring heart especially for her mom. I also loved that music was a part of her and her connection with her deceased father. Another thing is that I loved how she easily adapted to the place she just transferred in and easily gained trusted friends, unlike other book characters wherein they’d be a looser and get bullied a lot which irritates me sometimes.

I definitely love the other characters and their personality especially Logan, the ghost. I loved how at first we thought he was the ghost trying to hurt Ivy, but it was another spirit. I loved how he was so protective of her, and felt really sorry for him everytime he feels that he is useless whenever Ivy’s physically hurt.  They had the perfect chemistry that my heart breaks every time they try to feel physical connection but nothing’s there. I also loved Jonas, one of the workers in the castle, regardless of the fact that the place is haunted and you’d immediately feel like evil is lurking in the shadows and that you cannot trust easily, I definitely felt like Ivy was in good hands every time Jonas is around. He felt like this grandfather figure that would make sure his granddaughter is safe.

Over all, the book was amazing. The setting felt serene and spooky at the same time. The characters were fantastically constructed, the plot was very good. The only problem I had with this book is that it was too short. I could seriously use a hundred or more pages. By the time I flipped on the last page I was like, “IT’S OVER!? WHYYYYYYYYY.” I definitely want more.

PUBLICATION: April 1st 2014 by HarperCollins

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy.

They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.

I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and I've been given a mission:

REMOVE
The Tin Woodman's heart,

STEAL
The Scarecrow's brain,

TAKE
The Lion's courage,

And then—

DOROTHY MUST DIE

REVIEW:

Fantastic story! I was ecstatic when I heard about the premise of this book because come on, one of the sweetest and most innocent character known to a lot of us MUST die? Without a doubt, I’m in.  The idea of Oz, being known to us as a magical and a colorful place, becoming dark and pure evil really fascinated me. Good witches are wicked and wicked witches are good. It was a completely messed up place but in a very intriguing way. The Dorothy here is the complete opposite of the girl we knew. She’s so sinister, she’s violent, and just pure evil.

The protagonist, Amy Gumm, was introduced to be in this cliché situation. She was nobody, bullied by a lot even by a pregnant girl, neglected by her mom and her dad left them.  But I loved the fact that even though that’s the situation she’s in, she’s headstrong and her development throughout the story was on point. I really like her strong personality.

The other characters Mombi, Glamora, Gert, Nox, etc. were great. Another thing I loved about this book is that it made you trust no one. There were instances in the story wherein it is super clear that they were trying to conceal something and made you doubtful about everything that comes out of their mouths.  Some characters would do something really nice but at the same time you’d be like “uhuh what’s the catch, bitch?”.

This book is awesome and Danielle Paige made an amazing job bringing Oz back to life and in a very different way. This is not your typical YA book; it has violence and gore in it. Although it has some romance between Amy and a certain character, I loved the fact that it didn’t happen until later in the book and that it is not the focus of the book at all. I’m really excited for the second book. I highly recommend this if you love a great retelling of a story but in a very different and interesting way.

Publication: September 30th 2008 by HarperCollins

Goodreads Summary: 

After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family.

REVIEW:

The book was so beautiful and captivating. I would've been able to finish it within one sitting but couldn't because of school work. Every time I put it down to work on something else, my heart sank.

One might think that the title sounds scary, but no it is the total opposite. The book took place in a graveyard but the content was filled with innocence and it was very heartwarming in general.

I loved the graphics added in the book which made it easier to picture some situations and locations.

Gaiman’s words were very refreshing and striking which made me feel like I was along with Nobody (the main character)’s adventure all the time, I was able to experience these creatures such as ghouls and other supernatural ones. I also loved the different ghost characters, especially Silas, they were so nice and made the idea of ghosts and graveyards less scary.

Definitely a book worth recommending to other people no matter which age bracket they are in.

Publication: October 12th 2010 by Delacorte Press

Goodreads Summary:

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.
 
Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.
 
There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.
 
The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
 
Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.
 
There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive

REVIEW:

It was structured differently than the first book. I have mixed feelings for this one. I loved it but I have a few problems with it here and there.


There were a few characters introduced which at first I hated but began to love. There were also old ones who had a new personality and made them more likable. Minho is definitely my favorite character, he had a bigger role in this one I loved Dashner for that. Thomas on the other hand seemed to be bland and emotional. He was constantly puking, passing out, or moping. He was very different from the first book wherein although he was serious, he seemed to be smart and interesting. I love a main character with wit, but I felt like Dashner intended for this character to be that way.

I loved the thrill and the mystery of the entire book, but you know what I do not love? Unsolved mysteries. I feel like it was all for nothing which was very frustrating. And the constant betrayal here and there, I do not even know how to feel about them. It made me acquire trust issues, tbh.
This book was a bizarre mind trip! I was hoping for things to clear up even a bit by the end but it became more confusing. If you thought the first book was confusing, think again. What I dislike about this one is the constant plot-twist. There would be a plot-twist, but then another plot-twist would be piled to the unsolved first one, and then file another one. And by the end, nothing was solved.

Another one is if you have noticed, Thomas kept on passing out. I felt like there was more Thomas passing out as chapter enders than cliffhangers and that was what I loved most about the first book, cliffhangers.

But still, it was quite good and interesting, just quite frustrating as well. I am praying for the third book to be straightforward and finally give us answers, which I think it would judging by the fact that it is the final installment. I just hope it would not disappoint me and not make me want to drill a hole in my brain.

Publication: October 6th 2009 by Delacorte Press

Goodreads Summary:

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

REVIEW:

To be honest, I did not plan on buying this book at all because I’ve heard more negative reviews than positive ones. Those negative comments were instilled in my mind and made me want to not read the book because I might be wasting my time. But then I saw the movie trailer, and I was like “damn I need to read the trilogy”. I decided to set my judgments aside and see for myself.

It was such a good read. It had a great and original concept, the plot twist and the characters were very intriguing, and the events were filled with great suspense. I was honestly scared for them; my heart was pounding every few minutes. My brother even looked at me and genuinely asked if I was okay. I loved the fact that the chapters were kind of short and gave me cliffhangers in the end that made me gasp and turn the page.

I wouldn't say that the book was perfect because it is not (is there even a perfect book?). The writing was okay, not perfect I must say. A few repetitions here, a little over the place there. But I am more critical with plot-building than the writing although that is important as well, but who cares as long as I’m enjoying myself. I almost gave up on the first 5 chapters because it was so confusing and all over the place. I did not like the made up slang here, it actually annoyed me. I couldn't imagine what a Griever actually look like no matter how many time it was explained in the book, I just could not.

All in all, it was such a thrilling read and I cannot wait to put my hands on the second book. I also hate the fact that just because it’s dystopian people immediately compares this to The Hunger Games just like how they compare any vampire-themed book to Twilight.

Goodreads summary:

For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—"Cupid Day"—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night.

However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined.

REVIEW:

This is the first book I have read by Lauren Oliver so I would not compare this one to her other works. But I really liked this book! The novel was written beautifully and taught me so much. It taught me that every little thing you do or say could have a huge impact on other people that might not be that big of a deal to you, but to them it could be the reason why they wanna give up on life. The book talked about so many things such as grief, loss, and most importantly death. I like how even though the day was repetitive, Lauren Oliver skillfully manipulated each day and was able to add more interesting twist to it and to not make it boring and tiring. It's very different from the YA books I've read. After you are finished with it, the only thing you can do is to lay down and think about it.