In My Mailbox numero uno

Here it is, my very first vlog!!!  Sorry for the background noise in it. I was a little embarrassed that someone in my house would hear me so I had the t.v. turned on. I plan on making more of these in the future and if you like them then let me know.

Books I got for the week of April 6, 2012

(in no particular order)

1. Fated (Soul Seekers Series book 1) By: Alyson Noel- I won this book from Goodreads.com through their First Reads program. My first ever arc! Comes out May 22, 2012 so look for a review of it near that date. Really excited to read it.
2. The Goddess Test, By: Aimee Carter
3. Boys That Bite, By: Mari Mancusi
4. Secrets and Shadows, (A 13 to Life Novel Book 2) By: Shannon Delany
5. The Dead and the Gone, (Companion novel to Life As We Knew It) By: Susan Beth Pfeffer
6. Sight, By: Adrienne Maria Vrettos
7. Born at Midnight, (A Shadow Falls Novel Book 1) By: C.C. Hunter
8. Watched, By: Sharde Richardson

Well that's all the books I got this week. I plan on making one next week so look for that. If you enjoyed my video then let me know. If there's anything I need to work on or make better then let me know that too. I plan on posting reviews for all these books on my blog sometime in the future. Thanks for visiting and I would love it if you followed my blog or subscribed to my channel.

HAPPY READING!

Review of: A Discovery of Witches, By: Deborah Harkness

Title: A Discovery of Witches

Author: Deborah Harkness

Publisher: Viking, By Penguin Group

Released: 2011

Summary: Diana Bishop is a scholar whose expertise lies in the understanding and study of old alchemy texts. She is in Oxford doing research for a speech that she will give in a few months time. One day, while in the library, an extra book has been added to her study stack, the Ashmole 782 which has been lost for centuries. Not only does Diana have her doctorate, she is also a witch who doesn't use her magic. Ashmole 782 is filled with magic, it's essentially a bewitched book. Diana has broken the spell of Ashmole 782 and this surge of power has called all the creatures to Oxford to discover the secret of the book that has been hidden for so long. Matthew, a vampire, answers the call of the book and meets Diana and feels an instant attraction to her. Diana and Matthew band together making a forbidden pairing of witch and vampire. They must protect themselves, discover the secrets of Ashmole 782, and protect the book from falling into the wrong hands. Diana also must learn to control her awakening power that has lain dormant for so long. As Diana and Matthew's bond strengthens, so too does the danger that surrounds them. They must protect each other and figure out the secrets hidden within Ashmole 782 before it's too late.

My Thoughts: I felt a tremendous amount of bookcitement for A Discovery of Witches, and found the first few chapters promising, but then everything went to crap. This story proved to be a major disappointment and didn't live up to the hype that surrounded it.

One major problem I had with the book was there wasn't enough action in it. The pacing was soooo slow. There would be pages and pages consisting of nothing but Diana sitting and studying in the library, being sleepy or hungry, and once she started being with Matthew a lot, endless passages about the taste and texture of wine. Those sections got repetitive and boring. The book had too many sections where nothing of importance was happening and I think a lot of those scenes should have been removed before the final printing. That might sound harsh, but the novel was 579 pages! If a book is that long, it has to be filled with enough action and suspense to keep the reader reading and this just wasn't. There were many times when I was tempted to just stop reading. The only reason I stuck with it is because once I start a book, I feel I have to finish it. 

I didn't feel a great likeness for the main characters of Diana and Matthew. They were both horrible in controlling their emotions, almost bipolar sometimes. Their love story at times made me gag with the stupid things they said to each other. Calling each other husband and wife when they never married and the only real commitment was exchanging words of love was cheesy and gagworthy.

The ending of the book was also a disappointment in that there was no ending, only a setup for the next book. I have no intention of reading the next book. I don't care what happens to Diana and Matthew as they go [Spoiler Alert] timewalking in the 1500s. Overall, I expected something much better and more magical from this book and was extremely disappointed. If you really want to read it, I would suggest borrowing it from a library instead of buying it.

Also, this book ate up my reading time for the month of March, taking me a couple of weeks at least. So be warned, this book is a boring mammoth of a read and won't be finished quickly.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 1.67/5

A waste of time.

March Favorites!

I'm back with my favorite books for the month of March. Sorry this blog has been a little inactive lately, but I've been a little busy. I'm going to try and be better and post stuff more often. So anyway, I didn't get a lot of reading done for the month of March, but I did have some favorites in the bunch that I read.

Title: The Agency: The Body at the Tower

By: Y.S. Lee

This book makes the list because I really enjoyed it. This is the second in The Agency Series which involves a secret female spy agency set in the Victorian time period which is like the 1860's. I really like the main character of this book, Mary. She is strong, resourceful, and smart. I like the love interest in the story and the interactions that him and Mary have. Also the book really immerses the reader in the Victorian time period, it's full of rich detail and imagery. I will continue reading this series simply because I enjoy it and want to know what happens next.

Title: Shadowed Summer

By: Saundra Mitchell

This one makes the list because it surprised me with how creepy the ghost story actually was. At first glance this book seems like a sort of middle grade book, which can be very enjoyable to read, but you don't really expect to be scared stiff while reading it, and this book did just that. The haunting that went on in this story was very scary and the main character was much braver than I would ever be. The book also is very atmospheric and it really brings Louisiana to life, I felt like I was there. The actual reasons behind the haunting is also well developed and revealed. The reason the ghost had for sticking around made sense, which is always a plus.

Title: The 39 Clues: One False Note

By: Gordon Korman

This is another book in a series that I read this month and I found it very enjoyable. The story is full of action, adventure, and cool history. I enjoy reading about Amy and Dan's adventures as they hunt for the mysterious clues and try to keep alive. I will continue on with this series and recommend it to anyone who wishes for a quick and enjoyable read.

Well that's it, my list for the month of March is complete. Hopefully I can get more books done in April and I hope to get better at keeping my blog updated. For everyone who has visited my blog, thanks! I would love if you decided to follow it, especially if you share my love of books! So that's it. Add these books to your reading lists because they are awesome.

Review of: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, By: Steig Larsson

*Warning! Adult Book Ahead*

Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Author: Steig Larsson

Publisher: First Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, Division of Random House Inc.

Released: 2005 (original), 2008 (translation by Reg Keeland)

Summary: Mikael Blomkvist has just been convicted of libel for an article he wrote in his magazine the Millenium against a business man named Wennerstrom. He is fined and sentenced to 3 months in prison. Lisbeth Salander a hacker and employee at Milton Security is hired to do an investigation into the life of Blomkvist. Blomkvist is suitably depressed about his conviction when he is offered a job by Henrik Vanger. Blomkvist is tasked with solving the 40 year old mystery of the disappearance of 16 year old Harriet Vanger. The Vanger family is dysfunctional and suspect in the possible crime. After months of dead ends, Blomkvist discovers shocking new evidence and teams up with Lisbeth Salander, who knows everything about him but is very secretive about herself, to discover what really happened to Harriet Vanger. Along the way they uncover a killer, corporate greed, and danger around every corner, but the mystery must be solved.

My Thoughts: First and foremost, this book was a beast of a read! It clocks in at 600+ pages, but it is worth the read. This book is dark and gritty, filled with action and suspense with a mystery that keeps the reader guessing. This book was compelling and enjoyable. It brought up severe family dysfunction, corporate greed, and the moral line between good and bad.

I really liked the characters. Mikael Blomkvist was a good guy and likable, but it was Lisbeth Salander who really stole the show. Salander is such an enigma, I didn't know what made her tick. She could be violent, kind, and her worldview was different from anyone else's. Trying to figure out Salander is a compelling part of the story.

The mystery was also very good. It was shocking to find out what really happened to Harriet Vanger. There were numerous twists and turns.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and will continue on with the series (#2) The Girl who Played with Fire and (#3) The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.

I also loved the Swedish backdrop and details. I highly recommend this book, but be warned it's very adult and disturbing in some parts. Not for younger readers. Also the Swedish movie based on the book is very good, the actress who plays Lisbeth is awesome.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Dark, Gritty, Swedish!

Review of Evermore, By: Alyson Noel

Title: Evermore

Author: Alyson Noel

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Released: 2009

Summary: Ever's life is forever changed when her parents, sister, and dog are killed in a car crash while she survives. While recovering from the accident, she discovers a set of abilities she now seems to possess. Ever can now see peoples' auras, read minds, and discover secrets with just a touch. Ever is now branded as a freak at her new high-school in LA, living with her aunt. One day, a mysterious boy shows up, Damen. He's able to silence the thoughts of all the others, He makes Ever feel something she's never felt before. At the same times as Ever is falling in love, she must also figure out just who Damen really is.

My Thoughts: This novel had a Twilight-esque feel to it, with the girl and the handsome boy with a secret who is totally into her. I won't say this was one of my favorite books, just okay. Alyson Noel is a good writer, but her characters in Evermore just weren't the most enjoyable to get to know and read about. I've heard Ever described as annoying in other reviews I've read and I can understand where that feeling comes from. To me, Ever seems very immature and whiny, which can come across as annoying while reading. Also, while it is sad she lost her family in a horrendous accident, Ever didn't seem like a character I could relate with. She's rich, beautiful, and while plagued with what could be viewed as gifts, she takes the glass-half-empty approach and calls them curses. If comparing Ever to Bella Swan from Twilight, I would say Bella wins as the more likable, relateable character. I also had a sort of problem with the love interest Damen, I didn't think he was that great a guy. He wasn't particularly swoonworthy and I wasn't in love with his character. If it was a battle between Edward Cullen versus Damen, Edward would win every time. One other thing that annoyed me was the names of characters: Ever, Honor, Haven, Drina, Sabine! Doesn't anyone in the story have a halfway normal name? But, I could just be the strange one there. This novel was trying for the Twilight feel, but it just fell short. There were too many psychic abilities to be believed and not enough human(ness) in Damen to make him likable. While this wasn't my dream story, I would like to stress that this is just my opinion. I would encourage readers to pick up Evermore, and decide for themselves whether they like it or not.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5

just okay, not fantastic

Review of: The 39 Clues: One False Note (#2), By: Gordon Korman

Title: The 39 Clues: One False Note (#2)

Author: Gordon Korman

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Released: 2008

Summary: Amy and Dan are back! With clue #1 in their possession, they are now on the search for the second all important clue. This second clue centers around another important Cahill relative who shaped history, Mozart! Amy, Dan, and their au pair, Nellie, travel to Vienna and Venice in pursuit of the clue. They must always be on alert for their highly dysfunctional family and competitors. The game is dangerous, but victory means fame, wealth, and power. This is another exciting installment in the hunt for The 39 Clues.

My Thoughts: I really enjoy this book series. I love the sense of action and adventure that I, as the reader, get to experience with Amy and Dan. I also really enjoy the rich history that is essential to the stories. In a way, it sort of reminds me of the movie National Treasure, being a scavenger hunt on an epic scale. Each book is like a t.v. episode, the clue is found by the end and the hunt for the next one continues in the next book. I enjoy the characters of Amy and Dan, but sometimes I feel they are just too smart to be regular kids. Also, the concept of one family being related to all these famous game changers in history seems to be a bit far-fetched, but it satisfies that need that people wish for, to be related to someone cool in history. I also really enjoy the shortness of the stories and the illustrations interspersed throughout the text. I would recommend these books to anybody and everybody because they are so much fun. So, everybody should join the hunt for The 39 Clues!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5

Action, Adventure, and Knowledge!

Book Review of Shadowed Summer, By: Saundra Mitchell

Title: Shadowed Summer

Author: Saundra Mitchell

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Released: 2009

Summary: Iris and Collette live in Ondine, Louisiana, a small town that is dull in the winter, fall, spring, and summer. The summer of their fourteenth year, Iris and Collette spend their time playing at spells and magic. One day, while in a graveyard casting a spell to speak to the dead, the magic becomes real for Iris. She awakens the spirit of Elijah, a boy who disappeared from Ondine two deacades ago. Suddenly, Iris's summer becomes one she will never forget, the summer she is haunted by Elijah and taxed with solving the mystery of his disappearance. With the help of her best friend Collette and Ben, they uncover the haunting secrets of Elijah and the town they call home.

My Thoughts: This book was seriously spooky. Upon first glance, the book looked like a sort of fun ghost story, which it was, but it was also a lot scarier and more serious than the cover portrayed. I liked the characters in the book and how they handled themselves. These were young teenagers who had been dealt tough blows early in life. Iris was much braver than I would ever be in that kind of situation. I liked the best friend aspect Iris and Collette shared. Everybody wants a friend that sticks with you through thick and thin. The character of Ben was also nice because it illustrated the aspects of a first crush nicely. The haunting scenes were very scary in this novel and helped it stand out as a good, classic ghost story. I also liked the feel of Louisiana that the book captured, it gave a real sense of place and people through the writing. I also really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Elijah. Finding out what happened to him and where he went was one of the reasons I couldn't put this book down. The book was also a short, fast read, clocking in at under 200 pages. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good, scary ghost story!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Spooooky!