Sunday, January 18, 2015

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Romance
Pages: 627
Type: #1 in The Outlander Series
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Review: 
  What a hunk! Honestly, 627 pages of tiny font! Anyways, don't hesitate to read it, because the book will not disappoint you. To get things clear, I don't know what genre to classify this one in. It does have a good amount of romance in it, but that does not mean that it's completely romantic. It has time-travel and action and all of that. 
  Anyways, I loved the book. It is absolutely phenomenal. I love the writing and the descriptions and the characters and everything. The book never lets you slip out of it's grip. There are some slow parts, which makes the book a tad more realistic. But throughout the book, you always want to trudge on. It keeps you just on the edge of your seat. It is quite difficult to do this, and not a lot of authors pull the trick off. I mean, slow parts are often boring. 
  Anyhow, I absolutely enjoyed the writing and the characters. I'd have thought that the book would be a bit hard to... Understand, digest, I guess. But it wasn't. It was actually pretty easily understandable. As in, even YA readers could read it. 
  The world was developed wonderfully. The historic accuracy was something that really drew me in. I've always liked to know more history and this was something that quenched my thirst wonderfully. Also, it kind of reflected on what Scots were like in the 1740s. The descriptions given for everything was splendid. I can't imagine the sort of research work Diana would have had to do to get this book written! Anyways, everything was to the point, accurate and was thought-provoking. 
  The characters were brilliantly created. Each one had a unique appeal and persona. Unfortunately, there was one thing that nagged me about the book. You see, the book was in Claire's perspective. She narrated everything to you. What I felt was the lack of her thoughts. Example, of there was a conversation between two people and she was listening to them, she failed to tell us what she thought about the conversation. What was going on. This is the only thing that the book lacked, I personally felt. 
  Overall, if you like romance, and you like historical facts and want to get into adult fiction, I think this book is perfect for you. Also, it is and eight book series, so get to it! 

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Reality Boy by A.S. King

This was my third book this year, so sorry for not posting any reviews on the previous two. :/
Genre: YA Contemporary Realism
Pages: 353
Type: Standalone 
My Rating: 4/5 
Synopsis: Gerald Faust knows exactly when he started feeling angry: the day his mother invited a reality television crew into his five-year-old life. Twelve years later, he’s still haunted by his rage-filled youth—which the entire world got to watch from every imaginable angle—and his anger issues have resulted in violent outbursts, zero friends, and clueless adults dumping him in the special education room at school.

Nothing is ever going to change. No one cares that he’s tried to learn to control himself, and the girl he likes has no idea who he really is. Everyone’s just waiting for him to snap…and he’s starting to feel dangerously close to doing just that.

In this fearless portrayal of a boy on the edge, highly acclaimed Printz Honor author A.S. King explores the desperate reality of a former child “star” who finally breaks free of his anger by creating possibilities he never knew he deserved.

Review: 
  This book just like, zoomed past my heart. 
It was really an eye-opening and moving book. King is a bloody genius. So you're probably wondering why this book wasn't given a fiver. That is because I was in a reading slump, wanting to read Outlander. (I currently am!) So aside from that, this book was pretty much a five if you ignore the seven long days it took me to complete it. 
  I honestly can't express how much I love realism. Which is what this book is. It is so raw and dysfunctional and moving and phenomenal, I just... 
  Gerald is by far one of the most pitiful and realistic and patient guy I have ever come across. Okay, maybe not patient. But, I mean, come on! It must take him loads of 'p' to not hit his ugly slutty sister! She sucks. 
  I loved the premise, I think it's extremely thoughtful and interesting to read about a former reality tv star. King's writing, as usual was stupendous. Poetic and had a way to tumble out your emotions. There was a good amount of character development as the story went along. 
  Overall, I think it's a brilliant, philosophical and moving story that anyone would enjoy reading. 
 

Thursday, January 1, 2015

2014 End of Year Book Survey!

IIt's the end of the year! OMG! Happy 2015! 
1. Best book you read in 2014? (You can break it down by genre if you want)
So many books that were good! Ugh! Ok. Clockwork Princess, Ask the Passengers, Throne of Glass, Forbidden, Cress, Eleanor and Park, Shatter Me etc, etc. 

2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to more but didn't?
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. Way too hyped, but not appetizing enough for me. Really sorry to say so. 

3. Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2014? 
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. I don't know, I thought I won't like the book since people said it was weird but I ended up enjoying way too much.  

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2014?
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. This book was SO GOOD! The feels + the writing = awesomeness I'll never forget. 

5. Best series you discovered in 2014?
The Infernal Devices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare. I found out about Clare only this, sorry LAST year, and by God, the trilogy is pure genius. 

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2014?
Cassandra Clare, Stephanie Perkins, Richelle Mead.  

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
I have read quite a large variety of books in 2014. Previously, I was into Meg Cabot and Sophie Kinsella. ONLY. So I was introduced to a huge world of genres. From dystopian to fantasy to idk everything?...

8. Most thrilling, inputdownlable book of 2014?
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I flew through this one. Gosh. It is so good!

9. Book you read in 2014 that you are most likely to reread in 2015?
If I could, Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. Love this book to death!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014.?
Can I show more than one? 😁
 


I love the Eleanor and Park one since it's so simple yet pretty. 

11. Most memorable character in 2014?
Will Herondale!

12. Most beautifully written book in 2014?
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It has a very poetic writing. I love it. 

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2014?
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma and Ask the Passengers by A.S. King. 

14. Book you can't believe you waited until 2014 to read?
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. 

15. Fav passage/quote from a book you read in 2014?
Living is in the details. You've got to live in the details ~ Rose Hathaway from The Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead. 

16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2014?
I think the longest was Breaking Dawn and the shortest was Burned by Cara Lily. 

17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about?
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. How many times have I named this book now?

18. Fav relationship from a book you read in 2014?
Maya and Lochan from Forbidden. 

19. Fav book you read in 2014 from an author you read previously?
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella. Hilariously silly!

20. Best book you read based solely on a recommendation from someone else?
Dunno...?