Book Review: The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

3/5 stars (liked it)

I thought the book was a little confusing and I had a hard time keeping the characters straight at first.  Especially all the raven boys.  I really liked Blue's family and wish they were in it more.  Things that happened at the end were unexpected.  I really hope that questions are answered in the next book.  A lot of things were left unanswered that I would really like to know.  Also it seems like Blue is a little more psychic than she seems.

Book Review: Until I Die - Amy Plum

Until I Die - Amy Plum

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

4/5 stars (really liked it)
This book explains Revenants a lot more and Numa.  It was nice to get some background on both groups.  The book is mostly about Vincet and Kate's love and the obstacles they will have to overcome in the future.  Mainly Vincent's need to keep dying, therefore never aging and Kate growing old.  We meet two new Revenants, Violette & Arthur.  Also the ending really made me wish I didn't have to wait so long until I can read the next one.

 

Book Review: Forever... - Judy Blume

Forever... - Judy Blume

Katherine and Michael meet at a New Year's Eve party. They're attracted to each other, they grow to love each other. And once they've decided their love is forever, they make love.

It's the beginning of an intense and exclusive relationship, with a future all planned. Until Katherine's parents insist that she and Michael put their love to the test with a summer apart...

"Forever" is written for an older age group than Judy Blume's other novels for children. It caused a storm of controversy when it was first published because of its explicit sexual content.

It was a book ahead of its time - and remains, after thirty years in print, a teenage best-seller. America's No. 1 children's author has written some of the best books of our time about real-life issues - family stress and pressures, what happens when your parents divorce, the problems of growing up and sexual awakening, bereavement - with insight, sensitivity and honesty.

2/5 stars (it was OK)

I have to admit that I have never read a book by Judy Blume before.  The book follows Katherine and her journey into adulthood.  From meeting Michael, a boy she falls in love with to loosing her virginity.  Even though this book is older it really didn't feel like it.  It felt like it could have taken place right now.  The book was short and I wish it was a book I would have read as a teenager because I think I would have appreciated it more.

Book Club November: Godless - Pete Hautman

Godless - Pete Hautman

"Why mess around with Catholicism when you can have your own customized religion?"

Fed up with his parents' boring old religion, agnostic-going-on-atheist Jason Bock invents a new god -- the town's water tower. He recruits an unlikely group of worshippers: his snail-farming best friend, Shin, cute-as-a-button (whatever that means) Magda Price, and the violent and unpredictable Henry Stagg. As their religion grows, it takes on a life of its own. While Jason struggles to keep the faith pure, Shin obsesses over writing their bible, and the explosive Henry schemes to make the new faith even more exciting -- and dangerous.
When the Chutengodians hold their first ceremony high atop the dome of the water tower, things quickly go from merely dangerous to terrifying and deadly. Jason soon realizes that inventing a religion is a lot easier than controlling it, but control it he must, before his creation destroys both his friends and himself.

The book is about a boy named Jason who invents a religion.  He gets followers and makes up rules.  Through this book he find out what it means to have a religion and to have faith and that these two things do not mean the same thing.  His parents are devout Catholics and so that is how he grew up.  At some point in our lives we have questioned religion and what it means.


The Book for December is The Ice Storm - Rick Moody

Book Review: Summer and the City - Candace Bushnell

Summer and the City - Candace Bushnell

Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of it—the crazy characters in her neighborhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties, and the glamorous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she's finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream.

This sequel to The Carrie Diaries brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow"—as Samantha Jones dubs her—to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realizes that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined.

With her signature wit and sparkling humor, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of New York City's most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw.

3/5 stars (liked it)
I thought this was better than the first book in the series.  Carrie moves to New York to attend the writing class.  She is staying at this horrible apartment with a horrible landlady Peggy.  She is also in touch with Samantha, who is engaged!  I love how Samantha is, well Samantha.  She is on top of the world and teaches Carrie a few things.  Also we meet up wit Miranda who is attending school.  It is so nice to see how these group of people get together to form the friendship that they have later in life.  Also Carrie is trying to make it as a writer, trying to find love in the wrong places and contemplating whether she should stay in New York or go to Brown.  I love seeing Carrie so poor and naive.  I hope there is another book to follow this one.

 

Book Review: Bitter Blood - Rachel Caine

Bitter Blood - Rachel Caine

Thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town’s human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. But college student Claire Danvers isn’t about to take sides, considering she has ties to both the humans and the vampires.

To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville looking for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news… or worse

4/5 stars (really liked it)
Rachel Caine never dissapoints me with these books.  I love the different point of views.  I would have liked to have had Myrnin's point of view a little bit more.  This book made me realize how much Claire has grown up and how much braver she is.  We see the aftermath of Michael and Eve's marriage.  The human population is not happy with Eve for being with with a vampire and the vampire population is not happy with Michael for being with a vampire.  Because Michael is Amelie's bloodline that gives Eve a higher status.  Also there is a new Captain Obvious in town and I was a little surprised on who it was.  I loved the ending and it seems like this series is really taking a different direction.  I am very curious to see what will happen in the next book.