Saturday 28 September 2013

Cinderella Goes Sci-Fi

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2)

Scarlet is the second book in Marissa Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles. The series is Ms. Meyer's new take on some classic fairy tales with a science fiction twist to them.  I read the first book, Cinder, because I was a fan of Ms. Meyer's fanfics for Sailor Moon, and the book was fantastic, so naturally I was excited about the next book.

Scarlet continues to follow Cinder after her arrest into the break from prison.  During her prison break, Cinder picks up another prisoner, "Captain" Carswell Thorne, who sees himself as kind of cross between Robin Hood and Casanov. They make their escape from the Commonwealth, and Cinder makes the move to find answer to who she is.

The other story of the book is Scarlet Benoit, whose grandmother is missing and she is determined to find out where she is.  She meets the mysterious Wolf, who knows where her grandmother is.  She enlist his help to rescue her grandmother, but he is more than what he seems.

There are chapters that continue to follow Kai as he deals with his new role as Emperor of the Commonwealth, and Cinder's escape.  Plus the single chapter of Queen Levana, which has me terribly intrigued to know more.

Eventually Cinder and Scarlet's stories collide, and Cinder must decide if she will become the woman she is meant to be.

Ms Meyer does an amazing job of breathing new life into these fairy tales. I love the science fiction and dystopian aspects, and that at the same time remaining true to the essence of the original tales.

That characters are so wonderfully written.  Each has their own struggles that make them seem wonderfully human, even if some of them are not really human.

I am super excited to see where the rest of the series goes, just that I have to wait until February for the next book, Cress. If you liked this books, you can check out the authors fanfics here: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/658410/Alicia-Blade

Currently Reading:
Clockwork Princess
by Cassandra Clare

Monday 23 September 2013

Censored Post



Happy Banned Book week to everyone!  So here is my two cents on the whole banning of books.  Books are the authors way to express their creativity and ideas, and as a country founded on freedom, we should celebrate that, not discourage it.  If we allow the banning of books, how long until we end up like the world in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. In fact, it is your civic duty to read at least one banned and/or challenged book. And if you don't like the book or find a book offensive, then don't read and don't recommend it to others.

Alright, I am hopping off my soap box now, and on to more important things. Some of my all time favorite books have been on banned list before, including To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. These are must reads, in my opinion.  Plus some of my newer favorites, like The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, have also made banned list.

So readers, if you would be so kind and read a banned book, and leave me a comment on your favorite banned books that would just make my week.

Sunday 22 September 2013

The Journey's End



At last, I have finished the 50 books featured in Epic Reads United States of YA map. It was definitely an interesting journey.  There were some excellent books to be found on the tour, along with some not so awesome books.  There were a few tearjerkers and a few laughs along the way, and all in all I would say that this literary trip was worth every minute.

I know not everyone has the time or patience to make it through all 50 books, so I am going to give my top 5 not to be missed books, and a few honorable mentions.

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth- It is the hands down winner for my favorite book.  Plus you know you need to read the book before the movie comes out in the spring.
2. Deadline by Chris Cutcher- Fantastic characters and story, but have your tissue handy because you are going to need it.
3. The Diviners by Libba Bray- The roaring 20s in New York city, a serial killer on the lose, and a girl that is more that what she seems makes for a great read.
4. The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen- A book that everyone can relate to on some level, because who has not had to deal with grief and loss.
5. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout- Wonderful characters and interesting story that keeps you wanting to read the rest of the series.

Honorable Mentions:
The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore- Because who doesn't like a little bit of Southern Gothic feel in their readings
Arise by Tara Hudson- Probably the only reason this didn't make the top 5 is because it the second book in the series, but I recommend go ahead and reading both.

Saturday 21 September 2013

YA Book Tour- Hawaii

Under the Blood-Red Sun

At last we have come to the end of United States of YA book with Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury representing Hawaii.

Tomikazu, or Tomi, is the son of Japanese immigrants living in Hawaii in 1941. His father has a boat he works as a fisherman on, and his mother cleans the house of a wealthy haole (white person).  His grandfather also lives with them, and is proud of his Japanese heritage and customs.  He also has a younger sister, Kimi.

Tomi is a pretty typical young teenage boy for the time.  He and his friend love baseball. His best friend, Billy (a haole) is an amazing pitcher, and helps their team the Rats do pretty well.  Tomi's life changes drastically on the morning on December 7th.  While he and Billy are out practicing baseball they hear the explosions and soon see the Japanese planes flying overhead. His father is taken prisoner when he returns on his fishing boat, and the haole family tells his mother they no longer need to clean their home.  Tomi learns what is really means to be family, and sees the best and worst of human nature.

This books is a fantastic look at life in Hawaii just before and after the Pearl Harbor bombing.  It presents an excellent picture of how fear can motivate people to do terrible things, and how kindness can be found even in the darkest of times.

Tomi is a wonderful character.  Fiercely loyal to both his friends and family.  He shows interesting growth as he learns to take to heart the lessons of his father about how to behave, even when people push him to his breaking point.

 While Tomi is the main character, Billy will also make quite the impression on you.  He is dedicated to being the best he can be at pitching.  He is kind and loyal.  Probably my favorite scenes in the book involved him, one on Tomi's father's boat, and one where he met Mari.  Both of those were touching, and beautifully written.

I definitely recommend this book, not only for the setting, but for the history we see in everyday living form.

With that our journey is at an end.  I hope to get the final YA map up tomorrow, and give the list of my top 5, not to be missed books.  For now, I will get back to my regularly schedule reading program. Catching up on the series that I have been reading and new books have come out since starting the tour, plus finishing some of the series that I started on the tour.  Eventually, I plan to get around the Epic Reads YA of Europe tour, but for now I reading what I want.

Currently Reading:
Scarlet
by Marissa Meyer

Sunday 15 September 2013

YA Book Tour- Alaska

Julie of the Wolves

It has taken me a little longer to read this than I initially expected, because my first clinical rotation was quite the hard one.  I sent most of  my down time studying instead of reading, but I was able to really tackle the book this weekend.  I suppose the amount of post will depend on what rotation I have, so just keep an eye out for new stuff.  Now without further ado, we are rolling on with the YA book tour and taking our second to last stop in Alaska with Jean Craighead George's Julie of the Wolves.

Miyax, or Julie her gussak (white) name, has run away from her new husband and trying to make it to San Francisco where her pen pal lives. On her journey, she becomes lost without food, and begins to rely on a wolf pack to help her on her way. As she becomes accepted as part of the pack, Miyax finds herself becoming more self sufficient and falling back more to he old ways of her people.

For me, the book at a little bit of a strange flow.  It basically started in the middle with Miyax already left her town to runaway from her husband. It does not go back and explain the events leading up to her leaving until about third of the way into the book.  That being said, it does not make it feel too disjointed or make me feel lost for the first part of the book.  I did not, however, like that the book was not really divided into chapters, just the three parts.  That really makes it hard to find a good place for stopping.

Miyax is an interesting character.  At first, it seems like she can't wait to be in the whiteman's world, but as the book progresses she really is finds her identity and wants to preserve her heritage.  She is very smart and quickly adapts to the changes in her life.

But in all honesty, the best part of this book was the picture painted of the Alaskan tundra. The author really does a great job of describing the landscape and the animals who inhabit it. This book is worth the read just for the amazing setting.

With that there is only one book left on the United States of YA book tour.

Currently Reading: 
Under the Blood-Red Sun
by Graham Salisbury

Sunday 1 September 2013

YA Book Tour- Vermont

Jip: His Story


Finally, I was able get a copy of Vermont's book Jip: His Story by Katherine Paterson.

Jip lives at the town poor farm and has been told as long as he can remember that he was found on the road after he fell off the wagon. His life begins to change when the lunatic, Put, comes to the farm.  He starts to learn his own value, and that combined with his start at the school with the new teacher.

A stranger, also, comes to town and starts asking questions about Jip.  With Teacher and her Quaker friends help, Jip learns his real origins.

I had high expectations for this book because Katherine Paterson is the author of one of my childhood favorite books,  Bridge to Terabithia.  I am happy to report that Ms. Paterson did not disappoint with this book.  She has a masterful way of describing characters and unfolding their personality.

Jip is a caring boy, who quite the way with animals.  He works hard and in dealing with the stranger in town, you learn he is an excellent judge of character.  I loved following him through his journey, and discovering where he comes from along with him.

The book is a quick read. While it is short, the book is no way feels like it left anything out.

Currently Reading:
Julie of the Wolves
by Jean Craighead George