May 2011

May flew by as well with all my exams at uni. But now, finally, I'll have lots of time to read in the sun and in breaks at work! Plus, I have a huge shipment coming from the book depository, so I'm really looking forward to it!

Books read May, 2011:
1. Lauren DeStefano - Wither (09/05)
2. Ally Condie - Matched (13/05)
3. Lauren Oliver - Delirium (19/05)
4. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
5. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
6. J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

26 out of 55 books read.

Arc contest at Lauren DeStefano's blog!

So I read an absolutely amazing book a few weeks ago.

It was one of those 5/5 books (which I haven't had time to write about yet). Well, I loved it, and now, Lauren DeStefano, the author, is having an international contest where you can win a personalized arc of Wither and.... *drumroll* an arc of Fever, the sequel!!

If you're interested, enter here.

April 2011

Wow, so we're in the middle of May already, are we? Time sure flies! Uni is still taking up lots of time, so I'm still not getting to read as much as I would want to. April wasn't a total waste, though!

Books read April, 2011:
1. Frances Hodgson Burnett - The Secret Garden (01-03/04)
2. Cassandra Clare - City of Fallen Angels (05/04)
3. Holly Black - Red Glove (14/04)
4. Lauren Oliver - Delirium (15/04)
5. Rachel Caine - Ill Wind (16/04

20 out of 55 books read.

Delirium 5/5

Okay, so imagine this. You live in a society which believes love is a disease. At eighteen you can get the Cure, which basically makes you not feel love. You have already experienced the pain love can bring, so you're looking forward to the day you can get the Cure. And then you fall in love.

This book completely shifted my way of viewing the world. Seriously. I mean, you see Lena, this smart and capable girl who has been fed lies since her birth. And slowly, with the help of Alex, her world starts crumbling and the lies start unwindling. And it's devestating. I cried so much while reading this book because it was just so damn SAD that they all viewed love as a disease. That people's childhood were completely devoid of love from their parents because of this cure.

And since the story was so sad, since that whole universe was so sad, it was such a beautiful thing to read about Lena falling in love. It was so beautiful that I cried some more.

Lauren Oliver is a genius. Loved her story, and I fell completely in love with her way of writing. I'm just in awe. If I could ever write like her... I- I don't even know. It was just so damn beautiful to read.

And the ending! Oh, the ending. Bah.

I think I'll just stop here. How I wish I had book number two in my hands! I guess I'll just have to reread Delirium many many times. I wish I could write more, but I would just spoil the whole book.

If you like dystopian romance, you should definitely pick up this book, because it is seriously amazing. I put it up there with my all time faves. You will not regret reading this book!

Read: April 15, 2011.

Quote of the day

When adults say, "Teenagers think they are invincible" with that sly, stupid smile on their faces, they don't know how right they are. We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken. We think that we are invincible because we are. We cannot be born, and we cannot die. Like all energy, we can only change shapes and sizes and manifestations. They forget that when they get old. They get scared of losing and failing. But that part of us greater than the sum of our parts cannot begin and cannot end, and so it cannot fail.

John Green (Looking for Alaska)

March 2011

Still behind on homework, so no books read this month! It devastates me!

So once again; 15 out of 55 books read.

I have lots of unfinished reviews, though, so I will try to finish them as soon as possible! I'm such a procrastinator!

The Secret Garden 5/5

This was the book I would read while I sat on the metro, and it would always bring a smile to my face. I'm not a big fan of gardens and plants, but I loved how the book portrayed the whole thing. I loved how it portrayed everything like it was a miracle. I think people on the metro must have thought I had lost my mind with the way I would have a huge grin on my face one moment, then would have tears in my eyes the next one.

The book centers around Mary, a grumpy and selfish girl who has lived all her life in India, until she is sent to Yorkshire, England to live with her absent and depressed uncle when her parents die. She learns that her late aunt had loved roses and had a garden which she loved. When she died, her uncle locked the garden and threw away the keys and decided that the garden was never to be talked about again. She is intrigued by this secret garden, and is determined to find the lost key.

I love reading books from a child's' perspective, when they are written well. They are so innocent. The way they think is so beautiful. They would never think anyone would do anything to hurt them, so when you, as a reader, see a child so deeply broken by the world around it that it doesn't even know it is, it's devastating.

It's such a sad story, and yet so beautiful. I do think you need to be in the right mind set, though, to read this book. It is a very easy book to enjoy, I would say. The ending is a bit abrupt, but the rest is very good!

5/5!

Read: Apr 01-03, 2011.

February 2011

So many great books waiting on my shelf that I don't know where to start! At the moment, though, I've given myself a reading ban. Was ill for an entire week so need to catch up on all my homework before I can start reading for pleasure again. Hopefully it won't take too long!

Books read February, 2011:
1. Libba Bray - Rebel Angels (05/02)
2. Ilona Andrews - Magic Bites (11/02)
3. Kailin Gow - Wicked Woods (15/02-18/02)
4. C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew (15/02-19/02)
5. Neil Gaiman - Stardust (21/02-22/02)
6. Holly Black - White Cat (24/02)

15 out of 55 books read

White Cat 5/5

This is the first book in the Curse Worker-series by Holly Black. I must say, I got completely sucked in with this book. I thought I would read for a bit, but I wasn't able to put the book down until I had finished it. I think that speaks for itself.

The book is about Cassel who comes from a family of curse workers. Curse workers can change your emotions, memories, luck. They can give you nightmares, or even kill you with their bare hands. Curse working is against the law, which means that curse workers are criminals. Cassel's family is no different. The thing that separates Cassel from his family is that he isn't a curse worker. But he's no better than his family. He killed his best friend when he was fourteen-years-old. And he doesn't even know why. Now he is sleepwalking and discovers that his brothers are keeping secrets from him. What are they holding back?

I completely loved this book. Adored it. It was so much fun to read about a family who cons for a living. It was different and very refreshing. I also liked Black's style of writing. I thought that the characters were awesome. All in all, I am beyond pleased with this book. A good plot with lots of suspense and action. My type of book! Definitely recommend it!

I fell in love with the world of curse workers. The thought of bare hands being something to fear fascinated me. Also loved the thought of curse workers existing, and the fact that it's not accepted, legal or without repercussions.

Book #2, Red Glove, comes out in a month, and I can't wait to read it! I will be ready on my iPad and Kindle-app to download it on April 5th!

I'm giving this a 5 out of 5!

Read: Feb 24, 2011.

Quote of the day

The wind picks up. It sends leaves scurrying for cover until a softer breeze blows through, settling them down again as if to say, Shhh, there, there, it's all right. One leaf still dances in the air. It spins higher and higher, defying gravity and logic, stretching for something just out of reach. It shall have to fall, of course. Eventually. But for now, I hold my breath, willing it to keep going, taking comfort in its struggle.

Libba Bray (Rebel Angels)