Review (Becky):Beastly

Title: Beastly Author: Alex Flinn Pages: 304 Audience: YA  Genre: Fantasy (fairytale adaptation/contemporary) Rating: 2-I'd give this book an awkward hug

Goodreads Summary

I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright--a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever--ruined--unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

My Thoughts I couldn't finish this. It bored me out of my mind and brought nothing new to the tale, which is a requisite for any adaptation in my opinion. I saw the movie and thought to myself, "they must have butchered this book"...but no, I think the movie is better.  This book will probably appeal to teens or those looking for a quick, "lite", candy book with no real substance or style.  Sorry to be so harsh but I really didn't care for it.  There are many better adaptations of Beauty and the Beast (thank goodness) but this one does have a very modern frame and is told from the Beast's view.  Those were its only distinguishing characteristics.   

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

Review (Randi): 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER

Title: 52 Reasons to Hate My Father
Author: Jessica Brody
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Publication Date: July 3rd, 2012 
Page Count: 340
Genre: contemporary, romance
Audience: young adult
Source: won from Kate @ Sit Here and Read in July 
Rating: 4.5 I'd take this book on a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive

Goodreads Summary: 
Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it. 

Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.

Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.

In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him.

My thoughts:  This book is a riot. I thought this book would be a fun read, and it was, but it was even more. This book has substance. Lexi is the girl you love to hate, yet at the same time, you can't help but feel a little bit sorry for her when you start to learn more about her family situation. I guess I'd probably act out too if I had unlimited funds but no family around to act like they cared. First world problems, yes, but it's sad that she was basically raised by the butler. The premise of this book is completely unlike any other I've read, and if I have any critiques for this book, it would be that I wish it was a little longer so we got more of the individual jobs Lexi has to perform (we do get quite a bit, though) since those are the funniest parts.

I'm not gonna lie, this is an entertaining read, and I wouldn't call it "literary," but it's not fluff either. It's situated nicely between "light" and heavy reading. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to fans of contemporary YA or YA romance - it definitely fits the bill! By the end, I was cheering Lexi on (okay, it really didn't take that long for me to warm up to her, but you get the picture) and I was really proud of the decisions she made toward the end of the book. Despite being a prissy spoiled brat, readers do see Lexi grow as a character in a completely non-cheesy way. And the developing romance between Lexi and Luke is not at all insta-lovey, so watching their interactions is all the more fun.

FTC Disclaimer: All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

Review (Becky): The Magician King

Title: The Magician King Author: Lev Grossman Pages: 400 Audience: Adult Genre: Fantasy (high/parallel worlds/contemporary) Rating: 5-I'd travel to Fillory for this book

Goodreads Summary

Quentin and his friends are now the kings and queens of Fillory, but the days and nights of royal luxury are starting to pall. After a morning hunt takes a sinister turn, Quentin and his old friend Julia charter a magical sailing ship and set out on an errand to the wild outer reaches of their kingdom. Their pleasure cruise becomes an adventure when the two are unceremoniously dumped back into the last place Quentin ever wants to see: his parent's house in Chesterton, Massachusetts. And only the black, twisted magic that Julia learned on the streets can save them.

My Thoughts
I loved this sequel even more than the original. The beautiful thing about Quentin's tale is that he actually learns the hard lessons of reality while in a fantasy world instead of ridiculous ideals. Lessons learned include it sucks to be a hero, people die on quests, disappointment is everywhere,life isn't a story, and the grass isn't greener on the other side. The characters were ridiculously, realistically flawed. They felt exquisitely real and no one was entirely likable. The setting was lushly and thoroughly described, the magic is amazing and the sentiment crushingly melancholy. The inclusion of Julia's alternate education was the perfect addition, although her ending left me somewhat disappointed. I cannot believe I have to wait now to finish the series.  I'm in love with this series and as usual, I don't want to share lol.  IT'S MINE!

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

Twice Baked Thursday: What's Left of Me

Title: What's Left of Me

Author: Kat Zhang

Pages: 343

Genre: Science Fiction (dystopian)

Audience: Young Adult

Source:library(Becky); library (Randi)

Rating: 4 I'd take this book for coffee
                  4.5 I'd take this book for an expensive seafood dinner

Goodreads Summary:

 Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . . For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything

Our Thoughts

Becky in black. Randi in Blue

 This was a very thoughtful concept. Loved it! And I'm really picky when it comes to sci-fi.  There are so many possible ways to view the story, I would love to use it as a teen book-club read. That would be fun! One way to look at it is the struggle of introvert vs. extrovert. There was always a dominant, socially accepted personality and a submissive one "marked for death". In our society dominance is a sign of extroversion, and is a more prized personality. I didn't think about that as I was reading, but that's definitely an interesting viewpoint that I think would provoke active discussion. I also found it interesting to think about how not only each child was expected to kill off half of themselves, but parents were also supposed to support the murder of one of their children in the process. I don't feel like the blame is with the children, though. I feel like we're led to believe it's a "natural" progression. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because it is very light on visual description. I had a hard time picturing characters and settings. I thought the character visuals were good, especially when it came to Hally & Devon. I actually felt like the characters' looks were very well emphasized, mostly because Eva began to distinguish the differences between the two souls within a hybrid individual.  While this idea isn't wholly original (eg- his dark materials daemons being cut away), I've never read it quite like this. I haven't read that one. I'm slacking. ;)

The characters felt familiar, especially Addie and Eva. They did! I enjoyed that aspect, though. They felt realistically portrayed to me. While they weren't especially complex or well developed, they were easy to slip into and replace with one's-self. Eeps. I hear that "good readers" place themselves into the main character...but I never do that and I don't know why. Oh well! I can see how readers who do slip into the MC would easily be able to do so in this story. I liked that Eva was the "lesser" personality, but she became so strong and self-reliant.  You can really see them evolve from the beginning of the story until the end, and as a twin I found their struggle to be separate without losing one another poignant. I really liked that the story was told from Eva's point-of-view. I completely agree - I think we see character development in both Addie & Eva, but I think seeing things through Eva's mind was more interesting than it would have been through Addie. I'm excited to read the next book in the trilogy, but the ending didn't leave me hankering for the sequel as other series have done, and not in a bad way, but rather I didn't feel like the ending was a cliffhanger, so I'll wait patiently for book 2!

I'm also looking forward to recommending this book because I think the dystopia "genre" (if you could call it its own genre) is still really appealing to many readers.

Top Ten: Bookish Goals for 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.  

This week our list (brought to you by Becky) is Top Ten bookish goals for 2013.

1. Diversify my reading so I can be a better readers advisor in the library.  I'll be accomplishing this by having a theme every other month.  February begins the fun with a fantasy theme.  Ok, it is cheating because I already love fantasy, but you have to ease into these things.  Other months include mystery, non fiction, science fiction, and (horrors) contemporary realism.

2. Read more poetry, so I can understand references in movies and books lol. I don't really care for poetry, but maybe it is just because I never try to get into it.  We shall see.  I'd like to read twelve books of poems for 2013.

3. Read more short story collections.  The short story is one of my favorite forms to read and write, but all the shiny novels distract me.  I've only ever really read short stories for class, and in 2012 I read at least three, reminding me how much I love them.

4. Read books I own and tidy my bookshelf.  I never read my own books if I have some out from the library.  I'm a library addict.  I need to read all the books I own that I haven't read and sell the ones I don't want to keep.   

5. Work on my writing.  I'm a hobby writer but I only ever finish short stories.  I want to try to get more done on my longer works in the hopes of one day (when I'm 70 or younger) publishing lol.

6. Read more (gag) romance.  Ok, so I will never be able to stomach the romance with the sweaty men on the covers ripping bodices off of women.  I might be able to sneak in some classics like Tolstoy and Charlotte Bronte, though.

7. Catch up on my classics.  There are so many classics and modern classics I've been meaning to read but never get around to.  I blame the flashy covers of YA fiction.

8. Delve deeper into horror.  I never really realized there were other horror authors than King.  Having discovered this, I must now expand like a madwoman.  I'd like to read more YA horror as well, although that can be tricky to find.

9.  Read at least five manga books. I find this incredibly daunting, but a teen librarian must read at least a few manga series.  I will have to swallow my distaste for the poor binding and reverse arrangement, not to mention the pictures lol.  I made it through 50 graphic novels so I can do this.

10.Read more toddler and baby picture books.  I struggle to know what kind of story is right for those age groups so suggestions welcome.  I'm trying to build a portfolio of story times.

Review (Randi): CODE NAME VERITY

Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication Date: May 5th, 2012 
Page Count: 343
Genre: historical fiction, WWII
Audience: young adult
Source: bought 
Rating: 5 I'd keep all this book's secrets to keep it safe

Goodreads Summary: 
Oct. 11th, 1943--A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? 

My thoughts:  Let me start by saying that this is a novel about WWII, but in case you didn't already know, it is not a Holocaust novel. As much as I love reading historical fiction about the Holocaust because I think it's incredibly important, it was so refreshing to read a different viewpoint on WWII. This novel was spectacular. It was one of my best reads of 2012 and is now a personal favorite as well. I hope this book gets all the awards because I don't feel like it has gotten the attention it deserves. It has received quite a few awards already (fingers crossed that it wins the Printz), but I don't feel like readers are giving it enough love.

Anyway, this book will break your heart. It's a beautiful book about friendship. It made me ugly-cry and is one of those books you don't want to read in public. Also one of those books you just plain don't want to read around anyone else if you get annoyed like I do when people exclaim, as you sob into your book, "Oh my gosh, what's the matter?!" (as my husband always does. You'd think he'd learn!) This is supposed to be a review, but honestly, it's hard to talk about this book without giving anything away. So just do me a favor and trust me here. Go to your local library or your local bookstore and get a copy. And read it. (Make sure you don't have plans because, if you're like me, you won't be able to put it down.) And then come back here and tell me what you thought. Seriously, give it a go.

Now. :)

FTC Disclaimer: All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

Review (Becky): Linger

Title: Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) Author: Maggie Stiefvater Pages: 360 pages (audio book) Audience: YA Genre: Fantasy (contemporary/werewolves) Rating: 2 I'd give this book an awkward hug

Goodreads Summary 

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

My Thoughts
This wasn't horrible to listen to, but it was very focused on teen angst and sickly sweet romance. It really only has a dash of wolves. Grace is constantly outraged by her negligent parents because they don't understand her love, Sam is freaked out all the time and sings a lot. Singing on audi-book from a non professional with no background music does not translate well. The only characters I found interesting at all were Cole and Isabelle because they had some actual non first world problems. The POV shifts between four characters, which is a little disorienting, and the audio book is done with four different voices, who all sounded incredibly young. It kind of ruined my tendency to imaging all YA characters as 20 somethings lol. Most of the characters spend this book describing their feelings, but very little actually happens. Not my favorite Stiefvater book or series, it really seems like someone else wrote it.

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.