Book Review: Mockingjay

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)

by Suzanne Collins

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Sci-fi, Fantasy

Publication: August 2010

Format: Paperback, 398 pages

I was really eager to read Mockingjay after the second book. I just have to know what happened to Katniss and the other characters. How will they survive?

In the Mockingjay, I think, many of the characters changed after what they have been through – with the destruction of district 12. Gale grew cold and bloodthirsty. Prim becomes more independent. Katniss, who readers wanted to grow strong, showed the opposite side where she went mental and vulnerable. She felt that she was responsible of what happened – of the death of many people. And it all sparks with the act she pulled in book one. It’s like that in life. When something so drastic happen into our life, we will be force to either grow up or go weak. 

Suzanne Collins' characterization and portrayal in this book is amazing! She portrayed of what will happen in a war. That death and sacrifices will makes you either go strong or frail. Some grow strong for the sake of the people that they love. Some grow strong for the sake of revenge. Some go weak because they couldn’t face the loss of their loved one. 

I found myself thinking over the book once I’ve finished them. I couldn’t believe what had happened to the characters and how Suzanne Collins ended the games. There was so much death of characters that I loved. Although I didn’t like how Suzanne Collins ended some of the characters life, I couldn’t deny that this is indeed a good book (and series).  It's the kind of book that makes you really think.

Book Cover’s Description

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

Book Review: I Suck at Girls

I Suck at Girls

by Justin Halpern

Genre: Humor, Non Fiction, Autobiography

Publication: May 2012

Format: Paperback, 180 pages

I’ve been looking forward to read this book since I read Justin Halpern’s first book, Sh*t My Dad Says. In this book, the author wanted to propose to his girlfriend and decided to consult his father for advice. Then, his father told him that when he planned to ask his mother to marry him, he spent a day to rethink of everything that he had learned about himself and woman. And that is exactly the author did. Anyway, I can’t believe that this guy makes money with writing his memoir on his experience (or lack of experience) with girls!!!

Although this book isn’t as funny as the first one, it is still one of the books that will make you laugh out loud. His dad still gives him (while offensive to some) straightforward advices to him. I didn’t really mind what his father’s way of giving message to his son as I got a friend whose father speak like that. I absolutely enjoy this autobiography. It was a quick read which you may finish in a few hours. 

Book Cover’s Description

"Human beings fear the unknown. So, whatever's freaking you out, grab it by the balls and say hello. Then it ain't the unknown anymore and it ain't scary. Or I guess it could be a shitload scarier."

Fans of the #1 bestseller "Sh*t My Dad Says" will recognize the always-patient voice of Justin Halpern's dad as it crackles through the pages of this hysterical new book. The story begins when Justin takes his dad out to lunch to announce that he's decided to propose to his girlfriend.

"You've been dating her for four years," his dad replies. "It ain't like you found a parallel fucking universe."

But eventually he gives Justin some advice: that he should take a day off and think back over everything he's learned in life about women, relationships, and himself before making his decision. And that's just what Justin does--revisiting everything from his disastrous childhood crushes to the night he finally lost his virginity while working as a dishwasher at Hooters.

"I Suck at Girls" is full of his dad's patented brand of wisdom. But it's also full of new characters just as funny as his dad--from his brother, who provides insights into wedding night rituals ("You stand in one corner of the room, and she stands in the other. You each take off one piece of clothing at a time") to his first boss, who warns Justin to man up: "That's what a man does. He takes his shots and then he scrubs the shit out of some dishes." The result is a pilgrim's progress through the landscape of sex and love--by one of the funniest writers at work today.

Book Review: Déjà Dead

Déjà Dead (Temperance Brennan #1)

by Kathy Reichs

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Adult

Publication: Published 1998 (Reissued in 2011) 

Format: Paperback, 509 pages

I was excited to read this book by Kathy Reichs when I heard that Temperance Brennan from Bones Series was loosely based on Kathy Reichs’s characters. Unfortunately, the book and the series were totally different. This book is nothing like the show. The only similarities that I could find were that the character both had the same name and profession – a forensic anthropology.

Déjà Dead are among of the books which I have to read slowly. I couldn’t read it in one sitting as the content was a bit heavy for my liking. The book was written in Temperance Brennan’s point of view. I always enjoy reading books written in the first person narration because I get to connect with the characters. But I couldn’t with Temperance Brennan. The character’s narration was a bit complicated. Sometimes, I had to read the sentence twice to understand what was happening. The scientific terms used makes me feels like I’m watching CSI. While the series had moments of fun and laughter, I thought that the book is a bit too serious.

Book Cover’s Description

The meticulously dismembered body of a woman is discovered in the grounds of an abandoned monastery. 

'Too decomposed for standard autopsy. Request anthropologic expertise.' 

Enter Dr Temperance Brennan, Director of Forensic Anthropology for the province of Quebec, who has been researching recent disappearances in the city. 

Despite the deep cynicism of Detective Claudel who heads the investigation, Brennan is convinced that a serial killer is at work. Her forensic expertise finally convinces Claudel, but only after the body count has risen...

Tempe takes matters into her own hands, but her determined probing places those closest to her in mortal danger. Can Tempe make her crucial breakthrough before the killer strikes again?

Book Review: 7 Clues to Winning You

7 Clues to Winning You

by Kristin Walker

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Humor

Publication: April 2012

Format: Paperback, 317 pages

Blythe had her life planned out – getting into good school, good university, marrying a good husband and live happily ever after. But then her dad announced that they’re moving to Ash Groove and she’s going to be ‘the principle’s daughter’ in Ash Groove. Worse of all, she had to face that embarrassing picture that get tossed around last year.

Things weren’t pretty for Blythe when she started school. It seems that Ash Groove hasn’t forgotten that embarrassing picture from last year. The students started to mock her. Convinced that she was a victim of bullying, Blythe talked to her father (the principle) to ban the senior Scramble scavenger hunt and the school’s newspaper, Buried Ashes, which is run by none other than Luke Pavel.

Then things started to get worse. The students started to hate her and Blythe realized that she had made a terrible mistake. She realized that what she did was revenge. To make things right, Blythe teamed up with Luke and set up the senior Scramble scavenger hunt. And this time, they’re going underground.

I’m totally in love with the book. Sure I’ve read some funny stuff, but this book is probably the funniest book I’ve read this year. The plot is simple. But the dialogue and the characters were amazing and funny!

I really like Blythe and her narration. She was smart, funny and was not afraid to admit her mistake. I like her transformation from that really nice girl to not-so-nice girl when she had to do things to fit in with the rest of the students. The relationship between Blythe and Luke was so cute and adorable. I love what Luke did at the end of the story. CUTE!

I love Blythe’s new friends from Ash Groove, Cy and Jenna. They were a bit weird and funny. And those grandmas in the nursing home were hilarious! I absolutely adore the pair.

If you’re looking to read something fluffy and funny, this is definitely the book for you.

Book Cover’s Description

When a humiliating picture of Blythe goes viral, she's instantly the target of ridicule at her new school. To salvage her reputation, Blythe teams up with Luke to win the Senior Scramble scavenger hunt. But Luke is an unlikely ally and potentially can't be trusted.

Perhaps it's his Shakespearean witticisms that reel Blythe in despite her better judgment . . . or maybe she just craves the thrill of the game. But as the hunt progresses, their relationship heats up. Soon their madcap mischief spirals out of control. Blythe is faced with arrest and expulsion, among other catastrophes - until Luke shows her what the Scramble (and love) is really about.

#15 Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from: 

The problem with some of the steamiest romance in Shakespeare is that everyone ends up dead. I never saw the point of going through all that anguish and passion and sneaking around just to end up with a pile of corpses. It didn't seem right. - page 1, 7 Clues to Winning You, Kristin Walker.

Ignore the unattractive cover...

This book makes me laugh real hard. And it was hard to control myself from laughing really hard when everyone was asleep! This book is probably the most funniest book I've read this year. I'll definitely add this one to my favorite! Oh! The teaser was actually the opening line for the book.

#5 Blog a Quote

Blog A Quote is hosted by Michelle from Michelle Chew Writes where you share a quote from your favorite books every Monday (and you can do it any day you like)! Visit Michelle Chew Writes to sign up and submit your link.

My quote this week is from Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

Time is a river and books are boats. Many volumes start down that stream, only to be wrecked and lost beyond recall in its sands. Only a few, a very few, endure the testing of time and live to bless the ages following.

 I truly admire writers whose work are still read by people today.

I wonder if people will continue to read what I write in later years... Will I pass the test of time? DX 

Book Review: City of Bones

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)

by Cassandra Clare

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Publication: April 2009

Format: Paperback, 485 pages

I’m reading this book after two of my friends in fanfiction.net recommended this book to me. Plus, I’ve seen lots of readers giving this book good high ratings and good reviews. So... I really have a high expectation from this book.

At the end, I have a mixed feeling about this book. I wanted to really like it. But I just couldn’t. I had to sit back for a while to think of what is it that I like and didn’t like about this book.

City of Bones is well-written. I admit that Cassandra Clare is a great storyteller. She did a good job in creating an interesting world of Shadowhunter. The first page had a bit mystery behind it which makes me wanting to read more. It has an interesting start. But then it was starting to bug me when it got to the second part. Clary’s investigation on her mother’s whereabouts was slow. I thought there were some unnecessary scenes – like the part where they have to rescue Simon. Their adventure to rescue him was nice, but it was unnecessary. 

I’m not sure if I like the heroine very much. I can’t seem to connect with Clary. Perhaps it was because I had a totally different personality with her (and what is it with YA heroine with artistic talent?). But Clary strikes me as, well, ordinary. While Cassandra Clare’s imagination and portrayal on the world sounds wonderful, her characters development is not. Her other characters, Jace and Simon didn’t have that squealing factors (you know, when the characters made their appearance and you start to squeal like a rabid fan girl) for me.

So, what did I like about this book? The dialogue, the humor and Cassandra Clare’s description. What I didn’t like much are the characters and the predictable endings. But I will still read the continuation to this book to found out what will happen to the characters. I hope it will be better.

Book Cover’s Description

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. .