The Collector by John Fowles

Description:

Hailed as the first modern psychological thriller. The Collector is the internationally bestselling novel that captured John Fowles into the front rank of contemporary novelist. This tale of obsessive love- the story of a lonely clerk who collects butterflies and of the beautiful young art student who is his ultimate quarry- remains unparalleled in it's power to startle and mesmerize (Goodreads). 


My Thoughts:

I've been meaning to read this book for some time now, actually ever since it was mentioned in one the Criminal Minds episode.  I think it was end of Season one or two can't exactly remember.  I checked out this book last year but I never read it, so I just ended up returning it to the library unread.  Last week I was at the library and I saw this book on the display table and I thought to myself it is time to read this book. 

I have to say that this was an excellent read.  Even though it is not scary or gory, this book is creepy.  What makes it creepy is the fact that the part of the story is told from the villains point of view.  His reasoning why he kidnaps a young woman, justifications and so on.  It is truly disturbing.  Even though he is not violent or rapist it is still creepy.  He is not what you expect a kidnapper to be, but I think that he could become all those things, serial killers do evolve in their profession of killing if you will. 

Miranda, young woman who was kidnapped, was a well constructed character but I felt that the author did a better job with the kidnapper.  I felt for Miranda and her situation, but I was also surprised that she was kind to her kidnapper at times.  I would think that she would resent him every minute of the day.  I admired Miranda and her attempts to escape but it was useless her prison was full proof.  The second part of the book was told from Miranda's POV and I thought that it would be hard to read it.  Hard to read it because of the situation she was in.  I did feel sorry for her, but Miranda did not make it easy for me to feel sorry for her.  Yes I felt sorry and I hoped that she escapes, but I felt that second part of the book was very distant and removed from me as a reader.  Its almost like I was not suppose to feel a lot of emotions and sympathy.  I do not know what it is, but it its almost like the author did not want his readers to sympathise with Miranda. 

The struggle between the victim and her kidnapper was done wonderfully.  There was constant verbal struggle to get the upper hand.  Miranda tries to convince her kidnapper to let her go throughout the entire book. 

Overall this was a good read and I enjoyed reading it.  I do not think that this had a WOW factor to it like I was expecting it, but it was a good read.  Book was well written, but I was not blown away by the authors use and manipulation of language.  I am not sure if I would even call this book psychological thriller, psychological yes, thriller I think is a too strong of a word in this situation.  I still and interested to read some of the other book written by John Fowles.  I give this book 4/5 STARS and Happy Reading everyone.

The Mystery at Lilac Inn (Nancy Drew, #4) by Carolyn Keene

Description:

Nancy, while tracking a thief, must act quickly to save herself (Goodreads). 


My Thoughts:

The Mystery at Lilac Inn is the fourth book in Nancy Drew mystery series.  I started to read this book, got to page twenty and put it down for a month.  Then I realized that it is time to return it to the library, so I set down that same evening and finished reading it.  Next day I returned it to the library.  I just realized that I have to in a right mood to read Nancy Drew mysteries.  It was good and I enjoyed it, however I can not help but think that every clue in this place strategically so that there is no effort for Nancy to find any of them.  Rather different clue is always around the corner until the very end.  I think that is alright when you are young reader but when you are an adult reading Nancy Drew its bit annoying.  But then again these books are young readers. 

I liked the story line in this book, someone is impersonating Nancy Drew and also there is some trouble at the Lilac Inn.  Nancy is on the ball as usual with her abilities to solve mysteries. 
Overall this was a good read and very entertaining, there is a lot of mystery and clues that keep you guessing, even though I felt like the clues very were very stratigically placed.  I give this book 4/5 STARS - Happy Reading. 

Nancy Drew Series:

1. The Secret of the Old Clock

2. The Hidden Staircase

3. The Bungalow Mystery

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Description:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door (Goodreads).


My Thoughts:

Lola and the Boy Next Door is the second book that I read by Stephanie Perkins, of course first one was Ann the French Kiss.  I enjoyed reading this book very much but I still think that Anna and the French Kiss was better.  It was better because it was more original whereas Lola and the Boy Next Door was exactly the same as the Anna And the French Kiss only with few twists to the the story and characters.  Otherwise everything is the same, same formula and that was bit disappointing for me because I really like Stephanie Perkins work.  Really there is nothing original about this story that distinguishes it from Anna and the French Kiss. 

I have to give it to Stephanie, she is a very good writer.  The dialog was very good and entertaining, it run smoothly.  There was a lot of character grown and development.  All the characters were very realistic and there was a lot of substance to them.  I liked Lola, I liked her because she is different even though I personally thing that she is hiding behind the costumes that she wears everyday.  I was not really convinced that she is not hiding behind the costumes at the end even though that what the author wanted us to think.  I liked the fact that not a big deal was made of the fact that Lola's parents are not traditional heterosexual couple, but rather two gay men. 

I really liked how the author touches of the relationship between Lola and Max, The twentytwo year old boyfriend.  But I really liked Cricket.  Even though I hate his nickname, Cricket.  Like I already said the development of relationship between Cricket and Lola is not different than what we saw happen between Anna and Etienne St. Clair.  However it was nice to see Anna and Etienne in this book and see how they are doing. 

Overall this was a good read and did enjoy it, but I do wish that it was more original.  If you have read and loved Anna and the French Kiss than you will probably love this book two, cause they are very identical.  Unless you don't like repetition that is. 

I give this book 4/5 STARS and Happy Reading

Other Books that I have reviewed by Stephanie Perkins:

Anna and the French Kiss

The Mermaid's Mirror by L. K. Madigan

Description:

Lena has lived her whole life near the beach – walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves – the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching. As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf. But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport. Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman – with a silvery tail. Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove. And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life.  (Goodreads)


My Thoughts:

This another library find, I wonted to read this book because it had mermaids in it.  Can resist stories about mermaids.  I've never heard of this book before or of this author for that matter, I was not sure what to expect. 

I have to say that this was an easy and fast read.  I did not hate this book but I did not love it either.  I think that this could have been much better.  There was something about this story that was missing; it needs more of everything.  I found that the storyline was alright, but the dialog was lacking.  Romantic relationship between Lena and the mermen was boring.  One minutes they are looking at each other across the hall (or should I say sea floor) and next they are declaring love for each other.  Lena's reactions to the situations that she finds herself in were very fake and not very realistic.  Take for example Lena learning to surf, she has two lessons of surfing and she is already professional in her mind because someone told her that she was natural.  She takes the matter in her own hands and goes surfing to a spot that is one of the most dangerous places to surf, by  herself.  How stupid was that.  I really did not like Lena, I just could not connect with her character.  She was very immature and annoying sometimes, but I could understand her emotional distress after she finds out about her mother. 

Anyways, this book was just ok for me.  I was hoping for something more but this book is not it.  The writing was alright but I felt that this book was more so for the younger audiance, 12 or younger.  I give this book 2/5 STARS - Happy Reading people. 

The Kingdom (Graveyard Queen, #2) by Amanda Stevens

Description:

Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town…My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here.Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.  (Goodreads). 


My Thoughts:

The Kingdom is book two in the fabulous Graveyard Queen series.  I've been waiting for this book for some time and can you imagen my joy when I saw that this book was available on NetGalley.  Also The Prophet was available as well (I think they still are). 

I do not know what it is about these ghosts in this book, or this series I should say, but they give me the creeps.  On number of occasions as I was reading, especially at  night, I thought to myself are there any ghost around me that I do not see.  Ghost that are feeding on my life energy.  I love ghost stories and most of them do not scare me or give me the creeps, but Amanda Stevens has manages to creep me out with her ghosts and for that I am very greatfull. 

Book was very well written, smooth and very concise writing.  All the charactes were very realistic and three dimentional; there was a lot of character buildup, especially for Amelia Gray.  I love her character, she is such a nicely imagened character that there is just something about her that I love and want to keep reading more.  I was bit disappointed that Devlin was not in this book, but this book was more so about Amelia and who she is or where she comes from rather about Amelia and Devlin.  However Devlin's presence was strongly notes in this book even though he was not physically there.  Thane was another character that I really liked, especially once I got to know him more.  Thane gives Devlin run for his money and I am thinking that we might be seeing Thane in future books that is if there is more books after The Prophet.  Book two felt like a set up story for the future books. 

Overall this was an excelent read and I can not wait to start reading The Prophet, which I also got from The NetGalley.  But I will also be buying these books to have them in my own collection.  I loved everything about this story the characters, even though Amelia sometimes did things against her better judgement.  It was well written, the dialog was good and fast flowing without awkwardness.  If you are fan of good ghost type stories than you might like this book, in my personal opinion it is one of the better ones out there, in Romance genera.  I give this book 5/5 STARS - Happy Reading. 

Graveyard Queen Series:

0.5 The Abandoned
1. The Restorer
2. The Kingdom
3. The Prophet

Deadhouse Gates (The Malazan Book of the Fallen #2) by Steven Erikson

Description:

In the vast dominion of Seven Cities, in the Holy Desert Raraku, the seer Sha'ik and her followers prepare for the long-prophesied uprising known as the Whirlwind. Unprecedented in size and savagery, this maelstrom of fanaticism and bloodlust will embroil the Malazan Empire in one of the bloodiest conflicts it has ever known, shaping destinies and giving birth to legends . . .
Set in a brilliantly realized world ravaged by dark, uncontrollable magic, this thrilling novel of war, intrigue and betrayal confirms Steven Erikson as a storyteller of breathtaking skill, imagination and originality--the author who has written the first great fantasy epic of the new millennium. (Goodreads)


My Thoughts:

This is book two of The Malazan Book of the Fallen series, I have read this book several years ago and than I stopped reading this series.  I can't remember why I stopped reading the series, I picked up this series up ago last year just before Christmas.  It took me a while to finish book two, but I did finish it.  It was good.  Steven Erikson has a knack for writing epic fantasy, this series it gets better with each book (at least that's what I heard). 

The Deadhouse Gates book could be said to be independent from book on Gardens of the Moon, but I would still recommend that you read the books in order that the book were written in. In The Deadhouse Gates, we have few characters that we have meet in book one, but we meet a lot of new characters.  One this about this series so far it the number of characters that we get to meet.  I almost believe that there is a new character or some new god on every page.  As a reader you have to be careful because it is easy to get lost in the vast number of different characters but please do not let that discourage you. 

The main plot of the book the Coltain's march across several leagues from one city to another. The Chain of Dogs.  This part of the book was amazing; there is a lot of military tactics involved in this march that I am not going to go into that.  But basically this is the retreat of the Malazan 7th Army while they are constantly under the attack from the enemy.  Not only does Coltain need to protect his Army, but also there are several thousand refuges with them that need protecting as well.  This was amazingly done and written and so bittersweet at the end, once they reach Aren. 

Then in the desert Raraku we have Sha'ika re-born or re-made if you want.  Sha'ika and the uprising against the empire.  It will be interesting to see what happens in House of Chains, book four, especially between Tavor and Sha'ika.  On another hand we have some renegades soldiers on the journey to assassinate the Empress Laseen.  Kalam, he was Claw, probably one of the best.  I hope we have not seen last of him in this book.  I want to see what happens to him and the woman he meet and the all the children that he inherits from the god at the end of the book.  Another set of characters, Fiddler, Crocus and Apsalar (I think that was her name) and Apsala's father.  They take another journey across the desert also trying to reach the Empress.  While on their journey they meet an interesting characters, Mappo and Icarium.  I found the story of Mappo and Icarium very interesting and I hope to see them again. 

Overall this was a book on an epic scale, it was excellent.  Writing was top notch, there was number of characters and there was lot of character growth and development.  The story was told from multiple points of view and that was very good because it gives a chance to see how all these characters think.  I give this book 5/5 STARS - Happy Reading. 

The Malazan Book of the Fallen Series:

1. Gardens of the Moon - Read Review
2. Deadhouse Gates
3. Memories of Ice
4. House of Chains
5. Midnight Tide
6. The Bonehunters
7. Reaper's Gale
8. Toll the Hounds
9. Dust of Dreams
10. The Crippled God

The Search for the Red Dragon (The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica #2) by James A. Owen

Discription:

In this follow-up to "Here, There Be Dragons," John, Jack, and Charles are brought together again after the children of the Archipelago vanish, and the legendary Dragonships, which can cross between the known worlds and the "Imaginarium Geographica," have also gone missing.  (Goodreads).

My Thoughs:

This is book two of my newly discovered series, The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica.  I have to say I in love with this series.  I just hope that they continue to get better and better. 

Book two takes place nine years in the future from the last book.  John, Jack and Charles have not seen each other for nine years, they stay away from each other to protect the Imaginarium Geographica.  Certain events lead to the meeting of the three friends and yet again they are taken on another adventure in Archipelago of Dreams.  They learn that all the children of Archipelago have disappeared without a trace, along with the Dragon ships. 

What I love about this series is that there is never a boring moment.  Each chapter is fast paced and filled with adventure.  I noticed a pattern, each chapter reveals a big puzzle peace that fits the story line.  So by the end of the book, we have all the pieces put together.  I actually like this, it is like putting a puzzle together. 

I love what the author has done with the characters in this book; this story centers around lost children and also there is a story about Peter Pan.  I love seeing loved literary characters being part of another story.  We encounter a lot of the characters from the privious book and we also meet some new ones.  My favourite new character in this book was Laura Glue, she was such a sweet and funny, I just loved her. 

Overall this book lives up to its sequal potential.  I have to say that it was excelent read and I'm looking forwart to reading book three.  I give this books 5/5 STARS - Happy Reading. 

The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica Series:

1. Here, There Be Dragons  (Read review)

2. The Search for the Red Dragon

3. The Indigo King

4. The Shadow Dragons

5. The Dragon’s Apprentice

6. The Dragons of Winter – Coming Soon October 2012

7. The First Dragon – Coming 2013

Here, There Be Dragons (Here, There Be Dragons (The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica #1) #1) by James A. Owen‏

Description:

The Imaginarium Geographica

"What is it?" John asked.
The little man blinked and arched an eyebrow.
"It is the world, my boy," he said. "All the world, in ink and blood, vellum and parchment, leather and hide. It is the world, and it is yours to save or lose."

An unusual murder brings together three strangers, John, Jack, and Charles, on a rainy night in London during the first World War. An eccentric little man called Bert tells them that they are now the caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica -- an atlas of all the lands that have ever existed in myth and legend, fable and fairy tale. These lands, Bert claims, can be traveled to in his ship the Indigo Dragon, one of only seven vessels that is able to cross the Frontier between worlds into the Archipelago of Dreams.

Pursued by strange and terrifying creatures, the companions flee London aboard the Dragonship. Traveling to the very realm of the imagination itself, they must learn to overcome their fears and trust in one another if they are to defeat the dark forces that threaten the destiny of two worlds. And in the process, they will share a great adventure filled with clues that lead readers to the surprise revelation of the legendary storytellers these men will one day become. (Goodreads). 

 

My Thoughts:

I discovered this book by chance at the library. I was browsing around when I happened across this book. I was very intrigued by its title and the cover. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and I think this one of those series that I want to have in my book collection. 

The premises of this book was intriguing, another world that people from our world can travel to. Well not just enyone, only select few who know about this world, the Archipelago of Dreams.  Three acquaintances, who will become friends at the end, venture on an adventure into Archipelago with Bert and his daughter Aven. John, Jack and Charles, are trusted into the world that they know nothing about and world that they never heard of. To make things more interesting , John is a caretaker of Imaginarium Geographica.

This book was extremely well written and the characters were well thought out and developed. Story line was very good and interesting, author does a good job of describing the landscape and the characters. I find that a lot of authors in YA genera do not do this well, they just skim over this part. But not Mr. Owen. He describes everything so well that I had no trouble picturing the Archipelago or the Dragon ships. The dialog between the characters was very entertaining and humorous; there were a lot of moments that made me laugh out loud. This book also refers to a lot of authors that we know and love, like Charles Dickinson, Dante, H. G. Wells, Jules Verne and many more. I love books and stories that use real life authors as characters, or use their works in the stories like Mr. Owen does. I especially liked the ending and the big reveal at the end of the book about John, Jack and Charles. That made my day because John and who he actually is, is one of my all time favourite authors. Now I have to read rest of the books in the series.

I would have to say that Charles was my favourite character, than John and then Jack. They have very different personalities and but all three of them a kind, smart and very entertaining in their own way. Bert is another interesting character, I wish we knew more about him but I take it that we will know more of him in the next books in the series. Overall this was a very an excellent read for me and I will be reading rest of the series as soon as I can get my hands on them. Fortunately my library has all the books in the series that have been released so far. If you like books like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Olympians, or Children of the Lamp series then you might like this series as well. It has it all, great writing, lots of imagination, beautiful new worlds, characters from literature, magic , friendship, villains and a lot more. I give this book 5/5 STARS and Happy Reading.  

The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica Series:

1. Here, There Be Dragons

2. The Search for the Red Dragon

3. The Indigo King

4. The Shadow Dragons

5. The Dragon’s Apprentice

6. The Dragons of Winter – Coming Soon October 2012

7. The First Dragon – Coming 2013

We Bury the Landscape by Kristine Ong Muslim‏

Description:

We Bury the Landscape is an exhibition of literary art. Ekphrasis, collected. One hundred flash fictions and prose poems presented to view. From the visual to the textual, transmuting before the gallery-goer’s gaze, the shifting contours of curator Kristine Ong Muslim’s surreal panorama delineate the unconventional, the unexpected, and the unnatural. Traversing this visionary vista’s panoply of “rooms of unfinished lives,” the reader unearths and examines and reanimates—revealing the transcendent uncanniness that subsists underfoot. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts:

I received this book from the author for the review and I accepted because I was really intrigued by it. The premises of it was very interesting. This is an unusual book, it’s both poetry and prose. Its both fiction and fantasy.

Collection of short stories/poems about paintings. Most of the painting that were selected were from the twentieth century; some of the them I was familiar with and some I had to look up. Author tells a story about each painting, a story that might run though your hear when you stand in front of the painting. I love art, but sometimes I do not get it. Sometimes when I talk to people about painting and you ask them what do they see. They tell you what they see and I am usually left confused because that is not what I saw. I guess art can be whatever you want it to be, however you as an individual perceive it. 

There were number of different stories/poems in this book that were very entertaining and humorous. I looked up few pictures that I was not familiar with before I read the story that was linked to it to see what I saw. Is it the same as what the author describes? And no it is not. But when I read the story/poem about the painting I was able to see what the author was seeing as well.

Overall this very well written and very imaginative book. I am glad that I accepted it, it is though provoking and gives you another POV on some of the paintings. It is always interesting to see what others see when they look at art. I give this book 4/5 STARS – Happy Reading.

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter‏

Description:

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone. (Goodreads). 

My Thoughts:

I requested this from NetGalley for a review. Actually I didn’t even release that it was on there, I was looking for something else when the book came up. I requested it right away. Thank you NetGalley for approving this read for me. 

I started to read this book without really knowing what was going on. I did not read the description, but I have to say I really liked this book. I actually think it was better than the first book. Book starts off with Kate returning back to the Underworld, back to Henry (or Hades if you will). She soon discovers that things are not going well in the Underworld, Cronos is awake. All the characters from the first book are in this books as well. Most of the gods are there doing what gods and goddesses do. Ava (or Aphrodite) was my favourite of all the gods/goddesses. I actually liked all of them, but Ava was most entertaining and fun.

One thing I was bothered with was relationship between Kate and Henry. It was back to square one, it felt like I was reading first book in the series. They act like they are strangers, there was no affection on Henry’s part. It did not help the matters when Persephone came into the picture. Kate spends the whole time analysing and doubting her whole relationship with Henry. She spends a lot of time doing this before she has a courage to confront Henry and ask him what he wants out of their marriage. Even though the two had a rough patch for the most part, they do manage to work it out at the end of the book. However I hope that book three does not take Henry and Kate back to square one in their relationship, they need to grow not go backwards. 

I think that the author did a wonderful job in writing and the world set up of this book. Hades was always one of my favourite Greek gods, Poseidon second. Kate had grown in this book a lot, even though she is still not confident, and does not really think things out, but her heart is in the right place. Henry, is very distant and aloof towards Kate and others as well, that is just who he is. I cannot wait for book three, we were left with big cliff hanger in this one and I cannot wait to see what will happen in book three, Goddess Inheritance.

Overall this was an excellent read and I am looking forward to books three. It was a fast and entertaining read. It was well written and there was a lot of character build up since book one. If you enjoy book about mythology and its gods/goddesses than you will like this book. It has action, romance, friendship and humour. Give it a try. I give this book 5/5 STARS -Happy Reading. 

Goddess Test Series:

1. Goddess Test

2. Goddess interrupted – Coming March 27^th, 2012

3. Goddess Inheritance – Coming Soon October 2012

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Description:

In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all. (Goodreads)


My Thoughts:

I have heard and read so many good things about this book, I just had to read it.  A lady at the book- store where I like to buy my books recommended it to me.  She knows that dystopian books are not my favourite genera, but she said that I would not regret reading it.  I do trust her judgement and took her advice. 

Where do I begin with this review; I have to say that I loved the book.  It is one of the best dystopias that I have read in a long while.  I've read Matched, Delirium and few others that were in YA genera.  But none of them were as good as Divergent.  Divergent had it all.  Plot was well though out and very interesting and entertaining.  Characters were three dimensional and very interesting; I wanted to know what is happening to Tris and her  friends at all times.  The ides of the fractions, Abnegation, Dauntless, Condor and Erudite was very interesting and I do wish that we can learn more about each fraction.  This book mainly focuses on Dauntless fraction and little bit on Abnegation.  Dialog between the characters was good and flowed smoothly there was no awkwardness.  I find a lot of author can not write a good dialog between their characters whitout making it awkward, imature or repetative.  But this is not the case in this book. 

Friendship and romance in this book was very well done.  There is actual chemistry between Tris and Four, but also love does not happen on page one either.  It takes time for the attraction to develop.  I liked Tris's friends, and even though sometimes they were selfish but they had to be in order to survive the training and to not become fractionless.  Peter was the character that I hated; he is one of those characters that make you feel frustrated because of the things he does or says.  You want to shake him or kick him just to make him feel the pain that he is causing others. 

Overall this was avery good book and if you are a fan of dystopian genera and YA books that you should read this book.  It has it all, witty dialog, intersting character that grow throught the book.  Very original story line and interesting politics (fraction).  I Am looking forward to book two, Insurgent which is to be released sometime in May 2012.  I give this book 5/5 STARS. 

Divergent Series:

1. Divergent
2. Insurgent - Coming May 1, 2012
3. Untitled  - Coming sometime in 2013

Dearly, Departed (Gone With the Respiration #1) by Lia Habel‏

Description:
Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love. (Goodreads)

My Thought

I got this book from NetGalley for a review. It did take me a while to read. I was taking my time with it, I would only read few chapters at a time. There are few things about this book that I did not like, but I did not hate the book either. Book itself was alright, I think that it’s me, I am not big on zombies. Especially ``good`` zombies.

I really do not understand Nora. She is scare of Bran and his friends thinking that t hey will eat her. It they were to eat her they would have done so on the roof of her house or in the car that they were transporting her in. Or at the compound that they are staying at. But she is still scared. So she asks for a gun thinking that she can defend herself against whole bunch of zombies. Really gun is not going to help you much if they decide that they want to eat you. She acts like a scared little kitten for the better part of the of the book without even attempting to be brave. But then all of sudden she is no longer scared. She is all confident and brave. It’s easy to be confident and brave when you know that the zombies are not going to eat you.

One think I do not understand about this book, apparently (as far as I can recall from the book) Nora’s society used to be like ours. But then something happens and they decide to go back to Victorian times, with modern twist to it. Ok I can see some appeal to it. What I want to know where the hell were women when this decisions were made. I cannot picture women wanting to go backwards and lose all their rights and become good little girls who cannot show a bare leg, or talk about topics such as war, weapons and so on because they are to delicate for such things.

Story line was alright but I wish that there was more going on in this book. There was nothing happening in the middle of the book. We see little bit action in the begging of the book, than nothing in the middle. Nothing till the end and even that was just skimmed over. The book never really explains what caused the disease. Also author tells the story from different POVs and in first person. Romance between Bran and Nora was not doing anything for me. It was very sudden, there was no transition or flirting or any kind of courting. It seems that Nora goes from being scared of Bram to in love with him. I did not feel the connection between them. I think that sometimes authors rush characters into the romantic relationship without developing the attraction first.

Overall this was alright book, but there is no wow factor. This book was no different from all other YA books that out there. The only difference this book has a zombie for a main character rather than a vampire, wolf or an angel. Basically we have a same formula just different numbers if you get my meaning. Some aspect of me did enjoy this book, it was alright read but I was not blown away by it. I give this book 3/5 STARS.

Gone With the Respiration Series:

1. Dearly, Departed
2. Dearly, Beloved - Coming in 2012

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Description:

What if Jane Austen`s memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? That’s the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Austen’s life, giving readers insights into her mind and heart. (Goodreads).

My Thoughts:

This is my first book by Syrie James, but I did buy Nocturnal and Forbidden, I just haven’t had a chance to read them yet. To tell you the truth I’ve been experiencing a reading slump right now. It’s not as bad because I am still reading just as much slower pace. 

I’ve been wanting to read this book for quite some time, well since the time I discovered it. I love anything Jane Austen and this sounded like a good read. This was a good and fast read for me. I read through this book in couple of days. It was very well written and entertaining. It is a fictional retelling if Jane Austen’s life and romantic relationship with Mr. Ashford. Syrie James does a wonderful job of writing this story. I’ve never read any biographies about Jane Austen, but I have read all of her books number of times. I am not sure how true this book is to Jane Austen’s life. Either way it was well done. This book does make you wonder who Mr. Ashford was and was he real. Makes you wonder what was Jane Austen’s life like and was there a man in her life. The thing is that we will never know and I think that is one of the reasons that makes Jane Austen and her personal life so interesting.

I love 18^th century period, it is one of the most fascinating periods in history. I love Jane Austen because her works are not about romance but about women and their life in male dominated society. Women struggling to survive in absence of male provider. There are number of different issues that I can talk about when you say Jane Austen, or Jane Austen and her books, but that’s not what this review is about. Author does touch on some of these issues but since they are not the main focus of this book the author does shift away from them.

If you have not read this book but you are planning to than you should. Honestly it is a very good book, it’s a light and entertaining read. While I was reading this book I felt like I was there with Jane Austen in her time period. The dialog between characters was very well done and author does a good job of using the English that was used in 18^th century. I would recomand this to all the Jane Austen fans, give it a try and see how you like it. Keep in mind that this is fictitious retelling of Jane Austen’s life so there might be some inconsistencies or inaccuracy about her life. I give this book 5/5 STARS. Happy Reading.

Other Books by Syrie James:

Nocturn

Forbidden

Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journal of Mina harker

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte