Beouwulf - the Seamus Heaney translation
Pages: 213
So not gonna lie, I read sparknotes for most of this book because I couldn't understand what I was reading. As soon as I read it I would look on sparknotes for the dumbed down translation and I understood what was going on. This is an extremely difficult book to read, especially if you have no experience with old english or translated works.
The main characters are Beowulf, Grendel, Grendel's Mom, and Hrothgar. Beowulf is our hero, Grendel is our antagonist, a descendant from Cain, Grendel's mom is obviously what her name means, and Hrothgar is the King of where Grendel was rampaging.
The plot was good but they used to many words for something so simple, but I can't really bash that because that's just how things were written back then. This book was written in 1040 if you don't know. So it was super wordy and I found myself falling asleep several times and not remembering what I read and having to go back and reread several pages.
Other than all of these things the fights were pretty short but visual which was great. It was heartbreaking at the end a little after everything Beowulf did he ended up dying.
This book is definitely for mature readers. Not because of content, but because I'm in an AP English 12 class and most of my class needed the teachers help with it. If you can understand it without help props to you because I couldn't haha. It really is a good book and NO THE MOVIE IS NOT ANYTHING LIKE THE BOOK. So don't go watching the movie and then thinking you read Beowulf because you saw the movie. NO. Not even close. Think again. This is a very good book to stretch your brain though. If you're ready pick it up and try it. Carry on my wayward readers.
Clockwork Princess
Pages: 502
So this is the third book in the Infernal Devices series which the spin-off series of the mortal instruments but it was written in the time period of over 100 years before The Mortal Instruments, and it was how everything came to be. This book was amazing. I'll try not to have any spoilers in this but readers beware.
So the main characters are the same as in every book. Will, Tessa, Jem, Charlotte, Henry, and Sophie. They all basically have the same characteristics as they did in the first two books except for the fact that Will is letting his walls come down and it's freaking adorable. I ship Will and Tessa so hard. And for those of you who don't know what that means it just means that that's who I want in a relationship in the book. And in the end it sort of happens and then it sort of doesn't, I really can't explain more without spoilers.
The plot in this book was basically the same. If you read the first book or two you know that they are trying to find Mortamain. Well that plot is still continued but it does end I promise, but the good thing is I was still never bored through the whole book. Even though it still had the same general plot.
It took me like two days to read this book because I absolutely could not put it down. Not gonna lie, I cried, I laughed, I got incredibly angry. This book took me on a mini emotional roller coaster. I wasn't so overcome with emotions, but just enough to make me enjoy the book. Clare did a great job writing this book. I would recommend this series to anyone.
The only thing I didn't like was the sex scene omg. First they were taking off their shoes and then he couldn't figure out how to get her dress off and then it was like "and he moved his body to cover hers." Like seriously? I realize that this is a young adult book but come on can't you give me a little something here? But oh well, I guess a girl can't have everything she wants.
Five stars for this book. Please go out and read this book series. And if you haven't read the Mortal Instruments go read that also. The movie was pretty great. Could've been a smidge closer to the book but it was still great. Go read these two series! Carry on my wayward readers.
I'm really not sure about this book. I like it, I really do, but...Michael. Ugh.This is the first time I've ever liked a main female character and totally wanted to stab the love interest with a pitchfork. He was just so...so stupid.Reign Or Shine by Michelle Rowen
Pages: 284
You know that insanely, ridiculously, and utterly retarded TV show, That 70s Show? Whenever Michael came into the book, my thoughts went straight to...well...Michael "Kelso" Kelso..."Do you have any idea how annoying you are?""It wasn't every day I came right out and admitted my real feelings. But Michael seemed to be the type of guy who needed these things spelled out for him."See. Even Nikki acknowledges it!But, I will give him props for being one of the only Michaels I know of in a book that didn't have blonde hair, blue eyes, and played guitar. Awesome points from me.Besides Michael, the story was just really predictable. I knew who the bad guy was, the motive, and how they were going to be stopped not even half-way through the book. Seriously people, when the bad guy is oozing niceness, it's obvious what their intentions are.Then there is the over-all cheesiness of the book (it cheesiness a word?! o_O). I mean, the last couple of lines in the book were: Mess with the demon and you get the horns. Cute horns, but still, horns.Nikki Donovan was okay compared to most heroines. She was actually pretty bad-ass at times, and didn't rely on Michael to save her. (Okay, she did once!). But why is she so damn peppy? Was Rowan trying to contrast her demon self and her human self? If so, too far.Before you know it, demons are going to be sparkling, too. The over-all plot of the story is pretty good, and it kept me entertained for the most part. It's very fast-paced, and there were really no boring parts. I did really like the book, much to my complaining over Facebook, and too Christina...and my mom.The only reason I picked up this book was because I wanted to prove that I am a better demon princess that Nikki Donovan...I am~
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Pages: 352
I've been dreading reviewing this. Not because I have nothing to say, but because so many people love this book (and, you know, it's a literary icon), but because I don't want people to think I didn't "understand" it, because that seems to be my peer's conclusion for me and my friends not liking the book.
No, I understood it perfectly fine. It was just so damn BORING! Nothing happened at all for a good two-thirds of the book.
Another thing is that I just couldn't connect with the characters, especially Elizabeth. She was just way too judgmental for my liking.
Mrs. Bennet was irritating, too. I really don't think she's care if her daughters were married off to mass murderers, as long as they're married and have money.
Most of the characters were pretty one-dimensional, to say the least.
While reading this book, my mind often wandered to other things. I am normally very focused when it comes to reading, going as far as to listen to music while doing so without being distracted. When reading this, I found every reason to get my mind off of it. It was just that boring.
Not to mention that when I stopped reading, I felt kind of out of it, warped (I refrain from saying I felt "high", being as I have never been in that state before).
I thought maybe I'd like this because I do like historical fiction. I suppose it was the romance aspect of it that bothered me. I don't know.
Either way, I had to read this whethered I wanted to or not (well, I could have chosen not to, but then I wouldn't get into the AP English course...). A couple of my friends have read it previously. One told me it was terrible, the other said: "Well, you like to read, so I think you'll like it. Besides, it's soooo good!"
Yeah, I think not, Alex. :D
That's about all I'm going to say. It's all I can think of saying, at least. This book was just not for me.
Fifty Shades Trilogy
(Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed)
Pages:
Book 1: 380
Book 2: 532
Book 3: 594
Okay, I'm gonna start off this review saying yes, I did read the fifty shades trilogy, obviously. Honestly, the only reason why I read the series was because I wanted to see what all the hype was about. No, I'm not going to go and out and become the next Mrs. Robinson.
The main characters in this book were Anastasia Steele, and Christian Grey. Anastasia was the young, innocent, ignorant girl who fell in love with the powerful, sensual, dominant Christian Grey. Anastasia kinda got annoying after a while to be honest. She was always complaining about something. Christian also got annoying after a while because he tried to hard. But Christian is oh-so-hot and I loved reading about him.
(Btw no I never got turned on by this book. I had somebody ask me that. That's weird....sorry but no....)
The plot was love and sex. Basically that's it. Every time you turn around they were "doing it." I think they mistook passion for love honestly and I would like to read a book about them 10 years from now to see if they still "have it" whatever it may be. I mean it was hot, yes, and sometimes I was just like why the heck would they do that, but mostly it was just corny and repetitive. I was intrigued by their so-called "love" though. They couldn't get enough of each other, and they were always there for each other. But sometimes it was just stupid and I was like "can they not control themselves for five minutes when around each other?"
I seriously read all three books in 3 1/2 days because I wanted to see what happened. I honestly skipped through most of the sex scenes after the first three because they were all the same just about. If you cut out the sex then you have a decently well written love story. It could have been better but then again it was a sex driven series so how good could it actually be?
I wouldn't recommend this for anybody who is not mature enough to read it. I'd say 14+ because I think that kids under 14 shouldn't be reading this kind of stuff yet. Heck, kids my age (almost 18) shouldn't be reading this stuff, but if you do read it be prepared and don't think that this is all sex is about and how relationships are if you've never been in one. It's just a book. I give it 3 1/2 stars.
Thirst No. 5
Author: Christopher Pike
Pages: 441
Okay, so the main characters of this book are the same as they have been. Seymour, Sita, Matt, and the other little people that they pick up along the way. They haven't changed much so there's not much to put about them.
The plot of this story is about Sita going back in her head and reliving the Holocaust. It takes a while because she can't remember much. The book started off slow and kinda hard to get into, I considered giving up several times. But when Sita started sharing the story it started to get interesting. The story stretched on through just about the whole book, and I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know how her story ended. I actually got kinda confused in several spots in this book and had to reread them because I was lost. You have to be able to keep up with this book because it is way more "smart" than the last four books. But all in all, pretty good plot.
This book didn't take me that long to read once I got past the first couple chapters. Maybe three or four days. I lost track of time to be honest. But pretty good book. I would recommend it. The first four book reviews are listed below if you want to check them out, if you haven't read the series yet.
Thirst No. 1
Thirst No. 2,3,4
Sorry to all of those people who follow my blog, I have been super busy, I have been reading (PROMISE!) Just no time to post anything so I'm going to gather up all of my memories and post a bunch of reviews from books that I have read in the past couple of months. I finally got a new laptop (my last one didn't have internet), so hopefully it will be easier to keep up with the blog. Please don't hate me for losing track of well, everything! Please please please recommend books! and give me feedback! I'm always happy to hear what you have to say! Thanks for being patient with me! -Christina
