Friday, June 22, 2012

[Books, Review] Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Synopsis
High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom. And then ditched her.

Review
Prom, a time when Junior and Senior high school students gather to dance and have fun. For some schools, it's the party of the year. I remember my prom. It wasn't as spectacular as I imagined it to be, but it was alright.

This book reminded me of my prom back in 2007 & 2008. I had 2 proms. At the beginning of the book, I felt as it this book was going to be so interesting and fun to read. It did turn out to be interesting and fun. But what I really don't like about it, is that there were multiple opportunities where Justina could've made her prom night the greatest night of her life, but I believe that she was so dense at times to even realize that and I think she over reacted a little when she thought that Ian ditched her. I didn't really like the main character, Justina very much.

What I did like about it was how the book was written. Telling the story through the stains on Justina's dress. It was very original. The book cover was so much like the book, plus the pages of my edition had the Justina in her prom dress showing each stain while she tells her story.

The book was alright. It was an easy read, but I have to be honest, I sort of skimmed at a few chapters because Justina wouldn't get to the point of her story.

The story line was good, very original. I would recommend this book to any preteen or teen out there who enjoys reading short love stories.

★★★

Saturday, June 16, 2012

[Books] Book side table - Shelf


Good day readers,

I just wanted to show you all my 'Book side table - shelf' that I use as a shelf. This is how much books I have, and of course there are more stacked up behind other books. Since I don't really have much books, and since I don't really own a book shelf, I just put all my books beside my bed.

I personally think that it's a good place to put your books; I mean if you have like 20 and below, so that you can easily pick them up and read before bed or something. Its pretty cool.

But on the downside of having a 'Book side table - shelf', If you have over 50 books, that's going to be a problem. You have no more space to put your other shit like Tissue, pencil & pen holder, calendar, other notebooks. I have rearranged my table so many times this year because books just keep on adding. But some of the books I read are my sisters sooo they just go on my to-read side; over there next to the unicorn, for like a month or two.

That's it. I just want to show you all how I my 'Book side table - shelf' looks like, since I've mentioned it in some of my other posts.

I bid you all a fabulous day!

Friday, June 8, 2012

[Book, Review] I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

Started on June 06, 2012
Finished on June 08, 2012
Synopsis
Algonquin “Ali” Rhodes, the high school newspaper’s music critic, meets an intriguing singer, Doug, while reviewing a gig. He’s a weird-looking guy—goth, but he seems sincere about it, like maybe he was into it back before it was cool. She introduces herself after the set, asking if he lives in Cornersville, and he replies, in his slow, quiet murmur, “Well, I don’t really live there, exactly. . . .”

When Ali and Doug start dating, Ali is falling so hard she doesn’t notice a few odd signs: he never changes clothes, his head is a funny shape, and he says practically nothing out loud. Finally Marie, the school paper’s fashion editor, points out the obvious: Doug isn’t just a really sincere goth. He’s a zombie. Horrified that her feelings could have allowed her to overlook such a flaw, Ali breaks up with Doug, but learns that zombies are awfully hard to get rid of—at the same time she learns that vampires, a group as tightly-knit as the mafia, don’t think much of music critics who make fun of vampires in reviews. . .


Review
I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked it. I laughed when I first saw this at the bookstore. I just had to get it. I knew it was going to have a weird story line and all, with a teenage girl dating a zombie. I bet we all wondered how that'll turn out. It had me thinking how it would be like. So, I had to get it.

I started this book a few days back, and I am happy that I finished it quick, because I wanted a small quick read before my exams starts. It being only 200 pages makes it a plus one for readers to pick it up.
The cover explains the title, obviously. But I still find it gross. As I went to buy the book, I asked myself "Why would I kiss a zombie? Its just gross, wont they bite my head off?"

The book seemed like a typical YA paranormal book, but instead of the leading man being a werewolf, vampire, or wizard/warlock, he is a zombie. I did not understand how it would be possible when I started reading it, but it was possible. Selzer made it very clear how the Zombies can act as humans if they drink a certain fluid. The book explained everything about how it all works in that world of paranormals living among humans.

The main character, Algonquin, "Alley", seemed like a woman who can stand up for herself, much like the other main characters in other YA Paranormal books. She seems to be the 'Man' in the relationship between her zombie boyfriend. I'm sure it makes sense because he is a living corpse who is falling apart, he needs to be careful since as stated in the book that everything hurts for him.

The Zombie, Doug, Alley/Gonq/Quin's leading man, her post-human boyfriend. When he was first described, I right on there knew that he was a zombie, I cannot believe that Alley did not figure it out from the start. I find that completely stupid, it just so obvious that he was a zombie.

I cannot believe that Alley would actually consider turning into a zombie or a vampire just to be with Doug. It seems very "Twilight-like". She should date him for more than a year or at least 6 month before she considers turning into an undead being. But at least she thought of it.

The ending, well, Doug kind of had it coming. I mean he is a zombie and zombies can't live forever. I enjoyed how the 2 vampires Fred and Will were fighting along side him. It was something very knew seeing vampires fight along side a zombie to fight off other evil zombies.

It was an average book, that I would recommend reading for an easy fast read. This was my first paranormal book written by a man writing in a woman's perspective, and I praise him for it, Adam Selzer did a pretty good job with this book.

★★★

Thursday, June 7, 2012

[Books, Review] Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Goodreads
Started on May 29, 2012
Finished on June 6, 2012

Synopsis

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth.


Review

Queen of the dead is the second edition to The Ghost and the Goth series. After the first book, I straight on picked up the second one since it was the next on my to-read list. The first book being an easy read, I expected the second edition would be too, which it was. And I have to be honest here, I kind of just skimmed through the whole book, but I did read it. It was as funny and as witty as the first book. I would always have the drive to read and pick it up, and if I've been less busy, I would have finished it in less than a week. 

The story line for this book was all right. I found it okay, it wasn’t much of an “OMG what’s going to happen next” book. It was more of an "Oh, that happened. Alright" 

Throughout the whole book, the only best part I liked was the ending. How Alona went into Lily’s body to save both herself and Lily. Since Alone and Lily are one; Ally (Alona & Lily) and Will can now perhaps maybe get together, for read. Who knows, maybe this is the way the 'light' wants to replay Alona for saving Lily by giving her another chance.  There are loads of questions coming up.

The cover looks great as always. I love the pink in it; it looks like cotton candy.  

The book, all in all was good. I would recommend it to any preteen who enjoys reading. It’s a great young adult book. I cannot wait to read the next book.

★★★★

Saturday, June 2, 2012

[Books] Monthly Review Wrap-up: May

Good day my fellow bloggers, May has come to an end once again. How fast time flys.
I didn't post my monthly wrap-ups for the month of January - April, because I totally forgot that I was suppose to.

Here are my reviews for the month of May
Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

I find it sad that I only read 3 books on May. I blame travelling.

A very short entry, but that's it for now.

[Book, Review] Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham

I cannot believe that I didn't post this review up on my blog. I was suppose to post this up on the 4th of May. I just posted my review on goodreads but not on my blog, weird.
Anyways, here is my review.

Sleeping Arrangements is one of Sophie Kinsella's old books that she has written as Madeleine Wickham. I have read only one Madeleine Wickham book, Cocktails for Three, and I thought it was a very simple book, it wasn't one of my favourites but it was good. 

I am currently on vacation so I thought reading Sleeping Arrangements would be great since the book was set as a vacation type of book.

2 families, 1 villa. The Drama. Well not much of drama. Just tension between Hugh and Chloe.
Hugh and Chloe used to sleep together for months. Chloe has a son with another man, and since she was sleeping with Hugh, Chloe decided to let Hugh meet her son Sam. Hugh got freaked out and ran away. Afraid of commitment. 

15 years have passed, and they both lived different lives, with different families. Their old friend Gerard offered them his villa in Spain for a weekend. What was suppose to be different weekend, Both families were double booked on the same day, and were forced stay at the villa, and try to cope with each other. 

I found this a very original stand alone short story. 2 families who has their own problems but in the end they are all connected in some way. 
I think it was very random for some reason. 

When Hugh and Chloe slept together. I thought Hugh was acting very stupid & very reckless. I wasn't his biggest fan. 

I felt so sorry for Philip and Amanda. They were both so clueless. They will never know what happened between Hugh and Chloe.

It took me a while to finish this book. I just didn't feel like reading, at all. But I found the book very interesting. There are some parts where I couldn't put it down at some pages. 

Sleeping arrangements was a good book. Great reading when on vacation if you miss the drama from home.
My second Madeleine Wickham book & I'm looking forward to the rest of her books.