(Mini Review) Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Still on my desktop, cleaned it up some and it's going a little faster, but still can't upload anything or open up any files.   Looks like it might be longer to get my laptop fixed. :(  Thought I would do a couple of mini reviews so that I don't get too backed up.




Wish by Alexandra Bullen
Genre:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Scholastic
Date Published:  January 1st 2010

Wish is Alexandra Bullen's debut novel and the first in the Wish series.  I liked and enjoyed Wish, and that's basically it.   Nothing stood out, nothing to rave about..it was just a okay read.  Olivia and Violet are twins and when Violet dies everthing changes.  Olivia and her family move, and she is finding it hard to cope with everything without Violet.  Three wishes come to play, and situations to do with those wishes is what Wish is about.  At times I was a little bored, honestly Olivia isn't really a interesting character. 

Final Say-  Just okay.  Check your local library for a copy.


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Laptop Went Bust

On the first of this month my laptop went caput.  It will probably take about 2 weeks before I can get it fixed (hopefully sooner), but in the mean time my husband took the old pc out of the closet, and plugged it in.  It's big and fugly to say the least, and I sent two emails today that took me about an hour and half to send..lol!  Yes, it's slow..very slloooow.  I'm falling way behind on my reviews, and i'm reading like I just learned  how to read.  No laptop equals no distractions from reading.  I'm currently on my fifth book for this month (YEAH!). 

I might try to knock out a review.  I know I can't put a picture on a post unless I want to wait a day for it to load.  I don't know I'll see what I can do if anything at all. 

I have a feeling Feb. will be a knockout month for me!

Does Size Really Matter?

Does Size Really Matter?

I've been noticing how much my reading has changed over the years, and boy has it changed.  One of the biggest things I have noticed is my aversion to big books.  As a teenager and well up to a couple of years ago my motto was "the bigger the better". 

Prior to PBS (paperbackswap) or the discovering of "chick lit" I didn't have a book collection/library.  I joined PBS in 2007, and when I joined I only had a couple of books here and there that I would buy because my local library didn't have any "chick lit" books.  Before my discovery of chick lit I would go to the library (really small, and crappy) and get books that were fat.  I loved really big books because I wanted to stretch the reading experience out.  I would check out Jacqueline Briskin books because they were big, and about strong women, or Judith Michael.  These books were epic stories spanning decades in the lives of the chacters.  I loved them, sadly I don't read them anymore..

I discovered the genre of chick lit after picking up Bridget Jones Diary at a library.  After that I couldn't get enough of it.  Of course, I swayed towards the big books.  Anything less than 400 pages I didn't want. I was use to my Briskin's and Michael's size.  Even when I joined PBS I would look at page count, and if it had less than 350 pages I just wasn't going to order or WL it even if it sounded great.  Wierd, I know but that was just my preference.

Now for the last probably 2 years I can't get myself to want to read a really big book.  I still have Stephen King's Under the Dome and Duma Key in my TBR, as well as other popular big books.  Don't get me wrong I want to read them but now they seem so time consuming.  I think because now I have so many books I dont' want to spend so much time on just one. 

I kind of miss the days of old when I was just glad to be reading.  I wasn't worried about all the books I haven't read, but was concentrating on what I was reading at the time.

Jacqueline Briskin, Judith Michael I think back on you with fond memories.  I don't miss getting made fun of though because of those crappy covers, but your stories were magnificently weaved, and your heros were to die for.

I also want to add that I kind of outgrown the chick lit phase.  I read them every now and then, but it use to be all I read.  My local library now has a wonderful collection of chick lit books thanks to yours truly.

What do think about size?

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Still Missing

Author:  Chevy Stevens

Genre:  Thriller/Mystery

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Date Published:  July 6th 2010

What a freaky scary book. I read this in such a fast pace, and I loved every minute. The thriller/mystery genre is one I dabble in here and there, and the main reason for this is I never get the seating on the edge of my chair feeling I expect from the genre. Still Missing is the reason I continue reading thriller and mysteries though. I was so engrossed in this novel it’s amazing that I remembered to cook dinner…wait, I didn’t. We had McDonald’s that day.

Still Missing is the story of the kidnapping, captivity, and escape as well as consequential emotions that follow of Annie O’Sullivan. The novel starts off with Annie at her therapist.

“If we’re going to do this, it’s going to be done my way. That means no questions from you. Not even one sneaky little “How did you feel when...” I’ll tell the story from the beginning, and when I’m interested in hearing what you have to say, I’ll let you know.”

If that’s doesn’t have you turn the page with a quickness then I don’t know what will. The story is being told during Annie’s therapy sessions. The chapters are actually called sessions. Most of the sessions are of Annie telling the story of the kidnapping, but then you have sessions about what she’s going through post nightmare. The tale that Annie tells is frightening to no end. Seriously, this is a women’s worst nightmare. I kept on reading way until the night because I need to know how she escaped, how she managed the torture. How the hell did she survive?

Chevy Stevens wrote a debut novel that did the unusual for me, it kept me on the edge of my seat. Thank you for that Ms. Stevens, and for that you have a fan for life.

Is this recommendable…hell yeah!

Go read it!

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Author:  Ned Vizzini

Genre:  Young Adult

Publisher:  Miramax

Date Published:  April 1st 2006

From Goodreads:

Like many smart, ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner seeks entry into Manhattans most prestigious school, Executive Pre-Professional High School. With single-minded determination, he works night and day to ace the entrance exam and gets in. Thats when everything starts to unravel. Once Craig starts his new school, he realizes hes just one of many brilliant kids, and he isnt even brilliant, hes average. As Craig starts getting so-so grades, he sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. He begins to have trouble eating, sleeping, and thinkingthats when he tells his parents hes depressed. He goes on medication and talks to therapists, but things keep getting worse, until one night Craig feels so low that he seriously considers suicide.But instead, Craig calls a hotline. The counselor tells him to get to the nearest hospital, and before he knows it, hes signed, sealed, and delivered into one of Brooklyns finest psychiatric units.Craigs new roommate is an Egyptian schoolteacher who refuses to get out of bed. His neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, and a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors.But somehow in this motley crew, Craig finds real friends and kindred spirits who give him strength. This is a remarkably moving and authentic picture of the physicality, the despair, and even the hilarity, of depression.

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The beginning of It’s Kind of a Funny Story was iffy for me. I wasn’t sure if it was my cup of tea per se, and I even contemplated stamping a DNF on it. I’m so glad I continued, because soon after I completely fell for this book and Ned Vizzini’s quirky writing.  

Craig Gilner is a smart 15 year old with a lot on his mind. He is consumed with making good grades, and being excellent at the things he does that it starts to infect his everyday life. Things become too much to deal with like grades, school and girls. The pressure and anxiety soon overcome him so much that he is seriously thinking about suicide. The majority of the story takes place at an adult psychiatric unit, as Craig is the main character the other patients become the supporting cast. There are some really great funny moments, as well endearing ones taking place in the unit. Honestly I can’t give the synopsis it’s due justice.

I think there is a little of Craig in everyone, and that’s why you become so engaged while reading It’s Kind of a Funny Story. Seriously, he’s an awesome character with real life worries and thoughts. He loves peeing because it’s such a simple thing. You need to pee, so you get up and do it. It needs no thought or planning. You got to love a protagonist that makes you see urinating in a whole different light.

Ned Vizzini is a really great writer. His writing is real, and cool. I totally would love to drink a cup of coffee with him. I’m glad I stuck with it. Highly recommended!

I was happy to find out that it was made into a movie. It should be out on DVD soon.

 
 
Movie Trailer
 

On My Wishlist (4)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post.

Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield

Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Having no idea how many days—or weeks—have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: Ruthie has vanished.

And with her, nearly all of civilization. Where once-lush hills carried cars and commerce, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters—people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.

In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a harrowing quest to get her Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider, let alone a woman who became a zombie and somehow turned back, but she finds help from an enigmatic outlaw, Smoke. Smoke is her savior, and her safety. For the Beaters are out there. And the humans grip at survival with their trigger fingers. Especially when they learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, of weapons in a brave new world....

Expected published date:  Feb. 22 2011

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Hating Olivia : A Love Story by Mark SaFranco

Max Zajack's life is cheap rooms, dead-end jobs, and suicidal fantasies until he meets the alluring and mysterious Olivia Aphrodite, and everything goes to hell.

Max is a struggling musician and wannabe writer. His life is in a rut until one night, while playing a gig at a local club, he gazes out into the crowd and sees Olivia. Before long, they are sharing a bed and host of dark vices that begin to consume them. Their love turns toxic, sending them spiraling downward toward the inevitable. Violently romantic, viscerally honest, Hating Olivia is the story of two loners whose obsessive love brings them to the edge of destruction.

Already published

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Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother—and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth—that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is for real.

Published January 4th 2011

Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser

Wish You Were Dead

Author:  Todd Strasser

Publisher:  EgmontUSA

Genre:  YA Thriller/Suspense

Date Published:  October 13th 2009

From Goodreads: 

The day after anonymous blogger Str-S-d wishes the popular girl would die, Lucy vanishes. The students of Soundview High are scared and worried. Especially frightened and wracked with guilt is Madison Archer, Lucy’s friend and the last person to see her the night she disappeared.

As days pass with no sign of the missing girl, even the attention of Tyler, an attractive new student, is not enough to distract Madison from her growing sense of foreboding. When two more popular students disappear after their names are mentioned on Str-S-d’s blog, the residents of Soundview panic.

Meanwhile, Madison receives anonymous notes warning that she could be next. Desperate to solve the mystery before anyone else disappears, Madison turns to Tyler, but can she trust him when it becomes clear that he knows more than he’s sharing?

The clock is ticking. Madison must uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances . . . before her name appears in Str-S-d’s blog.

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When I first finished Wish You Were Dead I thought it was a relatively good creepy book, but looking back to write this review my opinion has changed a bit. As a whole it has a creepy vibe because of the missing kids, but the characters fell flat to me. The who done it also seems left field, and I have problems with the way everything unfolded.

There was a level of suspense in Wish You Were Dead, honestly I had no clue who the kidnapper/crazy person was which was nice. As I mentioned it was creepy because of the kidnapped kids, which is realistic, and that always adds to said creepiness. The story is told through the eyes of Madison, one of the elite kids at school. It seems the kidnapper is targeting the elite kids. A anonymous blogger blogs about the torment they endure from some of the popular kids, and they then suddenly one by one they go missing. I thought it was a unique book, there was just some problems I had with it.

The main thing lacking in Wish You Were Dead is character development. All they characters fell flat to me, and it’s very hard to get into a book if you don’t give a sh*t about them. Also, when the crazy person is revealed you are completely caught by surprise not because of the great plots and turns but because it’s so freaking left field.

This is my first Todd Strasser book I’ve read, and I wasn’t really impressed, but it wasn’t all together a failure. I think I will give him another try.