Archive for October 2011

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Book Review: Beastly by Alex Flinn


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October 23, 2011
11:14 AM

I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright – a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever – ruined – unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and a perfect life. And then, I’ll tell you how I became perfectly beastly.
Everybody knows the story of the Beauty and the Beast. From children's story books to television shows to Disney movies - all of us know the story of how true love looks past the physical appearance and see the true beauty of one's soul. 

Alex Flinn's modern take on this classic story is truly refreshing and entertaining. He did not forget to include the basic elements we all grew up with: the dashing 'prince' charming, the lovely yet simple girl, a daughter's love for his father and most of all, the roses.The author also added some details and characters to make the story modern and up-to-date of this world. 

Over-all, Beastly was a light-read, entertaining and perfect for those hopeless romantics. 
Well, isn't it good to go back to those timeless stories once in a while?

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What exactly is 'Hunger Games"?


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October 10, 2011 
10:22 PM
 
courtesy of: CNN
(CNN) -- Forget "Harry Potter" and "Twilight." In a few months, "The Hunger Games" phenomenon will be taking over the pop culture world. Although it will be feeding off the tween demographic, this franchise will chew up those other guys and spit them out.

But what exactly is this "Hunger Games" wonder that has so many folks talking months before the movie (which just wrapped up filming earlier this month) is even released? Like many of the wildly successful film franchises these days, it began with a book.

Suzanne Collins is the mastermind behind "The Hunger Games" trilogy, which has been gaining momentum over the last few months for both its suspenseful plot and overarching message about society.
The plot revolves around a dystopian society where punishment for a previous rebellion has resulted in a televised event. One boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district (there are 12 total) are selected at random and forced to participate in the Hunger Games, where "tributes" must fight to the death until only one is left standing.

"The Hunger Games" gives us a heroine named Katniss, a strong-willed and unwavering spirit, who volunteers for the games in order to spare her younger sister. Once inside the death match arena, she must get down and dirty to outlive her competitors, but there's one slight problem.
Her hot friend Peeta gets cast into the games, too. In the midst of all the slaying, Katniss finds herself embroiled in a love triangle with her longtime pal Gale, who is watching the games from his home, and Peeta, who confesses his love for her inside the arena. Katniss' emotional turmoil of love or death makes Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" look like child's play.

Apparently, Collins' twisted plot came to her one night while she was channel surfing between a competition reality show and a news program about the Iraq war. She blended the two shows and "The Hunger Games" was born.

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Book Review: Shade and Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready


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 October 2, 2011
8:20PM

Love ties them together.
Death can't tear them apart.
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.
 Courtesy of: http://jerismithready.com/books/shade/  

Aura's life is anything but easy.  Her boyfriend Logan died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling.  Aura knows that he needs her now more than ever.  She loves Logan, but she can't deny her connection to the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she's not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura's search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets...and her heart. 
Courtesy of:  http://www.jerismithready.com/books/shift/

Tired of the world of vampires, werewolves, warlocks and fairies? Well, why not try that of ghosts? Jeri Smith-Ready veered away from the common fantasy creatures and chose to remain the normal world, but with a little twist to it. The result? A world where ghosts are part of the normal and everyday life (at least to those who were born after The Shift). 

Just like most of the young adult series, The Shade Trilogy has its own love triangle, centering on Aura caught between her dead boyfriend Logan and the new guy Zachary. While the book is an easy read and the readers might enjoy the young lovers element, Shade (the first installment) and Shift (the second) provided not enough excitement for a reader to be hooked enough to the story of paranormal organization, conceited rocker ghost, ideal Scottish boyfriend and a girl with an intriguing past. What saved the book is the mystery of the Shift, which is the backbone of the story, and how it is linked to the main characters. Unlike the other series, a different kind of magic is involved in the story and it is quite intriguing how the author will reveal and put the pieces together. How is Aura connected to the Shift? What are the truths of her past? How will the truths affect her relationship with Zach? Despite the lack in depth of the characters and story, The Shade Trilogy is still quite entertaining and not as heavy as the other series. Shine, the final installment, will be out on May 1, 2012.

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