January 16, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesnt Read...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. It was created due to their love of lists. 

This weeks topic is: Since my blog focuses on Young Adult books...
Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read Young Adult (YA)

1. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout - OMG! If you haven't read Half-Blood or any of Jennifer's books in general drop everything and pick one up right now! She writes amazing books. Half-Blood was my first taste of her writing and I cant get enough. Awesome writer, awesome book!

2. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - First book in The Mortal Instruments series and it is so amazing! I have not met one person who doesnt like Cassandra Clare's writing!

3. The Host by Stephenie Meyer - If your at all worried it's like Twilight, its not. Its nothing like it. It's very good! And after the first few pages it gets really interesting and you dont want to put it down!

4. The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - This book is such a cute read. If you like short contemporaries and like cute stories about people falling in love this book is a good place to start!

5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - This is my fave young adult contemporary! Its just pure amazing! If you dont start with TSPOLAFS (above #4) then I HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest you start with Anna. Ehh. I actually suggest you start with Anna anyways because of how much I love it!

6. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - I know a lot of people get tired of Angel books and give up on them but this is one everyone should read! It's one of the best Angel books I've read and if you were to start reading Angel books I'd suggest Unearthly first!

7. Divergent by Veronica Roth - Dystopian! If you wanna read a really amazing YA Dystopian I suggest you start with Divergent! I couldnt put this book down!

8. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - This is another dystopian but it's completely different from others and I have proof people who dont read YA would like it. I read it, then I bought a copy for my best friend and she loved the series and now her mom is reading it and loving it!

9. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - Another dystopian but again, its kind of different and its one that keeps you hooked from beginning to end!

10. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh - I don't know what to specifically classify this as but it is amazing! Especially if your a fan of Edgar Allen Poe. Certain things in this book are based on his stories and he is just studied in general in this book. It is amazing!

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October 24, 2011

Review: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The Host (The Host #1)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little Brown
Publication Date: May 6, 2008
Pages: 619
Source: Hardcover/Own

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. 

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

Review: I am really mad at myself that I let this book sit on my shelf for so long before I read it. I absolutely loved it!!!! OMG! I loved the whole sci-fi thing with the souls and the other planets. It made things really interesting! I found the whole idea of souls invading earth and there being few human survivors in hiding so interesting but such a new and fascinating idea. I mean who would think humans would have to go into hiding on their own planet!!! I also found the souls very very interesting. The fact that they either over took the previous host or the previous host over took them was so fascinating! It took me a little while to get used to when Wanderer/Wanda was talking and when Melanie was talking but I figured it out pretty fast once I caught on.

So lets start with Jared and Jamie right here. Melanie was determined to get to them whether her invading soul liked it or not. Eventually though, when Melanie pushed enough memories of her, Jared & Jamie onto Wanderer she gave in. I'll admit, when Melanie/Wanderer set out on their mission to find Jared and Jamie I was thrilled. When they were found and taken into the cave with the humans I was happy but sad. Everyone reacted bad to Wanderer because she was a soul. Though after a while certain people started seeing that even though Wanderer was a soul Melanie was still in there and they let their guard down slowly. I really loved how over time they slowly learned to trust Wanderer and eventually her let help them when they really needed it. They even gave her a nickname, Wanda.
 
Now, Wanda & Ian. OMG!!!!!!! I loved how Melanie would fight back whenever Wanda and Ian got close, but even that couldn't stop the inevitable. I was so happy at the end when Ian and Wanda finally let out their feeling for each other. I mean yes, it was under bad circumstances but still, they finally let them. I am definitely a fan of Ian & Wanda, like I think I like them even more than Melanie & Jared (though I love the two of them together too).

I was totally crying by the end. I couldn't help it. The ending just had so much emotion in it and after reading all of the book it gets to you! I totally loved the epilogue though. I was so shocked to find out about the other human cells still holding out!!!!!! Just reading the epilogue left me in a state of shock and wanting more!!!!!! Like seriously, we need the next book! Please?

I would DEFINITELY recommend this book to others. If you cant tell by the ginormous letters and the fact that I already said this before, I absolutely loved this book!!!! You must pick it up and read it! :D

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October 22, 2011

TBR Intervention Challenge [#2]

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by Dani@RefractedLight, Anayami@Whatever You Can Still Betray & April@Books4Juliet.

The goal of this challenge is to help each other (fellow readers and bloggers) manage our enormous and constantly growing TBR (To-Be-Read) List. The rules are simple and everyone is encouraged to participate. It does not force you to commit to more than what you can manage to read in a week or so, but participants are encouraged to read at least one book within a week. You are free to choose the book you want to read and commit to this challenge. You may post your entry every Saturday, at the frequency of your choice--EVERY WEEK or EVERY TWO WEEKS. However, we will sponsor this event regularly every Saturday. 

Here are the rules: 

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one). 
 

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers. 

Last weeks TBR Book: 

 The Host

Author: Stephenie Meyer 

So I'm almost done with The Host. I forgot how long it takes to read a book over 600 pages so I'm a little behind but I should finish it today. :) So I am successful. I'm mad at myself for not reading it sooner. Like I am really enjoying it! Especially the whole their hiding in a mountain in Arizona thing. I live in AZ so its making me happy that a book actually has AZ in it. :) Not to mention the story is pretty good too! Lol. I definitely am enjoying this book more than I though I would! I should have my review up on this later today when I finish it or tomorrow. I'd more likely go with tomorrow though. Lol. I'll post a link to it when its up. :)

This week I'm committing to read: 

 Lock and Key

Author: Sarah Dessen 

Summary from Goodreads:

"Ruby, where is your mother?" Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she
hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future—it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

So I chose this book for two reasons. 1. Its been sitting on my shelf for probably at least 8 or so months and it needs to be read. 2. Sam @ Books For All Seasons just recently reviewed this which made me kick it up on my TBR list. So I figure this week is a perfect week to tackle the book. :) 

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October 15, 2011

TBR Intervention Challenge [#1]

Ok, so I totally meant to put this post up earlier but I haven't been feeling well today so I decided to relax for a little bit. On the bright side, I'm feeling much better (besides the fact I've lost my voice a little). So here we go.

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by Dani@RefractedLight, Anayami@Whatever You Can Still Betray & April@Books4Juliet.

The goal of this challenge is to help each other (fellow readers and bloggers) manage our enormous and constantly growing TBR (To-Be-Read) List. The rules are simple and everyone is encouraged to participate. It does not force you to commit to more than what you can manage to read in a week or so, but participants are encouraged to read at least one book within a week. You are free to choose the book you want to read and commit to this challenge. You may post your entry every Saturday, at the frequency of your choice--EVERY WEEK or EVERY TWO WEEKS. However, we will sponsor this event regularly every Saturday. 

Here are the rules: 

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one). 

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers. 

So This Week I'm Committing To Read: 
The Host 

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Summary From Goodreads:  
Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

This book has been on my shelf for I really don't know how long. I think at least a year and a half. So it's been feeling really neglected and lonely. I know many people really like this book so I'm hoping I finish this book this week. I think I can do it. :) 

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