Little Update Before Class

Wow. My "resolution" (if you can call it that) to update this blog more completely backfired. Three months into a new year and I've only got about one proper post up. Yeah, I'm not very good at the follow-through stuff. The planning and promising I can do. The actual execution I skip out on. But, I will seriously TRY, I promise...er I guess that doesn't hold much wait anymore does it? Didn't think so.

What I actually wanted to write about: I was going through my blog and reading all my past reviews and stuff and I noticed that they weren't very good at all. They lack good writing and a good voice and interesting observations. Since I critque those very same things in the reviews that I do, it seems a bit hypocritical to me that the reviews themselves lack the same qualities I criticize books for.

Then I went further back and realized that I used to do a lot of just...ME blog posts. Stuff about my life. To me, those were considerably better written. They were just more interesting and candid and just...real. I know so many "book bloggers" take the professional route and just post reviews on books and have a clear system down on what they will and won't write. But I'm not looking to be a professional. I didn't start this blog to get any professional recognition. I started it because I love reading books, I love talking about books, I love writing, and I love talking about writing. And since I used to chew my sister's ear off after I gave her in-depth analyses on every single book I finished before I started this blog, I figured it was time to meet new people that I could share my thoughts with. But recently I've noticed that those thoughts haven't been very ME. I mean, they're honest. I do say which books I liked and which books I didn't like but it's about HOW I say it. So many of the reviews I've done have been less "this is me and this is what I thought" and more "this is someone who is trying really hard to construct a proper review." In my case, that means trying to fit as many writing cliches into one post as humanly possible.

New resolution: I'm going to TRY to write down my thoughts on books rather than try to type up reviews like I'm working on a magazine or something. Reading my blog, I don't want it to feel like anybody could've written this, I want it to feel like I wrote this at one point in my life. And I want it to be clear to you, the wonderful person taking the time out to read this ridiculous post, that Sara wrote this. That is, if I ever get around to actually WRITING something. I guess I gotta work on my original resolution before I start making new ones, right?

Book List 2010

I read 64 books last year, meaning I surpassed my goal of 50 new books. My star ratings are right next to the titles in parentheses. However, if you would like to know more of my thoughts on a particular book, just comment and ask. Or shoot me an email at saraisadreamer@gmail.com. Before I started this blog, I jotted down my thoughts on the books I read in a Word document so it wouldn't be hard for me to share those with you. I think there are only four books that don't have either a full review or any written comments but I'm sure I can remember what I initially thought of it anyway.  Don't hesitate to ask, please.

1. Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (5/5)

2. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott (5/5)

3. College Girl by Patricia Weitz (3.5/5)

4. When it Happens by Susane Colasanti (1/5)

5. Paper Towns by John Green (5/5)

6. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr (3/5)

7. Contents Under Pressure by Lara M. Zeises (2/5)

8. Secrets of Truth & Beauty by Megan Frazer (3/5)

9. Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott (3.5/5)

10. Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson (3/5)

11. Stardust by Neil Gaiman (4.5/5)

12. Evernight by Claudia Gray (4/5)

13. Stargazer by Claudia Gray (4/5)

14. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner (3/5)

15. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (4/5)

16. The Writing Class by Jincy Willet (4/5)

17. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson (3/5)

18. The Devouring by Simon Holt (3/5)

19. On the Bright Side, I’m Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison (5/5)

20. Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman (2/5)

21 The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones (4/5)

22. Repossessed by A. M. Jenkins (4/5)

23. Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty (4/5)

24. A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn (3/5)

25. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman (3/5)

26. Rhymes with Witches by Lauren Myracle (2/5)

27. Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott (4/5)

28. The Last Summer (of You & Me) by Ann Brashares (2/5)

29. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (2/5)

30. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (3/5)

31. Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (5/5)

32. Deadly Little Secret by Laurie-Faria Stolarz (3/5)

33. The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty (4.5/5)

34. Hourglass by Claudia Gray (5/5)

35. The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara M. Zeises(1/5)

36. Impossible by Nancy Werlin (3/5)

37. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (4/5)

38. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (4/5)

39. Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta (4/5)

40. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (4/5)

41. Fallen by Lauren Kate (1/5)

42. Evermore by Alyson Noel (1/5)

43. The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti (3/5)

44. Need by Carrie Jones (3/5)

45. The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard (4/5)

46. The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (3/5)

47. What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell (3/5)

48. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer (4/5)

49. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (2/5)

50. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (3/5)

51. Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas by Louise Rennison (3/5)

52. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta (3.5/5)

53. The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie by Jaclyn Moriarty (5/5)

54. Dramarama by E. Lockhart (3/5)

55. Breathless by Jessica Warman (4/5)

56. Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell (5/5)

57. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (5/5)

58. The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti (3.5/5)

59. Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson (4/5)

60. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (4/5)

61. Artichoke’s Heart by Suzanne Supplee (2/5)

62. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (5/5)

63. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (3/5)

64. The Maze Runner by James Dashner (3/5)

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When I first opened this book up, I was expecting my mind to be blown. I know that's kind of unfair because it's just setting the story up for failure since nothing EVER lives up to expectations but I couldn't help it. The premise of this book sounded so cool that I thought the author must have come up with some pretty incredible things. This is the part where I'm supposed to tell you that I was horribly disappointed and I never want to see this book again. But, that would be...mostly a lie. However, some of it would be true. I was disappointed...but not horribly so. And I certainly wouldn't read this book again but I would go out and buy the sequel for sure.

This book starts out a little slow and I really didn't think that was possible because it starts off with a main character who has lost his memory in an enclosed maze with about fifty other boys and he doesn't know WHY. I mean, how could a book that starts with such an intriguing concept be slow? Well, I guess that has to do with the infuriatingly flat characters. And I use the word infuriating because I wanted to punch Thomas, the main character, in the face after about five pages. His reactions and first impressions of things were so ridiculous. None of the other characters had much depth either. I can say that with certainty because when one of them was hurt or in serious danger, I could care less. In fact, near the end, there's a very pivotal scene with one of the characters that's supposed to evoke as much emotion as possible and I couldn't even bring myself to feel sad or remotely sympathetic. I just wanted to know what happens. Which brings me to the strength of this book: the story.

It was a very unique take on dystopian YA literature. Speaking of which, there have been quite a LOT of those around lately, haven't there? I guess dystopia's the new vampires. Or something like that. Anyway, back to the point. I really enjoyed the plotline. Once I got past the annoying characters and forced dialogue, I really enjoyed the story, the true heart and soul of this book. There is enough mystery and secrets and adventure to keep you hooked. I mean, it is a MAZE so you can expect that there's supposed to be a solution, right? Every puzzle has an answer. And getting to this book's answer was a wild, thrilling ride. The ending was also great because it had enough of a twist that even the most reluctant of readers would want to dive right into the second installment.

So, I guess the verdict is that while it isn't one of the better dystopians I've read, it certainly is completely enjoyable. And while I wouldn't reread it for any of the characters or relationships or witty, funny dialogue (there was very little of any of that), I would give it props for the incredible setting that was vividly drawn, the storyline that was intricately woven, and the ending that gave me all the incentive I need to pick up the sequel.

3/5 stars.

Guess who's back?

Yes, I'm still alive. I know I've been on a pretty LONG hiatus and I kind of don't have any excuse for that other than I'm lazy and I was basically trying to milk every moment of my winter break and put it towards resting. So, I did that and now I'm back at school and ready to procrastinate my life away on this blog. I have to be honest and say that I actually didn't read as much on break as I expected to. But ever since I got back to school (it's been about a week), I've already finished three books. I guess I read better under pressure. I'm still keeping track of everything I read this year just like I've been doing for the past two years but I don't think I'm going to partake in any challenges. I think I'm just going to read without deadlines this year because, I don't know, I think that's more fun for me.

What you can expect in 2011 from me is probably more of the same stuff but just...MORE of it. I'm trying to be better about writing in general and not just this blog. But this blog is a part of my writing "exercises" or "experiences" and I really want to make it more regular and frequent along with everything else. I'm also going to do my reviews a bit differently. I'm going to try and CUT as much synopsis as I possibly can because I honestly don't like writing up my own summaries and I know that, as a reader, I don't enjoy sitting through other people's summaries either. Instead, I'm going to concentrate more on what I think and really get to the heart of the review. Sometimes it'll be a jumbled mess but maybe, once in a while it'll turn out to be pretty organized and well thought out, who knows? What I CAN promise is that it'll be completely honest. A hundred percent my own opinion of the book.

So, I'll get to the review I was typing up and look out for my book list of 2010 (I know I'm late). Oh and if you don't already, you should follow me on goodreads because I update that WAY before anything else: http://www.goodreads.com/ribsdafrog. AND since I didn't say it before, I hope all of you had wonderful holidays/breaks and hope you have an even better year ahead. 

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Overall, I liked this book. It contained a lot of elements that made it enjoyable: action, adventure and romance. Plus, it had a pretty kick-ass heroine and a swoon-worthy love interest. Also, the premise was really interesting and unique. That being said, there were certain aspects of this novel that made me nitpicky.

The book is mainly about Katsa. She lives in a completely made-up world where there are seven kingdoms ruled by some unjust and corrupt kings. In this world, there are also people born with "graces"--meaning that they have some extreme, unhuman-like abilities. Katsa is a graceling and her ability is probably the scariest one of all...killing. Her uncle is the king and he uses her as his personal "thug" to go out and kill, threaten or torture anyone who crosses him. Katsa spends a good chunk of the novel coming to terms with this horrible (although useful) grace while embarking on an adventure that teaches her not only about the world around her but also about herself.

I really liked the fact that Katsa was a strong heroine. She definitely didn't need saving like so many other female characters do. In fact, Katsa did all the "saving" in the book herself. She was a really strong character. But, when I say strong, I mean strong in the physical sense of the word. I felt like her strength was mentioned and described a little TOO much. So much so that I can't even think of another adjective for her other than just, well, strong. Also, it got annoying that she could do basically everything without fail. At the end, I got a little confused as to what her actual grace really was. Even though they do speculate what it could be, I just found that she was good at too many things. She didn't have enough flaws to make her relatable and likable. Not to say that she was downright unbearable because I did root for her and I was on her side but a lot of times I got annoyed with how she shunned anything and everything feminine like it made her a stronger person if she didn't dress up and grow out her hair.

On the flip side though, I did like that there wasn't too much fixation on looks in this book. Or at all, for that matter. It made the relationship between Katsa and Po, her love interest, that much more interesting. I've read so many YA books where the main characters fall for each other because they're gorgeous and hot and sexy. Katsa and Po definitely weren't like that. Their relationship was based more on friendship and understanding rather than lust and good looks. It was refreshing. However, I thought the transition from friendship to romance was a bit...abrupt. I mean, the author spent about half the book building a good friendship while the romance took about a page to go from nothing to everything. And I mean everything. I found that to be pretty unbelievable seeing as how Katsa hadn't ever had a boyfriend but she goes all the way in one fell swoop? It felt really rushed.

Another thing that was a major downfall for me was the pace of this book. A good section of the story dragged on and on and on. I can understand the beginning being slow because there's a lot of worldbuilding and explaining going on, but I don't need to see a hundred or so pages of the main characters going from point A to point B. There was a lot that could've been cut out and it would've made no difference to the plot. It was literally torture waiting for something to finally happen and for the characters to finally reach their destination. I was so incredibly tempted to skip ahead.

In the end, though, it was worth it. I thought the book was incredibly creative and most of the graces that the author came up with were really, really cool. I also liked how this fantasy world almost felt real at certain points. Like this could actually exist and happen. Sometimes there were moments where I could eerily draw parallels to our own world.

It's an excellent effort but the slowness of the story t made it something I probably wouldn't ever re-read.

I give it a: 3/5 stars.

Updates; I'm still alive!

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I'll have a book review up soon. I'm halfway done with the novel I'm reading now so hopefully next week. Also, please click the follow button on the bottom of this page? It'd be greatlyyyy appreciated. 

Review: Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

I haven't really fully developed my thoughts on this book yet. I'm sort of on the fence about a lot of it and I don't know how I feel about many of the issues this novel presents. As I do with many of my problems, to figure out how I feel, I'm going to write through my thoughts and attempt to come to a conclusion. And I thought: why not bring you along for the ride?

The reason this book is so hard to put a rating on is because it's kind of about a touchy subject. Especially in today's society. The main character is overweight. I know that there are many books out there that have overweight protagonists in them but this is by and large ABOUT her weight. It addresses those uncomfortable topics of obesity and healthy eating habits and exercise and self-esteem that we'd like to ignore. And for that, I really appreciate this book. It's brave to take on this subject matter in today's social climate, when so many of us are already incredibly weight conscious and bombarded with conflicting messages to eat healthy, to look right, not too fat, not too skinny, etc, etc. Does it provide a clear answer to a lot of weight-related issues? No. Does it provide a unique perspective? I think it does, a little. Is it helpful to people actually going through these things? That's questionable.

The plot: Rosemary lives in a small, very southern, very gossipy town. Her mom owns a beauty parlor in which all the gorgeous, skinny girls from her school come to get their perfect hair done so that Rosemary can feel even more inferior. So, to deal with her pain, she eats. And eats. Then eats some more. This cycle is spiralling so out of control that Rosie decides to do something about it and attempts to lose the weight...however she can.

The problem with this book is that I didn't find it encouraging or uplifting at all. I was actually a little depressed after I read it. Rosie basically had to change a LOT about herself in order to feel good or feel remotely attractive and worthy of any attention. I felt like all she fixated on was her looks. She wanted OTHER people to see how smart she was and how she was interested in poetry and English but all WE ever saw her think about was her weight. It was really, really sad. Perhaps, this is the reality that so many girls go through today but in this book it felt like this obsession with weight was strangely justifiable. It was compared to having a serious health problem like cancer.

The book seemed to hint at the fact that the issue at hand is getting healthy. However, Rosie took some really UNhealthy routes to get to a "healthy" weight. And the biggest problem about that in the book was that it made it seem like these unhealthy habits were okay...as long as they were producing results. In fact, Rosie barely ate in the entire book and the reader was put in the uncomfortable position of having to go between rooting her on when she avoided the donuts and sweets and watching her drink only water for her lunch break. And the worst part is that there weren't really any consequences to this behavior, all she had to deal with were some stomachaches. Nobody ever found out about this weight-loss technique of hers except a friend who just said "It's so bad for you!" and that was that. But, she lost the weight, so it didn't even seem to matter anymore. I don't know, it just bugged me that I was rooting for her to get healthy but it ended up with me watching her become basically anorexic and increasingly MORE weight conscious than ever before.

Maybe this book is supposed to be realistic and honest which is perhaps why the author chose to write from this perspective. But, considering that this is such an important topic for lots of teens today, I just thought it could've been handled better. With more encouragement of self-esteem and personal strength rather than weight obsession and a fixation on outer covers, I feel this book could've been really good.

The setting was delightful--southern town? Beauty shop? Sign me up. Even though the characters were pretty two-dimensional and the writing was just okay, I felt engaged in the story. But, if there was less concentration on JUST the numbers on the scale, I feel I wouldn't be checking how many pages I had left until the ending.

I guess I give it a: 2/5 stars.