Unlikely Beauty

Finally getting around to writing this post. Book has been done for weeks. Been meaning to write this review, but now after these past three weeks I still don’t like the book. Sure Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted had a great concept that hasn’t been written about. No, one ever has had a character like Lucius, who blew off his arm in an experiment. What was the experiment? Don’t know wasn’t told. It was just explosive and a part of him wanted it to be worse than it was. Why did he want that? Don’t know. What was this great beauty that was so crazy? Apparently it was just Aurora and how she liked him. Sure that could be really sweet. To me though I feel like since this had to do with something so tragic such has having a guy blow up his arms, I feel like it should be more powerful. I don’t want to give anything away, but I feel like the book in general and the ending could have been more powerful. I want  author to go back and rewrite it and make it longer. Go into more about the characters relationships with their family members. What made them do what they did. You see a glimpse of this, but I believe not enough.

The ending sure it was cute, I’ll give her that, but it was very weak. Not going to say what it was, I will say though it was about 3o words or less. Not really sure. It was short, to short. It rushed through the climax, I was hoping then at least the ending would give you more closer. It just went, yea it over! Pretty lame in my opinion. But, it was good enough for me to finish, so at least it had the cuteness factor. I can’t say that however, for the next book I read that is for sure.

Hey I’ve Done This

So I’ve been sick with laryngitis for the fifth time. So with not being able to sleep because my tonsils were so infected I decided to do some major reading. Well lo and behold the first book I picked up made me feel like I was in my freshman year of college again; when I myself broke the number one unwritten rule. Sure Elizabeth Scott’s The Unwritten Rule was a lot more interesting, than what I went through.

I mean her characters are even better looking than my friend and I and the guy that was invalid in the rule breaking. Which is sad since these people aren’t real. Sarah and Brianna two best friends since they were little, was an amazing way to show how evil and difficult this unwritten rule is. In case you don’t know what rule I am talking about which would be odd even if you were a guy. Anyways the rule that states that if friend A in this case Brianna calls dips on a guy or dating him. Friend B in this case Sarah cannot in any way go after so-called guy. Even if this guy turns out to like friend B and really never had feelings for friend A. This is exactly what happens in The Unwritten Rule. Scott’s shows how painful this rule really is and its consequences that can come with breaking the rule.

Scott does an amazing job with showing the difficulties of liking a guy in high school and what happens when you aren’t the only one who likes him. I don’t know about everyone else, but this story even though I never went through what really happened with these girls. I felt the pain and the stomach curling of nerves of what to do when it comes to friends and boys because lets face it bros before hoes and gals before something also clever that can be said for guys. Is a lot easier said than done.

So my opinion is read this book. Its fast pace and I felt like I was living through what the characters were living through. That is how life-like it was which so isn’t fun. I am just happy when I broke the rule the guy ending up being a douche and I am still close with my friend because we learned early that he just wasn’t a good guy.

Goodbye Should Have Come Faster

Two days ago I finally finished Sarah Dessen’s new book “What Happened to Goodbye.” I am always waiting forever for her new one to come out. I look forward to it every summer. Well this time I wish there was a longer wait, so it could have been better. The symbolism of goodbye wasn’t even written through very well. Kind of just skimmed over it. There was a plot and there were characters. Plot and story really interesting. Characters. No nothing really about them. They were just there with dialogue. They had the chance to be people, but Dessen decided not to write about them. Maybe in the future she will do a before this event happened so we can learn more about the characters. Until then though it was just words in a book. If you are a Dessen fan like I am and have to read all her books. I would wait until paper back or get it for the eReader to save a few bucks.

Hiatus Done!

So I was on Hiatus. Yes I know I didn’t tell anyone, but it still was a Hiatus. I am back now though because I just missed everyone. Also I did some reading and was out experiencing different things. That means I will be talking about new things on my blog now. That I am hoping will attract more readers to my blog. I have recently have become the go to person to talk to whenever someone I know if going through a hard time, something changed in their life or having problem with school. So I have decided that now I’m not only going to write reviews of books and talk about different types of individual education levels and how to get help. I am going to extend that to include everything subject that goes on in my life and the people who are around me. Don’t worry, I hang out with all different age groups, genders and even ethnicity. Basically I will talk to anyone, I am always making friends in the weirdest places. For example I was dared to answer an add on Craigs List and now the guy who I responded to who was looking for girls who were okay with that he like to be a girl; well we are best friends now. And I can’t think of my life now without him.

Also there will be other new things because I like new things. I will be reading more. I actually have five drafts right now of reviews waiting to be published. So I will be putting something out there at least once a week about a book. But I am also going to include where the cheapest way to get the book is. Getting books really cheap has become a new hobby of mine. Don’t worry its not books that are the ones that get published by little companies that are really bad. They are all the top publishers. How I am doing this is three different ways. 1) my kindle 2) bookstores every where are going out of business 3) second hand book stores. Yes I know that I live in jersey and not everyone who reads this lives in Jersey let alone live in central Jersey which is why every time I do a new book review I will list the best second hand shops in a different state each time. So if you want me to look up your state soon. Leave a comment anywhere, tweat me or just email me. I will respond I promise.

Wait back to the new things. I am also in the process of trying to find out how to get free books. I will keep everyone updated on. I will succeed too because I am not giving up until I figure out how to do so.

Well that’s it for now, I should go back to paying attention to my marketing class. Until next time, which will be soon because I am already working on my review of Sarah Dessen’s new book.

Stressed?

Take a break. For most college students like me right now, it is the last months before finals. All the professors just love to give out more work. They do this because they want everyone a chance to bring their grade up incase they bomb the final. Seems like a kind jester right? Well it’s not. It stresses everyone out.  So worried about studying and getting things done. Right now for example I am in my schools library I come in here a lot to get work done in the winter because its a warm building.  Weird I know.

I’ve been in here twice this week and both times the library has been extremely crowded; with students studying, doing projects and just doing homework like me. There are hardly any seats open in the whole library and we have two floors with desks and seating. Looking at the computers every single student has open something that has to do with school work and not the usual facebook or hulu to pass the time in between classes.

Just looking around from where I’m sitting students looked stressed and have a pile of things all around them including me. What is my advice to get a break from all this and to refresh yourself. Go to someplace you enjoy. I’m not meaning just going home or going to a party on the weekend. Still then you have things you have to worry about. What really needs to be done is to go someplace where you don’t have to worry about others. Or there is a possibility that you can bring some work along with you. You need to go someplace where you can leave it all behind. Doesn’t matter what it is you can even not really enjoy it. It’s the act of getting away is all that matters. You don’t even have to be a college student to feel these kind of stresses with their life. You can be any age and still have stress in your life.

Everyone needs some time to just get away. I know many say that is for when you go on vacation. It doesn’t have to be that; I think that vacation even makes people stressed with just trying to get there, making sure you have everything and to make sure everyone is having a good time. That’s a lot of stress too.

So that’s why I think, just to escape from it all and go into hiding maybe just for a day will do someone good. Like me I am extremely stressful right now.  Writing this post is helping me somewhat because I view writing sometimes as an escape to just get away. This time though its not doing all it can do because I’m not away from everything. So what is my plans to escape? I volunteered myself to be a chaperone for my brother trip he has to go on for a jazz festival. I know for the fact that I’m going to hate this trip, 60 high schoolers with very loud instruments for the whole weekend. I am not going to be stressed will there and I’m not going to be stressed out when I get home either. Why you might ask? Well for me the ultimate relaxation for me is long car rides. I have a seven to eight hour car ride ahead of me tomorrow. I will be detached from everything. No internet, no textbooks, no nothing. Just me, a good book, my pillow and a long drive to do those things and just sleep without being interrupted at all because the kids have a different bus. So thank goodness parents are quite.

3.25 Kindle Books

I have had a kindle for about seven months now and I absolutely love it. Its light and easy to read and I can take it every where instead of caring six plus books around with me at all times. Plus I can also have it on my phone and computer without having to buy them over and over again.  It gets better though…well at least for me. I couldn’t sleep last night and my house is full of light sleepers. So that means no tv and nothing bright. So great thing I have a dimmer on my computer.  I wasn’t sure what to read, I just knew I wanted it to be cheap and short. All the normal genres I read from had nothing good cheap. So I was bummed, but then I was like lets check out the romance section. I’m usually totally against it because the covers are very odd. ( I know I don’t seem like to judge a book by its cover, but I do.) Since I couldn’t sleep though I figured, why not. I am so glad I did. The book was cheap and so freaking good. The idea has been done before, but Lori Borrill ( which is an awesome name) made it fresh and new. It was basically “You Got Mail,” just a whole lot more modern and well a hell of a lot sexier. In case if anyone doesn’t know of Lori Borrill, the book I just read was called Private Connections. Just sounds sexy doesn’t it? That’s because it was, along with being really cute, but still real. The characters relationships were somewhat similar in “You Got Mail,” this time instead of being competitors they were co-workers. The man, Logan Moore the head of an ad agency, who once before had gotten it stolen from him from a smart beautiful women and didn’t want to make the mistake again. While our leading lady, Trisha Bains a carbon copy of the women who ruined his life. What he doesn’t know though is that she is nothing like his ex, she actually is everything he wanted. He just hasn’t noticed yet because he only lets his feelings out to a cyber friend. Trisha Bains also has a cyber friend in order to get over Logan. To bad for them how they all are connected.

-PalV

Book vs Movie

As many as you know, when a book becomes a movie it usually sucks. So who know why I thought this time would be any different. I was fooled probably one of the selected fools too. I do not know how many people out there know about the writer Alex Flynn. I discovered him around four years ago now. Now finally his first book Beastly has been made into a major motion picture. If no one has yet to see the movie go just don’t pay any attention to the emotionless Vanessa Hudgens. If you can succeed doing that the movie is amazing.

So for all those who have never heard of the book or haven’t seen the movie, I’ll give you the 411. Beastly is a modern-day tale of Beauty and the Beast. Alex Flynn does a remarkable job with his tale. Making it realistic by making the ‘beast’ become the ‘beast’ due to viewing himself and all others by their looks. By saying that you can’t get anywhere without good looks, that ugly people do not have a chance in the world. The ‘beast’ then experiences what it is like to be the ugliest person in the whole entire world. After that well you should get the book and find out. The story is told beautifully and magically. Also now believable in the 21st century if you believe in witches that is. Which Mary-Kate Olsen did a fantastic good at doing so and her makeup was amazing.  With that said go see the movie if you can ignore the terrible acting of Vanessa Hudgens. Even with Alex Pettyfer looking completely ugly he still looks hot and dreamy.

Alright enough of my bashing, back to talking about the book and the movie. It was actually a great transfer into a movie they were true to the book. Only thing bad about it that the leading lady lacked in not just chemistry, but emotion all together. However, Neil Patrick Harris as usual was amazing even while being blind and Lisa Gay Hamilton was hilarious too with her snappy one liners throughout the movie.

Lastly read the book by Alex Flynn. Even read any of Alex Flynn novels that all are about taking fairy tales and making them modern. His newest one is called Cloaked which is about the Princess and the Frog. And if you are a person who appreciates  when books are translated well into movies you can watch it because at the end it really is a good movie.

I…I don’t know.

The line that is most famous from Narnia. When little Lucy first comes into Narnia and meets the fawn thing. Alright so that line isn’t that famous unless you are Megan Robb and is obsessed with the line to this day. So I guess it has become famous within my family.

Back to the matter at hand though. Novels when turned into plays or movies, never turn out the way you wish.

Lisa Mantchev, changes that statement, with her book titled Eyes Like Stars. At first her books looks just like any other book. You open its first pages, realize its a play. It’s not just any play though. The cast of her play is from arrangement of other plays. There is Shakespeare’s characters from A Midsummers Night’s Dream, The Tempest and Hamlet. That isn’t all though there is the play The little Mermaid who in her eyes has the wickedness Witch out of all other witches.

Turn the page though to read the play, you see its a book! Shocking isn’t it? Yes, it is. The novel has all the member of every play ever written takes place in Theatre Illuminata and they never leave. All the cast is forever trapped in the Theatre by The Book. An ancient scroll that traps them all there.

Reading through the first few pages you meet, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, the heroine of her tale. Meaning that its not the book that tells the tale neither the plays within this book, but the tale that Beatrice has to write in order to find the questions she desires. Such as how she came about to the theater? Who is her mother? Why even though she messes things up so much, why is the Properties Manger always keep her at the Theatre?

It all starts within the pages of this book that is a play within another play. Its an exciting story with characters that have  transcended time over many years of Shakespeare and now with adding Bertie’s story of her own.

Fast page turned that I read in all of eight hours. I know not everyone is like me but, this is one book that is hard to put down. It has what everyone likes about Shakespeare play with so much more since its all of your favorites put into one exciting tale.

This is part of my catch up time. So there is a second one called Perchance to Dream, I’m a hundred pages in and it’s just as exciting so be ready for the next installment soon.

Being Good is Boring

So as promised at read Jay’s Journal by the so called boy’s journal. I did my research while reading the book because it just didn’t seem well put together. I felt like this guy had multi-personality which was not the case at all.  Turn out Dr. Beatrice Sparks really didn’t do a good job this time. Turns out this time she actually used multiply journal from different patients, put it all together and called it a book. What did that equal to? A really crappy story. Sure it is well put together, but with everything that goes on in this kids life and the time  everything happens. Just makes everything unbelievable. So in the end. Book was boring, unbelievable and just not good. This explains a lot since this book originally came out shortly after Go Ask Alice. Clearly publishing company wanted to see if it would do any better now. Clearly its not going to do any better.

Plus side though. Its my spring break! So I’ll be playing catch up with reading so be prepared for hopefully something a little better and more interesting.

I am Back!

So with my week and a half absence I see I lost all my readers. Stupid college mid terms. Any who…I’m going to start my week off with telling everyone the importance of studying and yoga breathing. Midterms and finals are a big deal of every high schoolers and higher educations life. Sure there is a rumor where you can still pass your class in high school if you bomb your mid term or final. It’a completely true. I’ve done it twice, there was a book that came out that I had to read, so out went the whole studying thing. Bad thing is, college mid terms and finals, count. They don’t just count, they count pretty much for the whole grade. On top of that, if you do happen to fail they are like, you just wasted $500 because you didn’t study. How about those apples? In case you didn’t know. Those apples are rotten and will kill you. College isn’t free! It costs a lot of money. You failing can either make your parents mad if they are paying for it or make you in even greater debt when you are done because of it. Either way they both suck.

So study, its important. I sound like a cheesy commercial, but it really helps. But believe me if you are young enough and your parents think you are studying when you are really not and you are doing poorly in class. They might send you to a learning center and trust me you do not want to go there.  I would know, I was there. Not fun at all. So I will be so kind and send you links on how to study. They are actually good too. I’m impressed.

–Tips for Effective Study

–Study Guides and Strategies

If those tips don’t work for you and if you are into new age stuff. Or just have an anxiety disorder like me. Try yoga breathing. Saved my life today before my Russian Literature mid term today.

–Yoga Breathing

Good luck everyone. I’ll be good and read now.

-PalV