my shelf this monday~ (30/7/2012)

I finished reading this dark endeavor on thursday. I haven't written a review yet for that book.

This week I plan on watching a lot of Olympics events so I'm not sure if I'll manage to read anything. However, the two books on my up next section will be the ones I tackle if I do.

So what are you reading?

feature friday~ bookcases (14)

I like the colour of these shelves and the concept of it. I think the style of these are very intriguing. I think it would need a darker wall colour behind to balance out the brightness. I think the simplistic design gives it a very versatile appeal. I really like this.

my shelf this monday~ (23/7/2012)

I'm currently reading this dark endeavor by kenneth oppel. Once I finish this book, I plan on reading crushed by laura mcneal and when it happens by susane colasanti. I think these should take me the week, but if not, I might get around to reading Divergent.

le book review number fifty-seven~ how i live now

title: how i live now
author: meg rosoff
series/standalone: standalone
personal star rating: 2.5/5 stars

from the inside cover:
"It would be much easier to tell this story if it were all about a chaste and perfect love between Two Children Against the World at an Extreme Time in History. . . .


This is a story about love.
It's also a story about hate, which is why I left New York in the first place. You don't fly halfway across the world to live with a bunch of people you never met, just for a laugh.
I guess if I'd known where it was all going to lead, I might have thought twice about stepping onto that place. I might have worried a little more about Edmond being my cousin.
And me being fifteen.
But I didn't. And in the end, those things didn't matter as much as you think they would.
In the end, the world had bigger things to worry about than us."

thoughts on the cover:
I found the cover to be interesting and it was the reason I picked it up. The reason I bought the book was the description. I hadn't heard of it before and it seemed like it would be different from what I'd read.

review:
Overall, I gave this book 2.5 out of 5 stars. I could probably squeeze .5 of a star if I looked hard enough, but even that's a stretch. I am sort of indifferent towards the whole thing but I don't plan on reading it again. The beginning was rather slow and once the action started happening, it didn't really pick up. I found the description of the setting to be really confusing. I assume it was designed to feel like Daisy had stepped into another world, but the references to modern technology gave it a futuristic feel in a past event. I found that to be a good idea, but at the same time I just didn't understand where she was going with it. The characters were unique and original but they weren't the most understandable. Daisy (who the story is told through) wasn't very easy to relate to. The book overall was not that good.

feature friday~ bookcases (13)

If I were to use these shelves, this would be exactly how I would use the,. I would probably have to fill it with more books, but I like the different decorations incorporated into this. The colours blended together look amazing and I really quite enjoy this piece. For aesthetics, I'd probably have the pages outward rather than the spine (and I usually find it unhelpful when looking for a specific book, but it would be great for surprises. If you put all your TBRs, you'd be able to get through them if you chose randomly.) Anyway, these shelves are great.

le book review number fifty-six~ the year of secret assignments*

title: the year of secret assignments*
author: jaclyn moriarty
series/ standalone: it's a companion book but i haven't read the first book and it doesn't make a difference.
personal star rating: 4/5 stars

from the back cover:
"* Diary Entries, Rude Graffiti, Hate Mail, Love Letters, Revenge Plots, Date Plans, Notes Between Friends, and Famous Last Words." 


from the inside cover:
"The companion to the bestselling Feeling Sorry for Celia


Lydia, Emily, and Cassie have always shared everything - guy problems, skipping school, even Significant Secret Assignments. But when they're given pen pals at rival Brookfield High, they write forth in individual style:
Lydia: "Dear Person at Brookfield: I am a fish. You wouldn't think so to look at me, what with my uniform and the hair on top of my head and all that. But it's true. I am a fish."
Emily: "My interests: Don't get me started about chocolate! My nickname might be 'Em,' but it's also 'Toblerone'! I think this is an angiogram of Thompson, which is my last name."
Cassie: "I always think it's funny when a teacher tries to be cool. I want to sit them down and say 'It's okay, you're a grown-up, you're allowed to be a nerd,' and they will look up at me confused but also relieved and teary-eyed."
It turns out their pen pals are just as distinctive. Sebastian is a sensitive artist with a major soccer obsession. Charlie is a part time car thief and a completely sweet guy. But Matthew... well, he's either a psychopath or a figment of Cassie's imagination, neither of which is a good thing. And what starts out as a simple letter exchange leads to spy missions, false alarms, lock picking, legal drama, parental edicts, mistaken identities, and all-out war between the schools - not to mention Dates with Girls and some really excellent kissing.
Told entirely through its characters' notes, letters, diaries, and e-mails, The Year of Secret Assignments* is the laugh-out-loud story of three girls figuring out who they are - and one friendship that lasts no matter what."


my thoughts on the front cover:
I like the fonts that were used. The picture, although relevant, doesn't play the largest role overall for the book. It wasn't the reason I decided to buy the book. I picked the book up based on the title and the description and didn't pay much attention to the cover because it was simple and the smiley face seemed odd looking.

review:
I finished reading this book on monday and I still don't really know how I felt about it. I think that it was obvious in some places and it was predictable in others. Although the concept isn't the most original, it was portrayed well. I found the characters to be relatively distinct to begin with but as it progressed, they became very similar in many aspects. I found the way the letters were split was different but at times the way the information was explained, it didn't seem completely natural. There were some parts that were very humorous, there were some parts that made you feel a bit down, but overall, it was a pretty good read. I might read it again. Compared to some books that are similar to this style, this book was unique and interesting so if you are looking for that, this is it.

my shelf this monday~ (16/7/2012)

I finished a number of books last week and I hope to continue my stride. I plan on finishing the year of secret assignments and also managing to read crushed, how i live now, and when it happens. I also have to read this dark endeavor which i hope to get done this week.

So what are you reading this week?

le book review number fifty-five~ underdogs

title: underdogs
author: markus zusak
series/standalone: there is a trilogy bound together in the one book.
personal star rating: 5/5 stars

from the back cover:
"He stands and grabs me by the front of my jersey, right at my heart. He says, 'I'm Ruben Wolfe,' and he says it hard. He throws the words into my face. 'And you're Cameron Wolfe. That's gotta start meaning somethin' boy. That's gotta start churnin' inside us, making us wanna be someone for those names, and not be just another couple of guys who amounted to nothin' but what people said we would. No way. We're gettin' out of that. We have to. We're gonna crawl and moan and fight and bite and bark at anything that gets in our way or tries to hunt us down and shoot us. All right?'
'Okay.' I nod."


thoughts on the cover:
I like the picture and the title on this cover. The red on the blue sky gives the whole book a wonderful appeal. I don't know if the font used at the bottom to list the books and the colour of them really works, but I quite enjoy this cover. However, I don't know if it would draw me in if Markus Zusak hadn't been the author.


first line:
"We were watching the telly when we decided to rob the dentist."


review:
This book was an amazing novel about brothers and what family means. I definitely decided to buy this book because of the author but at the same time I postponed reading it for over a year. However, I'm glad I did. Included in Underdogs is The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and Getting the Girl. I'll do a separate section for each novel.

The Underdog: What can I say about the Underdog? I can say a lot, but I don't want to spoil anything. I'd like to begin with Cameron Wolfe. Cameron cares. He cares a whole awful lot about everybody, but most of all he cares about his family. We see how he and his brother Ruben (Rube) look out for each other and how they are as close as brothers and act just likes brothers should. Sure, they don't always agree, but they both know they'll look out for each other no matter what.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe: This was a truly remarkable story about family and what it means to look out for each other. There were more struggles in this part, but as brothers, and as friends, and as a family, they all stuck together to make it. We see the personal growth in Rube through Cameron's eyes and we are able to root for the Underdog the entire time.

Getting the Girl: Sometimes Cameron just wants to win. He just wanted the girl. He wanted to treat her right, he wanted to do good by her, and he was given a chance. However, he and Rube grew apart. They suddenly weren't looking out for each other anymore. And Rube is in trouble with his new girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Cam has to step up for once in his life to do what nobody else would do for Rube.

Overall, these three novels are wonderful. It shows what it means to be a brother and everything about these is honest and raw and Miffy that bloody awful dog. I love that dog.

feature friday~ bookcases (12)

I adore these shelves. The design and colours work beautifully. I find the top picture and bottom right to be more artistically designed than the bottom left but still the design of all of these are amazing. I especially love the tree because books are made of paper and it's like putting them back into the tree. I think these are amazing shelves and I wouldn't hesitate to buy these and put them somewhere in the house.

le book review number fifty-four~ i am the messenger

title: i am the messenger
author: markus zusak
series/ standalone: standalone
personal star rating: 5/5 stars

from the back cover:
Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.
That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.
That's when Ed becomes the messenger.
Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?


first sentence:
"the gunman is useless."

review:
I am the messenger is amazing. Markus Zusak is amazing. I've had I am the messenger for a long time. I hadn't picked it up because of reluctance (because I was expecting great things), but more because I read the Book Thief and I didn't want disappointment. But I was not disappointed. I was completely surprised with how truly marvelous this book is. The characters were all so original, so well described, and the description of all the situations were at their finest. Humor and emotion combine to make this an unforgettable, life-changing, new perspective of life giving, fabulous novel. It had an ending that wasn't anticipated and I will be in awe of this novel. I would read it again this instant. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

le book review number fifty-three~ cat's cradle

title: cat's cradle
author: kurt vonnegut
series/ standalone: standalone
personal star rating: 4.4/5 stars

from the back cover:
Cat's Cradle is Kurt Vonnegut's satirical commentary on modern man and his madness. An apocalypitic tale of this planet's ultimate fate, it features a midget as the protagonist, a complete, original theology created by a calypso singer, and a vision of the future that is at once blackly fatalistic and hilariously funny. A book that left an indelible mark on an entire generation of readers, Cat's Cradle is one of the twentieth century's most important works - and Vonnegut at his very best.


first sentence:
"Call me Jonah."


review:
This book has been on my shelf for at least a year, but I just didn't pick it up. I've read a couple other Vonnegut books so I had an idea what his writing style was like and I quite enjoyed his other books. However, I had no idea what I was in for with this particular book. I must say it wasn't as memorable as I had hoped for but I wasn't disappointed. I found that I couldn't help myself at times and I'd let out a quiet laugh or a chuckle here and there. It took unexpected turns and in the end, it really didn't have anything to do with the beginning but it all seemed to make sense as I progressed through it. The characters are very different from a lot of books you see today and I quite enjoy that about factor. The way he describes things is amazing. Vonnegut's ability to create such thought-provoking, mind blowing, and incredible stories are timeless pieces. I recommend this book.

le book review number fifty-two~ the cardturner

title: the cardturner: a novel about a king, a queen, and a joker
author: louis sachar
series/ standalone: standalone
personal star rating: 4.5/5 stars

from the back cover:
"My mother walked into the kitchen where I was standing. Her eyes were filled with delight. She placed her hand over the phone and whispered, 'It's Mrs. Mahoney. She wants you to play cards with Uncle Lester on Saturday. He and Toni Casteneda got into a big fight!'
I brought the phone to my ear. 'Hello?'
'Do you know the difference between a king and a jack?' asked a gruff voice that did not belong to Mrs. Mahoney.
'Uh, yes, sir,' I said.
My mother's eyes widened when she realized whom I was talking to. 'Tell him he's your favorite uncle.' she urged.
'Do you know how to play bridge?' asked my uncle.
I didn't, but thought that maybe I could fake it.
'Tell him you love him,' said my mother.
'No,' I said to my uncle (and to my mother).
'Good!' barked my uncle. 'It's better that way!'
'Well?' my mother asked, once I'd hung up.
'I'm supposed to take him to his club on Saturday and play bridge with him.'
My mother put her hands on my shoulders, looked me straight in the eye, and gave me her best motherly advice.
'Don't screw it up, Alton.'


first sentence:
"Ever since I was a little kid, I've had it drilled into me that my uncle Lester was my favorite uncle."

thoughts on the cover:
I can honestly say the cover was a big draw for me. It's simple, in a thought-provoking way. It doesn't really tie in the with book, but the streamlined blue train behind a mysterious person definitely made me pick it up. I'll admit, I was going to buy this book a long time before I actually did and it took even longer for me to actually read. Although the concept was interesting, I had other books that came first. However, despite the fact I didn't pick it up, the book itself looked intriguing and I kept it on the top of a pile so I could look at it. So the cover was large factor for me picking it up, and combined with the description, they were equal in making me pick this book up.

review:
After reading Holes in grade four (or five), I was expecting a lot from this author. And I wasn't disappointed. It of course could have been a little better, but I wasn't let down with an interesting concept that was portrayed well. This book was very different from anything I'd read - but it's uniqueness was maybe what made me love it. there were a few drawbacks, but they were very minor. I would have liked to know the characters a little more, I'd have liked it to be a bit more memorable overall rather than several instances. Although these several instances were worth it. As for it's impact though, I definitely have the desire to learn Bridge. Although I don't know people offhand who would teach me. I liked the descriptions that were used and the word choices were very creative and unique. A novel about bonding, bridge, and becoming someone else really leaves you with a lasting impression and a new perspective.

As for characters, Alton was decent and interesting. He was a bit plain but he managed to have good moments. Lester (or Trapp, as he was more commonly referred to) was hilarious. He would say something insightful, or something cynical, or something else entirely that just made you pause and think about it. Toni was very interesting. Her personality was a bit hard to get at. Cliff was very typical, and our descriptions of Katie are very limited and biased. Leslie was amazing. I liked her a lot. Alton's mother was a piece of work. And Alton's father was also the same way.

I found this book to be worth the read, and very insightful. I recommend it.

le book review number ffity-one~ 12,000 inspirational quotations

title: 12,000 inspirational quotations: a treasury of spiritual insights and practical wisdom
author: edited and compiled by frank s. mead
pages: too many
star rating: 3/5 stars

from the back cover:
(some quotes from the book that i feel there is no need on retyping. if you are interested, read the book)
This comprehensive collection of inspirational quotations from history's greatest thinkers includes 12,000 quotations culled from 2,500 sources. Quotations are organized in 200 alphabetically arranged subject categories. Author and topic indexes put the quote you need at your fingertips.

so i've finally made my way through this book. unfortunately, it was not really worth it. I mean, some of the quotes were alright, but i found myself skimming after the half-way mark. I would recommend reading the quotes in topics that interest you, but as for the whole book, you can skip and skim and still only find a few that you really like.

my shelf this monday~ (9/7/2012)

I finally finished reading that 500 page quote book!

And I started reading the cardturner by louis sachar.
I plan on reading other books that are on my shelf.
like maybe the picture of dorian gray.
that would be a good one.
and maybe rereading john green.

feature friday~ bookcases (11)

I really like this shelving unit for many reasons. One, it's size. It would fit in a room without taking up too much space. I like the simple colours, it would fit in a lot of places without being too overpowering. I especially love the the different sizes of shelves. I think it looks great mixing with the bottles and the candles. The layout adds flair to an otherwise very simple bookcase. I like this bookcase a lot.

my shelf this monday~

i know last week i said there were a ton of books that i was planning on reading.

i didn't start any of them.

between my sister's graduation and family visiting and cleaning the car and babysitting, my week was full. 

however, i did read seventy pages in a book of quotations the past week. a book that i've been slowly making my way through for months. it's around 500 pages and i'm on page 200 something. i'm around half-way through. so this week i want to finish that. i really do.

and of course i have numerous other books i have to read as well.

but my challenge this week is just the quote book.