Ready Player One Review

I finished this book 11 at night. And it was grand.

This was a fantastic book. In short, it's about an eighteen year old named Wade Watts, who competes in this  Easter Egg hunt, within this mega video game called OASIS, where the creator of the OASIS, James Halliday, left after he passed away. With a huge prize with many "gunters" participating and an evil company in play, this book is the epitome of EPIC.

I really liked the main protagonist Wade, or Parzival. I find him witty, nerdy, and just great. I also liked the other characters introduced: Aech, Art3mis, Shoto. Great character development.

I found the book to be slow in some parts, but by the last a hundred pages, it really picks up the pace. It's easy to read and the author way of describing the environment and the game and everything is well written out. Cline really lets you visually interpreted the world he creates.

The references I find too much. There was so many 80's nostalgia, it was confusing to visualize in my head (especially when I did not grew up in the 80's era).

Overall, I find this book fun and quirky. I enjoyed reading it.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Everything is Illuminated Review

***NO SPOILERS***

I finished the book "Everything is Illuminated" last week. You can either love this book, or despise it. For me, I'm near the "despise" meter.

The synopsis reads:

With only a yellowing photograph in hand, a young man - also named Jonathan Safran Foer - sets out to find the woman who may or may not have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Accompanied by an old man haunted by memories of the war; an amorous dog named Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior; and the unforgettable Alex, a young Ukrainian translator who speaks in a sublimely butchered English, Jonathan is led on a quixotic journey over a devastated landscape and into an unexpected past.

The novel explores many themes such as the meaning of love, illumination, memories, etc. I like how this book actually is pretty meaningful than it appears. But I dislike the fact that it takes so long to explain these themes that were present. A lot of the chapters, I felt, were useless. Just there as a filler and as a comedic relief  (although find that Alex's voice and the quest provides humor already). Many of the passages were profane, which doesn't seem to interest my still young self. This book can be perceived more positively if read by an older reader. So my disinterest is partially due to myself, not the book.

I didn't understand the chapters that was set in the past with Brod and Yankel and Kolker. I was confused on who was actually the voice (I later found out it was Jonathan). But I do like Grandfather though. He's viewed as this unimportant "blind" old man in the beginning, but later through out the book, he becomes an important component in the entirety of the novel.

I like Alex and Grandfather. Jonathan was okay. Loose ends were not tied in some parts. The Seeing Eye Bitch, AKA the dog, was not present at the end, which was unfortunate. I liked the emotional ending, but just the overused adult references and useless filler really got to me.

I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Eleanor and Park Review

***NO SPOILERS***

Recently, I have finished a YA novel called "Eleanor and Park" by Rainbow Rowell. I was drawn to this book,in truth, mostly due to it's cute, geeky cover. But it's synopsis was something that appealed to me, especially good for my young romantic genre taste.

The book covers two voices, both in second person, both from Eleanor to Park, and vice versa. It explores young love and problems facing inside one's family with a bunch of 80's trivia. 

In short, it was an mediocre read for me: it wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I felt it lacked chemistry between these two characters and honestly I felt that Eleanor was sort of annoying in some aspects through out this book, but at the same time, I felt sympathy for her too. 

I liked the cute interaction between these two and I liked Park's blossoming feelings towards Eleanor. Yet, I felt the ending was rushed and just came with full force. The ending wasn't resolute. It gives the reader to ponder on their interpretation of what happened and what would happen in the future. 

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. 

Reading Updates #1

Dear fellow readers who happen to step upon this blog post. (Again, I thank you). I will like to illuminate your well being that I will be doing updates posts, hence the title, every so often. I will update on the books I'm currently reading.  I have a few things to talk, or should I say blog, about.

#1
Firstly, I will start off with a YA novel called "My Life Next Door" written by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

"A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another [...] A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over."

When reading the book for the first time, I loved it. I though it was cute, sweet, and a dream for any girl. I mean who doesn't want a hot next door neighbor who happens to be a football player AND be overly sweet and dorky? That would be fantastic. Unfortunately, guy like Jase don't exist to often. The lovey dovey things that the main character, Samantha, and Jase makes me giddy with glee. But after the first 100 pages or so...I became bored with the book. The characters are great. But I feel like I'm fiddling with the interest with the plot, especially when the two lovers now have gotten together. Once I hit a rough patch in a book, I don't have any motivation to read more. I need to though. This is a freaking library book I'm reading!


The next book I'm reading is called "Unravel Me" by Tahereh Mafi. It is the sequel to the first book in the series called "Shatter Me". I loved the first book and the novella following that, so I could not wait to begin reading the second one. I'm not that far into the book but I'm currently enjoying it.

And another novel I am reading (hopefully you can infer that I read numerous books at the same time) is called "Everything is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer. It is not a YA book, surprisingly, but just a regular old fiction book. I am reading this for school and it is an entertaining read. Filled with hilarious nuances and quite sad moments, I find this book really amusing (in a good way). My only problem is the risque language and thoughts in this novel that has slightly taken my fragile mind off guard.

Last but not least, the last book I am reading is called "Scarlet" by Marissa Meyer. Now this one. This one I like very much. It really captured by attention from the start and I'm still intrigued in it. In fact, I can't wait till I finish this post that's taking me an hour to write so I can read it. A sequel to the book "Cinder", it follows up on Cinder, a cyborg Cinderella, with a badass Red Riding Hood. Yeah. Freaking awesome much?


Well, that's all I gotta say. Thank you for reading.

Prodigy Book Review

Hello to anyone who cares to read this. This is my attempt to create a blog on books so hopefully I'll do my best to provide information for your sake. This post is the first of many posts, so please, hold your laughter from my yet-mature reviews and thoughts to yourself until you exit this page.

Thank you.

Based on the title and the sub title above, I will be reviewing the anticipating sequel to Legend by Marie Lu, in which I just finished about two hours ago. And to sum it up it was AMAZING. It was amazing paired up with so many feels and emotions. It was great, really.

The synopsis of Prodigy basically includes the assassination of the new Elector of the Republic by Day and June, or the Patriots as a whole. As I was reading the first half of the book, I basically planned how the plot is going to turn out. My initial thoughts were basically pointless because the Prodigy turned into a whole different new direction with many plot twists and climaxes that I wouldn't have imagine happen. 

Positives:

1. There were so many things happening in this book, but it goes in its own pace, in a good 300 page book. Compared to the previous book I have finished reading, The Diviners, was 600 pages of many worthless text that could have been taken out. Prodigy wasn't face paced nor slow. It went by a good speed to grasp what was happening.
2. The inner conflict between the June, as well as Day was nicely done. Lu did a great job of writing each of the main character's feelings and thoughts. June with trusting the Elector and the Patriots and the Republic. Day tied up between his feelings for June and Tess.
3. Marie Lu was able to capture so many emotions for the readers (at least for me it did). Especially at the end, I had those moments where I actually screamed, "Noooo!", and I had those times where I stopped for a few minutes to process what I was reading, and many times I was on the verge of crying (I only cry in sappy YA romantic novels. I'm a girl mind you). There were also times where I was like, "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!!" 
4. The make out scene in the beginning of the book.The ending was so gripping and heart breaking. I was like, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" I really want to read the last book to the series, but unfortunately it will come out in freaking 2014!
5. I liked how there were many plot twists with Razor and the Patriots and the Colonies and also the mighty awesome action like the Kaede fighter plane scene. There was also a good amount of romance that wasn't overpowering.

Negatives:

1. Towards the end, I wondered where Thomas went. He was present in the beginning, but he sort of disappeared  That really confused me. 
2. Tess was really agitating. She didn't come off as  sweet but more as whiny. 
3. I did not like Baxter's personality.
4. I HATE HOW THE NEXT BOOK IS COMING IN 2014!!! I can't wait.

And so, in conclusion, I loved Prodigy. It was action packed, but it also gives you the feels, and it makes you wanting more (especially the ending). I give this 5 out of 5 stars. And I hope you pick this up if you have read Legacy.