Feature and Follow Friday (#1)

Feature and Follow Friday is blog-hop hosted by Parajunkee's View

This week's feature is from Lisa at Read.Breathe.Relax and the question is:

What is the worst book that you've ever read and actually finished?

'That Was Then, This Is Now' by S.E. Hinton.  I never that to read this book while I was in High School (I read 'The Outsiders', which I loved,) but A had to read it on 8th grade, and dutiful mother that I am I also read it in order to help him with his book report.  I HAD to finish it, but I hated it.

My Bookmark This Week (#3)

I don't know about you but I probably own a good number of bookmarks.  I think this might be the case of all bookish people, but the problem is that I can never find one when I need it.  I end up using whatever I can find - receipts, post-in notes, ribbon, take out menus - because I really don't like to bend the pages of my books (and I often borrow them from the library.)

I though it would be fun to share with you what exactly I am using as a bookmark every Friday. Today I am reading 'Delirium' by Lauren Oliver and my bookmark is the receipt from the library from when I checked out the book.

What are you using as a bookmark today?

Review: I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1)

Title: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (Pseudonym)
Published: August 3rd, 2010 by HarperCollins
Source: Library
Grade Rating: B+


In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next. I Am Number Four is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

Review


About two weeks ago my mom (visiting from Puerto Rico) and I rented 'I Am Number Four' and watched with my hubby.  We really liked this movie, it is a fast-paced, action packed thriller, and of course it made me want to go out and get the book.  So, last week when I was visiting my local library, there it was just calling my name.  How was I supposed to resist the call? 

I don't want to write this review to compare the movie and the book, instead I will concentrate on the novel.  The book it's slow paced at the beginning, but we need to understand the background information about Lorien and what the 'children' can do and are expected to do.  It is kind of strange how they are so similar to humans, right down to the nervousness, and insecurities.  I was happy that not a lot of mysteries were left uncovered and we didn't have to eagerly wait for some answers (for example how to open the chest.)

The story is written on first person, from John's point of view.  He is a likable character, just a tad too insecure for my taste.  The rest of the characters are very distinct and well fleshed out.  The romance story with Sarah is somewhat corny and they fall in love really fast, especially since this is a lifetime commitment for John.  Also, how Mark goes from enemy to friend is a little hard to believe.

Overall, I enjoyed 'I Am Number Four' and will definitely read the sequel 'The Power of Six' that will be published in August of this year.  'I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: Six's Legacy' it's a spin-off from the series and  it comes out in July.

About the cover:  I liked this cover, better than the movie tie-in edition.  The red and orange are the colors  fire, which is one of Four's Legacies.  If you have seen the movie, you know what the symbol is.  If you haven't seen the movie, what are you waiting for?  Run the the nearest Red Box now!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3)

Title: The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Published by: Harper Collins
Release date: April 17, 2012

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye...

Why I want to read it:  Have you read 'The Body Finder' and 'Desires from the Death'?  If you havent' you are missing on a great series.  I LOVE Jay and her relationship with Vi is so deep and sweet that I can't wait to see where is goes (pretty please Ms. Derting don't make it a love triangle with Rafe.)

Top Ten Tuesday: Rebels in Literature

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Rebels in literature are those people who stood up for what they beleived in despite of the cost of doing so.

1. Katniss from 'The Hunger Games' - this is the first character that comes into mind when I think of a rebel.  Even though she was sort of chosen to be an inpiration to others, she fullfilled and surpassed others expentations.

2. Harry Potter and others from the Order of the Phenix (specially Severus Snape) - Many characters in the series are rebels against the Dark Lord and his oppression.  The unsung heroes that finally stopped Voldemort.

3. Trella from 'Inside Out' - Trella is tough-as-nails and willing to die for what she believes and to defends those she loves.

4. Alex from 'Perfect Chemistry' - Alex believed that there could be life beyond the 'gang' and paid a high price in order to be a better example to his brothers and to be with Brittany.

5. Scarlett O'Hara from 'Gone with the Wind' - Her motives or the means she used to get what she wanted were not always noble, but Scarlett got the job done and defended what was hers. Always.

6. Rose Hathaway  from the 'Vampire Academy' series - Another kick-ass heroine that gave everything for Lissa and the ones she loved. Even if it meant breaking a few rules along the way.

7. Scarlett March from 'Sisters Red' - She literary fought her nightmares every day of her life with unshakalble convinction and strenght. 

8. Samwise 'Sam' Gamgee from 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy - To me Sam has always been the unsung hero of the tale.  He took care of Frodo so he could carry the burden of the ring and put an end to the rule of Sarudon.

9.  Ash from 'The Iron Daughter' - Ash had very strong beliefs that took centuries to learn and live by, but when Meghan came along he renounced to everything to be her night *sigh*

10. Tris  from 'Divergent' - I finished this book a couple of days ago and *WOW* what a great read.  Tris is the definition of rebel in my book. 

What's on your list?

Review: Divergent (Divergent #1)

Title: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Published : May 3rd,  by Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Library
Grade Rating: A++++

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Review

OH WOW!  I started to read this book on Saturday evening and finished it last night.  If you have kids, you know that this is quite the accomplishment.  I just couldn't put in down or stop thinking about it.  This a dystopian series that takes us to the Chicago of the future, to a world that is recovering for war and trying to re-invent itself.  It is difficult to imagine that your life depends on choosing a faction, and that its ideology is ingrained into your thoughts, ideas, your sense of self and your value to society.  Ms. Roth has created a world that we get to know well, her descriptions are excellent as well as her characterization. 

Divergent is a wild ride, is a thriller that takes you to the difficult roller coaster that turs out to be Tris's life.  Tris is a kick-ass heroine that reminds me a little of Katnis from 'The Hunger Games' (if you haven't read this series you are missing out too!)  We can se,e as the novel progresses, how Tris grows in her new faction, the conflict within herself, and her interactions with Four and her classmates and new friends and enemies. 

The novel is action packed and even the all the descriptions necessary for us to understand Tris's world are so interesting and well written that you don't feel like the book is as long as it is.  All the characters are well crafted and they all have their strengths and weaknesses, which makes them feel more real.  Four is combination of tough, sweet, maddening, violent, and so much more; I really loved him and I am glad that Ms. Roth didn't leave the story with a big cliffhanger.

This is by far the best book that I have read so far (so many good books this year, right?)  'Insurgent', the second book in the series comes out sometime next year.

Happy 4th of July!

Today we celebrate the independence of the United States of America, its a day of reflection, a day to be grateful for the liberties and the freedom we enjoy and a reminder of what we fight for. 

On a personal note, today The Love of My Life and I celebrate our wedding anniversary.  Can you believe we've been married for 19 years? In the rollercoaster that is marriage, I couldn't have picked a better partner for the ride.  Te amo mi cielo!