Interested in ALL: August 2012

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

[Books] Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James

Started on: August 24, 2012

Finished on: August 29, 2012

Synopsis
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

Review

This book was the talk of the book-universe. Some said it was terrible and some says it was just amazing. I was curious in the book and I wanted to read it.

Fifty shades of grey is an erotic adult book that is only for those eyes above 18 years. It tells a story about a freshly graduated Anastasia Steele and a rich sexy businessman Christian Grey. It speaks of how love at first sight, or in this case, LUST at first sight happens.

This book was very absorbing. It was the kind of books that I read, chick-flicks that some of us can relate to. It was also entertaining because of the people that surround Ana, like Kate, Elliot, José and of course Christian and his butler/driver/everything Taylor.

I kind of counted the number of times Christian and Ana did it, and I think I went up to 10 – 12 times. I’m shocked by the amount of sex that’s in this, and it’s very detailed as well. I’ve haven’t read anything that erotic in my life.

The way the book was written were alright, as I said the book was absorbing. But there were some words that were redundant in my opinion. They were used the amount of times that makes you wonder, “didn’t she say that already?”.

There are some certain words that I think Ana shouldn’t say at certain times. Like “Oh my”, especially that “Oh my”. Her inner goddess is funny, she amuses me with her comments.

Christian IS fifty shades of fucked up, he really is. He has some issues that HE himself needs to deal with.

There wasn’t much BDSM than I expected. I didn’t like the BDSM even if there wasn’t much. It was still there. I didn’t like it. It made my make a face that has fear and disgust all in one.

I also didn’t expect the book to end that way, but I did expect Ana to run away at some point.

To conclude this long-ass review, the book was okay, I did find it nice and unputdownable but I also did find it frightening, shocking, and repelling.

I recommend this book to those above 18 years of age ONLY!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

[Books] The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Goodreads

Started on: August 15, 2012

Finished on: August 22, 2012

Synopsis
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol -- a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

Review
The second edition to The Hunger Games Trilogy; Catching Fire.

I didn't really know what to expect for this second book, since the first book was all about the hunger games and how Katniss and Peeta survived. Even if I read the wikipedia plot in the past, I was still not quite sure what to expect; plus I forgot what I read in wikipedia, since it was months ago.

Since Peeta and Katniss won the 74th annual hunger game, they both have been busy getting ready for their Victor Tour. During the tour, intimate things happen between Peeta and Katniss, they were forced into a marriage proposal by the threats of President Snow. After the tour, preparations of the wedding were being made. It was then announced that for the 75th Hunger Games, it would be apart of the Quarter Quell, which only happens every quarter of a century. On this 75th Hunger Games the tributes will be the living Victors of the past hunger games. Now 24 past victors will compete to fight to the death, with only one winner.

I knew that this book would have another hunger games involved, but I wasn't quite sure on how it was going to end. Catching Fire is absolutely unputdownable. I had to force myself to stop reading so I can do my other stuff. It is very very creative. I really think Collins did a fabulous job with this. I enjoyed reading about the new characters and knowing more of the other districts. The flow of the writing was utterly there, hence the fact that it was unputdownable.

I genuinely want Peeta and Katniss to really be together. I want Katniss to really fall in love with him, and leave Gale. I'm not really fond of Gale for some reason. Peeta gives out this vibe that allows you to feel loved, I love him.

The game were written very creatively, I thought they would be in similar to the past hunger games with the forest and all.

Their plans went well in the end I’m guessing, besides a few drawbacks here and there with Peeta kind of being captured.

Overall, the book was fantabulous. I loved it. It was something that I bet no one can put down. It was very creative and original to me. Collins has a lot of creativity in her, you can tell by her writing.
I recommend this book to those who have read the Harry Potter books, and to all the young adult readers out there.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

[Books] Dream Magic: Awakenings by Dawn Harshaw

Goodreads

Amazon

Started on: August 15, 2012

Finished on: August 18, 2012

Synopsis
Eric, a young boy, has enough of nightmares ruining his dreams.
Determined to grow stronger, he tackles magical disciplines one at a
time - be it flying, blade magic, or telepathy - and stares down his
fears. But, will he survive the battles and the trial of nightmare mastery?
And at what cost?

"Dream Magic: Awakenings" reaches for deep metaphysical
concepts and uses introspective experiences to offer an
immersive feeling of MAGIC.

Review
This book is said to seem some what like Harry Potter in different ways. That's what motivated me to read this book.

Dream Magic: Awakenings. The book title speaks for itself. It's a book about Magic in your dreams, and Eric; the boy the book revolves around, is a young boy who fights nightmares and learns magic in his dreams. Well, that's how I see and understand it.

This story line was original. But it did seem like some of the books that I've read in the past.

The way the book was written was great, the flow was there. Even though it sometimes just cuts from one scene to another. But you can tell that the flow is there.

One of the only things that was missing was some scenes from Erics real life, not his dream life. Because as I was reading it, I tend to forget that Eric is actually dreaming. I think some more insight on Erics real life would be another good edition to the book.

I was quite surprised at the ending. It was very brutal in a way, and there was a lot of torture and pulling out of body parts. That is what I absolutely did not expect. That chapter in the book just blew me off my bed. It certainly was a nightmare.

The book cover, seems very cute in my opinion. Since it's a YA book it's appropriate. I'm guessing the heart in the middle symbolizes what Eric experienced in the end of the book. I always love book covers that are related to the books content.

Over all, Dream Magic: Awakening was a great book. I think Dawn Harshaw did a great job in writing it, even though there maybe some little loose screws here and there. The book was fabulous.

I absolutely recommend it to those readers who love reading YA adventures, who loved the Harry Potter books and who love to dream.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

[Books] Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Goodreads

Started on: July 31, 2012

Finished on: August 4, 2012

Summary
"Whoever said football and girls don't mix hasn't read Catching Jordan. I couldn't put it down " -- Simone Elkeles, New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series

ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Greeen moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

"A beautiful novel with a real and captivating depiction of high school relationships, Catching Jordan shows the same reverence for the human heart that it does for the game of football." --Karsten Knight, author of Wildefire

Review
Jordan Woods is one of the boys. She's the star quarterback of the football team of her high school, plus she's the captain of the team. Most of the girls in her school think she's a tomboy, a dyke. They think that she slept with her whole team. But she never took those things into account. She was strong and didn't care about anything but play ball.

Catching Jordan, another fabulous love story that I could not put down. This book tells us that if you want something badly enough, you go ahead and fight for it. It also tell us that men can be such boneheads and idiots most of the time.

When I first picked up the book, read the summary and looked at the cover, I thought "Oh that must be Ty with Jordan". Uhuh, what I wrong or what. I loved the cover, it give the entire subject and theme of the book. I absolutely loved book covers like that.

I have to admit that I don't know football that much. The terminology that they use when playing, I was at a total loss.

The way the book was written was great. It was a very easy read, which I absolutely loved. I loved the fact that what Jordan was going through can be relatable. I mean, I can some what relate to it in someways, and I think that others can relate to it as well in their own ways.

I was surprised that the book was meant to be for YA readers above 13 with all that hooking up it in, or mentioning of hooking up. It seems inappropriate for them at that age. I think it's meant for readers above 15 at least.

Overall, I absolutely loved the book. And I totally recommend it to all YA readers who are at least above 15. Its a fantabulous book that all ladies will love, if they crave for something sweet.