Book Review: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

 

Title: This Lullaby

Author: Sarah Dessen

Pages: 345

First off, are all Sarah Dessen's characters so cynical of love? Or is it the current trend?  I went from, "oh I can totally relate" to "is this how everybody feel?". Man, that was depressing.

I  for one think this is where the typical heroine, after witnessing her mother's countless weddings and having to be the adult in her family, has a very disconcerting view on love. But, it takes a certain not-so-perfect boy to woe her.

The only twist is that the heroine is meticulous while the boyfriend is a complete and utter slob. The boyfriend has many flaws but his redeeming quality is that he loves her and oh-so-charming.

I love this story. It's cute. It takes my mind of things. There's a lot of self discovery that can be done from this piece but I'm taking the easy way. No over-thinking and go with the flow. Like the heroine, I'm learning to just let go. It's not all or nothing. Sometimes, the in-between is acceptable since nobody will know where or how we will end up.

A quote from "Getting Over Garrett Delaney" which I think is appropriate on today's post:
Love isn't pain. Heartbreak isn't noble or romantic. You deserve better, so don't forget.

P/S: The cover above is not the one that I've read. I put that one because it looks way nicer than the one I have. Here's the one that I've read from

Book Review: Send by Patty Blount

Title: Send
Author: Patty Blount
Pages: 304
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Goodreads synopsis:

It’s been five years since I clicked Send.
Four years since I got out of juvie.
Three months since I changed my name.
Two minutes since I met Julie.
A second to change my life.

All Dan wants for his senior year is to be invisible. This is his last chance at a semi-normal life. Nobody here knows who he is. Or what he’s done. But on his first day at school, instead of turning away like everyone else, Dan breaks up a fight. Because Dan knows what it’s like to be terrorized by a bully—he used to be one.

Now the whole school thinks he’s some kind of hero—except Julie. She looks at him like she knows he has a secret. Like she knows his name isn’t really Daniel...



My review:

The book talks about a kid who think he is a murderer. Murder is an extreme offense to some people. Unfortunately, when you read tons of book with character deaths, murder doesn't seem so bad. Especially if you enjoy dystopian and/or magical books. People die all the time, live with it.

Moving on to the story, I did not relate bullying much though I think that is what the book emphasis on. This is because it mostly concern cyber bullying and it doesn't really show. What is prominent here is what happened to the main character Daniel Ellison or his real name Kenneth James Mele. Come on, he simply take an embarrassing picture of a school mate which happened to go viral. The kid then committed suicide. Who is there to blame? Society? Definitely! A single kid who is a trigger? Hell no!

Yes, it is wrong to humiliate others, bla, bla, bla. Honestly, shit happens. Life goes on. you don't just end your life because people saw you in a childish underwear. The judge was obviously a moron putting Kenny's name right next to sex offenders. He is a child, a mere 13 year old. He is at the age of experimenting. Yes, he definitely need his lesson, but putting him in juvie with others who's done worse will create a whole lot of trouble. I'm surprise Kenny turned out pretty much okay because you know what they say, jail doesn't reform a criminal, it teach them to not get caught. Come on, evil geniuses all in one place, they definitely spend their time swapping stories. Jail just creates better criminals and juvie is a breeding ground.

I think SEND just cultivates anger in me. I got mad at all the characters. I do felt a sliver of pity in my heart, but mostly I feel like punching them in the face just to see them pull themselves together. Man, my high school was full of drama and taunts, but you didn't see me jumping off a building. Maybe I did, and I am currently posting this with my lifeless body, decaying and rotting somewhere with free wifi.

Though I think Daniel a.k.a Kenny is cool because he hasn't yet has split personality but close to it because he can talk to himself face to face.

Oh, and I do not like the heroin. She's dodgy since the beginning.

This doesn't mean I don't like the story, I do.

Book Review: By the Time You Read This I'll be Dead

Title: By the Time You Read This I'll Be Dead
Author: Julie Anne Peters
Pages: 200
Publisher: Hyperion (an imprint of Disney)

Goodreads synopsis:


Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she’s determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for “completers”— www. through-the-light.com.
While she’s on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she’s not on the Web, Daelyn’s at her private school, where she’s known as the freak who doesn’t talk.
Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she’s waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she’s made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won’t give up. And it’s too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life…isn’t it?
National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

What I think:

The book is either promoting suicide or applying reverse psychology. There are various ways listed on how you can end your life, complete with its full-proofeness and pain level. I find it mildly disturbing. I think knowledge in the wrong hands will inflict permanent damage to society...

The heroine in this book is incredibly mopey and pessimistic. Even when a boy clearly expressing his desire of becoming friends, she blatantly ignore the effort.

She was bullied a lot and did not stand up for herself. I am a bit enraged by the fact as you always need to stand up to your tormenter. It doesn't matter if you choose to give the silent treatment or a full brawl as long as they leave you alone. A lesson that I got from the internet on how to combat bullies is to tell people and get help. If they don't believe you, tell another and another until action is taken. You must never yield. Bullying hurts. People say that everyone is hurting, even the bullies. Actually, I don't care if the bully is hurting on the inside, ridiculed or bullied himself. He has no right to continue the cycle or hurt other people. Just because he has a horrid past or come from a broken family, it is simply an excuse to pardon his wrongdoing. Here's a story that support my unbelievable anger:-

The book was an easy read but I didn't get the ending. Did she die or did she try to be another person, reborn if you will.

Manga Review: Cute x Guy 1

Title: Cute x Guy 1
Author: Tateno Makoto

Review:

The story starts with a girl who falls in love with her classmate. the girl's name is Takaoka Sumi. She observed that her crush is interested in mature girls. Sumi's father is a scientist so he offered a medicine to make her look mature. Actually, her father tricked her as the medicine turned her into a boy. Granted that he turned into a cute boy.

The problem is in the medicine is she'll turn into a boy whenever her heart goes doki doki.

I love her crush's character. He is so innocent. he trust everybody and did not even question Sumi's weird behavior around him. He was not even suspicious of Tadano Jun (Sumi's alter ego)

The antagonist in this volume is the health teacher. I find her a pervert because she's chasing after Jun and would not stop at nothing. However, I find this big chested sensei extremely funny.

The best thing that happen when Sumi changed her gender is she finally gets friend. She found another guy who can change his body at will thanks to her father. I think instead of trying to make her crush like her, she became closer as a friend and got other friends as well.

Manga Review: Kimi to Himitsu no Hanazono

Title: Kimi to Himitsu no Hanazono (Volume 1)
Alternate Title: You and the Secret Flower Garden
Author: Hayashi Mikase

A piece of my mind:

See the cover? One of them is  a boy. Shocking, isn't it. No? Yeah, there's too much gender bender around nowadays. Meh, who's complaining. They're my favorite genre.

Okay... this story is about a girl who is an Aikido freak. It is not by choice but due to circumstances as she is the youngest in the family consisting of mainly boys. She went to an all-girls boarding school to learn femininity and as luck would have it, roomed with the epitome of girlishness.

But there's a catch. Her roommate is a boy. During the entire book, the girl was bullied by the boy under the pretense of helping her. I pity her naiveness. I don't particularly care that she wants to be effeminate. In my opinion, if she looks good with the boyish look, stick with it. This is because some people just look plain hideous. If you already achieve the stage of cuteness just by being you, why change?

There is the fact that boys will be intimidated by the manliness(?) shown but to be fair, if they could not accept you as who you are... why bother.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 9

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 9-END)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 9
Author: Kim Se-Young

Wrap-up:
This is the final book in the series. I am actually delighted that it has come to an end. I love the story, the ending was somewhat cute. there was no bloodshed. For that I was truly happy.

Except for one thing,  the secret heir died in accident. *snicker*
So, Derek's son became the heir. He grew up to look exactly like his father, and he falls for Shahi. Outrageous, I know, but they were cute and Shahi was finally happy so it is forgiven. The couple on the side is Nicole and Zed. Yup, he cut his hair and got tan. Awesome.

What I learn from this entire series is that you'll do crazy things for the one you love. But then, people will do evil things in the name of love but they actually don't possess any love. They just thought they do. Love does not hurt, it is pure. It is the act in the name of love, by people blinded by fake love that destroy the our faith in what is true.

Makes you think that this phrase is true... It is better to have love and lost than to have never love at all. Makes you want to experience that awful feeling as well.

Note to those who want to read this series: This manga is not graphic at all. it is simply shounen-ai. Feel free to read it without guilt.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 8

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 8)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 8
Author: Kim Se-young

A bit here,  a bit there:

Do you wanna know how evil the father? After the brotherly war he said, "Well this ends rather dissapointingly. You're both still alive"

Come on, you produced them. Or maybe Derek might not be, but Zed is your flesh and blood! Zed is the exact replica of you when you were younger except that he has long hair. Mind you, he's hot either way.

Anyway, everything's resolving nicely and there's only one volume to go. Yippy ya ya, yippy, yippy ya ya. Do you guys even know how to do that? I'm a Girl Guide so, yeah, I'm weird like that.

By nicely I mean, Derek committed suicide. Zed was exiled. He was supposed to be dead but royalty has this hush-hush thing going on so he just had to have a low profile in exilation. But, he is dead to the kingdom.
Shahi finally get to raise a child that he wanted so badly since Derek is no longer around to control him or even to take care of his own baby. Shahi got an instant baby belonging to the crown princess.

Ooh, and it seems like the king isn't half bad. he did not hate his brother at all. I think he stopped feeling all compassionate since the incident with his brother. *3* The royalty should put in effort to bring the country towards wealth by joining forces not fight for power. This is almost exactly what is going on in my country right now. I wonder who has as much power as Zed's dad though.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 7

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 7)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 7
Author Kim Se-Young

A couple of things I wanna say:

I am positively confused. There is more history behind Zed and Derek. Nicole is also in a twist. the allied countries are betraying left, right and center. the king is obviously a mastermind, pitting both his sons in order for his other heir whom is secret to the world to be fit for king. He, who is not corrupted by the royalty yet. *sigh*

I don't even feel like understanding anything anymore. I just want this to end. Don't get me wrong, I love this story. There you go Hika, you've been craving for some plot instead of brainless shoujo. Now you got want, you feel like your head is going to explode.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 6

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 6)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 6
Author: Kim Se-Young

Churning words into sentences:

The only thing worthy of news is Nicole and Zed is divorcing and Reyni is marrying Nicole's eldest brother. Everything else is a jumble of  conflict. Arghhh, how frustrating.

This had brought us to the topic of how successful is an arranged marriage? No, that's not it, some of the people here is arranged to be married but they were all unfaithful. Teehee.

Let us discuss the relationship between Zed's mum and dad instead. They were politically engaged. Zed's mum found another lover so should he or should he not let her go. Yes, he should! I remembered Johny Depp's quote saying that if you fall in love the second time, stick with the second because if you truly love the first, you won't fall for the second. Why would you torture her to be with you if she clearly love another? To foster the love for you? I think it just fester hate instead. In turn you will hate yourself. You might even compare yourself to the lover, finding flaws in yourself and then being continuously depress.

Love is a wondrous thing. Or so they say, since that is something I've never experienced. Therefore, I conclude that if you truly someone hold them real tight. But if you're pretty sure they don't love you back, let go of them. You'll save yourself  from lots of anger and grief.


Ok this is just added.....

Omooo, i thought I finished the book, turned out I didn't. This volume issssssssssss interesting. Seriously.

Somehow Shahi betrayed Zed or maybe it was a ruse, I dunno. Blood is coming out of Nicole's mouth. Oh no! Is he dead? Is this really is a trick? I thought  it was but then when Shahi tell their secrets, I felt that it was true that he's two-faced cockroach. *panic mode*.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 5

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 5)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 5
Author: Kim Se-Young

My blow by blow thoughts while devouring:

I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. Ahah, just as I expected, Shahi's tribe has this special power to turn into a woman with their magic after they made love. Boo yah. Take that. I can even guess such a bizzare predicament.

Okay, enough with the excitement. This volume is not that interesting. It is merely contain flashbacks which concern the late queen as in Zed's mother.

The relationship is revealed. Therefore I'm guessing that the man who turn into a woman got pregnant as well. So.......... I'm guessing it was the girl that look like Reini and she may be Zed's sibling. Could it be that Shahi is as well? Everythings a big maybe. *sigh*

Zed and Nicole's relationship is  getting better. Nicole is confused because Zed has set the line and he wonder whether he should man up, which means should not receive anymore kisses or advances for him.
This is hard. I want them to be together as well. T^T Jiayou Nicole. I think you'll be fine with Zed.

I think the Zed and his royal family really have a horrible past....

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 4

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 4)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 4
Author: Kim Se-Young

Straight and uncensored thoughts from moi:

Oh my god, I am laughing really hard for this volume. I can't believe Prince Nicole can still behave so childishly. And I think that almost everyone who is anyone knows about his relationship with Prince Zed.

In this volume, Prince Nicole had to change places with Princess Elena yet again. This is to ensure that Princess Elena can carry and deliver the child safely. What I think was, the effort was futile. Even if the baby is delivered, do they expect Elena to come back and then take back her place. What is Nicole? A mere doll? Don't think that he got no feelings. I know that he adore Zed but then take into consideration on how many people are trying to kill him. Think about how his feelings seemed to be shattered by Zed everytime Zed was becoming affectionate to him because he was his 'wife' at the time. Nicole's dream of being an equal to Zed might not happen. Zed seems to treat him like a girl.

I love Nicole for the fact that he takes everything with a smile. He also pass off all the failed assassination as his fear towards Zed. He was actually poisoned but he thought the stomach ache was caused by his fear. =,="

Oh yeah, I just noticed the height difference between Zed and Nicole.

Nicole is so short. XD

It made me think that Zed's word is true that he is still a child. He could actually be twelve or fourteen for all we know. Oh noooooooooooo, Zed might be considered a pedophile. Nah, I guess not since he's no older than eighteen I think. This manhwa is set in the middle ages so I  guess that's logical.

Another thing that I found funny was what the nanny said to Nicole.

They won't get a baby if they went through. *laughing so hard that tears are coming out of my eyes*
It's like she approved of the relationship.
I just can't   *dying*
On top of that Zed was behind the door listening to every word and he was happy. Since when does Zed knows about happiness... :p

Aside from the fun, there are a few tragedies. Shahi gets a few flashbacks. He was once raped by the crown prince. o.O Then continue being his sex toy until now.
I'm not in the mood of recalling all his sob stories. All I know is, he should not have given up on life like that. He should kill that bastard. Kill them all. Well, not his mother. She should be forgiven. Even if not totally, a bit is okay.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 3

Title: Kiss Me Princess
Alternate Title: Boy Princess
Author: Kim Se-Young

Quick rant:

Prince Zed had advanced on Prince Nicole when he was aimlessly wandering at the kingdom border. I understand that they are no longer husband and 'wife' but it is kinda mean to treat him so cruelly. I can see that Zed truly love Nicole but then it feels like he is cheating on Princess Elena.

At the same time, Princess Elena is trying to cover up her pregnancy with her *eh-hem* previous engagement. It infuriates me that she wanted to use Zed like that. It was her decision to elope but then when trouble arises, she easily went back without even begging for forgiveness. Has she not see what kind of damage she had done. If she did not ran away in the first place, Nicole did not have to endure all that hard ship. Plus, if she was in Nicole's place she could have died already and then expose the evilness of everybody there. See, dead for a cause is better than making everyone's life as miserable as hers.

I love how Nicole's brothers are so protective over him. Remember? The nerd and the flirt. turns out the nerd is called June and he's actually a strong prince as well. Lol. Anyway, I think they treated him not like a baby brother but instead they act like they're his fathers who are reluctant to hand over their daughter to a man. That is so funny.

Oh, apart from that, Shahi knows about the pregnancy and he started to hate himself. I mean he is starting to see the flaws in the side which he support. I can't wait to know what will happen. Just die dear evil mistress and son.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 2

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 2)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess
Author: Kim Se-Young

Some words of wisdom:

I doubt what I'm saying is actually wise as this blog is even named Demented Diva. ~^O^~

In this manhwa, Princess Elena returns to take back her place as Prince Zed's wife. But, Prince Zed is not that welcoming of her. Princess Reiny, his sister also realise that Elena is not the one that she has known earlier. I think the only interesting thing that developed was that I finally see Prince Zed to be more assertive in taking his place as the rightful heir.

Besides that, here I got to know that the person whom they call mother is just the  King's mistress so Derik isn't even supposed to be the crown prince. How I hated the mistress. she was given a chance to repent before, but instead she wanted to commit more crimes so that she can get her son to be the king some day.

I also do not like the Shahi, the healer in the palace. He is treated like a lover by Derik but I think it was forced. He is forced to do the unthinkables as in sex and murder, but he actually have the power to poison the evil mistress and his son. He could easily poison them little by little and they would not even know. Why would he be Derik's toy is a mystery to me. He said he has a deal with Derik but seriously, is that deal worth it? Kill him before he has a devil spawn Shahi, or before he rule the country for surely he will be a bad king.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 1

Title: Kiss Me Princess
Alternate Title: Boy Princess
Author: Kim Sae Young


My thoughts:

This wasn't what I intentionally want to read. I was searching for another manga with a similar theme but then found this. Lucky me. Oh yeah, this is a manhwa actually, means it's Korean's.

The art for this manhwa is not bad, it's just that I'm used to bishounen in the manga that it was a bit difficult to adjust. The main male character came across as too scary and unapproachable. On second thought, that might have the manhwa-ga's intention. :p

The story started when Princess Elena eloped with a commoner so Prince Nicole had to take her place, disguised as a girl to be married to Prince Zed, a prince of a neighbouring country. However, his secret was easily discovered by Prince Zed but he didn't exactly minded. That made Prince Nicole's life way better since he had to endure an over-bearing sister and mother-in-law.

Here, Prince Nicole got to see how the idyllic life of princesses is not as idyllic at all. He has to learn embroidery and other girly stuff and mind her manners. hat I like about this manhwa is there is a certain mystery around Prince Zed. he is the second born but he is busy taking care of the country. I'm wondering why his mother is so keen on making his eldest brother king. is she actually a step-mother? And, why is it her sister didn't like the mother as well. The sisters-in-law to be were also a bit irritating. To me, you guys are to-be wives, not wives yet. you shouldn't even be in the circle yet. =,="

I love Prince Nicole. He is childish, always want his own way but still as a prince should be.. strong. Unfortunately, or may be fortunately, Prince Zed is stronger. Prince Nicole is looking at Prince Zed as a role-model, even thinking to be like him when he grows older. It's not that he doesn't have any brothers. It's just that his eldest brother is a flirt and the second is a bookworm. I guess, Price Zed come off as cool.

Prince Nicole better watch out, because I don't think Prince Zed see him as a brother. This is a yaoi book, so, be careful Prince Nicole. Gambatte.. haha.

Manga Review: Kusuri Yubi Hime

Title: Ring Finger Princess
Original Title: Kusuri Yubi Hime
Author: Takamiya Satoru

This book is about Hinaki who was given a ring by her father. Her father said there is a prince trapped inside the ring. As a girl who believed in fairy tale, she naturally thought that it was true. She kissed the ring and a boy came out. That happened when she was young. She had lived with the prince ever since.  That black hair guy is the prince while the blond guy is her sempai who is in love with her. The story was humerous as the senpai keep trying to win her love. As most of Takamiya Satoru's book, it was easy to predict that she'll end up with the raven haired boy. Besides that, Hinaki kept trying to find ways on how to free her 'prince' from the ring.

I love it that Hinaki was so adamant on saying that the prince and her will stay together. Ah, i got tired of calling him the prince. His name is Sae. Hinaki is hopeless in housework so Sae took care of her. The setting was that Hinaki's parents are oversea so they live together... o.O a great development I see.

Since this manga only have one volume, not many things can be developed so I was somewhat disappointed. It was nicely elaborated but I wish there was more. Some scenes were to abrupt such as when Hinaki was trying to seduce Sae, but then she got scared instead. Sempai was a bit annoying as he kept popping up in various scenes acting like he owned the place. You can't help by getting irritated by a minor character that doesn't know how to give up. Usually, I'd pity the second hero, but in this case, I' love seeing him suffer. *evil laugh*

It was an enjoyable, but not so quick read. Maybe it was because I was distracted... Haha. I even stop to have dinner while reading this book. Talk about low commitment.

2013 Manga Reading Challenge

I feel like entering another challenge this year and I guess my manga reading is bit left behind. My aim is to finish 50 manga this year. I may or may not review them all but I hope I will. Anyway, anybody who's interested can click on the picture above to sign up as well.

Here are the list of manga I've read for the challenge. Click on the title to view the reviews.

1. Devil's Kiss by Takamiya Satoru 
2. Kusuri Yubi Hime by Takamiya Satoru 
3. Kiss Me Princess 1 by Kim Se-Young 
4. Kiss Me Princess 2 by Kim Se-Young 
5. Kiss Me Princess 3 by Kim Se-Young 
6. Kiss Me Princess 4 by Kim Se-Young 
7. Kiss Me Princess 5 by Kim Se-Young 
8. Kiss Me Princess 6 by Kim Se-Young 
9. Kiss Me Princess 7 by Kim Se-Young 
10. Kiss Me Princess 8 by Kim Se-Young 
11. Kiss Me Princess 9 by Kim Se-Young 
12. Kimi to Himitsu no Hanazono by Hayashi Mikase 
13. Cute x Guy 1 by Tateno Makoto 

Manga Review: Devil's Kiss

Title: Devil's Kiss

Original Title: Akuma no Kuchizuke

Author: Takamiya Satoru

My Review:

I am writing this review as I read the book. I'm doing so because I have a memory span of a gnat... What can I say *sigh* This is going to be my first time reviewing a manga by volume so bear with me.

Firstly, I am absolutely in love with Takamiya Satoru. She has a way of making me swoon at her characters. Plus my heart always beats awfully fast when I'm reading her works. Or maybe that's just the caffeine coursing through my veins. ~^O^~

I love the way she drew her feathers.  

    

See... so pretty and fluffy. I think she loves angels and devils and witches as well since she seems to be drawing a lot of 'em. 

This volume consist of several one-shots. 

1. The first one would be about an angel and a devil. The angel is trying to pass angel school. To do so, she must captured a devil. She bended the rule a bit as she summoned a devil to be captured. Such a naughty little angel. Angels are not supposed to cheat. *shrug* How else can they show good examples to us humans. The angel's name is Sara while the devil is Rembrandt. Instead of capturing him, Sara was being lured by Rembrandt to not be an angel. As shoujo stories always go, I guess I don't have to tell you the ending. It's way too predictable.

"Whether you like me or not, as long as I can create unforgettable feelings in you, it's fine. Those feelings which you can't control, do you know what they are called? It's called love" -Rembrandt-

I think the thing that the manga-ka wants to emphasis in this story is that even when you're in love with somebody, don't ever change who you are to satisfy the one you love. It's okay if it's for the better but to change just simply he or she wants you to is simply irrelevant. For example, if you're somebody who throw rubbish anywhere on the floor, yes, change. be somebody cleaner who throw them in appropriate places like the dustbin. But, if you go all the way to change how you look, behave and well, what makes you, you, then that is wrong. Or should I say it screamed desperation. The person who is in love with you should accept you just the way you are. Besides, he or she has fallen in love with you because you have been yourself in the first place. Let's just assume that if you change too much, he or she will wonder where did the person they have fallen in love in the first place and they might just fall out of love.

2. Yosh, moving on to the second story. The second book is about Kiku, a flower that suddenly turned into a boy and Hina, a middle school girl. Kiku was a red chrysanthemum. To all that doesn't know what flower is that (including me, lol) voila:-

 

The plot was a bit undesirable. They do end up  together. It's just that Hina was supposed to be in love with her best friend's boyfriend, but did not have the courage to confess. Then she suddenly like Kiku. o.O And also magically has the will to tell him that she likes him. 

3. Is it me, or the story has become bothersome to read. This time it's about a popular girl who has fallen for her sempai. Like all Takamiya Satoru's male character, this one is also manipulative. I found out that the girl is actually afraid to be alone and easily trapped within the sempai's web. She learned that having many friends is not necessarily important, she just needed at least one who actually cares.

4. Hee, the fourth story is funny. It's about a high school student that is in love with the teacher. No matter what he did, he can't shake off  the student that cling to him. It just shows that if you pester a guy enough, he may eventually love you. 

Me: *shouting from a distance* "Hey crushhhhhh, if I say I like you and pester you everyday, will you like me?" 

Crush: *place a restraining order* "Not in a million years freak.

Me : *hide in a corner, sobbing uncontrollably*

To wrap this up, I guess I have mixed feelings about this book. I like the first and the last story but the second and third just didn't do it for me.

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

It's May and it is Labour Day. Therefore I'm having a break from school which in turn give me free time to roam the internet. Since I'm not entering any challenges this year except for that Goodreads book goal, I guess I'd give this a go.

This challenge has four levels which are:-
a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

I'm not going to be an overachiever this year since this challenge requires reviews. Something I don't exactly have time to do at the moment. So, I'm going to pick Walrus. Yay, for walrus. :3

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Random House
Page: 272

Goodreads synopsis:

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel. I open my eyes wide now. I sit up as much as I can. And I listen. Stay, he says.

Everybody has to make choices. Some might break you. For seventeen-year-old Mia, surrounded by a wonderful family, friends and a gorgeous boyfriend decisions might seem tough, but they're all about a future full of music and love, a future that's brimming with hope.

But life can change in an instant.

A cold February morning ...a snowy road ...and suddenly all of Mia's choices are gone. Except one. As alone as she'll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all.

Gripping, heartrending and ultimately life-affirming, If I Stay will make you appreciate all that you have, all that you've lost - and all that might be.

Review:

Mia has just gotten into a car crash with her family, her father, mother and younger brother. She was in the hospital when she had and an out of body experienced. There she realised that all of them had passed away. She was tempted to move on but her boyfriend Adam kept her anchored.

I don't know what happened but the story was over before I knew it. It guided us through her lost and the flashbacks of her happiness with her family and Adam. The reason why I love this book was the grief and the fact that the author managed to make me feel that it is not enough and wanting for more. There's not much to say because the plot was mostly of her indecisiveness of staying or leaving for good. 

To her, there was not much to go back to. Yes, she still has her grandparents, her boyfriend and a whole life in front of her. Unfortunately, her entire family has left. She is either felt guilty living as they are dead or she just don't want to live grieving for them.

Dumbledore once said, "pity the living not the dead". Besides, death is the easy way out. It is harder to face life and what doesn't kill you make you stronger. This book did not make me want to appreciate life more or anything. It just taught me that in life they are no wrong or right decision but you still have to live with the consequences and to Mia it's a literal meaning.

Review: Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse

Title: Rockoholic
Author: C.J. Skuse
Page: 368
Publisher: Chicken House

Synopsis from the back cover:
Jody's obsessed with a rock star. At Jackson Gatlin's concert, she's right at the front. But when she's caught in the crush, Jody's carried backstage. Throw in a concussion, a super-wired superstar, and a Curly Wurly- and she finds herself taking home more than a poster. OMG! Jody's kidnapped  him. But what happens when the rock god in her garage doesn't want to leave? Jody's stuck between a rock idol and a hard place.




Review

Truth be told, I couldn't really relate to the main character of this story in the context of obsessing over a band member since I have never worshiped them. I am just somebody who enjoys multiple genre of music. However, as the world is producing more and more hot singing/dancing boys to ogle at, I can usually witness those kind of idiotic adoration via the internet.

Since it is not something I'm familiar with, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was supposed to be a new experience and I was a bit expectant when it came to romance between them. The author just proved me wrong and that was what I love the most about the book. They did not immediately fall in love and make babies. It turns out that Jackson is a druggie and he was high when Joy kidnapped him. When he is finally at Jody's house, her best friend who is a guy opposed her decision of keeping him like some lost puppy.

Jody learned that not everything on tv was real. Because of him, she managed to fix her relationship with her family.  Besides, she managed to destroy the thoughts that his best friend is gay. She finally opened her eyes that he actually love her. Thus the reason he always stick with her. I mean, who would stand all your weirdness and not love you. But, she is still quite thick for a girl. She gave her entire savings just to help Jackson get another identity.

Jackson the rock star suffered from being indirectly abuse by his producer. If you can call being fed drugs so he can perform 24/7 as indirect, then that's what it is. During his stay with Jody, he was detoxed and learned friendship. He get to skip his life and start over. He did set up another identity but was always caught and brought back to his producer. But, with Jody's help he did.

This is a sweet read and I got to see what's all the big deal with artists. However, I'm still not convinced to join the bandwagon of worshipers.

These are the other covers. I personally like the one above actually. My house mate bought it at a Big Bad Wolf book sale.

Review: Eve and Adam

Title: Eve and Adam
Author: Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Page: 291

Goodreads synopsis:

And girl created boy…

In the beginning, there was an apple—

And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.

Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?

Review:

Look at the cover. Isn't it swoon worthy? This book can actually be summarise by one quote which is  "Love isn't finding a perfect person. It's seeing an imperfect person perfectly". Although this book talks about the supposed conspiracy that Eve's mother is up to, I see it more as a love story. Ah, teenage love. I sound like an old lady, didn't I. I assure you, I'm a barely twenty teen that have never experienced love.

Eve had an accident. Her mother whisk her away from the general hospital to her own medical facility as it is the best in the world and had cured countless diseases. There, she met Solo whose character does not just draw her in by he seems mysterious enough. 

Solo is actually her mother's ward. He had been living at the facility for almost a decade. He befriended Eve, but not without an ulterior motive. During his stay there, he believed that he had uncovered a conspiracy where Eve's mother, Tera had done severe experiments that lead to many grotesque deformities in humans and animals alike. He thought that she was an ice queen who stop at nothing to gain profit. He rationalizes his action of taking down Spiker's Corporation is for the greater good. The fact that he's taking down his parents' murderer is just an added bonus.

But then his perfect plan became not so perfect when Eve is involved. When he included her in the plan, she readily helped but they learned something valuable along the way. Not everybody who appeared bad is bad. and before we assume, we should do this crazy method called asking.

Before I forget, almost half of the book talked about how Eve created Adam. I literally mean created as he was not patch up like Frankenstein. He was genetically built, raises in a tank and was utter perfection. Since Eve is a perfectionist, she designed everything according to her heart's desire. However, in the end, she did not choose Adam. This shows that we do not need perfection. He's perfect but too perfect for her. Adam is not perfect to her best friend. he got a great IQ and all but he is still a baby in a sense. He match up well with her.

The best friend that I was talking about has bad luck with boys. It's not that she's not pretty but she tends to fall for the bad boy. She was also one of the source of conflict in this book. Why? Her boyfriend is a pot dealer and did not like to pay his benefactor. Being a good girlfriend, she would always shell out money for him. It's a relief that she finally got the guts to just dump him. In my opinion, it would be much more fun id\f she just pull the trigger and kill him. Such worthless creature should not be allowed to live. He endangers her, ruins her and steal depends on her. That is not a quality a man should have. Not to mention that he's a coward as well.

Okay, I'm sorry that my review sounds kinda like a summary of the story. It's just that, it was such a quick read that not much things register. It was a bit too perfect for my taste. The conspiracy was over quickly although not entirely predictable. Everything was resolved in the end. It's just that I've read other books by Michael Grant and compared to the previous book, it's way to easy. His other dystopian books gave me nightmares.

By the way, here's another cover for the book. It's not that pretty but this is the cover for the book that is sold in my country.

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion (a division of Disney)
Page: 287

Goodreads synopsis:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

 Review:

I think that Goodreads synopsis have already gave an apt description for this book. I have always love stories about pranks or anything that got to do with spies. Come on, who doesn't like Spy Kid? When I got older I watched Leverage and Covert Affairs which feature all this cool spies.


This book is about a thief who is sick of stealing that she wanted to live as a normal girl. However, normal is way too over rated and she was kicked out of the school that she conned to get in, in the first place. They're trying to persuade her to go back to her world because her father is in danger.


What intrigue me was there's this anonymous guy who actually committed all the crimes against bad thieves. He used the infamous pseudonym Visily Romani. Visily Romani is Chelovek Pseudonima which literally translate as Alias Man. In this story, it claimed that Visily Romani had done various crimes that is said to be high leveled. That would have been awesome except that this time the Visily Romani crimes pointed directly towards Kat's dad. This Visily Romani stole some paintings that belongs to a tycoon that is another type of bad. They are thieves but he's worse, more ruthless. Even when Kat tirelessly explained countless times that her father did not stole anything because he was busy doing another theft, he still won't believe her.


It was up to Kat to clear her father's name. All this is easier said than done. When even her great-uncle refuses to help, what is a teenager to do? Her cousin Gabs and best friend Hale contacted their partners in crimes, mere teens to assist them to find where the paintings are.

Their adventures of relocating and re-stealing the paintings is truly an awesome read. Along the way, they managed to meet some interesting new people and Kat learned something about her past.

Besides, their con actually made Kat rethink her decision of being normal. Besides, someone of her talent should put it to great use. 

Review: Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

Title: Stupid Fast
Author: Geoff Herbach
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Page: 311

Summary from Goodreads:

I, Felton Reinstein, am Stupid Fast. Seriously. The upper classmen used to call me Squirrel Nut, because I was little and jumpy. Then, during sophomore year, I got tall and huge and so fast the gym teachers in their tight shorts fell all over themselves. During summer, three things happened all at once. First, the pee-smelling jocks in my grade got me to work out for football, even though I had no intention of playing. Second, on my paper route the most beautiful girl I have ever seen moved in and played piano at 6 a.m. Third, my mom, who never drinks, had some wine, slept in her car, stopped weeding the garden, then took my TV and put it in her room and decided she wouldn’t get out of bed.

Listen, I have not had much success in my life. But suddenly I’m riding around in a jock’s pick-up truck? Suddenly I’m invited to go on walks with beautiful girls? So, it’s understandable that when my little brother stopped playing piano and began to dress like a pirate I didn’t pay much attention. That I didn’t want to deal with my mom coming apart.

Review:

This book is fast paced  and the summary didn't do it much justice. Stupid fast is written in a boy's point of view whom I assume just undergo  puberty. The way it is written, I think I'm either reading a 15-year old's diary which he wrote everyday before bed or I'm accessing a boy's thoughts. Either way is fine.

 I think his household is whack. His mother had him when she was 19 and hide him from the real truth about his father. His mother made him believed that his father is the opposite of what he really is. He accepted all those lies because he did not get the chance to know his father. Why? His father committed suicide when he was five and he was the one who found him hanging from the ceiling. Still, his mother believed that they had a pretty complete loving family.

I symphatise with Felton because he was bullied in school and had to live with the assumption that he's no better than anyone. His best friends are jerks and one of them had to go and live with his grandmother. His other best friend ditched him.

The day his mother finally lose it was when he started playing football. Puberty had made him taller, lifting weights and training made him buffer. Suddenly, he was the spitting image of his father. Throughout the book, it discussed on how his day has gone, how he cope (or not cope actually) with his life and handle the thought of a girl fancying him. It's quite hilarious seeing how he handled his new friends and his inner voice that prevent him from strangling those annoying people.

Felton believes that he's a retard. I think he's just a typical boy who actually haven't recovered from the incident. Add in a hippie mum, a piano-genius brother and bullies in a small town, there you have it, a kid who feels scrawny even when he outgrown his tiny shell.

Stupid Fast makes you think about why people enjoy sports in general. You don't necessarily have to enjoy sport to like this book though. What makes me happy was everything was resolved. He became happier, got new friends, a girlfriend, a better relationship with his brother and his mother's getting help for depression.

All in all, it's a good read which can be devoured in one sitting. The plot is not that hard to follow and uses simple words so you don't have to think much. :) 

Review: Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

Title: Girl Parts
Author: John M. Cusick
Page count: 218
Publisher: Candlewick Press

Summary from Goodreads

David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot designed to encourage healthy bonds and treat his “dissociative disorder,” he can’t get enough of luscious redheaded Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Parted from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal “companion” is about to become her own best friend. In a stunning and hilarious debut, John Cusick takes rollicking aim at internet culture and our craving for meaningful connection in an uberconnected world

Review

The reason why I chose the book was mainly because of the cover and the summary. Besides, there was a manga called Zettai Kareshi with similar premise that I've read a few years back so I decided to read it.

Girl Parts is written in multiple point of views which are of David, Charlie and Rose. Unfortunately, when having so many different point of views, there is a lot of things to cover but not enough pages to tell everything. David has this air of neglected son but his character was not fully developed. All I can see that he was a boy lusting after girls. He is considered dissociative by his school counselor when he witnessed a girl committing suicide but he didn't do anything about it. The fact that she is from a neighbouring school didn't help either. When given the chance to have his own Companion, he thought that the idea was ridiculous at first but soon complied. I thought he was sweet when he spend most of his time with her, teaching her different things abut life. It was quite difficult as it's like introducing the world to a baby. I was fooled to the point where I believed that he was easily swayed by a pretty girl. However, his true motives shown when he discovered that he cannot deflower her as she do not own any vagina.

Another point of view is from Charlie, a boy who was raised by a single parent. I find him much more mature than David but him snapping at Rose is a huge no-no for me. He jumps to conclusion much too easily when it comes to Rose. He was also offered by the school counselor to join the Companion program as he seemed to be experiencing a Dissociative Disorder and the Companion could teach him how to be better around people. He declined saying that it is silly. It is true as who can gauge a person's true happiness. He is happiest alone but if that suits him, then it's alright.

Rose, the Companion is just a robot but she is much too human to be considered as one. When she was dumped by David, she tried to commit suicide only to be saved by Charlie. Charlie also tried to help her by sending her to chop shop for her to be free of the memory of David. She was then hunted by her creator but she escaped successfully.

The story is set somewhere in the near future because even if the class is conducted using computers and they have to stay put in class, other things don't really change such as their cars. It just seemed to be a normal high school experience with the addition of robotic prostitutes.

What I don't really enjoy about this book is that there's so much more to tell than Rose's heartbreak. The fact that her flashes of memories serve no purpose as they don't exactly revealed much about her. How special she is? Why was she number one and the only one of her model?

Besides, David was suddenly grieving about his loss (Rose's disappearance) and Charlie's sudden friendship with him was a bit tad confusing. It also subtly shown that they're fighting for her. In the end, nothing was resolved and I felt like I wasted my precious hours for nothing. This book just deal with loneliness that teenagers feel and some teen angst.

Unsurprisingly, the character that  I dislike in this book is the school psychologist who is there to replace the old one. His character is dodgy and he seems to be manipulative. He try to appear sympathetic and understanding but he is really picking on the students weaknesses and turn their words against them. I almost screamed in joy when Charlie caught him in the act of dishonesty during a session. Go Charlie!

I do feel this story is a bit rushed and think there ought to be a sequel so this torture can continue. If you have loots of time, you can pick this book up for a quick read but it is not something that I would recommend. Why? I don't like books with unresolved issues and leaving me hanging.