MUST READS

Seeing as some people have been asking for book recommendations, I have painstakingly gone through the books I own and a list of books I WANT to own. Let me warn you, that list was 3 typed up pages in 10 point font. I shudder in horror to think that my personal library hasn’t reached the 200 mark yet. I DID pass the 125 milestone, though… Here is my list of MUST READS, GOT-TO READS, and READ-THIS-BECAUSE-IF-YOU-DON’T-YOU’LL-HAVE-MISSED-OUT-ON-EVERYTHING!!!!

For the historical fiction nuts out there:

• The Luxe Series, by Anna Godberson—because you can’t live without scandalous Manhattan socialites living in 1899.
• The Secret Countess, by Eva Ibbotson—because we all wish we knew someone like the protagonist, Anna Grazinsky, a Russian duchess in disguise post World War I, pretending to be a lowly servant in Britain to make money for her fallen family and manages to charm everyone around her.
• Vixen, by Jillian Larkin—who DOESN’T wish they’d been living in the 1920’s? Flappers, mysteries, and newly found freedom, OH MY!

For those of us that KNOW the surreal goes on in the real world :

• The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series, by Michael Scott—you will cry like a heart-wrenched pirate who lost his treasure after reading all the books. 
• Inkheart Trilogy, by Cornelia Funke—this is every reader’s dream: to have the words they’re reading COME TO LIFE. That’s all I’ll say about that.
• Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin—this book is all about growing backwards. Yep. Growing but the other way around… so isn’t that shrinking? This will keep you mind boggled until long after you’ve read the book. 

Books-that-don’t-fit-under-just-one-category-so-I-put-them-all-in-this-big-one:

• Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore—for those of that have already read Graceling and Fire, I don’t need to explain the utter awesomeness of this book. For those of you that haven’t: this is the sort of high fantasy book with 18-year old queens meets revolutionary world meets mystery to be solved meets SHEER AWESOMESAUCEYNESS that is hard to pass by.
• Evil Genius, by Catherine Jinks—because all sparklers have an inner geek that is waiting to be unleashed.
• The Wolf Tower Series (also known as The Claidi Journals), by Tanith Lee—post-apocalyptic worlds for the win! Servant girl escapes. Servant girl must survive desert-wasteland all while trying to wrap her mind around the fact that The House she has lived in her whole life is not the last place on Earth with humans. Drama ensues in which a foreign prince may or may not have chosen her to be his bride and she may or may not find out that people she used to work for have been planning her “escape” all along.
• Poison, by Chris Wooding—a book for all you avid readers out there because we ALL have asked ourselves, at some point in our lives, whether or not we are just characters from a book and someone is writing about us/reading about us… mysterious? I think so.
• The Triskelia Trilogy, by Carrie Mac—more of the post-apocalyptic world that has resorted to life like in the Dark Ages but better because different parts of the world control the weather and there is a circus involved—frankly, anything with a circus in it has one word flashing: FUN.
• The Protector of the Small Quartet, by Tamora Pierce—if you haven’t read anything by this author then you have missed out. You  will now rush to the library to read about Keladry of Mindelan, the only girl (after the Princess Alanna) to dare to become a Lady Knight in a world filled with men, magic, and plots to stop girls from trying to pursue their dreams.

Steal Like An Artist, Austin Kleon

“Steal Like An Artist” by Austin Kleon is a guide to the people of the world about how to live creatively. Essentially,  Austin Kleon’s message to the reader is that anyone can be creative if they listen and learn from those around them. He explains that using a selective process you can ‘keep’ the inspiration you like and eventually find yourself, developing into someone you want to be. His rules for creativity are the following:

1. Steal Like an Artist.

2. Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started.

3. Write the book you want to read.

4. Use your hands.

5. Side projects and hobbies are important.

6. The secret: Do good work and share it with people.

7. Geography is no longer our master.

8. Be nice. (The world is a small town.)

9. Be boring. (It’s the only way to get work done.)

10. Creativity is subtraction.

The advice itself is positive, and even though the title is misleading, the author explains the differences between plagiarism and using positive influences to become a better person. The book is short, (I finished it in around an hour) but cute...because of the pictures I think. It’s also rather funny, one of my favorite quotes is in the ‘Be boring’ section where he explains that people cannot live the stereotyped life of an artist; they have to take care of themselves first.

“Neil Young sang, ‘It’s better to burn out than to fade away.’ I say it’s better to burn slow and see your grandkids.” – Steal Like An Artist, Austin Kleon

I haven’t read many self help books before, so I don’t really know about their usual structure or length. I like the advice in this book, but I wish it was longer and maybe more detailed. The message might also be confusing to some people, but if you actually read the book it all makes sense.
7.5/10

Poem: PARADISE by ME :)

The sound of birds chirping,
the sound of ocean waves calling.
This brings relaxation,
people are having celebrations.
Summer is finally here,
there is nothing left to fear.
My heart skips a beat,
to the blazing sun's heat.
I wish summer was endless,
this feeling is sure priceless.
What should I do this summer ?
 I need your advice,
 to make my perfect summer paradise...

Bitterblue, Kristin Cashore

Before you continue reading, beware, not everything in this review is positive! I had some disappointments with “Bitterblue”, most likely because I expected too much, and therefore, was overcritical. ):

This is the story of Queen Bitterblue. For thirty-five years citizens fell victim to King Leck’s sadistic and unforgettable reign, but eight years later, Monsea still lingers in the past. Queen Bitterblue is now eighteen, ruling her country peacefully through the aid of her advisers. However, memories of Leck’s tyrannical rule live locked in the minds of the country, and as Bitterblue attempts to move forward by discovering the past, she realises there are those that would do anything it takes not to remember.

This book, as Kristin Cashore’s other novels, was exceptionally written. I adore her writing style and the lovely descriptions she adds into her books. However, my problem was not with her writing, but with the overcomplicated plotline. For the first one hundred pages, I enjoyed the book. Bitterblue, curious about the condition of her citizens, sneaks out at night and visits the city. She discovers secrets associated with the impact her father left on the country, and digs further. The main plot eventually detours, and becomes too scattered. I felt like I was reading three different stories - the concentration on some (of the numerous) secondary characters in these mini-plots were either way too short, or felt pointless and random. Though in the end, I did like the ‘main’ plot line.   

The amount of the secondary characters in “Bitterblue” was unnecessary, as most were rather flat and overshadowed the protagonist. Some were introduced half-way through the book, and many vanished and resurfaced randomly with some sort of vital information to the plot, so I felt like I never got to know anyone other than Bitterblue. Death (pronounced ‘D -E-E-T-H’ :D), the castle’s grumpy librarian, and Giddon, ‘Middluns Lord’ and Po’s traveling companion, were the only two that actually grew on me. Bitterblue, however, was a character I was contented to read about. She demonstrated depth and intelligence, but also imperfections that made her realistic. Although her history and discoveries of Leck did not move me to tears, it certainly made me feel compassion for the character and her mother. Also, for those Katsa and Po fans, they’re in the book as well. :)

“Everyone was strange. In a fit of frustration, [Bitterblue] scratched out strange and wrote the word CRACKPOTS in big letters.”
-Kristin Cashore, Bitterblue

I am sorry to say was not happy with the romance in this book. At first I thought that it had some promise, Saf (Sapphire) is a commoner who was raised on a Lienid ship. Now in Monsea, he works as an all around troublemaker and hired ‘thief’ (you’ll discover why quotation marks are put around this later ;D). Initially, his mistrusting personality and actions seemed justified. However Bitterblue’s love interest is similar to the plot, slightly confusing and twisted.  Their relationship started off as a cautious friendship, neither Bitterblue nor Saf knew anything about each other when they first met. As trust built slowly between the two of them, their connection continued to grow. However, when this friendship began to develop into romance, I felt the relationship shift from something genuine to an awkward and unnatural state. Saf’s personality seemed to flip constantly throughout the rest of the novel. He disappeared for several chucks of the book, and every time reappeared with a different attitude towards his relationship with Bitterblue. Along with these personality flips, he also made some rather stupid decisions that put himself and those he loved in serious danger. I don’t want to be too harsh on Saf’s character, as I truly liked him at first, but I personally wished that Bitterblue and Saf remained friends.

I hope no one flames me for this review, as it’s my honest opinion, but in all entirety I’ll admit I didn’t love “Bitterblue”. I’m still happy I read the book (I love Kristin Cashore’s writing style none-the-less), and encourage those that have read “Graceling” and “Fire” to try it out. Hopefully you’ll think differently! 

7.5 - 8.0 /10 <--- *As I reflect back on the book, I realize I was being way too harsh. Changed the score. :D

The other side of dark by Joan Lowery Nixon

 "Stacy wakes up in a hospital room, in a body she doesn't recognize."
This suspenseful and mysterious book talks about a seventeen year old girl, Stacy, who still thinks she is a thirteen year old and only has as much knowledge as that. She surprisingly recovered from a gunshot wound, only waking up to realize that her mother was murdered. She remembers the killer's name, but has a shadowy memory of his face. Her best friend, Jan, helps Stacy try to regain back her memory, though Stacy feels like she's alone.. Everyone matured, and she still feels like she's thirteen.. Will she regain back her memory before the killer discovers she had recovered and decides to get rid of her again?
I would rate this book a 7/10 because I expected more suspense and mystery to the plot .. though it didn't really happen. I would still recommend people who likes suspense and mystery, but does not want to get scared too much, to read this ! :)

Fire, by Kristin Cashore

"You hear nothing behind you, only before you. The door behind you is closed.        

            He never swung around to check, never even doubted the thoughts she'd implanted in his mind. She opened the door behind him, slipped through, and shut herself in, then leaned against the wall of her hallway for a moment, oddly depressed at how easy it had been. It seemed to her that it shouldn't be so easy to make a man into a fool."

     (Fire, on using her monster powers to alter her gaurd's thoughts) Kristin Cashore, Fire.

The prequel to Graceling, Fire serves to be just as exhilarating as Cashore's first book. It takes place about 30 years before Graceling and has one crossover involving a young boy with mismatched eyes who has a peculiar ability that readers will find disturbing and familiar if they've read the first book (trying to avoid spoilers!). In a land east of Seven Kingdoms, called The Dells, live many monsters that look like regular animals but have colourful fur and abilities to alter the thoughts of their prey. Fire is the last human-shaped monster with the beauty of mind and body that most people of The Dells find horrifying. Fire's internal struggle to live with her father's shameful legacy makes her a relatable character and renders her thoughts very much like those of a human teenager. Fire has to juggle  trying to prove herself in the upcoming war, avoiding the attentions of the King and her myriad admirers, and convincing those like Prince Brigan that she deserves to be viewed as her own person and not as the demon-spawn of her monstrous father. I really liked how Fire has the ability to change people's thoughts but rarely does it for her own benefit. Her attitude towards love and the sacrifice she makes partway through the story show that Fire thinks more about the people around her than her own desires. She is an extremely strong and mature young woman and is a strong inspiration for all kinds of girls who are unsure about their own identity. If you wanted to read the books of the series in chronological order then you should pick this one up then Graceling, and the newly-released Bitterblue. I think everyone will agree that Kristin Cashore writes a poignant story of self-actualization and love that is set in a fantasy world but remains completely believable. This is one of those books that I hope is not made into a movie because there are millions of little details that are pivotal to the story and can't be given a just portrayal on-screen.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

“I want to know how to make this girl laugh. I want to know what makes her cry. I want to know what it feels like to have her look at me as if I’m her knight in shinning armor.”- Alex, Perfect Chemistry.

This book really captured my interest from the first sentence, and I couldn't stop reading it. I finished the book in 2 days and found myself hungry for more! This story takes you inside the lives of 2 completely different people; Alex and Brittany. Brittany is high class, rich and beautiful. Alex lives in the ghetto, is in a gang and is dangerous. But opposites attract, right? What was first a bet turned into something real. The way Simone Elkeles wrote this book made you believe you were Alex/Brittany, and made you believe they were real people. The way she wrote it, having both of their point of views just made you understand the book better and it made it seem more interesting. The topic she chose to write on was a bit overplayed; high school love, 2 different people who end up liking each other, etc, but there are twists in the story you will surely not expect! I would give this book a 9.5/10, and definetlely recommend this book for any girls looking for a good romance story, and even guys because it's not too girly/ mushy!