The Book Addict Reviews: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 2 stars for most of it--but the ending pushed it up to 3 stars  

Borrowed this book from the library.  

In A Nutshell:  
After Nora survives the attempt on her life, she thinks that it is time to return to normal, but with one wonderful exception: she has a boyfriend that she loves.  But almost as quickly as her life started looking up, turmoil starts again.  Patch starts to pull away--and then starts to pursue Marcie Millar.  As Patch withdraws, Nora starts to hang out more with Scott Parnell, the boy she knew growing up who recently returned to Coldwater, Maine.  But Scott seems to have secrets of his own--could they end up threatening Nora's life again?

Review:  
Second books in series have become a road block for me.  After the intrigue and suspense of book one, book two always feels like a let down.  Crescendo followed this pattern for me.  For the majority of the book, I was bored.  Nora went from whining to wallowing in self-pity--and her mood seemed to completely depend on Patch.  If he is ignoring her--Nora is whiny.  If he is spending time with Marcie--Nora is wallowing in self-pity.  And watching Nora swing between these two emotions is boring.  

It also started to remind me of the things about Bella from Twilight that I did not like.  The relationship between Nora and Patch does not seem healthy.  Nora seems to be so devoted to Patch that when the relationship starts to sour she cannot cope.  She keeps putting herself in dangerous positions and risking her life--either to test Patch's status as her guardian angel or his commitment to her?  I am not always sure.  Whatever her ultimate motivativation, I found myself getting frustrated with Nora more often than not.  

However, my feelings about the book changed completely after the last quarter of the book.  At that point, the flow of the story seemed to change almost instantaneously (almost like a switch had been flipped).  The action of the book sped up.  We started to learn so much about the characters, the history, and some of the reasons why.  I could not turn the pages fast enough--and could not wait to get into the next book.  I wanted more.  

On a side note,  I do want to know what was up with the science teachers in this town.  In Hush, Hush, the biology teacher forces Nora to work with Patch. In Crescendo, the chemistry teacher partners Nora with her archenemy, Marcie Millar.  What is the physics teacher going to do to Nora?

Recommendations:
I am lucky--the next book was immediately available at the library:
 

The Book Addict Reviews: Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 4 stars   
Borrowed this book from a friend who recommended it.  

In A Nutshell:  
Nora Grey has a new biology partner--one she did not pick and one she does not understand.  Patch is quiet, complicated, and secretive.  But somehow he knows things about her that even her best friend does not know.  Nora is confused, but slowly her confusion shifts to intrigue and interest.  And slowly Nora learns that there are forces in her life that she never expected--forces she used to think were the stuff of myths and legends.  

Review:  
This book raced through the informal book club in my office--everyone who read it raved about it.  So when my turn came, my expectations were rather high--which kind of worried me especially when I learned that this book was Becca Fitzpatrick's debut novel.  What if it did not live up to my expectations?

However, I am happy to report that this book definitely lived up to my high expectations.  Becca Fitzpatrick put together a gripping story that had me turning the pages as quickly as I could.  I was so engrossed at one point that I missed my stop on the light rail and had to walk a little longer to get to my office.  But it was worth it because the story was so good!

Becca Fitzpatrick impressed me with the characters she created and the growth that we see over a relatively short period of time.  For instance, Nora Grey has a complicated and gripping history that contributes to her unique combination of vulnerability and strength.

Becca Fitzpatrick, also, created interesting relationships.  For instance, Nora and her best friend, Vee, are an interesting combination of birds of a feather and complimenting opposites.  Together, they make a pair that I want to be friends with.  I want to be in Vee's Neon going to Enzo's for coffee and pastries.

And in the end, Becca Fitzpatrick left me with a cliff hanger that made me want to run out and get book two as quickly as possible.   

Recommendations:
I immediately requested book two from the library (good thing I already read two of my three resolution books and have the third partially done before Crescendo was available--or I may have failed on my resolutions before I really got started!):

The Book Addict Reviews: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Genre:  Fantasy, Metaphysical, Historical
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 2 stars   
Borrowed this book from library.  

In A Nutshell:  
While I loved the world that Erin Morgenstern created, I am not sure that this book was the best to tackle as an audiobook.  While the audiobook easily conveyed the magic and artistry of the world, the multiple story lines spanning different periods of time were sometimes hard to follow.

Review:  
I love audiobooks.  I love Jim Dale narrating audiobooks.  So when I found out that this book was narrated by Jim Dale, I could not wait to get my hands on it.  Admittedly I may have had unreasonable expectations based on my love of Jim Dale's narrations, but I was not overwhelmingly impressed with this story.

I think part of my lackluster feelings come from the choppy way the story is brought together.  We are following multiple story lines across multiple points in time.  And all of these story lines were hard to follow--which may not have been as much trouble if I had had the hardcopy so I could refer back to it. 

I am also still not 100% sure I am satisfied with the ending--and I waited all day to write this to see if I could decide how I felt and I still cannot really decide how I feel.  I felt like there were stories that were not left without an explanation in the end which is a little frustrating to me.  And even some of the answers I got seemed to lack some of the pageantry and ingenuity that made the rest of the story so magical.  At the end I felt underwhelmed.

What I did love--what absolutely kept me coming back despite my frustration with the choppy narrative--was the descriptions.  Erin Morgenstern created a world that was full of magic and wonder.  I want the Night Circus to come to my town so I could spend time in the tents and experience the artistry and magic that she described.  I want to be dazzled by Celia or Poppet and Widget or Tsukiko or really there are too many performances to choose from.  So in that case, I want to travel with the Reveurs and have a shock of red against a nice black and white suit so I have an opportunity to see them all.  Erin Morgenstern's descriptions have been the first and only time I truly understood why someone would want to "run away and join the circus."

Recommendations:
I love Jim Dale, so I immediately starting looking for the next book I can get to listen to him and decided to add this one to my TBR:

The Book Addict Reviews: Talisman of El by Alecia Stone

 
Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery
Order Online: Centrinian
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 3 stars  
Book given in exchange for an honest review. 

In A Nutshell:  
I love fantasy.  I love adventure.  But more than loving any particular genre--I love a good story written well.  I found all of these things in Talisman of El.  

Review:  
From the moment I read the summary of Talisman of El, I could not wait to read the book.  In some ways my anticipation scared me; I feared there was no way that it could live up to my expectations.  But it did.  Alecia Stone did an excellent job of weaving a story that excellent dialogue that brings us into the heart of interesting and endearing characters.

Charlie is a character that immediately tugs at your heart strings.  You will be drawn into his story.  The strong use of dialogue will draw you into his character.  And the adventures that he and his friends go on will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I could not put it down--I wanted to be part of the group. 

Recommendations:
After reading this book, I want to read more fantasy books!  My friend has been raving about this author--so I want to start:

The Book Addict Reviews: Best Seller by Timothy B. Sagges

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Fantasy
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website
Rating: 3 stars
Book provided for Book Tour in exchange for an honest review. 

In A Nutshell:
I did not know what to expect when I started Best Seller. The book description had not given me a lot of information to go on.  But I quickly found a book that grabbed my attention and held on to it until the very end. 

Review:
Richard Rossi wants to be an author.  He has a manuscript that he feels is worthy of publishing, but he keeps getting rejection after rejection from every publishing house he sent it too.  Until the day that fate seems to step in.  That day, the mailman put a letter for his neighbor in his box.  When he delivers it to his neighbors apartment, he ends up staying for the party.  At the party, he reads his manuscript to a small group of people.  As soon as he finishes Veronica confirms that she thinks it is good by promising to show the manuscript to her friend in publishing, Seth Volos.

Seth quickly and expertly turns Richard's story into a best seller to rival the success of best sellers such as Harry Potter.  But in the editing, Seth insists on a change to the ending that many people find "creepy."  Then on the book tour, Richard starts to notice a chilling coincidence with many of the teen suicides he sees reported on the news.

Now Richard has to figure out what to do as the life he dreamed of, the life of a famous and popular author, is slowly turning into a nightmare.

Overall, Best Seller took me on an emotional ride that I did not expect.  As a person who has often dreamed about writing a book of my own--I found Richard's desire and willingness to go along with everything Seth said in order to get what Seth promised very believable.  Seth's charisma and charm were very apparent.  But the glimpses I got of his behind-doors conversations with Gwen, I started to question his motives.  I knew there was more to his story than the desire to publish a good book.

While my gut feelings led me to question Seth--Timothy B. Sagges did an excellent job of keeping me in the dark.  I kept reading because I wanted to know more--I wanted to know what was going on just below the surface.  I wanted to know if my suspicions were founded.  But even after Timothy B. Sagges answered my questions about my suspicions, he went on to complete the chilling story to a horrific ending--I do not want to give anything away but I can tell you that I will never look at a best selling novel the same way again!

Recommendations:
Admittedly, I do not read a lot of horror novels.  And this one is going to stick with me for a while--so I am not sure that I want to pick up another horror novel right away.  However, I have read one book by an author who typically writes horror novels that I loved.  It makes me wish I was brave enough to read some of his other books:

The Book Addict Dares You to Read: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

I love having the opportunity to challenge people to read books that I personally found compelling or interesting or just all out fun.  But I want to know what you think?  Have you read the book?  Did it stick with you?  If so, why?  If not, why? _________________________________________________


Genre: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Dystopian
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 4 stars
Bought this book after a friend told me about it.

In A Nutshell:
I have told everyone I know who likes Young Adult fantasy or has children who read at this reading level or who have bothered to ask me what I have liked lately to get this book.  I love the message!  I love the characters!  And I would like to reserve my ticket to visit Arteme today!

Review:
I was introduced to this book through my favorite local bookstore, Changing Hands, where Lisa McMann spoke as a special guest for Club Read (the kids club geared towards encouraging 8-13 year olds to read more).  Lisa McMann explained that she was inspired to write this book after her children came home with a letter from their school that announced the arts programs would be cancelled due to budget constraints.  Both of her children were very artistic in different ways and this cancellation was going to have a big effect on how they felt about going to school.  She commented to her family that it seemed like they were being punished for being creative.  This comment led her to express the idea of a world where a children literally were punished for being creative.  To this idea her son added not punished--but killed!

That family conversation led to the start of a unique and fun fantasy story where the value of creativity, of logic, of rules and order, are examined through the striking contrast between Arteme (where magic emphasizes and heightens creativity) and Quill (where law, rules and order have made creativity illegal).

Initially, I feared that the metaphor may be too obvious and superficial, but I felt like Lisa McMann handled this story and this metaphor expertly.  She creates an interesting and varied cast of characters.  The "good" guys do not always do the right thing or handle disappointment well.  They make mistakes and they learn from those mistakes.  The "bad" guys are complicated and in some cases they struggle and question themselves.  And while we as readers can easily tell who is "good" and who is not, the dynamics are more interesting because of the characters' struggles.

The one idea that struck me as inconsistent with the metaphor that Lisa McMann created was when Aaron was praised by the leaders of Quill for his solutions to their beef problem.  The solution he came up with to this problem seemed obviously creative to me--maybe not artistic, theatrical, or musical but definitely creative.  My hope is that this inconsistency (in my humble opinion) will be addressed as the series continues--maybe Quill will come to value creative thinking when applied to the practical concerns that they are focused on?  

Recommendations:
At the Club Reads event, Lisa McMann read from the next book in the series, Island of Silence.  I cannot wait to read it--to find out what happened after she stopped reading (such a cliff-hanger--and so many months to wait!).

In the meantime, I also purchased Lisa McMann's newest YA Teen book and I cannot wait to read it!

To The Movies: Fellowship of the Rings

When a storyline from a book is turned into a movie, the movie becomes its own text. The basic storyline may be the same, but when changes are made in order to fit the movie within a time limit or to highlight an element or theme that the people involved in the movie feels is important—they make the story their own. I will focus these features on movies made based on books I have read—I want to look beyond whether I think the movie is better or worse than the book. I want to appreciate and review the movie as a companion to the book.

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Genre: Action & Adventure, Fantasy
Actors: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Orlando Bloom
Director: Peter Jackson
Scriptwriter: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson
Date DVD Released: August 6, 2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Movie Info: IMDB
Order Online: Amazon.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Borrowed the movie from the library. 

In A Nutshell:
Even though I loved the entire trilogy--I have found that I appreciated this one so much more after I have read the book.  The details came together so much clearer after having exposure to the richness of the details, the back stories, and the language of the book. 

Review:
I still remember going to the movie theater the week this movie came out.  I sat there staring up at the screen in amazement at the beautiful scenes, the enchanting characters, and the compelling storyline coming to life before my eyes.  And then I saw Orlando Bloom--with blonde hair and elf ears--and I was in for the whole series.

But now that I have read the book, I can definitely see what all the fuss was about when these movies were released.  The book, the back stories, the magic make the effects of the movie stronger and more compelling.  I just wish it was in the theaters now--so I could have appreciate the big screen effects even more.

There are some major elements from the book that are omitted from the movie--the Tom Bombadil storyline jumps out at me in particular.  But since that was the part of the book I really struggled with every time I have tried to read it, I did not find the omission took away from the experience for me.  But I have heard others criticize that this omission was substantial in their eyes.  I also do not remember Arwen playing nearly as large a role in the book, but I get the impression from things I have read that she does play a larger role in the later books.  So I was not as concerned to see her increased role in this movie.

The movie did end in a different place than the book ended, which may have stood out for me more because I have only read The Fellowship of the Ring. But I strongly suspect that this movie's ending overlaps with the beginning of the next book.  And I think I like the choice because I feel like it ties the two movies together very nicely.  Well maybe nicely is not the right word--because what happens is really horrible (but I will not spoil it for all of you who have not read the book or seen the move yet).

Is there anyone who has not read the book or seen the movie yet?  Am I the last person to read this book?

Recommendations:
I cannot wait to read the next book so I can watch the next movie with new eyes:

The Book Addict Reviews: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Genre: Classic, Fantasy, Audiobook
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: The Tolkien Society |
Rating: 4 stars
Borrowed this book from the library. 

In A Nutshell:
In some ways all the great things I had heard left me with very high expectations of this book--which also scared me a little because I was sure it could not reach my high expectations and I would be disappointed.  But J.R.R. Tolkien surprised me--he exceeded my expectations.  The mythology he created through this world he created was amazing.  The characters he created were charming and enchanting.  I laughed, I cried, I hoped, I grieved, but must of all I loved this book!

Review:
Ever since I went to the theater to see the first movie--I have been wanting to read these books.  I have tried a couple of times but I always seemed to get distracted about the time the party got into the Old Forest and Tom Bombadil led the group.  I could not seem to get past that road block into the rest of the story.

This year I made a pledge to try again--and to not stop until I got past this point that had always been a stumbling block for me before.  I also decided to try the audiobook to see if I had better luck.  I do not know if it that I was more determined, I was older and more ready to focus, or I was utilizing the audiobook which made it easier for me to work through the parts that were blocks for me in the past, but whatever it was I finished it this time.  And I am so glad that I did.

I understand that some people see the time with Tom Bombadil as a very important part of the story--so I do not want to sound like I did not appreciate Tom or that part of the story.  However, I did find myself more drawn into the story as we reached the elves and then as the fellowship traveled together.  I really want to find some of the information written about this book--to see what people have said about this book and this world that J.R.R. Tolkien created

The version I listened to had a foreword (which they put at the end?) written by J.R.R. Tolkien where he talked when he wrote the book and addressed some of the claims that readers had about the message he was trying to deliver through his story.  The foreword convinced me that this book would definitely be one that will benefit from re-reading and benefit from reading companion books about J.R.R. Tolkien, his life, and his writings. 

In general, I admired how J.R.R Tolkien's words created very detailed pictures in my mind.  I cannot wait to revisit the movie and see how it looked to me now that I had finished the book.  I feel like this experience with the book will help me appreciate some of the details of the movie even more. 

Recommendations:
I have been in love with Orlando Bloom as Legelos since the first time I saw the movie--so it is not like I need an excuse to watch the movie--but I think finishing the book does warrant a celebration and I choose:

And I think I may enjoy this guide as I tackle The Two Towers:

The Book Addict Reviews: Touch of Power (Healer) by Maria V. Snyder

Genre: Fantasy
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 4 stars
Won this book in a giveaway on Jen's page.

In A Nutshell:
I loved this book and I love this author.  Everything I have read by her has been wonderful--and I want nothing more than to read everything by her that I have not read yet!

Review:
Once again, when I read the description of one of Maria V. Snyder's books and thought "umm, I am not so sure about that one."  It seemed a little gruesome for my taste.  Avry has a gift--a gift that will allow her to heal the only person who may be able to end the war and save Fifteen Realms.  But using her gift will come at a price--if she heals him she will not survive herself. 

The story is compelling and emotional.  For the last 20 pages, I honestly had to wipe tears from my eyes.  But that is only because Maria V. Snyder is a master of bringing her characters to life and making me (as the reader) care about them.  They are not necessarily easy-to-love main characters, but it does not matter because in the end despite their faults I do love them.  I do want to see them happy.  With the same token, her villains are complex and interesting.  Sometimes I question whether I am supposed to love the guy or hate the guy--it is not necessarily easy or clear cut until the end and sometimes not even then because she leaves me hanging, intrigued and wanting more.

The world created in Touch of Power is interesting but still very mysterious.  There are rules, politics, magical abilities, and a history that has not been fully explained.  In some ways I find that frustrating, but mostly I am intrigued.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series so I can learn more and have more opportunity to lust after Kerrick!

Recommendations:
On my TBR pile and I really do need to get it out!!

Series In Review: Study Series by Maria V. Snyder

Series are a tricky thing. I have series that I love as a whole, but an individual book within the series did not impress me.  So I am not always sure that reviewing the individual books is fair to the author's vision. However, I do not want to postpone all of my reviews of the books within a series until the end. With those thoughts in mind I decided to start Series In Review. In these postings, I will be looking at more than one book in the series or if possible the entire series at one time.
_____________________________________________________
**This review may contain spoilers for some of the books in the series**


Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy,
Books Released in Series: Poison Study, Magic Study, & Fire Study
Supplemental Short Stories: Website
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 4 Stars
Books picked up in Paperbackswap games.

In A Nutshell:
This series enchanted me. The world created by Maria V. Snyder inspired me to believe in magic, in love, and in destiny. The characters were interesting. I was left guessing who was good and who was not until the end of each novel. The stories were enthralling. I could not put these books down once I started them. I have loaned my books to a number of friends, and each of them has been as impressed as I with this series.

Review:
Yelena is given a choice. She committed a murder which means she faces an execution as required by the laws of Ixia. Or she can have a reprieve and serve as the food taster for the Commander to ensure that he is not poisoned. This reprieve comes with its own strings. In particular, she is given a poison that will kill her unless she takes the antidote daily.

This story opens the series, but the story continues to chronicle Yelena’s adventures to learn and understand her magical gifts. For that training, she must leave everything she knows and loves and travel to the land of her birth. Yelena’s training however will be very different from the norm. Her talents are unique within the magical community. For some people, that uniqueness inspires fear, anger, and hatred. But Yelena must use her unique gifts to save everyone from a crazy plan that would destroy everything that the citizens of Ixia and Sitia hold dear.

I found myself drawn to the characters of Yelena and Valek from the very beginning. I was rooting for them, hoping there would be a way for them to be together. The time they spent together was a highlight for me throughout the series. Whenever they had to separate, I read with anticipation to see them together again.

Maria V. Snyder created an interesting world where magic is honored in one country but feared and despised in another country. Yelena is stuck in the middle. Her heart, her memories, and in many ways her life is in Ixia but her magic is outlawed there. Hher family and her magical training are in Sitia; but her love is not welcome there. She has to figure out for herself where her place really is; where will she be happiest?

Poison Study is by far my favorite book in the series. The chemistry between Yelena and Valek is endearing. I agree with some of the reviews that I have read that claimed that Fire Study is the least enchanting of the series. There was one point in the Fire Study where I literally said aloud “you have to be kidding me!” I was so frustrated with the number of road blocks being put in their path—they could not catch a break at all. In the end, however, I was glad I read Fire Study. I wanted to see how Yelena and Valek’s story ended, but after so many road blocks I was very glad to see it finally come to the end.

Recommendations:
I recently won this book in a giveaway on Jen's site--and I could not wait to read it!

To The Movies: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

When a storyline from a book is turned into a movie, the movie becomes its own text. The basic storyline may be the same, but when changes are made in order to fit the movie within a time limit or to highlight an element or theme that the people involved in the movie feels is important—they make the story their own. I will focus these features on movies made based on books I have read—I want to look beyond whether I think the movie is better or worse than the book. I want to appreciate and review the movie as a companion to the book.
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Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery
Actors: Logan Lerman, Kevin McKidd, Steve Coogan and Alexandra Daddario (she was my favorite part of the movie!)
Director: Chris Columbus
Scriptwriter: Craig Titley
Date DVD Released: June 29, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Movie Info: IMDB
Order Online: Amazon.com
Rating: 1 star
Borrowed movie from library.

In A Nutshell:
This movie stripped a lot of the charm of the book--and in its place bastardized the Greek Mythology that made the book so enchanting for me.  The only moment that was worthwhile in the entire movie was the last scene when smelly Gabe opened up the fridge and...well I cannot tell you because if you do decide to sit through this whole movie I do not want to ruin the best part in my review.

Review:
I loved how the book re-sparked my interest in Greek mythology--made me want to go back and re-read the stories I had read in school about the Gods, the Goddess, and the Heroes.  In some ways, this movie did the same thing but only because the movie bastardized a lot of the stories I loved.  I have to go back and re-read them to clear out the mis-information of this movie.  For instance, Persephone was in the Underworld just before the Summer Solstice--except that mythology has Persephone with her mother during spring and summer.  That is why they are bright, sunny, and beautiful because her mother is overjoyed to have her beloved daughter by her side.  The movie also sexualized her character (and had her hitting on Grover--but that is another story), when she is presented in mythology as a innocent and naive woman.

I could have accepted many of the differences in the book and the movie, if I had been convinced that the story they created benefited from the changes.  But instead of a plot constructed by a suffering Titan hoping to regain his throne (with thousands and thousands of years to plot) and a god who has a history of causing conflict--we have a plot constructed by a lone teen boy.  Not believable that he would have had the ingenuity and magical talent to put this whole plan into action.  Instead of the young heroes and the protector going on a quest (in line with the mythology), they are runaways.

This fugitive status (and a rule instituted by Zeus that forbid the gods and goddesses from contacting their children) mean that Percy, Annabeth, and Grover had to find the pearls rather than getting them as sign of support from Poseidon.  In fact the entire relationship between Percy and Poseidon seemed different--much more hatred and hostility on Percy's part than I got from the book, and this change did not seem to benefit the story.  It just made it harder to endure.  And I do not remember this rule being prominent in the book since the campers had been at Mount Olympus for the Winter Solstice. 

Overall, I was disappointed with the movie.  I missed the opportunity to see the trap at the tunnel of love that was broadcast to Mount Olympus, the moment where Poseidon claimed Percy in front of the whole camp, and the Oracle and the prophecy that Percy had to decipher throughout the entire quest.  

Recommendations:
The character I really loved in the movie was Annabeth--and I realized she was played by Alexandra Daddario.  I knew her from one of my favorite TV shows, so I am going to go watch that instead: