Review: Looking for Alaska By John Green

The last year and a half have gone by so fast! I miss having the time to update and write full reviews of books here on my blog. Art school is a heavy course load - lot of time needed to invest which I barely have. So I guess this post is my first book commentary in a long while!

Title: Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green

Published Date: Jan 1st, 2005

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.
(Synopsis Provided By GoodReads)

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REVIEW (May Contain Spoilers)

I recently finished reading Looking for Alaska by John Green and I know, why did I wait so long before reading this amazing book? It was to say the least, a very open ended story. It leaves room for every reader to take what they want from the story. As I was reading along with Pudge, Alaska and the Colonel, I felt a honesty amongst them. The way John Green writes is understood easily and his way of writing eases in and out of the complications that arise in the story.

Back to School Reading - What I Recommend

Hey there readers and those alike,

It is the end of yet another summer which means that school is starting soon and days become slower and then soon enough thanksgiving, christmas and the new year are upon us... This post is just a few books that I read through high school that were memorable and just plain awesome. I recommend them to those out there looking for books to read just before the school year is in full swing! Check them out below and let me know if you have read them before! Enjoy the rest of the summer everyone!

The Catcher in the Rye By: J. D. Salinger

This novel will forever be in my heart. This book was a perfect choice entering high school. It talked about self discovery - both disappointing and rewarding. Everyone will walk away from reading this book with a little brighter of a perspective on life! 

A Farewell to Arms By: Ernest Hemingway

I'm a sucker for tragic love stories. If you are too than this novel will be worth the sorrow that is sure to linger with you after ;P

Stealing Buddha's Dinner By: Bich Minh Nguyen

This novel hit close to home. Journey of a Vietnamese immigrant family growing up and assimilating American culture into their own. Just the comparisons of culture alone in this book is truly amazing!

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LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW ANY BOOKS YOU RECOMMEND THAT I CHECK OUT! 

AS ALWAYS,
HAPPY READING!

-Sherry  

REVIEW: LOCK AND KEY BY SARAH DESSEN

Title: Lock and Key

Author: Sarah Dessen

Published Date: April 22nd, 2008

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Ruby, where is your mother?

Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.

That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future; it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

Best-selling author Sarah Dessen explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances and learning to trust again.

(Synopsis Provided by GoodReads)

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REVIEW (Might Contain Spoilers)

After having your entire life uprooted and turned upside down, 17 year old Ruby Cooper finds a new definition of what family is. She's been abandoned by the only person she thought she had left, her mom and now she has no where to go but to move in with her sister Cora, who she has not seen in 10 years and is happily married to the nicest guy in the world Jamie. She knows she's suppose to see it as a blessing, her sister can provide for her and give her a new start, but will Ruby open up and accept the help or will she run, like she always had before. A book about finding the good in people and most importantly yourself, Lock and Key tells a story of a girl who learns to find what family is really about, the good and the bad.

I have always been a sucker for Sarah Dessen novels. The girl with the drama and a cute boy to help her find her way - not always but this is usually how it goes in Dessen novels. 

Art School Got Me Going Crazy!

Well hello there!

It's about that time again where I write the post telling you guys all about how I've been neglecting everything blog-wise! I started my first year of university in September and it has been a non-stop train of work work work! From art projects to essays! It seems all I've been reading lately is art history! AUGUSTUS! ;P

The winter break is coming up so hopefully I'll be posting a couple of reviews? HOPEFULLY! And I guess I won't be getting to 25 followers anytime soon but the UGLIES Trilogy giveaway is still up for grabs!

Anyone want to discuss the book The Evolution of Mara Dyer? I'll be posting later on about it! Stick around my lovelies!

As Always,
Happy Reading!

-Sherry Lay

Review: City of Lost Souls By Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Published Date: May 8^th, 2012

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

(Synopsis By Goodreads)

THERE ARE SPOILERS - CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK =P

City of Lost Souls begins about two weeks after the ending of Fallen Angels. The story opens with everyone trying to find Jace. They scramble around to piece what exactly could have happened when he was left on the roof top with Sebastian. Everyone is hanging by a thread – hoping for the best. Clary is in total self-deprecating mode along with Jocelyn. Everyone at the Institute is waiting to hear what the Clave has to say about the situation but when they declare finding Jace a lesser priority and call off majority of the search, Isabelle, Alec, Magnus and Clary take it upon themselves to lead the search for their beloved Jace.  When Clary discovers where Jace has been hiding, she jumps head first in trying to bring him back home by herself. Something has changed though. Jace appears alive but the Jace she remembers and loves seems to be gone. It would seem as though Jace has become the brother Sebastian never had. They laugh together as if they’ve known each other forever. Is there any chance of getting the Jace we’ve known back? Or is he gone for good? Packed with deceit, dire love, and painful encounters, City of Lost Souls will get you to think what’s worth it in the end – to live a life in lost memories or set them all free?

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS...THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER!

A tad late on the cover release for the next book in the Mara Dyer's Series - 

THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER

but here it is!

I just cant fathom how beautiful the covers are to these books! I've made it the wallpaper to everything! Doesn't the name sound epic too? The first book had me speechless and I am uber stoked to see what is in stores for Mara in this one!

We still have a couple of months before the release of THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER so if you for some odd reason have not read the first book, THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, go do so! And read it over & over until you've got Noah Shaw memorized ;)

NOAH NOAH NOAH! *fan-girl swooning!*

The book comes out:
OCTOBER 23RD 2012
so mark those calenders everybody!

You can get the first book HERE!

For updates on the book and the AMAZING/BEAUTIFUL/TALENTED author, follow her on twitter @MichelleHodkin

If you'd like to chit-chat about anything Mara or Noah related leave a comment below - I'd be more than happy to fan-girl with you!

AS ALWAYS,

HAPPY READING!

-SHERRY