Book Review: Solid (Solid #1) by Shelley Workinger

Summary: 
Teens who discover they were secretly genetically altered before birth are brought together at a classified site where they forge new friendships, find love, develop "super-abilities," and even unearth a conspiracy.

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...
 
 
Release Date:  July 9, 2010
Age Group:  Young Adult
Pages:  222
Source: Author

Review: 
I love dystopia so I was really looking forward to Solid after reading the description.  I enjoy a good government conspiracy and Shelley Workinger has written an intriguing novel full of conspiracy, betrayal, love, as well as a sweet coming-of-age story.


This novel is the first in a series, so there was quite a bit of world-building.  The world-building was very good, though, and did not slow the pace of the book down.  The love story, while a smaller part of the book as a whole, was sweet and tender.  Solid focuses more on interpersonal relationships and character building, something which I really like when it's done well (which it was in Solid). 

In a time when YA is dominated by paranormal books, Solid was a great change of pace.  The writing style, quirky characters, tender love story, and fast-paced plot were all a breath of fresh air and I'm looking forward to seeing where Workinger takes the rest of the series.

Just One Gripe: 
The cover didn't draw me in to the story at all, but don't be put off by it---just start reading and judge the book for itself. 

The Best Thing About This Book: 
I loved the writing style.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Yes

Score: 
Characters:  4/5
Plot: 4/5
Setting/Imagery: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Ending:  4/5
Total Score:  20/25



Book Review: Anne of Green Gables Books 5-7 by LM Montgomery

Summary: 
Anne's House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables #5)
Gilbert Blythe is finally a doctor, and in the sunshine of the old orchard, among their dearest friends, he and Anne are about to speak their vows. They will be bound for a new life together and their own dream house on the purple shores of Four Winds.

Anne of Ingleside (Anne of Green Gables #6)
Anne is the mother of five, with never a dull moment in her lively home. And now with a new baby on the way and insufferable Aunt Mary visiting - and wearing out her welcome - Anne's life is full to bursting.

Rainbow Valley (Anne of Green Gables #7)
Anne Shirley is grown up, has married her beloved Gilbert and now is the mother of six mischievous children.

These boys and girls discover a special place all their own, but they never dream of what will happen when the strangest family moves into an old nearby mansion. The Meredith clan is two boys and two girls, with minister father but no mother -- and a runaway girl named Mary Vance. Soon the Meredith kids join Anne's children in their private hideout to carry out their plans to save Mary from the orphanage, to help the lonely minister find happiness, and to keep a pet rooster from the soup pot. There's always an adventure brewing in the sun-dappled world of Rainbow Valley.

 
Review: 
I didn't think I could love the rest of the Anne of Green Gables series more than I loved the first three books, but I did.  These books are classics, beautifully written with outstanding imagery and description.  I was looking for some nice clean reads after feeling like I'd had too much smut as of late, and the Anne of Green Gables series was just what the doctor ordered.

Anne's House of Dreams finds Anne and Gilbert newly married and moved away from Green Gables.  I read a couple of reviews with people saying they didn't like this book because they didn't like the way Gilbert was portrayed, but I thought it was just perfect.  This book was more bittersweet than the previous books in the series, but I thought that just made it more believable.

Anne of Ingleside is the last book featuring Anne as the main character.  She has baby after baby in this book and her family is featured here.  Anne and Gilbert have such a sweet relationship and I loved reading about her growing family.  After the heartbreak in Anne's House of Dreams I was happy to see them so happy together.

Rainbow Valley was a little different from the other books in the series.  It was almost entirely about the Meredith children, who are Anne and Gilbert's neighbors.  The Blythe children are featured here but the bulk of the story is about the Meredith children.  This book reminded me of book one, Anne of Green Gables in that it's about children who try to be good but always end up getting into trouble.

I loved these books and cannot believe that I missed them for all these years.  I had no idea the books would be so much better than the movies (although I should have guessed it) and I'm sure that I'll be recommending this series for my daughter when she starts reading.

Just One Gripe: 
I bought the Anne of Green Gables series for Nook for $0.99.  I did not realize that book four, Anne of Windy Poplars, was missing from the set.  So, I started book five thinking something was missing, and it was.  If you're thinking about buying the series, just be aware that book four is not included in the Nook version.

The Best Thing About This Book: 
I got the satisfaction of reading classic historical fiction without the hard work that classic literature sometimes entails.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Yes, they are as clean as a whistle.

Score: 
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Setting/Imagery: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Total Score:  25/25





Guest Post: Jacquelyn Wheeler (Rising Shadow)

Today, we have Jacquelyn Wheeler, author of the YA novel Rising Shadow, here to talk about what she likes to do when she's not writing.  Welcome back to I'd So Rather Be Reading, Jacquelyn!

When I'm Not Writing

I have always admired people who have a single purpose in life. Ice skaters who train hours every day with the goal of being in the Olympics and going pro. Musicians who know that all they want to do is music. Writers who care about nothing else but writing.

I'm exactly the opposite. I have a million interests and hobbies, and I am enthusiastic about each and every one of them. The running joke around my house is that the most dreaded words I can utter are "I've had an idea." It usually means I've started some crazy new hobby.

By day, I am a director at a software company. It's a very interesting and challenging job, but working in software is extremely stressful. I am also an orthopedic and prenatal massage therapist, so I see a handful of clients each month, which really helps balance the stress of my day job. Some of my clients are refugees whom I work with as a volunteer, which is incredibly rewarding work.

On the sports side, I'm into martial arts and triathlons. I don't have time to do both at once, so I took a few years off triathlons to work toward my black belt, which I got last October. Lately I've been focusing mostly on skiing, which is my favorite winter activity, but I'm getting ready to figure out what my next sport will be. I'm considering Capoeira, yoga, Qi Gong, and dance classes. Knowing me, I'll probably end up doing a combination of all of them.

I also really love to sing, and I play some guitar, piano, and theremin. I sang in a band for a while, but now I just love going to karaoke. It's such a blast to get up there and sing whatever I feel like singing, and to dance to the great tunes other people sing. No hassle with rehearsals or paying studio rent--just show up and do what you want. I'm pretty hooked.

Every night, I love to take a hot bubble bath and read before bed. I'm really into young adult fiction, and my daughter and I are always swapping books, but I also love cyberpunk, chick lit (especially Jane Austen), and science fiction. Reading is one of my favorite escapes of all. I don't watch television, so that leaves me a lot more time for reading, writing, and all the other hobbies I have. Around all of this, I try to spend as much time with my friends and family as possible, which is really challenging with my schedule being what it is.

I also love playing games. I especially love playing the online game City of Heroes with my husband and my daughter. It's so much fun to run around in the virtual world with them defeating villains, finding clues, and, of course, flying.

But of all my hobbies, writing really is my favorite. When I started writing The Soterians series two years ago, I had no idea it was going to take over my life like it has. But it's turned out to be the greatest hobby I've ever had. And it's been such a blast interacting with readers and bloggers all over the world, learning about publishing, designing covers, and all the rest of the many tasks that go into getting a book out into the world. I do a pretty good job of balancing all my interests (and trying to get enough sleep along the way), but the one thing I really wish I had more time for is writing. I guess if I could choose any super power, stopping time would be number one.

Hmm, stopping time...

I've had an idea.

My Top 5 All Time Favorites & The Birthday I Didn't Age

Since today is my birthday I thought I would post my top 5 books of all times! (in no particular order)

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Mr. Darcy is the fictional man that set the standard.



The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
Fantastic dystopian short story.


The Giver by Lois Lowry
This is exactly how I pictured the Giver, all alone in this grand room, holding the knowledge of "the world"

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
I LOVE Oddy! This is Koontz's best for me. 


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
First book I truly read (I was in 3rd grade). It made me realize anything was possible.
These are also some of the upcoming reviews I will be posting while Kelli is out.

Amazingly I did not age this year, let me explain how this may happen to you. All year when asked my age I would reply "Oh I am 28". I never gave it a thought until sometime in December when I realized my mom and I were about to have our birthdays. Then I thought how old my mom was turning... *pause*... then I thought to myself wait a minute, I'm not 28 I'm 27.  I even had to call my mom to confirm her age (and my own) and to make sure I wasn't having a moment of dementia. And to my surprise or rather delight I was informed my correct age. 

So I am now officially 28 even though I have been saying it all year. The aftermath is that I will remain 28 for two years! And that folks is how you can avoid aging on your birthday :0) My favorite color remains pink, even though people have told me my whole life "you will grow out of it"... I doubt it, everything looks better with a little shade of pink.

PS I am brunette.


Book Review: Stir Until Thoroughly Confused by Heather Wardell

Summary: 
Mary's given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to become a chef.  But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy but controlling new boss.

They're soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and when it becomes clear they can't work together and be together Mary faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?

Heather Wardell writes women's fiction with depth, humor, and heart. She has five novels available now, one for free download and the rest for $0.99. You can read excerpts at http://www.heatherwardell.com

Release Date:  January 24, 2011
Age Group: Adult
Source: Author

Review: 
I've read and loved all of Heather Wardell's books: Life, Love and a Polar Bear Tatoo, Planning to Live, Go Small or Go Home, and Seven Exes are Eight Too ManyHer women's fiction features strong, independent women who are trying to balance a career, love, and the fulfillment of their personal dreams.  Wardell's book are romantic without being smutty, something that I really appreciate.  Once I start one of her books, I just cannot stop until I've finished it.  It doesn't matter what I have going on, I'm going to sit and read until I finish the book---I have yet to make one of Wardell's books last more than one day.


Stir Until Thoroughly Confused features one of my favorite characters from Wardell's previous books: Kegan the sexy restaurant owner.  I've always wondered if Kegan got his happily ever after, especially after his heartbreak in Life, Love and a Polar Bear Tatoo, so I was thrilled when I learned Kegan got his own book.  If you're new to Heather Wardell's writing, don't start with this book.  It contains cameo appearances by several main characters from her previous books.  You'll ruin the ends of several of her other books if you read this one first.

This book is a first person narrative (my favorite) with Mary the self-taught chef as our narrator.  She is looking for a job and wants to work at Kegan's new restaurant, Magma.  Mary has an indomitable spirit which I really admire.  Wardell writes her characters so well that I can easily imagine myself feeling what her characters feel.  The book follows Mary in her new career, especially the ups and downs with her new boss.  She's forced into a major decision at the end of the book, and that conflict resolution left me guessing the entire time.  I loved the way Wardell develops her characters, especially the way they grow throughout the story.

If you like women's fiction, romance, or you're just looking for an emotional read, I would definitely recommend Heather Wardell's books.  They are excellent!

Just One Gripe: 
The cover did not make me want to read this book.  Don't be put off by the cover though---it's Wardell's writing that makes her books so special. 

The Best Thing About This Book: 
I loved the character growth.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Probably not.

Score: 
Characters: 5/5
Plot:  5/5
Setting/Imagery: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Total Score:  25/25





Guest Post: Jacquelyn Wheeler (Rising Shadow)




Today we are happy to welcome Jacquelyn Wheeler, author of the paranormal YA novel Rising Shadow (The Soterians #1). Jacquelyn is here to talk about her top ten favorite books.  We love hearing about which books authors love.  Knowing authors enjoy reading as much as we do makes reading their novels even more fun and special.  Welcome to I'd So Rather Be Reading, Jacquelyn!

TOP TEN FAVORITE BOOKS

(Click the titles to view the book on Goodreads)
 
1. The Harry Potter series (Goblet of Fire is my favorite) by J.K. Rowling
2. Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
5. Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff
6. Heat by Bill Buford
7. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
8. Neuromancer by William Gibson
9. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
10. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (I'm not finished reading it, and it's already on my top-ten list!)

Thank you Jacquelyn!  It looks like I have some new books to add to my TBR list---some of these I've read but some I have not.  Want to know more?  Visit Jacquelyn and learn more about the Soterians featured in Rising Shadow here.

Book Review: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Summary: 
MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

Review: 
Thank you to The Book Vixen for recommending this series to me!  The only urban fantasy I've ever really liked is Richelle Mead's Dark Swan series (man I can't wait for book three in that series to be released!) so I didn't have super high hopes for Darkfever.  But, I did enjoy this book.

Mac is a typical college girl when all of a sudden her life gets turned upside down by her sister's death.  Her sister, Alina, had been living in Ireland and Mac decides to travel there to uncover the mystery surrounding her death when the police drop the case.  Mac arrives in Ireland only to discover Alina was embroiled in a shadowy, mysterious world of Fae.  Alina could see the Fae, and Mac can too.  As she investigates Alina's death, she meets Jericho Barrons, who on the surface appears to be a bookstore owner but is actually much more than he seems.

As is typical with first-in-a-series books, there was a lot of world-building in Darkfever.  It left me really looking forward to book two and I hear that there is quite the cliffhanger at the end of book four.  I would definitely recommend Darkfever, even though I didn't love it, because I think that this series is going to just keep improving.

Just One Gripe: 
I hate Mac's name.  I've read too many books where a male character is named Mac that it felt so awkward for a female character to be named Mac.  I had to keep reminding myself that Mac is a woman. 

The Best Thing About This Book: 
It was very fast-paced.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
No!

Score: 
Characters: 3/5
Plot:  3/5
Setting/Imagery: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Ending: 3/5
Total Score:  16/25





Book Review: Make a Wish: Stories Written for Real People Where They Are the Star by Marlayne Giron

Summary: 
An inspirational collection of short stories written for people as gifts granting their dearest wishes. Each story has an introductory biographical paragraph on who the story is written for and why.
 
Release Date: December 28, 2010
Source:  Author
Pages:  224

Review: 
Have you ever wished for just one more day with a deceased loved one?  Have you ever wished for something that was entirely impossible?  If you have, you'll enjoy Make a Wish: Stories Written for Real People Where They are the Star.

Make a Wish is a compilation of short stories.  Each story features one person whom Marlayne Giron , the author knows.  The stories reflect the main characters' deepest desires, whether they are to see a loved one again, be free from a physical limitation, or realize a long-held dream.

Each story is different in its own way, and each one was touching, especially when you put the story in context with the main character's real life.  This book kept making me cry, the stories were so tender and sweet.  There is a Christian element to Make a Wish in that several of the stories feature a loved one up in heaven.  I'm no great fan of short stories, which is what kept this from being a five-star book for me personally, but I did really enjoy this book.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Yes

Total Score:

 

Book Review: Anne of Green Gables Series #1-3 by LM Montgomery

Summary: 

Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables #1):
When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can't imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne "confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, no house that Anne's in will ever be dull." And no book that she's in will be, either. 

Anne of Avonlea (Anne of Green Gables #2):
Avonlea is the prettiest little town on Prince Edward Island, which is the prettiest little island in all of Canada. Anne had come here as an orphan—a skinny redhead showing up on the steps of Green Gables with a shabby suitcase and a heart full of dreams.
Anne's dream of finding a home had come true. But now she is a young woman, with new dreams, She has a teaching job in the city, with a chance to become a published magazine writer.
And an even greater adventure awaits: Anne is about to begin her first romance—with a handsome Boston millionaire whose dreams are very different from hers....


Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables #3):
Anne Shirley has come a long way since her days as a mischievous orphan living in the house at Green Gables. She is now eighteen and headed to faraway Redmond College in Kingsport. Anne's college years are sure to be full of fun, but they will also be a time for soul-searching and big decisions. When her longtime friend Gilbert Blythe proposes marriage, Anne feels they can never be more than friends. But is her new admirer, the handsome and wealthy Roy Gardner, really the man of her dreams?

Review: 
Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea were some of my favorite movies growing up.  I can recall entire scenes and bits of dialogue verbatim from the movies even now.  My whole family watched these movies together, and I think that they are great family shows: clean and wholesome, timeless stories.  I knew that the movies were based on books but have never picked the books up.  I wasn't planning on reading the series now, but when I saw the series of eight books for $0.99 for Nook on Barnes and Noble's website I knew that it was time to revisit my old friends.


Anne of Green Gables was first published in 1908.  This is important to know going into these books because they are written in the verbose style of the early 1900's.  The closest thing I can compare LM Montgomery's writing to is Jane Austen.  Some of the imagery and description can feel heavy at times, and makes for a slower paced read than contemporary fiction.

Anne is an orphan who is adopted by an old maid and her brother who live on a farm in Canada.  Anne is the definition of a precocious child, and is always getting into scrapes and making mistakes.  Anne loves to read, dream, and imagine things and consequently the books are full of her imaginings.

The first three books in the series follow Anne from age 11 to age 22.  I just loved all three books!  I think that Anne of Avonlea was my favorite out of the three, but it was definitely a close race.  This series is as wholesome as could be, with the love story building up to a kiss and nothing more.  This may be a turn-off for some people, but I think it makes the emotion so much stronger when we're left to imagine things for ourselves.


I would recommend the Anne of Green Gables books for fans of Jane Austen and fans of historical fiction.  I had to review the first three books together because I couldn't stop reading long enough to write reviews for each book! 

Just One Gripe: 
It took me a little while to adjust to Montgomery's writing style.  If you're used to reading modern-day fiction the older style takes some getting used to.  Keep at it though, because it's so worth it in the end!

The Best Thing About This Book: 
The imagery is outstanding.  You'll feel like you're right in the middle of the Green Gables orchard and experiencing everything Anne experiences.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Yes

Score: 
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Setting/Imagery: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Total Score:  25/25





Book Review: The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner

Summary: 
Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

Review: 
I am surprised at how much I ended up liking this book.  I enjoyed The Maze Runner, but thought the book was a little slow at times.  The Scorch Trials starts at a fast pace and does not let up until the end of the story.  There is a total Catching Fire-type ending here: at the end of the last page, Dashner writes: "END OF BOOK TWO just like Suzanne Collins did.   I'm hoping the series will end with a third book, and not more than three books.  I really like trilogies better than long, drawn out series---especially when I have to wait a year between releases! 

Thomas is starting to regain some of his memories and is trying to piece together his past and the meaning behind the Trials and WICKED.  He is shocked several times by people he thought were his allies.  There were definitely some "DREAMS SHATTERED" moments in this book, especially towards the end.

One of my complaints about The Maze Runner was that there was a lack of love story.  The Scorch Trials, while far from being a book about love, did have more of a romantic element to it.  Thomas is loyal to Teresa but meets Brenda and starts to have feelings for her too.  The love story element is not a central part of the story but is nevertheless a nice addition.  

I would recommend this series to fans of dystopia.  Fans of Scott Westerfeld and Suzanne Collins will love it.

Just One Gripe: 
This book is pretty gory.  There were several times I got pretty grossed out (admittedly, I do have a weaker stomach now that I'm pregnant).

The Best Thing About This Book: 
The intricate and intense plot.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
It's about the same level as The Hunger Games series.

Score: 
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Setting/Imagery: 5/5
Originality: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Total Score:  23/25



Book to Movie News: The Hunger Games, City of Bones & The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Source: EW.com
The director for THG trilogy, Gary Ross, has been announced and casting is the next phase. Here is what Ross had to say about casting Katniss Everdeen  
Ross revealed that he hadn’t yet met with any actresses but would begin those conversations shortly. Admirers of Katniss, District 12′s dark and resilient “Tribute,” can rest assured that the director won’t dumb the character down or cutesy her up for the movie. “I’ve talked to Suzanne extensively and I feel like I understand the character really, really well,” he said. “What makes Katniss attractive is her strength and her assuredness and her defiance and ultimately her compassion. And I don’t mean just physical strength. I mean a real strength as a human being. She knows her own truth. She feels deeply and fiercely. And this is something that the actress has to bring with her.” 

There have also been rumors that Hugh Laurie & Robert Downey Jr. are up for the role of Haymich Abernathy, what do you think?




TMI: City of Bones
Logan Lerman for Simon
So who do fans want to play Jace & Simon? It is pretty clear as many are shouting it from their twitter accounts daily. Collins (Clary) has even seen the tweets and knows how serious the fans are about who they see for these characters. “A lot of the fans have been tweeting that [they want] Alex Pettyfer." She also mentioned a Logan Lerman as a name she keeps hearing fans talk about for Simon. (Source: Examiner.com)


 
Alex Pettyfer for Jace
 I don't know about you but I just love the choices! I think both guys physically fit the roles. But nothing is official and for now these are the fans "wants/desires".

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Book Review)
Filming is underway in Sweden for the American adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The leading lady, Rooney Mara, will be portraying the books main character Lisbeth Salander. Mara has embraced the role and showed up to a film festival sporting her characters signature look.
Here is Mara before and after her Lisbeth makeover.

Before
After


If you have any other Book to Movie news send us an email iwouldratherbereading(at)gmail(dot)com or send me a tweet @soratherread 
We would love to share the news!




Book Review: Matched (Matched #1) by Allie Condie

Summary: 
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
 
Review: 
I've been looking forward to Matched all year, and it was worth the wait and anticipation.  I love dystopia, and Matched took all of my favorite dystopian elements and wound them together to make a story that I just couldn't put down.

If I enjoy a story enough to sit and read while I'm having my restless leg syndrome (a wonderful pregnancy condition that happens every night at 8:00), then it's a testament to how good a book is.  I started Matched and knew I couldn't go to bed without knowing how the story ended.  I finished the book standing up, shaking my legs around so they wouldn't twitch.  Oh, to be able to sit and read at night: I didn't even know how good I had it before I got pregnant.

Anyway, back to Matched.  This was more of an emotional suspense novel than an action-packed dystopia like The Maze Runner or The Hunger Games.  There was not a lot of action, as much of the story was dedicated to world-building.  I suspect that we'll get more action in the sequel(s).  Condie does a great job building the world of the Society.  The principles reminded me a lot of Lois Lowry's The Giver, a fact which ultimately kept me from giving Matched more stars. 

What really stood out for me while reading Matched was the attention to detail and the writing style.  Condie writes with feeling, and those feelings transcend the page to work their way into your heart.  If you've never tried dystopia, Matched would be a great place to start.

Just One Gripe: 
The similarities to The Giver.  I think it's nearly impossible not to compare all dystopia with classics in that genre, but other dystopias I've read set themselves apart without being too close to their competitors. 

The Best Thing About This Book: 
The writing style.  I love the way Condie writes about emotions and her characters' growth.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Yes

Score: 
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Setting/Imagery: 5/5
Originality: 3/5
Ending: 4/5
Total Score:  19/25












Thank You!

We found out today that we tied for seventh place in Mindful Musing's Reader's Choice Awards 2010 for Best New Blog!  We are so honored and excited!

The other winners for Best New Blog are:


Congratulations to all the nominees and other winners---we were thrilled just to be nominated for this honor.  Make sure and visit Mindful Musings to check out all of her Best of 2010 winners.  

Thank you again!




Book Review: A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Summary: 
Talia fell under a spell . . . . Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . .

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.

I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.

I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.
 
Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!

Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak!

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time? 


Review: 
I really enjoyed Alix Flinn's Beastly so I decided to read more of her work.  A Kiss in Time is a retelling of Snow White Sleeping Beauty (thank you Small Review for correcting me!).  I enjoyed it, but not as much as I enjoyed Beastly.  I think the reason why it took me a while to start liking the book is that the characters didn't click for me.  I didn't like that Jack falls in love with Talia just looking at her while she's sleeping and I thought Talia was a spoiled brat for most of the book.  Books with dual narration never really work for me either, because it feels choppy and awkward to me.  Therefore, A Kiss in Time had a lot of obstacles to overcome in order to win my affections. 

While I did enjoy the story, it never really took off for me. The whole thing felt far-fetched, and while I did keep reading with interest to see what would happen, I was not invested enough in the characters or story to stay up and read. I realize that this review sounds quite negative.  I did enjoy this book, but not as much as I enjoyed BeastlyA Kiss in Time is great for what it is: a retelling of a classic fairy tale.  I would recommend it to fans of Flinn's other novels and fans of classic fairy tales.

Just One Gripe: 
See the first paragraph above.

The Best Thing About This Book: 
It is a sweet story with a great HEA.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
Yes

Score: 
Characters:  3/5
Plot: 3/5
Setting/Imagery: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Ending: 4/5
Total Score:  16/25





Book Review: Pale Demon (Rachel Morgan/The Hollows #9) by Kim Harrison

Summary: 
Condemned to death for black magic and shunned, Rachel Morgan has three days to somehow get to the annual witches convention in San Francisco and clear her name. If she fails, the only way she can escape death is to live in the demonic ever after . . . for ever after.

Banned from the flight lists, Rachel teams up with elven tycoon Trent Kalamack, headed for the West Coast for his own mysterious business. But Rachel isn’t the only passanger along for the ride. Can a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy in one car survive for over 2,300 miles? And that’s not counting the assassin on their tail.

A fearsome demon walks the sunlight, freed after centuries of torment to slay the innocent and devour souls. But his ultimate prey is Rachel Morgan. While the powerful witch with nerves of steel will do whatever it takes to stay alive, even embracing her own demonic nature may not be enough to save her.
 
Review: 
Pale Demon was another excellent installment in the Rachel Morgan series.  I've really come to enjoy Harrison's blend of witches, warlocks, weres, vampires, pixies, elves, and faeries.  She blends the species in together and has such great plots that her books are difficult to put down.  I made myself go slowly reading Pale Demon, because like a piece of Godiva chocolate, I wanted to make it last. 

My suspicisions regarding Trent's feelings for Rachel have finally been confirmed.  I knew it, I knew it!  I know he's bad and has done terrible things, but I still like Trent.  I think he has much more to him than we know right now, and I think he's going to keep growing on Rachel.  Like Steve Urkel used to say to Laura, "I'm wearing you down, baby, I'm wearing you down!" 

Jenks and Bis are my favorite characters in the series.  I think that they both steal every scene that they are in.  Rachel is not one of my favorite heroines, and I'm not sure why.  She has not been inherently likeable for me, but her personality and actions have endeared her to me over the span of the series.  I definintely liked her more in this book than any of the others.

I have to say that I have long thought that Al secretly likes Rachel, and the events of Pale Demon have only furthered that suspicion.  I loved how the book ends, with Rachel making the choice about how to live her life.  I've always liked Pierce because I love the way he speaks---I love his phrases, such as "make a die of it"---but I did not like him with Rachel.  It was nice to have Rachel alone for this book, as she has kind of gone from man to man throughout the series. 

While nine books can sometimes be too long for some series, Kim Harrison's work just keeps getting better, and I hope we get at least three more.  According to Harrison's website, she is under contract for twelve to thirteen Morgan books!  Sign me up, this is one series that I want to keep going for that long!

Just One Gripe: 
I hated the name Ku'Shox.  It was difficult to read and say to myself.  I stumbled over it just about every time I read it.

The Best Thing About This Book: 
I love the cast of characters.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 
No

Score: 
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Setting/Imagery: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Total Score:  25/25