Tuesday, August 14, 2012

New Moon

JJJJ
My View:   This book was better than I remember it, and not overly tiresome. There are lots of little plot holes, but it's a light read and honestly… can you expect much more from a romance novel? I have heard, for example, criticism that Bella and Edward are 2D characters… How many romances can you name that have 3D characters?

    General Information:
    Method of Reading:
    Personally owned hardback novel, 563 pages
    Dates of Reading:
    September 19, 2010-October 1, 2010
    Author:
    Stephenie Meyer
    Publication Year:
    2006
    Recommended To:
    Same as Twilight. Definitely not the most thought-provoking book for good readers, but you can give it a whirl if you so choose. It's a little like Romeo and Juliet: You may not love the book, but it’s a big enough phenomenon that it can't hurt to know something about it. Why not read it? It's tolerable.
    Quotes:
    "'Here's to responsibility,' he toasted. 'Twice a week'" (164).

    "'If I'm silly, then you're dangerously unbalanced'" (339).
    Movie?
    Yep, came out a little while ago. I never saw it, but people said it was (slightly) better than Twilight. Maybe they can salvage these movies after all (jokes on jokes).
Always,
Your Bibliomaniac
Bibliographic info:
  • Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon. New York: Little, Brown and, 2006. Print.
  • "New Moon." Wikipedia. WikiMedia, n.d. Web. 28 July 2013.
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So B. It.

JJJJ
My View:   Although I've read it a couple of times, I still finished it to the end! It's a pretty good read, with detailed descriptions and raw emotions. Let's face it: the plot line, although good, is not very meaty, with thin points and a hasty ending, but the way in which the story is told makes it the bestseller that it has come to be. You become easily enveloped in Heidi's life and mind which maintains a thin, but completely believable, balance between complexity and innocence. If I can't applaud the plot, then I can cheer for the characters and the author's deep, realistic style.  
    General Information:
    Method of Reading:
    Personally owned hardcover novel, 243 pages
    Dates of Reading:
    May 24, 2009-May 25, 2009
    Author:
    Sarah Weeks
    Publication Year:
    2004
    Recommended To:
    Girls in 7th grade. Because there are barely any men in the entire book, boys probably will not like it. It is far from a romance, with barely any mushy love stuff, but it is driven completely by emotions. However, an audience younger than 13 may have trouble handling a gripping, upsetting, emotional book about so much betrayal and loss. On the other hand, I know a cousin of mine read it in just 4th or 5th grade.
    Quotes:
    "The fact is, you can't tell squat about the color of an animal just from looking at its bones" (3).
    Movie?
    Don't think so. A small possibility of some hidden potential.
Always,
Your Bibliomaniac

 Bibliographic info:
Weeks, Sarah. So B. It: A Novel. [New York]: Laura Geringer, 2004. Print.
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Hope Was Here

JJJJJ
My View:   An excellent book! I've read it several times, but I never get bored reading it. The characters are realistic and inspirational. Hope is a wonderful character with a great message, and it isn't the sappy soap opera of a book that the cover suggests. I'm glad I found Joan Bauer, because her style really makes the book shine, and I plan on reading more of her writing. Her brief, honest style which elaborates where necessary but leaves a lot to the imagination is charming, funny, and entertaining. The book really pulls you in until you feel like a part of all of the action; emotionally attached to G.T.'s campaign and the town of Mulhoney. A story about exploring new places, learning new things, being dedicated, adjusting to change, holding onto hope, and believing in the power of a good man. Thoughtful and full of life lessons about the things we often take for granted. The book teaches that you can learn and grow from everything. I re-read it during a cancer battle one of my close family members was going through. It helped me face the misery of the situation and learn from it. This is a really powerful and simple book, with winning characters and a strong sense of direction. One of my Top Tens.

    General Information:
    Method of Reading:
    Personally owned paperback novel, 186 pages
    Dates of Reading:
    May 18, 2009-May 24, 2009
    Author:
    Joan Bauer
    Publication Year:
    2000
    Recommended To:
    Girls in 7th to 10th grade. It's a fairly easy read that any 5th grader can understand. But it's got some really deep stuff, too, that won't fully affect you until you're a little older. Reading it a few times over brings out these types of highlights, too. But after 10th grade, you may not fall in love with it the way younger girls will.
    Quotes:
    "Whatever happens, girl-- you remember the power of the light" (83).

    "You think that all teenagers care about are musicians and movie stars?
    …
    We'll blow your socks off" (122).
    Movie?
    Not yet. Maybe someday-- there could be some potential, but I'm really happy nobody's touched it yet.
Always,
Your Bibliomaniac
Bibliographic info:
  • Bauer, Joan. Hope Was Here. New York, NY: Putnam, 2000. Print.
  • "Hope Was Here: Our Conversation with the State of Wisconsin." Help Readers Love Reading. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013.
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Pride and Prejudice

JJJJJ
My View:   Filled it with realistic, believable characters who aren't over-perfected or over-romanticized (for her time period). Yes, the book is long, but it's also one of the most re-readable books on my shelf. A great novel about love, life, and family (particularly sisterhood). I am looking forward to reading more of Jane Austen's books.

 One thing I especially appreciate about Pride and Prejudice is that it's a thoughtful book, but still entertaining. I like the reserve of the era's writing, and it proves you can have a riveting book without getting into even PG-13 territory.

I've started viewing this book as the forerunner of the character-driven story. What do you think of this analysis?

      General Information:
      Method of Reading:
      Kindle, 480 pages in paperback
      Dates of Reading:
      Apr. 2, 2009-Apr. 25, 2009
      Author:
      Jane Austen
      Publication Year:
      1813
      Recommended To:
      Women in 8th grade or above. Exceptional readers who love reading may be able to read it in 6th grade. I read it as a 9th grader and feel it is a great fit for my age group. The only trouble for younger readers is the language, which is old-fashioned, and therefore may be difficult. But I got used to it really quickly.
      Quotes:

      Movie?
      Yes, there are actually a few! My roommates and I love the 2005 Keira Knightly version but I'm searching for a movie buddy to watch the realllllyyyy long Colin Firth version with me.
Always,
Your Bibliomaniac
Bibliographic info:
  • Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Electronic.
  • Callahan, Erin. "Cover Story: Pride and Prejudice." Forever Young Adult. Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, n.d. Web. 28 July 2013.
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Geek Charming

JJJ
My View:   Pretty good, an easy read. It was an okay way to waste time over Spring Break, but it certainly isn't a must-read, especially for advanced readers. Although it did provide a nice insight into the world of popularity, and I probably would have liked it in 7th grade when cliques were getting annoying. This was hardly worth reading even in early high school though. I probably would have put it down if I weren't on vacation in a lit-desert.

Wikipedia Link: N/A
    General Information:
    Method of Reading:
    Kindle, 288 pages in paperback
    Dates of Reading:
    Mar. 29, 2009-Apr. 1, 2009
    Author:
    Robin Palmer
    Publication Year:
    2009
    Recommended To:
    I would recommend it to girls desperate for a book between the ages of 13 and 14.
    Quotes:

    Movie?
    They just made one a couple years ago! I originally wrote a review of this saying it had greater potential as a Disney Channel movie than it has as a book, and lo and behold the movie was made for Disney in 2011. Unfortunately, it didn't get the best reviews. It has Sarah Hyland in it though, who I think could really ham it up in this role.
Always,
Your Bibliomaniac
Bibliographic info:
  • "Geek Charming by Robin Palmer." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013.
  • Palmer, Robin. Geek Charming. New York: Speak, 2009. Electronic.
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Breaking Dawn

JJJJJ
My View:   It was just fine. A riveting, anticlimatic, Twilight book. The lack of a "big bang" at the end seemed like a sucker punch in some ways, but it also may have been the most unpredictable thing Stephenie Meyer put in the whole series. It was, like Bree Tanner, the only time I felt like Meyer had thought out her whole metaverse in some detail before (or while) writing the series.

    General Information:
    Method of Reading:
    Personally owned hardback novel, 755 pages
    Dates of Reading:
    October 9, 2010-October 20, 2010
    Author:
    Stephenie Meyer
    Publication Year:
    2008
    Recommended To:
    Just look at the others. Actually, I finally realized that these books fit very much into the same category as the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series.
    Quotes:

    Movie?
    Very soon. They're splitting it into two parts like WB did with Deathly Hallows… copycats.
Always,
Your Bibliomaniac
Bibliographic info:
  • "Breaking Dawn." Wikipedia. WikiMedia, n.d. Web. 28 July 2013.
  • Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. New York: Little, Brown, 2008. Print.
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The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

JJJJ
My View:   It was what we should've expected from Stephenie Meyer: Bree's never fit in until she meets the right guy. She has no female friends and doesn't seem to care. She connects to and trusts very few people and those few people always lead her into trouble. But for people who enjoyed the regular books, it's a different way to break out of Bella's constricted, lovey-dovey mindset and see what the rest of Meyer's vampire world looks like. It even shows us how the vampire world can actually be vampiric. It adds a little to Meyer's legitimacy as a writer because it shows that her Twilight metaverse was more fleshed-out than I would have expected. This is an easy read that sheds a lot of light on the main series… good side-writing.

    General Information:
    Method of Reading:
    Kindle, 192 pages in hardcover
    Dates of Reading:
    July 3, 2010-July 4, 2010
    Author:
    Stephenie Meyer
    Publication Year:
    2010
    Recommended To:
    Eh.
    Quotes:

    Movie?
    I think there's one enemy vampire in the Eclipse movie who is "supposed" to be Bree, but she won't be getting her own film.
Always,
Your Bibliomaniac
Bibliographic info:
  • Meyer, Stephenie. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella. New York: Little, Brown and, 2010. Electronic.
  • "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner." Wikipedia. WikiMedia, n.d. Web. 28 July 2013.
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