Prodigy - Marie Lu (#2)

**This is the second book in the Legend series so there may be some spoilers in this review for those who have not read the first book. If you would like to read my review of the first book, Legend, click here**

After the amazement at discovering such a great series a couple of months ago, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of the sequel to Legend soon. With a quick perusal of my library's funky new website, a reserve and a phone call informing me PRODIGY was ready and waiting for me at my library, I had the chance to find out what's next for June and Day.

Synopsis: June and Day arrive in Las Vegas after June helped Day escape his execution. However, within hours of being there, it is announced that the Elector Primo has died with his young son, Anden taking his place. The pair join a group of Patriots - rebels fighting against the Republic government who want to see a united America once again - who are eager for June and Day's involvement. They will help Day find his brother, but only if they help assassinate the new Elector and push the Republic into chaos and revolution. It is the chance to save a nation that has been silenced for so long. But soon, June starts to question whether this is right, are they getting the full story and ultimately, what if Auden is the right person to be Elector?

Review: Okay, so I thought Legend, the first in this extraordinary series, was pretty good, very different and original from many other dystopians out there. But then I read PRODIGY. And Marie Lu just blew me away. Again. But so much more. SOMEHOW I thought this was better than Legend and that book was pretty darn good.

Part of the beauty of dystopians is the action that makes the genre a bit more interesting apart from the whole corrupt world thing. In many dystopian sequels, there is a different kind of 'second-book-syndrome'. Gone is the definition that the second book cannot live up to the first. FAR from that. The second books in many series - Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Divergent series), Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games series) and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium series) to name a few - seem to just be so action packed, like EVERYTHING seems to happen. I guess it's probably because in these trilogies, there is no world-building or setting up the story neither is there any tying up loose ends or creating an ending. But I find, in all the three novels mentioned, the action becomes waaaaay too intense. Just too much to absorb for the humble reader.
BUT in PRODIGY, does that happen? NO. This is so action-packed, don't get me wrong, like literally some chapters - make that MOST chapters, I was breathless by the end, needing a little break to absorb and understand what on earth just happened. But something I found in this novel is that the action was never too much, never too intense and chaotic to read. It's almost cinematic in a way as it is so vivid that I could visualise it all happening so clearly. And THAT, my friends, is due to the amazing writing of Miss Marie Lu.

Lu moves the plot incredibly fast especially with the duel narrative from Day and June, but there are these moments that arise from the surface, moments of romance, kindness, sadness, fear, death. All these emotional moments that once she slows the writing down, the reader appreciates them in full. It's incredibly hard to describe, but if you've read the novel, I really hope you understand what I'm jabbering on about.
There is something compulsive about Marie Lu's writing. She just makes me want to read and read on and on which had me telling myself 'I'll go to sleep after this chapter'. I read half of the book in a couple of hours late one night which as a slow reader, that is a huge achievement for me.

Ah! The characters! I loved June and Day much more and I just love that both these characters share the spotlight in the narrative. These are both quite complex characters who both have a real depth to them and that is handled perfectly. They continue to develop individually and in their relationship together yet none of the aspects that make them so unique and likable in the first book is lost at all.
Some authors have a habit of not developing or evolving their secondary characters which most of the time, make books better or worse whatever the genre. In PRODIGY, that certainly happens in Kaede and Tess as well as the addition of some new characters like Razor, a commander, and Anden (who is just too lovely!). I thought some characters that were in the first book, like Thomas, were left out a little bit. He does appear briefly but then doesn't return so I hope he comes back in the third book.

Can we just pause and look at the ending? I mean Legend was a little bit of a cliffhanger, with me literally about to fall of the edge. BUT THIS ENDING IS JUST...AH. IT'S SO MEAN.
Without ruining anything, for the last quarter of the book, I was sitting there thinking 'This is such a closed ending'. Like it seemed like an end to the series but I KNEW that there was a third book and I was thinking 'What the hell is going to happen in that book then?'.
THEN. POW, POW, POW. All these events and things are thrown at me and before I can react, before I can even think, before I absorb these sudden change of events, it's the last line of the book and once again I'm turning the pages frantically looking for the rest of the story. So basically, watch out for that killer of an end. Because it's unexpected. So unexpected.

If this review didn't quite illustrate my thoughts, in a sentence: this book was brilliant. So brilliant. (okay so two sentences).
It's hard to fathom how good it is and what makes it this good but I'm pretty sure if you read this series and enjoyed it as I did then you'll understand. I haven't come across an amazing dystopian series like this since Divergent, and I read a lot of dystopian fiction. I'll be in the queue for definite for the third and final book and eagerly anticipating with Marie Lu is going to face me with now.
Go buy this book. Buy this series and celebrate the beauty of reading. This book reminded me I'm so in love with reading. And that is just what the doctor ordered.

My thoughts are pretty much summed up in this review I found on Goodreads including the whole thing at the beginning about wondering what I would do if I encountered a zombie. True fact.

I give it a 5 out of 5


Author's Website: http://marielu.org/
Pages: 371
Publisher: Penguin
Challenges: None

Related Reviews: 
Legend - Marie Lu
Noble Conflict - Malorie Blackman
The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
Divergent - Veronica Roth

Noble Conflict - Malorie Blackman

I was first introduced to Malorie Blackman when I stumbled across Noughts and Crosses in a bookshop, really loved the first few pages and then fell in love with that series. And any British teenager in their late teens will remember the CBBC series of Pig-Heart Boy, an adaptation of one of her books!? I was both amazed and creeped out by it.
I actually met Malorie Blackman at my local library about 2 years ago with my friend which was like reliving my childhood - she was so lovely too. She mentioned at the time she was working on something a lot like Noughts and Crosses but a bit different which I knew would appeal to me when it was released. So when I first heard about NOBLE CONFLICT and then *dun, dun, dun* saw it on Netgalley, it was like I was 8 again.

Synopsis: Kaspar has grown up in a world founded on peace and harmony after a bitter and destructive war that destroyed much of the world. The rebels on the outside of the city still attempt to cause war and take back the land that they think is theirs. Kaspar is part of an elite fighting force called the Guardians who protect the city, its inhabitants and the High Council but without destructive or violent weapons. Soon after Kaspar joins, he meets a rebel face to face. But this rebel is a lovely girl called Rhea. From this moment, he is haunted by memories and visions that do not belong to him as he starts to realise the secrets that have been hidden about the rebels and what Kaspar is actually fighting for.

Review: With the amount of dystopians on the market, you would think another one - like NOBLE CONFLICT - would get boring. But in all honesty, this is one of the most original I've read.
Everyone would like a peaceful world where society was based on non-violent actions and this is what Blackman plays upon.

I completely think this book justifies why Malorie Blackman is Children's Laureate. I mean, some of the surprises I didn't see coming at all, some I did (mostly because she hints SO MUCH along the way plus I have weird 'read between the lines' English skills). There are so many twists and turns throughout the story that do keep the narrative moving mostly as well as interesting. There are some really thought provoking incidents and moments and I can see a lot of issues that can be translated to present day - much like in Noughts and Crosses.

The characters are well-built and react well off one another. The novel is written in third person which for some I can see they would not particularly connect with Kaspar then. However, I found this didn't hindrance anything and actually allows the reader to see the action from more than one point of views yet without confusion. Kaspar is a character that many may find annoying  - he has grown up thinking he knows the right thing but this is soon changed. For me, I found him engaging, strong, determined and someone who was just misled. Actually, he reminded me a lot of June from the Legend series by Marie Lu. There are some good secondary characters too - Voss, Mac, Rhea, Dillon. Even when bad things happen to them, despite the third person, I still felt emotion for them.

In spite of this, not every book is perfect. The thing that stood out for me was that this book was slow in pace and in all fairness, the real action was in the last quarter of the book. The first part was great with the superb world-building that is some of the best I've seen. Then there's a lull. A big incident happens. Rhea appears. And then, pow, it all slows down. I actually found some of the middle part quite hard to read because in all honesty, I got a little bored.
So reasons? Well, I have two. Number One - there are two main storylines or issues running throughout the story. The discovery of knowledge about the founding of the city, the High Council and the rebels and then running parallel is the strange problem of Rhea and the whole memory thing. About halfway through the discovery/lies thing comes to the foreground.
Then, because of reason Number Two, this book is written in third person which works for the majority of the book but in this bit in the middle, not so much. It is interesting and kind of essential to the plot but I just think it did let the book down a little bit. I don't know - maybe I just anticipated this book too much.

I did like this book, I assure you and it was a true Malorie Blackman novel. Despite some of my writing issues as well as the humour seeming quite forced at times, this novel (literally and metaphorically) explodes in the final chapters turning everything on its head and leaving the reader with this sense of both a closed ending with Kaspar's story ending far beyond the last page. This is certainly far from Noughts and Crosses (but can anything be better than those books?) but it's not far off.
It's just so great to see a British author finally on the young adult dystopian scene.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.malorieblackman.co.uk/
Pages: 368
Publisher: Random House
Challenges: BBC

Related Reviews:
Legend - Marie Lu
The Declaration - Gemma Malley
The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness

The S-Word - Chelsea Pitcher

When I saw the blurb for this book on Netgalley, I knew it would be a book I'm interested in. I love me some serious contemporary writing and having literally just left college, I completely felt like I understood and could relate to the issues addressed in this book.
So when I wanted something a little more serious for my holiday reading, I knew this was the best book for that.
This looks to promising, it showed school in a realistic, edgy, harsh light that didn't glaze over the real issues surrounding most schools for teenagers. If a book can do that well, I'll support it until the end.

Synopsis: First, it was SLUT scribbled over Lizzie's locker. Then, it was SUICIDE SLUT, a week after Lizzie Hart killed herself - written in Lizzie's own handwriting.
Lizzie Hart's reputation is ruined when she is caught in bed with her best friend Angie's boyfriend. The weeks that follow make her life a living hell leading to Lizzie committing suicide. Angie feels like she could have done something to stop Lizzie but still has so many questions unanswered. A week after the funeral, pages from Lizzie's diary and graffiti start to circulate around the school. Angie starts an investigation into finding out who drove Lizzie to her death and avenge Lizzie. However, Angie's own anguish and anger over Lizzie's death and abandoning her best friend in her final weeks bubbles to the surface threatening to consume Angie.

Review: Well, this book was intense.

I think everyone has had experience in dealing with name-calling especially in a school environment. I know I certainly have, having been called a mixture of 'anorexic', 'bitch', 'neek/geek', 'weirdo' and 'poshy'. I think people don't quite appreciate how a name, how insignificant it might be to them, can cause such harm to someone else.
The events that happen to Lizzie that lead to her downfall are quite extreme to say the least and like the ultimate examples of bullying. I found the idea that a whole school would turn against one person quite extreme in my opinion because I doubt the things that happen to Lizzie would go that far.
Regardless, I loved that this book looked into the effects and the reasons behind why we define people with a tag. Like one person can only be a bitch or a slut or whatever and nothing else and I definitely think so many more books need to deal with these kind of issues instead of breezing over the reality of high school/college/secondary school.

There's also a look at real teenage issues like finding your own identity, sexuality, relationships, domestic violence, rape - all written in a sometimes harsh light that left me quite uncomfortable at times but sort of empowered too. Not many books can do that, but THE S-WORD certainly can.

Angie is a character that you are made to dislike. As she is part of the popular crew at her high school, she is mean, obnoxious, rude and manipulative throughout as well as this kind of casual, relaxed attitude to all that is going on around her. It's only really when you delve deeper into this novel, when all these surprises and secrets that Lizzie kept from her best friend come to light and the effects of the mysteries she is unraveling that we see a more humane, emotional person in Angie that does have a heart and did care for her friend. It's heartbreaking in a way, and I think that just adds more and more to the intensity of this novel. The same was how I felt for Lizzie. Although she's already dead from the first page, through Angie, the mysteries and her diary, the reader discovers Lizzie's true character as well, who it is clear is very different from those around her, especially Angie. I'm not sure how I felt about these characters in the end. While I was sad for Lizzie after all that happened, there was just a touch of something in the story that made is slightly unbelievable. Like ALL those things happened to one girl, I'm not sure. As I read in one review for this book, both Angie and Lizzie are very dramatic and I think it's this that stopped me enjoying the story completely.

The book is dark as much as it is intense and I liked this alternative style of showing this high school setting which isn't used very often which I think is best shown through the writing and themes. The writing itself is unique and that is so, so obvious from the first page. The narration I found was very choppy and at times rather unsympathetic and harsh which I really didn't like when talking about these themes. I found it got better as I got more into the story but it's certainly something that could have been refined. I don't know, maybe I'm just being critical or there is a purpose for having it that way but regardless, for me it just didn't work that well.
There are a lot of surprises running through the narrative, some more obvious than others (totally didn't see the surprise at the end coming!). I liked how this novel dabbled in many genres - thriller, contemporary, romance, mystery, all working quite well.

The day I finished this novel, I found out that a guy I had grown up with before losing contact with him when we were 12, had died at 18. It was that and this novel that impacted on me once again how short our lives are in reality even if being a 80 seems to far away at the age of 18. There are so many secrets and lies we all keep within ourselves that we could potentially leave without telling anyone and it's clear this effect happens to Angie as Lizzie's hidden knowledge attempts to consume her.
This is a hard-hitting novel with many uncomfortable moments, surprising revelations, themes that need to be addressed far more often and at it's heart, a dark, intense narrative that does make you think. Sure, there are lots of things that could be done differently or didn't work, but this is one of the only books I've read that deal with suicide, self-harm, rape, domestic abuse so vividly. And there is needs to be far more books like this before we can move forward and combat these issues.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book 

Author's Website: http://www.chelseapitcher.com/S-Word.html
Pages: 304
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Challenges: None

Related Reviews: 
Undone - Cat Clarke
Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
Speechless - Hannah Harrington

Long Live Google Reader

So as many of you kids may know, Google Friend Connect and Google Reader will live no longer after tomorrow, 1st July 2013. God knows why but that's not the point.

For those who, like me at first, are like 'Er Rebecca, what are you talking about?!', Google Friend Connect is that little square white box to your right where you can 'Join This Site' and for me, has 120 followers. Then Google Reader is the list of the latest posts posted by the blogs you follow on your Dashboard in Blogger (I believe this is right).
Therefore, by Google Friend Connect being discontinued, those 120 followers that I have gained so happily in three years of blogging will disappear. I know 120 is not a lot at all considering I've been here for three years, but watching that number grow over the years makes me so...proud I guess and happy with what I'm doing here. Perhaps Google Friend Connect's departure will be good - make people less competitve on followers and look at posts and share those posts we love. However, I have a feeling that free, happy, care-free place will not come about and everyone will be looking at the amount of comments and pageviews they have as a replacement.

ANYWAY. I know that you know you want to keep up with whatever is next for Rebecca-Books. So here are a few hints of ways you can follow me.

Bloglovin' - For me, it's a bit like an outsider version of Google Friend Connect/Google Reader. You follow the blogs signed up to the site and the latest posts come up when you log in. And it's all done by a click of a button. When you sign up, you can import the names of the blogs you follow onto here and there you have it, all your favourites on a page.
Follow here

Twitter - I'm always around on Twitter. You can follow me @rebeccabooks - come follow me on there, I've love to talk to anyone that enjoys my blog.
Follow here


Please help keep Rebecca-Books and the blogging world active by following us and helping in the transition from the much loved Google Friend Connect to the new platforms. I guess it's good to have something different and unique in a while, it's just a shame that it was so soon.

Soon, there will be reviews for Noble Conflict by Malorie Blackman, The Disgrace of Kitty Grey by Mary Hooper, The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher as well as discussions, guest posts and a blogoversary week this July.

I'll end this post by thanking all of you who have followed, commented and supported me over the years. I appreciate it so, so much especially throughout the difficult times in my life such as my exams, leaving school and the death of those close to me. We can all look forward to more posts on Rebecca-Books.

On My Bookshelf (40)

This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea

Library:

- Prodigy by Marie Lu  - When I finished Legend (the first book in this series), I was hooked and due to the cliffhanger ending, I needed to know what happened next soon. And gladly, Prodigy has only recently come out in the UK and was BRAND NEW to the library so I was able to grab a copy straight away. So looking forward to this one!

- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - Unless you've been living under a rock or away from the Internet, everyone has been talking about this book. I was a bit dubious when I saw it at work. I mean, aliens? I like some science-fiction but I normally draw the line at alien invasions because they're always a bit...out there (and no-one can beat War of the Worlds). So when I heard the amazing, stunning reviews for this, I still was a bit unsure whether it would be a personal thing for people on how much they liked it. I've heard some negative reviews now, so I'm going into this book open-minded. Let me know what you think of this book if you've read it!

Have you read either of these books? What did you think of them - good or bad? 

Leave your links so I can check out your own hauls!

Reviews by these authors:

Legend - Marie Lu (#1)

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend - Louise Rozett (#2)

**There may be spoilers for the first book in the series, Confessions of an Angry Girl. Check out my review here for that**

I can't believe it was only the beginning of the year that I discovered this series, it seems far longer. I really liked Confessions of an Angry Girl - I loved Rose's narrative, the characters and the realism that is shown across the page that made this book stand out. It also made me realise how much I love this genre of contemporary fiction, especially in the high school setting.
So I was so happy to see this on Netgalley while I was in the middle of my exams as I was dying to find out what happened next for Rose and Jamie, as well as what's up next in Rose's life.

Synopsis: It is the start of Rose's sophomore year and after the drama and bullying of the year before, she wants to keep her head down and out of trouble.
But even before school starts again, Rose gets involved in a serious argument between two boys that continues throughout the school year. There's also the sudden popularity of Tracey - Rose's best friend - that leaves Rose behind the times. But most of all, there's Jamie Forta - the lovely guy who asked her to prom and broke up with his girlfriend, Regina for her. But Rose is always asking the question, is she his girlfriend? Or is she more his 'almost-girlfriend'?

Review: Okay, if you want like a basic review of this book, just go to the last paragraph because simply, I loved this book. So much. Like it made my day, my week, my month, my freaking year because I needed a book like this to get me back on the reviewing and reading drive, to make me feel better about myself at a low point and to just appreciate my love of reading. BECAUSE THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD.
*cue fan-girling, ranting, the word 'love' being repeated MANY times*

I loved this book, I really did. I mean, I thought the first book was pretty good and a great debut but whoa...this builds much more on Confessions of an Angry Girl and more introducing some new characters as well as newer, serious themes plus showing the effects on Rose from the first book.

I think it's the characters that make this story what it is. Sometimes contemporary books have characters that for me, just seem so unrealistic and unnecessary at times and it just makes me enjoy the book much less. Rose is far from that, and I think her honest narration, stark and the teenage angst that comes across the page makes the issues addressed in this series much more realistic and make an impact. I understood Rose's problems in finding herself, finding who she is in her teenage years, because I've gone through that. There was one poignant quote that I remember about your reflection in the mirror being completely different to what you think you look like in your head which had me shouting 'YES. YOU UNDERSTAND ME' in my head. Because I've thought, and still do think that  - ah I'm just such a fan of Rose really.
The problem with Rose in the first book is that she seemed really young and when it daunted on me that in the first book she's only 14/15 - I don't know, it just seemed young. I think that is lost a little bit gladly in this book as Rose turns 16, which is good to see and made me enjoy this book far more.

The characters are all incredibly diverse and original to one another and their relationships keep developing with Rose and with one another. A few of my favourites were Tracey and Angelo (WHO can't love him?!) who bring some needed humour and sarcasm to a book that could overwhelm at times. They've very quick-witted and also the loveliest characters to Rose.

As I said, the narration is so real and it is the writing that made me zoom through Confessions of an Angry Girl and this book because it engages you so much from the first page. I literally was having to slow my reading down because I didn't want the book to finish, knowing the next book I read will never match. In short, the narration has this real element to it that addresses these deeper issues many times throughout, such as bullying, homophobia, domestic violence - but it's always mixed with humour at just the right moments (mostly a sarcastic remark from Rose or Angelo just being Angelo).

And then there's Jamie. The love interest, you could say. I don't know what I think of him really, I mean there is something irresistible about him and I can totally see why Rose likes him. But, there are times when I'm wondering why Rose puts up with the 'almost-girlfriend' thing, because it seems sometimes he could be leading her on. I just hope he sorts it out, and at the end, when he just like judges her?! AH. So I like Jamie. But he can be such an idiot at times.

So yeah. I really, really liked this book mostly because the focus was off the whole thing Rose has with Regina and onto other stronger issues to be explored. There's so much going on underneath Rose's narrative that I can just see all these things coming out in later books. Rose is still the amazing, feisty narrator most readers loved as well as the best minor characters I've come across making this one of the best books I've read this year, and this series is definitely becoming one of my favourites. It's like Rose understands me and the feeling of knowing that I'm not alone in trying to find who I am, in facing all these issues at school or home or with myself - it's indescribable how good that is.
If you haven't read Confessions of an Angry Girl, READ IT. And then this one. I just sincerely hope that the third book comes out soon and that this series gets the success it completely deserves.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for letting me review this book. 

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.louiserozett.com/author/Louise_Rozett.html
Pages: 288
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Challenges: None

Related Reviews:
Confessions of an Angry Girl - Louise Rozett (#1)
Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters - Meredith Zeitlin

Film Review: The Great Gatsby

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, Romeo and Juliet), Carey Mulligan (An Education, Doctor Who), Tobey MacGuire (Spiderman), Joel Edgerton (Warrior), Isla Fisher (Confessions of a Shopaholic), Elizabeth Debicki (A Few Best Men)
Directed by Baz Luhrmann (Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rogue)
Filmed in various locations in Australia
Based on the novel of the same name by F.Scott Fitzgerald


Synopsis: Set in Long Island, Nick Carraway recounts the events of the previous summer where he encountered the mysterious Jay Gatsby and became a part of his lavish, rich world. Nick soon discovered the secrets, obsession and lies beneath the cool, sophisticated life of Gatsby where tragedy is waiting.


Okay, so I may be a little bias in my love for this movie mostly because I had to read the book last year for my English Literature A-level and be able to analyse any part of it. Then, I did it for my coursework this year and re-read it in March.

So I know this book WELL. But normally studying a book to death means I dislike said book but The Great Gatsby was the first book where that didn't happen. I loved the symbols, the hatred you feel for the characters, the hope that Gatsby makes Nick and the reader feel, the dazzling imagery of Gatsby's parties of excess - everything. 

So I had HIGH hopes for the movie considering the 1974 adaptation is far from fantastic. 

In a word, my reaction to this film when I came out of the cinema was a simple 'Wow'. There were many things I was dubious about: the modern music, Tobey Macguire as Nick Carraway, the narrative staying retrospective. But all those worries were forgotten as soon as the opening credits started, Tobey Macguire appeared and started recounting the events of the previous summer and then when Leonardo appeared - well, I was sold. 

The thing that sticks out the most to me about this film is the characters that I think were cast amazingly well particularly Nick and Gatsby. These are far from easy roles and even in the book, it is hard to understand the motivations, the feelings and the truth to the main characters because they all feel they have to be something else to fit in with society.
 Leonardo Di Caprio isn't playing Gatsby, he BECOMES Gatsby - he shows his cool sophistication that masks his childhood, there is the glimmers of something darker in him particularly latterly in the film. He IS how I imagine Gatsby. 

I never liked Tobey Macguire as Spiderman- he was too awkward for a superhero but in this film that awkwardness works superbly for Nick who let's face it, is an awkward character stuck in the middle of a world he doesn't particularly understand unless it's to do with drinking. I absolutely loved him as Nick and although he wasn't as annoying and ambiguous as Nick is in the book, he really brought that something to Nick's character that I can't quite work out.

When I read the first reviews for the film, they all stated that they found that Carey Mulligan, playing the lead female role of Daisy, as lacking depth and in some cases annoying. This, rather than actually understand the story, showed that the writer had clearly not read the book. In my case, I liked Carey Mulligan as Daisy, a role so different to others I've seen her play. She showed me how I saw Daisy in the novel - someone shallow that is so within her own world, she doesn't even realise the damage she causes around her.

The film epitomises the idea of excess. Everything is big, everything is bold and loud and bright. In the first reviews also, I saw one comment which stated that 'It was so unrealistic. Everything was too much' which again had me wondering if the writer also hadn't read the book. I agree, Gatsby's parties, the speed of some of the shots, the colours, the filming - it is excessive. But so is the novel. I think Baz Luhrmann has done a superb job is showing the culture of the 1920's, the insane practices, the subtle warnings of what is to come in 1929 as well as the messages and illustrations F Scott Fitzgerald shows in the novel itself. As I came out of the cinema, my best friend turned to me and said 'It was like I was watching Moulin Rouge all over again'. While I haven't watched Moulin Rogue, also directed by Baz Luhrmann, I have seen Romeo and Juliet starring also Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Luhrmann. And in all honesty, I can totally see what she means. The colours, the music, the filming - it is very typical of Luhrmann's way of making films and as these three films all have the same kind of tragic love story to the plot, it does make them seem incredibly similar.

Despite this, The Great Gatsby is one of the best films I've seen this year, as well as Les Miserables. Although I knew what happened in the story, I still was surprised by the revelations throughout, still saddened by Gatsby's story and I literally grabbed my friend's hand in the final climatic moments of the film - it still had the power to move someone who knows the story inside out. I can see the understanding behind some of the critique with this film, but in my view, if you read the book then watch the film (like in most adaptations), it makes it more enjoyable watching as well as showing and appreciating the power and imagery of Fitzgerald's beautiful book that is transformed well onto the screen. This is a brilliant adaptation of one of the books in my life that holds the most memories and resonance for me. 

Mini Reviews: Legend, All These Things I've Done, Scarlet

So while I was away, I went on a bit of a dystopian rampage. Literally. This has to be one of my favourite genres and while some dislike the amount of books on offer in this genre out there, I like the variety you can choose from, getting more and more interesting each time I read them.
While I can't do a full out review for all of these (especially as one of them I read months ago), I am going to do some mini-reviews. Bottom line is though: all of these are great books!

LEGEND - Marie Lu (#1)

Synopsis: The Western states of America are now home to the Republic. Born into an elite American family, June is Republic's prodigy training to one of the Republic's best military officers. Born in the slums, Day is the Republic's most wanted criminal although his motives for his crimes aren't as bad as they seem to the public. There is no reason for these two teenagers to cross path until June's brother, Metias, is murdered and the Republic name Day as the prime suspect. June vows to avenge Metias' death and catch Day once and for all while Day tries to help his family survival the vicious plague. As they both chase each other, they uncover the secrets the country has been hidden and the lengths they will go to make sure the public never find out.

Review: There was always something about this novel that made me hesitate when I saw it in the library or bookshop. I'm not entirely sure what it was but it may have something to do with the proud declaration on the front cover that should I like The Hunger Games, it's a given that I'll love LEGEND (like a lot of dystopians now). I finally picked it up during my blogging break, I guess because I wasn't reading to review intentionally.
However, when I started reading, I suddenly became absorbed in this startlingly different world where the military was key to the government but there was all this suspicion and secrets lying underneath the cold exteriors of the officers. June was a great protagonist, strong yet had that hint of sensitivity that comes through ever so often. I also liked Day throughout and as there wasn't much of a relationship between these two characters in this book, I hope this will develop in the next book in the series, Prodigy. The ending, oh my THE ENDING, was just...it's just happens to fast, so quick yet you're still involved and absorbed in the action and the emotions of the characters. It was incredibly well-written and clever. This book is short, unsatisfactorily short even, yet so much happens in the short amount of pages which left me finishing the book wanting the sequel immediately. This is a different kind of dystopian, one I haven't seen around which I think makes it all the more enjoyable and interesting.
I give it a 5 out of 5

ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE - Gabrielle Zevin (#1)

Synopsis: 2083, New York. In a society where coffee and chocolate is banned, water is rationed and New York is the centre of crime and corruption, as the daughter of the city's most notorious crime boss, now dead, and a part of the city's famous chocolate maker, Anya's life is rather normal. She goes to school, hangs out with her best friend, Scarlet, looks after her brother and sister as well as her dying grandmother. Meanwhile, she is also trying not to fall for the charming son of the DA's assistant. However, soon her ex-boyfriend is poisoned by chocolate that Anya's family manufactures and she finds herself as the prime suspect. Anya is thrust into the spotlight at school, publicly and most importantly within her mafia family after years of staying hidden away.

Review: Gabrielle Zevin is an author I would normally associate with contemporary writing with a twist after reading Elsewhere and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, which I enjoyed both. This book was good, and I liked it a lot especially the way it felt like the Prohibition era, with guns, gangsters, family loyalties  - but with chocolate and modern technology. I think the problem is the blurb and I guess the whole damn narrative of the book. The blurb made me think this would be a book about the conflict between her and her family and the impact of that on her life and in a way it is with her romance with Win central to it all. And it is and it isn't. There is a lack of action until the very end and with these expectations I had from the blurb, I ended the book feeling a little bit cheated. I did like the book, and I did find it interesting and enjoyable mostly because of the superb characters but really, I think that's as far as it goes (doing this several months after reading however). I liked most of the book's narrative up until the last quarter where I started to *gasp* dislike Anya. There was just nothing there, no emotion, no sympathy, just nothing and although that may be done on purpose, it made it incredibly boring and slow to read with this nothingness. So it was a good attempt at this dystopian/crime/contemporary/something else genre, but I do think there were flaws. I'll probably read the next book, Because It Is My Blood, but only because I want to know what's next for Win and Anya.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5

SCARLET - Marissa Meyer (#2)

*May contain spoilers for those who have not read the first book, Cinder. Here's my review for that*

Synopsis: Cinder's story continues as she tries to break out of prison although it will make her the most wanted fugitive on Earth. Meanwhile, in Europe, Scarlet's grandmother has gone missing and the police have ruled her as dead. Scarlet meets Wolf, a streetfighter hiding his own secrets and intentions, who is Scarlet's only link and evidence that will lead to her grandmother. They start to unravel one mystery together, including the secrets Scarlet's grandmother kept from her all the years she grew up. They also encounter another mystery as the stories of Cinder and Scarlet collide as they try to defeat the vicious Queen Levana and stop her plan to make Prince Kai her husband, whatever the cost. 

Review: I knew this would be good. I just knew it. This is the sequel to Meyer's debut last year, Cinder, a futuristic retelling of Cinderella. SCARLET is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, with some different interpretations of the story, one I particularly like was how they incorporated the idea of the wolf being Red Riding Hood's grandmother - very clever. I loved this second installment, especially the spilt narratives between Scarlet, Cinder and Prince Kai (yep, he's still there!) which made the story more well-rounded and gave the idea that the problems throughout the book with Queen Levana are impacting the whole world, not just in the Eastern Commonwealth.
It was well-written considering the amount of action that could overwhelm a reader. I especially loved finding out more about Cinder's past continuing from Cinder, and there are LOTS of surprise discoveries.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone that has read and loved Cinder as I did. I don't think it's quite as good compared to Cinder but there are so many things in this book that take the narrative of Cinder in a completely different direction. I am eagerly awaiting the new book, Cress, a retelling of Rapunzel coming out next year (AH NEXT YEAR?!)
I give it a 5 out of 5

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Do you agree with what I thought - let me know below!

On My Bookshelf (39)

This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea

I haven't done one of these since March! I thought I would ease myself back into blogging with a meme because I love showing off the books I've acquired, seeing what others have got, sharing our recommendations - I really missed it actually in my break.
Essentially, these books were brought this week. The day after my last exam, which was a total disaster (tears happened is all I shall say on the matter), I decided that my first day of freedom would be spent doing some retail shopping most importantly in Waterstones with my staff card. So that is what I did, running around the shop looking for the books I have been waiting for read for a long time and shoving them into my basket before a second thought.

- Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - First off, THAT name has got to be the best name ever to have. It's so pretty and original! I bought this book because of SO many of the glowing reviews I've seen for it topped with the short review I read by Iffath from painting with words on Goodreads summed up the need to buy this book. 

- Theodore Boone: The Activist by John Grisham - Right, okay, this is one of those books I need to justify sometimes. Basically, this series are discovered by my best friend, Georgia. She was like 'Ah they're so great and Theo is such a good protagonist' and considering this is about Theo wanting to be a lawyer and she herself is aspiring to be a lawyer, I didn't think I would like this. Until, I looked at my blog archive and I realised I'D READ THE BOOK AND LOVED IT. And ever since then, I think we have become the only two fans of this series. I don't know anyone else that likes them...

So this is the new book in the series. And my excitement to read it is indescribable. 

- The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen - Sarah Dessen is one of those authors where whatever she writes, however bad the reviews may be for it, I WILL buy it and KNOW I will enjoy it. This is her new book and I had to stop myself from both squealing and rushing up to grab a copy, mostly because there was a guy nearby who I vaguely knew. I did the whole 'Look at phone, look at book, oh yeah this is for my...sister?' - then runs away in happiness

- Dusk by Eve Edwards - I've read her series set in Tudor times which I can thoroughly recommend! It wasn't until a few weeks ago when I found out that she was releasing another book through Clover at Fluttering Butterflies and then Lucy at Queen of Contemporary reminded me the other day. So when I saw this, the book entered my growing basket without thinking - I know I will enjoy this new series.

AND THOSE ARE MY NEW SHINY BOOKS. 

Have any of you read them and if so what did you think? Leave your links to your own memes for me to check out this week! 

Reviews by these authors:

What Happened to Goodbye - Sarah Dessen

The Other Countess - Eve Edwards

Theodore Boone - John Grisham

I'm Back! (Kind Of)

This is a kind of post to say that, guys, I haven't forgotten my little corner of the internet or my lovely followers or books in general (how could THAT happen?) because I realise that it's getting on for two months since I hung up my book reviewing shoes in exchange for my revising shoes for my A-level exams (this is all metaphorical by the way, not literal).

I am starting to actually turn my laptop back on again now and actually go on Blogger's website and have a look at some posts from my favourite blogs but I'm still not completely back, back.
I've done two of my exams so far, History and Media, which were...hmm, okay. History wasn't as great as I would have liked it to go although I had the BEST questions. Media was a bit more reassuring, although I feel like I just threw some words on the paper and hoped that they would get me marks.
I have one exam left, English Literature which I think is the hardest out of the three - that's on Thursday. And then I will be FREE.

You guys are brillant, you know? Like some of you have just stuck with my blog, some of you have mentioned that you missed me during my blogging break, you guys were all so lovely in the comments section of my last post where I started my break. So sweet that I actually cried at how lovely they were. Which is unheard of for me. So thank you. And thank you to those like Nessie and Marie-Louise Jensen and Amy and Michelle from Queen of the Universe as well as others who wished me luck and just made me feel more confident. Thank you!

But before I sign off and go back and catch up on Glee, I just want some recommends from you guys!
On my 'first day of freedom' on Friday, I am planning to go on the bus to the local shopping centre, go into the huge Waterstones with my discount card and my salary and buy all the books I want to read. I already have a little list with some John Grisham, Sarah Dessen, Rainbow Rowell but I want some recommends to check out while I'm there. Because I love books. But I dislike buying books when I don't know what they'll be like. It's a strange and rather annoying fear for a book lover like me, but I would love your recommends all the same to hunt down for while I'm there.

SO GIVE ME YOUR RECOMMENDS, either tweet me at @rebeccabooks or comment below. Can't wait to see what books you guys are loving!