Book Review: Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick

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About the book:

Rating: Medicore

Pages: 255

Released: April 1st 2012

Published by: Atlantic Books

 

 

-information from Goodreads

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Middle aged, newly divorced Bea Nightingale works as a teacher in an impoverised aread of New York in the 1950's. Out of the blue her estranged brother contacts her to ask if she'll go to Paris to find and bring home the nephew she's never met. From that moment she becomes increasingly entangled in the lives of her brother's family...

 

 

First Line:

"July 23, 1952"

 

Review:

I'm on the fence with this book. I obviously liked this book due to the speed that I read it, but I didn't find it riveting. I can safely say I have never read a book that's given me this reaction before. The plot was mediocre - nothing much happened at all. Not much happened with the characters either in terms of their development...Another problem I had with the characters as well is that I didn't identify with any of them and that is something that happens very rarely as well. Maybe that's the reason I'm on the fence about it? Having said that Cynthia's writting was good although some people may find it challenging. Overall, this book wasn't a horrible read but something just didn't click for me.

 

Recommended Audience:

This book was written as an adult book and due to Cynthias writing style I wouldn't really recommened it for people in their early teens.

Book Review: Women and Children First by Gill Paul

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About this book:

Rating: O.K

Pages: 480

Released: March 29th 2012

Published by: harpercollins

 

-information from Goodreads

 

Synopsis:

This book follows five characters lives after they survive the Titanic sinking. They are: Reg, a steward working in the first class dining room, Annie, an Irishwomen who is travelling to America with her four children, Juliette, a titled English lady who is pregnant and unmarried, George Grayling, a troubled Americian millionaire and finally, a mystery passenger who never shows her face in public. These are their stories as they try to cope with the aftershock of the Titanic and rebulid their lives.

 

First Line:

"Reg's hands were shaking so hard he couldn't hold the news-paper still enough to read."

Review:

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought I would become alot more emotionally involved in the book as the event of the Titanic is so tradgic. Instead, I found myself not really bonding with the characters. The plot was well thought out and would have been a far more enjoyable read if I had been more emotionally invested in the characters.

 

Recommended Audience:

Anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

 

Book Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

 



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About the book:

Book One in the Caster Chronicles

 

Rating: Really Good  

Pages: 592

Released: September 14 2010

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

 

-Information from Goodreads

 

 

Synopsis

Ethan Wate has been haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he's never met before. He is shocked to discover the girl from his dreams has moved to Gatlin and has enrolled in his school. That girl is Lena Duchannes. But Lena has a secret one that could upturn her life if it were discovered...Against the odds, Ethan and Lena find themselves bound together by a deep love. But they are running out of time. Lena has a curse - on her sixteenth birthday her fate will be decided for her. In the end, thre is a grave...

 

First Line:

"There were only two kinds of people in our town."

 

Review:

This is another series that I'm seriously late to the party for but again it's one that I'm so glad I've read. Yes, it's another boy meets girl story with paranormal elements thrown in...but it's so much better then the others on the book market. The plot (even though it mimics others in basic structure) is unique in its way. There's mystery, intrigue, adventure, romace and an unexpected surprise that's been mixed together and the result is Beautiful Creatures. The ratio of romance to action is well porportioned - I don't like to be slapped in the face with gooey, cheesey romance only to have my mind blown by a wave of action that can't be followed. (Actually that's a lie - I love cheesey romance...authors slap me in the face with romance as often as you like!!!). What I mean is the romantic aspects don't over power the plots action/adventure. It's well balanced. I found the plot intriguing and I enjoyed the story immensely. The characters were as interesting as the plot. Even the characters that weren't seen/spoke as much in the book were well presented throughout through the main characters narrative. Normally I don't like books with a male narrative (I'm not being sexist I just think girl's narratives are more romantic!). But I found Ethan's to be surprisingly enjoyable. Overall, this book is a joy to read and I'm looking forward to reading the next one!

 

Recommended Audience:

Anyone who loves Young Adult Fiction. Especially paranormal romance.

 



Book Review: The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

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About the Book:

Rating: Good

Pages: 231

Released: September 1st 2012 (my edition)

Published: Simon and Schuster

-information from Goodreads

 

Synopsis

Charlie is starting his freshmen year at highschool. He'd shy, introspective, intelligent and socially awkard...in other words he's a wall flower. The book follows Charlie as he attempts to make new friends and how he copes with the world of dating, sex and drugs that he's found himself abruptly thrown into .

 

First Line

"August 25, 1991"

 

Review 

This book was a new experience for me as I haven't read a book that is written entirely as letters. After getting used to this format, I think it suits the story very well and I quite enjoyed it, especially the mystery of who Charlie is writing the letters too. That mystery is one I never found out - I couldn't figure out who he was writing to. The plot to this book was amazing and is one that both teenagers and adults can relate too in terms of their own experiences. The characters were well thought out and even though you aren't witnessing them first hand. Charlie's story of life as a wallflower is so poignant and thought provoking that made me reflect on my own experiences and how I coped with them. There are serious points to this book that tackle a variety of social taboos that make you view them in a totally different way. But interwined with the seriousness there are moments of wittiness and awkardness that are as light hearted and heart warming as they are funny. This is a beautifully written story about the highs and lows of growing up (especially with a disability) and I throughly enjoyed it.

 

Recommended Audience

For Young Adults to Adults...or anyone looking for a quick good read. You won't be disappointed.