Va Par
4.8
This volume is just asdfghjkll the feels are just indescribable. As for the time being, it is the conclusion to the mystery of the female titan. I've always known that Annie Leonhart was the female titan because their resemblance was very uncanny and they have similar combat skills. But again, more mysteries are being made and im actually okay with it. THERE'S LITERALLY NO STOPPING IN THIS MANGA!!! Moving on to volume 9.... Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ
4.5
Allegiant, at least for me, was more mature and darker than the previous novels. The intensity and the level of emotion was vastly improved and explores more on the “dystopian” genre. There are some parts that will truly remain with you after finishing it. I really liked how the book is told in two different perspectives. And I was really intrigued with Tobias' point of views because it really shows how his character is highly flawed and very complex, but in a good way though.
Most people who reviewed this book criticised its ending. They said they felt betrayed and devastated for killing off the best characters in the series. Have you guys even heard of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin? Because if you do then it's fashionable nowadays how authors kill off the important characters (so stop whining). I can say that the ending doesn't have the most satisfying ending when it comes to dystopian novels but in my opinion, it didn't really destroy the entire series as a whole.
I'm really glad that I got attached to this trilogy. It's been a great ride of emotions. Veronica Roth really captured every young-adult readers' hearts out there. I'm looking forward to what she'll work on next.
For the last time: BE BRAVE
4.8
BEST YA DYSTOPIAN SERIES SINCE THE HUNGER GAMES!!!
This final book is a satisfying end to a fantastic series. At first, I was thinking of rating this a 4... by the second half of the novel, everything was tied up neatly and going at a much better pace which bumped my rating to a near perfect score. It was beautifully written and it naturally flows in a deep, heart-wrenching manner. I have grown to love Ruby and the gang. They literally have the greatest character developments among a sea of characters in YA dystopian novels. I love you Alexandra Bracken! You've written one of the most compelling books I've read in a very long time. You know that bittersweet moment when you finish a series? Yes, I'm in that same boat right now. I don't want this to be a long review because I've already said most of the things I wanna say in the previous books. Buy the books, read it, and enter this awesome, gripping, roller-coaster ride of a world that Bracken has created.
4.7
MUCH MUCH MUCH BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK!
God, why did it take me a year to get into the sequel?! For a book that's 500+ pages, I thought this would be a hefty read... but to my surprise, this book is just so damn compelling and engaging that reading this book would be a breeze.
This series is starting to have my heart and soul. It took me on such an emotional roller-coaster ride. I can't help but be an emotional wreck after finishing it. The story was so action-packed, full of revelations, and anything you'd ever want from a dystopian novel.
What I loved most about this book are the characters. They are seriously the best set of characters you'd ever meet. They have very strong character development and unique personalities. I love how Ruby is starting to toughen up a bit, and she's beginning to have more self-confidence compared to the first book. Simply put - our protagonists are very lovable, and the antagonists are just loathsome to some extent.
I can't recommend this book enough. I feel like this is one very underrated series that everyone needs to read and get into. Alexandra Bracken is just amazing and she's clearly done it again (and by that I meant she stomped my heart again). Now let me take a moment to collect myself as I prepare to read the last book in the series.
4.7
I had an intense ‘reader's block' for almost a year and this is the first ~full~ novel I've ever finished ever since. I thought I'll never be able to finish another book because of that, but I'm glad I did. This is actually one of my goals by the end of the year - to get into reading again. Anyway, here's my review for this awesome book.
This book messed up my mind! I now understand the hype, the ranting and the raving, the hangover it causes once you finish it. There's a mixture of thoughts and emotions on me that I'm very unsure of. I have already read so many post-apocalyptic/alien novels and they're somewhat forgettable. But not this one. While reading, you just can't put it down. It's an absolute knock-out thriller that will make you not let go of the book.
Rick Yancey is a magnificent author, a great writer, and has a rare gift in storytelling. I love how he shifted the narrations between a few major characters because it works very well with this novel. To give you a little overview, Cassie and Ben are the primary narrators, with a chapter here and there from the POV of Cassie's little brother Sammy and also a stranger she meets named Evan. This really adds to the overall climax of the story, because as a reader, you hold a lot more pieces of the puzzle and you're just itching for them to find out things about a certain situation. There are also some twists in the story, that aren't much of a big reveal to the reader, but it really adds up to the tension.
What makes this book standout from other alien invasion tales is that the aliens never had an intention to damage nor destroy Earth. Since they need it so much, and instead of blowing stuff up, they find more sinister ways to exterminate humans. I don't want to give away too many plot details, but I have to say that the character development in this novel is absolutely splendid and the concept of the 5 “waves” is brilliant!
To sum it all up: The 5th Wave ended up being the type of book that I love and will be talking to people about for a couple of weeks or months. Excellent, compelling fast-paced story that kept me up all night just to finish it. It's a wonderful start to a series that I assume is only going to get better. I can't recommend this book enough. JUST DON'T MISS THIS ONE!
4.4
To start things off.... THIS IS MUCH BETTER THAN THAT STUPID ‘OL ELEANOR & PARK! But seriously though, I don't like to compare books, because I wasn't even sure about Fangirl when I first saw it on every book blog/booktubers. I've been let down by hype before. Hype is a cruel mistress, waiting to strike you down with a terrible novel at any moment.
I was never a fan of Rainbow Rowell, but her writing is really good and this is a great example of how well she can write. This book had such a nice flow and I instantly loved the characters. She writes such relatable characters and I found myself totally invested in them. Rowell didn't make Cath one of those “awkward, quirky” stereotypical college girls, she made her seem so real. When I was reading about her anxiety and social awkwardness I wasn't rolling my eyes, I was relating. The characters were each lovable, and she crafted each connection so genuinely. The banter was witty, and felt organic. I remember stopping at a few points and thinking, “Wow! This is totally what talking with my best friend feels like!”
My biggest complaint is that Fangirl seemed to end too soon and abruptly. I would have like a few more things wrapped up. Cath turning in her short story to Professor Piper, and a few others I can't put my finger on. I have a few more questions and I want to see the way several relationships play out. And while I don't want this being a series and all, I almost feel as if I need a companion novel for this. It just left me hanging in some ways. (Sorry to rain on your rainbow Rainbow Rowell, but you really need to work on your endings smh).
I'm sure most everyone has read this book, and I'm one of the last to jump on the bandwagon. But if you haven't read it then I highly suggest it.
4.4
The only thing I hate about this volume is that the scenes are not in chronological order, as opposed to the anime. But still, I do not have a proper reason to hate on this. Moving on to volume 5!!!
Actual Rating: 4.0
OMG guys I cannot describe how I love this novel. I cannot find the right words to describe this one. It was really moving because I can actually relate to some of the themes in this book. I instantly felt a connection with it. I always find it the hardest to review a novel which I really love, so here goes nothing....
Eleanor & Park took place during the late 80's, which is a really awesome decade in my opinion. The story is told from two perspectives but in a third-person kind of way, who're Eleanor and Park. They started having a mutual connection on their school bus, having to talk about ‘nerdy' stuffs such as comics, bands, music, and exchanging mix tapes (which are very common in the 80's). Because the story is told in two perspectives, we get enough glimpse and insights on both of their personal lives. Eleanor, who is half-Danish and half-Scottish, is a red-hair with tacky clothing who lives with her mum, her very abusive step dad, and step brothers/sisters. Park, on the other hand, is half-American and half-Korean. He has a slight complicated relationship with his dad, and his mum is quite racist towards people with different races/skin colour. They are just both rounded and multi-layered teenagers who you can't help to fall in love with and feel attached to. Their conversations and topics are very relatable, at least for me who is such a morbid fan of geeky stuff and music and such shits.
Another thing I noticed about this novel is that Rowell never actually cared about censorship and has to use a lot of curse words, for us to really feel the dialogues. FUCK CENSORSHIP!!! HELL YEAH MOTHERFUCKING RIGHT!!! HATERS CAN EAT SHIT!!!
The romance isn't your typical “boy-meets-girl girl-meets-boy and they live happily ever after” kind of love story. There wasn't even a happy ending in this novel. It is more on love against all odds. Some people are better off being friends than being lovers.
In general, Eleanor & Park is very entertaining, smart, realistic, emotional and is about finding some self-assurance towards yourself.
3.0
This is a little bit drab for me. Nothing really special about it and I don't see what the hype is all about to be honest. I'm still looking forward for the movie though but I think it's something not worth seeing at the cinemas in my opinion.
This one is such a tease! It's very short so it only took me about less than an hour to finish this.
I'm really glad that Tahereh took us unto Warner's own perspectives. I admit, he used to annoy the hell out of me with his cocky attitude and all that. But as I go further into his point of views, I'm starting to build this love-and-hate relationship with his character (no homo though). I judged him way too hard without knowing his “real” personality/attitude/character. If by any instance I didn't attempt to read this one, I'm very sure that I will never understand his character. So kudos to Mafi with that!
I cannot wait to start and read Unravel Me. I'm craving for much better action adndhskaka Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ
4.4
Hmm I didn't find anything interesting with this story. Yes, Four told us about his POV during the knife-throwing scene. But I wasn't satisfied with it and it's almost the same as Tris's POV during that scene. But hey...at least we got answers as to why he taunted Tris and his thoughts about that particular moment. v(¯∇¯)
3.8/5
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a captivating YA mystery novel that seamlessly blends thrilling suspense with a touch of the superhuman. This book really had me constantly flipping through the pages because of its fast pacing and engaging story.
The diversity represented within the group of characters is refreshingly modern and relatable. Hailing from various ethnic backgrounds and walks of life, they feel like real teenagers you might encounter rather than book characters. Their differing personalities and abilities not only make for an engaging dynamic but also provide an X-Men-esque vibe that adds a layer of intrigue.
While I enjoyed central plot, I could have done without the romantic love triangle subplot. These clichéd romantic entanglements often feel like forced distractions in an otherwise tightly woven mystery narrative. Thankfully, Barnes more than made up for it with bone-chilling interludes told from the UNSUB's perspective. These disturbing glimpses into a psycho upped the tension and made me dread the fate of Cassie each turn of the page.
Speaking of dread, the ending completely blindsided me. Just when I thought I had all the clues pieced together, Barnes pulled the rug out from under me with a jaw-dropping revelation that reframed everything. However, it also felt a tad rushed and anticlimactic, and it still left me desperate to dive into the next book and hopefully I could unravel the unanswered questions that lingers in my mind.
Do note that The Naturals doesn't shy away from mature subject matter. There are graphic depictions of torture, murder, and other violent crimes, which some readers may too disturbing or triggering. However, for fans of gritty crime media like Criminal Minds or the CSI, you'll surely have an exhilarating experience going into this book.
Overall, this is a must-read for anyone seeking an electrifying take on the YA mystery thriller genre. Just like me, you'll find yourself wanting to reach for the second book as soon as possible.
4.6
The final scene in this volume was kinda predictable haha. The cliffhanger was insane. Moving on to volume 3...NOW!
4.6
Wow just woooooooow! I have no words for this manga. I started reading this while watching the anime and the similarities are very on point. It's a new take on the usual mangas that are being released out there. Hands down for this one!
4.6
This book is surprisingly good! I knew I should've read it back then. This book is so sweet, romantic, and harsh, all at the same time. I felt way too many emotions while reading this. The story was a well-developed piece of realistic fiction. Should we be ashamed of loving someone of the same sex? Should we be ashamed even if we really love them? Should we love someone and not think about the consequences? Those are some questions you just can't outrun if you “truly” love someone. I commend Sáenz for writing a controversial, yet, very relatable literature that will probably hold much meaning today and the foreseeable future. It's one of those stories that are so pure and raw, it will touch every single person it comes contact with. This book is a gem that shouldn't be overlooked. Highly recommended for readers who loves thought-provoking books. This will change your perception of the world.
3/5
I used to have no plans or whatsoever to read the sequel(s) of Fifty Shades of Grey since I wasn't really a fan of this trilogy, and I only managed to get through the first book just because I feel ‘obligated' to read it before viewing the film approximately 2 years ago. Well, guess what? I'm back on that same situation with this one.
But I must admit, this sequel's a slight improvement over the first book, though it's not as compelling or impactful as FSoG. E.L. James is not the strongest writer, that's for sure. I can't seem to stand her choice of words/ repetitive expressions as I progress in this book. The story is becoming more and more like an adult version of Twilight, only with BDSM themes.. uhm wow? The writing is just awful in this book, but at least the story's quite entertaining (I wanna give it a 2/5 stars, but I bumped it with an extra star solely for that reason).
Overall, it's a so-so book that I may not give a shit about in the future. Now let me watch the probably shitty mess that is the 2017 film version. And I apologize in advance if I end up snoozing on that film. I mean, just look at the IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes/Metacritic ratings. Ghastly!
Actual Rating: 4.6
I'm sorry if I forgot to update my progress on this book but I've already finished this one like a week ago. Nevertheless, here's a quick review of what I think about this book:
The first chapter clearly picks up where Divergent left off. I love how Roth didn't put any time gaps between the two books so that's a really big “yay” for me. It's really hard to put down and I finished it in at least 3 hours because it never bored me and the story kept me begging for more after finishing a particular chapter. In fact, I enjoyed this one more than Divergent because it was really action-packed and had me always at the edge of my seat. It's ingenious, hilarious and yet heart-breaking - all at the same time.
However, the fact that they haven't revealed yet what's outside the fences got me really frustrated because I've been longing to know the secret behind those fences. But hey, there's still ALLEGIANT so maybe I can finally get the answers to my questions and confusions.
Overall, I would rate this book 4/5 stars. It's not really what you call a perfect sequel to a phenomenal start but I'm very precise that this series would never let us down with it's thrilling storyline.
OFF TO THE THIRD AND LAST BOOOOOOKKKKK!!!!!
5.0
Pardon my french, but FUCK YOU HARUKI MURAKAMI FOR PLAYING WITH MY FEELINGS !!! :'(
This is my first experience with Murakami, so I can't compare it to anything else written by him, but from what I understand, it's quite different from many of his other novels. It is the story of Toru, a young college student who becomes involved with the girlfriend of his best friend who, a year earlier, commited suicide. The two deal with their unspoken grief as best they can, both following utterly different paths. Toru loves the woman, Naoko, but for various reasons, their relationship cannot develop normally. We follow Toru for a few years in college–a realistic portrait of a young man's journey toward adulthood. The story is narrated by Toru's 37 year old self. He hears Norwegian Wood by The Beatles in an airplane and memories of his youth come flooding back to him, so much so that he must tell his story.
Murakami`s writing is so beautiful. It is extremely evocative, subtle, yet powerful. Each scene draws you into a life of its own; you can smell it, feel it, hear it and see it, a feast for all senses. Yet Murakami's writing never draws attention to itself, and that's what I like about it. With Norwegian Wood, he has created a story which will stay in the reader's mind for a long time.
Murakami's philosophy, that “...death exists as a part of life”, permeates this book. But also that lives and experiences, even those that have been lost, can continue to live. “Norwegian Wood”, the Beatle's song not the novel, evokes the memories of lives and loves worth remembering for the characters in this novel. We all have similar songs that remind us of those other experiences we have long since forgotten, good and bad. Murakami is simply reminding us that not only is it OK to remember, it is a fundamental requirement of the well lived and well considered life.
This book was extremely well written and a great introduction to Murakami in my opinion and I'd definitely recommend it as a starting point to anyone else looking to pick something up by him. It's also only 296 pages which is short compared to many of his other books. It is so beautiful and poetic, so rich in emotions and realism, so touching and so haunting. I highly suggest this book to anyone who has ever loved and felt powerful emotion. You will be amazed at how absorbed you will become in Murakami's story.
4.4
I've finished reading this like book a week ago and I have completely forgotten to update my progress here at Goodreads. But nevertheless, I found the time to give a review about this book so here it goes.
This book literally shows the reader a lot of things about “death”; how death is the ultimate and that when a person dies, no matter how much you love them, there's no coming back. Except for the case of Louise Creed, his wife Rachel, their children Ellie and toddler Gage, and their pet cat Church. They just moved to a new place in the town of Ludlow - it was just a great place and everything's delightful. But the problems were; 1. The road right in front of their house with very very fast trucks passing by from time to time. 2. The Pet “Sematary” (which is a misspelled word for cemetery” at the end of a small path into the woods at the end of Creeds' property. One night Church was hit and killed by one of those trucks while Louise's wife and kids are out of town, and Lou's neighbor, Jud, takes him beyond the Pet “Sematary” to an old Indian burial ground to bury the cat. The next day, the cat comes back to the house, seemingly alive, but violent, aggressive, clumsy, and “non-Church like”. Then, later, Lou Creed's little boy, Gage is hit and killed by a truck. Louis will go through the ultimate test: bury Gage and bring him back. As the story progresses, just to prevent any major spoilers, Louise later realized that being dead is better. (BECAUSE LITERALLY ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE).
4.5
Let me tell you something before I review this book. Before I went on to read this, I've already seen the movie once, when I was a child, and I got the chance to re-watch it again around September this year. I instantly fell in love with the film adaptation, and a few days later, I found myself downloading an e-book version of it. I started reading The Virgin Suicides around September, as well, and I finally decided to finish it as of today (12:38 A.M. December 16, 2015).
One thing I love about the film is that it remained faithful to this book, which is a rare scenario in book-to-movie adaptations. You'd be pleased to know that Sofia Coppola (who's one of my favorite directors, btw) and her team did a terrific job on putting it on film.
Now onto the book. It's such a quick read. But to be honest, I couldn't find myself to love the book. It was dark and depressing and I felt very sorry for the Lisbon sisters' parents. I can't ever imagine 5 of their children, let alone 1 child, commit suicide all at the same time. It's very gut-wrenching! I tried reflecting on it, afterwards. As parents of the sisters, how do you move on and go after that event?
I love Eugenides' writing style. The book was well-written, the story line was cohesive and the narration from the boys made the characters come to life. The use of third-person plural was ingenious, although I would have expected more character development. The ending was not conclusive either. Since it is told in an outside perspective, the answers to many of the questions remained unanswered, only assumed.
But overall, I was impressed by this novel and the movie alike. I highly recommend this to everyone, but prepare yourself for a lot of feels.