Eating, Reading, and Amateur Cooking

1st May 2012 | 1 note

Review: Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle

Title: Socialpunk (Socailpunk #1)

Author: Monica Leonelle

Genre: Young Adult

Format/Length: ebook, 275 pages

Publisher: Spaulding House

Published Date: Mach 27, 2012

Where did I get my copy: As part of the Socialpunk blog tour, I received a copy from the author.

Learn more about it on Goodreads

Now available on Amazon

Synopsis: (from Goodreads.com) Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.

My Rating: 3 out of 5

My Review: Last week I posted an excerpt from this book. It was a mysterious prologue and when I read it, I was hooked immediately. I could not wait to immerse myself in this new book.

My overall impression - it’s a good read.

Leonelle delivered an interesting plot. It’s not lacking the element of mystery and it’s exciting.

At 275 pages, Socialpunk is a quick read. It’s well paced, there’s a great balance of background info and adventure. I found that there was something happening on each page.

Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Synopsis: At the end of The Maze Runner Thomas and the Gladers close their eyes for their first peaceful night out of the Maze. They think they are in a safer place, hopeful that maybe in the morning they could find out more about the world, and how they really ended up in the Glade.

Instead, in The Scorch Trials, the boys find themselves alone, there are more questions than answers, and Teresa is missing. Then a strange man tells them that they are infected with the Flare and they have to travel a hundred miles to get to the cure. With limited supplies and a deadline, the Gladers have no other choice but to go through the next phase of the Trials, just as WICKED intended.

My Ratings: 3.5 out 5

My Review: I enjoyed The Scorch Trials more than the first book. This sequel was more interesting, there was more adventure, and more action. The pacing of events was very good. Finally, the characters are no longer just sitting, waiting, or running around in the same large space.

I also liked that Dashner picked up exactly where he left off. No time passed between the last sentence of first bookand the first sentence of this book.

The characters got better in this book. At least some of them stood out from the rest. For example, Minho is a good character. He’s a leader, he’s brave, and has quite the temper. I like him.

I loved the novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. And the movie adaptation was very good too.

Great story and awesome cast - including Matt Damon. =)

(via little-nerdasaurus)

6th Apr 2012 | 1,238 notes

I am looking for someone to share in an adventure.

I am looking for someone to share in an adventure.

(via spiffing-books)

6th Apr 2012 | 1 note

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Synopsis: (from Goodreads) When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

My Rating: 3 out of 5

My Review: As intriguing as the summary may be the pacing was kind of slow in the first half. Not much was really happening. So, I wouldn’t say that this book is unputdownable.

Up until the mystery girl, Teresa, woke up, there wasn’t anything exciting going on. Then suddenly things were changing for the Gladers and they had to figure out how to get out of the Glade much sooner.

The rest of the book, up to the end, is good. It was better paced than the first half and some action ensues.

Unfortunately, I found that the characters were lacking in personality. Everyone was kind of the same. I don’t think anyone stood out from the rest. Sadly, for the most part what we see are a bunch of characters having dialogue, interacting with one another, but not one can be described as anything more than what they were; teenagers stuck someplace.

Aside from the desire to see what the big mystery is, I think what made me keep reading is Dashner’s style of ending a chapter.

Books, books, and more books

I just finished The Scorch Trials. A review will be posted later.

I’m still intrigued.

Where is this all going?

Please don’t answer that! But you can tell me what you thought of it.

Moving on to The Death Cure.

23rd Mar 2012 | 2 notes

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Synopsis: Like everyone else Cassia has always believed in the Society. They trusted the Society’s decisions; where they should live, who they should marry, what job to do for the rest of their lives, and when to die. Everyone has always followed every rule. And Cassia was prepared to be just like everybody else. That is, until a supposed glitch in the system makes her notice someone else other than the boy she was arranged to marry.

My Rating: 2.5 out 5

My Review: This is a straight forward novel. There’s a love triangle, a conflict, and someone’s heart is broken. Whose heart that will be is not exactly a mystery. It’s all set in a dystopian society so if you like your romance novel with totalitarianism then go ahead and pick this up.

While I was reading this book I thought that this dystopian idea was clever. At least compared to another dystopian book I read recently. I liked the idea of using IQ tests, personality tests, and probabilities to determine the optimal outcome of various aspects of life. I thought that kind of scenario makes sense.

But then I heard people say this idea is a rip-off of The Giver. I’ve never read The Giver (embarrassing, isn’t it?) but if those comments are accurate then I’m even more disappointed that there’s nothing original about Matched.

Like I said the love story is predictable. The love triangle consists of a pretty girl, Cassia (named after a plant, remind you of anyone?), who ends up matched to her childhood best friend. This best friend is sweet, loyal, and handsome. A total catch! But then another boy catches her eye.

(Source: goodreads.com)