Fangirling about Harry Potter

Okay. So, as of August 10, 2012, I began re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I wasn't into the book I was currently reading and I was planning to re-read the series at some point if I ever got the time. So I picked it up and started reading.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH I MISSED MY LITTLE FICTIONAL WORLD!!!!

I haven't read this book since I was in 4th grad and that was four years ago. I didn't realize I loved it so much until today. I have been quoting from the the book for days and I think my parents are starting to get a little weirded out about my random little outburst of things like, No Harry! Don't go with him!, or I told you so Harry. But, then again, they have been living with my craziness for 13 years.
Anyway, I just felt like sharing my love of Harry Potter with you all today. Today I ask a comment question: Have you ever found a series you love so much you have read it over and over? I would love to know. As always, keep on reading!

Review: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Title: Juliet Immortal (Juliet Immortal #1)
Author(s): Stacey Jay
Release Date: August 9, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
 Pages: 307
Format: Hardcover


Synopsis(Goodreads): Fans of Maggie Stiefvater's "Shiver" and Becca Fitzpatrick's "Hush" will relish this intense paranormal love story featuring Romeo and Juliet, literary history's most tragic couple, who meet again, not as true lovers, but truly as enemies.
The most tragic love story in history . . .
Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

My Review: I didn't like the original story of Romeo and Juliet. Let's just get that out there. I didn't like it because I didn't think it was a fantastic love story. I didn't feel like Romeo and Juliet really connected. But that's just my opinion. I liked Juliet Immortal a little more.

I  was a little confused about Juliet's character. She started out strong, doing her job to help lovers connect. Yeah, she was a little bitter and filled with hate, but come one, her true love killed her. I would be mad too. But then she meets Ben, and that's when her character started to fall apart. She was still kind of strong, trying to resist her feelings for Ben but she still wanted to be with him and that was obvious. And when they finally got together, I had some mixed feelings. I was happy that she found someone like Ben, but I was still mad because she kept saying to herself that she shouldn't be with Ben, couldn't be with Ben. So, yeah, Juliet and I had a small problem with each other.

I was also confused with Romeo and Juliet's relationship. They had been enemies for 700 years, and all of a sudden Romeo tells Juliet that he loves her again? Yeah, buddy, you had your chance.

The idea of this book made up for the fact that I wasn't impressed with Juliet's character. I really liked the idea of the Ambassadors going inside some one's body and helping two soul mates realize that they are perfect for each other. And I liked that Romeo and Juliet were enemies, even if they only fought once and then Romeo tried to convince her to love him again.

The ending was okay. I was expected a total all out battle, but I just got a knife to the gut and a shooting. But I liked finding out what happened to Juliet [spoiler] once her specter took her away. And it was good to find out what happened to Romeo after he was forced back into his body. [end of spoiler]

Rating: 3/5 worms

This book was really hard for me to rate. I liked about half the book, but I had some major issues with the rest.



Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted over at Breaking The Spine. It shows upcoming releases we are awaiting.

This weeks title is...  

Defiance

By C.J. Redwine

Publication date: August 28, 2012

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel...moreWithin the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

                                                                                        

Review: Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Title: Someone Like You
Author(s): Sarah Dessen
Release Date: May 1, 1998 (Published again May 11, 2004)
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 281
Format: Paperback


Synopsis(Goodreads): Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it'll never break--because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever.

Random Thought: Every time I look at this book, I start singing Adele's Someone Like You. I don't know why, because this book is nothing like the song. I think its the cover, but that's just me.

My Review: I was a little let down by this book. Having just finished Just Listen by the same author, I had very high expectations for this book. But it didn't have the writing that I had loved so much. So, for me the writing in this book was okay. It wasn't as deep as Just Listen but it had a way of telling the story that was all its own.

The main character, Halley, was so stubborn and naive at times, but she always cared for Scarlett. I really loved her for that, but sometimes I got frustrated with her character. Scarlett on the other hand was absolutely brilliant. She was strong and caring and fantastic. She acted so well when she found out she was pregnant, getting extra hours for her job so she could afford to keep her baby. I absolutely adored her.

I didn't exactly love the plot. I thought it was good but it wasn't fast like Just Listen. However, I loved going along with Halley's point of view throughout this book and seeing how everything played out. Because of the slower plot you really got to know the characters, and I really like that in books.

Rating: 4/5 worms

Review: Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

Title: Keep Holding On
Author(s): Susane Colasanti
Release Date: May 31, 2012
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 202
Format: Hardcover

Synopsis(Goodreads): A romantic and empowering book about bullying

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on.

My Review: Don't let the cover fool you. This book is not a cute book about dating. This book is about bullying at its worst. I knew nothing about this book when I picked it up from my library. I hadn't read the synopsis or looked it up on Goodreads. I took one look at the cover and thought it looked like a cute summer read. Covers can be deceiving.

Noelle has it rough. She is being bullyied at school and her mother is neglecting her at home. She has one friend and all she wants to do is graduate from high school and move far away. I was instantly sympathetic for Noelle, because I knew what she was going through. I fell right into her voice as she told her story and I could feel the emotions she was going through. I kept wishing there was something I could do for her, but then I remembered that it was a book.

The writing of this book was good. Susane did a great job of creating characters and creating the world she set them in. I could really believe that this could actually be happening. It was great.

Rating: 4/5

This book told a realistic story about bullying that made my heart break for the characters.

July Wrap Up and August TBR

This month is looking up for my reading. I read a total of 5 books which I'm happy with, but I'm excited for August so I can get back into my reading mood!

Books I read this month:

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

August TBR: Like I said last month, I don't like to be confined to a TBR. So instead I'm just going to read whatever I want, and some books I got from the library.

Books from the library:

Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

That's all for me guys. Tell me what you read in July and are planning to read in August. Otherwise, happy reading!

TGIF (3)

TGIF is a weekly feature hossted by Ginger at GReads! She asks a fun question and book bloggers get to answer it.

This weeks question is....

Book Olympics: In the spirit of the Olympics, which books would you give the gold, silver, and bronze medals to?

Gold: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Having just finished this book and having had a few days to think about it, I think that this book should definitely get the gold. Sarah Dessen's writing had me hanging on to every sentence and her characters we just so great.






Silver: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
This book has me dying to read the sequel! Kami and Margaret have spun such a wonderful world with some great characters. I really loved that it was set in a small town, and that played such a big part in the story. They wove all this together, along with a brilliant cast of characters and a phenomenal plot, and it was wonderful.


                               Bronze: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging
 by Louise Rennison
This book had me laughing out loud constantly, something that not a lot of books make me do! The main character Georgia takes readers on the ride of our lives when she starts writing in her diary. Louise Rennison created a cast of characters that made me laugh out loud. Absolutely brilliant!