Delirium [book review]

I have been on a roll with the YA fiction novels, I'm tellin' you. I still need to review the Hunger Games trilogy, and then I'll move on to the Emily Giffin books I've picked up lately as well. I'm 12 books into my 2011 Reading Challenge... only 38 more to go! ;) 

SUMMARY

"Love" is a word that is not allowed to leave the lips of the citizens of the US in Lauren Oliver's Delirium. Love and desire are thought to be a disease, and every person in the country must go through the "procedure" in order to be "cured" from the illness. Girls & boys are separated and not allowed to socialize until they're cured, and schools are even segregated in order to prevent the spread of the disease throughout the community. In a world without heartbreak, without pain, and without worry, nothing could possibly go wrong.

All her life, Lena Holoway has looked forward to being cured. Ever since her mother committed suicide when she was infected with the deliria, she's been terrified that she is somehow genetically imbalanced and more likely to end up with the disease. The disease hits your heart first, and then slowly deteriorates the rest of your body as you fall deeper and deeper into the madness.

Lena is a normal teenage girl who hangs out with her best friend, Hana, and is constantly studying for her evaluations, in which she'll be paired with her future mate. She's counting down the days until her procedure, and then the worst thing possible (in her mind) happens... she falls in love. 

REVIEW 

Ironically, I felt so much love for this book that I'm genuinely distraught by the fact that I have to wait until February for the second book to be released.

This book was everything I wanted it to be - it was definitely young-adult material in terms of content, but it wasn't the whiny, emotional, love triangle/internal struggle type of YA reading, which was well received by me, for sure. 

The concept was unbelievable and Oliver obviously spent about a bajillion hours cultivating ideas to make it seem so real and possible... this world that drills into the minds (figuratively AND literally) of the people to make them afraid of love. They are so scared of catching the "disease" that will cause insanity. There are harsh punishments, including death, for those that stray from the strict rules of this society. Romeo & Juliet is a "cautionary tale" which teaches students a lesson... that to fall in love is to ultimately kill yourself. Any interaction with the opposite sex before you're cured could cause the contraction of the deliria and must be avoided at all costs.

All the characters were extremely well developed, and seemed more mature than the main characters of most YA fiction... Lena especially. Her relationships with the people around her were clear and well laid out - from her irritability with her snobby cousin Jenny, to her envy of her beautiful and seemingly perfect best friend Hana. And from her indifference towards her uncle, with whom she lives, to her undeniable curiosity and affection with Alex, the mysterious boy that she falls in love with.

One of the aspects that I loved about Delirium is the amount of actual activity going on. Of course, you have your beginning where you get all your background information, but most of the necessary filler information was spread throughout the book, which I really appreciated. I hate opening a book and having to struggle through the first few chapters to get a good grasp for the story. This book dove right into the action, and I loved every bit of it. There are a lot of major (and interesting, obviously) events that occur throughout the book, which made it incredibly easy to keep reading, and I found myself really battling to put the book down at night, causing me to stay up way past my bed time numerous evenings. 

Needless to say, I loved this book. It was an incredibly strong read, with exceptional characters and a well developed plot. Oh, and a giant surprise at the end. February 2012 cannot come soon enough!

Matched [book review]

SUMMARY

Cassia lives in a perfect, predestined world... The Society. Everything is figured out for her... what occupation she'll have, who she'll marry, how many kids she's allowed to have, etc. Traditionally, every girl is given a Match ceremony - where the government reveals who they'll spend the rest of their lives with. Luckily for Cassia, the face that appears on the screen is the face of her best friend. It's completely uncommon to be Matched with someone in your area, let alone someone you actually know. 

Cassia goes home to review the micro-card that contains all of her Match's information, although she knows everything there is to know about Xander... they've been best friends all their lives. Much to her surprise, Ky Markham's face pops up on the screen... another boy she knows. The Society claims that there's been a glitch in the system, and that Xander is still her match. She should be relieved, but instead... she's a little curious about Ky. 

Cassia becomes more and more intrigued with Ky Markham, and as they fall in love during the Society's regulated rec time, she's faced with an impossible choice: to love the boy she's known and loved all her life... the one that the government has shown to be her best Match for life, or to take a risk with Ky, the Aberration... the mysterious one with a story that has yet to unfold.

REVIEW

I gave this book 3 stars on Good Reads. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I just liked it. It only took me 6 days to complete it, but I think that was because I was just ready to be finished with it, as opposed to actually being 100% invested in the story.

Don't get me wrong, Ally Condie is a fabulous writer - the book was intriguing and descriptive and everything else that I love in a book. The reason I didn't give it a higher rating was due to the content. I just felt like it was a whole lot of emotions and not enough action going on. I felt that throughout the entire book, I was flipping pages just waiting for something big to happen. 

One thing I did love about this novel were the characters. I became very attached to them, although I did want to slap the shit out of Cassia on numerous occasions. In the beginning, I loved Xander, and I was angry that Cassia was even thinking of ditching him for Ky. But then through Ally's writing, I learned to love Ky as well, and I could definitely understand why it was such a struggle to make that choice. Character development is definitely one of Condie's strong points, that's for sure.

The second book of this series, entitled Crossed, is to be released later this year (Good Reads says November 1st). I'll probably pick it up, because I'm curious to see where the story goes.

I think that YA fiction readers will like this book, while people who are wanting a little more substance and action will probably not enjoy it as much. I'm definitely interested to see what happens in the next book, so I guess that's a plus on Condie's part!

19 Minutes [book review]

Summary

19 Minutes, written by Jodi Picoult, is a story about a devastating event that occurred in the small town of Sterling, New Hampshire. Sterling is much like most small towns, where everyone know each other and nothing exciting ever happens - until one fateful day when a shooting takes place at the local high school, shattering the lives of virtually the entire town. The shooter is arrested, and the story follows the progress of the trial, but also includes flashbacks to the past when life was simpler for the kids involved. 

The tale is told from the perspective of many different characters - from the judge prosecuting the young man, her daughter, the shooter, the police detective who investigates the incident, and many others. 19 Minutes examines the ins and outs of the trial proceeding as well as the varying emotions involved with such a tragic event. The inner workings of the mind belonging to the shooter (who was the victim of bullying his entire life) are also explored.  

Review

There's a reason for the phrase "you can't judge a book by it's cover." The cover of this book left much to be desired, if I'm being completely honest. I don't even remember how I heard about this book, but I bought it, and it sat on my bookshelf waiting to be read while I devoured fast reads such as The Help, The Hunger Games and Water For Elephants. In fact, I actually put this book down to read the entire Hunger Games trilogy and did not complete it until months after originally opening it.

With that said, I ended up really enjoying this book. At first, because it's told in so many different voices, it was difficult to get into, but as I got further into it, it was harder to put down. The struggle between the two main characters, Peter & Josie, is absolutely intriguing - they were friends at a young age, and due to the pressure to be popular, Josie inherited a new group of friends in high school, leaving Peter behind to suffer the daily torture of his classmates. 

The character interaction developed by Jodi Picoult in this novel pulled on my heartstrings, to say the least. I was immediately drawn to the multiple third person narrative aspect of 19 Minutes. Although I think it was choppy at times, she made it work. You could clearly identify each person's "part" in the book without needing subtitles above their sections.

The shooting happens literally within the first 25 pages of the book, which was a huge relief for me. I hate waiting for something exciting to take place, and the big event being in the beginning was a change of pace compared to books I usually read. The story develops through the chapters, and with each character, your opinions change. Each character had a distinguished personality, and the emotions they felt seeped through the pages. Because the story parallels the Columbine shootings, it was clear that Picoult did her research when channeling the devastation felt by the entire community.

To say this book was thought provoking would be an understatement. The text is raw, heartfelt, and sympathetic to everyone involved, including the family of the shooter. I would recommend it, if only for the fact of how it made me feel and think. The fact that it's something that could happen at any point in time to anyone you know makes it that much more believable.

The Help [book review]

I'm so thankful for folks that have such great taste in reading material, because without them, I never would have discovered The Help by Kathryn Stockett. While it took me longer than I expected to get through it, it was a fantastic read and I'm still in shock over the fact that this was her first book, for it was beautifully written.

Summary

The Help is historical fiction, set in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's, during a time when segregation between races was a fierce issue. The story is told by three distinct voices... all strong minded and compassionate women living in Jackson. 

Aibileen is a black maid working for a typical Southern white family and practically raising their children, while still suffering the pain from the loss of her own son. Miss Skeeter is a white college graduate who dreams of becoming a writer in New York City, but knows she won't get far living with her parents and restricting herself with writing weekly cleaning columns in the local paper. Minny is Aibileen's best friend, another maid who can't seem to hold a job due to her inability to filter her mouthy comments, even though she has multiple children and a drunk husband to care for. 

These three strong women, as different as they can be, come together when the question "what if things could change?" is presented. Together, they form a movement that will forever change their town.

Review

This book was absolutely wonderful. I quickly became extremely enamored with the characters, and their passion for the cause they're supporting is amazing and so inspiring. Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny risk their entire lives to change the opinions of everyone in their town, to start a movement, to make a difference. They want to change the way that women look at one another... they want women to remember that despite the difference in their skin tones, they are all mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. 

The Help was definitely a powerful, heartwarming, and inspiring read... the amount of love and compassion streaming from the characters allows you to love them, despite their obvious flaws. Each woman has their individual voice, which Stockett clearly researched in depth in order to make it so real. Stockett did a wonderful job portraying the everyday lives of the women in the book, from the black maid, to the rich white woman, to the mother of the single college graduate. It's clear that the writing of this book came from the heart and from personal experience, which makes it all the more respectable, in my opinion. 

To know how much the women living in Jackson went through during this time makes me feel extremely fortunate to have grown up in a later generation, but allows me to truly appreciate the actions of past characters to ensure our freedoms. I love every single one of the characters in this novel, and I would have been proud to be a part of their movement, to have made such a difference, to have stirred the pot so effectively.

 It's time for my last review for Born Pretty store. Today I'll review Kddis strawberry favoured cuticle oil.(no. 4 on the picture below)

This was the only product that disappointed me! I really thought that it would have a pleasant strawberry smell, and my hands will smell a bit strawberry like for at least a while, but the smell is so subtle that I couldn't even smell it when using it unless I put it right under my nose. 

There is another thing that bothered me. It was the dosing of the product. When I tried to get some product out, I had to turn the part for getting out the oil at least 10 times, but there was no sign of the oil, so I just closed it and leave it on the table. When I got back, there were a lot of oil in the cap, so I guess it works with a delay or something like that=).

Right before massaging it into cuticle

After the massage my fingers were sticky, I never got a result like that with other cuticle oils. I think that I really didn't achieve the cuticle softening effect with this oil.

I can't judge the quality of this product( ingredients and the results after a long term usage) because I used it only 2 times, but I think I'm just gonna stick with my home made cuticle oil. 

I probably wouldn't buy it. 

Have you ever expected a lot form a product, but it disappointed you badly?

This was my last review. I hope you liked them. Tomorrow I'll present you the first only glitter polish that I tried, and I'll also add a surprise to the post( some bonus pictures and maybe even a video)

(This product was sent to me to review from Born Pretty store)

Kelier Crackle polish in black review

It's time to review the Kelier crackle nail polish(no.3 on the picture below) from Born Pretty store.

I had I 2 problems with this polish, but when I realised what I was doing wrong I got a pretty cool effect on my nails =).

The first problem was, that this polish doesn't work well with dry nail polishes! It just doesn't stick to it and peels right of when dried.

My second problem was , that I applied the crackle polish on a wet nail polish too fast, and the result was that even the base polish cracked. I really didn't like that result.

To solve my last problem I did a little test. I polished my nails with the base and than waited for 2 minutes and then apply crackle polish on the first nail, than I waited 3 minutes and applied crackle polish on the second nails. In the end I compared the results of the cracking effect, and the one I was most satisfied with was the look I got after 6 minutes. 

The only thing I had to do is to make a manicure that included 6 minutes of drying time for a base =)

I used gold polis from Beautyline as a base 2 coats.

Here is the look I got:

Daylight

My favourite crack

Under my daylight lamp

I am really impressed by the final look. I have to warn you only about one thing. You should apply a top coat right after the cracking process ended, because if you don't the crackle polish will chip really fast. I took pictures of my manicures 2 hours after I painted my nails, and you can already see, that the polish chipped at my tips.

The polish contains 15ml

The price is 4,52$

you can get it in 8 colors

I just couldn't stop looking at my nails, because I really liked the effect.

How do you like it?

I usually don't like gold color at all, but I'm really in love in this look =)

(this product was sent to me to review from Born Pretty store)

O.B.I. nail polish remover( Melon flavoured)

Hi!

In this post I'm gonna review another product from Born Pretty store. As I already wrote in the title I'm going to tell you something about O.B.I. nail polish remover ( No.2 on the picture below)

To tell you honestly, I really didn't expect a product like that. I imagined that the pads inside will be approximately as big and thick as cotton pads I usually use for my nail polish removal, but they weren't. Here is a size and thickness comparison (I'm sorry for the crappy fist picture):

O.B.I. pad is on the left, and normal cotton pad is on the right

Thickness comparison: The thinnest is O.B.I. pad and the thickest is a normal  cotton pad

 It was really finny when I was holding the pad, since I'm not used to such thin pads, but I got the hang of it pretty fast. 

This was my first surprise, but that  wasn't all. When I opened the round box I expected to get a strong smell of a nail polish remover combined with a  melon smell, but there was only a pleasant and soft  melon smell. My first thought was: There is NO WAY this thing will remove nail polish from my nails!, but I was wrong again. It removed nail polish easily and really fast, and the best part of it, was(besides a pleasant smell) that it is full of oils so it didn't dry out my nails as removers usually do.

 I used 3 pads per hand . And you can see that I tried my best not tu use them a lot since I'd like do use them again. and again and again....

 One package contains 32 pads and it will probably last me for 5 removals. 

On the picture below(another crappy picture!) you can see how my nails shines after the removal, and I swear that I didn't apply anything on my nails. 

Also I'm sorry for the badly stained nail , I still haven't found a base coat that would prevent the yellow stains on them. 

The price for one package is 1.65$ which is not a lot for 5 removals that don't dry out your nails. I strongly recommend this to you, because it doesn't smell bad,  it removes nail polish really nicely and doesn't dry out the nail. What else do you want from a nail polish remover?

Coming up next: the crackle polish !

Born Pretty Dici nail polish in Classical red REVIEW

Hi, as I mentioned in my previous post, I have to write a review on some products that I received from Born Pretty store. Today I will review a DICI nail polish in Classical red, but firstly I'd like to show you a picture of the products I got.

From 1 to 4, DICI Classical red, O.B.I melon flavoured nail polish remover, Kelier black crackle polish and  Strawberry flavoured cuticle oil

I think that I got quite a generous package. I decided that I'll start reviewing no.1 and finish with no.4. 

This is my first review so pleas warn me if I forget to mention something that might be important to you.=)

Born Pretty is one of many internet stores that sell nail art and nail care related items( they sell other beauty related items as well).They claim that they manufacture nail art products and sell them at the best price and provide the best service.  I totally agree with their statement, because I really think that their products aren't expensive, not to mention that they have special coupon codes and offer quantity discounts.  I was also really impressed with their service, Jessica Tan is really a kind person and is always there to answer any questions that may appear. Since you all know that if nail polishes aren't nicely secured  during the shipping , bottles can easily break, but my polishes were so secured that even I a really strong guy with a hammer wouldn't hurt them =). I think that this is a really important factor for me when deciding to buy a nail polish online.

 I have to mention only one thing, the SHIPPING is FREE! 

To continue with my first reviewing victim. I decided that I'll start wit DICI Classical red 048, because I'm a sucker for shimmery reds =). 

I applied 2 coats of polish. The brush is long and no too wide so there were no problems with application. The polish dried pretty fast. 

I just love the colour of this one, and the shimmer adds depth to the polish.

Here are the pictures:

The polish it self is quite shiny, but I just wanted to compare the shine of the polish with the shine that polish gets when top coat is applied.

Here is what happend:

pinkie and middle finger are with Essie G2G, ring and index finger are without TC. You can see, that  TC makes the shimmer more visible and makes polish a bit more brighter. 

It contains 16ml of polish

The price: 

1+ 2.85$

3+ 2,97$

5+ 2.73$

10+ 2.59$

Don't forget to use my 10% off code! ( BOTTLE20 )

Next: O.B.I. nail polish remover

(This product was sent to me to review from Born Petty store)

A Scattered Life [book review]

SUMMARY

A Scattered Life, written by Karen McQuestion, tells the story of a woman named Skyla. Skyla is a former waitress turned housewife when she meets an older, but financially and emotionally stable man named Thomas Plinka. They meet, fall in love, yadda yadda yadda, get married, and have one child, Nora. 

One day, a new neighbor moves in a few houses down, and Skyla immediately forms a bond with Roxanne, who slightly resembles the woman in the shoe with too many children... and wanting more. While Roxanne's laid back parenting skills are less than par according to Thomas and his nosy mother-in-law, Skyla finds her antics unique and liberating. 

In order to gain a little more independence, Skyla takes a jack-of-all-trades job at a local bookstore, which also moonlights as a place for Madame to read fortunes during the day.

REVIEW

I found this book to be a little boring. The most interesting character in the book, in my opinion, is Roxanne, the neighbor. Of course, then there was the typical mother-in-law and daughter-in-law struggled relationship, which mirrored just about anything TV series with a know it all MIL. 

The whole theme of Skyla's self discovery was such a rip-off. She works in a book store, for gods sake. It's not like she went out for a girls weekend in Vegas. I don't know... maybe for some women, getting a part time job is a really big deal, but I was underwhelmed to say the least. 

There was some attempt at redemption near the end of the book, and while the character interactions and relationships between the three women (Skyla, Roxanne, and Audrey, the MIL) were definitely believable, they lacked depth. The story doesn't really pick up until the end, and by that time, I was over it. 

I really wanted to love this book. I'm all about women having independence from their family home lives, especially with such a control freak like Thomas for a husband. If I could sum up my feelings for this book in one word, it would be "meh." Nothing incredibly exciting happened... if anything, it was mostly sad and a little bleak even. 

I wouldn't say this book is terrible, but I wasn't impressed. I guess if you're looking for a feel good book about friendships and relationships, it might be a good read for you, but I like a little more action and suspense, personally.

*ALSO, I just created an account at Good Reads, so if you're a member and want to be friends, check out my book list in my sidebar and add me!

Water For Elephants [book review]

I know I'm late to the fun on this one, but I just finished reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, which came highly recommended to me from several friends and bloggers. I finished the entire book, cover to cover, in less than a week - started last Friday and finished it Tuesday evening (that's 5 days, people).

Summary

the story is told as a series of memories from a ninety (or ninety-three) year old Jacob Jankowski, who is remembering the most magical time of his life while he lives out his days in a nursing home.

taking place during the Great Depression, Water for Elephants is the story of a 20 something year old college student named Jacob. due to a sudden and tragic circumstance, he decides to leave his normal life behind to escape his reality. he hops a train one night and it just so happens to belong to a traveling circus.

once discovered as a veterinary student, the ringleader makes the decision to hire Jacob on as the menagerie's new doctor, which puts him in charge of the show's animals with their various illnesses, mostly due to neglect and mistreatment. his new boss, August, is the head trainer of the animals, and while he is often charming, he tends to be brutal and violent towards the animals, as well as his fellow circus crew. Jacob then meets Marlena, who is not only the star of the horse act, but also married to August. 

the novel takes it's twists and turns as Jacob falls in love with two of the show's biggest stars... Marlena, and Rosie, the bull elephant. the story tells the tale of a great love story, as they overcome great odds and survive during the gritty and depressing time period that is the 1930's, while traveling from town to endless town on the circus train.

Review

I can honestly say that this book is one of the best stories I've ever encountered. I was hooked from the first few pages, and I was continuously illuminated throughout the entire book. to say this book is a page turner would be quite the understatement, and I seriously don't even know that my words here will do this book the justice that it deserves. 

Gruen is such an amazingly brilliant writer. I was instantly impressed with the terms she used to describe the different classes of circus workers, and the lingo seemed to be right on from what I've read regarding the Big Top lifestyle. it's abundantly clear that she did her research. she really makes the time period and the setting come to life... you can just see the big canvased tent and the line of workers waiting for their breakfast on those hot summer days. 

the raw and abrasive misfit performers and surviving working men disgust you and warm your heart at the same time. it's easy to imagine that you're in the crowd when Rosie & Marlena perform their choreographed routine, just like you can see yourself in the menagerie tent when the animals are being brought in from their cabooses of the train. 

from the song the band plays when something goes wrong, to the set up and take down of the show, and the cooch tents and homemade moonshine during the prohibition period... everything is just so carefully explained in a matter that allows your imagination to see this distinct world through a clear looking glass.

the way the characters are described, along with their dialogue, is just... perfection. you get to know and love these people like you know them in real life... you know their personalities and you could probably even imagine what their voices sound like, and what they look like. 

 

the story is wonderfully written, and it certainly kept me on my toes during the whole five days it took me to read it. being an animal lover, this book was an excellent read, and one I will always recommend to people. 

ALSO, Robert Pattinson & Reese Witherspoon to star in the movie? don't miiiind if I do!


_________________________________________________

*on another note, I have the day off work tomorrow and will probably not be near the computer. I plan on doing some things around the house (including putting my kitchen back together... finally!), having lunch with Kaley, and ringing in the new year with close friends. I hope you all have a wonderful, safe, and hilarious New Year's Eve! see you guys next year! ;)

Let Me In [book review]

I recently finished reading Let Me In (in which the 2010 movie was based), written by John Ajvide Lindqvist. the original title, Let The Right One In, was adapted into a Swedish movie in 2008. I was interested in watching the movie, and when I realized it was a book, I was thrilled to read it. 

Summary

Let Me In is the story of a young boy named Oskar, who lives in an apartment complex with his mother. he struggles with everyday life, being that not only is he completely friendless, but he is tortured by boys at school on a daily basis. when a new girl, Eli, moves in next door, Oskar is immediately drawn to her odd ways and her questioning nature, and they become friends quickly. 

Oskar soon start to realize that Eli is a little... strange... she doesn't leave her apartment during the day, and she walks around in the dead of winter wearing only a thin sweater. before long, he figures out what she is and all the while, there are murders happening in the area, which has everyone on edge. 

 

(source)

Review

this is not your typical vampire story, but it's not Twilight either. while it does focus on a younger character base, it contains numerous adult-like situations and language, which was a plus, in my opinion. there are a handful of terrifying, gory, and violent scenes that got my attention. and while there were definitely some creepy characters involved in the story, it wasn't scary enough for my tastes.

I found the characters, the settings, and even the plot to be sort of dreary and mundane. most of the characters were just so sad and lifeless, and I found myself wishing they were much interesting and animated. overall, I was a little bored, honestly. I knew I was disappointed in the book when it took me longer than 2 weeks to get through it. I wouldn't say the book was terrible... I did finish it, after all. it just wasn't my cup of tea, I guess.

I'll still probably see the movie, but I won't be expecting much. 

The Wanted Album Review ♥

The Wanted – Album Review 

Just a few months ago the name The Wanted didn’t mean anything to the majority of people. But now after their smash hit All Time Low topped the charts and their second single Heart Vacancy went in at number 2, the lads have finally released their debut album. 

The self-entitled album begins with the two singles, while the rest of the album is not what you would expect from a ‘boy band’. 

Lose my Mind has a very Kings of Leon feel about it, while the upbeat Lets get Ugly samples music from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, which works amazingly well and makes you wonder why nobody has sampled it before. 

As well as the upbeat songs there is of course the gorgeous ballads of Hi and Low, Replace Your Heart and the emotional Golden, in which the guys recall the struggles they faced before the band and during the audition process. 

The last song on the album A Good Day for Love to Die is a personal favourite and despite the apparent depressing song title, the song is incredibly catchy with some amazing lyrics and you will struggle not to dance along with it. 

An added feature to the album is each member has their own album cover which, once you have downloaded the software from the www.thewantedmusic.com/mywanted, you can put the picture of the member up to your web cam, and as if by magic they pop up on your screen singing a solo song. Nathan covers the amazing Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars, while Jay sings Lilly Allen’s The Fear. 

Overall this is an amazing debut album and is not what you would expect from a band like The Wanted. With a wide variety of songs there is one on there that will suit everyone’s taste.

Thanks to Sarah Chambers for writing this for me, i think you will agree its an awesome review!

written 100% by fans!