Friday, February 25, 2011

Beastly - Review

Beastly by Alex Flinn

I am a beast.
A beast!
Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster. You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll,stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.


When I first bought a copy of Beastly, it was mainly because I had known there would be a movie. I love seeing books get transformed into a visual representation of the words. Before Beastly, I had not read any Beauty and the Beast stories other than the Disney version.
My copy's cover is the poster for the movie but I do wish I had the original cover. I just love the font used in the title and chapters. I loved that the author chose to tell the story through the eyes of the beast. You really get to see how not only does he transform physically but emotionally too. I don't think I've read many Young Adult books in which the narrator is a male so it was interesting to get that perspective. 

One thing I found interesting is that the wicked witch was not so wicked. She did not leave the beast alone, she helped him get the girl. 
So my conclusion is that I really liked this book. It was very much enjoyable. Now I can't wait to see the movie! If you've read it let me know what you thought about it.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

In My Mailbox #5

Learn about In My Mailbox at The Story Siren.

Week of 2/23
Beastly Beastly by Alex Flinn (I have already finished it and a review and thoughts regarding it will be up soon.)
Red Riding Hood Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
Emily and Einstein Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee - Won from first-reads on Goodreads
Matched (Matched, #1) Matched by Ally Condie - Borrowed from my sister.

Remember you can leave a link to your IMM in the comments.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Reading Wish List

Since lately all I've been posting on this blog is In My Mailbox I decided to do something different. Most of All of these books are on here because there are movies based on them and I like reading them before watching the films.

First up is I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. I'm pretty sure many of you have seen the trailer for this movie. I will admit that one reason I want to see this is because of Alex Pettyfer  alone. I'm sorry but he is hot! Ok, ok, moving on. Here is the book synopsis:
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.
I am next.

 Next is Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright. This one is also from a movie. I love the dark spin on the classic tale, as if it wasn't already dark enough. The book cover is very pretty.
The body of a young girl is discovered in a field of wheat. Her flesh mutilated by telltale claw marks. The Wolf has broken the peace.

When Valerie learns that her sister has been killed by the legendary creature, she finds herself at the center of a dark mystery, one that has plagued her village for generations. It is revealed that the werewolf lives among them, and everyone in the village immediately becomes a suspect. Could her secret love Peter be behind the attacks on her town? Is it her betrothed, Henry? Or someone even closer to her?

As the men in the village hunt for the beast, Valerie turns to her grandmother for help. She gives Valerie a handmade red riding cloak, and guides her through the web of lies and deception that has held her town together for so long. Will Valerie discover the werewolf's identity before the town is ripped apart?

This is a dangerous new vision of a classic fairy tale, the happy ending could be hard to find.

 Beastly by Alex Flinn has also been made into a movie which stars again Alex Pettyfer. Although he will be 'beastly' for most of the movie you can't help but fall for him.
I am a beast.

A beast!

Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster. You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll,stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

 Lastly is Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. Robert Pattinson will be staring in the movie adaption along with Reese Witherspoon. I already bought a copy of this book and I can't wait to get to it!
Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
 What do you think of my list? Are you looking forward to any of these books and movies? Leave a comment!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

In My Mailbox #4

This week I have two books that I bought. Remember you too can do In My Mailbox. Check out The Story Siren for more info.
Week of 2/16


Eat, Pray, Love Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Water for Elephants Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

If you have any suggestions about what books I should read drop me a comment.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

In My Mailbox #3

I did not post a IMM last week because I did not get any books. This week both books I got are ebooks and were FREE on Harlequin. Make sure to check it out. In My Mailbox is a meme started by The Story Siren.
Week of 2/9/11
Reaper Reaper by Rachel Vincent
Raising the Dead (Past Midnight, #1.5) Raising The Dead by Mara Purnhagen

Leave comments to your IMM. =]

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Love You Hate You Miss You - Review

 
I recently won a copy of Love You Hate You  Miss You by Elizabeth Scott. Before going on let me say that this is the first book I actually started AND finished in a while. That's saying a lot! When I first received the copy I was drawn to the cover. I love the flower petals. From reading the book I think the girl is Julia but I may be wrong. 
I've never read any novels by Elizabeth Scott so I did not know what to expect. I actually enjoyed it. Although I don't relate much to the main character Amy-I've never lost a friend and never had a drink-I do see why she would blame herself for her friend's death and why she dealt with it the way she did. I also found myself having a love-hate relationship with Amy. I was annoyed how she did not know what she wanted. She wants her parents to care about her then she wants them to leave her alone. Elizabeth really gets how teenagers feel because I remember a phase a couple years ago in which I was just like Amy. I don't want to give too much away but I'm glad Amy ends up learning to move on. Here is the synopsis from Goodreads: 

Get this, I'm supposed to be starting a journal about "my journey." Please. I can see it now: Dear Diary, As I'm set adrift on this crazy sea called "life" . . . I don't think so.
It's been seventy-five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her.
And she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone now, and she doesn't want to talk about it. They wouldn't get it, anyway. They wouldn't understand what it feels like to have your best friend ripped away from you.
They wouldn't understand what it feels like to know it's your fault.
Amy's shrink thinks it would help to start a diary. Instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia.
But as she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past wasn't as perfect as she thought it was—and the present deserves a chance too.
Let me know in the comments what you thought about the book if you've read it.