Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

title: Liesl & Po
written by: Lauren Oliver
genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
page count: 307
publication date: October 4th, 2011
rating: 5/5 stars!

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice,until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.


That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.


Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

Liesl & Po is one of the cutest books I have read in a while! Lauren Oliver is one of my favorite authors, and I absolutely love all of her books. Delirium is great, Before I fall is one of my favorites of all time, and Liesl & Po can be added to that list of all-time favorites. 

The story starts when Liesl meets Po, a ghost that just appears in her 'bedroom' together with its cat/dog. Po has forgotten about his/her former life. Even if it was a boy or girl! Po's stuck between life and death, unable to move on. Then we get to know about Liesl's life. She lives alone in a tower, imprisoned by her stephmother (this reminded me of 'the cupboard under the stairs') and is never allowed to go outside. Her father died and Liesl wasn't even allowed to see him when he was dying. After meeting the 2 title characters you meet Will, the alchemist's apprentice. He is a cute, brave boy who is always looking at the mysterious girl in the tower.


When the story really started I found myself mesmerized by it. It was so cute, all characters were extremely funny and very likeable, and the writing style was amazing. As the reader you already knew what happened before the characters found out. It was kind of special, as usually you find out what happens when the character finds out what's happening. 


As the story proceeded I started to like it even more. I could really relate to Liesl, and Po was such a cute ghost. It contained lots of things my inner younger me thoroughly enjoyed. It felt like the first time I was reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone! 


Altogether I would recommend this book to everyone! This book fits every age group! The story is uncomplicated, hilarious and touching. The characters are all relateable and cute and all of it was amazing. I give this book 5 stars and I added it to my list of all-time favorites!


Love,
Mar

Looking for Alaska by John Green

title: Looking for Alaska

written by: John Green 

series: -

genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemp

page count: 211

publication date: January 1st, 2005

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Oh. My. Freaking. Gosh! John Green did it again! His first book, for me the last, is a masterpiece! Looking for Alaska belongs on my shelves, between my most-loved books. I never want to return it to the library. Ever. So, first of all, John Green - write more books. Please. For me? Otherwise ... ...  *scary glare* Looking for Alaska was not my favorite John Green book, that will, and will always remain to be, the Fault in our Stars. I absolutely LOVE that book. Make sure to read it!

Looking for Alaska is a typical John Green book. It is a) realistic, b) full of words I have to look up in my dictionary, c) is enormously sad, and d) I can talk about it for hours, and I will...  Especially d) -well, only d)- really annoys my friends and family. I will go rambling about this book for hours and they just have to listen. I think most of them have developed a mental mute mode with which they can switch the sound of my voice on and off... Actually it would be great if a thing like that existed :)

The characters were so wonderful. Miles, the main male character, was so a-dore-able. I totally want to hug him at the moment. His obsession with last words is one that is amazing and so original. Maybe I should pay more attention to them, too. :) And Alaska is so 101% messed up I just had to love her. I mean, you can choose your own name, and you choose Alaska, that told me a lot about her character already! Then there was Chip, the genius annex rebel and Miles' roommate. The three of them formed an amazing group of friends. I wish I knew them, and could be their fourth(/fifth) messed up friend!

John Green is the master of character development. This book had one major turning point, not very hard to locate because of the before-after writing style, which was pretty unique, just like the whole book was a one-of-a-kind book. Miles changed só much, but Green still made the whole transition look realistic. He totally deserves a medal for that! A big fat gold with diamonds medal!

The plot, however, was the best thing about this book. Never have I ever read a book with a plot as well thought-through and perfect as Looking for Alaska's. Everything worked out, every word sucked me deeper into the story and the lives of Miles, Alaska and Chip, and I loved everything about it! Most of the times I'm like - bwhlegg another college/high school story. But this one was indescribably good, incredibly close to perfection. The Before--After writing style was perfect for this book. It made the story easier to read, and made me interested. What was going to happen?!?! When I had found out I wished I could turn back the time. Oh my, I cried. I cried buckets full of tears. Like the girl in Absolutely - nine days. I quote: "this is the story of a girl, that cried a river and drowned the whole world" That song has been stuck in my head for days. Then there was the Great Perhaps and it made me think so much, about the labyrinth of suffering and all of it. 

Anyways, what usually bothers me about John Green's books, his use of extremely difficult words, was no problem with this book. Miles was a kind of genius, and so were -most of- the other characters, so I could imagine them really speaking like that. 

I've heard that people in America have to read this book in class. Lucky bastards! I wish I were reading such amazing books in class, but the only book I have had to read in class was Romeo and Juliet... 

I will never be able to give this book a rating worth it. It should get the highest number possible +1 out of 5!

DFTBA!!!

Love, Mar

ps; did you read this book? Do we share the same feelings about it? Let me know :)

Thirteen reasons why by Jay Asher

book: Thirteen Reasons Why
written by: Jay Asher
series?: no series
genres: young adult, drama, romance
pages: 288
publication date: October 18th, 2007
publisher: Razorbill


first thoughts:
After reading 'The Future of us' and loved Jay Asher's way of writing, I knew for sure that everyone was right about his talent for writing, so when I stumbled upon a copy of 13 reasons why in my library I picked it up, and read it in one breath. Or at least, I would have, if that were possible... :)

the book: 
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.


On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

review:

Oh. My. Gosh. This book is so good!

The main character in this book, Clay, is so greatly developed. His emotions are realistic, he seems like a great guy, and he actually appears to be human and have a heart thumping in his chest. He is a great friend to everyone that gives him a chance to be a friend, he's the good guy. He's the one you can always call, and who will never let anyone hurt you. So what would happen to this good guy that cares about you after you commit suicide? Will he be lost without her? Or will he just move on with his life?

Then there is the other character, Hannah. She's dead, but I just kept on forgetting that. On her tapes she seemed so much alive it was almost terrifying. And all the things that happened to her just kept on making me cry, get angry, and even smile at some points.How could all of that happen to someone?!

The story is told by Hannah and Clay. It's Clay who listens to Hannah's memories. The combination of her memories and the way they made Clay feel was just so wonderfu! I have never read a book that was written in this way that was so good!

The book is about suicide, a subject way more books should be written about, because there are still way too many teens that decide to end their lives. And, here, in the Netherlands, there rests a stigma on the subject suicide, I have no idea how it's in the other parts of the world, but here there is. And books like this could change that! 

The writing style of Jay Asher is terrific. That's what actually made me want to read this book in the first place, his writing style. And, for a debut novel, I think his way of writing is even astonishing. I get that authors change and improve their writing styles after a little time, but his shouldn't change at all!

A book that touched me, a lot, and that will be one of my favourites forever! A recommender for every teen, a realistic and heartbreaking tragedy filled up with a lot of humor.

rating:

5 stars

xo Mar

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Hellowz everyone


First of all: happy 2012! <3
now here's a review for y'all ;)


book: Divergent
written by: Veronica Roth
genre: young adult, dystopian, fantasy
pages:  487
own / library / borrowed
release date:  May 3th 2011
series?:  yes, Divergent #1
publisher: Katherine Tegen Books


note: I feel very stupid for not having read this book before. I loved this book, and it's one of the best I've read this whole year. (and it's the last day of the year, so it means a lot when I say it's one of the best of the year) I do totally get why this is the book of the year on goodreads. This is my last review of the year, and I think that it's a good closer of the year, or however you say that :)


the book:
It is the future. Beatrice is just a normal girl, 16 years old. She looks younger, but doesn't know that because she can not watch into mirrors. That's because she belongs to the faction Abnegation. People in Abnegation are selfless. On her sixteenth birthday Beatrice has to choose which faction she wants to belong to. Amity, for the people that blame agression. Erudite, for the people that blame ignorance. Candor, for those who blame duplicity. Abnegation, for those who blame selfishness. Or Dauntless, for those who blame cowardice. One day before the choosing cermony, she has an aptitude test, which gives unusual results. Beatrice (later 'Tris') 's  life will not be the same after hearing the results. Which faction is she going to choose. With her choice she surprises everyone, including herself. Then she has to do the initiation tests. But they are harder than they seemed, will she make it to the Faction. During her initiation period friendship and romance play a big role in Tris's life.  But she has to keep her secret, no matter what price.


the book:
OMG I loved this book. Since it's the last day of the year, and the last 4 hours of the year and the last review of the year I will not review the book the usual way... (Okay, I'm just too lazy at the moment but I have to finish this review because it was AWESOME!)
Immediately when you start reading this book, you are sucked into Tris's life. Her life is very interesting, and first you want to be like her. Then you find out that she has a secret, and her life changes because of it. But she stays this awesome character, a strong female, even when everyone picks on her because she is from Abnegation and she looks younger than the rest. She kept on surprising me until the end of the book. 
Then there are the other characters, and some of them were evil, some were not what they seemed. Some were both. All of them were interesting. I want to know more about everyone! But I am most interested in Four. (Yes, his name says enough, it's very interesting, right?! Because you can choose your own name and stuff...) 
the book was beautifully written, not annoying at all, and I loved it, so much! I started reading this book in the middle of the night, and I couldn't put it down, so I read until 3AM. Then I had to stop but the next morning I finished it. In the end I saw it were 478 pages, and I felt like it were only 200. I want more. NOW!!!
The story was very interesting. I want to live in a world like that. It somehow reminded me of the history of the Italian city Siena, and it's history. That city was divided into factions (12 or something) and everyone belonged to a faction. You were born in a faction, and there were old friendships between the factions. Also there were the enemies, that would never be friends... This book with the factions reminded me a lot of that.
Then you have the love in this book, which was awesome. I cannot tell you much about it without spoiling, but I love love loved the romance in this book. 
This book also somehow reminded me of the Hunger Games. If you've read the Hunger Games and loved that series you will love that book!
This book was super interesting and I cannot wait till may for the sequal, Insurgent. 


more:
I feel like answering a question I asked myself when I started reading. 
To which faction do I want to belong?
I do want to belong to Dauntless. The people in this faction seem fearless (almost fearless) and I want to be like them. Only, I know I will never be like them. I think I belong to the Erudite. Intelligence means a lot to me. I would not fit into Candor because I lie to easily, and I do not belong to the Abnegation because I could never be as selfless as them. I do also not belong to Amity, they are never fighting, even when I think they should fight, they won't. They seem weak to me. 


the ending:
I did have it all figured out before finishing the book. I figured out who Four really was. I figured out what would happen. But I did not care that I had it all figured out. It did not make this book less interesting. And there were still things that kept on surprising me :)


rating:
this book gets 5 stars (adôh) and I will call this one of my favourites of 2011, what a great honour ;)


xo Mar


and again, Happy new year! My brains hurt because of the lots of booms of the firework O.o 


(hey, this review did not turn out shorter but longer than usual. YAY :D the book was worth it!!)

End of the year survey - 2011

Everyone! I do participate in the end of the year survey, hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner

I have not been blogging for a long time, but still I can answer questions about the whole year ;) I will answer them all honest and I hope you like my answer / agree :) or not xD

1. Best Book You Read In 2011? 

I hate to answer questions like this. I just cannot make up my mind... but I will choose a few...

The hunger games series / Clockwork Prince / Beautiful chaos

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

I was really looking forward to reading the Hush, Hush series. People recommended them to me a lot, so I tought I'd love them. But it turned out that I couldn't stand the main character, Nora. I still read the whole series, tough...

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

Passion by Lauren Kate really surprised me. I did not like Fallen, I hated Torment, but I turned out to like Passion. Maybe that's because of the fact that Luce was dying all the time... :)

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

This one's easy. The hunger games. Where I live, in the Netherlands, the hunger games are not well-known at all. I really want everyone in the world to read the Hunger Games! 

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

Do I have to choose? Because I cannot! I started reading a lot of English books in 2011, before that I was not able to read English as quick as I wanted. So in 2011 I read a lot of series I loved, because I basically discovered in 2010/2011 which books I really like. Some of my favourites are The infernal devices and the Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, The Hunger games by Suzanne Collins, the Wolves of the Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater and the Gone Series by Michael Grant

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Cassandra Clare, Suzanne Collins, L.A. Weatherly, Maggie Stiefvater, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Before 2011 I had never read a real Paranormal Romance novel yet. So reading this genre was out of my comfort zone. This genre also became my favourite new addiction. I had never read before this kind of books because in the Neherlands this genre is not famous, and books from this genre are not translated to Dutch...

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

 I loved Clockwork Prince, the Hunger Games and the Caster Chronicles series. It was impossible to put down either of them... (sorry, cheating again)

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

The Hunger Games. I wanted to read this series so badly, but I just couldn't get hold of it 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

11. Most memorable character in 2011? 

Tessa Gray from Clockwork Prince. She is my inspiration. I want to be her. I try to be her. 

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011? 

Beautiful Chaos had gread impact on me. It made me cry, think, love and cry more... 

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read? 

 The Hunger Games. I hate myself for waiting to read this book. I hate hate hate hate myself for doing that still...

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011? 

From Clockwork Prince:

“We live and breathe words. .... It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt--I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamt. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. I dreamed what you dreamed, wanted what you wanted--and then I realized that truly I just wanted you.”  
16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012? 

Clockwork Prince (sorry, I keep on repeating that book's name... I really LOVE the book)

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers! 

Forever - Maggie Stiefvater (THE END) 

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (you ruined my childhood)

Beautiful Chaos - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (END)

and so many more...

 Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2011 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2011? 

I discovered blogging in 2011 O.o so my favourite... So hard to choose... A cupcake and A latte... <3 

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010? 

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. It was so hard to express my love for this book in words, but I hope I made it clear with this review that the book is amazing. This review feels as my first real review to me 

3. Best discussion you had on your blog? 

I have not had discussions on my blog :$

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog? 


I have read so much... I cannot choose. But hate-reviews of Twilight always make me laugh... :)

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I did not participate in a lot of things. I tried to, but... *sigh*
 
6. Best moment of book blogging in 2011?

 For me it was the first follower. It was so awesome that someone clicked the follow button, that someone had read a post. Also the 50-follower mark that was reached yesterday means a lot to me. It made me actually jump around my room! :) 

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
My Clockwork prince review and my Clockwork Prince release post

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I love to review, so to me it does not matter how many views a message get. But of course it's great to see that other people read what I write and agree with me or say why they do not agree.

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Goodreads and Blogger. First in September I got my goodreads, and I finally found out that there are other people that are just like me. I found some great friends and awesome books there. A whole new world opened to me. The there was blogger. I started blogging, and I love it. This is the result :) 

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I did not set actual goals for myself... But challenges I do mostly fail... I failed the NetGalley month challenge. I do usually fail monthly challenges. I failed NaNoWriMo

Oops....

Looking Ahead... 


1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?

Before I fall by Lauren Oliver


2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

Clockwork Princess, DO YOU EVEN HAVE TO ASK? 


3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?

blogging:

I do want to keep on blogging... Which will be a challenge to me, I think :$ Also I want more followers... But that is not my priority.

reading:

I do want to read about 200 books, maybe more. I want to read my Galleys, insteads of forgetting them all the time. I want to win montly challenges, instead of failing them. I want ... ... ...  (a lot)

Have you also filled in the survey? Comment below :) 

I'd love to read your answers!!

Clockwork prince by Cassandra Clare

Finally, I have read it <3 
book: Clockwork Prince
written by: Cassandra Clare (<3)
genre: fantasty, young-adult, paranormal romance
pages (my version) 478 :D
release date: 12/6/2011
own / borrow / library ? 
series:  yes, the infernal devices (TID) #2
publilsher: Simon and Shuster


note: I read this book as soon as I could get hold of it. My parents did not let me buy it, because I already bought lots of books this month (stupid people...) I have been wanting to read this book since I finished Clockwork Angel (TID #1) and I am surely NOT disappointed!!


the book:
Where part one ends, this book starts. The same people, same things they do, same villains and the same everything. Tessa and the other people at the institute have to find Mortmain, the villain of book one. If they don't, Benedict Lightwood will take over the institute. They start looking for him, but are clueless, how on earth can they find him?! There still is Tessa, who is madly in love with Will, but thinks he hates her. That is because Will told her so. But actually Will is in love with her. He loves her more than she loves him. But he cannot tell her, because if he did so, she would die. That is because of a curse that was put on him when he was twelve years old. Will is looking for the demon together with the warlock of London, Magnus Bane. And of course there also still is Jem. He is still dying because of his addiction, and is still in love with Tessa, too. He is having a hard time holding on to life. What will this result in...?


my opinion:
Everyone; and by that I mean EVERYONE, should read this book! here are some of the reasons:


1) the characters; There are 3 main characters: Tessa, James (Jem) and William (Will). Tessa is this very polite English-like girl. She is the perfect one. Then there is Jem, who is an addict. He is dying, and everything he has gone through is horrible. He does not have lots of time left to live. And, last but defenitely not least there is Will. He is the ultimate bad boy, because he wants people to hate him. But in this book you get to know the soft side of him. (DSBS!) And you will surely fall in love with him!


2) the time; This book takes place in the victorian time. This time is very fascinating to most people. It was the time of beautiful dresses, masquerades and true gentlemen. It is the dream of most girls to live in this time. It seems so very perfect and romantic, like Pride and Predjudice.


3) the shadowhunters; Who does not want to read a shadowhunter book?! The shadowhunters have a dangerous but very exiting life. They have this very cool 'religion' with the angel. Also, I love the shadowhunter soceity. How they life like normal people, but actually are demon killers


4) the demons; I love demons. I want to create my own, as a pet! And who doesn't? Seriously, I keep on looking at the descriptions of the demons. I even have tried do draw them. (but all of my drawings are failed attempts which will never be showed to anyone... I suck at drawing...) 


5) the love triangle; I am most surely not a fan of love triangles. But this one is just perfect. Cassandra Clare made me love Will in part one, so yes, I am team Will. But she really made me love Jem, too, in part two. It feels like I am inside the love triangle myself, and that is what's so good about this book! You feel so alike to the characters and their thougts. You can almost touch the shadowhunter world... love it!


I could think of hundreds of more points to add to this list, but I think there is only one important thing I want to say:


Go read this book now! 


This was my favourite book of 2011! And I have read lots of books this year... 


So that's why my rating is:
5/5 (omigod Mar, what a surprise...)


If you could read only one book in 2012, it should be this one


xoxo Mar

Forever (Wolves of the Mercy Falls #3) - Maggie Stiefvater

O my god, I espected this book to be sooooooo good!!! (and it was)
Hell, I loved it (or at least most of it)


title: Forever
part of a series?: yes, Wolves of the Mercy Falls
author: Maggie Stiefvater


first of all, I must tell you that it totally L.O.V.E.  the cover, like all the covers of the books in this series. Also, I like the colour of the letters, which is red, my favourite :D


Summary of the book:
- spoilers if you did not read shiver and linger -
Sam is finally cured, and now Grace is changing. She is walking through the forests, in her wolf form. Sometimes she changes back, but never it's long enough to meet Sam. Also there still is Cole, figuring out a cure. The wolves are threathened, after they kill someone. They will all be shot soon. Will Sam and the others find a way to save the wolves, or will they all die?


my opinion:
- spoilers - 
I totally LOVED the book!! I love the wolves, and the way they think. I love the romance between Sam and Grace, and Isabelle and Cole. The book made me cry when I thought Cole died, which he (luckily) hadn't. It made me love Sam even more. It made me feel stupid, because Cole seemed so smart. It made me want to be a wolf, but only sometimes :)


Also, I love the way Maggie Stiefvater writes. It's a kind of poetic, but not very difficult to read. I really like all the parts of German poems she put in the book. I thought she did that because she was German, but after checking her site, I saw she was American...  (I tought she was German because of her surname, vater means father xD )


But, one thing totally ruined it, one of the most important things, the ending. That was so horrible. The ending of a trilogy, and you just don't know what will happen -.- I espected there'd be an ending in epilogue-form. Like it was at the Hunger Games and Harry Potter. ( I do not really like those endings, but I just want to know what happens to the main characters...) 
Do they get happily-ever-after or will Grace die? I am seriously dying to know it, but I will never know ;c


Altogether I will rate this book 4 stars 


one of the most amazing series I have ever read, and one of the worst endings. Loved it and I'm sure that I will re-read this book next year! Thanks for the awesome experience, Maggie Stiefvater! 


Can't wait to read her next series, the scorpio races!


x Margot-who-just-fell-in-love-with-the-wolves


sorry but I just had to post this blog message in the same colour as the book letters :$