Rating: 4.95 out of 5 stars I usually try to keep my rating system to two digits at the most, but I felt that The Book Thief deserved something more. I have a hard time giving books five out of five stars because I don't think any book is completely perfect, but The Book Thief comes pretty close. The blurb by The New York Times on the cover of my copy calls it "the kind of book that can be life changing," and I couldn't agree more. The Book Thief is one of the most beautiful and poignant stories of the human experience that I have ever read, and I am in love with it. I would absolutely recommend it to everyone; it's an incredibly powerful story that is simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting. The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl growing up with her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, in Nazi Germany. She struggles to find her way in a world that is growing increasingly more dangerous and hostile. People are forced to pick sides, families are torn apart, danger is around every corner, and through it all one young girl is stealing books. The Book Thief is a masterpiece, and tells a remarkable story of the depths of human cruelty and the power of courage and love.
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Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars Goliath is the final book in Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy. I absolutely loved both Leviathan and Behemoth, and Goliath did not disappoint. It's full of action, excitement, science fiction elements, awesome fight scenes, great characters, beautiful illustrations, and even a little bit of drama and romance. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with the end of this trilogy, and overall I was very happy with the finale! I really enjoyed Goliath, and I think holistically the Leviathan trilogy is one of my absolute favorites. I don't think it's for everyone, but I'd definitely recommend checking it out! I didn't necessarily expect to like the trilogy when I first picked up Leviathan a few years ago, but I ended up loving it. This trilogy is an alternate history/sci-fi/steampunk version of WWI; the Allies and Central Powers are replaced by the Darwinists and Clankers, who respectively create genetically engineered creatures or steam-powered machines for battle. Endearingly idealistic Alek and awesomely kick-butt Deryn are the fantastic protagonists, and they make great narrators for this compelling story. Goliath is the trilogy's amazing conclusion, and I completely recommend it, but definitely start off with Leviathan and Behemoth! Rating: 1 out of 5 stars I had very high hopes for this book, and I really wanted to like it. I chose it for my reading challenge as "A Book Based Entirely On Its Cover" because I wanted to read it as soon as I looked at it, expecting it to be a humorous, quirky coming of age story. Instead, I was sorely disappointed with mediocre characters, unrealistic plotlines, and many painfully disturbing and baffling elements. The writing itself is fine, but that's unfortunately one of the only good things to be said for Two Brothers, One Redhead, and a Stolen Giraffe. It falls short with the humor, overdoes the drama, and mostly just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. As the title would suggest, the story follows brothers Daniel and Dylan McElroy, who are on the run through the American mid-west with a stolen giraffe (who is probably the best character in the novel). Along the way they encounter the fiery and fiercely independent Josephine, a farm girl who is hiding a few more secrets than she initially lets on. The premise is great, but unfortunately the finished product just doesn't measure up. Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars I'm infinitely thankful that I decided to finish the Leviathan trilogy. I read the first book a few years ago as part of my school's book club and I really enjoyed it. I intended to finish the trilogy someday, and I finally decided to read Behemoth as part of my reading challenge (A Book Set In A Different Country). I absolutely adored it! The trilogy is a mix of alternate history and steampunk that takes place during WWI. The Allies, known as Darwinists, create genetically engineered beasts for battle. The Central Powers, called Clankers, fight with enormous war machines. The story follows Deryn, a Scottish girl who disguises herself as a boy to enter the British Air Service, and Alek, the son of the recently-murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand who is on the run. Both characters are wonderfully written and compelling, and they have a great relationship with each other. The book is exciting and full of action, and the world-building is fantastic. Scott Westerfeld creates an engaging, breathtaking, and unique novel full of amazing ideas and intricate illustrations that bring the story to life. I absolutely loved Behemoth, and I can't wait to read Goliath in what I hope will be a fantastic end to an amazing trilogy. Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars Jacob Portman, a teen boy living in Florida, is as ordinary as they come...or so he thinks. His world is turned upside down when tragedy strikes, and he faces the very real possibility that reality may not be what it appears—especially when he stops to consider the bizarre stories his grandfather had always told him that he'd assumed were fictional. Jacob's quest to understand the meaning behind his grandfather's last words and come to terms with his death leads him to the obscure Welsh island of Cairnholm, where mystery and peculiarity awaits... Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children starts off a bit slowly, but the progressive world-building and exciting climactic action more than make up for it. Ransom Riggs uses creepy old pictures to develop a unique and creative concept that makes for a fantastic story. The characters are brilliant and fascinating, the premise is intriguing, the tone is mysterious, and the action is dynamic. I'm not usually a fan of haunting borderline-horror novels, but I really enjoyed Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and I'm excited to read the rest of the trilogy and see where the story goes next! |
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Here are reviews of books I have recently read! I'll try to do a general overview of the book and then a more detailed section with my personal thoughts Archives
December 2017
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Turn The Next Page - a YA book blog | Book Reviews |