Giveaway

There is a giveaway at the following blog:
http://www.in-interest.blogspot.com

The following is the description taken from her blog:

"Hey guys :) I've decided to host a Giveaway to celebrate me achieving 100 followers. What do you win, I hear you ask. The answer is any two books you want from The Book Depository. That's right, anything you want! With in reason, I may add. My limited funds would not cover the cost of a first edition Harry Potter book, sorry (^_-)

You must be a follower and have read my giveaway policy!
ENDS 1/10/2011"

Cheers!
Lisa aka fauvely xx

Review: Liesl and Po- Lauren Oliver

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.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

Children's books. If you think about the most famous children's books, they are usually dark and have evil characters. This book is no exception.

Like Grimms fairy tales, this book seems too dark for children. But really, it isn't. Children have been reading these dark tales for such a long time.

"Liesl & Po" is so lovely. I love the characters(especially their quirly names which made me instantly love them), the story(I love how old school it is, while making it something completely new-I mean, a girl locked in an attic by her evil stepmother? I love it.), and the writing(I can't help but adore Lauren Oliver; she writes so beautifully..it's not even normal.)

I love how delightful this book is. It doesn't seem like a book that was written in the year 2011. It has a timeless feel to it. It has a warmth and magical quality to it.

I love the drawings. And I LOVE the cover! It is beautiful! I don't actually own the book. I just got it off netgalley(my first netgalley read!)

Ghosts. Evil Stepmother. Attic. Bundle. Will. Po. Alchemists. Magic. Love.

It's just a lovely, old fashioned story. When it comes down to it, it's simply a beautiful story.

4 stars

Lisa aka fauvely xx

Review: Do You Want To Go Private?

Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school—it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke—he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.

3 and a half stars

It's a bit hard for me to write a review on this, in a way. I do think that the message is important and that teens should definitely be wary and super careful when it comes to communicating with strangers on the internet.

However, to begin with I think this idea could've been written sooo much better. It was an idea I haven't seen in Y.A so I was intrigued by it. They made it a bit after school special for my taste. After reading "But I love him" by Amanda Grace, this falls flat. Just because "But I love him" tackled abusive relationships in a different way than I've ever seen. It actually built the character of the abuser so you could understand better why he was abusive, as well as showing why the girl didn't want to leave him.

"Do you want to go private?" didn't impress me at all by comparison. I found the "Luke" character to be flat and lame. I would've liked to see the relationship between Luke and Abby to be better written. It seemed stupid to me. Their conversations were all "OMG" and completely mindless, really.

It would've been impressive if the author actually showed "Luke" as more magnetic or likeable. I know you're thinking "What are you talking about? He's a predator!" but the whole point of what I'm saying is, I couldn't see why Abby fell under his "spell". He was BLAND. Also, in comparison to Billy, he was even more bland. (I really quite liked Billy. He wasn't amazing but I was rooting for the kid).

I wanted the author to explore the subject better. It was disappointing the way she did it.

It's an important subject, obviously and I think it could've been approached differently. The writing itself wasn't impressive to me. (Again, after reading "But I love him" just a couple of days ago, I can't help but compare it to this..and "But I love him" was sooo well written and powerful. It also explored the subject of abusive relationships in this amazing way, while this book didn't really explore. It didn't give me that little something extra).

I will admit I felt sympathy for Abby for what she went through and having to deal with the after effects of it all. I even teared up a couple of times because I felt sad for her. But it was overall disappointing. I had such high hopes for it too!

On an end note to this review, I wanted to explain why I said it was a bit hard for me to write a review on this. In February 2010, by chance, I met my current boyfriend in a random chat room. I was bored and just wanted someone to talk to and after talking to a bunch of weirdos, freaks and pervs, I met him. We hit it off right away. Over the course of three months, we talked online almost every day and began to care about each other. It doesn't sound romantic to some people but it really was. Then I decided to meet him in London Heathrow airport and spent two weeks with him, just being together and doing some tourist-y things. The hardest, saddest day of my life was when I had to leave him. Now, I live in England with him and I'm still a puddle around him. He's so witty and makes me laugh all the time. I'm completely smitten. SOOOO, I guess it was weird to read this book.

I do agree that the internet is a risky place to meet people but sometimes it happens. Teenagers should obviously avoid talking to strangers just because there are predators out there. In general, it's risky talking to strangers. In MY case, it happened to be a love story but it wasn't planned at all. It just happened.

The internet is like the real world, sometimes. There are bad people out there but there are also genuinely amazing people who make you laugh and smile. You just have to be careful with who you trust and who you let in.

I'm just rambling now. Kay, bye?

Lisa aka fauvely xx

Review: But I Love Him-Amanda Grace

Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.

At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved — and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything — and everyone — in its path.

This evocative slideshow of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

5 stars

"But even when I stop crying, even when we fall asleep and I'm nestled in his arms, this will leave another scar. No one will see it. No one will know. But it will be there. And eventually all of the scars will have scars, and that's all I'll be--one big scar of a love gone wrong."
— Amanda Grace (But I Love Him)

After reading "Bitter End" last weekend, I recieved this in the mail and decided to go for it. It was much better than "Bitter End".

The writing in this was amazing. It was just so beautiful and sad. It did something crazy, really. It made you look at the bad guy(the abuser) with a deeper understanding and actually sympathize with him slightly. It was amazing because it makes the reader understand a bit better how it's now always black and white. It's not always bad guy, good guy. Sometimes it's gray.

The thing with "But I love him" was that it tried to make you understand how she got into her situation. It tells the story in reverse which is good because you don't judge her like you would if the story was told from the beginning. When the story starts, you don't know what that first moment was that should've made her run away. You see her at the end where she is tired and confused because she loves him more than she loves herself. Then she starts thinking back on their year together.

It's hard to explain why it's so good. The writing is awesome. The characters are so real and well written. It really makes you think and it makes you really feel for her.

The last 50 pages really broke my heart where she started thinking about the beginning where they were so different. It was beautiful and haunting. It showed abusive relationships in a different light. Not a good one, obviously, it's never a good thing, but it's amazing how she approached this topic.

It broke my heart a little. Amazing.

"It's not fair. It's not fair that he lets his rage take over, that he lets it rule him. I don't know why he has to let it rule him. I don't know why he has to be two people.
I don't know why he gets to be two people, and I only get to be me, the one who is here to take what he has to give, and who is here to pick up the pieces afterward."
— Amanda Grace (But I Love Him)

Lisa aka fauvely xx

Review: One Day-David Nicholls

Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY. From the author of the massive bestseller STARTER FOR TEN.

5 stars

This took me by surprise. At first I thought "eh" and then I picked it back up and couldn't stop reading.

It was definitely the most deeply layered, gorgeous story about friendship and love. It reminds me of one of my favorite movies, "When Harry Met Sally", but amplified by a lot.

It covers 20 years of the same date, July 15th, which was the day they properly met. During these 20 years and over 400 pages, we get to really know Em and Dex and their ups and downs. They are not perfect people. They do not always make good choices. They have faults and they are very real characters.

The thing I loved most about this book was that it was never cheesy or corny. The dialogue and the interactions of Emma and Dexter just feel completely real and are so lovely.

I can't even describe why this book is so amazing, really. It really gets into your head. Em and Dex don't just have a normal friendship. They know each other so well. They aren't afraid to be honest with each other. Sometimes they say hurtful things to each other but it's usually things that need to be said.

I thought about the rating and thought about giving it 4 1/2 or 4 3/4 stars but really, it deserves 5 for the following reasons...

Strong characters. There is character developement and they have strong personalities. You can't help but love them despite their faults.

Interesting concept. Kinda "When Harry Met Sally" with no corniness and more depth. (and that's coming from someone who LOVES and ADORES "When Harry Met Sally".)

Incredible writing. A book over 400 pages long can seem very long when the writing is bad or if it's just a bad book. But this book didn't seem long at all! It really gave us a great look into the characters lives.

Lack of cheesiness. David Nicholls could've had each July 15th be days where only the big things happened. But there were a lot of big events that would happen that you never got to see.

It's not predictable. Things happen that you aren't expecting. The characters do things that surprise you. It does things that break your heart. It surprised me as I didn't know what to expect really.

I guess in conclusion, I wish this had been my 100th book of 2011. Because it was LOVELY! Also, I really want to see the movie(which I know probably won't be as good but I love Anne Hathaway and really really love Jim Sturgess and it looks like it's going to be a fairly good adaptation)

So yeah. I recommend it! Read it!

SLIGHT EDIT: After reading reviews on this book, I have come to the conclusion that people will either love or hate this book. So I can't guarantee everyone will love it. I love it because it's believable, realistic and relatable. It is just two ordinary lives. It's not exciting but it's amazing.

5 stars

Lisa aka fauvely xx

Books I Recommend (Part One)

Before you read this, you should know I wrote this list in 2007. It hasn't been updated and I will be making a list of books I've read since then that I recommend. Also, this is a bit weird but when I was growing up, I didn't read much Y.A(when I was growing up, Sweet Valley, Babysitters Club and Goosebumps were popular "Y.A" books). The book that got me into Y.A is on this list ("Speak" by Laurie Anderson). Quality Y.A books were hard to find when I was a teenager, so I used to read pretty much all adult books. Which is why my list is almost all adult/classics. Now I'm different. I read adult books as a teen and now that I'm 25, I read mostly Y.A books(because they are just so good!)



White Oleander-Janet Fitch

I haven't read any book as many times as this one. I haven't read any book the same way. I know it so well I can flip to any random page and just feel comforted. I don't know why.

She's Come Undone-Wally Lamb

It's written by a man, but I always forget. I just forget Dolores isn't real, because she seems so real with the way she lives. She makes so many mistakes but she is so different at the end.

Catcher In The Rye-J.D Salinger

One of my most underlined books ever. This book made me want to cry because at the time, I related to every thought he had. I loved every mention of Jane.

The Bell Jar-Sylvia Plath

I read this in a day, I believe. I found it very sad how quickly she seemed to fall into despair. One of the most interesting characters ever, probably because the character wasn't really fiction.

Flowers For Algernon-Daniel Keyes

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It raised so many questions about the power of science and life.

Prozak Nation-Elizabeth Wurtzel

Most people find this book to be annoying because of her actions and her words but I just found it real.

Girl, Interupted-Susanna Kaysen

A book about living in a mental institution and how it never leaves you. Different than the movie.

Speak-Laurie Anderson

A book about a teenage girl who suffers a dramatic, damaging experience. She stops communicating until she begins to express herself through an art assignment. The book that made me really start reading Y.A fiction.

I Capture The Castle-Dodie Smith

I read this after seeing the movie. The book was better, as it always is. This book doesn't seem as old as it is. Can't describe it because its just too good. The characters are amazing. Just read it.

Where The Heart Is-Billie Letts

I just loved Forney and all the characters. It was just a good story.

The Remains of the Day-Kazou Ishiguro

Sad, beautiful story of lost chances and a lonely life. I love the way he describes travelling along the countryside.

The Collector-John Knowles

Psychological book about a mentally unstable guy who kidnaps a girl and keeps her locked up in his basement. It tells the story from both their points of view, and goes to show how desperate someone can become for freedom.

Lolita-Vladimir Nabokov

We all know the story but the book is so beautifully written and rich with prose, that it doesn't seem perverted. And that is an awfully hard thing to accomplish.

Peter Pan-J.M Barrie

I always loved the story of Peter Pan. I find it all sad, wanting to stay young forever, not wanting a family, never falling in love.

The Diary Of Anne Frank

At first when I had to read this, I thought I'd hate it. But then I realized how important it was, because by knowing this girl through her diary, you come to realize that she was just an ordinary girl living through a terrible time. It made the holocaust much more real and sad.

To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee

I hope this book is taught in school forever. One of the most important books I've ever read.

Love Story-Erich Segal

A short novel about love. Simple.

The Color Purple-Alice Walker

I just loved it. So powerful.

Jane Eyre-Charlotte Bronte

I read this in a day too. I have no idea why. I just became involved.

Flowers in the Attic-V.C Andrews

I read this when I was ten. It creeped me out but I loved it. About a mother who locks her four children in their grandparents attic after their father dies. They begin to wonder if they'll ever be let out.

Grimms Fairy Tales

I just love fairy tales

Coraline-Neil Gaiman

Just finished it last week. It's a spooky "fairy-tale" about a girl who goes into another world with another mother and father, and her fight to get her real life back.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn-Betty Smith

I'm in love with it. It isn't written to be entertaining really. Its written to show life and people. Its just different than most books. It feels like real people. Its gooood.

Part Two to come eventually!

Lisa aka fauvely xxx

What I read in...

JULY!

This month I started a job, which sucks up a lot of my time and just plain sucks.
BUT I still managed to read 14 books!

Here is my list:

City of Bones- Cassandra Clare
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland-Lewis Carroll
If I Stay-Gayle Forman
Where She Went-Gayle Forman
Jessie Hearts NYC-Keris Stainton
What Happened To Goodbye-Sarah Dessen
Forbidden-Tabitha Suzuma
The Mockingbirds-Daisy Whitney
Going Too Far-Jennifer Echols
Different Seasons-Stephen King
Nothing Like You-Lauren Strasnick
If Only I'd Known-Jenny Davis
Sundays At Tiffanys-James Patterson
A Visit From The Goon Squad-Jennifer Egan

My favorite reads of the month were:
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
Forbidden
Going Too Far
Nothing Like You

Absolute favorites of the month!:
If I Stay/Where She Went

The worst reads of the month were:
A Visit From The Goon Squad (URGHHHH!This was awful!)
If Only I'd Known
Jessie Hearts NYC

I didn't read any of the books I said I was hoping to get to this month. BUT I did still read 14 books so it's not a failure. I managed to read a classic and a few adult books. I also re-read If I Stay and loved it this time(the first time I thought "Ehh") I read a few comfort reads that were okay (Sundays At Tiffanys, What Happened To Goodbye) I read a book about brother/sister incest(Forbidden). I finally gave City Of Bones a chance(and didn't enjoy it).

So far this month(August), I've read 4 books. I have a few amazing ones coming in the mail hopefully this week, which include:
Want To Go Private?-Sarah Darer Littman
But I Love Him-Amanda Grace
Bitter End-Jennifer Brown
and I pre-ordered
Lola and The Boy Next Door-Stephanie Perkins(so excited for this!)

If anyone is out there reading, what did you read in July? What was your favorite(s)? What was your least favorite(s)?

Lisa aka fauvely xxx