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Catching Fire Review!


Wow. Sometimes I won't even read a series until it's finished because I hate waiting for what's to come next. I wish I did in this case because now I have to wait god knows how long until the next book in The Hunger Games series comes out!! ( :( <---that's my sad face) Anyways with that said, here is a very brief summary of Catching Fire.

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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins:

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
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(Spoilers Below)-There is a major spoiler below so if you don't want to be to spoiled, don't read on.

Catching Fire is an amazing read from start to finish. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about what could possibly happen next. It didn't take me too long to just give up and read until I was finished. While the ending was another perfect piece of this novel, it left me dying for more, which I suppose is a good thing for those that want the next book purchased. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark were both victors in Book 1, but now that the Quarter Quell has arrived and both have astonishingly been reaped back in, will they be able to face each other a second time, knowing only one will be the victor of these games? Even behind the pretense of a looming death, Collins manages to give these characters depth and meaning. The reading of the 75th Hunger Games/Quarter Quell took my breath away and I was in complete shock of what was happening. All of the characters that we love are back including Cinna, Haymitch, Gale and Ellie, and a few new ones that are indeed memorable like Finnick and the new head gamekeeper. I haven't been attached to a series like this since I was waiting for Breaking Dawn to come out, and now it's going to be a long time until the ending will finally be revealed. No matter, this book, and this series, is one of my favorites, if you haven't read it yet, you should. It's unbelievably remarkable and I give it two thumbs way up!!
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I think I am going to read a book I recieved in the mail earlier this week, it's called Behind Every Illusion, I received it as an early reviewer by the author on Librarything. Let's hope it's good! :)

-Sherry <3

Is it bed time yet? New Page!

I was at work at 5 o'clock this morning, how is it that I can't fall asleep now at almost midnight??? You got me, I can't even read because I get tired, and then I lay there and I can't sleep?!?! Anyways... I redesigned my blog, check it out and let me know what you think! :) Positive input(or negative for that matter) never hurt anyone!

Sherry <3

Two reviews!



So i've been a little slow posting my reviews, give me a break i'm a busy person!! :) Not only will I review the first Anita Blake novel, which was published in 1993 (for those not to great at math that was a whopping 16 years ago)! Also, I read The Hunger Games. All I can say is squeeeeeeee...........

Guilty Pleasures: An Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Novel
By: Laurell K. Hamilton
Brief Summary:

Guilty Pleasures introduces the character of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter and her world, an alternate history where magic, vampires, werewolves and other supernatural elements are known to exist. Blake, a zombie animator and licensed vampire executioner, is forced to investigate a series of vampire murders, and in the process comes into contact with many of the supernatural characters of her home city of Saint Louis. The novel blends elements of supernatural and hardboiled detective fiction.

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Well, I must say even though this book is not quite as old as me, it goes a while back, for the most part it still fits in with modern society. You know how some books written years ago have that sense that they are older? Well not this one. Hamilton does an amazing job of keeping the story current which probably doesn't hurt this series either, after being around that long it's bound to pick up new readers all the time. The 17th book in the series just came out in June, and while i'm only on book two I will definately be continuing with this series. It's jam packed with action, and it's hard not to feel for the protagonist, Anita, she has to go through a lot. Not only is her job as an animator, raising zombies, hard work, she also has to deal with psychopathic vampires, werepeople and just plain crazy people. If your someone looking for a good paranormal read, and you want to get into a series, I def. recommend picking up the this book.

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The Hunger Games
By: Suzanne Collins
Summary:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--- and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity, and life against love.

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I don't know what I was thinking waiting to read this book. I have constantly heard great things about it, but when I originally read the inside cover I felt this book wasn't for me. How wrong I was?! I'm glad I voided my first instinct because this is one of my favorite reads right now. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know how Katniss would be getting out of her next problem and I couldn't wait for Katniss and Peeta to get to know each other while also battling against each other to be the victor of the Games. Collins creates twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. This novel has it all, action, adventure, love, betrayel, humor and horror. I already went out and purchased the sequal, Catching Fire, and will probably have that done in two sittings as well. Congrats Suzanne to an AMAZING start to what is sure to be an amazing series. After I finish the second all I have to do is wait for the third. This novel is a can't miss!!!

Happy reading! :)

Sherry <3

Some New Books!

I went to Border's last night and picked up some new reads. I finally purchased The Hunger Games, i've been hearing very good things about it lately and decided it was worth a read. I also grabbed the second book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. Now these are some older books, but they fit right in with modern times. I really enjoyed the first one and will post a review later after school/work! I also got The Vampire's Assistant, which is actually the first three books in the Cirque Du Freak Series. I decided since the movie was coming out I would check them out. I also got the fourth gossip girl novel, I watch the show religiously and decided to see what the books were about, while they are extremely different i'm still enjoying them. At the moment I am reading Nightrunner, which I am really liking, I will post a review as soon as I am done. Have a great day all!

-Sherry

Review of The Tear Collector and Author Interview!


I have recently finished "The Tear Collector" by Patrick Jones, which was released September 1st. I have also been lucky enough to snag an interview with him!

Here's a brief summary of the book:

Fans of urban fantasy should prepare for a new kind of vampire—one that feeds off of tears instead of blood. Descended from an ancient line of creatures that gain their energy from human tears, Cassandra Gray depends on human sorrow to live. Her job as a grief counselor at the hospital provides the perfect cover to keep this secret safe, and any time a friend needs a shoulder to cry on, she’s there. Only Cass has grown tired of living a lie and wants to live like a human, especially now that she’s found someone worth fighting for.

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My Review:
(Minor Spoilers Below)

I was excited when I first heard about this book, such a twist on a specific genre that has been essentially the same over time with only minor changes. It was added to my list of must haves and I got my copy shortly after it was released. I read it over a period of three days, it was hard to put down in between work and school because I just wanted to know what came next! Cassandra Gray, the main character, starts off kind of empty. Not in the character's sense, but in her life sense. She needs tears to survive and must do what she can to acquire enough to keep her refreshed and alive. She offers a helping hand at the hospital and at school, all to get enough tears to keep her and her great-grandmother going. She doesn't get to feel emotion, such as love and happiness and it begins to take it's toll on her. When the time comes that she meets Scott, not a jock or a prep but the boy next door, she finally starts realizing that there is more out there then just tears, that there may actually be happiness for her. But what will Cassandra do next, stay with her family and make the next generation, or will she become the one thing that breaks her off from her family completely, a human? Jones does a wonderful job bringing each of the characters to life. You don't always get to feel the emotions that the characters in the book do, but with this one you can. This will be going right to my "favorites" shelf. I can't wait for the next installation, I know it will be one that I will be picking up! Another plus of reading The Tear Collector was getting introduced to a great new author, new to me not to writing. I will be on the lookout for all of Jones' yet to come releases.

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Here's an interview with none other that Patrick Jones himself!

1) I've never read a vampire story quite like this one, how did you come up with the energy vampire twist versus the typical bloodsucking vampire?

I knew that I wanted to write a vampire book after I handed one of my books to a teen girl and she looked at dismissively, then added, "I only read vampire books." So, it was a gauntlet, but knew I needed to use the vampire clichés but turn and twist them to make something new. The vampire genre seems sucked dry, so I took the basic idea of a creature that feeds off humans, and tweaked it. I choose tears because I write about teens. There's a line in the book about how there's not a day without drama turning trauma turning to tears in high school. The book presents an interesting dilemma for the main character: in order to survive, others must suffer.


2) You left the ending of the book open, are you thinking of writing a sequel?

I've also done with the good first rough draft of the sequel; I'm at 40,000 words and I try to hit 50,000 on the first draft. I read one review about people being frustrated that everything was revealed, but that was deliberate. There's enough of the first book to let the reader understand the basics of how Tear Collectors survive, but there's more to come (if people buy the book that is).


3) Why did you decide to write for young adults?

I've worked most of my life in libraries with teens, and thus the YA genre is certainly one that I know. When I wrote the first draft of my first novel Things Change, it was partly in response to all the bad preachy un-realistic realistic fiction I was reading as a teen librarian. But mainly, I think teens are fascinating. Everyone -- but more so with teens -- has a gap between the person people they think they, the person they really are, and the person they want to be. And that's intriguing; that's Cassandra in Tear Collector. Her friends think she's helping me, but they don't know she's using them. As she falls in love with a human, she wonders if a Tear Collector is what she wants to be. These conflicts of self are the stuff of YA fiction, realistic or supernatural, or the mix I used in this book. Oh, I also like to visit high schools and eat cafeteria French fries.


4) Out of all of the vampire stories out there, do you have a favorite?

That's easy: Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause. I've tried -- notice the word tried -- to read other YA vampire books and I find myself bored. There's nothing much new, or interesting. Also, I hate the plain girl only finds value in herself when the charismatic vampire emerges theme. I do recall trying to read Dracula in 6th grade because I loved the movie, but found the book impossible. So, for me, The Silver Kiss is still the gold standard of teen vampire fiction.


5) If there was one character in the book you could relate to most, who would it be?

Like most authors, every character is part of me. Scott (which happens to be my middle name) is someone I wish I would have been more like in high school. But probably I relate most to Cassandra. Writers for teens are tear collectors. We manipulate teens for our own ends. Not to make teens cry for energy, but to get them to turn the pages / buy our books. In all my books, but especially my first novel Things Change, I want teen reader to "suffer" with the ending. In Chasing Taillights, I want teens to "feel the pain" of the main character, get emotionally involved. Teen writers feed off the problems of teens. My books are about bullying, dating violence, drug use, sexual abuse, bad parenting, etc. This is emotional stuff. I want teens when they read my stuff to suffer along with the character. I am a teen novelist; I am a tear collector.


6) Do you have any upcoming books or something in the works?

With my editor now is a book called Clicked. I've had that title for almost two years but then in May 2009, it "clicked" and I wrote 60,000 words in ten days. I had some teens read it and made revisions, and now it's at my editor's hands. The story starts with the main character Carson returning from his school's homecoming football game. He goes up to his room to write an article about the game for his school newspaper, but he's distracted by the word "homecoming." Three years ago, Carson's older sister Carrie ran away from home and hasn't been heard from since. He finishes writing the story, and then he's alone on the computer. He's a teen boy, so soon he's looking at porn. Click. Click. And he comes across an image of his sister on a porn site. Well, the plot kind of takes off from there. I do have a sequel to Tear Collector almost done with the working title of Cassandra's Turn. The word "turn" has two meanings: it is "her turn" to start the next generation, but also the word is used as it is in professional wrestling as she "turns" from the hero to the heel. The sequel explores what happens with Brittney, follows Cass's desire to become human to be with Scott, develops the friendship with Samantha, as well as finding her cousin Alexei returning. I'll be posting some updates on the sequel - -as well as answering questions -- on the myspace for the book at www.myspace.com/thetearcollector.


Well, there you go everyone, Enjoy! And make sure you go and pick up your copy of The Tear Collector! :)

-Sherry

Coming Soon: The Tear Collector Review and Interview with Patrick Jones

I recently finished The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones and will be posting a review along with an interview with him shortly! So make sure you come back to check it out!!

-Sherry

New Books!

Just got a box of some new books in the mail. Well not all new, but hey new to me! I got Night Runner by Max Turner which I have been waiting to read since it came out, The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones, which looks amazing, and the third book in the Percy Jackson Olympian series by Rick Riordan, The Titan's Curse. I think I will read either The Tear Collector or Night Runner first. I'm not sure yet, but i'll let you know when I am!

-Sherry <3

The Sea of Monsters Review


So I finished The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan today in between my two classes. Here's a short summary:
*(Contains minor spoilers to those who have not read The First Olympian)

It's time for Percy Jackson to return to Half-blood hill for the summer but a warning has come to stay away. While Percy was never one to follow rules well, he finds himself at the camp where many problems have risen, the posioning of Thalia's tree for one. Without the protection of the tree, the hill is under constant attack by outside monsters. Will Percy once again be able to come to the rescue?

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Well, while I won't tell you the answer to that question, I will tell you that your favorites characters are back and bring with them some great adventures. Grover getting engaged to a Cyclops and Chiron getting sacked are only a few obstacles that Percy and the entire crew have to overcome in this sequal to The First Olympian. It was nice to see the characters grow up some. Riordan pulled me along the entire time, and i'm eager to start the third book in the series, The Titan's Curse(of course I have to wait because it hasn't arrived in the mail yet :( ....). I have no doubt that the remaining books will keep getting better and better. I give it two thumbs up!

Another hush,hush Contest!!!

Yes, Another Hush, Hush contest, not that i'm complaining! I'm super excited! Go check it out and if you tell who sent you that person gets an extra entry, so if your heading that way because of me please say that Sherry over at Flipping pages sent you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Just go here-

http://thilette.blogspot.com/2009/08/hush-hush-contest.html

Memoirs of A Teenage Amnesiac


I recently(last night) finished reading Memoirs of A Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin. I think this is the first non-supernatural or paranormal book that I have read in quite some time. Most everything I read just won't happen or isn't even capable of happenning. Here is the brief description from the publisher:

If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She'd know about her mom's new family. She'd know about her dad's fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn't have wanted to kiss him back.

But Naomi picked heads.

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Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was just over 275 pages but it held my attention the night I started it and the night after when I finished it. It starts off telling some basic info of the main character, Naomi, and her family. It's not long into the book when the accident takes place that gives her amnesia and it's very interesting to see how she deals with it. Along the way there are boyfriend troubles, best friend troubles and new guy troubles. There's also the whole trouble of finding out who she is, because she can't remember the last four years of her life. I just heard they are making a movie out of this book, a japanese one, too bad because I would pay to see it here in the states probably. I recommend this for anyone who wants to escape from trying to find out who they are to watch Naomi try and find out who she is, or anyone who is really just looking for a quick interesting read. Enjoy!

Thirst has won me over

So I finished Thirst by Christopher Pike. It contains the first three books in The Last Vampire Series. I wasn't impressed at first but grew to like the books. The main character, Alisa or Lara(she has multiple names), whose real name is actually Sita, is very hard core. She has to be to survive hidden in the world, seeing as shes been in it since the beginning, she was born 5000 years ago. The author is very good at tying up the loose ends and at answering all of the questions I had as the books went on. He was good about spacing everything out so that I stayed hooked. It has a lot of the feel of numerous books from now a day, but of course it came out many years before most of the books on my shelf did(1994 to be exact.) I fell in love with most of the characters, the good ones at least, and even a bad one turned good. It definately had its sad parts, this is'nt some sappy vampire tale. I will definately be picking up Thirst No.2, which contains the fourth through sixth books in the series, when they come out together in January.

-Sherry

Thirsty for more!


This week I am reading Thirst by Christopher Pike. It's three books in one so it's quite long. I finished the first part of the book last night and I enjoyed it very much. If I didn't sneak a peek at the publication date to see that this book was made in 1994 I would have thought it was from somewhere in the 2000's. The author in the beginning of the book just starts by having the character tell us all about herself, at first I didn't really like it but then the main characters straightforwardness started growing on me. I'm on the second part of the book now and I will probably be done with all three sections by tomorrow night. I'll post a full review when I i'm done!

-Sherry