The Hunger Games #1 - Suzanne Collins

Pages: 454

Published: first published September 14th 2008

Genre: Dystopian/ Y.A

Format: Paperback

Date Finished: 31^st March 2012

Synopsis:

In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

Thoughts:

So I must be the last person [almost] not to have read the hunger games and trust me it is not for lack of not having the book.

In fact the last time I checked I had a bookmark in it waiting for me, but no matter how much I tried to read it and watched so many reviews both good and bad for over a year, I could not pick up the book – why? Because I am vein and the cover just made me keep putting it back. That of course was until I picked up the series in plain black covers with a simple title and meaningful design on the cover and then we were cooking with hot rocks.

This is not as much a review, but more of my thoughts on the novel which there are many. First being that I do want to hit myself for not picking it up sooner, actually I picked it up a few days before the movie was due to come out thinking I could bash the damn thing out like a jagged rock to the head, but no – no I had to savoir this and I am so freaking glad I took my time and put every other book out of my sight because this book brought me back from my reading slump and made me fall in love with quality, unique [to me] Y.A fiction.

Katniss- like a fictional dream come true was everything I want and look for in a main character. She was strong, resourceful had morals and hope even in the bleakest of times. She had emotions and flaws, but also family orientated and I love that so much. I enjoyed her back-story and getting to know her deeply as a character through the progression of the novel and given the circumstances it was just amazing to read.

Every character in this novel for all purposes played their part and kept me hooked, even the deadly ones who I hated from the beginning. I felt something in my chest tighten with this horrid situation their government forces them into; from the inside and on the sidelines it was painful to read. And you do get to see it from an outside perspective. With the capital, the districts and how they do survive as a whole and the threat of an entire nation held captive by this barbaric tribute. It is so scary and painful because it is deadly believable and you got to wonder when reading would you survive and if so how?

The landscape and games reminded me a lot of the T.V show Big Brother how they are always watching your every move, hearing you’re every word round the clock; people’s emotions, turmoil and sacrifice all for show and what does it mean? What is it worth? And how has entertainment taken a turn in their society? How shallow it must be and feel.

I don’t want to gush [as it is very unbecoming of a lady] but for those who have read and enjoyed the Hunger Games you know what feeling I am trying to describe when every aspect that makes up a story you enjoy hits the nail on the head and leaves you feeling like you’re a crack addict wanting more after you close the book at night- just one more page- one more chapter and then it’s morning and you feel like you cannot sleep until you know what’s next.

I am so excited to read the next book in the series – Catching Fire and when I do I know I will enjoy the experience. I have found love in Suzanne Collins.

★★★★★

Shopaholic Giveaway

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Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella # 1

· Pages: 450

· Published: August 8th 2005 by Dell

· Genre: Women’s Fiction/ Chick-lit

· Format: Mass Market Paperback

· Date Finished: 17^th February 2012

Synopsis:

MEET BECKY BLOOMWOOD, AN IRRESISTIBLE HEROINE WITH A BIG HEART, BIG DREAMS --- AND JUST ONE LITTLE WEAKNESS ...

Becky Bloomwood has what most twenty-five-year-olds only dream of: a flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is, she can't actually afford it --- not any of it. Her job writing at Successful Saving magazine not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. Still, how can she resist that perfect pair of shoes? Or the divine silk blouse in the window of that ultra-trendy boutique? But lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank --- letters with large red sums she can't bear to read --- and they're getting ever harder to ignore. She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Her only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something ...

Finally, a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life --- and the lives of those around her --- forever

Review/ Thoughts:

To kick start our book club over at my collaborative channel with Debra we decided to read the first book in the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. What a rollercoaster ride of emotions it has been for me, reformed kleptomaniac and self- confessed impulse shopper. Reading about Rebecca Bloomwood and her hilarious and outrageous story was like offering me a whole new world of shopping while teaching me some very important lessons as well- the biggest being; Never ever get a credit card.

Finally a character I can identify with to hilarious levels. The way she rationalizes and is impulsive is something I myself have had to deal with when it comes to shopping and this alone I can guarantee would resonate with all of us at some point in our lives. But she is not just wild and outrageous. Becky has a good heart and was for the most part always doing something that would benefit the people around her or at least trying to save them some pain. However there were times when she was downright selfish and I wanted to slap her or shake some sense into her and for this reason I highly enjoyed her character because she had me laughing, and crying and cringing and flipping the pages fast enough to give me paper cuts.

I loved everything about this novel from its characters to the situations Becky put herself into and of course the slow coming romance that draws you in. I was glad that the overall romance aspect of the novel did not saturate the rest of the story and I loved Becky’s journey through realizing that she has a problem till the end where we are not quite sure what is going to happen.

Sophie Kinsella’s writing is so easy to read and yet full of everything I look for in a chick-lit. I will admit there were times when I had to put the book down because it was stressful reading about the hole she was digging for herself and her shopping sprees [I scoured Amazon for a lot of free books while reading this book] However I loved every minute of it and I am eagerly awaiting time to read the next book in the series Shopaholic Abroad.I would certainly recommend this to anyone who loves a good chick-lit with a little more meat to it.

Check out our Collaborative Channel which is all about Women reading Women’s Fiction.

★★★★★

Brewing Tea Bag

The Last Rising - Rachel Firasek

Pages: 102

Published: September 6th 2011 by Entangled Publishing

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Adult

Format: Ebook

Date Finished: 5^th February 2012

Synopsis:

After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.

Review:

I was recently offered the chance to read the third book in the Curse of the Pheonix series – The Last Beginning of Net Galley, but without much information I had no idea that it was the third book and that I would have to go back and read the first two to begin with. The premise sounded fantastic and unique and when February rolled around I wanted to get straight into it.

Let me tell you for 2.99 it was more than a bargain.

The Last Rising has one of the best first chapters I have read in a long time. Not only that, it is one of those stories that I was thinking about when I was not reading it and growing more excited knowing that there were more stories written by Rachel.

From the get go I could feel the heat, the passion and compassion of the characters. I fell in love with Ice and her sassy yet sweet personality. Ice wasn’t generic to me and the author gave her a wonderful balance of flaws and likable traits. I enjoyed the layered background history as the story progressed and the emotional inflictions she had with her past, present and future.

I loved the concept of an Ancient Goddess Isis and the Phoenix being reborn into a new life and not having any memories of their previous mark. It is here that the tables are turned and Ice is brought back into the world where her previous mark starts to become a big part of her life. Turner was a fantastic character as well and despite Brodie being a bit annoying he was so darn cute and very like his father.

It does help that I am in love with Egyptian Mythology and this was the perfect reason to rekindle my love of romance and interest in mythology. You also get to see a little of Osiris who’s history is blended in with the story and it made me fall even more in love with Rachel’s writing.

For once here is a romance that I admired and grew to love and that had reason not just fate. I loved Rachel’s writing it had fantastic pace and always had me guessing. There were some parts that I predicted, but it never once took away the great story that was The Last Rising and I cannot wait to get started on book Two The Last Awakening.

This is a must read for fans of Paranormal Romance who like a little steamy sex but who also love their mythology and enjoy that heartwarming love that grows on you from page one. I will certainly be devouring anything Rachel has written.

★★★★★

If you are interested in learning more about Isis click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis

If you are interested in learning more about http://www.rachelfirasek.com/