Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

This review DOES contain spoilers. Sorry. I tried, but I couldn't help it.

I was a little worried when I started this book. I broke my own rule and read a few non-spoilery reviews beforehand. I didn't want to know what happened, but I was intensely curious about what other people had thought about it. The basic idea I got was that while they loved it, there were a few things that drove them crazy or they didn't like. So that made me super curious when I started the book myself. What would these random things be that had bothered people? Would I pick up on them or not even notice them?

Anyway, I took my time reading Mockingjay. I didn't want to miss anything in my haste to find out what happens next. And while there were many things that, while I was reading, did bother me (Gale. Peeta. Plutarch.) I was actually extremely satisfied with how she ended the series. And after a couple days to...reflect, I don't think it could have ended any other way. Gale was too changed by the war, and while his attitude didn't make me happy, it definitely fit his character. He and Katniss never stood a chance. The whole Peeta situation had me very worried for most of the book, but he and Katniss are absolutely perfect for each other, even with the way the war changed and damaged them. They helped heal the wounds and smooth out the rough edges. And when she shot Coin instead of Snow I shouted "YES!" I knew that Coin would just be another version of Snow, so I was glad that it hadn't ended with another, differently corrupt leader. Overall I really, really enjoyed Mockingjay. I was saddened by many of the deaths (Prim. Finnick.) but it really had a satifying end. I wasn't disappointed at all.

5/5

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic
390 pages
$17.99 (hardcover)

Far From You - Lisa Schroeder

Lost and alone...Down the rabbit hole.

Alice thought she knew
what solitude was:
Her mother—gone.
Her father—remarried with a newborn
daughter.


Now...
Trapped
in the icy embrace
of a deadly snowstorm,
Alice faces the true meaning of loneliness.


But hope
may not be as far away
as she thinks....

I absolutely loved this book. As someone who has had a stepmother (or two) in her life, I can completely relate to Ali's emotions in almost every way. I love that she lost herself in her music and her boyfriend, and felt so alienated from her family even though it was partly her fault. It's so true of how teenagers are. But the best part, in my opinion was just her overall growth. It was tense reading about her stuck in the snowstorm with her stepmother and baby sister, and I was constantly worrying if they would all make it through ok. But seeing Ali's perspective change, letting her guard down enough to allow her to see things differently was such a tender thing to read. By the end of the book I was crying my eyes out. I really liked I Love You, You Haunt Me, but this book has officially made Lisa Schroeder a must read author for me. Loved. It.

5/5

Far From You
Lisa Schroeder
Simon & Schuster Children's
368 pages
$15.99 (hardcover)

Before Midnight - Cameron Dokey

Etienne de Brabant is brokenhearted. His wife has died in childbirth, leaving him alone with an infant daughter he cannot bear to name. But before he abandons her for king and court, he brings a second child to be raised alongside her, a boy whose identity he does not reveal.

The girl, La Cendrillon, and the boy, Raoul, pass sixteen years in the servants' care until one day a very fine lady arrives with her two daughters. The lady has married La Cendrillon's father, and her arrival changes their lives.

When an invitation to a great ball reaches the family, La Cendrillon's new stepmother will make a decision with far-reaching effects. Her choice will lead La Cendrillon and Raoul toward their destiny — a choice that will challenge their understanding of family, test their loyalty and courage, and, ultimately, teach them who they are.

I love all things Cinderella. Almost every rendition of the story I have loved to some extent. And this version is extremely satisfying. It's definitely a quick and easy read, but her version of a story that's been told a million times felt very fresh. While I pretty much knew how it was going to end, there were a fair amount of times where she took me pleasantly by surprise with the plot. La Cendrillion (Rilla) is a very likable character, and her interactions with the other characters were always fun and interesting to read. I loved the new angle on her relationship with her step family, and the fact that her father never ends up dying in this version. I felt it gave her more depth in her character because of the fact that he lives but is absent from her life. And while there are no fairy godmothers in this book, magic definitely has a presence, and it's fun to see how it becomes its own character in a way. The writing was good and the pacing was great and only lagged for a couple pages here and there. I have to say, I liked it more than I expected.

5/5

Before Midnight
Cameron Dokey
Simon & Schuster Childrens
208 pages
$6.29 (paperback)

Follow Friday and Blog Hop - Sept. 3rd

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View. Head on over there to check out this week's featured blog. This week's question is:

What is your favorite brick and mortar bookstore?

I'll admit, I'm a Barnes and Noble girl. There are a few other little bookstores around where I live, but there's a huge B&N 20 minutes from my house that has a cafe in it and I love going there. The smell of coffee, pastries, and books....it's fabulous. I could disappear in there for hours.

The Blog Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books. This week's question is:

Do you judge a book by its cover?

My answer is yes, I do, but it's mostly when I'm looking around online or in a bookstore for something new. If I hear about the book first, then I like to see how the cover looks compared to what I've heard about the story, but it's not as...influential. But I love book covers, so they definitely play a part in what books catch my attention and which ones I want to know more about. But, I will say that I've read plenty of books that were fabulous that had lack luster covers, so I know to not let it sway me too much.

Which do you prefer?

Alright, time for something new. A discussion. Are you ready?

What's better - real books or ebooks?

That's right, I want to know what you think. Ebooks are becoming more and more popular, with more and more titles available every day. Most of the time, they are cheaper than the paper copy - hardback or paperback - and the ability to carry hundreds or thousands of books in your bag is positively lovely. But, for those hardcore book addicts, there's just something about holding a new book in your hands, knowing you will be the first to crack the binding and turn the pages. And the smell of the ink on the pages....

But I'm getting carried away.

I'll put in my two cents and then I would love to hear your thoughts. I am currently stuck between a rock and a hard place in my love for books. I love going to the store (or waiting for the UPS man) and getting beautiful new books with beautiful covers to arrange on my (limited) bookshelves at home. And I'll be honest, I have a bit of a thing for book covers. So many of them are so beautiful that I love to just have them on my shelves, looking pretty for me. Some are dramatic, some almost glow, others are bright and inviting. It makes my bookshelves look like a giant jewelery box and each book is a sparkling gem waiting for some attention from me.

But, I have been lured into the ebook world. This past Christmas I recieved a Nook and I absolutely love it. It's a great size, I love that I can get sample chapters of books that look interesting to see if it's worth buying, and I can cart around a bunch of books in my purse wherever I go in a small(ish) device. It's excellent. And since I'm not made of money, the fact that many of the ebooks I want are fairly cheap is also a big plus. The only downfall - the pretty covers are black and white. Sigh...

So here's my problem. If I find a book I love, I really love to have it on my shelf in book form - preferably hardback since they are more durable to the many times I end up reading them over and over. So, I may buy an ebook, read it, end up loving it, and then want to buy it in hardback form. So I end up buying it twice. Crazy, I know, but I have actually done this, and I'm planning on doing it again. So I'm fighting between the new love of ebooks and the old love of real books. So in my opinion, they both have their merits and flaws, and I'm intrigued to see the way things sway in the future. 

So, where do you fall? Real book purist? Ebook convert? Or, like me, somewhere in between?