My Fear Simulation

As some of you know, I recently read Veronica Roth's fantastic book Divergent...and in the book there are these simulations where the characters are put through their worst fears. This made me wonder, what are my fears? At first, I couldn't really think of a lot. I mean, I'm not afraid of heights or water or snakes. None of the big things I hear others say they're scared of. So, what am I afraid of? Even now, as I'm writing this, I still can't think of a lot of things that are scary to me. There are things I'm grossed out by, like bugs and blood, but does that mean I'm scared of them? There's also things I'm nervous about, like performing and meeting new people, but does that make me scared of those things? I don't think so.

Going new places, like a new church, will make me nervous, but it takes me (at max) 30 seconds to start a conversation and talk like I'm bff's with the person. Well, most of the time. There's always that odd relationship that you kind of hide from; that person you skirt around to avoid awkward conversation. I am really bubbly, random, and crazy, so it's usually not difficult for me to jump in to a situation/conversation. Except awkward ones. I can't stand those. Just sitting there, in silence or having small talk, isn't enough for me. I want to be laughing and babbling and having a good time...all the time!

Wow, please stop me next time I decide to go on a totally off-subject rant.

Anyway...What am I afraid of? Well, below is a complex, weirdly reasoned list of the first five to pop into my head.

(Note: These are not greatest to least or least to greatest - it's just a list)

 My Five Fears

1. Falling to my death. I'm not afraid of heights in general, but if it doesn't seem safe to me, then I get nervous.

2. Being alone forever. Now, believe me, I like my alone time as much as the next person. I just have this fear of having no-one/losing everyone.

 3. Icky, crawly bugs. In my bed, or in my closet - laying nests of more icky, crawly bugs.

4.   Being blind. I don't know...I think I'd get used to this one...maybe, but I still have this irrational fear of my vision slowly fading away like Mary Ingalls... (sorry, no gif for this one)

And last, but certainly not least:

5.Statues. Thank you, Doctor Who. Or should I say, Moffat.

(Sorry to any Whovians out there, I just couldn't resist this gif)

~


 There you have it: my top five fears. Honestly, I can't really think of any more things that I'd actually consider "fears"...More like figments of my paranoid imagination...

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Beatrice Prior lives in a society divided into five factions, each established on particular virtues. She's part of Abnegation: the selfless, serving faction. Each year, all the sixteen-year-olds go through simulation to determine what faction fits them best. Then they have the choice to leave the lives they've known, and join a different faction, or remain where they are for the rest of their lives. When Beatrice goes in for her simulation, she gets more than one result. She is told she is Divergent, and that being so is dangerous.

This book is fantastic.

Can I just leave it at that? No?

I guess I'll give you a proper review then, if you insist.

First, I'll explain the factions: Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, Candor, and Erudite.

After the war ended, society divided into the five factions based on what they believe the cause of the war was. For example:The Dauntless believe cowardice was the cause, therefore they are dedicated to bravery. At least, that was the original plan. With new headship, the Dauntless seem to have lost the virtues they were founded on. How do we know this? Oh, yeah. Sorry, I forgot to mention that Beatrice chooses Dauntless and changes her name to Tris. (I promise this is not spoiler! It's very obvious that she's going to pick it)

Now that we've got the factions down (it took me forever to get them all straight) we can take a look at the characters and plot. 

The characters are well written, relatable, and lovable (some of them, not the villains, obviously). Especially Tris. She is smart, brave, and most importantly, selfish. Selfish? Why would I like a selfish character? Well, because that's what makes her human. When a character has unrealistic qualities, it's pretty hard to attach to them because you don't know them in a physical way. Tris is not one of those characters.
 

And neither is Four.

 

I really like him, and that's statement, because I usually don't care for the male love interests. It might be because of my curiosity to learn why he's called "four", which, by the way, you do learn by the end of the book (so I'm not gonna say anything...). But I think it's also because he's portrayed well. I feel like I know him. There's really nothing more to say.

The other initiates were written well too. Even though they have smaller parts in the story, you seem to get a good look at their personalities and pasts. I was pretty attached to one of them, then, of course, he died.

Funny Sad how that works, huh?

Plot: The beginning was interesting, stepping into this society of factions and learning how the story-world worked. The middle was...painful, funny, and sad. Becoming Dauntless isn't easy, and Roth doesn't make it seem so. The end was pretty shocking, sad, and gripping. I cannot wait to read Insurgent! (unfortunately the waiting list at my library is really, really, agonizingly long...)

I'd recommend this book to Hunger Games lovers and people who like dystopian fiction.

Five Stars

Age: 15+
(Violence, brief kissing scene, and sexual reference)

  There's a movie adaptation coming to theaters March 21, 2014! So excited!

 

Percy Jackson Book Giveaway!

The Percy Jackson books are one of the only series my younger brother and I enjoy. It's nice to have that connection (I know, so cliche) and to be able to share a liking for something. Twelve-year-old boys usually don't like having anything in common with their big sisters ;)

The Percy Jackson movie, on the other hand, is not something we both like. I mean, it's cool for a movie, but not for a movie based on a book. You know what I mean, jellybean? Even with our dislike for the first one, we are both pretty excited for the Sea of Monsters that's coming to theaters in a couple weeks (maybe it will be better than The Lightning Thief...but I'm not getting my hopes up)


~

And now, the giveaway!

Duhn-duh-duh-DAH!

No, this giveaway is not hosted by me. I hope to get to a point on my blog where I can host giveaways and contests, but I don't think I'm there yet. Anyways...A GIVEAWAY! And not just any giveaway - a giveaway for the Percy Jackson series! *applauds*

Let me know if any of you win (and I will do likewise)!

Cafebiblioart Percy Jackson Giveaway

The Book Lovers Award

Hannah Elise over at walking in the air tagged me with the Book Lovers Award. Thanks Hannah!

 

The rules:

 

1. You must tag five people

2. You must answer the five questions

3. You must create five more book related questions for the people you tag

4. Let the people know they've been tagged

5. Have Fun!

 

 

Hannah's Five questions for me:

 

1. Did you make a goal for the number of books you’d like to read this year?
   Not for the whole year, but I did make a summer goal...sorta. 
    
2. Do you have a reading list?
   Yes, I do :) *pats self on shoulder* I mostly keep track of it on my Goodreads account
    
    
3. Who’s your favorite author, and how many books of theirs have you read?
    I would have to say Shannon Hale and I've read all her books except two of her Adult fictions.
    
    
4. Do you think that you have to read every book by every author you love, or do you think you can just wing it the way you want to?
   When I was younger it didn't even cross my mind to look for more books by the same author, but now I do and yes, I think if you have a favorite author than by all means read everything they've written!
    
    
5. Do you prefer to read first person or third person fiction? 
   Depends. I like reading both, but I'm more picky about first person being exceptionally written than I am with third person.
    
    
6. Since the above question has inspired an extra one (which you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, since only five were required), have you ever read a book written in second person?
   No, I haven't, but I bet that would be really interesting!
   My questions for tagged people:
   1. Do you prefer crisp, brand new books or vintage-y, used books?
   2. Who's your favorite author and why?
   3. When you enter a library, where do you find yourself heading toward? (Non-fiction, YA section, Youth section, computers, magazines, etc.)
   4. What character from what book have you related to the most?
   5. Are you a multitasker? If so, do you do other thing while reading?
   
   

My tagglings:
Lindsey at nerdybookwormy.blogspot.com
Cait at notebooksisters.blogspot.com
Mime at notebooksisters.blogspot.com
Emily at emilyrachellewrites.blogspot.com
Katia at katiathewritergirl.blogspot.com
 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

In this futuristic distopian, humans, androids, and cyborgs live together in New Beijing. Many citizens are ill with an incurable plague. On top of that, a ruthless lunar people wait in the sky, watching for an opportune moment to strike.

Cinder is an adopted cyborg who pays her way by being a mechanic.She lives with her adoptive (step)mother and two (step)sisters in an almost nonexistence. Life is pretty consistent.

Everything all changes when Prince Kai comes to her, asking her to repair his android. Suddenly, it all goes haywire from there and Cinder realizes she is part of a much bigger picture than she thought.


I was really excited to read this book. If you've read any of my other book reviews, you might have seen a pattern with what I've been reading - fairy-tale adaptions. Truthfully, this was not my intention. I planned on reading a variety of books this summer, to explore new genres. I really have no idea why the majority of books I'm reading are fairy-tales...it's just what I've been picking up. Now that I've realized this, I'm going to make an extra effort to read different things! (insert applause here)

Anyways, back to Cinder. This book was...amazing. I couldn't put it down. I loved the mix of distopian, sci-fi, and a popular fairy tale. Meyer just sucked me in with every scene. The characters were relatable, lovable, and expressed fantastically. I even cried at parts, and just so you know - I don't cry at books often, it has to be really, truly sad for me to shed a tear.

Favorite characters: 
  
Cinder - she's sarcastic and spunky and totally not your average "Cinderella".

Iko - this sweet little android made me laugh on several occasions. 

Kai - it seems so cliche to admit I like the price charming, but I do. 

Peony - Cinder's nice stepsister seemed a little wimpy/whiny to me, but she's so sweet and lovable that I couldn't help put her on the list. 

Dr. Erland - there where times I wanted to strangle him and in the end I'm glad I didn't. He was probably one of the funniest characters...in his own way.

Least-favorite characters:

Adri - Well, duh. You're suppose to hate the evil stepmother! And whoa, was she ruthless at some points.

Pearl - Evil stepsister. Need I say more?

Queen Levana - The Lunar queen. Yeah, not much to say about her...evil isn't and evil enough word.

Sybil Mira - The queen's head thaumaturge. A.K.A the little henchman that does whatever dirty work the queen doesn't want to get her hands in.

The only thing I didn't appreciate in this book was the brief references to 'sex change', 'reproduction', and the kissing scenes. They weren't horrible, mind you! I guess because I have a bunch of younger siblings I'm more sensitive to those sort of things. So, even with these little parts that I could have lived with out, Cinder was an amazing book and I literally can not wait to read the next one!


~


5 Stars

Age 15+ (depends on maturity level)

Heist Society by Ally Carter

 

Katarina Bishop grew up traveling around the world. At three-years old her parents took her to the Louvre in Paris, but not to sight-see - to case it. Then, for her 7th birthday her Uncle Eddie took her to Australia...to steal the crown jewels. Kat grew up in a family of thieves.

Determined to leave the family business behind, Kat tries to fit into the boarding school life. Unfortunately, that task proves harder than she expected...especially when a certain friend comes along, frames her, and gets her kicked out. Hale has his reasons, though.

A dangerous man by the name of Arturo Taccone is convinces Kat's father stole his priceless art collection, but Kat knows her father was in Paris at the time. In order to save her father from the wrath of Taccone, Kat must re-enter the family life and track down the real thief to steal the paintings back. With a teenage society of talented friends and relatives, Kat may have just what it takes to pull the biggest Heist in her family's history.

~

The Heist Society was really a fun read. But, even though I enjoyed it it of course had it's "parts". Now, they weren't horribly inappropriate or anything, but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who's really picky about those sort of things. The characters were hard for me to understand at first  and I couldn't picture them very well in my head...I don't know if that's for lack of description or my lack of imagination, but either way it was difficult to 'get to know' the characters. 

Overall, this was an okay book. It was likable in some parts, confusing in most, and I never really got sucked in. I probably won't read the others in the series unless I really have nothing to do.

3 Stars

Age 13+

~

 

Questions for the characters in Heist Society:

Kat - Why do you want to 'leave the life'? The book never really says...

Hale - What do you look like exactly? All I know is your tall and handsome. What's your hair color? Eyes? Seriously, if there's going to be a 'love interest' then why tell us nothing about him and expect us to like him?

Gabrielle - Will you put some clothes on please?

Bobby Bishop (Kat's dad) - Why are you the most described character, when you're only in a couple scenes?

Arturo Taccone - Do you like chocolate? You seem the kind of villain who'd sit around eating fancy chocolates while devising treacherous schemes...

Nick - Why even try? You know Kat has Hale and now your gonna make it a love triangle. 

Love triangles, I do not like.

Ranger's Apprentice: Book 1 The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

 

I initially read this to preview it for my 12-year-old brother because it was in the YA section and not in the younger section. Just in case, you know?

(From Goodreads) 

They have always scared him in the past — the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied....



~



This book is a well-written adventure that was a fast read (for me) and very enjoyable. My expectation: A boy with superb skills  is trained as a ranger and probably ends up saving someone's life. Reality: A boy with superb skills goes through long, hard training with a serious mentor, the dangerous enemy is about to start a war, and the boy saves more than one life. It was a slow read, not exactly 'gripping', but was written well enough to keep my attention. I think boys probably would enjoy this more than I did, but it does work for a fast, easy read :)


4 Stars (if it grabbed my attention more, it would have been 5)

Age 9 and up