YA Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why; By Jay Asher

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠ ♥
genre } fiction | young adult | realistic fiction | mystery | high school
release day } 1st October 2010
acquired } 05th January 2011
publisher } Sleuth RazorBill 
format } paperback
isbn } 9781595141880
pages } 288 pg.
source } given
age group } pg 18
interest } pg 18 + ages
awards } South Carolina Book Award for Young Adult Book Award (2010),Florida Teens Read (2008), Georgia Peach Honor Book Award (2009),Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice, California Book Award Winner
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

Thirteen Reasons Why
By Jay Asher

Via Goodreads
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face.

Thirteen Reasons Why is the gripping, addictive international bestseller that has changed lives the world over. It's an unrelenting modern classic.

My 2 Cents
I was given this book as one of my blogger friends “Random Acts of Kindness” (RAoK) program which I have had also participated once a while as well. This was in my wishlist and in my To Be Read pile for a while I think I should apologize for letting other books drowning it out. I’m sorry.

As you have realized, I have been on a binge read to anything that’s around the subject of self-surviving. So this is kind of a different. Post suicide. Sad part is, I can relate to Hannah Baker, the main character of this book. The one who taped the audiotapes for the 13 people who are the reasons of her suicide.

I was actually mad at Hannah for giving up. but after picking it up and read. All I could think was, lots of these people could have changed her decision. Helped her. She wanted help but, I doubt it was arrogance that stopped her from asking for it straightforward but I guess the exact reason was.. nobody seems to give a damn. They are also the contributors of the reasons she took her life. Sad really.

The characters are so memorable, that I actually picture it as a movie, though I kept seeing Alexa Vega playing Hannah Baker. Most of what I remembered what that “scene” she did with her so called friend, Courtney in her room with their erotic conversation, to trap their Peeping Tom, Jessica gotten raped, Hannah and Bryce, and most of all her conversation with her school counselor.

What saddens me the most is, I couldn’t put this book my my school library. It’s a good book and all but it’s not appropriate due to some of 18+sx scenes portraying in some of the chapters. If that’s absent, I am sure 100 % that it would be an awesome book in the subjects of bullying in for the teens.

Quote
“He asked if I was all right, and I forced myself to nod. But my eyes kept starring at the flass---through the glass--- at the spoon. And I kept thinking, over and over, Is this what it feels to go insane?”

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Teaser Tuesdays (Dec 27)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:
Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher

I need everything to stop. People. Life.

I push myself back from the slide.

-- Hannah, do you know what you just said?

She knows what she said, Mr Porter. She wants you to notice what she said and help her.

-- You said you wanted life to stop, Hannah. Your life?

No Response.

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Wrapping Up 2011 Read-a-thon Reading list #WU2011R

.:: Sticky top until 31th December 2011 ::.

If you hadn’t heard, there’s a read-a-thon coming up in the corner. If you like to join us in a relaxing read, please do head the join up at Jessie’s Remarkable Reads. I’m starting this one early. What I be reading? Well… As planning goes, My blogger friends knows how sucky I am in trying to stick onto a list, but it’s good to plan for these sort of events. So I present…

The Ambitious List

Anna Dressed In Blood
By Kendare Blake | 320 pg.

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Thirteen Reasons Why
By Jay Asher | 304 pg.

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Before I Fall
By Lauren Oliver | 480 pg.

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Under The Dome
By Stephen King | 1088 pg.

King's return to supernatural horror is uncomfortably bulky, formidably complex and irresistibly compelling. When the smalltown of Chester's Mill, Maine, is surrounded by an invisible force field, the people inside must exert themselves to survive. The situation deteriorates rapidly due to the dome's ecological effects and the machinations of Big Jim Rennie, an obscenely sanctimonious local politician and drug lord who likes the idea of having an isolated populace to dominate. Opposing him are footloose Iraq veteran Dale “Barbie” Barbara, newspaper editor Julia Shumway, a gaggle of teen skateboarders and others who want to solve the riddle of the dome. King handles the huge cast of characters masterfully but ruthlessly, forcing them to live (or not) with the consequences of hasty decisions. Readers will recognize themes and images from King's earlier fiction, and while this novel doesn't have the moral weight of, say, The Stand, nevertheless, it's a nonstop thrill ride as well as a disturbing, moving meditation on our capacity for good and evil.

Halo (Halo #1)
By Alexandra Adornetto | 496 pg.

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces. Is love a great enough power against evil?

Hades (Halo #2)
By Alexandra Adornetto | 360 pg

Heaven Help Her.

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

The story that Alexandra Adornetto built in her New York Times-bestselling debut, Halo, comes alive in action-packed and unexpected ways, as angels battle demons, and the power of love is put to the test.

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)
by Suzanne Collins | 374 pg.
.:: Done Reading / Reviewed ::.

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 is forced to represent her district 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.

Acclaimed writer Suzanne Collins, author of the New York Times bestselling The Underland Chronicles, delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this searing novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present.

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)
By Suzanne Collins | 396 p.

Suzanne Collins continues the amazing story of Katniss Everdeen in the phenomenal Hunger Games trilogy.Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

MockingJay (The Hunger Games #3)
By Suzanne Collins | 448 pg.

Can Katniss Everdeen win the final fight against the Capitol? Against all odds, she's survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she is 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...

My Fair Godmother (My Fair Godmother #1)
By Janette Rallison | 320 pg.

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrysanthemum Everstar: Savannah's gum-chewing, cell phone-carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Despite a few wish-granting mishaps, Savannah's fairy-tale ending might not be as far off as she imagined.

My Unfair Godmother (My Fair Godmother #2)
By Janette Rallison | 352 pg.

After her parents' divorce Tansy never really felt like her life got back to normal. And now that her too-busy parents and their respective new spouses don't seem to have time for her, Tansy has been sent to live with her semi-neurotic grandmother. After one incident involving a bad date, a can of spray paint, and the police, Tansy fears she is doomed for life. Enter Chrissy Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining er… high heels. With three wishes to help set her life right, Tansy is taken along for a ride that includes Robin Hood and his Merry Men, who turn out to be trouble when they steal from the rich in her town. When the police chief's son, Hudson, sees Tansy hanging out with these fairy tale criminals, she'll have some serious explaining to do. That's if Tansy can find a way to stop spinning gold and undo the "help" that Chrissy has bestowed.

The Night Circus
By Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Room
By Emma Donoghue | 336 pg.
.:: Reading At The Moment ::.

Amazon Best of the Month, September 2010: In many ways, Jack is a typical 5-year-old. He likes to read books, watch TV, and play games with his Ma. But Jack is different in a big way--he has lived his entire life in a single room, sharing the tiny space with only his mother and an unnerving nighttime visitor known as Old Nick. For Jack, Room is the only world he knows, but for Ma, it is a prison in which she has tried to craft a normal life for her son. When their insular world suddenly expands beyond the confines of their four walls, the consequences are piercing and extraordinary. Despite its profoundly disturbing premise, Emma Donoghue's Room is rife with moments of hope and beauty, and the dogged determination to live, even in the most desolate circumstances. A stunning and original novel of survival in captivity, readers who enter Room will leave staggered, as though, like Jack, they are seeing the world for the very first time.

If I Stay (If I Stay #1)
By Gayle Forman | 208 pg

What if you had everything:
A gorgeous boyfriend who was madly in love with you?
Quirky hip parents who totally got you?
A musical talent that could take you anywhere?
What if your biggest problem in life was choosing which path to take?
Follow your first love--music-- to New York City?
Or stay with your boyfriend, friends, and family?
What if one day, you went out for a drive...
And in an instant everything changed?
What if suddenly all the other choices were gone?
Except for one--the only one that truly mattered?
What would you do?
A sophisticated, layered, and heart achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

Where She Went (If I Stay #2)
By Gayle Forman | 256 pg.

If you had a second chance at first love . . . would you take it?It's been three years since Adam's love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it . . . and three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, powerful prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Beauty Queens
By Libba Bray | 400 pg.

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program--or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan--or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.

Cleopatra
By Stacy Schiff | 384 pg

The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer brings to life the most intriguing woman in the history of the world: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt.

Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnets, and gold, but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Above all else, Cleopatra was a shrewd strategist and an ingenious negotiator.

Though her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world. She was married twice, each time to a brother. She waged a brutal civil war against the first when both were teenagers. She poisoned the second. Ultimately she dispensed with an ambitious sister as well; incest and assassination were family specialties. Cleopatra appears to have had sex with only two men. They happen, however, to have been Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, among the most prominent Romans of the day. Both were married to other women. Cleopatra had a child with Caesar and--after his murder--three more with his protégé. Already she was the wealthiest ruler in the Mediterranean; the relationship with Antony confirmed her status as the most influential woman of the age. The two would together attempt to forge a new empire, in an alliance that spelled their ends. Cleopatra has lodged herself in our imaginations ever since.

Famous long before she was notorious, Cleopatra has gone down in history for all the wrong reasons. Shakespeare and Shaw put words in her mouth. Michelangelo, Tiepolo, and Elizabeth Taylor put a face to her name. Along the way, Cleopatra's supple personality and the drama of her circumstances have been lost. In a masterly return to the classical sources, Stacy Schiff here boldly separates fact from fiction to rescue the magnetic queen whose death ushered in a new world order. Rich in detail, epic in scope, Schiff 's is a luminous, deeply original reconstruction of a dazzling life.

After Obsession
By Carrie Jones | 320 pg.

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her. Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

Story of a Girl
By Sara Zarr | 208 pg.

When she is caught in the backseat of a car with her older brother's best friend - Deanna Lambert's teenage life is changed forever. Struggling to overcome the lasting repercussions and the stifling role of "school slut," she longs to escape a life defined by her past. With subtle grace, complicated wisdom and striking emotion, The Story of a Girl reminds us of our human capacity for resilience, epiphany and redemption.

Sarah’s Key
By Tatiana de Rosnay | 304 pg.

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

Hate List
By Jennifer Brown | 416 pg.
.:: Done Reading ::.

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Here’s my reading progress

12/22/11
♦ Reading: 
  ♣ The Hunger Games; by Suzanne Collins 
  ♣ Hate List; by Jennifer Brown 
♦ Pages Read: 614 pg.
♦ Books Finished: 1

12/23/11
♦ Reading:
  ♣ Hate List; Jennifer Brown
  ♣ Room; Emma Donoghue
♦ Pages Read: 624 pg.
♦ Books Finished: 2

12/24/11
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12/25/11
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12/26/11
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12/27/11
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12/28/11
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12/29/11
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12/30/11
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12/31/11
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YA Book Review: Hate List By Jennifer Brown #WU2011R

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠
genre } fiction | young adult | realistic fiction | teen | drama
release day } 5th October 2010
acquired } 17th April 2010
publisher } Little, Brown Books For Young Readers 
format } paperback
isbn } 9780316041454
pages } 416 pg.
source } bought
age group } pg 13
interest } pg 13 + ages
awards } Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award (2010), The White Ravens (2010), Voya Perfect Ten (2009)
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

Hate List
By Jennifer Brown

Via Goodreads
Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

My 2 Cents
Cover. That Hate word is loud by itself. That look on their eyes are full with sharp scrutiny. I like it! It tells you exactly what to expect in this book and yet it make you read, wondering why are they giving that look.

Her Squeaks. Halfway through this book, all I could think was: “The fate of a victim, who turn the bullies into a victim, and yet still the victim.” Yes, halfway through this, I feel Valerie is not getting the fair treatment from either her family nor her schoolmates. Nobody asked her the real story. They just judge and assumed she’s guilty. What’s sadder is her own father seemed to wish she doesn’t exist because of that mass shooting. I also can’t help thinking Nick Levil’s name is one letter exchange to Nick Devil too. I wonder if that was intentional. The characters are just so believable. I feel sorry for Valerie, and somewhere along the line I also felt suspicious of Jessica Campbell intentions. This book reminded me of Columbine and other school shooting events it’s just eerie.

Since it’s so good, why has this been nesting in my To Be Read pile  for so long? I got distracted by work (I think) and it got buried under that ever growing monster. Nevertheless that was the mistake. This ended up to be a good book. I suggest this book to any teens to adults. It probably touch your life too.

☺

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Young Adult Book Review: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games 1); By Suzanne Collins

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠ ♥
genre } fiction | young adult | fantasy | dystopia | science fiction | adventure
release day } 1st September 2009
publisher } Scholastic Paperbooks 
format } paperback
isbn } 9780439023528
pages } 374 pg.
source } bought
age group } 15 yo +
interest } pg 13 + ages
awards } Georgia Peach Book Award (2009), A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2008), Cybils Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2008), Amelia Bloomer List (2009), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Older Readers (2009), Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2008), West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Older Readers (2010), Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2011), Red House Children's Book Award for Older Readers & Overall (2010), New York Times Notable Children's Book (2008), Publishers Weekly's Best Books of The Year, South Carolina Book Award for Junior and Young Adult Book Awards (2011), Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (2010), Teen Buckeye Book Award (2009), Rhode Island Teen Book Award (2010), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2010), ALA Teens' Top Ten (2009), Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee (2010), Sakura Medal for Middle School Book (2010), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award (2009), Florida Teens Read (2009), Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (2010), Iowa High School Book Award (2011), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2009), The Inky Awards for Silver Inky (2009), Abraham Lincoln Award (2011)
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

The Hunger Games
(The Hunger Games #1)
By Suzanne Collins

Via Goodreads
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 is forced to represent her district 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.

Acclaimed writer Suzanne Collins, author of the New York Times bestselling The Underland Chronicles, delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this searing novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present.

My 2 Cents
This was actually nesting in my TBR pile for a long while now. My fellow bloggers has finally broke me into reading this book. *purses lips* Yup…months after all the nagging of posts, emails, book talks, tweets, etc… I gave in.

The back synopses was wow.. that was hard to sink in for me, I mean, man… that’s terrible to have a game to do a “Survivor Series” a a twist of deaths included. I find the idea kind of *moves her hands in a gesture of waving it around* out there. Be the only surviving one, kill everybody kind of game to feed your whole district? Damn…

Cover. Not really have that “Grab Me” look. *ducks* Personally, it look dark and plain boring. *ducks again* Well it is… Unless you know what’s it’s all about, heard of it, or somebody recommend you this book over and over again. But I must admit after looking through the different other covers, I found these different looking good ones!



*** SPOILERS!!! ***


Story & Plot. I was hooked on the first page. Then it’s ongoing until 3 in the morning o.o That was how good it was. The characters and plots are just right that I actually wanted to yell at Katniss in some points of the book. Darn it. Peeta was so sweet and all. The romance plot Haymitch (their mentor) fixed up seems to become real. Then, it hit me. Poor Gale! What would Gale think! Then that thing with Rue happened. She died horribly! Oh My God. I was emotional when Katniss sang her to “sleep” in her last breath of life.Katniss kind off grew up in front of my eyes while reading through this book *a bit*.

Nevertheless, this is an extremely a page turner. I would definitely recommend this book to any readers out there high school up. I must forewarn you there are lot of violence and social problems in this book. (A lot of them)

Other wise this book has managed to get my ♥.

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Comic Review: Young Justice #10; By Kevin Hopps, Greg Weisman

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠ 
genre } comic | science fiction 
release day } 16th November 2011
publisher } DC Comics 
format } paperback
upc } 76194129720001011
pages } 32 pg.
source } borrowed
age group } pg13 +
interest } all ages

Young Justice #10
by; Kevin Hopps, Greg Weisman

Captain Atom's cold-case assignment is definitely heating up: The true killer has resurfaced to target anyone who might expose the truth about the murder of General Lemar back in 1968 - and that includes each and every member of the Team!

My 2 Cents
I really need to stop picking up middle issues.. haha This is a hook for me. People who knows me knew how much I don’t really fancy anything with Superman, unless Lex Luthor or Bruce Wayne is in it. Guess what. This series just threw that off the window for me. So far I like what I read, hence going to pick up some more of this

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2012 Read Dystopia Challenge

January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012
Hosted by Book Journey

List of books.

1-3 Dytstopia Books read in 2012:  beginner
4-6 Dystopia Books read in 2012:  Intermediate Post World Trainee
7-10 Dystopia Books read in 2012:  Leader of Your District
11+ Dystopia Books read in 2012:  SURVIVOR!

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Blog News

It’s the end of the year and most of us bloggers are into cleaning up our blogs. I am also in no exception to do that. At the moment.. I just started on my vacation and I thought, well.. time to clean this blog up! So basically I’m doing my own mini Bloggiesta. *I can’t wait till the real one!* *hangs head* It’s sad only my blogger peers actually knows what that means…

Here’s a few I be playing around.
♦ Transferring my old book reviews here from my old dead blog…
♦ Catch up on my Blog Reviews
♦ Clean up Book reviews
♦ Clean up Side Bio
♦ Update Disclosures
♦ Clean up tags
♦ Post up lists
♦ Print out new batch of  Business Cards
♦ Update Books challenges
♦ Update Review Via Authors
♦ Update To Be Read Montage (or try to)

Wish me luck!

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Trivia Book Review: 1,001 Facts that Will Scare the S#*t Out of You: The Ultimate Bathroom Reader By Cary McNeal

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠ 
genre } non-fiction | humor | reference | trivia 
release day } 18th April 2010
publisher } Adams Media 
format } paperback
isbn } 9781605506241
pages } 304 pg.
source } borrowed
age group } pg13 +
interest } all ages
challenge } //
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

1,001 Facts that Will Scare the S#*t Out of You: The Ultimate Bathroom Reader
By Cary McNeal

Via Goodreads
Fact: Ithyphallophobia is the fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis.
Fact: You are more likely to be killed by a donkey than an airplane crash.
This is a hilarious collection of little-known facts about the world that are weird, creepy, disgusting and sure to frighten the bejeezus out of anyone. This ultimate bathroom book will enlighten you to a variety of troubling truths about everything from the secret ingredient found in bottled water to what your brother was doing just before you shook his hand, from a fish that wants to swim up your genitals to how a simple airplane flight can blow out your rectum. Educational, entertaining and horrifying, this book isn't guaranteed to help you go to the bathroom, but it's certain to make your time there more enjoyable.

My 2 Cents
I’m a bit of a geek hence, naturally, I picked this book up immediately as saw it. In my defense, I actually like to read these kind of books, so expect a few of this sort of reviews pop out here and there in this blog.

So… This is quite a fun book to read. The cover itself is eye catching with the “FACT” it presented the readers with. Some of which could make you have goose bumps. It ranged facts from the subject of food, drink, the human body, the weather and insects. *shudders* Oh yes… you would shudder too after reading some of those insects facts. What’s appealing is the fact that every fact is accompanied with a humorous remark by the author – which is sarcastic but serious. (I can’t keep a straight face.)

This would be a fun book for those reluctant readers if they are into those “icky” stuff. Though expect laughter when they pick this up for a read.

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Children Book Review: The Gift of the Magi By O. Henry, Lisbeth Zwerger

rate } ♠♠♠ 
genre } children | christmas | romance | classics 
release day } 3rd October 2006
publisher } Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing 
format } hardback
isbn } 9781416935865
pages } 32 pg.
source } borrowed
age group } children +
interest } all ages
challenge } //
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

The Gift of the Magi
By O. Henry, Lisbeth Zwerger

Via Goodreads
O. Henry's most famous short story, "The Gift of the Magi" has a universal appeal that extends beyond the Christmas season. Set in New York at the turn of the century, the story centers on a young couple and the sacrifices each must make in order to buy the other a gift. The pictures by the award-winning Austrian illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger are infused with the poignancy and delight of this simple tale about the rewards of unselfish love.

My 2 Cents
This is a such a sweet, sweet story to read during Christmas. Beautiful illustrated cover. I must say I love that. This is the story of sacrifice and yes, I am usually into this stuff but for some unknown reason, this book can’t pull me in. Good characters, and great plot. Maybe it’s just not for me. Otherwise.. It’s good.

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Children Book Review: The Night Before Christmas; By Clement Clarke Moore

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠ ♥
genre } children | christmas | picture books
release day } 15th August 2005
publisher } Ideals Children’s Books 
format } paperback
isbn } 9780824955144
pages } 32 pg.
source } bought
age group } children +
interest } all ages
challenge } //
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

The Night Before Christmas
By Clement Clarke Moore

Via Goodreads
Not a creature was stirring when jolly St. Nicholas came down the chimney...except the narrator of this well-loved rhyme. His eyewitness account of the arrival of the toy-filled sleigh and eight reindeer is beautifully illustrated by Deborah Jones's warm and glowing pictures, while soft-to-touch pages make this book as special as the season.

My 2 Cents
Another classic not to be miss in your Christmas reading pile. This is another enjoyable bedtime story during Christmas eve for the kids.. or any age in particular. It’s not actually too late if you haven’t read this book growing up. (There is not shame in reading children’s books even when you’re an adult.) 

The story reads in a soft tone (if you know what I mean), a comfy read. A good pull out for a quick read for the kids, or any other ages. Reluctant readers tends to love this one in their reading piles. Wonderful illustrations to enjoy.

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Children Book Review: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! By Dr. Seuss

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠ ♥ 
genre } children | christmas | picture books
release day } 6th October 2003
publisher } Picture Lions
format } paperback
isbn } 9780007170241
pages } 64 pg.
source } bought
age group } children +
interest } all ages
challenge } +
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
By Dr. Seuss

Via Goodreads
"The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! / Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason." Dr. Seuss's small-hearted Grinch ranks right up there with Scrooge when it comes to the crankiest, scowling holiday grumps of all time. For 53 years, the Grinch has lived in a cave on the side of a mountain, looming above the Whos in Whoville. The noisy holiday preparations and infernal singing of the happy little citizens below annoy him to no end. The Grinch decides this frivolous merriment must stop. His "wonderful, awful" idea is to don a Santa outfit, strap heavy antlers on his poor, quivering dog Max, construct a makeshift sleigh, head down to Whoville, and strip the chafingly cheerful Whos of their Yuletide glee once and for all.

Looking quite out of place and very disturbing in his makeshift Santa get-up, the Grinch slithers down chimneys with empty bags and stealing the Whos' presents, their food, even the logs from their humble Who-fires. He takes the ramshackle sleigh to Mt. Crumpit to dump it and waits to hear the sobs of the Whos when they wake up and discover the trappings of Christmas have disappeared. Imagine the Whos' dismay when they discover the evil-doings of Grinch in his anti-Santa guise. But what is that sound? It's not sobbing, but singing! Children simultaneously adore and fear this triumphant, twisted Seussian testimonial to the undaunted cheerfulness of the Whos, the transcendent nature of joy, and of course, the growth potential of a heart that's two sizes too small. This holiday classic is perfect for reading aloud to your favorite little Whos. (Ages 4 to 8)

My 2 Cents
Nothing sounds like Christmas without the mention of  all popular the Grinch around. This is a classic rereading for me and ever since I have picked it up, (well I must admit, I have had a date with Jim Carrey's version ♥ before picking it up for the first time.)

Let it be known that this was the first Dr. Seuss for me back then and it had open my way to drive my way through Dr. Seuss books. I didn’t regret it one bit. 

Nevertheless, this is a wonderful quickie book for any quick read. I’ve tested it out with reluctant readers (of all ages) and this is quite a favorite among them. Loving the simple words to read and illustration to see, of course and enjoyable read.

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Comic Review: Dorothy And The Wizard In Oz #3/8 By Eric Shanower

rate } ♠♠♠♠
genre } comic | fantasy
release day } 30th November 2010
publisher } Marvel
format } Paperback
upc } 5960607440-00311
source } borrowed
age group } pg 13
interest } general
challenge }
Buy @ Nolly Book | D BookHaus

Dorothy And The Wizard In Oz #3/8
By Eric Shanower 

When Dorothy Gale, her cousin Zeb, his horse Jim and Dorothy’s kitten Eureka were swallowed into the ground by a earthquake, they found themselves in the beautiful and strange Land of the Mangaboos. Here animal talk, people walk on air and everyone in made of vegetables! However, the Mangaboos price and sorcerer accused the group of purposely destroying part of the city, sentencing them to death!

Fortunately, Oz arrived just in time wowing the Mangaboos with his wizardly charm and saying his friends from a horrible fate! Proving their value, the travelers toured the kingdom coming upon a garden where the Mangaboos grew, particularly the next Princess of the kingdom ho was awaiting picking. The Prince had other intentions though: to destroy Dorothy and her friends, and rule forever!

Facing another threat, Dorothy acted quickly, picking the Princess from her vine and escaping death once again. They may be safe for now, but will the friends ever escape this strange underground world?

My 2 Cents
I found this at a friend’s possession hence I ended up reading it for a short fun. I thought, this would be another classic gone comic… but I’d realized this is classic gone rogue Marvel style. It’s kind of cute, and I regret not grabbing the 1st volume of this series.

Strangely.. the Queen of the vegetable people, has Queen of Hearts voice in my head. Yes… Vegetables!  *silent tumbleweeds rolling*

Anyhoo, great storyline. I’m so trying to find the 1st volume. Soft gentle graphic coloring. I do not recommend this for any children under 13 years old.

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