Book Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

Well, typical me. Hears a movie adaption of a novel is coming out soon, then rush to read it before the movie came out. I can’t say it enough, how long this has been in my “To Be Read” pile, and I just picked it up due to a movie! 2009. Wow, that was a big bump up!

It’s a typical boy dreamt of girl, boy meets girl, boy fall hard for girl kind of book… with the cliche paranormal romance in the air. *sighs dreamingly*

*refrains from bashing the  other novel*

I avoided reading this book because of those mixed reviews my fellow book bloggers has been giving through out the years. When I finally pick it up, it really did live up its hype. It’s true. It is quite slow pace at the first 100’s pages. Hence why I gave it  four spades rating. As slow as it was, it kept me grip on. It sunk its teeth into me and I just can’t put it down. The characters are strong and the settings are extremely memorable.

People are afraid of what’s different. That’s my take into how they have treated Lena Duchannes. the new kid in town, just because her uncle doesn’t really care much into mixing with the crowd of stereotype towners. Especially teens. Teens can be cruel. That popped out clearly as a concept in this book, and it be fine when you have people you love by your side along the way.

Let me forewarn you, this book is 99% entirely in the first person view of Ethan (who for some unknown reason I picture and sounded like Drake Bell in my head), the main character of this novel. You won’t be reading through the eyes of another character for quite a while until… um.. much much later. I must say, this part is much too annoying at times while reading through cause I be asking alot of what’s going on with the other characters? What are they thinking? What are they plotting? What they think about this and that?

If you are like me and still haven’t pick up this book and read yet, why? Pick it up dammit! You’re missing alot! Well not alot, but you know what I mean. That is how much you’re missing out. If you’re into Harry Potter (nah… not quite the  example…). If you love reading Twilight, this book will blow your mind.



****SPOILERS! (Kind of) ****

Holy crap. I can’t believe Larkin is… *argh!* I mean I suspected with his powers he was, but I think I was I in denial or something. I must say when Ridley “help” Lena during the dance was some sort of sweet. Personally, those girls deserved it after what they did to Lena. Hell yeah on “Stephen King’s Carrie” prom scene! I do think Ridley still care about Lena at that point. All together now… Aww…..

First Words. There were only two kinds of people in our town.

Quotes.
“The right thing and the easy thing are never the same.”

”Even lost in the darkness, my heart will find you.”

”In one moment I was feeling everything and I was feeling nothing.”

”What is the opposite of two? A lonely me and a lonely you.”

”I never loved you any more than I do, right this second. And I’ll never love you any less than I do, right this second.”

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles #1)
By Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Finished Reading: 23rd December 2012
Acquire: 01st December 2009
Rate } ♠♠♠♠
Genre } Fiction | Young Adult | Paranormal Romance | Supernatural | Urban Fantasy
Release Day }  1st December 2009
Publisher } Little, Brown and Company
Format } Hardcover
ISBN } 9780316042673
Pages } 563 pages
Source } Bought
Age Group } PG 15 yo +
Interests } Paranormal   
Awards } ALA Teens Top Ten (2010) | Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2009)
Support my reading by getting your copy } Amazon | Kindle

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Biography Review: Cut; By Cathy Glass

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠
genre } non-fiction | biography | abuse 
release day }  April 2009
acquired } 04th August 2008
publisher } Harper Element 
format } paperback
isbn } 9780007280971
pages } 310 pages
source } bought
age group } 15+
interests } If you like reading The child call IT, (well not enjoy, you know what I mean)  
awards } -

Cut: The True Story Of An Abandoned, Abused Little Girl Who Was Desperate To Be Part Of A Family
by Cathy Glass

The author of "Damaged "tells the story of the Dawn, a sweet and seemingly well-balanced girl whose outward appearance masks a traumatic childhood of suffering at the hands of the very people who should have cared for her. Dawn was the first girl Cathy Glass ever fostered. Sweet and seemingly well balanced girl, Dawn's outward appearance masked a traumatic childhood so awful, that even she could not remember it. During the first night, Cathy awoke to see Dawn looming above Cathy's baby's cot, her eyes staring and blank. She sleepwalks--which Cathy learns is often a manifestation in disturbed children. It becomes a regular and frightening occurrence, and Cathy is horrified to find Dawn lighting a match while mumbling it's not my fault in her sleep one night. Cathy discovers Dawn is playing truant from school, and struggling to make friends. More worryingly she finds her room empty one night, and her pillow covered in blood. Dawn has been self-harming in order to release the pain of her past. When Dawn attempts suicide, Cathy realizes that she needs more help than she can give. Dawn's mother eventually confides in her that Dawn was sent away to live with relatives in Ireland between the ages of 5 and 9, and Cathy soon realizes that the horrors Dawn was exposed to during this time have left her a very disturbed little girl.

My 2 Cents
To be honest, It took me a while to finish this book. In fact, it took me to finish reading 5 books to actually finish reading this book. It’s a good biography, I can’t deny that, but, it’s hard to sit and read through this in just one go. But in my defense, It was a very busy few months for me at work and such.

I have to forewarn you, it’s a bit graphic. It’s a bout a child of the age of 13 who had problem with cutting. Cathy Glass and her husband adopted this child, and it’s a struggle to read about this polite child with a dark side yet has a need to rebel hard. What really perked my ears up reading this is wanting to know what happened during her missing years before living with Cathy. I wanted to know what happened to cause her behavior.

Personally this was a bit of an emotional read. Once I actually settle down and actually read this (finally getting time to settle down and read), it was a page turner. The child on the cover is just perfect. It screamed, “Help me please…” It also help me with my work, since I am working with students Dawn’s age, Empathy-wise.

The down side of this book was that, at the end, I wanted more. I Want to know what happened next, Follow up. But I was kept hanging. But it did open the door for me to check out her other books.

Library-wise. I guess I could say The older students (seniors) would enjoy reading this book. But I’m tempted to try it with our middle graders students. But with caution I guess, because the middle graders are easily influence to suggestion. Otherwise, it’s up to the parents.

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Book Review: The Girl in the Mirror By Cathy Glass

rate } ♠♠♠
genre } Non-fiction | Biography | Abuse
release day } 1st April 2005
acquired } 11th March 2012
publisher } Harper
format } paperback
isbn } 9781780880334
pages } 320 pages
source } bought
age group } 18+
interest } Anybody who has read The Child called IT
awards } -
Buy @ Nolly Book | D BookHaus

The Girl in the Mirror
By Cathy Glass

Via Goodreads
When Mandy learns her much-loved Grandpa is dying, she returns to the house where she spent so many wonderful summers as a child. But she has long since lost touch with the rest of her family, and Mandy returns as a virtual stranger. As memories come back to her, Mandy begins to remember why events brought a sudden end to her visits.

My 2 Cents.
I have been reading alot of books in regards of abuse recently, so I guess, it is not a surprise that I actually picked this one up for read this time. All I could say about this book is, it was a slow agonizing read, yet I knew what was happening, there were hints but I just have to stay and see it true in hopes somebody say something, do something, just something!

It felt emotionally empty reading it. It’s like Mandy, the main character, had disassociate herself from the event. Yet, I was sucked into the wait of anticipation to read. I have to say the only time I felt it actually started was about at the 3/4 through the book. I was bored after that few rounds with the grandfather. I give it a bravo for misleading me.

It was a good read nonetheless, an ok plot, plus an easy read. But I must say, I’m pretty much annoyed at the end! I was emotional too!

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Book Review: 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life By David Grotto

rate } ♠♠♠♠
genre } Food & Drink | Health | Nutrition
release day } 26th December 2007
acquired } 11th February 2009
publisher } Bantam
format } paperback
isbn } 9780553384321
pages } 464 pages
source } bought
age group } G
interest } G
awards } -
Buy @ Amazon.com | Nolly Book | D BookHaus

 

101 Foods That Could Save Your Life
By David Grotto

Via Goodreads
When it comes to food, nature provides a wealth of delicious choices. But each one also supplies unique health benefits. Leading nutritionist David Grotto reveals a wealth of power foods, from apples to yogurt, and explains why

• A handful of cherries before bed can help you sleep better
• Hot peppers may fight skin cancer
• Potatoes may reduce the risk of stroke
• Grape juice may be as heart-healthy as red wine
• Honey can help wounds heal faster

Each entry features a history of a food’s origin, a list of therapeutic benefits, information on scientific research, tips for use and preparation, and an appetizing recipe from a leading chef or nutritionist. Prepare to awaken your taste buds, lose weight, and let the healing begin!

My 2 Cents
I can’t say I have read this in one sitting. I pretty much find this more of a repetitive reference book. It provides you with the origins, where, why home remedies and tells you what it helps improving in your health. Much so, it also provides us with a recipe for easy serving tips.

If you’re expecting pictures, forget about it. It is a full bound text. Yup.. You have to refer to the internet if you want to recognize the food with it’s name. Otherwise it’s a good book.

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