Home       About Me       Review Index

Friday, May 31, 2013

May Wrap Up



I had a flippin FANTASTIC may!! I was unemployed for two weeks in May and I had So much time to just read and hang out. It was wonderful. I took part in Bout of Books 7.0 Read-A-Thon, and that was an awesome experience for me. I absolutely loved it and I thought I did pretty good.  But anywho... here is how I did.

Book Read:

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Dare You To by Katie McGarry
Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling

That is nine freaking book!! I am pretty pleased with myself!

Book Review:

Pivot Point by Kasie West
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin
Of Triton by Anna Banks
Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Random:

I posted a From Book to Movie this month featuring The Great Gatsby. I did mini reviews of both the book and the movie and compared them.

Challenges:

Debut Author Challenge: 6/20 (I need to smarten up and get cracken- Hoping to try for two a month for the next couple).

YA Audiobook Challenge: 4/12 (again- I am behind here as well. That will change).

2013 Reading Challenge: 34/75 ( I am up 3 books which is only 3%).

More Random:

A couple month ago one of the Top Ten Tuesday topic was Spring TBR's well I am halfway through mine. You can check that post out here, and see what I've read on that list.

That's it for me this month,

Happy Reading Everyone!



Saturday, May 25, 2013

From Book to Movie: The Great Gatsby


The Great Gatsby, arguably Fitzgerald's finest work and certainly the book for which he is best known. A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, Gatsby captured the spirit of the author's generation and earned itself a permanent place in American mythology. Self-made, self-invented millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald's--and his country's--most abiding obsessions: money, ambition, greed, and the promise of new beginnings. "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning--" Gatsby's rise to glory and eventual fall from grace becomes a kind of cautionary tale about the American Dream.

It's also a love story, of sorts, the narrative of Gatsby's quixotic passion for Daisy Buchanan. The pair meet five years before the novel begins, when Daisy is a legendary young Louisville beauty and Gatsby an impoverished officer. They fall in love, but while Gatsby serves overseas, Daisy marries the brutal, bullying, but extremely rich Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby devotes himself blindly to the pursuit of wealth by whatever means--and to the pursuit of Daisy, which amounts to the same thing. "Her voice is full of money," Gatsby says admiringly, in one of the novel's more famous descriptions. His millions made, Gatsby buys a mansion across Long Island Sound from Daisy's patrician East Egg address, throws lavish parties, and waits for her to appear. When she does, events unfold with all the tragic inevitability of a Greek drama, with detached, cynical neighbor Nick Carraway acting as chorus throughout.
 

The Book:

I read F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby last summer after the trailer for the movie came out. The trailer was so vague as to what the whole story was about that I needed to know what the heck was going to happen. It was a pretty quick read at only 180 pages or so and it took me absolutely no time at all to read.

I can't say I loved The Great Gatsby. There were a number of things that bothered me to much. Ultimately, I hated Daisy. I thought she was awful. Daisy was selfish and indulgent and spoiled and I absolutely despised her. It was her character swayed my experience of this book in a negative way. I also did not like her husband, Tom. I know that you aren't supposed to like Tom, but I  had such an adverse reaction to him while reading Gatsby that again, it made the the whole experience hard for me. I laugh at this now, because Daisy and Tom made me SO angry when I read the book that I would huff about it for a while after reading.

I loved Jay Gatsby. He reminded of a little kid. His enthusiasm and charisma were great. There was something about him that just made me like him. I wish though that he would have let go of Daisy and moved on. He wanted/needed certain things from her that he couldn't have. I liked the relationship he had with Nick. It was almost brotherly and it was sweet. A lot of people I know who have read this book, have said they absolutely loved Nick. I don't know that I understand this affection. I found Nick a great narrator, but I am not sure that I loved his character. He was sort of background noise to me. But that's just me.

I know there are a number of things and important themes that I am missing from The Great Gatsby, and had I caught on to those it would have probably been an amazing experience for me. But as I've said before and I am sure I will say it again, I am very character driven. I am sure that now that I know what I am getting from the characters I will be able to focus more on what the author is trying to say. I will absolutely be reading The Great Gatsby again in the near future.

But...





The Movie:

When I first saw the trailer for this movie I was SO eager to see it. I loved the look of it, I loved the music (Jack White's 'Love is Blindess' is still on repeat to this day). I loved seeing Leo as Jay Gatsby.  I was excited. After reading the book, I was still interested, but I wasn't so excited that I was heartbroken when they pushed the Christmas day release to May 2013. 

Walking into the film I didn't know how to feel and I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't sure if my dislike for Daisy was going to make it impossible for me to like the film,  and I was sure Tom was going to rub me the wrong way. Was I going to like Jay Gatsby the same as I did in the book. All these questions. I basically walked into the theater with very low expectations. 

I loved the film. I believe this is my first book to movie that I have ever loved completely. I thought the film stayed pretty true to the story (although I will be the first to admit that I am not one for remembering details). I appreciated Leo's Gatsby (although he did say 'old sport' A LOT. Like A LOT). I thought that he presented Gatsby's earnestness beautifully.

What I really enjoyed about The Great Gatsby: the film, was the modern take on it. The story was told from a 1920's perspective, but the details (aside from the costumes) were very much twenty first century. I liked that this gave you a good sense just how glamorous and over the top the lifestyles of those involved.

The movie fails to depict just how terrible Daisy was in the book. She's still pretty self-indulgent and spoiled in the movie, but I didn't despise her. I don't think that I could with Carey Mulligan as Daisy (I like Carey to much).

Overall, I just really liked the movie. Whether it was a master piece or not. I thought the casting was good and I liked how it was done. Perhaps when I reread the book I will think differently, but for now... I was impressed.

Have you seen the movie? What did you think? I'm curious to know.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

My Thoughts: Dare You To by Katie McGarry


If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....


Review copy received from Netgalley 


After reading Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry I was pretty excited to read Dare You To. I read and reviewed Pushing the Limits back in October of 2012 and I absolutely loved it. I thought it was genius. In saying that, it would be impossible to not compare Dare You To to Pushing the Limits, and while I enjoyed one slightly better than the other, I have to say they are two very different stories.

The story begins with Ryan-the mega baseball stare-and his buddies sitting in a Taco Bell playing out the end of their game of dare. It is here the Ryan first meets Beth. His is challenged by his friends to get Beth's number. As can be expected things do not go well for Ryan and he ends up losing the dare. So when Beth shows up as his school a few days later Ryan sees this as a chance to finally win the game (he really hates losing). For Beth, the goth chick is likes to wear black and get stoned every other weekend, the move to Louisville was not a good one. Forced to leave a mother who needs her to survive and a best friend who has been her everything, Beth is angry and not in the mood for anyone's BS.

Dare You To is told in the traditional McGarry way- with the chapters alternating from two different point of views. In this case: Beth and Ryan. I really appreciated this aspect because Beth and Ryan are so different from one another and you often can't tell what Beth is thinking from what she says. Seeing things as she sees them makes her a more relateable character. Beth is wounded and that needs to be understood. She's not just walking around with a chip on her shoulder because she's pissed ticked off at her uncle. She's feeling abandoned, rejected, unloved you name it. Ryan showing up and expressing his affection to her is not something she is used to. I hurt for Beth. I felt her confusion and her insecurity and I understood why she was so apprehensive about letting people into her life. I also understood the loyalty she felt towards her mother, however misplaced it was. Beth was a complex character and I loved what McGarry did with her.

Some of my favourite scenes were the ones that involved Beth and her Uncle Scott. Scott was twelve years Beth's senior and was supposed to come and take her away when she was young. He waited nine years and theirs was a relationship that needed mending. But you could tell from the get go that the two cared deeply for one another and there was hope.

Ryan also went deeper than what is on the surface. He had his own demons to fight and his own battles that needed winning. He may have appeared to be the all American boy. But he was also wounded and insecure. But instead of rebelling against all that was making him unhappy, he was ignoring it and pretending. I liked Ryan. I think I liked Ryan more than I liked Beth. I liked how nice he was to her. I liked seeing how his feelings for her evolved into something bigger and more intense than he was expecting and how he was okay with that.

While I loved Dare You To there was one thing that I wasn't sure about. In my review of Pushing the Limits I mention that I loved that the romance didn't fix the issues that the two characters were faced with. Which was totally true. In Dare You To, it kind of felt to to like the romantic relationship between Beth and Ryan are what healed Beth. This is not all bad, as Beth had some serious trust issues and in order for her to get over those issues, she need to trust the relationships she had. It just would have been nice if there were other relationships (such as the one she had with Lacey- an old friend) would have also contributed to her healing. I never felt like Beth and Ryan were ever friends, they sort of went from not really liking one another, to really liking each other. It was maybe a little unbelievable.

Overall, I really enjoyed Dare You To and if you liked Pushing the Limits, you will also like this one. The characters are complex and warring. But it's well worth the read.

~Happy Reading everyone!



Monday, May 20, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday-Favourite Book Covers


It's been a while since I have participated in TTT hosted over at the Broke and Bookish. And I am pretty excited about this week's topic. You may or may not see a theme.


Top Ten Favorite Book Covers Of Books I've Read

















1) Incarnate by Jodie Meadows- I love the colours, I love the model. I love it all.


2) Unearthly by Cynthia Hand- Again, I love the colours, I love model and the whispyness of everything. I think it's beautiful.

















3) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin- I really like that the models are underwater, I think that's really neat. I also really like boy/girl embracing covers. It might be the romantic in me. 


4) Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor- This cover is magnificent! Just look at it. It's beautiful.


















5) The Taker by Alma Katsu- I love the covers for both the Taker and the Reckoning. But I really like mask in this one.


6) Dark Lover by JR Ward- The covers for these books are pretty tacky, but for some reason this one does it for me. It might be cause it's red.
















7) Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson- Just look at this cover I think it's absolutely stunning. I want to own this book for the cover alone.

8) Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood- Another cover that I think is just beautiful.

















9) Collide by Megan Hart- Again with the boy girl thing. This one is a bit more risky than some of the others I've mentioned. But I still love it.


10) The Piper's Son my Melina Marchetta- I only like the Australian cover- Which is funny because I don't own this book (even though I loved it), because I really don't like the North American covers. But I absolutely love the Australian one. I'm weird that way.


Those are my favourite covers. Be sure to link you TTTs below so I can check them out.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

My Thoughts: Of Triton by Anna Banks


In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?


**ARC received from Raincoast Books for review**


When I read Anna's Banks' debut Of Poseidon (My Thoughts) last year I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed  it. It was one of my best reads for 2012. Of Poseidon ended with a pretty intense cliff hanger and I was curious to see where Banks was going take us in the second installment of the trilogy. However, I was a little underwhelmed with where Of Triton took us in the series.

The story essentially picks up exactly where Of Poseidon left off. With Galen's grand revelation and the outcome that comes with it. We than rush into Grom (Galen's brother) showing up and a bunch of weird things coming out about Emma's parents and their relationship. It was rather bizarre and I wasn't exactly sure where it was going.

I enjoyed Of Triton for the story itself, however I didn't like it as part of a trilogy and I kind of think that it did nothing for the overall story. Nothing super incredible happened. The conflict of the story didn't feel like a real issue. I knew the whole time that everything was going to be resolved. There were no moments of not being sure how things were going to work out. I never thought that maybe something bad was going to happen. It all felt very safe.

What I liked about the characters in Of Poseidon I still liked in Of Triton. The characters were still a riot and I loved reading how they got along. Rayna and Emma's relationship evolves in Of Triton but not so much so that you lose their bickering. Toraf's character also develops independent of Rayna and that was interesting. You think that it might be the end of their relationship (but it works itself out).

There is one cool development in Of Triton. Sharing what that is would be one big ole' spoiler. But it definitely will change things for all involved.

Overall, Of Triton wasn't the most captivating novel I have ever read, I am glad I read it. I loved the characters and I loved their banter. I am looking forward to what other shenanigan's they'll get into as the trilogy wraps up.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

Monday, May 13, 2013

My Thoughts: Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin


Max Walker is a golden boy. Attractive, intelligent, and athletic, he’s the perfect son, the perfect friend, and a perfect crush for the girls in his school. He’s even really nice to his little brother, Daniel, a decidedly imperfect ten-year-old. Karen Walker is a beautiful, highly successful criminal lawyer, who works hard to maintain the facade of effortless excellence she has constructed over the years. Now that the boys are getting older, now that she won’t have as much control, she worries that the facade might soon begin to crumble. Steve Walker is also a successful prosecutor, so much so that he is running for election to Parliament. The spotlight of the media is about to encircle their lives.

But the Walkers have a secret. Max was born with forty-six XX chromosomes and forty-six XY chromosomes, which makes him intersex. He identifies as a boy and so has been raised lovingly that way. When an enigmatic childhood friend named Hunter steps out of Max’s past and abuses his trust in the worst possible way, Max is forced to consider the nature of his well-kept secret. Why won’t his parents talk about it? Will his friends accept him if he is no longer the Golden Boy? Who is Max and who will he be in the years ahead?

While Max and his family face life-changing questions, revelations, and the ever-present threat that Hunter presents, Max falls in love. He might be flawed, but could he be the perfectly imperfect boyfriend for misfit Sylvie Clark, the oddball loner in his class?


Review Copy received from Simon and Schuster Canada

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin has got to be one of the most powerful novels I have read in a long time. This novel had me considering societal expectations of normal and what it means when an individual does not fit into those expectations. Never has a book provoked me in a way that Golden Boy did. Throughout the novel I was heartbroken and angry, I was confused and anxious. Also, in this book I have never said bastard so many bad words as much as I did while reading.

Golden Boy follows the story of Max an intersex individual who has been identifying as a boy for the majority of his life and for the most part is a well adjusted kid. However, something terrible happens to Max and I warn you, it is terrible and it will sicken you. The things that Max has to deal with and overcome are something that anyone need to face. Golden Boy was a much heavier read that I had originally expected.

Golden Boy is told from a number of different POVs: Max, Daniel (Max's nine year old brother), Karen (Max's mum), Sylvie (Max's love), Archie (Max's doctor) and a bit toward the end Steve (Max's dad). I am one who loves reading stories from all kinds of perspectives. This was a really interesting aspect of the novel and one that I think was really important. There were a few times one of the characters would make a decision and I would not understand why, seeing the situation from their point of view would help clarify things, or make them even more confusing.

Tarttelin approaches the subject of being intersex and what it means very well. She doesn't glaze over things and she doesn't over glamorize the situation. It is all very authentic, and what every one is feeling is also very believable. At one point I thought that perhaps the story took an extreme turn, but as I read further I realized why the author chose to do what she did. It all makes sense in the end.

 Max's mother had to have been one of my least liked characters. Even less than Hunter. She made a lot of decisions with the idea that she was doing what was best for her family. Sometimes these decisions were so misguided it was hard to understand her reasoning, even when it was explained. I said a lot of nasty things when it came to her. I just could not think like she did. It was maddening.

Overall, Golden Boy was a phenomenal novel. That deals with a topic that isn't really talked about or acknowledged. Tarttelin takes on the task in a tasteful and thought provoking fashion. The writing is beautiful and real, and the contents of this novel will stay with you long after you've read the last page.

Happy Reading Everyone!

PS- for those in the GTA be sure to Abigail is going to be in town- info below




Sunday, May 12, 2013

My Thoughts: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor


Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.


Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

I initially experienced Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor through audio. And I thought it was absolutely fantastic. So naturally I wanted to keep up with that tradition and listen to Days of Blood and Starlight- which is no small venture, as the audio book is just under fifteen and half hours long. When I first began listening to Daughter of Smoke and Bone narrated by Khristine Hvam I was completely taken over. Hvam was a fantastic narrator.

For those who have read both Daughter of Smoke and Bone as well as Days of Blood and Starlight, you know that they are intense novels with a lot going on- especially in Days of Blood and Starlight. This means that mega concentration is necessary when reading the books so you don't miss anything. That is a lot of pressure for the narrator. She needs to be able to keep your attention and keep you engaged (this is also the responsibility of the author and the story). I loved how both stories came a live for me while listening to Khristine Hvam narrate them. She was theatrical when she needed to be and more subdued when it was called for.

One of my favourite things about listening to both these novels was Hvam's talent for accents. The majority of the characters in both books have some kind of European accent and Hvam was able to portray them all perfectly. Brimstone's accent in Daughter of Smoke and Bone had to be one of my favourite. Hvam was able to exude all of what Brimstone was when she was reading his parts. It was brilliant.  Another of my favourite characters that Hvam did a fantastic job with was Zuzana. Zuzana had a more critical role in Days of Blood and Starlight than she did in Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and she was sassy and whitty. She was also so endearing and caring. Whenever we got to her parts in the story I would often find myself either laughing or smiling. I loved how loyal she was to Karou and how she interacted with Mik and the...

I have said it a numerous times that I find sequels incredibly hard to review. I find that for the most part they are just filler novels and don't really contribute to the story. This is completely untrue for Days of Blood and Starlight. Laini Taylor is an absolute literary genius!! I don't know what I was expecting from Days of Blood and Starlight, but I don't think it was what I got. The story spun me around and pulled me here and there. I will admit there were a couple times where I would think to myself, "I don't know if I'm liking this story very much." This is largely due to the war setting that is Days of Blood and Starlight.

You see, in this novel, both the angels and the chimera are preparing for war. I am a pacifist, I don't like war. I also find it really boring and avoidable. And there are a lot of battle themes and brutality strewn about this novel. It was hard for me to handle. But at the same time, I loved how different the story was I was dying to see what would happen next and how it all connected.

Overall, Days of Blood and Starlight is a brilliant addition to Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It introduced new concepts and ideas into the story and developed the characters with more depth than I thought was possible. Definitely a phenomenal read.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Bout of Books 7.0


The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team


I have never taken part in a read-a-thon in the almost three years I have been blogging. Mainly because I haven't had the time. But for the Bout of Books read-a-thon that is taking place next week, I actually have time. No school commitments, no work commitments. I can actually do it. This is pretty exciting for me. I'll be keeping track of my progress at the bottom of this post and on Twitter- so make sure to follow me.

So for the week I have a list of six books- considering I am a VERY slow reader this is a pretty ambitious "goal". But since I am still on the hunt for a job I have A LOT of time. I don't anticipate that I will get through all the books mentioned below. Hopefully the first four at the very least. Wish me luck.

1) Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (I am currently reading this and want to finish it by Monday)
2) Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
3) Dare You To by Katie McGarry
4) The S-Word by Chelsea Pritcher
5) Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Geneieve Tucholke
6) Duma Key by Stephen King



Updates

Monday
Currently reading: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
What I've read: Rainbow and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Pages read: 230 pages (It was a slow day)

Tuesday
Currently reading: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
What I've read: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Pages read: 469

Wednesday
Currently reading: Dare You To by Katie McGarry
What I've read: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Pages read: 740

Thursday
Currently reading: Dare You To by Katie McGarry
What I've read: Dare You To by Katie McGarry
Pages read: 981

Friday
Currently reading: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Geneieve Tucholke
What I've read: Dare You To by Katie McGarry
Pages read: 1156

Saturday
Currently reading:  Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Geneieve Tucholke
What I've read: Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry 
Pages read: 

Sunday
Currently reading: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Geneieve Tucholke
What I've read: 
Pages read:



Happy Reading Everyone!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

My Thoughts: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.



I absolutely love books/movies that involve dual realities, parallel universes and so on. So when I saw that Amber from Books of Amber (again) mentioned Kasie West's debut debut Pivot Point, I was pretty intrigued. Therefore, when she raved about the book and how much she enjoyed it, I was pretty thrilled and knew that I needed to read it immediately. I was pretty excited when my local library had in in stock (I did have to wait a couple weeks, but  it was well worth it).

I was thrilled with Pivot Point and for the first time ever I wanted the second book immediately after finishing this one. Generally I don't like to complete a series all at one time.When I do this I find that I get tired of the same writing style and the characters. Not the case here. I am pretty eager for the second book in this series- even though Pivot Point didn't end on a cliff hanger- it was just that good. I thought the story was so much fun and I am very curious about what's going to happen to Addie and ...

As mentioned above, Pivot Point is told form two of Addie's realities. So the chapters alternate between reality A and reality B- one chapter is option A the other option B. For some this aspect of the story would be a problem. But in this case I thought it was brilliant. You got to see that parallels between the scenarios. It was a lot of fun. You could see where they would connect (in a way). I loved this about West's writing. It was well laid out and not confusing.

Addie was awesome- she was an absolutely fantastic female protagonist. I am not sure how long it's been since I have loved a female character as much as I loved Addie, she was the perfect mix of independence and knowing when to ask for help. She was kick ass and intelligent. I really enjoyed everything about her. I also really liked Addie's dad. I have said this before and I am sure I will say it again. I am always so confused at the absence of the parental units in the majority of YA books. This is was not the case in Pivot Point. Addie's parents were definitely a feature of the novel and her dad was pretty cool. He also cared for his daughter and their bond was evident in the story. It wasn't hokey or heavy by any means, just something I appreciated.

There is a love interest in both of Addie's realities and I absolutely favoured one over the other, and in the end it all made sense. But throughout the whole story I was curious as to who she was going to chose. But do not fret. This is in NO WAY a love triangle. Not at all.

Over all Pivot Point was a blinking fantastic debut, and I think you should all go read it. You will not be disappointed. You won't want to put it down.

~Happy Reading Everyone





"So, please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall."
— Roald Dahl