The Book Jam: June 2013

Saturday Recollection [Short Reviews]

Books I Skipped Reviewing

Weekend treats

#006

These were just a short review of the books that I skipped for some reasons. I decided to post some once every weekend until it's all up. Enjoy! ^^

ღSeries Specialღ

(Part 2)

❧ Evernight Series by Claudia Gray
❧ My Rating : 4.0 Hearts (on the first three), 3.0 Hearts (on the last one)
❧ Date Read : August 2012
❧ Since it has been a long time since I've read this series, I'll be reviewing it as a whole. So these books were on paranormal-romance genre. Vampires plus wraith (ghost) plus the vampire hunters. There's also a plus on mystery, betrayal, family and a lot of revelations.

So if there's something that I would never forget about this book, if would be the writings of Gray. I remembered admiring the way she was able to make me (reader) part of the story. The narration was really good from start to finish.

The nature of the characters was epic. Bianca, as a born vampire (not full yet), Lucas, as vampire hunter, and some involvement of wraith. Bianca turned out to become a wraith on the last book. And that really sucks. Imagine having a relation with a ghost. Not so good, right?? And Lucas had been turned to a vampire then back to being human. And that's another sucker. I think these things all happen on the last installment because that's where my rating dropped.

And about the ending, it was Annoying with the capital 'A'! While Lucas was turned back to being human, Bianca was stuck in being a wraith for like forever. That totally ruined my fantasies and my heart!

So the final book sucked. Through, the first three books were really good and lovable. I don't really know what's with the author's mind when she decided to give that kind of finale. Though, I must admit that it really did shake me up. Good book, totally recommending it..

The Ends of Weekdays: Quote Day

ღQuote Day!ღ

______________________________________________________________________________

Here's another upgrade for you guys, I'll be posting a quote every Monday and Friday (could be book related or not), I'm open to post your quotes here whether it's your original or your favorite ones ^^

______________________________________________________________________________

Here's one of many quotes that I manage to fish on my old shelf:)

The Ends of Weekdays: Quote Day

ღQuote Day!ღ

______________________________________________________________________________

Saturday Recollection [Short Reviews]

Books I Skipped Reviewing

Weekend treats

#005

These were just a short review of the books that I skipped for some reasons. I decided to post some once every weekend until it's all up. Enjoy! ^^

ღSeries Specialღ

(Part 1)

❧Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
❧ My Rating : 5.0 Hearts
❧ Date Read : Year 2010
❧ Since it has been a long time since I've read this series, I'll be reviewing it as a whole. Well... we all know twilight right? It's either you loved it or hated it, and obviously I loved it. These books actually initiated me on reading foreign books.
Anyway, twilight saga is about a human girl (Bella) and a 'vegetarian' vampire (Edward) falling in love with each other, plus a werewolf (Jacob) as he has fallen in love with the human too. They underwent different dilemmas involving a group of vampire, Volturi and werewolves. Continuously saving Bella until they all had their happy endings.
First of all things that I loved with these books were the characters. I don't know if anyone would agree but I loved Alice more than any of the lead characters. The lead: Bella, Edward and Jacob. They were all too good to be true but I didn't realized that until now that I'd read a hundred books, like i had said this is my first series. Edward, I'd fallen in love with him automatically. He is 'beautiful' in a supernatural way (all the vampires here got a god-like appearance), old-fashioned( not to mention that he's 107 years old), can read minds (except Bella's) and all the other things you wish your boyfriend is. And here goes Bella, the 'fragile little human'; she's clumsy, pretty, stubborn and just the type to be linked with the supernaturals. And here's Jacob, the werewolf, he was supposed to be the alpha but chose to not take the position, he's the best friend of Bella though, not so content with that status. All of them were just too lovable for me.
Second, the story line. It's amazing (at 13), this kind of love triangle was all new to me during the time I've read it. The antagonist and the way they just want to get rid of Bella and the way they were all defeated especially on the last installment. The vampire - werewolf thing was also interesting to me. And how the Cullens' were all 'vegetarian' vampires - feed on animal blood instead of humans'. Though, it's entertaining how Bella threaten that status (laughs) .
Loved it all. I also happen to watch all of the movies. I collected some souvenir items too. And come to think of it, if I hadn't been so addicted with Twilight, this blog may not be existing just yet, so thanks to Meyer and her incredible writing^^

The Ends of Weekdays: Quote Day

ღQuote Day!ღ

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

A pastor from the church I'm attending to once said that, we can make our vocation, our vacation if we just learn to love it and dedicate it to God...

Poems [#07] : Bow and Arrow

Bow and Arrow

Pain is the arrow buried in my heart,

Pain is how it felt when I saw you coming

With a bow and steady hands

While I kneel bleeding before your eyes.

Pain is the tight grip of memories,

Pain is the reality outside those memories

That no longer held your smiles and love

But your betrayal and hate instead.

Pain is receiving it from behind,

Pain is the absence of understanding,

Oh please, tell me why

For it's the reason it hurts the most.

Through the years that passed,

The pain never left,

The question never faded,

The answer still unheard.

But now you only belong in the past,

An unassembled puzzle covered in dust,

The one I could never bury

For I hold pieces of it in my palms.

Pieces I keep as a reminder,

A reminder never to trust too much,

A reminder of its consequences,

To keep me from repeating the same mistakes.

It's a shame, my shame

That you've had gotten my past

And still hold my future,

How can I steal it back, tell me.

They say, scars never fade

But what I have is a wound so fresh,

You see, I never let go of your arrow

I keep it here where you buried it.

Now, I remembered with wide eyes

The day I gave you that weapon

To protect or kill me

But you chose the latter.

Now, how am I suppose to trust?

When I can't even open my palms,

How am I suppose to let go?

When I'm too scared to trust again.

-Samantha A.

The Ends of Weekdays: Quote Day

ღQuote Day!ღ

______________________________________________________________________________

Here's another upgrade for you guys, I'll be posting a quote every Monday and Friday (could be book related or not), I'm open to post your quotes here whether it's your original or your favorite ones ^^

______________________________________________________________________________

Saturday Recollection [Short Reviews]

Books I Skipped Reviewing

Weekend treats
#004

These were just a short review of the books that I skipped for some reasons. I decided to post some once every weekend until it's all up. Enjoy! ^^

❧ Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

❧ My Rating : 5.0 Hearts

❧ Date Read : Dec 26, 2012
❧ Hadn't gotten the chance to review before for this blog does not exist yet. Touch of Power... Read it twice, loving it twice ^^ Romance, adventure, fantasy and mystery, all in one book! I loved the characters, plot and author's writing. Loved it all. It never failed to disappoint me. I have the review of it's second installment Scent of Magic here.

❧ Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

❧ My Rating : 1.0

❧ Date Read : Dec 04, 2012

❧ Same reasons. Artemis Fowl ... Nothing special about the book. I skipped almost half of it. I got bored and couldn't really appreciate any part of the book. Maybe it just didn't suit me, I think it must be read by younger teens/kids. Not planning to read the next installment. Anyway, I don't remember books with fey theme that I liked, maybe that's one of the reasons I didn't like it.

❧ Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

❧ My Rating : 4.0 Hearts

❧ Date Read : Oct 24, 2012

❧ Same reasons. Reason to Breathe... Another contemporary romance... I liked it, characters easy to relate with. The author's writing was good. It's a little too dramatic. There were times that I agreed and disagreed with the character. The book was really good. Though, I think that it's a little too long. I read half of the next installment but I was not able to finish it...

The Ends of Weekdays: Quote Day

ღQuote Day!ღ

______________________________________________________________________________

I know I'm noisy! [#01] : The Quest

The Quest... It's one of the pages here on my blog and I just want to share with you what it's all about. Also, I want to make it official by making this post.

First, there would be questions about what 'The Quest' is all about? It's actually just My Quest in the beginning, but I realized, what good it will bring to other if I will just keep it to myself. I know and I learned about the beauty of sharing things and I want to share it with anyone I can grab on. So... Yeah, The Quest is about knowing God more and more through reading Bible (and please, let me finish, don't stop reading just yet). And since, it is quite obvious already that I'm a bookworm (and I have thing feeling that you are also one), I want to make it more challenging (nerdy) by reading it in different languages. As of myself, I plan on doing it in Filipino, English and Greek, exactly in that order. I don't know Greek yet, that's where the challenge arises. And duh... What's the use of naming it 'The Quest' if there's no actual challenge, right?

Secondly, the question may be; why am I so insistent on sharing this with you? Yes, I do insist that you read It with me and with your own preferred language(s). I'm doing this because with all the odds and religion (or not) that passed, nothing had brought change in me but God. Anyway, just to let you people know that I'm not one of those old people (that I think you imagining me to be like) that advertising there religions or asking thing for some religious group (I really do hope that I'm not offending anyone), I'm still just a teenager, currently 16, and I'm doing these on my own, based on my own beliefs and experiences. I may share my story of how I happen to be a Christian from being considerably nothing at all, one of these days. Well... it's a little messy. So, here's just a glimpse of that story embodied on this little poem I made some time ago...

The Path I'd Taken

I'd been on the world of falsehood

Driven by threads woven by citizens,
Mesmerized by those connected hands,

Never bothering to question its rightfulness.

Years of duty without understanding
Years of crawling in a foggy path

Years of denying the sight of wisdom

Delivered by voice as warm as a mother's hug.

A hurricane shattered my brittle ball of glass,

Breaking every piece of me in every chance

Leaving me hating, blaming and cursing

until the foggy path turns to dark endless one.

Long, long agony with no one to hold on

Making me numb like an old and cold stone,

A misery filled with nothingness

Contained inside a little icy bottle.

But my blood can never be contained,

It spilled out and I'd known how to cry,

After years of numbing torture,

Who would have thought that all I needed was to cry?

I cried and cried until i just want it to end,

But a light suddenly gotten hold of my heart,

Never wanting to let go and give up on me,

Saving me from falling on the cliffs.

Touching me with love and care,

Making me forget of how I'd been,

Miraculously sewing back the pieces,

Healing every torn in my heart and soul.

The light taking me out of darkness,

Giving me complete blissful shine,

Fogs completely cleared-out,

Dark completely forgotten.

Here I stay with my savior

Who never had and never will abandon me

Here i live and cheries the very essence of my existence

Forever with Him, my beloved Savior and God.

-Samantha A.

Third, what's up with reading Bible in different languages? Aside from the challenge part of The Quest, I realized from reading books that language is not always very sufficient when it was only translated, there could be minimum misconceptions, and substitution of words is unavoidable especially when a word doesn't even exist on the other. The Bible is originally written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. I want to have further understanding on the word of God that I think reading it in several languages may be necessary.

Lastly, I don't really have anything more to say. Just want to make you know that I'm always open for discussions, questions, corrections or anything else. I hope that I helped brought some light into you even the tiniest one. No matter how small it was, it would always be seen as a good start to something much greater ^^

'For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.'' -Hebrews 4:12

[#21] Book Review: Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Goddess

(Starcrossed #3)

by Josephine Angelini

Synopsis

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

Review

Goddess... The final installment of Starcrossed trilogy. I always loved books with mythology theme and this one is totally up for it.

The plot has a lot of heart-breaking revelations, love, suspense (like why do Angelini has to keep the revelations a lot longer!), friendship and family, and the logic was really good, something that's really kept me thinking. It's also good that there was a little tragedy so not to make it like the usual happy ending. I liked the ending though, it's not so precise.

The characters. There's jealousy, betrayal, trust, doubt and of course Love with the capital 'L' ^^

Orion, I really feel sorry for him, the revelations about his past kept me interested and glowing with mix emotions. Helen, she's confusing but I really like her character. She's the perfect heroin- brave and loving. Lucas, will you please stop deciding things on your own?! LOL. That is why the ending was not precise because he made some conflict that will soon affect their future, now I'm wondering what will happen if those things finally roll in.

Okay, so I'm not so content with the ending. I feel like there has to be something more. And I can't never be content with them just living like it's their last day because of the conflict Lucas had made. Urgggg. But yeah, the trilogy's finished so I just have to wonder forever O.o

Anyway, aside from not being so content with the ending, I loved this book. Totally recommending the whole series to YA-mythology suckers like me :)

How much I loved it?

4.0 Hearts

The Ends of Weekdays: Quote Day

ღQuote Day!ღ

______________________________________________________________________________
Here's another upgrade for you guys, I'll be posting a every Monday and Friday (could be book related or not), I'm open to post your quotes here whether it's your original or your favorite ones ^^
______________________________________________________________________________

Can't stop myself from posting this one *laughs* 'cuz I definitely agree with it. Can't keep myself from wrinkling my nose every time my lunch buddies pass me ketchup O.o

Saturday Recollection [Short Reviews]

Books I Skipped Reviewing

Weekend treats

#003

These were just a short review of the books that I skipped for some reasons. I decided to post some once every weekend until it's all up. Enjoy! ^^

❧ Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
❧ My Rating : 5.0 Hearts
❧ Date Read : Dec 19, 2012
❧ Can't review before for this blog not existing yet.. Wow! That was Beautiful Disaster to me. Contemporary Romance doesn't really belong on my favorite shelf but this book definitely changed that status. I loved the characters and the plot. They were easy to relate with. The narration was awesome, it connected me to the events, never a single moment that I felt that I was just watching them. This novel has sparks and all. Really sweet and romantic book that I enjoyed till the last page..

❧ Abandon by Meg Cabot
❧ My Rating : 2.5 Hearts
❧ Date Read : May 09, 2013
❧ When I'd read this book, I don't really know what's up with me because if there's such a thing a 'reviewer's block' then I had it. Abandon... don't know but I expected more from Cabot. I didn't appreciate the Persephone theme of the book. I didn't like how thing turn out. Characters don't have any sense on the world around them. And the ending was pretty much similar. Though, I'm still considering reading the next installment.

❧ Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
❧ My Rating : 1.0
❧ Date Read : March 29, 2013
❧ This is the last book I read before creating this blog. Shiver... I didn't like it. Not planning to read the next installment. Well... the events sounded absurd to me. Turn out that the plot was all about the male character being a werewolf and the female lead had been bitten but didn't turn to be one. It's all about finding cure to being a werewolf and the psycho mind frame of the girl. The romance part was not appealing too. I just didn't come to like it...

[#20] Book Review: Towering by Alex Flinn

Towering

by Alex Flinn

Synopsis

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.
Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.

Review

Towering... I was surprised to like this one. My previous read by Flinn was rated not more than average, so I didn't really expect to love it this much for it's just another retelling. And that's the thing, it's a 'retelling' so we all know what's it's all about and what's going to happen inside but NO, this book was really exciting and full of unexpected things. Not really one of my average reads 'cuz I loved it!

So it's the modern version of Rapunzel played by Rachel and Wyatt. That's my favorite fairy tale and this book is a total level up. The evil witch/kidnapper doesn't really exist here. I loved the characters, made me try to guess several times. 'Is she the antagonist? What's up with that? What does it mean?' So I guess I'll just read this and stop blubbering because it's getting me nowhere.

The plot was amazing. Too many coincidences, I guess that's how people start believing in destiny and so do I. So this is just so girly! Nevertheless, I loved it. Just the right dose of mystery, romance and magic. It never made me feel like reading a classic fairy tale children book but a modern teenage one that really suits me.

And hey, look at the cover! That's just Wow! This is the best work of Flinn that I'd ever read, can't believe that she had it on hold before the inspiration came. Mega thumbs up!

How much I loved it?

5.0 Hearts

The Ends of Weekdays: Quote Day

ღQuote Day!ღ

[#19] Book Review: Requiem by Jamie McGuire

Requiem

(Providence #2)

by Jamie McGuire

Synopsis

Dreaming of the dead might mean a restless night for anyone, but for Nina Grey it was a warning.

Still healing from her last run-in with Hell, Nina struggles with not only her life as a Brown University student, but also as an intern at Titan Shipping, her father's company. Recurring nightmares about her father's violent death have become a nightly event, but being overwhelmed with guilt from Ryan's unexpected departure to the Armed Forces, and heart ache over Claire being across the ocean to protect him, Nina believes her sleepless nights are the least of her problems—but she's wrong.

Worried about Nina's declining health, Jared must steal back Shax's book for answers. Fighting new enemies, and with the help of new friends, Jared's worst fear comes to fruition. Desperate, he is faced with a choice: Fight Hell alone, or start a war with Heaven.

Review

Requiem... This is so much better than the first installment. The plot improved. And I was glad that this one, unlike the latter, was not 100% focused on the romance part.

Warning; this review may involve some spoilers, but I'll try to keep it in minimum. I just want to start by saying 'I am so right!!!' *happy dance* I told yah, there is gonna be something between Ryan and Claire (I wrote on my review of Providence my guesses about this book) Okay, so to be honest, I kind of finished this book faster than I should have because of Ryan and Claire. They interest me more than the lead characters.

While the plot totally improved, the logic drastically when down. The dilemma is about the prophesy that Nina would give birth to a certain child. They needed to stop that, but it also came from the book that it is inevitable. And any couple who doesn't want to have a child yet would have thought of condoms or pills, right? What up with 'Rhythm method'?? That's simply hilarious. It's like 'What?!! You're telling me that is the best solution you can come up to?!'. They are so not gonna solve anything with that suggestion. LOL.

Sasha and Kim. So the Kim part was not so surprising, it pretty much easy to guess. Sasha, I'm waiting for her to be involved with the antagonist. She should have just put a banner telling that she's part of Shax minion. Wondering what she will do on the next book.

Nina and Jared, so glad that McGuire decided to keep them separated for some parts. It helps to make the book far more interesting. Nina, I don't really like her character that much, even when she does something kind of useful, it just felt forced. Though, the effort on the last part was really good. I don't know but does she enjoy being on the dark? And the others, keeping her there? Jared, overprotective is an understatement to him. Their love keeps reminding me of twilight.

This book came with ups and down to me. It's good and interesting but not exactly the book I would love. There are also some parts that needs editing. The cover is a little scary. Going to read the next installment soon.

How much I loved it?

4.0 Hearts

The Ends of Weekdays: Quote Day

ღQuote Day!ღ

Saturday Recollection [Short Reviews]

Books I Skipped Reviewing

Weekend treats
#002

These were just a short review of the books that I skipped for some reasons. I decided to post some once every weekend until it's all up. Enjoy! ^^

❧ Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

❧ My Rating : 2.0 Hearts

❧ Date Read : Sept 14, 2012

❧ Skipped reviewing for my blog is not even existing yet. This book has a lot of similarities with Twilight, especially on the order of events and the events itself. The only difference was the male character was an alien. I didn't like the plot. The romance was hot and unstoppable and a little off. Nothing much I enjoyed about it.

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, #1)

❧ Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

❧ My Rating : 2.0 Hearts

❧ Date Read : Jan 15, 2013

❧ Same reasons. Contemporary romance about two teenagers with very dissimilar life and color. The setting was somewhere where discrimination was still very potent. I didn't enjoy this book. I don't read contemporaries often but when I do, I really try hard to enjoy it. This one's just too smooth on the ground. I couldn't even figure out where was the climax because it's just too smooth and constant. The dilemma was a little off for me. I just really didn't enjoy it and finishing this was a struggle.

❧ Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

❧ My Rating : 3.5 Hearts

❧ Date Read : Mar 14, 2013

❧ Same Reasons. I really liked this one. Calm novel about four girl friends and weird tattoos that introduced them to another world. The focus was on their friendship, not much on the dilemma. There is humor, magic, adventure and mystery. Recommend for 10 years up.

Pages