Day 9: A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
“For me that would have to be Clockwork Angel. City of Bones had not impressed me and I wasn’t sure I would like Cassandra Clare’s new Shadow-hunter series, but I was wrong. It was a good surprise.”
This month I have chosen The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot to be featured in my Book Blast from the Past Feature. When I was 13, The Princess Diaries series was my favorite series and it helped me get through middle school which was a hard time for me because I was the new girl in a new place.
Originally Published: 2001
Copy Read: Princess Diaries Collection (#1-3)
Publisher: Harper Teen (A HarperCollins Publishers Imprint)
Goodreads Summary:
She’s just a New York City girl living with her artist mom…
News Flash: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that’s why a limo meets her at the airport!)
Downer: Dad can’t have any more kids. (So no heir to the throne.)
Shock of the Century: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material.
Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmére, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne.
Well, her father can lecture her until he’s royal-blue in the face about her princessly duty–no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind. But what’s a girl to do when her name is Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo?
Review:
The last time I read this book was in 2004. I had forgotten how witty Mia is and how hilarious Mia and Lilly are together. I swooned for Michael at 13, and I swooned at 22 again. My 13 year old self enjoyed this book, and today my 22 year old self is enjoying it as well. Mia deals with real life problems, even if some people would classify them as first world problems, but they are real problems nonetheless. Problems like the separation of parents, love life problems, having to deal with your mother dating other people that is not your father, and dealing with family that you are not exactly fond of. We will all have those issues at some point [if we don’t already] in our lives and Mia helps us see how bad it can get, but also that it isn’t all horrible. The Princess Diaries is a book that can be enjoyed by many, and the witty lines in the book only adds to its amazing-ness (Yes, I am aware “amazing-ness” is not a real word.)
Rating: 5/5
Rating System:
1/5: I hate it.
2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.
3/5: I like it /A fun read.
4/5: I really like it, but something is missing.
5/5: I love it! It’s as close to perfection as it can get!
Day 8: Most Overrated Book
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen.
On Goodreads it has a 4.40 rating. I can’t believe it. The book is poorly written and it’s horrible. I think I skimmed about half of it because of the R-rated content it had. That book needs a warning label. Serisouly. (I think everyone knows by now I dislike books that have explicit sex scenes in them.)
Goodreads Summary:
Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs… for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.
What I like:
I absolutely adored the relationship between Augustus and Hazel. I loved the humor and the witty lines in this book. I was pleasantly surprised because I was expecting something along the lines of an Abundance of Katherines and Looking for Alaska hybrid and it wasn’t. I am not one to love every part of a book; I can always find something wrong with it, but this book just left me breathless and actually made me shed a tear. A tear for me is the equivalence of others sobbing. The letter at the end that Augustus wrote was beautiful. It left me gasping for breathe with how beautifully written it was.
What I dislike:
The only complaint I have with this book is how the relationship of Augustus and Hazel ended up turning out in the end.
Overall:
I cannot express how much I love this book so I will just say it was brilliant and it will not be easily forgotten.
Rating: 5/5
Rating System:
1/5: I hated it.
2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.
3/5: I liked it (A fun read).
4/5: I really like it, but something was missing.
5/5: I love it! A Masterpiece!
Day 4: Favorite book of your favorite series
“My favorite book in the Vampire Academy Series would have to be Shadow Kiss.”
Day 5: A book that makes you happy
“A book that makes me happy is Divergent by Veronica Roth. I know that is a weird choice, but ugh, it makes me happy in so many ways.”
Day 6: A book that makes you sad
“The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. That book ripped me to shreds.”
Day 7: Most underrated book
“Love Story by Jennifer Echols. I don’t know anyone else that has read it except for myself and one other person and I let that person borrow the book.”
Care to share your choices? 🙂
Good Morning to all who live in the pacific west coast of the USA like myself. To everyone else… Hello!
First, I want to apologize for not posting Day 4 or Day 5 of the 30 Day Book Challenge. I’ve been really busy with job interviews, job search, and other responsibilities.
Second, I have a goodie for you all! Last night I went to Richelle Mead’s Event at Barnes & Nobles in Santa Monica, CA. I will be posting a special post on that event very soon! We have some information on The Fiery Heart, Gameboard of the Gods, and Blood Sisters updates! I will of course not give too much away for the sake of courtesy but I will have pictures and some of her responses to the Q&A session. Lastly, there will be pictures! I already posted one of myself with Richelle Mead at the event over at my tumblr.
That is all the news I have for you and please be patient with me this week. Hope you’re all having a lovely week.
Happy Thursday!
Thank you to The Broke and The Bookish for the Top Ten Tuesday Feature.
This week we have Top Ten Books Featuring Travel in Some Way. This Top Ten Tuesday has me thrilled because I love books that have travel in them. I tend to buy a lot of books that have the main characters traveling so this will be easy. Let’s do this!
1. Heist Society by Ally Carter
Katarina Bishop and her crew (along with the dreamy Hale) travel all around the world to accomplish the con jobs they have to do.
2. Ana and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Ana travels to England and meets St. Clair. The end. Read the book. 🙂
3. Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
Roadtrip with your ex. >:)
4. Amy & Rogers Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
A road trip across America.
5. Blood Promise (VA #4) by Richelle Mead
Rose goes to Europe.
6. The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
Motorcycles and a Roadtrip.
7. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
An account of traveling from the States to Europe and falling in love in the process.
8. Love Story by Jennifer Echols
Moves from the country to the city.
9. Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
Moves to another city due to unfortunate circumstances.
10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
4 girls. 4 different locations. 1 pair of pants.
What are some books that you love that feature travel in some sort of way?
Hello Guys!
Sorry for not posting day two yesterday. I had a very busy day. Busier than I had expected but nonetheless, I will make up for it in today’s post.
Day 2: A book that you’ve read more than 3 times.
The only book I’ve read more than three times is the Bible. About a year ago I started re-reading books but before that, I would never re-read a book. It was a rule of mine. I’ve thrown that rule out the window.
Day 3: Your favorite series.
My favorite series is the Vampire Academy Series.
Why? There are too many reasons why. 🙂
I’m still writing the TFiOS book review but it will probably be another week before I post it. Don’t forget Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead comes out tomorrow! Go out and buy it!
Goodreads Summary:
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.
What I liked:
I can describe this book in one single word… perfection. There is a reason why I bought this book without even glancing at the synopsis and just on the basis that it is written by Sarah Ockler. Her writing is phenomenal. I can just read and lose myself into the pages she has written. That my friends is a God given talent.
I was not expecting the ending because the new trend in YA is to have a unhappy ending or as some people call it, a realistic ending. Excuse me, there can be a happy ending in real life too. Its how you view it, half empty or half full. I loved all of the characters, especially the Holy Trio, or Jude’s three older sisters. Being the youngest girl in my family, I can connect with Jude with how difficult it is being the youngest.
I think a reason this book hit home with me is because of the use of the spanish language and hispanic boys. I loved the way hispanic americans were portrayed. A little bit of our past culture mixed in with the american culture. Just how we are in real life.
One more thing, where can I find an Emilio Vargas all for myself? 🙂
What I disliked:
I wish we had more Emilio and Jude moments. I also wish the book was longer.
Overall:
The Book of Broken Hearts deals with a heavy subject without making you sob uncontrollably (Can we all say The Fault in Our Stars?). It has romance, family, good advice, and it mentions amazing food that I wish I could be eating right now. Empanadas anybody?
If you are a fan of Sarah Dessen, Morgan Matson, or just some good YA Contemporary, this is the book for you.
Rating 5/5
Rating System:
1/5: I hate it.
2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.
3/5: I like it /A fun read.
4/5: I really like it, but something is missing.
5/5: I love it! It’s as close to perfection as it can get!
I will be partaking in the 30 Day Book Challenge this month with my friend Anjie. You will have a post a day from me this month! Exciting stuff! (Yes, I love using exclamation points because I am just so darn excited!)
Day 1:
The best book I’ve read this year is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I read this book about two weeks ago and I experienced my first book hangover ever. It left me wanting more. I was skeptical of this book at first because I had read Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines and they weren’t exactly my cup of tea, but TFiOS was just amazing. It deserves to be #1 in the NYT Best Sellers List.
The Talking Bookworm 