Review of Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Release Date: Jan. 11, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 398 pages
Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Review:  Wow. What an incredible book and by a debut author! The story is the perfect mix of sci-fi, dystopia, thriller and romance. The plot is awesome and flows seamlessly. I was worried that I would get confused by the sci-fi element, but Revis works the description of the ship, the science and the people effortlessly.  

The book is told from the perspective of both Amy and Elder so you get to experience Amy’s fear and her incredible sadness when she realizes she has lost everything that she has known. We also get to know Elder and see how he matures through the course of the book. Other characters like Harley were also great, I just wish we had gotten to see more of him.

The villain is awful, but while I think his choices are reprehensible, I can see how desperation for survival could create this society.

The book wraps up nicely without a cliffhanger, but it leaves you wanting more which is perfect because this is the first in a trilogy. The fast pace of this book, the mysteries and the sci-fi element would draw in reluctant and non-readers. As such, I will be getting the audio book for my husband, I think he will enjoy it.

Content: Warning: I would not recommend this book to younger teens. It has sexual situations that are shocking and inappropriate for the younger set. Additionally, a character is assaulted and almost gang raped. Language.

I thought I would something new today and do some casting for Across the Universe. I really see Molly C. Quinn (from the TV show Castle) as Amy and Daniel Henney (a more tanned version) for Elder.

Library Thursday – 2/10/11

Library Thursday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Lazy Girl Reads to:
1. Encourage people to support their libraries when they can
2. Meet new bloggy friends and grow your following

I had another slow week of reading! Last night I was so tired, I fell asleep at 8:30 pm while putting the baby to sleep – not good when you have books awaiting! This week I only got one book for myself from the library which is good because I still have a bunch from the past two weeks to finish up. I just finished Across the Universe and am now reading Anna and the French Kiss. I’m not really excited about it only because I don’t like contemporaries but everyone says it’s so good, I am giving it a try. Here is my book this week:

The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

For my three year old I got:
Oodles of Animals by Lois Ehlert
Bugs by Valerie Todd Davies
‘Twas the Day Before Zoo Day by Catherine Ipcizade

What did you get from your library?

Review of Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Release Date: Dec. 28, 2010
Publisher: Dial
Pages: 450 pages
Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction
Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: Finn has escaped from the terrible living Prison of Incarceron, but its memory torments him, because his brother Keiro is still inside. Outside, Claudia insists he must be king, but Finn doubts even his own identity. Is he the lost prince Giles? Or are his memories no more than another construct of his imprisonment? And can you be free if your friends are still captive? Can you be free if your world is frozen in time? Can you be free if you don't even know who you are? Inside Incarceron, has the crazy sorcerer Rix really found the Glove of Sapphique, the only man the Prison ever loved. Sapphique, whose image fires Incarceron with the desire to escape its own nature. If Keiro steals the glove, will he bring destruction to the world? Inside. Outside. All seeking freedom. Like Sapphique.

Review:  Review contains spoilers to Incarceron.

If you have read Incarceron, you know of the fantastical world of the living Prison inside and the Realm outside that Catherine Fisher created. Incarceron was action packed, with Finn, Attia and Keiro racing to find a way out of the vast prison. At the end of the book, Finn escapes the horrible prison and is declared the lost crown prince of the Realm. That’s a great thing, right? You would think Sapphique would be off to a happy start, right? Not so much.

In Sapphique, Finn is not adjusting to life as prince very well. He is not polished, having grown up in a prison and hates the cutthroat politics of court. He is consumed with guilt over leaving his oath brother Keiro in the prison and is obsessed with Jared finding an escape. Claudia and Jared are his only allies in court, but even they don’t believe he is truly the lost crown prince. Claudia, who was once the prince’s betrothed, is so mean! She worked so hard to get him out of the prison in the first book, I was looking forward to their relationship growing. Instead, she is disappointed in him, constantly annoyed and snappish. The only other character more unlikable than her is Keiro, and even he somewhat redeems himself in the end (Claudia never does). I was surprised that the characters were so unlikable because I did not feel this way about them in Incarceron.

Sapphique is just as action packed and fast paced as Incarceron which is great. Unfortunately, it leaves more questions than it answers. The legend of Sapphique is explored in greater depth and this legend was one of my greatest sources of confusion. This series needs a third book, and to my knowledge, there are no more planned. If you liked Incarceron, you will probably like Sapphique as well, warts and all.

Content: Violence.

Blog Hop & Follow My Blog Friday - 2/4/11

Happy Friday everyone! My name is NC and I have been blogging about books for almost two months! I review mostly YA books and audiobooks of all genres.

This week's question from the Book Blogger Hop: "What are you reading now and why are you reading it?"

I just started reading Across the Universe and its good so far. I love dystopia and I have wanted to get into a little more science fiction so this seemed like an original story with a good combination of both.  I have also heard great things about it from other bloggers so I am excited to really get into it.

This week's question from Follow My Book Blog Friday: What is the book you are currently 'pushing'? (Pushing mean trying to get people to read it)

Well, I reviewed Delirium by Lauren Oliver on Monday and thought it was a beautifully written book and I just finished The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (have not reviewed it yet) and loved it. I also think that Nevermore by Kelly Creagh was the most under-hyped book of last year. I’m always encouraging people to read it!

Library Thursday

Library Thursday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Lazy Girl Reads to:
1. Encourage people to support their libraries when they can
2. Meet new bloggy friends and grow your following

I was such a slow reader last week! I put a lot of new books on hold and they have started coming in at once, so I better get caught up because I hate late fees. I just finished Sapphique and started Across the Universe. Here are my books this week:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

Crave by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz

For my three-year-old I got:

The First Dinosaur Encyclopedia
The National Geographic Ultimate Dinopedia
The Simon & Schuster Children’s Guide to Insects & Spiders
Ten Naughty Little Monkeys by Suzanne Williams
Dino-Soccer by Lisa Wheeler
Down by the Station by Jennifer Riggs Vetter

What did you get from your library?

Waiting on Wednesday – 2/2/11

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:

Title: The Power of Six
Author: Pittacus Lore
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: August 23, 2011
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Science Fiction

Summary: They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya.  They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio and failed.  I am Number Seven. One of six still alive. And I'm ready to fight.

I read I Am Number Four and really enjoyed it. Despite the controversy over James Frey's involvement in the book, I thought it was entertaining and the movie looks like it will be as well. I am excited to read the sequel, but I am a bit bummed that the Goodreads summary is from the perspective of Number Seven and not a continuation of John's (Number Four) story. I'm sure I will read it regardless. What books are you waiting on?

Audio Books for the Other Half

They say opposites attract, and in my case, it’s really true. I am, like my blog names says, truly bookish, preferring spend my spare time reading great books. My husband, Stephen, on the other hand, is the outdoorsy, sportsy type who is not a recreational reader and cannot understand how I can spend so much time reading.

Unfortunately for him, he has a 15-mile commute to work that can take him an hour sometimes, so I decided to get him audio books for the drive and now he is hooked! Every week, I will post an audio book recommendation for the reluctant/non-reader (in my case my husband, aka my other half) and what he thought of the book.

This week’s audio book is The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

Release Date: Nov. 2009
Publisher: Random House Audio
Format: Compact Disc
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Library

Goodreads Summary: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade-a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up-the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Stephen’s Thoughts: He really enjoyed this book!  He found it intriguing, original and fast paced. He thought the characters well rounded and likable. He says if you enjoyed the TV series Lost, you will like the Maze Runner. He did also say the characters used unfamiliar words and terminology that took some getting used to, but he adjusted to it early in the book.

He loved the ending of the book and is looking forward to the sequel, The Scorch Trials. He definitely recommends it for the reluctant/non-reader!