Entwined book review

Alas! I have finished reading the book. I do not say this in such a manner that you would think I have been exhausted by it, rather it is  because of how little time I've actually had to read this. What with all the continuous walking around town and whatnot, which at the end of the day makes me tired leaving me to fall asleep. Nevertheless, I have finally finished it and it is remarkable. Heather Dixon's book, Entwined, is somewhat like a re-telling of the 12 Dancing Princesses. Here, it starts with the death of a loved one who passes an heirloom or the like to the main character and her journey begins from their. It is filled with magic and excitement. Love of course is a major theme as well as Family, and Trust.

The princesses are left in the castle during mourning while the King is away in the war. He left them in bad terms that they ended up disobeying the rules about dancing while mourning. It was not allowed in their kingdom but since they haven't been dancing in public and no one from the kingdom sees them, technically it wasn't a problem at all. However, this secret place lures them every single time they come to dance that it ends up becoming a place they regret coming.

Being a dancer myself I love how the author the author describes the dances mentioned in the story and how it is delivered by the characters. The images of skirts twisting when they turn or spin seems so real I want to do it myself and feel what their feeling. The emotions she describes when they dance is exactly how I feel whenever I succeed doing a dance step. I love ballroom dancing the most among all the dances I do. Some might think that the choreography is too simple or boring but reading from this book tells you otherwise. You suddenly feel the dances themselves the same way the lovers of princesses Azalea, Bramble, and Clover make you feel when they say or do something romantic. Although Lord Teddie didn't sound romantic but his funny ways of showing how much he fancied Bramble was more than enough for me to understand that they're a good match. Not to mention the villain of the story, Keeper or the High King, who was described to have a "chocolate voice", handsome, and was great at dancing. Initially, I had my doubts at the beginning. maybe it's because he was to perfect to begin with and there was something about his dialogue that made him suspicious. Later on his descriptions became more and more close to that of the High King. I put the pieces of the puzzle together, chapters before Azalea did. But she was exhausted already from all the tortures and pressures he gives her, and she has to assist 11 girls in their household so I'll give her that.

It is a very lovely book and I love the cover too. The time, place, characters, I adore. Best fairy tale story and since I haven't read the original version of the 12 Dancing Princesses I can't really make a comparison to say whether or not this was a better version. It's a great read and I recommend it to anyone who loves stories of Magic, Love, and Fairy Tales coming to life because you'll not want to put this book down once you've started.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver Book Review

The most important thing I noticed when I finished the book was the transition of Lena's development from an ordinary citizen of a loveless city to one who is willing to sacrifice so much than to live without it.

It is quite noticeable because of how my mood was at the beginning. I was rather slow but I knew I had to speed up a bit, especially since I haven't been reading continuously.

I felt just as dull as she did. It was as if life had no color everytime I read it. Upon meeting Alex is where her adventure starts and where I begin to be more excited. I am definitely a romantic but I know when a story has reached its peack. This, however, doesn't.

The end of the story is where I was full of emotions just like Lena who is escaping from her home with Alex into the Wilds and are being chased by the police and regulators after being caught and monitored a few days before. By now, you can tell where my panic and the sudden rush of my blood comes from.

I believe that is the highlight of the story so far and some questions still rise from my head. Will Lena find her mother in the Wilds? Did the police kill Alex or will he be reunited with Lena like a fairy tale element in the story? Will what happened to Lena happen to Grace since they have a somewhat similar situation in the sense that they were left by the people they love and trust? There are more that come up but these sre the ones that bug me every now and then. But I need to move on the next book on my list.

My Summer Reading List

It's a long list but I've started and finished with some already but just to give a heads up on my agenda. So far I've read Divergent and Insurgent and made book reviews. Currently I'm reading Delirium which is somewhere in this list. What you'll find mostly here are dystopian novels. The order in which I listed the books do not reflect on which I attempt to finish first. I will make it a point to write a book review for every one that I finish. Some reviews might not be as insightful as others due to reasons I do not know yet why but it can happen.

• Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth

• Divergent

• Insurgent

• The Maze Runner Series - James Dashner
• The Maze Runner

• The Scorch Trials

• Death Cure

• Delirium Series - Lauren Oliver

• Delirium

• Pandemonium

• The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins

• The Hunger Games

• Catching Fire

• Mocking Jay

• Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy - EL James

• Fifty Shades of Grey

• Fifty Shades Darker

• Fifty Shades Freed

• The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel - Michael Scott

• The Alchemyst

• The Magician

• The Sorceress

• The Necromancer

• The Warlock

• The Enchantress

• The Uglies Trilogy- Scott Westerfeld

• Uglies

• Pretties

• Specials

• Extras

Insurgent book review

Following Divergent, the story continues when Tris, Tobias, Caleb, Susanne, Marcus, and Peter are on their way to the Amity compound. The rest of the story leads to numerous obstacles and puzzling mysteries about the unknown that is beyond the fence. Tris and Tobias's relationship and Marcus's credibility are tested. Veronica Roth has ceased to fail bringing in suspense to the story, I know because I was craving for more every time I turned a page. I bet you can't imagine how I felt when I finished the book. There is not much repetition of locations, which is good because it is nice to see new places and what wonders they may have to offer our imagination. Insurgent has definitely kept up with the thrills from Divergent or possibly more.

My list of potential actors to play Tris and Four in the upcoming Divergent movie.

Beatrice 'Tris' Prior

• Saoirse Ronan
• AnnaSophia Robb
• Bella Heathcote

Tobias 'Four' Eaton

• Max Irons
• Alexander Ludwig
• Drew Roy

Hunger Games movie review

So after I read the book I watched it with my sister. As always when it comes to books being made in to films I tend to worry because it often happens that the story is not followed which ends up ruining it, well for me. It is understandable that it is difficult to make Panem realistic but they have. A lot of the props used are just right for the movie and the setting of the story.

However, just as my fears were, some parts in the book were not followed and to me they were very significant in the story such as the Mocking jay pin that was supposed to be given by Madge to Katniss during the visitation. Also the visit of Peeta's dad to Katniss. For me, they both had a significance such that they play a part in the upcoming events. In the book it made me wonder why his dad visited her and what part does the pin play in the story. It seems like such a huge deal for it to come from the mayor's daughter.

The scenes wherein Haymitch was supposed to give advice to them were also important because it showed a side of him that actually cares and knows what he is doing despite the initial appearance of his character being a drunk. Instead, the movie made him continuously look like a drunk and insufferable except for the scene when he went to get sponsors in order to send her an ointment for her burn.

Also the scenes that involve the planning of making Peeta and Katniss the star-crossed lovers from District 12. The theme of romance was not much played in the movie or at least I could not see it as much as I did in the book. They made Katniss look like she hardly cared about him the entire movie while in the book there was some feeling that was shown including the part when Peeta tells her when he started liking her. When his dad told him that he was supposed to marry her mum but she went off and married a miner. How Peeta knew from then that he had no chances with Katniss and then finds out that he does not have any competition. And also when Peeta finds out on their trip home that she's only been playing a part for him and he ends up feeling betrayed. These scenes help build up the tension not only in Peeta and Katniss's relationship but also Katniss's relationship with herself and to Gale. The confusion she had when he said they could leave the district and survive and be well off with what they have. The film failed to show this one aspect that affects Katniss.

One thing I did like the most in the film is the scene that they added when Rue died. I think it would have been great if it was mentioned in the book. It almost made me cry, or maybe I would have if I was not watching with my sister. It shows so much emotion and drama. It shows exactly what the people of Panem feel about the Hunger Games. However, this confuses me when I think further because I recall from the book with the upheaval of District 13 which is now obsolete might end up being the same fate for District 11's riot. It is a powerful scene and very moving. I hope it does not become a source of difficulty for Catching Fire.

It is only the riot of District 11 that was inspiring. But without the key scenes from the book being followed, the absence of the dialogue which are key to answering questions that arise in the beginning, presence and absence of characters also having roles in the story and help build it up, I can not like it more than how I do now. I might be choosy but it frustrates me when this happens and so this is all I think it deserves.

Hunger Games book review

At first I told myself when the film was soon to be out that if ever I desired to see it, I would read the book first. After much contemplation and convinced that I can actually like dystopia novels after reading Divergent I decided to start reading this book. I've been too excited and grown impatient to wait until I get the next book of the Divergent trilogy, Insurgent, that I thought in order not to lose my motivation in reading this genre I should continue reading books of the kind and so I thought this would suffice.

Turns out it did. It took me a maximum of 3 days to finish it, determined to find out what happens next. Very descriptive, including the emotions that I almost feel as if I am with the protagonist. However, I am also able to separate my thoughts from hers in some way I do not fully understand so in the end I'm reminded that it is a story that I am reading and that there is no real-life tv show that would make the young fight 'til one remains and is victorious with the killing of the other 23 tributes.

The story is amazing and very very much exciting. The vagueness of the rules make it much more difficult to resist anticipating the outcomes of the events. Romance is also a theme used but not so heavily. It is not the main theme but is also made significant by the author. It shows the wholehearted giving of one and the unsure return of feelings by the other. One, mostly I, can't help but fall for the romantic moments too.

I love the balance this book has on its themes of love (romantic + familial), bravery and courage, and credibility. There are more themes but these are what stood out for me.