Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen
Date Released: April 9,2006
Pages: 335

Summary:

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

My Review:

Truthfully, I thought I would like this book a lot more than I did. It wasn't so much that the whole book was okay, it was really just bits and pieces of it that I didn't like. So, let me start with the things I liked.

I really liked the chapters that were told from the point of view from the older Jacob. In them I liked how he talked about his kids and how his wife had died, but he kept us hanging until the end as to who his wife was. Did he actually end up with Marlena? Or did their story not end in a happily ever after?

I also really liked Rosie. I liked the way Jacob fell in love with her just as much as he fell in love with Marlena. I felt like the whole story just got better in general after Rosie was introduced as a character, I just wasn't feeling the first half. But the second half I really liked. I even liked August and all his crazy problems because he added a certain dynamic to the whole story.

One thing that bothered me was the beginning of the romance between Jacob and Marlena. One second Jacob was just thinking about her beauty, and the next BAM he was all of a sudden completely in love with her. The author kind of cheated us out of the details as to how he fell in love with her. After that moment of revelation on his part, I liked their love story. It was just the start of it that bothered me.

The second thing I didn't like was the character of Marlena. The way the author wrote her it wounded like she was a secondary minor character that strived to be a main character, instead of sounding like she was the main character. She was flat and predictable, and I did not like her at all.

With all this said, I have to mention the movie version for a second. I actually liked the movie better than the book, and it was for one main reason. In the movie, the character of Marlena (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) was actually likable. Witherspoon added a certain dynamic to her that made her a good character, instead of a flat predictable one.

My Rating:

In My Mailbox #2

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is hosted every week by Kristy at The Story Siren

On My Nook:

From my parents for Christmas:

Beautiful Creature by Kami Stohl, Margaret Garcia

Beautiful Creatures
by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Date Released: October 1, 2009
Pages: 563

Summary:

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

My Review:

I loved this book. When I first started to read it, I wasn't sure because I had started it once already as part of a buddy read, but soon abandoned in favor of the other book I was reading. But I am so glad I picked it up again.

One thing I loved about it was the southern location. I am a southern girl born and raised, so whenever I find a book that takes place in the south, that always gives it a couple brownie points. I especially love it when it takes place in a city I'm familiar with or a small town. Beautiful Creatures took place in small town called Gatlin.

Being the book nerd I am, another thing I loved was all of the different quotes that Marian would say when she would talk to people. Quite a few of those have been book marked for future use.

I also loved the character of Ethan. The entire story was told from the point of view of 16 year old Ethan, and I loved the way he broke different stereotypes. He showed the audience that guys can fall for someone just as much as any girl can. That they can be embarrassed about they way they feel and act nervous around girls. His personality and character were great in general, I especially like the way he would always wear the same Converse.

The one thing I didn't particularly like about the book was how the world of the Casters was so detailed and had so many parts to it. Yes, I realize that sounds really weird considering that was the point of the whole book, but it wasn't that I disliked the Casters, I just disliked the complexity, sometimes I would just have to stop and think for a second to sort it out, then keep reading. I still did like the general idea of the Casters, so that didn't take away from my rating of the book.

I would highly recommend this book to any fans of fantasy and paranormal romance.

My Rating:

Wrapping Up 2011 Readathon!

So I'm starting to participate in a readathon hosted by Jessie at Jessie's Remarkable Reads, and I was going to post the button, but for some reason it won't load.
Anyways, the readathon lasts from December 22 - January 1, and the goal is to push yourself to read more than normal. So here is my to read list for the readathon (in no particular order):

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Leviathan
by Scott Westerfeld
Date Released: October 6, 2009
Pages: 440

Summary:

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

My Review:


My friend told me to read this book a while ago so she could have someone to fangirl over it with. And because Christmas was near approaching and I had yet to acquire a copy to read, she gave it to me for Christmas. I read it in about a day and a half and as soon as I finished, I went and got the second one on my Nook. Needless to say, I loved this book.

It took me a couple of chapters to warm up to the idea of the Clanker machines and the Darwinist fabs, but ultimately I share Alek’s feeling for the fabs, they kind of weird me out a little. I like the Clanker machines much better. The idea of flying around in the belly of a mutated beast is just a little too weird, though I did like the Huxleys. But I would much rather walk around in a Stormwalker.

Also, the idea of a girl disguising herself as a guy to do what she wants is not a theme I am unfamiliar with having read the Bloody Jack series, and it is one that I like to read. It always gets interesting when the girl realizes that she might be developing something resembling feelings towards one of the guys, only problem is everything thinks she is a guy too. I am anxious to see how this will play out in the remaining two books.

The art was another part of the book that I loved. While some people may say that a YA book should not have pictures, I think they really add to the dynamic of the book. I probably would not have been able to visualize the machines or fabs the way the author had without the help of the pictures.

This book was also one of those books that you can read quickly, and not because of lack of quality, it is just because of the way the author writes. His other book series, Uglies, read the same way.

All in all, this book was probably one of the best steampunk I have read in a while. I would recommend it for anyone who like steampunk, sci fi, or history.

My Rating:

In My Mailbox #1

In My Mailbox:

In My Mailbox is hosted every week by Kristi the Story Siren.

Two books this week, both as Christmas gits from friends.

Under the Jolly Roger by L.A. Meyer

Under the Jolly Roger
by L.A. Meyer
Date Released: August 1, 2005
Pages: 544

Summary:

After leaving the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston--under dire circumstances, of course--Jacky Faber boards a whaling ship bound for London, where she hopes to find her beloved Jaimy. But things don't go as planned, and soon Jacky is off on a wild misadventure at sea. She thwarts the lecherous advances of a crazy captain, rallies sailors to her side, and ultimately gains command of a ship in His Majesty's Royal Navy. But Jacky's adventures don't end there. . . .

My Review:

Jacky and I have what you would call a love/hate
relationship. At times I love her, but at others I just kind of want to punch
her in the face for her rash decisions! And this is actually a good thing,
every book needs one of those characters that annoy you sometimes, it makes it
a good book.

I have loved this series for a while now, okay
so maybe for only a year or two, and I am currently rereading them. When I got
to this one (the third in the series) it really reminded me why this one was
and still is my least favorite of the series.



I mean for the most part I really did like the
book, with the exception of two things. One, Jacky being her usual rash self
when she ran away from the horse races at the beginning of the book. My
original thoughts were that she should just go and punch the chick, though
looking back on that after finishing the book, that probably would not have
been the best idea. I mean, Mrs. Fletcher already hates Jacky so punching
Jaimy’s cousin probably would not be the best way to win his mom’s
favor…anyways. Also, she gets mad at Jaimy for being at a horse race with
another girl, but she goes and let’s Robin kiss her and what not and almost
“gives herself” to him. I guess I can sympathize, she thought Jaimy didn’t love
her, but still she just goes and finds another guy like right away.


The second thing that really annoyed me was how
Jacky pretended to the captain’s (for lack of a better work to mean the
equivalent of a boy toy) gal pal. I don’t know, the fact that she pretended to
do it with him for several days in a row just annoyed the heck out of me,
especially since she knew how it affected those that loved here (AKA Robin).


But besides those two things I enjoyed the book.
And the rest of the series is amazing too.

My Rating:

Friday 5 (even though it's posted on Saturday)

So I'm trying to reboot my blog and so with that I am starting up the Friday Five again. So here is my Friday 5 for the 16th:

1.

Leviathan. My friend June has been raving about this book and fangirling to me about the two main characters and won't rest until I read it, so this is number one on my Christmas wish list.

2.

Crossed. So Matched was amazing and a couple of my friends have already read this and it makes me really want to read this.

3.

Clockwork Prince. Again, another sequel that I really want to read because Clockwork Angel was awesome!

4.

Away. This year is really a time for sequels, because here is another. The first one (called: The Line) was awesome. Unfortuneately, this is one series none of my friends have read so I no one to obsess with :( sad, but all the same I need to find out what happens!

5.

The Name of the Star. Not a sequel this time, but looks really good. I mean a YA book set during the time of Jack the Ripper in London? Sign me up!