Books I re-read:
Books I read for the first time:
The best of the bunch:
City of Glass (Mortal Instruments #3), Cassandra Clare
5/5 -just wonderful
adventure, alternate views, angst, love, urban fantasy
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work
together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?
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** spoiler alert **
Part one: Sebastion is Clary's brother, not Jace. Has to be. I refuse to accept that Jace is her brother. Anyway, Clary had this vague recollection of Sebastion right from the beginning. I began to hope. Then with what the angel showed her, that Valentine gave his son demon
blood, it totally explained Sebastion's reaction when Clary rejected him.
I always get so sad when I read about Clary and Jace's intimate moments.
Part two: Why aren't we more involved with Max? He's a shadowhunter child, but he doesn't seem to be get any education or training. Isabelle got her whip at 8 years old, so it should seem like we should be getting a little bit more of Max's story. They're always protecting him and treating him like he's nothing, and it's right that a 10 year old boy shouldn't be out fighting demons. But he should at lest know how to do
the ruins and somewhat protect himself. I don't even think he has a witchlight.
Yes, I cried. There's something about Jace that just tugs at my heart. He's so broken and abused and he's been so used. He thinks he's a bad person and he deserves whatever shit is thrown at him. I just want to jump through the pages of this book and give him the longest hug ever recorded by mankind.
I am so confident that fake Sebastion is the real Jonathon it's crazy. Everything I just read about Clary and Jace made me cry because I know that they are not brother and sister and Jace is not a monster.
I'm worried that know that Jace and Clary can be together I won't be interested anymore. That there's no more angst they're just going to be boring. I will always be interested in Jace's story though.
Blood Red Road
by Moira Young
4/5 -just wonderful
dystopia, adventure, family, love story, mature
In a lawless future land, where life is cheap and survival is hard, Saba has been brought up in isolated Silverla0ke. She never sees the dangers of the destructive society outside. When her twin brother is snatched by mysterious black-robed riders, she sets outon an epic quest to rescue him. The story's searing pace, its spare style, the excitement of its fabulously damaged world, its unforgettably vivid characters, its violent action and glorious lovestory make this a truly sensational YA debut novel.
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I almost put this down after the first few pages. I hated the writing style. I guess the point got across, but do I have to suffer through misspellings and grammar errors? But after a while I didn't even notice anymore.
I really liked it, it kept me hooked. I picked it up because it was compared to The Hunger Games. It's a story that sounds like that in a way, but I wasn't ever comparing the two. It's a good read.
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton
4/5 -just wonderful
angst, coming of age, family, mature, social issues, young adult, movie
Written over forty years ago, S. E. Hinton's classic story of the struggle between the Socs and the Greasers remains as powerful today as it was the day it was written, and it is taught in schools nationwide. Now available in a great new package with an improved trim size, a stunning new cover, and bonus material. Designed with classroom use in mind, the new edition will maintain the same pagination as the previous edition.
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This book was great! It just goes to show you that schools should stop forcing kids to read books, give them a choice! Because of all the times I was assigned to read this throughout my school career I never did. People just can't force you to read something, it has to be your choice.
What in God's Name by Simon Rich
4/5 -just wonderful
adult fiction, alternate views, beach read, funny, mature, love story
Welcome to Heaven, Inc., the grossly mismanaged corporation in the sky. For as long as anyone can remember, the founder and CEO (known in some circles as "God") has been phoning it in. Lately, he's been spending most of his
time on the golf course. And when he does show up at work, it's not to resolve wars or end famines, but to Google himself and read what humans have been blogging about him.
When God decides to retire (to pursue his lifelong dream of opening an Asian Fusion restaurant), he also decides to destroy Earth. His employees take the news in stride, except for Craig and Eliza, two underpaid angels in the lowly Department of Miracles. Unlike their boss, Craig and Eliza love their jobs - uncapping city fire hydrants on hot days, revealing lost keys in snow banks - and they refuse to accept that earth is going under.
The angels manage to strike a deal with their boss. He'll call off his Armageddon, if they can solve their toughest miracle yet: getting the two most socially awkward humans on the planet to fall in love. With doomsday fast approaching, and the humans ignoring every chance for
happiness thrown their way, Craig and Eliza must move heaven and earth to rescue them - and the rest of us, too.
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This was a delightful read! Refreshing and funny, sweet and satisfying.
This book is a very short, lighthearted read; I read it in a few hours.
Blindsided, Priscilla Cummings
contemporary, realistic fictional, social issues, young adult
4/5 -just wonderful
In any ways, Natalie O'Reilly is a typical 14-year-old girl. But a routine visit to the eye doctor produces devastating news: Natalie will lose her sight within a few short months. Suddenly her world is turned upside down.
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This book is very real and very emotional. It displayed the emotional loss and the little things that no one ever thinks of unless they're forced to. It was very well written. I know that I felt that recognition of what it was like to have to deal with hardships that others have no idea what they're about.