Book Review: The Complex (Cathy E. Zaragoza)

YA Fiction - Dystopian

I re-read this story so I can provide a clear review. I really enjoyed the first run  through and I enjoyed the second just as much!

I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in this sub-genre of YA Fiction - Dystopian novels. In the vein of Hunger Games trilogy (Suzanne Collins) and Insurgent trilogy (Veronica Roth), The Complex features a lot of the same elements; a divided society, small pockets of controlled people, and of course -- rebellion.

The difference between The Complex and other major names is it's Pace.

-I really liked The Complex because it was very fast paced. The action kept me reading and it was very difficult to put it down, in the fear that Cathy E. Zargoza kept tricking me in the lull's of the story. I would think that finally it's slowed down, I think I can go do the dishes, but WAIT! SHE JUST SAID....! And I kept reading.

-Even though it's a quick read, I have every reason to believe that it's just begun. The adventure the heroine has departed on is a very big task. This opens up a wide berth for this world, and Cathy E. Zargoza can take us all over the continent taking and saving lives all in the same page.

-I liked the main character Helena because I felt her age was very well adapted. Helena is only 16, and unlike other YA novels she isn't 16 going on 40. She is 16, and experiencing emotions as a 16 year old does. It's been a while, but I can certainly relate to the choatic, feeling-too-much-at-once emotion. Helena cries, she's stubborn, but she cares, and she goes with her gut, even if it's the wrong move. She takes experiences as she sees them, and dosen't over-analyze, and isn't overtly suspicious, which I find suits her well (given she's a 'Complex Baby').


All in all, I think this is a fun book, and if you enjoy Dystopian books, put this on your To-Read list!

WON! Succubus Blues, Richelle Mead

I've recently followed this blog; Book Sniffers Anonymous. I entered a couple of contests and WON! A free e-copy of - Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid #1) by Richelle Mead.

Thank you, BookSniffers! I'm very happy + grateful + excited! That's going to be my next read!

Synopsis (Goodreads.com);
When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven't stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess getup complete with whip and wings. And she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...
Find out more on GoodReads.com!  

Book Review: Heat, Bill Buford

Are you a foodie? Do you remember this guy?

The book basically follows an 'amateur' Bill Buford following the culinary discoveries of Mario. Mario had/has two restaurants in New York City that gained 3 stars. So it's serious business.

I got a glimpse into a world I would never, ever, otherwise peek into. Lack of interest, mainly, but lack of desire, lack of being a carnivore, lack of being a foodie.   If you tell me this dish you're about to serve me has chocolate in it, I'm good to go. That's about it.

It is disgusting. Very, very, disgusting. Want to know how your food is made, behind the scenes, when you pay $50.00 per entree? Want to really, realllllly know?  I'm warning you; you really don't. But, if you do... read Heat.  Then go to the restaurant.

What I liked about this book;

- I felt it was honest, unlike the Hells Kitchen TV show I never watched, but figured it's emphasized reality TV.  In Heat, Bill does tell you that there are some people who are screamers, and there are chefs who will tell you to 'Replate' if you did it wrong, even if you have a hundred orders behind you. But mostly, people are crazy, and passionate.  I believed that. I believe you have to be a little nutso to truly belong to your craft. Especially when your craft has you standing over fire for 14 hours a day.

- Bill spoke about vegetarians, and choosing to be vegetarian, with respect. He is CLEARLY a meat eater; but he KNOWS his meat. He went beyond the menu, learned about the calf, the cow, the bones, the muscles, the tissues, raw, cooked, brined, cured... he knows his meat. But, he talks about choosing to be vegetarian like it is a real choice. If you see/read what Bill has done, even he understands why a person would become vegetarian.

Here is a short excerpt I really liked;

"To my mind, vegetarians are amoung the few people who actually think about meat - at least THEY know what it is. I just believed people should know what they're eating. After all, at the green market, you overheard discussions about fertilizers and organic soils and how much freedom a chicken needs before it's free-range. Wouldn't it follow that you'd want to know what your meat is? And that's what I thought I was doing."
Bill Buford, Heat, Page 256.

He goes on to describe how people were being grossed out that he was carrying a freshly killed pig to his apartment. For the next week, he chopped and sliced and used -every- part of the pig, save the lungs. Only because, he needed a day off.

This book was thrust into my hands by someone I dearly love and trust, and even though she knows about my choices in life, if she wanted me to read this book -- I was going to read it. And I did. And I'm glad I did.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/139220.Heat

Amazon Arrived!

Lonely books on a Lonely shelf

Hurray, hurray, hurray! They came, they came, they came!

My 3 books from Amazon arrived in perfect condition. Aren't they pretty? So so pretty. But lonely.

I've already begun packing my books for the big move on July 13th.  I cannot WAIT to unpack and have my new bookshelves all lined up in a row.  I'll have a lot of pictures to share then!

I'm still working on;

Heat,  Bill Buford

I am nearly done. I want to finish it. It makes me so grossed out.  Ever wonder what it would be like to work in a serious kitchen? Not Hells Kitchen, nothing Gordon Ramsey would show you. But to truly work among chefs?

Disgusting. And, scary. And, I can't put it down.

A new book contest!

http://www.iloveyafiction.com/win-covenant-gift-pack/

"The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck."

 (Taken from Goodreads.com, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9680718-half-blood )

Definitely on my To-Read list. The covers are beautiful and would look great on my shelves. Eeee!

Wish me luck, guys!

xox

R

Book Review: Fire (Kristin Cashore)

Last night, I finally finished Fire! # 2 in the Graceling Series.


I kind of read this series out of order, a little bit. First, I read Graceling. Then Bitterblue. And now, Fire.
I would recommend reading this series; Graceling, Fire, then Bitterblue, as it was meant to be read.

Without giving any spoilersss, I'd like to try and review it a little bit.

I enjoyed this book. The elements that made me enjoy this book were;

- Kristin Cashore incorporated an element of realism that not many authors do. Fire, was a lady. And, as a unique kind of monster-lady, when she experienced her 'lady business', it had an effect on the outside world. That was part of the story and had to be considered for Fire's whereabouts. It was interesting, and necessary.

- I was able to connect with Fire on a few emotional levels; her love/HATE relationship with her father, her fear of accepting love, and some of her instability.   Most YA heros/ins at 17-18 seem to accept life and death situations with a level-head that some 40 years old cannot do. I thought Fire's fear was refreshing and realistic, and inspiring in the end.

- I admired Fire for her choices of the greater good, her sacrifices, putting her wants and needs below others. It's admiring because of her disposition, she clearly doesn't have to. In fact, she could have it all with a flick of a wink, literally. But despite her nuture, her nature wins out.

- I enjoyed the palace intrigue, and there was definitely some twists and turns I wasn't expecting. It was quite thrilling.

- I enjoyed the romance in this novel, subtle but strong, built on layers that come to light in the end,  complicated but true. Flexible. Real.

- I think I like this side of the world than the Graceling side, simply because the monters are far more colourful!



- The story had a happy ending. That is a must for me. And it was a beautiful ending.

I really hope Kristin Cashore continues to write about these worlds. The Dells and the Seven Kingdoms. Thank you for bringing fantasy into my YA world, Miss Cashore!!

 

Recommendations:

If you liked Fire (Kristin Cashore), you will probably like;

-Gracling (Kristin Cashore)

-Bitterblue (Kristin Cashore)

-Sisters Red (Jackson Pearce)

Sucker for Samples

Yeah, I'm pretty sure people chose to stop following my posts on Facebook.

Not just because of the tweeter spam, but of the samples/free spam. Oops. I have no friends. :(

My Husband (a philosophy major) was so irked when he learned http://www.philosophy.com/ was a skin-care/beauty website. Oh well!

So I scored a good handful of free samples yesterday;

This is subtle, feminine, and light. Swoon~

The saleslady told me not to use this though, until I have real wrinkles. :(

GREAT face wash. GREAT.

And then, I went to their website today, and they said a free gift if you sign up for the newsletter! Score! I signed up, and then learned it's a free gift IF YOU spend $25 online. boo.


Another sample: Elizabeth Arden Green Tea.. very sweet lil spray!