Follow Friday #64

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee & Alison of Alison Can Read.

 

This weeks question:

 

 

Tell us at least one new or unusual thing you’ve done in 2013.

 

 

The only thing I can think of is that I went to my first AFL Grand Final which is Australia's version of the Superbowl. It was definitely the biggest crowd I have been a part of as well with over 100,000 people in attendance. Unfortunately my team didn't win but it was still an unbelievable experience.

 

 

 

Book Review #395 - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

In Depression-era America, everyone's running away from something. Some people join the circus to escape. Jacob Jankowski hitches a ride on a freight train and in that instant his life changes. By morning, he's landed a job with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. By nightfall, he's in love.

 

 

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

I don't read a lot of Adult Fiction nor do I read much Historical Fiction so I am surprised I liked this book as much as I did. I would rate this as one of my favourite books that I have read in 2013.

 

 

This book is told from two perspectives. Jacob as a 93 year old and then him looking back at himself as a 23 year old.

 

 

I found the whole circus part very interesting and could see how much research must have gone into creating it.

 

 

I loved all the animals especially Rosie and Queenie. Even though he was pure evil, one of my favourite characters was August simply because I found him interesting and unpredictable.

 

 

I really loved the writing style and so I can definitely see myself reading more of Sara Gruen's books in the future.

 

 

There were a few awkward moments throughout which is why I wouldn't recommend this for younger readers.

Book Review #394 - Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

After reading the first two books in The Raven Cycle series and loving Maggie Stiefvater's writing style I thought I would finally read her more popular series which has been on my bookshelf unread for a while.

 

 

I loved the writing so much more in this series. It was very poetic but very descriptive and atmospheric as well. This was definitely the highlight of the book for me.

 

 

I liked both Grace and Sam instantly but didn't feel the connection between them until late in the book. For a romance driven novel, I found it surprising this didn't bother me that much.

 

 

Sam seemed more developed than Grace as a character. I think this was because of the amount of back story of his that was provided. Plus he had the whole wolf side of him.

 

 

There were numerous other characters that were well developed such as Isabel, Olivia, Jack and Beck. Olivia is the character that I am most interested in with regards to her character and story development.

 

 

The wolf mythology is completely different to anything I have ever read with the wolves change dependant on the temperature.

 

 

The way this book ended, I am very eager to read Linger and Forever as soon as possible.