Book Review #168 - One Day by David Nicholls

'I can imagine you at forty,' she said, a hint of malice in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.' He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.' 15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? Twenty years, two people, ONE DAY.

My Rating: 4/5

I wasn't sure about this book, and never intended to buy and read it until I found it for $2.

Before I even started reading, I knew it would be a book that I would either love or hate, and it would probably depend on how much the year changing every chapter would annoy me.

I didn't have any problem with the year jumping, but I did have a slight problem with the characters. I really wanted to like Dexter, but the way he came across at times just made it impossible. I liked Emma at first but as the novel went on she became annoying.

I read the last 55 or so pages in about the same time as I had read the previous 350 odd, because I didn't want to read it anymore after a certain plot twist and this book would have been 5 stars if it weren't for that plot twist.

Book Review #122 - The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.

My Rating: 5/5

This is the second time I have read this book. I read it for the first time two years ago and can't believe I waited so long to re-read it. I decided to read it again so it would be fresh in my mind when I went and saw the movie (that's how long ago I read this). My review of the movie is here. I really loved the book as much as I did the first time I had read it.

Even though I was reading it again and so I knew what was going to happen I still found myself not being able to put the book down.

I really liked Katniss, she is probably my favourite female protagonist other than Hermione. I liked Gale and Peeta, and don't really prefer one over the other. Prim is also another of my favourite characters.

I will re-read and review Catching Fire and Mockingjay when it comes close to the movie adaptations of them being released.

Book Review #64 - Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) By Richelle Mead

Sydney's blood is special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line. 

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one. 

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions and forbidden romance lurk both outside - and within - the school grounds. Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning. 

My Rating: 4/5

I was both excited and hesitant  to read this book. I was excited because it is a spinoff from Vampire Academy which is one of my favourite series, and hesitant because I knew my expectations were going to be high. 




The book was slowly paced at the start, and the characters although some were familiar from Vampire Academy take time to warm up to. 




Altogether the book was enjoyable, although at this stage nowhere near as good as Vampire Academy. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.