Friday, April 27, 2012

Countdown to Insurgent!!!


There are only four days until Insurgent is released!!!
  
I am new to the new book release frenzy.  So far the only book I have had to wait for is Mockingjay.  That was six months of pure torture!  One nice thing about waiting was Scholastic’s presale of Mockingjay that resulted in a free mockingjay pin and having the book delivered to your front door!  Awesome indeed!
Last year my friends and I created an anxious year for ourselves.  We decided to read first time published authors’ books, which were also the first in a series!  Pain!  Agony!  Patience and sanity lost.  We did this with five authors:  Ally Condie (Matched), Beth Revis (Across the Universe), Veronica Roth (Divergent), Katie Kacvinsky (Awaken), and Myra McEntire (Hourglass).  Talk about torture!
In the meantime to calm your angst as Insurgent’s release rapidly approaches.  Check out:
·         A spoiler-free review of Insurgent
·         Veronica Roth’s Divergent Refresher
·         A scene from Four’s point of view

Happy waiting!  Will you be up at 12:01am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 reading Insurgent on your eReader? 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Not Your Typical Peanuts & Cotton Candy - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern


Just the facts:

Overall: 5 Stars! (WooHoo! First of the year!)

Addiction Level: I read it every waking moment.

Believe-ability: I daydream about the created world and wonder how I fit in.

Favorite Quote: “People see what they wish to see. And in most cases, what they are told that they see.”

~~~~~

     I have to start this review by saying, “What up!!?” Not only is this my first five star book of the year, but also me conquering my previously mentioned nemesis. Take that!

     The Night Circus is a beautifully written story about a circus that is created when two illusionists are pitted against one another for no other reason than pure sport. Celia and Marco are entered into this competition as mere pawns by their respective masters and the entire circus becomes entangled in the aftermath of the decision. A love story in many different ways, The Night Circus will tug at your emotions and dreams.

     I don’t know about you, but for me there is something really special about the circus. It’s so exciting and exotic and it takes all your patience waiting for your parents to take you when you’re a child. My love of the circus comes from my mother, who used to tell me and my brother that she met my dad at the circus where she worked as the bearded lady. A couple of years ago a tiny circus came to our small rural town and my mom and I bought our tickets right away. We went together, two adults, no kids, to see “The Big Cats”. It was great fun. The last circus I had to been to before that was when I was really little and the only thing I remembered was playing under the bleachers and throwing up from eating too much cotton candy. The Night Circus, however, is not your typical circus. It’s the most magical circus ever. The best circus ever (minus the elephants, which are sadly missing).

     When I first bought The Night Circus, I had a little bit of buyer’s remorse because I just spent $27 on a book. Now, I think it was one of the best $27 I’ve ever spent. Morgenstern’s writing is so enchanting that I felt as if I were dreaming the entire time I was reading. She writes in the most peaceful and relaxing way. There are no words for how well crafted a story this is.

      As readers, we often take away different meanings or messages from a book. For me, The Night Circus was a love story about the circus. I cared about all of the characters, but they took supporting roles compared to the circus itself. For most, it will be a love story between Celia and Marco. Regardless of what it is or isn’t, I hope that you would read this book with the eagerness of a child. You won’t be disappointed and you can mark me down as the newest rêveur.