Waiting On Wednesday (1)

• Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine! Each week, bloggers spotlight what upcoming release they're eager for.

 Title: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Released: September 29th 2011

 

 Summary from Goodreads: 

"The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities" 

Why I want to read this:

I have always been fascinated by Jack The Ripper. There is just something about him that is so mysterious and haunting that I am just compelled to him. I even have books about him (Now you all probably think I'm crazy XP) A book written in a YA format is like my dream come true! This book seems so suspenseful and intriguing I can hardly wait! 
  

What are your thoughts? Do you want to read this book too? If not, what are you looking most forward too? Please let me know! :)

Review: Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Release Date: November 6th 2007
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 335
Source: Library

"The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive." (Goodreads)


This book was an amazing read! It has been a long time since I found such a suspenseful and action packed story line but alas, I did. Neal Shusterman creates such amazing adventures in this book that leaves the reader completely captivated until the very end! I have to say that the concept of this entire book is utterly heartbreaking, but there are such exciting scenes and the perfect amount of romance jam packed into this novel. Following Connor, Risa, and Lev's story gave me such a roller coaster of emotions. The mere idea of being unwound gives me chills down my spine. 


In Shusterman's Unwound world, Parents have children because they know they will love them unconditionally, but some parents have more sinister ideas in mind. Instead of accepting their children for who they are and trying to work through conflicts and problems, they have their own flesh and blood unwound. When a child is unwound, they are literally taken apart, piece by piece. Although parents only have the option to do this between ages 13-18, a large amount do. There are even religions that believe being unwound is one of the holiest things a person can do. They call them Tithes, the chosen ones. Tithes are literally born into the world to be unwound. When a child is chosen to be unwound, the parents have no chance to stop it once the papers have been signed. After being taken from home, the unwind will be transported to a Harvest Camp, or the Chop Shop as the kids call it. No one really knows what happens once an unwind goes there, the only thing people know for sure is that the old you never comes back. Every piece of what remains will be saved and used for different transplants for another person. 


Connor is a rebellious teenager who always seems to act on impulse and find himself in trouble quiet often. He finds out his parents have had enough and have decided to unwind him. Risa, lives in a StaHo (State Home) and is chosen to be unwound do to budget cuts and Lev is tithe who feels being unwound is his divine destiny. These three teens meet unexpectedly and their adventure for survival begins immediately. 


The emotions in this book are phenomenal. Along with the characters, the reader also experiences the emotional roller coaster of events. The pain of being rejected by ones own parents is heartbreaking and devastating. Although this book is darker, there are some elements to take from it. Sometimes a person has to create their own family and sometimes a person has to fight for what they believe in only if it's just them.  This book was such a page turner and kept me thrilled through the whole thing.


The book is quite old but I am so happy I got the chance to read it! Shusterman is currently writing a sequel for Unwind coming out during the fall of 2012. I highly recommend everyone to read this book! You won't regret it! 


Rating: 5/5

Top Ten Tuesday (1)

• Top ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a new list. It's super fun and super easy to do! It's also a great way to meet new bloggers! 

This weeks top ten is...

                                                 What is your Top Ten TBR Books of Fall 2011?

It was really hard to come up with just ten considering how many awesome books are coming out. I think this is one of the best years for YA releases. I did narrow it down to the books I want to read REALLY REALLY bad. I don't think I need to explain these books this week considering how popular they seem to be right now!

In My Mailbox (1)

• In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. Let us know what books you've bought, borrowed or received for review!

I have a giant IMM this week! I need to stop buying books before my room is completely taken over by them. Too bad its so addicting! My Half-Price Books had a lot of goodies this week and I just couldn't help myself. :)



Won/For Review
Good Graces by Lesley Kagen
Bought
Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard 

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
 
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab 

The Maze Runner by James Dashner 

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein

Feed by Mira Grant

Library 

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Boneshaker (The Clockwork Century, #1) by Cherie Priest

Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings, #1) by Jackson Pearce

Siren (Siren, #1) by Tricia Rayburn

Iodine: A Novel by Haven Kimmel

Thrifted 
The House on Hound Hill by Maggie Prince

Shadowland (The Mediator, #1) by Meg Cabot

Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" by Suzanne Weyn

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert
 
Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials by Ann Rinaldi

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart 

Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger, #1) by V.C. Andrews
 
The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman

The Zombie Chasers by John Kloepfer, Steve Wolfhard

Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow
 
2666 by Roberto Bolaño

Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst
Shadow Baby by Alison McGhee

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

So, what books did you get this week? ^_^

Follow Friday!

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme created by Parajunkee and co-hosted by Alison Can Read where bloggers hop around meeting and following other bloggers. This week's featured bloggers are Caught in the Pages & Jenni Elyse.

Q: In books like the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish would come out of the closet, for real?

A: What a hard question! Ever since I've been a little girl I've always had a thing for the Loch Ness Monster, or "Nessie" as she is now being called. There is something about her that just seems gentle and friendly. I don't believe I have ever read a book in which she was included or tv show about her, but there should be!

I also have a thing for shifters. I love the idea of people being able to transform into any animal they want. If I had that ability I'd spend most of life in the form of a cat. I can dream can't I? 

Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Title: Warm Bodies
Author: Isaac Marion
Release Date: April 26th 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Atria
Pages: 241
Source: Library

"This is a zombie novel with a soulful difference. After J, its undead protagonist, devours a teenage boy, he begins to hear his victim's thoughts and falls in love with his girlfriend—and she reciprocates" (summary provided by goodreads) 


WOW! Isaac Marion's writing style blew me away! This is hands down one of the best love stories I have ever read, and that is saying a lot. I never thought I would care so deeply for a zombie but alas, I truly did. R is so much more than a flesh/brain eating zombie, he likes to ride escalators, listen to Frank Sinatra and collect things from wherever he travels. The one thing that separates him from all his zombie like pals is the fact that he hates killing people and ends up falling in love with a girl, and not just any girl - a human.

This stand out book is so much more than a cute love story, it is packed with so much meaning and emotion. I am so glad I picked it up. The story beautifully captures the struggle to belong in a post-apocalyptic world and the fight to survive. The only problem I had with this book was the fact that it was too short for my taste. I dearly hope Isaac writes a sequel to this book because I adore R's story. I highly recommend this book to everyone. It's one of my top favorites now!

Rating: 5/5