Book Review: Someday, Someday, Maybe

I was first drawn to this book because Lauren Graham (aka Lorlelai Gilmore) is the author. I loved me some Gilmore Girls back in the day (still do). The second reason I was drawn to it was the plot: A struggling actress in the 90s has only 6 months left to the deadline she has set for her self. Growing up in the 90s I dreamed of becoming an actress. 

For me the beginning was a bit slow going, but not anywhere near were I wanted to abandon reading the book. I also thought the story/characters were a bit predicable at times. 
I did still enjoy this book though. There were some funny lines/situations that would make me chuckle out loud. I liked the inside look into trying to break into acting and that it was set in the 90s before things like cell phones and social media. 

Would I recommend? Yes, especially if like me the 90s have a special place in your heart and you hoped you would be a star someday (someday, maybe). 

~amber~

Book Review: If I Stay

Hey everyone, this post was supposed to go up last Friday. I thought I had scheduled it to go up but I didn't. Sorry about that. So you get a new post today and tomorrow. :) 

After seeing the trailer I decided I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. Just the trailer makes me weepy, so I know I am going to need lots of tissues when I see the movie (which I have yet to see).

 If I Stay by Gayle Forman is narrated by 17 year old Mia. Mia and her family all have a unexpected day off and decide to venture out and visit family friends. On the way they get into a terrible accident and everything is forever changed.

This is a very touching story. Mia has a choice to make, a very difficult one. The actual present day story takes place in about a day. But we also flash back to different times in the past, and we are able to learn more about Mia and her family and friends. 

I think this book was very well written. It drew me in from the very beginning and kept me hooked till the end. 

I am currently reading the follow up to this book called Where She Went. 


~amber~

Book & Movie Review: The Time Traveler's Wife

I saw the movie a few years ago. Then recently for what ever reason I decided I wanted to read the book, so I asked for it for the holidays. My mom got it for me (thanks mom!) and I pretty much read it in a week or so (I did not want to put it down) even though it is a long book, over 500  pages.

The story is told from two perspectives, Henry who time travels and his wife Clare who does not.  The story centers on Henry and Clare and their lives. However, there are still many other characters who even though their roles are smaller they are just as important in the story. 

99% of the time in my opinion the book is always better than the movie. That doesn't mean the movie is bad (although sometimes it is) it just can't compare to the book. In the book there are all these details that you can't fit into the standard time of a movie. This is true for The Time Traveler's Wife.

So how does the movie compare to the book? In my opinion the book is better but the movie is good if you see it separately from the book. There are some changes made in the story in the movie and some things they leave out from the book. If you watch the extras on the DVD they explain why they choose to do this. 

Would I recommend the book? Yes definitely. The movie? Yes, but don't expect it to be just like the book. 

This is only book number three in my challenge. Even though I haven't read as many books as I had hoped to by now, I have been good and I have not bought any books so far this year. 

Till next time,

~amber~

Book Review: The Age Of Miracles

To sum up the synopsis on the dusk jacket of the book: 

What would happen if the rotation of the earth has suddenly slowed? If the days and nights grow longer and longer? If gravity was affected and the environment is thrown into disarray?

If your 11 year old Julia you keep on living and growing up. The world is changing everyday and nothing is as it was but Julia still has to deal with the normal things kids growing up deal with. Her family, friends, bullies, crushes, etc.

One of the reason I liked this book so much was not only did the author tell us the story of what happens when our normal everyday lives are changed by things we have no control over. But how even though things are so different in the world Julia is still just a kid growing up and dealing with that.

This is such a good book. Very well written.  I definitely recommend it.  I don't want to say anymore because I don't  I want to give anything away.

Till next time,
amber

Book Review: The Future of Us

 I finished reading the book I had started last year, so I am excited to be able to start reading books for my challenge. But first a review of the book I just finished. The book is called The Future of Us and it is by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler.

When I first heard the plot for this book I knew I wanted to read it. It takes place in 1996. I was a 90s kid. When Emma gets her very own computer her friend Josh gives her a America Online CD-Rom, (remember those?).  Somehow when they log in using the CD-Rom they are able to access their Facebook profiles fifteen years in the future.

This is a YA book even though its 356 pages long once I actually had the time to read it I was able to get through it pretty fast. 

I loved that the book took place in the 90s. I grew up in the 90s so I am always going to think of that time as being awesome. It is amazing how much has changed since then! There are a ton of 90s references including the Discman, beepers, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and YM magazine. I think you will probably have to be in your 20s to fully appreciate all the references. For those younger it will give you a glimpse into what growing up in the 1990s was like. 

Then there is the whole knowing your future and how that then affects your present. The two characters in the book quickly realize that knowing their futures affect how they act in the present which then in turn keeps changing their futures. I have always found the concept of the butterfly effect very interesting. One small change now can result in a big change(s) later on. 

I definitely recommend this book. If anyone has read this book let me know what you thought of it. 

Till next time,

Amber

Book Review: The Hunger Games Trilogy

Read this book!

"May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor"

Today I spent the afternoon finishing the last book in "The Hunger Games" trilogy Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Now I will admit I was late in reading this series. It wasn't until I read a article in a magazine about the movie, 2 weeks before the movie hit theaters that I decided I wanted to read the books.  And even though I had tried to read the whole first book before I saw the movie I wasn't able to finish it in time and ending up reading the last part of the book after seeing the movie in theaters. As it always happens when I see a movie and then read the book, while reading the books I saw the actors who played the characters in the movie in my head.

I am not sure why I didn't read this series earlier. From the first book to the last it kept my interest and kept me wanting to read more. Now I am really looking forward to seeing the movies that are based on the second and third books. I also want to buy the first movie to re-watch it and watch all the bonus features.

All three books have a ton of action in them. I am not going to go into detail about plot because most people pretty much know the plot(s) of at least the first book.If you have seen the movie and have not read the book(s) I suggest that you should read at least the first book (which will probably leave you wanting to read the next two, Catching Fire and Mockingjay,the movie for Catching Fire doesn't come out until November 2013). In my opinion books are usually always better than the movie, even if the movie is good, there are just so much more details you get in the book that you can never get in a movie. Which is true in this case. The movie was good and stayed as close as it could to the book, however with the book you just get all those details you can't get in the movie.

Since I read the the first and second book back in March/April and I just finished the last book today, I am going to talk a bit more about Mockingjay as it is fresh in my mind. The majority of the action takes place in the the last part of the book. That is the part that had me really hooked, the part I spent this afternoon reading. There is some action in the first two parts as well.

Small Spoilers ahead for those who have not read the book.

The author ties up most loose ends in this last book. The love triangle of Katniss, Gale and Peeta is resolved. You find out who lives and who dies (with the exception of Caesar Flickerman , I don't recall a mention of what happens to him). The one thing the author never clearly states  is who really was behind the bombings that happen at the very end of the book. She leaves it up to the readers to decided for themselves. I won't say anymore cause I do not want to give anything away if you have not read the book.

I also want to mention how I liked the scene at the end of Mockingjay between Katniss and Buttercup the  cat. I didn't expect it and thought it was touching. Of course I love cats so this scene would stick out for me.

What did you think of this series and/or the movie?

Till Next Time.  :)