The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Despite having technical difficulty with the sentence structure at certain points this book was very good with regards to plot and general character development. The story is set in a semi-futuristic dystopian society called Panem which is geographically North America. Katniss and Peeta are both teens from District 12 who are chosen from a lottery drawing (Katniss volunteers to save her younger sister) to play in the annual Hunger Games held by the Capitol to keep the Districts in check after their failed rebellion. The Hunger Games is essentially a reality TV show in which a boy and a girl from each of the Districts has to fight the other 23 teens to the death in a large landscape arena while the whole country is required to watch. The harshness of the society is well portrayed by Katniss' cold-hearted demeanor towards everyone except her younger sister and other young player in the Games. With a gripping plot and a genuine interest in Katniss, although she is lacking in an appropriate emotional struggle when it comes to her pseudo love triangle (which is the only plot thread not resolved by the end of the book), the book reads very quickly and doesn't need any sequels.
March 31, 2012
March 30, 2012
Bright Young Things: Beautiful Days
Bright Young Things: Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen
The second novel in a different flapper novel than The Flappers series set primarily in the Hampton's during the summer of 1929. The three girls who the story revolves around are Astrid, Letty, and Cordelia; a high society flapper, a wannabe singer, and a bootlegger's daughter turned speakeasy manager. Of course the roles each girl plays is similar to those of the characters in The Flappers series but the girls are less brash and harsh on the page. Even though the author switches characters every chapter the transition isn't jarring and if the chapter does end in a cliff hanger for one character the next one picks up at the same point from a slightly different point of view. While The Flappers has much faster and dramatic plot the Bright Young Things series is more reader friendly over all. Both books certainly leave the reader wanting more even if they have similar characters.
The second novel in a different flapper novel than The Flappers series set primarily in the Hampton's during the summer of 1929. The three girls who the story revolves around are Astrid, Letty, and Cordelia; a high society flapper, a wannabe singer, and a bootlegger's daughter turned speakeasy manager. Of course the roles each girl plays is similar to those of the characters in The Flappers series but the girls are less brash and harsh on the page. Even though the author switches characters every chapter the transition isn't jarring and if the chapter does end in a cliff hanger for one character the next one picks up at the same point from a slightly different point of view. While The Flappers has much faster and dramatic plot the Bright Young Things series is more reader friendly over all. Both books certainly leave the reader wanting more even if they have similar characters.
March 14, 2012
The Flappers: Ingenue
Ingenue by Jillian Larkin
Clara, Gloria, and Lorraine are all in New York along with Jerome (Gloria's taboo black lover), Marcus (Clara's straight-laced beau), and Jerome's sister Vera. When the first book ended Gloria and Jerome had run away from Chicago after killing a gangster in self defense, Lorraine had lost everyone she cared about by being a selfish and conniving bitch, Clara's secret life in New York before Chicago had been revealed to the world, and Vera confronted Gloria's former fiancee. The second book begins with a bang, literally, and continues with drama and danger with only a few whimpers of pain from the writing.
The second book in the Flappers series, although good, lacked staying power. As entertaining as the novel was the male characters were increasingly weak and the bouncing from one female character to another in each chapter ended up being disruptive. By changing characters every chapter, which in some cases works, the quick pace near the end caused an unsatisfied feeling when the chapter with one character abruptly ended without any conclusion. The female characters are well developed and the reader can see how they grow into stronger more modern-minded people (in most cases). The overall plot was fantastic and I would recommend the series so far, but be forewarned that the author jumps characters every chapter, which can be jarring.
Clara, Gloria, and Lorraine are all in New York along with Jerome (Gloria's taboo black lover), Marcus (Clara's straight-laced beau), and Jerome's sister Vera. When the first book ended Gloria and Jerome had run away from Chicago after killing a gangster in self defense, Lorraine had lost everyone she cared about by being a selfish and conniving bitch, Clara's secret life in New York before Chicago had been revealed to the world, and Vera confronted Gloria's former fiancee. The second book begins with a bang, literally, and continues with drama and danger with only a few whimpers of pain from the writing.
The second book in the Flappers series, although good, lacked staying power. As entertaining as the novel was the male characters were increasingly weak and the bouncing from one female character to another in each chapter ended up being disruptive. By changing characters every chapter, which in some cases works, the quick pace near the end caused an unsatisfied feeling when the chapter with one character abruptly ended without any conclusion. The female characters are well developed and the reader can see how they grow into stronger more modern-minded people (in most cases). The overall plot was fantastic and I would recommend the series so far, but be forewarned that the author jumps characters every chapter, which can be jarring.
March 10, 2012
Read: The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love
The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love by Rosie Rushton
I loved reading this book. The story is a fabulous modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility and there really isn't much more I need to say about it other than read the novel and enjoy the modified genius of Jane Austen.
I loved reading this book. The story is a fabulous modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility and there really isn't much more I need to say about it other than read the novel and enjoy the modified genius of Jane Austen.
March 9, 2012
The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund
The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund by Jill Kargman
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this even though my copy was of the uncorrected proofs that an editor donated to The Friends of the Library. Despite there being many, many typos (which made me feel better about my own writing) the story novel was about a stay at home mom named Holly and her experience of going from a hedge fund wife to a divorcee and rebuilding her life on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The novel is a decent caricature of the hedge fund lifestyle and pretty hilarious at times as Holly maneuvers life as a single woman in New York. I'm definitely going to try and find another one of her novels that isn't an editors copy in order to fully appreciate the author's writings but I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants a light and comical read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this even though my copy was of the uncorrected proofs that an editor donated to The Friends of the Library. Despite there being many, many typos (which made me feel better about my own writing) the story novel was about a stay at home mom named Holly and her experience of going from a hedge fund wife to a divorcee and rebuilding her life on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The novel is a decent caricature of the hedge fund lifestyle and pretty hilarious at times as Holly maneuvers life as a single woman in New York. I'm definitely going to try and find another one of her novels that isn't an editors copy in order to fully appreciate the author's writings but I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants a light and comical read.
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