The Kari AnnAlysis

Archive for April, 2010

Teaser Tuesday is held by Should be Reading. Now you are supposed to just open to a page and pick out a sentence or two. I always cheat. I find an awesome part of the book and usually do more than two sentences.

This week’s book is Envy by Anna Godbersen. It’s part of the Luxe series.

Pg 8: The long black chiffon skirt of her gown trailed behind her as she approached the entrance, and she batter her fan open to modestly cover her face. She always did this when Barnard escorted her, because they discussed everyone in detail, and so it was prudent to obscure the view of her mouth from any chance lip-readers. Her hair was drawn into a bun in the back, and her curls descended diagonally on either side of her forehead toward her ears. A black leather belt marked the narrowness of her waist, and at the middle point of her princess neckline was a glower made of ivory lace petals.

Ahhh the luxury of being an it-girl at the turn of the 20th Century.

What are you reading this week?

One of Easton’s oldest buildings has burnt down and it’s all on the shoulders of the Billings’ girls. Now, to make sure they get to keep their house, they have to host a benefit and raised $5 Million  for the school, in just a couple of weeks.

All the while, Noelle is stepping on Reed’s toes as president, strange things keep happening to Reed after Cheyenne’s death and Reed’s nemeis, Ivy, is now dating Reed’s ex, Josh. Oh, and Reed is still keeping a little secret at to why she and Josh broke up, but it may not be secret for much longer.

After this book, I am taking a little break from the Private series. I do this to myself every time I read a series. I read them all really close together and I get a little burnt out. I should’ve taken a breather after the last one since I didn’t like it as much as the others, but now I’m sure.

With all of the drama of the other books, this one was very tame. Yeah there’s a little cattyness but not much happened. At least nothing that wasn’t expected. We all kind of new that Ivy was going to bring drama, now we just know why. We also knew that what happened at the Legacy wouldn’t stay at the Legacy and Noelle was bound to find out.

I am giving Ambition 2 stars.

It’s tough being a teen, no matter where you live or in what year. The year is 1957. The location, Ann Arbor, Michigan.  14-year-old Danny DeWitt has been living in Michigan got about a year. His dad is on a new business endeavor, his mom in Chicago, wanting more out of life, especially money.

Danny is a lonely boy, in a town where he really doesn’t know anybody. That is, until he stumbles upon Amber Dwyer, an older, pregnant teen. He and Amber become inseparable, even through the tough times with her on-again, off-again baby daddy.

This story takes us through teen angst in a time that most of us know nothing about. Teenage girls are pregnant every day in our lives, in 1957, not so much. I agreed to read this book, sent to me by Kelley and Hall company, because I always read about girls, never much about boys. I like to learn when I read, and if I ever end up having a little boy, the more I can learn through books, the better The Kelley and Hall company has done wonders for my reading. The books they send me are most likely ones I would never pick up at the book store, but ones I normally end up thoroughly enjoying.

There were times in this book that I was sucked in, there were other times I was left wondering, “Is anything going to happen?”. Compared to some of the other books I’ve read, this one wasn’t as dramatic, but it was much deeper. It was a nice change of pace.

The book was written well and although I have absolutely NO connection to any of the characters, I felt close to them.

I am not going to give away the ending, but it was one of those that you kept telling yourself, “Will it happen? Surely not? Well, maybe.”

I enjoyed this book and give it 4 bookmarks. I highly suggest it and  it will most likely be one I pick up again in a few years because I know I missed some things.

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

I haven’t participated in meme’s in quite a while and wanted to get back into them. I enjoy anything that gives me another chance to write. And I enjoy this one because I feel like I pay more attention to the writing to catch something that will entice other readers.

Season of Water and Ice by Donald Lystra pg 142

I thought about how much my life had changed since we’d left Grand Rapids. I lived in the woods outside a town that nobody had heard about, a place I hadn’t known existed one year ago, and my mother lived in Chicago. I had met a pregnant girl who was not married, and I had seen a man strike another man and take his money, and I had heard my father say he wanted to sleep with a woman who was not my mother.

Ok, so I know I am only supposed to choose 2 sentences, but it’s going to have to be 3 this week! Glad to be back

*This post contains spoilers if you have not read the Private series*

Cheyenne is dead and the Legacy is cancelled. Cheyenne’s family was supposed to be in charge of this year’s Legacy, but they decided against it in the wake of her death. Reed was unanimously voted the new prez of Billings and she will stop at nothing to make sure they get to do something similar to the Legacy (a ridiculous party filled with sex, drugs, alcohol, music that Legacies of the private schools attend each year).

They hear through the grapevine that the Legacy may still be on, but no one from Easton was invited. Now it’s up to Reed to make sure they get there.

She doesn’t have to do it alone though, a former Billings girl is back and they’ve definitely switched roles.

Not only is Reed dealing with all of the Legacy drama, she is also dealing with a bit of boy drama. She is still dating Josh, but a former Billings student, who also dated one of her best friends is interested in Reed. She loves Josh, but the other fella, who can turn him down? He’s gorgeous, smart, rich and an Ivy Leaguer.

I have to admit this was my least favorite book so far out of the Private series. I know that people can’t die in every book, but after so much drama in the rest of the series, this one kind of slacked.

I enjoyed the rituals in this book. Now that Reed is president, she is on top of the world. She has money, access to awesome clothes, contacts and a file with any info possible on her Billings family. I don’t know if this is how life really is for these people, but it’s what I imagine it to be. 

This book set up a little bit of drama for the future. When they finally found out who set up the Legacy, they also find out she has a connection to Cheyenne. I imagine this drama will continue to build.

I give Legacy 2 bookmarks.

Private Series:
1. Private
2. Invitation Only
3. Untouchable
4. Confessions
5. Inner Circle