The Kari AnnAlysis

Archive for September, 2010

Why did I wait so long to read The Hunger Games series? I read the first one and loved it, then took a break. Now, I can’t put down Catching Fire. And this is why:

Pg 147: “We think people moved underground when everything on the surface was destroyed. We think they’ve managed to survive. And we think the Capitol leaves them alone because, before the Dark Days, District Thirteen’s principal industry was nuclear development.”

“They were graphite miners,” I say. But then I hesitate, because that’s information I got from the Capitol.

Bahhh I want to extend my lunch break! What are you reading???

Lena has always felt a passion for the ocean. It seems to pull her in. So much, that she even has started sleep walking to the most dangerous area around. And now, she’s hearing voices and looking for something, but she can’t put her finger on what it is. Something is definitely not right. And it gets stranger when she sees a mermaid. Is she going crazy? When Lena learns that mermaid is someone very close to her heart, she has to make the decision whether to live in the underworld or rise back to the surface.

When I think of mermaids, I think of The Little Mermaid. Lena and I were on the same page with this, thinking there would be a castle and beautiful sea treasures. Yeah, that’s not really what it’s like. Like the real world, there are dangers and you have to be ready to go to safety in an instant. Yes, mermaids are magical, obviously a teenage human went under the sea, but this book kind of took the luster away. They have pretty tails, different colors of hair and pretty necklaces, but it goes away from what I always imagined. Honestly though, it made them more real, which kind of freaks me out.

There were many times throughout this book that my heart yearned for Lena. At first it was because she thought she was going crazy, then because she wanted to know about her mom, then because of her relationship with her boyfriend Kai. Who hasn’t had a relationship where you are BFF’s that turn to BF and GF? I just wanted to give her a big hug. I felt like she was just in so much pain and conflicted about everything in her life. And it didn’t really get better through the book until the very end. She got the answers she wanted, but the decisions kept getting tougher.

I give The Mermaid’s Mirror 4 bookmarks.

ISBN: 978-0547194912
Published: October 4, 2010
Author Website(Which is really fun)
Kari received this book from NetGalley

At her old school, CG was not in the cool crowd. That’s why she named herself CG at her new school, to give her an edge with the socialites. And it worked. Within no time, she’s part of the “Four Tops”, the smart, edgy one. But a little game of Truth, Dare or Torture is going to be the downfall of this princess. What starts with an innocent kiss on the cheek with her friend’s college-aged brother, ends with a lot of drama, grounding, a scandal with a teacher, and a friend in rehab. Oy vey. But, it doesn’t all go downhill. There is a small light at the end of the tunnel in the form of her former BFF Alex who may be more than just a friend.

I’m very mixed feelings about this book still, after I’ve let it sim for a couple of days. It was cute, made me feel like I was really hanging out with high schoolers and brought up a bunch of issues high school students face. I think the last of those way my favorite part of the book. It didn’t really sugar coat anything. Doing anything to fit it, eating disorders, hooking up with older guys, meeting people on chat rooms, lying about your age, drinking. These are all things that high schoolers face. Most of these were on the table when I was in school and I know they are not drifting away. The honesty of the problems was brutal, respectful and real.

This book also is a great lessona bout lying. We all have been through it. It starts as something small like with what all we ate for lunch, then expands and before you know it, you don’t know what is true and what is not. This is very prevalent in CG’s life and a problem I think many teens are faced with. They want people to like them and will go to the ends of the Earth to make that happen. Unfortunately, as in CG’s case, it normally doesn’t end pretty. Be honest!

My problem with this book, along with many teen shows right now is the approval for teens to have relationships with teachers. Pretty Little Liars and Life Unexpected are two shows that I watch that have student/teacher relationships. It seems very prevalent right now. I know it has always happened and hot topics come and go, but I feel like for sensationalism in tv and books, it’s pushed to the limits. Granted in this book, nothing necessarily illegal happens, not necessarily, but the issue is still there, pounding on the front door, ready to be let in. I am in no way ridiculing Rech for her decision to put this in, I just hate the topic in general no matter where it comes up. It worries me that it’s very serious when it happens in real life, but in shows, it is played up and seems sexy and ok. I am stepping off my soap box now.

Trying not to let an issue take over my review, I really have no other problems with the book, other than I am glad as ever not to deal with high school drama. Oh those girls drove me nuts at times! I give It Started With A Dare  3 bookmarks.

ISBN: 9780547235585
Author Website
Published: September 13, 2010
Kari got this book fromNetGalley

17-year-old Louisa Cosgrove is a few centuries before her time. Her one dream is life is to become a doctor, but back in the 1800′s, that’s not quite what is expected of her, or even close to being acceptable. In fact, her reading and smarts lead her to a place that can only be described as Hell.

Don’t let the pretty letters on the cover fool you, Wildthorn Hall is nothing to write home to mom about. Unless, you end up there and have no clue why. That’s Louisa’s story. Or should we call her Lucy, as her papers do? Now Louisa, Lucy, whoever she is, is stuck in a mental institution. No one will believe that she is sane, the more she tries, the crazier she seems. So, she must find a way out and find out who put her there in the first place.

I absolutely loved this book. As I have stated in the past, I just skim through the summaries of books, a little too often, and never really know what I am getting myself into. Luckily, most of the time I am pleasantly surprised. This is one of those cases.

The book is told through different time periods. We start with Louisa of today, then jump back to different periods of her life that may explain why people think she’s crazy. So what if she did surgery on an extremely expensive doll, or kissed her cousin… who is a girl? WHAT! Yes, not only does this book pinpoint the fact that women had little freedom to do what they wanted in the 1800′s, who ever thought about girl on girl action back then? Yes, I’m sure it happened, but I guess I just think this is a new thing. Not so much huh?

Eagland did a great job of keeping me reading. I had a really hard time of putting this book down. I needed to know if Louisa did something truly crazy or if she was set up.

When it comes to history, I can’t say I keep interest very well. If I know a book is about a different time period, I normally won’t pick it up unless it’s about royalty, that’s one part of history that has always intrigued me. But this book, although it happened 200 years’ish ago, didn’t feel like it. I felt like I was reading about a present-day girl being sent to the loony bin. Granted, women can pretty much do anything these days, except for being President.

I give Wildthorn 5 bookmarks.

ISBN: 9780330458160
Published: September 2010 (according to NetGalley)
Author Website
Kari got this book from NetGalley

So when the birthday comes around every year, it’s always a tough decision to pick out the year’s birthday present. This year, fortunately, I already knew what I wanted months in advance… well sort of.

For the past couple of years, since I started reading hardcore, people have been suggesting that I get a type of an e-reader. I was very against it until I recently took inventory of my two bookshelves in my room and realized for the time being, I don’t have room for more books. Of course I am not going to quit reading, so my solution was an e-reader to save space.

For a few months, I did a pro and con chart of the Kindle and the Nook. My dad has a Kindle and loves it, but I really liked the price and touch screen of the Nook. As prices changed and new ones came, it was finally time to decided.

My mom’s boyfriend got a Nook about a month ago, read one book on it and decided he wants an iPad. So, I took his Nook for a day and tried it out and never gave it back! Saved my parents a trip to the mall!

But it wasn’t all about the Nook. I also needed a case. That’s where my husband came in. The rents are getting the reader, so the hubs said he would get my cover so I could keep it safe (we all know I need as much safety as possible because I am klutztastic).

So, drumroll please….. this is my new Nook and cover from Oberon Design:

Don’t you just love it?? I started my search with an open mind and excitement for all the possibilities. The fleur-de-lis is the symbol of Gallipolis, where I grew up. I am obsessed with it and want everything fleur-de-lis. So when I found this, my search was done. It’s leather, it’s black. It’s so me and I love it!

So I have had my Nook since a couple days before my birthday (the 8th) and I’ve already read 2 and a half books on it. I think this was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

One of the things I was concerned about with the Nook was paying for books. I am a cheap woman. I have probably only bought 3 books all year with my own money. I always stock up at Christmas with books I know I want to read and gift cards for book stores. And NetGalleyis compatible with the Nook, so I have books for month through that website. But, of course, I have awesome people in my lives, that know I hate to spend money, so they look out for me.

Case in point:

Heck yes I got $50 in B&N gift cards for my birthday. And no, I haven’t bought anything yet. It’s such a hard decision. There’s a million books. But now I know I have a stockpile for when I need to buy a book

Do you guys have an e-reader? Is it something you’d think about? I was very against it because I love my books, but now, I should be hired as a spokesperson.