Review: Eleanor&Park

Eleanor&Park by Rainbow Rowell

Published by:St.Martin's Press

Released on:February 26th,20 13

Pages:325 hardcover

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Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under. 



This book had a lot of great reviews and of course when some book is supposed to be amazing, I have to check it out. The description given on goodreads isn't very specific so I shall elaborate. The book begins with Park sitting on the bus and in walks a vibrant and different looking girl who is unlike any other girl at their school. Immediately Park feels disdain for Eleanor as she is obviously putting herself in the position to be bullied. There arent't any seats available as people are not allowing her to sit with them. Park becomes furious at Eleanor and tells her to sit down. She obliges and the point of view switches to her. She's thankful that he let her sit down but she's smart enough to realize he's not a friend and he doesn't even want her to sit there.
Days pass and they still sit together in silence. Park loves comics and pulls them out to read while on the bus and he notices that Eleanor reads along with him. He doesn't mind and eventually offers her one to take home. That scene was so cute by the way. Eleanor's family life is not picturesque as Park's. Her mom married this man who abhors Eleanor and even sent her away for a year. Parks parents are married and he has a little brother. Life is perfect compared to Eleanor's.
They eventually start talking on the bus about comics and music and start walking with each other to their lockers. You know exactly where their relationship is going and you can't help but get butterflies when they share moments.
The book was as perfect as it could be. I could've read about them for years. It was so amazing to see the direction their relationship progressed. I think some people had issues with this book because it seemed non realistic but I would disagree with that because every relationship is different. I won't spoil anything but the ending made me cry just a little. Overall this book is one of the best I've read in 2013! I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Happy reading,

Ashlinn

Review: Stolen

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Published by:Chicken House Ltd

Released on:May 4th, 2009

Pages:301 paperback

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It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.
This is my story.
A letter from nowhere.

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back?

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

My thoughts:

 Wow. This book was wonderful. I feel like I say that about a lot of books but it's quite true. We meet Ty within the first few pages and you can't help but want to scream to Gemma, "no, you can't sit with him! He's going to take you from everything you know and expect you to love him!!Don't do it." But what would this story have been if that didn't happen?
 It's guaranteed you will despise Ty for a long time because Gemma does and he's a hooligan for taking her and expecting her to love him. Like mmm boy, you are crazy. Ty in the beginning came off arrogant, manipulative, and cunning. I hated him so much and even until the end I still hated him but not as much. Things started to change though, we saw a much more vulnerable and almost sweet side to him. Gemma eventually warms up to him and genuinely sees him as a better person. I think this story is an example of when you get to know someone, and I mean you really get to know them: weakness, strengths, secrets, triumphs, deepest wishes, and their scars, you can fall for them.That person is much more than their appearance at that point.
 The writing was phenomenal and makes you feel like you are right there on Gemma's journey. The ending was not exactly what I expected. It gives the reader a sense of closure but it's up to you to decide which direction Gemma took, and feel okay about the decision. This book was fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading!

Ashlinn

Review: The Maze Runer

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Published by:Delacorte Press

Released on:October 6th, 2009

Pages:374 hardcover

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When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

My thoughts: 
  Wow, this book was just absolutely amazing. I had heard a lot of great things about the series and with The Maze Runner movie coming out February 14th, 2014 with one of my favorite actors playing Thomas, I knew I had to read it ASAP. 
  The book was slow and a little hard to understand in the beginning. Everything is confusing because the main character doesn't even have a clue about what has happened or about the way the Glade works. After a while, things become more clear and you start to really get into it because you want to know why Thomas is there and suddenly why this girl has appeared. 
  The setting in The Maze Runner was incredible (at least in my head lol). The characters were so different and interesting in their own way. My favorite characters are Newt and Chuck. Newt is one of the Keepers. The Keepers are the ones in charge basically because they all the decisions for all the Gladers. Newt was level-headed and so sweet. Chuck was awesome and seemed like a genuine friend. 
  The ending was a good way to wrap it up but still leave lots of questions unanswered. I've already read the first two chapters of The Scorch Trials(2nd book) and it left me with a huge cliff hanger I was like what the heck??!! Overall this book was really great and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. 

Let me know your thoughts if you've read it or plan to!

Happy reading,

Ashlinn