The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Who is Jenna Fox?

Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name.

She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago.

But what happened before that?

Jenna doesn't remember her life.

Or does she? And are the memories really hers?

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You've probably hear this before but this book will be so hard to review without spoiling it. It took me a while to write this review because I just couldn't figure out my feelings for this book. I came into this story like the mojority of people who read it not knowing what to expect. The cover was beautiful. The synopsis intriguing. So I dived in. At the end when the story ended I was disappointed.

I guess I wanted more from this story. More of what exaclty; I wasn't sure, but I had this feeling that the author was holding back. Maybe she was trying not to stand on a deffinite side of the conflict in this story. If that's the case I understand. If that isn't the case then...I am left very confused and a bit sad because I was really excited as I got into the story but turning the last page, closing the book, no feelings No excitement, no contentment. Nothing. Anyway, I gave it two stars on Goodreads because I didn't love or hate it.

PS: Looking over this review made me feel so embarassed. I sound so lost. But in the end that is how I felt and I guess I will have to live with it. Maybe one day during a period of enlightenment I will go back and read this story and I'll finally get what the majority sees in this book.

Book2Movie - Trailer: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

So The Hunger Games made the transition from book to movie last year and blew all of us away. Raking in over 600 million dollars worldwide. Oh, and let's not forget putting Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth officially on the A-List actors crew. With all that and more accomplished I wasn't really hyped up for the rest of the movies.

The first book is my favorite of the trilogy so I figured... No. I knew that the Hunger Games movie was all I wanted to see. So why is there a blog post discussing Catching Fire, the second movie in the trilogy? The trailer got me hooked. So consider me officially hyped. Not so much that I have to see Catching Fire RIGHT NOW, but enough to admit that I kinda do want to see Catching Fire. As for Mockingjay, let's wait and see.

Anyway, guys the trailer for Catching Fire is below. Watch, enjoy, and tell me what you think. Are you hyped like I am to see Katniss in action?

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, Tandy Angel knows just three things:

1) She was the last person to see her parents alive.

2) The police have no suspects besides Tandy and her three siblings.

3) She can't trust anyone—maybe not even herself.

Having grown up under Malcolm and Maud's intense perfectionist demands, no child comes away undamaged. Tandy decides that she will have to clear the family name, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous-and revealing-game.

Who knows what the Angels are truly capable of?

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While browsing the shelves in the YA section of my local bookstore I came across this book. With The Women's Murder Club (another one of Patterson's mystery series that I love) in mind I bought the book impulsively. You've probably heard of James Patterson's other teen series: Maximum Ride, the story about a mutant bird girl, Danielle X, extraterrestrial alien hunter (think Ben 10, orphaned and utterly alone), and Witch & Wizard, brother sister duo who are (you guessed it) a witch and wizard. with the recent conclusion to Maximum Ride (on shelves at a local bookstore and library near you) I figured this new series would be more realistic.

OK, maybe realistic isn't the best way to describe what I was looking for. However after bird girls, alien hunters, witches & wizards; I was hoping for something grounded in reality. I didn't mind that her parents were rich it made for good motive as to why she or her siblings would want to murder them. What made this novel unrealistic for me was that the entire family was super something: super arty, super intelligent, super athletic, anything skill you can possibly name there's an Angel family member who is "super" at it. That's where the disconnect was for me.

As for the mystery, the reason why I bought the book in the first place. Sad to say it also fell flat Don't get me wrong at first I was shocked by the outcome but after it sunk in my reaction went from, "::GASP:: Oh my goodness!" to, "Really?... Really??". I don't want to dig to deep into the mysteries that were in this book and I do mean mysteries in plural. There were several in this novel but the two important ones seem to be: Who kill Tandy's parents? and What happened to Tandy the night she tried to runaway? The first mystery was what I was really into. Again, it's why I bought the book. I didn't care for the second I just wasn't interesting enough to draw me in.

I could say that for the entire novel. About halfway through I found myself losing interest in the characters, the story, even the outcome. I guess my expectations of what this novel would be were too high and what it really was fell way below the bar. I am a bit sad because i really wanted to be blown away and I wasn't. On Goodreads this book got an average rating of 3.82 (almost 4 stars). I gave it 2 stars. I guess Maximum Ride would be the only YA series by James Patterson that I love.

Readers Forgive Me For I have Sinned...

...It's been over 24 hours since I've finished reading a book and I haven't posted my thoughts on this blog.

Hey guys! It's me --the Book Brat-- back again to review more books. I was looking over my past reviews and realized that this blog has suffered in the past --as is (obviously) evident in the archives-- every time my life gets...well...hectic. and last year was the worst. I only posted.7 times last year 4 of those posts were actual reviews. My apologies to everyone. I know I suck as a blogger but I'll be trying harder. You have my word. Erm, that's all i wanted to say;

I'm back

I'm very, VERY sorry for bailing again
(without any reason)

And I'll do better this year

Cool Stuff! The Hunger Games Widget

I was on the ClevverTV web blog (Website/blog or website in blog form) Checking out Ashley Benson's Kimmel interview out of (seemingly) nowhere there was this annoying roaring sound  that was interrupting the interview. So, naturally I had to go eradicate the problem. Now imagine my surprise when I came upon what you are witnessing at this moment this awesome widget. I was going to post it immediately but an idea struck me. Why not post this widget on the 23rd of this month and every 23rd until the movie is released on March 23, 2012. So here you go guys revel in the digital beauty that is this widget and I apologize if it eventually becomes a nuisance.

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Warlock by Michael Scott

Alcatraz:
Although their ally Dr. John Dee has been declared utlaga, Machiavelli and Billy the Kid will follow the plans the Elders have laid before them: they will loose the monsters of Alcatraz on the city of San Francisco, thereby triggering the end of the humani race.

Danu Talis:
The Shadowrealm that Scatty and Joan of Arc have entered is far more dangerous than they could ever have imagined. And they haven’t landed here by chance-the warriors were called for a reason. So were Saint-Germain, Palamededs, and Shakespeare. The group was summoned because they must travel back in time to Danu Talis and destroy it. For the island of Danu Talis, known in humani myth as the lost city of Atlantis, must fall if the modern world is to exist.

San Francisco:
The end is finally near. Josh Newman has chosen a side, and he will not stand with his sister, Sophie, or with the Alchemyst, Nicholas Flamel. He will fight alongside Dee and the mysterious Virginia Dare. Unless Sophie can find her twin before the battle begins, all is lost – forever....

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The Warlock picks up moments after the events of The Necromancer ends plunging you right back into the excitement (which was dying down). There isn't much to say about this book—besides the fact that there wasn't much action, that wouldn't end up spoiling you. Seeing that The Warlock is the first to last book in the series, everything was just one major history lesson and briefing of what's to come and what role each character was to play in the main event, rolled into one. For a person who likes learning about the characters in a story especially one as mysterious as this one is, you would find this book to your liking. For the person driven by action there isn't much but don't there is enough to wet your appetite until the big finale.

Me, personally, I am the former of the two. I like to quarter-heartedly joke that my nosiness is what drives my desire to learn what makes characters (and people) tick. So i enjoyed it for the oodles of info this book packed. However, that desire became my undoing. Why? Two words; major cliffhanger. A regular cliffhanger I could have dealt when. I would have liked it  but I would have been fine. What happened? Well, I can't exactly tell you where it all went tumbling downhill but I will tell you this. Something big happened, there was a moment or two for you to catch your breath then a bombshell was dropped the end That's. How. It. Happened. No exaggeration. When I visualize the way I felt at the end of the story only one image comes to mind and it is in no conceivable way pretty; but I'll tell you anyway.

I was going to warn you against reading this next part of my review but it doesn't affect the plot of the series it was taken from.

There is a character in The Last Apprentice/Spook's Apprentice/Wardstone Chronicles a series by Joseph Delaney (A really awesome horror series just so you now). Anyway, the  character—whose name is Grimalkin, had a child with The Devil. A beautiful baby boy for those want to know. When The Devil met his son he sensed that the boy wasn't going to be evil and "dashed his head against a rock" JD's words not mine. Nasty isn't it. Well, that's how I felt; like Grimalkin seeing her beautiful baby boy brutally bludgeoned.

You can roll your eyes and call me drama queen but you'd be highly annoyed too if you have to wait a year for what happens next.

::Taking a moment to breathe::

Crazy rant aside. If you've already read this novel and want desperately to analyze the hack out of the events of the story, I strongly suggest you head of to the forums at Flamel's Immortal Portal(.com) and joint in the discussion there.

On an entirely separate note; I just want to point out that this is my first post in almost three months. I would apologize but i see this happening again (life is always getting in the way). Most people would admit defeat and quit but i love blogging too much to stop. Like I mentioned before even If I'm not blogging I am still reading. If you're curious to know what I'm reading you can view my Good Reads profile (it's on the right below my email). Until next time—hopefully very, very soon.

Save The Date(s)...

Hey guys I got an email today from Flamel's Immortal Portal, the official fansite of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott, so I (naturally) wanted to shared the contents with you. Warlock the latest book in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series will be in stores May 24, 2011; so to commemorate the book's release Michael Scott will be touring the US.

The confirmed stops are:

May 23rd @ 4:00 pm
POLITICS & PROSE
Washington, DC

May 25th @ 7:30 pm
Baileys Crossroads - BORDERS
Baileys Crossroads, VA

May 26th @ 7:00 pm
ANDERSON'S BOOKSHOP
Naperville, IL

May 27th @ 7:00 pm
THE MAGIC TREE BOOKSTORE
Oak Park, IL

May 28th @ 1:00 pm
BLUE WILLOW BOOKS
Houston, TX

May 29th @ 2:00 pm
Woodlands Mall - BARNES AND NOBLE
The Woodlands, TX

June 1st @ 2:00 pm
Crossroads Commons - BARNES AND NOBLE
Boulder, CO

June 2nd @ TBA
THE SECRET GARDEN
Seattle, WA

June 3rd @ 7:00 pm
Alderwood Mall - BARNES AND NOBLE
Lynnwood, WA

June 5th @ 4:00 pm
POWELL'S BOOKS
Portland, OR

June 7th @ 6:00 pm
West Jordan - BARNES AND NOBLE
West Jordan, UT

June 8th @ 7:00 pm
CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE
Tempe, AZ

In other news Sarah Dessen NYT bestselling author will be making an appearance at the MCPL (Montgomery County Public Library) in Bethesda on June 16, 2011 5 PM, to kick of the Teen Summer Reading 2011. Click here for more info.

Another Faust by Daniel And Dina Nayeri

Welcome to the Marlowe School, where some very gifted students are having a hell of a year.

One night, across four cities, five children disappear. Years later, five enigmatic teenagers appear at an exclusive New York holiday party with their strange but beautiful governess, Madame Vileroy. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust children to the elite Marlowe School, where their presence brings unexplainable misfortune.

Using a series of “gifts” given to them by Madame Vileroy, the children are able to soar to suspicious heights at Marlowe. The gifts seem child-like in their simplicity. The governess teaches them to cheat, steal, hide, and lie; ‘harmless’ she calls them, though they are much more. For the vicious over-achiever, reading an unsuspecting mind is simply to cheat. For the reclusive pariah, the gift of stopping time is just another way to hide. And who but an aspiring writer can weave a convincing lie?

Soon, Madame Vileroy’s gifts become darker and more complex. Living in a gray home designed to cultivate and corrupt them, they are enveloped in the side effects of their own addictions. They live cursed lives, making deals with the devil as they claw their way toward their goals….that is until two of them begin to uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins.

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I actually finished reading this book a few months ago. After reading this book I decided to go online and check out what other people were saying about it. They were either really for the book or thought it was very boring. For me personally, I actually found the story very intriguing. The idea of five children going missing was a really fascinating plot and made me pick up the book, but Madame Vileroy’s (the main antagonist in the story) true motives made me want to read more. I’d rather not going to details about “her true motives” in case I end up spoiling the story for someone, so I’ll just move on the next topic: the characters.

I’m not sure if you are suppose to hate or “love to hate” these characters but I couldn’t help but love two of them, Victoria and Bice (pronounced: BEE-CHAY). Victoria’s need to be the best was so desperate that it became very comical. She became a caricature of an overachiever. As for Bice, she became the one that I could relate to. She was sort of the voice of reason (and the one who questioned everything). As for the others, they weren’t completely useless. At the end of the story I couldn’t help but feel very sorry for Valentin, Christian, and Belle; especially Valentin because I found that his circumstance was most sad of all (if you focused on the future outcome). What made me sad was Vileroy’s constant warping of the good things he did for people.

I know I keep mentioning how sad everything is but, I consider this story to be a dark comedy of sorts. Even though there are some serious undertones (messages) in this story I found it very comedic. Everything – every situation – up until the end was just very….funny. I don’t know why I found it so hilarious, I guess it’s because I constantly try to find the humor in darkest of situations. I really enjoyed this story and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel Another Pan. If you are considering reading this book please be patient with it, the outcome of the story is so very worth it.

Before I go I just have to mention something. The characters from left to right are: Christian, Victoria, Valentin, Belle, and Bice. Belle and Bice are Identical twins. However, Belle wants to be beautiful; so Vileroy made Belle into an in image of herself (as in Vileroy). What I find while looking at the depiction of the characters in various promotional pictures (especially this one) and the book trailer, Bice is just as beautiful as Belle (possibly even more so). I find it a tiny bit unnerving that she couldn't see that.