Carol

I did not enjoy this book as much as I did The Passage. There were times near the last 100 pages where I began to get irritated with the style of writing. It seemed to change. I was grateful I was able to feel more at peace in terms of the characters Amy, Brad, and Lila. It seemed to become a trend that once I began to come around to a character, they were dead or disappeared somehow. One part that made me feel how the characters felt is when they tried to get to a safe space (hardbox), but it ended up not being safe at all. Another point, looking in the eyes of a viral to feel and hear a human, is awing and sad. I felt this book would be more freeing for the characters, but it seems more lonely somehow.

Favorite quote: “It's the end, not the means”

The synopsis had me already feeling sad but intrigued by the situation. I was shocked with the bluntness of the writing, especially in the beginning. There was a concern in the back of my mind that I thought because of the beginning of the book that I had nothing to really look forward to. I was wrong. The more I read, the more excited I felt about the story, and I wanted and needed to know more! There were a few things I predicted in the beginning of the book that ended up being right, but the surprises outmatched my predictions. The plot twists are what kept me reading, and eventually, I knew that I didn't have a clue what was going to happen next. The writing style made it easy to read and had me hooked.

Favorite quote: “Like the sun behind a cloud, it would still peek out from time to time.”

I was not sure I would like this book, but the more I read, the more I enjoyed the story. At first, I was wondering why there would be three books to accompany this story, but now I am grateful there are! From finding out what happened to Daphne, my heart went out to her throughout the entire read. This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster that I did not want to get off of. I couldn't help but continue reading. I found myself excited, but nervous to continue reading for fear of what was going to happen to the Ingham family. I was shocked that Daphne would lie about who attacked her, but I eventually understood and couldn't fault her. Also, I was beyond relieved she came clean at least to her husband, Hugo. There were times when large periods of time went by, but Barbara Taylor Bradford did an outstanding job of implementing these time gaps in a way that was not irritating or that made me think I was missing out on parts of the story. For this being my first book by this author, I must say I am impressed and eager to continue the series.

Favorite quote: “What is meant to be is meant to be”

This book was a hard one to get into. That being said, the topic is quite eye-catching. It's not something you read or hear about every day in the novel industry. There were little bits of the suspect's trial to start out with. This gives it a different kind of perspective. Almost leaves the reader wondering if they have the right person or not. There was so little given about the victims, so identifying or empathizing was nearly impossible. After being introduced to and learning about Kathie, I felt I knew her very well until things took a turn for the worst. There are two sides to every person. One side shimmers about in the daytime and reveals everything you want to know about a person. The other side merely hides in the dark of the night as if it were a chapter no one should read. I could not help but feel I had met another person when learning about Kathie's dark side, which led to prostitution just to survive. The thought of anyone having to beg and belittle themselves just to make it in this world is unbearable. The title of this book describes perfectly the feeling I got when I discovered the details of the mad serial killer and exactly what he had done. For me, sadly, this book seems to miss its full potential. For it to only have kept my attention, the last part of the story was such a shame. The book was not terrible, but once I was done reading, I did not feel anything except the accomplishment of finishing another book.

It took a little time to get into, not a big deal or anything there. My initial thought was this book is going to be love sick, cliché, and predictable. I have never been so happy to be so wrong in my life! The character, January, is a much better person than I am. Forgiving people who have wronged her, loving people who hurt her, and trying to understand people better rather than get upset with them are just a few things that make her unbelievably unique. There are many types of love in this book and I do not mean the mushy, stomach-churning kind. When reading this book there were times I laughed, cried, and thought I was apart of the story. I remember a time, after something had went down, I almost wanted to call my best friend and be like, “Did you hear what happened. . . “, this book was THAT good. I had to, of course, take a step back, breathe, and remember these characters were not actual people.

As I began reading, I wasn't sure what to think of Bex. He seemed nice enough, but the whole teacher-student relationship was throwing me off. The more I read, the more Bex seemed suspicious. My stomach started churning any time he was mentioned. I found myself starting to defend Marin in my mind and wonder why Chloe wasn't being . . . well. . . best-friend-like. It drove me insane! I started to favor Gray and found myself liking the idea of him and Marin together. That being said, I feel what happened between them happened so fast. Chloe's attitude had me suspicious of her throughout the entire book, and I couldn't defend her lack of being a better friend, that is, until it all made sense. I had theories that encouraged me to read on. The rage that filled my soul when Marin spoke to Mr. DioGuardi was indescribable! It went away for a bit but came right back tenfold when Marin spoke with Kalina. After about seventy-five percent of the way through the book, I felt everything was rushed, and I found myself wanting to know just a bit more. Overall, it's a good read! I'm glad I was able to add two new to me authors to my TBR.

Favorite quote: “Everybody needs to behave, or I'll turn this volleyball game around et cetera” - Gray.

I was intimidated at the beginning because of the multiple stories and scenes going on but once it all came together it was magical. I instantly liked Brad, but my approval grew more when he was debating taking Amy and leaving Doyle at the carnival. Everything changed once Richards started shooting people. Following the characters along their journeys was a rollercoaster of emotions, but in the end I'm glad there are two more books in this series. Time seemed to fly by in this book! It made me think about the things I take for granted such as light and daytime. Overall, a great read.

This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire read. The topic of mental illness and suicide is a hard one but an impactful one to me. I feel it is something that is either talked about so little that no one knows about it or almost too much to the point where people stereotype those seeking help. This story about Sloane and Talley had me on an emotional rollercoaster in all the best ways. I enjoyed finding the literary pieces of the puzzle along with Sloane and even found myself discussing this book with a coworker. Her and I came up with theories and enjoyed finding the answers to our questions immensely.


Favorite quote: “Our stories never really end, because the love goes on forever”

This book was hard to get into at first, but once I did it consumed my attention. My only complaint about this book is the ending, including the events that lead up to the ending. I feel it had more potential for a satisfying ending, but it left something to be desired of. My heart aches because there were parts of the book I was unsure were true. There were other times I thought I knew everything, but I was proved wrong. I enjoyed that part very much. The idea of living in a world where people can sense a lie and even get symptoms when a lie is told is interesting. I found myself not liking Lazlo at first but as the story went on I grew to appreciate him and was sympathetic towards him in some situations. Unfortunately I feel there were a lot of characters I did not get to really know, I know Lazlo was the star of the show, but I would have liked to feel closer to the others. Maybe get a different side of them so I could verify my own speculations. Overall I am impressed with this novel and am glad to have been introduced to a new author.

Favorite quote: “Love isn't how you feel when you're together, it's how you feel, how often you feel it, when you're apart”

First of all, feel free to express any differences you have with me, as long as it is civil. I am all about comparing and discussing books. I see no need to argue via web about the book. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.
I remember liking this book a lot better a couple years ago when I read it for the first time. Now, however, I feel very little happened in the 306 pages. I understand it is intended for the young adults, (which I am 22 now), but I am not understanding how negative these reviews are. I am not going to go on a tangent about other reviews though, so here is mine.

Dislikes:
I would have liked a little more suspense leading up to Zoey's marking.
There were times I got a bit annoyed with the inserted side comments and sarcasm, because of the frequent use of them.
Some of the “attention getters” did not have to be so inappropriate.
I could not help but feel a little uneasy every time a rude comment, or reference was made about the “step-loser”. Instead of feeling the dislike Zoey had for him, and the insults being directed at him, I felt it was always addressed to Christianity as a whole.
I would have liked Erik to be introduced in a less cliché fashion.

Likes:
I like the relatable parts such as when Zoey describes feeling like she does not belong. I enjoy being able to relate to characters when I read. It helps me feel like I am really part of the book.
Reading this book a couple years ago verses reading it now, does not change my likes and dislikes. I still enjoyed the book, in spite of my dislikes.
For some reason I got super excited when Zoey found Nala. I like cats and dogs alike, but this moment reminded me of when I found my black cat Spooks. The happiness just overwhelmed me. This goes with the being able to relate aspect of my review.

Favorite quote: “Darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good.”

Right off the bat I enjoyed the chapters being smaller because I feel a sense of accomplishment when reaching a new one. The beginning was kind of all over the place and talking about multiple people at once. When this book began to focus on the main story I started to get into it a bit more. The book started to become more grim in the first quarter and I couldn't help but feel sympathy for Tom. My heart broke at the realization of what Penelope was doing but it didn't sink in, until it was pointed out a few pages later. There were times I found the author's repetitive writing annoying. I found the way Tom described his new life interesting and thought he would be happier things weren't like before. When Tom left and John took over I was in complete shock. It made me appreciate Tom a little more and had me realizing we miss things once they are gone, even if it is fictional characters. Then, just like that, I am confused as heck, torn between what is happening, and trying to figure out a solution to the Tom verses John situations. The more I kept reading the more I yearned for the chain of events to change and reward Tom with at least a sliver of hope that a situation would end up in his favor. After Tom met Lionel things began to unfold in a way I did not see coming. I figured they would meet, talk etcetera, but nothing like what was described. I felt silly for not realizing the relationship between John, Tom, and the time machine sooner, but how I loved how the book had me blissfully unaware. I didn't like how Victor's character was added in the end game. Sure, I get giving the reader a perspective of what could've been had Tom messed up, but that perspective didn't need to be continued afterward. The rest of the ending gave me mixed emotions. I was happy for Tom, but just felt like the ending was rushed. I also feel the ending had more potential than what was produced. Overall this book was a delightful read and I'm glad to have read a book from a new-to-me author.

I was shaken from the beginning because I was not expecting Alicia to have a baby. The baby itself was beautiful, but how she was conceived hurt my heart and made me feel raw emotions I was unexpected to feel. I found this book is the only one in the trilogy that I cried over. I recall times when my heart actually raced due to being worried for the characters and the return of the virals. The more I read the more heartbreak I experienced. Pim had my heart from her introduction into the scene. Her presence happened just as I thought things were going to get better. I feel this is the theme of the book for me. Just when I thought things were looking up somewhere, there was heartbreak, destruction, or something else going wrong elsewhere. There were several times in this book, and to be honest this series, where I was annoyed with the writing style and repetitive words, but I wanted to see this story through. I cannot say I was a fan when the point of view changed to a first-person narrative. Learning about Tim Fanning made it easier to feel empathy towards him, but not enough to like him. The book seemed to drag out near the end, and the ending, though interesting, did not sit well with me. The trilogy as a whole was good and I am glad to have finished it.

Favorite quote: “All things fell into the past but one; and what that was, was love”.

I was almost 150 pages in and had zero idea of what to think of Malkijah. This drove me insane because usually I get a feeling for a character, and this time, I couldn't decide on my feelings towards him. By the time I had 75% of the book finished, I still didn't know what to think of Mallijah. This was frustrating and intriguing at the same time. Aaron, on the other hand, I knew right away I didn't like him. However, the plot twist didn't shed a positive light on him. The plot twist did, however, help me make up my mind about Malkijah. This book was written beautifully and in a way that captured my attention from the first page. This is also the first time I've read a series that I was content with the ending.

Chloe seems to have a quick temper. I can understand her point of frustration when her family casts aside her ancestral questions. I also related to how Chloe felt when she got an F on her assignment she was sure she would get an A on. Then, not only to not get an A, but to be accused of plagiarism? That had to be a gut wrenching blow, but there seems to be some pent up anger beyond the schoolwork. Though I love reading, this book took a little bit to keep my attention. I am the type of person who does not look at what genre a book is, simply because I read everything! With that being said, it is my own fault that I had trouble getting into this book. Mr. Jung, as I have learned, typically writes middle school nonfiction. I found this book listed as young adult and I am 25 so I thought ehh, why not

I wish there was more information regarding the 70-year passage. I couldn't remember reading anything that suggested time had gone on for that long until I got almost to Chapter 5 and was hit with the time lapse. My heart sank every time the Jews' massacre was discussed. I didn't like to think about the demise of anyone, but especially women and children. However, I found myself rejoicing when good news arrived. Like the first book in this series, I felt like I was sharing the good and the bad with the characters. I enjoyed the intersections coming from Bethlehem as it reminded me as sort of a “meanwhile in. . . “ perspective. There were times I was shocked about my reaction the words brought, for example, the times I thought I would be sympathetic, yet I found myself angry. I did find myself sympathetic but shocked regarding Rueben's actions following an event. There were multiple times when I was caught off guard because I thought I knew what was coming, but I was proven wrong. I loved that about this book.

Favorite quote: “ It's much harder to resist the enemy of gradualism and assimilation. Much harder to maintain a passion for god when we are bogged in the daily routine of life” - Ezra

I hate that this was not published in book form but only ebook. I enjoyed every minute reading it though.

“She's my best friend.” My muse, my brush, my artistry, my heart. All of it's dead without her. “I love her.”- Jeb

Within the first fifteen pages, my attention was captured. I could see the opening scenario play out in my head. The author does an amazing job with expressing detail without giving the boredom of rambling. I fell in love with this fictional telling of parts of the Bible. I found my heart aching when Dinah's fear was becoming her reality in regard to her family splitting. It was beyond devastating to read about what happened to Iddo's family. The way Austin wrote this book, I was able to feel like I knew the characters personally. When they were sad, I was sad. When they were happy, I was happy too. Yael and Zechariah had a charming friendship that grew on me, and I was sad to see them drifting apart. It made me reflect on my friendships and reasons some drifted while others remained. I was pleased to see a change in Iddo about halfway through the book. My heart ached for Zechariah because I could feel how bad he wanted Yael to believe in God and witness his presence. I can not help but wonder what happened over the course of the ten year gap in the story, though. My heart was beyond broken for Yael during her time of confusion and grief. So much happened after the ten year gap, and I was eager to read more. The actions of Rafi caught me off guard, and I honestly was confused about everything by this point. In the end, everything came together, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Overall, it's a great book. I can't wait to read the second of this series.

Favorite quotes: “We'll name her Hodaya,” Dinah said. God be praised.”
“The eye of our God is watching over us”

I started off shook because I did not realize the book was based on a true story, and on involving the author at that! I feel it kind of took forever to get a point across at first. I felt like everything was a rambling speech. About halfway through the book I got the feeling and the concurrence that Jack was not just simply wanting to be like Gary, but had developed an almost obsessive like attitude to become Gary. The probation officer was not what I expected. I was taken back by his attitude and lack of professionalism during my reading encounter with him. One thing I didn't like was how an entire side story seemed to start near the end of the book. I was wanting to know more but at the same time annoyed that it started in the first place. All in all the book was alright, but I feel it was a gateway to attempt to get readers to read another book, which was clever don't get me wrong. I just feel this story was a compilation of side stories bunched together.

I began reading this book with absolutely no idea what it was about. Three pages. That is all it took for me to fall for this book hook, line, and sinker. I am an active reader, so I tend to get caught up in the books I read. I was not prepared for the emotional impact this book was going to have for me. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. Again, I get emotional when reading, but I cannot stress the powerful delivery of these emotions. This book made me feel exactly as it was portraying. There were times the outcome of a situation was one hundred percent the opposite of what I envisioned, and I loved that! E. Lockhart's writing not only grabbed at me, but it took me on a behind the scenes tour of everything that happened. I started out with two favorite books. I ended with three.

I liked the synopsis of this book but as I was reading there were parts that were completely predictable. Marianne was annoying to me, especially through the viewpoint of Darby. In the end, she ended up being okay. I admired what Darby was trying to do at Holly Jolly Land and the story did begin to grow on me. The entire situation with Roy was, again, predictable and so much so I nearly eyerolled. I like how Calvin made Darby feel and how it was almost an “enemies to lovers” trope, but with as a younger age version. Darby's actions and her thoughts about her father and Marianne quickly reminded me of the age category.

Favorite quote: “SHUT UP, LOSERS! This is a private conversation!” - Jane

Reading the synopsis, I was intrigued and felt the book was going to be good. Ultimately, I was let down as it was not as good as my mind hyped it up to potentially be. I felt I did not get to know the characters in a way that made them personable or relatable in any way. There were times the element of surprise was lost to predictability. One pro of this book is that it combines rational thinking with open-mindedness. The ending, for me, seemed abrupt, and I was not a fan.

I am not going to lie this book took a minute to get my attention, but when it did, there was nothing stopping me from getting caught up in it. I hurried from work to get the next book. I am interested. Very interested.

“Sometimes a flame must level a forest to ash before new growth can begin. I believe Wonderland needed a scouring.”- Ivory Queen.