Book Views are mini reviews in which I challenge myself to review a novel in 75 words or less. It is not always easy, but it sure is fun trying to find the perfect words.
Beautiful Creatures
Author: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Released: December 1st 2009 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
# of Pages: 576
Summary: (from GoodReads)
There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.
In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
Review in 75 Words or Less: Beautiful and original premise. Expertly explored world and characters. This is a novel that I would love to said that I loved 100%, but sadly, I didn’t – there is a spark… an aspect missing. After hours of contemplation, I still cannot pin point the issue. Perhaps it was abundance of downtime between the action.. or maybe I just did not relate to the characters… sadly, I don’t know.
Final Verdict: I wanted to love this novel, but for me, it was one of those reads that I could put down and not think about for a while. Nice read, but not 100% amazing.
Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Released: September 1st 2009 by Scholastic Press
# of Pages: 391
Summary: (from GoodReads)May contain spoilers from the previous novel. Read at your own risk.
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.
Review in 75 Words or Less: Intense, nail bitting, thought provoking, the list could go on and on. Catching Fire begins shortly after The Hunger Games. Katniss has found herself basically between a rock and a hard place… both politically and romantically. Collins begins the novel slowly, luring the reader in until they are so captivated that there is no escape until the last page. I can only now count down the days till Mockingjay. It is going to be epic!
Final Verdict: Catching Fire lived up to all my expectations and more. This series has quickly become one of my favorites of all time. Everything about this novel and its series is captivating. I can’t wait to learn more about this world and its characters.
Gone
Author: Lisa McMann
Released: February 9th 2010 by Simon Pulse
# of pages: 224
Summary: (from Amazon)May contain spoilers from the previous novel. Read at your own risk.
The third and final book in the paranormal teen series that includes The New York Times bestseller Wake and Fade.
Things should be great for Janie–she has graduated from high school and is spending her summer with Cabel, the guy she’s totally in love with. But deep down she’s panicking about how she’s going to survive her future when getting sucked into other people’s dreams is really starting to take its toll. Things get even more complicated when she meets her father for the very first time–and he’s in a coma. As Janie uncovers his secret past, she begins to realize that the choice thought she had has more dire consequences than she ever imagined.
Review in 75 Words or Less: Smooth and enjoyable read. Janie is forced to make the hardest choice of her young life, and sadly, neither option is an easy one. Cabel is not the easy to love character he has always been… Janie is so not easy to be around… everything is very dark. I throughly enjoyed that plot twists that McMann throws in for her readers. They really made me question what my own choice would have been.
Final Verdict: I am very pleased with how this series ended. It gives the reader nice closure in regards to the plot and characters. While I would still love to know what the future holds for Janie and Cabel, I am satisfied with the events that occur in Gone. Wonderful read and series. Highly recommend.
Kate, I love your Book Views! Thank you for your candor. Always a pleasure!
Good job on your reviews! Concise, yet still informative. I’m way too much of a talker to review something in 75 words or less! *L*
Aloha!!!=)
First off, I want to say that I love when you have the final verdict and a quick review!!!
Short and sweet=)
Catching Fire and Hunger Games are amazing!! For me, it was more then a novel.. there are so many life lessons.
AMAZING.
I have a teaser I posted on my blog but no review per se!!!
Thank you for your reviews!!=)