33/50: Feed by Mira Grant

Feed by Mira Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure I'd like this book. I'm not a politics fan at all. In fact I have an aversion to politics altogether. If someone says "here read this, it's about a presidential campaign", I'll say "No thanks". I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this book.

Shameless book club props: The amazing thing about having a book club pick a book is that you expand your reading base. My Nest Book Club has brought me to books that I never would have picked up on my own and they are some of my favorites.

Feed grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go even when I finished. I have plans to read the next one for sure. I even got my husband to read it and I swear he likes it more than I did.
This isn't a zombie book in the way you might think. It's more about a political campaign and the zombies are just... there.  (yes this is a political book and I really liked it) The zombies have been around for so long, people are able to live their lives with all the blood tests, regulations and paranoia. Some people hide, others face it full force.

The characters are believable. Shaun, Buffy, Rick and Georgia are perfect for their roles. They are all so different, yet work so well together. They have such drastically different personalities it's interesting to see how they react to each other.

The world that Grant created was incredible. She didn't set the world up all at once. She gives you a little, then continues with the story until something needs to be explained. You get the full idea of the world they live in throughout the book and never feel like you're missing anything. You get the information when it comes up and not any sooner. You remember the details because you go them when they were relevant. The history lessons on how the world got to where it was made sense. Sure there were lots of questions in the beginning, but the big ones were answered quickly.

I read this book as if it was a movie. In fact, there are a few people who read it that think it SHOULD be a movie. A lot of times we say that and the book wouldn't translate well. This one would.

I recommend picking this one up. As I said, it's not really about zombies, it's about a presidential campaign, the scandals, lies and truth. Zombies are just there to mess with your day and maybe eat a few people.

Summer Book Challenge: Book Club choice - 10 points
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32/50: Water for Elephants by Sera Gruen

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It took me a long time to listen to this book. I liked the story, I liked the narrator, I just wasn't grabbed. I could put it away and come back to it a week later without feeling that pull. I wanted really badly to love this book because of all the wonderful things I'd heard about it.

I liked the characters. The way they were written made you feel exactly how you were supposed to about them.  I hated August. I thought Marlena was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I thought Jacob was likable enough as a young man, and loved him as a 93 year old.
The secondary characters were great as well. Such dynamics. Walter grew on me throughout the story. He ended up being one of my favorites.

The alternating point of views from Old Jacob remembering to Young Jacob telling the story first hand was great. The book wouldn't have had the same effect without the reminiscing chapters.

It's hard to review books you don't love or hate. There was nothing spectacular in it that made me want to recommend it to everyone I know. There was nothing in it that made me say no way, don't read it. It was a good book, and I can see why people loved it, it just wasn't my favorite.
I do however want to see the movie now because I have finished reading it. I think it would translate well into film. As much as I am not a Robert Pattinson fan, I think he would do a great job of playing Jacob.
SuBC 2011: Book on a summer reading list - 10 points
Book Journey 2011: United States.

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31/50: Wither by Lauren Destefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


When I first read about this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. Polygamy isn't something I understand, but from what I do know, I disagree with it. I'm not sure whether to be disturbed or enlightened. The girls are so young when they get taken and forced to marry and have babies right away. It seems so wrong.

I liked the characters. They interacted well with each other and were so completely different they complimented each other. I was sad for all the characters as well. Especially Linden, Jenna, Cecily, Rhine and Gabriel. They all had a different point of view on their situations that vastely differed.  Ranging from thinking being made a wife is the best possible outcome in life; Or that being made a wife is like prison, or a slow death.

There was something comfortable about the lives the three girls were brought into. Something safe. Rhine knew what freedom really was having grown up with parents and a brother. Jenna and Cecily didn't being orphaned or sold into prostitution. For them, the mansion meant "home", for Rhine it was a prison. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

It wasn't a feel good book, but definitely makes you think about what you would do if you only had until the age of 20/25 to live. Rhine never got to experience the "live life to it's fullest because it ends so soon" mentality until she was bought to be a bride. What would you do? Would you accept the life you were sold into and embrace it? Or would you fight to escape and be free, even if free means running for your life.

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SuBC2011 - Read a YA Book - 5 points
BookJourney2011 - Manhattan and Florida

30/50: Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lover Awakened was better than the second book, Lover Eternal. Zsadist was an interesting character. He was broken beyond repair from the abuse he suffered as a blood/sex slave. For him to change so much and become this doting lover was a complete transformation. Incredible to witness, but I feel like it was a little unnatural. I don't believe that he could go through that sort of hell and become what he did in the end. Aside from that, the book was great.

Bella seemed like a woman trying to escape her perfect aristocratic life, but after reading her story, there was no way she could ever go back to a life like that.

We got to learn a little more about each of the characters still to come.
John is taking a bigger role and I'm excited to read more on his story.
Phury I think will have a change of heart with his celebacy vow. Zsadist, his twin has found peace, and I think because of that Phury will find his own peace and grow.

I'll probably take a break from reading this series. There is such a thing as too much brain candy all at once.

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SuBC2011 - Read a book that is part of a series - 10 points
Book Journey 2011 - Caldwell, New York

29/50: Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood #2) by J.R. Ward

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My husband (still love saying that word) picked this book for me to read as part of the Summer Book Challenge. He was so excited about the task that he had input for. He's been told that husbands are very happy when their wives read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, so it's naturally the one he picked.

Onto the book review:
I can't say I liked this one better than Dark Lover (BDB#1). This book was frustrating... and not in a bad way. Rhage and Mary were awesome together. A lot of passion. Being as how his name is Rhage, I wasn't at all surprised when he got angry, and overly passionate about Mary. The beast inside him seemed to make him feel more of each emotion he had.

Mary was dull to me. I thought she was stupid, but let's be honest, she's had a hard life, used to being on her own and certainly not used to a man taking interest in her. Especially not one like Rhage, who's nickname is Hollywod. I couldn't get why she wouldn't let Rhage just love her. Her past was hard and I totally get why she didn't want to put Rhage through pain watching her deal with her illness. Strong character emotionally. Not afraid of anything.
John Matthews sparked my interest and I hope he sticks around. He was so alone, and needed someone to reach out. At first I thought he was incredibly creepy. Following Mary, calling her all the time. Hello Stalker? But he wasn't. He was sweet, alone and needed help. I can't wait to hear more about him in the remainder of the series. I've heard a lot of my book friends like his character.

I haven't talked about the Lessers much because they weren't a big part of book 1. They are starting to irritate me. They are the enemies of the Brotherhood and I get they are there for the sole purpose of irritating the reader. Well done JR Ward. Well done. The Society drives me insane and I hope that the Brotherhood kicks their butt once and for all in this series at some point. Mr. O seems to have a big conflict within himself, even though he's technically dead and has no soul. There was a moment where I actually felt bad for him, but that passed quickly.

SuBC2011: Have your significant other pick a book for you to read - 10 points
Book Journey 2011: Caldwell, New York

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28/50: Harry Potter and the Dealthly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There are no words to describe this book. 5 stars is not enough.

This was the perfect ending to the world that sucked me in, chewed me up and spit me out. I feel like I am a more complete reader now. I am still thinking about everything that happened in this book, that led up to the end and where everything began to become twisted and entwined.

I'm not sure what else to say about The Deathly Hallows. How the plot of Harry vs. Voldemort became entwined with the Deathly Hallows was incredible. I was concerned about another seemingly big plot was coming into the last book. It took a different directly, but finished together so beautifully it couldn't have been any other way. I cried a lot in this book. I totally understand why there are so many Harry Potter fans that love Snape. I get it. I feel the same. I want to re-read the entire series now.
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SuBC2011: Read a book that is part of a series - 10 points
Book Journey 2011: London

27/50: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I couldn't give this one the whole 5 stars. It was the transition book, that although completely necessary, was more like a history lesson. This isn't to knock it, because it fully redeemed itself at the end. All the history was completely necessary to set up book 7.
The history of Voldemort was very intriguing and I liked that Harry had a task to get a memory from someone to help complete the story.

I love how this book had a little more on the teenager side of things. Harry pining over a girl, Ron and Hermione having a battle without realizing it. Hilarious!

I am still in shock from the end events of this book. I have a friend who is in love with Snape and I'm still not sure what to make of that. Some pretty amazing things better happen in Book 7 for me to ever believe he is not an evil person. This is assuming of course that said friend likes Snape because he's good. I feel so much hate towards him and at the same time, pity. Immese amounts of pity.

Frenchie and I watched the movie this weekend as well. Loved it! They cut out a few sub-plot lines which now in reading Book 7 I'm wondering how it's all going to work together in the last movie without having them in movie 6.

I did not cry at the end of this movie, which was incredibly surprising to me. Frenchie was shocked and did his whole "That didn't just happen. I don't believe it. There's no way"

SuBC 2011: Read a book that has been on your To Be Read shelf for over a year; 15 points
Book Journey 2011: UK

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26/50: Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There are no words to describe this book that can do it justice. Every single character is amazing, yes even the villains.
I laughed, I cried and I have now dug out book 6 and starting it immediately. This book has thrown me so far into the wizarding world and set up the next 2 books I can't even begin to imagine how it will all end.
Curse me for not reading them earlier

Umbridge: I may hate Malfoy but he looks like a puppy compared to this woman. I can't tell you how
many times I sat there and slammed the book shut and say "I hope this woman gets what's coming to her". Rowling wrote a brilliant villain when she created Umbridge.

Things are starting to get a little more serious. The books are definitely leaning to the more adult side of things now. Maybe adult side is the wrong phrase. Dark side would be better.

The DA was awesome and I absolutely loved Neville.

SuBC 2011: Read a Harry Potter book and learn a magic trick; 25 points
Book Journey 2011: London
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25/50: Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1)

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




Brain Candy. Fun, sexy and a good way to get the right sort of mood going. I will definitely be picking up the rest of this series.

Wrath is an interesting man. He reminds me of the jungle cat that takes a female to subdue. His turn around to be this lover and gentle man made me love Beth even more. She was perfect for him. Feisty, sexy and let's be honest, it's a romance novel, so able to believe anything.
I'm feel pity for her that Darius died and she was thrown into this other world without his help. She found out she lost something she never knew she even had.

The sex scenes were great. Definitely get your motor running regardless if you're a fan of vampires or not.

I will say that the names of the characters are quite amusing. Although I have to say I'm very excited to read the next books.

SUBC 2011: Read a book you heard about on someone's blog - BookNerdBecca - 5 Points
Book Journey 2011: Caldwell, New York

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