Book Review: Lament

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . .

My main disappointment with this book is the end, when Dee asks the fairies to turn Luke into one of them. Even though earlier in the book Luke made his opinion about the fairies perfectly clear ("Luke's body had gone completely stiff and his voice was tight."... "Luke's hands were tight fists by his sides. "I'm not one of Them"). Doesn't sound like he'd be happy to join their ranks. However, when Dee get's the ok for him to become one he's thanking her and Them. Even though it means he won't see Dee anymore anyway and even if he did he wouldn't love her, because well fairies in this book don't love, or have feelings really. They are manipulative, conniving, selfish beings.

Lament (luh-ment): 1.to feel or express sorrow or regret. 5.an expression of grief or sorrow.

Though the ending is a perfect companion with the title, considering Dee now has to face her life without Luke, living with the knowledge and regret that she basically destroyed the person he was, instead of letting him die the man he had been.

I didn't really like how this book ended, it just didn't seem true to the characters or the story Maggie started out telling. Even though this isn't going to be a favorite of mine I would still recommend it to a few people considering my favorite part of Lament is the conversations the characters would have. They reminded me of the type of conversations my friends and I would have; granted we wouldn't be discussing the existence of fairies or our new found ability to read one another's mind (at least not seriously that is).



View all my reviews

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

How awesome is this...

Mon Dec 19 10:53am EST
Texans surprise Marine’s widow and son with a new house
By Chris Chase

Texans surprise Marine’s widow and son with a new house

Marine Scott Wood died four weeks ago after suffering injuries during combat in Iraq. Before his burial, his wife dressed him in two uniforms. On the outside, Scott wore his military dress blues. Underneath, he wore the blue No. 80 jersey of Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Sara Wood had been married to Scott for eight years. They have a 5-year-old son together named Landon. Now he and Sara live in a single room in her parent's house.

"He knows daddy's in heaven," Sara said of Landon, "though I don't know if he fully comprehends what that means. He knows daddy's not coming back."

When Sara got an offer to go watch the Houston Texans play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, she jumped at the opportunity. She knew her husband would have loved to have gone to Reliant Stadium to watch his beloved team play. Plus, she and Landon had never been to a game before.

As described in a column by Tully Corcoran on FSHouston.com, the team brought Sara to the game under the pretense that she and her son would be part of a halftime ceremony in which Landon would receive a bike and Scott's memory would be celebrated by the 71,500 in attendance. Both those things happened, but a much bigger surprise awaited.

The team told Sara she and Landon would be receiving a custom-built, mortgage-free house in a Houston suburb. It's courtesy Operation Finally Home, an organization that builds houses for wounded and disabled veterans or their widowed families. In its seven years of existence, the charity has built 32 homes in 32 states, all mortgage free.

This home will allow the Wood family to stay close to family but have a place of their own. The hope is that she and Landon will move in next May. Scott won't be there, but that doesn't mean Landon won't talk to him.

"We told him he could talk to daddy in his prayers," she said, "and even in the middle of the day, you'll see him walk around the corner and you'll hear him say the 'now I lay me down to sleep prayer,' which Scott taught him. And then he starts talking to daddy."

Goodreads.com and Fallen

I found a really awesome website for avid readers.I encourage you to check it out, basically it's Facebook for readers. Not only are you able to review books there but it'll recommend one to you as well. I'm sure it does a ton more but as I only am just getting to it I'm not up to speed on all it's in's and out's. I was recommend to the site by a booksandquills whom I follow on youtube. Below is a short book review as well as a link to the above sites.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Every time I look over at my bookshelf and see Fallen sitting there looking as innocent as can be, I think "Oh, wait I haven't read that one yet"... Then as I begin to pass the seventh page I'm reminded of the suffocatingly confusing pages ahead and I scream "Kate you've done it to me again!!!!!" I know your all asking yourselves why don't I just stop reading it or give it away; Why, that's a very good question... one I ask while repeatedly hitting myself in the head with the stupid thing as I finish begrudgingly for the millionth time. I can't get rid of the book because with my luck I'd be in the store, see it and buy it thinking I haven't read that before; same reason I pick it up off my bookshelf. Unfortunately, for my bank account I'm not one of those people who can just stop with the first novel in a series... even if I dislike the book I follow it through to the end. I did enjoy the beginning (first eight pages). They only reason I actually bought the thing really, it had so much promise but ended with a ton of disappointment.

I don't recommend buying this novel, however to each there own.



View all my reviews


http://www.youtube.com/user/booksandquills?feature=g-u
http://www.goodreads.com

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Blast from the past...

No, this post isn't about the movie; though it is one Brendan Fraser can be proud to have his name attached too. I'm actually talking about grocery shopping to the soundtrack of S Club 7, a popular British pop band (1998-2003); consisting of members Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearritt and Rachel Stevens.

The group rose to fame by starring in their own BBC television series, Miami 7, in 1999. Over the five years they were together, S Club 7 had four UK #1 singles, One UK #1 album, a string of hits throughout Europe, including a top-ten single in the United States, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. They recorded a total of four studio albums, released eleven singles and went on to sell over seventeen million albums worldwide.

Their tv show's, movies, and album's were also very popular in my household. My sister and I were practically obsessed with them as children (debating on which one we got to “be” and which one we the band could live without) quickly forgetting them as we got older and they stopped appearing on the American airwaves. Which leads me to the excitement of not only hearing their songs while in the middle of grocery shopping but also recognizing what I was listening too. Even though I don't listen to pop now in days I'm still going to make room for this band on my i pod if only for the cheesy nostalgia of rocking out to the past.

Pedestal

Have you ever noticed that we always seem to put the people we love or care about upon a pedestal? Its odd isn’t it; we put them up to where we imagine them perfectly, no mistakes, no flaws. Just they’re ever so perfect, and then when they fall because everyone does, we feel betrayed, hurt, and upset. We know they’re not perfect because no one is, but for some reason the fact that they fell from that pedestal, hurts and we try to make it perfect again, make them perfect. In the end we can’t because they never were, and that pedestal sits there staring and mocking you. Because in your mind they failed, and you failed. You didn’t get that perfect ending, and they never appear perfect again. It takes along time to realize that they never should have been put up on that pedestal, in the first place but it never truly sinks in, because we liked the way they looked from up there and we fear to get to know the person who fell.

I know, I know...

I’ve been a bit lazy about posting my thoughts. A few friends have actually called my attention to it and to them I say “I’m sorry but it’s new and well I just decided to blow it off for a while.” The important thing is I’m working on getting into a routine of posting; even if it isn’t all that grand of a post. Tonight, however I’m actually going to cheat and just share with you two posts from Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley from One Tree Hill), she’s an amazing woman… and I can say that with full confidence even though I don’t know here personally. Ok, I could be wrong but I’m perfectly comfortable living in my fantasy land. Also, I’m going to share a post from HelloGiggles.com because I found it to be very entertaining and figured you might enjoy it as well.
So, enjoy and I promise I’m working on getting this apart of my routine. I have the thought’s, I just need to you know write them down.

http://www.bjgofficial.com/2011/08/temper-temper.html and http://www.bjgofficial.com/2010/10/american-gossip-epidemic.html posted by Bethany Joy Galeotti at http://www.bjgofficial.com

TOP 10 TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A WINTER BODY posted at http://hellogiggles.com/

Hearts of War

Let’s get this out of the way first; I’m proud to be an American and I’m proud of the men and women who fight for our country.

However, I am not proud of humanity in general… On Saturday, thirty-eight deaths were announced in the news, and while their families and friends mourned their deaths many more mocked the tragedy it was online through the comment sections of any and every article posted on the subject. I can’t say they mocked the news through voice, as I don’t personally know any of them, but the fact that they could bring themselves to mock death openly just irritated me, I’m ashamed of these people. Death on either side in any war is a pointless inevitability as well as tragedy and should never be something to rejoice and mock. The men that died in the helicopter crash should have our respect, because they were soldiers fighting for they’re country. It shouldn’t matter that they were Americans or Afghans, or whoever. Just that they were human beings who died for what they or their country believed in.

I’m positive we don’t always get every single detail when it comes to what our government agendas are and I believe we should have a voice (voting, etc.) on the polices and laws our government follow. I also believe this is true for other countries, even though they are run in a different way. And I know war with any type of group of people is going to happen just as it has always happened in the past. It’s a fact, an inevitable fact. Not every person thinks the same way, not even those who believe in the same policies or religion think the same way. War isn’t and will never be the solution to solving arguments among countries, religions, or people… but it seems to be the only way the children in charge can agree on to figure a solution.


RIP and God Bless


Helicopter Shot Down: 22 Navy SEALs Dead in Crash in Afghanistan - ABC News

Nation & World | 30 Americans, including 22 Navy SEALs, killed in Afghan copter crash | Seattle Times Newspaper

Book Review: TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY

Clay Jensen doesn’t want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead he reasons. Her secrets should be buried with her.
Then Hannah’s voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes – and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.
All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his small town...
...and what he discovers changes his life forever.

Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher is one of many books that have been deemed a favorite of mine. Asher got the idea for Thirteen Reasons Why at a museum. While taking an audio tour, he was struck by the eeriness of the voice in his ear—a woman who described exactly what he was looking at, but wasn’t there. Almost from the moment of its 2007 publication, Jay Asher's debut novel has received praise for its poignant portrayal of the impact we have in one another's life.

This is a beautiful story, Jay Asher did a wonderful job in showing how the simplest comment or action can eat away at someone, and how it can be a stepping stone for a bigger piece of their soul to be chipped away. Even if we all already knew our actions had consequences this book really pitches it to home.

Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why or rather thirteen people that brought her to her decision, but also that they weren’t the only people who should have been on the list, the she sent the tapes to those she could connect as well as those she knew would follow the rules and pass the tapes along. Clay shouldn’t have be on her list in the first place… and he isn’t for the same reasons as the other twelve. Hannah put Clay on her tapes because she knew he could have saved her if she let him. She tells Clay that he was to late, she just didn’t want to be saved anymore. She was already dead (in her opinion) when he finally had his chance to be to with her, to help her. By the end of Hannah’s story Clay has begun answering her while he listens; answering her questions and making comments, showing how what he’s hearing has begun to impact him. Clay even begins to beg her not to go through with her plan, as if there is still time.

As the reader I began to beg right along with Clay, hoping that somehow the end of the story really wasn’t what I’d been told from the beginning. That there was some miracle, a magical high jinx that fixed everything. I love when a story can capture you in such a way that you want to be able to fix everything… making it better. The way your mum used to kiss away the pain of a cut. That’s honestly why this book made it’s way to my favorite list. I like knowing the story has it’s reason for ending the way it did and being comfortable with it while still wishing for magic beans. I don’t like happy endings that are all neat and tidy, because real life isn’t. I want to be able to fit the story into my life even if on occasion it had a supernatural character list.

Here's a little expert from the book:


Go read the book and then comment your opinion, or if you've already read it tell me if you loved, liked or hated it below.

The Book of Eli

I’ve just watched the movie The Book of Eli with my sister Alice for the first time; now I hadn’t planned on blogging about it but I began thinking about how I should post something. You know try to actually make this thing swim rather than drown in the shallow end, so well here we are.
The movie is based in a post apocalyptic world, where people run ramped displaying questionable morals. Even the main character Eli doesn’t adhere to the simplest or morals; Thou shall not kill. Now in his defense he is defending himself, just well it’s a struggle for him. We’ve even got some speak of cannibalism… because well it wouldn’t be a post apocalyptic world if someone was eating another someone. Anyway, as we follow Eli in his walk of faith (yes, I said walk of faith) we come to find that he is on a mission from God, carrying the last bible on the earth west. Now of course his path isn’t easy because well then that wouldn’t be much of a movie now would it, or and more importantly not much of a walk of faith. He encounters the big bad of the movie, Carnegie, who wants the bible because it is the ultimate weapon, the book with all the power. And is joined by a young girl, Solara, whom he eventually surrenders the bible to Carnegie in order to protect from harm, finally putting to use what he has spent every night for thirty years reading, “Do more for others than you do for yourself”. However, even though he gave the last bible over to the “bad guy” all is not lost because well he’s just spent thirty years reading the bible over and over again and knows it by heart. He recites it to some old guy so it can be written down a printed for everyone to read.
The reason why I enjoyed the movie is because it really makes you think. I mean, really someone in his position should have been spreading the word, telling others about God. But why should he when we in our non-apocalyptic world prefer to keep silent. Obviously this doesn’t apply to everyone as so many do not shy away from speaking out about our wonderful father. Just that, it shouldn’t take an apocalypse for us to share or hide what God intended to be shared with the whole world. And in the face of tragedy or even and especially just everyday life we should remember the commandments and morals that have been set before us. Not becoming so entranced with the world that we forget what we have been taught, but chose to act in a manner that is pleasing and appropriate. Don’t get me wrong, God loves you no matter who you are, no matter how often we sin, just so long as you believe in him, trust in him, and have faith in him. We are always going to stumble, but what’s important is that we keep getting back on that bike, deciding to keep trying to learn. I’m in no way preaching here, because I struggle just as much as the next person.

Let me know what you thought of the movie if you've seen it, viewers advised the movie is rated R for some brutal violence and language. Or let me know what you think of my opinion...

Devil Archerist

Devil Archerist is a song performed by Bethany Joy Galeotti, Haley from One Tree Hill. For me this is one of those songs I can listen to at any time in my life and it fits with whatever I’m going through at that particular time. I don't know what this means to Joy, but for me it's about struggling against life and everything that comes with living. Whether its heart break due to a loved lost, a family member gone, or if you’re struggling against self doubt; compromising your self for a person or the whole world, instead of standing strong and being proud of who we are, with all our faults and awkwardness. I think a lot of us forget that we were made perfect within our own imperfections, or we never knew that to begin with. Everything that makes us unique is a good thing and something to be celebrated and treasured instead of locked away in a closet, hoping no one will go looking for the key that fits the lock.
Also, and probably more accurate for me currently this song could represent the struggle we go through in maintaining a thriving relationship with Christ. I’m not talking about struggling with having faith but with the communication involved in the relationship. If one half stops talking to the other then everything turns to ruble and picking up the pieces could become more of a struggle than if the communication never snapped… it isn’t impossible but it does involve a bit more effort.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think it means...

Lyrics:
This day probably tore me apart
And I didn't even know it
This day probably ate up my heart
And I got nothing to show for it
Why, why is it so, so, so easy to compromise

This fog is like strawberry pie
But it keeps you keep on reaching
Here I am just watching me die
Just uh watching death that uh coming up
Coming up creeping
Why, why don't you start
Calling me ungrateful
Oh yeah...

Keep me away
I've got no will to fight
Keep me away
I'm running to the light
Cuz I don't wanna lose your way
With these devil, devil archerist

My soul here a million to one
Says I didn't even see it
Looking up looking down at my soul
Looking everywhere but don't know
Where the help is come, coming from
Why, why do I seem broken stumbling
Everytime I can hear

Keep me away
I've got no will to fight
Keep me away
I'm running to the light
Cuz I don't wanna lose your way
With these devil, devil archerist

Come on now
Keep me away
I've got no will to fight
Keep me away
I'm running to the light

Keep me away
I've got no will to fight
Keep me away
I'm running to the light

Cuz I don't wanna lose your way
Ha, I don't wanna lose your way
No, I don't wanna lose your way

Where To Begin?

  I suppose I could just jump right in, without explanation or information... but that just doesn't feel as if it would fit. However, writing an "About Me" section just never seems to work in my favor. Try as I might I can never sit there and just talk about myself, listing all the things I love, hate, or want out of life. I just start to feel as if I’m being way more conceited than I actually am and it that begins to nag at me, like a letter you wished you never sent. Because once it’s sent, it’ll be read and then you no longer have control of what’s going to happen next. All you get to do is wait… wait for whoever you sent the letter too to respond. And I’m not patient enough at waiting for information from another person’s head, ask me to wait on anything else and I’m cool as a cucumber but start to have a conversation through technology or paper and I have to wait for someone to tell me there thoughts I go nuts.

  I could try to tell you what I plan to discuss on here but I don’t know any of that yet and even if I did it would probably change with my mood like so many other things do. However, for now I will post every thursday with a review/opinion on something or other, chances are it'll be a book or possibly a movie.