Black Girl / White Girl

Joyce Carol Oates

Published: 2006

272 pages

Rating: C-

 

Synopsis:

In 1975 Genna Hewett-Meade's college roommate died a mysterious, violent death partway through their freshman year. Minette Swift had been assertive, fiercely individualistic, and one of the few black girls at their exclusive, "enlightened" college—and Genna, daughter of a prominent civil defense lawyer, felt duty-bound to protect her at all costs. But fifteen years later, while reconstructing Minette's tragic death, Genna is forced to painfully confront her own past life and identity...and her deepest beliefs about social obligation in a morally gray world.

(from back of book)

 

(I would like to point out that I read this book for a Diversity class in school, and not for my own enjoyment.)

First off, there are many mixed reviews about this book; it just depends on whose opinion you ask for. Other authors like Oates and people with a more literary background would mostly all agree on one thing. This is a fabulous book. But I am sad to say, I disagree. For the average, everyday reader this book is way too “heavy”. Heavy in the sense that it is way too complicated, complex, difficult, hard to understand…whatever term you want to use. There is so much detail you tend to get over whelmed. And the fact that the plot isn’t that interesting just makes it not that much fun to read. I’m not even going to go into the plot; it would probably make me want to pull my hair out…no joke. Haha.

If you are trying to find a different book than your usual reads…give this a shot. But beware, you might (and most likely will) get disappointed.

All in all, the back of the book gets your hopes up and not that I’m saying the story isn’t one to take lessons from, its just boring most of the time. But that doesn’t mean I will rule out Oates other books, they all look more interesting and less complicated.

Short, not much detail review, I know… I just wanted to get my thoughts out about this book. So thanks. :)

-A. 

New Moon Official Poster:

AH! I absolutely ADORE this poster. Jacob looks like Bella's "crutch" like he's supposed to be and Edward is just kind of there. I don't know how else to explain it except: AMAZING. Thoughts?

PS: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner will be presenting a clip from New Moon on the MTV Movie Awards May 31st. Be sure to watch!

-B

The Vampire Diaries Book 5: The Return: Nightfall

L.J. Smith
Published 2009
592 pages
Rating: A

Following The Vampire Diaries Book 3&4: The Fury and Dark Reunion comes The Vampire Diaries Book 5: The Return: Nightfall. Now the reason the book is called The Return is because L.J. Smith never intended to write more books in The Vampire Diaries series. It was suppose to end at book four, Dark Reunion. But she decided to write three more books in the series! I'm so happy! This one came out in February 2009 and the sixth book is also coming out in 2009 near the end of the year but the seventh book will be coming out some time in 2010.

Synopsis (SPOILERS written in Italic)

When Elena sacrificed herself to save the two vampire brothers who love her—the handsome, brooding Stefan and the sleek and dangerous Damon—she was consigned to a fate beyond death. Until a powerful supernatural force pulled her back.

Now Elena is not just human. She has powers and gifts that were bestowed on her in the afterlife. What's more, her blood pulses with an overwhelming and unique force that makes her irresistible to any vampire.

Stefan wants to find a way to keep Elena safe so that they can make a life together. Damon, however, is driven by an insatiable desire for power, and wants Elena to rule as his princess. When Stefan is lured away from Fell's Church, Damon seizes his chance to convince her that he is the brother she is meant to be with. . . .

A darkness is infiltrating the town, and Damon, always the hunter, is now the hunted; he becomes the prey of a malevolent creature that can possess him at will, and who desires not just Elena's blood but her death.

My Synopsis

In this book Elena has changed once again. She is not what she used to be. Stefan still loves her unconditionally.... but so does Damon. The old combat between the two dangerous brothers is still raging on... but some of the fire has died. They are learning to forgive each other but one little slip and their newly rekindled comradeship may crash and burn. Meanwhile, something strange is happening in Fell's Church. The girls in town are acting differently. People are changing... becoming more violent. The people you care about the most may betray you utterly.

Bonnie, Meredith and Matt, who is good friends with all of the main characters and is also Elena's ex-boyfriend and a potential love interest for Bonnie, have been attacked and badly hurt during a car accident. Following this event Damon must prove his loyalty to the group by either watching and letting their car get ravaged by an unknown enemy or saving them. But Damon has a hatred for Matt since he likes Bonnie and Damon is also a potential love interest for Bonnie.

Spoilers! Following these events, Stefan leaves an entry in Elena's diary that shatters her world. Stefan tells her he is leaving her and that Damon will take care of her but Elena and her friends suspect Stefan has been taken by force and that Damon is behind it.

Soon the group realizes that something has taken over Damon, since he is being more violent and dangerous than he usually is. Elena must figure out who is behind everything before the entire town gets taken over.

Will everything come together? Will Elena find Stefan with Damon and Matt aiding her or will she fail? Will Damon have the willpower to fight the darkness inside of him and choose good or will he succumb to this unknown enemy's way and hurt the people he loves? The story continues in this endless fight for survival.

Again L.J. Smith's book captivated me from chapter one. It definitely did not disappoint and left me wanting more of Elena, Stefan, Damon, Matt, Bonnie and Meredith. I can't wait for the next two books to come out. You will absolutely love this book if you loved the other ones.

-M

New Moon

Stephenie Meyer

Published 2006

608 Pages

Rating: A+

With the movie coming out in November, I decided I should re-read New Moon. I've only read New Moon once before and I didn't want to read it again because it honestly made me kind of depressed. I know that there are so many reviews of New Moon and every other Twilight book, but with me being such a big fan, I feel obligated to.

Following Twilight, Bella Swan is still madly in love with Edward Cullen and vice versa; but when the Cullens decide to leave town for Bella's safety, things start to change drastically.

As crushed as Bella was, she finds comfort in her best friend, Jacob Black. Things start to look up a little until Jacob Black starts to ignore her completely.

This is where I'll stop. I don't think I can say anything else involving what happens in New Moon without giving anything away. So, with Edward gone in more than half of the book, you would think since I'm a huge fan of Edward, that I wouldn't enjoy this book that much. WRONG. Even when Edward is gone, Meyer still never fails to entertain me. While most girls find Bella Swan to be rather annoying, I find her to be rather relatable. I seem to feel the same way she does in the situations she gets in, leaving her confused, hurt, happy, etc. I must have cried about 10-15 times during this book (I'm very sensitive) ;basically you would have to be a pretty tough person to not cry once during this book.

-B

If I Should Die Before I Wake

Han Nolan
Published 2003
312 Pages
Rating: B

Let me first start off by saying that I love learning and reading about the Holocaust. It's always been a favorite topic of mine since I've read Number the Stars in the 6th grade, it's just such a horrific and unimaginable part of history.

Hilary hates Jews.

As a part of a neo-nazi gang in her town, she's finally found a sense of belonging. But when she's critically injured in an accident, everything changes.

Lying near death in a Jewish hospital, Hilary finds herself bombarded by memories of a life in Poland. A life she never lived. Somehow, Hilary has become Chana, a Jewish girl fighting for her own life in World War II.

Forced from their home by the Nazis, Chana and her family struggle in the terrible Lodz ghetto, where starvation drives people to desperate acts and the streets are smeared with filth. Those strong enough to survive are shipped out-to the slaughterhouse at Auschwitz.

How can Chana-or Hilary-survive?

(Back of book synopsis)

Now, what attracted me to this book was the creative cover and the Swastika in the little girl's eye. I've never read anything by this author but I thought I'd give it a shot because of the topic. Hilary definitely bugged me in the beginning of course, with the insensitive way that she thought. But mostly, she was the way she was because she was just trying to fit in.

Then you start to learn about Chana, such a sweet and caring character, it's hard not to feel for her so deeply. Although I really enjoyed this book, I was slightly confused at times with the way that Nolan wrote.But it got much easier towards the end to understand what was happening; but in the beginning it was kind of frustrating not knowing what exactly was going on. All in all, this was a great book and I hope you decide to give it a shot.

-B

Old Cover VS. New Cover: The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith.

Since The Vampire Diaries was first published in the 90's, only 3 months after I was born, the old covers are kind of ... well ... 90's. I'm sure people were attracted to the covers when they were first published but if I were to see them now in a book store, I would've thought they belonged in a cheap bookstore accompanied by romance novels with Fabio on the cover. (No offense at all to readers who like the old covers and readers who love the books.) The new covers are so dark and sexy. I just think the cover is so attractive. Just a FYI, I haven't read the books yet. I also like how they combined the first two books into one and the next two books into one. It makes it less expensive too! Anyway, what do you guys think?


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-B

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Movie Review:

Director: David Fincher
Released: December 25, 2008
Genre: Drama; Fantasy; Mystery; Romance.
Starring: Brad Pitt; Cate Blanchett; Taraji P. Henson
Rating: A+


Don't worry guys, this won't turn into a "movie review" blog. It will be a rare occasion that I will love a movie so much that I feel the need to tell you all about it.

I'm sure everyone has heard of this film and what it's about considering it's such a unique story. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is about a man that was born in his late 80's looking like he's on his way to the grave but in the body of a newborn baby. He was taken in by a couple that runs a nursing home so actually, looks-wise, he fits right in. You will see Benjamin Button growing up in an old man's body experiencing everything that a young child experiences. I don't want to give too much away of the story, so that's where I'll stop.

I always thought Brad Pitt as an actor was way overrated. My thoughts on him were that he was a good-looking guy that got his big break as a sexy cowboy, but as far as acting went, he was alright. After watching this film, my mind did a total 180 and now he is in my top 5 favorite actors and actresses of all time. I can't think of anyone who could've done the fantastic job that Brad has done.

Now, I'm going to move on to Cate Blanchett. I remember watching the movie Elizabeth which she starred in and literally falling asleep. It got amazing ratings but I just could not stay awake for even half of the movie. So, when I started to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I honestly didn't even care that she was in it. I was wishing someone else took her place because in my mind I was thinking, "Cate Blanchett? As BRAD PITT'S love interest?! What?! You have to be kidding me." When you first look at her, she isn't an absolute stunner. I thought she was kind of plain and boring. But, when I started watching her in Benjamin Button, I was wowed. This woman is beautiful. This woman, this amazing actress, she is such a classic beauty.
I don't think anyone could've acted the way she did in this movie.

This movie will bring out almost every emotion you have in your body. One minute you'll be laughing, the next you'll be crying. Let me just add that this movie is 3 hours long and me, being the impatient person I am, was sad that the movie had to end. Even in The Dark Knight, which was a great movie, but since it was 3 hours long I could not wait for it to be over. So now I ask you to do yourself a favor. If you're at the rental store or even Walmart, you will have to buy or rent The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Just trust me on this guys, it's 110% worth it. Below I'm going to post a video that is right at the end of the film. Don't worry, it doesn't give anything away. I just think it's beautiful.




-B

The Vampire Diaries Book 3&4: The Fury and Dark Reunion

L.J. Smith
Published 2008
528 pages
Rating: A

Following The Vampire Diaries Book 1&2: The Awakening and The Struggle comes The Vampire Diaries Book 3&4: The Fury and Dark Reunion. Just like the first and second book were put in to one, the third and fourth were too. And also like the first book, this book is incredible!

Synopsis (as seen on back of book)
Elena: transformed, the golden girl has become what she once feared and desired.

Stefan: tormented by losing Elena, he's determined to end his feud with Damon once and for all—whatever the cost. But slowly he begins to realize that his brother is not his only enemy.

Damon: at last, he possesses Elena. But will his thirst for revenge against Stefan poison his triumph? Or can they come together to face one final battle?

My Synopsis

Now in this book, Stefan and Damon, the two brothers, continue to fight for Elena. SPOILER!! But Elena has transformed in to what they are, a vampire, which is infuriating to Stefan but wonderful to Damon. And Stefan, who is the one protecting Elena, has discovered that his brother is not his only enemy. There is another unseen Power in the small town of Fell's Church. More people are being murdered and hurt. Elena, Stefan and Damon are being watched and have been for a long time. They must discover who is threatening them before they all die and Stefan and Damon discover that they must work together and put aside their thirst for revenge against each other to save Elena. But will they be able to or will it just turn in to another battle for Elena's love? Which characters will live or which will die in this never ending adventure? Will they be able to stop this dangerous Power or will all fail? Everything goes down in this dark and riveting book.

This book in my opinion is just as good as the first one, maybe even better. If you loved the first book you'll definitely love this one too. I seriously could not put the book down. I fell in love with Stefan and Damon both. Elena, with her two friends Bonnie and Meredith, are such heroic female characters. You actually feel like you're living the drama. L.J Smith's book is engrossing and her writing is phenomenal. The story is also definitely touching and I found myself almost weeping near the end of the book. The characters have such profound bonds it's unbelievable. And there is more character development in the book too. Hope you'll enjoy reading this book as much as the first one because I certainly did.

-M