Book Review: I am Number Four

I am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) by Pittacus Lore

Synopsis: In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.
I AM NEXT

My Review: I hesitated with reading this book at first because I knew that it was about aliens; which is not something that I am used to reading about. When I think of aliens I don't think of them as humans with supernatural powers. So when I heard that there was a movie coming out and many friends were giving it good reviews, I decided to give it a go!

I was very impressed with the writing of I am Number Four. Sometimes action can get lost in writing because it is simply too complex, and difficult to follow. Every twist, turn, nod, draw of a knife, noise, etc. was written down very descriptively. I was drawn in from the very beginning! At first a reader has no idea why John and Henri are traveling from place to place. Then the reader wants to know why they are on Earth. Once these little details started forming, I couldn't help wanting to know more. I never knew when the Mogadorian's would show up.
  
I think my favorite part of the book was the strength of everyone's relationships. The relationship that Henri and John have is very touching. Even though they both have lost their actually family and are always on the run from the Mogadorians their relationship continues to grow stronger. They know that they need each other to defeat the Mogadorians who destroyed their home, planet Lorien. 

Sarah and John are 2nd on my list for Favorite Fiction Couples (Edward and Bella from Twilight are 1st). They connected right away and I loved that. John knows that he may have to leave in an instance notice, leaving Sarah behind. Sarah s acceptance of John amazes me. I really liked that she was very accepting of him when he explained to her that he was an alien. Most people would question him, but she didn't. I'm excited to read more about where their relationship goes in the next book of the series, The Power of Six. 


The movie I Am Number Four is currently out in theaters. Now that I am done reading, I can't wait to see how the movie compares to the book. One of the parts that I am anticipating is meeting Number Six. She brought a sense of hope to a situation that seemed undefeatable at that moment. Also, I want to see how the Mogadorians and the beasts look on screen. Even though the desciptions were very detailed, a person can only imagine so much. 


Overall, I am Number Four was a very well written, gripping and intense read! I would highly recommend! 








 

ET Exclusive: Robert Pattinson & Reese Witherspoon: Water For Elephants

I'm sure everyone is getting more and more anxious about the approaching movie release of Water For Elephants. While there is still 57 days and 5 hours of waiting... I would like to thank ET for giving us sneak peeks and interviews to satisfy us in the mean time!!





Exclusive: Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson share a smooch and more in the upcoming 'Water for Elephants,' and the onscreen lovebirds are talking about their forbidden movie romance with ET! They also share a nugget of obscure movie trivia -- they were once cast in a film as mother and son!

In 'Water for Elephants,' Reese plays the married star performer in a circus who catches the attention of a bachelor animal caretaker, played by 'Twilight' star Rob. When ET visited the Los Angeles set during production on the film last summer, Reese rode atop an enormous elephant for a scene involving an elaborate 1930s parade.

Reese gushed about sharing love scenes with Rob, proclaiming, "I am so lucky. He's so amazing and wonderful and sweet and just the nicest guy too, so you can just add that to the soup. I mean, he's just so good looking and he's a really nice person."

Rob said the pair hadn't yet shot their love scenes, but shared, "Reese has only got two days [of work] left [on the film]. So … they must expect me to be very professional about it." He also gave a tidbit about one love scene -- he says it ends with his character getting beaten up!

"We'll probably just laugh the whole time, because all we do is just laugh and joke around," Reese predicted of filming the scenes.

Although Reese and Rob are an onscreen couple in 'Water for Elephants,' they had a very different movie relationship when they filmed 2004's 'Vanity Fair' -- mother and son! Despite Reese being only ten years older then Rob, he was cast as her son, though his scenes later landed on the cutting room floor.

Reese recalls of meeting Rob back then, "He was walking down this corridor and I turned to the director, and I said, 'That's my son? He's so good looking!' I was like, 'He's so hot!'"

For his part, Rob remembers, "Even then, I realized on the set, I was like, I look too old to be playing her son. I mean, that's probably why I was cut."

Based on the best-selling novel by Sara Gruen, 'Water for Elephants' follows an elderly man (Hal Holbrook) reminiscing about his days working as an animal caretaker at a circus. A young veterinary school student (Robert) witnessing the beauty and brutality of life under the big top, he falls for Marlena (Reese), the captivating star performer, and suffers the wrath of her charismatic but dangerous husband, August ('Inglourious Basterds' Oscar winner Christoph Waltz).


'Water for Elephants' will debut in theaters on April 15, 2011.

http://www.etonline.com/movies/107774_Robert_Pattinson_and_Reese_Witherspoon_Talk_Their_Water_for_Elephants_Forbidden_Romance/index.html

New and Old Twilight fan art done by Epic Twi Sis Laura

 I wanted to post these fabulous pictures that Laura (@totally_dazzled) has made. Some are older, others are newer... they are all beautiful! And make for amazing computer backgrounds ;-) THANKS LAURA! xoxo

Review #4: Mockingjay (Book 3 of the Hunger Games Series)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

WARNING: There are a few spoilers...

Synopsis: Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

 My Review: First off, let me just say that I finished Mockingjay a few days ago and I am still trying to process what went on. My mind is still turning and I can't stop thinking about The Hunger Games series!! To me, that is what makes a great story- any book that makes a person reflect on the ideas and event that just took place and they can't let go of it or sometimes can't even make complete sense of it- the rest is up to us to think about and imagine.

Mockingjay took place in an entirely different setting, and I believe that the mood changed quite a bit from Catching Fire to Mockingjay. In a way it calmed down (just a little... and not for long though). Katniss is safe and in District 13, but there is still this immense fear. When "The Games" were taken place, the fear was right there in front of us, the reader was just waiting to read that someone else has died... but in Mockingjay a reader is just waiting for something, anything, to go wrong. I guess it is the "unknown" that is the scariest. The Capitol is a major threat but it is hard to tell when they will decide anything. 

We also get to see a twist in character: Peeta being controlled by The Capitol (even when he wasn't under their reign)... it was hard for me perceive Peeta at this point because I couldn't get the "sweet, innocent" Peeta out of my head (yes, he has that affect on people). I felt truly sorry for him, and so it made me hate the Capitol even more. 

We finally get to see more interaction between Gale and Katniss and ever Gale and Peeta. In the other two books Gale is there, but he is in the background since Peeta and Katniss are in the games most of the time. So seeing those relationships come out, transform and grow throughout the series was wonderful!

And my love for Katniss also grew. She has always been strong and courageous, but we get to see the "troubled" sides of her as well; having The Capitol against her and people who she loves being taken away... take a huge toll. I love seeing how she handles the unknown events in Mockingjay. Yes, I still want to be just like Katniss Everdeen!!


Another reason that I love this book is that the "love triangle" is not at the surface of the plot. It is there, but it doesn't take over the story. 

This book will have a person gasping for breath because they forgot to breathe, clinching teeth and turning up noses, laughing, and crying; not just sad tears but happy ones as well. There are so many emotions drawn into the series and I never once saw a decline in emotion- it was always present. There are events that happen when you least expect them... some good, some bad. In fact, I had to take a break and reread the last chapter before the Epilogue because I couldn't read through my tears any more...


The ending (or rather the last 5 chapters of Mockingjay) is the part that threw me for a loop big time!! Great ending, I loved it... but I wouldn't mind knowing a little more. Especially a little more about Gale and how his life turned out; I feel like he just "vanished" at the end there.

So once again... Suzanne Collins, You did it!! Thank you Thank you Thank you for this wonderful creation of Panem and such strong vivid writing!


The Hunger Games Trilogy was phenomenal!! I can't wait to reread the series and pay attention to some of the little things that I may have missed. And of course I can NOT wait until March 2012 to watch The Hunger Games come to life : LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!