Monday, March 21, 2011

Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Synopsis: The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. (Taken from Goodreads.com)  

My Review:  Why is it really difficult to talk about a book that you really love? Cryer's Cross is just too amazing for words. I was literally speechless after I closed the last page of the book.

I have never read a book so fast in my life; I was sucked in right from the beginning and refused to put it down. I neglected everything for a few hours and finished Cryer's Cross in one setting.


The author, Lisa Mcmann, knows how to capture her readers. This book had a mix of everything: from death, loss, love, psychosocial issues, happiness and suspense- a very good balance. I loved the mysterious feel that this book leaves you with; it is creepy but not scary. I'm usually not a fan of mysteries because I just freak myself out, but I just loved the level of suspense Cryer's Cross held. I wanted to know everything that was going on in this small town and I found myself not being able to read and turn the pages fast enough!  It took turns that I never saw coming- 


It will have you guessing and answering the question, "what in the world happened to these two missing teens?" Although my thoughts & guesses were off, I love books where they have my mind thinking even after I set the book down. 


The tie-in quotes from "WE" are just brilliant, and makes Cryer's Cross complete. Although at the time of reading these passages they don't make a whole lot of sense, they eventually bring the  following chapter together.


As a psychology student, I really enjoyed the connection that Lisa made with the main character's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and outcome of storyline. Sometimes it is hard to being a character who has a mental illness feel real and believable on a piece of paper, but she does an excellent job at bringing the 'OCD' Kendall to life. 


Another idea that I really enjoyed in this book was the idea of Kendall being afraid to 'move on' with her life without Nico. He was all she knew and was very dependent on him, so when he disappeared her thoughts were disheveled. When another boy, Jacian comes along that she develops a friendship with as the story goes on, Kendall is faced with a hard decision; does she move on or does she keep her life on hold in hopes that her best friend/boyfriend, Nico's mysterious disappearance will be solved. 

Overall, I loved this book!! I would give Cryer's Cross a 5 out of 5 stars.
It is categorized as YA book, but considering some of the content, I would suggest this book be aimed more towards older teens and up. Great captivating storyline and fast paced read!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Amazing Hunger Games Fanart Created By Laura ( @totally_dazzled )

Now that we have confirmation from Lionsgate that Jennifer Lawrence has been casted as Katniss Everdeen in the movie The Hunger Games, fan art has been flying around the web. My ETS, Laura made these fabulous fan art pictures of Jennifer as Katniss. 
ENJOY!!! 
-Andrea

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Book Review: Beastly by Alex Flinn


Book Review: Beastly by Alex Flinn

Synopsis:
I am a beast.
A beast!
Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll, stay this way forever ruined unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly.




  My Review: Beastly is a modern day version of The Beauty and the Beast. I usually am not a fan of fairytale remakes. I enjoy fiction books in which I do not have an idea as to what the ending may hold; I like to be surprised. But there was something about Beastly that I thoroughly enjoyed; many fairytales are seen through the eyes of the "princess", in Beastly though, a reader gets to understand what goes through mind of Adrian- formerly known as the conceited, Kyle Kingsbury- the Beast. For me, it was nice to get inside the Beasts mind; a reader can sense the drastic change in character that Adrian makes as he realizes what he needs to do.

Kyle is the immature high school guy with a huge ego that everybody wants to hate, but for some reason... they don't. Therefore, bringing more attention to him only makes his ego fly higher.To Kyle, looks matter most. To the point where he is cruel to those who may not be perfect. Sure enough, Kyle is confronted by a witch, Kendra who wants to teach him a lesson by turning him into a hairy beast. In the end, Kyle (Adrian) has to get past his looks and find someone who will do the same and love him back.

There are always underlying meanings in novels, but I felt that in this particular story, the message of "looking past outer beauty and loving someone for who they truly are on the inside" was magnified. And I really enjoyed that aspect.


There is always one character in a story whose sticks out to me. And in Beastly, it was Kendra the witch. Every time she made an entrance into the book, I had a different reaction. Sometimes she would seem harsh, other times she was rather sentimental or nice, and other times she would surprise me! I always enjoyed reading her responses to Adrian's comments and questions to her- you never know what you may get. All in all, her intentions to change Kyle into an ugly beast were good- to teach him a valuable life lesson. 


I was a little disappointed that Lindy, the young lady that Adrian finds himself in love with,  didn't come back to look for him. I had this huge scene planned in my head where she would come back right at the last second saying how much she loves him despite him being a beast...blah blah blah...

In the end, everything comes together to make this fairytale... Happily Ever After ;-) 


Light, easy read... I would recommend Beastly for anyone who enjoys a good love story.





 





Saturday, March 5, 2011

Water for Elephants International Trailer





Water for Elephants can't come out soon enough!!! This is the 3rd trailer that has been released, and they keep getting better. Rob's voice... *swoon*
As far as I can tell, from watching the previews, the movie seems to be going along the lines of the book fairly well. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS OPENS IN THEATERS ON APRIL 22, 2011 <<< 47more days!!
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