Hex Hall (Book Review)

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall Book 1
Publisher: Hyperion Book
Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary:
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book. Sophie is one of my new favorite main characters ever.  The story is incredibly told and keeps you guessing right up until the very end. The characters are very real and believable. And I could go on and on about how much I loved this book, but all I really want to do is wait for my paycheck so that I can buy book 2!

Rating: 5/5

Having A Drink With John Green

Sorry I've sort of disappeared with no explanation for a little while. I probably should have explained that I'd be going out of town for the week.

I've been having the time of life here though! I just got back from having drinks with John Green, Lev Grossman, Stephanie Perkins, and Maureen Johnson! I'll be back to reviewing soon.

Freakonomics (Book Review)

Title: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Authors: Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary:
Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? How did the legalization of abortion affect the rate of violent crime?

These may not sound like typical questions for an econo-mist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He is a much-heralded scholar who studies the riddles of everyday life—from cheating and crime to sports and child-rearing—and whose conclusions turn conventional wisdom on its head.

Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They usually begin with a mountain of data and a simple question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality. Thus the new field of study contained in this book: freakonomics.

Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Levitt and Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives—how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. In Freakonomics, they explore the hidden side of . . . well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Klu Klux Klan.

What unites all these stories is a belief that the modern world, despite a great deal of complexity and downright deceit, is not impenetrable, is not unknowable, and—if the right questions are asked—is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking.

Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise: If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. But Freakonomics can provide more than that. It will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.

My Thoughts:
I have been wanting to read this book since it was recommended to me four years ago but I just finally got around to finally reading it. And I am so glad that I did. I love this kind of stuff. I found myself wishing the book was longer so that I could read more of cool discoveries. I can't wait to read the next book because this one was fantastic. It used science to prove crazy theories in a reader-friendly manner. Nothing was confusing and yet everything was backed up by research. It was so interesting.

Rating: 5/5 

Pale (Early Review)

Title: Pale
Author: Chris Wooding
Publisher: Stoke Books
Publication Date: September 10, 2012
Source: Net Galley

Goodreads Summary:
The Lazarus Serum can bring you back from the dead. Only thing is, it turns you into a Pale. Jed can't imagine anything worse, but then the choice is taken out of his hands...


My Thoughts:
I really like the idea behind this novel. I felt like the story was too short to really do the tale justice though. There is so much potential in these characters and in this plot, but for me it all ended up feeling a bit cheesy and forced. However, I think this book could lead to some very interesting discussions.


Rating: 2.5/5

Skybound (Early Book Review)

Title: Skybound

Author: Aleksandr Voinov

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Publication Date: August 20, 2012

Source: Net Galley

Goodreads Summary:

Germany, 1945. The Third Reich is on its knees as Allied forces bomb Berlin to break the last resistance. Yet on an airfield near Berlin, the battle is far from over for a young mechanic, Felix, who’s attached to a squadron of fighter pilots. He’s especially attached to fighter ace Baldur Vogt, a man he admires and secretly loves. But there’s no room for love at the end of the world, never mind in Nazi Germany.

When Baldur narrowly cheats death, Felix pulls him from his plane, and the pilot makes his riskiest move yet. He takes a few days’ leave to recover, and he takes Felix with him. Away from the pressures of the airfield, their bond deepens, and Baldur shows Felix the kind of brotherhood he’d only ever dreamed of before.

But there’s no escaping the war, and when they return, Baldur joins the fray again in the skies over Berlin. As the Allies close in on the airfield where Felix waits for his lover, Baldur must face the truth that he is no longer the only one in mortal danger.

My thoughts:

This is a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of a squadron of Germans at the end of the second World War. The novel is short but it pulls you right in so that by the end you feel as though you really are a part of this group. It's a story of love and loss and live and death. It's a story of war that is so real and tragic and wonderful as to bring it fully life. It is a story that proves that love can overcome all even in the worst of situations.

Rating: 4.5/5

Lord of the Flies (Book Review)

Title: Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding
Publisher: Perigee Trade
Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary:
William Golding's classic tale about a group of English schoolboys who are plane-wrecked on a deserted island is just as chilling and relevant today as when it was first published in 1954. At first, the stranded boys cooperate, attempting to gather food, make shelters, and maintain signal fires. Overseeing their efforts are Ralph, "the boy with fair hair," and Piggy, Ralph's chubby, wisdom-dispensing sidekick whose thick spectacles come in handy for lighting fires. Although Ralph tries to impose order and delegate responsibility, there are many in their number who would rather swim, play, or hunt the island's wild pig population. Soon Ralph's rules are being ignored or challenged outright. His fiercest antagonist is Jack, the redheaded leader of the pig hunters, who manages to lure away many of the boys to join his band of painted savages. The situation deteriorates as the trappings of civilization continue to fall away, until Ralph discovers that instead of being hunters, he and Piggy have become the hunted: "He forgot his words, his hunger and thirst, and became fear; hopeless fear on flying feet." Golding's gripping novel explores the boundary between human reason and animal instinct, all on the brutal playing field of adolescent competition.


My Thoughts:
I'm aware that this book is a classic and is very popular but it just didn't do it for me. Maybe I am too much of an optimist but I really can't see a group of boys turning into killing machines that quickly just because they are trapped on an island. Fighting, of course; stabbing and attacking, not so much. Like I said, maybe I just think to highly of people, but this book just seemed so unrealistic to me that it lost all of the chilling effect that it is supposed to evoke. However, it was a fun read and I really liked the ending.


Rating: 2.5/5

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Book Review)

Title: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Author: Philip K. Dick
Publisher: Random House
Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary:
A final, apocalyptic, world war has killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending the majority of mankind off-planet. Those who remain, venerate all remaining examples of life, and owning an animal of your own is both a symbol of status and a necessity. For those who can't afford an authentic animal, companies build incredibly realistic simulacrae: horses, birds, cats, sheep . . . even humans.


My Thoughts:
First off, I would like to say that I have not seen Bladerunner and my review will not in anyway be related to that movie.
This book started off really slow for me. I had trouble getting into it and relating to the characters or really even understanding and caring what was going on in the plot. However after about 50 pages, the story really picks up and the characters become more real. I was sure from the beginning that I was not going to enjoy this book, but in end I have to say that it was definitely worth the read. I am glad I pushed through the beginning to get to the end because it was well worth it.


Rating: 3/5