Heart of Darkness Review

**2 stars**

September 7, 2012

Paperback Edition

Once I finished the book, I realized that I had actually read it before. It was just so completely unmemorable that I forgot. I honestly didn't see the point in the story unless it was to offer a critique on humanity. But even that seems a little stretched. I think this book is one of those that is famous simply because it makes very little sense so anyone can interpret it how they like. I didn't understand why I was being told a story about some person who went insane from being in the jungle too long and how his voice was so powerful. I guess it just wasn't for me. Not a bad book overall, but not something I would read again (unless I forget that I read it like the last time).

September Reading

Since I am not going to be participating in any new challenges this month, I have decided to set my own challenge.  My goal is to read ten of the 1001 books, with five used for my Around the World challenge.  I have been slacking on both of these and need to get back on track.  As of now, my books to read are:

The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa (Brasil)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho (Slovenia)
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (India)
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Africa)
The Tree of Man by Patrick White (Australia)
Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace (Israel)

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) Review

**3.5 stars**

August 31, 2012

Kindle Edition

It was so easy to become immersed in this story and forget about my surroundings.  I really enjoyed the story and am happy it wasn't a typical "younger age" book.  The language and formatting of the book made it easy for me--I'm out of the target audience range--to read without finding it to be too childish.  In fact, it seemed almost more like a YA book than many books I have read within the YA genre.  I did watch the movie first, but I enjoyed the book more.  The movie is a good adaptation but I liked the characters more in the book.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series especially after the teaser added at the end of the book.

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) Review

**3 stars**

August 29, 2012

Hardcover Edition

An interesting and fairly original read although it did take me a few chapters to get into the story.  I had high expectations for the book since the majority of people who have read and recommended the book loved it.  I don't think it was as good as I was expecting, but it was still a good read.  If it is turned into a series, I will definitely be reading the next one.  The only issue I really had with the book was the ever-changing names for the Grisha.  I couldn't figure out which types fit into which category of which group.  For example, you have the various Summoners with their specific titles grouped together in another category (I could never figure out if it was Materialki, Etherealki, Corporalki or something else).  I finally just gave up trying to figure it out.  Overall, though, I did enjoy the book and would recommend.

Tiger Lily Review

**3.5 stars**

August 27, 2012

Hardcover Edition

I really loved this retelling of the Peter Pan story from Tink's perspective. It follows the life of Tiger Lily before and after Wendy comes to Neverland (for the record, I still dislike Wendy) as told by Tinker Bell who has formed a loyalty to Tiger Lily and follows her everywhere. The descriptions of the characters was very good and the way they interacted with each other was well written. The story itself was a quick read, but didn't feel hurried or dense. I would definitely recommend to fairy tale lovers.

Dearly, Departed (Gone With the Respiration #1) Review

**2.5 stars**

August 24, 2012

Paperback Edition

I think this book was just a little too far out there for me.  The concept was very good and I give the author points for originality (romance between living and undead? When has that happened before?) but I just couldn't get into the story as much as I would have liked.  I did like the "ethics" presented in the book on whether all zombies should be exterminated or if some should be given a chance for another life, even if it is an undead life.  I still don't understand how some turn violent and some are still essentially normally functioning humans.  The explanation of prions causing the disease rather than a virus is by far the more believable reason for the walking dead that I have heard.  I wouldn't put it past those nasty little proteins to do something like that.

I finally realized that I am not a fan of changing narrative during books.  One or two different POVs is fine, but not four or more.  I just get far to confused as to who is speaking and what their personality is supposed to be like.  Pamela was really the only character I thought had a different voice; the others all sounded the same to me.  And when I wasn't in Nora's POV, I disliked her.  Her narrative presents her as a "strong" female who doesn't take no for an answer and will do rash things.  But the other characters seemed to always present her as just a tiny little flirt who primarily cared for herself.  I couldn't keep up on whether I liked her or hated her.

The romance.  I would like to say this first: GROSS.  I'm sorry, but the romance just didn't do anything for me.  She was in love with a CORPSE.  She kissed cold, dead, decaying lips and liked it (Katy Perry, I dare you to sing about that).  I think this is really the main reason I took off a half star and am stating my opinion as "ok."  I just... *shudder*.  Anyway, I won't be continuing the series since I didn't fall in love with the characters or the story.  I might recommend for those who like a little weirdness in their books, but not very highly.

The Long Walk Review

**3 stars**

August 24, 2012

E-book Edition

This is a difficult book to rate because of its content and the tone in which the story is presented.  The story is about a walk that occurs every year and consists of 100 young boys.  The point of the walk is merely to survive.  Each boy must keep a pace of 4 miles per hour or else they receive a warning; three warnings and you are shot.  The walk ends with the last boy standing who is then received a Prize of whatever he wishes for the rest of his life.  King chooses to focus primarily on one boy, Garrity, and his interactions with the other walkers.  King also writes in an almost brutal tone.  He doesn't sugarcoat anything that happens, he just writes it and moves on to the next point which I thought was the most disturbing part of the book.  Readers aren't given time to recover as walkers are shot, some with a lot of detail.  I had to stop reading a few times and take my mind off the book for a little while, but I always ended up wanting to keep reading and find out who the last walker standing ends up being.  Stephen King knows how to draw the reader into the story while at the same time causing them to push back a little at the disturbing topics he presents.  I am really glad I chose this as my first King read and I will definitely be reading more of his books.  I might recommend the book, but really only for those who enjoy more "serious" reads and can handle the bluntness of his writing style.