Wordlover Wednesday:Risorial

Today when I was writing my review for 

The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker 

I went to their official website looking for the release

date of their next book. When I was there I decided

to check out their blog. Are those ladies hilarious or what?

I got to reading their blog and couldn't stop. I especially loved 

the post entitled "In Which I Steal from the Catholic Church

and Secure My Spot in Hell." I was hysterical.

These are the events that inspired today's wordlover word.

Which is... 

risorial (rih-ZAWR-ee-ul)

adj. producing laughter (e.g., the

 risorial muscles; risa means laughter

in Spanish). 

Book Review: The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker

Title: The Liar Society

Author: Lisa & Laura Roecker

# Of Pages: 368

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

Rating: 4 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

Since when do the dead send emails?

Kate Lowry’s best friend Grace died a year ago. Se when she gets an email from her. Kate’s more than a little confused.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu

From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu

Subject: (no subject)

Kate,

I’m here… sort of.

Find Cameron. He knows.

I shouldn’t be writing.

Don’t tell. They’ll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. She teams up with a couple of knights- in- (not so)- shining armor- the dangerously hot bad boy, Liam, and her love-struck neighbor, Seth. But at their elite private school, there are secrets so big people will do anything to protect them-even if it means getting rid of anyone trying to solve a murder…

My Verdict

Have I mentioned how much I love a good mystery?!? This book is full of complex characters, and great mysteries that will draw you in from the very first page.

  
Kate Lowry is a brave, sassy, and complex main character. I didn’t always agree with the decisions she made but I could understand where she was coming from when she made them. Seth, it was impossible not to like him, even if he was a little weird (carrying pickles in his pocket for a snack. Ew!) But he was always there for Kate without fail, to help her break into school property, steal student files, or drive her places in the middle of the night. When she needed him, he was there, even if she didn’t deserve it.  He was a very loyal friend and just an all around great guy. Liam, I wasn’t sure what to think about him at first, and it took me over half of the book to decide whether I trusted him or not (I did).

   
The plotline of this book was very well thought out and perfectly executed. I loved that it wasn’t easily predictable. The reader is constantly kept guessing, and whenever I thought I had figured it out, I was wrong.

   
Great characters and great plotlines= a great read! I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye out for the next book in this set. 

Breathtaking Book Cover: Inside Out & Back Again

Today's Breathtaking Book Cover is...

Inside Out And Back Again 

by
Thanhha Lai

Click Here to Learn More About This Book =)

This cover takes my breath away every time.

If I could buy a print of this without the words

on it I would hang it on my wall for sure.

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

# Of Pages: 448

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Level: Young Adult

Rating: 5 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Goodreads.com)

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love--the deliria--blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold.

Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 

But with ninety-give days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: she falls in love.

My Verdict

BEAUTIFUL!!! If I could choose only one word to describe this book that is the word I would use. Lauren Oliver does an amazing job of creating a totally believable futuristic world where everyone has been taught that love, (otherwise known as Amor Deliria Nervosa) is a disease that ends with nothing but pain or death and therefore must be cured. Everyone is required to get this so called “cure” on their eighteenth birthday.

     
The main concept of love being viewed as a disease was a very interesting plotline, that resulted in a very interesting, unique, and wonderful book! Lena is an incredibly strong, brave, and lovable main character. One of MANY things that I loved about this book was the fact that Lena’s best friend, Hana, is just as complex and likable as Lena. I feel like I never really like the so called “best friend” in most YA books that I read. Most of the time I feel like they are all just cookie cutter replicas of each other that could be swapped out between books and no one would even notice. Not with this book. So thank you, Lauren, for creating a strong, independent, and unique best friend for Lena!

    
Now on to other matters, Alex. Ahhh... what can I say about Alex. More like what can’t I say! Alex is an unbelievable character who I fell in love with immediatley.  I don’t want to say too much so you’re just going to have to go read it yourselves to find out exactly how amazing Alex is.  Mwahahaha  =)

     
The next two books could not come fast enough! I am sitting on the edge of my seat with anticipation for the next installment. I recently bought the special edition of Delirium just so I could read those few pages of Pandemonium (the next book) that were in the back. That’s how bad I have it.

Book Review: Those That Wake by Jesse Karp

Title: Those That Wake
Author: Jesse Karp
# Of Pages: 336
Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
Publication Date: March 21, 2011
Level: Young Adult
Rating: 1 Heart

Synopsis

(From Barnes&Noble.com)

New York City's spirit has been crushed. People walk the streets with their heads down, withdrawing from one another and into the cold comfort of technology. Teenagers Mal and Laura have grown up in this reality. They've never met. Seemingly, they never will.

But on the same day Mal learns his brother has disappeared, Laura discovers her parents have forgotten her. Both begin a search for their families that leads them to the same truth: someone or something has wiped the teens from the memories of every person they have ever known. Thrown together, Mal and Laura must find common ground as they attempt to reclaim their pasts.

My Verdict

Dystopian is one of my favorite YA genres! One that I've become completely obsessed with over the summer. So when I read the synopsis for Those That Wake I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough. A dystopian world plus cool futuristic technology, and memories being erased, what could be better? Or so I thought... this book was a huge disappointment and quite frankly not worth the time it took me to drag myself through all 336 pages.

The setting of a book is a huge part of the story. A well-thought out and well described settings helps draw the reader in, as well as bring the story to life. I feel that setting is even more important in dystopian fiction than anywhere else. The world has to be brilliantly created and described to make it believable. With that being said, I don't think the author spent enough time setting up and describing this futuristic New York City and how it came to be. Except for mentions of a terrorist attack known as "the big black" and the ever looming giant dome that now covers part of the city.
     
I had a really hard time connecting with any of the main characters. Each chapter was written from a different perspective, which made it so that you never really got too deep into the mindset of any one character, instead you got more of an overview, bits and pieces of everyone. When Mal and Laura found themselves in life threatening situations I tried to make myself care, but I honestly couldn't care less weather they survived or not, because I couldn't relate to them on any level.
     
There was quit a bit of science fiction elements to the story as well as dystopian, which really only worked to confuse me so much so that when the book was over I didn't even know what had really happened.
     
I know other people have read and really enjoyed this book. I read some good reviews for it beforehand. I guess those people saw something in it that I apparently did not. I would say don't waste your time with this one; cause you can't get that time back.

Book Review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Title: Sean Griswold's Head
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
# Of Pages: 288
Publisher: BloomsburyUSA
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Level: Young Adult
Rating: 4 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions one. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Peyton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it's an alphabetical thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on- Sean Griswold... all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

My Verdict

When I read a rave review of this book on another book blog I thought it sounded really cute! However, I almost wrote it off as a no just because of the cover. I know your not supposed to judge a book by its cover but lets be honest, I still do. I can't help it! Anywho, I'm so glad I decided to get this book despite my dislike for its cover because I really enjoyed it!
  
Sean Griswold's Head is a quirky, cute, humorous, book about a girl, Payton Gritas, who used to have a different color highlighter for all the different types of literary devices. That is, until her dad is diagnosed with MS and suddenly she can't even find a pair of matching socks! Payton's parents make her go to the school guidance counselor after she finds out, her counselor tells her that she needs to choose a focus object that will help her to concentrate her emotions. Needless to say Payton chooses the back of Sean's head as her focus object. All of Lindsey's main characters are very unique and well rounded characters who are all easily liked, and connected with.
  
 Most YA books center around romance and everything else comes in second. I really liked that this book was more centered on family and friendship but also had that romance aspect without drowning everything else out. So quit judging books by their cover and go pick this one up. You'll be glad you did!

Book Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Title: hourglass

Author: Myra McEntire

# Of Pages: 400

Publisher: EgemontUSA

Publication Date: June 14, 2011
Level: Young Adult

Rating: 4 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

One hour to rewrite the past...

For seventeen-year old Emerson Cole, life is about what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parent's death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back. So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her to help to prevent the death that never should have happened?

My Verdict

I thought this book was awesome! I found myself staying up well past my bedtime even though I had work in the morning just to finish a chapter, which would then turn into another chapter, then another, and another... (Well you get the picture.) I loved the whole concept of time travel and how it was portrayed in this book. Emerson can see "rips" which are people from the past that disappear when touched. I liked how these rips were triggered by the environment that Emerson was in, so buildings ripe with historical significance triggered more extravagant or more frequent rips.
     
One of the things I wasn't crazy about in this book was how obsessed Emerson was with Michael. As soon as she laid eyes on him for the first time he became all she could think about. This was true even in life or death situations! I'm sorry but when I'm in what I believe could be the last few seconds of my life, I would not be thinking about a guys muscles, or his perfect lips. I would be thinking about more important things. Like oh I don't know.... SURVIVING!! This was just one of the many issues I had with Emerson & Michael's often complicated relationship.
     
All things considered I still loved this book! It sucked me in from the very beginning and was evenly paces so that I never wanted to put it down. The end wrapped things up quit nicely, considering, there is going to be a sequel. So fear not! No major cliffhangers here. Which is good since the next book isn't slated for release until Summer 2012.