A few more book reviews...

I've been neglecting my Goodreads reviews lately and I've been feeling like catching up now that I have a little more free time to read fun stuff. I've also had some nice encouragement from my good friend, Lyz Dorathy, to make me feel like my opinions are appreciated- which is always nice. I'm still working on a Fablehaven post and then I'll start catching up on family stuff. So bear with me.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this right before Eclipse came out in theaters last summer and it was so cool to have that extra insight/alternative perspective of the minor character, Bree, when I went to see the movie. I think it made the movie much more enjoyable. (By the way, I enjoyed Eclipse the movie way more than Eclipse the book. I think Bella's indecisiveness became way too tiresome in the pages of the book- but the movie could cover it in less time. I was also completely sick of the ever lurking threat of Victoria. I thought the Eclipse movie was done way better than the first Twilight movie). While I was reading the book I actually had to go back and read parts of Eclipse because I couldn't remember those parts very well where the two books overlap. Even though I knew the ending already, the author kept me interested in the other side to the story and made me hope for a different ending but then at the last minute feel OK about Bree's tragic demise. I think it speaks volumes to Stephenie Meyer's artistry and strengths as a writer.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was disappointed in this book. I was SO excited to read it- I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the first two books- and the second book ended with such a huge cliff hanger. I did a special pre-order at my favorite local bookstore, Changing Hands, and they included a little bundle of goodies like the gifts from sponsors in the book (granola bar, fruit leather, band aid, etc- wrapped in a little silver cloth like a parachute- it was really cute). I picked it up the day it came out and started reading it immediately. And it was really good... It was a little more violent but I got into it and then it just went haywire at the end. I felt like the author completely dropped the ball. It felt like she was trying to wrap it up quickly to meet a deadline and it completely fell apart. And it wasn't because I didn't like the outcome. I don't want to give anything away because I still feel like it's worth reading to have the closure for the series, but Katniss ended up with who I'd wanted her to, it just didn't feel right. There was too much senseless violence and the scene near the end with her sister just felt completely random and uncalled for. When I finished it I felt completely unsatisfied. It was a similar feeling that I had at the end of the last Gregor the Overlander book. I'm still looking forward to Suzanne Collins' future endeavors... I'm just hoping she will get better at wrapping up her books. I hear that they are making the Hunger Games movie. I wonder if they'll combine all the books into one or put them out separately. I kind of think they could successfully pull off just one. I worry about how violent it will be. Maybe they could make the ending more satisfying in a movie format. I guess we'll have to wait and see. 

View all my reviews

The little silver parachute bundle with gifts from sponsors to aid in the arduous task of reading Mockinjay.