PS, I Love You by Cecilia Ahern

PS, I Love You is Cecelia Ahern's debut novel, first published in 2003. It is a beautiful story about loss, letting go, and finding ourselves, even in impossible situations. Many of you have probably seen the movie starring the extremely handsome Gerard Butler

I unknowingly broke my own sacred rule and watched the movie first! Somehow the fact that this book existed completely escaped me. I only got around to watching the movie last year, so when I saw Cecelia Ahern's name in the credits I smacked myself on the head. OF COURSE that plot came from it book, it's so wonderful. It took me forever to find a copy and even longer to get around to reading it, but now that I have, I am mostly pleased. 

This is actually the third book by Ahern that I have read, and I really do enjoy her writing. The magical elements in her stories are captivating, and while there is a touch of that here, you can really see how this book was a launching pad for her compared to her other books.

Daft as I am, when I started reading, I didn't know that it was her first novel, but it didn't take me long to come to that conclusion. The writing is good, but having read her other things first, there is a remarkable maturation that she has achieved in her writing since this book. So if this is the only Ahern you've read and you're thinking' eh, that was alright but the writing was a bit spotty', take my word for it, it only gets better!

SPOILERS! :)

Gerry and Holly Kennedy have a beautiful relationship. They love each other wholeheartedly, imperfections and all. They are not only husband and wife, but best friends. When Gerry is diagnosed with a brain tumor after having severe headaches, they draw even closer to each other, cherishing every last moment together.

We are left with a deeply grieving Holly, who is struggling to get out of bed each morning as she tries to make sense of the life that she finds herself in. Her mother has been calling her repeatedly, reminding her about a mysterious package that has been left with her for Holly.

When Holly finally gets around to opening it, she is shocked and elated to find messages from her Gerry, an envelope per month through the end of the year. Through these messages, Holly feels that Gerry is with her again, and with each letter, Holly is sent on another adventure on her road to self-healing.

There were moments when I had tears in my eyes, and just as many moments when I was rolling around on my couch, laughing like a maniac(my husband is pretty sure that I am, har har) 

I gave the book three stars because of some editing and continuity issues that I couldn't get past, but I loved the story and I can't wait to read more Ahern in the future.

Torment by Lauren Kate

After reading Lauren Kate's series title Fallen last year, I was somewhat looking forward to reading Torment. But the longer I waited to read it the more my interest waned. I had been eyeing it sitting on my shelf for a few days, and finally gave in because I left my other current read in my car and it was cold, rainy, and dark.


Luce has barely had time to process what took place in the Sword & Cross cemetery. It has left her with many questions, but before she can begin to even form them in her mind, she is carried off by Daniel, her eternal love and protector, to Shoreline on the California coast, where he hopes that she will remain safe. But Luce can't shake the feeling that she is missing something huge. As she unravels her past, will she unknowingly unravel her future?



SPOILER TIME!
I feel like I need to make a spoiler button so I can stop typing it every time...

My biggest complaint about the book is the truce. Not the fact that there is one, but rather that I explicitly knew about it the entire time. It made me feel so frustrated with Luce because of how idiotic and irresponsible she acted because she had no idea what was going on but I did. And it also seemed like maybe Lauren Kate thought her readers 'wouldn't like' or 'couldn't handle'(purely my speculation) not knowing exactly what was happening every moment.
All of that brings me to Luce. Oh, Lucinda. What I like about her is that she isn't afraid to be angry with Daniel and tell him off. But she is so reckless and naive, most of the time I was frustrated with her.
Which brings us to Daniel. Overprotective is the tip of the iceberg, until you realize that he is kind of right. Now, is he moody and a tad self-centered? Yes, but then so is Luce.  A LOT of people have hated on Daniel for being a prick, but I felt that Luce was right up there with him. But I still found a way to somewhat like them. What annoyed me endlessly was how neither of them could manage to say what was really on their minds and it always lead them to some ridiculous fight.
When I realized that there was going to be a love triangle, I literally rolled my eyes. I thought that we had already dogged that bullet with Cam, but as likable as Miles is, I hold more value in Luce and Daniel's love. In this aspect, this is Twilight with angels and demons. We all know who she ends up with, why even go there? But, it looks like Miles will be here to stay, for a while anyway.
There are so many things left unanswered at the end of this book. Another reader said that this book was more about setting up the last two, and I would definitely agree with that. Going off what we are left with, I don't think that Luce is human. The way Daniel acted when she was prepared to take a starshot for him confirmed that. The last part of the book was such a jumble it was hard to tell where anyone stood, but there is something(s) major that Daniel has yet to explain to Luce, and I doubt that it will all come to light until the last book. 

This book was just okay for me. I gave it two stars, which is a very low rating for me. I don't like going under three. But I have read so many other sensational YA novels that it doesn't seem right to rank this one with them. I have a tiny hope for the last two, but since there are two and not just one left, I have a feeling that it will get worse before it gets better. I won't be running out tomorrow to get the next one, but it will be on my list for the next trip to the used bookstore. 

Happy Reading!

I Can't Wait-2013

Hello Everyone!

I've been wasting time perusing Goodreads for the past half hour and getting really excited about some books that are coming out this year! So, I wanted to share my 'I Can't Wait' list for 2013. Here it goes!



#1- Awaken by Meg Cabot

"Death has her in his clutches"

This is the third and final book in her Abandon  trilogy, and I simply love them! There has been roughly a year wait between each book and it is killing me! There is just something about her writing that I love. Okay, I'll stop fangirling now! I am a long-time fan of Cabot's and I am thrilled to see how she will end this series. And what a gorgeous cover!!! I was so pleased with it!  According to Meg Cabot's website, the book can be expected to be released in July of this year. Let my agonizing wait continue!

More on Awaken here.

#2- Divergent #3- Untitled by Veronica Roth

Okay, so this one is currently lacking a cover and title, but don't leave yet. This is the third book in the Divergent series

This is an excellent series, and I am stoked for the third. There has been quite a buzz online concerning the cover and title, which is why I think it has yet to be released. You KNOW they know what both are. They are taunting us! o_0  This book is expected to be released October 2013.

More on Divergent #3 here.

#3-Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon

I don't have a cover for this one either, but I really love this series. It is the 8th installment in Gabaldon's Outlander series

This is a great historical romance series, but there is so much more to them as well. This book is expected to be published in Fall 2013.

More on Written in My Own Heart's Blood here.

#4- Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

First of all, how beautiful is this cover!? This is the third and final book in Clare's Infernal Devices series and is highly anticipated. I know that I am waiting impatiently for it! There are so many questions that have to be answered.  It is expected to be published on March 19, 2013, making it a PERFECT birthday present...to myself. My birthday is a few days after that, but I won't be waiting until then! :D

More on Clockwork Princess here.

Well, that is all I have for now. I am bubbling over with anticipation for these books! I hope you check them out!

Happy Reading!

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

I finished The Host last night, and I really liked it! Before you ask, yes I am a fan of Stephanie Meyer's work. I really love the Twilight series, and The Host did not disappoint.
I always seem to be behind about reading all the "good" stuff. This book came out in 2008, and I remember passing it in the stores, picking it up to read the cover more than once, and it never peaked my interest enough for me to pick it up and take it home(also, I was a broke college kid then). But a book club I'm a part of on Goodreads read it last month and for whatever reason, this time I was ready to read it.



POSSIBLE SPOILERS FROM HERE ONWARD. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! :)




First of all, let me just say, this story is not Twilight made over. People will argue the aspect of the love triangle. But that is in most Dystopian YA fiction out there, so, next argument please! And besides, it's more of a... love.. square? Yeah, anyway.

"Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away"- Her body has been taken captive by a soul, Wanderer. Wanderer has lived many lives, and has heard stories about how difficult life can be with a human host. But she is certain that she will be able to adjust to her new body, with it's fragile existence as well as the violent, gripping memories that it comes with.  But Melanie has other plans. Melanie begins to show Wanderer snippets of her old life, a life filled with such raw emotion that Wanderer cannot help but yearn for it. Melanie shows Wanderer Jared, the man Melanie loves, desperately hoping that Wanderer will find some way to help her get back to him. What Melanie doesn't count on is the way that Wanderer is consumed with love for Jared herself.
Trapped inside the same physical body, these two enemies form an unwilling bond in order to save the man that they both love, but have no way of knowing just what lies ahead of them.



What moved me the most about this story is the way it depicts humanity. The souls have come to Earth because of how violent humans are, and they believe that they can run the world better. That humans do not deserve this beautiful planet. But what the souls fail to understand, and what Wanderer comes to realize, is that Earth isn't Earth without humans. Humans are vastly imperfect, but it's their imperfections that give them potential for better things.

“Perhaps there could be no joy on this planet without an equal weight of pain to balance it out on some unknown scale.” 

What is light without the darkness? 

Another thing is the way humans have the ability to love, even if convention tells them that they are wrong. Ian's love for Wanda was something that I had to work to get my head around. I really wanted to believe in it wholeheartedly, but it took me a while to really accept it. Especially considering how Ian started out.

In the end, I knew what had to happen with Melanie and Jared, but the uncertainty for Wanderer had tears rolling down my face. I just couldn't bear it. Although I won't spell it out here, needless to say that I was pleased.

“I held you in my hands, Wanderer, and you were beautiful.” 

And as luck would have it, the movie version of The Host comes out one day after my birthday! I know what I'll be doing! :D

My Downton Abbey Obsession

My husband and I discovered this gem of a show while he was laid up after shoulder surgery and we weren't leaving the house much. What we were doing is scouring Netflix for anything and everything worth watching. Enter Downton Abbey. Before I delve into my point for this post, allow me to entertain you with some of my Downton favorites from the internets :)

I do not own or claim any rights to the above images.

You may have noticed that Lady Grantham is by far my favorite character...

Season 3 is now in full swing, and I have just viewed the most recent episode, #4 which aired 1/27/13. From this point on, THERE WILL BE... 

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

There's only one thing I want to vent about and that would be the death of Lady Sybil. She died shortly after giving birth to a baby girl of preeclampsia  I have been holding my breath all season because it was rumored that there would be a death in the House, and every episode up until this one I have been praying it wasn't true.

Alas, it has come to pass. Anytime you kill off a major character, I would imagine that there is much deliberation involved. And I've got to tell you, I never expected it to be Lady Sybil. 

And my, oh my, the whirlwind of emotions that came with this episode.

First of all, I loath that pompous doctor. LOATH.

I feel so bad for Lord Grantham. He clearly feels responsible, but I really feel that it was the doctor's fault. He had too much pride and it cost Sybil her life.

I cried for pretty much the last half of the episode( 30 minutes is a really long time to cry! My throat hurts now and everything...), but when Lady Violet had to stop and gather herself after talking to Carson, my heart shattered.

And poor Branson. That last shot of him holding his daughter was devastating.

It all changed so quickly...

My heart hurts.

It's hard to tell where the Crawleys will go from here, but it is certain that their family will never be the same.

This could take a while...

I'll leave you all with this

A tribute to Lady Sybil...

</3

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

This is my fifth Emily Giffin book, the only one I haven't read is her newest Where We Belong. I'm sure it's only a matter of time on that one.

Claudia and Ben are soul mates, and they have a wonderful marriage. When it comes to the important things in life, they agree on it all. Or do they? They have both agreed that they will not have children. They like their unattached lifestyles, and besides, they have all they need in each other. But what happens when one of them has second thoughts?


Possible SPOILERS from this point on. You have been warned.



We've all heard it. She wants kids, he doesn't. But what about the one we haven't heard; he does, she doesn't? When Ben decides that maybe he wants to be a father after all, Claudia's world is completely rocked. It's something neither of them could have expected, and once it is realized that they cannot reach an agreement, they make the(rash,IMHO) decision to separate and divorce. This is the point in Giffin's novels where I want to smack all of the characters. Maybe twice. And yet, without all the struggle we wouldn't have the novel.
Babies are the last thing that Claudia wants to hear about, but they are popping up everywhere. With her family, her friends. So it doesn't take her long to figure out what she has given up. And it might not be what you think. Is it too late?



I had a problem identifying with Claudia because I do want to be a mother, very much. And signs are leaning toward me empathizing more with her sister Daphne. So I really had to step out of my boundaries on this one to understand where she is coming from, however Giffin does a remarkable job describing it.
Overall I enjoyed the novel, as I always do with Giffins work. I gave it 4 stars and I look forward to reading her next book.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I spent this afternoon at my Nanny's listening to the Atlanta Falcons play the San Francisco 49ers(sad loss for me) while I read If I Stay by Gayle Forman.( I realized that I can concentrate very will while listening to football. Even though the TV is on, it's the one thing that won't distract me!)
I read about 60 pages last night before forcing myself to sleep, and I knew then that I needed to bring two books with me today because I would finish this one quickly. So, I was laying there with half time and two more quarters to go wanting to move on to The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, and I couldn't seem to pick it up until I put my thoughts down, so here they are.

Mia has it all. She's got a loving family who support and understand her, a great best friend, a loving boyfriend, and an outstanding talent with the cello. But her life unravels quickly after a tragic accident, and she is faced with a decision she never thought she would have the choice to make.

I really liked Mia's voice. She had so much, and unlike most teenage heroines, she seems to actually realize what she has, and appreciates it. It was refreshing.
I didn't quite have the reaction to this book that I thought I would. I was surprisingly calm throughout reading it, while the general consensus is that it is a tear jerker. I can definitely see why. However, I felt like I was more in tune with Mia's point of view than with the story as whole, and throughout it she is serene, trying her best to focus on the decision she is facing.

One thing I will say about this book is that it has so many beautiful examples of love in it, which is a huge reason that I liked it so much.



I'm giving this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book a lot and as for the ending....well. Let's just say that I'll be getting my hands on the second book, Where She Went, as soon as I can( I had to stop myself from reading the snippet in the back of my book! I always regret doing that).

Well, onto some Amy Tan!
Until next time!