Alice in Wonderland

Sorry that it has been a while since I've last posted but I haven't had that much time. I recently finished reading Alice and Wonderland, though, and I thought that it wouldn't be that great, but I was wrong. Usually I'm not a fan of the classics that everyone reads, but every once in a while there is one that is really good. This is one of them. It doesn't seem like the kind of book that I would like, really, but when I started reading it, I really got into it and I enjoyed it! Until the end... There's something about the end that makes me feel like Carrol was just stuck for an ending so he made one up on the spot, but other than that, I love the insanity and the strangeness of it! ****

The Dead

I recently finished reading The Dead by Charlie Higson. The sequel to The Enemy, this takes place in London a month after the disease started. It follows a group of boys at their school, eventually heading into London. They meet new people and learn new things about the disease, giving us, the reader, a lot more information, making everything a lot clearer.
I found this book a lot better than the first one. I liked that we learn a bit about how the disease works, and there are things that connect with the first book.
The first book was enjoyable, but this book really drew me into the series. I think that this will be a new favorite.

My Rating:
★★★★★

People of Darkness

Quick Summary: People of Darkness is about Sergeant Jim Chee who is tasked with finding out what is the cause behind a box of stolen rocks, strange murders, and a bombing. At the same time, he fears for his life.

My review: In this mystery I found myself at first extremely bored. If there is one point in a book where you should not have a reader bored, it is at the beginning, because that is right when a reader is possibly wanting to buy it, and they may easily go spend their money somewhere else. But then it picked up a bit. I still didn't like it as much, but it wasn't exactly my kind of book. The characters were kind of annoying and there were times where I was left very confused, and never did fully understand what happened. I felt that there was a bit of trouble the author had explaining everything. I did find it interesting that it was also following one of the antagonists throughout the book. I liked knowing part of what is happening, but there was enough left out that I was still "surprised" at the end, even though parts of it were predictable. Anyway, it did get a bit better and I enjoyed it at times, though it was not my favorite read.

My review:

***

The Enemy

Brief Summary: The Enemy is a book set in future London where all people over the age of 16 have turned into zombie-like creatures that have a craving for the children. It follows a group of kids and their struggle to find safety.

Quick Review: I have said this before, I think, but the first thing that comes to mind with this is that I like it but at times it sounds forced. Like they had to write this and didn't enjoy it. I don't know why but sometimes this just really bothers me, maybe because I know the feeling. Overall, though, I enjoyed it!

My rating:

****

The Warlock

Quick Summary: The Warlock is the fifth book in the series by Michael Scott and we find Sophie and Josh divided. According to the prophecy, one will save the world, and one will destroy it, but which one is which? Josh is with Dr. John Dee, a man who used to be his enemy, and Virginia Dare in San Francisco. Scathach, Palamedes, Shakespeare and Joan of Arc and her husband are trapped in the past on Danu Talis with death. Sophie is with the Alchemist and his wife, but Nicholas is very close to death, and Perry is right behind him. There is too little time left before the world, undoubtedly, ends.

My review: I, like all other books in this series, very much enjoyed it. It left me confused but I do like being confused and having everything straighten out in the end, it makes me think about it. It is so complex and I feel the need to research every character. I love this series!

My rating:

*****

This book is nominated for the Jack K Fiction Award for 2011!

Blood Red Road

Quick Synopsis: Blood Red Road is the story of Saba by Silverlake who has lived her entire life by a small lake with her father, sister, and twin brother, Lugh. Then the storm hits. Then a few men come by and take Lugh and Saba has to find her brother and travel through strange lands before it's too late.

My Review: I really enjoyed this book. There was a little bit of everything in it. Excitement, romance, anger, hatred, sadness...whatever you can think of, that's what this book has. At first I was a bit skeptical because the author writes with the accent pronunciations and also because there are no quotations, but I soon got over that fact and continued on with an unforgettable book.

My Rating:

*****

(This book is nominated for the Jack K Fiction Award for 2011)

Of Mice and Men

Quick summary: The classic novella by John Steinbeck, basically about mice and men, as the title indicates. It tells about Lennie and George, two friends who are trying to earn enough money to buy their own farm.

My review: I actually liked this book. It wasn't my favorite, but I really did enjoy reading it. It had a good pace and didn't contain long boring scenes. It was short and to the point and I liked the concept of it.

My rating:

***1/2