Rules are Rules

I have a rule. I read the book before I see the movie. Because the book is always better than the movie. 

My sister also has a rule. She sees the movie before she reads the book. Because the book is always better than the movie.
(my sis is an awesome movie/television blogger, you should check her blog out)

Now I realize that our motivations are the same - but I'm obviously right. I mean, Hollywood always messes up the story by making it into the movie (which I always gladly pay too much money to go see in the theater) and so it is better to know the whole thing before we go and see it. Right? 

This morning I was pleased because BuzzFeed agreed with me, posting a list of fourteen books to read BEFORE you go and see the theatrical versions.

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth --- read and enjoyed. I'm not going to say loved because the whole story kinda fell apart for me in the end. I haven't read the second in the series yet, but hopefully that pulls it all back together again.

2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card --- well, I haven't read this one (I'm ducking subconsciously as I write this because I'm imagining the shock/horror on my friend's face because she has recommended it no less than 5 times). Okay, okay, I'll read it before it is a movie - cross my heart!

3. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare --- obviously I love this series and the way that Cassandra Clare writes. I'm a little disappointed with how the film was cast - but I look forward to seeing it (maybe they will surprise me).



4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green --- I haven't read it. I don't plan to. I don't really plan to see the movie either. When the first line of the description tells you it is about a "terminally ill girl" I kind of lose interest.

5. The Maze Runner by John Dashner --- I haven't read this one, yet. But I did buy it at the last Friends of the Library Book Sale, so I'm getting closer.

6. The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort --- I hadn't even heard of this book until just now. However, since it stars Leo DiCaprio I think I'll be reading this one really quick before, what BuzzFeed says is a "Leo film that is bound to be a masterpiece."

(from BuzzFeed)

7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn --- here is another on my "to read" list (the amount of adult books on this list is officially at two #6 and this one). However, Reece Witherspoon is rumored to play the part. Please tell me this is a grown up person in this movie? I loved Water For Elephants - but she was WAY too old to play the part (and then they cast the sparkly vampire opposite her - heavy sigh). 

8. The Moments of Men by Robert M. Edsel --- remember I said there are only two adult books on my list. This one isn't one of those.

9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- are there people who haven't read this book? It was good, not one of my favorites, but good none-the-less. It should be a great movie!!

10. Serena by Ron Rash --- okay, sometimes I break my own rules. This doesn't sound like an interesting book to me (like Western sounding, am I right?), but it looks like a great movie. Good for whomever cast this by putting Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper back on the screen together so quickly, sure to bring out the audiences :)

Cress, a Sneak Peak!

 Just as Marissa Meyer and her peps promised a few days ago - we have been granted a sneak peak at the newest addition to The Lunar Chronicles ...

It was the perfect way to start my sick day (hey, if I have to be dying in bed, I may as well get to read something!) and I hope you enjoy it as well.

My feelings? Obviously you can't write a review from the first chapter (otherwise I'd say the detail was shallow - if fleshed out completely I'd say it was too wordy, you understand, I'm just never happy). The first lines are captivating. The ten-year-old-self is creepy (in a good way, I think). Oh, and her name, I love her name ... but no more spoilers, go read it!


That last sentence? What is it? What does it mean? Why isn't this going to be released until Feb 4, 2014. I'd like it now. Please?!? Comment below!! 

(this pic is from GoodReads and is not the cover)

Book Review: City of Lost Souls

City of Lost Souls 
Cassandra Clare



June 23rd

I've started this book twice ... and Jace wasn't there ... so I put it away.
However, I really should have given it a few chapters, because thank-goodness he came back (before Chapter 3, this isn't really a spoiler, after all he is on the cover), but he is only sorta back. 

So, I'm 26% of the way through this book (I love that GoodReads figures that out for you) and it is back to the story lines that I love. Clary and Jace, Magnus, Alec, Isabelle, Simon, the werwolves (who aren't important enough to me to keep straight), parents, etc. all coming together into a mass of complications and frustrations.

Clary may be in love, but I could just shake that girl for all the brains she is currently demonstrating. Her mother is too overprotective for the fact that Clary (although dim) can obviously take care of herself, and I would have appreciated some reminder of who this overly large cast of characters are. But, I have a feeling that soon I'll be too wrapped up in the story to care.

July 30

So, over a month has passed and I haven't finished this book. Not because I've been busy. Not because I've been reading anything else. But because I can only read about four pages without getting frustrated by the poor quality of this book (especially when compared to Cassandra Clare's other works).

Read my Serious Question for Cassandra Clare Readers and jump in the conversation.

August 4

I finally finished it! It was a long and tough road, but it is done. Okay, all the frustration I've felt was all fine, all good, no problem whatsoever - because the epilogue made it all okay. It brought us back to the story and the characters we know and love. So keep reading friends it gets so much better!