Book Review: The Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Title: The hate list 
Author: Jennifer Brown

Series: N/A Stand Alone
Publication Date: October 5th 2010
Publisher: Little, brown books for younger readers

Length: 432 pages
Genre: Contemporary, young adult
RATING: 5/5 *

Links: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US |The Book depository

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Review:

A beautifully written and compelling book about letting go of the past and moving on. I loved this book so, so much! This was such an interesting, different concept and had me hooked from the very first page. It is not about a shooting. But about the aftermath caused by it and the recovery of all the victims.

One of the most interesting things about this book was all the flashbacks we had about Nick. We meet him as a funny, good humoured, witty teenage boy before we read about him as a shooter and murderer. This helped me really understand why valerie found it so hard to let go of Nick, to get over this catastrophe. It was because the Nick she knew was not a killer. But a loving boyfriend and best friend. 

The way this book was written, i cant evan describe. Valerie's voice as a character was so strong, that sometimes it was hard to believe that she wasn't a real person. Her thoughts were just so real, so alive that i felt like i was her. Like i was in her head, feeling what she felt and thinking what she thought. It was just so compelling! If you have read The Hate List, you will know exactly what i mean.

Valerie went through a lot of struggles in this book. Struggle with finding herself, struggle with finding out why nick did what he did and struggle with letting go all the grief and guilt that engulfs her after the tragedy. I felt as though Valerie was a strong character, even if their were times when she would run away from the obstacles she had to face. But that didn't matter, she faced so many fears, questions, people and obstacles in this book, hit them head on, that even if it took time for her to do so she was still, for me anyways, a very strong character. Jennifer Brown made her so easy to sympathise with, that my heart warmed to Valerie and everything she went through.

The one thing i have to point out is the lack of character development with all the other characters. Personally i would of liked it if Jennifer went into much more depth, concerning everyone else. But i do understand that this book was much more a character driven book than a plot driven one so i am happy to let this one point slide!

Overall this is an amazing book, and one i would highly recommend it!t So if you haven't GO PICK IT UP! 5 stars!

Feature and Follow Friday! #6

This weekly meme is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. It is a great way to make new blogger friends whilst promoting your blog! If you want to join in then head over to there blog for more details! 

This weeks Question: What hyped up book do you not think was worth all the talk?

This one is pretty easy for me, if you have read my review on it then you will know how much this book annoyed me. I am not going to say much about why because i will probably go into a full blown rant about it! Anyways this book is Between the lines by Samantha van leer and Jodi Picoult! For many reasons i don't think this book deserves the hype it has received which i why i have picked it!

What about you? Put a link in the comments below and i shall be hopping around! ^.^

Feature and Follow Friday #5

This weekly meme is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. It is a great way to make new blogger friends whilst promoting your blog! If you want to join in then head over to there blog for more details! 

This weeks Question:
What are you reading right now? how do you like it?
I just finished reading The Hate List by Jennifer Brown which was AMAZING, (Review coming soon) I highly recommend it! 

I only begun reading The Scorch Trails By James Dashner, Second book in the maze runner trilogy two days ago. Im not sure why but I'm not really into it right now, maybe its because I'm in a contemporary mood? whatever the reason i might put it down and pick it up later! 

What about you? What are you reading this month? leave a link in the comments below and i will be hopping around! 

Book Review: Between the lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Title: Between the lines

Author: Jodi picoult & Samantha Van Leer
Series: N/A Stand Alone
Publication Date: Jul 5th 2012
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Length: 384 pages
Genre: Fantasy/fairy tale, Childrens
RATING: 2/5 *

Links: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US |The Book depository

Synopsis(From Goodreads) 

What happens when happily ever after... isn’t?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

Review:

When i heard that Jodi Picoult had written a YA book i was very excited! I love her work and was really interested to see what she would bring to the YA genre. Admittedly i had high hopes, but was almost certain that those expectations would be reached, if not surpassed. When i found out it was written also by her daughter, this just added to my excitement! Because if her mother can write with so much depth and detail, then why can't she? And both of them writing together? I was very excited and truly expecting something quite special. Unfortunately, i was very disappointed. 

I have no idea why this book is for the YA audience when it is most definitely much more a middle grade novel, if not for children much younger. I found the storyline predictable and the writing childish and i know it is harsh but i honestly don't think it would of got very far in the publishing world, if Jodi Picoult's name had not been plastered on it.

Not only this but I found the whole plot totally unbelievable and the two main characters, Delilah and Oliver, i didn't relate to at all. I found them extremely hard to invest in and would describe them as cardboard cut outs. The book also lacked a lot of depth, failing to captivate me, i evan found myself skipping to the end and skimming the pages, something i hardly ever do and only when a book has lost all of my interest.

I understand that this book is popular, but as much as i tried to like this book, i just really couldn't. I know there will be many people out there who will disagree with me, who will acclaim Between the lines to be a 'work of literature' but unfortunately I'm not a part of that group. Maybe its because I'm too old for fairytales or maybe its because what i have to say is true. Whatever the reason, please don't hate me. I tried extremely hard to enjoy this book but just couldn't do it.

All of that aside though, admittedly this book could be popular for a much younger audience. For those not ready for teen angst and for those who desire a very 2-dimensional easy read. 

For the time being however, i shall be sticking to Jodi Picoult's adult books. Two stars!