QUICK BOOK REVIEW: Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (Young Adult)

Description

Flipped is a romance told in two voices. The first time Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski, she flipped. The first time Bryce saw Juli, he ran. That’s pretty much the pattern for these two neighbors until the eighth grade, when, just as Juli is realizing Bryce isn’t as wonderful as she thought, Bryce is starting to see that Juli is pretty amazing. How these two teens manage to see beyond the surface of things and come together makes for a comic and poignant romance.

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My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Do I recommend this book? Yes!

Man, it’s already 2015 but I only got to read this beautiful book recently! Who cares, anyway? I’ve seen people reading Flipped for years but not until sometime this year did I finally add it to my reading list.

I’ve never read a book by Wendelin Van Draanen (well obviously apart from this book). I never got spoiled about Flipped by any person and by any circumstance. I haven’t watched the movie adaptation, as silly and embarrassing as it may sound, so everything seemed just dandy for me to read this book. And I did the most brilliant thing to do on a Holiday. I read Flipped for a few hours. Maybe five? Or less? The book is kinda short. Well actually it really is. I didn’t know I’d finally reached the ending until there was no more page left to flip over.

And to tell you honestly, I loved the whole book far greater than the sum of its parts! (I’m blatantly quoting a famous line from the book right there!) It was so cute, heart-warming, charming, adorable, funny and quirky. I attempted finding flaws in the book but… I don’t think there’s one! Okay, that might seem exaggerated but I couldn’t care less! Flawless or not, I still love eveything in this book – the characters, Julianna Baker and Bryce Loski, the plot, the writing style, the humor and so on. You could have this as a weapon to kill boredom. It’s just so entertaing to get into the heads of two teens with different perspectives.

So if you happen to have not read this book yet, maybe you just need a little push. Because seriously, this book is a must-read and I can’t understand for the life of me how and why I ignored this stuff for years.

BOOK REVIEW: Don’t Look Back – Jennifer L. Armentrout (YA/Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Romance)

Description

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it’s one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took “mean girl” to a whole new level, and it’s clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She’s getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she’s falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn’t just buried deep inside of Sam’s memory someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet.

All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

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My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Do I recommend this book? Yes!

It was the book cover that really got me at first but when I actually started reading it, man, it was so so good that I almost didn’t want to blink! Bags under my eyes, my hands numb, texts unread, schoolworks set aside… but who cares? I just loved this book so much. (Though I knew I was gonna get in trouble for not studying over the weekend).

Other than the stunning book cover – a doll in tutu – it has a well-constructed plot with the right amount of horror and romance in it. I just find the amnesia thing cliché and overused but J. Armentrout, nevertheless, had the story paved up with a rather creepy mystery. It’s just a bit frustrating that the truth is hidden deep, deep, down inside of Samantha’s messed up brain. I kind of fantasized whacking her head so she could remember a thing. At least the romantic side of the story made up for my frustrations. *coughs, Carson Ortiz, coughs*

So I think most of the readers will like it, just like I did. It’s not a boring and depressing stuff, thankfully, as I thought it would be all crying and blaming and freaking out. I mean, if you woke up with amnesia, you’d feel greatly disoriented, depressed and stupid, right? But Samantha isn’t, which I don’t know is a good thing or not. She just asks way too many questions but apart from that, she seems just fine. I also liked her character- clever, freakish, with her stubborness retained even after the accident.

Then there’s Carson Ortiz a.k.a. Hotness Incarnate *angels descend from heaven in slow motion* He’s just too perfect. Too perfect. And that’s my problem. Sometimes I didn’t feel him because he didn’t seem quite real to me. Honestly. He’s way too nice to be a dude. He doesn’t fit in to be a jerk, either. But I think you’ll love him.

I highly recommend this book to you guys. J. Armentrout made an effort to keep some scenes clean. She didn’t go too graphical narrating you already know what I’m talking about. Also, there’s not much goreness in it that will make you squirm and gag. It’s decent, actually.

What I loved most about this book is the horror in it. It’s enough to scare anyone with a fragile heart, yeah. There were few occassions where I had to stop reading and look around to see if there was anyone in my room beside from me. It was that scary. And who’s the person leaving the notes, warning Samantha? That’s definitely something to look forward to figuring out.

(The above images are not mine)

The Worst Days

There are days that I don’t care about anything at all. Days that seem pointless and consist of merely staring out into nothingness. Days that I have no plans, no direction, no motivation. And days that I don’t seek God – which are ‘the worst days’ of all. It’s impossible not to relapse into human’s kind of living for a day or more. The struggle to keeping your faith in God each and every day is terrible and full of tempations. I’ve been taunted too many times before and the worst days still come and go sweeping me away with sin.

I’m no saint.

I’m not one of the most faithful christians out there.

I’m easily tempted.

I still sin and sometimes it’s intentional.

I let my old nature take over me during the worst days.

I’m not worthy to be loved.

But God is with me, always. He is always ready to listen and just to forgive me when I call His name. He makes me realize the things that I should not have done and should never do again. Only in Him do I feel that I’m truly loved and understood… far greater of a feeling when I do whatever I want even though it’s wrong. I remember waking up and going to bed for two straight weeks without even praying to God. Sure something was totally wrong with me but I stuck on that routine for a few more days. I didn’t care and I couldn’t be bothered to do the right thing. I’d make excuses just to justify my lack of communication with God instead of making time for us to spend it together.

But then He knew what was wrong with me and so He fixed my miserable self and just like that, I was snapped back to reality. He reminded me of my neglected duties as a Christian and that I’m better off obeying to His rules instead of making my own ones to follow.

I thank Him for making me feel like this. That I don’t need anything else in life to be content and sincerely happy. If there’s something that seems lacking, he fills up the empty spaces so that I can be as whole as before…

So that there will be no worst days again.

QUICK BOOK REVIEW: Vanish in Plain Sight by Marta Perry (Romantic Suspense)

Description
Since she was a little girl, Marisa Angelo has been haunted by the image of her mother walking away, suitcase in hand, to return to her Amish roots. Marisa and her Englischer father never saw or heard from her again. Now Marisa has received a shocking call from police. Her mother’s bloodstained suitcase was found hidden inside the wall of a Pennsylvania Dutch farmhouse.

Desperate for answers, Marisa heads to Lancaster County. But no one, not the police or Marisa’s tight-lipped Amish relatives can explain what happened to her mother. Only one man is as determined as Marisa to unravel the mystery.

Link Morgan, the handsome ex-military loner who found the suitcase in the house he inherited from his uncle. Now both Link’s and Marisa’s family members are implicated in the decades-old disappearance.

The secret lies somewhere in the quaint Amish settlement. But someone will do anything to ensure the truth remains hidden forever.

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My Rating: 4/5 stars
Do I Recommend this book? Yes!

I have so many things to praise about this book by Marta Perry that I don’t know where to start! This book is perfect for all bookies out there who are into romantic suspense and to everyone who likes playing detective. The plot is well-constructed, setting aside the fact that it’s teeming of trites just like what you always see in the movies or soap opera. Though it lacks of originality and creativity, I still find this book enjoyable to read and very reader-friendly. You might find this quite predictable but there are still loads of surprises this book has in store for us that you will find it hard to put it down! Also, the thing with Marisa Angelo and Link Morgan spices up the story, perfect for suckers of romance.

Apart from that, I found myself entranced by the Amish people and their culture. They play a vital role in the story so I recommend you to do some research if you want to get yourselves familiar with them. I did google about them while I was reading this book because I wanted to find out if they might be involved in something that I could relate to the book. You know, playing detective.

Anyhow, I guarantee that you will definitely enjoy this book and fall in love with the main chatacters. The story in general, though it’s a suspense fiction, isn’t that too dark, graphical, spooky, gross, sinister or whatever compared to other books of the same genre. This is not the kind of stuff that will haunt and give you nightmares at night since Marta Perry blended it with romance to compliment the dark sides of the story. The use of language is good, I didn’t come across with a foul word or two. Not that I can remember. Though there are too many characters, (I think there are more than 20) it won’t be that hard for you to remember them all.

So I’m giving it 4 stars.
Get your copy now!

QUICK BOOK REVIEW: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (Young Adult Fiction)

Description
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
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My Rating 3.5/5 stars
Do I recommend this book? Yes. That’s if only you want to cry.

I liked this book in general but I didn’t like how the story progresses. The beginning is slow-paced but from the middle up to the end, the story wraps up a bit too fast (well, at least for me) that I went like, “That was it?” I mean, the most important parts/ highlights are in the last few chapters, so I think it deserves a longer narration and greater emphasis. Expect the plot to be quite predictable because the blurb pretty much gives a few hints away. On the bright side, this book succeeded on expressing its very theme. Right after finishing the book, I didn’t know what to feel. I felt empty and sad – in a mourning kind of way – like most of the readers did. This stuff is downright sad and depressing. Yes, the main characters Finch and Violet are very quirky and smart and funny (at the start) and I really liked reading their point of views… but they are suicidal and both live a sad life.

So if you feel like reading something cute, funny and sad all at once, I recommend this stuff for you. Wait, let me add another adjective to this book…

Life-changing.

Yes, this book is life-changing. It will change the way you look at other people with unstable mental health. Mental illness is a serious subject and is not something we should make fun of and that people having such illness should not be afraid to speak up and seek for help.

Now grab a copy of this amazing book and let the words of Jennifer Niven warm your heart. If you want something light, then go find something else because this book will surely rip your heart and make you cry that you might not be able to bear it. You’ve been warned.

And, oh, All The Bright Places is soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!

His Awesome Works

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Being raised as a Christian, I’ve ever since become aware of the Holy Bible and my family’s beliefs about God and His creations. Most of my childhood memories are never complete without remembering those times my parents brought me to the church, in hopes that I’d be as faithful as them to God when I grow up. As a child, I didn’t understand the very purpose of their motives. I only had one thing in my innocent mind: There’s someone up there in the heavens watching over us.

And that simple knowledge that my parents passed on to me, became the very foundation of my faith. Just like a seed, years passed and that childhood belief grew up rich, nurtured and firm.

Because up until know, even when I’ve already learned a lot from school and in life itself, even when I was told so many times about other stories of creation which the men made up, even when others do not believe and do not care at all and even when no one has ever witnessed the truth that many people doubt, I still hold on to that belief… that God exists.

God has always existed. He created us, humans, and every single thing here on earth as well as the ones that are beyond our imagination. (Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.)

But not all people believe in what the bible says. The famous cosmologic model, Big Bang Theory attempts to explain how the universe expanded (other versions talk of explosion, thus, the theory itself is inconsistent). Unbeknownst to many people, due to misconception, this theory doesn’t explain how the universe originated nor what happened before the expansion. I’m not so familiar with the whole concept of Big Bang but its lack of clear explanation as to how the universe started is a major turn off. That’s why it remains a theory. (an idea that is suggested or presented as possibly true but that is not known or proven to be true. Source: Merriam-Webster)

Behind the world’s amazing beauty is a bunch of mysteries. But, if you happen to ask, why do I believe in God? Why do I believe in what the bible says?

I just look at the clouds in the sky and say, “How Great Thou Art.” God’s creations are too beautiful to even think that it just happened to be there – that it resulted from an unexplainable expansion billions of years ago which apparently turned out to be a perfect sequence of events. In other words, we wouldn’t be here had the Big Bang not happened a very long time ago. Marilyn Adamson, a former atheist, listed 6 straightforward reasons that God does exist. When I came across her article, I got hooked right away just by reading the first of her reasons:

The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today.

Because her explanations are more planned and well-explained, I refer you to her article: IS THERE A GOD?

No matter how advanced our technology has gotten over the last few centuries, we can’t still find an explanation to every question raised about the existence of God and the creation of everything. But for us, Christians, we don’t look for a tangible proof that there is a Creator up there in heavens. His existence may be a mystery but His presence is within us.

For we walk by faith, and not by sight. – 2 Corinthians 5:7

I Do Write

Hola! Despite the little chance that my page will get viewed by people, I’d still like to write a few posts, not to purposely share my thoughts with others, but because… I just feel like it. Though it might seem absolutely ridiculous, I do not, by any chance, tell my friends about this stash of mine, let alone any person to check this out.

So, if you happen to come across this page, chances are: 1) you might have clicked on the link on my Twitter page or 2) you might have been stalking for all I know! If it’s due to something else, please let me know.

As the title says, yes, I do write. I have no idea if that fact is a shocker or just a dull way of stating the obvious. If it surprises you, I guess you don’t belong to my close units, otherwise, you’re most likely one of a few people who know me too well.

I started writing since I can remember. Don’t get me started with the genres I’m into because I pretty much write everything whether it be horror or romance – which I suck at, by the way. Other than that, I used to be a campus journalist during my primary and secondary days. I wrote editorials mostly and I really loved what I was doing then because not only did my skills improve but I also got to give my opinion on important issues in and out of the country. It was cool, for short (especially that I’m an opinionated person and all).

But when the time came that I had to choose what course I was to take up in college, I completely crossed Journalism out of my choices. I never would’ve thought that I’d ever get detached to it. The reason being is that, Accountancy seemed more attractive to me that time. I thought it would be easy for me, because they say, you just have to be good in Math to get through it. Not that I’m bragging or something, but that really piqued my interest because I’m not too bad in Math, actually I’m good at it (or at least that’s what I believe in). After a brief consultation with my family and friends about the new option set on my table, I finally decided to settle with Accountancy.

And the rest is history…

So whenever I get the chance to write, I write… even when I always end up getting utterly bored and not finishing my works. At the moment, I’m stuck on traffic while on my way home from school (it was a tiring day, ugh) and it bores me to death to just remain glued to my seat doing close to nothing.

Writing makes me happy, it’s as if I’m creating a small world of my own with the use of my bubble of thoughts. I get to learn how to properly arrange my thoughts in order to make up a story and it’s a big plus that it effectively hones my writing skills little by little.

And mostly imporantly, by writing, I’ve learned how to be creative and imaginative… and even beyond. That’s why I’m here on WordPress!

Would you like to welcome me as a new blogger on the loose? 🙂

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*The last 3 paragraphs were written at school the next day. I don’t know if I need to tell you that, but there’s no stopping me so why not?