Graduation

This last semester was very hectic! I read hardly anything, and continue to stress over school. I only have two weeks left, one of classes and one of finals. After that... I graduate from College! YAY!

After graduation I'll be back on the site, updating with posts, contests, interviews, etc.

Can't wait to get back.

Dear John

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Release Date: October 30th, 2006
Publisher: Warner Books
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 276
Overall:

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love--and face the hardest decision of his life.

Nicholas Sparks has a way of writing characters that readers immediately care about. I was happy when John was happy, I was sad when he was sad, and I was angry when he was angry. I felt exactly what John was feeling and it was an intense read that I highly enjoyed.

John and Savannah are character that immediately become favorites and friends. John goes into the world of falling in love, going to war, and losing the love of his life. John is a guy that girls want and yet he is normal in a human way that lets him find his own self and how to relate to his father. Savannah is a girl that readers love and hate. Her choices make us immediately side with John, but not because she is wrong in her decisions. Instead, it is because we simply know John better than we know her. We understand why she does what she does, but that doesn’t mean we agree with it.

Nicholas Sparks’ writing style is great. It is from John’s perspective as he tells us the story of how he met Savannah and his experiences with her. While it is from his point of view, Sparks does a great job of giving us an insight into Savannah’s head without letting on too much since John will not know what is actually going on in her head. The overall story telling is great and I loved following the story.

I have read a few others of Nicholas Sparks’ works, and plan on reading more in the near future. I have seen the movie and will do a comparative blog about it at a later date.

Who Might Like This Book:
Love Story Lovers
Nicholas Sparks Lovers
Self Discovery Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian

Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Release Date: July 5th, 2009
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 591
Overall:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

This is the final book in the Percy Jackson story. It is time for him to come to terms with the Prophecy that was foretold long before he was even born. Also, he is going to finally come up against his ultimate enemy: Kronos. The question everyone has is who will come up on top? The Titans? The Gods? No one? Only time will tell.

This book has it all. Romance is a new exciting feature in this book. Percy finally comes to terms with his own personal feelings. Also, he explores his friendships and what it means to be a true hero. Percy grows a lot in this story and by the time it ends, the reader knows Percy better than when the first book begins. This book is also full of adventure and fight scenes. It is an overall exciting book.

The ending is satisfying. While I love the series and want to read more about Percy and the Half-Bloods, the ending left nothing unresolved. I really can’t wait to read more about Camp Half-blood and other demigods.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Release Date: May 6th 2008
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 362
Overall:

Percy Jackson's fourth summer at Camp Half-Blood is much like his previous three—high-octane clashes with dark forces, laced with hip humor and drama. Opening with a line for the ages—The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school—this penultimate series installment finds Percy, Annabeth and the satyr Grover furiously working to prevent former camp counselor Luke from resurrecting the Titan lord Kronos, whose goal is to overthrow the gods. When the heroes learn that Luke can breach Camp Half-Blood's security through an exit from Daedalus's Labyrinth, they enter the maze in search of the inventor and a way to stop the invasion. Along the way they encounter a lifetime supply of nightmare-inducing, richly imagined monsters. Grover's own quest to find the lost god Pan, meanwhile, provides a subtle environmental message.

This book just sends the story even deeper as it explores not only what it means to be a hero, but also the relationships between the characters. Annabeth and Percy have grown much closer in this book, but there is still a lingering disappointment when it comes to Luke and possible feelings Annabeth may harbor for him. Percy gets the chance to leave the battle behind, and yet he preserves like any true hero, along with the help of his friends.

The reader also gets to meet some more Gods in this book including Hephaestus who is seen in overalls with his name embroidered on it as if he were working at an automobile repair shop. We meet the mysterious Calypso, and some interesting creatures who are obviously up to no good.

The best part of this book that intrigues not only guys but girls who like a little action is the fight scene. It was great to see how even though the army might be small, with companionship and friendship anything can be overcome.

I absolutely love this series and enjoy just getting to enter the world of Half-bloods.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover: