Summer is..

passing by way too quickly. AND busily.

So any book recs for me?
:)

I've read so litttllllee this summer! Time to remedy that!

Post-Grad by Emily Cassel

In the book version of the soon to be released movie, Post-Grad, we are introduced to a recent college graduate; Ryden Malby. Ryden has had a game plan for her life from the very beginning. The plan? Ryden was going to graduate from high school with steller marks and get a hefty scholarship to cover her college tuition. Then she was going to work super-hard and keep her scholarship. And after she finished college? Well, Ryden was going to get her dream job at one of LA's best publishing houses and prove herself to not be as crazy as her parents, the anti-graduates.

Unfortunately for Ryden, after college, her life takes an unpredictable turn. Instead of getting her dream job, she seems to be unable to get any job. In fact, she's forced to move in back with her eccentric family and get a job as a salesperson after her nemesis gets Ryden's dream job.

Ryden's only solace is hanging out with, and complaining to, her best-friend since diapers, Adam. He can sympathize as he has to face his own tough decisions. He has to pick between making music and going to law school. Of course, their relationship isn't simple either. When Adam reveals his feelings for Ryden, it increases the complexity in her already off-track life.

Eventually, Ryden has to choose the life she wants. Between her life ambitions, her best friend, her super-cute next door neighbor and her family.

Having seen the trailer to the movie of Post-grad, I was already fairly interested in what seemed to be a typical, yet cute, premise. That was precisely what I got from the novel version of Post-grad.

For one thing, Ryden's family is the typical crazy-family type that is often seen in books and movies. Generally, this type of family proves to be a lovable, yet exasperating type. Ryden's family was no exception. Though there were times where her father's ridiculous schemes and her grandmother's potty mouth, at least in the book, seemed a bit overdone, they added quirk to the novel.

Ryden's relationship with Adam was touched on a bit in the novel, however I do wish that there had been more development of the history between Adam and Ryden. More showing and less telling would have been nice. Also, I would have liked a bit more explanation between David and Ryden, maybe a bit more development into why they were so drawn to each other, something that I found just brushed upon.

Ryden's problems, in itself, will serve to be those that many can relate to. After all, who hasn't had a plan go wrong? And everyone has had trouble making life decisions, figuring out who's important to them and dealing with the everyday messes of life.

Overall? I'd say that Post-Grad would be a cute, fast read. Fans of the soon to be released movie and romantic comedy fans are sure to enjoy this one. And hey, if you're the type who likes knowing exactly what happens before a movie comes out, then Post-Grad is the one for you. I do know that I'll be looking forward to the movie's release to see that version of Ryden's story, a story with a lot of emotion and hilarity potential.

Rating:
Originality: 6/10
Characters: 6/10
Readability: 7/10
Overall: 6/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

What Would Emma Do by Eileen Cook

Wheaton is your typical small town. Backwater, religious and it's the type of place where everyone knows everything about you. Emma, the protagonist, finds the town confining and feels constricted in its limits. A fact which is emphasized when she makes the mistake of kissing her best friend's boyfriend, Colin. With that kiss, Emma's life is thrown into chaos.

Emma's plan has been to win a full-tuition scholarship to Northwestern for track. Except, suddenly, that is thrown into question when her best friend, Joann, and the pastor's daughter both fall ill and the words "terrorism and satan" begin to be thrown around at everyone who is different. And Emma is most definitely not your typical Wheaten-er. But she's not the only one, Todd, one of the few Jewish people in town, is targeted and accused. Emma, who knows the reason behind the illness is pressed to come forward, at the risk of losing her scholarship to Northwestern.

And that's when Emma has to ask, "What would Emma Do?"

I picked up this book expecting a light-hearted, yet barbed, story about a small-town and a teen's desire to be free and rebel. And that is precisely what I got.

Eileen Cook creates a setting where religion is almost everything and where things almost seem to move backward, not forward. The place is at complete odds with Emma, who is quirky and longs for a place where not everyone knows her name.

Emma's conversations with God, snippets of which are at the start of each chapter, flesh out her character in full. And they're amusing to read. Some may find the tone disrespectful, but, in my opinion, the conversations are charming and they come across as a conversation that a teen would possibly consider having with God.

Overall, Emma's character was one that I could sympathize with and understand. While some of her mistakes were atrocious, I could see where she was coming from and relate to what she was feeling.

Other characters are also vital to the story such as Joann, Colin, Todd and Emma's mother, for example. However, I felt that some of the development was a bit lacking. Joann's actions were believable and explained and her character came across well. However, Colin's character felt a bit inconsistent at times. I do think a bit more dimension could have been added to the secondary characters.

However, I do like how Eileen Cook presented opinions that opposed Emma's. She didn't present a judgemental view on those who want to settle, who like familiarity. Too often, both sides of an issue are not considered fully and fairly and I like how Eileen Cook presented characters who readers can relate to who want to stay in the town.

Overall, What Would Emma do is an enjoyable read. It presents the topics of religion, growing up and the overall angsty existence of teenagers in a light and fun manner, making it a book I would whole-heartedly reccommend.

Rating:
Originality: 8/10
Characters: 7/10
Readability: 9/10
Overall: 8/10

Happy Reading,
Reader Rabbit

12 People Commit Suicide Over Michael Jackson's Death

Unbelievable, right?

But here ya go. Linky to the article!

My reaction to this:
Wtf?!?
Am I the only one that thinks that people need to stop living vicariously through random stars/celebrities?

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by RJ Anderson

I've been lucky with fantasy novels lately, first with The Demon's Lexicon (review to come) and now with Spell Hunter by RJ Anderson. The Demon's Lexicon is the darker of the two, with Spell Hunter veering onto the fairytale-ish of sides. But, both are fully satisfying novels, with wonderful worldbuilding and strong lead characters .

In Spell Hunter, we are introduced to a young faerie, named Byrony, who is attempting to climb out the window of the Oak where a faery kingdom resides. This action is met with fright with her foster mother, Wink. Outside the Oak, is a world which few of the faeries have ever seen-dangers wait outside including crows (the faeries are only seven-inches tall) and most terrifying of all, the "monsters" or rather, the humans. However, just as Byrony glimpses one of the monsters, she is pulled back to the safety of the Oak.

But every since that day, Byrony can't help but wonder why humans are considered dangerous. So, when Byrony is given the job of Hunter, one of the only jobs that requires a faery to go outside, she takes the name Knife, becoming a fierce, knife-wielding, crow killing warrior, seizing the chance to explore and find an answer to her questions. And those answers may be needed more than ever before. Years ago, the faeries lost their magic, and along with it, their desire and understanding of friendship and creativity. And, now, the already tiny faery population is dwindling as faeries succumb to insanity.

I picked up this book up because it was blurbed by one of my favourite authors (Megan Whalen Turner) and was surprised by how much I liked it. RJ Anderson did a wonderful job of creating the faery realm. The faeries almost behave like a beehive, with faeries performing certain jobs at the request of their queen (without whom, they would be dead). The lack of conversation and constant bargaining between the faeries really shown the isolation that Knife feels.

Besides the fact that Knife is a fierce, independent (but not overly so) character, the other characters are fleshed out well, my favourite by far being Paul. Another blogger (I can't remember who exactly, sorry) commented about the uniqueness of having a cripple for the main character and how well-carried off Anderson's portrayal of Paul was-you never feel sorry for him. I thought that was a really good point. I mean, honestly, when was the last time you read a book where a primary character is a cripple? Or even the love interest? I can't remember a single one with the exception of maybe The Secret Garden and the Fearless series (Ed as one of Gaia's manymany paramours...haha).

Judging by the cover, I think the novel may be marketed to MG, but with all that RJ Anderson covers in the novel, I think older readers will enjoy it too (I did).

9/10

Happy Reading,

RR2

I'm sorry

for the lack of reviews.

We have a whole bunch that should be coming up as soon as my sister and I adjust to summer school + work. And when we learn better time management skills.

So for you people who've sent us stuff for review, we'll get on it ASAP.

AND WE'RE SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG!