Review Wednesday: Carrie by Stephen King

Title: Carrie

Author: Stephen King
1st Date of Publication: April 5, 1974

ISBN: 9780385086950
# of Pages: 199
Genre: Suspense and Horror

Age Rating: 13+

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Book Description:
Carrie knew she should not use the terrifying power she possessed... But one night at her senior prom, Carrie was scorned and humiliated just one time too many, and in a fit of uncontrollable fury, she turned her clandestine game into a weapon of horror and destruction...



Setting: Chamberlain, Maine
Point of View: 3rd person- Carrietta "Carrie" White

Goodreads Rating: 3.93
My Rating: 4.0

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The girl n the cover has a very haunting look. Plus, she is fairly attractive.
View on Title: Whenever I heard the name Carrie or seen it, it has always reminded me of the Stephen King novel, which is this one.

Pros:

• Carrie's character is very odd, but it really works for her. She is obviously misunderstood and simply wants to have peace. Her beauty is overlooked by her odd nature and her family history.
• This story really shows the issues of bullying in a high school setting. Many adults don't take it seriously and shouldering it off as just kids being kids. It really exaggerates the consequences of bullying, but it does make an excellent point. Even though this book is over 40 years old, the issue of bullying still rings true today.
• The writing style was really interesting because it is written as a collection of journals and interviews after the incident has occurred. It makes the third person point of view more interesting.

Cons:

• The religious overtone is a bit much for the story. I understand the overbearing religious mother was important in the outcome, but the religious fanaticism is over the top.
• I felt like the synopsis gives away the entire story. But if you ever hear about Stephen King or horror novels, you most likely have read the entire story of Carrie.

Critics' Reviews:


"A master storyteller." —The Los Angeles Times

"Guaranteed to chill you." —The New York Times
"Gory and horrifying.... You can't put it down." —Chicago Tribune
“[The] most wonderfully gruesome man on the planet.” —USA Today“Eerie and haunting—sheer terror!” —Publishers Weekly

Stephen King's Website:
http://www.stephenking.com/

Other Recommendations:

It by Stephen King
The Shining by Stephen King
Bag of Bones by Stephen King

Review Wednesday: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Title: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Author: Stephen King
1st Date of Publication: October 3, 1999

ISBN: 9781439156810
# of Pages: 291

Genre: Memoir/How-to

Age Rating: 13

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Book Description:
"Long live the King" hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King's On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King's advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999--and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it--fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.



Setting: Numerous locations in the United States
Point of View: 1st person- Stephen King

Goodreads Rating: 4.31

My Rating: 4.75

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: Stephen King seems pretty relaxed writing in his room with a little corgi.
View on Title: I wonder what Stephen King has to say about writing and how he came to become the writer he is.

Pros:

• For the story portion of the book, Stephen King is one of the greats in my book. His story is astounding with how he came from nothing to having a huge name. It is really inspiring to a struggling writer, like myself.
• For the craft portion of the book, King does an excellent way to paint a picture with words and humor that makes you want to continue reading. It makes you want to be under his wing as an intern
• For the advice portion of the book, he makes the art of writing seem so easy when it is hard to even start. I felt like I was able to make some progress to writing my own book. I used this book as the pioneer book of many that will lead to my book writing journey.

Cons:

• It was overall a great book. I just wish there was more about Stephen King's life between his publication of Carrie and his accident in 1999.

Critics' Reviews:
" Loving it is essential, though, and having a good "toolbox," full of vocabulary, grammar, and the usage and mechanics prescribed by Strunk and White's perdurable Elements of Style, is next most important. It is invaluable to read a lot, and the key to novel writing is following the story--not a plot that can be charted or outlined, but the developments natural for the characters, given the situation they are in. For himself, King says, good health and a good marriage have been crucial, never more so than during his recovery from the accident. Good advice and a good, ordinary life, relayed in spunky, vivid prose, are the prime ingredients of what must be considered not at all the usual writer's guide." --Booklist
"King stresses character and situation over plotting, and insists on basics-like Strunk and White and, above all, endless reading and writing. While his proposed output might intimidate some, his enthusiasm wins out. A useful book for any young writer, and a must for fans, this is unmistakably King: friendly, sharply perceptive, cheerfully vulgar, sometimes adolescent in his humor, sometimes impatient with fools, but always sincere in his love of language and writing." --Kirkus Reviews

" Along the way, King touts the writing philosophies of William Strunk and Ernest Hemingway, advocates a healthy appetite for reading, expounds upon the subject of grammar, critiques a number of popular writers, and offers the reader a chance to try out his theories. But most important, we who climb aboard for this ride with the master spend a few pleasant hours under the impression that we know what it's like to think like Stephen King. Recommended for anyone who wants to write and everyone who loves to read." --Library Journal

"While some of his guidance is not exactly revolutionary (he recommends The Elements of Style as a must-have reference), other revelations that vindicate authors of popular fiction, like himself, as writers, such as his preference for stressing character and situation over plot, are engrossing. He also offers plenty of commonsense advice on how to organize a workspace and structure one's day. While King's comical childhood anecdotes and sober reflections on his accident may be appreciated while driving to work or burning calories on a treadmill, the book's main exercise does not work as well in the audio format. King's strongest recommendation, after all, is that writers must be readers, and despite his adept performance, aspiring authors might find that they would absorb more by picking up the book." --Publishers Weekly

Stephen King's Website:
http://www.stephenking.com/

Other Recommendations:

Carrie by Stephen King
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

Review Wednesday: For You by Kristen Ashley

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: For You (The 'Burg #1)

Author: Kristen Ashley
1st Date of Publication: March 14, 2011

ISBN: 9780692323663
# of Pages: 534

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

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Book Description:
Lieutenant Alexander Colton and February Owens were high school sweethearts. Everyone in their small town knew from the moment they met they were meant for each other. But something happened and Feb broke Colt’s heart then she turned wild and tragedy struck. Colt meted out revenge against the man who brought Feb low but even though Colt risked it all for her, Feb turned her back on him and left town.

Fifteen years later, Feb comes back to help run the family bar. But there’s so much water under the bridge separating her and Colt everyone knows they’ll never get back together.

Until someone starts hacking up people in Feb’s life. Colt is still Colt and Feb is still Feb so the town watches as Colt goes all out to find the murderer while trying to keep Feb safe.

As the bodies pile up, The Feds move in and a twisting, turning story unravels exposing a very sick man who has claimed numerous victims along the way, Feb and Colt battle their enduring attraction and the beautiful but lost history that weaves them together.



Setting: Brownsburg, Indiana
Point of View: 3rd person- February Owens and Alexander "Alex/Colt" Colton

Goodreads Rating: 4.19

My Rating: 4.5

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: I like the heart since it reminds me of a sort of high school sweethearts feel, except it doesn't have the initials of the lovers on it. It looks more like pointless vandalism without the initials.
View on Title: What is "for you"? Who is "you" and who is the one giving or doing something for the recipient? It's really vague nut it seems interesting enough to read.

Pros:

• The ages of the main characters were really different compared to the other new adult novels I have read, which I think made it more interesting. I liked the sense of maturity between the two characters. It really makes you think what is really important in life. Both main characters are in their early 40s rather than in their 20s or 30s like characters in the other new adult novels I have read in the past.
• I really enjoyed the 2 main characters, Feb and Colt. It's easy to tell that they both have a history together. Their history together started really good but something happened to them, and now they can barely look at each other.
• February Owens just want to go back to a normal life where she is only responsible for herself. She's been through a bad marriage and several toxic relationships after leaving Brownsburg for almost a decade. She is a strong character but her world is shaken when someone tries to do her the favor of killing all the people who she is associated with. She doesn't take any trouble from anyone especially since she is a bartender at her parents' bar.
• Alexander Colton is a rags to riches kind of man. Both his parents are alcohol and drug addicts and it seemed like he was headed into that route until he meant the Owens family. He's the lieutenant of the town and is extremely protective of Feb. He is also a  strong character as he doesn't stop to solve and catch the murderer
• The importance of family and why failed relationships occur are important in this book. Feb and Morrie's (Feb's brother) always make sure to put family first, even Colt, and that's apparent throughout the novel. Unfortunately, Morrie's marriage is gone because he chose work over family, and Feb is divorced to a man who would beat her and now living on her own.
• The mysteriousness of not only the murders but the reason of the failed relationship between Feb and Colt makes you want to keep reading.

Cons:

• There were a lot of secondary characters in the book that showed up and it was sometimes hard to keep track if they had shown up earlier in the book. This may have been intentional because when you're in a situation that is very stressful and dire like Feb's then it is normal to just breeze through and lose sight of certain characters.
• The book seemed a little long winded. I felt that the book didn't necessarily need to be as long as it was. The whole situation was very drawn out and there was lot of "white noise" where there was nothing really happening.
• The ending seemed too cliché and parts seemed a little unlikely to happen.

Kristen Ashley's Website:
http://www.kristenashley.net/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Slave to Love by Julie A. Richman
My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Review Wednesday: The Baller by Vi Keeland

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: The Baller

Author: Vi Keeland
1st Date of Publication: January 17, 2016

ISBN: 9781522858416
# of Pages: 284

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.
The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.
When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.
But I don’t date players.
And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football.
I’d date an athlete.
It’s the other kind of player I don’t date.
You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.

Brody Easton was the ultimate player.
Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.
But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.
Turned out, I was that girl.
Simple right?
Let’s face it. It never is.
There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after…
And this one is ours.


Setting: New York, New York
Point of View: 1st person- Delilah Maddox and Brody Easton (and a surprise)

Goodreads Rating: 4.13

My Rating: 4.25

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The man sees to be very fit and attractive, but I want to see his face.
View on Title: There must be someone really good at playing ball. Or, maybe he is just cocky and thinks that he is so great at playing.

Pros:

• This book is different than many of the books in the genre it resides in. It's really neat how it uses the idea of sportscaster and a football player. The main characters are really interesting
• Delilah Maddox has been single for a good amount of time and has no intention of looking since she has had her heart broken by someone she truly loved. She is brand new to the newscaster world, but it's a man's world so that means she has to prove herself. She is spunky and really funny as she gives inappropriate names to people that she doesn't particularly like.
• Brody Easton is a force to be reckoned with. He is a cocky football player and likes to give people a hard time especially female sportscasters. He doesn't let anyone in because he has been hurt by someone else just like Delilah has. He doesn't take "no" for an answer which makes the dynamic between him and Delilah pretty humorous.
• The relationship that blossoms between Delilah and Brody is far from easy. Their first encounter was humorously inappropriate as Delilah tries to get an interview from Brody from the locker room after the game. They have to learn to depend on each other as any couple needs to do.
• I like how the names of the football teams aren't real football teams but sound similar to ones that are real football teams. Brody is on the New York Steel team. It's like the Pittsburgh Steelers but modified.
• The issue of drugs and alcohol is represented in the book and how it could ruin everyone you love (not only yourself). It is probably the most realistic part of the book and it wasn't hidden at all.

Cons:

• The book seemed to repeat the same issues over and over again. It felt like the issues were being beaten to death. It became a little annoying and made the read a little difficult. It took me a little longer to get through this one than it probably could have been.

Vi Keeland's Website:

http://vikeeland.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James
My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Review Wednesday: The Heiresses by Sara Shepard

Title: The Heiresses

Author: Sara Shepard
1st Date of Publication: May 12 2014

ISBN: 9780062259530
# of Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction

Age Rating: 13+

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
You know the Saybrooks. Everyone does. Perhaps you’ve read a profile of them in People or have seen their pictures in the society pages of Vogue. Perhaps while walking along that choice block on Fifth Avenue, you’ve been tempted to enter the ornate limestone building with their family name etched into the pediment above the door.

The only thing more flawless than a Saybrook’s diamond solitaire is the family behind the jewelry empire. Beauties, entrepreneurs, debutantes, and style mavens, they are the epitome of New York City’s high society. But being a Saybrook comes at a price—they are heirs not only to a dizzying fortune but also to a decades-old family curse.

Tragedy strikes the prominent family yet again when thirty-four-year-old Poppy, the most exquisite Saybrook of them all, flings herself from the window of her TriBeCa office. Everyone is shocked that a woman who had it all would end her own life. Then her cousins receive an ominous threat: one heiress down, four to go.

Was it suicide... or murder? In the aftermath of the tragedy, the remaining heiresses—Corinne, the perfectionist; Rowan, the workaholic; Aster, the hedonist; and Natasha, the enigma—wrestle with feelings of sadness, guilt, and, most of all, fear. Now they must uncover the truth about their family before they lose the only thing money can’t buy: their lives.


Setting: 21st century in New York City, NY
Point of View: 3rd person- Corrine Saybrook, Aster Saybrook, Rowan Saybrook, and Natasha Saybrook-Davis

Goodreads Rating: 3.48

My Rating: 3.75

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: I really like the look of this. It looks classy and ritzy. It makes me want to live in New York City
View on Title: How do these girls get such an inheritance that each is known as an "heiress."

Pros:

• This is a murder mystery story so it gets very suspenseful. Sara Shepard really knows how to keep her readers on their toes.
• I think it was really cool how the characters are basically celebrities just because they're wealthy business owners.
• As things unfold, everyone and everything is not who or what they seem. Everything is hidden by all the glamor.
• I'm not a fan of 3rd person but Sara Shepard does an excellent job writing while following different characters.

Cons:

• This seemed a little bit like the Pretty Little Liars series Sara Shepard has written and finished.
• There is also the issue of several female characters with a similar surname (Saybrook) that it gets confusing at first who is who.

Critics' Reviews:
"The sexy, silly frolic that is summer reading kicks off with The Heiresses in which four really, really rich cousins skirt murderous mayhem in Manhattan’s priciest zip codes.” -New York Daily News
"A Pretty Little Liars for grown-ups, mines the bold-faced misfortunes of sisters plagued by sex-tape scandals and seersucker—and, perhaps, a serial killer." -Vogue

Sara Shepard's Website:
http://www.saracshepard.com/

Other Recommendations:

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Review Wednesday: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Title: The Secret Life of Bees
Author: Sue Monk Kidd

1st Date of Publication: January 28, 2002
ISBN: 9780670894604

# of Pages: 320

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Rating: 13

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Book Description:
Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna. This is a remarkable novel about divine female power, a story women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.

Setting: Tiburon, South Carolina in 1964
Point of View: 1st person- Lily Owens

Goodreads Rating: 4.00

My Rating: 4.50

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: It looks like an oil pastel painting, which is cool. I didn't realize what the jar exactly was or what was on it.
View on Title:  What are bees' secret lives like? Or who are these supposed bees?

Pros:

• This truly shows the racism and bias of a white-dominated world during the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement is seen through Rosaleen who wanted to vote, but it is not about the right to vote.
• The theme is about coming-of-age and going beyond boundaries of color.
• The character development was done very well. It was very distinguished each Boatwright sister even though there were three present and another mentioned.
• I really thought it was creative that the Boatwright sisters were named after spring ad summer months.
• Lily's character was humorous as she is learning about the real world that she was kept from when she was living her father.
• I felt that Lily calling her father T. Ray instead of "Daddy," "Father," or "Dad" really exemplified their relationship.
• The romantic relationships in this book did not take over the book as many books do. It simply added another layer to the book.
• The mystery of Lily's mother's death was very intriguing and made you want to read more until you get to the end.

Cons:

• I do not have much to complain about other than the fact that it was a little hard to get into the book since it was a little slow.
• The only other thing that bothered me was that there was a lack of development between the friendship and romantic relationship between Zachary Taylor and Lily.

Critics' Reviews:

"It's as if Kidd loaded up a take-home plate with treats, and you said 'Oh, I couldn't,' and then scarfed it down in the car on the way home." —Entertainment Weekly

""The stunning metaphors and realistic characters are so poignant they will bring tears to your eyes." —Library Journal
"Fully imagined...the core of this story is Lily's search for a mother, and she finds one in a place she never expected." —The New York Times
"A moving first novel...Lily is an authentic and winning character and her story is compellingly  told. The bees presage her journey toward self-acceptance, faith and freedom that is at the heart of this novel." —USA Today

Sue Monk Kidd's Website:

http://suemonkkidd.com/

 

Other Recommendations:
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Review Wednesday: The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

Title: The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1)

Author: C.J. Redwine
1st Date of Publication: February 16, 2016

ISBN: 9780062360243
# of Pages: 387

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13+

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

Setting: Fictional world of several kingdoms
Point of View: 3rd person- Lorelai Diederich, Kolvanismir Arsenyevnek, and Irina

Goodreads Rating: 3.79

My Rating: 4.30

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The cover is very interesting in a disturbing way. Why is the apple black and dripping as if it is poisoned? It seemed like a Snow White allusion.
View on Title: Who is the "Shadow Queen?" Is it the heroine or is it the villain (who are obviously both females)?

Pros:

• This book was not a let down at all. I really liked the twist on Snow White and the of being a mardushka, in other words "witch." She has the ability to control anyone she touches and uses magic with, which is neat.
• The protagonists are great and I really enjoyed this despite not being a fan of third person point of view books. C.J. Redwine pulled off a difficult task.
• Lorelai's character is the semblance of Snow White but she is so much more than Snow White ever was. She has the power of magic but she is one with nature. 
• She can protect herself and has a great sense of responsibility. She is great with animals and even has a "pet" gyrfalcon which I wish I had one.
• Kol's character shows a lot of strength since he "accidentally" becomes the king of his land in Eldr, which are people who turn into dragons (So freaking cool!). He is given a great deal of responsibility that he was not signed up for and never planned on having to deal with the responsibility of a king, but he takes it on very humbly. 
• Irina is a mardushka like her niece, Lorelai, and is the evil queen who usurped the throne. But, her story is actually sad and you can sympathize with her character.
• The love story, which was bound to happen, was actually sweet and unusual in a good way. Plus, it wasn't completely predictable. The couple in this book are what you would say is the real book power couple in my opinion.
• The world inside the book is interesting because it is fictional and shows several kingdoms. In my version of the book, the map of all the kingdoms are drawn inside the cover.

Cons:

• I felt that the ending became rushed so quickly. I read one chapter where there was conflict and struggle and then all of a sudden it's the end of the book where the build up could have been better and a little more satisfying.

Critics' Reviews:
“Forget everything you think you know about Snow White. There are no shrinking violets here, just a bold and cunning princess determined to save a kingdom that’s rotting beneath dark magic…. A gripping addition to the retelling genre.” -Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles
“A perfect addition to the fractured fairy[tale] genre…the princess does not need any saving in this tale.” -VOYA
“Filled with complex characters, imaginative and horrible consequences, and sharp twists." -Booklist
“An action-packed retelling of “Snow White”...Great fun” -School Library Journal
“A fully imagined fairy tale landscape.” -Publishers Weekly

C.J. Redwine's Website:
http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/

Other Recommendations:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan