Book List 2014 · Reviews

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by JK Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A definite re-read for me, and still one of the most charming books I’ve ever read. There is not a time where I’ve re-read these books that I haven’t fallen directly into the magical world once again.

J.K Rowling isn’t an amazing, wonderful technical writer, but she writes her characters with such heart that any flaws seem to fall by the wayside. I love this book as it is, an introduction to something so much more, and a world that has grown beyond just literature.

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Book List 2014

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)The Maze Runner by James Dashner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn’t really know what to think of this book at first. I found the language used, instead of swearing to be honestly jarring at first before I settled into the story. It pulled me in and I was intrigued, brain working to try and figure out what the maze could mean and why children? I know, logically dystopian fiction does seem to be the most popular genre in YA literature as of late, but each writer has their reason.

I grew to enjoy the characters, even though they weren’t people I would like in real life, Thomas filled with a sense of morals that he couldn’t necessarily reconcile with any sort of memory, Teresa with her mind-speak, Chuck with his good humour and in the end protective nature.

I’m quite excited to read the next book.

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Book List 2014 · Reviews

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

FangirlFangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I feel like my life has been highjacked by an author and used for fictional purposes, and yet I am perfectly okay with that.

I read this novel in the span of two hours, with the knowledge that I was probably reading what will end up being my favourite book of 2014 and it’s only the beginning of the year. What does that mean for the rest of the time? I don’t know. I’ll find something.

I would like to preface this review by saying I absolutely, positively did not want to read this book at all. It was everywhere though and I couldn’t avoid it so finally I gave in.

After all a book about a girl who loves fan fiction and a fictional world so in tune with books I’d loved (possibly Harry Potter, possibly the Magicians) couldn’t even be that good could it?

I was wrong.

Cath is a very fulfilling and enriched character, with all of her flaws laid out before her and sadly it is in her that I see my own flaws. The ability to bury ones self in a fictional world to avoid what is going on around you is seen in this book. But the realization that the world around you might not be so bad is what makes this novel great. When she began to come out of her shell I felt a sense of pride.

This book is just awesome. It’s not masterful literature and might not be considered a classic by anyone who isn’t in a fandom but it’s fun, and it’s a fast read and altogether lovely.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1)The Gunslinger by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a re-read for me, though it’s been some time since I last read this book and I feared I would feel completely different about it.

To my surprise I actually like it better now than I once did, with all of the flourishing details, vulgarity at times and the depth of the story telling.

I sink into this book, and I love that I am able to imagine the world around me, the slow mutants and the terror they bring. The fall, the turmoil of Roland. I can’t wait to re-read the rest of the series.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

The Book Thief

The Book ThiefThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had actually heard very little about this book before I read it, except for a few mentions about the fact that it was a good one.

Initially, before I picked it up, I was a little bit apprehensive, knowing that it was supposed to be young adult fiction but I am ever so glad that I picked it up. Because I would have been missing out on something in not having read this.

The way it is written, with Death himself as the narrator of the book is something that captured my attention immediately. Where some might have found it too out there, I felt welcomed by the way in which it was written.

Liesel, the main character, or one of two, is a refreshing change from the normal. Sometimes selfish, she is almost always an honest character even in her thievery. Her best friend Rudy, is a delight as well and the innocence of children even when effected by loss is present here.

Hans for me is one of the true heroes of the story, a fully fleshed out character with his own fears concerning his family, but his own convictions, refusing to fall to Nazi Germany’s regime. This book is something that I never could have expected, and while the end did make me sob it was perfect.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Haunted by Kelley Armstrong

Haunted (Women of the Otherworld, #5)Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this book to be quite good, having loved the snippets of Eve seen previous to this, not necessarily because I thought she was someone who was inherently good but because she was a mystery. This was an excellent look into who Eve was before she died, and who she became after.

It was great to see that sense of evolution of her, and I loved the mythos behind the nix.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong

Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #4)Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my favourite book from the series thus far, which is interesting to me considering Paige was actually my least favourite of the female characters so far. I have a leaning toward Elena, but with this book I certainly like Paige a whole lot more. This book made me more fascinated with the cabals, and while I didn’t get all the answers I wanted I really did love the more in depth look.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Dime Store Magic

Dime Store MagicDime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I actually really enjoyed this book in spite of not liking Paige all that much originally. I really did feel for her character and the trials she was going through, both literally and figuratively in this novel. Lucas is just about one of my favourite characters introduced in this series. These books a really well written, and detailed without it being a little too much.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

Stolen (Women of the Otherworld, #2)Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book a lot.

There were parts of it however which seemed to drag on for me, perhaps due to just a little too much detail for my appetite.

I found myself wanting more action, but that does not mean the writing is bad. It’s actually rather fantastic, and as always I am amused to see parts of Canada mentioned as well as the travel between two countries. I did also find the new characters rather interesting, but found myself wanting more of Clay, Jeremy and Elena.

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Book List 2013

The Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)

The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike, #1)The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took a lot for me to get into, but I am glad I picked it back up after discarding it and decided to give it a second chance.

Once I got past the beginning of the novel I began to slowly fall for the character of Cormoran Strike and all his flaws and what he represents.

He is not a hero, by any means , not truly, in the way he acts now but yet he does do what’s right in the end. If anyone is reading this expecting the same as what was received in Rowling’s Harry Potter series they are most likely going to be disappointed but as a fan of mystery books I did quite enjoy this one.

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