So, first off, hi. I haven't blogged in a while, and I'm really sorry about that. (Yup, I'm sorry to all ONE of my readers. Yes, Stefanie, I'm looking at you.) But I came back to talk about this awesome book that I just read, called Uglies, by Scott Westerfield.
Uglies takes place in a world that revolves around looks. From ages 12-15, you are considered an Ugly. Everyone. People are repelled by your face. It sounds harsh, but it's true. However, on your sixteenth birthday, you undergo an operation in which you are entirely reformed. You are turned into a Pretty, and you are rebuilt, from the shape of your bones all the way down to the color of your eyes. You then get to move from Uglysville to New Pretty Town, where the only requirement is to have fun with a whole bunch of other beautiful people. Sounds like a dream come true, right?
It certainly does for Tally Youngblood. Her best friend, Peris, is now a Pretty, and she wants nothing more than to become just like him. She has to pass the time by playing a bunch of immature tricks, just staying occupied until her time comes. But then she meets Shay, an Ugly who's different. Shay doesn't want to become a Pretty. She would rather keep her face and run away to someplace secret, where everybody chose that path. Shay runs away, but that doesn't mean she's out of Tally's life- far from it.
On her sixteenth birthday, Tally is ready to be operated on, but Special Circumstances has other ideas. They offer Tally a very difficult choice- find her friend and turn her in, or never become a Pretty. Ever.
Tally decides to go follow Shay, and that's when she finds the Smoke, and a whole new way of living. It's also where she realizes that maybe real beauty lies under the skin... and that inner beauty might be the price to pay for outer beauty. Being a Pretty toys with your brain, Tally learns, and changes who you are as a person entirely. That's when she decides to safeguard herself, and anyone else possible, from this fate. How? She gives written consent that, as a Pretty, she will take a pill that might make her brain function normally.
And then the book ends.
I want to read Pretties, the sequel, ever so badly!!!!! It sounds wicked awesome, and that cliffhanger just leaves you on EDGE, man! Amazing book! It really gives insight on what being beautiful really means, where the human race is going with their obsession over looks, and asks the question: What makes us an Ugly, and what makes us a Pretty? The superficial undertones of the Pretty world offer a shocking metaphor about the obsession humans have with outer beauty, and, along with Tally, we see that world as a wonderful, desirable place to be. That's how we all start out, isn't it? But as Tally learns the truth about how meaningless, twisted, and plastic the Pretty world is, we share in that same distaste for it. We feel her sacrifice as she decides to become pretty, even though, at first glance, it doesn't seem like a bad thing. Still, it's a heavy price to pay, and once we can see that comparison of how we all consider ourselves "ugly" and want something more, yet once "pretty", it changes your entire personality..... once you see that comparison, everything is sparklingly clear, and the work becomes a truly genius piece.
-Patty ♥☼♪♫
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Book Review: "The Last Song"
So, as you all should know by now, I LOVE TO READ!!!! And my mom's favorite author is Nicholas Sparks, and so she let me borrow her book, "The Last Song", for me to give a try.
IT WAS AWESNIFCANTACULAR!!!!! (Insider.)
The whole book was very emotional, and it just ripped your heart in a million directions. So much suspense, angst, romance, change, anger, sadness, tragedy, happiness.... How you can possibly squeeze it all into one summer, much less one book, is totally beyond me. But Nicholas Sparks did it, and the story flowed seamlessly from beginning to end.
Ronnie and her little brother, Jonah, are shipped away from their home in New York City to spend some time with their dad, Steve, in North Carolina for the summer. The only problem? Ronnie absolutely hates her father. He walked out on the family three years ago, and all that was left in his wake were the impossible memories of she and him sitting and playing the piano. It was something special that they shared, their gift in music, but when Steve left, Ronnie would have none of it. She never touched a piano again. When Julliard came knocking, Ronnie declined. The three years made her bitter towards her mother, ignorant of her father, and lost within herself. Gone was her all-American-girl image, and in its place was a tough, edgy girl Who wouldn't take any crap from anybody.
Jonah takes an immediate liking to his dad, but Ronnie avoids him, convinced that not speaking to him for three years was the easiest thing she's ever done. In the process of hiding out from Steve, she runs into- quite literally- Will. He's a volleyball player that every girl is drooling after, and he harbors a deep guilt from an incident involving his best friend. But, years ago, his best friend saved his life- Will keeping the secret was the only thing he had to do in return.
She also meets Blaze, a girl with a tough exterior, and girlfriend of Marcus, who, summed up in two words, was bad news. In one word? He was a sociopath. And Ronnie isn't stupid. She knows to stay away.... but Ronnie has a certain lure for him....
Throughout the course of the story, Ronnie changed. She finds true love, and she saves a baby turtle nest. She is accused of shoplifting by someone she thought was her friend, attends a wedding that no one will forget, and finally comes to terms with her future might hold. Throw into the mix a relentless raccoon, a job that involves touching slimy fish, and a girl on fire, things can get seriously confusing. It's no wonder that she misses some things that are going on with her dad, things that are right in front of her eyes. Things that are suddenly so heartbreakingly, impossibly, inescapably real, that the rest of her world falls apart.
But when she finds a piece of music in her father's drawer, an original composition, not yet perfected.... she knows what she has to do. The only thing that will make her at peace with herself, the only thing that might make things better, in some strange, twisted way. Ronnie swore that she would never play the piano again.... but, ironically, sometimes the promises that are the very easiest to break are the ones that you make with yourself.
And so she played his song, her song, their song. The last song. And when the music flowed from her fingertips, Steve found what he was looking for all his life. The presence of God became clear to him, and all was well.
This book is so freaking awesome, if you don't read it, I'm going to kill you :D
Love,
Patty ♥☼♫♪
IT WAS AWESNIFCANTACULAR!!!!! (Insider.)
The whole book was very emotional, and it just ripped your heart in a million directions. So much suspense, angst, romance, change, anger, sadness, tragedy, happiness.... How you can possibly squeeze it all into one summer, much less one book, is totally beyond me. But Nicholas Sparks did it, and the story flowed seamlessly from beginning to end.
Ronnie and her little brother, Jonah, are shipped away from their home in New York City to spend some time with their dad, Steve, in North Carolina for the summer. The only problem? Ronnie absolutely hates her father. He walked out on the family three years ago, and all that was left in his wake were the impossible memories of she and him sitting and playing the piano. It was something special that they shared, their gift in music, but when Steve left, Ronnie would have none of it. She never touched a piano again. When Julliard came knocking, Ronnie declined. The three years made her bitter towards her mother, ignorant of her father, and lost within herself. Gone was her all-American-girl image, and in its place was a tough, edgy girl Who wouldn't take any crap from anybody.
Jonah takes an immediate liking to his dad, but Ronnie avoids him, convinced that not speaking to him for three years was the easiest thing she's ever done. In the process of hiding out from Steve, she runs into- quite literally- Will. He's a volleyball player that every girl is drooling after, and he harbors a deep guilt from an incident involving his best friend. But, years ago, his best friend saved his life- Will keeping the secret was the only thing he had to do in return.
She also meets Blaze, a girl with a tough exterior, and girlfriend of Marcus, who, summed up in two words, was bad news. In one word? He was a sociopath. And Ronnie isn't stupid. She knows to stay away.... but Ronnie has a certain lure for him....
Throughout the course of the story, Ronnie changed. She finds true love, and she saves a baby turtle nest. She is accused of shoplifting by someone she thought was her friend, attends a wedding that no one will forget, and finally comes to terms with her future might hold. Throw into the mix a relentless raccoon, a job that involves touching slimy fish, and a girl on fire, things can get seriously confusing. It's no wonder that she misses some things that are going on with her dad, things that are right in front of her eyes. Things that are suddenly so heartbreakingly, impossibly, inescapably real, that the rest of her world falls apart.
But when she finds a piece of music in her father's drawer, an original composition, not yet perfected.... she knows what she has to do. The only thing that will make her at peace with herself, the only thing that might make things better, in some strange, twisted way. Ronnie swore that she would never play the piano again.... but, ironically, sometimes the promises that are the very easiest to break are the ones that you make with yourself.
And so she played his song, her song, their song. The last song. And when the music flowed from her fingertips, Steve found what he was looking for all his life. The presence of God became clear to him, and all was well.
This book is so freaking awesome, if you don't read it, I'm going to kill you :D
Love,
Patty ♥☼♫♪
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Book Review: "Alphas"
Hola, everyone! I love to read, and I thought I'd share one of my favorite books at the moment. "Alphas", by Lisi Harrison, is a wonderful read for anyone who is a fan of her book series "The Clique" and whoever enjoys reading about girls like themselves in an extraordinary setting.
The story takes place at Alpha Academy, where 100 lucky girls are sent to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of powerful females. Only the best of the best are chosen to attend, and even then, their enrollment is on the line.... because, you see, here's the thing about alphas. There can only be one.
Each girl competes to their limits, which are always being stretched. No matter if you are a dancer, writer, actress, model, inventor, musician- any kind of genius is welcome. Every girl has potential. But who will use it correctly? Shira Brazille, eccentric billionaire (and, in my opinion, a little wacky), has established Alpha Academy for only the brightest, most promising girls. The campus is futuristic, new technologies and gadgets to provide these fabulous girls with their every need. (Personally, I'm really jealous of this aspect. Do you have ANY idea how much I want an aPod? What with the GPS, profile scans, etc.? Yeah. I want one pretty bad.)
"Alphas" follows the story of three girls specifically, more so than others. Skye Hamilton is a dazzling dancer, star student of her dance class, an example to all. Everyone is taken aback by her spectacular grace. She also has an insatiable need to be center stage, to be watched, to be adored. She isn't bad... she just believes she is an alpha. So can you imagine her shock when she shows up at Alpha Academy surrounded by girls who just might out-fabulize her? It's a humbling experience, and she realizes she needs drive to succeed at Alpha Academy.
Allie A. Abbott is, for all intents and purposes, a criminal. Her boyfriend dumped her for her best friend, who wasn't nearly as pretty as her! She was hurt. She was humiliated. And so she did what any self-respecting teenage girl would do when an invitation for Allie J. Abbott to attend a faraway school arrived on her doorstep. She committed identity theft, and posed as singer/songwriter Allie J. But is her charade enough to disguise her identity from those who grow to know her best?
Charlotte "Charlie" Deery is being exiled from her home, Alpha Island, so that girls from across the country can attend Alpha Academy. For her, this not only means losing her home, but losing something far more important- Darwin Brazille, Shira's son, someone she's known her whole life. She loves him. He loves her back. So obviously she wanted to stay with him. But when her mother sacrificed her job working for Shira so Charlie could attend Alpha Academy, it was a heartbreak, but it meant she could stay on the island with Darwin. But Shira has a little admittance fee.... Charlie breaking up with her son. Will Charlie have to give up the two people she actually cares about to have her chance as an alpha?
This book is completely fascinating. I finished it in one day. I DEVOURED that thing. It was just so good! There was never a point where you could just drop it and go to sleep without wondering what would happen next. You grow to care about the characters, and identify with them. Harrison's characters are very realistic and relatable, and points out that we'd all like to think we have an alpha inside.
Love,
Patty ☺♥♪☼
P.S.- There's a she-wolf in the closet.... let it out so it can breathe... *pant**pant* (Haha, sorry, I just had to! "Alpha" makes me think of wolves, and in a wolf pack the alpha wolf is always a girl, so, she-wolf........ you know, I'll just shut up now.)
The story takes place at Alpha Academy, where 100 lucky girls are sent to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of powerful females. Only the best of the best are chosen to attend, and even then, their enrollment is on the line.... because, you see, here's the thing about alphas. There can only be one.
Each girl competes to their limits, which are always being stretched. No matter if you are a dancer, writer, actress, model, inventor, musician- any kind of genius is welcome. Every girl has potential. But who will use it correctly? Shira Brazille, eccentric billionaire (and, in my opinion, a little wacky), has established Alpha Academy for only the brightest, most promising girls. The campus is futuristic, new technologies and gadgets to provide these fabulous girls with their every need. (Personally, I'm really jealous of this aspect. Do you have ANY idea how much I want an aPod? What with the GPS, profile scans, etc.? Yeah. I want one pretty bad.)
"Alphas" follows the story of three girls specifically, more so than others. Skye Hamilton is a dazzling dancer, star student of her dance class, an example to all. Everyone is taken aback by her spectacular grace. She also has an insatiable need to be center stage, to be watched, to be adored. She isn't bad... she just believes she is an alpha. So can you imagine her shock when she shows up at Alpha Academy surrounded by girls who just might out-fabulize her? It's a humbling experience, and she realizes she needs drive to succeed at Alpha Academy.
Allie A. Abbott is, for all intents and purposes, a criminal. Her boyfriend dumped her for her best friend, who wasn't nearly as pretty as her! She was hurt. She was humiliated. And so she did what any self-respecting teenage girl would do when an invitation for Allie J. Abbott to attend a faraway school arrived on her doorstep. She committed identity theft, and posed as singer/songwriter Allie J. But is her charade enough to disguise her identity from those who grow to know her best?
Charlotte "Charlie" Deery is being exiled from her home, Alpha Island, so that girls from across the country can attend Alpha Academy. For her, this not only means losing her home, but losing something far more important- Darwin Brazille, Shira's son, someone she's known her whole life. She loves him. He loves her back. So obviously she wanted to stay with him. But when her mother sacrificed her job working for Shira so Charlie could attend Alpha Academy, it was a heartbreak, but it meant she could stay on the island with Darwin. But Shira has a little admittance fee.... Charlie breaking up with her son. Will Charlie have to give up the two people she actually cares about to have her chance as an alpha?
This book is completely fascinating. I finished it in one day. I DEVOURED that thing. It was just so good! There was never a point where you could just drop it and go to sleep without wondering what would happen next. You grow to care about the characters, and identify with them. Harrison's characters are very realistic and relatable, and points out that we'd all like to think we have an alpha inside.
Love,
Patty ☺♥♪☼
P.S.- There's a she-wolf in the closet.... let it out so it can breathe... *pant**pant* (Haha, sorry, I just had to! "Alpha" makes me think of wolves, and in a wolf pack the alpha wolf is always a girl, so, she-wolf........ you know, I'll just shut up now.)
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