aliciaclarereads's Reviews (1.25k)

I didn't quite fall in love with this book in the same manner as the rest of the series. Valente's writing was still as wonderful as always, but the story really felt lacking. The first half where Hawthorn tries to understand the human world and himself was marvelous. But when he gets to Fairyland... it just felt like a completely different novel. I wish I could have seen Hawthorn fall in love with Fairyland instead of just accepting that he wanted to stay. Everything felt rushed and made little sense. I have to agree with the other reviews that this book really needed about 50-100 more pages to make the story truly special. Perhaps the fifth Fairyland novel will feel like the second half that this book needed.

This book is so lovely. And Sophie is my spirit animal.

"As a girl, Sophie would have shriveled at embarrassment at the way she was behaving. As an old woman, she did not mind what she did or said. She found that a great relief."

This is basically how I feel as a high school senior. I really no longer give a fuck.

Wow. (unintentional book reference) Getting past the first 100 pages was difficult. Cameron isn't that likable at the beginning and the setup to the story is so long. But once the actual plot line gets started, holy shit. This book was so fantastic. I desperately want to read Don Quixote as a result. Libba Bray has got to be one of the most intelligent authors ever. Her ability to intermix classic literature, mythology, physics, philosophy, references to Star Wars (and one of Shrek), and satirical commentary on reality tv shows is unbelievable. This book sucked totally sucked me in.

And it was my first book by her where I actually liked th main character (eventually anyway).

This book had so much hype and I haven't liked anything else by e lockheart so I didn't know what to believe. Turns out it was as good as they say.

You know that book that changes your opinion of everything? The one that's most likely long, and satisfying, yet you still hate to reach that last page? The book you don't mind staying up until two in the morning reading, despite the fact that you should be doing your calculus homework? The book where you lose track of time because you just can't look away from the words? The one that takes you through an emotional roller coaster and makes you cry? It's really hard to name that many books that do that for me. Right now I can think of Anne of Green Gables, which no matter how many times I reread I always cry, always smile, and always laugh. Another would be My Sister's Keeper, where I broke down and cried for five minutes at the ending and hated the author for what she'd done, even though it made the book so much more poignant. Well, The Book Thief can join that list. If this book doesn't change your life, then you probably have no heart. Not to sound cruel, but it's true. It's the kind of book you're never going to forget.

What a perfect book. The author is basically a combination of C.S. Lewis and Lewis Carrol with a sprinkling of Lemony Snicket. I quite cannot properly express my love for this book. It so perfectly blends classic fairytales with ancient myths contains absurd, quirky details and incredibly unique characters. It is most definitely a book written for children that anyone of any age would be able to enjoy. And now I list some of my favorite quotes for the novel (I doggeared so many pages):

"Stories have a way of changing faces. They are unruly things, undisciplined, given to delinquency and the the throwing of erasers. This is why we must close them up into thick, solid books, so they cannot get out and cause trouble."

"Those were all big words, to be sure, but as has been said, September read often, and liked it best when words did not pretend to be simple, but put on their full armor and rode out with colors flying."

"She sounds like someone who spends a lot of time in libraries, which are the best sort of people."

"When you are born, your courage is new and clean. You are brave enough for anything: crawling off of staircases, saying your first words without fearing that someone will think you are foolish, putting strange things in your mouth. But as you get older, your courage attracts gunk and crusty things and dirt and fear and knowing how bad things can get and what pain feels like. By the time you're half grown, your courage barely moves at all, it's so grunged up with living. So every once in awhile, you have to scrub it up and get the works going, or else you'll never be brave again."

"For wishes of one's old life wither and shrivel like old leaves if they are not replaced with new wishes when the world changes. And the world always changes. Wishes get slimy, and their colors fade, and soon they are just mud,mike all threat of mud, and not wishes at all, but regrets."

"Death is not a checkmate... It is more like a carnival trick. You cannot win, no matter how you move your Queen."

"That's what a map is you know. Just a memory. Just a wish to go back home--someday, somehow."

"She did not want to sniffle--what was a little hair? She had already lost it once after all. But that was magic, which could be undone, and this was scissors, which could not."


All in all, I desperately want to read the sequel!

Wow. What an addictive read. The book starts off with an average day in the life of Katniss (or seemingly average) and plunges straight into the action. I honestly couldn't put it down, even staying up late to read it despite having to go to school the next morning. The situation the author creates is so disturbing, much like a car accident where you can't look away. But it's a fantastic read, and I'm eager to read the next one in the series.