August TBR

This month's To Be Read pile will be short and sweet. I have so much going on this month with move-in and rowing tryouts and such. Hopefully I'll get everything on this list read.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

First and foremost, I want to reread one of my favorite books in the Harry Potter series. There isn't much to say about this one, it's pretty much given that it'll be amazing. 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I bought this book a while back, and it was featured in my first (and only) Wishlist Wednesday, but I haven't gotten around to reading it. I've only heard good things about it though, so I'm really excited to start! 

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)

This book is shipping to my house from the UK as I type this. I really hope it gets here by the time I head to college. I am dying to read it! 

So that's basically it for what's coming up in August, I'm really excited to read all of these brilliant books. 

The Elite by Kiera Cass

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Compared to The Selection, this book was a real let-down. I was so excited when I finally got to sit down and read it. But from the very first pages, I could tell it wasn't going to "wow" me. 

I feel like Kiera Cass couldn't decide whether or not she liked Prince Maxon while she was writing this. I seriously imagine her sitting at a desk, typing away about how lovely he is, just to realize that she prefers Aspen. So she then types another forty pages or so about Maxon completely ignoring America. Cass literally made me hate Maxon for about half of the book, which is something I never wanted to do. I feel like she didn't plan this out, at all. 

What also bothered me was that America seemed to whine so much more in this book. She complained to Maxon that she needed time to think about whether or not she wanted to be with him, but then when he asked for time, she completely shut him down. America claimed to be seventeen years old, but she honestly acted like she's fourteen throughout the whole book. She couldn't make up her mind about anything, and it was rather frustrating. 

Although I was really disappointed with this book, there were a few good things I'd like to point out. I couldn't really tell if the writing was engaging because it was interesting, or because it was so simple. The Elite didn't provoke any sort of thought while I was reading it (not anything deep or meaningful, anyway), but for some reason or another, I just couldn't put it down. I also really liked that the book also focused on the politics of Illea more than The Selection. I guess that was the only thing stopping The Elite from being an episode of "The Bachelor." 

I also really enjoyed the some of the characters, although the Elite girls got on my nerves. They were just too perfect. I did love reading about Marlee, Carter, and the maids, though. They, along with America's sister May (her fangirling was phenomenal), were what kept me going in the slow parts of this book. 

I know I'll end up reading the new Selection book when it comes out in 2014, but I can't say I'm not afraid of it. I don't want it to be just another teen novel with another love triangle, because that's pretty much all The Elite was for me. 

A bit of a disappointment, I rated it 3/5 stars. Mainly for Maxon still being a cutie. 

July Wrap-Up

Yet again I've had another not-so-great reading month. I've still just been so busy with college stuff. However, I did manage to read:

The Selection by Kiera Cass

At first, I wasn't thrilled with this, but I ended up absolutely loving it. Definitely a swoon-worthy book full of kingdoms and princes and all that jazz. 5/5 stars. My review of it is here.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

I started rereading this because I mean, come on, who doesn't like a good dose of Harry Potter to de-stress? 5/5 stars, of course! My review of this can be found here.

And finally, 

The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone

I was so, so, so moved by this book. It was simply amazing. 5/5 stars. Review is here.

This may be one of the few months where everything I've read has gotten a perfect rating. Maybe it's been a good reading month after all. Quality over quantity, I always say. 

The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone

Set amid the perils of illegal border crossings, The Iguana Tree is the suspenseful saga of Lilia and Hector, who separately make their way from Mexico into the United States, seeking work in the Carolinas and a home for their infant daughter.

At my college orientation a few weeks ago, we were given this book to read over the summer for a book report we will have to complete sometime this fall. Naturally, I wasn't too ecstatic. I can't recall a time that I enjoyed a book assigned for me to read. 

This time was totally different. The Iguana Tree was a beautifully-written tale of a hardworking Mexican man named Hector and his struggle with his hard-headed wife to find what's most important to them. 

I can't write too much in this review without giving away the many twists and turns this plot takes. What I will say, however, is that this is one of the only books that has made me laugh out loud while crying all at the same time. I'm not joking, people, this book literally made me bawl. 

The characters were so believably hilarious and endearing. Michel Stone (being from South Carolina herself, a Clemson grad!) really captured the essence of the friendly, honest Southerners. We'll do anything for people who are kind to us. 

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a heart-wrenching story. Heck, I think this could even become a movie. I'd watch it. 

I rated The Iguana Tree 5/5 stars, just because I fell in love with the characters almost immediately. This book solely relied on them, and a plot as amazing as this one couldn't have been executed without the amazing characters behind it. 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

If you readers are anything like myself, you've grown up on this series. Reading and rereading the books, joining the fan clubs, going to movie and book premieres at midnight, decked out in Gryffindor robes with wands in hand. The works.

When I decided to reread the series for fun this year, I was little scared that the magic was going to die for me. I was afraid that I was too "grown-up" for a middle-grade adventure book. I was so happy when I got through the first few chapters and realized that I was wrong.

The writing in this book is something that I can't even compare to even the other YA and adult books that I've read. The descriptions and the plot just blow everything else out of the water. I became immersed in a world that I haven't truly visited since my childhood.

The characters were just brilliant, too. You've got Harry, the scrawny kid who proves that good will always triumph over evil, along with his sidekicks, Ron and Hermione, who are just as lovable. Together, they have to reveal the secrets hidden within their school of witchcraft and stop someone from stealing the Sorcerer's Stone for the evil Lord Voldemort (who is also the most evil villain I have ever encountered in a series. Seriously, he gives me the heebie jeebies).

Overall, I gave this book 5/5 stars, which isn't surprising. Anyone who hasn't read this book, please, please, for the love of all that is good, read it. I promise you'll love it, and the series only gets better from here. I hope to re-read the rest of the series by the end of this year, between all of the other books I have in a big TBR pile!

(Mini) Book Haul #2

GUYS, LOOK WHAT FINALLY CAME. 

But sadly, I can't start it until I finish the book that Clemson is required us to read over the summer. It's called The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone. From what I've heard about it on its Goodreads page, I think I'll really enjoy it. I plan on starting it once I finish The Sorcerer's Stone (and reviewing it, of course!). Its cover looks a little something like this:

So yeah. Cool things to come. 

July TBR **UPDATE**

Okay, so, I have quite the predicament on my hands. With my copy of The Elite by Kiera Cass in transit to my house as we speak, I won't have time to finish The Luxe by Anna Godbersen before it gets here. Not to mention that The Luxe is beyond boring! 

So I figured my best option would be just to read something short and sweet while I wait on The Elite. What's shorter and sweeter than Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone? It's one of my favorite childhood books, and so I've decided to reread the series between new books this summer.