Fany’s Comments (group member since Jul 19, 2012)

Fany’s comments from the Read by Theme group.

It depends on what I'm reading: if it's something light, like the kind of book you bring to the beach on holiday, then I usually like to have music in the background.

I don't have a tv, so that solves one problem! :P

Otherwise, if it's more heavy material, I prefer to snuggle in my couch with silence all around. When people come over however, and start having conversations, I can usually read at the same time as listening to what they're saying, and chip in! I sometimes amaze myself with that! (It's rude I know... but sometimes you can't put the book down!)

If there are children however, no matter how quiet and well behaved, I can never concentrate...

Ok, so I randomly chose this book from a list of YA books I found on Goodreads, and when I checked with my library to see if they had it, which they did, I figured what the hell. And as soon as I got it I started it, and then finished it, in one fell swoop. I had so many things planned today, in the end I spent the majority of it curled on the couch reading.
Needless to say, I enjoyed this book. It was the perfect dosage of romance I felt like reading, and I found most of the characters likeable. It carried a strong moral too, which at the end makes you feel like a better person for having read a book concerning itself with it.

There were however, some things I didn't fully like in the novel. First, the main character, Ruby. I found I just couldn't relate, but mostly because I couldn't relate at all. A major theme in the book is family, and I found myself more closely related to Jamie's (the brother-in-law) vast and friendly family to Ruby's dysfunctional relationship with her drunk, abusive and controlling mother.

The plot was stretched a little thinly (near the middle I wondered just where it was heading and found the development a little slow), and I found the end a bit unsatisfying (I like a good definite closure for the characters...), but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would still recommend it to others.

I will just add one more thing: there was definitely NOT enough kiss scenes, and whenever there was one, just as it was beginning, the author skipped ahead a couple of hours in her story, and I was almost left wondering if there was a "dot, dot, dot" she was avoiding or something for her younger readers... But I would have liked to see what happened as Ruby and Nate left each other after a make-out session. Did they prolong the moment? Just mutually decided they had smooched enough for one day? Were they almost discovered by someone..?

So, that's my only regret, the romance was there, but I would have liked it a little more... well, let's say... graphic. *giggle*

It took me a while to decide on which one to read, there are so many(!), but I settled on this one: Lock and Key

Mostly because it was the only one on my maybe-list to be available in my library :P

First off, I know I'm late, and I wish I could say I didn't have time to read, but that is a downright lie, and lying's bad, so I have no excuses! I had plenty of opportunities, but I just didn't bother picking up my books...

Anyway, here's my little review which contains important plot spoilers:

This teeny little book is a good quick read, the kind of book you bring to the beach, or for a long train ride, and bringing it to the beach is exactly what I did. I'd like to think I liked it, but I'm not sure, if that makes sense to anyone. It started out pretty steady, and the build-up was exciting, but I feel the end came very abruptly and stopped short. Also, there are a lot of inconsistencies, for example, (SPOILER) if Jenna had once again disappeared and Joe couldn't find her, then how the hell did Sarah manage it?

So plot wise I wasn't too impressed. The one thing I can say I liked in this book for sure is the main character, Joe. He wasn't especially developped or anything, I just liked his personality. And now we're breaching onto another subject I found unsatisfying, character development. There's practically non of it.

To resume, it's a quick light read that fills your time, but you won't remember it after having read it, and you most definitely won't re-read it again. It's a on-the-moment kinda novel.

I decided to read A Death Divided, just some random book I picked up in my library. Not quite sure what to expect.

I just finished my Blue Cover book, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it.
I found the timeline alluring, and I don't think it would have made as much sense if it was in chronological order. It was really funny, but I found the humour to be repetitive, like it was always the same type of humour, what I'm dubbing to be 'repetitive humour'. Examples:

-"'Will you get back into bed' she said, 'or must I take you by your ear and put you there?'
'Take me by my ear and put me there,' Yossarian dared her.
Nurse Duckett took him by his ear and put him back in bed." (p336)

-"'You really are up the creek, Popinjay. Is Popinjay really your name? Just what the hell kind of a name is Popinjay, anyway? I don't like it.'
'It's Popinjay's name, sir,' Lieutenant Scheisskopf explained." (p90)

-"'And how many missions have you flown?'
'Five.'
'Five?' asked Colonel Cathcart.
'Five, sir.'
'Five, eh?' Colonel Cathcart rubbed his cheek pensively.
'That isn't very good, is it?'" (p424)

Of course those are just three examples, but all the humour is like that. The joke gets old after a while.

Another thing that marked me in this book was the details. There were practically two adjectives minimum per sentence. And most verbs were accompanied by adverbs. There were lots of synonyms to avoid repetition of adjectives, and I can say I learned a lot of new words. Does anyone know what 'exophthalmic' means? I do now :P .

So all in all I really liked the book regardless of the fact that the humour was always the same kind. I was surprised when the plot took a sudden turn for sadness. I was deeply moved, partially because of the very quick transition. The ending was left a bit open, but it was a decent way to end the novel.

Now, I have something to admit: I wasn't sure if I should put this review in the Rogue's section, because my library only had a red covered copy... So I did cheat a little, but only because I could only get my hands on the 50th Anniversary Edition. The cover in GoodReads is blue... That counts, right? :/

Vicki wrote: "Hi Jocelye, glad to have you in our group. Curious...are you going to be a junior this year? I'm a teacher & teach freshmen, yearbook, & have taught seniors. It's a pleasure to read a well-construc..."

Thanks Tina! I appreciate the recommendation, I'll look for it! My book for the "blue cover" is Catch 22. Just started this afternoon!
I assume since you use the terms 'junior', 'freshmen' etc. that you're in the USA, whereas I'm in Ireland, so I'll be a fifth year, a.k.a. in the second last year of secondary school, or highschool if you prefer :)

I might be the only one, but I chose Catch 22. It's been in my to-read list for ages, and now I have (more or less) an obligation to finally read it! Anyone else with me or has everyone already chosen? :/

Hey! My name's Jocelyne (16), but people mostly call me Jo. I have been wanting to join a book club and this one seemed perfect! I love a great variety of books, and an even greater variety of authors, but I will always be partial a good romance, or love triangle. I'm obsessed with them!

Otherwise I enjoy horror, classics, Y.A., mystery, thriller, suspense, historical fiction, fantasy and action. Quite the variety! :)

Anyway, it's nice to meet you all, and I look forward to reading together in the coming months! I've already chosen my "blue cover" book ;)