Jul 22

BOOK READ RECENTLY:

Title: Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares

Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Other books in series or Standalone: Standalone

First Impressions: I really enjoyed the other major novel that Cohn and Levithan co-wrote, called Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, so I was really looking forward to this one.  And the story sounded so fun!  Christmas fantatic Lily is bored while on vacation from school, so she leaves a red notebook on a bookstore shelf.  The notebook contains the beginning of a set of challenges for whoever finds it, kind of like a city-wide scavenger hunt.  When snarky Dash find the notebook, he is immediately sucked into the dares, and the two spend their Christmas Break trading the notebook back and forth by leaving it at the site of the last dare.

Last Impressions: This was, in fact, a really fun book.  I love the idea of the notebook and the dares, and if it was at all realistic I would totally do it!  Dash starts off sort of unlikeable and Lily borders on annoying sometimes, but through their interactions they grow and become more likeable characters, which I think is one mark of a good story.  And Cohn and Levithan do a great job at bringing New York to life, it really made me want to see it in the winter!

Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT):  I really enjoyed Dash’s initial finding of the notebook in The Strand….it’s pretty funny.  The ending is also very nice, but I won’t spoil it!

Least Favorite Moment:  Dash and Lily’s first attempt at meeting in person.  Major failure.

Thoughts on the bookcover: The cover is so pretty!  I love the falling snow (especially right now, in the dead of summer!) and all the hearts.  It’s a very nice “New York in winter” image.

An ideal place to read this book: On a cozy couch with a mug of hot cocoa. 

People who should read this:  Guys and girls can both enjoy this, since you’re getting the perspectives of both Dash and Lily.  If you’re looking for a unique love story, this is definitely for you.  And fans of Christmas and books about Christmas will find a lot to enjoy here.

If you like this book, you may also like:  Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle.

Apr 25

BOOK READ RECENTLY:

Title:  Matched
Author:  Ally Condie

Other books in series or Standalone: First in a trilogy.  The second book, Crossed, will be released in November 2011 and the third (still untitled) is due out in November of 2012

First Impressions:  I was SUPER excited for this book.  From the description, it sounded like it was going to be right up my alley, a dystopian tale filled with romance and rebellion.  Cassia lives in a world where The Society dictates every aspect of your life, leaving you no choice or real free will.  Everything is chosen for you, including who you marry.  At her Match Banquet, Cassia is shown the face of the boy she is to marry, and it turns out to be her best friend Xander.  But then for a brief moment, another face flashes before her (the face of her friend Ky), leading her to question the choice that has been made for her and what exactly The Society is up to.  The book had a ton of buzz, so I figured it would be pretty great.

Last Impressions:  One of the things I found most interesting about this book was how choice was so completely taken away.  It’s not just that you can’t choose who to marry; The Society has also limited the culture so as not to “overwhelm” the people with too many choices.  They have narrowed things down to The Hundreds, meaning that there are now only 100 songs, 100 movies, 100 poems, and so on.  It was interesting to watch Cassia go from thinking that this isn’t a bad thing to raging against it after her beloved grandfather gives her a poem that isn’t one of the 100 and is therefore forbidden.  I really liked their relationship and what she learns from it.

Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT):  Ky teaching Cassia to write.  Very sweet, and yet another reminder of how The Society restricts people’s actions (no one is allowed to write, only type into their Scribes).

Least Favorite Moment:  I don’t want to say because it’s a big spoiler!  But it involves someone getting his/her heart broken, and it made me sad.  And that’s all I will say.

Thoughts on the bookcover:  LOVE the cover!  Such a pretty picture, and with the girl in the bubble it’s a good visual image of what the book is about (because Cassia is very much trapped in the safe protective bubble of the Society).

People who should read this:  Anyone who likes a good love triangle or enjoys dystopian stories filled with rebellion and intrigue

If you like this book, you may also like: The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, and Delirium by Lauren Oliver (read my review HERE!)