Waiting on Wednesday [4]

Click the image to know what Waiting on Wednesday is all about.

[Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.]

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ARCHANGEL’S LEGION by Nalini Singh

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

(Guild Hunter #6)

Expected Publication October 29th 3013

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Angels are falling from the sky in New York, struck down by a vicious, unknown force.

Vampires are dying impossibly of disease.

Guild hunter Elena Deveraux and the Archangel Raphael must discover the source of the wave of death before it engulfs their city and their people, leaving New York a ruin and Raphael’s Tower under siege by enemy archangels.

Yet even as they fight desperately to save the city, an even darker force is stirring, its chill eyes trained on New York…and on Raphael. Rivers of crimson and nightmares given flesh, the world will never again be the same…

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While I am not a big fan of the Elena-Rafael couple, I am eager to read this because… in doing so, Nalini Singh will move on and write Ilium’s story!!! Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself. But yes, Guild Hunter series is a favorite. Vampires serving angels. Archangels being cruel and not at all gentle. Yep, this is not for the soft-hearted!

Another bloodbath, this sure is. *squeals*

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So, what book excited you this week? Link me up in the comments section.

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Book Review: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Classics > Historical Fiction

A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, Gatsby captured the spirit of the author’s generation and earned itself a permanent place in American mythology. Self-made, self-invented millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald’s–and his country’s–most abiding obsessions: money, ambition, greed, and the promise of new beginnings. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter–tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…. And one fine morning–” Gatsby’s rise to glory and eventual fall from grace becomes a kind of cautionary tale about the American Dream.

It’s also a love story, of sorts, the narrative of Gatsby’s quixotic passion for Daisy Buchanan. The pair meet five years before the novel begins, when Daisy is a legendary young Louisville beauty and Gatsby an impoverished officer. They fall in love, but while Gatsby serves overseas, Daisy marries the brutal, bullying, but extremely rich Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby devotes himself blindly to the pursuit of wealth by whatever means–and to the pursuit of Daisy, which amounts to the same thing. “Her voice is full of money,” Gatsby says admiringly, in one of the novel’s more famous descriptions. His millions made, Gatsby buys a mansion across Long Island Sound from Daisy’s patrician East Egg address, throws lavish parties, and waits for her to appear. When she does, events unfold with all the tragic inevitability of a Greek drama, with detached, cynical neighbor Nick Carraway acting as chorus throughout.

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… Oh, Gatsby. *crey crey*

The drama should’ve turned me off. While listening to the first chapter of the Great Gatsby, somehow it reminded me of the characters’ theatrics in Pride and Prejudice. Flirty, silly, annoying. If this was Gatsby’s narrative, it would’ve been a disaster. Fortunately, Nick Carraway was the perfect person to tell Gatsby’s story.

Of course I could not understand Gatsby’s madness undying love for Daisy. That social climbing, opportunistic girl?!! Sigh. And just like Nick, I was apprehensive about Gatsby. What kind of man would throw lavish parties in order to draw out a married woman into it? The simple intrigue was interesting enough for me to continue listening.

In the end, Carraway’s unexpected affinity to Gatsby made the drama (and the heartache) worthwhile. I mean, if I strip down the shallowness and immorality of the characters, I found strength in Carraway’s steadfastness to stand by Gatsby after everything. The tragedy would normally strike me in a sour manner, but it didn’t. And I was glad.

What happened to Jay Gatsby, it was unfair. But he had it coming when he started messing with another man’s wife, yes? And Daisy moving on, how dare her. (Yes, I hate you.)

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THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Audiobook

Published by Recorded Books

4/5 stars

Book Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Young Adult > Science Fiction | Dystopia

(Reboot #1)

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

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I think this is the one of the rare times that I would like my book to have less romance. Because the terminator theme was great. Wren was such a bad-*ss… until she started getting confused because of Callum. Still Reboot is still worth reading because you gotta love the fighting scenes!

I liked the fact that Wren admitted that she kind of enjoyed killing people (or adult Reboots) for HARC. Because she was trained to do so, and she was really good at it. When she started to grow a conscience because of Callum’s insistent questions on morality, she began to wonder whether taking orders from HARC is really the right thing to do for a Reboot like her.

Fantastic storyline I tell you, but the ultra sappiness of Callum towards Wren just didn’t work for me. Not to mention that the ending left me wanting more violence, or even bad luck for them. Why? Because I thought the situation was too easy to get out of in the end. (Or maybe I’m just nitpicking, whatever.)

Well, I will pick up the sequel that’s for sure. I hope Wren will still be the same bad-*ss Number One Seventy Eight, and not some unmoving and helpless Reboot who freezes in the middle of a fight when Twenty Two is not even trained in combat.

Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins/HarperTeen for granting my galley request.

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REBOOT by Amy Tintera

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Published May 7th 2013 by HarperTeen

3/5 stars

Book Review: Flyte by Angie Sage

Young Adult > Fantasy

(Septimus Heap #2)

It’s been a year since septimus heap discovered his real family and true calling to be a wizard. As Apprentice to Extra Ordinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand, he is learning the fine arts of Conjurations, Charms, and other Magyk, while Jenna is adapting to life as the Princess and enjoying the freedom of the Castle.

But there is something sinister at work. Marcia is constantly trailed by a menacing Darke Shadow, and Septimus’s brother Simon seems bent on a revenge no one understands. Why is the Darke Magyk still lingering?

Bringing fantasy to new heights, Angie Sage continues the journey of Septimus Heap with her trademark humor and all of the clever details readers have come to love.

Book 1: Magyk review

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Flyte is a fun sequel. The emphasis on the importance of family is what I liked the most in here. See, Septimus‘ oldest brother Simon is the villain. Even if Simon tried to “indirectly” kill him a few times, Septimus chose to spare his brother’s life in the end. Now, isn’t that nice?

I got a lot of laughs while listening to the audiobook. Nico‘s the most entertaining character! Besides Septimus, his rants and banters are the most enjoyable. And the spells are delightful, especially the chocolate spell! I would love to get my hands on that.

Marcia was the typical adult character who does not listen to the complaints and accusations of a child, and in this case, Septimus (who is her apprentice). Sometimes, you just want to knock these kind of adults out, yes?

I found a loose end with the Dragon Boat, but overall Flyte made me want to continue reading this series. It was simply hilarious and just downright entertaining for fantasy readers like me.

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FLYTE by Angie Sage

Audiobook

Published January 1st 2006 by Recorded Books LLC

3/5 stars

Book Review: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

General Fiction > Historical Fiction > Romance

Leo Gursky is trying to survive a little bit longer, tapping his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know he’s still alive, drawing attention to himself at the milk counter at Starbucks. But life wasn’t always like this: sixty years ago, in the Polish village where he was born, Leo fell in love and wrote a book. And although he doesn’t know it, that book also survived: it crossed oceans and generations, and changed lives.

Fourteen-year-old Alma was named after a character in that book. She has her hands full keeping track of her little brother Bird (who thinks he might be the Messiah) and taking copious notes in her book, How to Survive in the Wild Volume Three. But when a mysterious letter arrives in the mail she undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family.

Literary Awards: Orange Prize Nominee for Fiction Shortlist (2006), Edward Lewis Wallant Award (2005), Borders Original Voices Award for Fiction (2005), William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger for Roman (2006)

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Because, what was I supposed to say? I’ve waited my whole life for her? She was the opposite of death? And now I am still here, waiting?

Break my heart, why don’t you, Nicole Krauss.*sniffs*

When I started reading The History of Love, I was laughing. I was humored by Leo’s eccentricities. A few minutes later, I was quiet. I was gently wishing for the tears to go away. I must me mad, I thought. And it happened many times as my reading progressed. Smiling here, being bitter there. It was unimaginably heartbreaking.

There are two types of people in the world: those who prefer to be sad among others, and those who prefer to be sad alone.

Leo Gursky was a lonely man, his only friend Bruno‘s existence was even questionable in his life. In his old age, he wants to be seen, because he doesn’t want to die alone. So he create scenes: in the coffee shop, in the streets. This old man’s greatest fear was to leave this world with someone not knowing. Or someone he loved not knowing.

Nothing makes me happier, and nothing makes me sadder… than you.

Leo’s life was hard. I was wary when I stifle a laugh while reading his POV, because I know I will have my heart broken soon after that. Loving someone was powerful. But loving someone even after hope is lost? It was magnificent. And Leo managed to thrive because of it.

Alma‘s POV was like a mirror to Leo’s. Here’s a girl who only wants for her mother to not be sad. While in search for her namesake, she found something worthwhile for her own. And the scene at the park where she met the author of The History of Love? It rendered me speechless. I was trying so hard to not cry. Oh, the triumph they both felt…!

Loneliness: there is no organ that can take it all.

I found The History of Love profound in many forms. But it’s take on the simplicity of love made me adore it so much. I thought I was brave when it comes to love. But Leo was braver. To literally have loved and lost, Leo gave me hope that even the saddest endings have the happiest memories.

This is the book I want to marry.

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THE HISTORY OF LOVE by Nicole Krauss

Audiobook

Published May 1st 2005 by Recorded Books

5/5 stars

Splurged [30] / Stacking the Shelves [4]

 

Hello, Happy Saturday! Whew. So these past two months I am burdened with too much work. I hope it will change soon! It’s supposed to be summer vacation, right? But then I remembered, I’m no longer a student. Gah, sometimes I don’t like working at all. =)

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Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging, Louise Rennison

Virtuosity, Jessica Martinez

(^read and reviewed last 2011, 4 stars!)

Witchlanders, Lena Coakley

The Prisoner of Cell 25, Richard Paul Evans

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Rennison’s book is a Printz Honor awardee, so I am really itching to pick this up and read! Virtuosity is beautifully written, I only read an eARC so I was so ecstatic to have found a copy in very mint condition. Witchlanders and The Prisoner of Cell 25 have been on my radar for so long now.  

The greatest thing about these books? Price ranges from P50 ($1.2) to P145 ($3.5) only! I love book hunting, oh yes, I do.

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Have you read any of these books? And can you recommend them?

Link me up in the comments section.

Cheers!

Book Review: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

General Fiction > Historical Fiction

Twenty-four years after her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale of three generations from the Civil War to the twentieth century: a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America’s heart. Writing in the tradition of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, Marilynne Robinson’s beautiful, spare, and spiritual prose allows “even the faithless reader to feel the possibility of transcendent order” (Slate). In the luminous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist minister John Ames, Gilead reveals the human condition and the often unbearable beauty of an ordinary life.

Literary Awards: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2005), Ambassador Book Award for Fiction (2005), PEN/Faulkner Award Finalist (2005), National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction (2004)

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How I wish you could’ve known me in my strength.

Gilead. Here’s a book that I would like to keep in my shelf. In years to come, I would like to reread it again, and again. For there is so much power in Robinson’s words, so much love in Ames’ narration.

John Ames is a minister, so I began reading with apprehension. Would this be a spiritual teaching? I hope not, else I will be bored in a snap. And my hope was not in vain. Ames narrates his journey in life, and how these circumstances shaped him as a man, son, husband, and father. I sometimes forget that he is a man of cloth. All I often see is a person who knows his time will be up soon, so he recalled his past, so that his son might pick up something that will remind him how his father loved him so.

Avoid transgression. How’s that for advice?

I especially liked the parts where Ames was talking about his love for his second wife. I could feel the giddiness in his voice when he described his feelings for Lila. I could feel his devotion to the quiet strength she exudes, for him and their son. It was something to smile about, really. Finding love late in his life, and for the second time! Truly encourages one’s soul to persevere, to hope that that kind of relationship will be his/hers to deserve.

I guess I will not be coherent enough to write a review for Gilead. Reading it was enlightening. I keep seeing my son, and how much I wanted to leave a legacy to him. I keep seeing my dad, on Ames’ grandfather, on how he helps other people even if his family has none to give already. What a beautiful experience Marilynne Robinson has given me.

I remember him those days, loving God for the existence of love, and being grateful to God for the existence of gratitude, right down in the depths of my misery.

Goodreads – The Filipino Group Book of the Month (April)

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GILEAD by Marilynne Robinson

Paperback, 247 pages

Published January 10th 2006 by Picador

4/5 stars