Book Discussion: Ebooks vs. Physical Books

    

      There is much controversy over the development of ebooks and people question their ability to live up to the original print books. Both ebooks and print books share many similarities but they also differ in many ways.

     Ebooks are a new, exciting technology that allow people to store numerous amounts of books into one small device. They still allow you to read the same words, view the same cover of the book and go to a virtual bookstore with the same books as the regular bookstore, so why the controversy? Well, although ereaders deliver the same story and allow you to access virtual bookstores, there are many differences between ebooks and print books. Ebooks store your entire book collection into one small device. Some people appreciate this amazing feature, as do I, but other book lovers, like me, dislike it because it doesn't let you own the physical copies of the books for you to display on your shelves. Also, certain ereaders  make it difficult to read in the sunlight because of its glare on the screen. I don't know about you, but when I'm outdoors trying to read, the screen of my kindle fire often appears black from the sunlight making it impossible to see the words. This is why during the summer, I try to buy books or borrow them from the local library so that I can actually see the words I'm reading. Additionally, print books are durable and made to last while ereaders can easily crack or lose its storage. Print books can be dropped multiple times without being damaged, unless it's a paperback then it can bent, but ereaders can be dropped once and the screen would be cracked or possibly permanently damaged. Also, you could leave books out in the rain or get them wet and you would still be able to read them if you let them dry. Ereaders, on the ohther hand, could be shorted out and lose its memory. Those are just a few ways ebooks differ from physcal books.

     Although ebooks differ from print books and can cause some difficulties, they can be also be very resourceful. For example, one of the perks of having dozens of books on one device is it takes a lot less room than having dozens of printed books. This can come in handy when you travel or need to pack light. Instead of having a suitcase full of case, you can store it all in one small device that is thinner than one printed book! Also, ereaders let you read in the dark. I like to stay up late when I'm really into a book and it's easier to do this with an ereader because you don't have to have on a million lights to see the page of your book. On top of that, ereaders provide easy access to note-taking supplies such as highlighting, bookmarking your favorite scenes, and it allows you to further research your favorite character and the book series. I enjoy this feature because it makes it easier for me to mark things for my reviews since I review every book I read. A minor thing that I also really love about kindles is the ability to download the kindle app onto other devices and sync my books from my kindle onto my phone or tablet. I enjoy this because sometimes I will forget my kindle at home when I go to school and I can easily sync my book and progress onto my phone then read immediately.

    In conclusion, ebooks can differ from printed books and be a pain, but can also be resouceful. I personally prefer printed books over ebooks. I will occasionally buy ebooks because they are so much cheaper than printed books, but I overall use printed books more. I love collecting books and having them on display in my bedroom. However, both are wonderful.

Book Review: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Title: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Author: Ally Carter

Genre: Young Adult Romance/Spy Thriller 

Page Count: 284

Publication Date: April 25th, 2006

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Awards: Georgia Peach Honor Book Award (2007), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2010)

Source

     I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (gosh that's a mouthful!) by Ally Carter is about a teenage girl named Cammie Morgan who attends the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. Although from the outside this school seems like your everyday all-girls boarding school, it's really a school for spies. Cammie knows how to speak 14 different languages and is able to kill someone in 7 different ways but when she meets a normal boy who thinks she's a normal girl she has no idea what to do. I found this book to be very enjoyable. The characters were likable and the plot was gripping, however there were a few thinks that I didn't like about the writing style.

     One of the things I appreciated about the story were the characters. All of the characters seemed very realistic and understandable. The three main characters, Cammie, Bex and Liz, were very entertaining. Cammie is a genius and is able to use super, spy equipment to track people and go on missions. I liked how she was so determined to venture outside of the school to meet with her charming boyfriend and learn more about him with her spy skills. This proved her to be an intelligent, persistent young lady who I came to love. Bex is one of Cammie's best friends and is always there for her. She will do anything to help her friend out when she is in need. Liz, Cammie's other best friend, is also always there for Cammie. Liz is a major brainiac and is always preparing for tests and pop quizzes that never seem to come. She helps Cammie hack computers and find information that she wants to know.

     Another one of the things I appreciated about the story was the plot. I found the story to be very intriguing which let me read through it really fast. I adored all of the spy aspects the author put into the story. I loved learning about these girls who never left their school, except for summer break, and how they reacted to gossip and rumors. I was awestruck by the amazing things the students did and were capable of. I was fascinated by the missions Cammie, Bex, and Liz went on and how they were able to accomplish their missions. I loved the relationship between Cammie and Josh. They were the cutest couple! Their story of how they met was adorable and their relationship grew into something splendid enough for Cammie to sneak out every night to see him. 

     Although there were many things I loved about the story, there were still a few things I disliked about the writing style. I was very annoyed by the many side notes that were put into the story. They seemed unnecessary to the plot and were just a pain to try to read over. I understand that the book was written from the point of view of a nearly sixteen-year-old girl, but the remarks she made were very bothersome. Also, the Summary of Surveillance reports Cammie, Bex, and Liz wrote seemed unprofessional. I know that they weren't for anything important, but for girls who attend a school for genius spies it seemed amateurish.

     All in all,  I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You was a quality read. The characters and plot line were excellent! I'm looking forward to eventually reading the rest of the series.

Friday Reads: February 21st

     This Friday night  I will be reading I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter. From the back cover, "Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school -- typical, that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses, but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen different languages and capable of killing a man with her bare hands, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real 'pavement artist' -- but can she maneuver a relationsjip with someone who can never know the truth about her?". This book seems like a cute, quick read which I could really use after the heart-breaking ending of Allegiant by Veronica Roth. I am currently about 50 pages in. I'm not loving the writing style very much but the story is entertaining. I feel like I will read through this quick so I could hopefully move onto a thrilling, action-packed novel unlike this cutesy middle-grade-like one.

Book Review: Allegiant

Title: Allegiant

Author: Veronica Roth

Genre: Dystopian 

Page Count: 526

Publication Date: October 22, 2013

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Awards: Goodreads Choice for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2013)

Source

*WARNING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

 
  Allegiant by Veronica Roth is the last book in the Divergent trilogy and takes place directly after the event of Insurgent. Evelyn Johnson and the factionless have created a dictatorship over the other residents of Chicago. Meanwhile, Tris and Tobias regain each other's trust and are desperate to leave the fence. They discover a group called the Allegiant, lead by Johanna Reyes, who are against Evelyn and want to reform the factions. Tris and Tobias are recruited to join this group leave the fence along with Caleb, Peter, Christina, Uriah, and Cara which sets the scene for the rest of the book.
     I really enjoyed this book. Although it wasn't filled with as much action as the other ones,  I was still fascinated by the story and the new discoveries the main characters faced. This book contained both Tris and Tobias's point of views. At some points I enjoyed this change of perspective, but most of the time I disliked it. I found it confusing to read from the two perspectives because I felt like the two writing styles were too similar and they were meshed together. I found myself flipping to the beginning of the chapter to see whose point of view I was reading from. However, I understand that Veronica Roth did this to get more of a feel for Tobias's character and to see how he reacted to living without his loved one. I thought that it was at some parts very depressing to read from Tobias's perspective and see how he feels about his awful parents and his past.
     Also, we get to learn more about life outside of the city. When Tris, Tobias, Caleb, Peter, Christina, Uriah, and Cara venture outside of the fenced Chicago area, they discover a new government, the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. This government was in charge of the creation of the experiments such as the one in Chicago. I felt like an Erudite reading about this government, because I loved learning about the formation of the factions, the genetics of the people inside of the experiments, and more about the Divergents. I felt like one of the characters when David, the leader of the Bureau, explained the purpose behind the factions and the rest of the experimental cities.
     Additionally, we learn more about Tris and Tobias. Tris is intrigued by this new outside world while Tobias is very skeptical about it. Tris learned that her mother was from the outside world and a part of the Edith Prior group. This led Tris to feel things that she had never felt before. Tobias, I felt, gained a much greater understanding of Tris's feelings and was able to comfort her in her time of need.
     Overall, this book was an excellent conclusion to this series. It may not have been very action packed but I still really enjoyed it. This book may be the first book to make me cry and it kept me up until past midnight (which is saying something) to finish it and see how it ended. I am very sad that this series has come to a close but I am very happy to have lived and died with some amazing characters.

Top 5 Literary Couples

Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of the lovely holiday, I will be discussing my top couples from books I love.
*Note: I tried to pick couples from different series for a little more variety*

#1 William Herondale and Tessa Gray

(from The Infernal Devices) 

I love the relationship between Will and Tessa! I think that it was very cute how even though Will thought he was cursed, he still loved Tessa the way he would if we wasn't cursed. I also loved how they would sit and bond over books and quote them. Additionally, I enjoyed the romantic scenes between them.

#2 Tobias Eaton and Tris Prior

(from Divergent)

I also think that Four and Tris make an awesome couple. They depend on each other a lot, but they still see and appreciate each others strengths. They may get in arguments but are able to work through and ultimately be a great couple.

    

#3 Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark

(from The Hunger Games)

Katniss and Peeta are just one of those couples that everyone loves. They love and care for each other so much and will do anything to protect each other. They are willing to risk their lives for each other to save them from whatever comes their way.

#4 Simon Lewis and Isabelle Lightwood 

(from The Mortal Instruments)

Although Simon and Izzy aren't an official couple, I still think they're a lovable pair. I love how Izzy usually goes for the mean bad guys, but finds a soft spot in her heart for Simon. They have what some may call "nerd love" because Simon introduced her to Star Wars and they can hang out and have a good time. I also think it's adorable how Simon is unsure of their relationship status and is afraid to ask her for the fear of her reaction.




#5 Ridley Duchannes and Link 
(from Beautiful Creatures)

Ridley and Link are supporting characters, however I still adore their on-again-off-again relationship. Ridley is another one of those girls who typically go for the bad guys but finds a sweet spot for Link. Link cares a lot for Ridley and always has her on his mind. I am looking forward to hear more about their story in Dangerous Creatures.

Book-to-Movie Adaptation: Divergent Final Trailer Discussion

Watch the trailer first!

    This trailer made me very excited to see the movie! For the most part, the movie seems to stick to the book. There were a few minor things that upset me, such as Tris capturing the flag at the fairgrounds instead of Christina but that was just a small detail. Also, I thought that Four/Tobias looked too old for the role. In the book, Four is only 18 years-old, but in the movie he looks much older. I also felt that the trailer gave away too much of the story. In the novel, it was a big secret to be Divergent, and it still appeared to be so in the trailer, but Tris wasn't supposed tell anyone she was Divergent and it seemed that her mother already knew and was telling her what to do about it. Also, the movie changed the way Tris attacked the dog in the simulation. In the book, if I remember correctly, Tris is able to make a gun appear to shoot the dog, which is a big deal, but in the trailer Tris simply tackles the dog.

     Some things I enjoyed about the trailer was the editor's scene choice. The editor put in scenes that made the movie look like never-ending acton, which will intrigue not only fans of the book, but also people who have not read the book. In addition, I adore the music choice. It was very upbeat and left me tapping along with the rhythm.  I also liked how they portrayed the different factions. I thought that it looked very cool how you could easily tell the separation of the factions based on their clothing color which stood out. Additionally, I like the casting choices for Eric and Jeanine. Eric has the perfect amount of scary, mean, strictness, and that cruel leader look. Jeanine looked very sophisticated but you could tell that she was also menacing under her false front. The scene where Four and Tris were climbing the ferris wheel looked exactly how I pictured it when I was reading it. The simulation scene also looked cool with all of the Dauntless walking in unison with their guns at their shoulder.

     All in all, I am very excited for this movie to come out. Although there were some things  I was displeased with, there were still many that I enjoyed. MARCH 21ST COME FASTER!

Book Review: Insurgent

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Genre: Dystopian 

Page Count: 525

Publication Date: May 1st, 2012 (first published on January 1st, 2012)

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Awards: Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (RT Award) for Young Adult Protagonist (2011), Goodreads Choice for Best Young Adult Fantasy and Best Goodreads Author (2012)
                                                                            Source

*WARNING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

     Insurgent by Veronica Roth is the sequel to Divergent and continues the events of the previous book. In this sequel, Tris must piece together why Jeanine Matthews put together the simulation and must prevent her from attempting to do it again. Tris is willing to do anything or sacrifice anything to stop Jeanine even if it means losing the ones she loves. 

   This novel was action-packed and filled with events I did not see coming at all. The beginning of the novel was a bit slow, but once it picked up I could not turn the pages fast enough. This book had a lot of foreshadowing which made me keep wondering what was going to happen next. It also put me into deep thought over the shocking events that unraveled. Even through the grim situations that occurred, Veronica Roth still found a way to weave some humor into the dialogue. Readers get to learn more about the characters, factions, and even the factionless.  

     First off, we get to see new traits in the characters we already know and love and some we hate. Tris starts out in a very guilty state after murdering one of her best friends, who was under the simulation, and seeing both of her parents die. While everything around her changes, Tris too tries to change her appearance in order to fit in with her always-changing society by cutting her hair. She also comes upon the realization that her Dauntless initiation made her much braver than she thought. While trying to help save the factions from each other, Tris becomes reckless and puts herself into life threatening situations even though she thinks that she is being brave and dauntless which makes her boyfriend, Tobias, very annoyed. This leads her to become more Dauntless than she is  Divergent. Also, Tris finds that she has a way of always getting what she wants during her encounter with Jeanine Matthews. During the whole chaos of the war between the factions, Tris and Tobias's relationship significantly grows. They have a lot of romantic scenes, but they also have some pretty heated arguments which turn into distrust between each other. Tobias is very protective over Tris and treats her like a china doll which could sometimes make her angry. He is also very hard to persuade into doing things that he doesn't want to do. Tobias is for the most part fearless and only cowers to his abusive father, Marcus. He must deal with his fear of Marcus throughout the story. Marcus is a very skeptical person. He is one of the only ones who knows information about the Abnegation and is unwilling to share it with others. He can be an excellent liar and very manipulative which cause many people to dislike him. 

     The main antagonist of the story is Jeanine Matthews, along with the Erudite faction. Erudite is an evil faction who is out for control over Chicago. In order to get this control, Jeanine Matthews, the leader of Erudite, tries to capture all of the Divergents, which mainly include Tris and Tobias. Jeanine is very clever and can make simulations and weapons to get control over the Divergents along with their factions. She is very cruel and will kill anyone who gets in her way. She also manages to get many Dauntless soldiers to join her and her band of villains. 

     Secondly, we get to learn more about the factions. Us readers see how much each faction contributes to its society. We realize that Chicago will be unable to survive without each of the factions, mainly including Erudite and Amity. The Amity supply all of the food for the city and Erudite provides all of the knowledge and the manufacturing and improvement of weapons. The necessity of each faction creates a struggle for the characters later on.

    Thirdly, we learn more about the factionless. There are far more factionless people than I had ever imagined. In the first book, I thought the factionless were like our modern day homeless people that lived on the streets but they are not at all. The factionless are more like a community and have their own form of government. They live off of the food and supplies that the Abnegation give them as an act of selflessness. 

    Overall, this book was very enjoyable! I liked reading about all of the characters and their crazy, messed up world that they live in. The story ended on a cliffhanger so I am very anxious to read the next book Allegiant.