a-MAZE-ing!

For those of you who have read the "coming soon" page on this blog, you know that there are some very exciting books coming out in the next year or so. My English teacher complains about the trilogies and wonders why people can't write just one book anymore. Well, some people have, but I don't mind continuing to read about the characters! So, as I promised to keep you updated on books coming out this year, I just got some very exciting news from one of my favorite authors:

                         The cover for THE KILL ORDER by James Dashner will be released tomorrow! I don't know how I am going to wait until August to get my hands on that book. At the same time, where is the 13th Reality series? I want book 4! Phew... I apologize for my rant. James Dashner books get me very excited. I've met the guy twice and he is always so awesome and I'm so glad such a nice guy is doing so well with all of these books right now.

Without further ado, my review to go along with that announcement:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner. When Thomas wakes up in a steel elevator, he remembers only one thing: his name. He has no memory of how old he is, the people he has met, experiences he has had, or even his parents. In time, he is pulled from the lift by a few teenage boys who remember exactly as much as he does. They tell him that a new boy appears in the elevator every 30 days, and all they remember is their own name. The boys tell him that he is in a place they call The Glade, a wide expanse with 4 gigantic walls surrounding it. Right now the doors are open, but at night the doors shut tight. Thomas is told that there are monsters, beasts, horrifying things beyond the walls at night, things called Grievers. Every morning, boys run out of the doors and try to find their way out of the maze. They run all day long, keeping track of every twist and turn, and then make it back before the doors close. The only way the boys can get out is by solving the maze, which changes every night. And all seemed pretty much acceptable, until one night, when the doors never close...

 

This book was fantastic! It kept me up all night long. It was suspenseful, and kept me in the shadows enough that I never wanted to put it down. The story is original, although it follows the same patterns as many dystopian books. I have read so much dystopian literature, and this is right up there with The Hunger Games, I kid you not. Beware younger children, it is a little creepy! Now go read it! Now!

Rating: 5/5

Need A Hand?

Ah, the Oscars are in the air. I have been home all day watching the red carpet. I swear this is the only day of the whole year that I watch the E channel. But I just get wrapped up in all of the glamour! I love movies, and I have seen 7 of the 9 nomines for best picture, and I am even in an Oscar poll contest (which I plan to win). I'm thinking The Artist for best picture, and quite a few other catagories. So far I haven't been astounded by any of the dresses on the red carpet, but there is still some time left.
And so, in the with the Oscar announcement looming, I figured I would review one of the books that was made into a movie this year: The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I adored this book! I thought it was absolutely beautiful. This is one of the few books that I actually really enjoyed the audio book as well. The girls who read for this book were chosen perfectly. There was so much personality in each one of them.
The Help takes place in Jackson, Mississippi beginning in 1962. It is told by 3 amazing women: Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny. Skeeter is a college graduate who wants to be a writer, Aibileen is a maid who has raised 17 white babies, and Minny is also a maid who has a problem with sass-mouthing. When the 3 women get together to write a book about what it is really like to work as a black maid in the south they must fight against the racisim ingrained in the citizens of Jackson.

Writing this book, at the time it would have been written, was so dangerous. People were killed over far less, as you will hear about in this book. The characters in this book are so fleshed out and real, which I think comes from the author's experience. Kathryn Stockett talks about growing up in the south and her own maid in an essay at the end of the book. I adored the book, but Kathryn Stockett's essay at the end of the book brought so much more realism. I want to read this book again and again. Unfortunately the movie fell short of what I wanted. If you saw the movie and loved it, read the book. The characters and feelings are so much deeper. The danger of what these women are doing just doesn't come across in the movie.

But hey, that's just my opinion. I highly suggest you read this book. I adored every part of it. It made me cry and laugh (and few books can make me do both) and I kept finding myself rooting for the characters. This book felt so real, I knew these people and I wanted them to succeed. Go get this book, read it now, and please, everyone, enjoy Oscar Sunday!!

Rating: 4.5/5

Once Upon A Time

Ever notice that movies, TV shows, and books all seem to follow a trend, they are all about the same thing for a year and then they get a new theme? For a while it was vampires and werewolves (after the Twilight apocalypse, as I like to call it), then it went to zombies, and now everything is retelling a fairy tale. Don't get me wrong, I love this trend! I am a sucker for a good fairy tale. I am watching Once Upon a Time on ABC and Grimm on NBC, and they are both fantastic.
Now we have two Snow White movies coming up, a Peter Pan movie, and they never stop remaking Cinderella. Did anyone else see the new Cinderella Story movie on ABC Family? All I can say is that it was at least better than the Selena Gomez one. Anyway, my point. I am constantly reading fairy tale books. I highly recommend Alex Flinn. She has some fantastic fairy tale books.
I have been reading these fairy tale books long before the whole obsession started, but I recently started a new set of them. My friend (who shares a similar love of fluffy fairy tales) told me I just had to read the Once Upon A Time books. It is this big series of tiny books that all give a fairy tale a little twist. Now mind you, she didn't say these would be the best books I ever read, just that I would enjoy them. And I do. They aren't incredible literature, but they have the feel-good happy feeling you get at the end of a Disney movie. They are predictable, but the characters are sweet and the stories are so familiar I just love to read them.
So, I'm going to rate 2 of them today. I read Snow by Tracy Lynn last year and I just finished Golden by Cameron Dokey last week. Plus, right now I am reading Belle, also by Cameron Dokey.

Snow is a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In this particular tale, Snow's real name is Jessica. She lives in the Victorian age and just isn't able to fit in in the refined life she was born into. Her new mother seems nice at first, but before long she realizes that she is in great danger. Jessica flees to the city and meets a band of "urban outcasts" who call themselves The Lonely Ones. Jessica takes her chance with the misfits and tries desperately to fit in in a group who, like her, have no home. Only Jessica's stepmother isn't finished with her quite yet. I liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite. It took a little too long for it to get going, but I loved the new take on the dwarfs. Very inventive. I'm glad I read it.

Rating: 3/5


 Golden is a retelling of Rapunzel by Cameron Dokey. I was pleasantly surprised by the beginning, which used the old Grimm's fairy tales beginning instead of the Disney one (Which is a fantastic movie, don't get me wrong). It all began with a witch and a mother with a craving for lettuce (translates into Rapunzel). When Rapunzel is born without a single hair anywhere on her entire body, her vain mother says she doesn't love her and so the baby is taken away by a witch. Rapunzel grows up with the witch. She grows up to be curious, kind, and completely bald. The townspeople think she is cursed and her only friends are the sorceress, and a tinker with his young assistant. Rapunzel lives a happy life until her and the sorceress are run out of town. On their journey away, the sorceress tells Rapunzel of another daughter. Her real daughter, who has been locked away in a tower for many many years. And only with Rapunzel's help will the girl ever escape. Really good. I loved the characters. I thought it was cute, a good, fun twist and of course, utterly full of fluffy romance. 

Rating: 3/5

What I Read and How I Hated It

Life is crazy right now, especially with the number of books I am reading. I am reading a Kurt Vonnegut and a Ralph Ellison book for school, along with Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Plus, I have Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Crossed by Ally Condie, Blink by Ted Dekker and a slew of others that I desperately need to get to... Oh! I wish I could read faster! If any one has read any of these books, please tell me if they are any good. It wouldn't hurt to take one off of the to-do list.
Alright, on with the review of the day. Despite what the name of this blog might make you think, these posts are not just about things you should read. Sometimes I like to talk about thinks you shouldn't. I like doing this because it's fun to write negative criticism, and, because I don't want you to waste your time on a bad book like I did.

And so begins my first negative review. I am begging you, do not waste your time reading What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell. This book is not well written, has a bad plot and, ultimately, a not-so-redeeming ending. Sure, if you want to read a book about creepy cougar moms, parents ruining their child's life and a whole lot of sex to get back at whoever anyone is trying to get back at, you'll enjoy this book. But people being tricked and mistreated all the way through an entire book annoys me. Especially when you want the character to make her stand and she never really does and even when she does it's just more sex and lies. Way to grow up, Evie.

The book was a waste of 284 pages and a week of my life. the characters are cruel, naive, occasionally bigoted losers and not one of them was fun to read about. Maybe I've intrigued you, in which case, sure, go read the book, but don't say I didn't warn you!

Rating: 1/5

One Book, Lots of Days

So today I was thinking about one of my favorite authors, Shannon Hale. Every time I walk past my bookcase, my eye is drawn to Goose Girl or Princess Academy or Austenland or... the list goes on. She is one of those authors who doesn't feel the need to include language or sex into her books just to get people to read them. All of her books are clean, but they are so romantic and fun and have some of my favorite literary characters in the world.

Last April I met Shannon at a big event near where I live along with Jessica Day George, Ally Condie, Brandon Mull and James Dashner. She was fantastic! And she even said that yes, she does sometimes try to make some of her books have deeper meaning than the surface layer. I know, I know, some of your English teachers were right. But don't give up yet! Not all books are like that!

Anyway, my recommendation for today is Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale. This book is told from a maid named Dashti's point of view. It is her journal in dark times. She is maid to Lady Saren, who has recently refused to marry a man she fears. Because of her refusal, Lady Saren and Dashti are to be locked in a tower for 7 years. Dashti is ever positive but it is obvious something has affected her Lady for the worst. As the years go by, suitors come to talk to Lady Saren but her fear prevents her from speaking to them and she commands Dashti to speak in her place, pretending to be Saren. Food runs low, the girls are pursued by suitors both kind and not so kind and somehow someone has to end up in love with someone else.

Overall, Book of a Thousand Days is one of my favorite books of all time. The characters are rich and real, and Dashti is such a fun narrator. I know it is my second one in as many days, but once again I give my stamp of approval on a book with a rating reserved for the very best:

Rating: 5/5

P.S. I thought I would also include a picture of my autographed copy. I waited in line for a very long time for this one! In case you can't read it, it says, "For Cecilia - You're even cooler than yaks." Don't worry, it will make sense when you read the book!

Diverging Virtues

So many books, so little time. I had a hard time even choosing which book I should tell you about next. After all, there are so many amazing books out there. But after a while I decided that I would tell you about a book I read about 2 months ago that blew my mind. I have been waiting for another dystopian book that could live up to The Hunger Games, and I haven't found one yet, but this is the closest anyone has gotten so far.

Divergent by Veronica Roth. Divergent is a dystopian book -because what book coming out lately ISN'T dystopian- about a girl named Beatrice Prior. In this particular future world, society is separated into 5 different factions: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Erudite (the intelligent), and Amity (the peaceful). You stay in the faction you are born in until you are 16, and then you must make the choice between staying with your family or selecting a whole new life away from everything you have ever known. Beatrice Prior is born into a world of selflessness in Abnegation. I won't tell you what happens next, but I'll give you two guesses what faction she chooses after she turns 16.

Anyway, amazing book. I couldn't put it down for days. I was obsessed and up all night and when it ended I wanted to march up to Veronica Roth's door and demand book two: Insurgent. The characters are great, and the story is surprisingly original. And so I give Divergent a rating reserved only for my favorite books:

Rating: 5/5

Read Divergent! Like, now! Go get it!

Beginnings

"Oh! It is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read."

-- Algernon Moncrieff, The Importance of Being Earnest

Thus begins my book blog! Although The Importance of Being Earnest is technically a play by Oscar Wilde and not a book, this quote is the inspiration for the name of this blog: What One Should Read. And the theme? It's in the name! My plan is to keep track of the huge number of books I read and have read and keep the world wide web up to date on what one should (and shouldn't) read. And so, even though it isn't a book, I give you my first recommendation:




Read The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde! It is such a fun read! It has playful characters, and it is completely hilarious! I found myself frequently laughing out loud. After reading it, I used the quote above in an essay for English about how students should be allowed to read more modern literature along with the classics. Fits, doesn't it? Anyway, this book has a big stamp of approval for me!

Rating:      4/5

I also highly recommend the movie based on the play, with Colin Firth and Rupert Everett. Almost word for word and it brings the characters to life wonderfully! But, please watch it AFTER you read the play!