Review: Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

"Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.







Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival." -From goodreads.com


Review
I was very excited to read this book after seeing the preview for the movie, but I was very disapointed in this book. I thought it was going to be a great love story but thats not what it was. It did have a love story in it but thats not really what it focused on. The book was honestly a little boring in some parts but it was still a good book. I feel like I find that adult books aren't as exciting as YA, and that's probably part of the reason I didn't like it very much. The book had a lot of good of lessons to be learned though, and I really appreciate that. Don't get me wrong, this was a good story it just wasn't told in a very interesting way. If you normally read adult books I think that you might enjoy this book but if your mostly a YA reader you probably will feel the same way as I do. I give this book a 7.5/10.

Quotes

"I am ninety, or ninety-three. One or the other." Pg. 5

"I stare at his face, trying to maintain eye contact, but it's difficult because he's zooming away from me, receding to the end of a long black tunnel. Stars explode in my peripheral vision." Pg. 17

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

"Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…







Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.






When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.






But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart." - From goodreads.com


Review:
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It wasn't what I was expecting. I felt this book was Alice in Wonderland but with fairy charcters. In the beginning I honestly thought it was really lame, but it did get better. I really loved Grimalkin, he was my favorite character. I liked Ash a lot too. Megan was kind of annoying, but I always seem to find a problem with the main character. Julie Kagawa's writing was alright, it wasn't the best I've ever seen. This book, for me, didn't live up to all of the hype but it grew on me at the end. I think that huge fantasy lovers would like this book a lot more than I did because I'm more of a dystopian fan. Overall, this book was pretty good and I will be finishing the series. I also love the cover! I gave this book a 8/10. 


Quotes:
"Silence greeted me, echoing off the walls and floor, hanging heavy in the air. The stillness was almost a living thing, crouched in the center of the room, watching me with cold eyes. My heart began a loud, irregular thug in my chest. Something was wrong." Pg. 48

"Ash still held my hand. Gently, I tried pulling back, but he wasn't letting go. I glanced up and found his face inches from mine, his eyes searingly bright in the shadows of the room." Pg. 239