BEST OF 2011: The books

Hey guys! I got this from one of my favourite blogs, http://www.inkcrush.blogspot.com/so I figured I'd give it a go! This will be a five day thing, basically about books I read in 2011! Here's the list for the books:

Day One: The Books


1. favourite book read in 2011
2. most powerful book
3. brilliantly funny
4. best ache-y, heart-breaking, tear-jerker read
5. most beautiful story
6. delicious rainy day comfort read
7. adrenalin-fuelled, unputdownable award
8. the beautiful prose award
9. most atmospheric and vivid setting
10. i-so-want-to-go-there award
11. most original and imaginative
12. best under-appreciated, hidden gem book
13. I-had-no-idea-I'd-love-this-so award        
13. most haunting story
14.  always recommending this book award
15. completely awesome premise award
16. series that i’m loving
17.  would make the best movie
18.  want to re-read already
19. outside my comfort zone but gosh how i loved it
20. I-had-no-idea-I'd-love-this-so award

Okay! Shall we give it a whirl?

1.      Favourite book I read? Really? I have to choose? Okay, I'll narrow it down  to two stand alone books, and a book in a series.

L-R: 'The sky is everywhere' By Jandy Nelson, 'Looking for Alaska' By John Green, 'Clockwork Prince' By Cassandra Clare.

I love each of these books for different reasons. The sky is everywhere was heartbreaking, anyone that has lost someone they love would understand. Looking for Alaska was just amazing, shattering and very philosophical. Clockwork Prince is part of a book series I love, and I sat squealing practically the whole book! It's fast paced, action packed, and it also has a love Triangle. What more could you want? It has quotes and funny tibits in their too.

2. Most powerful story had to have been If I Stay by Gayle Foreman. It really got you thinking, you know? It made you think, what would you do in that situation? It's the sort of book that made you appreciate what you have.

3. Brillantly funny had to have been Finding Cassie Crazy by Jaclyn Moriarty. The writing and dialogue was funny, yes, but it's the way we come to love the characters. They are so quirky and odd, and you can envision them Cassie, Emily and Lydia, three best friends that we love so much. 

4. The best achy, tear-jerky, heart breaking read has to be Thirteen reasons why by Jay Asher. God, that book made me a mess Y'all! the idea had me in tears! Each person's tape was like a punch in the gut.



5.Most beautiful story has to go to The Sky is everywhere by Jandy Nelson. It is such a beautiful story, and the pieces of writing that Lennie composes are beautiful and heart breaking. (I don't know if they have the coloured pictures in every edition, but I hope they do!)

Mention goes out to Before I fall by Lauren Oliver! Which is also so haunting and beautiful. It's like groundhog day after she's been in a car acident, and she has to relive the day she died until she finally gets it right.

6. My rainy day read would have to be This Lullaby. I love anything by Sarah Dessen, but This lullaby has to be my favourite, mainly because of Dexter. <3 Dexter so much!

 7. Adrenaline fueled, action packed is a series for me, and it's Maximum Ride! It's by James Patterson, who is an epic writer, as we all know. It's a hilerous series with action, it's fast paced, has quick fire wit, and is a really epic book overall. 

 8. I wasn't too sure what it meant, so I went for beautiful writing, so......Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare! Man I love this book. I don't know is it because it's set in Victorian times, but everything they say is just so beautiful! I think Cassie got a time machine, went back to the Victorian times and stalked people to see how they spoke..... O.O Yeah. Totally.

 9.Most Atmospheric and vivid setting goes to Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. It's probably the senses that make it vivid in this book. That scene in the Chocolate shop place had me like: *drools* So freaking cute!

 10. I-so-want-to-go-there award: It goes to Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Come on, who doesn't love a good road trip! It was so visual! They had reciepts and playlists and pictures and diary entries, you could really imagine being there in the car with Amy and Roger. Though that WOULD be awkward......

 11. Most original and Imaginative was Maximum Ride again! Come on, 98% human, 2% BIRD!!!! SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?! COULD YOU COME UP WITH THAT? It's an amazing series.

 12. THIS HAS TO GO TO SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT By Derek Landy! OMG, GUYS! READ THIS SERIES! I have loved it since I was like eight(I had a high reading level, it's YA) But seriously, these books are amazing, unique, hilerous, and action packed. There are soooo many twists and turns! And plus, it's set in Ireland, my Country! I've met Derek, we're good friends on his blog, and you'll will not find a nicer, stranger man. Somewhere in the world, there is a picture of us Vogueing. Oh yeah.

 13.-Most haunting story is definately Thirteen reasons why by Jay Asher. How would you feel, after a girl you know committed suicide, you get a package of tapes. There are thirteen tapes, and there are thirteen reasons why she died. You are one of them. Each tape leaves you breathless, and you're not even the person that was a reason. It would be so awful, having that blood on your hands. It's hauntingly beautiful, and the fact that Hannah is dead and she's talking to them makes it even more so.

 14.Always recommending this is City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Seriously, I've got like eight people reading this series! It's something everyone can enjoy, it's just that epic.

 15. Best premise should be Morgansville series by Rachel Caine. I read a lot of series' I know! It's just so awesome how at book 11/12,(I'm not too sure off hand which book it's at! sorry!) she can't still keep me interested and loving her books. If it were any other book series, I would have given up by now. It's funny, suspense filled, and just awesomesauce. 

16. A series I'm loving is Perfect Chemistry By Simone Elkeles. It's a love story, and a hot one! I love that all three books are connected because each one is about one of the Fuentes brothers! I've read Perfect chemistry and Rules of attraction, but my favourite has to be Perfect chemistry. Alex and Brittany for the win!

17. I think The name of the star by Maureen Johnson would make the best movie because it has suspense, awesome characters, and a good storyline with a big twist kinda. I managed to pick up a signed copy, so I was happy about that!

 18. Already want to re read Shiver! It's a very good winter read, because they turn into wolves in the winter. It makes me want to go to Mercy Falls and hang out with the wolves.

19. Outside my comfort zone but gosh how I loved it goes to Angus, thongs and Full-frontal snogging by Louise Rennison. I was a die-hard fantasy violence supernatural book reader, and this was the first girly book I'd read in a while.

20. I had no idea I would love this so has to go to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I honestly didn't think I'd like it, but I really did! I thought it was really good. I'm just going to block out the third book. It never happened.

Hope you guys enjoyed and I'll get to work on the next day!:)

BOOK REVIEW: Clockwork Angel-Cassandra Clare

This is a two part review for the Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare.



So, I'll begin with Clockwork Angel!

Summary:
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Guys, I am a major, major fan of Cassie Clare. She is amazing and I totally love her. She’s one of the writers that inspired me to write myself. I love the Mortal Instruments series, obviously, and I’ll probably post a review about it later. So, I thought I’d give this a go. Well, y’all, I seriously had a case of book crush here! I can honestly say I love this series more than Mortal instruments. First of all, the characters.

We have are heroine, Tessa Gray. She’s a good character, and relatable, apart from the fact that she’s a shape shifter! She’s severely loyal to her family and friends, and doesn’t take crap from anyone. We want to help her, and I just wanted to hug her a lot of the time. She’s a person trying to find her place in the world, which is really endearing.  Then there is the sexy, sexy Will. I wanted to kiss him sometimes, and then I wanted to slap him, and repeat. He is the sarcastic, mysterious ‘tall, dark stranger’ that most girls kill for. You could think about him all day, trying to figure him out and he’d still be as mind boggling as before. Here is a quote or two from the man himself.

“Are you implying that shreds of my dignity remain intact?” Will demanded with mock horror. “Clearly I have been doing something wrong. Or not doing something wrong, as the case may be.” He banged on the side of the carriage. “Thomas! We must away at once to the nearest brothel! I seek scandal and low companionship.”

‘Nough said.

  We have Jem, a complete sweetie! (I’m totally team Jem, by the way) My God, that boy is going through so much it’s ridiculous and heartbreaking. He is such a gentleman and a lovable character, and you can’t help but feel at ease with Jem.  His word is law. Period.

“We shall throw him out on the streets,” Jem proclaimed. “I promise you he’ll be gone by morning.”

Tessa started and sat upright. “Oh-no, you can’t do that-”

He grinned. “Of course I don’t. But you felt better for a moment there, didn’t you?”

“It was like a beautiful dream,” Tessa said gravely.

I <3 Jem.

And with that we have our three main characters!

We also have a host of other awesome characters, such as Charlotte, fierce, lovable Charlotte who just wants approval and love. Dazed, hopeless and bumbling Henry, whom we love dearly, haughty Jessamine who so desperately wants to get away from shadowhunters and lead a normal life. Camille, who’s fierce need for revenge is startling, Nate who’s so weak and mundane(hehe) but tricks them all. All the characters are amazing, the storyline is great and it easily leads into the next book.

AND Y’ALL, MAGGIE’S IN IT! MAGNUS FA SIZZLE YO! Gotta love Magnus. He’s is just pure epic-ness in a long legged, spikey haired flambuoyantly dressed person.

In conclusion, it was a heartfelt, heart breaking, funny book and I couldn’t wait for the next one.