Thursday 30 May 2013

Review - The Program (Suzanne Young)

Synopsis 
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.               
 - Goodreads.com

 My Review

I’m not a huge dystopian reader. I’ve read a few dystopia ‘classics’, you know the hunger games and other books of the like. But I’ve never really delved into the genre all that much, but I believe Miss Young has changed my mind.  I feel inclined to say now, that I am a fully fledged Dystopia fan.  As for the review, I don’t quite know where to start. I feel that any  words that I write could not possibly do this book justice. In a nutshell, I was absolutely blown away. 
In the future suicide has become an epidemic, which is spreading. Teens aged under  18 are the only ones affected and become ‘infected’ after having lost loved ones or suffering terrible loss, spiraling into a deep depression. Enter ‘The Program’ , an agenda put in place to help ‘cure’ people of their suicidal tendencies by removing memories which cause depression. 

The book is divided into 3 parts. The first part mainly focuses on the relationships between the main character Sloan and her friends and parents. You discover that teens have to hide their emotions, in an effort to not to be flagged by the organization running ‘The program’ as infected.  Showing any signs of sadness is the quickest way to get you thrown into ‘The Program’.  I love the way the author developed the relationships, they were so real and heartfelt. The tension between Sloan and her parents is palpable, and you could cut the tension with a butter knife during their scenes together.  Sloan and James romance is natural and flows easily as if they were a real existing couple off the page. I felt the character building was amazing and I don’t know whether it was the fact that my partner is also called James or the author’s believable narrative, but when things started to go south and people close to Sloane got ‘sick’, I felt like I was her.  Reading those pages, gave me that horrible feeling in my chest you know the one that feels like your heart is breaking.

Suzanne Young you have a way with words, because I am a stone cold bitch and no one gives me the feels like you do! 

The second part of the story is set in a Program facility where Sloan is undergoing treatment.  There is the introduction of Realm, another teen undergoing treatment who befriends Sloane but is keen for much more than friendship.  Realm is an interesting character; I still don’t know quite what to make of him. He is a great friend and very protective of Sloane, but there’s more to it than that and the revelations that occur are mind blowing...FUCKING mind blowing I say. Without him, Act II would have been unbearable for me, ...and Sloan....but more importantly me.  Of course in the meantime Sloan is undergoing treatment, which is slowly deleting all her memories, and even entire people from her past that ‘The Program’ deems she shouldn’t associate with.

Third Part, takes place after Sloan is released back into the community, and how she deals with assimilating back into her old life. But Sloan isn’t necessarily happy to comply with returning to the community and starts to seek out the memories that have been taken from her, while making a few new (or maybe old) friends along the way. 

All in all I completely loved this book. It is so much more than I expected, and the writing was superb. The author’s ability to make the reader empathize with the characters is flawless and I was emotionally invested throughout.  What got me the most was the Epilogue, that had me hyperventilating and on the edge of my seat. I need the next book, like yesterday!!

Things I loved about the book:

  •  The thing about books with parts is that sometimes the 2nd or subsequent components just don’t live up to the first. Luckily that was not the case here and each part was just as riveting as the last
  • The epilogue, I felt it was done in a poetic manner and gave me chills.
  • Sloan and Realms relationship. I love that Sloan and Realm were able to be friends without jumping each other’s bones...I mean there were a few touch and go moments, but the girl had a conscience.
  • Sloane and James’ relationship. James and Sloan are just adorable together. They are believable as a couple, and their dialogue and interactions flowed smoothly. 

 Things that I didn’t so much like about the book:
  • I can’t think of one thing. Not to say that the book has no faults, but for me, it reached AMAZEBALLS status.


My rating: 5/5

Sunday 26 May 2013

In My Mailbox (5)





In my mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren. It’s a way to showcase the books that you gotten through different places. Books you gotten in the mail, brought from a store, borrowed from the library, received to write a review, or they can be in eBook form.  Head here for more information. 



E-Books




What's in your mailbox this week?

Friday 24 May 2013

Summer Book Blast: May 24- May 27

What do book lovers, love most? Ridiculously on sale books, to fill their shelves with, of course. 

This weekend only there is a huge book sale, with lots of books at only 0.99c. It stars May 24 and runs until May 27, so get in fast!!

If you want to know more details, or look through the list of books available, head HERE.

I've already brought a number of great books, that I can't wait to read. A few include...




So if you love getting a good deal, head over and check it out :)

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (4)


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Broke And The Bookish.

Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of Books I've Read


This is obviously someone’s idea of a cruel joke. I mean how am I supposed to pick only 10!!? Plus alot of books I haven't read yet, have gorgeous covers that deserve to be on here. Ok well here goes nothing....

Halo (Alexandra Adornetto)
Splintered (A.G. Howard)


Hush, Hush (Becca Fitzpatrick)
Everneath (Jodi Ashton)
The Forsaken ( Lisa M. Stasse)


Wither (Lauren DeStefano)
Shatter me (Tahereh Mafi)


 Note: It's interesting to that while writing this post I noticed, despite these books having lovely covers. Quite a few of them I did not enjoy or didn't manage to finish. Proof that a pretty cover is sometimes a facade.

Monday 20 May 2013

Review- Burn For Burn (Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian)

Synopsis 
BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.
Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.
Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.
Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.  

-Goodreads.com



My Review


I didn’t know how much I was going to enjoy this book, especially since the last book I read was so damn good, and I was left with high expectations. But this book surprised me, in a good way. What started out as a typical high-school tale soon evolved into a devilishly delightful read that had me reading furiously to find out all the juicy details...By page 50, I was completely taken over.

Without giving too much away, the story follows Kat, Mary and Lillia. Three girls from very different social circles, who have been wronged in some way and are seeking revenge. Together, they devise ways of getting back at the wrong-doers, but not everything is smooth sailing. 

I really liked how the authors gave small snippets of past events, which were the driving force behind what was happening.  They did it in such a way that left you wanting and begging for more. I felt at times there could have been more description with the writing, in regard to scenery and atmosphere. As at times it felt like too much dialogue. But the point of the story was about revenge and was character driven. So the lack of description didn’t impede the story at all, it just would have been a nice touch in my opinion.  
Now and then the characters did feel a little stereotypical Lillia the smart driven Asian, Mary the strange mysterious new girl, and Kat the grungy stoner outcast who use to be popular. However the authors did a good job of trying to show the characters in other lights as well. Proving to the reader that even though society has deemed them each a stereotype, there is more to a person than meets the eye.

My biggest let down for this book, and the reason it got bumped down to only a 3.5 instead of its intended 4, is the introduction of fantasy type elements near the end. The book was fine without them, and I honestly see no reason to add them as the story was strong enough without them.  But then again I’m not the author, and I don’t know where the book’s headed, it may be an integral part of the story?...Maybe?

Things I loved about the book:

  • The different perspectives, it worked for this book and was essential to the story-line.
  • The flashbacks of each characters back-story; the reason they want revenge. 

Things I didn't enjoy so much about the book:

  • The fantasy elements...that’s pretty much the only thing I REALLY disliked. They just seemed to random, and didn't feel like they fit with the story I was expecting. 

Overall
Would I buy this book: I don't know yet, the fantasy stuff really put me off, but if the author took it somewhere interesting then I would consider buying the series..
 
Would I recommend this book: Yes. It's a quick, easy read, that's hard to put down. If your a fan of YA, it's must read.

Will I read the next one: Yes, the ending kind of left on a cliffhanger, and it's one of those books that you really want to find out what happens next. Plus the synopsis for 'Fire with Fire' sounds amazeballs!

My rating: 3.5/5

Bout of Books 7.0 Wrap Up

WRAP UP

So I'm super happy with what I accomplished in this read-a-thon. I know to some it may not look like much, but normally I read a book in a week or more. So 3 books in a week (even if one was a novella) is an accomplishment for me haha. I'm super keen to do the next Bout of Books read-a-thon, and try to better what I achieved this time around. All in all it was a great week! It was nice having a goal to work towards and forcing myself to take some time out to read which I normally never get a chance to do. We made it guys!!

 
 


Total number of pages read :749
Total number of books read: 3
Books:  
  • Burn for Burn ( Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian)
  • Holes (Louis Sachar)
  • Crossing the Line (Katie McGarry) 

More information, goals and updates can be found here
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