Book Review: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under--maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that Esther's insanity becomes completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experiece as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment and has made The Bell Jar a haunting American classic.

My Review: They label this as an american classic, I myself wouldn't take it that far...it's IMO not nearly as much of an American classic as To Kill A Mockingbird but it did have it's appeal. I agree that the Sylvia Plath may have had a hard life and that this so called classic was more like a "semi-autobiography" but this was by far not what I expected nor anything like the good reviews I heard from other people giving it good ratings. Guess this is why they say never expect anything when opening a book, and don't judge a book by it's cover.

My Likes: The book was small in pages, the type was easy to read through, and there are AMAZING vivid descriptions in certain parts that just give you an awesome clarity on what was happening at that time.

My Annoyances: The book literally took me 90 pages to be entertaining to me, that is a big rate loss right there! I am not saying entertain me by page 2 but get to the story before page 90 it wasn't until Esther was cracking up that this book became interesting or bearable for me to get through, had I not been a completest I could have easily put this book aside and forgotten it.

Overall IMO I would give it 3 STARS for easy reading, and vivid descriptions.

Needless to say this book went right back into the swap company I got it from and someone else already requested it ha ha so hopefully they see something else in it that I didn't :)

Book Review: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (30 Books 2 Movie Challenge)

To start off this new year I forced myself to attend to the task of starting the twilight reading session. Now my original Twilight series to put into my 30 books to movies challenge was New Moon but i had honestly thought I was going to get through Twilight faster than what I did so it took me back a lil when I didn't finish as fast as I thought. When I found myself in mixed company with my girlfriends there wasn't anything bad they could say about the Twilight series and although I have only started book 1, I will continue the rest of the series not only for closure but also cause they are fast reads.

As far as the book goes: I enjoyed it more than the movie in parts! I like the references and lil sarcastic remarks that are kind of cute in the book. I definitely liked the sequence of the book ALOT better than the movie which made the story a lil more believable.

for instance in the Twilight Movie: girl meets boy automatically has a connection and goes through unraveling the truth. Book: although the insist appeal is made it's not like it's love at first sight which i can relate better to personally.

Bookwise: I like that Jacob Black is a fresh new character to Bella and not the close family friend that Bella should remember and feel obligated to, as in the movie Jacob Black comes to tell Bella that they use to make mud pies. With the books reference it makes it clearer why Bella would feel closer to Edward then Jacob because Jacob is a new aqquaintance. I would have loved to go more into the history of finding out more though of other characters. To me the book focused on Edward and Bella and maybe that was suppose to be the purpose but I would have loved more background on the Cullens. They tended to touch somewhat on Charisle and Alice (who is my personal favorite character) but I still felt something missing.

I had read some mixed reviews on Twilight before reading it on good reads.. and it takes me back to one review that stood out in my mind regarding Bella. The person who made the review tended to write about Bella being a disappointing character in the way that she seems like a 35 year old in a 17 year olds body and how they can't understand a character like that or see how someone can be like that. Now I have said it before when I was that age I never felt that age, maybe it was because I was raised independently but I have always felt older than my age mentally. So i can relate with that characteristic, although Bella to me in the book was a lil too over the top at times, she was willing to do anything for Edward but when it would come down to things she was always being stubborn, pessimistic and seemed like she never wanted to do anything fun. Although Edward with his brooding fashion and internally tormented nature, always doubting himself, blaming himself for Bellas attraction etc gets to be a lil too much as well at times in the book. As well as the glittering in the sun effect, I think I like to keep the old fashion ideas to how the sun effects vampires rather then the glittering effect. The glittering effect seems to be written only to appeal to the positive nature of a person rather then the more believable nature that vampires are have been known to be damned and forced into the darkness why wouldn't there be more negative aspects to coming out into the sun?

Overall if you asked me I would have given the book between 3-1/2 to 4 stars cause it was easy to read, it was interesting enough, just the hype that i was looking forward to was kinda missing, maybe cause I was listening to my girlfriends tell me how quickly I would be addicted to this book, and fast the series goes. Although if you had to ask me what team I would be on I would tell you Edward in a heartbeat! Even with his brooding, tormented lover, ways he is sarcastically dry humored, he is mysterious, old fashion, fiercely loyal, possessive where it counts, and absolutely gorgeous and I think the movie did good casting when they picked Rob Pattinson to play Edward with that charming crooked smile he has.

A lil on the movie: I think they did fairly good on the casting for the movie, I love the location of the shooting and the feel to the woods etc. The soundtrack is amazing to me! Again I didn't care for the sequence of events happening as quickly in the movie rather than like they do in the book but I can understand why they did it this way for the movie to appeal to audiences better, and keep the romantic at heart girls believing that love at first sight can happen. Which brings me to the reasoning of them making this book to a movie, the story is just appealing especially to a world or i should say a teenage realm and for those hopeless paranormal romantics out there who "LOVE" watching and reading about romantic vampires.

In closing I liked the book better than the movie in parts but both the movie and book are equally appealing in many ways! Although I am curious too as to the fact that if Stephenie Meyer would have stuck to the idea of her "original" dream, in which she says originated/fueled the idea of Twilight what kinda story that would have been. Don't get me wrong i "LOVE" reading about vampires always have even before it became the "craze" but take the vampires in Twilight and replace them with angels it kinda leaves me with the thought of where would that story have taken us?

Until my next review ...Happy Reading All!

Giveaway: Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

Enteries for this Novel have a deadline of January 1st so be quick to enroll if this books seems right down your alley here is the link Thirsty Giveaway Entry

you will find all the details at the entry giveaway link and below is just a little description of the book that i was able to get off good reads.

There's no place like home, they say.
"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."
For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

sounds interesting and therefore I do hope I can win this if not I will definitely put it in my TBR pile.

30 Books To Movies Challenge

Chase of The Bibliophile's Lounge is hosting his very first challenge, 30 Books To Movies Challenge

Here's what he says:

Goal: To read 30 books that have been adapted into movies and watch said movies

Details:

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

• If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others. Also, please make sure you add a link back to this post so others can join in.

• Non-bloggers may enter as well. If you have a blog, please post the review of BOTH the book and movie on your blog, detailing:

a) Your honest opinions of the book and movie

b) Which one did you enjoy more (book or movie?)

c) What do you think is so good about the book for it to have been made into a movie

Make sure you label the reviews with “30 Books To Movies” so it’ll be easier for me to link them.

• Series only count as one entry. For example, even though there are 7 Harry Potter books, altogether they only count as 1 of the 30 books because they belong to the same series.

To join, go to 30 Books To Movies Challenge

Book Review: Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Are you predator or prey?

CLASSIFIED ADS: RESTAURANTS
SANGUINI'S: A VERY RARE RESTAURANT IS HIRING A CHEF DE CUISINE. DINNERS ONLY.
APPLY IN PERSON BETWEEN 2:00 AND 4:00 PM.

Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her parents are dead, and her hybrid-werewolf first love is threatening to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. Then, as she and her uncle are about to unveil their hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform their new hire into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Can he wow the crowd in his fake fangs, cheap cape, and red contact lenses -- or is there more to this earnest face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms, and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Whose playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything? TANTALIZE marks Cynthia Leitich Smiths delicious debut as a preeminent author of dark fantasy.

My Views: When at the bookstore I had picked up this book cause the cover intrigued me I read the back and wanted to get it but had my hands full of purchases of books I had already had on my TBR list. Little did I expect that a week later my mom and I would make a trip to that bookstore and out of no where she picks it up and says "I am gonna get this book for you!" Yeah my mom and I have that kind of connection! Scarey eh?

Need less to say it reminded me a little bit of Twilight (well the movie/storyline as this week I am starting the Twilight book series I have had for about 2 months now waiting for me)
Although what I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was all the references to other novels/movies the author made! Right down to the main characters name being Qunicie P. Morris same name of the Texan in Stokers Dracula, to references of Mitchells Gone with the Wind and the Musical My Fair Lady to even references of early Ovid works. It was a fast easy to read book at 310 pages with a cliffhanging ending that kinda still has me wondering. I gave this book 4/5 Stars. It is definitely something to read if you want a fast easy entertaining read! Truly lovely this read was, and I look forward to possibly reading it again within later future (possibly).

Until my next review! Happy Reading All!

Book Review: Submission A Novel by Marthe Blau

Submission: A Novel by Marthe Blau


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You'll want to scream,

but you'll be gagged.

You'll want to cry,

but you'll be blindfolded.

You'll want to run away,

but you'll be tied up.

You'll have no way of begging me,

I'll do what I want with you.


Sexual obsession, domination, and dangerous desire drive the story of Élodie, a young married Parisian lawyer who finds herself swept up in a cycle of sadomasochistic lust.


A handsome stranger Élodie meets in court issues her a series of instructions that she feels compelled to follow. He introduces her to sex clubs hidden in dark alleys, toys that enhance physical pleasure as well as pain, and couples whose appetites are as voracious as his. What at first seems out of character for Élodie -- she has a small child at home, after all -- quickly begins to shape her self-identity. As the violence of their encounters escalates, these acts become an addiction she can't bear. But how far can Élodie go . . . and how much of her life will she risk in the process?


This sophisticated and captivating novel exudes the sensuality that only the French can deliver.

My Views: The writer comepletely Dominated me with her erotic novel of supposed real and true events. Although there were scenes that seemed elaborate, not completely far fetched but to an extent were in many cases. I felt sad, yet excited along with the main character of this book when I found myself reading her feelings and tried to grasp the idea of what she must have experienced and what it must of been like. Although many of my like friends who are into the lifestyle just saw this book as being no where near like what the real lifestyle is like cause the relationship between D/s is one that is of love in many ways and very different. What some forget is that there are incidents that do happen in the type of fashions, that this book revolves around. To me this book is what I needed and perfect for that easy read that I didn't need to focus on to get the story! I loved the idea that it took me two nights of not so consecutive reading to finish it and I would recommend it to Aanyone in the lifestyle with this note: It's a fictitious story and although based on the authors real life events she has experienced if you are looking for a read that is strictly by the BDSM book and more real than do not pick up this book and expect to come out with a thorough knowledge of the BDSM lifestyle.

Another Note: this book does contain graphic intimate, explicit content so if you don't like erotic novels this may not be the book for you, also it does contain same sex relations, and I realize that some book lovers, might not be as opened minded as some others maybe so I thought I would contain this part in my review!

Until my next read which I yet haven't picked, Happy Reading All!!!
View all my reviews >>

Bound to be Shelfed?

Being an impulsive bookworm I find myself always excited when i see used bookstores/ thrift stores along areas I tend to frequent. Although I have come to realize that I might have thrift bookshelf anxiety with certain books imparticular. Those being books that no matter what store I find myself in they are always at that thrift store and seem to always plague the shelves. So with that in mind I decided to blog about those notorious titles that I ALWAYS see on the shelves in hopes that someone might tell me (if they have read them that is) are there just too many people that have them are are they truly that "TERRIBLE?" that they are bound to be shelfed?
Now in no particular order the list of 15 books I ALWAYS see

1. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
2. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
(I know the idea of the story just never read it)
3. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
4. Beloved by Toni Morrison
5. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
6. Hannibal by Thomas Harris
7. Bel Canto by Ann Patchet
8. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
9. White Orleander by Janet Fitch
10. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
11. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
12. House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
13. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
14. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
15. Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz

I am sure there are others that can be added to this list but these are most of the titles i see notoriously on thrift store shelves that I tend to be leery about at times. So what are the books you see plaguing your stores shelves that you are almost sick of seeing? I am wondering how many books above I have mentioned are on your stores shelves too! LOL