About Me

My name is Molly. I am a 22 year old college grad, who isn't using her degree. Yet. I have my bachelor's degree in English/Creative Writing.

I am revamping and returning to my blog. I desperately miss reading and blogging about books, so I'm back.

If anyone has any ideas of what other information is interesting for an "about me" section, feel free to comment. I hate writing/talking about myself.

I mainly read YA fiction. I will occasionally read adult fiction (there's some really great ones out there) and classic literature.

My goal is to read at least one classic novel and review it each month.

My favorite classic authors include Jane Austen (a cliche, I know), E.M. Forster, C.S. Lewis, and John Irving (A Prayer for Owen Meany will forever be my favorite novel from High School, apart from Ender's Game, of course. Very different novels, both highly important to me as a reader.)

Hello?

I am sort of surprised that this blog still exists. I thought I deleted everything.

I miss reading. I stopped reading for fun about a quarter of the way through my bachelor's degree in English. Go figure.

A long time ago, I was sleeplessreadmore.blogspot.com and I have more reviews over there. (links in the bar)

Now that I've graduated and am not using my degree, I've been desperate for some classic literature, but I ended up with some new reads instead.

I am currently reading Red Queen, and I'm almost done. I've read it so quickly, and it has really made me want to rediscover some old goodies and get back into my obsessive compulsive reading.

It'd be great if I had some followers though, so if you are reading this, please share and follow, if you like what you see. (I'm really nice.)

The Fault in Our Stars

title: The Fault in Our Stars
author: John Green
published: January 10th 2012
publisher: Dutton

synopsis from Goodreads:

"Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind."

the cover:
It is a simple cover, but I think that's what this book needs. It's also a really cool cover for readers to use and put quotes from the book on and share. I have a board on Pinterest devoted to John Green quotes and this cover comes up many times with quotes from the novel.

my opinion:
Amazing. I pre-ordered TFIOS and it sat in my room until I read it last night. Actually, I started reading it last school year, but I couldn't continue because I had too much work to do. I am so glad that I waited until last night. This was exactly the book that I needed to read now, but that's a different blog post.

I laughed out loud, and I cried. It is exactly what you would expect give the synopsis and knowing John Green's works. I very quickly cared about the characters in this book, all of them. John Green has a way of writing that reads effortlessly. I love the way these characters talk to each other. Hazel and Augustus have this amazing back-and-forth that reads so naturally. These two characters have a special place in my heart. I adore them.

I read this in two sittings, and I highly recommend reading it as quickly as possible. I feel like the book itself is a bit of a whirlwind, and reading it in two sittings was what worked best for me. To quote the novel, "Some infinities are bigger than other infinities," and, with this novel, even though I read it in under 24 hours, it felt like I lived the entirety of this novel with them. It was only 24 hours, but it was infinite in the best way possible.

Read this book.

I give it 5 out of 5.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
author: Jennifer E. Smith
published: January 2nd, 2012
publisher: Little, Brown and Company

synopsis from Goodreads:

"Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?" Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.
A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?
Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

the cover: I adore this cover. Everything about it is perfect and it is a good representation of the novel. I like that the photo is in black & white, while the word "love" pops in red. The style of the cover continues through the book as well. The chapters are separated by single pages of lines that just look so cute! The chapter numbers are in the same font as the title, which brings it all together nicely. And, the best part, in my opinion, the chapters are stamped with the current time, both Eastern Standard Time (where she's coming from) and Greenwich Mean Time (where she's going).

my opinion: This book should be read in one sitting. I was able to read the whole thing, in the car, on my way home from the beach. It was the perfect way for me to read this book. It is a quick, easy, and fun read. The characters were endearing and had enough baggage (no pun intended) to make the backstory interesting. The book is full of flashbacks for Hadley which explain so much of what happens to her in the novel. Overall, it's a really great summer read. I can't wait to read more from Jennifer E. Smith.

Also, I just love the name Oliver.

I give The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight four hearts.

Pandemonium

title: Pandemonium
author: Lauren Oliver
published: February 28th 2012
publisher: HarperTeen
series: Delirium, book 2 of 3

Do not read beyond this point if you do not want Delirium to be spoiled for you!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,pushing aside thoughts of Alex,pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,push,push,push,like Raven taught me to do.The old life is dead.But the old Lena is dead too.I buried her.I left her beyond a fence,behind a wall of smoke and flame.

The cover: This cover adequately portrays the novel. There's an edge and wildness to it that is definitely Lena's new life. I like it, and it looks good with the second cover of Delirium, but I like Delirium's cover more.

My opinion: I most definitely have a book hangover! I was not disappointed with this sequel!

One of the best things about this book is that it did not feel, at all, like a repeat of the first novel. So often, I've read sequels that are basically the same things happening again and again. I understand that a series must be one cohesive story. But, too many sequels are just the same thing happening again in a slightly different way. This novel stands on its own. But, it is still definitely part of one cohesive story.
Lena grows significantly in this book. She adapts to her changing circumstances in drastic ways that show how different her life is becoming. She goes from living in a structured, secure world to an open and wild place. She has to deal with so many things all at once, and she handles it in a realistic way.

Another aspect of this novel that I just love is the way its told. There are no chapter numbers. It goes back and forth from "before" and "now" which, I think, is a very effective way to tell this particular part of Lena's epic journey. I can't imagine this story being told linearly. It just wouldn't work. The juxtaposition of her life and character just after her escape in Delirium ("before") and six months later when she's working for the Resistance ("after"), makes it that much more evident.

This book reminded me of The Host by Stephenie Meyer, but better.

I couldn't put Pandemonium down and am already desperate for the conclusion, Requiem, which is expected in February 2013, although Goodreads says March 5th.

Pandemonium gets 5 hearts.

Delirium

title: Delirium
author: Lauren Oliver
published: February 1st, 2011
publisher: HarperTeen
series: Delirium, book 1 of 3

synopsis from Goodreads: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love -- the delirium -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 


But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.


the cover: This is the cover for the hardcover special edition and for the paperback. (I read the hardcover) I love this cover. It's pretty and compelling. The original cover was really cool also.

my opinion: Delirium is everything I want in a dystopian YA novel. Everything. Not only does it have oppressive government, realistic world and characters, rebellion, romance, and good friendships, but it is really well written. Lauren Oliver's prose is absolutely beautiful. There is a lot of imagery in this book. It was almost like watching a movie. I never got bored, either. There was never a spot in this book where I was just hoping to get past it and into another scene. The characters are relatable and realistic. I want to know them. I want to be their friends.

Delirium is a bit lengthy. It's over 400 pages. But never did it feel like a 400 page novel. It went by very quickly and it was so good! I loved it!

I can't wait to read the short story Hana, and then the sequel, Pandemonium. I will definitely be starting on those tonight.

I give Delirium five hearts.

I have a problem.

Today, I bought the sequel to Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Pandemonium. I only just started reading the first book, so it better be good!

I also ordered Divergent by Veronica Roth and its sequel, Insurgent on Amazon. Those will be here by Friday. (Hooray for 6 months free of Amazon Prime Student! [free two day shipping]) I also have two books to pick up at the library on Thursday: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler. I'm particularly excited about the latter because 13 Reasons Why was so great (and Mackler's books have always been enjoyable). If you want to feel sort of empty and definitely sad, read it. It was amazing. I renewed The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. That's good until the 17th of July. I wanted to save it.

So let's take a quick recap:

I bought three books today. I have three from the library. I have a few on hold. I'm reading a book, obviously. I have a WHOLE bunch of books on my bookshelf and in my nook waiting to be read. Books I've had for years even. Sequels, brand new series, new novels, and new authors that are desperate to be explored by me. 

And I keep. Buying. Books. 

I can't help it. 

I had Divergent on hold for a while. I was number 27 of 33 at the library, and I was number 228 of 264 on the eBook library. I didn't want to wait, even though I have a plethora of books to read right here in my bedroom. 

I just don't want to read any of those at this moment. I want books that I don't have. Isn't that the way things always are, though? 

So, there it is. I have a problem. I am a bibliophile. I'm addicted. And that's okay by me.

Anyone else in a similar situation? Have any new books to share?