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I've just started, but I have to say I'm impressed so far. I started reading it alone in my room in the dark with a book light around midnight and stopped at page 45 because I was getting creeped out. Also impressed with the book itself--the stamping on the spine and cover, the design of the inside pages, the thickness of the paper. ------------------ I would really like to give this book 3.5 stars because I felt the quality of the story and writing went up and down throughout the book, but I'll go to 4 instead of 3 since I was so impressed with the uniqueness of the book--the physical traits I mentioned above, the fact that the peculiar children don't have just superpowers or something but their talents are actually peculiar, and the inclusion of photographs amidst the story. There are some things I'd really like to know more about. I'd like to know more about the children's lives before they came to stay with Miss Peregrine, an all-at-once explanation of how loops work, more about ymbrynes (and if I'm pronouncing it correctly), and probably a few more things I'm not thinking of right now.

Sounds a lot like Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook. But I really liked that, so I could give this a try.

My Last Duchess, yes? Yes.

First, I really just have to marvel at the fact that I finally read a book like normal again, in one week instead of three. I was beginning to think I was no longer capable, at least not in the life I have now, but I did it and it's so good to have a piece of my old familiar self back. That's where the fourth star solidifies, I believe. Although there are certainly departures, having seen the movie first it was a little bit boring reading this at times because a lot of things are exactly the same. It was still plenty engaging enough though, obviously since I actually finished it like normal (I'm just really tickled, y'all). I know a couple people who've told me they just couldn't when they tried to read this, but I didn't have any problems with it. Knowing the plot beforehand is a blessing and a curse I suppose, because maybe I would have loved it reading it fresh and never been bored at all, or maybe I would've hated it too if I didn't already like it, haha. (And maybe I liked it more because my romantic history/experience is right on par with Tris' in that I don't really have any at all. A lot of her fears and insecurities really got to me and idk how they made things seem so easy as she and Four got together.) We'll see how book two goes!

I didn't find what I was looking for either. But looking for it was nice.

I'm pretty sure I read this sometime in elementary or middle school. I should read it again so I can properly rate it. I need to have a Madelein L'Engle-fest this summer and read the O'Keefe books, since An Acceptable Time is sometimes put with them, and sometimes put after the Time Quartet (Murray), which I have read. And then I can read the Austin/Chronos books.

From the start I liked it a lot more than I expected to. I liked it a lot up until the end, and then things got painful/sad and started to feel like they were leading into the next book. It was never bad though. The worst (or maybe 'least quality') part for me was that for a long time Fillory felt like a huge and obvious ripoff of Narnia. Almost everything was painfully similar for at least 3/4 of the book, and then Fillory started to take on more unique qualities (although some similarities still cropped up), and then at the climax of the action it finally became mostly its own, in my opinion. Things got weird and less gripping at the end, although I think that was a reflection of Quentin's state. Overall I really liked it though and I'm interested to see what goes on in the next one.

I'm a bit upset about the ending, but the book was still amazing. Major props for successfully writing in four different periods of time, and bringing them together so well.

The Hannibal Lecter series was something I'd always intended to read. "One day." The glorious NBC Hannibal finally spurred me on to starting them now. It wasn't too long, less than 100 pages, before I was picking up too many similarities and differences from the show to keep track of myself. I got out sticky notes and started marking. I didn't mind that the show had moved some things around. I love the show. I suppose that's a perk of loving the show before I got to the originals. So I marked things that they'd used in the show or were markedly different. I think I have 41 flags. I'm not entirely sure yet what I'll do with them. It was wonderful. To know the show and find the book and see the ways they connected and overlapped and diverged. To see different aspects, different versions of the wonderful and compelling characters. And the "new" ones; there is no Francis Dolarhyde or Great Red Dragon in Hannibal (or at least not yet?). And those bits were lovely too. I'd seen the movie version of Red Dragon before, but almost entirely forgotten it. So that was nice too, to have Silence of the Lambs be new and Red Dragon be new and Hannibal Rising be new and Hannibal be new and Red Dragon be new again. Movie, movie, movie, show, book. And now 3 more books to go through, and two movies. Exultant.

It's been a little while since the last time I saw the movie, but it was lovely to go through and recognize so many things. Of course some smaller plotlines were left out, but I think the movie worked very close to the book. The most interesting non-plot part though was reconciling movie Jack Crawford with television Jack Crawford, both in looks and attitude. Remembering the different time period and circumstances helped, but sometimes, depending on his presence/gravity in a situation, I saw big fierce television Jack, and other times I saw small quiet movie Jack. I had less trouble between the two Hannibals, although I was somehow also less successful with him--I think I just let him be 2 people for now, separated by time. I also laughed a lot, mostly at clever bits. And it's so comfortable/comforting reading a familiar story. :)

Why is this book a big deal. I didn't outright hate it. I liken my experience reading this book to being in a waiting room or line when you're not in a hurry--it's not your favorite thing to do, but you can pass the time well enough. I just never felt anything at all. The deaths were mildly surprising and that was about it. Everyone seems to talk about ~~the symbolism~~ which I've never been much for, so I suppose that's it. I don't see any symbolism though--people suck, rational thought is never given the respect it deserves, and as someone who wears glasses I dread the thought of being in a survival situation. (Also afraid if I ever get mugged or otherwise assaulted that I'll end up with a shard of glass in my eyeball. Poor vision is fun you guys.) How is any of that revelatory? Maybe it's just that I'm reading it in 2017 USA where the social order is collapsing before our eyes anyway. Maybe this was a shocking reminder of humanity's animal instincts in 1950s Britain. Idk. Glad to say I finally read it though. It's one of those books that it seems like everyone else read in high school but was never assigned to us. And I did love the cover and the size of this edition. It's perfectly hand-sized.

I finished the first half but in the time it took me to do that, I should've finished two whole books. So I'm giving up LOTR for now and will come back to it some other time.

The middle was a bit slow for me (that could owe a lot to the busy things going on in real life at the time), but the near-end was lovely and brought me back from 3 stars to 4. *potential spoiler alert* As for the very end, I feel like it wasn't supposed to be sad. As far as epic fantasies go, it really was a very happy ending. Hardly anyone died all-in-all, and the main characters fared especially well. But it was still really really sad, and it felt like a hole in my chest when it was over. That was almost three days ago. Then I decided to read the appendices. And I am glad I did. They're not as entertaining as the dramatic portions, of course, but they are extremely impressive. As for connections and hidden meanings, JK Rowling remains queen, but as far as developing cultures, languages, customs, and histories for multiple races, Tolkien excels by far. It blew my mind. (And it wouldn't have taken me so long to read, but we had various unplanned family things going on between the 24th and 3rd.)

I've got to hand it to CH, I am charmed by how realistic her characterizations can be just as much as I can be frustrated with them. I can't tell you how tired I get of the same basic characters with the same basic character flaws reappearing in YA Novels theses days. So, yeah, kudos to you CH for throwing a curveball at me. That being said, I can't say this is my favorite Colleen Hoover book. It started out strong and had me hooked up till about Brennan's birthday, but after that she started losing me. For one, Warren's reaction after the hospital visit was just really weird. I most certainly wouldn't cry on his shoulder after some of the things he said. And second, the plot started to stagnant. It got a little interesting when Maggie came into play, but then the will-they-won't-they got a little drawn out in the end. Despite its pitfalls, CH has a way with words that brings the characters to life. I'm not normally a fan of books that insert long text of lyrics, but being able to listen to the artist sing them in their intended key really hit the head on the nail for me. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a romance with a unique twist that keeps it's readers wanting more.

I will read this book, because I have gone too long without the next installment of The Selection, but lets be clear about one thing... TEAM MAXTON ALL THE WAY To be completely honest Aspen kinda gets on my nerves and I kinda wanted to smack (view spoiler)[America upside the head for making out with Aspen. The guy dumped you and you have a hot prince who is in love with you. Hello?!?! Are you out of your mind??? Yes. Yes, I agree. (hide spoiler)] (Spoiler from Second Book) *sigh* But I digress. All that said.. Is it February, yet?

"I was just a broken thing who never should have dreamed of having wings." Set in a period where reputation is everything and freedom feels more like a long off dream, Blackmoore was much more than I had ever expected when I had first picked the book up as light reading. What I found was a tale of wings and a heart who dared to dream. "I wonder what you will do with your wings once you have found them. I wonder how far away they will take you. And I fear them, for my sake, at the same time that I hope for them, for yours." Mystery and intrigue fill the pages of this novel as the author unfolds the events that changed Kate's world and the man's who loves her, forever. "You have such a good heart...It is only afraid. But I would take such good care of it, love, if you would give it to me." My heart broke along side Kate's as she realized that freedom had cost her something she realized too late she couldn't live without...her heart. "But life in this world disappointed me--the life that required giving up my heart for the sake of my soul."

It's creative. It's out there. And it's AWESOME!

Holy Smokes!!! and bones...

*5 bold stars.* Bishop brings to life The Others for what they truly are; as beautiful as they are beastly. I started this book with no real expectation, just as something to read in between books of series I had already been well into, but it soon had my full attention. It was beyond anything I had imagined. If you're looking for a break from the mainstream, look no further. These aren't your typically "misunderstood" monsters that have been the norm in most popular supernatural literature as of late. Bishop shows us both the good and bad, leaving the audience to decide how they feel about these predators. They are not human, but neither are they wholly beast. We see the redeeming qualities in the fierce protectiveness they show for their own kind, but are appalled at the turn of the next page when we learn the contents of special meat. There would be a spike of girls who went out in the woods and were never heard from again. There always were when stories came out portraying the terra indigene as furry humans who just wanted to be loved. Most of the time the terra indigene didn't want to love humans; they wanted to eat them. There is no perfect race. The Others are monsters by our terms, but we as humans aren't without blame. There are always the stronger and the weaker, the leaders and the followers. Don't you force the weaker among you to accept the scraps that are left when the stronger have eaten their fill? Don't they wear the worn-out rags instead of warm clothes? Stronger and weaker exist in any group, but you've clearly decided some kinds of human are more important than others. Some kind of humans are human and other kinds are...property? Is that how it works? I didn't realize you monkeys had such savagery in you. Next you'll be eating your weak in order to keep your strong healthy.

WARNING: Do NOT read this book, if the failure to use something as simple as spell check would bother and offend you. We've all read those books; books you want to love, but can't for the life of you because the author didn't take the time to proof read their work. I swear I spent more time rewriting the sentences in my head then I did actually enjoying the story, which is a shame considering it had so much prospective. Still, I couldn't bring myself to write a good review with all the headache inducing run-on sentences and the overabundance of careless mistakes. The concept had the potential to be a great good-girl-loves-bad-boy -tale. Potential, however, does not equate to rendering a proof reader unnecessary. Any redeeming qualities were lost on me after I came across the countless paragraph long run-on sentence that made about as much sense as an English Major taking Engineer physics--that is to say, none at all. One word can sum up my biggest frustration: Comma's. The author either failed to use them all together or put them in places they had no business being. I can understand missing your own errors after spending hours writing, but that's why editors are such an important component to the writing process. The reader shouldn't be editing the "finished" copy. Please get one, or find another one, because this just isn't working. I hate to write such a negative review, especially of one with such promise, but the mistakes were just too sloppy and overshadow the positives.

Duff hits more of a 3.5 stars kind of range with me but since that's not an option I went ahead and bumped it up to a four-star rating seeing as it really was a fun story that wasn't overly watered down, or coming off as more of a pre-teen guide to what they think high school is like. "Spanish, huh? Can you say anything interesting?" "El tono de tu voz hace que queria estrangularme." "That sounds sexy, what's it mean?" "The sound of your voice makes me want to strangle myself." "Kinky." Wesley's specialty, turning insults into foreplay. Why I Loved It! It was fun and fast paced. I can't tell you how bored I am with books that drag on several chapters before any real substances or action happens. The concept of what a DUFF is literally made me Laugh-Out-Loud when I read the description. The 'DUFF' is the Designated Ugly Fat Friend. The DUFF of the group doesn't necessarily have to be ugly, it's just simply the term Wesley has dubbed as the least attractive girl in the group, and at the risk of coming off sounding like a Jerk, the logistics of how he explains the DUFF is kinda sad but true. But then again, don't we all feel like the DUFF sometimes. "The point is, scientists have proven that every group of friends has a weak link, a Duff. And girls respond well to guys who associate with their Duffs." "Crackheads can call themselves scientists now? That's news to me." Did I mention I loved the snarky humor? Classic Tales with a Modern Twist While this next part is often done with several YA novels, I really did enjoy the connection to other major pieces of well-respected literature, such as Wuthering Heights. There are many things that can go wrong putting a contemporary twist on an age old tale of something as highly acclaimed as the classics. However, it's always interesting to see stories from a completely different era of thought still hold validity in a modern story line, hearing the same old story in a new light. Some things may change, but there are aspects within human nature that allow us to understand certain concepts, no matter how different the times may be. It's that fundamental level of human nature that connects us all; what allows us to empathizes with characters from stories, like those written by Shakespeare hundreds of years later. What I Didn't Like My major complaint was some of the cliche language. Being in high school does not make you incompetent of completing sentences without the improper use of the word 'like'. Also, the use of the 'F-word' seemed forced. I have no qualms with authors inserting curse words as it fits with the characterization. In fact, I find it more unrealistic when authors have young adults replacing curse words with stuff that sounds like it hasn't been used since the 50's, simply for the fact they don't like to curse. Let's be real, it's just a word. However, I think in the case of DUFF, we see excessive use of curse words to the point it is distracting for the sake, or so it seems, of using them. Bianca drops the f-word at the most random of instances, just for the sake of using them. This really doesn't fit her character. Dropping a curse word in every conversation does not make the characters more believable. Perhaps if this weren't some small town school, and took place in a crime ridden neighborhood, I might be willing to believe the common use of such strong language in such large and sloppy quantity as being acceptable. Bianca is an AP, college bound, cynic. NOT a kid with a extreme case of Turrets that excuses the amount of randomly placed curse words. If you've ever seen dick figures on youtube, then Lord Turrette is a perfect description to what I'm talking about Maybe the kids of Hamilton high should lay off the Tupac cd's for a while. Having said that, the story isn't terribly flawed and the relationship development is believable. I was sucked into the love/hate relationship between Wesley and Bianca from the first time she dumped her Cherry Cola on his head. It's a great tale of realizing that we all are insecure sometimes, and that while distractions are nice reality always has a way of rearing its ugly head. I would recommend this book if you're a fan of angsty romances, where the main characters are often at each other's throats as often as they're in each other's beds.

Still coping with my feelings of awesomeness towards this book... Review to come!

The Edge of Never has been popping up all over my Goodread recommendations. I think it's time I finally caved to what I'm hoping is going to be five stars of amazing.

So... My reaction when I realized not only was there going to be a Novella to the Selection series, but one from Prince Maxon's POV-my reaction might have looked a little something like this... yes.yes.Yes! My Reaction when I saw that I would have to wait until march... Yeah, I know the feeling.

Just read a preview of the first chapter and HOLY DAIMON BABIES! April is just too far away!(!!) In the meantime, my feelings towards the month of February and March... Do you understand my feelings now? No? How about now? That's what I thought. I think I'll go into hibernation until April; it's safer for everyone that way...

The Significance Series is one I've truly enjoyed. I was originally skeptical, but Shelly has created a unique and endearing tale, that has since won me over. This is why I was dying to get my hands on the final novel, Independence. It was a nice and tidy wrap up of the characters we'd come to love, but it lacked some of the intensity that the previous books in the series had. Was there still action? Yes. Did I get my happy ending? Of course. But... It just lacked something essential that the other books had. Endings are always the hardest, in my opinion, but I think Shelly still did a wonderful job. I'm sad to say goodbye to Caleb and Maggie in print, but I look forward to seeing them again soon on the big screen!

I loved this series, but was seriously let down by the last book. The others were actioned packed page turners. Allegiant...well I for one was ready for the end. I couldn't help but think wait, they went through all this to find out that...what a let down. I would still suggest reading the book if you love the series, but keep your expectations grounded, your wtf face at the ready, and some tissues handy. You're in for a rough ride.

Implants are everywhere! Oh my gosh...this book. Oh my gosh...that ending.... I may have peeked at the last line of the last page (okay, so I defiantly did.) So, color me shocked when the ending still took me by complete surprise. Got to love an author who knows readers like me, who sometimes can't resist temptation to look at the end, and gives such an ambiguous closer like that one to keep us guessing. I loved it! Not sure how I'm going to survive until book 4 is released. Crossing my fingers we get some Daemon POV in the next installment. Anyone else see the arum lurking in the shadows on the front cover? Creepy? Yup. Awesome? YES!

Can't wait for Travis' POV Travis Before Abby... Travis After Abby...

Had this on my to-read shelf forever. Will update once I've finished. Can't wait!

The last book left me wanting for more. I need a happy ending on this one; my poor heart can't take all this drama. Jem, you're a sweetheart, but you gotta love the broody bad boy Will. It's just that Will and Tessa connect on a level Jem and Tessa don't. While Jem may be the safe choice, that doesn't make it the right choice. At the same time I really don't want to see Jem hurt. *cue frustrated sigh Let's just write in two Tessa's, one for each of the boys, then everyone is happy! Ok... So, maybe not. Regardless, April cannot come soon enough!

Things are heating up in the second novel of Infernal Devices. Will is beginning to realize that a life without love isn't much of a life at all, but with the mysterious curse still hanging over his head he sees little he can do about it; that is until he seeks out Magnus Bane for help. But has the answer he's been seeking come too late? And then we have Jem; kind and devoted Jem. He's the smart choice for Tessa, but does the smart choice equal the right choice? Though his days are numbered he's willing to devote every last one to her. He's got the girl, but does he have her heart... And Tessa; she's been through so much and remains so strong, but the storm is far from over. The man who has owned a part of her heart from their first meeting has announced his love at the 11th hour, but to give him her heart would mean to shatter another's. She's given up so much it seems, can she give up this, too? While their hearts hang in the balance, a much greater threat looms over them all, as the illusive Mortmain thwarts them at every turn. Just what are his plans for Tessa? Clockwork Prince is a spell binding tale that will have you hooked from start to finish.

Before I even start this review, I must say that there are no words to truly describe the impact this book had on me. Its heart wrenching in a way that makes you re-evaluate your life. By the end of the book I was on the edge of my seat crossing my fingers for a happy ending for Sam, who had come so far from the girl she was at the beginning of the novel. I'm a sucker for happy endings, but sometimes it's the endings that aren't what we expect that stick with us long after we close the book. And stick with me it did. I was skeptical of reading this book, at first. I mean really skeptical. The whole high-school-mean-girls-thing is typically overdone, with very little variety. However, not only did Before I Fall blow all of my doubts out of the water; it became one of my favorite books. I laughed. I cried. I found myself going through denial, anger, and finally acceptance right along with Sam. I should have enjoyed them more, should have memorized them all. I should have died on a day with a beautiful sunset. I should have died on summer vacation or winter break. I should have died on any other day. . At the conclusion of the novel I was so upset. I re-read the end a dozen times, asking myself, "is this it? It can't be!" I wanted to know why. You see, I was still looking for answers then. I still wanted to know why. As though somebody was going to answer that for me, as though any answer would be satisfying. While the story may not get points for being the first of its kind, it makes up for it in the amazing writing. I just loved Sam narraration as she realizes that we never really know how much time we have, as she comes to terms with the possibility that she may never have another tomorrow, another sunny day, a second chance at life beyond Cupid's Day. [...]maybe you can afford to wait. Maybe for you there's a tomorrow. Maybe for you there's one thousand tomorrows, or three thousand, or ten, so much time you can bathe in it, roll around in it, let it slide like coins through your fingers. So much time you can waste it. But for some of us there's only today. And the truth is, you never really know. My heart broke for this girl because, really, she could be anyone of us. Being young we often forget that we are not invincible. Towards the end Sam grasps that, though she may not be there, the world will keep spinning; her sister will grow up, her friends will go off to their perspective futures, Kent will fall in love again even. All these things she'll never have the chance to do again. That's a funny thing: you think, when awful things happen, everything else just stops, like you would forget to pee and eat and get thirsty, but it's not really true. It's like you and your body are two separate things, like your body is betraying you, chugging on, idiotic and animal, craving water and sandwiches and bathroom breaks while your world falls apart. All any of us really have is now. Tomorrow is never a guarantee. Oliver goes one step farther, shedding light on how even the small things may be the ones that make the difference. There's a point where Sam realizes(view spoiler)[ if she hadn't gotten in the car then it would have been her best friend and not her, (hide spoiler)] that while she might not pay the price, somebody has to. Oliver lets us discover these tidbits little by little right alongside Sam. It amazes me how easy it is for things to change, how easy it is to start off down the same road you always take and wind up somewhere new. Just one false step, one pause, one detour, and you end up with new friends or a bad reputation or a boyfriend or a breakup. It's never occurred to me before; I've never been able to see it. And it makes me feel, weirdly, like maybe all of these different possibilities exist at the same time, like each moment we live has a thousand other moments layered underneath it that look different. I'm guilty of getting too caught up in my own life; too stressed or too busy to notice the time is flying by me. I'm so focused on what comes next I miss some of the greatest moments happening around me. How often do we all overlook life happening around us to busy worrying about the things that haven't even happened, yet? I'm guessing it's like that for most things in life--the last kiss, the last laugh, the last cup of coffee, the last sunset, the last time you jump through a sprinkler or eat an ice-cream cone, or stick your tongue out to catch a snowflake. You just don't know. It's an old idea, the saying live like it's your last. Yet, so few of us do. "Up until then it's a good day--one of the best. Close to perfect, really, even though nothing special happened at all. I guess I've probably had a lot of days like this, but somehow they're never the ones you remember." Perhaps you to have a thousands tomorrow's, but you never know... So, don't waste another minute and read Before I Fall. I promise it's worth it.