The Lab

How can you go wrong with an spy/action book with genetic engineering and a hero who has tons of money? I didn't think so. Six is part of a secret organization with agents and departments named after the cards in a deck. If the top secret deck is discovered, no one will be left to fight for the good in their decaying world.

The bad: Ya know what: there isn't any!

The good: Finally a good secret agent who tries not to kill people! And all that fighting for goodness stuff is pretty good.

My view: Being the aesthetic person that I am, I picked this book out at B&N because of its cover, and when I saw it again my library, I was pretty excited. With good cause. I'm not afraid to call myself a teen action book connoisseur, I a liked this one. Lots of action (much of it impossible), a troubled hero and an interesting story made this book a really fun read. I hope he writes an other one. But his name can't really be Jack Heath. Too cool.

My one word:

Successful

Perfect Chemistry

Here's the classic story: Perfect girl isn't really so perfect. Bad boy isn't really so bad. But when they meet, neither one can tell. Through a deepening relationship, they discover that they are more similar that they thought, and they're falling in love. (Okay, writing that made me realize that the story is really similar to Just Listen, but it's not that good. At all.)

The bad: Swearing, sexual monologues, sex itself (which is bad, as we all know :-) without any commitment. And the cover, seriously, I was embarrassed when my dad looked at it...

The good: I appreciated that this book dug into the whole gang thing, which is something I am completely out of touch with and can't judge it's accuracy, but I felt like this book treated it realistically (kinda). As opposed to the silly movies where the hero only has to say "no" and the bad guys go away... And of course, the whole "look beneath the surface" thing, which is valuable.

My view: I enjoyed the beginning, even considering the sexual atmosphere, but the end lost my interest. I really thought Brittany would be more savvy (which is not my new word). I really thought the author could have gone farther with the book. My one word:

Underdeveloped

The Host

The souls are the dominant species of the universe. This is because they take over the minds of those they invade. The Wanderer is a well travelled soul, and now she's going to Earth, one of the few planets she's never been to. As an experienced soul, she is surprised when she realises that her host isn't dormant. She is even more surprised when she so consumed by her host's emotions and memories that she ditches her entire way of living to pursue the people that inspire emotions in her host she (Wanderer) has never known.

The bad: Ms. Meyer really needs to find a new way to describe sensation other than "like fire." His touch was like fire... It burned like flames... It raced up her arm like a wildfire... PLEASE! Other than that, this is a pretty clean book.

The good: I liked the struggle that Wanderer went through (no, I'm no sadistic) as a passive member of a parasitic society. And there were other good (interesting) elements... Like true love, sacrifice, friendship, mercy, trust...

My view: As not a huge fan of the massive Twilight saga, I was wary of picking up an adult book of Stephenie Meyer. Though it did have the melodrama and tiring length (of a single book) of The Twilight Series, The Host was much better. The story was inventive, morally intriguing and easy to read.
My one word:

Savvy

My Most Excellent Year

TC is a warm hearted funny guy who has set his sights on Ale (it's suppose to have an accent on the e, but I just spent five minutes typing every combo of Alt 22-- and couldn't find an e with a accent on it so just imagine). Ale is the daughter of political people who dislikes TC on principle and would prefer to be a dance rather than a diplomat. TC's brother Augie is gay, and everybody know accept him. And for an eleventh grade writing assignment they must recount their most excellent year, and they all pick their ninth grade year.

The bad: Mild occasional swearing.

The good: I loved TC and Augie, they were really kind and were completely amazing brothers (friends, read the book and you'll understand). They completely trusted each other, which I thought was amazing. TC describes himself really well, he says that whoever he takes into his heart is there to stay, and he is willing to do anything for them. And in the end TC says that a kiss after 5 months is better than a kiss after 5 minutes. Love him.

My view: This week has been a big school week, and next week is promising the same amount, if not more work. Waiting for one of my classes to start, I began this book. Immediately I completely forgot about all the pending assignments (a good thing???) and was completely in love with TC, Augie and Ale. My one word is:

Charming

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

I'm not really sure how to explain the plot of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. This may be because a lot of the plot is revealed in the title. First thing revealed: the book takes place on the edge of the Dark Sea (of darkness). Second: it is suppose to be a humorous book. Third: the humor is obviously geared towards an audience that finds the title humorous. Which I did not. The story follows Janner, and his two siblings Tink (of the masculine variety) and Leeli as they encounter mysteries and evil reptilian authorities.

The bad: Just general boy humor. Which, being a teen girl, didn't really appeal.

The good: I enjoyed the brief allusions to familial responsibility, and the joy and hardship that it presents.

My view: There are only so many stupid footnotes I can take before I go insane, I can read about gross-out stuff for only so long before becoming disgusted, I only read an "adventure" book for so long without adventure before becoming bored. This book crossed all of the "for so long"s. By the time the book finally got started, it was the last chapter. But my PW said that her boys really loved it...
My one word:

Contrived

Maximum Ride, Vol. 1 Manga

The first Maximum Ride book put in manga form. The story is that Max and her flock are genetically engineered bird-humans. The main perk of this is that they can fly. The main drawback is that The School that they escaped from really wants them back. So when they get a hold of the youngest of the flock, Angel, the rest of them go after her.

The bad: Okay, really, since when to skinny bird-humans age eleven have breasts? It is within the realm of possibility that Max is that filled out, but really, not Nudge. She looks like she's seventeen!

The good: Yay sticking together!

My view: I don't really go for manga made out of books, because they all claim to be drawn by the best artists in Japan, but they're all by different authors. And I'm thinking, if I were the best manga artist ever, I would not be transposing some one's good book into crappy manga. But I actually thought this one was okay. The artwork was pretty good (except for Fang, who got ruined), and the story transfers easily. But I would recommend skipping the half-an-hour manga book for the real and wittier Maximum Ride, The Angel Experiment.

One Word:

Fine

What I Saw and How I Lied

After Evie's father (step-father) returns home from WWII, everything is suppose to be idyllic. But the war has changed everyone. Tired of his hum-drum life, Evie's dad decides to take the family (minus the harping grandma) on a vacation to Florida. There Evie will see and lie, just as the title promises.

The bad: Evie seduces a guy. And then she, you know, lies (duh). About what she saw (duh x2). But even I was surprised about how exactly the title described the book.

The good: Evie does her best to get what she needs out of a bad situation. In my opinion (which this is) this is a good thing, but no one else is looking out for her best interests, that's for sure.

My view: This was a gripping and unusual book, writtin with a no-nonsense yet poetic style. The whole thing just fills you with dread. I appreciated the interest this book sparked in me, but I don't think there was really anthing worth reading in this book.

So I thought of this new thing that seemed kinda fun, and that is using one word at the end of my review to sum up the book, so let's give it a try:

Dread

Cold Mountain

Towards the end of the Civil War, Inman leaves the Confederate army and heads home to the mountains of North Carolina. Disillusioned by the bloody chaos of the war, he longs to return to the mountains of his happier youth, and to Ada. Along the way he encounters many dangers, companions, enemies, and hungers. Ada, left behind, faces her own journey.

The bad: Why do I always start with the bad stuff? Probably because I just want to get it out of the way. Anyhow, I would say that the worst thing (to me) was the fact that none of the dialog was in quotations, which made it hard to read. But it did give it a distinct flavor. There is no lack of mild swearing and a detailed description of a woman very explicitly throwing herself at Inman. Also Inman and companions get dead drunk a couple of times. And he isn't afraid to kill to get back to his mountain.

The good: No matter what Inman says about being ruined by the war, he maintains his honor on the road. He is fair to those he meets and helps those who he can.

My view: I first saw the movie Cold Mountain, which then inspired me to read the book. And since I loved the movie, I can be completely objective about the book. Some would call this book boring and vague, and if I was being my normal harsh self, I would have to agree, but I found this book gripping, fascinating and understated. The one complaint I have about it is that (being the hopeless romantic that I am) I liked the romance in the movie better. I didn't feel like the book really highlighted it enough, until the end.