Thursday, November 17, 2011

Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry, #3)Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
Source: Purchased
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anyone who knows me has heard me say this before, but I'll say it again: I'm a sucker for young adult fiction.  There's nothing like a good romance/coming-of-age story and my latest pick is no exception.  Simone Elkeles' books are easy to read, have likable characters, and interesting plot lines.  Are they a tad bit predictable? Probably, but predictable has never prevented me from enjoying an otherwise excellent book.  Reinventing the wheel has never been a requirement of mine in a novel.  

This particular book, as well as the other two that came before it (Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction) also deal with some important hot-button issues such as gangs, drugs, and relationships.  This latest installment features Luis Fuentes, the younger brother of Alex and Carlos Fuentes from the earlier books.  I liked that the books are related, but they each follow the experiences of a different main character rather than just focusing on one.  So if you are looking for a quick, fun, read that also deals with some heavier issues and is told with a unique and original voice, check this one out.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

A book for Halloween (and some background reading)

Dracula by Bram Stoker
Source: Borrowed from the library
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
GoodReads

In the week leading up to Halloween, I decided to tackle Bram Stoker's Dracula.  I've been wanting to start reading the classics for some time now and I figured it was the perfect time of year to read the original vampire story.  I'm a great lover of The Twilight Saga (don't judge!) and a big fan of the newer Infinite Days, by Rebecca Maizel.  That being said, I never knew much about the original vampire other than the fact that he scared the living daylights out of everyone.  I heard all the criticisms of the modern vampire stories saying they were not scary enough, not evil enough, and just not true to the original.  So, to tell you the truth, I expected Dracula to be scary, or at least creepy, eerie, or spooky and honestly, it was none of those.  I'm glad I read it because I now have a bit more knowledge of where the whole vampire genre began, but I was sorely disappointed in the book overall.  It was not difficult to read or understand, but it took me a solid two weeks to finish because at times I found it quite dull.  I have two boxes of classics in the basement that I hope to read someday and I fervently hope they are better this first attempt.  For the time being, I'm going to stick with my non-traditional, but oh-so-much-more-interesting vampires.