Review: The Real Real by. Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Title: The Real Real                              Author: Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus 
Age Range: 15+
Publication Date: June 1st 2009      Pages: 309
Genre: Chic-Lit, Contemporary
Rating: 8/10

Synopsis: Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown—your school—is the first place XTV descends to set up cameras.


Now imagine they've trained them on you.


When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.


As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

Review:   The Real Real is a great, fun, and quirky book which gives teenage girls an insight on how real the reality tv shows teen girls worship really are.


As part of my unofficial new year's resolution list (unofficial because I am a picky reader and incredible stubborn) to broaden my reading library, I am begninning my new attempt into the world of chick-lit/contemporary reads. The Real Real was the perfect first read for my journey. It had just the right amount of chicklishusness without it being so annoying I was tempted to throw it across the room *cough* The Clique *cough*.

Jesse is just your regular everyday girl. She has no desire to have the limelight or to have a camera in her face 24/7. All she wants is to go to school, go to work to save up for college, snag her crush Drew, and hang out with her best friend Caityln in between. Is that what she gets though, Nope!!! Soon she is pushed into the very unreal world of reality television and forced to try to decipher what's reality and what's real.

To be honest, the characters in this book irked me. Jesse was a likeable chracter, though throughout the book she got more and more annoying to me. In the beginning she was a nice normal girl with rational thoughts in here head, then by the middle all that rationalitly leaves her, causing her to make stupid decisions and really lose herself. All annoyingness aside, I still enjoyed the book being told from her viewpoint. Her best friend Caitlyn annoys me most of all throughout the book. I didn't know it was possibly to harbor so much jealousy towards your best friend over something that she couldnt even control. I did though enjoy Drew's chracter all the way through the book.

Although the characters were not my favorite in the world the plot kept my nose in this book from beginning to end. It really was just like watching the making of a reality show. There is always one character that I start to sympathize with because it is seems that everything is going wrong for them. That was Jesse. She is all of a sudden looking at her life from the outside. Scandals, betrayals, and plastic surgery. All the aspects of reality television.

The ending wasn't exactly as I expected it to be. I just know I was shouting "you go girl" all through the last pages. I reccomend this book to all those who love chick-lit, contemporary reads, and reality television!!!  

Characters: 6/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Ending: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Cover: 8/10
Total: 8/10

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In My Mailbox (8)

Credit goes to The Story Siren for making this awesome meme and Alea over at Pop Culture Junkie for inspiring it.
Its been a while since I've done an In My Mailbox, and I had to rummage through my book stacks and try to find out which books I remember getting. But I do know I got these awesome books, that I am so excited for!!!

 

For Review: 

O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell 

Trade (PaperbackSwap): 

Stray (Shifters Series #1) by. Rachel Vincent 

Won (Reading Rocks) 

Captivate (Need Series #2) by. Carrie Jones    

Bought: 

Wondrous Strange by. Lesley Livingston 

Lover Awakened by. J. R. Ward 

I already finished 4 out of the five of the books I got, and they were all completely amazing. Expect positive reviews coming on them. What did you guys get this week???

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Review: Major Crush by. Jennifer Echols

Title: Major Crush                              Author: Jennifer Echols
Age Range: 11+
Publication Date: August 1st 2006
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating:  8/10

Synopsis: Tired of the beauty-pageant circuit, Virginia Sauter tosses her tiara, pierces her nose, and auditions for the most unlikely of roles — drum major of the high school marching band.
Virginia wins, but is forced to share the title with Drew, whose family has held the position for generations. Sure, Drew is hot, but because of his superior attitude, he and Virginia are constantly arguing. That is, until they share more than just their half-time salute...
But as the drum major's heated competition turns to sizzling romance, explosive rumors threaten everything — including the band's success. Love seemed to be a sure hit, but Virginia and Drew may be marching straight into disaster.


Review: Major Crush is an incredibly cute, quick read. This book has all the elements of a great romantic comedy. Though the romance is the main point of this book, there are many other things going on in the book that combine to make a great read. 

The romance was so cute and fun to read about in this book. Virginia is crushing hard on her co drum major, Drew, who resents her for making him share his leadership. It's funny how girls always want what they can't have in romance books. Not only does Drew dislike her with a passion, but he is also dating one or both (he doesn't even know) of the two evilest twins in the whole school who seem bent on ruining Virginia's life. I mean he is rude, annoying, and hot. I guess the last one cancels out the other two in this case. But gradually I got to see why Drew is the way he is, especially towards Virginia.

I loved the characters. Every single one of them. Virginia, changing from her past beauty contest champion self to individualist nose ringed self. And Drew just gets better and better as the book goes on. Though I found him to be somewhat of an idiot in some places. I mean if you don't know name the name of which twin you are dating, then its probably time to stop dating her, or them.

This book was a cute, funny, and romantic read. I reccomend this book to all those who like romance, funny books, and who are in need of a quick read.



Characters: 9/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Cover: 8/10
Total: 8/10
  
  
 
 

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Waiting on Wednesday (9)

The Deathday Letter by. Shaun Hutchinson 

Release Date:
June 15th 2010
 
All fifteen year-old Oliver Travers wanted to do when he woke up Thursday morning was squeeze in a little underwear gymnastics before school, until his mom called him downstairs to tell him he had received a Deathday Letter, which sort of ruined the mood.

Content to spend his last day of life at school (where the girls are), Oliver's best friends Shane Grimsley and Veronica (Ronnie) Dittrich convince him to burn his books and ditch school to, you know, have a little actual fun before he kicks the bucket.

In a world where only taxes, Deathday Letters, and teenage boy's hormones are certainties, Oliver, Shane and Ronnie embark upon a bus ride that takes them from the post office, to a house filled with college-aged anti-Deathday Letter activists (and Dave Matthews fans), and nearly to prison. And as the end draws near Oliver learns that living is way tougher than dying…and
that kissing is wetter than he'd expected.

For some reason this book sounds like it is going to be incredibly hilarious. It has such a deep and serious plot and theme going on and with the scary yet inviting cover, and that title, damn!!! But I just can't help think that I am going to be rolling around laughing all the way through this book. In a good way though!!! It sounds like it is going to be really really good. It reminds me of another book I read or thought about reading, that explored a theme like this once before but I can't put my finger on it, tell me of you guy's remember a book like this. Oh and that last sentence don't worry it's not a typo, it really does say 'wetter' not 'better'. lol

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Review: I am the Messenger by. Markus Zusak

 

Title: I am the Messenger                        Author: Markus Zusak
Age Range: 15+
Publication Date: May 9th 2006
Pages: 357
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 10 /10

Synopsis: protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That's when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?
A 2005 Michael L. Printz Honor Book and recipient of five starred reviews, I Am the Messenger is a cryptic journey filled with laughter, fists, and love.
 
Review: I doubt I will be able to do this book justice with this review but I will try. I am the Messenger has to be the best book I have every read. Anyways everything about this book was great and engaging and completely hypnotizing!!!

Markus will forever be one of my favorite characters every. You can't help but love him. He feels as if there is nothing special about him. Like he has no place in the world, as if everybody else has a reason they were put on this earth, except him, and I think all of us can relate to that feeling. But then he starts recieving this Ace's in the mail with names and addresses and there is some problem he has to fix for each of them. The impact he has on each of the lives of his missions and on himself as he finishes each card is so completely touching and impacting. You'll gasp, you'll awe, you'll cry, you'll laugh, and you'll spend 10 minutesd trying to let the whole book sink in before turn the book write over and read it all over again, Trust Me!!!

In about one week Markus has to gone from normal everyday loser (as he proclaims himself) to reluctant hero. His life turns completely upsidedown in such a short period time, and he handles having to be a hero very well dispite the physical and emotional damage it puts him in. One of my favorite parts of this book was the romance. It was sort of a that sad romance that you hope all the way through will sort of turn out with a happy ending. You'll have to read to find out whether or not it came true!!! 

I loved loved loved loved I can't say it enough loved this book. Every single part of this book and every single character no matter how small pulls you more and more. Markus Zusak has a way to pull you completely into the lives and emotions of every single character, making them all unforgetable. The ending was beyond great. It couldn't have been better. Even though I nearly wanted to cry when it ended im perfectly glad with the way it did. I reccomend this book to everyone in the world. Whether you like to read or not, no matter your prefered genre if you are of or close enough to the human species, you must read this book. It has everything I would look for a great read!!!

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Total: 10/10

                           

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I'm Back!!!!!

Finally finally finally, I'm back. Not that I was physically away on a trip or something, but during finals I might as well have been across the country since Christmas Break. But its over its over, never to be seen again, until next semester but let's not dwell on the negitive. No more two hour classes, last minute extra credit, and no more pleading with teachers to round that 89.72% to a 90%. How refreshing. But now its back to the more important things in life, like blogging, and books, and books, and blogging!!! And even though I havem't blogged much, I have been reading like a maniac, as usual, so i'll have a bunch of reviews out soon!!! Thanks you guys for sticking with me all this time!!!
 

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