Vampire Knight, Vols 1-5

Vampire Knight, Vols 1-5


By: Matsuri Hino
Reviewed by: gothiclolitamaiden, 16
Rating: Really liked it


I was interested to read Vampire Knight before I got around to picking up the first volume. I had heard good things about it, and the plot and characters intrigued me. After reading it, I’m somewhat disappointed but also not that surprised. My judgment was clouded because I was not impressed by another of Hino’s manga: Marchen Prince (Meru Puri). Meru Puri is, quite frankly, shojo fluff, featuring an annoying female protagonist with an unhealthy crush on a younger boy who turns into an alluring boy closer to her own age at night. Kind of creepy, in a way, despite the fluffy-ness.

Vampire Knight is different from Meru Puri in many ways, but not too different in others. The subject matter is different entirely, and Hino even acknowledges (in a sidebar) the fact that she moved out of her comfort-zone (lighthearted romantic comedy) in Vampire Knight, which is darker, with more gothic themes and sexual undertones than Meru Puri. Hino could benefit from moving out of her comfort zone more often, as Vampire Knight manages to lose some of Meru Puri’s shallowness. VK is also more suspenseful than Meru Puri, and therefore it has more potential to attract and appeal to male readers.

I got more attached to the characters in VK than I did in Meru Puri, but all of the boys are typical bishonen stereotypes. I’m afraid I dislike both Zero and Kaname for various reasons, and I don’t see the point in choosing between Moody Bishonen #1 and Moody Bishonen #2, as some shippers in the fandom do. Background characters from the Night Class and Day Class are sorely undeveloped, and they don’t get a lot of attention, especially not the Day Class (because they’re not as beautiful and mysterious as the Night Class). The most interesting characters to me were Maria/Shizuka, Yagari Toga, Seiren, Headmaster Cross, and Ruka, but none of them make too many appearances. I’d really like to learn more about these characters’ personalities and pasts, but Hino doesn’t draw them much, most of the focus is on the love triangle. Yuuki is much less annoying than Airi of Meru Puri, but she is a bit underdeveloped, and despite the picture of her on the first cover holding a big gun (I thought she was a tough chick when I first started reading), she can’t really hold her own in a fight. Usually one of the pretty boys ends up rescuing her. But Yuuki’s best qualities are her compassion and genuine concern for her friends and loved ones, and I suppose that even though she lacks fighting prowess, Yuuki has a strong heart.

Artistically, Vampire Knight is beautifully drawn, despite some issues with anatomical proportions. For the most part, character designs are distinctive, even if all of the boys start to look alike, typical bishonen faces and body builds (that is, tall and lanky with long tousled locks) with only slight differences in eye color, hair color and hair style. In Meru Puri Hino had problems with making the characters’ faces very expressive, and she still has a bit of a problem in Vampire Knight, though she’s improving.

Vampire Knight is certainly not the best manga I’ve ever read. The art is beautiful, and the plot is fairly suspenseful and intriguing, despite some issues with the characters. It’s a recommended read for all fans of horror, gothic, vampire and romance manga. It retains some shojo-fluffyness despite its darker subject matter, which explains its popularity among American fans. In short, it’s my guilty pleasure. I love to read it, but I feel ashamed in doing so.


Recommended to: Fans of horror, gothic, vampire or romance manga. Girls will like it better, guys might be deterred by all of the pretty boys adorning the covers. Some violence, blood and almost sexuality

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451


By: Ray Bradbury
Reviewed by: Kayleigh , 16
Rating: It was amazing!


Guy Montag lights a match and they all go up in the flames. All of the knowledge, time, effort that went into them…gone. He is a fireman, but his job is to burn books. It eats away at him and makes him question everything he stands for. All it takes is one young girl who to make him think about the world differently.

Anyone who loves reading will be intrigued by this book. Stylistically it is well written. There is rhythm, symbolism and allusions that enhance the meaning of this book. Bradbury also poses questions that the readers must think about and judge for themselves. The characters are well developed and the story line is interesting. Anyone who claims they love reading will love this book for its unique subject and stylistic appeal.


Recommended to: anyone who says they love reading

Lolita

Lolita


By: Vladimir Nabokov
Reviewed by: msfmegan, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


"Lolita" is narrated by 37-year-old Humbert Humbert, a writer who is obsessed with what he calls "nymphets" or otherwise, young girls. Humbert, who narrates the story, explains that his obsession began with the death of his childhood sweetheart. As the book goes on, we get introduced to "Lolita", a 12-year-old girl that throughout the book has an affair with Humbert.

Although the subject of this book is disgusting, the book is overall amazing. The writing is the best I have seen and the story is very fun to follow. Vladimir Nabokov keeps his readers on their toes with many twists in the story. I encourage everyone to read this book because, in my opinion, it would appeal to just about anyone.


Recommended to: everyone

Uglies

Uglies

By: Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by: Becksss, 14
Rating: Really liked it


This is a good, very interesting Sci-Fi. book. If you enjoy reading books that are out of the ordinary, you should read this book.

This is a book based in the future and everything has changed. For Tally Youngblood she is excited to turn 16 so that she can turn "pretty" (When a child turns 16t they undergo a surgery to make them so) When one of her friends dissappears, they will not give her the surgery, unless she can find and rat out her friend.

Some points of this story can end up dry, but the rest of it can be very... bubbly! (That is the word for cool in the book)


Recommended to: Anybody willing to try a new book

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games


By: Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by: gothiclolitamaiden, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


I read Hunger Games because I wanted to see what all of the hype was about, but I have to say, Hunger Games is possibly one of the best books I have read this year so far (not that I’ve had much time to read), and unlike many of the hyped books I’ve read out of curiosity, I’m glad I read this one.

The idea of a brutal contest where ordinary teens are forced to fight to the death is shocking, disturbing, and intriguing. As I read, I couldn’t help but imagine myself in the same situation, with a choice between committing murder and living. Needless to say, I had a couple of nightmares about it. The scariest part? If you look close enough, you can see the roots of the future society portrayed in the book in our own flawed society. As the world grows increasingly crowded, the gaps between the haves and the have-nots grow wider, and the frivolity of the wealthy Capital dwellers brings to mind the irresponsibility of big business executives.

The book works better as a dystopian sci-fi thriller than as a romance, which is only partially a matter of taste. The romantic elements make the story seem a bit too well-tailored to teenaged readers, out of place beside the darker subject matter.

The characters, though some aren’t alive or present long enough to make a lasting impression, are very human and believable, with both good and bad qualities. Rue’s death had the same effect on me as Dumbledore’s in the sixth Harry Potter book, though her appearances were far fewer. The author has the uncommon ability to touch the readers’ heart, even if the writing isn’t perfect. The lead, Katniss, is strong, sensible, but naïve about certain things, like relationships, in a nearly exasperating way.

The plot moves at a break-neck pace, at times I couldn’t put the book down. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, action or romance.


Recommended to: Anyone who likes sci-fi, action or romance. Teens and adults, for some pretty graphic violence.

L.A. Candy

L.A. Candy


By: Elizabeth Scott
Reviewed by: Lilly, 13
Rating: It was alright...


19 yr old Jane Roberts gets invited to join a reality show, of course she said yes! She soon becomes the next hottest star on t.v. She gets the clothes, she gets to go to the hottest club, she gets everything!! But she soon realizes its not all about the fame


Recommended to: mostly girlz

Mockingjay

Mockingjay


By: Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by: Esther, 13
Rating: Hated it!


Reading this book made me shocked, and depressed.It ruined my view on the whole series. The thing was that I expected so much to happen,and it didnt happen. The author tried to make this book as unsuspectable as possible (that's just wat i believe) there are awesome parts in this book, but just dont set so high expectations like i did. Itll ruin ur view.


Recommended to: Anyone who has already read the first two books of the series

Mockingjay

Mockingjay


By: Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by: Paige G., 16
Rating: It was alright...


We all remember the fabulous hype of finding a new book, but not just a new book. A new treasure of a book, the ones you can't put down, and get you so pumped you can't even think straight. For me and, based off it's immense popularity, others as well, The Hunger Games was one of those treasures. The storyline was exciting, refreshing, and original. A strong heroine who succeeds solely (well, mostly) on her own inner-strength. It was a beautiful book.

Then there was the second of the trilogy: Catching Fire. It was a little disappointing in comparison to the magnificence of its predecessor. Not that the storyline wasn't as original and as fantastic as the first (though there were some fuzzy parts), but it was the introduction of a love triangle that threw me off. I understand wanting to borrow an element that made the Twilight (gag) series so popular, but this is not a Twilight book. This is the Hunger Games, and the Hunger Games I had familiarized myself with didn't need a patronizing love triangle to keep it interesting. It was interesting enough with its strong characters and intriguing, futuristic plotline. The love triangle demoralized it, undercut its greatness, and I was absolutely disappointed to find the second book a constant "Peeta! No Gale! No...Peeta! No, Gale!" scenario. The Katniss I thought I knew cared more about her family and getting back at the Capital than love interests, neither of whom I cared for.

And then...then there was Mockingjay, the final book of the trilogy. If you have not read it, please do not continue reading this review, for there will be spoilers, and I refuse to be responsible for ruining this book for you. That it must do on its own.

First off, I do want to make a quick note: the book is not as terrible as I might express here in a moment. There are very good elements to the book, and it still kept a lot of its originality. There were many twists and "wtf?!" moments; I was on edge the whole time and read it in less than a day, which doesn't happen unless I enjoy, to some degree, what I am reading. That disclaimer made, I shall move on to my equally honest review.

My first issue with this book, and no doubt my largest, is Katniss. The Katniss from The Hunger Games, the Katniss I loved, respected, and admired, is not the same Katniss in Mockingjay. Well of course, you might think, she isn't the same. She has gone through some horrible ordeals, and she has every right to crumble. And I agree; however, I do not like to read about a main character that crumbles constantly. I want to read about the brave, courageous self-sacrificing one who did things she had to do simply because they had to be done, no matter how hard, and she did them without complaint. I want the Katniss back who stood up on that stage, terrified, stunned, but did it without tears or breakdowns because it was what had to be done. I want the Katniss back that went into that arena with her head held high, horrified and petrified, but without fear or regret because it was what had to be done. That's the Katniss I loved.
But in Mockingjay I find myself reading of a different character altogether. The Katniss of Mockingjay is selfish, thoughtless, flighty, oblivious, self-absorbed, and uncooperative. The book begins with a very accurate statement that she hates most everthing. And it is true. She is bitter and harsh, indulging in self-pity every chance she gets. She is unwilling to cooperate out of self-interest, too self-pitying to do what must be done to take down the Capitol. I carefully followed her train of thought throughout the book, and it was always the same. She was concerned first for herself and how something might affect her. A perfect example is when she lets the readers know Peeta's family has died. Instead of expressing sorrow for Peeta, she first laments the fact that now he will have no one but her, inferring that it will be just another burden she must carry. She makes assumptions that the normal Katniss would have never made, such as when the bombs are ready to go off, her first instinct would have been to protect her family, make sure they get to safety, rather than just assume that they will. Likewise, she begins to let the undying love of her two vying lovers go to her head, and she expects their affection, never returning it. The Katniss I knew didn't take advantage of people like that. Another aspect of the whole love-triange thing that bothers me.

So, for me, that was the real killer of the book: Katniss' character. I didn't like her new nature, so it was hard to root for her or relate with her.

There were other things as well that disappointed me about the book. The first being some of the sloppy ways things were done. Some things were too convenient and not very well thought out, it seemed, and some of her imagry was not up to par. For example, I could not at all picture the pods she kept refering to in the streets of the Capitol, nor the terrible seam in the street that opened to what I assumed to be hell, or the entire scene that eventually led to Prim's death. For a climax, it wasn't incredibly vivid.

Then the infernal love-triangle, which wasn't as center a focus as in the second book, but enough to be irritating. With the way Katniss treats the two of them, it is hard to believe they have any undying love for her. I liked Peeta (and I have never really liked him, nor have I really liked Gale) most when he was finally seeing her for what she was: a user. Then suddenly he switched, even though she basically abandoned him in his time of need (to go off and sulk), and the next thing I know Gale and Peeta are up in the middle of the night joking about who would get her. I had been under the impression that Peeta was just supressing the instinct not to kill her. It was very messy and demeaning for me.

Finally, my next big problem with Collins is the people she chose to kill. Basically, in short, all my favorite people. Cinna (we all secretly hoped he was alive). Finnick (whom I grew very fond of in this book). And worst of all (you know whom I'm going to say), Prim. Unfortunately I was in the middle of class when I read this part, so I couldnt bawl my eyes out like I wanted to. Prim, the one name I've always been happy to see on a page, was dead. I understand the purpose, emotional impact, but that doesn't make me any less frustrated or horrified. I truly wish she could have picked another character to emotionally impact me. Perhaps Haymitch, whom I love, but could perhaps pick up the book again knowing what I know.

In short, Mockingjay was a disappointment. But I still recommend it. Why? Because it is part of the Hunger Games, and the Hunger Games deserves to be read through.

The Mockingjay, I suppose, must be freed.


Recommended to: Anyone who read the first two...

Animal

Animal

By: Ke$ha
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: It was alright...


One thing I can say about this CD, the songs are addicting. The auto-tune in about most of the songs on the CD does make it sound cool. And what I like about Ke$ha is that she actually wrote her own songs. Not unusual since her mom was a songwriter.
Roots of the singer: She used to live off of food stamps in her teens and she explained why there's the dollar sign in her name.

Anothe thing about the songs, they suprisingly make sense. For many people, love is like a drug as sung in her song "Your Love is my Drug". (*Note: do NOT watch the accompanying music video, it is weirdly horrible) But for many of them, they seem to be perfect club, party songs (e.g. "Tik Tok" and "Take it Off").
Overall, it would be a great party music CD.


Recommended to: Teens, Party-animals, etc.

The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife


By: Audrey Niffenegger
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: It was alright...


I remember that a few months ago I reviewed the movie of the same name. Just recently, I happened to pick up the book of which the motion picture was adapted from.

The book has some parts that the movie missed out on but is undertsandable because there are some things movie technology cannot recreate and also would make the movie run too long. Some of the scenes seem to be more graphically described than in the movie. And the beginning and end of the book was very different than the movie.
On the book itself, I find Henry with a chrono-displacement disorder (which causes him to time-travel when stressed) kind of awkward because at the same time, his clothes fall off. I do acknowledge Clare's good patience and love for Henry for always making her wait and etcetera. And anyways, it is another sappy romance...and the ending is sad. Also, the graphic parts may make someone with a sensitive stomach vomit...


Recommended to: fans of romance novels, women