Lois Lowry - Gathering Blue

Release date: September 25, 2012

Series: The Giver #2
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
Format: Hardback
Pages: 256 pages
Source: purchased
Genre: YA Dystopia Magic 

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Synopsis

In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever. As she did in The Giver, Lowry challenges readers to imagine what our world could become, and what will be considered valuable. Every reader will be taken by Kira's plight and will long ponder her haunting world and the hope for the future.

This first companion novel to The Giver was definitely an ode to one of the most important elements in the previous book, namely the discovery of colors. Jonas is not present in this book and the new heroine is Kira, who was born with a crooked leg in the wrong place. Weakness is not tolerated and punishable by death. She's an orphan and has to face the ones that want to take her down alone. Fortunately, she's saved by a magical talent: a gift that reminds us of Jonas's. It doesn't work the same way at all but her ability is as important. 

This second book is breathtakingly beautiful. The world created by Lois Lowry is so vivid. The action is a little bit more fast-paced in Gathering Blue, only because there is the dimension of physical violence and decaying society and mortal lies going on. When in The Giver, the Community was pretending to protect society at any cost, here things are clearer. There is concealed corruption but the rotten state of the city they live in is a secret to no one. 

Kira is a little less acute than Jonas was - the character that may be reflective of the young Giver is the child Matty. Yet, she is a fine observer of life and turns out not to be a naive girl. The duo Kira/Matty is amazing in this book, adorable and powerful! They take us into their adventure to look for the blue color and lead us to poignant revelations.

When I read this book last year, I was well aware of the outcome. I absolutely adored the book even though there was no surprise at all. Again, Lois Lowry's writing was all it took for a complete mind blowing. But I guess it would have been even more remarkable when I was younger and less perceptive... haha. I definitely recommend you reading this one too (all the series in fact).

Stephenie Meyer - Breaking Dawn

Release date: August 2nd, 2008
Series: The Twilight Saga #4
Publisher: Atom
Format: Paperback
Pages: 720 pages
Source: purchased
Genre: YA

Twilight #1 - New Moon #2 - Eclipse #3

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Synopsis

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to a werewolf Jacob Black, she has endured a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife to reach the ultimate turning point. her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fate of two tribes hangs. Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating and unfathomable consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life - first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse- seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed...forever? The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga,Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

This fourth and last installment was both a pleasant surprise and a bit of a let down. I enjoyed the first part of the book, with the sweet and intense moments of the honeymoon. The landscape sounds amazing and matches the beauty of Edward & Bella's love and eternal engagement. I enjoyed the some bits of the second part, with Bella decaying and experiencing pregnancy and getting a taste at what being a vampire is and delivering the baby. I was less fond of Jacob's presence - though he wasn't as annoying to me as he was in Eclipse - as he couldn't keep thinking how right he was and how better Bella's life would be if she had chosen him. 

Three years after reading the book I still don't know what to think about the last part of the book. The war dimension between the Volturi and the Cullens/the wolf tribe/other vampires was awesome though I wish it had been more exploited. The gift thing was definitely cool but no fight really took place. That was such a pity! Though I was fond of the idea of a baby vampire, I have to say that "Renesmee" was too much weirdness and I still don't get how Edward was technically able to father a child - okay, it's fiction not reality but still, you got to be logical! Let's not even talk about Jacob's imprinting on E & B's daughter...

Breaking Dawn would have been much better if something actually happened in the end. It feels like the characters learn to attack and defend themselves for nothing. The gory childbirth and the vampire transformation/discipline were definitely the most exciting and gripping moments of the book. However, I also did find the search for other children like Renesmee very interesting. Alice tries to go find the origin of what they think to be a myth and leaves mysterious messages behind her. This was an aspect of the book I particularly enjoyed as well as the presence of other gifted (or not) vampires.

Not the best final installment ever but still a quite satisfying read!

Stephenie Meyer - Eclipse

Release date: August 4th, 2007
Series: The Twilight Saga #3
Publisher: Atom
Format: Paperback
Pages: 576 pages
Source: purchased
Genre: YA

Twilight #1 - New Moon #2 

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Synopsis

As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which? Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devourEclipse, the much-anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga.

The third installment definitely was the one I less appreciated mostly because of the characters, which I found particularly annoying and whiny and childish (Bella and Jacob, I'm not pointing at you at all...). The way Bella acted after Edward returned was selfish and inappropriate. He made it clear that he left to protect her and that he loves her more than anyone else in his existence and yet she's not satisfied. I understand her feelings are messed up but her behavior was not forgivable to me and it made me even more angry at Edward who passively watched her get closer and closer to Jacob without even blinking. Plus, I usually hate love triangles so it was even worse as the book went on. 

Apart from that, I really enjoyed knowing more about two puzzling and cryptic Cullens, namely Rosalie and Jasper. As the latter was one of the main reasons why Edward left in the second book, I was glad to finally know his story. Both characters have a dark past and I think that the pain of it and of remembrance added substance to the book, which was going berserk with all the romantic dramas. The presence of the Volturi and the newborn vampire army made the story even more frantic. Whereas New Moon was slow and emotional, Eclipse is fast-paced and action-packed which is really awesome as well. I enjoyed both rhythms for completely different reasons. 

If the series had started with a book like Eclipse - with so many annoying characters, paradoxical emotions and childish behaviors - I don't think I would have recommended it. Fortunately it didn't, so I just figured it was a mistake. But it definitely was a let down for me though I enjoyed some aspects.

Stephenie Meyer - New Moon

Release date: September 6th 2007
Series: The Twilight Saga #2
Publisher: Atom
Format: Paperback
Pages: 512 pages
Source: purchased
Genre: YA

Twilight #1 review


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Synopsis

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning... Legions of readers entranced by New York Times bestseller Twilight are hungry for the continuing story of star-crossed lovers Bella and Edward. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural spin. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

This second installment crushed my heart, period. As I told you in my Twilight review, I am Team Edward. Imagine my grief when the most thoughtful and careful and gentle - and.. well, you got the idea - guy vampire on Earth in my universe ditches Bella in the woods. And doesn't come back until the end of the book. I think I cried more than Bella did. I knew he would be coming back because what would the point be to two other books?! Yet, I was awfully saddened by his being gone. Plus, who joins the party when the Cullens depart? Jacob, yay... I was definitely not a huge fan of him in this second book and it annoyed be than he was trying to talk Bella into being with him. I knew he meant well but he just did not know anything and his ignorance made me boil inside. 

Other than that, I think Stephenie Meyer took her writing to a new level in New Moon. The emotions were powerful and excruciating. For those who had experienced a broken heart, it was easy to connect to Bella. Since the bond between her and Edward is so strong, the pain was even more vivid. The exploration of passion was a judicious choice as it complements the forbidden love dimension that is so dominant in Twilight. 

Yet, there was so much more to the story than only Bella's broken heart. The bizarre and twisted world in which Bella lives is expanded with the realization of the existence of more than one magical/night-ish creature. Characters evolve as they come to terms with their situation and I enjoyed that attribute. 

The end of New Moon is absolutely amazing - as soon as Bella meets with Alice (who is one of the most awesome vampire chicks in the whole vampire community) the story really awoke me (the same way it awoke Bella) and oh my, my heart definitely skipped a few beats while I was reading the last hundred pages. The Volturi (especially Jane) are bad ass and I enjoyed the way they were introduced for the rest of the saga. 

Though New Moon made me cry myself to sleep, it is my second favorite book in the Twilight series.

Stephenie Meyer - Twilight

Release date: September 6th, 2006
Series: The Twilight Saga #1
Publisher: Atom
Format: Paperback
Pages: 464 pages
Source: purchased
Genre: YA


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Synopsis

Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife-between desire and danger.Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

I read Twilight just before the frenzy of the movie began, right at the moment of Breaking Dawn's (Book 4) release. It was the first time I re entered the enjoyable book world. Back then, all I was reading was text books for my course and I wouldn't say it was much of a pleasure. Plus, since I was not doing that well - emotionally speaking - in 2008, Twilight definitely brought back a smile on my face. 

Now, 4 years later (just before Breaking Dawn Part II's release), I feel overwhelmed by what surrounds the whole series. Haters are ruining the saga and fangirls are definitely not helping it either. But looking at the story itself, the one Stephenie Meyer wrote, there's nothing bad I have to say about it. There are some flaws and perhaps the sexual tension disadvantages the book. However, there is a lot more to it, like tolerance and love. The myth of the vampire is totally revisited and I think there's a sublime touch to it. Yes, the vampires sparkle in the sun. And what?! They don't have to be ugly. They have to be dangerous, to feel endangering. And some definitely are in this first installment. 

I enjoyed every chapter, every line. Some gave me goosebumps, other had me thrilled. I loved (and still do) all the characters, though I have to warn you: I am Team Edward. Jacob annoyed me so much until the third part of Breaking Dawn (spoilers) when he finally came around and forgot Bella. I was a big fan of her in the first two books. In Eclipse (book 3),  I seriously wanted to shake her and slap her. Fortunately, she righted the wrongs she'd done in the fourth book and though she is so stubborn, she was turning into the heroine I thought I'd lost. All this makes me say that Twilight was definitely the best one in the whole series. I wasn't bothered by anything in particular and I was completely under the spell of the Cullen's family and Charlie's and Renee's, Bella's parents. 

The foggy, rainy town of Forks and the whole Portland region somehow added the obscurity that the story needed. It was expected but still an interesting choice and definitely creepy at some points. The mystery around the vampires was easily solved but the real deal was learning about the different stories of the Cullens, their gifts and powers. What they were capable of. The contrast between veggie vampires and blood-craver vampires was really good. Both clans were charismatic and brought a lot to the story, as well as the romance and the family/human dimension.

All in all, Twilight was a fave in 2008 and still a big hit for me in 2012.