Friday, August 26, 2011

Bunheads by Sophie Flack




Reading Hammock’s Rating:
5
Category:
Fiction
Fiction Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Title:
Bunheads
Author:
Sophie Flack
Author Website:
ISBN-10:
0316126535
ISBN-13:
978-0316126533
Publication Date:
October 2011
Publisher:
Little Brown Bks Young Readers
Format:
Hardcover | Digital


Borders
(None)
(Not available in stores yet)

Author Synopsis:

On-stage beauty. Backstage drama. 

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet. 

But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

My review:

I recently picked up an advanced copy of this book at the Book Expo of America (BEA).  It hasn’t been published yet, however, it will be coming out soon in October. 

“Bunheads” is a daring story about a young woman trying to figure out her life--- choosing between her fantasy life of ballet and the more harsh reality of college filled with responsibilities.  Since the author, Sophie Flack, used to be a professional ballet dancer, this book is based on many of her personal experiences.  Flack’s story took me into the reality of a dancer and what really happens backstage. 

Flack described the passion of the main character, Hannah, as she pours her heart and soul onto the stage.  She also gave the story veracity by elegantly tucking in a couple of dancing terms, such as ‘a piqué from a bourrée.’  Flack also showed Hannah’s conflicts about her job.  Even though she loves her career, she is trapped within the world of dancing.  Throughout the story, Hannah is presented with the ultimate choice between the constrictions of the dancing world and the opportunities an education will give her. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Firelight by Sophie Jordan



Reading Hammock’s Rating:
3 ½
Category:
Fiction
Fiction Genre:
Paranormal Romance
Title:
Firelight
Author:
Sophie Jordan
Author Website:
ISBN-10:
0061935085
ISBN-13:
978-0061935084
Publication Date:
September, 2010
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers
Format:
Paperback | Hardcover | Digital | Audio


(eBook only)



Synopsis:

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched.  But she longs for freedom to make her own choices.  When she breaks the most sacred tenet of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her.  For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense. 

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt.  The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner drake to life.  Although she is irrestibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret:  He and his family are hunters.  She should avoid him at all costs.  But her inner drake is slowly slipping away – it if dies she will be left a human forever.  She’ll do anything to prevent that.  Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. 

Mythical powers and irresistible passion ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide…

My review:

I didn’t enjoy this novel very much because I am not a fan of “Twilight” or paranormal romance.  However, having said this, I do believe “Firelight” is a great read for Twilight lovers or others who are drawn toward the genre of paranormal romance. 
I liked how Jordan uses descriptive words to enhance the story and helps the reader feel as though they are experiencing the story through the eyes of the main character, Jacinda, and not just observing her from afar.  Even though Jacinda has wings, the reader feels connected to her because of the many human struggles she goes through in making the right decision for herself, and family. 

One aspect of the story that didn’t meet my standards was the ending.  The story was winding on and came to a sudden stop, without a significant falling action.  The ending surprised me when it came along and I could tell that Jordan created it in such a way that she could write a sequel. 

After doing some research, it turns out that there is a sequel to this novel, “Vanish.”  It will be available on September 6th, so for all those paranormal romance fans out there, start reading “Firelight” now so that you are caught up in time for “Vanish.”   

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The House of the Scorpion By Nancy Farmer




Reading Hammock’s Rating:
5 out of 5
Category:
Fiction
Fiction Genre:
SciFi
Title:
The House of the Scorpion
Author:
Nancy Farmer
Author Website:
ISBN-10:
0689852223
ISBN-13:
978-0689852220
Publication Date:
September, 2002
Publisher:
Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
Format:
Hardcover | Paperback | Digital | Audio









Author Synopsis:

Matteo Alacran was not born; he was harvested
His DNA came from El Patrón, lord of a country called Opium — a strip of poppy fields lying between the United States and what was once called Mexico. Matt's first cell split and divided inside a petri dish. Then he was placed in the womb of a cow, where he continued the miraculous journey from embryo to fetus to baby. He is a boy now, but most consider him a monster — except for El Patrón. El Patrón loves Matt as he loves himself, because Matt is himself.
As Matt struggles to understand his existence, he is threatened by a sinister cast of characters, including El Patrón's power-hungry family, and he is surrounded by a dangerous army of bodyguards. Escape is the only chance Matt has to survive. But escape from the Alacrán Estate is no guarantee of freedom, because Matt is marked by his difference in ways he doesn't even suspect.

My review:

            I thoroughly enjoyed this story.  While Matt is a clone, he still embodies human qualities.  I was drawn in by Farmer’s technique of exploring Matt’s feelings about life as a clone.  Through her description, I could clearly imagine what his childhood must have been like. The thrilling suspense of whether Matt will sacrifice himself to save El Patrón’s life or choose to free the plantation residents from El Patron’s control, kept me reading late into the night.  Farmer created a fast paced science fiction story that contains unexpected twists in the plot. 

         Although I love this novel by Nancy Farmer, I haven’t found her other novels up to par with this one.  She doesn’t have the same suspense running throughout her other stories.  If you loved “The House of the Scorpion” you shouldn’t have the same expectations for other Nancy Farmer books.  

Monday, August 15, 2011

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho




Reading Hammock’s Rating:
5 out of 5
Category:
Fiction
Fiction Genre:
Literary Fiction
Title:
Alchemist
Author:
Paulo Coelho
Author Website:
ISBN-10:
           0062502174
ISBN-13:
978-0062502179
Publication Date:
April, 1993
Publisher:
HarperSanFrancisco
Format:
Paperback | Hardcover | Digital | Audio









Synopsis:

           Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world, and this tenth anniversary edition, with a new introduction from the author, will only increase that following. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

My review:

            I would recommend The Alchemist to readers who love old fables, retold from a modern perspective.  Someone who enjoys listening to the author’s hidden meanings might also find this novel interesting.  I not only enjoyed Coelho’s whimsical plot, containing alchemists, magic, and realistic situations, but also appreciated the life lessons he weaved into Santiago’s journey.  This is one of the few books that affected my life in a greater way and after finishing the story, Coelho’s poetic quotes refined my perspective of life as an ongoing adventure.


Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards




Reading Hammock’s Rating:
5 out of 5
Category:
Fiction
Title:
Mandy
Author:
Julie Andrews Edwards
Author Website:
ISBN-10:
0061131628
ISBN-13:
978-0061131622
Publication Date:
August, 2006
Publisher:
HarperCollins
Format:
Paperback | Hardcover | Audio













Author Synopsis:

       The magic of finding a home Mandy, a ten-year-old orphan, dreams of a place to call her own. Escaping over the orphanage wall to explore the outside world, Mandy discovers a tiny deserted cottage in the woods. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Mandy works to make it truly hers. Sometimes she "borrows" things she needs from the orphanage. Sometimes, to guard her secret, she even lies. Then, one stormy night at the cottage, Mandy gets sick, and no one knows how to find her--except a special friend she didn't know she had.

My review:

       I have loved this novel ever since I read it when I was little.  Since this book is only around 260 pages, with big text, it is perfect for younger readers, who are beginning to read longer novels.  This is a cute story about a young girl, living in an orphanage, who makes a place of her own in an abandoned cottage over the stone wall of her orphanage.  Edwards uses nice descriptive language of Mandy’s happy encounters with delightful animals at her cottage and happiness of finally having a place of her own.  Edwards also describes Mandy’s longing to sneak off and visit her cottage, even in the middle of a storm while she is sick.  Mandy’s story is not only about her happiness but also about her internal struggles as she cannot pay for all of the expenses of the cottage and resorts to stealing from the orphanage.  Although I would mainly recommend this book to younger readers, I recently reread this book and enjoyed it as much as when I read it for the first time, when I was younger.