Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)

Hey Readers! Surprise! Another review! I just remembered that I read this book over winter break. It's really skinny, and easy to read in small bits. If you have a LOT of work and are looking for something lighter, this is for you! You might recognize Mindy Kaling as Kelly from The Office, or from her new show, The Mindy Project (i highly recommend both shows). But did you know she wrote for both those shows, and has been a guest writer for SNL? She is hilarious, and her book is basically a funnily narrated autobiography, filled with awesome stories and interesting ideas. It has a lot of great life lessons, as well as like 50 laugh-out-loud moments per page. So if you're super busy, just carry this book around for some light reading.
<3
Alice

Review: Divergent & Insurgent

Hey Everyone! We are SO sorry for not updating lately, but high school is a lot busier than I thought! We hope you'll keep reading, because we plan to post more :). I've read a lot of books this past fall, but one book that really stands out is Divergent by Veronica Roth, and the sequel, Insurgent. If you like the Hunger Games, this is a must read! Basically, it's about a distopian world sometime in the future where the government is split up into five "factions" based on what they think the most important quality of government is.

The factions are Dauntless (who believe in bravery), the Candor (honesty), Amity (kindness), Abnegation (selflessness), and Erudite (knowledge). When each person reaches a certain age (around 14 or 15), they can choose to transfer into a different faction than the one they were born in based on their beliefs. Our heroine, Tris (short for beatrice), was born in Abnegation, but transfered to Dauntless. This was a huge leap, and the initiation was full of hurdles. The first book is about her initiation into Dauntless, including overcoming simulated "fear landscapes," finding love, making enemies, and figuring out that she might not fit in to just one faction. The next book starts out slow, but it is completely worth reading! I recommend these books so much, and don't worry, there IS a third one coming out!
Happy Reading!
Alice

P.S. If you want to read along with me, I'm currently reading The Casual Vacancy (Rowling), Wicked (Maguire), and Let it Snow (Green, Myracle, Johnson). I'll review one of them next!

Review: The Sweet Far Thing

Hi Everyone!!

So... I know I haven't posted anything lately, and I apologize for not!! I can't believe it is already 2013. Another year gone by, and I unfortunately can't say that I have been doing much reading lately. High school has been quite busy. Other than what we have been assigned in school, I have not been reading for fun on a normal basis.  However, I have been trying to read The Sweet Far Thing, by Libba Bray, when I have time. Though it is long, I so far would highly recommend it. I am really enjoying it, and I would recommend it for anyone who loves romance, historical fiction, and fantasy. The third book in the trilogy of A Great and Terrible Beauty, the romance between Kartik and Gemma is continued, though Kartik is not in a portion of the book. Gemma still has the magic of the realms, and Gemma and Felicity are preparing to make their debuts in London's society, while Ann is struggling to think of a way to avoid having to become a governess to her awful cousins. Dealing with the scandals of the upper class of London during the reign of Queen Victoria and the troubles of the realms at the same time, Gemma Doyle is faced with many challenges that make for an exciting book. The Sweet Far Thing is so far very enjoyable, and I will let you all know when I finish it!! :)

Until next time,
~Anne Shirley~