Cinder: The Lunar Chronicles

The first book in The Lunar Chronicles, Cinder, was a brilliant first novel by Marissa Meyer. After forcing myself through the first chapter, which wasn't exactly intriguing, (although, it could be that I just finished another book prior to starting this one, and have a hard time focusing on a new story line so soon), I ended up getting sucked right into the world of New Beijing, set far into the future, where the world is filled with Androids and humans who are half-android, including the main character, named Cinder. There's a plague that is killing people in all the countries, that was transmitted unknowingly by Lunar escapees from the Moon.

The story has a lot of Cinderella qualities . . . Cinder has an evil step-mother and sister, she's not allowed to attend the ball, she works and cleans for her step-mother and has a dead father, who is actually her adoptive father. Other than a few details here and there, it's actually quite different than the classic story of Cinderella. 

To me, some parts were quite predictable, but what's great is the fact that it's still a really amazingly written book. Even though I knew some parts of the story, the way it was told made me keep reading and reading. Marissa Meyer's did such a wonderful job making readers FEEL for Cinder. My heart cringed every time she interacted with her "family", it was written so believably yet it's hard to believe some people are so cruel (yet people are.)

The love story is really good too, however I would have liked it if Cinder flirted with Prince Kai a bit more, I found her a bit stand-offish a lot of times when they interacted. I understand why, but she could have been softer with him.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Cinder and am excited to read the rest of The Lunar Chronicles, especially because Meyer's wrote the ending spectacularly. Keep checking my blog for future reviews on the rest of series!

Love,
Elle Marie

Pretty Little Devils Book Review

image via www.amazon.com

Don't get Pretty Little Devils confused with the amazing book series Pretty Little Liars, because honestly, it has many, many differences. Yes, they're both set in High School, there's murder in the plot, and those murderers use the same method of communicating with those they're torturing- by texts, calls, and emails. But other than that, the characters and their relationships to one another is very different, as are the plots.

Pretty Little Devils was a pretty decent read. It kept me hooked and in suspense the whole time. While reading this book I kept changing my mind as to who I believed to be the killer. I thought four different people could have been it, which makes it obvious that it's the kind of book that will keep you on your toes.

I think a few characters lacked depth, but those usually were the ones who were killed. Also, the way the teenagers spoke at times wasn't very realistic. It seems some authors just don't get how younger people talk, and that can really ruin moments in books. It can make a character, whom you start to feel could be a real person, not seem so real anymore.

Pretty Little Devils was an easy, suspenseful, and interesting book. The ending left it open for a sequel, but since the book was written in '06, and Nancy Holder is busy with many other projects, it's hard to believe there will ever be another PLD book. I find that very disappointing. It sucks when a good book ends with a cliffhanger and then there's no follow up. It would have been awesome to see the author develop the characters even more and to see what happens to the group of girls involved. 

I guess I'm just very mixed about it. Had there been a sequel or a complete closing to the story, I would have been jumping for joy over this book. But the always wondering of what the author could have written after is really irking me!

I would recommend this book to those who don't mind slight cliffhangers, because it's worth the read. Plus, if you read fast like me, it can be read in a day or two. Oh and by the way, if you've seen the movie Legacy (also known by the title of Pretty Little Devils), don't be fooled, the book and the movie are nothing alike.

xoxo

e.m.

For book description:

Pretty Little Devils-Amazon

Uh-Oh Jane Green!

Jane Green is one of my favorite authors. Jemima J and Switching Lives were absolutely fabulous. In fact, you should read those books as soon as you can (especially Jemima J!!!). However, I was quite disappointed in her novel Straight Talking.

It's one of those books that was hard to get into, but once I was so far into the book, I just had to finish. Most books make me think about them long after, and if they're really good, I suggest that all my friends read them. But when it comes to Straight Talking I'd suggest saving your time and money. It's definitely not the worst book I've ever read, and I guess I can honestly say it was somewhat enjoyable. But is that what you want when you read a book? To finish it and think "eh, that was... okay"?

Maybe my standards were too high because I just love her other books, but, that's the point right? When you find an author you like, you expect all their books to be written with the same kind of feeling. To be entranced just like you have before. And I just wasn't. In fact, had I read this book before some of her others, I wouldn't even have bothered picking up another one of her books.

image via www.amazon.com

Tash, the leading lady of Straight Talking was not only stuck-up, but not at all relatable. What's funny about it especially, is that Tash talks directly to the reader and says, quite often, things like "Don't judge me, you know you 'd do it too". Which is supposed to make you feel like, yes, I do that too, I relate to you. But, it makes her come off as a bitch. And don't get me started at the way she talks about her friends. It's unbelievable. She says she loves them dearly, but I just can't get over the fact that she does talk a lot of mad shiz about them.

And the way she treats the lead male, Adam, is horrendous. (SPOILER)---How Adam could take her back and still love her after she cheated on him and treated him, is beyond me. Also, she's kind of a skank. I mean, yea, we females may sleep around at times, but she does it in a very slutty way, not a (again) "relatable" way. The fact that she is going to keep that huge lie from Adam for the rest of their relationship, is despicable.

After a book ends and it's the happy ever after kind of end, I usually assume that they (duh) live happily ever after. Not with Straight Talking. I am going to assume that Adam eventually finds out about stupid slutty Tasha and breaks up with her and all her friends leave her in the dust because, really, they're better off without her. Mwuahahaha <---evil laugh.

xoxo
e.m.

Death at a Funeral

The American version of Death at a Funeral was the kind of movie that was funny when it was supposed to be funny. You'd think that would make it a great comedic movie, right? Well, you would only be half right. A movie should have all it's parts blend together well, even when it comes to comedies. Every moment that was a joke made me laugh, but those other moments, the scenes between the comedy, just didn't flow together at all.

I'd blame it mostly on Luke Wilson and Zoe Saldana's characters. Honestly, their scenes looked like they were put in by accident. There was no clear dialog or realistic story between the two of them. I guess I'd say it felt like the editors had to cut time out of the movie, so they cut out the parts that made their scenes make sense. It seemed like there was supposed to be something important between them whenever they were on the screen together, but it never really worked out, instead, it only felt awkward. A shame, because I dig Luke Wilson.

image via www.imdb.com

Unfortunately not every actors lines were funny. I don't think it was the actors fault, because they're all very funny comedians. I think the script lacked comedic moments for certain characters. The funniest person was James Marsden. It could have been because he was high as hell the whole movie, but he pulled it off very convincingly! His scenes were the best, and close second would be Tracy Morgan. He does one liners like no other. His bathroom scene (in the movie trailer, it's the scene where his hand gets stuck under Danny Glovers butt when he's pooping), was super funny. But it also made me gag. I really thought I was going to throw up! Eck, just replaying it in my head is making me sick!

This is the kind of movie I'd suggest waiting until it's on DVD to watch. I'm not saying it was bad, in fact, it wasn't bad at all. I really enjoyed it, even through the gagging. I think the actors did the best job they could, given what they were given with the script. The comedic scenes were seriously hilarious. A few times the whole theater, including me, started yelling things like "ohhh, nooo!! Gross" or "What?! Oh my god!" while laughing. But I wouldn't have minded waiting and saving a few bucks to watch Death at a Funeral on DVD.

xoxo
e.m.

Repo'd my heart!

Was that corny? Well, that is how I now feel about Jude Law. Because I never liked the dude, he just seemed so smug and forgettable. Until Repo Men. Let's start off with the fact that this movie was wickedly good. It may have made me feel a little sick (let's just say that there was a ton of blood), but it was the kind of sick I was okay with.

Now, Law, he was sexy as hell in that movie. Talk about a good looking face! I just can't get over it. He has officially won me over. Yum. And, the sexy Forest Whitaker was just as delish. Yea I know, he has a wonky eye, and he's not the usual man a girl finds attractive, but c'mon, he is one amazing actor. And a total badass. Have you seen Vantage Point? Exactly.

The movie has a big twist in it that I did not see coming (isn't that the point?), but I guess my brother was paying more attention because he caught onto it. Regardless, it was a very well written movie, with fantastic acting. The only bad thing about this movie was the coat Beth (Alice Braga) wore, it was ridiculously ugly. Hey, I'm just saying!

This is most definitely on the top of my favorite movie list. The scene where (slight SPOILER) they repo themselves... was freakin' brilliant! And the ending... it brought me to tears. If you haven't seen this, get your ass to the theater, it's worth it. (It's playing at the $3 theater in Vancouver, WA).

xoxo
e.m.

image via www.impawards.com