Wonderland

By Joanna Nadin

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Jude has to get out of tiny Churchtown. She has to escape her outcast status and her pathetic dad, who hasn’t gotten past her mother’s death. The one bright light is drama, her way out, if only she can get into the Lab, a prestigious program in London. Then Stella, Jude’s childhood best friend, swaggers in after years away. With bold and magnetic Stella by her side, Jude knows she’s capable of anything. But Stella’s influence extends well beyond the theater. Soon Stella’s wild and dangerous streak begins to cause trouble for Jude -- yet Jude can’t bring herself to abandon Stella and the attention she’s always craved. And besides, now that Stella’s back, there’s no stopping her. In Jude’s dark and tangled story, British author Joanna Nadin plumbs the aftermath of loss and the consequences of becoming the person you always wished you were.

She’s back. Jude’s childhood friend -- sexy, daring Stella-- returns to their stifling hometown, and life will never be the same again

My Thoughts:

     I've seen a lot of mixed reviews of this book on Good Reads, but to be honest, I really enjoyed it.
At first I just thought it was the worn out tale of girl with the brilliant best friend who outshines her in everything, but it is so much more.
   I started figuring things out for myself before the big reveal near the end of the book, and I wished Nadin had taken more of an opportunity to explore how Jude felt about what she just found out. That part of the story was all a bit to rushed and sudden.
    Jude's passion to be an actor was believable, and her experience was relateable to me as someone who is involved with performing arts.
    The theme of identity was prevalent throughout the novel. Jude's struggle seemed genuine enough, rather typical, but it was there.
    Over all I liked this book. I didn't really know what it was about when I started reading it, but I'm glad I did.

The Book of Lost Things

By John Connolly


Summery:

High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imagination and soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populated by heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things.
Taking readers on a vivid journey through the loss of innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Times bestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling tale that reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives.

My Thoughts:

I read this book awhile ago and really enjoyed it.
It was the list of possible choices for my ISU, so I decided to revisit it.
This week I'm mostly focusing on getting that sucker done. It's due on Friday, and I haven't even started yet...

I love fairy tales, and this was like one of the originals.
Dark, sinister, twisted and a little bit gory.
But still there was a slant of childhood light through out.

I'm kind of excited to get to write more in depth about this book for my course.
But also a bit nervous, since I've never worked on an ISU before.

City of Fallen Angels

By Cassandra Clare

Summery:

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.
My Thoughts:

I LOVE this series. I don't want to be attacked by the die-hards, but think I like this more than Harry Potter.
Don't shoot me.
I think one of the reasons is the anticipation for each new book to come out.
I never had that with Harry Potter. I only started reading it when the last book was about to be published. So basically I could just read that entire series with out having to wait for the next book.
Don't get me wrong. I definitely enjoyed Harry Potter, but I kind of like the cliffhangers that beg to be resolved with Cassandra Clare's books.


I felt like I could see where every one's relationship status was going to be from a mile away.
I liked it. But it seemed too... obvious.

So, I loved this book. But I feel like Clary and Jace don't need anymore drama. I think the two of them should just get a break so they could be happy for a bit.
But no.
If that happened, there would be no story.