Book: A Wounded Name

Since falling in love with the book Falling For Hamlet I have wanted to read more books like it. So when I saw this I thought it was worth the try. I mean the cover is just to die for. How could you not be interested with that?
First off this book is very different from Falling For Hamlet. From page one this book had a much darker tone.  And the writing was beautiful and pulled me right in.  I did have a hard time with how dark the book was and though it says modern times I did feel that there was a really old fashion feel to the writing and story. Not that I minded but I could not help but feel like the characters were older and from a different time just living here in our world. I know that is what the writer was going for and it worked but at times the book just lost the modern feel. And I really wanted to keep that there because I feel that setting and time are one of the most interesting parts of any story.
At times this story was very slow going. It worked because the writing I felt made up for it over all. But this is not a book that people who do not love to read will get through. It's not going to pull them in and hold them the way a story with more action or thrill will. Plus this book is very sad and has a real broken feel to it.  The book does at times feel like it is dragging on a bit.
This book did draw me in because I found reading about hamlets unraveling mind so interesting. I think that is one of the things that has made the story of Hamlet so special and why people can't get enough of it.That and the love story. This book does a great job with those two points.
Over all this book was much darker take on Hamlet than Falling For Hamlet was. Though this was very good and had lots of great points I felt Falling for hamlet was the better read and that more people will like it. It reaches a wider group of readers.

( YA - 14 and up)
Stars: * * * 3. 4




I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book

Movie: Oz The Great And Powerful

 Let me start off by saying that I did not see this movie in the theater ( so no big 3D effect for me) because I had a feeling it was going to be a really bad movie.This movie was yet again another case of Disney throwing money out the window. It seems to me that all they can do is deliver their best worst movie.
The first problem with this film was that it tried to be a rip off Baz Luhrmann and the Wizard of Oz. Baz Luhrmann is a very talented but very hit or miss filmmaker. I was really shocked that they tried to make the film in a style so much like his.Also I felt that there was Tim Burton undertone that really threw off the story and the actors.
The one thing that made the movie okay to sit through was the CGI. But even  CGI could not cover up the bad storytelling and poor acting.There were so many mistakes in the film and scenes that should have been cut out. OR lines. So many lines that should have been rewritten. Really the film was weak all the way around. It had so much of it that was just pointless or poorly done.
There really were only a few good points in the film. The open credit roll was very good and I liked how they did that. That's something I would like to see more of in movies today.
Really the worst thing about the film was how long it was. I think that it could have been cut down to about an hour and forty-five minutes. That would have by far made it a much better movie. The fat would have been cut out and I would not have felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin watching it.
Over all I have to say that I was pretty let down with film even though I had the bar and my hopes set really low. I can not say that I would tell anyone to see this movie unless they were a fan of Wicked.

( PG-13)
Stars: * * 2.8

Book: Awaken

First off this is a bittersweet read. I have loved these books so much and as happy as I am to see what happens and I hope for a happy ever after I'm a little sad to say good-bye. As you can tell from my many Meg Cabot reviews I love her work and find her to be a great writer. Her stories are always just the right mix of love story, humor, action, and character. No matter what her books are going to be worth the read,which is why I love her so much. No matter what I know I'm in for a treat. and being a review that is something I don't get a lot. I open the book and hope for the best. With her I know that there is going to be something good about the book without a doubt.
And let me just say that this book is in no ways a let down to fans of first two.It was wonderful.
But before I really get in to the heart of the review I would like to take this moment to yet again bring up how tired I am of all the silly god loving nut cases in the books are homeschooled. It is a really bad joke and poorly done. Homeschooled people are not losers and saying these things about them just gives them a bad rep and makes life ten times harder for them. Like getting ask the worlds stupidest questions.I know its one line in the book but it is still.
As for the characters and story of the book they were pretty good. The characters were much the same as in all of Meg's books - I liked it though and I think that some how she makes it work were a lot of other writers don't. When you look at these books over all you do see a lot of slow and sometimes fast changes in the characters.Each character seems very realistic and well thought out when it comes to their action and personal changes. And all of them make sense. I understand the part that they play in each story.
As for the story I love how in this book it is all about the girl saving the guy but it not done in that over the top pushy way. I love the mix of greek myth in the book as well.It is not over powering and its not under played and half done. Which is something that a lot of YA books do wrong.Only real down side to the book? as great as it is and as much as I like it there was just something missing to give it that "I'm in love"factor. I think that I would have liked a few more little twist and for the book to have pushed the edge a little. Now I'm not saying Edgy. But I love how with the airhead novels it felt like nothing was held back and I would have liked the same from this a little more.
Over all a very fitting end to the series. And though its not a 5 star book I still would have to pick this as one of the best books I have read this year and in a long time!I would highly recommend this series to anyone.Another well done book by Meg Cabot!

( YA -14 and up )
Stars:  * * * * 4.0


I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book

Book:Underworld ( Abandon #2)

Its sad how long it has taken me to read this book. I am a huge (- ok maybe just a big fan since it took me so long to read it ) of Meg Cabot ( just look at the Airhead review).
I loved the first book in the Abandon series and was hoping that yet again Meg would out do her self. Which she did. This book was different from her other books because the short took place in so little time. It was only a few days. Which blows me away. I think that a lot of writers have a very hard time with writing stories that take place in a few days. I mean harry potter happened over one year.Yet Meg does a great job of keeping it moving without rushing it.
But Meg also keeps things just like always funny and light. Its something that makes picking up her books a lot like running in to an old friend sure its different and it takes a little time to fall back in to the swing of things but the fun and laugher is there right from the get go. I really love Meg's timing she knows just when to do all the right things. And things that would normally bother me with most YA books. I think that it is a true sign of what a great writer she is. I don't think that  have read a really bad Meg Cabot book - or one I that I did not like. Which for me is very hard to do. I have to say if you want to read this book go for it. It is well worth it.
Though yes, Meg might not be the worlds greatest writer as far as YA goes she is one of the top out there.

(YA-13 and up)

Stars:* * * 4.0

Book: Entwined

I have wanted to read this book because I love the cover and I saw the book at the library and I had to get it because on the back The writer of East praised the book. and I loved East so much that I just had to take the book. I did not read the inside cover so when i read it and it started to sound like the 12 dancing princess ( which is one of my most loved childhood fairy tale) I fell head over heels for the book.One thing I love about books like this one is that is it gives the people in it that little push it tells us about them. it gave the girls a hobby and we see how that changed who they were and what they did with their time. I loved the people in the book to. and so much of the book made me think of the book East. In a good way. I also loved the hole thing with the king. But I found that the keeper and the end was all but to easy to see coming from the start. it was good and all but if you are going to change the story and what happens then you might want to add a good twist to. I like how all of the girls had flower names. and I like how they all where so one of a kind. what I did not like was how unclear the ages where and all of that. I thought a lot of the girl where the wrong ages and got a little lost. I think it would have been nice to say which girl would come out in what year or found some way to tell you how old they where a little faster. but other then that I liked the book. I liked why they had to go dancing. I did get a little mad at them for the way they where so dumb about things here and there.Sometimes I ask my self is it so hard to write someone who is smart and who some what really knows whats going on. and its like with the keeper there are so many little things that could have been done to better play out what happened. but again other then that I liked this book. I felt it was a great YA story of the 12 dancing princess.  A must read book if you liked East or the 12 dancing princess.

(YA 12 and up)

Stars: * * * * 4.5

Book Abandon

I love meg's books and the fact that every time she writes a book she always keeps the best things about her writing but she keeps it new and fun. I really liked this book.it was so good. not like I like her other books. I love her other books. but what I like is that this one is so new. it is not like  her other books.
this book was really good. I like people. I like the way the story plays out. it is a little slow at first but it gets a little faster. not by much.  but some how I did not mind at all.  meg has  a very very natural writing. that is easy and fun to read. and on top of that she is a great story teller. she knows how to make people and they're world come to life.
I liked how this book was dark. but it was about death and not werewolf's and stuff. it  was nice to read something that was done like this. the only thing I did not like was  how things did not always add up. she  did a bad job of making it a cliff hanger with out making it a cliff hanger.  well that is just about all I have to say about abandon. other then it was over good. not her best but very good.
this is a book for fans of her and fans of most books.

( YA-13 and up)
Stars: * * * 3.7

Book: Falling For Hamlet

First off I have never read Hamlet. But it do know the story of it. and I do love this story. This book does a great Job of getting the story to young people today.Telling it in away that is easy to understand the feeling behind Hamlet.Sometimes it a little hard to get things clear and understand it when its in old english. I think that lots of people will love this. They will get the story the people and why it is trying to say to us about them and about our selfs.
But the writing was not always great and I think when doing a story like Hamlet they would have work a little hard on getting the writing a little better.I did love how well written the characters are. It was very cool to watch how Hamlet slowly changes. That was the best part of the book. and I think its something we can all learn from.And its something I wold like to see in more YA books.
I did and did not like how she changed what happened to ophelia. I found I liked her but did not like the change in a good story like hamlet.
over all I really did like this book. and think that others will just love it.


(YA- 14 and up. for talk of sex and they all get very drunk and other stuff like that)


Stars:*** 3.8

I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. This did not in anyway effect my review or thoughts on the book. 

Book:Ice

This is Feb's book for the book club. it is again a retelling of East Of The Sun,West Of The Moon. this one started off nicely then went bad. it does not keep true to the fairy tale its self. and I found it to be boring,long and enjoyable. the hole thing with the baby was just a  time killer and made the book long and feel hopeless.I think that when it is a fairy tale with no chance of ever happening it show be fun to read and over all light. I did not like Cassie. I thought she was by far the worst hero of all the east of the sun west of the moon books I have read for Teens. But I did like how she says she loves the bear just like in Sun and Moon,Ice And Snow.  unlike in East . I did not like the hole thing with the baby. I my self do not like it when they have teensmoms in looks for Teens ( unless it is a book about teen mom's). and I did not like how she was  with that guy. the book started great, the middle was just a mess, the end ( like the every last page) was okay.
Over all the book was okay. well not really okay. it was pretty bad. really was bad.   but I am happy that I read it.
 Book Club Talk: some one at the book club said it was odd how she fell in love with the Man/bear that locked her up. Which after hearing that I felt really weird about this book. over all everyone at the book club hated it.  they thought the writing was bad and that it was just lame. over all they thought it was 2.2 * * stars.



(YA-14 and up)
Stars:  * *  2.6 1/2