Charlotte's Web.

Charlotte's Web.

E.B White

Publisher:Harper & Publishers

Publication Date:June 15,1952.

Genre: Children's,Friendship.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|184.

Source:Owned|Goodreads.

4.5 STARS

Charlotte’s Web had always been one of my favorite books during childhood. My mom had read it to be when I was little and I read it once I learned how to read. I have read it in Russian the first time then once again when I learned English. However it had been few years since I have read the book. I did notice there were few slow parts in the books that I didn’t seem to notice when I read those years ago. Yet, I still love it as much as I had those years ago. I can see why so many children love this book. It has a lot of action within the book.
Charlotte’s Web tells a story about a Pig, Wilbur who gets rescued by girl, Fern when he’s about to get killed shortly after his birth because he’s smaller than the other pigs. Fern takes care of Wilbur, forming a special bond with him. After a while, Wilbur is relocated to her Uncle Zuckerman’s barn. Even thought Fern visits Wilbur at farm, as she gets older, her visits decrease and Wilbur starts to get lonely.

Eventually, Wilbur meets a grey spider, Charlotte who becomes his best friend. Charlotte is the one who ends up saving Wilbur from being killed, by writing messages in her web, which attracts attention from everyone all over, causing Wilbur to become famous.

I loved the friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte from very beginning. I had feeling from their very first meeting that the two of them would have a special bond. The friendship that the two of them have is a true friendship. Considering what Charlotte does, in order to save Wilbur and the way that she’s always by his side when he gets upset. She was my favorite character and I did get pretty sad when she did eventually died.

Templeton, that’s another character that I enjoyed, mostly because he was so different from other characters and his attitude. The Stubborn attitude that he had. Yet, he was still willing to help Charlotte when she asked him too, even though he complained in beginning, he still came through for her, in the end.

I think this is very good book, for children and I even enjoyed it, after reading it again, after so many time. It shows a true meaning of a friendship.

The Mermaid's Mirror.

The Mermaid's Mirror.

L.K Madigan.

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Publisher:Houghton Mifflin Books.

Publication Date:October 4,2010.

Genre:YA Paranormal,Mystery.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|320.

Source:Library|Goodreads

2.8 STARS

For as long as I remember, I had always been fascinated with Mermaids. Ever since I saw Little Mermaid when I was younger. It was one of the reasons I picked up The Mermaid’s Mirror , it seemed like it would be an interesting read, at least that’s an impression I got after reading the description. It turned out to be not as interesting as I thought it be, it disappointed me. The first half of book was really hard to get into; it was bit slow for me. It wasn’t till Lena started discovering about her family, that it got exciting. The Mermaid’s Mirror was the first Mermaid novel I read, but wasn’t too happy with it.

Lena lived her entire life, near the beach, it seems as something always keep drawing her to the Ocean. Multiple times, Lena found herself on the beach in the morning, with no memory of how she gotten there in the first place, that she keeps a secret from others. Her sixteen birthday approaching, Lena wants to finally surf, but her father, once a famous surfer till the accident, forbids her to.

Then Lena sees a mermaid, with silver tail which draws her even more towards the ocean. Against her father’s wishes, she starts get surfing lessons from Kai’s sister, going behind both of her parent’s back. Unlike other beginners, surfing seems to come naturally to Lena, and she’s hoping eventually to see that mermaid, that had been constantly on her mind, she feels as if she connected to her somehow.

It’s not till she surfing by herself one day, and gets rescued by the mermaid, who gives her a key. A Key that unlocks cabinet to Mermaid’s mirror and it’s then that Lena discovers who her mother was, that her own father had been keeping secrets from her. Angry and hurt at both of her parents, Lena goes to her mother, to her world and there she must decide who she really wants to be

 To be honest, I wasn’t sure how much I would end up liking this novel. When I had started it reading it, the first half of the novel didn’t really capture my attention all that much. I couldn’t really get into it much till around time when Lena started surfing, after that, it seemed to pick up more. I was about to give up till that part. However, once Lena got the key and discovered the mirror, that’s when the novel got appealing for me.

I thought that Under the Water world was fascinating, that was probably my favorite part out of the whole world. For the longest time, I thought that Lena actually considered about staying there, especially after she started asking where she could get the tail, I thought she go through it. I did feel bad for her dad though while she was in the water, I couldn’t imagine what could possibly be going through his mind at that moment.

Kai, I felt bad for him. I could tell that he cared about Lena. I knew that she cared about him too but not as much as he cared about her and to be honest, I don’t think that was really fair to Kai. Especially when she took off, without even saying anything to him and then getting herself involved in relationship with a merman, Nix. Who I felt that Lena wasn’t fair to either, especially after telling him she never leave him, she took off without even saying, explaining herself to him.

To me, ending seemed unrealistic. She seemed to return to her former life as nothing happened. It just seemed unresolved. I was hoping she would at least return to sea, to see Nix, especially considering fact how she told him how she loved him. Also what about the tail, the one she was so content on getting? It was not a book I was expecting, I was hoping for more action. I was hoping at least some issues would be resolved. However, it wasn’t a bad read, there were few aspects of book I did enjoy.

Someone Like You.

Someone Like You.
Sarah Dessen

Publisher:Penguin.

Publication Date:May 11,2004

Genre:YA Friendship,Family,Romance.

Format|Pages:Paperback|281.

Source:Library|Goodreads.

5 STARS

Someone Like You was a first novel that I read by Sarah Dessen . I have heard, read good reviews about Sarah and I could see why so many people like her. The novel was very well written, it had a lot of action and Drama but just the right amount of Drama, I can see myself reading rest of her books. This book had everything, friendship, family relationships, romance, and teenage pregnancy. There wasn’t a single moment in the book that was boring; I actually didn’t want the book to come to end. I found myself wanting to know what would happen with them in the future.

Scarlett & Halley are best friends and had always been there for one another. While Halley is away at Summer Camp, Scarlett calling her, telling her that her boyfriend Michael died in motorcycle accident and Halley instantly comes, to comfort her best friend. Not long after Michael’s death, Scarlett discovers that she’s pregnant with his child, and to everyone’s surprise she decides to keep the baby. Halley stands by Scarlett’s side, during her pregnancy.

During that time, Halley starts get to know Michael’s best friend Macon more and even though two of them are complete opposites, the two of them bond and eventually begin going out. However it’s not long before Macon starts pressuring her about sex, and for a while she pushes away but knowing if she keeps pushing him away, that she will lose him. Within time Halley realizes that she had fallen in love with him but she’s not too sure if he loves her way she loves him. But the more she hangs out with Macon, the more she begins to change. 

 Scarlett & Halley : I just loved their friendship, No matter what happened, they were always there for each other, even when they got into that fight, about Macon, Halley was there for Scarlett when she went into the labor. Halley was one of the people who stood by Scarlett’s side through the entire pregnancy and was the one who supported her decision of keeping the baby. I could tell that they cared about each other; I know reason that she warned Halley about Macon was because she didn’t want for her to get hurt, and Halley, she left camp early, just to come to Scarlett, because she asked her, because she needed her. Now that’s a real friendship that is the kind of friendship that could last a lifetime.

Halley & Macon : I loved the two of them together, mostly because I liked how the two of them were so different, yet they still ended up falling in love with each other. Even though I wasn’t too happy with Macon for pressuring with Halley about sex and I couldn’t blame her for breaking up with him after accident. However, I knew that he really cared about her; I just had the feeling, especially after that scene at the dance. I was kind of rooting for them to get back together but was disappointed when they didn’t. I like the fact that their relationship was kind of forbidden romance relationship, and it was unlike other relationships I read about in other books.

I was kind of hoping that Halley & her mom would reunite in some way. I was glad to see that Scarlett and her mom did in way, and I was happy to see she found Cameron, I wanted to see her happy again, I knew how heartbroken she was over Michael but I did wonder if Michael actually loved her way she loved him.I thought it was sweet way everyone came together during Scarlett's labor, i did not expect for everyone show up in waiting room. In general, I really enjoyed this novel.

The Chick And The Dead, Pepper Martin #2.

The Chick And The Dead.
Casey Daniels.

Publisher:Avon.

Publication Date:February 27,2007.

Genre:Fantasy,Paranormal Mystery.

Series:Pepper Martin,#2.

Format|Pages:Mass Market Paperback|323.

Source:Owned|Goodreads.

5 STARS

The Chick and the Dead is the second book in Pepper Martin Mysteries . It had been few years since I read the 2nd book since for while it was only one I didn’t have so I finally got it over Christmas. I loved it. I actually liked this book more then I liked the first book in series, it had much more action. I loved that this book started from Cliffhanger from the last book. I loved Didi right from beginning. Even though it been few years since I first read this book, I found it hard to put it down. Once again Casey Daniels didn’t disappoint me.

Pepper Martin though that her detective days for the dead is over, till Didi Bowman who been dead over 50 years appears, wanting Pepper’s help. At first, Pepper refuses to help Didi, wanting nothing to do with ghosts. That is till Pepper is laid off her job at the arrival of Merilee Bowman, a famous author of So Far The Dawn. After being laid and barely having money for rent, she goes in search of Didi, thinking that solving her murder is just what she needs, to earn some money. Only to find out that it’s not murder she wants, she wants Pepper that she was the one who wrote So Far The Dawn.

While Pepper investigates, she finds some stuff about Didi, something that she been keeping from Pepper and finds herself hesitant about Didi, about if she actually wrote the book. After sudden murder of Merilee’s assistant, she finds herself working for Merilee and that’s when she begins investigate deeper. While investigating, Pepper begins find herself in trouble, having the feeling that someone doesn’t want her to find the truth about the book’s author.
I loved all the suspense in this book. I actually was glad that Pepper wasn’t aware of Merilee before her arrival; it seemed more realistic that she wasn’t one of those obsessed fans; I had a feeling that if she was, she would have even harder time believing Didi about the book. I couldn’t really blame Pepper for having her doubts; there were certain things that Didi wasn’t honest about. If I was in the same situation as Pepper, I would have the same issue.

I loved Didi, her attitude, well sometimes her attitude would annoy me, but she had some good points especially when it came to advice. She was so different then Gus was in the first book, it seemed to me that she at least cared about Pepper some unlike Gus, I had feeling that he didn’t really care about Pepper all that much, he always seemed to be ruining things for her.

This book had much more mystery in it then the last book and Pepper seemed to be obsessing over guys less. To me it seemed that she really did want figure out the truth. I liked the fact that this book was not all about murder but about a romance novel. When I first got the book, I didn’t read the back and I thought that it would be another murder mystery. Even though there was some murder involved, most of book concentrated on finding proof that Didi wrote the book. I think the more she investigated, the more she became fond of Didi.

I was bit confused about Dan in this book, but I liked the fact how mysterious he was in this book, he was acting completely different then in last book. I want see what happens next with him. There was so much suspense, drama in this book that it was hard not to like this book. If you like ghosts, mysteries, action, this is the book worth checking out.

Summer Island.

Summer Island.
Kristin Hannah.

Publisher:Random House Publishing.

Publication Date:June 1,2010.

Genre:Family,Drama.

Format|Pages:Paperback|416.

Source:Library|Goodreads.

4.7 STARS

Summer Island was another amazing novel by Kristin Hannah . So far not a single book of hers that I read had disappointed me, this book wasn’t any different. The book did start out little bit slowly for me and that’s why I only gave it 4 stars but once it picked up, I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to see what would happen with Nora, with Ruby and even with Dean but I mostly wanted to find what would happen with Nora and Ruby. The book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself unable to put it down till I finished it.

 Nora Bridge walked on her family years earlier, leaving her daughters: Ruby & Caroline behind. Now, Nora is loved and successful advice columnist. While Ruby is struggling with her own career, as a comedian. Then a scandal from Nora’s past is revealed and she begins receiving hate mail, letter from people who once loved her. Top of the scandal, Eric Sloan, her daughter’s childhood best friend who she learned to love as her own son is dying. While trying to get away from everything and everyone, Nora gets in accident.

Meanwhile, Ruby gets an opportunity of lifetime, to write all about her mother, to expose her. Angry, hurt with her mother for leaving them, she agrees. Then she hears about her mother’s accident and agrees to be care taker for her mother while she recovers. Even though it’s the last place Ruby wants to be at, Nora & Ruby return back to Summer Island which is filled with so many memories for Ruby. While there with her mother, she decided it be a best way to find out more about her mother, to expose her mother even more.

Meanwhile there, she runs into Dean Sloan, a guy she once loved, a guy whose heart she broke so many years ago. Ruby finds her old feelings, return but she find herself pushing him away. Top of it, she found out more about her mother, more then she knew and the more secrets she finds, and she finds herself slowly liking her, forgiving her, and harder it gets for her to write the article about her.

There was quite bit drama in this novel, from very beginning to almost very ending. It was also an emotional book to read. It brought tears to my eyes anytime I read about Eric and way he was slowly slipping away within each day. However I was glad that he reunited with his brother Dean and Ruby. I could tell that Dean was feeling guilty, I wasn’t too happy with him when I found way he treated Eric once he found he was gay, but I could tell that he really cared about his brother. I could tell by way he talked to him and took care of him, and made sure that Eric still somehow enjoyed himself while he still had time.

Nora & Ruby : I loved their relationship, I loved the tension between the two of them, and well I guess it was more awkward for Ruby. I was actually surprised when she agreed to take care of Nora, considering the fact how much Ruby seemed to hate her, all those years. I think it made it more realistic that Ruby didn’t bond with Nora right away. I don’t think that she really bonded with her till she found the whole truth about Nora, from her father. I didn’t see that coming, all that time I thought that Nora was one cheated, especially considering how her husband acted after she left. I was happy to see when Nora and Ruby finally bonded, I was glad to see that Ruby finally got the mother she always wanted. I was wondering if she actually write the article after that.

Dean & Ruby : I got to admit that they were my favorite couple in the book. I knew that Dean loved Ruby even after all these years and at first I wasn’t so sure about Ruby. However after a while, especially after that bike ride that Dean and Ruby took, I knew that she loved him. I was hoping that she would come to her senses soon and go back to him; sometimes I wanted to talk some sense into her. However it made it more interesting this way, more interesting then if she went running to him from moment she saw him.

I could see how each character changed through the book, especially Ruby, It’s like she became completely different person. Even Caroline how she finally admitted to her mother how angry, hurt she was with her mother, all these years, for leaving. I’m glad that all of them finally bonded though. One thing I wish is that Eric could have lived till Ruby & Dean’s wedding. The last scene, of his last time alive, made me cry, I really liked Eric and I wish he could held on longer. I loved this book, it had a lot of family themes in it and a lot about betrayal, revenge, forgiveness, It’s worth reading it.