Book Reviews – Page 23 – Zakiya N. Jamal

Book Review: City of Glass

Posted on August 18, 2015August 12, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Goodreads:

To save her mother’s life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters – never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City – whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the third installment of the New York Times bestselling series The Mortal Instruments.

*Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t read the first two books in The Mortal Instruments series please be warned, there will be spoilers!*

I resisted reading this series for a long time and I have no idea why. Probably because it was so hyped up, honestly.

Well I’m the first to admit it is well worth the hype. These books keep getting bigger and better and I’m not sick of them yet.

Cassandra Clare is an excellent storyteller. By telling the story in a close third that follows various characters throughout the book, the story feels like a movie. I’m not stuck with just Clary or Jace the whole time. I get to check in with Simon and Alec as well. Additionally, although I knew one of the plot twists going into the book (this is one of the few books I voluntarily spoiled for myself) I was still shocked by it. I didn’t know the whole story so learning the truth was very interesting and not a let down at all.

Moreover, this book was action packed. With Valentine setting his sights on taking over the Clave and ridding the world of Downworlders everything is thrown into chaos and some lives are even lost. It was interesting seeing how the Shadowhunters and Downworlders handle battle and seeing Clary, Jace, and Simon’s roles in the whole thing. The three discovered their own strengths (and weaknesses) in this book, which was fun to read. I loved seeing Clary be strong and not back down from a challenge. She went after what she wanted and it was amazing seeing her be so fierce and brave. Jace and Magnus, as always, were sassy and provided comic relief at the best times. And Simon didn’t annoy me at all in this book. I actually really like Simon now; he’s grown on me.

Besides all the violence and fighting in this book, it’s also surrounded with themes of family, love, friendship, and has a ton of happy moments that made me smile as much as I teared up. It was an excellent balance of not being too sappy but also not too crazy and sad. Clare wrote this book really well and I’m excited to see what happens next in this series. Although honestly, the series could’ve ended with this book and I would’ve been satisfied. I’m glad it’s not over though. I’m too invested in these characters now to let them go.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!!

Favorite Line:

“Clary, since the first time I saw you, I have belonged to you completely. I still do.”

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Book Review: Sing You Home

Posted on August 13, 2015August 17, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

In the aftermath of a series of personal tragedies, Zoe throws herself into her career as a music therapist. When an unexpected friendship slowly blossoms into love, she makes plans for a new life, but to her shock and inevitable rage, some people—even those she loves and trusts most—don’t want that to happen.

Sing You Home explores the delicate boundaries of identity, love, marriage, and parenthood. What happens when the outside world brutally calls into question the very thing closest to our hearts: family? Once again, Jodi Picoult gracefully brings the hidden tensions of life sharply into focus in this poignantly honest novel.

I’ve tried to think of a way I could do this review without spoilers and I can’t figure out a way to do that and still give this book the due it deserves. I just think there’s no physical way to do that and really discuss what makes this book so great. Therefore if you don’t want to be spoiled please stop reading here but do yourself a favor and read this book. It’s fantastic.

When I was in high school I read about 12 of Jodi Picoult’s books. I was addicted to her storytelling but after a while it just seemed like all her books ended the same way and I forced myself to stop. However, once I heard about this new book I had to pick it up. I was curious and I remembered how much I enjoyed Picoult’s books in the past. Therefore when I saw Sing You Home on the shelf of my new library I had to pick it up and read it.

A lot happens in this book but the main climax of the story is what makes it so important. Zoe is the center of the novel and all she’s ever wanted was to have kids and have a family. However, this doesn’t come easy for her. She and her husband, Max, struggle for years to have kids. They go to a fertility clinic, do in vitro, and even get pregnant but Zoe has a still born. It’s terrible and I can’t even imagine going through that.

From there it seems Zoe chances of having a child are completely done. I won’t run through the whole plot but in summary she and Max get a divorce, Zoe finds out she has endometrial cancer and she has to get a hysterectomy. Again, all of this isn’t even what makes the story really heart wrenching and thought provoking. It’s what happens after that really made my head turn.

The story is told in three points of view: Zoe, Max, and Zoe’s partner, Vanessa. In case for some strange reason this isn’t obvious Vanessa is, in fact, a woman. Zoe and Vanessa fall in love and Vanessa is ready and willing to carry the baby that Zoe believed she could never have and it’s perfect. Zoe still has three frozen embryos from her time with Max and she believes it won’t be too difficult to get Max to agree to give her the embryos; he doesn’t even want kids.

Unfortunately for Zoe and Vanessa it’s not that easy. Max has recently been saved and under the guidance of his pastor decides to sue Zoe for the embryos so the child/children could be raised in a “traditional family”.

I’m not going to spoil how this ends in case some of you who haven’t read the book have dared to read this review despite my warnings. What I will say is Picoult handled a heavy topic very well and I respect her for it. She could have chosen so many other perspectives in this story and it would have made a completely different book. If she had made the pastor a point of view then all the reader would get is this look at Christian hate, which isn’t very Christian at all.

With Max’s point of view you see his contemplation. His questions about what is right in the eyes of God and why is it if God is love then why is his ex-wife’s new love invalid? I also loved that Vanessa, who’s known she was gay her whole life, was raised in a Catholic household. I liked that Zoe wasn’t sure if she was gay and didn’t like the label even though she loved Vanessa.

Picoult deals with so many issues in this book: gay rights, the Church, the idea of the “traditional family”, belief systems in general, what defines a life, etc. This book had me on a emotional roller coaster the whole way through and I found it interesting getting all three different perspectives. Each one of the narrator’s were such complex characters. I understood Max’s struggles with his faith because I’m a Christian. I understood Zoe’s frustration because I think no woman, even a woman who doesn’t want kids, want’s to be told they don’t have a choice in the matter at all. I can’t say I understand Vanessa’s frustration of this idea that being gay may be tolerated now but it’s still not accepted because that’s not something I personally have to go through. What I will say is Vanessa’s frustration with never being able to be fully comfortable in her skin and always feeling like her sexual identity above all her other characteristics would always define her made my heart break.

If you haven’t read this book yet I seriously recommend it. This one is, without a doubt, a buy.

Borrow or Buy: BUY!!!

Favorite Line:

The only difference between a wish and a prayer is that you’re at the mercy of the universe for the first, and you’ve got some help with the second.

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Book Review: Four

Posted on August 11, 2015August 8, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

Readers first encountered Tobias as “Four” in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Readers will find more of this charismatic character’s backstory told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection. When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias’s life. The first three pieces in this volume—”The Transfer,” “The Initiate,” and “The Son”—follow Tobias’s transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions. The fourth story, “The Traitor,” runs parallel with the events of Divergent, giving readers a glimpse into the decisions of loyalty—and love—that Tobias makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior.

I love Four. Honestly he’s the best part of the Divergent trilogy to me and he’s the only reason I found Allegiant bearable. Therefore when I found out there was a collection of short stories told completely from his point of view I had to have it (and thankfully I’m interning at HarperCollins so I was, in fact, able to have it).

This collection was everything I wanted it to be. I got to learn more about Four’s past and his experience with both of his parents. Even better than that I got to see his point of view of meeting Tris and falling for her. It was awesome. I first I was worried about it being boring just reading the same scenes but from a different point of view but there was nothing for me to be worried about.

Four brings a whole new perspective and it’s great getting to see his feelings in those important moments. It made me crave more. I wanted to read the whole first Divergent book in his point of view. I was sad when it ended. Even so, this was a great book and a quick and easy read. Definitely get it if you haven’t already.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Favorite Line:

I want [Tris], in a way I haven’t felt before, not just some kind of mindless physical drive but a real, specific desire. Not for someone, just for her.

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Book Review: The Pretty App

Posted on August 4, 2015August 4, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

The delightfully smart and funny companion to The Boyfriend App, about a mean girl who changes her ways. Author Katie Sise spins another fully loaded tale of technology, secrets, and big-time romance in this story of what it takes to be #trulybeautiful.

Poor Blake Dawkins! She’s rich, she’s gorgeous, and she’s the queen bee of Harrison High. But it turns out Blake’s life is not so perfect—just talk to her dad, who constantly reminds her that she’s not up to par, or to her ex-bff, Audrey, who doesn’t even look her in the eye.

Then every high school in America becomes obsessed with posting selfies on the ubiquitous Pretty App. Next: Leo, an adorable transfer student, arrives at Harrison and begins to show Blake that maybe being a queen bee doesn’t mean being a queen b*tch. And though Audrey suspects somebody’s playing foul, Blake finds herself catapulted to internet fame after being voted one of the prettiest girls in the country. She’s whisked away to star in a reality show—in Hollywood, on live TV. But she doesn’t know who to trust. Because everybody on the show wants to win. And nobody is there to make friends.

If you haven’t read The Boyfriend App don’t read this review unless you want to be spoiled. This is your last warning. Turn back now. Don’t do this. Good? Good.

I went into this book with low expectations because even though I loved The Boyfriend App I hated Blake and how she treated Audrey and felt like having the story in her point of view was going to be like reading Something Blue after Something Borrowed (if you’ve never read these books you really should!).

Except it wasn’t. Blake has her issues but I definitely didn’t hate her as much as I thought I would. I actually kind of liked her. I also liked that we got to see a lot of Audrey and the characters from the first book in this novel. I thought Blake was funny and interesting. It was hard to sympathize with her at first because as the synopsis states she’s got everything. Once I got to know Blake, however, I realized maybe she doesn’t have everything.

It was interesting getting her point of view on her friendship with Audrey and why it failed. I still think what Blake did was terrible but I also now better understand where she’s coming from. The love story in this book wasn’t as great as that between Aidan and Audrey but it was okay.

Overall, I’d still say this is a buy. It made me laugh and smile and after some of the other books I was reading it was nice to read a pretty simple story without too much drama. It’s a fun read.

Borrow or Buy: Buy!

Favorite Line:

“Parents are flawed. Maybe it’s just about loving them anyway.”

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Book Review: City of Ashes

Posted on July 28, 2015August 17, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis of Amazon.com:

Is love worth betraying everything? Plunge into the second adventure in the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series and “prepare to be hooked” (Entertainment Weekly).

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what’s normal when you’re a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who’s becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn’t ready to let her go—especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary’s only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil—and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings—and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City’s Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

Jace is everything in this book. He makes this book. I’m only here for Jace, honestly.

Okay, now that I got that out of the way let’s talk about the book itself. If you haven’t read of City of Bones yet stop here or you’ll be spoiled.

This novel picks up not too long after the end of City of Bones. We find everyone still reeling from Valentine and the revelation that Jace and Clary are siblings. Clary’s attempting a relationship with her best friend, Simon, Jace is trying to figure out his family situation and being accused of working with Valentine by the Clave, and Luke and Clary are coping with the fact that Clary’s mother still won’t wake up.

The stakes are super high in this book with Valentine building his army. Luckily, Clary and Jace are discovering they have powers of their own and maybe not everything is lost. Plus, Simon steps up in this book, which is great because he was pretty annoying up to that point. Hopefully, now he’ll get a life and stop focusing all his attention on Clary because frankly I don’t think she deserves it. Not that she isn’t great in her own right but she isn’t the end all, be all.

Lastly, I really enjoyed Magnus and Alec’s relationship in this book. It was implied in the first book but this one solidified it a bit more. They probably won’t be holding hands, walking around Central Park anytime soon (if ever) but they’re cute and I like them together. Plus, Magnus is bae.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! I really liked this one and already requested City of Glass from the library.

Favorite Line:

“That does it,” said Jace. “I’m going to get you a dictionary for Christmas this year.”
“Why?” Isabelle said.
“So you can look up ‘fun.’ I’m not sure you know what it means.”

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Book Review: Red Queen

Posted on July 21, 2015July 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Dystopias! Dystopias everywhere!

Honestly, I should really stop reading dystopias. Some of them are starting to run together in my head and it’s getting a little confusing.

Red Queen is the first book in the latest dystopian trilogy and although it definitely has some stand out points, it’s really not that different from other dystopians I’ve read. And definitely not better.

If you’ve ever read The Selection series, Mare reminds me of America in The Elite. For those of you who’ve never read that series, this isn’t a good thing. Mare is rebellious, which is to be expected of the protagonist in a post apocalyptic world, but not in any way that’s constructive. She’s a Red thief who thinks poorly of all the Silvers but easily trusts people she shouldn’t.

She has little qualms about killing innocent people in the name of rebellion and her moral compass just seems to be haywire. She makes a lot of stupid and also careless mistakes and honestly I found it difficult to sympathize with her.

This being said I obviously wasn’t Mare’s biggest fan. Instead, however, I was a fan of Julian, Cal, Kilorn, Gisa, Shade, Mare’s parents, Evangeline, and almost every other character except Mare. If this story was told by a better protagonist I probably would’ve loved it. I loved all the twists and the crazy reveals. I liked that even though some things were really predictable there were a lot of things that also caught me off guard. More then anything, I like that I have no idea where this story is going to go. This trilogy is wide open and I can’t imagine what Victoria Aveyard is going to do next with it but I’m intrigued to know more.

It was hard to declare this book a borrow but Mare ruined it for me. Even so, overall I still liked it I just couldn’t love it.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow.

Favorite Line (SPOILER!):

I’ve been too busy trying to save others to notice how much Cal saves me. How much he loves me.

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Book Review: Pride and Prejudice

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. Elizabeth is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman living near the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, near London. Page 2 of a letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra (11 June 1799) in which she first mentions Pride and Prejudice, using its working title First Impressions. Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet’s five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth. Though Austen set the story at the turn of the 19th century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of “most loved books.” It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, selling over 20 million copies, and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen’s memorable characters or themes.

It seems strange to be reviewing a classic book that’s so old but I didn’t read anything else this week so here we go.

Pride and Prejudice was just as good as I expected it to be. I listened to the audio book for this one because I’ve tried to read it before but it has never worked out for me so I thought listening to it might be the best option. And it worked because I actually finished it this time. Yay!

If you don’t already know the premise of Pride and Prejudice shame on you, it’s a classic. The story follows Elizabeth Bennet who’s life is changed when Mr. Bingley, along with his friend Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Bingley’s two sisters, move into Netherfield, the estate down the road from Elizabeth and her family. Dealing with her own pride and prejudices along with those of the people around her Elizabeth finds herself in the midst of unwanted marriage proposals and drama.

I loved the Kiera Knightly film and after finishing the book the first thing I wanted to do was watch it again. I also love The Lizzie Bennet Diaries web series. Both of these adaptations of the novel are great but very different.

The point is going into the book I knew what was going to happen but as adaptations often do there was a lot left out and those were the scenes I most enjoyed. I liked getting all the details I never knew before and I fell in with Mr. Darcy and his awkwardness. I wanted to shake Elizabeth for her prejudice but I also wanted to shake Mr. Darcy because he would say things that I’m sure he thought was flattering but in fact was insulting.

Overall, I probably won’t reread it because although it was good and I understand why it’s such a classic it’s just not my type of book. However, you should buy it because it’s free on the Kindle and very cheap everywhere else. Plus it’s just nice to have on your shelf.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! There’s literally zero down sides to buying this book.

Favorite Line:

Elizabeth’s spirit’s soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. ‘How could you begin?’ said she.
‘I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?’ ‘I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.’

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Book Review: Summer and the City

Posted on July 7, 2015August 17, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Amazon:

Meet teenage Carrie Bradshaw as she hits the bright lights, big city of New York for the very first time! Find out how Carrie transforms from country girl to super-cool fashionista in the second explosive CARRIE DIARIES novel from the globally bestselling author of SEX AND THE CITY. Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of it – the crazy characters in her neighbourhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties and the glamorous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she’s finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream. This sequel to THE CARRIE DIARIES brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country “sparrow” – as Samantha Jones dubs her – to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realises that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined. With her signature wit and sparkling humour, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of the New York City’s most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw.

Although this book has it’s faults, the fact that it shows how the famous Sex and the City group came to be makes this book worth the buy. If you haven’t read The Carrie Diaries yet and don’t want to be spoiled stop reading here. You’ve been warned.

This book picks up right around where we left off. Carrie’s getting her bearings in NYC with Samantha Jones as her sophisticated mentor. Additionally, the purse that Carrie lost at the end of The Carries Diaries is found by Miranda Hobbes, leading to the start of another beautiful friendship. Young Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes made this book for me. Samantha is struggling to become the woman her fiancé wants her to be and Miranda is a fiery feminist who makes a lot of valid points.

The novel is a slew of new characters and only a few appearances by the people in Carrie’s “past life.” Although I’d usually be against a sequel that completely drops the characters of the first novel, Candace Bushnell makes the right choice here. Carrie’s family and high school friends just don’t fit Carrie’s NYC narrative and the parts where they do show up were my least favorite.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. Carrie’s gone from naive, suburban teen, to an arrogant young adult. Although she annoyed be from time to time I much preferred Carrie’s confidence to her pushover lifestyle. Additionally there were so many characters to love in this novel. Besides the Sex and the City crew there’s Carrie’s classmates including Lil’, who turns out to be way more interesting than I first thought, Capote, the know it all, and Ryan, the flirt with a model fiancé. There’s also Carrie’s professor who has a strange mustache that Carrie names Waldo, and Carrie’s quirky city friends including a famous playwright who turns out to be more trouble than he’s worth.

My only issue with the novel is it’s very focused on sex and Carrie losing her virginity. This in it of itself isn’t the problem for me. The problem is that if that’s the focus of the novel I don’t appreciate when it’s finally Carrie’s time to find out what the big deal is about sex the scene is skipped over and then talked about in the past tense. Why not give it to me in the present? Why have her wake up and say, “Oh yeah that happened.” I understand this is a children’s book and I’m not looking for anything on a Fifty Shades level, I was just expecting more from this moment that was so built up in this book and the last.

Despite that, I still really liked this novel and definitely think it’s worth your money and time.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! It’s a keeper!

Favorite Line:

“Just because something doesn’t last forever, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t meaningful while it did last. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t important.”

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Book Review: City of Bones

Posted on July 2, 2015July 2, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Amazon:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

I’m hooked. I didn’t want to be hooked because I don’t have time to be hooked on another series but here I am hooked.

Clary Fray is a great protagonist. I won’t go into much detail about why I think so highly of her here because I did that yesterday. What I will say is I loved her and Jace’s chemistry. Jace is sarcastic and cocky from the start. He knows he’s good looking and a great Shadowhunter and he’s proud. I really want them to be together but … well I won’t spoil it for you. What I will say is it’s not over until I finish the last book.

Moving on, the other characters were also spectacular. Clary’s best friend, Simon, is adorkable, Isabelle and Alec, the Lightwood siblings and basically Jace’s family, are very different but also similar in an interesting way. I like Isabelle’s tough girl attitude and I really like Alec and his whole story line. I’m excited to see where that goes in the next books.

The adults are also great and have their own crazy back stories. Hodge, Alec, Isabelle, and Jace’s guardian, is basically the chill godfather who loves his garden and herbs. Kind of like a hippie but can also take you out if you try anything. Luke, Clary’s godfather type figure, is a boss. Period. I don’t want to spoil it so I’ll leave it that. I’m just a really big fan of Luke. Clary’s mom isn’t really relevant but from what we learn about her I wasn’t a fan. To be fair she’s not in the majority of the book so I really can’t pass judgement. Even so, I could do with less of her.

As for the plot I was never bored. There’s an air of mystery to the novel as well as some plot twists (some expected, some not). Overall, as the first book in The Mortal Instruments series, Cassandra Clare did a really good job of laying the foundation for this world without it being boring. Well done. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Borrow or Buy: This was a tough call and I went back and forth on it. On the one hand I really did enjoy this book. On the other hand I just couldn’t imagine actually buying it. It was good but it just wasn’t that good.

Favorite Line:

“Don’t.” Clary raised a warning hand. “I’m not really in the mood right now.”
“That’s got to be the first time a girl’s ever said that to me,” Jace mused.”

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Book Review: The Carrie Diaries

Posted on June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.

Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She’s ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend’s betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we’ll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

Don’t let the borrow stamp fool you, this was actually a really good book. It was funny and witty and I’m excited to read the next one. However, I just can’t see myself rereading this book. Here’s why.

Carrie, although she is smart, funny, and quirky, her naivety is annoying. Her obsessive love for Sebastian is infuriating and although I’m usually all for putting others before yourself, Carrie wasn’t really selfless as much as she was a push over. All I wanted from Carrie during this book was stand up for herself and I think we get more of that towards the end but throughout the book I was constantly frustrated because I could tell what was happening but Carrie was in deep denial.

Even so, I did like this book. I think I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I watched Sex and the City beforehand but I thought it was well written and well thought out and it was interesting seeing where Carrie Bradshaw got her start. I can’t wait to find out what happens next (although I guess I kind of already do but you know what I mean).

Borrow or Buy: Borrow. I liked it a lot but I didn’t love it.

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