book review – Page 14 – Zakiya N. Jamal

Book Review: How to be Brave

Posted on August 25, 2015March 22, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in ARC Reviews, Books to Borrow

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

Reeling from her mother’s death, Georgia has a choice: become lost in her own pain, or enjoy life right now, while she still can. She decides to start really living for the first time and makes a list of fifteen ways to be brave – all the things she’s wanted to do but never had the courage to try. As she begins doing the things she’s always been afraid to do – including pursuing her secret crush, she discovers that life doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes friendships fall apart and love breaks your heart. But once in a while, the right person shows up just when you need them most – and you learn that you’re stronger and braver than you ever imagined.

*I received this book as a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press. This did not influence my review of this book in anyway. This is an honest review of the novel as I saw it. This novel will be released on November 3, 2015.*

I wanted to like this book. I truly did but I just could not.

The author’s style of writing infuriated me to no end. To be fair, it’s quite possible this type of book is just not my cup of tea but it wasn’t for me at all.

First my biggest issue was at least once every chapter E. Katherine Kottaras would write, “This is what it’s like,” and then proceed to have the character tell us what it indeed was like. I cannot stand this type of writing. Why do this? Why not just write what it is like? There’s no need for a preamble.

To me, this book felt more like a journal. It felt as if the main character, Georgia, was writing in her journal about her experience but she wasn’t the best writer so she would sometimes just stop and do a flashback and say, “This is what it was like,” or tell a story about the present and say, “This is what it is like,” and then proceed to say so. Maybe the book is meant to feel that way but I didn’t like this style.

Moreover, I struggled to like any of the characters. I couldn’t feel sympathetic for Georgia because she switched between being a sad girl to cursing and doing out of line things. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to get from her character. At the beginning she seems to have a low self-esteem and needs her bestie, Liss, to step in for her but then also in the beginning of the novel she feels confident enough to make fun of another girl for being fat. This happens within the same part (the book is broken up into two parts). It’d be one thing if this was a character development over time but it just seemed like Georgia (or the author) didn’t know what kind of person Georgia was.

Her Liss didn’t seem like a good friend at all. The crush, Daniel, was okay but not swoon worthy. Georgia’s Dad infuriated me with his lack of understanding and then his ridiculous quick change in personality that seemed very unrealistic. And Georgia’s teacher, Marquez, seemed okay but would sometimes be so rude I’d question if a teacher would really say those things to a student and if so, would that even be considered okay.

Additionally, because of the ways in which Georgia chose to “be brave” I couldn’t find sympathy for her. Maybe Georgia and I just have widely different definitions of what makes a person brave but I just thought a lot of things on her list were just reckless behavior.

Lastly, there’s a lot of events in the book that don’t make a lot of sense to me and just seemed to come out of nowhere. I won’t spoil the book but I will say is someone goes through a serious mental health issue and the way in which it was handled in this book didn’t sit well with me. It felt like the root of the issue was just glossed over and I think if the author was going to touch on that it shouldn’t have been something that just happened but something that had a bigger effect and meaning in the book.

Overall, I think I get what the author was trying to do with this book and as I said I did want to like it but there’s just too many issues with it, plot and style wise, for me to recommend it.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow.

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Book Review: Dark Places

Posted on August 20, 2015August 18, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Gillian-Flynn.com:

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club… and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.

After reading Gone Girl, much like most people I wanted to see what else Gillian Flynn had to say. Apparently it was another crazy story. This one I didn’t like as much as Gone Girl but I still enjoyed it.

The story follows Libby, the sole survivor of the murder of her family. Well excluding her brother, Ben, who’s been locked up for life for the murders and her father, Runner, who was never really part of the family to begin with. Similar to Gone Girl, the deaths of Libby’s family is really a mystery.

Although at the start of the novel Libby wholeheartedly believed her brother was responsible for the murders, after meeting the Kill Club, a group of somewhat strange people who make it their mission to solve crime mysteries, and hearing other people’s thoughts on the murders and what happened that night, Libby starts to question herself and her memories. She knows she lied about seeing Ben actually commit the murders but could there be more she was wrong about?

It took me a second time getting this book from the library before I actually finished it. It starts pretty slow and despite all that Libby’s been through it’s hard to sympathize with her. She’s not a pitiful character that needs to be comforted. She’s an adult with hard edges who steals, lies, and does whatever it takes to survive.

The way the story is written is what really pulled me in. It alternates between Libby’s point of view in the present, Ben’s in the past, and their mother, Patty’s, also in the past. As Libby digs deep deeper and deeper in the mystery of the murders, the past is moving closer and closer to the actual morning of the murders.

It was interesting to read what leads up to the murders and how both Patty and Ben’s actions got misconstrued into something dark and terrible. I found the resolution of the mystery a little lackluster and was hoping for a bigger twist but it was still unexpected and still interesting. I definitely think the gotcha moment in Gone Girl was much bigger and more exciting.

Overall, Flynn once again dragged me into a murder mystery that once I was sucked in I couldn’t be pulled out of.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow. It was good but it wasn’t rock my socks good. I wanted more from the ending. I’m not sure what exactly, but more.

Favorite Line:

“The truly frightening flaw in humanity is our capacity for cruelty – we all have it.”

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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: 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: 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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