Review : Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Hardcover: 472 pages

Release date: Oct. 12, 2010

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

Thoughts

I have a story about finding this book. I stumble on this book out of the blue, when my friend checked on a wrong book on ‘goodreads.com’. I saw its cover and grab hold of my attention, then; I always keep Revolution in my mind that I will buy it soon. And that’s how I end up loving the book, than I ever thought. Revolution is the first book that I read by Jennifer Donnelly. At first the start of the book was kinda hard for me to understand, when Ms. Donnelly writes in like an old method. But then I managed to keep up with it and soon flow with the motion of the story. Andi Alpers has got some problems with her family, grades, and even on herself. Her father leaves them, and her mother can’t muddle through with the death of her brother and her, blaming herself that she’s the reason why Truman is dead. Everything started to fall on her, that even her only way of escape, her music, seems to go downhill too. Her father decided to help her by having Andi on his project on Paris. That’s when everything started to changed on Andi’s’ life, she founds her new friends and even a love interest, Virgil. The biggest changed, is when she discovered a diary of an Alexandrine Paradis, a girl who lived during the time of Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution. As she unfolds the truth about the French Revolution she suddenly feels comfortable with it and let the past becomes suddenly horrifyingly present.

I love how Ms. Donnelly brings the history of France in a different way that would let you turns every page. I’m not an aficionado of history or even music; really, I mean I kinda sucked at it. But then reading Revolution lets me discovered that there’s a different way of how music and history can be exceptional and beguiling. The story was made very wise and neat. The characters are remarkable, Alexander, Virgil, and Andi. Andi is a person who can be stubborn sometimes but have a soft spot for music. While Alexander is totally a dreamer of herself and wants her life to be perfect, but everything changed when she found the prince of France. Virgil--okay I know that you all think the name was familiar, of course its Virgil from Dante Alighieri—the partner of Andi was really cool, he’s got fine looks...I mean really fine looks and got a talent in rap. I like how there affection grows in the story. Andi soon finds asylum with him and soon arranges her life and put every piece of it in one again. The end of the story is pretty quick-witted; I recommend this book for every person who wants to understand the importance of time. That in life time is one of the most important thing in our life, ‘coz you can’t bring it back. That life doesn’t have the second chance, but you can always bring everything in right by correcting everything that you did on the present for the sake of the future. How you can do everything for love that even laws can’t destroy.

Follow Friday & Book Blogger Hop (4)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee.

This week's question: 
What do I do when I'm not reading?

I either go to school, study at home, or attend school org meetings and school academic and social events. I'm a college freshie and I haven't been reading much these days (one book a week). I joined a political organization called Campus Alliance for Dedicated and Unified Action and the University of the Philippines Baguio Mountaineers    my heart rate's abnormal so the members decided I skip the 5, 10, and 15 kilometer-run training   ... add the Freshmen activities and parties until August that the school organized for us to feel welcomed as new scholars. Last week of July up to August first week will be our exam weeks. *sigh* That's why I have little time to check on blogs and to read and review books. Aside from school stuff, I've been doing a lot of house chores with my three housemates. I do the cooking, laundry, and dishes twice a week, unlike before when I'm at home with my family and slacking was one of my favorite hobbies. I'm also still trying to adjust to my new environment since my school is located in Baguio City, which is really far from Manila and home.

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy for Books for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word and to connect with other bookworms, make new friends, support each other, share our love of books! 

This week's question from Veronica who blogs at Read Books, Have Fun:
How/Where do you get your books? Do you buy them or go to the library? Is there a certain website you use like paperbackswap?

Most of my books are bought by me or sometimes my mom when the titles aren't available here and she orders from Book Depository for free shipping. I'm into newer YA books but unfortunately, our library doesn't have those. My other books were either gifted or won from giveaways while I get ARCs from Netgalley.

Mini Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Hardcover: 308 pages

Release date: November 15th 2010

Publisher: Clarion Books
Source: Won
Amazon ││ Goodreads
Goodreads Summary: Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

     Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

Thoughts

This is the first book that I’ve read solely about goblins and precisely regarding Celtic mythology. I was drawn to the idea of the world in this book that set up creatures I haven’t been introduced to until now. It was an interesting read all in all. I’d love to have Teagan as a sister. She ensures that Aiden, her little brother is always out of harm's way. Aiden on the other hand, is my favorite character. He speaks like a grown-up and is totally adorable. He loves music, remembers everything and is afraid of Elvis Impersonators. :D Finn is the Mac Cumhaill that is ordained to fight the goblinkind in the present time. Oh, boy. He’s an Irish accent, a warrior blood, and a hot bod. Need I say more?? 

There are things that I find lacking and flat though. The things that happened in the first half of the book came almost too fast. Teagan’s mother died and there are times that I feel like it didn’t happen. I thought Gabby-Crabby- I mean Abby, would play a much bigger role, but didn’t. And the romance! Although there is, I was slightly disappointed to find little. Sorry, I was just waiting for the first kiss. I still enjoyed it however. The part three of the book was action-packed that I was lost track of time. I kinda blame it that I didn’t get to study for the exam the next day! This is a very good start for a series. Can’t wait to have another dose of that sexy Irish again. 

Once Upon a Read-a-thon

It's 10 am of July 11th here! This is the first time I'm participating in a readathon and I'm really pumped up to start. I'll be updating on my Twitter account, that is @IvaliceAlliance using the hashtag #OUreadathon. But before that, I still have time to do school stuff while waiting for the US' clock to strike 12. :)))

Review : Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Hardcover: 292 pages

Release date: Feb. 17, 2011

Publisher: Dial

Goodreads Summary: When high school junior Natalie - or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper - is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. 

The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected - especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?

Thoughts

Babe in Boyland is surely not your typical girl-meets-boy story. Natalie aka Dr. Aphrodite gives relationship advices in a column where in she’s always on the side of the girls. The girls fall in and pleased on her opinion but then the guys aren’t. Natalie soon realizes that she doesn’t know anything about what boys feel and came up with a plan that lead her to a wacky quest. She decided to enroll in an all boys school as Nat with the help of her friends.

Natalie’s experiences made me giggle throughout the story. There were times when she slip off and show her girl side in front of her friends in Underwood and then manages to break out. The way her friends changed her into a guy is definitely amusing. They changed Natalie’s walk, how to talk, and most importantly the thing that will add for her masculine effect…well, you know what I mean—I mean using socks!, that was definitely hilarious. Her journey to the Underwood soon leads her to find her affection for her roommate Emilio. Babe in Boyland will teach you how to be sensitive, that you should not just be on one side but you have to know also the side of the guys before judging. The story will also inform you how true friends should be, that they could be so supportive especially in hard times and they will do everything for you. Will Natalie aka Dr. Aphrodite aka Nat put everything off when she’s surrounded by males? Will she finds the answers she’d been waiting for, when she feel affection for her roommate? And will Emilio still acknowledge her if Nat show herself in front of him as Natalie? Those are the questions that I will leave for you to uncover, so read the book for you to find out the answers ;)