Random Recommendations (1)

Hey everyone! This is the first post of a new segment here on Paradise Reading Cafe. It's called Random Recommendations! In this segment I will be recommending random books that I have read and loved at any time during my life (especially lesser known titles). Enjoy :)


Title: Hating Alison Ashley
Author: Robin Klein
Release Date: October 1st 1985

Classmates Erica Yurken and Alison Ashley vie with each other to become the undisputed star of their class. (summary from Goodreads)

I randomly picked this book from the library shelf when I was in 6th grade. I LOVED it! It was hilarious! I was literally rolling on the floor laughing. This book was excellent in my memory and became my favorite book at that time. I hope to reread it one day. 


What is your Random Recommendation? Post a comment or link it! :)

Numbers by Rachel Ward

Title: Numbers (Numbers #1)
Author: Rachel Ward | Website
Publisher: Chicken House
Release Date: February 1st 2010 
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Library
Rating: ♥♥♥♥ [4]
Challenge: --

Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye Ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem's world is about to explode!

This book took me by surprise as it was not what I expected it to be at all. The summary on the cover flap can be misleading as that is not what this book is about. I was expecting a thriller/conspiracy/science-fiction story but this story actually focused a lot on the romance between our two main protagonists Jem and Spider.

I found the concept of this story interesting: girl who can see the death dates of other people; but I thought that Rachel Ward could do a little more with it.  I picked this book up because the concept reminded me of the popular anime Death Note. I liked where Rachel Ward was going with the story at the beginning as I was expecting a thriller but it all turned into romance (that can be good too). The story is heavily based around the concepts of death, fate, and destiny and questions whether we control our own fates or if our fates are already predetermined. I found that these concepts made me think throughout the course of reading this book. The overall feel of the book was very dark. I think that the book set a good pace in the beginning but the story felt rushed towards the end and it felt like all the loose ends were trying to be tied up really quickly. Sadly, I don't think the ending was as strong as the start.

The romance was great! However I wish there was more development to it. I really loved Jem and Spider's relationship and how Jem developed as a character throughout the story. There relationship with one another was heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking. I found the ending to be shocking and abrupt. The cliff hanger at the end of the story made me want the run and grab the second book in the series, Chaos.

I also really enjoyed Rachel Ward's writing style. It was descriptive yet not over the top and easy to follow. As Rachel Ward is an English author I had to grab the dictionary several times in order to understand some words. I'll be on the lookout for more of her books!

-Quote-

“Nothing makes any sense. Nothing means anything. You're born, you live, you die. That's it.” -Numbers by Rachel Ward

Overall, Numbers was an enjoyable book. It was an interesting concept although the story didn’t play out as I thought it would. I will be picking up and reviewing the second book Chaos to see what happens next!

-Stella♥

In My Mailbox (6)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are the books that I got this week:







Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Source: Library
Reason:

I've heard nothing but good things about this book! Can't wait to see what it's all about :)

Title: Don't you wish

Author: Roxanne St. Claire

Source: Net Galley

Reason:

I think that the cover is gorgeous! Thank You Random House! :)

Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles
Source: Bought
Reason: 

I've heard nothing about good things for this book too! I love books about romance. The cover is..:)

In My Mailbox (5)

 

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are the books that I got this week:

Title: Unearthly 
Author: Cynthia Hand
Source: Bought
Reason:

Bought it on Amazon for $2.89! Who can resist a deal like that!?

Title: Hereafter

Author: Tara Hudson

Source: Bought

Reason:

Same reason as Unearthly! :)

Title: Always You
Author: Shilpa Mudiganti
Source: Publisher
Reason:

The first book I have received for review! :) So excited!

Title: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Source: Library
Reason:

The summary sounds intriguing! I also like love stories about amnesia and memory loss.

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Source: Bought
Reason:

I have already read and own this book in hardback. But I bought it on my Kindle so I can read it anywhere at anytime! Does anyone else do that? :)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton  
Release Date: December 2nd 2010

Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ [5]

Source: Bought

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

I'm happy to say this is the first book I've completed on my Kindle! :) The experience was great overall! I often forgot that I wasn't reading from a book. The only reason I picked this book up was because of the hype. If there was no hype, I probably would not have picked this book up with the cheesy cover and all...However, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. This book was definitely a cute read! It's one of those books were you can't help but smile and giggle at the romance. 

The writing was wonderful and the characters were great! Stephanie Perkins did such a great job with the characters that they seemed like real life people. Anna's group of friends are so awesome that I wished that they could be my friends too.

I found the relationship between Anna and St. Clair to be very realistic. The relationship development between them as the story progressed was excellent. My favorite part of this book was when it was Thanksgiving! Ahh so good :)

When I started reading this book, it reminded me of the S.A.S.S. series. The S.A.S.S. series stands for Students Across the Seven Seas. Each book in the series is written by a different author and it's about different girls traveling to different countries, usually as a foreign exchange student, who find love as well as insight on the countries' culture. I recommend this series if anyone is looking for something similar to Anna and the French Kiss.

If you're looking for a cute, fun read, definitely check out Anna and the French Kiss if you haven't already!

-Quote-

I slide my feet together so I'm standing in the center. "I wish--" "Don't say it aloud!" St. Clair rushes forward, as if to stop my words with his body, and my stomach flips violently. "Don't you know anything about making wishes? You only get a limited number in life. Falling stars, eyelashes, dandelions--" Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

-Stella♥