A Unique Future

To find my new reads, I usually scan Barnes and Noble.com to see what the most popular books of the week are or what's newly released.

A few months ago I saw that Jay Asher, author of the very successful "Thirteen Reasons Why" had just released a new book, "The Future of Us".

I read the summary blurb that B&N.com posted for the new book that was published on November 21st, 2011.

It seemed like such an intriguing, unique idea; two teenagers that live in the 90s stumble upon an AOL CD-Rom that is actually their future Facebook accounts.

On Facebook, the teens are in their 30s and they can see what their life turned out to be. As is usual with teenage girl behavior, the main character is not satisfied with her life and tries to change it. She does unordinary things to try to alter her Facebook page.

It's the usual YA plot line mixed with a wild idea; there are the usual teenage problems that everyone experiences, especially in Young Adult novels...love, school, and family problems.

This was a very nostalgic book, especially if you grew up in the 90s and remember receiving your first AOL-CD in the mail and uploading it onto your computer, giving you the newest edition of America Online.

But also, then you throw in the present time and humanity's new obsession, Facebook, and you have a crazy idea for a book.

I was expecting great things from this book. Jay Asher's first and very successful novel, Thirteen Reasons Why was a beautifully, tragically written book. The NYT Book Review says "With its thrillerlike pacing and scenes of sexual coercion and teenage backbiting, the novel appeals to young readers, who say the book also gives them insight into peers who might consider suicide."

It pulled you in and made you feel the words that were written on the page. Since then, the YA world then been awaiting the arrival of his second novel.

My expectations were sent through the roof once I read the summary and thought that this was going to be a wild ride through the past and the present, and the future. I was so excited to start reading it.

I was sadly disappointed though; the book was not terrible and I was mildly satisfied but I think my expectations were way too high.

It was a slow book, not moving at a fast pace and I think I expected A LOT more to happen. The ending was kind of a bust. I was hoping for some big reveal or some major decision to occur. It was kind of built up only to be let down.

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend that you read it. Just don't be expecting the next great American novel.

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My Future Books:

1. Kill Me Softly: Most people say don't judge a book by its cover but when I saw the bloody rose on the cover of this new YA novel that is set to come out on April 10th, I couldn't help but click on it. The summary says it all: a wicked tale of a 16 year old girl who runs away to a town where all is not what it seems. Beau Rivage is a fairytale land where fictional stories and characters come to life. It sort of reminded me of ABC's new hit show "Once Upon a Time". I'm a sucker for anything having to do with fairytales so I will definitely be reading this to find out what it's all about!

Satisfy Your Hunger

On March 23rd, District 12 Lovers will have their hunger finally satisfied. Unsure of what I'm talking about...well you obviously have not heard of the new teen phenomenon, "The Hunger Games".

It's a three book series written by Suzanne Collins. The first dystopian novel was published in September 2008 and ever since, the book world has eaten this book up.

The Harry Potter/Twilight like success of this book series prompted Lionsgate to spawn a movie version of the YA novels. Fans have been awaiting the films since the announcement was  made.

The novels take place in the setting of Panem (a futuristic United States) where 12 Districts are located, each having a different role.

The Districts are under strict control by The Capitol, a dictator like government. Everything the Districts and citizens of each district do is watched and given to The Capitol. Mostly all the citizens of the districts are poor because the crops they grow and the goods they manufacture are given to The Capitol.

Katniss Everdeen is a citizen of District 12, along with her mother, sister Primrose, and her best guy friend Gale. She's a fierce hunter who does everything she can to make sure her family does not go hungry.

Something the Capitol does to ensure the food supply for their citizens is The Hunger Games, where two citizens or tributes as they are called in Panem, are selected from every district to compete each year. It's a fight to the death, a form of barbaric entertainment for the entire "nation" to enjoy. The winner of The Hunger Games is awarded food and money for life, not just for them but for their entire family.

Katniss, by chance is chosen at The Reaping, the annual ceremony where the Hunger Games contestants are picked, to be a tribute for District 12 along with local heart-throb Peeta Mellark.

The book follows Katiniss' journey through the Games and the emotional roller coaster she experiences while fighting for her family.

This is not a story about an intense love triangle, as some of the media is making it out to be. It's a story about the trials and tribulations of an oppression and how it affects everyone involved. It's about a girl, so fierce and fearless, whose willingly to do anything to keep herself alive and to protect her family. It's about uprising and rebellion and fighting for what is yours, what is deserved.

It's very exciting, very intense, and really addictive. I finished the book within a few days and immediately started the second book in the series, "Catching Fire".

If you get really obsessed with books and books turned into movies, like Twilight and Harry Potter, you will most likely end up jumping on The Hunger Games bandwagon as well. All three series are TOTALLY different but they all have an intense fan-base.

Go read the latest obsession in book and film, you won't regret it.

The Perks of Reading

The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been hailed as the "new Catcher and the Rye." People have been talking about this book since it's release in 1999 but I have always been hesitant to read it.

I have been passing this unique, plain cover in the book stores for a while and almost bought it a handful of times but something always stopped me.

I really love "The Catcher in the Rye" and was nervous about reading something that sounded so similar to such a timeless classic.

This book has been in the news recently, mainly because Summit is releasing a movie based on the best seller. It will be starring Harry Potter's Emma Watson, the Vampire Diaries Nina Dobrev, and the Percy Jackson Series' Logan Lerman in the main role of Charlie.

When I heard the cast for the movie I knew I needed to read the book so I could make the informed comparisons when it hits theaters later in the year.

The minute I started reading, I knew what people have been raving.  This book is a heart felt story of a boy, Charlie, who seems to be more than awkward and shy and could have a social disorder.

The format of the book is Charlie writing letters to an unknown person and telling the story of his life over the course of a year.

He deals with more than what a normal high school student would deal with, such as a close friend's suicide. But also he is consumed with normal problems, like getting drunk and high for the first time, falling in love with your best friend, and the death of his favorite aunt.

You get to see Charlie grow into himself and accept his life for what it is. From the first page, you see his shyness and socially awkward personality but by the last page, Charlie knows exactly who he is and has grown so much.

He makes friends, loses friends, forms a relationship with his sister and goes through all the trials and tribulations any teen does.

The writing is impeccable and Chbosky really lets you inside Charlie's mind and allows you to really get to know him. By the end, you'll feel like Charlie, and the rest of his gang are your friends.

It was a beautiful book with a few great quotes and scenarios that are so normal but through Charlie's eyes, are something so new and different. Who could forget a quote like "And in that moment, I swear, we were infinite."

"The Author Chick" posted a quick review on Barnesandnoble.com and this is what she had to say about it; "Everything about this book, I love. But it's still a vast understatement."

You definitely get the feeling of Salinger's "The Catcher and the Rye" but Holden and Charlie are very different characters. Truly the only similarity is the fact that they are both young men, who are changing, growing up, and learning to deal with the difficult times in life.

Aside from Harry Potter, this is a classic book for a generation; read it, love it. You won't regret it.

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My Future Books

1. Spellbound: The newest book in the Hex Hall Series by Rachel Hawkins will be released later in the month. The series centers around Sophie Mercer who is enrolled in Hecate Hall aka Hex Hall, a troublesome school for supernatural beings. Sophie is a witch...or as she later finds out, one of the only two demons in the world; the other being her father who she hasn't seen since she was born. Spellbound is the third in the series and picks up where the most recent book, "Demonglass," picks up. It's an addicting series and if you love witches, vampires, and all things supernatural, you will LOVE this series.

2. The Fame Game: Lauren Conrad made a name for herself as a reality star on MTV's "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" but a few years ago she became a best selling author of a three book series "LA Candy," which centers around a story similar to Conrad's own life. Jane Roberts is a normal girl turned reality TV star and the drama that comes with her new found fame. The Fame Game is a spinoff of LA Candy and focuses on Robert's frenemy Madison Parker, her fame, and her new reality TV show. If it's as juicy as LA Candy and it's counterparts, "The Fame Game" will launch Lauren Conrad further into the booksophere.