Review: A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones

Synopsis from Amazon:

When Vivian is evacuated from London in 1939, she expects to be staying in the countryside. Instead, she is whisked away to Time City – a place that exists outside time and space.

It is a strange and remarkable place, where technology rules – yet important events of both past and future are marked by the appearance of mysterious Time Ghosts.

Here, a Time Patrol works to preserve historical events – but unknown rogue time-travellers are plotting to take control and are stealing the wards that protect the city. If they succeed, Time City and History as we know it will both be destroyed.

Jonathan and Sam are convinced that Vivian can help to save their home – for, astonishingly, she appears as a Time Ghost herself in a forgotten part of the city. But how can she possibly know what to do, when the important event hasn’t even happened yet?!

Review:

A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones was amazing! It was full of so many great ideas that I was always left surprised. I am impressed by the new world that Jones built, a city living out of time but watching over all of humanity's history and keeping it stable.

I wasn't disappointed on any account. I was awed by Time City just as Vivian, the main character was and loved discovering its many secrets along with her. Jones' descriptions were so wonderfully vivid that it wasn't too hard for me to imagine the unique city.

Vivian is mistakenly kidnapped out of time and taken to Time City. When her kidnapper, Jonathan, realises the mistake he's made, he can't help but be puzzled by a Time Ghost (an imprint of an important event) of her in Time City.

What I liked most was the interaction between Vivian, Jonathan and Sam. As they slowly became friends, I loved how they were funny, witty and adventurous. I even enjoyed all the bickering! Jones didn't just invent the awesome Time City, but also, the rest of history.

As Vivian, Jonathan and Sam travel through time and into the future, it was great to see how the future might play out-ending with the Depopulation of Earth. What I was really interested in-and what could have been further developed- was the Mind Wars, a time in the future where opposing sides fight with the power of their minds and can destroy others' minds.

I found Elio, the android- very interesting and wanted to know even more about him than was said. I would also have liked to know more about Faber John and The Time Lady. Even though it was a totally satisfying book which answered all of the questions posed, I thought Jones could have explored more of her ideas if she wanted to.

There were twists and turns at the end and some surprises that I didn't see coming. I have read a few of Jones' other books and I look forward to reading more. All in all, I loved reading A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones and highly recommend it!

Book Rating: 5/5
Cover Rating: 5/5

Author: Diana Wynne Jones

Review: Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Synopsis from Goodreads:

You are what you eat. . . .Cat's smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice. . . .

This funny and thoughtful novel explores how girls feel about their bodies, and the ways they can best take care of their most precious resource: themselves.

Review:

Fat Cat by Robin Brande was a fantastic novel. I stayed up late into the night to read it. Sometimes all you want is a story that will make you smile, but Fat Cat was more than just that. It was insightful, thought-provoking and clever.

Cat is fat; hence the name of the book. All she wants to do is beat Matt-her ex-best friend- at the science fair and get the top spot. However, to do this, she knows she'll need to pull out all the stops. So begins her 207 day project of living like the hominids (homo erectus).

Luckily, she doesn't have to eat raw or putrid meat or light fires to cook dinner (that is, if the hominids even discovered fire), but instead, she eats healthily, walks everywhere (if possible) and cuts herself off from as much technology as possible (emergencies permitting).

With some struggles, Cat's project begins to go well and her healthy eating and exercise means that the pounds drop off and she begins to get varied male attention. But she knows that in the end, all that matters is that she makes Matt pay for hurting her.

I really enjoyed Fat Cat and read it in one sitting. It was funny, clever and unique. I liked the spin on the usual plot of 'fat girl becomes thin and avenges herself' by having it to do with a school project. I liked the fact that Cat developed her confidence throughout the book. I found the project interesting and educational. Most of all, I liked the characters, especially Cat's friend, Amanda, who pushed her to come out of her shell. Doesn't every girl need a friend like that?

Now that she can, Cat analyses boys, something that was unknown territory not too long ago, but the more she learns, the more confusing it all gets. I loved seeing Cat grow as a character, get rid of her insecurites and confront Matt. Though her hate for him was slightly disproportionate to what he did (I'm not condoning it. Only, it is a few years later and the hurt of what he did should have ebbed slightly).

Overall, I liked Matt and Cat's relationship. Fat Cat was a great book and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a light and funny read.
Book Rating: 5/5

Cover Rating: 3/5

Author: Robin Brande

Review: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In Caitlin's world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That's the stuff Caitlin's older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon's dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger's, she doesn't know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white - the world is full of colors - messy and beautiful.



Review:

I loved reading Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine because it was stunning in its honesty. Caitlin has Asperger's syndrome and it makes her see the world differently to others. After her brother Devon is killed in a school shooting, Caitlin does not know how to Deal With It or how to find the closure that she so desperately wants.

With the help of the school counsellor, Mrs Brooks, Caitlin begins the journey to slowly come to terms with Devon's death through finding closure. Closure is hard to achieve though when you see the world so differently and I found Caitlin's struggle so inspiring.

Not only that, but Caitlin also has to learn to socialise with her peers and to make friends. The amount of miscommunication between characters in the book expressed perfectly how difficult it is for Caitlin to come to terms with Devon's death. Her father, though loving, does not want to talk about Devon's death and the unfinished chest that was Devon's project, is a barrier between them; an obstacle that they must knock down.

Mockingbird was fantastic because it taught me more about Asperger's syndrome. I loved seeing the world through Caitlin's eyes, understand the world in the way she understands it and I especially liked observing Caitlin develop throughout Mockingbird in her search for closure.

I also enjoyed the references to To Kill a Mockingbird because I found it paralleled the story well. I was so emotional when I read this story; one sad moment I remember in stark detail is when Caitlin scrapes bark of an oak tree in her attempt to get a piece of wood she believes she needs to complete Devon's project and hurts herself.

Mockingbird was amazing and would recommend it to everyone. Mockingbird teaches us about Asperger's syndrome, but it does so in an informative, sensitive and emotional way. It is about one young girl's difficult journey to find closure in her life.

Book Rating: 5/5

Cover Rating: 4/5

Author: Kathryn Erskine

Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search--a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain.


With only one week to find a captured Mr. Benedict, the gifted foursome faces their greatest challenge of all--a challenge that will reinforce the reasons they were brought together in the first place and will require them to fight for the very namesake that united them.


Review:

Set a year after their previous adventure The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey is just as great. Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance, the members of the MBS set out to follow a trail of cryptic clues left by Mr Benedict who has been kidnapped by his odious brother, Mr Curtain, in the hope that they will eventually find him.

The beginning started off in a similar way as the first book, with Reynie on his way to a rendezvous. The beginning was a little slow, with the characters dwelling on and reminiscing over their previous adventure, however, once it got going, it gripped me to the end. The book was engrossing. It was action-packed and the members of the Mysterious Benedict Society travelled across the world to locate Mr Benedict. The trail of clues was intriguing and well thought out in Stewart’s usual style.

Constance suddenly developed extremely powerful psychic abilities and extra-fast pattern recognition skills. She did not have this in the last book where her stubbornness was her saving grace. The origin of these abilities remained unexplained and I hope it is explained in the next book. I wonder whether she is someone’s laboratory experiment as she has no memory of her family and she is very advanced for a three-year old.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey was very humorous and entertaining. Even the villainous characters had their little jokes. There was one occasion where Mr Curtain would not have helped one of his henchmen because he is not that type of person- but he did- which was convenient as it got him out of the way for the main characters to make a bid for freedom. This was out of character for him.

The book went into more detail about Mr Benedict and Mr Curtain’s narcolepsy and how it affects their lives. This was interesting and frightening. If you read the first book, I am sure you would want to read The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey as it was a highly enjoyable read and laugh-out-loud funny. If you haven’t started the series, I highly recommend it. You won’t regret it.

Book Rating: 5/5
 
Cover Rating: 4/5
 

Author: Trenton Lee Stewart

Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Young readers who have worked their way through Lemony Snicket may well find their next obsession in The Mysterious Benedict Society, a dandy YA debut by novelist Trenton Lee Stewart. This engaging tale has all the elements tweens find intriguing: gifted kids, a dangerous mission, and a secret society where nothing is as it seems. Stewart throws plenty of challenges -- physical, mental, and moral -- in the path of his young protagonists, and readers will have fun solving the riddles and unraveling the clues in this smart, unconventional mystery. Complex, unpredictable, and deeply respectful of children's innate intelligence, The Mysterious Benedict Society is highly recommended for thoughtful preteens.

Review:

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is a very interesting book as it is reminiscent of a 1920s spy story, though it is set in the present. It has a wide array of strange and intriguing characters, with Reynie Muldoon as the main character. After being initiated into a secret society, Reynie and his friends must discover who is sending sinister messages through media broadcasts and communication devices to everyone in the world.

The Mysterious Benedict Society was a humorous book and allowed the reader to see the strength of the various characters. The tests that the characters had to go through to be accepted into the mysterious society were very unconventional and challenging and lead the characters to think outside of the box.

The book kept up the mystery and suspense without becoming monotonous or frustrating at any point. Enough information was given to satisfy the reader and keep them gripped until the very end. The end was shocking, surprising and full of twists.

The book was well paced and the characters were three-dimensional, except for a few caricatures. The Mysterious Benedict Society is from Reynie Muldoon's perspective, in third person narration. Reynie was the leader, a good puzzle solver, a great mediator between the difficult team members and kept them focussed. Kate Weatherall was entertaining to read about. Her strength was escaping and getting past tricky obstacles. This skill proved to be invaluable in this adventure.

Sticky Washington had an impeccable memory. There wasn't much he didn't remember and he absorbed facts like a sponge. Constance Contraire was an enigma. I wasn't sure what she was good at until the climax where her strength became evident. These four had one thing in common and that was that they were all alone and only had each other.

Mr Benedict is also a mystery for much of the novel. I was unsure whether he was good or had sinister motives. There were also a number of other interesting characters such as Ledroptha Curtain, Number Two, Rhonda Kazembe and Milligan.       

Morse code was used in the book which was quite unexpected but Mr Benedict insisted that that is the reason why they should use it. Mr Curtain's Whispering Machine was a strange contraption which was powerful but limited- in the sense that it was pedantic.

There was one shocking pronouncement at the end of the book which was the age of one of the characters which I felt was unrealistic. However, for the most part, The Mysterious Benedict Society was a well-rounded adventure where all the puzzle pieces fitted perfectly and all the loose ends were tied. Most importantly, there is further scope for plenty more adventures in the future as their journey has just begun.

The Mysterious Benedict Society was a worthwhile book to read as it was full of action, adventure and humour. If you liked Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer, you'll enjoy this. I recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society for a bit of light reading. I look forward to reading the next book, The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey.

Enjoy!
Ledroptha Curtain!:)

P.S. The reason for why Kate carries a bucket is still a mystery. Why doesn't she have a bag? Though- it is pretty useful.

Book Rating: 5/5
Cover Rating: 5/5
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart

Review: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.

Review:

 Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer was a great book. It tells the story of a young, intelligent boy who discovers the existence of a secret world inhabited by fairy folk from legend. This is extraordinary in itself; however, the plot thickens when the twelve year old mastermind, Artemis, decides to exploit the fairy people for his own ends.

First and foremost, Artemis Fowl was entertaining and humorous. I loved how all the characters interacted and how funny and sarcastic some of them, such as Foaly, were. I found the story really unique and Colfer’s ideas fresh and welcome. The fairy people live in underground cities as the surface has been taken over by humans. It was easy to visualise the world that is created in Artemis Fowl. This story focuses on the attempts of the Lower Elements Police (LEPrecon) to foil Artemis’ extortionate plan. Artemis Fowl is well written, the characters are 3D and the setting vividly depicted.

Importantly, Artemis Fowl also had times when it dealt with serious issues. The novel explores the way in which the most thought out plans can change in an instant and the consequences which result from making certain decisions. Artemis is so focused on restoring his family fortune and finding his missing father that he loses sight of how other people might be affected by his actions. Artemis is also forced to consider how important money really is if he doesn’t have happiness.

There are many interesting characters in the book such as Captain Holly Short, Commander Root, Butler, Foaly and Mulch Diggums. The varied characters made the book really exciting. It would be too difficult to choose a favourite character as I liked them all.

The word fairy is a collective term used to refer to an assortment of unusual beings including elves, gnomes, pixies, sprites, goblins, dwarves and centaurs. These beings have various powers but they also have certain rules which they cannot break such as not being able to enter a dwelling without permission. They also have much more advanced technology which is extremely sophisticated which gives them an added advantage over humans.

Artemis Fowl was a very interesting book and I enjoyed it a great deal.  It is well worth a read as it is laugh-out-loud funny. Those who enjoy reading about villains as a main character will love this as well as those who enjoyed H.I.V.E by Mark Walden. I can’t wait to read the next books in the series.

Book Rating: 5/5

Cover Rating: 4/5

Author: Eoin Colfer

Review: Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors #1) by Susan Pfeffer

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.


Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.


Review:

Life as we Knew It by Susan Pfeffer was a deeply moving struggle for survival. The book opens as Miranda, the sixteen year old protagonist, watches with her family as an asteroid crashes into the moon and displaces it out of its orbit and towards Earth. This increases the moon’s gravitational pull and sets off tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes. Life as we Knew It, written in a diary format, is the story of how Miranda and her family survive in the aftermath of this terrible disaster.

I really enjoyed Life as we Knew It because it showed how lives could be changed in a single moment and the plans that people once had for their futures could become impossible. I found it realistic in the sense that it focussed on the day to day worries of having enough food and water; things that are taken for granted. I enjoyed reflecting on this issue as I was fasting at the time I was reading this book as it was Ramadhan. Though Miranda's family have stockpiled everything they need, they ration everything so that it can last as long as possible. They are better off than others however and I wish that more less-fortunate people had been shown.

One of the saddest moments for me is when Miranda is so (understandably) hungry that she goes into the seemingly overflowing pantry and eats from a pack of chocolate chip cookies. The resulting confrontation with her mother was terrible to read as Miranda’s actions not only hurt herself, but the rest of her family. However, by the end of the book, Miranda has grown up and she becomes selfless.

I liked all the characters. Miranda was lucky to have such a brilliant family. The focus of the book was on food and family, however her friends do play a part. Miranda’s friend Sammi leaves the area with an older man to try to find a better place and her other friend Megan prays to God to help save them all. I found Megan’s story really troubling as she was starving herself and thought this issue could have been explored further. Also, the Church wasn’t shown in a good light.

I think that the asteroid hitting the moon should have been taken more seriously by the world. Asteroids probably hit the moon often, but this one was really big and could be seen with the naked eye. The scientists should have had some clue as to what could (and did) happen and made sure there were contingency plans in place. Of course, it wouldn’t save everyone, but some good would have come out of it.

Also, I really thought people would try to break into Miranda's home and steal food but this did not happen. Furthermore, it seemed unrealistic that people would allow the family of the deceased to go through the relative's house first and take everything they wanted, as when you are starving and on the verge of death, manners are the furthest thing from your mind.  

 Other than that, I really enjoyed reading Life as we Knew It and look forward to reading the next book, The Dead and The Gone. I would recommend this to those who like to read post-apocalyptic books, diary format books and books about the environment. You could also read this if you liked Children of the Dust.

Book Rating: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Cover Rating: 5/5

Author: Susan Pfeffer

Review: The Talent Thief by Alex Williams

Synopsis:


Cressida, Adam's talented sister, is invited to perform at Fortescue's festival of young talents and Adam tags along. But once the children arrive at the festival, in a mountain-top hotel, their terrific talents begin to mysteriously disappear. A piano virtuoso suddenly forgets how to play, a maths genius finds she can no longer multiply.

There's a sinister shadow that only Adam ever sees, a strange glow emanating from behind closed doors. With the help of an erratic ex-racing driver, dashing Amy Swift, Adam and Cressida rip-roar off through the mountains in perilous pursuit of the dastardly talent thief.

Review (Spoilers):

The Talent Thief was an interesting book set in an alternate world in the 1920’s or 1930’s. It explored both the advantages and disadvantages of having special talents. The author aptly described the attitude of some talented individuals who believe themselves to be the only ones of importance through his characterisation of Hans, a gifted musician who was spoilt by his fame.

The main characters of the story are sixteen year old Cressida who has an amazing singing voice and her twelve year old brother Adam who believes he has no talent. They are invited to a festival of young talents in the city of Paralin.

Williams demonstrates how talented people such as Cressida can feel so put upon and pressurised by their respective gifts that they can become quite cruel even though they might not ordinarily be so cutting and spiteful. I think that in the book Adam was more accepting of Cressida’s cruel remarks and petulant behaviour than was realistic. However, Williams did show the change in Cressida’s character over the book.

The mysterious Talent Thief called Nipso did not really have much opportunity to develop in the book as he was always uncertain and easily fooled. However, he does begin to make some sensible decisions instead of simply doing as he is told as the book progresses. It would be interesting to observe what further progress he makes in understanding peoples’ intentions. Also, a more detailed explanation of how the Talent Thief can use the talents of others should have been given.

This book was highly enjoyable and worth a read as it had action, adventure and humour; all essential ingredients for a good book. The conclusion of the book was slightly disappointing; though the main adventure had drawn to an end, a number of questions remained unresolved.

Did Cressida and Adam go back to live with their horribly selfish uncle or did they stay with Amy Swift? Will the creature Nipso choose to return to the jungle or journey to find Cressida? How wil Adam and Cressida go about returning all the talent spheres they have salvaged to the right people? Also, surely they will have to attempt to catch the real talent thief.

Book Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 4/5
Author: Alex Williams

Review: Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Review (With Spoilers):

I read Divergent by Veronica Roth because it came highly recommended; so many people said they enjoyed it. The synopsis sounded promising and I was excited to read it, however I was setting myself up for a big disappointment.

Characters:

Tris, the main character, seemed okay at first, however my estimation of her rapidly declined. She was so shocked when her brother chose to join Erudite and almost perceived it as a betrayal when she herself chose Dauntless. Furthermore, the unrealistic speed with which she discarded her faction traditions and values and took on those of Dauntless made her insincere and cold. Within the space of the first week she could no longer be recognised as having come from Abnegation, what with all her new clothes, tattoos and attitude.

The book did not explain why her divergence should make her better at using weapons; throwing knives, shooting guns and fighting in general. It did say why she would be better at simulations but not why she would be a superior fighter. It was too much, too quick.

I knew as soon he was introduced that Four, also known as Tobias, would be the love interest. From the moment he helped her out of the net, Tris experienced an inexplicable feeling towards Four.

Though Four was eighteen and Tris was sixteen, the very fact that he was her instructor made the relationship inappropriate and unpalatable. The Dauntless leaders were never seen and this was highly unrealistic. Why wouldn't they meet the new initiates and take more of an interest in their training?

Eric, the head Dauntless instructor, was a nasty piece of work whose aim in life was to be as horrible as possible to as many people as possible. His rivalry with Four was childish as no other angle was provided to the readers as the Dauntless leaders were never present. Tris' friendship with Christina felt very fake and forced. One moment, they liked each other and the next moment they couldn't stand each other's company.

Tris' parents were 2D characters as they weren't present in much of the book. The opening of the book was pretty much the end of their family life. This was a mistake as Tris would relate memories of her family life and none of this was shown actively. Furthermore, Tris' parents were killed far too quickly to make much of a lasting impression on the reader.

Also, towards the end of the book, her father's morals are under scrutiny. Even after his wife was killed, he insisted that killing was wrong. However, a few minutes later, after a couple of words from Tris, he was shooting to kill. This seemed inconsistent.

Janine, the Erudite leader and the evil mastermind of the book, didn't come across as frightening enough as she should have been. She wrote a few horrible articles about Tris' father and she also drugged the Dauntless into submission. They became her mindless automatons, willing to follow her every command. Janine's actions were cruel and calculating, but when Tris met her in the flesh, Janine didn't have the aura of power that other villains usually do.

Setting:

Divergent takes place in a futuristic version of Chicago. They have some technology but much of the infrastructure has been destroyed. The fence surrounds the whole city and only certain people can enter and leave. The question of whether the city was being guarded or whether the inhabitants were being imprisoned was never resolved. The city has trains that seem to go around 24/7 in an endless circuit and people have to take their lives into their hands to get in and out.

Style:

The pace of Divergent was slow and wearisome. I took a few days' break in the middle. I had to force myself to persevere but it wasn't worthwhile unfortunately. Divergent was in first person, present tense following the trend set by the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It was effective in that particular series but Tris' narrative voice was grating on the nerves.

Ending:

The ending wasn't satisfactory. It wasn't as self contained as it could have been. It was written as a first instalment of a trilogy. The ending could definitely have been improved. The book ending with Tris and Tobias on a train is an indication of which way the series is heading; in circles.

Discrepancies:

Why didn't the girls and the boys have separate dorms? This was inappropriate and meant everyone lacked privacy especially with all the raging hormones, getting your towel pulled off in front of everyone and someone being stabbed in the eye.

Tris outgrew her pants after a week of training which is highly unlikely and downright silly.

Why didn't Tris attempt to phone or email either her brother or her parents as the situation became more urgent? Did phones still exist? Computers were being used.

After Tris was shot, she was still doing a lot more than she should have been able to. Her gunshot wound didn't seem to bother her much.

Tris killed her friend Will without flinching but could not bare to shoot Tobias, even to the point where she stood there passively and told him to shoot her instead. This didn't seem a very brave thing to do to me and she couldn't have known this would have broken him out of his trance.

The whole reason for Tobias' father being present in the control centre was to disable the computer, but he didn't do anything at all to help. The only reason he was there was so that he would be on the train afterwards.

Conclusion:

Divergent by Veronica Roth was not a worthwhile read as it left me frustrated. The ending was anti-climactic and rushed. I was baffled as to what the reason for it being compared to the Hunger Games was as they are completely different. I will not be reading the next book, Insurgent. If only I had known how bad it was before I read it, I wouldn't have wasted my time.

Book Rating: 1/5
Cover Rating: 4/5

Author: Veronica Roth

Tagged

Velvet at vvb32 reads tagged me in this fun quiz!

1) If you could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?
Countdown to the millenium. Watching the fireworks with my family and eating popcorn. (Everyone was scared about the millenium bug and the end of the world.)

2) If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
My genes.

3) What movie/TV character do you most resemble in personality?
  None.

4) If you could push one person off a cliff and get away with it, who would it be?
My neighbour. (But I wouldn't. Because then I would be a murderer. Just saying:)
 

5) Name one habit you would like to change in yourself.
Overthinking!

6) Describe yourself in one word.
  Pessimist.


7) Describe the person who named you in this meme in one word.
  Fun :D


8) Why do you blog? Answer in one sentence.
I like to read books and I wanted to keep a record of my thoughts because I tend to forget details.
 
Be warned- If you read this, you've been tagged!:)