What are you reading on Mondays? (1)

This event, hosted at J. Kaye's Book Blog, is designed to list the books you finished last week, the books you are currently reading, and the books you want to finish this coming week.

Finished this past week:


Hush, Hush
by Becca Fitzpatrick
My review is here.

Currently reading:


Savvy
by Ingrid Law


Memories of the Afterlife
edited by Michael Newton

To be read (or at least started) this week:


Crazy Beautiful
by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Review - Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1)
by Becca Fitzpatrick
Date: 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Reading level: YA
Book type: prose novel
Pages: 391
Format: hardcover
Source: Indigo

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

It seems like I've been waiting for this book for so long. Now that I've finished it, I feel somewhat (but not completely) satisfied. I guess it's sort of like getting a salad for dinner when what you were really craving was a steak.

On the whole, I enjoyed the story. I liked the concept of fallen angels, and it's something I hadn't seen a lot of before (but I bet that's going to change now!).

The pace was fairly good. I didn't find myself wanting to rush through too many parts of the story. Most scenes were relevant and weren't just filler. Fitzpatrick's writing style was easy to read and I didn't find too many problems (aside from the missing paragraph break on page 320 that tripped me up for a good 60 seconds; a missing paragraph break combined with a lack of speech attributions is confusing!).

The characters were a mixed bag for me, though. Nora was a passable narrator, but she suffers from what I like to call SNS (Stupid Narrator Syndrome). I hate it when I'm reading a book and I figure things out long before the narrator does. Nora also spends most of the book vacillating between being afraid of (and repulsed by) Patch and thinking she's attracted to him. At times, I wondered if the author even knew where she wanted Nora to stand on the issue.

I did like the villains (even though I knew who they were long before Nora clued in), and I liked the fact that there was more than one. I wasn't crazy about Vee, Nora's best friend, because at times she was even stupider than Nora (I know they're supposed to be impulsive teenagers, but really... some of the stuff they did -- or overlooked -- was just ridiculous).

As for Patch... Well, he was my favourite character in the whole thing. Yes, I guess I'm a Patch groupie. But here's the thing: I wouldn't want to date him. It seems that a lot of male characters in YA are either adored or loathed based on their dateability. Readers (mostly young women) want to put themselves in the main character's shoes and live vicariously through them as they enter into a relationship with the hottest, most perfect guy imaginable. That certainly isn't the case here. Yes, Patch is swoon-worthy. He's hot. He's protective. He drives a cool car. But he's also kind of a jerk. He thinks way too much about sex. He's the kind of guy you'd never want your daughter to date. In real life, he's the kind of guy that you should run away from. But in literature, that makes for an awesomely enjoyable character.

All in all, I did enjoy the story, and I'm not sorry I read it. And I'll be looking forward to the sequel, Crescendo.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Overall: 3.8 out of 5

Friday Firsts (4)

The first line can make or break a reader’s interest. Just how well did the author pull you in to the story with their first sentence? To participate in this weekly book meme is extremely easy.

• Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.
• Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.
• Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title & author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)
• Did this first sentence help draw you into the story? Why or why not?

I'm reading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick at the moment. Yes, the following line is the first line of the book; it's a prologue that takes place in 1565:

Chauncey was with a farmer's daughter on the grassy banks of the Loire River when the storm rolled in, and having let his gelding wander in the meadow, was left to his own two feet to carry him back to the château.

Sometimes I like prologues, and sometimes I don't. There seem to be more of them around now (I blame Twilight), and not all of them are really necessary. But the prologue in this book sets the stage nicely and provides a bit of intrigue. I haven't finished the book yet, but I can already see that the prologue was relevant to the events in the rest of the story.

I'm thinking that that first comma is misplaced, and it's bugging me a bit. But I didn't notice that when I read it the first time, so I'm not going to get too worked up about it. (I go into editor mode far too often... often to the detriment of my enjoyment of a book!)

Teaser Tuesdays (9)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Today's Teaser:

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I challenged.

He tipped forward, preparing to stand. "Because you're nothing like what I expected."

"Neither are you," I countered. "You're worse."

~ page 80 - Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

In My Mailbox (4)

This week, I actually got some books in my mailbox! Literally. I ordered seven books (yeah, I got carried away). The order must've been too big to ship all at once, so it was split up. I got two of the books on Friday (so I guess the rest will show up next week... and I'll have something to put in my next IMM post!). The two books that I received were:

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Yes! I finally got my hands on this one. I started reading it on Friday night. I haven't gotten too far yet, though. (And now I'm in the middle of three books, the other two being Pride and Prejudice and Savvy. They're all so different, though, I shouldn't have any trouble keeping them straight.)

Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox

I'd heard about this one, and it sounded somewhat interesting, but I didn't have a burning desire to read it or anything. However, I came across it in the bargain section and I just couldn't pass it up. Why not? Could you pass up a hardcover for 95 cents? (I kid you not. It must've gone back to the warehouse as a "damaged book" at some point because the dust jacket had a nick in it along the spine. But heck... for less than a dollar for a hardcover, I'm not about to complain!)

What was in your "mailbox" this week?



In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (1)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

There's only one book I'm really waiting for at the moment. This one:

I think I must be the only book blogger out there who hasn't read it. If I haven't commented on your reviews of it, it's because I've been skipping them. I'm afraid of spoilers!

Only a few more weeks to go...