And now, onto the book!

“Clockwork Angel” by Cassandra Clare is the first in her new trilogy, titled “The Infernal Devices.” However, the setting and paranormal world that she incorporates into this novel is actually from her first trilogy “The Mortal Instruments.” I’ve never read any of her work before, but apparently fans will recognize family names from the original books in this new one and also some characters. However, the best part is that you don’t need to read “The Mortal Instruments” before you read “Clockwork Angel”; they are complimentary series, but not about the same stories. With these novels, Clare has created an entire world, referred to as the Downworld, in which demons, vampires and the like all exist. The Downworld is common between the two trilogies and is essentially what ties them together.

The book starts out in1878, with our main character, Tessa Gray, a 16-year old American girl who has traveled by ship to London, England in search of her brother. He was working in London and invited her to come live with him. However, when she arrives she is kidnapped by two women who call themselves the Dark Sisters who are associated with the mysterious Pandemonium Club. They trap her in their home and teach her that she herself is a Downworlder with a very curious ability - she can change into another person. They make her practice this skill in preparation for her marriage to a man who is only referred to as the Magister. Just before the wedding, Will Herondale, a Shadowhunter, rescues Tessa and takes her to the London Institute, where he lives with other Shadowhunters. Using Tessa’s ability, they begin to investigate both her brother’s disappearance and a strange series of murders related to the Pandemonium Club.

Yeah, that’s a lot to take in, but it grips you right from the beginning. Clare wasted no time getting right to the action of this novel and with 478 pages, it’s a whole lot of action. As complicated as the short synposis may seem, with all the new terms, an understanding of the Downworld comes quite quickly to the reader and really enhances the experience. The mystery is completely riveting and I really found this one hard to put down! I also really liked the historical aspect. Even though it was seldom referred to, I just really enjoyed reading a book about a bunch of Victorian paranormal-fighters!

Clare is a great writer, which really makes this one accessible to all ages. She doesn’t dumb anything down and doesn’t stray away from subjects that may be too PG. I really forgot that this one was YA and I definitely want to go back and read her original trilogy!

This one is a great read to pick up over Thanksgiving weekend. It’s exciting, it’s quick and it goes perfectly with leftover pumpkin pie. Just prepare to be completely enthralled and possibly miss out on shopping with mom time because your nose is buried in a book!

Got some free time? Need a good book to take your mind off of class? Check out Alex’s other book reviews!

My boyfriend actually bought “We Were Here” for me last Christmas. I know, it’s terrible of me to let a gifted book sit on my shelf for so long, but I wasn’t feeling it until recently (sorry, bf!). The main character of “We Were Here” is Miguel. We meet him just as he is being sent to a group home for nine months for a crime. He is very tight-lipped about the crime, which gives the whole novel a bit of suspense that I really enjoyed. Another part of his sentence requires Miguel to keep a journal of his time in the group home, which gives us the narration of the story.

While incarcerated, Miguel meets Rondell, an African-American teen who suffers from extremely violent outbursts and some mental delays, and Mong, a mysterious Asian boy who Miguel really can’t get a handle on. One evening, Mong tells Miguel that he plans to escape from the group home and head for Mexico and invites Miguel along. Rondell overhears this and, soon enough, they plan to break out. The escape is actually successful and after it, you get into the real “meat” of the story, as the teens travel up and down the California coast.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a psychology major, with a particular interest in forensic psychology (study of criminals, basically), but I was hooked on this one right from the get-go. Learning about the group home residents and their individual crimes was totally fascinating and fairly accurate. I also really liked the “journal perspective” style of writing. It allowed the reader to get a good grasp on Miguel and his demons and also allowed me to play psychologist and analyze him a bit! But, trust me, you don’t have to be a psych fanatic to enjoy this one.

Miguel is a great narrator and really doesn’t hold back. You get to know him fully, which makes the mystery of his crime all the more interesting. There are enough clues by the end that you can guess who the crime involves, but it really was tragic and shocking. I’m even tempted to go back and re-read “We Were Here” with the hindsight of his crime, as I think I might evaluate the story a bit differently with new perspective. Rondell and Mong are also endearing characters and are both so interesting. De la Pena worked hard to craft intricate stories for them, which fit perfectly with their crimes, actions, personality, etc. Again, things a psychology student would appreciate…

Just like all good teen fiction books, “We Were Here” was just plain honest. Miguel wrote everything down; no sugar-coating, no nothing. I find these kinds of books really make me feel something. There was a lot of “quotable” moments as well and I felt a bit wiser after every read.

“We Were Here” is a different type of a young adult fiction, but a truly great book for breaking up the monotony of midterms (nice alliteration!). Enjoy!

Got some free time? Need a good book to take your mind off of class? Check out Alex’s other book reviews!

“The Book Thief” is set in World War II era Germany and is narrated by Death. Yes, you read that right – Death. Definitely one of the most interesting narrators anyone could choose. Throughout the novel, I often forgot about the narrator and was really wrapped up in the story when Death would put his little spin on things, often reminding me when the character I was reading about would perish. It totally changed my perspective on the story and really made me grateful for the time I have, as cheesy as that sounds.

The story itself revolves around Liesel Meminger, a German girl who we first meet when she is 9. She is being sent to live in Molching, with her brother, when he dies suddenly on the train. This is the first time that Death meets Liesel, but certainly not the last and also ironically marks the first time that Liesel steals a book. Liesel moves in with her foster parents, Rosa and Hans Hubermann and slowly adjusts to life in Molching. She continues to steal books, eventually earning herself the nickname “The Book Thief” from her friend, Rudy Steiner. She also makes friend with Max, a Jew who goes into hiding at the Hubermann’s and the shut-in wife of the mayor, all while bonding over books.

What truly makes “The Book Thief” is the setting. World World II Germany is about as volatile an atmosphere there ever was and Zusak uses this to his advantage. Featuring stories about Hitler-lovers, the Hitler Youth divisions and even Mein Kampf, these situations are really what make “The Book Thief” unique and also what make it important. Stories about the Holocaust also tug at my heart and really get to me. As I mentioned in another review, I had a near-breakdown in Anne Frank’s House in Amsterdam. “The Book Thief” absolutely got to me, but it was more than just the setting that did it. Zusak is a master writer and choosing Death as a narrator gives him a real freedom with his words. I often found myself re-reading sentences, just to make sure I got the clever metaphors or because they were so beautiful. Rarely does an author create a book full of beautiful phrases, but “The Book Thief” is one.

This book was amazing. It was a perfect storm; a great topic and a superb, creative storyteller. Zusak totally succeeds in making this time come to life and really matter to the reader. Even though “The Book Thief” is marketed as YA in North America (and 576 pages!), please don’t let that deter you. It’s fantastic and was marketed as adult fiction in Zusak’s native Australia. “The Book Thief” hits all the right marks and really makes for a wonderful read. Now that you have some time off from textbooks, don’t be afraid to dive head first in to this wonderful monster.

“Stolen” is written as a letter from Gemma to her captor, Ty. From the beginning, this approach put me at ease because it meant that Gemma eventually escaped captivity and was reunited with her family. I’m a sucker for happy endings and would rather not even read a book if the main character is going to die, especially after being kidnapped. Kidnapping is really one of my biggest fears (yes, I watch too many horror stories on the news) and a story about it makes me really uncomfortable, so I’m actually proud of myself for following through with this one, and happy that I did, too!

Gemma is a 16-year-old British girl on vacation with her parents when she meets Ty in the airport coffee shop. He seems very sweet, despite the fact that he is older and Gemma finds him strangely familiar and “safe.” She is flattered when he offers to pay for her coffee, but he also drugs it and sweeps her off to the Australian outback. Gemma awakens in a strange bed and an even stranger setting: desert and little vegetation for as far as she can see. It’s impossible to escape – she would die before she reached civilization. She has been stolen from her parents, from her life in London and brought to live with Ty. And then he tells her that she will be staying “forever.”

I think the most amazing thing about “Stolen” was how the reader begins to sympathize with Ty. Lucy Christopher slowly begins revealing his dark past to Gemma and the readers and, bit by bit, his actions begin to make sense. Every time I put it down, I had to remind myself that I was feeling sorry for a kidnapper! I think a book that can make you identify with the obvious villain is extremely rare, perhaps miraculous. And Gemma herself is not a typical heroine; she’s imperfect and you also slowly learn about her petty life before being stolen. Christopher really evened the playing field between the two characters and brought them to a place where they actually understood each other, even though one was the criminal and one was the victim. Another really neat experience from “Stolen”: at some points I found myself wanting Gemma to stay with Ty, even though I knew she should escape, mimicking Gemma’s exact feelings from the novel.

I’m not going to give away anymore about the plot! But, I will say that “Stolen” was a grade-A debut. Thrilling, exciting and also heart-wrenching, Christopher tackled a tough subject and came out victorious. I found myself losing hours reading this one and thoroughly enjoyed the characters. I’m always looking for something different and “Stolen” definitely fit that category. A great YA read for any age!

“Will Grayson, Will Grayson” tells the story of two teenage boys living in the Chicago area, both named Will Grayson. Other than their name, they have little in common, but a chance meeting one night sets into motion a series of events that changes both of their lives. The first Will Grayson that we meet is a smart, normal teenager. His best friend is a massive, gay football player ironically named Tiny, who has decided to write a musical chronicling his life being gay. Will isn’t too thrilled about this musical, especially about the character who is supposed to represent him, Gil Wrayson.

The other Will Grayson is a bit sadder; he’s living with his single mother, is on anti-depressants and is all together quite lost. All of his happiness comes from an online boyfriend, Isaac, so one night when Isaac suggests that they meet, Will Grayson is thrilled. On the same night, Tiny, the first Will Grayson and their other friend, Jane, decide to go to Chicago for a concert. However, neither of the Will Grayson’s nights go according to plan and they end up meeting.

And that’s all I’ll tell you.

This whole plot may sound a bit cheesy or even depressing, but trust me, Green and Levithan are absolute masters of wit so all this drama comes off as fairly light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek. Yes, they like to feature gay characters, but even though a good chunk of the characters in this book are in fact gay, the book isn’t about the struggles of a gay teen or anything like that. This is just a story and the same story could be told with straight characters, too.

The reason I love YA and especially John Green books is because they are so real and truly make me feel something. The writing in this book is so beyond awesome and I find myself grabbing a notepad before I crack it open so I can make sure I don’t forget the really moving quotes. Green and Levithan really write from their hearts and lay it all out there for their readers. They always give me new insight into life and love and I really appreciate that. “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” is so honest and just SUCH a good read. It’s not pretentious or wordy, but it’s just as wise as an adult novel. Green and Levithan really give voice to teenagers and show that you can learn a lot from people who are younger than you.

There are tons of awesome websites out there full of book reviews, recommendations and other literary excitement. And the stuff they’ve got is way more relevant and informative than the reviews on Amazon.com or by the guy working behind the counter at Barnes and Noble. But much like everything else on the Internet, there are so. many. book blogs. Which ones are the best? Which ones can you trust? Which ones will recommend stuff you’ll actually like?

These three blogs are my staples; I check them often and trust their advice. They’re fun, informative, different and remind me that reading is enjoyable (when I’m not reading a textbook that is….). If you’re looking for some new books or just want a little more insight into the literary world, bookmark these suckers:

1. Bookslut
Bookslut has been around for almost a decade (since 2002 – WOW). Just like the name, Bookslut is fearless and a bit provocative. They consider themselves to be a monthly web-magazine for those who love to read. Bookslut is on my list because of the wealth of information it provides. The people who run Bookslut are not just constantly reviewing new titles (although they do that too!); they keep up to date on book news and trends, and do interviews with authors too, all with a fun, hip twist. Reading Bookslut will definitely keep you completely up to date in the world of literature and also equip you with some clever comments for around the water cooler….or keg. Smart and sassy, Bookslut is totally modern.

2. The Millions
Another aptly named book blog is The Millions. I don’t doubt that their are millions of articles on this one. The Millions is another web-magazine run by a group of people that provides readers with a plethora of knowledge. This one is a bit more “formal” than Bookslut, but equally as wonderful. One of my favorite features is their monthly top-ten lists. They post lists of the top ten books that readers of the blog are purchasing, which is a neat way to do a top-seller list. Another cool feature is the Modern Library Revue, where Lydia Kiesling reviews classics. She’s definitely one of my favorite writers on this blog and introduces readers the classic novels that most dismiss as boring and irrelevant.

3. The Story Siren

Anyone who reads my Saturday Reads knows that I am a sucker for YA (that’s young adult in book blogger speak) fiction. And The Story Siren is my go-to blog for all things YA. This girl is insane. She updates AT LEAST every day, usually with a book review or author interview, and also keeps on top of everything going on in the YA world. She also features other great bloggers and reading challenges. If you’re like me and YA fiction is your guilty pleasure, or if you’re just looking to spice up your bookshelf, then you must check her out.

Too bad it took me a little while to realize that The Unconsecrated in “The Forest of Hands and Teeth” were essentially zombies. I was spooked, to put it mildly, but by that point the book had already hooked me and I knew it would be impossible to stop.

“The Forest of Hands and Teeth” tells the story of Mary. She lives in a village in the woods, surrounded by fences that keeps The Unconsecrated out. The Unconsecrated, as I said before, are essentially zombies and they roam the Forest of Hands and Teeth, constantly threatening the village and its people. Mary has led a simple life in her village, helping her family and waiting to be married. Then one day, when patrolling the perimeter of the fences, Mary’s father gets taken by The Unconsecrated and is assumed to be “infected.” Her mother then falls into a depression and one day gets too close to the fences and is bitten by an Unconsecrated. She chooses to join the others outside the village and suddenly Mary’s life is in a tailspin.

In the village, a woman cannot live on her own, so when no one wants to marry Mary, she is forced to live with the Sisterhood (basically nuns) in their Cathedral. Once in the Cathedral, a series of events cause Mary to begin questioning the Sisterhood and her entire life in the Village. And then the fences are breached by The Unconsecrated and everything Mary ever knew is gone.

OK, so it all sounds a little weird (and zombies are scary), but this book is absolutely addictive. I spent many nights awake until the wee hours, lost in the story. I just could not put it down, and that doesn’t happen often (especially after spending hours poring over text books).

Carrie Ryan wastes no time getting into the story and doesn’t babble unnecessarily. I really liked the character of Mary and the whole supernatural aspect of this novel, too. It’s a science fiction novel by category, but reminds me of an Audrey Niffenegger novel. That is, that Ryan can seamlessly bring her readers into this new world without even questioning its existence. She covers every base and keeps you too busy with the story to even wonder. The combination of the story, the pacing and the writing kept me completely hooked and unable to put it down.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling adventure. Plus, the sequel comes out in March and I cannot wait!

I had seen a few advance reviews for “Beautiful Creatures” by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, all of which raved about the novel, so I went into it with pretty high expectations. On top of that, it’s one of the few books ever to be selected as a “Heather’s Pick” at Chapters/Indigo (Canadian Barnes & Noble basically). This discovery, again, amped up my hopes. And I was not disappointed!

The main character of “Beautiful Creatures” is Ethan Wate – 16-year-old basketball stud from Gatlin, a town in the deep South. A year before the novel begins, Ethan’s mother passes away and since then, his life has changed immensely. His father writes all night and sleeps all day, so Ethan sees him about once a week, which leaves Amma, their housekeeper, to care for him. Along with the changes in his home life, Ethan has begun to have strange dreams, ones with a mysterious girl in the rain and when he wakes up, he is usually soaking wet, his hands caked with mud.

Then one day, the girl from his dreams shows up at school. Her name is Lena Duchannes and she is the niece of Macon Ravenwood, the town shut-in, automatically making her a social outcast. However, despite the best efforts of Ethan and his popular friends, he cannot deny that he is drawn to her. Eventually, Ethan gives in and when he does, he and Lena begin a magical journey that he could have never predicted. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away since the suspense about what is happening is one of the best parts! However, I will say that you won’t expect the “supernatural” twist in this novel.

Despite the fact that the main characters are even younger than my youngest sibling, I still really enjoyed and connected to the story. The characters don’t seem 16, which makes this way easier for 20-somethings to read. “Beautiful Creatures” is also very well-written – just enough description to give you a good idea of the setting and lush, Southern atmosphere. There is nothing that I hate more than over description in a book (you know – a whole page describing a blade of grass). There is none of that here. Actually, I think one of the reasons that I like teen books in general is that they tend to stay away from tons of adjectives and just get to the grit of the story.

Another problem I’ve had with supernatural teen fiction lately has been the “Twilight”-syndrome. There are SO many books out there that have taken the basic bones of the Twilight novel and then slotted in another supernatural being (werewolves, angels, etc). I HATE THAT! “Beautiful Creatures” DOES NOT do that, thankfully. It has a unique story, which, unfortunately, is a rarity in teen fiction these days.

I’m going to recommend “Beautiful Creatures” by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl to any fan of teen fiction or supernatural fiction, OR people who are fans of a combination of the two, such as Twilight, Shiver, etc. The unique story and supernatural suspense will keep anyone interested and reading away hours at a time. Enjoy!

“Going Bovine” tells the story of Cameron Smith, a 16-year-old loner and somewhat loser at his high school. Cameron starts seeing visions one day of fire giants and other things that clearly aren’t there. His parents think he is “disturbed” and bring him to a therapist, but when that doesn’t work they finally cave and go to the doctor’s office. Cameron is diagnosed with Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. For the majority of you going “huh,” it is also known as Mad Cow Disease.  A terminal illness.

Cameron is immediately admitted to the hospital, where his hallucinations continue, including visits from a punky angel named Dulcie.

One of Cameron’s classmates, a little person named Gonzo is also admitted to the hospital and placed in the same room as Cameron. Shortly after this, Dulcie comes to Cameron and tells him that he must go on a roadtrip to find someone named Dr. X. He has created a time machine and is the one who brought the fire giants and all of Cameron’s hallucinations back to Earth. Dulcie tells Cameron that Dr. X also has the cure for his disease and that when they find him, he will be saved.

Cameron convinces Gonzo to go on this roadtrip and they embark on a journey of a lifetime. Along the way, they pick up Balder, a Norse god in the form of a yard gnome; 3 rowdy college students going to the YA!TV party house; a group of evil Snow Globe makers; a band named after physics principles; and a trumpet-playing hero.

OK, so the trip is clearly a hallucination, but the entire journey was entertaining, thrilling and hilarious!

Libba Bray is a funny, thoughtful and accomplished writer. She seamlessly integrated Cameron’s life into his (mental) adventure and the entire thing really drew me in. In addition, she created a character that is at once both hard to love and hard not to. This book definitely pulled at my heartstrings and made me grateful for my life (a mark of a good novel!).

All in all, I was completely impressed by “Going Bovine” by Libba Bray and LOVED it. Despite it being 480 pages, I plowed through and enjoyed every minute. The ending, as well, is simply magical and made me tear up. If you’ve read it, you know what I mean.

Kudos to Bray for writing such a fabulous novel and I hope everyone will pick it up, regardless of the fact that it resides in teen section.

Are you wasting your time at the gym?

Nikon is racist.

Is Audrina Partridge boning the hottie from Star Trek?

Britney spends a lot of money. Like, a LOT.

Jazzhands!

Are women pushovers when it comes to sex?