emilyusuallyreading's reviews
746 reviews

The first three books of the Bloody Jack series are by far my favorite. The characters and plot lines are excellently developed, Meyer is knowledgeable about this time in history, and you cannot help but root for Jacky, no matter where she can be found.

I enjoy this book in the series, although the number of characters seem a bit overwhelming at times. Thirty girls held captive in a single location can be difficult to remember, although Meyer develops their personalities well. There are a few scandalous scenes that could have been left out, I believe.

I read this book for my Children's Literature class at university. I didn't realize that George MacDonald's writings were a big inspiration to C.S. Lewis. There is so much symbolism and allegory in this novel, and it left me thinking about Death and bad things working for good purposes in ways I never had before.

This novel has been beautifully translated into English. Its descriptive language paints so well the thoughts and struggles of a boy who has experienced much loss and pain in his young life. I was held captive throughout the entirety of The Last Brother, especially by the dynamics between Raj's family. There is so much buried pain in this story, and it brings light to a side of WWII I never knew before.

This book was a birthday gift. It was a light of encouragement for a stressful school week and left me reminded to work harder to give my all to the Lord and not only part of me. My biggest critique is that All In didn't delve in deep enough for my taste. I would read encouraging stories of radical missionaries and Bible stories, but I also wanted daily application outside of the extremes. How could one be radical as a homemaker in a small town? How could one be radical as a student with financial limitations and time needed to study? Surely being radical for one's faith does not always mean selling it all to go change the world. Ultimately, All In left me encouraged and inspired, but I wish it would have expanded a little bit more.

I read this book for my Children's Literature class and was a little disappointed. I never experienced much of an attachment for the characters after the first few chapters. Charlotte in the orphanage was spunky and full of personality, but Charley the stagecoach driver seemed a stiff and purely biographical telling of a person who lived a long time ago. I felt only confusion about the relationship between Charlotte and her friend Hayward. I did enjoy the adventures Charley faced in her life, but I never felt like I got to know her. Obviously, there is only so much liberty one could take in a biographical novel, but Charley never seemed like anything other than a character strained to be a child's hero, and not as an American woman with a relatable life.

Much to my delight, I discovered that a film is coming about about The Maze Runner not long after I finished reading the book. For the first several chapters, I was absolutely lost, but not necessarily in a bad way. I felt very much like I was in Thomas' shoes, overwhelmed and bewildered by the language and environment around him. While Dashner's brash writing style is not my favorite, his story fully captured my attention. I sensed a lot of influence from Lord of the Flies.

I chose to read The Book Thief after seeing the film and being touched by every single character presented. The book is excellently written. It cherishes the art of writing. Zusak is a true wordsmith, and I was often left thinking about his sentences and wordplay. I like the idea of the narrator being Death in an era as harsh and painful as Nazi Germany (when he is extremely busy, as he explains). It took me a while to finish this book. It drug out a bit in the middle; there is beauty on every page, but the story is not fast-paced.

I purchased this novel completely on a whim. For the first half, I was fascinated. Gregory captures the idea of a post-apocalyptic novel with a spin I've never seen before. America is not a wasteland; people are not wandering around through the forest with makeshift weapons. After the zombie apocalypse hit, the government acted in time for only 75,000 casualties to occur. I loved the family dynamics in the Mayhall household. I loved the descriptions of Stony himself. What I didn't love was the second half of the novel, when Stony is forced to flee his home. I will not share any spoilers, but what happened next seemed dramatic and unbelievable, much more fantastical than the semi-realistic world painted only chapters before. I had trouble finishing the novel.

After watching Catching Fire recently, I decided to re-read the series. I absolutely love Collins' writing style. Katniss has a voice that is gritty and authentic. She is not an angsty teenage girl; she is a survivor and a fighter. The relationships in her life are meaningful, and I appreciate the character development in even the most minor supporting characters, such as Flavius and Octavia. The heavy content is elaborated just enough for its target demographic, but also emphasized in a way that will make young adults look at the media, the government, and the sanctity of human life.