Murder at Longbourn by Tracy Kiely

Synopsis:
Planning New Year's resolutions to rid her life of all things unhealthy, Elizabeth Parker has dumped fatty foods, processed sugar, and her two-timing boyfriend. Indeed, the invitation to join her Aunt Winnie for a How to Host a Murder Party on New Year's Eve at Winnnie's new Cape Cod B and B comes just in time. but when the local wealthy miser ends up the unscripted victim, Elizabeth must unearth old secrets and new motives in order to clear her beloved aunt of suspicion. The suspects include the town gossip, a haughty rich woman, and an antiques business owner much enamored of his benefactress, a Mrs. Kristell Dubois. If that isn't bad enough, Elizabeth must also contend with her childhood nemesis, Peter McGowan--a man she suspects has only matured in chronological years--and her suspicions about his family's interest in Winnie's Inn.

Yesterday, her only worry was of finding her Mr. Darcy. Now she has a murder to solve. is it any wonder her resolution to achieve inner poise is in tatters?

My Rating: 6/10

My Thoughts:
Though this book was not a piece of exquisit literary fiction, it was very entertaining. The mystery was full of twists and it managed to suprise me when the murderer was revealed. I loved the Pride and Prejudice references, which made it blatently obvious who the love interest was, and I loved the refrences to other works of classic literature. Pretty much anytime there is a main character who loves books as much as I do, I'm going to enjoy the read.

Feed by M. T. Anderson

Synopsis:
We went to the moon to have fun but the moon turned out to completely suck.

So says Titus, a teenager whose ability to read, write, and even think for himself has been almost completely obliterated by his "feed," a transmitter implanted directly into his brain. Feeds are a crucial part of life for Titus and his friends. After all, how else would they know where to party on the moon, hot to get bargains at Weatherbee & Crotch, or how to accessorize the mysterious lesions everyone's been getting? But then Titus meets Violet, a girl who cares about what's happening to the world and challenges everything Titus and his friends hold dear. A girl who decides to fight the feed.

My Rating: 8/10

My Thoughts:
This book really made me think. Though it takes place in the future, and many of the every day items the characters use, like upcars and disposable dinner tables, seem like science fiction, they resonate with today, for this is where our world is headed. And when it comes to the consumerism driven culture, in many ways we're already there. I love this kind of novel that takes current events and shows what happens in the future, I find it endlessly facinating. Excellent read, I recommend it.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox- Mary E.. Pearson

Synopses:
Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she's still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen? Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. Along with the memories come questions--questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident?

My Rating 9/10

My Thoughts: (Warning, spoilers)
This book was fascinating. It begins with the mystery of what is really going on with Jenna, then after we discover the truth, that 90 percent of Jenna's body is made of lab grown parts after a terrible car accident, it continues with the moral and ethical dilemma of that illegal decision. It was this dilemma that was the most interesting to me. After finding out the truth, Jenna struggles with identity, and the question of whether she is in fact still human, which leads to the much larger question of what it means to be human, and how far science should be allowed to go.

Jenna's situation is juxtaposed with the other characters situations. Her parents, who would do anything to save their only daughter. Allys, who lost her limbs, yet still fights against passing laws that would make her whole again. And finally to Ethan who proves that sometimes breaking the law is not black and white and Dane, who may be one hundred percent human but still lacks something. These characters all bring fascinating perspectives, proving exactly how complicated the situation really is.

My only hesitation with the book was the ending. Throughout the entire book, there seems to be no right answer to the question posed, yet the conclusion seems to take a side. Perhaps I just wished the end was left more ambiguous so the reader can decide for themselves, but overall I enjoyed this book immensely.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Synopses:
Micah will freely dmit she's a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she'll ever tell you. Over the years she's fooled everyone; her classmates, her teachers, even her parents. And she's always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as easily as breathing?

My Rating: 6/10

My Thoughts:
I was very excited for this book and even after I was done, I was still not sure how I felt about it. I was frustrated while reading the book, because I had no idea what what actually happening, and what was a lie Micah was telling. Everything she said I took with a grain of salt expecting her to confess the lie a few pages later. However, though it was frustrating during the book, I was satisfied with the ambiguous ending, and I was able to form my own opinion about what was going on. Overall this book was had a very original concept and I would love to discuss it with someone else.

DystopYA Reading Challenge

This challenge is right up my alley because I love Dystopia novels and I love young adult. For all the details click here. This challenge starts on October 5, 2009 and runs to December 31, 2009. We are challenged to read 3 books in that time.

Looking at the list, I've already read several:

1. The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins
3. The Giver- Lois Lowry
4. The Forest of Hands and Teeth- Carrie Ryan
5. Uglies- Scott Westerfield

However, there are several I have not read. My list is subject to change:

1. Feed by M.T. Anderson (Completed)
2. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson (Completed)
3. The Declaration by Gemma Malley (Completed)

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

Synopses:
The heroine of this powerful novel, often considered James's greatest work, is the spirited young American Isabel Archer. Blessed by nature and fortune, she journeys to Europe to seek the full realization of her potential--or, in modern terms, to "find herself"-- but what awaits her there may prove to be her undoing. During her journey, wooers vie for her attentions, including an English aristocrat, a perfect American gentleman, and a sensitive expatriate. But it is only after the ingenue falls pray to the schemes of an infinitely sophisticated older woman that her life takes on its true form. With its brilliant interplay of tensions and characters, The Portrait of a Lady is a timeless and essential American novel.

My Rating: 4/10

My Thoughts:
I started this book about a year ago, and it took me this long to finish it simply because reading it was painful. I bought this book expecting an Elizabeth Bennet type strong willed character who falls pray to an evil type gentleman. However, that was not the case. Though described as being strong willed and intelligent, Isabel seemed simply naive and immature. Plus the "evil gentleman" turned out to be no such thing. Yes, he had ulterior motives in marrying her, but marrying for money is not an "evil" reason, and Isabel willingly entered into the marriage. The two simply discovered they did not like each other after they were married for a while.

James is a fan of very long and descriptive paragraphs, and this book is not for the faint hearted. It's long and even though I love classic literature, took me a looooong time to finish. I would not recommend this book to people in the future.