BREAKING NEWS: ALLEGIANT (DIVERGENT #3)

BREAKING NEWS!!

On the 18th of April, Veronica Roth announced the title of the third book in the Divergent trilogy, Allegiant.

If you missed the video announcement of press the link below to watch the video

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

I was really hoping the title was "Detergent" - I don't know about you? ;)

When I first heard that Allegiant was the title, you could say I was slightly disappointed, it doesn't end in "-ent"!! But that is more of a minor point, it isn't such a long wait now though.

The title does build quite a bit of buzz about what could be inside, the definition of Allegiant?

" Definition of ALLEGIANCE

1a: the obligation of a feudal vassal to his liege lord  b (1): the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government (2): the obligation of an alien to the government under which the alien resides

2: devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause "

 

We definetly know that there is going to be a war, can we expect back-stabbing and betrail? Loss? A death? What about the unforgettable family connection we learn about? Do they join together? Post your ideas below!

With the title announcement, fans have jumped towards their computers to make their own covers! There are so many now but which one do you like? Here are a few:

Is there one which you think has got it closest? What do you want to see on it? Which fraction is going to be on the cover? I'd love to hear your thoughts, or if you have made your own cover, post it below for everyone to see!

Spotlight Sunday: The Tiny Book Of Tiny Stories - HITRECORD & Joeph Gordon-Levitt

SPOTLIGHT SUNDAY IS HERE!
This is a new feature to my blog where I will spotlight certain things in the book world that I think should get spotlighted. Books varying from future releasing books, new releasing or already released, and not all sitting under the YA title!Maybe some websites that are great for those book worms, other blogs and much more!

For today's spotlight I have chose The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories, Volume 1 by HITRECORD and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. This book tiny book is full of 67 contributors as art and short stories are combined to fill this witty and clever book.

So what is HitRecord? The company was set up by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (yes, the actor and director) and his brother, Dan Gordon-Levitt. The website (http://www.hitrecord.org) was launched in 2005 to share the thriving community of creativity in media including video, literature, music, photography, spoken word, performance, script writing, graphics and much much more! It has spread the creativity worldwide and in 2010 it launched a new scheme where contributor can charge for their individual pieces.

So here as I am writing this I have this tiny book, it does stick true to it's name, sitting next to me. It is a hard back book with crepe like paper bound around it  with the symmetric front printed on the front. The drawings in this book really reflects the talent that is around as they vary from page to page. 

The stories are full of wit with a combination of cleverly thought stories. It is hard not to smile as you read through the book.

I encourage anyone who has wishes to have a future with something creative to check out the HitRecord website, or maybe if you have a hobby which has some sort of creativity in it. It is a really nice website where you can view other peoples work...maybe do a bit of shopping at their shop?

Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Published: 1st May 2012

Hell has broken loose. The Dauntless have been taken over by the injection which the Eudrites have created and Tris and Four are on the run. I don't want to say anymore than that as someone reading this may not have read the first book and, you know, spoilers....

I have to say that I have been a bit slow on my reviews and this has been in draft for a looong time.
But anyway..

“People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.” 

This book delves more into the character of Four and his past - I LOVE it. Four seeming much more vulnerable as we meet his past and how he interacts with his family, but is still the awesome boyfriend he can be for Tris. I enjoyed the fact that Divergent was all about Tris and then you start to read Insurgent and suddenly it has so much more about Four but still not unbalancing everything for the other characters. Tris and Four's relationship is a minor and it is largely build with action.

But it's not crammed in too much, it's nicely paced with an ongoing rhythm, just like Divergent. Roth has managed to keep my expectations high throughout this book and hasn't made it wobble.

Now as we wait for Book 3, the bar is even higher than the first and second, knowing what Veronica Roth can actually do.

Twists and turns and a cliffhanger, definitely need to read!

Q&A Event and Book Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

I managed to go to book Q&A and signing on the 19th March with Lauren Oliver at Waterstones in Piccadilly. Unexpectedly, I was instantly struck by how many people had Requiem in their grasp to then later find a holy shrine before my very eyes!

For those in the UK waiting for the book, it comes out on th 21st March 2013.
Do NOT forget this date!!

Title: Requiem
Author: Lauren Oliver
Published: 21st March 2013

Ok so the love triangle continues with Lena, Alex and Julian along side the build up to the war of the "animal" invalids and the regulators.
There were definitely tense moments between Lena and Alex as they are "reunited", with Julian completely swept away with feelings of "what-the-hell?!" Alex says everything of the past has been killed and buried between him and Lena, they are different people. But this is clearly not true, until Coral shows up. Lena starts to become jealous and questions whether or not anything has truly changed.

Alongside this we get Hana's narration, which was quite a contrast as we finally get to see and understand the mind of a "cured." It was quite surprising with the addition of a new narration but Lauren Oliver made it work, with the paths finally crossing near the end of the
book.
This is yet another beautifully written book and I only wish it was real (with out the war part.) Books are for escapism, this sure gives you it, it's as if my imagination eye sight has been heightened a hell of a lot more! Amazingly amazing, beautiful.

I have heard complaints about the ending of this book that it seems too open ended, abrupt. But I really liked it. It is open to interpretation. I loved the ending, especially the setting of it..(is that on purpose? maybe?)

Overall I thought this was a really cute ending, and although I would like an epilogue (which we will never get, exact words of Miss Lauren Oliver) it was a pleasure to read this book before the release!

"We wanted the freedom to love. We wanted the freedom to choose. Now we have to fight for it"

Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Published: 7th May 2009

Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, adoring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. Then, in an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the one decision she has left—the most important decision she’ll ever make.

Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving.

This book is a book mix of Lovely Bones and Afterwards, which are both adult books and highly recommended. This book is everything it says it will be. Tragic and hopeful and an uplifting story about the memories of Mia. This book is written beautifully and Mia is a great character to follow, fragile and vulnerable.

You can't help but want everyone to be alright. From the beginning you get introduced to the family and I noticed how real the family is (mum, dad, Mia and Teddy), and the whole feel they have as a cohesion.

The book covers the idea of out-of-the-body experiences. The idea that while you are unconscious your spirit can float around and still see what's going on around you, as well as covering the love for family and friends. 

The ending was great, it fits in with the whole flow of the book without going into a massive BAAM the end. If I could cry at any book this one is definitely a crying one, in my mind. It's a delicate flowing book and definitely recommended.