Review- One by Sarah Crossan

Goodreads Summary:

Grace and Tippi are twins – conjoined twins.

And their lives are about to change.

No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world – a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love?

But what neither Grace or Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined…

From Carnegie Medal shortlisted author Sarah Crossan, this moving and beautifully crafted novel about identity, sisterhood and love ultimately asks one question: what does it mean to want and have a soulmate?

REVIEW:

How do I review a book that is one of a kind? 

How do I review a book that is so rare? 

How do I review a book that is such a gem? 

How do I review a book that developed in me, feelings that I have never felt before? 

How do I review a book that isn't anything like what I've read before? 

How do I review a book that played like a movie in my dreams once I finished it? 

How do I review a book that had such a huge impact on me? 

Basically, how do I review this precious, poetic and painful book called One? 

How, how, how? 

I know how. 

Buy, beg, borrow or steal. 

I don't care what you do. 

Just. Read. This. Book. 

Two reasons to read One: 

It will make you wish people were better towards other people. In free verse. 

It will make you want to be better towards other people. In free verse. 

One reason to read One: 

It will melt your heart. If you are lucky enough to have one, that is. 

Thank you, Sarah Crossan.

*A copy of One by Sarah Crossan was provided by Bloomsbury India in exchange for an honest review. We thank them for the book. 

RATING: 

Review- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Goodreads Summary:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

REVIEW:

When your favourite bloggers read and appreciate a book, you have to read it, no matter what. We Were Liars has already gone down in history as the fastest and most sincere recommendation I've taken from my buddy Tanja. I had been seeing the book around a lot and when I read Tanja's absolutely beautiful review for it, I began reading the book within an hour of reading her review, so you can imagine the impact her review had on me. Our buddy Glass read and loved the book as well so that was definitely a plus. I wasn't expecting much (as I've learned not to do) from the book, but it seemed like it would be a very good story. Unfortunately, my feelings are mixed and even more unfortunate is the fact that I do not like mixed feelings.

Let me start with the positives. This was the first E. Lockhart book that I read and the writing was amazing. It had such a pretty flow to it and it could be read as poetry. It's not always easy to read books written this way and I am well aware that most people do not prefer to read in this manner, but I get hooked on to it from page one. The writing was the second reason why I went fast with the book than my normal reading speed. The first reason, you ask? The mystery. The intrigue. The curiosity. Just like the writing, I was into the plot from the beginning. I was dying to know exactly what would come my way and my curiosity was piqued to the point that I wasn't even making up my own imaginary scenes as I just wanted to know, know and know more.

That brings me to the plot itself. While the story was quite strong and highly interesting, I didn't quite like the way in which it was executed. I loved the ending because I love these kind of endings, but somewhere, I felt that something was missing and that is purely my fault since I kept asking and waiting for something more. There were quite a few issues that were going on on the island on which this story takes place among the family there and they were really good and well developed, but issues like this are much more fascinating when there's more depth to them. I felt that they became very petty at some point. Also, the ending didn't have an impact on me. If anything, I was only trying to search for something that wasn't there. The characters were fascinating, I would say, with each person having flaws, making them more real, but I didn't connect to them save for a few truly exceptional times.

I really wish I had liked We Were Liars more like everyone seems to have, but then again, I am someone who goes left when everyone goes right. Anyway, I am so glad I gave the book a try since it is beautiful in its own way and the whole reading process was one amazingly cool experience keeping me at the edge of my seat throughout and when a book does that,  it is a good book. The few aspects that I didn't quite enjoy or "get" end up being the main parts unluckily, but that aside, this was a good book.

RATING:

Review- Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin

Goodreads Summary: 

Everywhere I look, my friends are settling down - marriage, children, white picket fences; but not me. Marriage isn't in the cards for me. I’m a ladies man. 

A rock star. 

I was born and raised in the industry. 

I love everything about my life, especially the attention from the women that my status brings me. 
Women find me. I don’t chase. I know what they want and they know I’ll deliver. 

But after one look, one touch, one night... 
Now I’m the one doing the chasing. 

I need to find a way to show her that I’m serious, that I can change. 
I need to find a way to show her that I can love her fully, and only her. 
I need to find a way to show her that she’s my forever.

The Beaumont Series: 

Sarika's review of book #1, Forever My Girl

Sarika's review of book #1.5, My Everything

REVIEW:

I remember the time I read Heidi McLaughlin's Forever My Girl and fell in love with the story. I found the novella, My Everything to be pretty okay and after that I was a little out of touch with the Beaumont series. But thanks to my great buddies Janhvi and Aman (you can read her review of the book here), I recently read the super sweet second book, My Unexpected Forever just in time for the third book, Finding My Forever which I buddy read with the girls as our January Endless Read. 

Finding My Forever is the story of Jimmy, the third and final band member of 4225 West, the other two being Liam and Harrison; and Jenna, a Beaumont native who is friends with Liam's and Harrison's girls, Josie and Katelyn. Jimmy has had a disappointing and heartbreaking relationship of three years with Chelsea and he's been a complete player ever since while Jenna has been in an abusive marriage to her friend. It's pretty obvious about what happens when the two come face to face in Beaumont. There's lot of drama and spice and some really silly and stupid going ons that finally lead to a sweet ending. 

While I did enjoy the first 40% and last 30% of the book, the in between, that's from 40% to 70% really put me off because to rip off the band-aid and put it simply, it was shallow. Both Jimmy and Jenna seemed really stupid and a number of things came up at the wrong place and wrong time that really put me off. Things either took place too early or too late for my taste and that tends to get very annoying. Dependency, making someone else responsible for your happiness, becoming better for someone who isn't even in the world yet, not for yourself... Ah, I just cannot understand all that. 

It may seem like I didn't like this book at all, but it's not true. I did like many things about it. I liked how Jimmy was funny and how he changed for the benefit of those around him. I liked how Jenna had her venerable and weak moments that made her real. And I especially liked meeting all the other Beaumont people. 

Overall, Finding My Forever wasn't as good as the previous books in the series and it's a disappointment because this is an adult series that I actually enjoy and look forward to and maybe that's why I may seem a wee bit partial to it. When I discussed the story with the two girls, I realized that we all had a point in saying whatever it is we have to say about it. Nonetheless, the book was a good one time read that I enjoyed.

RATING:

Review- The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti

Goodreads Summary:

Against a background torn from the pages of today’s headlines, The Almond Tree, by Michelle Cohen Corasanti, recasts the Palestinians in Israel and Gaza, a people frequently in the news, but often misrepresented and deeply misunderstood. This stunning debut conveys a universal story of human courage and perseverance. Comparable to Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, this novel delivers an inspirational story of unfathomable pain and an incredible perseverance. Gifted with a mind that continues to impress the elders in his village, Ahmed Hamid struggles with knowing that he can do nothing to save his friends and family. Living on occupied land, his entire village operates in fear of losing their homes, jobs, and belongings. But more importantly, they fear losing each other. On Ahmed’s twelfth birthday, that fear becomes reality. With his father imprisoned, his family’s home and possessions confiscated, and his siblings quickly succumbing to hatred in the face of conflict, Ahmed begins an inspiring journey using his intellect to save his poor and dying family. In doing so he reclaims a love for others that was lost through a childhood rife with violence and loss, and discovers a new hope for the future. The Almond Tree humanizes a culture and brings characters from a distant land to life. 

“Arguably the most important book of the year” Dream Crazy Book Reviews 

“The story is spell-binding with universal appeal and has potential of becoming an international best-seller and can do for Palestinians what The Kite Runner did for Afghanis” The Daily Star

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti from Nimi @ The Readers Cosmos in exchange for an honest review. We thank Nimi for the book! 

This. Yes, this. This is exactly the kind of story I need to read. If I had to pick one single genre to read for the rest of my life, it would be this. 

The simple and sole reason I picked up The Almond Tree to read was because it was spoken of on par with the most incredible novel I've ever read- Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. I am not going to compare the two because that would mean being unfair to both when they are each amazing in their own way. There's nothing about The Almond Tree that I'd like to say that hasn't been said before. All those highly impressive praises given to the book by leading newspapers are so true that I doubt there still are any adjectives left to describe it's sheer amazingness. 

As a story, The Almond Tree took turns that I was hoping against hope it would take and I couldn't have been happier with the turn of events. Every death saddened me and brought tears to my eyes but in such stories, death is not just unavoidable, but much needed. Each of these deaths was followed by a slight ray of hope. 

I am not very well versed with the whole Israeli- Palestinian issue but I do read the newspaper and I have done my Majors in Politics so I like to believe that I know enough and I'm going to dig more into it now. This is the main theme of the book and I found it very interesting and intriguing to take a look at it from the protagonist Ahmed Hamid's eyes, right from when he is an innocent and curious twelve year old to the time he becomes a grey haired intelligent sixty something year old, and throughout all this, what stays constant is that he remains a family man. I didn't relate to his obsession with science but I understood it and I admired his passion for the same. What made Ahmed, Ahmed was the careful, loving and respectable upbringing done by his Mama and Baba, the latter for me was perhaps one the best book characters I've ever encountered. 

Author Michelle Cohen Corasanti's writing is so crisp, smooth and impressive. The pages flowed with wonderful words and simple teachings that I hope to apply in my life someday. The author tells the reader an amazing story in an amazing way and if this is only her debut novel, I really cannot wait to read what she writes next. She has portrayed humanity in its essence and her characters and story have managed to touch my heart. The Almond Tree did not leave me as numb as I would have liked it too. Nonetheless, it is an amazing novel that's definitely one of the most impressive debuts of 2013. It is a story that's about more than just education and politics- it's about family, faith, friendship, hope, peace and love. 

RATING:

This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program. To get free books log on to The Readers Cosmos.