Book Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

"How does it feel, anyway?"

"How does what feel?"

"When you take one of those books?"

At that moment, she chose to keep still. If he wanted an answer, he'd have to come back, and he did. "Well?" he asked, but again, it was the boy who replied, before Liesel could even open her mouth. "It feels good, doesn't it? To steal something back"

Buy this book here: The Book Thief

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Pages: 550

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

It makes me nervous to post this review, because I don't think a lot of people are going to agree. But, I have to be true to my thoughts and feelings about a book. So if you think I'm totally crazy after reading this, I apologize and beg you to stick around for more reviews!!! 

So, here is the truth. I didn't love this book. Maybe I had too high of expectations going into it, maybe I was expecting something totally different, but I didn't really enjoy The Book Thief. I can hear you all gasping... but it's true. And hopefully after this review, you'll understand why.

First off, there are a few things about this novel that I absolutely loved! Lets start with those. The narrator in this book is awesome! I personally think it was a stroke of genius to have Death narrate the book. I really loved the remorse and distress that Death experienced at certain times in the books when he had to go collect souls. Zusak uses this to his advantage, to create a unique rhythm and flow to his book that I haven't seen anywhere else.

This leads into the next thing I really enjoyed about the book. Frequently throughout the book Death interjects with his own thoughts or ideas, aside from the typical storyline. These are usually just short (two or three lines) interruptions where Death gives background knowledge, comments on whats happening, or foreshadows something to come. There were a lot of complaints about this from some readers because it makes the reading more choppy. Personally, I really liked it.

The greatest downfall of this book is that nothing really ever happens. The storyline dragged on. I spent most of the book expecting something exciting to happen, to reach the climax of the story, but I never did. The book just finally ended. It was too slow for me, and because it was slow it took me awhile to read it. I just didn't have a lot of motivation to keep picking it up.

While I love historical fiction, The Book Thief just wasn't for me. I loved the stylistic aspects of the novel, but the storyline dragged. Because of this I could only give it two and a half arrows. Amazing originality in writing style, but poor execution of plot and story.

Movie Mondays: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Welcome to Movie Mondays! Here at Found in the Fiction posts on Mondays will be devoted to reviewing books and the movies that followed them! I'll be looking at the differences between the two, and ultimately deciding which one was better. So, if you've read a book and are wondering if the movie is worth it, check back on Mondays! Also, if you've got any suggestions of books-turned-movie, feel free to comment below! I'd love to check them out and possibly review them here!

So, without further blabbing on my part, the first installment of Movie Mondays:

In dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five faction, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both.

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Pages: 427

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

But this book here: Divergent  

I first heard of this book in the movie theater actually, as I waited for Catching Fire to start. They had an advertisement for the upcoming movie, and I knew I had to read the book first. I'm a firm believer that a book should be read before you watch the movie that is based on it. Maybe I'm just a purist, but I think there is something more authentic about the experience that way.

When I dove into Divergent, I didn't have a lot of expectations. I didn't know a lot about it, and I didn't know many other people who had read it either. I was pleasantly surprised by the world that Veronica Roth created. It had more depth than I expected, yet was easy to follow.

While the dystopian-society-book-drama is becoming overdone, I felt like the first installment of this series was worth reading. Tris is a relatable character that I feel girls anywhere from 9 to 25 could relate to. She comes from Abnegation, seems timid, shy, and unsure of herself. Yet, as the novel progresses the faction Dauntless helps her to gain courage and strength that she didn't know she had.

This book is a fast read that will keep you entertained. I finished the book in under a day, I couldn't put it down. I really liked that Roth focused on Tris' initiation into Dauntless so thoroughly. She made me felt like I was right there, not missing a single step. I really liked the book, but at the end of the day I can only give it 4/5 arrows. Don't get me wrong, its a great read, I just don't think that it was life changing in anyway. It is simply a well written fun piece of Young Adult Fiction.

. . . . . . . . But what about the movie you say? . . . . . . . .

Lets take a look!!

I really enjoyed the movie version of Divergent. My biggest complaint about it is that I'm not a huge of Shailene Woodley, the actress who played Tris. This is probably because of the few times I watched The Secret Life of the American Teenager and I was not impressed. I feel like she was missing some of the emotion, the excitement, fear, anger, that Tris needed to have. Tris was much more volatile in the book then the screen version conveyed. I was however very pleased the casting of Four. For me his character was exactly spot one!! 

I know the movie did take some liberties when it came to plot choices and character to include from the book, but overall I felt like it had a similar feel to the book. My husband watched it with me, and he had not read the book. With book-made-movies I always wonder if they are understandable if you haven't read them before. My husband liked the movie and didn't have very many questions, so as far as that goes it gets my stamp of approval!

The only downfall of the movie was the deletion of Uriah. He was by far one of my favorite characters from the book, and to be completely missing was sad. I'm really hoping that he makes a grandiose appearance in the next movie!!

Book v. Movie :  For me the book definitely wins here, but the movie was close behind. I think the book mainly wins out because I simply love to read more than I love to watch movies! What can I say, I'm a nerd :)

Book Review: Beauty by Robin McKinley

A strange imprisonment.

Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage. 

When her father comes home with the tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must go to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father protests that he will not let her go, but she answers, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?"

Robin Mckinley's beloved telling illuminates the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple: Beauty and the Beast.

Buy this book here: Beauty

Title: Beauty

Author: Robin McKinley

Pages: 325

Publisher: HarperTeen 2005

I don't usually like retellings of fairytales or any story made popular by Disney. They are too well known, there aren't any surprises, and they don't usually hold my interest for long. Beauty by Robin McKinley had something that most fairy tales don't, and I fell in love with the novel. 

I first read the book when I was 13 years old and I was fascinated by the world McKinley created. I still have found memories of the first time I read this book, and because of that it will always be a favorite of mine. McKinley did a fantastic job taking a traditional fairy tale that most girls know back to front by the time they are 5, and creating a new world with unexpected twists and turns.

I've also always felt a kinships with Beauty and her love of books. This may have somewhat tainted by feelings about the book. But, despite that, I still would strongly recommend anyone age 11-17 to pick up this novel and read it. And even if you are a little older and wiser ;) you will still feel the magic as you dive into the book.

Robin McKinley is an excellent writer of fairytales. If you liked Ella Enchanted or any books along those lines, this book will be right up your alley! Overall I could give this book a 4/5. I found it interesting, easy to read, and quite enjoyable. The book brings back found memories of childhood and the magic I believed in.

To Review or Not to Review? Why I chose to join the book blogging world

Welcome to Found in the Fiction!! My goal for this blog is to {slowly} document all of the books that I’ve read, both for my record and for book-lovers everywhere. I’m Amelia, a 22 year old book fanatic. Like most book bloggers my love for reading began as a kid, where I would stay up late into the night, hidden under the covers with a flashlight and my latest book.

While I started reading chapter books with The Magic Tree House books, my taste has grown and changed as I have : ) I am willing to read just about any type of fiction novel. I firmly believe that as I read more I discover more about myself, hence the name of this blog. We find out more about ourselves as we read the stories of others and learn from them.

I guess its time to get onto the point of this blog, before I bore all my readers, even if I don’t have any yet. There are a few reasons why I chose to join the book blogging community, besides the obvious  obsession with books I have : )

1.     I wanted to associate with others in the community, make friends, and share a love of books with others who are like-minded.

2.     I’m hoping to receive books on the side and do reviews for new authors and new books. I can’t wait to get my hands on more reading material.

3.     I love to write, and hope to improve my skills as I write on a more regular basis.

4.     I want to have documentation of all the books I’ve read and how I liked them, so even when I can’t remember what the book is about anymore I can look back and see what I thought.

5.     I think every blogger has dreams of grandeur, and I’m no different. I want to make it big, gain followers, and maybe make a little cash on the side. We’ll see how that goes though!

I’m also hoping to have lots of fun in the book blogging world. So, why did the rest of you join the blogging community? What are you looking to get out of the experience?