TOP TEN BOOKS I READ IN 2013

10:25 AM Hanaphinee 0 Comments





 


Goodbye 2013 and since this is my first year that I got totally obsessed with books let me share with all of you the best of the best of my bookshelves. 


CLOCKWORK PRINCESS
Cassandra Clare
I really cried hard when ending this book. Unlike any other books, the characters of these series are full of heart and sincerity.  The plot was also perfectly written and the parabatai relationship is awesome and one-of-a-kind. Indeed, Will-Tessa-James love team is unique and incomparable and it was only Cassandra Clare who has thought of it.




DIVERGENT
Veronica Roth
The Harry Potter-dystopian inspired book that is way better than The Hunger Games. I started to love dystopian series because of this book. I loved the idea of the different factions and as if I can associate myself with one of them. The plot is intriguing and the conflict is full of mystery and action. I so love Tobias “Four” Eaton - and he is totally freakin hot!




WHERE SHE WENT
Gayle Forman
I love Gayle Forman’s books. They have a heart and a passion into a particular thing. In this book, the two main characters are passionately obsessed into MUSIC and as a Music Lover I can relate to them. A female cellist and a guitarist who compose and write songs. One who is classical and one modern but both have a thirst for Music. 





ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS
Stephanie Perkins
When it comes to romance and giddiness, I swear that this is the best book of all. Etienne St. Clair is the ideal man slash boyfriend to be. I wish to know someone like Etienne, an English French American boy. Got a little confuse? Read for you to find out. But I assure you that after reading the book, you’ll become a lover of Paris and everything bound into it. 





UNRAVEL ME
Tahereh Mafi

This one is like XMEN inspired books - people with different gifts and abilities bound within them yet they do not know how to use it. What I love about this book is not the heroine but the two handsome guys (Adam and Warner) and still wondering who will Juliet choose? 




JUST ONE YEAR
Gayle Forman
Another Forman’s book but this one is all about Shakespeare’s stuff, traveling and theater acting. In this book Willem’s story is being revealed how spending one day with a girl changed him. How he longs and look for that girl which also by means traveling into a different continent. He is a playboy and yet LOVE captured him in just a day and how he found it after a year of searching and wishing.





THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER
Michelle Hodkins
Full of mystery and creeps, this book did a good job raising my hair and staying me alert during the night. I didn’t get bored when reading this book, fast-paced and always full of surprises. Noah and Mara is an awesome couple, they complement and help each other naturally. 




SARAH’S KEY
Rosnay de Tatiana
Very heart-warming story and compelling.  Even after finishing reading the book it didn’t left my mind. I almost found myself searching the internet looking for answers that the story left me. The book is covered by grief and sorrow but in the end it has a lot of important points to tell. Although the setting is during the war, this is not actually a war book, the story is more than that. 




Boundless
Cynthia Hand
I am a fan of angel stuff, fallen or not. It always made me wonder if angels can truly walk in earth just like humans do. I should say that after reading Hush Hush series I look for other angel bound books that will surpass Hush Hush hype.



Slated
Teri Terry
I only find out Terry’s book later part of this year and so far it’s good. I have lots of question while reading and Terry never failed to answer those at the end of the book. Kyla’s mum is full of mystery and I love mysteries! 




CITY OF BONES
Cassandra Clare
Perfect fantasy and action book! There’s nothing I can complain to Clare’s writing and creative story building. Reading this book is like watching a movie live in front of your TV. JACE is a Great Hero, Magnus Bane is an amazing warlock, Issy is a total bad-ass and many more. And the ending of the book, is a total SURPRISE!!!!! And I hate ending it. 


That's all for now! 
Once again, a Happy happy new year to all! :) 

Love, 
Hanaphinee

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June: Book Shelves Reviews

10:00 PM Hanaphinee 0 Comments

There's no logical reason why we love.

And there's always a  reason why we feel being love.

This month's review of books focuses on LOVE.

Four letters.

One word.


Yet, very powerful.




Mortal Instruments: City of Fallen Angels
by Cassandra Clare
 
 


The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

 
 

The fourth installment of the Mortal Instrument book is breathtaking, amazingly written and beyond expectations. I was actualy expecting less excitement knowing that this series is supposedly a trilogy. But it did explode more stories and more revelations.
 
I definitely loved Clare's wide imagination for the unending flow of drama and fantasy throughout the book. There is a constant and balance flux of romance, history and adventure. This series is an EPIC hundred per cent!

 


Delirium
by Lauren Oliver






Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.







I haven't think of Love or the act of loving and showing affection as a disease. But in this series, Oliver made a unique conflict that other Dystopia novels don't have.

Well, honestly I got bored in the first half of the book maybe because it is less of action and more of a narration. But in the near end of the story it becomes more and more interesting and mind-blowing. Why? Because I can't imagine myself restraining myself from loving a person just because other people regard is as a disase. Imagine the world that men and women are never allowed to mingle nor even seen having a conversation. Terrible! But Oliver did a good depiction of the world. I did understand everything and how she consider making the Book of Shh a bible that tells Love as a disease.
 

Pandemonium
by Lauren Oliver

I’m pushing aside
the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana
and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

The second book is exhilirating!
 
If the first book had a lot of narration, these one is full of action. I mean, not totally action all throughout but at least it didn't let my breath go discharge.
 
The power of the second book is amazing, Lena here is a total badass! She is totally independent and heroic. I actually admire her bravery and perseverance because I know I cannot be brave enough after leaving the people behind abandoning them and felt all alone. Lena is a total stranger from the world she chooses but she keeps on moving forward which is very hard to do. Hopelessnes wasn't succesful to creep inside her because she did guard herself from toxic feelings.
 
I just don't want her to fall in love into another person because I want her with Alex only but.... the twist is there at the end of the story that will made you regret. :)
 

Requiem
by Lauren Oliver
 
 
 
They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.

But we are still here.

And there are more of us every day.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The last book is a cliff-hanger. Open-ended. Implied. Well, the book is admirable but the ending is weak. There is no conclusion to whom Lena chose - Alex or Julian? I love Lauren Oliver's style of writing and everything - except for the last book. The ending was not justified. I wish that I could re-write the ending story for the sake of the disappointed and frustrated readers like me.
 
I almost cried when the ending of the story started to unfold. I can feel Lena's confusion between Alex and Julian, I feel the pain and sufferings of the character's especially the Invalids and I feel that there has to be something good at the last page of the book. But there was none. :(
 
So far, the trilogy is amazing! Well done Lauren Oliver.
 
 
 
Hana: A Delirium Short Story
by Lauren Oliver
 






The summer before they're supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss.




 
 
I so loved Hana's character especially in the last installment of the book. Despite her cure, she still have a concern to Lena's family and memories. I just didn't want her ended up in  the arms of a non-deserving man. For me, she is the best friend everyone will love.



Alex: A Delirium Story
by Lauren Oliver













Alex is the only man I want for Lena. He is a survivor!

He deserved to be loved. He introduced Lena into a world of freedom, a world where one can show emotions, a world where one can be both happy and miserable at the same time.  Alex is witty and smart. He gained respect from other people because of her contemplative attitude. I just hope that Oliver did a good ending story for Alex because I liked his character so much.


Raven: A Delirium Short Story
by Lauren Oliver





 
 
 
 
This captivating story set in the world of Lauren Oliver’s New York Times bestselling Delirium series focuses on Raven, the fiery leader of a rebel group in the Wilds.







The toughest character in the Delirium stories! At first, I don't like her as a leader - too bossy, too stiff and apathetic but she is real soft inside. In fact, she is one of my favorite character in the series and I admire how she lead people.
 
Sometimes I act like Raven - rational, emotionless and compelling may be the reason why I can relate to her story.
 
 
 
Till next month fella!
 
:D 

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May: Book Shelves Reviews

8:34 PM Hanaphinee 0 Comments



Hi Folks!
 
Sorry for this very late post. I have been so busy lately. What makes me busy? Well, practicing our routine for the company's sportfest, module training for the Church's Worship team, rehearsing songs and so on, and so forth.
 
This post is not all about that, I'm just trying to explain and defend myself. :)
 
I am about to share with you my book reads for this month. Despite the hectic schedule, sleepless nights, drained energy and etc., I still managed to read my e-books. Five books is not bad after all? Agree? What about a big clap offering for me? Just kidding. To tell you honestly, It's very difficult for me to finished reading the books because you know when you don't have time and interest, you just feel - LOST.
 
So may I now present to you the books I had a chance to read.
 
 
 

Finale
by Becca Fitzpatrick
 
Will love conquer all?
Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.











Finale is the last installment of the Hush Hush Series. This book tells the story between a human-turned Nephilim girl who fell in love to a Fallen Angel. I got addicted with this book last year and I waited for the released of the last book in year 2013. And while I am reading this book, whoa! Blast! Nice twist, nice story and of course Patch, the fallen angel and the main lead is deadly sexy and very ideal only that I hated Nora Grey's attitude throughout the story. She is somehow annoying and immature. Gosh! If not only to Patch's saving character, I would have turned this book down immediately.




Mortal Instruments (Book 1) : City of Bones
by Cassandra Clare





When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?




Mortal Instruments (Book 2) : City of Ashes
by Cassandra Clare


Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.



Mortal Instruments (Book 3) : City of Glass
by Cassandra Clare





To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.







My friend recommended this series and first impression is not to like it because the story revolves around demons, downworlders, humans and shadowhunters. But you know what? This is the best Young Adult book I read so far. For me, this series is far better than Harry Potter Series (though I haven't read any of the books), because everything is in here; from the warlocks (other term for wizards and witches), fairies, vampires, werewolves, Nephilim, angels and of course the human race. Also, Cassandra Clare did a great job in creating a world of her own in this book. Honestly, I did enjoy the twist and the many trivias. While reading this book I have to google every single term to better understand the words, the history and to know if real or not. But this is AMAZING! Totally, amazing.
 
In fact, City of Bones have a movie-adaptation to be released this year in the month of August. As usual, I am excited as ever just like when I announced Hush Hush movie rights. Don't miss it! :)
 
 
 

How to Live a Life of Miracles
by Bo Sanchez
 











Lastly, this book is written by Bo Sanchez a Filipino preacher and lay minister and one of the best selling author of self-help and inspirational books in the Philippines.
 
Being a christian is difficult especially in times of troubles and this book will definitely help each and everyone of us carrying any burdens. This book made me realize that I should not stop asking and praying for the things I want to achieve and I want to gain in life. In fact, this book inspired me to pray and fast for a week - one meal a day only. I haven't got the answer yet in my prayers but I believe that evrything will come to pass. Ayt?

*********************************************************************************** 
 
So that's all for now and I got to go. Such a busy person I am! And I need to do something important for the rest of the week.
 
Hope you enjoy! Godbless. :)
 


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