BOOK REVIEW: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Quote:

There was an edge to his voice that I didn’t like.“My God, you’re like the plague.”


“A masterfully crafted, powerfully understated, and epic parable of timeless moral resonance? Why, thank you. That’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me,” he said.


“The disease, Noah. Not the book.”


“I’m ignoring that qualification.”

This book left me hanging pretty bad, and yet I loved it. I loved Mara. I loved Daniel, I want to have a brother like him. And most of all, I loved Noah.

I read this book to experience first hand what the fuzz was all about when I read it’s review in Amazon. It’s one of the most interesting book that I read in a while, next to The Catastrophic History of You and Me.

The story started out a bit slow but not dragging. I was already halfway reading it but I was still confused as to what is really going on with the heroine, Mara. I was on the edge of my seat, my bed, because I don’t know what will happen to her in the next few pages. I don’t know what her dreams are trying to say about her. I found myself thinking of a possible explanation or diagnosis halfway through. I was asking myself, it seems like it or if it isn’t then what is it?

What I liked:

The story was creatively written. I liked Hodkins’ prose, lyrical, not that complicated. Witty. I have always been a sucker for suspense, psychological thriller and wholesome romance, and this book has both with a little bit of paranormal. The connection between Mara and Noah was lovable and not forced.

The Characters are relatable. Jamie can crack funny and witty lines, so does Mara, although she can have a filthy mouth for a girl her age sometimes. She is not your typical damsel in distress. She may be confused most of the times due to her predicament, she is strong, though not as strong as Katniss was in The Hunger Games Trilogy. Noah Shaw, oh Noah! He is my typical kind of guy, which is one of the few reasons why I fell in-love with this book. Noah was born and raised in England, just my type. God, I love that accent! Who wouldn’t? He can be a jerk sometimes with how he talk and dress. But he can be very sweet, really.

While Mara grew more and more confused with everything that’s shes experiencing every waking day, I was as confused as she was at the same time. With Hodkins’ writing you can feel what she feels. I also liked how Hodkins’ wrote Noah’s part as well. Some small details of his actions are never a small detail. Hodkins successfully shocked me telling Noah’s story towards the end. Explaining that his small gestures has more significant part of the story other than just to make you swoon and fall in love with him.

What I don’t liked:

Hanging questions. I have quite a few. So many unexplained details, unexplored possiblities that were laid out but then forgotten by the author, maybe. Like, what about Jamie? What really happened between Noah and Jamie’s sister? The high Priest? And wtf Jude? (I think the latter will be answered in the next book.) And then probably the same questions running on Mara’s head that were unanswered.

I was also irked when Noah tried to convince Mara to change her mind towards the end of the story. Noah was fighting a lost battle there, Hodkin used too much words just so Noah can make a point. When they really shouldn’t have dwell on that argument and just moved on on the next scene. And the fact that Noah and Mara tried so many times to kiss but never really happened?! And the addition of  the Cinderella Love Story, Noah being freakishly rich, Super. I don’t like it.

You’ll find yourself feeling how Mara feels. Confused. You’ll have a hard time figuring out what’s real and what’s not as well, as the story progress.

To sum up what I felt about this book. First, the cover. STUNNING! When I read the first few chapters I thought,what a very interesting plot. When Noah Shaw entered the picture, “Oh My God! He is hot!!!” After a few more chapters, as the story unravels, Mara’s unbecoming, I said “oh no! Few pages left?!” And when I finished, I said “WTF?! That’s it?” and that’s actually a good reaction, since I really liked the book. I just can’t wait for the next one to come out! For my questions be answered, for Mara’s sake and mine.

A must read!

-The Otaku Artist

**UPDATE: The title of the 2nd book will be : The Evolution of Mara Dyer.

There’s no official synopsis and no official release date as of yet, as per Michelle Hodkin on her blogger account.

A Windy Day to Remember: La Luz Beach Resort

It was a day after my Mom's Birthday, March 21.

We went to the town of Laiya in San Juan, Batangas. I had planned this trip since January and I was very exicited to the very day of our trip. Though there have been some inconveniences during the travel, which was expected since we don't have our own car, when we get there it was forgotten and we had a very relaxing overnight stay. I guess my only problem, until now I'm still pissed off, was the availability of coffee.
It doesn't have to be Kapeng Barako, even instant coffee will do, but there's none available until it was 7am the following morning(we arrived there at 2pm). At least they should have had the honesty to tell us that its only available during breakfast! To someone who can almost have coffee on an IV bag, like me, it's hell.

The place was great anyway and rhe staff are nice and accomodating. It was a windy Wednesday night which got worse the following day but it's fine since it wasn't raining and all.

Our room was really nice and big enough for 4 adults and 2 kids, since it was meant for a max of 10 persons. The resort was huge and has so many rooms, good thing it wasn't crowded.

I definitely want to go back, on a very Sunny day that is. During the trip I was taking pictures and felt a little down because there's no Sunset nor Sunrise for me, it was too cloudy to see.

So I am planning to be back sometime next year, maybe with friends or with the other memberb of the family who wasn't able to go with us.

Do if you're looking for a relaxing vacation on the beach, and beach bumming is what you want? La luz Beach Resort is a good place to try in all the line of resorts in Laiya.

Visit their website: http://www.laluzresort.com

NEW! on my Shelf: “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs

This is a new find for me. I saw it in the bookstore last week and I was curious by it's cover photo. I heard it's an interesting novel illustrated with great vintage photos. Googled it, and I learned it's words and illustrations is about to be brought to the big screen. The film is under development and the rumored Director, one of my favorite, is none other than Tim Burton. Personally, basing on the eerie feeling the book cover shows, I think there's no other Director who can do it.

I haven't read the book yet but I do have it on queue, of course after Catching Fire which I've delayed too many times this year, mainly because I'm a little bit irritated with Katniss's ignorance on what she really feels about Peeta. 

Well, enough of that. Here's the synopsis for "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" :

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

credits to Random House 

Also posted in The Otaku Artist in Tumblr

I am back!

Yay to Me!

I'm glad I am back. I am so happy to finally recover this account. It has been awhile. So what have I been up to?

Reading. Previously and this year, I have read a lot of books than ever before. Of course they are all fictional novels. It would be boring to read textbooks for no reason, or even because you ran out of books to read! But actually it happened to me just recently. Idle time in the office usually happens on weekends, and I forgot to bring a book. So I ended up reading "Da Vinci for Dummies", which is kinda like a text book ~!!!(^_^)v

Now I am about to finish a crime thriller by my new favorite, Tess Gerritsen, "The Sinner". It's the 3rd book written by her, that I read this year. I am just so hooked to how her bright mind formulate a Medical/Crime suspense. 

Aside from Tess Gerritsen, I am also into Young Adult novels with Paranormal Romance theme since I read "Fallen" by Lauren Kate last 2010. After that I read the entire series, and is waiting for the 4th book which will be release by Fall. Another recommended title are "Hush Hush" series by Becca Fitzpatrick and "Shatter Me" by Tahereh Mafi. And like any other bookish, I am reading the "Hunger Games" series as well.

I like reading these novels.

It makes time run faster. So right now, iBook on iOS and BookSale Bookstore are my best friend.

The Otaku Artist
also in Tumblr: http://otakucalai.tumblr.com/