Shatter Me

That awesome feeling when you read two excellent books in a row. *shivers with happiness*
Here is a review of one of the two books.

Shatter Me 

by Tahereh Mafia

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. 

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Rating:  4.5/5  stars

Published:  November 1st 2011 
Series: Yes, trilogy, other two books not yet released.
Swoon Scale: Hearts In My Eyes, Longing Filled Sigh, Melting in The Excess of Love, 
Heated Moments: Yes
Sex: No 
Swear Words: Not that I can recall.
Action: Yeah
Romance swoon scale: 4.8/5 stars 

I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK AAAAHHHH.
*excuse me while i compose myself*
Ahem.

Shatter Me was incredible. It had everything a good book has:


The story:
It sucked me in straight away. I picked this book up at 8pm, and put it down at 1am. I read without pausing- it was just. So. Good! The action bits were brilliantly done- I was so scared for them at all the right bits- at the edge of my seat at some and no matter where I was in the book- it never once got boring.
The dystopian element, though not fully explained, made sort of sense. 
This book is a part of a series so I expect all will be revealed in the other parts- but the best thing about Shatter Me?
IT CAN BE READ AS A STAND ALONE TOO! The ending left me completely content- with a super warm fuzzzy feeling inside- but I will most def pick up the sequel when it comes!

Romance
The pure, unadulterated love between Adam and Juliette? I swooned a thousand times and drank it all up as fast as i could. It warmed my insides and made me feel just so entirely happy for them- sigh. I don't even have the words to describe it. The way TM describes feelings- its just so beautiful!
A quote from the book:

I tiptoe forward and he pulls me into his arms. Breathes in the scent of my hair and kisses the side of my head and I’ve never felt anything so incredible in my life. I’m not even human anymore. I’m so much more. The sun and the moon have merged and the earth is upside down.
Sigh.
(Keeping in mind that Juliette has not touched anyone in a year, and has not known touchy-feely love since she was a baby)
The Writing:
This is a book where the actual writing stands out on it own unsupported and apart from everything else.
It was beautifully lyrical and rich with imagery and this sweetness.
The broken words were perfectly broken and bittersweet and all the raw emotion? You could actually feel Juliette's love pouring out of her. It was exquisite.

Adam:
Absolute love. The deep, sweet kind.

Juliette:

I loved her. She was the perfect blend of broken but incredibly strong. I loved how she grew from being a broken shell, into a fiery spirit. I really liked her shyness and just how down to earth she was! But being all that- she was still loyal and brave, and did not cower but faced everything head on.

Over all, this was a refreshing book.
Yeah there were some glimpses of other well known dystopian books in it- but aren't all dystopians essentially the same thing? Bad corrupt government, cool hidden rebels, intense epicness to save the day? 
Some are better (The Hunger Games/ Uglies/ Delirium) than others (Matched) but rest assured, Shatter Me was one of the best.

Read it!

xx

Clg

screaming cupcakes

So, at the moment, I'm watching Scream 4. Is it any good? Will I be scared shitless?
I hope so. Only time will tell. Lucy Hale is in it! I did not know that. I love Lucy Hale. She can sing too! Admittedly- just tween songs, but I really liked Run This Town.
Okay- added later- that was just stupid. -_-

I'm applying to LUMS- so fingers crossed for that! Pray for me? Please. I kinda need it. Though- I'm only doing it because Lums is well LUMS and they'll be happy.
Though me, personally? I'd like to go to BNU.

The Gap Year is in effect, at the moment. I work now too! Its supposedly a 'good' job- but pays absolute peanuts. Its the only one my Dad is letting me do because you know- I'm a girl! Working for my Aunt's A level school is safe!

To make this post more interesting, here are the cupcakes I baked and decorated for said Aunt's birthday.

Jelly hearts, vanilla butter cream icing, chocolate cupcakes.

Jelly heart, Nutella Icing, Chocolate Chip and Vanilla Cupcake.

all of 'em.

the card I made to accompany 'em.

You know when you think you're going to be friends with a certain person forever and then he or she decides they really don't give a shit? You don't? Well, good for you.
This has been my theme song for the past month.
Its brilliant- better than the original.



Recent Books read: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.
Any good? : OMG IT WAS AMAAAAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4.8 stars outa 5. Review to come soon.
Fun fact about book: Tahereh Mafia is amazingly sweet. (Insignificant twitter chat! :D) She is also MUSLIM! :D x 500.

xx

Chicklitgirl

Sundays at Tiffany's

Movie: 4/5 stars
Book: 2/5 stars

I saw Sundays at Tiffany's a few days ago, and absolutely-freakin'-adorable totally sums up the movie.
The love story was beautiful, and properly fleshed out. We knew how and why the characters feel the way they do- it definitely was not a love-at-first-sex/sight sorta thing, which I really liked. Also the way that love was shown depended on actual actions.
It was brilliant and if you love romance with a tinge of magic? Just the movie for you.

Then, as I was reading the back cover, I realized... it was a book adaptation!
Well, you know I have thing for good books right?
So obviously I went out and bought it.

The book however, is totally different from the book.
The book has its own charm, but it kinda sucks. I mean- okay, it was nice and adorable in its own way. But the movie pulled off Michael and Jane's look in such a wonderful way. The book however just.. meh.

First of all, the stories are completely different.
That being said, here is a review of the book:

As a little girl, Jane has no one. Her mother Vivienne Margaux, the powerful head of a major New York theater company has no time for her. But she does have one friend--Michael--and no one can see him but her. But Michael can't stay with Jane forever, and on her eighth birthday, her imaginary friend must leave her. 
When Jane is in her thirties, working for her mother's company, she is just as alone as she was as a child. Her boyfriend hardly knows she's there and is more interested in what Vivienne can do for his career. Her mother practically treats her as a slave in the office, despite the great success of Jane's first play, "Thank Heaven." Then she finds Michael--handsome, and just the same as she remembers him, only now he's not imaginary. For once in her life, Jane is happy--and has someone who loves her back. But not even Michael knows the reason behind why they've really been reunited.


The book is literally the summary, with only twist thrown in the end  and Hugh- her evil ex, to show how Jane is such a poor-lil-girl.
The thing I totally and utterly disliked was how Michael was written in third person, but Jane was written in first person- with alternating chapters.
I would have liked to have a total look inside Michael's head too please! The 3rd person made him less realistic, and a bit robotic.
And their love! It was horrendous and total instant-love- the kind which has no developments and is just 'omg i luv hym and i dunno y he is so h@wt!!1'. Michael's personality was zero- even though their were whole chapters on him. 


The whole book was, basically a disappointment. I had bought it with high hopes- trust me when I say, the movie was BRILLIANT. 


So lovers of that warm gooey feeling at the end of a fulfilling love story? Please watch the movie asap. The book, however, can be skipped.


xx


CLG

Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

                                         Obsidian (Lux #1)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Starting over sucks. 

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. 

And then he opened his mouth. 

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me. 

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Rating: 3.2/5 stars
Published: November 29th 2011
Series: Yes, trilogy, other two books not yet released.
Swoon Scale: Hearts In My Eyes, Longing Filled Sigh, Big Creepy Smile Of Anticipation, Sweet Frustration
Heated Moments: Yes
Sex: No
Swear Words: Yes
Action: Yeah
Romance swoon scale: 4/5 stars

Obsidian starts with Kat moving into a new house, in a new town. She soon finds out the boy next door is the hottest, meanest guy alive, while his sister is the sweetest.

This was an excellent novel. The romance was toe curling, and at the same time so warm and fuzzy!
Daemon was one of the seriously hottest, swoon worthy guys I have ever come across in YA books.
Good looks, bad boy personality, amazing other worldly powers but at the same time, obviously sweet and caring in his own sexy way.
*Sigh*, reading the charged scenes between Kat and Daemon was like savoring a particularly rich bar of chocolate or having a hot mug of cocoa on a chilly day. They warmed me up and that silly smile on my face just would not budge.

The concept of Aliens was also nice, bringing in a supernatural element to the story.
It was handled well, and since its a series, obviously not everything was fully explained, but whatever was, was enough for the first book, and did not feel incomplete.

I really liked how the author wrote 'Kat finally learns the truth'. It was believable, and unlike a lot of other YA books, not all 'oh ok, they're vampires/werewolves/angels, its kewl, I knew that d'oh!'
Kat did freak out, and did everything a normal, brave teenage girl would do.

Speaking of which- I loved Kat's character.
The best thing about her was her normality. She wasn't ravishing, though yes, she was pretty, she had a FREAKIN BOOK BLOG and she LOVED books! She also did things, like work on her blog in the her spare time. She had actual hobbies, instead of just doing her homework and thinking about Daemon. Little things like these made her more realistic, more developed. As a person she was incredibly brave and extremely loyal and I really admired that about her.
In her collisions with Daemon, yeah Kat succumbed to her hormones/attraction, making her even more real and believable- but she also understood that he was a jerk and did not let herself be swept away and get pushed over by him.

This is the first novel in a probable trilogy. It can be read as a stand alone, if you keep in mind that there ARE other novels and the mystery WILL be explained later on. [Mild spoiler] I really liked how by the end the romance WAS identified, but not completely well, resolved. [Spoiler over]
Sequels with both the love interests already lovey dovey are usually not a lot of fun because either the author introduces a love triangle or they have lame fights.
The chemical explosion of feelings stage is so much more exciting/fun/yummy.

The action scenes were also well written and served just the right amount of excitement and anticipation!

Over all, Obsidian was a book of no regrets, a fast and over all quite a good read.
I will most definitely be reading the next books in the series as they come out! Will also check out Jennifer L. Armentrout's other works.

xx

Chicklitgirl

a tiny peek inside

So, I'm in Karachi right now.

Its nice I suppose. I've met my best friends and hung out with them a lot and it feels wonderful to be with them again.

But? I do miss Lahore. 

I do. 

When I lived here, in Karachi- as in, went to school here and actually was LIVING here- I never really missed it when I went to Lahore for the hols. Its weird, I guess. Home is where the heart is and my heart is sorta cut up between friends and family. In that case it probably is in other parts of the world too, but only slivers of it. The only really chunks lie within Lahore and Karachi.

I've missed it though.

Lahore and Karachi- they're totally different. And no, I'm not talking about the freakin' beach debate here.

Lahore is homely, comforting. Its a cup of sweet hot cocoa on a bitter cold day, its a soft and sweet smelling grandmothers hug. Its friends who are as un-pretentious as friends can be. Sometimes its adventure but mostly? Its cozy, mismatched, but with a charm of its own.

Karachi, on the other hand is an intellectual career woman in her posh heels and trendy suit. Its haute couture and sneaking out. Its leaping off buildings and loud laughter and the best deals. Its bright red nail polish and thigh high boots. Its a blazing, bright firework of fun and excitement. 

The two can't be compared because they're just so different.

I've bought so many books here, its not even funny any more- stay tuned for a mega book post- eeeh can't wait! I'll also be holding that giveaway sometime next year- I mean next month.

Its funny how a whole year has passed.

Its sad I have absolutely nothing to show for it.

x

Chicklitgirl

my best friend and I at Port Grand- Karachi

Ps: 5 points for guessing who is who!

Book Haul! (2)

So I went to Sunday Bazaar- and tucked away in a shelf at one of the book stalls I found the most beautiful things a YA Pakistani book blogger dreams of: HARDCOVER. ALMOST PERFECT CONDITION. RECENT YA BOOKS!

I died and went to heaven for a bit then.

I bought all four of these for less than 10$.

I've been dying to read them all!
Click on the covers below to know more about 'em.

Now, I shall leave you with a wonderful song and skedaddle.
Misfits is on in two.



x

CLG