Review: This is Where it Ends

Title: This is Where it Ends
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Publication Date: January 5, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Rating: 4.5 stars

Goodreads | Book Depository 

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student's calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

This book gutted me in a quiet and unexpected way.

           

            The actual story is told over the span of 54 minutes, yet there is so much history encompassed in these pages; the kind of history that speaks to what kind fo town Opportunity is, the legacy of its families, and, of course, the intimate lives of the narrators of this event. There are multiple POVs but it was never confusing and I felt like I was not only able to get to know each character but really connect with them. By the end of the book, felt regret, mournful, and relief alongside them- a rare feat for any author to accomplish, especially in such a short amount of pages. I’ll be honest, I’m usually quite picky about books that have a lot of flashbacks but this one pulled it off amazingly well.

I really enjoyed this story, not only because it was gripping in a horrifying can’t-look-away kind of way. The author did a great job fleshing out all of the characters and I wanted to applaud the different representations she included to give a true multifaceted view of how all of this came to happen.

There are tough themes in the book like bullying, abuse, and sexual assault and by the end there is so much regret and heartbreak. This book is dark, diverse, maybe controversial, and hauntingly real. A powerful debut by Marieke Nijkamp, and one that has me looking forward to her future works. 

2015.... So that happened

Hello, blogosphere!

Wow, looking back on old posts, it's actually been over a year since my last post. And to be honest, for a while, I really didn't think I would get back into blogging. I'm in my third year of university, and in the past two years, I just wasn't able to find the time to read as much for pleasure as I used to. Between my coursework and extracurriculars, blogging took a backseat for a while, but it was always there in the back of my mind, keeping track of ideas for posts that I never had time to write.

Starting this year, I made a list of resolutions (bookishly-related, of course) to hopefully get me back into blogging. Not only do I miss the warm network of fellow book bloggers, I miss writing creatively. Along the way to getting an English major, I've started to feel like I'm only ever churning out critical responses and close-readings. In the span of this unfortunately long blogging slump, I've definitely had the luck of discovering some fantastic YA novels that I can't wait to finally write about.

In addition to just getting back into blogging, I've also discovered some new platforms I'd like to further explore. No worries, I fully intend on still posting here, it is my original brainchild after all. But if any of you are so inclined, feel free to follow me at my tumblr as well: Joy in Translation
I've found that the tumblr layout really works for me, especially when it comes to doing short photo posts or mini-updates. I'll be posting pretty much the same content (reviews, musings, etc.) on both blogs, but I may have a little extra stuff on my tumblr!

So, going into this new year, here are my 10 Resolutions: of 2016:

1. Read 50 books this year (aka my Goodreads challenge)
2. Start book blogging again! 2 reviews a month minimum 
3. Finish a journal
4. Make better grades
5. Revive a piano piece that I can whip out at future dinner parties
6. Stop being such a procrastinator 
7. Document my life
8. Work out regularly 
9. Learn how to cook something fancy 
10. Memorize a sonnet 

I'll be using my blogs as a way to keep track of these goals and, hopefully, in the time that I was away, I learned to be a better writer hehe.

Cheers!

~Joie

City of Heavenly Fire Cover Reveal!

City of Heavenly Fire (TMI #6)

Cassandra Clare

May 27, 2014

"ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. 

I am coming."

Scarlet Read-Along, Anyone?

Hello lovelies! I know I've been dreadfully absent from the blogosphere for the past couple of months. Unfortunate byproduct of college, I suppose. But I'm back for winter break and I'm partaking in the Scarlet Read-Along in anticipation for Cress! :)

The read-along it hosted by Tt over at Never Ending Stories Book Blog. Here's the info in case anyone else wants to join in!

• Starting: January 1, we will read 2 chapters of Scarlet (or Cinder if you haven't read it yet!) by Marissa Meyer each day and discuss via your blog each day(not an entire post each day maybe just talk about what you read that day and your thoughts) or via twitter! If you tweet or talk about Cinder on your blog that will get you more entries into this awesome Giveaway!!!
• Prizes: We have some awesome prizes for our participants! Macmillian will be Giving-away: 5 winners will get Cinder, 5 other winners will get Scarlet, 5 other winners get Cress, and another 5 winners will get swag bags!!!!!!!!!!!!
•  Pace: There are no right or wrong ways to read with us. If you would like to do two chapters a night, that's great! If you would like to read Cinder in one night and post on your blog or tweet and discuss as we go, more power to you!! If you have not read Cinder you are allowed to read Cinder, tweet, and collect points as well. Beware of spoilers since this read-along is for the second book in the series!

1. Please Leave your: Name,Blog URL,&Twitter  in the comment box below to sign up! If you could spread the word and copy this post you can get more points in the rafflecopter below(You get ten points for signing up to read with us). Once you leave your comment in the comment box below enter in the rafflecopter for your points!) .
2. Start reading and posting on your blog and twitter on January 1, 2014! You can chat about the book and post your favorite quotes from Cinder (If you haven't read it yet) or Scarlet!
3. Tweets: Your tweets must include :  @marissa_meyer @mackidsbooks . You can enter all your tweets into the raffle copter below for more entries to win! If you dont have a twitter, you can blog about Cinder everyday and put your links for the posts in the rafflecopter below for more entries as well!
4. Be Creative: For bonus points you can do a fun post about the Lunar Chronicles and if you need any ideas; here are a few:

 -Make a Lunar Chronicles playlist 
-Fan Art!!!
 - Make a movie/Book trailer for Cress.
-Make a fun post about the lunar chronicles.-  Lunar Chronicle Cast!- Be Creative  Put together clothes, purses,tea or anything that makes you think of the Lunar Chronicles.

-Make a Pinterest board filled with pictures reminiscent of the Lunar Chronicles.

Here is the Schedule:

1/1- Read to Chapter 2

1/2- Read to Chapter 4

1/3- Read to Chapter 6

1/4- Read to Chapter 8

1/5- Read to Chapter 10

1/6- Read to Chapter 12

1/7- Read to Chapter 14

1/8- Read to Chapter 16

1/9- Read to Chapter 18

1/10- Read to Chapter 20

1/11- Read to Chapter 22

1/12- Read to Chapter 24

1/13- Read to Chapter 26

1/14- Read to Chapter 28

1/15- Read to Chapter 30

1/16- Read to Chapter 32

1/17- Read to Chapter 34

1/18- Read to Chapter 35

1/19- Read to Chapter 36

1/20- Read to Chapter 37

1/21- Read to Chapter 38

1/22- Read to Chapter 39
1/23- Read to Chapter 40
1/24- Read to Chapter 41
1/25- Read to Chapter 42
1/26-Done (Last day to tweet)

1/27-Winner'sAnnounced on Twitter/Blog

5 winners will get Cinder, 5 other winners will get Scarlet, 5 other winners get Cress, and another 5 winners will get swag bags!!!!!!!!!!!! 20 winners in one Giveaway!!?? Wow!! 

Stacking the Shelves

Bought:

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

United We Spy (Gallagher Girls #6) by Ally Carter

Newest book purchase....

So far I have heard great things about this book, and I can't wait to get started...

*sees pile of required English reading*

.... Eventually.

Currently reading...

Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi

(also an assigned reading for my Contemporary Women's Text class)

All I can say right now is that it's very interesting... Raises a lot of questions about not only physical harems (which is, in reality, very different from my perceptions) but also one's internal harems.