Cover Love: August 2012

Here's a new monthly feature I'm hoping to participate in every month. I haven't been that consistant lately when it comes to participating in different memes, but this is a monthly event so it shouldn't be so hard, right? I hope my inconsistanty won't continue and I'll be able to pull myself together, although, I don't think that's happening, since it's so, so hard at Uni right now and I have no idea how I'm going to get through this semester. Okay, I'm starting to walk off the main road here. Let us continue with this beautiful feature.

Don't judge a book by its cover? Well, that's exactly what I'm going to do right now: give these pretties a thumbs up based on their covers. Fasten your seatbelts and jump on the train to give these books multiple look overs since one obviously isn't enough.

P.S. I'd be delighted if you could tell me your opinion on these covers and whether you agree or not. Also, what are your favorite covers from last month?

In August I read 12 books (actually I'm reading one right now, but I finished over a half of it in August and there isn't that much left so.. yeah. 12 books it is) and these are the books that made it to my list:

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Published: November 13th 2008
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 

Why? Out of all Victoria Secret's models I've always thought Adriana Lima was the prettiest and somehow this girl on the cover reminds me of her. In addition, the back cover is purple and it's my favorite colour. I also like the intensity in this girl's eyes and it matches the pace, emotions and action in this book perfectly. It's my favorite one in this series when it comes to storytelling, plot etc and the cover is freaking gorgeous!

Divergent (UK version) by Veronica Roth

Published: May 3rd 2011
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 
 
Why? As I stated in my review, this version of the cover speaks volumes about the storyline and Tris in general. She is so brave, has a great combination of selfishness and seflessness in her, Tris is a great competitor and friend, but she doesn't exactly belong with the others. She thinks differently and on the cover she is sitting and watching, which is exactly what she does in the book: she observe takes notice of things and people around her. Also, Tri is discovering the world on through her own eyes instead of listening to others. And the three birds have their on special meaning. Moreover, the future Chicago on the backround is perfect. I ust love this cover, it's so beautiful and kind of poetic.

Lengths by Liz Reinhardt and Steph Campbell

Published: August 9th 2012
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Why? As a new adult contemporary book, it needs to have a kick-ass cover in order to stand out. It does. It absolutely does. The guy portraying Theo is gorgeous and surfing is definitely one of the key points in this book. The cover is pretty steamy and this book has all kinds of action in the romance field. This book definitely got my attention thanks to the cover at first.

While It Lasts by Abbi Glines

Published: July 21st 2012
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 
 

Why? Abbi's Sea Breeze series is trending as #beautfulcovers in my book. I mean.. Really! Look at these covers! They're beautiful and they, too tell you a story on their own instead of just being pretty. Once you're finished with a book you can instantly tell how different items on the cover are connected to the storyline. For instance, Cage is bringing the sexy back and there are many scenes where he is not wearing a shirt and Eva conjures up a cristal clear picture in your mind exactly like the cover and you can't help but be week in your knees and want to get a real look youself. The cover is actually pretty simple, but it's definitely inviting and sexy. Furthermore, it has kind of a sunny atmposphere, which describes the bright moments of this book perfectly.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Published: December 2nd 2010
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 

Why? I literally bought this book because of the cover and based on its looks. Yeah, I'd heard of it before and the praise has been overwhelming, but I wasn't sure I'd like to read it. Whenever I finish this book, you'll be able to read my thoughts on the storyline, but the cover, in my opinion, is pretty darn cute. The Eiffel Tower? A gorgeous girl? A guy? Great colours? A sweet and cute vibe its giving off? Heck yeah I wanted to read it. Plus the over all design was unique: the pages are cropped and everything is so.. Idk. I like it.

Cover Love is an original feature at I’m Loving Books (she also makes kick-ass banners and buttons). At the beginning of every month, I round up all of my favorite covers from books I’ve read the previous month and tell you what I love about them!

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent (Divergent #1)

Author: Veronica Roth

Release Date: May 3rd 2011

Add It: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository (US vers) | TBD (UK)

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue. 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.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

First of all, I have the UK paperback version and I’m absolutely in love with the cover. I think it’s prettier than the US cover and kind of tells you a story on its own. At first I couldn’t have figured out what the cover is trying to represent or say, but after finishing the book I totally get it. Also, the cover does the book justice – it’s beautiful, mysterious, cruel, scary, thrilling. Tris is the exact same girl on the cover: unsure, thoughtful, boyish, scared and fearless at the same time.

I can't remember how to stand. I can't remember how to punch. I walk to the center of the arena and my guts writhe as he comes toward me, taller than I remembered, arm muscles standing at attention. He smiles at me. I wonder if throwing up on him will do me any good.
I doubt it.
"You okay there, Stiff?" he says. "You look like you're about to cry. I might go easy on you if you cry."

Plot.  I’m a huge fan of the Hunger Games and it was a pleasure to read a dystopian novel that didn’t fell short in comparison to it. I was really captivated by the whole plot. I loved the idea that all of the districts of the future Windy City represented a part of humanity. There are all of them in each and every one of us and it’d be hard to choose one faction instead of another at the age of sixteen. Young adults are one of the pillars of the society and I think it’s difficult for them to put one part of their nature above the others and cope with the aftermaths of their choices as they come hitting them in the gut later on. The only thing I would have wanted to see more were the other two factions in addition to Erudite, Dauntless and Abnegation.  Roth gave us glimpses of Candors, but there wasn’t that much insight to Amity.

It’s a sign of a talented writer  if a cruel moment like beating Tris up while seeing the scene from her perspective and listening to her thoughts speeding on a highway in different directions at that exact moment cracks me up like no other. It was terrifying and at the same time unbelievably hilarious since she can be so sarcastic about herself in addition to others. She should have a play date with Daemon Black, they’d just make sarcastic jokes about one another and it’d be a blast to read.

Characters. Tris – of course I loved her, how could I not? She is so full of life and emotions, she is smart, quick-thinking, sarcastic, fierce, strong, vulnerable and wasn’t afraid to express her opinion out loud. She had just the right amount of selfness and selflessness. Tris is brave but not foolish. Yeah, she jumped into some situations without thinking, but she is only sixteen and out of her comfort zone in this faction. Tris has so much to learn, but she can teach the others, too, since there are so many traits to her that the others can’t even begin to imagine.

Four. Oh-em-gee! He is one of the best love interests I’ve read about and I completely fell in love with him. He has his secrets and after I found out what they were, my heart ached for him even more. Wish I could have given this boy a hug or something. He is one of the best initiatives in this faction during the last couple of years, but he doesn’t believe in the cruelty that has come to rule among Dauntless. He is all about bravery, teamwork, supporting each other and giving it your 100%.

I was intrigued by Peter who was absolutely ruthless. I think there is much to him to discover. I hope he will come to his senses and I wonder what the heck in the world could have possibly made him like this. He must be scared for hell if he can do all those things in order to be the first past the post in these tests. He is afraid. He must be, right? No one in their right mind (except for maybe, let’s say, Eric) could be so cruel. I’m captivated by his presence and want to know more about him.

There were a few minor characters I also loved and I think Beatrice’s Mother was one of the bravest people in this book. I liked Caleb and Will. Christina, in my opinion, cared about Tris, but she wanted to shine on her own and it kind of bothered me that she stole her glory with the ‘capture the flag’ game. Well, Four knew it was Tris’s doing, so all’s okay in the end.

Romance. Oh, I loved that it was so laid back. It was sweet how Four and Tris didn’t jump into situations immediately and everything progressed slowly. It wasn’t overdone and the romance part was like sun after a long period of rain and thunder. It was shiny, happy, bright and yellow while the other things happening in this book were pretty dark, emotional, grey, scary and horrifying.  Oh, and I enjoyed that Tris brought the fun, easygoing and sweet side out of Four. He is usually so stoic and brave, but Tris scared him in a good way.

He gives me a conflicted look and touches his lips to my forehead, right between my eyebrows. I close my eyes. I don't understand this, whatever it is. But I don't want to ruin it, so I say nothing. He doesn't move; he just stays there with his mouth pressed to my skin, and I stay there with my hands on his waist, for a long time.

I really don’t have anything else to add except that I could go on and on four hours on how much I loved this book. My only regret is that I picked this novel up so late, but I’m happy I get to read the sequel sooner than a year after the first one. Too bad the final book is due to 2013 which is obviously too far away. If you have not read this series yet, I hope you will, it’s absolutely fantastic and a must read for all of THG fans out there. A definite recommend!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Reading order:

1. Divergent
2. Insurgent
3. TBA (spring, 2013)

Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story (novella)

Teaser Tuesday #11

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To participate you:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) * Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers

"If he had yelled, I might not have felt like everything inside my stomach was about to come out of it. If he had yelled, I would have known that the yelling was the worst he planned to do. But his voice is quiet and his words precise."

~ p. 99-100 of "Divergent" by Veronica Roth