Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Plot:

Setting: North Carthage, Missouri

On the day of Nick's fifth wedding anniversary, his wife, Amy, disappears from their home. Initially, his innocence is certain and the support he receives is immense. Then Amy's unknown best-friend points at Nick and the police begin to find suspicious evidence that link to him. Suddenly Nick is the number one suspect

Review:

Gone Girl does everything a thriller should do. It's intense, shocking, grotesque and quite disturbing. That's about the only positive about this novel. Flynn produced a novel that had me sitting on the edge, that's for sure. I waited and waited and waited and waited just for the answer. In between that time there are a million twists that add depth to the plot. A simple mystery spirals into a haunting thriller that is quite the nail biter (excuse the cliche). The turning point in the novel needs only one word to describe it: wow.

However, all that ended at the finale of the novel. I am a reader that expects an amazing plot to end with a massive bang! Gone Girl did not deliver that. It was like enjoying a cool, fizzy coke and then taking the next sip only to find it flat and thick. How unsatisfying. All that time reading it and I was pushing for the ending, the moment where I close the book and say yes, it was a fantastic read. All I could say was oh, is that it? The ending is the do or die moment for me. It absolutely killed the book. Definitely the most disappointing aspect.

Flynn writes very well but was somehow quite dull. The first half was a drag and I had to really persevere  (I found myself becoming drowsy every so often), just for the sake of the answer. Perhaps this was because of the background information that Flynn included in order to set up the anticipation. The second half was immensely better, it was so easy to dive in and be completely engaged with what was happening.

The characters are unlikable. Whether that is Flynn's intention or not, I do not know. Both Nick and Amy have no redeeming qualities that make you want to like them or feel sympathetic towards their situation, which is weird seeing as they are both placed in situations everyone would tend to feel sorry for (especially Amy). The minor characters are just in the background and I hardly take notice of them. I don't even remember most of their names. There are characters that add an interesting twist in the plot and provide quite a bit of entertainment but there's really no hook that readers can connect to.

I guess when I picked up this novel I had a lot of expectations about it, seeing as how it has garnered many positive reviews. Maybe that's why I felt like it was such a let down. Overall, it was okay. It wasn't exceptional, although it could have been with how great the plot was. If you're a thriller fan than try it out, it might suit your taste. I just felt like it needed to be a little more compact, to the point, and have something drive the readers home quickly.

Rating: 3/5

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City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments #5) - Cassandra Clare

Spoiler Alert: If you haven't read this series then this review may reveal plots of the previous books.



Plot:

Jace has disappeared, along with Sebastian, from the rootop. The search for him is met with little result. In desperation, Clary decides to take action herself. However, her joy dies when she realises Jace is bound to her brother, Sebastian, with the blood of Lilth. Along with her friends, Clary embarks on journey to save not only the boy she loves but also the Shadowhunter world.

Review:

Welcome back to the world of Shadowhunters and the constant obstacles that Jace and Clary face during their relationship. The latest instalment was met with anticipation after Cassandra Clare had left fans on a cliff in City of Fallen of Angels. City of Lost Souls certainly explains what happens to Jace and Sebastian after the rootop incident but seems to centre on the romance of the characters in the novel. It does come across as quite frustrating, the lack of the original plot of the series. What was once a battle between Valentine and Shadowhunters has now circulated to just the relationship between Jace and Clary, and also the other characters. Yes, they are important as well but I wanted a lot more badass fighting scenes and 'good vs. evil' moments. Not to say that there isn't, it's just limited. Clare tries to add those elements of the supernatural one but they seem more like snippets, that flitter in and out, and almost confuses the entire storyline.

However, because Clare is able to establish such strong bonds between her characters and readers, it is easy to fly through the entire story. I read it all at once. There are times when you get tired with the constant intimate moments between the couples (almost inappropriate for readers under the age of 15), but you are kept on the edge with wanting to know who is good or bad, and what will become of Jace. Clare can produce suspense and readers will go along with the ride.

It is only once you reach the end that it feels like the fifth instalment is quite unnecessary. What was once a promising trilogy, it seems as though The Mortal Instruments series is going with the hype, and has now extended to more of a romance series then anything. The series seems to have lost the original plot but overall, is still enough to keep diehard fans from continuing on the adventure. At least until the last book. I am a fan of the series, just not the last two additions.

City of Lost Souls is not the best of the series, it's just okay. There are some shocks and twists to it but it will mostly suit fans of Clary and Jace who will love the amount of time focused on their relationship.

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Speechless - Hannah Harrington

Plot:

Chelsea Knotting is known for her big mouth. She'll spread any secret she knows and never feel any guilt about it. Until one night when it leads to a near death incident. Chelsea loses all her friends and becomes an outcast.

She vows to be silent from then on.

Review:

Speechless definitely was a surprise. It was different to expectations, in a good way. As a Young Adult novel I had thought it would lack in depth. Instead, it consisted of many lessons to be learnt.

The character, Chelsea, comes across as annoying and needy in the beginning. Her constant need to run her mouth almost wants readers to punch her because who really wants to read about a snitch. Except, it's this flaw that she tries so hard to work on, which changed my mind. She becomes relatable. At 16, who didn't find themselves spilling dirty deeds to their best friend and wanting to belong to the 'in' crowd? Harrington does leave room for some sympathy towards Chelsea, as she becomes a victim in some way.

The plot takes a serious turn after the first couple of chapters. It leaves a lot to think about, touching on the issue that is constantly debated about. It'll ruin the novel if I reveal what it is but it is a major issue. This is the pivotal moment, which differentiates Speechless from other novels in this genre. Harrington tackles this well known issue in a very simple way but conveys the best message.

During the novel you are also introduced to various characters that are likeable immediately. They become like a close knit family to Chelsea but also to readers. This is what I liked about the novel, how easy it was to read because of the characters.

The novel itself is different, in terms of the concept included, but it is also similar to typical Young Adult novels with the cliques in High School and the blossoming relationship that was bound to happen. Yet, those moments don't ruin the novel. Harrington has delivered a very enjoyable novel that contains an important message but also a plot that has readers continuing to read on. It's a short read, definitely for those who like teenage drama straight from High School.

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You Against Me - Jenny Downham

Plot:

Mikey McKenzie's sister, Karyn, has accused Tom Parker of raping her. Mikey is out to seek revenge for his sister. Ellie Parker, Tom's sister, only has one thought to defend her brother. Their paths soon cross and suddenly their lives can't stop going forward.

Review:

Did Tom Parker commit the crime? That's the question that readers hang onto until the final chapters of You Against Me. The novel pulls readers with it and doesn't let them go until it finally ends. That's how it felt like for me. You start off not knowing who is telling the truth - Karyn or Tom. Except the novel is narrated through Mikey and Ellie. Mikey creates the link of sympathy readers share for Karyn whilst Ellie almost demands readers to trust Tom. The sides you take shift as soon as the narrating perspective changes. It's hard not to feel sorry for Karyn, hiding from the outside world who judges her. It's hard to see Tom as guilty after hearing what he has done for Ellie ever since they were young.

Along side the mysterious case is the developing relationship between the two main characters. Yes, it was bound to happen. But it's not like you start the novel not knowing that Mikey and Ellie are bound to enter a relationship at some point. Their relationship actually adds to the depth of the novel. Their constant battle between loyalty to their family and the passion they feel for each other. Although Downham makes it out as love, during the time frame that the plot takes place in, it is not that realistic to really call it love. They are definitely drawn to each other, so I call it passion (and certain amounts of lust). Their relationship keeps readers interested as well, curious as to how it will end up.

Downham keeps readers on the edge, not leaving any hints to what really did happen.She has a knack of taking the most serious issues to create a plot that just stays with readers. The idea of rape may seem like it will be too much to handle but it is actually the opposite. It addresses the stereotype of low-socioeconomic families vs. middle/high class families and the idea that girls who wear certain revealing clothing are just "asking for it". There are a lot of family themes underlying the novel as well.

Jenny Downham is known for her previous novel, Before I Die, and so You Against Me carries a lot of expectations. Let me tell you now, they are quite different. It's not so much that one novel excels while the other is just average, it's just that from what I have heard, the anticipation really does make You Against Me a slight disappointment. I guess it's lucky that I do not remember much about Before I Die so I read this novel with a blank slate. It was truly an enjoying read, I went through it in one night. It definitely leaves readers emotionally overwhelmed though, which could be good or bad. I finished at 12AM and could not go to sleep until 2AM. You feel the sadness, the anger, the disappointment. It is actually all there.

There is so much more that I could say about this novel but if I had to have one complaint then the ending left me slightly unsatisfied. The question that circulates the novel is answered. Of course it is (otherwise I would've gone nuts) but it feels as though the novel started off high and led me through an intense ride only to drop off. Just a bit.

I would still recommend this novel though. Try it out, you fall to love Mikey. At least I hope you do, just like I did.

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Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L James

Plot:

Setting: Seattle

At 21, college student Anastasia Steele has never held hands with anyone let alone had sex. So when she meets attractive and rich CEO Christian Grey her shock at his unusual erotic ways leads to a relationship she never dreamt of entering. While Ana slowly understands the world that Christian lives in, she is torn between giving into her desires or finding what is right for her.

Review:

Perhaps Fifty Shades of Grey is not suitable for someone my age but these days it seems everyone is reading it, regardless of how old they are. E.L James originally wrote her novel as a fan-fiction based on Twilight. A few chapters in and you can see the resemblance. Most parts of the novel are exact mirrors of events Stephanie Meyer plays out, minus the erotic scenes.

There's not much positive that comes out of this book. Not from my perspective anyways. I'm not a literary genius but I've read enough to know what's good and what's bad. Overused words and phrases, frustrating terms (double crap ..) and strange expressions, James' writing could do with some improvements. It becomes a distraction from actually reading the novel itself - so much that the plot is lost.

The characters resemble those of Meyer's Twilight series. It becomes easy to pick out the parallel characters between each. It's either you like them or you don't. Personally, I feel no connection to any characters. Maybe only a slight likeness for the minor roles. Both Ana and Christian are characters I grew to dislike.

Fifty Shades of Grey is centred around the erotic activities between Ana and Christian. I understand that James targets an older audience but even then, the idea behind the sexual relationship they have is truly shocking. As a young lady of the 21st Century, the fight for equality between both genders is at a crucial turning point. While it has not been achieved yet, but there is more awareness towards the issue. Yet, here we have a novel on the dominating stance a man wants to have over a woman. Even worse, the woman succumbs to it. What's more, he is attractive, wealthy and powerful - the perfect catch despite his 'condition'. It seems just a little degrading, that somehow ones morality cannot preside over the shallow desires of many.

Only towards the end of the novel did I really find it heading somewhere. So far, there was never really a solid plot. All it was was just sex in every kind and every way. Perhaps it has a more promising field in the second novel.

E.L James' Fifty Shades of Grey is definitely a page turner despite its flaws. It's entertaining and very different, outselling even J.K Rowling. It just didn't fit my liking, maybe it will yours.

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