What Alice Forgot

3.5 Stars
Liane  Moriarty

Remember the woman you used to be ...
Alice is twenty-nine. She is whimsical, optimistic and adores sleep, chocolate, her ramshackle new house and her wonderful husband Nick. What's more, she's looking forward to the birth of the 'Sultana' - her first baby. But now Alice has slipped and hit her head in her step-aerobics class and everyone's telling her she's misplaced the last ten years of her life. In fact, it would seem that Alice is actually thirty-nine and now she loves schedules, expensive lingerie, caffeine and manicures. She has three children and the honeymoon is well and truly over for her and Nick. In fact, he looks at her like she's his worst enemy. What's more, her beloved sister Elisabeth isn't speaking to her either. And who is this 'Gina'everyone is so carefully trying not to mention? Alice isn't sure that she likes life ten years on. Every photo is another memory she doesn't have and nothing makes sense. Just how much can happen in a decade? Has she really lost her lovely husband for ever?
   
This was a book I started reading for my book club I actually nominated it because I had seen it being read by a lot of other book clubs and it had a lot of good reviews, so I figured that many people couldn't be wrong about it. It wasn't a bad book it was actually quite enjoyable, rather I feel like it was something I didn't really relate with. I think it may have been a little too out of my maturity range. I mean if I were to lose my memory from ten years ago I would be eleven and yes that would be terrifying, but not as horrible as not remember my kids being born on my marriage failing. I did want to find out what had happen to Alice so I kept reading and I wasn't let down. It starts off with Alice anmesic after hitting her head at spin class. She is taken to the hospital and evaluated and diagnosed with a concussion and apparently confused as to where the last ten years of her life have gone missing. Now the husband she loved is her worst enemy and the baby she was pregnant with is now grown, her sister is a bitter old woman and she is someone she never thought she would be. She battles with what her life has become and who this mysterious women "Gina" is, since she plays such a huge part in her life. I loved how whimsical young Alice was how much she had changed how much from what she enjoys in the beginning of thirties to the end of them. It kinda shows how much life messes you up, you have all these plans and then life just throws you curve balls and nothing goes as planned. That is basically how Alice's life goes she has turned into a person she doesn't know one who volunteers and bakes and wakes up early and has such a schedule to keep. Her sister has also grown apart from her and has her own secret wounds to heal from. It is such a heart touching story and I feel for Elizabeth. The story also has a huge plot twist after I thought everything was going to work out between Alice and Nick the author throws something in there to just jumble up the story. You have to read the end to totally enjoy this book! Alice struggles to keep the two parts of herself equally balanced and that shows how you can't be too much of something or else life will get outta of proportion. I feel that is an internal struggle that we all face and nobody knows about and that is exactly what Alice and Elizabeth go through but we all see it. I was very happy with the changing of point of views it was perfect complementing to the story. I give props to Liane  Moriarty for a great story I enjoyed reading.

Stupid Perfect World

Scott Westerfeld
3 Stars

In this future-set novella by bestselling author Scott Westerfeld, Kieran Black lives in a "perfect" world. Disease and starvation have been eradicated, sleep is unnecessary, and it takes no time at all to go from the Bahamas to the moon. But now Kieran has to take Scarcity, a class about how people lived in the bad old days. And as if sitting through an hour of Scarcity every day wasn't depressing enough, it's final projects time. Each student must choose some form of ancient hardship to experience for two whole weeks. Kieran chooses having to sleep eight hours a night, which doesn't seem too annoying. Maria Borsotti has never thought much of Kieran, but she decides to take pity on him and help him out with his project. Soon, Kieran is sleeping and having vivid dreams, while Maria, whose Scarcity project is to give up all teenage hormone regulation, is experiencing emotions she never knew she had. As their assignments draw them closer together, they begin to wonder if the olden days weren't so bad. Maybe something has been missing from their perfect lives after all?

 It was really short. I love Scott Westerfeld so I was hoping for new series since I have read all of his current ones. So that was a little disappointing but it had a great base start. I wish I could know more about how they were able to cure everything and how they are able to control hormones and how they get around the whole sleeping eight hours a day how nice that would be, I would have so much time with the whole sleep thing getting in the way. I mean they can teleport everywhere to the moon and mars and live in Antarctica. There has to be more to their story like how Keiran and Maria function after their projects are done and how they are able to change the world around them show others that there is more to life than their Stupid Perfect World.

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)

Aimee Carter
3 stars

 Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

I am very sad to say that I was very disappointed with the sequel  and I am most disappointed in Kate herself. She has spent all Summer playing in Greece with James comes back and expects everything to be fine and dandy. I mean come on girl Henry has been without you for months now give him a break, but oh no she goes all crazy about how he doesn't love her. Really!?! She has been there all of a couple of hours before she is doubting his love and how much he is still in love with Persephone. I mean come on Kate I loved you in the first book because you were such a strong person and now you're falling to pieces because Henry, who has never been able to show his emotions very well, doesn't kiss you right away after he has been battling Cronus for weeks now? UGH she is so frustrating!!! I mean everyone continues to reassure her that Henry loves her! And then in the middle of her coronation Henry is kidnapped and Kate goes to pieces. Eventually she pulls herself together and goes searching for Persephone who she thinks is her biggest threat to her future. Really?? I mean I can understand her reasons for being jealous of Persephone it was Henry's first wife first love, but her mother has never shown or said to her that she loves Persephone more. Her insecurities are not warranted in my opinion. She battles Calliope to get Henry and the others released being reckless again as usual. She is saved by Henry and I mean if that doesn't mean he loves you what does? And then to prove that she is not useless she goes on a mission to find Rhea so that Cronus will not win. UGH Kate you were really annoying in the book. But the ending will defiantly keep me reading for the Goddess Inheritance. The ending was just gut wrenching twist in the plot I didn't see it coming. So thats why the book gets a higher rating. 

The Goddess Legacy (Goddess Test # 2.5)

 4.5 stars
Aimee Carter

For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimée Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

• Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness...
• Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal...
• Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another...
• James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before...
• Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope..

  Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.

I was so excited when I discovered this book was available through my library and checked it out right away. I decided that I would read just one of the stories before going to bed, boy was I wrong I couldn't stop myself from reading and stayed up all night. The Goddess Test series has been amazing and though it has answered many questions they are only ones Kate is given answers to, in this novella however we are given the answers behind the Gods and Goddess behaviors and actions. Why Hera was such a jealous wife, Why Aphrodite is allowed so many affairs as a married women, What was really behind Persephone's decision to leave Hades, What really lies behind Hermes joking personality, and Hades first encounter with Kate! All great stories that add so much depth to the characters.

Calliope/Hera just wants to be loved and she wants to rule as Queen as a daughter of a Titan, she doesn't want to be a man's possession. She marries Zeus knowing she is in love with another and expects Zeus to change his cheating ways, all she gets in return is a broken heart full of bitterness. I have to say that after reading this I did feel a bit tad sorry for her(but not enough since she tried to kill Kate). Hera wants to be a equal with her husband and since he never accepts nor respects her she is doomed to spend eternity anger, jealous, and bitter at those around her that will have happiness she will never have.

Ava/Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and therefore follows in the footsteps of holding many lovers as well, but when she is forced into a marriage that she does not she runaways with the man she loves. Slow she discovers that passion and burning may not always last and that perhaps a love that was not first valued is the love that she needs the most and will be the most constant. This love is lasting and does not hold her flaws against her, which is what she needs in her life.

Persephone was forced to marry Hades and she held nothing but hatred and anger against him which she could never explain since she liked him as a friend (which I have my suspicions who did that to her which made me even more angry with that person). We discover what happen during her time with Henry which makes me feel even more sorry for poor Henry. She not only cheated on Henry, but gave her life eventually for love.

We have always seen James/Hermes as the joker and yet in this story we discover that he has so much more to him a depth that I thought he didn't have. He has experienced great loss and isn't as carefree as he would lead everyone to believe.

Henry/Hades's story was my favorite!! It explained so much about him!! Why he is the way he is, how he lived after Persephone, and how the bringing in of the girls to be tested began. I felt so sorry for Henry knowing how much he had to endure before he meet Kate. How much pain and sorrow he went through ugh it just makes me root for him so much harder. And the scene where he first meets Kate is just PERFECT!! I mean this story is needed so much to add so much enrichment to the Kate and Henry story. You will be missing out if you don't read this story!

Over all Aimee Carter has worked her magic again bringing to life myths of long ago. She has added so much depth to all the characters by writing these stories and letting us see what lead these Gods and Goddess to who they are and show us why they do what they do. I recommend this book and this entire to series to everyone! It is a must read and favorite on my list.

The Goddess Hunt (Goddess Test #1.5)

4.5 Stars
Aimee Carter

A vacation in Greece sounds like the perfect way for Kate Winters to spend her first sabbatical away from the Underworld...until she gets caught up in an immortal feud going back millennia. Castor and Pollux have been on the run from Zeus and Hades' wrath for centuries, hiding from the gods who hunt them. The last person they trust is Kate, the new Queen of the Underworld. Nevertheless, she is determined to help their cause. But when it comes to dealing with immortals, Kate still has a lot to learn....

I am just in love with this series! I mean Aimee Carter is just an amazing author. I loved the Goddess Test she just gives a whole new spin to Greek mythology. So when I was finally able to get a hold of this book in its kindle format I couldn't put it down!! It was just amazing! I give it 4.5 stars! Kate and James are back in this book showing what they are doing on the six months Kate is off on her sabbatical from the Underworld and her new husband Henry. All she wants is a vacation, but leave it James to get them into a heap of trouble on their first day in Greece. Enter Castor and Pollux running from the council who Kate has just become a part of and the troubles  start from there, after this is major spoiler alerts so I'll stop now. Kate is as strong willed as ever and her ideas of moral just don't line up with the councils, she stands strong by her convictions though and doesn't let anyone bully her. I loved being able to read the story from Henry's point of view he adds so much flavor to this story. We have always had Kate's POV and since she is so modern I completely understand where she is coming from, but Henry is older than mortals and seeing his spin on things really gets me thinking in another way. And how he is so hesitant to approach Kate while she has her six months off just breaks my heart! I mean he is like ten feet away from her and he doesn't appear to her! They are meant to be together!! And yet he is determined to give her space and not make the same mistakes and Persephone. I loved this novella and can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

Divergent

4.5 stars
Veronica Roth

 In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). 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. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
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.

 Can I just say WOW! I could not put this book down, I just had to keep reading! Veronica Roth is one talented author. This book was a total page turner and every page kept me guessing what would happen next. I was prepared for another dystopian society that doesn't work, which is what greeted me in the first few pages. But within a few pages I saw that it wasn't the same old boring story rehashed again. Beatrice was a girl that doesn't fit in and isn't like everyone else in her faction, so when the time comes for her to be tested she discovers a secret about herself that just might get her killed. She must chosen between factions, one which she has lived in all her life and one that she will to be crazy to survive. I really liked this book because the main story line was about Tris and the moral decision between RIGHT and WRONG. She had to constantly reevaluate what she thought about herself, others, and her society. Tris is one strong girl which I think is what made me love her, because I could relate so much to her. She does not let those hurting her know how much they are getting to her, she shows only her strength, she doesn't ask for help and she hides her vulnerability so well (two of my own character flaws). She doesn't need no man to fight her battles for her she has got it handled. But of course no book would be complete without a love interest, so enter "four" who is mysterious (what heartthrob isn't), withdrawn, and just over all confusing. It is a slow descendent for Tris into to her love for four and in the end true loves saves him (this was the only part of the book that I felt was predictable, I mean come on true love always wins it kinda gets a little annoying at times). But over all Tris has to face unimaginable hardships that lead her to be the person she was always meant to be. I give kudos to Veronica Roth for writing such an amazing book and look forward to reading Insurgent which I hope isn't a huge let down like sequels sometimes are.

The Snow Child

3.5 Stars
Eowyn Ivey

Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees. This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.

I started reading this book because it was the December book for my book club. The pace in the beginning is rather slow in my opinion, I felt like it really dragged. At first neither Jack nor Mabel really made an impression or seemed to be interesting. When the first snow fell was really the beginning of the story for me. From there it really became interesting, when Faina came into the story she brought with her the life of the story well at least in my opinion. I was sad for Mabel and Jack for them not being able to have children and not being able to bridge that gap between them since the death of their baby. So when Faina came into their lives I thought it very fitting. Now I had never heard of the fairy tale the Snow Maiden before this book, so the author adding that Faina could possibly be the snow child seemed rather plausible to me (anything in the Alaskan wilderness seemed possible). The scenery had to be my favorite part of the book such vivid scenes of the Alaskan frontier I felt as though I could imagine being there. Anyways I felt the author did such a great job in building Faina into their lives and then letting her continue to grow and slowly become like their daughter. I also liked how Garret was "forced" to come work and then slowly also became like their own son. I don't want to give too much away so I'll stop while I'm ahead but it doesn't have fairy tale ending which is probably why I didn't give the book as high a rating (that and the fact it dragged in the beginning). This is a book that really seems to repeat the saying "If you love something, Set it free... If it comes back, it's yours, If it doesn't, it never was yours" I feel that this was the theme of the whole book circling Faina. What Faina did in the end to me was horrible and inexcusable I just can't believe she did it, but back to the theme "If you love something set it free..."