Invitation Only By Kate Brian

Title: Invitation Only

Author: Kate Brian

Pages: 272

Level: Young Adult

Published: November 7, 2006

( I don't like posting the summary because if you haven't read the previous one then some things get spoiled. So, if you don't want any spoilers, just skip to the review.)

Reed Brennan's future is looking as bright as the two-karat diamonds in her new housemates' ears. Being accepted to the most prestigious private boarding school in the country wasn't enough for Reed. She had to break every rule to do it, but she has accomplished the impossible: Reed is a Billings Girl now. And with her new status come respect, envy, and, most important, opportunity. Not to mention the parties. Unfortunately, at the next illicit party in the Easton campus woods, her roommate snaps some pictures of Reed in more than one compromising position. She uses the photos to blackmail Reed: Dig up dirt on the most powerful and popular Billings Girls or she will have Reed expelled. And speaking of parties, the Legacy is coming up. It's the invitation-only Halloween party in NYC and it's rumored that Thomas -- Reed's MIA boyfriend -- will be making an appearance there. Too bad Reed isn't even close to invited. Life as a Billings Girl is every bit as glamorous as Reed imagined. What she didn't bargain for is the tangled web of private lies these girls weave.

Review:

Well, let's start with the fact that I hate these covers. They are absolutely ridiculous and I cannot stand them. How are they supposed to entice anyone to buy the book if they look like crap?

This book was better than the first though. Even though I still hated the Billings girls I was more used to their extreme lack of kindness. I liked it.

To be honest this series is kind of pulling me in, not for the great writing style, but just because I want to know what happens so badly. Which I guess is what makes a good book.

The only problem I had with it is that the main guy, is super disgusting to me. I cringed every time he was in the story. So, it was kind of bogus.

Oh, and another thing. I enjoy books that are bigger. So, when I picked up the first one in this series, it was small. I just think that the author could have combined some books so that there weren't so many. Just to warn you if you do plan to read this series, but hate when it seems never ending, there are FOURTEEN books in the series. Yes, I know.

Otherwise I liked the book, the plot line picked up since the last book and there was actually a main theme to focus on.

Cover: 1/5

Character Rating: 2/5

Style: 3/5

Development: 4/5

Overall:

***

Private By Kate Brian

Title: Private

Author: Kate Brian

Pages: 227

Level: Young Adult

Published: June 27, 2006

Tradition, Honor, Excellence...and secrets so dark they're almost invisible Fifteen-year-old Reed Brennan wins a scholarship to Easton Academy -- the golden ticket away from her pill-popping mother and run-of-the-mill suburban life. But when she arrives on the beautiful, tradition-steeped campus of Easton, everyone is just a bit more sophisticated, a bit more gorgeous, and a lot wealthier than she ever thought possible. Reed realizes that even though she has been accepted to Easton, Easton has not accepted her. She feels like she's on the outside, looking in. Until she meets the Billings Girls. They are the most beautiful, intelligent, and intensely confident girls on campus. And they know it. They hold all the power in a world where power is fleeting but means everything. Reed vows to do whatever it takes to be accepted into their inner circle. Reed uses every part of herself -- the good, the bad, the beautiful -- to get closer to the Billings Girls. She quickly discovers that inside their secret parties and mountains of attitude, hanging in their designer clothing-packed closets the Billings Girls have skeletons. And they'll do anything to keep their secrets private.

Review:

When I read the back to this book, I was excited to read it. I love realistic fiction, so it was perfect for me. Well, I don't think it lived up to my standards. One, it's one of those books where its small (like The A-List series) and there are like 10 to 15 in the series. I can't stand that because it seems like the author is just stringing it along to make as much money as possible.

Another thing, she is trying to be friends with these girls that aren't that great. They're stuck up brats and it was annoying because she was practically fawning over them. I was thinking the entire time, "They aren't your real friends! Stop trying!!".

I guess other than that it wasn't a bad book. I'm still going to read the rest of the series. I really liked the setting too, I would love to go to school at a large beautiful boarding school.

Cover: 2/5

Character Rating: 1/5

Style: 4/5

Development: 3/5

Overall:

***

J.K. Rowling's New Book?!?

Why must you be a genius as well as pretty????

If you want to see an article concerning her new book, please go here.

Oh my god. 

I am so flipping excited right now. 

So flipping excited. 

I respect Rowling so much. She is such a poster woman for all authors and writers out there. She is not the least bit corrupted by all the money and fame that she has received. She still loves to write. She has loved and still loves her fans. 

I don't know what else to say except that she's amazing. 

There are so many people out there who write just for the money but  Ms. Rowling writes because she loves it (and her fans haha). 

A true entertainer, a true author, a true writer. 

This woman. 

*goes and fangirls in a corner*

Contact

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We will get back to you asap. :)

Hunger Games Movie Review (with spoilers)

I am a Hunger Games fanatic. I love the books so much. If you have read my review on Article 5, you know my views on dystopia and what it means to me and yadda yadda yadda. I love The Hunger Games so much, I've even reread it. I never reread books. 

Never. 

Anyways, I went to the midnight premiere of the movie and I have to say, I was kind of disappointed. 

Let me explain; I am a very by-the-book person. 

I think this is why I loved the Harry Potter movies, because they did everything so close to the book, keeping all the fans and the author in mind. 

I mean, The Hunger Games movie was close to the book, but there were too many things that bothered me. 

First thing that bothered me (and probably the most major)

The mockingjay pin. 

I mean come on, you took out three characters right there! 

1. The mayor 

2. The mayor's wife 

3. Madge

In the book, Madge was the one who gave the pin to Katniss. Madge pretty much started the revolutions (without meaning to). Madge was also Katniss's only friend other than Gale. How do you take her out? 

 Taking out the mayor was also major to me. In the first book, it talked about how Katniss and Gale would sell him strawberries.  He came in the story more in the second book, but I'm still frustrated that he wasn't there. 

The mayor's wife wasn't very major in the books, so I can see why they didn't even consider putting her in. She did though, have an interesting back story and was disappointed that we won't get to see it in the other movies. 

Secondly, 

The Capitol. It's not what I imagined. I pictured it more like New York City, and this is way too tiny. It's also way too natural. I thought the Capitol was supposed to be more extravagant. 

I hated the Capitol people. I pictured them way more extreme. They don't look weird enough.  In the book, it describes people having green skin, cat whiskers, and tails. I was looking forward to seeing these details. Yet another detail overlooked, unfortunately. 

Okay, this is a big one. I was disappointed in how the relationships of Katniss and the other characters were portrayed. The movie could have used another 5-10 minutes making the relationships more dramatic. 

Katniss and Rue's relationship, I felt, was cut off. Katniss thought of Rue as her sister in the arena and I didn't get that from the movie. 

Katniss and Peeta's relationship was definitely ruined. The movie did nothing to explain how Katniss and Peeta's relationship was a fake. It needed more time. 

Speaking of Peeta, I missed the bread scene. I wish they would have filmed the scene where Peeta talks about the different types of bread with Katniss. In the movie, you couldn't tell that District 11 sent Katniss bread. That was a really touching part in the book that was super symbolic of the revolution.

Lastly, I wanted to see the scene where Katniss was dying of dehydration. It showed the characteristics of Haymitch (and Katniss). I thought that was a major part in the book as well and it needed to be shown. 

I'm kind of nit-picking at the movie, I'm sorry, but I was really looking forward to seeing these things. 

***.8