Killing Britney by Sean Olin

This is a story about Britney Johnson who's just been coping from the death of her mother. With a troubled boy named Adam her father opened their home to, death of more people in Britney's life has begun.

First her boyfriend.

Next, Karl Brown.

Next, best friend Melissa Brown.

Then, her father.

Who could the killer be? Is it Bobby Plumley, the boy who's still so obsessed with her? Is it Adam? Or is it someone else?

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A thriller book. It was irritating and annoying how the plot deliberately misleads one. It was fun, still. But I won't read it again.

Diana v. Charles by James Whitaker

First published in 1993. This book must have made a big sensation in the UK back then. It sure made Mr. Whitaker a rich man as well. Also, this might have been pricey in the early 90's but not to me at this present. Got it for only 60pesos at BOOKSALE!

To the more nerdy side of me, I would like you to know that besides obsession with books, I'm also obsessed with monarchy and royals. My first royal biography read was Andrew Morton's Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words (Completely Revised Edition) which I also got from BOOKSALE.

James Whitaker is the very ruthless and demanding royal reporter. Here, in this book he fearlessly retells all of his knowledge between the marriage of both Your Highnesses. This was the time when Princess Di was still alive. I must say, the facts inside at times were biased to the Princess but nonetheless they were true. I believe them.

It's a pretty good book to read if you're such a geek like me and the lessons it might teach you is invaluable. Plus, we can see in here how the Palace works at times of desperation. Either ways, this book is a must read for royal fanatics out there!

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

In the last of the trilogy, Fifty Shades Freed starts with the middle of the honeymoon. The couple traveled around Europe then got back to their lives as newlyweds in the real world.

Ana had a conflict with Christian because of her decision to keep Steele as her last name.

Ray gets into an accident.

Anastasia discovers she's pregnant and Christian was very shocked and mad.

Mia was kidnapped by Jack and Ana will do something heartbreaking in order to save her sister-in-law.

Will she survive? Will the baby survive? Will Christian accept to be a father?

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It's very hypocritical now if I say this wasn't worth my time. I read it through the very end, obviously there's something. Though I might agree to some bloggers who said that Ana's character who seemed to be against materialism is somewhat materialistic in reality. She loved the luxury. I mean, who doesn't?

The character build-up is contradicting, that's all.

Every reader here knows that Christian Grey was the reason, to the very end, he was why. He was why people stuck to reading this. He was the kind of lover women wanted. Though a real Christian Grey might not be as desirable in reality as in the book, we needed Anastasia as guinea pig to get us through the romantic parts. 

He was the right kind of tool James had to create for the hopelessly loveless. He was perfect because he had it all. The character had the power to make Ana feel so much wanted, the audience felt so much wanted as well. Ana didn't have to be such a bland character, she was made for everyone to relate to. For every girl to be Ana while reading it. I wanted much more out of her. It lost its touch.

You can't presume readers to believe that there's an intelligent 21-year-old virgin who is said to be very beautiful and surrounded by suitors, works in a hardware store and doesn't have a laptop or a cellphone. And honestly, besides the 3-time divorced mom and a step-dad Ana's still emotionally attached to, the first sentence before this one are the only facts you will ever know about Anastasia Steele.

The ending of this one was left hanging by the author. We'll see but I doubt it. 

Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

In the first book of the trilogy (Fifty Shades of Grey), Christian has pushed Ana too far. Ana decides to break-up with Christian and the story continues to the next.

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Five days after the break-up and Ana is very much depressed. Having lost a lot of weight and all, she needs to get on with her life and work.

Upon going to her first day of internship at SIP, she receives an e-mail from Christian regarding their plan to go to Jose's exhibit. Ana is alarmed since she has no choice of transportation in order to attend. She accepts Christian's plan and they meet.

After the exhibit, they have dinner and talk about their relationship. Christian Grey wants to get back together and try again.

Alas, they did get back together. With Grey's past and demons unraveling before Anastasia's eyes, she remains with him.

Christian proposes and the life of their marriage lies on to the next, Fifty Shades Freed.

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I don't know what to say about this Fifty Shades Trilogy. At least with the Twilight Saga, the world Stephenie made is new, original, exciting and full of history. With this one, it's pure romance and sensation. Because of too much love, the characters lose their good judgement. I think any sane reader will agree to that. If the guy's too jealous and possessive and wants to beat the shit out of you(which is stated in the book), I'm sure as hell that's not love.

I know that the emotional side of Christian Grey is to be considered as to how you judge his new venture with love for Anastasia, but it's NOT sending a positive message to the people who'll be reading.

I guess this is definitely one of those that you'd read, just to get over with it.

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Wow. This book's phenomena is certainly not surprising. As a teenager, I'm not very proud that I've read it. My parents would never have allowed me to. But I was curious. I have my book-lover friends who've read the whole trilogy and they loved it! I just gotta get on this bandwagon.

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Anastasia Steele interviews the very rich, powerful, young and handsome Christian Grey for the university newspaper as her best friend Katherine Kavanagh can't make it due to flu.

The very first meet and they're both set on fire.

A few more meetings, either by chance or intentional, they enjoyed each other's company very well.

But it has its downsides.

Grey offers Ana a contract she finds very disturbing. A contract of commitment. One she definitely must refuse but can't.

This broken and beautiful man, a damaged past, is violent in sex. He is not capable of love.

Or is he?

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This is the adult version of Twilight, I mean seriously. Every bit of detail in the romance genre minus the vulgar and salacious sex, is Edward and Bella. Even Mia, Christian's sister, also like Alice!

What the book lacked on originality atoned on the sensation. You can't help but wish that somehow somewhere, Christian Grey has a heart. The ending of this book, my my, any reader would want to read the next immediately.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Such a timeless book. To think, it was 1993 when this book was first published, 2years before I was born! And what a sensation it has put me through!

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With Jonas as the protagonist, the story starts anticipating the month of December. In this artificial universe, every December is the birthday of every children. From the first year where they name each baby(Naming, as they call it) and hand them one by one to a Family Unit up to the age of 12-years-old where the annual recognition of growth stops, this community celebrates for two days with such glee at the Auditorium.

When Elevens turns to Twelves, each child is given their official niche in society. Jonas starts worrying what role he will get because there's none particular that he's much invested in.

The December he's been waiting for has finally arrived. Led by the lady Chief Elder, the transitions of ages went on. After Jonas' lively and animated best friend Asher received his badge as Assistan Director of Recreation and sweet and gentle Fiona(his close friend and crush) assigned as Caretaker of Old People, the Chief Elder seemed to have skipped Jonas out.

At last, after every Eleven has been called, she calls Jonas. She apologizes to the audience and Jonas and went on to explain. Jonas is The Reciever-to-be.

The Reciever's job is to keep every bit of emotion like sadness and agony so the whole community is spared of them and that when things is out-of-order, the wise Reciever is present for instant advice.

Having only one Reciever for each generation, Jonas becomes the apprentice of the current one. Their sessions began and the secret of their world he never knew was made known to him.

He started seeing colors, having intense feelings like love and pain, then he starts to wonder about the credibility of the world he's in.

Jonas was motivated to make a change and right the wrong.

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Having been published since the early 90's, I must say that after reading this one, it's still as new and original to me as any other book I've read. Sure, there are countless similarities to The Hunger Games but that book is younger and that The Giver is still the most demanding of the two.

It demanded so much from me! It made me think. What kind of world it is without hurt and sorrow? What is peace if we don't know war? And the very important one, how does ANYONE live without love?

Lois Lowry is one for the Revolutionary!

Once was Lost by Sara Zarr

This one seemed to have the same paternal character as the last one I read which was Claiming Georgia Tate. Pastors and their preaching! So many stories you could make out of them.

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Samara Taylor, a 15-year-old girl is experiencing a summer that's quite disappointing. Her father Pastor Charlie is busy with church work and her alcoholic mother Laura, is in rehab for her 4-week-program.

Sam is left to fend for herself, with her needs being neglected at home, she deals with it alone. Her situation only worsened when 13-year-old Jody Shaw, a church choir soloist and Sam's friend, went missing. Her father being the pastor has no choice but to be there for the Shaw family every step of the way. He becomes their official spokesperson.

She is left to spend most of her time with best friends Vanessa and Daniel. Eventually, when Pastor Charlie's hectic job severed, she was sent to live with Vanessa's family for a while.

Sam who got more confused and depressed develops doubt to God who she's believed in her whole life.

Will she have her faith back? What is the real intention of Nick Shaw(Jody's bro) towards her? Why is Erin, the youth group leader, so close with her father? When is her mom coming back?

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Judging on the cover, this book was really not what anyone will expect it to be. I thought it was some cutesy teenage love story with lots of kissing and whatnot. I liked this one better than the said misconception.

It's a nice story, is all I can say. There are a few unresolved situations that are very thought-provoking. Like Erin and Pastor Charlie. It makes you think about it, it's annoying how much thought one can have about whatever they were. They were indefinite, it's up to the readers and their morals.

Finished this in less than 8hours and a good book will never be a waste of time.