Matched by Ally Condie

TITLE:  Matched
AUTHOR:  Condie, Ally
GENRE:  Fiction/Fantasy
MY RATING:  4/5
DATE FINISHED: 11/28/2011

I've been wanting to pick up this story for the longest time (it has a great cover!), and I've also heard some wonderful things from my friends.  And this year, for our anniversary, my boyfriend of 4 years took me to B&N and said I could pick any book I wanted!!!  Talk about a keeper!  Not to mention a splurge on my favorite coffee and the cutest coffee mug to keep it in...  :-D

After plenty of hard work and turmoil, I have finally completed this book.   It wasn't hard to get through or anything, I've just been crazy busy!  If I really put my nose to the pages (as I should) I probably would have finished it within a day or two.  However, I've been knitting like crazy so it's been hard to find the time.

Now, down to business.  This book was extremely interesting.  For those of you who've read The Giver by Lois Lowry, it's kind of similar (except with a love triangle thrown in).  I must say, I agree with all of the reviews and give this book a solid 4/5.  I may have dropped it down to a 3.5 for predictability, but the characters and the setting were fabulous.  I've decided to pick up the recently released sequel, Crossed, as my next book of choice.  Pick up the first one, and let others know what you think.

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Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

TITLE:  Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
AUTHOR:  Maguire, Gregory
GENRE:  Fiction/Fantasy
MY RATING:  4/5
DATE FINISHED: 11/12/2011

This book was lovely.  If you like fairy tales (or stories that turn fairy tales upside-down) then this book (or any of Gregory Maguire's books) are for you!  I loved the way this story unfolded and became a brand new version of Cinderella.


The constant mentions of paintings and the way painters see the world adds a fantastic parallel to the story.  Please pick this book up.  It's charming!

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Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

TITLE:  Neverwhere
AUTHOR:  Gaiman, Neil
GENRE:  Fiction/Fantasy
MY RATING:  4/5
DATE FINISHED: 11/2/2011

So, I finally got power back!  It's been a little rough, but now I can blog about the book I've finished and the book I started.  I recently finished Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (by the light of a candle!), and I have to say it was way better than anticipated.

When I started it, it seemed to be dragging its feet a little bit.  But once I got into the thick of the story, it flew right by.  The setting of the London underworld is spectacular, and its characters are extremely different and entertaining.  This is a gem within the fantasy genre.

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