Hiatus

If my lack of recent updates wasn't obvious enough:
I'll be taking a hiatus for a few weeks, as I'm going through some intense exams and final school projects.
I have a stack of about 20 books I have to read and review, so there's something to look forward to after!

I hope to come back with a bit more time on my hands to make this a better blog.
Thank you!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want To See Become Movies

 Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish .

1. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray : I was so disappointed when production on this was dropped.

2. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford : WWII Romeo and Juliet with Asian Americans - heart-wrenchingly good. It would probably be one of those movies you'd need to have a box of tissues with you to get through.

3. Goose Girl by Shannon Hale : This has been one of my favorite books for years and I feel like it's been forever since a fairytale-esque movie without dark/supernatural undertones was made.

4. Gone by Michael Grant : Do I even have to explain why this would be an awesome movie? No adults, kids with powers, action and suspense, survival?

5. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer : Another great series that has been around for a long time, and has the potential to be a great set of fantasy/suspense movies.

6. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin : I could see this as a heartwarming indie flick.

7. White Cat by Holly Black : I'd love to see Black's world of magic mixed with mafia on screen

8. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare : City of Bones is going to be a movie, but I'd be really interested in a Clockwork Angel film. A steam-punk, demon-killing action combination set in Victorian London. It just sounds like a great movie premise. 

9. Maximum Ride by James Patterson : A family of mutant flying children on the run? Sarcastic, witty dialogue and interactions? Yes!

10. Catching Fire/Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins : I know I'm slightly cheating with this one, since The Hunger Games is in production, and the rest of the trilogy will most likely follow. But... :] I'm still a bit wary of the casting choices so far, but I'll have to wait til I see the actual movie (or even the trailer).

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels
By Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Date Published: April 5, 2011
Pages: 424
Rating:

     City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

      The entire Mortal Instruments gang is back in the newest installment. Going into City of Fallen Angels, I was a bit wary because I feel that this series concluded perfectly at City of Glass, which tied up the entire story pretty well. After finishing the fourth novel, I still stand by the fact that Clare could have left this as a trilogy, but I won't complain too much because I really did miss all of Jace's snarky comments, which never cease to entertain me.

     Along with Jace, all my favorite elements in TMI were back: the humor, Shadowhunter action, a lot of romance, and some unpredictable plot twists. I admit that the story began quite slowly, and I felt myself slipping because it had been so long (a couple years?) since the last book came out and I found that I had to reacquaint myself with the entire world. But the new plot eventually reeled me in. But I continued to feel that City of Fallen Angels dragged in a lot of places, which I don't remember feeling with the rest of the series (as stated before, this could just be because I haven't read Clare's writing in a while). Even all of Clary and Jace's romance scenes seemed to drag; I miss that old quick bantering they had before. 

   City of Fallen Angels did hook me however, and made me realize that I'm not too tired of The Mortal Instruments- yet. I should be on board for the next two books in the series. I did really appreciate how Clare tried to bridge the gap between her new prequel series, The Infernal Devices, and The Mortal Instruments, with some revelations and references in this book; The next couple of years are dotted with releases from both series, which may make everything quite confusing. Honestly, I think I'm a bit more invested in seeing where The Infernal Devices will go now. TMI will always hold a special place on my bookshelf, but it really could have ended at number 3.

   But really, the ending of City of Fallen Angels?? What's going to happen now?

News: Peeta and Gale Finally Cast

Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are Alright) has been cast as Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) has been cast as Gale Hawthorne in Lionsgate's upcoming production of The Hunger Games. Both will star alongside Jennifer Lawrence, who was cast as Katniss last month.

The film is looking at a March 23, 2012 release date.

I'm not thrilled about these choices; I was pulling for Hunter Parrish as Peeta. But I'm glad that Hutcherson has proven himself to be a fairly decent actor in the past; Hemsworth, not so much. I suppose we'll have to wait and see though. 

Source

News: April 5 Releases

April 5 is looking like a big day in the YA lit world. I'm especially excited to get my hands on :

City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare
I've been a fan of The Mortal Instruments for a while now and was excited when Clare announced that she would be extending the series by three books. I'm a little wary of how she'll be building on the original trilogy, but I guess I'll have to wait come Tuesday.

 



Red Glove (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black
I just recently read and reviewed White Cat, the first in Black's Curse Workers trilogy and after that cruel cliffhanger, I'm excited to pick up the next one.




 
Plague (Gone #4) by Michael Grant
I still need to read #2 and #3 in the Gone series, so I wont' be reading the newest installment quite so soon but I loved Gone!