Thursday, March 27, 2014

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern


"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, the circus of dreams, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance."


The Night Circus is a truly phenomenal book. I know you're probably thinking "Oh whatever, you say that about every book..." But I promise you that is not the case! Especially not here! I mean it when I say that this is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. The description and imagery in this story is unlike anything else I've encountered in a book, I found myself almost able to actually smell the caramel and popcorn that permeate the unique grounds of the Cirque Des Rêves. Every smell was just under my nose, every taste on the tip of my tongue, every sound just around the corner; leaving me looking up in disappointment every time I glanced outside of the pages to realize that it wasn't actually there. The dream-like quality of the circus left me in a daze that only a wonderfully crafted book can. This book was so well written, that I found myself half believing that is was one of the illustrious steps created in Marco and Celia's game, it was so well done. I simply cannot say enough good things about this book. The plot and stoy line were absolutely fantastic, and enormously intriguing. But the setting, a magical circus that travels around the world in the Victorian era, were what really pulled everything together. The characters were wonderfully created, and I really can't think of one think I would have liked to change about this book. When I turned the last page, as always with a good book, I found myself yearning for more, wanting the magic to last a little longer. It may very well be my favorite book of all time! 5 our of 5 noodles!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

     In this book, our main character Jacob grows up haring strange tales from his Grandfather. As he gets older though, he doesn't believe them anymore and thinks his grandpa was just telling stories. One day though, Jacob witnesses something very... well, peculiar. Following the aftermath of a terrible family tragedy, Jacob finds himself traveling to the tiny island of Cairnholm, where he tries to dig up as much as he can about Miss Peregrine and her orphanage, something he's only heard about in his grandfather's old stories and pictures-and something nobody else seems to know anything about. What Jacob discovers, however, is something that he never expected-something he can't tell anyone about, or risk being killed. Jacob goes on a series of peculiar adventures and little does he know that everything his grandpa told him was true- and his part in the story was more crucial than he ever knew. Following in his Gaandfather's footsteps, Jacob sets out to defend what he finds on this island-even though that means he may never return home.
      This book was very enjoyable, full of mystery and adventure! I'm definitely going to be reading the sequel, Hollow City, very soon. Even though I did like the book, I didn't love it. I felt like the main questions were answered too soon, and left  the rest of the book with little mystery, which was one of it's best qualities. That doesn't mean that I didn't like it or wouldn't recommend it! It's still a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 4 out of 5 noodles!

Top 10 Favorite or Most Influential Female Charcters

Today, there are countless female lead characters who aren't afraid to make their opinion known, be independent, and really, just be totally awesome. But not too long ago, women were silenced, degraded, and treated as a complete lower class. Take a look at JK Rowling for instance, her publisher didn't put her full name on the books because in all reality, books written by men sell better. The same happened with SE Hinton (author of The Outsiders). It's sad that this kind of thing still happens today, where women are seen as inferior, even when it comes to writing a book. Today I'd like to take this post and show 10 female characters who, no matter the circumstances, didn't just sit down and let life happen to them! They made a difference!

1. Hermione Granger- Harry Potter Series
Hermione was a character we all grew to love when reading Harry Potter. She was often deemed as the Cleverest Witch of her age. Hermione was exactly the strong female lead this series needed. She was the brains of the trio, and got them out of countless sticky situations. She was also enormously brave. Without her, who knows where Harry and Ron would've been?

2. Katniss Everdeen- Hunger Games Series
Ah, Katniss. She's as tough, strong willed, and brave as can be. She brought an entire government down! One of her best qualities though, was that she wasn't afraid of being independent. She could fend for herself, and survive, and take care of the people she loved. She didn't need to be under the government's wing to do any of that, she let people know how oppressive they really were and helped take them down!

3.Tris Prior- Divergent Series
Or should we call her Beatrice? Tris was a very powerful character. She wouldn't take no for an answer, and did whatever it took to prove that she wasn't some insignificant little girl. She was brave. and she fought for her cause. She wasn't going to let some government people try and kill people like her just because they're different!

4. Hazel Grace Lancaster- The Fault in Our Stars
Hazel was one of the strongest characters I've ever read. Her battle with cancer was definitely a hard one, and she wanted to keep the number of people she hurt when she eventually died to the smallest number possible. Most people want to leave a mark when they die; to have something to be remembered for, but not Hazel. She viewed herself as a grenade. And the fewer casualties she could cause, the better, in her opinion. She was wise beyond her years. And she loved more powerfully than most people twice her age.

5. Jane Eyre-Jane Eyre
Jane is an intelligent, honest, and plain featured girl, forced to cope with oppression and inequality. She wasn't afraid however, to make her stance known. She never failed to assert her values, no matter how ridiculed she was because of them; because she was  a woman. She possessed a strong belief in gender equality that challenged the beliefs of her time greatly, but she never faltered.

6. Maximum Ride- Maximum Ride Series
 
 
Max is just one of those kick-butt, I'm not afraid to punch you in the face, save the world kinda people. A superhero essentially! She always did whatever it took to protect her flock, and would beat up anybody she needed to to be able to do that. She didn't let anything -or anyone- get in her way.

7. Scout Finch- To Kill a Mockingbird
 
Scout was very intelligent for her age, and even though it went against all the customs of the time, she was a tomboy. She wasn't about to be shoved into a dress and made to look like a proper "lady". She could be whoever she wanted! Her views on people are tested, but she is always able to appreciate human goodness, a quality we all should have.

8. Liesel Mimenger- The Book Thief
Liesel resisted during a crucial part in our history- the Holocaust. Hiding a Jew in her basement, was one of the highest forms of treason. Yet she learned to love this Jew, and knew that the beliefs of her people were wrong. She also stole books. She obtained illegal knowledge, and lived for it. No matter the cost. She knew what was important, and what was right.

9. Celia Bowen- The Night Circus
Celia, a powerful illusionist, was burdened with a sad fate as a child, that she had no choice in. She as to be in a sort of contest until one or the other won. But she came to fall in love with her competitor. Against all odds, she found a way to trick her fate, and live her life away from it. All because of love.

10. Astrid- Gone Series
Astrid was much like Hermione, in that she really was the brains of the organization. She saved countless lives in the horrible anomaly that was the FAYZ. She knew the power of sacrifice, love, and knowledge, and used it consistently.





All these ladies have many redeeming qualities that we could all do well to learn from! Throughout the years, countless women have made a difference in this world that we can never forget. No woman deserves to be shunted to the side simply because she is a woman! We all have the power to make something of ourselves in this life. It all depends on how we use it!

Friday, March 21, 2014

Top 5 Favorite Middle Grade Books

We all have books that we loved as kids, and can't help but pick back up time and time again, if not just for nostalgia's sake. These are books that stuck with us and wethered the test of time, whose stories we just can't seem to forget. Books that we know we'll pass down to our own future kids, in hopes that they will love them just as much as we did. So without further ado, here are my favorites!

1) the Harry Potter Series- these books are timeless and I look forward to seeing my kids grow up with Harry Potter, just as so many of us did. I have reread these books countless times and they just never get old!
2) The Phantom Tollbooth- my 6th grade teacher told us we were going to love this book, and that when we got older, we would still love it. I thought she was just weird, but she was completely right! This book is silly, and imaginative, and very creative!
3) Bud not Buddy- this was one of my absolute favorite books as a kid. and I believe the first book I ever reread! It's a touching story, and I'll always love it.
4) So B. It- this one was a bit more mature than say, the phantom tollbooth, but I loved it, and it definitely influenced my reading choices when I was younger!
5) To Kill A Mockingbird- most people wouldn't say that this is a middle grade book, having read it in high school myself, but I think this would be a great book for kids to read, to get a better look at our history!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

My To-Be-Read list!

Over the past few months, I have let my list of books I want to read get waaaay too long. It's quite the lengthy list! Last time I checked, there were about 56 books... I'm definitely going to have to catch up on that! Here are a few books that are at the top of my list, and I can't wait to get my hands on them!      
 Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
More Than This by Patrick Ness
Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Legend by Marie Lu
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith
It by Stephen King
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Holes by Louis Sachar
        
So there's just a few of the many many books I'm looking forward to reading soon! Let me know in the comments if you've read any of these, and what you think!

xoxo
Carley

Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak


"It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still."

    Written from the point of view of Death himself, The Book Thief is definitely an intriguing read. The book mainly follows the young Liesel Meminger, who came to live with the Hubermann's- her foster family, when she was nine years old. As she grows, Liesel develops a passion for words. As someone who doesn't know how to read or write much at all, she is grasping at every chance she sees to expand her knowledge and get her hands on a book- even if that means stealing.
    Times were hard. And with her German "Papa" not being a member of the Nazi party, it became increasingly difficult to find work. Things took an even more interesting turn when Max Vadenburg showed up on the Hubermann's doorstep... He was a Jew. And the Hubermann's were going to hide him.
    This intriguing story is made even more captivating by being told from the omnipresent point of view of Death himself. And during World War II, Death was everywhere. He came across the the tale of Liesel Meminger one day, when he picked up the Book Thief's most prized possession- her own story, that she kept in a journal. The Book Thief is Death's own retelling of Liesel's adventure through life, with some background from Death occasionally added in.
     The Book Thief is an exceptional novel. Zusak did an incredible job developing each one of the characters, and it's really hard not to find yourself growing attached to them. With a great plot like this, it's certainly a page turner that will live on for many years in the hearts of its readers. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a "Thought-provoking, life-altering, triumphant, and tragic" read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it rightfully earned its place as one of my favorite books of all time! 5 out of 5 noodles!
 
 

 
     About the author: Markus Zusak lives in Sydney, Australia. His book was published in 2005 and has since earned copious amounts of awards. When writing The Book Thief he said that he knew the "Importance of words in that time, and what they were able to make people believe and do." The Book Thief is a New York Times #1 Bestseller, a USA Today Bestseller, and a winner of the Michael L. Printz Honor Book award, among many others.

Author- Markus Zusak
Publisher- Knopf
Publishing date- 2005
 
 

Welcome!

Hello Lovely Readers!
Welcome to my new blog, Noodles and Novels! This blog is all about books. Book reviews, recommendations, favorites, and so much more!
     Now, a little about me. My name is Carley Davis. I'm 17 years old, and have been an avid reader ever since I was a little kid. I am a die hard Harry Potter enthusiast, and can be seen with my nose in a book at pretty much any point in time. I'm a lover of al things geeky, nerdy, you name it. I rarely meet a book I don't like, and I love every chance I get to crack open a new one. Also, I love noodles. noodles are THE BEST. Hence the name of this blog, Noodles and Novels. The two best things in the world!
     I look forward to writing on this blog and getting to share my thoughts on some awesome books with you all! I hope you enjoy!
-Carley
xoxo

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