The Book Fancier

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

Author: Koushun Takami
Published November 17th 2009 by VIZ Media, LLC (first published February 26th 2003)
576 pages
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

In an alternative future Japan, junior high students are forced to fight to the death!

Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller is based on an irresistible premise: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan -- where it then proceeded to become a runaway bestseller.

Review:

I first heard about Battle Royale when I recommended The Hunger Games to a friend. They said The Hunger Games is a rip-off of Battle Royale. I totally disagree with that! I think the only similarity is that teenagers kill each other and the one who will survive will become the winner. That's it! Okay, I don't mean to compare the two but these days when you talk about The Hunger Games, Battle Royale will be mentioned.

I didn't expect that I will like Battle Royale very much. Although there are lots of gore and violence (so warning! This book is not for the faint-hearted), the novel still able to dwell deeper on the story of the major characters and their effects on the novel as a whole. I salute the author for bravely telling us of a story like this. The book is not all about killing but more on how people naturally react when in danger or there are threats, and how one can trust other people to survive. Also, it tells how a certain kind of government, such as the Republic of Greater East Asia in the book, can affect people's lives and how they make decisions in their lives.

Battle Royale is such a thrilling read! I recommend this book to those who want to read a darker and bolder book about teens killing each other, a cruel government, and how to survive the inevitable.

P.S.

I don't want to compare the two books like the others because just like what Mr. Takami said, "every novel has something to offer," and that if "readers find value in either book, that's all an author can ask for." And I love both books! :)

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Still Reading!

I feel so sad when I had to abandon this book blog (yes literally!) because my internet connection got disconnected because of billing issues. I paid my bill but it was already past cut off. But still, they shouldn't have disconnected it. They didn't even give me any notice! Okay enough of the rant. My internet connection is back and I'm pretty excited to post stuff here especially reviews. Although I've been away from this blog for a few months, I still continue reading. I just couldn't post reviews anymore.

Well, this year I already read 29 out of the 75 books I'm targeting.

Right 29 books, except for the last one from Meg Cabot which I finished at the end of 2011. I'm really excited to post book reviews but I wouldn't be able to post reviews of the 29 books! I'll just choose those I think will be worth to review! So watch out for my reviews of Battle Royale and The Immortal Rules. :)

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Quote... Unquote - Ink Exchange

"Sometimes love means letting go when you want to hold on tighter"

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

Breaking Dawn Part 1 Full Trailer Official 2011

Just wanna share Breaking Dawn Part 1 Official Full Trailer! So gonna watch the movie whatever the haters say. lol Based on the trailer, looks like the last two movies would be better than the previous ones. Well, let's also see if the movie turns out to be better than the book! Here's the trailer! Enjoy :)

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely #2)

Author: Melissa Marr
Published May 1st 2008 by HarperTeen
325 pages
Series: Wicked Lovely
Rating: ♥ ♥

Summary:

Seventeen-year old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their shadowy power struggles. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changes - not the kind that Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that bind Leslie to Irial, a dark and dangerous faery king fighting for the soul of his court. Slowly, Leslie is drawn deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures and helpless to withstand its perils...

Review:

Love the cover! Well, only the cover. I read this book, I think for two weeks because I didn't really enjoy it. The first one is better.

Ink Exchange is about Leslie who has a hard life ever since her mother left. With an addict brother and a drunk father, she struggles everyday and works hard to pay their bills and to earn to get the tattoo she wanted. She believes that tattoo will probably change her. Little does she know, that it will change more than she expected it will.

I really had a hard time getting into this book. I like the concept though. A girl struggling and getting a tattoo. The concept of how getting a tattoo can change someone is interesting but how the author narrated the story, it isn't at all! Some events are not relevant to the story and will just keep readers more confused. Although the series is about faeries, this book doesn't really give more information about them. I think it's more of a companion novel than a sequel. Also, I don't like the author's writing style.

I think the series has potential but I think Ink Exchange is not a really good sequel for the first book. I'm not sure if I'll continue to read the next books in the series.

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

What I'm Reading Now: Stargazer by Claudia Gray

I couldn't find any book trailer for Stargazer. Just finished the first book Evernight and will post the review soon! Meanwhile, watch this fanmade trailer of Evernight!

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Book HeART ♥ #17 - Quilled Book Pages

It's been a while! I haven't posted much here because I'm so busy. But of course, I always read whenever I have the time. Now let me share this lovely book art by Bronia Sawyer.