BOOK REVIEWS (updated 12/09/2009)

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games) - Suzanne Collins                               Reserve this book

 If I was to be deserted on an uninhabited island with only two books. The Hunger Games and its sequel would definitely be my picks. Although the concept of twenty-four 12-18-year-olds being thrown together into an arena, killing each other to win the Games is a sticky thought, the result is absolutely thrilling. There is something for everyone in both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire: obviously there's action but you can also find star-crossed lovers, betrayal, mourning and friendship throughout both novels. I would definitely recommend The Hunger Games and its sequel to anyone. 

 Adored (The It Girl) - Cecily von Ziegesar                                                    Reserve this book

The eighth book in the It Girl series, Adored continues to indulge us in the lives of glamourous youth attending prestigious boarding schools. The It Girl novels follow where Jenny Humphrey (from Gossip Girl) went after leaving New York. At Waverly Academy, the drama, secrecy and gossip continue to follow Jenny. In Adored, choosing who to impress becomes important in the lives of not just Jenny but her friends as well. If you are a fan of Gossip Girl, The A-List or My Secret Hollywood Life, you are bound to enjoy this series.

Saving Juliet - Suzanne Selfors                                                                 Reserve this book

Suzanne Selfors' novel is definitely a fun book. A new take on Shakespeare's famous play, Saving Juliet tells how the tragedy at the end of the play could have been avoided. When the two main characters are magically thrown into the play as it was being written, they find they have the power to save Juliet from death. Easy to read and understand, Saving Juilet is a book most Shakespeare lovers should read.

Wish you were here - Catherine Clark                                                   Reserve this book

Written about a potentially horrific summer vacation, Wish You Were Here tells the story of Ariel and her summer on a bus tour with her family and a large group of seniors. When Andre, another teenager, boards the bus with his mother, Ariel decides there is hope for her summer after all. This novel is a great summer read, but happens to be fun to read throughout the year.

Audrey, wait! - Robin Benway                                                                 Reserve this book

Have you ever wondered who a singer may be thinking about in one of their songs? Have you ever wanted to know who Delilah was and how New York City was treating her? In Audrey, Wait!, that curiosity is piqued yet again. Audrey, upon breaking up with her self-involved boyfriend Evan, discovers that he has written a song about her and their break-up. The song quickly becomes a chart-topper and The Do-Gooders, Evan's band, becomes famous while Audrey becomes infamous and must continuously escape from various hordes of paparazzi and girls from her school

 Pop - Gordon Korman                                                                                 Reserve this book

When first picking up Pop, I thought it was just the latest book by my favourite author. My opinion of Pop changed quickly within the first chapter of the book. Pop tells the story of a teenager who just moved to a new town who meets a former NFL quarterback. Little does Marcus know, the former superstar athlete has an underlying issue that his family is trying very hard to hide. Pop is probably one of Gordon Korman's most intriguing books, featuring an incredibly touching storyline with Korman's traditional humour. If you love football, Gordon Korman or both, Pop is definitely the book for you

The Notebook - DVD movie based on the book by Nicholas Sparks       Reserve this movie or book

The Notebook is a story of boy meets girl. The boy - at first glance comes off as anything but charming and witty. The girl - beautiful, from the city, and very-well off. Its your typical love, loss and redemption story. It has been called "predictable" and "sappy" - two words used for cheesy chick flicks, and being a cheesy chick flick, it doesn't take much to figure out how the story plays out.

And that's the thing - it's a perfect story. There's a beginning, middle and end. You don't have to guess what happens at the in between moments, it's epically well-defined.

Allie Hamilton, (the sheltered Southern Belle, played by Rachel McAdams) visiting Seabrook, North Carolina to see her family. During her visit she meets Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) who uses his 'small town boy' act to charm her.  Despite disparate backgrounds, the two find they have a ton in common. The days of the hot North Carolina summer pass by all too quickly, but during the time they had together, Allie and Noah fall madly & passionately in love.

It would be an understatement to say things didn't go smoothly for the two. Allie's mother disapproved from the start; and broke it off by sending Allie off to school. Noah was so desperate for her, he persistently wrote letters for one whole year. And waited another six. 
After all his waiting, Allie returns to Seabrook, with a choice to make. She has to choose between her wealthy fiancée (James Marsden) and her first love, the not-so-wealthy but oh-so-loveable Noah.

Each of these actors plays their part to perfection. We've all seen these kinds of characters before, but these actors make them seem unique and utterly incomparable.

"The Notebook" isn't just another cheesy chick flick. It's a movie for anyone who wants to get lost in a beautiful story.