Book Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

Title: The Elite (The Selection #2)
Author: Kiera Cass
Published: April 23, 2013 by HarperTeen
Format: Paperback, 323 pgs.
Age Group: YA
Genre: Romance, Dystopia

Description:

The Selection began with thirty-five girls. Now, with the group narrowed down to the Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever--and America is still struggling to decide where her own heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen, who she always thought was the one?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want--and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

Review: 

A romance that's equally thrilling and heart-wrenching, Kiera Cass delivers a fabulous sequel, with all the glamour of the first book and more ruin and war that develop the world America calls home.

Following the announcement of the six Elite, America feels more doubt than ever, and not just about where her heart lies; she begins to lose sight of herself as well. Torn between the familiarity and comfort that is Aspen and the passion she has for Maxon, America walks the line between them, constantly back and forth in her affections and decisions. But her heart isn't the only thing at risk, and America has seriously begun to question her ability and desire to run a country. Does she have the strength to do what others cannot? To stand up against the injustices of her world? Does she even want to?

This book gave me more than I hoped for, appealing to the nerd in me by delving into the country's history and unraveling the mystery of its birth. Also held within these pages: secrets about Maxon's family and past that give insight into his character and actions. I fell more in love with these people with every page I turned, grew more annoyed with America's indecisiveness, and questioned everyone's motives until I reached the end. Now I have entirely new questions, and I want more, more, more. Cass has a way of turning something as simple and ridiculous as a public mating ritual into a tale of social unrest and upheaval with danger, intrigue, and mystery. And let's not forget the cat fights and the dresses and the prince and the kissing. I could use more of the kissing (which, if the preview at the end was any indication, book three holds even more of!).

Most sequels have a tendency to fall flat or over reach, but this one doesn't disappoint in the slightest. Even if you're not a romance fan, the world building alone is enough to keep you reading. Once again, I highly recommend this series.

Buy It Now:

Amazon. B&N.com. Book Depository. IndieBound.

Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Published: March 26,2013; Paperback; 327 pgs.
Age Group: YA
Genre: Romance, Dystopia

Description:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.


Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review: 

Not your usual Bachelor setup, but a fun read just the same.

Kiera Cass has created something unique that sits somewhere between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor, featuring characters who are easy to connect with and a world that's not far off from our own media-obsessed culture. While this ins't something I'd normally pick up, I was intrigued by the idea of a girl being forced to participate in a competition to be queen of a country built on the caste system, a system which has done nothing but make every day of her life a struggle.

America is a pretty, talented girl, but it's easy to forgive her for being so much better at life than the rest of us at that age (or even now) because she's human too. She's passionate and stubborn and, now that I'm thinking about it, reminds me a lot of Elizabeth Bennet, always fighting someone or something, even if it's herself. It's easy to relate to her and her struggles, whether that's butting heads with her mother, grieving over lost love, or suffocating under social pressures; you just want the girl to catch a break.

The world in which America lives is possibly even more fascinating than the characters themselves, having been built out of the ashes of the United States after the Fourth World War. With little left of their country and their livelihoods, the people created a monarchy and divided the classes into nearly impossible to break castes. The only perk being The Selection, a contest started by lottery to pick the Prince's bride from among the commoners, which serves to remind them all of their history and rise from ruin.

I was sucked in by Cass's writing and America's magnetic personality and read the entire book in one sitting. Honestly, I've been pitching this story to my friends since I finished it, regardless of their tastes, because of how easy it is to fall into it. Once I reached the end, although it's pretty obvious we expect America to make it through the contest, I needed to know what would happen next, who she would choose to be with, what she would do about the world around her. I highly recommend this to anyone remotely interested in romance, reality television, dytopian worlds, or realistic fiction.

Buy It Now:

Amazon. B&N.com. Book Depository. IndieBound.

Dreaming and Brainstorming: The Plan

I mentioned before that since my passion for teaching isn't enough to keep me in the classroom I wanted to open the bookstore I've been dreaming about for years. Now I want to start making it a reality.

The idea is to sell only book related things in my bookstore, featuring local artists and crafters while keeping everything focused on the books themselves; this means any shirts or jewelry or art sold in my store would be inspired by or feature something from a book (quotes, characters, colors, themes, etc.). This plan also allows me to pursue another dream of mine: selling my own crafts. While I could wait until I have the money (if I ever do) to open the shop, I've come to the conclusion that I should open an Etsy shop instead (something I've been thinking about for a while now) to sell the types of book-ish crafts that I would want in my bookstore; the profits of said Etsy shop would hopefully help fund my someday bookstore.

At the moment I'm still toying with what I have the time, energy, and funds to do, but I love the idea of making blech-design t-shirts with pictures and quotes on them. I also want to make plushes/pillows, only I'm not entirely sure I can pull those off right now. Making bookmarks and cards is another idea I'm tossing around, as are cross stitching and re-printing book pages with quotes and images for framed wall-art.

As I said, the goal is to sell these items for a profit to go towards opening the bookstore then to stock them in the physical store as well along with items of other local artists and crafters (because crafty people flock together).

As for the store itself, ideally it'll be a place that celebrates creativity and will provide a space for open mic nights and readings and the like as well as a place for students and academics to research and study and for the general public to simply come in and enjoy a good book. I want to carry books I believe in, from graphic novels and youth fiction to plays and the classics, and I want to create a space where people feel free to geek out, get creative, buckle down and study, or just relax. A place that celebrates and encourages the creation, study, and enjoyment of art.

Thoughts, comments, questions? What say you? Do  you think Russellville would benefit from a place like this? Or do you think I'm just out of my mind? Either way, I'd like to know what you're thinking.