On My Wishlist (44)

Back from hiatus! In On My Wishlist I spotlight books that I'm really looking forward to. I know there's a meme Waiting on Wednesday and there even are others, but I'm going to rebel and do it how I want it (hehe). I'll feature the synopsis as posted on Goodreads and put a linkie to the Goodreads page of the book. This week: Black Out by Robison Wells.

Black Out by Robison Wells
Expected publication date: October 1st, 2013

Synopsis
Laura and Alec are trained terrorists.

Jack and Aubrey are high school students.

There was no reason for them to ever meet.

But now, a mysterious virus is spreading throughout America, infecting teenagers with impossible powers. And these four are about to find their lives intertwined in a complex web of deception, loyalty, and catastrophic danger—where one wrong choice could trigger an explosion that ends it all.

Goodreads page

YES! After the disappointment of discovering there wouldn't be a third Variant book (WHY THE HELL NOT?!) I must admit that I did a little happy dance when I came across this pretty baby that will be coming out later this year. It'll be one hell of a wait, but I'm sure it will be worth it. Robison Wells has the ability to suck you into his story and throw plot twists your way when you least expect it. I've read a lot of books, but both Variant and Feedback managed to surprise me. I love it when authors are able to do that. Black Out sounds like a fantastic story and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy!

Review: The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
Published: April 29th, 2008 (Feiwel and Friends)
Pages: 248
Source: Bought
Series: The Compound, #1
Buy the book: Bookdepository
Rating: ★★☆☆☆


Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy.

For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day.

As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their sanity—Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside.

Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—or sorry?

I think I had The Compound on my shelves for nearly 2 years. The synopsis intrigued me, but somehow the book didn’t appeal to me when it was on my shelves. I picked it up on a whim, and to be honest, my initial instinct was right; this book wasn’t all that. At all.

While it’s an easy and quick read (I read it in one sitting), the plot is paper thin at best. I loved the idea for a compound to use for shelter, but when the story continued I couldn’t follow the motives for certain characters anymore. It just didn’t make any sense. I wish I could voice my questions here, but since it would completely spoil the story to even mention something, I will refrain from doing so. Just take my word for it when I tell you the motivation is completely lacking in terms reasons to do things in that compound. It was driving me crazy.

The characters are dull, flat, naive and annoying. I just.. ugh. They just didn't come alive or develop at all during the story. While I can understand that one would be a bit washed out after being in a compound without sun for six years, it wasn't at all interesting for the reader to follow Eli and his family.

To be honest, the more I think about it, the more frustrated I get with this book. It holds so much promise when you read the back of the book and when you start reading it. But when you are really reading it, you start to think the author had a great idea, started working with it and then something happened that made the whole story collapse like a house of cards. It just feels to me that certain things weren't thought out while writing them and that just angered me. Why? I really don't understand.. And now I found out it's getting a sequel. Again, why? This first book was more than enough in my opinion.

I wouldn't recommend this book.

Gearing up..

Gearing up towards a normal blogging schedule! I've been making lists again, which, for me, is a sign that I'm getting back into the swing of things. I've started writing reviews for the books that I read in the past couple of months so those should be going up somewhere in the next couple of weeks. Just a warning though: they might be crappy. Correction; I know they will be crappy, at least slightly, because I read those books so long ago. But I have notes and I will conquer! Huzzah!

Small home-y update; they replaced the window in the library so I'm starting the work on the library today! I'll be prepping the woodworks for painting, which I will hopefully be doing in the weekend, so I can start painting the walls next weekend. I'm expecting a little delay in that though, because it's so much work, but it should be done around May 1st and then it's only two more weeks until my shelves arrive! Sweet! Exclamation points!

For those of you interested in it, this will be the color on at least two of the three walls (one wall is almost entirely windows):

I'm still thinking on the color for the third wall.. That'll be the wall where the low shelves will be, possibly with images/paintings/something like that on the wall. I love this color, but it might be a bit much for all the walls. Any thoughts? :)

Oh and before I forget, because I know some of you want to know, these will be my new bookshelves:

Two walls lined with these and one wall with lower ones. I can't wait to have real shelves!

Anyhoo, I'm looking forward to getting back into things! I've started reading blogs again as well, so I'm a bit more up to date with the books coming out. Man, I feel rusty... xD