Love & Choices ♥ A Memorable Monday Post

Memorable Monday is a meme hosted by Escape in a Good Book. I'm excited to join in on this one because I love quotes, which was the driving force behind the creation of Memorable Mondays. I thank the ladies at Escape in a Good Book.

So... how do you participate? It's simple ~

1) Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.

2) Come back here and leave the link to your post in the comment box below. If you don't have a blog, I'd still love to hear read your quote. Leave it in the comment box instead of a link to a non-existent blog. :)

3) Visit other participants if you have time. It's always nice to have visitors. There's no overstaying your welcome this way, and they don't have to offer the obligatory drinks. Or clean.

4) If you tweet your posts, feel free to use the hashtag #MemorableMonday.

This week's choice(s):

“I fell in love with him. But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me.”  


“I belong to the people I love, and they belong to me--they, and the love and loyalty I give them, form my identity far more than any word or group ever could.” 

~Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth {A Review}

Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #3
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication Date: October 22, 2013
Source: Bought
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5 Stars

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.
 

I really don't even know what to say at the moment. I bought this book on it's release day. Back in October. I actively avoided anything Allegiant related. I'm always nervous reading series enders... are they going to hold up? How's the author going to wrap it all up? Who will live? Die? Will I like it? So I put it off. I had heard of some angered readers, but I didn't know why, other than they weren't happy with the way Roth ended things. That made me even more nervous. And then, by complete accident one day toward the end of December, I saw one sentence... one sentence! And I knew a major plot point. I won't say what, or where it happens, but I truly was afraid it was going to ruin my book reading experience (if you've read it, I'm sure you know what that point is...). So I procrastinated even longer on reading it. It's what I do.

Then my friend read the entire series and I started getting antsy to know what she knew. I thought I would skim Divergent and Insurgent, to refresh myself, but Roth's writing and story just sucked me right in... I couldn't just skim. I read them both, in their entirety. Slowly, savoring every detail. And I enjoyed them just as much as I did the first time. So I moved onto Allegiant with high hopes. Thankfully, Veronica Roth didn't disappoint.

I was excited to get started, despite my previous apprehension. Getting back into the series by actually rereading the first two probably contributed to it. It was great to continue getting to know these characters, to feel like I was walking next to them as they learned, watched, grew, fought.

I really liked watching as Tris and Tobias grew together, apart, together, apart... like most real life relationships work. They're never easy-peasy 100% of the time. It's refreshing to see how they learn about each others faults and strengths and become better because of one another.

There was a part toward the beginning where I was a bit confused... I wasn't sure where the story would go, at all, and I was really worried it would go in a science direction that I wouldn't enjoy... thankfully, it didn't. But I think, given how much I enjoy Roth's writing, that even if it had gone all sciency, I wouldn't have minded all that much. (I'm not a science person... I don't mind some, but too much makes me breaks out in hives...)

I still haven't read much in the way of Allegiant reviews/posts/what-have-you... but I imagine there's quite a few haters, some lovers, and a lot of on-the-fencers. I'm a lover. I feel that may be a minority group to be in, but that's okay. I've been there before (with Requiem by Lauren Oliver). I think Roth took brave actions, just like her Dauntless characters. While I was an emotional mess for a while after reading, despite knowing certain things, I wouldn't have it any other way. And while I teetered between four and five stars, I finally settled on five. Overall, I enjoyed it too much.

I can't wait to read more of Veronica Roth's work, whenever she gets around to it. In the meantime...

Be Brave.

Smiles,
B

The Transfer {Review}

Title: The Transfer
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent (0.1)
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pub Date: Sept 2013
Source: Bought
Format: eBook
Rating: 5 stars

More Four! Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by "The Transfer," the first of four new short stories told from Four’s perspective. Each brief story explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, backstory, and relationships.



Mini-Rant, first...

Okay, I hate to admit this. Allegiant has been sitting on my shelf since like two days after the release date, back in October. I have been putting off reading it for varying reasons. I don't want it to be over, I'm nervous about how Roth will end things, I didn't have anyone to talk to about it (IRL)... but then, in December, I totally accidentally, after TWO MONTHS of successfully avoiding *anything* Allegiant related online, saw a spoiler. It was a complete fluke that I saw it (I was scrolling through a blog, and a sentence jumped out at me). Now I don't know the context of said spoiler, or who it truly referred to (although I have an educated guess to that), but it really pissed me off. So I put it off even longer. Then, my friend Danielle read the entire (and yes, the entire) series in less than a week. And I was SO SO SO jealous that she had finished it already and knows what happens. My other friend, Malissa, and I were supposed to read a book "together"... so I finished Mockingjay and Malissa wasn't *quite* ready to start. So I read The Transfer. And The Path to Allegiant. And Fracture Me. And then I read Fangirl because she still wasn't ready. After reading The Transfer and The Path to Allegiant, I really wanted to read Allegiant. But, Malissa was ready right before I finished Fangirl. So... yeah. Allegiant is next. I think I'm ready.

:)

As far as The Transfer goes, I really enjoyed seeing how Tobias became Four. Yeah, we got some backstory in the first two books, and we knew he wasn't treated well at all by his dad, and his mom left. But we didn't get that from his perspective. I loved seeing the story through his eyes. We get to know what he was thinking, feeling... and how he decided to make himself a stronger person - mentally and physically. I really look forward to reading the other stories Roth has written about Four.

What have you thought of Divergent and its counterparts? (No spoilers for Allegiant, please... yet... :) )?

Smiles,
B

Wishing & Waiting... ♥

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights upcoming releases we're excited about.

There are, as you know, books coming out left and right that we all want to read. One I am looking most forward to is... 

I am uber excited for this one. I'm curious to see how she ends the series. :)

~ Goodreads Description ~

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

 

Wishlist Wednesday is a meme hosted by Pen to Paper where you post a book that has been on your wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that you can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto your wonderful shelves.

What do I want to add to my shelf? So many choices. This time, I'll go with...

 

 I *loved* this book and yet I don't own it. I want to own it, which makes me sad. I want to live in it again, and again, and again. :)

~ Goodreads Description ~

 Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

 

What books are you wishing and waiting for? 

Smiles,

B