Ashfall - Mike Mullin

Title: Ashfall
Author: Mike Mullin
Pages: 466 (ARC copy)
Genre: Young Adult/Post-Apocalyptic
Publication Date: 10/11/2011

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget. (Goodreads)

There is a dormant (though capable of awakening) super-volcano lying underneath Yellowstone (which this is actually true). If that fact right is not enough to put some fear in you, I don't know what will. This novel was terrifying, gripping, and I couldn't put it down for anything (okay, I had to for work but that is irrelevant here). I will say now that although this is put into the genre of young adult fiction, I think it should be geared more toward older teens and adults due to the nature in some parts, i.e. some of the descriptions of violence, some sexual nature (although generally a fade to black type situation, but either way...), etc.

Alex is a fifteen year old boy who, until the Friday his parents and sister leave to visit family in Illinois, has lead a pretty normal life. After his parents leave, all heck breaks loose -- a super-volcano heck that is. In this novel, we follow Alex in the search for his parents after the eruption of the super-volcano that rests underneath Yellowstone, causing a cataclysmic reaction; ash, lightning, rains, volcanic winter, deafening thunders lasting for hours. Along the way, Alex runs into some of the more hospitable people in the world -- and unfortunately some of the nastier specimens we still label as human. Luckily for him he meets Darla. I loved Darla. She was sarcastic, witty, but still had a good heart underneath her tough exterior. Alex really was a typical teen boy, but through the chaos we see him grow and mature in a lot of ways, if not wholly. Even with it being written from his perspective, I still feel like it had a more adult tone.

All in all, I would recommend this, even if bits were disturbing and violent. If you think about it, this probably is pretty realistic for a situation this extreme. However, I still would not recommend for younger readers (under 16/17).




What I give this book:

P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern

"A novel about holding on, letting go, and learning to love again.

Now in paperback, the endearing novel that captured readers' hearts and introduced a fresh new voice in women's fiction — Cecelia Ahern.

Holly couldn't live without her husband Gerry, until the day she had to. They were the kind of young couple who could finish each other's sentences. When Gerry succumbs to a terminal illness and dies, 30-year-old Holly is set adrift, unable to pick up the pieces. But with the help of a series of letters her husband left her before he died and a little nudging from an eccentric assortment of family and friends, she learns to laugh, overcome her fears, and discover a world she never knew existed." (barnesandnoble.com)

I'm not even sure where to begin with this novel. I laughed, I teared up, and it made me think deeply about my own husband and what I would ever do without him here with me. Ms. Ahern wrote this beautifully. It follows Holly through the months after her husband's death and tells us of how she survives without him. Sometimes she is barely living and other times she manages to pretend to live. It is an amazing journey she takes us on as she learns to live without her other half.

Most of the time when I really enjoy a book, I like to zip through it, and while I was hoping to have finished it sooner, I felt more satisfied with it, even though it took me longer. Maybe this is the kind of book that needs to be taken in slowly. It is full of such strong emotions and truly grabs at your heart.

I felt as though I was in her shoes while I was reading. I could never imagine having lost someone, whether I had been with them for one year or one hundred.

For those of you (who like myself) have seen the movie, it is a bit different. For one, it does have some Irish style speaking in it, as Ms. Ahern is Irish and it takes place in Ireland, but it did not cause me to enjoy it any less. They both have still successfully caused me to become emotional though. ;)

Now, with that being said, I would definitely recommend this fantastic novel!

What I give this book:


Off to find something to read next. :)

Undead and Unwed - MaryJanice Davidson

"First Betsy Taylor loses her job, then she's killed in a car accident. But what really bites is that she can't seem to stay dead. And now her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious power-hungry vampire in five centuries." (barnesandnoble.com)

First and foremost, this book had me laughing out loud - frequently and a few times to the point it hurt! This is the funniest book in chick lit I have yet to read. Needless to say, I was stoked when I realized it had several sequels.

The story follows Betsy, who starts out having this horrific day, only to die and come back. While having a bit of a vain designer shoe obsession, she is a very funny and likeable character. The only complaint I have is that the romance aspect took a bit longer to play out than I would have liked, but in all honesty, it is only because I am a sucker for love and romance.

I would definitely recommend this book, and have gotten my sister in law hooked on it as well. ;)

What I give this book:

Insatiable - Meg Cabot

So, it is now 2:38 a.m. About five minutes ago I finished Meg Cabot's book, Insatiable. I decided to start with this one first, why I don't know, but either way I started it yesterday. Okay, technically I started it Monday, but same difference right? ;) So, now to the good stuff...


"Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them.

Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.)

But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future…

If she even has one." (barnesandnoble.com)

I loved every bit of this story! It was romantic, funny, and dramatic. Meg wrote this wonderfully. Meena is quite a character (as is the rest). She is sharp-witted, funny, and charming. The only drawback was the ending, naturally. I won't give it away (the ending), but I am definitely excited for this summer! There will be a sequel!!! It wasn't so much a cliff hanger ending, but to me, not what you would expect.

What I give this book:


Tomorrow I will be starting the next book, though I am unsure of which one at this time. :)