Wither is the first book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy. Here is the synopsis from the author's site:
Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.
When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.
But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.
I enjoyed this book, but I thought it was missing something in the plot. I'm hoping that "missing" feeling come from the fact that this book is setting up the story for the rest of the series since it's a trilogy. I do think each book in a series should have it's own story in addition to the bigger series story, but that wasn't completely the case for this book. Overall, I was really intrigued with the world that this story takes place in.
I like the main character, Rhine. For the most part, she is a sensible 16 year old who is dealing with the crazy, dystopian world that she lives in to the best of her ablility. I thought it was odd that she didn't question the disease more. She didn't ever wonder why the men live longer. I also liked her relationships with her sister wives. They were interesting and dynamic.
I found it odd that because of the disease polygamy was found to be acceptable. I understand they didn't want the human race to die off, but I didn't get the correlation between that and polygamy. Was it a practice that was more accepted in the days of Rhine's parents? I don't think so.
I'm curious to see where they story goes... so I'll be reading the second book when it comes out.
*I received this book as an advanced review copy from the publisher*
Enter Josie Brown's Giveaway to win a $50 gift card
Not too long ago I posted an interview with author Josie Brown. Earlier this year I read her book The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives. She posted a contest to win a $50 gift card to you favorite bookstore. Go to her website for the details and to enter: I Want to be your Secret Santa Contest
I'd wish you luck, but I want to win. ;)
I'd wish you luck, but I want to win. ;)
Quick Review: You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again
I'm a big fan of the show Chelsea Lately. I DVR it everyday so I don't miss an episode. When I found out that Heather McDonald, one of the comedians and writers on the show, wrote a book I immediately bought it on my Kindle. I finally got around to reading it. Before I get into my thoughts here is a synopsis from the publisher's website:
"Can't a girl dress like a hooker, dance like a stripper, and kiss like a porn star and still be a nineteen-year-old virgin?"
You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again is the laugh-out-loud story of an attractive Los Angeles woman who found herself in the predicament of being an unwilling virgin. As an actress, writer, and stand-up comedienne, Heather McDonald passed up ample opportunities to have her V-card revoked by handsome, rich, and sometimes even fabulously famous men, but she could not bring herself to do "it" until well after her friends had been deflowered.
As Chelsea Handler so lovingly puts it, "Thank God Heather waited twenty-seven years to lose her virginity or she wouldn't have any material for this book." Whether in a backseat, a community pool, or a sports stadium, with a frat boy, a doctor, or an A-list celebrity, Heather McDonald knew how to turn those boys blue. Unlike "putting out," blue balling might not have paid her rent or landed her free trips to Hawaii, but it did provide her with hilarious stories and adventures in her search for true love—and, ultimately, her very own happy ending. Now, Heather McDonald will never blue ball in this town again.
While I love Heather McDonald on the show I didn't love this book. The book consists of stories of Heather's relationships mostly in her 20s. Some the stories were interesting, but I didn't find myself laughing at any of them. I tried not to compare this book to Chelsea's since they are different women, but it was hard.
This next part is a bit of a spoiler (I guess) - I think one of the main problems was the book seemed to be about Heather losing her virginity, but when she finally does it's not a big deal and she just moves on with her dating history. If you like Heather (she is one of my favorites on the show) you will probably enjoy this book as a light, quick read.
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=quicthou-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1439176280
"Can't a girl dress like a hooker, dance like a stripper, and kiss like a porn star and still be a nineteen-year-old virgin?"
You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again is the laugh-out-loud story of an attractive Los Angeles woman who found herself in the predicament of being an unwilling virgin. As an actress, writer, and stand-up comedienne, Heather McDonald passed up ample opportunities to have her V-card revoked by handsome, rich, and sometimes even fabulously famous men, but she could not bring herself to do "it" until well after her friends had been deflowered.
As Chelsea Handler so lovingly puts it, "Thank God Heather waited twenty-seven years to lose her virginity or she wouldn't have any material for this book." Whether in a backseat, a community pool, or a sports stadium, with a frat boy, a doctor, or an A-list celebrity, Heather McDonald knew how to turn those boys blue. Unlike "putting out," blue balling might not have paid her rent or landed her free trips to Hawaii, but it did provide her with hilarious stories and adventures in her search for true love—and, ultimately, her very own happy ending. Now, Heather McDonald will never blue ball in this town again.
While I love Heather McDonald on the show I didn't love this book. The book consists of stories of Heather's relationships mostly in her 20s. Some the stories were interesting, but I didn't find myself laughing at any of them. I tried not to compare this book to Chelsea's since they are different women, but it was hard.
This next part is a bit of a spoiler (I guess) - I think one of the main problems was the book seemed to be about Heather losing her virginity, but when she finally does it's not a big deal and she just moves on with her dating history. If you like Heather (she is one of my favorites on the show) you will probably enjoy this book as a light, quick read.
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=quicthou-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1439176280
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