an open journal about the awesome things that God has done in my life

Showing posts with label it's not summer without you. Show all posts
Showing posts with label it's not summer without you. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

A Trilogy Addiction

I really am sorry for this Summer trilogy spam. I know I have more than two blog entries about this trilogy, but I'm sorry I just can't get enough. :(  I just don't have someone to talk to about how good this book is, so I have to express, express, and express :) 

I spent two days rereading It's Not Summer Without You and We'll Always Have Summer. I seriously can't get enough of the Summer trilogy. Believe it or not, I still found myself crying (but not as bad as the first time I read it though) at the end of the book. I even managed to e-mail Jenny Han last night to show my appreciation and gratitude. Anyway, in my post entitled The Summer Trilogy, I put up a list of songs that fit the characters and two tandems respectively. But I think I should put all the songs all together in a mixtape, so here it is. Hope you'll like it :)






One last thing. Movie casting. I really wish this trilogy would have a movie. I came up with my own dream cast. It was really a hard to choose, knowing that a lot of actors/actresses can be qualified. Unfortunately, as of now, I came up with my list for a few characters only. For the really main characters, I have two choices each.

BELLY CONKLIN:



Lily Collins













CONRAD FISHER:


Thomas McDonell










Steven McQueen











**I really like Thomas McDonell to take the role of Conrad. And I think Steven McQueen can take Jeremiah's role, too.


JEREMIAH FISHER:



Jeremy Sumpter








TAYLOR JEWEL:


Meaghan Martin












STEVEN CONKLIN:


Drew Roy












CAM CAMERON:


Logan Lerman












____________________________________________________________


That's it. I hope I can finally get over this trilogy. It affected me so much :)

Thanks to Jenny Han for this amazing trilogy.


Disclaimer: I don't own those pictures. I forgot what specific sites I have gotten those. I basically searched in Google Images, but I believe each picture belongs to a certain website, so yeah :D


PS. You may read my Summer trilogy book reviews, too! :)

PPS. Tell me what you think by commenting below! :)

xxx

Saturday, March 16, 2013

We'll Always Have Summer book review

** Okay, I have to admit that this is more of a fangirl post than an actual book review. Don't expect much, given the fact that I'm fangirling so much about this book, or this trilogy for that matter. ASDFKRJTOAFDKKLSJ ;)*

Note: Bare with this entry as there are quite a lot strikethroughed words/sentences.

Dang. Sure there are a couple of books that made me teary eyed, but this book, We’ll Always Have Summer, was the first fiction book ever that made me cry really hard. Even after finishing the book, I kept on crying even though *spoiler alert* it was a good ending after all. Bookworms know the feeling of struggling to move on with your life or even to decide what book they’re gonna read next after having a hangover with the last book they've read. That’s exactly what I felt.

Moving on to the third book of Summer trilogy was quite hard for me because I was shocked with how the ending of the second book went. I was excited at the same time to read We’ll Always Have Summer to find out how things will finally turn out.


While reading the first two books, I bet on Jeremiah. I ship Jerelly, really hard. I told my friend, Belly’s gonna end up with Jeremiah in the end. I like Jeremiah’s personality and attitude in the first two books. The way he is always there for Belly, like he has this ESP connection with Belly that Conrad doesn't have. That’s what I love with Jeremiah. He can be the best friend Belly wants. I don’t want Conrad for some reasons. He is ignorant, rebellious, and heartless... or at least in the first two books. If he has this feeling for Belly, then why didn't he just be brave enough to face Belly and tell her that he love her? After all, it’s always been Belly who approaches him, making efforts to be near him just as she always desired.

But on the third book, everything turned out the way I didn't expect them to. Nice twist. In We'll Always Have Summer, we get to know Conrad's thoughts this time, which makes it really, really interesting. It was his turn to express his point of view. The readers get to know the reasons behind his shitty attitude and actions in the first two books. Meanwhile, this cute, golden boy Jeremiah turned out to be a frat-boy type who got wasted and corrupted. I hate it. I like Jeremiah a lot. Just as I started to dislike Jeremiah, I begin to like Conrad in the third book. He's mature, strong (emotionally, because he got to control his feelings for Belly and let Jeremiah have her considering the promise Conrad made in Susannah's gravestone), and smart (like he has always been).

I liked the way Jenny Han planned to write this whole thing. Conrad speaking his point in the third book made the story more emotional and strong. I had this picture of Conrad as a strong person, who is ignorant, rebellious and heartless, but since he shows how hurt and weak he can be inside, that made my whole picture of him turn around. In fact, I started to admire him. This book turned my picture of Conrad in the first two books the other way around. He has this initiation as the elder brother. He is mature and smart, too. That’s what I want in boys, by the way. I always had this thing for smart and responsible guys. I had been praying to God about my dream guy – Christian (of course), and engineer (or architect) or a doctor. Lol. Anyway, as of my picture of Jeremiah in the third book, it turned the other way around, too. He went like corrupted and wasted in the third book with all those parties and his fraternity. He looked like not too mature to marry Belly. Both of them were not even old to marry each other yet, by the way.

*SPOILER ALERT: CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK*

I was shocked in the first part of the story wherein Belly knew Jeremiah cheated on her. That was very unlike Jeremiah, I thought. But he had grown so much since the second book I guess. I have that titillating moments every time Conrad expresses his love for Belly in simple ways when Jeremiah is not in around. I love the way Conrad controlled himself in showing Belly his love or even kissing her, knowing that his brother will marry the one and only girl he loves.

I also love the idea that Laurel (Belly’s mother) didn't permit the sudden marriage of Belly and Jeremiah, considering the fact that they’re still very young. She didn't want this thing for Belly because she knows it isn't the best for her. But, she ended up with still supporting her daughter and showcasing a soft heart just like all mothers always have.

One song that came into my mind when Conrad finally came up to face Belly with his feelings after the bachelor’s night (which was the best among the best parts!) was Taken by One Direction. It perfectly fits the scene.

*END OF SPOILER*

What I like about the trilogy is that the emotions are well narrated and expressed, and it has always a thrill. The three books has their own way in making the reader feel nervous, titillated, thrilled, in love, or even feel their stomach tied up in knots.

I started to cry from page 233 ‘til the very last page of the book. Even after closing the book, I’m still crying, I know I sound crazy or whatever, but just give the book (better yet, the whole trilogy!) a try. Read it.

After all, I am contented and love the way the story ended. Everything came into place.


Rating: 
Recommendation: Girls (since this is mostly a girl's POV book)14 years old and up


PS. You can take up We'll Always Have Summer quiz to know if you're for Conrad or Jeremiah!

PPS. Read my Summer trilogy related blogs, too! :)

xxx

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The Summer Trilogy

This week is a week full of practices for our graduation. Believe it or not, the thought of me graduating hasn't sunk in my mind yet. It feels like everything's not real, every thing has been happening so fast. Anyway, since it is REALLY boring in our graduation practices, wherein we just sing all day, I have found out a way to delight my mood, and it has always been and will forever be through reading.



I bought the book one of Summer trilogy in a bookstore last Saturday as I mentioned in my previous post. It is my first time to finish a book in one day! I myself can't believe it. I had read the book one, The Summer I Turned Pretty (TSITP), in just 10 hours. Thankfully, my friend, Marcelyne, has read the trilogy and owns a copy of each book so she lend me  It's Not Summer Without You (INSWY) and We'll Always Have Summer. The day after I read TSITP, I immediately read the second book, INSWY. Guess what? I read the second book in one day too. I read the third book in one day too. 

The story really kept me going. Jenny Han is a good writer, or at least in this trilogy. What I love in this trilogy are:

  1. It has not so many x-rated scenes. I mean, there are no sex scenes, though there are quite many kissing scenes. But not too detailed which I really like.
  2. I noticed that Jenny Han avoids too many curse words, which I really appreciate.
  3. Lastly, the story teaches values or somehow makes the reader realize things about love, family, and friendship. 

As I was so obsessed with the trilogy, particularly with the three main characters, I had thought of suitable songs for each of them and each of the tandem (Belly + Jeremiah, and Belly + Conrad). Basically, I'll have to do a book review for each book, next to this post.

Belly: 


Conrad: 

Jeremiah:

Belly + Conrad:

Belly + Jeremiah:

Belly + Cam:

Reading the book made me pray to God, asking Him how's my love story going. I know He is the best planer, writer, Father, or whatever -er, but you know, teenagers still long for this affection and love from "someone special." God reminded of Song of Songs 2:7 (NLT). 

7  Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right.
Even though how far my imagination leads me when it comes in dreaming of my love story - my prince charming, God still knows things beyond what I can imagine or think of. He knows what's best and the things I like. I just know I have to wait for the right time - the perfect time of God.



PS. You may read my Summer trilogy book reviews, too! :)