Birthmarked

(Left – UK/Right – USA Book Cover)

384 pages

USA Publisher: Square Fish

UK Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone has followed all the rules set by the Enclave for her entire life. Set in a dystopian world where the upper class live separately behind the Wall in wealth, the rest of population struggle for survival in an environment wrecked by climate change. With a face that’s scarred, Gaia will never know the luxuries of the elite.

Regardless, Gaia and her mother faithfully ‘Advance’ the required quota of the first three babies born a month to the Enclave. It’s a privilege for the children, a chance to be brought up with opportunity. For the mothers it’s a painful honour although they are rewarded for their sacrifice. However, whispers begin to develop, the possibility of adding another child to the quota. When her parents are taken, Gaia struggles with her desire to find them, her duty of serving the Enclave and feelings of desire for the unattainable Enclave guard Leon.

Knowing that to go against the Enclave means death, Gaia ignores the danger and follows her heart to be reunited with her family. Discovered and put into jail, Gaia realises a deeper secret that the Enclave is hiding: sterility. Locked up with other doctors, Gaia learns she is too value and too dangerous to be executed, a piece of a puzzle she never knew had been created.

O’Brien’s debut novel is beautifully woven with secrets and the fight against morality. At times there can be ‘more telling than show’, but the environment O’Brien has created is riddled with possibilities and the fight for survival that is reminiscent of The Hunger Games. Gaia Stone is a unique heroine in being physically flawed but strong in spirit for the love of her family. It’s a quick read that will makes readers request only more, which O’Brien happily obliges with Prized. The trilogy is wrapped up with Promised, to be published in October 2012.

I found Birthmarked to be exciting with O’Brien’s words keeping me up into the early hours. I found her novel by accident at the library. I bumped into a shelf and the book hit the floor as if to say, ‘Read me now!’ Gaia is a strong female lead, and Birthmarked doesn’t seek to be another Twilight. Although there are elements of romance with the handsome Enclave solider Leon, Gaia has her eyes set on the right prize: her family. Her endless strength is inspiring and you can’t help but wonder what exactly the Enclave is up too. I was captured by her character, and praise O’Brien for creating a healthy example of a girl that stands up for herself and accepts her scar that has shaped her life.

A Wondering

Jun27

(Click on the image to enlarge)

I stole the idea from my very good friend over at Flaneur in the City. I happen to like doors, and when I was out searching for Eggs, I came across this interesting door knocker. Slightly creepy, yet fascinating at the same time. I love Stephen King and how he’s able to surprise me, good or bad, with his work. Here’s to going a wondering!

Diamond Jubilee

Jun14

I’m such a royalist. Red, white and blue everywhere. We don’t having anything that resembles bunting in America. Union Jack’s flapping in the breeze has been such a cheery sight for the past couple of weeks.

There’s nothing I can compare. As a Washingtonian, coming from the 42nd state admitted to the Union in 1889 (what do we know of age and history?), celebrating the Queen’s 60th year on the throne was important to me. 60 years is half of how old my state is! Well done Queenie!

I think it’s also the pride felt throughout the country. Pride at being English, pride at their sense of tradition, the pride I wish I could be apart of. Last year I braved the crowd alone to wave my flag and cheer for Wills and Kate. The warmth of the people banished away the April London Chill. Circumstances this year prevented me from joining the masses for the Diamond Jubilee Flotilla – a massive parade of boats along the Thames. It was almost more fun watching it on TV, although my flatmate and I did venture to the park only to find everyone had already rushed home due to the heavy rain.

I went to a party on Monday – proper English with spot on food, decorations and even paper masks of the royals. It was an absolute splendid time. I made lemon squares to add to the flavour.

It’s an astounding time to be living in London. How I hope to continue my life here, become established in a career, settle. I can’t complain that I’ve been given some of the best years to be living in this amazing city. The royal wedding, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and the 2012 Olympics, all I get to (or have already taken) part in. Three years. Moments in history that won’t ever be repeated. They’ve directly become part of my life. I’m incredibly thankful.

God save the Queen! Long may she reign!

The Lucky One

May28

Quick post this week.

I’m not a fan of Nicholas Sparks’ work. His latest, The Lucky One – well, the advert is doing nothing to make me want to see the film adaptation.

To get my demographic on board for a movie like this I need something else, not Zac Efron.

I love adverts on the buses, tube and around the rail, but they need some help when choosing the quotes.

London Egg Hunt Results

May26

Shameful. Just ever so shameful. Where have I been? Well, I have been blessed by meeting a delightfully unique English Gent (aka EG). For my birthday he borrowed his parents Wii for my flatmates and I to partake for a few months. I was so excited I kicked the table and broke a glass. So where have I been? Well in Super Mario Galaxy 2, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and am currently inhabiting Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

I was however, able to complete my Big London Egg Hunt amongst the digital fun and my ending total was 200 eggs out of 210! *dusts shoulders* I got to know more areas of London better which greatly aided my guide touring skills last week as I had a sorority sister come stay. How it got to be nearly June is frightening. Oh the things there are still left to see.

As promised, here are the eggs I enjoyed:

For the complete gallery of all 200 eggs: The Big London Egg Hunt 2012

All the eggs were auctioned off for charity with the ‘Mailbox Egg’ being the highest bid for egg!

See you around.

A Grain of Salt

Apr8

I’ve been following the Duggar’s since their 16 Children and Moving In premiered back when I was in college. Astounded by this family that had 16 kids, all with their name starting with the letter J, how could you not want to keep up with them instead of the Kardashians?

I rented their first book, The Duggars: 20 and Counting! and read it in a day. There is something fascinating about a family that runs their life so unlike your own. Religion itself is an interesting subject for myself. I wasn’t raised with a direction of religion within my family, but had been placed n a Lutheran primary (elementary) school growing up. I’ve never recovered from it.

What I took from my young school years was the knowledge and understanding of the christian faith. Now the Duggar’s, to those that don’t know, are actually Christian themselves. The strand of Christianity they practice is the Quiverfull movement. As with most religions, they should be taken with a grain of salt. The Duggar’s are known for having a load of kids, making the older kids in the family raise the younger children, obviously not using contraception and for being extremely conservative (they also believe in creationism).

I…have some support for the Duggar’s. Regardless of the negative things people love to exploit them for because they don’t understand their family dynamic, I am impressed with the love they have for each other. They love each and everyone one of their children and want them to succeed. It’s a rarity nuclear family lack.

Having children is a spectacular thing, but 19 of them? That is something not every family would be able to face. (the Duggar’s also are known for living debt free) I think along with most of the general population that having that many children is way out of line for me. However, the Duggar’s are not me, and I am certainly not the Duggar’s. I am not one to pass judgement on their lifestyle. I try to learn the positives from them, minus the religion.

Recently Michelle Duggar experienced a miscarriage. That kind of event is private and personal. The Duggar’s, being as public as they are, are ridiculed for their chosen way to mourn the loss of their unborn baby. Whenever I bring up the Duggar’s, it’s to make fun of them, but to expose a different kind of thinking to those unaware. No matter how wrong or strange you think they are, a miscarriage is a horrible thing.

They are a unique family, and if the video hasn’t brought that out (seriously? The people of the world CANNOT fit in Jacksonville), I encourage you to take the good aspects their family presents, love, respect for each, and helping those in need. But always with a grain of salt.

Next week I promise there will be more photos.