Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (Cover Release)

Ohmigosh, look what I found!

Expected Release: Oct. 4, 2011

Synopsis: The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They’ve overcome the secrets riddled in Patch’s dark past…bridged two irreconcilable worlds…faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust…and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they’ve worked for—and their love—forever.

Excerpt: He closed the distance between us, and just when I thought he’d drawn me against him, he stopped, holding himself in check. I exhaled, trying not to cry. He leaned his elbow on the door jam, just above my ear. He smelled so devastatingly familiar, soap and spice, the heady scent bringing back a rush of memories so pleasurable, it only made the current moment that much more difficult to bear. I was seized by the desire to touch him. To trace my hands over his skin, to feel his arms tighten securely around me. I wanted him to nuzzle my neck, his whisper to tickle my ear as he said private words that belonged only to me. I wanted him near, so near, with no thought of letting go.

“This isn’t over,” I said. “After everything we’ve been through, you don’t get the right to brush me off. I’m not letting you off that easily.” I wasn’t sure if it was a threat, my last stab at defiance, or irrational words spoken straight from my splintered heart.

“I want to protect you,” Patch said quietly.

He stood so close. All strength and heat and silent power. I couldn’t escape him, now or ever. He’d always be there, consuming my every thought, my heart locked in his hands; I was drawn to him by forces I couldn’t control, let alone escape.

“But you didn’t.”

Am I excited? Yes. Did I fan myself at Patch's shirtless chest? Yes! Did my legs go numb? A little bit. I need this to be released! Thank you so much to Kayla over at Shattered Memories for posting this!

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Vampire Diaries--Season 2, Episode 21: "The Sun Also Rises"

Matt shoots Tyler while he is attacking him and Caroline as a werewolf. Tyler is wounded and Caroline gets out of the cage to check on him.


Katherine tells Damon that Jenna’s transformation is a sure thing and there’s nothing to do about it.

Jenna tells Elena that a vampire grabbed her when she got out of the house and she doesn’t remember anything or where they are, in a Circle. Jenna finally finds out that she was bitten, killed, and is now a vampire. Greta offers her blood to Jenna and Jenna quickly drinks her blood.

Jeremy and Bonnie are still hidden and trying to find a way to keep from Elena becoming a vampire.

Elijah reveals how Elena can survive the sacrifice to Stefan and Alaric.

Jenna tells Elena how it feels for her to be a vampire. Her senses growing stronger and her not wanting to feel anything. Greta brings Jules to the Circle.

Caroline and Matt make it back to her house and Matt tells her he was on vervain when she compelled him and her mother always hated vampires.

Damon tells John that Elena is with Klaus and the sacrifice is beginning. John tells Damon that he ruined Elena’s life.

At the Circle, Jules tries to attack Klaus, but is killed by him when he rips out her heart.

Jeremy finds Emily’s history and mentions that his ancestor, John, was in her life. Bonnie jokes that she had a thing for him.

Alaric tells Jeremy that Jenna was turned and Bonnie is told by Elijah and Stefan. Stefan tells Bonnie that he’ll put himself as a sacrifice in place of Jenna because Klaus would want him more.

Jenna tells Elena that she couldn’t believe she almost gave up being Elena’s and Jeremy’s guardian. Elena tells Jenna that being a vampire has made her faster and stronger. She also tells her that when she gets the chance…run.

Caroline and Matt find Tyler on her front porch where Tyler seems confused to see Caroline. Is it just me or is Matt grinding anyone else’s gears?

Elijah tells Stefan that he is very honorable. Stefan asks Elijah if he is honorable because it seems suspicious that he is going up against his own brother. Elijah tells Stefan that he had more family, but Klaus killed them all. Elijah then tells Stefan that there is sometimes honor in revenge and he will not fail him.

Elena tells Jenna to focus on what Stefan and Klaus are saying when Stefan arrives. Jenna tells Elena that Stefan will take her place.

Matt tells Caroline he doesn’t know if he can get past her being a vampire. Matt tells her that he has a sucky life, but he wants to live a normal one and not a paranormal one.

Bonnie casts a spell on Jeremy when they kiss to knock him out to keep him from leaving and keeping Alaric and John in the house as well to keep them safe.

Klaus attacks Stefan to keep him silent. Jenna attacks Greta and Klaus stakes her. Elena tells her to turn off her emotions so she won’t be scared anymore. Klaus stakes Jenna in the heart, killing her.

Greta pours blood, I’m thinking its Jenna’s, into a pot. Stefan apologizes to Elena, but she quickly shushes him. Klaus tells Elena it’s time. Klaus thanks Elena, but she quickly snaps a “Go to hell” at him. Klaus bites her and starts to suck her blood, where she willingly lets him. Elena drops to the ground as Klaus is done and Klaus starts his transformation under the full moon. Bonnie walks in and starts her casting while Damon snaps Greta’s neck. Klaus sees Bonnie is not dead as she tortures him. Damon takes Elena and Stefan tells him he is not leaving until he knows Klaus is dead. Bonnie stops and Elijah walks up to Klaus. Klaus tells Elijah that their family is safe and Elijah is reluctant to kill him. Elijah apologizes to Stefan and Bonnie and takes Klaus.

John hands Jeremy things to give to Elena and tells him that they need to take care of each other. Damon brings Elena to the house and Damon whispers to her that he can’t stand her hating him for eternity. Alaric asks about Jenna; Damon apologizes to Jeremy about it. Elena wakes up unscathed as John leaves the house and falls to the ground.

Tyler awakes in Caroline’s house and discovers he was shot. Tyler tells Caroline that she was right and he never should have come back. Caroline tells him that he shouldn’t leave again and that Matt had broken up with her. Tyler thanks her for taking care of him.

They get ready for John’s funeral and Jeremy hands Elena what John wanted to give to her, his ring and a letter. Elena apologizes to Jeremy for losing so many people. He counters that he still has her and they hug.

In John’s letter, he apologizes for failing her. He says that it’s the end for him, but the beginning for her. They go to the cemetery and you hear John asking her to not forgive this, but forget it. He tells her that he will always love her as a vampire or a human.

Damon shows Stefan his wolf bite. Stefan says he will find a cure for Damon. Damon tells Stefan to keep this from Elena because she doesn’t need any more grieving.

Tell me what you think! What do you think will happen in the season finale?

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

Next Week's Episode: *Season Finale* "As I Lay Dying"

Review: Native Son by Richard Wright

Synopsis: Right from the start, Bigger Thomas had been headed for jail. It could have been for assault or petty larceny; by chance, it was for murder and rape. Native Son tells the story of this young black man caught in a downward spiral after he kills a young white woman in a brief moment of panic. Set in Chicago in the 1930s, Wright's powerful novel is an unsparing reflection on the poverty and feelings of hopelessness experienced by people in inner cities across the country and of what it means to be black in America. Source


Review
Plot: I had to read this book for school, so I didn't pick this off of the shelf out of interest. That doesn't mean I wasn't riveted by this book. I have to talk about the controversy behind this book. My school board voted for the unabridged version and that created some parents to get other parents to have their kids read another type of book. (The alternative was A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.) The unabridged version of the book has certain scenes that were cut out in the abridged version. I am glad that we read the unabridged version because you weren't blinded from anything. You had all the facts laid out in front of you and you made you decision on whether or not you like Bigger Thomas. The abridged version might have wavered those feelings. The plot did cultivate discussions throughout my class and created the classic topic of race. Along with race, the novel deals with poverty, murder, rape, and prison. The plot was definitely unique, but was graphic as well as frustrating.

Characters: Bigger Thomas-I hate him. I could never like him and it was hard to get through the book when you didn't even like the main character. There is no way I can think of him as a protagonist because he never did anything good. He used people, hurt people, killed people, and only thought of himself. Even in the ending, he twisted his reasoning around to make sense of what he had done. I couldn't believe how ignorant he was to not only what he had done, but to his and others beliefs.

Cover: I wish the book had more details than just Bigger. On the shelf, I would have skimmed over it without a second thought. I guess this book doesn't need an interesting cover because it is a classic.

Overall Rating: I gave this book a three out of four. This book is a classic and I have to commend Wright for the spectacular writing style and development of the book. I always say this, if you can make me hate the person who it is intended for, you have a talent. It takes a lot to make someone completely hate a fictional character, so when it is done, this book deserves commending. It is a great book to have for a school or book club because it arises controversial topics in a stylish way. I recommend anyone looking for a good classic read to read this.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha