Book Reviews: Existence by Abbi Glines and Vain by Amelie Fisher

Okay, here's the next two books. Existence and Vain. Both are different novels by different authors by the way. One was very good and another was just mehh..

Existence (Existence Trilogy #1) by Abbi Glines 

        I wrote this review right after I was done reading it. So, whatever I was writing down here was true-to-my-word and there is no filter system here. This novel totally felt like Twilight, for first. Why did I say something like that? Because Dank (the male lead's name) has the same Edward Cullen's personality. Before you start thinking, as in general. No! I hate to say that I love Twilight in general because I don't. I only love, truly love, the first book only. It's like Edward in the second book! The book where Twilight started to look like shit for me.

      Okay, before I started blabbering, this story is about a girl named Pagan (weird name btw) Moore who can see dead people (that what made me reading this story by the way). These dead people cannot talk to her though. One day, one of them talked to her. Pagan was shocked with this little twist. Due to some teenage drama later, Pagan was involved in a car accident. That talking soul was actually Death itself (his job description was kinda similar to Grim Reaper, you see). Anyhow, the Death or DANK broke the rule to saved Pagan from the accident where she supposed to die. These things lead to another things. So, that's it!

       Move one to the harsh comment, I don't really like this novel. Dank was so melodramatic by not wanting Pagan but in the same time wanting and protecting her. I mean like, if you want her, then grabbed onto her but if you don't, then get the hell away from her. Clearly, he was doing half-assed job to distance himself from her. Anyway, we have this proverb in Malay which says, 'alang-alang menyeluk pekasam, biar sampai ke pangkal lengan', which means, if you're already done some work halfway, it is better to go all the way and finished it. Argh! I was frustrated with his attitude. He's a wuss, no matter how big he tried to keep her alive. I can't stand his guts. I really don't.

        On the other hand, I felt so sorry for Leif. I really do. He was a great guy even though the little revelation at the end of the story. (You have no idea what the author did to Leif in the second book. It was injustice!) My heart lean towards him, you know. In fact, I think I like Leif more than Dank. If the story wasn't a supernatural one, I would've already cried and supported him. I hate this love triangle.

       How about Pagan? She was okay. Dull, shallow but okay. A little bit annoying though. The problem I had with her is that she kinda cheated on her boyfriend though her boyfriend was the kindest character in this whole novel. It wasn't fair for her to use Leif to get Dank over her head, you know. It's a cruel thing to do to a person, let alone a man who loves you more than anything and you obviously know it. Other than that, she's also has a Bella Swan's crazy act done. The part where she tried to get herself into trouble (though in here she didn't realize what she did, 'she was emotional', mehh) just to see her lover again. I don't believe  this to be a coincidence, you see.

      All in all, I would recommend it to anyone who loves the second book of Twilight. It has that kinda angst, even though I was sure left frustrated at the end of the day. However, that is only my opinion. Read it yourself and maybe for some odd reason, you''ll like it.

Vain by Amelie Fisher

        I read this during the Malaysia's Independence Day. Ohmygoodness! For once, I have to say that I found a beautiful gem among all the plastic diamond-like-glass.

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna hate my story. 

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy. 

I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. - Vain summary. 

 Vanity's a debilitating affliction. You’re so absorbed in yourself it’s impossible to love anyone other than oneself, leaving you weak without realization of it. It’s quite sad. You've no idea what you’re missing either. You will never know real love and your life will pass you by. - Vain

           This story is about a young woman named Sophie Price who's not your regular female lead. She was a spoiled rich girl who ruthless in getting whatever she wanted. She slept around with her friends' boyfriends, a really pain-in-the-ass kinda jerk and who was also a coke addict (not coca-cola, guys. Real coke.) Yup! She was a bad girl. However, her life changed when she was sentenced to a community service in Uganda. I'm not kidding. Uganda, as in Africa.

        There, her life changed. Completely. She met a guy, Dingane (Din-John-E) OR as-I-always-prefer Ian Aberdeen, who was a worker at the orphanage in Uganda. I love how their romance went from there. It was just so cute! Though I have to say there some tear-jerking moments in there as well. SPOILER. (Like the time when Karina died or when they broke up.) I cried. Screamed. Went nuts. *sigh* I love those moments.

        To be truthful, I didn't expect for this story to be that good. I thought it will be just another mediocre story. Boy, I was so wrong. I fell in love with Sophie instantly. She was a bitch at first, I sincerely admitted that but one thing for sure, she grows on me when she cried alone in her bathroom. She just grew on me from that point onward. Besides Sophie, I also fell in love with Dingane. He was portrayed more mature than his real age. At first, he was uneasy with Sophie's presence but that didn't really last long after he saw how much she changed.

“I was not staring at you,” he told his plate. 

I leaned over. “Did you hear that, Dingane’s lunch? He was not staring at you.”

He looked up at me crossly. “I was not staring at you.”

“I never said you were.” 

“I was merely explaining that Henry was exaggerating. I did not stare at you.”

“Okay,” I stated, implying in my tone that he had done just that.

“I didn’t. I-I wasn’t.” 

“I believe you,” I told him

“I may have looked at you a few times to make sure you were doing your job.”

“Oh, I see then.”

“But I certainly wasn’t staring.”

“We’ve established that you were not staring.”

He breathed deeply a few times, his eyes burning into mine. “Good.”

He’d definitely been staring. - Vain

         On top of all that, I have to say that I love their break-up scene the most. It's in my top list for 'My Favourite Break-Up Scene Ever' (if only you exclude Fifty Shades because nothing can top a man kneeling submissively!) Anyway, I do have one tiny itch that I have to address here. I would so much prefer it if Sophie stood her ground and never listened to Ian's mother threat. It just seemed so ridiculous to let go of something that you love the most because you don't want to hurt them or for their own good. Of course, that action is commendable and praiseworthy but where did that lead you? It's just plain absurd. Why would you let go of someone if you know that he'll be better off with you? Why let go of someone because of other people's interests? If you want a break up, break up because of both you are so sick of each other that you puke blood when you see his or her face. Don't be so heroic and break up because you want your love one to be happy or that he doesn't deserve you or any of that shit. Though I have no idea how to apply that in real life situation. Oddly, I think love should end when both people are tired of each other and not because of some third party intervention. (I've read too many of novels and watched to many of Korean dramas to learn that lesson). Oh well, that's just what I think.

“You have no idea what you do to me. I've felt things for you these past few months that don't seem healthy. I've wanted you so desperately I'm afraid it may not be natural. You consume my thoughts, Sophie...You've arrested my senses and I can't seem to get enough of you. That's what scares me. I'm so deep there's no getting out for me. You own me, you know?” - Ian Aberdeen, Vain

“The truth is, I'm so deep in love with you, I can't see straight. The truth is, I've been afraid to admit it to myself, let alone you. The truth is, I'm terrified.”  - Ian Aberdeen, Vain

         In conclusion, I think that everyone should at least read this story. It's sweet but in the same time has a significant message to send. It's a nice reading, people.

“No one can know sincere happiness, Sophie, without first having known sorrow. One can never appreciate the enormity and rareness of such a fiery bliss without seeing misery, however unfair that may be.” - Vain

“Fear, Sadness. They're not weaknesses. They are overpowering, defining emotions. They make you human, Sophie.” - Vain 

“You may have misery," she continued, ignoring my plea, "you may lose hope in the sorrow of an unplanned life but as long as you have faith and trust in adoration, in affection, in love, that sorrow will turn to happiness. And that is a constant, dear.” - Vain 

          

          So, that's ALL I can share with y'all today. Besides these four books, I also have read The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight (sweet), Reaper's Property (Horsey!), Can You Keep A Secret? (Funny in a humiliating way), Undead & Unwed (I'm reading the second book right now), Playing For Keeps (I gotta talk about this one!) and The Distance Between Us. So, that makes 10 books in a matter of TWO weeks. Wow, even I'm impressed of myself! I bet that my exam's result gonna be like SHIT.

           As for now, I have three more papers to go. Modern Mathematics 1 & 2 and Biology 3. After that, a week rest before resuming another three weeks of examination. I feel so tired already... *sigh* Sometimes, I feel like a zombie when I walked into my school. A freaking ZOMBIE!

Feeling Sleepy,

Liely