650#Love Note ~ [Book Review] The Madman's Daughter

Even though it has been months but I still couldn't forget the suspense in The Madman's Daughter. I tried to finish this book as soon as possible but lab reports and assignments were in the way *sigh*. The Madman's Daughter is the first book of a YA series written by Megan Shepherd, inspired by the Gothic thriller classics The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells. 

Read: From May 10 to June 10, 2015

Rating: 4.5/5

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father’s gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father’s handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father’s madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island’s inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father’s genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Juliet Moreau comes from a respected family whose father is a talented scientist. After the scandal ruins her life, she works as a maid in a university. Even though she's not living the easiest live but Juliet is a smart girl, quite knowledgeable in science despite women are not seen to be educated as men during that time. She lives her life without knowing where her father the infamous Dr. Moreau has been. Juliet's mother dies years after the scandal.

Some incidents occur during Juliet's working time resulting her to risk being arrested by the police. She injures a doctor who's trying to harass her and runs away. After meeting her childhood friend, Montgomery and his assistant Balthazar, she decides to follow Montgomery back to her father as he is her father's current assistant. Montgomery objects to this idea but Juliet succeeds by threatening him - she shows him to a girl at a dark street and asks him whether he would allow her to follow him or see her being a prostitute. During their exhausted journey on the sea to an island where her father lives, they meets Edward who's barely live after being stranded on the sea. Edward follows them to the mysterious island. 

Juliet proudly wants to present herself, now a lady to her father without knowing what reaction should she anticipate from her father.

I never read the classics The Island of Dr. Moreau so I could not give my opinions about this inspired story. But I definitely love The Madman's Daughter. Despite being so unsure, so insecure about her unladylike behaviour, her doubts towards her own father, I love Juliet's determination and strength to discover and stop her father's madness. 

At first I was afraid if it was a horror story since I was no good with one but I was wrong. The Madman's Daughter is full of darkness and suspense. All the plot twists weren't totally foreseeable when I was reading this book. I kept on thinking and doubting myself if the twists could happen. The author has her own ways to draw the readers to intensely reading this book. I would love to read the second and third book but my pocket money was already gone for BBW :(

It's a nice pick for a YA Gothic thriller ;)

Till then.

Wassalam.

note: I should thank my friend Iza who gifted me this book. Thank you and I love you!

644#Love Note ~ [Book Review] Gone Girl

 
Although I read Gone Girl way back in April 2015, I've only got time to properly review this book. I've change my ways of reviewing books, including editing and updating the ones I've done. But I'm not done with all the reviews yet. Do check it out ;)

 

Read: From April 7 to 25, 2015

Rating: 4.7/5

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

Gone Girl was my first read from Gillian Flynn. As the movie has been adapted and received well by both readers and viewers, I was intrigued to read the book that won 2012 Goodreads Choice. I was happy because this book didn't disappoint me.

Gone Girl starts with the missing of Amy Dunne, the wife of Nick Dunne on their fifth wedding anniversary. At first, people are being sympathy towards Nick, saying Amy is fine, Amy is gonna be alright. But, people's opinions change with the investigations by the police. Nick is the main suspect in Amy's case. While Nick tries to uncover the truth, the clues that Amy left for their treasure hunt lead him to a shocking revelation.

There are two major parts in Gone Girl. The first one involves the story that tells from Nick's perspectives in the present time and Amy's perspectives from the past written in her diary. The second part is told by Amy's perspectives in the present time, during her missing.

Gillian Flynn has done a great job writing this piece. The readers would be deceived with both Amy and Nick. Some would be on Nick's side, some would be on Amy's side and there's a group who doesn't know to side with whom. I found myself contemplating whether to trust Amy or Nick. It was been going on and on until the second half of the book, when the second major part came.

The storyline and writing are okay. It's not too difficult to grasp the scene and picture it in your mind. You would not have problems in understanding the whole situation happens in the book. The plot twist is beyond amazing. I never thought I would read a book like this one, considering I rarely pick crime & mystery book as my reading. I highly recommend this book if you want to give thriller genre a go. 

The only problem I have with this book is the ending. I didn't expect it to be that way! I want the one who responsible in this whole ridiculous act to be punished! Put the perpetrator behind the bars! I seriously needed time to move on with the ending *sigh*

By the way, I watched the movie too. I think the movie is decently adapted from the book even though the feeling of reading the book and watching the adaptation is not the same. You could watch the movie if you do not want to read the book. It's great, I assure you ;)

Till then.

Wassalam.