A Dog's Purpose Spoiler Free Review

A Dog's Purpose
by W. Bruce Cameron

Synopsis:

This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here? 

Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8 year old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders, will he ever find his purpose? 

Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh out loud funny, this book is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 stars. It's only February and I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favourite books of the year, maybe even my number one favourite. While reading this book I realized that I was not emotionally stable enough to read it. If you are a dog lover, read it. If you are not a dog lover, still read it.

I think this book replaces The Green Mile for the book that made me cry the most. I cried during most of the book. Every time there was a new reincarnation of this dog I started crying again. Near the end of the book, during the last few pages I was sobbing so hard that it took me about ten minutes to read 4 pages.

Usually when I'm reading a book my problem is that I don't care enough about the characters, but my problem during this book is that the dog was such a good boy/girl. Too good for me. I cared too much. 

Now I decided to make this spoiler free because I honestly think that it's better to go into this without knowing much besides the synopsis. Honestly, you will be so emotionally invested int his book and the story that any problems it may have had just don't bother you. I don't think I noticed any problems in it, so basically it's the perfect book.

I have to say that the long term Ethan plot line was definitely my favourite. Ethan was his boy. Ethan was the one Bailey always wanted to get back to. I'm getting really emotional right now just thinking about it and I need to stop right now so that I don't start sobbing or get into huge spoilers of the book.

Quotes:

“Dogs have important jobs, like barking when the doorbell rings, but cats have no function in a house whatsoever.” 

“I guess I had never bothered to consider that there might such a thing as a boy, but now that I had found one, I thought it was just about the most wonderful concept in the world. He smelled of mud and sugar and an animal I'd never scented before, and a faint meaty odor clung to his fingers, so I licked them.” 

“As I sat in the sun on the wooden dock that jutted out into the pond, I knew this to be true: my name was Buddy, and I was a good dog.” 

“Humans were capable of so many amazing things, but too often they just sat making words, not doing anything.” 

(Looking for quotes made me start crying again)

Aspects of a Favourite Book

I already posted this on Books Amino, but I figured this was actually something I would want to post on here, so here I am.

All my favourite books pretty much have most of these in common.

Humor

Who doesn't like to laugh? I don't know, and if I ever meet one I will keep my distance. Honestly, humorous can save a book. I could hate every other aspect, but I can't completely hate a book if it's funny.

Tears

Tears mean that the book really reached me on an emotional level. I can't ignore that. Whether the tears are happy or sad, I love a book that can make me cry.

Characters

You have to like at least some of the characters in a book or you won't connect to the story. You won't relate to it. So I think characters are the backbone of a good book.

Plot

A good plot is the head attached to the backbone. Without a good plot the story would be meaningless and useless. You need a good plot to keep you engaged.

Friendship

Friends make the whole journey worth while. I may like to spend a lot of time alone, but I don't like being lonely, so it's good to still have people there for you.

Love

Whether it's family love, friend love, or romantic love, I need it in a book. I don't like reading books that lack some sort of strong bond. I have a hard time engaging with a story if there isn't any sort of loving relationship in it.

Feminism

I love it when a book is empowering. Strong female characters, smart, bold, fun, classy, sometimes not so classy, but strong anyway. Books that don't hate on anyone. Unless that someone is the antagonist then proceed. I don't like hate, I like mutual respect between people.

Writing Style

Each authors voice is different. I like hearing those different voices. I like it even more when I can pick up a book at random and know right away who's writing it is. One that stands out to me most is Maggie Stiefvater. She just has a way with words and I don't know how she does it.

Left Me Thinking

The ending just left me mind blown. I keep thinking about the book for days, even weeks after I finish it. I wonder where all the characters would be at this time, what they might be doing. Did they resolve that little thing that we never found out about in the book? Are they going to be okay? Are they happy?

What are some of your favourite aspects of books?

The Well of Ascension Review

The Well of Ascension 
by Brandon Sanderson

Release Date: August 21st, 2007

Spoilers

Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson's epic Mistborn Trilogy continues with The Well of Ascension.

They did the impossible, deposing the godlike being whose brutal rule had lasted a thousand years. Now Vin, the street urchin who has grown into the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of an empire.

They have barely begun when three separate armies attack. As the siege tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.

It may just be that killing the Lord Ruler was the easy part. Surviving the aftermath of his fall is going to be the real challenge.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 stars. It was such an amazing sequel. Honestly, I didn't think it was going to live up to the first book, but it more than did. There were so many twists and turns I didn't expect and I just had a great time reading it.

So, new book, new characters. I have to say, that I actually really liked Zane. Zane was pretty crazy, or so I thought, but he was "my type". I really wanted him to stay away from my ship though, he spent almost the entire book trying to break them up and that pissed me off. What I liked about his character was that it felt like Brandon was trying to sort of poke fun at average stereotypical YA romances. There is a guy who is really broody and angsty who the main character is supposed to "save" as Zane kept repeating throughout the book. Now I don't know if the author actually meant it this way, I'm not your English teacher, I'm not trying to interpret things that aren't actually there. I am really interested to know who "God" was. Cause just as Zane was dying "God" told him that he wasn't actually crazy, so who is he? 

I also came to love Oreseur, or should I say OneSoon. The whole plot point with him was not what I was expecting at all. He grew on me as a character, but when it was revealed who he truly was, I have to say I was completely shocked. He was the second Kandra that was hidden in there midst. He was the one who had been spying on them so well. I love it when things happen that I don't expect.

I feel like I should wait to talk about this, but it's at the forefront of my mind right now and I need to get it out. So I read the last page before the Epilogue, first. I thought I had spoiled so much and i had just ruined the entire surprise for myself, but then when I finally got there, I realized I hadn't even scratched the surface of spoilers. I'm itching to get to the next book so that i can find out what they accidentally released from the Well of Ascension, was it "God" who was talking to Zane? What's going on here? Also, what's going to happen with Elend and him being a Mistborn. What are they going to do?

Speaking of Vin and Elend, I was a bit upset for about the first half of the book because they honestly felt like they were drifting apart, and then Zane came in with his idea for him and Vin to leave together and I was done. I was terrified that she was actually going to do it. Thankfully she didn't. But what happened next just made the whole suffering the first half so much better. Her and Elend finally got married. 

I was feeling so petty when Penrod got voted in. I was honestly so mad that I had to put the book down and do something else until I calmed down. I actually wrote down my feelings after this and I wrote down "I hope Penrod has a pen stuck up his rod" because I thought that he was actually going to get around to giving the city to Straff. When I am angry I am honestly so petty. Even with fictional characters.

I feel like the characters have just come so far in this book. Vin has just totally blossomed. She started in book one, but in this book, she was so insecure about everything from who she was to whether or not she was worthy of Elend. She just figured most of it out and I was really happy for her.

Then there was that whole thing with Sazed and Tindwyl. Things were going so well and they were just so cute witht heir nerd love! Sitting around studying all the time trying to figure the whole Well of Ascension and Hero of Ages thing out. Tindwyl may not have been my favourite character, but I was definitely sad that she had to die. She was so good for Sazed and after the life she's lived she deserved to be happy for once.

I need to get to the next book, probably not this month since I think I need a contemporary break, but soon.

Quotes:

“Elend: I kind of lost track of time…Breeze: For two hours?Elend: There were books involved.” 

“It was amazing how many books one could fit into a room, assuming one didn't want to move around very much.” 

“You know,” OreSeur muttered quietly, obviously counting on her tin to let Vin hear him, “it seems that these meetings would be more productive if someone forgot to invite those two.”Vin smiled. “They’re not that bad,” she whispered.OreSeur raised an eyebrow.“Okay,” Vin said. “They do distract us a little bit.”“I could always eat on of them, if you wish,” OreSeur said. “That might speed things up.”Vin paused.OreSeur, however had a strange little smile on his lips. “Kandra humor, Mistress. I apologize. We can be a bit grim.”Vin smiled. “They probably wouldn’t taste very good anyway. Ham’s far too stringy, and you don’t want to know the kinds of things that Breeze spends his time eating….”“I’m not sure,” OreSeur said. “One is, after all, named ‘Ham.’ As for the other…” He nodded to the cup of wine in Breeze’s hand. “He does seem quite fond of marinating himself.” 

Top 10 Books I Will Not be Re Reading

Sorry I haven't posted in so long, I've been having a bit of a bloggers block. I have a few reviews on the back burner, I've just been having a bit of trouble thinking of a good way to word things. I will do my best to get back on track this week.

Anyway, these books come from varying degrees of reasons. Some because I hated everything about them, and some because they were just so emotionally traumatizing to me that I couldn't stand to possibly put myself through that again.

Be Aware that this not in anyway spoiler free.

Anyway, let's start.

10. Allegiant by Veronica Roth

This one is a bit of a mix. I was actually really sad that Tris died. It honestly did not feel necessary. It didn't move the plot in any way, it just made all her loved ones really sad. It also pissed me off because it was unnecessary and felt like it was designed just so that it would seem "unique" for killing off the protagonist.

9. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

I wanted to like this book so badly. But as I got into it, I just found that it was so dry and I barely understood what was happening most of the time because it was all very psychological. This made it really hard for me to get through, which sucks since it's such a short book.

8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I didn't exactly hate this book, but I did hate almost all of the characters in this book. With the exception of Nick, because I could read his thoughts and knew he wasn't a bad guy, and Gatsby, because he was just a man driven by love. He wasn't selfish and just wanted to be with the woman he loved. Every other character just made me want to punch them all simultaneously.

7. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Honestly, the last post I'm probably going to put this book on. It feels like  I'm just putting too much effort into hating this book. I'm a hater. I don't want to be a hater. So I'm just going to put this book behind me and not worry myself with it.

6. The Green Mile by Stephen King

I couldn't possibly put myself through that kind of emotional turmoil again. I can't! I was terribly dehydrated after reading it from all the tears I shed.

5. Chosen by P. C. and Kristen Cast

This book was arguably the worst book in the House of Night series and that's kind of saying something. Well at least I think it is. I mean, this girl cheated on her two boyfriends with another guy and then got upset when she found out he was using her. And then basically played the victim when no one would talk to her!

4. Nine Minutes by Beth Flynn

I have a hard time even thinking about this book. It broke my heart and my soul, and I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Yes, I meant for that to rhyme.

3. Daughter of Darkness by V. C. Andrews

Incest. That's all you need to know. Incest.
Now my friend warned me about this book, saying it was a bit much, but me being me, I thought I could handle everything. I had already seen the worst literature had to offer me. I was wrong. I forgot about her warning and a few months later I read this book and wanted to unread it as fast as I finished it.

2. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Some of you may understand, and some of you may not, but I have a confession: I don't actually like to cry while I'm reading. I'm totally game if it's a movie, but only a movie. I can't even watch sad TV shows. I had to stop watching Grey's Anatomy because of the season two finale. It's about 10 times worse with books. I get a deeper connection with these characters, so when something sad happens I feel it very, very deep inside me. So I can't possibly make myself reread this book no matter how much I loved it.

1. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

None of the other emotionally taxing books on this list could possibly beat this one. This one was so profoundly sad that I finished this book and then had a panic attack from thinking about it all too long. I went into total existential crisis mode after finishing this.

What are some books you never plan to reread?

The Color Book Tag

I haven't posted or done a tag in a while, so today is the day!

The original post (I think) is linked here.

Remember: Spoilers, no matter how mild, are still a thing. Careful there.

Orange: Inner harmony, which book satisfied you most for its finale?

I was with it most of the way, it got a bit rocky there in the middle, but the end? The end was a bit sad, but it was also pure bliss!

Grey: Itching wait, A book you’re waiting for the right time to read

I see this on my shelf every day and I want to read it so badly, but I have to make sure that I am in the right mood to fully appreciate everything about it. I can't just read it!!!!

Green: Superior Acquaintances A book that opened your eyes.

I honestly don't even know how to go about this one, all I can say is just read it. It'll make you cry, but it'll also make you understand. Or at least make you understand that you'll never understand.

Red: Passion: The most passionate book love.

I know that all of you probably think I'm putting down Will and Tessa, but for once in your lives, you are absolutely wrong. As much as I ship them and they are my OTP of all my OTPs, I put down Will and Jem. These two love each other so much, honestly if I didn't know any better I would think these two were soul mates. They probably love each other more than either of them love Tessa, and that's really a lot. Anyway, the prompt said love not romance. Heronstairs for life.

Yellow: Creativity: A book you thought its author was a genius because of the mazy situations.

Thinking back on this now, it probably wasn't that crafty, but while reading it, I was enraptured by the twists and turns this story took. This book was genius.

Black: Denial: A book you hated from beginning to end.

At this point it probably isn't fair of me to continuously drag this book through the mud, cause you guys already know my thoughts on it, but honestly it was the first thing to pop into my head and once it was there it wasn't leaving.

Indigo: Inner awakening, A book that made you securities collapse.

I don't really understand what this is trying to ask of me, so I'm not going to answer.

Blue: Tranquillity: A book that made you relax.

This book was just so beautiful. It was about life and loss anti just made me feel like everything was going to be okay no matter what.

Pink: We all love each other: Someone you didn’t want him/ her to die. 

My bae just had to go and die. You guys know who it is, I'm not even going to get into it. I'm still insanely salty about this. I will never get over it ever.

Light blue: Communication: A character you wanted to scream to your own advices.

I wanted to reach into the book and throttle her.

White. All the colors, Ergo, the best book you’ve ever read.

Yeah, I'm still not including Harry Potter because that's basically a cope out to a real answer. Anyway, this is the best book ever. It's my favourite. Read it.

So basically anyone who wants to do this tag is tagged. Feel free!