February Book of the Month Battle: Sins & Needles

Let the battle lines form!!

Available Everywhere! 

THE MAIN CHARACTER IN SINS & NEEDLES CAN DEFINITELY BE DEFINED AS FLAWED AND AN ANTI-HEROINE. 

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT HER AND DID THE AUTHOR DO A GOOD JOB OF EXECUTING AN ANTI-HERO?

Alicia: Why are you shouting?

Kenya: I thought it would be sexier to do the questions in all caps. :-)

Alicia: It's not sexy. It hurts my ears. 

Kenya: would you just answer the damn question.
*eye rolls

Alicia: Honestly, I had mixed feelings about Ellie, which maybe means the author did a good job.

Ellie had issues, sure, and a tough life, also true. But she was a jerk and a whiner. I like heroines who are mentally tougher, and she really wasn't.

Kenya: I definitely Loved and Hated Ellie so many times. Especially around her thoughts of robbing a certain person. It made me mad, but on the other side I understood why she did it.

Alicia: Basically, she wronged other people because she felt justified--like she deserved STUFF because her life sucks. And okay, I get that--but then she should be targeting people who have hurt her. 
I don't understand why she did it. I take that back--I do understand. She did it because she's a selfish ass.

Kenya: Her parents didn't teach her the proper ways to behave. She was socialized to do the things she did.

Alicia: She knew it was wrong. This isn't about what her parents taught her. I disagree. 

I think she knew it was a big deal--which is why she struggled with it--and made the wrong choice. I would have liked her better if she hadn't struggled. Then I'd know she really thought it was okay.

Kenya: Nope. You are 100% wrong!  She had to struggle. She does have a conscious, but she learned how to turn that conscious off from her parents.

Alicia: Ellie knew right from wrong. She just felt like her needs took precedence over other people. She's a selfish bi-yatch.

Kenya:  :-o   (you suck!)

Alicia: She's a selfish bi-yatch <-- my theory

Kenya: very mature.

Alicia: I know this

Kenya: Let's move on since clearly you're a moron.  *clears throat

Alicia: I have more to say! The only reason I rooted for their romance was because Cam was a sympathetic character, and plus, I wanted more of the sex.  There. Now I'm done.

Kenya: (no one cares)



WHAT WERE THE TWO TOP THINGS YOU HATED IN THE NOVEL?


Alicia: The superficial mysteries--which were really just information withholding.

Toward the beginning of the book, the narrative kept hinting about multiple things that happened in the past that had shaped Ellie's life, but the whole truth came out in bits and pieces. This was a cheap trick!

Kenya: *bangs her head against the desk.

Alicia: Ellie is the POV character. I was annoyed that the narrative withheld stuff that Ellie clearly already knew. If it's her point of view, I should know what she knows!

Kenya:  Okay well, I do admit that I disliked the flashbacks, but more because the content were hard to deal with. The characters represented how cruel high school can be and how confused teens are with who they are and their place in the world.  I had rough high school times for me. It was like looking at my past.

Alicia: And plus, the narrative kept referring to Ellie as "the girl" in the flashbacks. Annoying.

Kenya: okay that annoyed me too.

Alicia: <-- the girl agrees

Kenya: Granted, that could have been symbolism for how the character saw herself maybe you couldn't see the Deep Shit!
*gets deep and REAL.

Alicia: <-- the girl thinks it got old pretty fast

Kenya: *face palm

The love interest CAM-- ANY GOOD, BAD, OR OTHER THINGS TO SAY?

Alicia: Cam was fine. He grew on me.

Kenya: I loved Cam. He was sexy but flawed (ears). Compassionate, but a little ruthless at times.

Alicia:  He was a sucker. Ellie was a selfish bi-yatch! 

Kenya: he understood her, unlike you.

Alicia: I liked the tattoos. :)

Kenya: BUT--I hated the scene with his father later. I don't want to say too much for those who didn't read it. But the one scene where he's upset after his father leaves.

Alicia: Yeah, that was a painful scene, and I really felt for him. I wanted him to stand up for himself, but I realize that's not an easy thing.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ENDING? PREDICTABLE, UNEXPECTED, AWESOME, PANTY-DROPPING?

Kenya: For me it was awesome and unexpected. I hate when everything is tied up.

Alicia: Gosh, I really don't know how I feel about it. :-/
It didn't shock me with unexpectedness, but I wouldn't call it predictable either. 

The bad guy was okay. Kind of cliché. I guess I was disappointed because I wanted Cam to get everything he wanted, and that didn't happen (although I guess it still might in the sequel).

WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO THE NEXT BOOK?

Alicia: Yes, I'll continue. I'm not in a huge hurry, but I'll read it. Honestly, this discussion has made me realize that I have a lot of issues with the book.

Kenya: Lol. I am definitely going to the next one. 

In fact there is a prequel on her time with the bad guy. I'm actually hyped to read that.

How would you rate this book?

Alicia: 

Kenya:  :-(    I may no longer be your friend.

Alicia: Fine!

Kenya: 

Alicia: You just liked it because of the sex.

Kenya: Oh god i did, so yummy!!!!!!!!