Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures
Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

 
Isn't this what people do around here?
Yeah, no.  Not people like us.  Not in the middle of a school day.
For once can't we be them? Do we always have to be us?
I like being us.


In the name of full disclosure, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES was the first book that I read on my new Barnes & Noble nook.  I thoroughly enjoy my nook but that's another post perhaps.  The sheer awesomeness of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES added to the joy of the nook exponentially.  Back to the matter at hand.

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES is a love story.  A wonderful, old fashion love story - with a paranormal twist.  Ethan has lived in Gatlin, South Carolina his entire life.  But he doesn't fit in.  Well, actually he does.  He's a very popular basketball player.  Ethan feels different.  He doesn't feel that he fits in.  He's dreaming of getting away.

Lena is new to Gaitlin.  She's beautiful but she does not fit in.  It could be that's she's new.  It could be that she's beautiful.  It could be that she lives with her Uncle Macon, the town recluse.

Gaitlin itself is as much a character in BEAUTIFUL CREATURES as Ethan and Lena.  The town is steeped (or stuck depending on your point of view) in Civil War history.  There are secrets around every corner.  I grew up in a tiny town in Texas and I could relate.  Now I'm wondering what secrets Rockwall holds.  Which, I think, is what a good book should do for you...change your outlook.  

But Ethan and Lena are drawn together.  Their story is sweet and touching and real.  I could picture them together.  Their relationship reminded me of my first love, actually.  (The feelings, not the paranormal bits.)   And, as in all good love stories, forces are working to keep them apart.  It's their quest against those forces that seals the deal. 

I had been looking forward to reading BEAUTIFUL CREATURES since December when it was released.  It did not disappoint. I had a hard time concentrating on other tasks.  I wanted to be reading BEAUTIFUL CREATURES all the time.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS to be released this October. 

Recommendation: 8th grade and up - boys or girls.
Pages:  563 (according to Barnes & Noble.com  - the nook doesn't have the same page numbers)
Rating: ALL TIME!  Right now I'd rank it in my top 3 of the year with THE DARK DIVINE and HEX HALL