NOTE: THIS BOOK TALK CONTAINS SPOILERS.
After marking this book as to-read for so many months, I have finally, finally read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Even though many good things have been said about this book, a few too many times I have hesitated to pick up this book, mainly because I refrain from reading paranormal books as they freak me out. The last paranormal fiction I read was when I was around eight or nine- I had to follow my dad everywhere whilst reading and there were many sleepless nights full of terror that something abnormal would happen. Since then, I have held back from paranormal books or any of the sort but as I have become much older now I thought- Why not give it another go?
I am so glad to have decided to read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer though. This book is so amazing in so many ways that I almost didn't have to think of my fear for all things paranormal. Even though there were many hair-raising scenes in the book, it was thrilling and suspenseful.
"Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong." -Goodreads review
As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew I was going to be hooked. I like the characters Michelle Hodkin created for the story. To me, Mara is this weird kid who had her life turned upside down but she can still stay strong and stick up for herself, which I find to be admiring. Although she is freaked out by the abnormal things happening to her and around her, she doesn't break down like I expected her to.
I didn't know what to expect of Noah Shaw in the beginning except for the fact that he's gorgeous, 'cause Mara thought so. I certainly didn't expect him to be this caring, compassionate boy underneath because it was so cliche.
However, I eventually grew to love him as much as I loved Mara in this book. He pretty much helped Mara with everything, which I loved him for. He didn't leave Mara because of her situation, I mean- MARA HAD SO MANY THINGS LOADED ON HER AT ONCE. She didn't need another boy messing up her life even more.
After he told Mara about his special abilities, I was surprised. WHAT? Are we having two special people in this story?
Noah's healing abilities turned out to be useful in so many ways though. That's what I liked about the plot of this story; that the subplots tied together well and I was not left feeling confused and unsure of what Noah could do.
When Mara knew of Noah's healing abilities, at first I was so scared that Mara would dump him, because who would be there for her afterward?
Her parents were an obvious no, and at some point in the book I'd thought that maybe Daniel could help Mara much more than their parents with her situation. Daniel, however, didn't know everything about Mara- her ability to kill people with her mind and her hallucinations, and he probably wouldn't believe Mara if she told him all that either. I'm really grateful that she had Noah in the book.
I wanted Noah to be the one to help Mara. Even though he stuck with Mara all the time, I was wary, scared that Mara might tell him to stop helping. There was also the unimaginable- that Noah would dump Mara. I was so very scared that Noah might dump Mara.
IF MICHELLE HODKIN MADE NOAH DUMP MARA, I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THE BOOK.
So, no. NOAH STAYS WITH MARA.
I have to admit, what Mara did to the dog's owner and Morales was scary. I couldn't wrap my mind around that. How could you kill someone by your thoughts so easily?
Although what Mara could do was definitely creepy, at the same time it made the book more interesting and compelling for me. I had to know what was wrong with Mara and her eerie hallucinations. I had to know what was the deal with Claire and Jude.
It was obvious that Mara felt responsible and guilty for her best friend, Rachel's death. I, for one, do not feel sorry at all. Perhaps Mara's friendship with Rachel before Claire came along was genuine and real, but what I concluded about Rachel was that she was the one who pushed Mara too much. Clearly, Mara was nervous about the idea, but since she didn't want to lose her friendship with Rachel, she went along with it.
I felt like Rachel had kind of pushed Mara to the side when she had Claire. She didn't think much of Mara's feelings. Claire was always being so mean and bitchy to Mara, but Rachel didn't really speak up in Mara's defense. Mara had to stash her feelings away to one side because she didn't want Rachel getting more attached to Claire, but Rachel kept hanging out with Claire and doing things that Mara didn't like. It's no wonder why I don't like her.
More suspense was added to the story when Mara heard and saw Jude at the police station. After all that happened with Mara, I really thought that Jude was dead. I didn't expect for this to happen, for Mara to see Jude at the police station! This makes the story much more mesmerizing- I cannot wait to start the second book and see what happens!
This book has been wonderful and fascinating and I am intrigued! Is Jude really alive, is he back to make Mara pay for what happened at the asylum? Does Mara find a way to control herself?
One thing I know for sure what I want in the second book: MORE MARA AND NOAH.
Apart from City of Heavenly Fire, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer has been the best book that I have read so far this year. I really liked everything that happened in the book. The characters were well-developed, the plot was unpredictable, and it was a good first paranormal read for me after so many years of evading paranormal fiction.
I am glad that I didn't return the second book that is still sitting on my shelf to the library. I am definitely looking forward to reading The Evolution of Mara Dyer and see what happens next!
My rating for this book: FIVE FULL STARS
Thank you for reading my book talk, I hope you have a pleasant day, and happy reading!
Add me as a friend on Goodreads HERE!
After marking this book as to-read for so many months, I have finally, finally read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Even though many good things have been said about this book, a few too many times I have hesitated to pick up this book, mainly because I refrain from reading paranormal books as they freak me out. The last paranormal fiction I read was when I was around eight or nine- I had to follow my dad everywhere whilst reading and there were many sleepless nights full of terror that something abnormal would happen. Since then, I have held back from paranormal books or any of the sort but as I have become much older now I thought- Why not give it another go?
I am so glad to have decided to read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer though. This book is so amazing in so many ways that I almost didn't have to think of my fear for all things paranormal. Even though there were many hair-raising scenes in the book, it was thrilling and suspenseful.
"Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong." -Goodreads review
As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew I was going to be hooked. I like the characters Michelle Hodkin created for the story. To me, Mara is this weird kid who had her life turned upside down but she can still stay strong and stick up for herself, which I find to be admiring. Although she is freaked out by the abnormal things happening to her and around her, she doesn't break down like I expected her to.
I didn't know what to expect of Noah Shaw in the beginning except for the fact that he's gorgeous, 'cause Mara thought so. I certainly didn't expect him to be this caring, compassionate boy underneath because it was so cliche.
However, I eventually grew to love him as much as I loved Mara in this book. He pretty much helped Mara with everything, which I loved him for. He didn't leave Mara because of her situation, I mean- MARA HAD SO MANY THINGS LOADED ON HER AT ONCE. She didn't need another boy messing up her life even more.
After he told Mara about his special abilities, I was surprised. WHAT? Are we having two special people in this story?
Noah's healing abilities turned out to be useful in so many ways though. That's what I liked about the plot of this story; that the subplots tied together well and I was not left feeling confused and unsure of what Noah could do.
When Mara knew of Noah's healing abilities, at first I was so scared that Mara would dump him, because who would be there for her afterward?
Her parents were an obvious no, and at some point in the book I'd thought that maybe Daniel could help Mara much more than their parents with her situation. Daniel, however, didn't know everything about Mara- her ability to kill people with her mind and her hallucinations, and he probably wouldn't believe Mara if she told him all that either. I'm really grateful that she had Noah in the book.
I wanted Noah to be the one to help Mara. Even though he stuck with Mara all the time, I was wary, scared that Mara might tell him to stop helping. There was also the unimaginable- that Noah would dump Mara. I was so very scared that Noah might dump Mara.
IF MICHELLE HODKIN MADE NOAH DUMP MARA, I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THE BOOK.
So, no. NOAH STAYS WITH MARA.
I have to admit, what Mara did to the dog's owner and Morales was scary. I couldn't wrap my mind around that. How could you kill someone by your thoughts so easily?
Although what Mara could do was definitely creepy, at the same time it made the book more interesting and compelling for me. I had to know what was wrong with Mara and her eerie hallucinations. I had to know what was the deal with Claire and Jude.
It was obvious that Mara felt responsible and guilty for her best friend, Rachel's death. I, for one, do not feel sorry at all. Perhaps Mara's friendship with Rachel before Claire came along was genuine and real, but what I concluded about Rachel was that she was the one who pushed Mara too much. Clearly, Mara was nervous about the idea, but since she didn't want to lose her friendship with Rachel, she went along with it.
I felt like Rachel had kind of pushed Mara to the side when she had Claire. She didn't think much of Mara's feelings. Claire was always being so mean and bitchy to Mara, but Rachel didn't really speak up in Mara's defense. Mara had to stash her feelings away to one side because she didn't want Rachel getting more attached to Claire, but Rachel kept hanging out with Claire and doing things that Mara didn't like. It's no wonder why I don't like her.
More suspense was added to the story when Mara heard and saw Jude at the police station. After all that happened with Mara, I really thought that Jude was dead. I didn't expect for this to happen, for Mara to see Jude at the police station! This makes the story much more mesmerizing- I cannot wait to start the second book and see what happens!
This book has been wonderful and fascinating and I am intrigued! Is Jude really alive, is he back to make Mara pay for what happened at the asylum? Does Mara find a way to control herself?
One thing I know for sure what I want in the second book: MORE MARA AND NOAH.
Apart from City of Heavenly Fire, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer has been the best book that I have read so far this year. I really liked everything that happened in the book. The characters were well-developed, the plot was unpredictable, and it was a good first paranormal read for me after so many years of evading paranormal fiction.
I am glad that I didn't return the second book that is still sitting on my shelf to the library. I am definitely looking forward to reading The Evolution of Mara Dyer and see what happens next!
My rating for this book: FIVE FULL STARS
Thank you for reading my book talk, I hope you have a pleasant day, and happy reading!
Add me as a friend on Goodreads HERE!