Struck by Jennifer Bosworth::Review

STRUCK by JENNIFER BOSWORTH

Movie Rating: PG-17 for violence and sexuality
Book Rating: @
Swearing: only a couple of uses of a**
Inappropriate Scenes: 2 teens 'mess around' at least twice. The author doesn't go into detail but for those with active imaginations....
# of Pages: 373 (hardcover)
Genre: YA Dystopian/Thriller (?)
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
LLFTB: Don't read a novel written by Jennifer Bosworth

Back Blurb:

   Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her. Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is
transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.
   Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

My name is Mia Price and I am a LIGHTNING ADDICT. I want lightning to find me. I crave it like lungs CRAVE OXYGEN. Nothing makes you feel more alive
than being STRUCK.

My Review:

To shake things up I'm going to write my review letter-style:

Dear Ms. Jennifer Bosworth,
   Since you have offended me by the content of your book (your blasphemy against the Most High God and the smut you put in your book) I wish to return the favor (or lack thereof). STRUCK--the book that SUCKED. Now, I realize that you're rather new to the writing world so let me give you some tips...
   You don't have to put sex scenes in your novel to sell more copies. If your novel is worthy of recognition it will get recognition. However, I do appreciate the swearing that you kept to a minimum. I wasn't expecting that. And, furthermore, you offended me just about every time you used God's name (which was close to every page) and I'm pretty sure you compared unbelievers to 'pigeon poop'. That would and should offend every unbeliever.
  Here's what I expected to STRUCK: I expected to learn about a girl getting struck by lightning and using it to do whatever. I did not expect there to be blasphemy and smut on every page!
  You've made an impression Jennifer. An impression that is not a good one. And I agree with you, "There's a lot of moral depravity in Los Angeles.", unfortunately, though, you also live in L.A. I only hope that you receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour before you too burn in the pits of hell forever.
                                A disappointed reader,
                                                The Maniacal Bookworm

*Want to know which teen books are clean to read? Follow my blog! I'll tell you in my reviews or if you don't want to wait just ask me: themaniacalbookworm at gmail dot com*

A Writing Tip: From a Reader to a Writer

     I don't know how many authors look at my blog. I really don't know. But I have a little hint for your writing. I'm not a writer. Not at all! I'm a reader. So here's a hint from a reader to writers (or wannabe writers).  *DON'T WRITE DIRTY!*  Let me try to explain it this way: The world is divided into approximately 2 groups. Group 1 hates to read dirty books (dirty as in sex scenes and swearing) and Group 2 doesn't mind reading dirty books. Now, I know that the Group 2 is considerably larger than Group 1, which is why a lot of authors choose to write dirty. BUT if an author writes a good clean book that appeals to BOTH groups wouldn't he/she make more money and possibly get better ratings? If someone from Group 1 reads a dirty book they're going to give it a very low review and tell all their friends to not read the book. But if there's a book that appeals to BOTH Group 1 & 2, both groups are more than likely going to give the book awesome reviews and tell all their friends to read the book! If you're an awesome writer, people are going to read your book, even if it's not dirty. What helped The Hunger Games and Maximum Ride get so big that every teenager in America now knows their name? The writing and the fact that it appealed to EVERYONE that reads! Not just to Group 2. Do you honestly think that those books would
have become so big if they had been dirty? I don't think so.
    So APPEAL to BOTH groups of readers! Not just one! You'll make more money, get better reviews, and probably find the world a better place with all them clean books lying around! ;) My personal motto: "Saving the World. One book at a time!"

*Coming up next: Book Review--Variant by Robinson Wells*