Review - The Vision (The Mark, #2) by Jen Nadol Review

Title: The Vision

Author: Jen Nadol

Series: #2 (The Mark)

Pages: 240

Published: September 27, 2011 by Bloomsbury

ISBN: 9781599905976

Source: Teen Book Scene

Description: Cassie Renfield knows the mark tells her when someone is going to die and that she can intervene and attempt to change fate. But she still doesn't understand the consequences, especially whether saving one life dooms another. With no family left to offer guidance, Cassie goes in search of others like her. But when she meets Demetria, a troubled girl who seems to have the power of the Fates, Cassie finds the truth isn't at all what she expected. And then there's her heady new romance with bad boy Zander. Dating him has much graver repercussions than she could ever have imagined, forcing Cassie to make choices that cut to the essence of who she is and what she believes. 

I Give This ...

 

*On a side note - I already posted this review when I read the book.  But, I totally forgot that it was a blog tour.  So here it is again!

I loved the first in the series.  And while I'm use to the sophomore book tending to me inferior to the first, I struggled with this one way more than I normally do.

My biggest problem was the amount of time this book spends in the funeral home.  And, I really feel this might be a personal issue with me.  I'm not overly fond of the idea of death.  So reading about all her work in the funeral homes was just NOT for me.  I do understand why she was doing it.  And I enjoyed what she learned about the different beliefs on what happens when we die.  And also the idea of changing your "destiny" is discussed in different contexts which I found fascinating.

I liked Cassie's interactions with the girl in the mental health hospital.  While the other girl never says anything, I think it shows a lot about what Cassie is trying to learn.  She's really trying to get a handle on what's the right thing to do.  Which brings us to Zander.  I enjoyed learning who he is and what he can do in relationship to what Cassie does.  But, as a character, I intensely disliked him.  I really wanted to Cassie to stay far away from him.

So, really mixed feelings about this book.  I hate saying it was a let down, but I just didn't have the same feel as the first book.  

 

Jen Nadol Author Interview!

Top Ten Jobs I’ve Had

Cassie works in a coffee shop in The Mark and a mortuary in The Vision.  I haven’t done either of those jobs, but here are ten I have done, worst to best:

10. Babysitter – My friend Beth babysat all the way through college and loved it.  I did it full-time one summer, watching a 2 year old boy while his mom played tennis.  He wasn’t a bad kid, but how many times can you play with the same toys?  It was SO BORING.
Age: 13 
How long: One summer.  And I never babysat again after that.  Ever.

9. House Cleaner and Filer – Since babysitting wasn’t for me, my dad got me work cleaning apartments and also had me file stuff at his law office.  The cleaning was fine.  The filing? Not so much.
Age: 14 
How long:   2-3 months.

8. Bob’s Big Boy Waitress – Polyester.  Hair Net.  Liver n’ Onions.  Enough said.
Age: 16 
How long: 2 years

7. Line Stander – In DC there are lots of congressional hearings where important people talk about important stuff.  Only a certain number of other people are allowed in to listen, but the people who want to listen are too important themselves to wait in line.  So they pay people like me to hold their place.  Beginning at 6am.  And you’re not allowed to sit down or bring a book or any kind of electronics.  You just have to stand there and stare at the wall until your important person shows up around 10. 
Age: 22 
How long: 4 excruciating hours

6. Human Resource Manager – Dept. Store – My first “real” job.  The economy was terrible and I was just happy to have one since my bf who’d graduated a year earlier was still working at a deli.  I was just out of college it felt a little like play-acting to be talking to grown-ups about their body odor problems and why they couldn’t get to work on time.  I learned a lot.  Some of it I didn’t really want to know.
Age: 22 
How long: 3 years

5. Corporate Human Resources – Same Dept. Store - Boring middle-management type stuff.  I don’t recommend it.  I got to move to NYC, though.  That was cool.
Age: 25 
How long: Eternity…that’s what it felt like around 2pm every day.

4. Cashier – TC Sports Outlet.  My best friend worked there too, along with four college guys of varying cuteness.  What’s not to like?  Oh, yeah…maybe making $3.85/hour? (yes, that was legal) 
Age: 15 
How long I worked there: 1 year?

3.  Assistant, Assistant Manager – Dooney & Bourke Outlet – The first summer after college I broke my arm the second night I was home (you can assume it was in the stupidest possible way).  I had no job and desperately needed one so I went through my interview with a sweater draped casually over my cast, which I only removed after I’d gotten the job.  Loved it – busy store in a cool loft with all my friends working in other outlets nearby. 
Age: 19 
How long: 2 years on & off

2. Shoe Salesperson – This was a fun job.  I like shoes.  I liked working on commission (except the weeks I got paid $0).  I liked the people I worked with.  I spent too much money where I worked. 
Age: 20  
How long: 1 year+

1.Writer – The only job I’ve ever had where I couldn’t wait to start work every day.  I definitely made more at some of the other jobs - possibly all of the other jobs - but, to me, it’s still the best job ever.   

 

Jen grew up in Reading, PA, hometown of John Updike, Taylor Swift and fellow YA author A.S. King (nope, she didn't know any of them). She went to college at American University in Washington DC, graduated with a BA in Literature, then spent the next twelve years doing something totally unrelated to pay the bills. Now she lives north of NYC in an old farmhouse with her husband and three young sons. She is thrilled to finally be writing, the thing she always meant to do.

Review - The Vision (The Mark #2) by Jen Nadol

Title: The Vision

Author: Jen Nadol

Series: #2 (The Mark)

Pages: 240

Published: September 27, 2011 by Bloomsbury

ISBN: 9781599905976

Source: Teen Book Scene

Description: Cassie Renfield knows the mark tells her when someone is going to die and that she can intervene and attempt to change fate. But she still doesn't understand the consequences, especially whether saving one life dooms another. With no family left to offer guidance, Cassie goes in search of others like her. But when she meets Demetria, a troubled girl who seems to have the power of the Fates, Cassie finds the truth isn't at all what she expected. And then there's her heady new romance with bad boy Zander. Dating him has much graver repercussions than she could ever have imagined, forcing Cassie to make choices that cut to the essence of who she is and what she believes. 

I Give This ...

 

I loved the first in the series.  And while I'm use to the sophomore book tending to me inferior to the first, I struggled with this one way more than I normally do.

My biggest problem was the amount of time this book spends in the funeral home.  And, I really feel this might be a personal issue with me.  I'm not overly fond of the idea of death.  So reading about all her work in the funeral homes was just NOT for me.  I do understand why she was doing it.  And I enjoyed what she learned about the different beliefs on what happens when we die.  And also the idea of changing your "destiny" is discussed in different contexts which I found fascinating.

I liked Cassie's interactions with the girl in the mental health hospital.  While the other girl never says anything, I think it shows a lot about what Cassie is trying to learn.  She's really trying to get a handle on what's the right thing to do.  Which brings us to Zander.  I enjoyed learning who he is and what he can do in relationship to what Cassie does.  But, as a character, I intensely disliked him.  I really wanted to Cassie to stay far away from him.

So, really mixed feelings about this book.  I hate saying it was a let down, but I just didn't have the same feel as the first book.  

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Title: The Mark
Author: Jen Nadol
Published: January 2010
Pages: 228
ISBN: 9781599904313
Source: Other Shelf Tours

Description: Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.   Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

I Give This Book 4.5 Stars!

I enjoyed so many things about this book.  Cassie is a fantastic narrative.  She's been through a lot and those experiences define who she is.  Her relationships reflect that as well.  She cares for those around her deeply, but she doesn't let them control her.  And in this regards, there is no love struck teenager who can't live without their "soul mate" in this book.  The relationships she does have are completely more realistic.  The problem presented of being able to see a mark on the day of someone's death is presented a very real way.  And, Cassie never takes this lightly.  After she realizes what it means, each time she sees it basically become imprinted on her.  Knowing next to nothing about philosophy, I was surprised how much I liked the debate on which side to take on if Cassie should tell the person or not.  It was a very thought out part of the story.  Add in the little bit of fantasy in the form of mythology, and you've got a wonderful book from cover to cover!