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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
3.5****'s
I've had this on loan from a friend for ages but just never got around to it. I'm so glad I finally sat down with it.
It was great to read a story where the girl is the potential rock star. The romance was sweet and the ending was realistic IMO.
I thought the surrounding characters were well fleshed out and I had a real sense of who they were.
My only problem was the music detail was a bit heavy, I have never played the guitar so therefore have no understanding of the terms that were used so those parts (and there were quite a few) went completely over my head and I found myself skimming these sections.
Other than that I really enjoyed this & would certainly read the next if ever there is one.(apparently the author got dropped by her publishing company which I can't understand considering some of the complete drivel that is out there! - rant over)
This does have an ending, no cliffhanger so it is safe to read even if another book isn't published.
I've had this on loan from a friend for ages but just never got around to it. I'm so glad I finally sat down with it.
It was great to read a story where the girl is the potential rock star. The romance was sweet and the ending was realistic IMO.
I thought the surrounding characters were well fleshed out and I had a real sense of who they were.
My only problem was the music detail was a bit heavy, I have never played the guitar so therefore have no understanding of the terms that were used so those parts (and there were quite a few) went completely over my head and I found myself skimming these sections.
Other than that I really enjoyed this & would certainly read the next if ever there is one.(apparently the author got dropped by her publishing company which I can't understand considering some of the complete drivel that is out there! - rant over)
This does have an ending, no cliffhanger so it is safe to read even if another book isn't published.
I can't even describe how much I intensely loved Amplified! Jasmine was the best female lead character. She had an awesome voice and went out determined to follow her dreams despite her father's nonexistent support. Her entrance onto the scene was unforgettable. Her car stops outside an auto shop and she doesn't even notice! LOL In comes Sean, *dreamy sigh* even though he is such a jerk in the beginning. His heart has been broken by his previous girlfriend and he is a bit apprehensive at the time. Coincidentally, *wink wink* Sean is also Veta's brother, who is a member of C-Side, the band Jasmine is destined to be in!
When the band started popping up, I knew I was instantly going to like everyone! I thought it would be awkward for Jasmine, staying in a house full of boys, but she handled it well. Through awful, embarrassing stage fright, unfeeling phone calls from her dad, and troubles with Sean, in every situation she goes for what she wants and stands her ground. Just when it seems like she's down, she pops up again and I fell in love with her for it.
P.S. The songs in Amplified are awesome, even just in my head! I think I like "Puppet Girl" the best!
Bubble Gum Book Reviews
When the band started popping up, I knew I was instantly going to like everyone! I thought it would be awkward for Jasmine, staying in a house full of boys, but she handled it well. Through awful, embarrassing stage fright, unfeeling phone calls from her dad, and troubles with Sean, in every situation she goes for what she wants and stands her ground. Just when it seems like she's down, she pops up again and I fell in love with her for it.
P.S. The songs in Amplified are awesome, even just in my head! I think I like "Puppet Girl" the best!
Bubble Gum Book Reviews
This was an interesting read. I enjoyed watching Jasmine's struggle with both her father and with her situation. I liked reading about how her situation from being possibly homeless to applying for a place in a band to get a room to being an important member of a band.
As expected as a good contemporary book, it was so easy to read and didn't took a long time to finish it.
Jasmine just graduated from high school, she is a rich girl and expected to study in Standford University but she ditched it and try live on her own to follow her dreams to become a musician. It was a really brave move from her, I admired her for it but unfortunately she has little preparations for it, she didn't have enough money, have no clue where to live, did not have a lot of experiences performed live. But luckily while she lost most of her money to fix her broken car, she met a group of people who provided a room to stay and a spot for a guitarist in their band. I love the books, love the people music aspect it has been a long time since I read/watch story about music/band. I haven't seen many people raves about this book, I think more people should know about this book
Jasmine just graduated from high school, she is a rich girl and expected to study in Standford University but she ditched it and try live on her own to follow her dreams to become a musician. It was a really brave move from her, I admired her for it but unfortunately she has little preparations for it, she didn't have enough money, have no clue where to live, did not have a lot of experiences performed live. But luckily while she lost most of her money to fix her broken car, she met a group of people who provided a room to stay and a spot for a guitarist in their band. I love the books, love the people music aspect it has been a long time since I read/watch story about music/band. I haven't seen many people raves about this book, I think more people should know about this book
I couldn't finish it - lots of language and no characters to really root for/connect with.
This was an awesome book. and I totally agree. you have to fight for what you want.
My Actual Rating: 3.75 stars
I was about to give in to the small voice inside my head telling me to just give this a four-star rating already. But then, though I really liked the book, I didn't get hooked to it until I was about 20% percent through it. And it certainly wouldn't be fair to all those books that I've rated four stars which had got me gushing just from the very first page.
Okay, so Amplified..
I loved the musicality that was incorporated in it. It gave me the ambience like I was also part of the band. I admit that I got quite a bit confounded with the musical terms used but this just truly shows that Tara Kelly really knows her music well. And she bestowed that knowledge she has for music to the book's characters. Her characters really are true musicians. They not only passionately LOVE music, they confidently KNOW music.
I can't say the same with the lyrics though. The lyrics were totally corny and cringe-worthy and I couldn't help feeling embarrassed for Kelly. I guess this just proves that Kelly won't be rocking poetry any time soon.
I'm glad that there will be a sequel. There were so many issues that were left unsolved and undealt with that I knew right after I finished this book that there will be one. So I didn't really feel that dissatisfied with the ending. I'm contented with how it ended but not contented enough to not wish for a sequel.
I was about to give in to the small voice inside my head telling me to just give this a four-star rating already. But then, though I really liked the book, I didn't get hooked to it until I was about 20% percent through it. And it certainly wouldn't be fair to all those books that I've rated four stars which had got me gushing just from the very first page.
Okay, so Amplified..
I loved the musicality that was incorporated in it. It gave me the ambience like I was also part of the band. I admit that I got quite a bit confounded with the musical terms used but this just truly shows that Tara Kelly really knows her music well. And she bestowed that knowledge she has for music to the book's characters. Her characters really are true musicians. They not only passionately LOVE music, they confidently KNOW music.
I can't say the same with the lyrics though. The lyrics were totally corny and cringe-worthy and I couldn't help feeling embarrassed for Kelly. I guess this just proves that Kelly won't be rocking poetry any time soon.
I'm glad that there will be a sequel. There were so many issues that were left unsolved and undealt with that I knew right after I finished this book that there will be one. So I didn't really feel that dissatisfied with the ending. I'm contented with how it ended but not contented enough to not wish for a sequel.
What an amazing book!!! I loved everything about it - plot, characters, dialogues! The book is a treasure for those who worship the guitar, music, lyrics, performance on stage and everything connected with it. One of the rare books, where the main female character is not annoying, but endearing and nice girl - I felt for her, respected her and was glad for her. Sean was great in all episodes except when with Amy, I liked Bryn and Felix, and Veta was an interesting character. I think that the book has potential for sequel - things are still vague with romantic line of the book, and with parental one too. Gorgeous read - highly recommended!!! As for me, I want to express my gratitude for such a wonderful recommendation to Fred LeBaron - I really loved this book, as you predicted!!!
Thank you, Tara Kelly, for reminding me of what a well-written contemporary YA with a flawed but still strong female protagonist can do for me and a relaxing reading night. AMPLIFIED was my unexpected but wholly gratifying pick for the type of evening I was worried I had lost forever: several hours of relaxing into Jasmine’s ultra-cool, exciting, and satisfying musical world.
I wish this book could have somehow come with a soundtrack: Tara Kelly’s descriptions of Jasmine’s mindset as she plays guitar is the kind that you want to experience, to live, yourself. To feel the thrill of being utterly absorbed in the act of artistic creation—reading AMPLIFIED made me all the more determined to practice guitar more or get back into writing!
There was something satisfyingly right about the tone of Jasmine’s narration. It could’ve been easy for her to go over-the-top dramatic with her reactions to everything going on in her life, but I loved that the writing was so smartly controlled. This means that we are allowed to sympathize with both Jasmine and her father as they battle it out epically over letting her scrabble uncertainly on her own or following his well-intentioned path to success. It means that we can connect with every member of the band: Veta with her admirable “badassness” yet kind heart; the utterly adorable Felix (no elaboration necessary, you really just have to read the book for this); Bryn’s well-intentioned anal-retentiveness; and Sean’s snide remarks masking a creative and sexy soul.
Indeed, all of the characters, from major to minor, were well drawn, believable, and easy to empathize with. Some—like Sean and Veta’s younger sister, Zoe, with her thousand-page fantasy epics and cute-to-die-for crush that she so determinedly denies—are easier to like than others—Sean’s vengeful ex—but when it comes down to it, there are no stereotypes in AMPLIFIED, which made for an thoroughly absorbing read.
Contemporary YA authors may have a more difficult time finding an audience fueled on hype and flashy premises, but in the long run, they, in my opinion, often gain the more devoted fans. And as Tara Kelly’s sophomore novel was no less well-written and music-filled than her first, Harmonic Feedback, you can bet that I will be hovering through the Internet, waiting for news of her future books.
I wish this book could have somehow come with a soundtrack: Tara Kelly’s descriptions of Jasmine’s mindset as she plays guitar is the kind that you want to experience, to live, yourself. To feel the thrill of being utterly absorbed in the act of artistic creation—reading AMPLIFIED made me all the more determined to practice guitar more or get back into writing!
There was something satisfyingly right about the tone of Jasmine’s narration. It could’ve been easy for her to go over-the-top dramatic with her reactions to everything going on in her life, but I loved that the writing was so smartly controlled. This means that we are allowed to sympathize with both Jasmine and her father as they battle it out epically over letting her scrabble uncertainly on her own or following his well-intentioned path to success. It means that we can connect with every member of the band: Veta with her admirable “badassness” yet kind heart; the utterly adorable Felix (no elaboration necessary, you really just have to read the book for this); Bryn’s well-intentioned anal-retentiveness; and Sean’s snide remarks masking a creative and sexy soul.
Indeed, all of the characters, from major to minor, were well drawn, believable, and easy to empathize with. Some—like Sean and Veta’s younger sister, Zoe, with her thousand-page fantasy epics and cute-to-die-for crush that she so determinedly denies—are easier to like than others—Sean’s vengeful ex—but when it comes down to it, there are no stereotypes in AMPLIFIED, which made for an thoroughly absorbing read.
Contemporary YA authors may have a more difficult time finding an audience fueled on hype and flashy premises, but in the long run, they, in my opinion, often gain the more devoted fans. And as Tara Kelly’s sophomore novel was no less well-written and music-filled than her first, Harmonic Feedback, you can bet that I will be hovering through the Internet, waiting for news of her future books.