Whaaaaaaaaat?!?! LOVED IT. Didn't really expect to buy boy, did it deliver.
GUYS IT'S FIREFLY GALORE. Firefly. But but but the book has its own flavorsWhaaaaaaaaat?!?! LOVED IT. Didn't really expect to buy boy, did it deliver.
GUYS IT'S FIREFLY GALORE. Firefly. But but but the book has its own flavors. While the similarities are undeniable, it is NOT a rip-off.
This book is simply charming. Fun, delightful, hilarious, and just plain satisfying. The side characters are adorable and developed way beyond their relationship with the main characters. Solar and Doran are lacking in excesses and deficits - they are just right.
I loved the twists and turns. They were written such that they were always enjoyable. There was always some element of frivolity to counter hints of torture, family secrets, betrayal, slavery, prostitution and else; but it never NEVER retracted from the gravity of situations when they demanded it. The book was never reduced to a parody and stood brightly in its own right as a story.
This was the best kind of soap opera, and I loved every sentence. Terraform mishaps, harvest festivals, magical mushrooms, a conspiracy in an intragalactic super government, kleptomaniacs, new fashion styles, tramp stamps, pirates, new elements and fuels, AND two love stories you won't love to hate - that's what you'll be looking forward to. ...more
Upon finishing the third last chapter, I explicitly, using my own vocal cords said: I finally like this series. I finally lI jinxed this book. I did.
Upon finishing the third last chapter, I explicitly, using my own vocal cords said: I finally like this series. I finally like the characters. There is not enough smut but I care for the romance. I am invested in the politics.
Then the last two chapters. Abrupt, out of nowhere and they combined into a sucker punch that doesn't have the decency to let you suffer the hurt the way it should be: curled into yourself. Instead it forces you to indecorously pick at your toes looking for the source of the excruciating pain in your nails. For some reason - I haven't fully figured out this analogy yet.
I am angry about the thing that happened. I am also angry about how it was handled. It is 1:55 am! Am I supposed to sleep on this shit? It didn't make sense.
I was liking this series and now I may have to abandon it unless the spoilers turn out my way.
If my exam is fucked tomorrow morning.. Fuck this shit. How appropriate and versatile that sentence.
I sure do hope we see some necromancers in the next installations. If I find the guts to pick it up. Which I won't.
Meanwhile, I'll have another go at Dead Witch Walking. It didn't have a lot of romance the last time I tried to have my(our(it wants to be read)) way with it (he he). That seems the safest bet for me right now. Except it is 1:59 am now. Crap. I'll still read it.
2 min later: Just checked for spoilers on trusty, short-of-funds Wikepedia and I'm back in this Chicago business!!! I shall sleep peacefully tonight. Without any help from witches, walking or dead....more
This story. God it sneaks up on you, I swear. It doesn't have the traditional crack writing attributed so often to Ilona Andrews, but MA3.5
Ho ho ho!!!
This story. God it sneaks up on you, I swear. It doesn't have the traditional crack writing attributed so often to Ilona Andrews, but MAN WOMAN BEAST AND ROMAN, it grips you so hard.
See the thing is, you start out and it is slightly boring and although I'm never the one for waiting for a book to get interesting by the time it ends (really, what would the point?), by the time the book ends, you can't let go and you don't even know when this shit gripped you so tight. And let me most emphatically make clear that it is not the writing. It is just that something - a combination of individually pleasant/satisfactory elements that combine and provide a holistic experience far greater than the sum of its parts.
Another thing that distinguishes it from Kate Daniels, IMHO, is that it has a rejuvenating lack of emotional upheaval and attempts to entrap the reader in the conflicts, as opposed to letting them slide in of their own accord. Thusly, it feels cleaner.
The series would make a cool movie. The world is rich and there are attempts with considerable successes to make it more complex, yet within a random reader's capacity to understand with a bit more than a lackadaisical perusal.
Yet there was something missing. The world didn't feel quite real. There was more focus on description of what one could see, in contrast to atmosphere and feeling of new or different cultures. It was almost methodical and sterile, which certainly fit in with the protagonist's personality and duty, but does an injustice to the reader. On any given day, I would prefer to know how heavy the air in a room was over what the patterns in pillars looked like.
This installation wasn't exciting. There were no drastic fights, only smaller ones that claimed lives and a decades-long war in the background; nothing to engage the protagonist directly. That has made this series stand out for me agaist the blazing tide of Buffy-inspired vampires, werewolves, shifters, assorted creatures, exceptionally trained, hopped up on sugar female protagonists that I generally prefer.
On the other hand, the series could use some more finesse. Excitement isn't always bad and isn't only the domain of bloodshed and broken teeth. Politics can be fascinating; diplomacy can be exciting. It can an overt form of excitement, while this book chose to remain subtle. Which was okay, I still enjoyed it but the could have been's are pestering me.
I feel like I am selling this series short. I don't know - it confuses me entirely. Do I like it or do I not? I can't answer that. Let me just say:
I want more. I didn't want more initially but now I want more....more
The past is awful, only old people never realize it.
Facts I bet you didn't know about me:
1. Miss Marple and Dr John Watson bore me to the point of re-The past is awful, only old people never realize it.
Facts I bet you didn't know about me:
1. Miss Marple and Dr John Watson bore me to the point of re-reading or retracing the steps that do NOT lead to horrific ends in them old Give Yourself Goosebumps I possess, and I don't even mind. (This is relevant. Sorta. Not really.)
2. Weddings/marriages/any hint of nuptials provoke an involuntary gag reflex in yours truly, unless we're talking Tim Burton + Helena Bonham Carter (or break up thereof ;_;), Ellen Degeneres + Portia De Rossi, or NPH + David Burtka. (Irrelevant without a whisper or shadow or fingerprint of a doubt but you just loooove knowing more about me, don't you?)
3. I'm not sure how to begin this review, or wasn't, having been on a hiatus for I don't remember how long. Ergo, the babble. Bear with me.
4. Turns out I like lists. Huh. They're make for easy-to-follow non-traditional narratives and oftentimes are less work. Cleaner, too.
2. You hate Flavia De Luce and the incessant drivel on chemistry and compounds and ugh science. (Really? #Judging_you_hard)
3. You don't know Flavia De Luce. (Really? #Judging_you_harder.) BUT you love
a) mysteries when they aren't slow, b) children narratives when they aren't immature, c) family drama when it isn't melodramatic, d) grown-ups when they/you are idiots but within parameters, e) again mysteries when their solution and step-by-step procedure coulda been within your capabilities.
ALL THAT AND MORE IS WITHIN YOUR REACH.
4. It is the story of two girl detectives in the 1940's England, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong. They aren't Sherlockian-smart and they depend a WHOLE LOT on luck, but they are determined little shits (and I say this with the most intense adoration for them) who gnaw bones to their very marrows. (Not literally, that's my cousin's piece of cake. Ugh.)
5. The Detective Society grows, a very dastardly man dies within Daisy's own manor and on her birthday. Somebody in the family has done the deed. Also, fart pillows and weird English treats.
6. GIRLSHIPS AHOY! I heart girl friendships and girl groups so hard, and I bet, you my imaginary audience of the moment who will become manifest when someone on the other side of the Internet chooses to read this particular, prolonged piece, do too.
7. True Detectives, Hazel and Daisy are. Detective-ing doesn't come naturally to most of us, and staying on the obscure path of impartial judgement and observation and constant vigilance can be hard when you;re not Mad-Eye Moody. Also, when someone in you family might just be the killer. Our ditagonists (is it still that when only one is narrating the story?) struggle, physically and mentally. Lessons from previous murders help and ergo, they are most awesome at it. With the appropriate amount of emotionality.
8. I love this aspect and I'm sure you'll appreciate it too, Robin Stevens is so adept at it: the book perfectly illustrates, even better than its predecessor, that when you look through those particular pair of lenses, everyone has dark secrets.
We all seem the killer when you expect to see it.
Most of our suspects seem more guilty, not less, the most we discover about them.
9. The mysteries aren't solved and lived vicariously through Sherlock's boastful monologues in Watson's diaries (or whatever). Solutions and revelations aren't out of reach, or fall down from heaven. All sorts of clues and evidences Daisy and Hazel uncover always lead the reader to the conclusion first, without being overt or obvious about it. It's all very realistic, for those currently living in 1940 England in a fading manor.
I, personally, never felt out of my depth and believe you me, I am not the kind of knife you'd prefer to butter your bread.
10. ARE YOU NOT DONE YET?
Well, the girls are all awfully clever. We've all been 14yo girls at some point in our lives - yes, even you Tony Stark, - and more like than not, we were nowhere near as awesome.
GO GO GO READ! THIS! SERIES!
The author just keeps getting better.
Thank you, Penguin Random House UK Children’s!...more
And then everything exploded into fire and chaos and awesome.
Ha! is all I want to say to my 2014 self. HA! With Story Thieves, I've come to fully 4.5
And then everything exploded into fire and chaos and awesome.
Ha! is all I want to say to my 2014 self. HA! With Story Thieves, I've come to fully embrace the new year. I think. See, last year I picked up my kindle to read the book, only to put it down in favor of reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. AGAIN. Which I don't regret but later on, and blah blah blah, you don't care, I don't.
Whatever.
What do I say? Ummm... this is totally an awesome book! I haven't fangirled so hard about anything besides Game of Thrones and Calculus* in recent memory, going so far as to do some ninja-style-dancing which prompted my brother to kick me. He's the real ninja.
Story Thieves, in as pretentious terms as I can manage, is a story about the differences between reality and fiction, and lack thereof. Simply put: Owen, he who sits in math class and loves to fanboy hard, gets a chance to save the hero of his hero, and then play the part of his hero. Bethany, she who skirts the edges of fun, after much cajoling and running and shouting and saving the world, finally gives in and acts a bit fictional to save reality.
In all, it's a clever and emotional and action-packed book with characters as similar to you and me as can be if we were all tweens (I think) who hated math.
"It worked. And it worked because I embraced the problems and made it work for me.That's real magic." "No. Real magic is when you make something happen that's physically impossible." "Well, sure, that too. That's real magic. But this is realer magic." "No, it's not that either. The word doesn't even exist." "So, in a away, that word is magic, by your definition."
It pokes fun and fingers through cliches and tropes about story characters, then full-on embraces them. Hell, the story makes use of plot holes to complete the plot. And hats off to THAT!
More to the point: There are side characters whose full depths we perhaps never truly realize until we confront them ourselves--that's what James Riley shows, in the fictional world in his fictional story within this fictional story.
Owen plays the part of Kiel Gnomenfoot, dying and being saved by dumb luck, solely on the conviction that it's a book, and nothing truly bad can happen. However, as he plods along, it turns out that the book gets progressively darker. And in the end, it's the reality that he's faced, has lived in, has conditioned him which ends up saving him.
And Bethany, who is half-fictional and can dive into stories, becomes a little more fictional in her life. Embraces the impossible.
"You don't ever speak to me again, do you understand? And if you ever tell anyone about me, I'll find the deepest, darkest math book I can find, and drop you into the most boring part!"
She's truly formidable.
Like I said: clever, clever book. Not the clever of books like Little Bee but you know, I found kernels of secrets and irony and realism that even now make me giggle.
The story within the story is, from a space-eagle's perspective with poor eyesight, about an inter-planetary war between Magisteria, world of magic and imagination and chaos, and Quanterium, world of science and order and innovation. It's a thought-out, quirky world and I truly appreciated the fact that I got to finish its story, that the author had me invested in it so fast, so hard.
It's funny, sad, poignant and full of awesome. These are characters you understand, who make you laugh and smile and giggle all in one breath, whom you sometimes would prefer to throw out of the book. They're not as fleshed out and/or complicated as the last what? Thomas Hardy book you read. But I loved it. I loved it. And you should read it tooooooooooo!
There ARE so many plotholes and questions I'd like to ask and consequences that weren't dealt with but I think the last was kinda one of the points of this ordeal our characters went through and to the rest, well I still love it, don't I?
There are tidbits about life and librarians, too.
"Don't worry. Maybe you just haven't found your favorite book yet. I honestly don't think anyone has. Just when you think you might have a favorite, something better comes along."
Thank you thank you thank you to the people at Aladdin who rose up like a genie from a bottle in mist and clouds and fog, to present the best book I've read in 2015 so far.
*Probably, Owen and Bethany won't be big fans of mine....more
You want to know how much I liked this book? I liked it thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much.
"Some people aren't good at anything. Some people just really liYou want to know how much I liked this book? I liked it thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much.
"Some people aren't good at anything. Some people just really like donuts."
Lisa Graff always writes the best books ever. And they almost always fall into my lap just when I need them the most. She is my re-bound author but also so much more because the more you read her book, the better you like it, even if the wonder of first-time read her stories have isn't there. There's the wonder of revising an old, gold friend.
This was my first time reading Absolutely Almost, but I'm most certain it'll not be the last.
I like MG books as much as the next reader, maybe a bit more, but there are few authors I rrrrreally trust to make me believe in my characters without going the way of dark and depressing, at the end of whose destiny shine bright therapies I'm never getting to (I mean The Riverman anyone? REALLY MR STARMER???) Besides, Lisa Graff I can only think of Rebecca Stead (never an improper moment to mention that I love When You Reach Me more than you love your gallbladder).
But Absolutely Almost. Albie is not smart or particularly funny. His mum and dad aren't bad, but they're just trying to figure out how to be the best mum and dad, and sometimes they fail. He is definitely not good at math. And I like math. His name is Albin, not Albert after Einstein.
He's sad almost all the time. And I'm not selling this book right.
So basically before I ruin any slight possibility I had of convincing you, know this: this book is absolutely almost perfect, and while that may not be as good as perfect, I bet it's better than what you're doing now, which is reading this craptastic review. You really need to do something better with you life, people, and reading my reviews ain't it.
It's funny, sad, very very sad, thankfully no one dies, happy sometimes, and great. It is wholesome in a way that no meal or baseball ever could be. And it is the smartest book I've read in a long while even if it's the story of a not-so-smart kid and how life can be hard if you're a not-so-smart kid. It asks just the right questions.
"What do people do on sad days?"
And it knows the right sort of things.
"Everyone deserves a sad day once in a while," Calista told me. "Sometimes things are too big for cheering up. Sometimes the best way to make things better is just to let yourself be sad for a little bit."
Nice people didn't make other people yell-whisper instead of pee.
I love Lisa Graff creates these characters, little or grown-up, so starkly and clearly without bothering the reader too much build-up and no one is too nice or bad, even the best persons fall for stupid idiots they don't deserve to deal with, and it's never too little or too much. It's so much like real life but not overtly in a way that reality seems fake. It's the perfect balance of everything without trying or being obvious. I love love love love it.
I'm not even going to cry about where these books were when I was ten; I'm just glad they are here when I need them.
And Betsy said "trick or treat" twice with no stuttering. I heard her.
Absolutely Almost is full of these little things that make me smile a half-smile people do in books and movies; it makes me feel all kind of gooey and yay for a good day in a long while! inside.
Darissa taught us a new handball game called Butt's Up, which none of us were very good at, but we liked playing because it had the word butt in it.
I know you're probably very busy or maybe sad (who isn't?)(if you aren't so much yes) but lemme just extend a tiny hint to you: give this book a go.
Even smart people probably like to get a hint every once in a while.
Now, I won't keep you any longer or I'll fill up the entire tiny book in this review and then ruin your reading experience so bye! here I go back to probably-crappy books and you should think about this one. Later gators!
First book I've read and finished in a long while so I'm wholly, incorrigibly grateful to someone.
Unbecoming A Novel tries to get across as a novel oFirst book I've read and finished in a long while so I'm wholly, incorrigibly grateful to someone.
Unbecoming A Novel tries to get across as a novel of grandiose, I think, but inside is a story in complete contrast. The characters try to come off as players in the major leagues, but their dynamics are simpler, motivations clearer than you'd expect. There's a twisted sort of homeliness,- or longing for it - as opposed to mind-fucks and coziness, that worked for me. It's where the genius lies.
The story is split into two parts, past and present. For a greater part of the novel, 'present' sets up only the mental and physical surrounding of Julie as stories, backgrounds, histories and action opens up in the 'past' chapters in the life of Grace. There's a ring of contrariness that consecutive chapters set up because of the difference in what time of the same character - Julie actually being Grace - that actually mitigates any sort of disorientation that comes from reading stories written in such manner.
The first lie Grace ever told Hanna was her name.
Suspense builds up in one part while there's the lull of relatively normal life and unwarranted anticipation born of guilt that is a part of it. When we are finally done with the past and we get to what was behind the beginning of the story, the 'present' chapters come to the forefront and everything materializes.
Grace was a lonely, neglected girl (aren't they all?) when she fell in love with Riley. Riley opened the gate for her to his family - his mother, Mrs Graham. Slowly, this love evolves and changes and becomes confused. It's not love for Riley anymore but the sense of belonging and family that being with him brings about. She becomes the daughter Mrs Graham never had. Mrs Graham is the kind of mother Grace never had. And as this childhood love for Riley morphs, as she falls for another, the harder she tries to hold on, doing whatever to keep a hold of/on him. There is Alls, the biggest temptation. And she realizes that Mrs Graham may not be that mother at all.
Fast forward three years, Julie lives in Paris while the two main characters of her childhood - Riley, her husband, and his best friend, her lover, Alls - are finally let out on parole.
Grace goes through many changes during the course of her story, on the way to becoming Julie. There are precursors obvious enough but the changes are gradual processes that change her perception, what she sees and was unwilling to see before. Only one thing is constant, despite what may come: her longing to be Mrs Graham's, truly. And these transformations of characters were the bestest thing of all.
So... this is a basic love triangle kind of story, in a way since the kinds of love differ, which leads to disastrous consequences.
Yet for me, consequences and everything weren't the important part. There are three characters - Grace, Alls, Hanna - and the lengths one may go to fool oneself. There are nuances to them but they're still actually simple, and by that I don't mean lacking in anything. They're all different and as unhinged, fucked-up or psychotic at least the first two try to be, their motivations are easy to figure out and understand. Yet that causes intrigue all of its own.
Unbecoming A Novel is kind of psychological in its own way, but more than that, it's a character study. If you can get into Grace, you will enjoy this story, simple as that.
But there are other aspects to consider: Scherm's writing is grrrr-reat. I mean, it's totally palatable but maintains a kind of class and insight. It doesn't exactly resonate but comes close to it.
The only thing that miffed me a bit was the turn that the story took towards the end. It seemed too easy, too wonderful but comes along a conclusion rife with bitterness and want, ending it all on a purr-fect note. I'm still miffed, though.
But yay for this book! I'd LOVE it if you LOVE this book. It's a intriguing, fantastic book, just sizzling in anticipation of your readership. Ohh do read it! Even if you slightly like it, I won't hate you. Don't let that cover turn you off; it looks much better in reality.
Think of a carefully honed, bejeweled dagger that will blind you in the sun just as soon as it'll slice yoI vow to never underestimate Marie Lu again.
Think of a carefully honed, bejeweled dagger that will blind you in the sun just as soon as it'll slice you under cover of darkness. THAT's what The Young Elites is. Think of a girl twisted up inside, but you can't see it; you only see what she sees and you're taken in completely, oblivious while you dance around that precise blade, and then you do see it. You recognize it. And you revel in it, in her.
You get fucking high on her story, chaos, pain and death.
In spite of everything, I feel a strange sense of glee. All this chaos is of my own creation.
You know it, I know it: I am pretty damn awesome. Yet I am fundamentally incapable of handling too much awesome that is not born of me at a time. And know this, too: I read The Young Elites intermittently through two days and nights, escaping to release pent up energy building inside of me, not of the meals I skipped, but that high I mentioned.
Just imagine how awesome The Young Elites is. No, wait-you can't. You, being the human that you are, are pathologically incapable of it. Let me give you hints. Let me describe it.
Join me in the revelry.
It is not a perfect book, but its characters' outshine every blemish and scourge I think to cast. Adelina Amouteru is at the center of this poisonous cloud that tells the story in cowardly whispers and calm statements of power and silent, maddened screams. She is the little lamb, toyed around here and there. Beginning as a scared runaway, ending as an exhausted antihero, she destroys the vision of a nation.
This is not a story of triumph.
It's the story of how Adelina fucks up.
It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.
After being sentenced to abuse, neglect, coin hungry people, and threat of execution, she is brought under the wings of the Young Elites. The best amongst society's pariahs and victims, they're not a band of superheroes. The path to their destination is fraught with moral complexities, deaths of innocents. They stand by as those they vow to save afterwards die; they kill their own with indelicate hands. Their leader is Enzo Valenciano, whose passion and darkness sings to Adelina's own, and beside him is Rafaelle Laurent Bessette, whose hand wipes away her tears while writing her death sentence.
And I loved every member of this trio.
[image]
They're complicated mammals on the wings of robots ambition, perhaps not as fleshed out as I wanted, especially in the case of Enzo (view spoiler)[whose character formation I'd once hoped to follow in book #2 (hide spoiler)] and I wish there had been more chapters with Rafaelle's perspective, but each one was possessed of soul black and ambiguous enough for me to fall for.
As dark as the situation progressively becomes, it's NOTHING compared to its characters.
Frankly, it's for the characters I exhort you to read this book, not the situation or world or magic, which I admittedly found lacking.
I complain because the depth of political intrigue was lost somewhere during sessions of energy manipulation.
I complain because I didn't understand the gender structure, the role of women: their worth seems to be in making advantageous matches, yet girls compete in race horses along with men.
I complain because a lot of other characters' formations in the beginning were done in abstract terms.
I complain because of the focus on how pretty and dazzling everything thing is.
I complain because I never did get the sense that their county, their city in particular, was in throes of poverty.
I complain because their enemy in focus, Teren Santoro, didn't have enough to give his own, regardless of his potential.
But I do it in few, in consequential terms because Marie Lu makes the dearth less obvious. Because she enchants with her refined, descriptive writing, beguiling one into complacency. Because her characters speak a lot in their actions. Because, despite everything, Teren was still fascinating. Because while engaged in the matter of Adelina's own terrible and confused self, one forgets one's own world, much less theirs.
And each of these facets separates the book from every other high-fantasy or superhero novel I've read.
And did I mention how breathtaking, feeling, piercing, vivid, and emotive the writing was?
Enzo attacks again.
I tell you, I wanted to be him. I wanted to be his opponent. That rush, those movements and heightened energy Adelina was only cognizant of passively, from a distance, as Enzo fought, I wanted to be part of.
It was so damn good.
I am Adelina Amouteru. I belong to no one. On this night, I swear to you that I will rise above everything you’ve ever taught me. I will become a force that this world has never known. I will come into such power that none will dare hurt me again.
So. Damn. Good. Good enough to almost give you an orgasm. If you're into that brand of madness, like I am. It makes me tremble in dark glee.
[image] You know what I mean; I just needed him in this review.
I am going to read The Young Elites again, this time without pauses. You should read it too. And I need to find a song for it. Maybe...
Not a perfect fit, but the macabre + sexy fits, methinks. It doesn't speak for the entire experience of The Young Elites though. Still on the hunt.
This story didn't blow me away in one gust-that would have been rather disappointing, no? It built up in stages, in a crescendo, concluding with a bang at a maybe perfect ending. Oh look! I got another relatively appropriate song for this aspect of Lu's writing:
I am dying here, of uncontainable anticipation and energy, for the second book and it doesn't even seem to have a name yet. You're killing me, Dear Author. And if someone doesn't come back, by hook or crook, I don't think I'll be the one whose death report the coroner has to write up.
Tomorrow, I will take on all of these things. I will be unstoppable.
[image]
(I was kind of hoping The Young Elites would help grow a pair hard (hehehehehheheheh) enough to finally read Champion but I've observed no growth of such appendages yet.)...more
Overall, I rrrrrreally enjoyed it. Heh, I liked the sex scenes in that I didn't hate them and they didn't make me feel icky. There were some grammaticOverall, I rrrrrreally enjoyed it. Heh, I liked the sex scenes in that I didn't hate them and they didn't make me feel icky. There were some grammatical mistakes but whatever. It was just so much fun, especially the other fairy tales twisted and worked into this singular story....more
"The chimneys and stovepipes have not been singing as often lately. That's never a good sign for the city. They know something's wrong."
I know the"The chimneys and stovepipes have not been singing as often lately. That's never a good sign for the city. They know something's wrong."
I know there have been Sherlock comparisons but Jackaby, for me, only alludes to Doctor Who derivations and boy am I glad for that. The book may certainly share some particulars with the former; however, throughout the exploits, I kept getting the sense of being stuck in the mind of Clara Oswald, while she's gallivanting about in history with the Eleventh Doctor, as only she does. While that in itself is grounds for satisfaction, the author takes it several steps ahead on both counts.
[image]
"Monsters are easy, Miss Rook. They're monsters. But a monster in a suit? That's basically just a wicked man, and a wicked man is a more dangerous thing by far."
Is that not precisely the kind of think the Doctor would say?
In recent memory, Jackaby happens to be the only book I've thoroughly enjoyed, experiencing not a moment of boredom or distraction. With due diligence given to each aspect to ensure it's entertainment value, the story is hilarious, interesting, grim and dominantly, fantastically adventurous, with that particular allure of episodic wonders! As in, come in, come in, for the time of your life...and if you wish, leave afterwards but will you, really?
The character cast is enamoring. I've already attributed the two main ones to whom I think they resemble, but that's it. There's simply resemblance, and each possesses a dark cavity of their own personality that we don't, with the flick of a redundant wand, become cognizant of simply by the virtue of being the reader.
Abigail, our headstrong protagonist, is a girl whose failed attempts at finding adventure have disillusioned her, yet not to the point that she doesn't, and grab in an iron grip, when it dangles before her. For a while now, she's come to terms with her personal drama with parents and thus, the story is more focused on the enterprises she's been longing for forever, as opposed to her melodrama that ensues from familial discords in books. And there's much more to her that we observe in her handling of society, not in her thought processes.
On the other hand, Jackaby resembles the Eleventh a lot: mumbling, awkward, verbose when it comes to seemingly inconsequential information that is interesting nonetheless, laconic when it comes to answers. Despite that, I indeed got the sense of him being his own person. He's not Sherlock and he's not the Eleventh, I think that should be made clear. Anymore than that, you should find out yourself.
"...This world is full of dragon slayers. What we need are a few more people who aren't too proud to listen to a fish."
Also, was Jackaby's house itself not similar to T.A.R.D.I.S. in a sense? (Answer: It was!)
And off they go! Oh, the places they'll go!
Although I figured out the identity of our serial killer early on, that did not affect my enjoyment at all, as it didn't impugn Jackaby's character/intelligence a bit. I actually found it an entertaining exercise to see how they reached the ultimate conclusion, and the solving process remained integral, intriguing. On that account, my wishes were unfulfilled as in case of Abigail, the disclosure of the identity was relatively incidental but yet again, it mattered not one bit.
There were certain aspects that I wish had been explored a bit more-such as, Jackaby's abilities or the historical context of it, and I do so found the sidewise reference to Arthur Conan Doyle's works a misstep.
Finding myself lost, or at least dissolved, in the parable, I was reminded of a time when reason didn't matter, stupidity wasn't obvious and one could simply be off saving this world or that, or simply exploring it. The fact that William Ritter brought me back to a place reminiscent of the aforementioned, even in my obtrusively cynical capacity, is a fact that entirely behooves me to urge one and all to give Jackaby a try.
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In any case, the debut author in now on my auto-buy list-that is, if I can't get my hands on a review copy first. And I look forward to more episodic, frolicking escapades with Jackaby and Abigail, if there be more books.
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"Oh yes," answered Jackaby. "Yes, indeed, Miss Rook. It seems the plot is much larger and more wicked than we'd feared."
In the past month, I've read three or so vampire spoof novels. I need more. SO MANY MORE. They are th3.75(Woulda been four but some parts were boring)
In the past month, I've read three or so vampire spoof novels. I need more. SO MANY MORE. They are the best because not only do they satiate my thirst for vampire non-melodrama, they also give me a respite from ALL THINGS melodramatic in books. ...more
Disclaimer: I only read a 26 page preview provided by the publishers but it was so, so good I can't help myself.
El Deafo is one of the most bittersweeDisclaimer: I only read a 26 page preview provided by the publishers but it was so, so good I can't help myself.
El Deafo is one of the most bittersweet stories I've read recently.
After a sudden onset of Meningitis and days in hospital, four year-old Cece loses her hearing. The story follows her as she discovers and copes with this. Ere long, she gets back into her favorite costume- her swimsuit and goes back to enjoying the pleasures of summer. Although her world is unquestionably silent, Cece isn't embittered by her condition because it has its own perks: everyone is extra special to her.
Then she gets a hearing aid and while she can make out sounds, it's still hard for her to understand which creates quite the rift between her and her best friend.
There are so many things she has to learn still! In kindergarten, she is taught to understand people sans their voice. But there are so many rules! And they don't always work out. Worst of all, her family up and moves to a small town where the neighborhood kids are obsessed with the radio. Life-and summer-is quite different for Cece now. And lonely.
But when school starts, she is not one to be gotten down so easily. She has a new device!
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She might not be able to hear and she might be different from others but along the way, Cece discovers that it can actually be a gift. Her phonic ear connects to a mic on her teacher and suddenly, she can hear everything! her teacher says or *ahem* unfortunately does. Like in the loo.
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But it's not all fun and games and spying because soon enough, reality hits Cece hard when she finds out superheroes might be unique, but they're also quite lonely. In the end, she is last girl standing confronted with the reality of her own deafness.
Cece Bell has fashioned the story after her own childhood memories, having suffered the same. In her note, she admits that re-creating her childhood voice was her main focus. On that note, it's even harder to believe that a four year old would think like this:
I take a terrifying bus ride holding the hand of a mysterious woman with a serious afro.
Most of the time we are lost, drifting along on our own planets.
Beyond that, however, I think this is a remarkable book. Hearing disability is one of the most under-represented theme in YA/MG/Children's books and so this was a sorely needed book. (Far as I can remember, Five Flavors of Dumb is a good YA book with a hearing impaired MC.)
Cece Bell deserve all the praise I give her and beyond.
When you're out of crack, i.e. pnr/uf books, you can always count on them booty hunters and private dicks. Won't affect your crackheaded-ness one bit;When you're out of crack, i.e. pnr/uf books, you can always count on them booty hunters and private dicks. Won't affect your crackheaded-ness one bit; hell, it'll reinforce it. ...more
STAY. THE. FUCK. AWAY. FROM. RICH. PREP. BOYS. Unless you're Anne Dowling. Actually, stay away from rich Americans. Unless they're like Remy, who is thSTAY. THE. FUCK. AWAY. FROM. RICH. PREP. BOYS. Unless you're Anne Dowling. Actually, stay away from rich Americans. Unless they're like Remy, who is the best thing ever since Suspect X.(Weird, I know. But the book(The Devotion of Suspect X ) was right in front of me and what can I say? I'm susceptible.)
Thissssssss book. I absolutely love that her voice doesn't ever try to make up all of these meaningful quotes and lessons that I'd like to quote because what fucking teenager does that? Maybe a 3 tb one like my sister, but those are rare. And on the rare occasion that she- Anne- does, it amalgamates with her voice and desperation and emotions so much, it feels true. Like this one:
Maybe we are all bad, and getting by on the moments where we try not to be.
This book is what mystery books are supposed to be like. Not always a resolution. Nothing like that book- Nearly Gone, whose mystery might have been okay, but the rest was crap. SOOOOO Good.
NEXT BOOK(whose cover is the best of the series). PLEASE.
Ummm, I do think that people with no mental problems indeed arrange their clothes according to color, because it's easier to deal with? because they mUmmm, I do think that people with no mental problems indeed arrange their clothes according to color, because it's easier to deal with? because they might be anal? because they have nothing better to do a Saturday afternoon?
But because I loved Anne Dowling so much, I'm willing to ignore a lot of things. And because I loved this book so much, I'm willing to ignore even more things. (No, it's only because I have a poor memory.)
After splurging on other readers' reviews, I have ultimately come to the realization that nah, I won't be able to review this book coherently ever.3.5
After splurging on other readers' reviews, I have ultimately come to the realization that nah, I won't be able to review this book coherently ever.
Basically, when I think about this story, all I can conjure up are words along the line of "more why no more? please please so fantastic i need moarmoarmoar amour"- so can you see where I'm coming from?
There are a lot more intricacies and cleverness about Magnolia that one needs to consider and appreciate and hell yeah, I'm that person but this isn't that review. There are much better reviews out there and then there's this book so don't waste your time on me.
Magnolia was a fantastic read in a depressing time that came to my attention after Khanh's persuasive review. The characters of this story aren't the most original, or inspiring but there were facets of their portrayal that have stuck with me till now. And being the foe yay lover that I am, as well as of stories where the character are stuck together yet the love isn't circumstantial, how could I not enjoy this book?
I know I have some notes somewhere(I know exactly where they are but frankly, I ain't interested in them) but I read this book back in April! I should probably get up to speed with reviews, eh?
Now that is enough of the rambling, I suppose, plus the Germany vs France match is about to start! GO err-one of the countries!!!...more
Christine Heppermann's book of poems is an uncharted land of twisted familiarity-drowning dreams, trapped girls, interminable diseases and poisoned4.5
Christine Heppermann's book of poems is an uncharted land of twisted familiarity-drowning dreams, trapped girls, interminable diseases and poisoned apples. These poems, ranging in style and content and voice, are beautifully haunting and possess a tangible loneliness that speaks out starkly.
I've already read and read and read them again-so many times rinse and repeat. The first time around, I actually wasn't planning on it. I was waiting for my net connection to re-establish so I could download a few other books from my dashboard, was just messing around whiling away the time until I had to leave for something or the other, when I opened the book and an hour later, couldn't stop poring over each facet of Poisoned Apples Poems for You My Pretty.
What makes it beyond exceptional and into unexpected territory, is not only the content,-which would suffice in itself because it is just that. bloody. good.-it's also the inclusion of media-photographs-that integrate so well with each poem and give themselves, and the accompanying poems. an unshakable resonance.
Tangled within everything are fairy tales and myths, urging one to look deeper within them. The author draws parallels between fairy tales and girls' lives; points out the paradigms in the former of a hidden want to tell stories. Darkly comic, it laughs at itself and begs the reader to see, understand because no one else does. Even when you can't understand them, they ask for you. Especially then.
These poems seem to scream, whisper sporadically; that red on the cover reminds me of blood, the book is bleeding.
I honestly can't wait to get my hands on a finished copy that I can flit through, pass around, and read until its spine breaks. And I never, ever wish for that....more
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