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Hannah May (3 KP) rated Eleanor & Park in Books
Mar 8, 2018
Contains spoilers, click to show
It was a strange kind of wonderful, reading this book. It is a romance in its purest form and has been written with so much care and tenderness. Eleanor & Park is unlike any book I have ever read - so far at least. The romantic build is slow, dramatic and captiviting, and it defies the stereotypes of everyday life. Eleanor is not your average teenage girl. She's not popular. She's not blonde. She's not stick thin. Her family is not rich. She is different and Rainbow Rowell reaffirms that idea again and again. She has a big mess of red hair. She's a social outcast. She's bullied. She comes from a broken family. She's anxious and self-conscious. She is so different and so far off the spectrum, that it was a never ending thrill hearing her side of the story, hearing of her struggles and passions. Reading from Eleanor's point of view really brought the whole world into perspective, and made me think in ways I have never done so before. Now. What can I say about Park without repeating myself? What I like most about him is his characterisation. Why? Because it sets him apart from the typical male protagonist you find in most Teen Fiction novels. He's quirky. He's sarcastic. He's a closet romantic. He's Asian. He wears make up. He too is an outcast. This alone makes him different, but no less intriguing or entertaining to read. I truly admire his devotion to Eleanor. Even when she tries to push him away, he's always there for her and he always loves her, despite her taciturn moods and snappy comments. He loves her so deeply and without shame. Needless to say, I wish there were more boys like him. Now, the ending was ambiguous and rather bittersweet. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed, but somehow I found it quite fitting; considering what happened and how far both Eleanor and Park had come, since their first meeting on the school bus. It's not the perfect happily-ever-after, but it was full of potential and hope that it was, in its own little way. It left a smile on my face, at least. Needless to say, I would recommend Eleanor and Park to anyone. From the setting to the characters to the little hidden messages, it is a real story. It is a real romance and it will move you; body and soul.
Dana (24 KP) rated A Gathering of Shadows in Books
Mar 23, 2018
So you all know how I felt about the first book. Yeah, those feeling are continuing over to this one.
I honestly could not put this damn book down if I tried. Which I didn't try because that would have been me depriving myself of something amazing and there is no reason to do that.
If I thought the first book hit my feelings, which it did, this one ran them over with a damn truck.
I loved the addition of Allucard Emery. He was my favorite new character because he is amazing and beautiful and just so great. I love his sass. He is such a great magic mentor for Delilah and I want him to have the world. He deserves to be happy. Anyone who thinks differently can fight me.
I love the idea of this competition. It's cool to see different kinds of magic users with the different elements, but also how they use them. Some are more defensive users, some more attack based. But all of them are really cool. I won't give away too much, but I am happy with the last couple of fights and how they went on. Especially that one. You know which one I'm talking about. Just great stuff there.
I love how Delilah and Kell's relationship is evolving in this book. They don't necessariily see all that much of each other, but when they do, sparks are FLYING. I was listening to the audio book when I was out running errands and in the middle of Michael's, I burst out laughing when they got to the ball part. It was just so cute and fun to see them relaxed for a change. Big fan. I ship them so hard it hurts. So whenever they were cross with each other, in my head, I was pushing them together saying "make up damn it. You will make beautiful children."
Those plot twists though. All of them got me right in the feels.
I will say without shame that I cried in this book. More than once. And almost in public. Those people in Michael's must have thought I was crazy.
The ending was mean. I mean, come on Victoria. That hurt. Why would you put me through that? I mean, yes, it was amazing that you wrote it so well I almost threw the book across the room, but still. My heart. I have to wait a bit until I can read the next one because I don't have any book stores around me to be able to get it and my library doesn't have it in physical copy either. But they do have an audio book version that I am on hold for. So there's that. I cannot wait.
I honestly could not put this damn book down if I tried. Which I didn't try because that would have been me depriving myself of something amazing and there is no reason to do that.
If I thought the first book hit my feelings, which it did, this one ran them over with a damn truck.
I loved the addition of Allucard Emery. He was my favorite new character because he is amazing and beautiful and just so great. I love his sass. He is such a great magic mentor for Delilah and I want him to have the world. He deserves to be happy. Anyone who thinks differently can fight me.
I love the idea of this competition. It's cool to see different kinds of magic users with the different elements, but also how they use them. Some are more defensive users, some more attack based. But all of them are really cool. I won't give away too much, but I am happy with the last couple of fights and how they went on. Especially that one. You know which one I'm talking about. Just great stuff there.
I love how Delilah and Kell's relationship is evolving in this book. They don't necessariily see all that much of each other, but when they do, sparks are FLYING. I was listening to the audio book when I was out running errands and in the middle of Michael's, I burst out laughing when they got to the ball part. It was just so cute and fun to see them relaxed for a change. Big fan. I ship them so hard it hurts. So whenever they were cross with each other, in my head, I was pushing them together saying "make up damn it. You will make beautiful children."
Those plot twists though. All of them got me right in the feels.
I will say without shame that I cried in this book. More than once. And almost in public. Those people in Michael's must have thought I was crazy.
The ending was mean. I mean, come on Victoria. That hurt. Why would you put me through that? I mean, yes, it was amazing that you wrote it so well I almost threw the book across the room, but still. My heart. I have to wait a bit until I can read the next one because I don't have any book stores around me to be able to get it and my library doesn't have it in physical copy either. But they do have an audio book version that I am on hold for. So there's that. I cannot wait.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The White Road in Books
Mar 15, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read by Sarah Lotz, plus it’s the first I’ve read to do with natural, mountainess horror… and I have to say I really enjoyed it! It instantly pulls you into the story, and the writing and setting instantly creates such an atmospheric, creepy and chilling feeling.
You do have to suspend belief for this novel. A man going down to do some caving is plausible, but the idea that Simon could climb Mount Everest after no professional training is just not believable. This didn’t bother me an awful lot as I was so involved with the characters stories and encaptured by the fear of the situations, but I know it can be an issue for some people.
I’m stunned at how claustrophobic and breathless this book made me feel. When we’re down in the caves with Simon, straight off, I found myself squirming and panicking as we made our way deeper into the abyss. Then those feelings were brought back to me again as we were scaling Everest and the air was getting thinner and thinner. Lotz really has a way of writing horrifying experiences! She’s also good at adding in humour to parts of the story that others would make severely intense, and I liked that we had that chance to have a bit of a mental break from all the dramatics.
I won’t lie and say this was the most perfect book in the world, because it isn’t. I was disappointed by the final climb up Everest. It all happened to quickly, I was stunned to turn the page and find we were back down at ABC camp. It wasn’t at all as climactic as what had happened down in the caves, which seemed weird, as this was our main event! <b><i>But</i></b>, the climb up Everest feels like much more like a <i>means</i> to an end.
Lotz is a master at getting you attached to characters. Simon was witty and he was tragic, by the end I felt like I knew him completely and to be honest, <i>I think I was in love with him a little bit. </i> When we get to the end, that chilling, haunting end, I very nearly shed a tear. I was so attached to his character, I felt like he was worth crying for, but somehow I kept my wits about me (very unlike me!)
Like I just mentioned, the ending is one of the best I’ve read. For me, it was everything I wanted it to be, and everything I didn’t want it to be. It was raw and terrifying. I felt a little choked up by it all.
Overall, I think I’ve discovered a new type of book I like! I like this horror-in-the-wilderness feel so I’m definitely going to be checking out more books like this! <i>(I just bought myself Ararat by Christopher Golden)</i> Please, if you read the synopsis and thought “hmm, that sounds like it could be good”, rush out to get this! I know Lotz’s other books have garnered pretty average to poor reviews, but after this, I’m going to have to check out her other stuff.
<i>Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an advanced reader’s copy of this book.</i>
You do have to suspend belief for this novel. A man going down to do some caving is plausible, but the idea that Simon could climb Mount Everest after no professional training is just not believable. This didn’t bother me an awful lot as I was so involved with the characters stories and encaptured by the fear of the situations, but I know it can be an issue for some people.
I’m stunned at how claustrophobic and breathless this book made me feel. When we’re down in the caves with Simon, straight off, I found myself squirming and panicking as we made our way deeper into the abyss. Then those feelings were brought back to me again as we were scaling Everest and the air was getting thinner and thinner. Lotz really has a way of writing horrifying experiences! She’s also good at adding in humour to parts of the story that others would make severely intense, and I liked that we had that chance to have a bit of a mental break from all the dramatics.
I won’t lie and say this was the most perfect book in the world, because it isn’t. I was disappointed by the final climb up Everest. It all happened to quickly, I was stunned to turn the page and find we were back down at ABC camp. It wasn’t at all as climactic as what had happened down in the caves, which seemed weird, as this was our main event! <b><i>But</i></b>, the climb up Everest feels like much more like a <i>means</i> to an end.
Lotz is a master at getting you attached to characters. Simon was witty and he was tragic, by the end I felt like I knew him completely and to be honest, <i>I think I was in love with him a little bit. </i> When we get to the end, that chilling, haunting end, I very nearly shed a tear. I was so attached to his character, I felt like he was worth crying for, but somehow I kept my wits about me (very unlike me!)
Like I just mentioned, the ending is one of the best I’ve read. For me, it was everything I wanted it to be, and everything I didn’t want it to be. It was raw and terrifying. I felt a little choked up by it all.
Overall, I think I’ve discovered a new type of book I like! I like this horror-in-the-wilderness feel so I’m definitely going to be checking out more books like this! <i>(I just bought myself Ararat by Christopher Golden)</i> Please, if you read the synopsis and thought “hmm, that sounds like it could be good”, rush out to get this! I know Lotz’s other books have garnered pretty average to poor reviews, but after this, I’m going to have to check out her other stuff.
<i>Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an advanced reader’s copy of this book.</i>
Kaysee Hood (83 KP) rated Go Ask Alice in Books
Oct 10, 2017
One Is All It Takes
Contains spoilers, click to show
How can you really put your own words about someone else's thoughts, someone else's experiences? How can I say she was wrong or right when she very much never had a chance to find out for herself? It seems like not only was she cheated, but we were cheated as well. We won't ever know if she ever adjusted to life without drugs. We won't even know if life with Joel was all she dreamed. Maybe she meant to do it. Maybe it was a mistake, she relapsed and thought she could handle as much as before if not more. Or maybe it was those who were upset she wasn't pushing anymore or thought she was selling them all out. No one can know and it's heartbreaking. It's a reminder no matter how tempting something is we should leave it alone even if we don't think we'll be another horror story.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Dear White People - Season 1 in TV
Oct 11, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)
Intelligent, diverse, well made series
I wasn't sure what to expect from a college related series, as I'm usually sceptical of that scene, however I was pleasantly surprised by this show. The cast is smart, the dialogue is intelligent, the content is noteworthy and the production is high-end.
Sam, the feisty radio host of Dear White People and activist on campus, is one of the main characters, split between six others, showcasing an array of diverse voices and talent. The name is self-explanatory but all I can say it begins on the premise of a "blackface" party held by some of the white students on site. It is horrifying, but it is current and highlights racial tensions in America today.
From gay black characters, to interracial relationships - there is a plethora of storylines weaved into each episode. Fantastic series.
Sam, the feisty radio host of Dear White People and activist on campus, is one of the main characters, split between six others, showcasing an array of diverse voices and talent. The name is self-explanatory but all I can say it begins on the premise of a "blackface" party held by some of the white students on site. It is horrifying, but it is current and highlights racial tensions in America today.
From gay black characters, to interracial relationships - there is a plethora of storylines weaved into each episode. Fantastic series.
Carlos Reygadas recommended L'humanite (1999) in Movies (curated)
Carlos Reygadas recommended The Life of Jesus (1997) in Movies (curated)
I think I can safely say that this book has been a hit with my children, the four year old has asked to be read it three times in a row, the six year old is now reading it for a fourth time, and both have demanded to know what Sparky does next.
Sparky is a cute purple dinosaur, learning some valuable lessons on not giving up when something is difficult, but also that sometimes the best thing to do to learn a new or difficult skill is to just have some fun. It's a lovely message for little ones, especially early in their schooling.
I've especially appreciated being able to use it as a conversation starter with the 6 year old who has some speech issues, and finds it a struggle not being quite like the other children in the class.
I would highly recommend this book.
Sparky is a cute purple dinosaur, learning some valuable lessons on not giving up when something is difficult, but also that sometimes the best thing to do to learn a new or difficult skill is to just have some fun. It's a lovely message for little ones, especially early in their schooling.
I've especially appreciated being able to use it as a conversation starter with the 6 year old who has some speech issues, and finds it a struggle not being quite like the other children in the class.
I would highly recommend this book.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Cruel Acts (Maeve Kerrigan #8) in Books
Sep 19, 2019
Once again, I find myself enthusing about one of Jane Casey's books starring the unparalleled partnership of Detectives Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent. This might be the 8th outing in this series, but it doesn't show and remains fresh and a riveting read from start to finish. I won't go into any of the plot as the blurb explains it well enough and to say more would give the game away but what I will advise is that you be prepared for twists and turns, tension and scenes of peril!
With fantastic characters, a gripping plot and enough back story so it can be read as a standalone, this is one not to be missed for all you fans of police-procedural/crime/suspense/thriller/etc/etc., lovers out there.
Thank you once again to the Publisher via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
With fantastic characters, a gripping plot and enough back story so it can be read as a standalone, this is one not to be missed for all you fans of police-procedural/crime/suspense/thriller/etc/etc., lovers out there.
Thank you once again to the Publisher via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
