Search

Search only in certain items:

Making Friends with Alice Dyson
Making Friends with Alice Dyson
Poppy Nwosu | 2019 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Gender Studies, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I adored this book! When I saw the title and read the description I was immediately drawn to it: first, my name is Alice and the protagonist's name is Alice (probably a selfish reason but hey), I also saw so much of myself in this character even from reading the description that I knew that we would click because I was also kind of a nerd and an outcast at school. It's also Australian so that meant that I got to pull out my best Australian accent while reading it (I'll leave it up to you to decide if that's a good or bad thing). I related quite strongly to a lot of Alice's high school experiences and I loved how she was able to gain confidence and grow throughout the story. I think my enjoyment at the start was maybe hampered by me trying to read too many books at once because I ended up just sitting down and inhaling the rest of it in one sitting. I also LOVE Teddy Taualai but that goes without saying (I love almost all sweet but angsty teenage boy characters, they are the way to my heart)! I also love that it tackled first love, first friendships and just general high school drama. This book wasn't perfect but I related so strongly to it that I have to show it all the love!
  
...And Justice for All by Metallica
...And Justice for All by Metallica
1988 | Rock
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"All bands develop over time, and I'm definitely an old school Metallica fan. Those first three albums are about as good as it gets really. I really enjoyed the track 'One' on this record. It was a really complex piece of work. And that story of the guy who's come back from war and has lost his arms and legs and everything was just really dark and sombre. It was just a very strong political statement and that caught my imagination. I love those first three Metallica records, but I chose ...And Justice For All because of the overall complete experience of the album. This album shows the very first signs of Metallica being adventurous with their sound, and it has a great confidence to it. I've always admired them because they've always just been themselves, by themselves. They just do exactly what they want to do and I'm very excited to know exactly what this next one is going to sound like, even though Kirk [Hammett, Metallica guitarist] has dropped some hints that it won't sound like this record. But, y'know, everybody wants them to do Ride The Lightning again in the same way that everybody wants Priest to do Painkiller again. I don't think that some people understand that it's difficult to get things right for you as a band at the same time as trying to please your fans. I know from experience that you need to let your heart lead you, which is why I'm so interested to hear this new material."

Source
  
Invisible In A Bright Light
Invisible In A Bright Light
Sally Gardner | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This story is told from multiple perspectives and the protagonist of this book should be Celeste, a girl who wakes up in a basket as someone else, a girl called Maria. Celeste is very confused about who is this Maria, and why she is living her life. Even though this book tells Celeste’s journey, for me, the true protagonist of this book is Hildegard, a young girl, who was abused and bullied by her self centred mother. This whole story is kind of about her. That is the beauty of this book, the characters are so closely connected and entwined, that it makes this book a one beautiful and complex work of art.

I have to admit, this book was quite hard to read sometimes. Even though the plot is great and absorbing, the writing style felt quite jumpy and chaotic, and that made this book a little difficult to understand sometimes. I have to admit, if I would read it as a child, it would not make sense to me, but reading it as an adult, I truly learned how to enjoy it to the fullest. The author discussed very important topics in this book, such as emotional and physical abuse against children, lack of confidence in children, loss, friendship, self-obsession, and many more. The plot was quite layered, sometimes it is a ghost story, sometimes an adventure and it is filled with plenty of magic as well, all these changes in the atmosphere kept me entertained throughout the pages.
  
40x40

Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Dec 5, 2020 (Updated Dec 5, 2020)  
Stop by my blog, and check out this great interview with the sexy Ridge Steele from the Western historical romance novel ONCE UPON A MAIL ORDER BRIDE by Linda Broday. Enter the GIVEAWAY to win a signed copy of the book, all four books in the Mail Order Brides Series autographed by Linda Broday or a $10 Amazon gift card!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-once-upon.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Accused of crimes he didn't commit, ex-preacher Ridge Steele is forced to give up everything he knew and make his home with outlaws. Desperate for someone to confide in, he strikes up correspondence with mail-order bride Adeline Jancy, finding in her the open heart he's been searching for. Upon her arrival, Ridge discovers Addie only communicates through the written word, but he knows a little of what trauma can do to a person and vows to stand by her side.

Addie is eager to start a new life with the kind ex-preacher and the little boy she's stolen away from her father―a zealot priest of a terrorized flock. As her small family settles into life at Hope's Crossing, she even begins to find the voice, and confidence, she'd lost so long ago.

But danger is not far behind, and her father will not be denied. While Addie desperately fights the man who destroyed her childhood, a determined Ridge races to the rescue. The star-crossed lovers will need more than prayers to survive this final challenge...and find their way back to each other again.
     
Fire in the Rain (Wraidd Elfennol #4)
Fire in the Rain (Wraidd Elfennol #4)
Morgan Sheppard | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fire in the Rain is the fourth and final book in the Wraidd Elfennol series and brings this fantastical series to a fitting end.

Afon and Necia are a married couple, which makes a nice change, who have been together for five years. They are both Chosen to bring back the balance once more although Necia copes with it easier than Afon does.

Just the same as with Of Land and Sky, time has moved on and we meet the great-grandchildren of Bran and Shyla, Rhosyn and Opal. I love how past characters are brought into the story whilst each story stands by itself, although I would recommend reading them as a series as there is an overall story arc.

This book has a faster pace than the others but it is just as nail-biting in places. Packed full of emotions, this story deals with self-confidence and self-worth as well as other subjects.

This has been a full-on fantasy series that I have thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend to all fantasy lovers, especially if you have a love of Welsh mythology.

"The one thing that always remained true, no matter what other change occurred, was the love to be found within the silence of beats of the heart of Wraidd Elfennol."

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!