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BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years in Books

Jan 2, 2019  
TI
Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years
Mark Lewisohn | 2016
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If you don't know by now, I am a huge fan of the Beatles. Both of my children have their own Beatles song (Hey Jude and Help), however my general knowledge of their history is not so great. So when I saw Tune In, I didn't hesitate at the opportunity to read it. Being born in the late 80s I can only imagine what it was like to live in the world of Beatlemania, endure the sorrow of their breakup, and all the years in between. Which is why I am so excited about this book. Something else about me, is that I value history, learning the facts and details about people and time periods. Tune In is an extremely in depth look at the men that changed music forever.

Beginning with their family histories, we learn everything there is to know about the background, the life, the creation of the Beatles. Each chapter covers a few years to a few months, and a single day in some cases, beginning in 1845-1945 with the histories of their families, going through their childhood years in the next chapter (1945-1954), and taking us through to the end of 1962.

I have only begun to scratch the surface of this book and I think it is safe to say...Mind...Blown. So much detail, so much history. I love it! With about 80 pages of Notes and another 10 for Credits Mark Lewisohn has definitely done his research to give us such an in depth account of Beatles history. If you are a fan of the Beatles, you are sure to love reading Tune In. Now to wait for volume two...

I received a free copy of Tune In (The Beatles: All These Years) Volume 1, from the publisher through Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
  
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Hazel (1853 KP) rated White Petals in Books

Dec 17, 2018  
WP
White Petals
Maria Grace | 2015
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i>I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.</i>

First her father died, then her Nana, and to top it all off her mother has been placed in a psychiatric hospital. Life for Emmeline Rose has not been easy but the unfortunate circumstances are going to lead her to the discovery of a secret gift. In this young adult novel, <i>White Petals</i>, Maria Grace creates a heartwarming tale of grief, friendship and fantasy.

Fourteen-year-old Em has been placed in a children’s home whilst her mother recovers from a psychotic breakdown. Here she begins to make friends with some of the other children, however she finds herself being bullied at school. Yet, what she cannot understand is why she gets a painful ringing in her ears whenever the school bully is around. But when her mother starts explaining mind-boggling things about their family, things start to make more sense.

The novel is a first person narrative therefore everything is shown from Em’s point of view. This, however, results in the story sounding like a young teenager has written it, which can be rather annoying. On the other hand, this aspect helps relate to the intended target audience.

The biggest issue with <i>White Petals</i> is the way mental illness is described. Phrases such as “off her tree”, “crazy”, “psycho” and “nutter” are frequently used throughout the narrative. Mental health stigma is a growing problem that many charities and organizations are challenging. Although many teenagers may genuinely think this way due to a lack of understanding, there is no attempt in this book to contradict these beliefs and educate the reader.

Overall I personally do not think this book is anything special, however many teenagers may enjoy the humour some of the characters bring to the story. Each chapter is headed by illustrations that were the result of a competition held in Wales for eleven to eighteen year olds. Despite certain misgivings, the story was still interesting to read.
  
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Dracoria Malfoy (690 KP) created a post

Jan 5, 2018 (Updated Jan 5, 2018)  
New poem!!! You guys probably don't know, but I'm extremely anti-American Education System. There's a lot of problems that need to be solved, of which I may improve upon another day. But for now, there's this.

This one is called 'A Depressing Poem About How the Education System is Corrupt'


Days have gone by,
Days to weeks,
Weeks to months,
Months to years,
Yes, years.

Years and years
Of the same thing
Over
And over

And over again

No change, No difference,
Nothing else.
Nothing worth knowing,
Nothing that’ll help.

And yet we’re sent away
To this place they say,
“It’ll help, you’ll learn!”
A jail with color.
But that’s all it is.

Locked in the same room,
Same seats,
Same people,
But they don’t see.

They don’t see it hurts,
It hurts a lot.
The pain,
The cost,
So much.

Over and over,
Again and again.
I can’t do this anymore
We can’t do this anymore.

Tired and fed up
All of us
And yet, a revolt?
Ha!

As if. We’re too busy.
Too busy satisfying,
The teachers and parents,
The rest of the world.

Because of course,
Children are to be seen
And not heard.
      
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ClareR (5874 KP) rated Ordinary People in Books

Apr 6, 2018  
Ordinary People
Ordinary People
Diana Evans | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This isn't necessarily a book about race, even though it's set just as Obama becomes US President, and the main protagonists of the book are black. It's primarily, in my opinion, a story of relationships, and specifically the relationships of two couples: Melissa and Michael, and Stephanie and Damien. I was really looking forward to a book set in London (my home town) in the relative present day, but i have to admit that i felt very little joy when reading this book. I get that it's not necessarily a happy story; but it made life in a relationship and life with children seem so utterly depressing. No one seemed to be happy, and they all seemed to be completely incapable of speaking to one another. Small things become big things, big things become insurmountable. I felt like shaking them, to try and knock some sense into them - on many occasions!
Don't get me wrong - I liked it (a Goodreads 3 stars, which is a 'like'), but I didn't LOVE it. And I felt it could have been so much more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.