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The Berenstain Bears Go Christmas Caroling
The Berenstain Bears Go Christmas Caroling
Mike Berenstain, Jan Berenstain | 2019 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If you're a Berenstain Bears fan growing up. Then this book is a must-have for your collection or your child's bookshelves. This book deals with the Christmas season and the tradition of Christmas caroling. This one put the bear family on a sleigh and caroling of Jingle Bells.

Sister Bear seems to have questions about some of the Christmas carols that are sung. You learn about some sweetly. This book takes us on a journey through the neighborhood and sings songs. The pictures are done well. Quick and easy to read.

It is also good to add to your advent calendar if you open new books and old ones for your advent calendar. You can create a new tradition by doing so. You can just read it at bedtime. Children will learn new things throughout the book and teach a lesson differently.

The Berenstain Bears Go Christmas Caroling is good for the season and holiday. These books are best for teaching and just learn some lessons. Children will learn something from each book. The pictures are done well. They are cute and enjoyable. Parents will want to read these books to their child or children throughout the year. These books are classics and a favorite. They will become a favorite of your child or children once you get them reading them. They are a favorite of mine and still are.
  
TM
The Mummy Case (Amelia Peabody, #3)
8
6.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Yet another fun mystery featuring Amelia Peabody. While I have to admit the mystery didn't interest me much, the repartee between the indomitable Amelia and Emerson, and Ms. Peabody's (or Mrs. Emerson's) narration, more than made up for it. Ramses can be amusing also, but he can be a bit too much sometimes, probably because he is too precocious and smart to be believed. How many languages does this five-year-old know? Although I do think this specific example is the whole point of these books and how they should be seen: as a farcical look on adventure books in the Victorian era, but that's just a guess. Also, the book was a bit too long and would have been a better book had thirty or so pages been taken out. However, Amelia and her exploits are still a fast and fun way to pass the time.
  
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
J.K. Rowling, Newt Scamander | 2001 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (34 Ratings)
Book Rating
If this was one of my text books I might have done my homework.
I was really unsure of reading this when it first came out since I tend to stay away from novellas or side books but it's for Harry Potter so I took the dive and you know what I was not disappointed.

I really didn't know how I was going to like reading a "text book" book but Fantastic Beasts is really cool in that you do get to learn more about the magical creatures of the wizarding world.. And honestly I wish it was longer!

My favorite thing and what really just helps this book be more immersive is that it is Harry Potter's old school text book so it has little notes from him and Ron. It's a small detail but just really cute and a must have for Potterheads.
  
40x40

Sarah (7798 KP) rated Origin in Books

Mar 17, 2019  
Origin
Origin
Dan Brown | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
3
7.3 (21 Ratings)
Book Rating
Long winded and dull
Dan Brown is a very divisive author. Most people either love him or hate him, and if I'm being honest, I'm verging more on the latter after reading this.

The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons were fantastic books, but I discovered after reading most of Dan Brown's other books that his writing and plots follow virtually the same paths. And that gets a little boring after a while when it feels like you're reading the same story with slightly different details. And this is the problem with Origin. It's the same old plot structure, but this time with a very dull storyline. It promises us this amazing discovery and builds it up for far too long over the initial 100 pages or so, but then reveals nothing until after 450 pages by which point I was very close to giving up. There wasn't even any tension or thrills during Brown's predictable chase scenes, and the whole story was just beyond dull and predictable. And even the final reveal right at the end, I'd predicted it right from the start. Think I may have to give up reading Dan Brown's books now.
  
Guilty Pleasures
Guilty Pleasures
Laurell K. Hamilton | 1993 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.9 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
Plot, characters (0 more)
Incredible
I cannot recommend this book enough! I read it when I was around 14 years old and it was one of the first books I've read where the characters and lives are so realistic (obviously the setting is slightly fantastical with supernatural creatures), it was so refreshing to see characters getting injured and that injury lasting more than a couple of pages, for there to be a need to eat and sleep which some stories don't seem to deem necessary, and for the character to struggle with issues more than just a bad guy. It was amazing that the main character wasn't some meek female that grew into someone strong in the space of a story but that she worked her butt off before the setting of the story and was just introduced as this hard as nails vampire executioner that loves penguins.

This was the perfect start to an amazing series that blew the Charlaine Harris books completely out of the water! A must read for any vampire/supernatural fan but do be warned that the later books do get more graphic and sexual so probably not suitable for younger readers.
  
Eight Perfect Murders (Rules for Perfect Murders - UK)
Eight Perfect Murders (Rules for Perfect Murders - UK)
Peter Swanson | 2020 | Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mystery Homage
This book had such a great premise and was a lot of fun to read. Part thriller and part homage to mystery books classic through to the more obscure. It was handy to have the GoodReads page to hand to check out any books mentioned that I wasn't familiar with.

The owner, Malcolm Kershaw, of the mystery book shop "Old Devils" writes blogs for the shop's blog. The blog entry that this book relates to is the list of "Perfect Murders" where he gives examples of books with what he considers to be perfect murders in them. When an FBI agent turns up on the doorstep theorising someone is using his list as a guide, Malcolm can't help but get himself involved in the investigation.

I read this under what I presume is the UK title: "Rules for Perfect Murders" and loved all the book name drops; for an avid mystery/thriller reader it was a great kick. The ending was slightly anticlimactic for me but the story itself is a quick exciting read with plenty of nice little twists.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
  
I took a chance on this book, based on the fact that Lucinda Riley is one of my friends' favourite authors. It's not something that I'd normally choose to read, but I'm glad I did. It's a really interesting story of how one of six adopted sisters, Maia, finds out about her birth family after the death of her adopted father. He leaves her some clues to help her, which to be fair, are pretty vague, and she enlists the help of a Brazilian author (whose books she translates from Portuguese to French) who also happens to be an historian.
Luckily, her adoptive father was very wealthy, and she has no financial need to find her birth family, but it must be nice when she discovers that they are an old Brazilian family, who were once very rich, and are now just plain old wealthy.
Maia also has a secret of her own in her past, one that has made her shut herself away from the world, and this trip to Brazil appears to be the start of her healing herself.
It's a lovely story, and I think I'll be keeping my eyes open for the other books in the series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and fairly review.
  
Flight of the Wren
Flight of the Wren
Atthys J. Gage | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is one of those books that you pick up and, even though you have read the synopsis, you're still not sure exactly what it is you've let yourself in for.

What I got is a book that I completely immersed myself in. I was lost within Renny's world of school, flying carpets, and first love. I loved the dream meetings she had with Parnell, as well as the Kettle meetings. These characters have a wide range of ages, and as such, it is a well-rounded group that you read about. The struggles that Renny faces are real, but she still manages to find time for love. And let's face it, what 17-year-old girl wouldn't do the same?

However, Flight of the Wren is not all sweetness and light. There is a 'big bad' in the shape of Mistral, an old apprentice of Parnell's. With kidnap, violence, friendship, loyalty, and more, this is one eventful book that will tug at your heartstrings, whilst giving you a thrilling ride. I absolutely loved this book, and can't wait to read Spark. Highly recommended.

* 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!
Jan 23, 2016
  
BA
Bartholomew and the Oobleck
Dr. Seuss | 1949
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
King Derwin of Didd is tired of the same old four things coming down from the sky, so he decides to get his magicians to create something new – Oobleck. However, his page Bartholomew things something is dangerous about it. Is he correct?

One of Dr. Seuss’s older books, it can be long and isn’t told in his typical rhyme. Still shows his creativity, however, and there are some good lessons worked into the story without preaching as well. Fun for older kids and adults looking for a longer picture book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-bartholomew-and-oobleck-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman, Chris Riddell | 2009 | Children
8
8.1 (28 Ratings)
Book Rating
I listened to audio of this - and it was spectacular. I don't think I would have rated this book as high had I not listened to the audio of it.

The story was a bit old ......stuff I've read before - a bit boring - but alas, it's a bit middle grade and I'm used to more fast paced exciting blood and guts - but it was still fun to listen to - epic-ly fun to listen to - my first book with full cast and boy was it worth it! I will look for more books like that because wow..........just, listen to the audio you wont be disappointed!