Overall 4 smiles
Monday, June 9, 2014
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
This is an excellent piece of writing that transports you to another reality, with children who are certainly exceptional...and peculiar. I enjoyed the way Mr. Riggs explained things, his movie writing background shines through. I personally found the ending to be a fantastic way to wrap up the book. You were given enough closure to feel satisfied but still left with enough questions to find book 2. The use of old photography made the story even more interesting and provided a level of enjoyment I wasn't expecting. This was a great concept!
Overall 4 smiles
Overall 4 smiles
Artemis Fowl; The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
Book 3, Artemis Fowl Series
Another great fairy adventure with the characters we adore. Artemis continues to grow and struggle with adolescence, but the darker side of him we enjoyed in book 1 wrestles with his better side and begins to show through. I continue to be a fan of this series and thoroughly enjoy the adventures.
Four smiles.
Another great fairy adventure with the characters we adore. Artemis continues to grow and struggle with adolescence, but the darker side of him we enjoyed in book 1 wrestles with his better side and begins to show through. I continue to be a fan of this series and thoroughly enjoy the adventures.
Four smiles.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Dandelion Fire by ND Wilson
Book 2, 100 Cupboards Series
I previously rated book 1 of this series 3 smiles and a wink for a slow start but a strong finish.
Book 2 begins by personifying the entire state of Kansas as a wizened old man who has seen everything and is not impressed by your shenanigans. I loved this beginning.
"Henry York had seen things in Kansas, things he didn't think belonged in this world. Things that didn't. Kansas hadn't flinched."
Unfortunately, that is where I stopped enjoying this book. Too many characters often left me confused. Many times I felt as though I had missed something, forcing me to rummage back through old pages in search of a twist or fact I had somehow overlooked. Oftentimes, there wasn't one, leaving me frustrated.
Overall, 1 smile (I still like Henry York as a character and the idea itself has merit) for a confusing plot I simply couldn't get into.
I previously rated book 1 of this series 3 smiles and a wink for a slow start but a strong finish.
Book 2 begins by personifying the entire state of Kansas as a wizened old man who has seen everything and is not impressed by your shenanigans. I loved this beginning.
"Henry York had seen things in Kansas, things he didn't think belonged in this world. Things that didn't. Kansas hadn't flinched."
Unfortunately, that is where I stopped enjoying this book. Too many characters often left me confused. Many times I felt as though I had missed something, forcing me to rummage back through old pages in search of a twist or fact I had somehow overlooked. Oftentimes, there wasn't one, leaving me frustrated.
Overall, 1 smile (I still like Henry York as a character and the idea itself has merit) for a confusing plot I simply couldn't get into.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
"He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask..."
"There are too many of us...There are billions of us and that's too many."
I can see why this book is considered a classic. Ray Bradbury's language is nothing short of brilliant. It is mesmerizing, painting a masterpiece of a society we should fear becoming through complacency. Fifty years ago, Ray Bradbury thought up a world where people craved instant gratification so much they abandoned anything that required real complex thought, including reading. If you are like me, you will find shadows of our society in this scary version of a world.
I adored this shocking ending, the passion for literature I clearly share with Bradbury, and the idea overall. I can and will use this with preteens readers to emphasize the importance of thinking and reading. This is an amazing story. Read it with your book club and digest the deeper societal issues together, fight against the future Bradbury saw.
"...the books were on file behind their quiet eyes, the books were waiting..."
5 HUGE smiles for this amazing work-of-art.
"There are too many of us...There are billions of us and that's too many."
I can see why this book is considered a classic. Ray Bradbury's language is nothing short of brilliant. It is mesmerizing, painting a masterpiece of a society we should fear becoming through complacency. Fifty years ago, Ray Bradbury thought up a world where people craved instant gratification so much they abandoned anything that required real complex thought, including reading. If you are like me, you will find shadows of our society in this scary version of a world.
I adored this shocking ending, the passion for literature I clearly share with Bradbury, and the idea overall. I can and will use this with preteens readers to emphasize the importance of thinking and reading. This is an amazing story. Read it with your book club and digest the deeper societal issues together, fight against the future Bradbury saw.
"...the books were on file behind their quiet eyes, the books were waiting..."
5 HUGE smiles for this amazing work-of-art.
The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
This is a pretty typical story from inspirational great Mitch Albom. The story will get to even the hardest heart as you read about a town receiving phone calls from deceased loved ones. Those who have read anything by Mr. Albom know that he will make you question your own beliefs and faith through the characters he carefully pens. This book is no different, you will question whether you believe in a heaven after death.
This book also quietly brings a second lesson, which I absolutely loved. The undertones of the characters reactions to the news of the calls spark riotous levels of news coverage and followers. I found myself considering the insanity of "miracles" and our reactions to them as a society. I had deep conversations with myself about whether this is right or wrong. Fantastic job, Mr. Albom, of bringing that to the surface without attacking society.
I did feel like the twist in the ending was easy to figure out, but still good. Overall, well done. Three smiles.
This book also quietly brings a second lesson, which I absolutely loved. The undertones of the characters reactions to the news of the calls spark riotous levels of news coverage and followers. I found myself considering the insanity of "miracles" and our reactions to them as a society. I had deep conversations with myself about whether this is right or wrong. Fantastic job, Mr. Albom, of bringing that to the surface without attacking society.
I did feel like the twist in the ending was easy to figure out, but still good. Overall, well done. Three smiles.
Torment by Lauren Kate
Book 2, Fallen Series
First, let me say it had been a LONG time since I read Fallen. I remember enjoying Fallen a little, enough to put Torment on my wish list. When Torment became available at the library, I worried I had already forgotten important details of this series. Lauren Kate, however, did an excellent job of bringing back subtle reminders of the original plot lines in her sequel. I am not a fan of the take-the-first-two-chapters-to-completely-recap-your-original-plot idea, since that bores readers who are hungrily page turning through the series. Kate did NOT do this. She found ways to work it in and force me to remember. Brilliant.
I feel as though I've read entirely too many of the supernatural who-will-she-choose books (that cannot just be me who feels that way) but this falls toward the top of that scale. I like the whole fallen angels/demons concept. I like Lucinda and her strong personality; she has an independent streak, not often found in a damsel in distress.
I like strong female lead characters. I will read the third one in this series. If you like the supernatural genre, give this one a read.
Three smiles.
First, let me say it had been a LONG time since I read Fallen. I remember enjoying Fallen a little, enough to put Torment on my wish list. When Torment became available at the library, I worried I had already forgotten important details of this series. Lauren Kate, however, did an excellent job of bringing back subtle reminders of the original plot lines in her sequel. I am not a fan of the take-the-first-two-chapters-to-completely-recap-your-original-plot idea, since that bores readers who are hungrily page turning through the series. Kate did NOT do this. She found ways to work it in and force me to remember. Brilliant.
I feel as though I've read entirely too many of the supernatural who-will-she-choose books (that cannot just be me who feels that way) but this falls toward the top of that scale. I like the whole fallen angels/demons concept. I like Lucinda and her strong personality; she has an independent streak, not often found in a damsel in distress.
I like strong female lead characters. I will read the third one in this series. If you like the supernatural genre, give this one a read.
Three smiles.
Faithful Place by Tana French
Like the first 2 books written by this Dublin author, Faithful Place is a work of art. Tana French is a master of the written word, undoubtably. Her aptitude for bringing the characters to life and wrapping you in their intriguing storyline is unmatched. I highly recommend you find one of her books today!
This book, in particular, follows Detective Frank Mackey. Frank is an undercover officer who left his family behind 22 years ago when he ran away. Now he is faced with the only thing that could bring him back to them after all this time-the woman who stood him up when they were supposed to elope. In this daring story full of twists and turns Frank must try to find out what really happened that day, and figure out how tangled his family is in all of this.
The story will give you goosebumps with a few of it's twists, make you feel those pangs of emotion for Frank at certain times, and make you really appreciate your family. Tana French only gets better with her 3rd novel-and I already thought she was great!
Read this one. Seriously.
5 huge smiles and a wink.
This book, in particular, follows Detective Frank Mackey. Frank is an undercover officer who left his family behind 22 years ago when he ran away. Now he is faced with the only thing that could bring him back to them after all this time-the woman who stood him up when they were supposed to elope. In this daring story full of twists and turns Frank must try to find out what really happened that day, and figure out how tangled his family is in all of this.
The story will give you goosebumps with a few of it's twists, make you feel those pangs of emotion for Frank at certain times, and make you really appreciate your family. Tana French only gets better with her 3rd novel-and I already thought she was great!
Read this one. Seriously.
5 huge smiles and a wink.
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