Tuesday, November 18, 2014

A review of The Paper Magician by Charlie Holmberg

Firstly I want to give a MAJOR thanks to the publishers for allowing me to view a copy of this phenomenal book via NetGalley.

I always thank publishers at the beginning of a review when I've been fortunate enough to receive it in exchange for an honest review, but I'm seriously thankful because I'm in LOVE with this book....and now series.

The Paper Magician is a wonderful new story about a young adult female who is training to be a magician. I wont go into spoilers, but I'll just say 'WOW' does Holmberg have an imagination. She literally takes you through the heart of the book on a ride of your lifetime.

As far as the setting goes, I love a good period piece. I know alot of people may be saying that it doesn't feel in the right time frame, but I love the way Holmberg kept the setting distant, but still modern enough for modern folks to relate to. I honestly don't think it would've been as good if there was 1900's jargon being tossed about. Seriously though.

The book was so enrapturing that I read this in a day and a half (that being said I had a 4 year old running around whilst reading this so you may be able to read it faster....yeah it's that good).

I loved this and I think many others will too.

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if good old Tim Burton didn't pick this little diddy up. Just saying.

Five out of Five Stars from me :)

Monday, November 17, 2014

Review of A Grimm Legacy (1) by Janna Jennings

Disclaimer: I received this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the publishers for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

First things first, I think that this book had a great idea behind it. Like many others, I too grew up on fairy tales and loved the idea of a few of them intertwined together. The author had a great idea here.

That being said, I don't think that the book came to fruition. The opening two pages had me hooked but unfortunately the book couldn't keep my interest. Things felt choppy and rather unreal. I wanted to connect with the characters but wasn't able to. It was almost as if there was a brick wall between me and the actual characters. Any time the dialogue began to flow, the author would chop it up with narrative.

There's an old saying with writing/reading that goes like this: 'Show me, don't tell me'.

Aside from that there were obvious grammatical errors as well as issues with it being 3rd person yet still throwing out the first person vibes.

Personally I couldn't make it past the third chapter. I wanted to...I promise I did, alas I couldn't.

This gets 2/5 stars from me....only because I think the author has room to revisit the story and grow a bit.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Review of a Season for Martyrs by Bina Shah

Many thanks to GoodReads and the publishers of A Season for Martyrs for granting me with a copy of this book.


A Season for Martyrs is a truly beautiful book. Personally, I grew up in DC during 9/11 and had a dear friend pass on one of the planes. After that, I always wondered about life over in the middle east. I always wondered about the victims on Middle Eastern soil. What their lives entailed and how they were (a/e)ffected by bombings in their own country.

This book was a lovely read and gave me insight I had been curious about. To read into a life who was affected on her own soil by the turmoil surrounding her, was truly an appreciated opportunity.

I have no doubt that Shah will be an author to hear more from.

4/5 stars from me. 

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Review of Animal Farm by George Orwell

Probably one of the most brilliant books I've read. Though it's a short read (not at all a bad thing), it definitely packs a punch.

While I wont waste time with spoilers, or give any little detail away, I will simply say that it will leave you thinking. Well...one little detail couldn't hurt eh? I nearly crapped my pants when a pig began walking around on his hind legs. Was I the only one who was intensely terrified by this? Seriously, chills up the spine at that moment.

Anywho. It's a grand read for anyone interested in thinking a little bit more deeply on the political and socio-economic happenings....especially given that these things are still relative, even decades after Orwell wrote.

5/5 Stars

Friday, November 7, 2014

Lentil Underground Review

I received this book as a Librarything giveaway and would like to start off by thanking Gotham Books for this copy.

This is a book about lentils....no really it is.

It's actually fairly interesting though and kept my attention much longer than any other non fiction I've read in a while.

Though I admit I didn't want to read 300 some odd pages about lentils and a great lentil farmer, I will say that the overall idea was interesting and was enjoyable given I like the idea of 'real' foods.


So with that being said, I give this book 3/5 stars :)

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Review of 'The Pinecone: The Story of Sarah Losh, Forgotten Romantic Heroine--Antiquarian, Architect, and Visionary'

Before reviewing, I'd like to state that I got the book from a GoodReads giveaway and would like to thank the publisher for the copy.

Now to the review....

The best way I can sum this book up is this: It's a beautifully written text book.

I know that may seem silly, but it's quite informative and the writer has written some beautiful sentences to enlighten the audience on Sarah. That being said, I didn't ever truly feel like I new who she was. It gave great detail about the history, her family history, town history, the likes. I never felt as though I knew her.

This is the kind of book I like to call a 'coffee table book'. One you put on a coffee table to glance through on occasion. Personally I likened to the pictures more than the story itself.

All that being said, I will still give the book 3 stars due to the fact that, well, it is a nonfiction book and was well done in that style. I will be passing this book on to my dad though, because he loves history and I think given the fact that he travels abroad often for work that he might find interest in this.

Thanks again GoodReads!

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Review of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'

Bah, I loved this book.

Having and having grown up around folks with learning (dis)abilities I feel as though this is so close to what someone with autism (and some aspergers) deal with it almost makes me wonder if Haddon doesn't have a touch of it or has family who does.

To those who were bothered by some of the repetition of his habits and explaining his 'likes' and 'dislikes', this is true to someone who has this disability and Haddon simply allowed Christopher to come to life.

I think this book is beautiful not only in all of the escapades that go on, but I because of the fact that it actually was as though it was the book Christopher wrote. I was beyond surprised to find the appendix at the end (even though I skimmed it as I have dyscalculia and cringe at anything math related lol).

Brilliantly well done, Haddon. Brilliantly done.