Book Review: Crandle and all

Not sure this was written with a YA crowd in mind, but Patterson did turn the life of two teenage girls into a living hell. Kathleen and Colleen have never met. They live across the ocean from each other, none of them expected to be linked to a prophecy. But two virgins will give birth soon to the next Messiah and Anticrist. Can detective Anne, and father Justin, figure out if this is a hoax, or worse yet, dispose of the devil's child if he is born? The story was fast-paced, constantly making the reader switch sides between which mother was carrying the ''abomination.'' I enjoyed that Patterson made most characters sympathetic. Anne's confidence (she is 24) that she would be capable of handling this situation added indirect tension. Let's face it, no one can be prepared to terminate the life of a child. Even if it is Satan's.

Book Review: Happily ever after & everything in between

I wonder how Tung is able to record such cute couple moments.

It seems impossible after living with on and off relationships, guys who don't call back, people who are emotionally unavailable... that finding that one person to live in harmony with exists. But it does. And the book depicts just that. How a healthy relationship provides comfort, trust, understanding, and peace. The animation is well done. She maintains the black and white overtones used in all of her books.

Looking forward to the baby volume. 

Book review: Saga vol.4

Couldn't put this down!

Life seems like it's just starting for our family in Gardenia. Alana must provide for the household while Marko takes care of Hazel. Unfortunately, being undercover is harder than these two could have imagined. The role of the provider just seems to be too much of a responsibility for Alana, and Marco's new female friend keeps getting too close. Will this sudden change drift these two apart?

Vaughan keeps entertaining the audience by introducing simultaneous cliffhangers. But above all, it was hazel witty comments that oddly increased the tension in the story. Kids are far too observant. Can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.

Book Review: A tragic kind of wonderful

Mel, afraid to alienate her friends, keeps her bipolar disorder a secret. But some symptoms are difficult to remain hidden. And she will soon discover that letting your best friends in, is way better than pushing everybody out. At first sight, I thought the story constantly shifted between time frames (past, present, short-term past), and I was glad to see it become linear as the story progressed. Mel dealt with many emotions caused by other life problems (family death, controlling friend, new relationship) that it was interesting to see her associate many of these rollercoaster feelings with her BD condition. I could tell the author placed a lot of energy in research and characterization. All in all, a good book.

Graphic Monday: Saga

Not even aliens can get a break Alana and Marko are fleeing the land after their mixed-race baby is declared an atrocity. Hunters are sent to destroy them, including a computer Prince (super suave robot), a hot heartbroken man and his crazy eight-legged ex. This graphic novel has non-stop action, written with a humorist tone. I love the way the author included an inner dialogue voice from the baby's point-of-view that allows us to expect, not only her survival but also a major involvement on her part in the future volumes. The illustrations were very bold, sexy, and beautifully curved. I can't wait to read the next installment.

Graphic monday: Batgirl - Year One

So, this is how it all began…. Although Barbara’s motives for wanting to become a superhero (help her dad, help the city, become more than just a regular girl, be recognized for her hard efforts) are somewhat understandable, I found it a bit difficult to relate. She kept putting her life at risk effortlessly and was too competitive to receive help from a man. However, a girl helping was okay?!? Having said that, the illustrations were easy to look at and the dialogue was on point.

Every Day movie review

David Levithan doesn't need an introduction in the YA world. He has published several bestsellers including The Lover's Dictionary. It was with great enthusiasm that I walked into the movie theater to watch his masterpiece, Every Day, adaptation to the big screen. 

For the most part, the movie stayed true to the book. The actors, particularly Rhiannon, matched well with the book descriptions. Although I must admit that my non-reader friends found the plot extremely difficult to understand. I truly suggest reading the novel first. 

Review: The hearts we sold

What if Daemons no longer wanted your soul – but your limbs?

Dee signs over her heart to a Daemon in exchange of money without a second thought. After all, it is only a two-year contract, and her home situation makes it worth the risk. Unfortunately, contracts aren’t often black and white. Daemons are at war against unknown powerful creatures. And Dee is now their new recruit!

The book just seemed to change from one direction to another. What started off as a contemporary/paranormal, soon became a romance/sci-fi. Although I enjoyed the relationship between Dee and James, I felt a bit cheated when new characters such as Riley were thrown into the story (what exactly did she contribute?).

The ending felt like a sequel was at bay.

Review: Asking for it

We teach women how not to get raped, hoping we can protect them from the disastrous consequences. As if that could stop the planet from turning. Bad things happen, even to people that are aware that life is complicated, and a heartbreak or need for attention can lead to unwanted situations. Without getting into the details (yes, the book is explicit on this) Emma gets raped at a party while under the influence of several substances, and the video gets posted online. Lots of people around her will focus on that. Had she been sober, she could've ''prevented it,'' the guys who took advantage of her were ''sweet kids'' while Emma constantly puts others down. The author did a good move by making Emma a dislikable character from the start. She made the reader distant and unattached. I couldn't sympathize with Emma and yet at the same time wished for justice.

Review: And the trees crept in

No matter what, don’t go into the forest or the Creeper man will find you. 

An abusive situation leads Silla to seek refuge at her aunt’s hidden manor in the forest with her kid sister Nori. Life is quiet at first, and might have remained so if Nori had followed the rules and stayed away from the forest. Now the manor is cursed. And everything in it is starting to rot. 

Although I got hooked by the premise and fast-paced beginning, I admit the story soon dragged on. I felt like an idle man running on the treadmill with a warm donut hanging in front. A glaze chocolate donut! It seemed that the more I read, the less the story made sense. Silla was going crazy and the romantic interest kept switching from prince charming to antagonist. 

Regardless of the drag, the end is worth it, so hang in there and watch it all make sense. 

Graphic monday : Batwoman Elegy

What's up with all the bold? I'm happy that the book covered Kate's a.k.a Batwoman childhood background, and how meeting Batman inspired her to find her calling. But sadly the story surrounding mad Alice and the werewolves seemed incomplete. The punch line could have hit harder. As for the illustrations -- very well done. The distinction between the flashbacks and present were evident. And hey, the female breasts were not at all exaggerated.

Review: Let it snow

It's never a bad time for some Christmas cheer!! This anthology compiles stories from some of YA greatest writers teaching us valuable lessons in love. Although each author focused on different characters, all three stories combined in each short (about 100 pages each). Sadly, this factor made it easier to pick favorites and judge each writers ability to hold the anthology together.

4/5 The Jubilee Express
After Jubilee's parents get arrested during a Christmas Village sale event, she gets shipped off to spend the holidays with family members. But when her train breaks down, she must go find shelter somewhere else or most specifically with someone else. Will meeting the right guy on Christmas Eve break the spell her mean boyfriend has on her?

Despite of the grand events happening all in one night, this was the most credible story of all three. The characters were believable and the narration humorist enough to hook the reader. 

3/5 A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle
Stuck during a snow storm, three friends must go to a Waffle House to meet some cheerleaders for a twister game. Can a car breaking down, allow two of these friends to share their true feelings?

Frankly, this story was painful to read. One of the three friends was being treated like one of the guys despite of her desire to be seen as a girl. On top of that, she got coerced into going with her crush to see him pick up cheerleaders. During a snowstorm!! 

3/5 The Patron Saint of Pigs
A retelling of It's a Wonderful Life, about an angel helping Addie discover the true meaning of helping others.

The dialogue was realistic, but the story as a whole made little sense. Addie didn't really get a lesson from that angel, instead the angel's actions just seemed cruel and unnecessary.

Feature and Follow Friday : Fa la la

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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Q: What is your favorite book with a winter world?

Little Women  by Louisa May Alcott



It's been my favorite for as long as I can remember. i have reread it five times so far, and sit each winter to watch the movie, always stopping before Jo declines Laurie's proposal.

What is your favorite winter book?

Review: The Gilrs

Poor girls. The world fattens them on the promise of love. How badly they need it,and how little most of them will ever get it. Evie's an introvert. Her parents divorce and mom's constant search for a lover, keeps Evie absent from home. It feels like fate when she meets Suzanne, a nineteen year old girl who loves her willingly for who she is. But being close to Suzanne means staying with Russell,a self-proclaimed genius, and his community of followers. How far will Evie go for love? Cults have always fascinated me. Although, to be fair, I didn't see the appeal any of them had in Russell. His speeches were kept short. And the girls pasts, particularly Suzanne's, were hidden from the reader. Unfortunately this stops us from caring for the girls the way Evie does, making us mostly fear for her, rather than sharing her enthusiasm. I hope the author had left that decision up to us.

Review: Walk two moons

Sal is an only child, living with her single dad. Her mom left them without saying a word. After a few days, her dad determined that she wasn't going to return. So when her best friend's Phoebe's own mother vanishes (she left a letter saying she needs a few days to sort some things out) Sal warns her ''She might not come back.'' But Phoebe insists that her mom wouldn't leave her, that she must have been abducted. And hence begins both girls investigation as Phoebe tries to figure out if certain notes can lead to her mom, and Sal tries to make peace with the incident that made her mom go away. 

To be honest, I did not feel inclined to read this book -- the premise seemed a bit confusing at first -- but I have to say I'm glad I did. The author made sure to give us sympathetic characters with well written backgrounds that make it easy to understand why they act certain ways. Mothers are often seen as the glue that holds families together, but they are also human beings with their ups and downs, and need time for themselves too.

Review: Anything you want

What would happen if Napoleon Dynamite had a child?

Dingus, life just ain't fair for Taco. Ever since his mom died from cancer, his dad took off leaving him in the care of his older brother Darius, who is an alcoholic. But before you think that this is a sad story -- I must warn you -- Taco is an extremely positive person. He has problems with the law, works nights, volunteers on the weekend, goes to school and is dealing with a pregnancy (he had no idea she could get pregnant unless they did it with that intention at heart) Can all these responsibilities turn Taco from teen to adult before the baby comes?

My first impression was to criticize Taco, I mean, which 17 year-old doesn't know about sex ed these days? But then I found that many underprivileged or religious towns don't teach it. Taco doesn't act like he's computer savvy, his innocence and naivety shines through the pages, his family is absent -- it makes perfect sense that he didn't know. 

All in all, I just wish the author hadn't thrown problem after problem on Taco. It would have allowed the story to breathe, and for his girlfriend's character to be more developed. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Give thanks

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR

Thanksgiving is on its way for my fellow Americans. I've been to a few American gatherings here in Montreal and must say that I love the turkey, ham and pumpkin pie menu. 

This year has been great. I'm thankful for family, health and friends. My boyfriend, for whom, I sacrifice reading time because he is 100% worth it. And in book related matters, I can't think of a better way to close on 2016, than with a new Hogwarts movie. Thank you.  

What are you thankful for this year?

Graphic Monday: Locke & Key

Keys that open magic realms -- how far would anyone go to get their hands on them? Set in Lovecraft Massachusetts, we meet the Locke family at their worst. The father was just murdered (crazy gory illustrated images) and they have no other choice but to move to an old mansion filled with special locked doors. Little Bode is the first one to discover the house's mysteries. But there is a reason Mr. Locke kept this whole house a secret... too bad they have to figure it out the hard way. Filled with impacting graphics, a compelling story and brave characters -- I've got nothing but great things to say about this comic. Looking forward to reading next issues!

Feature Follow Friday : Fear the ripper

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

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Q: What is your favorite scary story?

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Sheperd



After all this time!! I try reading horror as often as I can. Heck I even wrote and published a horror. Yet I must admit, that this story managed to keep my romance and thrilling needs meet. It even contained a love triangle.

Sadly, I couldn't get into the sequel.

What is your favorite scary story?

Review: The One that got Away

After a nasty fall, Abbey's dream of riches comes true. She wakes up married to Alex Van Holt, a congressman who once approached her for a date, with her ''real'' children (the ones she had before the fall) by her side. This paranormal universe lasts for days, and pretty soon Abbey stars moving on as Alex's wife, forgetting Jimmy her ''real'' husband and adapting to nannies, fake friends and picking up dry cleaning. But when she realizes how many problems being rich brings (bratty children for one) Abbey begins to miss home. Himes did a good job at demonstrating the dark side of living with money. Abbey's family in law is not easy to bare, her husband is either never home or constantly tired, plus other women chase him because of his status. If that isn't enough to worry about, her daughter slaps her in front of a class filled with children. Although it's sad to see Abbey stuck in a life she no longer wants, she needs the life lesson desperately so she can stop daydreaming so much about 600$ purses and understand the real treasures in life.