- Patty Blount
"It's been five years since I clicked send. Four years since I got out of Juvie. Three months since I changed my name. Two minutes since I met Julie. A second to change my life." Taken from the back of the book.
This particular read isn't what I'd normally go for, as there isn't the right amount (or type) of angst in it for me, but it was an enjoyable and impactful story nonetheless.
It's about a young man and his rehabilitation to high school as well as his adjustment to a new state preceding his stay in Juvie. This young man (Daniel) is faced with the manifestation of his guilt over what got him sent away, the disappointment/anger of the people in his life, and a certain young lady (Julie) that for whatever reason cannot stand him. Let's not forget that he has managed to find himself to be the new interest of the school's bully on the first day of school.
Do I recommend this book for others? I can't say, if I'm being completely honest, though the story is an interesting one, the writing itself can be described as subpar in some areas. However, it also seems to make up for that where it matters most. Ultimately, the decision is yours and I do hope that you share your opinion with me if you do pick up this book, and remember to keep warm & read.
Monday 23 May 2016
Monday 9 May 2016
The Book of Living and Dying
- Natale Ghent
" Her heart pumped in her throat as he reached for her, his mouth swinging open and closed like the loosely hinged gate to a dark deadly garden. She tried to scream when his cold hand encircled her wrist, but could only game helplessly back at him, the darkness spilling from his lips and flooding into her brain. 'Please go away,' she whispered." - Taken from the book.
This is a story that I hold dear to my heart, about grieving and loss, and that has helped me through one of the hardest moments in my life. Natale Ghent is a Canadian author, I'd like to say that I've read more of her books, but if I'm being completely honest, none of her other novels have caught my attention quite like this one has.
Actually, I only really came across this book by chance, my high school library was throwing away old or damaged books, and because I was close to my librarian she gave me free reign over them before they were sent off to wherever books go to die, and out of all of the books that were there, this one with a missing cover and cracked spine was the one that I decided to pick up and take home with me.
At first glance this is a story about a sad girls life, her mother is negligent and depressed, her best friend isn't always the best influence, she's losing weight- fast, and to make matters worse, she's being haunted by a ghost like no other. Yet, somehow, the further in that you get with this read, the more you realize that the story isn't as sad as you originally thought, but instead much more tragic.
Then again, what better way to appreciate life, then to submerge yourself into a world of loss and death? This book came to me during a very emotional time in my life, and I hope that it arrives just in time for one of you. If you can't find it in stores, then you can find it online for purchase, and when you do, grab a blanket, make some tea, and keep warm & read.
" Her heart pumped in her throat as he reached for her, his mouth swinging open and closed like the loosely hinged gate to a dark deadly garden. She tried to scream when his cold hand encircled her wrist, but could only game helplessly back at him, the darkness spilling from his lips and flooding into her brain. 'Please go away,' she whispered." - Taken from the book.
This is a story that I hold dear to my heart, about grieving and loss, and that has helped me through one of the hardest moments in my life. Natale Ghent is a Canadian author, I'd like to say that I've read more of her books, but if I'm being completely honest, none of her other novels have caught my attention quite like this one has.
Actually, I only really came across this book by chance, my high school library was throwing away old or damaged books, and because I was close to my librarian she gave me free reign over them before they were sent off to wherever books go to die, and out of all of the books that were there, this one with a missing cover and cracked spine was the one that I decided to pick up and take home with me.
At first glance this is a story about a sad girls life, her mother is negligent and depressed, her best friend isn't always the best influence, she's losing weight- fast, and to make matters worse, she's being haunted by a ghost like no other. Yet, somehow, the further in that you get with this read, the more you realize that the story isn't as sad as you originally thought, but instead much more tragic.
Then again, what better way to appreciate life, then to submerge yourself into a world of loss and death? This book came to me during a very emotional time in my life, and I hope that it arrives just in time for one of you. If you can't find it in stores, then you can find it online for purchase, and when you do, grab a blanket, make some tea, and keep warm & read.
Tuesday 3 May 2016
The Raven Boys
-Maggie Stiefvater
" 'There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve, Blue. Either you're his true love,' Neeve said, 'or you killed him.' " -Taken from the book.
There's a reason why so many are obsessed with The Raven Cycle, and I would be lying if I said that I didn't help to make up the many. However, with a protagonist like Blue Sargent who works so hard to stand out, and when you're granted the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a bunch of teenagers who refuse to back down, there's no wonder why this book sucks so many in.
Right off the bat, the reader is thrust into this world of mystic and wonder; a house full of female psychics, a young girl who has the uncanny ability to make things 'louder', and how easy it was to get sucked in and fall in love with even the most unlovable and unrelatable of characters (Richard Campbell Gansey III) and his band of rich (and not so rich) misfits searching for a sleeping king. As you get the answers to one question, you have to take a breath to ask a couple more.
So, yes, overall this was an enjoyable read that has something in it for everyone, however, I would like to warn you that if you were to currently pick up the book for the first time and have a place (may that be big or small) in the booklr community, you'll be hard-pressed not to come by a few crucial spoilers.
Personally, I tend to make an attempt to stay away from books that have been greatly raved about through the booklr community, simply because a lot of the more popular booklrs seem to like a lot of the same sort of books, that I have very little interest in or have attempted to read and have not enjoyed, (Eleanor and Park, The Captive Prince, Cinder, etc.). However, I took a chance on this series during the most stressful point of my exams, and my only regret is that I didn't have anyone close by who has read the books as well.
As with any post on this blog, this is simply my opinion, and if your opinion differs, let me know, until then, grab a blanket, make some tea, and keep warm & read.
" 'There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve, Blue. Either you're his true love,' Neeve said, 'or you killed him.' " -Taken from the book.
There's a reason why so many are obsessed with The Raven Cycle, and I would be lying if I said that I didn't help to make up the many. However, with a protagonist like Blue Sargent who works so hard to stand out, and when you're granted the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a bunch of teenagers who refuse to back down, there's no wonder why this book sucks so many in.
Right off the bat, the reader is thrust into this world of mystic and wonder; a house full of female psychics, a young girl who has the uncanny ability to make things 'louder', and how easy it was to get sucked in and fall in love with even the most unlovable and unrelatable of characters (Richard Campbell Gansey III) and his band of rich (and not so rich) misfits searching for a sleeping king. As you get the answers to one question, you have to take a breath to ask a couple more.
So, yes, overall this was an enjoyable read that has something in it for everyone, however, I would like to warn you that if you were to currently pick up the book for the first time and have a place (may that be big or small) in the booklr community, you'll be hard-pressed not to come by a few crucial spoilers.
Personally, I tend to make an attempt to stay away from books that have been greatly raved about through the booklr community, simply because a lot of the more popular booklrs seem to like a lot of the same sort of books, that I have very little interest in or have attempted to read and have not enjoyed, (Eleanor and Park, The Captive Prince, Cinder, etc.). However, I took a chance on this series during the most stressful point of my exams, and my only regret is that I didn't have anyone close by who has read the books as well.
As with any post on this blog, this is simply my opinion, and if your opinion differs, let me know, until then, grab a blanket, make some tea, and keep warm & read.
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