Bonnie

3.5 stars

Cute and charming but definitely meant more for the Middle Grade age group. Not one that an adult Middle Grade reader could enjoy as much.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A copy of More Than This was provided to me by Candlewick Press/Netgalley for review purposes.

 

'Haven't you ever felt like there had to be more? Like there's more out there somewhere, just beyond your grasp, and if you could only get to it...'

 

Imagine you wake up unaware of where you are or how you got there but the last thing you remember is dying. You died, yet somehow you didn't because you're obviously still alive, right? But imagine that you wake up in a world that seems strange; off somehow. And you can't find a single soul, it's as if the world has been completely emptied leaving only you. This is the situation Seth finds himself in.'He can feel himself teetering again, an abyss of confusion and despair looking right back at him, threatening to swallow him if he so much as glances at it.'This is such an engrossing tale. I was riveted and couldn't put this down. I went into this with a completely different set of expectations but they were completely dashed. The beginning of this tale had the same feel of quiet desolation that The Road has and I was enthralled, but Ness turned this into a total game. Just when you think you finally have a grasp on what's really going on he not only removes some vital piece of evidence but completely transforms the landscape. And this happened many, many times. I was still attempting to get a good grasp on what was truly happening with only 5 pages remaining. It's tagged as YA but involves such a sophisticated storyline that makes it vastly different than anything out there. I can't think of a single book to compare it to and that's a wonderful thing. I hope that the YA designation doesn't deter typical adult readers. I hope that the philosophical designation doesn't deter YA readers. Suffice it to say, this book needs no designation and is something that I recommend to all for the mind-boggling experience this entails.'Real life is only ever just real life. Messy. What it means depends on how you look at it. The only thing you've got to do is find a way to live there.''More Than This' is an incredibly multi-layered and surprisingly philosophical story about how your outlook and interpretation on life has the power to change...everything. It's about living life and realizing that there is always something more to live for and always... more than this.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 starsA copy of Countdown City was provided to me by Quirk Books for review purposes.How would you spend your remaining days if you knew an asteroid was on target to destroy the Earth in a few short months? Would you pack everything and travel the world? Would you finally do all those things you've been pushing off and just haven't ever gotten around to? Or would you continue living your life as if nothing has changed? Henry Palace is no longer employed with the Concord Police Department, but that doesn't stop him from solving various mysteries. Sure, the Earth is in the direct path of an asteroid but he continues working because that's what makes sense to him. That's always been what his life was about, what gave his life meaning and he isn't going to stop now just because his days are numbered. A missing person case has become quite simple in this day and age where people are running away from their lives to fulfill bucket lists and the like. Palace's lasted missing person investigation leads him to a group of revolutionaries that are slowly building their own society with their own new set of rules. As the clues begin falling together Palace realizes that not only is this not a simple missing person case but this is one individual that is on a crusade and doesn't wish to be found. While I'm a huge fan of post-apocalyptic novels, I'm beginning to understand the appeal of pre-apocalyptic novels as well. Being able to witness a society that is slowly preparing themselves for catastrophe and watching the evolution of society and civilization and watching things slowly change for the worst is not only mesmerizing but frightening in its realism. It will definitely leave you wondering how you would respond: would your survival instincts kick in or will you scramble away in fear?While the mystery aspect didn't hold the same intensity as the one in The Last Policeman, this was still an engaging installment. Society as we know it has reached its saturation point and the situation is bound to get worse. I eagerly await the final installment of this thrilling pre-apocalyptic tale to find out the fate of the Earth and the whole of civilization.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 starsA copy of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven was provided to me by Da Capo Press for review purposes.'Thinking back now, it was really just a creepy house that creaked and shuddered, but to impressionable nine-year-olds, it was the vacation spot of the devil itself.'To give you all a proper introduction for those who are unaware, Corey Taylor is the lead singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour and the author of Seven Deadly Sins. 'A Funny Thing Happened' is a worthy follow-up novel and another tantalizing look into the mind of an incredibly interesting man.At face value I was expecting 'A Funny Thing Happened' to be a random smattering of ghostly encounters he has had over the years, and it is, yet it's a fascinating exploration into the reasoning behind ghosts. His scientific details will definitely get you wondering because his hypotheses generated some genuinely possible answers. Surprisingly intellectual and educational, 'A Funny Thing Happened' is definitely a conduit that spurs some serious debates regarding the existence of the paranormal.'Cynics will claims that my "eyewitness accounts" can easily be described as "flights of fancy," or "the trappings of an overactive imagination." [...] the one I hate even worse than those others: "You saw what you wanted to see and nothing more."Let me fucking telling you something: I did not want to see this shit, and I still do not want to see this shit.'A Funny Thing Happened is written with a humor that is harsh and biting yet oh so entertaining. This is a man that isn't afraid to speak his mind yet is graciously considerate of others beliefs. He's mindful and respectful of others beliefs regardless of whether or not he shares them. Simply put, he is a man of many opinions and isn't afraid to share... such as it should be. 'Belief is a gift you should cherish; knowledge is a gift you should never squander.'This book is like one big discussion, all topics are left open to interpretation, without concrete facts, just mindful musings and hypotheses. It will definitely generate antithetical opinions, however, approach this with an open mind and you may find yourself actually considering the possibilities of an alternate opinion. Or maybe you'll remain a skeptic. Either way, this book will definitely leave you something to ponder.

'How guilt refined the methods of self-torture, threading the beads of detail into an eternal loop, a rosary to be fingered for a lifetime.'I very rarely pick up a book if I've already seen the movie. Sure, there are likely to be differences but the experience is still spoiled for me. I had to make an exception with Atonement because I adored the movie but I could see how much more the story would shine and benefit from text. And shine did it ever.Usually I complain about over-descriptiveness in stories, and this was definitely descriptive, yet the author possesses a skill in writing that is completely captivating. He sets the scene with ease and transports you into the very midst of it. His words envelop you and leave you mesmerized. I could go on and on regarding the beauty of this story and the multitude of emotions it managed to evoke in me but put simply, this book was a breath of fresh air.I've been told this is the best to expect from Ian McEwan but I will still eagerly dive into more of his works.

Episode 1 - 5 starsThis is not only immensely entertaining but incredibly original. LOVE THIS.Episode 2 - 4 starsEpisode 3 - 3.5 starsEpisode 4 - 4 starsDUN DUN DUN! All other episodes wrap up rather nicely but this one had an unfortunate cliffhanger. And I only get an episode every 2 weeks? GAH.Episode 5 - 4.5 starsEpisode 6 - 4 starsEpisode 7 - 4.5 starsEpisode 8 - 3 starsEpisode 9 - 3 stars

My rating: 3.5 of 5 starsA copy of The Curiosity was provided to me by William Morrow for review purposes.Blog Tour Date 7/18/2013'And what is life but a little row in a small boat, every moment leaving what we know, every stroke unable to see where we are headed?'The Curiosity tells the tale of a scientific voyage to the Arctic with the intent to find various sea creatures that died encased in ice. Possessing the ability to bring plankton "back to life" the scientists intend to continue studying this process in hopes to actually keep them alive for extended periods of time. Everything changes when they find a man frozen deep in the ice instead.This story is told from various different points of view, which doesn't always work for me but was extremely well done in this case. Each individual has a very distinctive voice and character. Daniel Dixon is a very stereotypical, sleazy-type reporter in charge of covering the latest news of the experiment. Erastus Carthage is the boss behind the research and is an incredibly snobby and arrogant man. Kate Philo is one of the head scientists and one of the only people to form a bond with Jeremiah. Jeremiah was born in 1868 and while on an Arctic voyage was pitched overboard and was presumed dead until he was found frozen in ice over a century later.This was an immensely well-written tale, that was an absolute pleasure to read. The words had a beautiful flow to them and his descriptions were quite impeccable. What I found especially talented was how the author managed to include much of the necessary back story on his characters without it being a massive info-dump. He managed to weave their past into the story without evidence of the stitches.'When I pause in my exertions to understand the here and now, and contemplate the severing of that kindness, that mercy, the ache is so acute I half expect to see some place on myself that is bleeding.'In addition to the beauty of the words and his writing style in general, the story itself was brilliant and original. A man was found encased in ice, had been there for over a century and scientists possessed the ability to bring him back to life. Not only did they restart his heart but he inevitably woke up and began his life anew. The politics surrounding his return to the life of the living was extensive and did become taxing after a while but still managed to ring true for how a situation such as this would be handled in the world today. Although everything was explained well in a scientific sense, I can't help but feel it wasn't given a proper ending. It's such an ambitious and thrilling plot I felt it was leading up to something that never quite transpired. The final chapter does serve as a sufficient ending, but when questions that arose are only given single sentence answers I found myself hoping for more. Despite this, I am immensely glad to have had the opportunity to read this. The Curiosity is an incredibly unique mix of science, romance, and the paths that simple curiosity takes us in life.

A copy of Asylum was provided to me by Harper Children's/Edelweiss for review purposes.The word Asylum alone evokes a feeling of dread. A twinge of apprehension. Unfortunately the title was the only thing that elicited that expected response, because the book was honestly extremely dry and wearisome.The idea behind the story was solid: 16 year-old Dan comes to stay for several weeks over the summer at a college prep program and he finds out their dorms are located in what once was an asylum for the criminally insane. I'm on board with that. The characters completely destroyed this story though. They were dull, uninteresting and lacking in any sort of dimension.The inconsistency of maturity was awful. Dan would be contemplating Jung one minute and acting like a 12 year old boy the next. He is supposed to be this incredibly socially awkward guy that has the hardest time making friends, yet he finds two people and they're the bestest of friends... instantly. They spend all their time together and they even decide to take some of the same classes together and they talk about their family problems with one another and... it just didn't feel authentic. Their friendship itself may have worked, but the fact that we knew they had JUST met ruined it all. Within a week even the teachers have nicknamed them 'The Hydra'. Dan's two friends, Abby and Jordan, also met each other for the first time on the bus that brought them to the school. The nail in the coffin happened for me when about a week into their stay, Abby forgets to tell Jordan that she won't be able to study with him because she's hanging out with Dan instead. She comes home to find him waiting for her outside her dorm door, drinking, proclaiming that she drove him to drink. Their friendship lacked a necessary composition that would generate these types of responses. But honestly, I'm not sure when I would ever put up with that type of behavior from a friend; it was just unnecessary and dramatic. (Also unnecessary was the incredibly forced romance that could have completely been done without.) It seemed incredibly unrealistic how advanced their relationship seemed to be after such a short amount of time and considering this was a huge basis of the story, it practically ruined the story as a whole for me. The comparison to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a bit far-fetched and the only link between the two I could determine was the inclusion of black and white pictures. With Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children though, the pictures felt like they fit with the story much more and appeared to be incredibly authentic. While my ARC copy didn't contain all pictures, the ones I was able to view looked digitally created and many didn't even match up to what was being described which completely defeated the whole purpose. I would consider this to be a far closer match-up to Dennis Lehane's 'Shutter Island'- the YA Version with extremely bad characters.The story was interesting enough but I was really anticipating a much more intense reading experience. The ending doesn't give you all the answers, because apparently this is being made into a series which is completely unnecessary; this could have been a perfect stand-alone story (if it had more solid of characters and maybe a bit more creepy thrown in for flavor). Suffice it to say this was an epic disappointment and I don't consider myself to be interested enough in continuing.

My rating: 3 of 5 starsSource: Purchased via AmazonYou have no idea how much it pains me to give this book only a 3 star rating. The Experiment in Terror series is one of my favorites, ever, and I was anticipating this so very badly ever since I got hooked on this series earlier this year. I can't say for sure whether it was my extremely (and possibly unrealistic) expectations that made this not as good or not but I definitely had some issues that nagged at me. I started reading this series because I love ghost novels especially because they aren't so paranormal as to be completely out of this world; that there are instances where you could really feel this being fact. I absolutely loved Perry and Dex as a team and I loved watching their relationship grow over installments. But what I loved the absolute most was the well-blended way that Karina Halle mixed the two together. It wasn't a paranormal novel and it wasn't a romance novel, it was a perfect amalgamation of the two. And therein lies the main issue I had with this novel: the lack of blending. While Into the Hollow left Dex and Perry's relationship at an imbalance, I understood and expected drama to have to be sorted out in Come Alive. What I didn't expect was for it to take up practically the entire first half with no plot in sight. Now don't go get me wrong, I love me some Dex and Perry but it just felt way too focused on their crazy (and oftentimes unnecessary) drama and their equally crazy sex life. For those of you adverse to this, Come Alive toed the line of erotica and while I'm not against this, this is not what I've come to expect from these novels. If I wanted to read erotica, I would read erotica. The other big issue I had: the point of view. I did read 'The Dex-Files' and while I enjoyed these short glimpses into Dex's point of view, they weren't my absolute favorite. I was a bit leery when I found out that Come Alive would be told solely from Dex's point of view but of course I reserved judgment. WELL. Dex is one crazy fucker, I think we all know that, but being inside his head and knowing each and every one of his (mostly sexual) thoughts was a bit much. He's just too much sometimes and can be quite intense. I wouldn't be completely adverse to a story from his point of view again, however, I think I'd like it more if it was shared with Perry's POV because, well, Perry is the absolute best. Regardless, I'm still a die-hard fan and will gladly read anything Ms. Halle writes because she really is an amazing writer of truly entertaining stories. While this is not my favorite installment, the ending did hold much promise for future installments so this is far from my last Perry and Dex story.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 starsA copy of The Monsters In Your Neighborhood was provided to me by Pocket Star/Edelweiss for review purposes.The Monsters in Your Neighbor picks up right where Club Monstrosity left off with the monsters set to anticipate an attack from the Van Helsings after killing of one of their own. But things have been silent, eerily silent, and they haven't heard a peep from the Van Helsing's until each monster finally receives the message they've been waiting for: "War."Club Monstrosity possessed a highly entertaining and original idea that I was immediately keen to. A group of monsters that attend AA-type meetings together to discuss their concerns with functioning in a society that isn't aware of their existence? I love it. And I loved this installment even more than the first. The mystery has a lot of depth and twists and turns that managed to be quite surprising. New characters have also been added to the gang: we've got Patrick, a Cthulhu relegated to living in the sewers because of the impossibility of masking his appearance and Igor, Natalie's fathers old assistant who has a new Southern accent and after some modern-day plastic surgery has had his old hump removed. I was surprised to see how incorporated into the story both were, but they were entertaining additions. The ending left you anticipating more installments and I'm definitely on board for more Monster-drama, and really hoping more interesting Monsters get added to the gang! This is a humorous and entertaining mystery series with plenty of paranormal and plenty of fun classic horror movie references.

My rating: 3 of 5 starsA copy of The Queen's Vow was provided to me by Random House for review purposes.C.W. Gortner is well known for his historical fiction novels and I have been interested in reading his works for many years. This being my first one, I was impressed. His detailing of Isabella is almost sedulous with how painstaking it is. While he painted an extremely detailed portrait of Isabella, I'm not positive he painted her as accurately as she is known for being.Isabella I of Castile was never expected to amount to anything yet she became known for greatness. Her struggle to claim her true right to the throne after her brother died at an early age is the initial focus of this novel. It also showcases first-hand the initial meeting of Isabella and her future-husband, Ferdinand II of Aragon. Isabella is known for being a strong, independent queen who was able to reorganize governments and unburden the kingdom of debts that had been crushing for all citizens. She is also well known for her unwavering faith and while we saw moments of faith, I think the focus on her infatuation with a boy she knew for two days is a bit off-base. It's also unfounded in history as her and her husband did not meet until they were married. The Queen's Vow focuses heavily on their initial meeting and their subsequent separation after which Isabella pines over him because she's unable to communicate with him. I've found this to be a common trend with many historical fiction novels (the emphasis on the romance aspect whether it being grounded in history or not) and I can say it often leaves me disappointed. This is especially true when the main character is telling the story of a strong woman in a time when women were constantly impeded. What I also found disconcerting was her disassociation from the corruption and decay that was happening around her. While all this chaos was happening around her she sat silently, biting her tongue and digging her nails in her hands to maintain composure. While I believe this to be done as further proof of her unwavering faith, it actually made her to be a very bland and boring character.While I wasn't completely impressed with the representation of Isabella, I was for the most part pleased with the writing style of Gortner and his attention to detail. It's clear that he researches his topics extensively, I just hope that he doesn't take too much artistic license in all of his stories.

Fans of this series have been waiting 4 years for the next installment. Yes, The Lost Symbol came out in 2009. Unfortunately, this does not read like he spent the full 4 years invested in making sure this was a masterpiece (he actually claims in an interview he spent 3 years researching this novel. *cough*bullshit*cough*). Inferno consists of a horribly muddled and dramatic plot, twists in the story that don't even make sense and a whole slew of sections straight out of an encyclopedia.This Dante tale is anything but Divine (but is a bit of a comedy) - pun intended. Now, don't get me wrong. I am a fan. I know most people shun his works but I am admittedly a big fan of The Da Vinci Code. Looking back I can't say for sure if I would still enjoy the novel today considering I read it ages ago and I've become much more of a critical reader, but I do keep picking up these books for some reason or another.The main issue with Inferno is the fact that this book could easily be half in length if there wasn't so much unnecessary detailing. He describes where they are in such vivid detail but it isn't always relevant. With Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, the descriptions were useful in finding their next clue, where they needed to go next to obtain the next piece of the puzzle. While the descriptions are interesting it detracts from the actual story and makes Langdon appear to be some crazed tour-guide while he's supposed to be in the middle of running for his life. The overall smugness he has bestowed upon Robert Langdon is obnoxious and disrupting."...although as an architecture enthusiast, he found it almost unthinkable to rush a trip along the Grand Canal."DUDE. PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO KILL YOU. YOU'RE A FUCKING MORON.Yet despite his constant admiring of statuary and architecture he is constantly able to evade capture and certain death. DUN DUN DUNThe second issue was the strange, short chapters. They were always ended on some dramatic discovery that induced more eye-rolling than gasps of shock. The choice of position in breaks made it more melodramatic and annoying than a respite from the intensity of the story. And speaking of melodramatic and annoying, this book possesses one of the most absurd and histrionic endings I have ever had the misfortune of reading. I believe Mr. Brown had an intriguing concept for a story line, but he may have bit off more than he could chew because the execution of this story was truly abysmal.I could write a full review based on what I like to consider the 'lines-of-ridiculousness'. While I'll spare you the majority of them, I couldn't resist including a few. (I refuse to suffer alone.)'Normally, Langdon's visits to the Palazzo Vecchio had begun here on the Piazza della Signoria, which, despite its overabundance of phalluses, had always been one of his favorite plazas in all of Europe.''The statute before them depicted an obese, naked dwark straddling a giant turtle. The dwarf's testicles were squashed against the turtle's shell, and the turtle's mouth was dribbling water, as if he were ill.'And I'll leave you with this fabulous Fifty Shades quip. Yes. You heard me right."Robert, we're in book publishing. We don't have access to private jets.""We both know you're lying, my friend."Faukman sighed. "Okay, let me rephrase that. We don't have access to private jets for authors of tomes about religious history. If you want to write Fifty Shades of Iconography, we can talk."So why is this #1 on the NYT bestseller's list? Well, his past works while not of superior literary quality were still enjoyable enough so I'm assuming people just expected more (and expected him to maybe advance as a writer?) And of course, with the digs taken against the Vatican I'm sure it's only a matter of time until they decide to ban this one too and spur even more sales.I will occasionally recommend a particular drink that fits well with the book. In this case? I recommend ALL THE DRINKS. You'll need them to get through this ridiculous disaster of a book.

Yessssssssss

My rating: 3 of 5 starsA copy of The Illusion of Separateness was provided to me by Harper for review purposes.'In a sense we are all prisoners of some memory, or fear, or disappointment-we are all defined by something we can't change.'The Illusion of Separateness tells the story of six different individuals who are all interconnected in ways they don't even realize. The story begins in Los Angeles, CA in 2010 but goes as far back as 1939 in the midst of World War II. Through these first-person stories and the recounting of past events, it slowly begins to unfold how these seemingly random people are all effected by a strangers actions.I'm quite enamored with interweaving story lines in movies (Crash, Babel, Love Actually, The Fountain.. I could obviously go on and on) relishing in the stories of many only to find just how interconnected they are to one another. It takes a skilled writer to successfully write several plot lines, connect them effortlessly and at the same time give each of them a proper ending. I was immediately interested in this book once I realized it dealt with multiple plot lines yet found myself leery when noticing how few pages the author gave himself to work with, made me worry that he wouldn't give each and every one of his characters proper credit or back-story. While I wish I did have more back-story on these characters, what we were given was sufficient enough to make each of them memorable.'...finding the candles by heat, and blowing them out one by one, as we, one day, will be vanquished with a last puff and then nothing at all - nothing but the fragrance of our lives in the world, as on a hand that once held flowers.'While the characters 'illusion of separateness' did on occasion feel strained and slightly forced this was still undoubtedly an enjoyable tale. Slow to build with a simplistic way of writing but was ultimately extremely pleasing in the end.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 starsA copy of Magic Marks the Spot was provided to me by HarperCollins/Edelweiss for review purposes.After recently being denied admittance to The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates simply because she's a girl, Hilary is now being forced into attending Miss Pimm's Finishing School for Delicate Ladies. Not that she has any desire to become a Delicate Lady. She can tread water for 37 minutes, can tie a knot that cannot be undone and hates dresses because dresses make climbing ship's rigging next to impossible. While Hilary is quite the vibrant character on her own, her gargoyle side-kick provided the comic relief when the story veered too far into weighty territory. The weighty territory mostly involved the odd choice in bad guy, which was a bit of a shock and surprise, however it was handled well. While the story was only occasionally serious, the remaining characters were still just as lighthearted making this a perfect read for young kids. In addition to the story there are between chapter snippets of letters, newspaper articles and other assorted information that was a charming addition.Magic Marks the Spot is an extremely cute Middle Grade novel that comes equipped with a super spunky heroine, entertaining pirates, magical gargoyles and treasure hunting adventures. While this works as a stand-alone novel with its solid wrap-up ending, it's actually a brand new start to a planned trilogy. Definitely looking forward to future mischief from Ms. Hilary!