It should be said that Translations are tricky. Most times, they are not that great, they miss the point and style the author tries to convey. While IIt should be said that Translations are tricky. Most times, they are not that great, they miss the point and style the author tries to convey. While I've read a few, this one, I believe, expresses the author's intentions excellently because I loved this novel despite being geared towards a younger audience. The illustrations are also so insanely beautiful, the different ways in which the books come to life and illustrate the stories hidden inside of them. It's awesome.
The entire adventure is great, the passion both Juan and Catalina display towards helping uncle Tito to find the wild book and using clever ideas like their own interests to greet the book. I also loved the books themselves--the personification put into them, the way they had real, honest emotions and even got sick is such a beautifully written and executed. The story is extremely intricate and the in-depth descriptions it gives of the different rooms, like the shadow room and the stature room is also beautiful. Juan Villoro and Lawrence Schimel do a fantastic job with the writing and style (and so do all of the editors!). The story simply flows and reads off the page, it was hard to put this one down.
Luckily, the things that bothered me within this story are few. They pretty much all have to do with the ending. And looking at upon my notes, I do realize that this story is for a very young audience but still. I did not like the way it was so neatly tied up. It glosses over the good bits about Juan as an adult and how him and Catalina meet again or even after the summers ends. It's just too tidy for my liking. It would have been nice if they explained the wild book more in-depth as they decided to do with other books.
Nonetheless, this story is a lot of fun. It relies on other stories and the imagination in order to get across to readers and it's a light read. The characters are well-developed and I enjoyed reading all about their adventures, especially uncle Tito. I would love a story solely on him and his adventures in that beautiful library....more
This novel is just great. That's it. Everyone should read it. It has everything, explains solitude and what it means in different forms and h4.5 Stars
This novel is just great. That's it. Everyone should read it. It has everything, explains solitude and what it means in different forms and how it can be broken in different ways. It's just kind of beautiful, really....more
I know everyone is obsessed with hygge and whatnot. But this is a good book. It contains the fundamentals in order to create hygge for every occasion.I know everyone is obsessed with hygge and whatnot. But this is a good book. It contains the fundamentals in order to create hygge for every occasion. However, I had a lot of trouble with the rules and how much explanation was put into everything. The book mostly repeats itself so skimming though it is the best way to go about it....more
I've read Schwab's other story, The Archived and really enjoyed it so I was super pumped to read This Savage Song. But, like, no. S
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3 Stars
I've read Schwab's other story, The Archived and really enjoyed it so I was super pumped to read This Savage Song. But, like, no. So monotone, so unemotional, and just...sad. Pretty much, all I was thinking while reading this was:
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Nothing matters in the book. And by this, I mean I could not have cared less if the whole city got eaten by monsters. The characters are not well-developed, are extremely flat, and annoying. An example would have to be August himself as he's supposed to be watching Kate, understanding her tactics, and reporting everything back to his dad yet he doesn't (or rarely ever does) report a damn thing. He just waits for her to show up. Again,
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On top of this, the relationship between Kate and August is so fucking contrived which is pointless Since there is nothing to care about here.
But, I did like the setting. Schwab seems to spend ample amounts of time on world building, which is great because the setting is the best. Monsters! Crawling everywhere! No one is safe. I could completely believe it, feel the atmosphere of the things that go bump in the night, unfortunately, it quickly died because of everything else. Moreover, the only character I actually enjoyed was Ilsa because she is so strange yet cool and AHHH!! Picturing the stars all over her body is just so beautiful and perfect. But then again, maybe I don't actually like the character, maybe I like the idea of this character. Either way, I'm giving Schwab points for it.
This Savage Song is flat-out a 'meh' book. The characters are shit with Leo leading the pack. When he did anything, I took it all in without hesitation or emotion. Moreover, because of this, the plot twists are shit, the writing is okay, and the world is excellent. Although I do recommend this book, I also recommend to go into it with an open mind as you will most likely be let down otherwise....more
The writing is spot on, I must admit. It held my attention, lost it, and then snatched it right back up. However, that's about all it has going for2.5
The writing is spot on, I must admit. It held my attention, lost it, and then snatched it right back up. However, that's about all it has going for it. The characters are so...boring. I had so many questions for the relationship between Micah and Janie how they stayed friends, why hey stayed friends...I just...didn't get any of it. Also the pacing is off. I had no clue what I was reading, what I was supposed to understand. I loved how Zhang wrote this, I just wanted a little bit more information....more
I'm really glad this got to be one of my first summer reads. It's fairly light yet a solid novel. With great characters and a steady
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4 Stars
I'm really glad this got to be one of my first summer reads. It's fairly light yet a solid novel. With great characters and a steady plot, Kenneth Logan delivers a lovely coming of age story. Although I didn't absolutely love James, the secondary characters are the ones who really had me. Derek, Hawken, Topher, and the parents. They kept me lightly on my toes by not being the predictable supporting characters that I assumed they would be and I really enjoyed that.
Despite the high rating I'm giving it, there are some flaws. One of them being the intense info-dumping in the very beginning. During the first chapter, readers are handed an essay long description on characters that have yet been introduced. A prime example of this is with Theresa, where James explains their long history and feelings. This could have been easily handled with showing us the friction of their relationship rather than telling us because I started to quickly lose interest. The book, for that matter, is mostly telling rather than showing like from the the letters and how James writes them to how he speaks and thinks of his friends. Instead of being put in his shoes, understanding his pain and struggle, I just felt as if I was reading a very personal, extremely distant essay (sorry for the contradiction but it's the only way I could really explain it. Like a cold 'I love you'). The whole book is surrounded by the letters and how they make him feel and transform him as a person but I felt this part of the novel was poorly executed because I couldn't connect with it as I was being told about it instead of showed it. More is written about the letter than what is actually in them. Which is really sad as the letters are his way of expressing himself.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed True Letter from a Fictional Life. it's straightforward plot wise, it contains plenty of twists, and holds some sad truths about the world we live in. I'm glad Logan made the characters different, especially with Derek because of course there are more issues outside of the LGBT community and just even shining a small light on those issues like race and religion is always appreciated. Moreover, I still liked the idea of writing letters, as a strong believer in this approach to dealing with anger (I've been writing letters to people since I was in grade two, I swear) I could connect with where James was coming from. looking past all of the telling and lengthy explanations, the writing itself is quite smooth. It's easy to lose yourself in the story and keep on reading until everything gets resolved.
You should read this. It's not a heavy book, definitely finish it within a day, no more than a week. The writing style although not unique, has a one-of-a-kind approach to a popular topic and I loved reading about it. There's more to this novel than what one read will tell you....more
Don't read this. If I could go back and unbuy this book and buy a different one, I would. Truly. This book starts off pretty awesome but quickly ends Don't read this. If I could go back and unbuy this book and buy a different one, I would. Truly. This book starts off pretty awesome but quickly ends up being petty and stupid. Seriously. Like just go watch Pretty Little Liars or something because those shows have better plots than this one. ...more
But actually...what even is the point of this novel? Because I've had a few weeks to think about it and....nothing. I seriously don't know. But actually...what even is the point of this novel? Because I've had a few weeks to think about it and....nothing. I seriously don't know. ...more
I am far too lazy to actually explain what's wrong with this book while reading only 8% of it. So, if you really wanna know, go r[image]
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I am far too lazy to actually explain what's wrong with this book while reading only 8% of it. So, if you really wanna know, go read Blythe's or Gillian's review.
The only way to describe this book is with a saying my friend, James says about certain art--It's a shitty painting with a really1.5/ Messed Up Clouds
The only way to describe this book is with a saying my friend, James says about certain art--It's a shitty painting with a really nice frame.
The idea for this book is really cool. It's all mysterious and enticing, however the actual work, is all over the place. There's insta-love and boring characters that literally have no lives except to hang out with Graham or talk about him. There are sisters that, honest to god, only compare each other and point out how different they are from one another. And on top of that, the writing is so unbelievably bad, half the time, I didn't know if I was reading the book as things were happening or as the characters reflected back on the shit that just happened. I just didn't know.
To make matters worse, this book tries so hard. It tries so hard to keep it interesting by changing up the POVs and adding random thingss here and there as well as adding a strange love triangle. However, despite the really nice frame (idea), a shitty painting will always be a shitty painting.
Bottom line, just skip this one. It's not worth it....more
Growing up as a kid, I would watch some classics with my sisters. It was our bonding time and I loved it. The fact
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3.5 Interesting Clouds!
Growing up as a kid, I would watch some classics with my sisters. It was our bonding time and I loved it. The fact that The Accidental Highwayman is compared to The Princess Bride grabbed my attention at once! I love that movie! And in a few ways, this novel is like that movie (sorry guys! Haven't read the book!). There's a ton of action, helping the story stay interesting and on point with the potential of never-ending danger. The different types of mythical creatures that Kit and his friends face are all creative and unique.
Despite how fun this novel is, The Accidental Highwayman has a lot of info-dumping that only drags out the story. I found myself skipping a bunch paragraphs because they went on and on and on about random crap. Kit, the protagonist is adorable, however, he sounded more like a ten-year old boy than a sixteen year old one.
Still, Kit and Morgana's relationship is beyond adorable. It's a roller coaster of emotion, them constantly getting angry with the other yet trying to move forward. I felt for them and their little crushes! In addition, the little notes in the margins are great and makes the story feel realistic because I don't know phrases and words used in the 19th century and getting summaries on them helped me understand. The illustrations are beautifully done. Tripp knows how to artfully draw readers in with his visuals. I kept skipping the pages, looking around for the pictures, the full ones that have so much detail and so much emotion, and then I would gawk at them all before returning to the page I was on.
The Accidental Highwayman isn't a bad book. It does have a few similarities to The Princess Bride with the action, the friends and foes and I loved it. Still, it does feel a bit odd with the abundance of information and the characters feeling too young and things working out just...too well in some cases. I recommend this story to anyone looking for something sweet and fun, with great illustrations, an old yet well described setting and love when the good guy wins! (Sort of). I'm so tempted to go watch every classic movie with villains in it now...hhmmm....more
Quite frankly, I've never been a fan of Lauren Barnholdt nor have I ever really enjoyed her books and I've read like three or four of them.
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Quite frankly, I've never been a fan of Lauren Barnholdt nor have I ever really enjoyed her books and I've read like three or four of them. Her books lack that realistic, raw feel that a teenager has during a relationship and in a romance. Her books are mostly fluff and toned down which infuriates me to no end. I'm not a fucking child. The audience for her stories are not fucking toddlers so I don't understand why she makes everything fluffy and light and boring. Through to You is the exact same as all of the others with the same problems. Barnholdt tries to make this one a bit more edgier with one of the main character's being very broken. Sadly, it doesn't work in her favour and by the end of the story, I felt disappointed and tired.
This story tries too hard, it really does. The story is typical-the good girl with a million phobias of anything fun falls for the bad boy who's biggest fan is trouble. It's annoying because the story is fluff, and the characters are underdeveloped. The main characters have rough problems, sure, but neither of them feel realistic and are mentioned off-handedly during the book which makes this book try to be important and moving. It's not. Furthermore, Harper is flat-out annoying, I had a very hard time caring for her and her problems. Adding on to that, the relationship between these two is odd. I found it hard to believe that after never feeling anything for a girl, (that wasn't sexual) Penn is flipping out over Harper and when they break up three weeks later, he's still obsessing over her and her every move in their shared class. Plus, there's close to nothing about Harper that seemed it would make Penn care about her even weeks after they break up. I'm sorry, but no.
Well, at least the cover matches the characters more. Also, the writing is all right in the middle of the story, the descriptions are mediocre but didn't bother me. I wasn't furious while reading this one like I was while reading The Thing About the Truth.
Through to You isn't as bad as some of Barnholdt's other novels, believe it or not. The beginning is confusing and dual perspectives isn't properly done, but I didn't feel overly angry while reading this one. However, I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone since the characters are not developed, the romance is forced and close to pointless, and the whole story is extremely predictable that I'm getting sleepy just thinking about it.
I hate how I can't categorize this book properly. It's not extremely serious however, it's not a light read. It's cute but then it's forced. I just caI hate how I can't categorize this book properly. It's not extremely serious however, it's not a light read. It's cute but then it's forced. I just can't find the right words to express how I feel for this book. Although I enjoyed the comics and the friendships, I didn't like the romance or the writing. And quite frankly, I had a hard time connecting with Andrew just because of the fact that he draws everything out to the extent that caring is asking far too much of me. Anyway, it's a 'meh' type of novel but then it's not because it's more. I'm not sure, review to come soon. ...more
The way I feel about this book is simple. It is that strange feeling as every hair on your body stands on end as you relive some strange childhood memThe way I feel about this book is simple. It is that strange feeling as every hair on your body stands on end as you relive some strange childhood memory you've tucked away. It is the tears the steadily fall down your cheeks and you realize, yes, Charlie, I have been there. I have seen and felt what you have seen and felt. And the heartbreak as you realize that life is just one huge circle, waiting to turn.
As Charlie gets wiser, he is able to identify the emotions as they come to him. However, as a reader I wish I could have been able to experience more of them. Charlie is very closed off when it comes to certain emotions and focuses and others such as anger and frustration. It would have been nice to see more of his emotions towards Alice and his family.
Nonetheless, this is a lovely novel. The way in which Charlie's memories come to him with such clarity and realization is beautiful. The way Keyes writes seamlessly brings his story to life, switching from one Charlie to the next. The message of the story is that there is always room for improvement, that no one is ever perfect which might be a cliche, but coming from Charlie and his difficulties, is so heartwarming and special. Keyes also spends quite sometime on Charlie's relationship with his mother, how they have interacted with each other before and after his sister. How she reacted to him being back and a completely different person. Although I wish this part had more emotion, the back story, the anxiety, and the memories...It's all there. It's well done and quite satisfying once they meet again.
So many times, Charlie is described as 'something else', as something that is not human, that was created when in reality he wasn't. A doctor did not create him and this realization to Charlie, to understand the meaning of these words and to fight against them, is the most moving part of the novel. It shows how he has used his wisdom to understand that nothing was wrong with the old Charlie, he was just as capable as he is now and I love this book for that....more
When I was sent a copy of this book for review, I'll admit, I was nervous. I never never read anything that isn't young adult and
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3.5 Stars!
When I was sent a copy of this book for review, I'll admit, I was nervous. I never never read anything that isn't young adult and fiction because I find it either too hard to relate to or too boring (History has never been a strong class for me). But I took a plunge and even though it took me forever and a year to finally finish it, I'm glad to that I did. It's a moving art piece and even more so on their own. However, with each different section, I found my interest waning and waning until I had a hard time paying attention.
The book I believe is sectioned off into three pieces: Essays, fiction, and non-fiction. My attention started decreasing during the fiction part. I found Winter Break cute but completely pointless. When I finished the story, I was scratching my head trying to figure out why the fuck I cared about some girl and her long distance relationship and her parents not being in love. I didn't care because nothing made it stand out to me which I found happens a lot in her short stories and more specifically, her characters. The characters throughout her stories are all right but I couldn't actually connect with them. They fell flat for me and I was quite disappointed by it. Moreover, for some reason, non fiction and I don't click whatsoever so I had the hardest time getting through that part oh her book.
In addition to all of that, I did enjoy the essays and most of the fiction. There's just something about her writing style that's both enchanting and interesting that I couldn't get enough of. I also liked how Keegan uses different formats and techniques to tell her stories from young adults to seniors and from a regular to emails. Her characters do have different lives and I enjoyed the diversity that she brought to them. Another thing that I enjoyed is the light humour that presents itself in a few stories to make things less serious.
The Opposite of Loneliness is an enjoyable read. There's at least one story or essay that speaks to each reader. I recommend this one to anyone looking for something new to read and is willing to step out of their comfort zone for the first time. Although the characters are quite unique there are a bit underdeveloped but I liked how different each story is. I know I enjoyed it and I'm a little less terrified of stepping out of my comfort zone now. ...more
Not a bad book at all! I really liked it, especially because of the characters that are well-developed. All in all,
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3.5 Interesting Clouds!
Not a bad book at all! I really liked it, especially because of the characters that are well-developed. All in all, great start however, it could have been better if the story was scarier.
This is How it Ends is described as a suspenseful thriller with a bit of mystery. It's supposed to be scarier, not romantic. Don't get me wrong, I liked the story, it's great and really held my attention but I was expecting something other than what I got. Adding onto this, I wanted more, I wanted the woods to be freakier instead of just there. I wanted the relationship between Riley and Trip also. They're friends, best friends and I never really got the feel for it. The explanation for the binoculars is really bad and felt rushed. Nadol has a knack for putting things in a fresh light but not when it comes down to the ending.
Despite those things, I loved the writing. It's fresh and smooth and goes well with Riley's character. Moreover, Riley himself, is a great character that I could easily connect with. All of the other characters are well planned and thought out too. The visions are also cool! They could have been a bit creepier but I loved them. They're all different and mysterious, Nadol keeps the readers in the dark especially when it comes to one of the characters.
This is How it Ends is pretty awesome. The characters and setting are well described and I could picture it all. However, and this might not be the author's fault, the pitch to readers is all wrong and I have to deduct points because of that. Still, I recommend this book to anyone looking for something to read and love realistic characters. ...more
Always assume that a person named Stan is actually named Satan. That's probably the first thing I picked up from thi
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3.5 Interesting Clouds!
Always assume that a person named Stan is actually named Satan. That's probably the first thing I picked up from this book. Oh, and that the Dark Lord is a complete ass. Play Me Backwards is a fun book about love, friendship, and knowing the difference between being a teen and an adult. I had a lot of fun reading this, and I really really REALLY want to go on a slushee adventure now. Definitely going on my high school grad bucket list to do. This book actually made me look back to what I was like when I was fourteen and all of my goals and expectations. I've changed a lot in those almost four short years but not in the way that I would have thought. This is one of the reasons why I could connect with Leon and why I think a lot of other people will be able to as well.
Right off the bat though, the book jumps into an albeit humorous, very long info-dump on the relationship between Leon and Stan/Satan and how they became friends in the first place. And it's not the only time that readers are forced to chew down a lot of information in one bite. It happens kind of a lot but I liked that even though Adam Selzer had a has a hard time expertly putting in some of the characters' pasts into the story without boring readers, he at least makes it funny. If it weren't for the humour, I really do believe that I would have skimmed through just about all of the references to the past. Another thing that I didn't like is the middle of the book where everything just seems to kind of stand still. Things happen, sure, but it's not things that matter. I truly did not care about Leon's relationship with Paige though it took up a huge chunk of the story.
Play Me backwards is still a fun novel. I loved the writing. I know I say this a lot, but I usually love reading books in a male perspective better than a female solely because the writing is a hell of a lot more relaxed with a dash of humour in it. The random but awesome assignments that Stan gives Leon are great. I loved how much fun Leon has going around doing them. Moreover, the relationship between Leon and Stan is well done. I loved the journey that Leon goes through to improve himself and just how willing Stan is to help him. The characters are full of personality and enthusiasm (or lack of) that's really realistic in teens. Adding onto this, Stan is amazing. He's mysterious and plays his part well as the Devil.
If you don't have a bucket list already, I suggest that you start one. Especially if you're not a teenager. You must go on a slushee adventure and do at least one disaster dinner from an old cookbook. This book inspires random, weird, and awkward but in a way that's relatable to most, if not all teens concerning their parents, friends, and grades. It was easy for me to love the book and laugh along with it. I recommend this one to everyone to read even if it's just to pass the time. It's kind of a jem, guys....more
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