Goodreads Rating: 5 stars
Ready for my short sweet review of this most awesome start to a new series by one of my favorite authors?
I love Rick Riordan. And thank you for no horrible cliffhangers. And thank you for the Percy Jackson Anne Heroes of Olympus Easter eggs. And of course, for making Magnus related to Annabeth…complete polar opposites!
Goodreads Rating:
Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children: 5 stars
Hollow City: 4 stars
Library of Souls: 5 stars
Read this series. If you haven’t, read it. It is beautifully written and incredibly original. We have all seen those old pictures around of interesting or far fetched images with people or settings that does not seem to be real. Ransom Riggs created an entire series around these photos. Beautifully mastered. I cannot wait to see the films. I am saddened that this series is finished, but it has been a wonderful journey!
I cannot write a review that will ever give justice to this series, other than to say that everyone really should read it. I have truly enjoyed reading this series. Ransom Riggs is a captivating author who keeps the reader enticed. I think it ended exactly how it needed to, but would love to know what happens “later” in life for everyone, maybe a novella a few years down the road of everyone involved.
I look forward to reading anything Ransom Riggs writes in the future!
Princess Nancie Gets Dressed by Leela Hope
Goodreads Rating: 3 stars
Age Group: 3 to 8
Cute little story. There were a few typos in it, also didn’t format correctly for me for my Kindle. I think that the more appropriate age range would be 3 to 5 as Nancie is 4 years old. I do not really see an 8 year old appreciating the story, at least this story the same way a 3 to 5 year old would. From what I can see, there are multiple Princess Nancie books, so perhaps the older range would like those, but since this is the book I read, it is all I have to go off of.
This story is about a 4 year old little girl named Nancie who is allowed to dress herself for the day’s adventures. It tells of the struggles she goes through to get dressed and how her mother encourages her to keep going and not give up. Her mother does however make her change into something different. I do think that dampens a child’s creativity, so that lost a star for me. I know that if you let children dress themselves, some children would pick out the most insanely wildest things, but I think that is the experience of it all. That is the point and purpose.
Still an overall cute story, more for a target audience of preschool/kindergarten age range. I work around young kids a lot, so it is nice to have something kid appropriate to read if I need it. Leela Hope’s books on Amazon are fairly inexpensive. I found this one free for Prime, most are also free for Kindle Unlimited. However, I did see that the paperback version was about $9, which I feel is a bit pricey.
The Immortal Circus (Act One and Two) by A.R. Kahler
Goodreads Rating: 3 stars
Audible Rating: 4 stars
I had to go back and see if I actually reviewed Act 1, and it doesn’t look like I did. The reviews are pretty much the same. I don’t do book reviews very much, but pinpoint a few things here and there that I like or dislike. So I guess I can do both at the same time, because both books really had the same things right and the same things wrong with them.
In both books, Vivienne is annoying, and doesn’t have a memory. In Act 2, she slowly starts gaining her memory back, but bits and pieces. None of you questions are ever answered, and at the end of each Act, you are only left with more questions. Yet, I continue with the series.
I do have to say, I would suggest LISTENING to them, Amy McFadden is a great narrator, and I have said that over and over again because if she narrates, I will generally listen instead of read.
My qualms with this series is mainly that I always felt lost in the storyline. In both books. Even after Act 2, and all the WTF moments that both Acts equally shared, I still had too many moments where I struggled to hold on to the overall story. I also hate that I wasn’t fully prepared to have my heart a little broken in Act 2, but I won’t say why.
I am still lost to the whole purpose of this story as a whole. Hopefully, the Final Act will answer all the questions, however, I feel like there is way too much that needs to be addressed before this series can end!
Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes
Goodreads rating: 5 stars
When I read a series, and it has been a while between books, I find it hard to write a review. So I like to look at the previous book’s review to see why I felt a particular way for one book and how I felt with the new book. The Falling Kingdoms series, thus far, has been a good read. It can sometimes be confusing, because multiple stories are going on at the same time. A few of the main characters each tell about different situations that happened to them and eventually by the end of the book, all stories and characters come full circle and connect together.
If you like The Game of Thrones and want a book series in a similar genre, The Falling Kingdoms would be a good start. In the very first book, a murder occurred within a few pages. It set the tone for the entire book which ended in more blood, some interestingly sketchy and unexpected love triangles, some more death and a whole lot of betrayal. So, after finishing the first book with a bang, I had similar expectations for book 2. Let me say, it delivered. There was even more betrayal, more blood, and more death. Like GoT, do not get too attached to characters, they have a bad habit of dying. The story continued, multiple perspectives going on and eventually leaving you feeling even more confused, emotionally distraught and somewhat hopeful. Due to how both books ended, I am reluctant, nervous and excited all rolled into one to finish this series out. Rebel Spring has been my favorite book by far. There was a significant amount of character growth for ALL characters. A lot of questions were answered, however, more questions needing answers filled that gap.
The kicker to this series? It is classified as a YA series…seriously. I have read quite a bit of YA in my life, and I only recall reading one other series that surprised me as being YA (Cate Tiernan’s Sweep series).
Deep Trouble by R.L. Stine
Goodreads Rating: 3 stars
I am going on an adventure and re-buying and reading Goosebumps books. I loved these books as a child. My favorites are Say Cheese and Die and Say Cheese and Die, Again. I enjoyed reading them when I was younger. In fact, if I had to pinpoint a book or series that really sucked me into reading, it would be the Goosebumps series. I don’t recall ever reading this particular book, but it is possible that I did. I remember some of these books used to scare me, and make me want to keep the lights on. I have to say, Deep Trouble was not my favorite. I know in Mr. Stine’s books that usually one of the characters is a bratty kid, but something about Billy really didn’t sit well with me. The Goosebump books also used to take me all day to read. And I was always super excited when I finished them in one sitting…my how I have grown eh?!
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery
Narrated by Humphrey Bower
Goodreads rating: 5 stars
Audible rating: 5 stars
I read this book in French class YEARS ago (12 to be exact), so I couldn’t really remember much about the story. Also, some things were lost in translation. I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. I am not even sure how to write a review on it. There is a reason this is a beloved classic. The story the Little Prince tells to the narrator is amazing. I found myself laughing, smiling and even a bit teary-eyed throughout the course of this story. Humphrey Bower was believable in his narration. You could hear and feel the emotions through the story and his interpretation of the Little Prince. There isn’t much more I can really say for this book. It does not need a review to express it’s greatness.
The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar by Roald Dahl
Goodreads rating: 5 stars
Audio rating: 5 stars
So continuing my Dahlacation, I came across this particular story. Apparently this story is in a collection of short stories by Roald Dahl, but the audio version I listened to was just this book. This story left me shattered. My heart was absolutely broken. For all the best reasons.
Maybe it is my lack of Dahl experience, but I feel like this may be one of Dahl’s lesser known stories. We all know Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and most likely, The Fantastic Mr. Fox. But what about some of his short stories, such as that on Henry Sugar? Though I feel it is a bit lesser known, again my opinion, it is still a wonderful story.
A little bit of information: It starts when Henry Sugar stumbles upon a book written by an English doctor in India who came across a man who could see with his eyes closed. After reading the story, Henry Sugar decides he wants to learn this talent so that, being the gambling man he is, he can go and rob casinos blind without them knowing. It takes him a few years to successfully complete this task. When he gets his talent down to being able to see the face side of a card within 4 seconds, he goes to a casino. He realizes quickly, he has to let himself sometimes lose as to not gather attention. Being that Mr. Sugar is already a wealthy man, he found that he felt incomplete after winning at the casino one night. The next morning, he throws his winnings out of his window to people walking by. It causes a spectacle and a police officer comes knocking on Mr. Sugar’s door. Mr. Sugar explains the story of how he came across the money, the police officer, outraged, explained to Mr. Sugar that if had that kind of money to be throwing out the window, he should be giving it back to the community. The police officer explained that there were many orphanages that are run down and can barely feed the children residing there, and that he would know firsthand as he lived in one. This gives Mr. Sugar a wonderful idea…he will go around all the casinos of the world, winning their money right from under their noses, and building orphanages in every country he goes. In order to do this, he decides that he has to have someone for the financial aspect, someone who will maintain his money and help finance the orphanages appropriately. After a conversation with a tax guy he knows, and a few demonstrations, he acquires the perfect person. They do this for a while, him winning money and sending it to his bank account in Switzerland for the taxman to manage. After a while, some casinos in Vegas catch on to him, and in a narrow escape from the Mafia with his life, he decides he needs someone to help him create disguises. So, after a conversation and a few demonstrations, he finds the perfect man. They travel together, with new passports and new identities and they hit the same casinos over and over again. The two of them do this for decades, funding hundreds of orphanages all around the world.
The story is narrated by a man who was asked to write the story of Henry Sugar when he died. The narrator was curious as to why he was only set to write this part of the story, and not the story of what happened at each casino. The man in charge of the finances stated that Henry’s PIC Max wanted to write that adventure himself, if he could manage to complete it before his own death.
I know I do not normally write a “book report” style book review, but I feel like I had to. This story takes you on an emotional journey, watching Henry Sugar grow from his money hungry, entitled self to the man who funded many orphanages to give children better lives. He not only significantly touched and changed his life and the lives of his closest partners/friends, he changed the lives of children all over the world. What a great way to utilize his hard work for the gift of seeing without your eyes.
City of Cruelty of Copper by Rhiannon Paille
Goodreads rating: 2 stars
A while ago, this book was free on Amazon (it still might be, I am unsure). I discovered its freeness on Facebook, when the author mentioned it in a group I follow. Said author then created a group for all of us to join should we want to. A fan type of thing. I want to say, I actually have never posted in the group since I had not yet read the books she has created. I finally got around to reading this particular story, it is not very long, but feels like it took me forever to read.
I feel like this story held promise. It is a dystopian novel. Some nuclear bombs happened, forced people underground, young girl found the Fountain of Youth; it only works on her but no one else. She lives eternally. Every year, on what has been designated as Temperance Day, the “government” of this little underground society arranges for a variety of obstacles, including zombie bears (yes, you read that correctly) to attempt to kill her in front of all of society for their enjoyment. Every day of the year, they keep her locked in a cell.
This story flips back and forth between her point of view and a great great great great young relative of hers. She’s been alive for over 1000 years, so I am sure it is hard to keep track. This young lad is apparently gay and has a crush on a boy from “across the tracks.” I couldn’t quite figure out the importance of his point of view. He rarely ever mentioned his great-whatever except for the fact that he didn’t like watching this particular yearly event. I believe the book spans over 2 Temperance Days, but it was hard to switch from one to the other.
I gave it 2 stars because, though the book held promise, it failed to deliver. It left way too many questions, but didn’t give enough assurances or reasons to continue with the story. I generally get mad at cliffhangers, but I just didn’t feel upset when this book ended the way it did. I may continue on with the series, but it will take a while and when I have spiked enough curiosity to really take the time to read the next installment. The books do have great cover photos, so that is a strength.
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Goodreads rating: 5 stars
Audible rating: 5 stars
Does anyone else think that Roald Dahl’s imagination was one of nightmarish proportions…or is it just me? Let’s take a look at some of his works. There are giants that steal children in their beds and eat them; there is a delicious chocolate factory that has inventions capable to turn children into blueberries or even shrink them; an ogreish couple attempting to capture birds for a bird pie dinner meant for two; 3 mean farmers attempting to kill an entire fox family; a young boy who goes on a magnificent journey inside a peach with his backyard buggy friends….so why not a story about witches who come up with a superb plan of turning all the children in England into rats so that their parents and loved ones would squash them in fear?! Sounds like a good time to me, to be honest. So, because I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to Roald Dahl books, The Witches was no different. I began listening to this story while I was getting ready in my hotel during my training for work. I liked it. Started out in true, scary, Roald Dahl fashion, you know, creepy… In the first chapter a little boy and his family were in a car wreck on the way to the grandmother’s house in Norway, of which his parents died. He ends up staying for a period of time with his grandmother in Norway who tells him stories of real live witches that live in Norway and various examples of their existence. One day, a lawyer comes by and informs the grandmother that per the will they must return to England so that he can continue school there. While back in England, his grandmother got sick. As she got better, they went to south England for a nice little retreat of the health. I want to point out, that at this point in the story, I was driving home from training, when I had a sudden realization. This story sounds an awful lot like the movie The Witches that came out in 1990. You know the one right?
Mind= BLOWN. I had NO idea! None! Granted, I was 5 when this amazingly awesome movie came out, how was I supposed to know that it was based on none other than Roald Dahl’s exciting story, The Witches! I didn’t even know who Roald Dahl was! Do you know how long it took me to make that connection for most of his stories that became movies? I had never read a single Roald Dahl book until Charlie and the Chocolate Factory LAST year….I know, I should feel ashamed to even call myself a book lover. Trust me. I am currently making up for this lack of Dahlacation by attempting to read or listen to EVERY BOOK he has ever put into existence!
So after this realization, I think it is safe to say I did what any movie lover does if they happen to see a movie first, I compared it the whole time I listened. Bad Idea. Why did I not learn my lesson after reading Jurrasic Park when I was 16? I figured the book and movie would be pretty close…and though they are, the endings are COMPLETELY different. The movie leaves you feeling happy, the book leaves you feeling depressed. My Dahlacation shall continue with an open mind, an open heart, and an endless love for the creative mind Roald Dahl left in this world.
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