Hello world! I just had myself the time of my life for my birthday! My birthday is on the 16th of November... so I'm a bit late with this... but that's okay! Here's the video to my adventure! I hope you all enjoy and look forward to more reviews that will be posted throughout the weekend and an update video at the end of it all! Enjoy the adventure!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Book Haul 11/14/2010
Hello! I have a book haul for all of you. Excuse my apperance in this video... I didn't feel like getting dress... and the choppy editing... I went over the time limit. XD Anywho, enjoy!
Wal-Mart Books:
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
eBay Books:
Vows And Honor Book I: The Oathbound by Mercedes Lackey
Vows And Honor Book II: Oathbreakers by Mercedes Lackey
Oathblood by Mercedes Lackey
Learn Japanese New College Text Volume I, II, and III
Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days Official Strategy Guide
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Official Strategy Guide
Barnes & Noble Books:
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Rurouni Kenshin Volume 7-10 by Nobuhiro Watsuki
Library Books:
Blue Moon by Alyson Noël
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Wal-Mart Books:
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
eBay Books:
Vows And Honor Book I: The Oathbound by Mercedes Lackey
Vows And Honor Book II: Oathbreakers by Mercedes Lackey
Oathblood by Mercedes Lackey
Learn Japanese New College Text Volume I, II, and III
Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days Official Strategy Guide
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Official Strategy Guide
Barnes & Noble Books:
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Rurouni Kenshin Volume 7-10 by Nobuhiro Watsuki
Library Books:
Blue Moon by Alyson Noël
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Book Review: Wolf-Woman by Sherryl Jordan
Yay! I am back and with me, another review! WARNING!!! This review contains some spoilers. I tried to keep it spoiler-free but some details did get in so I advise that you stop reading now if you hate spoilers!
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| Front Cover |
Title: Wolf-Woman
Author: Sherryl Jordan
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Release Date: October 24, 1994
Synopsis: Her earliest memories are of the wolves. And of the hunters who kill them and reclaim her to human society—as a slave. Tanith grows up part of a savage, plundering clan, in a world ruled by brute strength, superstition, and animal cunning. Hated and shunned, Tanith flees human society for the more humane company of wolves. The chief's son of a neighboring farming clan offers Tanith the chance to join once again with her own kind, but what will be the stronger—the wavering cry of the human or the steady beating call of the wolf?
This book… PISSED ME OFF TO NO END!!! Argh! I can’t even BEGIN to tell you how much this book made me angry! It was like getting a pair a’scissors and jabbing them into my eyes whilst dipping my lower body into boiling hot lava, having my skin melt off the bone then having someone stab me multiple times in my torso whilst pouring salt into each cut! Actually, no. IT’S WORSE THAN THAT! But enough about me ranting about how much this book made me angry. Let’s dive straight into the review!
Since this book is so short, there was not a lot I could have said without getting some spoilers into the mix. So, from this point out, you might not want to read if spoilers aren’t your thing. I did my best to keeping it to a minimum but I still feel I gave some of it away so stop now if you don’t want to have ANY type of spoilers. You have been warned…
This book is written in the perspective of Tanith, a girl who was raised by wolves. As an infant, she was born into a clan of humans who believed if they leave their child with the wolves for a few days, they would grow up with the knowledge of the wolves. Be it their ways or their language, those children will know it all. Tanith was chosen in her clan to be that child. However, an enemy clan that is run by the chieftain Ahearn, a mean prick who acts as if he’s caring but is really a douche, attacks the wolves Tanith was staying with. He kills them off and, feeling remorse towards the child, for he lost his own daughter when she drowned earlier on, takes the baby in as his “adopted daughter.”
Fast forward to present times, Tanith is shunned from the clan she was adopted into for not only once being from an enemy clan, but of being raised by the wolves. In fact, they mock her constantly by referring to her as “wolf woman.” Tanith doesn’t mind, though. She yearns to be by the wolves for they are the only ones to truly show her compassion. She learns this later on when a life-changing incident occurs. Want to know that incident? Then read the book!
In Ahearn’s clan, there is only one person who treated her as one of the tribe. Her name was Nolwynn, wife and supposedly “only love” of Ahearn. However, she was gravely ill. She tried to rescue her daughter from drowning and injured herself in the process. In short, Tanith did everything to please her, and the rest of the clan, in order to live in peace. Unfortunately, that was an impossible task.
One day, a woman by the name of Morag, Ahearn’s mistress (Little bastard saying that he loves Nolwynn more! What a load of bull!), sends Tanith to go find some fish for dinner, despite it being very late. Tanith does as she’s told so as to not upset the bitch, but little does she know that Morag tells Ahearn that she ran away from home. He goes out searching for her, getting severely injured in the process. What gets on my nerves is that once Tanith returns home and explains to everyone that it wasn’t her fault but Morag’s, nobody believes her and Ahearn casts her away from the village.
There was only one place left for her…
The wolves. They welcomed her with open arms… er… fangs… POINT IS THEY WERE HAPPY TO HAVE HER IN THEIR PACK! Ashok is the alpha wolf, Shula his mate, Zaal and Zeki their cubs, and Kalasin is like the cubs’ caretaker. His mate, Raida, comes along later in the book but I’ll let you read it for yourselves. They weren’t as critical or condescending as the humans. They loved her for her, and for a long time, Tanith lived happily with them.
Until Gibran came along. He’s her so-called “love interest” (Notice how I keep using quotation marks to emphasize certain things. That’s because this book is so full of contradictions you just want to kill someone! Or, at least, I do!) and he came to take her back to his own clan. Originally, Gibran is from a clan different from Ahearn. They are a much more peaceful lot and in order to preserve that peace they and Ahearn exchanged their sons as a treaty between them.
Anyway, he wants to leave and go to his tribe so that Tanith and he could live happily together! Sounds cute, right? WRONG! He’s a two-bit, no good, cheating asswipe that deserves to be shot! Seriously, he claims he loves her but as soon as she’s not around, he’s getting laid by some other chick who wears green (Hey, slut! That’s MY favorite color! Don’t go defiling it by having it wrapped around your body!!!). Her name was Sabra, by the way… retarded name… Anyway, Tanith calls him a liar and… I could say more about their relationship but I feel that if I keep ranting that I might give certain things away. I will say this, however. He blames his infidelity on being drunk… and Tanith seems to be okay with that. Stupid girl…
Well, from here on out the story goes through hell. I mean straight up hell! So many things happen and your mind is left whirling. There’s this huge fight and so much bloodshed… let’s just say I hate the ending of the book. It really was awful! It just leaves you… hurt. I never want to read something this depressing ever again (Watch me pick up some sad, messed up book next.).
I swear there was nothing that amazing about this book. The plot was decent… could have been more. However, all of the characters suck! Well, except the wolves. In fact, the wolves were the only good part of the book.
Ashok is the sweetest of the wolves. He is so calm and gentle that you can’t help but want to put your arms around his fluffy neck! Shula is a kind she-wolf. She watches everyone in the pack as one really would their family. The two alpha wolves are so loyal to one another and affectionate that you wish humans really were like wolves. Zaal and Zeki are a bundle of joy. Raida is a bit on the mean side but she’s also strong and caring when she wants to be. And my favorite wolf is Kalasin. He’s adorable! So playful yet serious… so calm yet upbeat. He’s the perfect balance you could ever want in a mate… Man, I wish I was a wolf!!! *Ahem* Anyway, these are the only characters in the book worth your time.
Unfortunately, that’s about as good as it gets. The rest of the characters… ARGH!!!!! YOU JUST WANT TO MURDER THEM!!! Ahearn is a bastard that lets his bitch, Morag, do whatever she likes. Tallil, the exorcist of the group, is a hypocritical schmuck that forces everyone to believe the wolves are evil. Hrothi, the healer, is another douche.
There's this one character that goes by the name of Camelin. He's a bard that sings stories of every place he has traveled. He is one of the few human characters I like. He's very sweet to Tanith and I think that's awesome. He does have a flw though. When Tanith asks him to sings songs of how the wolves are really kind creatures, he says he can't because he fears them and he can't sing songs about something he doesn't believe in. It's really disappointing because I really did like him.
There's this one character that goes by the name of Camelin. He's a bard that sings stories of every place he has traveled. He is one of the few human characters I like. He's very sweet to Tanith and I think that's awesome. He does have a flw though. When Tanith asks him to sings songs of how the wolves are really kind creatures, he says he can't because he fears them and he can't sing songs about something he doesn't believe in. It's really disappointing because I really did like him.
Gibran… okay… granted, he’s not as bad as the others but he’s still a jerk when it comes to loving women. His reasoning for being in love with Tanith is ridiculous as well. He says that he loves her for she pleases him, has a nice face, and is a good kisser. Now, if that isn’t fickle then I don’t know what is.
Tanith as well, gets on my nerves. She’s not a horrible heroine but neither is she epic. She takes all the crap the clan throws at her and does absolutely nothing! Okay. I get the fact that she is trying to prove to them that she is not evil but still! Throw a punch! Kick them in the nads! Do SOMETHING!!! Another thing that pisses me off about her is that she gives in to Gibran most of the time. I can’t tell you how many times I screamed at the book for her to stop being an idiot. Well, towards the end of the book she gets wiser, so that’s good.
My biggest problem, aside from everything else, is how they treat women in this book—as if they are objects merely meant for pleasing the man in bed. I’m not a feminist or anything but that’s just really annoying! I know that’s how things used to be but damn it! I don’t want to read a book about it! It’s just nerve-wracking! ACK!
I really… really didn’t like this book. It made me very upset and the ending just turned me off to the entire thing. I appreciate the parts with the wolves and how educational it could be but it is so overshadowed with everything else that happens that you kind of forget it’s even there. It’s a decent read but not one I would recommend to take with you everywhere you go.
If you like wolves and want to know a great deal more about it then this book is for you. If you like women being treated like dirt then this book is for you. If you like stupid endings and screwed up logic then this book is for you! However, if all these are a turn off, then STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THIS BOOK!!! I give it a three out of five, if only in recognition of the wolves.
Hope you enjoyed! Till my next review!
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| Just to give you guys an idea of what the text looks like. |
Monday, November 8, 2010
Book Review: The Black Book of Secrets by F.E. Higgins
Second review! Finally! I really need more time to do this. I can't just keep you people waiting and waiting... or maybe I can... who knows? Anyway, enjoy this next review about a pretty cool book!
Title: The Black Book of Secrets
Author: F.E. Higgins
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Synopsis: A boy arrives at a remote village in the dead of night. His name is Ludlow Fitch—and he is running from a most terrible past. What he is about to learn is that in this village is the life he has dreamed of—a safe place to live, and a job, as the assistant to the mysterious pawnbroker who trades people's deepest, darkest, secret for cash. Ludlow's job is to neatly transcribe the confessions in an ancient leather-bound tome: The Black Book of Secrets.
Ludlow yearns to trust his mentor, who refuses to disclose any information on his past experience or future intentions. What the pawnbroker does not know is, in a town brimming with secrets, the most troubling may be held by his new apprentice.
What can one say about this book? Well, let us start from the beginning. F.E. Higgins’ book, The Black Book of Secrets, takes place in two distinct locations—one being a gruesome city literally called the City (I wonder where Higgins found such a creative name for her town) and a smaller, more collective town called Pagus Parvus. The two cities are polar opposites in which one brings forth chaos and destruction, whilst the other takes a more subtle approach… though still evil incarnate.
Enter Ludlow Fitch, a young boy born and raised in the City who is terrorized by his parents every second of the day. Being raised since birth to be a low-class citizen, he takes up the business of thievery for the sole purpose of getting his parents off his back long enough for him to breathe. What else could he have done? If he did otherwise, all that would await him at home was a killer beating from his father, with the cheers of his mother in the background. His only escape was to do what he was told whilst staying away from home as much as possible. You know, like any other teenager! Usually the place he ran to was a pawnbroker’s shop inhabited by Lembart Jellico, who plays a minor yet key role in this horror.
One day Fitch’s parents come up with the brilliant idea to sell their son’s teeth. Why? Because teeth back then were worth lots of money. So, for such petty reasons, they call in Dr. Barton Gumbroot (I'm not too fond of the pun either), a psychotic dentist who deals in shady business, like ripping out the teeth from the poor so they could have a decent buck in their pockets. I swear, I don’t care how poor I am. I will never stoop so low as to sell my own teeth for money. Besides that, since there was no novocaine back then, I would be in extreme pain… and I don’t do well with pain.
Apparently, neither do Fitch’s parents since they tell the dentist to yank his teeth out without giving two chickens about it! Dr. Gumbroot then takes his place over the child, drooling as if he was having some sort of arousal out of this, and the father of the child holding down his kid. What kind of parents does this kid have? Not to mention his parents are laughing at every wince he makes. Sickos… Anyway, the poor boy is then in excruciating pain whilst having metal pliers, that’ve been most likely in a drunkard’s mouth, pull hard on his shiny teeth. With blood pouring down his mouth, he gets a stunning realization: He’s going to die right there and then if he doesn't do something!
To make a long story short, he kicks the father, steals the pliers away from the dentist, hits the dentist with said pliers over the head, ignores his mother cowering like a wimp in the corner, and manages to escape from the City to a much gentler, quieter, though equally as vicious, place called Pagus Parvus. It is at this location where he meets Joe Zabbidou, a man shrouded in mystery who carries immense knowledge about frogs… and other stuff, I’m sure. He, too, is a pawnbroker but not like what you have in mind. Sure he buys worthless items from the villagers looking to find some money. However, he also buys secrets!
Every detail of a person’s past and dirty deed they partook in is then written in the Black Book of Secrets. Zabbidou, being an aging man who can no longer handle the hardship of writing stuff down in the book (I’m guessing) hires Ludlow Fitch to do the new data entering. Naturally, coming from a life of poverty, Fitch accepts his new job since it will keep a roof over his head and his belly full. Anybody with a brain would have done so.
Much of the same thing happens afterwards in the story. Joe Zabbidou goes up to a person claiming he could help them be at peace with themselves, that person goes to see him at the dead of night, they tell their story, Fitch writes it in the book, Zabbidou pays them for their secret, and then they go home happy. Simple enough, no? Wrong! Here comes the story’s antagonist, Jeremiah Ratchet, the man who basically owns everything in Pagus Parvus and rules the place with an iron fist! Got to love dictators!
He can’t take the fact that the townsfolk see hope in the form of Zabbidou. He wants them to quake in their boots and tremble in fear with just the mere mention of the name Ratchet. Nearly everyone was in debt with his outrageous prices on rent. This pile of evil nothing even thought up ways to have everyone doing dirty deeds in order to pay him the rent they owed. So, of course, with the new pawnbroker in town buying up the town’s secrets, everyone was paying off their debts. Naturally, this made Ratchet a very unhappy person. He formulates schemes to get revenge and what not which all seems to end in failure. I’m not going to give away any of it but let me just say that the story does make you want to start yelling at the book just so that pathetic excuse of a business man could get it! He was so deliciously evil… I couldn’t get enough of it!
The story is rather unique and it did make me want to continue reading till the end. The plot was a bit sketchy but it makes up for it with detailed characters that have dark pasts and worries that plague their minds. In fact, because of this, it makes you believe that the characters are that much more alive and not just some fictional people who came out of a person’s head, even though they are.
For this to be Higgins’ first book, I am truly impressed. I love how she described each event in great detail and how well she thought out her characters. Such thinking made it out to be a very entertaining book. I also love how she had the book written in two different perspectives. One was of Ludlow Fitch and it was written in first person. During this time of the story, he was saying the story as if he was writing down his thoughts in a diary. The other was written in third person just like any other novel. I thought that this writing style was very unique and it drew me even closer to the book.
However, there are some areas of the book where I felt it was lacking. For example, the character of Joe Zabbidou. She never went into great detail about him. I mean, where did he come from? Why does he buy secrets? How come no matter what happens, he always seems to know the outcome? What? Is he like some fortune teller that can read minds? Is he a seer that has a dream of helping those with horrible pasts? Did he injure his leg because of his former dancing career? I don’t know. Although I love how throughout the entire book he’s nothing but a mystery, I feel that there should have been a bit more explaining about where he came from. He’s still a loveable character. I just find it a bit difficult to fall completely in love with him since I know nothing about him… but that’s just me.
Another problem I saw with this book was its ending. It was more bitter sweet than anything. I was expecting more of an impact than it left me. It really left a lot of questions out in the air which I never did like in stories such as this. You know, like the ending of “Avatar: the Last Airbender.” It’s good, but because of so many questions left unanswered, it leaves a lot of us disappointed.
With all that, however, it is still a very entertaining book and worth the read. Though not the best book ever made, this book still contains a pretty decent storyline with well-developed characters and lots of twisted evil that drags in any person with a taste for excitement... or mental issues. I forget which. I read it in a single day and I was pretty satisfied with the outcome, despite its minor fallbacks. Hey, at least it didn’t make me want to pull my hair out or jump out of a window (Like some books which shall remain nameless for peace’s sake).
All-in-all, I recommend this book to both children and adults alike! Well, young adults. The older ones might not like it too much. Actually, with its sinister opening, I’m sure there are lots of older adults who would find this book appealing! I give this book a four out of five for keeping me happy all the way up to the bitter end! Good job Higgins!
 |
| Front Cover |
Title: The Black Book of Secrets
Author: F.E. Higgins
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Synopsis: A boy arrives at a remote village in the dead of night. His name is Ludlow Fitch—and he is running from a most terrible past. What he is about to learn is that in this village is the life he has dreamed of—a safe place to live, and a job, as the assistant to the mysterious pawnbroker who trades people's deepest, darkest, secret for cash. Ludlow's job is to neatly transcribe the confessions in an ancient leather-bound tome: The Black Book of Secrets.
Ludlow yearns to trust his mentor, who refuses to disclose any information on his past experience or future intentions. What the pawnbroker does not know is, in a town brimming with secrets, the most troubling may be held by his new apprentice.
What can one say about this book? Well, let us start from the beginning. F.E. Higgins’ book, The Black Book of Secrets, takes place in two distinct locations—one being a gruesome city literally called the City (I wonder where Higgins found such a creative name for her town) and a smaller, more collective town called Pagus Parvus. The two cities are polar opposites in which one brings forth chaos and destruction, whilst the other takes a more subtle approach… though still evil incarnate.
Enter Ludlow Fitch, a young boy born and raised in the City who is terrorized by his parents every second of the day. Being raised since birth to be a low-class citizen, he takes up the business of thievery for the sole purpose of getting his parents off his back long enough for him to breathe. What else could he have done? If he did otherwise, all that would await him at home was a killer beating from his father, with the cheers of his mother in the background. His only escape was to do what he was told whilst staying away from home as much as possible. You know, like any other teenager! Usually the place he ran to was a pawnbroker’s shop inhabited by Lembart Jellico, who plays a minor yet key role in this horror.
One day Fitch’s parents come up with the brilliant idea to sell their son’s teeth. Why? Because teeth back then were worth lots of money. So, for such petty reasons, they call in Dr. Barton Gumbroot (I'm not too fond of the pun either), a psychotic dentist who deals in shady business, like ripping out the teeth from the poor so they could have a decent buck in their pockets. I swear, I don’t care how poor I am. I will never stoop so low as to sell my own teeth for money. Besides that, since there was no novocaine back then, I would be in extreme pain… and I don’t do well with pain.
Apparently, neither do Fitch’s parents since they tell the dentist to yank his teeth out without giving two chickens about it! Dr. Gumbroot then takes his place over the child, drooling as if he was having some sort of arousal out of this, and the father of the child holding down his kid. What kind of parents does this kid have? Not to mention his parents are laughing at every wince he makes. Sickos… Anyway, the poor boy is then in excruciating pain whilst having metal pliers, that’ve been most likely in a drunkard’s mouth, pull hard on his shiny teeth. With blood pouring down his mouth, he gets a stunning realization: He’s going to die right there and then if he doesn't do something!
To make a long story short, he kicks the father, steals the pliers away from the dentist, hits the dentist with said pliers over the head, ignores his mother cowering like a wimp in the corner, and manages to escape from the City to a much gentler, quieter, though equally as vicious, place called Pagus Parvus. It is at this location where he meets Joe Zabbidou, a man shrouded in mystery who carries immense knowledge about frogs… and other stuff, I’m sure. He, too, is a pawnbroker but not like what you have in mind. Sure he buys worthless items from the villagers looking to find some money. However, he also buys secrets!
Every detail of a person’s past and dirty deed they partook in is then written in the Black Book of Secrets. Zabbidou, being an aging man who can no longer handle the hardship of writing stuff down in the book (I’m guessing) hires Ludlow Fitch to do the new data entering. Naturally, coming from a life of poverty, Fitch accepts his new job since it will keep a roof over his head and his belly full. Anybody with a brain would have done so.
Much of the same thing happens afterwards in the story. Joe Zabbidou goes up to a person claiming he could help them be at peace with themselves, that person goes to see him at the dead of night, they tell their story, Fitch writes it in the book, Zabbidou pays them for their secret, and then they go home happy. Simple enough, no? Wrong! Here comes the story’s antagonist, Jeremiah Ratchet, the man who basically owns everything in Pagus Parvus and rules the place with an iron fist! Got to love dictators!
He can’t take the fact that the townsfolk see hope in the form of Zabbidou. He wants them to quake in their boots and tremble in fear with just the mere mention of the name Ratchet. Nearly everyone was in debt with his outrageous prices on rent. This pile of evil nothing even thought up ways to have everyone doing dirty deeds in order to pay him the rent they owed. So, of course, with the new pawnbroker in town buying up the town’s secrets, everyone was paying off their debts. Naturally, this made Ratchet a very unhappy person. He formulates schemes to get revenge and what not which all seems to end in failure. I’m not going to give away any of it but let me just say that the story does make you want to start yelling at the book just so that pathetic excuse of a business man could get it! He was so deliciously evil… I couldn’t get enough of it!
The story is rather unique and it did make me want to continue reading till the end. The plot was a bit sketchy but it makes up for it with detailed characters that have dark pasts and worries that plague their minds. In fact, because of this, it makes you believe that the characters are that much more alive and not just some fictional people who came out of a person’s head, even though they are.
For this to be Higgins’ first book, I am truly impressed. I love how she described each event in great detail and how well she thought out her characters. Such thinking made it out to be a very entertaining book. I also love how she had the book written in two different perspectives. One was of Ludlow Fitch and it was written in first person. During this time of the story, he was saying the story as if he was writing down his thoughts in a diary. The other was written in third person just like any other novel. I thought that this writing style was very unique and it drew me even closer to the book.
However, there are some areas of the book where I felt it was lacking. For example, the character of Joe Zabbidou. She never went into great detail about him. I mean, where did he come from? Why does he buy secrets? How come no matter what happens, he always seems to know the outcome? What? Is he like some fortune teller that can read minds? Is he a seer that has a dream of helping those with horrible pasts? Did he injure his leg because of his former dancing career? I don’t know. Although I love how throughout the entire book he’s nothing but a mystery, I feel that there should have been a bit more explaining about where he came from. He’s still a loveable character. I just find it a bit difficult to fall completely in love with him since I know nothing about him… but that’s just me.
Another problem I saw with this book was its ending. It was more bitter sweet than anything. I was expecting more of an impact than it left me. It really left a lot of questions out in the air which I never did like in stories such as this. You know, like the ending of “Avatar: the Last Airbender.” It’s good, but because of so many questions left unanswered, it leaves a lot of us disappointed.
With all that, however, it is still a very entertaining book and worth the read. Though not the best book ever made, this book still contains a pretty decent storyline with well-developed characters and lots of twisted evil that drags in any person with a taste for excitement... or mental issues. I forget which. I read it in a single day and I was pretty satisfied with the outcome, despite its minor fallbacks. Hey, at least it didn’t make me want to pull my hair out or jump out of a window (Like some books which shall remain nameless for peace’s sake).
All-in-all, I recommend this book to both children and adults alike! Well, young adults. The older ones might not like it too much. Actually, with its sinister opening, I’m sure there are lots of older adults who would find this book appealing! I give this book a four out of five for keeping me happy all the way up to the bitter end! Good job Higgins!
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| Just look at the black side! Don't mind the fading... it's a library book... |
Friday, October 29, 2010
Book Haul 10/29/2010
Another one for you guys! This one is not that much of a book haul BUT it still has some cool books for you! I'm getting more in the mail and once they arrive, I will be doing another haul for you guys! Yeah... I like books. I'm an addict. Yes! I admit it! Now... time for the healing... Ahhhhhh! Anywho, enjoy!
Wal-Mart Books:
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Wal-Mart Books:
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Book Review: Beauty by Robin McKinley
Howdy everyone! Yeah... I know... I took forever to get this review done... but I had work and I was also distracted by sexy people so of course I wasn't able to post it up! Anyway, I'm here now and the review is down below. I hope you enjoy my very first review on a pretty awesome book! :)
Title: Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
Author: Robin McKinley
Publisher: Harper Trophy
Release Date: October 25, 1978
Synopsis: An unfortunate nickname. Sixteen-year-old Beauty has never liked her nickname. Thin, awkward, and undersized, with big hands and huge feet, she has always thought of herself as the plainest girl in her family—certainly not nearly as lovely as her elder sisters, Hope and Grace. But what she lacks in looks, she makes up for in courage. When her father comes home one day with some strange tale of an enchanted castle in the wood and the terrible promise he has made to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows what she must do. She must go to the castle and tame the
 |
| Front Cover |
Title: Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
Author: Robin McKinley
Publisher: Harper Trophy
Release Date: October 25, 1978
Synopsis: An unfortunate nickname. Sixteen-year-old Beauty has never liked her nickname. Thin, awkward, and undersized, with big hands and huge feet, she has always thought of herself as the plainest girl in her family—certainly not nearly as lovely as her elder sisters, Hope and Grace. But what she lacks in looks, she makes up for in courage. When her father comes home one day with some strange tale of an enchanted castle in the wood and the terrible promise he has made to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows what she must do. She must go to the castle and tame the
Beast—if such a thing is possible....
Here is the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple: Beauty... and the Beast.
Ah! A book by Robin McKinley. I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how much I love this woman. Ever since my friend introduced me to her through her Damar series, I couldn't get her books out of my mind. I just HAD to own every single one of them. Beauty is the first book, outside of the Damar series, that I am reading of hers and let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
The story revolves around Beauty, a tomboy of sorts that refuses to let anyone tell her what to do and who is a lover of books. Basically, my kind of woman. She lives with her father and two sisters. Her actual name is Honour (I read the UK
Beauty lives with her family decked out in riches, because her father was a merchant of good trade. Most of the story from beginning to end is about how she feels ugly and that no man would like her. A bit depressing that a girl would think only of that about herself... and pathetic... but I digress!
There's also some sub-plot about her sisters falling in love and having babies but who cares about that! We only want to know what happens with the main characters, right? Right. DON'T GIVE ME NO LIP!
Anywho, after much happiness of living the good life in the city, where they were deemed as a highly respected family, the family is struck with a series of unfortunate events. (No. I will not read and review those books.) Now, broke and with nowhere to live, Hope's boytoy offers to help the family out by moving them, himself included, to his hometown called Blue Hill. It was in this peaceful village they lived, and you guessed it, peacefully.
Until one stormy afternoo~~ *Slaps self* No. I won't go there. But I'm serious when I say that everything went to hell once the father went out to check on one of his ships that was supposedly destroyed—one of the many reasons to his poverty situation. He lost his way in the woods that was located just outside his backyard... I'm not even kidding. Whilst in the wood, he finds himself at the gates of a gorgeous castle where he takes shelter there for the night and where he discovers the castle is enchanted.
Of course, he does something stupid which upsets the Beast, the ruler and quite-tame owner of the castle. So much for the rumors of a very ferocious monster living in the forest... The Beast conveys to Roderick Huston, Beauty's father, that in order for his life to be spared, he must make the decision to give up one of his daughters. I bet you can see where the story is going to go from here.
Beauty takes her father's place; the only way to break the curse the Beast is under is through love; but of course that's not going to happen in the first chapter. Otherwise, there would be no book... or fairytale for that matter! But to be honest... most of what happened was because of Beauty's stubbornness.
I love the story. It was lovely and put very well together. I also love McKinley. She is truly a fascinating writer. However, this being the first book she has ever written, it wasn't really her BEST work.
The story felt a bit lacking. All it really was about was how Beauty just lived at the castle, refusing to marry the Beast, taking care of her horse (because the horses in this book appeared a lot in the story), and complaining how she was ugly. I've read a few retelling of Beauty & the Beast so I have seen quite an interesting mix of stories. I felt that McKinley could have done so much more than she did.
Where she lacks in plot though, McKinley makes up for it in characters. The characters are so ALIVE in this book. Everything they go through, you go through with them. Huston is one of the most caring fathers I have ever seen in a book. The sisters are always willing to help out their younger sister and also boost up her confidence when she belittles herself. Ger, Hope's boytoy, is so sweet for wanting to help his love's family out and Robbie, Grace's man, is just sexy! But my absolute favorite characters have to be the invisible servants from the castle. Lydia
The Beast! My God! The Beast! He is the sweetest I have ever seen! How gentle! How kind! How epically awesome smex! I wanted to make him mine! In fact, I felt that he was too good for our female lead which is sad because I wanted to really like both. The only flaw I saw in the Beast was how he fell in love with Beauty the moment he laid his eyes on her... and that's not me exaggerating. Seriously, he met her one second and then the next, "Will you marry me?" Pisses me off...
I was most disappointed with Beauty. Here's why: She starts off awesome but becomes really stupid by the end of the book. I mean, at the beginning she shows just how kickass she is! I'm serious! You just think she is cool! But then... you see how really spoiled she is and how much she whines and, dear God, she actually started CRYING because the servants wanted her to wear a dress that she hated and felt she was too ugly to wear.
I was most disappointed with Beauty. Here's why: She starts off awesome but becomes really stupid by the end of the book. I mean, at the beginning she shows just how kickass she is! I'm serious! You just think she is cool! But then... you see how really spoiled she is and how much she whines and, dear God, she actually started CRYING because the servants wanted her to wear a dress that she hated and felt she was too ugly to wear.
That's another thing that annoyed me about her!!! She kept going on and on about how UGLY she is! Damn it, girl! We heard the first 892,462,170,398,564,221,375 times! We don't need to hear it again! I am truly sorry for those who actually sympathized with her on her idiocy but I just can't do it. The way she was acting was childish and so for that, she deserves to be turned into a cockroach that needs to be squished!
...but I did like the book! I know. You can so tell by how much I bashed it, huh? No, really. It was a pretty good book. There's not much action but that's not the point of the book. It was to show the romance between our two leads. However, I just wished there was a bit more to see and our female lead didn't turn into a spoiled brat, or more so than normal. The writing was great and the rest of the characters were amazing. McKinley knows how to please and she does not disappoint even in her first novel.
I rate Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & the Beast a four out of five. A recommended read for all fans of the fairytale, romance, and people who don't really mind their female leads being complete dumbasses!!!
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| Four out of Five! |
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| Lighting Fail |
Friday, October 22, 2010
Book Haul 10/22/2010
Well, I might as well post up the video that I did for my book haul. I thought that is would be easier for you guys to watch it on here than to go searching for it on YouTube. See? Aren't I a nice girl? XD Well, anyway, here it is for all its glory!
Library Books:
Kiss & Blog by Alyson Noël
Blue Moon by Alyson Noël
The Pact of the Wolves by Nina Blazon
Wolf-Woman by Sherryl Jordan
The Black Book of Secrets by F.E. Higgins
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Ink Exhange bt Melissa Marr
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Wal-Mart Books:
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson & the Olympians The Ultimate Guide by Mary-Jane Knight
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
Barnes & Noble Book:
Fallen by Lauren Kate
There it is! I hope you guys enjoyed and stay tuned for my first review! See ya!
Library Books:
Kiss & Blog by Alyson Noël
Blue Moon by Alyson Noël
The Pact of the Wolves by Nina Blazon
Wolf-Woman by Sherryl Jordan
The Black Book of Secrets by F.E. Higgins
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Ink Exhange bt Melissa Marr
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Wal-Mart Books:
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson & the Olympians The Ultimate Guide by Mary-Jane Knight
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
Barnes & Noble Book:
Fallen by Lauren Kate
There it is! I hope you guys enjoyed and stay tuned for my first review! See ya!
Introduction + Haul!
Hello everyone! Let me introduce myself. My name is Rain Misoa. I'm starting this blog in order to provide readers everywhere with reviews on various types of books. It's always been a passion of mine to read and write. However, I never really did know how to go about expressing my feelings about certain books. Now I know!
I will be here to provide you with my many differeny views on books that others might not really know how to convey. I already got a few books that will help me in my quest to review books that might be well-known to you guys... or not so much so. It's the not so much so that I am most excited about. I like getting indie authors name's out there to more than those that may know them, if it is at all possible for me to do so. I really hope you guys like what I have to say, and if you disagree with my opinions then that's fine too. Converse here with me and that way we can engage in a very educational debate about our views.
Who am I? Well, I told you. I'm Rain Misoa. Oh? You want to know more about me? Well, I am a huge reader/writer. I like watching anime in my spare time (this includes reading manga as well), learning different languages (I speak English and Spanish fluently, I studied two years of French in school, and I'm in the process of learning Japanese, German, and Italian. I've also studied American Sign Language... would I be too much of a dork if I said that I acutally am trying to learn Al Bhed from the video game Final Fantasy X?), I love Japan and its culture, and I absolutely LOVE Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII. He is the best character of all time!!! I want to collect every single thing of that man to be in my room, nay, HOUSE!!! XD I'm nice... somewhat. As long as you treat me right, I'll treat you the same. If not then prepare for a mean girl to pound you to the ground. I have a bit of a potty mouth... I don't mean to offend... It's just my Tourettes acting up. XP But I am getting it under control which means that I will give awesome reviews even if I am pissed to all hell! XD
Anyway, I think you finally got the idea of the kind of person I am. I don't like following the rules so if there are certain things I am not allowed to do on these reviews/blog thing, more likely than not I will NOT follow them. I want to entertain and express my views without restrictions. Hopefully, that will go over smoothly... hopefully.
Well, that's all for this post. I am in the middle of recording a video for my YouTube account. It's just a quick introduction for what I am going to do and also a haul video. I hope you all enjoy yourselves and that you stick around for future videos and blog posts! Have a wonderful night!
Till next entry! See ya!
I will be here to provide you with my many differeny views on books that others might not really know how to convey. I already got a few books that will help me in my quest to review books that might be well-known to you guys... or not so much so. It's the not so much so that I am most excited about. I like getting indie authors name's out there to more than those that may know them, if it is at all possible for me to do so. I really hope you guys like what I have to say, and if you disagree with my opinions then that's fine too. Converse here with me and that way we can engage in a very educational debate about our views.
Who am I? Well, I told you. I'm Rain Misoa. Oh? You want to know more about me? Well, I am a huge reader/writer. I like watching anime in my spare time (this includes reading manga as well), learning different languages (I speak English and Spanish fluently, I studied two years of French in school, and I'm in the process of learning Japanese, German, and Italian. I've also studied American Sign Language... would I be too much of a dork if I said that I acutally am trying to learn Al Bhed from the video game Final Fantasy X?), I love Japan and its culture, and I absolutely LOVE Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII. He is the best character of all time!!! I want to collect every single thing of that man to be in my room, nay, HOUSE!!! XD I'm nice... somewhat. As long as you treat me right, I'll treat you the same. If not then prepare for a mean girl to pound you to the ground. I have a bit of a potty mouth... I don't mean to offend... It's just my Tourettes acting up. XP But I am getting it under control which means that I will give awesome reviews even if I am pissed to all hell! XD
Anyway, I think you finally got the idea of the kind of person I am. I don't like following the rules so if there are certain things I am not allowed to do on these reviews/blog thing, more likely than not I will NOT follow them. I want to entertain and express my views without restrictions. Hopefully, that will go over smoothly... hopefully.
Well, that's all for this post. I am in the middle of recording a video for my YouTube account. It's just a quick introduction for what I am going to do and also a haul video. I hope you all enjoy yourselves and that you stick around for future videos and blog posts! Have a wonderful night!
Till next entry! See ya!
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