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Đang hiển thị bài đăng từ Tháng 2, 2017

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman ⇉ What Took Me So Long to Read This Book???

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The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman Genre: MG/YA  Fantasy Paperback: 327 Pages Publication: Sep. 28, 2010 Original Pub: Sep. 30, 2008 by Harper Collins IT TAKES A GRAVEYARD TO RAISE A CHILD. Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy - an ancient indigo man, a gateway to abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible fleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will be in danger from the man Jack - who has already killed Bod's family . . . Friends have been encouraging me to read Neil Gaiman's novels for years now. I remember loving (whilst simultaneously being terrified by) Coraline  as a child, so I'm excited to be reading three of Gaiman's novels for my 2017 reading challenge. This is goin...

Top 5 (admittedly impractical) Survival Tips for an Alien Invasion

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So you're stuck in the middle of an alien invasion. The mother ship is perched in near earth orbit, flying saucers are circling the Eiffel Tower, little green men are popping up at the local supermarket, and pod people have seized government offices around the world. It had to happen sooner or later. Why didn't we listen to all those tin foil-wearing conspiracy theorists when we had the chance? Well, nothing for it now but to grab the nearest sharp object or firearm, call your friends for backup, and try to make the most of a bad situation. Here are a few tips to help you stay alive long enough to join the resistance, evacuate the planet, or start that utopian community you've always wanted deep beneath the surface of the Earth until this whole invasion thing blows over. 1.  Avoid sightseeing. We all know the drill. Aliens appear from the far reaches of space and set right to work with shocking displays of awesomely advanced weaponry. They'll hit the cities first, to g...

Review: Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice ⇉ When Vampires Were Scary and Didn't Wear Body Glitter

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Interview With The Vampire Anne Rice Genre: Gothic Horror Paperback: 342 Pages Publication: Aug. 31, 2004 Original Pub: Apr. 12, 1976 by Ballantine Books Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force—a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write. Review Given how much information synopses tend to give about a book, it's been a long time since I read a novel that didn't give me an overview of the larger plot. The synopsis above and two friends' recommendation was all I had going into Interview With The Vampire . I enjoyed the mystery and adventure of reading a book without prior knowledge of the world. It was especially appropriate for this novel given that Louis builds our knowledge and understanding of the vampire world to us through his interview with the boy. Li...

The Dressmaker's Dowry by Meredith Jaeger ⇉ Harlequin Romance Dabbles in Crime

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I picked up this novel because of the mystery of what happens to the dressmakers. While I enjoyed contemplating what would happen next to Hannelore and Margaret, the romance and plot were disappointing. In this novel, you can expect plenty of Harlequin-esque drama and superficial relationships among the people of high society. WHAT I LIKED Interesting Mystery The mystery of the missing dressmakers intrigued me. Conditions for women, much less working women, were poor in the past, and I was curious to see what happened to them. Some elements were predictable while others were a surprise (though the erratic pacing threw off the build up to the climactic reveal). I had to suspend disbelief with some of the plot happenings. In the end, however, I appreciate the balance that Jaeger finds between trying to fulfill romantic fantasies and portraying realistic conclusions. The Culture Speaks for Itself Jaeger didn't need to tell me what time period I was in. The culture spoke for itself. Ma...

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins ⇉ A Breath of Fresh Air

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Criss Cross Lynne Rae Perkins Genre: YA  Contemporary Hardback: 337 Pages Publication: Aug. 30, 2000 by Greenwillow Books She wished something would happen. Something good. To her. Looking at the bright, fuzzy picture in the magazine, she thought, Something like that. Checking her wish for loopholes, she found one. Hoping it wasn't too late, she thought the word soon. Review "She wished something would happen." So begins Lynne Rae Perkins's coming-of-age novel about growing up, exploring new possibilities, gaining new experiences, and feeling the first glimmers of love. It is a story with which we can relate no matter how much we "grow up." I can easily imagine myself sharing and enjoying this story with younger readers. Criss Cross  is a delightful read that interweaves the stories of the young people (and some older members) of a community. Seldom has a small town feel; the most exciting events are a festival and a spontaneously planned neighborhood pig ro...

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen ⇉ The Scariest Part? I Don't Know When I Woke Up in Dreamland.

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Dreamland Sarah Dessen Genre: YA  Contemporary Paperback: 250 Pages Publication: May 11, 2004 Original Pub: Sept. 1, 2000 by Speak Wake up, Caitlin Ever since she started going out with Rogerson Biscoe, Caitlin seems to have fallen into a semiconscious dreamland where nothing is quite real. Rogerson is different from anyone Caitlin has ever known. He's magnetic. He's compelling. He's dangerous. Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything else--her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life. But what happens when being with Rogerson becomes a larger problem than being without him? Review "But I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell anyone. As long as I didn't say it aloud, it wasn't real." As Caitlin loses touch with reality, I found myself subconsciously drawn into her Dreamland. By the last hundred pages, I couldn't put this novel down. Caitlin's story is heartbreaking. She can be any of us. Someone who feels like she ...

The Wishing World by Todd Fahnestock ⇉ Wizards Meet Neverland

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One wish can save the world . . . or destroy it. In the Wishing World, dreams are as real and powerful as your imagination. You can transform into a hero, meet fanciful friends, and wield great power. Sounds epic right? The premise took me back to my childhood days when my little brother and I would make up stories about imaginary worlds and characters. And I wondered what we would see if we—well, the mini we's—entered the Wishing World. WHAT I LIKED Phenomenal Sibling Relationship Longtime readers of the blog know that I am a huge advocate for books that features positive family dynamics. I grew up in a loving home and had a close relationship with my brother. Lorelai's relationship with her family—and her brother Theron in particular—is phenomenal. I love how the siblings support each other and know they can count on each other in times of trouble. Introduces {and Teaches} Big Words This is a middle-grade fantasy that isn't afraid to use big words like  nefarious ,  surre...

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