Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

Books about college life are difficult to come by. A college story with a title that draws to mind a Russian classic and which features multicultural characters? Less so. These elements drew me to The Idiot  by Elif Batuman. The Idiot  is the type of novel that I appreciated more as a college student when I wanted to be super intellectual and, like the protagonist Selin, was in the process of discovering my identity. Despite the use of first person narration, the simple, straightforward narration and intellectual tone gives the reader distance from happenings in the novel. It also suggests that Selin is trying to gain distance and thus a larger perspective on her life. This makes sense given that she is a freshman at a prestigious university and in the process of working through new emotions. She is essentially in a foreign world. I like how The Idiot  features a more intellectual take on college life. It captures the college experience for many students: it encompasses n...

With what is likely Hugh Jackman’s last on-screen appearance as Wolverine, Logan does not disappoint. As the last mutants struggle against a world that continues to reject them, this film is both gritty and highly emotional. Set in the year 2029, Logan depicts a post-apocalyptic world where no new mutants have been born in decades. Logan now works as a limo driver and struggles to support a senile Charles Xavier, who suffers from regular seizures that affect everyone around him. When Logan is discovered, he is dragged into helping a new generation of artificial mutants, and all hell breaks loose. The best thing about Logan is the simplicity of the story. Set after the death of the X-Men, Logan is not even really a superhero film anymore. The story boils down to Logan and his internal and external struggles as a mutant. Even through the multitude of violent encounters, Logan’s greatest opponent is himself as he struggles to come to terms with who he is. From the beginning of the fil...

With April coming around the corner, Easter books are filling the shelves. Some feature bunnies and light-hearted Easter stories. Others features popular nursery stories. Still others tell the story of Jesus and the Resurrection. Put Me in the Story has put together a collection of Easter books that feature all of these themes along with some gift set options. I wish I could share them all with you on the blog, but it would result in a lengthy review. To view them all, click here . Today, I have the pleasure of reviewing two of these books an sharing with you a giveaway of Julian's Easter Surprise  gift set (featuring the book and an adorable plush bunny). Disclaimer: I received copies of the books for review; no other compensation was provided. All thoughts expressed are my own honest opinion. God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergren, art by Laura J. Bryant Genres:  Children's Book My Thoughts:  In simple words and illustrations,  God Gave Us Easter  explains t...

I love books that feature political intrigue because of the potential for complex world building. The fact that much this novel takes place in space is an added bonus. WHAT I LIKED Fast-Paced, Thrilling Action Shadow Run  is a fast-paced, action-packed read filled with suspense and intrigue. As soon as you think the characters are safe, you can expect something else to happen. I love the detail and thought put into the action scenes. I could see the events play out before me like a movie. Time and time again, I found myself wishing that this book was on the big screen, so I could enjoy it alongside friends and family. That said, nothing can replace a good book and the freedom to envision the world yourself. Complex Characters All the members of the Kaitan Heritage  (Qole's ship) carry their own baggage. They have pasts that they wish to keep hidden. The characters on the ship are all interesting in their own right; I wish that more time was spent developing them. (Which can b...

What if you were tired of your life and yearned for something else? What if you made a wish on a comet and woke up in someone else's body? What if, in the process, you developed romantic feelings for someone living far, far away? What if? In his latest film  Kimi no Na wa.  (Translated: Your Name ), Makoto Shinkai explores the emotional struggles and growths of Mitsuha, a small town girl, and Taki, a Tokyo city boy, as they adapt to life switching back and forth between each others' lives. I admit. I felt a great deal of trepidation entering this film. Going on six years ago, I watched  5 Centimeters  (another animated film by the same director), and the story gave me a lot of grief. I remember the ending credits rolling as my friend and I turned to each other and asked, "What just happened?" As an adult (or at least more of one), I can better appreciate Shinkai's talent for storytelling. Looking back, 5 Centimeters  is a poignant story about how life doesn't ...

Ninth City Burning has many elements that I enjoy in a good book, least of which is an interesting plot. Aliens, war, and unlikely heroes come to save the world? Count me in! WHAT I LIKED Detailed World Building Reading this novel has me constantly amazed by the level of detail that J. Patrick Black has put into this novel. Few books go into the world as in-depth as Black has with the world of Ninth City Burning . I felt like I was right there with the characters experiencing the world with them. If this book contained the procedure manual for the world, I'm sure someone could easily recreate it with little additional guidance. (Though I wouldn't be surprised if Black had the complete manual lying around somewhere. It's clear that he's very  familiar with this world. This book has  footnotes —on some pages; don't worry, you don't have to read all  of them. But they are interesting and clever!) Complex Characters Ninth City Burning  is narrated alternately by se...

Spring is the season for cleaning. Old clothes, books, and miscellaneous items see the light of day as we bring them out of the storage. We may even find items that we thought were long gone. (Just a couple weeks ago, I pulled out an old purse and found a flashdrive that I'd been missing for a year now.) This is the perfect season for reading old favorites that have been collecting dust as well as books that we haven't gotten around to opening. I've split my list into two parts Dusting the Old Bookshelf: books that are old favorites or have been collecting dust on my TBR list for a while now. Jumping into Spring: new releases that caught my attention. {Dusting the Old Bookshelf} Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Genres: Classics ,  Historical My Thoughts:   Anne of Green Gables  is an old favorite. I first read it in elementary school, yet it always captivates me when I pull it out for a reread. This is a novel with which readers of all ages can relate. Synopsis Mat...