I wasn't really sure what I was going to get from this book until I started reading through it. I knew I was going to get monsters, of course, but I dI wasn't really sure what I was going to get from this book until I started reading through it. I knew I was going to get monsters, of course, but I didn't know which ones or pay attention to where the monsters that were going to be discussed would be coming from.
Well, wouldn't you know it...a lot of the monsters have come from stories and written work! Some of the monsters detailed within I knew about in some form or another. Others, I knew from having read the actual work that they are featured in!
The way the book works is - it gives you a quick synopsis of the story the monster is from. Then after that it will give you some other information relating to some aspect of the monsters story. It may be a tidbit about the time period it came from, it may be a random fact in regards to the author, and it may even be other works where you can find similar monsters! And some of these I found really interesting.
Now, as I said, I knew some of the monsters in the book before this from having read the actual source they are from. I found the quick run down for those monsters a nice little refresher of their story. Then for the monsters I had heard about before, but had not read about I found that I really had no idea what their stories were actually about! I had no knowledge about The Invisible Man except for the part where he is invisible... Now I know the synopsis of that book and it has definitely made me want to read the book so I can experience him in full!
Also, what is nice, is at the end of the book it gives some great resources. There are some suggested readings, other monsters to look into and where to find them, some tips on picking translations for those that were not written in English in the first place, etc.
However, I will say that I was not a huge fan of the artwork, but that is very much just my own opinion. I am also not a person in their targeted audience as this book is clearly aimed at older elementary and middle school kids. I know my 6 year old found them a bit spooky, where I found them usually too bright and too cartoonish for my liking.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and the quick bits I got about literature and mythical monsters. It was a great refresher for the ones I have read and a nice introduction into the ones I haven't encountered yet.
This review is based on an advanced reading copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine and I received nothing in exchange for this review....more
The book is about a boy who lives in a dystopian type of world. People are poor, they are hungry, the literally live in motor homes stacks upon each o The book is about a boy who lives in a dystopian type of world. People are poor, they are hungry, the literally live in motor homes stacks upon each other to crazy high levels. They also spend a lot of their time playing a video game.
See the video game in this world is better than reality. They can do things in the digital world just like you can do in the real world. Play sports, read books, play other video games, go to school, work, etc. But the digital world lets them leave the real them behind and be whoever they want to be. It changes reality and makes it better.
And then the creator, upon death, announced the ultimate challenge. To find the hidden easter egg in his game. For those who are not in the know, an easter egg is a hidden something that the developer of a game hides some where in it for people go discover.
And a lot of this story revolves around this hunt. You have people wanting to find it and reap the amazing rewards. And you have people wanting to find it to control the game and make more money off the already poor....that will do pretty much whatever it takes to keep themselves in the lead.
So a lot of the book, especially the beginning half contains quite a bit of world building. So much so you might start finding yourself getting bored. But it is kind of necessary. The world is pretty detailed and works a special way. And it is really kind of well done in the sense that you can easily imagine that our world has actually turned into the one that Ernest Cline created for this story. It really isn't too much of a stretch.
Being a video game fan and a fan of the 80s will actually help you enjoy this book. These are two things that are huge throughout the entire story.
Also, aside from world building and random 80s trivia, there is quite a bit of action. It doesn't get too intense in my opinion, but it is definitely there.
Then there is character development. You definitely see it in this book. And you do find yourself caring about the characters..... Personally I was smiling at one point. It just filled me with happy.
Totally glad I did a reread of this book. It was quite enjoyable. I have no idea how it is going to be turned into a movie though. Pretty sure a good bit is going to be changed.
This review is based on a copy provided by the Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
This book is about a Hamster that goes with one of the kids from school to a pet show. There we see a lot of different types of animals and some stuffThis book is about a Hamster that goes with one of the kids from school to a pet show. There we see a lot of different types of animals and some stuff happens. Over all it is, I think, a whatever read. The lessons built into the story are quick and almost blown past you when you reading. No real depth to them.
Kids that enjoy animals will probably enjoy reading this story....more
It's a cute read about what George forgot. Of course, George couldn't figure out what he forgot. The story goes through his morning as he checked off It's a cute read about what George forgot. Of course, George couldn't figure out what he forgot. The story goes through his morning as he checked off what it is he could have possibly forgotten, but didn't.
He of course never figured it out really, but by the end the reader should :)
Oh my freaking goodness! I had no idea I would love this book as much as I actually did! Truth be told, I am actually kind of sad that it ended.
Histor Oh my freaking goodness! I had no idea I would love this book as much as I actually did! Truth be told, I am actually kind of sad that it ended.
History's Mysteries is filled to the brim with bits of stories and information on a lot of different topics. All of which are unsolved or things not quite figured out (and may never be). And it covers quite a range of topics - buildings/structures, creatures, lost things....
Some of the things in the book I kind of knew about, but not really. An example of this would be Stonehenge. I of course have heard about it, but I haven't really looked into much information on it. And while this book doesn't have a lot of information on any one thing, it does have some pretty good information for each thing. So I definitely learned some new stuff on something I already knew a little about.
Then there were the things I had no idea about! Like the "money pit" up in Novia Scotia. Oh my goodness! That thing sounded so cool! I actually ended up doing some Googling on it and learned that there is a show on the History Channel just about that! So now I need to see if I can find that show to watch it!
This book, while it doesn't have a lot of information on any one thing, it has enough information to get your feet wet and to entice you to want to learn more on the subjects that it covers. This is a great book for those who like to learn random bits of information about things. And it may just convince them to do some further research onto some of the topics like it did for me!
If you can't tell, I totally recommend this book!
This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
It was a cute quick book filled with a lot of random facts for the holiday season. It incorporated bits and pieces from all around the globe, which I It was a cute quick book filled with a lot of random facts for the holiday season. It incorporated bits and pieces from all around the globe, which I especially liked. I must say that I did learn quite a few little things from reading through it.
Each page only contains maybe one to 3 or so facts and then it is filled with a lot of pictures and colors. So while it may not challenge a stronger reader, it also doesn't really come across as that intimidating to for a weaker one.
Great for those who like to learn random things about things....more
I definitely learned a few interesting things from this book. Some made me laugh, some made me go "wtf?" and others I knew or found boring. Quite a raI definitely learned a few interesting things from this book. Some made me laugh, some made me go "wtf?" and others I knew or found boring. Quite a range really. I didn't find the artwork distracting from the facts on each page either. There were a few I found quite funny, but other times I barely noticed them.
Definitely filled with random information and a good gift to get those that enjoy learning those kind of things!...more
Spindle Fire is actually a retelling of Sleeping Beauty! This story has seeds of the story that we know, but there are some considerable differences ( Spindle Fire is actually a retelling of Sleeping Beauty! This story has seeds of the story that we know, but there are some considerable differences (yay!).
In this version Aurora cannot talk and she cannot feel pain. Those traits have been tithed (traded) away from her thanks to her parents for other fairy gifts that they deemed more important for a princess to have. And she has an older half sister named Isabelle. Isabelle cannot see. Her eyesight has also been tithed away by her parents.
The two have an amazing relationship despite them being so different. Aurora is light and beautiful where Isabelle is dark. Aurora finds solace in stories and Isabelle loves adventure. Two sides of the same coin almost, but their love for each other transcends all.
This is actually where the regular Sleeping Beauty story comes into play. Isabelle was going to be sent away to live in a convent once Aurora was married to a prince (originally supposed to be Prince Phillip) so Isabelle ran away with her friend Gil. Aurora then chased after her sister... and one thing led to another and she pricked her finger on the ever famous spinning wheel that puts her to sleep.
Then things happen to both of them and the story unfolds.
The writing of Spindle Fire feels as though you are reading a fairy tale which only adds to its flavor. It is almost musical in the way that it reads. It instantly pulled me into the world and drowned me. I loved it. I had absolutely no problem imagining this story and the characters within.
I also loved that the story only had little seeds of the original fairy tale and then takes it on to its own new story. There is enough there that you can tell where it has come from, but it is different enough that you don't feel like you are reading the same old story.
I also enjoyed the characters. I actually cannot tell you which sister I liked the most. They each have their own traits that made them their own. They had things I liked and things I didn't, but that only made them more real in my mind. I mean, who likes everything about anyone? And I definitely felt that, especially Aurora, had some character growth and I can only hope to see even more of that in the next book. I do think some of the side characters and their relationships with our main characters fell a little short though and felt some what forced at times. However, the main characters definitely shined.
In short, I really enjoyed this retelling and thought it was done very well!
This review is based on a digital copy provided by Glasstown Entertainment in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
Let me completely honest with you here. I finished reading The Breathless a couple of weeks ago and have just been sitting on writing this review. WhyLet me completely honest with you here. I finished reading The Breathless a couple of weeks ago and have just been sitting on writing this review. Why? Because I have no idea really what to say to you about it. And I have been finding myself still lost in thought over things that happened in this story.
The Breathless was one of those books where you read it and it just makes you think. A lot of things happen in this story and the writing is beautiful. But there is something about it that makes you keep going "hmm" when it's over and done with.
The Breathless is about a girl named Mae. Her sister had suffered a tragic death - the kind where they think she was murdered and they think that her boyfriend is too blame. However, her boyfriend has been missing since it happened...almost a year. Her sister then finds this mysterious book and other strange things start happening....
One thing really just rolls into another and you find yourself spellbound by the story within. Yes, sometimes you can pretty much see what is happening, you don't really find yourself caring that much. The story telling is superb and it makes up for that *some* of the story is predictable.
Now, you may recall that I told you I keep thinking on this book. And it is because that despite being able to predict things, there were other bits I was not. And there are strange bits littered throughout the story. It was one of those books that when I finished I was really tempted to go back and reread it again. To see the things that I missed. Part of me thinks, though, that if I were to do that I may be even more confused than I am.
There is just such an air of mystery and intrigue to The Breathless. I am not really sure if we are supposed to be able to decipher all of the strange.
I have really wanted to discuss this book with someone since I read it, so please contact me once you finish!
This review is based on an eARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
Going into this book I expected it to start out a bit slow like its predecessor, however, I was quickly proven wrong. The action and adventure start qGoing into this book I expected it to start out a bit slow like its predecessor, however, I was quickly proven wrong. The action and adventure start quickly in this story and it continues on throughout.
The wonderful narration was still most definitely there. I was captivated by the writing style and still felt as though I was reading a fairy tale. Yet, at the same time I felt like I was there in the background watching the characters go through everything. It was wonderfully written.
The character development was also, I felt, excellently executed. I really felt as though we saw our heroine work on discovering herself throughout this installment of her story.
And yet, despite all the amazingness that was this story, there are still quite a few things that have been left unanswered...so I guess I will be reading book 3!...more
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