skip to main |
skip to sidebar
★★★
Three stars.
The father of Titus, Pandora, and Damp Strega-Borgia has left home, and when he leaves, everything seems to go downhill. The children chase away nanny after nanny, each of which faces a rather unpleasant end. Finally, the job is given to Flora McLachlan, who is hiding quite a secret of her own.
In a dark, strange, technological world, all is not as it seems. Their seemingly estranged father is in trouble, and e-mails Titus. By an unfortunate mistake, their baby sister Damp is sucked away, and nobody knows where. Together Titus, Pandora, and Flora, along with their butler, Latch, and a giant tarantula named Tarantella must work to find Signor Strego-Borgia and their little sister in order to get their life back to (their version) of normal.
All in all, I found this to be a very strange book. The review quote on the front cover boasts "Harry Potter meets Lemony Snicket in a high-tech setting." (Booklist) So I went into this doubting its plot line, being a huge fan of both Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket's works. But, I have to admit, this book's surreal, sinister, twisted setting indeed put me in mind of the Series of Unfortunate Events. If that series, The Addams Family, and Artemis Fowl were to be blended, this would be it.
That being said, I think it was simply alright, because I believe I'm too old for it. Whereas it's a fast, interesting story, I would recommend it for elementary and middle school students, or anyone who still finds "poo" humor funny. I know I would've loved it, had I read it when I was younger.
★★★★★
Five stars.
I was so excited when my girlfriend bought me this book. I've wanted to read it for a very long time, mainly due to the controversy that still surrounds it, even now.
It was well worth the wait. I positively adored this book. It's written in a detailed, poetic, beautiful way that made me not want to put it down.
That being said, I feel disturbed by my enjoyment of this novel. He has made "nymphets" truly seem wondrous and alluring. His feelings are so raw, so passionate, & a wicked kind of honest. Humbert's actions seem almost rational, his love pure. I often found myself forgetting that his Lolita was so young, & when I was reminded, I was ashamed that I was hoping his plans would be successful, and that they would somehow find a way to be happy together.
I definitely understand the taboo surrounding this book, but in my humble opinion, that's what makes it so brilliant. I am so glad that I read this.
★★★
Three stars.
This book is a fun read, but unfortunately there's not really a reason to glance at it more than once. I don't know how legitimate these descriptions of personality are, but I can personally say that mine was fairly accurate. I recommend it for anyone interested in a quick read, since once you look up your birth date and your family members', you're pretty much done.
★★
Two stars.
There's not much to say. I was drawn in to this book by its intriguing front page, but as the adage goes- "Don't judge a book by its cover." This book very basically touches on topics such as the "witch craze", tools, familiars, and different myths/stories of witches throughout the world. I personally felt that though the photography within its pages was stunning, some of the space would have been better spent with more information. I felt myself learning just enough about each topic to be briefly introduced, and nothing more. Having studied this kind of lore for a number of years, I didn't learn anything new, save for maybe a myth or two. I'd only recommend this book for beginners to the subject.
★★★★★
Five stars.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
Life was never a warm, accepting place for Wendy Everly. Her own mother, Kim, was cold and loathing, and even attempted to kill her on her sixth birthday. After all, Wendy was a girl. Kim's child was supposed to be a boy, and in her mind, Wendy had killed the boy and taken his place. In Kim's eyes, Wendy was nothing but a monster and a murderer. Left with a feeling or rejection, Wendy was raised by her aunt, Maggie and her brother Matt. Now seventeen, she's been kicked out of schools and has a hard time making friends... But things are different this time. Finn, a dark and handsome stranger, has peaked her interest, and she promised Matt that she would try harder this time. That is, until Finn shares some alarming information, and Wendy learns that Kim may have been right all along...
I positively adored this book. The vivid description made me feel like I was right beside Wendy and Finn, among the Trylle. I was left hanging on every word, from the very start of the prologue. There is a perfect amount of romance, drama, and even humor, though admittedly, it did slow down in the middle. I got a bit tired of hearing how no one wanted Wendy, and though I sympathized, it got a little hard to get through. But with that being said, once you read this, you'll be eager to read the next installment.
I give this book 5 stars. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance, and dark, handsome mysterious gentlemen characters.
★★★
Three stars.
Over all, I found this anthology to be a hit and miss collection of stories. I did enjoy the many different points of views on lycanthropes, but I often had to force myself through stories. I enjoyed stories such as "Moonlight on the Gazebo" and "Pure Silver". However, stories like "Wolf, Iron, and Moth" and "There's a Wolf in My Time Machine" just left me bored, not to mention the not so infrequent spelling errors ("she shook her heard", for instance). I understand everyone makes mistakes, but I noticed mistakes like this a lot more often than I should have.
If you're looking simply for a collection of wolf stories that step away from the romance (and/or Twilight) genres, then the good stories make up for the bad. However, if you're looking for stories that are bursting with action and gory horror, perhaps seek another collection.
★★★★
Four stars.
I won this book from a Goodreads First-read.
I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed Susan Conley's 'The Foremost Good Fortune'. Reading the synopsis of this book, though I knew I wasn't in the the target audience, I couldn't help but to be intrigued. Despite a few aspects of the novel that I simply couldn't relate to (and not just about cancer), this book was an overall pleasant read. It is a haunting yet detailed story of what it takes to be a family, a person, and possibly most important of all, a survivor.
Susan and her husband Tony, as well as their sons Aiden and Thorne, move from their warm, cozy Maine home to halfway across the world to Beijing. Tony is well versed in Chinese living, but it is a completely alien nation to the sons and to Susan. The boys are enrolled in an international school, and each family member must learn to live and function in this new land, since they are to live here for two years. Aiden and Thorne begin to learn the language, and slowly but surely they begin to adapt to living here. This ties into one part of the memoir that I did not enjoy. Susan is distant and almost cold to her children because they are beginning to learn the Chinese way of life while she is struggling with her own self alienation and lack of Chinese communication skills.
Over time, Susan too begins to speak a bit of the language, and the entire family begins to make new friends from not just China but all over the world. Everything seems to be balancing out, and the family is settling in to the Asian landscape. But as the ominous, shadowy undertone that carries through the pages of this memoir, there is more drama ahead.
Susan feels two small lumps in her breast, and seeks treatment in a Beijing hospital. At first the doctor tells her that it is nothing to worry about, but upon further operation and inspection her fear is confirmed, and she is diagnosed with breast cancer.
The rest of the book passes in a whirlwind of emotion and self-searching as she travels between Boston and China for treatment, and eventually comes to terms with being both alone in "the cancer lake" as well as once again being part of a loving, supportive family to whom she becomes closer to after her diagnosis.
Over all, this novel paints a vivid image of life in Beijing. The people, the food, and the sights are all given their time in the story, making me more interested in China. That being said, I don't feel like I learned anything about living with cancer from this memoir. It was summed up as, she was diagnosed, then it skips through treatment, and suddenly she is back in China. I expected more of an emotional regaling of her tale, but it came off a bit cold and seen over. For this I have rated it four stars- I recommend it to those who are looking for a book about a family in China, but if you are looking for a journey about cancer, it will fall short of your expectations
