Angelfall

I good friend of mine presented me with Angelfall on my 36th Birthday.  Knowing what kinds of books I love, she took a leap of faith, having not read it herself. I'm so glad she did!

Angelfall is the first novel by writer Susan Ee and fits right into the YA books I seem to love so much.  Even though I had promised myself to stay away from all of the post-apocalyptic books out there (with December 21, 2012 coming and going without a bang), I immediately felt compelled to read the book after reviewing the book description. 

For those who've read The Hunger Games, you'll want to give Angelfall a read.  Angelfall's protagonist Penryn is reminiscent of Katniss.  Penryn is a caring, loving, protective daughter and sister whose mother has failed to live up to her motherly role, leaving her to protect her sister as their mother should.  She's strong willed and determined to help her family find a safe haven in a world that has been shattered by war.  In this case, their splintered world isn't decades after a man-made battle, it's only weeks after Angels have fallen from the skies, to completely obliterate the Earth as we know it. 

Without giving too much away, the book starts off with Penryn trying to escape her apartment with her mother and wheelchair bound sister.  They've been living as long as possible in an area that has become overwhelmed with street gangs, and during their attempted escape, Penryn's sister is taken by Angels.  She makes a deal with Raffe, an Angel whose wings were cut off, in hopes of finding her sister in exchange of finding someone to help Raffe reattach his wings.  On their journey to a location protected and inhabited by powerful Angels, they come across many obstacles, both humans and Angels, and they all discover there is much more to the post-apocalyptic world Earth has become. 

Shortly after reading Angelfall, I started following Susan Ee on Facebook. She was pleased to announce Angelfall becoming a movie in the near future. I can't wait to see Susan Ee's book brought to life on the big screen.  With all the action sequences and Angel wings flapping and flying, I expect it may even have a 3D release. Readers should also expect to see a sequel to the book in late 2013. I really hate having to wait this long, but I will be one of the first ones to purchase the book, and to see the movie. 

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Dark Places was another book I picked up on my Kindle because it had a high star rating and I was looking for a new author to follow.  I had also read some great reviews about her newest book, Gone Girl: A Novel, but I wanted to purchase something that was less expensive (I'm cheap that way). 

Normally I read more paranormal books or books that fall into the young adult reading category, but I lept outside of my reading comfort zone to a darker, murder mystery.  I'm happy I did and look forward to reading more by Gillian Flynn. 

Dark Places is exactly what the title states.  Libby Day's family was murdered when she was a child and hasn't been able to grow into a fully-functioning adult.  She's run out of money and as a means to generate some cash, she teams up with a member from a local Kill Club (a group obsessed with famous crimes).  By involving herself with the Kill Club, she takes cash in exchange for information and leads to satisfy their cravings for facts on the murders so they can prove the innocence of Ben, Libby's brother who was accused of the crime and has spent his life in prison. 

Gillian Flynn writes the book from various perspectives, and does a great job at arranging the time line so it is completely fluid.  Libby's perspective provides us with the present-day account of her life and all its pitfalls.  When the past comes up, a chapter written in the perspective of either Libby's brother Ben, or her mother's, gives the reader insight into what was actually going on in the days before the murders.  Libby was a young child at the time, and the reader gets to see what Libby is missing and working to find out. 

The ending of the book wasn't predictable at all.  In fact, I was quite surprised and impressed by the twists and turns Flynn's writing takes.  Since I don't normally read Murder Mysteries, I can't really compare this to any others out there.  It truly does take the reader to some dark places, and for someone who is normally reading YA, paranormal stories, it was something I had to read a little at a time.  I truly did enjoy the book and when I'm ready to go down that path again, I will be picking up another Gillian Flynn book. 

Beautiful Creatures

While anxiously awaiting the beginning of The Hobbit: An Unxpected Journey to start, 3D glasses on, popcorn in hand, with my son and husband seated to my left, I was saw the Beautiful Creatures movie trailer.  Instantly I knew this must have been based on a book, and was probably another YA (young adult) series.  Sure enough, I went home and found it on my Kindle.  As always, I started with the free preview download and sped through it, making my purchase for the book in no time.

For those YA readers out there, especially those who enjoy propular series like the Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games Trilogy (both of which I thoroughly enjoyed), you will most likely enjoy the first installment in the Beautiful Creatures series.  Think Bella and Edward.  However, this time we have Lena, a beautiful, mystical Caster (witch) and Ethan, a mere mortal who has fallen in love with the one girl he is told he can never have.  Like Bella and Edward, they refuse all laws of their respective supernatural worlds, and are determined to be together. 

Other interesting characters are mixed into the little southern town of Gatlin, where nothing is as it seems.  There's Macon, Lena's reclusive uncle the entire town seems to be scared by, and Amma, Ethan's surrogate mother with a deep family history rooted in mysticism.  The local Librarian is more than meets the eyes, and Ethan's dad is hopelessly stuck living in a room that embodies the smells and memories of Ethan's mother, who passed away within the past year.  There are good witches, bad witches, and something else in between.  Cheerleaders (think Mean Girls), jocks, the Ladies' Auxillary, and more can be found in Gatlin, all creating bumps on the way to Lena and Ethan's ultimate purpose: to halt Lena's destiny to cross over to the dark side, so to speak.

Personally, I love YA books because they are normally quick reads and are free from the adult romance that leads to affairs and, well, you know...  The series seems to have potential and I look forward to seeing it on the big screen.  Adults may not enjoy this book like the Twi-Hard Moms do, but I can see teens and early twenty-year-olds enjoying it.  If you're looking for something to read over a weekend or during a holiday break, Beautiful Creatures might be the one for you.

Greetings (Again!) Readers!

It has been a very long time since I last posted on this blog and thankfully it was still around for me to pick back up again.

A lot has happened since October 2009.  My son is now 9, my twin girls are now 4 and I am a full-time student.  I once thought I would be getting an English degree, and have since diverted my path into accounting, of all things.  I am really excited about it, though.  My Type-A personality fits right into accounting. 

I still do a lot of reading.  Previously, publicists would send me books to read and review.  Since my blog and websites went silent and off-line (respectively), I withdrew from the book-reviewing world and focused on other things. 

The online world has changed a lot too over the past three years and I will be making efforts to find more followers through social networking sites I already use.  We will see where this goes.  I have so much time on my hands (read the sarcasm) between being a mom, a wife, a student, a chef, a chauffeur, and the list goes on.  Wait, let's not forget maid, too.  Being a mom is doing a new job after another.  Hopefully I will actually find the time to keep this blog current.

I've tried updating my older posts because some of my links were dead.  I've gotten through about a third of them and plan on putting in updated links as I can. 

Until my next post... keep reading!

Dude

Dude, talk about awesome! Christopher Aslan's newest book, Dude, illustrated by Emily Mullock is another home-run hit. Dude is a pretty simple book with an even simpler concept, but the way it is carried out really makes Dude a book parents and kids are going to enjoy.

On each page, the Dude character is illustrated in a different situation, using the word "dude" to express his different feelings. We see everything from exhaustion and surprise, to awe and amazement. There are more than 25 different scenarios for Dude, and even more opportunities for you and your child to have fun saying "dude" in a rainbow of different ways.

My six year old son loves putting himself into the book, pretending to be Dude and then trying all the different voices Dude would use in each situation. My husband stands firm in his jealously in not having thought of this concept himself. Then, when I told my best friend about the book, she laughed and was amused and entertained by the idea. Simply put, this simple book brings so much to everyone!

This is the third book I've seen by Christopher Aslan and I already can't wait to see what he comes up with next. I think we are looking at another legendary children's author, to sit high with the likes of Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle and Sandra Boynton (just to name a few of our household favorites).

If you are interested in purchasing Dude by Christopher Aslan, visit Dude on Amazon.com to purchase your copy today!

You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates

Life lessons bound into a book. That's what You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates is all about. Sounds simple enough, but the trick is getting your graduate to read it! I suggest mom or dad read this book before handing it over to your high school or college graduate. Although this is something that needs to be in your child's hands, mom and dad or any other concerned elder could take the lessons in this book and slowly direct them to any child of any age.

Let's examine a topic directly from the book, "First Impressions." It immediately starts off with the "old saying" that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. It's very true and most adults will tell you that 95% of the time, you are not able to change what is impressed in the first few moments of meeting someone. So how does Parrish manage to reiterate the importance of this particular life lesson? Like countless other topics his book, he's got a red bolded statement right there in the margin area: A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. Wow - not only is it true, but pretty simple! Certainly he's got other great things to say, right? Yes, he does! Parrish's statement grabs the reader and invites further reading. On the next page is a numbered list of ways to make a positive impression and/or reassure someone else's impression they've made upon you. Again, it is pretty simple and easy!

Even though this book is geared towards those starting out in life, it is still applicable to those still living their life, no matter how far gone that seemingly "bright future" is. Rarely is it ever too late to learn something new and then apply it to your current situation or even life in general. Chapter 3 of You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates is all about making dreams come true. It's a lot easier to accomplish and realize your dreams when you are starting off fresh and new in life, just out of college, and ready to take the bull by the horns. Parrish gives you all the tools you need to get it done. But there are many of us who had to live life a little before we were able to realize those dreams, and for those of us who are mid-life and still have dreams, we can still use the lessons Parrish shares.

For example, Parrish reminds us that when we don't like the situation we are in, we should change it. Of course, the older you are, the harder it is to do… but it is possible! Parrish uses the bold red note in the margin to remind us that we can make our dreams come true as long as we are dedicated to it through and through. Our own thoughts, however negative or positive they may be, are what a reality becomes. It is really easy to forget these lessons between all the ins and outs of day to day life, and us "old folk" need to be reminded of this. However, for those starting out in life, it can be something that feeds their attitude towards their future and make the difference between personal and professional success or something less than desired.

Parrish tackles just about every topic under the sun that can help a young adult become successful in life, and if they read it, I do believe they will truly have the positive reinforcement they need to be successful where they dream of success. For parents and older adults needing encouragement to renew their spirit and outlook towards the world, they too will find the encouragement they need to look forward to life as opposed to just living it one day at a time.

Hopefully I can keep these great lessons fresh in my memory to share with my children and when the time is right, hand You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates over to them to read. Simply put, this is the kind of book we all need on the family bookshelf!

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy

I didn't really know what to expect from A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy, but seeing as how I've always enjoyed Philosophy and I love a great novel, I figured I had nothing to lose in trying this book on for size. Within the first couple of pages, I was hooked. Not only is Charlotte Grieg's storytelling very casual, almost as if a friend were conversing with you, but the story itself is relatable to just about any woman who has survived (most of) her twenties or even the 1970's.

Although the story takes place in 1970's Europe, it's quite relevant to modern times. This coming-of-age story deals not only with Susannah Jones' life as a philosophy student, but also as a young adult trying to find her rightful place in this crazy, ever-changing world. Being a mere 20 year old, Susannah faces the same anxieties related to her surroundings and friends that just about every 20-something faces.

Susannah finds herself pregnant during the time where women's liberation was abundant, and her inner battle leads her to a philosophical debate that ultimately rules her decision making. Susannah is thoughtful and cares deeply about making the right decision for herself, even though she sometimes lacks the ability to carry out her decisions. Susannah as a character is imperfect, and I believe that is what makes her so real and very genuine.

As I mentioned before, many twenty-something women and even those who still enjoy reminiscing upon those years, may find some familiarity with Susannah even if they aren't able to relate to her unplanned pregnancy. This is a surprisingly light read considering the philosophical topics offered by the book, and would be perfect for reading over a lazy day or weekend!