Review: The Bridge

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

Publisher: Howard Books

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 258

Publication Date: October, 2012

Rating: 5/5

Summary:

            Charlie and Donna Barton have been running the town’s bookstore for thirty years. They have impacted the lives of many in their town by providing a meeting place for friends, books for those in need, and friendly faces to talk to. In May, the hundred-year flood hit Franklin, Tennessee and destroyed the store and almost all of its contents. In the midst of trying to scrape up enough money to save the store, tragedy strikes and puts Charlie and Donna’s future in jeopardy. 

            When news spreads of the tragedy, two former workers come back to town to help save the store. Molly Allen, who has lived alone after walking away from the guy she fell in love with five years ago, Ryan Kelly. Ryan has been living in Nashville after the band that he toured with broke up. They must work together to save the store, and their relationship.

Pros:

·       The whole story centered around saving a bookstore; which is great because who doesn’t love reading about books?

·       I loved that the focus is mainly on helping Charlie and Donna; the romance between Molly and Ryan seems to be a secondary plot.

Cons:

·       I would have liked a bit more information about Molly and Ryan. I think liked them so much because I accidentally saw the movie first which focused more on them.

Final Thoughts:

            This is a delightful Christmas book that you can read in one sitting. I definitely recommend this if you have some extra time to fill and want a holiday book!

           

Review: Unexpected Gifts by Elena Aitken

Unexpected Gifts by Elena Aitken

Publisher: Ink Blot Communications

Genre: Romance

Pages: 136

Publication Date: November, 2011

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

            Christmas just serves as a brutal reminder to Andi Williams of everything she doesn’t have, and recently lost, in life. She decides to spend Christmas in a remote mountain lodge that her company received a free invitation to. Due to a mess-up in communication between her and the lodge, she finds herself sharing a villa with a stranger, Colin Hartford. He is determined to enjoy Christmas, which he has been working and missed celebrating for the past 5 years. He creates a plan to get Andi to enjoy the holidays once he meets her, but will it work?

Pros:

·       This is a quick-moving and short holiday romance novel that you can read in one day.

·       Aitken did a great job of creating a winter wonderland. It made me want to go visit the mountain lodge!

Cons:

·       Some parts were pretty unbelievable; perhaps more explanation of the situation would have fixed this problem.

Final Thoughts:

            This book is great if you want a quick holiday romance. It definitely puts you in the Christmas spirit!

           

Review: Let It Snow

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Publisher: Speak

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 352

Publication Date: October, 2008

Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

            This book contains three different holiday romances that are all set in the same town during a major snowstorm. First, Maureen Johnson’s story details what happens to Jubilee, whose parents just landed in jail due to a shopping incident involving a Christmas village. She has to take a train down to Florida to spend Christmas with her grandparents. On her trip down the train stops for a couple of days due to the snow. The first story follows her journey as she decides to get off and make friends at the local Waffle House.

            The second story is written by John Green. It shows JP, Tobin, and Duke’s trek to the Waffle House to hang out with some stranded cheerleaders. In addition to the bad weather, they encounter some twins and frat boys who are trying to beat them there!

            The third story shows the fallout after Addie messes up her relationship with Jeb. Her friends Dorrie and Tegan, along with a Christmas angel, help her realize how to fix it by not being so self-absorbed. All three of these stories are woven together throughout the book.

Pros:

·       It is a cute, quick holiday read that will leave you feeling filled with joy and hope.

·       The ending was satisfying as it tied up all the loose ends nicely.

·       The first story was delightful. It was a simple, yet interesting romance.

Cons:

·       I just could not get into the second and third stories in the book.

·        In the second story, I was too distracted by the dangerous decisions that the main characters were making to really enjoy it.

·       The third story’s main character was just really unlikable to me.

Final Thoughts:

            I would recommend this if you want a quick and fluffy holiday read. Although I couldn’t get into some of the plots, I’m sure most people can. I just have a hard time with suspension of disbelief! Not bad for a book I bought from a thrift store for $1.

Review: The Stars, Like Dust

The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov

Publisher: Spectra

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 180

Publication Date: January, 1951

Rating: 3/5

Summary:

Biron Farrell is a young student studying at the University of Earth when someone planted a radiation bomb in his dorm room. Shortly after the bomb, he discovers that his father, the highly respected Rancher of Widemos, has been killed. He embarks on a quest to find out why his father was murdered, who planted the bomb, and how he fits into the puzzle. He travels across space and struggles against the Tyranni while he solves these mysteries.

Pros:

·       Asimov does a great job crafting an interesting universe.

·       The plot moved along at a good pace for the most part.

·       The technology included in the novel is brilliant considering it was published in 1951.

·       The story was very interesting and had a lot of action-packed pages.

Cons:

·       The romance element of the book seemed rather rushed.

·       At times the plot was difficult to follow.

Final Thoughts:

            This was my first time reading a book by Isaac Asimov; I really enjoyed it. It was not my favorite sci-fi novel I have read but I am definitely excited to read more of his books. The plot moved along very quickly so even the parts I was not crazy about went by quickly. The fact that this was written 65 years ago is pretty impressive. I would definitely recommend it if you want a quick sci-fi read!

           

Review: How to Live in a Storage Unit or Other Place You Don't Belong

How to Live in a Storage Unit or Other Place You Don’t Belong by John Casper

Publisher: John Alan Martinson Jr

Genre: Non-fiction - Survival

Publication Date: November, 2016

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

The author has created a guide on how to live in a storage unit based on his own experiences. The goal of the guide is to teach people how to survive physically and mentally while not revealing to people that you are homeless.

Pros:

·       It is about a rather unique topic. The advice given was definitely practical and can be applied to any “off-the-grid” living situation.

·       Most of the chapters were informative yet to the point.

·       The guide is very interesting even to someone who does not plan to become homeless, or live “off-the-grid” anytime soon.

Cons:

·       The author seemed to go on personal rants in the section about who to find help from. He was talking about how Christians are not taught to help others so they are the least likely to help. He seemed to present some exaggerated facts.

Final Thoughts:

            This was a great, short read if you have ever wondered how people live in storage units or have an interest in doing it yourself.

Review: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

 

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: YA Fiction

Pages: 288

Publication Date: August, 2013

Rating: 1/5

Summary:

            The story takes place on Leonard Peacock’s birthday. He decides to take his grandfather’s P-38 pistol to his high school with him. His goal is to kill his former best friend and then himself. Before he does this, he must say goodbye to four important people in his life. His old neighbor, Walt; a classmate who would play violin for Leonard, Baback; the homeschooled evangelist that Leonard had a crush on, Lauren; and his history teacher, Herr Silverman. The novel follows Leonard throughout this disturbing day.

Pros:

·       The story is set in Philadelphia, which was interesting to me as I am live in the city.

·       The last 60 pages were kind of interesting.

Cons:

·       The whole story was honestly pretty boring. I have read other YA novels with similar plots that held my attention. Perhaps the constant use of lengthy footnotes made it hard for me to get into the story.

·       The main character is so unlikable that it was hard to feel sorry for him. I just felt annoyed and wanted him to get on with his day.

Final Thoughts:

I wanted to like this book as much as other people seemed too. I just could not get into it or feel any connection with the characters. The only reason I finished it was because it was set in Philadelphia.

           

Review: Illuminae

Illuminae  by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult- Science Fiction

Pages: 600

Publication Date: October, 2015

Rating: 5/5

Summary:

Illuminae takes place in the year 2575 when two mega corporations are fighting over a tiny planet near the edge of the universe. Ezra and Kady, who had just broken up, are forced off of their planet when it is attacked by the corporations. They board separate space crafts in order to flee from the enemy. They are forced to work together in order to save themselves and others in their fleet.

This story is told through a variety of hacked documents that include IM logs, e-mails, surveillance video transcripts, and military files.

Pros:

·       The format of this book is absolutely stunning. The author created visually appealing files, logos, and schematics.

·       Kaufman managed to use the variety of formats to craft a whole, detailed universe that makes you feel like you have known it for years.

·       Illuminae had plot twists that I never would have guessed. 

Cons:

·       The only downside was that I did not get into the story until about page 200. After that point I read it all in one sitting because I couldn’t tear myself away.

Final Thoughts:

Definitely go out and read this book! To fully appreciate the artwork and unique format, read a physical copy instead of an ebook. The format was just so unique compared to every other book I have ever read; I absolutely loved it!

           

Review: Beautiful Darkness

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Genre: Young Adult- Fantasy

Pages: 503

Publication Date: October, 2010

Rating: 5/5

Summary:

This is the second book in the Caster Series, the sequel to Beautiful Creatures. It picks up right where the previous book left off. Still in the small, southern town of Gatlin, Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes are dealing with the town’s magical secrets. Ethan is still accepting that people he has trusted have deceived him his whole life to protect him. Lena is dealing with the repercussions of her actions that saved Ethan but destroyed her family. The second book in the series dives into the caster world headfirst. Ethan, the familiar favorites from the first book, and a few new characters embark on a journey to save Lena from herself and, more importantly, save the caster world.

Pros:

·       This book incorporated more detailed fantasy elements than I expected from a young adult book.

·       Compared to the first book, it reveals more secrets about Gatlin which keeps the plot interesting.

Cons:

·       The romance sections of the book are still a bit cheesy. Although I don’t know if I will ever find a paranormal romance that isn’t cheesy to me!

Final Thoughts:

I definitely was not disappointed by this book! It explains so many of the secrets of Gatlin and the caster world. I can’t wait to read the next in the series!

           

What Light by Jay Asher

What Light by Jay Asher

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: YA Fiction-Holiday Romance

Pages: 256

Publication Date: October, 2016

Rating: 1/5

Summary:

Sierra’s family owns a Christmas tree farm in Oregon; each year the family travels to California to sell their trees at Christmas time. She has dealt with having a separate life in each state her whole life; this means adjusting to splitting time between her best friends, schools, and homes.  Sierra usually spends her Christmases selling trees and hanging out with one of her best friends, Heather. That is, until she meets Caleb, a kind-hearted guy who made a huge mistake in the past. Sierra becomes determined to help Caleb find redemption in the eyes of the community and his family.

Pros:

·       Following the life of a girl whose family operates a Christmas tree farm sheds light on a profession that not many people think about.

·       Caleb is a likable main character with some redeeming characteristics.

·       I enjoyed the Christmas setting.

Cons:

·       The plot was rather predictable and boring; the whole time I was reading I kept wondering when something interesting would happen.

·       Sierra fell into the romance novel trap of pursuing someone who, in the long-run, will probably not work out and using the L-word far too soon.

·       The parents seemed to cater to Sierra the second she complained and were wishy-washy.

Final Thoughts:

            I really wanted to like this book; I loved Jay Asher’s other book Thirteen Reasons Why. I just could not get into this one. It felt like there were so many interesting plot lines that could have been explored, yet the author went with the more cliché plot. It felt like the story and the characters fell flat. Perhaps if the plot was less predictable, I would have felt the intended heartbreak and cared about the romance in it.  If you want a quick holiday read, maybe this book is for you.

Beautiful Creatures

 

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Genre: Young Adult-Fantasy

Pages: 563

Publication Date: December, 2009

Rating: 4.5/5

Summary:

            Ethan Wate has lived in the small, southern town of Gatlin his whole life. Everyone knows everyone else in Gatlin, except for the mysterious town hermit, Macon Ravenwood. For years Macon has kept to himself, until his niece, Lena Duchannes, moves to town. Suddenly everyone is talking about the mysterious and dark estate they live on. Against everyone’s advice, Ethan befriends the new girl and discovers centuries of well-kept secrets the town holds.

Pros:

·       The authors paint a vivid picture of the southern lifestyle of Gatlin and the dark atmosphere of Macon Ravenwood’s property.

·       A suspenseful and intriguing plot keeps you on the edge of your seat.

·       The characters were well-crafted, especially my favorite, Amma!

Cons:

·       My only issue with the book is that the main characters fell into the common YA novel trap of having the characters fall in love instantly and suddenly forget all common sense.

Final Thoughts:

Definitely a great read if you are looking for a YA fantasy book with elements of paranormal romance. Although this book does use the cheesy love at first sight trope, it has significantly less than other series. The plot is fast moving; even though the book was 563 pages, I finished it in two days.

Also, the book is definitely way better than the movie!

10 Bookish Gift Ideas

Do you know what you are going to get the bookish people in your life, or yourself? Before you head out shopping, take a look at this list!

1. A bookish scarf! 

Etsy.com

You can get it from Cyberoptix on Etsy for $44.00! 

2. Relive your childhood with literary paper dolls.

Chroniclebooks.com

You can finally play with Poe, Hemingway, and Shakespeare!

Get it from Chronicle Books for $12.95.

3. Hold all of your books in this olde book backpack.

Thinkgeek.com

Get it from ThinkGeek for $59.99.

4. A set of pencils for book lovers!

Etsy.com

Jot down all your thoughts with these adorable pencils!

Get them from Icey Designs on Etsy for $13.95.

Check out the other pencil sets here!

5. A book journal to record all your bookish thoughts.

Amazon.com

This is my definitely my favorite on the list; I use mine all the time!

Get it from Amazon for $14.99!

6. Literary soy candles.

Etsy.com

These candles help immerse you further into your favorite books!

Get it from FromThePage on Etsy for $11.00.

Check our more literary candles here.


7. Decorate bookshelves with these lovely bookends.

Wayfair.com

These adorable bookends can spruce up any shelf!

Get them from Wayfair for $90.00!

Check out more bookends from Wayfair here.

8. A fun phone case!

Etsy.com

Decorate and protect your phone with a cute bookish case!

Get it from Chicklitdesigns on Etsy for $29.00

Check out more literary phone cases here.

9. A dozen literary paper roses.

Notonthehighstreet.com

If you don't mind knowing a book lost it's life for this gift, you can buy a dozen paper roses!

Get it from Not On The High Street for $130.77.

10. A tote bag!

Litographs.com

Each tote bag shows an image comprised of about 20,000 words from the book.

Get it from Litographs for $29.00.

Check out more of these bags here.

After by Amy Efaw

 

After by Amy Efaw

Publisher: Viking Books/Speak

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Pages: 350

Publication Date: August, 2009

Rating: 3.5/5

Summary: Devon has everything going for her at school; she gets stellar grades, plays club soccer, and is on the varsity soccer team. She spends 9 months lying to herself and those around her after one night’s mistake. Experiencing nothing but shock when she gives birth, she decides to dispose of the infant in a dumpster. This novel follows the Devon through the repercussions of her terrifying actions.

Pros:

·       The plot is unlike anything I have read before.

·       This is a fast-paced, haunting novel that will stick in your mind for a long time.

Cons:

·       The main character’s attitude throughout the book made it very difficult to feel connected with her.  I did not care what happened to her in the end.

·       Although there are multiple main characters, they were not very developed.

Final Thoughts:

            After is a fast-paced young adult novel that deals with a pretty heavy topic; I would recommend to the older YA crowd. It has a very unique topic that is sure to stick with the reader for a long time!

Children in the Holocaust

Children in the Holocaust and World War II: Their Secret Diaries by Laurel Holliday

Publisher: Washington Square Press

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 432

Publication Date: June, 1996

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

            This anthology has collected excerpts from the diaries of 23 children who lived during the Holocaust and World War II. The children’s ages range from ten through eighteen years old. These diaries address topics including life in the ghetto and the horrors of concentration camps. Some excerpts focus on the day-to-day actions of people while others only address major events in the war.

Pros:

•        The variety of ages, genders, and countries give a comprehensive picture of the terrors of the Holocaust.
•        Each of the diaries has a different focus and tone to it. Some of the accounts were of rich children from other countries that were barely affected, others discussed the horrors they experienced first-hand.

Cons:

•        Some of the diaries became a bit boring towards the end of them as some of the day-to-day details are no different than of someone not affected by the war.

Final Thoughts:

Definitely a great book to flip through if you want to gain a better understanding of the different experiences of families in the war. More often than not, Anne Frank’s diary is the main diary that is remembered despite the multitude of other accounts that have been published.