(Rotten) Reminiscent Reads (4)

Reminiscent Reads is a feature that Cait at A Life Like Mine and I started recently to showcase the books we have read before starting our blogs. From time to time we will choose a few, good/bad, related/not, and do a mini-review explaining a little bit about the plot and our overall opinions.

Today's Reminiscent Reads post is not gonna be pretty; it is one of the Rotten variety! So these carefully selected books are at the very bottom of all the books I have read thus far, that is, they rank the lowest. I know, I know, it's pretty mean, but for some reason or another, I really did not enjoy them, and I feel it is right to pass the message along for people to either listen to or debate. Either way it needs to be done. So if you disagree, just let me know. I always like hearing the other side of things :) Enjoy! (or not?)

CUM LAUDE by CECILY VON ZIEGESAR

Written by the author of two of my favourite series’ (Gossip Girl and The It Girl), Cecily Von Ziegesar astonished me when she released this stand-alone novel with a knock out cover! Well, lesson learned: Never Judge a Book by Its Cover! I absolutely hated this book. First of all, it was a ‘slice of life’ novel, and we all know my thoughts on those. Second, it just seemed to go nowhere. And fast! Hardly any of the characters interacted with each other, and when they did, it was so horribly anticlimactic. Nothing ever came to be, and the ending was horrendous! Definitely one of my least favourite books ever!

SARAH'S BOOK by SEAN STEWART

When I picked this book up, it had been on my booklist for a while, and is definitely another case in point against buying a book because of its cover. Or just overall artistic appeal, really. Which is pretty much the only thing this book has going for it. There are cute little doodles throughout, but sadly these cannot overcome the bizarre plot nor mediocre characters. There also just had to be a little Rotten cherry on top: a little bit of unrealistic, far-fetched, and completely unplausible tidbit of freakish paranormalcy that makes me cringe just thinking about! Let me just say this: even though I almost always follow through with series as a rule, I would rather eat my own eyeballs than pick up the next two installments, art and all!

ROSE OF NO MAN'S LAND by MICHELLE TEA

This is by far the worst book I have ever read. I purchased it one day in Chapters, not ever hearing of it before, just on a whim (which is pretty rare for me), and I think that the Gods of Chapters should have smited me at that moment, crying, “No Holly! Ye shalt regreteth thisuth for the resteth of your lifeth!” Not only was this book completely insanely crazy and weird, it wasn’t even interesting, and was really just creepy. Maybe I’m just not the kind of person to like it?, I don’t know... I have pondered many an excuse. Bottom Line: no book that I have read has come close to being as horrible as this one!

MY FRIEND LEONARD by JAMES FREY

After reading and really enjoying A Million Little Pieces, I thought that My Friend Leonard would be as dynamic and insightfully interesting. It was not. Marking (I think) the only book that I have never finished, My Friend Leonard did not start out well, and continued to un-woo me from then on. I do not remember that much about the book (which just reiterates my point) since it was probably about 7 years ago when I read it, but I seem to recall a death that I wasn’t too thrilled about, and really boring plot points. Overall, I think that my stance is just so ambivalent towards the book, which in my opinion is the worst feeling of all.

FABULOUS NOBODIES by LEE TULLOCH

This was one of the few books that I read in my first year of University (ahh, I can just remember lounging on my rez room bed, when I should have been in class... Just Kidding!-maybe) and I remember choosing it because the cover promised me to be ‘glued to it’ by none other than Sophie Kinsella! I mean come on, Sophie Kinsella, my Goddess of Chick Lit and favourite all-time author! I was so crushed when I read this book, and even still question my sanity for disliking a book that Sophie put her sign of approval on! The book was just really weird. It seemed like it could, maybe, possibly be good in a kind of way that is so foreign to your everyday life, so it just has to be interesting. But when all is said and done, the effect was just so strange and the main character so unrelatable, despite all of the characteristics that I shared with her. I really was just disappointed in this book, and looking back, it seems like a waste of time.

Having said all that, I do acknowledge that not every book is suited to everyone, and opinions often vary. Sometimes it just comes down to my expectations being crushed, the book that I read previously, or just the mind set going in, but I definitely do not enjoy all the books that I read! But hey, you have to have some bad ones to make the good ones really stand out, right?


What are you waiting for? Debate Me!--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs

She has a passion for the truth . . . and this time, it's taking her down.


A commercial airliner disaster has brought Tempe Brennan to the North Carolina mountains as a member of the investigative agency DMORT. As bomb theories abound, Tempe soon discovers a jarring piece of evidence that raises dangerous questions -- and gets her thrown from the DMORT team. Relentless in her pursuit of its significance, Tempe uncovers a shocking, multilayered tale of deceit and depravity as she probes her way into frightening territory -- where someone wants her stopped in her tracks.                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                         -Chapters Canada




As per the usual, Kathy Reichs totally won me over (which is not that hard, having fallen in love with her other amazingly great novels; find the reviews here!) with her amazing prose, stunning mystery, and realistic romance. I love Kathy Reichs' novels, and Fatal Voyage was no different.

This time Tempe is dealing with a mass death toll from a plane crash, which was interesting to learn about by itself. Of course, there was a second aspect to make me more interested: a murder. The personal, professional, factual, and mysterious aspects were remarkably linked throughout the novel, and there really was never a dull moment. Once again we see Andrew Ryan (swoon) and he is incorporated to perfection. He always keeps me yearning for the next novel :)

The way that the book unfolds is of course enlightening, entertaining, and just plain amazing. Without giving too much away, the answers Tempe finds and the overall denouement were fascinating and so good. I cannot wait for the next book!


Already half-way through it--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

A powerful, provocative novel about marriage and motherhood, love and forgiveness.

Tessa Russo is a stay-at-home mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie-a boy who has never known his father. Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, they are strangers to one another and have little in common, aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.

This is the moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

                                                                    -Chapters Canada

Being a huge fan of Emily Giffin's novels (well mostly just Something Borrowed and Something Blue) I was really looking forward to Heart of the Matter. Let me just say that I was kind of disappointed. It wasn't very fun and it took me so long to read it! But once I got over my disappointment (and myself, for that matter!) I was able to experience the beauty of it. (It did take me the time I would usually spend reading about 5 books, but whatever, I shall put that aside starting now).

Heart of the Matter was a heartfelt book that took me inside the workings of family and marriage, and Emily Giffin shows her amazing insight and writing abilities again, just dealing with more subdued subject matter. Which happened to not be my cup of tea. I did love, as I do in all of Giffin's books, the incorporation of past characters which is always welcoming and promises cohesiveness throughout seemingly stand-alone novels.

I would recommend this book to someone a little bit older than me, or someone who is married and can relate more to the theme of the novel. I can tell that the book is deep, emotional, insightful, realistic, and so very true, I just think it was not for me.

Spoiler Alert: Don't read past this point if you don't want to know specific book details!

The book did start off with some momentum, and I could tell just by the intricate style of Emily Giffin's writing that the book would ring true and be very soul-touching. But as I read on and realized that yet another one of Giffin's book would be about adultery in some form, I found myself forlorn and not really wanting to pick up the book.

The style of narration was good, I enjoyed living the lives of both women, and seeing their different interactions with Nick in all situations. This really gave me insight into the reality of affairs and family dynamic as a whole. And I felt that that theme was portrayed wonderfully and truly. I just really didn't relate to it.

The affair took me on such an emotional rollercoaster, always getting me to think in different ways. At first I loved the seemingly secure marriage that Tessa and Nick shared, but also found myself rooting for the love blossoming between Nick and Valerie, even though I have a very firm stance on adultery already. And then when things started coming to light with Tessa and Nick, I came to enjoy the denouement of the book, which really investigated the true relations in love, family, and life. I really do appreciate the messages that Heart of the Matter offers.

Overall, I think that Emily Giffin is a wonderful author and has the rare quality of just knowing exactly how to tug on one's heartstrings. She effectively creates a world that is so real. Whether she has experienced it or not, I don't know, but she always seems to write from someone on the inside of the story, and shares that with her audience, which I always appreciate. Family and marriage and love is never simple, and never as black and white as people think. This novel made me rethink things I was certain of before, and has changed me for the better :)

A little bit enlightened--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Inside the mind of a Book obsessed knowledge monger (3)

Episode 3

I know it's been a while since I posted, but I promised myself I would only share my thoughts when the moment struck me, not try and come up with something just because. I mean you can't force greatness people!

Anyway.. so today's post actually comes from a history of inquiries on my part, that is to say that this has always bothered me whenever I encounter it.

Why don't people getting suffocated by plastic bags just rip a hole so they can continue breathing, ergo living?

I know this may seem insensitive and ignorant, especially since I have never experienced this first-hand, and I don't know what it's like, yadda yadda yadda. But seriously? I mean I can understand first trying to knock out your attacker, but I think it's safe to say that one's next move should be to try to live! At all costs! Especially if the bag is see through...??

Oh well, I guess this is just Natural Selection at work.. like,

"this was a test, and you failed.. uh-buh-bye now!"

And I mean, I know taking down the attacker would be all hunky dory and all, but pick your battles here Sunshine.. take it one step at a time.. once you can breathe safely, I bet you would be less frantic, and since more oxygen is getting to your brain, make better decisions. Then you would be free to kick this jerk-off in the gonads, or lady-balls or whatever, which is what I frequently imagine I would do, if I was ever to be attacked (I would also have my iPhone at the ready, with Majie dearest on speed dial, so that she can listen in and send for help... is it weird that I think about this often, or merely good planning...?)

Let me know your thoughts--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Covergasms♥ (5)

Covergasms♥ is an original Book♥Hooker feature that discusses all things cover related!

This week's Covergasms♥ post is going to follow last week's theme of covers that are so sadly unreachable to me, for one reason or another. Without further ado:

       

Ok so these four books are actually all the same book! I know right! They are all pretty gorgeous, and so different in their own way, which is really cool. Which one wins me over though? I would have to say the first one (which is the Aussie version). I must admit it was the first version I ever laid my eyes on, so I guess it just stuck with me. I just love the photo that is showcased and absolutely adore the red flowers used in addition to the slight distortion. It reminds me of The Wizard of Oz or something, like when Dorothy and the gang meander through the sleeping poppies.

The book seems really interesting in and of itself as well, having the ever entertaining amnesia factor that I have come to love. A must read for me, if I can figure out which one I want to buy. The other ones, btw, are: Canada version (I think, since it's the only one that I can seem to buy) with the gorgeous lettering taking precedent, the UK version (with the pop of purple butterflies and mysterious shadow), and the US version (with the interesting font and use of colour contrast).

Another book that I can't help but mention is Die For Me by Amy Plum, which I am also dying to get my hands on, but am so very triste after they decided to change the cover. BOOO!

       

I absolutely love the original design (which is the first one). Not to say that I hate the new one, I just think I fell in love with the first one, and hate to see it go. Now that I'm looking though, I almost like the new one better or the same.. But one can never be too sure with me.. I am so easily swayed, and I dare say that I am only desensitized to the idea of the new cover because I have seen it now more than the original. Hmm..

Oh, my weak mind... --Cheers & Enjoy♥

(Random) Reminiscent Reads (3)

Reminiscent Reads is a feature that Cait at A Life Like Mine and I started recently to showcase the books we have read before starting our blogs. From time to time we will choose a few, good/bad, related/not, and do a mini-review explaining a little bit about the plot and our overall opinions.

This weeks's post marks the first Random Reminiscent Reads post, with all of the books being neither Related, Riveting, nor Rotten. They really have nothing in common other than the fact that I have read all of them. I will include a rating as well just to give you an overall idea of my opinion. Enjoy!

FIREWORKS OVER TOCCOA
by JEFFREY STEPAKOFF

♥♥♥♥

I read this book last summer after it was recommended to me on a book website, and promised me heart-jerking, tear-inspiring greatness. Now I don’t know if it was due to my expectations for the book, but it did not seem to deliver completely. Having said that, it’s still a great novel. Definitely still worth reading, and love the incorporation of fireworks and everything they seem to represent.

MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC
by GABRIELLE ZEVIN

♥♥♥♥

Another book that I had been dying to read for a while, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac boasted an amazing plot filled with amnesia and teen love, which are two of my fav things. The premise seemed golden, and this book was on my reading list for a while. I don’t remember a whole lot just now, since I read it a considerable time ago, but I do remember enjoying it thoroughly. It’s a great YA read.

PSYCH MAJOR SYNDROME
by ALICIA THOMPSON

♥♥♥½

This was one of the rare books that I own that was not part of my booklist, and that I bought on a whim after seeing it in Chapters. Seeing that I minor in psych, it’s not hard to guess why it appealed to me so strongly, and the book didn’t let me down. The heroine is in College with her boyfriend but seems to be troubled in the love department. Probably my only complaint would be the predictability of the novel unbeknownst to the lovely heroine. It was slightly annoying, but seemed to win me over in the end.

THE POISON APPLES by LILY ARCHER

♥♥♥

Another book that I stole from Majie dearest due to its amazing cover and overall first impression, The Poison Apples was a little bit lacklustre compared to its radiant cover art. The whole idea was a little bit immature to me, and didn’t really deliver what I thought it could have. Three girls at boarding school decide to exact revenge on their ‘evil’ stepmothers. I could see some potential, but this book is definitely not dynamic in any way.

NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST
by RACHEL COHN & DAVID LEVITHAN

♥♥½

I chose to read this book after I learned that it was being turned into a movie. I must say that I didn’t really enjoy it. It kind of came across as a ‘slice of life’ book, which is a genre that I loathe. I was consistently frustrated with the characters and the situations they pursued. How the book started out seemed great, but I think that I actually enjoyed the secondary characters much more than the main ones. I guess this book just wasn’t for me.

Let me know your opinions--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties. Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star. . . .

Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined-and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is ­Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the ­illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall-together and apart. From the New York Timesbestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.

                                                                -Chapters Canada

As a big fan of The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen, I just had to read Godbersen's new book debuting a new series: Bright Young Things. 

Hold that thought...

So I did have a completely well written post done for this book, about 2 weeks ago, but Blogger was down (as many of you probably already know) and it got erased. My comments were restored, but unfortunately only about one sentence of my amazing review was left.

And if some Blogger tech person is reading this, I still do very much want my post restored!


So after careful consideration through my rage and sadness, I have decided that I shall not try and write the post to its original glory, but instead highlight some of my overall thoughts on the book. So here goes:

-Although at the beginning I found myself pining for The Luxe series, and reminiscing in it's awesomeness, Bright Young Things did eventually win me over.

- I feel that it portrayed the roaring 20's truly and uniquely from other novels based in this time period.

- I felt myself turn over my trust to Godbersen, who never fails to wow me with her character development and twists in her books. Even though I don't know where the story is headed, and what is going to happen to every character, I just kind of relaxed into it, instead of playing out how I want it to happen, like I do in most books. I know that Godbersen will not let me down, and am very much looking forward to the next installment.

- The heroines were all so amazingly strong and I loved them. Cordelia was so astonishingly real and powerful, and took the city on her own terms. Letty was innocent and heartbreaking, but I know she will prevail. And Astrid provided the contrast that we needed, that maybe isn't very contrasting to our small town girls as we think.

- I adored that the girls spent the duration of the novel pretty much separate, but seemed to come together in the end, promising me greatness to come.


Overall, I really enjoyed the book and cannot stress enough that I love Anna Godbersen and her writing style. She is one of my favourite authors and has the rare ability to make me trust where she is taking me in the novel, which pretty much never happens to control freak me :)


Hope this suffices--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Covergasms♥ (4)

 

Covergasms♥ is an original Book♥Hooker feature that discusses all things cover related!

Today's Covergasms♥ post is going to be a little bit different: I am going to do a comparison on covers that are for the same book, but different. The ones showcased today are one's that I have stumbled upon, and made me very sad because I like the international version way better, but it is not offered in my country. Blasphemy at its finest, if you ask me...

       

First on the docket are the covers of the books by Michelle Cooper. I have not read these books, but I plan on reading them, as soon as I can figure out how to get my hands on the desired covers. The first set are the North American ones, the ones of which I am privy, and the second gorgeous additions are the UK editions. And I want them so badly. Don't get me wrong, they are all pretty gorgeous, and I admit, they are still consistent throughout the series, but there is just something about the flowing calligraphy and naturalness exuded by the UK covers that I absolutely NEED. It breaks my heart...

So I suppose I should give a little bit of insight into the plot as well, because obviously I would not just buy a book based on its cover (she said, all shifty eyed). The plot does also appeal to me greatly as I have grown rather fond of historical books recently, and these ones seem to promise me greatness in spades.

Whatever shall I do?--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Deadly Décisions by Kathy Reichs

When innocent blood is spilled, she deciphers the shattering truth it holds.


Nine-year-old Emily Anne Toussaint is fatally shot on a Montreal street. A North Carolina teenager disappears from her home, and parts of her skeleton are found hundreds of miles away. The shocking deaths propel Tempe Brennan from north to south, and deep into a shattering investigation inside the bizarre culture of outlaw motorcycle gangs -- where one misstep could bring disaster for herself or someone she loves.

                                                                                                           -Chapters Canada

Like the two others before it, Deadly Décisions is filled with suspense, and of course a personal link to Temperance Brennan. I'm not sure if I find this incredibly endearing though, or kind of getting on my nerves the third time around. We will have to wait and see if the next installments use the same theme or not, one would think that there are only so many scenarios and family members that could be put into jeopardy.

Nevertheless, I truly did enjoy Deadly Décisions almost as much as its predecessors, maybe a teensie bit less due to the lack of one certain character: Andrew Ryan. He has been steaming steadily throughout the first two books, and I definitely was looking forward to seeing more of him after the promising closure of Death Du Jour, but I found myself psychotically rationally searching for him throughout the pages, and came up empty-handed. Fortunately, our Reichs would not leave us completely famished: she left me with much hope for the following books, and also managed to bring forth circumstances worthy of keeping me sated yet yearning at the same time. Touché, Milady.

Onto the plot, which was of course as riveting and knowledgeable as always (which is hugely bonus inducing for me, being the self proclaimed Knowledge Monger that I am-tehe). I always find the setting highly entertaining, as I love Montréal, and am quasi-familiar with the city already. I also found the insight into the Biker Gangs super fantastico.


Overall, the book was well-written and of course uber-suspenseful: all in all, I suspect that these books will keep me coming back for more everytime!


Don't miss out!--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs

In the bitter cold of a Montreal winter, Tempe Brennan is digging for a corpse buried more than a century ago. Although Tempe thrives on such enigmas from the past, it''s a chain of contemporary deaths and disappearances that has seized her attention -- and she alone is ideally placed to make a chilling connection among the seemingly unrelated events. At the crime scene, at the morgue, and in the lab, Tempe probes a mystery that sweeps from a deadly Quebec fire to startling discoveries in the Carolinas, and culminates in Montreal with a terrifying showdown -- a nerve-shattering test of both her forensic expertise and her skills for survival.
                                                                                                                                  -Chapters Canada




The second novel in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs, Death Du Jour, was definitely just as captivating, but also gaining it an extra half star more than its predecessor due to its sexy incorporation of Dr. Brennan's love life.

Having said that, there was not a whole lot of romantic development, which I actually admire (I know, who knew that I would be praising something lacking a lot of hubba hubba?) but just enough to keep me salivating for more! I won't go into too much detail so as to spoil it for everyone, but what was there was golden. And I am so dying to dive into the next book, if only to read about Tempe's mature but very steamy rendezvous (which I am completely speculating will take place). Seriously, I actually have the next book, Deadly Décisions, beside me, and I am going to commence its awesomeness right after I wrap up this blog sesh...

Anywho, so yes the awesomeness from Reichs' first book, Déjà Dead, keeps going in this follow-up that is just as suspenseful and well written. The characters and cases are always uncannily woven into the mysterious plot lines in such a way that always promises to keep the reader guessing until the last second, when everything wraps up perfectly, never too quickly, and always completely plausibly. Which is so very mucho-importanto to me :)


I love, love, loved this book, and if you'll please excuse me...


(Already cracking open Deadly Décisions)--Cheers & Enjoy♥