Tag Archives: book review

May 20, 2014 · 6:28 am

The Shadow Year

18453242Title: The Shadow Year
Author: Hannah Richell
Source: from publisher for SheReads book club
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: Although the big reveals in this book didn’t surprise me much, they kept the suspense high as I read about characters and a location which the author vividly brought to life

In 1980, five friends about to graduate from college decide to get away together one last time. However, when it comes time to return from the idyllic college they visit, none of them are ready to go. They eventually come up with a plan to try roughing it off the grid at the cottage for the next year. Initially, the cottage feels like paradise, but as the weather gets worse, their situation deteriorates and personal tensions build.  Thirty years later, when Lila mysteriously inherits the same cottage, she finds peace at the cottage during a difficult time in her marriage. However, she slowly begins to realize that something terrible happened to the previous inhabitants. Continue reading →

8 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , ,

May 14, 2014 · 6:29 am

Neil Gaiman Mini-Reviews

Neil Gaiman2Title: Neil Gaiman at Syracuse OnCenter
Rating: ★★★★★

I’ve been hearing fantastic things about Neil Gaiman’s books since I started blogging, so I’m excited to have finally gotten to reading some of his books and to have gotten to hear him speak. I thought it would be nice to open with a brief review of his talk since it made me want to read and listen to more of his books, even more so than the books of his which I’ve read. Looking at a list of Gaiman’s published works and hearing him speak solidified my impression that he is an author who writes at least as eclectically as I read. His talk was very thought-provoking and often hilarious and I felt as though every word was chosen with care. His dynamic readings convinced me that I should read some his books as audiobooks and his mastery of language convinced me that I should read more of his books in general. If you get a chance to see him talk, I’d highly recommend it Continue reading →

10 Comments

Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Tagged as , American Gods, , , , Gaiman, Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman,

May 12, 2014 · 6:25 am

The Serpent of Venice

The Serpent of VeniceTitle: The Serpent of Venice
Author: Christopher Moore
Source: from publisher for TLC Book Tour
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Summary: Plots from several classics mingled in a delightfully clever way and parts of the story made me laugh out loud, but other parts were vulgar without being funny.

The Serpent of Venice draws on a number of classics, including The Merchant of Venice, Othello, and The Cask of Amontillado, and then adds a large helping of irreverent humor. The fool Pocket has made enemies of the merchant Antonio, senator Brabantio, and soldier Iago by opposing a war which would make them rich. In order to get Pocket out of the way, these three men invite him to a party with an assassination attempt in mind. However, Pocket is not as easy to kill as they might think and he’ll be back with revenge in mind. Continue reading →

9 Comments

Filed under Re-telling

Tagged as , , , , classics, , funny, , , , shakespeare

May 11, 2014 · 7:27 am

The Falconer

15791085Title: The Falconer
Author: Elizabeth May
Source: from First Reads giveaway
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: This was a fun, light adventure with  cool steampunk elements, not too much romance, and a very abrupt ending.

Killing fairies is hard enough even when you don’t have to look like a proper lady at the same time. After Aileana’s mother is killed by a fairy, she has very few friends to turn to as she navigates balls and teas. Fortunately, she does have a fae mentor to help with fairy killing as she seeks revenge for her mother’s death. As the fairies Aileana battles become more dangerous, she has a tough decision to make. Is she willing to give up appearances and the proper, married life she dreamed of in order to exact her revenge? Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Fiction, Steampunk, Uncategorized, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Tagged as , , , fae, fairies, , , scotland,

May 8, 2014 · 6:42 am

One Hundred Names Review and Giveaway

15732712Title: One Hundred Names
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: This book has Cecelia Ahern’s signature charm, transforming ordinary life into something  beautiful.

Things are not going well for Kitty Logan. The story that was supposed to make her career has turned into a scandal and her beloved mentor is dying. When her friend passes away, she leaves Kitty with a mission: to write the story she always wanted to write. Unfortunately, all Kitty has to go on is a list of one hundred names. She’s on a tight deadline and isn’t sure she’ll even be able to find the right people, much less meet all of them and find out what connects them. Solving this puzzle for her mentor is a challenge, but one which might just help Kitty solve some problems of her own. Continue reading →

10 Comments

Filed under Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , ,

May 6, 2014 · 6:58 am

All That Is Solid Melts Into Air

18505785Title: All That is Solid Melts Into Air
Author: Darragh McKeon
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary: Despite being a bit dark and depressing,  this book swept me off my feet with fantastic writing and a fascinating setting.

Signs of the impending collapse of the Soviet Union are everywhere, but fear of the regime is equally widespread. Piano playing prodigy Yevgeni faces violence daily as he travels the city. His aunt and mother struggle to make ends meet while staying under the radar. Everyone knows something has gone terribly wrong, from farm boy Artyom who notices that the cows’ ears are bleeding to Grigory, a doctor who sees how peoples’ lives are valued less than keeping up appearances. All of these characters will struggle to not only survive, but to make a difference. Continue reading →

11 Comments

Filed under Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , dark, depressing, , , literary, soviet union, well written

May 4, 2014 · 8:22 am

Mini-Reviews of Short Non-Fiction

18167018Title: How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity
Author: Patricia Carlin
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Parts of this book really worked for me. Other parts, not so much. Many of the jokes were punny and ridiculous and over-the-top, but I enjoyed them because of the love of cats underlying the jokes. Some of the jokes were truly hilarious, regardless of context, and made me laugh out loud as I read. Continue reading →

21 Comments

Filed under non-fiction

Tagged as , , , cats, celebrities, classics, coffee table books, cooking, cuisine, food, internet,