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Picture yourself in high school, those awkward years. Now, not only are...moreTo see the review with all the Glitz and Glam drop by My Blog and check it out.
Picture yourself in high school, those awkward years. Now, not only are you a high school student, you are also a very clumsy one. One, so epically clumsy, that you are the school's outcast. You are such an epic klutz that some pretty weird, explainable things happen to you all the time. And that every single time one of these things happens, your Mom packs up and forces you change zip-codes. Now, imagine what it feels like to one day discover that the reason behind all of your misfortune is because you (and your kid brother) are the last descendants of the Brothers Grimm and as such you have inherited the family curse.
I was surprised as to how much I enjoyed this book. First heard about it when my sister asked me to buy her the second book in the series, then explained to me that she had stumbled into the first one (for free) at Amazon. I was intrigued by the premise so I went and downloaded myself a copy. This book turned out to be a great twist on the fairy tale realm. And much like my sister, now I want to get my hands on the next story.
The characters are relatable. Mina, the last descendant of the Brothers Grimm, starts off as a skittish, always frightened girl and slowly grows into her strength and confidence. She has spent her life trying to go as unnoticed as anyone can, and when her world goes topsy turvy she struggles to accept it.
I really enjoyed every little twist and turn in this re-telling of [many] classic. Mina holds the power to re-write the fairy tales as she is forced to reenact them.
Worth pointing out: The book has some grammatical errors. Also, the transition between third person and first person, plus the change between one character's POV and the next was confusing in places. I do have one complain/question/comment. I wonder why, if the main character has dark brown hair, the girl in the cover (both this cover and the one for book 2) are blondes?
The bottom line is that regardless of the problems, and the fact that the main character tends to bring herself down more times than the actual bad guys, the story itself kept me intrigued enough to finish it quickly.(less)
This is a free, dictionary-like book with the most basic of words. I literary read it in full in a couple of minutes. Every word has a picture that il...moreThis is a free, dictionary-like book with the most basic of words. I literary read it in full in a couple of minutes. Every word has a picture that illustrates the concept and three or four sentences on how the word can be used.
It has an audiobook companion (that is also free) for pronunciation purposes that can be downloaded to your computer or send to your Kindle through Audible.com. I haven't used them together yet, so I have no clue as how seamless does the two formats work. But a pronunciation guide is needed, specially when there are no cues in the actual book, just the name in English, it's Italian translation, a noun (these are all nouns) and it's gender, and the sentences.
Also, none of the words are organized in alphabetical order. The book is divided in categories, and within those categories words seem to be grouped according to theme. These words are:
Bird Dog Cat Mouse Turkey Cow Pig Horse Sheep Goat Snake Fish Chicken Lobster Crab Lamb
Human Body
Neck Face Chin Ear Forehead Hair Blonde Hair Black Hair Brown Hair Red Hair Mouth Mustache Beard Cheek Nose Tooth Wrinkle Eyebrow Eyelid Eye Eyelash Facial Hair Tongue Taste Bud Nostril Teeth Lip Foot Ankle Leg Head Arm Elbow Wrist Hand Muscle Bone (by this time you have reach the book's halfway point) Backbone Stomach
Colors
Black Brown Gray White Gold Purple Red Green Blue Yellow Pink Silver Violet Indigo Orange
I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
To see the review with all the Glitz and Glam drop by My B...moreDisclaimer
I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
To see the review with all the Glitz and Glam drop by My Blog and check it out.
My Review
When I requested this book at NetGalley, I did it solely because of its blurb. Who could turn down the chance to see our favorite classical monsters adjust to modern day times? That they feel that they need to have a support group in order to be able to deal with all the changes that come with centuries of human evolution was just the icing on the cake. Based on that premise I was expecting to have a grand time while reading the story; and I’m so glad to say that the novel delivers.
Although the story is mostly mystery and horror, none of the deaths that occur throughout the narration are described as they are happening. No, these occur behind the scenes and we later find out about their gruesomeness alongside the characters. In a story about monsters that is quite a refreshing approach, so my hat tips to Ms. Petersen.
Aside for the obvious conflicts, the story keeps a lightness that is very welcomed. Not to mention that I was smiling like an idiot as I was reading it. The story has a good balance between the comedy, the horror and the humanity of both the characters and their surroundings.
Although the file that I received through NetGalley had a little over 233 pages, the story is addictive enough that it reads pretty quickly.
The characters are as far away from humans as you can imagine. We have Natalie, Frankenstein’s daughter (one of his many creations); Alec, werewolf extraordinaire; Drake, Dracula of course; Dr. Henry, both Jekyll and Hyde; Linda, a swamp monster (but please don’t call her a monster); Bob, the blob; Ellis, the invisible man; Rehu & Kai, your run of the mill dehydrating mummies. And a special appearance of none other than… hmm, nope, won’t spoil it for you. ;D
To be honest, often times I have problems with books that tackle the classical monsters because I usually end up feeling like they weren't truly made justice. I’m happy that this book didn't take that particular turn. The characters might share their monstrous characteristics with their classical counterparts but they are also so removed from their original concept that they avoid the stereotype, which is quite a challenge when you have Dracula walking down New York City while wearing a cape.
There is romance in the story, but there are no overly descriptive sex scenes, but there is a good amount of tension between the main characters. Speaking of the main characters in the story, can I keep Alec for myself? He is such a sweet and hot werewolf. He is perfect for our heroine. Which as Frankenstein’s daughter you’d normally will picture her as some clumsy brute, but she is quite possibly the most ‘normal’ of all the characters. A girl that tries to do the best she can with the circumstances she’s been given. Natalie is my favorite character of the book.
The bottom line, this isn't your average paranormal novel, which is what makes it so brilliant. The characters have their wacky moments but they also show great humanity. This is a book that I definitively will recommend.(less)
Read this as part of my Literature for Young Reader's class.
The book is well organized and easy to follow. It's divided into the various subgenres tha...moreRead this as part of my Literature for Young Reader's class.
The book is well organized and easy to follow. It's divided into the various subgenres that make up Children's Lit. The best part is that it has countless book recommendations for children; and in some cases an overview of some of those stories. It really is a great tool for teachers, specially for those looking to expand their children's literature shelves. (less)
When I finished the book: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That ending....!!!! Review to come after I unscramb...moreWhen I finished the book: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That ending....!!!! Review to come after I unscramble my brain!
The Review: (Added on April 1, 2013)
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of this book free through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
To see the review with all the Glitz and Glam drop by My Blog and check it out.
The Eternal Cure picks up a few months after the events of The Immortal Rules. Allie has been hunting Sarren, following the pull she feels toward her sire, Kanin. She’s getting close, she can feel it; her objective is to free Kanin from the evil hands of “crazy Psycho Vampire” as she calls Sarren. Unfortunately for her, things do not go quite as she envisions them.
There are so many great moments to this book that it’s extremely hard to choose one without risk giving away a major plot point or twist. Slowly, progressively, and often indirectly, we catch up with the characters from the original story, only to then concentrate on the real reason that has brought them together: a new outbreak of an even tougher strain of Red Lung, the virus that spawned the rabids.
There are some impressive character development and even more surprises. Allie might still be technically a teenager, but she has proved time and time again that she is strong enough to fend off against the best and the worst of her world. This book is no exception, her core remains the same, but she is slowly accepting her nature:
“This is what I am, I thought, walking forward to join them. This is where I belong, in the darkness. We’re vampires.” —Allie (Kindle Location 4611)
In contrast, Jackal was one of the characters that simply kept me laughing throughout the whole story. He plays a major role on this book and he is so good at it that by the end of it you will both love and hate him; that I promise you.
“No problem, little sister.” The leer returned, making him look normal again. “Comment number one—how much do you weigh to snap the bridge like that? I thought you Asians were supposed to be petite and dainty.” —Jackal (Kindle Location 684)
Kanin just fortifies himself as the overall father figure with his ever present calm demeanor (he is after all Allie’s sire).
“…it would be a pity if you became just another monster. If you abandoned everything you’ve fought for until now.” —Kanin (Kindle Location 4595)
Then there is Zeke, oh my lord Zeke! He is the perfect boyfriend, I swear, I see many teen girl fawning and fighting over him. Throughout the story he cements himself as Allie’s White Knight and true Paladin.
“You’re still beautiful and dangerous and incredible, and I’ll keep telling you that for as long as it takes you to believe it. But right now, all I want to do is kiss you, except I’m terrified that if I try you might throw me off this balcony.” —Zeke (Kindle Location 2819)
This is one of those series that only gets better after each publication. Definitively a must read and one of my favorite books of this year!(less)
Este libro fue "sugerido" (compulsorio) por el profesor del curso Psicología del Aprendizaje como parte del material de repaso para la prueba de certi...moreEste libro fue "sugerido" (compulsorio) por el profesor del curso Psicología del Aprendizaje como parte del material de repaso para la prueba de certificación de maestros aquí en Puerto Rico; el temido PCMAS.
Como el título implica, este libro es completamente sobre teorías del aprendizaje. Comienza con los origenes del aprendizaje moderno como parte de la cultura occidental que provienen de la antigua Grecia y Roma. El libro parte con Sócrates, mientras define lo que es el aprendizaje, y de ahí recorre todas las mayores teorías que han, de alguna manera u otra, influenciado la enseñanza actual.
El segundo capítulo está dedicado a la neurociencia del aprendizaje: tema de gran auge en la educación actualmente. El libro tiene 10 capítulos, todos comienzan de la misma forma, con un díalogo como ejemplo de una posible situacón que uno se puede encontrar. Luego el capítulo continua desglosando las diversas teorías que sirven para contrarrestar el problema, explicando las misma a fondo.(less)
Downloaded this book for free today at Amazon. Is a very short, erotica novella that features a young, billionaire business man and a 26-year-old onli...moreDownloaded this book for free today at Amazon. Is a very short, erotica novella that features a young, billionaire business man and a 26-year-old online, fashion magazine editor. They have enough chemistry with one another capable of scorching the entire New York City in one single sweep.
I like the actual plot of the story, unfortunately is too short and rushed that there is no time for the characters to develop and in the end I really couldn’t care much for them.
Also, I don’t look at grammar when I’m reading for pleasure, but sometimes some errors just jump off the page. For example, right at the beginning of the story:
Cate swiped two glasses of champagne from a waiter that was passing by and our eyes scanned the room accessing the crowd. (Kindle Locations 15-16)
The emphasis is mine. I’m guessing that the girls were assessing the crowd. Then, almost three quarters into the story:
I nodded to each of them with a smile, and began fidgeting with my hands under the table. Carter noticed, and took his warm hand in mind, holding it in his lap. (Kindle Locations 333-334)
First time I read of a man capable of holding his mind on his lap, now that's a trick worth seeing. There really are not that many errors, but the few that are, are a bit obvious.
In all, I wish the story had been longer. I don’t mind a steamy erotica story, but I like them with a little bit more plot to them. (less)
A really fun and quick story with lot's of witty lines that had me smiling through the whole thing. Short enough that it can be read in minutes, a lit...moreA really fun and quick story with lot's of witty lines that had me smiling through the whole thing. Short enough that it can be read in minutes, a little rushed, yet satisfying for such a short story. I'm looking forward to read more about this author.
Some Quotes:
Said by the main character: "Fortunately, I’m the best Wiccan in a two state area. So my personality literally can’t get me fired. (Kindle Locations 43-44)."
"endless windows giving the impression of being outside. It was exactly how I liked nature— air conditioned and bug free. (Kindle Locations 58-59)."(less)
A single, short scene that can be found for free at Nalini Singh's website. A conversation between Teijan and Zane, spy Rats allied to DarkRiver and S...moreA single, short scene that can be found for free at Nalini Singh's website. A conversation between Teijan and Zane, spy Rats allied to DarkRiver and SnowDancers. Is not necessary to read as it doesn't really expands the universe; but it does give an insight into the minds of those who live down below.(less)
Such a sweet, free on the author's website, short scene between Judd and Brenna. It's hard to choose between all the great couples in the Psy-Changeli...moreSuch a sweet, free on the author's website, short scene between Judd and Brenna. It's hard to choose between all the great couples in the Psy-Changeling world, but these two are my favorite pair so far.
If you are a fan of the series, then I recommend you read this short; it will only take about five minutes of your time, but it's good reminder of these characters and great to see how their love continue to grow. Not to mention that now I want pizza thanks to them...(less)
A very sweet and very short story, it's really just one scene, that can be found for free at the author's webpage.
Sasha and Lucas are taking care of t...moreA very sweet and very short story, it's really just one scene, that can be found for free at the author's webpage.
Sasha and Lucas are taking care of the cubs while Tamsyn and Nate are away.(less)
To see the review with all the Glitz and Glam drop by My Blog and check it out
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
An anthology of Christmas stories, perfect for the...moreTo see the review with all the Glitz and Glam drop by My Blog and check it out
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
An anthology of Christmas stories, perfect for the holiday season. It includes four shorts: Melting Frosty by Maggie Shayne, Charlotte’s Web by Erin McCarthy, Beat the Temptation by Nalini Singh, and Gift of the Magi by Jean Johnson. Because these are short stories I can’t really tell you what they are about without risking revealing the whole thing up, but I’ll do my best to review them without spoilers.
So I read this book due to the Vet VS Newbies challenge at Goodreads’ Gotta Have Paranormal Romance with a Kick Group. The book showcases spirits, witches, werewolves, and the magi and I totally love it. I usually stray away from Christmas books unless I want to read a story from a particular author. It’s nothing against the books, just not what I normally read. Which is why I’m so glad that I was given this book as one of my alternatives, otherwise I would have missed it completely. All four stories are worth the time and can be read in one sitting.
Do you believe in the future, your future, to be pre-ordained? Would you follow the signs if you knew someone was giving you directions from the hereafter? There are three main characters: Mathew, Holly, and the fedora hat. Mathew lost his father one fretful Thanksgiving eve. The last reminder of his father’s presence –a fedora hat– was also lost that time; as a consequence he has hated Christmas ever since. Meanwhile, Holly lost her entire family during Christmas as well, and even though she lost everything, her mother’s love for the holiday has kept her going on strong ever since. Now Fate has found a way to put these two together and the result is a beautiful, sweet, feel-good type of story that just warms you up and keeps you smiling as you read it through.
It’s a very quick read, as is just a short story –you can finish it up in one sitting. I highly recommend it, especially since we are in the holidays.
Title: Charlotte’s Web Series: Murphy Sisters, Book 1 Author: Erin McCarthy Individual Rating: ★★★½☆☆
I enjoyed the story, the dynamic between the Murphy sisters reminds me a lot of the dynamic between the Halliwell sisters from the TV series Charmed; the same type of banter and strife. It was a good story but I didn’t connect with Charlotte as much as I would have loved to. In fact, the moment Bree (the second sister) crosses paths with the uptight guy at the coffee shop I wanted to switch story and follow hers instead. In all, the story is sweet, fulfilling, nice, and fun at times.
Title: Beat of Temptation Series: Psy-Changeling, Book 0.5 Author: Nalini Singh Individual Rating: ★★★★★
A great story that keeps you glued until the very end. Although I have read books by Nalini Singh before this is the first story I read about her Psy-Changeling series. I am officially hooked; I want to read more about it. The story has great characters and interesting plot.
I do have to say that I felt like I needed some parts explained better, so I guess that this story is best read after one has begun the actual series, were more information about their universe is given. The truth is that I didn’t really need it to understand the story –it’s a solid standalone– but I felt slightly like I was reading a story from the midpoint onwards.
Title: Gifts of the Magi Author: Jean Johnson Individual Rating: ★★★★★
I haven’t read anything from Jean Johnson until this point, but I will make a point about getting more books from her. This is by far the best of all the stories in this anthology, to the point that it made me cry; that’s how good it is. The Three Magi is a beautiful story about the miracle that is love in everyday life and how one must keep it alive with the help of simple, little actions. It takes the story of the Three Wise Men and extends it into modern times. I definitively believe that this one is worth reading; especially on this season.
WARNING I bought the Kindle Edition for this book and there was a glitch of sorts with this particular edition. I don't know if it's limited to my copy of the book or if it happens to every single one; but just in case here is the glitch:
As I finished the third story (Beat of Temptation) and I was clicking through to get to the next story the pop-up window that allows you to rate the book after you have finished it comes up. I recorded the glitch with my phone, watch the YouTube video to see it in action. I tried it several times and is always on the same spot, plus it comes back up at the end (where it should do normally). I reported it to Amazon, but I have no way to know if they'll fix it.(less)
Libro de texto de la clase Psicología del Aprendizaje con el profesor Jorge H. Larrache.
Un buen libro sobre la psicología educativa. Explica las difer...moreLibro de texto de la clase Psicología del Aprendizaje con el profesor Jorge H. Larrache.
Un buen libro sobre la psicología educativa. Explica las diferentes teorías del aprendizaje que actualmente se utilizan. Da ejemplos de situaciones que se puedan presentar en el salón de clase o que le puedan estar ocurriendo a los estudiantes y posibles soluciones de como manejar las mismas.
Adicional a esto, cada capítulo tiene una sección llamada "Aprobar PRAXIS" la cual está dedicada a proveerle las herramientas necesarias al futuro maestro para que pueda complementar sus conocimientos y poder pasar los exámenes de certificación de maestros en los Estados Unidos. Además de una sección por capítulo, el libro contiene un apendice dedicado a la certificación de maestros llamado: "Estándares y certificación: PRAXIS II e INTASC"
En resumen, es un muy buen libro, fácil de leer y muy explicativo. En Puerto Rico las pruebas para la certificación de maestros se conocen como el PCMAS, este libro será una muy buena herramienta al momento de repasar para ese particular exámen. (less)
I'm sorry, but I could barely get through this book. It was assigned to me (and the rest of the class) as part of our Young Adult Literature Course. M...moreI'm sorry, but I could barely get through this book. It was assigned to me (and the rest of the class) as part of our Young Adult Literature Course. Maybe I came into the book with bad picture already as the professor showed us the 1988 movie version. The movie was horrible and, to me, the book was no better.
I don't really mind controversial themes in literature at all; but just that the writing style put me off. (less)
El libro es exelente, especialmente si te interesa el campo de la neurociencia con concentración en la educación. Explica el funcionamiento del cerebr...moreEl libro es exelente, especialmente si te interesa el campo de la neurociencia con concentración en la educación. Explica el funcionamiento del cerebro humano, mientras utiliza las teorías de grandes exponentes como Freud, Piaget, Kaplan -entre muchos otros- para sustentar sus puntos y redirigirlos al ambito educativo.
El lenguaje utilizado es simple, accesible y de facil entendimiento. Auque utiliza terminos cientificos, estos son siempre explicados de manera clara, conscisa y sin provocar sueño.
Aunque el libro es enteramente en blanco y negro, contiene ilustraciones de todas las partes del cerebro a las cuales hace referencia o explica. Todas rotuladas de manera permite el fácil estudio de las mismas.(less)
This book is classified as Young Adult Paranormal Romance, and although it fits the bill, the story itself pulls from a wider set of norms. In fact, t...moreThis book is classified as Young Adult Paranormal Romance, and although it fits the bill, the story itself pulls from a wider set of norms. In fact, the novel has many elements of the horror and the sci-fi genre. To begin with, the story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a scientifically created virus has turned most of humanity into flesh –and brain– eating zombies. Sprinkle the mix with a healthy dose of mostly older sexy teenage aliens and inter-dimensional traveling and you have the recipe for great entertainment.
We follow Wisteria and Bach as they go back and forth between regular teenage problems –such as love, high school, mean girls, the outcast, family expectations vs. their own desires, etc. – and the more serious, much more pressing (and oftentimes depressing) matters of living in a zombie infested post-apocalyptic era. Wisteria is a strong minded teenage girl that has seen the worst of what humanity can offer. She believes in always being ready and never being a victim. For me, both qualities are huge pluses to have in a female lead; it just makes you love her and root for her even when she is being idiotic. This, coupled with her flaws, makes Wisteria a more believable and interesting character. On the other hand we have Bach, a conflicted, angsty, moody, and most times a downright jackass alien boy whom you’ll probably develop a love-hate relationship with his decisions. Throughout the tale he battles with his personal demons and his desire to possess and love Wisteria. As I was reading the book, half the time I was waiting for the plot to finally get them together, and the other half I just wanted to smack Bach hard enough to shake him.
I ask to review this book from the Innovative Online Book Tours’ tour catalogue and I can’t be happier that I did. I really enjoyed this story, and I’m looking forward to see how the series, as well as the author, grow and develop. If you enjoy reading YA books within the Paranormal genre or you just like your books with a good pace but very little to no smexiness, then you might want to give Wisteria a try.(less)
The Giver plays heavily on the concept that one person's utopia is another person's dystopia.
The main character is Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy who wa...moreThe Giver plays heavily on the concept that one person's utopia is another person's dystopia.
The main character is Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy who was born in Sameness; a place both physical (the town where he lives) and spacial (the time in history). In Sameness individuality was completely destroyed for the sake of equality and uniformity. When kids are born they don't belong to their birthing mothers, they are part of the community and are re-assigned to their new, permanent "family". Emotions have been so distilled down that no one in town can truly claim to know what love is for real.
Education and development is carefully controlled by the town's elders with a highly strict yearly system. For example, when kids turn 7 years of age they are given a front-buttoned jacket. Until that time they were never allowed to wear clothing with buttons at the front. When they turn twelve they are assigned their future career. That's when we meet Jonas, when he is about to go through his (and every other "12-year-old's) Ceremony of Twelve.
As Jonas moves forward on his new assigned job he learns the full truth behind his town, humanity's history, and the high price that was paid in order to achieve Sameness. To a point, the book can be compares to the movie Pleasantville. In fact, the early parts of the story are pretty much in greyscale, and as Jonas moves forward and re-discovers emotions his world begins to turn to Technicolor.
I loved the juxtaposition of what is right versus what is perceived as being right. Definitively a story I would recommend to any book lover. The Giver is a pure science fiction book set on a dystopian world that forces you to evaluate your definition of freedom, how much of it you have and what are you willing to sacrifice in order to either obtain it or keep it.(less)
I bought this book, not with the intention to sit with it and read it from cover to cover one time. No, I bought this book because it was recommended...moreI bought this book, not with the intention to sit with it and read it from cover to cover one time. No, I bought this book because it was recommended to me by one of my English professors and she was spot on.
This book is great as a reference guide. It includes how to apply the styling guidelines by the three most know style entities: APA, MLA and Chicago; plus also shows CSE (which I must admit I just found out about it). In addition, the first part of the book is dedicated to how use grammar properly and how to build your papers.
There is a reference in the first pages to a website with additional (up-to-date) content about these writing styles.
I still plan to buy the original works, that is the APA, MLA and Chicago Manuals, but in the meantime I know this book will save me from those sudden moments when you realize that you have to add a particular citation to your work and you have no idea how to do it.(less)
A paragraph long, single sentence that showcases a conversation (more like a dictatorship) between a mother and her daughter. In this short story -tha...moreA paragraph long, single sentence that showcases a conversation (more like a dictatorship) between a mother and her daughter. In this short story -that takes one full page- the mother is telling her daughter, relentlessly, the correct and incorrect ways to do everything; from house chores, to cooking, to how to take care of men, etc.
Most importantly, the mother keeps telling her daughter how not to be "the slut she is so hell bent on becoming." Even though there is no prove what so ever that the daughter has disrespected her mother or her upbringing in any way. (less)
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