M.L. Sparrow's Blog, page 26
July 30, 2016
Second Nature Promo!
Second Nature, by Lauren Kuzimski
Blurb:Opposite elements, same side…Long ago, the Esscas, a rogue group of elementals, had once dared to challenge the Queens, the self-proclaimed masters of the element realms. The resulting war had decimated the world and the very people. In the end though, the Queens had prevailed and banished the Esscas to the After for all eternity.Fae had shared no alliance with the Esscas, but had felt the ripples of their punishment nonetheless. For their actions, she would never be free. Born a fire elemental herself, Fae had spent every waking moment of her life training to be a guard for her Queen, with no choices in regards to her own fate. It was that or exile herself.Jace, on the other hand, had been born an earth elemental with every choice in the world, yet had been one of those that had taken part in the Esscas. His punishment… eternity in exile, swallowed in regrets…When the Esscas escape, vengeful and angry, and threatening the world once more, Fae and Jace quickly find their fates intertwined. While Fae fights for the chance to taste her freedom, Jace finds a chance to atone for his past mistakes.Only by setting aside their differences, in both elements and loyalties, do they stand any chance to make a change and defeat Jace’s ex-team once more.If only trust was that easy…So, I reviewed this book back in April - you can find my reviewHERE- and one of my points was the uninspiring cover. Since then the author has had the cover redone and it looks amazing!To find out more about this Second Nature or Lauren Kuzimski check out the links below!Amazon Goodreads
Blurb:Opposite elements, same side…Long ago, the Esscas, a rogue group of elementals, had once dared to challenge the Queens, the self-proclaimed masters of the element realms. The resulting war had decimated the world and the very people. In the end though, the Queens had prevailed and banished the Esscas to the After for all eternity.Fae had shared no alliance with the Esscas, but had felt the ripples of their punishment nonetheless. For their actions, she would never be free. Born a fire elemental herself, Fae had spent every waking moment of her life training to be a guard for her Queen, with no choices in regards to her own fate. It was that or exile herself.Jace, on the other hand, had been born an earth elemental with every choice in the world, yet had been one of those that had taken part in the Esscas. His punishment… eternity in exile, swallowed in regrets…When the Esscas escape, vengeful and angry, and threatening the world once more, Fae and Jace quickly find their fates intertwined. While Fae fights for the chance to taste her freedom, Jace finds a chance to atone for his past mistakes.Only by setting aside their differences, in both elements and loyalties, do they stand any chance to make a change and defeat Jace’s ex-team once more.If only trust was that easy…So, I reviewed this book back in April - you can find my reviewHERE- and one of my points was the uninspiring cover. Since then the author has had the cover redone and it looks amazing!To find out more about this Second Nature or Lauren Kuzimski check out the links below!Amazon Goodreads
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne
Blurb:Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance.But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.This book was heartbreaking in its simplicity. The fact that Bruno never knew, or found out, what was going on was so cleverly done and so realistic, because how many children - how many adults even - really understood the hate behind the holocaust. The scene where he was wondering why the people in striped pyjamas were never invited to dinner was so touching. I loved that Bruno was just so blunt in the way that only young children can be and I think John Boyne told this story perfectly; it was so simple, but effective. I'm also impressed that thought this book was written for children, and I imagine it's effective in teaching then the basics of the holocaust, but as an adult reader there were also deeper nuances that I found harrowing.And that ending... So, so blunt.Plus, the last lines of this book were so powerful and thought provoking.My favourite quotes from 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas':'... there was nothing that made him more angry than when a grown-up laughed at him for not knowing something, especially when he was trying to find out the answer by asking questions.'' "She's not just here to do things for us all the time, you know.Especially things that we can do ourselves." '' ... she never stopped to think about the fact thatMaria was a person with feelings just like hers.''... there was no reason to be impolite to someone, even if they worked for you. There was such a thing as manners after all.'' "Don't make it worse by thinking it's more painful than it actually is." ''Just because a man glances up at the sky at night does not make him an astronomer,'' "I don't understand," he said."Few of us do," said Maria. '' "There aren't any good soldiers," ''... there are moments when a brother and sister can lay down their instruments of torture for a moment and speak as civilised human beings...'' "...I can't afford to act like a child even if you can." '' "We don't have any choice," said Father. "This is our assignment and -""No, this is your assignment," said Mother. "Your assignment, not ours. You stay if you want to." ''You wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you're pretending to be.''Of course all this happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again.Not in this day and age.'
Blurb:Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance.But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.This book was heartbreaking in its simplicity. The fact that Bruno never knew, or found out, what was going on was so cleverly done and so realistic, because how many children - how many adults even - really understood the hate behind the holocaust. The scene where he was wondering why the people in striped pyjamas were never invited to dinner was so touching. I loved that Bruno was just so blunt in the way that only young children can be and I think John Boyne told this story perfectly; it was so simple, but effective. I'm also impressed that thought this book was written for children, and I imagine it's effective in teaching then the basics of the holocaust, but as an adult reader there were also deeper nuances that I found harrowing.And that ending... So, so blunt.Plus, the last lines of this book were so powerful and thought provoking.My favourite quotes from 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas':'... there was nothing that made him more angry than when a grown-up laughed at him for not knowing something, especially when he was trying to find out the answer by asking questions.'' "She's not just here to do things for us all the time, you know.Especially things that we can do ourselves." '' ... she never stopped to think about the fact thatMaria was a person with feelings just like hers.''... there was no reason to be impolite to someone, even if they worked for you. There was such a thing as manners after all.'' "Don't make it worse by thinking it's more painful than it actually is." ''Just because a man glances up at the sky at night does not make him an astronomer,'' "I don't understand," he said."Few of us do," said Maria. '' "There aren't any good soldiers," ''... there are moments when a brother and sister can lay down their instruments of torture for a moment and speak as civilised human beings...'' "...I can't afford to act like a child even if you can." '' "We don't have any choice," said Father. "This is our assignment and -""No, this is your assignment," said Mother. "Your assignment, not ours. You stay if you want to." ''You wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you're pretending to be.''Of course all this happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again.Not in this day and age.'
July 29, 2016
Pre-Order Player
Player, (What Happens On Campus Series, Book One), by M L Sparrow (ME!)Pre-Order NOW!On ANY Amazon Site!
Blurb:Let the game begin…After a tragic accident which leaves her tormented by guilt, Chloe Newman accepts a scholarship to study a St. Joseph’s University. Traveling from England to Texas, the last thing she expects is to meet the schools charming quarterback on her first night. However, Parker Mitchell is a player both on and off the field.Parker is immediately fascinated by Chloe and, after a rocky start, they manage to find a way to make their relationship work despite interference from others on campus, including Parkers jealous ex, and the ghosts that haunt Chloe’s conscience. But, the real test comes when they visit Parker’s family over Christmas break and he finds himself being pulled back into their lifestyle...Goodreads Amazon UK Amazon US
Blurb:Let the game begin…After a tragic accident which leaves her tormented by guilt, Chloe Newman accepts a scholarship to study a St. Joseph’s University. Traveling from England to Texas, the last thing she expects is to meet the schools charming quarterback on her first night. However, Parker Mitchell is a player both on and off the field.Parker is immediately fascinated by Chloe and, after a rocky start, they manage to find a way to make their relationship work despite interference from others on campus, including Parkers jealous ex, and the ghosts that haunt Chloe’s conscience. But, the real test comes when they visit Parker’s family over Christmas break and he finds himself being pulled back into their lifestyle...Goodreads Amazon UK Amazon US
July 28, 2016
Summer Shadows
Summer Shadows (Benedicts Series, Book 6), by Joss Stirling
Blurb:Summer lives under a terrible shadow. It drains her, manipulates her and threatens to steal her future.A high-stakes mission offers a temporary escape. She must use her mind-shadowing abilities to hunt down her target and find the truth.Hal Robinson is a soldier. He does not get distracted. He wins. But what Hal wants begins to shift once he meets Summer.They must learn to trust each other if they are going to protect the Savant community. But will their secrets allow them to find a happy ending of their own?I really like this series; I don't think any of the books in this series have disappointed me. Of course, as with any series, there are some I like more than others and Summer Shadows is definitely high on my list of favourites. It's fun and fast-paced and the romance is sweet and simple. At first I thought Summer was going to be a bit to prissy and girly for me to totally like, but she really grew on me and by the end of the book she'd become one of my favourite characters. Her circumstances also added to the reasons I liked her too; I found her family situation intriguing and I found myself sympathising with her from page one. I also liked Hal, even when he was a jerk because I could see the potential! And he didn't disappoint! By the end I may have been half in love with him myself :-)It was also good to see some of the other characters and for Victor to finally get his HEA, though, as one of my favourite characters, I was a bit dissapointed that he didn't get more page time and that we didn't hear anything from his perspective. I also would have like to had heard more from Atoosa's POV. I wish Joss Stirling would do some adult books starring the older Benedicts!Though I know there are no more Benedicts to match up, I'm seriously hoping this is not the end of the series - it didn't feel like the end, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed...My favourite quotes from 'Summer Shadows':"Our job today was to pretend we were OK."" 'Summer hasn't made up her mind yet what she wants to do.'I had but he didn't agree with my decision. The only thing I hadn't made up my mind about was whether I was going to defy him.""I was the Tin Man in reverse, wishing if I only hadn't a heart.""He managed to be rude making an apology for being rude: an impressive skill.""... sometimes doing the right thing felt wrong and the wrong thing right. Neither team could be sure which was which with so many crossed loyalties.""... you will have to learn that relationships aren't made by love at first sight.""We had always looked for ways of avoiding reality it seemed.""I had a soul finder who wasn't ready to be one."" 'Of course you love her. She's Summer. Everyone loves her.''Not like I do,' said Hal."
Blurb:Summer lives under a terrible shadow. It drains her, manipulates her and threatens to steal her future.A high-stakes mission offers a temporary escape. She must use her mind-shadowing abilities to hunt down her target and find the truth.Hal Robinson is a soldier. He does not get distracted. He wins. But what Hal wants begins to shift once he meets Summer.They must learn to trust each other if they are going to protect the Savant community. But will their secrets allow them to find a happy ending of their own?I really like this series; I don't think any of the books in this series have disappointed me. Of course, as with any series, there are some I like more than others and Summer Shadows is definitely high on my list of favourites. It's fun and fast-paced and the romance is sweet and simple. At first I thought Summer was going to be a bit to prissy and girly for me to totally like, but she really grew on me and by the end of the book she'd become one of my favourite characters. Her circumstances also added to the reasons I liked her too; I found her family situation intriguing and I found myself sympathising with her from page one. I also liked Hal, even when he was a jerk because I could see the potential! And he didn't disappoint! By the end I may have been half in love with him myself :-)It was also good to see some of the other characters and for Victor to finally get his HEA, though, as one of my favourite characters, I was a bit dissapointed that he didn't get more page time and that we didn't hear anything from his perspective. I also would have like to had heard more from Atoosa's POV. I wish Joss Stirling would do some adult books starring the older Benedicts!Though I know there are no more Benedicts to match up, I'm seriously hoping this is not the end of the series - it didn't feel like the end, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed...My favourite quotes from 'Summer Shadows':"Our job today was to pretend we were OK."" 'Summer hasn't made up her mind yet what she wants to do.'I had but he didn't agree with my decision. The only thing I hadn't made up my mind about was whether I was going to defy him.""I was the Tin Man in reverse, wishing if I only hadn't a heart.""He managed to be rude making an apology for being rude: an impressive skill.""... sometimes doing the right thing felt wrong and the wrong thing right. Neither team could be sure which was which with so many crossed loyalties.""... you will have to learn that relationships aren't made by love at first sight.""We had always looked for ways of avoiding reality it seemed.""I had a soul finder who wasn't ready to be one."" 'Of course you love her. She's Summer. Everyone loves her.''Not like I do,' said Hal."
Frankenstein
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
Blurb:At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.
Frankly, I found this book seriously boring and found myself sympathising more with the monster than with Frankenstein, who, quite honestly, annoyed me to no end. He was always resolving to do things and then not doing them and he seemed to think he was some hapless victim when he started it all - if not by creating the creature, then by abandoning it, which essential set it on the path to violence. I actually felt really sorry for the creature and I wished someone would show him a scrap of kindness, even just once, and I can almost understand why he lashed out.The nature versus nurture theme intrigued me, as did the warnings about the advances in science and knowledge. Also, I was deeply impressed to learn that Mary Shelley was only 18/19 when she wrote this book - it is a very sophisticated piece of work for someone who was still a teenager. However, I just couldn't get past my intense dislike of the main character to really enjoy it.All in all, I found it all very long winded and not at all scary, plus Frankenstein just pissed me off with his whole woe-is-me act.My favourite quotes from 'Frankenstein':" 'I have a pretty present for my Victor - tomorrow he shall have it.' And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine - mine to protect, love, and cherish.""... how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.""... now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.""... all judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer, than that one guilty should escape.""I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend.""I required kindness and sympathy; but I did not believe myself utterly unworthy of it.""All, save I, were at rest or in enjoyment: I, like the arch-fiend, bore a hell within me; and, finding myself unsympathised with, wished to tear up the trees, spread havoc and destruction around me, and then to have sat down and enjoyed the ruin.""I am malicious because I am miserable.""... if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear""Our lives will not be happy, but they will be harmless.""Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.""Even where the affections are not strongly moved by any superior excellence, the companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds which hardly any later friend can obtain.""... the fallen angel becomes a malignant devil.""For while I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own desires.""Am I to be thought the only criminal when all human kind sinned against me?"
Blurb:At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.Frankly, I found this book seriously boring and found myself sympathising more with the monster than with Frankenstein, who, quite honestly, annoyed me to no end. He was always resolving to do things and then not doing them and he seemed to think he was some hapless victim when he started it all - if not by creating the creature, then by abandoning it, which essential set it on the path to violence. I actually felt really sorry for the creature and I wished someone would show him a scrap of kindness, even just once, and I can almost understand why he lashed out.The nature versus nurture theme intrigued me, as did the warnings about the advances in science and knowledge. Also, I was deeply impressed to learn that Mary Shelley was only 18/19 when she wrote this book - it is a very sophisticated piece of work for someone who was still a teenager. However, I just couldn't get past my intense dislike of the main character to really enjoy it.All in all, I found it all very long winded and not at all scary, plus Frankenstein just pissed me off with his whole woe-is-me act.My favourite quotes from 'Frankenstein':" 'I have a pretty present for my Victor - tomorrow he shall have it.' And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally, and looked upon Elizabeth as mine - mine to protect, love, and cherish.""... how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.""... now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.""... all judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer, than that one guilty should escape.""I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend.""I required kindness and sympathy; but I did not believe myself utterly unworthy of it.""All, save I, were at rest or in enjoyment: I, like the arch-fiend, bore a hell within me; and, finding myself unsympathised with, wished to tear up the trees, spread havoc and destruction around me, and then to have sat down and enjoyed the ruin.""I am malicious because I am miserable.""... if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear""Our lives will not be happy, but they will be harmless.""Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.""Even where the affections are not strongly moved by any superior excellence, the companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds which hardly any later friend can obtain.""... the fallen angel becomes a malignant devil.""For while I destroyed his hopes, I did not satisfy my own desires.""Am I to be thought the only criminal when all human kind sinned against me?"
July 26, 2016
Rock Wedding
Rock Wedding, (Rock Kiss, Book 4), by Nalini Singh
Blurb:After a lifetime of longing for a real family, Sarah Smith thought she’d finally found her home with rock star Abe Bellamy, even if she knew Abe didn’t love her the way she loved him. But their brief relationship, filled with tragedy and heartache, nearly destroyed her. Alone, emotions in turmoil, and already shaky self-esteem shattered, Sarah struggles to pick up the pieces in the wake of their divorce.Abe knows he’s to blame for the end of his marriage. Caught in a web of painful memories, he pushed away the best thing in his life – the sexy, smart woman he adores – breaking them both in the process. Then fate throws him a second chance to get things right, to prove to Sarah that she means everything to him. Abe desperately wants that second chance at love...even if he knows he doesn’t deserve it.But can he convince Sarah – now strong and independent without him – to risk her wounded heart one more time?Nothing can beat Rock Kiss, the first book in this series, but Rock Wedding came pretty damn close. It was a brilliantly emotional read and I really liked Sarah - after I thought I wouldn't, since her character always seemed quite bland in the other books. I just couldn't put the two sides of Abe together in my head and I was moved by Sarah's plight and her worries about whether he had really changed.All of Nalini Singh's books are beautifully written, so there are no quibbles there, but the one thing that bothered me a little was that I felt like it should be leading up to something. Kit had a stalker, Molly and Fox had a sex scandal... so I just kept waiting for something big and climactic to happen near the end - perhaps her ex turning up - but it never did. It didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story, it was great either way, it was just that I was expecting it!Also, I'm so, so happy that this series won't be ending completely, since there will be a spin-off featuring Gabriel's brothers, which I had been secretly hoping for!My favourite quotes from 'Rock Wedding':'She'd never known it was possible to be lonely in a marriage until she'd met Abe, married the man she loved beyond life.''A woman who knew she wasn't loved could never quite settle in.''... if the husband she adored thought she was nothing but a gold digger, useful only for spreading her legs and being an ornament, then she might as well live up to that expectation.''If she couldn't reach his heart, she'd hurt his wallet.''Jeremy Vance had rescued a broken bird, expecting her to stay broken.''When she'd first seen them, the bouquet had turned her mushy for a little bit - until she'd reminded herself that Abe was her ex for a reason.'' "I can remember who Jeremy once was to me without forgetting who he became." ''He was always there. Until Sarah no longer expected him not to be.'
Blurb:After a lifetime of longing for a real family, Sarah Smith thought she’d finally found her home with rock star Abe Bellamy, even if she knew Abe didn’t love her the way she loved him. But their brief relationship, filled with tragedy and heartache, nearly destroyed her. Alone, emotions in turmoil, and already shaky self-esteem shattered, Sarah struggles to pick up the pieces in the wake of their divorce.Abe knows he’s to blame for the end of his marriage. Caught in a web of painful memories, he pushed away the best thing in his life – the sexy, smart woman he adores – breaking them both in the process. Then fate throws him a second chance to get things right, to prove to Sarah that she means everything to him. Abe desperately wants that second chance at love...even if he knows he doesn’t deserve it.But can he convince Sarah – now strong and independent without him – to risk her wounded heart one more time?Nothing can beat Rock Kiss, the first book in this series, but Rock Wedding came pretty damn close. It was a brilliantly emotional read and I really liked Sarah - after I thought I wouldn't, since her character always seemed quite bland in the other books. I just couldn't put the two sides of Abe together in my head and I was moved by Sarah's plight and her worries about whether he had really changed.All of Nalini Singh's books are beautifully written, so there are no quibbles there, but the one thing that bothered me a little was that I felt like it should be leading up to something. Kit had a stalker, Molly and Fox had a sex scandal... so I just kept waiting for something big and climactic to happen near the end - perhaps her ex turning up - but it never did. It didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story, it was great either way, it was just that I was expecting it!Also, I'm so, so happy that this series won't be ending completely, since there will be a spin-off featuring Gabriel's brothers, which I had been secretly hoping for!My favourite quotes from 'Rock Wedding':'She'd never known it was possible to be lonely in a marriage until she'd met Abe, married the man she loved beyond life.''A woman who knew she wasn't loved could never quite settle in.''... if the husband she adored thought she was nothing but a gold digger, useful only for spreading her legs and being an ornament, then she might as well live up to that expectation.''If she couldn't reach his heart, she'd hurt his wallet.''Jeremy Vance had rescued a broken bird, expecting her to stay broken.''When she'd first seen them, the bouquet had turned her mushy for a little bit - until she'd reminded herself that Abe was her ex for a reason.'' "I can remember who Jeremy once was to me without forgetting who he became." ''He was always there. Until Sarah no longer expected him not to be.'
July 25, 2016
Feel Me Break
Feel Me Break, by Tara R
Blurb:Chloe Reed and Nick Grayson couldn’t have more different lives. Where Chloe had a bleak future and was trying to deal with a loss that had left a hole in her heart, Nick was a happy-go-lucky guy, leading a carefree life with a path set.Until one fateful night, they met and everything changed. The night that gave Chloe hope for the future, left Nick scarred for life. Was their meeting a one-off tryst or was their story just beginning?This book has some really good reviews, but I didn't really get along with it, so I'll make my review quick. My main problem was the style of writing, it felt wooded and at times clumsy, instead of flowing like it should. It was also very cliched; in itself that's not necessarily a bad thing if done well, but I didn't really feel connected to the characters at all. Perhaps the latter is because the story is so short, which is another thing I don't understand; basically this novella is the first few chapters of the full length novel Watch Me Rise, so why not just put it at the beginning of the actual novel?My favourite quotes for 'Feel Me Break':'The more emotions you show people, the more insane you'll go.''I feel like letting go. But I can't let go. Because everyone else did.'' "Closure doesn't always mean forgiveness," she says as though reading my thoughts. "Sometimes closure just means telling the other person where they can shove it." ''Ian is a memory that should be honoured, not probed.'
Blurb:Chloe Reed and Nick Grayson couldn’t have more different lives. Where Chloe had a bleak future and was trying to deal with a loss that had left a hole in her heart, Nick was a happy-go-lucky guy, leading a carefree life with a path set.Until one fateful night, they met and everything changed. The night that gave Chloe hope for the future, left Nick scarred for life. Was their meeting a one-off tryst or was their story just beginning?This book has some really good reviews, but I didn't really get along with it, so I'll make my review quick. My main problem was the style of writing, it felt wooded and at times clumsy, instead of flowing like it should. It was also very cliched; in itself that's not necessarily a bad thing if done well, but I didn't really feel connected to the characters at all. Perhaps the latter is because the story is so short, which is another thing I don't understand; basically this novella is the first few chapters of the full length novel Watch Me Rise, so why not just put it at the beginning of the actual novel?My favourite quotes for 'Feel Me Break':'The more emotions you show people, the more insane you'll go.''I feel like letting go. But I can't let go. Because everyone else did.'' "Closure doesn't always mean forgiveness," she says as though reading my thoughts. "Sometimes closure just means telling the other person where they can shove it." ''Ian is a memory that should be honoured, not probed.'
July 24, 2016
Tracks
Tracks, by Robyn Davidson
Blurb:Robyn Davidson's opens the memoir of her perilous journey across 1,700 miles of hostile Australian desert to the sea with only four camels and a dog for company with the following words: “I experienced that sinking feeling you get when you know you have conned yourself into doing something difficult and there's no going back."Enduring sweltering heat, fending off poisonous snakes and lecherous men, chasing her camels when they get skittish and nursing them when they are injured, Davidson emerges as an extraordinarily courageous heroine driven by a love of Australia's landscape, an empathy for its indigenous people, and a willingness to cast away the trappings of her former identity. Tracks is the compelling, candid story of her odyssey of discovery and transformation.I always enjoy true stories and what makes this even better is that it's actually written by the person who had he adventure, instead of someone they hired to write it to make them look good. It was well written and brutally honest when it came to the fact that she was sometimes less than gentle with her animals, though she loved them, that much was obvious. Despite being so honest though, I felt a certain detachment from Robyn, but then it seemed as if she didn't even know herself, so how was the reader supposed to get to know her?Her journey was amazing and inspiring. She even made me feel fond towards the camels, a creature I've never really been endeared to. The people she met were just as amazing as her journey; I loved Eddie and the way he acted like a protective father! Diggity was also really adorable and I felt genuinely moved at the end.Finally, I liked the pictures, though I would have liked more and would have preferred them to be interspersed throughout the text, not all in the middle.This book made me want to go and have my own adventure!My favourite quotes from 'Tracks':'I came to realise that you can understand and excuse until there is nothing left to hate.''It's important that we leave each other and the comfort of it, and circle away, even though it's hard sometimes, so that we can come back and swap information about what we've learnt even if what we do changes us and we risk not recognising each other when we return.''I believe the subconscious always knows what is best. It is our conditioned, vastly overrated rational mind which screws everything up.''How animals ever forgive us for what we do to them, I will never understand.''When you are used to being the queen, it is hard to consider democracy replacing lone rule.''I was soon to discover that the method know as trial and error was a vastly overrated way of learning to do something.''... if you weren't part of the solution, you were part of the problem.''Camels, so everyone says, are tough, hardy creatures, but perhaps mine were so pampered that they had turned into hypochondriacs;''If there is sexism amongst Aborigines today; it is because they have learnt well from their conquerors.''The land was not wild but tame, bountiful, benign, giving, as long as you knew how to see it, how to be part of it.''Capacity for survival may be the ability to be changed by environment.''I had learnt what love was. That love wanted the best possible for those you cared for even if that excluded yourself. That before, I had wanted to possess people without loving them, and now I could love them and wish them the best without needing them.''When I look back I marvel at myself. At what makes me instantly apologetic to people I have stood up to when they have been prepared to walk all over me.'
Blurb:Robyn Davidson's opens the memoir of her perilous journey across 1,700 miles of hostile Australian desert to the sea with only four camels and a dog for company with the following words: “I experienced that sinking feeling you get when you know you have conned yourself into doing something difficult and there's no going back."Enduring sweltering heat, fending off poisonous snakes and lecherous men, chasing her camels when they get skittish and nursing them when they are injured, Davidson emerges as an extraordinarily courageous heroine driven by a love of Australia's landscape, an empathy for its indigenous people, and a willingness to cast away the trappings of her former identity. Tracks is the compelling, candid story of her odyssey of discovery and transformation.I always enjoy true stories and what makes this even better is that it's actually written by the person who had he adventure, instead of someone they hired to write it to make them look good. It was well written and brutally honest when it came to the fact that she was sometimes less than gentle with her animals, though she loved them, that much was obvious. Despite being so honest though, I felt a certain detachment from Robyn, but then it seemed as if she didn't even know herself, so how was the reader supposed to get to know her?Her journey was amazing and inspiring. She even made me feel fond towards the camels, a creature I've never really been endeared to. The people she met were just as amazing as her journey; I loved Eddie and the way he acted like a protective father! Diggity was also really adorable and I felt genuinely moved at the end.Finally, I liked the pictures, though I would have liked more and would have preferred them to be interspersed throughout the text, not all in the middle.This book made me want to go and have my own adventure!My favourite quotes from 'Tracks':'I came to realise that you can understand and excuse until there is nothing left to hate.''It's important that we leave each other and the comfort of it, and circle away, even though it's hard sometimes, so that we can come back and swap information about what we've learnt even if what we do changes us and we risk not recognising each other when we return.''I believe the subconscious always knows what is best. It is our conditioned, vastly overrated rational mind which screws everything up.''How animals ever forgive us for what we do to them, I will never understand.''When you are used to being the queen, it is hard to consider democracy replacing lone rule.''I was soon to discover that the method know as trial and error was a vastly overrated way of learning to do something.''... if you weren't part of the solution, you were part of the problem.''Camels, so everyone says, are tough, hardy creatures, but perhaps mine were so pampered that they had turned into hypochondriacs;''If there is sexism amongst Aborigines today; it is because they have learnt well from their conquerors.''The land was not wild but tame, bountiful, benign, giving, as long as you knew how to see it, how to be part of it.''Capacity for survival may be the ability to be changed by environment.''I had learnt what love was. That love wanted the best possible for those you cared for even if that excluded yourself. That before, I had wanted to possess people without loving them, and now I could love them and wish them the best without needing them.''When I look back I marvel at myself. At what makes me instantly apologetic to people I have stood up to when they have been prepared to walk all over me.'
July 23, 2016
Damned
Damned, (Damned, Book 1), by Chuck Palahniuk
Blurb:'Are you there, Satan? It's me, Madison'Meet Madison, whip-tongued daughter of a narcissistic film star and a billionaire, abandoned at a Swiss boarding school over Christmas while her parents are off adopting more orphans. Madison dies of a marijuana overdose and awakes to find herself in Hell, sharing her cell with a motley crew of young sinners that's almost too good to be true.I loved this book! I have to say I was apprehensive at first, having recently read Fight Club and not being too impressed, but this book had a totally different style. It was sarcastic, blunt and humorous, but though it was so different you could still detect that it was the author because of the fact that certain things are repeated, giving it a rhythm like a poem at times. The character were brilliant and I liked that it echoed The Breakfast Club, which she talks about sometimes; Archer was my favourite! Madison was also a great main character; she was just so real - though she rarely sounded like a 13 year old - and I liked the 'Dear Satan' bits at the beginning of the chapters.Unrelating to the actual story, but I also liked the way the first letter of every chapter was styled; things like that always add to the visual appeal of a book.I don't think there was anything I didn't like about this book and I can't wait to get stuck into the sequel.My favourite quotes from 'Damned':'I may be me - but at least I have the good sense not to be YOU.'" ... what makes earth feel like Hell is our expectation that it should feel like Heaven. Earth is earth.''They told me that nothing was a sin, just a poor life choice.''It's one thing for my parents to behave all secular humanist and gamble with their eternal souls: however, it's altogether not all right that they also gamble with mine: They placed their bets with such self-righteous bravado, but I'm the one who lost.''I'm not so desperate for attention that I feel compelled to share my most intimate, inner blah, blah, blah.'' "I can't believe there is no wifi in Hell..." ''The dark forces of evil really did plant those dinosaur bones and fake fossil recordist mislead mankind. Evolution was hokum, and we fell for it hook, line, and sinker.''Do people go to Heaven because they acted good? Or do they go to Heaven because it's predestined... because they are good?''Is God a racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic ass? Or is God testing to see if I am?''... most people have children just as their own enthusiasm about life begins to wane.''You've got to pace yourself and not forget to slow down. No job is forever. So relax and have some fun.''Jane's just ink stamped on a page, but she really, truly thinks she's a living-alive person. She's convinced she has free will.''Unpleasant as death might seem, the upright that you only suffer it once. Subsequent to that, the sting is gone. The memory might be enormously traumatic, but that's all it is: a memory. You won't be asked to preform an encore. Unless, just possibly, you're a Hindu.''... what makes life feel like Hell is our expectation that it should last forever. Life is short. Dead is forever.''I'm not certain in what I believe. Far be it from me to pledge my faith to any belief system when, at this point, it would seem that I've been wrong about everything I've ever felt was real.'' "Death is a long process," Archer says. "Your body is just the first part of you that croaks." Meaning: Beyond that, your dreams have to die. Then your expectations. And your anger about investing a lifetime in learning shit and loving people and earning money, only to have all that crap come to basically nothing. Really, your physical body dying is the easy part. Beyond that, your memories must die. And your ego. Your pride and shame and ambition and hope, all that Personal Identity Crap can take centuries to expire.''As the child outlives the father, so must the character bury the author.''It's obsequious little nicety-nice girls like me who allow assholes to run the world.'
Blurb:'Are you there, Satan? It's me, Madison'Meet Madison, whip-tongued daughter of a narcissistic film star and a billionaire, abandoned at a Swiss boarding school over Christmas while her parents are off adopting more orphans. Madison dies of a marijuana overdose and awakes to find herself in Hell, sharing her cell with a motley crew of young sinners that's almost too good to be true.I loved this book! I have to say I was apprehensive at first, having recently read Fight Club and not being too impressed, but this book had a totally different style. It was sarcastic, blunt and humorous, but though it was so different you could still detect that it was the author because of the fact that certain things are repeated, giving it a rhythm like a poem at times. The character were brilliant and I liked that it echoed The Breakfast Club, which she talks about sometimes; Archer was my favourite! Madison was also a great main character; she was just so real - though she rarely sounded like a 13 year old - and I liked the 'Dear Satan' bits at the beginning of the chapters.Unrelating to the actual story, but I also liked the way the first letter of every chapter was styled; things like that always add to the visual appeal of a book.I don't think there was anything I didn't like about this book and I can't wait to get stuck into the sequel.My favourite quotes from 'Damned':'I may be me - but at least I have the good sense not to be YOU.'" ... what makes earth feel like Hell is our expectation that it should feel like Heaven. Earth is earth.''They told me that nothing was a sin, just a poor life choice.''It's one thing for my parents to behave all secular humanist and gamble with their eternal souls: however, it's altogether not all right that they also gamble with mine: They placed their bets with such self-righteous bravado, but I'm the one who lost.''I'm not so desperate for attention that I feel compelled to share my most intimate, inner blah, blah, blah.'' "I can't believe there is no wifi in Hell..." ''The dark forces of evil really did plant those dinosaur bones and fake fossil recordist mislead mankind. Evolution was hokum, and we fell for it hook, line, and sinker.''Do people go to Heaven because they acted good? Or do they go to Heaven because it's predestined... because they are good?''Is God a racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic ass? Or is God testing to see if I am?''... most people have children just as their own enthusiasm about life begins to wane.''You've got to pace yourself and not forget to slow down. No job is forever. So relax and have some fun.''Jane's just ink stamped on a page, but she really, truly thinks she's a living-alive person. She's convinced she has free will.''Unpleasant as death might seem, the upright that you only suffer it once. Subsequent to that, the sting is gone. The memory might be enormously traumatic, but that's all it is: a memory. You won't be asked to preform an encore. Unless, just possibly, you're a Hindu.''... what makes life feel like Hell is our expectation that it should last forever. Life is short. Dead is forever.''I'm not certain in what I believe. Far be it from me to pledge my faith to any belief system when, at this point, it would seem that I've been wrong about everything I've ever felt was real.'' "Death is a long process," Archer says. "Your body is just the first part of you that croaks." Meaning: Beyond that, your dreams have to die. Then your expectations. And your anger about investing a lifetime in learning shit and loving people and earning money, only to have all that crap come to basically nothing. Really, your physical body dying is the easy part. Beyond that, your memories must die. And your ego. Your pride and shame and ambition and hope, all that Personal Identity Crap can take centuries to expire.''As the child outlives the father, so must the character bury the author.''It's obsequious little nicety-nice girls like me who allow assholes to run the world.'
July 22, 2016
Rose and Steel
Rose and Steel, by Sharon L. Higa
Blurb:A one month old baby found in a yacht floating off the coast of Catalina Island, alone and wrapped in burlap. Five other one month old infants found in just as strange circumstances. What do they have in common and what brings them together?Shane Rose and Jason Range – best friends since childhood and into college - form a unique investigation agency, with the help of ‘others’ who are like Shane. Their supernatural ‘talents’ are what pulls this group of seven young people together as a universal force in the ongoing battle of good vs. evil, and forms the agency of ‘Searchers, Inc.’ Working with the local police authorities and eventually the FBI, Shane and his Crew end up being pulled into a case of large proportions – helping to locate and break up an international ring of human traffickers specializing in children. This is further complicated when they find out that the latest children to be taken, twin girls, are gifted like them and can actually tip the balance of good and evil if they are not rescued as well. Soon it becomes a race against time to get to the children before they are swept out of reach and into an uncertain and ugly future.At the beginning, I'll be honest, I didn't know where it was going, but once I got into the story it was fun and interesting. The idea of where they came from and why was very intriguing, as were the gift which the people in the group possess. I loved the interaction between the character and I liked how they all seemed to complement each other. I have to say my favourite was Travis - he was so cute! - and the fact that Monica called his 'Baby Boy' was adorable! The one thing I will say though is, because there were so many characters, it sometimes felt like things were just constantly being listed as the author tried to let us know where everyone was and what they were doing.This was the first book in what I assume will be a new series and I'm sure the other books will be action packed, like the latter half of this book!My favourite quotes from 'Rose and Steel':'For every human born without a soul, without a conscience, with the unquestioningly misguided belief that they are entitled to do whatever harm or evil they wish to do to others on this planet, one of you is born.'' " ... 'Caution' is my middle name, remember?"There was a pause at the other end then Ray casually remarked "Why Shane, I don't believe we ever gave you a middle name, did we?" '' "Do you really think you scare me at all, Shane?""Oh not yet," I calmly replied, "But the night's still young, right?" 'I asked him how Monica was. He chuckled. "She's fine. Pissed offshoot she's going to have a 'scar' above her bikini line but otherwise good." '
Blurb:A one month old baby found in a yacht floating off the coast of Catalina Island, alone and wrapped in burlap. Five other one month old infants found in just as strange circumstances. What do they have in common and what brings them together?Shane Rose and Jason Range – best friends since childhood and into college - form a unique investigation agency, with the help of ‘others’ who are like Shane. Their supernatural ‘talents’ are what pulls this group of seven young people together as a universal force in the ongoing battle of good vs. evil, and forms the agency of ‘Searchers, Inc.’ Working with the local police authorities and eventually the FBI, Shane and his Crew end up being pulled into a case of large proportions – helping to locate and break up an international ring of human traffickers specializing in children. This is further complicated when they find out that the latest children to be taken, twin girls, are gifted like them and can actually tip the balance of good and evil if they are not rescued as well. Soon it becomes a race against time to get to the children before they are swept out of reach and into an uncertain and ugly future.At the beginning, I'll be honest, I didn't know where it was going, but once I got into the story it was fun and interesting. The idea of where they came from and why was very intriguing, as were the gift which the people in the group possess. I loved the interaction between the character and I liked how they all seemed to complement each other. I have to say my favourite was Travis - he was so cute! - and the fact that Monica called his 'Baby Boy' was adorable! The one thing I will say though is, because there were so many characters, it sometimes felt like things were just constantly being listed as the author tried to let us know where everyone was and what they were doing.This was the first book in what I assume will be a new series and I'm sure the other books will be action packed, like the latter half of this book!My favourite quotes from 'Rose and Steel':'For every human born without a soul, without a conscience, with the unquestioningly misguided belief that they are entitled to do whatever harm or evil they wish to do to others on this planet, one of you is born.'' " ... 'Caution' is my middle name, remember?"There was a pause at the other end then Ray casually remarked "Why Shane, I don't believe we ever gave you a middle name, did we?" '' "Do you really think you scare me at all, Shane?""Oh not yet," I calmly replied, "But the night's still young, right?" 'I asked him how Monica was. He chuckled. "She's fine. Pissed offshoot she's going to have a 'scar' above her bikini line but otherwise good." '
