Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 362

Review: CHUMBALINA THE PLUMP PRINCESS by Christopher Holley

I liked how Chumbalina is no ordinary princess, that she doesn’t care about being beautiful or finding a handsome prince; all she wants to be is herself, embracing her individuality. The thing that her “individuality” includes eating nothing but junk food, which concerned me as this might promote gluttony and obesity. Kids do not need to gorge on sweets, and I’m glad the author thought that as well by adding a twist that the eating contest would consist of eating nothing but vegetables.
Again, the illustrations were cute and funny. I’m not too fond of princess stories, but it was alright.
 
My rating: 3 stars

Review: A WORLD WITHOUT WATER by Christopher Holley and Frank Cassuto

Story had a light yet meaningful message about the importance of water. It made it so that the world would be a scare place without it. Nice color schemes and dynamic poses in the illustrations. Humorous; a nice story kids will enjoy.
 
My rating: 4 stars

Review: MAN THE F—K UP by S. Kincaid

This is a funny bedtime story for the gals, especially those who’ve experienced the dating life. 
The phrase “Man the f—k up” is laced throughout the story as one woman relays the pitfalls of her so-called relationship with her slacker boyfriend. You can just feel her frustration mounting with each page as the guy does more stupid things.
Language is rhythmic and poetic, and the illustrations are enjoyable. This book is a Dr. Seuss for the modern woman.

My rating: 4 stars

Review: GLOW-HEAD TELLS ALL by Lee Wilson

The subtitle indicates that these are "tall tales of a typical Maine family," and that is exactly what you get in these stories all narrated by Glow-Head, a perceptive 7-year old.
In "Taters, a Tot, and a Woodchuck," the kid recalls the time his father started a garden.
At the beginning of "It's Beginning to Smell a lot like Christmas," you can see why the kid has a deep fondness for Maine during the holiday season.
Stories were plain and average, but flowered with expressive detail--detail that shed light on an ordinary and seemingly-forgettable town. Of course, I didn't find all the stories particularly interesting. In fact, some were downright monotonous. Yet I couldn't help but appreciate the colorful writing style, like when the "pride and joy garden had come under siege from a stealth adversary." (25) In this example, I could almost see a fumbling Al Bundy trying to get rid of that rascally, furry bandit.
Overall, there were certain parts that I liked and parts that I glazed over. I didn't really enjoy these stories as much as I thought, but I did enjoy the effort behind the stories.
My rating: 2.5 stars    

Review: UNBEAUTIFUL by Jessica Sorensen

Emery

You want to know my secrets? What lies beneath the pretty? The scars I can’t let anyone see? The scars tied to my secrets? 
On the outside I appear normal. Some might even say perfect. 
They say that I’m a pretty girl. They say I should be happy. They say that I have nothing to be angry about. That I’m popular. A cheerleader. That I’m perfect. 
Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. 
But all they see is what’s on the outside. 
On the inside I’m raw, open, bleeding. Scars that can’t seem to heal the wounds. 
Carrying dark secrets about who I really am.
How afraid I am to tell the truth.
And it’s slowly killing me. 

Ryler

Tattoos. Piercing. Scars. The guy who can’t speak. 
Gothic freak. Mute. Punk. I’ve heard it all. 
They say that I’m probably dangerous. They say people should stay away from me. 
They say. They say. They say.
But who are they anyway? 
To decide what I am. 
They don’t know what’s hidden beneath the scars. Beneath the piercings and tattoos. 
The secrets I keep hidden beneath the silence.
Maybe if they knew, they wouldn’t fear me so much. 
Then again, maybe they’d fear me more.


My thoughts: Emery seems to be “too perfect” until she gets home and all hell breaks loose. Those dreams. What are they all about? Is that why she must sleep handcuffed to her bed? Was she a prisoner of madness? 

Ryler is a troubled boy who’s always on the run.
They thing they both want: an escape.
What starts off as intriguing (particularly Emery’s side of the story) soon develops into a complicated haze (particularly with Ryler’s sudden involvement with the feds.) This book really should’ve centered more on Emery (her part was just better.) Besides Emery was the beautiful one, not that gothic mute freak. What I liked best about Emery’s story was how unbeautiful her life really was with her hidden scars and mean parents.
Well-written for the most part, this story, assembled with words of poetic prose, was somewhat monochromatic. It starts off compelling enough, but then it lags with heavy doses of tedium. It was mainly all about obsession: Emery obsessed over her sanity and Ryler obsessed over this mob that was after him. The book was just too long to go on like this. It really should’ve been a novella, especially if this was a prequel to a series.
To be honest, I was more intrigued by the summary than the novel, which was just okay.
My rating: 3 stars

Review: GIRLS IN THE PARK by Jeanine Bradwell

The beginning brings about a heavy nostalgia surrounding four girls in a park, where they were free from home, free to be kids, free to be happy for one fleeing moment.
Years later, the main character, narrator of the story, returns to the same park, realizing how small it now seems compared to when she was younger. And then she wonders about the other girls. Where are they now? How are they? Did they find happiness? So she hires a private investigator and learns the truth. One of them is actually in jail.
The other two girls are the only ones she is able to reunite with. And it’s the reunion that eats up most of the book.
Although short in length, the story felt rather cumbersome and somewhat mechanical. The characters were just going through the “motions” of a standard meet-and-greet. It wasn’t too enlivening and it obviously aims to provoke a disheartening state of nostalgia with deep reverence. However, I felt the story was a tad underdeveloped and that certain parts could’ve been embellished more. Truth be told, I would’ve liked to learn more about the girl in jail.
My rating: 2.5 stars    

Review: THE GOOD LIFE by Jodie Beau

“I was more of a life planner. I didn’t sit by and idly watch life happen to me. I grab the wheel and let me happen to life.” (9)

Roxie is quirky, neurotic, and has a strange obsession with the “high” life. The ode to shoes was bleak and annoying. She is strict about how she wants her life played out, but one thing she didn’t plan was a divorce. What she doesn’t realize is that this was her chance to do the things she’s been sitting around planning. The “good life” is the single life. 
The list was bold, daring, and fun!
“I’m not gonna like you any less if you tell me what’s on your mind. If you ever have something to say, say it. If there’s something you want to know, ask me. If you’re mad about something, tell me. It doesn’t have to be complicated.” (118) Love Jake! He was a straight-up, honest, and caring guy, and what an amazing summer they have!
Funny and witty, The Good Life is a story about letting your hair down and having fun. A sweet, light-hearted romance.
My rating: 4 stars

Review: THE GREEN TICKET by Samantha March

Alex is a smart, driven, independent college junior, who knows what she wants and doesn’t want to live off her big sister forever. You can relate to her strive to make a buck and her ambition for something better.

Specializing in business, Alex treats the whole job hunt with delicate precision, organization, and dedication. You got to admire her fierce professionalism. The only thing that bugged me was that she was way too enthusiastic and chipper. Her friends were the embodiment of the classic drunk, party drones so typical in college life.
Still, you root for Alex all the way. Of course, working in a spa wouldn’t really suit me, but Alex loves it. Too bad the job turns out being more than she can handle. The truth was I think she was too “green”—too young, too naïve—for a management position. Then she soon realizes that the business is cold and dirty. Her boss is a chauvinistic playboy creep that thinks he can get away with a pay-off. What’s a new manager to do?
Alex will get the rancid and bitter taste of the real world, putting a damper to her “marshmallow and lollipop” fantasies. The stress of dealing with a jerk of a boss always berating and belittling her will take its toll. Being overwhelmed and too tired to even eat are things we all can relate to. That’s why I would never take a management position because everything falls on you. Where she works can be described in one word: toxic.
I wish I’d catch my boss having an affair. Of course, I wouldn’t feel comfortable working for him anymore, but I’d definitely take the $10 grand and quit. Screw morals!
Certain parts of the story lagged more than others, and the dialogue was mediocre, but the basis of the story was endearing and inspirational.
My rating: 3.5 stars

Review: 30 DAYS TO 30 by Courtney Psak

“We’re going to have to ask you to seek new employment.” Well, if that ain’t just a snobby kick in the face?

That’s exactly how it all starts off for Jill Stevens, who is just one month away from her 30th birthday. On top of that, she finds her boyfriend has been cheating on her and gets kicked out into the street. As Jill would say, “I guess this is what rock bottom feels like.”
Now back to square one: back to mother’s house. Of course, you’d feel like a failure at this point. But maybe a list is just the thing to get her out of this funk. “Thirty things to do before I’m thirty.” 
Some of the things on her list sounded fun, like skydiving or riding a rollercoaster. Write a book, travel the world, learn another language—all things on mybucket list. Of course, how the heck was she going to complete all this in 30 days?
At first, things don’t go as well as she hoped. Well, do they ever? But with the help of her best friend and an old high school boyfriend, who looks better now than back then, Jill surpasses her fumbling, harebrain attempts and learns to take them in stride, enjoying them and even laughing a little.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. Readers will root for Jill to complete her list, even though that, realistically, it may not be possible. But, like she said, “[the list has] been the only thing keeping [her] going lately.” (103) I especially liked that, for once, Jill is trying out all the things she’s wanted to try but never had the time. Perhaps advice for us all? Certain areas lagged a bit but did not detour from the story.
Ultimately, this is a story of nostalgia and regret and putting a slamming twist to it all. Perhaps we should all make a goal to do something new every day. Full of humor and wit, 30 Days to 30 is a great read for anyone battling a midlife crisis, those seeking confidence, reassurance, and a lost self. It just makes you want to get up, get out there, and do something. Live it up!
My rating: 4 stars

Review: SO...THIS IS AWKWARD by Timothy Tuttlesmith

These are the true stories of one man's "dating faux pas...only some of which he can blame on being English." This sounded mildly compelling.

But "why should you continue to read these ramblings of yet another strange individual talking about how girls are confusing, and how he learned new things about them, and how those things still don't make any sense? Good question. Erm... Well for one there will be some humorous accounts of kinky sex later. Everyone loves humorous accounts of kinky sex, right?" (13) Uh, not really, no.
Like Tuttlesmith indicates, these tales are merely his observations on women and relationships, his explorations and his lessons. It is a dating memoir.
Beginning with bland pleasantries, this book takes you on a strange, confusing ride filled with internet dating, bar hookups, and rowdy sex toys. I would've been better off not hearing about the kinky sex. Seriously...Ewe!
Although I can see the author's attempt at humorous, coarsely inept anecdotes, I couldn't gather any enthusiasm for it. In other words, it didn't turn me on. I just could not get into his story.
 My rating: 2.5 stars