Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 85

Book Review: I AM MALALA by Malala Yousafzai

I AM MALALA
Malala Yousafzai & Christian Lamb
Little, Brown & Co.
Non-fiction

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she became a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize
.
I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.
I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

MY REVIEW:

I, like just about everyone else in the world, knew who Malala was. She was the Pakastani girl who got shot by the Taliban because she believed in education for girls in a country where women were expected to stay home and cook and clean for their husband, wear burkas in public, and were discouraged from pursuing an education. I thought I knew Malala.

Malala's memoir about growing up in Pakistan, the daughter of a man who envisioned all girls going to school and who owned a school just for girls, has been one of the most eye-opening books I've read in years. I thought I understood the culture of the Middle East. I thought I understood the Taliban. I thought I understood Islam. Malala's story changed my entire perception of everything.

From a young age, she became a bold, vocal public spokesperson on behalf of the right of girls to attend school. While the world only came to know her after she was shot and later won the Nobel Peace Prize, her country had known her for many years. And yet she was a normal teenage girl who did well in school and had fun with her friends. The day the Taliban targeted her changed her life, and possibly the world, forever.

Loved this book. I recommend it to everyone from 10 years and up.



CONTENT RATING:

Sexuality: None
Violence: Moderate
Profanity: None

Book Review: IN SUCH GOOD COMPANY by Carol Burnett

IN SUCH GOOD COMPANY
Carol Burnett
Crown/Archetype
Memoir

Who but Carol Burnett herself has the timing, talent, and wit to pull back the curtain on the Emmy-Award winning show that made television history for eleven glorious seasons?

In Such Good Company delves into little-known stories of the guests, sketches and antics that made the show legendary, as well as some favorite tales too good not to relive again. Carol lays it all out for us, from the show’s original conception to its evolution into one of the most beloved primetime programs of its generation.

Written with all the charm and humor fans expect from a masterful entertainer like Carol Burnett, In Such Good Company skillfully highlights the elements that made the show so successful in a competitive period when TV variety shows ruled the air waves. Putting the spotlight on everyone from her talented costars to her amazing guest stars—the most celebrated and popular entertainers of their day—Carol crafts a lively portrait of the talent and creativity that went into every episode.

MY REVIEW:

I grew up watching The Carol Burnett Show and loving every sketch in every episode. Who can forget the iconic "Went with the Wind" and Carol's hilarious dress made from drapes, curtain rod and all?

When I saw Burnett's latest book, where she reminisces about all eleven years of her show, I couldn't resist. It was even more delightful because Carol narrates the audio book herself. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her comments about each of the show's cast members and guest stars. I also loved listening her retell many of her classic sketches and movie parodies.

For anyone who loves Carol Burnett and who has fond memories of those years with her, you will love this book.

Book Review: SANCTUARY by Jennifer McKissack

SANCTUARY
Jennifer McKissack
Scholastic, Inc.
12 - 17 years

After the untimely death of her aunt Laura, Cecilia Cross is forced to return to Sanctuary, a rambling, old French-Gothic mansion that crowns a remote island off the coast of Maine. Cecilia is both drawn to and repulsed by Sanctuary. The scent of the ocean intoxicates her, but she's also haunted by the ghosts of her past -- of her father who died at Sanctuary five years ago, and of her mother who was committed soon after. The memories leave Cecilia feeling shaken, desperate to run away and forget her terrible family history.

But then a mysterious guest arrives at Sanctuary: Eli Bauer, a professor sent to examine Sanctuary's library. Cecilia is intrigued by this strange young man who seems so interested in her -- even more interested in her than in the books he is meant to be studying. Who is he and what does he want? Can Cecilia possibly trust her growing feelings for him? And can he help her make peace with her haunted, tragic past?

MY REVIEW:

I read SANCTUARY in a week. It was billed by McKissack's agent as being in the tradition of Daphne du Marier's REBECCA. I like gothic tales, and REBECCA was one of my favorite books in high school, so I picked up SANCTUARY.

It has all the elements needed for a good ghost story: a haunted house, a creepy cemetery, an isolated island, unexplained deaths, romance, insanity, and of course, a ghost.

While I wouldn't say SANCTUARY is all that distinctive, I did enjoy it very much. The main character was plucky and courageous and her romantic interest (almost a little too) perfectly romantic. While the ending came too abruptly for me, I felt compelled to keep turning pages, curiosity driving me onward. The story took kind of an odd, unexpected turn near the end, but it worked.

Overall, SANCTUARY is a perfect Halloween read.

Other books in this genre that I've enjoyed include:

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson (arguably the best haunted house book ever!)
THE SHINING by Stephen King
SLADE HOUSE by David Mitchell
ASYLUM by Madeleine Roux
THE TAXIDERMIST'S DAUGHTER by Kate Mosse
HYSTERIA by Megan Miranda
WINTER GHOSTS by Kate Mosse



CONTENT RATING:

Sexuality: Mild
Profanity: None
Violence: Moderate

Book Review: MISERY by Stephen King

MISERY
Stephen King
Scribner



Bestselling novelist Paul Sheldon thinks he’s finally free of Misery Chastain. In a controversial career move, he’s just killed off the popular protagonist of his beloved romance series in favor of expanding his creative horizons. But such change doesn’t come without consequences. After a near-fatal car accident in rural Colorado leaves his body broken, Paul finds himself at the mercy of the terrifying rescuer who’s nursing him back to health—his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes. Annie is very upset over what Paul did to Misery, and demands that he find a way to bring her back by writing a new novel—his best yet, and one that’s all for her. After all, Paul has all the time in the world to do so as a prisoner in her isolated house...and Annie has some very persuasive and violent methods to get exactly what she wants...

MY REVIEW

MISERY by Stephen King was first published in 1987. And everyone knows about this story, right? If not from the book, then from the 1990 film starring Kathy Bates. So why bother posting a review here?

Believe or not, until I picked up a copy of MISERY a few months back, I had never read a Stephen King novel. I know. Shocking. But he is the master of horror and suspense, and over the past couple of years I've been writing a horror novel of my own and I really wanted to know what makes King so great. What is it about his writing that has elicited such fierce loyalty from millions of fans the world over, loyalty that has lasted for decades and more publications than I care to count? What is his secret?


So, what did I learn...

I learned that King deserves all the accolades he gets. Every single one of them. I learned that he hooks readers not by surprising them, but by telling them up front what horrible things are going to happen and then dragging out every agonizing moment, making us wait for it!

MISERY is a masterpiece! I could not put it down. Loved every page. It was deliciously terrifying and gruesome. I could totally read it all over again. I did make the mistake of actually watching the film once I'd finished the book. What a disappointment. Yes, Kathy Bates is amazing as Annie Wilkes, the crazed, serial killer nurse, but why the heck did the movie makers NOT go all the way? I mean, there are so many gory, terrifying moments in the book that would have been amazing on screen! Having never seen the movie before, I really expected to see them. Can't say them here in case you haven't read the book yet. But instead showing what Annie does in the book, which is so over the top and insane, the movie played it safe. Annie breaks the guy's feet. She shoots the cop. If you've seen the movie but haven't read the book, for heaven sake, read the dang thing! You'll never be the same again!

One of the best books I've read in a long time. Not since the HANNIBAL LECTER series have I enjoyed death and torture so much.


CONTENT REVIEW:

Profanity:  High
Sexuality:  Low
Violence:  Extremely High

Book Review: THE HAMILTON AFFAIR by Elizabeth Cobbs

THE HAMILTON AFFAIR
Elizabeth Cobbs
Arcade Publishing
Audio Recording

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the American Revolution, and featuring a cast of legendary characters, The Hamilton Affair tells the sweeping, tumultuous, true story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, from passionate and tender beginnings to his fateful duel on the banks of the Hudson River.

Hamilton was a bastard and orphan, raised in the Caribbean and desperate for legitimacy, who became one of the American Revolution’s most dashing—and improbable—heroes. Admired by George Washington, scorned by Thomas Jefferson, Hamilton was a lightning rod: the most controversial leader of the new nation. Elizabeth was the wealthy, beautiful, adventurous daughter of the respectable Schuyler clan—and a pioneering advocate for women. Together, the unlikely couple braved the dangers of war, the perils of seduction, the anguish of infidelity, and the scourge of partisanship that menaced their family and the country itself.

MY REVIEW:

I recently became enamored by the Tony Award winning musical HAMILTON. Shortly thereafter, I was browsing for audio books in Barnes & Noble and spotted Elizabeth Cobbs' historical novel, THE HAMILTON AFFAIR. I knew very little about our nation's founding father, Alexander Hamilton, other than he was shot and killed in a duel with Aaron Burr. So I figured, why not?

I learned a lot about Hamilton from this book. I also learned a great deal more about the early years of our great nation, The United States of America, and the political turmoil that existed even then. By the end of the book, I had grown to respect the man Hamilton and his contributions to democracy and our single united country, which may have become something very different if not for him and several other prominent early leaders.

As a novel itself, however, THE HAMILTON AFFAIR started off a little slow. It naturally begins with Hamilton's youth. Told from both his point of view and the point of view of his wife, Elizabeth, the story at times lags. At other times, the story leaps over years of history with only a cursory mention. I recognize that writing an accurate historical yet fictional portrayal of such well know figures must be a daunting task, I just wish it was a tad more interesting. In defense of the book, though, part of why the story felt sluggish was the narration. I listened to this on audio CD, and the narrator lacked enthusiasm. So it was probably a combination of the text and the narration.

Overall, the book succeeded in its aim, which I believe was to inform the reader about Hamilton's life in a format that was more engaging than a textbook. Is it worth reading? Absolutely. I'm so glad I invested nine hours to listen to it. Worth the $10 I paid for it.

Cover Reveal: SHADOWS OF THE FOREST by Emma Michaels

SHADOWS OF THE FOREST
Emma Michaels
Publication date: November 5th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Everyone is dying to live in the Shadows of the Forest.
They gave me three rules to follow in exchange for my brother’s life:
1. Do not enter the West Wing;
2. Do not go outside after darkness falls; and
3. There is only one exit; The Gates.
This is what happened when I broke them…

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:
Emma Michaels is the award winning author of the Society of Feathers series with over 15 publications under her belt. With a love for all things story-telling this bibliophile plans to take over the world one cup of coffee at a time. A rule breaker who isn’t afraid to have uncommon opinions she is an avid lover of mathematics and stand out fiction which transcends both its genre and format whether books, games, movies, or otherwise. A good story is a good story. When she isn’t online she is out dancing in the Washington rain or seeking new adventures.
Website / Facebook / Twitter

BLOG TOUR: BEYOND THE LINES by Claudia Whitsett

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About the Book[image error]
Title: Beyond the Lines | Autho r: Claudia Whitsitt | Publisher: Claudia Whitsitt Publication Date: February 27, 2016 | Genre: Middle Grade Fiction |  Number of Pages: 260

Book Description: The Dream Girls — Hattie, Crackers, and Beverly Jo — are back with the same determination and resolve they dis played in Between the Lines. This time, it's Crackers who has a dream. S he has oodles of talent, can outshoot any guy, and she wants to be the first girl on the boys' basketball team. Everybody knows she's the best player at school. The pr oblem is, the rules say: No girls allowed on the team. Ever. But the Dream Girls have chall enged old-fashioned notions before, and they're not about to give up now. Beverly Jo ro cks the world with an ingenious plan, Hattie sets the wheels in motion, and Crackers gives her all. For this threesome, nothing is impossible.

What others are saying...

"BEYOND THE LINES is a refreshing story of true friendshi p." - Lori (Amazon)

"A delightful story of true friendship" - David (Ama zon)

"Great characters, superlative writing and the sense o f being dropped into the mist of a Dream Girls meeting makes "Beyond The Lines" a won derful book." - DJ (Amazon)

"Beyond the lines is a beautiful story of friendship."< /em> - (Amazon)
About the Author[image error]
Claudia Whitsitt spent a lifetime teaching special educa tion and writing before becoming a full-time author. She believes in the power of f riendship, small acts of kindness, and paying it forward. Nothing makes her happier tha n spending time with her children, which includes not only the five she raised but the c ountless students who touched her life over the years.
Website | Twitter | Faceboo k | Good reads< /a> 
Blog Tour GiveawayPrize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice Giveaway ends: September 27, 11:59 pm, 2016
Open to: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Raffl ecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be ra ndomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a n ew winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associate d with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Claudia Whitsitt a nd is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
EXCERPT:
Four months ago, I thought my life was over. But just look at me now. I’ve gone from a Catholic school kid to a public school student and from a knock-kneed scaredy-cat to a mostly brave girl. Not only that, but I’ve made the best friends ever. Beverly Jo is not just the smartest girl I know, but the friendliest, and Crackers, well, she’s the life of the party, whether there’s a party or not. 
Which brings me to our 5th grade holiday break celebra­tion, a sleepover at my house. The aromas wafting down the basement stairs right now awaken me in the best possible way—with a gigantic grin on my face. There’s not a better smell in the world than bread frying in a custard of milk, eggs and butter, crackling bacon, and warm maple syrup.
I stretch my arms over my head and untangle my sleeping bag from the cocoon its coiled around my legs, peeking out to see if either of my friends’ peepers are blinking yet.

Book Review: COWARDS by Glenn Beck

COWARDS: WHAT POLITICIANS, RADICALS & THE MEDIA REFUSE TO SAY
Glenn Beck
Simon & Schuster Audio
Non-fiction

As we approach the most important presidential election in America’s history, something has been lost among all of the debates, attack ads, and super- PACs—something that Americans used to hold in very high regard: THE TRUTH.

Glenn Beck likes to say that “the truth has no agenda”—but there’s another side to that: people who have agendas rarely care about the truth. And, these days, it seems like everyone has an agenda. The media leads with stories that rate over those that matter. Politicians put lobbyists and electability over honesty. Radicals alter history in order to change the future.

In Cowards, Glenn Beck exposes the truth about thirteen important issues that have been hijacked by deceit. Whether out of spite, greed, or fear, these are the things that no one seems to be willing to have an honest conversation about. For example:

* How our two-party POLITICAL SYSTEM often leaves voters with NO GOOD OPTIONS.
* How extremists are slowly integrating ISLAMIC LAW into our SOCIETY.
* How PROGRESSIVE “religious” leaders like JIM WALLIS are politicizing the Bible.
* How the CARTEL VIOLENCE on our border is FAR WORSE than people realize.
* How “LIBERTARIAN” has been INTENTIONALLY turned into a DIRTY WORD.
* How GEORGE SOROS has amassed enough MONEY and POWER to INFLUENCE entire ECONOMIES.

In some cases, the truth is out there, but people simply don’t want to hear it. It’s much easier, and certainly a lot more convenient, to keep our blinders on. After all, as a quote attributed to President James Garfield made clear, “The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.”
Miserable or not, the truth can no longer be something we hope for; it must be something we live. When courage prevails, cowards do not—and this book was written to ensure that’s exactly what happens.

MY REVIEW:

I didn't know what to expect when I began listening to Cowards. I'm not a huge fan of Glenn Beck. Though I am politically conservative, I don't spend much time listening to talk radio. But the audio CD was lying around my house and I needed something to listen to, so I popped it into my car stereo. Boy, was I in for a shock.

First of all, this books isn't just for conservatives or Republicans. It isn't written as a politically biased rant. This is, instead, a well-researched and documented dissection of the seediest, ugliest parts of American politics, economics, and moralism (or lack thereof). Beck really put himself out on a limb to reveal the truth behind America's drug problem, the Clinton machine, Islamic influence throughout the world, and more. The book was startling, to say the least, but the more I listened, the more I realized how right Beck is. America is literally under siege and the only people who can free it is us, the American people. The problem is that too many of us have been deceived and are listening to the wrong voices. The result has been a gradual loss of personal liberty, and we're not even paying attention. Kind of like a frog in a slowly boiling pot of water.

I don't really know how to stop it, or if it can be stopped. Beck doesn't offer a lot of solutions. Maybe there aren't any. But the first step is becoming aware of what's going on around us, and that is what Cowards achieves. I strongly recommend this book no matter what political party with which you affiliate. This book is a must read.

Book Review: SHIFT by Hugh Howey

SHIFT (Silo, #2)
Hugh Howey
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Dystopian Sci-fi

In 2007, the Center for Automation in Nanobiotech (CAN) outlined the hardware and software platforms that would one day allow robots smaller than human cells to make medical diagnoses, conduct repairs, and even self-propagate. In the same year, the CBS network re-aired a program about the effects of propranolol on sufferers of extreme trauma. A simple pill, it had been discovered, could wipe out the memory of any traumatic event. At almost the same moment in humanity’s broad history, mankind discovered the means for bringing about its utter downfall. And the ability to forget it ever happened. This is the second volume in the New York Times best-selling Wool series.

MY REVIEW:

I loved Wool. That book completely blew my mind. Shift is the prequel, explaining how humankind ended up below ground for hundreds of years and why. Shift follows the stories of several characters over centuries of time, but one in particular was there from beginning to end. As he peels back the layers of deceit that literally entomb the human race, what he discovers about the motives and the methods of the silos claws at his conscience and compels him to search for the way out.

Hugh Howey is a brilliant author. The world of the silos is so complex, so intricate and descriptive I could swear it was real. Every time I opened the cover, I was immediately absorbed by that world and wanted to go back again and again. Can't wait to read the final book of the trilogy, Dust.



CONTENT RATING:

Profanity:  Moderate
Sexuality:  Mild
Violence:   Strong

COVER REVEAL: CLEOPATRA'S LEGACY BOOK 4: THE SAPPHIRE BLADE by Dorine White

The final installment in Dorine White's thrilling middle grade series, CLEOPATRA'S LEGACY, is finally here! Check out this awesome cover!



Summary:


The final journey begins!             Travel with past heroes and a new adventurer to the historical romps of London and the scorching sands of Alexandria. Fourteen-year-old Akmir, raised from birth to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of Cleopatra’s magic gemstones, holds within his hands the secret location of the fifth and final mystic gem: the blue sapphire.             His quest leads him to England, where four other gemstone searchers: Sara, Melanie, Kainu and Claire, are on the hunt. A pawn of the Roman Brotherhood, Akmir must choose his own path, whether to follow in his father’s brutal footsteps or stay true to his mother’s Egyptian heritage. Clues, puzzles, and danger rule the day.             What will happen when the power of all five gemstones are brought together? This is a battle for life and death, and only one side can win. 
If you missed any of the first three in the series- here is a link to my Amazon page with pics of the books.  https://www.amazon.com/Dorine-White/e/B00E5UMOQ4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1470681810&sr=8-1
 Dorine White- Author  Author Website- http://www.dorinewhite.com/ Blog- The Write Path- http://www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com/ Twitter @Dorinewhite- https://twitter.com/DorineWhite Facebook Author Page- https://www.facebook.com/dorinewhite