The Book on the Hill

Big News: Blog Move!

2012-12-04T18:35:00.001+01:00

Hello there!

I know, it's been a while... but there's a reason behind it!

I've been wanting to open up a 'general' blog for a while now, feeling that my book blog felt too close to work for me. I mean, I read and write reviews for work, so doing the same thing on a blog was feeling more and more like double work. And, if it's not fun anymore, blogging has no sense, right?

So Midnight Caramel was born!

I will still post reviews over there, but only of the books that I LOVED. Which will be more positive. :)
And there will be recipes, I will share some lovely finds from the web, and also write a bit more about life in general.

You are welcome to come and check it out!

I want to thank all of you guys who have been following The Book on the Hill and commenting and being really really nice. Thank you so much.

Blogging here has been fun, I've met many amazing people through this blog and I will always be in love with the book blogging community! You are all amazing!

So, I bid farewell to the hill but I will leave the blog online so that all the reviews will still be available to everyone.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas!
And happy reading and blogging to all bookworms out there.

Love,
Charlotte.

PS : I've got some exciting news... *drumroll* I am now a TRANSLATOR! A real one! I'm currently working on the RAZORLAND trilogy by Ann Aguirre (from English to French). I translated ENCLAVE during the summer, and right now I'm working on OUTPOST. I am SO happy! And I'm still a reader, of course (wouldn't give this up for the world, at least not yet). Yay!

Monstrous Beauty (by Elizabeth Fama)

2012-10-30T16:09:00.000+01:00

Monstrous Beauty
by Elizabeth Fama
Release date : September 4th, 2012

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : Oh my... Where do I start? The first thing that ~~bothered me~~ ~~annoyed me~~ made me sick was the grim and violent atmosphere. This book cover is gorgeous but, seriously, it doesn't look all pretty blue and green in the book! From the unbearable rape scene between man and mermaid to the lung-heart-eating, the crushed Adam's apples and the knife blows, honestly, I often gagged.

I agree that all tastes are in nature. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with horror books (except that I don't read them, obviously, since it's not my cup of ~~lungs~~ tea). But the trouble is that MONSTROUS BEAUTY is NOT a horror book! It's supposed to be your usual paranormal-mermaid-YA book. And yet I thought everything was written and described in an unhealthy way.

Apart from this, I also thought there were many incoherences. I found the plot structure weak, the story often incomprehensible, the descriptions passable and the message negative and depressing. It was absolutely impossible for me to warm to the characters. The dialogues wore me out (especially the priest's, with his weirdly transcripted accent).

The worse thing about it all is that the story really had potential! The mermaid legend, the parallel between two periods, the malediction, the romance, the ending that could've been really surprising... Everything was there but, in my opinion, the way the plot was treated and executed didn't allow it to work.

MONSTROUS BEAUTY is one of those books that got on my nerves and made me feel angry... So, what can I say? You have to try it to decide for yourselves! If you've read it, I would love to hear what you thought!

French Friday (64)

2012-10-26T16:56:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone,
Welcome to another round of French cover compare!
What do we have this week?

TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN by John Marsden
Translated as TOMORROW, QUAND LA GUERRE A COMMENCE

My thoughts: I've read this book and LOVED IT but, unfortunately, I think none of these covers does it justice. The original one looks too boyish and agressive to me, and the French one is simply... weird! I don't like the design of the characters either, it looks more like a video game than a book cover. Oh well.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The Vengekeep Prophecies (by Brian Farrey)

2012-10-23T16:09:00.000+02:00

The Vengekeep Prophecies
by Brian Farrey
Release date : October 23rd, 2012

“You can’t convict what you can’t confirm.” That’s the motto of 12-year-old Jaxter Grimjinx and his infamous family of thieves. And while Jaxter may not have his father’s burglary prowess, his mother’s forgery skills, or his little sister’s mastery of sleight-of-hand, his book-fed knowledge of non-magical solutions to magical problems makes him invaluable to the family’s heists.

But the Grimjinxes may have pulled one con too many in their hometown, Vengekeep. After swapping the prophetic tapestry used to guide Vengekeep’s actions for a fake concocted by Jaxter’s mother, the Grimjinxes are stunned when the false prophecies begin coming true, bringing destruction in their wake.

Suddenly, Vengekeep is besieged by “natural” disasters and rampaging monsters, courtesy of the secretly enchanted counterfeit tapestry. With his family forced to stay and combat the impending doom, Jaxter must leave his hometown in search of a way to keep the increasingly dangerous prophecies from wiping Vengekeep off the map. (from www.brianfarreybooks.com)

MY THOUGHTS : I thought THE VENGEKEEP PROPHECIES was an unusual read. I loved the plot's thread (pun intended, if you've already read it) and found it exciting, but... not enough. The story has everything to turn the book into an action-packed one. When Jaxter leaves the city to save Vengekeep, I was expecting many situations and adventures but, unfortunately, I thought it lacked excitement and humour. Also, there aren't many secondary characters and the ones that are depicted aren't that much developped. The ending (and other things) were quite predictable too.

Although I loved Jaxter's character, it wasn't enough to keep me focused. Again, the plot is great, but I didn't find it colourful and eventful enough for my taste. Maybe I wasn't in the mood? I would love to hear what you thought of it!

French Friday (63)

2012-10-19T17:43:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone,
Welcome to another round of French cover compare!
When you read this post, I should be back in Montreal and ready to hop on a plane back to France...
*Sigh*

GIRL, BARELY 15: FLIRTING FOR ENGLAND by Sue Limb
Translated as 15 ANS: WELCOME TO ENGLAND

My thoughts: I like the French cover better: the colours, the characters, it screams fun and happy! The original cover looks a bit messy to me: too many things and too many colours. Even the title is hard to read...

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Poltergeeks (by Sean Cummings)

2012-10-16T16:09:00.000+02:00

Poltergeeks
by Sean Cummings
Release date : October 2nd, 2012

15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection.

In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : I liked how fast-paced and dynamic the plot was! I quickly warmed to Julie and Marcus, even if some character clichés weren't avoided. I loved the romance and I thought the story really worked, even if some points were a tad blurry around the edges. :)

Although the book is, as I said earlier, fast-paced, I thought Julie took quite some time to act... Also, the ending (which I will not write about to avoid spoilers) was disappointing, at least for me. It wasn't as intense and action-packed as I thought it would be. A lot of my questions weren't answered either, thus the blurry feeling, and it felt like the author's voice could've been more at ease.

All in all, I enjoyed reading POLTERGEEKS but it didn't much speak to me either... This review isn't very helpful, I fear, but I really don't have more to say about the book. I was happy to read it, but I've read better.

French Friday (62)

2012-10-12T17:43:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone,
Welcome to another round of French cover compare!
When you read this post, I should be in Tadoussac (Québec) enjoying the scenery and watching...
WHALES! :)

BORN BLUE by Han Nolan
Translated as LA VIE BLUES
(A BLUES LIFE)

My thoughts: Mmm... None of the covers really catch my attention, methinks... I'd pick the original one, more "artistic" and less agressive than the French one, in my opinion. I don't like the green shade at all, whereas the whiteness of the first cover gives the book a more positive feeling.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

How I Came to Sparkle Again (by Kaya McLaren)

2012-10-09T16:09:00.000+02:00

How I Came to Sparkle Again
by Kaya McLaren
Release date : October 2nd, 2012

Jill Anthony spent her young adulthood in the ski town of Sparkle, Colorado. But more than a decade has passed since she left when, only weeks after a very late miscarriage, she finds her husband in bed with another woman, she flees Austin, Texas for the town she knows: Sparkle.

Lisa Carlucci wakes up one morning after another night of meaningless sex, looks in the mirror and realizes that she no longer wants to treat her body like a Holiday Inn. She’s going to hold out for love. The only problem is, love might come in the form of her ski bum best friend, who lives next door with his ski bum friends in a trailer known as “the Kennel.”

Cassie Jones, at age ten, has lost her mother to cancer and no longer believes in anything anymore. She knows her father is desperately worried about her, and she constantly looks for messages from her deceased mother through the heart-shaped rocks they once collected in the streams and hills of Sparkle.

Three people at the crossroads of heartbreak and healing. Three lives that will be changed one winter in Sparkle. One tender, funny, tear-jerking novel you won’t soon forget.
(from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : Oh my, so many tears were shed! Honestly, I ended up crying like a baby! Although I am a major weeper when it comes to movies, I do not cry easily when reading a book. So, that's a good sign. It means this book talks about something universal, so universal that it broke my own little heart in two.

HOW I CAME TO SPARKLE AGAIN is a touching, cute, romantic and heart-breaking story. I really enjoyed following these three characters during eight months of their lives. Seasons, holidays and snow give rythm to the chapters and their story. And you should know by now that I'm in love with snow and wintery tales!

I also loved how calm this book felt. All the characters have already suffered in their own way, and I was afraid that the author would add more traumas to the lot to make the story more dramatic... But nope! None of our heroes fall while skiing or driving, and to that I say: thank you Mrs McLaren! I seriously could not have borne more suffering.
So, when I say that the book was calm, I also mean that everything feels so... relaxed! Not much happens, in fact, but it's fascinating nonetheless. We're focused on the characters' psychology and thoughts, and it was enough for me. Jill and Cassie are, in my opinion, the pillars of the book: their relationship is adorable and incredibly touching.

This book is so human it hurts. So simple and yet so complex.

One thing annoyed me a bit, even if it didn't ruin my reading experience AT ALL: religion holds a strong place in the book. Almost every character talks about his/her relationship with God at some point, and I thought it was a bit too much at times. I admit I skipped these passages a bit, but I have to say the author managed to put limits to it, so I won't be angry about it. :)

All in all, I can only recommend this book! Read it this winter, when it's cold and snowy outside. And do not forget to put a tissue box next to your hot chocolate.

French Friday (61)

2012-10-05T17:47:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone,
Welcome to another round of French cover compare!
When you read this post, I should be enjoying my first days of vacation in Montreal! Yay!

DARK MATTER by Michelle Paver
Translated as 40 JOURS DE NUIT
(40 Days of Night)

My thoughts: For once, I can say that I like both covers equally! None of them make me want to read the book (too dark for me?) but they both have a great atmosphere and we can tell how spooky the story will probably be.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Through to You (by Emily Hainsworth)

2012-10-02T16:09:00.000+02:00

Through to You
by Emily Hainsworth
Release date : October 2nd, 2012

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : I really enjoyed reading this book! I loved Camden right from the start. I thought he was a realistic and touching character. I dove into the book with ease and I thought the plot wasn't too predictable. THROUGH TO YOU talks beautifully about grief, love, relationships and friendship in general. I also thought the paranormal aspect of the book was well depicted and always comprehensible.

All in all, I found this book moving, romantic, sensitive and full of freshness and truth. I highly recommend it!

French Friday (60)

2012-09-28T17:42:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone,
Welcome to another round of French cover compare!

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK by Pat Moon
Translated as DÉFENSE DE LIRE CE LIVRE
(It is Forbidden to Read this Book)

My thoughts: I like the French cover better, not being a huge fan of the original illustration. I LOVE illustrations on covers, but this one doesn't grab my attention at all. Too childish, maybe?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Confessions of a Murder Suspect (by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro)

2012-09-24T16:51:00.000+02:00

Confessions of a Murder Suspect
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Release date : September 24th, 2012

James Patterson returns to the genre that made him famous with a thrilling teen detective series about the mysterious and magnificently wealthy Angel family . . . and the dark secrets they're keeping from one another.

On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, Tandy Angel knows just three things: 1) She was the last person to see her parents alive. 2) The police have no suspects besides Tandy and her three siblings. 3) She can't trust anyone--maybe not even herself. Having grown up under Malcolm and Maud's intense perfectionist demands, no child comes away undamaged. Tandy decides that she will have to clear the family name, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous-and revealing-game. Who knows what the Angels are truly capable of? (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : CONFESSIONS OF A MURDER SUSPECT is a nice detective thriller: its major strong point is the mystery in itself and the almost-behind-closed-doors plot. It starts with a bang, and I was drawn into the story right away.

Tandy tells her story directly to the reader, which works quite well. It's quick, efficient, with short and clear chapters. Not too flourished, not too excessive. I'd been waiting impatiently to see how it would end, and the ending was unpredicable, which was great.

The problem I had with this book was its coldness. Tandy is, indeed, a cold character and narrator. We know why she behaves this way and why she doesn't feel much, but it made me struggle: I had trouble connecting with the characters. Fortunately, Tandy (well, the narrator) includes the reader in everything, but it still didn't make me warm to the characters. It all felt distant to me.

Since the first chapters are intriguing and booming, I expected the rest to be full of action, suspense and twists. But I found the rest of the book a bit flat compared to its beginning. I thought that Tandy didn't take enough risks during her investigation, so it wasn't as exciting as I would've hoped.

But I found this book highly visual and I could really see it made as a movie! It even felt more cinematographic than litterary for me.

All in all, I thought CONFESSIONS OF A MURDER SUSPECT was a page-turner despite my little disappointment. It's well-written and constructed, even if I would've liked to be more surprised at times.

French Friday (59)

2012-09-21T15:00:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone,
Welcome to another round of French cover compare!
What do we have this week?

DEAR DYLAN by Siobhan Curham
Translated as CHER DYLAN
(Dear Dylan)

My thought: I LOVE the original cover so much! I am a huge fan of this type of illustrations, and I think this cover is a 'work of art' by itself. The French one looks too casual and classic compared to it! Plus, the pink font doesn't do the picture any justice. So, no hesitation there, I like the original cover waaay better!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The King's Rose (by Alisa M. Libby)

2012-09-20T12:00:00.000+02:00

The King's Rose
by Alisa M. Libby
Release date : March 19th, 2009

Life in the court of King Henry VIII is a complex game. When fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard catches the king's eye, she quickly transforms from pawn to queen. But even luxury beyond imagination loses its luster as young Catherine finds her life and her heart threatened by the needs of an aging king and a family hungry for power.
Will their agendas deliver Catherine to the same fate as her infamous cousin, Anne Boleyn, sacrificed at the altar of family ambition?

Engaging historical fiction with a throbbing YA heartbeat, this thrilling novel will draw readers into the intrigues and dangers of the Tudor court. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : Written and executed with subtelty and finesse, the story of this young girl, third wife of Henry VIII, made me travel through time and totally drew me into the Tudor period.

This dangerous period, filled with lies, betrayals and secret love stories, is told through Catherine's eyes.

The relationship between the characters are well depicted, especially the one between Catherine and the king: I found it more touching than 'disgusting'. In the book, Catherine has respect for the king and, instead of loathing him, she feels a real affection for him. The opposite would've been more obvious, and that's what makes Catherine's characters stronger and more complex than it already was. It also gives her a rainbow of emotions to deal with.

Honestly, I was caught in the story from the beginning to the end. THE KING'S ROSE is an interesting, instructive and deeply moving story. It even made me want to learn more about the historical context and the characters's real lives! I really enjoyed this book. :)

Warm Bodies (by Isaac Marion)

2012-09-18T10:34:00.000+02:00

Warm Bodies
by Isaac Marion
Release date : October 28th, 2010

A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love—with a human—in this astonishingly original debut novel.

R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Not just another zombie novel, Warm Bodies is funny, scary, and deeply moving. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : WARM BODIES is a philosophical approach to the zombie way of life: we're immersed in R's head and thoughts thanks to the first person narrator's use. I found it interesting, well-written and absolutely realistic. Plus, I thought R was very likeable and touching.

The problem I had with WARM BODIES was the fact that the plot in itself wasn't really exciting: the story is predictable, not always clear and not very captivating. At least for me. Yet I was never bored, which is weird, and which shows how torn I feel about this book!

R's reflexions are fascinating, the descriptions are perfectly mastered and the characters are rich, but I thought it wasn't enough to make the story interesting. I would've liked more adventures, action and surprises, but it's also what makes the book special...

See, I'm really torn!

But I enjoyed reading WARM BODIES despite that, and I'm sure it speaks to other readers. Maybe I wasn't receptive enough when I read it. All I can say is this: give it a try, because this isn't your usual zombie book!

French Friday (58)

2012-09-14T02:30:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone,
Today, here is a autumny cover-compare!
(the fall weather makes me want to drink coffee in front of the chimney...)

COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL by Suzanne Selfors
Translated as CAFÉ GIVRÉ
(Frosty Coffee)

My thought: I like both covers! Well, I would prefer the original one without the guy in the background, I think it breaks the cosy/cute/warm feel of the cover and makes it look kinda cheesy. Regarding the French one, I love the colours and the setting, and it perfectly fits with the French title. There's a real atmosphere in both, which is great.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Nerve (by Jeanne Ryan)

2012-09-13T09:00:00.000+02:00

Nerve
by Jeanne Ryan
Release date : September 13th, 2012

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly.

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE? (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : I thought NERVE was a captivating psychological thriller. Captivating, and also thought-provoking: Vee is addicted to the game while despising it, and it's exactly how it makes us feel too. The story is frighteningly realistic, and focuses on something that is currently happening in our society: how people use teenagers who are obsessed with their online image, to manipulate them and make money on their back.

It speaks to the reader, and it made me angry and fascinated at the same time. NERVE is a real page-turner, and I liked the fact that the story takes places only during a few days. The book made me curious just like the Watchers (the ones who watch and rate the games): I wanted to know what Vee's next dare would be. The fact that the NERVE organizers are invisible adds a tension to the book. And the closed-door Grand Prize Round is really nerve-racking, even if I thought that the other characters were a bit weak.

I had trouble connecting with Vee, though. She hesitates a lot, since she knows that she's being manipulated but can't help keeping on playing. I understand that, but her contradictory thoughts annoyed me a little. Also, unfortunately, I didn't like the ending. I won't share it with you (spoilers!), but all I can say is that I found it way too rushed, too quick and illogical. I thought it didn't sound like a proper ending. And the book works in such a way that I was really disappointed by it.

All in all, I thought NERVE was a great book, based on an awesome idea. The read was dynamic, modern and catching. The ending was not what I was waiting for, but I definitely enjoyed the book anyway! I highly recommend it if you like fast-paced plots!

Jump the Cracks (by Stacy DeKeyser)

2012-09-10T18:00:00.000+02:00

Jump the Cracks
by Stacy DeKeyser
Release date : March 1st, 2008

Angry that her dad (once again) fails to be at the train station when she arrives in New York City, fifteen-year-old Victoria has had it with her divorced parents and their broken promises. Earlier on the train ride, Victoria witnesses some rough treatment towards a little two-year-old boy. Victoria then watches as his teen mom stashes her son in the bathroom and exits the train. When Victoria spots the mom arguing with a guy over what appears to be drug money, she makes a split second decision. She boards the next train out, taking the toddler with her. Victoria's determined not to let this kid fall through the cracks so she resolves to stay on the run until everyone responsible starts keeping their promises. In this fast-paced thriller, the action revolves around a frustrated but strong-willed teen girl who finds herself as both rescuer and abductor of a child at risk. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : For me, this unusual adventure was gripping from the very first pages to the last. The story really touched me, the book is really well written and quite intense.

Everything is written clearly, simply, with personality and sensibility (I know, that's a lot of 'ees'!). I could really feel what Victoria was feeling, and the use of the first person narrator was perfect.

It was interesting to see how Victoria transfered all of her emotions on the little boy. He doesn't really talk yet, but the author managed to create dialogues between him and Victoria, and their relationship was realistic and moving.

Readers will relate to Victoria at one point or another. She keeps on thinking about what's good, what's reasonable and what's wrong, and she's overwhelmed by the decision she took. Victoria has to ask herself important and deep questions about herself and her relationship with her parents, and it makes the reader do the same. It really makes you wonder what you would've done in her place.

All in all, I thought JUMP THE CRACKS was a beautiful novel, which made me think and really touched me.
You gotta love that in a book, hey? :)

The Last Dogs - The Vanishing (by Christopher Holt)

2012-09-08T10:43:00.000+02:00

The Last Dogs - The Vanishing
by Christopher Holt
Release date : September 4th, 2012

When all the humans in his world disappear, Max, a yellow Labrador Retriever, begins the search for his family. He knows that if he can just find Madame Curie, a wise, old black Lab, she'll be able to help. Madame had a premonition of astonishing events to come -- she might know where Max's family is.

But Max can't make the journey alone. Joined by friends Rocky and Gizmo, Max sets off to find Madame. Along the way, the trio must face a pack of angry wolves, forage for food in a land where kibble is akin to gold, befriend a house full of cats, and outsmart a gang of subway rats. Ultimately, they'll have to escape from the biggest threat of all: the Corporation, a "perfect" society for dogs and by dogs, where nothing is quite as it seems.

The Last Dogs: The Vanishing is a thrilling adventure and a tale of three unlikely friends on an epic quest to find their people -- and bring them home. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : This book reminded me of the movie Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey! Well, except for the fact that, in the film, people just went on holiday, they didn't disappear. :)

I have to admit that I had trouble really enjoying this book after having read A DOG'S PURPOSE, which was so well-written! In THE LAST DOGS, dogs talk with barks, which I found unrealistic. Ok, I'm not dumb, I know that dogs bark in real life, don't worry! It's just that, in the book, I would rather have seen them talk in their heads, for instance. The thing I found unrealistic was that, sometimes, the dogs had a chat (so, they barked loudly, I guess), and nobody heard them except themselves...

I was also disappointed by how 'stupid' the dogs sounded. I'm sure it's not what the author defends, but the way their thoughts and speeches were written made them sound silly. Which is too bad, since they're not stupid at all!

I've read a few "dog books" recently, and I demoan the fact that all of them have such a sad, depressing and cruel side. Dogs depend on men, so I guess that's one of the reasons. Violence is harder to bear when it comes to dogs, methinks... I silently realized that it wasn't because the heroes were animals that it made the read less dramatic. I actually estimated the audience to +14, not less.

But I liked the idea of the book: animals left alone in an apocalyptic atmosphere. The journey (both adventurous and initiatory) is rather classical, the events are brought up in an academic-yet-nice way. The way the dogs organized their lives to survive was really interesting, with it being compared with how men would react if such a crisis occured.

All in all, it wasn't a happy read, and I found it interesting on some points and disappointing on others. I didn't enjoy it as much as I would've liked to, in spite of the plot's originality and the beautiful sentiments that come out of the book.

French Friday (57)

2012-08-31T19:00:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone!

You are NOT going to believe this (I, myself, have trouble getting over it), but this week's French Friday will NOT be a cover-compare post! I know. Unbelievable.

A few days ago, I read this. In this post, I was told that Gallimard (famous French publishing house) will celebrate its 40th anniversary by opening a new collection called 'Bibliothèque Gallimard Jeunesse' (Gallimard Jeunesse Library). The idea is to re-publish children classics with a modern design and approach.

I didn't really understand WHEN their anniversary is and WHEN this collection starts (I've been searching on the web but all I found were a few blog posts and links that didn't work).

But what I did understand was that there will be six books coming out in 2012 and six in 2013.

AND, amongst the books they chose to re-publish, I give you... Harry Potter!

So, here's their new cover for Harry Potter (book 1).

Look at how cheeky they are! We can't even see it properly! :)

And here are all the books that will come out in 2012 (we can see the cover better there!).

I think I kinda like these simple yet effective covers...
What do you think?

I hope you enjoyed these French bookish news fresh from the oven!

Bon vendredi !

The Stone Girl (by Alyssa B. Sheinmel)

2012-08-28T17:56:00.000+02:00

The Stone Girl
by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Release date : August 28th, 2012

She feels like a creature out of a fairy tale; a girl who discovers that her bones are really made out of stone, that her skin is really as thin as glass, that her hair is brittle as straw, that her tears have dried up so that she cries only salt. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t hurt when she presses hard enough to begin bleeding: it doesn’t hurt, because she’s not real anymore.

Sethie Weiss is hungry, a mean, angry kind of hunger that feels like a piece of glass in her belly. She’s managed to get down to 111 pounds and knows that with a little more hard work—a few more meals skipped, a few more snacks vomited away—she can force the number on the scale even lower. She will work on her body the same way she worked to get her perfect grades, to finish her college applications early, to get her first kiss from Shaw, the boy she loves, the boy who isn’t quite her boyfriend.

Sethie will not allow herself one slip, not one bad day, not one break in concentration. Her body is there for her to work on when everything and everyone else—her best friend, her schoolwork, and Shaw—are gone. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : First, I have to say that I've had a serious issue with the use of both the present tense AND the third person narrative. It was weird, and made me long for a first person use! The book's tone already is cold, but this gave it an even more clinical feel...

I understand the idea: this cold way of telling the story perfectly reflects Sethie's state of mind. But I had trouble getting into the book mainly because of this coldness. At some points, I even thought the way the story was told was a bit childish. Actually, it made the character sound childish, and the reader look childish.

The way the author chose to deal with anorexia was interesting: we really see how Sethie thinks and lives and obsesses and calculates. We immerse ourselves in her life in a deranging way, which makes the book harder, and which fits with the whole message. I also liked how claustrophobic the book felt, because of us being the only witnesses of Sethie's problems.

But, here's the question: where did the plot go? Concretely, not much happens in this book... We're so focused on Sethie's mind that the rest is almost non-existent. All the other characters, the parties and her high-school life are not important to her, her body and food being her first preoccupation. But does it really mean that we shouldn't read about it all? Maybe a first person narration could have changed that?

All in all, this wasn't the most likeable book I've read, obviously. The weird writing choices and the close-up story didn't really appeal to me... But maybe they will to you?

The Hollow Kingdom (by Clare B. Dunkle)

2012-08-26T18:53:00.001+02:00

The Hollow Kingdom
by Clare B. Dunkle
Release date : September 19th, 2006

For thousands of years, young women have been vanishing from Hallow Hill, never to be seen again. Now Kate and Emily have moved there with no idea of the land's dreadful heritage--until Marak decides to tell them himself.

Marak is a powerful magician who claims to be the goblin king, and he has very specific plans for the two new girls who have trespassed into his kingdom...

So begins the award-winning Hollow Kingdom Trilogy. Now in paperback, these editions welcome a whole new audience to the magical realm that Newbery Award winner Lloyd Alexander calls "as persuasive as it is remarkable." (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : A gripping adventure, full of strong characters and real action! I really liked the story: it was complex but well-explained thanks to very good descriptions and smart dialogues (which served the plot without being excessive nor too sparse).

Marak's character is curiously likeable. I loved his caustic humour! And the "Beauty and the Beast" theme was really wisely treated. THE HOLLOW KINGDOM is some kind of fantasy fairytale, cruel but beautiful, tragic but, at the same time, full of hope...

There was one thing that bothered me, but I won't get too much into it to avoid spoilers... At some point, we jump from one moment in time to another and... let's say it was a bit frustrating and confusing. It made the ending look a bit rushed. But that's the only thing I had trouble with. :)

All in all, I really enjoyed reading THE HOLLOW KINGDOM. The atmosphere and the story gripped me, and I had a wonderful time!

PS: it's a trilogy, but I haven't read the sequels. Their titles are CLOSE KIN and IN THE COILS OF THE SNAKE.

French Friday (56)

2012-08-24T10:47:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone!

Here are cover-compares of two books written by Ann Brashares! Enjoy!

THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU & ME) by Ann Brashares
Translated as TOI ET MOI A JAMAIS
(You and Me Forever)

MY NAME IS MEMORY by Ann Brashares
Translated as L'AMOUR DURE PLUS QU'UNE VIE

(Love Lasts More than One Life)

VERDICT: I have to say I am not a huge fan of the first ones... I find the original one weirdly constructed (with the author's name waaaay too big and the book title breaking the picture's balance). And the French one is just... I don't know... It doesn't speak to me. For MY NAME IS MEMORY, I kinda like both of them! I absolutely adore the glimmering water and the colours. And the French one is cute, maybe less my cup of tea, but cute. :)

What do YOU think? What's your favourite cover?

Bon vendredi !

Over You (by Emma McLaughin and Nicola Kraus)

2012-08-21T18:10:00.002+02:00

Over You
by Emma McLaughin and Nicola Kraus
Release date : August 21st, 2012

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.

Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even. (from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS : I thought OVER YOU was a fun, sassy and fresh read. I loved the idea of Ex, Inc (the program that Max invented and developed). Max is a girl-power-superheroine who saves girls from their heartbreaks, and her technics are as funny for the reader as they are efficient for her clients!

But... But... But...

I thought the book was a bit messy... I took me some time to really understand everything. I had trouble connecting with the characters, let alone remember them, because they aren't described enough (honestly, I wouldn't be able to tell you what they look like!).

It's a witty book. I LOVE witty books. But it's SO witty that I got bored at some point... The dialogues are fun and modern, which is nice, but when each phrase is told in a "teenage" way, it gets tiring. Sometimes, I even forgot what the purpose of the conversations were.

I didn't find Max's character really likeable, and it became even harder torwards the end. We think she's a mature person, but she's actually pretty childish. I also didn't like all the clichés. First, the characters : the pretty-and-nice-boy-who-suffers-in-a-oh-so-poetic-way, the sexy-rich-guy-who-sounded-nice-but-who-in-fact-is-a-mean-mean-boy, etc. And the plot is also full of clichés, including the ending which was predictable from the first chapters.

I would've preferred more stories about Ex, Inc, and less about Max's life. I think Ex, Inc is a great concept for a book, and it could've led to a high number of peculiar and funny situations. But I felt torn between Max's life and her program.

All in all, I had fun reading OVER YOU but I thought it lacked precision and descriptions. Which is disappointing, because the idea was there!

French Friday (55)

2012-08-17T09:25:00.000+02:00

Bonjour everyone!

It's French... it's Friday... It's FRENCH FRIDAY! :)
Here are two cover-compares for you! Enjoy!

THERE IS NO DOG by Meg Rosoff
Translated as AU COMMENCEMENT IL Y AVAIT BOB
(In the beginning, there was Bob)

DARK SECRETS #1 - LEGACY OF LIES & DON'T TELL by Elizabeth Chandler
Translated as LES SECRETS DE WISTERIA (Wisteria's Secrets)

VERDICT: I like THERE IS NO DOG's original cover better than the French one, which I find a bit serious and weird... For Elizabeth Chandler's book, I prefer the French cover, I find it more structured and I love the colour combination!

What do YOU think? What's your favourite cover?

Bon vendredi !