Fighting Dreamer

[Book Review] Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:10:00 +0000

Before Cracking Open the Book

It was never a question of whether or not I would read Personal Effects, just a question of when. Everything from the blurb to the cover was calling my name. Not to mention the fact that Goodreads has it shelved under ya as well as glbt. I just had to be in the right mood to be able to read a story that deals with grief. It was never a question of whether or not I would like Personal Effects, but rather how much it would break my heart. I desperately wanted to read it, but at the same time was terrified that it was going to break my heart into a million little pieces. Then one day, I felt it calling to me and had no choice but to pick it up. And once I picked it up,

...Onto the Book

I couldn't put it down. It broke my heart again and again and I was a sobbing mess almost the whole time, and yet, I couldn't put it down - I was enthralled.

left behind

Told primarily in a first person present tense narrative style, the story centers around Matt, a boy who struggles with the loss of his brother and the tension between him and their father. Personal Effects begins with a school fight between Matt and his "taunter", war-is-not-the-answer-Pinscher. Matt's brother, T.J. has been killed in Iraq only a few months before, and after being tortured by Pinscher's anti-war pins and t-shirts day after day he finally snaps. More precisely, Matt completely loses it and beats the crap out of Pinscher before stopped by the teachers.

"Sticks and stones will break my bones. But words will never harm me." - so not true. What that Pinscher kid did was sheer emotional bullying. I'm not advocating fighting, but I'm totally with Matt, that kid only got what he deserved. Emotional bullying is just as, if not more, hurtful as physical bullying.

Like I mentioned before, present tense is not the narrative form I would usually prefer, but for Personal Effects it was absolutely perfect. From the first line, I was able to put myself into Matt's emotions and viewpoint. Additionally, I have to admit that I'm starting to find the use of present tense narrative voice in contemporary stories very natural and "right". I felt what Matt felt and hurt when he hurt. I felt his anger and grief. And I understood him, and had a real and powerful emotional connection to him.

secret life

T.J. has been killed prior to the start of the story, but Matt's present tense narrative slides into a past tense while he relates his memories about T.J.

"Find something else, something that makes you happy."
My throat ached, my eyes blurred, but right then, driving down the road with T.J. behind the wheel, I wanted to just head west and keep going, away from Dad, away from T.J. having to report back, away from everything.
I wish we had.

Matt's reminiscences of his brother were the most painful to read for me. T.J. felt so alive in his brother's memories. The more I learnt about him the more I liked and mourned him. It was so unfair that he had to die. Actually, the more I learnt about him the more unfair it seemed.

The memories of his brother are hunting Matt. He feels that he doesn't deserve happiness and pushes away the people that care for him. He doesn't know how to cope and move on. He can't let T.J. go. He wants to know more about his brother. No, he needs to know more. So when T.J.'s personal effects got delivered, he goes against his father's wishes, and looks through the boxes in hopes of finding something, anything. What he finds is letters...

"SNAFU" - "Situation normal: all fucked up"

Matt and T.J.'s physically abusive father was easy to hate. But I also felt sorry for the deeply broken man. While alive T.J. had been a sort of a buffer between them, now it's just the two of them. He wants Matt to enlist, like T.J.(because how well that turned out, right?), and Matt finds it hard to stand up against his dad.

Then the letters lead him to a journey. A journey of discovery about not only his brother but himself as well. A journey of grief and healing through personal effects, letters, and, lastly, miles. A journey that leads to the most unexpected.

After Words

Personal Effects ripped a hole into my soul and left me raw and bleeding from a hundred wounds - and yet I don't regret having read it. I'm glad that I could "meet" T.J. and hope that Matt will find his way in life.

The only thing that was more hard than reading Personal Effects was collecting my thoughts about the book into something coherent. I needed to let my love out for this book, but I read Personal Effects with my heart, and didn't really know how to word my feelings... Like Matt, I found it hard to let T.J. go, and I think a little piece of him will always remain in my bookish memories.

Personal Effects is an ultimately moving story about family, war, love, grief and healing. E.M. Kokie approaches these weighty topics realistically and without any overwrought drama. Personal Effects is a beautifully written novel with a powerful message that everyone should read. And I just noticed that it was released on September 11th, 2012. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Blurb

After his older brother dies in Iraq, Matt makes a discovery that rocks his beliefs about strength, bravery, and honor in this page-turning debut.

Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief, social mores, and self-discovery in a provocative first novel.

Published:

September 11th 2012 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads - Amazon - The Book Depository

[Top Ten Tuesday] Top Ten Favorite Book Covers Of Books I've Read

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:11:00 +0000

- hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Favorite Book Covers Of Books I've Read

『美しいこと (下)』木原音瀬, 日高ショーコ　- Utsukushii Koto by Narise Konohara, Hidaka Shouko (illustrator) - part 2

『美しいこと (上)』木原音瀬 ,日高ショーコ - Utsukushii Koto by Narise Konohara, Hidaka Shouko (illustrator) - part 1

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Boy21 by Matthew Quick

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Shadows by Paula Weston

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

Lizard by Banana Yoshimoto

How to Repair a Mechanical Heart by J.C. Lillis

Title Likes, Dislikes and Everything in between

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:56:00 +0000

Title Likes, Dislikes and Everything in between

LIKES:

Name(s) in the title - Naming a book after its main character is not very original, yet I rather like this practice. I don't have a logical reason for it, other than it feels somehow... classic. Not to mention that it makes it easier to remember the title. Names have been serving as titles since the beginning. Just think about books like Oliver Twist, Jane Eyre or Romeo and Juliet. So authors like Shakespeare and Charles Dickens certainly knew something. Also, I personally like even more those titles where the protagonist's name is just part of the title, not the entire title: Anna and the French Kiss, Goodbye Tsugumi, The Miseducation of Cameron Post,

Locations - put one of my dream cities/countries name in the title and I'm sold: Anna and the French Kiss - since I ♡ anything French

Title is a whole sentence - It's like a sneak peek into the author's mind/writing style. And I love how one sentence can tell the whole story of the book. How brilliant is that? Of course only after you have read the book that you will be able to fully understand the meaning - A Monster Calls, Last Night I Sang to the Monster, How to Repair a Mechanical Heart, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Words like monster, butterfly, kill(er), serial killer, traveller, secret(s) or music in the title - and that was a sneak peek into my mind. Well, my "bookish mind".

Memorable titles - This is a given I think. The more memorable the title, the better.

CAN GO EITHER WAY:

When the title is "different" - Different, even provocative, is good: Boy21, Suicide Watch, Teeth, The Sea of Tranquility, Slammed, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
But there are titles that are just too weird, too... outlandish - The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Hellucination, Drink, Slay, Love. And I doubt that I can manage to say out loud I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats, Sexing the Cherry or I Was An Alien Cat Toy and keep a straight face. These titles are so bad, they are almost good. No, not really.

Words like love, kiss, angel or vampire in the title - These words feel so...overused to me. But it depends on the story inside; a good story could make me like the cliched title.

Single word titles - Usually I prefer long(ish) titles, but as long as it's eye-catching and unique, I'll probably like it - Teeth, Slammed, Slated, It

Too short/long titles - Too short could equal unremarkable, which is never good when it comes to book titles. At the same time, titles with 10+ words can look overachieving, and not in a good way - The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. But I'd pick a book with a long title over one with a short, but dull sounding title any day.

DISLIKES:

Hate the book, hate the title - I tend to feel differently about the title before and after I read the book. Doesn't everyone? That's why when the story leaves a sour taste in my mouth that can easily make me to hate the previously loved title as well - Beautiful Disaster, The Fine Art of Truth or Dare or The Perks of Being a Wallflower (yes, I didn't love, or even like that book)

Title doesn't (seem to) match the story - it's one of my pet peeves - Beautiful Creatures (someone please explain me this title!) Forever (totally misleading, imo)

What kind of titles do you like/dislike? Are you like me? Do your feelings change towards the title once you read the book? Is there a title that you adored, up until you read the book? Or vice versa?

Bookish Likes, Dislikes and Everything in between

[Top Ten Tuesday] Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:01:00 +0000

- hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects (abuse, suicide, grief etc or something personally hard for you)

Now we are talking. Last week it took me FOREVER to come up with something, this time? Minutes.

Suicide Watch by Kelley York - it's about suicide, duh (and cancer)

Where You Are by J.H. Trumble - depicts the painful reality of losing a parent

Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie - a heart-rending portrayal of grief - "Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps." -from the blurb

Slammed by Colleen Hoover - themes of grief and loss

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - a brutal "attack"'s aftermath

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover - I don't want to spoil it to those who haven't read it (yet), but it's Colleen Hoover, so prepare tissues.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - a unique take on the universal themes of loss and grief

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon - "a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome." - from the blurb - Brilliant novel!

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer - a moving story of a nine years old boy trying to come grips with a tremendous loss

The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama - explores the topics of illness and mourning - one of the saddest and most beautiful stories I ever read.

Bout of Books 7.0 Goals&Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:18:00 +0000

READ-A-THON

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I'm not sure how much time I'll have to read, but it's THE Bout of Books, THE Readathon, so I have to participate. Wish me luck and good luck to all my fellow readathoners too!

GOALS:

- finish at least 3 books

- take part in a couple of challenges

- make it to at least one twitter party

BOOKS:

In the Woods by Tana French

Being Henry David by Cal Armistead

The 5th Wave by Rick Jancey

Reclamation by Vee Hoffman

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Updates:
In the Woods by Tana French - 5/14

Challenge: Create a Cover hosted by I Talk Books!
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins:

It's my own photo of the Eiffel Tower, which I manipulated a "little".

Challenge: Acrostic Poem hosted by Harley Bear Book Blog

Tempest by Julie Cross:

~~The 5th Wave~~ ~~by Rick Jancey~~ - 5/17

~~Twitter chat~~ - 5/18

Bookish Likes, Dislikes and Everything in between

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:03:00 +0000

Bookish Likes, Dislikes and Everything in between

LIKES:

Heroine chooses another guy over her first love - when it comes to book romances I can be a hopeless romantic, giggling over the romantic scenes and awwing over the happily ever afters and all that mush, but at the same time I find that I have a hard time buying those 'first love=last love' story lines. It happens so rarely in real life and even when it does, don't judge, I find it more boring that romantic. I mean I guess it can be great in real life, but in book I want more tension, more thrill and just more.
Heroine chooses bad boy over good boy - literary bad boys are one of my weaknesses. I simply can't resist them. My knees buckle and my wallet gives in, just at the promise of meeting a new bad boy. And I almost always "Team Bad Boy".

Good girl goes bad and loves it - I'm such a good girl in real life, so I live vicariously through those bad girls ;) I especially love when good girls find their hidden bad side.
Committed long-term relationships - I don't really like those stories where the couple only gets together on the last pages. I mean it's nice to have a happy ending and all, but I also want to see them together as a couple. I want to see them doing coupley things. I want to go dates with them, I want to hear them fight and make up. I want glimpses into their relationship. If not in the main part of the book, then at least in the form of an epilogue.
Stand alones - I'm definitely one of those readers who prefer stand alones over series. Part of that is because I grew up on stand alones. So for me, one story=one book. Also, I don't appreciate the long waiting periods between installments. Not to mention the dreaded cliffhangers that seem to come hand in hand with most series.

COULD TURN OUT EITHER WAY:

Insta-love - First off, we have to distinguish between insta-love and insta-lust. I don't believe in insta-love. Insta-lust or instant attraction? Hell, yes! Insta-love? No, no, no just no. And while I can't stand the insta-love trope, I can read and enjoy insta-lust. In fact, those are my so called guilty pleasure books.
Love triangles - another thing that I'm not exactly a fan of. Or maybe it's just that I have read so much of it that I developed this Pavlovian reaction where whenever I see the word 'love triangle' I automatically cringe. But most romance and ya have them so I can bear it, if the story and the characters are otherwise interesting.

Kick-ass heroines - I love me some kick-ass, bad-ass heroines. However, I've discovered that oftentimes these seemingly strong, capable and independent protagonists are not that kick-ass at all. They disguise themselves as one by wearing the attitude in the beginning, but when push comes to shove they run to the first guy for help. I'm not a feminist or anything, but if you say that you are kick-ass, then please follow up.
Bad boys - I like, no love bad boys, but I like my bad boys to stay bad boys. "Reformed bad boys" are not for me.
Series/Trilogy - I love long books and want to stay with the characters I love as long as possible, so when it's done right I do like series. That means no killer cliffhangers and no mid series slumps. (The Gone series by Michael Grant is a perfect example for what I would like to see more.)

DISLIKES:

Look-alikes - I want new and fresh stories not the same old, same old. I have already read Twilight once, and no matter how much I loved it, I do not want to read it again in a book that is not titled Twilight.
Companion novels - I feel the same. I don't want to read the same story from another character's POV.
Cliffhangers - are killing me. Slowly, one book at a time. Sigh. I love twists and turns and pivots, the more unpredictable the better, but only in the story, not at the very end.
Novellas - I have nothing against them, I just don't do short stories.

What about you? Tell me about your bookish likes/pet peeves?

[Rant Alert] Dystopian dreams and disappointments

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:45:00 +0000

Rant Alert - a new weekly feature, wherein I ~~talk~~ rant on (and on) about books I read and various bookish topics.

7. Dystopian dreams and disappointments

Dystopian is one of my favorite genres to read (and watch). And I especially like dystopian young adult novels. It brings together my love of coming of age stories and my fascination with dystopian societies. Combine it with good writing and I won't be able to put it down.

Furthermore, the genre is packed with strong leads that I can not only root for, but admire as well. I wouldn't say that I can fully relate to these kick-ass heroes and heroines, I never had to kill anyone/anything in order to survive and I never had enemies who wanted my head, but I can still feel for them and sympathise with their struggles. Ultimately, seeing them overcome their fears and defeat their enemies is what delights me the most.

However, while I still enjoy the offerings of the genre I end up being disappointed more than not. And that's because I rarely like how they end. Or more specifically, how they don't end - because yes, the book has ended, no more pages to read, no next book, but also no closure. And books with loose or cop-out endings leave me unsatisfied and more than a little unhappy.

source

"it's the journey that matters" - nice line, but not when it comes to books. After reading hundreds of pages I want, no deserve ~~a medal~~ a decent ending. I want to end the book with a satisfied sigh not ready to throw it at the walls. But lately it's mostly the latter. Sigh.

I can see what's the problem though. It's easy to create a dystopia. You just need to make up a society where everything that could go wrong did. You will need lots of poor/suffering people who live in factions/districts, a totalitarian regime complete with its evil dictator, some inhuman regulations/deadly games, a number of ~~weird~~ uncommon symbols and you're set. Abracadabra you have your dystopia.

I might sounded sarcastic here, but I actually don't mind the lack of world-building in dystopians. I can forget and forgive almost everything as long as the book entertained me enough and had a well tied up ending.

I want to feel that I've read something worth reading. I want both(!) the protagonist(s) and the world to get their happy end. I want to see that things has changed and got better. Is that too much to ask? Probably.

Making a utopia or at least an operable society out of dystopia is no easy feat to achieve. One of the reasons for that lies in the protagonist. How could a teen main character change a whole society successfully and without boring the reader to death? I just can't see it happen. Therefore, while I hate the no-ending endings, I have to admit that I wouldn't be able to figure out how to do it better either. But hey, I'm the reader, not the writer.

It doesn't mean that I have to like or accept it as a 'no can do'. As long there is another dystopian book out there to discover, there is hope. I won't be giving up on the genre because I believe that one day I'll come across the one - the perfect dystopia. Sounds like a paradox, but here's to hoping....

What do you think about dystopians? Is there hope for this doomed genre?

Do you have a favorite that you would recommend?

How do you cope with those no-ending endings?

Previous rants:

6. Addicted to guilty pleasure books

5. Books I Thought I'd LOVE, but didn't

... More

[Top Ten Tuesday] Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light & Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Tue, 07 May 2013 04:06:00 +0000

- hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light & Fun

Light&fun, light&fun...what? *she gasps as the horrible realization dawns on her: she doesn't read light books anymore* I mean there are those guilty pleasure books I just recently rambled about, sure. But the more I think about it, the less they seem light and fun.... Urgh, maybe I'm over thinking this.

*after some more pondering* - here are 10 books that I consider light&fun:

How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler - I think you can tell just from the title and cover that this book is going to be super fun. And oh boy was it funny. It's probably my favorite light ya. After finishing it, I frantically searched for more books like HNtbP, but to more utter frustration I came up empty.

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger - might be not that light&fun, even heard it called an issue book, but I remember having great fun with it.

I do read chick-lit (like once in a blue moon) and chick-lit equals light&fun, doesn't it?

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
- these books are bestsellers for a reason - I laughed myself silly reading them

GLBT-YA & M/M

Know Not Why by Hannah Johnson - arts and crafts and a hilarious boy-on-boy romance
Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander - it's not really that light, but Shattered Glass is my go-to "funny" M/M romance - bunny slippers!! *excuse the inside joke* - strictly 18+, don't say that I didn't warn you

Manga

Hana-Kimi by Hisaya Nakajo - it's not easy to have a relationship with your dream guy while being disguised as boy, but it creates some very funny situations

Lovely*Complex by Aya Nakahara - cute high school romance between a short guy and a tall girl

Kimi wa Petto/Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa - older woman/younger guy love story, sort of a chick-lit manga

[Book Review] When Love Comes to Town by Tom Lennon

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:24:00 +0000

Before Cracking Open the Book

It was the cover of When Love Comes to Town that first caught my attention. When I saw the 'two guys holding hands' version of the cover on Netgalley, my first thought was "Yay, a new young adult LBGT book! I have to read it!". However, after reading the blurb and finding out about When Love Comes to Town being a reprint of the same title published in 1993, I became hesitant. Because, you see, I went and did some research. What I found was the gawd-awful old cover and a handful of lukewarm reviews. Therefore, I figured this wouldn't be for me, and I would have probably never picked it up on my own, if I hadn't been sent a review invite. After some consideration, I thought why not give it a go. After all, I like the LBGT genre, so it couldn't be that bad, I figured.

...Onto the Book

alone in a crowd

And it wasn't. But rather, it was quite the contrary - I really enjoyed When Love Comes to Town. Honestly, I can't believe that I almost talked myself out of reading this book. I'm so glad I decided to give it a chance, I would have been missing out on a great book if I didn't.

First off, Tom Lennon must be given credit for creating such a genuine teen voice. Neil is a popular guy with a clever wit. However underneath his Mr. Happy mask, Neil is scared and lonely. Despite having a large family and many friends, being gay makes him feel like an outsider and causes him to be secretive about himself.

Neil feels isolated both at home and with his coupled friends. He lies about girls and pretends to laugh while in fact he is outraged by the homophobic jokes. The more intuitive members of his family, like his mom and sister, can sense that something is "off" with him, but he is afraid to come out for fear of the reaction he would likely to get. His Dad's especially.

His house had come into view. It looked like something out of a postcard with the moonlight shrouding the rooftop. But underneath that roof, the secrets would linger. He knew he'd never say it. Nothing would ever change. Seven for secrets never to be told.

The Catholic Ireland in the early 1990s is not a very a good place to be gay. The Pope just made a strong stand against homosexuality. The majority of people believes that homosexual behavior is wrong and a sin. At the same time, it's apparent that the younger generation shows more tolerance and acceptance. Things are definitely changing for the better, if slowly.

"we are family, I got all my sisters with me"

Neil wants to tell and finally be himself, and he is also desperate for some company of his own. Luckily, he finds confidants inside as well as outside of his family. Neil even makes it to a gay bar, where we get an interesting glimpse into the gay life of Ireland in the nineties. We meet Uncle Sugar, a relic of old times. A groundbreaking radio show breaks our hear. We see what AIDS does to a person. We encounter those who chose to hide their orientation, but also meet the ones who don't. When Love Comes to Town takes us back to the time of no internet and no mobile phones, the era of arranging dates on public phones and cruising public toilets for sex, and makes us thankful for what we have now. Just as, Becky and his brother and couples like Redster and Dave or Jackie and Liam reminds us that things will get better.

some battles are won, some are lost

As the title says, love is coming to town, or rather Neil goes to town, Dublin, in search of love. I don't want to spoiler the story, so I'm not giving any details, but it's suffice to say that I liked how this aspect of the story ended. I thought it was sweet. Overall, When Love Comes to Town has a somehow bittersweet ending. Again, times were different then.

After Words

Truth be told, When Love Comes to Town hasn't become my new favorite book, but it is a beautifully written coming of age, coming out story that I'm glad to have read. Definitely worth the reprint and the new cover.

Blurb

With a new introduction by James Klise

The year is 1990, and in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, Neil Byrne plays rugby, keeps up with the in-crowd at his school, and is just a regular guy. A guy who's gay. It's a secret he keeps from the wider world as he explores the city at night and struggles to figure out how to reveal his real self--and to whom.

First published in Ireland in 1993 and compared to The Catcher in the Rye by critics, Tom Lennon's When Loves Comes to Town is told with honesty, humor, and originality.

Published:

March 1st 2013 by Albert Whitman Teen (first published November 1st 1993)

Goodreads - Amazon - Book Depository

LGBT Read-a-Thon - Goals & Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:06:00 +0000

I love read-a-thons and LGBT books, so when I saw that Faye at A Daydreamer's Thoughts is hosting an LGBT Read-a-thon, I knew I had to sign up. Do you want to read some LGBT books this weekend? You still have time to sign up, if you want to join in! - Go HERE

My goals for the read-a-thon:

- to read (and review) at least two books

- participate in the twitter chat

- post 2 reviews

BOOKS:

When Love Comes to Town by Tom Lennon (review copy) - it looks like we are all reading this

Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie (bought) - I've already read this once, so now I'm just going to reread the bookmarked parts and then review it. It might kill me (just thinking about this book brings tears to my eyes), but I'm doing it.

Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz (won) - this is going to be amazing. Or I hope so. *fingers crossed*

Maurice by E.M. Forster (bought) - Maurice has been on my tbr for quite a while now, and I'd love to finally read it this weekend, but I'm not sure that I'll have enough time to fit it in.

Updates:

When Love Comes to Town - read&reviewed

Personal Effects - Review is DONE - Going to post it next week.

Writing it was like watching Byung-hee die over and over and over again:

you're welcome.

So,

Now, off to read Teeth - why do I have a feeling that this book is gonna make me cry as well??

Wrap-up

read and reviewed: When Love Comes to Town

~~Personal Effects~~ - wrote and scheduled the review

Teeth - read about half of it

participated in the twitter chat - and it was EPIC

This was hands down one of my favorite readathons.

Many thanks to Faye for hosting it!!

bye, bye, abayo~

[Book Review] Ink by Amanda Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Thu, 02 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Before Cracking Open the Book

Just look at these covers! Both the original (on the left) and the new are beautiful. In fact, the artwork goes way beyond beautiful. It's like they are actual paintings - absolutely stunning ink paintings.

I've always been fascinated with Asian culture and have enjoyed reading books set there and/or about Asian characters. However, I usually shy away from reading the ones that are written by non-Asian authors. I know many won't agree, but I'm a strong believer of write about what you know. Really know. And whereas I did enjoy some Asian themed books that were written by Western authors, my favorites are without doubt the books penned by Asian authors like Keigo Higashino, Natsuo Kirino or Banana Yoshimoto.

Also, the ARC reviews I've seen are not so positive so far... Yet I couldn't help being intrigued by the idea of Paper Gods. So I was on the fence whether to read this book for a while, but in the end my curiosity won. I went in with low expectations,

...Onto the Book

but I ended up enjoying myself, for the most part. Maybe because I was prepared to hate it, so each time I find a line or a character I liked, it felt like a surprise. Also, the book has some illustrations and I'm always weak against pretty drawings, especially of horses and dragons.

the stalker and her "God"

keeping each other at arm's distance was the only way to trust each other. That way, no one would lunge, and either of us could retreat.
We lived in parallel worlds, somehow held together by the axis of each.

What prevented me from really loving Ink were the characters. I didn't feel for neither of the main characters. Also, both Katie and Tomohiro have behaved in a rather weird and perplexing way. What Katie did in the early chapters of the book was straight out stalking. And who, I ask, in their right mind would fall in love with a stalker almost instantly? Someone not in their right mind, that's who. Tomohiro fits the profile to the 't'. He has an obsessive, all-consuming need to draw. He is this powerful Kami (paper God) and can make his drawings literally leap off the pages, but have little control over them once they left the paper. Watching Katie in stalker mode was already awkward, but Tomohiro in his ink possessed moments was even more unsettling. I actually don't mind weird characters. In fact, I usually fall the hardest for those unusual -or even "crazy"- characters, but in this case it somehow backfired. Katie and Tomo were odd alright, but they didn't feel real. Also, the chemistry between them didn't feel particularly scorching to me. And to my disappointment, the characters didn't leap off the pages like Tomo's beautiful drawings, no matter how much I wished they would. Because Ink had such a potential. I hate seeing it (and those pretty covers and illustrations) go to waste.

the everyday life of a Japanese high school student

The one big redeeming quality of Ink is the setting. Amanda Sun absolutely nailed that. It really shows that the author has lived in Japan and studied Asian history. My favorite parts of the book were those little snippets of Katie's daily life in Shizuoka, Japan. Because of her mother's dead, Katie has been uprooted from her home and transplanted into a world she knew almost nothing about. She had to build a completely new life in a foreign country where she didn't even speak the language. It wasn't easy, but she gradually managed to find her place in Shizuoka. So while most of the time Katie's behavior baffled me, especially toward boys, I did enjoy this side of her - the side that was interested in Japan; its culture, the language, the food, etc.

tangled mess, with the yakuza

Now, back to the things I didn't like. The "supporting" characters were all bland, cardboard stereotypes. Katie's "friends" were mostly just there to fill the space and the way they talked seriously made me cringe. The only slightly interesting looking ones were the mysterious, villainy Jun and Tomo's friend, Ishikawa. But sadly, they ended up rather bland as well.
Not just the characters were odd/bland, but the plot was a tangled mess. The idea - of ancient paper Gods with the power over ink - was great, but unfortunately, it wasn't followed through very well. The main character, Katie's connection to the ink felt extremely forced and was never really explained. The ink seems to react to her for some yet unknown reason, but she didn't have any useful powers or brain cells, and was more like a bystander to everything that was going on.

After Words

Ink was a confusing book. I sort of liked the beginning, but then things went down a weird path. For a while it looked like the story would find its legs, only to get even more messed up and constrained. Finally, it somehow got itself together - even ended on a rather cool note. Sigh.

Additionally, the writing style also left a lot to be desired. There were some outstanding sentences, but overall it just didn't flow well enough.

Ink made me shake my head in disbelief more than once and I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it, but overall it wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. ... and that's my two cent. Over and out. (Meaning: I'm discontinuing this series. It wasn't unenjoyable, but it failed to move me enough to want to pick up the next book.)

Blurb

I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.

Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench.

A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.

And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

Expected publication:

June 25th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

Goodreads - Amazon - The Book Depository

[Top Ten Tuesday] Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:04:00 +0000

- hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

I love this week's theme! Most of my favorite books revolve around recurring topics, such as music, travelling, forbidden love and so on. Narrowing down the list to 10 (I have at least 15, if not more favorite topics) was a bit of a challenge, but I did it. So, without further ado, here're the top ten topics/words that most likely to make me want to read a book:

LGBTQ - I just LOVE to read LBGT related books. Especially coming of age romances.

Forbidden - After LGBT books, forbidden love stories - teacher-student relationships and Romeo and Juliet-like romances - are my other vice. To me, there is something compelling about forbidden romance and secret lovers. (I think that forbiddenness was what made Twilight so appealing to me.)

Age Difference - I also enjoy love stories where there is some age difference (5-10 years) between the couple. I think my love for these kind of stories originates back to my Jdrama fan days. Dramas like Sore wa, Totsuzen, Arashi no you ni and Kimi wa Petto made me a fan of older woman/younger man relationships.

Lonely - My favorite type of characters are the lonely, sad ones. The damaged, broken characters. The characters that make me want to hug them. BUT, I don't want to read tragedies. I want them to find hope and happiness, friends and love.

Revenge - I blame the Count of Monte Cristo for this.

Running Away/Kidnapping - Again, there's something fascinating about these dark topics. I can't resist them.

Antihero - Yep, back to "darkness". Flawed, twisted heroes are the best type of "heroes", imho. Especially serial killers and con artists. ;)

Road trip - I love to travel. But can't do it all the time, no matter how fun that sounds. So the next best thing is reading about it. And there is something old fashioned and romantic about road trips that I love.

Music - I'm also into music (and musicians :P ), and enjoy when books include music references or characters that are singers/musicians.

Asia (Japanese/Korean) - I'm ~~obsessed~~ fascinated with the Asian culture and love to read books set in there.

Dewey's Read-A-Thon 2013 - Goals&Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:58:00 +0000

Hey, everyone!

I can't believe that it's time again for Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon. This is going to be my second time participating, and I'm so excited!!! Aaaaand this time I'm going to do some cheering as well *shakes virtual pom poms*

So let's get this party started!

Starting line:

My reading goals are to finish The Elite and to read as much as I can of Ink and Being Henry David. I also am hoping to participate in a couple of challenges. And I plan to cheer on fellow read-a-thon-ers in between reading as much as possible. Are you participating? What are you most looking forward to?

Updates:

Introductory Questionnaire:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? - Hungary

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? - Being Henry David

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? - Peanut Butter Muffins and Pastel de Nata

(photos coming later)

4) Tell us a little something about yourself! - I have two dogs and right now I should be out there playing with them as I always do on Saturdays... But right now I HAVE to read and cheer. Sorry my lovelies, I'll try to sneak in a little "dog snuggling" break later.

For more check out my About me Page :)

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? - This is my second Dewey Readathon. Last year I was a little underprepared, especially in the snacks department, so I vowed that I'd do better this time. I'll also try to last more (last year I fell asleep...). Oh, and this is my first time being a cheerleader, and I'm really looking forward to that.

Book Appetit Challenge - hosted by Book Journey
I'm currently reading The Elite by Kiera Cass and the main character America loooves to eat. Here's a menu I think she would approve:

Onion Soup - maybe it's just me, but onion soup always looked dystopian to me...

- with wine

Dessert:
Pastel de Nata - one of my favorite desserts

(recipe)

and:
Melon soda with ice cream - because I love it and because Katie (the main character of Ink, the other book I'm reading) does too.

Re-title Challenge - hosted by Geeky Blogger
It's not that original, but very fitting: The Elite > The Bachelor tries to meet The Hunger Games, but instead ends up with America's Next Top Model and Miss America 2163
but yes, I'm enjoying it...

Clear the Cobwebs and Recharge Yoga Challenge - hosted by Elizabeth Michelle
- done all the poses (loved the Child's Pose), it was very refreshing

Hour 12 - Halfway Update:
Did: two round of cheering
Completed: 3 challenges. Also, my reading is going surprisingly well:

Mid-Event Survey:
1) How are you doing? Sleepy? - I'm doing GREAT! Not sleepy at all.
2) What have you finished reading? - The Elite
3) What is your favorite read so far? - The Elite ;)
4) What about your favorite snacks? - this time I'm letting the pictures talk:

5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love! - Yes! And I'm a cheerleader, so it's my "job" to comment and I did, a lot.

Picture Challenge - hosted by Kristen

My reading corner where I'm currently reading the Egalley of Ink (by Amanda Sun) - it has some really pretty illustrations in it :)

Mad Libs Challenge - hosted by Jessica and Mia

"Hey, kid," he waves at me. Warnings fly all over. Drew looks like he wants to kiss me. I help him pick up the toys, gazing constantly, pushing them into his hands while Drew murmurs, "yeah, thanks, just stay away from her"

the original paragraph was from Being Henry David by Cal Armistead:

"Dammit, kid," he shouts at me. Papers fly all over. He looks like he wants to punch me. I help him pick up the papers, apologizing constantly, pushing them into his hands while he murmurs, "yeah, whatever, just get away from me"

Goal Line:

End of event meme:

Which hour was most daunting for you? - Hour 15 (5am here. I HAD to get some sleep at that point. Have slept for about 5 hours...then got up around Hour 20 to finish Ink)

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? - To be honest, while I enjoyed my books, I wouldn't say that they were that... special. But maybe Being Henry David. I just dipped my toes into it, but it looks really interesting and unique.

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? - not really. Sorry, I'm still sleepy here. But no, I think it's already great as it is :)

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? - Everything! The challenges were especially fun. Also, huge thanks to the Team Lion cheerleaders (Chris, Ali and Lisa) for cheering me on.

How many books did you read? - I've finished 2.

What were the names of the books you read? - The Elite, Ink and the first couple pages of Being Henry David .

Which book did you enjoy most? -The Elite, I guess....

Which did you enjoy least? - ..... Ink

If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? - Um, not really? I'm rubbish when it comes to giving advice. It was my first time cheering, so it's not like I'm suddenly a pro or anything. But well, comment as much as you can and make your comments personal, I guess.

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? - Very!

What role would you be likely to take next time? - Reader. And I might do some cheering again as well.

10 Signs of a True Book Addict

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:01:00 +0000

10 Signs of a True Book Addict

1. You are powerless over the lure of books. Every time you happen upon a place that sells books you have to pop in and caress a few books. You're not likely to leave empty-handed.

(source)

2.You're surrounded by books, there is at least one book within your arm's reach right now.

- a not unfamiliar sight

3. There is not a time when you're not "currently reading" something

4. You don't go anywhere without a book. Also, you can and will read anywhere.

(source)

5. When you read, the world around you disappears, ceases to exist. It's just the book and you.

6. You think/talk about book characters like they're real people.

7. Books often make you feel overwhelmed, blow you away with their sheer incredibleness

- and render you speechless

8. You have a list of "MUST have" books. Sooner or later they're coming home with you. Probably sooner.

9. You do a little happy dance every time you get your hands on a long waited book

10. When you plan a vacation you check for famous bookstores (like Shakespeare and Co.) you will have to visit.

(source)

So, are you a true book addict? How many of these "signs" do you recognise in yourself?
What things make YOU a book addict?

[Top Ten Tuesday] Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like LESS Than I Did

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:46:00 +0000

- hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I already did a post on books I thought I'd like more than I did, so this time I'm showing my

Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like LESS Than I Did

Angelfall by Susan Ee - Until Angelfall I thought all angel books are like Hush, Hush. Awful. But as it turns out there are some great angel books out there.

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins - after post-apocalyptic Angelfall, here's a contemporary romance with angels and demons. It took me a long time and many gushing reviews to pick it up, but when I did I couldn't put it down. Sweet Evil is no hidden literary gem, but perfect for when you crave some light fun.

Partials by Dan Wells - I picked it up for the Terminator-like robots, but there were a few things in the blurb that made me uncomfortable. I knew that there's going to be lots of talk about pregnancy and babies dying(!) in Partials and I just couldn't imagine that I would enjoy reading about that. Thankfully, the greater part of the book was a huge "let's capture a Partial road trip" that I loved every minute of it. Plus, the characters were all great and multi-dimensional.

Selection by Kiera Cass - I was fully prepared to hate this book, but I didn't - I really enjoyed it (perhaps it helped that I've listened to it on audiobook and the narrator was good)

The Green by Karly Kirkpatrick - the story of a drug-dealer cheerleader sounded interesting, but I didn't expect to like as much as I did. (I think it was because I could connect to the main character really well, not that I ever was a drug dealer or a cheerleader)

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling - I started reading the HP series after the first 5 has already been released. I bought the books out of curiosity and never expected to love it as much as I did. I fell in love with these magical characters and creatures.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - I was afraid this would be more of a "boy book" (with the gaming and all), but even though I know next to nothing about gaming and old tv shows I was totally engrossed in the book from beginning to end.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson - The cover is just creepy, really creepy. But then this line "she accidentally forgot that she mailed herself a cobra." (from About the author) made me curious. So I read it and it was hilarious (especially the first half of the book). I was literally laughing out loud.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion - It was my first "zombie" book. I wasn't even sure that I would like it, but boy was I wrong. I absolutely LOVED it. Warm Bodies is so much more than a zombie book.
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks - Reading a "zombie Romeo and Juliet" was one thing, but the history of a fictional zombie war? Also, I'm not a fan of novellas, and World War Z is essentially a collection of short stories. So I was mildly sceptical, but as luck have it I ended up winning this book too. And I ended up thoroughly enjoying it, what's more It. Made. Me. Cry. (that's huge, I rarely cry over books)

[Cover Characteristic] Manga/Comic/Graphic Novel cover

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:55:00 +0000

- Cover Characteristic is hosted by Sugar&Snark

Manga/Comic/Graphic Novel cover

This week's theme is so me! Well, I don't read comics/graphic novel, only manga (and illustrated novels). And I don't even read manga that much anymore, but my love for it is still strong.

So, without further ado, here are my favorite covers:

Tachibana Venio: Seven Days Monday - Thursday (manga)

Tachibana Venio: Seven Days Friday - Sunday (manga)

- front covers - the characters look great, also the background is so pretty, especially on the Friday- Sunday one

- back covers - love the yellow flowers, and Seryou's pose (on the right)

Midorikawa Yuki - Natsume Yuujinchou, Volume 8

- front and back cover - Nyanko sensei!!! - such a cute cover

Sakurai Shoushi - L'Arc~en~Ciel Maximum (manga)

- front cover (back is pretty much the same) - Hyde <3 and they all look kinda badass

Maeda Sakae - Kesshou Monogatari (manga) - love the pastel coloring, the title font, the taiyaki (in Tou's mouth) and the "spirit animals"

- front and back cover

[Rant Alert] Addicted to guilty pleasure books

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:50:00 +0000

Rant Alert - a new weekly feature, wherein I ~~talk~~ rant on (and on) about books I read and various bookish topics.

6. Addicted to guilty pleasure books

Last week's rant was all doom and gloom, so let's talk about something fun and easy now: guilty pleasure reads. Books you think you shouldn't admit to have read, let alone enjoy. Books that you're a bit embarrassed to be seen with.

Guilty pleasure books are like drug and I'm quite a consumer.

I don't particularly feel guilty, per se. And I definitely am not ashamed to admit liking these type of books. Or think that I should read "real literature" instead of wasting my time on ~~garbage~~ fluff.

I think they're great when you're looking for some mindless fun.

While I'm not going around shouting "I love Twilight" from the rooftops, if you ask me what I'm currently reading and I happen to be reading Unearthly (yep, reading and loving it) I won't deny it. On the contrary, I'll probably going to gush about it.

(source)

I'm so addicted. Like I'm addicted to coffee and cookies. An addiction that's almost impossible to break. Aww, who am I kidding? I have no intention of quitting anytime soon. As addictions go, I'd say this is a pretty healthy one. (I don't drink or smoke)

Few of my recent "guilty pleasures":

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins - Anna, a delicate southern snowflake falls in love with Kai, the British bad boy with demon blood in his veins. Truthfully, I couldn't care less for the plot, it was absolutely silly. But it was also fun and hot - totally made me giggle.

Selection by Kiera Cass - Guilty pleasure is the best term for this book. It's The Bachelor (bunch of girls vying for one man's attention) meets Top Model (the make-over scene) meets The Hunger Games (dystopian setting). Considering how much I loathe reality tv, I shouldn't enjoy it. But again, this book wrapped me around its little finger and now I'm craving the next book, exactly like an addict.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - I just started reading this and wow it's really good. Unearthly is another angel book, but it's so funny ("wow, that's a good wrestler, he must be an angel.", "save the world one hot guy at a time" < favorite quotes so far). Plus, I cheated so I know that Clara is going to end up with the guy I favor. Cheating is permitted in case of guilty pleasure reading. You want a pleasurable book, so you have to make sure that it's going to be one. Right?

How to best enjoy a guilty pleasure book

If feasible, listen to it on audiobook - it maximizes the enjoyment
Don't get too attached to the characters - liking them is fine, swooning over the hot ones is even suggested, but sometimes bad things happen... Don't forget, you're reading this for fun!
Don't worry about the love triangle - or if you do cheat before committing
Don't be fussy about the world building
Don't take it too seriously
+ Books with supernatural beings and books set in a paranormal or dystopian world make the best guilty pleasures, in my opinion

What do you think about guilty pleasure books? Do you read them? If yes, are you "out or in the closet" (do you admit liking it)? What is your "crack" book?

Previous rants:

5. Books I Thought I'd LOVE, but didn't

4. A Standing Ovation to...Audiobooks

... More

[Book Review] Slammed by Colleen Hoover

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:24:00 +0000

Before Cracking Open the Book

This review

(has been delayed again and again.

This review)

has been a long time coming.

This book

(has been read by me again and again.

This book)

has been a favorite ever since I first read it (almost exactly a year ago)

The dark ages

Before-Slammed was like that,

Only, I didn't even notice it

that I have been missing something.

... Onto the Book

After-Slammed era

Finding it was like finding a missing piece of puzzle you didn't even know was missing.

A piece of puzzle that fits so perfectly into you,

that reaches to the very core of your soul.

Oh yes.

Slammed moved me

(moved me to tears,

moved me to laughter)

to the extremes.

Oh yes.

Overrode my system,

rendered me speechless.

No words, no words,

Oh no.

Will and Layken,

drawn to one other

like butterflies to the flowers.

Oh yes.

Slammed and Me,

pulled to each other

like I have always been

pulled toward hope over sadness.

Oh, butterflying yes.

After Words

One moment,

a milestone decision

To pick up a book over another

Was all it took.

Sometimes I wonder:

how little decisions could change everything,

how happy a choice could me you.

It's wondrously incredible

Like Slammed is.

Book Blurb

'Slammed' is the first of a two book series.

After the unexpected death of her father forces eighteen year old Layken and her family to move across the country, away from everyone and everything she knows, her outlook on life is anything but hopeful.

Enter Will Cooper: the attractive twenty-one year old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry. After a night together that turns out to be everything but the expected, both Layken and Will are left with feelings they never knew they could have. Unfortunately in Layken's life, things are never what they seem. Just as quickly as it develops, their relationship is derailed by a shocking revelation, sparking a tumultuous battle between their hearts and their ethics.

As if the dramatic turn of events in her life isn't enough, Layken is slammed again when her mother reveals a secret of her own. A secret so intense, all of Layken's current problems pale in comparison to her seemingly insurmountable future. Unable to confront the changes that lie ahead of her, Layken ignores her conscience as she turns to Will for solace. Struggles ensue as both Layken and Will search for a balance between that which keeps them apart and the feelings that pull them together.

Published:

Published January 5th 2012 by Colleen Hoover

Goodreads - Amazon - Book Depository

From the moment I finished Slammed I know, I just know that I could not do justice to it. (Have you ever felt like this?) So I put off reviewing it. I've stated many times on my blog and on Goodreads how much I loved it, but that was it. I'm still not capable of actually reviewing it, not in a traditional way. However I wanted to post something, anything. And since Slammed has introduced me to performance poetry and made me fall in love with it, I decided to go and write a poem about my feelings toward the book.

I absolutely loved Slammed. I loved Will and Layken (such a unique name!), their brothers, as well as Layken's Mom. It's a sad, sad book, but at the same time it's a book bursting with hope. It's a deeply romantic book, but it's not just about this forbidden romance between a teacher and his student. It's so much more. It's two families journey through losses and death. It's not just about soul mates finding one other, but two family molding into one.

Now, I just hope that I have succeeded in conveying my huge and strong love for the book into this little poem.

I've also read Point of Retreat and Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. And while I liked both, they didn't have the same impact on me as Slammed. This book is something else, in the most amazing way, and thus unrepeatable.

Have you read Slammed? What did you think about it?

[Top Ten Tuesday] Book I Had VERY Strong Emotions About

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:06:00 +0000

- hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Tuesday Rewind (- pick a past topic you missed or one you want to revisit)

I picked:

Top Ten Books I Had VERY Strong Emotions About

Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie - I just finished this and am so overwhelmed with feelings. So much sadness. T.J.'s story broke my heart into a million pieces. *sobs* Personal Effects is absolutely heartbreaking - heartbreakingly beautifully written.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz - <3 - I'd marry this book if I could - "totally captivated me and catapulted its way right into my top books ever. I felt like it was written to me, that right along with Ari and Dante, I, too, had discovered the secrets of the universe." - from my Review - And the ending made me giddy with happiness.

Boy21 by Matthew Quick - "got totally absorbed into this book." - from my Review. A unique and powerful coming of age story from the author of Silver Linings Playbook.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - One of the most touching books I've read. Absolutely LOVED the Monster and his stories. The ending (Conor's story) was something I didn't expect at all.

Vain by Fisher Amelie - the only book on this list that I've nothing, but negative feelings toward. I couldn't stand Sophie and this whole book was a huge disappointment.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - Cried my eyes out at the ending. It's a book I LOVED and hated.

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - LOVED the characters so much and kept thinking about them long after I'd finished it. "caught in a daze, overflowing with emotions." - from my Review

Slammed by Colleen Hoover - I just LOVED the whole book.

Where You Are by J.H. Trumble - "a book that stays in memory. It made me think. It made me feel." - from my Review. This book made me laugh, happy, anxious, angry and happy again.

Suicide Watch by Kelley York - A book that brought out many emotions from me. - "had many "Omg! No, please, no!" moments, also smiley moments, and I admit hugging my Kindle a few times."- from my Review. - An absolutely riveting read.

[Rant Alert] Books I Thought I'd LOVE, but didn't

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:23:00 +0000

Rant Alert - a new weekly feature, wherein I ~~talk~~ rant on (and on) about books I read and various bookish topics.

5. Books I Thought I'd LOVE, but didn't
*insert sad face*

This time I'm going to talk about a not so uplifting bookish topic: let-downs. I think we all know the feeling of having let down by a book, right? When we think we will love the book, but instead end up being severely disappointed. In most cases, those let-downs happen for a good (objective or subjective) reason. Let's take a closer look at what could trigger them:

...is just not my genre

It's high time to accept the unchangeable truth, fantasy and me are just not meshing well at all. I still find myself tempted by a gushing review, a pretty cover or a great sounding premise from time to time, but I should resist. Those forays into the world of fantasy are almost always ending with me vowing to never again.

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - The only part I was interested in was about the dragons (who doesn't love dragons?!), and I was disappointed that they had such a small role, not to mention that it was of a villain.

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff - DNFed about 50 pages in. YA fantasy is really, really not my cup of tea, on top of that, this book is jam-packed with details of an imaginary Japanese/Chinese world that, honestly, makes no sense whatsoever.

Eon (and Eona as well) by Alison Goodman - was actually not that bad. I'm fascinated by cross-dressing, and in here I liked the world building as well. However, I couldn't connect to any of the main characters. The supporting characters were great and I felt so sad for them for the way they were being treated. Eona and Kyogo (the prince) were both selfish people users. The fact that Eona is a cripple/a girl pretending to be a boy doesn't make it okay to do the things she has done, and I couldn't not see how cruel the prince was.

There is only one The Time Traveler's Wife, Slammed, Anna and the French Kiss, etc. - or beware of too high expectations

I absolutely loved the above-mentioned books, and when I hear about a book that has the same themes (like time travel or a story set in Paris), I'm automatically intrigued. I can't help it, and it leads to many let downs, because let's face it, these books were perfect (to me) and that's high to live up to.

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone - I had overly high expectations for this one. First off, the author's page is so awesome. Also, it promised me time travel, a unique romance and music - all things I love. Don't get me wrong it wasn't a bad book, but compared to The Time Traveler's Wife or even Tempest it was a little bit boring. (not nearly enough traveling (time or not), and where was the music??)

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen - "Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss" is how this book has been advertised. However, except for a few french lessons there was nothing Anna and the French Kiss in there. It was just another run-of-the-mill ya romance.

Easy by Tamara Webber - Sure, sure I liked it, but loved? Nah. Slammed and The Sea of Tranquility were a hundred times better, imo. (I know many love this book, well, different tastes and all, I guess)

Unraveling (Unraveling #1) by Elizabeth Norris - I'd rather have spent my time re-watching Roswell, in retrospect.

Nothing is sure-proof, not even your favorite genre

I love urban fantasy, zombie books and stories about reapers, however it doesn't mean that every book with a zombie or a grim reaper in it is automatically goes to my favorites shelf.

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers - I don't get why everyone loves this book. To me this "zombie" book was unbearably boring - colorless and lifeless.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (Necromancer #1) by Lish McBride - I also heart necromancers and the title sounded so cool, I couldn't resist. I should have, as it only took a few chapters for everything to go south: too many characters, too many POVs, too weird humor, and overall just too much.

Starters (Starters and Enders #1) by Lissa Price - I enjoy sci-fi and the cover was insta-love. But the fact that the main character, Callie does not have white hair nor two colored eyes has disenchanted me.(it might sound shallow, but she just looked so unique on the cover. I wanted my story about that white haired girl with the weird eyes so bad. Not to mention how much I don't appreciate when a cover "lies") Also, the story was just average.

Inbetween by Tara Fuller - If you want a good reaper story read Croak or First Grave on the Left instead of this.

Peer pressure/over-hyped books

Fact: the books that everyone seems love and recommend are not always as good as everyone else says they are. (again, tastes differ)

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - Had to DNF it, bloodthirsty seahorses are just not for me.

Vain by Fisher Amelie - It was kind of a last ditch effort to save my relationship with New Adult books - it spectacularly failed.

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - I simply couldn't get into it...

Second book syndrome

When the second book just doesn't measure up to the awesomeness of the first. This happens way too often.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth - I quite enjoyed it, but it was no Divergent.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - Felt the same.

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover - I love Slammed, and was good to see Will and Layken again, but don't feel this book was necessary... (don't know how I feel about the third book: same story from Will's POV this time)

Scorch by Gina Damico - is not only didn't measure up, but, much worse, I came to dislike the main character in this installment.

Cover buys, or going in blindly

I don't usually engage in this practice and always read the blurb at least, but pretty covers could make me ignore the nagging doubts. Vain, Earth Girl, Starters, The Nightmare Affair - just to name a few of my failed "cover romances".

Tell me about you book let-downs!

Previous rants:

4. A Standing Ovation to...Audiobooks

3. The Great Love Triangle Dilemma

... More

[RandomAsia] Lunafly, CNBlue & Btooom!

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:38:00 +0000

- where I fangirl over J-rock, J-pop, K-pop, Anime, Manga, Asian cinema and other Asian related stuffs

LUNAFLY - Fly To Love

- I'm sort of a fan of Lunafly and this new song is really cute and catchy ("What a perfect day to fly away~)

CNBLUE - I'm Sorry

- You can't go wrong with an on the rooftop music video. Also, this is a crazy good song ("R U Crazy")

Nano - No pain, No game (Btooom! OP)

- I'm currently watching the anime Btooom! and it's awesome, Battle Royale-awesome if you know what I'm meaning :D

("The game has only just begun")

I also like the male version of the song.

[Top Ten Tuesday] Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 04:06:00 +0000

- hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
The Talisman by Stephen King

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Gone by Michael Grant
Host by Stephenie Meyer
Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

+ Agatha Christie's mysteries

The Rules of Our Realtionship - The NOs

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:27:00 +0000

The Rules of Our Relationship - The NOs

Jacket Off

You look absolutely devastating in that shiny dust jacket of yours, my pretty hardcover. I can't wait to get to know you better. But first, let's get comfortable and loose the jacket. Oh, there's no need to be shy. Trust me, you're beautiful. You're perfect. Besides, you don't want me to accidentally tear your jacket when I'm too into you and get overexcited, do you? I promise, I'll give your cover back when we are finished.

No reading the last page first. Ever. Period.

We've just met, but I'm already mesmerized. I want to know all there is to know about you, book, and as fast as possible. However, I understand your wish of not wanting to tell all your secrets to me so early into our relationship. Thus I'll restrain myself and do things in the the right order. We'll go together from chapter to chapter until the last page of our relationship. Just please, please don't disappoint me. Don't betray the ~~money~~ trust I put in you.

No to note taking, (but yes to bookmarking)

I'm so into you and so busy reading you I can't possible do anything else. I try to memorise every little detail about you - to understand you, to hold onto you. I want to remember you forever.

No reading in the bathtub

It would be oh-so-fun! Bubbles and books go together like cookies and cream, but we can't risk getting you all soggy and wrinkled.

No writing in the book or damaging the book any way

I want to mark you mine like a werewolf its mate (yes, I'm currently reading a werewolf book). I'd love to tattoo your skin with my thoughts. But I shouldn't. I mustn't. Your white skin is so soft and delicate. It's perfection. I'm not worthy to alter anything on it.

What kind of relationship do you have with your books?

[Book Review] Boy21 by Matthew Quick

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:26:00 +0000

Before Cracking Open the Book

What made me pick Boy21 up? I've been trying to come up with the answer for about an hour now, but it's just not something I can explain, not in objective terms. It was like my spider sense was tingling or something. I only knew that this book would be something different, in a good way. I hadn't read anything by Matthew Quick before, or even heard of him. Yet everything about this book called to me. The title, the cover, the blurb - everything.

...Onto the Book

white rabbit - jersey number 21

When I started the book, other than it's going to be a contemporary book about friendship and basketball, I didn't know what to expect. Is it going be too sad for me? Will there be hope for these guys in the end? What about the sports aspect of it? I'm not a basketball person and know very little about the sport.

And now here I'm, just a few hours after finishing Boy21, bursting with feelings.

Finley lives in Bellmont, in a dangerous neighborhood: there're metal detectors at school, graffiti on the walls and trash covers the streets. Also, there's tension between the white and black people in the town, not to mention the ruthless Irish mob - it's the kind of life you would do anything to get away from. But Finley has basketball, his very own place of escape.

"I remember the leaves falling and crunching under my feet, the snowflakes burning my skin, the yellow long stem flowers blooming by the fence, and then being scorched by the powerful July sun - through all I kept shooting"

Finley speaks little (he has a reason for that), but despite growing up in this awful place he is a kind, considerate guy with a helpful nature.

Then there's Erin, Finley's girlfriend. They are childhood friends turned lovers and he loves her as much as he loves basketball if not more. They are planning to leave Bellmont together, with the help of basketball. However things take a sudden, horrible turn.

I really like to read about established couples with long history between them. It's a hundred times more fascinating to me than those instant love stories. And Finley and Erin's story was a great one.

Finley doesn't really have friends only teammates, his life revolves around basketball, Erin and his family. The arrival of Boy21 changes everything.

black rabbit - Boy21

Russ, or Boy21 as he calls himself, has lost his parents and is acting sort of, well there's no other way to say this, crazy. Like talking about outer space, spaceships and calling Finley "Earthling" crazy. He used to be this great basketball player, but now wants nothing to do with the game. And it's Finley's "job" to be his friend and encourage him to pick up the ball again.

My favorite parts of the book were the discussions between Boy21 and Finley. It's hard to explain without giving away too many details, but all the crazy stuff Boy21 talked about weren't crazy talk at all. And I just loved Boy21 and Finley and their unlikely friendship. They, as well as their friendship were so real. Russ needed someone exactly like Finley to help him, same as Finley needed Russ to finally face the past and gather the courage to move on.

letter from Hogwarts

"There're probably people who wouldn't think our lives are real either, if we wrote exactly what happened to us in a book"

One of my favorite aspects of the book were the references to Harry Potter. Such an amazing idea and it fitted to Finley and Russ' story perfectly.

I really liked this whole book. The characters, the writing as well as the ending were all fantastic. The only character I couldn't stand was the Coach. I get that he did what he thought was necessary to help Russ, but he didn't consider Finley's feelings. Or at least not enough. On the other hand, without him Finley and Russ would have never become friends. And while he wasn't my favorite as a person he was a good coach, I'll give him that much.

After Words

First person present tense narration is not my favorite, yet I got totally absorbed into this book. Finley was a fascinating character and being with him in his mind was equally fascinating.

Boy21 is a beautiful story of friendship, healing and new beginnings. It's heartfelt and heartrending. It made me have the same feelings as I had while (and after) reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I loved Boy21 so much. It was exactly my kind of book and I am so very happy that I trusted my gut instinct. I only wish that I had read it sooner so that I could have added it to my "books I recommend most" list.

(source) - my favorite scene in the book

Book Blurb

Basketball has always been an escape for Finley. He lives in gray, broken Bellmont, a town ruled by the Irish Mob, drugs, violence, and racially charged rivalries. At home, he takes care of his disabled grandfather, and at school he’s called “White Rabbit”, the only white kid on the varsity basketball team. He’s always dreamed of getting out somehow with his girlfriend, Erin. But until then, when he puts on his number 21, everything seems to make sense.

Russ has just moved to the neighborhood. A former teen basketball phenom from a privileged home, his life has been turned upside down by tragedy. Cut off from everyone he knows, he now answers only to the name Boy21—his former jersey number—and has an unusual obsession with outer space.

As their final year of high school brings these two boys together, “Boy21” may turn out to be the answer they both need.

Published:

March 5th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Goodreads - Amazon - The Book Depository

My obsession for ballet movies

noreply@blogger.com (Cayce) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:29:00 +0000

For some reason -because they're awesome, duh!- I love watching ballet movies and documentaries. Center Stage, TuTu Much and First Position are my three favorites, in that order.

(source)

I never took a single ballet lesson in my entire life. I like dancing, but ballet looks...painful. As a matter of fact, I don't even like "real" ballet. I'd choose a musical or a play over a ballet any day. BUT I absolutely love watching movies on ballet dancers. Or any kind of dancers. But ballet is definitely my favorite right now.
The life of a dancer is anything but easy. It takes a a huge amount of work to become a great dancer and I can only admire this level of dedication. It's incredible what some people can do with their bodies. Not to mention fascinating to watch.
These dancers are so young, yet already know that dancing is what they want to do for the rest of their life. Their love for dancing shines through every moment. The camera takes us up close to the dancers and shows the hardships they have to go through to reach their dream. To become a professional ballet dancer at a ballet company.
But not everybody can make it. Ballet companies only employ the best of the best. At the end of all three films there is a test, an audition, a workshop performance to select those best dancers. I love watching these climaxes, but it's also breaks my heart a little when one of my favorites doesn't make it.
All in all, ballet movies are great entertainment and I highly recommend the above mentioned three if you haven't seen them already.

(source)

Do you know any good ballet movies, other than these three?

What kind of movies are you addicted to?