Datasets:

pppereira3

/

categ_classfication_roberta_test.hf

like 0

lm`n~ lblGy kn mn lmmkn 'n ybhrny 'kthr lw qr't hdhh lshdhrt blGth l'Sly@ wlqlb lfny ldhy Sbt fyh hdhh lm`ny ll'sf 'nh drj fy hdhh l'zmn m` mwj@ twytr Ht~ krhth bshd@ , rGm 'n hdhh lshdhrt ktbt fy mntSf lqrn lmDy ldh lm ybhrny l`ml l'n lshkl ldy m'lwf wlmDmwn Gyr m`rwf

I love Brandon Sanderson! Everything he writes is pure GOLD. This book was great, it was a quick one day read. Short, yet still developed enough and with likable characters.

All I can really say about this without giving anything away is EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved this book. Seriously. I'm not even into vampires really. And it took me awhile to get into the series in the first place. After I read the first 3 I got this weird urge to go see if my local bookstore (aka Walmart) had the fourth, and they DID and I READ IT IN AN HOUR (not really it's actually quite a long book but it felt like it only took an hour because it was SO GOOD). But I don't really want to discuss anything else because if you haven't read the others then it ruins stuff. You know.

YESSSSS!!! IT'S BEN'S STORY!!! PRAISE WHOEVER IS UP THERE IN THE HEAVENS!! Can I mention my over-obsessive love for K.A.Tucker's writing here? Because I want to. I really want to. I really, really want to. But then that'd just be stating the facts. And everybody knows that non-fiction isn't exactly the most enthralling thing. But I'll state the facts anyway: K.A. Tucker is a goddess of literature. Ben makes me swoon. I like pie and chocolate. Miami's the hottest place in the country. And....I'm done :)

It was good. Not a knock your socks off good, but entertaining, a perfect "one-night stand" kind of story - bunch of guys rob a hospital pharmacy, just happens to be witnessed by Weather, Lucas Davenport's wife, etc etc. Predictable yet enjoyable. I'll read his next one...

Still some cute parts.

This is a solid novel that could have used some restraint. Auggie's experience with his appearance is certainly heartbreaking and revealing. The handful of protagonists are far more developed than most middle-grade novels. That being said, this novel can be really, really cheesy, especially towards the ending.

I made it to the middle of this book and realized that it felt like nothing had happened. When I thought about why it felt that way, I decided the primary problem was that I love reading about serial killers and time travel and neither seemed relevant or deeply explored in this book. For instance, when the serial killer, Harper, would kill or maim someone, there was almost no narrative about the event. In my memory it is as if the author wrote "and then he killed her" and then just moved on. I love time travel but the time travel in this book created no tension. The book would have read the same to me without it. Also, by the middle of the book I felt like nothing else had happened either. Characters would say things and think things and do a couple of things. But not in a way that developed my interest. I will give 2 stars because the writing seems technically sound. The author just needs some depth of content. I also have this sneaking suspicion that Beukes didn't want to get into the dirty, messy, gritty reality of a gory serial killing and the twisted mind or entity that would create such a circumstance. I think that is unfortunate. Read "The Stranger Beside Me" by Ann Rule if you want to read about serial killing. Read "11/22/63" by King if you want some tense time travel that will mess with your mind.

Savage Angel is an interesting paranormal love story. Sara has been harboring feelings for Gideon for a full year. They'd had a brief romantic fling and then he'd been shipped off to war. She is more than anxious to see him when he returns. But he's not the same man who left. When he pushes her away after insulting her, she loses it. She tells him to stuff his attitude and that he isn't interfering with her job, which is at this point is to keep his father safe from a possible serial killer. Since his father is adamant that Sara will be his protector, Gideon puts her to the test. When she uses her secret skill to save him, he's not sure how to react but when it almost kills her, he steps in to nurse her to health - some of which I'm sure isn't in any standard Doctor's bedside manual. They soon discover that to stop the killer they must work together. It has some interesting twists, some I wasn't expecting but that made it all the more compelling. I didn't read book one but found this easy to read on its own. I liked that Sara was strong, independent but still showed some vulnerability when it came to Gideon and her feelings for him. Both Gideon and Sara are hiding secrets that they soon realize could destroy them and what they have. It's a good story, well worth reading. I was given this book to review but the opinion is all mine.

ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN I liked this slightly better than Tom Sawyer, because i found out i didn't like Tom Sawyer that much. Huck Finn is different, though. I liked him, and how he tried to figure things out and do the right thing throughout his adventure. The worst part of the book for me was when Tom Sawyer showed up and starting ruining the Huck Finn part. ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER I did like Tom somewhat more by the end, but he just seemed like a selfish, punk, kid in the beginning... i was disappointed.

Loved this fun Regency Romance! Super fun read!

I have to admit I couldn't get through this volume. It started out well but about two thirds of the way through I got bored and stopped reading.

Parempi kuin edellinen. Tasta alkaa selvasti huomata, etta sarja lahestyy loppuaan. Hyvaa valilukemista, samoin sopivaa aivot narikkaan -viihdetta.

Yeah, I don't know exactly how I should rate this book. The story had much potential although it is a bit cliche, but it just didn't touch me. There are a lot of questions to be answered who/what kind of angel is Cam? and what does the end mean, the epilogue, where Daniel and Cam meet? I wanna know! I will read the second part of the series, as soon as possible so I don't forget everything :)

I recently read The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North and was impressed at the originality and quality writing, so when I heard about Touch I had to give it a go. It ended up surpassing my expectations and I enjoyed it even more than Harry August - touching and page turning and again so so clever. It's fast paced, it's smart and incredibly original - a winning combination, and almost perfectly executed (my only complaints are around the ending, but they are very minor). With a lesser writer I fear that the plot (some people/entities -known as 'Ghosts' - have the ability to travel via skin on skin touch and "wear" other bodies, without the owners being aware, apart from a lapse of memory, that they have been 'worn') and the story could have disintegrated altogether, but North made it so entertaining by her absorbing and compelling writing. Much as I enjoyed in Harry August, I loved the settings within this book and the countries we travel through in the various bodies that the main character takes on. I don't understand why this book hasn't got more hype. It's fantastic. And for those that have read it - I like what I see! ;)

I still can't get over the writing or the art. So good. And the cliffy! Now I have to keep reading.

DISCLAIMER: I received A Shimmer of Angels as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found at The Title Page Rating: 3.5 Stars I wanted to review A Shimmer of Angels while it was still fresh in my mind. I finished the book yesterday and have mixed feelings about the title. I have to admit, I went into this book expecting it to be just another high school novel, I feared it would be on par with Marked and I would be putting it down before I let too many of my brain cells rot. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. Ray is a refreshing take on the teenage girl. Having lived three years of her life in a mental hospital, she isn't the standard high school teen queen. Of course, there is the typical love triangle, which seems to be standard among YA novels these days. (let me tell you now girls, you'll be lucky to ever have one perfect guy falling head over heels for you, the chances of two would be slim to none.) The writing leaves much to be improved on, I got the feeling that the author was trying too hard to sound like a teenage girl. The dialogue Ray used did not match her thoughts. She was emotionally more mature than a normal 16 year old would be because she had gone through so much more than most teens. It should reflect in the way she speaks along with the way she processes information. I love Ray's 'descent into madness' throughout the beginning of the books. I put this in quotes because it's not so much a descent into madness as an ascent from madness. The best part of the novel is the section where Ray comes to terms with the fact that she is not crazy. The author would use filler sentences that didn't make too much sense, which gave me the feeling that she was trying too hard. She'd use words like... "Have a seat," the waitress invited, her voice sharp with sarcasm." or He might look my age, but sometimes, when he said weird things like that, I couldn't shake the feeling he was much older. The first qualm I had with these was trying to figure out how one would sarcastically tell someone to take a seat for a job interview. I spent a few minutes trying to figure that one out. As for the second quote, you'll probably need some context. She says this about Cam, a person she's known for approximately 2.5 minutes and said 3 words to. This is what I'm talking about, a good editing and this would be a really great book. I like the topic, fallen angels, guardian angels, angels from hell. This all interests me, but I'd have to say I haven't read many novels on the subject. This is because I'm writing my own angel-based novel and don't want to be influenced by any other work. I took a chance with A Shimmer of Angels and I'm glad I did. I'm not sure I'll read the following 2 novels, but that is to be discovered. Favorite character: Kade Least Favorite Character: Cam Recommended for: Young readers, readers interested in angel/demon work.

This was my 20th Alice Hoffman book and I have to admit that overall, I was disappointed. The first half was slow. I was more interested in the Eddie story than the one about Coralie and Professor Sardie. Eddie's attempts to unravel the death of Hannah Weiss and make peace with his old life and the Orthodox community was the most compelling part of the story. I give the book 3.5 stars. Once the Eddie and Coralie stories merged, I enjoyed the book far more and read to the ending quickly and pleasurably.

One of the better "first in a series" books I've read!

I decided to give this series a second chance, but now that I am finished it....I think my "hope" is used up. I enjoyed: Maps, she is a fun, quirky kid. The art in this volume was a bit different, but still nice. Damian Wayne makes an appearance... My problems with the series are the same. The story is confusing and off putting. I spent half the time trying to figure out what was happening--- and then at the end, didn't understand the solution. I would love to continue with the characters, but I wish as much time was put into the story line as was put into the art. Read-- don't.

Heartbreaking? Luminous? Charged with wonder? Did I just read same book that's described here? I was, for the most part, underwhelmed. I found it strangely subdued and ultimately forgettable. It's obvious there's supposed to be some narrative thread tying this all together, but it almost completely lacks context and just becomes a series of strange and hard to follow ramblings on memory, aging, emptiness, melancholy. There are definitely nuggets in there, but not enough to sustain me. I've just read so many things over the last couple of years that made me internally scream "YAAAAAAASS" or that hit me over the head with THIS IS IMPORTANT, or that brought previously foggy ideas and concepts into sharp focus in such mind blowing and achingly beautiful ways. I don't have time for things that don't move me in significant ways anymore, and this just didn't. It makes me think of when I helped to judge a poetry contest at the library, and the adult poems were just SO BORING. The teen poems were often cheesy, but always heartfelt, and often with some really striking insights. The adult ones felt, for the most part, very aloof- sanitized, starched, and hung up to dry. There is no cleverness in the world that can make up for cold, impersonal abstraction imo. So. Nuggets (so I can remember them). Gluck does do a great job of describing the half-remembrances of childhood, holding ambiguity close in a way really works. I like this part of the poem Faithful and Virtuous Night: Constituent memories of a large memory. Points of clarity in a mist, intermittently visible, like a lighthouse whose one task is to emit a signal. But what really is the point of a lighthouse? This is north, it says. Not: I am your safe harbor. There are also a small handful of moments that had me marveling at her turn of phrase: He was a writer. His many novels, at the time, were much praised. One was much like another. And yet his complacency disguised suffering As perhaps my suffering disguised complacency. And then this poem: A Work of Fiction As I turned over the last page, after many nights, a wave of sorrow envel- oped me. Where had they all gone, these people who had seemed so real? To distract myself, I walked out into the night; instinctively, I lit a cigarette. In the dark, the cigarette glowed, like a fire lit by a survivor. But who would see this light, this small dot among the infinite stars? I stood a while in the dark, the cigarette glowing and growing small, each breath patiently de- stroying me. How small it was, how brief. Brief, brief, but inside me now, which the stars could never be. So, nuggets. Just not ENOUGH.

One of my ALL-TIME favorite books!!!

Very cute friends to lovers story set in high school. I loved how Layla and Trip's friendship developed. Looking forward to continuing the story.

This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2015/09/review... 4.5 Stars! I have had this book in my TBR for TOO LONG! This is a five-book set that chronicles the unorthodox love story between retired Special Forces officer Sam Bradford and sexually-confused billionaire Derek Constantine. Sam is flat broke when he meets Derek in a bar. Derek recognizes Sam's military bearing and offers him a chance to earn $10,000. All Sam would need to do is evade capture for 48 hours on Derek's rural property. If, however, Derek catches him, he will only earn $1000. Oh, and Sam will be required to submit to anal sex with Derek. Sam is immediately put off. He's not gay, and Derek protests that he isn't gay either. It's all about domination, in Derek's mind. Also, Sam's broke. He's confident that he'll be able to evade capture--all the training and missions he survived are testament to that, but Derek is wily. And though Sam may very well end up on the bottom, he's not a submissive man. challenge monthLook, I can't review these five books without revealing a few spoilers. All of these spoilers are actually part of the book's descriptive page, however, so I don't think it's THAT spoilery of me. Derek does win. He captures Sam very late in their first game, but the actual experience is not what Derek wanted. He is used to the men he captures being willing to submit to him, but Sam is defiant and correct when it comes to Derek's true nature. Throughout the rest of the books, Sam and Derek come to terms with their own sexuality, in different ways and on different timelines. Sam begins to investigate his newly awakened desires. He interacts with out gay men and learns that the brutal "claiming" sex that he had with Derek is not the only way to interact with a partner. He sees affectionate and caring gay relationships up close and personal with these new friends. Ever in denial, Derek seeks Sam out again, this time for a team urban manhunt, which brings both men far closer together than Derek ever expected. I really adored Sam. His fearlessness, his ingenuity. He's a quality main character with excellent insight and a dry sense of humor. Plus, once he commits, he stays committed. His sex buddies, Eddie and Jake, are also engaging. Expect all the butchness one can handle in these reads. Eddie, the consummate bottom, is a powerful man in his own right. As the volumes go on, the sex on the page begins with dubious consent and ends with actual tenderness. I found the give and take of Derek's growth as a gay man to be so intriguing. As Sam submits more and more to Derek's tough brand of love, Derek rewards him with more and more public statements of their relationship. Derek seeing Sam engage with Eddie and Jake is a turning point for their relationship--no longer is Sam only a bottom, and the playful sexytimes they share opens the possibilities in Derek's mind. It is clear that Derek is a self-loathing, closeted gay man, something Sam exploits early in their acquaintance, but the changes wrought over the course of the books are a complete 180 for Derek. Not that Sam didn't have a big change, because he did. He just achieved it with far less self-flagellation. The erotic twist on "the most dangerous game" theme, here was so enjoyable and made for a very compelling read. The second one volume ended, I turned the page for more. The bonus Eddie and Jake submission story was yummy, too. Warning: if you are looking for a "safe sex" book, this is not it; expect down-and-dirty fluid exchange.

3.5 stars. Everyone was telling me I would hate this book, and I did not! While it did have its faults, I enjoyed what it was trying to do and the general theme, even if the execution failed at times. It is a Beauty and the Beast/Hades & Persephone hybrid with some folklore mixed in. I cannot hate it. A review to come when I've fully collected my thoughts!

DNF @ 150 pages in. So bored.

Under-Sheriff Jericho Crewe wants to quit his post and make a life with his high school love and local criminal kingpin, Wade Granger. He's just about to do this until he learns the powder keg that is Mosely is about to blow sky-high. Mosely, this small Montana town, situated a few miles of mountainous forest from the unprotected Canadian border, is a hot bed of criminal activity due to long-time smuggling operations. Wade is usually in the center of whatever is going down, but this time Wade wants out of Mosely just as bad as Jericho. Thing is, their local homesteading militia has recently been co-opted by folks from out of state, gunning--literally--for a showdown with the Federal agents policing the border. They stage an ambush killing some agents, which is horrible, but that seems like it was merely a means to an end for these hardliners. No, they have an even bigger agenda, and it soon becomes starkly clear that Mosely is poised to become ground-zero for a militia-led war on the Federal government. It's impossible to prevent with as small as a police force as exists in Mosely, or is it? I really loved the tension throughout this book. Jericho is a great investigator, and his brand of no-bull morals is refreshing, even if it's not always aligned with police procedure. Wade and Jericho have been a building issue for more than a month, with both of them acknowledging they have a deep connection, but not being able to openly embrace it while they exist on opposite sides of the law. Wade's exasperation with Jericho's determination to do what's right, even when it means certain death, is endearing, and I was so engaged with these guys in the climax. Expect firefights, dastardly militia, small-town folks protecting their own, and a well-deserved change of scenery. The end of the story, most enjoyable, might could be the beginning of a new one. (Yay!) I know I'd follow Wade and Jericho into further entanglements, especially if I get to experience their growing love story up close and personal! I highly recommend the whole series, and know that I enjoyed this one best because I read the books in order. As they are all out now, it's easy to pick up the collection and binge-read away.

See full review for The Shadow Hour at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... So, I don't really remember the events of the first book and when I went to go read my review I cursed my past self for being so horribly vague about what happened. I remembered the whole two warring species of legend aspect and that Echo who was of neither was in the middle even though she housed with the Avicen and was kind of in love with one of their members - Rowan - and had a best friend - Ivy. And that the 'prince' of the Drakharin - Caius - was following her hoping to find the firebird but really he fell for her instead. But that was all I remembered from book 1. I didn't really remember the characters of Jasper and Dorian. And I barely remembered Echo becoming the firebird to save her friends' lives. However, Grey does a really good job of summarizing the events that happened at the end of book 1. Once you get past that though, there is A LOT of sitting around and tending to wounds in this book, which is sad considering something more could have been done in 421 pages. I understand why there was a lot of sitting around though, because of the fact that with Echo being the firebird she wasn't really sure who she could trust. But it isn't until they realize that the firebird wasn't the only thing that was released that night, do things get rather interesting.

This lovely storybook about feelings was a welcome surprise. Instead of boring children with a repetitive style, Aliki has instead assembled a collections of poems, illustrations and short stories that explore the emotional lives of children. What makes the book particularly valuable is that BOTH positive and negative emotions are included, as well as examples of children handling them well and making mistakes. Fun, whimsical drawings keep the tone light, even when interspersed with some 'darker' themed compositions.There is so much to talk about with your child! This is our one book on the topic, and we all FEEL like we struck gold! Highly recommended.

Loved it!

I really want to give 5 stars, but honestly there's still a gap. That's why I only give this book 4.... no.... I change my mind for Cam. Maybe 4.5 sexy stars. (CAM IS SO SEXY!!!) Actually, it's a very HOT New Adult novel. (I couldn't forget how Cam say goodnight to Avery.) And as a fangirl, all the things that Cam do just make me can't stop screaming and slobbering. (Ew!!) I think I just get another fictional boyfriend, hoping that I can meet one in the future. The reason why I can't give it 5 stars is that the ending and the twists are not that perfect as I predicted. (Just not in my favor. ) So I take away a star. Meanwhile, I get a half back for the rating due to CAM.

First thing to say about this book is that it was one of THE BEST I have read so far this year. I also have a feeling that it will stay in that category for the rest of the year, too! Second, I love how Mafi ended the book in cliffhanger mode. In my opinion, I think that all amazing sequels have to end in cliffhanger mode, because that usually leads to an awesome third book. But enough about that; I need to get back to reviewing Unravel Me. I felt as if Juliette has grown in this novel. She is coming into her own and doesn't have to rely on particular people as much. I also liked that she realizes that Warner is not as terrible as she thought he was. Another thing about Juliette is that you can tell she's trying; that, to me, makes up for some of the mistakes she's done. Next character I want to talk about is Kenji. He's the closest friend to Juliette. I like that he cares for her in a platonic way; we all know that Juliette doesn't need any more complications in her life! He's also her conscience, telling her to get over herself and step up, which is what Juliette needs to hear in order to overcome her problems. But he's also the funny, comic relief that makes the situation entertaining at times. In Unravel Me, we get a clue into Kenji's past, but I'm not telling you anything else! Now, moving on to Adam. Out of all characters, I felt the least in tune with Adam. All the while, he's complaining about stuff, but doesn't think beyond himself. You can agree or disagree; that's just how I saw him throughout the novel. I don't really have much else to say about Adam other than he finds out something about his father. Well, actually I do, but I don't think they're really kind, so I won't say them here.... :D ........ Then there's Warner, the other guy vying for Juliette's affections. After reading Unravel Me, I'm so on board with being a part of Team Warner! And no, it's not like The Infernal Devices where I was on both teams because I couldn't decide. In this case, I'm only on one team. Why, you might ask? Firstly, after reading Destroy Me, the Shatter Me novella in Warner's view, you find out a lot about Warner and where he came from. You can tell that he's not really a bad guy; he was just forced into a certain mould. Secondly, he and Juliette are very similar, understand each other, and have this connection chemistry. Thirdly, he's gor-ge-ous! And by the way, I don't remember Juliette ever calling Adam's looks "perfection"; I'm just saying! Anyways, we find out Warner's first name in Unravel Me, too. Unravel Me is a delicious page turner of a book that should be read in a single sitting even though you will regret ending it. I'm going to end this review by stating how grateful I am that I'm not in school, because I would have been in serious trouble, and that I hope I can patiently wait for the last book without going insane! ;)

This season has me completely anxious and at my witt's end. I am so nervous yet completely enthralled.

I've long been an Iris Johansen fan so I was more than curious to see that her new book is co-written with her Edgar Award winning son Roy. I found that mother and son make a dynamite writing duo. The premise is Hannah, a brilliant, driven but haunted marine architect, has undertaken an assignment for a museum clearing a Russian nuclear submarine for any hazards before it becomes an exhibit. It should be a straightforward job that lasts no more than the two weeks that she promises her assistant and brother Conner it will. But they discover a strange set of message panels hidden in the sub that leads to the murder of Conner (and many others). Devastated and aching for revenge, Hannah and her sister in law begin an unsanctioned investigation that pulls in a mysterious stranger of many names and a complex past as well as a whole lot of intrigue and danger. There is a lot of historic and technical detail to this page turner of an international thriller, as well as Johansen's usual side of love story woven in. The characters are well developed and hard to leave behind at the conclusion of the book. -Jackie B Silent Thunder will be released July, 2008

Peter David at his strongest. This is really a nicely conclusive volume, wrapping up things from the beginning of the series, from the Messiah crossover, and even tying in well to the current future timeline. I had to look when I was done to make sure David was staying on the series afterward!

I have been wanting to read Grendel for years and to re-familiarize myself with the Beowulf legend. "Grendel," however, by John Garner, first published in 1971, turned out to be one of the strangest books I have every read. It is the Beowulf story told from the point of view of Grendel, a seeming invincible monster and probably one of the first serial killers in English literature.(The tone of this novel reminded me of Joyce Carol Oates' novel Zombie, about a teenage serial killer.) Before reading this novel, I read Seamus Heaney 2000 translation of "Beowulf" : an epic poem which was originally written in Angelo-Saxon between the 8th and 11th centuries. I found it to be mostly readable and beautifully written. In brief, Beowulf, a Scandinavia superhero (he can swim for six or seven days and in the process kills water monsters) goes to Demark to help the king whose "mean hall," or feasting hall, has been terrorized for years by the monster Grendel, who has been killing his subjects by biting off their heads and eating them. Beowulf ultimately kills Grendel. Then he kills Grendel's mother who is out for her son's revenge, and then in old age Beowulf slays a dragon. This epic poem, an adventure story with loads of vivid action, is exciting to read. It pretty much focuses on Beowulf. Not too much is learned about Grendel. We learn, however, that he, his mother and other creatures were created by God after Cain killed Able. "Grendel" is told from the first-person point of view of the monster himself. He is an articulate creature. "Talking, talking, spinning a spell, pale skin of words that closes me in like a coffin." How he learned to speak so well - and become so educated - is never explained. In fact, Grendel himself glosses over those points. He can even speak to the Danes that he is killing and terrorizing. Grendel lives with his mother in a cave. She does not have any language; she grunts and groans, but she is a mother who loves her son. Also, dwelling in the cave are shadows , the creatures created after Cane slew Able. The novel humanizes (dehumanizes?) Grendel, shows how he became a killer, a mass murderer. He does have a soft side. He falls for the queen, whom he cannot kill. The novel also paints a not-too-rosy picture of the Danes: they are greedy, immoral, duplicitous war-mongers. In a way, Grendel kills because of his treatment by the Danes (they treat him like a monster!) and also because that is what he is expected to do. The most awesome character in the book is the Dragon. He is erudite and philosophical. "The laws of nature are large average effects which reign impersonally. But there is nothing average about expression: it is essentially individual." He lives in a cave and is surround by his pilfered gold, which is what he lives for. He says to Grendel, "My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it." He also tells Grendel that killing is Grendel's purpose in life : "You improve them, (the Danes) my boy? Can't you see that yourself? You stimulate them! You make them think and scheme. You drive them to poetry, science, religion, all that makes them what they are for as long as they last. You are, so to speak, the brute existent by which they learn to define themselves." In the end, Grendel is killed by Beowulf, who is a shadowy figure in the novel and mentioned by name maybe only once. I recommend both "Grendel" and Seamus Heaney's translation of "Beowulf." Both books are beautifully written, have depth, stay with you, but are not always easy to read. Yet they are well worth the patience and time spent on them.

This book seems to suffer from a sharp drop in quality compared to the first two -- very odd, considering that it appears to be the same creative team! The first two collections of The Batman Strikes, Crime Time and In Darkest Knight, are both manga-sized and slender; they collect five issues each. This collection, Duty Calls, is a trade paperback collecting seven issues, and it seems like the "usual" size for a comic book trade paperback. I don't know what size the individual issues were printed -- if they were originally manga-sized, perhaps that would explain why the art is so bad! And the art is unfortunately bad, here. For example, in the first story, "Man of Service", I found Alfred unrecognizable on the first page, and had to go back and re-read it once Bruce entered and it was clear that yes, this was Alfred Pennyworth. Then, a few pages later, Bruce's two eyes point in two distinct directions in the middle of a conversation. A few pages after that, Bruce Wayne and Ellen Yin appear to have faces drawn at two different scales, or possibly by two different artists, despite facing each other in the same panel. I'm picking out the worst examples; some of the art was decent. None of it struck me as particularly nice, though. Despite having the same penciller, inker, and colorist, the first two volumes look much prettier. I'm looking at these side by side, and I'm reasonably certain that they were originally printed at the same size, and either Crime Time and In Darkest Knight were shrunk or Duty Calls was blown up. It's a shame! As for the stories themselves, they were still quite good. There are seven issues collected here but really only six storylines, as "Prowler" and "Sands of Time" are a two-parter featuring Catwoman, Clayface, and Detective Yin. Detective Yin is actually a big deal in most of these stories -- she appears in every story except "Hit and Run" and "The Greenhouse Effect" and is a smart, capable player. (I especially loved her concern when the Riddler threatened to expose Batman in "A Question of Identity". Except for the two-parter, the stories don't flow together much plot-wise; the common elements are always the people: Bruce, Alfred, Yin, mob boss Mr. Thorne, Clayface, and the familiar faces of the Arkham crowd. The last story, "The Greenhouse Effect", was something of a departure from the others. While the first five stories were set during the first two seasons of the television show, this last one jumps ahead to the third season and a radical change of cast -- this is the only story featuring Jim and Barbara Gordon, despite the cover of the collection placing Batgirl so prominently. It's a wonderful follow-on from the episode "Batgirl Begins" and the relationship between Barbara and Pamela Isley which was built there, but might be jarring and confusing for readers not also watching the show. Okay, I also have to ask -- who decided that the right way to refer to Batgirl was The Girl Wonder? Seriously? Especially when Batgirl is a teenaged gymnast with a purple costume who fights crime even when Batman insists that she should give it up and go home? (For those of you who don't get the reference: in regular comics continuity "The Girl Wonder" was the fourth Robin, the first girl to be Robin, who got her start in crime-fighting as a gymnast who donned a purple costume against Batman's wishes.) All of that said, I did enjoy this collection and I'm disappointed that the rest of the The Batman Strikes run apparently won't be collected in book format.

2,75 Pas extraordinaire. A vrai dire j'esperais quelque chose d'un peu plus sombre facon Viewfinder (bon le must ca aurait ete facon In these words mais je n'y croyais pas ^^), alors qu'au final on est presque plus proche d'un Like the beast, mais avec plus de sexe.

Spoiler-free review: Dark Knight III The Master Race issue one is a great start to the last iteration of the Dark Knight trilogy. It clearly shows that Azzarello and Miller capture the charm of the critically-acclaimed DK I while still respecting the events that have happened in the atrociously bad DK II. Serving its purpose, issue 1 is mainly a setup chapter. It sets the tone and pacing of the series and uncovers some things that may have happened since the events of DK II. While the narration strongly reflects Miller's original series with pop-up news commentaries, DK III's flow is more of an Azzarello trademark - a right dose of darkness and grit, complemented by grounded (and bloody) action and modern narration. Fans of the original series may feel the deviation in art but given Miller's current state and the horrors of TDK Strikes Again, it is a good thing. Can this be read by those who have not yet read any of Miller's DK? By all means yes. The minimalist take in plot exposition and backstory makes issue one a perfect jump point to new readers. But it is best to read the two DK's first to be emotionally invested and make the most out of it. There's by the a way a mini-comics inside each issue. From what I have read in the mini-comics #1, it seems to flesh out stories which is unfit for the main issues but relevant enough to be read. I take it as a sort of repair plan to the mess DK II made. It may be too early to say if DK III is as age-defining as The Dark Knight Returns, but issue one definitely gives us a promising great ride.

see full review @ Katie's Corner

I read this book in hours, a month after a dear friend lost her fight with Occular Melanoma. I'm glad Cory wrote this. The stories are different, the outcome the same and they are stories that are important. I'm so glad this book was written.

Cute book about good manners. I fun gift for a grandmother to give her granddaughter or vice visa.

This book is twists and turns...but in a good way. A good read. :)

Ollie is a goose, but he hasn't hatched yet. He doesn't want to come out of his egg. Gossie and Gertie wait for him. He rolls this way and that way until Gossie and Gertie sit on him. Only when they tell him not to come out does he decide to hatch. Good for preschool or toddler storytimes.

Of the many faces of Stephen King, the mystery writer is probably my least favorite. Not a bad book, but I had a hard time getting engaged in the story.

Top stuff, loved the stuff about his band. Any book with so many Spinal Tap references wins.

I love this series! 5 Stars. In this book, there is a coming of age theme. Fiona has lived a sheltered life and escaped death. Now she wants to live her life, go to college, and become the person she never dared to dream. Greg has lived a tough life a nd has found his humor and intelligence are his best defenses. When he meets his match in Fiona, he must change his future plans, but doesn't think that the changes will be what Fiona wants.

Lot going on in this second installment. Good to take my mind off of work.

jyd jd wllG@ jmyl@ 'kthr wHd@ '`jbtny hy zmn lwrd@

DISCLAIMER: I received Dance of Shadows as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found at The Title Page Rating: 1 Star I cannot say I enjoyed Dance of Shadows. The immature dialogue, the unimpressive world building, the annoying teenage attitude, the overbearing parental figures, and the lack of character depth added together makes me wonder how this ever got a publisher's attention. Not to mention the secret-but-not-really-a-secret we've got going on. At 1% into it, I dreaded reading the rest of this novel. I am completely unimpressed with this novel. Here is what I have put together: 1. The book has all of the standard crap that makes a crappy high-school novel crappy; -twin-like friends -roommate best friend -super obviously gay guy friend -super hot popular guy who's into main character -super evil popular bitch who is dating said popular guy -the black friend -the girly friend -the tomboy friend -the hot teacher 2. The book is riddled with inconsistencies. In just the first quarter of the book, I have a list of stupid little things that just didn't make sense. It makes the scenes that much harder to imagine, like the author didn't really care about what she was writing. Example: At 18% Steffie is said to have chain earrings. At 21% Steffie 'turned one of her hoop earrings absentmindedly'. Same setting, same scene, not time to change her earings. (Also, why is the author so obsessed with Steffie's earrings?) 3. The book is bogged down with useless crap that no reader cares about. I don't care if Steffie reaches up to touch her earring, I don't CARE if TJ adjusted the strap of her high heeled sandal as she climbed the stairs, I DON'T CARE IF BLAINE BUMPED INTO AN EMPTY SEAT! It feels like it is wasting my time. 4. The POV is confusing and irritating. It's hard to remember it's a 3rd person perspective when reading through it, you get confused as to who Vanessa is when you feel like it should be 1st person. I gave it a shot, but it just wasn't an enjoyable book to me.

Until recently I have avoided the Jack Reacher books for the same reason it took me a while to get round to Terry Pratchett or Ian Rankine: I hate hype. The more froth the less I feel the need to get involved. Sometimes I'm wrong, the above are good examples, sometimes I'm right, I'll never get the day or two it took me to read Mosse's Labyrinth back. I should know better than to trust Richard and Judy. As a first novel it is very impressive, more so in as much as the tone of the series set in this book has not changed hugely after the dozen or so I have read so far. Did I say I liked it? Reacher was a Major in the military police and is now drifting across America, a country he has never really lived in, going straight into the Army after bouncing around the world as an Army brat. A conceit that works well in respect of the series, allowing him to range across the States at will, deftly removing the Midsomer Norton effect. In Margrave he falls foul of the police, a stranger in town the day a body is found, things don't go well for him, particularly as there is a witness who puts him at the scene of the crime hours before he arrived in town. The slow reveal of the secrets of a perfect rural town are paced well, the question of who to trust hangs heavily and is executed with skill. There are moments of extreme violence, experienced and implied, but it doesn't get out of hand. It's a side of Reacher that is explored more as the books progress. Reacher fulfils all the requirements of an action hero: physically intimidating, extremely skilled marksman and unarmed fighter, attractive to women, smart and stubborn as hell. For me, there is one major problem. There is a huge coincidence quite early in the book. It is, in part, necessary to keep Reacher involved and provides a nice plot device, but it is still massively unlikely and casts shadows into the corners of the whole series. How effective it is depends on whether Child knew that the character was going to carry more than one book or not. If he did then it is an impressive piece of foreshadowing. If not then the way he has dealt with it as the books progressed is almost more impressive.

Graphic novel (diary?) that can easily be absorbed in an afternoon. Honest and funny, the voice of the newly just out of college generation. It will give you a clue about them.

This story just got a whole lot better. Really liked this part

hilarious story about a pedophile vampire, stalking a bland teen in a small town. A love triangle is introduced, where it is later revealed the werewolf (the other love interest of Bella, the teen girl) has only been in love with one of Bella's unfertilized eggs. Things heat up when that egg gets doused in glittery vampire sperm and a baby, with a very unfortunate name, is born. The pedophilia theme is expanded when the teen werewolf declares his unending love and devotion to the new born infant. The baby's parents are inexplicably okay with this

Didn't realize this was book two and Cherryh can be hit or miss for me so I was a little unsure going into the book. I really enjoyed it though. The story was good and I really loved the language. Glad I picked it up.

Well this one left me bawling like an idiot. A proper review will come when I've calmed down. I am glad there will be a part three. I am also afraid of it.

I was packing up my classroom library when I found my old, tattered copy of Wait Till Helen Comes. I LOOOVED this book when I was a kid and I just had to read it again. I think one reason I liked this book so much when I was younger was because Heather's character was born in 1979 and the book took place in 1986, which made me the exact same age. On top of that, the ghost, Helen, lived from 1879-1886. I think I used this idea of matching dates in a story I wrote in 6th grade called, A Christmas Ghost.I was a nut for mentor texts before I even knew what a mentor text was ; )

7th&up I love to read, but if someone asks me what my favorite genre is, historical fiction really doesn't make the list. As it happens, the last three books that I've read were YA historical fantasy, and each one blew me away. I opened this book with hesitation, almost certain that the setting (California Gold Rush) would be dull and a chore to get through. Up next on the menu: a full plate of crow. I tore through the pages of this lush, engaging, realistic but suspenseful story. Carson painted such a vivid picture that whenever I glanced away from the book I was shocked that I wasn't surrounded by a harsh, unwelcoming land, with the sun blazing down, no water in sight, in the company of people that I wasn't sure that I could trust with my secrets, or my life. I became Lee, and took her troubles on as my own. I feared the villain in the story, yearned to go back in time when I had the comfort of my parents near me, mourned their loss, and worried that my only friend in the world was lost to me. I hoped that Lee would safely reach her destination, and when I turned the last page I was content, but oh so eager to continue on with Lee and her new found family. Bring on the sequel! This book was obtained at BEA15 in exchange for an honest review.

** spoiler alert ** I was all set to hate this book, because while I enjoy Diane Chamberlain quite a bit, the story unfurled very slowly, full of details the author is sure the reader needs to set the scene. Once I got past about 50%, the timing and the story picked up and I read it through to the end. I so wanted to like Tess... she was one of those characters that is simultaneously strong and weak. She endured so much that she didn't have to, trying to go the long way about solving a problem that would have easily worked out. But then if it would have easily worked out, there would have been no story, right? A few events (deaths, etc) seemed super convenient, because they eliminated conflict. At the same time they served to show Tess' isolation and highlight personal issues she would come to have with her husband and mother in law. When the small twist arrived around 85% in, I pretty much knew how this book was going to end... but I was interested in seeing it play out. While the ending was a tad anticlimactic, it does provide the best case scenario for everyone. Just again.... convenient.

Mukavaa luettavaa ja aikanaan varmasti todella edistyksellista luettavaa. Helppoa ja nopeaa, kivaa ja hyvantuulista.

Enjoyable little mystery. I loved the cat,Nick. The story needed better editing-Nora went from a skirt to pants in two pages,the cat would jump off the wrong lap,etc. Also,maybe it's me,but there were too many gestures. Licking lips,raising eyebrows for a whole page,crossing ankles(how many times does a person do that sitting in a chair?) But I did like this book! Would read the next. I'm a big Thin Man fan.

What can I say about this classic book? A constant source of wisdom and inspiration. I've written so many Grimms'-inspired stories, including my first novel, Silver Hands.

Really good! Probably would have been better had I read the first book...haha.

the best thing about this book is the conversation between the charracters i enjoyed it the most. especially Meg and John's. it's actually the only thing that excite me when reading this book.

Love Kaitlyn Parker and all her quirks and Martin is totally swoon worthy. Looking forward to the rest of their story!

"September Verses" by Hunter S. Jones is the perfect addition to the series. The poetry is prolific as is the writing. There were qualities in each book that I really enjoyed. I would expect the author to have a strong following as she is beyond talented. These books touched me. I was easily absorbed and loved the escape that all three books provided. Now I would like to know more about this Anonymous English Poet. How romantic that sounds. How can I not be curious? I loved the insiders look into the making of The September Stories.. A very different approach that I found enchanting. Quote ~ #2 LAVENDULA One touch of my lavender reminds me Of you! Elizabeth, my Liz ... one touch 'We'll have a garden one day, Pete,' you said 'A garden full of English lavender' And so I plant my lavender each spring If you could see my lavender now! Liz love I've tried not to love you, God know's I've tried! Yet here I am, still planting lavender Lavender, lavender, lavender Liz One touch of my lavender ... brings you back

Enjoying Jack learning about his family. The subplot of his possible publicity is irksome at best, but kinda necessary; I mean, with the kinds of things he does, it's surprising that he hasn't gotten noticed sooner. Reminds me of Burn Notice, but with less reluctance on Jack's part... mostly.

very good

Really unique story and the time-traveling makes a lot of sense. Gwyneth is kinda annoying, but I'm hoping her character will develop more as the trilogy progresses. Still not quite sure what to make of Gideon yet. I'm more fascinated by the secrets and the mysteries and I'm really anxious to know how everything will tie together. I have so many questions that I just want answered already. Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised. Also, why did they change her name to Gwyneth? I like Gwendolyn much better.

Magical, engaging, fanciful, poetic and very beautiful!

I'm glad to have discovered Innes and his terrific detective inspector Appleby, and I quite enjoyed this mystery, although the reveal wasn't as exciting as I'd have liked it to be. But the setting was great (a crime that takes place in a secluded, locked courtyard, inhabited only by the president and a number of professors, on the campus of a private English university. I mean, that's perfect, right?). The plot was convoluted but a lot of fun and the characters were a terrific group of nerdy academics. The narrator is also spot-on and I'm disappointed that he doesn't read all of the Innes novels on Audible (And I'm also tremendously disappointed that they don't have the second Appleby book. If you're going to have the first, have the second! Some people [me] are maniacs and can't skip around in a series!).

Nora Roberts adds another exciting romantic thriller to her amazing oeuvre. Shelby Foxworth thinks that the biggest shock she will ever get is finding out that her husband has died in a boating accident. However, it is just the first of many discoveries that will rock her world. It turns out that Shelby didn't know anything about the man she married - including his name. Richard was a very skilled and extremely dangerous con man. Far from being a wealthy widow, Shelby finds herself millions of dollars in debt and living in a mansion on the verge of foreclosure. Also, it turns out that many people are looking into Richard's life - a private detective, the police, the FBI, and his former partners in crime. Shelby takes her young daughter and returns to the bosom of her large, loving family in rural Tennessee. But trouble follows her back home and threatens to destroy the new life she is trying to build. Nora Roberts sure can tell a story although she may have used too many words telling this one. I enjoyed The Liar but found it somewhat lengthy and repetitive. Otherwise, I would have given it five stars.

This book really hit the mark on the exact feeling of awkwardness and embarrassment peculiar to that gawky age. It's interesting that the adult characters also tend to be realized pretty accurately, which "real" adolescents probably couldn't have done with much sensitivity.

'y`ql 'n ykwn hnk jml ytqmS shkl Hrwf yktbh lrf`y bhdhh l`dhwb@? rsy'l l'Hzn fy flsf@ lHb wljml mjmw`@ mn lrsy'l lty tGwS bqry'h fy `lm yujzim 'nh l ymt llwq` bSl@ 'bd, hw nw` mn lkhyl lmHbb llrwH lty tbHth `n lsmw blHb wljml,, 'Hbbt lktb kthyr wlw 'ny stGrqt wqt fy qrth fdhlk y`wd ll'slwb lS`b ldhy kn yDTrny l`d@ qr@ lfqr@ 'kthr mn mr@...

4 I still don't have a clue stars! Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy from Author In Combative we are left with a WTF cliffhanger, so when I started to read Redemptive I was expecting a totally different book. I love the way that this trilogy is set up because even after book 2 I still do not have a hot clue what is going on. Which I think is brilliant, yet frustrating. Only frustrating because I have little patience and now I have to wait to get the answers that we are dying to know after reading these two books. Per*spec*tive: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. This trilogy gives a whole new meaning to perspective. In Combative we were seeing one point of view and were growing an opinion on certain matters. In Redemptive, we get a totally different perspective totally skewering our first opinion. Now we having opposing perspectives and know nothing at the same time. In Redemptive we get to Bailey's back story and how Nate plays a part in her past. Their story is tragic and intriguing, and I'm dying to know how it all plays in with Kyler's story. Sure we get bits and pieces but we don't have the big picture yet. In Combative, Nate's perceived as the bad guy, but in Redemptive we get to see who Nate really is and why he does what he does. "I protect you because you're my boss, Nate. I kill for you because you're my family." I don't know if I have ever finished 2 out of 3 books in a trilogy and not know what's going on. Usually the plot is predictable and tiresome that you are waiting for the story to be finished. But not with this series. You are hooked from beginning to end and are hanging by a thread just waiting to find out how the whole story ties together. Great concept. Great story so far. Can't wait for more. Perspective definition from dictionary.com

Best. YA. Book. Ever. I just can't tell you how much I love this book. I remember reading it the first time with growing awe...who thinks like this? There's just so much here--on the surface, a sci-fi book set in a world not-too-removed from our own--and underneath, a biting satire into PCness, conformity, and the ethics of technology. Love this book!

It's really 2 and a half stars to 3. Scalapino uses "alexia", word blindness, to form a poetical narrative. While the idea of using a disease to structure a poem or several poems is intriguing, it doesn't always work. In some of the narrative the word blindness dissappears and that is where it is successful. However in the other narratives it sticks out that words are missing and the narrative is incoherant to the degree that it doesn't seem as if it is done on purpose but by accident. There are some poems, passages, lines, sections that are beautiful, but they don't weigh more than the negative aspects. It isn't until chapter 6 that the reader understands what the narrative is doing or what it has been trying to do for the 5 previous chapters, and I think that's too late in the story to let the reader in fully. As well as the narrative doesn't become coherant til about the 4th chapter, everything prior to that seems to be more rambalings, which wouldn't bother me if it were consistent. Chapter 7 however is the most beautiful. By the end of the book, I want to like it more than I do, because that is beautiful is very lovely. But the things that don't work hold that back.

The second in the triology of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. As always, a engrossing story and excellent historical research. Thanks Sharon for another wonderful read.

Setduring the time of the Napoleonic Wars,Sara Stevenson is a young spoiled daughter of a famous father Robert Stevenson a builder of lighthouses. Sara becomes involved with a young sailor who does not meet her social standing. They plan to elope but are betrayed by a family employee. The young man never makes the rendezvous and so her parents plan to wed her to someone more suitable and richer. However, Sara finds herself pregnant and sent to stay at what she believes to be the end of the world-Cape Wrath Scotland. The next several months are trying for Sara and those around her. Add to this mix smugglers, ghosts and letters that travel through time and you have quite an adventurous and romantic read.

2 1/2 stars to be more accurate. Interesting but a bit trite.

Perhaps I am the wrong audience for this book. From the book: "The rhertoric of Roman moralizing has often seemed alien to modern readers. This book, in linking together studies of apparently diverse topics, might be seen as appropriating a trope of Roman moralistic discourse, presenting arugments concerning different subjects as parallel so that they may serve to reinforce one another. A better understanding of this and similar literary devices, as they operate in Roman moralizing texts, can help us to make sense of some features of those texts which modern readers have found puzzling." I wish the author had opened with this rather than telling me this 2/3rds of the way through the book. I also wished that the author had actually made more of an attempt to explain how these interconnections worked, because I never could figure it out. The topics indeed seemed to be selected at random, and although by the end of the book I had a lot of raw data about Roman moralizing, I still remained puzzled about the connections that the author apparently hoped that I would be able to make by the time I finished reading the book.

A nice deviation from Katie McAlister's typical fare. I missed her usual randy humor in this one and it seemed a lot more analytical.

Warm fuzzies with this one! Picked it up and couldn't put it down until I got to the end. Regan is in the midst of a messy divorce with a ex-husband that did the unthinkable found a younger woman, 15 years younger to be exact. Regan is left with nothing but a Victorian house and lots and lots of designer clothing. She flips her circumstances and makes the house into a consignment shop among the southern gossip. Tongues really start to wag as her ex's little bunny of a love is found dead in his Lexus! As customers bring in their goods they also bring in clues to who done it. This was a lot of fun well worth the read and I can hardly wait for the next book in the Consignment Shop Mystery Series. A Must read if you love light hearted fun happy mysteries. I absolutely adored this one!

This was a good, solid read. A twist on steam-punk that I hadn't seen before-not that I'm a steam-punk aficionado-Westerfield created an alternate history for the start of WWI. The Archduke of Austria is murdered, and his son, Alec must hide. In this, Austria is a clanker country, using machinery to fight. Meanwhile, there is Daryn, a girl posing as a boy for England, a Darwinist country...which means they use animals they've grafted to each other to fight. How these two meet and get along is adventurous and entertaining. Students will love it.

Fantastic, I absolutely loved it. Fast paced, witty and exciting.

Nice Book.Explained his boipic in a non-linear manner. When you finish the book , u might think if at all a person ca be like him or can we see in Future. He has his merits and downs but he'll be known for his unrelenting desire to achieve '' Purity and Perfection'' in all matters of Life. The world needs more men like him

This wordless book leaves me almost speechless. Full review at Bookends Blog: http://bookends.booklistonline.com/20...

This rating is a personal response to Keats' poetry. It bores me to tears and evokes nothing within me. I love poetry- but only that which makes me feel something and his works don't do that for me. Perhaps this is because I was forced to study it for my VCE literature class but I think it's more because its all about fairy clouds and love. It lacks intensity.

Sydney Hart is twenty years old and a police officer. She still lives in the small village she grew up in and although she had the reputation of being a hell raiser when growing up she is trying to make her father proud now especially since he is her boss! When Sydney meet local farmers son Michael Greyson she wonders if she hasn't made her biggest mistake but she is drawn to him and after sharing a moment of passion events happen in Sydney's life which spiral it out of control, leaving her wondering who she can trust and are the people closest to her really who she thought they were!! WOW !!! Well Tim O'Rourke has knocked my socks off again. He is one of the authors I will put a book on hold for....even if it's at a good bit!! This book has everything, engaging characters, gripping story line and amazing twists and turns that will leave you with your mouth open saying OMG really !!! This book is also a little different from Tim other works as it is aimed as the adult reader which he has done effortlessly!! This is supposed to be a stand alone book but I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed that Sydney gets another story :)

This book is really cute, for what it's worth, but it's probably the most "slight" Gaiman story I've ever read. Odd is a young, inscrutable Viking who one day heads off on his own, meets some gods, and has an adventure. Despite the all-consuming winter, Frost Giants in Asgard, his crushed leg, and so on, it somehow never feels as if anything is really at stake, and the resolution, while clever, comes a little too easily. It's a pleasant read - don't pass it up, but I'd borrow it from your library instead of getting your own copy.

great message....

Good -

I should pay more attention to the blurbs of books, honestly. Lisa McMann calls Unraveling Isobel creepy? How could I not listen to that? I went into this book assuming it was generally about Isobel and her possible mental illness, not knowing that I was going to be so scared that I would only read this in the daytime. Yes, the summary does mention ghosts, but there are different ways for ghosts to be written about. Here's a warning: Eileen Cook knows how to scare the pants off of you. Or that's true if you're a wuss like me, at least. There's a reason I don't read much in the thriller genre. Overall, minus the feeling scared bits, I did enjoy Unraveling Isobel. I enjoyed Cook's writing style, and the plot kept moving along at a nice pace. It's a mix of thriller and mystery, so as you work your way through the book as a reader you get to work out clues and coincidences with Isobel. Some are easy to figure out and some are not, so even the most sleuth-y will be entertained (plus, it's slightly harder to be a detective when things like possible ghosts/mental illness are involved). I fully intend on picking up Cook's first novel now, as I know I enjoy her writing style. I also intend on paying more attention to obvious references to creepy in the future. (Or everyone could make it easier on me and make the titles very obvious. Like Anna Dressed in Blood.)

Reading this, I was certain it would descend into formulaic emo crap with cliched plot devices, but Thompson really turned it around in the last quarter of the book. Ultimately, I found Blankets really satisfying.

Beautiful illustrations and stories with very few words, but lots of meaning. Really quite amazing. My favorite story is "The Lost Thing."

Didn't end like I wanted it to....but it really couldn't.

Saya aware dengan webtoon Cat and Dog setelah tahun 2015 lalu ada update di Dramabeans soal adaptasi webtoon ini menjadi drama Korea. Katanya, sih, dramanya akan tayang tahun ini. Tapi saya belum tahu bagaimana kelanjutan soal dramanya. Dari Dramabeans juga saya tahu bahwa premis yang ditawarkan oleh Cat and Dog berupa tema perjodohan - persis dengan tema di manhwa Goong (Princess Hours), drama Sweet 18, atau film My Little Bride - dan marriage contract (walaupun tidak bisa dibilang marriage contract juga ya di sini). Kisah Cat and Dog ini klise banget. Pengkarakteran tokoh utamanya (Joo Yeong Woo dan Mo Seul Woo) juga sangat klise. Karakter seperti mereka berdua ini karakter yang paling membuat frustrasi kalau sedang membaca manga/manhwa/webtoon/Ktoon atau menonton drama, hehehe. Saya lebih tertarik dengan kisah supporting characters, terutama kisah Lee Ok Bong. Twist mengenai siapa dia sebenarnya adalah bagian yang paling saya sukai selama membaca 5 volumes Ktoon ini. Selain itu, bagian yang juga menarik adalah ending. Untung saja endingnya dibuat seperti itu, jadi membuat kesan bahwa itulah proses hidup dan ada kalanya kita butuh waktu khusus untuk melalui tahap bertumbuh dan berkembang, serta ada proses yang kita harus lewati juga kalau kita ingin "sembuh" dari "sakit". Pilihan akhirnya tinggal kita sendiri yang tentukan ingin seperti apa. Adaptasi dramanya seperti apa, ya? Hmmm...

4.5 That is how you end a series. I only haven't given five stars because the battle stuff at the end was kind of jumpy and confusing and pulled me out but other than that, guys, it was satisfying. Not necessarily happy but it was complete and good. The characters grew and I am so happy with it. That was well done.

Ruokatunnilla luettua, jalleen kerran nuoruuden lempikirjoja. Tama ei ollut niin hyva kuin muistelin ja tarinan moraalinen opetuskin on hieman amerikkalainen, jos ei ole suosittu suositun kaveripiirin keskuudessa, ei ole mitaan. Muistaakseni kirjailijan muut lukemani kirjat olivat parempia.

- mn '`jb l'shy 'nk mntm~ fy ll ntm ! - ll ntm hw ntm ! - qd qyl " thm@ Gyr rwm `lm " - hl thm Gyr l`lm lmbw `lm ? hl y'bq lnsn , yhjr lw ysh .. l'rD - Hy - wlsm ? - lbd Tb` mn jwz llmrwr ! - w'n '`ysh bl jwz ! l`Sr ybq~ `Srn , flmytwn .. hm wHdhm lmntmwn ! hl mn mfr ? - " mn kn fy 'sh`rh Hr .. yZl b'~ 'rD kn Hr "