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For the 1-6 trade : I enjoyed reading a comic book that played with mythology, character development and with a super hero that does not do the classic super hero story. Enjoyable.

I was pretty disappointed with the new Uncanny Inhumans comic, which felt like it lost a lot of the potential of Inhuman by shuffling off a lot of the nuHumans and becoming a more typical superhero comic. I had even lower expectations for All-New Inhumans because it sounded like a first-response team would be even more super-normative. And my expectations were exceeded. This new comic has some of the clever mysteries and background machinations that Inhuman did. It also reuses a couple of the missing cast members. On the downside, the characterization is very flat for the nuHumans. Crystal and Gorgon are OK but I'd have no idea who the nuHumans were if I hadn't read the previous issues. I also felt like the writing was quite muddy at times, slowing down and obscuring what was going on. Still, Uncanny was a flat 3 stars, and this is more like 3.5. I can see potential. But I still question whether I should give up on Marvel Inhuman expansion.

"Amazing Peace, "was published as a Christmas book for adults. The book is available with a Cd and is read by the author. I enoyed the poem, but I am not fond of the illustrations of this book.

Ruin & Rule ended with a stunning cliffhanger. . . and Sin & Suffer continues the thrilling, sizzling rollercoaster of a ride! Arthur "Kill" Killian must devise a scheme to get his true love away back from his sick, twisted father. He is a broken man but he will stop at nothing to wreak revenge on his "family." At the same time, how can he possibly protect Cleo from the evils that surround her? "Cleo eclipsed everything. She was my Sagittarius, my soul mate, my best friend. Not only had I failed her once and persecuted us to eight years apart, but she'd also been harmed twice at my father's hand. She'd suffered more than she ever should and it was all because of me and my need to settle the score. I wanted to forget about my goal--to halt the guillotine hovering over both our futures--because if I didn't, if I continued chasing death, then I didn't deserve her. And I want so fucking much to deserve her." Cleo is battling her own devastating past, but like all Pepper Winters' books, Cleo is one kick-ass heroine who is strong, stubborn and resilient. Kill is her soulmate, her true love since childhood and she can withstand almost anything now that she knows he is back in her life. "There hadn't been a single moment in the past eight years when I'd awoken and wished I could forget. Every morning had been a struggle to remember. Every night a battle between needing to know and needing to forget." Sin & Suffer has TONS of twists and turns. I love MC books so this book was a pleasure to read. It is not quite as dark as Ruin & Rule, but it is just as thrilling and satisfying. Cleo and Kill are two unforgettable characters and I loved the conclusion that Ms. Winters gave to them in Sin & Suffer. Favorite quote: "Her flaws could be called ugly--an imperfection to be hidden. But it only made me fall deeper in love with her. She had the strength to bare them--even using them to define how others saw her." (ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)

Beautiful, haunting, devastating. I'm floored.

As with all of Druon's books....I feel like it takes me a couple of chapters to get into the story. This series is interesting as it is based on the French kings of the 1300s... and you quickly learn that their lives were the original soap operas. Amazing crazy things happen. For a non native French speaker---the language can be described as advanced intermediate. There are quite a few old terms that are no longer used...and terms that one does not come upon on every day French life. Good to enrich your French vocabulary.

Hmmm. What to say. Basically, this story follows Eleanor de Clare, in 1300s England, married to Hugh le Despenser. She is the niece to King Edward 2. It is very well researched, very detailed, but to me, pretty boring. And really gross. Here's how it went: A. The King's male lover is executed. B. The King takes up Eleanor's husband as his lover. C. Eleanor gets mad when she finds out, so she begins to have an incestuous relationship with the King. Did I mention that's her uncle? The one already having "relations" with her hubby? That's pretty much where I quit reading. It's one cheesily steamy book. I rolled my eyes to the ceiling as every single man that walks by Eleanor desires her womanly assets. Give me a break. I won't be reading the sequel.

Dog and Cat have to figure out how to live in the same room together. Great for siblings who go through the same situation. Good for preschool or older kid storytimes.

Text: 4 stars Art: 3 stars Single-author black-and-white compilation of comic strips, originally posted on the internet on a weekly basis. As with any comics collection, some of the strips are funnier than others. But overall, this is often humorous, especially if you're a librarian or hang out frequently in a library.

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Well that was very unexpected and different! I am a huge fan of L.H. Cosway and this is my first book by Penny Reid. This is part of the Rugby series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. This book is NOT your typical sports romance! It features a gorgeous ruby star who surprisingly, needs to learn some skills in the bedroom! This is a very funny and VERY sexy take on a familiar theme and I enjoyed every word of this story. Lucy is the sister of a star rugby player. She is quirky, different and has a very unusual way of dealing with anxiety - she has a compulsion to shoplift. Not so easy to hide when the media is lurking everywhere. At first she dislikes Sean, her brother's teammate, but beneath his bad-boy reputation is a kind, generous and loving soul. "Beauty comes in many forms, and the strong, powerful kind is the most admirable. It's easy to be weak; you simply do nothing, but strength takes courage and effort." Sean has his own issues to deal with. He doesn't seem interested in proving his teammates wrong about his cocky reputation and his family is not exactly warm and fuzzy. Lucy is afraid of alienating her brother if he finds out that she and Sean are seeing each other, so they agree to keep their romance a secret at first. Lucy is going to teach Sean how to be a better lover - I LOVED how they did NOT start off with spectacular sex!! But Sean is so sweet and is a very, very good student. He begins to develop real feelings for Lucy and she begins to fall for Sean, too. "I don't want to close my eyes when I could be looking at you" The Player and the Pixie is a sweet, funny and totally fresh story. I absolutely adored Lucy and Sean and the very unique storyline. These two are very memorable characters and I highly recommend this book even if you are not usually a fan of sports romance! (ARC provided in return for an honest review.)

It's LIVE!!!--> Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jlZZwq 4.5 Holy Cow What an Ending-Stars AAAAhh Lili, do you want to give me a heart attack or what?? This ending was worse than one from SOA!! My pulse was over the roof with what you've written ;) damn you for torturing me further with a snippet of Three Years... Four Score takes off with a BAM and we learn what's going on in Juliette's mind (yeah I'm not referring to her as Sammi anymore because in the book she's 99% Juliette now). I am afraid... I'm afraid that I'll never feel alive again... ...but that's my fear. That once, Dornan is finally dead, I still won't feel any different. Poor thing, she failed and she doesn't know what to do with it. She's afraid, thought her plan was bullet proof. Now Jase nows; when will Dornan know? What about Elliot? Sweet Elliot who still loves her with all her heart... But her heart, it's always belonged to only one. To one boy who stands now with a gun and anger in his eyes in front of her at the hospital where Dornan is in a coma. This damn bomb didn't kill him; her love looks at her with betrayal; her cover blown. But she's wrong. Not only is Juliette a good actor, Jase too. What she sees is hurt, confusion, love, and longing. He never stopped loving his Juliette and can't believe that the girl who is suppose to be dead since six years was under his nose all this time. Oooh Juliette, I'm so happy for you that finally you don't have to hide anymore, at least in front of one person. And gosh their reunion was sweet, wild, and passionate. "What I want is to throw you up against this wall and erase any trace of him ever touching you. What I want is for you to be mine, and mine only." Despite their reunion, not everything is all right; she has a agenda and even Jase can't stop her. They argue but in the end, he's right. Her curiosity will kill her. But she didn't listen; now she's in a situation where she knows she won't make it out alive. ...Curiosity killed the cat, Juliette... Yeah, be prepared when reading it, you might need a shot afterwards to calm down your nerves!! ARC kindly provided by author

This has been one of my favourite books of 2014 and one which has repaid repeated readings. I did review it for Avatar Review in the summer

great read...

I really loved the two MCs Walter and Kelly. They were both so well developed, complex, and interesting. It was fun watching them meet and following their relationship develop through out a school year. Each had struggles, but they supported one another. Very romantic and sexy.

I loved Silver Mortal from the beginning. The writing style was compelling, and allowed you to get lost in the story. There were twists that I didn't see coming and enough suspense to cause me to keep turning the pages. I needed to see what was going to happen to Gracen next. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!

It wasn't for me. I'm giving it a 2.5 STAR because I had to finish it. Editing issue, but not awful. The overall feeling I got from reading it was dark...not thrilling...murky, maybe? I did like the resolution of the story, but I wasn't that into it.

I've always loved Caravaggio above all the other painters active around the end of the 1500s and Christopher Peachment's reimagining of his short and wild life was a very compelling read for me. Told in the first person by the painter himself, the book touches upon all the main events in Caravaggio's life - from his endless wandering from one place to another, to the creation of his masterpieces which are described in depth. Caravaggio's inner voice is brutal and often blasphemous but has an undertone of self-deprecating mockery that made him quite endearing to me. His obsession for the portrayal of 'life and nothing but' in his works becomes an incessant quest for the right sliver of light, the right face, the right shadow. Art and life get entangled and feed off each other - Caravaggio's taste for drinking, gay sex, whoring and brawling are not just a backdrop to his work as a painter but provide him with motives, models and ideas. Peachment mixes up Caravaggio's story with some intrusions of modernity (e.g. the painter enters Rome from Cinecitta or mentions Federico Fellini amongst his acquaintances, etc.). Although slightly bizarre at first, I came to enjoy this aspect of the book. I thought it fitted nicely with the inner modernity expressed by Caravaggio's paintings - he was way ahead of his time so ahead, in fact, that I had no problems in figuring him discussing the use of light and shadows with Fellini while having a cigarette and an espresso. Furthermore, the narrating voice often catches himself telling lies or manipulating and filtering the events recounted so some of the things he says should be taken with a pinch of salt. This slight unreliability is what makes the book even more readable and fascinating. If you're after total historical accuracy, though, you should choose a traditional biography of the painter and not this book.

The artwork is fantastic, and I especially enjoyed the shades of purple for coloring. The twist was great, I definitely didn't see it coming. I enjoyed the meaning behind the story, with Anya being more proud of her Russian roots and accepting who she is.

I have heard so many good reviews for this book and was very interested to read it. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It was a very different type of read for me and I found myself wanting to read more. Jacob's character was one that you found yourself rooting for and couldn't help but like him. Marlena was great too! I felt bad for her in many situations throughout the book. I can't wait to watch the movie now that I have read the book!

I already did. It's a great book.

Another one of Marie Lu's trademark perfect yet bittersweet endings. I love this trilogy so much, and I can't believe already over, it feels like book 1 just came out! But I am excited to read whatever Marie Lu writes next.

I was highly entertained by this one. I feel like it was just the right pace to tell the story it had to tell. Abbie was a believable character,and her actions, I felt, were justified. While she at first allowed herself to be guided by the family, she came to her own decisions about her life in the end. The romance was not an instantaneous affair, but built up over time.

I vaguely remember reading this as a kid and watching the animated movie as well. It is a nice children's story about friendship. It is a well written story that has stood the test of time. Despite being written in the 50's it doesn't feel dated. I liked all the characters and many of the side charterers are memorable as well. By the end of the story I was crying even though I knew what the ending was.

Having been recently pained by being forced to describe one of my all-time favorite writers take on one of my all-time favorite DC teams as "all that could go wrong with the New 52, Jeff Lemire's captivating take on Green Arrow might (just might!) make me reconsider my views on the entire relaunch enterprise. Here is a writer whose work just drips with so pathos, drama, and storytelling talent that the volume is almost impossible to put down. Like others, I've only read a bit of the first 16 issues of the Green Arrow relaunch and found little to impress. Lemire locates the beating heart at the center of Oliver Queen -- a character in a way always trying to find himself and his purpose - and shows a great deal of humility in borrowing generously from the popular (and fun!) television adaption, Arrow, pulling some of the best bits into his story. One can also detect his appreciation of Kevin Smith's excellent take on Green Arrow of some years ago. Yet it is what Lemire brings as new that really makes this book sing. Lemire digs deep in order to broaden and deepen the Green Arrow mythos. A whole new back story threat fits neatly into all that has gone before and yet also changes everything. Also in the spirit of the New 52, Lemire revisits some old (and perhaps tired) villains breathing life into their stories and motivations. Not to give too much away, this certainly isn't your dad's Count Vertigo. Lemire also impressively recognizes that Green Arrow's success depends on how interesting he can make its title character; in the finest tradition of cold hearted writers, he shows an excellent willingness to explode his character's entire life in order to reveal his true motivations. My praise of this book would be incomplete if I failed to mention the wonderful artwork of Andrea Sorrentino. Lemire's script is emotionally heavy and packed with action, yet this could all land with a thud if brushed by an average artist. Sorrentino's work proves that she is anything but. Remembering that Green Arrow isn't superpowered (and here is returned to his youth), Sorrentino gives the reader page after page of emotional intensity and fluid action. We see the surprise in Oliver's eyes when he feels surprise. We recognize his pain and his doubt in Sorrentino's sharp lines. Look no further than the cover to see her gifts. Just extraordinary. To answer a question sure to come, yes, if you've picked up not a single issue of Green Arrow before, you can certainly start here. I found myself with a few questions, but Lemire made sure to answer them as he moved the story along, all without slowing down. As for me, I can tell you that I won't be missing another of his issues. Yes, it really is that good. A free copy was provided by DC Comics through NetGalleys in exchange for an honest review.

This collection continues the story of Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra, and the killer droids. Vader is still looking for Luke Skywalker but he needs funds for his secret, side project. He devises a plan to attain funds with the help of Doctor Aphra. I liked this collection but I did think this was a step down from the first collection. There were some terrific moments that relate to Vader's past. We get to see him return to Tatooine as he returns home. These shots were great as we see him visit Luke's farm or Ben's home. Also, we see the return to Naboo and we touch upon Padme being Luke's mother. The only problem with these plot lines is that they were not long enough. As for the main story plot it was okay but at times felt like filler. Once again Vader is forced into a partnership. Didn't this just happen in the previous collection? I feel like this story didn't do much to advance the story. I will continue to say the artwork in this series is terrific and a pleasure to view. I am enjoying this series but that isn't much of a surprise. I am a Vader fan. There are some good things about this collection and some that made me say "meh". I have no problem continuing this series though.

I hate this book!!! I hate it!!! it makes me sick, if anyone tells me that they liked it, i lose all faith in their book opinion......... } I may be judging it too hard but when i read this book i was tired of all the YA adults book with the same plots and with the same characters. But no this book is not as the others is worst, is stupid, is cliche, is simplistic. I hated the plot about the Emo girl who is crazy about Anne Rice and about being kissed by a vampire wtf?? that's stupid, vampire book fan wants a kiss from a vampire? is too obvious, theres nothing complicated about that......... and i hate the guy is cliche, misterious guy and it turns out to be a vampire -.-. She could have done it better. There are better vampire books, better romance book, better characters, better storys this one is not worth reading for me, worst book i've read. I dont even understand how there are so many books in the series.

This was a well-told story, but I'll admit the end left me a little flat. As usual for Koontz, the characters, the story, the pace were all excellent. Yet the ending almost seemed too much, from too far left field. Admittedly, he managed to provide clues that hinted toward it; yet I wanted to see a bit more development than he gave. (Can you tell I'm trying not to spoil the ending?) A good book by Koontz, maybe even a great book, but not at the top of his list (which is admittedly pretty stellar). (For perspective: my fav Koontz books are Lightning, Twilight Eyes, and Watchers)

Hippies, Movie Stars, The Elite Murder, Mayhem, & Madness Scary, Creepy, Spine Chilling Gender, Race, Class Here is hoping none of them ever get out of jail.

Like the TARDIS, this book is bigger than it appears on the outside and there are intimations of wonderful things. Like the Doctor, however, The Author doesn't give up his secrets willingly. In fact, he'd rather not give them up, casting prose at you that breaks and doubles back and repeats, perhaps, if you can decipher the words. It was, for me, a difficult book. I don't speak the language of jazz; neither, it turns out, does my dictionary. I read it, essentially, for the chorus, for the parts that I could understand and for the sentences that shone in places. I wouldn't attempt another one, but I'm glad I read this one.

I've heard really great things about this book. And since there is a movie coming out, I thought I'd get ahead of the game and read it. Well, I got through half of it. Didn't hold my interest. I do want to finish it sometime - just to see how it ends. Hopefully, my concern for the characters will grow...

I've read this series over ten years ago. But I remember it being very good. For the first 18 books. After that the more it lasted the worst it got. I stopped at book 32. These days I wouldn't give it more than 20. Back to the good stuff. I found that Gaia was a good strong, pretty but still flawed character. She was special without being annoying. It's just that once the author stopped looking over the shoulder of the ghost writer. Things went down the drain pretty fast. Last note. The series may be in boxes but I won't be giving them away any time soon. She's a good example of an interesting main character in an interesting premise.

A clearly talented poet. These just weren't my cup of tea. Too fancy. Cold. I didn't feel anything. There are a couple excellent poems: Boys and Beatitudes of Malibu stood out for me as well as the last poem which was slick.

** spoiler alert ** I loved this series, I loved this book and how it all got finished up. I was a little upset at first that Bella was a Vampire, especially when her Dad first went to see her, but then I got over it. I am sad I don't have another book to look forward to in this series.

4.5 stars. So much nostalgia! When I first heard about this I was so excited because I used to read the Archie comics all the time and loved them. Then I got even more excited when I realized Fiona Staples would be doing the art because I love her work in Saga SO MUCH. This was a great first volume, the art is gorgeous for all six issues. Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead are the same lovable characters, but with more depth. There's actual conflict that doesn't get solved in the next five pages, but there's still plenty of humor. I'm definitely going to be continuing this.

This book was so incredibly good! The main issues in the book were deafness and animal rights. A teenage girl who has been deaf since she was 7 is still trying to come into her own when she knows she didn't really fit. Her hearing loss has created isolation that is only made worse by an extremely controlling and manipulating mother. Thankfully she meets a neighbor who happens to be a CODA (child of deaf adults) and his chimpanzee. Joey quickly finds comfort and love in these two friends and that helps her deal with the tension and drama that come with her relationship with her mom. The author does such an amazing job with showing the impact of hearing loss on relationships and also showing the depth of emotions involved when choosing the best communication for oneself or one's child. The animal rights part of the book makes you want to get involved and prevent horrendous treatment of animals. It was expertly crafted to pull at the heartstrings and envision a similar situation to a family pet who is no where as smart or intelligent as Sukari. I had no id a there were so many chimpanzees needing homes in America. This book made me cry to a depth only felt twice before. I think this shows how strong of a story it is. I don't cry when I don't care about the characters. I cared so much about these characters that I was a blubbering fool. Please read this book! You won't be disappointed.

OK, now I have read the second one. Not sure I want to finish the trilogy. I get it. Plucky, again. Sort of the "Raising Arizona" phenomenon...just want to know WHAT HAPPENS without having to endure, I mean finish, the whole thing

This was a quick read but a good one. It is no spoiler that a girl dies in this book since it is in the title, so you know what you are getting into. The main character, Greg, does a great job of describing the situation and walking you through the story. There is a lot of humor and the illness is really a subplot, hardly taking up much of the story at all so it is lighter than other novels about teenagers dying of cancer. The narrator is all boy and I love teenage boy perspectives, especially ones as authentic as this one where he talks openly about how awkward it is to grow up and navigate high school and life.

I LOVE Flavia de Luce! She is the funniest, cleverest and quirkiest 11-year old sleuth in fiction (in my humble opinion). I'm a big fan of this series, and I don't even like mysteries for the most part.

OMG, guys! This is probably the best book in the #DetectiveErikaFoster series.

Amazon --> http://bit.ly/6-Brothers 4.5 Holy -sh!t Stars WOW....just give me a minute.... What a book!!! Ok, I'm back. This was one hell of a ride; Six Brothers was just like Seven Sons: fast paced, thrilling, cruel and plain awesome! I was clued to my kindle. In book 2, Sammi is even more of a badass -her thoughts are screaming revenge and nothing AND no one will bring her off her path. She's determined, precise, strong, and one cluster-f#ck in the head. Since her last 'kill' a month has passed and she's itching for another. She wants to eliminate them all; letting them feel how it feels to be helpless, weak and to beg for mercy- ha, but mercy is not on Sammi's agenda. She's lethal and endures so much, especially as being Dornan's lil bed-bunny, that she plans the perfect second kill! Oh Dornan, you're on my very top shi!tlist...what you did to her, no words, I think I'd have shoot you myself. His mind is twisted, and he's even more unpredictable so that Sammi really has to be careful around him. It's an understatement that I hate him, and I bow my head to Sammi because she's one tough chick, awesome actress, and hot lay -playing the perfect role. While enduring all his sickness, she just has one thought: "I will take every tear he has, every son, and then I will start letting blood." ...same as he let her blood, this sick bastard. But this story wouldn't be the same if there was no Jase, would it? These two -Sammi and Jase- were messing with their minds. Sammi feels more and more drawn to him and he too, is confused. "What are you doing to me?"he breathes, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm loving you,..." Sigh... it's literally tearing her up, because Sammi is sick of lying to the only man she had ever loved...still loved. But she knows, she can't tell Jase the truth. She fighting a battle with herself, not knowing what to think, what to do when being around him. "He's a lover, not a fighter, and he doesn't have it in him to kill them all." ...she might be right, but that's uncertain. But Lili's book wouldn't be the same if one scumbag wouldn't fall...and of course Sammi succeeded taking down one more brother and damn, she did it in a very tricky BUT risky way! "I'm the angel of death tonight, after all." ...happy, unforgettable Birthday sucker!! Again, Lili took me with Six Brothers to a dark place, in a girls mind that seeks nothing more than revenge; sweet, lethal and brutal revenge. She created with 2nd installment another great story that starts where book 1 left off. She answered the questions I had after finishing Seven Sons, and again, the way she planned her series, she has made me a serious hooker on it. Bit by bit she adds more to the story and it doesn't disappoint - again, it's like watching my favorite tv show, SOA. I'm very much looking forward to read book 3 !! ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review

Another foray into the category that is "Books I read as a child". I read this as part of "The Compleet Molesworth" which collects all four Molesworth books into one. I wonder what a child of today would make of Molesworth? Even when I was growing up, in the 1970s, this 1950s depiction of boarding schools felt dated. An arcane world of Latin, Trig, Chizz, etc. That said, there was, and is, something wonderful about N. Molesworth's comic musings. The splendid illustrations by Ronald Searle, the incessant misspellings, the ongoing fight against the teachers, and (my personal favourite) fotherington-tomas ("Hullo clouds hullo sky hullo sun"). All of it evokes a lost world of canings, school caps, the remnants of a classical education, masters, bulies, gurls, cads, sops, oiks, parents, and even the skool dog. The book concludes with Molesworth's masterly short story about the Prunes uprising. As a bit of light relief, and a trip down memory lane, I really enjoyed it. Genuinely funny, although perhaps you had to have enjoyed it as a child?

Currently working through "In Memoriam A.H.H." which is as great a poem as everyone in the world, from T.S. Eliot onwards, thinks.

Reading a debut author in the fantasy genre, or any genre, is always a hit-or-miss experience. There are authors who hit the ground running with a hit, there are authors with talent that just needs a little 'fine tuning', and there are authors who seem to struggle. David Craddock, while not completely new to the fantasy world, has released the first book in his YA fantasy series, and he falls within the first category of authors. Heritage is a page-turning, captivating, well-written YA novel that really leaves you wanting more - in a good way. One of the first things that is obvious right off the bat is that Craddock knows how to build an entire fantasy world without engaging in tedious info dropping. Many times authors will overload readers with lengthy explanations and backstories to help aid in the world building, while others have a 'fly by the seat of your pants' approach where readers learn as they read. Craddock knows how to create a world that readers can relate to, understand, and feel a part of, without having to boggle down readers or waste time with lengthy explanations. This is vital to the next part -pacing. Sometimes while reading, I notice that novels are either paced too fast or too slow. I found Heritage to be paced at a just right speed. It had me turning pages and wanting to read further ahead, but I didn't feel rushed. Last, but not least, is character development. The norm nowadays seems to be that you can't write a good fantasy novel with great world building and character development, and keep it under 400 pages. Craddock shows that this is not the case. I really felt connected to the characters. It did take a little time to warm up to them, get to know them a little, but by the end I wanted more. I wanted to see what happens next, go through more adventures with them. Heritage is definitely a wonderful start for not only the series, but Craddock's future at a fantasy writer. The quality of writing and pure talent that is evident will only improve as time goes on. Readers will notice that the influences authors like Terry Brooks, R.A. Salvatore, Robert Jordon, and David Eddings had on Craddock. I really look forward to seeing Craddock grow as a writer and hopefully leave a lasting impact on the fantasy genre. Fans of Brooks, Salvatore, Jordon, and pretty much any other fantasy author will be sure to enjoy this novel. Anyone who is thinking of venturing into fantasy will also enjoy it, as it serves as a great intro to fantasy.

Fan of the entire text, but I am partial to 'On Marriage' as it was one of the "Lessons" I selected to be read at my wedding.

Completely loved the start to this series. It captivated me in a way that reminded me of when I first started the City of Bones series. I loved the characters and this magical world is like nothing I've ever read before. I can't wait to see where this story goes from here.

In 1861, a group of men attempted to cross Australia from south to north. They brought camels over from Afghanistan (or that region) to use in the crossing, correctly thinking they were best suited for the environment. While the expedition did succeed in crossing Australia, it was fraught with difficulty. The leaders of the expedition were inexperienced with camels, didn't know the bush, and had an excess of pride that prevented their asking for help from those (cameleers, bushmen) who could have made their task easier. As a result, most of the humans and animals who participated in the expedition died. This story also explains the existence of feral camels in central Australia. This was a fun and quick read. I sometimes wished that the point of view didn't change so often, but it is a young YA focused book, and probably works well for that age group.

Adventure, romance, mystery, and thriller - Adriana Koulias weaves her magic once again! In The Fifth Gospel Adriana Koulias brings different timelines seamlessly together with great skill and takes on another journey back in time. We find ourselves in war-torn France in 1244 in the besieged castle of Montsegur. While the Catholics are pounding the walls, inside the heretical Cathar perfect meets a mysterious young woman with a story to tell. This story is set in a war-torn Palestine and it begins with the birth of two children both named Jesus (Yeshua). Beautifully written this is an adventure story, a romance and a mystery thriller all in one. Not only that but this book links beautifully with her last book THE SIXTH KEY. In fact they share an entire chapter! You will understand the enigmatic character Cros in THE SIXTH KEY better after reading this linking book. It is fair to say that because of this book I will never see Christianity in the same way again. I highly recommend it!

I'm getting bored...it's the same book, over and over again. But now I'm invested in finding out what happens to these children.

This sweet book was published in 1872 and tells the story of a Katy and her five younger siblings. Katy learns valuable lessons, and blesses her family, through learning to make the best of some difficult circumstances and overcoming her challenges and weaknesses. I read this aloud to my children, ages 6, 10, and 13, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it and looked forward to each reading. It is written in a fun style that was captivating for children, and wove wonderful & inspiring lessons into the tale. It made me want to be a better person, and I hope it had the same effect on my children. I highly recommend it!

A lot of pages with not a lot going on. The love between Ky and Cassia didn't feel real to me; kind of forced. I hope the last book improves this story.

I don't find Cassia interesting and her relationship with Ky lacked a lot passion and emotion for me. It was pretty boring really. Maybe it'll be better in the next book.

It was ok

Mon Tintin favori de ma jeunesse. Je l'apprecie differement en tant qu'adulte. The best tintin books, favorites of my youth. Still makes me smile but not as enjoyable as an adult.

see full review @ Katie's Corner

Into the Abyss by J.L. Langland I pulled this book from a recommendation thread on r/Fantasy, and the premise was entertaining. Tom, a normal boy in our world, goes to a party and gets summoned into another world-as a powerful demon. Tom's soul is effectively ripped from him, he dies, and he's bound as a demon slave in Astlan. Being a powerful demon yet a slave is a contradiction, and this story is riddled with uncomfortable moments for Tom while he comes to terms with not being human (yet still obviously remembering and thinking of himself as human) and with being a pawn in a magical war where both sides (there are 2 powerful wizards at war) are afraid of him. The story turned out not to be clunky, either, which was a fantastic surprise. It gets a bit unwieldy as it goes on by adding too many uninteresting POVs but most of the characters in Into the Abyss matter (at least in the first 3/4 of the book...the army generals and wizards that get introduced as POV characters later are forgettable and boring). Tom as the main character is definitely interesting, and he has to deal with the duality of being a human and a demon, and he finds himself slotted into the default 'evil hell spawn' role rather he wants to be or not. The wizards of Astlan don't understand where demons come from (aka normal souls from other dimensions). When Tom becomes a demon, he has trouble with controlling his master's missives and his demonic impulses. Jenn, a young wizard, starts out as a more interesting character, but she becomes a less interesting character as she (a supposedly intelligent and otherwise compassionate woman) is played as a bit of a fool when she irrationally and instinctively distrusts Tom. This is maybe my biggest character complaint-there are characters that do act irrationally For The Plot. Jenn is the biggest violator, but even the better characters like Tom and Rupert get in on the action. The maligned and traitorous wizard, Gastrope, is maybe the most rational character because he has a reason to distrust Tom (he almost murdered him and scared the shit out of him), but Gastrope is the character that makes active attempts to come to term with Tom and (spoiler) Rupert being demons. Now, let's get to the MVP character of the story-Rupert. I would've read a story 1/2 this length that was just about Tom and Rupert, and their big brother/little brother relationship is seriously sweet. Rupert was a born demon, and he appears to be a major exception to the 'ripping souls from other dimensions' rule of how demons are made in Astlan. Rupert disguised himself as a wizard when he started to turn into a demon, and it's Rupert that teaches Tom to shapeshift from demon to human. There's a truly touching scene where Rupert reveals his demonic self to Tom, who realizes he and Rupert are the only two people in Astlan who really understand each other. Rupert talks about how he ran away when he started to become a demon, and then Rupert drops a bomb-he thinks Tom is his father because they do look exactly alike. (If you think about it, there's a magical in-story reason this could be, even if the book doesn't address it.) This adds levels of questions and confusion to the plot, and Tom, being somewhat sympathetic and simultaneously spineless, decides to let Rupert believe he's Tom's son. After a series of okay-but-sometimes-boring plot developments, Tom & Co. find themselves in Freehold, where the political situation has spiraled out of control. The two wizards are still at war, but there are archdemons involved, too. There's also a McGuffin book, which doesn't figure too much into the early plot but the wizards are really interested to open it and control the astral planes. The most interesting development is that the Rod of Teirnon, a religious army of a literal warrior God, converge on Freehold to route out the demons. The Rod is led by Talerius, their Knight Rampant, and there's a truly climactic battle at the end of the story between Tom and Talerius. As with much of this story, there's a bit too much padding around the fight, but it's amazing, and unlike with some books I've read recently, the ending doesn't disappoint. Rating: 4 stars for the story, even when it does feel a bit unpolished and a bit unwieldy.

This is a GREAT book that explains sex, differences between boys and girls....funny, to the point...and humor on a kids level. I wish this books existed in English.

I love a good holiday read! Can't wait for the next installment.

I LOVE THIS MORE THAN THE SHADOW AND BONE TRILOGY! A little slow in the beginning, but oh my goodness I was hooked. The characters are fantastic, I loved all of them. I haven't loved a cast of characters so completely in ages. Each so unique and fleshed out, but they fit so well together. Jesper, Inej, Wylan, Nina, and Matthias were all my sweet babies. Also, Kaz may not hold my heart quite like the Darkling did, but he's pretty damn close. And the plot. Goodness, the only things I managed to guess were character traits and some people's choices. Everything else kept me on my toes and I just had to keep reading to see what would happen next. Six of Crows is exactly like what everyone is saying, the perfect blend of high fantasy and Ocean's Eleven. It even reminded me of Brandon Sanderson's original Mistborn trilogy, what with the whole band of misfits taking on a seemingly impossible task. The book ends in a sorta painful cliffhanger so I will be eagerly waiting for the sequel. Is this a duology? A trilogy?? I need to know what happens next!!

Text: 5 stars Art: 5 stars Graphic biography about Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller. Everything I've read previously about this dynamic duo focuses on Helen, so I really appreciate this being told from Annie's perspective. I learned a lot about Annie that I hadn't known prior to reading this book. The art is especially effective in sensitizing readers to Helen's experience of the world, while the story fleshes out the experiences, relationships, and personality of Annie. The story is organized in an interesting fashion and uses flashbacks to provide a fuller understanding, especially of Annie. Readers see, and feel, the symbiotic and loving relationship that develops between Helen and "Teacher." This could be read by children and teens, with different aspects appreciated by each age group. Some historical notes and a bibliography are included in the back of the book. This is one of the graphic novels put out by the Center for Cartoon Studies, in their high-quality biography series.

Manna from Hades was a random pick from my library. I have had some good luck with random picks, so I held out hope for this one. I love watching British shows like this on Netflix, so I was hoping for a good story set in a small English town in the 60s. Good old fashioned detective work without the technology of today is always fun to read about. The problem that I ended up having with this book was it was so boring. There were multiple characters that is was hard to keep thing straight. Eleanor kept forgetting to tell the detectives things and would feed them information piecemeal as she remembered them. It got annoying and was clearly a device to push the plot along. Another problem may have been that I listened tot he audio version of the book. The narrator didn't do a great job of differentiating between characters with different voices. So it was easy to confuse who was speaking. At about 70% I fast forwarded to the end. I wasn't impressed. I doubt I will continue with any more of this this series.

mn lHjt lHlw@ lly lnsn mmkn yHs byh nh yqr klm yHsh bywSf Hlth w Hssh bjd shkr `ly ldywn dh lny qrt fyh Hjt ktyr tshbhny fnbsTt ^_^

Of the 2 in this series that I've read, this one was my favorite. Very romantic!

It's been a while since I read a Tony Hillerman mystery, and I though I would take one up again as my husband and I plan a trip to New Mexico, the setting for most of the Hillerman mysteries. This one had an exciting, mostly unpredictable plot, interesting characters, and a credible ending. There are also great descriptions of New Mexico - the colors, the light, the texture. It's a very visual novel. It's a good read with a lot of action, and it involves a Navaho myth of a Wolf-Witch being taken advantage of for a nefarious reason.

makes you want to take a good look at your life and make some changes!

Grodd > King Kong

Discombobulated, is the word that comes to mind. Set on an Earth that has the Justice League banned and banished to the far side of the moon, Superman still exists and The Batman has a group of misfit, youth to help keep Gotham safe. The arrival of Brainiac and a presidential order of marshal law sets off a sequence of events that could spell the destruction of the planet. At least, that's what I gathered... The drawings are meant to have some pop art aesthetic to them but in found them distracting and pretentious at times. The writing was passable, sparse and failed to compliment the story. Batman has a minimal showing along with equally limited appearances by The Atom, The Arrow, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern and others. Discombobulated. I'd recommend this for hardcore Miller fans and Batman completionists only.

Hmm. Hard for me to rate this one. I loved the small moments of this book, and think Norman is a genius at dialogue. Every single thing that comes out of his characters' mouths reveals something about their personalities, and that's quite enviable. I had trouble with the main character, who is so completely inert as to be nothing more than a spectator in his own life. I wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him. Say something to Uncle Donald! Tell Tilda you love her! Curse Reese Mac Isaac! ... but no. Sigh.

A cute, heartwarming read. Shari Green perfectly captures the voice of a young girl experiencing big, scary changes in her life, such as her mother remarrying and her family moving. The friendship between her and her elderly neighbor, Iris, is extremely touching and I loved how beneficial it was to the both of them. We need more stories about platonic relationships transcending generational gaps. Would recommend to young readers.

Captivating illustrations and simple text tell the story of Jesus life, ministry and resurrection, followed by a discussion of the many symbols and customs of the Easter Celebration. While I found the book wonderfully done, I'm perplexed by it's treatment of Jesus' Jewish heritage. This is particularly evident in this page which niggles me: "The date of Easter is not the same from year to year. Most people celebrate on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring. But Orthodox Christians use a different date. They celebrate Easter on the Sunday following Passover. Long before the celebration of Easter began, people celebrated a spring festival. They danced and gave gifts. They rejoiced over the rebirth of life in the fields and woodlands. After the Christian religion spread to many lands, the joy of Jesus' Resurrection became mingled with the joy of the spring festival. Both celebrations stood for new life. Both stood for hope in the hearts of people. And so it is not strange that many of the customs of the old spring festival became a part of our celebration of Easter." (page 13? no page numbers) Clearly, you can see from this text that while other ideas will be discussed, the focus is the European and, by extension, North American, celebration of Easter. Also, the thought flow implies that spring festival predates Easter, and while there are spring festivals in the ancient world prior to Jesus' resurrection, Passover predates them all! Therefore, the Orthodox use of the date makes a lot of sense. Nonetheless, the story continues on with focus on symbols connected with the spring festivals that came to be associated with Easter. Mention of the Jewish practices (without reference to their ancient origins) are dealt with tritely. For example a page about spring festival symbolism in giving and decorating eggs ends with the single sentence: "The egg is also one of the ritual foods eaten at Passover." Though the story focus' on European celebrations, some mention is made of Asian cultures such as China and Persia. This may be related to the struggle to connect with Semitic roots. This is an unfortunate negligence in a otherwise simple and compelling explanation of both the Resurrection story and the Easter Celebration. So close! Recommended with caveats .... 4 stars.

3.5 stars Sparks fly when attorney Eric Nash literally runs into contractor BJ Stevens in the little town of Hope Harbor. While at first the two clash at every meeting, they soon find that their attraction is hard to resist- but with their priorities and life plans so far apart, it will take a little small town magic to bring this couple their own happy ever after. For those in the mood for a sweet and emotional romance with a lovable cast of characters and just the right amount of faith and hope, treat yourself to a Hannon. Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

see full review @ Katie's Corner

Read this novella series even if you don't like zombies!!!

How did I hear about this literary work of art? It was advertised on my local library's home page. Since reading half the book and skimming the last half, I'm forced to ask myself a) since when did libraries abandon even the pretense promoting ACTUAL literacy? and b) when did libraries become porn-peddlers? Word to the wise: "read" the book (full disclosure: it really doesn't require any reading b/c it's so nonsensical and ridiculous) not for any value in either the literary world or even the pornographic, read it only for humor's sake. The book is laugh-out-loud hysterical. You know it's bad when you, as the reader, are SKIPPING the sex scenes because there are too many of them, and they just become more and more ridiculous as they go on. I feel dirty and dishonest even trying to pretend that their are characters or a plot to this "book." SEVERAL other reviews have gone into the characters (Anastasia and Christian), but all you really need to know is that Anastasia is the most annoying person of the face of the earth and indeed in the literary world as a whole. That's saying something b/c I didn't think anyone could outdo Bella Swan or Emma Bovary. I would rather watch Dora the Explorer than "read" anymore of Anastasia Steele's inner conscience, which she also dubs, her inner goddess. Christian Grey is a schizophrenic stalker who can't seem to get enough of Ana. The tragedy here is that Christian has potential as a character, but he is so flighty and ever-changing, that it's laughable. His "mercurial" tendencies do not add to his allure, they merely provide an easy scapegoat for a lazy writer. If her character is so moody and unpredictable, she doesn't actually have to develop him. All can be chalked up to his "Christian-ness." As a teacher, and indeed, as a human being, I have serious issues with the messages promoted in the book. If you thought Twilight was bad for its pathetic portrayal of a strong female character, read Fifty Shades, and you'll realize the book is setting women back about 100 years. Ana is gong to "change" Christian from his BDSM ways, but in order to achieve said goal, she must compromise. Translation: she will have to submit to him sexually for awhile before he can really turn around. Well, that's a poor choice of words b/c HE turns HER around an awful lot--if ya know what I mean. The author presents Ana as this smart, capable, 21st century modern woman, and we as the readers are supposed to accept that Ana is all those things simply because the other characters in the book TELL us she is. What is not done, is the SHOWING. Ana never comes across as competent or smart. She uses baby-talk and teen-lingo e.g. Holy Crap and He's so hot, like they're going out of style. The ONLY thing she really asserts herself about is her diet, which Christian tries to control, but she'll have none of. Oh, she's so brave! SPOILER...The book ends with Christian's dominating sex (spanking her with a belt) proving to be too much for Ana. She leaves him, but never fear, there are TWO more books where Ana will come back begging for more. Why? you ask. Because she can change him. You're probably clamoring to know, "Will she read the rest of the trilogy?" Yes probably. It's like driving by an accident where rescuers are using the jaws of life. It's all so horrific and awful you just can't turn your eyes away. Except in this trilogy, no one needs to die in order to make it gob-smackingly awful. Unfortunately.

An utterly delightful and moving fantasy that is sure to enchant middle school readers! In a sad little town called the Protectorate, there exists a terrible tradition- every year on a certain day the youngest member of the community must be left deep in the nearby woods as a sacrifice to the evil witch who lives there. The villagers mourn their lost babies, but if this task is not fulfilled the entire town will pay the price. At the same time every year, a kind old witch wanders through the forest and finds a poor abandoned baby that has inexplicably been left to fend for itself in the woods. With no other option, she takes the babies to the town at the far end of the forest, feeding them starlight and keeping them safe on the long journey where they will finally be welcomed with yearning hearts and open arms. This year is different. A mother refuses to give up her daughter, and is driven mad when the baby is taken regardless. A young man accompanies the elders on their mission and begins to question the morality of their actions. The witch who finds the child accidently feeds her moonlight instead of starlight, and realizes that since the baby is now full of magic, she must keep her and teach her how to control her powers. This year the winds of change have begun to stir, and when baby Luna turns thirteen and realizes what she is capable of, the storm will awaken in full force and nothing will be the same. This wonderful fantasy is not to be missed. With lyrical writing, delightful characters, and lovely messages, Barnhill has truly created magic. This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.

I may never go to sleep again after reading this. Ick!! Not really sure where this series will go next.

This book was so fantastic! I can't believe it took me until now to finally read it.

This is the third Lauren Beukes book I've consumed in as many months, and it's a good one. Beukes puts us in the middle of a South African ghetto for this book, and, just as she did with Detroit (Broken Monsters) and Chicago (The Shining Girls), she gives us a rich and specific atmosphere that enhances the tension of her story and grounds her already well-written characters. Zinzi December (yeah, her name is amazing) is one of many South Africans who are saddled with an animal after they've been found guilty of a crime. It's a sort of modern day hairshirt: visible to everyone else and a constant, living stigma for your sin. Zinzi has a sloth and wears him around her shoulders. But he's not just an animal; Beukes writes him as a fully formed character, and he and Zinzi are not just co-habitating through the story, but co-dependent. Beukes, as she's listing academic papers written about the "zoo" phenomenon, gives a nod to Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and the daemons the children in that series have as companions. Since this was one of the first things I thought of when I started Beukes's book, I was so happy she did this. The plot of Zoo City is fast and interesting; the characters are sympathetic and well drawn; the protagonist is a strong female person of color; and the action and magic of the world are exciting and unique. The narrator of this audiobook, Justine Eyre, is terrific. Her accent is fluid and so much fun to listen to. She's also narrated The Historians, which has been on my to-read list for a while, so it might be time I gave that one a listen.

4.5 STARS I JUST FINISHED 2 SECONDS AGO AND I ONLY HAVE ONE WORD TO SAY: FUCK

I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars for a quiet, contemporary M/M/M romance. Graeme, Ben and Chris are all British actors, filming a miniseries for television. Grae is gay, Ben is straight, and Chris is bisexual. All three men get along very well, have a certain chemistry, which extends to the wrap party, where Grae, usually a rather aloof chap, offers himself to Chris. Chris, reluctantly, turns Grae down, knowing he won't be able to commit to Grae. Chris is a 'tart' which means he sleeps around...often, and has no wish to "settle down". Grae was down for a one-nighter, but he's disheartened to have been rejected. Good thing Ben is there to pick up Grae's pieces, and bring him back to bed. It seems stalwart Ben isn't straight--or no longer wishes to be, if he can have Grae. In fact, they seem to make a right time of it for months, Grae even moves in. Then, he meets up with Chris. The sexual tension is fantastic, but Grae walks away. Of course, when Chris ends up at Ben and Grae's door that night, neither man was expecting Chris's solution: menage. I really enjoyed this story. It wasn't sloppy, sex-wise, and the men work through the dynamics of their three-pronged relationship carefully. Grae tells the story, and he's, for me, the least likable--mainly because it seemed he lacked confidence in himself. Both Ben and Chris's are head-over-heels for him, and he's almost reticent to believe he's worth it. There are some graphic descriptions, and a surprising percentage of them are emotional, rather than physical. The story itself was quietly understated, with low stakes--could they make this work? Did they want to? Could Chris stay faithful? But the emotional resonance was firm. When I say Grae was the least likable, it doesn't mean I didn't like him, I did. In comparison to both Ben and Chris, however he pales a bit. But that may be an unfair assessment as we see the story filtered through Grae's unflinchingly honest POV. He knows he's a bit shiftless in the home, and quite happy to have Ben or Chris wait on him. It's not that he's lazy--he's just not a "joiner" which made it fun to watch Ben, and late Chris, engage him.

A new twist on paranormal mystery This is a great debut for a new series. The heroine is a happy baker until she suddenly finds herself caught up in supernatural murder spree. While the who-done-it was not a total surprise, the suspense came from wondering if the heroine would figure it out in time to save her companions and what everyone else had to do with it. The characters are all well developed and I can't wait to spend time with them again in the next book in the series. If you like Juliet Blackwell's books you'll enjoy this series.

This is one of my all time favorites. It's a kid's book, so it can probably be finished in 1 sitting.

Amelia & I love to sing and dance along to this one, Sandra Boynton's best compilation of kids songs that are funny and raucus and not annoying to parents...! Lots of Fun!

I didn't realize this was part of a series and the eighth one at that and I could tell that I didn't have all the background between the characters but the story was still a good small town, who-dun-it mystery.

Another good one by Astor.

Self aware poetry.

One of the most delightful cozy mysteries I've read, with characters who leap off the page and a setting that's different and charming. Highly recommended!

Delightful! Wanted to boff Cat on the side of the head a couple times but then I knew more about Bones than she did. Wish I could remember the part that made me laugh so suddenly I would have spit coffee through my nose if I had been drinking it. I highlighted a bunch of places in this book-love that about Kindle. Cat reminds me a little of the character Laura Croft in Tomb Raider; agility, strength, fighting skill-knife throwing what a warrior!

Henrik Ibsenin klassikkonaytelma Peer Gynt on tullut itselleni tutuksi lahinna Edvard Griegin saveltamana musiikkina. Olinkin sen vuoksi hieman pettynyt siihen, millainen hahmo Peer Gynt oikeasti on. Odotin nimittain jotain J.R.R. Tolkienin Hobitin tyyppista: enemman seikkailua, peikkoja ja vuoria. Peer Gynt yllatti minut toistuvasti, valilla kielenkaytollaan, valilla moderniudellaan. Peer on kova naistenmies eika han kauaa yhden naisen perassa jaksa olla, vaan himojen kohde vaihtuu usein. Poikkeuksen tekee itamainen Anitra, joka huijaa Peerilta rikkaudet ja hylkaa miehen autiomaahan - mika ihanan moderni ja itsepainen naishahmo! En myoskaan osannut varautua siihen, kuinka Peer naytelman aikana kay lapi useita ikavaiheita. Alussa han on ehka parikymppinen miehenalku, keskivaiheilla viittakymmenta lahenteleva Gatsby - tyyppinen liikemies ja lopussa kotiin tuhjaalapoikamaisesti palaava hopeahiuksinen vanhus. Peer on kuin Game of Thronesin Tyrion: hanen onnistuu aina puhua itsensa pois mita kiperimmista tilanteista. Paalimmainen tunne lukukokemuksen jalkeen on varsin mitaansanomaton. Pari hyvaa kohtaa teoksesta loytyy: seikkailu vuorenpeikon luona, aavikolla ja hullujen huoneella, mutta muutoin en paljoa tasta irti saanut. Ja lopussa homma meneekin sitten vallan erikoiseksi valukauhoineen kaikkineen. Mutta kuten sanottua, onpas tullut luettua taas yksi klassikko ja sivistettya itseaan.

As a doctor he met a lot of people and he related to most of them and wrote about the experience; also about his everyday life. Red wheel barrow, plums in the fridge, etc. He was a physical sort of guy. I visited a place in NYS near Rochester where he vacationed and wrote a poem about yellow peonies. He was a real artist even if he lived in New Jersey. Paul Mariani's biography (New World Naked) shed a lot of light on his life. If you never read another poet, read this one.

3.5* continuacao da segunda geracao dos personagens iniciais. esta estoria teve um desenvolvimento agradavel, persistindo o aspeto guerreiro e defensor da honra dos clas.... um nadinha de "policial" e acima de tudo o aspeto romantico. Rob e Lilidh conhecem-se desde a infancia e sao apaixonados desde a adolescencia... mas o destino os separou.... e agora os reuniu.... e agora nao vao deixar passar esta segunda oportunidade de fazerem os seu futuro acontecer...

Flora and a penguin do a whole figure skating routine together and seem to be having such great fun. With the use of flaps, you see the story change when the penguin gives Flora the gift of a fish. She throws the fish back into the water and greatly offends the penguin. Eventually, she figures out a way that she can fish and catch another to give back to the penguin. Then they skate off together. Okay for preschool storytimes.

The Giggler Treatment is all about poo. So if you too are a fan of the poo, Like I too am a fan of the poo, Then Rover's pile is the poo for you. If you're a bad Mom or a crabby Dad, An adult who likes to make kids sad, A nasty old vampire named Bloody Vlad Or a President who won by a hanging chad. If you're a grumpy Gus who yells and yells A cook who always leaves in oyster shells, Or a big old tattletale who always tells You best be prepared for stinky smells. Cause the Gigglers, they will not let you Leave this place without a dose of dog poo On the bottom side of your size ten shoe. There, I've given you your only clue. You must do what Mister Mack dids, And always be nice to your little kids, Otherwise you'll have a pair of Blids, That smell of gooey, pooey skids.

I heard Dorie speak at the Moody Bible Insitute before I bought and read her book. What an inspiring story of hope penetrating the incredible darkness in which she grew up. Orphaned. Abused. Unloved. Yet Jesus pursued her, her husband cherished her, and she now lives a vibrant life, restored, strong, ministering on earth and longing for heaven. God bless her for sharing such a difficult past and spreading the hope that NO ONE is beyond the Lord's reach. I would highly recommend this book for those struggling with past sexual or physical abuse, and those who love them.

Le possibilita sono due: 1) Tra Alex e la Mcgarry non c'e feeling. 2) le sue storie sembrano tutte molto simili: tragedia, famiglie sfasciate, persone cieche che "spalancano" gli occhi solo nelle ultime pagine. Mmmh troppo facile, molto prevedibile! Ultimamente il genere NA sembra trattare sempre la solita solfa: problemi all'apparenza in risolvibili, e drammi esistenziali, che magicamente con l'amore e la scintilla di coraggio che da esso ne deriva, puff risolvono TUTTO! Cio non toglie che lo stile dell'autrice sia molto easy da leggere, scorrevole e leggero... Ma sembra un gioco al massacro, spingersi a toccare il fondo, solo per poter far apparire la storia d'amore piu intensa e reale. Ryan che si sveglia e tira fuori le balles alla fine, smettendo di scommettere su boiate varie, e decidendo finalmente per se stesso. (un paio di capitoli prima no eh?!) Beth che sembra la reclame dell'auto distruzione e del suicidio, mi ha dato sui nervi per l'intero libro. Non che mi sia mai stata particolarmente simpatica eh, ma qui nella veste di protagonista sembra anche piu antipatica. Ok ciccia hai la madre drogata/sbandata/squilibrata etc etc... Ma tu figlia mia sembra che voglia soltanto farti usare come un punkball emotivo da lei, e in carne ed ossa dal compagno svitato!!!! Hai mai sentito il detto: chi e causa del suo male pianga se stesso? No? Due calci nel sedere te li darei anche io, eh! Non so questa autrice pluristellata su goodreads a me piace poco... De gustibus eh -.-"

Been awhile since I read poetry, and I thought I'd give this a try since I'm a fan of Lang Leav. Faudet has a similar style, but his poems are a little bit raunchier. While enjoyable, I felt like I was missing something from them.

classic. hypocritical repressed (mama's?) boy marries a cute blond, who has no clue he is a serial abuser/harrasser/creep of the highest order. They marry, he goes from parish to parish (oh did I forget to mention this asshat is a MINISTER?) and gets booted along to new spots after complaints arise...and it just goes on and on until the wife gets fat and inconvenient and he kills her. Leaving beautiful daughters blah blah blah. Again, classic. Texas. Bible Thumper. Ugh. GUILTY PLEASURE for sure. But I admit I feel a tad guilty for enjoying this read.

I picked this up on a whim, thinking I ought to give Kody Keplinger another shot even though I wasn't a huge fan of The Duff, and I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed this book. There were some unrealistic things in it, like some of the boys behaving more like fantasy boys than real boys. Chase in particular suffered from this. Granted, I haven't been in high school for a long time, but I'm pretty sure most soccer players wouldn't spend their spare time reading Greek plays unless they're trying to get into some Ivy League school. I also found the "sex talk," which was supposed to be deep, kind of shallow, and scratched my head again and again trying to figure out why. The dialogue was intelligent; it added good dimension to the story; the questions posed in the book were valid, so why did I find it all so frivolous? Then it hit me. Because sex by itself just isn't that deep. It's a physical act, and it's meaning stems from the sentiments of those involved. Examining the emotional affects of sex, the spiritual connection when two bodies meet, the way some use sex as a form of power, the way others treat it as a kind of religion, any of these themes would have worked to make the book deeper. But whether or not we fib about enjoying sex and what constitutes a whore or a prude all have to do with a person's image. They're surface, and sad as this is, I couldn't relate to caring so much what other people think, partly because Lissa had a big group of friends and in high school I had . . . um . . . very few. Image was the last thing I thought about 'cause my reputation was messed up already. All that aside, I liked the premise of the book and the way the plot kept you glued to the page. Female power was an overall theme, one which made the book stronger. The writing was solid, the conflict intense, and I couldn't help but connect with the characters.

A good retake on the Legion's history that both dances in and out of the "early years" and presents a relatively coherent story at the same time.

Excellent