Traveling Through Books

I grew up on the musical based on this book. It's really been a shameful secret that I hadn't yet read the book. A true Gothic novel... I was underwhelmed. I found the majority of the characters intolerable. Finding really only two that I liked: the Phantom and the man who brought him to France. I want more of each of their backstories. They seemed to have all the depth the rest of the characters lacked. Christine Daae was stupid and amazingly naive. Raoul is always crying! Weeping every 10 seconds- it does not surprise me that Christine initially shows more interest in the Phantom. I would two if they were my only choices. The rest of the side characters were exactly as expected. What makes this book is the atmosphere and amazing tricks that the Phantom uses. But in the end, this is a Gothic tale, told by an unreliable narrator, about a sadistic serial killer and his obsession with a beautiful, yet very stupid, young girl. I'm glad I read it, but think I'll s...

I picked this book up on whim. I needed something to read while my besties and I laid on the lake shore in the sun. My favorite thing about "whim" books is how often they end up being great and expanding your horizons. As you've most likely noticed, I get caught in the fantasy and dystopian genres the majority of the time. While I do read literary fiction here and there and often read classics, general fiction is often moved to the bottom of my TBR pile. I'm glad this one made it to the top by chance. Everything I Never Told You  is an in-depth story about family and grief. It's about inter-racial couples and prejudices. It's about finding out who you are in spite of who your parents want you to be. It's about dealing with the realities of who your family members are even when you believed them to be completely different. It's about secrets. It's about escapism and avoiding reality. It's about love; familial and romantic. The story foll...

John Green is the Nicholas Sparks of YA. You probably know him from The Fault in Our Stars . While this book, Looking for Alaska , is the only book of his that I've read (I do know the story of The Fault in Our Stars ), I have a feeling that most of them have the same feel. Please correct me if I'm wrong- I'm happy to give him another chance. I need to clarify. I don't dislike this book. It was well-written and most likely the Catcher in the Rye  for this teenage generation (it has the same elements: teen angst, love, boarding school, friend/family problems). I also was not amazed by this book. I found the story and characters predictable and shallow. They are filled with angst and rebellion. And though the characters and plot progressed, I was left with the feeling that they didn't really grow or change in any meaningful way. There was nothing here that has not already been said, portrayed, and explored many times over. In short, though well-written and inter...

An eye-opening story to a small piece of the Haiti and the Dominican Republic. I began reading this book with practically no knowledge of the history of Haiti and the Dominican Republic except for the fact that the DR is wealthy and modern (generally), while Haiti is steeped in poverty. This is one person's story of escaping the genocide of Haitians in the Dominican Republic. It is her tale of the family she grew up with and served and her harrowing escape just as the genocide commenced. In it, she loses everyone she loves. It is the tale of living in Haiti waiting for news. It is heartbreaking and hard to read. Edwidge Danticat is a well-known author who often writes about he Haitian experience. She was born in Haiti, moving to the US when she was 12 and she offers a unique literary perspective on a people and country that I feel is largely un-represented in literature. Though this book was hard to read (on an emotional level) I'm really glad I did. I'm glad that I l...

This book surprised me. It was surprisingly good. Really  good. I'll be honest that when I picked this up with my Besties for our "book club" that never really happened, I expected this book to be another easy teen dystopia/fantasy with a love triangle and every other trite thing that those books have to include since the success of a certain terrible, teen, sparkly vampire series. (Sorry, I went off subject there....) I was happy to find that while, yes, this book does contain it's fair share of angst and love- it was a really good book. The characters show immense growth and the idea is actually pretty unique. The main character is truly likable and even believable (even as killing machine). The plot managed to surprise me a couple of times and was not completely predictable. This author is not afraid of causing turmoil in her character's lives. A fact that I appreciate- maybe more than I should. Nemesis is a Diabolic. Diabolics are genetically engine...

I went as Rogue for Halloween this year. So for inspiration,  I read this Rogue graphic novel/ comic. I'm really glad I did. I haven't read many X-Men graphic novels or comic books (my knowledge coming solely from the my brother and father, the cartoon, and the recent movies). Rogue has always been one of my favorite X-Men, so I thought she'd be a great place to start. This is not her origin story. She has been an X-Men for quite a while and is already in love with Gambit. This also does not cover her escapades with the X-Men. These are stories that happen completely outside of that role for her. Overall, I don't have a lot to say. It was well-written, well-drawn, and really fun and interesting to read. If the X-Men and comics are your thing, it's definitely worth your time.

I read The Handmaid's Tale  in college and was... unimpressed. I think I must have been overwhelmed with other books at the time (I was taking 4 lit classes that semester and some books just didn't hold my attention to detail as much as others). I re-read this book in preparation for the Hulu series (which you should also watch; it is chilling, but fantastic!) and I'm really glad I did. This book is great.  The subject matter is especially poignant to our current political clime. It it is almost alarming how clearly you can see this happening.  I can't discuss too much without giving spoilers, but this is a book about human rights, about women's rights, and about the dangers of extreme power and beliefs becoming a political party. It is written in present tense set in an undetermined future time. Because of infertility becoming more and more common, a political party was able to overcome the freedoms of our democracy little by little in an effort to conti...

A Shade of Vampire (Book 1) I will be honest, these books are completely shallow, romance novels with some action that I just couldn't put down. I started reading them at the gym- they were perfect to whittle away at the time I spent on the Stair-climber; completely enveloping but requiring no mental effort. A Shade of Blood (Book 2 While shallow in plot and themes- they are well written. They have complex characters who grow throughout each book. They have suspenseful plots that keep you reading and even have twists that are hard to see coming. I was going to continue to read them. I still may read the 5th book, but two things have kept me from continuing: A Castle of Sand (Book 3) 1. The drama NEVER ends in an extreme way. These people solve one problem only to have the problem come back and be worse. There's a glaring problem with no solution. The "bad guys" are endlessly predictable and most are un-redeemable, making them unbelievable. ...

Hunter  by Mercedes Lackey is the first in the Hunter Series. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world where bridges have been created between our world and the world of the Faerie/supernatural world. In this world, the majority of citizens now live in protected cities while Hunters protect them from the perils of the creatures trying to attack the city. This book was really good. It is well written and very creative. Of course the main character follows most YA characters in that she is exceptionally talented AND good. But overall the story is a pleasant mix of fantasy and dystopia. The book also touches on political ethics/ corruption; addiction to celebrity/ "reality" entertainment; and the importance of education/ access to information. I haven't read the rest of the series yet, but I will most likely read the rest. So far, there are 3 books total, I'm not sure if the author plans for more. Happy Reading!

If you are a fan of DC- or really superheros in general- (and who isn't these days?), I highly recommend these graphic novels. The popular fighting video game (also really cool) is based on these (or vice versa? I'm not really sure and get conflicting evidence when I Google it.) The graphic novels are set in an almost an alternate universe where the Joker causes Superman to become the antagonist. Basically, in the name of preventing crime, Superman does what everyone fears he will do and becomes a dictator and attempts to take over the world for permanent "peace".  The Justice League is split in two, as some join Superman and some join Batman in his fight against Superman's tyranny. Batman is the star of these graphic novels and basically shows how freaking awesome and smart he is. He's at least 10 steps ahead of everyone all the time. There are currently 4 years to the series, I still need to read 3 and 4. These are beautifully drawn and just fantast...

I actually chose to read this because of how inspiring I found the movie. I wanted more of that, I wanted to delve deeper into the characters that the movie had given me. Big mistake. This has been added to my very, very short list of books that are worse than the movie (it holds the number 3 slot). That may be harsh, the book was well-written. It's characters and plot were well developed. The book should have a disclaimer saying, don't ever read this book while single. Ever. This was one of the more depressing views I've ever read on relationships, men, and dating in-general. This is an entire book about how women just let ourselves be walked on and how men are -everywhere in the world- cheating, lying, scum that women must simply accept. Frankly, this book was not a fair or accurate portrayal of either sex. Every woman in the book was desperate for that one love or wanting so bad to be married she'd settle for less. The one good guy in the book was depicted as bor...

 I chose this book solely based on its cover (book club assignment) in the Denver International Airport Tattered Cover to read on the plane and the beach. Sometimes, picking a book based on it's cover works out. I really enjoyed this book and it was not at all what I expected. This is the story of three boys who live the landfills of South America, picking through trash for recyclables  and anything they can sell to survive. This is a story of 3 boys who find an important bag of money and clues that lead them straight into the heart of the corruption of their city. Told in first person through each of the 3 boys along with their mission teacher and his assistant, this is mystery and adventure story that you simply can't put down. The entire book is well written and exciting, but what really draws you in are the characters. They are all endearing and I honestly loved each of them for their depth and individuality. The other great thing about this book? The ending. It w...

This graphic novel series has been on almost every best graphic novels list I've seen in the last few years. I've been meaning to read it for a long time. I'm really glad that I finally did. Persepolis is an autobiographical story that covers what it was like to grow up through the Islamic Revolution of Iran. It tells her story of watching her country go from modern nation to an extremist Theocracy. Beyond that, it is a classic coming-of- age tale covering a girl becoming a woman. What it's like to find yourself, to learn who you are through the trials of life, and finally come into your own.  The story was told flawlessly. I found it incredibly engaging and learned about a culture, I truthfully don't understand well. I learned the modern history (or at least a little more of it) of a part of the world we in the west (myself included) often stop studying after the fall of the Roman Empire. Now, I want to delve into the history even more. I want to learn ...

Title: Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale #1) Author: Alexia Purdy Genre: YA Fantasy Read in: Kindle eBook I really need  to end the terrible YA (young adult) streak I've been on. I'll probably (once I finish all those in my currently reading list) take a YA break for a while. Ever Shade is an interesting idea. I chose the book because I love the Fae. Especially the traditional Fae that consists of many, many creatures of different powers and alignments. However... it didn't really live up to how good it could have been. I felt the entire time like I was reading a book with so much potential, but it never quite came into its own. The book tells the story of Shade, a seemingly, mostly normal high school girl. She is only mostly normal because she hears voices that instruct her to do or not do things. These voices end up leading her to meet Jack, who, without much preamble or real reason, takes her into the world of the Seelie Fae. Here she meets with the oracle and ...

Title: Xoe: Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, Oh my! (Xoe Myers #1) Author: Sara Roethle Read in: Kindle eBook Genre: Urban Fantasy- Young Adult This is not a great book. It is shallow, over-descriptive, and incredibly predictable.  There are grammar errors everywhere. It is pretty much what you would expect from the Twilight fanbase of authors that are still following Stephanie Meyers in angsty Urban Fantasy. The more of these books I read (I keep picking them up hoping that one day I'll find a gem) the more I wonder if teenagers are really so stupidly trusting. Would they actually meet some hot guy in the woods and immediately believe he is on their side so much to the extent that they trust him to protect them, stay in their room, and basically turn into a controlling stalker- all in the name of "love"? This one started out differently- the protagonist actually really didn't trust the hot new stranger. And turned out to be right that he was dan...

Title: The Thief of Always Author: Clive Barker Read in: Mass media paperback Genre: Children's Fantasy/Horror One of my best friends (you know who you are) has been on me to read this book for a very, very long time. I finally did and am so glad! This book was first published in 1992; I'm not quite sure how I missed out on it as kid, but better late than never! I'm not sure how to explain this book. It is incredibly unique, as much of Barker's work tends to be. The main character is Harvey, a 10 year old boy is bored. Bored with life- school, chores, his toys, the weather. That is until he meets a strange man named Rictus. Rictus promises him a break from boredom and takes him to the Holiday House. The Holiday House is a child's dream: eat what you want, do what you want, all four seasons happen every day including the holidays that come with them. However, it isn't too long before Harvey realizes that something isn't right. That the Holiday Hou...

Title: The 100 (The Hundred Series #1) Author: Kass Morgan Read In: Kindle Genre: YA Sci-fi If you have watched the TV series based on these books, you know the basic premise. However, as usual, the TV show takes a lot of liberties and changed most everything except for character names and some basic motivations. The 100 is set approximately 3 centuries after a nuclear event makes earth uninhabitable. The only known survivors were on space colonies designed to escape Earth and keep the human race alive until the radiation levels lowered to a survivable level. Unable to get any conclusive data from their tests and with the space stations deteriorating, the council decides to send the 100 teens awaiting re-trial on their 18th birthdays to the surface to see if their data is correct and the surface is survivable. For obvious reasons, this idea is fraught with danger. Beginning with the fact that an entire group of teenagers is who have never even been out of a climate controll...

Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Author: Mark Haddon Genre: Fiction Read In: Trade Paperpack This book has been on so many lists as a must-read, that it is almost embarrassing that it took me so long before I read it. In fact, I was sure that it was one of those books that had been over-hyped and was probably not that great. Until one of my friends, a friend whose reading tastes I respect, mentioned it was one of her favorite books. So I bought it; a year or so later, I actually read it. I wish I hadn't have waited so long. This book is great. The narrator is an autistic teen. It is so well done. I have an uncle, who I believe (though his exact diagnosis is unclear) is on the autism spectrum. Reading this book, at points, was exactly like talking to him. It is fantastic to read a book with such a unique perspective on the world and storytelling. The story itself is a little heart-wrenching, so read it with a box of tissues. I have not read anythin...

Title: Romancing the Inventor Author: Gail Carriger Genre: Steampunk Urban Fantasy Novella Read In: Nook ePub So, my fellow readers, I'm sure you know that this is a novella by Gail Carriger. If you've been following me long, you know that means I most likely adored it. You are correct. Carriger strikes again; she has yet to disappoint me with one of her pieces, novel, short story, or novella. This novella is a long-awaited story featuring Genevieve  Lefoux. Madam Lefoux is one of my favorite characters in The Parasol Protectorate and the Finishing School Series, so it is extra nice to get yet another glimpse of her later in life- after the Parasol Protectorate Series has ended. In fact, many of the beloved characters from The Parasol Protectorate make an appearance, including Alexia and Conall. The protagonist of the story is a new character. This is a GBLTQ friendly story (obviously, since it focuses on Madame Lefoux). I liked this novella because I thought it much...

Title: Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter 1) Author: Thomas Harris Read in: Mass Market Paperback Genre:  Thriller Publisher: Berkley This is outside my usual genres. I am not really a thriller reader, in general. However, my book club is helping me to break my habits and re-explore little read by me genres. I chose this book, in all honesty, because I do have a thing for creepy serial killers. I can't tell you why, but their histories (not their deeds) fascinate me. It is for that reason that I love the Hannibal Lecter movies. They focus less on the actual crimes of serial killers but on the why. So, when my book club chose to read a spooky book for fall; I decided it was more than time for me to read the books to the movies I appreciate so much. As is almost always (excepting the case of maybe 3 books) the book was SO much better. I really enjoyed this book. It is well written, well developed (both plot and characters), and it definitely keeps the reader turning the page. I...