Friday, October 26, 2012

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

 
Apparently, back in the days, trying out your mother's clothes would earn you a one-way ticket to an asylum. I wonder what they'd think about girls trying out their mother's shoes cause I did that more than I can count.

I picked the book up and I couldn't put it down. It wasn't amazing. It was ... engaging. The plot was simple but it had a complicated (albeit thin) story filled with complicated characters. I found myself getting sucked into their lives it makes me wonder if that puts me in the category of a gossip-monger. Heh.

I thought it was good how Kitty's Alzheimer's-addled thoughts was written/presented. I also liked how the difference between dating now and then was compared ... subtly.

What I found confusing was the timeline. If the book's setting was around early 2000 and Esme was thrown at the asylum at age 16 which was 60ish years ago then that would've only been in the 30's or 40's. I'd be generous and indulge you and say it's in the 20's but that still doesn't fit. The setting of Esme's younger days seem to be during the 1800's ... Jane Austen days. I didn't like how it ended (just like that) but I thought it was a pretty smart move. It was too complicated that it was probably best for

The book touches a number of controversial issues. There's rape, sibling rivalry and adultery to name a few. I still can't find the word to describe the book, or rather, the lives and activities of the people in the book. The first that came to mind (controversial) doesn't give justice to them and the others (lewd?) ... too harsh. I liked that it was deliciously intriguing, though. So that would do for now.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Fire Chronicle

I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one. Probably because, of the siblings, my favorite is Michael and this is his story. I was about to give this 5 stars ... until I read the ending. Yes, I know it's not a bad ending but knowing the third book won't come out until next year (please let it be next year!) was kind of a downer. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!! lol.

When I said on my Emerald Atlas review that Emma was the least I liked ... I take it back lol. She really grew on me and I thought she was cute. I also liked that there is more to the story now than just finding the three books.

Anyhoo, the book is a bit predictable in some areas (like Rafe's destiny) but that wasn't so bad either because you only realize it as you read on. For die hard Harry Potter fans, yes, you will notice maybe a couple of similarities but please stop b**ching and just enjoy the story. It's not so much as the original concept but the story telling itself that I loved. I read on a novelist/screenwriter's blog that people usually come out with the same ideas but the plot develops as you write the story and I have to agree.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Liesl and Po: It wasn't Ineffable after all



Id like to get my hands on the audio book version of Liesl and Po if only for the fact that Jim Dale narrated it. It was the main reason why I learned of the book's existence (second being Lauren Oliver's Delirium trilogy is already on my to-read list). As it is, I have to settle for the printed version for now but it's not such a bad thing because I fell in love with it's packaging and presentation. I feel like a kid again admiring the drawings in random pages.

Now, the plot, the characters (especially Mo who is not even a main character) and the way they are related to each other somehow was pretty cool. The story, however, is a different ... well ... story. 

If the packaging is what makes a reader pick a book up, the plot is what makes them buy it. It's like a summary that holds the promise of what you'll find in the book. The story, on the other hand, is more intimate and is what makes a reader hold on to the book and endure eaach page. To cut it short, I found myself reading fast to finish the book not because I couldn't put it down but because I wanted to know how it will end (I already know WHAT will happen I just want to see HOW it will happen). The author also seemed to have a habit of quoting random things as if to give depth to it than what's necessary. It draws my attention away from the main story and those parts come off as a filler. But that's just me. I was thinking if I had listened to Jim Dale telling the story I probably won't mind much so when I do get to have that version I will revisit this review to see if there's a need to tweak it.

Ironically, the one word that I won't use to describe this book is the one mentioned in it a lot. Ineffable. The book was just okay. 

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The Emerald Atlas



This is a children's book. With no pretenses of being deep or possessing hidden messages. Just a story that teaches how strong family bond can be in difficult situations, how friendship can overlook age or race, and how a person has the ability to shape their own future ... okay maybe there's one hidden message there. Heh.

Of the three kids, Emma comes off as the least to like. I mean, you wouldn't want your kids picking fight and justifying it, eh? But she grows on ya. Lol. I guess she's the stereo type of a kid who grew up from one orphanage to another. Trying to hide pain and emotion by pretending to be tough. Michael would be my favorite. There's something cute about his annoyingly academic character. And I can actually imagine him ogling at the dwarfs (dwarves? lol).

Overall, it makes you laugh enough, cry enough and it's light enough. I think the best part is that it actually has a happy ending. <s>SPOILER: No one died lol.</s> A lot of children's books now are sad and filled with death (oh wait, fairy tales are filled with deaths and evil magic too, pft), like a person can only know happiness if they know sadness. I get the point but <b>children should be children. Present them with the ugly truth at an early stage in their lives and they grow up too fast.</b>

This isn't C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien or JK Rowling but it's good. Books about wizards and witches and other magical creatures have been under close watch since Harry Potter which isn't fair. Don't get me wrong, I loved Harry Potter. But people, especially adults, should open their hearts and minds to new blood ... err books.