It's getting louder...

Book 15 - A book by a female author

 

crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

 

You may be sitting around thinking to yourself, "hey, I've heard of that author before."

If you have only come across such an author through this blog; then I commend you on your ability to keep reading something that sometimes drones on and on with no end in sight even as the reader has clearly already lost their place and is looking for a way to escape the inevitable end which will most certainly be present and possibly the most horrible of endings ever discovered in the history of ever.

Just remember, you are spectacular if you chose to read every post in such a blog. I'm not sure I would ever go back and read through every single post I've ever written. The thought is rather unexciting and I'm sure I would become bored far sooner than entertained.

Back to the author. If you return to the post of January 31 a.k.a. Book 4, you will note my review of the first book in this series.

Yes, I had to reread it. It was difficult, but I persevered.

As the first book was gifted to me by my very best, and rather only friend, M, the second installment was also given by said very best, and rather only friend, M. Although, this time it was not a Christmas gift, instead a valentine's day gift. As we are both single and don't have any other friends, we were each other's valentine's.

On to the novel! As if the last novel didn't have enough angels; in this one, we are constantly visited by the main characters guardian angel and a few Nephilim, who are just up to no good. (If you really need to know what Nephilim are, you should probably sit yourself down with this novel. But read the first one first. Seriously though, it'll make a lot more sense.) On top of all this angel talk, we are constantly reminded of the presence of the archangels. Only the already-read will know of their true existence. (No spoilers here!)

The love story as shown in the first novel hovers over the entire story, but doesn't interfere nearly as much. I felt that this was helpful for us, as readers, to really get to know the main character. She is not only stubborn and a little OCD, she also likes to do the one thing that she has been told not to. This isn't referring to one specific thing, but rather any restricted area becomes an unhealthy obsession.

I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. There were many "sitting on the edge of my seat" moments, which are always my favourite. It doesn't help that the ending was a very large cliff-hanger.

I would really like to get in my little Mini and drive to Chapters to purchase the next two novels in the series. Who needs to wait for shipping and handling when I can pick them off the shelf and handle them with care? Alas, we must practice what is often referred to as self-control. We don't like it, but it is necessary.

 

An at ease mind has a trip booked, this is t-bear signing off

The Rye is Catching

Book 14 - A banned book

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean a band book. Pronunciation is everything people.

As I had already decided that this was to be my banned book, I spent the entire novel trying to figure out why it has been banned in so many places. Although it is not banned everywhere, it is one of the more commonly banned novels in North America.

The novel was interesting. 

This is a way of say that I felt it was neither bad nor good. Some parts were more interesting than others. The entire novel I was stuck with the almost impossible task of figuring out why it was so banned in the first place.

If it had been banned for not being such a book novel, I would have believed the banning far better than if it had been banned for the use of inappropriate language or underage drinking. Many a time in my day have I read a novel that is of more inappropriate language or alcohol/drug abuse. I can't remember really enjoying those either.

I've just read a review as to why it would be banned. I realize that many of these bannings occurred in the mid-late 1900s, which were apparently a more fragile/innocent time period, but that makes it more confusing to be an 'okay' book today. The content in the novel is no worse than that which occurs in almost every movie rated 18A or up. Should we be concerned about the fact that books which have inappropriate content are far more likely to be banned than something that is recorded, advertised on public television and played for all the world to see? 

This novel is about 16 year old Holden Caulfield who gets kicked out of school three days before Christmas Vacation. Instead of going home he decides to spend his time and savings in New York City. After about two hundred pages of underage drinking, constant smoking and many emotional breakdowns, we find Mr. Caulfield in a bit of a pickle. Should he go home to his parents and little sister, or should he run away, get a job and build himself a cabin in a wood? This combined with the ever present struggle to deal with his brother's death makes Mr. Caulfield out to be a bit of a hassle to the readers mind.

I won't spoil the novel for you, but the ending very easily helps the reader to realize that the decisions the character makes are not okay. Many times I stopped to remind myself that Mr. Caulfield must have some sort of mental disorder which is causing him to not think entirely clearly.

I don't know that I will ever need to read this novel again. I have read and understand that the themes are not necessarily ideal. If I never come across it's words again, I will just keep right on living.

However, I feel that it could be instrumental to the lives of teenagers as they grow up and learn what is socially acceptable and what is just downright wrong. Mr. Caulfield is unfortunately a misguided soul and I think there is much to learn from his situations. 

Sunny Sunday to all, this is t-bear signing off

A Dryden Experiment

Book 13 - A graphic novel

Sky Goddesses of Dryden, Volumes 1-4 by Laura Konrad and Danielle Evert

You have probably never heard of this novel before, I would be surprised if you had. 

Not to say that it isn't a well-written or interesting novel, but it was published by a less well-known publisher and taken from the minds of two less well-known authors. (Not that any of this is bad, it just isn't Hollywood's special brand of obsessiveness.)

I am pleased to say that it was written by a dear friend of mine, or rather sister of a friend. From where I come from, all Mennonites are automatically friends of a sort.

Shortly after I saw the post on Twitter that announced the publishing of a novel, I took to amazon.ca to purchase a copy for my little collection that grew. Not only will I forever encourage the writing of those who are dear to me, I will purchase the book no matter how I take appreciation to the words.

Let's not talk about such vague appreciation for the moment though.

I have not a large collection of, specifically, graphic novels. Including this one, I have one other. It's kind of hard to resist holding a Batman comic book within your grasp. 

When I first began to read this novel I had to keep telling myself to observe the pictures as well as the words. I'm so used to just reading the words that I forgot how much of the story is told through the pictures.

As a fan of rather fictional stories, I was quite excited to see that each little story within this novel was based in a world that is not of the planet earth, but rather beyond it. With a little bit of comedy and a very present feeling of far away love, the stories easily flowed from one scene to the other. If this were an entire fictional novel, hundreds of pages and all, I could definitely see myself enjoying it. As it were, and just a graphic novel, I found immense entertainment in all the stories had to offer. 

As I was reading through I kept pausing to really examine the pictures. I must say, well done Danielle. That is some skilled craftsmanship if I do say so myself.

I would recommend this novel to any of you who are graphic novel fanatics or even those of you who don't normally read graphic novels. You may just find yourself enjoying this one. 

Happy Easter! this is t-bear signing off

Grayscale

Book 12 - A book with antonyms in the title

My Life in Black and White by Kim Izzo

This one is a little different. Before purchasing this novel I didn't know who the author was, I didn't even know the book existed.

Basically, I looked on the book challenge and noticed that one of them involved antonyms, so I Googled "novels with antonyms in the title", this is one that I found that looked interesting.

I must confess, I am rather partial to synonyms and therefor do not voluntarily spend much time in the company of antonyms; however, I do enjoy a good ole fashioned black and white film.

The novel begins in Hollywood where the main character, Clara, lives with her husband of (I think) six years. She is a screenwriter/gossip columnist, her mother and grandmother were both aspiring actresses in the Hollywood scene. Her grandmother had a main part in a film noir and then worked as a costume designer all in the 1950s.

Following a dumping and affair, both by her husband, Clara follows him to London, England where he will be producing a new television show. She brings along a suitcase full of her grandmother's clothes from the 1950s.

Not long after Clara arrives in London she is transported back to December 1, 1952. The world is viewed in black and white, the clothes could only be from 1952 and the femme fatale is the only thing on Clara's mind. She finds part of a screenplay written by her grandmother in the suitcase which she brought with her and slowly finishes it on a typewriter discovered in a bush. The story follows Clara's next actions as she tries to change the past to keep her grandmother from dying on December 8, 1952 and get even with her husband for the affair.

The novel is one of those flashback kind of things. (Moma can't stand when television episodes do that.) Clara starts in a police station and then begins to tell the officer about the events which brought her to this moment in time.

I won't say any more, you'll have to read the novel if you wish to find out what happens.

I quite enjoyed the "time travelling" which occurred. I think it would be the coolest thing to visit different ages even for just one day. That probably has something to do with my love of history.

See you in the 50s, this is t-bear signing off