A Truly Magical Novel

Book 33 - A popular author's first book

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

"...there will be books written about Harry - every child in our world will know his name!" - Albus Dumbledore

I feel this is a very excellent quote to use to describe such a series of novels, because isn't it true? I dare you to find a person who has never heard of the name Harry Potter. You could do it, but it would be difficult.

As I studied my book shelf for a novel to use for this challenge, I was delighted to have my eyes fall upon this particular tale.  The only problem now is that I would like to continue to read the next 6 books in the series to complete the beautiful story.

I always love rereading a series because there are so many wonderful tidbits of information that you know will mean something once you get to the later novels. This is how I felt traveling through the wonderfulness that is this first novel.

I would take the time to give you a recap of the story but that would be rather unacceptable, in my humble opinion.  Harry Potter is not something that can be paraphrased and then passed along; it must be experienced first hand by the readers themselves.

If you have never read the novels before and decide to take yourself on the lovely journey; please feel free to let my sister know how truly spectacular they are. One of these days I'm going to get her to read them all and enjoy the experience.

BRB, off to pre-order books, this is t-bear signing off

AWOL Woman

Book 32 - A book that scares you

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

AKA - What not to do in a relationship 101

91 - Scary. I suppose some of you who have read the novel are wondering what part of the story would make me scared. Not a BOO! scared but a psychologically afraid for my life.

92 - I sat down to start reading and couldn't stop. There is something about the story line, as insane as it is, that drew me in. I just couldn't stop reading it.

93 - Just as I was getting used to the craziness that surrounds the two main characters, I was hit with a plot twist that changed everything. At least three times this happened. I had so much warning and yet I continued to travel down a doomed path.

94 - I have to admit that I was able to identify with the characters at a few different times during the story. Both main characters had been writers in another life and this writing seemed to creep up again when I least expected it to.

95 - A large part of the psychoticness of the main characters that got to me is that they would pretend to be one person at one point and then completetly changing their personality the next moment. Scary.

96 - Gillian Flynn is an amazing author.

97 - I would definitely read this novel again. Though next time I would be much more prepared for the mental strain.

98 - I'm going to watch the movie and probably hate it. But I'm going to watch it. I'd like to see how those lovely two main characters are portrayed.

99 - There is exactly one thing about me that Oma spends hours stewing over, daily; the fact that at my ripe young age of 21, I do not yet have a boyfriend. This novel did not make me want to go out into the world and seek a boyfriend.

100 - This is the exact type of novel that makes me love and hate an author. The writing style and the story line are perfect works of fiction, but the reality that sits just under the surface is jarring.

101 - The marriage between the two main characters is not what one should strive for with the idea of a healthy realationship in mind. Read this novel if you're confused as to what a healthy relationship looks like, this is not it.

Mani, latte, dfreeze, keeping it real, this is t-bear signing off

Ketchup Time!

Book 31 - A book you started but never finished

The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm edited by Noel Daniel, translated by Matthew P. Price

"Silly Songs with Larry. The part of the show where Larry comes out, and sings a silly song."

You may have noticed that the last few books have trailed one behind the other with little time in between. If we are going to keep with our challenge and show the list who's boss; we will need to read some books that are of little volume and quick reading. I don't regret the two weeks where vacations took hold and I only read one book. With such slacking on my part, you had to have seen this coming. 

But let's not dwell on the past, tis a nasty place to sit and ponder. To the book!

If there is one thing I absolutely hate, it is starting a book and not finishing it. I can't start a book and then put it down and start a new one. That just isn't okay.

So then you may be wondering how I have come to read a book that I started but never finished. 

Well, this isn't a novel. If I hadn't already used the "A book of short stories" this book would have been perfect. This book is comprised of 27 fairy tales all written by the Grimm Brothers, translated from the seventh edition which was written in 1857.

If there is one thing I love about The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm it is how wonderfully they are different from those Disney versions we've all seen. They are, after all, the originals.

Today's parents would have a hard time reading these tales to their children as they are not exactly written for a younger audience. 

These stories are rather morbid, gruesome; not, altogether, pleasant. 

A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting the cinema, on my own independence, to view the film Into the Woods. I rather enjoyed the fable as it is both musical and fairy tale wrapped into two beautiful hours. The movie is dark and very much Grimm. (See what I did there?) While I was reading the stories in this book I was happy to encounter fairy tales which the movie bad based it's stories off of. These sorts of fairy tales are far more exciting than Disney's butterflies and daisies. 

Though I have happily viewed many a Disney classic in my time, I was very excited to have the opportunity to confront the same tales that I've always loved, but in a wonderfully new way. 

I would not suggest that you take this book to your next daycare read-a-long, but if you have even the slightest respect for literature, pick it up. It's fantastical!

Take a break, for heat exhaustion's sake! this is t-bear signing off

I wished for an LOL.

Book 30 - A funny book

Alice in tumblr-Land by Tim Manley

I found this book in the section in Chapters marked "Humour". I am sad to say that I did not find it as humorous as Junie B. Jones. 

You may be scratching your head a little, maybe staring off into the distance, your thoughts may have traveled somewhere in the vicinity of "then why did she pick this book?" 

Well, because the book is from the humour section and that makes it funny, okay?

I'm sure it is a rather funny book to the correct person. That person is just not me.  

So why did I choose this book? I thought it would be an easy read. I genuinely thought it would make me literally LOL. Alas, I was mistaken. Though I have read the book and therefore must account for it. 

All the while, I'm sitting here thinking I should have bought Ellen DeGeneres' book. The way life happens...it's startlingly annoying sometimes. 

Don't track sand through the house, Ma doesn't like it, this is t-bear signing off

Swell and quite well.

Book 29 - A book from your childhood

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park

You may read the above and laugh at my book selection. If you are a member of my immediate family, you have already done so one of the times that you entered my room over the past week and observed it upon my reading stack. I assure you, this is no laughing matter. 

The Junie B. Jones books led me through my childhood. 

If I had to pick one specific author or book series that created the reader that I am today; I would pick these books. Barbara just has it all together. She really brought her A-game when she wrote the masterpieces that create Junie B. Jones' life story.

To help you understand the awesomeness that is Junie B., I have chosen two sections of this particular book to relate to you.

I must point out that although Junie B. and I share the a love of books and reading, I don't display it as outwardly as she does. If you were inside my head you may view similar opinions, but I keep it together more when I'm in public. 

The first place we walked to is called the Media Centre. My mother calls it a library. It's where the books are. And guess what? Books are my very favourite things in the whole world!

"HEY! THERE'S A JILLION OF THEM IN HERE!" I hollered, feeling very excited, "I THINK I LOVE THIS PLACE!"

The librarian bent down next to me. She said to use my quiet voice.

"YEAH, ONLY GUESS WHAT? RIGHT NOW I JUST LIKE THE KIND OF BOOKS WITH PICTURES. BUT MOTHER SAYS WHEN I GET BIG, I'M GOING TO LIKE THE KIND WITH JUST WORDS. AND ALSO, STEWED TOMATOES."

The boy I can beat up said, "Shhh."

I made a fist at him.

This second excerpt is mainly for Papa on Sunday afternoon. If you or someone you know tend to "rest your eyes", have no fear, that isn't napping. After all, napping is for babies.

I still didn't come out of the closet, though. When you're a good hider, you can't come out for a very, very long time.

I just stayed there all bend up. And I told myself a story. Not an out-loud story. I just told it inside my head. It was called "The Little Hiding Girl."

I made it up. And this is how it went:

Once upon a time there was a little hiding girl. She was in a secret spot where nobody could find her. Except her head was very tight. And her brain was squishing out.

But she still couldn't come out of her spot. Or a smelly yellow monster would get her. And also, some meanies with chocolate milk.

The end.

After that, I rested my eyes.

Resting your eyes is what my grampa does when he watches TV after dinner. Then he snores. And Grandma  Miller says, "Go to bed, Frank."

It's not the same think as a nap, though. 'Cause naps are for babies, that's why.

You don't necessarily need to read these books, (though I do suggest that you do) but if you know a child who just can't seem to find a book that's good enough; please hand them one of Barbara Park's books. She will help them love to read.

Yoga is on the horizon, this is t-bear signing off

The lies that be.

Book 28 - A book of short stories

The Amazing Spider-Man, Edge of Spider-Verse by various authors and artists who really shouldn't remain unnamed.

When I first began the journey that is this comic book, I fully intended to place it under the "A funny book" category. People, just because it says "comic" book doesn't mean it's funny. 

I felt more anguish for the characters than humour. I suppose you live and learn. Don't take things so seriously. Finally, don't judge a book by its cover. 

Going back to our challenge for this book...

I have only ever read one other superhero comic book before, and that was Batman. That comic book was just one story; so I was a little confused by the fact that there were five different stories within this comic book. 

As I sat to write to you, I observed the rear of the book and noticed that if one had perused its fine words prior to embarking on the journey from cover to cover, they would be entirely prepared for a five story book. This is where I find myself in somewhat of a pickle. 

Under no circumstances do I ever read the back cover of a book. I don't care what kind of book it is, I won't read it. There are spoilers there. Many people chuckle and claim otherwise, but there are. I've read them. They ruin things.

Therefore, it is indeed my own fault that I was unprepared for what I read. Not that this bothers me. I'm actually quite okay with it already. There may have been a moment of unrest, but I've recovered from such.

If you approve of the Andrew Garfield Spider-man, or are under the impression that there is no Spider-man but Tobey Maguire, please do not read this book. Or rather do read this book. Horizons may be broadened. 

I say this because this book takes the basic idea of Spider-man and then adds alternate universes and strange realities to make what you know as Spider-man into something that resembles Spider-man, but isn't. I am, therefore; disappointed in my choice of comic book. All this time, I could have had Andrew Garfield. The world is harsh sometimes. 

Inhale the smell of freshly chopped grass, it'll cure anything, this is t-bear signing off

The Shape Struggle

Book 27 - A book with a love triangle

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

Brought to you by the tired mind of an airport dweller whose flight has been delayed until 3:30am. Don't...fall...asleep...

So, this may be a tad bit of a lie. 

Technically, there is a love square, but only three human bodies are involved. 

Now that I've got your attention... 

Also, I feel that people are concerned about this novel because it's written by Stephanie Meyer. Please don't judge an author by their previous novel(s). (Also, Hollywood did their part to ruined those movies, the books were decent.) The novel in question is gold. Read it. 

The basic storyline: 

(Before I begin, I'd like to mention that this novel would fall under the futuristic/sci-fi category of novel specifications.)

The basic storyline:

Wanderer is a soul from a different planet. Back up, souls "invaded" the earth and stuck themselves inside humans to help bring peace and harmony and loads of hugs. Because what happy, non-violent planet doesn't have hugs?

Wanderer is a soul from a different planet. She gets put in Melanie's body and, unlike usual, Melanie resists this and continues to live in her mind with Wanderer. (Normally, the human consciousness slips away into an abyss of nothingness.)

Melanie has directions to a group of humans who are living off grid, hiding from the souls who are trying to make the humans hosts for souls. 

Wanderer starts to see these directions in Melanie's mind and decides to try to find these humans without her Seeker (similar to a police officer, yet more likely to hug you than arrest you) knowing that's where she's going. Wanderer doesn't appreciate the watchful eyes of her Seeker. 

See, Wanderer has been falling in love with two humans who were very close to Melanie just from the thoughts and memories that Melanie shows her. 

Long story short, Wanderer finds this group of humans. She spends some time being hated for being a soul. People start to appreciate her more. 

Melanie is still in love with a human that she lost before being inhabited by Wanderer, and who is living with these humans.

Then Wanderer starts to fall in love with this other fellow who lives in the group of humans. 

So you can see, it's rather a love square since there are four separate minds involved. 

Confusing, I know. But if you read the book three times you will definitely have a good handle on it. Not that I've done that, cause that would be rather ridiculous. 

I can't very well give you more details as that would involve giving away too many *spoileralert* moments. That would be totally unacceptable of me. 

Initially, I was a bit hesitant myself, to embark on the journey that is this novel, but I was rather pleased with the entire storyline.  "Addicting," as M said on our way back from Myrtle Beach. 

What I've recently realized is that Stephanie Meyer had goals. I, for one, can appreciate a good, strong goaler.

Goals, people, goals, this is t-bear signing off