Loved it! Of course, I love almost all fairytale retellings. And this one, based on Beauty and the Beast, is definitely a good one. In this one, the fairytale guy crosses into our real world, swipes a teen whose family has seen better days, and takes her into their world so she can fall in love with the Prince. One of the cool things is that she has cerebral palsy and walks with a limp. But that is not seen as a burden, but more a testimony of her strength. Also, we see that the beast has a hidden beauty and hidden dark side. Good action, fairly believable love story, and a great "twist" of a fairy tale. Don't think I'm going to read the next one, though. If anyone else does, let me know how it turns out.
4/5 stars
Loved it! Of course, I love almost all fairytale retellings. And this one, based on Beauty and the Beast, is definitely a good one. In this one, the fairytale guy crosses into our real world, swipes a teen whose family has seen better days, and takes her into their world so she can fall in love with the Prince. One of the cool things is that she has cerebral palsy and walks with a limp. But that is not seen as a burden, but more a testimony of her strength. Also, we see that the beast has a hidden beauty and hidden dark side. Good action, fairly believable love story, and a great "twist" of a fairy tale. Don't think I'm going to read the next one, though. If anyone else does, let me know how it turns out.
0 Comments
2/5 stars Ok, this is where my ignorance really shows. I didn't get the book. I thought it was odd, and I usually enjoy books set in a different culture. But not until book club did the discussion make me realize that there were some things in the book that I missed (and not because I listened to it at chipmunk speed- you know who I'm talking to, my dear friends...!) This is a book about someone who is dealing with multiple personalities? I think. I didn't get that until after the book club. And until I read about the author. So things are a little more understood, but I'm not going to lie, if there weren't those helps, I wouldn't have wondered what it was that I just read. And for that, it is 2 stars. For you more intelligent peeps out there (and I'm not being sarcastic), maybe you will enjoy it more. This is not a beach read. 4/5 stars At first I wasn't sure where the book was going, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Basically a kid goes to the Philippines to visit his father's family after he finds out his cousin/best friend was killed over drugs. He demands answers and so goes, as the typical American teen, to the land where he will clear up any names that need to be cleared up. Obviously, he learns quite a few things about his familial culture through the different interactions with his family members. I think one of the things I liked the best about the book was that it was a great depiction of an American teenage boy. There were different "themes" in the book, and although I am not a fan of too many issues in a book, this one seemed to be a little more real about them. Maybe that they weren't preachy made a difference. Anywho, it was a good book and I did enjoy it. 4/5 stars I've heard so much of this book and it was all true. As a friend of a few people who prefer to not leave their house, or one that says, "I hate people" (which by the way is not true- she actually is one of the best people I know, and this is how she claims her introverted lifestyle), I feel like I get Nina Hill. She works in a dying bookstore, where I couldn't not think about "You've Got Mail". She also is an amazing trivia know it all who struts her stuff at trivia nights with her friends. But her carefully planned days which are inserted in the book change when 1. She meets a guy, and 2. She finds out who her father is and now is infiltrated with a bunch of different half brothers, sisters, nieces, and all the other odd relative there may be. I loved the character and acerbic wit of Nina, didn't quite feel the love interest, but overall, saw the greatness of the book. And to all you introverts out there (I am on the fence)-I love you all! 3.5 stars
3.5 stars. There were some definite chilling moments in the book, set in South Korea regarding the psychological welfare of women in today's time. It also showed me how far either we have come in America or how not far they are in South Korea culturally. Basically, it demonstrates through a woman who has had a psychotic break and thinks she is someone else the disparities of women's opportunities and men's. Notice I didn't say rights. Because what this book seemed to show is that there are cultural changes that are not changing with the political changes (which isn't that far off of anything no matter the country). But anyway, that is the premise of the book, and the ending was pretty amazing, too. However, it certainly did not give me any new information or perspectives. Just reinforced what many of us already know. 3/5 Stars As far as mysteries for YA goes, this is definitely a good one to look at. We start out with the confession by the person that killed Zoe Spanos, but as the book progresses, we start to realize that maybe things aren't really as clear cut as we think. This book starts out with a girl who goes to a small island to be a nanny. And people are amazed at how much she looks like a girl who has been missing. As time goes along, she remembers being a friend with Zoe (the missing girl) and decides to confess to killing her. As we take the trip down memory lane, she also becomes friends with Zoe's best friend who is determined to find out what happened on her podcast. While it's an interesting premise and it did keep me glued to the book to find out what happens at the end, there were a few too many coincidences that made it seem sort of far fetched. But then again, I am writing this review almost 2 months since I read it, so I could just be doing the Zoe Spanos memory. 5/5 stars Definitely need to listen to this. It had a podcast feel to it, where the readers were so good in that they were able to make you feel like you really knew them. And although it is a made up band (seriously, don't try to good Daisy Jones & the Six music- it would only frustrate you), it does have quite a bit of truth to it as far as other bands go I'm guessing. Never been in a band, so this is me just assuming, other than watching "That Thing You Do" for a gazillion times. Anyway, the characters are real, there was a twist at the end that actually teared me up a bit, and it was one of those things where I really wanted to know what happened to the characters later in life (I was not disappointed). Beyond the band stuff, we see all different personalities at play, different egos, and different motivations. And since I feel like I was actually there, and still have fond memories of the book, I'm giving it a five star. 5/5 stars To be completely honest, this is more of a 4 star for me, but that is more because there was a lot over my head, and I can tell the amount of research and the writing was so meticulous, that I thought it deserved a 5 star. But my intake was more 4. Anyway, as I write this and I will eventually become immortalized, please let it be known that I read this at the time of the covid-19 pandemic in my biography (just kidding). Anyway, here's where I was just in shock the whole time- It was literally parallel to today. Yup, from the reactions of the leaders in the towns, the medical doctors and their various diagnoses, and the responses, it was like I was actually living in the 1918 pandemic. Oh, wait... However, in addition to all that, I enjoyed learning about the development of the medical research industry, the personal aspects, and the historical context (World War 1). It's a long book, but it's worth it! |
AuthorI'm a high school librarian. I love to read. Really. Love. To. Read. Archives
December 2023
CategoriesThis website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies. Opt Out of Cookies |