Rant/Rave: This can be easily summed up. Can't Buy Me Love. See also: Drive Me Crazy. See Also: Love Don't Cost a Thing. (All movies with the EXACT SAME STORYLINE) On the bright side, it is a happy story line. Loser gets into popular girl's world, she sees the best sides of him, they fall into high school love/like and end up happily ever after, at least for a week or so. However, on the dim side, can't authors find something new to write about for once? Or at least recycle something a little less used.
Jack Ward
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I loved, I lost, I made spaghetti by Giulia Melucci
I was incredibly sad when I learned this was a memoir.
Rave: This book was....easy to read I guess.
Rant: This book, (maybe because it was real?) was somewhat dull the narrator was what I might call pathetic if I were in a particularly feisty mood. I did not read to the end because it was basically a telling and retelling of her bad luck with love and good luck with recipes.
Jack Ward
Rave: This book was....easy to read I guess.
Rant: This book, (maybe because it was real?) was somewhat dull the narrator was what I might call pathetic if I were in a particularly feisty mood. I did not read to the end because it was basically a telling and retelling of her bad luck with love and good luck with recipes.
Jack Ward
That darn book of things to be miserable about by the romeos
Rave: The concept is cute/funny and of course, proving that some cliches actually are true, misery does sometimes love company. Not always but sometimes.
Rant: Despite the comedy factor, a lot of the subjects termed worthy of misery aren't. For instance, skinny people who say they're fat are not really worthy of my misery as much as they are worthy of my pity and annoyance. Possibly worthy of my concern even. Also, Monica Lewinsky? Fat people who complain they're skinny? Hospitals that smell of disinfectant? Show me a hospital that does not smell like cleaning products and I'll show you a hospital to fear. Cleaning products have strong smells. If you can't smell them, they probably are not being used.
Jack Ward
Rant: Despite the comedy factor, a lot of the subjects termed worthy of misery aren't. For instance, skinny people who say they're fat are not really worthy of my misery as much as they are worthy of my pity and annoyance. Possibly worthy of my concern even. Also, Monica Lewinsky? Fat people who complain they're skinny? Hospitals that smell of disinfectant? Show me a hospital that does not smell like cleaning products and I'll show you a hospital to fear. Cleaning products have strong smells. If you can't smell them, they probably are not being used.
Jack Ward
Monday, April 20, 2009
King of Screwups by K.L.Going
Warning: I am unsure if I already did a review for this book. If so, disregard this one. Just covering my bases.
Rave: The dialogue was good and even though the character was not a typical teenager by any means, the book was easy to get into as was the characters perspective. Usually I do not see eye to eye with poorly behaved rich boys but this narrator was simply confused and insecure, something most people find easy to forgive.
Rant: The whole story seemed to be building up for some fantastic ending but the end was a complete and total letdown. Nothing happened.
Jack Ward
Rave: The dialogue was good and even though the character was not a typical teenager by any means, the book was easy to get into as was the characters perspective. Usually I do not see eye to eye with poorly behaved rich boys but this narrator was simply confused and insecure, something most people find easy to forgive.
Rant: The whole story seemed to be building up for some fantastic ending but the end was a complete and total letdown. Nothing happened.
Jack Ward
Forever by Meg Cabot
Rave: Um.
Rant: I am not sure why Cabot finds it necessary to explain every moment of Princess Mia's life or why she felt the need to write 20 books about it. I found the first few books in the series lighthearted and amusing. Mia, being an awkward teen girl, supplied other teen girls with material to compare themselves to and EVERY girl can come out looking good against her. She is insecure but initially it was endearing. At the point in the series, Mia is a senior and she does not seem to have matured at all. The story has taken ridiculous turns and now is almost impossible to relate to at all. Perhaps someone should suggest to Cabot a vacation or even retirement.
Jack Ward
Rant: I am not sure why Cabot finds it necessary to explain every moment of Princess Mia's life or why she felt the need to write 20 books about it. I found the first few books in the series lighthearted and amusing. Mia, being an awkward teen girl, supplied other teen girls with material to compare themselves to and EVERY girl can come out looking good against her. She is insecure but initially it was endearing. At the point in the series, Mia is a senior and she does not seem to have matured at all. The story has taken ridiculous turns and now is almost impossible to relate to at all. Perhaps someone should suggest to Cabot a vacation or even retirement.
Jack Ward
Envy by Anna Godbersen
Rave: Where Rumors was a typical sequel, Envy is also a typical triquel (as defined by urban dictionary....). It is almost as good as Rumors but not quite. The story ends without being resolved leaving the reader to assume there will be a fourth. And so there shall. There was a preview in the back of Splendors cover.
Rant: By the time Envy was being written there was not much left to do with the story so Godbersen alternated between dragging the story out with description and meaningless conversation or adding ludicrous twists to the story.
Jack Ward
Rant: By the time Envy was being written there was not much left to do with the story so Godbersen alternated between dragging the story out with description and meaningless conversation or adding ludicrous twists to the story.
Jack Ward
Rumors by Anna Godbersen
Rave: The entire Luxe series is great for anyone who has a little time on their hands, enjoys watching gossip Girl and knows the difference between a black tie and a white tie affair. Rumors is a typical sequel; not quite as good as the first but anyone who really enjoyed The Luxe will want to read it and see how the scandals play out.
Rant: It is somewhat tiring to hear an endless description of dresses and houses.
Jack Ward
Rant: It is somewhat tiring to hear an endless description of dresses and houses.
Jack Ward
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wintergirls-Laurie Halse Anderson
Wow. Wow. Wow. WOW. WOW!
This novel was amazing, as is all of Laurie Anderson's work. Wintergirls is a novel focused on the progression of an eighteen year old girl's disease of anorexia, that grows worse after her best friend (a bulimic) dies alone in a hotel room. The prose in this novel are breathtaking, capturing the tone and essance of a girl in need, a girl who can only count calories and wants to slice her skin open to let her pain out.
As in Speak, Anderson creates a character that is nothing but flawed, who's issue controls her entire life. Anderson has a gift of capturing the twisted worlds of girls trapped within their issues. It was a deeply captivating read, and I think that any parent who has a daughter with an eating disorder should be aware by reading this novel. The only way to truly understand someone's disease is to place yourself in their shoes, and this novel is a perfect portal to such a place.
-Tara Sheffer, President of the Book Mafia
This novel was amazing, as is all of Laurie Anderson's work. Wintergirls is a novel focused on the progression of an eighteen year old girl's disease of anorexia, that grows worse after her best friend (a bulimic) dies alone in a hotel room. The prose in this novel are breathtaking, capturing the tone and essance of a girl in need, a girl who can only count calories and wants to slice her skin open to let her pain out.
As in Speak, Anderson creates a character that is nothing but flawed, who's issue controls her entire life. Anderson has a gift of capturing the twisted worlds of girls trapped within their issues. It was a deeply captivating read, and I think that any parent who has a daughter with an eating disorder should be aware by reading this novel. The only way to truly understand someone's disease is to place yourself in their shoes, and this novel is a perfect portal to such a place.
-Tara Sheffer, President of the Book Mafia
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Death by Latte-Linda Gerber
I must first state for the record that, I, Tara Sheffer, have never had a novel published nor have I ever been considered for publication.
That said, I must ask Linda Gerber...what were you thinking? Serious kudos on the publication of Death by Bikini and Death by Latte...but I seriously did not understand the concept, let alone the allure of this novel. I honestly could not make it through this book, not even to page three. I hate to be so negative in my first review, but I was the first and only person who picked this short novel off the Book Mafia cart. I would not reccomend it.
-Tara Sheffer, President of the Book Mafia
That said, I must ask Linda Gerber...what were you thinking? Serious kudos on the publication of Death by Bikini and Death by Latte...but I seriously did not understand the concept, let alone the allure of this novel. I honestly could not make it through this book, not even to page three. I hate to be so negative in my first review, but I was the first and only person who picked this short novel off the Book Mafia cart. I would not reccomend it.
-Tara Sheffer, President of the Book Mafia
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Melting Stones
Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce is a wonderful continuation of the Circle of Magic and the Circle Opens quartets. Melting Stones takes the reader on a journey of action, suspense, and magic as the reader follows the young stone mage Evvy. This was a great book and I highly recommend it. However, readers new to books by Tamora Pierce would find it beneficial to first read her other books for a greater understanding of the character's backgrounds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
