Book Reviews for Bookish People

Posted on September 3, 2017 by bookreviews628

And Then There Were None…: Reviewing Final Girls by Riley Sager

I’m a bit weird when it comes to the horror genre. I’m not a fan horror movies but I love horror books and I listen to “creepypastas” all of the time but I don’t watch horror movies. Thankfully, I’m familiar enough with the tropes to appreciate the structure on which the horror genre is built. I plucked this particular books off the shelf on nothing more than an impulse and I am certainly glad I did. Here is my review of Final Girls by Riley Sager.

Quincy Carpenter is the lone survivor of the Pine Cottage Massacre, where five of her college friends were slaughtered by a man she refers to as Him. She was dubbed a Final Girl by the media and found herself a part of an exclusive group of survivors. Ten years later, Quincy finally has her life together with a successful lawyer boyfriend and a baking blog. She is forced to confront her past when the first Final Girl, Lisa Milner, is found dead in her home. With the help of Sam, a fellow Final Girl, and her police officer friend, Coop, Quincy must race against time to find the killer before she is taken by the fate that she escaped ten years ago.

Now, I read these horror/thriller books knowing that they are not for everybody. If you are a fan of horror movies, this is the novel for you. Better yet, if you are a fan of Paula Hawkins (Girl on the Train) or Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), then you will appreciate the strong and complex female characters who must confront their pasts while trying to salvage an uncertain future. Sager provides an uncertain and gritty narrative that plays off of the classic horror movies tropes, building off of the standard slasher movie script. I found myself enjoying this novel more than I originally thought. Horror/mystery/thriller fans are sure to enjoy Sager’s Final Girls.

Posted on September 2, 2017 by bookreviews628 · 2 Comments

The Coffee Book Tag

Hi everybody. I survived my first week of the semester and I have a long weekend now. Again, I’m going to do a book tag because I have not had time to read quite yet. Also, I’m a bit of a coffee addict so this tag was only fitting. Once again, I saw multiple sources do this one so I will give credit to whoever has also done this tag. I hope all of my fellow coffee lovers enjoy this tag too.

Black – a series that’s hard to get into but has hardcore fans.

I’m going to have to say The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The books are deceptive and make you think that it will be an easy read. They are still good books regardless but the fandom is like an iceberg.

Peppermint Mocha – A book that gets more popular around the holiday season

I swear I watch the cartoon and the live action versions of this book at least ten times in December. It’s still one of my favorite Dr. Seuss stories.

Double Shot of Espresso – A book that kept you on edge from start to finish.

I couldn’t put down American Gods by Neil Gaiman, The Martian by Andy Weir, The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, or The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins when I first read them.

Starbucks – A book you see everywhere

Outside of the Harry Potter books, I’ve been seeing Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

Oops! I accidentally ordered decaf! – A book that you expected more from.

Crossed by Allie Condie let me down because I really enjoyed the first book, Matched. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn was not as good as her other books, in my opinion.

The Perfect Blend – A book that is bitter and sweet but satisfying.

I’m going to have to say The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, and Brick Lane by Monica Ali all fit this criteria for me.

Green Tea – A book that is quietly beautiful

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman, Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, and Rooms by Lauren Oliver all fit this for me. Gaiman’s short stories are both fantastical and profound. Kaur delivers powerful poems about the reality of being a woman and her life experiences. Oliver’s reinvented ghost story provides beautiful imagery along with a heart-wrenching narrative.

Chai Tea – A book that made me dream of far off places

Do I dare say Harry Potter? Of course, I do. Stardust by Neil Gaiman and the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan also had the same effect on me.

That is all for now, folks. As the semester rolls onward, I’ll have more opinions of books to share with you. I just wanted to let you all know that I’m going to try my best to be active. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and don’t forget to stay caffeinated.

Posted on August 27, 2017 by bookreviews628

Book Scandals: They’re more common than you think

I just came across a pretty wild story regarding a YA novel titled Handbook for Mortals. If you google search the book, a pretty legit looking cover pops up and even an Amazon link. Seems normal, right? Well, the problem is that no one had ever heard of this book. It became the number one best seller on the New York Times and displaced Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give. Since this story is so wild, I’m going to leave a link to it here and link some other stories about literary scandals that may involve the content of the novel, the author, plagiarizing, or any number of issues. I feel like this will be fun to read for any of you that might be interested.

Note: I cannot guarantee that these links will provide all of the details but I will make sure the sources are decent and that they contain as many facts as possible.

The Handbook for Mortals: A best selling book that never existed – You YA lit lovers are going to love this story

A Million Little Pieces, or the book that fooled Oprah – Making it onto Oprah’s book list would be a big deal for any author. James Frey received this honor for his “memoir” about a twenty three-year-old drug addict and his recovery. Unfortunately, much of the events never even happened.

The YouTube Ghost Writers – For anyone of you who are up to date on internet stars, you know that a wave of autobiographies of these creators hit the shelves and have sold in the millions. Well, some people were so desperate to cash in that they secretly hired ghost writers in order to get in on the market. (Each word in this title is a different link btw)

Poe v Longfellow – This is an old one but a good one that involves two famous of the most famous American authors accusing each other of plagiarism.

The Curse of The Catcher In The Rye – JD Salinger’s most famous novel has been tied to many infamous crimes, including the assassination of John Lennon, the murder of Rebecca Schaeffer, and an assassination attempt on former US President, Ronald Reagan.

Decoding The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown is most well known for his thriller novels that take on the mysteries of the Roman Catholic church. His most famous novel, however, tackled these already debatable topics with inaccuracy in most of the story. (I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t like these books as a kid)

Lolita In The Middle – The narrator of this novel is a pedophile and then it goes downhill from there.

Posted on August 22, 2017 by bookreviews628

Some Quick Updates and Miscellaneous Thoughts

Hello my fellow bloggers. This is my first update post. Don’t feel any pressure to read this but if you’re interested then I appreciate it. On Sunday, I move back to college to complete my senior year. This ought to be a fun but hectic semester that I’m looking forward to. With this will come bigger gaps in between my posts. Hopefully since I’m mainly reading novels this year, I will be able to give you more reviews. Just be aware that I will not be able to keep up as much with my posts.

The next thing I wanted to address was something I have been thinking about for a while. I was thinking about doing movie or t.v. show reviews. Most of the things I watch are comic book based so it would still be relevant to my blog style. Not that I have that much of a blog style, but still. I’m a movie buff and an avid t.v. fangirl so I would like to share those with you all.

Now we are at the last matter of business. I just wanted to thank you all for reading my reviews and dealing with my book tags. I really love your blogs too and I love hearing feedback. I hope you all had an enjoyable summer. To those going back to school, I wish you the best of luck and hope that you achieve whatever goals you have set for yourself.

Posted on August 15, 2017 by bookreviews628 · 2 Comments

The Book Titles Tag

I couldn’t resist when I saw this one. I can’t name a single source for this one but you know who you are if you’ve done this one. I appreciate anyone who enjoys me doing these and, to anyone who doesn’t like these tags, I’ll be posting more reviews soon.

1 A book title that’s the story of your life

I’m a huge fan of Felicia Day and I loved her autobiography. She’s very relatable and even the title spoke to me.

2. A title that describes your perfect weekend.

One of the central themes in this book is traveling aimlessly from paper town to paper town. I love just driving around and sight-seeing all of these tiny towns.

3. Title of an adventure you’d like to go on

I have always wanted to go to Savannah, Georgia where this book is set. I’m fascinated with the paranormal so I would love to go on a ghost tour in Savannah.

4. Title you would want to name your child

The first one is pretty obvious. I really like the name Hazel, the main character in The Fault in Our Stars. As for Harry Potter, there are an abundance of names in there that I would consider naming my kids.

5. Title of your ideal job

I know it’s not a job title but I would like to work in a library, or just around books in general

6. Title of a place you would like to visit

I want to do a tour of haunted hotels, including the one that inspired The Shining.

7. Title of your love life

I’m just an Elizabeth Bennett looking for my Mr. Darcy

8. Questions you ask yourself

My anxious and weird brain if full of “what ifs?”

9. Title of a kingdom you want to rule

I’ve mentioned before that I didn’t like this book but the title does make for a good kingdom name.

10. A title you would name your band

This one would be a good name for an all female-rock band. Also, I’ll be reviewing this book soon.

11. What is your current mood?

I’m kind of hungry right now.

12. What is your favorite color?

13. How do you feel about this year so far?

Maybe some of you feel this way too.

14. Where do you want to travel?

I want to go back to Dublin so badly.

15. What are you summer plans?

I’m not planning on stealing books but I’m planning on stealing away into books.

16. What are your plans this year?

I’m really hoping to get an internship or, at least, apply for some internships.

Posted on August 14, 2017 by bookreviews628

For you, A thousand times over: Reviewing The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

I’ve mentioned this book before in tags and gushed about it. Thanks to a book sale at one of my local libraries, I was able to acquire a copy of the novel. I wish I had just bought when I had to read it for a class but now I have it. Now, I will tell you in detail about The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Amir and Hassan were just two boys running wild in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite the fact that Amir comes from an upper class and Hassan is servant, the two form a deep bond that seems to withstand everything. Everything changes, however, when the Soviets occupy Afghanistan and Amir flees the country with his father, never to see Hassan again. While living in America as an adult, Amir receives news that a family friend is ill. Now, he must return and face his past and come to terms with what fates that he and Hassan have been dealt.

Hosseini’s poignant novel follows the span of Amir’s life as he reflects on his whirlwind of a life in Kabul, Afghanistan. With moving themes about family, loyalty, childhood, religion and acceptance, The Kite Runner is a moving story that deals with these in a graceful manner. The subject matter does get intense and violent at times but it does not deter from the overall touching message of the novel. The first person narrative feels as though Amir is sitting their, telling you the story directly as he sorts out his past. The Kite Runner is a profound novel that takes the reader on an emotional journey from a childhood in Afghanistan to an adulthood of acceptance.

Posted on August 12, 2017 by bookreviews628

It’s an effed up world but it’s a two-player game!: Reviewing Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini

I’ve mentioned before that I haven’t read a lot of YA literature in recent years. I guess it’s because I’m in college now so I’m more than happy to forget about high school nonsense, even in fictional worlds. However, after listening to the musical of the same name that was based off of this novel, I knew I immediately had to tell everybody about this particular novel. I stole it from my sister for now so I can bring you a review of Be More Chill.

Jeremy Heere is just another high school student struggling to get through the drama of it all with his best friend, Michael Mell, by his side. One day, Jeremy decides to change his life in order to ask out the beautiful Christine Caniglia on a date. That’s when he is introduced to the squip, a pill-sized supercomputer that can make him into the coolest guy in high school. Soon, Jeremy comes to face the disastrous consequences of giving complete control of his life to the malicious squip.

Vizinni perfectly mixes the realities of high school with a touch of science fiction absurdity. Be More Chill has a great balance of quirky humor and touching moments that emulates the struggles anyone who has been to high school can understand. It’s a fast-paced read with plenty of quirky characters who get you invested immediately. If you’re already a fan of the musical, you will love this novel. If you already love this novel, I highly recommend the musical of the same name. Be More Chill is the perfect read for YA lit lovers and/or high school students looking for a relatable novel.

Posted on August 6, 2017 by bookreviews628

The Harry Potter Spells Tag/Challenge

I’m back at it again with another book tag but I realized I hadn’t done a Harry Potter related one yet. I found this one on @becomingbookish so check it out if you want. Other than that, enjoy this tag and feel free to participate in these tags too.

Expecto Patronum – A book associated with good childhood memories

Well, obviously I have strong ties towards the Harry Potter series but I also loved A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’engle and The Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funk

Expelliarmus – A book that book you by surprise

I had to read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini for my World Lit class last semester and I ended up loving it. I definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a powerful story.

Prior Incantato – the last book you read

The last book I read was The Shining by Stephen King. I haven’t finished it yet but I’m working on it.

Alohamora – A book that introduced you to a genre you hadn’t considered

I used to be an avid Mortal Instruments fan and, though I don’t read it anymore, it introduced me to urban fantasy.

Riddikulus – the funniest book you read

The Martian by Andy Weir is pretty hilarious. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett is also a really funny read.

Sonorus – A book that everybody should know about

I absolutely recommend American Gods by Neil Gaiman and The Secret History by Donna Tartt to just about everybody.

Obliviate – A book spoiler you would like to forget having read

I skipped to the end of Allegiant, the final book in the Divergent series, because I was frustrated with the book then I was pissed at the ending and just gave up reading it.

Imperio – A book you had to read for school

I’ve read a bunch of books for school so I’m going to say my favorites have been Dracula, The Great Gatsby, Brick Lane, and Fahrenheit 451.

Crucio – A book that was painful to read

The Book Thief hurt like hell but was still a great book. Also, The Mark of Athena hurt my feels.

Avada Kedavera – A book that you would kill

Allegiant, Ender’s Game, The Lovely Bones, and The Gold Coast can suck it for all I care.

That’s the end of this book tag. I hope you enjoy this one too.

Posted on August 5, 2017 by bookreviews628

The hurting, the loving, the breaking, the healing: Reviewing Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

I was never a huge fan of poetry. I’ve read plenty of it and I do have favorites but I detested having to write it. If you were to ask me to write five pages describing my hometown, I could do that in a heartbeat. On the other hand, if you want me to write a poem about my hometown then you might as well be asking me to get blood from a stone. Nonetheless, I deeply admire poets and their ability to cram so many emotions into a few simple sentences. I will now happily introduce you to Rupi Kaur, a modern poet who captures complex emotions with her art and words.

Rupi Kaur’s debut collection of poetry, milk and honey, came to be in the most modern way: through the internet. Originally. Kaur began to post her poems and illustrations on Instagram and Tumblr for others to read. The book is split up into four different parts and covers topics that are typically taboo, particularly she delves into what femininity means in today’s world. Her simple but bold style is eye-catching. Kaur pours her heart and soul into this collection of poetry meant to empower and discuss the things that bother us.

Posted on July 31, 2017 by bookreviews628

Top 10 Short Stories I Must Recommend You Read

I know the title sounds like click bait but it got you to read my post, didn’t it? I’ve read more than my fair share of short stories over the years. I’m currently trying to write my own with little luck. There are a few that I absolutely love that you might enjoy too. The art of the short story is one that takes a while to master. It’s hard to convey a powerful message in just a few pages. These ones I have picked have a made an impact for me and I hope that they make an impact for you too.

“The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe – I’ve a been a huge fan of Poe for years now and own several different editions of his complete collections. Though I absolutely love his other famous short stories, I love this one in particular for the sensory picture that Poe writes that creates a sense of impending doom and suspense as you read it.
“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman – In only 6,000 words, Perkins Gilman provides a scathing indictment of the American mental health system. As told through the diary entries of a woman suffering from postpartum depression, “The Yellow Wallpaper” shows how improper treatment of mental illness in women can have devastating effects on the mind.
“A Temporary Matter” by Jhumpa Lahiri from The Interpreter of Maladies – Lahiri’s bold and intimate writing provides an inside look at the struggles of people’s lives that others might overlook. In this particular story, a young couple must come to terms with the loss of their child and deterioration of their marriage during the nightly blackouts that occur in India. This story is has a heavy and poignant message that is palpable as you read it.
“October in the Chair” by Neil Gaiman from Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Other Wonders – Gaiman is well known for his surreal, humorous, and profound writing. His short stories are no exception. In this story, the personifications of the months gather around to listen to October’s turn to tell a story about a young boy find out more than he wanted when he decides to run away from home. Gaiman artfully crafts a fable-like tale for fairy tale characters who come to life on the page.
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson – This story is a classic one that I read back in high school. I was initially confused but soon found out that this story provides a much darker message than it gives away. Jackson paints the picture of a quaint little town built on dark traditions. It is hard to create the perfect plot twist and Jackson doesn’t fail to deliver a shock at the very end.
“The Dead” by James Joyce from Dubliners – Last year, I went to Dublin on spring break specifically for Joyce. One of my professors is a leading Joyce scholar so it would be foolish of me not to mention any of Joyce’s short stories. Dubliners is a tricky read but it is endlessly fascinating. “The Dead” is the final story in the collection and it takes an introspective look into the life of a man who is struggling with his identity. The very last line of the story is profound and brings the whole novel into perspective. Even if you haven’t read Dubliners, the story is still just as powerful.
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury – I’ve been a fan of Bradbury for a while and, in particular, I remember reading this story in grade school. “There Will Come Soft Rains” follows the daily goings on of an automated “smart house” that continues to operate despite the fact that no one is living there. The story serves as a warning for how technology may develop and how it could change the environment. Bradbury’s haunting and detailed science fiction story is another great example of how to master the plot twist.
“Cathedral” by Raymond Carver – One of the more famous short stories out there, Carver’s message of “don’t judge a book by its cover” is just as powerful with each read. When a man wife invites a blind man to their house, he is reluctant to let him stay. However, he soon learns how to understand how other people live as he spends more time with the blind man.
“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe – Yet another classic Poe story, this one is a bit more famous. Poe was famous for his unreliable narrators and this story is one that makes the reader question what truly makes someone insane.
“Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes – Much like Gilman’s story, this one also calls into question the ethics of how mental health is treated. Though it involves science fiction, Keyes is still not too far off from reality. This story follows Charlie Gordon, a man with an IQ of 68, who undergoes a surgery to increase his intelligence. He and a mouse named Algernon who also received the surgery are then subjected to scrutiny as they are thrust into the spotlight.