Saga Series 11 - Chapter Eleven by Brian K. Vaughan

Alright, I wanna get back from where I left off. And it looks like the first few pages was a little too R rated for my opinion. Nonetheless, it's part and puzzle of life and it was a flashback scene. So, just deal with it.

They were in the middle of a giant planet fetus type that was sucking them all into a giant mouth vault. Saving themselves is a current daunting task where this tree spaceship isn't their best option to speed up as expected. Compromising for everyone's safety, a life has been sacrificed and flashback memories of how important this person is has tone down the softer side of Marko and it was amazingly executed.

Still an amazing series!

Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link

Bear, Otter, and the Kid 01 - Bear, Otter, and the Kid by T.J. Klune

Well, if you do not know by now, this is TJ Klune's book and it is part of a series. This is not my first book from this author and I think this is one of his best contemporary LGBT genre I've read so far. You would know whether the author has great writing skills, and this one does because he plays with my emotions while I'm reading it. Not fair! Anyway, he's the type of writer that draws you in real quick, and it is the very minute you start reading the first sentence, let's just say paragraph. I'm trying very hard not to sound over exaggerated here.

All of his characters were so well thought off and I can't seem to fathom how much I can relate to all of them -- especially the bonding of these 2 brothers, the Kid and Bear. The bonding between this 2 brothers were so strong that you know that nothing can ever tears them apart. Great moments of joy, sadness and laughter were portrayed so well when the siblings were having their assurance for one another on how much they love each no matter what ugly comes their way.

Love interest between Bear and Otter was not a smooth ride. The hiding, the struggles, the pain and the frustrations were all spelled out progressively instead of throwing it all into the readers face with just pure lust. The built up of their relationship was very well-paced rather than heading down the cheesy and lusty romance route where you can find it in practically most of the New Adults genre these days. Sexy scenes were in it but it's never the main spinal of the plot line. Thank God!

I'm not going to discuss about the plot because many who has read this book referenced it with the movie Shelter back in 2007. I've had my fair bit of curiosity on what the fuss is about. So, I've watched it and came to a conclusion that it was really closely adapted BUT the connection in the movie was not doing anything for me as an audience in as much as reading this book is concern. That movie is heavily on self-discovery and just romance based for each other; this book has family values written all over it with real love and support.

Many might think this is plagiarism between the movie and the book, but I think this ending has taken to a whole new level of anti-climatic journey which no readers were expecting that sort of turning point and it works really really well. How it ends was even a greater blow in which you, as readers, would want to know what is it for all of them in their next chapter. Such a good read!

Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link

Book To Movie Review 06: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (2004)

Alright, here me out, I did not like this movie as much as the book. You know I know how much books adaptation movies are when it comes to details.

Dursleys
It has so many comedic elements in this portion of the book and I can't imagine is has taken a big portion out. It has so much elements on how the British scorns, despise and to abhor a person with so much hatred in their words and eyes. Harry has grown and how he manages to threatens Uncle Vernon is one way to see how much he can manage him instead of how they ill-treated him all the whole dang time!

Quidditch
Now, I was a little disappointed that the whole show, we only have 1 game. It has 3 games in the book and the house points will be gathered. In addition, there were moments of the book by introducing a so-called infatuation between Harry and Cho-Chang, which in turn to build it up in the for the 4th movie with a smoother transition.

Also, the Firebolt was given to him during the 2nd game in the book! However, the Firebolt was diverted to the end of the scene! Why!!?? I literally can't wait to see the jealous rage on Malfoy in this. Big disappointment!

House Points
In lieu with the Quidditch rant above, they literally have neglected the whole house points system in the movie like how the first one do. I know that Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were truly celebrating for Gryffindor but I have never see how Slytherin always sulk in the movie version. Come on!

Sirius Black
Now this, I was anticipating a flashback shot for this. I was really yearning to see how much flashback they could spend on telling the backstory of Lily and James Potter with the rest of the marauder map's creators. This was largely a huge bit to further explore the identity of Harry Potter. It was only conveyed verbally in through conversations in the movie. Short conversations.

Don't get me wrong, this is how I feel what the movie has to offer. In the end, I like how the movie flows in a special way because no matter how, this is still a book-to-movie adaptation and I can foresee more to be taken off from the movie for the upcoming ones because the books are getting thicker and movie's duration can only be that few hours.

Ratings: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Harry Potter Series 03 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

 
Now this, the third book in the Harry Potter series. This would be my favorite of all, as of now. It literally is! I've never thought I would say this, but this series really works to a wide range of audience! Shamelessly, me!

It started with the Dursleys (the usual), and Aunt Marge (Uncle Vernon's sister) was being introduced and she is seriously quite a character. She is definitely ten times worst than the three living with Harry. I remember watching an English movie titled "Melody (1971)" and how ill-treated the adults treated the minors, this is totally a resemblance of the such character that Aunt Marge portrays. She just got on my nerves and to them, discipline is a must! Right now, with that kind of discipline, I'll consider it illegal... but let's not dwell into that.

An interesting take on how Harry was being brought to Diagon Alley with a mini adventure. Pieces of plots were told which sparks up your curiosity. What was even more interesting was during the train ride to Hogwarts. We are being introduced with the antagonist alongside withe the prison guards creatures called the Dementors. Yep, not telling anything more, many has read the series, let's not be long winded. It's a review!

We have a new Dark Arts teacher named Remus Lupin, and it was one heck of a class whilst one is reading it. The class has taken to a whole new level of academia in the school. Here now, Hermione was taking tons of class and no one seems to understand how she was able to cope with the crazy timetable. The emphasis on Scabbers & Crookshanks played a larger part in this series with underlying plot. Nope, not going into that either!

Quidditch. It has 3 games overall, which got me really excited. We are being introduced to Ravenclaw's seeker, Cho Chang. She was described as pretty and I can sense that Harry took a little interest in her which made sense since they are both in the same sports, something in common would make them spark a little more, I suppose.

There was a major plot twist towards the end of the book and it ended very very well. This book has taken the Harry Potter series to a whole new level of the reading experience. I must say, this is really one heck of a ride.

The characters are growing, plots are getting stronger, many truths unveiled and more to come for the next book. I think I would want to dive in to it soon.

Ratings: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link

A Series of Unfortunate Events 13 - The End by Lemony Snicket

It's the very end of the series. Honestly, I felt a little let down when I know that was how the whole series ended. There were so many things left hanging which made me kinda bump out knowing that I have invested so much time reading the whole series. However, I did like the pacing of the book. The plot was much more interesting than the last few books. It wasn't as draggy and it didn't feel that you're approaching the very end of the series.

Many thinks, as a reader, were left unexplained. I kinda sense it from the how the way the author was approaching the end. True, in reality, many things happened were left unexplained but this is a middle grade book and the target audience are the kids. Shouldn't the story line brightens up a little hint on how all the unfortunate events happened for a reason?

Was I happy that I have finished the series?
Yes.

Was I happy with the writing style?
I'm okay except for the rambling.

Was I happy with the ending?
Nope.

Was I happy with the plot?
Honestly, it was really interesting.

Lastly, what shocks me was when Lemony Snicket recites a poem by Charles Baudelaire. Now, this is the kind of shocked factor I would like from reading a book. It doesn't make much sense but then it has some contributing element into the plot.

Overall, this is only my own opinion and no one else's. You might like it or you might love it or you might hate it.

Ratings: 3 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link

A Series of Unfortunate Events 12 - The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket

Now, I finally felt the series is heading some where. There's a twist with something that the Baudelaire did which I'm liking it. I guess the explanation of phrases and words are a little bit of a stretched towards the adult readers. 

Although, it is still a good platform for the younger ones to read with a ton of new jargon to learn from but then again, I have realized that there is a repetitive trend in certain chapters of the book. It really bump me out while I'm reading. In lieu with that, I've been skimming through the series practically from Book 8 or 9 on wards.

I really do not know whether I will get myself blown away by the end of the whole series. Seriously, the author himself has already preempt us from the very beginning. So, I would be expecting something not as solid as what it should turn out to be. The ending, I mean.

C'est La Vie!

Ratings: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link