Her Official Page
Goodreads Page
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Freaking out moments #14 - Rainbow Rowell
It's so humbling that a famous author is willing to spend the time by favoring our tweets.
Her Official Page
Goodreads Page
Her Official Page
Goodreads Page
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Rumble by Ellen Hopkins
Booksplosion Read-Along for the month - September - #8
My very first exposure in reading YA fiction in a poetry format. Indentations of each verse makes this reading experience a whole lot different and interesting. As I was giving it a try, I thought the beginning was a little slow to digest but as the story goes, there is this vault that just suck you right into their lives.
"Dude, I have f***ing moved on. I don't call him to dinner anymore. I don't think I hear him coming in the back door. I hardly ever dream about how he looked when... when I found him. But if you mean I should accept what happened, you're out of your mind! -- I never will."
Tragic has both it's good and bad side. It all drills down how a person respond to it. Here, we are reading in Matthew Turner's POV through out the book and we are able to observe how he and his family struggled through a lost of a family member due to an accidental outing of homosexuality cum aggressive bullying and discrimination in a school premise. It is never pretty; it is even uglier when it comes down to an emotional stretch when one doesn't know how to deal with grieve.
"That's the worst thing about you, and the rest doesn't matter. You're not perfect, that's a fact. But your imperfections are part of what makes you, YOU. And that's who I fell in love with."
In reality, love still plays a major part of human existence. No matter how stereo typical Hollywood has infiltrate our mind on how they portray their love scenes. It is never like what has been quoted above. This is the single most used quote about a person when it boils down to puppy/teenage/desperate love, although overly used but it is NEVER practiced in today's context.
"You know how they say revenge is best served up cold? I'd say it's best not served up at all. Revenge is a great motivator, but it doesn't help achieve the desired results. I've seen guys lose buddies, then go off half-cocked, piss fuel running through their veins. Things never turned out well."
I've known of many that always think that revenge is the ultimate solution because they thought they are the ONLY one that has to live through that pain/struggle WHOM they think someone has done to them but what they didn't know is that, would they feel happier now when they know that they have made someones life a living hell?
My question to them: How can you even sleep when you know what you have already acted upon out of just a mere revenge? And in what position are you to make that sort of judgement towards a person in measurement of your own revenge?
"You just asked Vince for forgiveness. Maybe the price is giving it."
After all that has happened, reconciling is always a major human pride issue. Are we able to lay ourselves down to take that first step so that we all can live a harmonious life? This question is thrown back to us many times when angers take over our life.
Awareness of homosexuality and school bullies are pronounced with great debates and arguments during the course of reading this book. However, it ended with a little bit of a rush when I expected it more when Ms Hopkins has already brought us into such a traumatic state.
Overall, it is a great read and a rough emotional ride. I like it!
Ratings: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Review Link
My very first exposure in reading YA fiction in a poetry format. Indentations of each verse makes this reading experience a whole lot different and interesting. As I was giving it a try, I thought the beginning was a little slow to digest but as the story goes, there is this vault that just suck you right into their lives.
"Dude, I have f***ing moved on. I don't call him to dinner anymore. I don't think I hear him coming in the back door. I hardly ever dream about how he looked when... when I found him. But if you mean I should accept what happened, you're out of your mind! -- I never will."
Tragic has both it's good and bad side. It all drills down how a person respond to it. Here, we are reading in Matthew Turner's POV through out the book and we are able to observe how he and his family struggled through a lost of a family member due to an accidental outing of homosexuality cum aggressive bullying and discrimination in a school premise. It is never pretty; it is even uglier when it comes down to an emotional stretch when one doesn't know how to deal with grieve.
"That's the worst thing about you, and the rest doesn't matter. You're not perfect, that's a fact. But your imperfections are part of what makes you, YOU. And that's who I fell in love with."
In reality, love still plays a major part of human existence. No matter how stereo typical Hollywood has infiltrate our mind on how they portray their love scenes. It is never like what has been quoted above. This is the single most used quote about a person when it boils down to puppy/teenage/desperate love, although overly used but it is NEVER practiced in today's context.
"You know how they say revenge is best served up cold? I'd say it's best not served up at all. Revenge is a great motivator, but it doesn't help achieve the desired results. I've seen guys lose buddies, then go off half-cocked, piss fuel running through their veins. Things never turned out well."
I've known of many that always think that revenge is the ultimate solution because they thought they are the ONLY one that has to live through that pain/struggle WHOM they think someone has done to them but what they didn't know is that, would they feel happier now when they know that they have made someones life a living hell?
My question to them: How can you even sleep when you know what you have already acted upon out of just a mere revenge? And in what position are you to make that sort of judgement towards a person in measurement of your own revenge?
"You just asked Vince for forgiveness. Maybe the price is giving it."
After all that has happened, reconciling is always a major human pride issue. Are we able to lay ourselves down to take that first step so that we all can live a harmonious life? This question is thrown back to us many times when angers take over our life.
Awareness of homosexuality and school bullies are pronounced with great debates and arguments during the course of reading this book. However, it ended with a little bit of a rush when I expected it more when Ms Hopkins has already brought us into such a traumatic state.
Overall, it is a great read and a rough emotional ride. I like it!
Ratings: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Review Link
Saturday, September 13, 2014
The Mistborn Series 03 - The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Trilogy US box set here
Trilogy UK box set here
I have to admit, I do not know how to write this review. It's all about the feels... I mean... just feels. Seriously, do you guys even feel me yet? I thought I would start with "That Ending... THAT Ending... etc" and it turns out I do not know how to continue with that statement at all. And, above all the series that I've read, this itself is one of the most exhilarating series of all times.
The world building itself is even more detailed than the first two. And if you think the those two books has detailed or deep characters introduction/background, you're wrong! He has a bibliography of all the characters and it's history. Talk about really really Epic!
I'm keeping this review short to avoid myself from giving it away too much. Just read this guys... I mean seriously, it went from mist/ash to something THAT epic. Mr Sanderson, YOU ARE my new found EPIC FANTASY hero!
Alright, "The Alloy of Law" is next! Good gracious, should I even start with "The Stormlight Archive" already?
I think this artwork by Marc Simonetti is absolutely brilliant!!
Oh yes please... I need some of that right now!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (I would give it a 10 if it's even possible)
Goodreads Review Link
Freaking out moments #13 - Ellen Hopkins
A simple retweet causes me to go "weeeeeeeeeeeee...!!!" Yes, it's the ever so lovely Ms. Ellen Hopkins. I was only a few pages into her new release titled "Rumble" and it is sooo good, sooo raw...
Here's her Goodreads page.
Here's her Goodreads page.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
The Giver Quartet Series 01 - The Giver by Lois Lowry
Now this is good writing for a Dystopian genre! A masterpiece of its kind. Truly this book's potential surpasses the today's way of plotting their storyline. I am actually intrigued by this book!
Basic fundamentals of our daily human liberty is being used as a plot to described what post-apocalyptic has confined or taken away from us in their system. Rules are set which made the world a so-called perfect one. Age is defined with a ceremonial gathering with a token of basic gifts across the community. Hence, by the age of 12, you are destined by the Elder's decision of the career role you're assigned for your entire life.
You can't interrupt, you can't steal, you can't be late. STOP!!! (If you break these rules, a public apology has to be done.)
What is more interesting, you have to apply for a spouse (chosen by the Elders), you have to apply for a child (chosen by the Elders), you have to apply to be released (decides by the Elders). Where do we draw the line to this?
Jonas here, is our lead guy. He has been assigned to have an honorary role within his community. However, truth of the past unveils and mysteries of this community is starting to surface. Now, that's not new but what can Jonas do?
Fantastically written with effortless world building which has captures my attention on how their system works. Their culture and customs are subtly pronounced and I was being crept into their system subconsciously.
I like how the book ends it with a sense of familiarity which doesn't seem like it's made up. It's raw, it's practical and it's how we take risks for our lives just for a better tomorrow. Bravo!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Review Link
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Booksplosion Read-Along for the month - August - #7
What have I just read? Wow!!! It was an unexpected fulfilling ending. I was drawn at the very first page as it has grabbed me both as a reader and a circus goer. I was really confuse when Erin uses "You" on the first page and I was kinda caught by surprise because I have never thought of becoming part of the curious crowd when "The circus arrives without warning". Yowzaaaa!!!
There are feels that I can't even fathom of putting it down into words. It's intriguing, stunning, thrilling, mysteriously dark, magical... to name a few. I did not expect such a plot profoundly thought off especially when there's this word "Circus" in the book title. I was wrong! Dead wrong. Descriptions are poetically written with so many new words that represents exactly what it really means in that situation, the scenarios or circumstances!
This book has written with numerous POVs. Now, I didn't find it confusing. However, it has reaches to a certain level of notching it up by including a back and forth timeline with these POVs without confusion! Now that is excellent writing!!!
What I really love is how dreamy and magical it all stands out. Yes, I know there are many books with great magic but this has a different kind of magic which this book has to offer. I was so caught up with the premise when the magic starts. I was literally drawn into a world of illusions and dreams as what the book has intended it to be.
Truth unfolds, it ends with a slight yearning of wanting to know more about the future of certain characters but it has to end it the way this book was meant to end. With that conclusion, I have realized that I was brought into a whole new dimension of "The Night Circus". Bravo!
Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Review Link
What have I just read? Wow!!! It was an unexpected fulfilling ending. I was drawn at the very first page as it has grabbed me both as a reader and a circus goer. I was really confuse when Erin uses "You" on the first page and I was kinda caught by surprise because I have never thought of becoming part of the curious crowd when "The circus arrives without warning". Yowzaaaa!!!
There are feels that I can't even fathom of putting it down into words. It's intriguing, stunning, thrilling, mysteriously dark, magical... to name a few. I did not expect such a plot profoundly thought off especially when there's this word "Circus" in the book title. I was wrong! Dead wrong. Descriptions are poetically written with so many new words that represents exactly what it really means in that situation, the scenarios or circumstances!
This book has written with numerous POVs. Now, I didn't find it confusing. However, it has reaches to a certain level of notching it up by including a back and forth timeline with these POVs without confusion! Now that is excellent writing!!!
What I really love is how dreamy and magical it all stands out. Yes, I know there are many books with great magic but this has a different kind of magic which this book has to offer. I was so caught up with the premise when the magic starts. I was literally drawn into a world of illusions and dreams as what the book has intended it to be.
Truth unfolds, it ends with a slight yearning of wanting to know more about the future of certain characters but it has to end it the way this book was meant to end. With that conclusion, I have realized that I was brought into a whole new dimension of "The Night Circus". Bravo!
Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Review Link
Monday, August 11, 2014
Bro Don't Like That La Bro 02: Back To School by Ernest Ng
Well, well, well... I didn't expect the second book to be published much sooner than I thought! Of course, I couldn't resist although please be prepared as the cover already said "Origins: Back to school". So, it's like history class with comics.
I love how nostalgic it rekindles me while I was reading this book. I can't guarantee whether this bunch are from the 80s, but daaayum... it has brought me back to the hay days of truancy, making friends, consuming weird snacks, traditional games, games that were from our creative minds, and do we really care what's illegal? Spot on!
With this quote, I think this guy can be my best friend:
"I just like to promote sleep a lot. Sleep is good. Whoever tells you otherwise is not your friend." -- Now that's a fantastic quote!!!
If you have followed the author's (Ernest Ng) blog, he came up with this topic by popular demand from his fan base on how the Bros actually met each other. I like to highlight that this book has tone down it's humour aspects as to compare with his first. There is a reason.
Be mindful, the author is introducing how each and every individual came to know each other. It is a gradual process on character building, world building...etc. If you guys read Fantasy books, it has a larger scale than this, and he did a fine job in introducing us to them (not to mention, via comic strips).
(One might say,"Ahhh... This is how they came about la..." or "So, this is how the education system works in Malaysia one la...") Read it with that mindset, I can assure you that you will have a great time knowing how the Bros became who they are today.
So, to conclude, I'm expecting a 3rd might be out soon based on my amateur analysis on how the author is publishing his books (I might be wrong):
Lastly, pick it up! It's still a fun read. Support la wei...
Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)