Recent Reads: Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen 
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date:  August 30, 2022

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Book of the Month Sept pick.

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

An enchanting tale filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won’t let you go.

Between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways.

Right off the coast of South Carolina, on Mallow Island, The Dellawisp sits—a stunning old cobblestone building shaped like a horseshoe, and named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.

When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment at the Dellawisp she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors, including a young woman with a past, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and a lonely chef, and three ghosts. The sudden death of one of Zoey's new neighbors sets off a search that leads to the island's famous author and to a long-estranged relative of the sisters.

Each of them has a story, and each story has an ending which hasn't yet been written.

Review: 

I really like this author's use of magical realism in her novels. While seemingly contemporary fiction, there are magical realism elements interspersed in a whimsical way.  The story is about futures, happiness, friendship and love, and I really liked the found-family elements this book created. Readers follow Zoey, who moves into her mother's condo the summer before she is due to set of to a nearby college. She meets her neighbors, Charlotte who is a loner, bohemian, henna artist; Mac a chef, they crazy lady that is always yelling at people and snooping, and her mysterious sister that does not come out of her unit. There is also a son, an author, and a caretaker as well. So there are a lot of characters in this one but it all flows really well. 

The book follows all these characters as Zoey learns more about them during her time there, but we also learn about them through ghosts that linger at teh Dellawisp - the complex they live in. 

This was such a fun book for a number of reasons. The author did such a wonderful job creating atmosphere. I want to visit Mallow Island and the Dellawisp and see the bird and meet all these strange people that seem like so much fun. The twist ans turns this books takes were well done and some were unexpected and shocking. There was so much depth - of enviornment, of characters and their emotions and feelings and beings. It all worked together beautifully.

If you enjoy magical realism or would like to try it, Sarah Addison Allen's work is a great place to start. It is subtle and whimical, just know that you might not get explanations unitl the very end.

Recent Reads: I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy  Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date:  August 9, 2022

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Bought

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.

Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

Review: 

Trigger Warnings: This book discusses family trauma, eating disorders, and addiction. 

This poor girl. This memoir was tragic and eye-opening and I feel for Jennette. I didn't watch a lot of Nickelodeon when she was on iCarly or Sam & Cat, but I know of her from those shows since I had younger siblings that watched them. I was super interested in reading this book even before I started seeing others read it, I honestly didn't even realize whose memoir it was, it was a catchy title and I had heard good things about it, knowing her characters I became even more intruiged to pick it up.

Jennette tells her story from her point of view at the age she is writing about versus looking back. She starts readers slightly before she became an actress and talked about her living situation, her parents and family, and how she felt about her situation at the time. We travel with her through the years of auditions, dance classes, acting classes, her mother's imposing nature, and so much more. The whole thing was so candid and heartbreaking. It was heard-hitting and so worth all the hype that it recieved and so much more. That being said, there were a few media articles that I saw that I think focused too strongly on silly things, like jealousy, versus the glaring issue that Jennette struggled with - her eating and weight. I think a lot of that was played down by some media outlets and it was the more pressing issue of the memior. 

Jennette went through a lot as a child actress, I don't blame her for quitting, and I don't blame her for being glad that her mother died - because throughout reading this I was SO mad at her mother for teaching her things that she did and forcing her to act by using guilt. This was so detimental to Jennette's mental health and I feel for her so strongly after reading this. 

If you are looking for a very real read, this is it. Jennette is so open and honest about her time spent in the acting world. She talks about her peers and management, and obviously, her mother pushing her, but also about how it all felt along the way, it is a rough read, but it is a good one.

Building the Book Pile #416

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

I hope everyone in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving/ break. I actually took an internet break for a few days and it was nice. 

I finished a few books too which was great. 

If you are interested in supporting my ability to stay awake and read please consider dontating - Coffee  is appreciated ... Ko-fi

 

Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (Adult)

Recent Reads: Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen (Adult)

Recent Reads: Bright Winter Night by Alli Brydon (Youth)

Books Received Recently...   

 

None :)

Have you missed anything lately?

Recent Reads: Babble! And How Punctuation Saved It by Caroline Adderson (Youth) - 4 stars

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway! The Urban Boys - The Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith (YA) - 3 stars

Comment or leave me a link and I will see you online again soon.

Happy Reading!

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway! - Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith

Tour Schedule

Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith

Series: The Urban Boys

Publisher: Two Petals Publishing
Publication Date:  September 29. 2015

 

Format: Ebook

About the Book:

Welcome or unwelcome. Fate has arrived.

“A captivating and poetic tale of mystery, fantasy, and reality tied together by action!” 5-stars, Lars Jackson, Amazon Customer

A suspenseful incident in a forbidden preserve heightens the senses of five friends. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell become super-gifts that forever change the world. But furious battles confront the boys as they try to understand their sensory super powers in a race to save mankind. With light beings and mysterious strangers complicating their plight, can the boys defeat the evil Druth before it’s too late? Get prepared for the twisting and grinding of this award-winning, action-adventure story — an edge-of-your-seat narrative for young and mature readers alike.

Find the Book

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for DISCOVERY OF THE FIVE SENSES

"Brilliantly crafted and written!" —Megan King, Indie Book Reviewers

"An energetic adventure debut with stellar action sequences. Smith's writing is intelligent and often lyrical. Her exuberant prose never fails to dazzle." —Kirkus Media

"Author K.N. Smith uses her mastery of the written word to weave an entrancing, yet powerful tale of adventure that keeps you turning pages in an unquenchable desire to find out what happens next." —Publishers Daily Reviews

"Well written and very creative, 'Discovery of the Five Senses' is an absolute must-read for fans of novels such as Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, etc." —Anabella Johnson, Indie Book Reviewers

"K.N. Smith has an incredible way with words; her descriptions are vivid; you see what the characters are seeing, you feel what they are feeling; you feel like you are there." —Cody Brighton, Indie Book Reviewers

"A wonderful and deeply written emotional adventure." —Self Publishing Review

"K.N. Smith's articulate word imagery is all that is needed to transport readers to a mysterious world. Make the time to connect with this piece of literary prowess. You will not regret it." —V. McDermott, Educator, English Teachers Association of Queensland, Australia

Discovery of the Five Senses is the first book in The Urban Boys series. Five teenage friends walk into a mysterious forest and come out with heightened senses, each a different one - touch, smell, sight, taste, and hearing. In this first installment, we learn about the boys, their home lives, and their families and then they are given these powers for a purpose. 

This was an interesting book, it was a very realistic world with a layer of the fantastical around it. The powers the boys develop aren't superpowers, they are more advanced senses that they already had and also more strength to use them. The boys have to come together to fight an evil threatening their town and their livelihood. I thought that the powers were developed well, they were realistic and that was refreshing. I found it hard to believe the reason for them getting these powers though - balls of light in the forest trying to protect the town and their life-source? Ok, but why can't the light protect it, why do they have to give powers to humans to do that? There were a lot of unanswered questions here. They might be addressed in the series overall, but that was a bit of a pain-point for me while reading. 

The characters were mostly boys, given that the five main characters are boys, but it was a diverse cast, which was a great addition. I think that the characters could have been described a little better overall, because it was hard to distinguish them at times while reading. I think that the author's writing was super lyrical and whimsical, which might be what some are looking for, but this flowery writing make it hard for me to focus at times - with the characters and sometimes with the settings as well. 

Overall, the plot flowed well, it had a good pace throughout and I never felt like it was lagging. I thought that we wrapped up very quickly, but it all came to a head well and I think there was enough left for more books but also some good warp ups for this one. 

If you are interested in a fantasy, adventure, this could be a good book and possibly series to pick up.

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

-  1 Winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD 10

- 1 Winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

ENDS: NOVEMBER 28, 2022

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: 

K.N. Smith, winner of the “Best of” in the category of “Outstanding Young Adult Novel” at the Jessie Redmon Fauset Book Awards, and Readers’ Favorite “Gold Medal” honoree for “Young Adult - Mystery”, is an author and passionate advocate of literacy and arts programs throughout the world. Her lyrical flair sweeps across pages that twist and grind through action-adventure and urban fantasy in edge-of-your-seat narratives. K.N. has over twenty-five years’ experience in communications and creative design as an award-winning consultant. Reading is still her foremost hobby. K.N. inspires people of all ages to reach their highest potential in their creative, educational, and life pursuits. Visit K.N. Smith at www.knsmith.com.

Find the Author

Facebook | Instagram | Website | Goodreads

Recent Reads: Babble! and How Punctuation Saved It by Caroline Adderson

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers program and Tundra Books for review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Babble! and How Punctuation Saved It by Caroline Adderson,  Illustrated by Roman Muradov.
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication Date:  October 25, 2022

 

Format: Hardback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A village is torn apart by its residents' inability to communicate, until a little girl shares the gift of punctuation in this humorous illustrated parable.

Chaos reigns in the village of Babble! All day, the residents fight, yell and argue, and no one is heard or understood . . . until a mysterious little girl arrives and gives the locals something very strange: a period. But what is this thing that looks like a freckle or a spot? The villagers don't even know how to ask. However, as the girl begins to share more gifts -- a question mark, quotation marks -- the residents slowly learn how to communicate. But when more fights arise and disaster strikes, can punctuation truly save the day?

Review: 

A cute book about punctuation. The book follows a stranger into a town of babbling, rambling people, they cannot communicate at all with the babble. The stranger gives them punctuation marks to help them with their sentences and to help them communicate better. She gives them a period, a question mark, some quotes, an exclaimation point, and some commas to help them find their way. 

This children's book has a weird place and I am not sure where that is in the age group, I think it is somewhere between children's books and younger readers learning about language. It is a bit too wordy to be just a youth/children's book with minimal pictures to follow along and not wordy enough for older readers. I think that younger readers will have trouble understanding the concept of giving the town punctuation before having learned it, but it would be a fun book for a classroom when learning punctuation for sure!

I thought it was super cute either way and I can't wait to pass along to some parents for when the time is right to share with their little.

Building the Book Pile #415

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

And early edition of building the book pile.. or is it really late because I have missed a few weeks.... ehhh here we are either way! I hope you are well. I have been going working, reading, sleeping... you know all the stuff I need to be doing, but I have not forgotten you over here. Reviews are streaming out regularly. I finally got a local library card again and have neen reading some graphic novels in between longer books so that I have more content to post. I hope you have been enjoying some older books interspersed. 

I think I am almost through my 'review copy' list. I have a few more from Netgalley and I think 1 more physcial one to get to but I think I might slow down on those so I can pick up some of the amazing recent books I have bought for myself.

If you are interested in supporting my ability to stay awake and read please consider dontating - Coffee  is appreciated ... Ko-fi

 

Coming up on the Blog

Coming Later this Weekend:

Recent Reads: Babble! And How Punctuation Saved It by Caroline Adderson (Youth)

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway! The Urban Boys - The Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith (YA)

Coming Next Week:

Recent Reads: I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (Adult)

and... some other things if I read quickly...

Books Received Recently...   

 

I went to the bookstore... and did more damage...  (and noone was surprised)

 

  

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling (The Ex Hex #2)

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill 

Have you missed anything lately?

Spotlight: Excerpt - The Harvard Curse by Martin Chevreau (Adult)

Recent Reads: Summer Spirit by Elizabeth Holleville (GN, YA) - 2 stars

Recent Reads: Wires and Nerve by Marissa Myer (GN, YA) - 4 stars

Recent Reads: Belittled Women by Amanda Sellet (YA) - 3 stars

Recent Reads:  Wonderland by Tommy Kovac (MG, GN) - 4 stars

Recent Reads: Passport by Sophia Glock (YA, GN) - 3 stars

Recent Reads: Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong by Prudence Shen (YA, GN) - 4 stars

Comment or leave me a link and I will see you online again soon.

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong by Prudence Shen

Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong by Prudence Shen 

Publisher: FirstSecond
Publication Date:  May 7, 2013

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Borrow from the library

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

You wouldn't expect Nate and Charlie to be friends.

Charlie's the laid-back captain of the basketball team. Nate is the neurotic, scheming president of the robotics club. But they are friends, however unlikely--until Nate declares war on the cheerleaders and the cheerleaders retaliate by making Charlie their figurehead in the ugliest class election campaign the school has ever seen. At stake? Student group funding that will either cover a robotics competition or new cheerleading uniforms, but not both.

Bad sportsmanship? Sure. Chainsaws? Why not. Running away from home on Thanksgiving to illicitly enter a televised robot deathmatch? Let's do this!

Review: 

This graphic novel follows Nate and Charlie, a nerd and head of the robotics club and a jock basketball player. They are going up against each other for the role of student body president and their 'campaigns' have gotten out of hand. Charlie didn't even want to run, the cheerleaders are scary and put him into the running because he is so likable. Nate want the position to secure fund for the robotics team and the cheerleaders want it for new uniforms and so hilarity ensues. 

This was a funny graphic novel about unexpected friendhsips and working together. Nate and Charlie are an interesting pair of friends and help each other out more than people might expect and their friend groups converge after 'neither group gets the money' after campaigning goes wrong. I liked the characters a lot, they were realistic and fun and their problems seemed pretty real-world, all things considered. I think it was an interesting friendship and was glad that it wasn't the normal nerd-gets-bullied story, so that was very refreshing. 

If you are looking for a comical story about unlikely friends, where you can root for both sides, this would be a fun one to pick up.

Recent Reads: Passport by Sophia Glock

Passport by Sophia Glock 
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date:  November 30, 2021

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed from the library

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

An unforgettable graphic memoir by debut talent Sophia Glock reveals her discovery as a teenager that her parents are agents working for the CIA

Young Sophia has lived in so many different countries, she can barely keep count. Stationed now with her family in Central America because of her parents' work, Sophia feels displaced as an American living abroad, when she has hardly spent any of her life in America.

Everything changes when she reads a letter she was never meant to see and uncovers her parents' secret. They are not who they say they are. They are working for the CIA. As Sophia tries to make sense of this news, and the web of lies surrounding her, she begins to question everything. The impact that this has on Sophia's emerging sense of self and understanding of the world makes for a page-turning exploration of lies and double lives.

In the hands of this extraordinary graphic storyteller, this astonishing true story bursts to life.

Review: 

A graphic memoir about Sophia's life traveling and living around the world with her parents that are CIA. 

This is a very simplistically drawn graphic novel. It is minimal with little to no color, mostly black, white, grey and a light peach with pops of red here or there. The story is a coming-of-age tale about Sophia, too young and too naive, but wants to do more and also get back to the United States. Her parents tend to pull her out of schools and countries too quickly for her to form meaningful connections or keep up with them afterward because of their protection and secrecy. She wants a home but nowhere feels like home and this is hard for her, especially because of the parent politics that come into play. Sophia moves a lot and has not had a chance to find herself, so in this memior she starts to act out, trying to be a normal teen in a non-normal situation. She does her best to find herself adn understand her situation but it is still difficult. That being said, we don't move with her. This particular account is of one of the final locations right before she learns the truth about her parents. From the title, I think I expected more travel.

I wasn't a huge fan of how this all came together, I understand that as a memior there is only so much you can do if you are recounting your life, but it felt like maybe she never asked the right questions at the right times or that she was being too self-absorbed to realize what was happening around her. Most the time it seemed like she wasn't paying enough attention to her world and being too focused on what she thought should be happening. 

If you are looking for a realistic account of life as a CIA agents daugther, this might be helpful. It was a quick read but it wasn't super exciting nor did I find that it held my attention all that well. Overall, it was just ok. 

Recent Reads: Wonderland by Tommy Kovac

Wonderland by Tommy Kovac 

Publisher: Disney Press
Publication Date:  January 1, 2008

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the library.

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Among the numerous curiosities that have gone unexplained in the classic tale Alice in Wonderland, perhaps the most perplexing might be who, exactly, is the "Maryann" that the White Rabbit mistakes Alice for at the beginning of the story? Lewis Carroll first made us ponder this and, years later, Walt Disney again made viewers wonder who Maryann might be in his classic feature length film based on Carroll's book.

Now, the amazingly talented folks at SLG Publishing, through a licensing deal with Disney, have finally answered this age-old question. In their beautifully executed comic book series Wonderland, readers experience Alice's fantastic world as they've never seen it before. Writer Tommy Kovac's Wonderland is missing Alice herself, but it's still populated by the other characters that make the world such a curiously exciting place. The Queen of Hearts is present, barking orders to lop off people's heads, as is the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the rest of Wonderland's beloved cast. And there are some new faces, too, including the book's main protagonist, the mysterious Maryann herself. All are beautifully illustrated by Wonderland's artist, Sonny Liew.

The graphic novel will collect the six issues that comprised the Wonderland comic series in a beautiful, collectible, jacketed hardcover edition.

Review: 

This was such a fun take on the classic Alice in Wonderland story. We finally meet Maryann, the white rabbit's maid/helper that he mistakes Alice for when she is in his home. 

Wonderland follows Maryann after the 'monster' Alice has been in Wonderland. The Queen is still looking to chop Alice's head off by Maryann us just trying to keep things clean and in an accident makes the Queen more angry. 

The art of this graphic novel was fun, whimsical, and colorful adding to the overall wonderfland feel and I really liked learning who Maryann was. She was a strong and brave character that knew what she wanted although she didn't realize that she could have it for herself. I also liked that Alice does not appear at all in the graphic novel, she is mentioned throughout but Maryann takes the lead. 

Like Wonderland is supposed to be, it is all weird and silly. Cheshire cat is there being as non-helpful as ever and causing problems adding to the comical nature of graphic novel. That being said, because it is a bit wacky, it was confusing some times but that is part of the wonderland whimsical appeal. 

If you are looking for a fun semi- retelling/ follow up to Alice in Wonderland this was very entertaining and a quick read. 

Early Reader Review: Belittled Women by Amanda Sellet

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Belittled Women by Amanda Sellet  

Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication Date:  November 29, 2022

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Sharp and subversive, this delightfully messy YA rom-com offers a sly wink to the classic Little Women, as teenage Jo Porter rebels against living in the shadow of her literary namesake.

Lit's about to hit the fan. Jo Porter has had enough Little Women to last a lifetime. As if being named after the sappiest family in literature wasn't sufficiently humiliating, Jo's mom, ahem Marmee, leveled up her Alcott obsession by turning their rambling old house into a sad-sack tourist attraction.

Now Jo, along with her siblings, Meg and Bethamy (yes, that's two March sisters in one), spends all summer acting out sentimental moments at Little Women Live!, where she can feel her soul slowly dying.

So when a famed photojournalist arrives to document the show, Jo seizes on the glimpse of another life: artsy, worldly, and fast-paced. It doesn't hurt that the reporter's teenage son is also eager to get up close and personal with Jo--to the annoyance of her best friend, aka the boy next door (who is definitely not called Laurie). All Jo wants is for someone to see the person behind the prickliness and pinafores.

But when she gets a little too real about her frustration with the family biz, Jo will have to make peace with kitsch and kin before their livelihood suffers a fate worse than Beth.

Review: 

I think I need to disclaimer this review by noting that I have not read (or watched) any version of Little Women. I know the story but just have never found myself with the need to pick it up, nor an assignment that called for it. That being said, you don't really need it in order to read and understand this book because the family helps you throughout, referencing scenes etc. 

This was a weird read for me, I was torn between enjoying it, cringing a lot, and really just trying to push through to get it over with. The book is about a family that reenacts Little Women at their home. Three daughters and their mother put on the show with others from the community filling in for the other roles as needed, but it is very much a family business. However, not all the girls like their family obligation. 

We follow Jo specifically throughout her want to leave this lifestyle behind but feeling the guilt of obligation. Jo is a runner for school and wants to focus on that aspect of her life, while her mother still wants her to focus on the show. Additionally, the business now has a reporter coming to do a story on them, so Jo needs to be there for her family. 

The drama of this story is multifaceted. There is some romance around Jo, there is the family drama both of Jo not wanting to act but also sibling issues with all the girls, and then there is the conflict of the reporter being around and what she is actually reporting on. 

I really liked this idea - a family reenacting a classic book, but I didn't really like the characters or how they handled themselves. I think that the mother was too self-centered and didn't realize that her family was imploding around her. The girls were all their own sorts of dramatic, Jo always complaining, Meg being the deviant or not there, and Amy being over the top into it all. While we followed Jo, she was annoying most of the time, complaining about her role in this whole thing and how horrible her family is, but she was just being horrible to them too. I liked her sarcasm, but it was thick and oftentimes too much. The romance elements were a little predictable, but they were ok. I found Hudson to be cringey from the beginning and was sad when she was interested in him. 

The best parts of this book were the life-lessons but it too so much slogging to get to them and the pace was very slow through the middle then ran for the end. Overall, if you like family drama, this is a good book, but be prepared for some weirdness and some romance as well.