Book Review: Persepolis

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So my husband put a wonderful word out there when I asked him how he felt about this book: important.

I didn't necessarily like the way it was written... I didn't like the lack of detail and emotional connection, but it is important.

Here's why I consider it important: It is a perspective about people who, due to tragic and horrific events, a lot of people might tend to judge immediately and be scared of. A perspective that shows that no matter who is in charge and the heinous acts they commit -- there are day-to-day victims who may be from the same country.
I think of this often when I hear about people who have traveled to Hawai'i and have watched a film at the Pearl Harbor memorial. I have heard multiple people exclaim how angry they are at the Japanese... how horrible the Japanese are. I always cringe. It breaks my heart. Just because a few extremists got into power -- and even if they convinced a lot of people to follow them (usually it seems the followers were bullied) -- there are still plenty of innocent victims who do not feel the same.
THAT is why I feel this book is important -- it reminds us that there are plenty of people in the Middle East who are victims of an oppressive government, who are just regular people with regular problems. We are reminded through this book that even if we have different political ideologies we don't have to wish anyone harm.

A simplified way to find out how a regular girl might feel while living in the Middle East.

Books with the same message:

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

This is a book rather than a graphic novel. It is much more in depth and better written while accomplishing the same perspective. The people are easier to empathize with, as well.



Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford







This book is about the American-Japanese and the oppression and scorn they experienced because of a war they had no part in. Being evacuated into internment camps because of the blood they share with their ancestors rather than ideals they {didn't} share with their ancestors' countrymen.

BLOG TOUR DATE ANNOUNCED: Mandi Tucker Slack's new book, "Tide Ever Rising"

I made this banner using the cover image that the author sent me

Tide Ever Rising by Mandi Tucker Slack

Mandi Tucker Slack's blog tour is coming up and I get to review this book during it.

My date for her tour is February 21st. Click "Join This Site" to make sure you don't miss it!

It's a romance, it's a mystery.... and I'll tell you my opinion about it on FEBRUARY 21st!

Go here to read an excerpt on Cedar Fort Publishing's website.

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Book Review: The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, this was my first time reading a space-themed Science Fiction book. That being said, I don't have a wide range of books to compare this to in its own genre. However, I can say that aside from a few flaws, I found myself enjoying this book.

There are a few things that turn me off from a lot of science fiction. One big one being: not being able to pronounce the names of the characters or places. This book, was no exception. However! The story line and the characters themselves kept me interested enough to overlook this personal pet peeve.

I appreciated the characters, the circumstances that brought them together, and the way they took a horrible event and tried to make something good come from it.

An entire planet has been destroyed. Most of the inhabitants -- dead. The majority of the survivors are male. Trying to save their species, the Sadiri, requires some creative solutions. A team of individuals (some from the dying race, some not) get together to travel the planet (a melting pot of a place) in search of people with strong genetic links to the Sadiri. Hoping to convince these peoples to try to help save the endangered race. Love, danger, and hope abound in this novel.

I don't feel like I wasted my time. I was pleasantly surprised that even though this was an adult novel it was clean aside from some swear words. Glad of that, to be sure. There were some brief innuendos near the end, but nothing I found terribly cringe-worthy. And, at the end of the day, it's pretty impressive that a book from a genre I don't find appealing held my attention and was super enjoyable.

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Book Review: Chicken Cheeks

Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

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This is what counts as great Children's literature nowadays?! What happened to authors like Audrey Woods? Those were books worth reading. This book was up for a Beehive Nomination... really? This whole book is just a bunch of illustrations of the rear ends of animals and 'cute' little rhyming or alliteration with animal names.

This is the kind of 'literature' we want shaping our children's minds? Not me. I don't believe we have to buy into the message that our children will only be entertained by crude humor. Not a book I would own and not a book I care to have my kids to read.

Where's the story? Where's the moral? Where are the things that make a children's book something that will stretch and shape one's future? I remember a lot of the books my mother read to me as a kid and I agree with that quote in "You've Got Mail" about how the books we read as children stick with us in a way that no other reading in our lives does. If that is the case than I feel it is imperative that I make sure my children are exposed to quality literature from the get-go.

I know it sounds harsh... but I couldn't get behind this book's concept.

Waste of time - waste of money.

Book Review: "If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?" By Melissa Kantor

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Okay, so I'm torn about this book.
Really the voice kind of came off as half-way middle school and half-way high school. The content was definitely high-school age or above. A lot of teen drinking... some blatant drug references... no sex, though... which was good. They made out a lot and talked about thongs and stuff, but no detailed kissing scenes meant to, you know, excite the reader.
As far as my suggestion for the middle school librarian goes, I wouldn't want my middle school-er reading this and thinking that the things referenced in this book and the behaviors exhibited are acceptable. If your middle school-er is mature and can read something and not think that it is something they should do just because it is in a book... well, then it would be okay. But for the majority of easily-influenced middle school-ers... I don't think it is appropriate. And if this is the behavior that middle school-ers are exhibiting, then I am very sad for this world.

As far as how I enjoyed the book... it touched on a lot of topics without overwhelming the reader. Teenagers DO deal with a lot of different stressers and so it felt very authentic. Some of the topics this book touched on: Step-families, attention from popular boys, being liked for who you are versus how you look, the death of a parent, divorce, fitting in at school, fitting in at home... etc. etc. etc.

It was fun. It was really fun. Quick, light read. You really hated the step-mom at first -- I could really empathize with the main character during everything she went through and I FELT a lot. I especially felt the injustices. It ended in a very satisfying way -- which I like. Things worked out for Lucy without making me roll my eyes at how ridiculously convenient it all was.

Overall -- not a waste of time. A fun, light, easy read.

Book Review: Stork by Wendy Delsol

Stork by Wendy Delsol


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


BAH!  Such a good book. I own it and read it yearly. Sometimes Katla bugs... but you know what, almost every heroine in a YA novel bugs me a little... how about you? Are there any you LOOOOVE? Any you Hate? Any you love TO hate?

Jack is a great leading man. There's a little magic, a little mystery, and some great, clean romance. Some of the things I love to find in a YA book. :)

There are a lot of interrrelated things going on... and the book just pulls you in. A vicious villain that doesn't really make their true colors known until the end adds a fun twist, too.

Worth the time it takes to read.

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GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

SO. I just found out for sure. I get to do a giveaway for you guys during Shannon Guymon's blog tour of her new book, "Do Over". Are you soooo excited?! I am.

TO WIN you must be following my blog so please click, "Join This Site" on the side to be following and check back frequently for more details about the giveaway.

YIPEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!