Lauren
It's good to have this collection around to introduce readers to what a refreshing and stand-out character Deadpool was when he was first introduced. But his 1990's origins are... a little cringe-worthy, to say the least. I can definitely understand the magnetism, and I'm grateful that he was given time and a chance to evolve. But new fans can seek out better introductions to the character.
I don't remember the first book, Just Ella, because I'd read it in middle school 15 years ago. It's not very essential, though Ella does make a cameo.
Cecilia is extremely naive - which apparently is frustrating even to the younger readers. I've outgrown this kind of storytelling, but it's still fun to revisit world's I sorta remember as a kid.
This was a really cute book, visually - but as a Nerd Girl, I feel like it was pandering a bit to it's readers. Nothing that was said was anything new, though for some that might make them feel more seen.
I think it would make a good gift or stocking-stuffer for a younger (maybe tween to early teen) girl.
If it's wrong to be a 25 year old, unmarried, childless adult, and to have a favorite children's author, than I don't want to be right. This is an excellent “read aloud” book. I personally like to read it with an 20's radio announcer's voice, while singing dramatic piano music before turning the page (a la silent films).
Jane by April Lindner is a retelling of one of my all time favorite novels (bar none) Jane Eyre, for younger audiences. I don't know, guys, but don't stop respecting me yet. April Linder did a fantastic job adapting Jane Eyre for modern young readers. You can tell she has a genuine love for the original novel. She made some odd decisions that I would never in a million years would have made, myself. And you know what? They ended up working beautifully. Like the fact that Jane is fourced to drop out of college and become a nanny. For that Mr. Rochester is a famous rock star. Like I said, strange decisions, but they ended up working out so perfectly.
That's just as far as adapting goes. I will always love the original far better, and this novel will still never be able to touch the original. Jane and Nico may, kinda, a little bit, have some chemistry, but I didn't really care about them. Jane and Rochester had chemistry not just with each other, but we as readers had chemistry with them as well. It was a great adaption, but it doesn't touch the original. My plea is that if you are a teenaged girl and you've already read this book, PLEASE go back and read Jane Eyre. Do it for me, but most of all do it for yourself.
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is not my usual cup of tea, but I was in the mood for a guarenteed happy ending. I got what I wanted. Redeeming Love is a Christian romance novel that a friend of mine lent out to me without ever having read it herself. Its retelling of the biblical story of Hosea and is set during the California Gold Rush. Its about a beautiful but bitter and jaded prostitute called Angel. Angel meets the kind, generous, and infallible farmer Michael Hosea who convinces her (against her will) to marry him. Angel struggles against her new life and her old, dark baggage. But, of course, as these stories tend to end, everything works out for the best. I suppose some readers might not like the heavy Christian themes, but I didn't mind it. As far as story goes, it wasn't original at all but I was still really happy with this novel. Some other readers said in their review that if it were a movie, it would be rated PG-13 and I agree with that. I mean, that kind of goes without saying as the book is about a reformed prostitute. Still, don't poo-poo that away; it gives the story some edge which is what most Christian novels utterly lack, imo. This is a really decent novel. I had some small issues with it (Angel and Michael tended to say “When will you understand that....?” far too often) but nothing that made me want to throw it across the room
I've never watched the show True Blood, and it reeeeally doesn't seem like something I'd like to watch anyway. I'm more likely to read the book than watch the show. It doesn't seem to matter which you choose, they are so different: True Blood is really dark and not very subtle (so I've been told) - the Sookie Stackhouse books (so far) are really coy and “lighthearted.”
Dead Until Dark is total cheese. Velveta cheese. It's like one big Velveta cheese casserole. The doom and gloom of the novel is comparable to the stomach cramps just such a cheese casserole would give you. You know exactly what you're getting yourself into when you read this book. But don't get me wrong, this is entertaining, time killing stuff. Sure, the characters usually are either boring are annoying or both, there are some inconsistencies with the plot (at one point I was so angry because I felt like I'd been mislead about a particular detail of the novel, I wanted to put the book in a blender), and the writing isn't very exciting, but it is entertaining and a quick read.
Something I really enjoyed about the book and found really interesting is that Vampires are kind of a metaphor for the social issues homosexuality has in our present society. That's a pretty cool twist on the old vampire romance thing that's been beaten into the ground lately.
(Still Better Than Twilight)
This is book will forever remain in my heart as the last book I ever bought at a Borders. And it's one of the best things I've read in a long time. It's not everyone's cuppa, but it sure as hell was mine.
Based off of a short story, originally found in St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, Russell's made a few changes. The premise says it all: a family that wrestles alligators at their own amusement park until their business fails after two events. First, the matron dies, then a newer, bigger amusement park moves into town. Karen Russell has a sound story right there, but it wasn't batshit crazy enough for her. Oh no. Because next the oldest Bigtree child runs away to work at the new, competing amusement park and rescue the family from financial doom. Their father goes off in search of the son (we can assume), leaving his two daughters off on their own, fending for themselves. The older sister falls in love with a ghost. Then Ava goes after her sister to rescue her from the underworld with a Birdman. Whatever that means.
Reading this novel is like reading poetry. Russell writes creatively and beautifully, and like poetry if she's too direct, but far out there it doesn't process. I suppose this is why no one reads poetry anymore.