Lauren Henderson

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All the Light We Cannot See focuses on the events of World War II in Europe, specifically France. The main character is really “the war”... and there are beautifully written, snapshots that capture the true nature of the war and the emotion of those effected by the war. There are 3 storylines going on: (1) A blind girl, Marie Laure, is forced to leave her hometown with her father, the security warden for a museum, who may or may not hold the “Sea of Flames” - the most precious, most cursed, but most powerful stone ever made because the holder is said to be unable to die. (INTRIGUE!!) (2) An orphan Werner, who has a fascination with learning and engineering, specifically re-making radios so that he and his sister can listen to an old man who broadcasts “illegal” educational shows. (2) Sgt von Rumpel who is dying and is searching for the Sea of Flames.

The way that all of these stories tie together in the end is really great! It felt like a true story - the ending actually felt like I was sitting next to a World War II survivor letting them tell their story. So it was very well researched and well written. However, the beginning took me a very long time to get into. I kept reading though because I could tell that this writer is truly talented. Eventually, you start seeing how everything connects and the book is much more readable.

The only thing I disliked was the setup... the book jumps back and forth in time and also jumps from character to character, so it gets confusing. I found myself having to check the dates often. The jumping through time just feels unnecessary and does not add any suspense or glamour to the story. I think it would have been much easier to follow and get into if everything had been in chronological order. But that's just me.

Overall, this is a beautifully written story. I would recommend it... when it starts lagging, just know that it does pick up and the ending is worth it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One Plus One is an entirely different type of geeky love story – Ed is a wealthy half-owner of a software company who has a lawsuit looming over his head because accidently gives away insider trading details for his company. Jess is really a large mess – she has two children that she busts her butt for but just can't make ends meet. Her daughter, Tanzie, has been accepted to attend an elite math school, and the Math Olympiad with a $5000 prize is their only hope of paying he tuition. Not to mention, the problems with her son, Nicky, getting beaten up at school over and over. Thus, ensues a brilliant adventure where Ed's and Jess's lives are tangled together and they go from silently tolerating one another to sparking romance in just a few days during one road trip with enough mishaps to last a lifetime.

This is the definition of a romantic comedy – and one that was well written. There is substantial character development. Jess's life has had so many things go wrong that you can't help but hope with your whole gut that something goes right for her. Ed also has so much riding on his shoulders – when the story begins, he is merely trying to do something to help someone else in order to forget his own troubles. And Tanzie and Nicky's voices add perfectly to the story to bring an outside view into Jess and Ed's world.

The only drawback to this book, is the intensity with Jess and Ed's romance. It was 0 to 60 in about a day. I guess this is slightly excusable because they were stuck in a car together 24/7.. but it still bothers me. However, not enough to not enjoy the rest of the story. It's just a great feel-good summer read... all the way down to retaliation against the boys who continue to beat Nicky. It makes you laugh out loud at Tanzie's quirkiness and cry right along with Jess during her heartbreak at her life's circumstances. I was 100% invested in all the characters. Oh and I read it in less than a day... I definitely wouldn't mind a sequel!

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

This book right here... well it's probably the weirdest book I've ever read. I spent the entire book trying to figure out if it was bad weird or good weird. I'm still torn... But it was intriguing, which is why I couldn't not finish it. Real review to come.

REAL REVIEW:
How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky is the story of Irene and George, two astronomists with completely different outlooks on life. George is a dreamer – far more than you would ever think a scientist would be – and a lover, and I mean sleazy, womanizer sleeps-with-his-students type lover because he's searching for the girl that he “used to dream about but can't quite remember”. Irene is an anti-lover and doesn't believe that love even truly exists. She ran away from her drunk mother to pursue her dream of discovering the make-up of a black hole and therefore creating a black hole to revolutionize science. The only outlet she has in life is lucid dreaming where she can visit with the sober version of her mother.

Sound weird? My first thought about 5 pages in was “WHOA”. Here's what I expected based on the book summary: a Rosie Project type story with some smart people romance and a different twist because their parents organized the entire thing. What is not mentioned in the book summary is that there is also some pretty deep philosophical details involving gods (somewhat Greek but more modern), destiny, soul twins, and other astrology related things. The story switches between Irene's mom - Bernice, George's mom – Sally, Irene, and George's points-of-view to explain the set-up and key events from George and Irene's childhoods. There are also lengthy philosophical breakdowns about the stars and destiny. I kept reading through the end of the book still trying to figure out if it is good weird or bad weird... and I finally decided – GOOD weird.

The plot, even with all the philosophical speak, is still pretty fast moving. It starts with Irene and George meeting as adults and then goes back from there to learn the details of their set up. There is a lot of adventure with George – he's a very spontaneous and carefree man, and a lot of brooding from Irene. The love story is a bit cheesy, but this is still a good quirky read. This book is honestly the weirdest book that I have ever read.. it is unlike any other. Was it lacking in some areas? Yes. Good or bad? At the end of the day, I end up choosing good because the philosophical aspects make you think. I hear that's good for you!!

I love this series. This one was more philosophical until the end, but THE END was FANTASTIC. A definite unexpected twist that definitely makes me want to jump into the next book of the series.

Review to come.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goodnight June is June's story. June inherits from her great aunt Ruby a small, cozy children's bookstore - Bluebird Books, where June spent her happiest moments as a child and learned to love reading. As a 35 year old, June is vice president of a large bank and in charge of foreclosing many small businesses. She has few important people in her life, anxiety problems, and a severe lack of satisfaction with herself. When she inherits Bluebird Books, June goes home to Seattle for the first time in 5 years and begins to reevaluate her life. She discovers a scavenger hunt that her aunt Ruby left for her in the bookstore of letters between Ruby and Margaret Wise Brown that explain the origin of Goodnight Moon and renew June's passion for the bookstore. June discovers what it is like to be on the opposite side of the foreclosing business while she is trying to raise funds to save the bookstore, all with the help of the charming Gavin who owns the Italian restaurant next door.

I absolutely 100 percent love when an author shows his/her fangirl/fanboy side... And in this case, Sarah Jio's fangirl flag is waving hard. The story behind the popular children's classic Goodnight Moon is unknown because Margaret Wise Brown died shortly after writing it. I can tell that Sarah Jio truly loved Goodnight Moon because she uses so much imagination and heart to develop a very plausible origin of Goodnight Moon and uses the letters to tell the story with passion and creativity.

Also, June's story is one that we can all identify with and could ultimately stand alone as its own story. She has to make the choice between living a life with passion or complacency. She has to forgive, and she learns to love. And she also discovers a few things she didn't know about herself. Yes, it's somewhat “chick flicky”, but its inspiring and sweet. I'm an avid hater of cookie cutter chick lit, so trust me when I say that this story is not that. Jane's story is inspiring and leaves you contemplating your own dreams.

Right now is a time of major change in my life with moving and finding new job, etc., so I feel it was the perfect time to read this book. I probably a little biased since in the past year, I've somehow developed a dream of owning an independent bookstore and hosting authors/holding events to inspire budding readers. Reading is and always has been a huge part of my life, so I love to see that there are others who are still so inspired by reading and would rather pick up a book than a game or show on their iPad. I think Goodnight June is Sarah Jio's confession to also being one of these people and her charge to go do something about it.

I literally blazed through Goodnight June in less than a day. It's an easy read and would be perfect for sitting outside on a lazy summer day. And the great news is that its release date is May 27 - TOMORROW!!! So you only have to wait 2 short hours.. or 1 if you're on the east coast. Ready. Set. Go.

I don't think I've done it justice, but if you just go read it you'll see what I mean. Thank you Sarah Jio for such a beautiful and inspiring story. It's been a while since I've read a something this great.

I've had a couple of other books by Sarah Jio on my radar for a while, but this is the first one I've read. I'll definitely be moving her other books up on my list.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

The Soil Will Save Us is a very good introduction to the issues of soil carbon depletion. Being a new wannabe farmer, I have been doing my best to become educated about current issues and form my opinions about GMO crops, the local movement, “organic” farming, and now soil health. This book brings to light many issues that farmers face with crop health and how improving soil health may be the answer.

Also, Ohlson tells of many of the front runners in the polictical aspects of soil carbon and how funding to researchers could help prove that farming practices could help reverse the Greenhouse Effect in the climate.

I highlighted many names of farmers and researchers that are beginning to revolutionize the industry with soil-friendly farming that follows the pattern that nature has already provided but farmers interrupted many years.

However, the writing was a bit monotonous, not as entertaining as I would have liked for a book that markets itself as a documentary and not an educational book. I would still recommend this book to others who would like a basic understanding of environmental health issues associated with farming practices.

Bottom line: This book had a whole lotta hype for not a whole lotta reason.

The Winter People actually had a great creepy start that really captured my attention. So from the beginning, you are given the impression that there will be chilling ghostly happenings wrapped up in a suspenseful package. But then there isn't.

So let the book bashing commence...

What happens is this (no spoilers, I promise): in the present day Ruthie's mom goes missing... in 1908 Sara's daughter dies and becomes one of the “winter people”... and a random guy named Gary stumbles upon the missing link to the story. The story is about figuring out what happened to Ruthie's mom, what happened to Sara/Gertie, and what happened to Gary in conjuntion. The entire book is a wild goose chase of putting clues together. I really didn't get any of the suspense that I wanted, and it mostly felt like Scooby Doo. Really.. Scooby Doo.

The chapters switched back and forth between the present and 1908, which is fine - I've read many books written this way and they were great! But McMahon repeats exact elements of the story when going back and forth and creates a very strong sense of deja vu. And you end up being confused if you read it already or if you just think that you read it already. Not okay.

Also, the sideplot with Gary and his wife Katherine was completely unnecessary and distracting. I believe the story would have been much better with further development of the main characters and elimination of Gary and Katherine. Plus, their story was left hanging at the end for no good reason.

This was the first time I have read a book by Jennifer McMahon, and I honestly disliked this book so much that I probably won't read McMahon again. The story was too cookie cutter for me.. with no intrigue, no exceptional plot, and no major character development.

Immediate reaction: I really really really wish I could give this book 10 stars. I am 100 percent invested in all of the characters... talk about some amazing character development. I don't think I have the will to come up for air and write a review before I begin the next book. I've decided to wait five minutes so I can remember where this book ends and the next begins. That is all. See y'all when I can stop reading these amazing books for a substantial amount of time.

The Real Deal:Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson is the beginning of The Final Empire series. And this series has by far the most interesting and inventive fantasy premise that I have ever read. (And I'm a Tolkien fangirl, so I do not say this lightly.) The story centers around Allomancers, people who gain powers by ingesting and burning metals – pretty stinking cool, right? When burning tin, senses are enhanced so you can see farther, in the dark, hear better, etc. With iron/steel you can push/pull metals objects (like telepathy). Brass and zinc give the power to control emotions... and the list goes on. There are 10 metals that can be burned, all with different effects. The Allomancers are people who only have the power to burn one metal. A Mistborn has the power to burn all 10 metals and is extremely rare.

Society in this story is highly factioned with a ruler who may or may not also be God and who has oppressed the skaa as slaves for the nobility and uses Allomancy to keep them depressed. But then there's Kelsier, who is the most successful thief in Luthadel, the capital city and seat of the Lord Ruler, and has also become a profound symbol of hope. He was imprisoned where people are sent to die and also happens to be the only one to have ever escaped. So obviously he has a crazy side and almost gets himself killed quiet frequently. But he now knows the Lord Ruler's secret, and he's on a mission to overthrow the Lord Ruler. Kelsier also is a Mistborn... he's basically the hero of all heroes. Then enters Vin, a young girl who does not know she has Allomantic powers, who Kelsier saves and trains in the midst of trying to pull off this scheme of rebellion. Vin is shy and untrusting but brave and loyal. She is clever and a force to be reckoned with. Vin is awesome!!

And that's just the beginning.. there's so much going on in this book. Members of the thieving ring pose as imposters in different areas of the city using their different Allomantic powers, each having a personality all their own. The depth of all of the characters is phenomenal. Every single character is awesome! There is so much EMOTION. The plot is steadily moving and had me engrossed from the beginning until the very end. Even within 60 pages of the end, it seemed like there was no way the story would wrap up. But it did!! And it actually didn't leave too many plot lines hanging like some fantasy books do. It left just enough open to set up for a great series.

I love this book with my whole heart, and Brandon Sanderson is automatically on my list of favorites. I dare say this is the definition of a perfect book.

It's long, but oh so good, and worth every minute it takes to read. So if you're a fantasy lover, please go read this so we can be fangirls together!!

SO MANY FEELS... It took me a few days to process this one.

You know those books where you figure out that the blurb on the back of the book is completely wrong/misleading after you finish? Yeah... that's one of my biggest pet peeves. It IS possible to actually tell what the book is about on the cover without giving away anything. Case in point: NIGHT FILM - It's vague. But it's right. It tells you just enough to make you interested but doesn't lie to you. Go editor!! Thank you!

You go into Night Film knowing that Ashley Cordova, daughter of a reclusive cult horror film director has died, and journalist Scott McGrath investigates her death based on a vendetta with Stanislas Cordova. And that's really all you need... it sounds like it might get creepy and it does.

The first couple of nights after I started reading this I had the most deliciously creepy dreams. The plot builds somewhat ominously and slowly to create the perfect mood of curiosity with slight dread. The actual events... sorry I just can't tell you because you will enjoy the book immensely if you only know what's on the cover and go read it for yourself.

Don't be scared of the length. I enjoyed the slow but not too slow building plot. It created a lot of time for character development all around and several climaxes that keep it moving. And a lot of foreboding.

The best thing about this book are all of the case files and reports included. You feel like you are actually watching an old cult horror film yourself - the ones where the newspaper clippings, pictures, etc. spin out and almost slap you in the face. It's just delicious. (For this reason, I would recommend reading a real live in-person copy of this book.)

There are so many details in the story that I'm sure I could read it again and pick up on even more little nuances (which I will definitely be doing). And this book definitely does not settle for your cookie cutter ending. The whole thing is just perfect in my opinion.

I would recommend this for umm... EVERYONE.. especially if you love a suspenseful mystery that makes you think with a genius madman? thrown in.

Review to come.

A Natural History of Dragons is Isabella Camherst's story of trying to fulfill her dream of studying dragons in a Victorian-type era where women are expected to do socially acceptable woman things like host parties, gossip, wear frilly dresses, etc.. you get the picture. Studying anything scholarly is completely unacceptable for a woman, and from a young age Isabella steals books from her father's library as her guilty pleasure. She finds ways to secretly study dragons, creates excuses to visit museums, etc. so that no one ever knows her true passion.. or so she thinks... but her father knew the whole time.

This book really had a lot going for it:

1.FANTASY is always a winner for me.. and this one has a unique take on the genre.
2.It's about a stubborn woman trying to make her place in a man's profession. Always interesting.
3.Dragons. Duh.
4.It's on NPR's book list... and NPR supports Chris Thile of Nickel Creek pretty hard, so how can they not be right about every other thing ever?!! I basically trust all of their decisions.

The first half of this story had a few intriguing tales of how Isabella got herself in trouble growing up, how she met and married her husband, and then how she manipulated a situation to be included on an excursion to actually publicly study dragons. She's charming and gutsy, and I mostly liked her. I was entertained but still couldn't tell where everything was really going.

And then it just fell flat. For someone who is trying not to be defined by the social boundaries for women, Isabella was way too concerned with not getting dirty and being “proper” during their excursion to Vystrana. It was really quite annoying. She also turned really prudish all of the sudden. Her attitude toward the servants that were housing them during their visit was uppity. And she started thinking that she was right about everything having to do with dragons – every comment that a man made contradicting her, she had some smart ass remark and got mad. I mean... I know she wants to be treated like a man.. but she's still new to what they've been doing for much longer than she has. I just did not like her anymore by the end of the book.

It seemed that the author was overly concerned with being on a feminism soap box by the end of the book. Don't get me wrong... I'm not against feminist books but subtlety is more my thing. Soap boxes should be handled delicately. You can't forget to still tell a good story, ya know?

Honestly, I'm not mad I read this book. I did like the beginning, but the last half just really turned me off. I'm a little torn if I'm going to continue the series once the next book is released or not.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Weight of Blood is the story of Lucy, a girl from Henbane, Missouri (sounds like the most creepy town ever.. right?). Lucy is feels guilty for not trying harder to figure out what happened to her friend Cheri whose remains were found a year after she went missing. She starts working for her uncle and stumbles upon some evidence of Cheri's disappearance. Thus, ensues a search for the truth that Lucy discovers is connected to her own mother's disappearance and also very strongly incriminates her uncle.

I requested this book from NetGalley because the description sounded really thrilling and the setting of Henbane seemed like it would lead to a great edge-of-your-seat scare-the-crap-out-of-you read. Sadly, I was able to guess the ending in detail from the third chapter, and I only kept reading to see if I was right. And there was not really any suspense or thrill – this was not for lack of trying, but the author was just unable to create the mood she was going for. Super let down.

There were a few things I didn't like that I think really led to the lack of development:

1.The chapters switched between two main characters, Lucy and her mother (Lila), and they were both written in first person with the same voice. Therefore, difficult to distinguish and make into their own character. Also, because you are hearing the story from Lila's point of view the entire time, there's no suspense created besides the ultimate question of why she disappeared.
2.The love interest between Lucy and the guy who is helping her investigate is extremely young-adultish and detracts from the rest of the story.
3.The dialogue goes tries to sound hick... but it ends up being annoying. Mostly because of the phrase “fixing to”. No one says “cheer up darlin' ” and ”fixing to”. It's “fixin' to”. And it was all over the place.
4.There was no resolution of what really happened to Lila's mother. Just a vague answer to knowing whether she ran away or not. Extremely annoying!

Bottom line: This story looked intriguing and the idea behind it I still think could have been great. However, it just didn't work. There isn't much depth to the characters or plot. I honestly would not recommend this book.

The Weight of Blood will be released on March 11th, for anyone who dares to try it.

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

I'm not even sure what I was expecting when I started reading this book - I guess I thought it would be something that only farm animal lovers would identify with... just a Yay Animals!! happy story about saving the world.

But in these pages is one of the most inspiring and beautiful stories that I have ever read. There is story after story of individual animals - their situation and their healing - and of individual children that the animals in turn come to heal. This is a vivid story of how Ellie Lake's life came full circle - she had a lonely childhood, she had a dream to save the animals who had saved her as a child, she chased her dream, and she found herself along the way. I found myself in tears many many times.

But the most remarkable change took place inside of me... I was not alone after all; I was just a tiny current in the large, gorgeous flow of life.

It's memoirs like these that keep me coming back for more and usually get me on a memoir train for a few months. There is so much emotion and so much honesty in this story of The Gentle Barn.. it's overwhelming at times... but in such a good way - my soul feels cleansed. And I believe there is hope for humanity after all.

When I finished reading, I immediately found The Gentle Barn's website and read more about Jay and Ellie and what they are doing now... I guess you could say I'm an instafan. I'm definitely going to visit one day.

My husband and I have a dream to build a successful farm and produce meat in harmony... to be a small part of taking back the food industry from factory farms and to take care of the animals who in turn take care of us... so I think I could be possibly biased about this book. However, I don't think you have to be an animal activist/hippy farmer to enjoy this story about a life that comes full circle and enriches other lives in return.

Your father may be the glitter, but I'm the glue.

Whoa... heartstrings.. hold on. This book is a great read for anyone who has a mom... so EVERYONE. I found myself tearing up often with memories of my own mom. Glitter and Glue is a beautiful tribute to the mother-daughter relationship.

Kelly Corrigan is a really great writer. I've never read anything by her, and I picked this one up solely because I love memoirs about mother-daughter relationships. She writes the story in first person, so it reads like fiction and is very entertaining. Also, Kelly Corrigan must have (1) been keeping insanely detailed journals her entire life, or (2) exaggerated some details in this story, or (3) have superhuman abilities for remembering details. I'm going to guess it's number one. So notes to self: KEEP JOURNALS, WRITE IN FIRST PERSON - if I ever decide to write a book. Although I think I'll just stick with blogging.

The first 85% of the book is about her experience with nannying in Austrailia and how it made her appreciate her mother. It's vividly written with details and emotional responses. I LOVED this part. She struggles with winning the love of Milly who just lost her mother to cancer, and she realizes that she hears her mother's voice with everything that happens and finds herself becoming her mother - like a lot of us do.

I thought she was going to have some splendid reunion with her mom... but she didn't. The end goes into hyper speed mode and does not give much detail about how Austrailia actually changes her relationship with her mother. It was kind of a let down, but did not ruin the beginning of the story that was so beautifully told - It reminded me somewhat of the writing style of Cheryl Strayed in Wild.

Overall, a great read that I would recommend to someone who wants to reminisce about their childhood and have lots of memories pulled out that they forgot existed.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

I started with Mary Poppins as part of a Classics Challenge that I set for myself. My goal is to read one classic per month... or perhaps every other month if I'm reading an especially long one.

Mary Poppins is a really fun children's book. I grew up loving the movie and decided to read the book after I recently watched Mary Poppins again. After reading, I was very impressed with Disney's ability to capture Mary Poppins' character - her loftiness but sweet quirk.

The story reads like each chapter is it's own short story, with each chapter containing a stand alone adventure where some bit of magic with Mary Poppins or due to Mary Poppins occurs. The stories are cleveryly written and provide an alternative to other “fairytale” children's books.

I wish I had read Mary Poppins as a child. I think I would have been enthralled. But I did not.. and my adult brain appreciates the magic and the wonder of the mystery that is Mary Poppins - she's very strict but “stumbles into” magic situations quite frequently with the children and won't quite let anyone really know her - but I do not think I will continue the series. I guess it is just a little too simple for my stupid adult brain.

On to the next classic...

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

If you've heard of A Monster Calls, then you've most likely heard the story behind it: Siobhann Dowd began the story after she was diagnosed with cancer but died before she was able to finish. Patrick Ness finished it after finally giving in to the request of her publisher. In the introduction, Ness says that he was reluctant until he read her notes and felt her saying “Go. Run with it. Make trouble.”

Stories don't end with the writers, however, many started the race. I usually adamantly stay away from “cancer” books, but the story behind this one was so moving.. I checked it out from the library the day first I heard about the book.

A Monster Calls is truly a heartwrenching story - simply but powerfully told. After Conor's mother begins treatments, a monster in the form of a yew tree visits Conor and tells him three stories, with the deal that at the end Conor has to tell him his story.. his TRUTH. At first, Conor (and the reader) has a hard time figuring out if the monster is real. Then Conor comes to expect the monster and finds comfort in his presence, in his stories, which are leading Conor to actually face his truth. Everything in the story is tied together so perfectly... there is beautiful symbolism with the yew tree, the monster's timing, and Conor's dreams.

The story is about grief and how people handle it so differently - how people make themselves believe something else when the truth is too hard, how they think things they wouldn't normally think. I think the true message of this book is to let yourself feel and then to give yourself a break. It was truly touching - not to mention, tearjerking.

You do not write your life with words, the monster said. You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.

I just couldn't finish this book. Sure... there are some interesting facts about goats that I didn't know. But the author's writing style is extremely forced. He uses big words to make himself sound smarter and tries to tell stories in a way that makes his life sound dreamy, but it ends up just not flowing. And all the talk of pastoralism and ancient practices is starting to sound snobbish... and I can't stand it. So the end.

“A goat's anus would open like the aperture of a camera and produce perfectly round pellets, one by one.” Followed by the longest eye roll of all time. Enough said.

Initial Reaction: My mouth is still gaping wide open... this book is phenomenal!!! I still can't get over it. Really.. go read it. I'll be on cloud nine for a while fangirling and freaking out... eventually I'll be able to form real sentences and write a real review.

5 stars... plus a few more!!

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

A little later: As you might have noticed, EVERYONE is raving about Ready Player One. Well.. I'm going to join their ranks. I'm still reeling from this book... it's the ultimate of armchair adventures, the epitome of fandomness of all things that have a fandom - 80s music, 80s TV shows/movies, video games from the very extreme very beginning, even MIDDLE EARTH, Doctor Who, Star Trek - it covers it all.

Ernest Cline is obviously the ultimate fanboy and has created an uber detailed world all his own. The story is set in 2050 - there is extreme poverty because of a fuel crisis and James Halliday has created the OASIS - my best description of the OASIS is that it is every WOW player's wet dream. Period. Everyone can access it for free. There are millions of sectors with hundreds of planets each, some that have magic, some that have technology, some that have neither... some that are PVP zones... some that are business and shopping zones - it's basically become the new reality. I honestly want to go to this place... there are worlds that are exact replicas of Middle Earth, the Death Star, etc. There are video game museums for miles. There's a zero gravity club that's a huge floating hollow sphere. The OASIS has everything... and the descriptions are told with such vivid detail. There's no doubt in my mind that a ton of research and mind power went into the writing. It's superb.

Next, the plot... it's GENIUS. James Halliday writes a series of secret keys and gates into the OASIS before he dies, the last of which contains the “golden egg”, and the person who solves all the riddles and finds the egg first will inherit sole power of the OASIS and James Halliday's entire fortune. The race for Holliday's “golden egg” takes off from the very beginning and literally keeps your heart racing the entire story. And the riddles are so well developed... the cleverness still makes me tingly inside.

There are overarching themes of true friendship, political unrest, and facing reality. The author reveals his opinions through his main character, Wade's, opinions on several issues, such as, atheism, the current state of humanity/government, and huge corporate giants. It's easy to tell where Cline stands but it's done very subtly and does not distract from the story itself. But I like books that take a stand, anyway.

Overall, I loved this book, and I immediately purchased a hard back copy for my bookshelf, so I can shove it in all my friends' and my husband's faces and make them read it. And (here's the big shocker) I'M NOT EVEN A GAMER. In fact, I'm one of those who has sworn off video games for most of my life.. I'm way too busy reading.

This story is really just an adventure, and I say that anyone who loves adventures would enjoy it. Even if you are not an 80s fangirl/fanboy, you will not have a problem getting any references... we all know what Pacman, Gallaga, and Sega are... plus, everything is explained, if needed.

I happen to be a concert junkie, so this really hooked me:
A concentrated, pulsing mass of ships and avatars covered the ground. It was like some otherworldly Woodstock.
Just one of many awesome descriptions throughout the story.

So... go get this book.. wherever you can. And read it. Just do it.

4.5 stars

Immediate thoughts: Well that was just extremely beautifully written.. going on my favorites list.. Right. Now.

Actual review: I'm extraordinarily in love with The Perfume Collector. It is so romantically whimsical. I felt transported to another place and time - and it was about time - I read so many mediocre books in January that I was beginning to forget that feeling of getting lost in books. The world of Paris and perfume is romanticized so perfectly.. I mean... just look:

Perfume should tell a story - of who you are, who you might be, perhaps even of who you fear becoming.Perhaps, it's an invitation. Maybe we need to literally come to our senses, to return to our sense of taste, touch, sight, smell, hearing and find sustenance in them, inspiration. Life is, after all, a sexual experience. Our senses have the power to truly transport us but also to ground us. Make us human.You could be laughing in public yet wear, right on the surface of your skin, a perfume ripe with longing, dripping with regret, shining with hope, all at the same time.He dreamt in smells, he heard music in colours.

The story of Grace receiving a surprise inheritance from Eva d'Orsey is perfectly woven with the chapters of Eva's past as Grace is trying to figure out who Eva is and why she left her everything. The entire book is a scavenger hunt with the perfect amount of detail. Eva was a brazen, independent woman as you find out through her chapters, and Grace is trying to learn how to be the woman that she feels instead on the social elite that everyone, including her husband, wants her to be. There are underlying themes of finding your place in life and following your heart that I really connected with.

There were also a couple of small twists/surprises in the story that made me grin because of how perfect they were, how Eva fit into Grace's life in ways you wouldn't expect. The plot was just so well thought out and developed. I loved every minute of reading this story. It's full of so much passion, from all the characters involved.

I can honestly say that I have never been interested in going to Paris, but this book actually makes me want to go. This book is magic. I will be reading it again soon, and I can't wait for Tessaro's next book.

For all of these reasons, I highly recommend that you go read this. NOW.

Sidenote: There were an unusual amount of technical errors which is why I can't justify a full 5-star rating... leaving out a/the.. slight mispellings, etc. I don't usually find these type of errors to be too distracting, especially when I'm already enjoying the book so much, but if you are that kind of person... you have been warned.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

Confession: I have a problem when it comes to the fantasy genre of sticking with my tried and true authors - mainly Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, and Terry Goodkind (although after reading what he really thinks about himself, I'm pretty sure I'm off that train - see this interview).

So after doing a little bit of research on The Sundering Series, I figured it would be the perfect way to discover new fantasy authors because (1) The series is headed off by R.A. Salvatore who I know I love. (2) The books are considered stand alone as each of them are about about a different world within the Forgotten Realms. (3) Wizards of the Coast chose the authors they consider to be their best to participate in this series. Sounds perfect to me!

The Godborn was, therefore, the first book I read by a fantasy author that I am unfamiliar with.

The story starts with Varra (great name, right?) She's running from something, and she's pregnant. She ends up in a wildflower field where a shadowwalker touches her stomach and “changes” the baby. Then, she suddenly is able to magically wish herself to safety. The place that she unknowingly wishes herself to is 70 years in the future at the Abbey of the Rose. She dies in childbirth, and baby Vasen is left for the people of the light to raise. Skip ahead 30 years - Vasen is one of the First Blade, the protectors of the Oracle and very powerful with his gift of the light. He was born of shadow but studies the light - it is this that makes him the key to saving the world and also sought by powerful evil for an end to their means. So the journey begins with our hero Vasen Cale..

This book is extremely well written - I was literally getting a vocabulary lesson the entire time; however, it did not distract from the story. This story was darker than the typical fantasy that I go for - there was a lot of brutal and vivid killing, and the fighting scenes were explained in gory detail - but I found it essential to the story. The characters, even the small ones, were developed in such a way that you get to really know the plight of the people living in darkness and you truly understand the extent of the evil that is threatening to end the world.

I'm sure that a fantasy author trying to write a standalone novel is not an easy task, because most authors develop their world throughout several series and have so much rich, imagined history woven in. I had to read this book slowly at the beginning to make sure I wasn't missing any details, but for the amount of backstory that had to be told, Kemp did an amazing job. I never felt lost or confused.

Vasen Cale is the type of character that draws you in and keeps you rooting for his outcome. I loved the combination of light and darkness. Vasen himself is a contradiction and proves that “bad” is not always bad. Perceptions are not always correct. There is true evil in the world and then there are just prejudices.

He didn't know how much more apetite he had for any of it. The things he'd seen...

The Godborn is rich in detail, action, character development, and vivid themes. It will make your soul hurt for the people suffering but smile with the victory throughout. Overall, I'm intrigued and will continue on in The Sundering series.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

Well that was heavy... review to come.

I received a copy of this book for free from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lantern lights are basically my favorite thing in the entire world.. they really do create a magical atmosphere, so I was a sucker for the cover of Lost Lake and had to read it from the moment I saw it. Plus, I'm a big fan of Sarah Addison Allen. And I loooove lakes.

Like heat from a fire, the closer to water you are, the stronger you feel it.

What could go wrong?

Lost Lake is set in Suley, Georgia, a middle-of-nowhere town where Eby and George decide to settle and run a summer cabin getaway. Kate, Eby's great-neice, recently widowed, wakes up one day after being “asleep” for a year after her husband's death and realizes that she no longer recognizes herself. She has let her mother-in-law take over her life and almost stamp out her daughter, Devin's, creative and wild spirit. Devin finds a post card sent long ago from Eby with Lost Lake on the front, and they take off almost immediately to revisit the “last best summer” that Kate had - lost Lake was where she left her heart and her childhood. Little does she know that Eby has almost lost hope for saving Lost Lake... what follows is a story about grieving and hoping that is full of friends and magic in a serene setting. Sounds great.. right?

But... Lost Lake just didn't do it for me. I mean, it was a good story but it just didn't suck me in like Allen's other stories. A couple of reasons could be:

1. Garden Spells. It's my favorite and pretty hard to live up to.
2. The galley version was not formatted extremely well (no paragraph breaks where there should have been, misplaced words, etc.) to the point where it was kind of distracting.
3. The characters were not nearly as deep as in Allen's other work. I think there were just too many main characters that she was trying to develop.
4. There was not one explicit element of magic that the story centered on, so I spent the entire story trying to figure out what the magic actually was.
5. I was having a lot of book feels and getting sad while reading this because everyone's husband is dead (not a spoiler, don't worry... that's what the story is based on from the very beginning.)
6. All the events just seemed so surface level.. there really is so much going on - on the side of the main plot is Wes and his grieving over his brother that he lost in a fire when he was younger, Lizette who has no voice box and burns all of the notes she writes out of fear that she will break someone's heart again, Bulahdeen and Selma (the old ladies who are complete opposites of each other) both seeking a cure for their lonliness, the “alligator” that keeps popping up and talking to Devin, Lazlo who is pressuring Eby and Wes to sell, etc. - The separate storylines just didn't come together so seamlessly, either.

All that being said, of course, I still really liked the story. Devin is spunky, strong, and carefree. She is the character that eventually drew me in and gave me the depth that I was looking for. She's a dreamer. Most people never get what they want because they change what they want, change it to something more practical and reachable.

And George (Eby's late husband that you learn about through her memories) is the kind of man that is truly and purely good. The kind that everyone wishes they knew and some are lucky enough to know. I wish there had been more about him. People couldn't help but like George. His laugh was like a barrel of whiskey... Just looking at him, you could see that his capacity to love was as wide as the world.

The theme of moving forward is also very strong..
If we measured life in the things that happened, we wouldn't get anywhere.

Overall, I think this book is worth a re-read - of a final version to see if my opinion changes.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

I WANT A PIG!!!! RIGHT. NOW.

That's mainly what I got out of this book. Christopher Hogwood is truly amazing. I've never spent a lot of time around pigs, so I never realized how much personality they have. In The Good, Good Pig, Sy Montgomery tells a lot of heartwarming stories about Chris - how the entire community saved scraps for him, how he ended up bringing them lifelong friends they wouldn't have otherwise known, how he loved his bath times, how he simply loved with his whole heart.

There were also a lot of historical tidbits about pigs and several side stories about Sy's excursions for her wildlife research (She's a freelance writer for sources like Nat Geo). There were a lot of facts, but what this story is lacking is emotion. There were a lot of times when I should have cried because of what was happening, but this book was written with such a lack of emotion that I was nowhere close.

I would only recommend this book to people who want to read facts about animals... a pig, chickens, dogs, tigers, etc. There's a lot of animals and stories... but if you are a memoir lover because you want to read about someone's journey and life lessons, skip this one.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

I received a pre-release copy of this book for free through a GoodReads FirstReads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

When I first picked up Golden State I was immediately intrigued, a lot confused, and a little scared because the plot has so much work to do. The story is set in one day in a near future San Francisco, and it is definitely not your ordinary day. You are immediately thrown into the fire, and by the end of the first chapter you know the following:

1) Julie is a doctor. Julie's sister is in labor, and she has to get to the other side of the city to deliver the baby.
2) Julie's ex-friend/boyfriend/thing is angry and hostile and is holding people in her hospital hostage while demanding to speak with Julie.
3) Julie's divorce may or may not be finalized today.
4) Today is the day of the vote for California to secede or not secede from the United States. Therefore, vandalism, robbery, rioting, police blockades, etc. abound.
5) Julie and her husband used to have a son, and Julie's sister is the reason that they don't anymore.

Ok. Breathe.

The story is told in 3 parts: Now, earlier that morning, and the back story. Each chapter switches to a different time all told from Julie's point of view. Sounds confusing but really it's not since the chapters are short and begin with which time frame you are in. I've never read any other books written this way, and in my opinion it was great organization (go editor!). It created a lot of suspense and really kept the story moving.

Throughout the story you learn how Julie met and fell in love with her husband, how they had a son, and how they lost him. You learn about her childhood in Mississippi and how she fulfilled her dreams of “escaping” the South to become a doctor. And you learn about her strained past relationship with her sister and the new relationship that develops.

To me, there are a lot of parallels between the author's life (Richmond grew up in Laurel, MS and now lives in California) and Julie's life, so I feel like she uses her character as a soap box in some parts - she paints a picture of the South being a place that everyone wants to escape (I love the South even though I no longer live there), and she uses the secession issue to portray her own political views. So the book seemed preachy in some parts, but not to an overwhelming extent.

Overall, this is a very entertaining read with a good but not too neatly wrapped up ending. However, the story was lacking in the emotion department until the very end. I just wasn't quite as invested in the characters and their outcome as I wanted to be. I would say the book was mostly a sequence of events, although a very entertaining sequence of events.

So there you have it.. Golden State is released on Feb. 4 (MY BIRTHDAY!!) if you want to give it a shot.

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.

The Light Between Oceans is a phenomenal story about a lighthouse keeper and his wife. The book starts with the fateful event where a boat washes up with a dead man and live baby girl. Then the story skips back (Part 1) and tells about Tom's life before he met Isabel and shows their love story leading up to the “main event”. Some people say the book started off slow for them, but I felt like the beginning was necessary because you really get to know Tom and Isabel - Tom is a genuine, gentle, determined man who has been through hard times and would do anything for his wife, and Isabel is a very lively, stubborn woman who would do anything for a child after having trouble with miscarriages and stillbirth.

It almost feels like fate that a baby washed up, but Tom always feels an uneasiness about going along with Isabel's wish to keep her. Part 2 of the book concentrates on Tom trying to reconcile his love for the child with his inner turmoil. Then Part 3 describes the drama after they are found out and the consequences for all involved.

The story is very steady and extremely well written. There are so many profound quotes.. I found myself having to get up and find another book mark quite often. Here are some of my favorites:

You could kill a bloke with rules... And yet sometimes they are what stood between a man and savagery, between man and monster.Right and wrong can be like bloody snakes: so tangled up that you can't tell which is which until you've shot ‘em both.You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things.

The character development is just oozing with goodness. I found myself so frustrated and angry with Isabel at times but realized that it's because the writing is so great. You just get so invested in the characters and so drawn into the story. The plot is so constantly unfolding that it's hard to put down.

I didn't agree with every decision that the characters made, but that's the point of this story.. that the lines between right and wrong are not always clear, and that good people don't always do good things- and regardless there are consequences. Therefore, I thought the ending was perfectly chosen.

Sidenote: I feel like this book completely embodies the story of the song The Lighthouse's Tale by Nickel Creek. I can't help wondering if that could be where the author found some inspiration.

I am a lighthouse, worn by the weather and the waves.I keep my lamp lit, to warn the sailors on their way.I'll tell a story, paint you a picture from my past.I was so happy, but joy on this life seldom lasts....And the waves crashing around me, the sand slips out to sea.And the winds that blow remind me, of what has been, and what can never be.

And since I'm wholeheartedly obsessed with Nickel Creek, this being my favorite song of theirs, it makes me love this book even more.

I ABSOLUTELTY cannot wait for M.L. Stedman's next book!

This review is also posted on Great Minds Read Alike.