Swag September is organized by Amber at Paradise of Pages. It will occur through the whole month of September. You don't need to worry how much you read during the month, the only thing you need to do is when you do read, read only the books that you have swag for. If it isn't on a piece of swag you read, don't read it. There will be guest posts, interviews, excerpts, a read-a-thon, and lots and lots of giveaways. Where can you go wrong? For any information or questions you may have as well as updates, visit Amber over atParadise of Pages.~From Amber at Paradise of Pages
Hi guys! I'm really excited to be this week's feature in in Parajunkee and Alison Can Read's Feature and Follow Friday.
Book character(s) you'd like to see with their own twitter page:
Sherlock Holmes. The sarcasm would be endless.
http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=242908
For my World History class, I was given an assignment to read a book about the French Revolution, which is why I am currently reading Scaramouche. In all honesty, I did not think I would enjoy reading this particular book mainly because I am not a fan of 'political' books. I have to say, however, I was pleasantly surprised.
Scaramouche is a fictional story about a man who wants vengeance against the aristocrat who killed his friend. Rather than being a book about the French Revolution made interesting by a fictional story, Scaramouche is (so far) a story made beneficial by throwing in facts about the French Revolution. It truly feels as if I am reading a book I picked up at the library for its adventure, not a book I was assigned to read for history class.
Rafael Sabatini is an extremely talented writer in terms of educating his readers while entertaining them with an interesting plot. But I must say, Scaramouche is not the easiest book to read. I had to read some of the sentences multiple times, either because it had words that are not used in modern day language or because it was extremely long and there was too much happening to be able to understand it the first time.
I am really excited to finish the book and see how it ends. So far, I would recommend this book if you would like to read about the French Revolution in an interesting way.
Hear me out. I read Looking for Alaska and I thought it was great as a literary piece. There was character development, plot twists, imagery, charaterization; the list could go on for pages. As I was reading, however, I could not help but realize how awkward it was. Again, it was a great book. But it was from the point of view of Pudge, the main and insanely awkward protagonist, and as a reader I felt for him. I felt what he felt, and what he felt was simply awkward. There were some parts of the book in which I literally cringed because of how uncomfortable I was. To be honest, I actually think making the reader feel exactly what the characters felt was a major success on John Green's part. The entire book was so real, which to me, only added to the discomfort because of the nature of the book.So, basically, what I am saying is that while Looking for Alaska was a successful book to me, and I enjoyed the story, I just can not imagine it being turned into a movie. I personally feel like if they do make a movie adaption for it, a lot of the scenes would have to be changed from "cringe-y" and awkward to a bit more humorous. I just don't know how that would work out. Looking for Alaska had such real characters in the sense that they were awkward, and if they use that trait and turn it into humor, I feel like it would lose a lot of what I thought made the story worth reading. On top of the realistic-ness of the story being sacrificed, there is such an unexpected ending to the story. As a movie, I am not sure how well the awkwardness (or if it's replaced, its humor) and the tragic ending would go together.
I personally think the movie adaption of this certain book will either a huge success or quite the opposite. I don't really see a middle ground here, but I might be proven wrong.
With that being said, I have to say I am I am tremendously excited for the Paper Towns movie adaption (if it does happen).
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary from goodreads:
In the years after Fincayra disappears and Merlin has been sent wandering, a young lizard-like creature, with the wings of a bat and the magical power to produce any smell it encounters, is born into the new world of Avalon. The unlikely hero—Basil, he is called—cannot find a single creature like itself nor a person who can tell him what he is. But it is clear that Basil is much more than he seems when he stumbles into an encounter with the great Merlin, saving his child’s life, then uncovers a secret plot by the evil Rhita Gawr. It’s a race against time and across Avalon as Basil, with the help of the faithful wind sister Ailah, searches for the great wizard to warn him. This is one of T.A. Barron’s most thrilling adventures yet and features a new and unforgettable character in his earliest years.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3148116-merlin-s-dragon
There is nothing I did not love about this book. There was imagery, characterization, character development, and a great plot. But the thing that really drew me into this book was the writing. Barron has a writing style I could only wish to read for the rest of my life. It was easy to understand but still held so much meaning and grace. As I read through the book, I clearly heard every sound and every voice. I could see the images the characters were seeing and felt what they were feeling. Even when there wasn't much going on in the plot, reading what Basil, the main character, was seeing or thinking was so satisfying. There were certain paragraphs, if not the whole book, that I could have re-read time and time again.
Aside from the writing style, the content was so perfectly detailed and vivid it would put an award winning movie to shame because of how clearly a reader can imagine the scene and connect with the characters. The writing uses all five senses to aid in the imaginative aspect of the scenes. It did not just use sight. It explained more than just what the characters saw. It explained what the characters heard, smelled, felt, and, occasionally, tasted.
Another positive thing about Merlin's Dragon was it's continuity. With all the detail in the book, a reader would imagine something would get forgotten. Something small, maybe. Something that wouldn't necessarily matter if it got left behind. But there was not one detail concerning the plot that didn't get mentioned again. It was relatable to the situation at hand, as well. It wasn't just thrown in at some point for the sake of continuity.
If there is one flaw I'd have to point out about Merlin's Dragon, it would probably be that I don't have the second book.
I recommend this to everyone who comes across the review. Everyone. Especially if you're a particularly fond of fantasy novels.
A Few Words to Describe a Person's Voice:
Croaking: rough and/or hoarse
Disembodied: a disembodied voice comes from a person you can't see.
Droning: boring, monotoned.
Fruity: deep and strong in a welcoming or pleasant way.
Gravelly/Gruff: a low and rough voice.
Guttural: extremely low voice.
Honeyed: a nice voice but when the person speaks there is a hint of dishonesty in their voice.
Rasping: a gravelly whisper.
Shrill: a loud, high, and unpleasant sound or voice.
Silvery: clear, light, and pleasant.
Taut: nervous or angry.
Tight: nervous or annoyed.
With this being the end of the school year, there has been a lot of thing going on for me: exams, graduation, etc. I apologize for not being able to post as frequent as I used to you, but in about a week or two I will pick up from where I left off and I will probably post more reviews a week.
As for those who are waiting for certain reviews, I will carry on reading what has been sent, but a review may not be up for a week or two as I probably won't be able to read as fast. But if I do end up finishing the book before the time I plan on returning, I will try to post the review anyway.
Thank you for your patience (that is if you do plan on being patient).
As for those who are waiting for certain reviews, I will carry on reading what has been sent, but a review may not be up for a week or two as I probably won't be able to read as fast. But if I do end up finishing the book before the time I plan on returning, I will try to post the review anyway.
Thank you for your patience (that is if you do plan on being patient).
It doesn't matter what you're writing; it could be an essay for school or a book to be published. Chances are you have at one point thought of something you want to add, but you just cannot recall the word no matter how had you try. So you look it up, but it rarely ever gives you the word you feel is right. At this point, you might just give up, or you might write a few sentences explaining the one word.
Well I've found a website for you.
OneLook Reverse Dictionary
It basically does exactly what it says and it is absolutely wonderful. It is a reverse dictionary: you put in the meaning and it gives you the word.
Your'e welcome.
Well I've found a website for you.
OneLook Reverse Dictionary
It basically does exactly what it says and it is absolutely wonderful. It is a reverse dictionary: you put in the meaning and it gives you the word.
Your'e welcome.
" I wrote you a letter,
and then another letter,
and another, and another,
until I wrote you a word.
So I wrote you a word,
and then another word,
and another, and another,
until I wrote you a sentence.
So I wrote you a sentence,
and then another sentence,
and another, and another,
until I wrote you a letter.
I hope it finds you as I found you.
Yours truly,
Yours, truly."
-Bo Burnham
Robert Pickering Burnham (Bo Burnham) is an American comedian, musician, and actor. His light-hearted and heart-warming poems are found in his poetry book, Egghead. I have not read all his poems, but I have read bits of his book here and there, and a lot of his work really makes the reader want to watch him in action as a comedian.
If you enjoy reading funny, witty things paired with a gust of cleverness, Egghead is for you. However, if inappropriate language offends you, I suggest you read only a certain percentage of the book.
and then another letter,
and another, and another,
until I wrote you a word.
So I wrote you a word,
and then another word,
and another, and another,
until I wrote you a sentence.
So I wrote you a sentence,
and then another sentence,
and another, and another,
until I wrote you a letter.
I hope it finds you as I found you.
Yours truly,
Yours, truly."
-Bo Burnham
Robert Pickering Burnham (Bo Burnham) is an American comedian, musician, and actor. His light-hearted and heart-warming poems are found in his poetry book, Egghead. I have not read all his poems, but I have read bits of his book here and there, and a lot of his work really makes the reader want to watch him in action as a comedian.
If you enjoy reading funny, witty things paired with a gust of cleverness, Egghead is for you. However, if inappropriate language offends you, I suggest you read only a certain percentage of the book.
book review
Book Review: Destruction (Book One of The December People Series) - by Sharon Bayliss
8:05 PM
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
David Vandergraff tries to be a good husband and father. He has a loving wife and three children, two boys and one girl. But that isn't his only family. David's second family went missing eleven years ago and has been trying to find them ever since. For eleven years, he waits for just one phone call to tell him his missing kids are fine. And he it finally gets the call. Wanting things to be the way they should, David is prepared to bring his kids home, even though his wife has no clue they even exist. Traumatized to learn that his new found kids had been suffering years of mental and physical abuse, and even witnessed their mother die at the hands of their stepfather, David is ready to give the kids their space and give them the care they deserve, even if that means he has to play along with their dark wizard fantasy. It is just a means of coping after all, isn't it. Dark wizards are obviously not real. Or are they?
Destruction written by Sharon Bayliss is the first book in her series The December People. It also happens to be a very distinctive spin off on dark wizards and is written in third person point of view. The characters are being followed are David, an extremely confused father, and Patrick, the confused father's second eldest son. Considering the fact that it was a spin off on dark wizards, the way the plot was played out was kind of realistic. They had a mostly normal family that did mostly normal things in a hopefully completely normal Texas.
Before beginning, I would like to clarify that there are no spells, owls, house elves, wands, Hogwarts, or Neville Longbottom.
What really draws a reader into Destruction is its very different take on wizards in general. I don't want to give too much away, but I'll just say that the dark wizards are not said to be dark wizards because they're evil. They are said to be 'evil' because of the limits put on them due to them being dark wizards. Also, a person cannot choose to be what kind of wizard they are. That's all I'm saying, but you can read the book if you want to find out more.
Very early on in the book, every character seemed to have very well defined personalities. It was handed to the reader on a silver platter in detail. And what was told to the reader about the characters proved to be true by their actions later on in the stories, sometimes to extreme levels. There was the perfect amount of mix between the flat and round characters. I really liked how I expected certain characters to act a certain way and was surprised when they didn't. It felt like I had known the characters for a good few years and that I'd been a quiet observer of this very family. I just knew what Amanda, the mother, would do when she wakes up or when Jude, the eldest brother, was upset. The author did a really great job with the characterizations of each and every single one of the characters.
Destruction also has realistic characters. As I was reading, I remember thinking how much I disliked Amanda. Not because of her actions, but because of her reasoning behind her actions. But when I kept reading, I couldn't help but realize how real she is. She acts the way a wife and mother would really act. The amount of tolerance she had for what was going on was admirable, but she also had limits as to what she would and wouldn't allow in the house. She was not ready to be the type of woman to be stepped on. Everything about her was very mother-like. Her patience was present, but limited. She had her good days, and she had her stressed out low-on-caffeine bad days.
To me, Destruction was an introductory book to the series. When I say this, I mean the entire book served as an introduction to The December People. The reason I say this is because I did not really recognize a determined or defined goal for the book. There was the plot, but I did not see what it was aiming for. It was a bit messy and there were plot holes which I hope are acknowledged in the rest of the series because I fully intend on reading it. Something else I noticed as I was reading was that there were scenes that did not do much for the plot and could have easily been replaced with more meaningful scenes that could have given the plot more definition. But again, this is the first book and I have high hopes for the success of the rest of the series.
Destruction is a great book that has a somewhat realistic take on the wizarding world. If your'e expecting an action filled book with spells being shouted left and right, however, this book may not be for you. I do suggest you read the book, and if it does not sound like your cup of tea, you should give it a try because you never know what you might like when it comes to books.
Disclaimer: May contain profane language and/or ideas.
David Vandergraff tries to be a good husband and father. He has a loving wife and three children, two boys and one girl. But that isn't his only family. David's second family went missing eleven years ago and has been trying to find them ever since. For eleven years, he waits for just one phone call to tell him his missing kids are fine. And he it finally gets the call. Wanting things to be the way they should, David is prepared to bring his kids home, even though his wife has no clue they even exist. Traumatized to learn that his new found kids had been suffering years of mental and physical abuse, and even witnessed their mother die at the hands of their stepfather, David is ready to give the kids their space and give them the care they deserve, even if that means he has to play along with their dark wizard fantasy. It is just a means of coping after all, isn't it. Dark wizards are obviously not real. Or are they?
Destruction written by Sharon Bayliss is the first book in her series The December People. It also happens to be a very distinctive spin off on dark wizards and is written in third person point of view. The characters are being followed are David, an extremely confused father, and Patrick, the confused father's second eldest son. Considering the fact that it was a spin off on dark wizards, the way the plot was played out was kind of realistic. They had a mostly normal family that did mostly normal things in a hopefully completely normal Texas.
Before beginning, I would like to clarify that there are no spells, owls, house elves, wands, Hogwarts, or Neville Longbottom.
What really draws a reader into Destruction is its very different take on wizards in general. I don't want to give too much away, but I'll just say that the dark wizards are not said to be dark wizards because they're evil. They are said to be 'evil' because of the limits put on them due to them being dark wizards. Also, a person cannot choose to be what kind of wizard they are. That's all I'm saying, but you can read the book if you want to find out more.
Very early on in the book, every character seemed to have very well defined personalities. It was handed to the reader on a silver platter in detail. And what was told to the reader about the characters proved to be true by their actions later on in the stories, sometimes to extreme levels. There was the perfect amount of mix between the flat and round characters. I really liked how I expected certain characters to act a certain way and was surprised when they didn't. It felt like I had known the characters for a good few years and that I'd been a quiet observer of this very family. I just knew what Amanda, the mother, would do when she wakes up or when Jude, the eldest brother, was upset. The author did a really great job with the characterizations of each and every single one of the characters.
Destruction also has realistic characters. As I was reading, I remember thinking how much I disliked Amanda. Not because of her actions, but because of her reasoning behind her actions. But when I kept reading, I couldn't help but realize how real she is. She acts the way a wife and mother would really act. The amount of tolerance she had for what was going on was admirable, but she also had limits as to what she would and wouldn't allow in the house. She was not ready to be the type of woman to be stepped on. Everything about her was very mother-like. Her patience was present, but limited. She had her good days, and she had her stressed out low-on-caffeine bad days.
To me, Destruction was an introductory book to the series. When I say this, I mean the entire book served as an introduction to The December People. The reason I say this is because I did not really recognize a determined or defined goal for the book. There was the plot, but I did not see what it was aiming for. It was a bit messy and there were plot holes which I hope are acknowledged in the rest of the series because I fully intend on reading it. Something else I noticed as I was reading was that there were scenes that did not do much for the plot and could have easily been replaced with more meaningful scenes that could have given the plot more definition. But again, this is the first book and I have high hopes for the success of the rest of the series.
Destruction is a great book that has a somewhat realistic take on the wizarding world. If your'e expecting an action filled book with spells being shouted left and right, however, this book may not be for you. I do suggest you read the book, and if it does not sound like your cup of tea, you should give it a try because you never know what you might like when it comes to books.
Disclaimer: May contain profane language and/or ideas.
