The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket and read by Tim Curry

Summary from Goodreads:

Dear Reader,

If you have just picked up this book, then it is not too late to put it back down. Like the previous books in A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, there is nothing to be found in these pages but misery, despair, and discomfort, and you still have time to choose something else to read.

Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

I have sworn to write down these tales of the Baudelaire orphans so the general public will know each terrible thing that has happened to them, but if you decide to read something else instead, you will save yourself from a heapful of horror and woe.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Review:

It’s so nice to have Tim Curry back as narrator. He’s really become one of my favorite audio book narrators and when I’m done with this series, I may have to go find more books that he has narrated.

I enjoyed this story more than some of the other ones. While the orphans are back to guardian-hopping, as they were in all the other books besides the previous one, where they were sent to boarding school, things are a little bit different. For starters, they have friends they need to rescue. Also, their “friend”/banker, Mr. Poe is actively working to locate the Quagmire triplets (the kidnapped friends) and Count Olaf.

Also, I feel like the adventures the Baudelaire children go on and the risks they take, are getting tougher and scarier. The kids are getting tougher and braver, and dare I say a little wiser. They now know not to always jump out with the Olaf suspicions. They know about gathering evidence. And they certainly know that adults won’t believe them at their word, ever.

I like that the author doesn’t sugar coat wealth. The kids are unfortunate, living in a shed filled with crabs; yet, they are also unfortunate living in a gigantic penthouse apartment with their own rooms. At least the crab-ridden orphan shack didn’t have Esme.

There’s also the every growing mystery of VFD. What do those letters stand for? There’s also hints starting to grow about the fire that killed the Baudelaire parents, not being all that it seemed to be. And then of course, there’s all the playing with words like the statue of the red herring actually being a red herring.

I really enjoyed this one. The suspense was great. The wit and humor keep growing with each installment. There was a little plot twist that surprised me. And I’m so curious to know how everything is all connected. I give this one an 8/10.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl # 2: Squirrel You Know It's True by Ryan North

Summary from Goodreads:

The breakout character of 2015 continues her one-woman crusade against injustice and jerks! These TAILS of the Squirrel Girl will show you the Marvel Universe's most powerful super hero from a bunch of brand-new perspectives, several of them QUITE ASTONISHING. COLLECTING: THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL 5-8

Review:

I love these comics. So far, there’s only been two volumes, but I can easily see this becoming a huge series. Aka: I want this to be a huge series, so bad.

The first part was all about these hostages stuck in the Statue of Liberty. One of them was Squirrel Girl’s roommate. She kept trying to calm everyone down by letting them know that Squirrel Girl was on her way. All the hostages had their own (most likely too strange to be real) stories about the super hero.

The rest of the volume is about saving the world from a Norse mythology type apocolypse. Ratatoskr, the evil Norse God of squirrels, is causing all kinds of problems. Thor and Loki come to play in this one! And so do a few new heroes: Chipmunk Hunk and Koi Boi.

The action in this is the standard superhero fare. However, everything in here is hilarious. Between the Twitter feeds with Iron Man, the Dead Pool flashcards, the fan fiction comic: Cat Thor, the evil squirrel, and the witty comments at the bottom of each page, I was pretty much always smiling, if not laughing.

I liked the second part of the book better than the first. The first part was creative and a good way to show that other people have heard of Squirrel Girl, but it just wasn’t as fun as the parts with Thor. I love how involved the roommate character has become. I love that Loki agreed to look like Cat Thor and that we got to see the fan fiction comic, on notebook paper no less.

This is one smart, funny, new super hero. And I’m so glad I found out about it on Goodreads. I recommend it to fans of Ms. Marvel. I give it a 9/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (173)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (6/7/16):

Description on Goodreads:

The city of Verity has been overrun with monsters, born from the worst of human evil. In North Verity, the Corsai and the Malchai run free. Under the rule of Callum Harker, the monsters kill any human who has not paid for protection. In the South, Henry Flynn hunts the monsters who cross the border into his territory, aided by the most dangerous and darkest monsters of them all—the Sunai, dark creatures who use music to steal their victim’s souls.

As one of only three Sunai in existence, August Flynn has always wanted to play a bigger role in the war between the north and the south. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate Harker, daughter of the leader of North Verity, August jumps on it.
When Kate discovers August’s secret, the pair find themselves running for their lives and battling monsters from both sides of the wall. As the city dissolves into chaos, it’s up to them to foster a peace between monsters and humans.

A unique, fast-paced adventure that looks at the monsters we face every day—including the monster within.

Why I’m Waiting:

How cool does this plot sound? It reminds me vaguely of Laini Taylor’s books. Yet, it also has this civil war (north v south) feel. It sounds awesome. I also love the cover. I have to admit I have yet to read a book by Victoria Schwab. I have read nothing but good things about her. And I might even own some of her earlier works. I just haven’t gotten there yet. And well, I may have to start with this one.

What are you waiting on this week?

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Summary from Goodreads:

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

Review:

This book has been on my radar for quite some time. The good reviews for it are endless. But, also, I have coworkers, patrons, and friends who have all told me to read it. I purchased the book from my favorite independent bookstore in Chicago (Women and Children First) when I was visiting family over the holidays. I guess I just knew I had to be prepared for a most-likely-to-be-sad kind of book, or in the very least a book that dealt with some serious issues. I was waiting for the right moment to read it.

I’m not sure I waited long enough. I did love this book. I see why there are so many rave reviews. The writing, the characters, the sadness, and the realness of this book are so spot-on. I read it extremely quickly. It’s one of those books where I was up until 3 am reading, even though I get up at 5:30 to get ready for work (4:30 if I’m going to the gym). I couldn’t go to sleep when there was such a major question that needed to be answered.

This is one of those books that will keep you up until 3 am on a workday. It’s the kind of book that sits with you, settles with you, and won’t leave you alone. To be honest, it’s the kind of book that keeps me blogging and reading like I do. I’m always looking for this kind of book.

It was a sad one. My only qualm is I wish I did read it maybe a few months to a year later than I did. The book has a lot of tough issues in it: death, grief, drinking, mental illness and suicide. It hit a little too close to home for me because I lost someone due to suicide this past year. And reading about these characters and everything they were going through involving this topic, brought back a lot of emotions and pain for me.

On the other hand, I think it’s so important and wonderful that this book exists. Clearly, the author got a lot of things right on this topic and how people feel surrounding such a topic. I related so closely to how one of the characters was feeling that there was literally a point where I had to put the book down and distance my brain from theirs.

Needless to say, I was an emotional mess reading this. And I’m so glad I read it at home and not in public, where someone would most likely assume something was terribly wrong with me. Maybe I should have read it a little bit later, so I wasn’t quite as emotional. However, it also felt good to read this and know I’m not alone in my thoughts and reactions.

All in all, this is a powerful book. The writing is superb. The characters are so real, I literally confused myself with one of them. Also, how am I not supposed to fall in love with characters that quote Virginia Wolfe and Dr. Seuss? It was an emotional read, to say the least. I loved it. I give it a 10/10.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Summary from Goodreads:

Starting at a new school is scary, even more so with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece's class was deaf. Here she is different. She is sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends.

Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in school--in the hallway...in the teacher's lounge...in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it's just another way of feeling different... and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend?

This funny perceptive graphic novel memoir about growing up hearing impaired is also an unforgettable book about growing up, and all the super and super embarrassing moments along the way.

Review:

I’ve really grown to love graphic novels. It’s books like this one that easily explain why this is so. I just loved this story. I loved reading from this perspective. The main character was deaf. She also kept envisioning herself as a comic book hero. She was a smart main character with just the perfect amount of sarcasm. What’s not to love?

I loved the ins and outs of all her friendships. The problems that arose with her friends are problems that any friends might go through (deaf or no), and that’s what’s really special here. This book can be relatable to anyone who has ever felt different. And let’s be honest, isn’t that everyone?

I felt for Cece when she had a friend who took advantage of her. And I felt so bad when another friend just seemed to up and leave for no good reason. I know what it’s like to go to a new school where everyone else already seems to look like they belong. These are all such universal pre-teen problems. And reading about them in this format was a nice change of pace from a typical book. Also, the characters all being rabbits allowed for me to distance myself just enough from it all that none of the embarrassing moments were too embarrassing to read.

Of course, there were also the deaf specific problems –like not understanding what was happening on tv or being able to listen to music with the neighborhood kids. Watching Cece overcome such problems and learn to accept and love who she was, was just so empowering and wonderful to read. I also feel like I took away a thing or two about hearing aids and deaf culture. And it was so nice to learn about. It’s not very often where I get to read from such a unique perspective.

The artwork was adorable. Like I said before, I liked that I could distance myself from the rabbit characters and not ever feel like I couldn’t keep going when stuff got too “real.” It’s also super colorful. All the daydreams of being a superhero were so much fun to look at and added an almost fantasy element to the whole thing. All in all, this was a great one. I give it a 9/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (172)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (5/3/16):

Description on Goodreads:

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Why I’m Waiting:

I just finished reading the first book, and while nothing can be as good as the Throne of Glass series, I really enjoyed reading it. Seriously, Maas is a force to be reckoned with. I will need to own all of her books, probably always. I cannot wait to continue on with this story and see how awesome Feyre is now. Is it May yet?

What are you waiting on this week?

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Summary from Goodreads:

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Review:

I’m not sure why it took me so long to get to this one. I love Sarah J. Maas. And Beauty and the Beast is my favorite of all the fairytales. You’d think a combo of those things would equal instant read for me, but somehow it kept getting pushed back. I’m a little glad it did because it took me a little time to read. And I sometimes DNF for later, books I know I won’t be able to finish for a long time. I’m glad I read this one now when I could afford a more leisurely pace.

I’m going to be honest. I took me a little bit of time to get into this one. It moves very slowly for the first half of the book. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Here, it was important because of the world building. Maas is an expert world-builder. Her juxtaposition of the fairy world and the normal world were just so beautiful. Really, the writing in this book was pure beauty. However, it took me a long time to read because of this slowness.

I guess, for me, I’d become used to a certain level of action and pace with this author, so this came as a bit of a surprise. The pacing was very slow.

I did love the characters. I love this author’s ability to develop characters as she goes. I don’t seriously get to know anyone right away or in any kind of info dump, anywhere. She spreads her character traits and secrets over time. There were things I learned at the very end, and I love this. I love being surprised. But more than that, I love getting to know a person over time. It makes me feel like I know them better.

A lot goes down in the last quarter of the book. So, while it was easy to put the book down while reading the first ¾, the last bit was un-put-down-able. And I guess in the long run, it felt a tiny bit rushed. So much was leading up to what to Feyre was capable at the end and then, when the end finally happened, it happened kind of quickly.

All in all, I enjoyed this one but I didn’t love it as much as the author’s other series. It moved a lot more slowly. Not a lot happens in the beginning of the story, and the end of the story holds most of the action. The action at the end felt a little rushed. However, the world building and the character development in this one were pure magic. I loved seeing what else Maas was capable of. And I’m definitely excited for the next installment. I give this one an 8/10.