I learned about this fun tool via facebook. You just copy and paste a piece of writing, and it generates which author you write like. For one piece of work, it told me I write like David Foster Wallace, and for another it told me I write like J.K. Rowling! What an honour!
Here are my badges to prove it.
I write like David Foster Wallace
I write like J.K. Rowling
Check it out, and have fun with it!
I write like
About Me
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Thursday 29 September 2011
Word on the Street
Every year cities such as Toronto, Halifax, and Vancouver host their annual "Word on the Street" book and magazine festival. The festival takes place simultaneously all around Canada on the last Sunday of September. (It's always easy for my to remember the day it takes place, because it happens right around my Birthday!) The festival consists of book sales, author readings, author signings, concession stands, and many different kinds of book related activities. I kept hearing about Word on the Street for about three years now but hadn't gotten the chance to experience it for myself, until last Sunday. To say I had a blast at Word on the Street is an understatement.
I started getting excited about the festival just about six weeks prior to the actual date of the event. I kept asking around to see who wanted to join me but not many people seemed too interested. Some of my friends' said things like, "That seems boring" or "Maybe I'll come if I have nothing better to do that day." Finally, I convinced my 17 year old cousin to accompany me. However, I soon learned it probably would have been more fun to go alone. The event went on from 11 am to 6 pm, but we only stayed around for the afternoon. I got a chance to see the Scotiabank Giller Prize tent (which was actually the main one I really wanted to see) and heard some author readings. Much to my surprise, many of the books were actually being sold for a fraction of the cost. One independent author was selling his book at a price of "pay what you can." (Yes, you read right.) The book sold on book shelves for $16.99, but I got a steal for $10.00! Even better, the author personalized it for me with his autograph!
I am a proud member of an online community called "Wattpad" who also had a booth at Word on the Street. I was super excited to see some of the people I've been communicating with online, in the flesh! Wattpad was giving away free t-shirts, posters, stickers, bags and candy. Of course, I took some! Many tents were giving away freebies, and I'm proud to say I've accumulated a lifetime supply of free bookmarks! Well maybe not a lifetime supply, but so much so that I'm planning on making a scrapbook out of them! After browsing around various tents like a kid in a candy store, it was time to go home and my smile soon turned into a frown. I took my last few steps towards the nearest subway station and already starting planning for Word on the Street 2012. Word on the Street Book and Magazine festival was definitely something I would like to be a part of every year.
Word on the Street Toronto is located at Queen's Park and the best part about it is that it's for everyone and it's free. There are many tents and stages set up which are aimed for kids, teens and adults. If you're a book enthusiast, you're guaranteed to find something for you. Those who don't like buying books can even check out Toronto Public Library's bookmobile, if you're more of a borrower than a purchaser. The only downside about Word on the Street is that most of the authors are Canadian unknowns. Lucky for me, I have read a lot of Canadian books and I love Canadian authors. Furthermore, although I hadn't heard of many of the authors there, I love hidden gems. I am passionate about literature as it is, so I can't describe the feeling of contentment I get when I get to see who is behind the scenes. Overall, it was a great experience, and one that I hope to have again every September.
Does Word on the Street take place in your hometown? Take a look at their website below and find out!
Word on the Street
I started getting excited about the festival just about six weeks prior to the actual date of the event. I kept asking around to see who wanted to join me but not many people seemed too interested. Some of my friends' said things like, "That seems boring" or "Maybe I'll come if I have nothing better to do that day." Finally, I convinced my 17 year old cousin to accompany me. However, I soon learned it probably would have been more fun to go alone. The event went on from 11 am to 6 pm, but we only stayed around for the afternoon. I got a chance to see the Scotiabank Giller Prize tent (which was actually the main one I really wanted to see) and heard some author readings. Much to my surprise, many of the books were actually being sold for a fraction of the cost. One independent author was selling his book at a price of "pay what you can." (Yes, you read right.) The book sold on book shelves for $16.99, but I got a steal for $10.00! Even better, the author personalized it for me with his autograph!
I am a proud member of an online community called "Wattpad" who also had a booth at Word on the Street. I was super excited to see some of the people I've been communicating with online, in the flesh! Wattpad was giving away free t-shirts, posters, stickers, bags and candy. Of course, I took some! Many tents were giving away freebies, and I'm proud to say I've accumulated a lifetime supply of free bookmarks! Well maybe not a lifetime supply, but so much so that I'm planning on making a scrapbook out of them! After browsing around various tents like a kid in a candy store, it was time to go home and my smile soon turned into a frown. I took my last few steps towards the nearest subway station and already starting planning for Word on the Street 2012. Word on the Street Book and Magazine festival was definitely something I would like to be a part of every year.
Word on the Street Toronto is located at Queen's Park and the best part about it is that it's for everyone and it's free. There are many tents and stages set up which are aimed for kids, teens and adults. If you're a book enthusiast, you're guaranteed to find something for you. Those who don't like buying books can even check out Toronto Public Library's bookmobile, if you're more of a borrower than a purchaser. The only downside about Word on the Street is that most of the authors are Canadian unknowns. Lucky for me, I have read a lot of Canadian books and I love Canadian authors. Furthermore, although I hadn't heard of many of the authors there, I love hidden gems. I am passionate about literature as it is, so I can't describe the feeling of contentment I get when I get to see who is behind the scenes. Overall, it was a great experience, and one that I hope to have again every September.
Does Word on the Street take place in your hometown? Take a look at their website below and find out!
Word on the Street
Tuesday 6 September 2011
Beyond Harry Potter
I keep hearing people say "So, I just finished Harry Potter... now what?!" Although I also jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon and fell madly in love with the series, I find it sad that Harry Potter fans are unable to find new book series' to read. If you spend time searching, it's really not that hard to find some amazing series'. Mind you, they may not live up to the awesomeness of Harry Potter, but you might just discover that you love them equally as much. Some books from the same genre which I know of are the following:
"Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin: Although this is a popular book series, I will admit, I never heard of them until the HBO Series came out, which personally I thought was amazing. From various recommendations, I keep hearing that the books are equally as amazing.
"The Seven Realms Series" by Cinda Williams Chima: Those of you who have been following my blog know how much I love Cinda Williams Chima, as I've written about her a few times before. I like to describe this series as a PG version of Game of Thrones; more aimed for teens, and less sex and nudity. I've only read the first book so far, but what I read, I liked.
"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" by Rick Riordon: The story is almost as good as Harry Potter, but the writing style is not as good. Though Percy Jackson's story is a bit more simple when compared to Harry Potter, I can see it possibly having the same fan base. In other words, if you liked Harry Potter, you will most likely also enjoy Percy Jackson.
"100 Cupboards" by N.D. Wilson: Well, I picked up book 1 from the series, but never got around to reading it. When I read the synopsis, I got the impression that the story was full of magic and wonder. 100 Cupboards is the first book in the trilogy, followed by Dandelion Fire and The Chestnut King.
So there is a list of some of my personal series recommendations which I think Harry Potter fans might enjoy. Keep in mind, that this list is a mix of both children's, teen's and adult books. My fellow Harry Potter lovers: please remember that if you keep an eye out, you can surely find some hidden gems out there.
"Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin: Although this is a popular book series, I will admit, I never heard of them until the HBO Series came out, which personally I thought was amazing. From various recommendations, I keep hearing that the books are equally as amazing.
"The Seven Realms Series" by Cinda Williams Chima: Those of you who have been following my blog know how much I love Cinda Williams Chima, as I've written about her a few times before. I like to describe this series as a PG version of Game of Thrones; more aimed for teens, and less sex and nudity. I've only read the first book so far, but what I read, I liked.
"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" by Rick Riordon: The story is almost as good as Harry Potter, but the writing style is not as good. Though Percy Jackson's story is a bit more simple when compared to Harry Potter, I can see it possibly having the same fan base. In other words, if you liked Harry Potter, you will most likely also enjoy Percy Jackson.
"100 Cupboards" by N.D. Wilson: Well, I picked up book 1 from the series, but never got around to reading it. When I read the synopsis, I got the impression that the story was full of magic and wonder. 100 Cupboards is the first book in the trilogy, followed by Dandelion Fire and The Chestnut King.
So there is a list of some of my personal series recommendations which I think Harry Potter fans might enjoy. Keep in mind, that this list is a mix of both children's, teen's and adult books. My fellow Harry Potter lovers: please remember that if you keep an eye out, you can surely find some hidden gems out there.
Tuesday 9 August 2011
Teaser Tuesday
I just recently learned about something called "Teaser Tuesdays" and thought it would be fun to participate! This fun little activity is hosted by fellow blogger Should Be Reading
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/
Here's how it works:
She stares at me for a long time, actually looking at me as a person. For a moment I think I sense a chink. Then she snaps back into action. "Is your family taking you to the circus this weekend?"
"Oh yes," I say with some pride. "Someone comes every Sunday. Like clockwork."
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (p.16)
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/
Here's how it works:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers
She stares at me for a long time, actually looking at me as a person. For a moment I think I sense a chink. Then she snaps back into action. "Is your family taking you to the circus this weekend?"
"Oh yes," I say with some pride. "Someone comes every Sunday. Like clockwork."
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (p.16)
Sunday 7 August 2011
Book Review 3: The Demon King
So I finally got around to reading one of the many books on my "books I want to read" list. I usually like to complete one book series before starting on another (I'm currently going through the Percy Jackson series, Warriors cat series, Chronicles of Narnia series, and now The Seven Realms series) but I just couldn't help myself from grabbing a hold of The Demon King when I found it readily available at my local library. The Demon King is book one from the (planned) four part Seven Realms series. Having recently read the first three books of the Heir Chronicles by the same author (Cinda Williams Chima), I knew I wanted to check out any other book(s) she had written. Although The Demon King was different from the Heir series, it was equally as enjoyable. The Heir series dealt with fantasy in the modern world, while The Seven Realms series is more high fantasy in the Royal Queendom of Fellsmarch. It follows the story of Han Allister who is a reformed streetlord still constantly getting himself into trouble with the Raggers, his previous streetlord posse. Meanwhile, Raisa ana Marianna is the heir to the Fellsmarch throne. I don't want to give away too much, but I found this story a bit more complex than the Heir series since there was a lot more information to absorb. But I will say this; it was one of those books which was hard for me to put down. Cinda Williams Chima grasped onto my attention with this epic tale of love, loss, and self discovery. An intriguing page turner to say the least. There are currently two books out in the series; The Demon King and The Exiled Queen. Book three is due to come out around late August or mid September, which will be titled The Gray Wolf Throne, I'm really excited for it's release! One of my favourite passages in The Demon King was a scene in which Han stands up to his mother, who is constantly on his back about getting a better job so he can feed his family (Mam, and kid sister Mari.) This passage is just too awesome not to share. I remember getting goosebumps the moment I read it. Enjoy!
Mam's breath hissed out, like he'd confirmed all her worst fears. "You're cursed, Hanson Allister, and you'll come to a bad end," she said. "It's no wonder you're in trouble when you're out on the streets all day long. When you run with street gangs, thieving and robbing..."
"I'm not with the Raggers anymore," Han interrupted. "I promised you back in the fall."
Mam plowed on as he hadn't spoken. "When you take up with ill-favored sorts like Lucius Frowsley. We may be poor, but at least we've always been honest."
Something broke loose inside Han, and when he opened his mouth the words came spilling out. "We're honest? Well, honest won't fill our bellies. Honest doesn't pay the rent. It's been me supporting us for the past year, and it's a lot harder without slide-hand. Be my guest if you think you can keep us out of debtor's prison taking in washing and picking rags. And if we do go to prison, what do you think will happen to Mari?"
Mam stood speechless, eyes very blue, her lips as white as the rest of her face. Then she snatched up a stick from the kindling pile and swung it at him. Reflexively, he gripped her wrist and held it. They glared at each other for a long moment, married by blood and anger. Slowly anger drained away, leaving only the linkage of blood.
"I'm not going to let you hit me anymore," Han said quietly. "I've already had one beating today. That's enough."
http://www.cindachima.com/Demon_King/Demon_King.htm
Mam's breath hissed out, like he'd confirmed all her worst fears. "You're cursed, Hanson Allister, and you'll come to a bad end," she said. "It's no wonder you're in trouble when you're out on the streets all day long. When you run with street gangs, thieving and robbing..."
"I'm not with the Raggers anymore," Han interrupted. "I promised you back in the fall."
Mam plowed on as he hadn't spoken. "When you take up with ill-favored sorts like Lucius Frowsley. We may be poor, but at least we've always been honest."
Something broke loose inside Han, and when he opened his mouth the words came spilling out. "We're honest? Well, honest won't fill our bellies. Honest doesn't pay the rent. It's been me supporting us for the past year, and it's a lot harder without slide-hand. Be my guest if you think you can keep us out of debtor's prison taking in washing and picking rags. And if we do go to prison, what do you think will happen to Mari?"
Mam stood speechless, eyes very blue, her lips as white as the rest of her face. Then she snatched up a stick from the kindling pile and swung it at him. Reflexively, he gripped her wrist and held it. They glared at each other for a long moment, married by blood and anger. Slowly anger drained away, leaving only the linkage of blood.
"I'm not going to let you hit me anymore," Han said quietly. "I've already had one beating today. That's enough."
http://www.cindachima.com/Demon_King/Demon_King.htm
Thursday 16 June 2011
The "Epic" Conclusion of Harry Potter
When I was about fifteen years old, one of my friend's introduced me to the world of Harry Potter. My immediate reaction to her recommending the series was, "Seriously? Why would I want to read a children's book?" However, I eventually learned never to judge a book by the section it sits on at the book store! At the time, only the first four books had been released. Since it was summer break when I began reading Harry Potter, I had no exams to worry about, so I devoured all four books in less than a week. (This included lots of self-discipline to keep my nose in the books, neglect my house chores, and ignore my mom's constant yelling due to the lack of chores being completed!) This followed up with years of waiting patiently for J.K. Rowling to complete book 5, 6, and 7. I read all three almost immediately upon release. Not to mention, I took part in a very memorable and enjoyable "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" midnight release party on July 20th, 2007. After four years of the book series coming to an end, it is time for the movie franchise to end. Below is the movie trailer for the final movie entitled "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2." Are you excited?! I know I am! =)
Note: Anyone who knows me knows how much I HATE the word "epic". ;)
Note: Anyone who knows me knows how much I HATE the word "epic". ;)
Saturday 4 June 2011
The Vampire Blogs.
A few years ago, international bestselling author Stephenie Meyer introduced the world to a dreamy (this is questionable...) vampire named Edward Cullen. Little did she know, it would create a world of frenzy amongst preteen girls around the globe. Furthermore, the "birth" of the Twilight saga also created a whole new genre of entertainment in which vampire books were being turned into movies and TV Shows left, right, and centre. The Vampire Diaries, Darren Shan, and True Blood to name a few.
Don't get me wrong, I too was bitten by the Twilight bug and found it's cheesiness, terrible writing and predictable story line rather entertaining. But, I found it ironic that vampires only started to get popular after they began to sparkle, feed on forest animals and prey on poor teenage girls in their sleep. What ever happened to the dangerous yet loveable vampires that slept in coffins, bit necks and killed simply for the fun of killing?
I just watched the movie adaptation of "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" last weekend. I had read the first book from the Darren Shan saga several years ago, but never got around to finishing the entire series. Even though there was something "cute" about this movie, being that Darren Shan was an innocent little child being transformed into a vampire, I found the story line somewhat refreshing. Nowadays, vampires seem to be more interested in love than their usual naughty antics. Darren Shan tried it's best to stray away from this.
On a side note, I like how everybody says The Vampire Diaries, True Blood and Cirque Du Freak are "Twilight copies" when these books actually came out LONG before the Twilight books.
Love 'em, or hate 'em, vampires are here to stay. Whether they sparkle or kill, leave a comment and let me know what your take is on this new vampire craze.
PS, The Vampire Diaries is my own personal guilty pleasure!
Don't get me wrong, I too was bitten by the Twilight bug and found it's cheesiness, terrible writing and predictable story line rather entertaining. But, I found it ironic that vampires only started to get popular after they began to sparkle, feed on forest animals and prey on poor teenage girls in their sleep. What ever happened to the dangerous yet loveable vampires that slept in coffins, bit necks and killed simply for the fun of killing?
I just watched the movie adaptation of "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" last weekend. I had read the first book from the Darren Shan saga several years ago, but never got around to finishing the entire series. Even though there was something "cute" about this movie, being that Darren Shan was an innocent little child being transformed into a vampire, I found the story line somewhat refreshing. Nowadays, vampires seem to be more interested in love than their usual naughty antics. Darren Shan tried it's best to stray away from this.
On a side note, I like how everybody says The Vampire Diaries, True Blood and Cirque Du Freak are "Twilight copies" when these books actually came out LONG before the Twilight books.
Love 'em, or hate 'em, vampires are here to stay. Whether they sparkle or kill, leave a comment and let me know what your take is on this new vampire craze.
PS, The Vampire Diaries is my own personal guilty pleasure!
Tuesday 31 May 2011
Photo Diary of "Me, Myself and I."
My Precious book!!! Shout outs to BMV!
Monday 30 May 2011
Me, Myself and I.
Let me start off by saying I haven't been too regular on my blog lately and frankly... it was because I really had nothing to say. But, the creative juices are flowing once again! =)
This past weekend presented me with an unexpected surprise. My husband had to go to downtown for work and I decided to tag along. While he kept himself occupied with a University presentation, I decided to become a tourist in my own city. I was walking on the University campus and noticed a quaint little park where I could sit, relax and read my book (Jane Eyre.) I stayed there for a good hour or so, until I decided I wanted to keep my hunt going to find some more hidden gems. I found a shortcut which lead to the heart of downtown; Yonge & Dundas Square. I walked towards the Eaton Centre but unfortunately, got really overwhelmed by all the noise, religious fanatics giving away free Bible, and people dancing and/or playing instruments on the street corner. I quickly made my way safe into the mall until I realized; the weather is gorgeous outside, do I really want to stay stuck inside all afternoon?! I attempted to make my way through all the rowdiness and shortly after escaping a man telling me I need Jesus to "save me", I saw a huge sign that read "World's Biggest Bookstore." Mind you, there is nothing I love more than libraries and book stores. I walked towards it but before I got to it I noticed a tiny "BMV" right next to it.
I've heard great things about BMV from a handful of my friends. Now what could be better than purchasing books in good condition for a fraction of the cost? As soon as I stepped in, the first thing I noticed was a sign on the wall which read "no cell phone use." This immediately put a smile on my face... I managed to survive busy Dundas Square, and even better, found a quiet little book store where noise is not allowed; could the afternoon get any better? I browsed around and found several books to my liking, with unbeatable prices also to my liking! I could have walked out the store with at least 10 books that afternoon but the first book I thought of was "The Five People You Meet in Heaven." Let me give you a little back story; this is my all time favourte book and I've always picked it up at Chapters'/Indigo thinking if I should buy it or not; hardcover $29.99, paperback $14.99. I always ended up putting it back saying to myself "one day... but not today." I asked the clerk if they had that book in stock and lucky for me, they did. Even luckier for me, it only cost $5.99 for a hardcover, in almost perfect condition! Even then, I was about to put it down, but told myself that I've waited long enough and today is the day! So I bought it and now I finally have my favourite book in my home library!
After making my purchase, I went back to my park bench and continued reading Jane Eyre, this time doing so with an even bigger smile on my face. Lunch time came, so I bought myself some food at Tim Hortons, and kept myself company at the campus' outdoor patio. After finishing my bagel and Iced Capp, I realized I still had some time to kill. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and give Dundas Square and Eaton Centre another go. On my way there, I found a doorway which lead to "The Atrium on Bay." This was new to me, I'd never seen it before. Considering that I'd already seen the Eaton Centre before but had never even noticed the Atrium, I decided to go there instead. It was quiet, many of the stores were closed, but I found the building architecture breathtaking. I did the only thing I could think of at this point; I enjoyed myself. Before I knew it, the afternoon was over and it was time to go home. Little did I know me, myself and I would keep me such great company on a lovely Sunday afternoon.
This past weekend presented me with an unexpected surprise. My husband had to go to downtown for work and I decided to tag along. While he kept himself occupied with a University presentation, I decided to become a tourist in my own city. I was walking on the University campus and noticed a quaint little park where I could sit, relax and read my book (Jane Eyre.) I stayed there for a good hour or so, until I decided I wanted to keep my hunt going to find some more hidden gems. I found a shortcut which lead to the heart of downtown; Yonge & Dundas Square. I walked towards the Eaton Centre but unfortunately, got really overwhelmed by all the noise, religious fanatics giving away free Bible, and people dancing and/or playing instruments on the street corner. I quickly made my way safe into the mall until I realized; the weather is gorgeous outside, do I really want to stay stuck inside all afternoon?! I attempted to make my way through all the rowdiness and shortly after escaping a man telling me I need Jesus to "save me", I saw a huge sign that read "World's Biggest Bookstore." Mind you, there is nothing I love more than libraries and book stores. I walked towards it but before I got to it I noticed a tiny "BMV" right next to it.
I've heard great things about BMV from a handful of my friends. Now what could be better than purchasing books in good condition for a fraction of the cost? As soon as I stepped in, the first thing I noticed was a sign on the wall which read "no cell phone use." This immediately put a smile on my face... I managed to survive busy Dundas Square, and even better, found a quiet little book store where noise is not allowed; could the afternoon get any better? I browsed around and found several books to my liking, with unbeatable prices also to my liking! I could have walked out the store with at least 10 books that afternoon but the first book I thought of was "The Five People You Meet in Heaven." Let me give you a little back story; this is my all time favourte book and I've always picked it up at Chapters'/Indigo thinking if I should buy it or not; hardcover $29.99, paperback $14.99. I always ended up putting it back saying to myself "one day... but not today." I asked the clerk if they had that book in stock and lucky for me, they did. Even luckier for me, it only cost $5.99 for a hardcover, in almost perfect condition! Even then, I was about to put it down, but told myself that I've waited long enough and today is the day! So I bought it and now I finally have my favourite book in my home library!
After making my purchase, I went back to my park bench and continued reading Jane Eyre, this time doing so with an even bigger smile on my face. Lunch time came, so I bought myself some food at Tim Hortons, and kept myself company at the campus' outdoor patio. After finishing my bagel and Iced Capp, I realized I still had some time to kill. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and give Dundas Square and Eaton Centre another go. On my way there, I found a doorway which lead to "The Atrium on Bay." This was new to me, I'd never seen it before. Considering that I'd already seen the Eaton Centre before but had never even noticed the Atrium, I decided to go there instead. It was quiet, many of the stores were closed, but I found the building architecture breathtaking. I did the only thing I could think of at this point; I enjoyed myself. Before I knew it, the afternoon was over and it was time to go home. Little did I know me, myself and I would keep me such great company on a lovely Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Book Review 2: The Book Thief
WARNING: THIS BOOK REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
I go for a weekly book club at my local library and last month's book was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I was somewhat familiar with this book, since I've seen it at my book store numerous times but I was always reluctant to pick it up. After reading the synopsis, I just didn't think it was for me. I generally don't like to read about real life situations, especially when tragedy meets tragedy. I didn't expect to enjoy this book. I thought it would be one of those awful reads which is sad from beginning to end. Oh how I misjudged The Book Thief. The unconventional narrator was the first thing that caught my interest. How many books have you read which have been narrated by Death? Zusak did a great job of giving Death human qualities which almost made me sympathize with him as a reader. Although the general story line was as sad as I thought it would be, I was unable to put the book down. One of my favourite parts of the story was Liesel and Max's platonic friendship. There have been very few stories I've read with a male and female character developing an innocent relationship, having nothing to do with love, sex or intimacy. However, I couldn't help but wonder (by the very end of the book) if Max was Liesel's husband, as Zusak never made it clear to the readers who she married. Nevertheless, Zusak did a great job of delivering The Book Thief through simple language and a complex plot line. Anyone who enjoys stories about young children, accordions and a whole lot of thievery is sure to fall in love with this book.
I go for a weekly book club at my local library and last month's book was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I was somewhat familiar with this book, since I've seen it at my book store numerous times but I was always reluctant to pick it up. After reading the synopsis, I just didn't think it was for me. I generally don't like to read about real life situations, especially when tragedy meets tragedy. I didn't expect to enjoy this book. I thought it would be one of those awful reads which is sad from beginning to end. Oh how I misjudged The Book Thief. The unconventional narrator was the first thing that caught my interest. How many books have you read which have been narrated by Death? Zusak did a great job of giving Death human qualities which almost made me sympathize with him as a reader. Although the general story line was as sad as I thought it would be, I was unable to put the book down. One of my favourite parts of the story was Liesel and Max's platonic friendship. There have been very few stories I've read with a male and female character developing an innocent relationship, having nothing to do with love, sex or intimacy. However, I couldn't help but wonder (by the very end of the book) if Max was Liesel's husband, as Zusak never made it clear to the readers who she married. Nevertheless, Zusak did a great job of delivering The Book Thief through simple language and a complex plot line. Anyone who enjoys stories about young children, accordions and a whole lot of thievery is sure to fall in love with this book.
Happy Reading!
Tuesday 29 March 2011
Books I Want To Read
Book Series':
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
I remember hearing The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in fifth grade and immediately fell in love with it's magic. Not to mention, it made me curious about this wonderful dessert called Turkish Delight. It wasn't until years later that I found out it was actually a book from a seven part series. I bought the series a couple of years ago and have read 2 1/2 books from my collection. Part of me finds the series a bit tedious because the writing style is not my cup of tea. However, I am on a mission to finish the series one day.
Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Long before Peter Jackson produced his wonderful cinematic version of Lord of The Rings, I remember walking past my older brothers' bedroom and always seeing his Lord Of The Rings book collection (including The Hobbit) sitting on his book shelf. I often picked them up attempting to read through them, but as a young child, I didn't understand the language.
Deptford Mice Trilogy by Robin Jarvis
While visiting my local library last summer, I skimmed through the children's section one day and found a wonderful book called "The Alchemist's Cat" by Robin Jarvis. The story was dark, mysterious and quite the page turner. After doing some research, I discovered it was book 1 from the 3 part series called The Deptford Histories, which was actually a prequel series to the original, The Deptford Mice Trilogy. The author did a fantastic job of keeping the readers interested, which made me curious about the entire series. This is a story of dark magic, greed and betrayal which Jarvis delivered really well.
Redwall by Brian Jacques
I discovered The Redwall series around the same time that I read The Alchemist's Cat. I even picked up the first book one day, but never ended up reading it. Since then, I've wanted to go back and finish what I started. I was sad when I found out Brian Jacques passed away a few months ago.
The Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima
I recently fell in love with the Heir Chronicles, and was delighted to learn Cinda Williams Chima also wrote another fantasy series. I have yet to start this series but am looking forward to it, as I am a huge fan of Chima's writing style.I am currently reading through The Dragon Heir (and loving it!)
Stand Alones:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Père
Any kid who grew up in the 90s would remember a lovable dog named Wishbone who brought classic literature to life in a fun, cute and sometimes creepy way. I distinctly remember him acting out The Count of Monte Cristo in one episode. I actually completely forgot about this until the movie was released. It made me want to go back and read the original version.
The Book of Knights by Yves Meynard
My hometown has 99 libraries, and within those 99 libraries, there are only 6 copies of this book. That tells me it must be a true hidden gem. There is something I love about knights. I don't know if it's my passion for medieval culture, or the fact that I find knights to be noble and wish we still had them in this day and age. Whatever the reason, I can't begin to express the wonderful feeling I get when I read about someone getting knighted.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
My monthly book club recently read one of Marquez's works, entitled Love in The Time of Cholera. Although I admit, the book was somewhat boring, I am still curious to read One Hundred Years of Solitude. My library has an annual festival every April called "Keep Toronto Reading" in which residents of the city can express their love for reading in every way you can think possible (through facebook, twitter, youtube vlogs, visiting various libraries for their KTR programs). One man in particular made a video about how much he loved One Hundred Years of Solitude and he spoke about it so passionately.
The Art of Racing In the Rain by Garth Stein
I don't even remember where I heard about this book. But if there's something I love as much as reading, it's reading books about animals. Reading the reviews, and even watching the book trailer made this story seem sweet and interested (to say the least) as it is narrated by the family dog. Recently having read The Book Thief, I can honestly say I have become a fan of the unconventional narrative in books.
So much to read, such little time!
Happy Reading!
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Book Review 1: The Wizard Heir
When I was about fifteen, I got introduced to the magical world of Harry Potter. After seven books, numerous character deaths, and a very memorable midnight release party for the Deathly Hallows, I finally said goodbye to my friend Harry in the summer of 2007. After mourning the end of Harry Potter, I didn't think I'd ever fall in love with another book character again. I spent months trying to find some good fantasy reads, and that is how I discovered The Wizard Heir. The book synopsis sounded dark and interesting so I decided to pick it up hoping for an enjoyable read. Much to my contentment, that's exactly what I got. And so began my love affair with Seph McCauley. The Wizard Heir is about a sixteen year old boy named Seph who keeps getting kicked out of prestigious private schools and is unable to control his magic within. He is unaware (or anaweir) of his origins and that's what keeps the readers second guessing from chapter to chapter. Cinda Williams Chima does a great job of hooking readers into the story and keeping you at the edge of your seat throughout the entirety of the book. It was a good old fashioned page turner, and FYI, I've had a lot of trouble finding those lately. One of the many reasons I kept reading was because I wanted to know if Seph ever finds his Weirbook or not. The only unfortunate thing was when I started reading The Wizard Heir, I thought it was Book 1 in the Heir Chronicles, but it's actually Book 2. (Book 1: The Warrior Heir, Book 2: The Wizard Heir and Book 3: The Dragon Heir. Keep in mind, The Warrior Heir and The Wizard Heir are companion novels. Therefore, can still be read as stand alones.) Although I found The Warrior Heir and The Wizard Heir equally enjoyable, I would have preferred to read them in chronological order, but that's just me. I would recommend this book series to anyone who loves fantasy, magic and is not afraid of a little bit of gore. I am pleased to learn that Chima will be adding two more books to this series, possibly titled The Sorcerer Heir and The Enchanter Heir. In the mean time, The Dragon Heir is sitting on my book shelf waiting to be read!
Happy Reading!
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/cinda-williams-chima/wizard-heir.htm
Happy Reading!
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/cinda-williams-chima/wizard-heir.htm
Friday 11 March 2011
Movies better than their Books.
How many times have you heard the saying, "the book is always better than the movie?" I myself have admittedly used this quote time and time again. However, I've also been known to contradict myself with a handful of exceptions to this rule. Although I prefer reading a book and using my own imagination to picture the characters, some movies have been far more enjoyable than their original book versions. So here it is, my list of movies I liked better than their books:
1. Bridge to Terabithia: I am not by any means dismissing the power of this novel. Katherine Paterson won the Newbery Medal in 1978 for this piece of work, which tells us it was a great book. Perhaps the reason I liked the movie so much more was because I was completely drawn by Josh Hutcherson's believable acting skills. It was almost as if I felt everything Jesse Aarons was going through. Not to mention, the writing style in the book was far too primary and "old fashioned" for me, which is understandable since it's a children's book and it was written in the 70s. One little Easter egg I found fascinating about Bridge to Terabithia was that the story was inspired by real events from the life of Katherine Paterson's son, David L. Paterson. (Wait, there's more...) Nearly twenty years later, David went on to direct the movie version of the book. (See, sometimes it pays off to watch the Special Features on the DVD!)
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief: New York Times Bestselling author Rick Riordon created the wonderful world of Percy Jackson. Amongst other things, Percy's world consists of Greek mythology, friendship, betrayal, and courage. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a five part series which is light, funny and a very easy read. That for me was its downfall. Although I found the book(s) to be quite the page turners, I also was well aware that I was reading a book aimed for sixth graders (as far as I understand.) Being in my mid-twenties, I enjoyed the story but not so much the writing style. However, one thing I did LOVE about the series was that all of the demi-gods were dyslexic and had ADHD. Doing my research, it turns out Riordon's real life son is dyslexic, which inspired this quality in Percy Jackson. Despite the many mistakes they made in the movie (Such as the main characters being fifteen rather than twelve, Annabeth being a brunette rather than blonde, and the battle at the end), I found it very well done. Good acting on the actors part, great visual affects and not to mention I loved the movie battle much more than the book battle. Still, I am looking forward to finishing the last two books in the series to find out what happens to Percy, Grover and Annabeth.
http://www.rickriordan.com/about-rick/an-interview-with-rick.aspx
3. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: I feel like I will be condemned for saying I found the Chronicles of Narnia books somewhat boring. C.S. Lewis' classic stories were wonderful and magical, however his descriptive writing was far too descriptive for my taste. The Disney version of the movie was done beautifully. It was one of those feel-good movies which I have watched (and enjoyed) numerous times. Not to mention, the CGI version of King Aslan was majestic and lovable all at the same time. I can't help but feel a little warm and fuzzy (no pun intended) every time I hear Aslan say, "Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia." On the contrary, I have to hand it to C.S. Lewis for creating a magical world in which readers can escape to, decades before J.K. Rowling introduced us to the mythical world of Harry Potter.
4. Lord of the Rings Trilogy: So this one is a bit of a cheat, as the only one of J.R.R. Tolkien's books I've read is The Hobbit (and it's not exactly qualified as book one from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but rather a prequel.) But I will say this; I found the writing style of the Hobbit to be quite similar to C.S. Lewis' writing (which is not too surprising to me, as both Tolkien and Lewis were colleagues in a writing club called Inklings.) I loved these movies. The fact that Peter Jackson pretty much made a nine hour movie amazes me till this day. The acting, story line, action sequences: everything about the movies were incredible. There is a part of me that has the desire to have a Lord of the Rings marathon and watch all three movies in a row, but I know it will most likely give me a headache to stare at the TV for that long. Though I've never read Lord of the Rings, I do have the trilogy on my "books I want to read" list.
As you can see, my main complaint with books that have better movies is that I found the writing style either boring, or too simple for my taste. Mind you, these are all great books, but they are even better movies.
1. Bridge to Terabithia: I am not by any means dismissing the power of this novel. Katherine Paterson won the Newbery Medal in 1978 for this piece of work, which tells us it was a great book. Perhaps the reason I liked the movie so much more was because I was completely drawn by Josh Hutcherson's believable acting skills. It was almost as if I felt everything Jesse Aarons was going through. Not to mention, the writing style in the book was far too primary and "old fashioned" for me, which is understandable since it's a children's book and it was written in the 70s. One little Easter egg I found fascinating about Bridge to Terabithia was that the story was inspired by real events from the life of Katherine Paterson's son, David L. Paterson. (Wait, there's more...) Nearly twenty years later, David went on to direct the movie version of the book. (See, sometimes it pays off to watch the Special Features on the DVD!)
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief: New York Times Bestselling author Rick Riordon created the wonderful world of Percy Jackson. Amongst other things, Percy's world consists of Greek mythology, friendship, betrayal, and courage. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a five part series which is light, funny and a very easy read. That for me was its downfall. Although I found the book(s) to be quite the page turners, I also was well aware that I was reading a book aimed for sixth graders (as far as I understand.) Being in my mid-twenties, I enjoyed the story but not so much the writing style. However, one thing I did LOVE about the series was that all of the demi-gods were dyslexic and had ADHD. Doing my research, it turns out Riordon's real life son is dyslexic, which inspired this quality in Percy Jackson. Despite the many mistakes they made in the movie (Such as the main characters being fifteen rather than twelve, Annabeth being a brunette rather than blonde, and the battle at the end), I found it very well done. Good acting on the actors part, great visual affects and not to mention I loved the movie battle much more than the book battle. Still, I am looking forward to finishing the last two books in the series to find out what happens to Percy, Grover and Annabeth.
http://www.rickriordan.com/about-rick/an-interview-with-rick.aspx
3. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: I feel like I will be condemned for saying I found the Chronicles of Narnia books somewhat boring. C.S. Lewis' classic stories were wonderful and magical, however his descriptive writing was far too descriptive for my taste. The Disney version of the movie was done beautifully. It was one of those feel-good movies which I have watched (and enjoyed) numerous times. Not to mention, the CGI version of King Aslan was majestic and lovable all at the same time. I can't help but feel a little warm and fuzzy (no pun intended) every time I hear Aslan say, "Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia." On the contrary, I have to hand it to C.S. Lewis for creating a magical world in which readers can escape to, decades before J.K. Rowling introduced us to the mythical world of Harry Potter.
4. Lord of the Rings Trilogy: So this one is a bit of a cheat, as the only one of J.R.R. Tolkien's books I've read is The Hobbit (and it's not exactly qualified as book one from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but rather a prequel.) But I will say this; I found the writing style of the Hobbit to be quite similar to C.S. Lewis' writing (which is not too surprising to me, as both Tolkien and Lewis were colleagues in a writing club called Inklings.) I loved these movies. The fact that Peter Jackson pretty much made a nine hour movie amazes me till this day. The acting, story line, action sequences: everything about the movies were incredible. There is a part of me that has the desire to have a Lord of the Rings marathon and watch all three movies in a row, but I know it will most likely give me a headache to stare at the TV for that long. Though I've never read Lord of the Rings, I do have the trilogy on my "books I want to read" list.
As you can see, my main complaint with books that have better movies is that I found the writing style either boring, or too simple for my taste. Mind you, these are all great books, but they are even better movies.
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