Review: One Bloody Thing After Another by Joey Comeau

Jackie has a map of the city on the wall of her bedroom, with a green pin for each of her trees. She has a first-kiss tree and a broken-arm tree. She has a car-accident tree. There is a tree at the hospital where Jackie’s mother passed away into the long good night. When one of them gets cut down, Jackie doesn't know what to do but she doesn't let that stop her. She picks up the biggest rock she can carry and puts it through the window of a car. Smash. She intends to leave before the police arrive, but they're early.

Ann is Jackie’s best friend, but she’s got problems of her own. Her mother is chained up in the basement. How do you bring that up in casual conversation? "Oh, sorry I've been so distant, Jackie. My mother has more teeth than she’s supposed to, and she won't eat anything that’s already dead." Ann and her sister Margaret don't have much of a choice here. Their mother needs to be fed. It isn't easy but this is family. It’s not supposed to be easy. It'll be okay as long as Margaret and Ann still have each other.

Add in a cantankerous old man, his powerfully stupid dog, a headless ghost, a lesbian crush and a few unsettling visits from Jackie’s own dead mother, and you'll find that One Bloody Thing After Another is a different sort of horror novel from the ones you're used to. It’s as sad and funny as it is frightening, and it is as much about the way families rely on each other as it is about blood being drooled on the carpet. Though, to be honest, there is a lot of blood being drooled on the carpet.

Description: Goodreads.com 

Paperback: 160 pages

Published: May 1st 2010 by Ecw Press

REVIEW

One Bloody Thing After Another is not what it seems, Joey Comeau surprise us with a fictional tale filled with gore and death. 

Never has a book affected me so deeply. Joey Comeau enters in the person's soul and unveils their true nature. 

A true master of horror that leaves you hanging with every word. And a truly chilling read.

 - 4stars!

Review: 13 Words by Lemony Snicket

Lemony Snicket brings out the extravagant side of writing into picture books. 13 words opens a world of new words for kids with a "despondent" bird, a dog and a goat.



13 words is not the usual picture-book, but definitely reflects how they should be. A challenging read for kids, but definitely a fun ride and a great learning device as well.


40 pages
Published:  October 5th 2010 by HarperCollins 
 -- 5 stars!

ARC Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right.

The goblins are coming.


Description: Goodreads.com
Paperback: 322 pages
Published: November 15th 2010 by Clarion Books


REVIEW


Kersten Hamilton retells the mysteries of Celtic mythology and brings a fantasy tale to life with the help of Celtic hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Tyger Tyger was a fantastical read and throughly enjoyable. An amazing start to an amazing new series.

One the many reasons this book made such an increadibe read was because of his main character: Finn. Mysterious and sexy Finn shows up to his cousin's house and with his arrival strange things start happening, not mentioning the weird shadows of legendary creatures. And Teagan's character and obvious initial attachement to Finn is unresistable, that coupled with a bunch of other characters mainly a cute younger brother and a sassy grandmother makes the perfect recipie to add to your to-read list.

My only complain is I wished I had seen more from Abby it was perfectly understandable why she couldn't join them but I await anxiously for it's sequel and a glimpse more of her.

Overall, Tyger Tyger is extremely reccomendable, no strong scenes, but healthy reading for kids.


 - 4stars!

ARC Review: Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

Description: Goodreads.com

Paperback, 180 pages
Published October 18th 2010 by Harcourt Graphia


REVIEW

Jackie Morse Kessler weaves a dramatic YA read about a real subject that in today's world where appearances are everything is killing many people, coated with a bit of fantasy and just enough humour she writes about the 4 Horsemen of Apocalypse and what would happen if an anorexic girl was chosen as Famine, the Dark Rider.

Hunger is an enthralling read that talks about the struggle of a girl with her body, after been caught in a catch-22 situation by Death she finds herself engrossed by her job as Famine where she must look at hunger everyday.

Hunger shows the importance of friendship and how bad relations can trap you and that sometimes appearance are not everything.

Though a bit short in pages the book is large in history and everyone can relate to the character's pain to be thin and with her discomfort with her own body. Fast-passed and captivating Hunger is sure to make you spent a nice time and then ponder over the concept of beauty today.

Altogether, Hunger is definitely recommendable and can't wait to read more of her books.

 - 4stars!

Reading: How It All Began.

When I started reading, I didn't knew I was reading books.

My dad is big on reading and from a young age he encouraged such action, consequentially he used to buy all types of fairy tale books at reach.

Of course, in my young mind fairy tales didn't count as books in fact, I , like all kids despised books, just as much as I loved watching T.V. and eating candies.

I remember that I used to visit my cousins houses and look everywhere for their books, which their parents bought and were left unused. I didn't even notice, but it was such my thirst for those stories that I started reading short versions of big books like: The Secret Garden, Heidi and  and Anne of Green Gables.

But then came the dreadful in which all those books were read and reread so many times they were starting to lose they're appeal. So, I bravely went into my dad's shelf and found the book that changed my way of seeing the world.


The Chronicles of Narnia.


I just lost myself in Narnia, it was bliss and I was in heaven. For that afternoon, next to my bed on the floor away from everyone's sight I found a new world through words unlike any other place. And the good news was it was just like a fairy tale only much longer!

From their I went and read other Narnia books, Treasure Island, Around the World in 80 Days and other books I'll never forget or I have now forgotten them.

I believe it's important to remember how things begin, so we can evaluate how things are going and if we're doing things right. Because regardless of what we are now or what we will become it's always important to remember your roots. And for me Narnia started it all with the help of a Lion, a Witch and a Wardrobe.

The Joy of Reading and Writing: A New Beginning

I come from a place in which reading is something almost unheard, from where teenagers find pleasure in obscene music, from that description alone you may wonder from where am I referring, because ism't the whole world that way nowadays?

And with fear in my heart I finally decided on blogging.

People is always asking me: "Why don't you start a blog?", "Would you ever write a book?" and the latest "How would you call your book?"

So presumptuous assumptions instead of empowering me, scare me sometimes.

I believe in power through words and maybe no one would follow me because truth is, I don't think I would ever host grand giveaways, but at least I can feel I'm giving a little piece of my so-called-knowledge to the world and sharing what I know about books.

I maybe young, I may not know what I plan to do with my life, but I'll always have words even if sometimes they fail me or I fail them we would always be together, like I hope books will always be with me.

I'll wrap things up now because I fear I may get cold feet if I keep on writing.