Art by Christopher Boffoli

This pic is by Christopher Boffoli, a guy from Seattle. I love this miniature art. Enjoy!

Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls Series #1), by Maggie Stiefvater

• Pub. Date: June 2010
• Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
• Pages: 400

• Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls Series #1

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf -- her wolf -- watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why. Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace . . . until now. For Grace and Sam, love has always been at a distance. But once spoken, it cannot be denied.

Review
A new twist on a worn out subject - but don't pass it up just because everyone and their dog has a story about monsters and romance. Grace is charming and interesting, and obsessed with wolves since a dangerous incident from her childhood (Why are there always obsessed people in the books I read?!). Sam has loved Grace a long time...what will become of the two? The story has original inserts as well. It's tragic and moving and warm and filled with all sorts of longings and dreams that we all had in high school. I really like the emotion that naturally comes with this genre - it has the ability to transport any reader, no matter the age or circumstance, to our past (or future) with style. Feelings have that way about them I guess, kind of like aroma: the instant you smell something again, even if it's presence has lapsed into years, will flood you with past memories of that smell. 

This book is great, and I'm somewhat glad to hear that it is a trilogy piece. When a reader likes the setting and characters that are built for them, it's sometimes hard to close that last page and move on to the next story. It makes me happy I get the chance to hear 'what happened then was....'   

The White Darkness, by Geraldine McCaughrean

• Pub. Date: December 2008
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Pages: 400

Rating: 5/5

 

Synopsis

Sym is not your average teenage girl. She is obsessed with the Antarctic and the brave, romantic figure of Captain Oates from Scott's doomed expedition to the South Pole. In fact, Oates is the secret confidant to whom she spills all her hopes and fears.
But Sym's uncle Victor is even more obsessed--and when he takes her on a dream trip into the bleak Antarctic wilderness, it turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival that will challenge everything she knows and loves.

Review 

I don't know what it is about this book, but I really, really, really enjoyed it. It was sad and horrifying on a level that I could never have imagined when I picked it up. I thought it would be light and fluffy reading but it was everything BUT that. 

Sym, to start with, is an interesting lead character, and it truly makes the story. No other teenage girl would have been able to take this journey and go as far as she did. Not to mention, her imaginary boyfriend is a freaking dead guy. AND just about everything else in her life is screwed up (oh, don't we all miss our teens???), even more so than most teenagers. You think all of this would make a deafeningly sad book, but that isn't the case at all! I described it as sad because of the human instinct that is portrayed in the extreme circumstances the author presents. That's also where the 'horrifying' comes from. I'm pretty sure the last 50 pages (or was it 100?) I was slack-jawed by the storyline. Don't pass this one up!!! It is definitely worth the read. 

Happy 4th!

Yay! Happy July 4th everyone. Here's a cat in a bag for you.

Nodame Cantabile (Anime Series)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance, Slice of Life, Josei
Episodes: 23

Sequel: Nodame Cantabile Paris-Hen
Type: TV Series

Voice Available:
Subtitle Available:

---

Synopsis

Shinichi Chiaki is a first class musician whose dream is to play among the elites in Europe. Coming from a distinguished family, he is an infamous perfectionist; not only is he highly critical of himself, but of others as well. The only thing stopping Chiaki from leaving for Europe is his fear of flying. As a result, he's grounded in Japan. During his 4th year at Japan's top music university, Chiaki happens to meet Noda Megumi; or as she refers to herself, Nodame. On the surface, she seems to be an unkempt girl with no direction in life. However, when Chiaki hears Nodame play the piano for the first time, he is in awe at the kind of music she plays. To Chiaki's dismay, Nodame moves into the apartment next to his and finds out that she is head over heels in love with him. Nodame Cantabile tells the story of Chiaki and Nodame, as they not only learn to deal with each other, but learn lessons from one another as they strive for the top of the musical world. (Animefreak.tv)

Review

There is a misconception concerning anime, or at least among the population that is not familiar with the anime industry. That is, before I started watching, I assumed all series were like Pokemon and Sailor Moon - magical, fantastical and appealing towards a very young age demographic. That is not the case with many series, though. Authors also give insight in an industry or sport or world that is so in-depth that it draws the viewers in. For example, after watching this, I've been listening to classical music non-stop and even cleaned my saxophone. Isn't that the fascinating thing about entertainment, though? Having such an impact to change a viewer/reader's daily pattern, make them think of something that would not otherwise come to mind?

Nodame Cantabile is about music students at the university level, trying to perform their best and find the paths that will lead to their futures, wherever that may be. It's hard not to fall head over heels for Chiaki; he is a genius at the piano and violin, and has an ear and style for conducting. Nodame is goofy and lovable and just as talented in her own right. There was a whole lot less romance that I was expecting but the series gave me an insatiable longing for music. This is definitely worth watching. Both main characters go through many trials, complementing each other throughout, although in ways viewers might not always expect.

Rating:  5/5

 

 

Warm Bodies, by Isaac Marion

• Pub. Date: April 2011 

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group 

• Pages: 256

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

R is a young man with an existential crisis—he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. His ability to connect with the outside world is limited to a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing.
After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and stragely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His choice to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.
Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies explores what happens when the cold heart of a zombie is tempted by the warmth of human love. 



Review

The cover looks interesting enough, but what made me check this out at the library was the phrase 'zombie love' plastered on the front review. All the monsters of our past have slowly been given sympathetic twists and eventually made into love interests (werewolves, vampires, ogres, faeries...you get the idea). So why not zombies? Sure, they're rotting corpses with no brain function beyond the animal instinct to live, but can you really hold that against them?? Hmmm? Being dead does tend to hamper relationships. I have to say, though, I think the author successfully made zombies lovable (at least in his special scenario). In fact, I really liked R. He has style, and apparently rots slower than most of his friends. Seriously. Although I half-joking, I really enjoyed this book, way more than I expected. The topic itself sounded like a flop from the beginning, but this is probably the best book I've read all summer. There's also a bunch of symbolism thrown in about the 'disease' of being a zombie and relating that to the condition of the heart. It's not all stated in words, but the idea is expressed.

I recommend this book for anyone looking for something different. It's also really short (or at least goes down fast) with a load of movement and action.

The art of story takes many forms

You might be thinking I'm taking time away from reading...and you'd be somewhat right. I'm still reading, but my medium has changed. Sometimes I go through spells that consist of different entertainment sources, like video games, manga/manwha, movies, anime, etc. I was thinking last night about how most of my friends consider me a nerd for different reasons....and my choice of entertainment is only one of many. Here are some others:

1. I READ.
Apparently the average college student (at least at my university) can go through four years of higher education without checking out ONE book from the university library for personal use. Cringe.

2. I actually buy books, double-stack my bookshelves because, frankly, I've run out of wall space and I have a cat. This does not, I repeat, DOES NOT!!!, make me a crazy cat lady. Normal people buy books. Normal college students have small apartments with limited walls (and windows. And hot water.)  Normal people have pets, like say a cat. 

3. I play video games in league with teenage boys. I talk way less smack, and currently don't have internet to play XBOX Live, but I can go hours on end without getting bored. I like all types of games but lean more toward shooters, strategy and action-adventure. I also prefer stealth over force.

4. I'm an engineer.
I don't think that really needs much explanation....

My point starting out was, since I enjoy many forms of entertainment, all of which circle around stories ( the basis for books, movies, games, whatever). Since that is the case, I feel it's only right that I present these other mediums because some of the stories outside of binding are just as compelling and worth sharing. Although I don't watch many movies, I do go occasionally, and if I think it's good enough, I'll also read the book (if I haven't already). Anyway, this is just a heads up for the minor changes coming.