Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill


Those chest pains I have been experiencing since finishing Hard Bitten have finally subsided after reading Drink Deep.
Drink Deep picks up a couple of months after Hard Bitten. We see Merit’s coping with the events in Hard Bitten and her determination to move forward. Merit and Friends must deal with a new conflict and we are introduced to a few new characters. Chloe Neill does an excellent job of weaving in a surprising storyline that definitely took this reader by surprise.
Although Merit is navigating her emotions, she is still able to throw out a few hilarious remarks. Chloe sure does an excellent job of transmuting humor into words.
Chloe Neill has one again written a story that keeps her audience hooked. Although I found some parts slow moving, I am pleased with the story and eager to read the next installment.
Recently, an episode of Grey’s Anatomy aired in which an author felt that she needed to finish her book so that her readers could have closure. Her readers have been with her for years and followed her characters happily, so she felt obligated to finish the story before having surgery. After watching the episode, I started having nightmares that something bad happened to Chloe Neill and that we would never know what happened with Merit and the gang. It is morbid, right?
The Chicagoland Vampire series is really good. The story is well-written, funny, and interesting. You should read it.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Book Invitations!

This is so creative that I had to share it with you. Doesn’t this look fun? My mind is spinning with book party ideas! Jordan from Oh Happy Day! made the most creative book invitations:


Check out the original post here.

Friday, November 18, 2011

One Pink Line by Dina Silver


In One Pink Line, Sydney is about to graduate from college. She has a long-term boyfriend, a new job, and a life just waiting to be lived. Everything seems to be going smoothly for Sydney until she discovers that she is pregnant. She sees those two pink lines and her life changes. We follow Sydney as she tells the story of her childhood and the events that bring us to the night when she sits on the bathroom floor staring at the pregnancy test that changes everything. The story is inspired by true events.
Dina Silver’s debut novel is excellent. Her characters are lovable and the storyline is perfectly created to lure in readers. The format is clever and is well-suited to acquainting the audience with the past and present. This is a novel that exhibits the extraordinary talent of a writer who understands storytelling. From start to finish, One Pink Line is a great read. I am excited to read Dina Silver’s subsequent work. I urge you, reader, to purchase a copy of One Pink Lane if you are interested in a well-written, interesting story.
In exchange for an honest review, the author kindly sent me a free copy.

Monday, November 14, 2011

"The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women" by Valerie Young


Valerie Young’s The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women is a guide to help women recover from the Imposter Syndrome, a psychological phenomenon that describes the self-doubt that successful women experience. In 1978, Dr. Pauline Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes discovered that high-achieving women trivialized accomplishments and attributed success to luck, hard work, or favoritism. The Imposter Syndrome “involve[s] a deep sense of inauthenticity and an inability to internalize [] successes” (Kalinosky).  Young’s work seeks to help women “own” their success and alleviate the constant stress that these outliers feel.
Reading the The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women was a lot like reading a book of quotes and anecdotes.  Every other paragraph contained words said by a well-known individual that emphasized a sense of illegitimacy. Although interesting, these quotes and stories are unnecessary in a self-help book. A few stories can be used to highlight a point or topic, but Young saturates her work with words written and said by others. Perhaps the inclusion of these quotes is targeted at individuals who feel better about themselves when they know that famous people suffer from the same syndrome.  The text would have been more convincing if studies were cited or researchers discussed. Reading quote after quote was really tiring.
The most irritating aspect of this book was the constant questioning of the audience. Every section included numerous questions that asked the audience if it has felt a certain way. Have you ever felt like you didn’t deserve your successes? Do you think your professors give you good grades because they like you? Do you feel like you’re not smart enough to be here? Yes, yes, and yes. How many times are you going to ask me? I ascertained my relationship with the Imposter Syndrome during the first three pages.
If you suffer from the Imposter Syndrome, you are better off googling the topic and reading a few articles. Just knowing about the Imposter Syndrome can probably help you more than this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

"Every Other Day" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes


Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes tells the story of a high school student who is overcome by supernatural abilities every other day. The novel begins by providing the audience with a quick glimpse into the fantastical life of Kali, a girl of Italian and Indian descent. Kali’s ordinary day at high school takes a sharp detour to the extraordinary when she befriends the quirky Skylar and the mysterious Bethany. As we follow the girls and others on their quest to save Kali’s friend, the story develops quickly and characters are shown to have multiple agendas. The novel ends just as it begins: exciting and intriguing.
Barnes does an excellent job of describing characters and events. My favorite part of the novel is the impeccable use of correct grammar. Seldom do young adult novels employ proper sentence structure and correct diction. I am so tired of reading a novel in which the author is unable to use varied sentences and relies heavily on clichés (I am looking at you, Stephanie Meyer). My least favorite aspect of the novel is the death of a character. It is, in my opinion, an unnecessary death. The story does not seem to develop as a result of the death, and I am unable to ascertain the reason for the deletion of the character.
 My overall impression of “Every Other Day” is that it is a fun read, and I am patiently waiting for the next installment.
In exchange for an honest review, I received a free copy from the publisher.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

“A Plain & Fancy Christmas” by Cynthia Keller



A Plain & Fancy Christmas by Cynthia Keller is a story about two women who were switched at birth. One woman was raised by an Amish family while the other was pampered in an upper West Side apartment. The novel follows the women as they first discover their true origins and navigate their emotions and new families.
Upon first reading the novel, I was struck by the unique way Keller introduces the audience to the characters. The first four pages allow the reader to feel like she is transported from scene to scene and from character to character in a seamless way. The transition felt like the characters passed the reader along from hand-to-hand much like a game. It was a wonderful beginning to the story. Keller’s attention to detail is much appreciated. Her tidbits about Amish culture are woven perfectly in the story. Her research on the Amish is evident and adds an authenticity to scenes that encourage the audience to understand and connect with the culture so admirably portrayed.
In today’s society, there are often news articles that illuminate the switching of babies at birth. A short article never encompasses the true nature of how the individuals feel and how the families cope with the knowledge that their beloved child is not genetically related. I enjoyed reading A Plain & Fancy Christmas, because it provided a way for me to go beyond a simple headline and to imagine how these people reconcile their emotions with new insight. I recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in envisioning how a story develops after two people are mistakenly sent home with the incorrect family.
In exchange for an honest review, I received a free copy from Goodreads.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

"The Jinx" by DF Lamont


In The Jinx, D.F. Lamont documents the journey of 13-year old Stephen Grayson, a very unlucky boy.  Stephen’s first bout with unfortunate circumstances begins with a bike accident.  As the weeks progress, Stephen’s life seems to become a magnet for all things gloomy. After a potentially fatal car accident that leaves Stephen unharmed and his mother and brother mildly injured, Stephen decides that he is a liability to his family and must leave them in hopes that he will keep them safe. On his quest to find safety, Stephen battles stone monsters and a cult with the help of Daedalus, a scientist with extensive experience with the balance of order and chaos. Stephen’s questions about his sudden unlucky nature are eventually answered and a battle ensues between order and chaos.
Here is a debut novel of fiction from a writer who understands the formula of a successful fantasy adventure. The story quickly captures the audience’s interest and grasps tightly onto our attention throughout the novel. Lamont’s characters are likeable and relatable. Stephen is an average boy who just wants to get through 8th grade. Daedalus is a genius who made some mistakes but redeems himself later in the story. Lamont’s writing is brilliant. His choice of diction and phraseology are perfect for the story. His decision to include physics in the novel is wonderful because it will give young readers the opportunity to learn about science in an interesting way. Several of Lamont’s sentences leave the reader with a happy smile on her face. The most enjoyable aspect of this novel is the descriptive language. Everything from the sound of a bike to the texture of clothing is described wonderfully.
The Jinx is targeted at children aged 9-13, and I highly recommend this novel for that age group. It is the perfect pocket-sized adventure.
In exchange for an honest review, I received a copy from Goodreads.

Greetings fellow readers!

Welcome to Oh! Paper Pages. This blog will be used to organize my book reviews. I read so many books that I often find myself wondering whether I read a certain book and how I felt about it. Although this blog is designed to meet a personal need, I do hope that at least one of my reviews will tempt you to pick up a book.
If you have a book suggestion, I will be so thrilled to receive it!
Warmly,
sp