A list of movies I watched in 2014, and the rating I gave to each of them. I watch a total of 88 movies. Continue reading
Thimble and Thread by James Agee Jr.
Thimble and Thread by James Agee Jr.
Published by Create Space on August 21st 2013
Genres: Thriller
Pages: 206
Format: ebook
My Rating: 4 Stars
When Joe Thimble signs up for a summer job working with teenagers in a college summer program, he never could have imagined that his life would be on the line. The group that he will be working with is considered “special”, but he has no clue what that means. When all that a person wants is to redeem themselves from the mistakes that they have made, what lengths will they go to in order to see that happen? Joe is about to find out.
MY THOUGHTS
I received this book for review purposes. And it turns out to be an enjoyable read. The premise, was kind of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children meets The Hunger Games. It’s about a summer job, in a very peculiar home, with a big secret. The set up, was nicely done, it takes its time to introduce you to Joe Thimble, and get to know him as a person. Also it set up the tone, the moment he gets to this house. But then it all goes downhill on the climax, which for my taste it felt rush out. The writing style is from a first person narrative, and it’s all explained a very simple minimalistic way. And this therefore helps on the pacing of the story. It makes everything fast pace. The book, has elements pretty unique, on it’s elements. It describes little moments in life, and issues never seen in a novel. (For example: The bug’s scene.) The climax, all the beginning of the story it starts rising to this moment. The moment it occurred, it was great done. But, as the events unravel themselves it felt quite short and rush out. I loved the idea of this challenge the characters faced, but it didn’t live up to it’s potential. Basically lots of things happened so fast, that you as a reader would like a break where it all explain a bit slower. The ending (Spoiler Free), so it wrapped up and we get to see a sneak peak of the future life of these characters. But on the climax moment, I couldn’t see a way it was going to wrap up (probably because of the rush). I saw that the story was almost over, and it was already more than 90% of the book. At the end, it was nice to see how they all ended after the big events, and how they’re mentally and growth became. It had a great premise, and the story had very great little details. The climax felt rush, but still considering all this, I enjoyed reading this fast pace adventure. HAPPY READING!
Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on October 6th 2008
Genres: Contemporary YA
Pages: 249
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 4 Stars
Nothing is beyond Kristi Carmichael’s disdain—her hippie high school, her friend Jacob, her workaholic mom. Yet for all her attitude and her mind-reading abilities, Kristi has a vulnerable side. She can hear the thoughts of her fellow students, calling her fat and gross. She’s hot for Gusty Peterson, one of the most popular guys in school, but of course, she’s sure he thinks she is disgusting. And she’s still mad at her father, who walked out on them two years ago. Soon, a school project brings her together with Gusty, her father comes home and drops a bombshell, and a friend comes out of the closet, and suddenly she is left doubting that she can read people at all.
MY THOUGHTS
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway, including inside the box Amy’s sci-fi trilogy (Sky Chasers). I decided to read this one first, to get a hang on her writing, and explore her narration style before jumping into her trilogy.
The premise of this book, sounded interesting. The idea of a contemporary located in High School, where the main character can read people mind caught my eye. But it wasn’t exactly was I expecting. Instead of our character dealing with life issued, and knowing that everyone around her is lying. The story turns out to be a journey of a girl, dealing with her own inner thoughts.
There is a love triangle involved, but it isn’t because Kristi can’t decide which boy to love, instead it’s between the new boy at school, and a guy that thinks that Kristi is sick. Mallory, the new guy on school is the person in which Kristi sees possibility of a relationship, and Gusty, the brother of her ex-best friend, thinks Kristi is seek, and she doesn’t seem a way they would end together. And still they are force to work in a school project, where they help each other to discover their inner character.
The way it is written, it makes the story flow nicely. The chapters are short, and that is something I always seem to enjoy in a book. And also the words used, are simple and at the same time they help composed metaphor to describe Kristi’s inner thoughts. It’s a beautiful written story, and at first it takes time to really appreciate the way it’s narrated. At first glimpse it seems simple, and telling, but then you discovered the narration is actually showing in a very simple way the ideas.
This is a unique contemporary; it deals with typical High School subjects. But not in a cliché way, instead it’s very different. What makes the story different mainly, are the characters. Especially the one who is narrating the events, Kristi. Who is a girl, with very unique thoughts on life, that are a bit negative, and the way she sees life is amazing. Her thoughts flow nicely on page.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. It wasn’t what I expected, but it was enjoyable. I cannot wait, what else this author has in stores.
HAPPY READING!
Ariel’s Demise by Khalia Hades
Ariel’s Dem
ise by Khalia Hades
Series: Twisted Fairy Tales #1
Published by: Self Publish on July,8 2013
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 24
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 Stars
A short twisted tale of our favorite little mermaid; Ariel. In this edition of my Twisted Fairy Tale Collections known also as the “Dark Faerie Tales” series, Ariel wants to become a human. Ursula grants her this wish but for a cost.
She has to kill Prince Eric – her love and soulmate, or kill herself and save Eric….
What will you choose?
MY THOUGHTS
I got this book from a Goodreads giveaway. When I realize this book was short, I knew I would read it in less than an hour. But then when receiving it was even shorter, it had lots of weird blank pages in the end, probably from the binding and having extra sheets. The book is so thick that it looks like a magazine. I’m afraid that I will give too much away in my review so I’m keeping this the shortest possible.
This was worth reading. I enjoy the fairy tale retelling. But the only issued I had it was on it’s lengths. I feel that it could have dwell more into that darkness put into the world, and the choice that Ariel had to take. I felt that there wasn’t enough time (pages) to get and know well the characters; of course we all know them from the original tale, but it would had been nice to get to know this more darker side of the characters.
Also it felt short on description, the narration could had been a little bit longer. I understand this is supposed to be a short story, but maybe a bit more pages would have been nice.
Let’s move into the positive aspects. The story was enjoyable, and you get a nice introduction to the character. It begins telling you who is involved and it plot the main conflict right away in a slight simple way. The dialogue between the characters feel real, and even that there isn’t much of description on the places you can imagine it with the knowledge of sea life, Greek mythology, and your memories of watching the little mermaid.
The Twist, of course this is a retelling of a fairy tale, and it have to include a unique twist. This was done greatly, and it adds to the story giving it a turn that you might not expect. It’s dark obscured and of course it doesn’t end in a happy note. It even starts with a quote that exactly says that not all Fairy Tales have happy endings, and this was a great way to start it. Ariel is face with a choice, due to a curse, either she dies, or kills his love one to remain human.
I probably will be reading the next book in the series of short stories.
Bontrix by James Agee Jr.
Bontrix by James Agee Jr.
Published: June, 22, 2014
Genres: Steampunk
Pages: 382
Format: eARC
My Rating: 5 Stars
Miles Ransom is starting his Freshman year of college. Nothing is happening the way he imagined it would. He is surrounded by odd people including his roommate and even one of his professors. There is a loud pounding noise coming from his dorm room wall, and a girl named Bontrix has caught his attention. When Miles learns a secret about himself, his life changes forever. He is a Gear Guide and the fate of two worlds rests with him and the strange cast of characters that he meets.
This is an inventive Steampunk adventure like no other. Explore the vast world of Wallash and encounter brilliant mechanical creatures alongside Miles and the crew. It’s time to save the worlds!
MY THOUGHTS
This novel is a fast read I read it on a day, and I am a slow reader, it kept me interesting on the story from back to back.
The idea, of a Fantasy world (Wallash) and Earth merging together it’s sounds interesting, but the real whole that you get to explore every detail of this new world that Miles, and you as a reader just enter, and submerge in the history is amazing. There’s only one thing that I had trouble with, when reading all the history of Wallash, I felt that lots of information was thrown at me so fast, but then thinking about that it has to be done to understand future events on the novel.
Main Twist, at the beginning it starts the novel with the mood of a College drama. It starts with Miles beginning as a freshman and dealing with common life problems. But then the big twist comes, and you really don’t see it coming. His roommate and her sister (Bontrix), tells him that he is a Gear Guide, and his world just turns upside down.
The World was build with impeccable details. Everything felt real and incredible. You really got to see the world through your eyes, and see it in full color.
Characters, they felt real, as if they where real people. The fact that they are in collage, or having common problems of their own help in the engaging experience the novel has. I also felt that there personalities shine, and they where describe by them.
A Standalone? The ending close perfectly, without a cliffhanger, but it does left you as a reader with wanting more from the world. Also I felt that this story could be told in even more words, it felt short. And as I said before lots of information was thrown there so fast, that maybe it could have been a bit slower and steadier.
Overall, I did love this novel and gave it five out of five stars for a reason. I enjoyed it so much, that wish for everyone to pick it up and give it a try.
Coldplay: Ghost Stories
Coldplay
Ghost Stories
Coldplay has taken a step back in time, with their new album Ghost Stories, deciding to go back to its roots. This is more of an acoustic album; they mixed the sounds of X & Y, Parachutes with a spice of Mylo Xyloto.
This is an emotional album, it transmit feeling and ideas. I think that it would have made a great debut album if this had been a new group, but considering their legacy it comes kind of weak. Some songs were great but could had more potential
I really loved the lyrics of all the songs, and the acoustic vibe they input. This new old style, is kind of indie rock. But mixed with pop. I feel like there isn’t a way to define their style they just make songs. I don’t know how long it took Coldplay to make this album, but considering that in 2013 supposedly they were in a “break”, this might been a rush album, or they might have edit some songs that where previously record while in production of their previous one. Whatever the reason and ways they did this record it doesn’t quite matter.
I liked the album, 4/5 stars, but it could have been a thousand times better. It even felt short on songs, the basic version only contain 9 tracks.
Tracklist:
1. Always In My Head
2. Magic
3. Ink
4. True Love
5. Midnight
6. Another’s Arms
7. Oceans
8. A Sky Full Of Stars
9. O
10. All Your Friends (Target Exclusive)
11. Ghost Story(Target Exclusive)
12. O (Reprise) (Target Exclusive)
The TOUR, I haven’t heard much about their tour plans, but of what I’ve seen so far they are doing this small intimate shows with only selling a few tickets, and all there shows are being sold out. Many people probably want to see them live, but there decision of making the shows on small venues affects the fans experience. Their tickets are fewer and the price is higher.
Blur by Steven James
BLUR by Steven James
Series:Blur Trilogy #1
Published by Skyscape on May 27, 2014
Genres:Thriller
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
My Rating: 5 Stars
The isolated town of Beldon, Wisconsin, is shocked when a high school freshman’s body is found in Lake Algonquin. Just like everyone in the community, sixteen-year-old Daniel Byers believes that Emily Jackson’s death was accidental. But at her funeral, when he has a terrifying vision of her, his world begins to rip apart at the seams.
Convinced that Emily’s appearance was more than just a mere hallucination, Daniel begins to look carefully into her death, even as he increasingly loses the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality.
What’s real? What’s not? Where does reality end and madness begin?
As Daniel struggles to find the truth, his world begins to crumble around him as he slips further and further into his own private blurred reality.
Full of mind-bending twists and turns, Blur launches a new trilogy of young adult thrillers from Steven James, a master of suspense.
MY THOUGHTS
I received this ARC by amazon, and instantly that cover grabbed me, and made me read it right away.
Blur by Steven James has a way to engross the reader in a thrilling journey. First of the chapters are short and quick to go through, the narrative is third person, but still you deeply get to know the way of thought of our main character, Daniel.
The idea, the main premise of this book is about this boy that is having hallucinations of a girl that just died, and possible murder. It really digs deep in psychological topics.
Daniel, the main character, really helps in the development of the story line, his thoughts, his ideas, his way of acting makes the book enjoyable. We get to know him and get emotionally attach in 352 pages.
The love triangle, as many Young Adult novels this one includes a love triangle. The story it’s not center on this romance, but is an element that affects the ideas and psychology of Daniel. At the end the choice is made for him, but still it has a purpose of being there. It doesn’t feel like it was forced into the book.
Even that this book is written for Young Adults from the high school setting; even an adult could enjoy this book. From beginning to the end it’s a mystery, there is constantly this big questions that are unanswered and keeps you wandering through the entire novel.
A trilogy? Apparently there will be more books, the next one coming on Spring 2015, where we would get to see Daniel and his blurry mind. Is this the right path? That’s what I’m afraid of, this book wrap up perfectly and there wasn’t a cliffhanger, I can’t stop wandering what might come next, and if a trilogy for this story is really worth it. Now it’s a matter of waiting to see what actually is in Steven James mind.
One Direction:Midnight Memories
The boys had changed they’re sound, it more rock than pop, it’s kind of acoustic. I was exited for this to come out, but I never expected for it to be so different from previews albums. I gotta say, this one is more touchy, the lyrics are great to transmit feeling, and the melodies are amazing. Midnight Memories is an over the edge album. The ultimate edition containing a total amount of 18 tracks, each one is perfectly produced. I don’t know where they get the time to make this song with all the touring they get going on, but I’m glad they are able to release a new album every year, it keeps their sound alive. One Direction had done it again, release an album which most of the tracks could be hit singles. It’s a matter of time to see which songs they chose to created them into a music video. Probably I guess that Diana, or Midnight Memories could be one of them. But it’s all a matter of waiting. Tracklist:
- “Best Song Ever” | Wayne Hector, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Ed Drewett
- “Story of My Life” | Jamie Scott, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson
- “Diana” | Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Jamie Scott
- “Midnight Memories” | Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Jamie Scott, John Ryan
- “You & I” | Jamie Scott, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta
- “Don’t Forget Where You Belong” | Niall Horan, Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter, Danny Jones
- “Strong” | Louis Tomlinson, Jamie Scott
- “Happily” | Harry Styles, Savan Kotecha, Carl Falk
- “Right Now” | Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Ryan Tedder
- “Little Black Dress” | Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne
- “Through the Dark” | Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Jamie Scott, Toby Smith
- “Something Great” | Harry Styles, Gary Lightbody, Jacknife Lee
- “Little White Lies” | Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Edward Drewett, Wayne Hector
- “Better Than Words” | Jamie Scott, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne
- “Why Dont We Go There” | Wayne Hector, Harry Johnson, Claude Kelly, Steve Robson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson
- “Does He Know?” | Jamie Scott, Julian ,Bunetta, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, John Ryan
- “Alive” | Jamie Scott, Louis Tomlinson, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta
- “Half a Heart” | Lindy Robbins, Steve Robson, Ed Drewett
Percy Jackson’s Films Mess All Over Again
This movie isn’t anything like the book by Rick Riordan, the scriptwriters are to blame.
I clearly understand that sometimes it’s not possible to make a 100% exact book to movie adaptation, and i’m fine with that. When adapting a novel to film, sometimes there exist part that for cinematography doesn’t work and it’s need to be cut out, i acknowledge that. I have to say this is the worst book to movie adaptation i’ve seen, it’s even more off path than The Lightning Thief (The first movie in this franchise). Continue reading
Review: The Vampire Diaries Season 2
Another intriguing season that would have you over the cliff all of the time, it all gets better.
[Spoilers; Season 1]
This season basically picks up the second before the last one ended, we really get to see the aftermath. It was a more intense set of episode, that really you couldn’t stop watching for any second. The episodes pick where the last one ended so really there was never a stopping point, and that help to reduce the lose ends and explain the story in a nicer way.
In the second season we get to discover more history about the Salvador brothers, Damon and Stephan had to face Katerine and at the same time leave Elena out of all danger that might get her kill. Those are the basic points to where this season based upon, it was great develop the characters where take into new levels by facing their darkest fears.
The directors put more CGI, it all looks better and even the quality of the film seem to improve. The best part of the leap this season took was the darkness put into it, it basically lost most of the crappy romance scenes but they got replace with more supernatural scenes like Bonnie discovering more about being a witch and practicing more spells, also Tyler facing the family curse.
This could be consider my favorite season from the show so far. The second part of this story is a must see, and it always will be as awesome as the first time watch. I can’t wait for the re-watch.
The Maberry Blog 