Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Doorway to Awesomeness aka my review of Beneath the Sugar Sky

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

5/5 gnomes

Feelings After Reading - Thrilled/hopeful.

This series says so much in so few pages. The book and series covers a lot but never feels rushed. You will fall right into caring immensely for these characters and all their different worlds. It's even difficult to pick a favorite character. They're all wonderfully unique and awesome in their own ways.

In this story you get to return to some old characters and meet some rather intriguing new characters. The characters all have an electric chemistry and heart to them.

This series continues to be intriguing and one I feel like I could read/reread/cherish for a very long time. It'll make you imagine what kind of door/world would call to you.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Review/My Favorite Quotes/Lines - A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle 

5 out of 5 gnomes

Feelings After Reading - Wonder with a side of Whoa (I can’t wait to see this in movie form.)

I’ve known about A Wrinkle in Time but I never actually got around to reading it. Now that I have though, I’m sorry I waited so long. What lead me to finally picking up the book was seeing the trailer for the movie, it looks amazing so I knew I wanted to read the book ASAP.

I love how even though the book was first released in 1962, it’s still immensely readable today. The characters are strong and the fantasy of it all takes you along for the ride. Meg’s character feels very relatable and her conflict is immensely understandable. I think that’s what makes this book one that people still seek out and read even today.

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺😎
Best Quotes/Lines:

“It was a dark and stormy night.”

“Just be glad you’re a kitten and not a monster like me.”

“There’s nothing the matter with his mind. He just does things in his own way and in his own time.”

“You’re much too straightforward to be able to pretend to be what you aren’t,” Mrs. Murry said.”

“I don’t understand it any more than you do, but one thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have to understand things for them to be.”

“I do face facts,” Meg said. “They’re lots easier to face than people, I can tell you.”

“I think it will be better if people go on thinking I’m not very bright. They won’t hate me quite so much.”

“Un asno viejo sabe más que un potro. A. Perez. An old ass knows more than a young colt.”

“Anndd wee mussttn’tt looose ourr sensses of hummorr,” Mrs Which said. “Thee onnlly wway ttoo ccope withh ssometthingg ddeadly sseriouss iss ttoo ttry ttoo trreatt itt a llittlle lligghtly.”

“Therre willl nno llonggerr bee sso manyy pplleasanntt thinggss too llookk att iff rressponssible ppeoplle ddo nnott ddoo ssomethingg abboutt thee unnppleassanntt oness.”

“Like and equal are not the same thing at all!”

“That is not our way. But we know that just because we want something does not mean that we will get what we want, and we still do not know what to do.”

“For the things which are seen are temporal. But the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Review and My Favorite Quotes - Prince in Disguise


Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm

5 out of 5 gnomes

Feeling after Reading = Giddy with a side of happy :)

This was a perfect holiday read and well a pretty great read for any time of the year.

Scotland + Winter time + a reality show + a wedding to prepare for = a heck of an interesting ride.

The writing and chemistry of all the characters is what really drew me in and kept me reading. The familial dynamics felt true and the romantic chemistry was really on point.

From the title alone you can guesstimate more than a little bit about where the book is going. But while reading even if you can guess what’s going to happen you don’t care and are having too much fun reading and taking it all in to mind.  


Quotes to Show You What You Can’t Miss:
* Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

“You don’t marry someone you just met. Did they not have Frozen in Scotland?”

“I was not the type of person who did well left alone with her thoughts.”

“I was happy I had finally warmed up but disturbed that I was so easy to kidnap.”

“It’s heartwarming when it involves singing crabs. Say what you will about Walt Disney, that man knew how to jazz up a real bummer of a story.”

“Hands of a baby angel is creepier. Why is the angel a baby? Why is it touching me? Am I dead? If the giant squid is touching me, I’d assume it was by accident. Like, I swam into its space.”

“We were getting good at having our own conversations outside of everyone else’s.”

“Ah, “unusual,” the even less polite cousin of the bitchy “interesting.”

“I considered it. But I also considered the possibility that you’re full of crap.”

“He raised an eyebrow. Ugh. The jealousy continued. I wished I had better control of my eyebrow muscles. Was that the kind of thing you could train for? At, like, a face gym?”

“Yes, he does, you twitchy li’l owl. It’s so obvious that even you must notice it, Miss Never-Had-a-Boyfriend.”

“Maybe you really could get high on life.”

“Damn that Princess Bride-ing mofo!”

“He wasn’t,” I hastened to explain as I scrambled over Jamie and out of the sleigh. “I mean, it was a consensual ravishing.”

“Jane Austen would have peed all over this date.” “That is a truly horrifying mental image.”

“It was at that moment I reached the horrifying conclusion that my dad had absolutely no idea who I was.”

“In America you can use anything as a verb!” I retorted shrilly, scrambling to my feet. “You can verb whatever you want! Thank the goddamn Smurfs for that!”

“Don’t judge a book by its pink cover,” I said smugly. “Now pony up.”

“So tall! A real, proper-sized girl. And those cheekbones! She’s like a Roman statue!”

“His Royal Highness Prince Gillecroids Edmund Alexander James,” he said heavily.”

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Mini Reviews to Start off the new year


This is such a sweet book. The drawings are simple but they along with the words portray some very important messages. A quick read that is well worth checking out. This is an unassuming seeming book that will most definitely stick with you.

 
Wonder by R.J. Palacio

One of those books where you know what to expect for the most part but is still a great read. I loved the multiple aspects you get to read from because it provides a better view of the story. I was sad that a certain animal trope happened. Overall though it’s one of those feel good stories that is almost too sweet but does have some great characters and a good message.