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Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 11th, 2014, 1:10 pm
by arjaye
WRITTEN IN RED by Anne Bishop
4/5

Somehow, it reminded me of X-men. Mutants trying to live in harmony with the humans.
Some other time, a glimpse of Mortal Instrument by Cassandra Clare, having them all gathered in one place. Wolves. Vampires. Mundanes. Add some Crows and Bears and Elementals and Prophets and some so strong you would not be able to give a name or two.

WRITTEN IN RED is a story that will open a door to a world where you never think will exist. Or cannot imagine to exist in our modern days. Living and breathing and sharing in one world, the terra indigene and the humans. We can expect who will be a stronger form when it comes to physical aspects, but we cant undermine how determination can make an impact, bad or good.

A lot of characters with important roles. Meg Corbyn. Simon Wolfgard. Tess. Sanguinatis. Henry Beargard. Winter and her sisters. Sam Wolfgard. Officer Montgomery. Residents and employees in the Courtyard. Each of them contributing to make a Lakeside a better place to live in. For both humans and the Others. And the whole world of Thaisia.

To get a much clearer view... here's the synopsis.

"As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.
Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow."---goodreads

Mixed emotions were felt while reading this. Excitement and curiosity most of the time. But never was a dull moment or became uninterested. The way it was written and the flow of the story, sequences and characterization were in a straight line. The line towards the goal of any writer, that is to grab the attention of the readers from page one, never losing their interests, or their hearts and souls for that matter, till they reach at the very last page. The goal to put a happy face, a sad, or fearful one, put a tear or two when somebody died, or live, like happy tear. Make you dangle at the edge of your seat, agree with the actions and consequences, sigh a relief after. All those, as a reader of Anne Bishop's Written in Red, i've experienced and achieved.

For now, i guess, Courtyard and the surrounding places will find peace, but if the main culprit still lurks and is out and about, the invisible war between the terra indigene and the humans are hanging wildly in the balance. So... lets continue reading the sequel, THE MURDER OF THE CROWS. The title itself is bloody.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 11th, 2014, 7:09 pm
by arjaye
THE POER OF SUBCONSCIOUS MIND by Joseph Murphy
4/5

I can summarize this in 5 words. "I THINK, THEREFORE I AM."

Whatever you reap in your subconscious mind, you sow. Whatever you think, your subconscious believes. Whatever you suggest, and keep on repeat, it happens. Mind is that powerful.

Thus, I choose LIFE. I choose LOVE. I CHOOSE HAPPY. I choose the best version of me.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 11th, 2014, 10:48 pm
by MissRed
ayan na ang mga cyborg kung magbasa... hehehe

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 13th, 2014, 7:16 am
by Super_Mark
I am always fascinated with novels with Japanese characters set on a Japanese setting and upon reading the synopsis of the book I know I have to get it. I was not disappointed.

The novel was written on the authors perspective surrounding his investigation regarding the Narito Disappearances in 1978, which involves the disappearance of 11 people, while the author is also trying to look for answers regarding the sudden disconnection of his wife. The suspect, Oda Sotatsu, confessed to the job but due to unknown reasons he refused to speak to anyone during the period of his trial which the cover depicts.

The novel is written in notes made during his interview with Sotatsu's relatives, friends and those whom he had interaction with before he was executed.

You're in for a puzzle treat when you read the book. You'll got through the different perspective of the story from the different characters and you won't know who's telling the truth. It tackled how silence could mean many things and how would someone interpret it. Talking about fate and how the Oda played with it.

The novel is pretty straightforward. An easy read. It just became too dragging for me during the last few pages. I like how the ending became too sudden and as the true story came up. 4.5/5 stars for me.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 13th, 2014, 8:34 am
by Super_Mark
Finished this book over the weekend. I have one problem and that is how to start giving my review on this book. I can't describe how good this novel is. Does "best" still have a superlative because that's how I would describe this book. It was hard for me to choose the next book to read after I finish this one. The emotions lingered.

The premise of the book is quite shallow but how it was narrated was just amazing. It's a story of Aristotle or Ari and Dante, the year 1987, coming to terms with growing up.

I love the characters and I like how each of them grow as the story progressed. I like how each of the characters managed to not just be "characters" on a novel. It reiterated that they are not perfect, that they do have flaws but they know when to care.

I don't know why it took me some time to read this book. I regretted that. On the first couple of pages I knew I was in for a ride. I delve into the book without knowing what I am going into. After reaching half of the book, I sensed something that this is not just about friends and it had me awkward a little bit but I did still continue. I removed all the prejudice. And no regrets. No regrets. :)

The prose was beautifully written. The author used simple words but it was made in perfection that one could feel the feelings. It made me connect with the characters in a way. It was like you're there with them enjoying summer and looking at the stars at the back of Ari's truck.

It's about acceptance.

It's about living and embracing your life.

It's about loving your identity.

It's a celebration of life.

This book is epic.

Amazing.

This book just became the best book that I read this year.

A very easy 5/5 stars for me.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 14th, 2014, 8:32 pm
by ayanamifaerudo
Rating: 4.5/5

My first question after reading the last word was: Will there be a sequel? Or perhaps a glimpse of what happened after Clara stepped through?

I was not so sure about this even after gushing about my excitement in a WoW post. I mean, it's a fairy tale retelling of some sort and though I adore them (the fairy tale retellings, that is), there is always a doubt in some part of my mind: Would it tear apart the original or would it go beyond and shine?

Thank goodness it was the latter for Winterspell. I should say that this was not a merely a retelling but a wholly new, wonderful, awesome story.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 14th, 2014, 11:32 pm
by arjaye
MURDER OF THE CROWS by Anne Bishop (Written in Red #2)
4/5

What did you know?! While i was slow-reading the last few pages of this wonderful world of the Others and the humans as well, i just finished my dinner of a bowl of spaghetti. Huh?! beat that coincidence. You'll know what i mean when u reached till the end. It was kind of cute to share that with our Meg and growly Simon.

Back to the book, this is the second installment for Anne Bishop's Written in Red. The first book just introduced us to the world Namid had created. All the creatures, human and terra indigene. Wolves. Vampire. Crows. Hawks. Prophets. And even Tess, so scary that you cant even give a definition to her. A world where the Others owned most of the land and humans were just subletting. They tried to co-exist because they benefit each other but in all honesty, when that understanding was breached or violated in any way, all hell breaks loose.

And that point was spread all over the entire story when human started to provoke the Others, and these earth natives cannot help anything but to fight back and create the disaster in magnitude proportion. Bloodshed cannot be avoided. But the one aim was to protect cassandra sangues, which Meg is one of. The other was to scour the whole Lakeside and neighboring towns and places to catch this Controller, who held Meg before. When you come to think of it, it all boiled down to the Meg. She was the the center of it all. Hey, maybe even the one who started and let the big changes to flow. She's our kind of heroine, less of physical strength, so fragile you cannot afford to have a bruise or a cut on the lip, but more of visions and future-seeing, more on preventing than curing. What a big factor when she saw a prophecy and was able to dodge it, saved again by our Meg. Terra indigenes came to like her and made her as one of their own.

But Simon was a different case. Simon was falling in love with her without even recognizing it. And their so cute together. All those innocence, it was refreshing. I liked the way they handled the mushy and cheesy parts, they both lack malice in their bones and body. But you cannot fool a heart, so when they start questioning their actions, you know that they were caught in that love vibe.

For the meantime, Lakeside and the whole of Thaisia found their peace, again. But we all know that hanging the balance between two very different races will always be a battle, will always be a challenge that they have to endure and and be able to win off.

Funny dialogues at times, with overwhelming new characters and places involved, but with action scenes dominant and familiar names and faces, though i miss Sam and Meg together, sweet moments between Meg and Simon filled my romantic plate, i enjoyed reading it.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 15th, 2014, 10:55 am
by ayanamifaerudo
arjaye wrote:MURDER OF THE CROWS by Anne Bishop (Written in Red #2)
4/5

What did you know?! While i was slow-reading the last few pages of this wonderful world of the Others and the humans as well, i just finished my dinner of a bowl of spaghetti. Huh?! beat that coincidence. You'll know what i mean when u reached till the end. It was kind of cute to share that with our Meg and growly Simon.

Back to the book, this is the second installment for Anne Bishop's Written in Red. The first book just introduced us to the world Namid had created. All the creatures, human and terra indigene. Wolves. Vampire. Crows. Hawks. Prophets. And even Tess, so scary that you cant even give a definition to her. A world where the Others owned most of the land and humans were just subletting. They tried to co-exist because they benefit each other but in all honesty, when that understanding was breached or violated in any way, all hell breaks loose.

And that point was spread all over the entire story when human started to provoke the Others, and these earth natives cannot help anything but to fight back and create the disaster in magnitude proportion. Bloodshed cannot be avoided. But the one aim was to protect cassandra sangues, which Meg is one of. The other was to scour the whole Lakeside and neighboring towns and places to catch this Controller, who held Meg before. When you come to think of it, it all boiled down to the Meg. She was the the center of it all. Hey, maybe even the one who started and let the big changes to flow. She's our kind of heroine, less of physical strength, so fragile you cannot afford to have a bruise or a cut on the lip, but more of visions and future-seeing, more on preventing than curing. What a big factor when she saw a prophecy and was able to dodge it, saved again by our Meg. Terra indigenes came to like her and made her as one of their own.

But Simon was a different case. Simon was falling in love with her without even recognizing it. And their so cute together. All those innocence, it was refreshing. I liked the way they handled the mushy and cheesy parts, they both lack malice in their bones and body. But you cannot fool a heart, so when they start questioning their actions, you know that they were caught in that love vibe.

For the meantime, Lakeside and the whole of Thaisia found their peace, again. But we all know that hanging the balance between two very different races will always be a battle, will always be a challenge that they have to endure and and be able to win off.

Funny dialogues at times, with overwhelming new characters and places involved, but with action scenes dominant and familiar names and faces, though i miss Sam and Meg together, sweet moments between Meg and Simon filled my romantic plate, i enjoyed reading it.


I loved Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series (but I'm denying any book after Dreams made Flesh) and I'm going to try this new series of hers.

Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 16th, 2014, 4:33 pm
by Super_Mark
And so I stopped reading Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. -___- Not because it was mad. It's just that the emotions are so intense that I can't contain. But definitely I'll finish it over the weekend. So then I picked up The Giver by Lois Lowry.

A short read dystopian novel. This book is about 12 year old Jonas who needs to come into terms with him being "the Receiver" of memories of the past. He was chosen on a ceremony in their community where all the 12 year old children are given their respective occupation that the leaders based on the observations that they made on all the children since they were born by way of looking into their respective strengths and weaknesses.

It's a long and painful process as the protagonist needs to go through some sort of kind of physical and emotional pain to get through it. Being the Receiver means alot to the community as you got be the source of wisdom of the community which is being ruled by Elders, who generally decides everything, even personal, for the community and its members. It was hard at first for Jonas to come used to the feeling and sensation that he had just acquired from the Giver. Things that he's the only one experiencing. Things he can't share to anyone. Things he doesn't seem to enjoy.

The story has a powerful premise. It's a very short read with alot of strong points particularly on how the transfer of memory was made. It's unique in its own way.

For me, the length is just fine. Aside from having the story compact it made it an easy read.

Overall, it's a book that will make you think. What will you do if the world that you live in is not "utopic" as they want you believe it to be? How will you decide if the decision if you can't make your own decision? How will you get used to something that you know yourself you won't be able to do but then you don't have any choice? For me, I'll do what Jonas did on the story. :)

4/5 stars for me.

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Re: Latest book you have finished

PostPosted: October 16th, 2014, 5:09 pm
by Super_Mark
And so I continued reading short read novels. :D

How can one critic a book as classic as The Little Prince? I somewhat hesitated in putting my thoughts about this book but then again I realized, I am just giving my two cents so I guess it won't hurt. :)

The Little Prince, based on my research, is the most-read and most-translated French language book. I picked this up as I was looking for a light novel to read without knowing the accolades it has received.

We can look into this book on two perspectives based on who reads it. First, on a child's perspective. Considering that this is a children's book we can just remove all the deep thoughts that we can think while reading it. Plainly it is about a pilot who had his plane crashed in the Sahara desert and him meeting a young boy which he referred to as "the little prince." The rest of the story then discusses the friendship that ensued. On the second perspective, we can look at it on an adult's perspective reading the book. To be honest, at first I thought I am only reading a children's book but if one will think about some of the scenes on the novel translates to us adults. That it is not a story of a pilot talking to a young and small man but him talking to himself or to his alter ego. This reminds us to stop once in a while and enjoy our surroundings. This reminds us that we were also once children. Enjoying simple pleasures with the comfort of time and pleasure. This made me nostalgic in a way and made me realized how I missed being a child again.

The novel is very sincere in its simplicity. It's delivery is perfect to its length. The thoughts just keeps on coming.

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”

5/5 stars for me.

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