I have a couple bloggers who interact with me fairly regularly and have awesome blogs themselves. I think that if you enjoy my blog then you will definitely enjoy theirs. Here is my list, check them out!
I’m All Booked Up
I’m All Booked Up is ran by Christy and Claire. They are obsessed with YA, and you are sure to find a good review or recommendation on their page. I’ve found myself excited for a book to find out that they are too, it’s cool to have bloggers to relate to in the YA world. Not to mention they are wonderfully nice in every interaction I have with them. They run a virtual book club from their blog, and I just so happen to have the August book, A Song Below Water. I highly recommend them because they are engaging and post regularly.
I love Twirling Book Princess because they really let their personality shine through. They blog daily and always have something unique to feature. You can expect to see children’s books, YA, manga, and pretty much whatever they feel like reviewing and discussing. I get a lot of awesome feedback from Twirling Book Princess and one particular post they do that I enjoy is their Teaser Tuesday They do this thing where they have Random.org pick a random percentage and then they pull a quote from that percent in the book. I just thought that was an awesome idea. Here’s a link to their latest Teaser Tuesday.
I’d say that A Rambling Reviewer is more of a traditional reviewer than the last two bloggers we’ve discussed, and I mean that in a good way. Like many of us book reviewers, Lindsey (blog owner) didn’t intend on running a review blog, she just kind of did. I like how relatable Lindsey is and also how thorough her reviews are. Lindsey enjoys many genres of books, a few examples are Fantasy, Historical, and Young Adult, but there are more than just that. Lindsey also does TV/Film recommendations like I do! I love that. I think that of all the blogs I’ve posted today A Rambling Reviewer is the most similar to what I do in terms of content. So if you like my blog, I think you will like this one even more!
The Sea of Monsters ups the stakes while keeping the same antics and fun tone.
After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson-a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any “normal” friends.
But things don’t stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia-only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name? The Bermuda Triangle.
Now Percy and his friends-Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson-must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family-one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon’s son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.
(Description from Amazon)
I love how in this book the situation is intensifying and the tone is a tiny bit more serious, but the series keeps its humor. My favorite quote from the books is this:
“The real story of the Fleece: there were these two children of Zeus, Cadmus and Europa, okay? They were about to get offered up as human sacrifices, when they prayed to Zeus to save them. So Zeus sent this magical flying ram with golden wool, which picked them up in Greece and carried them all the way to Colchis in Asia Minor. Well, actually it carried Cadmus. Europa fell off and died along the way, but that’s not important.”
“It was probably important to her.”
Conversation between Annabeth and Percy
This quote makes me laugh, it made me laugh when I first read the series and it makes me laugh now. This series has such wonderfully done “light” dark humor that really hits the right way. Riordan does a spectacular job of writing humor that can be appreciated by both kids and adults. As a kid I didn’t really think about the actual repercussions of Europa falling to her death, but as an adult the humor is different because I actually thought about it.
It’s not all laughs though. The Sea of Monsters ups the intensity by throwing in more backstory and giving Percy a family member that he isn’t so willing to accept. I love how this book is relatable for kids in a different way. A lot of kids know how difficult it can be to have a new sibling, especially if that sibling is a lot to deal with. Percy goes through that and he learns a lot of lessons about family along the way. Percy learns acceptance and humility, and he also learns that family is a complete mess and you are bound to run into issues here and there.
One quote that particularly stands out and perfectly explains what I’m getting at is this,
“Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we’re related for better or for worse…and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum.”
Hermes
On top of Percy learning to accept his family, Annabeth also learns to get over a prejudice and accept someone for who/what they are. She learns that no ones fate is guaranteed by their parentage or race. I like how this is done subtly, and I think Riordan is a genius for how he implemented these real world issues into this middle grade novel. Kids don’t even know they’re learning about acceptance and family issues until after they’re done reading. It’s hard to achieve this kind of writing without laying it on too heavy, it’s so easy to show a lesson, but it’s difficult to make a lesson fun.
The series really starts to pick up from this point so I expect my reviews to be a bit longer from this point on. A lot more themes are about to come into play, and the tone will darken a bit. Stick around and check out what I think of the next book in the series, The Titan’s Curse.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
The Sea of Monsters is an easy 5/5 stars!
Have you read the second installment in the Percy Jackson series? Did you read it as a kid or as an adult? Let me know in the comments.
This Monday is going to be a little bit different. We are losing the review to talk about some upcoming movie adaptations that I am looking forward to. I have read one single book on this list, but I intend to read the ones that I haven’t either before or after I’ve seen the movies!
If I am being honest I’ve never read an Agatha Christie novel in my life, but I love mysteries of all kinds and Christie was a mystery aficionado.
“Death on the Nile is an upcoming American mystery thriller film directed by Kenneth Branagh, with a screenplay by Michael Green, based on the 1937 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie. The film is a follow-up to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express and stars Branagh returning as Hercule Poirot, as well as Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Emma Mackey, Dawn French, Rose Leslie, Jennifer Saunders, and Russell Brand. The film is the third screen adaptation of Christie’s novel, following the 1978 film and a 2004 episode of the television series Agatha Christie’s Poirot. The plot follows Poirot, a world-renowned detective, who becomes involved in a love triangle gone murderously bad while on a vacation in Egypt.”
(Description from Wikipedia)
I love movies filmed in Egypt, the setting is just so beautiful and it reminds me of old school films. Egypt is very much an older venue for movies, according to my very unprofessional opinion, and modern movies don’t take advantage of Egypt’s beauty as much. I love the pyramids, and it’s a view I always welcome.
Also, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, and Russell Brand! Not everyone welcomes Brand the same way I do, and for me it will be nice to see his face on the screen again.
Death on the Nile is expected to release October 23rd.
This book was so popular when I worked at the bookstore, and, don’t quote me on this, but I’m pretty sure it was an “Oregon Battle of the Books” book. Here is a description:
“The One and Only Ivan is an upcoming 2020 American fantasy film directed by Thea Sharrock, from a screenplay written by Mike White, and based on the children’s novel of the same name by K. A. Applegate. The film stars the voices of Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, Brooklynn Prince, Chaka Khan, Ron Funches, Phillipa Soo and White, with the human characters portrayed by Ramón Rodríguez, Ariana Greenblatt and Bryan Cranston.”
(Description from Wikipedia)
I love Bryan Cranston, Angelina Jolie, and Danny DeVito, so I have really high hopes for this adaptation. It seems like a well received and loved book, so I’m just hoping they do it justice for the fans.
The One and Only Ivan will begin streaming on Disney+ August 21st.
I’ve never heard of this book and I had no idea the movie was coming out, but I read a little bit about it and it sounds interesting.
“A man suddenly realizes visions he has been having are actually memories from his past.”
“Infinite is an upcoming American science fiction action film directed by Antoine Fuqua, produced by Rafi Crohn, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Antoine Fuqua, Mark Huffam, Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Mark Vahradian and John Zaozirny, with a screenplay written by John Lee Hancock and Ian Shorr. The film’s cast is scheduled to include Mark Wahlberg, Dylan O’Brien, Sophie Cookson, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Jason Mantzoukas, Rupert Friend, Toby Jones and Chiwetel Ejiofor, with Wahlberg producing the film.”
(Ridiculously terrible descriptions from Wikipedia)
The description from Wikipedia makes this movie sound like the least interesting thing that I’ve ever read so here’s the description of the actual book.
“Haunted by memories of two past lives, a troubled young man stumbles upon a centuries-old secret society of similar individuals and dares to join their ranks.”
Discovered in an antique store in Rome at the turn of the millennium, The Reincarnationist Papers offers a tantalizing glimpse into the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives. Evan Michaels struggles with being different, with having the complete memories of two other people who lived sequentially before him. He fights loneliness and believes his ‘condition’ is unique until he meets Poppy. She recognizes his struggle because she has the same ‘condition’, except that she is much older, remembering back seven consecutive lives. But there is something else she must share with Evan – she is a member of a secret society of others like them. They are, in effect, near immortals – compiling experiences and skills over lifetimes into near superhuman abilities that they have used to drive history toward their own agenda on a longer timeline. Through Poppy, Evan is invited into the Cognomina but he must decide if he can face their tests before entering this new mysterious society as their equal.”
(Better description from Amazon)
So, yes, the book description is far better than the movie description which worries me. I feel like this adaptation is already off to a bad start, especially because it was supposed to release this month but has been delayed to May 2021. But, it has Mark Wahlberg so I’m crossing my fingers.
Okay, I’m late to the party with this one. It released in June on Disney+ and I managed to miss it. Oops, hopefully that isn’t telling of the quality. Here’s a description.
“Artemis Fowl (known in certain territories as Artemis Fowl: The Secret World[3]) is a 2020 American science fantasy adventure film based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Irish author Eoin Colfer. It is directed by Kenneth Branagh, from a screenplay co-written by Conor McPherson and Hamish McColl. The film stars Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Josh Gad, Tamara Smart, Nonso Anozie, Colin Farrell, and Judi Dench. It details the adventures of Artemis Fowl II, a 12-year-old Irish prodigy who teams up with his faithful servant, a dwarf, and a fairy in order to rescue his father, Artemis Fowl I, who has been kidnapped by another fairy looking to reclaim an item the Fowl family has stolen.”
(Description from Wikipedia)
I tried to read Artemis Fowl when I was a kid and I wasn’t into it. It’s one of those books I’ve though of picking up many times since then, and I just haven’t. But, maybe if the movie is good I’ll pick the first book up. I’ll make a deal right now. I’ll watch the movie, review it a week from today, and if I like it I’ll grab the first book.
I AM TERRIFIED AND EXCITED! DESCRIPTION BELOW!
“Despite second thoughts about their relationship, a young woman takes a road trip with her new boyfriend to his family farm. Trapped at the farm during a snowstorm with Jake’s mother and father, the young woman begins to question the nature of everything she knew or understood about her boyfriend, herself, and the world.” -Netflix
So I read this book on a recommendation from a coworker when I first started working at the bookstore. I don’t know the words to express the crazy psychological ride this book took me on, and it’s not very long. According to Wikipedia it is 224 pages long, and I read it in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. I’m going to have to read it again, it was a wild ride.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things is expected to release via Netflix on September 4th.
I had a professor in college who raved about this book, The movie is titled The Turning. Here’s a description.
“The Turning is a 2020 American horror film directed by Floria Sigismondi and written by Carey W. Hayes and Chad Hayes. It is a modern, gynocentric adaptation of the 1898 ghost story The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The film stars Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Brooklynn Prince, and Joely Richardson, and follows a young governess in 1994 who is hired to watch over two children after their parents’ deaths.
The film first entered development in March 2016 and was described as a passion project for Steven Spielberg, who executive produced, wanting to be involved in a horror film again. The adaptation went through two phases of production: first as Haunted with Juan Carlos Fresnadillo attached as director, then as The Turning with Sigismondi. Filming took place at Killruddery House, County Wicklow, Ireland from February through April 2018.”
(Description from Wikipedia)
Okay, so I’m late to this party too, which makes me uneasy. I’m watching this when I get home from work. I was excited because Finn Wolfhard is in it, and the professor who loved it was one of my most respected professors. But, I’ve heard zero buzz about this movie. Maybe, I’m just out of the loop. We shall see, I’ll review this one too.
Well that wraps up what I’m currently looking forward to, and also what I have already missed. Tune back in and hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to review these movies, and maybe do a side by side comparison with the books.
Have I missed anything important? What are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments.
Hello 24! Today is my day to celebrate surviving another year, and I’d like to pat myself on the back for a new personal record. I do NOT feel 24, some days I feel 10 and others I feel 100, but never 24 😂
I hope everyone has as fantastic of a day as I am. Don’t worry I’ll eat enough cake and ice cream for all of you ❤️
I didn’t hit all of my goals for last month, but considering I started a new full time job I don’t think I did too bad. I was about 200 followers shy of my 1,000 increase. So this month I’m going to put my total follower goal at 4,500.
I’m also going to try and put out at least one book review a week and keep with my Movie Review Monday.
My biggest goal is to be kind to myself, because I’m still adjusting to a new job, I have a 1 1/2 year old, and I’m trying to keep up with my nearly daily blog schedule. That’s a lot of stuff to juggle.
Thanks to all my wonderful followers as usual. Interacting with you all makes it worth every second.
This updated version of the classic by H.G. Well is sure to give you nightmares! Let’s take a deeper look at what makes this movie so scary.
The Invisible Man is a 2020 science fiction horror film written and directed by Leigh Whannell. It follows a woman who believes she is being stalked by her abusive and wealthy boyfriend even after his apparent suicide.[3] She ultimately deduces that he has acquired the ability to become invisible.[4] The film stars Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer, Michael Dorman, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. It is an international co-production of the United States and Australia.
(Description from Wikipedia)
When I first saw that The Invisible Man was being turned into an updated film I kind of scoffed. I thought to myself, how could this be scary? Well, my skepticism was quickly quelled, because this movie is freaky. The acting is great and the plot had me on the edge of my seat.
I think what makes this film most frightening is that the relationship between Cecelia and Adrian is so authentic for an abusive relationship. On top of that you throw in Adrian having super genius intelligence, and the potential for him to haunt her from “beyond the grave”. This movie was scary on multiple different levels of the horror spectrum. There are scenes that will stick with me for the rest of my life.
Adrian is what we could call the poster child for an abusive partner. He isolated Cecelia by controlling everything from what she ate, wore, said, and eventually thought. Every aspect of her life was under surveillance and had every red flag you could imagine. Setting up this relationship set the tone and increased the seriousness of the situation. I love when a horror movie has real life problems mixed in with the “paranormal” or “abnormal” circumstances, because it gives people something to relate to.
Elisabeth Moss puts on an A+ performance in this movie. I didn’t expect anything less based on her performance in The Handmaid’s Tale, but you never know. She definitely brought her A game, she makes the emotions come to life and her fear is genuine on screen. Elisabeth has an emotive face and she was by far the correct choice for the leading lady of this movie. I will say that the rest of the acting is about average. Not very many well known actors/actresses are featured but they did put on a pretty good performance.
I was frustrated in some parts because I feel like Cecelia could’ve done more to prove her innocence. Adrian does everything he can to make Cecelia look insane and to get her family/friends to turn on her. She finds all kinds of proof but I feel like she doesn’t fight her case hard enough. I also understand that she had forces gaslighting her every step of the way, and that is painfully real. But, for as strong as she is and outspoken, I feel like there was more she could’ve said or done. Also she goes to places that would obviously have cameras to prove her innocence but no one bothers to check and see what happened. It felt like a big plot hole.
This movie will make you fall in love with Cecelia. She has the kind of human resilience that you would expect from a strong willed person. She has every attribute to make you love her, but she is also flawed. She struggles with existence post-abuse and her life is far from fixed. The script and directing of this movie did a fabulous job of creating a protagonist you just want to root for.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I give The Invisible Man 4/5 stars!
If you’d like to rent a copy follow this link! It’s only 2.99 USD right now!
Have you seen The Invisible Man? Or have you read the original from H.G. Wells? Let me know what you think in the comments!
So I saw on Twitter that NetGalley has finally developed an app. I only checked it out briefly and here are my thoughts.
Pros
It’s direct. There’s no download, make sure your kindle account is connected to the app, and then hope the the e-copy is formatted in a decent way, like you have to with the Kindle app. It’s a straight shot, you just log in, and boom, you can download your books.
You can bookmark pages for later. I know this is the most basic function that can be offered in an e-reading app, but I’m glad they didn’t leave it out, so I’m counting it as a pro.
Hopefully this will eliminate that crappy other app you’d have to download for graphic novels. It never worked right and I do most of my e-reading on my phone and the previous app just wasn’t compatible.
Cons
I did not see an option to highlight! This is my biggest issue. I do a lot of highlighting in the Kindle app so I’m hoping this will get added in soon.
I was really hoping you’d be able to browse new titles to request, but you can’t. At least I don’t think… it seems like just an e-reading app. Which I’m okay with I just would’ve liked the convenience of it all being in one place.
Questions I have
I didn’t thoroughly explore so I can’t say without a reasonable doubt that this app supports reading graphic novels, and I’m really hoping it does. Does anyone know the answer to that?
Does anyone know if they have plans to integrate the requesting system into the app? I’d love that!
Am I crazy for being upset that I can’t highlight? Let me know 🤣
If you’re into mystery horror novels Reading with My Eyes has a recommendation for you. Check out the full review of Home Before Dark by clicking the link. -Sav
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