Review: Books, Songs and Wallflowers

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars








This is a different book and, even though I’m not really sure what I was expecting, I can say that this wasn’t it. In honor of this rare occasion, I’ll do a different review as well. For those who are reading this review in hopes to read this book, I’ll give a little taste of what to expect of it. I’m pretty sure this won’t be much difference, cose this book is a surprise no matter what you expect.

Reviewed on 06/25/2012.


Dear Friend,

I’m writing to you so I can share something I think is just too special for me to keep it to myself. I just read a book called The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

I know, I know, it doesn’t sound so great and the cover is really dorky, but sometimes a dorky cover can hide a really cool story. The story is about this guy named Charlie.

He is really shy and doesn’t have many friends, so I was really happy for him when he told me he had made some new friends.

People often say they are happy for other people’s happiness without meaning it, but I totally do. So, Charlie meets Patrick who is really outgoing and knows a lot of stuff. He is fun and has a really great laugh that makes you want to laugh with him, because he is so happy that his happiness leaks and reaches everyone around him.

Charlie also meets Sam. She is so cool and pretty, but in an honest kind of way. You don’t know what kind of pretty is this? Well, is like this, she doesn’t cover every inch of her face in heavy makeup and when she smiles she really smiles. Not that kind of smile that looks like is painful because is so stretched, or the kind that makes you uncomfortable because is creepy.

The best thing about them is that they are the coolest people Charlie knows and still, they make him feel welcome and they really get to know him, like I did.

I wish I could say that this story is about Charlie making friends and being happy all the time, but that would be a lie. He does tell some really happy and funny stories, but also some really sad ones.
I wish I could’ve done more for him than just listen to him tell me his stories and his experiences in life. I wish I could’ve talk to him back and tried to give him advises about what he was telling me. And sometimes I wish I could punch someone for making him feel so sad, but I guess that wouldn’t help him much, would it? Well, I guess not.
Charlie loves to read and makes mix tapes. A mix tape, if you don’t know what it is yet, is a tape where you pick up a selection of songs with a purpose. It can be mix of happy songs like: Road Trip Mix Tape, Going To The Beach Mix Tape, Happy Birthday Mix tape, etc. Or it also can be a mix of sad songs like: I Just Got Dump Mix Tape. It can really be anything you want it to be.
Charlie gives the best music and book recommendations and when he talks about the songs, the meaning behind it and how he feels when he listen to it is really moving.
This is really a great story and I was so happy to meet Charlie and hear him talk about his life, family and friends. I cried with him, got mad with him and for him, got sad and confused, but I also felt happiness and laughed with him.
If you are reading this review in hopes to see if this book is all what everyone says it is, I’m not sure this review will help you, because I have no idea what you think this book is, but you’re probably wrong. I can’t tell you what this book is, because for me or anyone else to try to explain how it felt to listen to this book (I listened to the audio) is like trying to explain to a blind what the sky looks like. I can tell you this book is about a teenager that had some really deep problems and keeps writing to someone about them and what happens in his life like writing to a diary. That would be accurate and it’s what this book shows, just like if you tell the sky is blue.
That fact is not the heart of this book, is just the outlines. What makes something special is how it makes you feel. Just like I felt sucked in by the writing and the audio record. Connected to a fictional character to the point of seeing trough his eyes and feel like I’m part of the story too. While I listened to the book I was the one Charlie was talking with, I was his friend and that feeling of belonging, of being part of something, is what made me love this story.

But I must warn you that this is a sad book and bad things happen in it, so if you don’t like sad stories, even the ones with hope, and friendship, and love in it, you shouldn’t read it.

Since I can’t explain exactly how I felt, I’ll use one quote that seems to be as close as it can be. This is in the beginning of the book, so it’s not spoiler at all.



“I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.”


The movie is coming up soon and I can’t wait to watch it.

In case you haven't watched the movie trailer yet, here it is:

This Reading is Part of The Following Reading Challenges:

Review ; Dust, Sweat and Fairies

Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars








Reviewed on 06/24/2012

In this review I’ll do something I never did before; I’ll do two reviews of the same book. Actually, is one review but divided in two levels, or whatever you want to make of it.

Realistic /Normal Plot - On a realistic/ normal level, we have a plot about a girl that is half white and half black living in a time when black people were treated very poorly, to say the least. So her mother hided her in a hotel in the middle of nowhere and changed her name, cose in that time, your name would tell who you were. I live in Brazil and we don’t have things like this name stuff, but in the past, there were things as black name, Jew name, and etc. Calie is very sick and needs to leave or else her dust pneumonia (which I didn’t even knew existed) would kill her. But her mother won’t let her go and insist they must stay so her father, Callie’s father, can find them when he comes back to them. This was bad, but since like things tend to get even worse when you think it’s already terrible, a dust storm appears and her mother disappears leaving her all alone. Now she has to find a way to find her mother and her dad.

Fantasy Plot - On a fantasy level, we have a plot about a girl that is half human and half fairy that is hunted by her own people and has no idea what she really is. So, her mother hides her in the middle of nowhere changing her name and keeping her out of the fairy radar (both seelie and unseelie). Calie wants to leave and her health is in jeopardy, but her mother wants to stay and wait for Calie ‘s dad to come home. Calie is growing up and her magic is getting hard to hide until a day when an unnatural dust storm appears from nowhere and takes Calie’s mother away. Now she is alone and has to find out what happened to her mother and her dad, who she doesn’t see in years.

I like this plot. Separately they are ok, but when you mix them together you get something really different and unique. The words I like to use and I rarely get to is: “This plot is something like you never saw before.” Well, you may have, but this is 100% first time for me.

The Characters-
Calie is a smart girl and is not our silly and naïve girl. She can take care of herself and deals with hard situations better than I could ever deal with. But, she is not street smart and she does some things really innocent and that makes us go all *Look how adorable she is*. Jack, I wasn’t really sure what to make of him, and I’m still not sure I do, but he is something solid in Calie’s path and he is very important to the story. I just wish there was something more in him. I wanted to see more of him, but then again, I always want more from the cute and courageous guys in the stories I read. Calie’s mom, I don’t hate her and that’s a lot to say about the parents in stories like that. She doesn’t appear much, but I get the sense that she loves Calie very much and wants to protect her. From what, I’m still not sure, but is something terrible. The fey, what to say about the fey? *scratch head* In simple words: Beautiful, terrifying and 100% sly and liars. If there’s one thing I’ve learn with the Iron Fey series is not to trust the fey and in this book that hasn’t change one bit. I can’t say they are evil, cose for me to say something like that they would have to have morals and feelings and be bound by human laws and way of thinking. They are not, so that doesn’t apply to them. All I can say is that they are dangerous, no matter how lovely and enchanted they seem on the outside.

The Writing- This is the first book I read from this author and I’m happy that I did, cose this is one great writing. How can I be sure? Well, in this book we have food recipes, clothes details, hairdo details and all sorts of things that usually made me sleepy and distracted, but in this case I liked. I really liked and I’m totally gonna prepare some of the recipes. LoL the way this author describes the fey, the scenery and all the magic is so natural that all the parts fit perfectly. First person narrative, just the way I like it. All story trough Calie’s eyes.

Considerations - Before I read this book I read a few reviews about it, and I must confess I was prepared to not like it very much and to find it a little boring and dull. I started to read it and, to my so, so happy surprise, I love it. I could spend hours discussing the repercussion of racism on that time and how people judged you by your color, your clothes, your name and the money you had. But that would stand till today since that hasn’t changed much with the years. I could talk about how terrible the dust was and how people died from hunger and dust pneumonia, which is a terrible way to die ( I did a little research about it while reading the book). I could also talk about murderers that hid themselves behind a badge to commit crimes against refugees that were trying to survive. Entire families murdered in the name of the law by criminals. Or, if I was in the mood for a happier subject, I could talk about music, jazz and how they are magical, in normal and fantasy worlds. Music can make you forget your pain and sorrows, can give you strength and comfort you when times get hard. Music can bring people together and also make you believe. Believe in a happier future, in a better time, in love, in happiness and in magic. In this story the magic is built on wishes and songs. I found this the best part of all this story, cose I believe this can be applied in our lives. Our wishes makes us move forward. Is because we wish and dream that we create wonderful things. It can take longer to come true, but we also make magic every day.
As I already said in some of my reviews, I don’t think there’s a perfect book and this has its flaws, but I do believe the good parts are brighter than the bad parts. I’m sure it has, but I can’t remember them. My mind was too busy with all the good parts to bother to remember the bad ones. I want the second book, really bad. And I think I have the perfect quote to finish this review:

"Oh, no. I'm seeing this through. How else am I gonna know how the story ends?"

This is exactly how I’m feeling right now. I need to know how the story ends.

If you are a visual person and would like to see some pics from that time to feel inside the story like I do, here are some pics I found about the dust bowl.

In the end of the book the author gives us a playlist that inspire her about this story. I’m not gonna give you all the playlist, I’m not that nice, but I’ll give you one song that I’m sure made me understand and like this book even more. The song is called "The Midnight Special" (traditional), sung by Huddie Ledbetter to John and Alan Lomax, 1934.

*An ARC was kindly provided by the publisher. But this in no way influenced my views on this book. This is my honest review.*

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop

Howdy everyone!

So, summer is near, the sun is shining brighter and all we want is to soak up the sun.

In this time of the year all we think a bout is this

Yeah, to watch the sun on the beach is awesome, dude. It's so romantic. But when you think of summer, we also think of fun times that may involve crazy stuff like this

But the fact is, while you guys are having fun in the sun, your Brazilian friend here is facing the cold greeting of the winter.

Yeah, I know, I know. It's sad. And if that wasn't bad enough, in June 21 I'm getting older. *tear* Is like the saddest ever. But on the bright side, at least I can eat cake. 

Sometimes silverware just get in the way. Besides, the cake tastes much better when you eat like this. 

Ok, now that I whined and bitched about my stuff, you know, cold and getting old *sigh* lets get to the happy part of this post. The reason we are all here *prizes*. Yep, in this Summer Eve Hope you can have fun talking about summer stuff and get a chance to win one of these amazing book or anyone you chose from book depository with the value up to $12. This is an International giveaway and everyone is welcome to enter. Just make sure you country is on the list of the  countries that Book Delivery delivers *giggle*

The Books

Endure by Carrie Jones 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead 

Isn't those covers so, so, so, so, so, so beautiful? Yeah *glittery eyes* I think so, too.

What do I need to do to enter this awesome giveaway? You may ask. Well, it's simple. Just fill the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be announced and contacted within 72 hours after this giveaway ends.

But don't forget, this is a giveaway hop, so please be sure to visit the others blogs and enter their wonderful giveaway too. The more the merrier, right? This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Uniquely Moi Books.  

Heven And Hell Tour - Charade

Hi everyone. So is finally my day of this AMAZING tour and is my pleasure to have the awesome author here to tell us all about her new book and answer all my very important questions *giggle*. Oh, and we get a treat from Charade too. Some really cool postcards from Italy. *sigh*

First of all I need to say some things about CamCam (we are friends LoL).

Look how pretty she is

I started to read her books because of her. She is so cool and adorable. Is like my bff from the other side of the globe. And her accent, oh my gosh, is soooooo cute. LoL

Don’t believe me? Well, see it for yourself. Here is a video of hee teaching how to make bubble tea.

And beside the looks and the super duper cute accent, she’s also a great writer and if you have any taste in books you will run to get one of her books in the first book store you find it.

Look how pretty the covers are

For more of Cambria and her wonderful books go to her FAB site cambriaherbert.com.

Now that I babblished about CamCam *giggle* I’ll leave you all in her wonderful hands.

I am so excited to be here today during Tour of Italy for the Charade Blog tour. Charade is the second book in the Heven and Hell series and in this book the main characters travel to Italy on a school trip… and because Heven and Sam have a mission to complete.

For today’s Tour of Italy post we have some special treats for you!

First up is a mini entry from Heven’s travel diary.

Dear Diary,

Italy is amazing. The people, the food, the culture. Sam won’t stop eating and I can’t blame him, the Italians savor their meals and their food.

As I write I am sitting at this little café table outside a coffee shop. Sam is a little disappointed that there is no Bubble Tea here, ha ha ha. But I can’t wait to try how the Italians make coffee. Since we have been here I have learned that the Italians don’t like to have coffee WITH their meal. They think that coffee should be savored on its own. I actually agree.

So when our group was given a bit of free time to explore what better thing to do than sit outside among this incredible architecture and savor some coffee?

Here comes Sam with our cups now…

I’m back! Sam got us Café con Cioccolato which translates into Italian coffee with chocolate. Leave it to Sam to find some chocolate. Sam watched them make it… he says it’s basically strong coffee with hot cocoa in it and whipped cream on top. There is also grated orange peel sprinkled on the whipped cream.

It’s different than American coffee but I really like it. I think I will sit here and sip it, not worry about anything (like attacking demons) and write a postcard or two to home.

Me and Sam’s postcards:

         

I think I will send this one to my Mom in thanks for letting me come here.

           

What a great day in Italy!

Heven

Want to try the coffee Heven and Sam drank while writing postcards? The recipe is super easy!

Recipe for Café con Cioccolato

Ingredients:

2 cup hot strong coffee
2 cup hot traditional cocoa
1 whipped cream
1 grated orange peel



how to make:
Combine 1/2 cup coffee and 1/2 cup cocoa in each 4 mugs. Top with whipped cream; sprinkle with orange peel.

(Recipe thanks to: From Sheila Buff & Judi Olstein, "The New Mixer's Guide to Low-Alcohol & Nonalcoholic Drinks." Published By HPBooks, Inc., 1986, ISBN 0-89586-458-4.)

And now for more fun an interview with the author!

                                                                                      

Interview with Cambria

1)      In Charade we go to Rome, place of love and romance. *sigh* What made you pick this city in particular?

I actually picked this city because it is known for its religion and history. It is the perfect setting for the characters to take an ancient scroll created by God. I love the history and the creepiness of the catacombs… it all just seemed to fit with the Heven and Hell series. 

2)      Speaking of love *raising an eyebrow* tell us a little about how you met your Bo. Was it love at first sight? *resting my chin on my hands and looking up with googly eyes* How was your first kiss? When did you know he was “the one”? Tell me, tell me, tell me. Pretty please, with a cherry on top. *batting my lashes*

Lol. Well, since you asked so nicely I will tell you. I can’t say for sure if it was love at first sight when I met my husband but I do know that the very first time I saw him my first thought was “that’s the guy I’m going to marry”. I just knew. No, I am not making that up either. We met at the beach (first kiss was on the beach too). My Grandmother used to rent a house on the beach every year for the whole family to go to. My aunt was stationed in the same town (she was in the Marines) and called him and introduced us… we have been together ever since. At first it was a long distance thing but then he got orders to another state and asked me to go with him. I did. It’s kind of odd because a couple years before that a friend of mine and I were talking and I told her that I always felt like the man I would marry would either be from North Carolina or Maine… (I lived in Maryland). Then I met Shawn… he lived in NC but he grew up in Maine. I’m not making that up either. Our ten year wedding anniversary is on the 17^th of June.

3)      Wow, ten years? That's like a lifetime. Congratulations CamCam. Ok, so, in Masquerade Heven get powers, you know, like X-man and stuff. If you could chose between the two, who do you think is a better kisser, Sam or Cole and why? Is it the technic or the whole package? LoL

I’m going to go with Sam. Sam is just… well he’s Sam. He is hot, he is mysterious and he seems to feel things really deeply, probably because of everything he has been through. I think that would make him a fantastic kisser and he has a head of hair that I would love to run my hands through. Cole is great too, but he isn’t quite as dangerous, he’s a little more laid back.

4)      Yeah, yeah, we all know how hot Sam is, now back off. *gritting my teeth* I don't want to get all Kim up in your face. So, lets talk about other stuff. Once I've read that to be a writer is to have multiple personalities, and each of the characters is one side of you hidden from the world. If that is true, what part of you is China? Do you really hide a bitchy demon inside? LoL Oh, and, if that is true, can I please talk to Sam? Sam? It’s me. Love yah! *wink*

Well, my husband definitely thinks that I have multiple personalities… and you know I guess I would agree. Is there a China inside me… yup there is. LOL. There’s a little of China in everyone... ha ha ha. But, I try not to let the China in me out very often cause she is nasty… course I would never go as far as her. I think there might even be a little of Sam in me somewhere, if you could talk to him what would you say?


Oh, that's easy I would say something like, I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy. asking him to love her. LoL That was totally Nothing Hill rip off. LoL It would be that or something more, physical IF you know what I mean *raising my eyebrows meaningfully*. LoL

5)      Now, the really hard question. Mocca, Latte or Capuccino?

Latte. Hands down, no questions asked. I get a latte every single time I get coffee. And if I could get it with a swirl of caramel that would be fabulous.

About the Book!

                                     

Dying at the hands of a psycho was a shock. Having my life returned to me by an angel was incredible. Being named a Supernatural Treasure and being given Sam as my guard was pretty darn awesome. Acquiring a debt for it all—well, I should have seen it coming.

Now here we are, fighting demons from Hell, caring for a boy that I just don’t trust, and traveling to faraway places to return a treasure to its rightful place. Nothing is as it seems. Everyone wears a mask; everyone puts on a charade. It’s up to us to separate the truth from the lies and reality from fiction. A hard task when my new reality involves fallen angels, witches and dragons… and did I mention Hell?

Anchoring me down through it all is Sam. Sam, who must face tragedies of his own and is put to the test again and again.

If we fail in our task, life as we know it—life as you know it—will end. Forever.

Links to Purchase:

(Paperback and Ebook)

Amazon

Barnesand Noble 

Smashwords 

Review: Love and All That

Charade by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reviewed on 06/03/2012

Ok, guys, this book has a lot going on and like 80% of it is gonna grab you by the bolls and spin you so fast that you’ll forget your own name. I say this in the best sense of the expression. This is something good, even though it sounds terrible, you know, with the bolls and all. But, trust me, it's a really good thing. I love when a book surprise me this way. But, unfortunately, I’ll have to keep a lot of the things in secret, cose the fun about it is in find out for ourselves. But, I’ll try say all I can about it, so you can understand how I feel about this book and all you can expect to find in it.

The Plot - Heven is something like a big shot in this book. Sam is like her body guard and has to keep her save from all the demons that are after what she is caring. They have to take it to where it belongs. Where is it? In freaking Italy!!! Heven and Sam are teenagers working for minimal wagers. I wander how that’s gonna happen. LoL

The Characters - Lets start with Heven.

She is different now, more confidant and strong. Is like she can walk with her head upright and face what the future brings instead of hiding like she used to do in the first book. I like her better now.

Sam.

He is strong, hardworking and so, so, so dreamy. What more can I say? *sigh* I love him.

.

The Writing - Cambria writes in little details. What do I mean by that? Well, she likes to makes us see and feel every little detail of everything in the story. This can be a little slow moving and since, as you all know, I have the attention span of a 5yo, it can be a little distracting sometimes. But if you like lots of details and long talks, this book is for you.
1º peeps POV, always a pleasure, of course. From Sam and Heven. If you think about it, it’s a win – win situation. I get to see trough Sam’s eyes and when is Heven, I get to enjoy the better view of my one and truly. S2

Consideration - The fate of human kind is in jeopardy and all the hell is breaking lose. How would you feel if demons would pop up from everywhere to attack you? I would surely shit my pants seven ways till Sunday, that’s for sure. The lizard guy? WTF was that? If that type of hell is what is in your mind, Cambria, I shudder to think about how your nightmares must be like.
Ok, so now is the part where I say to all : GO READ THIS BOOK! But Why? You may ask. Well, lets see if I can get this right.


This book is for you if:


• You like very descript writing
• You like romantic and adorable relationships
• You like angels
• You like hellhounds
• You like Italy
• You like seen a girl kicking a guy’s ass
• You like creepy demons that can get inside your dreams *double creepy*
• You love the cover of this book
• You like surprises
• You are a good person
• You don’t want me to kick you in the bolls
• That’s IT, GO READ THE BOOK!!!!!!



View all my reviews