Thursday, January 21, 2016
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
What's Next For This Bookish Person
What does a bookish person want for the New Year? Now that is really difficult to articulate since a bookish person like me would tell you that I want to read all of those books on my TBR pile and review them all as soon as I am done. It’s more like a fantabulous wish, really. Most of us bookish people live in fiction if you know what I mean.
Taking a good look at 2015 will probably make a good sense of what I do want for 2016, then. Goodreads made a beautiful illustration of each member’s Year 2015 in Books, and here is mine (click on the photo below).
Taking a good look at 2015 will probably make a good sense of what I do want for 2016, then. Goodreads made a beautiful illustration of each member’s Year 2015 in Books, and here is mine (click on the photo below).
Last July 2015, I posted the best books I’ve read for the first half of the year. And to that I am adding these beauties:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – This will always be beautiful, maybe, no matter how many times I reread it. I will always love Atticus, I guess.
- The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence – I’m so enamored with the kind of friendship Alex showed here. It is a story not easily forgotten.
- Slade House by David Mitchell – This one is short but an unrelenting thrill. Just brilliant!
- Night Study by Maria V. Snyder – I am ridiculously biased toward this series. I love every detail, every character, and the development of the story. It just keeps getting better every time. Release date on January 26, 2016.
- The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick – Arthur Pepper is one hell of a guy to root for. He is curiously charming –all heart and nothing less. He’s coming out this May 2016.
For special mentions:
- All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
- Family Life by Akhil Sharma
The Goodreads’ illustration and this list will tell you that I almost read anything, although I still prefer seeking the books I want to read for authentic enjoyment. So, what does this bookish person want for the New Year? I want satisfying reads. It doesn’t necessarily have to make me happy. It may leave me in a pile of tears and snot, for all I care, as long as I’m fully satisfied. Satisfied in that sense where I am able to hold on to something substantial and not easily forgotten.
On that note, I may have to forego my yearly challenge. I’ll read how many books I can read. Sure, 75 was a good number. I was not really pressured, or anything, to reach that number. But having an actual number out there seems restricting as it is. So, no more numbers.
I’d like to add more buddy-reading this year. Last year limited me to Perdido Street Station and When We Were Orphans; and that’s so sad. I miss the ‘Wenches of TFG’ very very much!
The TFG Dare To Read Challenge could have been better. Yeah, sure, I’ve accomplished them, but I’m hoping that this year’s challenges will be better.
I may also have to make some changes on the book requests. I’ll make a separate post for that one, including my plans for this blog.
For now, I’m happy to be up and about and blogging once again. Thank you for staying with The Page Walker all through 2015, and hope that you keep on visiting.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Book Review | THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER by Phaedra Patrick
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3 May 2016; MIRA |
When Arthur Pepper discovers a mysterious charm bracelet in his late wife’s wardrobe, he sets off on a journey to discover, charm by charm, her secret life before they met.
Having been married for over 40 years, 69-year-old Arthur Pepper is mourning the loss of his wife. On the anniversary of her death, he finally musters the courage to go through her possessions and happens upon a charm bracelet that he has never seen before.
What follows is a surprising adventure that takes Arthur from London to Paris and India in an epic quest to find out the truth about his wife’s secret life before they met, a journey that leads him to find healing, self-discovery, and love in the most unexpected of places. ~Goodreads
THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER is like butter, it simply melts in your mouth. It is effortlessly beautiful and palatable. It hooked me from the very first page, and I just kept turning.
Arthur’s adventures are never short of excitement and curiosity. I can’t help myself rooting for him all through them. The oddity of how each adventure unfolded is a great illustration of how big and strange life is, but wonderful, at the same time.
Arthur’s reactions and realizations on each trip are poignantly heartwarming. Ms. Patrick did not only create a very attachable lead character but a much unexpected one too. Arthur may come out as someone that is “too good to be true”, but he is so unconsciously charming and convincing, I instantly became a fan.
And I'm still alive. I wish you were, too, but you're not.
And I want to live even though it hurts. I don't want to be a dried up crab.
The story’s themes are quite simple but very relevant to both the young and the old. It’s about people and connections. It’s about the stories we share and relationships that are worth keeping. It’s about the determination to never stop making memories.
THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER is that inspiring book you want to curl up with. I highly recommend it.
Book details:
Author: Phaedra Patrick
Publication: 3 May 2016; MIRA
Genre: Fiction
Rating: ★★★★★
*Thank you Mira and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for this honest review.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Wednesday Spotlight | The Secret of Sinbad's Cave by Brydie Walker Bain
About the Book:
Nat Sheppard’s world is turned upside down on the first day of the school holidays by the discovery of a secret room containing cave maps with clues to an ancient treasure. But Nat and her friends soon discover they’re not the only ones chasing the jewels. Professional treasure hunters are on the trail – and they’re prepared to eliminate anyone in their way.
Get your copies from Amazon, Smashwords, and iTunes.
About the Author:
She studied History and Theatre & Film at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and furthered her studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Back in New Zealand, she worked as an adventure cave guide for The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company, jumping off waterfalls, abseiling into caves and pretending to be her childhood hero MacGyver.
Brydie's plays have enjoyed readings in London, rave reviews and sell out audiences in Auckland, Hamilton and Waitomo. Her latest project is The Natnat Adventures. This young adult series successfully launched with 'TheSecret of Sinbad's Cave,' and continues with 'TheShip of Sight and The Hand of Shadow.'
*Contents sent author for this blog's publication. This is a free ad.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Book Review | The Ring of Brightest Angels Around Heaven: A Novella and Stories by Rick Moody
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| Kindle Edition November 10, 2015 |
The collection is composed of eleven stories portraying life in different voices, styles, and lucidity. It was previously printed in 1995, although, most of the stories first appeared in some literary magazines across the web.
Among the stories, The Grid got my attention. The intricate connection of people through the simple act of the first kiss, amidst robbery, heartbreak, separation, and change, is an idea worthy of exploration.
I must hand it to Rick Moody for braving wordplay and breaking the rules of writing. Each story is a risky step beyond reality. However, it felt too contrived, as if the stories were written detached from any emotion. He took the time to take something profound and muddled it up deliberately. I said this because every now and then a beautiful passage bobs to the surface, like:
There was a pattern to loss, I knew, as there was a pattern in fractals, a there was a pattern to the way city planners designed public spaces, as there was a pattern to the orbit of heavenly bodies, to the distribution of stars rushing outwards from a first infinitely dense singularity, there was a pattern to loss. Losses came in threes. Losses were inexplicable. Losses could be contained and controlled in the elegance of equations.
This detachment also mired the much-needed depth of characters. Normally, I am intrigued by unattractive, anti-hero characters leading a story. Here, it was a stretch to empathize with any of them.
THE RING OF BRIGHTEST ANGELS AROUND HEAVEN is mind-provoking, but a disjointed collection that, even with the risk-taking and bursts of unexpected quotes, struggles to emerge altogether.
Book details:
Title: The Ring of Brightest Angels Around Heaven: A Novella and Stories
Author: Rick Moody
Publication: November 10, 2015; Open Road Media
Genre: Fiction, Short Stories
Rating: êê
*Thank you Open Road Integrated Media for granting me access to this book in exchange for this honest review.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Wednesday Spotlight | Beginning Again Trilogy by Steven Hugh
About the Books:
Barbara Baker is indebted and alone, trying to bring up a child on her modest salary as a nurse. Following a vicious attack, she is befriended by a colleague’s brother who offers her a comfortable home and the chance to recover from her recent problems. She accepts, a little reluctantly at first, and despite their differences a cozy family life begins to form around them. However, Barbara’s past is starting to catch up with her.
Looking for a better life in the sun, the British couple Ian and Madeleine Pemberton give up their jobs and head off to the south of Spain to make a new start. At first they are charmed by the pleasant climate and lifestyle, but soon the practical side of making a living in a different country presents them with some unexpected experiences and challenges. Not the least of which is 'Venus'.
After many years of avoiding the press, the Gibraltarian actress Verity Xuereb-Smith finally agrees to give an interview to be published as a series of articles in a women’s magazine. As the conversation with the journalist progresses, she watches the years of her life go by and begins to evaluate her achievements.
Featuring clips from all her major TV and film roles.
You can get your copies from Amazon. com
About the Author:
Steven Hugh was born in 1966 and has lived, studied and worked in three countries: the UK, Germany and Spain. He currently lives in Algeciras, province of Cádiz in the south of Spain, with his partner. Apart from reading and writing, he also loves travelling, red wine and history.
*Contents sent author for this blog's publication. This is a free ad.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Book Review | NIGHT STUDY by Maria V. Snyder
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| January 26, 2016, MIRA |
New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder transports readers back to the realms of Sitia and Ixia in an exciting new Study novel full of magic, danger, and intrigue. ~ Amazon.com
Similar to Shadow Study, I dropped everything I’m reading to start on NIGHT STUDY straight away. To my regret, it ended much too soon. I was so enraptured with the events that I literally hate to stop. Night Study picked up pretty much where Shadow Study left off, followed by a series of twists and turns. Everything just keeps on pushing forward. There is no such thing as “downtime” in this installment.
Yelena is still struggling without her magic, but it’s not stopping her from hunting Owen and his band of miscreants. And this time, Valek is mostly there to tackle the challenges with her, while facing his own issues.
I am really wound up how this series is turning out. The thrilling adventures accompanied by a set of very remarkable characters with their perpetual squabbling and wit makes for an incredible read. I love everything Ms. Snyder did in this installment. I can’t wait and read how she’ll fuse everything together in Dawn Study.
I highly recommend that you read this too!
Book details:
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publication: January 26, 2016, MIRA
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Rating: ★★★★★
*Thanks to Netgalley and Mira Ink for the e-galley in exchange for this review.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Mira Ink for the e-galley in exchange for this review.
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