Book Review | THE FOREVER KING by Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy

Arthur Blessing is more than just a ten-year-old boy, for his mere name defines myth and magic. To keep the power, as ancient as time itself, is his by right. But forces beyond the grasp of humanity are after that same power. With Hal Woczniak as his guardian, Arthur must cross time and continent to stay alive- battling a mad sorcerer and his minions -long enough for him to reign once more.  If he ever chooses to…

Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy offered a new twist to the Pendragon legend, filled with actions and mysteries.  The setting interweaves between the present and ancient.  The characters were all interestingly presented and well-built in progression.  The story made me laugh, cry, and (most often) left me hanging at the edge of my seat. You wouldn’t want to put this down until you’re done. I never get tired of reading this over and over again. 

THE FOREVER KING series comes in three (3) books. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Book details:
Title: The Forever King
Author: Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy
Publication: July 1st, 1992 by Tom Doherty Associates (NY)
Genre: Fantasy, Arthurian, Mythology
Ratings: ★★★★★/ ♥

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Book Review | SPEECHLESS by Adam P. Schmitt

November 6, 2018;
Candlewick Press

How do you give a eulogy when you can't think of one good thing to say? A poignant, funny, and candid look at grief, family secrets, difficult people, and learning to look behind the facade.

I highly recommend this book.

Jimmy is at his first wake. If that isn’t shocking enough for a 13-year old boy, he was just informed that tomorrow he has to deliver his first eulogy. His first. In front of everyone in a church full of grieving people. He tried every pleading to get away from it but shot down every time.

Jimmy’s been racking his brains for what to say about his cousin, Patrick if there’s anything good at all. Searching, he recalled every special moment his cousin had somehow wrecked. All his 13 years, he had to put up with Patrick. So, giving this eulogy is not merely nerve-racking for Jimmy, it is an imposition. An imposition preceded by so many before it. 
It made him angry and defiant. 
It made him question his family. 
It made him realize who Patrick was. 
And how they aren’t so different after all.

One of the many reasons I love Middle-Grade books is that they give me a whole new set of lenses to look through. Viewing things from a child’s perspective is always unique and reawakening. Giving a eulogy for an unlikable person who died is a very unusual subject for children, but induces a profound awareness for any reader –including parents, relatives, friends, even for educators.

SPEECHLESS is a very well-written, memorable story.

Book details:

Title:  Speechless

Author: Adam P. Schmitt

Publication: November 6, 2018; Candlewick Press

Genre: Fiction, Middle-Grade

Rating: ★★★★★

*Thank you Candlewick for this galley in exchange for an honest review.

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Wednesday Spotlight | LITERARY BOOK GIFTS

Hi, friends! Today’s post is something rarely special.

I came across this amazing literary gift shop that highlights some exemplary items that not only fits snugly into everyday life but stoutly promotes books and reading, as well. LITERARY BOOK GIFTS sells high-quality products I’m sure every bookworm would like to have. I should know, right?

And hey, there’s a huge discount for you. 😉 *wink 

About the Gift Shop:

I started the small web-based gift shop Literary Book Gifts as a way to turn some of my favorite classic novels into vintage designed tote bags and tees. The store is quite new, less than a year old. I do all the design work in-house to make sure each and every piece captures the story, characters, or feeling of the novel.

I was inspired to start this business because I believe that amazing novels, like the ones in the collection, deserve to have a place in today's society. This way we can discuss them and ultimately pass our favorite books onto new readers.

Each tote bag comes in three different sizes. These are not your standard cotton canvas totes, they are made of high-quality polyester with black cotton handles. The entire outer fabric of each tote bag is in a different color. So the Black Beauty Tote Bag has a khaki color as the background, while the Moby Dick Tote Bag is in a dark navy. This way you can choose not only the design but the background color, this really helps to customize the design and color that is best for your personal style.

All the designs that come on totes also come on tees for men and women. Take your pick of designs. There is a wide range from Frankenstein to Pride and Prejudice. There is a wide variety of sizes and colors for each and every design. - Melissa, LBG

THEPAGEWALKER20 is an exclusive promo code that can be used at checkout. It is good for 20% off anything, and it does not expire! 

Thanks, Melissa.

*Content sent by the owner for this blog's publication. This is a free ad.

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Book Review | NEWS OF OUR LOVED ONES by Abigail DeWitt

October 2, 2018
HarperCollins

Set in France and America, News of Our Loved Ones is a haunting and intimate examination of love and loss, beauty and the cost of survival, witnessed through two generations of one French family, whose lives are all touched by the tragic events surrounding the D-Day bombings in Normandy.

What if your family’s fate could be traced back to one indelible summer?

The book club agreed to read historical fiction for the month of September. I decided to read just a couple of books, but, then, this copy came to me fortuitously. I received an email from the publisher, advising me to follow a link. I asked myself, “Do I really need to read another war story, after getting off from the American Civil War?”

I’m glad I did. I don’t regret following that link.

This is a World War II story, revealing the lives of the Delasalle family and those who have crossed their paths before and after the D-Day Landing at the port city of Caen, in France’s Normandy region. It showed many ways war takes its toll and how death can leave irreversible effects, tearing families apart. Remaining family members revisit memories; retell events, desperately trying to chase the ripples of their tragedy down the next generations. The guilt of being alive, while many have perished, followed them. They acutely cling to every life tangible to keep them afloat.

NEWS OF OUR LOVED ONES is handsomely imagined, with engaging characters and stirring events. Ms. DeWitt managed to bring together a generational family story from individual narratives, creating a mosaic of love, death, estrangement, resilience, and remembrance.

This striking book is perfect for historical fiction lovers.

Book Details:

Title: News Of Our Loved Ones

Author: Abigail DeWitt

Publication: October 2, 2018, HarperCollins

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating:★★★★

*Thank you HarperCollins for this Flash Giveaway.

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Book Review | DR. GRASS by Grania Davis

DR. GRASS

BY GRANIA DAVIS | PUBLICATION: MARCH 1978
AVON BOOKS | GENRE: ADULT FICTION
RATING: ★★★★✬

"One of those cheer-me-up books."

____________________________________________________________________

An MD as outrageous as your doctor's bill.

Ernie Spiegelglass gets high, gets involved, and is about to complete his residency ... he hopes.

Brash, brilliant, and often profane, Ernie (alias Doc Sparrowgrass) enters the world of a San Francisco clinic and turns the entire place upside down with his riotous romances and his own unique style--which includes treating patients like people. The medical establishment is turned off to his idea of medicine--from the heart, not by the book--but Ernie can't turn his back on anyone who comes to him for help, even if it means jeopardizing his career.

DR. GRASS is a funny, honest, poignant book about a refugee from the 1960's growing up and not selling out in the 1970's.

____________________________________________________________________

Grania Davis died last April 28 of 2017. I know that seems a gloomy way to start a blog post. But today is a gloomy day here in our small spot in the globe. It's been cloudy all day and the temperature dropped to 2°C. And gloomy days make me want to reach out for my comfort books. Books that are still buried inside boxes in the basement. Which box? I am not entirely sure. Anyways, DR. GRASS by Grania Davis is one of those cheer-me-up books.

Dr. Ernest Spiegelglass, MD, is a family practice resident at Carmel Hospital in San Francisco. His friends call him Doc Sparrowgrass. He is a hippie to the core and rides his skateboard to work every day. Unlike any other doctor, Dr. Grass treats his patients in a very unique manner, not the usual “by-the-book” procedures. He believes that heart-to-heart is the best way to go. But oftentimes, his unconventional ways fish him troubles. And his weed-induced fantasies are odd, bordering shameless.

Dr. Grass is one of the those cherished books I got during high school days. The texts are vivid and explicit. I’ve reread it many times and it's always good to know that it can still make me laugh, like bwahahaha out loud.

It is a sad thing that Ms. Davis is no longer with us and nobody ever bothered reprinting copies since 1978. But if you do find one, consider yourself lucky. DR. GRASS can cure your gloomy day for sure!

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About the Author:
Grania Davis (nee Grania Kalman) was an American author and editor of science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. She was also the primary editor of the posthumous work of her former husband, Avram Davidson.

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Book Review | COSPLAY ARTBOOK VOL. 1 Fantasy Armor Concept Art by Gladzy Kei

If you love drawing, designing costumes, and thinking outside the box, well this is the art book for you! This artbook is designed as a visual narrative to showcase Gladzy's thought process whenever she designs original fantasy armored costumes. If you like standing out from a crowded comic convention, then this might help give you motivation by exploring your own creativity.

Cosplay is more than just dressing up as your favorite characters - it's a way of expressing your creativity, passion, and fandom. Whether you're into comics, anime, manga, games, or sci-fi, you'll find a community of cosplayers who share your interests and appreciate your efforts.

Cosplayers put a lot of work into their costumes, sometimes making them from scratch or customizing them to suit their style. They spend hours researching, sketching, coloring, and fabricating their outfits - not to mention the money they invest in materials and accessories.

Cosplay also requires dedication and perseverance, especially when you encounter challenges or setbacks. That's why it's so amazing to find artists who are willing to share their knowledge, skills, and vision with other cosplayers who need guidance or inspiration.

One of the best resources I've found is COSPLAY ARTBOOK (Vol. 1 Fantasy Armor Concept Art) by Gladzy Kei. It's a stunning collection of ideas and illustrations for people who want to create their own fantasy armor cosplay costumes.

The book covers everything from how to find visual references, how to sketch out your designs, how to color them and add variations, and how to fabricate them using different materials and techniques. Each page is filled with vibrant colors and details that will spark your imagination... it's like having her artwork on your wall!

Book details:

Title: Cosplay Artbook Vol. 1 FantasyArmor Concept Art

Author: Gladzy Kei

Publication: January 23, 2018

Genre: Arts & Photography Books

Rating: ★★★★★

Gladzy Kei graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Design, majored in Illustration, from Alberta College of Art and Design.

If asked, she’d say Cosplay is her passion. Meanwhile, Gladzy Kei had gathered a huge fan base for her art. Her designs are recognized around the world and had won some really remarkable awards. She was recently invited as one of the jury’s panel at the European Cosplay Gathering Season 8, held in Paris, France.

Gladzy Kei is currently working on the COSPLAY ARTBOOK (Vol. 2 Creatures & Dragons).

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Book Review | SELECT FEW by Marit Weisenberg

09 Oct 2018
Charlesbridge Teen

This 2^nd book in the Select series offers more than the first book. If you’ve read my review for Select, you know what I mean.

Julia went her separate way the night her family disappeared while keeping her boyfriend John’s abilities from out of her family’s radar, and dodging the FBI, who believes Julia can lead them to Novak.

Aside from the tension between them, Julia and John decided to go their separate ways for John’s safety and health. She and Angus reunited to hunt down her birth mother in California. Along the way, she learned some new details about herself, their race, and, how may be, they are not the only race evolving.

For all YA fans out there, all the trending YA elements are still present in this installment. But I’m happier that Ms. Weisenberg pursued the "Chachapuris perspective" more now. Also, all the major characters are back. I’m sorry that Julia and John’s relationship was not romanticized more, as expected by most YA readers. Although, I really don’t think that’s what the author is really gunning for this series. So, we all should hang tight and see how these all fuse together.

Book detail:

Title:  Select Few

Author:  Marit Weisenberg

Publication:  October 9, 2018, by Charlesbridge Teen

Genre:  YA Fiction

Rating: ★★★

*Thanks to Charlesbridge and Netgalley for the galley in exchange for this unbiased review.

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