Alysia

So Many Characters

Revisado: 02-09-15

I am going to try my best to write this review without any spoilers. Well maybe one small one. London. There it is. That is all I am going to say about it. The second book in the All Souls Trilogy takes place mostly in London with Diana and Matthew meeting a lot of new and interesting characters as the journey to find Ashmole 782 continues. Along with several other big and small adventures.
So now to make this a spoiler free review I will tell you mostly about my thoughts on the book and I won't divulge any details, just generalizations.
I like historical reads but I think the time period determines if I like a particular historical read. This period of time is not very interesting to me so it was not a big pull for me. The author did do a lot of great references to the time period in regards to clothing, travel and food. But I think I was just not thrilled about that period of European history.
Where this story left off in book one gets convoluted and messy because there are so many new characters, plot points and story lines here and there that you kind of forget the purpose of book two. I felt like there were about 10 characters toooooo many in this book. And every new character tells a story of their past and there are character names in there too. I was getting a bit over loaded with new characters and back stories with back stories. I mean by the middle of the book I was thinking of pulling out a notebook and creating a character tree to keep everyone and their relationships straight. There were a few characters that I felt did nothing at all the help the story along and was asking myself why are they even there. Every single time there is a conversation there seems to be three to four people in the room with more coming in. It was a bit overwhelming.
As for the narrator, she is the same as in the first audiobook and I think she sounds a bit more breathy than she did in book one. She has this incredibly soft, wispy voice that works for Diana but seems a bit too dreamy at times. She did really well with the various characters and their accents.
Overall, I was not impressed with this book in the series but I will read/listen to book three to see if it gets better and if all of these issues get resolved some way or some how.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Kinda dark

Revisado: 02-07-15

I had never heard o this story and was interested in reading it (since it was free for Audible.com members) I thought it was a really interesting fairy tale. The ending was sweet and cute but I not sure what age group this would be good for since it is kinda dark. The best part of the story is the explanation of the little bits of mirror and what happen to it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Comic Book Style

Revisado: 02-07-15

This book was my book clubs first pick of 2015. I had never heard of the book or the author before this.
The story reads just like a comic book or an X-Men prequel with two college friends acquiring special abilities. Victor and Eli both started as normal kids both of them in love with the same girl, but things change quickly in their senior year. It all happened when they tried to be extra ordinary. Now they are each others arch nemeses and they are out to eliminate one and other.
The story had a big element that I love. A unique story. That is so refreshing and V.E. Schwab did a great job of creating the world, the back story and the follow through. With chapters jumping from present to past to recent past it was a bit hard to follow in audiobook form but in the end everything tied itself up nicely. I had/have a feeling there might be a book 2 because there is definitely more that can be written about these characters.
Speaking of characters, V.E. Schwab made me think and change my opinion several times throughout the story as to who was the good guy and who was the bad guy. Honest, I had a hard time picking the good guy because one would do something so awful I had to rethink it. There was a time in the book I was on the road to resolve there is no good guy. Victor and Eli seemed to be villains and there was nothing I could do about it.
Noah Levine was a good narrator and he did a good job of reading. I had to get use to his lack of inflection in the beginning but don't worry he throws them in towards the middle and keeps it up to the end.
Overall, V.E. Schwab did a good, fast paced book with unseen twist and turns.
I took away one star because the jumping bck and forth in time was not easy to follow in audiobook form and it would have been nice to have more than one narrator but I really liked the book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

Not a the Conclusion Just a Continuation

Revisado: 02-02-15

I received this book for review from Audible and I am so glad that I had a new story to the Stephen Leeds series. This short story from Brandon Sanders is not a conclusion to Legion Book 1 but just another story in Stephen Leeds life. Who is Stephen Leeds you ask? Well, he is a wealthy man who has the unusual ability to solve complicated crimes and task using his internal group of aspects. His aspects are individuals that each hold a talent or knowledge for Stephen to tap into. He is the only one who can see them, talk to them and they see everything and everyone and talk back to only him. Can you image having several personalities in your head but they live outside your head too? I know it sounds crazy but it works to Stephen's benefit. This short story is really interesting in that there is a crime to be solved at a biotech company and Stephen calls new aspects to help out.
Yes it is a short story and the crime is solved kinda quick with all the ends neatly tied up at the end. There was very little to no violence and bits of humor sprinkled here and there which I loved. One of the funny things is that the aspects talk to him and with each other about his ex-girlfriend. Tons of personal involvement here.
Now let's talk narrator. Oliver Wyman narrated this one and I think his voice is perfect for the multitude of characters he had to read and give unique accents for. From Tobias (professor-type black male) to Ivy (prim white woman), and all the other characters he was clear and made each one unique. The only thing I would have liked would have been a faster pace. I used the 1.25x button on my iPad and it made everything better. I felt Oliver was a bit to slow for me and just a touch of speed made it better. For an action type of audiobook the pace didn't fit at all. So if you can, speed him up a bit. But Oliver made this audiobook work and he brought it to life.
Overall, it was a great short story that I would actually watch if it was a TV series. It feels like there might be more stories in the series coming soon because this story was not a conclusion to book 1 just a continuation.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

DRAMMMAA!!

Revisado: 12-29-14

I never thought I would be reading another Rev Curtis Black novel or novella again. The series and the books I have read are too over the top in the “crazy black woman drama” department for me. I have to say this one is no exception either. There is crazy black woman drama from chapter one to the last chapter. Never ending.
Alexis Fletcher morns the passing of her mother every Christmas for the past 5 years. Even with the love of a new man and the rise of her career, Alexis is still not truly happy around the holidays. Alexis’s son to be mother-in-law has a few strong opinions about her and is not afraid to tell her. As Christmas fast approaches Alexis life takes a dramatic and unforeseen turn for the worse.
Just telling you this small tidbit is very drama filled for a contemporary novel with grown adults who are active in the church. It just seems to me the author paints her villains like Cruella DeVille who plan out the most evil things to do to other people. And these are supposed to be Christian churchgoers. I am not saying churchgoers are above doing bad but can there be a character who is doing good (besides the protagonist)? Alexis is such a victim here that is a bit ridiculous. She lets people talk to her any old kinda way and she lets her sister endanger the life of her niece. Alexis just has an "oh well" attitude that really pissed me off. I was hoping her Wonder Woman would come out and do something to help her cause.
Why did I give it three stars? Well the narrator was just ok. Nothing special and nothing really bad. She read the book and did her part. The theme of the holiday season and the ending was ok too. The ending was a bit redeeming for the whole book. I love a great ending and if you like a good ending as well then you won't be to disappointed.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

One of the Best this Year

Revisado: 12-29-14

This was a book club of the month selection and I am not sure I would have picked it up on my own. There's a lot of hype around this (award winning) book and I have found too much hype not to be a good thing with some books. But this book is so worth all the hype and accolades it has received. If not more!
The story centers around Ifemelu (IF-E-MA-LU) a Nigerian student and her new love Obinze (O-BEN-ZAY) as they grow up together, dream together and go to school together. That is until Ifemelu gets the chance Obinze has always wanted...to go to America. Ifemelu comes to America with a lot of preconceived ideas about the country and quickly finds that race is important in all aspects of her new American life. We see her build relationships, finally get a job and how she relates to her family members, fellow Africans who are already here in America.
This book was great and I loved the relationship aspects of the book the most. Ifemelu's relationship with Obinze was fun and carefree. He loved her and she held him accountable for it. Obinze's relationship with his mother was interesting because they saw themselves as equals. Not just mother and son. Well most of the time. That relationship was quite different from Ifemelu's and her parents. They were typical parents and a bit separated from her and what was REALLY going on in her life. Her mother's relationship with God and church was funny because I see it happening so many times with so many older women. This book is great! I highly recommend it if the discussion and opinions of race don't hurt your feelings.
I really liked about this book were the use of smell. Some other authors have done this but Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie did a great job of it. She gave the cities of New York and Philadelphia a description and a distinct smell.
Let me just list to you a few more things about my love for this book. One, I love seeing America through the eyes of a non-America. I love that she is a Blogger. (I can relate.) There are even blog post in the book.
I read the book and listened to the audiobook on this one. Half and half. The narrator was really good. I loved her accent and the pace she read at as well. I would love to have had a male voice reading the chapters from Obinze. Or just having a cast would have made it made it better.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

One of the Best this Year

Revisado: 12-29-14

This was a book club of the month selection and I am not sure I would have picked it up on my own. There's a lot of hype around this (award winning) book and I have found too much hype not to be a good thing with some books. But this book is so worth all the hype and accolades it has received. If not more!
The story centers around Ifemelu (IF-E-MA-LU) a Nigerian student and her new love Obinze (O-BEN-ZAY) as they grow up together, dream together and go to school together. That is until Ifemelu gets the chance Obinze has always wanted...to go to America. Ifemelu comes to America with a lot of preconceived ideas about the country and quickly finds that race is important in all aspects of her new American life. We see her build relationships, finally get a job and how she relates to her family members, fellow Africans who are already here in America.
This book was great and I loved the relationship aspects of the book the most. Ifemelu's relationship with Obinze was fun and carefree. He loved her and she held him accountable for it. Obinze's relationship with his mother was interesting because they saw themselves as equals. Not just mother and son. Well most of the time. That relationship was quite different from Ifemelu's and her parents. They were typical parents and a bit separated from her and what was REALLY going on in her life. Her mother's relationship with God and church was funny because I see it happening so many times with so many older women. This book is great! I highly recommend it if the discussion and opinions of race don't hurt your feelings.
I really liked about this book were the use of smell. Some other authors have done this but Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie did a great job of it. She gave the cities of New York and Philadelphia a description and a distinct smell.
Let me just list to you a few more things about my love for this book. One, I love seeing America through the eyes of a non-America. I love that she is a Blogger. (I can relate.) There are even blog post in the book.
I read the book and listened to the audiobook on this one. Half and half. The narrator was really good. I loved her accent and the pace she read at as well. I would love to have had a male voice reading the chapters from Obinze. Or just having a cast would have made it made it better.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Felt Imcomplete

Revisado: 12-29-14

This is not my first book by Octavia Butler and I have to say it was not my favorite out of all the books of hers I've read.
A young looking girl wakes up in a cave with a unbearable hunger and no memory. With the body of a child Shori finds out her real age is 53 years old and she was apart of a "Ina" family who are no longer living. As she finds out what happened to her family she learns of her vampire abilities, history and her place in it all.
The overall premise of this book is really good and I have to say that was the best part. Having the story start with Shori not knowing anything about her past and who she is was brilliant. It gives the reader a chance to learn along with her. The reader knows what she knows. I really found that to be very intriguing because she asked a few questions I was asking myself along the way. But I have a few Pro's and Con's about this book overall.
Pros
I love that Shori is Black and the fact that she has abilities other vampires don't due to skin color.
I like the way the story unfolded.
I liked the characters and what they brought to the story
Cons
I felt like there should have been more to the story. It felt incomplete.
I hated Shori looking like a child and having a sexual relationship with a grown man.
I wasn't thrilled with the middle of the book. It dragged on here and there.
I felt there were a few characters who were introduced for no reason at all.

For these Pros and Cons I have to say that I thought the book was just OK and not Octavia's best book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Excellent!!

Revisado: 12-29-14

This book was selected by my book club Mocha Girls Read as our book of the month for August. I have been thinking about picking this one up. Now I finally got a reason. Thank you book club.
Louisa is your average everyday young lady growing up in tiny village with an ordinary or more like a boring life. That is until she loses her coffee shop job and has to find a new job quickly. As one of the few bread winners in her family making an income is extremely important to the well being of the four generations living under one roof. When the job placement agency sends her on a interview for a care taking position, Louisa gets it and that is when everything changes. In comes Will, a rude and hard to get along quadriplegic who was once an well traveled adventurist. Will and Louisa don't get along but that is not saying much for and about Will. He has been in a deep depression living in the annex of his parents home with 24 hour care since he has tried to commit suicide. I know this sounds really heavy and deep and it is. Not the hot summer beach read but it was a great read. The story has moments of light and laughter here and there. Louisa's boyfriend is too funny but shhh! don't tell him, he thinks he is serious. And Louisa completely reminds me of Bridget Jones but a younger version.
There are so many controversial and conversation tidbits in this books. The issue of a young woman living in a small town and not having any experiences outside her small world, the issue of quality of life, and the big one is the issue of assisted suicides. That is THE heavy and controversial topic the book slaps you with.
From what I have heard a few people cried when they read this book. Is there something wrong with me? I didn't cry. I didn't get choked up. I felt sad and let down but not to the point of crying. Sorry. I am a softy but this didn't do it for me.
The narrators did a good job. I appreciated having a variety of voices for the different sections in the book. Overall, I really like the story. Will and Louisa are really well written and thought out characters. The ending I am not going to tell you about but I was hoping for a completely different ending. I am happy there were some loose ends tighten up here and there because that would have just been plain rude if it wasn't. If you finish the book you'll know what I mean. I think the author did a great job with this topic and made it interesting from a new point of view.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Interesting and Touching Story

Revisado: 12-29-14

This book was selected by my book club Mocha Girls Read as our book of the month for August. I have been thinking about picking this one up. Now I finally got a reason. Thank you book club.
Louisa is your average everyday young lady growing up in tiny village with an ordinary or more like a boring life. That is until she loses her coffee shop job and has to find a new job quickly. As one of the few bread winners in her family making an income is extremely important to the well being of the four generations living under one roof. When the job placement agency sends her on a interview for a care taking position, Louisa gets it and that is when everything changes. In comes Will, a rude and hard to get along quadriplegic who was once an well traveled adventurist. Will and Louisa don't get along but that is not saying much for and about Will. He has been in a deep depression living in the annex of his parents home with 24 hour care since he has tried to commit suicide. I know this sounds really heavy and deep and it is. Not the hot summer beach read but it was a great read. The story has moments of light and laughter here and there. Louisa's boyfriend is too funny but shhh! don't tell him, he thinks he is serious. And Louisa completely reminds me of Bridget Jones but a younger version.
There are so many controversial and conversation tidbits in this books. The issue of a young woman living in a small town and not having any experiences outside her small world, the issue of quality of life, and the big one is the issue of assisted suicides. That is THE heavy and controversial topic the book slaps you with.
From what I have heard a few people cried when they read this book. Is there something wrong with me? I didn't cry. I didn't get choked up. I felt sad and let down but not to the point of crying. Sorry. I am a softy but this didn't do it for me.
The narrators did a good job. I appreciated having a variety of voices for the different sections in the book. Overall, I really like the story. Will and Louisa are really well written and thought out characters. The ending I am not going to tell you about but I was hoping for a completely different ending. I am happy there were some loose ends tighten up here and there because that would have just been plain rude if it wasn't. If you finish the book you'll know what I mean. I think the author did a great job with this topic and made it interesting from a new point of view.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña