Something Old...

Something New...Something Borrowed...Something Blue...Ok so I'm not getting married, but I thought it would be fun to introduce some books I have in this manner. Also, for some reason this rhythm has been in my head all week...

Something Old...

 An old book of my mothers I found while cleaning out some boxes...Tales From Grimm by Wanda Gag. It used to sit on her older brother's bookshelf and it now sits on mine.

Something New...

 Secret of Longevity-Hundreds of ways to live to be 100 by Dr. Maoshing Ni...A new book I got as a birthday present! Definitely one I will be applying to my actual life.

Something Borrowed...

 This book actually is mine but I borrowed it from my sister. It's her absolutely favourite book and I've never gotten around to reading it. So when I saw at Golden Braid Books, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, for only $4.00 I had to add it to my collection.

Something Blue...

To my joy, I've been reading a lot lately. Since I've been reading so much it means reading more in bed. So I've dusted off the trusty blue reading light for those late night reads.

Review: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett 

About: Unrepentant book thief John Charles Gilkey has stolen a fortune in rare books from around the country. Yet unlike most thieves who steal for profit, Gilkey steals for love-the love of books. Perhaps equally obsessive is Ken Sanders, the self-appointed "bibliodick" who's driven to catch him. Following this eccentric cat-and-mouse chase with a mixture of suspense, insight and humor, Allison Hoover Bartlett plunges the reader deep into a rich world of fanatical book lust and considers what it is that makes some people stop at nothing to posses the titles they love. (from amazon.com)

Review: This one was designated for August in my small beginning book club. I started it on my way to Chicago and finished it only last week. It was a riveting book. One of my first non-fictions, I have to admit. The idea of the story enticed me, a man who loves books so much he steals them! Ken Sanders, a rare book collector who tries to serve him justice! (this was even more appealing because I literally live 2 blocks away from Ken Sanders Rare Books!). Basically this book was all I wanted from a non-fiction. The story was based from Allison's point of view. She began with interesting facts about this mysterious Gilkey man and her traveling to rare book conventions in New York City and San Francisco. I think I enjoyed more of the shadow Gilkey, one that no one was sure about, who he was. But once Bartlett met Gilkey and started being more involved in his life, I started not to like Gilkey. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book a lot, but Gilkey's character got less and less interesting to me. Bartlett made him more cocky, arrogant and in my opinion annoying. Over all I enjoyed Bartlett's references to the past. There were little stories of Italian, Spanish, Noble Men, Monks, all types of people in history who love books. Some would do anything to get their hands on books, even murder. It made me appreciate books more than I already do, it made me think of the previous owners, stories and lives of the old books I have. I absolutely loved this book. I bought it and so glad, so I can re read it whenever I would like.

New! Alison Wonderland

Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith

About: After her husband leaves her for another woman, twentysomething Londoner Alison Temple impulsively applies for a job at the very P.I. firm she hired to trap her philandering ex. She hopes it will be the change of scene she so desperately needs to move on with her shattered life. At the all-female Fitzgerald’s Bureau of Investigation, she spends her days tracking lost objects and her nights shadowing unfaithful husbands. But no matter what the case, none of her clients can compare to the fascinating characters in her personal life. There’s her boss, the estimable and tidy Mrs. Fitzgerald; Taron, Alison’s eccentric best friend, who claims her mother is a witch; Jeff, her love-struck, poetry-writing neighbor; and—last but not least—her psychic postman. Her relationships with them all become entangled when she joins Taron for a road trip to the seaside and stumbles into a misadventure of epic proportions! Clever, quirky, and infused with just a hint of magic, this humorous literary novel introduces a memorable heroine struggling with the everyday complexities of modern life. (from amazon.com)

I love a new unique story and this one just drew my attention. Besides the fact that the title is a play on my favourite book, I really would like to read this one.

Review: The Island of Dr. Moreau

The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells

About: The Island of Doctor Moreau is an 1896 science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells. It is told from the point of view of a man named Edward Prendick who is shipwrecked, rescued by a passing boat, and then left at the ship's destination by the crew along with the ship's cargo of exotic animals. The island is home to a scientist named Doctor Moreau, who is conducting bizarre and cruel experiments on the animals he has imported, attempting to create sentient beings out of animals. The novel deals with numerous philosophical themes, including the need to take responsibility for the things we create, the question of what makes a man a man, the cruelty of nature and of man, and the dangers of trying to control nature. (from amazon.com)

Review: So I'm sure you know H.G. Wells and his other more popular books, The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. Basically I found this book at my local rare bookstore, Ken Sander's, and recognized the author and decided to read it. It sounds simply intriguing to me and the whopping 104 pages made it more desirable. The book was actually very interesting. The story was told from Edward Prendrick's point of view, almost a journal of the account of his time from being rescued to leaving the island. The book was more about character development than anything. Wells really made you know and feel the characters. Montgomery who liked Prendick, for he was the one that saved him, was a drunk, but you sympathized with him. You found out his past and why he drank and came to the island. Montgomery felt for the beasts on the island but at the same time boasted his superiorness around them. Prendick, for instance, I found interesting, didn't care for the beasts at all. From the time he arrived on the island to the time he left you knew his stance on the beasts, and it didn't change. The book really kept my attention the whole time. Near the end it felt slightly cast-awayish, with Prendick trying to leave the island. But other than that I enjoyed it. It was intense but calming, a very interesting point of view and theory. I also liked that it was like a journal but not entirely. It was from Prendick's point of view, but it wasn't laid out in Journal format. I could have easily had this book read in a day, but sadly school and work conflicted and it took be a bit longer. If you are looking for an extremely good, quick read, find this one. I bought mine for only $2.00.

Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

About: Oscar Wilde's story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is one of his most popular works. Written in Wilde's characteristically dazzling manner, full of stinging epigrams and shrewd observations, the tale of Dorian Gray's moral disintegration caused something of a scandal when it first appeared in 1890. Wilde was attacked for his decadence and corrupting influence, and a few years later the book and the aesthetic/moral dilemma it presented became issues in the trials occasioned by Wilde's homosexual liaisons, trials that resulted in his imprisonment. Of the book's value as autobiography, Wilde noted in a letter, "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps." (from goodreads.com)

Review: First off I have to say every time Wilde would described Dorian, I literally fell in love. I do believe I have a mad crush on Dorian Gray, sinfulness and all. I got this book from a used bookstore after seeing the British version movie. It was a fluke I happen to find it, hard cover, vintage, I had to have it. So I started this book awhile ago, a book I should have finished in weeks took me months. I've been busy I swear. The book starts off with Basil and Lord Henry exchanging conversation about this new boy Dorian. You meet him, you like him, but it's Lord Henry and his ideas that make Dorian who he is. Lord Henry's voice is throughout the book more than Dorian's. All his ideals, thought, passions, ways of life are torn from this little book Lord Henry gives Dorian. After Dorian wishes for his youth and is granted it through the picture the book becomes vague. Not as in detail, but I guess I wanted to know more about the sins Dorian was getting into and Wilde doesn't spell things out, he leaves a lot unknown. For example, when Dorian needs the scientist to clean up a body, we never do find out how Dorian blackmails him into helping him. It will forever bother me. He vaguely talks all the other scandalous things he does. Sibyl Vane is the main things we read about, maybe because we find out Dorian really doesn't have a heart anymore. The only time we read about Dorian actually going on one of his nightclub adventures, he runs into James Vane at an opium den, and after that Dorian is nothing but nerves. In a strange way like to believe Dorian was out and about, smoking opium, drinking excessively, sleeping with Duchesses. I'm not sure why but I liked that aspect of the book, that Dorian could do anything and his perfect boyish, innocent face would not change. Of course in the end he wanted to be good, and did only what he could to do so. I enjoyed Lord Henry, more than anything. I enjoyed his attitude and way about him. He was who he was and didn't care who knew. Dorian tried to hide a lot of it. Also I liked how Dorian went for beauty, anything aesthetically pleasing to any of the senses. There is a lengthy chapter solely to describe the different art, rugs, statues Dorian has collected through the years. Over all It's a classic and a must read for everyone. If you're a quick reader, shouldn't take more than a week.

(Side Not Fact: There is this guy who has come into my work a couple times and his name is Dorrin, and he is exactly how I imagine Dorian, basically he's gorgeous, I want to marry him.)

New! Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One by George R. R. Martin

About: In A Game of Thrones, the first book of a projected six, George R.R. Martin rewards readers with a vividly real world, well-drawn characters, complex but coherent plotting, and beautifully constructed prose, which Locus called "well above the norms of the genre." 

Martin's Seven Kingdoms resemble England during the Wars of the Roses, with the Stark and Lannister families standing in for the Yorks and Lancasters. The story of these two families and their struggle to control the Iron Throne dominates the foreground; in the background is a huge, ancient wall marking the northern border, beyond which barbarians, ice vampires, and direwolves menace the south as years-long winter advances. Abroad, a dragon princess lives among horse nomads and dreams of fiery reconquest. (from amazon.com)

It was hard to find a specific review, so this was the best I could do. Also I started watching this series on HBO and it is amazing!! I've had friend who have read the books and said they are better than the HBO series, but that the series is very close to the book and characters. Definitely one I will have to read.

Casting For The Hunger Games

As like many people, I am a huge fan of The Hunger Games series. I'm sure the buzz is around the cast of who will play who for these epic films. Well as I do in my spare time, I like to look for people who would fill my imagination of the people I first loved as I read and imagined them in my books. With that being said, the casting for The Hunger Games is already done, but I still wish it was a bit different. Here is my list of people who should have been cast, due to my made up image of them.

Katniss Everdeen: Kaya Scodelario 

I imagined Katniss very pretty but naturally pretty. Kaya Scodelario would have been perfect for her role. And she's also a great actress, tall, thin, totally Katniss.

Peeta Mellark: Alex Pettyfer

I imagined Peeta, sweet, younger looking little blonde boy. This guy would have been perfect!

Gale Hawthorne: Gaspard Ulliel

This one was hard, Cause I am team Gale. One: I imagined him super hot. Two: I just loved his personality in the books. So naturally I found someone who could do both.

Haymitch Abernathy: Sean Bean

I imagined him older, and more drunk, perhaps with a slight beard. I think Sean Bean would have been a good candidate. (he also looks slightly drunk in this picture, how perfect)

Unfortunately the casting they did do isn't all that great. I'm a bit disappointed to be honest. But here is a think to the actual casting from IMDB.com.

Who do you think would make a good cast?

New! Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

About: As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs--alive and well--despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. (from amazon.com)

This book sounds very interesting. One of those more original kind of thrillers. Adding it to the list of to reads. Also, totally spooky cover, love it.

Update

Life Update: So sorry followers, I've been caught up in school and work since school ended in May, and summer classes started 2 weeks after. Also, I was able to leave on a backpacking trip for a couple days, hence the absence. But I am back and in full force of book blogging.

Book Update: I am still reading Dorian Grey, soon to be finished. Trying to squeeze in a few others at the same time. Mostly library books that I need to return. So new reviews coming soon.

If you have any books you want reviewed, feel free to let me know by leaving a comment.

New! Graveminder

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

About: Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't attend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk

Goosebumps? Ya I got them too. This book sounds so amazing and fun. One I need to read right away. And now I am leaving to the Library to do just that.