The Week Of Calling It Quits

I am slowly but surely making my way through my ginormous stack of library books (did I mention that I got five more books from the library today? Because I totally did) and I am hitting a few right now that I started to read, but shortly after called it quits. Two books this week made it onto my did not finish list of shame. I started "Zoo" by James Patterson last night. This was my first attempt at a James Patterson book, never having read any of his works previously. I detested it. The synopsis tugged at my curiosity but I just couldn't force it down. The second book was one that I also started last night, immediately following my rejection of "Zoo". This was "Finders Keepers" by Stephen King. While not a favorite author of mine, I do admit to having read, and even enjoyed some of his books. I read eighty pages into this one before I gave up on it. I just wasn't feeling it ...

With so many books awaiting to be read I don't feel badly about giving up on those that aren't catching, and holding, my attention.

Book Review of "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

I find "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan to be slightly more difficult to rate and review then the typical book. On the one hand I found the book to be action packed, never really experiencing a lull in the plot, full of interesting Greek mythology which I found to be somewhat unique to the young adult genre, and the story-line itself was intriguing enough to pull me in. On the other hand I found the book to be a little juvenile, and the reader was easily able to stay one step ahead of the characters. I was exasperated at how slow the characters were when it came to thinking, and figuring things out. Always falling for tricks and traps ... never seeing things for the way that they were. All in all I will be reading the rest of this series. And it really got me interested in Greek mythology ... I own a beautiful book on this subject that I have yet to read ... I may bump it up on the to be read list now.

My Rating : 3.75 Stars

Book Outlet

I knew that Book Outlet existed, but I never felt compelled to check it out until I heard it mentioned over, and over again by Booktubers. When I saw their massive book hauls through Book Outlet, and witnessed the perfect condition of the books arriving, I knew that I had to check it out for myself. Book Outlet sells new books for a fraction of the price, between 50% to 90% off of the original sale list, the only downfall being either a small line or dot marked in marker, typically located on the bottom pages of the book. Book Outlet receives their books through publishers who sell them their returns or excess of inventory and the mark is to ensure that these books are not returned to the publishers.

I probably wouldn't purchase a well beloved title through Book Outlet, but it is perfect for those types of books that you would possibly like to own but wouldn't want to spend a lot of money on.

Book Outlet changes everyday too. If you put something in your cart, don't expect it to still be available the following day. They have limited quantities, and when those are sold out they are no longer available. And everyday they offer new selections. Makes it very addicting.

I put my first order in today. They are having a sale Friday through Sunday this week where you get $5.00 off of your order. I also believe that when you make a purchase you receive a coupon for $5.00 off your next order in alongside with your books. I ordered eleven books, six of which are hardcovers, for $45.39 - $40.39 after using the coupon code for $5.00 off. Shipping came out to be $8.49 for a grand total of $48.88 on this order. Their shipping rates are $3.99 for the first two books and $0.50 for every book after that. So you save on shipping when you purchase larger quantities of books. Remember, these books are near perfect condition, so $40.00 for eleven books is a pretty great deal. According to Book Outlet I saved $162.49 in discounted books.

I will feature a book haul here on my blog when my order arrives. I eagerly await them.

Book Outlet

Over-Hyped Books

The over-hyped book. We have three different categories to define the over-hyped book. Category one: The best selling author who has just announced that there will be another book being released, regardless if this is a stand along novel, the beginning of a new series or trilogy, or a addition to a favorite series, there is instant buzz and excitement created by this news. Category two:  The over-hyped released book. Category three: The over-hyped pre-released book.

The first category doesn't bother me as much as the other two. I am just as likely to become as giggly and as gushy as the other crazy fans out there when I hear that a new book is being released by a certain author, immediately putting it onto my to be read list. I have been disappointed in a author before, so I always have that moment of leeriness and hesitation, but most of my favorite authors rarely disappoint. One over-hyped book by a beloved author this year is "Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee ... I loved her book "To Kill a Mockingbird", so this sequel is really making me nervous. If it fails me, it will be dead to me, if it does not disappoint then it will be a lovely addition to my shelves.

The second category ... when I hear a lot of people discussing and raving about a certain book it does pique my interest and induces me to read it, if it of course sounds like a book that I may enjoy reading. However, because of all of the hype surrounding it I may have either one or two different reactions to it. I may hesitate to read it because I don't always trust what other people deem as gush worthy books. I have been a little disgusted, to say the least, on some of the attention that some unworthy books have received. You never know before reading, if this is one of those books or not. Or I may go into it already biased and judgmental because of all of the attention that it has received ... picking it apart and trying to understand what exactly makes this book so great ... which is not fair. I try to go into a book with a open mind, and portray it with my honest thoughts and opinions. Thankfully I do not have a issue with not finishing a book, so there is no harm in starting a book that I may not enjoy.

The third category is the one that bothers me the most. The pre-released book hype. I am referring to the over-hype of a pre-released new author. I understand that publishers help generate this hype previous to the book being published, but the buzz about a book that no one has yet to read ... by a author that no one has ever read ... I will freely admit that I have many books on my to be read list of books that are not yet released, and yes, I heard about those books through the hype centering around them, but these are the books that will probably disappoint readers the most. The ones that have been overly hyped up before even being released are the ones that typically let a reader down the most severely. Not always, but quite frequently that is the case.

So what is it about a over-hyped book? Why are some books pushed at their audiences more forcefully then others?

I have read many books that don't receive the kind of hype that they deserve, and I have read many books that receive the kind of hype that they do not deserve.

Book Review of "The Boy Who Drew Monsters" by Keith Donohue

This book is like a onion, it has layers. Every time that I peeled it back I found there was another layer to it, those layers delved all the way through to the center and core of this book. While reading I had many theories as to the activities taking place, but as each layer unfolded my theories were one by one dismissed. The ending ... I did not see that one coming. That was not one of my theories, and it just took my breathe away ... it was that amazing.

Jack Peter Keenan was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome as a young child. At the age of seven he had a near death experience when he almost drowned in the ocean alongside his friend, and neighbor, Nick, after which he absolutely refused to leave the house, deathly afraid to venture outdoors. Now at the age of ten, Jack's difference is draining his parents sanity. His mother is becoming fearful of him and wonders what will happen when Jack is able to inflict more harm to both himself, and her, in his moments of lapsed control. His father desperately wants him to be normal like other little boys. His parents resent each other. Nick is Jack's only friend, a young boy roughly the same age as Jack himself. Jack's family and Nick's family are tangled together in a twisted web. Jack has started to draw monsters. Jack's monsters have started to come off of the page and take on a life of their own. These monsters are terrorizing Jack's parents, and his friend Nick, and only Jack knows the truth behind their existence, why they are here, and what they want.

This book is creepy, I wasn't expecting it to be quite as haunting as it was. I stayed up late into the night in order to finish this book because there was no way that I was going to be able to go to sleep without first knowing what the outcome was. It was well worth it. That ending ... it was just perfect.

My Rating : 4.5 Stars

My June 2015 Library Book Haul

Return three library books, add two. Return three more library books, add seven more. I have a lot of reading to do in the weeks to come. Sixteen library books in all (the one that I am currently reading is not pictured).

Book Review of "In The Woods" by Tana French

I started to read "In The Woods" by Tana French roughly four days ago, and I very quickly realized that this book just was not grabbing my attention. Four days of reading and I was still only on page 77 of a 429 paged book, that is not normal for me. I am uncertain why I felt this way about this book. To be honest, my first disappointment was in the genre itself. I thought that what I was picking up was a horror/supernatural suspense novel, but what it actually was was a typical crime thriller. The book summary was misleading to say the least. The other disappointment? The writing. It was not bad writing, just ... a dull style of writing. Uneventful, slow, not exciting. I never felt like it was difficult to set this book down and just walk away, hence the slow reading pace. I really did not want to waste anymore of my time on this one, so I skipped. Yes, I skipped. The big 'reveal' was unsurprising to say the least, and very robotic in its manner of portray. I feel like I got enough out of this book just by reading the very beginning, and the very end. Not how a book is intended to be read, but the manner in which some books just are.

My Rating : **

Read The Book First, Or Watch The Movie First?

Do you avoid watching a movie until you have had the chance to read the book that it is based on? Or do you consume whichever you happen to come across first? Do you compare the film adaptations to the book, or view them entirely separately?

I will always opt to read a book first before seeing the movie version. However if I am being completely honest here then I must admit that I have actually discovered many books because of first seeing the movie. It didn't ruin the reading experience for me, but it would of been more of a adventure going in if I hadn't seen the movie first, then again I wouldn't of known about the book without first seeing the movie ... we can go around and around on this one.

Yes, I do compare. I find that I will usually enjoy a movie more if I have not read the book first, just because there are then no disappointments. You can't be disappointed that they left something out, or changed something in the plot, when you don't actually know that there is something missing in the first place. However, I enjoy the activity of reading over the viewing of a film so the book will always win. I love movies, but I just love books more.

Books first, movie last ... if it can be helped.

Book Review of "The Search for Wondla" by Tony DiTerlizzi

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I picked it up on a impulse at the library when the cover caught my attention, and upon reading the book summary and seeing the drool worthy illustrations that this book abounds with, I was caught hook, line, and sinker. But when I started to read it, now that is when the real magic happened.

Eva Nine is a twelve year old girl who was raised in a subterranean home called Sanctuary. Cared for, and raised, by a robot named Muthr. Eva Nine has known no other life, and has never met another human being, or any other life forms to be exact. When the Sanctuary is breached by Besteel, a renown hunter and tracker who aims to make Eva Nine his quarry, Eva Nine must flee to the surface. Pursued by Besteel, Eva Nine not only runs for her life, but also must face the unknown. Muthr taught Eva Nine about earth, and the species of animals and plants that inhabit it, but where Eva Nine finds herself can not be described as earth. Here trees walk, plants are carnivorous, and there are no other humans to be found. But there are odd species of animals that Eva Nine's handheld device can not identify, as well as alien life forms. Through events that take place, Eva Nine makes the acquaintance of some kind, if rather strange friends. Together they try to figure out what happened to the humans, and how Eva Nine came to be on this strange planet.

This book is intended for 4th to 6th graders, but it also contains some depth to it, so I feel that teenagers, and adults alike, would enjoy it. I actually thought that some of the scenes were a tad dark, but not necessary too dark for a younger audience. The illustrations are plentiful in this book, and really add a special element to the story.

This book takes its leave with a cliffhanger on the conclusion. I find myself wanting to read the second book in the series if just for the sake of finding out what happens next.

My Rating : ****

The Two S's - Swearing And Sex

What are your feelings when it comes to books that contain swearing and sex?

I know that I will come off as a prude for saying this, but I don't care for those two things to be in the books that I read. I try to avoid it, but sometimes it is not obvious until you are actually reading the book. Sometimes I find that the two don't bother me as much, and other times I can't even finish the book just because of it. I thought about why this might be, why I sometimes barely notice it and why other times it jumps off of the page at you in 3-D. After considering it I have come to the conclusion that it depends entirely on the author and how that author incorporates one, or both, into the book and the story in general. Some authors make it work, and other authors come off as children who have just discovered swear words, desperately throwing at least one or two of them into their book just so that they can feel like they are a part of the cool crowd. Or worse yet, over kill on the swearing. Hey man, everyone is doing it. The sex scenes ... is it just me or has anyone else noticed that since the ghastly Fifty Shades of Grey made a appearance on earth that a lot of books are beginning to have more *cough* graphic and descriptive sex scenes? I'm not reading romance novels either, these are cropping up in almost all genres now. Even the young adult genre can be a little ... raunchy at times.

For the most part you don't come across the two s's in the classics. One reason is obvious, you just didn't speak of such things. Another reason, and this is my honest opinion, is that those authors were just more talented (Some of our modern authors are talented as well!). They didn't have to resort to sex and swearing to create a vivid scene.

Sometimes the author flawlessly incorporates it, and sometimes it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

The Most Important Aspect Of A Book - The Plot Line *Shush* No Spoilers Please

What happens when a anticipated book comes out and you could bloody well swear that people set out on a mission to duel out spoilers left and right? Do you go into hiding upon the book release date, avoiding not only people, but also all online contact and other media sources until after you have finished the book? Heaven forbids that a spoiler does reach your ears despite your best efforts to avoid it, what do you do? Do you react in a fit of rage, not only endangering the jerk that ruined all chance at happiness, but also endangering yourself in the process, ultimately ending up in either prison or a mental asylum, depending on which course your reaction takes you? Or are you a little more mild mannered, one quick smack as punishment and then read the book anyway, enjoying it but regretting the surprise that was stolen from you? Or, and this is assuming that you are not human, do you just shrug and have a robotic disposition towards it all?

Have you ever had a book that you have not previously read, spoiled? Did you forgo it after hearing the spoiler, or did you read it anyway despite it? Did you ever give away spoilers on a book? If so, shame on you, shaaaaaame on you. 

The last two Harry Potter books in the series were so widely broad-cast, and everyone was discussing them, that spoilers were almost certain to happen. I read them as quickly as I possibly could just to avoid it. And I was right to worry too. As soon as it was discovered that a major character dies in book six, everyone, including non Harry Potter fans, were jumping on the spoiler wagon to spread the word of who it was, and how it happened. Apparently when a book is as big as Harry Potter, it is not only deemed appropriate, but also funny to blurt out the spoilers.

I will read a book despite a spoiler, but if it can be avoided it will be avoided. It dampers my reading experience to a certain degree, but I can still salvage it. And yes, I have had books spoiled for me before, but thankfully most people have the decency to contain themselves. If you can't hold it in, maybe you should try diapers. I know that a lot of people won't even read book descriptions, fearing that it will give away too much of the plot line. I won't read a book without reading the description first. I don't like going into a book blind and not knowing what to expect. The description is the one thing that makes or breaks it for me. Nobody wants to waste time or money on a book that doesn't grab their interest.

*Shuu* Describe a book, don't ruin a book.

Book Review of "A Darker Shade of Magic" by V.E. Schwab

"It is to keep yours safe. You see, there was a time, ages ago, when they were not so separate. When doors ran between your world and mine, and others, and anyone with a bit of power could pass through. Magic itself could pass through. But the thing about magic," added Kell, "is that it preys on the strong-minded and the weak willed, and one of the worlds couldn't stop itself. The people fed on the magic and the magic fed on them until it ate their bodies and their minds and then their souls."

In a world where three different London's exist. Not acting so much as parallel universes but rather as doorways to London's existing separately from each other. There were four London's once. The doors between all four of them were once open to anyone possessing magical ability. Black London was the hub of the magic, it ran through the city like veins. The people of Black London consumed the magic, and the magic consumed them. Black London crumbled on itself, and the magic destroyed the city, and the people, like a plaque. Because of the danger, Red London sealed the doorway to Black London, cutting Black London off and essentially, even if unintentionally, causing White London to act as a barrier between the two. Black London is no more, White London is a dangerous place, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. White London is a drained city, a washed out city. Red London is where life and magic both flourish. Grey London is a land without magic, and the people who call it home have long forgotten about it. A dreary city cast in shadow.

Kell is one of the last Travelers - rare and powerful magicians with a coveted ability to travel between parallel universes. Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London.

Kell wore a very peculiar coat. It has neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible

Holland is the only other Antari to exist. He is bound by the Dane twins, Athos and Astrid, rulers of White London. They rule through murder, cruelty, and binding magic.

When the doorway to Black London was shut, all Black London relics were destroyed. Not only to keep the doorway to Black London closed and inaccessible, but to keep the magic sickness from spreading. So what happens when a Black London relic shows up and threatens them all?

I loved the magical world that was created here, I loved the characters, and I loved the plot line. I eagerly await the second book to this trilogy. I have to say though, that it is easy to see through the lines and guess at the events that will be taking place in book two.

My Rating : **** 1/2

Hoarding Library Books

I have twenty library books checked out on my library card at the moment, five of those books have been read and were ready to be returned. The plan was to just drop them off at the drop box and not even go in, considering that I still have fifteen books to read yet. Yeah, I went inside. Why would I do that? I can't possibly read them all before the due date, and I have already renewed some of them because I wasn't able to read them in time, despite trying to read them in order of when they were checked out, there are just too many books waiting on the sidelines. I found two more books. Return five books, add two books. Hey, at least there is a slight decrease taking place.

My conversation with the librarian

Librarian: You have several books that are due today
Me: I returned some today
Librarian: Okay, I'll read them off to you and you can let me know which ones were returned today
Me: Okay dokey artichokey (not really)
Librarian: A Darker Shade of Magic?
Me: I didn't return that one. I'm currently reading it.
Librarian: Okay, we will renew that one. A Wrinkle in Time?
Me: I returned that one.
Librarian: Heart-Shaped Box?
Me: I didn't return that one. I was debating if I wanted to read that one or not.
Librarian: Okay, we will renew that one ... that one was already renewed once, can you bump it up on your reading list?
*Chuckles sound behind me*
Librarian: A Wind in the Door?
Me: I returned that one
Librarian: A Swiftly Tilting Planet?
Me: I returned that one
Librarian: Rooms?
Me: I returned that one.
Librarian: World War Z?
Me: I didn't return that one
Librarian: Okay, we will renew that one. The Search for WondLa?
Me: I didn't return that one
Librarian: Okay, we will renew that one. You also have several that will be due in two days, but these are now all renewed for another two weeks. You have seventeen books checked out on your card.
Now there are more chuckles sounding behind me

I have issues, don't you dare judge me!

Trust me, I fully intend to sort through my library books and weed some out ... or read faster ... I could get a lot more reading done if I just stopped wasting so many hours sleeping every night.

Books Being Adapted Into Movies In 2015

There are a lot of books being adapted into movies for the year of 2015. Some of which I find myself rather excited about.

 "The Martian" by Andy Weir. I read this book last year and really enjoyed it. Matt Damon will be playing our lead character, Mark Watney. This movie will be hitting theaters on November 25th.

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley. I have also read this book, and loved it. Apparently Daniel Radcliffe will be playing Igor (side-note, Igor was never a character in the book). This movie will be hitting theaters on October 2nd.

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs. I have not yet read this certain book, but it has made it's way onto my TBR list. Tim Burton is directing this one so you know that it will definitely be dark and rather peculiar. A release date unknown.

"Room" by Emma Donoghue. I read this book last year, and although I did not love the book I did find it to be a exciting read. A release date unknown.

"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Seth Grahame-Smith. I did not read this book, possibly never will, but the film may be interesting ... The release date is unknown.

"The Spook's Apprentice" by Joseph Delaney. I read this book as a teenager and rather enjoyed it at the time. The movie however is being dubbed "Seventh Son". This one may already be out ...

Book Review of "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart

It is difficult to rate and review a book that is directed towards a younger audience, merely because of the different perspective that a adult, or even teenager, will have while reading vs. the younger, and intended, age group.

The book was well written, and I thoroughly delighted in the puzzles and riddles that were throughout the book. The characters were interesting, even if a bit one dimensional. And the story was truly intriguing and fun. Plot twists anyone? With that being said, I likely would have enjoyed this book more as a child, or even as a teenager, but I still did really enjoy it as a adult.

My Rating : ****

June 2015 Book Haul - To Be Continued ...

 After nearly a month of no purchases, I made a long overdue trip to my local Half Price Books and Barnes and Noble last night. Like I said, it has been about a month now since I last went book shopping, and the weather was dreary. Perfect time for some book browsing, right? That's what I thought until I nearly lost my life during the flash flooding that accrued. The rain was coming down in sheets when I left Half Price Books.  Despite a mad dash run to my car I still became quite soaked, but the books arrived safely. I sacrificed myself in order to protect them. Six books were bought there. I was already soaked, I had my heart set on going to Barnes and Noble, so I did. Another mad dash from my car, across the parking-lot, to the store. The rain was coming down even harder now if you can believe it. I calmly walked in the door with water literally dripping from my hair and my clothes, and streaming down my face ... people stared. I just laughed and stated the obvious, "Do not go out there!". Two books were bought from Barnes and Noble. The rain wasn't going to let up anytime soon, so another mad dash across the parking lot to my car, again clutching the bag containing my books. I don't believe that I could of been any wetter at this point other then if I had been immersed in water. Then the forty five minute drive home, soaking wet, and barely able to see the highway. Was it worth it? Hell's yeah it was. I may have been disappointed in the selection at Half Price Books, but I did find some books that I ended up purchasing. Who ever said that book collecting was easy?

So, onto my purchases.

First up are the two purchases that I made at Barnes and Noble.

These two books are from the Barnes and Noble collectible leather bound editions. The one on the right is "The Wizard of Oz : The First Five Novels" by L. Frank Baum. This is a new edition to the collection, having just been released earlier this month. The five novels in this book are : The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, The Road to Oz. I already own "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" in single novel form, also a Barnes and Noble leather bound edition, but I thought that it would be nice to own this beautiful edition of five novels. This is a yellow leather bound book with embossed green and silver illustrations on the front cover, spine, and back cover. The pages are gilded in green! Beautiful illustrations throughout the book. I love this edition, and am pleased to have it in my library. You can get your own copy by following this link : Barnes and Noble - The Wizard of Oz

The second book is not necessary one that I had planned on purchasing, but as Barnes and Noble was having their buy one get one half off sale, I decided to go for it. It is a collection of F. Scott Fitzgerald, but oddly enough one of his best known works is not included in this edition (The Great Gatsby). You can get your own copy by following this link : Barnes and Noble - This Side of Paradise and other Classic Works

Next up are the purchases that I made at Half Price Books.

"Skin and Other Stories" by Roald Dahl, as well as "The Umbrella Man and Other Stories" by Roald Dahl. These books sound so intriguing, and I look forward to reading them. The third book is "The Metamorphosis and Other Stories" by Franz Kafka. All just paperback editions, nothing special, but all books that I have been wanting to read. I did not own any of these titles in my library previously.

Then we have "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. I just recently added this book to my want to read list. "Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn. Again, just paperback editions and nothing special.

Last are these two paperbacks that I found in the clearance for $0.50 a piece. "Many Waters", and "An Acceptable Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. These are books four and five to the Time Quintet series. I could not find these at the library, and figured that $1.00 spent in order to read these was money well spent.

This June 2015 Book Haul is likely to be continued ...

When Authors Go Bad

I read a article today about how a woman's one star review that she gave to a book on Goodreads got the attention of the author himself. He felt compelled to reply ...

Goodreads Author Meltdown

It all started with one woman's Goodreads review of "The Boy and the Peddler of Death" by Dylan Saccoccio. She rated it a one star, and her book review is as stated below.

This was just ... so unnecessarily wordy and pretentious. I just did not enjoy it at all. Which makes me sad because the summary says it's for fans of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and World of Warcraft. Aka three of my favorite things. So how did I loathe this so entirely from page one? I don't know.

The author responded with the following.

Sorry that my book evoked such a horrible response. May I ask how you discovered it? I'm an indie author. I work over 100 hours a week to get my books to succeed so that I don't have to be a slave anymore. This review is not good for my business, so unless your desire is to ruin my dreams, it would mean a great deal if you could remove this review from my work and forget about it. But if it's your desire to hurt me financially and ruin my business, then it's understandable why you would post such a harmful review. I'm just curious as to how you discovered the book, as most of my sales are made through people I meet on social media.

Best,

Dylan Saccoccio

The reviewer is obviously out to ruin the author, both financially, and apparently emotionally. Snuff out his dreams and crush him. Why else would someone not love his book? The author is right to assume that she hates him, with a vengeance. She is evil in it's strongest form.

She responds. Her response is agreeable and she even offers to rephrase her review. His response is:

Do you have empathy? Do you know what it's like to make something for a living? Are you human? Or do you just look at other people like they're automatons that you can slander as though your actions don't manifest consequences? Trust this. Me confronting someone that defaces my work says nothing about me other then the fact that I address it when someone goes out of his/her way to do so. But you left a 1 star review on someone's life work, someone who is trying to warn people what's going on in this world so that they can protect themselves and help others, and think that this is a moral action. 400,000 children go missing each year in the US alone. Do you know where they're going? Do you know who's behind it? Do you know why the media is silent about it? Do you know how much a person risks to confront the evil that's running amok in this world? YOU don't know right from wrong. And that's what a review like this says about the person that wrote it.

To write a one star review of Saccoccio's book is to demonstrate that you are not human. Saccoccio is fighting evil. He is a one man, evil fighting machine. I have no idea where the children abductions came from, but apparently people who write one star reviews are contributing to this problem.

I'm not embarrassed at all. And all of you who are taking Cait S's side, what you're doing in the bigger picture is waging war on the consciousness of humanity. The end. If this interaction prevents you from reading my work, it's okay. I'm not offended. I don't want your money, nor do I want you having a bad experience by reading my books. What bothers me is when people that operated at a low level of consciousness defame the work of people that are trying to help humanity, and no one helps humanity better then artists.

People who don't like Saccoccio's book are raging war on the consciousness of humanity. Remember, he is saving the world. Open your eyes, read his book and rate it five stars, or you're be killing the planet! Oh, and don't read his book if you are stupid. I almost forgot that part.

Now the random capitalization comes into play.

NO. I don't want you to do anything because you're immoral. Leave this up so every person henceforth can see ALL OF YOU for what YOU ARE. DESTRUCTIVE to consciousness and humanity. What you've done to me, you do to YOURSELF, because if you KNEW anything about anything, you'd know we were all connected to each other, and instead of destroying each other's work, you'd be supporting each other, which is why I will NEVER behave like ANY of you immoral people, and I won't go seeing what you've written or done in the world so I can destroy that. No, I will only defend my work against EVIL.
And today, all of you see why EVIL IS KICKING HUMANITY'S ASS, and why the human condition is SLAVERY.
THAT'S what The Tale of Onora is about, and if you can't grasp that, then BE GONE!

A serial killer in the making perhaps?

You know less then nothing about my book. And SHE DID attack my book. That's what a 1 star review IS. Her reviews POST TO MY PAGE. It attaches itself to me whether I like it or not. What is wrong with your POISONED WORLDVIEW where you cannot understand the damage that that does??? So again, please, DON'T read my book. I didn't engage this interaction. But you can bet that I'll defend myself for as long as I'm alive, and if that turns you off, then get as offended as YOU WANT to about it.

I'm sorry Saccoccio, but you just did far more damage to your book then that one star review ever could have done ...

I am unable to fully disclose this entire conversation for obvious reasons, but you can view it for yourself by clicking on the link located up at the top of the page. I highly recommend it. Not only is it a back and fourth between the reviewer and the author, but many other Goodread members also chimed in on it. None agreeing with the author, for very apparent reasons. I am not entirely unsympathetic to the viewpoint of the author, but his erratic behavior left me with very little sympathy, if any.

If it was the goal of the author to become famous, then mission accomplished, as everyone is now discussing him and his book. But there is good attention, and bad attention, and this author is now getting some bad attention. I feel like he destroyed himself, and his books, by alienating his readers and getting caught up in the drama. Authors should refrain from commenting on their readers reviews, positively or negatively. Readers should feel free to express themselves, and not have to worry about being attacked by a deranged author, or to feel like the author is lurking in the shadows breathing hot, garlic smelling breath down the back of your neck as you type out your opinion on said book. I have not read, nor do I plan to read, this book. If I wasn't interested before, I definitely am not interested now. I hesitate to say this, but the book was also self published. Although I have read some magnificent books that started out as self published ("Wool" by Hugh Howey), self published is, technically speaking, a accomplishment that anyone can obtain. Just because he paid to have his book published, does not mean that his book is good.

In the end he was banned from Goodreads, not only because of his temper tantrum, but I also heard that it was in part because he was also 'buying' off five star ratings for his book. You get a free book in return for a raving five star review.

Book Review of "A Swiftly Tilting Planet" by Madeleine L'Engle

This third installment in the Time Quintet series took me on a roller-coaster ride of feelings. The ride ended, and I am still uncertain on how I felt about it.

It felt different from the first two books in the series, possibly because the characters are growing up, therefore the book is also maturing in that sense. Although I found the plot of the book to be intriguing, I also found it to be slower paced, and often times confusing with the similar names throughout the generations. It was difficult to keep the characters straight. Overall I did really enjoy this book, it just took longer to suck me in.

My Rating : ****

The Bookmark

I recently realized that I missed out on one very bookish concept, the Bookmark. I do not own any other then the two that my sister in law made for me this past Christmas. A lot of my books have the silk bookmark built right in, and the ones that don't I tend to just use whatever is handy to mark my place, such as a scrap of paper or perhaps even a free bookmark gotten from the front counter at the library. But why? There are so many beautiful bookmarks out there, I don't need to live this way! I don't have to read my books like a unsophisticated savage. I will, first of all, dig out my handmade bookmarks given to me by my sister in law which had gone forgotten until now *looks sheepish* and begin using those, and I may also even take a peek at the bookmarks the next time that I am at Half Price Books, or Barnes and Noble.

Do you own, or perhaps even collect, any unusual or special bookmarks?

What Did I Even Just Read?

                        
This is the face that I make when I read a book that makes me ask the question "What did I even just read?"

The Owning Of Books

Why do you own books, and how do you decide which books you desire to own? And the ever famous question directed at readers, by non-readers, why don't you just check out books from the library?

Excuse me, what did you just ask me?!

I do frequent my local public library, most times receiving the raised eyebrow by the librarian and the all too often question of "Do you need a bag, or perhaps two bags?", when I happily deposit my towering stack of books upon the counter, and the people behind me sighing and shifting their weight in impatience as they clutch the one, or two, books in their arms. Amateurs. I will often make a once a week visit, not only to replenish my reading material but to also return the books that I read during the week. The library is my first option for reading a book that I have never read before, rather then spending money on a book that I may not desire to own, or ever desire to read again. I call those the one time readers, and the one time readers do not get a place on my bookshelves.

If I really, really enjoy a book that I read, I may desire to own it, at which point I will keep a eye out for it at Half Price Books, or even possibly buy it new, depending on how much I liked it. And what I am about to disclose is why I own books, I re-read my books. Yes, I will go back and re-read my favorites many times over. I know that some people out there will not re-read a book, and yet they own books, sometimes a lot of books ... that, I do not understand. Why own something that you will not be reading again? I understand completely the joy of having books in one's home, the beauty of it, but my books are like old friends, old acquaintances that you may not have seen for a while but in which that friendship is instantly rekindled when you run into them again. Plus they just look good. Now that we went over the why of owning books, I will now go over the which. Now, which books I choose to own is a little more complicated. I am picky when it comes to which titles I put in my personal library. Classics usually earn a instant place in my library, but not always. It has to be well written, have a good plot line, and above all it needs to be a book that I desire to re-read. Rarely will I buy a book that I have not yet read, but I will buy classics. So far the love it factor on unread classics far outweighs the hate it factor, so I feel fairly comfortable making those purchases. I really like having unread books in my library that I can seek out too. I may also make that purchase if I can find it second hand for a very reasonable price, especially if it is a book that I cannot find at my library. You win some, and you lose some when you gamble on books.

My books don't just sit on the shelves looking pretty, they do have a function.

So if a non-reader asks you that question of "Why don't you just go to the library?", ask them "Why don't you go to the library?".

Book Review of "A Wind in the Door" by Madeleine L'Engle

Wow, these books are deep, and very thought provoking.

I absolutely love how Madeleine L'Engle is able to incorporate God, magic, and science into her books. She pulls it off flawlessly, and in such a way that it just feels right and doesn't contradict itself. She truly has a beautiful perspective on things. These are the kind of books where you can just delve deeper and deeper into it, a continuous wealth of messages and meanings behind it all.

My Rating : ****

Book Review of " A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle

It was a dark and stormy night 

Thus begins the first step into the world that Madeleine L'Engle created.

I read this book as a child, possibly the entire series, but I feel that I did not understand it at the time and was unable to grasp the message, therefore it shouldn't come as a surprise that I did not remember it. Re-reading "A Wrinkle in Time" as a adult, was like reading it again for the first time.

At first I was disappointed in the book. This book is a classic, a very well known classic with a large devoted fan base, and with such popularity comes a certain expectation. A extremely hyped up sort of expectation. I found myself disappointed because of this, and not because of the book itself. As the book progressed, so did my interest. I did not realize, until reading, that there is a very clear message within this book, of Good vs. Evil. I found it to be refreshing. The classic good vs. evil is certainty not a new concept, but I found Madeleine L'Engle's message to be stronger, and louder, in this category then most others that I have read. It reminded me of "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. I did not feel that L'Engle pushed her religious beliefs upon the reader, but rather let the reader walk away from the book and ponder  upon it. I personally enjoyed the Christian aspect that was within this book.

My Rating : ****

My Library Book Haul

I have over nineteen books checked out from my local public library sitting in my to be read pile. I didn't have my want to read list with me, so although I remembered some of the titles of those books and was able to get them, a lot of these books are just ones that I stumbled across on the shelves. So pro, I discovered some titles to add to my to be read pile, but con, I have a loooooong list of want to read books left on the list. I will be reading, reviewing, and rating these books in the weeks to come ... I wonder how quickly I can get through them? Knowing me, I'll just be adding to it as I read through them.

Book Review of "Normal: A Novel" by Graeme Cameron

Such a sad little book. When I say sad I do not refer to that certain emotion of heart wrenching despair, no, I mean sad in the pathetic sense.

I did not finish this book, I did not even get past page twenty, so perhaps my review is a little undeserved and close minded, but there is a reason that I did not go forward with this book.

The writing, my goodness the writing. As choppy as the waves at sea during a storm. The plot, and story in general, all felt very unrealistic and forced. I even skimmed through the book to see if it perhaps got better, therefore justifying my going forward with it, but as far as I could see it continued on its path of destruction.

My Rating : *

Book Review of "The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There" by Catherynne M. Valente

“A book is a door, you know. Always and forever. A book is a door into another place and another heart and another world.”

Just as awing as the first book in the series. I feel that this is a series that very well may earn a permanent place on my shelves, and well deserving of it too.

My Rating : ****

Fifty Shades Too Many

It was just announced that E.L. James, author of the Fifty Shades of Grey books, has another book up her sleeve. Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian, a male perspective version of Fifty Shades of Grey told through Christian Grey's point of view.

The author must of run out of money, otherwise why would she feel the need to release more of her badly written, pornographic, psychologically disturbed books upon the world? To be completely honest, I have not, nor will I ever, read these books. But with a book this popular, this hyped up, one tends to see and hear things. Color me not impressed. Quiet frankly, I would be embarrassed to admit to having read these books, yet alone boasting of my love for them. Everyone has the right to read whatever they desire to, and I am not here judging that choice, I am just stating that for the life of me, I just cannot understand why these books are so popular ... well, I think that we can all take a guess on the why aspect ...

I don't feel that anyone needs to be subjected to the psychologically disturbed view point of that character dubbed Christian Grey.