Tuesday, December 2, 2008

[news] ... 2 more books XD. haha.

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Looks like imma have to read fasterrr! Taking trips to the library every two weeks XD. haha. Well we've got new books! Let's go!

Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli

Our beloved author of Stargirl! (I haven't read that book since 3 years ago I think?) This book... I'm not sure what it's really about. But hey it's Jerry can't go wrong with that :D.

Gone (This Is the Way the World Ends) by Michael Grant

The subtitle there really got me because of that video on newgrounds: Fallen Angel but yeah. This book is action ful And just today I was thinking "Oh geez I miss the Finger Prints excitement" so I found this sitting on the new books shelf (which has become my favourite shelf by the way) and now I've got this really fat hunk of story ^.^;;. Ah well it sounds really epic :). So we've got this group of kids.. basically it's them against the world and time; and all these epic changes. Hey guess what the chapters have count down in the amount of time left! Isn't that awesome? :). Starting at 299 hours and 54 minutes.

That'll be interesting I guess :.

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Well see ya Time to get reading >.<. ♥

Saturday, November 29, 2008

[manga] Othello

By: Satomi Ikezawa

OTHELLO! First manga review. Because I re-read it all in one day. I love this manga. Even if it is kinda weird; it's hilarious, it pisses you off, and you get involved.. goddamit it even makes you cry. That my friend, is freaking Shōjo material. The manga is named after that boardgame "Othello" because of the main character switching back and forth.

The plot follows Yaya Higuchi, a pushover kind of girl with only an alternative personality to keep her safe that she doesn't know the existence of. Her alternative personality is Nana, the outgoing girl with spice and confidence. Both of them share the same dream, to sing. It's Yaya and Nana, against the world that needs a balance of both, a sweet heart, and a confident heart.

Othello really brings out the crude side to life. Liars, fakes, rapist bastards--you name it. It's amazing. This manga is realy touching. And honestly, the style doesn't bug me; In fact, I love it. I love the drama, the style, the fashion, and the lyrics. Some parts seemed rushed but hey im no manga artist.
I'm deep in love with the ending.

Beautiful :). I loved this whole manga. I loved it. AND I LOVE SHOHEI-SAN'S ALLIGATORR!!!♥

well I shouldn't say much. Give this a read. It's really amazing. Short too. Only 28 chapters wow!
It's cute :). Read it. Go.

Mark: 10/10

Sunday, November 23, 2008

[fiction] The Missing Girl

By: Norma Fox Mazer

"He could be any respectable ordinary man, but he's not"

I could barely finish this book, but the hope for a happy ending got me going. It's a--beautiful story in a sense because of it's foreshadowing and such. But I'll let you find out for yourself.

The Missing Girl is about five sisters, that without knowing about it are driving a man crazy, his forbidden thoughts about them, his "love" for them. He thinks he's a nice man, he's always been told that. Then one day, when one of the sisters, Stevie had to be sent to New Hamsphire to work for the money that this family desperately needs, everyone is upset. Which leads one of the sisters, Autumn to take a walk and then be captured by her invisible predator.

I won't tell you how it ended because that was so big. The man died, in a way that was already mentioned in the book actually. Foreshadowing! Amazing shit. The girls have their own honest voices. Which honestly, me being as young as I am; I didn't really give into.

but apparently when your 11 you're in grade 5? I wasn't. haha.

Anyways, it was still real. I fell in love with Beauty, Fancy, Stevie and maybe also Mim, becayse they're the ones that are most like me. And through it all, Norma Fox Mazer couldn't have described it any better.

Goodjob :D.

Mark: 10/10

Thursday, November 6, 2008

[news] New Books

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We've got new books! ^.^;;. Most of them are new. Last minute 2008ers? haha. Alright.. let's start the list up:

Love & Lies by Ellen Wittlinger

A lesbian girl, 18, with much confidence in herself meets with complications in her times studying in university.

The Missing Girl by Norma Fox Mazer

From what I see, it's a horrifying book about a child predator. There's a new one eh?

Black box by Julie Schumacher

A book about a sister with depression and how the sibling has to take all the pain in but away from the rest of the world. Struggles. Kind of reminds me of Skin and maybe a touch of Would you. But you never know.

Me Times Three by Alex Witchel

The only book not from this year; but it seems pretty interesting. A book about a heartbreak and cheating. Struggles happen?

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin

A DEBUT!♥ lol. I'm looking forward to this. seems to have a lot of drama in it. :). Gotta love that drama.

Looks like we might have a bit of everything with this set. Take care everyone~


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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

[fiction] Would you

By: Marthe Jocelyn

Would you is a kind of slice-of-life book. Life isn't all serious, all sad, it's funny, it's weird.. it's dramatic and honestly; it has no end unless life itself ends. So the ending of this book -- may not be those weird award winning powerful ones, but honestly anything else would make this book a little indifferent. I loved how it was real. Most of all I'm loving how the cover relates to what our main character Nat realizes in the end.

Published in 2008! Yay. Even if the year is coming to an end haha.
Anyways, this book is about a girl named Nat overcoming an accident her sister, Claire was caught up in and because of it; we see how it affects her. (Ah not to worry there's much more drama caught up in there).

I loved how the book was seperated in days, showing how quickly life can suddenly be ruined and changed-- how flexible but fragile life is. I liked how the philosophy with hope being pointless and such at the end was there. It was a nice touch. Also; the well titled maybe a little personally reflective titles of the little sections made you cry, made you laugh, made you just smile and say "haha Nat you dummy.". Remember, it was slice-of-life. So of course it affected me a little.

:). I love realism. It's the beauty in writing. Even in fantasy realism is there. Because without some charecteristic or even a love interest thing; we can't really relate to what's going on. Maybe it's why we always believe that our favourite alien extraterrstrials .. ah nvm lmao.

I read this to sleep too.

Mark: 9.5/10


Now it got a 9.5 because honestly. it was awesome. But not awesome enough :(. Sorry Marthe lol.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

[jmovie] Udon

"There's nothing here. Just udon."

Kosuke Matsui tries to escape his homeland in the Kagawa Perfecture which he believes is filled with nothing but Udon. He's sick of it, and so he moves to New York to fulfill his dreams of becoming a comedian. It doesn't work too well for him, and when he decides to come back; he sees nothing's changed at all.

Everyone is the same and the Udon is still there. With a big debt, and anger from his father, Kosuke tries to make money by joining a local publishing company. He meets a girl; Kyoko and together they bring up to write an article about Udon. Surprisingly to Kosuke it's a big hit. Somehow, it changes everything.

I, like most people; watched this movie on an airplane (along with that movie ROUGH I think?). I really loved it, it was hilarious, it made me hungry, and it made me cry. A nice balance, a well thought lesson, and really good actors.

I loved the ending; somehow it kind of reminded me of "The Outsiders" ending because well Kyoke was writing a story right? I thought that was really cool.

"It's a love story." That's what Kyoko said. Which says a lot. I loved how the glorified udon like if you did it wrong it wouldn't be right, which is probably true; but it's great how they did it. When Kosuke's father died, I think the scene was very dramatic; Well done actually. And the memories, and how the kids were happy when they were given the father's udon.

It was good, realy good. I watch it when I'm sad now (lol). :).

Mark: 10/10

Cast

Yusuke Santamaria - Kosuke Matsui
Manami Konishi - Kyoko Miyagawa
Tortoise Matsumoto - Shosuke Suzuki
Katsumi Kiba - Takutomi Matsui
Kyoka Suzuki - Mari Fujimoto
Takeshi Masu - Masanori Otani
Jin Katagiri - Kenjiro Mishima
Jun Kaname - Kazuya Aoki
Fumiyo Kohinata - Ryoichi Fujimoto

[fiction] Baby Proof

By: Emily Giffin

This book had a nice concept. But honestly, I thought the ending was rushed. I knew it would work out but--the way it was done was a little lame. Other than that, I absolutely loved it :).

The plot follows Claudia, a grown over 30 woman who is set up on a blind-date with a man named Ben. The both of them aren't intereseted in having children. But things happen, and eventually; one of them changes their mind. But the other stays strong in their arguement for not having children. Eventually a divorce happens. The book shows us that love can work wonders.

It was nice, I mean now i know 30 year old's aren't like old geezers :9. haha. I'm jking. It's nice though, I could actually reflect with somethings in the book, like the moment when everything is wrong but you keep telling yourself it's happening for the best? I mean I'm sure we all do it at some point. Even if it isn't. Everything was nice and realistic. However, even if the ending was as real as could be... I thought it was a little rushed. It was way too weird. Too rushed.

Either way, the book won it's way into my bedtime stories. I'd crawl into bed and read a chapter of this; lots of fun actually. At first I thoguht the concept was new but then I realized, I'd actually read a lot of books with this; (The Last Chinese Chef for instance) but as soon as the issue is singled out it seems so strange.

Now, I'm pretty old-fashioned (influenced by my parents) and I honestly think that having children is good but when you see it like this and you're always asking what made it so strong; I'm just glad Emily gave some reasons that I could beleive. I also liked how nothign was perfect. The writing style was great, and flowing. Sometimes it was very comical and I was laughing. So this book is great :). Even if the ending seemed a little rushed over all, it was great.

The last sentence; despite the way it ended, was pretty affective as well. A good one-liner to end the book haha. Works like a charm right?


Mark: 6/10

Sunday, September 28, 2008

[fiction] FingerPrints Vol. 7: Payback

By: Melinda Metz

"Yana was my best friend--and Yana wanted me dead.

I should hate her for what she tried to do. But the people who stole what she loved most--they did the same to me.

Yana still wants revenge, and she doesn't want my help. Can I really let her walk into a trap?"

This was satisfying enough for "a last book" but the ending wasn't that powerful you know? No matter what, I've always managaed to imagine it as Rae rescuing Yana from the fire and then saying "Together". A little more right? Atleast, they have a little foreshadowing about what will happen next. Now I can check out fanfics XD.

I think I got the library's new copy. :). I feel good about that.

This book focuses on misunderstandings around Yana. How Yana feels and all that. Seeing how the importance of her mission and the importance (and stupidity) of Jesse/Rae/Anthony/Mandy's mission is, I'd say putting her on the cover was a good idea. It's a little make up game you know? We'll call 'em the "hero group". Mandy of the hero group has a sister who wants to elope with this loser guy before she finishes highschool and drops her scholarship which she worked her ass off for. So they gotta go and stop that wedding. Yana however got the knowledge through her head that the people who killed her mom were in fact the group agency her mom used to go to. But the hero group actually doens't know that and get paranoid searching for Yana when they discover she escapes. The story here is pretty dramatic, especially when it comes to the part where Sam and Yana have to escape from the burning center building.

It's nice. But the ending was too safe XD. Ah what can I say. The drama kinda made up for it.
My favourite part would have to be all the Mandy and Jesse parts. Rae and Anthony are happy so whatever but Jesse and Mandy, now that's cute. I always think Jesse is taller than Anthony XD. But not anymore lmao. I also loved how Rae brought Sam back to life. There's also a slight character development, which I like.

I remember there was a volume (4 or 5) where Jesse was talking to Rae's boobs and saying "You look amazing." That was funneh lmao :9.

Anyways, this is the last you'll be seeing of "FingerPrints" First series I've finished reading for a long time. (remember Guardians of Gahoole or whatever? haha I read to the final book but after the newcomer came buy I just forgot about it haha).

Great series :). I loved it. Next, I think I'll focus on those Young Adult books. I've gota celebrate. I'm happy with how it ended.

Mark: 10/10

The End :).

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

[news] Haven't read much sci-fi.... so..

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In honour of my Science/Math teacher last year who loved to read sci-fi and all that, I decided to get out a sci fi book! Yes everyone. I know I know.

Sphere by Michael Crichton

A book about Norman Johnson, a psychologist who gathers with a group of scientists to uncover the truth beyond a mysterious space-craft of some sort. Really cool :9.

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Well thaz all :9. Take care guys.

Monday, September 22, 2008

[fiction] FingerPrints Vol. 6: Revelations

By: Melinda Metz

"All this time, I've been looking for answers. I was sure that once I knew the whole truth, I would finally be safe.

But I'm in more danger than ever.

Only now I'm ready to fight back."

The mega book. Well semi mega book. Everything is intense and uncovered. Beautifully written -- never really dull. The outcome could or could not be expected but no matter what it was well done. Lots of things happen that make you think in this volume.

The book focuses on two sides. The reasearchers and saviors (which obviously has to have Anthony in it) and the clueless bastards (Rae lmao). Anthony, Jesse and Aiden figure out who else was after Rae from reading Dr. Stever Mercer's notes (the crazy wacked guy who decided that being abonormal was a threat to human kind, which kinda makes sense). Just when you thought it was over huh? Meanwhile, Rae helps Yana from being thrown into mental hospitilization by her heartless, selfish father. Both groups figure something out maybe a moment too late. 

Mandy turns out to be the hero :9. 

Here's the biggie. Now, I suspect I never write my favourite part; but it was when -- yes-- Anthony kissed Rae or viceversa. Or whatever. lol. 

Now since the end, is up next; I don't want to obsess over the obvious nice, suspenseful, mind boggling writing. You know it's going to end well... but then you start to doubt don't you? (Did I mention they made a reference to "The Outsiders?" *squeal*) So I think I'll just grade it. 

Can't wait;

Mark: 10/10

Next up: The real biggie. 

Vol. 7: Payback. 

And after that, you won't be seeing these guys again. I don't suppose so XD. 

Monday, September 15, 2008

[fiction] FingerPrints Vol. 5: Betrayed

By: Melinda Metz

"I finally know how to find the person who's been trying to kill me. But I can't tell Anthony or Yana.

They're hiding something from me. 

And until I know what it is, I have to do this on my own."

Well, here we are, 5th book. Betrayed. Just when we think that kiss is going to turn it all around, the teenage drama kicks in. Now, there's also some really strong realizations and such that shape up the strength and suspense. These kids have guts if you ask me XD. I could never pull off so much lying. 

This should've properly been made into a drama ;_;. 

I didn't think I'd be so quick to reading this though. Guess I had... time. 

The main events of this book is, Rae and Anthony getting all worked up after their melting smoosh session (which is a little cute). This includes Rae's birthday which was completely trashed. She realizes she has to do everything alone, to stop bringing people in her death prone life (haha). Jesse in love? wow lol. Adorable, stubborn Jesse in looooveee! Aww. 

Okay, so I thought the big spoiler was up next, but it turns out that it wasn't. XD. I'm so dumb. 

Of course, with no fail, the action book progresses to uncover some more drama. And led by truth. 

In this book, it seems like it's all solved. 5/7. Two book left. And looking at these guys, a lot can happen in two books. So I'm not sure. Maybe not then hmn? 

Chapter Preview of 6 (which I usually don't read as to not get out of the current volume's "zone") said something about Yana. 

Oh no! Yana's in trouble?!

Now after reading some really random preview of some next book, I realizes how different the series is. 

It's well written and you can't put it down. I don't even know why I review. Everythings 10/10. Now we know for sure there'll be 7 10/10s. These are great...If the ending is crappy, I'm so gonna drop it to 2/10 lmao. 

Well let's all wait up then. Speaking of endings, the ending to this volume is very epic and amazing. 

I didn't even realize the heavy breathing on my part (lmfao). 

Book change a lot about how you think. (pshy lesson haha). Of course, no one thinks the same, but with books you get a taste of what peopel think. This is more than a mouthful. 

Good characters. Good realism. Good suspense. Good stuff.

Melinda is my hero :). 

Mark: 10/10

I read the back of the next one sitting on my shelf. Rae's smiling on the cover.

kinda looks evil lmfao. 

* takes two days for me to finish one if you keep track O_O. It's scary. 

Saturday, September 13, 2008

[fiction] FingerPrints Vol.4: Secrets

By: Melinda Metz

"When everyone I trusted turned away, Anthony was there. He was the only one who cared sand he's the reason I'm still alive.

But now Anthony has more important things to do than watch my back. 

So it's just me and Yana and whoever's out there watching, waiting for the chance..."

If you were waiting for a complicated, good-end, epic, full of actiong and roller coaster crap loads of suspense this is it. Complications, amazement, and of course, that "wow" factor of :

"What the hell?" and "How the hell?" 

You're itching for how it all unfolds so, that's just what keeps you reading.

The plot of this story introduces Rae's old friend Jackie, the break-up and make-up of her and Anthony. Sometimes you call them idiots and then you regret it when you see it was for the good. (Gawd these books are great!). Also, truth, suspense, and action of Rae and Yana getting kidnapped by a pack of losers -- who might as well be the people that want Rae dead? Maybe maybe not. Oh and not to mention the awesome way Anthony and Jesse manage to save Rae and Yana. 

It's cool how this book toys with you a bit. You think you know when characters are wrong and over-reacting and messing things up (unless it's about the teenage drama, then you know for sure, haha) -- but really when it all unravels you realize and just say "wow... I regret that one.."

I couldn't ever really put this down until I got yelled at to XD. In fact, if I just start and read even a little from a random page, I can't exactly stop until I tell myself to. These books are that good. I can't wait 'till I read 'em all. 

(btw the end of this book is really awesome -- to me of course ;) if you know what I mean)

Mark: 10/10

Next up, Vol. 5 Betrayed. Stay tuned. The big spoiler's up next :). But I won't spoil it 'cause I'm better than that haha. 

Thursday, September 11, 2008

[fiction] FingerPrints Vol. 3: TrustMe

By Melinda Metz

"It was Anthony who helped me understand what I can do -- who showed me that I wasn't crazy.

I was only trying to thank him, to help him find what he's been searching for his entire life. But he thinks I've betrayed him. 

He doesn't understand that the answers I found aren't what either one of us expected -- and the truth could hurt me as much as it hurts him."

Third book in the series. Mostly the uncovering of parent truths and developing slightly of AnthonyxRae. (isn't that just so beautiful?). This book was intense and seriously I'm amazed at how well Melinda manages to tie it all together. There were sometimes were it was so mixed up you just wanted to know. 

"How the hell do they get out of this one?" 

A little fanservice in this one. But it's lots of fun. Of course Rae and Anthony having slightly different minds, they tend to assume wrong things which lead to conflict. Of course to get things straight. Rae is a girl who can read people's thoughts through fingerprints -- that includes they're actual fingerprints. Her mother was a killer but was too mentally instable to attend court and died in a hospital after she got several strange symptoms.  

The plot of this book is Rae trying to help Anthony by finding out facts about Anthony with her friend Yana. Anthony decides to pay her back for helping him with dyslexia by teaching her how to swim. (fanserviccee <3).

See how much Melinda manages to fit in one book? Damn I wanna make this book a freakin' manga haha. But I already mentioned how painful that would be XD. I know TV rights were sold. But they could've atleast done the actual series god damnit >:0!. I mean like each two chapters is kinda like an episode. 5... I'm guessing then... 10 chapters in a book. and POW. 35 episodes of Fingerprints. 

wow I did math in a book review. Well not the point haha. I love how Melinda can make it so page turning and beautiful (and fan servicey). I mean seriously what right-minded fan doesn't want Anthony x Rae? Anyways, it's well done. Everybook is suspenseful and exciting. 

Mark: 10/10

I can't wait to start on the fourth book. I'll get reading everyone. Stay tuned for "FingerPrints Vol. 4: Secrets". 

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

[news] New Books (FingerPrints!!) =)

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Yep that's right more and more and more. =) But this time I got all of FINGERPRINTS <3.>:0!. Or... week. haha. I might get overexcited and just read 1 a day!

Kitty Kitty by Michelle Jaffe

A book about a girl with a perfect L.A. life but soon has to leave it all for Venice which isn't really that bad until she meets two relatives that like to be called their "faerie names" (don't ask). Dangers and more drama than than it seems folks. I read a spoiler part by accident (whoops! ^.^;)

Would you by Marth Jocelyn

A book that I think is about an accident changing everything. All I really know is the main character is Claire I beleive. Must be intense?

Fingerprints by Melinda Metz (Vol. 3 -7)

That's: trustme, secrets, betrayed, revelations, and payback. Interesting stuff. A real page-turner. Even if it's from a good 7 or 6 years back :9. I'm still happy. lol.

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Yes this is lots of reading. But I honestly think Fingerprints will come up before anything else haha.

Monday, September 8, 2008

[news] New Books.

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I went to the library with the intention of booking "FingerPrints" but instead I got three books.

Young Adult. Omg I foudn the YA section in the library! I didn't know where it was before lol.

The WolfMan by Nicholas Pekearo

This book is about a warewolf seems average but I think it's amazing (the first chapter I read). Also it seems the author has passed away at a young age doing a good deed. R.I.P Nicholas. The story is horror. Very nice and intense. debut.

Zipped by Laura and Tom McNeal

This the couple's second novel I'm guessing? The debut was up on the shelf ( and you know how i love debuts) But I got all mixed up and took this one instead. Pretty good so far. It's got a complicated story about family trouble. Your stepmother is cheating. What do you do?

Itch by Michelle D. Kwansey

I'm guessing this is the second book (haha not again!). Story is set in the 1960s and the plot I'll reveal it later I guess. Haven't really started on it. I got TONS of books.

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Currently everyone I'm obsessing over "Baby Proof".
(It is) haha.

Friday, August 29, 2008

[fiction] The Boy Next Door

By: Meggin Cabot (Author of Princess' Diaries)

This was a really good read especially after all that after-drama sadness and sighing after watching 5cm per Second. That was a really, really depressing anime. But now with this hilarious book we've got smiles. It was a little lighthearted and a way to well planned. I loved it all the way. Not only that to my surprise I thought the first page was like one of those dumb things on the beginning that I don't really care about personally XD. Like some publisher advertising lol.

As the semi title says (barely read on the cover) "there's nothing average about: The Boy Next Door". True to it's word, it's not about teenagers doing stupid dramatic things, but it's more on the line of e-mails in co-workers and such. In fact the whole story is about e-mails. Comes to show how many people you can meet in a month just by exchanging mail at work (a.k.a slacking off but George for some reason doesn't say much until they all gather up in the ladies' room all at the same time XD. Funny how no one gets fired).

Mel doesn't appear at work one day because her 80 year old neighbour is knocked out and into a coma. The old woman's only relative is her son Max Friedlander -- a famous fashion photographer. As soon as taking care of the dog's and cats in Mrs. Friedlander's while she's in a coma starts deeply affecting her work-life and such she decides to call up Max and ask him to come take care of them. Max at the moment is having an extended vacation with the supermodel named Vivica. So Max decides to ask his friend John (who owes him for saving him back then and when from a girl) to take care of the dogs and pretend that he himself is "Max". But soon the fake Max (John) and Mel fall madly in love. How will he tell her he's not the Max she thought he was?

As you can see I got my hands on the FIRST EDITION. Not that great seeing how the cover looks kinda bad. But it's interesting. And... well now that I think about (in the library I was thinking the same thing) that I hadn't actually read a book about "a boy being nextdoor" . So I took it.

It was really interesting. Dramatic nice, well done, crude at points but hey I can live with crude humour any day. (I'm a little like that myself haha). I love how the characters never ever know what anyone else is saying. Heh, loving that cheap laziness with the Zabar's prepared-food section. XD. It's hilarious really. The e-mails are the funniest things ever XD. And the way it all wraps up beautiful and turns around in the matter of two simple pages?

If the message of the story was to show how much e-mails can do to someone and run your life? I guess Meggin got that across XD. This was lots of fun to read. Thanks Meg♥. I guess I'm a sucker for humor XD.

Mark: 10/10

Thursday, August 28, 2008

[news] New Books (and a lot)

*edit oops forgot two books and I got an old book from our shelf XD.

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Joy oh joy♥ Note: a few of the stories have gotten quite cruder actually.

Here we aree♪:

The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville

A great novel about two people who've given up love.

A Sin of Color by Sunetra Gupta
(haha almost spelled color the british way again lmao.)

"A novel of obsession". Debendranath a man presumed dead leaves behind his wife that is victim to unrequited love due to his hidden love for his sister-in-law. The house in Calcutta where he met his brother's wife and fell in love he soon leaves to replace his home from England. But he cannnot espace his passion for that married woman. His curious neice who happens to be a writer can't either.

BongWater by Michael Hornburg

Modern culture, streetlife, sad, terrifying, forbidden, strange with a sense of humour we have bongwater a sweet-natured love tale in the streets of squats, paranoid rockers, drunk nights and all the others labeled imperfections to make a good story.

Patient 002 by Floyd Skloot

Sam Kiehl is leading a pretty good life and is the single father of a grown son. But then he is afflicted with something that leaves him completely disabled. He's desperate. So with no treatments but a new untested drug, he decides to take up as "Patient 002" and meets Tracy Marsh who is his partner. Turns out it is a tale of choices and consequences when desperately ill. A love story obviously too. Said to be a novel of "hope and healing".

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

A story about not wanting a baby and finding someone who shares the same intentions. But then, when one has a change of heart? What will happen. A tale of what or what your wouldn't do for love.

Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot (Meggin)

A story of a girl who can't keep her own mouth shut and how much trouble it breaks her into. (Author of Princess' Diaries).

(There is nothing average about) The Boy NextDoor by Meggin Cabot

Interesting in the sense that it's something so typical wrote in the way of e-mails.
*edit
What Was She Thinking? by Zoë Heller

A book about friendship and envy -- and maybe strange forbidden love. All I can say for now. (Second book of author)

White Ghost Girls by Alice Greenway

A debut novel (yay). In the summer of 1967, Mao's Cultural Revolution and the war over at Vietnam making Katie and Frankie (two american girls) stuck with their mom in Hong Kong. The sisters are quiet opposites towards eachother. One day in the market the girls wander off and apart. Not very smart.

Funny Boy - Shyam Selvadurai

National bestseller, debut novel, "the girl" read it and she said it was great. A story about a boy in Sri lanka and his transition to adulthood. Telling us we're all welcome we all understand. Sounds promising. I read the first pages already.
(It is) haha.

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Well that's it. I've got tons of reading to do XD. Also the blog got some touch ups. If you've noticed lol.

[music] Give it Away - DEEPEST BLUE

Give it away - Deepest Blue

Currently on my me like list. Also try tubing an AMV on Tess's song for 5cm pe second XD. It was so pretty so it motivated me to watch the movie actually. haha. I think the song is The second you sleep I stay to watch u fade a way. Cool song. The chorus anyways.

(Heart still uneasy ^.^;;... )

5 Centimeters Per Second || 秒速5センチメートル, Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru

"Hey... They say it's five centimeters per second."
"What do you mean?"
"The speed at which the sakura blossom petals fall... Five centimeters per second."

This is a movie released last year in Japanese. I prefer the subs because the english voices scare me (haha). I just watched this. It was so sad and amazing. Now really -- sad movies make me so sad. But this had an unexpected/bittersweet ending. That's not all though -- it was portrayed beautifully. Good watch. Man just saying but there were times where I knew something would be sad and I wanted to skip but I had to force myself not to.

The movie is seperated into three episodes which works in sense of realization and metaphor development and change in time; which happens to be the whole meaning of the story. Needless to say he got the point across and it was beautiful how he did it how quickly. It makes you want to watch Makoto's other stuff. (Probably will). All the epsiodes add up to be 1hour long .

Episode 1 focused on Akira and Takaki and how they have to move around a lot. It's evident they fall in love and make a promise of some sort to meet up and see the cherryblossoms. A sad journey but Takaki decides to bullet train all the way up there to see her. Again -- it was sad. In the end, they do see eachother. They share a kiss. But even so, he leaves in the morning with a lump in his heart because he knows overtime they'll drift apart.

Episode 2 is about a girl who has a crush on Takaki known as Kanae. She also can't ride waves at the beach but doesn't give up. Without the courage to tell him her feelings she strives on. Then one day, she made the wave when surfing and decided she'd confess to Takaki today. But as she spots him looking off into the distance she sees he's already in love with someone much greater who can give him more happiness - . With that, she cries herself to sleep -- never being able to confess before he left for university in Tokyo. The must touching episode. Because well to me XD. haha .

Episode 3 is focused on when Takaki grows up. Akari sees a letter that she wrote but never sent to him. He also.. lost a letter on his first visit that he wrote for her. But Akari seems to have moved on. Another day passes and Takaki crosses paths with Akari (and it's kinda obviously hinted it's Akari). After much realization and reflecting we finally come to know that when she turned around as well to see who it was two trains blocked their sight. Takaki stayed to see what it was. Soon seeing the woman was nowhere to be seen.

He realizes -- it was for the best smiling as he walks away from the railroad crossing. And stops wanting and living in the past. So he finds a way to somehow be happy.
I think this was beautiful. It was sad -- and I generally don't like sad. *Kinda weird too watch after reading Peeled lmao I guess*. Sad/Beautiful is nice though. It was deep. Episode 2 made me cry.

I start to wonder. Will it be like this too? Haha it was nice, well done, beautiful, bittersweet, unexpected. Amazing. No words to describe. In fact maybe I shouldn't review it right after getting shot with ":O ah!". (lol).

A good watch.♥

(Takaki's japanese voice is cute I dunno why)

Mark: 10/10

Trailer

Characters/VoiceActors

Takaki Tōno (遠野貴樹, Tōno Takaki)
Voiced by: Kenji Mizuhashi (Japanese), David Matranga (English)

Akari Shinohara (篠原明里, Shinohara Akari)
Voiced by: Yoshimi Kondō (Part 1) and Ayaka Onoue (Part 3), (Japanese), Hilary Haag (English)

Kanae Sumida (澄田花苗, Sumida Kanae)
Voiced by: Satomi Hanamura (Japanese), Serena Varghese (English)

Credits

Director, Writer and Original Creator: Makoto Shinkai
Character Design and Art Director: Tayako Nishimura
Background Art: Takumi Tanji, Ryoko Majima
Music: Tenmon
Production and Distribution: CoMix Wave, Inc.

Released: Japan 03.03.07, NorthAmerica 03.04.08 (A year ahead? How cute XD)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

[icons] Final Fantasy X & .hack,

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Haha I got bored let's just stick with that. I got really into icon making. Take 'em if you like. XD. haha. Icons are upper fun to make.

Photshop elements <3.>

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

[music] NAOMI YOSHIMURA - Yumemi Gockochi Yurari


NAOMI YOSHIMURA - Yumemi Gokochi Yurari
by azn-lovely

I'm lovin' this song sooo much. Yet again. So catchy can't get it out of my head XD. haha. Naomi Yoshimura for you. ♥

Friday, August 15, 2008

[fiction] Peeled


By: Joan Bauer [Newberry Honor of Hope Was Here]

Wow a book from this very year? I never thought I'd see it seriously. This is a really amazing work of art. Rich, warm, and humorous. It's current, it's unexpected actually. For one moment I actually thought this was a horror book. But it seems like.. and entertaining philosophy guide if you ask me. Personally I believe if you understand more about yourself you're one step closer to becoming a genius. Bauer's got a real talent to tell a story with hilarious scenes that you can never get out of your head. It seemed more about the truth and it seemed to also be saying truth isn't always magic and ghosts even in a fiction story.

Peeled has actually gotten me thinking and realizing many things. It even made my day at one point. The characters where actually carved in the back of your head. It comes to a point where you hear their name and you somehow know exactly how they talk how they say it and even... if they could be smiling. I think it was beautiful. A well balanced and fun story. Fast pace which is great and amazing how it can just make you laugh. Books don't usually get that out of me you know? Some scenes were so funny that I even ended up tabbing the pages with my yellow sticky strips. Read 'em over and over. The whole concept of journalism. It helped very much with the story. Joan sure is talented.

I do have to mention something though. The ending -- I didn't see it coming. It wasnt' a twist or anything. It was actually a beautiful line of simple words. And it wasn't I love you lol I'll tell you that. But the thing is -- it was at the end of the page XD. And that actually killed me. Because I didn't know that was the ending. And I couldn't savour it and say wow. In fact after I was done and saw the thankyou page and thought "ehh? what thats the end? Oh.." I read the ending again. It's like "reading the ending with great passion and excitement : Take 2". Haha. Well the ending was a little nice actually. But that's not Bauer's fault for the page thing. I'm just dumb lol.

The main theme being truth and study of fear -- I thought this book was exceptionally written in that sense. No plot twists just peeling away to search for truth. Learning more. The only the thing that goes wrong is basically, the lies. Proven in the end, the good guys always do win if you keep your mind to it.

Persistence is remarkable when you want it to be. That is a good lesson taught in this book. Of course with a spark of laughter.

Seriously as soon as Hildy started saying WHAZZAT I cracked up for half an hour.

Mark: 10/10

* Thank you Jean you made my day. haha. ♥

Thursday, August 7, 2008

[fiction] Fingerprints Vol.2: Haunted


I can't explain enough my love for the teen drama in this book. I knew I needed a good book like this. It's so nice. It's a real pleasure to read; no joke. The story is well described well worded and well planned out.

It's goes and makes you say straight out and shameless without the thought that you're a nerd reading so much.

"Tom is a ------ WOW. Damn DIE TOM DIE AND ROT AND RAWR!"

Yeah lol. My sense of anger.

Books haven't done that to me since "Shattering Glass" [link here] and it's probably why I absolutely love this book. All that foreshadowing and unexpectedness actually makes my mind explode when I try to write it. (I'm better with awkward senseless comedy haha) Seriously I couldn't put it down. At first, it seemed kinda boring and strange. But the first sentences were nice. My friends this is a good book. The fear the jolt the emotion and fact makes you pretty much want to go around touch fingerprints and you beleive it. If you do believe it, if you seriously think you have a fandom for this book there you have it.

I've been afflicted. With obsession over this book. I think the people exist. And the freaking fingerprint thing? I stroke everything now with the thought that. What if my friend could do it? Haha I'm paranoid. Melinda is my hero. haha.

Anyways, back to the story basically what happens is Jesse gets kidnapped. Or is labeled as running away. The slight mindplay kind of makes you think of the world as one whole for a moment actually. It's strange but reading this actually makes me compare myself to the books. The personalities. And the urging love tension between Rae and Anthony is quite amazing. Those two will fall in love. (And if they don't melinda's getting crazed up fanfictions sent to her >:3) haha joking joking. Whether I'm reading it right or not, i sense love tension and I'm just waiting. For atleast a hug. I can compare to everything socially in this book in a sense actually. I try to put myself in situations and this book is actually somehow in a strange way helping me figure things out.

lol this could be a good call for FAN SERVICEEE~~~♥. Ah can never get enough. :).

The whole story of this second book main focuses on Jesse's kidnapping and saving him but there's also the character development that I'm loving. Also the true sides and character studies by the characters combined with the love tension. It's rich text. It's got a swift movie like outfit. I want this to be a TV show lol. Goddamnit I even thought of making a manga out of it haha. but fingerprints would be hard to draw all the time. (That's why we have photoshop brushes lol)

The next book maybe about finding Anthony's true father or whipping that bitch Tom in his unexistent balls -- or (lmao) egging him. But out of that viewpoint we also have Vol. 3 TrustMe. I read the back of that at the library haha. Turns out it's about Anthony losing trust in her? I'm not sure. I'll have to read it again. Wonder what happens. I sure do.....

Gonna have to just wait... (and see)♪ lol hehe.

Mark: 10/10

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

[fiction-horror] Who Killed the Homecoming Queen?


By: R.L. Stine.

Apparently from some Fear Street series. This book was made back in 1997. Haha back then I didn't even know how to read. Seeing how quickly I managed to finish the book, I actually thought it wouldn't have that much horror material in it. Turns out this stuff is great. (Better than Goosebumps I'll tell ya haha.) Having a horror plot it was pretty quick paced and well described. I probably would never be able to match up to this stuff in my writing so basically it was a really fun and non-stop read.

I learned more about fashion back then and when lol. Whenever I see 20th century stuff I ussually think 80s or 70s hairdos which btw are really scary to my taste haa. But these days books like that kinda warp that image. I'm guessing it's a good thing to study how style evolves I suppose.

Now more and back to the plot of this story, our character is describing Tania who has a perfect life. She's got the hottest boy friend, she's in a student film and even as a star role, also -- she's just been voted homecoming queen. Also she's got a complete family with the best stepbrother she could ever ask for. And of course in a horror book, everyone's gotta die.. well atleast someone I guess. So basically someone is out trying to ruin that so perfect year. Just saying but this story is in the point of view of her friend Eva.

Let's get a little profiling and comparing done here. The plot setup is very much alike to the one of "The Harrowing" [link here]. It's actually got the group and main character romance stuff going on. There's also the group meetings and slight unexpectedness. I saw the pages just fly by because it was quite the quick and easy read. Horror comes in little bits. It's hard to scare the things by words because it takes a while to describe something scary in such a time that it really pops and freaks out the person. Most horror movies have sudden frame changes to show a ghost or what-not. Element of surprise.

I liked the plot twists. But I love books that can really play with your mind. This book does just that really well. Nearing the end you start getting ideas of your own. Who what where? Who killed who? All that. From seeing the words flow by you understand more things. And out of NOWHERE. We can see... someone is lying? Or we can see someone admitting. It's amazing. Horror is really psychological to some degree I guess haha.

This was a fun read. I'll get more. You should do. Especially the end. (I accidentally read it before reading the whole story so it kinda ruined it for me.) But it still saved some of the impact of hilariousness. I love when we bring back thigns from the past :). Probably why I keep everything I do in record? haha. Stalking myself.

Goodbook. But It's not like worth buying. But it's worth reading. Just if you need a book to read waiting for the doctors lol. It's nice and quick. But I personally prefer long horrors. Haha What can I say? R.L. Stine probably made some of those. I'm surprised this book made me close it and stare at the cover being like "wow". Only a select books did that to me really.

I'd feel the same if I read the WHOLE series of something I bet. Wasn't too scary at times but interesting.

Mark: 9/10

[fiction] Fingerprints Vol.1: Gifted Touch

By: Melinda Metz [author of ROSWELL HIGH]

"Sometimes, when I touch things, words fill my head. Words that feel like thoughts—thoughts that are inside of me...but not mine.

I used to think I was crazy. Used to.

I'm starting to wonder if there's a reason for all the voices that tangle together in my mind. And if I'm right, then it's not my sanity I'm worried about—it's my life."

Super natural girl labeled mental and meets trouble making anger management boy who together unravel the mystery of whether she will get killed and by who. It's a little like "chasing yesterday" The new set of books released somewhere last year I think? About J.D. and them? Yeah it's a little like that. That's about it right there. But the drama and suspense in this book? You have no idea. The copy I got from the library looked pretty run-down but when I saw it was made in the 21st century it was like wow just a good 7 years ago maybe. Pretty up to date if you ask me haha. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Especially from an old library. (lol)

Now this book had me reading non-stop. I finished it in one day. But shame on me I only borrowed the first two books not expecting much from teen supernaturality. I was wrong obviously. I was also hoping it would be kind of like Shattering Glass (which I must say was an extremely good read for some reason). Finger prints has the stuff you don't want to happen. However some may take it as a bad thing for the people who like stories where everything goes as planned. It makes the plot so much more dramatic. To admit actually it MAKES the plot.

This plot is really interesting.

The supernatural part about this is how our main character with the name of Rae (fav. name haha) touches fingerprints and can read the history of whatever someone thought. In other words that makes a little more sense, if she touches where someone else's fingerprint was she can read that person's thought as he touched the object. But if that object where to be dropped? The finger print would go with it and Rae wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

Our Vol. 1 starts off with a little bit of ordinary life and struggling with "not-me" thoughts. Rae gets confused when touching the doors and her friends lipgloss, getting quite nasty thoughts. Rae at this point doesn't beleive the thoughts are someone else's just her thinking and going crazy. But when the stuff in the cafeteria she touches somehow speaks of her late mother and goes crazy about it and before she knew it, she was sent off to mental grouping. A boy named Anthony decides to tell her something. Her "going-back-to-school" happiness was full bullshit in his eyes. He knew she was wrong. And she was. The two talk pretty normally to eachother slightly warming up. But then a pipe bomb goes off in the girl's washroom, Anthony just went in there because all the guys were flooded (or more he was getting weed) and Rae is extremely hurt. Who's trying to kill her? Was it Anthony?

No, Anthony was the one that carried her to the nurse and even sounded so worried about her when he gave her the blue cup of water. Leaving his fingerprints behind and his thoughts as well. Either way Anthony was framed. But Anthony also helps Rae figure out what her power is, reading people's mind through finger prints. Rae isn't crazy. After finding the one who really set off the bomb. Rae and Anthony find out that someone paid the pipe bomber to do it. Someone's trying to kill Rae. When all has turned her back on her at school she realizes she can only count on Anthony, Jesse and her friend Yana to watch her back. But omg POW Jesse runs away? And the drama goes onn....

The characters are very well described and a little fun. To me, they're easy to relate to really because for some reason all this in a way seems real. It's so believable. (But remember this is from a fantasy mind). I'm sure these character's will end up growing on me.

All that in one action packed First Volume. Lots of sidenotes and foreshadowing so don't worry. I really enjoyed this. I'm guessing the whole series will be amazing as well. Looks like we'll just have to wait and see.

Oh baby wait and see.♪ (lol)

Mark: 10/10

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

[news] A trip to the library! Somewhere Else oh wow!

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Looks like we've got ourselves some awesome new books. Two of them action series actually.

Here we go!:

Finger Prints by Melinda Metz

A supernatural series in which I only have the first to volumes. I'm just testing it out I guess. Seems old. lol.

Peeled by Joan Bauer

A one story fiction revolving around fun jokes and reporting the truth in news.

Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson

A book about girls change and getting through to find something perfect.

FEARLESS by Francine Pascal

Another supernatural girl book about a girl who wasn't born with the "fear" gene. Promising action I suppose.

The Other Sister by S.T. Underdahl

A book based on real-life of the author and has a very strange situation of teenage birth give-aways coming back. Clearly first-hand experience on what happens.

Who Killed the Homecoming Queen? by R.L. Stine

Our favourite horror story writer making another quick terrifying tale about having a perfect life and having it al crash down.

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Alright then that's it for now, stay tuned for the reviews. This will be a lot of reading XD.

(wowie lol it looks like I'm advertising library books haha)

Saturday, July 12, 2008

[jmovie] Koizora


"Heavenly Days"

That's the song's name. Thank Yui Aragaki. To put it straight, this whole movie has a lesson: Love conquers all. The thing is, I see that in every website I go to that has a sum up of it. So might as well punch it into here right? I finally finished it. *thank u mysoju*.
The movie is very pretty, sad, dramatic, it has lots of lovely symbolism that I don't even remember.
My favourite part's gotta be when Hiro's sister screwed up Saki's hair.
The plot follows a cell-phone born highschooler's first love. Through all struggles and drama. Maybe even a second love because the first love didn't want to see Mika cry ; so he leaves. The drama rages on. And when the truth is uncovered: it makes you think DAMNIT I THOUGHT GIRLS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLICATED. killed it but hey. What can I say? haha.
No I made it sound bad. Just see for yourself, it'll make you... cry.
but feel warm inside.
It's a movie of recovery and hope.
Yum.

Mark: 10/10

Main Cast
Yui Aragaki - Mika Tahara
Haruma Miura - Hiro Sakurai

Credits
Director - Natsuki Imai
Writer - Mutsuki Watanabe (screenplay)

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

[fiction] Th1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY


By: Jay Asher


A debut novel yet again♥.


This mysterious, mind boggling work of art is nicknamed "pain on tapes" and I think it has a very beautiful touch to it. The ending did seem disappointing.. maybe a little confusing. But probably because I was kind of skimming through (reading with my friend and hell my friend is a fast reader maybe cause I like to visualize haha). The very thought that so much can happen and that you can put on tapes and what life is when you're suicidal. How many bad things that can happen to someone all on a well planned pack of tapes that take you to a whole new level of understanding and just get you hooked on the book. The concept is something new to me and that's probably what got me going.


The plot follows a girl named Hannah and the points to her death. Apparently she made tapes and passed them along to the special 13 people. People who had done something terrible to her in her life. Clay was one of them. But he was confused and terrified -- what had he done? He rolled the tapes. And decided to find out.


A slightly grim concept but a beautiful plot in the end. "TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY" is a great debut novel and I admire it very much. I don't know if any novels like this were made -- but it did seem to drift off after a while. To me, it really didn't matter. And I think the whole tape thing, suspense and the grimness of it kept me reading onwards. It was really interesting.


Yet, the ending however? Wasn't up to my taste. I didn't understand it at all. Nevertheless, the book as a whole was interesting and made some sense by itself. I liked it.


Mark: 8/10

Sunday, June 1, 2008

[fiction] A Corner of the Universe


By: Anna M. Martin


"It's all about changing what's handed to you, about poking around a little, lifting the corners, seeing what's underneath, poking that. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't, but atleast you're exploring. And life is always more interesting that way."


This is a heart-warming book with a cute sweetness in every sentence about accepting differences, living with happiness of different forms and living without it. It's placed in the past; where a girl named Hattie Owen is introduced to a whole new concept of a person.
Hattie Owen is a normal little girl who is used to her life - and enjoys how familiar it is. It's all routined until she's introduced to an uncle no one's ever told her about. Adam is mentally ill and very childlike for a twenty-one year old. But somehow Hattie can see the love in him so clearly. She really adores him. But when no one else does -- how will Adam feel?

The story is heartbreaking and heartwarming. It's a good one. Very effective very beautifully written. The most wonderful part is how the begginning goes to the end -- the words people speak. Most of all, what Hattie realises in the end seems very inspiring. I like it very much. Ever thing affects us -- the way it ends. The way happiness just goes like that. I like how it's portrayed. I like how Ann M. Martin put in some I love Lucy bits and even explained why Adam must've liked Lucy so much. Every aspect of the stry was practically perfect. I also love how it just shows Hattie making this whole new group of friends. And that talk with Catherine before the news came up-- it just told you what was going to happen next, it got you thinking. I have to say, it was an amazing read -- ingenius.

Mark: 10/10

Thursday, May 29, 2008

[fiction] Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies)


By: Justina Chen Headley

"Truth: We are all hapas, in one way or another. Not necassarily half-Asian, but trust me we are all half something. Half-good, half-bad. Book smart, street stupid. Math guru, beachbum. Class geek, closest romantic. Student body president, school coward. Boyfriend, jerk. Couldn't we all be in the "check all of the above category"?"


This charming, heartbreaking, and hilarious book follows a girl named Patty Ho as she struggles to find her place in her world. A debut novel from Justina Chen Headley and it really has this humourous spark to it that really makes you laugh. This nocel was quite fun to read -- it was very enjoyable to follow. The twist at the end really makes everything all gather up if you ask me. (Twists after all are a good story's best friend).

Patty's been taken to see Belly-button Grandmother who channels her future via her belly button. Since it's been her fate that she ended up with a white guy -- Patty's mom freaks out and sends her to math camp at Stanford. Patty uncoveres a lot there more or less about hersled and her family. From it all, she begins to accept who she is and realizes her mom might actually love her more than she'd think.

The writing style was very flowing and I think it seemed so young, so perfect and you automatcially knew Patty's personality and of course it was easy to relate to her most of the time. The drama was easy to follow. Humour was inserted ingeniusly at correct times. And of course, the way the story was plotted out was quite well done if you ask me as well. It was fresh and richly narracted. The ending -- it was slightly dissappointing for some reason and I think it blew everything back a little.

The whole lesson and moral was great. I mean in a great book there's always a philosophy and a twist and/or a really sweet ending. The moral of us all being hapas was great. Her truth thing at the end was just something expected and soemthing we were all waiting for really. So it was nicely done but .. i seemed so incompletely strange. When I re-read the ending.. the last line showing her whole name was actually quite nice. So I guess was just expecting too much.

nice story, nice plot, nice twist, okay ending, I ... could... put it down. nice cover :P lol.

Mark: 7/10

Friday, May 23, 2008

[fiction] Rucker Park Setup


By: Paul Volponi

This is the 3rd novel by Paul Volponi and it follows the perfectly written basketball drama story about friendship, deaths, and the price of it all when it's gone. Volponi's characters are right-on. They story was easy to follow in emotional and plot purposes. It's full of mystery and drama all packed into an important game. Our opinions wander around the shape of the situtation depicted in the book and really, in the end we just hate the bad guy full-out.

The story follows Mackey, a young inspired basket-ball player with his friend J.R. -- both living to win the basketball tournament at Rucker park. Street balling isn't just about sinking balls into hoops, its about the drama too. On the day of an important game J.R. is stabbed. Mackey blames himself. The story exposes "the painful truth that some wrongs cannot be made right."

I think the story flows pretty well actually. Volponi's style shows that he understands the characters inside out and knows exactly what they can say and how they can say it. Not expected huh? But it's o perfect. The story is actually pretty dark. Not much good happens in it. The plot really shows us some really intense mystery. I kind of like it actually. The ending was written in Stove's point of view and I thought it was actually very well done. It seemed like a good way to end it off. I would've liked it better if J.R. said soemthing about Mackey being a good loyal friend or something like that.

It would make you feel bad and want to tell him everything. But this ending works out great.

Mark: 6/10

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

[fiction] Skin



*vusunbat.a-'nabas-dbugde-vyig'--. .




By: Adrienne Maria Vrettos


This book really outlines problems of an unstable family. A debut novel written by Vrettos and I find it so amazing -- the pace is perfect, the situation - reactions - thoughts.

Skin is a touching story about real-life and the problem of disappearing. A wonderful debut novel from Adrienne Maria Vrettos. The story is about rebirth and death. And the rebirth death can bring. It's about family problems – breaking apart. Most of all change.

It follows the life of Donnie – induced with pure conflict and chaos. His sister isn't eating healthy and his parents are in fights almost every time they meet. Donnie's world is changing – and this story really depicts how he can stop being invisible and fix it – maybe not back to normal, but to something better.

I love how Vrettos has a balance about how to write. In writing style basically for me there's a scale on whether or whether not it's mature (like a computer block writing with no character) and freeflow (writing as spoken). I like how the balance creates a good flowing style that really has the image in your head – and really hooks you into the book because it seems so easy to follow. I tend to love the humour packed into this novel very much. It made me burst out laughing at one point haha.

I loved the characters, the problems, the setup – and of course the reminder of events. Especially the last sentence. It was amazing. I loved how it ended. This was an excellent book – not the best but I really thought it was something.

Mark: 9/10