Format: Hardback

Review ~ Pride and Prometheus ~ John Kessel

Review ~ Pride and Prometheus ~ John Kessel

I’m rather enamored of all things Pride & Prejudice so when I saw Pride and Prometheus on the library shelf, I couldn’t resist. I’m happy I didn’t pass it up. Pride and Prometheus, a mashup of Pride & Prejudice and Frankenstein, was engaging and thought-provoking, and I felt JKessel served both classics honorably. Pride and Prometheus places our story following the end of Pride & Prejudice but during Frankenstein, and has a very gothic feel. While Victor Frankenstein and his monster are main characters, Mary Bennet is the heroine rather than Elizabeth. Victor is on a mission to create a companion for his original creation as his monster is threatening Victor’s loved ones. However, he struggles with the ramifications of […]

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Review ~ The Poet X ~ Elizabeth Acevedo

Review ~ The Poet X ~ Elizabeth Acevedo

This. Was. Amazing. I have no words. At least no words as eloquent or as powerful as EAcevedo or The Poet X. But here’s my attempt at a worthy review… The Poet X is the first novel I’ve read written entirely in verse. I wasn’t certain how I’d feel about it but I needn’t have been nervous. EAcevedo delivered Xiomara’s story with passion and eloquence. And I love every moment. Xiomara is 15. She’s the daughter of Dominican immigrants. She and her twin brother, Xavier or “Twin”, share a bedroom in the apartment where they live with their parents. Things they share besides a bedroom: difficult parents – their dad isn’t present and their mom dotes on “Twin” while being […]

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Review ~ Sing, Unburied, Sing ~ Jesmyn Ward

Review ~ Sing, Unburied, Sing ~ Jesmyn Ward

Sing, Unburied, Sing is beautifully written and emotionally gripping. It’s also thought-provoking and the thoughts aren’t always easy to sit with. This being because the story deals with systemic racism and the lasting repercussions of it. Sing, Unburied, Sing also incorporates grief and guilt, among other things, and the role they play in how we, as humans, live our lives. Sing, Unburied, Sing follows 3 generations of one family. Pop and Mam, their daughter, Leonie, and Leonie’s children, JoJo and Kayla. This family has endured much. Prison, poverty, discrimination, and grief. Lots and lots of grief. JWard deftly portrays life in rural Mississippi. The hardships faced by people still experiencing racism. The culture differences in the population. She also conveyed […]

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Berk Reviews ~ The Darkest Star ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout

Berk Reviews ~ The Darkest Star ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout

Every great once in awhile. one of my kids graciously agrees to review a book for the blog. Berk was bingeing on JLA over spring break and agreed to review for us. 🙂 **BERK’S REVIEW** Well I’m not actually sure if I reviewed the entire Lux Series by Jennifer L Armentrout for my mom. I think I only reviewed Obsidian and I’m pretty sure I didn’t give it the best review. I think it’s safe to say that I was incredibly wrong; little high school me didn’t care for a good romance plot :P. The Lux Series has easily become my favorite series (or at least a close second to Percy Jackson) and Ms. Armentrout continues the saga with the […]

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Review ~ Where the Crawdads Sing ~ Delia Owens #UnearthingaBookishBounty

Review ~ Where the Crawdads Sing ~ Delia Owens #UnearthingaBookishBounty

Where the Crawdads Sing was a marvel. I really have no words. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to do this story justice in a review but here’s my first attempt: Where the Crawdads Sing is beautiful, lyrical, emotional, thought-provoking, eloquent, and…just, amazing! A true gem! Kya is a young girl – a little girl – living in a shack in the swamp in 1950’s North Carolina. She’s abandoned by her family, one by one, and the marsh adopts her. This story, her story, is about how capable and resilient Kya is, raising herself with a little help from Mother Nature. Or maybe Mother Earth. She also has some help from a “colored couple.” It’s about loneliness and its effects […]

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Review ~ Polaris Rising ~ Jessie Mihalik

Review ~ Polaris Rising ~ Jessie Mihalik

Polaris Rising is an incredibly impressive debut. Space opera isn’t a genre I read much of but this book was un-put-downable! The world building was excellent, the character development was awesome, the plot, sub-plots, and what I assume will be the over-arching story plot created such an entertaining read. I liked it all! 😉 Highlights: Characters Ada was just the kind of kickass heroine I adore. She gave up a life of luxury – she’s a daughter of one of the ruling Houses in the ‘verse – on principle. See, Ada didn’t agree with being sold into marriage. She’s held a variety of jobs since leaving home and she’s currently a mercenary. It’s just that she’s a mercenary who’s been […]

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Review ~ Educated ~ Tara Westover

Review ~ Educated ~ Tara Westover

How many of you are educated? Can you imagine being denied an education? Something many of us take for granted, I know. Educated tells the story of a girl who was denied her right to an education. A girl who grew up fearing the government and, to a large extent, her own father. It’s also the story of how this girl persevered in order to earn the education she longed for despite the cost, and I don’t mean monetarily. Tara Westover’s story of being educated is disturbing, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Growing up in a Mormon family, in rural Idaho, she believed she didn’t have many options in life. She believed she’d marry, have kids, and live on a piece of […]

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Berk Reviews ~ Holding Up the Universe ~ Jennifer Niven

Berk Reviews ~ Holding Up the Universe ~ Jennifer Niven

  The following review of Holding Up the Universe is courtesy of my younger daughter, Berk. Back when I was blogging solo I occasionally put my kids, who are all avid readers, to work 😉 by having them write reviews. This review is one I had leftover and since Berk really enjoyed Holding Up the Universe I thought I’d share her thoughts with you.   What I Liked: The characters were well developed with strong backgrounds. The story conveyed a more realistic version of high school. The way Niven dealt with anxiety was well done and much needed in teen literature.   What I Liked Less: The love element between Libby and Jack seemed forced and I didn’t feel like it […]

Posted 27 November, 2018 by Brandee @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 8 Comments
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#Review: Passion Rising – J.A. Huss and Johnathan McClain

#Review: Passion Rising – J.A. Huss and Johnathan McClain

Passion Rising ends the Original Sin series with a bang! And I felt like I got to know the main characters so much better here. Story: For a while in the beginning of Passion Rising, things were going slow – the aftermath of Flesh Into Fire could still be felt. However, Maddie and Tyler finally had room and time to breathe. To slow down. To get to know each other better. They were also able to heal – both physically and emotionally – which is something they both needed. Seeing Maddie and Tyler doing more ‘normal’ stuff made me love them more. And it also helped me get to know them much better. Passion Rising had a lot of passion, […]

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Review: Me Before You – Jojo Moyes

Review: Me Before You – Jojo Moyes

Me Before You is an emotional read, in which Lou finds herself, and Will makes a decision that can’t be taken back! This was a buddy read with Brandee @ Bookworm Brandee, and part of my review below is our chatting about it. Me Before You is not only the story about Will, how he copes with being a quadriplegic, and how hard it is for him to depend on other people for every single thing he wants or needs to do. It is also the story of Lou, of finding herself, of figuring out what she wants to do with her life. Of living, rather than just existing. To be honest, I think I found Lou’s journey to be […]

Posted 26 February, 2016 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 25 Comments
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