Tag: 2020 Reading Challenge!

The Tale of Despereaux • Kate DiCamillo

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“Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. ”

Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux was not born like any of his multiple brothers and sisters. He is tiny with very large ears and doesn’t appear to be afraid like a mouse should be. Instead, he is curious and wants to learn about the honey that he hears and the humans that he sees. After daring to be in the presence of the human king and his beautiful daughter, Princess Pea, the small mouse is cast out from his kind as an outsider. His fate is to be marked by red thread and to disappear into the dark dungeon that is full of skeletons and conniving rats. Down below, in the cold and winding dungeon, Roscuro the rat dreams of the light that slips below the crack of the door. He uses his cunning to craft a plan, which entails befriending the downtrodden Miggery Sow who dreams of being a princess, that will bring him to the bright world above that refuses his kind. It is up to Despereaux to brave a mouse’s greatest fears of death and the dark in order to save his beloved princess.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

It has been about a decade since I last read this book, and I am so glad that I gave it a listen. (I read this in the last few days of 2020 and wanted to say a few things about it.) The Tale of Despereaux has such heart and that is the only way that I know how to put it. Both the light and dark in this book carries such weight that I was in awe throughout my entire listen. Despereaux’s story teaches us about acceptance, forgiveness, and bravery. Roscuro realizes the meaning of kindness and honesty. Princess Pea practices generosity and Mig Sow learns to express herself and demand agency. All of these themes that can be intimidating otherwise are covered so flawlessly in Kate DiCamillo’s third book. I will definitely be reading this book again, and I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version.

Thanks for reading!

Kendall

La Belle Sauvage • Philip Pullman

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“He was liked when noticed, but not noticed much, and that did him no harm either.”

Philip Pullman

Malcom has had years to hone his observational skills while working in his father’s tavern, the Trout. He and his daemon, Asta, have a thirst for learning and an endless curiosity that proves dangerous to them after they witness a murder and discover a secret message. On top of working as an unofficial spy, navigating a corrupt school system, and escaping a mad man that lurks at night, Malcom takes it upon himself to be responsible for a baby that holds the fate of the world in her hands. Malcom must do everything he can to protect Lyra.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This book thoroughly surprised me! After loving His Dark Materials for so long, I was highly skeptical of this 2017 title. While I did begin my reading experience with a physical copy of the book, I switched to audiobook and, again, was shocked. The audiobook, narrated by Michael Sheen, was absolutely impeccable. I wish that I could open my physical copy and hear Sheen’s narration automatically.

La Belle Sauvage is an incredibly fast paced books. I typically read slow books, so this toss up was really nice, especially because the writing and story was immaculate. Can I praise this book anymore? Malcom is one of the most likable characters that I have read in a long time, and his relationship with Asta made my envy of these characters having a daemon even stronger. His innocence in his curiosity and the drive to do what is right is so admirable and heartwarming.

Something that surprised me (for about the third time in La Belle Sauvage) were the series of frightening scenes. The portions of the story involving a man referred to as a “mad man” scared me to the point that I had to take breaks. I mainly listen to audiobooks while falling asleep and driving. As you can imagine, my eyes were wide open and I as intensely gripping the steering wheel.

This book is satisfying in the way that it connects puzzle pieces and sets up the story for His Dark Materials. I found myself a little confused by some of the happenings, but that is not the fault of this book. I simply need to do a major Pullman binge read sometime soon.

To wrap it up, anyone who enjoys HDM will love La Belle Sauvage. It does seem to have more obviously mature content, but it is utilized in a clever and intelligent way. I only say this to let you know. Do not discourage anyone from reading the book because of this. Nothing is too overly explicit or offensive.

Like anyone else who wants a daemon, I had to take a quiz to see what mine would settle as. I will link the quiz here and include my results below!

It would be a lynx!

The lynx represents vision and foresight, and having your daemon settle as one would complement your abilities to see through lies and deceptions. You have a keen awareness of the world around you—and how others perceive you. You value the promises you make and care that those close to you believe that you are truly loyal to them.

Kendall

Weather • Jenny Offill

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Lizzie is nervous about the world. She can’t help but think of the best prepping methods as she sees climate change all around her. As a librarian, she has a perspective that allows her to meet all types of people and to live out the sometimes unwelcomed job as a “shrink.” She listens to a traveler who she grows close to, to her brother who struggles through addiction and a search for meaning, and, before, to her mother who was enveloped in religion. Lizzie saves people by being there for them, but is there less and less for her own husband and child who take to spending time away from her. When the victims that Lizzie rescues time and time again pull away, Lizzie must reckon with herself and the existence of her loved ones on such a temporary world.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

This book is incredibly strange but was really soothing to listen to. I enjoyed its style which reminded me of a podcast or like an audio stream of consciousness account. Like I said, the narration was soothing and relaxing. Even though the plot dealt with some heavy topics, I never felt that nervous, anticipatory flutter that happens when I listen to audio books that foreshadow something disturbing. It was actually pleasant to listen to as I fell asleep each night.

To be candid, I can’t help but wonder if there were deeper themes and meanings outside of climate change, addiction, and some others that were pretty obvious. I feel like I missed something that was more thorough, but I couldn’t figure it out even after taking time to think about it. Maybe it went directly over my head. If it did, feel free to share your exasperation in the comments section.

Thanks for reading!

Kendall

Looking For Alaska • John Green

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Needing to search for his “great perhaps,” Miles moves to a boarding school in Alabama. There, he meets the Colonel, Takumi, Lara, and Alaska Young who show him that life isn’t about following a rigid path about but embracing others and savoring what you have. After tragedy occurs, Miles and the Colonel grapple with guilt and wonder how life can go on. Then, they have the perfect idea of how to honor their friends and class…a prank.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I first read Looking For Alaska years ago while the John Green craze was flooding my high school. At the time, I just didn’t get it. I love the Green brothers and their podcast, but I didn’t understand why everyone was so obsessed with his books.

Finally, I picked this book up again and gave it a go. This was an incredibly easy read. Not only is Green’s writing style a pleasure to read, but the story pulled me in. Obviously, as you can see by my rating, it wasn’t my favorite book. The teens in this book are pretentious and a little annoying, but I think that is to be expected from some YA.

I get why so many teenagers connect to Green’s work. They are formative and relatable, so I am happy that I tried again! I honestly want to reread The Fault in our Stars before too long, but I will definitely have to be in the mood.

Thanks for reading!

Kendall

Waiting for Tom Hanks • Kerry Winfrey

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It has been some time since I wrote on this blog. In all honesty, I haven’t been reading as much and when I did, I couldn’t find the words for a review. As of today, though, I am finished with school! I completed my last college assignment this morning and graduate next Saturday! I also recently started a new job, so I have been sorting some things out. Have a happy and healthy holiday season!

Annie Cassidy is obsessed with romcoms. She watches them on repeat, wants to live in them, and most importantly, wants to write her own. When a move starts filming in her hometown, Annie finds a way to get a job on set where she bumps into Hollywood actor Drew Danforth. She immediately dislikes his arrogant attitude and personality which is…the opposite of Tom Hanks’. Over the course of filming the movie and a handful of bad dates, she begins to spend more time with Drew and learns that life isn’t a romcom but something that should be enjoyed and cherished nonetheless.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Now that the Spooky Season is over, and at this point November, I am ready to jump into more lighthearted romantic and fantasy reads. I started the season off with Waiting for Tom Hanks and let me tell you, I have thoughts.

This book started out so magnificently that I knew I was going to finish it in two days then purchase a physical copy for myself. Annie opens the book by detailing her connection to romcoms. She talks extensively about “You’ve Got Mail,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “When Harry Met Sally.” Obviously, I ate this up as these are some of my favorite movies that I also have fond memories tied to.

That is where the excitement ends, though. Annie’s character is irritating and is arguably why the book has such an average to low rating on the storygraph. It hurts a little to cut into the book like this when it has such a stellar opening, but I have to be honest. The entire plot is generic and so strangely paced that big moments would pass you by in an instant while monotonous periods dragged on for an hour or more. For example, the entire ending of the book happens in about fifteen minutes. I was confused when the audiobook ended.

There was such potential for this book and weirdly enough, I think it is all of the nods and references to the romcom movies that we all know and love that tanked the story. If the book had not attached itself to some of the greatest romcoms of all time, then there would have been much lower stakes for the plot. It would have been an okay romance story.

Looking back on the characters, all of them are lovable and develop as the story does except for Annie. She does change and grow but her constant judgement, immaturity, and general awkwardness makes her hard to read about…which brings me to another point.

I listened to the audibook version of this book and I think that that performance hurt my enjoyment of this book a lot. The narrator did a good job at distinguishing different voices, but her performance of Annie entailed a high pitched, stereotypically girly-girl voice that grated my nerves. It was difficult to get through.

To wrap up, I didn’t hate this book. As I said, there was a lot of potential with the references to our beloved romcoms but the actual plot of the book was rushed and generic. I would actually recommend this to someone who is in the mood for a lighthearted read that doesn’t require a lot of thinking, though. It was a great idea!

Thanks for reading

Kendall

Favorite Rereads

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It is early November and I am in need of a reboot. We could all use a little extra joy before the holiday season smacks us in the face, so I wanted to spend some time talking about a few of my favorite books. If you have been here before, then you will see familiar faces, but that is okay. 🙂

I have always been a rereader. There is nothing like revisiting a book that has been with you throughout your childhood. With that being said, the majority of these books are kid friendly! I will provide a link to each book’s description so that you may determine this for yourself.

•Want to spend some quiet time in nature with your pals? The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett.

•Need a hug from someone special? Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

•Lacking fresh perspective? Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery

•House getting stuffy? Hatchet, Gary Paulsen

•Feeling poetic? The Girl Aquarium, Jen Campbell

•Desperate for the sea air? Piratica, Tanith Lee

•Care to read and watch? The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, Bernie Su and Kate Rorick (Link to the Youtube series)

•Enjoy reading by candlelight and spotting spooks? Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

•Need a cooldown? The Winternight Trilogy, Katherine Arden

•Missing bookstores? Franklin’s Flying Bookshop, Jen Campbell

•Tired of bossy siblings? Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine

There you go! These books are a few of the many that will forever have a home on my shelves. I never tire of reading them and am immensely happy whenever I decide to visit them again. I think that Little Women may be next up on my list.

Do you have any favorites that you like to sit down with every once in awhile? Tell me about it in the comments. 🙂

Thanks for reading.

Kendall

The Mist • Pilot 2017

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Happy Halloween! It is the last day of the Spooky Series and I have just one more review to share. Be safe and scary!

Episode one introduces viewers to several threads of a larger story in which a dense mist is enveloping a town. The main focus is on the Copeland family and their struggles after Eve is fired from her job, and an investigation of their daughter’s rape is brought to the forefront. Another, in which the show opens, follows a man in the military, Bryan, who seems to have lost his memory and is fleeing from the mist after witnessing the murder of his dog. Then, there is the character, Mia who appears to be in trouble with the law for thieving and who knows what else. By the end of the episode, though, it is evident that each person’s issues and lives are pushed aside as the mist begins separating loved ones and attacking those who wander into its fog.

To be frank, the characters in this episode left much to be desired. My friend and I were a tad confused at just how many storylines were happening so much so that we forgot about the mist for a good half of the show. I have tried to chew on this and determine if it was intentional or not, but I can’t see a good reason why that would be so. The characters themselves are all pretty unlikable. Sure, they are human, but I have a difficult time “worrying” about them when I don’t care about them.

What I did enjoy, though, is the mystery of the mist. It is a swift-moving, dense force that completely envelopes every single thing in its path. At first I imagined that the mist would simple cause its “victims” to become lost, but it seems to be intentional in its malevolence and takes a psychological toll on those who find themselves in it.

I do want to mention that this show does not hide its horror roots and displays disturbing scenes with bugs, mutilation of the body (body horror beware), and claustrophobic feelings.

While I did have some complaints about this show, I will be watching the rest of it before too long. Despite the uninteresting characters, I am completely drawn in by the mist and curious as to how it works, what is in it, and what brought it about. If you have seen the series, tell me what you think!

Happy Halloween and thank you for participating in the 2020 Spooky Series!!!

Kendall

The Last Apprentice • Joseph Delaney

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Only the seventh son of a seventh son is able to fulfill the role of the town Spook, and Old Gregory is ready to retire. For years he has battled evil spirits, demons, and monsters that have plagued the lands around his village. Now, it’s time for Thomas Ward to step up. He is the last apprentice and the only hope when a sinister being escapes from Old Gregory’s care. It is up to Thomas to save the lives of his townspeople and to stop the threat for once for all.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I stumbled upon The Last Apprentice while looking for a spooky listen on Libby. I knew absolutely nothing about it and figured that it would be a cheesy, tween focused book about magic. I technically still do not know what it is categorized as, but I found it to be a more mature YA book with several supernatural occurrences.

For instance, the description of a malevolent witch hobbling through the woods was scary enough to make me open my eyes and turn the lamp on. I didn’t expect that level of creepy from a book that opened with a Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III-esque character description.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Last Apprentice and…well, it was interesting. The narrator was great, but the audio was so dated that it affected the quality, especially when I played it over a speaker. Still, if I hadn’t chosen the audio version at random, I more than likely would not have picked up a physical copy.

Along with the dated audio, another mark against the book are several sexist comments that are peppered throughout the story. I couldn’t help but feel as if the warnings to “not trust females” were dropped numerous times until the main character found one that “wasn’t so bad.” This was irksome and difficult to ignore.

Still, The Last Apprentice is a fine book that I ended up liking more than I had anticipated. The most enjoyable parts were the ones that featured elements of horror. (Thomas has to stay in a haunted house to pass the Spook’s test.) I think this is a fun, spooky read that does not have much depth to it. It is great for anyone who likes Halloween.

Thanks for reading.

-Kendall

The Witch Boy • Molly Ostertag

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The rules are simple. Boys are shapeshifters and girls are witches. The only exceptions have ended in disaster, so there is no way around it. Except, Aster isn’t that interested in shapeshifting. He steals away to spy on the witches lessons and practice spells in the forest in secret. When the boys in Aster’s family begin to disappear he embraces his witch powers, despite his family’s outcries, and save the boys who gave him a hard time.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Witch Boy‘s plot is what made this graphic novel a four star read for me. It feels developed rather than like the snapshot stories that I often complain about when reading graphic novels. Because they are so visual based, I feel that authors often leave too much space for reader interpretation, but that is not the case with this GN.

To look at the story as a whole, it is traditionally structured, but I found that to be comforting. By that, I mean that the familiar tropes are recognizable, but work all the same. The underdog must save everyone while those that they love turns against them…yeah, we know this. Still, it was enjoyable.

The characters in The Witch Boy are strong. Aster is timid, but doesn’t let that deter him from doing what comes natural to him. He doesn’t balk at his family’s warnings. There is an “outside” character, Charlie, who acts as Aster’s accepting friend. She doesn’t necessarily understand all of the magic, but still cares for him enough to show up in a time of need. This graphic novel works to show that people should be accepted for who they are, not under others’ expectations.

As far as the art goes, I am not in love with it. It isn’t “bad” enough to deter me from enjoying it or the story, but it didn’t lure me in any deeper. The illustrations were very round *art terms* and that is not a style that I particularly enjoy.

To wrap up, reading The Witch Boy was a good experience. I do recommend it, but like I mentioned, I talk more about the story rather than the illustrations. This might be a hang up for some people, but I still had a fun time.

Thanks for reading!

Kendall

Mooncakes • by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu

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Nova is a young witch practicing spells and working in her Nanas’ bookshop. After hearing rumors of strange occurrences in the forest, Nova ventures out and chases a wolf deep into the woods. To her surprise, the wolf turns out to be someone special from her past, Tam. They had been keeping to the trees in pursuit of an evil power. After reuniting, Nova and Tam, and those they trust most, combine forces to rid their New England town of the dark magic that seeks to destroy them.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Mooncakes is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. We all need a go-to graphic novel that houses baked goods, magic, and books.

Each illustration, crafted by Wendy Xu, is so detailed, clear, and enticing. Out of the graphic novels that I have read, including Pumpkinheads, Xu’s art style is the best. I am picky about graphic novels because some of the layouts and styles are cluttered, but Xu and Walker have managed to fit an entire book within the confines of beautifully crafted panels.

When I finished, I couldn’t grasp how such a developed and thoughtful story was conveyed in such a short amount of pages. Must be magic!

Mooncakes is packed full of story lines that flow together and never miss a beat. There are expectations of Nova as a witch, the issues in Tam’s life as a werewolf, romance and friendship, magical creatures, and an entire plot twist of evil! I am impressed.

If you are looking for the ultimate cozy graphic novel, with a splash of magic, I recommend Mooncakes. This would be a great gift!

Thanks for reading!

Kendall