Poetry Corner #8

IT'S FRIDAY!!! 
I am so glad! When you go back to school after a break you just want to be back on break and weekends are nice :D
It's even better because I have already done most of my homework ;)
To the Poem!

So this week I wanted to do a really fun poem since school has started again, it is always nice to read something funny (even though this poem is sad if you think about it).


A Strange Wild Song
     By: Lewis Carroll 

He thought he saw an Elephant,
That practised on a fife:
He looked again, and found it was
A letter from his wife.
'At length I realise,' he said,
The bitterness of Life!'

He thought he saw a Buffalo
Upon the chimney-piece:
He looked again, and found it was
His Sister's Husband's Niece.
'Unless you leave this house,' he said,
"I'll send for the Police!'

He thought he saw a Rattlesnake
That questioned him in Greek:
He looked again, and found it was
The Middle of Next Week.
'The one thing I regret,' he said,
'Is that it cannot speak!'

He thought he saw a Banker's Clerk
Descending from the bus:
He looked again, and found it was
A Hippopotamus .
'If this should stay to dine,' he said,
'There won't be much for us!'

He thought he saw a Kangaroo
That worked a coffee-mill: 
He looked again, and found it was
A Vegetable-Pill.
'Were I to swallow this,' he said,
'I should be very ill!'

He thought he saw a Coach-and-Four
That stood beside his bed:
He looked again, and found it was
A Bear without a Head.
'Poor thing,' he said, 'poor silly thing!
It's waiting to be fed!'

He thought he saw an Albatross
That fluttered round the lamp:
He looked again, and found it was
A Penny-Postage Stamp.
'You'd best be getting home,' he said:
'The nights are very damp!'

He thought he saw a Garden-Door
That opened with a key:
He looked again, and found it was
A Double Rule of Three:
'And all its mystery,' he said,
'Is clear as day to me!'

He thought he saw a Argument
That proved he was the Pope:
He looked again, and found it was
A Bar of Mottled Soap.
'A fact so dread,' he faintly said,
'Extinguishes all hope!'


Well I hope you enjoyed the poem, it is quite amusing.
Have a wonderful weekend! I am off to read Eragon :D
-Jane

Book Review: The Madman's Daughter

By: Megan Shepherd
Pages: 432
Publish Date: January 29, 2013

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.
Rating: 5

Review: I discovered  This is a hidden gem. Well I don't know how hidden it is, it seems well known even though it hasn't been released yet. I would give this more than five stars if I could, I enjoyed it so much.

I am not sure I would have read this book, it I didn't get an ARC. Oh but I would have missed out. This book was thrilling. It didn't scare me, it was disturbing and creepy but it didn't scare me. This isn't the typical book I would read, but I would have missed out

Juliet Moreau, has had a difficult life. Her father, Dr. Moreau, left her and her mother when she was ten because of a scandal. Her mother died when she was fourteen. She had to work hard to pay rent and survive. From the beginning you see how difficult her life is. Even though her life is hard, I'm not not sure I say I took pity on her. She was brave and strong and can take care of herself. She is fired from her cleaning job at King's College. She finds Montgomery, her fathers' assistance. She goes with him in hopes to see the father that left her. Along the way They find a castaway named Edward.

Now, from the summary, you hear a love triangle, right? Even if you hate or even detest love triangles, don't overlook this book. It has so much else to offer. The plot balances the love triangle. Most love triangles are irritating, weak, and can be boring. Well done Megan!  *applauds* This is none of those things! The plot and the romance give each other fuel and propel each other foreword. So there is Edward and Montgomery. They both have great things and bad things about them. Neither one is too perfect. They're flawed, perfect guys are irritating  but they weren't irritating at all. If you not to know where I stand, Team Montgomery!

The best part of the The Madman's Daughter was, most definitely  the plot. It was deep and complex. The twists and turns, always kept me guessing. I never considered it boring, always interesting. The were all complex and unexpected. It had great pacing. Even while Juliet was on the boat it wasn't dull. I kept turning the pages faster and faster until the end.

Then the Cliff-hanger!!! NO!!! I died when I read the ending. I was not expecting a cliff-hanger like that. I was screaming at the ending. Just thinking that the next book doesn't come out for a year is killing me. I am slowly dying thinking about how long that is. You will screaming "NO" and asking "WHY". 

This was a gem of a read, it completely took me by surprise, I would definitely recommend it!


-Jane

Random Thoughts: Book Depression

Well I have been thinking, it has been quite a long time since I did a Random Thoughts post, so thought it would be fun to do one.

I don't think book depression is a real term but it is to me and since I am going threw it thought I would talk about it.

Book Depression: When a person finishes a book with a cliff-hanger but they can't get the next book or when a book has bad or sad ending, or when a series you love ends and you have to say goodbye to it.

When I go threw these I really just either want to sit alone and think to myself or possibly scream, it depends on the book. Well I don't believe I'm the only person who feels this way when they finish a book. 

Seriously whenever I go threw this I never feel like starting a new book or writing a review right away because I feel that would mean I would have to say goodbye to the book and that can be hard. Well I get over it but it usually takes a day and even once I started a new book, I keep thinking about the last one. Anyone else feel this way recently? 

Well I am not sure there is a lot of point to this post I'm just in a book depression.

Even though I am in a book depression I will write the Madman's Daughter Review now and have it posted soon.

Well tomorrow I have to go back to school and break ends, I will try have fun with my last few hours of freedom before school starts again.

Have a great day.
-Jane

Poetry Corner #7

Well it has been a very long time since I did a poetry post. I will try to post a poem at least every other week but hopefully weekly.

I had to memorize this poem for a recitation and I really liked it so here it is.


As I grew Older
     By: Langston Hughes

It was a long time ago.
I have almost forgotten my dream.
But it was there then,
In front of me,
Bright like a sun--
My dream.
And then the wall rose,
Rose slowly,
Slowly,
Between me and my dream.
Rose until it touched the sky--
The wall.
Shadow.
I am black.
I lie down in the shadow.
No longer the light of my dream before me,
Above me.
Only the thick wall.
Only the shadow.
My hands!
My dark hands!
Break through the wall!
Find my dream!
Help me to shatter this darkness,
To smash this night,
To break this shadow
Into a thousand lights of sun,
Into a thousand whirling dreams
Of sun! 


Hope you enjoyed the poem!
-Jane

Book Review: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

By: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Pages: 260
Published: October 26, 2010

Summary: “I've left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the best-selling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favourite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rating: 5

Review:First two thoughts:
1) I WANT TO DO THIS OR HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO ME!!!
2) WHY DID THIS FUNNY, HILARIOUS, AND WONDERFUL BOOK HAVE TO END!!!

Well Now that I have made this clear, I can get to the real review.

The book starts when Lily (Shrilly) hides a red notebook at the Strand, a bookstore in New York City, over Christmas break because she has nothing to do. A boy name Dash finds the book and they continue to write to each other and give each other dares. Since they have never met they have ideas about the other one but doesn't really know each other.

Well can I just say that this is the cutest book that is not a manga that I have read in a long time. Oh my cuteness!!

Once they meet, it is really nice. I get that since now they know each other, there isn't really a point in having the notebook to pass back and forth, but still why did the book have to end. I mean it ended but I want to know what ends up happening! I love Dash and Lily and I have no way of knowing what happens!

Well Dash is sweet and is good with words. He wants an Oxford English Dictionary (OED) that he earns by himself and I am thinking, oh my gosh he is so cool. I don't even know if I know a guy that knows what the OED is. Lily is nice and wonderful. She isn't afraid of being herself. She likes surprises and is very creative when it comes to cooking. I love them both SO much! 

Why did it have to end!!!


Well I don't know how much of that was an actually review and how much was just rambeling so I just say GO READ IT!!!
Have a wonderful Saturday!
-Jane

Book Review: The Diviners

By: Libba Bray
Pages: 592
Published: September 18, 2012

Summary: Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring hometown and shipped off to the bustleing streets of New York City--and  she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It's 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, the Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he'll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl with a cryptic symbol and Will is call to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man name Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened...

Rating: 4

Review: I have am having lots of love for this book right now. This book took me much longer to read than usual, because of the length. Even though it was long it was so wonderful. I am thrilled there will be a sequel!

I just want to say how much I love this cover! Well first there is the jacket for the hard cover, which is pos-i-tute-ly superb! There is the eye and then in the blue area is a picture of New York City. On the actual book for the hard cover, is just as lovely. Well for some reason I can't put a picture up but it is amazing if you see the book check it out because love it!

This book is wonderful! The writing. The characters. The setting. The plot. Usually when I here a book historical fiction or at least has some history and it is supposed to be a bit spooky, I wouldn't always read it. I bought this and felt daring. Though this book isn't the type I would usually read, it blew me away! Everything about this is incredible, except the length but the book. The book wouldn't be this good unless she explained everything. It has so much depth in the the characters, the plot, everything. 

I have not read any of Libba Bray other books, so I can't compare them but this one is incredible! 

First I'll do the writing. The writing was pos-i-tute-ly perfect for the 1920's. It wasn't modern writing or really old writing trying to be the 1920's it was the 1920's.Some people might have found the 1920's speach irritating, but I thought it was charming. It fit the characters. It was so lush and descriptive. She added things that I would never think about adding but it is things like that, that make the story great! It isn't a novel you can just categorise. It falls under so many different topics. It is historical fiction, supernatural, murder mystery, and a bit of romance. It is things like this that make this book wonderful. 

Next the characters. The characters are Evie, Uncle Will, Jericho, Sam, Mabel, Theta, and Memphis. They are all so different and complex. It isn't one story line that all the characters share. They each have there own problem's, and ways to react to them. Evie was so naive in the beginning, but she grew throughout the book. She learned things and seemed insane at times even though she was completely sane. She was daring and brave. She was willing to help find the murderer and go to some spooky places. She was even willing to go to the library and she hates the library.

Her relationships between her and the other characters were so fascinating. There is Evie and her Uncle Will, who she calls Unc. They are very different but they work together and it started out rocky like she was working with someone she didn't like but it became a strong bond and they cared for each other. Then there is the relationship between her and Jericho which changes throughout the book. It was quite awkward at times. Her relationship between Sam is the funniest. They are always ridiculing each other and joking even though they seem serious, what they say is hilarious. Well those are some of her relationships with the other character, they change so much throughout the book. My favourite character was probably Jericho. He was smart and tall and mysterious. He has own secrets. 

Evie is from Ohio, but she is shipped to New York City by her parents because she caused trouble in Ohio and they need time to sort out the problems. She was thrilled to go to New York, where she could stay out late, be whoever she wants and get very drunk. I love New York so naturally I was very excited that this took place in New York. Then there are the places they go and the problem's they encounter. It all fits into place perfectly.

I think I have describe the plot from describing everything else so there is the murderer left to talk about. It was so fascinating following Evie, Unc, Jericho, and Sam all working together to figure out who the killer is. Too any logical person the murderer they suspect wouldn't seem real, but in fact it is completely logical. The suthor explains everything and makes it logical.

Well that was a rather long review. It was a great read, I definitely suggest reading it!


Well have a great day!
-Jane

2013 Year of More Great Books

Well it is now 2013 and that means another year of discovering more great books!

Here are some books that I didn't get to in 2012 that I hope to read in 2013!

                     

Ok so those are some of the book and series and I really hope to read this year! 

Book Releases that I am really really looking foreword too!
               
Ok I am looking foreword to all these books and they all sound amazing!
So Tell me what are you hoping to read and what releases are you excited for in 2013?

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!
-Jane