Mainstream-Mini Review: Other Words for Love By Lorraine Rosenthal

Other Words for Love

By Lorraine Rosenthal

Published 2011 By Delacorte Books

It's the mid-1980s, and Ari Mitchell feels invisible at her Brooklyn high school. Her hair is too flat, her style too preppy, and her personality too quiet. And outside school, Ari feels outshined by her beautiful, confident best friend, Summer. Their friendship is as complex and confusing as Ari’s relationship with her troubled older sister, Evelyn, a former teenage mom whose handsome firefighter husband fills Ari’s head with guilty fantasies.

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future. 

When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?

~ MY REVIEW ~

I get this book, I really do. It's a peak behind the curtain of adolescence and first love. Those raw and often irrational emotions associated with being at the precipice of adulthood, this story has them all. There were parts that frustrated me immensely. Left me feeling like I wasn't sure I wanted to remember what it felt like to be a teenager, with an overbearing mom, and a strong vein of naivety. But there were also parts that made me smile and roll my eyes, in a "yup, that's exactly how it was" kind of way. So on a superficial level I would label Other Words for Love a good read. However, if I really get down to it, I was hoping for much more. The point of this story was supposed to be the MC's experience with first love. It took fifty percent or more to even get to the part where she meets him. The majority of the book is about her slightly broken, yet typical blue collar family and her insecurities due to codependency with her self-absorbed best friend. I get that the author wanted to tell a real story, really make readers walk in the MC's shoes. But I found it more frustrating than beneficial. The synopsis had me geared up for a contemporary romance read and its honestly just a coming of age type thing. I'm also not sure this writing style agrees with me. It is a bit "telling," and at some points looses its flow. This could very well be a style choice, and that's okay. I just prefer writing that shows me things and let's me fill in between the lines. The other thing that didn't work for me was the 80's setting. The only indicator was the constant references to AIDS. Take that away and this story could be set anywhere at anytime. I guess I'm a bit on the fence about this one, so it gets a solid three stars from me.

Mainstream-Mini Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL

By Jesse Andrews

Published By Amulet Books March 2012

YALSA Best Fiction for YA Winner 2013

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

"And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight."

~ MY REVIEW ~

I happened on this book while shelving at work and was instantly intrigued by the title and cover. The cover kind of reminds me of a tamer Youth in Revolt, actually the whole book was a bit reminiscent of it. Which is not a bad thing. This is not your typical boy meets girl, girl is dying of cancer story. And thank goodness for that. Me and Earl turned out to be one of the quirkiest and most entertaining reads I've indulged in, in a while. This story is real. The main character isnt some dreamy highschool jock. He's average, a bit chubby and terrible with social interaction. He doesn't find insta-love or miraculously become Mr. Popular. In fact, it's quite the opposite and that's what makes this such a great book. The premise is a bit dark, but the author has managed to present it in such a way, that it won't turn you into a teary mess. Instead you're on an entertaining ride, following these true to adolescence characters, while they navigate high school and the inevitable loss of a friend. If your looking for a book that brings something new to the contemporary genre, I recommend Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

Indie Review: The Prophecy of Arcadia By MH Soars

The Prophecy of Arcadia By MH Soars

Self-Published January 2014

Being a teenager is tough, especially when you have to pretend to be something you’re not, and you’re in love with someone you shouldn’t. 115 years ago, a small planet called Arcadia was invaded by a vicious alien race and nearly destroyed. Cut off from their resources, the Arcadians turned to Earth for help. A group of Arcadian explorers discovered a Prophecy that claimed their salvation lay in the hands of two children from Earth. To ensure their safety, the Arcadian Council sent their most gifted youngsters to Earth to act as protectors. Samantha is one of them.

To succeed in her mission she must learn to control her Arcadian powers and keep her true identity from her best friend, and the girl she swore to protect, Alexia. But Samantha will soon realize that nothing is as it seems. Someone is trying to prevent the Prophecy from taking place and the prophecy boy hasn't been found yet. There is also a new drug circulating at school that is turning students into freakishly strong menaces.

To make matters worse, distractions keep getting in her way. Such as her love/hate relationship with her “cousin” Matthew. Or her confused feelings toward popular and mysterious Julian. She wants nothing more than to be free to live her life. But the survival of Arcadia depends on her and her friends. Free will is not an option.

~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~

I like to call myself a United Nations child. I was born in the United States but grew up in several different countries which gave me a broader perspective of life. I've always been passionate about books and stories and at a certain point had a comic book series going. With a background in fashion design I always thought I was going to follow that path. But the characters in my head kept begging to be set free. So I decided to write their stories. A couple of years and a baby later, the first installment of my Arcadian Wars series is finally done. I currently reside in New Mexico with my husband and baby daughter. I love to read novels in the YA, PNR, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Chick Lit genres. When not devouring said novels, you may find me shopping online (I'm an expert), blogging about fashion, or trying to teach my daughter to walk (even though she's too young for that). 

You can find her on 

GOODREADS / FACEBOOK

~ MY REVIEW ~ 

I'm bummed that this took me so long to finish! Because it wasn't the books fault at all, in fact I really enjoyed Prophecy of Arcadia. Life has been in the way lately, so my enjoyment was a bit disjointed. Soars did an excellent job of reeling me in with a story that was both contemporary and sci-fi at the same time. The POV is told from three characters, and is an aspect I actually enjoyed. Usually, constantly changing POV drives me nuts. But it worked for this book and since the POVs overlapped, you really got to see how circumstances were effecting these characters. The premise was exciting and Soars has a well developed take on an alien race. She's good at making her characters "human" despite the fact that they are far from it! Indie debuts are some of my favorites to read. Because if the reviews are decent, you know the book will be too. This is definitely a promising series!

Mainstream-Mini Review: Control By Lydia Kang

Control By Lydia Kang

Published By Dial Books for Young Readers

December 2013

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren’t like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn't even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

A spiraling, intense, romantic story set in 2150—in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms—this is about the human genetic “mistakes” that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes.

~ MY REVIEW ~

I wanted to like Control, I really did. Although, I think I prefaced my reading with, "This might be perfect for fluff reading." Which I don't think is ever a good sign for a novel. As a whole, this story was too X-menesque. Practically a knock off of it, but less involved. I wanted some really cool mutants with kick-ass skills. Instead, Control delivers a sad group of individuals, classified by their author as damaged. They are not proud of their abnormalities, more self-loathing than anything. And there is so much wrong with the MC, that you are practically begging for some character growth. But, the only thing you get is an increase in meanness. Great. That being said, I am a fan of being objective. So, I will say that if you are searching for fluff this will do. I got a couple hours of distraction. The beginning definitely dragged. But the story picks up once you hit the halfway mark. There is just a lot that this story could be, and isn't. You know when your reading, and you find yourself searching for that, "ohhhh, awesome," feeling? Control does not satisfy that, and it's frustrating. I get disappointed rating a book this low, and for that I apologize Lydia Kang. I am not criticizing your ability as a writer, just the material you chose to write on.

Mainstream Review and Excerpt: EYE OF GOD By James Rollins

A comet is set on a collision course with Earth,

An ancient prophecy about the end of time is hidden within a lost gospel,

The only thing that can save humanity from certain destruction is…

The Eye of God By James Rollins

Book 9 in the Sigma Force Series

OUT NOW in paperback from William Morrow

The crash of a U.S. military research satellite in the remote wilds of Mongolia triggers an explosive search for the valuable cargo it holds: a code-black physics project connected to the study of dark energy, the energy connected to the birth of our universe. But the last blurry image from the falling satellite captures a chilling sight: a frightening look into the future, a view of a smoldering eastern seaboard of the United States in utter ruin.

At the Vatican, a mysterious package arrives for the head of Pontifical ancient studies, sent by a colleague who had vanished a decade earlier. It contains two strange artifacts: a skull scrawled with ancient Aramaic and a tome bound in human skin. DNA testing reveals both are from Genghis Khan—the long-dead Mongol king whose undiscovered tomb is rumored to hold the vast treasures and knowledge of a lost ancient empire.

Commander Gray Pierce, and Sigma—joined by a pair of Vatican historians—race to uncover a truth tied to the fall of the Roman Empire, to a mystery bound in the roots of Christianity's origins, and to a weapon hidden for centuries that holds the fate of humanity.

JAMES ROLLINS is the New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages. His Sigma series has been lauded as one of the “top crowd pleasers” (New York Times) and one of the “hottest summer reads” (People Magazine). In each novel, acclaimed for its originality, Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets--and he does it all at breakneck speed and with stunning insight.

~ Special Excerpt from Chapter One ~

He reached to the crate and removed the second object and placed it beside the skull on the table. It was an ancient book, as wide as his outstretched hand and twice as tall. It was bound in rough leather, the pages secured by crude stitches of thick cord.

“This is an example of anthropodermic bibliopegy,” he explained.

Rachel screwed up her face. “And that means…?”

“The book is bound in human skin and sewn with sinew of the same.”

Rachel took a step away again, only this time she didn’t return to the desk. “How can you know that?”

“I can’t. But I forwarded a sample of the leather to the same lab as the skull, both to test its age and its DNA.” Vigor picked up the macabre volume. “But I’m sure I’m correct. I examined this under a dissection microscope. Human pores are distinctly different in size and even shape from that found in pigskin or calfskin. And if you look closer, in the center of the cover—”

He drew a fingernail along what appeared to be a deep crease in the center of the cover. 

“Under proper magnification, you can still make out the follicles of eyelashes.”

Rachel paled. “Lashes?”

“On the cover is a human eye, sewn shut with finer threads of sinew.”

Visibly swallowing, his niece asked. “So what is this? Some text of the occult?”

“I thought as much, especially considering Josip’s interest in the witches of Hungary. But no, it’s not some demonic manuscript. Though in some circles, the text is considered blasphemous.” 

He carefully parted the cover, cautious not to overly stress the binding. He revealed pages written in Latin. “It’s actually a Gnostic book of the Bible.”

Rachel tilted her head, well-versed in Latin, and translated the opening words “ ‘These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke…’ She glanced over at him, recognizing those words. “It’s the Gospel of Thomas.”

He nodded. “The saint who doubted Christ’s resurrection.” 

“But why is it wrapped in human skin?” she said with disgust. “Why would your missing colleague send you such ghoulish items?”

“As a warning.”

“A warning against what?”

Vigor returned his attention to the skull. “The incantation written here is a plea to God to keep the world from ending.”

“While I certainly appreciate that plea, what does—?”

He cut his niece off. “The prophetic date for that coming apocalypse is also written atop the skull, in the center of the spiraling inscription. I converted that figure from the ancient Jewish calendar to today’s modern accounting.” He touched the center of the spiral. “This is why Father Josip came out of hiding and sent these items to me.”

Rachel waited for him to explain.

Vigor glanced out the window to the comet glowing in the night sky, bright enough to shame the moon. With that portent of doom hanging there, a shiver of certainty rang through him.

“The date for the end of the world…it’s in four days.”

~ MY REVIEW ~

Good Lord... this is a fantastic book. My indulgence in adult fiction--especially adult thrillers--is few and far between. Somewhere along the way, I got lost in memoir writing and a never ending stream of YA fiction. But every once in a while I like to stick my head up for air and get my hands on some Dan Brown, Dean Koontz or in this case JAMES fricken' ROLLINS. I have not had the pleasure of reading the entire Sigma Force series, however I do have a decent amount of knowledge on the back story and found it easy to enjoy his latest addition to the fullest. There is a reason Rollins is a bestselling author. His books take you on an intense ride, blending fact, science and fiction elements perfectly. The pace never slows down. Eye of God opened at full force and ended much the same. With an A1 cast of characters, you feel like you are right there with them through it all. You learn just as much as you gasp from the excitement and twists in the plot. This latest Sigma novel has rich historical aspects and creates the perfect back drop for Gray and his team. Since I have not read all of the books in this series I would be remiss in stating that this is one of his best, but I certainly felt that way when I was done. If you are already a die hard fan, then don't stop now. Eye of God is a must read. If you are just getting into thrillers like this, I highly suggest reading some Rollins. And this may be number nine in the series, but it contains brand new antagonists, so you get a feel for the style without dropping in right in the middle of an on-going fight. If you have no problem enjoying the grand scheme of things, this might be a good way to get your feet wet. I'm sure you'll go straight to book one when your through.