Friday, August 30, 2013

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony, Rodrigo Corral-Graphic Novel Review


I love graphic novels... especially graphic novels that are unique.  I read so many graphic novel blog posts to learn about good ones and boy is this one GREAT!  Goodreads description:

After her mother died, Glory retreated into herself and her music. Her single father raised her as a piano prodigy, with a rigid schedule and the goal of playing sold-out shows across the globe. Now, as a teenager, Glory has disappeared. As we flash back to the events leading up to her disappearance, we see a girl on the precipice of disaster. Brilliant and lonely, Glory is drawn to an artistic new boy, Frank, who moves in next door. The farther she falls, the deeper she spirals into madness. Before long, Glory is unable to play anything but the song "Chopsticks." 
But nothing is what it seems, and Glory's reality is not reality at all. In this stunningly moving novel told in photographs, pictures, and words, it's up to the reader to decide what is real, what is imagined, and what has been madness all along.... 

Amazing.  AMAZING!  Chopsitcks is mainly pictures/drawings that you interpret the story from. Though I admit I was confused sometimes and didn't really get the story from the pictures.  It doesn't matter though!  I am in love.  OK first off let's start with the art in the book. I mean just unlike any graphic novel I have read so far.  So creative.  These pictures may not look like they are from the novel but they are!


Now for the story.  We see a downward spiral of a girl named Glory.  We can see it through the pictures and art.  She is forced by her dad to go on tours since she plays piano.  She seems to me to have a mental illness that just starts to manifest and become worse.  She dates a boy who kind of helps her mental illness but when she is separated from him things for her gets worse. The story seems to hint that her mother had this same mental illness (you learn this in a letter written to her father).  This book is a love story and a mystery.  The end to me is confusing.. of course as the reader you are supposed to figure out for your self what happens to Glory and Francisco.

The story even incorporates youtube videos that you can actually type in the link and watch what the characters are watching.   I thought this was neat (of course when I do this my youtube wants to crash and I can't see all the videos so I have to go back and watch some of them). 



 I just want to figure out the mystery.  I looked back through all the pages try to figure out the clues and the hints.  I almost though Glory and Frank were maybe the same person???  I love stories though when I have to really think by looking at art/pictures.  I suppose that is what draws me to graphic novels. I hear there is an iPhone/iPad app to go with the book.  I haven't downloaded it so I won't review it here.   I also read that when reading it on an iPad the pages will switch order to give you a different take on the story.


The book really is like looking at scrap book of someone's life.  It made me want to make a scrap book.  I am so glad I discovered this book through blogging!! Yeah!! It is so interesting I just want to discuss it with someone.  It should for sure be a book club pick!

The crystal ball says:



Sun is shinning!!!  Great day to go outside and read this book.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Follow Me Friday- One Book!

Alison Can Read Feature & Follow 


This is the day of the week where we get to know each other better by answering a question devised by our lovely hostesses Parajunkee & Alisoncanread. Sounds like GFC is eventually going away..  so you may want to follow by email or bloglovin/feedly (I love both). And now for this week's question....


Follow on Bloglovin

Q. If you could only have one book for the rest of your life. Don't cheat.. what would it be?

A.  Wow!  One book!! This is tough.  I think I will pick The Stand by Stephen King.  It is a long book (which is what I want if I am only allowed to pick one) and it is a good book.  So there you have it!  This picture is from the Stand graphic novel series covers.














What about you? 

Prodigy by Marie Lu- Review

I couldn't wait to read this book.  I really liked Legend the first book in the series.  It's really fast paced and I love that in a quick read and this book was similar.  Here is the goodreads description:

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong? In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action. 

Lately any time I start a series I try to get them all read. Most of the series I end up reading are chosen in my Young Adult Book Club.  The majority of the time a series is chosen instead of a stand alone book so I have a lot of series to keep up with.    I really liked Prodigy.  I thought unlike Legend this book finally does some world building and gets us more into a dystopian environment. This time we also get a map of the world too.. yeah for maps!

We actually don't only see the Republic this time where Day and June are from but actually get a glimpse of the Colonies.  Day realizes that the Colonies aren't this utopia he things they are.  Which adds a good twist to the story to me. There was almost a love triangle but not quite... this I am soooo glad about.  Lu got close, but didn't let it happen and I was so excited about that.

The book has great mystery to it too.  Sometimes I think in dystopians you know who the bad guys are and the good guys.  Prodigy makes you wonder and gives you enough clues to guess. There is this one part in the book where some of the characters are riding around in a jet.  A JET.  Of course they are zooming around and flipping the jet in the air.  I am an air force brat so this was all crazy to me and unrealistic.  The characters would've been puking and passing out.  It was really hard for me to take that part series.  It was way too much and over the top.



I did have a problem with the end of the book.  Beware BIG SPOILERS:   Day discovers that he is dying.  So he avoids telling June about it because she is offered a big government job that will keep her away from him for about 10 years.  So he dumps her and tells her to take the job, that he can't be with her.  He then doesn't tell her he is dying.  So we have that drama.  END SPOILER

Overall I think this is a good and fun read.  I like Marie Lu's writing.  I can't wait for the third book. Lucky for me it comes out this November, so for once I don't have to wait and entire year for the last book!!


Here is my review on the first book: Legend by Marie Lu
Champion by Marie Lu

The crystal ball says:




Clouds are covering! A read that lets me down every now and then but peaks out of the clouds! (the clouds are covering only because of the fighter jet scene!)


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril, VIII

It's that time!! Time for  R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril, VIII .  If you don't know all about this you should for sure head over to Stainless Steel Droppings blog and check it out.   From Sept 1st to October 1st we read all about Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. Dark Fantasy. Gothic. Horror. Supernatural.

I have chosen to participate in reading one book.. yes I know one book.  But I always sometimes set my sights too high when participating in events.  So If I get past one book.. then I'll move onto two!
rip8peril3rd
Peril the Third or, the One Book Only option

I am also going to do the film option:

rip8perilonscreen
Peril on the Screen:
This is for those of us that like to watch suitably scary, eerie, mysterious gothic fare during this time of year. It may be something on the small screen or large. It might be a television show, like Dark Shadows or Midsomer Murders, or your favorite film.

Will you participate???  I look forward to seeing all the reviews this year!

Last chance to sign up! Off to Oz giveaway hop


It's time to sign up for the Off to OZ giveaway!  Hosted by myself and I am a reader, not a writer.

September 10th-17th


The Off to OZ Rules:

  • You must include a giveaway on your hop stop and are responsible for supplying and shipping that prize.
  • Since this is for Off to OZ- your giveaway must feature a book that would fit in the category of Classic books, Classic retelling or time travel books.
  • You may have a maximum of 6 entries and only ONE can be mandatory.
  • Offering a Gift Card or book of choice from The Book Depository is fine.
  • Your giveaway post must include the hop image & linky (or links to the host’s sites if you can’t get the linky to work).
  • Your post must be live by 12 AM EST on Sept 10th. Up to 24 hours early is fine. Ending the giveaway on Sept 17th.
  • The giveaway must be specifically for this hop.
  • Your site & giveaway must be family friendly – no erotica or 18+ sites.
  • Once your post is live AND accepting entries please email me a direct link so I can update the linky. I ask if at all possible please put your post up sometime on Sept 9th. If you sign up for this hop and then realize you can not post delete your name from the list. I totally understand that life happens so if something comes up.
  • To host a giveaway add your blog to the linky with your shipping info in parenthesis (US) (US/Can) (INT) following your blog name. Example:  Angela's Anxious Life (US). if you don’t include shipping info I will assume you are shipping to US only and edit the linky for you. If you have any questions or need anything changed please email Angie (me) at wsbronco@aol.com.

Be sure to add the button to your blog!


Grab button for Off to OZ
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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Batman Arkham Asylum- Video Game Review




The Batman games have been some of my favorite games out there.  This time around we will talk about Arkham Asylum.  This is the first game in the Batman series by rocksteady and it is really well put together. The game play is fun and allows you to explore the area of Arkham Asylum.  The villains that we get to see are pretty amazing too Bane, Zsasz,  Joker, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, and the Riddler.  We never see the Riddler in this game but hear him and get to solve puzzles he presents to us.  Joker is one of the best villains I have seen in a video game.


Personally I think this is the comic book game we have been waiting for.  It came out in 2009 and finally the newest one (the third one) Batman Arkham Origins is finally about to come out!  I am super excited about that. The fighting system in this game is easy to learn.  I love how I can go about in the world exploring and finding trophies and what not.  







 

Really I might as well also review Arkham City, the second game in the series.  Graphics are better of course and there are all new villains.  In Arkham City you are able to travel and explore more places in the world.  One neat thing about these games is that if you want to see more of Batman's world and learn more and don't really want to read the comics I think this is a neat way to interact in the Batman world.  


I really recommend these games to everyone.  They are fun and really do Batman justice.

10 out of 10