Category Archives: Book Club

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare (Book 1)

It started off as a random, yet strange collection.  I went from library book sales to second hand booksellers in search of a rather strange YA series called Cirque du Freak.  The protagonist of the story purports to be the author, Darren Shan, a young boy turned vampire.  But upon further discovery, Darren Shan is really Darren O’Shaughnessy, an Irishman living in Limerick.  He created this 12 book series as his first children’s book series, following it up with the Demonata series.  What I thought would be a series about a Circus turned into a tale not just about a circus, but about a boy who stole a spider and had to become a vampire to save his friend’s life.  He became a half vampire, an assistant to a full-fledged vampire.  They travel with the Cirque du Freak, where they are surrounded by a protective community of people that are not like anyone else.  While the movie “The Vampire’s Assistant” was a good movie, the books, as always, are way better.

In this first book, we are introduced to Darren Shan.  A normal teenage boy whose best friend is not such a good kid.  They sneak out to the Cirque du Freak one night.  Steve recognizes that one of the performers is a vampire.  After the show, he approaches Mr. Crepsley and asks to become a vampire.  Crepsley refuses because he sees the evil in Steve.  Steve, feeling dejected, vows to become a vampire hunter.

Darren, meanwhile, is looking for his friend, but stumbles upon Mr. Crepsley’s magnificent spider and decides to steal her.  This winds up being the biggest mistake he’s ever made, because it is this spider that changes his fate.

[This post includes affiliate links.] 

Long Way Down

One of my favorite books of 2017.  Jason Reynolds is a master storyteller and a man of words.  “Long Way Down” may be a quick read, but the message lasts forever inside your heart.  Will’s brother was just shot and killed.  The rules of the hood (no crying, no snitching, and revenge) dictate that he must kill the person that did this to his brother.  He thinks he knows exactly who killed him, so he takes the gun his brother hid away and decides to go after the suspected killer. As he takes the elevator for the short ride down, the lift stops on every floor.  Spirits of people he knew from the past get on.  People that were shot and killed.  Friends.  Playmates.  Family.  Father.  In a matter of sixty seconds, Will has to decide if he is going to have his revenge.  The people getting on the elevator are the ones shaping his decision.

Jason Reynolds is one of the best writers I encountered in 2017.  Everything I’ve read by Reynolds so far is inspiring and very well written.  He blows my mind with his stories and the lessons he is trying to teach the younger generation.  “Long Way Down” was one of the few books I read in 2017 that made it to my curated bookshelves.  This is a story you will keep locked away in your mind thinking this man Reynolds is something else.

[I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This post contains affiliate links.]

Little Bigfoot, Big City

I am not going to lie, I really loved this story.  Sure, the book is for kids, but for this blogger who is always using social media, I learned a few things from these kids.  I did not read the first book, but I plan on picking it up (as soon as I get through the other 87 books I have to review).  This story follows two young girls, Millie and Alice.  These two girls are a little different than most kids.  For one, Millie is a bigfoot.  Alice, on the other hand, knows there’s something different about her, but she doesn’t know what that is.  Millie dreams of becoming a famous singer, so  she enters an online contest and uses one of the girls at school to lip sync while she sings.  She learns the importance of being more internet savvy to get votes (a little lesson for myself).  But while she’s pursuing her dream, her friendship with Alice starts to wane.  While Millie is busy trying to become the next big star, Alice starts looking for some truths of her own.  This sends her down a very dangerous hole filled with government conspiracies and cover-ups.

An excellent and fun read.  For parents, this is a book to read to your children.  They are going to love it. Or if you’re like me and just want a little escape from reality, pick this book up.  You’ll fall in love with the littlest bigfoot.

[I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This post contains affiliate links.]

A Moonless, Starless Sky

This book is one of the most important books you need to read.  It is so well written and brings to light the stories of four people in Africa who are fighting extremism.  These stories will enlighten you, rattle you, anger you, and make you very sad.  In one story, a young girl wants to play basketball.  That is all she wants to do.  Yet, because she is a woman, she faces death threats.  In another story, children are kidnapped and forced to kill their families and entire villages.  They are victims forced to kill or be killed.  What happens when they try to escape?  What happens when they try to go home after what they’ve done?  In another country, a man fights to end slavery and receives backlash from religion and the slave owners.  And then there’s the story of the girls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram.

This book was one of the best books I read in 2017.  Alexis Okeowo did an incredible job telling these four stories.  It was so well written that I added this book to my curated library.  For writers and journalists, pick this book up and follow Alexis’s narrative on how to cover and write a story.  For readers, pick this book up for the written word and to discover the stories of incredible people seeking to change the world for the better.  It will inspire you.

[I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  This post contains affiliate links.]

Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want

If you are stuck in life and trying to figure out how to get out of that rut, this is the book for you.  This book helps you create a plan in your life.  Instead of dreaming about doing X, Y and Z, this book helps you create actionable items to help you create the life you want.  It also helps you focus on all aspects of your life that you need to concentrate on.  You may be successful in one or two categories, while completely negligent in other areas of your life (like health, family, relationships, etc.).  This book will help you focus on the things that matter as you put the pieces together and create a life plan that will work for you.

I highly recommend picking up this book.  It is one of the pillars that helped me design my resolutions for this year and stick to them.

[This post contains affiliate links.]

Saturdays With Hitchcock

A coming of age book that will make you remember what it was like when you were a young teenager (if you’re an adult).  Or if you are a teenager, you will relate to the growing pains of trying to figure life out.  The reason why I decided to pick up this book was the whole part about movies and Hitchcock.  Since I am trying to watch all of Alfred Hitchcock’s works, of course a book paying homage to the late director would catch my eye.  The surprise is that even though Maisie and I share a love for movies, this story is not just about Saturdays with Hitchcock.  Maisie is just like any average 12 year old trying to switch from being an innocent child to becoming a teenager.  Hanging out with boys is no longer just hanging out.  Now, there are crushes and love triangles.  That boy you can’t stand is now hanging out with your best friend all of the time.  Your best friend likes boys, and you don’t really care about that stuff…yet.  You have a grandmother that is forgetting everything, and then there’s a grumpy old man that all of a sudden has a change of heart.  Growing up is not easy, but the lesson in this story is that you will make it and grow into a better person.  This is a very quick read.  I read it in one sitting and highly recommend.

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  This post contains affiliate links.]

The Edge of Winter

The Edge of Winter is a beautifully written tale mixing the present day with a unique part of World War II history in Rhode Island.  Neve and her daughter, Mickey, live in a small coastal town in South County.  Mickey’s love of birds has her risking her life to save a rare Arctic Owl.  With the help of a local surfer, they head to a bird sanctuary run by an old World War II veteran, and the father of the ranger that patrols the beaches.  As the richest man in town seeks to pull up the old German sub from off the coast to make it into a tourist attraction, Mickey and her new friend seek to stop it.  Neve, meanwhile, struggles to pay the bills as she tries to get an art show off the ground of a mysterious painter native to Rhode Island.  Her interactions with the ranger opens up her heart a little more as she lets love back in.  The history of this sunken German sub is so unique and worth the read (if you can get past the love story).  A relative of Rice was on the American sub that shot the German sub down, so she has very rich details to share of this moment in US history that they don’t teach in the history books.

[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.]

Norse Mythology

Marvel gets it wrong. Perhaps they should have picked up the old Norse Mythology stories before developing the movies.  It was because of the Thor comic books that this book exists.  Neil Gaiman loved Thor.  He loved the comic books and the Norse stories.  The books that told the old stories started to disappear, so Gaiman decided to preserve the tales as best as he could and release “Norse Mythology.”  In these stories, you’ll find similarities to the Rick Riordan “Magnus Chase” demi-god books.  You will even find how wrong Marvel’s Thor Ragnarok was.  [Spoiler: In the movie, Hela is Thor and Loki’s older sister.  In the mythology, she is Hel, daughter of Loki.]  If you want to expand your knowledge of human history, you must read this book.  These stories are the old stories of the Northern gods.

[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.]

As You Wish

Due to be released on January 2, 2018.  Imagine on your 18th birthday you can make one wish and it will come true.  What would you wish for?  That is the question Eldon is faced with as he approaches his wish day.  He has no idea what he wants to wish for.  His mother wants him to wish for money, so they are not stuck struggling anymore.  His sister’s medical bills are breaking them.  Maybe he should wish for his sister to be ok, and not comatose.  But then again, if he were to do that, the medical community would ask questions.  Then the town of Madison’s little secret would be revealed.  As Eldon questions what to wish for, he notices something…everyone who made a wish already are unhappy.  Their wish did not bring them happiness.  He wants everyone to be happy, but what could he possibly wish for that will bring everyone in Madison happiness?  You’ll never guess what his wish will be…

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.]

American Gods

As America became the new land people throughout the world immigrated to over the last few centuries, they brought their gods with them.  Now, the gods of yesterday (Norse, Egyptian, etc.) battle against the gods of today (the internet, television, etc.) for survival.  Shadow is thrown in the middle of this war and he has no idea why the gods have taken an interest in him.  Wednesday (Odin) hires him as his driver as they seek out the gods of old to join in the war against the new gods or risk becoming extinct.  What no one knows is that there’s a two person con going on.  Who are the con men in this story?  That is the question.  For those who’ve seen the Starz series, this book will give you a sneak peek into next season and what you can look forward to.  Excellent story and a great way to learn about the gods of old from all around the world.  I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.  Also, watch the Starz series if you haven’t yet.  Great show!

[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on any of the links, I may receive a commission from the sale.  That commission goes to help fund this site.]

Sing, Unburied, Sing

From the author of Salvage the Bones comes another great American novel set in the rural south of the Gulf Coast of Mississippi where young Jojo lives with his grandparents and baby sister.  His white father (Michael) is locked up in the state penitentiary.  His mother (Leonie), a drug addict and sometimes mother, is absent from their lives most of the time.  This leaves Pop with the duty of teaching Jojo how to become a man, while they take care of Mam, who is dying from cancer. When news comes that it is time for Michael to be released from prison, Leonie decides to take the kids with her, along with a friend, to pick him up.  This proves to be a thoughtless decision, because she does not have a mothering bone in her body.  This road proves to be a horrible mistake for both Leonie and the children.  In the spirit of those deep seeded southern stories of the supernatural and spirits of the dead walking the earth, we find that this family has a special gift.  This gift will bond mother and daughter, brother and sister during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

We live in a time where there are very few well written novels entering the market.  Jesmyn Ward is one of the most exceptional writers of our modern time.  For book collectors, her works should be added to your library.  She was added to mine.  This book is one of the most important books to read in 2017. 

The Last Namsara

Due to be released on October 3, 2017.  Asha is the Iskari – bringer of death to dragons.  As daughter of the dragon king, she hunts down dragons and tries to extinguish the old stories, the poisonous tales that killed her mother.  As a child, Asha told the stories to dragons until her mother died.  The first dragon wanted her all to himself, but when she said she would not continue the stories, he hunted her down and burned her.  The commandant found her and brought her home.  As a reward for saving his daughter, the king promised that when she came of age, he could have her hand in marriage.  As Asha  approaches her 18th birthday, her father allows her a way out of the wedding.  Bring him the head of the first dragon, and she is free.  As she begins the hunt, the old gods begin to visit her in her dreams and set her upon a mission that will reveal the truth about everything that happened to her, the dragons and the kingdoms around her.

An incredible tale of courage that challenges you to question everything you’ve ever been told.  Sometimes the real enemy can be the person you trust the most.

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.  This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.] 

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Due to be released on Halloween 2017 (or shall I say “Hallowmas”).  In the advanced copy I received, the publisher said that this book came to her shortly after the election last year.  She needed a place to escape and this book became a wonderful escape.  I have to say that I agree with her.  I’ve read many amazing books this year, but this one quickly became my favorite one of the year (so far).  Meet Morrigan Crow.  She’s cursed.  Every single thing that goes wrong is blamed on her.  On Eventide, all cursed children are killed.  As the hour approaches for her death, a strange gingered hair man arrives to take her away to a place where she cannot be killed on Eventide.  That land is called Nevermoor and here, Morrigan has been selected to become part of the Wundrous Society.  There are many applicants, but only nine places available.  They only accept those with the best knack.  As Morrigan goes through each trial, she wonders what her knack is.  She has no idea, only her patron knows what that is.  With the Stink (cops) breathing down their neck because they know Morrigan is an illegal in their republic, Morrigan must face her fears and win each trial in order to stay in Nevermoor.  If she doesn’t secure a spot, she could be killed if she is sent home.  The problem though for Morrigan is that the final test is the Show Trial, where she is supposed to present her knack to everyone.  She doesn’t have a knack.  The ending will surprise you.  I absolutely love this book and hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.  It’s a world you want to escape to.

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.  This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.] 

Sour Heart

An incredible debut novel from Jenny Zhang.  This book is a collection of stories from Chinese immigrants in Queens, New York.  This is not for the faint of heart.  In our political climate today, there is a bit of arrogance that goes along with the immigration experience.  People assume all immigrants (both legal and illegal) show up and begin using welfare the second they arrive.  The people in this book are too proud to live on handouts.  They live in complete squalor.  Five families sleep in a room together in an apartment run by a slumlord.  The building should be torn down, but these families live together, sleeping in one room, just trying to make it.  They are literally working 18+ hours a day, going to school, taking ESL classes, and starving just to make it in America.  They live in extreme poverty in the most inhumane conditions.  Reading these stories, you have to ask why this dream was better than their previous life.  Each story tells of parents that chose to live in extreme poverty and take a chance that they could make it in America, rather than go back to China.  They had a better chance of surviving in America…and that says something.  This book is a must read to understand immigration in America in a totally different light.

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book.  This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.] 

Stay With Me

Stay With Me is one of the most phenomenal books of 2017.  Written by Ayobami Adebayo, this debut novel takes us to Nigeria where we are introduced to Yejide and Akin.  Yejide and Akin are happily married, but are missing one thing…a baby.  Akin’s mother begins to pester the couple about an heir before bringing members of the community to their door to suggest Akin take on another wife to produce an heir.  Yejide is infuriated.  She does not want to live in a polygamous household.  She is so desperate to have a baby, she seeks the help of shaman.  When she leaves the mountain she believes she is pregnant.  Her belief is so strong that her body starts to fake her pregnancy.  Akin becomes worried about her and her sanity.  He begins to accuse her of betraying her until nine months later, there is no baby.  A year goes by and still there is no baby.  Akin goes to great lengths to give Yejide what she wants, even if that means destroying their marriage in the end.  This book is a powerful novel about love and marriage.  It shows how other forces can interfere and ruin marriages all for the sake of an heir.  They blame the wife as if all infertility is her problem, not realizing that the issue may lie with the husband.  A very sad, but incredible story.  A must read for 2017.

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.  This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.] 

The Exact Nature of Our Wrongs

This book is set to be released on September 19, 2017.  Exploring the dysfunctional family dynamic, Peery takes us into the lives of the Campbell family.  Just how does a family become dysfunctional?  Does the book ever find an answer?  No, but then again, maybe it does.  For those who come from families struggling to love each other, this book helps you to see that a) you are not alone, and b) there are people out there who have it worse than you do.  Or perhaps you may see yourself and your own family in these pages.  You may ask how you can escape going down this same path.  If anything, this book is eye opening in that it helps us look within our own pain to find some sanity in the place where the pain hurts the worst…the wrongs committed against us by the people we are supposed to love and they are supposed to love us…our family. [Review]

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.  This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.]  

Invictus

Due to be released September 26, 2017.  Imagine Guardians of the Galaxy meets Doctor Who, and you have Farway Gaius McCarthy and his band of misfits scavenging for priceless artifacts throughout time aboard their ship, Invictus.  From the Titanic to the Library of Alexandria, Far and his friends steal precious items for clients until things begin to go wrong.  Far was born outside of time.  His mother gave birth to him on board the ship while they were traveling between Ancient Rome and 2354 A.D.  As a result, it created a disastrous ripple effect in the universe.  The universe now needs to set things straight, even if that includes destroying all traces of Farway in every dimension he exists.   An excellent read and incredible adventure worth following as Far and his friends travel through time together, trying to escape being erased from existence.

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.  This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.]  

Sisters

This book is set to be released on September 5, 2017.  Have you ever wondered about your significant other’s previous lover?  Have you ever compared yourself to her?  In this book, the protagonist obsesses a little too much over her husband’s first wife.  She tries to calculate how many times they had sex.  Was she happy in the beginning?  Was she better than her?  But then again, don’t we all think these things?  This book explores the second wife’s mind, while she fails to focus on her own marriage and the poor decisions she makes.  Sooner or later she finds herself as the former wife when she makes one too many mistakes.  A very quick read (i.e. you can finish it in one sitting).

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.  This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.]  

Rich People Problems

I really love this series.  In book three of Kevin Kwan’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” Ah Ma is dying.  Everyone descends upon Tyersall Hall to say goodbye and stake their rights in the Will.  Nick and Astrid find themselves banished from their ancestral home.  It takes a couple of servants to sneak them in to see Ah Ma one last time before she dies.  What erupts afterward is the same old drama.  They fight over what will happen next with their legacy.  Astrid is plunged into a sex tape scandal and could lose custody of her son.  Nick is trying to amend past wrongs with Ah Ma and keep her legacy alive.  Eddie is his usual, “It’s all about me.  Pay attention to me.”  Kitty is trying to destroy her step-daughter, Colette, the same woman behind Rachel’s poisoning in book two.  Colette has also found an upgrade and a way back into society, but she’s looking at it from a global scale after her humiliation in China.  All in all, it’s your basic everyday billionaire drama.  You know, the kind of tabloid gossip you can’t look away from.  It’s Gossip Girl Asian style.

[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.]

A Wrinkle in Time

In anticipation for the upcoming movie starring Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling and Reese Witherspoon, I thought I’d pick this book up to get an idea of what I should anticipate this spring.  Meg, her brother Charles Wallace and new friend Calvin, embark on a journey across dimensions to find Meg’s father.  He’s been missing for three years.  With the help of Mrs Who, Mrs Whatsit and Mrs Which, they journey across the universe to a dark planet that is overcome by evil.  Everyone is under some spell.  They must fight whatever is controlling everyone to save Mr. Murry.  One will fall victim to its spell.  One must learn to fight through their anger in order to save the one they love.  This is the first book in a series.

[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.]