All I’ve Never Wanted by Ana Huang

18 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Romance, Young Adult Tags: , , ,

Published: 9th June 2015Goodreads badge
Publisher: SmashWords
Pages: 626
Format: ebook
Genre: Young Adult/Romance
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

The Scions were the four richest, most powerful guys at Valesca Academy, and they ruled the school with iron fists. Everyone wanted to date them or be them…everyone, that is, except Maya Lindberg, who just wanted to avoid them until she could graduate. 

She almost succeeded, until an ill-advised outburst on her part put her right in the Scions’ path. Just like that, one became her fake boyfriend, one her unwanted matchmaker, one her guardian angel, and the one she couldn’t stand the most? Yeah, he’s her new housemate. 

A Young Adult romantic comedy that explores what happens when a girl gets everything she never asked for, including a puppy, a new wardrobe, and, possibly, even true love.

 Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

I experienced so many conflicting emotions reading this book. The beginning felt so cheesy I could barely keep my eyes from rolling every few lines. It is unrealistic and so unbelievable it’s hard to accept the story being told. However. Huang grabs you in the middle of the narrative and makes you invested in these characters. She draws you in and somewhere between eye-rolling and groans you are suddenly excitedly following the story, reading with an irremovable grin on your face, and finding your heart beating as you engage with these characters. I wasn’t even “shipping” to use the internet term Maya and Roman, and yet I loved their connection, I loved her relationship with each Scion boy, I was involved in this totally incredulous story, it was the more bizarre read I have had in awhile.

From the start the story is literally told to us from Maya’s teen voice that basically starts with “let me tell you about this”. Taking this for what it is, a teen voice narrating her story, you don’t hold it against her, even if she has the “not like other girls” syndrome. One thing people keep mentioning in reviews is that this is an apparent copy bordering on plagiarism of Boys Over Flowers, a Korean story based on Japanese manga. I haven’t seen this, therefore I can’t judge that aspect, I can only review what this story provides.

Storywise it is hard to believe that four rich boys could control a school, teachers included, and this small town notion of bowing down to money is hard to swallow. The descriptions and introductions of characters are often ridiculous and unbelievable and you really have to put up with it for the first part to get into the story.

The narration switched perspective throughout and we gain points of view from numerous characters. This worked well because you see ulterior motives, different thoughts, and observe how characters interact with one another in different environments. Having different voices helps give strength to the narrative and it adds additional elements such as secrets and mystery.

The setting also switches from mainly the school environment to Maya being friends with the Scions and doing activities outside of school. A few things still don’t make much sense and there are a few things left unanswered, but for the faults in the beginning there is an addicting quality that keeps you reading.

This switch comes out of nowhere and it is amazing to see the strange juxtaposition. The sudden change in writing and the emergence of mystery and suspense that appears from nowhere with very little basis is engaging and could be out of place but somehow works in this strange town environment.

 There was a strange juxtaposition with this story, after an unbelievable and odd start, you do become invested in these unrealistic characters. You hang on the story and become excited and curious and there is mystery and suspense which comes out of nowhere given how the first 1/3 of the story is. It’s an amazing switch.

Understanding the closeness claim to Boys Over Flowers, knowing how it begins and how at times it can be unrealistic, there are twists that you do not expect, characters that you enjoy despite there being flaws and issues with them, and you do become captivated in the lives of these characters. If you accept the situation you stop looking at the flaws and start enjoying the events as they unfold which results in a rather enjoyable read.

You can purchase All I’ve Never Wanted via the following

Amazon

The Pharaoh’s Cat by Maria Luisa Lang

02 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Fantasy, Humour Tags: , , ,

Published: 16th May 2015Goodreads badge
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 182
Format: Paperback
Genre: Humour/Fantasy
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

The Pharaoh’s Cat, narrated in the present tense by the cat himself, is the story of a free-spirited, quick-witted stray in ancient Egypt who suddenly finds himself with human powers joined to his feline nature. 

The cat immediately captures the attention of the seventeen-year-old Pharaoh, making him laugh for the first time since his parents’ death, and is brought to live with him at the royal palace.
The cat also becomes friends with the High Priest of the god Amun-Ra and seeks his help in solving the mystery of his human powers and the supernatural manifestations that later plague him.

He has an enemy in the Vizier—the Pharaoh’s uncle and the second most powerful man in Egypt. The Vizier hates him for himself and even more for his relationship with the Pharaoh.
The cat participates in festivities at the royal palace, developing an insatiable appetite for good food, wine, and gossip. He later accompanies the Pharaoh on a trip through his kingdom, all the while renewing the Pharaoh’s ability to enjoy life and inspiring him to become a stronger leader. 

Between the cat and the Pharaoh a bond of love gradually forms which will determine Egypt’s destiny.

The Pharaoh’s Cat imaginatively blends Egyptology with comedy, drama, and even time travel–the cat and the High Priest will meet Elena, a resident of the twenty-first century and the daughter of a renowned Egyptologist. 

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

Lang’s story is imaginative and unique, certainly quirky and a fun read. It is a sweet story filled with myth and magic and science fiction. There is time travel coupled with the mysticism of ancient Egyptian belief and practice and after you get used to the writing style and narrator you find yourself easily caught up in the story.

Told from the present tense point of view of Wrappa-Hamen, a cat, there is a strange perspective given initially which alludes to some things and describes different aspects of another based on how a cat may experience it. When Wrappa-Hamen is given human qualities by the cat goddess Bastet it expands his nature and experiences but Lang keeps his voice simple and instinctive, keeping the cat qualities while combining his new human abilities as well.

Wrappa-Hamen becomes friends and companion to the young Pharaoh and Lang explores the relationship and growing affection he has for the king. The relationship between Wrappa-Hamen and the Pharaoh is touching, and with the gifts bestowed on the cat means another element is provided, and manages to keep the story feeling genuine and not overly fanciful. The explanations provided tie in well with the Ancient Egyptian beliefs and doesn’t require too much explanation to ground it and make it feel valid.

There are many surprises in the story, not just in narrative but in the depth and complexity Lang achieves from a story that is for the most part humorous, light, and whimsical. The connection Wrappa-Hamen has with the Pharaoh, as well as the High Priest, remains wonderful and only improves. There is also a great exploration and expression of some of the roles and practices of the Pharaoh and Lang demonstrates various aspects of the ancient Egyptian culture nicely, while still keeping within the limits of a cat’s perspective.

The characters are rounded, given assessments by Wrappa-Hamen as he interacts with them which helps bring them to life, but there are only a handful of key characters that get a lot of attention. With each adventure and misadventure, the trouble that arises and the strange places Wrappa-Hamen finds himself in demonstrates another side of various characters and at times adds another side to their character.

One things that did surprise me was the ending, for a seemingly short book there is a lot packed into it and it isn’t until the end draws near do you realise how attached you’ve become to these characters. There are many ways in which Lang could have concluded Wrappa-Hamen’s story, some hinted at and others not, but I think she chose the best option. The ending is ideal, it is surprising, bittersweet, highly possible if you choose to believe it, and makes you realise things cannot always be as they were. With a sequel in the works, Lang provides a solid ending while also allowing new adventures to occur.

This is a story filled with comedy, love, hope, despair, loss, and friendship, set against the backdrop of Ancient Egypt and provides a little bit of magic alongside an inventive plot and the desires of a cat.

You can purchase The Pharaoh’s Cat via the following

Amazon

Amazon UK

 

 

Also Known as Lard Butt by Ann Herrick

26 Aug 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Young Adult Tags: , , , ,

Published: 4th June 2015Goodreads badge
Publisher: Books We Love, Ltd.
Pages: 80
Format: ebook
Genre: Young Adult/short story
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

Laura finds out that, Ricky, the boy who created her horrible nickname, “Lard Butt,” has moved back into town—and immediately schemes to keep him quiet. After all, she can’t let her new swim teammates, especially drool-worthy Noah, hear the horrible name! No way!

She’s determined to put a million years between grade school and junior high—even in the face of a father who drives an éclair, a would-be-movie-star mother who suddenly moves back home, and a past that comes back to haunt her with the dreaded nickname.

Although Laura’s embarrassed about how she looks in a swimsuit, she tries to stay true to her vow to take risks. She even lets Maria talk her into going to the school dance, where she braves negotiating a truce for a quarreling couple.

New friendships form, Laura’s mother starts getting too domesticated for Laura’s comfort, and hints of romance start to develop—or do they?

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

The idea of this ‘Lard Butt’ is a bit strange, Laura isn’t overweight, she just has a large bottom. The way she talks about it is like it’s an abnormal growth but it seems to just be a bit bigger than most. Her thoughts about it switch from acceptance to being self conscious, her mother calls it a problem which wouldn’t help, and she was teased as a kid (hence the nickname), but she has learnt to try and deal with it.

Laura is shy and not confident, she has one friend she has known since elementary school, and she is starting at a new school with apprehension. But at the same time she is determined to make changes in her life and leave the old her behind. It’s sweet in a way, Laura doesn’t try and do a complete remodelling of herself or her personality, she just decides to take risks and do things that may be out of her comfort zone.

The ‘Lard Butt’ aspect isn’t a major focus, it plays a role but it acts more of a starting point to what else happens in the book. Laura’s history and own feelings about it are understandable, especially memories of being teased, but the constant references she makes to it can become tiring, especially when it isn’t really a crucial plot point.

Being young and a bit naive Laura has a good voice and story to tell. Seeing things from her perspective provides us with her thoughts and opinions, and it also shows us how clueless she can be as well. Understanding people and situations when Laura does not makes you read a lot more into the story than the one she gives, which makes it more rounded, but there remains a focus on Laura and her growing confidence than really delving into multiple character backgrounds.

The characters are quirky and sweet and varying versions of interesting and they are as deep as they need to be for the story. Some certainly more than others, but because we see things through Laura’s eyes many references or details are briefly addressed or skipped entirely. There are many secondary characters you grow attached to like Ricky, and even a teacher at times, sweet people around Laura that help fill her world and help change her way of thinking. Her relationship with her friends and family is strong and Herrick explores these different connections with varying degrees which work quite well meaning you get a great understanding of her relationship to each person.

There are both happily ever afters and not so happily ever afters which is a great balance, it reflects reality quite well, varying degrees of good and bad things happen, nothing too life changing or exciting, just daily life. The story is quite short which I think works to its advantage, there isn’t enough to sustain a longer story and I think Herrick has balanced everything out nicely, providing conclusions, hope and resigned you to the fact that life isn’t always perfect, but you can make the best of what you’ve got.

You can purchase Also Known as Lard Butt via the following

Amazon

Amazon Aust

 

Save Me, San Francisco by Kate Padilla

30 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Short Stories Tags: , , ,

Published: 16th September 2014Goodreads badge
Publisher: Amazon Kindle Digital Publishing
Pages: 210
Format: ebook
Genre: Short stories
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

Save Me, San Francisco is a collection of thirty short stories inspired by the music of Train.

 

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

 
Creating stories from songs is one of my favourite writing ideas and one I have tried to replicate a few times myself. Padilla has developed this collection using the works of the band Train and turned their music and lyrics into a wonderful set of stories.

There are thirty stories in total, each of varying lengths, some are snippets, some have more complexity, but nevertheless all are enjoyable. Having never listened to that many Train songs I was not familiar with the majority of songs the stories were based on, but Padilla has created stories that are creative, interesting, and well told that are separate in a way from the songs they originate from.

With so many short stories in this collection they cover a range of topics and are filled with a diverse selection of characters and narrators. The characters are troubled and lost, people who want more from their lives, and who are just trying to cope the best way they know how. The feelings and desires are clear and Padilla brings these feelings to light in each story.

Padilla includes the song title and album name with each corresponding story, and does an excellent job crediting the writers as well. If you are familiar with the songs of Train then these stories may have an air of familiarity to them in terms of theme or narrative, but not knowing the songs are no hindrance and doesn’t limit the enjoyment. Padilla does not write as if she has simply expanded on the song lyrics, she has expanded on the themes and ideas, and the feelings that these song represent and she has done so rather well.

You can purchase Save Me, San Francisco via the following

Amazon

CLUB MEDicine by Jack Kinsley

12 Jun 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Thriller Tags: , , ,

Published: 13th February 2015Goodreads badge
Publisher: RANE Books
Pages: 309
Format: Ebook
Genre: Thriller
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

What drives a reasonable man to commit murder?

Travis Martin was the great American success story. A former addict who started the premiere private rehab in the hills of Malibu, California, he had it all: a thriving business, a beautiful wife, and a daughter who was the center of his universe. Unfortunately, when his recovery took a nosedive, everything he built went right along with it. Now, he has a rehab filled with eccentric clients he’s expected to keep sane, a dark secret he’s desperate to keep hidden, and forces from his past that are determined to strip him of anything that remains.
What’s a self-made man to do? Backed into a corner, Travis finds himself stuck on one moral question: Can he commit murder in order to keep it all from slipping away? How far down the rabbit hole will he go? And, perhaps more importantly, how does he come back from it after that life is gone?

Part thriller and part redemption tale, CLUB MEDicine explores the heart of darkness within us all as one man balances on the razor’s edge between self-actualization and self-destruction. 

Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

This was a hard story to pin down, even rate. It has good moments that piqued my interest, but there were also mundane moments that I didn’t see a need for. But Kinsley connects it together well and depending how you look at it, everything plays a part in telling Travis’ story.

The characters are eccentric and have a range of problems, and some characters grow on you much more than others, but Kinsley keeps it interesting with various aspects and dramas of rehab life. The centre is the focus and connects characters, secrets, and plot development, and contains most of the drama that unfolds. Travis is also a closet drug addict himself which brings in a nice sense of the blind leading the blind and a nice case of irony, and it is a key part of the unfolding events, consequence, cause, or otherwise.

For a thriller I felt there wasn’t as much of a focus on that element. It came and went, but there was a lot more time given on the events, ordinary and otherwise, in the rehab. Granted it is connected, and seeing Travis operate in the centre and his drug addiction on top of that was a key part, but I felt the thriller aspect didn’t shine through until the very end.

There is a steady pace to the story that has rises of suspense throughout but instead of a solid thriller with a sense of gaining momentum to something bigger, Kinsley has focused on the psychological unravelling and desperations of a man trying to hold onto his reality, but in a self-focused and inner dilemma rather than have it constantly play out on the page.

It was more watching a man’s life be on the brink of crumbling and seeing him fall further into despair before finally reaching desperation. Having said that though, I didn’t feel the intense desperation I think Kinsley was aiming for. It read as a huge leap to planning murder but at the same time I understood it, which was weird. Even though Travis runs through his options and realising he is being backed into a corner, I didn’t catch a sense of urgency in the tone of the narrative despite the words telling me there was.

There are some great and surprising moments though. The story is actually unexpected and Kinsley keeps it going with a few surprises and hints at secrets and dark pasts that are withheld until the right moments. This unexpected nature makes the intermittent moments of suspense work because it does just suddenly happen, but it’s the rapid resettling into routine that is unsatisfying.

It is hard to judge a novel before finishing it which is where most of my notes came from, and I think the end is where the story finds its footing, everything falls into place and the story unites into an unexpected, thrilling conclusion. The final moments allow you to see the clues placed throughout that had gone unnoticed, and with everything linking up it shifts your perspective and opinion on how you saw the story, but while it solves some mysteries and shows off creative writing, other issues remain.

I liked the ending in as much I think Travis got what he deserved. There are consequences and lessons, and having not had much sympathy or real care for him through most of the novel I liked that he didn’t get off scot-free but got a chance at redemption, and being on shaky ground with those around him is a good solution. Condemning him entirely would not have felt satisfactory and Kinsley balances adequate punishment, the right thing, and hope nicely.

You can purchase CLUB MEDicine via the following

Amazon

Amazon Aust

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