Tuesday 19 December 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Schnauze, es ist Weihnachten by Karen Christine Angermayer.
International book time – haven’t done that in a while. However, I thought I’d share one of my favourite holiday books of the past years with you even if it’s not available in English (quote translations by me). The title in German has the wonderful ambiguity that “Schnauze” refers to an animal’s snout but is also used as an exclamation to shut up. So you can read it as “Shut up, it’s Christmas”.
The book is divided in 24 chapters so you can read them as an Advent calendar until Christmas Eve (which in the evening has the main event in terms of presents in Germany). And the first time around, you get to open up the pages because they are bound in a special way that seals the individual chapters. The story is simple yet complex and very, very heart-warming: Bruno, the dog, is very happy and content with his lot. Until Soja arrives at his house to spend the time until Christmas as her family is going on a trip. Soja is different from Bruno in every other way imaginable. You see the problem is … Soja is a C.A.T.! In the same house as Bruno! And not only that, she is also into such ridiculous things as sports, healthy eating, and she talks all the time. Conflict is sure to follow.
How Bruno and Soja survive the 24 days in December, how they argue and fight, find differences and similarities, and finally even develop an understanding and friendship that will support them for another couple of books is such a wonderful tale that I return to this book every Christmas season. Even if I no longer have the pleasure of getting to cut open the pages. But the humour and love and the beautiful illustrations that fit so well to the characters and their friendship adventure delight me each time anew.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas, a wonderful time with loved ones, and lots of fulfilled wishes, if you celebrate. In any case, have a great time and let me know which books you wish for or discovered in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Schnauze, es ist Weihnachten by Karen Christine Angermayer.
 |
| Schnauze, es ist Weihnachten – cbj Verlag |
Soja has designed an Advent calendar for Bruno – all by herself! There is no chocolate inside but something sooooo much better!
Well, Bruno didn’t like day one all too much. But today is day two, he’ll like that one.
Maybe.
— Chapter 2
What do you do when you have absolutely no idea what to gift to the other? Especially if it’s supposed to be perfect?
— Chapter 19
International book time – haven’t done that in a while. However, I thought I’d share one of my favourite holiday books of the past years with you even if it’s not available in English (quote translations by me). The title in German has the wonderful ambiguity that “Schnauze” refers to an animal’s snout but is also used as an exclamation to shut up. So you can read it as “Shut up, it’s Christmas”.
The book is divided in 24 chapters so you can read them as an Advent calendar until Christmas Eve (which in the evening has the main event in terms of presents in Germany). And the first time around, you get to open up the pages because they are bound in a special way that seals the individual chapters. The story is simple yet complex and very, very heart-warming: Bruno, the dog, is very happy and content with his lot. Until Soja arrives at his house to spend the time until Christmas as her family is going on a trip. Soja is different from Bruno in every other way imaginable. You see the problem is … Soja is a C.A.T.! In the same house as Bruno! And not only that, she is also into such ridiculous things as sports, healthy eating, and she talks all the time. Conflict is sure to follow.
How Bruno and Soja survive the 24 days in December, how they argue and fight, find differences and similarities, and finally even develop an understanding and friendship that will support them for another couple of books is such a wonderful tale that I return to this book every Christmas season. Even if I no longer have the pleasure of getting to cut open the pages. But the humour and love and the beautiful illustrations that fit so well to the characters and their friendship adventure delight me each time anew.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas, a wonderful time with loved ones, and lots of fulfilled wishes, if you celebrate. In any case, have a great time and let me know which books you wish for or discovered in the comments.
Tuesday 12 December 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
If there was one book this summer that everyone was talking about, chances are that it was this one. Movement books and especially books like this one with such an important topic and message are at the same time so very important and also often cursed to fall short on their promises. Yet every once in a while such a book emerges and not only meets all those important parameters but basically shatters them and leaves them in the dust. And while I’m not the first (and not the last I suppose) to say so, this book more than delivers. The buzz was so great that I was a bit hesitant at first but that was completely unwarranted.
The scary thing is that the story itself is a short tale while everything around this seemingly basic plot is what makes this book so exceptional: On the way home from a party a girl and her friend are stopped by the police. The girl’s friend is shot and dies. The surrounding circumstances: The girl and her friend are black, the officer is white. The shot boy didn’t have a weapon nor did he do anything wrong. And the girl, Starr, is the only witness. It seems easy to say that she should speak up for justice but how can you trust a justice system where similar incidents had no consequences? Do you endanger the precarious balance in your community? And also your own exposed position, especially when you are one of only two black students at an all-white school? The punch line in all of this is that this is not a fictional world or a historical setting … it is so solidly contemporary it hurts. And the characters while fictional seem so real you want to meet them.
I liked how there are actually quite a few topics in this book apart from the big one. Maybe it is a bit tightly packed but this also begs the question of when did life and reality ever agree to give someone a break just because things got messy in one part? I want to argue that this adds to the feeling of reality that pervades the whole book.
Of course, with such an amazing source there is a movie coming. And again I am quietly hopeful that it will do the book justice. Not just because the author seems genuinely happy but also because of the overall importance that this is done just right. Otherwise, the riots towards the end of this story might be considered slight disturbances in comparison to possible reader riots.
What are your thoughts on buzz books? Has such a book kept its promises to you or were you disappointed? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
 |
| The Hate U Give – Balzer + Bray |
When I was twelve, my parents had two talks with me.
One was the usual birds and bees. […]
The other talk was about what to do if a cop stopped me.
Momma fussed and told Daddy I was too young for that. He argued that I wasn’t too young to get arrested or shot.
— Chapter 2
Once upon a time there was a hazel-eyed boy with dimples. I called him Khalil. The world called him a thug.
He lived, but not nearly long enough, and for the rest of my life I'll remember how he died.
— Chapter 26
If there was one book this summer that everyone was talking about, chances are that it was this one. Movement books and especially books like this one with such an important topic and message are at the same time so very important and also often cursed to fall short on their promises. Yet every once in a while such a book emerges and not only meets all those important parameters but basically shatters them and leaves them in the dust. And while I’m not the first (and not the last I suppose) to say so, this book more than delivers. The buzz was so great that I was a bit hesitant at first but that was completely unwarranted.
The scary thing is that the story itself is a short tale while everything around this seemingly basic plot is what makes this book so exceptional: On the way home from a party a girl and her friend are stopped by the police. The girl’s friend is shot and dies. The surrounding circumstances: The girl and her friend are black, the officer is white. The shot boy didn’t have a weapon nor did he do anything wrong. And the girl, Starr, is the only witness. It seems easy to say that she should speak up for justice but how can you trust a justice system where similar incidents had no consequences? Do you endanger the precarious balance in your community? And also your own exposed position, especially when you are one of only two black students at an all-white school? The punch line in all of this is that this is not a fictional world or a historical setting … it is so solidly contemporary it hurts. And the characters while fictional seem so real you want to meet them.
I liked how there are actually quite a few topics in this book apart from the big one. Maybe it is a bit tightly packed but this also begs the question of when did life and reality ever agree to give someone a break just because things got messy in one part? I want to argue that this adds to the feeling of reality that pervades the whole book.
Of course, with such an amazing source there is a movie coming. And again I am quietly hopeful that it will do the book justice. Not just because the author seems genuinely happy but also because of the overall importance that this is done just right. Otherwise, the riots towards the end of this story might be considered slight disturbances in comparison to possible reader riots.
What are your thoughts on buzz books? Has such a book kept its promises to you or were you disappointed? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 5 December 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi.
Readers tend to also be board game players, at least to some extent. I’m not necessarily the best example but invite me to an evening of Settlers or Ticket to Ride and I’ll probably turn up. I would, however, never want to actually live inside any of the games we play. And if you know Jumanji and / or Zathura, you can probably guess what is about to unfold here: A group of friends and family gets involved in a magic game, has to solve dangerous riddles and quests, grow personally and as a group, and save themselves from becoming trapped inside the game universe by the malicious spirit of the game (rather than the elements of the game becoming real in their homes like in the aforementioned titles).
So far so good, you might think, what else is new, we’ve seen this before. And you probably have. But I dare you to find all these elements in an adventure book of this calibre and in this constellation. I don’t want to comment on the fact that this is from a publishing imprint that specialises on books with a Muslim background apart from the fact that I’ve just mentioned it. The protagonists in the book are children like any other with the same learning curves and challenges. This is just another aspect of their character.
The siblings in this book are quite special to me because their development towards understanding and respecting each other is so very organic and beautifully executed. In a similar fashion, the friendship between the characters develops in interesting ways and I liked how this is shown over the course of the novel. It is to be expected if you’re familiar with this type of narration but even then the plot managed to surprise me and I often found myself racing along the text to see if the task could be completed in time.
Safe to say just as I would be one of the first to exit the stage in the Hunger Games I also wouldn’t be able to escape the Gauntlet. Luckily, readers have books to take us to the places that are too scary and dangerous to visit in real life and make us see and experience things that would probably scare and break any real person.
If you had the choice, would you rather be sucked into a board game world or have elements from such a board game appear in your home? And which game would you choose? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi.
 |
| The Gauntlet – Salaam Reads |
It wasn’t a fair game anyway, when playing against someone much younger, and Farah was almost a teenager. She knew losing to Ahmad would build up his confidence and help her avoid his inevitable whining and wailing if he couldn’t claim victory.
— Prologue
“Um, guys? Do you feel something … weird?”
“We’re bunkering down in a sewer to avoid a sandstorm.” Farah sighed. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
— Chapter 14
Readers tend to also be board game players, at least to some extent. I’m not necessarily the best example but invite me to an evening of Settlers or Ticket to Ride and I’ll probably turn up. I would, however, never want to actually live inside any of the games we play. And if you know Jumanji and / or Zathura, you can probably guess what is about to unfold here: A group of friends and family gets involved in a magic game, has to solve dangerous riddles and quests, grow personally and as a group, and save themselves from becoming trapped inside the game universe by the malicious spirit of the game (rather than the elements of the game becoming real in their homes like in the aforementioned titles).
So far so good, you might think, what else is new, we’ve seen this before. And you probably have. But I dare you to find all these elements in an adventure book of this calibre and in this constellation. I don’t want to comment on the fact that this is from a publishing imprint that specialises on books with a Muslim background apart from the fact that I’ve just mentioned it. The protagonists in the book are children like any other with the same learning curves and challenges. This is just another aspect of their character.
The siblings in this book are quite special to me because their development towards understanding and respecting each other is so very organic and beautifully executed. In a similar fashion, the friendship between the characters develops in interesting ways and I liked how this is shown over the course of the novel. It is to be expected if you’re familiar with this type of narration but even then the plot managed to surprise me and I often found myself racing along the text to see if the task could be completed in time.
Safe to say just as I would be one of the first to exit the stage in the Hunger Games I also wouldn’t be able to escape the Gauntlet. Luckily, readers have books to take us to the places that are too scary and dangerous to visit in real life and make us see and experience things that would probably scare and break any real person.
If you had the choice, would you rather be sucked into a board game world or have elements from such a board game appear in your home? And which game would you choose? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 28 November 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant.
Gather round, it’s story time … A short one, I promise: In 2015 I read an article in some magazine about an old study that had something to do with questions and people getting to know each other so well that they might fall in love over this. I thought something along the lines of that’s interesting and would somehow be a good foundation for a book. And then I promptly forgot about it. End of story.
But no! (Because otherwise, I couldn’t possibly remember when I read that article.) Earlier this year I came across the announcement of this sweet little book and due to the title recalled the article (I’m linking to it here, in case you’re interested). Science, Love, and YA Literature, really the perfect mix to tackle this story foundation. There are quite a few things that could go wrong in this scenario no matter how great the idea because even with the best material and possibly the best intentions and craft in mind and at hand humans have a great capacity to make a mess of things. Not naming names and luckily this book also doesn’t fall into that category.
This could have been a sweet and fluffy read that would have been perfectly entertaining but not necessarily memorable. Could have been, but the author chose to add another twist and throw together not one but two onion-layer-characters, even though you wouldn’t quite expect one of them to be like that from the beginning. I quite liked that twist of almost being trope-y and then opening the whole thing up. (Could you be any vaguer? – Why yes, but I’m trying to interest you in a book here.) I really didn’t want this to end apart from wanting to get to the end of the list of questions and thus getting to know both protagonists even better. So I suppose the 36 questions definitely worked for me in that I fell in love with the characters a little. Does it work on the protagonists? Will they be brutally honest? Will there be tears? Running away? Coming back? Different means of communication? And radio silence? Secrets? And discoveries? Or flying fish? Well, maybe.
Scientific verdict: Great idea taken a step further and well-executed. I’d be very interested in a follow-up study, aka a next book, even if it’s just a check in with those characters. Maybe a sort of spin-off, cameo, companion thing?
Published study results or no, I’d like to know if this really works. But what if it does. What if it doesn’t? Both could be really awkward. I might be curious enough but most likely not brave enough. What do you think? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant.
 |
| 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You – Hot Key Books |
“You took Prince Charming by mistake.” Jeff raised his eyebrows. “Wonder what Dr. Freud would’ve said about that.”
— Chapter 1
“That’s the problem with parents. They keep turning out to be human.”
— Chapter 2
Gather round, it’s story time … A short one, I promise: In 2015 I read an article in some magazine about an old study that had something to do with questions and people getting to know each other so well that they might fall in love over this. I thought something along the lines of that’s interesting and would somehow be a good foundation for a book. And then I promptly forgot about it. End of story.
But no! (Because otherwise, I couldn’t possibly remember when I read that article.) Earlier this year I came across the announcement of this sweet little book and due to the title recalled the article (I’m linking to it here, in case you’re interested). Science, Love, and YA Literature, really the perfect mix to tackle this story foundation. There are quite a few things that could go wrong in this scenario no matter how great the idea because even with the best material and possibly the best intentions and craft in mind and at hand humans have a great capacity to make a mess of things. Not naming names and luckily this book also doesn’t fall into that category.
This could have been a sweet and fluffy read that would have been perfectly entertaining but not necessarily memorable. Could have been, but the author chose to add another twist and throw together not one but two onion-layer-characters, even though you wouldn’t quite expect one of them to be like that from the beginning. I quite liked that twist of almost being trope-y and then opening the whole thing up. (Could you be any vaguer? – Why yes, but I’m trying to interest you in a book here.) I really didn’t want this to end apart from wanting to get to the end of the list of questions and thus getting to know both protagonists even better. So I suppose the 36 questions definitely worked for me in that I fell in love with the characters a little. Does it work on the protagonists? Will they be brutally honest? Will there be tears? Running away? Coming back? Different means of communication? And radio silence? Secrets? And discoveries? Or flying fish? Well, maybe.
Scientific verdict: Great idea taken a step further and well-executed. I’d be very interested in a follow-up study, aka a next book, even if it’s just a check in with those characters. Maybe a sort of spin-off, cameo, companion thing?
Published study results or no, I’d like to know if this really works. But what if it does. What if it doesn’t? Both could be really awkward. I might be curious enough but most likely not brave enough. What do you think? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 21 November 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
The Silver Mask by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.
Want to know one of my favourite English words? Penultimate. Not because I like the idea of things ending or being about to end. Just the look and sound of the word. And to be honest, it’s also kind of neat to use. Maybe not for the second book in a trilogy, that looks a little over the top, but for everything longer than that. So without further ado: the penultimate book in the Magisterium series.
There isn’t much that can be said about this book without severely spoiling the previous one. Let’s just say that the main character Call starts the book in a not very enviable place, gets rescued, and then goes to an even less enviable place … but with vastly improved company. Solitary fire to companionable frying pan so to say.
If you’ve read the previous book you’ll remember the heavy trauma and subsequent turmoil at the end. Rest assured, it gets worse before it gets a little better before things get really messed up. I can, without any spoiling, also quote the last sentence (not counting the epilogue), which perfectly describes the setup for the final book: Now what the heck are we going to do? Very good question, and I’m so looking forward to finding out. In the process of getting to that point, the story manages to be gripping and entertaining … and, of course, a little heart-breaking. What else was to be expected when you look at the names on the cover?
Imagine you could go to magic school, but would never be allowed to actually do any magic, would you still want to go? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Silver Mask by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.
 |
| The Silver Mask – Scholastic Press |
“I can’t believe your original escape plan requires another escape plan,” Jasper said. “You suck at escaping.”
Tamara fixed him with a glare. “I guess the more we escape, the better we’ get at it.”
— Chapter 5
“I didn’t see sense,” Call said. “He just threatened to kill me otherwise.”
— Chapter 13
Want to know one of my favourite English words? Penultimate. Not because I like the idea of things ending or being about to end. Just the look and sound of the word. And to be honest, it’s also kind of neat to use. Maybe not for the second book in a trilogy, that looks a little over the top, but for everything longer than that. So without further ado: the penultimate book in the Magisterium series.
There isn’t much that can be said about this book without severely spoiling the previous one. Let’s just say that the main character Call starts the book in a not very enviable place, gets rescued, and then goes to an even less enviable place … but with vastly improved company. Solitary fire to companionable frying pan so to say.
If you’ve read the previous book you’ll remember the heavy trauma and subsequent turmoil at the end. Rest assured, it gets worse before it gets a little better before things get really messed up. I can, without any spoiling, also quote the last sentence (not counting the epilogue), which perfectly describes the setup for the final book: Now what the heck are we going to do? Very good question, and I’m so looking forward to finding out. In the process of getting to that point, the story manages to be gripping and entertaining … and, of course, a little heart-breaking. What else was to be expected when you look at the names on the cover?
Imagine you could go to magic school, but would never be allowed to actually do any magic, would you still want to go? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 14 November 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Timeless: Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic by Armand Baltazar.
Also long-ish … I’m getting wordy. Sorry? This book is also so worth talking about though. Maybe sorter next week.
Get ready for some heavy literature. Not because the book I chose for today is hard to read but because it is literally a heavy book. The page count clocks in at 624 pages, which in itself is already quite a number. Add to that the fact that this is a book originally intended for a younger teen audience and you’ll probably call the book people a mad bunch. And yet … this book also has very specific paper requests. If you take a look at the excerpt here, you’ll know why. Yes, this book needs art paper, because there are more than 150 full-colour photorealistic illustrations inside. This could just as easily have been an art book; the author as a former animations movie designer certainly could have stopped at that. Luckily, he didn’t but decided to fulfil his son’s wish for a story that includes pirates, robots, dinosaurs, Roman legionnaires, and steampunk. Wait, what? That sounds totally over the top and unrealistic? Well, at first it might seem that way but once you’ve read this book you’ll wonder whatever made you think like that.
The solution is not time travel but almost the very opposite: A total collapse of the space-time continuum. Suddenly, Victorian England exists right alongside the pre-historic age as well as the Golden Twenties or the far future. Of course, this couldn’t have worked well from the very start but about fifteen years after this time collision the different cultures have grudgingly accepted that they have to co-exist in this new age. Or most of them have because there are also those who would do anything, really anything, to revert this. Even if that means sacrificing the lives of a generation that in their eyes was never meant to be.
Enter our newly 13-year-old hero and the unlikely group of kids, who have to face some challenges and overcome their own differences, before they can call themselves friends and, most importantly, face the threat not only to their lives but to the future of the only world they’ve ever known.
What I liked about this book, apart from the A-mazing illustrations (seriously, they look like stills from a movie shot in UHD), is that the story also stands on its own. It would have been easy to rely on the novelty of this enormous illustrated book and have a mediocre story to accompany it. But the characters are well-defined, they have flaws (some almost shake-worthy-ly so), and learning curves. The story while itself not new per se (save dad, save the world) is told in an appealing and paced way that also makes you look at parallels in the real world. This story is based on a heap of history after all. There are comments on society and our present if you care to look for them, but not in a raised voice or preachy tone.You can just as easily read this as a straightforward adventure and be swept away by the storytelling, which sometimes is also carried out by the illustrations alone with no accompanying text whatsoever in a very graphic novel style.
A book like a movie and this really begs to make it to the big screen (and my computer screen, I really want to be able to fly a gravity board and race against Lucy or escape from a hoard of allosaurs. On second thought, I’ll also be content with a real gravity board and no dinosaurs, thank you.). In the meantime, I’ll be waiting for book two. Because while the plot stands on its own, the story is far from over.
Have you been introduced to a surprising accumulation of plot points recently? Or maybe a new to you way of storytelling? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Timeless: Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic by Armand Baltazar.
 |
| Timeless – Katherine Tegen Books |
“Everyone will eat what your cook has prepared. That is an order.”
— Chapter 8
“Am I forgiven or what?”
Lucy punched him in the arm. “Perhaps.”
Ouch! Diego winced. She’d hit his sore shoulder. “Yeah, well, you sure don’t punch—”
“Don’t say ‘like a girl’ or I’m leaving.”
— Chapter 17
Also long-ish … I’m getting wordy. Sorry? This book is also so worth talking about though. Maybe sorter next week.
Get ready for some heavy literature. Not because the book I chose for today is hard to read but because it is literally a heavy book. The page count clocks in at 624 pages, which in itself is already quite a number. Add to that the fact that this is a book originally intended for a younger teen audience and you’ll probably call the book people a mad bunch. And yet … this book also has very specific paper requests. If you take a look at the excerpt here, you’ll know why. Yes, this book needs art paper, because there are more than 150 full-colour photorealistic illustrations inside. This could just as easily have been an art book; the author as a former animations movie designer certainly could have stopped at that. Luckily, he didn’t but decided to fulfil his son’s wish for a story that includes pirates, robots, dinosaurs, Roman legionnaires, and steampunk. Wait, what? That sounds totally over the top and unrealistic? Well, at first it might seem that way but once you’ve read this book you’ll wonder whatever made you think like that.
The solution is not time travel but almost the very opposite: A total collapse of the space-time continuum. Suddenly, Victorian England exists right alongside the pre-historic age as well as the Golden Twenties or the far future. Of course, this couldn’t have worked well from the very start but about fifteen years after this time collision the different cultures have grudgingly accepted that they have to co-exist in this new age. Or most of them have because there are also those who would do anything, really anything, to revert this. Even if that means sacrificing the lives of a generation that in their eyes was never meant to be.
Enter our newly 13-year-old hero and the unlikely group of kids, who have to face some challenges and overcome their own differences, before they can call themselves friends and, most importantly, face the threat not only to their lives but to the future of the only world they’ve ever known.
What I liked about this book, apart from the A-mazing illustrations (seriously, they look like stills from a movie shot in UHD), is that the story also stands on its own. It would have been easy to rely on the novelty of this enormous illustrated book and have a mediocre story to accompany it. But the characters are well-defined, they have flaws (some almost shake-worthy-ly so), and learning curves. The story while itself not new per se (save dad, save the world) is told in an appealing and paced way that also makes you look at parallels in the real world. This story is based on a heap of history after all. There are comments on society and our present if you care to look for them, but not in a raised voice or preachy tone.You can just as easily read this as a straightforward adventure and be swept away by the storytelling, which sometimes is also carried out by the illustrations alone with no accompanying text whatsoever in a very graphic novel style.
A book like a movie and this really begs to make it to the big screen (and my computer screen, I really want to be able to fly a gravity board and race against Lucy or escape from a hoard of allosaurs. On second thought, I’ll also be content with a real gravity board and no dinosaurs, thank you.). In the meantime, I’ll be waiting for book two. Because while the plot stands on its own, the story is far from over.
Have you been introduced to a surprising accumulation of plot points recently? Or maybe a new to you way of storytelling? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 7 November 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green.
This is going to be long-ish. I’m (not) sorry, but I find that I have a lot to say about this precious book. Short version: I really liked it and it has made me think and feel and consider quite a bit. It’s not TFiOS, it doesn’t try to be, and it most definitely doesn’t have to be as it is special and important in its own right.
Longer version: With some authors, you just know that when you pick up their books the likelihood of experiencing severe emotional or other trauma is relatively minimal. You’ll be entertained, have a pleasant read, maybe laugh a little and overall enjoy the book. And then there are authors like John Green, where you can be almost certain that you won’t be the same person you were at the end of the book.
Following up on something like The Fault in Our Stars is … I can’t even imagine the sort of pressure that must have been. This book already had so much weight to carry before it ever got anywhere and it does that beautifully in my opinion. Is it as good as TFiOS? I don’t know. I’d say it’s different. The two books won’t occupy the same place in my reader’s heart and that is okay because they really shouldn’t have to be compared. Someone said that while TFiOS is the book you push onto everyone to read it (like that quote from the book itself) TAtWD is more the book you want to cherish and secrete away. I can agree with that if we add that one still silently wants everyone to read it.
This book is extremely captivating, sometimes almost painfully so. John Green has a way with language that at the same time has you aware that the effect is designed just so and also wondering why you suddenly find yourself almost breathless from the emotional turmoil you’ve just been through. Of course, I cried. At one point I was racing against myself to read the ever more panicked thoughts and I physically had to get the book away from me for fear that my own thoughts on the matter might go somersaulting off the tracks. And I think that was the moment I finally understood the very real imagined danger the main character finds herself in.
Aza’s searching for that essential part of who she is while at the same time fearing about already being invaded by a force she’s helpless against. Or maybe it’s already too late. While the book doesn’t actually play upon some of the fears I have, it manages to strike a very close nerve and inspire almost the same terror. Most people will relate to the “Don’t think about a pink elephant right now” phenomenon, but being so entangled and mentally bound in your own thoughts that you are certain you cannot escape is a horror that is hard to describe. The language nerd in me especially liked the observations this book seemingly casually makes on the shortcomings and failures of language. We almost treat things as non-existent just because we don’t have an adequate way to name them and therefore share them with each other. Physical pain is to some extent relatable and thus we use this imagery to liken it to other experiences. If I say I feel a pressure on my chest like a hippo is sitting on it, you can probably relate although I’d wager neither of us has ever had an actual hippo sit on us. Yet for a feeling as sadly universal as grief words utterly fail us. Or me at least. Because even if everyone experiences physical pain differently it is still sort of the same whereas feelings are so deeply personal that unless you were able to co-inhabit my thoughts you will never know the exact shape of those feelings.
I can only say this is masterfully written. If you absolutely have to compare it to TFiOS then I would maybe try to frame it like this: Both books have a main character on a journey to themselves and both are to some degree betrayed by their very selves. One on the physical level as her body is actively trying to destroy itself and the other on the psychological level seeing that her mind is permanently working against her. Both main characters are to varying degrees successful in fighting against their challenges and live and thrive despite and in some twisted way also because of them. Both are stories of illnesses healthy people only ever wish to hear about in the past tense as something you overcome, but some stories just don’t work out that way. I bow to John Green for having written yet another of these difficult stories in a meaningful and impactful way.
Sort of p.s.: Here is the one aspect where I think German has a slight advantage over English: English has as far as I’m aware no farewell that also clearly conveys the connotation of an also meeting again. German has “(auf) Wiedersehen” which convolutedly literally translates to “(until) reunion/reencounter/see again”. There is “see you (soon)” and all that jazz, but that doesn’t quite ring true. I very much hope that there will be a “Wiedersehen” with John Green because I really like the things he has to say.
Which book has last irreversibly affected you? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green.
 |
| Turtles All the Way Down – Dutton Books |
Who knows what lies I believe, or you do. Who knows what we shouldn’t doubt.
— Chapter 17
You get to pick the frame, you know? Maybe you don’t decide what’s in the picture, but you decide on the frame.
— Chapter 23
This is going to be long-ish. I’m (not) sorry, but I find that I have a lot to say about this precious book. Short version: I really liked it and it has made me think and feel and consider quite a bit. It’s not TFiOS, it doesn’t try to be, and it most definitely doesn’t have to be as it is special and important in its own right.
Longer version: With some authors, you just know that when you pick up their books the likelihood of experiencing severe emotional or other trauma is relatively minimal. You’ll be entertained, have a pleasant read, maybe laugh a little and overall enjoy the book. And then there are authors like John Green, where you can be almost certain that you won’t be the same person you were at the end of the book.
Following up on something like The Fault in Our Stars is … I can’t even imagine the sort of pressure that must have been. This book already had so much weight to carry before it ever got anywhere and it does that beautifully in my opinion. Is it as good as TFiOS? I don’t know. I’d say it’s different. The two books won’t occupy the same place in my reader’s heart and that is okay because they really shouldn’t have to be compared. Someone said that while TFiOS is the book you push onto everyone to read it (like that quote from the book itself) TAtWD is more the book you want to cherish and secrete away. I can agree with that if we add that one still silently wants everyone to read it.
This book is extremely captivating, sometimes almost painfully so. John Green has a way with language that at the same time has you aware that the effect is designed just so and also wondering why you suddenly find yourself almost breathless from the emotional turmoil you’ve just been through. Of course, I cried. At one point I was racing against myself to read the ever more panicked thoughts and I physically had to get the book away from me for fear that my own thoughts on the matter might go somersaulting off the tracks. And I think that was the moment I finally understood the very real imagined danger the main character finds herself in.
Aza’s searching for that essential part of who she is while at the same time fearing about already being invaded by a force she’s helpless against. Or maybe it’s already too late. While the book doesn’t actually play upon some of the fears I have, it manages to strike a very close nerve and inspire almost the same terror. Most people will relate to the “Don’t think about a pink elephant right now” phenomenon, but being so entangled and mentally bound in your own thoughts that you are certain you cannot escape is a horror that is hard to describe. The language nerd in me especially liked the observations this book seemingly casually makes on the shortcomings and failures of language. We almost treat things as non-existent just because we don’t have an adequate way to name them and therefore share them with each other. Physical pain is to some extent relatable and thus we use this imagery to liken it to other experiences. If I say I feel a pressure on my chest like a hippo is sitting on it, you can probably relate although I’d wager neither of us has ever had an actual hippo sit on us. Yet for a feeling as sadly universal as grief words utterly fail us. Or me at least. Because even if everyone experiences physical pain differently it is still sort of the same whereas feelings are so deeply personal that unless you were able to co-inhabit my thoughts you will never know the exact shape of those feelings.
I can only say this is masterfully written. If you absolutely have to compare it to TFiOS then I would maybe try to frame it like this: Both books have a main character on a journey to themselves and both are to some degree betrayed by their very selves. One on the physical level as her body is actively trying to destroy itself and the other on the psychological level seeing that her mind is permanently working against her. Both main characters are to varying degrees successful in fighting against their challenges and live and thrive despite and in some twisted way also because of them. Both are stories of illnesses healthy people only ever wish to hear about in the past tense as something you overcome, but some stories just don’t work out that way. I bow to John Green for having written yet another of these difficult stories in a meaningful and impactful way.
Sort of p.s.: Here is the one aspect where I think German has a slight advantage over English: English has as far as I’m aware no farewell that also clearly conveys the connotation of an also meeting again. German has “(auf) Wiedersehen” which convolutedly literally translates to “(until) reunion/reencounter/see again”. There is “see you (soon)” and all that jazz, but that doesn’t quite ring true. I very much hope that there will be a “Wiedersehen” with John Green because I really like the things he has to say.
Which book has last irreversibly affected you? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 31 October 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson.
Anyone can do vampires and werewolves on Halloween, let’s take a different approach and ready something with faeries … was not why I picked up this book. As a matter of fact, Halloween sneaked up on me a little and I don’t think that it will be observed more than by enjoying the extra reading time on this public holiday today to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the reformation. But I digress.
I had no expectations for this book, which is a rather uncommon thing for me as I almost always already have an initial inkling of what to expect before I start reading. For this book, however, I basically fell in love with the title and didn’t look any further. That can be a really bad decision, but here the title lived up to the task of providing an engaging and mysterious story as well. It’s not the sweeping and opulent fantasy world, but a contained, almost quaint bubble of a fantasy realm. There is the world beyond, but it doesn’t really matter to the story and is only mentioned in passing. There is a history, but it’s accepted and not really dwelt upon. And there are social rules and behaviours to be followed, but you can more or less easily figure them out as you read along.
What I really liked about this is the snowball-like plot development, which starts rather unassumingly and quietly gathers more and more substance and momentum until it rushes past mightily and destructively and then almost explodes to be immediately over. It made a lot of sense that way, even if the epic fantasy reader in me would have loved to have a longer denouement … which probably wouldn’t have sat well with me as not fitting to the overall story arc had it been there, so don’t actually listen to me. The plot development is very fitting just as it is. Just the little voice of always wanting more of a good thing talking here.
I also liked that there is a romance at the very core of this, yet I would not say this is a romantic book. The romance is, after all, forbidden and, apart from a few short scenes, not front and centre. Unless you count all the lovely quiet moments, which I certainly do, and then it definitely is a very sweet and romantic book amidst all the turmoil and adventure.
A lovely read for anyone who appreciates a quiet yet meaningful romantic plot and a certain dash of adventure with maybe a little too abrupt an ending. Very, very maybe there is potential to add another book to this story? I would love to know what happens next but will be content if it’s just this standalone.
What’s the last book you started without any further expectations, be they positive or maybe negative? And how did the book turn out to be? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
What was the last book with a plot twist that had you disbelievingly staring at the page? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson.
 |
| An Enchantment of Ravens – Margaret K. McElderry Books |
We aren’t ageless creatures who watch centuries pass from afar. Our worlds are small, our lives are short, and we can only bleed a little before we fall.
— Chapter 4
“In this matter, you might prefer ignorance.”
“Believe me, I never do.”
— Chapter 7
Anyone can do vampires and werewolves on Halloween, let’s take a different approach and ready something with faeries … was not why I picked up this book. As a matter of fact, Halloween sneaked up on me a little and I don’t think that it will be observed more than by enjoying the extra reading time on this public holiday today to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the reformation. But I digress.
I had no expectations for this book, which is a rather uncommon thing for me as I almost always already have an initial inkling of what to expect before I start reading. For this book, however, I basically fell in love with the title and didn’t look any further. That can be a really bad decision, but here the title lived up to the task of providing an engaging and mysterious story as well. It’s not the sweeping and opulent fantasy world, but a contained, almost quaint bubble of a fantasy realm. There is the world beyond, but it doesn’t really matter to the story and is only mentioned in passing. There is a history, but it’s accepted and not really dwelt upon. And there are social rules and behaviours to be followed, but you can more or less easily figure them out as you read along.
What I really liked about this is the snowball-like plot development, which starts rather unassumingly and quietly gathers more and more substance and momentum until it rushes past mightily and destructively and then almost explodes to be immediately over. It made a lot of sense that way, even if the epic fantasy reader in me would have loved to have a longer denouement … which probably wouldn’t have sat well with me as not fitting to the overall story arc had it been there, so don’t actually listen to me. The plot development is very fitting just as it is. Just the little voice of always wanting more of a good thing talking here.
I also liked that there is a romance at the very core of this, yet I would not say this is a romantic book. The romance is, after all, forbidden and, apart from a few short scenes, not front and centre. Unless you count all the lovely quiet moments, which I certainly do, and then it definitely is a very sweet and romantic book amidst all the turmoil and adventure.
A lovely read for anyone who appreciates a quiet yet meaningful romantic plot and a certain dash of adventure with maybe a little too abrupt an ending. Very, very maybe there is potential to add another book to this story? I would love to know what happens next but will be content if it’s just this standalone.
What’s the last book you started without any further expectations, be they positive or maybe negative? And how did the book turn out to be? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
What was the last book with a plot twist that had you disbelievingly staring at the page? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 24 October 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Warcross by Marie Lu.
First things first: I desperately need someone to devise a hack to get me the second book as quickly as possible. To make this even more clear: To say this book had me glued to the pages from beginning to end would be a vast understatement.
Mari Lu has always been a champion in creating diverse, multi-layered, fascinating characters and this is no exception. Add to that this overwhelming extra layer of a virtual world with all its nooks and crannies and this book will suck you right in. I was, I admit, already composing part of my reaction in the middle with a sentence that would convey that I had guessed the adversary quite quickly, which is a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it proves that the plot makes so much sense that this revelation has to be a logical consequence. And on the other hand, this sort of predictability takes away some of the fun for experienced readers (meaning that one already knows how to follow the clues in the story due to reading so much). BUT: I was also WRONG! Yes, I guessed part of the revelation, but the other, much bigger, part literally had me gaping at the book. I must have looked like a strangled fish on land. And if that wasn’t enough there was even more. Let’s just say that my heart is a mangled, stomped upon mess somewhere in the general vicinity of my chest cavity. Just wow, what a brilliant twist and how beautifully executed.
If gaming and computers aren't exactly your cup of tea, don’t worry, this is nothing like a hacking manual … just like Hunger Games isn’t all sports and survival. But if that is your thing, that’s also perfect, because the thrill and the hunt and the game will have even more immediacy for you. I am so psyched to find out how this story continues. And how our heroine will continue on. I know that Mari Lu is capable of writing a great villain story as well and who that villain is might depend entirely on the point of view.
What was the last book with a plot twist that had you disbelievingly staring at the page? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Warcross by Marie Lu.
 |
| Warcross – G.P. Putnam’s Sons |
Death has a terrible habit of cutting straight through every careful line you’ve drawn between your present and your future.
— Chapter 2
“I thought that was just some science fiction myth.”
“Everything’s science fiction until someone makes it science fact.”
— Chapter 8
First things first: I desperately need someone to devise a hack to get me the second book as quickly as possible. To make this even more clear: To say this book had me glued to the pages from beginning to end would be a vast understatement.
Mari Lu has always been a champion in creating diverse, multi-layered, fascinating characters and this is no exception. Add to that this overwhelming extra layer of a virtual world with all its nooks and crannies and this book will suck you right in. I was, I admit, already composing part of my reaction in the middle with a sentence that would convey that I had guessed the adversary quite quickly, which is a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it proves that the plot makes so much sense that this revelation has to be a logical consequence. And on the other hand, this sort of predictability takes away some of the fun for experienced readers (meaning that one already knows how to follow the clues in the story due to reading so much). BUT: I was also WRONG! Yes, I guessed part of the revelation, but the other, much bigger, part literally had me gaping at the book. I must have looked like a strangled fish on land. And if that wasn’t enough there was even more. Let’s just say that my heart is a mangled, stomped upon mess somewhere in the general vicinity of my chest cavity. Just wow, what a brilliant twist and how beautifully executed.
If gaming and computers aren't exactly your cup of tea, don’t worry, this is nothing like a hacking manual … just like Hunger Games isn’t all sports and survival. But if that is your thing, that’s also perfect, because the thrill and the hunt and the game will have even more immediacy for you. I am so psyched to find out how this story continues. And how our heroine will continue on. I know that Mari Lu is capable of writing a great villain story as well and who that villain is might depend entirely on the point of view.
What was the last book with a plot twist that had you disbelievingly staring at the page? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 17 October 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan.
It is very likely that there isn’t any more I can say about Rick Riordan than I already have without transforming into an over-enthusiastic reader puddle. You’d think that at some point I might get bored by all those myths and save the world from certain doom scenarios. Nope, one of the biggest nopes that ever noped. There is still so much surprise and variety, so many unexplored possibilities. And while some characters share similarities (because they have to, there aren’t too many types of people who would sail off into certain death to claim that tiny chance of possibly winning against all odds), there are still enough differences to make them distinct, lovable, and that particular thing that will make me, now that this third book is over and the trilogy concluded, miss them like really good friends who moved halfway across the world. You still hear from them (thank the gods for cameos, hi Percy and Annabeth), but not as regularly or in person.
The chapter titles alone had me in stitches. I think the man next to me on the train was trying to figure out if I had seizures (I tried to keep the giggling under control, emphasis on tried). I couldn’t keep in that squee though … you know when that thing happened during the almost freezing to death part. Also general cuteness and snark. Publicly bookishly weird and mostly fine with it.
There was this short part at the very end that ties this series to – I suspect – the next Trials of Apollo book next May, which has me a little worried, but what else is new? Worried about beloved characters seems to be my default setting. It might be otherwise if I’d choose other authors to love. Which is not only a ridiculous idea but also utterly impossible.
I really hope that we will get to see Magnus, Alex, and the rest of Floor 19 again in a prominent capacity. Which characters from which series would you like to see (guest-)starring elsewhere? Share ideas and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan.
 |
| The Ship of the Dead – Disney-Hyperion |
You can’t hold on to hate forever. It won’t do a thing to the person you hate, but it’ll poison you, sure enough.
— Chapter 14
“Ah.” That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can fly.
— Chapter 32
It is very likely that there isn’t any more I can say about Rick Riordan than I already have without transforming into an over-enthusiastic reader puddle. You’d think that at some point I might get bored by all those myths and save the world from certain doom scenarios. Nope, one of the biggest nopes that ever noped. There is still so much surprise and variety, so many unexplored possibilities. And while some characters share similarities (because they have to, there aren’t too many types of people who would sail off into certain death to claim that tiny chance of possibly winning against all odds), there are still enough differences to make them distinct, lovable, and that particular thing that will make me, now that this third book is over and the trilogy concluded, miss them like really good friends who moved halfway across the world. You still hear from them (thank the gods for cameos, hi Percy and Annabeth), but not as regularly or in person.
The chapter titles alone had me in stitches. I think the man next to me on the train was trying to figure out if I had seizures (I tried to keep the giggling under control, emphasis on tried). I couldn’t keep in that squee though … you know when that thing happened during the almost freezing to death part. Also general cuteness and snark. Publicly bookishly weird and mostly fine with it.
There was this short part at the very end that ties this series to – I suspect – the next Trials of Apollo book next May, which has me a little worried, but what else is new? Worried about beloved characters seems to be my default setting. It might be otherwise if I’d choose other authors to love. Which is not only a ridiculous idea but also utterly impossible.
I really hope that we will get to see Magnus, Alex, and the rest of Floor 19 again in a prominent capacity. Which characters from which series would you like to see (guest-)starring elsewhere? Share ideas and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 10 October 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.
There is an annual real-time reading for the All Souls trilogy, which is a brilliant idea to revisit this wonderful, dense, and overall impressive series. Each time I start, I try to pace myself and only read the so to say assigned chapters for the days and weeks. That works for about six days and then I suddenly … magically? … find myself way ahead of the schedule. Because no matter how well I remember the plot, at some point I simply have to read on. Or in this case listen on, as I opted for the audio version this year, which is also really well done. I have finished by now and realised that I never had a teaser from the second book, so here you go.
In addition, there is now a television series in the works and from the posts by the author herself I have a very good feeling about this. It’s certainly a good idea to have the author involved in this as much as possible seeing that she put so much research into the series to make it this rich and engrossing. Seriously, I can almost certainly promise that you have never read a book so vivid in its descriptions that you actually smell what is described. Maybe aside from Perfume, but that’s really not the point. It will be so interesting to see how this experience is translated to the screen.
Do you have books that you re-read regularly or other examples of times read-alongs? I’d love to know if there are other events organised this way. Share recommendations and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.
 |
| Shadow of Night – Viking Penguin |
The family never puts ‘surely’ and ‘Philippe’ in the same sentence. It always ends badly.
— Chapter 12
“But it’s so …”
“Messy? So is life. Stop trying to be perfect. Try being real for a change.”
— Chapter 37
There is an annual real-time reading for the All Souls trilogy, which is a brilliant idea to revisit this wonderful, dense, and overall impressive series. Each time I start, I try to pace myself and only read the so to say assigned chapters for the days and weeks. That works for about six days and then I suddenly … magically? … find myself way ahead of the schedule. Because no matter how well I remember the plot, at some point I simply have to read on. Or in this case listen on, as I opted for the audio version this year, which is also really well done. I have finished by now and realised that I never had a teaser from the second book, so here you go.
In addition, there is now a television series in the works and from the posts by the author herself I have a very good feeling about this. It’s certainly a good idea to have the author involved in this as much as possible seeing that she put so much research into the series to make it this rich and engrossing. Seriously, I can almost certainly promise that you have never read a book so vivid in its descriptions that you actually smell what is described. Maybe aside from Perfume, but that’s really not the point. It will be so interesting to see how this experience is translated to the screen.
Do you have books that you re-read regularly or other examples of times read-alongs? I’d love to know if there are other events organised this way. Share recommendations and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 3 October 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Gilded Cage by Vic James.
I was going to apologise for missing last week, but that would feel dishonest as the only thing I’d be sorry for would be that I didn’t have anything to share ... and that couldn’t be helped. Sometimes, a reading break is just as relaxing and let’s you return to your books with a new appreciation. Or at least I find that true for me.
This first book in a proposed trilogy is every historical reader’s dream, provided they also like a touch of fantasy, a good dose of political intrigue, and quite a bit of social commentary. The characters are all (and there are quite a few) very nuanced and I’m not sure of all of their motives yet. As is often the case, I find myself drawn to one of the more obscure and mysterious characters and have little patience for some of the others, who seem deliberately straightforward, but who I suspect will also turn out to have more up their sleeve than is apparent.
The setting is quite unique in an England reminiscent of the era past the industrial revolution, but within a class division and a master-slave-system still firmly in place. The worldbuilding is quite strong as it isn’t too unsettling to enter this in some cases familiar and in other aspects very alien environment. One of the most interesting aspects to me is that the ruling class is made up of those who would traditionally have been hunted down and executed for their powers, but here they are too strong and too feared. And how they treat those weaker than themselves is hauntingly familiar ... even if quite different in practice. I look forward to finding out how the plot will unfold further and I really hope for a more prominent role for a certain string pulling character.
Do you take reading-breaks? If so, do you plan on taking them or do you decide spontaneously? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Gilded Cage by Vic James.
 |
| Gilded Cage – Pan Books |
Was that cowardly? Maybe. But it didn’t mean it wasn’t true.
— Chapter 11
Trust was what made everything possible. Trust lent you someone else’s eyes, someone else’s strong arms, or quick brain. Made you bigger than just yourself.
— Chapter 12
I was going to apologise for missing last week, but that would feel dishonest as the only thing I’d be sorry for would be that I didn’t have anything to share ... and that couldn’t be helped. Sometimes, a reading break is just as relaxing and let’s you return to your books with a new appreciation. Or at least I find that true for me.
This first book in a proposed trilogy is every historical reader’s dream, provided they also like a touch of fantasy, a good dose of political intrigue, and quite a bit of social commentary. The characters are all (and there are quite a few) very nuanced and I’m not sure of all of their motives yet. As is often the case, I find myself drawn to one of the more obscure and mysterious characters and have little patience for some of the others, who seem deliberately straightforward, but who I suspect will also turn out to have more up their sleeve than is apparent.
The setting is quite unique in an England reminiscent of the era past the industrial revolution, but within a class division and a master-slave-system still firmly in place. The worldbuilding is quite strong as it isn’t too unsettling to enter this in some cases familiar and in other aspects very alien environment. One of the most interesting aspects to me is that the ruling class is made up of those who would traditionally have been hunted down and executed for their powers, but here they are too strong and too feared. And how they treat those weaker than themselves is hauntingly familiar ... even if quite different in practice. I look forward to finding out how the plot will unfold further and I really hope for a more prominent role for a certain string pulling character.
Do you take reading-breaks? If so, do you plan on taking them or do you decide spontaneously? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 19 September 2017
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.
Ever since I can remember, London has been one of my favourite places in the world even before I could explain why ... I still can’t quite pinpoint it. So whenever London is a central place in a story that’s certain to get me to pick up the book at some point. And here there are actually several Londons. The more the better! And also with magic, intrigue, mystery, a really interesting couple of leading characters, and an overall fascinating plot construct.
For various and mostly external reasons it took me a while to dive into this book. It is very accessible through its interesting characters and universe, but apparently I needed some time to acclimatise to these new surroundings. It really helped when one of the characters was also thrown into a new to her world and had to learn about its different and various rules. Maybe Lila was a little too accepting of all of it for my taste, but I could understand where it came from, because it fit well with her overall character. It will be really interesting to see how she adapts to her new reality in the following books. I really hope that this will play a role.
Which book setting is a guaranteed pick up reason for you? And have you been to that place in person or just as a reader? Share destinations and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.
 |
| A Darker Shade of Magic – Titan Books |
“I said Rhy forgave them.” Kell pushed to his feet. “I never said I did.”
— Part X – II
“I apologize for anything I might have done. I was not myself.”
“I apologize for shooting you in the leg,” said Lila. “I was myself entirely.”
— Part XIV – III
Ever since I can remember, London has been one of my favourite places in the world even before I could explain why ... I still can’t quite pinpoint it. So whenever London is a central place in a story that’s certain to get me to pick up the book at some point. And here there are actually several Londons. The more the better! And also with magic, intrigue, mystery, a really interesting couple of leading characters, and an overall fascinating plot construct.
For various and mostly external reasons it took me a while to dive into this book. It is very accessible through its interesting characters and universe, but apparently I needed some time to acclimatise to these new surroundings. It really helped when one of the characters was also thrown into a new to her world and had to learn about its different and various rules. Maybe Lila was a little too accepting of all of it for my taste, but I could understand where it came from, because it fit well with her overall character. It will be really interesting to see how she adapts to her new reality in the following books. I really hope that this will play a role.
Which book setting is a guaranteed pick up reason for you? And have you been to that place in person or just as a reader? Share destinations and teasers in the comments!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)