#personal reading blogs

[disneybooksandanimearemylife]

Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender

Back to my comfort zone! This was a very entertaining read, I only had to put put it down for a couple of days due to work, but every day I was reading this novel because it was really good.

PLOT: Delia and her family travel to Rotburg for she had inherited an enormous manor from her great aunt. The manor at one time use to be an institue for troubled women; aka and asylum. However the second she steps inside the haunting immediately begins. She didn't even last an entire day before a ghost takes over her body and makes her jump out a window causing her to die and become a ghost herself. The rest of the story is all about her adjusting to this new afterlife style and finding out the ghastly horrors this manor wants to keep secret.

PROS: The characters are incredibly likable, granted that Delia at the beginning does act like the stereotype teenager, but as the story progresses she does become more adventurous and daring. The secondary characters are interesting too  each one of them having a unique personality and tragic back story as to how they got locked up in the asylum. Also there is an incredible plot twisted involving one of the ghosts Florence, I'm not going to spoil it but let's just say that i totally did not see it coming.

CONS: I can't think of anything that made me detract from story, if anything I wish it was a touch longer cause it was so good. 

FINA THOUGHTS: It's a god book, I highly recommend it to those who love adventure, ghosts, asylums, and creepy things

I rate it a 9/10

[disneybooksandanimearemylife]

BOOK BLOG: FOXING THE GEESE by JANET WOODS

I have to admit that is was out of my comfort zone. I'm more for fantasy and supernatural,  some times historical fiction, but rarely do I read romance novels. The only reason why I read this was because the book cover was pretty. 

PLOT: It's 1812 and our main character Vivienne Fox had just inherited a large fortune, she plans to keep it a secret until she finds her perfect husband while on a trip to London with her aunt and cousin. At the same time we also meet Alex Lesayres who is in a great debt and in order to repay the collectors his must find himself a wealthy wife. Gee I wonder if these two will fall in love and get married?

PROS: The main characters aren't as stereotypical as I originally feared. Vivienne can be playful at times, she does have a bit of a short temper, and for a woman to be independent in the 1800'same was almost unheard of. And there is a fun little plot point in the middle of the book that turned it into a Mano e Mano thing.

CONS: my one complaint is that while Vivienne and Alex are enjoyable, the secondary characters are not. Her aunt and cousin are unbearable as well as very cartoony. They just don't act like rational civilians. And it was obvious from the very beginning that those two were going to be together,  I just that maybe Alex let his heart waver for a moment to another woman, thinks he's in love her, but then comes to his senses and run back to vivienne.

Like I said it was out of my element. I did like it, I just wish there was more meat in it. I give it 6/10

[disneybooksandanimearemylife]

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Again this is a book I had on my amazon list for a while, but I saw at my local library so I wanted to read it before purchasing it. Spoilers Alert.

PLOT: Grace Mae has been in a Boston Asylum for three months due to hiding a dark family secret involving her father. After having a fit and being punished for it, a savior by the name of Mr. Thornehallow comes to her rescue. He sees that she has an impecable memory and that it can be put to good use. Mr. Thornehollow makes a deal with her; he says that he can help her escape boston and fake her death if in return Grace comes with him to Ohio to live in his Asylum and help him solve cases using her skills. She agrees and along the way she makes new friends and slowly discovers who she really is and what is true insanity.

PROS: This definitly has some very thought provoking characters; Grace especially. She has to go through so changes from one place to another, her terrible memories about her father, her worry for her little sister. So when she does have an outburst we can understand and identify with her. Mr. Thornehollow is kind of humorous in a cynical way, although he has a somewhat bleak outlook on life he does have a kind heart. Plus the mystery was like watching a Criminal Minds epsiode, in that they had to create a profile of the killer in order to persecute him, and being that this is suppose to take place in the late 1800′s this method was considered very advanced.

CONS: If I had to nitpick at something it’s when Grace does find the supposed killer she just immediately kills him. It would have been so thrilling if maybe she tried having a conversation with the killer, see what makes him tick before executing him. But that’s kinda scrapping out of the barrel. 

All in all this was a very clever read, thought provoking and suspenseful. I give this novel an 8/10.

[disneybooksandanimearemylife]

Book Blog: Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young

This book was on my amazon for quite a while, so when I found it at the library I figured it would be better to borrow it first before puchasing it. I had just finished it today, so it only took me a good week to finish. Plus it is one of the shorter novels I’ve read being that’s just shy of being 300 pages. Spoilers alert.

PLOT: Audrey, Daniel (brother), and here father were originally going on a road trip to grandma’s house in Elko Nevada where Audrey and Daniel would be dropped off and would live there with the relatives and the dad would be going back home. This is all because of the mother’s death that happened three months prior and that nobody knew how to handle their grief, but along the way they come across a beautiful hotel. The Hotel Ruby. It is just as gorgeous on the outside as it is on the inside, and the people the meet along the way are just as colorful. However, Audrey does notice that beneath the glam and glitter there is something foreboding about the hotel and why she was not invited to the ballroom party.

PROS: Audrey is for the most part a relatable character. we do get a good portion of her backstory as to why she has her moments, what caused her mother’s death, how she feels about certain people, etc. So she is a well developed character. The love interest Elias is also enjoyable; he kind of reminds of the guys you would see in an old 1940-50′s romance. Y’know hes got class and charm but he can also be a pankster and slightly immature. and there does seem to be some sort of underlying threat throughout the book whenever someone even mentions the hotel in general.

CONS: Even though Audrey is a well developed character, she’s still kinda bland. Still kinda like a typical heroine who’s kinda into one thing but is also into another. Wants to be with the man of her dreams, but knows she can’t. She has the oppritunity to save herslef, but does the right thing and stay behind. Predicable stuff. Not saying it’s bad but when I was in the middle of the story I had a hunch of what was going to happen, and I was right. Wish there was another twist or something. The only other complaint I have is that while the Hotel Ruby is threating, it’s never fully explained why. Young does give us a few answers, but they just don’t quite make sense to me. 

Overall this was an entertaining read. I did enjoy it, got kind of predicable near the end. So now I tink it’s safe to say that I would much rather borrow this book than purchase. I give the Hotel Ruby a 7/10.

[disneybooksandanimearemylife]

Book Blog: Haunted by Tamara Thorne

I’m surprised that I was able to finish this book this past weekend. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing. Anyway spoilers alert.

PLOT: David Masters and his daughter Amber move to Red Cay to live in the infamous Body House. It’s history is filled with one homicide massacre after another, not to mention the notorious voodoo prestiess Chrisabel and her crazy black magic. The minute they arrive at the house crazy supernatural phenomena starts and it increases over time. There’s porcelian dolls that are a part of a ancient ritual and the ghosts that haunt the house. David Masters is in for the experience of a lifetime.

PROS: There is a lot going on in this story. There’s the haunting of the house itself, there’s Theo trying to seduce David Masters and Amber trying to stop her, there’s Melanie (David’s ex) trying to redeem herself, plus there’s only a short amount of time before the mystery is solved. The humor here is also pretty fun, especially between the father and daughter. They just play off each other so well. When one would make a comment the other would make a witty retort (usually Amber).

CONS: One thing I noticed is that almost all of the female characters are absolute bitches. Theo the realator is a slutty bitch, Minnie is a nosy bitch, her daughter Calla is an even bigger nosy bitch. Even Melanie at the beginning is a bit of a snob but she does redeem herself in the last third. The only deccent woman is Amber. Plus there are alot of guesome things that are mentioned in the story like how the bodies were mutilated and some raunchy sex moments, so if you’re squemish in either of these territories this is not your read.

This was an entertaining read, but at the same time it reminds me of one of those cheap books you find at a pharmacy or grocery store for like $5. So I give it a 7/10

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Book Blog: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

This was a very detailed book. I actually got this novel about three years ago when I was visiting my grandparents and I finally read it In February, and I just finished it now. Warning there are spoilers.

PLOT: Mr. Hartwright is going to be an art teacher for two young women living in a big fancy mansion call Limmeridge House. Before he reaches the house he incidentally helps a young lady named Anne Catherick escape from a mental asylum.She reveals that she is on a mission to expose a villianous man. When he does reach Limmeridge he falls in love with one of his students named Laura (she is of legal age) but sadly Laura cannot return his affections because she was arranged to be married to another man By Sir Percival Glyde. Sir Glyde is that man whom Anne was going to expose. Sir Glyde is also friends with a very shifty Italian man called Count Fosco, who’s wife is an Aunt of Laura and her sister Marian. As the story goes on Laura is forced to marry Sir Glyde, has to move to his house in Blackwater Park, and it is up to Mr. Hartwright to find out what the secret is that Sir Glyde is desparately trying to hide.

Pros: The characters are very fascinating. Each one of them has their own personality, even the minor characters that are only mentioned one or twice in the story. An example is Mrs. Catherick (Anne’s mother); we can already see the Mrs. Catherick is a very spiteful woman, very selfish, and would do anything if it means she gets something of value in return. Like hiding Sir Percival’s secret in order to get a gold watch. Then there’s Count Fosco would has the air of a kind and charming gentleman, but deep deep DEEP inside him there is a serpent waiting to strike. Even Laura who some people could claim is a bland lady in distress, I would agrue that she can be highly intelligent when the moment comes, can be childishly naive, but that’s because she was kept in the dark near the third act of the book. They did that so she could recover from the trauma she had experienced.

Cons: As I’ve said the book is very detailed in everything. I can understand when Someone wants  to explain their perception of a character, or maybe how they feel about a situation, but they don’t need to describe everything. plus about 30 pages to the end there a plot twist on one of Mr. Hartwright’s friends that I never would’ve guessed. But that’s because it also felt a little uneeded. if it was taken out of the book I don’t think the ending would’ve changed.

All in all it was an enjoyable novel. This would make for an excellent movie or TV drama for today. I would give it a 7.5/ 10.

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Book Blog: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children- Library of Souls

WOW!!! Where do I begin with this final book for this unusual trilogy? Well how about this....IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME! !!! JUST ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! 

Warning there will be spoilers.

PLOT: Jacob and Emma are now on the search for their friends since they were kidnapped in the last novel, Miss Peregrine is missing, and Jacob had just discovered his peculiar ability which is being able to control Hollows ( nasty creatures). They travel to another time loop called Devil's Acres and along the way Jacob and Emma are greeted by more peculiars and Peregrine's second brother Bentham. He tells the children that his evil brother Caul (main antagonist) needs Jacob's abilities to find the ancient library of souls. There Carl would turn himself into a god and wants to create a new peculiardom of his vision.

PROS: Everything ties in perfectly. Why Caul wanted to keep Jacob alive, why Jacob has his ability is because his grandfather could control Hollows too. As well as the existence of ymbrines and hollowgasts, what the library of souls mean. It all just makes sense....I know I'm being kinda vague but I don't want to give out too much. Also the most fascinating character throughout the story was Bentham because one could never tell what he was really thinking. There always seemed to be a motivation behind his actions. He shows Jacob that he can help them rescue their friends by using his time machine called a panloopticon, but in  order for it to work Jacob has to give up one of his hollows. Later in the story he holds Miss Peregrine hostage saying that he really wanted to rule Peculiardom alongside his brother as kings. Then in the final act he sacrifices himself by fighting against his brother so the others can escape. By the end of that chapter I still had no idea what kind of person Bentham was; be it a greedy man but with good intentions, or a genius master villain who slowly developed a heart. That is how a character should be done, and the pictures helped with the story as they should. The story ended on just the right note with Emma by Jacob's side telling him that they got time now.

CONS:  If I had to scrape out of the barrel there were at least two minor nitpicks that I had with the book. One is that Caul is not an interesting vilian. Sure his plans are threatening and he does do some irrational things in order to get his way, but that doesn't always build up a good character development.  He just basically says "RAAAWWR I EVIL BECAUSE I SAID SO AND WANT TO BECOME THE ULTIMATE PECULIAR BECAUSE I SAID SO TOO!!" However Bentham's character does make up for Caul's lack of..so I guess it evens out. Problem number two is that I can't find the spark between Emma and Jacob. I've had this problem since the first novel.  Yes they converse and become fast friends which then turns them into a faster couple, which is how relationships work. I think the reason why I have trouble is because riggs didn't quite fully address Emma's age. We know that Jacob is between 16-17 years of age, but as for Emma and how she talks and behaves is almost childlike. Almost 13-14 it just seemed kinda strange to me. Maybe I'm thinking too hard about it.

All in all I give this book a 9.5 /10. Please read this series you won't regret it, I know I haven't. 

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Book Blog: The Luminaries

OK so before I get started I just want to let people know that this is just going to be about my personal thoughts on books that I have read. I am always willing to hear others out too, I would like to hear your opinions as well. But no ridiculous comments like “what’s wrong with you? Why don't you like this book” and so forth. By the way there will be lots spoilers,  so if you haven't read the book yet; don't read this.

PLOT: the story takes place in 1860′s New Zealand.  At that time the people of England are making settlements there because there is a huge gold rush in the Aurora Valley. However when a Mr. Balfour comes to New Zealand to make his fortune he finds twelve other people at the Royal Hotel. Each person has similar yet different variation of their encounter with a Mr. Francis Carver who is the main antagonist of the story. They all agree that he is in cahoots with  conartist Lydia Wells and that the opium addicted Anna Whetherwell may not be as innocent as she claims to be. There is also a personal vendetta between Native Ah Sook and Mr.Carver, a tragic secret between a Mr. Lauder back and the discovery of his bastard brother, and a sad love story between Anna and a young man.

PROS:  It is nice to see a story that place in Victorian times and it is not England,  America, or France. This does give the reader a bit more of culture and how one culture (england) had to learn how to get along with the Natives (Zealanders). I also like that most of these characters do have a selfish side of themselves. There’s no pure human human being and there is no evil human being (except for Francis Carver). Even  the local Father of the town does something a little selfish in taking a will that was in a fireplace; knowing that is was evidence in a crime scene. It is rather refreshing. 

CONS: Sadly I do have one MAJOR problem with the story and that is the ending. Now I love opening ending in stories, I like the idea of keeping something vague so that the reader can come to their own conclusion.However it just doesn't work here. Francis Carver is murdered in his carriage while being transported to prison.They find that he was stabbed when no one was looking. So now we have twelve suspects as to who did this, and each one had something to gain in carver’s death. But they never tell you; instead the author decides to do a flash back to the previous year and tell us how Anna had met her terrible fate of becoming addicted to opium. Why couldn't the author do that maybe near two thirds of the book instead of using it as her conclusion? It just doesn't make sense to me. Also I need to point out that twelve characters is a lot to handle, each one having theit own personal history and such. I'll admit that in the first 300 pages of this book I had lost track of who was who, what they did, how they were involved,  and what they desired as an end goal. After  another 50 pages I had finally figured it out.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This is certainly an interesting book. The characters are colorful, the environment is different, there are a couple mysteries and political propagandas every now and then. However it is a lot to take in and to me the ending was not satisfying. On a scale of one to ten I give it a 7.5, it's a good reading when you have a lot of spare time on your hands. I would like to hear your thoughts too, so please send me a comment.