A Hero at the End of the World ~ by Erin Claiborne 5.0 Stars

Tags

Britain, Fantasy, Friendship, YA Fiction

 It was prophesied that 17 year old Ewan Mao would defeat the evil Duff Slan who has terrorized Britain for years. Except that when the final battle comes, it’s Ewan’ s best friend Oliver Abrams who gets there first. Oliver defeats Slan in an epic magical duel and usurps  Ewans glory. Now five years later, Oliver is rising through the ranks of the  government’s Serious Magical Crimes Agency, while Ewan, who lives at  home, is stuck working at a decrepit coffee shop. While investigating a dangerous cult with his partner Sophie Stuart, Oliver discovers that his old friend Ewan may not only be connected to it, but may also play a pivotal role in destroying the world. The two former friends will have to let go of the past and work together if they’re to prevent this new threat against mankind.

This debut novel should be a must read for all YA and adult fans of Harry Potter! Can you imagine what would have happened if Ron Weasley had defeated Voldemort instead of Harry? Unthinkable, yet it opens up so many hysterically funny possibilities. This is what Erin Claiborne has done with her debut novel. Both Ewan and Oliver have their weaknesses. Ewan of course is mired in self-pity and bitterness. Oliver on the other hand has developed an ego the size of, well, a dragon. The two love interests, Oliver’s Sophie, and Ewan’ s Archie, nicely round out the cast. I even grew to reluctantly like the villain. There’s of course many funny moments which will have you laughing out loud, but there are also sincere and touching ones as well. At it’s heart, A Hero at the End of the World is a tale of unfair expectations, broken friendships, and redemption. It is a story that will stay in your mind long after you’ve finished it. And finally, it’s a book that you’ll want to add to your permanent collection. 

Boston Strong

Tags

Blizzard 2015, Boston Marathon finish line, Inspiring People

Boston bartender and marathon lover Chris Laudani couldn’t stand to see the Boston Marathon finish line covered during yesterday’s blizzard so he shoveled it right in the middle of the storm. You might think this a little crazy, but the finish line has become sacred ground for those living in and around Boston. I’m going to stop whimpering now about all the snow shoveling. Well, mostly. 

Pioneer Girl ~ by Bich Minh Nguyen – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Families, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Rose Wilder Lane, Vietnam War, Vietnamese-American culture

. This ebook arc was provided to me by NetGalley and Penguin Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The publishing date is 1/27/15.

Lee Lien has worked extremely hard to obtain her PhD in English, but unfortunately cannot find a job in her field. Deciding to move back home, she  now has to walk a thin line between her dreams and family responsibilities. Complicating this is the difficult relationship that exists between Lee and her mother, who is a first generation Vietnamese-American, and is very much a traditionalist. With her father deceased, Lee’s mother has become a successful entrepreneur, owning a string of Chinese buffets along with her father. She’s never approved of Lee’s accomplishments, instead focusing her love and attention on Lee’s older brother Sam.Thankfully Lee has her grandfather, or Ong Hai. While he understands the old traditions that drive his daughter, he’s always given Lee the love and support she craves. It is Ong Hai who relates to Lee an intriguing story. In 1965 He owned a cafe in Saigon. One day an American woman walked in and told him she was writing  about the war from a female perspective. Ong Hai and “Rose” bond over his shared stories and during their last visit she leaves a gold pin behind but never returns for it. The pin is one of the few heirlooms that make it to America with Ong Hai and his daughter. Lee has always been fascinated with the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She believes the pin may be the same one that was given to Laura by her fiance Almanzo. Could the mysterious “Rose” that her grandfather met all those years ago actually have been Laura’s daughter, Rose Wilder Lane? Lee is determined to find out and set’s off to solve a literary mystery. What she doesn’t realize is this will also turn into a journey of self discovery. Pioneer Girl is an enjoyable novel which actually reads like a memoir. I was addicted to the Little House books as a child so I was interested in seeing if the author would have anything new to add. She didn’t, but this doesn’t make the book any less interesting. Laura Ingalls Wilder fans should be warned that the main character Lee identifies strongly with Rose and the theory that she was actually behind a  majority of the writing of her mother’s stories. Given the tenuous relationship between Lee and her mother, it’s no wonder she’s so empathetic toward Rose. Lee is not the most likeable main character. She comes across as a bit whiny, and she has no problem with things like stealing if it will help in attaining her goal. At the same time however, you can’t help but feel badly for her. I think my favorite character was actually Ong Hai who seemed to be able to remain loyal to his traditions, yet also recognize that times have changed. I didn’t know much about Vietnamese-American culture and traditions, so I found this part of the book absolutely fascinating. Pioneer Girl also doesn’t end all tidy and neat, but I was also okay with this. I think the story and the characters are reflective of real life. If you enjoy a slower paced novel with a little bit of literary mystery, I recommend you try this.

Words That Need To Be Banished!

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Belle, Blizzard, Cheating, Deflategate, Footballs, New England, New England Patriots, Polar Vortex, Reading, Snowmageddon

I was already sick of the words “Polar Vortex”, and “Snowmageddon”. And now as another blizzard has New England in it’s sights, well, I’m ready for summer.

My beloved Patriots are heading off to the Super Bowl under the cloud of  another cheating scandal. For anyone who hasn’t heard, at issue is whether or not the Pats intentionally deflated footballs to give them a superior edge over the Colts during the AFC Championship game. No matter what happens, I think the media has come out the losers in this. Nevermind the overhyping of this story, “Deflategate”? Seriously? They couldn’t come up with anything better?

So. Since I’m totally disgusted with the news, this’ll be me for the next couple of days.

If Only…

Tags

Books, Dreams, Libraries

Royal Institute of Magic ~ by Victor Kloss – 4.5 Stars

Tags

British History, Family Secrets, Fantasy, Friendship, YA Fiction

 This ebook was provided to me by NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.

Fourteen-year-old Ben Greenwood hasn’t seen his parents in two years. Not since the day he came home to find his house basically destroyed. The police have just about given up, but Ben hasn’t. His perseverance is rewarded when he discovers a letter addressed to his father from the Royal Institute of Magic. “You are the most wanted man in the Unseen Kingdoms. Unless you come to us, we cannot help. For your child’s sake, tell us what you know.” The letter is dated two days before his parents disappearance. The only other clues are the Institute’s logo and a small masterpiece piece of cloth. For Ben though, these are enough, and with his best friend Charlie at his side, he sets out to find the mysterious Institute and hopefully his parents. Ben will soon find himself in a world where magic is a commodity. But it’ll take more than that to uncover the secret that Ben’s parents are protecting. The very secret that’s the key to defeating the evil the Institute’s been battling for centuries.

Except for the prologue which I found superfluous, I LOVED this book! It’s a little derivative of Harry Potter, but it has more than enough originality to stand on it’s own. Except for his dismissive attitude toward girls, which is typical of a fourteen-year-old, Ben is a perfect protagonist. Courageous, loyal, stubborn, I found myself cheering for him through the entire story. Charlie is a wonderfully written best friend. He’s a genius, who counter-balances Ben’s impulsiveness.  And Natalie, the half-elf who winds up rounding out the trio, is a smart addition. While Ben doesn’t appreciate her at first, it doesn’t take long for him to discover that he would never make it through the Unseen Kingdoms without her. I also truly appreciated her patience and humor when dealing with Ben. Now to the world building, which I found absolutely phenomenal! Filled with not only elves, goblins, and the usual things you find in fantasy novels, there’s also Dragontrains, spellshooters, and a floating prison. And then there’s the intriguing ties between Queen Elizabeth who created the Royal Institute of Magic, the Unseen Kingdoms, and her mysterious legacy and how it relates to Ben and his family. This is one of those hidden gems that I would recommend to anyone who loves Harry Potter, Charlie Bone, and Percy Jackson. I can promise you that once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down. And thankfully, the sequel is coming out sometime this Spring.

Quotable Quotes

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Inspirational quotes, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Racism, Terrorists, Working For Peace

There are so many inspirational quotes to choose from this remarkable man, but I selected this one because of it’s timeliness. From the terrorist attacks in France and Canada, to the always present battle with racism and bigotry in the U.S., these words will never lose their power or relevance.

The Blackwell Family Secret ~ by Jonathan Ferrara – 3.0 Stars

Tags

Catholicism, Horror, Supernatural, YA Fiction

 This ebook was provided to me by NetGalley and Dragonwell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Nicholas Blackwell was only 7 years old when his life was destroyed as he watched his doting parents murdered in front of him on Christmas Eve. Whisked away by the Vatican and deposited in a reclusive boarding school called St. Christopher’s, he’s been a virtual prisoner for the last 9 years because the villains who killed his mother and father are also after him. Lured by a giant serpent into eating a certain forbidden fruit, Nicholas unwittingly unleashes the Seven Guardians of Sin. Aided only by a demon, and Amy, the new girl at school, Nicholas must traverse the treacherous City of Demons and defeat each Guardian. He will also learn of the secret everyone’s been keeping from him and face an enemy more powerful than he could ever imagine. 

When I first started reading this book I was a little wary because it was immediately obvious that it had strong religious overtones. My limited past experience has made me feel that some books with religious themes can be a little preachy. In The Blackwell Family Secret however, this was one of the things I liked the most about it. The juxtaposition of traditional Catholic beliefs with the supernatural elements made for a very interesting story. Teenage Nicholas starts out extremely annoying. He’s arrogant and treats girls as playthings. He embraces his reputation of being a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy. That is until he meets Amy who not only challenges him, but also is hiding a secret of her own. During his journey, Nicholas matures and overcomes his less likeable attributes. The descriptions of Demonia and it’s denizens are absolutely fascinating. It actually reminded me a little of Dante’s Inferno. Unfortunately there were some negatives. First and foremost was the incredible danger Nicholas was placed in by his seemingly loving parents when he was a mere infant. I don’t want to post any spoilers, but this made no sense to me. And since it is the premise for the rest of the story it cast a bit of a pall over the book. I also found the battles between Nicholas and each Guardian unbelievable and anticlimactic. And finally, the way the novel was written, I was left unsure of what audience I would recommend this to. It was written more at a young middle school level, yet because of some of the more mature themes, I’d be hesitant in suggesting this to anyone younger than high school age. Perhaps it would be a good fit for a YA reluctant reader. The Blackwell Family Secret is only the first book in a planned series, and I do think it shows signs of promise. Hopefully the next book will be able to address some of the weaknesses.

Adorable Picture of the Day

Tags

Books, Cute Cats, Reading

I can totally relate!

Great Molasses Flood

Tags

Boston MA, Disasters, Great Molasses Flood

 Many of you are going to think I’m making this up, but this truly did happen! At 12:30 p.m. on January 15 of 1919, a storage tank owned by the Purity Distilling Company in Boston’s North End, holding 2,300,000 gallons of molasses, burst, unleashing a lethal tidal wave of thick gooey syrup. It traveled down the streets at 35 miles per hour, and at it’s peak was 25 feet  high. It traveled with such force it knocked buildings off their foundations. The Boston Globe reported people were flung several feet in the air. By the time it was over 21 people were dead and 150 were injured. Several horses and pets also perished. Most who died were either crushed or drowned. In a 1983 article for Smithsonian, Edward Park related one child’s story: “…Anthony di Stasio, walking homeward with his sisters from the Michelangelo School, was picked up by the wave and carried, tumbling on it’s crest, almost as though he was surfing. Then he grounded and the molasses rolled him like a pebble as the wave diminished. He heard his mother call his name and couldn’t answer, his throat was so clogged with the smothering goo. He passed out, then opened his eyes to find three of his four sisters staring at him.” Anthony’s fourth sister, 10 year old Maria was among the fatalities. It was so difficult for rescuers to wade through the molasses, it took four days before the search concluded. Many of the deceased were completely covered which made identification even more complicated. As is the case with so many disasters several factors contributed to this tragedy. The tank itself was poorly constructed and the safety tests were never done. The internal pressure also may have been raised by carbon dioxide being produced by the fermentation process. And finally, the temperature that day rose from 2 to 41 degrees. Cylinder stress failure was finally listed as the official cause of the tragedy. A first-class action lawsuit was brought against the United States Industrial Alcohol Company which had purchased Purity Distilling in 1917. After three years of hearings, the USIA ultimately paid out $600,000 in settlements which amounted to about $7,000 per victim. Cleanup went even slower. Crews had to use salt water from a fire boat to wash the molasses away, and sand to absorb it. Boston Harbor was brown with the syrup until summer. The molasses was everywhere, from the streets and railway system, to the inside of people’s homes. It took over 300 people to get rid of it all. For decades residents swore that on hot summer days they could still smell molasses.

If you’re interested in further reading there’s a few books documenting this tragedy.

  2012 Children’s book

. 2001 Juvenile Fiction

. 2004 Adult Non-Fiction