OK, I know, I know, this started yesterday but I didn't have time to write a review to post, I did however look up the list of challenged books Online to see which ones I might want to review this week. In honour of Banned books week I will be reviewing (at least) one challenged or banned book every day.
As some of you may know, the entire Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling was, at one point (and still is in some places) a banned, or challenged book series. For the purposes of this review I will be reviewing just the first book.
The Harry Potter series as a whole was banned because of themes of "Occult and Satanism" if you've ever read the book you know that's not true but, what can you do. Mainly the series was banned by religious leaders in schools and even libraries for being about witches and wizards.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the start of Harry's journey. His parents are killed, before the start of the book and it starts out with him being dropped on the doorstep of his dreadful aunt and uncle. The first line of the book is "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of Number Four Privet Drive were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." Their lives are irrevocably changed when their nephew comes to live with them. However, Harry is no ordinary boy, he is a wizard and when he's 11 he receives a letter (somewhat painstakingly) inviting him to attend the finest Wizarding school in Britain, and so begins his journey. He meets a host of interesting and lovable characters along the way and somehow always manages to find trouble or an adventure.
The first book in the series, as with many series, is the shortest and takes you on a wild adventure the likes of which have never been seen before. It's exciting and fun and fantastical and fun for all ages. I would highly recommend this book, especially to people who enjoy fantasy novels.
Happy Reading! :)
Monday, 24 February 2014
Ways to suggest books for me to read
I know I cover this in a lot of blog posts (mainly because I do want your feedback and I do actually want you to suggest books for me) but there are a number of ways in which you can suggest books for me to read and review, As I mentioned, it'll take me a while to get through all of them and to post (mainly because I'm pretty busy with University until, like April) but I will get to them (I know a couple of people suggested books for me to read as early as last year but things just got really busy and I was unable to get around to reviewing them (heck I didn't even get around to reading them I was so busy, but I have a couple of months off this summer and can do it them.
Twitter:
@LoveWriting221B
#ThereAndNeverGoingBackAgainBlog
#MysteryReviewsAt221B
Blog:
Comments Section (I disabled the Google+ comments thing so you don't have to have Google+ to comment)
Facebook:
I know a couple of you know me on Facebook so you can message me your suggestions. Also, I co-Admin a page with a couple of my friends called "The Nerd's Fandom Paradise", my Admin name is AdminRose so feel free to post to the page with suggestions just remember to mention my Admin name (Also, like the page it's awesome!)
Tumblr:
My url(s)
http://books-and-reviewsat221b.tumblr.com
http://theartisticnovelist.tumblr.com (this one is more for my writing and any artwork I do, the other one is for book reviews (I haven't used it in a while though but you can still contact me through it))
Twitter:
@LoveWriting221B
#ThereAndNeverGoingBackAgainBlog
#MysteryReviewsAt221B
Blog:
Comments Section (I disabled the Google+ comments thing so you don't have to have Google+ to comment)
Facebook:
I know a couple of you know me on Facebook so you can message me your suggestions. Also, I co-Admin a page with a couple of my friends called "The Nerd's Fandom Paradise", my Admin name is AdminRose so feel free to post to the page with suggestions just remember to mention my Admin name (Also, like the page it's awesome!)
Tumblr:
My url(s)
http://books-and-reviewsat221b.tumblr.com
http://theartisticnovelist.tumblr.com (this one is more for my writing and any artwork I do, the other one is for book reviews (I haven't used it in a while though but you can still contact me through it))
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
When the recession of 2009 shuffles Clay Jannon out of his job he fishes the classifieds for a new job when he comes across a help wanted for a bookstore across town. He, after careful deliberation, decides to take the job, the late shift, from Midnight to 6am at the bookstore. He soon meets a girl who works for Google and they get into all sorts of mischief surrounding the store and its books. But when they uncover a secret that the books have kept for centuries, will it advance them in life, or will it bring them down?
This book is a fantastic read and it captures you from the first paragraph, you just can't put it down. At the same time it's an adventure, within the walls of Mr. penumbra's bookstore, it's also a mystery, why is the owner so secretive about the books? Why does he demand vigilant observation of his customers? Most importantly, why is a bookstore, being run like a library? AS you travel through the book, and get into all sorts of mischief with Clay and his friends everything becomes clearer. 10/10 I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoy reading books, about books. (If this is the case I would also recommend "The Book Thief", and "The Thirteenth Tale")
As some of you may remember from y last post, this is Banned Books week, at least here in Canada (The American one if September 21-27 if my memory serves me correctly) and as such I'll be reviewing banned or challenged books, in an effort to promote the Freedom to Read. After that I'll be taking suggestions again for books I should read (It might take me until April or May to be able to get to a library or bookstore and pick up the suggestions but I will get to them, you may want to remind me in comments what you suggested, and don't be shy!) Of course, I'll always take book suggestions, it just might take a while for me to get through them.
Keep reading, writing, and doing what you love!! Until next time!!!
This book is a fantastic read and it captures you from the first paragraph, you just can't put it down. At the same time it's an adventure, within the walls of Mr. penumbra's bookstore, it's also a mystery, why is the owner so secretive about the books? Why does he demand vigilant observation of his customers? Most importantly, why is a bookstore, being run like a library? AS you travel through the book, and get into all sorts of mischief with Clay and his friends everything becomes clearer. 10/10 I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoy reading books, about books. (If this is the case I would also recommend "The Book Thief", and "The Thirteenth Tale")
As some of you may remember from y last post, this is Banned Books week, at least here in Canada (The American one if September 21-27 if my memory serves me correctly) and as such I'll be reviewing banned or challenged books, in an effort to promote the Freedom to Read. After that I'll be taking suggestions again for books I should read (It might take me until April or May to be able to get to a library or bookstore and pick up the suggestions but I will get to them, you may want to remind me in comments what you suggested, and don't be shy!) Of course, I'll always take book suggestions, it just might take a while for me to get through them.
Keep reading, writing, and doing what you love!! Until next time!!!
Friday, 21 February 2014
Ripper by Stephen Petrucha
Ripper is a retelling of the classic case of Jack the Ripper. In this retelling Jack has moved to New York, shortly after the original killings in London. Jack has migrated to New York and continued his work, killing innocent women. But instead of killing prostitutes "working girls" he's killing wealthy women of New York's upper class. But when a young orphan named Carver Young is taken as ward and protege of Albert Hawking, of the New Pinkerton's after finding a mysterious letter he goes on a journey to find his father. Will they be able to catch the killer before he completes his cycle? Will Carver find his father?
This book is full of twists and turns that keeps you reading chapter after chapter as it follows Carver's adventures and the adventures of his friend(s) Delia and Finn as they help try to catch the Ripper, but when the revelation of the Killer's identity throws a wrench in the works will they be able to continue on their path to catch him?
10/10 I would definitely recommend this book, it's fantastic and wonderful and truly riveting I enjoyed it immensely. It was actually recommended to me by a friend. Even though it is 86 Chapters long the Chapters are very short and once you start reading you can't put it down.
This is my first review this week, I'll do a couple certainly, It's Banned Books week in Canada this week, starting on the 23rd so I'll be reviewing some banned or challenged books next week.
Until next week, keep reading and don't forget to leave me book recommendations in the comments.
This book is full of twists and turns that keeps you reading chapter after chapter as it follows Carver's adventures and the adventures of his friend(s) Delia and Finn as they help try to catch the Ripper, but when the revelation of the Killer's identity throws a wrench in the works will they be able to continue on their path to catch him?
10/10 I would definitely recommend this book, it's fantastic and wonderful and truly riveting I enjoyed it immensely. It was actually recommended to me by a friend. Even though it is 86 Chapters long the Chapters are very short and once you start reading you can't put it down.
This is my first review this week, I'll do a couple certainly, It's Banned Books week in Canada this week, starting on the 23rd so I'll be reviewing some banned or challenged books next week.
Until next week, keep reading and don't forget to leave me book recommendations in the comments.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
FreedomToRead
Hello, everyone, I don't know if anyone knows this but Freedom to Read week is coming up February 23-March 1 (It's basically Canada's Banned Books week) PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO IT'S SO IMPORTANT and please I'm begging you, exercise your freedom to read, and if you haven't seen the list of Challenged works check it out here http://www.freedomtoread.ca/challenged-works/ In the states Banned Books week is in September (I'm going to do both) and during these weeks my book reviews and blog posts will focus on books from the banned or challenged works lists. Please remember to read, and exercise your freedom to read what you want.
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Blog resolutions
Hi everyone, I know my posts have always been a bit (read very) sporadic (just check out the dates on my posts if you need proof) even though I always promise to post more. One of the perks of being in University, you don't always have time to blog, however, from this day forward I resolve to post as often as is possible. I know I promised, in december that I'd do a post once a week, however, exams were in december and then after my last exam my pet rabbit, Licorice, the one I did the other post about? When my parents had to take him to hospital cause he wasn't doing so well? He died on December 17 so after my exams were over I didn't really feel like doing much of anything.
However, I will endeavour to post as much as I am able, especially in the Summer, after exams are over. Hopwever, it's a new year and a new year needs a new blog! I might change the theme up a bit, not sure, what do you guys think? I recently updated the description for my blog and you'll notice that it mentions my Twitter handle and Hashtags (@LoveWriting221B, #MysteryReviews@221B and #ThereAndNeverGoingBackAgainBlog feel free to tweet me books to review or whatever, just use the mystery reviews hashtag for mystery novels and the blog hashtag for everything else, you'll also notice in the description that I have a Tumblr for my book reviews, in truth I don't use it much, but I'm trying to figure out how to connect it to this blog so whatever I post here will show up there...yeah I don't know either, I looked it up and I think I did eveything right bu I'm not really sure, let me know if you see that my blog connects to Tumblr.
I think that's all from me for now, if i think of anything I'll let you know. Keep reading! and Don't Forget to be Awesome! as the VlogBrothers would say.
However, I will endeavour to post as much as I am able, especially in the Summer, after exams are over. Hopwever, it's a new year and a new year needs a new blog! I might change the theme up a bit, not sure, what do you guys think? I recently updated the description for my blog and you'll notice that it mentions my Twitter handle and Hashtags (@LoveWriting221B, #MysteryReviews@221B and #ThereAndNeverGoingBackAgainBlog feel free to tweet me books to review or whatever, just use the mystery reviews hashtag for mystery novels and the blog hashtag for everything else, you'll also notice in the description that I have a Tumblr for my book reviews, in truth I don't use it much, but I'm trying to figure out how to connect it to this blog so whatever I post here will show up there...yeah I don't know either, I looked it up and I think I did eveything right bu I'm not really sure, let me know if you see that my blog connects to Tumblr.
I think that's all from me for now, if i think of anything I'll let you know. Keep reading! and Don't Forget to be Awesome! as the VlogBrothers would say.
BLOG AWARDS
Thanks Annika Barclay (Eterial world) for nominating me! Like Annika I don't actually have 10)The rules for this award are very simple:
1. Display the award logo (see left) on your blog. By the way, it seems to have expanded beyond the 'WordPress' family!
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate ten others you see as having an impact on your blogging experience.
4. Let your ten nominees know you have awarded them.
4. Gurl Reader
Thanks to everyone who reads this blog, I hope we'll go on many literary adventures together. I'll do a review soon, I promise and don't forget to recommend books!
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