Sunday, May 31, 2015

May SHELFie


May was a great month. I managed to fit in a variety books and found a couple new favourite books.

Here's a list of my May reads:
I also started getting back into comics and started off with a couple trade paperbacks:
  • Ms. Marvel Vol 1: No Normal by Marvel Comics
  • Captain Marvel Volume 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More by Kelly Sue Deconnick
It's been a while since I picked up comics, so to catch up with my reading I signed up for a trial of Marvel Unlimited. Hoping to find a new favourite series to follow. I'll gladly take any recommendations.

In a previous post, I mentioned that I received a huge stack of ARCs from Random House Canada. Those will definitely be keeping me busy in June and the rest of the summer months. What books do you plan on reading this summer?

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll




Title: Luckiest Girl Alive
Author: Jessica Knoll
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: May 12, 2015




Synopsis:
HER PERFECT LIFE IS A PERFECT LIE

Luckiest Girl alive is a gripping story about Ani FaNelli. Ani has a glamorous job, a Manhattan zip code and is engaged to a wealthy man from old money. It's everything she's ever dreamed of. However, Ani also holds a deep, dark secret from her past life. She has the opportunity to finally set it all straight, but doing so may cause her perfect life to come crashing down.

Review:
I had this galley sitting in my Kindle library a couple weeks before it was published. I'm always weary of books that are tagged as "The Next Gone Girl". I finally gave in, and I'm glad Jessica Knoll's book lived up to the hype.

Luckiest Girl Alive is narrated by a grown up,Ani FaNelli, and her fourteen year old self known back then as TifAni. Adult Ani works for Women's Magazine, a highly regarded publication, where she is a successful columnist. Ani is constantly sought after by ambitious young women looking to get their foot in the door and kickstart their careers. My first impression of Ani was that she was shallow, self absorbed and materialistic. Fourteen year old TifAni on the other hand was insecure and only wanted to fit in with the "cool kids". Several unfortunate events occur during TifAni's first few months at her new private school causing a change in her attitude, confidence and demeanour.

Jessica Knoll did a great job keeping me on my toes. Just when I thought I had Ani's story figured out she threw in a few more twists and I realized I couldn't have been more wrong. There are definitely similarities to The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Those who have read either of these two books or enjoy mystery/thriller novels should definitely consider picking up Luckiest Girl Alive.

Disclaimer:  I received a digital ARC of Luckiest Girl Alive from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Rating: ★★★

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

The Shore by Sara Taylor




Title: The Shore
Author: Sara Taylor
Publisher: Bond Street Books
Publishing Date: May 26, 2015
Genre: Fiction





Synopsis:
Welcome to The Shore: a collection of small islands sticking out from the coast of Virginia into the Atlantic Ocean. Where clumps of evergreens meet wild ponies, oyster-shell roads, tumble-down houses, unwanted pregnancies, murder, storm-making and dark magic in the marshes. . .

Situated off the coast of Virginia's Chesapeake Bay, the group of islands known as the Shore has been home to generations of fierce and resilient women. Sanctuary to some but nightmare to others, it's a place they've inhabited, fled, and returned to for hundreds of years. From a half-Shawnee Indian's bold choice to flee an abusive home only to find herself with a man who will one day try to kill her to a brave young girl's determination to protect her younger sister as methamphetamine ravages their family, to a lesson in summoning storm clouds to help end a drought, these women struggle against domestic violence, savage wilderness, and the corrosive effects of poverty and addiction to secure a sense of well-being for themselves and for those they love.

Together their stories form a deeply affecting legacy of two barrier island families, illuminating 150 years of their many freedoms and constraints, heartbreaks, and pleasures. Conjuring a wisdom and beauty all its own, The Shore is a richly unique, stunning novel that will resonate with readers long after turning its final pages, establishing Sara Taylor as a promising new voice in fiction.

Review:
The Shore was a unique book, nothing like I've read before. It was a collection of linked short stories that came together to form a novel. Each story is a vignette that relies on previous or future chapters for additional context. The book's timeline spans over 250 years and focuses on two families a long history on The Shore.

At the beginning of the book, there is a family tree. This is a very important resource which I highly recommend you bookmark. I found myself referencing it at least once per chapter. Each story focuses on the lives of the female family members and we meet each of them at different points in their lives. Since the stories are connected, we also get a chance to see the ripple effects of their decisions through the generations that follow.

The Shore was a very compelling book which I read in only two sittings.  This book is not very light hearted and at times can be gut wrenching. This because of the struggles the women of The Shore must endure. They are subject to starvation, neglect, sickness and emotional and physical abuse. If you find any of these topics difficult to read about, then proceed with caution. Given the topics, I would recommend this book to adult readers. It's a great book to take with you to the beach or on a road trip because of the way it's put together. The Shore is a wonderful debut from Sara Taylor and I'm really looking forward to her future work.

Have you had a chance to read The Shore? I would love to hear your thoughts on both the context and format.

Disclaimer: I received a finished copy of this book from Random House of Canada for review purposes. All opinions are my own.


Rating: ★★★

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Teaser Tuesdays #4

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can 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!
Here's a peek at this week's book.

Title: Liv, Forever
Author: Amy Talkington
Publisher: SOHO Teen
Publishing Date: January 6, 2015
Genre(s): Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy

Teasers (p183):

"I screamed when I noticed another girl had appeared in the boathouse. She had dark hair, delicate features, and no visible wounds, but her skin was a sheer grey and she looked at me with unmistakeably dead eyes."

"She lingered on the dock watching me with her dull eyes until I had to look away."

Does this sound like something you'd read? Feel free to leave the link to your teasers in the comments below.



Monday, May 25, 2015

Monday SHELFie #10


Last week was a very exciting week because I achieved my main reading goals for 2015 which was to read 50 books this year. I knew I would reach my goal, I just didn't realize how quickly I would get there. It's an achievement I'm definitely proud of. I'm hoping I can get just as much reading in the second half of the year given that my maternity leave will be ending in a couple months. Here are the remaining challenges I have set for the year:

  • Complete HarperCollins' SavvyReader 50 Book Pledge 
  • Diversify my reading to include:
    • Fiction Novels
    • YA
    • Poetry
    • Childrens' Books
  • Read more books by Canadian Authors:
    • Read and review the 5 Canada Reads finalists 
    • Complete Random House of Canada's 2015 Reading Bingo  (12/25 squares)
  • 2015-2016 Drop Cap Challenge
    • Read all 26 Penguin Drop Cap editions by December 2016 (0/26) 
As for my weekly summary...

Books I reviewed last week (click the cover to read my review):


This week's TBR list:


As usual there's a chance my TBR list will change depending on my mood. What books do you have on the go this week?





Sunday, May 24, 2015

Harmless by James Grainger



Publisher: McClelland & Stewart, a division of Random House of Canada Limited
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Publisher
Publication Date: May 5, 2015

Synopsis:
A group of old friends reunite at a remote farm. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, they unwind beside a bon fire with the help of some alcohol and drugs. The reunion rekindles old flames and uncovers tension between the guests, specifically between Joseph and Alex. The tension rises when two teenagers, Franny, Joseph's daughter, and Rebeccal, Alex's daughter, go missing without a trace. The two men must put aside their differences and work together as they search for their daughters.

Their survival skills and and parental instincts are put to the test as their search brings them to the vast woods behind the farm.

Review:
I was excited when I received my copy of Harmless and started reading it as soon as it arrived. My first impressions of the book was that it was written very well. I appreciated the detailed description of the farm and started to get a sense of who Joseph was. It was clear that he had a distant relationship with his daughter and was clueless as to how he can even begin to mend it. As the next couple chapters went on, I lost a bit of interest in the book. New characters were constantly getting introduced and it was difficult to understand where they fit in the story. There were times I had to re-read pages because I started mixing characters up. I was actually fearful that this book would end up in my DNF pile. I read some reviews on this book and it appeared that I wasn't alone in my feelings. However, many of these reviews mentioned that when the search for the girls began, that's where the book took off. This was enough motivation for me to pick the book up again and I'm glad I did! Once the search Franny and Rebecca began, it was hard to put down. The emotions that both Joseph and Alex were feeling leapt off the page and made for an enjoyable read. For me, it really brought into question of what makes a man, manly? Is the true definition someone like Alex - Type A personality, resourceful and fearless? Can someone like Joseph, a tech savvy urbanite also be masculine? These questions kept running through my mind as I followed Joseph and Alex through their search in the woods. Although I did not love the beginning, the middle and end of the book were fantastic. I think the book may appeal to a more masculine audience, but it's definitely worth the time for any readers who enjoy mystery and thriller novels.

Meeting the author:
I remember while reading parts of these books, I had wondered where the author's inspiration for Harmless came from because it felt so real. Lucky for me, I was given the chance to have this question answered. Last week I attended an author reception hosted by Random House Canada and James Grainger happened to be one of them. One of the topics he covered in his presentation was how Harmless came to be. A few years back he experienced his own scare when he was unable to locate his daughter who went missing in a large park. He described the feelings of fear that he experienced and said, "my heart was replaced with a stopwatch" with each second ticking by. He was overcome with such relief when his daughter jumped out of her hiding spot a few hours later. These emotions are definitely felt as you flip through the pages of his book when Joseph and Alex are in the woods searching for their missing daughters. James' presentation and the conversation I had with him afterward, really helped put things into perspective.

Disclaimer: I received a finished copy of this book from Random House of Canada for review purposes. All opinions are my own.


Rating: ★★★

Friday, May 22, 2015

Friday SHELFie #10


Another week is coming to a close and with just under two weeks left in the month, I'm pretty happy with my reading progress. I have managed to get through eleven titles so far and have a few more on my list before the end of the month.

So far this week I have read:


As for my weekend reads, here's what will be leaving my shelf:


With summer just around the corner, do you find that you read more or less in the sunny months?




Thursday, May 21, 2015

Author Reception: Giles Blunt, James Grainger and Jeff Rubin

The lovely team at +Random House of Canada hosted an author reception for James Grainger, author of Harmless, Jeff Rubin, author of The Carbon Bubble and Giles Blunt, author of The Hesitation Cut (releasing in August).


The event was held last night at Rosewater, an elegant restaurant in Toronto, where they served delicious hors d'oeuvres and drinks from the bar. Each author was given an opportunity to speak about their book. It was really different to have a non-fiction author included in the bunch. As Jeff Rubin was speaking about The Carbon Bubble, I felt as though I was listening to an economics lecture. Jeff spoke about the financial security of Canadians and the country's economic future. This is something I don't have much knowledge in, but this presentation has definitely peaked my interest.

During Giles Blunt's introduction of The Hesitation Cut, he spoke about his trip to a monastery in New York state where he immersed himself in the monks' lifestyle. This first hand experienced helped him create his lead character, Brother William.

After each author spoke about their work, we were given an opportunity to mingle and pick up signed copies of each book. I spent a bit more time speaking with James Grainger (pictured above) about his book Harmless as it was the only book I had read prior to the event. I was intrigued to learn about James' inspiration for the novel and who his intended audience was. I'll be including these insights in my upcoming review.

Thank you to each of the authors and the Random House Canada team for a fun and entertaining evening!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Falling into Place by Amy Zhang


Publisher: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Canada
Format: Kindle eBook
Source: Purchased
Publication Date: August 29, 2014

Synopsis:
Falling into Place starts off with the main character, Liz Emerson, attempting to end her life. She drives her Mercedes off the road and down a steep hill. To her surprise, she survives the fall and is rushed to the hospital in grave condition. Readers then get a glimpse into Liz's life leading up to the day of her accident. We learn that she is one of the most popular girls in her school but, she is also a bully. She uses her popularity to get her way without a second thought to the consequences of her actions.

This is a story about how one person's actions cause ripple effects which can lives of the people around them in an instant.

My thoughts:
If you enjoy books where you fall in love with the main character, this book is definitely not for you. Throughout the book we meet the various people whose lives Liz has graced destroyed. She lives her life with no remorse for her actions no matter how devastating they may be to the people around her.

Although you are meant to dislike the Liz, her supporting characters are all so relatable. Readers will be able to empathize with at least one of them as each character is provided a fairly deep backstory. This is a book that I will not soon forget. Amy Zhang's story makes me believe that Isaac Newton was such an incredible genius that his Laws of Motion can be used outside of the realm of physics and applied to human relationships:

First Law
A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion with a constant velocity, unless acted upon by a force.
Second Law
Force is equal to the change in momentum (mV) per change in time. For a constant mass, force equals mass times acceleration (F=ma).
Third Law
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

Falling into Place was a fantastic book. The book is beautifully written. It transitions between past and present with ease. After reading this book, it rendered me speechless. Amy Zhang takes you on an emotional roller coaster with a story that will strike you right to your core. I already cannot wait until the release of her next book, This Is Where The World Ends. It already sounds so good!

For more information about Falling into Place by Amy Zhang, click here. To learn more about +HarperCollinsCanada visit their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter @HarperCollinsCa.
Rating: ★★★

Hello, I Love You (ARC Review) by Katie M. Stout

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: June 9, 2015

Synopsis:
The book begins with our main character escaping her life in Nashville to attend boarding school, in South Korea. Grace is the daughter of record producer and millionaire, Stephen Wilde. She is also the sister of Nathan Cross, country music's brightest star. Early on we learn that Grace's decision to complete her senior year of high school in South Korea was because of her brother's breakdown and her mother's constant tendencies to blame her for it.

Grace hopes for a fresh start where she can finish the year without anyone discovering her true identity. All she wants is to distance herself from anything related to music. Upon arrive at her new school, she encounters her roommate Sophie. Grace gets her things unpacked and joins Sophie to the cafeteria to meet her twin brother Jason. It turns out Grace's attempts to distance herself from music are squashed on the first day as she discovers that Jason is the lead singer of a famous Korean Pop (KPOP) group. Grace is physically attracted to Jason, but she cannot stand his attitude.

What follows is a story of friendship and heartache as Grace struggles to find herself in this new and unknown territory.

Review:
I requested and downloaded this title from NetGalley without reading anything about it beforehand. I've done this a few times before with Young Adult titles and have been pleasantly surprised. I wish I could say the same for this book.

Hello, I Love You is your typical teenaged love story filled with laughter, heartbreak and maybe a happy ending. I found a few moments quite hilarious, specifically the parts where we find Grace trying to find her footing amongst all the various Korean customs, traditions and pleasantries. Outside of this I did not enjoy this book. Grace's character is on a mission to escape her life back in America. After reading the first chapter, I was hoping to see her character grow as a result of her living on her own in a new country. As the book went on, I didn't feel as though her character was really learning anything. There was no major epiphany (maybe there was, but hard to discuss that without spoiling the book) to show that she's made any positive changes to her life. As for the other characters in the story, normally there's at least one that I can relate to. All of these characters were a bit of a stretch. Maybe it's because I'm not rich or famous...

If any readers decide to pick up this book or if you've read it, I'd really like to get your thoughts on it. Maybe I missed something...

Disclaimer: I received a digital Advanced Reader Copy of Hello, I Love You from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Rating: ★★

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

My Fight Your Fight by Ronda Rousey



Publisher: Regan Arts
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Publication Date: May 12, 2015

I have been a Ronda Rousey fan since I watched her debut at UFC 157 on February 23, 2013 when she defended her title versus Liz Carmouche. I remember watching the pre fight trailers thinking she is going to be a star. Fast forward two years and she's still on top.

Ronda "Rowdy" Rousey is highly known for her superiority in the Octagon. She is the Undefeated UFC Women's Bantamweight champion and an Olympic medallist in Judo. Ronda was also recently given the title of "World's Most Dominant Athlete" by Sports Illustrated. Aside from her MMA career, we have also started to see Rousey appear films including Expendables 3 and Furious 7. She also has a part in the new Entourage movie that will be premiering next month.

Rousey's debut book, My Fight Your Fight, is an open and inspiring memoir on what it takes to get to the top. The book begins with a forward by UFC President, Dana White. His respect for Ronda is very evident as you read through the pages. He believes that she is a role model for women and girls. Dana also calls Rousey a "game changer" on more than one occasion.
"Ronda has changed the world of sports, and by the time she's done, she may change the world as well." - Dana White (p. xv)
In My Fight Your Fight, we get an in-depth look on what it takes to become a champion. Ronda's sheer determination to come out on top in combination with the (sometimes tough) love and support of her parents has been a formula for success not only in the octagon, but in life as well.
"Life is a fight from the minute you take your first breath to the moment you exhale your last."
My Fight Your Fight is a phenomenal book, one of the best I've read this year! The book was motivational and at times quite hilarious. The style of writing fit perfectly to Ronda's story. It almost feels like you are reading a really long letter from a longtime friend. I would not hesitate recommend this book to anyone. But, I think aspiring athletes who are looking for motivation and/or a manual on how to succeed in their sport may enjoy it a bit more than others.

Autographed copies of My Fight Your Fight are available now at Indigo.ca

Rating: ★★★

Teaser Tuesdays #3

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can 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!
Here's a peek at this week's book.

Title: William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return, Star Wars Part The Sixth
Author: Ian Doescher

Teaser (p25):
"Relax thou for a moment; thou art free
Of carbonite's embrace, but thou dost burn
From this harsh hibernation malady"
(I, iii, 19-21)

My Thoughts: As a Star Wars fan, I really enjoy Ian Doescher's work. He has taken the original Star Wars trilogy, episodes 4-6, and rewrote them as Shakespearean plays. They are fun to read and are quite hilarious. I have reviewed the previous books in the trilogy. You can check out my reviews here:
William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope
William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

Monday, May 18, 2015

Monday SHELFie #9


It's the Victoria Day Edition of Monday SHELFie!

Most Canadian's see the May long weekend as a kick off to summer. So, I figured this would be a great day to highlight some of the amazing summer reads I've got on deck. The lovely folks at +Random House of Canada were gracious enough to send me ARCs of some (by some, I mean a huge stack) of the books in their summer line up.

May












June:


July:



August:



I've already started Finding Audrey and A Robot in the Garden. Which summer read are you most excited for?


Friday, May 15, 2015

Friday SHELFie #9


Happy Friday dear readers. For my Canadian friends, the first long weekend of the summer is almost here! I plan to do some reading, if the weather co-operates, I hope to do most of it outside.

http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015/05/paperbacksummer.html

In preparation for the warm, sunny months to come, I decided to join the Paperback Summer challenge hosted by Sophie at Reviewed the Book and Suze at Librarian Lavender. Here are the rules taken from Suze's blog:
Anyone is welcome to join in, reviewer or otherwise, and the aim is to just read as many paperbacks as possible this Summer. It's meant to be fun so pick a target you're happy with and we hope you enjoy all your books. I'm hoping ambitiously to read 50. Paperbacks are perfect reading for the Summer whether you're on your holidays or not - plus they're much easier to read than an e-reader in the sun! - For more details or the join the challenge, click here
I'm hoping to get through at least 30 books during the challenge. Let me know if you decide to join in. 

As for my weekend reads, I still have no idea. I know, at least one of the books will come from the amazing summer book package I received from +Random House of Canada. I'll have a separate book haul post specifically for those beauties. 

What are your plans this long weekend? 

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Ronda Rousey Book Launch in Toronto



It's not very often that my husband and I agree on books. He's into celebrity memoirs, comedy fiction and the odd romance novel (i.e. Fifty Shades of Grey). With that said, when I told him that Ronda Rousey was releasing a memoir he told me to pre-order it. When I told him that she was coming to Toronto for a book signing, he took the day off.

Indigo's event rules were pretty straightforward. Starting at 8am on the morning of the event you buy the book and get a wristband. Then, at 7pm, you come back for the book signing and meet and greet.

The night before the event, around 8pm, I read on Twitter that there was already one person in line. This worried us a bit so we set our alarm for an hour earlier than our original plan. We were up and out the door at 5:30am. We got in the car and began our 46km drive to downtown Toronto.

We arrived at our destination, Indigo Bay & Bloor, about an hour later. To our surprise, the line up was fairly short and we were 8th in line. I pulled out my iPad and began to read my digital copy of My Fight Your Fight. The 2.5 hours went by fairly quickly and we met some pretty awesome folks while in line. By about 7:50am, my fingers and toes were frozen. Thankfully, the Indigo Events team started shuttling us into the store. About 15 minutes later JG and I left with our copies of the book and drove back home to sleep. Well, he slept, I read. I couldn't help but continue reading Ronda's book. It's really hard to put down.

Once our batteries were recharged, we headed back downtown for the official event. At about 6pm we were called by group number. Waking up at 4am had its benefits and helped ensure we were in Group 1. We waited in anticipation for Ronda to come out and when she did, it was absolute pandemonium. She said a few quick words, thanked everyone for being there and got the show started.

Prior to the event, we were told that Ronda would not be personalizing items or signing anything other than her book. However, being the amazing person that she is, Ronda didn't stick to the rules. Fans were getting their arms signed, posed photos and personalized autographs. Ronda also made sure to really interact with her fans as she signed their books.

JG and I got a photo with Ronda as she signed our books. Of course, the first thing we did once we left the store was post them on Instagram. To our surprise, a couple hours later, this --->
happened. That pretty much capped off the night and made our 4am wake up call that much more worth it.

From the short time that I got to speak with her and observe her with her fans, it was obvious to me that Ronda Rousey is an amazing person and the perfect example of a champion. This was only proven further as I continued to read her book. She is more than deserving of all the accolades and respect that she has earned. I can't wait to see what else she accomplishes in the years to come because I know she's just getting started. You can read my review of My Fight Your Fight here.

For those who missed the event, there is still a chance for you to purchase an autographed copy of My Fight Your Fight by Ronda Rousey. Click here for details.




Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel


Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Format: Kindle eBook
Source: Purchased
Publication Date: August 29, 2014

Synopsis:
Day One
The Georgia Flu explodes over the surface of the earth like a neutron bomb. News reports put the mortality rate at over 99%.

Week Two
Civilization has crumbled.

Year Twenty
A band of actors and musicians, called the Travelling Symphony, move through the territories of a changed world, performing concerts and Shakespeare at the settlements that have formed. Twenty years after the pandemic, life feels relatively safe. But now a new danger looms, and it threatens the world every hopeful survivor has tried to rebuild.

Moving backward and forward in time, from the glittering years just before the collapse to the strange and altered world that exists twenty years after, Station Eleven charts the unexpected twists of fate that connect six people: celebrated actor Arthur Leander; Jeevan, a bystander warned about the flu just in time; Arthur's first wife, Miranda; Arthur's oldest friend, Clark; Kirsten, an actress with the Travelling Symphony; and the mysterious and self-proclaimed "prophet."

Sometimes terrifying, sometimes tender, Station Eleven tells a story about the fragility of life, the relationships that sustain us, and the beauty of the world as we know it.

Review:
"If hell is other people, what is a world with almost no people in it" (p.148)
The world has ended. The cause? The Georgia Flu. The epidemic wipes out hundreds of people on Day 1, and that's just in Toronto. With the setting of the story being in my home city, Toronto, I couldn't help but be drawn in.

As I continued to read on, I found Station Eleven to be a gripping tale about a post apocalyptic world. It was very character driven and showed that even after civilization has ended, humanity will find a way to honour past inventions and preserve our literary past.

This book has been the recipient of various awards since it was published last year and in my opinion, each one was well deserved. I thoroughly enjoyed Mandel's spin on the end of the world because her focus is not on survival, it's on what happens after you've achieved it. Station Eleven is a captivating and thought provoking book that I would highly recommend to all.

This is the first book I've read by Emily St. John Mandel and has easily become a new favourite of mine. I'll definitely be looking out for some of her past books to add to my TBR. If you have any suggestions, please leave me a note in the comments.

For more information about Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, click here. To learn more about +HarperCollinsCanada visit their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter @HarperCollinsCa.
Rating: ★★★

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Boo by Neil Smith


Publisher: Knopf Canada
Format: eBook
Source: Requested via NetGalley
Publication Date: May 12, 2015

About the book:
Oliver Dalrymple, wakes up one morning and realizes that he's not in his home of suburban Illinois. He wakes up in some sort of heaven, a town that's inhabited by 13-year-old Americans. He believes he has died as a result of a heart defect. It's not until he runs into his classmate Johnny Henzel, that Oliver, a.k.a Boo, discovers that a terrible thing has occurred. He and Johnny were both victims of a shooting at their school. Boo and Johnny are determined to get to the bottom of their murders. As they unravel the truth, the boys begin to learn who they really were in America.

Review:

Boo surprised me (ha-ha). At first I did not think I would like it as the first few chapters were a bit up and down. But, once the Johnny Henzel's character was introduced, I was hooked. The author's idea of heaven and the premise of the book is very unique and was a huge draw for me. I was really curious how it was all going to play out. As I flicked page after page, I was drawn into the twists and turns of the story. In the first part of the book, I thought I had it figured out. But, the author then takes you through some twists, turns and a couple loopholes to make you doubt yourself. It's difficult to say much more without spoiling the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed Boo. You would think a book with this premise would be dark, but it's surprisingly uplifting and funny. Boo's character although mysterious at times is very open, honest and intelligent. It's very hard not to love his wit and charm. I would highly recommend this to any readers who are fond of coming of age stories or character driven novels.

Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.


Rating: ★★★

Teaser Tuesdays #2


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can 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!

Title: My Fight/Your Fight
Author: Ronda Rousey (Author), Maria Burns Ortiz (Contributor)

Here are my two teasers from Chapter One, Why I Fight (Loc 124 on Kindle eBook):
"To be a fighter, you have to be passionate. I have so much passion, it’s hard to hold it all in. That passion escapes as tears from my eyes, sweat from my pores, blood from my veins."
"I can take a hit without batting an eyelash, but I will burst into tears if a sad song comes on the radio. I am vulnerable; that’s why I fight."
My Thoughts:
This book was just released today and I purchased the Kindle book as soon as I woke up. Ronda Rousey has been such a huge inspiration for me since she hit the UFC Octagon in 2013. I've only read the first few chapters of this book and it's so AMAZING already. I only stopped reading to write this post. I'll have a full review up once I'm done.

Have a great Tuesday! 

Monday, May 11, 2015

Monday SHELFie #8


I hope all of the mothers out there were spoiled and had a chance to unwind yesterday. We enjoyed the beautiful weather outside and had a fun filled day at Canada's Wonderland. Once we got home, the kids were so exhausted that they both went down for a nice long nap. (Mission accomplished!)

Last week, I reviewed three books, each from a different genre:


Here's what I'm hoping to read this week:

A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson (Publishing Date: May 5, 2015)
In Life After Life Ursula Todd lived through the turbulent events of the last century again and again. In A God in Ruins, Atkinson turns her focus on Ursula’s beloved younger brother Teddy – would-be poet, RAF bomber pilot, husband and father – as he navigates the perils and progress of the 20th century. For all Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge will be to face living in a future he never expected to have.
The Shore by Sara Taylor (Publishing Date: May 26, 2015)

Welcome to The Shore: a collection of small islands sticking out from the coast of Virginia into the Atlantic Ocean. Where clumps of evergreens meet wild ponies, oyster-shell roads, tumble-down houses, unwanted pregnancies, murder, storm-making and dark magic in the marshes. . .

Situated off the coast of Virginia's Chesapeake Bay, the group of islands known as the Shore has been home to generations of fierce and resilient women. Sanctuary to some but nightmare to others, it's a place they've inhabited, fled, and returned to for hundreds of years. From a half-Shawnee Indian's bold choice to flee an abusive home only to find herself with a man who will one day try to kill her to a brave young girl's determination to protect her younger sister as methamphetamine ravages their family, to a lesson in summoning storm clouds to help end a drought, these women struggle against domestic violence, savage wilderness, and the corrosive effects of poverty and addiction to secure a sense of well-being for themselves and for those they love.

Together their stories form a deeply affecting legacy of two barrier island families, illuminating 150 years of their many freedoms and constraints, heartbreaks, and pleasures. Conjuring a wisdom and beauty all its own, The Shore is a richly unique, stunning novel that will resonate with readers long after turning its final pages, establishing Sara Taylor as a promising new voice in fiction.

I'd love to hear what books you have on the go, let me know in the comments below. (I really didn't mean for it to rhyme...)
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