The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes
The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.
And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.
Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she's willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.
The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in oneself.
It took me a while to write this review. I'm at a loss with how to describe my satisfaction, in literature it can come in so many forms for all kinds of readers. Minnow must learn how to live after being suffocated in a abusive cult. When everything in your life gets taken away, the value you place on life can become completely distorted. The people Minnow loves in this book are all flawed, you watch these characters evolve, and become invested.
"Brutality was done to me. Why not spill a little into the world, too? Just to touch it. Just to know I could."
I read this book quickly. I was disturbed, engaged, sympathetic and empathetic. Confused and broken Minnow has to re-learn how to live after being taken from a cult. She has to grieve over her hands while learning to use what she has. She has to forgive people for things that seem justly unforgivable. She quickly learns there's nothing to be gained by trying to grow back missing pieces of yourself that have been swallowed up by life.
" 'Anger is a kind of murder you commit in your heart.' If this is true, I'm a daily murderer. My heart is more full of blood that I ever imagined."
Juvenile Detention becomes Minnow's way into society, while she's accepting the horrible things that have happened to her. It's easy to ignore details when your angry and forget perspective when you've been wronged. Minnow maturely uses her time in juvie to take a step back and see the bigger picture. The characters described seem very relatable, so the reader becomes immersed in how the story unfolds. You will feel a full range of emotions when you fly through this book, but I guarantee you'll enjoy the journey. READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Book Scoop August 21-August 28 2015
Book Industry News and Links to Sift Through When Your Face Isn't buried in a Book
"No Awards" given at Hugo Awards- Five Categories were given No Award amidst controversy with two campaign groups
The Fight for Bookstores- Kinokuniya Co. buys most copies of Mukamari's latest book to fight back against online retailers
Coloring Book Sells 3M in China
Mariah Carey Publishes Children Book- A Christmas Themed book based on her Hit All I Want For Christmas is you
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Armada by Ernest Cline
THREE POINT FIVE STARS
Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and videogames he's spent his life consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure.
But hey, there's nothing wrong with a little escapism, right? After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don't get chosen to save the universe.
And then he sees the flying saucer.
Even stranger, the alien ship he's staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting the earth from alien invaders.
No, Zack hasn't lost his mind. As impossible as it seems, what he's seeing is all too real. And his skills—as well as those of millions of gamers across the world—are going to be needed to save the earth from what's about to befall it.
It's Zack's chance, at last, to play the hero. But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can't help thinking back to all those science-fiction stories he grew up with, and wondering: Doesn't something about this scenario seem a little…familiar?
At once gleefully embracing and brilliantly subverting science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline could, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a classic coming of age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you've ever read before—one whose every page is infused with the pop-culture savvy that has helped make Ready Player One a phenomenon
This book started off pretty slow, and included a lot of classic video game references. I actually considered not finishing, but my love for Ready Player One, had me stick it out. The premise is similar to Ender's Game, but it's referenced in the book itself acknowledging this. What turned me off when getting through the first few chapters were some references that seemed unnecessary. For Example
"We'd nicknamed the place 'Thai Fighter,' because the capital H on their sign had a circular bulge at its center that made the letter resemble an imperial fighter with Twin Ion Engines."
However the action and adventure allowed me to ignore those kinds of references and actually enjoy the story. The characters are all like-able, and include a diverse cast of ethnicity's which should be celebrated. Most of the book takes place in a day, but there is more then enough backstory and emotional pull, to keep you fully engaged.
Zack is a great protagonist who deals with most things as he should, like a scared teenager. He has to grapple with aliens threatening the future of humanity while playing a major role in the fight against them. He takes most things in stride, and accepts the surprising revelations the best he can.
I don't enjoy video games myself but the enthusiastic way their described here is infectious. The action ad future technology included was awesome. I am in no way a sci-fi enthusiast but the movies and shows mentioned in the novel gave enough context where I didn't feel entirely lost. Mr. Cline like in his first book was intent on sharing references to classic video game knowledge, but here it didn't mesh well with the overall story. The hardcover included some great cover art on the inside of the jacket and front of the book, pictured below.
The ending caught me a bit off guard, and I wasn't able to guess it, so that was definitely a pleasant surprise. A word of warning for those hoping this will be as great as Ready Player One, because it just wasn't. This is a solid read for sci-fi Young Adult book lovers, but nothing spectacular jumps out despite lots of great action and plot twists.
I received this book from BloggingforBooks in exchange for a honest review.
More Info on Armada
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The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
FOUR POINT FIVE STARS
On the outside, there's Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement.
On the inside, within the walls of the Aurora Hills juvenile detention center, there's Amber, locked up for so long she can't imagine freedom.
Tying their two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls' darkest mysteries . . .
What really happened on the night Orianna stepped between Violet and her tormentors? What really happened on two strange nights at Aurora Hills? Will Amber and Violet and Orianna ever get the justice they deserve—in this life or in another one?
In prose that sings from line to line, Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and of innocence, and of what happens when one is mistaken for the other.
"We kept forgetting, and we also couldn't let go."
This book took me in on a whirlwind of friendship, emotion and surprise. The characters are flawed but never one dimensional. The friendship between Orianna and Violet reminded me of all the sacred moments I had with friends while growing up, and it was refreshingly authentic. It's easy to root for young girls still trying to find themselves, during that part of adolescence when your sure you never will.
The narrative switch between Amber and Violet, was done well.The plot flowed together effortlessly describing the inside of a juvenile prison and the mind of a broken ballerina. The great balance between describing too much and describing too little was reached. The books mentioned within the story, reminded me of how awesome reading them were.. While reading I was given room to make assumptions and fill in the blanks about the plot. I felt more respected and therefore more engaged because of it.
"We were alive. I remember it that way. We were still alive, and we couldn't see how close we were to the end."
The descriptions completely immerse you into the story.so you find yourself sympathizing with characters that are sometimes only partially described. I was surprised I enjoyed this so much. I really connected with these girls, they saw too much, but were loved too little. I felt for these characters and with them felt the same humiliation, sadness, uncertainty and fear.
Despite all of the wonderful things that work with this book, the ending didn't fully connect. It made sense within the world of the book, and it definitely surprised me but I couldn't accept it. I appreciated the magical realism described, it saved characters but also became a character itself. This is another example of Young Adult book done right when it could have gone so wrong. Definitely read this!!
I received this book from the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Book Scoop August 7-August 14 2015
Anti-Racist Tribute Causes Controversy- Comic who made tribute post to Mike Brown loses Fans of her work
Golden Crown Literary Society Announces 2015 Winners- This award celebrates literature about lesbians, the works must include significant lesbian characters and/or themes
National Coalition Against Censorship Opposes Some Girls Ban- National Groups Oppose the Censorship
Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night Time Banned- Lincoln High School in Tallahassee Florida has pulled the book from the summer reading list because of swearing. This is a awesome book that I have read and enjoyed. It deals with autism from a autistic persons perspective.
JRR Tolkien's Fantasy Story Published- written in 1915, its a inspired retelling of a Finnish Epic Poem
Unusual Jobs by Famous Writers- wonderful infographic
Boozing while Browsing Books-Awesome bookstores that serve booze
Comics That Tell Women's Stories- Stumptown in particular I heard was awesome and features a bisexual detective with a gambling addiction.
Books in Tiny Houses
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Best Book Designs of 2015- Wonderful Pics
Top Ten Authors I've Read The Most Books From
Compiling the list of authors I read the most books from was hard for me to do. I don't read alot of books by the same authors, except for series. Before I joined Goodreads I read alot of Steven King and Toni Morrison. Some authors I didn't super enjoy, but they're on the list because of series I stuck through.
1.Toni Morrison
She is an amazing author, who I look up to. She writes about the African American experience through history, in fiction. Morrison's symbolism and prose, inspired my own writing and reading. Definitely Check her out.
2.Stephen King
I was first introduced to Stephen King through The Gunslinger series which I gobbled up in college. He's amazing and if you read any of his books you will agree.
3.Margaret Atwood
I loved the Handmaid's Tale and read books like it because how much I loved it. All of her writing is great and although I haven't read as much of it as I want to. I have read Oryx and Crake and plan to read more.
4. Rick Yancey
I am in Love with The Fifth Wave and The Infinite Sea, definitely check out the series for a dark sci-fi dystopian with amazing characters. He's a great writer who can really tug at my heart strings. I want to continue the series and read much more by him.
5. Neal Shusterman
The Unwind Dystology is a epic YA universe where parents can have their kids unwound at the age of 16, so their body parts can be used by other. I have also read and enjoyed Bruiser by him a He tends to use underdog, diverse and relateable characters.
6. Alexandra Bracken
I started off really liking Bracken and read through the entire Darkest Mind Series. However as the series went along I was disappointed by filler. I hope her writing gets better with more releases, but my need to finish the series is the only reason I've read so much of her.
7. Marissa Meyer
The Lunar Chronicles is lots of fun, its a fairy tale retelling sci-fi, action packed tale. Cinder is about a cyborg caught in intergalactic politics. I haven't gotten to read past Scarlet, but I'm definitely looking forward to it, because she is awesome.
8. Lauren DeStefano
I really loved Wither and believed this series had a lot of potential. However after thinking back on it after reading many better novels, the series as a whole was disappointing after the first book. I did complete the series, but unfortunately have been turned off, by the author since.
10. Brian K Vaughan
I have really gotten in to graphic novels and comics after reading Saga. If your looking to branch off into comics this is a great place to start. It is funny, for adults, sentimental and bizarre.
Let me know if you read anything from the authors mentioned below!
Book Scoop July 31-August 7 2015
An Honest BookStore- Customers Take Books and Drop Money in a lockbox at this bookstore with no staff.
Tucker Max is Back with MATE- from frat bro to relationship guru well see how this turns out.
Sexism Still A Issue For Writers- Author gets 8x more responses from agents when using a male pseudonym
Go Get A Refund for Go Set a Watchmen- Bookstore offering refunds for the novel after offering it as a "nice summer read"
Fall 2015 Comic Announcements- Check Out New releases Coming Soon
TBR List Calculator- Find Out How Long it will Take to Finish Your TBR List of Books (With 592 on mine+11yrs 10 months to finish pheww)
Book and Dessert Pairings- for those who like to munch and read
Get You Netflix Fix of Bookish Films
Novel Written in 75Min- Young Writers will write a novel and publish it
Sex Talk in Literature Has Changed- Charts on How it's evolved over 200 years
Depressing Book Quotes Turned Motivational Posters
The Edge of Forever by Melissa E. Hurst
In 2013: Sixteen-year-old Alora is having blackouts. Each time she wakes up in a different place with no idea of how she got there. The one thing she is certain of? Someone is following her.
In 2146: Seventeen-year-old Bridger is one of a small number of people born with the ability to travel to the past. While on a routine school time trip, he sees the last person he expected—his dead father. The strangest part is that, according to the Department of Temporal Affairs, his father was never assigned to be in that time. Bridger's even more stunned when he learns that his by-the-book father was there to break the most important rule of time travel—to prevent someone's murder.
And that someone is named Alora.
Determined to discover why his father wanted to help a "ghost," Bridger illegally shifts to 2013 and, along with Alora, races to solve the mystery surrounding her past and her connection to his father before the DTA finds him. If he can stop Alora's death without altering the timeline, maybe he can save his father too.
This was a evenly paced, action packed time traveling story. The action and short chapters will definitely keep you engaged. The changing perspective between Bridger and Alora, was well done and the futuristic society described was cool. Including the idea of Calmer, a abundant anti-anxiety drug. The plot moves nicely and has a good amount of suspense.
But unfortunately the story never gives us quite enough to form deep attachments to the main characters. The term "wild out" is used way too many times to describe a character having a strong reaction to something. I had to mention it because every time I saw it, the context didn't give it a consistent meaning. This didn't really take away from the reading of the book, but to me it's the difference between a good book and a great book.
There was also a bit of slut shaming, where Alora feels slutty just because she has on a short dress. There wasn't alot of this but every time I see this in books for young girls I cringe inside. There are places where not much happens, but those parts of the book don't drag on. The end of the book seemed a bit rushed, but tied up things pretty well and definitely includes some surprises. Overall this was a good read. I believe this is a standalone, but sometimes authors can be persuaded to change that. If there are follow up books to this the author should explore more of what kind of society Bridger is from, since most of the book takes place in 2013.
I received this book in a First Reads Giveaway contest on Goodreads.