Jill's Book Blog

Review: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: January 12, 2016 (Originally May 17, 1900)
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Follow the yellow brick road!

Dorothy thinks she’s lost forever when a tornado whirls her and her dog, Toto, into a magical world. To get home, she must find the wonderful wizard in the Emerald City of Oz. On the way she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion. But the Wicked Witch of the West has her own plans for the new arrival – will Dorothy ever see Kansas again?

Review:

This is my first time reading this book. I saw it on NetGalley, so I thought why not?

Well I was so surprised while reading this to find that it is so different from the movie! I assumed they would be more similar. Almost everything that I associate with The Wizard of Oz is just in the movie, not the book. At least Dorothy still had Toto and her blue gingham dress.

My first shock was that her shoes are silver! Silver! Not ruby slippers! Silver shoes. I guess the ruby was chosen for the movie because it stands out more in film. But the ruby slippers are such an iconic image from the Wizard of Oz that I assumed that’s what they were in the book.

This story is an easy read. It moves at a good pace, with lots happening. Some parts were kind of violent for a children’s novel, but that’s just because it was written over a hundred years ago when children’s books weren’t as innocent as they are today.

Now I will have to rewatch the movie to see what other differences there are!

Weekly Wrap Up #4

Here’s my weekly wrap up!

I didn’t have as much time for reading this week. I had a migraine Monday so I missed my reading then. I had to rearrange my blogging schedule because of that.

I read 7 books this week, and reviewed all of them:

It’s hard to pick a favourite because these books were very good, and also very different. I loved She, Myself, and I, Shadow and Bone, and One Day in December.

I also did a weekly book meme everyday:

On Monday, I met Becky Albertalli, Angie Thomas, and Julie Murphy. My post about that is here:

Indigo Event: Becky Albertalli, Angie Thomas, and Julie Murphy

What did you read this week? Have you read any of these books?

Stacking the Shelves #3

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This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

I was approved for one ARCs on NetGalley:

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

I bought four books from Indigo:

Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer

Harley Quinn & the Suicide Squad: An Adult Coloring Book

Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Hot in the City by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti

Suicide Squad, Vol. 1: The Black Vault by Rob Williams

There’s a bit of a trend happening… I’m obsessed with Harley Quinn right now. I can’t get enough of her. So get ready for some more reviews featuring Harley!

Did you get any fun books this week?

Review: One Day in December

Title: One Day in December
Author: Shari Low
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Aria
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: September 1, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

One morning in December…

Caro set off on a quest to find out if her relationship with her father had been based on a lifetime of lies.

Lila decided today would be the day that she told her lover’s wife of their secret affair.

Cammy was on the way to pick up the ring for the surprise proposal to the woman he loved.

And Bernadette vowed that this was the day she would walk away from her controlling husband of 30 years and never look back.

One day, four lives on a collision course with destiny…

Review:

I enjoyed this story.

It was equal parts romance and thriller. I was actually surprised at how much drama there was. There were many parts where I held my breath, anticipating what would happen next. The last third of the book was especially thrilling, when everything unraveled.

I was sympathetic with Caro, Cammy, and Bernadette. They faced hardships that were unavoidable. Lila was definitely an unlikeable character, but I found her realistic too. Her life was broadcast over social media, like so many people these days. But what she posted wasn’t necessarily true.

Sometimes I got the older characters mixed up. Bernadette and Kenneth, and Lila’s parents led similar lives. But by the end, their lives head in separate directions.

I really liked this book. I’m going to keep my eyes open for more Shari Low novels!

Review: Pimp in the Pulpit

Title: Pimp in the Pulpit
Author: Thomas McRae
Genre: Short Story
Publisher: Eber and Wein Publishing
Source: Author
Release Date: December 2, 2016
Rating: ★★★

Review:

Well, this was quite a story! It’s about a family going through the daily struggles of life. They have a ninety-five year old grandmother who is having a birthday, but her children are fighting amongst themselves about money. Some siblings take the money and spend it on themselves rather than the party. Others are excluded from the party because they are not liked. Everyone seemed to be mad at each other for one reason or another.

The dysfunctional aspects of family life were represented very well in this story. Some of the swearing and arguments were so extreme, I had to laugh.

I wish the stories had been longer. It sounded like a summary of a story rather than the full thing. There were a lot of “he said she said” parts, so the actions were just told by someone else rather than actually happening in the story. These stories could have definitely been expanded into a full length novel, if the actions actually played out rather than being discussed by the characters.

A lot of the story was told in the present tense, which was unusual. It often jumped between tenses so I didn’t know when things were happening, in the past or present.

This story was a quick and entertaining read!

First Lines Friday #3

This is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Words, where you give the first few lines of a book to hook your readers before introducing the book.

Here are my first lines:

“I shouldn’t have come to this party.
I’m not even sure I belong at this party. That’s not some bougie shit, either. There are just some places where it’s not enough to be me. Either version of me. Big D’s spring break party is one of those places.”

Do you recognize these first lines?

…

And the book is… The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

Here’s the Goodreads synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

I haven’t read this one yet, but I will be soon! Have you read it?

Book Blitz: Marked by Fate

Continue reading “Book Blitz: Marked by Fate”

Release Day Celebration: Submerge

Welcome to the Release Day Celebration for

Submerge (Mer Chronicles #2)
by Tobie Easton

presented by Month9Books!

Mermaid fans, this one’s for you!
Grab your copy today!

Happy Book Birthday, Tobie!

Now that Lia and Clay’s love has broken the Little Mermaid’s curse, everything has changed. Will Lia’s family remain on land, leading the only life she and her sisters have ever known, or will they move below the waves, to the sparkling new capital city? Lia is adamant about staying on land with Clay for her senior year. But at Melusine and her father’s trial, new revelations threaten what Lia holds most dear.

The verdict will shake Lia’s whole world, calling into question her future with Clay, her feelings for Caspian, and the fate of all Merkind. As she wonders who to trust, Lia sets out on a treacherous path that will lead her away from her sheltered Malibu home to a remote and mysterious school for Mermaids—Mermaids who may hold the secret to ancient magic Lia can use to either get back all she’s lost or to embark on a thrilling and dangerous journey.

Submerge (Mer Chronicles #2)
by Tobie Easton
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Publisher: Month9Books

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she’s grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Tobie hosts book clubs for tweens and teens. She and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies. Learn more about Tobie and her upcoming books on www.TobieEaston.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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Review: Shadow and Bone

Title: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Source: Purchased
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Review:

Well this book was well worth the hype!

It follows the typical YA fantasy storyline of a girl from poor circumstances who suddenly discovers she has powers. But this story was much more special than most.

I loved Leigh Bardugo’s writing style. It sounded so natural and was paced really well. It was so easy to read!

Alina was a powerful character, not only with her summoning powers, but also mentally. She stood up for herself when she needed to. She was also clever in wanting to blend in with the other summoners when she first arrived, rather than being put on a pedestal above them.

I was really surprised at the ending. I didn’t want it to end but I was satisfied with what happened. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I recommend this book for YA readers! You may think it’s like the other popular fantasy series, but it’s amazing in its own way!

TBR Thursday #3

TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.

My pick this week is Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer.

I absolutely loved The Lunar Chronicles. I was only holding off on buying this one because it never seemed to go on sale. But I finally bought it this week! The next book in the series is coming out this fall. I’m super excited to finally read this one!