Book Review: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Buy This Book
Pages: 423
Published: Feb 2012
Genres: Fairytale Retelling, Fantasy, Magical Realism

Goodreads Synopsis... 
Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he struggling to maintain the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young girl running through the trees. 

This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel come to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they begin to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent territory things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform them all.

Review...   
This book is magic. That's what I was thinking while reading it. I took a curious bite out of the poison apple, and I was in this land no longer. I was in Alaska, in the home of Jack and Mabel. I felt their quiet desperation, the wordless pain that laced every look.

The way that this couple was shown to me is by far my favourite thing about this book. Though the book often felt like a dream, their lives ruled by sadness was very clear. It was depicted in such a simple way. In the absence of things, of laughter, of noise, of children. The nothingness took up all the space and pressed against me. 

Then comes Faina, the snow child. Who fills this absence with a certain kind of magic. Whether it is a literal magic or just the magic of her presence, we are never quite sure. This is how she is portrayed throughout the book. As a mystery, something we can never quite grasp. Which adds immensely to the magical feeling of the snow child.

All of this is set in the diverse and often contrasting land of Alaska. Where it goes from shivering nights to sweat filled days. And where quiet mornings are interrupted by neighbours bursting with energy.

I woke somewhat abruptly from reading it. Wondering if I would ever know completely the mysteries of Faina. If her magic would ever be explained. Smiling at the sweet memory of Jack and Mabel. Wishing that I would fall asleep, so I could return back again.

The Snow Child made me an instant fan of Eowyn Ivey, and I look forward to what she has to offer next.

5/5

Book of the Week: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Inside the book:
Based on a Russian fairytale about a girl, half human half snow. That visits an elderly couple without children each winter. This book is set in Alaska, and follows the tragic but beautiful tale of a girl named Faina, and the childless couple, Jack and Mabel. Whose lives she changes forever.

Outside the book:
I love blue books, and the simple colour scheme and design of this book are absolutely perfect. They give a glimpse of this beautiful story, and drew me immediately to the cover. The snowflakes at the start of each chapter, on the spine, and inside the cover are so beautiful. Adding just the right amount of winter magic.

Buy The Snow Child
Goodreads page

The Book Colours Tag

I MADE A TAG!!! Finally!
If you want to do this tag, feel free to do so. And be sure to let me know if you do, so I can watch it.

QUESTIONS/INSTRUCTIONS
1. Choose a colour.
2. Show all your books in that colour.
3. Separate colour by read/unread.
4. What book do you want to read the most?
5. What is your favourite book?
6. What is your favourite book cover?
7. What is you least favourite book cover?
8. What is a book you want to buy?
9. What is something near you/on your bookshelf?

Also These are some random pictures with the books I showed in my tag :)

Book Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Buy This Book 

Pages: 372
Published: October 2012
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Goodreads Synopsis...
The day that Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school is also the day a series of brutal murders breaks out over the city, killings mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper spree of more than a century ago. Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him--the only one who can see him. And now Rory has become his next target. In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

Review...
Ok, so you've read the synopsis. Lets list the things this book contains. Its thrilling, its creepy. It invloves lots of awesome Jack the Ripper story lines, and info. It takes place at a boarding school in London! I mean come on, that sounds magical! And it is funny and full of mystery.

Now this book actually contains all of the things I just mentioned! All of them! Its creepy, funny, and beautifully described. But before you go rushing off to buy it. You should know that all of those beautiful things, that would make a brilliant book, have been watered down. Everything is good, but not great. And that basically sums up my whole opinion of this book.

Its a tiny bit scary/creepy, and it does have a lot of Jack the Ripper stuff happening. But its not creepy enough! Nowhere near enough! It is well described, but thats it. I mean London, with all its rich culture. At a boarding school! The author could have surrounded me in this world, instead she just showed it to me. There is mystery and a twist, but to be honest it isnt that surprising, and made it harder to invest in the book.

If your looking for a book that will scare you silly. And leave you dizzy from its detailed descriptions. This is probably not the right book for you. If you looking for a fun, fast read, thats pretty good. Then pick up The Name of the Star.

3/5

Book Review: Chasing The Dark by Sam Hepburn

Buy This Book 

Pages: 352
Published: 6 June 2013
Genres: Teen, Adventure, Thriller, Mystery
A copy of this book was given to me for review, from the Book Depository.

Synopsis...
Joe Slattery is a 14 year old boy, whose mother has just died in a hit and run. Along with a stranger she was in the car with. As time goes by, Joe realizes there are many secrets surrounding the crash. And mysteries no one seems to know the answers to. One night, Joe takes his dog, Oz. On a walk through the woods, where he comes across an abandoned glass mansion. Where his search for the truth begins.
 
Review...
I didn't have high expectations for this book. The cover and the synopsis dont really jump out at me. But I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this anyway.

Chasing the dark, was just such a fun and interesting book to read, and I really enjoyed it. The best thing about this book for me, was the mystery. It started off seeming quite boring, and ordinary. But then it flourished and grew, so that by the end of it. I had no idea what the big reveal would be. Although I'm not completely amazing at figuring out mysteries before they happen. I have been recently, in some of the other books I've been reading. So it was a nice surprise to see that this teen fiction had a great mystery.

Although the book felt a bit too fast at times, and there werent enough interesting characters in the first section of the book (other than the awesome dog, Oz). I still flew right through this fast paced mystery/adventure book, and would definitely recommend it. Great for a quick read, or for getting out of a reading slump.

4/5 

Video Review...

 

Book Review: Across The Universe by Beth Revis

Buy This Book  
Pages: 398
Published: January 2011
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery, Romance

Goodreads Synopsis...
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming

Review...
Oh book hype, how you bring my hopes up (even though I know better) and then slap me in the face, laughing maniacally at my foolishness. 

Firstly I must make a comment on the cover of this book, so here it is: SO PWEEEEEETTTTIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!

There have been many things said about this book, both good and bad. So I will get to the point. This book had all the ingredients for an amazing book. It had a new mixture of genres, and the setting and premise are amazing. But either there isn't enough of some ingredients, or some of them were way past their expiry date, and need to be thrown away.

First of all the romance, it wasn't that it was an overbearing part of the book. Or even that it was forced down my throat like medicine. It was that once it was there, it left a bitter taste. And did nothing AT ALL to improve or add to things. It was just so darn awkward everytime Amy and Elder were anywhere near each other. Plus there was no chemistry, and generally nothing fun or interesting about their romance.

The Science fiction elements however where amazing! I loved how this was used to show the themes in the book. And also it was just so freaking cool to read about life on a spaceship, and being frozen and stored, so that hundreds of years later you could be reawakened.

The mystery element of the book was a bit dull, and I figured it out around the time the characters in the book should have, which was about 100 pages in to this 400 page book. And I didn't just have a hint as to what was happening. I was basically 100% sure who was the 'bad guy' in the story, and how things would end.

As well as bad ingredients, the way this story was presented to me wasn't so great. The writing was pretty sloppy, and the story wasn't engaging even though I expected it to be. The characters were also pretty dull, and stereotypical.

So if your thinking of buying this book, I would say don't waste your time and money. There are plenty of other books out there. That don't fall short of their awesome premise. And hopefully when I review them, I wont feel compelled to use so many food metaphors.


2.5/5

Book Review: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Buy this book
Pages: 249
Published: 1993
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Modern Classic

Synopsis...
The shocking thing about the five Lisbon was how nearly normal they seemed when their mother let them out for the one and only date of their lives. Twenty years on, their enigmatic personalities are embalmed in the memories of the boys who worshiped them and who now recall their shared adolescence: the brassiere draped over a crucifix belonging to the promiscuous Lux; the sisters' breathtaking appearance on the night of the dance; and the sultry, sleepy street across which they watched a family disintegrate and fragile lives disappear.  

Quick Review...
1. Continually surprised by what was happening.
2. Prose and the style of writing was really the best part of this book. Characters and plot are so excellently woven together, in a voice that is both different and thought provoking.
3. The narrative style was a collective 'we' who were the boys who obsessed over the girls and documented their life.
4. So mesmerizing, and I thought I wouldn't like the end, but it just made it even better. Sometimes ambiguity is better than absolute.

A dark and haunting story, that is so incredibly well written. It will make you believe the Lisbon girls were real, and leave you mourning for the lives they could have had.

5 out of 5 stars.

Video Review...

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Written by Stephenie Meyer
Pages: 619
Published: May 2008
Genres: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Romance, Paranormal

Goodreads Synopsis…
Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

My Review...

If you don’t know what the Host is, then you will soon. The Host is written by the same author as the Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer. And it is being turned into a blockbuster movie, set to come out worldwide in march next year.

Now before you Twilight haters close this page angrily, asking why someone would dare mention the word Twilight. The Host is so very different to Twilight. It is first of all a Sci-fi, and not just any sci-fi. It has been labelled Sci-fi for people who don’t really like Sci-fi.

The other difference to Twilight is that the writing is SO much better. The messages discussed are deep, and important for the world today. Many people, who said they hated Twilight, also say that they love The Host. This might also be because the target audience for the novel has changed, it is an adult novel.

Although the novel is big with 600 pages, the content is unique and interesting. It was so easy for me to read, and I couldn’t stop! But it wasn’t simply a light read, it made me think, with themes sown effortlessly into the story. The Love triangle was also very unique, and made it impossible for there to be instant love, or a simple romance.

Get ready to be surprised and delighted, if you decide to read this amazing book.

5 out of 5!  

If you have read this book and want to discuss it with me, then watch the video below and head to my YouTube page: bookswithdylan

                                                                Book Talk: The Host

In the Discussion video, I also talk about possible sequels to this book, and more about the movie!