Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

First off, how could you not expect an awesome book by a person named Ransom Riggs? That’s a pretty cool name.

Quirk was amazing to send me a copy of the paperback to review here on Rather Be Reading, and I couldn’t wait to start it.

I hadn’t realized, for some reason, before I started the book, that it was classified as a YA novel. I haven’t been reading a lot of YA lately, and I was a little concerned that this wouldn’t be the mature, mysterious novel I was looking for for. Luckily, my concerns were completely unfounded! This was a very atmospheric, engaging story of a hidden world, and the amazing people who inhabit it.

There was plenty of darkness in this story, with the super creepy hollowgast and the brutal deaths they cause. However, the beautiful photographs and the peculiar children with their peculiar talents lend the story a certain whimsy, the kind that goes hand in hand with darkness. Which is something I enjoy in a story. and in the midst of all the danger and beauty, there is a story of self-discovery, the kind that makes you think, and makes you feel for the protagonist, without it being overdone.

the best thing about this book is the way it uses pacing. There is some very exciting stuff toward the beginning, and then the story slows down a little, as we learn about the world and the peculiars. In stead of being a blank, boring space in the story, however, as it might be in some, it’s a part of the story that is filled with meaning. Whereas some reviews might tell you that the story tapers off at this point, listen to me when I tell you that that’s it’s only just beginning. While not filled to the brim with dark atmosphere or chilling encounters, it is, quite possibly, the most important part of the story.

I really enjoyed Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. I’m looking forward to its sequel, Hollow City, due out next year.

Keep reading, fellow bibliophiles!

Friday Night Update!

just thought I’d give you all a quick update on what’s been happening lately. I know it’s been a while since I posted, but I want to assure you that I have indeed been reading! Just a bit slowly, in between homework, and alternating books. But I will definitely have a review for you some time next week! I’ve almost finished the most recent book that Quirk sent me to review, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

And I also promise that I do indeed have some books to give away, and I want to hold a contest as soon as possible!

I’m a readaholic (again)

So… I know I just started Game of Thrones, and I’ve hardly even spoken about that on here. But look what finally arrived today!

I’m playing The Witcher game right now, and I find the world very interesting. I’ve been itching to see the story portrayed in its original form. I understand it’s going to be quite different, but that’s a good thing!

I know what you’re thinking. “You’re starting another book? What is wrong with you?”

Well, this is actually a good thing! In past times, I was in the middle of usually 20-30 books at a time – no joke! This included several books for pure enjoyment, books for school, classics, young adult, epic fantasy. It feels a little like I’m getting back to being me. Because of the change of my reading habits, unless I have a proper review to do, I’ll update every Friday night with what I’ve been up to during the week. This included by book club book (more on that later), Game of Thrones, The Last Wish, and even my textbook for this semester.

Happy reading, everyone!

(Winter still isn’t coming, by the way.)

I guess every fantasy fan has to do it…

Since it’s been a while, I’m just stopping by to give a quick update.

Well, I finally did. I started Game of Thrones. (I have never seen any of the TV show yet.) According to GoodReads, I’m 14% into it. I’m really enjoying it, more than I thought I would, to be honest. Reading it kind of reminds me of when I first started Wizard’s First Rule, and it’s really nice to have that feeling back.

No, I have not given up on Banewreaker, but it just isn’t what I need in a book right now. I’ll try to get back into it soon. I’m starting to really get back into reading, a bit of stuff is piling up on my plate.

And just to let you all know, I do plan on having a contest. I’m not sure when, but if things work out right, I know what it will coincide with. So stay tuned!

Winter is (not) coming.

BioShock [Game Review]

Last night I finished BioShock. It’s the first FPS I’ve played in a while,  and it really pulled me in. I’ve been recommending it to friends who have yet to play it, and I’m happy to add it to my list of favorite games.

I’ll have to admit, I was a little disappointed in the ending. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say a little about how the final moment of BioShock let me down.

I am new to the franchise, and I got the first two games as part of a bundle after Christmas. With all the advertising for BioShock Infinite slapping me in the face everywhere I look, I decided it was time to give my own copy of the first game a spin. I loved the game, I still do, it’s really great. The problem lies in the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ endings, and how the game decides you get which one. I spent the vast majority of the game making the ‘good’ decision (I won’t go into detail here, even though it isn’t spoilery, just in case.) However, because I didn’t understand what I was doing, and a wrong button press, I did make the ‘bad’ choice twice, I think. Apparently that was all it took.

Even if I had gotten the desired ‘good’ ending (the bad one made me feel like a schmuck, even though I really didn’t do anything), something about the ending was lacking. After fighting my way through the game and winning the boss battle, I think the ending was a little rushed, and perhaps without as much emotion as it could have had. I don’t feel like things were really resolved.

There is a sequel, of course, which I have downloading to my computer as I type this. I don’t know anything about it, really. So maybe more will be revealed then. Perhaps what I feel is lacking in resolution in the first game will be addressed in BioShock 2.

Despite the not so fabulous ending, BioShock is a really fun game, a great FPS, and it has some deep emotional moments. When your eyes get tired from all that reading, take a break and play it. It’s so worth it.

The Resurrectionist, by E. B. Hudspeth

The wonderful people at Quirk sent me a copy of the gorgeous book to read and review, so let’s not waste any time!

Just like the information on the book says, it’s really two books in one. The first half of the book is a biography of fictional scientist Spencer Black. (He has a brother named Bernard Black, and all I can think of is the BBC comedy Black Books.) The biographical information is presented so well that sometimes I had to remind myself that I was reading about a fictional person.

In full disclosure, I have to say that I was a little disappointed by some of the story’s progression. Without spoiling anything, I can say that things lean persistently to the scientific angle, and less of a fantasy angle. This is not bad, just not what I was expecting.

The second half of the book, Spencer Black’s Codex Extinct Animalia, is really the selling point of the book. The illustrations are amazingly beautiful, and look just like anatomical illustrations. They look as though they could be plastered around a doctor’s office, right at home with a drug label on them.

But what is possibly the best part about the illustrations is that their realism can be seen as a resource. Artists and authors could find them very useful in giving their art and stories a little more practicality. It is from this that Hudspeth’s books gets its real beauty. After finishing the book, I feel as though my knowledge has been expanded, and what I read really matters.

The only real problem I had with the book was some lack of detail in the biography. I feel as though some aspects weren’t explored as well as they could have been. Hudspeth has a neat trick for leaving out some of the details – he chalks it up to lack of historical evidence. It works well for the story, but it still leaves me feel as though there’s more to know. it could even be on purpose. I would definitely buy a sequel, were one to be written.

The bottom line is this: The Resurrectionist is a beautiful book with an engaging storyline and in depth, realistic illustrations. All lovers of books, fantasy, and mythological creatures, need this on their shelves. I’m very proud to give it a home in my collection.

Banewreaker by Jaqueline Carey–Chapter One

In this chapter we are introduced to the people who, I assume, are going to be the major players in the story: Tanaros, Cerelinde, Aracus, and Lilias, who just might be my favorite. I won’t go into details about all of them, but they’re quite an interesting little group.

I am already loving the characters. They feel very real, and I can’t wait to get to know them better and watch their adventures. So far I know a bit more about Tanaros than anyone. His backstory is revealed to us more gradually, giving it more weight to the story. Lilias’s backstory is given in a more straight forward manner, which I like because it means we aren’t given any superfluous information so early in the book.

Anyway, that’s enough about chapter one. I’ll see if I can read at least one more chapter tonight.

(P.S. – These updates will be getting shorter as I get further into the book. As always, they will remain spoiler free, so don’t worry! And yes, I will be doing a comprehensive final review when I finish the book.)