Thursday, October 11, 2012
Writing Contest for Teens
If you're interested in entering a writing contest, I found one! (Well, I didn't... My creative writing class teacher did.) Anyway, it sounds like a really good idea. Just throwing this out there in case you're interested! If you are click here to see the official website. The contest is open to kids grades 5-12.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
A Memoir to Remember
Then comes the awkward moment when you realize that you have only posted negative reviews for the last month. I have to apologize guys. I promise that I have several good reviews planned and I'll get them out here as soon as possible!
So this is my first review of a non-fiction book. I know, I know; it's crazy. I don't like non-fiction. It just doesn't interest me as much as an impossible land with mythical creatures and humans with crazy powers. Does that make me biased? Maybe. But this book was....there aren't even words to describe it people. It was epic. Touching. Heartbreaking. Sad. Amazing. All at the same time.
What are the odds right? Anyway, my mom brought it home from the library and I remembered her talking about the woman who wrote it (it's a memoir, by the way) so I decided I was going to put down Found (the book I was in the middle of) and read it real quick. It's short; only a couple hundred pages. It tells the amazing true story of Stephanie Neilson, whose life changed forever when she was in a horrible plane crash. Over 80% of her body was burned. She was in a coma for four months, during which time they didn't know if she was going to make it. Heaven is Here tells the story of her life before the accident, the struggle she went through while healing, and her life afterwards. This woman is probably one of the most incredible people in the world. Yeah, I cried while I read this book.
You will too. I promise.
If you're interested in reading her blog, the address is nieniedialogues.blogspot.com.
So this is my first review of a non-fiction book. I know, I know; it's crazy. I don't like non-fiction. It just doesn't interest me as much as an impossible land with mythical creatures and humans with crazy powers. Does that make me biased? Maybe. But this book was....there aren't even words to describe it people. It was epic. Touching. Heartbreaking. Sad. Amazing. All at the same time.
What are the odds right? Anyway, my mom brought it home from the library and I remembered her talking about the woman who wrote it (it's a memoir, by the way) so I decided I was going to put down Found (the book I was in the middle of) and read it real quick. It's short; only a couple hundred pages. It tells the amazing true story of Stephanie Neilson, whose life changed forever when she was in a horrible plane crash. Over 80% of her body was burned. She was in a coma for four months, during which time they didn't know if she was going to make it. Heaven is Here tells the story of her life before the accident, the struggle she went through while healing, and her life afterwards. This woman is probably one of the most incredible people in the world. Yeah, I cried while I read this book.
You will too. I promise.
If you're interested in reading her blog, the address is nieniedialogues.blogspot.com.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Why Must Free Kindle Books Be So Disappointing?
Yeah, yeah, you guessed it. Another not so great review is coming. But I'm going to be completely honest; the only reason I'm doing this review is because the book was just so....bad. I can't sugarcoat it this time folks. The only good thing about it was that I got it for free. Yes, I admit, I didn't read the entire book. After I hit a certain point, I skipped to the end because I just didn't care to read anything in between. Hate me for it If you want, but when you read this book, I'll personally bet you ten bucks that you didn't enjoy it either.
The book is called The Light Tamers, and it is by Devyn Dawson. Except that her name isn't really Devyn...it's Stephanie...I got bored and read the acknowledgments, hoping they might be more interesting (they weren't).
But back to the book.
Basically, the main character....I can't even remember her name, that was how bad the book was. Give me five seconds to go check. (One, two, three, four, five) Jessie! Her name was Jessie! Okay, so anyway, she moves in with her grandma. The first day, she goes to visit a boy who saved her from drowning a few years back, only to discover that he's changed from a scrawny little kid into a macho, hunky, god-like, incredible handsome guy. How cliche. So they go on a date the next day. While at the beach, Caleb tells her all about how she's a light tamer (which I didn't think was very well explained throughout the book) and how since he saved her they are forever bonded; a term that means they start dating and he can read her thoughts.
But here's what really got me folks: SHE BELIEVES HIM! From the first moment he tells her that she belongs to a race of people with an ability that she's never experienced, the girl believes every word. Are you serious? No questioning, no asking for proof, no nothing? Come on!! I was looking forward to a kick-butt heroine, but instead I got her? You have got to be kidding me.
Okay, deep breath Alex. Rant over.
But that wasn't the only thing. I was also irritated by the lack of action. The vast majority of the rest of the book involved Jessie and Caleb making out. Seriously? We get it. Now lets have some crazy, psychotic villains and some intense battles please! So, to recap, there was little to no character development, and the plot was lacking.
Now on to grammatical mistakes.
Oh my gosh. They were everywhere! Dawson couldn't decide whether she was going to write in past tense or present tense, so she apparently decided to just throw both of them into the mush pot and see what she ended up with. Good gracious, it BUGGED me!
I have warned you. Take care when reading free Kindle books, my friends.
The book is called The Light Tamers, and it is by Devyn Dawson. Except that her name isn't really Devyn...it's Stephanie...I got bored and read the acknowledgments, hoping they might be more interesting (they weren't).
But back to the book.
Basically, the main character....I can't even remember her name, that was how bad the book was. Give me five seconds to go check. (One, two, three, four, five) Jessie! Her name was Jessie! Okay, so anyway, she moves in with her grandma. The first day, she goes to visit a boy who saved her from drowning a few years back, only to discover that he's changed from a scrawny little kid into a macho, hunky, god-like, incredible handsome guy. How cliche. So they go on a date the next day. While at the beach, Caleb tells her all about how she's a light tamer (which I didn't think was very well explained throughout the book) and how since he saved her they are forever bonded; a term that means they start dating and he can read her thoughts.
But here's what really got me folks: SHE BELIEVES HIM! From the first moment he tells her that she belongs to a race of people with an ability that she's never experienced, the girl believes every word. Are you serious? No questioning, no asking for proof, no nothing? Come on!! I was looking forward to a kick-butt heroine, but instead I got her? You have got to be kidding me.
Okay, deep breath Alex. Rant over.
But that wasn't the only thing. I was also irritated by the lack of action. The vast majority of the rest of the book involved Jessie and Caleb making out. Seriously? We get it. Now lets have some crazy, psychotic villains and some intense battles please! So, to recap, there was little to no character development, and the plot was lacking.
Now on to grammatical mistakes.
Oh my gosh. They were everywhere! Dawson couldn't decide whether she was going to write in past tense or present tense, so she apparently decided to just throw both of them into the mush pot and see what she ended up with. Good gracious, it BUGGED me!
I have warned you. Take care when reading free Kindle books, my friends.
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