Sunday, July 31, 2016

The Literature Book by DK Publishing, Sam Atkinson

Summary
A global look at the greatest works of Eastern and Western literature and the themes that unite them, for students and lovers of literature and reading.


The Literature Book is a fascinating journey through the greatest works of world literature, from the Iliad to Don Quixote to The Great Gatsby. Around 100 crystal-clear articles explore landmark novels, short stories, plays, and poetry that reinvented the art of writing in their time, whether Ancient Greece, post-classical Europe, or modern-day Korea.

As part of DK's award-winning Big Ideas Simply Explained series, The Literature Book uses infographics and images to explain key ideas and themes. Biographies of important authors offer insight into their lives and other writings, and a section on Further Reading details more than 150 additional works to explore.

Discover masterpieces from the world's greatest authors, and explore the context, creative history, and literary traditions that influenced each major work of fiction with The Literature Book.

Series Overview: Big Ideas Simply Explained series uses creative design and innovative graphics, along with straightforward and engaging writing, to make complex subjects easier to understand. These award-winning books provide just the information needed for students, families, or anyone interested in concise, thought-provoking refreshers on a single subject.




Impressions
A mix between a history book, an encyclopedia and Santa's gift bags !

From Mythology to contemporary literature, you travel through time and discover authors from around the world. Of course, there is a lot of classics but I've enjoyed the diversity of the sources. You will find books from Asia, Russia, France, UK and the US.

I've also appreciaped the colorful construction of the pages. You always have a focus on a special book with a bio of it's author as well as the period where it was written. The historical background, the political, historical or social influences that lead to a specific literary current.

It's very well explained and if you want to know more you have a section called "further reading" to discover or rediscover new authors and books of this same movement or period.

Quotes are also used to illustrate a topic or to enhance the text.

It's a very pleasant book that can be read countless time. You will always find something for you in it if you are a book lover.
You can read it for the pleasure, to improve your knowledge about the classics or just to choose a good friends to go on adventures with.

Since I have already read "The Sociology Book" in the same collection, I may add that these books are easy to understand and perfect to keep around.

Great collection!


Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Uptown & Downtown by Alan Bortman


Uptown & Downtown: Old Skool Paintings on NYC Subway Maps by Alan Bortman
Summary
New York graffiti writers who cut their teeth painting trains in the '70s and '80s transfer Old Skool street art to a more permanent, collectible medium in this book, using transit maps, instead of subway cars, as canvases. 

GHOST, T-KID, QUIK, REVOLT, BLADE, SHAME125, COPE2, SKEME, and others decorated ordinary 23" x 32" MTA maps with their personal tags and graphics echoing the heyday of New York train graffiti. 

Sixteen sections, one for each writer, feature a total of more than 100 maps, as well as brief statements about the painters' artistic evolution and style. Like a dynamic "piece book," or sketchbook, this collection is an exclusive sampling of the painters' signature strokes and tags in portable form. 

In fact, many of the artists featured here have used subway-map art as a springboard from the fleeting genre of train-tagging to the sturdier platform of the international art gallery circuit."


Impressions
Full of great graffitis !

If you like street art and graffiti, you will appreciate this book. It let a huge place to the art. Lot of pieces bought by private buyers are offered to your eyes and they are impressive.

If the art is well shown off, I would have liked to know more about the artists. Sure, there is a bio but a very short one. Like the sobriety of the design but I would have loved more words.
Idem for the introduction to the graffiti on the NYC transit system. I like to read, even if the illustrations are awesome.

Perfect, if you want to enjoy only the art.



Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Extraordinary October by Diana Wagman

Summary
October is an ordinary girl. From her plain looks to her average grades, there seems to be nothing special about her. Then, three days before her eighteenth birthday, she develops a strange itch that won’t go away, and her life is turned upside down.

Suddenly, she can hear dogs talk, make crows fly, and two new and very handsome boys at school are vying for her affections. After she starts “transplanting” herself through solid rock, October learns that she is not ordinary at all, but the daughter of a troll princess and a fairy prince, and a pawn in a deadly war between the trolls and the fairies.

Now October will have to use all of her growing powers to save her family, and stop a mysterious evil that threatens to destroy the fairy world.


In the fantastical vein of authors such as Julie Kagawa and Holly Black, Extraordinary October takes us on a magical journey from the streets of Los Angeles to the beautiful and mythical underground fairy kingdom.


Impressions
 Entertaining!

Actions, betrayals, fairies, trolls, transplanting, blood and a lot of running to escape. I haven't been able to put the book down once I've strated it. It was really a cool read to enjoy secrets and imaginary adventures.

Of course, it has reminded me of The Iron Fey series by Julie Kawaga and of Harry Potter with Dolores Umbridge. Less magical and with more pace, it's the perfect mix to escape into fantasyland while still be plausible.

October lacks of confidence in herself and has trust issues but with all the secrets and betrayal, she can be certain of anything after learning who she really is.

As for the two males "prince charming", they make mistakes and are not so charming. In reality, it's why it was a cool one. Nothing is black or white and October is a great positive heroine.

I've appreciated this story and the author creativity.

Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas

Summary
This beauty isn’t sleeping! Discover the true story of Sleeping Beauty in Sarah Prineas’s bold YA fairy-tale retelling filled with thrilling adventure and romance, perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles and The Girl of Fire & Thorns trilogy.

After the spell protecting her is destroyed, Rose seeks safety in the world outside the valley she had called home. She’s been kept hidden all her life to delay the three curses she was born with—curses that will put her into her own fairy tale and a century-long slumber. Accompanied by the handsome and mysterious Watcher, Griff, and his witty and warmhearted partner, Quirk, Rose tries to escape from the ties that bind her to her story. But will the path they take lead them to freedom, or will it bring them straight into the fairy tale they are trying to avoid?

Set in the world of Sarah Prineas’s Ash & Bramble fifty years later, Rose & Thorn is a powerful retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale where the characters fight to find their own Happy Ever After.



Impressions
A nice way of revisiting a popular fairy tale!

"Only the kiss of true love can stop the curse." A famous quote that remind you instantly of "Sleeping Beauty", her adventures and curse.
It was never my favorite as I found the princess too passive and innocent. In this story, I've appreciated Rose's spontaneity as well as her positive attitude. She wants to fight her fate and believes in love being able to overcome every troubles.

Much more darker, this story is interesting. To be honest, I've found some lengths and was not really fan of some of the secondary characters. Even Griff is a grumpy boring hero. But there is something in the author writing that forces you to turn the pages to learn what will happen next...

And the ending is interesting, even if the story focus too much about the first curse.

Some great potential in the imagination and creativity of the author.


Quotes
"The teller chooses where to begin, what to leave out and what to leave in, and where to end. Every time we tell a story, it is different."

"Story was everywhere. It was everything."

Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Platinum End by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata





Summary
As his classmates celebrates their middle school graduation, one student's mind seems to be elsewhere. 

His name is Mirai and he has a dark secret. 
All humans deserve to find happiness, but Mirai may need some salvation from above in the form of an angel.

Impressions
A first volume interesting enough to arouse curiosity with a great ending. The plot is a bit dark with illustrations that fit well with the story. There is a lot of fluidity and intensity in the drawings.
I especially like Mirai's hair and eyes.

As for the plot, it's a battle for becoming the next God. 13 candidates. Unfortunately, some will stop at nothing to take over and be the ultimate winner!
Interesting!


Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries

Summary
To root out the card cheat responsible for her brother’s death, Miss Delia Trevor spends her evenings dancing her way through high society balls, and her late nights disguised as a young man gambling her way through London’s gaming hells. Then one night, handsome Warren Corry, the Marquess of Knightford, a notorious member of St. George’s Club, recognizes her. When he threatens to reveal her secret, she’s determined to keep him from ruining her plans, even if it means playing a cat-and-mouse game with the enigmatic rakehell.

Warren knows the danger of her game, and he refuses to watch her lose everything while gaining justice for her late brother. But when she starts to delve beneath his carefully crafted façade, can he keep her at arm’s length while still protecting her? Or will their hot desires explode into a love that transcends the secrets of their pasts?



Impressions
An entertaining regency novel with great characters. Especially Delia who is daring and imprevisible for this period of time.

Even if the book and plot are pleasant, I found some length as I was curious to understand who was the man with the tattoo. The author has made me wait some time before giving me this answer. Too bad, it was wrapped out too easily.

Perfect if you want to read a romance but if you want some action, you will be dissapointed.

A good summer read to enjoy at the beach.


Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Idiot Brain: What Your Head Is Really Up To by Dean Burnett

Summary
It's happened to all of us at some point. You walk into the kitchen, or flip open your laptop, or stride confidently up to a lectern, filled with purpose—and suddenly haven't the foggiest idea what you’re doing. Welcome to your idiot brain.

Yes, it is an absolute marvel in some respects—the seat of our consciousness, the pinnacle (so far) of evolutionary progress, and the engine of all human experience—but your brain is also messy, fallible, and about 50,000 years out-of-date. We cling to superstitions, remember faces but not names, miss things sitting right in front of us, and lie awake at night while our brains replay our greatest fears on an endless loop.

Yet all of this, believe it or not, is the sign of a well-meaning brain doing its best to keep you alive and healthy. In Idiot Brain, neuroscientist Dean Burnett celebrates blind spots, blackouts, insomnia, and all the other downright laughable things our minds do to us, while also exposing the many mistakes we've made in our quest to understand how our brains actually work. Expertly researched and entertainingly written, this book is for everyone who has wondered why their brain appears to be sabotaging their life, and what on earth it is really up to.






Impressions
Fun and interesting, I've spent a really good time reading about brain and our behaviours. From the social panics, to memory troubles or intelligence, the author decrypts the brain with fun, easy examples or scientific facts.

But don't run away, it's not boring at all! In fact, I've been turning the page eagerly. From the crosswords to see if it will strengthen our abilities to collecting odors informations, you can understand a bit better how busy our brain is. It's very interesting to pause and think about its role.

Original, fun and very cool read! I'm happy to have opened this book...



Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart

Summary
Fans of Stephen King and Bentley Little will devour The Beast of Barcroft, Bill Schweigart’s brilliant new vision of dark suburban horror. Ben thought he had the neighbor from hell. He didn’t know how right he was. . . .

Ben McKelvie believes he’s moving up in the world when he and his fiancée buy a house in the cushy Washington, D.C., suburb of Barcroft. Instead, he’s moving down—way down—thanks to Madeleine Roux, the crazy neighbor whose vermin-infested property is a permanent eyesore and looming hazard to public health.

First, Ben’s fiancée leaves him; then, his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator drawn into Barcroft by Madeleine’s noxious menagerie. But the worst is yet to come for Ben, for he’s not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn’t possibly exist—in this world.

Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks, but knowing the Beast of Barcroft and stopping it are two different animals.



Impressions
A page turning strange story !

The plot has piqued my curiosity and I was in the mood for something scary and different from my current reads. And this book has not dissapointed me.
From the beginning with the rats and strange animals, I was thinking to always check your neighbors. Wow... Some can be strange and thanks to this story now I will pay attention! Lol.

It was an original read with some great characters even if there is too many rats to my peace of mind. :-D
Ben McKelvie has just been left by his girlfriend and you will follow his adventures in this new strange neighborood. A horror story that you will have trouble to put down as soon as you will start reading it...

A really cool one!


Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Tell Me a Story by Tamara Lush

Summary
A flirtatious reading of erotica blossoms into something deep and tender in the steamy Florida heat...

Tell Me a Story... 

Emma, a free-spirited bookstore owner in Orlando, keeps her business afloat with innovative ideas. Her most popular evening event is Story Brothel, where customers can pay writers to read aloud to them in a story-time for two, complete with cocktails. Despite the name, the event is usually tame. But things take a steamy turn when a handsome, urbane businessman hires Emma for a session in a private cabana. Daringly, she shares with him a reading of her erotica. Soon both of them are feeling the effects ... and Emma's wondering what kind of lover is underneath his expensive suit.

Caleb may be a billionaire real estate mogul, but he's never been captivated by a woman as he is by the lovely, quirky Emma. Her rockabilly vintage dresses make him long to strip them off and do very wicked things to her. And her refusal to share her personal life only makes him more curious.

Soon the couple are spending every available moment together. But Emma's building is in danger of being razed out from under her bookstore ... and worse, Caleb may be behind her problems. Can she trust him with her life as she does with her body? Or will the prickly walls built during her harsh past keep them apart?

Impressions
Sweet, sexy and enjoyable !

Very well written, this romance with some hot sex has a good balance between hot, flirtatious scenes as well as a credible development. Sure, the plot may be something of a déjà vu but it's perfectly well directed by the author's words.

The atmosphere is playfull and light. Sure, the male character is a rich one but the author has been able to make her personnage, Caleb, lovable and approchable. Emma is a cool one to spent a great night of reading with. :-D

Perfect to relax or to enjoy at the beach.

Quotes

"I think a fantasy is what the heart whispers to silence a busy mind."

Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

The Sociology Book by DK Publishing, Sam Atkinson

Summary
The Sociology Book takes on some of humankind's biggest questions: What is society? What makes it tick? Why do we interact in the way that we do with our friends, coworkers, and rivals? The Sociology Book profiles the world's most renowned sociologists and more than 100 of their biggest ideas, including issues of equality, diversity, identity, and human rights; the effects of globalization; the role of institutions; and the rise of urban living in modern society

Easy to navigate and chock-full of key concepts, profiles of major sociological thinkers, and conversation starters galore, this is a must-have, in-a-nutshell guide to some of the most fascinating questions on earth.

The Sociology Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas Simply Explained series, designed to distill big ideas and elusive theories into graspable, memorable concepts, using an approachable graphic treatment and creative typography. 

Impressions
Perfect for people who want to learn more about sociology!

I was curious about what I will find: a lot of interesting concepts and ideas clearly explained. Food for thoughts about the foundation of sociology, cultural identity and the family dynamics. It's an interesting read if you are at school or just curious about sociology.

A cool one!

Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

The Adjustments by Ann Lineberger

Summary
In the postcard Connecticut town of Cannondale, financial status is followed closely by social standing. Nowhere is this battle more fiercely contested than among the housewives of Fairfield County.

Attending yoga classes at the trendy studio in town—taught by the sexy and mysterious Yogi Jack—is part of every elite woman’s routine. It allows them a daily escape from the madness of their over-scheduled lives. But the inner peace that yoga brings is only part of the appeal: many of the women come for Yogi Jack, the studio’s sexual energy, and the seductive in-class adjustments.

In his private sessions, Yogi Jack provides services above and beyond the usual realm of warrior pose, downward-facing dog, and shavasana. One-on-one time with Jack is increasingly sought-after by every one of his female students, from women looking for a deeper stretch to those seeking an entirely different kind of experience—a sexual awakening.

As high-profile magazine editor Elizabeth Kelly and her realtor sister Abigail Davis-Powers soon discover, their little affluent town is not at all what it seems. Hidden behind the immaculately designed houses and their posh façades is the dirty laundry of the housewives of Fairfield County.

Drama, jealousy, and intrigue emerge as the women delve deeper into the greedy, status-obsessed underbelly of Cannondale. And when one dark secret finds the light of day, it will threaten to change their lives forever.



Impressions
I was expected to be entertained...

A horny version of "Desperate housewives" in a yoga studio.
Perfect if you like yoga but soon it becomes more about how the teacher will take care of his students sexual fantaisies.
Not really attractive or seductive, kind of pathetic, as the main character try to take advantage of the wife unhappiness.
Not really a read to escape after a long day but not a bad one either.

Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley



Summary

Catherine West has spent her entire life surrounded by beautiful things. She owns an immaculate Manhattan apartment, she collects fine art, she buys exquisite handbags and clothing, and she constantly redecorates her home. And yet, despite all this, she still feels empty. She sees her personal trainer, she gets weekly massages, and occasionally she visits her mother and sister on the Upper East Side, but after two broken engagements and boyfriends who wanted only her money, she is haunted by the fear that she’ll never have a family of her own.

One night, at an art opening, Catherine meets William Stockton, a handsome man who shares her impeccable taste and love of beauty. He is educated, elegant, and even has a personal connection—his parents and Catherine’s parents were friends years ago. But as he and Catherine grow closer, she begins to encounter strange signs, and her mother, Elizabeth (now suffering from Alzheimer’s), seems to have only bad memories of William as a boy. In Elizabeth’s old diary she finds an unnerving letter from a former nanny that cryptically reads: “We cannot trust anyone…” Is William lying about his past?
And if so, is Catherine willing to sacrifice their beautiful life in order to find the truth? Featuring a fascinating heroine who longs for answers but is blinded by her own privilege, We Could Be Beautiful is a glittering, seductive, utterly surprising story of love, money, greed, and family.


Impressions
Hmm... I'm perplex!

The cover has piqued my curiosity as well as the synopsis. I was expected to be intrigued. Instead, I've been pissed off by Catherine.

Hard to relate to a character who has everything and can only worried about finding love. If the story is fluid and well-written, I admit I've found some length and got even bored before evrything in Catherine's life start to fall appart.

Since, I'm impatient with my books lately, I will let you make you own decisions...


Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

A Season for Fireflies by Rebecca Maizel

Summary
A story of second chances from the author of Between Us and the Moon, which Kirkus Reviews called “what first love is meant to be.”

A year ago, Penny Berne was the star of her high school’s theater department, surrounded by a group of misfit friends and falling in love for the first time. Now her old friends won’t talk to her, her new best friend is the most popular girl in school, and her first love, Wes, ignores her. Penny is revered and hated. Then, in a flash, a near-fatal lightning strike leaves Penny with no memory of the past year—or how she went from drama nerd to queen bee. 

As a record number of fireflies light up her town and her life, Penny realizes she may be able to make things right again—and that even if she can’t change the past, she can learn to see the magic where she never could before.

This captivating new novel about first love, second chances, and the power of memory is perfect for fans of Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall and Katie Cotugno’s How to Love. 



Impressions
I was in the mood for something cute and since the synopsis was intriguing, I thought: Why not?
It was not my cup of tea even if the story was well written and enjoyable.

Sure, talking about living wth alcoolic parents was a great and interesting addition but I was not touched by the characters or embarked into the author's world. Something was missing.

But since I've read a lot of good critics, maybe it was just for me.

Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Monday, July 4, 2016

The Battle for Home by Marwa al-Sabouni, Roger Scruton

Summary
Drawing on the author’s personal experience of living and working as an architect in Syria, this timely and fascinating account offers an eyewitness perspective on the country’s bitter conflict through the lens of architecture, showing how the built environment and its destruction hold up a mirror to the communities that inhabit it.

Impressions
The author is an architect who express her views on her country, the war, the reconstruction of Syria in a very beautiful way.

Through our sketches and drawings, you can witness how she sees the damages done to cities and her optimism. It's a touching, interesting book.

Was impressed by the honesty of her work.
Great book.

About the authors
Marwa al-Sabouni has a PhD in Islamic architecture and runs a private architectural studio in Homs, Syria. She has written for Architectural Review, and Wall Street International. She is co-owner of the first and only online media site dedicated to architectural news in Arabic, Arch News.

Roger Scruton is a writer and philosopher. His books include The Dictionary of Political Thought, A Land Held Hostage: Lebanon and the West, and The Aesthetics of Architecture.

Source
*Arc provided by Edelweiss
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet by Charlie N. Holmberg

Summary
Maire is a baker with an extraordinary gift: she can infuse her treats with emotions and abilities, which are then passed on to those who eat them. She doesn’t know why she can do this and remembers nothing of who she is or where she came from.

When marauders raid her town, Maire is captured and sold to the eccentric Allemas, who enslaves her and demands that she produce sinister confections, including a witch’s gingerbread cottage, a living cookie boy, and size-altering cakes.

During her captivity, Maire is visited by Fyel, a ghostly being who is reluctant to reveal his connection to her. The more often they meet, the more her memories return, and she begins to piece together who and what she really is—as well as past mistakes that yield cosmic consequences.

From the author of The Paper Magician series comes a haunting and otherworldly tale of folly and consequence, forgiveness and redemption.

Impressions
The Paper Magician series is great one. I've enjoyed myself with the first two books. So, I was thrilled to enter into this author world again.

Eager to following Maire adventures, her magical abilities with her cooking were promising. There is action, blood, magical references that are cool and well distilled along the story.
Unfortunately, I was dissapointed.

The author has teased me, piqued my curiousity but also made me wait for too long before giving me some answers. So my impatience has grown, when the scenes were repeating.

Too bad because there is a lot of potential and Maire is a great character.

 Lot of potential but too slow paced!

Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Daoist Nei Gong for Women by Roni Edlund, Damo Mitchell, Sophie Johnson

Summary
Although the energetic anatomy of men and women is different, the ancient teachings of Nu Dan, a separate branch of internal alchemy for women, have been lost in the literature over the centuries and only survive through practice in the lineages.
This book takes a detailed look at female energetic anatomy, exploring how it is different from its male counterpart, and explains and describes the specific practices which support the unique strengths and challenges that the female energy system presents.
Previously wrapped in secrecy, the teachings in this book include qigong exercises that activate the energy of the uterus and an explanation of how menstruation and a connection to the cycles of the moon can be converted into a tool for Nei Gong development.


Impressions
Interesting but a bit long! But it was great to understand how women can practice differently.

When I've read the summary I was curious about the differences... Of course. At the same time, I was asking myself if it may be the same way with all the practice. Like for Tai Chi or even if we could apply it for medidation as we all are different.
So I was having a lot of questions and was excited to start this journey.

Don't get me wrong, it was a great one to hear about the authors experiences and the way they have discovered a new way of practicing for women. I just thought that it has taken to much time to explain it and to go right to the point.
Of course, you need to learn and understand the background but it has put an heaviness in something that already need some concentration.

Interesting but with length.

Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Mindfulness for Confidence by Tara Ward


Summary
Confidence comes from within, so it is available to us all. Using fun, simple exercises, explore who you really are and how you can be confident, whatever your circumstances.
Part of the Mindfulness series, including Mindfulness for Success & Mindfulness for Happiness.


Impressions
A fast read with great tip!

Going to work in the métro, I was reading this book and following the exercices, visualisations and meditation tip that were given by the author.
Clear and easy to practice, it's a nice book to boost your confidence.
I was happy to meet and discover Kayla, my lionness. Funny but true! Lol

A simple and to the point book.

Source
*Arc provided by Netgalley
I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.

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