Saturday, December 22, 2012

Shatter me by Tahereh Mafi


Synopsis: Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

                  The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

                 The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

                 Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

My thoughts: L-O-V-E-I-T! It’s beautiful, exciting, cute, adorable… everything! We are presented to Juliette, a girl with some sort of gift/curse where she can’t touch anyone. Because of that, she’s been imprisoned for more than 3 years, without ever seeing someone or even talking. Then, one beautiful day, she receives the news that she is going to have a new roommate, but instead of a girl, a super hot-cute-sweet guy named Adam shows up at her cell. She feels that she knows him, but doesn’t remember from where or when.

                Suddenly, her life takes a turn up and she finds herself free and dragged to the headquarters of The Reestablishment, where some guy named Warner has plans for her and her power.

                But she is not alone anymore, because Adam is with her. They have a past together – that I’m not telling, but I can tell that is beautiful and he is so reliable and trustful – and in order to be together, they have to fight Warner, his security, Adam’s colleagues from the army – for which he joined to find her – and the whole Reestablishment. He is immune to her touch, which make things very interesting, especially their scenes together.

                What I loved about this book are basically two things: the extremely detailed writing, telling about Juliette’s almost madness, her suffering, her desire for Adam. The author used many metaphors to express the girl’s desire for freedom. She kept imagining about a white bird with golden details that was flying away and she wished she could go with him. Sometimes I thought that she was the bird itself, after I thought that it represented her future, then Adam and so on.

                The second thing that I liked was the fact that the author is Islamic or Muslim, – I don’t know exactly which religion is the correct one – since these religions are very restricted when related to a woman’s will and voice. Although she is from California, I believe the religion’s beliefs don’t change that much. She is very creative and sensitive, her kissing scenes are very detailed, as well as the fighting, and Juliette’s thoughts are so deep that in the beginning I actually thought that I was her! Tahereh made a sensational romance, mixing X-men[SPOILER] when Juliette finds the resistance and everyone has powers like her, it reminds me of the scene in the second movie of X-men, and Wolverine finds a place with all the mutants, that are “ruled” by Magneto – The Host from Stephanie Meyer, – when Melanie finds the hideout of the resistance, together with the guy that she likes (if I’m not mistaken) – and sci-fi.

                The only thing that I didn’t like was that, sometimes, she – Juliette – had very confusing thoughts, but I think that was all part of her madness, so I can’t actually blame her.

                The last thing that remains is the cover: very simple. Maybe too simple for me. After I finished my reading, I thought that if Juliette appeared with some rags, just showing her face and made some highlights in her eyes would be pretty cool too, like she was trying to hide herself, her powers – that she tries most of the time, except with Adam – but never forgetting who she was, what she was capable of doing, that even with her dark past, she was never going to forget about herself nor her beliefs.

Rate:
 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

O Inverno das Fadas por Carolina Munhóz


Sinopse: EXISTEM PESSOAS NORMAIS em nosso planeta. Homens e mulheres simples que nascem e morrem sem deixar uma marca muito grande ou mesmo significativa na humanidade. Mas existem outros que possuem talentos inexplicáveis. Um brilho próprio capaz de tocar gerações. Como eles conseguem ter esses dons? De onde vem a inspiração para criar trabalho maravilhosos? São cantores com vozes de anjos, artistas com mãos de criadores e escritores imortais.

               Existe uma explicação para isso.

               Sophia é uma Leanan Sídhe, uma fada-amante, considerada musa para humanos talentosos. Ela é capaz de seduzir e inspirar um homem a escrever um best-seller ou criar uma canção para se tornar um hit mundial. A fada dá o poder para que a pessoa se torne uma estrela, um verdadeiro ícone, ao mesmo tempo em que se aproveita da energia do escolhido para alimentar-se.

               Causando loucura.

               E MORTE.

Minha opinião: eu gostei bastante do enredo, que possui um conteúdo muito grande com relação a fadas etc. Até então, pra mim só existiam fadas e ponto e não esse monte de subcategorias que a autora nos traz.

                Nós somos apresentados a Sophia Coldheart, uma fada-musa, que seduz suas caças de modo a conseguir a energia delas através do trabalho delas na área da arte. Normalmente seus alvos são escritores, artistas e pessoas relacionadas à área. Então quando sua próxima caça aparece na forma de William Bass, um jovem escritor com futuro promissor na pequena cidade de Keswick, Sophia já sabe da rotina. Mas algo em Will lhe afeta de uma maneira que ela nunca pensou ser possível, ainda mais sendo ela uma Leanan Sídhe: ela se apaixona por ele. William é um rapaz fofo e dedicado ao seu trabalho, que é administrar um sebo que é do pai, além de extremamente carinhoso, romântico e gentil. Ele é convocado para participar de um concurso literário e resolve escrever um romance, tendo a ajuda de Sophia, em seu inconsciente. Ela o influencia a escrever para obter energia dos seus textos. Se ela quiser que fiquem juntos, ela terá de lutar para que ele sobreviva ao seu encanto e ele terá de ser forte o suficiente para aguentar.

                Como disse, eu adorei o enredo. Ele é muito bem redigido, – pelo fato da autora ser jornalista, isso não me surpreende – mas eu o achei pouco dinâmico e um pouco cansativo de início. Só a partir da metade da obra que as coisas ficaram mais intensas e menos estáticas. Há muito poucas falas e pelo fato de ser um livro em terceira pessoa, uma quantidade maior de falas leva a um maior dinamismo que leva a uma intensidade e força de atração ao leitor muito maior. Esse foi o principal defeito e que afetou minha crítica. A autora está extremamente interada dos assuntos atuais como Tolkien, Rowling etc, e isso eu achei muito interessante por trazer o leitor a se identificar com a estória.

                E finalmente, a capa. Ela foi meu principal atrativo por dois motivos: a cena ser feita no inverno, minha estação favorita, fazendo menção ao fato de que o poder das Leanan Sídhes ser mais forte e letal durante o período; e em segundo, pela aura de misticismo dela. A capa faz realmente trazer à tona a sensação de há algo místico nos rondando, mas que não é possível ver ou sentir através dos sentidos, apenas saber que está aí. A moça da capa é a representação de Sophia, numa das cenas em que ela tenta se comunicar com o reino das Fadas, além de outras cenas em que ela aparece utilizando a mesma capa.

Nota:

Friday, November 30, 2012

Coco Chanel: Fight Against Corsets


Full name:                             Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel

Birth:                                     August 19, 1883

Place of Birth:                       Saumur, France

Death:                                    January 10, 1971

Place of Death:                      Paris, France

                Coco was born in the workhouse in the Loire Valley where her unmarried mother worked, although she asserted that she was born in Auvergne. Her mother died when she was six years old, and the young Chanel was sent to the orphanage of the Catholic monastery of Aubazine, where she learned the trade of a seamstress.

                Her abilities as a seamstress improved during her vacations with her relatives in the provincial capital of Moulins. It was during a brief stint as a singer in cafes and concert halls that Gabrielle adopted the name Coco, a nickname given to her by local soldiers who went to watch her.

                World War I led her to move to the resort town of Deauvile, where Chanel became the mistress of a rich ex-military officer and textile heir Etienne Balsan in 1908. At the age of 23, she became his mistress and moved into his chateau, where she lived for three years. It was here that she started designing and creating hats as a diversion, which then turned into a commercial venture.

                She then started a relationship with a wealthy English Industrialist called Arthur Edward 'Boy' Capel who was a friend of Balsan. The relationship lasted nine years and in 1919, the single most devastating event of her life occurred when Capel was killed in a car accident. She commissioned a roadside memorial at the site of the accident.

                During the 1920s, Coco Chanel became the first designer to create loose women's jersey, traditionally used for men's underwear, creating a relaxed style for women ignoring the stiff corseted look of the time. They soon became very popular with clients, a post-war generation of women for whom the corseted restricted clothing seemed old-fashioned and impractical. Coco Chanel's bobbed hair, bright red lips and outspoken manner also broke the mould. This smoking, outspoken woman never married -although she had relations with the English industrialist Arthur "Boy" Capel - who lent her the money to buy Rue Cambon - Igor Stravinsky and the second Duke of Westminster Hugh "Bendor" Grosvenor, the richest man in Europe.

                In 1922, she launched the fragrance Chanel No. 5 and Pierre Wertheimer became her business partner, and reputedly her lover.

                During World War II, Chanel was a nurse, although her post-war popularity was greatly diminished by her affair with a Nazi officer during the conflict and she moved to Switzerland to escape the controversy.

                Coco Chanel worked until her death in 1971 at the age of 88, spending her last moments in the style she had become accustomed to at her opulent private apartment in The Ritz.

                Fashion fades, only style remains the same."

                "Fashion has become a joke. The designers have forgotten that there are women inside the dresses. Most women dress for men and want to be admired. But they must also be able to move, to get into a car without bursting their seams! Clothes must have a natural shape."

Monday, October 22, 2012

Rescued by Arlene Lam, Kristin N. Hamm, Dawn Austin


Synopsis: Amelia has a problem: she is set to marry a man twice her age and though she does not love him, she aims to please her domineering aunt and do what is expected of her. This changes when she meets Jordan Bradford, her handsome white employer.

A man with everything—Jordan Bradford is interested in Amelia instantly and cannot for the life of him figure out why she lets those around her treat her as they do. He is determined to make her see herself worth but never dreamed that the pretty little maid could cause him such grief. Yet as time passes and they encounter each other more it is near impossible for him to keep his hands off the brown-skinned maid.

My thoughts: Love it, love it, love it! We are presented to Amelia, a colored young woman that works as a maid at Jordan Bradford’s house, but she never really saw him since he was always traveling abroad. Amelia takes care of his little sister Georgia, a smart girl that sometimes advices Amelia.
                Unfortunately, life for her isn’t perfect. Mistreated by her aunt and set to marry an old, grumpy man, Amelia doesn’t know what is to be able to make her own choices. Until Jordan comes home. They start seeing each other, but she knows that they would never work out.

                What I liked the most is that this romance isn’t like 50 Shades of Grey, it doesn’t talk only about sex etc, it has a story. You get angry at Jordan for being blind about his feelings, you feel sorry for Amelia because she knows that they would never get together in a time when segregation and racism were very strong and common. It’s sweet and soft, romantic but not dumb; it has some sensuality in it, but it’s very subtle.
                Jordan and Amelia go through a LOT to finally understand that they love each other despite their differences. Actually, she realizes before him. He shows her that she has a voice that was meant to be heard and she showed him that he was able to love again after a tragedy in his previous marriage. A new fact turn their life upside down, as Amelia tries to hide it and Jordan finds out and get really pissed about her attitude.

                A character that really amused me was Georgia. Despite of her age, she is extremely smart and wise, sometimes wiser than the adults. She is sweet and clever, and I loved her crazy temper. Really recommend it and you can find it as ebook at goodreading.com.
 
               And last, but not least, the cover. It’s a pretty simple one with the couple together, but she seems to be trying to run away, whether is because she knows they can be together whether is because she has something to hide – feelings, etc. Their skin tone is exposed in order to show their social differences at a times of segregation – as I already said. Really liked it, but it isn’t my favorite one.

Rate:

Sunday, September 16, 2012

10 Nights by Michelle Hughes and Karl Jones


Synopsis: After graduation, twenty-four-year-old Leah was determined that no man would destroy her plans for the future. Or so she thought. Her best laid plans and well-ordered life were turned head over heels after her best friend, Janie, invited her to a “coming-out” party.

One look at Rhett and all previous thoughts went straight to hell. He made an unbelievable offer to her: “Give me 10 nights and I’ll show you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams.”

Was this an invitation to paradise or would his request destroy her mind, body and soul?

From virgin to courtesan in 10 nights? Was Leah even willing to consider it?

In a game of cat and mouse in which 10 nights, 10 choices and 10 fantasies could change everything, who would declare victory?
My thoughts: Well, If I ever meet these authors I would DEFINITELY say: LESS SEX AND MORE STORY! That’s the problem of this book, besides the strong language used.
                We are presented to Leah, a twenty-four-year-old woman that just graduated and wanted a “free life”. But when her friend presents her to Rhett, she is instantly drawn to him. He offers her then 10 nights to show pleasure to her. I started reading this story because of that part, which I thought that was very creative, but when I found out that he was a sadomasochist and was planning to turn her to a sex slave, I got shocked. And got more shocked when she accepts the invitation! I mean, girl, you’re supposed to have pleasure and not him.
                As usual, the two are completely blind because they fall in love, but don’t realize it until the end of it. She gets humiliated by his plans, and she KNOWS it, but she just let it go and say that it’s all right. For God’s sake, I had to look for the dictionary to know what the hell BDSM was – and when I discovered the meaning, I got really embarrassed and I really don’t know if I would be ok if someone ordered me to do it.
                The strong language in the book really ruined it, and the fact that the authors can describe perfectly sex scenes but can’t write a normal day in Leah’s life without repeat at every page that she is curious to know what Rhett will make her do. I believe that most likely girls and women are going to read this kind of romance so you need to slow down things and relax on the cursing thing. Having pleasure for 10 days isn’t only sex, I, for an instance, have pleasure when I’m in a big hot tub with bubbles, or reading a book, or watching a movie with a guy, going out for a romantic dinner and that kind of stuff. Leah becomes a courtesan – not to say worst – and she is OK WITH THAT!

                I got really uncomfortable and was a happy when it came to the end of it.

Rate:

Monday, July 30, 2012

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi

Synopsis: You've never read a fantasy novel like this one! The deep well of Japanese myth merges with the Western fantasy tradition for a novel that's as rich in place and culture as it is hard to put down.
              Balsa was a wanderer and warrior for hire. Then she rescued a boy flung into a raging river -- and at that moment, her destiny changed. Now Balsa must protect the boy -- the Prince Chagum -- on his quest to deliver the great egg of the water spirit to its source in the sea. As they travel across the land of Yogo and discover the truth about the spirit, they find themselves hunted by two deadly enemies: the egg-eating monster Rarunga . . . and the prince's own father. 
My thoughts: Nahoko Uehashi had A lot of creativity writing this one! We are presented to Balsa, a warrior for a hire, that receives the mission to protect the Second Prince of the kingdom of New Yogo. Apparently someone was trying to kill the boy, and his mother, the Second Queen, asks Balsa to protect his son. But the prince Chagum has more things about him. He is (Spoiler) the Moribito, aka the Guardian of the Spirit, and he has within him a water spirit and he has to deliver it.
                Nahoko has a very simple way of writing, almost as if it were for teenagers or child, but it’s actually quite good. She describes every scene, every thought, every character as you go through the reading, so you are able to see their differences and don’t get so confuse. What I liked most was the fact that she created a whole new world based on ours – like the empire of New Yogo, the yakoos and everything else – and because she put a women as the main character. Balsa is tough and never runs away from her responsibilities. She learns forgiveness from the boy and he learns how to BE a normal kid and to actually love someone as well. Ok, he loved his mother but most of his life he never got real contact, you know?  Another thing that I liked is the connection the author made with all the cultures she created. It kind of shows us that we are all connected and that the world moves in one single flow. It has a lot of wisdom, I have to say.
                However, nothing is perfect right? It lacked, in my opinion, a little bit of romance. I mean, Balsa and Tanda – her childhood friend – obviously have an attraction to each other, but they don’t even share a small kiss!! I get that Balsa feels the need to save eight lives in order to repay her master’s “debt” – because he killed eight people to protect her – but come on! A little kiss won’t hurt!
                About the cover, I really liked it. The way it has been drawn reminds me of an ancient Japanese painting, and Balsa looks so stunning in that cover it gave me the line of thought to imagine every fight scene with her fierce face!

Rate:
 and a half

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Rapture by Lauren Kate

Synopsis: THE SKY IS DARK WITH WINGS . . .

And time is running out for Luce and Daniel.

In order to stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the Fall began. Only Luce can break the curse, and it is her choice alone that will decide all their fates.

But as Dark Forces gather, great sacrifices will be made in this final epic struggle . . .

In the fight for Luce, and for love, who will win?

The thrilling conclusion to the international bestsellers FALLEN, TORMENT and PASSION.

The fourth and final book in the FALLEN series hits stores on 12 June 2012.

My thoughts: OMG, I just can’t believe it’s the end. In this one, the group of angels have nine days to stop Lucifer from erasing their history from the face of the earth, and that includes Luce’s and Daniel’s love.
                To stop Lucifer, they have to find the place where the angels fell from Heaven, but how will they find it if none of the angels remember where it was? They have to be fast. Through these nine days, there were “timequakes”, when the world seemed to tremble and split, and then get together and become quiet. Those were the parts that really confused me, because in those “timequakes” the past and the present get mixed up and you get a quite big interrogation point inside your head!
In this adventure, Daniel and Luce need to find three relics that are supposed to indicate the place of the Fall, but it won’t be easy – nothing is easy for those two – and they have to be strong one more time for their love.
                When I read the synopsis, I saw that Luce might be arranged to be with another person instead of Daniel. Well, I won’t tell who it is, but thing is that he – the men – was in love with her and still have feelings for her. She needs to find out who she really is – she isn’t just a regular girl, otherwise she wouldn’t see the Announcers and wouldn’t reincarnate over and over again – in order to save not only the one she loves, but all of her friends.
                One last decision has to be made, and Luce might be the one to tip the scale between Heaven and Hell. But who or which side will she choose? Her choice may have a high price. Is she willing to sacrifice it in order to be together with Daniel?
                This reading was a real joy to me, not only because of its story – because I absolutely love angels and romance – but of its turnings. You get to see a whole different view of the fallen angels that turned to Lucifer’s side, of the Outcasts, and even of the Throne – Heaven – itself. The ending was the cutest thing ever, and if I were Lauren Kate, I would have picked this very ending.
                There were a few things that really interested me: Cam’s love, Arriane’s love. The author, during the novels, never wrote about it, but I believe that it might have something in that extra book, Fallen in Love, that may answer these questions.
                Finally, I have to wrap this up with the book’s cover. Just like the others covers, this one has its dark beauty, and I absolutely loved it – from a girl that adores Tim Burton’s work and loves skeletons, it is quite predictable. I hope you all get the chance to read this book. I always thought that Luce was a girl that took Daniel for granted – a little – but this last one showed me that she can have some guts to fight for him. And that no matter what, they will always find each other – (SPOILER!) even if they forget about their history together.

Rate:

Friday, July 13, 2012

Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Synopsis: Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest--this time with Ren's dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger's Curse. Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER'S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.

My thoughts: I wasn’t very motivated to read this book, but after the first chapter, I really couldn’t put it down. Of course, the beginning was VERY depressing and it felt as if I was reading Bella Swan’s suffering in “New Moon”, but with a different scenario. Only after Ren appears at her door that things starts getting interesting.

                After about two months dating, Ren is kidnapped and Kelsey starts a new adventure, this time with Kishan, a hot-super-cute black tiger that suffers because he believes that he is the principal cause of their tiger-curse. He is a beautiful man, and I completely fell in love for him! But, nothing is perfect, and since I’m not a character nor I’m Kelsey, I don’t have the lucky to find a guy like him to fall in love with me! ;) Yes, Kishan falls in love with Kelsey, but she loves Ren. Nonetheless, Kishan promised to help her find Ren, so they talk to the goddess Durga to protect Ren. But she has a high price for it.

                Well, I can’t tell a lot about this book, otherwise you won’t read it. But it really, REALLY, blew my mind away. I panicked for Ren, Kelsey and Kishan, hated Kelsey because she didn’t want Kishan, suffered for the black tiger, that loved her but would never have her love. I screamed the WHOLE reading, saying like “Kelsey, for God’s sake, can’t you see how Kishan is suffering?” or “Ok, girl, so just kill yourself, since your heart is THAT broken. Get a grip!”.

                Readers won’t be disappointed, since, in my opinion, this sequel was better than the first one. Now I have to wait to get my hands at the third novel.

Rate:

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Harriet Taylor Mill: A Fighter of Women's Rights


Day of Birth:         October 1807
Place of Birth:       Walworth, south London
Day of Death:        3 November 1858
Place of Death:      Avignon, France
            Taylor was an English philosopher and early advocate for women's rights, who is often overshadowed by her husband, the philosopher John Stuart Mill.
            Harriet Hardy was the daughter of a surgeon. Educated at home, she enjoyed writing poetry. In 1826, she married John Taylor, a prosperous merchant and together they had three children. The Taylors became active in the Unitarian Church and in 1830 a Unitarian minister introduced Harriet to the philosopher John Stuart Mill. Harriet and John met for the first time in 1830. Their meeting was arranged by the leader of Harriet's Unitarian congregation, the Reverend W. J. Fox. There is no way to know whether Fox anticipated that passionate feelings would spring up between John and Harriet, but whatever his intention, the two young people did very quickly fall in love. Their conduct during the long period in which Harriet was married to John Taylor would be scandalous by contemporary standards, let alone Victorian ones. Their affair was to last for more than 20 years, and was generally tolerated by Harriet's husband. From 1833, the couple largely lived apart, enabling Harriet to see Mill more easily. Their behavior scandalized society and as a couple they were socially isolated. But they inspired each other intellectually and often worked together.
            Mills' 'The Principles of Political Economy' (1848) has a chapter attributed to Harriet called 'On the Probable Future of the Labouring Classes' in which she argues for the importance of education for all in the future of the nation, both economically and socially. Her essay, 'The Enfranchisement of Women' (1851), considered one of her most important works, was published under Mills's name. The essay strongly advocated that women be given access to the same jobs as men, and that they should not have to live in 'separate spheres' - views more radical than those of Mills himself. “The Enfranchisement of Women,” published in The Westminster Review in 1851, is the best candidate for a significant philosophical work authored primarily or even solely by Harriet (H. T. Mill 1998, 51ff). Occasioned by a series of feminist conventions in the United States, it makes a case not merely for giving women the ballot but for “equality in all rights, political, civil, and social, with the male citizens of the community” (H. T. Mill 1998, 51). This essay contains many of the same lines of argument as The Subjection of Women, written by John and published in 1869, although it expresses a somewhat more radical view of gender roles than the later essay (see Rossi 1970, 41ff). It maintains that the denial of political rights to women tends to restrict their interests to matters that directly impact the family with the result that the influence of wives on their husbands tends to diminish the latter's willingness to act from public-spirited motives. Further, it contends that when women do not enjoy equal educational rights with men then wives will impede rather than encourage their husbands' moral and intellectual development. And it insists that competition for jobs will prevent most of the problems that admitting women into the workforce would putatively cause from materializing. All of these points are common to “The Enfranchisement” and The Subjection. The major point of difference between the two is that while the Subjection rather notoriously suggests that the best arrangement for most married couples will be for the wife to concentrate on the care of the house and the children, a position that John also takes in an early essay on marriage written for Harriet (J. S. Mill 1984b, 43), the “Enfranchisement” instead argues for the desirability of married women's working outside the home.
            Harriet's husband died in 1849 and in 1851 she and Mill were finally married. In the autumn of 1858, the couple travelled to France where the climate was better for Harriet's tuberculosis. She died of respiratory failure in Avignon on 3 November 1858. John Stuart Mills' most famous work 'On Liberty', which they had written together, was published in 1859 and was dedicated to Harriet.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern


Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

My thoughts: you know, I’ve read a lot of books, but this one is one of the best! First of all, we are presented to the whole circus, a dream come true place where everything that you wish might exist. Then, we’re presented to their “staff” and the people who made it came true: Alexander, the men in the gray suit; Hector Bowen, aka Prosperus, The Magician; Chandresh, the “owner” of the circus; Celia and Marco, our “main” characters; Poppet, Widget, Tsukiko, the Burgess sisters, Tante Padva and many others. Alexander and Hector made an agreement years before the circus was created: a challenge, and Le Cirque des Rêves would be the local of the challenge. Celia is Hector’s daughter and Marco is an orphan adopted by Alexander. They are the opponents.
                As the story goes, you just keep wishing that the circus actually existed, and that you were a VIP guest, with an invitation like Bailey’s “This card gives the bearer unlimited admission”.
                The sad thing is that I can’t say too much about this novel, otherwise I’ll just keep writing and writing until I tell the whole book, and no one will buy it. ;) What I have to say to future readers is: Read this book VERY carefully. As a illusion, nothing is what it seems. It is as if Celia were really taking care of the circus, and manipulating what you are reading. You can see things like the bonfire in the center of the circus and smell things like those hot chocolates.
I had to keep a calculator by my side at all times to see how old were the characters during the reading. That was the only flaw I could find: the author wrote the years on each chapter, but they don’t follow a correct timeline, so you have to keep calculating the ages of everyone.
                There are so many magical places inside the circus main tent that it’s almost impossible to choose your favorites. Mine are the Illusionist – Celia’s tent – (OF  COURSE!) and the Ice Garden. But the circus is much more then the local of a fight, it represents the dreams of many and the love letters of the opponents. Yes, despite all things, Celia and Marco fall in love, and it’s soo beautiful! Marco is such a romantic! Every tent that he did was only for her. He did the Ice Garden; in return, She did the Tree of Wishes. That was the only way they could be together, since he couldn’t abandon London to travel with the circus and because their love wasn’t meant to exist. Their love is so simple, humble and delicate that I couldn’t stop cheering for them.
                Another story is of Poppet, Widget and Bailey. Bailey goes to the circus during daylight because of a “true or dare” game and meets Poppet when they were 10. Six years later, they meet again, this time inside the circus. Poppet and Widget are twins and have special powers – she has the power to read the future through the stars and he has the power to see peoples past, and it makes sense since Widget was born before the bonfire was created and Poppet was born after the bonfire was done – and they invite Bailey to travel with them.
                Erin Morgenstern writes, as I said, without following a correct timeline, but incredibly, everything connects and everybody gets together.
                So, don’t forget: keep attention during the whole reading because it may seems like there is no sense at all, but don’t trust on your senses because since it’s a illusion, nothing is what it seems (as I already said).
Opens at nightfall,
Closes at dawn.
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Sunday, February 19, 2012

The man who broke into Auschwitz by Denis Avey and Rob Broomby

Synopsis: The Man Who Broke into Auschwitz is the extraordinary true story of a British soldier who marched willingly into the concentration camp, Buna-Monowitz, known as Auschwitz III.
In the summer of 1944, Denis Avey was being held in a British POW labor camp, E715, near Auschwitz III. He had heard of the brutality meted out to the prisoners there and he was determined to witness what he could.
 
He hatched a plan to swap places with a Jewish inmate and smuggled himself into his sector of the camp. He spent the night there on two occasions and experienced at first-hand the cruelty of a place where slave workers, had been sentenced to death through labor.
 
Astonishingly, he survived to witness the aftermath of the Death March where thousands of prisoners were murdered by the Nazis as the Soviet Army advanced. After his own long trek right across central Europe he was repatriated to Britain.
 
For decades he couldn't bring himself to revisit the past that haunted his dreams, but now Denis Avey feels able to tell the full story—a tale as gripping as it is moving—which offers us a unique insight into the mind of an ordinary man whose moral and physical courage are almost beyond belief.
 
My thoughts: After The Diary of Anne Frank, this is one of the most detailed books about World War II. We are presented to Denis Avey, an English soldier that is sent to Egypt to stop the Italian army. During this period he is captured by the Italians, try to escape three times and get caught. He is send to E175, a labor camp of war prisoners who have to work to build IG Farben, a place were the german produced Zyklon B, the pesticide repurposed by the SS for the gas chambers. And the conglomerate was the main supplier of chemical products essential to the Nazi war machine. Next to their camp was Auschwitz III-Monowitz, where everything happened.




                In this place, Denis meets Hans, a jew prisoner who lived in Auschwitz. Denis swaps places
with Hans, trying to see what life was like in the concentration camp. This story was well written and extremely touching. It shows that in a God forsaken place, good will still existed.
                There were a few parts that really chocked me, like when a SS soldier punched a baby child in the face because the kid was crying and he died instantly. Humanity was totally left behind once they got into the camp.
                I don’t know if Avey is still alive – he would have 93 years old – but if he is, he must have suffered such pain and sadness. I wish I could meet him one day.

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Friday, January 20, 2012

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Synopsis: Passion. Fate. Loyalty.
Would you risk it all to change your destiny?
 

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and  mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.
Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

My thoughts: a good romance, but I started liking it when I got near the end. We are presented to Kelsey, a 17-year-old girl who lost her parents in an accident and now lives with her fosters, and she starts working temporarily in a circus, where she falls in love with a huge and beautiful white tiger with blue eyes called Dhiren. Kelsey starts passing most of her free time next the animal’s cage, and soon a friendship begins. Until then it was o.k., the story was kind of good, but when an Indian called Mr. Kadam buys Dhiren, he offers to take Kelsey to India with him so she could help taking care of the tiger. That was the part that disappointed me the most because any parent – even foster ones – would never let their daughter leave to the other side of the globe with a stranger and a tiger! It was very idealized their decision, letting their girl go away trusting only on the man’s word! What if he was a kidnapper?!

                When they get to India, Kelsey and Dhiren get separated from Mr. Kadam e the tiger takes her to the middle of the dense jungle to an unknown house. She ties him up to a tree so that he wouldn’t scare anyone while she was examining the house, but when she starts to walk away, she hears a masculine voice coming from behind her and where once there was a white tiger was now a gorgeous man with the same cobalt eyes as the tiger’s. This was the point where the story got interesting: Ren was an Indian prince with more than 300 years that was trapped in the body of the tiger because of a curse and he only had 24 minutes per day to keep his human form. Apparently, what helped him get back was Kelsey’s presence. They embark in a journey to break the curse, with the help of Mr. Kadam and Dhiren’s money. Yes, besides he being handsome, romantic, and so tender that hurts, he is extremely wealthy. They pass a lot of tests – from finding Ren’s brother, Kishan, another handsome Indian man that transforms into a black tiger, to escape from an army of monkeys in Kishkindha (aka monkey’s city) – and soon their friendship becomes an undeniable attraction. Despite the fact that their love is very beautiful, some scenes – a few actually – seemed a little forced and even fake, as if the characters were being forced to say that line, so it sounded unnatural.

                I really liked the ending though, because it was unexpected and therefore chocking. Now I am very excited and yearning for part 2 to know what will happen to the couple.

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Monday, January 2, 2012

Blue Blood Saga: Part 1 by Melissa De La Cruz

Synopsis: Within New York City’s most elite families, there lurks a secret society of celebrated Americans whose ancestors sailed on the Mayflower. They are the powerful and the wealthy—and in fact, they are not human. They are the Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires.
Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapidated mansion. Schuyler is a loner—and happy that way.
But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. She has a mosaic of blue veins on her arms, and craves raw meat. The death of a popular girl from Duchesne is surrounded by a mystery that haunts her. And strangest off all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.
Schuyler wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?
My thoughts: when I bought this book, I fell in love with its cover and, after I started reading, I fell in love with the rest. Well written, this book shows us a different point of view when related to vampires: they aren’t just monsters who want our blood; they are fallen angels, beautiful and powerful creatures, and their only wish is to one day be redeemed and come back home. We are presented to Schuyler, a girl whose life is about to change, when she discovers that she isn’t just anyone: she is a Blue Blood, therefore, a vampire. She is friends with Oliver, a Red Blood – aka human – and Dylan, a mysterious guy that just got to Duchesne – and a vampire too - , who will start something quite interesting with Bliss Llewellyn, a Texan Blue blood and Mimi’s new friend.
                When a girl from her school – and a vampire too – is found dead at a party, panic arises at the Blue Blood coven. Who could have killed a vampire? The adults are a keeping a secret from everyone and Schuyler wants to find out what it is, but what if she herself was in danger? Dylan suddenly disappears, as well as other teenagers Blue Bloods, and Schuyler will have to join forces to the handsome, hot, romantic Jack Force – her secret crush and mine too! ;P – to pull this of. But the strangest is that he seems to have an interest in her, and she might be not only in danger of dying mysteriously, but of dying in his twin sister’s hand: Mimi Force, the most beautiful girl in Manhattan.
                I loved it because the author could join the two things that I love most: angels and vampires in a way that I couldn’t put it down the book even if I wanted to. I highly recommend it!
Synopsis: Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young Blue Bloods. Her search brings her to Venice, Italy, in the hopes of finding the one person who can help. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city’s wealthy, powerful, and unhuman—a true Blue Blood affair. But it’s at the after-party masquerade that the true danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire’s destiny.
My thoughts: The coven is terrified, and the Regent – Jack’s father, Charles Force – aka Michael, Pure of Heart – is acting as if nothing is happening, even though an old threat, that was supposed to be extinguished, returns stronger than ever. Schuyler goes to Venice at her grandmother’s request after she died, to look for her grandfather, the only one that might have the solution for their problem.
Back in Manhattan, the vampires are preparing the Four Hundred Ball, a gala party to present the youngest Blue Bloods to society. But it’s the after party – hosted by Mimi – that really matters. The most romantic scene for me was at this party, and everybody is wearing masks. *SPOILER* Schuyler is in a room all alone thinking about Jack and a guy start talking with her. They kiss each other – well he kisses her – and then he disappears. She was so sure that it was Jack, but then he appears at Mimi’s side, and you keep this excruciating doubt through the whole book.
This one was more dynamic than the first, in my opinion. And the cover has many meanings: Venice, the place where Schuyler finds her grandfather; the hidden guy behind the mask that kissed the main character; or even a most deep interpretation: the discovery of what – or who – is attacking the Blue Bloods, and what they want.
Synopsis: Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City’s wealthiest families? They’re powerful, they’re famous… they’re undead.
Schuyler Van Alen’s blood legacy has just been called into question—is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.
When an ancient place of power is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Schuyler is torn between love and passion, duty and freedom. And in the end, one vampire’s secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.
My thoughts: This one was the most thrilling of them all! Schuyler Van Allen isn’t a “100%” Blue Blood, and that is cause for a lot of debate. She is forced to live with her cousins, Jack and Mimi, and her uncle Charles. Jack and Schuyler start a secret affair that is soooooo cute! He wants to let go of everything – his family, his bondmate Mimi – yes, he is supposed to marry his sister because they are the Angels of the Dark! – to stay with his love. My favorite scene in this book, I must tell.
                This is the first book I’ve ever read that has a scene in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A real scene, not just a comment. It’s held at Christ, The Redeemer, considered a powerful place for the vampires, because it’s the prison of Leviathan, the monster who was trapped there by Michael himself. The Silver Bloods – vampires who sided with Lucifer and to survive drink from the Blue bloods – want to release him again.
                Not only Rio is in danger, though. New York is a chaos and Schuyler is the only one that might be able to save them. This one I got more and more excited while going through the pages and the end – that I won’t say, but I’ll give a little tip: Mimi has a finger in it – I was so chocked that I just couldn’t wait for the fifth book!
Rate (considering all the book in this post):