Tag: bookshelf

was very important. The Black Lives Matter movement is so damn important. Hands Up by Stephen Clark [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Hands Up by Stephen Clark [BOOK REVIEW]

innah96Leave a comment
Hands Up by Stephen Clark [BOOK REVIEW]

★★★

I was so happy when the author, Stephen Clark, approached me and offered to send me a copy of his book, Hands Up, for me to read and provide an honest review. I also felt great responsibility, because this books speaks about some very important, very relevant, and very, unfortunately, sad topics that are currently happening in the world.

Synopsis:

Police officer Ryan Quinn, raised in a family of cops, shoots an unarmed black male. His career and his freedom are now in jeopardy, as he embarks on a journey for redemption.

Jade Wakefield is a student, whose brother just got shot by the police. And she is determined to find the cop who did this and get their revenge.

Kelly Randolph abandoned his family ten years ago. But when his son’s death brings him home, he seeks forgiveness and wants to make amends. But the dark past he thought he left behind for good is still here to haunt him.

My Thoughts:

Hands Up is a very difficult read for me to write a review for. Throughout the book, we follow these three people’s perspectives. Ryan’s point of view is in first person, while Jade and Kelly’s perspectives are in third. This took me a while to get adjusted to, and it doesn’t affect the story much, apart from the fact that it caught my curiosity. I wonder what the author’s intention was behind this choice.

Hands Up is a fast-paced read. As soon as I dived into it, it pulled me into the story, and I finished it in no time. The chapters swapped between the characters quite seamlessly, which was quite enjoyable. And I have to admit, I did enjoy it, and I do recommend it for you to pick it up. It has some major issues that bothered me, which I will speak about further below, but ultimately, I think that the intention of this book was on point, and for that sole purpose it needs to go out in the world and raise awareness.

I felt like the book’s intentions and the idea behind the police brutality and Black Lives Matter movement were great. We need more books that will speak up on these subjects. This year has been extremely important for so many black people. And people are slowly starting to educate themselves, and becoming more aware of the racism and discrimination happening around us every single day. It is far from over, but people are starting to speak up, and things are slowly beginning to shift. However, I think that it was poorly executed. The book is written in such a way that it didn’t provoke feelings in me. Feelings I was hoping it would. It felt as if I was reading a news report, rather than a story that affects people’s lives, feelings and thoughts.

The other issue I had were the characters.

All the characters were stereotypical. And I hoped that at least, maybe they would change throughout the story, throughout their experiences. Work on their issues and prejudices, and overcome it, but they didn’t.

The cop is white and he is the killer. The dad is black and a gang member who left his family. The daughter is a girl with no future, relying on violence. And this made me angry, because I know many black fathers who are amazing and don’t abandon their families. And many bright young black women who are doing extremely well in life and in their studies. Many white people that are not killers, and many white people that are bullies.

Ever since I was little, I was taught to see people for good and bad. That no colour, no race, no religion and no nationality should define people’s characters. And I would have let this pass, if people changed throughout the book. But they didn’t. The white cop tried to find redemption, but ended up failing in the end. The black dad returned to his bad past again. The daughter relied on violence and revenge yet again. The only character that I had respect for was Regina, the victim’s mother. She felt the most realistic of them all, and I could connect with her as a character and feel her pain. I wish we had more scenes with her. I believe that her point of view would have been quite beneficial to the story.

Another issue I had was a certain romantic relationship that developed throughout the book.

SPOILER ALERT IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH:

The victim’s sister fell in love with the cop. And this troubled me, for many reasons. She was actively seeking revenge for her brother’s death. Then she found out who he was. And two nights later, they were in love. I think that such relationship can’t develop so fast in normal circumstances. I won’t even get into how impossible it would be in these circumstances. It was too fast and too unrealistic for me.

SPOILER FINISHED.

That is why I am so troubled with my review of Hands Up. For me, it wasn’t the typical book I’d pick up and enjoy. It had many issues. But it was very important. The Black Lives Matter movement is so damn important. Which is why I urge you to pick this book up and give it a chance. The issues that it speaks of are around us, and awareness should be raised.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Social Media:
| Wishlist | Ko-fi | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest |

Uprooted by Naomi Novik [BOOK REVIEW] I grew up with Slavic fairy tales. Uprooted isn't a favorite book of mine, but I did enjoy parts of it. Uprooted by Naomi Novik [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Uprooted by Naomi Novik [BOOK REVIEW]

innah963 Comments
Uprooted by Naomi Novik [BOOK REVIEW]

★★★

Being born and raised in Macedonia, I grew up with the Slavic fairy tales. I still remember my grandma telling me stories about Baba Yaga (Babaroga). When I found out about Uprooted by Naomi Novik, it intrigued me instantly.

Synopsis:

Uprooted tells a story about Agnieszka. She lives in a quiet village that she loves. Surrounding the village is an enchanted forest, and the Wood has taken many people’s lives. The villagers go in and don’t come back. The village relies on the wizard, called Dragon, to protect them from the dark magic coming from the woods.

However, this help comes with a price. A young woman must serve him for ten years, leaving everything behind and never leaving the tower. Agnieszka fears that her best friend Kasia will be picked for the next choosing. Kasia is everything Agnieszka isn’t – graceful, beautiful and brave. And yet, when the Dragon comes, it isn’t Kasia that he takes.

My Thoughts:

The beginning of Uprooted is fantastic. I was immediately sucked into the story and I was loving the pace. Naomi Novik’s storytelling ability is honestly breathtaking, and it is consistent throughout the book. However, as soon as the Dragon makes his pick of the young girl and they head to the tower, the pace slows down. And for me, the rest of the journey kept going downhill.

“But there’s no kindness in offering false hope.”

I loved Agnieszka, and her side of the story. It felt familiar in the way that I’ve heard similar stories before in my childhood. And that familiarity kept warming my heart until the very end.

And I felt the same for the Dragon.

I loved the name, especially because the usual Slavic fairy tales have a dragon in the tower that is guarding the princess. I see what you did there, Naomi. The story about a wizard who doesn’t age and looks after the village is incredible. And that he takes a woman every ten years adds to the suspense, and of how the villagers have mixed feelings about him. Feelings of gratitude, fear and anger, all combined.

“The Dragon wasn’t like any man of our village. He should have been old and stooped and grey; he had been living in his tower a hundred years, but he was tall, straight, beardless, his skin taut.”

The idea started well, but it was executed poorly. I have mixed feelings about the Woods. I liked the suspense and danger, but I think many scenes were way too long and unnecessary. That made the Woods a little bit boring for me. I really loved the parts about the magic, as well as the mentions of Baba Yaga. As for the romance, I am not too sure about that either. I just wasn’t as bothered or invested as I would usually be in another book.

Uprooted isn’t a favorite book of mine, but I did enjoy parts of it. It is very magical and the writing is beautiful. The pace was somewhat slow for me, but I know many people enjoy that. I recommend it to anyone that likes fairy tales and fantasy. I will definitely be reading more from Naomi Novik in the future.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Social Media:
| Wishlist | Ko-fi | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest |

The Searcher by Tana French [BLOG TOUR]
Blog Tour · Book Review · Books

The Searcher by Tana French [BLOG TOUR]

innah962 Comments
The Searcher by Tana French [BLOG TOUR]

I am so happy to be part of this blog tour for the very much anticipated book release of The Searcher by Tana French. Huge thank you to the Penguin and Viking team, for this amazing opportunity!

The Searcher by Tana French [BLOG TOUR]

★★★★

Synopsis:

Cal Hooper is a retired detective, and he moves to a remote village in rural Ireland. He’s fixing up this old house, and is getting used to this new mountain life, trying to forget about his previous profession of chasing criminals.

That is, until one day, a kid comes to his door and asks for help. His brother is missing, and he knows something must’ve happened to him. But no one else in the village seems to care. Unable to leave this a mystery, Cal starts to ask questions.

But the whole village seems like they don’t want new people messing up with whatever secrets they may have.

My Thoughts:

The Searcher was a true slow burner. At times, it was even too slow for me, and I was struggling. However, I have never before read a book so well built, and despite the slow pace, I kept returning to it.

This is my first book from Tana French, and I will definitely be reading more from her. I think the next one will be The Wych Elm, as I already have that one in my library. Tana French did such a good job at describing this rural village in Ireland, and its people. From the cold mountains, to the lovely cottage in need of renovating, to the pub and the people living in the village, it felt as if I was there. Even though I’ve never been to Ireland before.

Cal Hooper was an intriguing character, and I loved his story. The reason he moved to the mountains, and the ongoing experiences helped me understand the issues he was facing, and I loved how he started to personally grow throughout the book, with Trey’s help. And as for Trey, I loved his personality too. The quiet, but also savage and arrogant character, that wasn’t afraid to be nosy. But also the innocent child that desperately wanted help and support, when they didn’t receive it before.

The book was very dark and eerie throughout all times.

And the people are savage and brutal, and you can feel this even when the conversations are about happy things. There was a certain eerie cloud surrounding this book, and I really loved that. I don’t think another book has made me feel this way before.

As for the mystery, I feel that part was a bit weak. I loved the search itself, and the moments when Cal would try and dig deeper into what actually happened. But as any informal investigation, he couldn’t get too far. And the villagers didn’t try and help him too much. It was an interesting dynamic I really enjoyed. But the ending and the revelation weren’t too satisfying for me.

The Searcher by Tana French is truly one of a kind. With its description, the rural scenery and brutality of the people, it’s one of those books that will give you slow chills down your spine.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Social Media:
| Wishlist | Ko-fi | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest |

The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls [BOOK REVIEW] The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls
Book Review · Books

The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls

innah962 Comments
The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls [BOOK REVIEW]

★★★★

The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls is a beautifully written book. It takes you back to a 1919 Christmas setting and leaves your heart warm, days after you’ve finished it. Thank you to Kaleidoscopic Tours and Andersen Press, for sending me a copy of this book, alongside all the amazing goodies as well.

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Margot Allan was a respectable vicar’s daughter and madly in love with her fiance Harry. But when Harry was reported Missing in Action from the Western Front, and Margot realised she was expecting his child, there was only one solution she and her family could think of in order to keep that respectability. She gave up James, her baby son, to be adopted by her parents and brought up as her younger brother.

Now two years later the whole family is gathering at the Vicarage for Christmas. It’s heartbreaking for Margot being so close to James but unable to tell him who he really is. But on top of that, Harry is also back in the village. Released from captivity in Germany and recuperated from illness, he’s come home and wants answers. Why has Margot seemingly broken off their engagement and not replied to his letters? Margot knows she owes him an explanation. But can she really tell him the truth about James?

My Thoughts:

I loved The Silent Stars Go By as a whole. Margot is an amazing character, and I felt for her many times throughout the book. The love story between her and Harry was so beautiful and pure. A love like that is so hard to find in today’s world, and this is perfect for those romantics out there, that strive for loves like their grandparents had. I loved the letters and the communication between them. It’s so refreshing, compared to today’s relationship drama. It reminded me of my late grandparents, who would always have something to talk about, and do little things about each other. Not for the public, or for their social media, but just for their significant other.

Considering the secret Margot and her family had, I was expecting more emotions, drama and pushbacks. But I am glad things happened the way they did. And even though the ending was emotional and painful, it’s also heartwarming and full of hope.

“Father once said,” she said thoughtfully, “that it never does to compare your troubles to other people’s. That grief is grief, and you can’t know how heavy someone else’s is unless you carry it.”

A certain topic floated to the surface in this book. And even though not a main plot discussion, it’s a very important one to mention. There were times, before 1926, when adoption was illegal in Britain. Even though orphanages excited, the mother always remained the legal guardian of her child. Sadly, many of the mothers weren’t told this information, and they believed they lost all rights to ever see their child again. The book briefly touched on this topic, and I really wish that it focused a bit more. Nevertheless, it was mentioned, and it is worthy of noting.

The Silent Stars Go By is a book that I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s so beautiful and real, with a Christmas to top it all up.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Social Media:
| Wishlist | Ko-fi | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest |

Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More
Book Review · Books

Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More

innah96Leave a comment
Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More

I bought a whole bundle of books about The Avengers, believing that they’re graphic novels. They are, in fact, series to support children in developing their reading habits. So I thought to myself, this would be a perfect opportunity to share them here, and perhaps it will be your child that it may help.

There are 14 books in this bundle, and the theme of these books are The Avengers and the Marvel Universe. The books are split into three levels (Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 – in which I’ll go in more details below), and they all encourage young readers to read more. The books are published by DK publishing. I have included images and purchase links where it was possible. These books came in a bundle, and many aren’t on the website. Don’t forget to check the official DK website, to find out more titles that match the level preference.

The child will read about the heroes, their back stories, their abilities and their biggest enemies. The writing is simple and concise, supported with images. Almost every page has a special part that is separated from the main paragraphs, including “special important information” about the hero/villain etc. This is a nice way to break long paragraphs and to intrigue the readers. Also, at the end of each book, there is a glossary page, and occasional quiz or additional fascinating facts.

Level 2 – Beginning To Read

A child should:
❤ be able to recognize a bank of common words quickly and be able to blend sounds together to make some words.
❤ be familiar with using beginner letter sounds and context clues to figure out unfamiliar words.
❤ sometimes correct his/her reading if it doesn’t look right or make sense.
❤ be aware of the need for a slight pause at commas and a longer one at full stops.

Spider-Man: Worst Enemies by Catherine Sanders (L2)

Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More

Meet Spider-Man’s worst enemies and what makes them so powerful and dangerous. Here you’ll find the Green Goblin, Venom, doctor Octopus, the Scorpion, Electro, the Lizard and many more.

Marvel: Ultimate Villains by Cefn Ridout (L2)

Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More

In this book, you will find many famous and not so famous villains that our heroes fight against, such as Loki, Red Skull and Madame Hydra. You’ll also find the names of some villainous teams and locations.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Level 3 – Beginning to Read Alone

A child should:
❤ be able to read many words without needing to stop and break them down into sound parts.
❤ read smoothly, in phrases and with expression, and at a good pace.
❤ self-correct when a word or sentence doesn’t sound right or doesn’t make sense.

The Avengers: Avengers Assemble by Victoria Taylor (L3)

Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More

Learn more about the Avengers, and meet the heroes. These are the stories of Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine, the Incredible Hulk, Ant-Man and many more.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Marvel: Amazing Powers by Catherine Saunders (L3)

Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More

Get ready to find out more about the powers of both the heroes and the villains. This book also contains information such as how the Avengers were formed and how the Civil War happened. I found that slightly off topic, but it was an interesting read.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

Iron-Man: Friends and Enemies by Michael Teitelbaum (L3)

Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More

Welcome to Iron Man’s world. Find out more about Iron Man, also known as Tony Stark, how he became Iron Man and who are his friends and enemies. My favorite story was the one with his chauffeur.

Purchase Link:
Amazon UK

Level 4 – Reading Alone

A child should:
❤ be able to read independently and silently for extended periods of time.
❤ read aloud fluently, with expression, with the listener in mind.
❤ respond to what they are reading with an enquiring mind.
❤ be discriminating about what they like to read and what they don’t, and be able to explain the reasons why.

The Avengers: Amazing Superpowers by Matt Forbeck (L4)

Meet The Avengers and get familiar with their superpowers. There are also some awesome facts, like Hawkeye’s different arrows and Iron Man’s different suits.

Spider-Man: Terrible Foes by Simon Hugo (L4)

Books About The Avengers To Help Your Child Read More

Spider-Man has many enemies, and he has fought thousands of battles with them. In this book, we will meet them and find out more about who they are, what are their superpowers and why they hate Spidey.

Spider-Man: Super Origins by Simon Hugo (L4)

You probably already know how Peter Parker became Spider-Man. However, it’s never a bad time for a little reminder. There were some details in this book that even I have forgotten about.

Spider-Man: Spidey’s World by Simon Hugo (L4)

Meet Spidey like you’ve never met him before. If you were ever curious about how Spider-Man made his suit, this is the book that will spill the beans. Find about his professional career, from photography to teaching and working in a lab.

Spider-Man: The Story of Spider-Man by Michael Teitelbaum (L4)

A book which tells the story of Spider-Man, but in a different way. This book has dialogues as well as a comic book style images. For young readers, this book will give the “original Spider-Man” vibe, and you’ll feel as if you’re reading a comic book.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

The Avengers: Join the team by Matt Forbeck (L4)

Have you ever thought of joining The Avengers and being part of their team? This book will tell you all you need to be able to join. It will also introduce you to some less-known heroes too, and how they became part of the squad.

The Avengers: Heroes in Action by Alistair Dougall (L4)

Do you know what The Avengers Charter is? Find out the rules that The Avengers must agree to respect before they join the team. Also read about some interesting battles, such as the battle between Red Skull and Captain America.

The Avengers: Origins of the Avengers by Simon Hugo (L4)

Meet the Avengers team in even more depth and find a special media snippet of the Daily Bugle, from the moment Captain America was discovered in the ice.

The Avengers: Enemies Beware by Simon Hugo (L4)

We all know our heroes, but who are the Avenger’s enemies? Find out some of the scariest villains the team had to fight against.

Social Media:
| Wishlist | Ko-fi | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest |