The Love Interest

4 Stars!!!
There isn't much I can say. I haven't finished it yet, (currently on page 133) but it's good.
For me, a good book must do several things.

1. It needs to have a unique idea, or at least have a few twists and turns that aren't overly cliche.

This isn't my first novel about teenage spies. I will say this is the first one I've gotten my hands on where the main character is male. And already this story is taking a turn I didn't expect. It's making me think and anticipate what's going to be on the next page. All good things.

And since I've read hundreds of books (and will probably read hundreds more before I die) and watched equally as many anime, I know new ideas are hard to come by. I appreciate the amount of imagination that went into this book. But just having a newish premise isn't enough to draw me in and hold me. I will admit that even I can be suckered in by point number 2.

2. Good cover art.

Cover art, like the physique of the love interests in the story, is part of what attracts me to the subject: i.e., the book. If the contents of the book show no hope of living up to the expectations the premise and the cover have set, then there is no point in reading further. Lucky for me Caden, Dylan, and their circumstances are holding me captive.

3. The story & writing style

The story flows well and doesn't bog you down with too much description. Since it has a contemporary setting and we all know what smart phones and cars look like, it's easy to bypass all the unnecessary fluff and get right to the important issues. How the characters think and feel.

Since this story is told by the main character, his feelings are the only ones we personally get to experience. So far the author has done a great job of recreating (at least for me) the feeling of butterflies and excitement that come with all of life's big firsts. Maybe it's because I was a hopelessly romantic teenage girl once, but the way in which the protagonist tells the story easily brings back those memories and emotions. And even though I know someone is going to die in the end, I'm really hoping it won't be the one character I've grown attached to.

As always...Happy Reading!!

Side Note: I would like to add that you shouldn't choose a book by its cover. I have done just that many times before (approximately 100 or so times) and been disappointed. But this time, I took a leap of faith on title and cover alone and was rewarded. So I guess 1 out of 100 isn't bad. ^_^

Where Are All the Books?

I know someone has probably asked this question in their head at least once. And it is fair to question why most of the blog posts deal in visual media. It's not intentional. But let's face the facts: moving pictures are faster.  Almost everyone  watches TV while they multitask. We do the laundry or eat with the television on.

That's not to say I am making excuses. I plan to supply some book reviews soon in an effort to balance out all the anime. In the meantime, I will provide a few titles that I'm currently reading or have recently finished. Maybe you will find something that speaks to you among them.

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich
The City's Son by Tom Pollock
The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy

Those are just a sample. And as always, Happy Reading.

Attack on Titan

I love this anime!! I'm so glad they made a second season.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this one, it involves a future where humanity is under attack by people eating giants. One day these creatures just appeared and in order to survive, humans built gigantic walls to keep them out. Of course, after a couple centuries inside the walls, the titans discover a way to break through and it becomes a bloody fight for mankind's survival.

And when I say bloody, I mean bloody. Not an episode goes by without a human being eaten alive while they scream in agony or a titan being hacked to death with an axe or sharp knife. And since the titans have the advantage of speed and size, our humans have ingenuity. They craft specialized weapons to help them kill their enemies.

But as human technology evolves, the titans won't be left in the dust. Some talk, some run faster and others are larger still. They aren't just mindless human eating automatons. They are learning to strategize as well.

So what makes this show so interesting? Is it the killing? Definitely not. I'm not one who enjoys blood and gore. I still flinch when all the blood splatters. For me, the intrigue is in the mysteries surrounding where the titans came from, what weapons the humans are going to think of next, and just what exactly are the walls made of.

Cheeky Angel

After spending my holiday binging on anime, I have emerged from my cave, or rather my blanket fort, with a list of new discoveries. For some of you, these anime series may not be new, but they are new to me.

First up is Cheeky Angel. The story centers around a boy who gets a magical book and makes a wish to be the manliest of men. Of course, the 'genie' in the book grants wishes backwards and the young boy is transformed into a girl. In anger, he throws the book into the nearby river. This is the beginning of his journey to find the book and try to be changed back.

Fast forward to high school, when the boy turned girl and his best friend Miki are still searching for the book. Because our hero/heroine is considered super gorgeous, boys throw themselves at him. He rejects the attention, mostly because he is a guy at heart. Of course, his admirers form a fan club and the members of the fan club eventually become close friends.

The series does get a tad stale with every episode filled with fist fights. Since our protagonist is a skilled fighter, every thug in their town wants to be the one to best the superior female and her friends in a fight. It does have some moments when I  found myself holding my sides from laughing.

Personally I enjoyed it. I give it 4 stars. Because this anime was made in the 80s, I can't really apply my usual grading scale for the artwork.  However, the humor, creativity and the voice acting gain it high marks. But it loses a few points for the over use of men looking to prove their bravado with fist fights.