Quite frankly, I didn’t really know what I was going to get myself into with this book. The only expectations I had were it to be a light read and something to take me out of my reading slump. Well, it did while taking me on a wild ride.
This book is about this woman, Kathy, quite directly addressing the readers, and telling us about her life and what occurred. It takes a couple of wild twists and turns into the science fiction dystopian direction, which is what caught me by surprise. Also! might not be appropriate for young audiences... as are probably most books reviewed on this website. This book is no doubt really slow in the beginning, but I do see the greater meaning behind it. I feel like you should just stick with this relatively short book, even if you do think some of the things are mundane. Because as the plot developed, the characters, the whole story seemed to be more and more enticing. Overall it was an enjoyable read, despite how long it took me to read it. -M
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Elston drew me in by starting with the killer’s perspective after the murder was committed. It reminds me of the “YOU” chapters in The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (amazing series, you should read it). The story begins with the murder of Grant Perkins, a typical high-school teenager, after going hunting with his friends. No one knows who fired the gun because evidence shows that all of the boys handled it, so it is taken to court. Our dear Kate (the heroine of the story) was secretly in a text relationship with Grant and is completely heartbroken; however, she isn’t allowed to be near any of the “River Point Boys” because her boss takes on the case, which is fine with Kate, until one of them shows her just who Grant really was and offers her evidence that could help solve the crime.
When I began this book, I expected there to be a plot twist, but I never expected it to be where it was. Elston did a good job with holding my attention and making it a serious, yet fun read. Her idea to begin each chapter with text messages between characters helps set the mood of the chapter, and compels the reader to continue with the story. The writing style mocks other authors, but is still unique, and it does a good job of showing us that there is more to people than what they show. Keep reading and if you have already read this book or you just want to talk about books then please leave a comment or DM us on instagram! Thanks for reading and have a beautiful day. -K To continue on the Agatha Christie trend, this book had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. Considered a classic and a must-read piece of literature, And Then There Were None is a novel that anyone remotely interested in either “old timey” writing or mystery. This book was on my shelf for a really long time until one day I was really in the mood for a short and intense read. I don’t think I could’ve chosen a better novel. It was short, captivating, and kept me on my toes the entire time.
I always wondered why I never got spoilers regarding the book. This book’s plot always seemed shrouded in mystery, which obviously I will try to continue to the best of my ability. What I can tell you is that this book is about twelve people who are invited or brought to Soldier Island, located just off the British coast, and slowly but surely they all die one by one. That’s all that can really be said about the plot. After reading this book, I undoubtedly can say that Christie has made me want to actively read more mystery and even horror for that matter. The problem is, that in mainstream media, contemporary books and dystopian novels are pushed so much. Usually, these novels also have the same cookie-cutter plot. The fact that this novel was so different, and so well structured, that it sparked my desire to read voraciously once more. I really hope you read this book at least once in your life. It really is a great piece of literature. I also want to encourage everyone to actually read something they don’t usually see pushed in media. Something random and bizarre that caught your interest. Those, my friend, are usually the best ones. -M Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express was a fast-paced novel from start to finish and its pages never failed to capture my attention. The story begins with Hercule Poirot heading to Stamboul in order to catch the train heading to London. I love the character of Hercule Poirot because it was fascinating to read about him putting together the clues from the different passengers on the train. Christie does an amazing job with character creation by showing the different languages each passenger speaks, but still keeping most of the book in English.
This book didn’t leaving me feeling the same way as Flowers for Algernon did, but it was a fun book and it makes you feel like you are Poirot and you’re on the train solving the murder. I recommend this book to people who want to expand their mental bookshelf, love mystery, who are in a reading slump, or people who have never read an Agatha Christie novel. It’s a short story, so it won’t take too much of your time and once you’ve completed it you can watch the movie and compare the two. Keep reading books! If you have already read this book or seen the movie or you just want to talk about books then please leave a comment or DM us on instagram! Thanks for reading and have a beautiful day. -K This book is one that I have enjoyed so much while simultaneously cried so many tears over. This story follows an intriguing French family, the Lavenders. The captivating journey starts off with the first Lavenders in America, who arrive in New York from France (think Gangs of New York vibes), to present day Ava Lavender, the third generation of Lavender. Odd detail about Ava is that she was born with wings while her twin brother was not. It is crucial for me to not tell you much more about this story, but instead continue to sing its praises.
There is no other book I have ever enjoyed more that incorporates serious and such grim topics so poetically. Well, I guess I do have to warn you that this does deal with rape and abuse. HOWEVER, do not consider this a stereotypical story. This is not one of those contemporary novels that tend to romanticize a topic such as rape. It shows the pain, sorrow, and strength associated with the topic so beautifully. It honestly makes you want to marvel at the words, and to wonder how strings of words could truly sound so majestic. I know this might seem like a broken record about just how the experience reading this was and too much of not saying much about the story, but I really truly hope you pick up this book. It’s just one of those stories that will touch your heart in an indescribable way. However be warned, this book does discuss some serious topics that aren’t really suitable for younger audiences and requires a level of maturity that some people reading YA might not have developed. -M Flowers for Algernon. Where do I even begin. This story is written entirely in “progris riports” and follows the life of a mentally slow middle-aged man, Charlie Gordon, who writes about himself before and after he undergoes an “operashun” to make him intelligent. Before Charlie, the only other soul to have this operation is a mouse named Algernon, whom Charlie identifies with throughout the book.
If I had to rate this book on a scale of 1 (bad) to 10 (great) I would give it a 9.5 because nothing is perfect, but this book came super close. The way it is written is almost like reading Charlie’s diary because you know his deepest secrets, thoughts, and desires. The flashbacks he has from his life before the procedure do an excellent job of building his character and creating his family; as well as, Charlie’s changes in grammar and spelling as he becomes smarter. More importantly, this book draws attention to what it means to be human and that intelligence doesn’t matter, but how we treat each other does. Living in 2018, people are extremely aware of civil rights, but this is beyond civil rights. This is personal. This book tells us that people are people and no procedure to refine them will ever really change them. I hate to spoil books, so I won’t. The only thing I can tell you is to go to your local library or bookstore and GET THIS BOOK. I hope that you will fall in love with this story, as I have. -K Feel free to DM us on instagram @mkwritesreviews to discuss books :) I just want to say that we all have our own interpretations of literature and I would love to hear what you think about this book in the comments. |
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