Friday, October 30, 2015

The Friday 56 (42) In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds.

They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids.

Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire...


In The Afterlight (The Darkest Minds, #3)"Be better than this, I thought, my nails digging into the palms of my hands. You have to be better than this. The adrenaline was slow to leave my system; I couldn't keep from shaking, not entirely."--In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

What are you reading this weekend?

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

CoralineTitle: Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
Source/Format: Borrowed from the Library, Hardback
More Details: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: HarperCollins, August 4, 2002

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures...
Coraline by Neil Gaiman was the second book I planned to read in October, the first was The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury. I’ve seen the movie and I liked it, so it seems only fitting that I finally got around to reading the actual book. And I have to say that I really liked it. Coraline was a spooky kind of tale complete with ghosts, darkened/mysterious hallways, and more than a handful of creepy creatures—put together, it made for a quick and enjoyable read.

Coraline was just like any other child seeking the attention of her parents, though her efforts were often dismissed as she was repeatedly told to go do other things. So it was only expected that she would end up in some trouble. Coraline finds the other parents, but manages to keep a level head despite getting everything she ever wanted—attention, good food, and fun (a literal example of be careful what you wish for).The other mother was just plain-old creepy with her button eyes, everything she did was just ugh, no-no-no!

The plot moved along quickly as Coraline quickly discovers that all is not right with the other mother and father. Really, the setting played into the atmosphere of the story. The house, which was broken up into different flats, was more or less the perfect stage for the story. Oh, and before I finish this review I have one more thing to say. My favorite part would have to be the ending. It differed from the movie but I have to say that I liked the one in the actual book so much better.

 There are some other series by Neil Gaiman that I'm interested in, so maybe I'll get to them eventually. But for now, overall, there were many things I liked about Coraline.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Weekend Tidbits {#6} Star Wars & Pumpkin Scones

You know, I just had to talk about the new Star Wars trailer released last Monday. (If you haven't seen it yet then CLICK HERE.) All I have to say is that this trailer has me excited for this movie because of the nostalgia, the feels, and the musical score for Star Wars by John Williams. December can't get here soon enough!

Anyway moving on. I've had scones before, but I've never tried pumpkin ones. And my question from this Musing Mondays post sort of inspired me to give them a try. I used this Recipe from Cooking Classy with the addition of walnuts and raisins plus a maple glaze instead of a pumpkin one. They were pretty simple to make with delicious results. Pictured to the left are how mine came out.

My choice of tea for today is peppermint.
 
{Links for Weekend Tidbits can be found on the Features Page.}

Friday, October 23, 2015

The Friday 56 (41) Coraline by Neil Gaiman

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coralinebegins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures...

Coraline"She lit the candlewick with a match and watched it sputter and light, then she picked up the black key."--Coraline by Neil Gaiman 




What's your favorite Halloween candy?
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