Hopefully I remember enough of what happened in the first one that I’m not completely lost. (Where did the time go? I swear we just listened to the first one…)
What I’m Listening to now: The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
Reply
What I’m Listening to Now: Firebug by Lish McBride
I already absolutely hate one character and love another one (which, according to my book math means he’s the one that’s going to die) and am already in my head preparing the, “I know he’s pretty but here’s why he sucks and you should DTMFA” speech I would give the main character if she ever came over to my house for tea. (Am I the only one that does this? Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this…)
Quick Review: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
You know how often the book is so much better than the movie? Well this was exception to the rule because I have to say I like the movie better. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen the movie multiple times and am fans of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. I don’t know but the book was kind of blah. A lot of descriptions with not a lot happening. No wonder they made so many changes to the movie. They both follow sisters, Sally and Gillian Owens who both have had some bad luck in love. Sally is widowed early on in the book just like in the movie. She is also focused on being normal even though everyone else in her family are okay with being themselves. Gillian is still the wild spirit that runs away from home and ends up in an abusive relationship with Jimmy who ends up dead but that’s kinda of where the the similarities end. The book takes place primarily in Long Island then in their Aunt’s house in Massachusetts. Maybe that’s what I didn’t like it as much because the Aunt’s were not in it as much as they are in the book. Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing are kinda the best part of the movie and without them the book is kind of lacking. The urgency that is felt with the dealing the spirit of Jimmy isn’t there. There is no build up of the romance between Sally and Gary Hallet. He doesn’t even appear until the last 50 pages of the book. As for a book about witches there really isn’t much witchcraft going on. I was a little disappointed in it but at least I can always watch the movie.
What I’m Reading Now: The Familiars by Stacey Halls
Book 3 of My Pop Culture Homework.
What we are listening to: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
While we are road tripping around Iceland we are listening to this novel that takes place here.
Quick Review: These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling
There is so much to love about this book. A beautiful friendship between two teenage girls. Hannah and Gemma’s are true partners as they support each other even after secrets reveal. A new lesbian romance between Hannah and new girl in town Morgan. It comes with all the butterflies and insecurities that comes with all new loves and to juxtapose that. The sting of the end of your first relationship. Hannah and her family leave in Salem and yes are witches but have to keep their identity a secret because you know they are witches. Hannah is still nursing the heartbreak of ending her first relationship with her ex Veronica, who is also a witch. When things start to happen that could expose them, Hannah is determined to figure out what is going on before anyone else gets hurt. Hannah’s family are elemental witches, who can control the elements. Not all witches are good because there are blood witches too and Hannah and Veronica had a run in with one on a class trip to New York. There are also witch hunters too. The aren’t any of the former in Salem and apparently the latter was thought to be extinct. Well both maybe both are not true. Hannah is a good person. She loves her family and her friends. She is your typical normal teenager. I enjoyed reading her POV. She’s not trying to save the world, just her own. You can’t help but find some of her dubious choices justified even when you know it’s not a good idea. There are a few loose ends that I do hope will be tied up in the next book. All and all this was a good way to start off my Pop Culture Homework Assignment.
What I’m Reading Now: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Book two of my Pop Culture Homework Assignment.
Happy 4th of July from Us at Stacks!!!
Image
Review: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
This was truly everything that I wanted it to be. It was a space action adventure. It introduced me to Korean folklore and was just plain fun. Min is a 13 years old and is a fox. Not a real fox but can turn into one or really shapeshift to anything. Her family must hide their heritage since foxes are thought to be untrustworthy. Unlike other supernaturals, like Dragons, Goblins and Tigers who are able to work freely. Many think Foxes are extinct. No, just in hiding. Min’s brother goes missing from his Space Cadet mission and thought to have deserted to look for the Dragon Pearl. A mystical object that can transform worlds and make them more inhabitable. She knows her brother Jun would never do something like that so she goes off and looks for him. While she is away she discovers that there is more then meet the eye. The mystery of what happened to Jun gets mixed with with Ghosts, politics and who can get the the pearl first. Min is sassy and smart. You could say she is clever as a fox. Sorry, I had to. It is interesting how the fox myth differs from Korean and Japanese folklore. In Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox, Yumeko is seen as being a trickster because of her fox heritage but not exactly an outcast the way Min and her family would be if they were discovered. It’s fun to learn how different cultures tell similar stories. Anyway, back to Min. She keeps finding herself in impossible situations but uses her intelligence and fox powers to get herself out. She is brave. There are many reasons that she should give up and just say this is too much for me but she knows what is at stake. Not just for her and her family but for everyone. If the pearl falls into the wrong hand it could be used as a weapon instead of a tool for the better. This books has a lot of twists and turns. Betrayals are all around and friendships questioned. So far it is my favorite of the Rick Riordan presents imprints. Its a shame that at the moment, it is only planned as a standalone because there is so much potential. Obviously it has been left open that if Yoon Ha Lee wanted to come back and right another and I hope he does. It definitely makes me want to check out his other books now.
What I’m Reading Now: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
I am also not reading these in a certain order and I hope Beth doesn’t mind. She’s been trying to get me to read this since it came out. Want to know how I know? I have Beth’s hard copy of this book; she loaned it to me ages ago and it’s just been in a stack of TBRs near my bed since then. So, I thought maybe I’d start with this one and then I could give it back to her when I see her next.
2 Women, So Many Books 