Bookish Indulgences: Bloomsbury

Showing posts with label Bloomsbury. Show all posts

25 March, 2016

Debdatta Dasgupta March 25, 2016 0

#BookReview :: Star Struck (The Ladybirds #4) by Jenny McLachlan

Following on from Flirty Dancing, Love Bomb and Sunkissed, Jenny McLachlan's next book is perfect for fans of Geek Girl and Louise Rennison.

In a huge fantastic final hurrah to our lovable heroines - Bea, Betty, Kat and Pearl - Jenny McLachlan's latest book tells Pearl's story. Pearl is the 'bad girl' of the group - she drinks, she smokes, she swears - and she's mean to Bea and Betty. But she did fly halfway round the world to rescue Kat in Sunkissed. If there's one thing Pearl knows deep down, it is how to be a friend. And now, more than ever, she could really use a friend.

There will be laughter, there will be tears and there will definitely be kissing. Most importantly, Pearl will be keeping it fierce!

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The ladybird series focuses on a quirky group of friends. Each as different from the other that one can be, yet it is their undisputable friendship that binds them together. I stumbled upon the series when Bloomsbury India had sent me a review copy and have been following the series since.

Star Struck focuses on Pearl, a girl who has intrigued me from the beginning. She is the ‘bad girl’ of the group and fills that role awfully well what with her mean attitude that shows up from time to time. Towards the beginning I really did not understand why she was a part of this group. It was in Sunkissed that she actually makes a mark as a friend. Pearl was focused on landing a role in the school production but the role is given to the new girl, Hoshi. Hoshi seems to be worming her way into everything that Pearl holds dear, including her group of friends. Of course, Pearl isn’t a girl to be sidelined so easily and so she plans her revenge. But then she gets to know Hoshi… And well, things take a turn.

The storyline was as usual quite predictable though the dynamic between Hoshi and Pearl did surprise me at a point. The author’s style of narration maintains uniformity and meets my expectations from the previous books – I do not see much of a change there, whether good or bad. The easy to get into and upbeat language that the author uses is really a plus of the series. There were spots, especially in the middle where the story seemed to hold the pace a bit and there were certain issues that remained unanswered which is a bummer since this is the last book in the series.

However, being the story of the ‘bad girl’ of the group also has its perks. It is totally fun and this installment is now my favourite in the series.

Review Copy received via NetGalley

07 December, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta December 07, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Sunkissed (The Ladybirds #3) by Jenny McLachlan

Kat can't believe her family are sending her to Sweden for the summer. But without her friends, or even a phone signal, can Kat make it on her own?

In a land of saunas, nudity and summer sun, Kat soon realises she has nowhere to hide. It's time to embrace who she really is, underneath what she's been thinking people want her to be. Especially if she's going to win the heart of mega fit Swede Leo! Can Kat find her inner strength and prove she's got what it takes?

Kat soon finds that when you're surrounded by phosphorescence and wonder it's easy to sparkle. Or maybe that's what happens when you fall in love . Or maybe you only shine when you're true to yourself.

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I recently discovered this series thanks to Bloomsbury India. I have already read Love Bomb (The Ladybird #2) which was my first experience of Jenny McLachlan’s writing style and so, this time around I was a bit prepared about what to expect within the pages of this book. As a result, I found myself enjoying this book a bit more than Love Bomb. The books in this series can be treated and read as standalones even though it centers around a group of friends with each book concentrating on one of the girls. However, I would suggest you to read it in order as it certainly gives you a better experience with the series.

It is time to meet Kat, whose parents are tired of her tomfoolery and decide to send her off to Sweden for the summer to live with her Aunt. What she thought would be a difficult time away from friends takes a turn for the worse, or so she thinks; till she realizes that she will be living in a cabin without electricity or call phone coverage on some remote island and not in Stockholm. What starts off like a nightmare of a trip soon starts to change into something else. Kat meets and befriends new people and gets another perspective at life. And then there’s the matter of Leo, the resident hottie. Will Kat make it through her stay? Will she experience summer romance? What will she learn and discover?

I like this book much more than Love Bomb. It may be because in some ways Kat and her experience reached out to me more than Betty did. Also, this installment had some really beautiful characters like Aunt Frida and Nanna. I loved and adored Nanna – she is such a darling of a character that it cannot be helped. The character of Kat surprised me quite a bit too with the way she developed through the book. However, Leo’s character was probably the only disappointment I faced. I liked the way the author has captured the modern generation of teenagers with their dramatics and their attention span. The story flow was done nicely that also complemented the simple language that the author has used.

With the characters as its stars, the book is a nice, light and fun read.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

04 December, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta December 04, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Concentr8 by William Sutcliffe

In a future London, Concentr8 is a prescription drug intended to help kids with ADD. Soon every troubled teen is on it. It makes sense, doesn't it? Keep the undesirable elements in line. Keep people like us safe from people like them. What's good for society is good for everyone. Troy, Femi, Lee, Karen and Blaze have been taking Concentr8 as long as they can remember. They're not exactly a gang, but Blaze is their leader, and Troy has always been his quiet, watchful sidekick - the only one Blaze really trusts. They're not looking for trouble, but one hot summer day, when riots break out across the city, they find it. What makes five kids pick a man seemingly at random - a nobody, he works in the housing department, doesn't even have a good phone - hold a knife to his side, take him to a warehouse and chain him to a radiator? They've got a hostage, but don't really know what they want, or why they've done it. And across the course of five tense days, with a journalist, a floppy-haired mayor, a police negotiator, and the sinister face of the pharmaceutical industry, they - and we - begin to understand why ...

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Concentr8 welcomes its readers to a world set in distant future where most kids are on medication for ADD. The medication was welcomed willingly as it seemed to offer some relief to not only those who suffered from ADD but also to those around them. But then chaos breaks loose bringing riots to the city. And amongst all the chaos are five kids who have held a seemingly random man hostage. Troy, Femi, Lee, Karen and Blaze are five kids who have been on Concentr8 from the time they could remember. Why did they kidnap someone off the streets? And why are they holding him hostage? What is going on in the city to bring these kids, a journalist, a negotiator and the mayor together?

The concept of the book attracted me immediately. It is not very common to get a chance to get into the minds of such oddball characters – and I mean oddballs in a good way. We are so used to larger than life characters, the next door teenagers kind of characters play the lead roles in the books that it is often a refreshing change to read about different kind of characters. Told from multiple points of view, the story provides its readers with a complete sense of the plot. The author has done a great job of setting up the plot and then following it through till the end. The plot makes you question a lot of things and unfortunately does not provide any answers to them, leaving it up to the readers to decide.

However, I have to admit that the narration and characterization in the book was the most confusing thing ever. The author, in order to add to the authenticity of the characters, has given different voices to his characters and narrated the story in a way so as to stay true to its characters who suffer from ADD. As a result the narration can be difficult to follow and to warm up to. After all, one cannot expect people with ADD to be able to narrate coherently or with perfect grammar or without losing track. So, while on one hand the characters and their narration made it very difficult for me to read, on the other hand I marveled at the author’s ingenuity in deciding to tell the story in such a way. It is the biggest advantage and also the biggest disadvantage of the book.

In the end, while it was a really difficult book to complete, I appreciate the author’s endeavor to come up with something different more. I would recommend this book to readers who are always up for something different – no matter how daunting and at the same time suggest to pick this up at your own discretion.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

11 November, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta November 11, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar

"Be careful. Your next step may be your last."

Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have been walking to and from Woodbridge Academy together since elementary school. But their routine is disrupted when bully Chad Wilson challenges Marshall to a fight. To avoid the conflict, Marshall takes a shortcut home through the off-limits woods. Tamaya reluctantly follows. They soon get lost, and they find trouble. Bigger trouble than anyone could ever have imagined.
In the days and weeks that follow, the authorities and the U.S. Senate become involved, and what they uncover might affect the future of the world.

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Let me start this review with a bookworm confession! I have obviously heard of Louis Sachar and have had my eyes on his books for quite some time and this is the first chance I have had to read his work. Huge thanks to Bloomsbury India for sending me a copy of this book.

Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have a unique relationship. They have been walking to and from school together since they were in elementary school. However, no one knows that they are friends as they never speak to each other in school. Being friends with a fifth grader would be a ‘social’ suicide for Marshall especially if Chad, the bully, ever found out. One day Chad decides to follow and catch up with Marshall on the way home and in order to avoid him, Marshal takes Tamaya through the woods. But Chad catches up with them and what happened next leads to an adventure of a lifetime.

This book is supposed to be Middle-Grade Children’s’ book and yet being in my 30s, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am pretty sure that the author’s narrative style and language is well known for being exemplary and needs no testimonials from me. So, I will move on to the characterization. I absolutely loved the way the author has introduced and built up each and every character in the book – especially the three central characters of Tamaya, Marshall and Chad. The plot is simply awesome (especially if you see this boo as children’s book) that brings social and environmental issues together with mystery/thriller element.

The cover and book presentation only makes the book more attractive. Even though green (any shade) is a colour that I do not like at all, I can see how the bright colours and the ‘warning’ tag could be attractive to kids. Even the boo formatting as small things to offer to make the book look more inviting than a simple layout.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

10 November, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta November 10, 2015 0

#BookReview :: One by Sarah Crossan

Grace and Tippi are twins – conjoined twins.

And their lives are about to change.

No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world – a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love?
But what neither Grace or Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined…
From Carnegie Medal shortlisted author Sarah Crossan, this moving and beautifully crafted novel about identity, sisterhood and love ultimately asks one question: what does it mean to want and have a soulmate?

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This was one surprising book for me. I am not sure if I would have picked this book up for myself had I come across it in a bookstore. The idea about getting into the mind of a conjoined twin is intriguing but I am not very comfortable reading in verse! But thanks to Bloomsbury India, who sent me a review copy, I picked up the book to give it a try… and soon got sucked deep into it.

Grace and Tippi are conjoined twins, who have defied the odds by simply living to be sixteen. They are close to each other, and not just physically but emotionally too. They truly love each other and always have been each other’s rock. When they find out that they have an opportunity to lead separate lives, they have to make a decision that would change their lives forever.

Grace and Tippi are interesting characters. As the changes in their lives stack up, they each do their part to meet the expectations of the people around them and experience things for themselves as well. The ups and downs of their lives, their share of joys and sadness and their dilemmas have all been shared beautifully. There were points where the book warmed my heart and points where I felt their anguish and heartbreak as my own. The book represents only Grace’s point of view and I would have loved it if the author had given us a glimpse into Tippi’s mind as well. And while the conjoined twins are the centre of the story, their parents and sister also plays an important role in driving the plot.

The author seemed to have researched the details of conjoined twins well enough. At least it came across as such to someone who knows very little on the subject. Also as someone who is very new to free verse, I quite enjoyed it. I must say, Sarah Crossan has made me realize that free verse can indeed be a very strong literary medium.

Be sure to give this one a try and take a emotional roller coaster ride.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

09 November, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta November 09, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Fearless (Avena #3) by Marianne Curley

Ebony and Nathaneal were in love before they were even born.… Torn apart and kept in different worlds, will they finally reunite in this exquisite conclusion to Hidden and Broken?

Ebony was kept hidden on Earth for sixteen years, unaware that she was an angel. Unaware that her true soulmate, Nathaneal, was searching for her. Now ready to claim her rightful place with him, in a cruel twist of fate Ebony is captured and imprisoned in a version of hell.

Knowing that Nathaneal will come for her, Ebony is determined to fight against the evil that holds her prisoner. As long as she has Nathaneal’s love, Ebony has nothing to fear. Can Nathaneal break through the gates of hell? Will these long-lost lovers finally reunite and fulfil their destiny?

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Ebony was kidnapped and held a prisoner in hell at the end of the previous book in the series. With all ways to and from Skade closed and sealed, Nathaneal has very little chance of getting to Ebony to save her. However, he is not willing to give up. On the other hand Ebony is set on freeing herself from both hell and its prince. Will the two lovers be able to overcome all the hurdles put in their way and finally reunite? Or will the Dark Prince and his plans prevail?

Ebony finally redeemed herself to me. Oh she does whine here and there, but her fighting spirit finally shines through. I still feel that she could have ‘done’ more if she really tried. It seems that she finally accepted the truth about who she is and has become her own person. Prince Luca, the dark prince, has his charms on and he almost made me believe in him – though I do not know if it was his persuasive nature or my wish for some twist in the tale! Jordan was Jordan and I will not comment on him at all. Nathaneal felt somewhat real to me among all the characters.

I am kind of glad that this is the final book in the series. The premise and the setting was really good and the author has done a good job of describing certain settings and situation. But the plot and the characters were somewhat disappointing. Even Nathaneal, the character that I think was the best in the series has failed to make an impression on me. I love flawed characters but they should have some redeeming qualities. None of the characters in the books felt remotely ‘real’ and I failed to connect with them completely. The plot felt too simple and very predictable. There wasn’t even a single twist.

For the world setting, this series is okay for a one time read.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

04 November, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta November 04, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Broken (Avena #2) by Marianne Curley

Following the revelation that Ebony is an angel, and Nathaneal’s narrow victory in battle with Prince Luca, the two are enjoying their newfound love. But Ebony’s friend Jordan is bitterly angry that he has lost the girl of his dreams. Then suddenly Prince Michael arrives to arrest Nathaneal for breaking Avena’s law when he revealed his powers on Earth in his bid to save Ebony from Luca. Nathaneal is forced to return to Avena without Ebony to stand trial.

Jordan seizes the opportunity to plant doubt in Ebony’s mind about Nathaneal and her own angelic nature. Desperate to find out what has happened to her adoptive parents, Ebony is persuaded by Jordan to believe that new teacher Mr Xavier, who claims to be her uncle, can introduce her to her real father. Disaster inevitably follows and Ebony finds herself at the centre of another epic battle in the realm of Avena itself.

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The book takes off shortly after where Hidden ended. Nathaneal has been taken back to Avena to stand trial as a repercussion of revealing his powers. Meanwhile, Ebony is left with Jordan and Mr.Xavier, a man who claims to be her uncle. Something about Mr.Xavier doesn’t strike her right, yet desperation can lead people to do things that they wouldn’t normally do.

I have to say that while Jordan did not make much impression on me in the first book of the series, I absolutely hated him in this one. He turned out to be such manipulative freak. Doing crazy wrong things in the name of love doesn’t make them right. Ebony developed a bit in this book and while I did not really enjoy her obsession over Nathaneal, she has somewhat evolved from the confused girl that she was in the first book. Nathaneal, so far seems to be the best character in the book even though he does his share of obsessing. I really wish that authors would just move on from having their characters obsess over their looks (or their partner’s looks). The book has been narrated through the voices of Ebony, Nathaneal and Jordan. While this gave us a complete look into the minds of these three characters, I wish the author had included Prince Luca’s (our antagonist) point of view. I would have loved to know what and how he was thinking and it would have added a pleasant change in the flow. The plot of the story was pretty straight forward and predictable. The narration felt a bit better in this book. The book ends with a cliffhanger that made sure that I picked up the next book in the series immediately.

Overall, I think it was an average read that I did not mind reading through one time, but I doubt I will be picking this series up for a second time.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

03 November, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta November 03, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Hidden (Avena #1) by Marianne Curley

For as long as Ebony can remember, she's been sheltered. Confined to her home in a secluded valley, home-schooled by her protective parents, and limited to a small circle of close friends. It's as if she's being hidden. But something is changing in Ebony. Something that can't be concealed. She's growing more beautiful by the day, she's freakishly strong, and then there's the fact that she's glowing.

On one fateful night, Ebony meets Jordan and she's intensely drawn to him. It's as if something explodes inside of her--something that can be seen from the heavens. Ebony still doesn't know that she's a stolen angel, but now that the heavens have found her, they want her back.

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This is the first time I picked up a book by this author. I did not know what to expect from the series, as I have not read much about angels (one or two series doesn’t count as much) and a new author put together. I was pleasantly surprised at some parts and not so much at others.

Ebony, our protagonist, has been home-schooled for most of her life. She was basically brought up living a very sheltered life with a neighbor girl and a horse for a friend. So, going to high school, like a normal girl was a step up for her and sneaking out to go to a party after hours was an even bigger step. It is where she meets Jordan and feels an instant connection to him. That is when things start to go haywire and secrets start coming out.

Ebony is somewhat of a likeable character. I liked the way the author built up her confusion about herself. She kind of knew that she was different from the so called ‘normal’ people. But her parents have never been much forthcoming. However, even though I kind of understood her initial reluctance to believe in any of the involved parties, it got old real fast. Jordan on the other hand also has had a troubled time while growing up. It was easy to sympathize at first, but again his weak-willed character did not really hold my interest for long. Then there is Nathaneal and Prince Luca in the mix, who I will not comment on much in order to avoid giving out spoilers. As is the case with most YA novels or any genre, there is some romance and relationships. But as I am not the kind of person who believes in love at first sight, I really did not enjoy that aspect much. The author’s language is too simple and the dialogue delivery needs some work as well. So far it doesn’t seem so interesting I know… But the world building and plot set up was something that I did like.

I will be picking up the next book in the series for sure to see where the plot goes.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury

24 October, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta October 24, 2015 0

#BookReview :: The Almost King (Take Back the Skies #2) by Lucy Saxon

Aleks Vasin is the youngest of four brothers, each with his path mapped out. But Aleks doesn't want to work in his father's shop and live with his family in a village in the westernmost corner of Siberene. And when he hears his parents fretting about money, he decides to save them the cost of his keep and leave.
First he heads south - though everyone tells him not to - to Rudavin, headquarters of the kingsguard, and he signs up for the army, little knowing what brutality it entails. After only a few weeks, Aleks realizes that this garrison is full of liars and thieves; he's signed away four years of his life to a commander who steals his money and a captain who's already hurt Aleks's beloved horse. This is not a noble destiny.
After a brutal beating, Aleks escapes, hoping to find safety and a new life somewhere in the north. And there, this deserter finds love, adventure, and a skyship in which he might just prove himself a hero after all - if he can evade the soldiers who seek to capture him.
Prepare for another sweeping adventure in this second book in a unique six-book series. Each book is set in a different land within the Tellus world, with repeating characters and related, nonlinear storylines that combine to create a one-of-a-kind, addictive reading experience.

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I have not read Take Back the Skies (Take Back the Skies #1) but delved into this one when Bloomsbury India sent me a review copy. The blurb gave me the feeling that the books could be read as standalone and out of order. Each book is supposedly set in a different land within the world setting of Take Back the Skies. It made me think of the Giver Series by Lois Lowry. However, while reading this one, I did get the feeling that I was missing something and hence would like to recommend the readers to read this series in proper order.

Aleks Vasin has a big family and his life cut out for him. However, he has different plans and he puts his plans in motion by running away from home. He goes ahead and enlists in the army only to find out that life with the kingsguard is not what it is built up to be. After an incident, he deserts and embarks on an adventure that changes his life…

What I liked the most about this book was its world building. The world of Tellus and the land of Siberene are beautiful and fascinating. The way the author has built it up and developed it is vibrant and I found it easy to get lost in this brand new world. I wish I could say the same about the characters though. Aleks, our protagonist, made it very difficult to like him. I wish he had a little bit more strength in him. It felt to me like he was just running away from situations whenever they got tough. Admittedly he does find his way in the end but by then it was too late for me to like him. Saria was a bit easier to like but her actions and Aleks’ reaction just didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them either. The plot had much to offer as well and it was interesting as well. A little bit of character development could have taken this book to another level.

I feel that without reading the first book and finding out whether I was indeed missing something, I cannot comment on whether one should take a chance with the series. On its own, the book is pretty average, but just maybe as a series it is much better? It is up to the reader to take a call on this one.

Review Copy Received from Bloomsbury India

17 September, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta September 17, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4) by Sarah J. Maas

The queen has returned.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past...

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

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I was all pumped up for this book and kept harassing the publishers for a review copy till I got my hands on it. It reminded me so much of the Harry Potter days (I didn’t have any idea about the blogging world and the concept of review copies back then) when I would wait eagerly for the next book and keep reminding all the elders around me that they simply had to buy me a copy on the day it released. The excitement and the expectations! I am ever so thankful to Sarah J. Maas for building a world that is so worth it all.

NOTE: This review is not going to be like my other reviews – following a standard pattern. Instead, I am going to rant, a lot!

My first reaction after I finished reading the book was that of awe and slight disappointment.

Caleana is back at Adarlan and she has plans for both the King of Adarlan and the King of Assassins. When she finds out about Aedion, of course rescuing him comes first. I loved the way she took control of things right from the beginning. No matter how many twists were thrown her way, she was not only prepared to handle them, she emerged on the top every single time. But then that is what we have come to expect from her, no? So yes, she lives up to all our expectations and deliver some more!

Then there’s Rowan. I wasn’t sure whether he would make an appearance in this book or not given the fact that Caleana had ordered him not to come to Adarlan. But then what a book would it have been if there had been no Rowan? After knowing him, it is impossible to think of a ToG installment without him. Yes, he makes an appearance and he sets a lot of things in motion. Chaol’s part in this book was done well. I kind of knew what to expect from him and he did not surprise me much. Then there is Dorian – I was not sure whether he will be freed in this book or not! But it was really heartbreaking to read his point of view while he was trapped with the wyrdstone collar. Aedion was the part where I was really disappointed. I was expecting a lot more from him with the way his reputation was built up as the Wolf of the North. I was sorely disappointed with the role he played even though finding out more about his heritage was really surprising and interesting. And OMG! Mannon! I knew that I had to expect something great from her – but what a surprising turn of events there!!

There’s a lot of action in the book and a LOT of things happened. Not a single dull page. I stayed up whole night, yes whole night and finished reading the book at one sitting. I just could not put it down. There are so many characters that have surprised me in this book and so many events that have turned my world upside down! I finished reading the book last week, and I am still reeling from all that has happened and all that is yet to happen too.

There is so much more I want to talk about! But the book is still new in the market, and so I will hold on to my rant. I may do a separate post on this couple of months down the line. But yes, those of you who have read this book, do you think Dorian met the future queen of Adarlan in this book????

Rounding up, this book was totally worth the wait and once you finish reading it you will want ToG5 in your hands immediately. I absolutely LOVED it!

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

18 August, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta August 18, 2015 2

#BookReview :: Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin has always loved Margo Roth Spiegelman, for Margo (and her adventures) are the stuff of legend at their high school. So when she one day climbs through his window and summons him on an all-night road trip of revenge he cannot help but follow.

But the next day Margo doesn’t come to school and a week later she is still missing. Q soon learns that there are clues in her disappearance . . . and they are for him. But as he gets deeper into the mystery – culminating in another awesome road trip across America – he becomes less sure of who and what he is looking for.

Masterfully written by John Green, this is a thoughtful, insightful and hilarious coming-of-age story.

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Unlike The Fault in our stars, which I had picked up with much trepidation because of its hype, I had picked up Paper Towns with much expectation. I mean once I had read about Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters, I picked up each of John Green’s works with expectation of nothing but pure awesomeness, including from M and Q in Paper Towns.

Quentin and Margo have known each other since childhood. They have been neighbours since they can remember and they even attend the same school. Yet they are just barely friends as Quentin is a nerdy nerd and Margo is obviously Miss Popular. Things changed, at least that’s what Q thought, when one night M climbed through his windows asking for his car keys. What that leads to is a night of fun, adventure and getting to know M. Just when Q thought things between him and M were about to develop, he wakes up to find that M is gone. She has left town, leaving everyone clueless about her whereabouts. Well, almost everyone. She has left clues for Q to follow and that leads to another road trip of a lifetime. In the end will Q catch up and find M?

The characters were awesome in the story. Quentin, Ben and Radar as so much fun to get to know. They are the guys everyone would love to hang out with, nerds or not. Their sense of humour is just off the charts. Quentin felt weird at times what with his obsession of Margo. I mean would you miss your graduation for a girl? But he sure knows how to go after what he wants. Margo felt a bit of self-absorbed kind of a girl to me. However, seeing her through Quentin’s eyes, it was just too difficult to not like her at some parts. Also, I was expecting another Hazel-Augustus kind of relationship. So, it was my mistake that I was disappointed by Q & M.

Being the genius that John Green is, he has conveyed a lot through his story and even more with the things that are absent in the story. It is amazing how I enjoyed the story so much while I was reading it, but once I looked back, it feels like an average story. It is John Green’s magical narration that has given life and elevated this average story to another level. Also, a lot of people have told me how they did not enjoy the ending. But for me the ending was as perfect as it could be. I love the story because of its ending.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

17 August, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta August 17, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Girl in the Dark by Anna Lyndsey

Anna was living a normal life. She was ambitious and worked hard; she had just bought an apartment; she was falling in love. But then she started to develop worrying symptoms: her face felt like it was burning whenever she was in front of the computer. Soon this progressed to an intolerance of fluorescent light, then of sunlight itself. The reaction soon spread to her entire body. Now, when her symptoms are at their worst, she must spend months on end in a blacked-out room, losing herself in audio books and elaborate word games in an attempt to ward off despair. During periods of relative remission she can venture cautiously out at dawn and dusk, into a world that, from the perspective of her normally cloistered existence, is filled with remarkable beauty.

And throughout there is her relationship with Pete. In many ways he is Anna’s savior, offering her shelter from the light in his home. But she cannot enjoy a normal life with him, cannot go out in the day, and even making love is uniquely awkward. Anna asks herself “By continuing to occupy this lovely man while giving him neither children nor a public companion nor a welcoming home—do I do wrong?” With gorgeous, lyrical prose, Anna brings us into the dark with her, a place from which we emerge to see love, and the world, anew.

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As you all know, I usually do not read non-fiction. But something about this story really attracted me to it. And it was such an experience to read through the book.

Anna was living a life that many people dream of and could even be called a normal life. She had a job that she worked hard at, a home that she dreamed of and even a boyfriend she might be falling for. But then what started as a skin irritation to the exposure of computer and florescent light soon took over her life as it progressed continuously. So much so that she moved into her boyfriend’s home, covered every window with heavy curtains and lived in perpetual darkness at all times. At the most, she could venture out at night with Pete, that too after curtaining the back seat of his car.

It is such a heart touching story. I have often wondered how the world must feel to a blind pers. No be able to hear birds but not see them, to smell flowers but nor see them… but this feels worse. To know there is so much that the world has to offer, yet not being able to enjoy them. I came to admire the author for her grit. It would have been so easy to just give up and live in despair or even give up life. Also, this is not just a story about one person’s struggles. It is also a love story and story about Pete’s dedication and constant support. The book is a memoir and it does feel so real - the agony, the struggles, the love… The author has done a beautiful job of capturing all her emotions, which were even funny at times, and then bring them to life through these pages. The striking language compliments the story and helps elevate it to another level on the whole.

This is not an easy book to read and I couldn’t bring myself to read it at a single go. I would put it down after a few chapters, but I always picked it up for more.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

13 August, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta August 13, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Sidney Chambers and the Problem of Evil (The Grantchester Mysteries #3) by James Runcie

Our favorite clerical detective is back with four longer mysteries in which Canon Sidney Chambers attempts to stop a serial killer with a grievance against the clergy; investigates the disappearance of a famous painting after a distracting display of nudity by a French girl in an art gallery; uncovers the fact that an "accidental" drowning on a film shoot may have been something more sinister; and discovers the reasons behind the theft of a baby from a hospital just before Christmas 1963.

In the meantime, Sidney wrestles with the problem of evil, attempts to fulfill the demands of his faithful Labrador, Dickens, and contemplates, as always, the nature of love.

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The fact is that I am not as well read and well aware of the books out there as I would like to be. And blogging about books have given me an opportunity to discover more than I normally would have. My recent discovery of The Grantchester Mysteries is all thanks to Bloomsbury India, who sent over a review copy of the third book in the series.

Sidney Chambers is not a professional detective. In fact he is a vicar of Grantchester and honorary canon of Ely Cathedral. However, with his unique position in the town and access to so many families, he manages to solve crimes with a bit of help from the town inspector, Geordie Keating. This particular installment offers its readers with four standalone short stories. First is ‘The Problem of Evil’ where Sidney looks into a serial killer with a grudge against clergymen. The second story titled ‘Female, Nude’ deals with the disappearance of a painting while a nude woman made for a perfect distraction. The third in line was ‘Death by Water’, a case where an actor accidentally drowned, but it turned out to be a murder case. Finally ‘Christmas, 1963’ tells us how Sidney manages to solve the case of a parishioner’s missing baby.

The thing that I realized right off the bat is that Sidney Chambers is not our regular fictional detective. He is a clergyman whose insight to people and their lives is one of the strongest points he has. He is not a conventional protagonist and as such the stories also vary in terms of the cases he solves. From playing the role of clergyman in a movie to his love for jazz music, small and insignificant details make up the character of Sidney Chambers. It is indeed a refreshing change to read about Sidney Chambers and his adventures. Also, since it is set in a quaint little town in early to mid-twentieth century, there are no complex forensic details. While it may sound a little bland (after all we are so used to reading about the complexities of forensics in any sort of case these days) it is another aspect of the series that I seriously liked. Coming to the plot, they were pretty simple and straightforward, and any mystery aficionado would be able to guess the who and what factors. However, the stories have been presented in a manner that there is much of other things that a reader gets out of the book. For instance, the culture at that time, the mentality of common people, etc. The author has kept his language and narration style simple in order to compliment his plot and characters.

Overall, I loved the book for its simplicity. I will be sure to hunt out the previous books in the series, and also look up the TV series based on these books.

Review Copy from Bloomsbury India

24 June, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta June 24, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Smek for President! (Smek #2) by Adam Rex

J.Lo made a gargantuan mistake and the Boov were banished from Earth. Now he is hated by them all. But certain that his fellow aliens will forgive him, J.Lo journeys to New Boovland to prove his loyalty to them. With the sharp eye and stealth of his human friend Gratuity, can J.Lo really go head-to-head for power with the supreme HighBoov Captain Smek - and win?

This brilliant, original comic sci-fi adventure from New York Times bestselling author Adam Rex gives us more of the madcap antics and laugh-out-loud lines that we loved about The True Meaning of Smekday, the book that inspired the major motion picture HOME.

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I watched the movie ‘Home’ couple of weeks back and received this review copy soon after. It was only after I got this book that I realized that the animated movie was based on a book. I had enjoyed the movie and so I delved into this book with much enthusiasm.

Tip and J.Lo are trying to settle back into ‘normal’ lifestyle after their ordeal in the first installment. But it is tougher than one would think. On one hand we have Tip, who now has a problem with her very loving but overbearing mother – atleast she thinks so. On the other hand, J.Lo misses his people and gets the idea that if he can explain to his people that it was a mistake on his part and that he did help save the day, he might be taken back into the fold of the Boovs. So, Tip and J.Lo take a trip to the new colony that the Boovs have set up. When they reach there, they realize that the Boovs are in the middle of an election campaign for the spot of Supreme Boov. They run into trouble (as expected) almost immediately and there starts a new adventure.

The beginning was a bit slow and I had trouble getting into it. But soon enough I was engrossed in the books. So much so, that I finished the book in one sitting. I have to admit that the accompanying artwork made the book so much more fun than it would be without them. I loved both Tip and J.Lo… on trying to come into terms with her accomplishments and her life with her mother. While the other trying to come into terms with his mistakes and the effect that it had among his people. In other words, it is almost like a coming of age novel. The humour in the book is just splendid. I laughed my way through it. No matter what your sense of humour is like, everyone will find enough laughs in the book.

Lots of fun, some chase scenes and some heart touching moments makes this book a complete entertainer.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

11 June, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta June 11, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Love Bomb (The Ladybirds #2) by Jenny McLachlan

Betty Plum has never been in love. She's never even kissed a boy. But when H.O.T. Toby starts school it's like Betty has been hit with a thousand of Cupid's arrows. It's like a bomb has exploded – a love bomb!

More than ever Betty wishes her mum hadn't died when Betty was a baby. She really needs her mum here to ask her advice. And that's when she finds hidden letters for just these moments. Letters about what your first kiss should feel like and what real love is all about …

Is Betty ready to fall in love? Will she finally have her first kiss?

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Love Bomb is the second book in The Ladybirds and the first one that I have read. From what I understand, the books in this series can also be read as standalone even though the series centers around a group of friends. Love bomb introduces us to Betty, a fifteen year old trying to handle school, friends, family drama and her first crush.

Betty had lost her mother at a very young age. Her connection to her mother is through the letters her mother has left for her. As she turns fifteen, Betty finds out that the letter she has received this year is the last one her mother has left for her. Then Toby enters her life as the new kid in school and Betty is immediately smitten. But she has no clue what to do or how to act around him… Just when she misses her mother the most, she discovers another stash of letters from her mother, which cover some significant moments in a person’s life. Armed with her mother’s advice, Betty is ready to tackle her situation… or so she thinks!

Betty is a pretty much normal teenager. Immature at times, she can also be a brat when she chooses so… But beneath all that is a sweet girl who is trying to navigate through her life as best as she can. It is pretty easy to like Betty even though she acts out every now and then. It is easy to see where she is going wrong and empathize with her. I have seen Betty’s life play out in real life among some of my friends and so I could connect with the storyline without difficulty. Toby on the other hand brings in the ‘cool’ factor to the dynamics. I found it difficult to like him – maybe because as a reader I could see through his antics for most part. However, the best part about the book was Betty’s mother and her letters. Though she is dead, Betty’s mother’s character really blooms through the letters to her daughter. She felt like the kind of person whom everybody simply cannot help but love.

The storyline, while predictable, was interesting enough to keep me glued to the book. The author’s style of narration is pretty easygoing and would probably appeal to younger readers – the target audience that is. Overall, a pretty entertaining book and perfect for Young Adults.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

25 May, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta May 25, 2015 0

#BookReview :: The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

Feodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora's mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans.

When the murderous hostility of the Russian Army threatens her very existence, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.

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The story is set in the beautiful country of Russia and at a time when the rich and wealthy showed off their wealth by having wolves as house pets. Yes you heard me right… Now, wolves are wild animals and not your normal house pet. So obviously their owners often had some trouble taming them. But instead of killing the troublesome wolves, which was believed to bring bad luck, they were sent back into their natural habitat. Wolf Wilders help these wolves to ease back into a new life while getting used to the wild and learning to be wary of human. Feodora and her mother live near a ruined chapel, which also happens to be the home of a pack of wolves. Feodora's mother is a wolf wilder while Feodora is a wolf wilder in training. But their ordinary existence is threatened by the Russian Army, as a result of which Feodora is forced to escape and learn to live on the run all the while trying to save her mother from being executed… It is the beginning of an adventure of a lifetime.

Feodora is a beautiful character. She maybe young but she finds wisdom beyond her years and by the end of the book, she is a character that one can proudly cheer for. She stands for everything that is right – courage, empathy and kindness along with some fire in her heart. I also liked the character of her mother, her friend and of course loved her wolves. I have to admit, I have read about wolves before, but they were mostly about werewolves. This made for a refreshing change. The whole plot had something new to offer to its reader. The settings are beautifully described. The author’s narration style and language are expressive and inspiring. As a grown up reading a middle grade book, I never once felt like it was too childish. In fact the depth of the message passed on resonated with me as well.

This is a very well written and captivating piece that is has something for everyone.

Review Copy Received from Bloomsbury India

18 May, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta May 18, 2015 1

#BookReview :: Anyone But Ivy Pocket (Ivy Pocket #1) by Caleb Krisp

Ivy Pocket is a twelve-year-old maid of no importance, with a very lofty opinion of herself. Dumped in Paris by the Countess Carbunkle, who would rather run away to South America than continue in Ivy's companionship, our young heroine (of sorts) finds herself with no money and no home to go to ... until she is summoned to the bedside of the dying Duchess of Trinity.

For the princely sum of £500 (enough to buy a carriage, and possibly a monkey), Ivy agrees to courier the Duchess's most precious possession – the Clock Diamond – to England, and to put it around the neck of the revolting Matilda Butterfield on her twelfth birthday. It's not long before Ivy finds herself at the heart of a conspiracy involving mischief, mayhem and murder.

Illustrated in humorous gothic detail by Iacopo Bruno, Anyone But Ivy Pocket is just the beginning of one girl's deadly comic journey to discover who she really is ...

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I have to admit that I was hooked to this book even before I read the blurb. No it’s not the cover, but the message from the author at the back of the ARC that I received. I have received quite a few ARCs before but none with such a message from the author. It was different, it was interesting and it was humorous and that is what got me hooked to the book. Here’s a pic of the back cover so that you can take a look for yourself (I just had to share it!)

Ivy Pocket is a twelve year old who works as a lady's maid. No matter her own opinion about herself, her employer, Countess Carbunkle dumps her in Paris as she just could not take any more of what Ivy had to offer. Stranded in the city with no money and no place to go, Ivy tries her best to gain employment. But when her attempt at getting a job at a hotel fails, she is approached by a boy. Ivy meets Duchess of Trinity for a job prospect. She is expected to follow precise instructions about getting a necklace to England and delivering it to Matilda Butterfield. With no other options at hand, Ivy accepts the job that will fetch her £500 and a fresh start at life. From there on Ivy’s adventure takes off as she discovers that the Clock Diamond has some special qualities and her growing attachment to it.

Ivy is a hilarious character to follow. He has very high opinion about herself that is almost to the point of being conceited. She thinks of herself as this larger than life persona who can deal with anything and has a solution for everything. She continuously refuses to conform She can be dense, irritating and free with insults. But her loud character is just a cover though, for the young orphaned girl who longs for her parents and a loving home. I loved the author’s style of narration and the fact that the language is simple enough for the kids this book is meant for. But what I loved the most was the author’s sense of humor that could almost be called twisted at times yet I laughed all the way through.

Absolutely brilliant…

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

16 May, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta May 16, 2015 2

#BookReview :: Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas

Ollie and Moritz are best friends, but they can never meet. Ollie is allergic to electricity. Contact with it causes debilitating seizures. Moritz’s weak heart is kept pumping by an electronic pacemaker. If they ever did meet, Ollie would seize. But Moritz would die without his pacemaker. Both hermits from society, the boys develop a fierce bond through letters that become a lifeline during dark times—as Ollie loses his only friend, Liz, to the normalcy of high school and Moritz deals with a bully set on destroying him.

A story of impossible friendship and hope under strange circumstances, this debut is powerful, dark and humorous in equal measure. These extraordinary voices bring readers into the hearts and minds of two special boys who, like many teens, are just waiting for their moment to shine.

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Because You'll Never Meet Me tells us the story of two boys who, you guessed it right, will probably never meet. On one hand, we have Ollie, who lives in a cabin in the middle of a forest. The reason behind is the fact that he is allergic to electricity making it impossible for him to survive in a modern day city or town or even in a village. He lives there with his mother, tucked away from everyone and everything. On the other hand, we have Moritz, a boy born without eyes and a pacemaker in his heart. Ollie and Moritz write letters to each other, thanks to Ollie’s doctor who told him about Moritz. Knowing that they will never meet, not only because of their physical distance but also because of the fact that Moritz’s pacemaker could potentially cause Ollie to have seizure, they tell each other anything and everything. This is a story of their beautiful friendship.

The book is written in epistolary format – the letters of the boys make up for the individual chapters. I find that I thoroughly enjoy reading this format of literature. The format also gives us the opportunity to hear from both the point of views of Ollie and Moritz. As a result it is a beautiful experience to read this book. The author has kept general flow of the story going in a perfect pace that tells us enough about the boys yet the pace doesn’t feel dragging at any point. Ollie and Moritz are two different characters who are similar in some manner yet very different from each other on the whole. The author has done a fantastic job of giving individual voices to them. It was inspiring to see the ‘voice’ change so drastically every time the chapter changed. To top it off, the character growth and development over the book is so well handled that it happens subtly yet is very much visible. And yes, for those who are always looking for more, there is an underlying mystery that connects them both. What more can you ask for?

I seriously cannot believe that this is the author’s debut novel. It is so awesome! I hope that there is another book down the line that will tell us about the two boys later in their lives.

This engaging novel leaves you wanting for more…

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India

11 May, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta May 11, 2015 0

#BookReview :: The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein

In the beautiful, barren landscape of the Far North, under the ever-present midnight sun, Frances and Yasha are surprised to find refuge in each other. Their lives have been upended--Frances has fled heartbreak and claustrophobic Manhattan for an isolated artist colony; Yasha arrives from Brooklyn to fulfill his beloved father's last wish: to be buried “at the top of the world.” They have come to learn how to be alone.

But in Lofoten, an archipelago of six tiny islands in the Norwegian Sea, ninety-five miles north of the Arctic Circle, they form a bond that fortifies them against the turmoil of their distant homes, offering solace amidst great uncertainty. With nimble and sure-footed prose, Dinerstein reveals that no matter how far we travel to claim our own territory, it is ultimately love that gives us our place in the world.

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The Sunlit Night tells the story of two youngsters, Yasha and Frances, who come from different backgrounds and fate have their paths cross at Norway. Frances is there to intern with an artist after a recent break up with her family and also another break up within her family. Yasha on the other hand is there to fulfill his father’s last wishes. Both have certain baggage that they carry and when they meet, they feel a certain connection. As friendship blossoms, they find comfort in each other.

When we break down the characters of Yasha a Frances, it is easy to like them and empathize with them for the most part. They are both very different personalities that bring in a variety of flavors to the story. To read the story from their individual point of view made it interesting. However, even with their given background, I really cannot digest the way they sometimes think of their parents. I realize that not every relationship is perfect and neither of our protagonists had a set of ideal parents. The thoughts they entertained about their parents still felt unnatural and almost disgusting at times. As a result I could not really warm up to the characters completely. Except for that one particular factor, the book is mostly well written sprinkled with engaging dialogues and a dash of humor. She has also successfully described the two very different places (Norway & US) in details. Also, while I initially thought that this would be a love story, and to some extent it is, but it is so much more than that. It sends us a message about accepting reality, handling grief, rediscovering yourself and that one can find a kindred soul at the most unexpected turns.

Overall, this makes for an above average read that I did end up enjoying it.

Review Copy received from Bloomsbury India