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maggio 20, 2017

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones - Review

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Wintersong
by S. Jae-Jones


While I was still looking for some Beauty and the Beast retelling this book pop out. A crossover between a German folk story and the myth of Persephone and Hades, so instead of finding a beast we are rewarded with the beautiful and damn Lord of the Underworld: the Goblin King.

 "Beware the goblin men and the wares they sell"

The story is about Liesl, a young woman, who since she was a kid has heard the legends and stories of the mysterious Goblin King, who is also the muse around which her music is composed. While growing up she had to set aside her music in favor of more practical concerns, helping to run the family inn.
But when her sister suddenly disappears taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to the Underworld and cuts a deal with the Goblin King, to exchange her sister life for hers. She becomes the goblin wife; both physical and emotional passions are revived, she is free to be herself again, goes to write and play music. The goes on and while the world above is moving forward be becomes slowly weaker and longer while the goblins feed on her energy.
As the Goblin king and Liesl become closer, they must learn just what is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.

The first half of the book has a nice pace, the story was well presented and the first encounter with the male protagonist is exciting, but once we get to the center of the action nothing is really happening. All the reference about music could easily appeal to anyone interested in classic music and even though I felt like they get kind of repetitive after a while, they were poetic. I wasn't able to enjoy the descriptions and I was constantly craving for more action. To summarize my feeling: I felt bored the whole time.


The Heroine is presented as an uncommon beauty, which did charm the Goblin King with her inner passion rather than her external appearance. I liked this new perspective, where a female heroine doesn't have to be extremely beautiful but rather develop her inner self and intelligence, becoming a more interesting character. What I didn't like was that she constantly reminds the reader that she is ugly, so instead of creating a self-conscious and strong heroine, the author built this insecure girl that need reassurance from her lover about her inner beauty.
The writing is beautiful and crafted but the story doesn't develop well, at times I also found it hard to follow and contradictory.

In short: two many beautiful words and so little action!
I'll keep a watch on this writer I'm sure she can do better than this.

2.75/5 STARS

Check out S.Jae-Jones Website!--> HERE
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marzo 29, 2017

Wires and Nerve (Vol. #1) by Marissa Meyer, illustrated by Douglas Holgate - Review

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Wires and Nerve  

by Marissa Meyer, illustrated by Douglas Holgate


The Lunar Chronicles are back with this first volume of the graphic novel illustrated by Douglas Holgate. If you loved the series you are certainly gonna enjoy this!

In this adventure we follow Iko, the sassy android from the Lunar Chronicles, on a new dangerous adventure. 
The Plot starts from where we left, or just a bit farther in time: a few months have pass since Cinder and her friends saved the world, but there still a lot of work to do. Both Luna and Earth needs rebuilding and establishment; Cinder is struggling to be acknowledge as queen by the lunars, not to think of the packs of wolf-hybrids that have gone rouge on earth. This is when Iko gets in, she takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She will soon be working with and handsome royal guard - if you have paid attention  in the series you would have gasp the attraction between her and You-Know-Who, starts with a K.- who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty and her own humanity.
We still get a glimpse of all our other beloved characters - new Luna's queen Cinder, her lover and Common Wealth's Emperor Kyo; Scarlet and Wolf at the farm; Winter the new ambassador for Luna on Earth, tailed by her beloved stalkerish guard Jacin; and the one couple I was waiting for: Cress and Thorne traveling and delivering the cure, for the lunar disease, to all earthen.

I was happy to see all the old character, but it was even more delightful getting to know better Iko, since we don't have her full perspective from the series. End what a spicy android she is! Funny, girly, caring, end at the same time a kick-ass character, terminator style. What appears from this graphic novel is that she is more similar to a human than a robot. Her feelings are strong, they don't feel like the product of program. Seeing her starting to fall in love was the cherry at the top of a Sundae.
The story was simple and good, but what I wasn't in love with were the graphics. I did find the drawing to simple and scratchy, not really the style I like.

All in all it was nice and I will pick up the rest of the volume.

3.5/5 STARS

HERE'S A NICE SPEED-DRAW OF IKO BY SHANLIGHTYEAR:


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marzo 22, 2017

Daughter of the Pirate King (#1) by Tricia Levenseller - Review

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Daughter of the Pirate King (#1)
by  Tricia Levenseller


Is not everyday that we are able to read a YA with pirates as main characters, which is a shame cus - has The Pirate of the Caribbean movie franchising shows - we all love them. It seems that recently they are again picking the interest of writes: we saw a bit of the pirates' world in a Darker Shades of Magic trilogy, by V.E. Schwab,  with Lila and Alucard (ADSOM REVIEWS HERE --> #1, #2, #3); or a bit of naval adventure in Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, but finally in Daughter of the Pirate King we have old-dirty-scam pirates, mermaids, damoiselles not so much in distress and more than one bottle of rum!

Alosa - daughter of the Pirate king - was sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient map, that leads to Isle De Canta; there's only one problem, the map is hidden on another pirates ship. To retrieve the map Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search the ship.
What she didn't expect was for her captor's first mate, Riden, to be so clever and unfairly attractive. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few trick up her sleeve, and a simple pirate can not stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

Tricia Levenseller did find a way to make pirates in fashion again! She didn't make them impossibly beautiful or unbelievable, but she gave to ruthness a new shine. They are sweaty, with golden teeth, saggy, smelly pirates; well some might smell better than the others but still, you get the idea. They are believable, and that's key in a book, if you can picture the characters as physical identity, that means that the writer was able to conjure a convincing/concrete world.
The plot is simple but beautifully crafted, all the main actions take place on the ship so there is little world building, but I'm sure we will get to know more of it in the next books. The characters are well rounded, there is not too much psychological depth to them but they emerge well from the pages. Our heroine Alosa is a bad-ass, funny, sassy, with a little too much self-confidence for my liking, but still I enjoyed reading about her, I liked her alot.

"Lass, you've the face of an angel but the tongue of a snake"

The writing is good and so is the pacing. I flow through the book - I read it in one stand - and I can't wait to get my hands on the second book: Daughter of the Siren Queen, which is coming out february 2018. I can not wait for it!

4/5 STARS
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marzo 18, 2017

Frostblood (#1) by Elly Blake - Review

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Frostblood
by Elly Blake


Frostblood is the installment in Elly Blake's Frostbrood Saga - three book have been announced until now- and if you are a block of ice you should prepare to be melt down in this new YA fantasy book.

"You don't know the effect your words have on me, Lady Firebrand. It took year to build up this ice. You will melt it and then I will be broken."

There's a war going on earth between Fireblood and Frostblood, an old conflict created by greedy Gods, so Ruby - a fireblood stuck in the Frostblood's kingdom- has to hide her power from the cruel eye of the ruling class. But once discovered, her mum is killed and her village set on fire. 
Luck seems to turn her way when a mysterious rebel Frostblood, Arcus, demands her help to overthrow the bloody king. While busy saving the kingdom, the temperature between Ruby and Arcus is rising, let's just hope they don't catch fire!

If you read a lot of mainstream YA fantasy book, you probably have already read this story. In fact this book is full of chlichè, yet the writer did manage to hold my attention.
If I was reading a book of this genre for the first time, I would totally love it, but I've already read about society split in two groups, a heroine different from everyone else, whose destiny has already been carved in a prophecy and who by pure chance falls in love with - drum roll- the mysterious guy that is supposed to be the enemy. I mean if you have read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, this is practically a false copy of it. 
Frostblood is unremarkable under many aspects, but somehow manage to still works. The dialogue are crafted enough to be funny, and the heroine is well rounded - even though I would have appreciated more psychological depths. For our male counterpart I can't say the same, he was quite flat, aiming for a Heatcliff 's model but never getting there.
The writing style is good, too stereotypical for this genre, but still able to hold the your attention making it a fast read. One of the most remarkable feature of this book is the cover, I'm digging this style!

In summary it was an ok start for the series, I'm hoping to see some real sparks in the next book of the series, Fireblood, coming out September 2017.

3/5 STARS

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marzo 15, 2017

The Enemy Within by Scott Burn - Review

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The Enemy Within
By Scott Burn



I've been craving some YA, sci-fi adventure for a while, so when I got my hands on The Enemy Within I was prepared for an extra terrestrial trip!
The 5th Wave meets I am number 4 in Scott Burn debut novel, while bringing a new spin on the human/alien conflict.

Max always felt he was different, he was never able to fit right in, but since the visions came he feels totally estranged. He keeps on seeing a burning city, pain and suffering overtaking his mind. He can't understand what he is experiencing and it's getting stronger with time. Thinking he is going crazy he attempts suicide, failing and as a consequence handing up in a mental institution. But sooner he will discover that his hallucinations weren't just in his head. 
While stuck in the mental hospital, three others are searching for Max. They , as Max, don't really fit in with humans but are something more. Each of them has a special ability, that will come in handy when a military organization comes after them.

The novel has simple premise, that we can find in a lot of YA books, but we get some twist and turns that are worth the reading. Even though it uses some eternal sci fi clichè, which I'm sick of seeing in movies and books, the writer is able to make the story interesting with some unexpected plot twists.
The characters are well outlined, the author was able to give them a good psychological depth. The protagonists of our story are really fun to read about - some exchanges were hilarious - and it was nice to see their relationships evolve. 
I loved the story and how everything played out, but what is bugging me was the world construction and the absence of descriptions. A lot was left out to the reader's imagination, there was too much blank space to fill in, making the scene and settings sometimes difficult to picture. It felt, at time, more like a script than a book, which was a shame since the story had a great potential. 

Apart from my little grumbles it's a good reading, quick and fun. You will certainly not regret it!

3.5/5 STARS 

Scott Burn official website--> HERE



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marzo 13, 2017

A Conjuring of Light (A Darker Shade of Magic 3#) by V.E. Schwab - Review

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A Conjuring of Light
by V.E. Schwab


Victoria Schwab nailed it down again! She became a certainty, in all her book the writing is: elegant, composed, confident, polished, just pure bliss. And in A Conjuring of Light - final instalment in the A Darker Shade of Magic trilogy (#1,#2) - she give her best, making it the perfect conclusion for the series. Victoria Schwab is not yet 30 and she feels - quoting the New York Times - like an old pro. But let's stop with my eulogy, and get straight to the book.

In A Gathering of Shadows we left Red London celebrating the end of the Element Games, but while festivity are taking place, darkness is casting a shadow over the Maresh Empire, making space for another London to rise. Are heroes will have fight, with every possible means, against a magic force that is moving to drain the world for its greed. 

Every character is so fleshed-out, you will except (wish) them to jump out of the pages and come to life. they  are well-rounded and they keep on evolving. We see Lila, who in the previous installment came out has hot-headed and more boastful than I could take, showing determination and strength. From the free of attachment kind of girl, she became someone who is ready to die for the people she care about. She is more mature without losing the boldness and fierceness, that made her the character we all love.

"Only you would mourn the vessel instead of the sailors"
"Well," she said matter-of-factly, "the ship certainly didn't do anything wrong. The people might have deserved it."

We also get a better spectrum of Rhy and Alucard relationship - secret from Alucard's past and some mind-blowing plot-twists will determine our crown prince's future. Rhy is also put under a different light in this book, he is gone past the rebellious fase, and he is starting to behave like a mighty king.
But the most extraordinary character of the book was Holland, so complex and mesmerising. We get a better look at his past and we get to understand him better. He reminded me of Vicious in more than one way, he surly shows that nothing is just black or white, that an object changes depending on the perspective you are are looking it from. 

"I keep wondering" he said softly, "if all of it is my fault. Where does it start, Tieren?" 
He looked up. "With Holland's choice, or with mine?"

There was a loose end in the plot with Lila, you will get what I'm talking about when you pick up the book - cus you will-, that I'm trying not to hope it was intentional. From what I notice in Schwab's book nothing, not even the smallest details, is put there by chance so this missed realisation is making me think of another waiting adventure. I'm trying not to hope for it, thinking at a possible new series in the ADSOM's universe is too much, it will break my heart if not.
I think that I could go on and on talking about how good this series was, but that will that you away precious time to read it!

5/5 STARS

To celebrate the final installment in Victoria Schwab's Trilogy, A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm doing a FREE GIVEAWAY : a paperback copy A Darker Shade of Magic. Read the rule to enter ----> HERE.



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marzo 08, 2017

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert L. Stevenson - Review

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The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
by Robert L. Stevenson



 It's quite weird how the story came to be: according to Osbourne's account, Stevenson wrote the first draft of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with remarkable speed. The main details of the story were given to him in a dream, and in three days the first draft of the novel was complete. But after reading it to his wife he set fire to it and started again (quite drastic, I would say). He then spent some months to polish the work we still read and enjoy nowadays.

Are we good because we want to be, or are we good because we just don't want to be punished?

Surely Stevenson did ask himself the same question while writing this iconic novel. The theme of the dual personality was a novelty in the 19th century, but still feels contemporary nowadays. He was able to portrait in Hyde, Jekyll's alter ego, the dark side of man which civilization has striven to submerge. In fact, as you probably already known, Jekyll and Hyde are the same person and the two entity can not be separated. From my reading, Hyde is just a mask that Jekyll puts on to dissociate himself from the terrible acts he commits, it's his way of freeing himself of the restrictions dictated by the society. With Hyde's identity he can vent all is violent and dark instinct, but Jekyll doesn't disappear he is always there. The problem comes when Jekyll becomes slowly more addicted to his other self. Neither can survive with or without the other, there is only one solution....

It's an exquisite novel, in contrast with most of the Gothic Romances of the time, here there is no love and frilly romance, just friendship and male partnership. I was glad of that, since the classic love-tales tend to be a bit boring after a while. 
I founded the writing style quite peculiar, at time convulsive as probably is character psychology, but at the same time simple and quick to read - less than 100 pages. As in the majority of the novels of the time the characters are still a bit empty shells, that stand more for a moral ideal than a complex individual. Still the story is pleasant and engaging.

4/5 STARS


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marzo 06, 2017

A Gathering Of Shadows (A Darker Shade of Magic #2) by V.E Schwab - Review

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A Gathering Of Shadows
by V.E. Schwab



"How do you know when the Sarows is coming?
(Is coming is coming is coming aboard)...


Here we are back with my favorite Fantasy writer of all time: Victoria Schwab and the fantastic characters of A Darker Shade of Magic.
In this second installment of the Trilogy (A Darker Shade of Magic #1), old and new characters are back in Schwab's multiverse, and you are probably gonna love them even more than the first time!
Kell - the Antari traveler, who likes to smuggle little trinkets in between worlds-; Lila - once a thief, now a pirate and maybe something more; Rhy - the charming Prince of Red London, freshly back from the dead-, Alucard - the cocky Captain of the Night Spire with a mysterious past-, and many more.

We left, in the first book, with Lila sailing off to unknown venture; and Kell back in Red London, having bond forever his existence with his brother, Rhy.
After the threat from the Dane twins is called off in White London, and Vitari, the pure magical force casted back with Holland's dying body into Black London, thing are finally starting to settle down in Red London. They city is buzzing with the preparations for the Element Games - an extravagant international competition of magic- that will draw back into port some old friends.
But while one London is engaged in the festivity, an ancient shadows has been woken in another. It just seems that if our protagonists don't go looking for troubles, this one follow them.

"Delilah Bard had a way of finding trouble"

I couldn't be more happy with this fallup of the series, give me pirates and a magic tournament - that did call back HP memory - and I'm sold. And if you also look at the covers of this series, they are beautiful, even the internal graphics are superbs. Not to mention that as usual Schwab's writing skill looks effortless. Her writing is like breathing, natural and essential. In her book nothing is excessive or lacking, everything is always well balanced.
She is the true magician in this book, transforming words in vivid images and sensations. Her use of language is detailed and evocative, making the reader drown into Kell's and Lila's world. A World where all the different sub-plot, each with their different characters, are brought forward until they converge into one. This clue point, was the case of the Element Games, until the competition all the characters are split as we left them in the first book, but they are slowly drawn together chapter by chapter.
The characters are well-rounded, we get even more depths in them. Delilah Bard was the best Pirate/Thief  and much more that I ever read about. I can't get enough of her is the baddest badass of them all and she doesn't give a damn.
Let me also advise you that if you get to the end you will immediately need A Conjuring of Light. In fact the second book stop on a cliffhanger, leaving you leaning in like at the end of Soap-Opera's episode. 

5/5 STARS

 To celebrate the final installment in Victoria Schwab Trilogy, A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm doing a FREE GIVEAWAY : a paperback copy A Darker Shade of Magic. Read the rule to enter ----> HERE.

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marzo 04, 2017

Vicious ( Vicious #1) by V.E Schwab - Review

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Vicious
by V.E Schwab
"Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human"

In Vicious, we find our self in a comic-like world where super villains and superheroes can be easily mistaken for one another.

The story starts with Victor and Eli - two brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. They start a research on adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events that reveals the possibility, given the right conditions, that someone might develop extraordinary ability. But when their thesis moves from theoretical to practical, things go horribly wrong. 
Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend, aided by a young girl who can rise the dead, and other odd characters that tag along the way. Meanwhile Eli is on the holy mission to eradicate, from earth, every other supernatural being. With both of them terribly powerful and driven by revenge, the battle between the two arch-nemeses is going to be epic!

"The paper called Eli a hero.

The word made Victor laugh. not just because it was absurd, but becouse it posed a question. If Eli really was a hero, and Victor meat to stop him, did that make him a villain?"

It's all about the ambition, the betrayals and jealousies, that brought together first, and broke apart after, our two protagonists. Eli and Victor both have a dark-side beyond their collected and calm appearance; showing that there is a fine line between good and bad guys.
Everything about this book draws you in: the characters, the plot, the excellent and effortless writing of Victoria Schwab. It's elegantly crafted, the book move fluidly from past to present, each chapter is perfectly linked to the next.

Victor is one of my favorite Villains of all times, I would highly recommend this book to any reader it's beautiful. Also it seems that a fallup novel will come out in 2018 under the title of  Vengeful, can't wait for that!.

5/5 STARS

To celebrate the final installment in Victoria Schwab Trilogy, A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm doing a FREE GIVEAWAY : a paperback copy A Darker Shade of Magic. Read the rule to enter ----> HERE.


Book official trailer:



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febbraio 27, 2017

A Darker Shade of Magic (1#) by V.E Schwab - Review

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A Darker Shade of Magic
by V.E Schwab


After reading Vicious I had to pick up her high-fantasy series and I was not desapointed. Victoria Schwab makes music not with mathe and notes, but with words and letters. creating a beautiful symphony that makes you look back at the classics and at the same time forward with original plot and atmosphere.

Schwab created a multi universe, where there are four London existing simultaneously. The boring, non-magical Grey London,ruled by one mad King---George III. Kell's Red London, where he was raised along side with Rhy, the heir to this flourishing magical empire. White London, a corrupted city where magic is power, and the one to willed it are draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London, dead, sealed off from the rest, where magic had took evil form and consumed the city and its people. 
The only people capable of travelling between on London to the other are the Antari. Kell is one of them, ambassador of the Maresh Empire, he carries the correspondence between the royals of each London.But mail is not the only thing he is carrying in between worlds. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, bring small object to willing to pay for a glimpse of the world they will never see. A small innocent hobby, until he smuggle something he shouldn't have. 
He will soon cross path with, Delilah Bard, who will rob him, than save him and in the end force Kell to bring her with him to another world for a proper adventure.

"I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it."
"Seen what?"
Her smile widened. "Everything."

The plot flows like a river, perfectly. Every word is chiseled to fit in a larger scheme, it's crafted perfection. Beautiful.
The world-building is genius. Simple and a complicated, the concept of four London is not nearly as confusing as I thought, everything explains it self while reading it. And while I usually find some plot-holes in this alternate reality kind of plot, This time I couldn't find any, it's totally bulletproof.
The characters, are close to perfection. And here I'm repeating myself , but I simply can't find any other words to describe it. Perfect, perfect and perfect!
Kell is mysterious, a darkish character without exaggeration; while Lila stuck me for her badassery, and her energetic personality despite being surrounded by violence and cruelty. A life-force. But what I loved even more where the interactions between them: no insta-love, no insta-friendship, everything is built on the evolution of needs and opportunity.

Victoria Schwab is for  sure one of the most talented fantasy writer I ever read (with  Leigh Bardugo, of course).

 5/5 STARS

To celebrate the final installment of her trilogy that come out this month I'm doing a FREE GIVEAWAY : a paperback copy A Darker Shade of Magic. Read the rule to enter ----> HERE.

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febbraio 10, 2017

Mio Fratello Rincorre i Dinosauri di Giacomo Mazzariol - Recensione (Italian review)

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Mio Fratello Rincorre i Dinosauri
di Giacomo Mazzariol




Un libricino breve che è riuscito a racchiudere in queste poche pagine grandi sentimenti.
Con naturale semplicità racconta la storia di Giacomo Mazzariol e suo fratello Giovanni con "un cromosoma in più". Mio fratello rincorre i dinosauri ci porta attraverso la crescita di queste due persone e più di ogni altra cosa ci fa vedere come il loro rapporto cambi ed evolva, fino alla completa comprensione.

"Avevo impiegato dodici anni a vedere il mondo con gli occhi di mio fratello; e ve lo giuro, quel mondo non era affatto male"

Vediamo crescere Giacomo, la sua meraviglia nei confronti del fratellino appena nato, la sua paura del giudizio degli altri quando si fa più grande, la vergogna di non saper difendere il fratello e infine il completo inglobamento delle due anime. Giacomo e Giovanni si fondono come le loro camere, entrano ed escono ognuno nel mondo dell'altro.  Amano.

"Aveva il mio stesso numero di libri. Al posto della Fattoria degli animali aveva Gli animali della fattoria"

 Un bellissimo spezzone di vita, pieno di musica e film, raccolto in poche pagine e con una scrittura semplice che riesce ad esprimere al meglio la complessità della vita.

5/5 STARS

 Il libro nasce grazie a Joe principalmente, ma anche alla grande popolarità che il loro il video The Simple Interview ha raggiunto su Youtube.






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febbraio 09, 2017

A Dirty Job (Grim Reaper #1) by Christopher Moore - Review

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A DIRTY JOB #1
by Christopher Moore



It took me sometimes to finish  it, the uni's exams session did break up my TBR, anyways I finally got sometime to relax and enjoy my readings. 
This book caught my eye in the bookstore for the creepy title and cover, and I was a goner once I read the sinapsis. 

Our hero, Charlie Asher, is a pretty normal guy with a normal life, a Beta guy inside out. He is married to a brilliant, pretty women and they are about to have their first kid. But when his wife dies, other deaths follow. People start dropping dead around him, he hears whispers from under the streets and see darks presence in San Francisco. Something is changing, seems like ,Charlie Asher, has just been recruited for a new job: as Death, or to better say it one death. It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it.

A Dirty Job is a good mix of genera, we have death merchants, hounds from hell, grotesque monsters and an impending doom. Everything has a good hint of humor, all the characters are quirky and they always have a smart comeback.
But all the quirkiness and irony, that are just right on spot in the first half of the book, are a mashup of bad humors and are repetitive and boring in the second part. 
The writing style is good from start to finish, he is really good in creating funny dialogue, but it loses some of that easy going vibe while you get to the end.

Overall it's a funny book, it's a good laugh, easy and relaxing to read. I'll probably check out some of his other books!

3.5/5 STARS

Book trailer:


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gennaio 23, 2017

The Tempest by William Shakespeare - Review

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The Tempest 
by William Shakespeare 


Shakespeare again! This one was also a reading for my english literature course and I've got to say that I liked all the books I've read for it so far, I'm also loving theater more and more.

The Tempest is one of Shakespeare's four romances, so in contrast with Hamlet this is not a tragedy but it has a happy ending. It is also considered his last work, a sort of testament and revindication of his ideals. As usual since it's a classic I will try to be brief with the plot since it's generally well known.
Alonso, the king of Naples, is returning from his daughter's wedding in Tunis with his son, Ferdinand, his brother, Sebastian, and Antonio, the Duke of Milan. The ship is wrecked in a storm and the passengers and crew are thrown into the furious sea.
Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, and his daughter Miranda are watching the shipwreck from the island. Twelve years before, he was the Duke of Milan, but his brother, Antonio had usurped him. Now all the enemies, thanks to fate and Prospero's magic, had washed up on the shore of the island and they will have to pay and amend for their crime.
This is the starting point from which the comedy starts to unfold itself, making the characters go through a purgatorial experience to reach at the end a general forgiveness that coincides with the marriage of the young, Miranda and Ferdinand.

I was fascinated by Prospero, that like a stage director controls and move the others characters on the island. His relationship with his two servants is disagreeable, when with Ariel he shows affections and care instead he is cruel to Caliban, the island's native, that born a devil has no escape from his earthy miserable condition. Clearly we see the  remembrance of the English colonialism in the relationship between Prospero and Caliban.
The love story between Ferdinand and Miranda leaves its time, the  shakespearean ista-love that I can't stand but I have to accept for the play to go through.

Overall I liked the play and I'm giving it 4/5 STARS. Reading it is totally no sufficient, if you want to see a good adaptation I recommend seeing the 2010's movie The Tempest directed by Julie Taymor starring in the role of Prospero the amazing Helen Mirren, and as Miranda the newborn Star Wars' star Felicity Jonas. Down below the Trailer:



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gennaio 21, 2017

HAMLET by William Shakespeare - Review

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TO BE OR NOT TO BE



Another book I finally got to read and analyse for my english literature course, and what an amazing surprise. I've always  found Shakespeare boring and sentimental but this time having taken my time in reading this amazing tragedy I was able to enjoy it fully.

Since it's a classic the story should be known to everybody so I'll be brief in my summery. Prince Hamlet just got back from Germany to assist at his father's funeral, while his mother Gertrude has already remerried. The Queen has wed the Hamlet's uncle Claudius the dead King's brother. To Hamlet this is a "foul incest" and already he suspect that some "foul play" is behind the death of his father. One night his father ghost visits the  castle and Hamlet's suspicions are confirmed. His Uncle poisoned King Hamlet in his sleep, and now young Hamlet must revenge him. From this moment on Hamlet's soul will be divided on how to revenge his father and "taint not thy mind".

This is the starting point for the tragedy, I loved how the play starts right of in darkness and ends in it there is no salvation the whole state of Denmark is rotten. Even the pure Hamlet is in the end corrupted by the society he lives in. It might be a play more than 400 years old but it still bring modern theme as alienation, relativism and life struggle. We might not have to face a murderous uncle but we are put everyday in front of hard decisions, we might struggle to choose and in the end we to has Hamlet have to make a compromise with the society we live in.
If from one side this play reflects upon how little and insignificant a life is to the other side it makes u look at how big and full of possibilities the universe is, how everything is relative and our way of thinking and looking at things makes them what they are .

-"I could be bonded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space"-

It's a wonderful, modern play and having read a few others Shakespeare's play I can say that this is my favorite above all. 
I also felt like it was necessary to see it play out and I found a stunning performance at the National Theater Live by Benedict Cumberbatch, that deserve a look. My eyes were in love with the costumes, the scenery and Benedict. Here are some pics, get a look!!!




National Theater Live Trailer:


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gennaio 14, 2017

FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley - Book Review

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FRANKENSTEIN

by Mary Shelley



I finally got to read the whole version of this classic since it was in my english literature course TBR, and what an amazing surprise!
"You are my creator,
 but I am your 
master- Obey!"

The story is well known to everybody so I'll be brief. Victor Frankenstein is a brilliant young man whose ambition and intelligence push him toward the discovery of the "secret of life", secret which we are not revealed. But once his creation is completed he refuse and repulse his own creature. The rejection from his creator and afterwards from society, will lead the the being to become a "monster", whose only goal in life is the destruction of his maker.
It clearly not an horror, scary story as we are often pushed to think, but is a story that revolves about real and relatable sentiments. The "monster", as it called, it more human than his creator. Made as a scientific experiment by an overly ambitious man, he was born pure but been alone and rejected on sight by his maker and the others he gradually turns to evil.

"Even that enemy 
of God and man 
had friends associates
 in his desolation; 
I am  ALONE."

Through the whole novel I kept thinking at how different the story could have gone if Frankenstein showed love and understanding to his son, instead by rejected him he sealed his own misfortune.

The book is beautifully written and the english is quite modern. Apart from some too long, repetitive and boring description of nature, I did find this book most pleasurable and entertaining.

 4.5/5 STARS

 The 2015 movie inspired by the book with Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy.

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dicembre 18, 2016

The Year of The Rat by Clare Furniss - Review

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The Year of The Rat
by Clare Furniss




I run into this book will I was looking for some bargains on book depository (where if you don't know I buy most of my book), it was cheap, I liked the cover and I was in need of a depressing teenage story. What I did not expect was the laughing out loud while reading it. It is in fact a depressed story but it's full of bittersweet humor!

The story tell us about fifteen years old Pearl, and her world that suddenly crumble to the ground when her mum dies after after giving birth to her baby sister, Rose.  Rose, the "RAT" ugly, wrinkled, reddish and super annoying. It is her fault her mum died, it's her fault the wonderful relationship Rose had with her step dad, the Rat's biological father, was destroyed, it's her fault for been the constant reminder of her mother's death. A mum that though is dead, seems not to have disappeared completely, but keeps on popping out of nowhere smoking, cursing, guiding.

The story is told across the year following Pearl's mum, drowns us in her inability to move on, in her constant search of an exterior enemy to let the guilt fell upon. It told with a bittersweet taste, quite realistic, following her in her process of grieving. The writer did wholly picture the hasty sentiment of the protagonist, she didn't try to embellish them, but they were put out there in their raw essence. I liked this fact the most, making the grieving process slowing pointing to a resolution of the events, did surely make it more realistic.

The writing style, the plot, and the character were all well made. I rather liked it!

4/5 STARS

Here is a talk-on with the author:




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ottobre 30, 2016

The Girls Who Went to War by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi - Review

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The Girls who Went to War




If you leave the residence of the first english Prime Minister and get on Whitehall Road you will find yourself in front of a big monument dedicated to the woman of World War II. A big metal rectangular block, almost 7 meters high, in which we can see 17 different set of clothing running around its sides, symbolizing the different jobs women did undertake during the war. 
Passing past it I always asked myself: who were those women? What did they do during the war time? 

Knowing almost nothing about this matter, and having quite a lot of misconceptions on the role of women during those years, I gladly picked up this book when I saw it on depositary book. It also was a bargain for less than 5 euro, couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
The Girls Who When to War by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi, tell the true stories of three english women who volunteered for the Army Auxiliaries Services in WW II.
As it's said at the back of the book, the writers tried to stay as faith full as possible to the original stories, but having as more than 70  years passed since the event, the memories of the veterans were understandably incomplete. As in those case they filled the blanks with research and their wits.

Jessie Ward, who joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), Margaery Pott, who signed up for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), and Kathleen, who desperately wanted to join the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), are the amazing and brave women we are presented in this book. They all joined the army feeling the need to do their bit for the country. The writers takes as into their life full of bravery and romance. Man and women working together in the Army did spring for sure the best and sometimes most heartbreaking love stories. And this three girl had their fare share.

The narration and writing style are quite plain, but the content did made up for this lack. 
Even though I don't like historical book I enjoyed reading about this woman and it made my even more interested on this subject.

4/5 STARS

Here an interesting clip from youtube:



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settembre 26, 2016

Coast (Kick & Push 2#) by Jay McLean - Review

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Coast (Kick & Push 2#)

by Jay McLean




Last summer I was on the hype for romance and young teenage love, and then is when I came across Kick, Push by Jay McLean, it was my first book from her and also my first book about teenage parenthood. I liked it quite a bit so when I saw the sequel I had to read it. 

In her first book we are introduce to the life of Josh, who found himself a single father at the early age of 17, after his girlfriend pop out the baby and stood them both up. After also his family turns their back to him, Josh is left with no one. He has nothing. But he's determined to take care of his son, Tommy, no matter what.  
Thanks to the help on a older woman, who becomes family, and his friend Hunter he will be able to make it back on track.
The years pass, and now Tommy is 3. Josh is finally in a better place than before, and that's when he meets Becca and falls in love with this quite beautiful girl. But Becca's past is complicated, she is a wracked soul.

Their story was so romantic and cheesy, that I rolled my eyes a lot while I was reading it, but I gotta give it to Jay Mclean that she is a damn good writer! And  her second book did live up to it. 
In Coast we pick up from where we left Josh and Becca, broke and apart, Josh is finally making a name of him self in the skateboard industry, and Bacca is trying to face her past, fears  and built her future. If you are familiar with the skate board dictionary, to coast means to roll or glide on a skateboard, specially after a landing when you kick your leg forward and push backwards on the ground to propel the rider forward. So Josh and Becca are finally going to coast together, but thing are not going to be that simple.

Jay McLean writing is perfect and utterly addicting. Even though the plot is nothing spacial, I cared about the characters deeply, more than anyone I cared about Tommy and Josh relationship that did still the scene in the first book.
I liked this series quite a lot I'm probably gonna give it a try to her other books.

3.75/5 STARS


ITALIANO: "Tieni il mio cuore per mano" di Jay McLean


La scorsa estate sull'onda del romanticismo adolescenziale mi sono imbattuta in Tieni il mio cuore per mano (Kick, Push), edito da Fabbri Editori, di Jay McLean, è stato il mio primo di questa autrice e anche l'unico libro che io abbia mai letto sulla genitorialità adolescenziale. Mi era piaciuto molto, quindi non potevo perdermi il seguito.

Nel suo primo libro ci ha introdotto nell'universo di Josh che si ritrova a fare il papà single a 17 anni, dopo che la morosa ha abbandonato lui e il bambino. Anche la famiglia gli volta le spalle, e Josh si ritrova ha essere solo, senza una casa, senza un lavoro. Non ha nulla. Ma lui vuole prendersi cura di suo figlio,Tommy,  a tutti i costi. grazie all'aiuto di una signora anziana e il suo amico Hunter, che diventeranno ben presto al sua famiglia, Josh riesce a rimettersi in carreggiata.
Gli anni passano e Tommy orami ha 3 anni, Josh si è finalmente sistemato, ed è li che incontra Becca e si innamora di lei. Ma il passato di Beca è complicato, e lei un anima devastata.

La loro storia è così romantica e smielosa che più di una volta mi sono trovata ad alzare gli occhi al cielo mentre leggevo, ma Jay McLean è dannatamente brava in ciò che fa e il suo secondo libro non ha deluso.
In Coast (ancora inedito in italia) ripartiamo da dove avevamo lasciato i nostri protagonisti, separati e con il cuore spezzato. Josh sta realizando il suo sogno di skater professionista e Becca sta affrontando il suo passato e creando un futuro. Se avete familiarità con il vocabolario degli skaters, saprete che To Coast , dall'inglese. significa ritolare o scivolare con la tavola, e quel momento di moto propulso dopo la spinta. Allo stesso modo Josh e Becca stanno finalmente costeggiando insieme, ma le cose non sono così semplici.

La scrittura della McLean è perfetta e assolutamente coinvolgente. Anche se la trama non è spaziale, è riuscita a rendere la relazione tra Josh e Tommy estremamente bella, soprattutto nel primo libro.
La serie miè piaciuta molto e credo che non sarà l'ultimo libro che leggeroò di lei.

3.75/5 STELLE




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settembre 20, 2016

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes - Review

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One Plus One

by Jojo Moyes




After reading Me Before You Duology (1#, 2#), I couldn't wait to get my hand on another book from Jojo Moyes, luckily there are more than a few out there. I picked up One Plus One randomly between hers books, since she already conquered me, and I was not disappointed. Her writing style is outstanding and as before she creates an original story very fast to read.

Jess has been struggling financially as a single parent, with two jobs and two children, she lives by the day. To give a chance of a brighter future to her daughter Tanzie, she will get in the car on an idyllic trip with her family, her dog and a stranger willing to help.
Ed Nicholas's life is about to be turn upside-down, as if this wasn't enough he will get involved with a woman whose life seems even more chaotic.

Jess and Ed are totally different persons but they fit together perfectly, they are both nice and funny to read about. I loved reading about them and their crazy family. Jojo Moyes did again enlight with her entertaining writing, how family, now a days, can be of a lot of messy kinds. Like Jess one, she is trying to sustain and raise her daughter and her ex husband's ex girlfriend son. It might be not the classical family but they love each other, and that's what makes them one.

The narration is alternated between the characters, giving you a more whole perspective on the story. The writing is as always flawless and engaging, I couldn't stop thinking about the book, it really got me into it. Any suggestion?

I can't wait to pick up something else from Jojo Moyes, becouse until now I was not disappointed.

4.5/5 STARS

The Giveaway to win a copy of After You by Jojo Moyes is almost close so you must hurry up, it will close on the 24 of September.

ITALIANO:

Dopo aver letto la duologia di Io Prima di Te (#1, #2). non vedevo l'ora di mettere le mani su un altro libro di Jojo Moyes, per fortuna ce nè parecchi fra cui scegliere. Ho scelto Una Più Uno senza badare più di tanto al plot essendo già stata conquistata dalla sua scrittura, e devo dire che non sono rimasta delusa. Scritto benissimo e come nelle mie letture precedenti la storia è originale con personaggi unici.

Jess fa fatica ad arrivare a fine mese, i due lavori non bastano a mantenere i due figli, sono costretti a vivere alla giornata. Per cercare di dare una possibilità di futuro migliore alla figlia Tanzie, si mettrà in viaggio verso un importante competizione insieme a tutta la famiglia, il cane e uno completo estraneo disposto ad aiutali.
La vita di Ed Nicholas è in subbuglio, come se non bastasse sta anche per essere travolto da Jess, con la sua vita frenetica. Una combinazione esplosiva che porterà a risultati inaspettati.

Jess ed Ed sono due personalità agli antipodi, ma si adattano perfettamente insieme, ed è molto piacevole leggerne. Mi è piaciuto molto immergermi nella folle vita di Jess. 
Jojo Moyes riesce sempre a mettere in luce con una scrittura leggera e divertente tematiche inusuali, quali le possibili difficoltà finanziare a cui va incontro un genitore single o il fatto che le famiglie oggi giorno non possono più essere intese nel senso classico del termine, ma va ampliato a varie forme, come Jess che si prende cura del figlio del excompagna del exmarito. Ciò che li rende una famiglia è il volersi bene e prendersi cura uno dell'altro, un'altra dimostrazione che i legami di sangue contano molto poco senza amore.

La narrazione viene alternata tra i vari personaggi, regalandoci una prospettiva più ampia sull'intera storia. E' un romanzo incalzante a cui non riuscivo a smettere di pensare, è riuscito a coinvolgermi totalmente.

Non vedo l'ora di leggere qualcos'altro sempre di Jojo Moyes, che è ormai entrata nella mia classifica dei must buy. Ne avreste uno da consigliarmi?

4.5/5 STELLE

Il Giveaway per vincere una copia gratuita di After You di Jojo Moyes si concluderà a breve, affrettatevi ad iscrivervi!

JOJO MOYES TALKS ABOUT ONE PLUS ONE:


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settembre 11, 2016

The Julian Chapter (Wonder #1.5) by R.J Palacio - Review

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The Julian Chapter 

a Wonder Story 

by R.J Palacio



If you did read Wonder , one of the most controversial character of the book was Julian, the bully. His story needed a bit more space than a single chapter, that's why R.J Palacio decided to write this short-story on the main antagonist of the book. 

Julian didn't help making Auggie Pullman's school life any easier since he got into his school. He hates him, he treats him like he has the plague, but why does he do it? He is just an horrendous kid or is there something more behind it?

The writer put us in the position of seeing the world with the bully's eyes, a peculiar perspective we are not always used for. I did appreciate her effort, but I wasn't able to understand or relate with Julian in any way. I simply didn't like him and couldn't justify his actions and even less his parents, whom I hated to the core.Given the incompetent parents his only chance of redemptions comes from the grandma, who with a moving story, makes him understand his mistakes.  
It was interesting reading his perspective but even if the writer intended to redeem him she did it in the classic fairytale like way, where everything is changes in a blink of an eye. I hope it will be more interesting to read about the other to characters: Christopher and Charlotte.
I still think this books have a perfect educational purpose, they should recommend this reading in  every school.

3/5 STARS

ITALIANO:

Se avete letto Wonder, uno dei personaggi più controversi è Julian, il bullo. La sua storia aveva bisogno di più spazio di un singolo capitolo ed è per questo che R.J Palacio ha deciso di dedicare questo breve racconto all'antagonista principale del libro.

Julian non ha reso la vita facile a Auggie Pulman nel suo primo anno alla Beecher Prep School, lo odia, lo tratta come se avesse la peste, non riesce proprio a sopportarlo. Ma perchè lo fa? E' semplicemente un ragazzino spregevole o ha delle motivazioni ragionevoli dietro al suo comportamento?

La scrittrice ci mette nella posizione di dare uno sguardo a questa storia attraverso gli occhi del bullo,
un punto di vista particolare a cui non siamo abituati. Ho apprezzato molto il suo sforzo nel cercare di farci comprendere le motivazioni di Julian, ma non sono riuscita a capire o immedesimarmi con il personaggio, e men che meno con i suoi genitori che detengono la maggior parte delle colpe per il comportamento del figlio. Data l'incompetenza dei genitori l'unica possibilità di redimersi per julian è stata affidata a sua nonna, che con una storia commovente è riuscita a far comprendere al nipote dove stesse sbagliando.
Per quanto sia stato interessante vedere la storia sotto un punto di vista atipico, ho trovato che la scrittrice abbia banalizzato il tutto con il suo tipico finale da favola, in cui i personaggi cambiano idea in un batter d'occhio. Spero che le gli altri racconti su Christopher e Charlotte si rivelino più coinvolgenti.
Continuo a pensare che questi libri siano perfetti a scopo didattico, ogni scuola dovrebbe raccomandarli.

3/5 STELLE




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