January 31, 2014

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author.

"A caterpillar forms a chrysalis around itself and, before long, a lovely butterfly emerges. Is the caterpillar aware at the start of the process that by its end it will have transformed from one of the more loathsome looking larvae into the recipient of often extraordinary beauty?"
 
~ Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist by Baye McNeil
 
 

January 30, 2014

The Migraine Mafia

Author Maia Sepp dedicated The Migraine Mafia to John (Bringer of the ice packs). Likewise, I dedicate this review to my Chickadee (Bringer of the ice packs).


"I was diagnosed with migraine by five, an icepack connoisseur by eight." ~ pg. 12

Viive (pronounced Vee-veh) juggles being a wife and working in a fast-paced technical field all while suffering from a migraine. She has her good days, then not-so-good days. She is close to a promotion until her bosses politely force a leave of absence. Frustrated and from advice of a doctor, she joins a support group called the Migraine Mafia. Viive realizes the room full of strangers may change how she views her chronic illness.

"Of course, one of the very worst things about migraine is that it makes the future a complete unknown." ~ pg. 63

This is my first novel read by author Maia Sepp. As a migraineur, I am very critical and sensitive when it comes to books about this debilitating illness. Unfortunately, I know all too well the restrictions migraines put on a person's life—socially and professionally. Well, Maia Sepp nailed it. I knew from the details of main character Viive's attacks that this was no amateur writer who googled migraine symptoms. No, this author experienced symptoms firsthand. There were so many moments in the book where I literally said aloud, "This is me!" and "Shut the fridge door! Me too!" The mini-migraine rescue drawer, the medication mumbo-jumbo, triggers and triptans were all too familiar and gave the writer credibility. Many kudos for delivering a hilarious, truthful-in-a-fiction-way novel about a small group of migraineurs.

I recommend this novel to my fellow migraineurs. If you are familiar with someone who suffers from a chronic illness or a nervous system disorder, this may give you some light-hearted insight. Keep in mind The Migraine Mafia is a work of fiction and not to be taken as factual medical advice or as a depiction of migraine sufferers as a whole. Regardless, still read it! The Migraine Mafia is only $2.99 for the eBook (less than the price of an icepack). Download now!

Now excuse me while I go search for a migraine support group.

DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Title: The Migraine Mafia
Author: Maia Sepp
Published: December 2013
Pages: 187
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

January 29, 2014

Biology of Luck


"Men like Larry Bloom don't publish epic novels to literary acclaim." ~ pg. 45

Two men are vying for Starshine's love; one guy is an heir to a beach chair empire and the other guy is one of the last underground members of the Weathermen. How exhausting for a gal! The only break Starshine will get is a dinner date with tour guide Larry Bloom. She has no idea that Larry has a stake in her future too. He has written a novel about a day in Starshine's life in which he appears as the love interest.

It took me three chapters of the book to 'get it.' The Biology of Luck is a novel within a novel. Confused much? So was I in the beginning. Let me explain. The Biology of Luck juxtaposes moments from Larry's guided tour with chapters from the novel he wrote of Starshine's day. Still confused? Just read it and you'll understand. *wink*

This book—Biology of Luck not Larry's novel in the novel—is my first time reading Jacob's work. I must say I am impressed. The imagery and setting was so descriptive it felt like I was strolling the five boroughs with Larry as my New York tour guide. The structure used and open-to-interpretation ending takes talent. Somebody give the man a seven-figure advance so I can read the sequel!

DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the publisher/author for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Title: The Biology of Luck
Author: Jacob M. Appel
Published: October 2013
Pages: 235
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
 
 

January 28, 2014

This is How You Lose Her


"At first you don't register it." ~ pg. 121

Love fades. Love is passionate. Love is obsessive. Love is reckless. Pulitzer Prize-winner Junot Diaz pens a collection of short stories with a central theme: irresistible love.

At the heart of every story is Yunior. Through his memories, readers get a glimpse of his experiences with women. My major gripe is that the series of short stories are not in chronological order. At times, it made the book hard to follow, causing me to pause and figure out when exactly the particular events occurred. Was this relationship before this one? Did he date this girl before or after the last girl? Despite this minor annoyance, Diaz's prose flows into a collection of stories with love at the center. Some of the love affairs fail; some are unresolved. Such is life. However, the author successfully showed that Yunior learned a lesson from every relationship and led him to ultimately realize how he lost her.

For readers that are sticklers for organized chapters, this book may be hard for you to get into. But stick with it; This is How You Lose Her is worth reading. It may spark memories of your own past relationships and will make for good book club discussions.

Title: This is How You Lose Her
Author: Junot Diaz
Published: September 2012
Pages: 131 pages
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
 
 

January 26, 2014

Series Sunday: The Redhead Plays Her Hand

(Redhead #3)


Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

"You're my one and only Ginger." ~ pg. 172

My Series Sunday pick is The Redhead Plays Her Hand, the third book in the Redhead series by Alice Clayton. In Clayton's first novel of the Redhead series, we are introduced to feisty Grace and irresistible Jack. In the second book of the series, Grace and Jack learned how to hide away from the world. In this third installment, the couple is coming into their own independently and together.

The director of Grace's TV series asks Grace to lose fifteen pounds. Curvy Grace speaks up about her struggles with weight and demands of how a Hollywood actress should look. Meanwhile, Jack is voted the Sexiest Man of the Year. But the title means nothing; all Jack wants is to go public with his relationship with Grace. He starts a downward spiral, partying hard and with lots of booze. His actions tempt Grace to set him straight and walk the red carpet with her man.

Alice Clayton's ability to write LOL dialogue and hilarious characters with sexual chemistry is unmatched. It is a treat to readers. Characters Jack and Grace are like the fun couple you love to hang with. I enjoyed this third installment as much as the first two books of the Redhead series. So much so, that I would love to see this couple on the big screen. If you like chick lit, this is a must-read series. Add it to your reading list and be prepared to laugh your curvy butt off.

DISCLAIMER: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Title: The Redhead Plays Her Hand
Author: Alice Clayton
Published: December 2013
Pages: 322
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♡

 

January 25, 2014

Happy 4th Blogoversary \0/


♬♬ Happy Blogoversary to me 
Happy Blogoversary to me
Happy Blogoversary to meeee
Happy Blogoversary to me
And many moooooooooore ♬♬
 
Thank you for your continued support, bookhearts.

 

January 24, 2014

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author.

"Migraine is a nervous system disorder that affects approximately 15% of the global population. The seriousness of this illness can range from a mild affliction to a completely debilitating condition."
 
~ The Migraine Mafia by Maia Sepp

 

January 22, 2014

First Love


"We are Axi and Robinson, the G-rated Bonnie and Clyde." ~ pg. 66

Good girl Axi studies hard, gets good grades and stays out of trouble. So when she impulsively asks her best friend Robinson to run away on an unplanned cross-country road trip, he is shocked. They break the rules—and the law—together in a carefree adventure.

First Love is one of James Patterson's feel good stories. There is no element of mystery. In fact, the story has origins in the author's own past. Without ruining the plot, it reminds me of a certain bestseller. It is a simple story of innocence, young adoration and the power of first love.

Title: First Love
Author: James Patterson and Emily Raymond
Published: January 2014
Pages: 226 pages
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
 
 

January 21, 2014

Daily Devotionals

I heart daily devotionals. My days go much smoother when I start with an encouraging word and end with a positive message. For 2014, I chose Joyce Meyer's Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year. Per my usual routine, I am also journaling thoughts and tracking my spiritual healing based on the daily devotionals.

 

January 19, 2014

Series Sunday: Flowers in the Attic Lifetime Movie + Open Letter

(Dollanganger #1)


Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read an installment of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

"We were four children stumbling around in the broken pieces of our grief and loss." ~ pg. 19

My Series Sunday pick is Flowers in the Attic, the first book in the Dollanganger series by V.C. Andrews. Like so many families today, the loss of head of household is devastating and leaves loved ones struggling financially. Mr. Dollanganger was only 36 years old when he was killed in a car accident. Without his income, young widow Mrs. Corrine Dollanganger realized how much they lived beyond means. Not one single thing was fully paid for; not even toys and their surname belonged to them. So she humbled herself and wrote numerous letters to her mother at Foxworth Hall, pleading for help. Finally the grandmother agreed to let them come and live at Foxworth Hall. This is where the terror begins. In a nutshell, the story is about a bad grandma, a selfish mother and four children hidden away in an attic for far too long.


I re-read Flowers in the Attic before Lifetime aired the remake movie last night. The original film was poorly received and had a lot of differences when compared to the book. I had high expectations from Lifetime since its heavy publicity around the remake and the director's promise that the new script is faithful to the book. Well, director Deborah Chow and Lifetime TV, I only found a couple minor annoyances. Other than that, I'll give you two thumbs up.


The casting could've been better. Ellen Burstyn wasn't frightening, stern or mean enough. The original grandma never smiled and was far more intimidating. But this grandma looked nice enough to be shoved into the attic without hesitation. Heather Graham as the mother did an okay job. The two older children, Cathy and Christopher, were played by Kiernan Shipka and Mason Dye respectfully; they looked way older than true ages of the characters. The famous hair/tar scene was downplayed; instead of ending up with an emergency haircut, new Cathy looked like she escaped from the attic for a quick trip to Great Clips for a professional bob cut. Perhaps makeup, voice tone and camera angles could have fixed all this.


Lifetime's live tweeting with hashtags #FITA and #FlowersintheAttic added to the experience. It was interesting to see the reactions of people watching for the first time, especially those not familiar with the book either. The major consensus was that the family was crazy, the grandma was bad, and the incest story line was disturbing. Looking back, I don't know how so many of us read this book series as preteens. O_O It is indeed a twisted tale.

According to my timeline, FITA had mixed reviews. Some preferred the drama of the old movie; others like myself enjoyed this remake because it was truer to events in the book. (Yes, I am one of those sticklers that believe movie adaptations should closely follow the book.) Immediately after the movie aired, Lifetime announced plans to make a movie of the second book in the Dollanganger series, Petals on the Wind. I am looking forward to watching and re-reading this too.

Speaking of next book in the Dollanganger series, accept this as my Open Letter to ghostwriter Andrew Neiderman. Sir, I understand you and V.C. Andrews estate wishes to keep her legacy alive. It is evident when you add the number of published works since her death. Real fans know V.C. Andrews did not have that much unpublished material. It is high time that you stop making money off of her name. Stop recycling her plot formula. Stop adding modern twists to characters she wouldn't have created. And please stop working on the new book titled Christopher's Diary based on Christopher's point of view of what happened in the attic. FITA is decades old; I don't give a damn now what Christopher's side of the story is. Neiderman, you are the reason I rather re-read old V.C. Andrews books rather than read "her" new releases. Let the series be.


♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Bookhearts, what are your thoughts on Lifetime's remake of the classic Flowers in the Attic movie? If you didn't watch the premiere last night, check local listings for encore presentation times and watch the movie trailer below.


Title: Flowers in the Attic
Author: V.C. Andrews
Published: Book 1979, Movie 1987 & 2014
Pages: 329
Edition: eBook and Movie
Book Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Lifetime Move Rating: ♥♥♥♡

 

January 17, 2014

First Lines Friday



First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Grab your current read(s).
  • Share the first line(s).
  • Include the title and author.

"It is so appropriate to color hope yellow, like that sun we seldom saw."

~ Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Join me tomorrow in watching Flowers in the Attic on Lifetime.


 

January 4, 2014

2014 Bookish Challenges

2014 Reading Challenge
My goal is to read 70 books in 2014. You can monitor my progress by the tracker in the lower right column of this blog.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/stats/2924016-literarymarie#pages
My goal is to read 17,000+ pages in 2014.



My Little Pocketbooks
My goal is to read 7-12 books by or about a person of color in 2014.



 
My goal is to read 6 books from my TBR pile.
1. A book that has been on my Goodreads "to-read" shelf the longest.
2. A book that is on my physical bookcase(s).
3. A book I got for free.
4. A book recommended by a friend.
5. A book that was a best seller.
6. A book from a series.


My goal is to continue reading books in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series.


View all of Literary Marie's Memes and Reading Challenges here.