Book Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

 Title: The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Author: Heather Morris

Series/Standalone: The Tattooist of Auschwitz Series

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult, Romance

Pages: 262

Publisher: Harper

Year Published: 2018

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "Lale tries not to look up."

"This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov- an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity.

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tatowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.

Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism- but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.

One day in July 1942, Lale, Prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in the first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her. 

A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful recreation of Lale and Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.

My Rating: 5/5

I have a bit of trouble rating things that are based on true stories so let me explain this star rating a little bit. I think that this book is so unique for a book based during the Holocaust and especially in Auschwitz-Birkenau. I think that while you're reading you are interested in what's going around Lale, but you're also interested in the romance and survival. I felt that the horrors in this book were placed in an interesting way. You would be reading and feeling a certain way about the two main characters and then you'd be reminded once again of what they are struggling to survive through, or what they are witnessing every day. I am interested in reading about Cilka and her life in the companion to this book, as you're not sure until the end of this book how some things play out (and even then not fully). I would recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction or biographies (as it is based on a true story). 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

 Title: Frankenstein

Author: Mary Shelley

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Classic, Fiction

Pages: 273

Publisher: Penguin

Year Published: 1818

Format: Audiobook

"Obsessed with creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks into life with electricity. but his botched creature, rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear. mary Shelley's chilling Gothic tale was conceived when she was only eighteen, living with her lover Percy Shelley near Byron's villa on Lake Geneva. It would become the world's most famous work of horror fiction, and remains a devastating exploration of the limits of human creativity.

bas on the third edition of 1831, this volume contains all the revisions Mary Shelley made her story, as well as her 1831 introduction and Percy Bysshe Shelley's preface to the first edition. This revised edition includes as appendices a select collation of the texts of 1818 and 1831 together with 'A Fragment' by Lord Byron and Dr. John Polidori's 'The Vampyre: A Tale'."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I listened to the audiobook for this and I feel like that might have been a disservice to myself. I just wasn't able to focus in on some of the aspects that I know are important to the story. I also feel that because I knew so much going in I wasn't surprised by the turns this story took (it's hard not to be spoiled about something that came out in 1818). That being said the atmosphere that is written in this story is what truly captured me. The idea of travelling the world and being followed adds to the horror elements. That being said, I plan to reread this with a physical copy and hope to find that I enjoy it more through that format.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

 Title: The Woman in Cabin 10

Author: Ruth Ware

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adult

Pages: 341
Publisher: Scout Press

Year Published: 2016

Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)

First Line: "In my dream, the girl was drifting far, far below the crashing waves and the cries of the gulls in the cold sunless depths of the North Sea."

"Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo's stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo's desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong."

My Rating: 2/5

This book just isn't quite what I want from thrillers/mysteries. I need something a little more unpredictable. And while I didn't guess exactly what was going to happen I wasn't surprised when it did happen. I need a crazy twist, something out of left field that I didn't see coming, but that can line up to make itself believable at the final reveal. I also think that this book struggled with pacing the first half of the book went on for a while without major major plot points and then the middle had all the twists, while the end only held 1 or 2. I did think that the author's descriptions of the atmosphere through throughout the story were extremely strong and set the mood for what was going on around the main character. I am curious about her other works and plan to read something else by her in the future, although it will not be immediately. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Royals by Rachel Hawkins

 Title: Royals

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Series/Standalone: Royals Series

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult

Pages: 296

Publisher: G.P Putnam's Sons for Young Readers

Year Published: 2018

Format: Audiobook

"Meet Daisy Winters. She's an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair; a part-time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her to join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond.

While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince's roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown-- and the intriguing Miles- might be trying to make Daisy into a lady... but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself."

My Rating: 3/5

I would like to start this review by saying this book has been re-released with a totally different cover (far better) and title (Prince Charming). So as much as this looks like it was released in 2009, it did come out in 2018 and the cover is far better. Now for the story itself. I absolutely love the characters in this. They are so sweet and bubbly, exactly what I needed from characters in this style of the book. While they have issues and problems, nothing is too deep (there are issues but no one is about to die). The atmosphere was a little lacklustre. While things are described, the way that time passes throughout the story is faster then I imagine it passing. We basically catch up with our main character during interesting aspects there isn't any idle time really. I loved how light and fun this story was, and the cute romances throughout. I plan on continuing the series asap (have the next one on hold at my local library). 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore

 Title: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

Author: Kate Moore

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Adult, History

Pages: 479

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"The incredible true story of the women who fought America's Undark danger.

The Curies newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these 'shining girls' are the luckiest alive- until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for the workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come.

Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the 'wonder' substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives..."

My Rating: 5/5

Other than hearing about this book a few years ago I had never heard about the Radium Girls and their lives. Considering I'm Canadian I just assumed that it was something that might be spoken more about in the American school system. So imagine my surprise when I realized that not many people know the cases of the Radium girls across America (not every state). This is such a well-written novel about the events, while still making you feel as though you knew the women. I think that this story was more about the girls themselves then the specific legal proceedings (this information is included) and based on the author's note I think that her goal was accomplished. The idea of making these women knowable, more than just what they gave to labour laws, and science. I would recommend this to anyone interested in all honesty. I would also recommend the audiobook, I loved the narrator. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: High Fantasies by Kurtis J. Wiebe

 Title: High Fantasies

Author(s): Kurtis J. Wiebe

Artist(s): Owen Gieni

Series/Standalone: Rat Queens Series (Volume 4)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Adult

Pages: 128

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback Copy (Borrowed)

"Th Queens are back! Palisade is still a rat-infested hell hole, and Violet, Hannah, Dee, Betty and the brand-new Queen Braga are the only hope of saving it! It's been a long time since they've done a good slaughter, so join them as they get back to the basics of killing monsters and drinking away the profits! This is a fresh, hilarious new take on the Rat Queens with new artist Owen Gieni!"

My Rating: 2.5/5

What in the hell was this? I'm seriously asking. We're going to drop some mad plot last volume and some crazy backstory and then we are just going to backpedal on it and act like none of it even happened?!?!?!? That is unacceptable. I don't know who this new Rat Queens volume is supposed to appeal to but it sure as hell isn't me thus far. In my opinion, the characters have had character changes that don't make any sense (acting like different people), and the humour just isn't what I wanted after reading the first 3 volumes and loving them. I hope that this switches back to the plotline we were on in the first 3, but I have a feeling it may not. And that is a tragedy.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Demons by Kurtis J. Wiebe

 Title: Demons

Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe

Artists: Tess Fowler (art), Tamra Bonvillain (colours), and Ed Brisson (lettering)

Series/Standalone: Rat Queens (Volume 3)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Adult

Pages: 160

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2016

Format: Paperback Copy (Borrowed)

"Having survived the end of the world, the Queens follow Hannah back to where it all began: Mage University. A long perilous journey awaits the Rat Queens as they attempt to find out what happened to Hannah's father while battling their own demons."

My Rating: 5/5

This volume had a bit of a different art style that took a bit of getting used to for me. I find that when art styles change it throws me off a little and takes a while for me to get to the plot at hand. That being said, as with the last volumes I was sucked into the plot quickly. After learning more about the main characters pasts I'm beginning to understand how they came together as a party of rage tag, drinking, partying, and badass women. I look forward to seeing where the plot goes from here, as I've seen reviews that say we go in a totally different direction with no explanation of what becomes of our current plot points. I hope that it isn't too disjointed. Would recommend this series overall so far though.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: American Street by Ibi Zoboi

 Title: American Street

Author: Ibi Zoboi

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction

Pages: 336

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie- a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola's mother is detained by U.S immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detriot's west side; a new school; and a surprising romance all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this stranger new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?"

My Rating: 5/5

This is not what I anticipated it to be and I'm so glad that I read it. I think that this is a book that will surprise many young readers. The plot follows our main character Fabiola, her struggle with adapting to American culture, the understanding of the dynamic the family she has always known but is just entering and the cons of living somewhere she believed to be a perfect life. The characters in this story were dynamic, interesting and relatable. I think that there is a character for everyone to relate to. I will say that there are domestic abuse, substance abuse and violence in this story as just a few triggers that go on with different side characters and people you see in the surroundings. I will also say that the use of cultural beliefs was extremely interesting and intriguing, it kept me reading. The idea that the grass is greener on the other side is something that really plays out throughout this novel. I look forward to reading more work from the author and seeing where else her beautiful writing takes me.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: The Far-Reaching Tantacles of N'Rygoth by Kurits J. Wiebe

 Title: The Far-Reaching Tentacles of N'Rygoth

Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe

Artist: Roc Upchurch and Stjepan Sejic (I don't know how to find accents on blogger ok?)

Series/Standalone: Rat Queens Volume #2

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Adult

Pages: 128

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2015

Format: Paperback Copy (Borrowed)

"This booze-soaked second volume of RAT QUEENS reveals a growing menace within the very walls of Palisade. And while Dee may have run from her past, the bloated, blood-feasting sky god N'rygoth never lets his children stray too far."

My Rating: 5/5

I really enjoyed this instalment in the series. I love a great second volume of graphic novels, on most occasions, I find that's when you are invited more into the plot points and learn more about your main characters. This was no exceptions. I loved hearing more about the character's past, while still intrigued by an RPG style adventure. The art is absolutely beautiful as well! Overall very enjoyable and I look forward to reading the next volume.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

Author: JK Rowling

Series/Standalone: Harry Potter Series (Book #7)

Genre: Classic, Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 607

Publisher: Bloomsbury UK

Year Published: 2007

Format: Paperback Copy (Own it)

First Line: "The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane."

"Harry Potter faces a seemingly impossible task. He will not return to Hogwarts for his seventh year; instead, he will finish the quest started by Albus Dumbledor. He must hunt down and story Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Only then will he be able to rid the world of the Dark Lord's shadow once and for all.

This final battle is Harry's destiny, and destiny demands that he rise to meet his true fate without fear.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I do not agree with JK Rowling's views or support her views! We all know she is the devil in disguise. I will say that Harry Potter and the HP world is very important to me. It's gotten me through multiple dark times in my life. And completing a long reread, I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this final book even though it took about 2 months to complete. I think that the series wraps so well after the final battle and while it's heartbreaking it also inspiring in some ways. To see how the characters have grown, how they've changed and adapted to the war around them is such an amazing story. I know that I will always love Harry Potter, and I have no plans on giving away by book set, but I will not be buying anything that will profit She Who Must Not Be Named. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny