Book Review: PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

Title: P.S. I Love You

Author: Cecelia Ahern

Series/Novel: Novel

Genre: Chick Lit, Romance, Adult Fiction

Pages: 503

Publisher: Hachette Books

Year Published: 2003

First Line: “Holly held the blue cotton sweater to her face and the familiar smell immediately struck her, an overwhelming grief knotting her stomach and pulling at her heart.”

“Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry.

They were childhood sweethearts- no one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other.

Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry’s death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms Holly discovers that Gerry has left her a bundle of notes, gently guiding her into her new life without him, each signed ‘PS, I Love You’.

With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing- and being braver than ever before.

Life is for the living, she realises- but it always helps if there’s an angel watching over you.”

My Rating: 4/5

So I'm a little behind on the times, that's not terribly new. But after an emotional week I decided it was time to get my emotion out with a book, and it proved to be helpful. PS. I Love You follows the emotional story of Holly who has recently lost her dear husband of 7 years and the love of her life for the past 15. This story follows how she copes through her loss with a hilarious group of characters, a crazy city and an even crazier family Holly begins to find her way through her new life.

I grew very fond of Holly. She's a wise woman who I'm assuming many of us can relate to. She's an honest, brave and friendly person who does more than many would given her circumstances.

Obviously she goes through her grief that one would naturally expect after loosing one that she truly cared about. This book is a reminder about what it is to truly love and loose. Is it sad? Of course it is. But it’s so much more than that, it incompases a love that can survive death. A true love.

THANK YOU CECELIA AHERN FOR A LOVE THAT OUTLASTS DEATH!

Thanks For Reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

This was an interesting book that I didn’t expect to hold me captive the whole 500+ pages but it did it’s job. I was entertained, made to feel so many emotions and encouraged through this book. This book entertained me through the side characters. The things that they came up with made me think of some people I’ve meet the past two years and how they react to certain things. Sharon is perfect and reminds me alot of my best friend. I felt the obvious emotions of sadness and empathy towards Holly, but I also felt her joy when she remembered Gerry, the way he laughed, smiled, lived just simply lived. Finally I believe that there is a form of love that can live after death. This book makes that quite obvious to the readers that Gerry and Holly’s love will continue.

Characters:

♥Holly: I’m happy that Gerry’s letters were able to affect her from the grave. Although I doubt she will ever fully move on, I know that she will be able to live a life worth living even though he is not physically with her. Gerry really knew how to get her to chase her dreams. By being able to find a job she enjoyed and reentering her friendships as her whole self she was able to find a new way of life. I hope that at some point she can find love, even if it’s not as full as Gerry’s.

♥Denise: Ok so she’s a little moody, but we all have that one friend we love just for that reason. She’s a laugh if nothing else and I fully approve of her getting married.

♥Sharon: She by far reminds me of my best friend, blunt but honest and loyal to the end. She’s compassionate and gives all she can to Holly. I was excited when we found out she was pregnant, but sad that she felt she couldn’t share it with Holly in a better time. But there really would have been no good time.

♥Gerry: Although we never met him, in the memories and through the letters some of us (cough) might have fallen in love with him.

♥Richard: Goes to show we never really know what’s going on in someone’s life unless we take the time to get to know them better. I hope that his new job will bring him joy rather than stress and that he finds life without that rude ex-wife of his.

♥Ciara: Perfect how wild she is. Sure for a laugh, even when she was sad about Matthew you can see that she would figure something out.

♥Daniel: Here is where it gets tricky. I wanted Holly and Daniel to fall in love even though it was too soon. I felt that they got along so well, but in reality sometimes people are just better off friends and this is a perfect case. Neither of them were over the other person they had been with.

♥Moments to Remembe♥r

♥Pg. 9

“Instead, Gerry and Holly travelled the world together. It made far more sense that way because when they weren’t together… well, Holly just felt as though she was missing a vital organ from her body.”

♥Pg. 254

“As much as Sharon tried to tan over the years she just ended up getting sunburned and then it would peel. She had finally given up trying to tan and accepted the fact that her skin was meant to be pale.”

♥Final Line: “In the meantime, she would just live.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Unable to Comment

Hi there readers,

I haven't been able to comment on this site for some reason so I figured I would post this information here. I know this is even more informal than usual. Which is really saying something....
So Lauren Kate, author of the Fallen Series is releasing a new book for the series next month. It is title, Unforgiven and follows Cam. The description can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24909485-unforgiven?ac=1 

Have a great day,
Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel

Title: Such Wicked Intent

Author: Kenneth Oppel

Series/Novel: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 213

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Year Published: 2012

First Line: "The books flew open like startled birds trying to escape the flames."

"When his grieving father orders the destruction of the Dark Library, Victor retrieves a book in which he finds the promise of not just communicating with the dead, but entering their realm, and soon he, Elizabeth, and Henry are in the spirit world of Château Frankenstein creating a growing a body."

My Rating: 5/5

This book is the first one I've really taken the time to read while being in college, and I certainly do not regret it. This instalment in the Victor Frankstein's life was ridiculously good. It was entertaining as well as thrilling. I found it difficult to put this book down once I had the time to pick it up, and was shocked around every corner. I thought frequently back to what was happening in the book (surprisingly not that helpful in class), and fantasized about the characters. I thought frequently of the relationships that were growing between characters in the novel and how they would manage to overcome the impossible, by simply reading a book.

Books like this one simply do not go out of style or out of date. There is no technology that is semi current as there are in some current novels (for example reading about IMing now might make us giggle), rather this book creates a world of it's own. One prior to the world in which the Monster as we know comes alive. Rather it features one man's love for his brother and how love can make one do wild and crazy things.

The mixture of this with alchemy is astounding and truly magical. Or should I say clearly a science.

THANK YOU KENNETH OPPEL FOR EXPANDING MY IMAGINATION AND THRILLING ME AROUND EVERY CORNER!

Thank you for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel

This book is truly astounding. Every aspect of it caught me off guard, I was frequently surprised, thrilled and consumed with emotion. I feared for the characters I loved, worried about those that I questioned and wondered about the impossible that was slowly but surely seeming more possible. The characters in this installant really rounded out so I could easily see who they were as humans, and the thrill that can be felt throughout the book was evident immediately. I think this novel blew me out of the water and was quite a page turner.

♥Characters:♥

♥Victor: Although throughout this book he seems a little off his rocker, Victor is a passionate fellow. He risks his life time and time again to save his brother. Is it alright that he's going after his brother's love? Not really but honestly Konrad is dead and if Elizabeth was interested in Victor there is no reason why they shouldn't be together. Slightly creepy, but I'm sure not unheard of. Victor does become obsessed with things easily. This is apparent even before the butterflies appear and offer their "assistance" in the matter. He can't seem to let go of his brother and allow him to rest in peace. Rather he needs him back as he feels he has failed to keep him alive, maybe even fearing that he murdered him. This is a possibility, but it's not like Konrad was getting any better to begin with. I believe that Victor does go mad before things get better, but at least he can say he has given his all for his brother. Pure devotion.

♥Elizabeth: How sad it must be to live in a world were the one you love no longer exists? Can you blame her for trying to get him back? I can not. I would do the same and fight anyone who got in my way. On the other hand the fact that she was possessed makes me question her actions towards Victor, did she really feel the need to kiss him or was that part of the butterfly act. At least we know that she is truly courageous and willing to do anything for those she loves. I do wish that she would give Victor or even Henry a chance in the future, but I would understand if she did not as how do you repair from such heartbreak at such a young and promising age.

♥Henry: He is becoming increasingly more bold and feriocious. I was impressed that he was able to act so brave after visiting the spirit world, and I'll admit that after realizing the butterflies were affecting the judgement and personality of the others, I assumed he was covered in them. Perhaps he has realized that he can not live his whole life waiting for something to change, rather he has to change himself. I do hope that he continues this behaviour, although I do not believe he will win Elizabeth's love it is still worth a shot. Also we should applaud that he went after the Pit Monster even though the thing could have likely killed him. Impressive my dear Henry, impressive indeed.

♥Konrad: Finally the sad truth. Konrad is dead. And he will remain dead. Through the hope and the struggle of building his body, I think he began to realize the one chance he had. After that chance left he resigned himself to his death. I knew that he would not take Victor's life, although I do wish he would have so that he and Elizabeth could have their happily ever after, perhaps it is best that things go back to how they were meant to be. At least me know that he was gathered in the mist and was able to leave that wretched house. Perhaps he found others or at the very least peace.

♥Moments to Remember♥

♥Final Line: "And I turned back to the storm and thought: Such astonishing power."

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Book Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Title: The Promise of Amazing

Author: Robin Constantine

Series/Novel: Novel

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Pages: 371

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Year Published: 2013

First Line:  “‘None of you are going to Harvard.’”

“Wren Caswell is the quiet good girl who’s always done what she’s supposed to- only now, in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barret was the kind of St. Gabe’s- until he was expelled for being a ‘term-paper pimp.’ Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change but doesn’t know how.

Then one fateful night, their paths cross. What follows in the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are- and falling in love.”

My Rating: 3/5

Hello again, welcome to fall time. The leaves are falling and it’s getting damn chilly outside. The perfect time of year to curl up with a book. In the story of The Promise of Amazing we follow the story of Grayson and Wren. Two sixteens year olds who find themselves in each other’s thoughts from the moment they meet. Hormones are a crazy thing. After one chanced, and slightly awkward meeting a friendship persues which quickly leads to their realization about how they feel about each.

I found that this book was a little young for me. The fact that two teenagers so quickly fell for each other and the way that they casually talked about love threw me for a loop.

I’m just the crotchety old lady saying their too young to feel that way about each other. But for an older person this story was not relatable and didn’t seem to follow a good time scheme.

I did enjoy the development of Grayson and the bad boy idea that surrounded him.

THANK YOU ROBIN CONSTANTINE FOR SHOWING HOW PEOPLE CAN CHANGE!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

This book followed the story of an awkward young love of Wren and Grayson. I think that while this story is completely believable for the targeted audience, I found it hard to believe. The way that their story quickly progressed and how they just kept meeting each other by “chance” was ridiculous.

Also I would not call their first meeting, “fateful.” I would call it awkward and uncomfortable.

Although I must say that I did enjoy the Camelot. It was an interesting setting, so that made up for me being an old crank.

♥Characters♥

♥Wren: Wren is the ultimate good girl. She gets average everything. Grades, friends, comments from teacher. She wants an average life from what we can tell. That is until she doesn’t get into the elite society in her school. Way to snap out of your stupor. When she meets Grayson she starts to be a little wilder. Once she finds out about all of his bad boy status, she clearly runs. Only to realize that he regrets his choices and now they can be happy together. Oh la la

♥Grayson: So me being myself, I’m the sucker for the bad boy. They just have that air about them that always takes my breath away. That being said, being a criminal is different than having a leather jacket and a motorcycle. Grayson turns out to be a good guy in the end but I bet that he regrets thieving from all those people as he grows as a person.  I hope that he and Wren stay together, but in reality, doubt it! Already a lack of communication.

♥Luke: This little ass hole. Clearly has problems. The way that he manipulated Grayson and Wren was ridiculous. But in reality they could have fixed the whole issue by talking to each other instead of just hoping that shit worked out. Clearly he was also pretty jealous about Ava having a thing for Grayson, but mah. Don’t be a dick.

♥Ava: Now here is the real villain. This perky girl is just a straight up jerk to Grayson and Wren. You have a boyfriend back off his best friend. Doesn’t matter if you aren’t labelling the guy you’re seeing, you still should know better than to go after his friend at the same time. And to make fun of the girl he’s seeing just for shits and giggle, or even for Luke, unacceptable!

♥Moments to Remember♥

♥Final Line: “It was time to dance.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

New Feature!

No this is not a review, yet, but hopefully that will be coming later this week. 
This lovely post is to announce a new feature that has been added to Books My Quiet Friends. 
Some of you may have noticed that there is now music on my blog. 
I'm happy to bring this feature to you lovely readers in partnership with Skunk Radio Live stream. After recieving an offer for this radio station  I decided that this would be a great way to give readers even more enjoyable content. 
So below I will be posting a schedule of the music available at which time. If you wish to turn off the music, on the right hand side of your screen there is a volume control and a pause button. 

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny xoxo

 05:00 - 08:00 The Blow-Back Show - a selection of some of the finest tracks artists, producers and composers that have been featured on Skunk Radio

08:00 - 09:00 Top 20 Charts

09:00 - 10:00 Urban Sessions

10:00 - 11:00 That Pop Show

11:00 - 12:00 Indie

12:00 - 13:00 Electro

13:00 - 14:00 Instrumental Hour - instrumentals, beats and scores

14:00 - 15:00 Urban Sessions

15:00 - 16:00 That Pop Rock Show

16:00 - 17:00 Indie

17:00 - 18:00 Electro

18:00 - 19:00 Skunk Rad!o Eclect!c - mixed genre show

19:00 - 20:00 Fresh In - selection of recently discovered music.

20:00 - 21:00 Skunk Rad!o Eclect!c

21:00 - 22:00 Top 20 Charts

22:00 - 00:00 The Blow-Back Show

00:00 - 01:00 That Hip Hop Show

01:00 - 02:00 Instrumental Hour

02:00 - 03:00 That Pop Show

03:00 - 04:00 Fresh In

04:00 - 05:00 Another Indie Show

Book Review: This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

Title: This Dark Endeavour

Author: Kenneth Oppel

Series/Novel: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 298

Publisher: HarperTrophyCanada

Year Published: 2011

First Line: “We found the monster on a rocky ledge high above the lake.”

“Sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein leads a charmed life. He and his twin brother Konrad, and their beautiful cousin Elizabeth take lessons at home and spend their spare time fencing and horseback riding. Along with their friend Henry, they have explored all the hidden passageways and secret rooms of the palatial Frankenstein chateau. Except one.

The Dark Library contains ancient tomes written in strange languages and filled with forbidden knowledge. Their father makes them promise never to visit the library, but when Konrad becomes deathly ill, Victor knows he must find the book that contains the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love- and how much he is willing to sacrifice.”

My Rating: 4/5

This book has some familiar names from literature in it. You guessed it the Frankenstein’s. But not in the cliché silly way that some would picture these fictional characters. This Dark Endeavour really gets in touch with the characters. A reader can find themselves experiencing many emotions at one time. Those of excitement, nervousness, fear, exhilaration and repulsion are only a few.

All and all this book was enjoyable. At the beginning I found it hard to get into. I think that the use of old English made it slightly hard to take seriously in the beginning, but by the end it all just seemed to piece together so perfectly. I felt as though I stood beside the Frankenstein family through their time of need. Being able to see things from many points of view, although not all.

Kenneth Oppel did an incredible twist on a classic, a personal telling of everyone’s favourite horror story.

THANK YOU KENNTH OPPEL FOR GETTING PERSONAL!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

I found that this book was an interesting Young Adult twist on a classic. Not even so much of a twist as a prequel and an answer to “why”. Kenneth Oppel expands on the world of Frankenstein. He appears to do so while respecting the original story, just adding his own flair where he feels there is need.

The author made me feel for the characters, all of them. All though some of the time I agreed with characters, I didn’t want to. Throughout the novel I found myself agreeing avidly with decisions I never would have in different context.

And how about that ending, the suddenness, the shock and the numbness that could be felt within the last chapter were all emotions that one might feel in the same situation.

♥Characters♥

♥Victor: I can’t say that I agree with all his decisions. He was easy to trust although so many others seemed to warn him against trusting so easily. Although I found myself rooting for him and Elizabeth more than I wanted to, I’m a sucker for a bad boy. Even though he had no right to claim his love for her and attempt to steal her, I can understand how he would want validation as a human. To be constantly compared to your twin would not be easy. I was impressed that he never turned against his brother though. So truly he was not evil. He never wished illness on his brother, and even when he was trying to steal his girl, he still fought to cure him. So I suppose that that is respectable and loyal.

♥Konrad: As it is pointed out time and time again. Konrad is seen as better, happier, more social and all together the smarter of the twins. Although when it comes down to it, he does not agree with Victor’s image of him as the golden child. He does his best to keep his temper, even when he finds out about the stolen kiss and other’s feelings for his beloved. He even tried his best to keep her safe. His death was truly unexpected, but in the end I suppose we are really reading about resurrection of the dead.

♥Elizabeth: She is strong woman, who holds tightly to her beliefs. I can respect that. She is clearly loyal and would do anything for the one she loves. She is even willing to risk her life. Which is more of a love than some can say they ever find. I do believe that she and Konrad would have made an excellent couple, but she does have a wildness about her that is not unlike Victor’s. He certainly was not wrong about that.

♥Henry: He is cowardly. He consistently stays behind and the one time he is heroic he has trouble continuing his bravery. I hope that this improves in the next novel, as there is no doubt that more bravery will be needed.

♥Polidori: What a fiend. It does not surprise me in the least, but I thought him to be a little better of a man. I though he may mentor Victor but instead he turns against them completely. I believe that he does know who they are though; I think he is just waiting for the right moment to strike. I also strongly believe that Krake is not a lynx but some hybrid he conducted in his laboratory, but that may just be my imagination getting away with me though.

♥Moments to Remember♥

♥Pg. 223

“From the stained-glass windows shafts of coloured light angled through the stillness of the church. My thoughts drifted.

Wine to blood. Lead to gold. Medicine dripped in my brother’s veins. The transmutation of matter.

Was it magic or science? Fantasy or truth?”

♥Final Line: “I promised that I would see my brother again- even if it meant unlocking every secret law of this earth, to bring him back.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo