Review: Anonymous by Christine Benedict

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About the Book

Debra Hamilton confronts the fear of inheriting mental illness when her husband moves her into a hundred-year-old farmhouse on fifty-three acres of blacklisted real estate property. Floorboards creak when she’s alone. Objects appear and disappear. Neighbors insinuate the house is haunted but memories of her mother's schizophrenia make her wonder. Julie, a neighbor who befriends Debra, faces her own fears when a stalker starts sending perverted anonymous letters that cause a rift in Julie’s unstable marriage. Their plots merge as their friendship grows to create a rich and satisfying story. “Intelligence, as well as emotion, drives this novel. A taut thriller rich with lurid details yet also an evocation of vividly real and compelling characters.” --Mark Spencer, author of A Haunted Love Story, The Weary Motel, The Masked Demon, and Trespassers.

Review

There was potential in the writing of the book, definitely. The author's writing style was easy to read, and the plot line was creative, but would have been improved by a more structured development. The emotions of the characters were incredibly realistic, and there were moments of great suspense. The exploration of different mental disorders, including schizophrenia and narcissistic personality disorder, was intriguing, and there were explorations of truths about them that aren't often discussed, but were in this story. The central themes and personal demons of the characters are hard topics to tackle, but Benedict succeeded in showing their ugliness to her readers. 

The story introduces us into the lives of Debra Hamilton, who struggles with the fear of inheriting her mother's schizophrenia, and of Julie Zourenger, who fights within a marriage to an emotionally abusive husband while facing the anxiety of receiving letters from an anonymous stalker. The themes are there, but the unrealistic professionalism, relationships, reactions, and conversations held between the characters distracted me from the main purpose. The intended themes were written with a bluntness that did not persuade me as a reader to see the struggles of the characters through compelling story telling, but rather forced me to see them through forceful declarations of the fears that each character had. In addition, there were issues in the writing when it came to perspective, as it was sometimes hard to follow which character was being focused on at the time, and thus whether the author intended for the particular scene to be written in first-person or third-person.I felt as though a lot of unrelated events were being thrown my way quite a bit of the time, most of which barely, if at all, advanced character development or the plot line of the story. At the end, the intended plot twist simply introduced new characters as though they had been present throughout the whole story, and provided for an easy resolution. I wish I had liked the book more because it had huge potential, but it was simply not for me.

Reviewed by Sofia Millar

Review: Paper Girls Volume 1 by Brian K Vaughan

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Image comics is the best powerhouse of comics outside of the superhero genre in the game today. As a rabid comic/graphic novel reader, I've done my fair share of reading stories from Image comics, Saga included, which is what turned me onto this book in particular. Brian K. Vaughan is the pinnacle of comic writing at the moment and this book is a great start to a story that I am very much already hooked on.

Paper Girls follows four twelve year old girls who have one thing in common: they deliver papers. The fact of the matter is, this story wouldn't have ever happened if they hadn't been out in the wee hours of November first, thinking it'd be another typical morning of deliveries. It most definitely wasn't that.

The story itself is solid, and personally, I felt myself connecting to the girls fairly quickly. They all seemed very unique from one another and all fairly easy to relate to. The tension of the story works because I fear for them and want them to make it through, whether or not that is the case, we'll wait and see.

In all truthfulness, I find it difficult to explain the conflict of the story. Thus far, there's some sort of cataclysmic event, time travel, a gunshot wound, and some people dressed in white who speak very garbled English. Not to say that this difficulty in explanation is a negative, honestly, I'm just ready for the next volumes to come out!

This volume has beautiful drawings, coloring, and excellent panel organization. I was never hampered by poor formatting or distracted by bad drawing. And it looks good.

Overall, this is a strong first volume to this series and I am more than excited for what could possibly be in store!

Review: The Magpies by Mark Edwards

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About the Book

When Jamie and Kirsty move into their first home together, they are full of optimism. The future, in which they plan to get married and start a family, is bright. The other residents of their building seem friendly too, including the Newtons, a married couple who welcome them to the building with open arms.

But then strange things start to happen. Dead rats are left on their doorstep. They hear disturbing noises, and much worse, in the night. After Jamie’s best friend is injured in a horrific accident, Jamie and Kirsty find themselves targeted by a campaign of terror.

As they are driven to the edge of despair, Jamie vows to fight back—but he has no idea what he is really up against . . .

The Magpies is a gripping psychological thriller in which the monsters are not vampires or demons but the people who live next door. It is a nightmare that could happen to anyone.

Review

In all honesty, I tend to stay away from suspense/thrillers, I always become acutely aware of my blood pressure raising, which isn't my favorite feeling. The Magpies is a guarantee to get your heart beating and force you to get a cup of calming tea. This novel is a absolute anxiety raiser.

This novel is an interesting one. It works with the typical haunted house premise: new couple pours all of their money into a house with so much hope and happiness, but in this case, the house is not haunted. Well, at least not in the stereotype ghosts/demons kind of way.

We get Kirsty and Jamie, an unmarried couple who are as happy as can be to get a stellar flat for fairly cheap. They soon find out that things are not as they seem with their fellow neighbors, and these neighbors may even have it out for their blood. This novel works within the slow burn method, which I personally enjoy. Tension raises slowly but surely and stress levels go through the roof.

Jamie and Kirsty are both fleshed out, realistic people, both with flaws and strong points. They are both very believable and therefore easy to root for. You want these two to be happy, you want them to feel peace in what should be a good situation, but that turns out not to be the case.

Overall, this is a solid 4/5 book, it's captivating and astutely written and it's guaranteed to stress you out, whether you like it or not.

Reviewed by Amy Richardson

Review: Listen To Me by Kristen Proby

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About the Book

In New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby’s brand new series, five best friends open a hot new restaurant, but one of them gets much more than she bargained for when a sexy former rock star walks through the doors—and into her heart.

Seduction is quickly becoming the hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to claim 1/5 of the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better way to bring in new customers than live music. But when former rock star Jake Keller swaggers through the doors to apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were plastered all over her bedroom walls in high school—he’s all bad boy...exactly her type and exactly what she doesn’t need.

Jake Keller walked away from the limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven him: the music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the better. But talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading her that he wants more than a romp in her bed. Just when she begins to drop her walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him.

Will Addie be torn apart once again or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and listen to her heart?

Review

I have to tell you how incredibly disappointed I was after reading Kristen Proby’s Listen to Me. Why, you ask? I have her on here all the time and was like, omg, why haven’t I read her previous books before? Don’t know where I’ve been but I know where I’m going, from this moment on, I’m totally on team Kristen because that book was fantabulous and the fact that I nearly burned my dinner while reading it was all the more reason to sing her praises because what else could get me completely distracted like that, you know!  

The first thing that stands out about the book is that I loved how the book made me feel when I read it. When I started reading it, I knew it was going to be a homerun. There was something about it that just hooks you right in and doesn’t let you put it down. There was something about it that draws you in that makes you want to get to know these awesome women. Not that a guy can’t read it but, this was definitely a book that you will definitely enjoy more because her characters just hug you like you’re one of them which I think gave it the resonating connection that makes it such an engaging to read.

So, we are introduced to five awesome gals who differ in personality but really blend well in the book. They each are part owners in a restaurant and happen to be amazing friends. Each one brings their own flare to the book which by the way, I wouldn’t mind considering how the book ended, revisiting their lives beyond this one. So enjoying the storylines between them, it was nice reading about women who have a genuine friendship that support each other and are there for one another. You don’t see strong women who are confident, sassy, intelligent and real, so it was a breath of fresh air.

The heart of the book is dually told by the perspectives of Addison and Jake. Addison has had her fair share of losers. Trust me, mainly of you will relate to her struggle. She is smart, beautiful but doesn’t do well in the dating department. Just freshly getting out of a relationship with a loser, which she declared would be her last musician, she stumbles across someone that she least expected to make a connection with. Looking for someone to do a gig on the weekends at their restaurant, she and Kat, came across this great singer at an open mic night and decided to give him a try. To their surprise, he wasn’t just any singer, he was the famous Jake Knox, who happened to be one of the best rock stars before his band broke up. After swooning all the ladies with his easy on the eyes looks and charm, the only one that wasn’t convinced was Addison. So, she thought but there was definitely chemistry but after dealing with her latest experience, she wasn’t entertaining the idea of anyone. Thinking that all musicians are the same along with her guarded preconceived ideas, it wasn’t until one night she was faced with confronting her past, and had to drop her guard down to trust the person she is trying so hard to resist did she find herself singing a different tune.

Overall, I thought the book was awesome. Since this was my first book read from Kristen, I’m looking forward to catching up and future reads because she definitely is a terrific storyteller bringing characters that have authenticity and are relatable. She has a way with words that invite you into her book feeling fulfilled and not disappointed. You really get a great perspective of the characters as well as their journey through their experience. Considering how it ended, I’m looking for some answers because I want to know what happens and hopefully that will be answered soon. The only problem I had was that possibly because I’m such a prude, that for me, probably not for you, some of the scenes were a little too hot for me but hey, it’s all good. I’d definitely recommend adding this to the reading list. Very excited to read what’s to come!

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Review: Tween Hobo: Off the Rails By Tween Hobo and Alena Smith

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About the Book

From playwright and TV writer Alena Smith comes a hilarious and irreverent illustrated book based on the popular Twitter feed (@tweenhobo), featuring a young spunky girl who sets out in search of freedom, adventure, and her own personal obsession: Justin Bieber tickets.

Get ready to laugh and learn with the littlest hobo. She’s only twelve years old, but a “hard twelve.” You’ll meet her friends: Stumptown Jim (her weatherbeaten BFFL); Tin Cap Earl (who’s always down to shoot a junkyard haul video); Toothpick Frank (who learns to love Pinterest); Salt Chunk Annie (a “woman of the night,” whatever that means); and Hot Johnny Two-Cakes (who Tween Hobo swears she does NOT have a crush on).

Find out how she survives, thanks in part to strawberry lip gloss. You’ll hear her take on major cultural events (“I go off a fiscal cliff every time I go near a Claire’s”). And you’ll enjoy beautiful hand-rendered illustrations that bring out the beauty in her words—just like how eyeliner makes a hobo’s look really pop.

Often snarky and frequently ridiculous, this imaginative journal-like book includes maps, jokes, laughs, doodles, tips, hobo symbols (“House with a triangle on top means PIZZA PARTY!!!), games, stories, and more. So grab your iPhone and wrap it in a handkerchief, tie it to a stick, and let’s roll! 

Review

This book is a wild ride, pun intended. Tween Hobo is a trip about a girl going on a journey across the United States to find her brother, who's been sent to some sort of juvenile correctional facility. Along the way, us readers experience a whole lot of something. This book is a lot to take in, let me say, but it holds its own and makes for a very unique reading experience.

I think there are a number of very lovely things about this book. I think the voice of Tween Hobo is very strong, unique, and entertaining. She's got a lot on her mind and she's going to say it all. There's a natural flow of the mind throughout her little entries, which lends itself to a weird sort of modern stream of consciousness. It's also the kind of book that reads extremely quickly because of the voice. The words just trip through your mind, easy as pie, and suddenly you're through another fifty pages.

I think it's simply to look at this book and just think that it's some silly little book without anything else. Honestly, though, it is silly, but it does more than the average book tackling this kind of subject matter could do. It's use of drawings, twitter, and other such nonsense is a lovely addition and really keeps the reader gripped and ready to turn the page. Along with that, I think there's a great melding of the old school and the new. The fact that this girl has decided to take trains to find her brother rings of some Beat Generation novel, but we get her, a twelve year old, talking about Justin Bieber. I found it genuinely hilarious.

Overall, this is a quick, easy read that sticks out from the crowd! It's a trip. 

Reviewed by Amy Richardson

Review: The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery by Sarah Lewis

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About the Book

From celebrated art historian, curator, and teacher Sarah Lewis, a fascinating examination of how our most iconic creative endeavors—from innovation to the arts—are not achievements but conversions, corrections after failed attempts.

The gift of failure is a riddle: it will always be both the void and the start of infinite possibility. The Rise—part investigation into a psychological mystery, part an argument about creativity and art, and part a soulful celebration of the determination and courage of the human spirit—makes the case that many of the world’s greatest achievements have come from understanding the central importance of failure. 

Written over the course of four years, this exquisite biography of an idea is about the improbable foundations of a creative human endeavor. Each chapter focuses on the inestimable value of often ignored ideas—the power of surrender, how play is essential for innovation, the “near win” can help propel you on the road to mastery, the importance of grit and creative practice. The Rise shares narratives about figures past and present that range from choreographers, writers, painters, inventors, and entrepreneurs; Frederick Douglass, Samuel F.B. Morse, Diane Arbus, and J.K. Rowling, for example, feature alongside choreographer Paul Taylor, Nobel Prize–winning physicists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, and Arctic explorer Ben Saunders. 

With valuable lessons for pedagogy and parenting, for innovation and discovery, and for self-direction and creativity, The Rise “gives the old chestnut ‘If at first you don’t succeed…’ a jolt of adrenaline” (Elle).

Review

The Rise is a comfort in book form for anyone who struggles, tries, and has failed at reaching their goals whether they be creative or otherwise. It is a book that does not gloss over the struggle for success and the natural human propensity for failure. It is truly an honest take at what it means to try and how important just trying is to growth and possible future success.

This is a well structured book that looks at a different story of attempting greatness in each section. We get all sorts of different stories which shows how pervasive and common failure is in everyone's life. Whether you're a creative or not, you'll be able to learn a valuable lesson on the nature of human life and how incredibly important it is to fail and also how unrealistic it is to expect immediate success in your daily life.

Being that failure is a part of the human condition, it becomes clear throughout Lewis' book that we should expect it and if mature enough, we should consider it and learn from it. In a way, failure is even desirable as it reminds us that life is never perfect and that working towards goals, meeting them, and then creating new ones is the most honest way to live your life. It truly is more about the journey than the destination, really, there isn't and shouldn't be a destination. This book is an excellent reminder that all we can do is move forward, fall down, and keep moving forward again. In life, there isn't a finish line.

Reading in an attempt to learn more about the creative process always brings a new perspective that can allow for a shift in your own process, which for me is always desirable. This book is the kind of book that strengthens your resolve and gives you hope that trying, and trying again is just as valuable as experiencing some great personal triumph like getting your book published, reaching the top of Everest, or finishing a painting.

Just remember to keep moving forward, it is the best we can do.

Reviewed by Amy Richardson