John Steinbeck - With Your Wings

Is it ever too late to gush about Christmas presents? In my opinion, no. Besides a very exciting announcement that will come soon and also has to do with one of my presents, I want to share another one with you already.

As you might remember, I gushed in November about The Strand Magazine releasing a new Steinbeck story. I wanted to read the story soooo badly, but it turned out that the magazine is nearly impossible to get in Europe.

But thankfully, mothers always know how to do things that we (or at least I) can't do. So Christmas Eve, I got Strand Magazine with a new, original Steinbeck story in there!

Isn't it a beauty? The magazine mostly focusses on detective stories, so it's not really my style, but I love this cover. It is so mysterious and dark and perfect for the rainy cold winter weather.

The story is called With Your Wings and I didn't want to take too many pictures because it really is a short story. In the layout of the magazine, it was just one page (stretched longer by the beautiful image below that was added to the story) and I don't want to put the whole story online.

I can't say too much about it without giving everything away, but it is a story about war, identity and race. Due to the current race issues in America, I think the story is more relevant than ever and many people will probably relate to it on one level or the other. If you can get your hands on this magazine, I definitely would. The story is short, leaves you wanting more, but it is so wonderful to finally read some new Steinbeck material!

The First Coven - P.M. Pevato

RATING: ★★★★☆

As you might remember, I reviewed Pevato's Firefly earlier last year - one of the first professional reviews I did - and was not fully convinced by the story. I could tell that P.M. Pevato was a talented writer, but the story was flawed in certain ways that obstructed the reading.

Now I read a recent short story by Pevato that is part of the Short And Happy (Or Not) anthology. Though I browsed all the stories (and they all look pretty great!), I really wanted to focus this review on The First Coven, since I was amazed by the growth of Pevato as an author.

The First Coven starts off like a fairytale; once upon a time there was a farmer who had three daughters and desperately wanted a son. His wife delivers a son but dies during labour. This sounds pretty standard fairytale-ish right? But then there is a twist. The daughters turn to witch craft in an attempt to awaken their mother from the dead. That is not exactly the Grimm fairytale we are all used to.

And that's exactly what I loved about this story - it was so different. I expected one thing, but the twists constantly took the plot in a new direction. If you like fairytales and magical elements, you will adore this story.

Where I previously critiqued Pevato's writing, I thoroughly enjoyed her writing this time. She used fairytale elements to really bring her story to live and to keep the reader interested. It was an amazing read and since it is a really short story, I don't see any reason as to why you shouldn't be reading it right now.

Penguin Board Game

The Great Penguin Bookchase

So the holidays meant lots of relaxation and family time and what's better than a few board games thrown in there? 

At my home, we're not big into board games (we're all a tad too competitive), but me and my mother love the Penguin one. Below are some pictures of the gorgeous game - including a cameo by my adorable niece!

So as you can see, the game is looks like Trivial Pursuit and that is the easiest thing to compare it to. Each colour represents a category of books and you have to answer the question correctly to receive a book of that colour. First person to have all six books on their bookshelf wins!

Aren't these little books the cutest ever??? I wish I could just use them as decoration!

Unfortunately, I am not the only one who loves them....

I was the purple bench and yes I was losing badly. Especially on the red books, which represent the poetry and theatre section - such hard questions!

But with a little help from my friend, I managed to win once!

Overall, this game really is amazing. If you are a book lover, it's a great way to learn more about the classics and to have a bunch of "fun facts" for your next book club meeting!

Best books of 2014

The year has finished and before I throw myself unto a new year of books I want to look back at my top 10 of 2014. Here we goooo.

1. The Percy Jackson series - Rick Riordan

Oh Percy. I must confess that I bought these books four years ago and read the first two and got bored. And now I have no clue as to why I didn't finish these books in one go. They are SO good. I've always been obsessed with Greek mythology and Percy Jackson combines that obsession with my love for Young Adult books. If you haven't read this serie yet, I highly recommend you make it a New Year's resolution for 2015: you will not be disappointed. 

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2. Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

Oh Fangirl - is anyone surprised by this at all? I ADORED FANGIRL AND I WANT TO READ IT AGAIN. It was perfect in every single way and it was also the first book I read when I moved to London, so it holds a double special place in my heart. If it was a series, it would top Percy but alas - quantity over quality is my motto for this year. (How else is a girl supposed to hit her Goodreads target?)

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3. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

Though I mostly read YA books, I also like to work my way through a few classics. I feel like it's a must and helps me expand my literary horizon. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a great classic because it's not as difficult to read as some other classics - it reads fast and easy and yet it really touched me in a profound way. The journey from girlhood to womanhood is one I am on right now and I think everyone should read The Bell Jar to help with their own personal growth. It's not a happy read, but it's a thoughtful read.

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4. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë

And then there are classics that aren't easy to read, but that are so worth it. I wasn't excited to read Jane Eyre, but I had to for my postgraduate program. And thank God I had to. It was a real struggle to get into the story, but once I was sucked in I loved it. It shows 19th century English life perfectly while also teaching me as a writer about how to create suspense in a story. Charlotte Brontë is a classic author for a great reason and I think everyone who is interested in classics should read Jane Eyre. And if you have read this one, then also pick up Wide Sargasso Sea - it just fell out of the top 10 but it's the story of the wife of Mr. Rochester and it is also a great read.

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5. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Though I have to admit that the queen of suspense is Gillian Flynn. Gone Girl was EVERYWHERE this year and though I am usually disappointed by hyped-up books, this one totally completely lived up to the expectations. The book is a crazy roller coaster ride with so many ups and downs that your head will spin (in the best possible way). If you love a thriller and a female character who completely breaks the mold, this story is for you.

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6. We Were Liars - E. Lockhart

And now I'm starting to see a pattern - in sixth place is E. Lockhart's We Were Liars which is praised for it, yes once again, suspense. This is the young adult version of Gone Girl with Lockhart displaying writing that at times is superior to any writing I've read this year. It's short, to the point and makes you want to find out more about each character. This is on the one hand the strength of the book, on the other I just wish I would know more about the characters. It just didn't feel like a real full story.

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7. Everything Leads to You - Nina LaCour

Together with Fangirl, this was my feel good read of the year. There is no major suspense in the story, but I just loved the characters and the easiness with which I could read Nina LaCour's writing. Everything Leads to You also features a gay main character, which is a nice change from the typical YA narrator. But this is not the main plot of the story - it's about a search for someone while also discovering yourself and that's what makes it amazing. It was one of those books that I read at exactly the right time and for that reason it will always stick with me.

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8. The Moon and More - Sarah Dessen

Talking about feel good, how can Sarah Dessen not be on this list? Whatever book you read from her, you always end up feeling fuzzy and amazing on the inside. The Moon and More does exactly that and has a slightly less cliché plot then some of her other reads. Sarah's writing is easy to read, but it's not the best writing of the year. But summer of 2015, on the beach, cocktail in hand, this book will be your best date.

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9. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks - E. Lockhart

If this was a list of my favorite narrators of 2014, Frankie Landau Banks would be in the first spot. Frankie was a wonderful girl and it's been a very long time since I related to a character that much. It's in ninth place, because I didn't always like the plot (the pranks got kind of old), but I so thoroughly enjoyed Frankie. If you want to read about a strong woman, pick up this book.

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10. Divergent Series - Veronica Roth

Talking about strong women, Trish from Divergent would be on my favourite narrator list too. I could talk about these books for hours, but since everyone in the world already read them, I won't. It's in tenth place, because it was an amazing series with great writing and great action, but the shittiest ending of the year. It was unnecessary and dumb and it ruined the books just a little bit for me. But they are still exciting and a quick read. 

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That's it for my list - now what were your favourite books of 2014? Any disagreements? 

Damascena - Holly Lynn Payne

RATING ★★★☆☆

As I mentioned before, as a reviewer you read two kinds of books: ones that you immediately know the rating of (whether that's good or bad) and books that you are conflicted about.

Damascena by Holly Payne is part of the second group of books. I finished it well over a month ago and sat down to write my review and just couldn't do it. Did I love it? Did I hate it? I actually didn't know how I felt about it, so I had to let it rest for a bit.

Summary

Holly Payne’s spellbinding tale brings the unparalleled poet, Mevlana Rumi, to life, and transports readers to the enchanting world of 13th century Persia. Simply but elegantly told, the story unravels the mystery surrounding a legendary orphaned girl, who discovers her gift of turning roses into oil. Named after the flowering rosa damascena, the girl reluctantly assumes the role of a living saint for the miracles she performs—longing for the only one that matters: finding her mother. Deeply wounded by the separation since birth, Damascena undergoes a riveting transformation when she meets Rumi and finally discovers the secret of the rose. 

Imbued with rich historical research and inspired by the devastating disappearance of Rumi’s most lauded spiritual companion, Shams of Tabriz, Holly Payne has courageously opened herself to receive Rumi’s teachings and offer a timeless love story. Inspiring and magical, the story of Damascena transmits the wisdom of the heart, inviting us to transform our pain into love

Plot and writing

I had to copy the Goodreads summary because it's so hard to decide what is a spoiler and what isn't, since the whole story is one big surprise after another. That's also the thing I liked about the plot: it was so original. I've never heard of Rumi before and was completely unfamiliar with his work, so I liked reading about his life and how it ties in with rose girl Damascena.

Damascena's life is followed in the story and I love the growth she undergoes from young girl to young woman. The insight in her personality and thoughts made complete sense and it was easy to connect to her as a narrator.

This is then combined with amazing writing. Like honestly truly amazing. Great descriptions, great characters and a great flow meant that this story was mostly a breeze to read, even with the heavy subject. Holly Payne is so talented and I can't wait to read more of her. Historical fiction is difficult, but I feel like her writing really lends itself to the genre.

Too spiritual

However, though I feel like I love every separate element of the story, I didn't really connect to the whole of Damascena. And this is where it gets tricky, because I'm not sure why. Like I mentioned, the writing is superb and the characters are great. But I just didn't really like the story and I think it's because the plot is too spiritual for my liking. As I mentioned before, I enjoy stories that are grounded in reality and this was just too religious for me. The roses and God.... I don't buy that kind of stuff and I don't understand the strong connection Damascena feels to God. So even though I could relate to her as a character, I couldn't identify with her which made the story kind of boring towards the end. The plot kept me reading, but I just skimmed the religious parts at a certain point.

Rating

But, having said that, I still have to give this book a three out of five. The writing was some of the best writing I've read this year and I really appreciate the research the author had to do to write this story. I wish I could give it more, but it wasn't my kind of book. However, if you like historical fiction tied in with religion and spirituality, you'll fall in love with this book.

The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer - Laini Taylor

Until Christmas, I will be reviewing the short stories from My True Love Gave To Me. There will be a review every other day. These will be shorter than the usual reviews and will always include the same criteria on which they will be graded.

Find it on bookdepository here. 

CHRISTMAS FEELS: ★★/5

ROMANCE FEELS: ★★★/5

CHARACTERS: ★★★/5

HUMOUR: ★★/5

ORIGINALITY: ★★★★/5

What did I just read?

For my final story of the collection, I was so excited to be really be in the Christmas mood. Tonight is my family's big Christmas celebration and I want to feel that cheer.

Instead I got something confusing. I don't really know what happened in this story nor what it really had to do with Christmas (besides the fact that it took place in December).

The main character Neve lives on an island as a poor girl. It is a tradition that on the first day of December male suitors put something on the porch of the girl they like. That girl can accept his offer, which means he'll keep leaving things until the 24th of December when they are really together, or she can put a dried rose on her porch so the guy knows she's not interested. The mean island pastor puts something on Neve's porch and even though she tries to deny it, he refuses to listen. Then Neve gets some spiritual help.

Look, I'm not big into the spiritual flowy stories. I like my stories to be semi-realistic and don't believe in "earth forces" coming in and changing the arc of a character. It's unrealistic and just annoying. Neve was in a tricky situation and I would have loved to have seen how she would have escaped that. Instead, Laini Taylor used a Deus ex-machina to create a happy ending.

The writing was good, it read pretty quick, but I just knew from the first paragraph that this story wasn't for me. It was the only short story that felt like a chore to read and I hate that I have to end the collection on this note.

Review aside - I want to wish everyone great holidays. I'll be offline until after Christmas and then I have some more reviews lined up for you guys! Enjoy Christmas and hopefully you'll get lots of books!

Rival Hearts - Natalie Decker

Rating ★★☆☆☆

I love the surprise of finishing a book that you love and hearing that it's going to be a series. So when I was contacted to review Rival Hears, the follow-up to Rival Love, I fangirled. I loved Skylar and Caleb in the first story and I was exciting to see how they would develop. 

Goodreads summary:

Caleb is ticked off. Skylar hasn’t answered any of his calls, texts, or emails since her move to New York, virtually cutting him out of her life without warning. So Caleb decides to go after her—and convince her to come back home. 

But even when Skylar realizes her heart does belong at home with Caleb, her uncertainty lingers. Is it safe? Have things changed? 

After the mysterious vandalism to the pool at Delmont High, everyone is desperate for answers they believe Skylar can provide. At first, she’s determined not to run. But when Caleb’s ex-girlfriend unleashes a vengeful surprise, Sky's love for Caleb is threatened. 

Are these two rival hearts ready to fight for their love, or will they have to throw in the towel?

What Happened to Skylar?

I never really liked Skylar - in Rival Love she was okay and not really noticeable enough to ruin the story. But in Rival Hearts, she has become the most annoying narrator I've ever read. She goes back and forth about EVERYTHING. She can't decide on anything and she does everything completely wrong so that everyone gets hurt. Like honestly, who would want to date Skylar? She was pretty strong in Rival Love, deciding when or if she and Caleb would date, but in this book she is just a pawn in his story. She doesn't have any say in what happens with her and just goes with the flow. I've never met a person that up and down and indecisive before in my life and I hope I never will.

This just made Skylar a flat and unbelievable narrator for me. Whenever she decided something, you would know it would take another 5 chapters for something to happen - and things only happened when Caleb was there. And it also means that there was a consistency problem, since Skylar was very different in book one and apparently almost no time passed between the two books. This makes it hard for the reader to enjoy the two books together. 

Caleb is vanilla.

You know those people who are nice enough, but just aren't really special? They don't really stick with you, you don't remember them at all? That's Caleb in Rival Hearts. He's nice enough and he tries to do the right thing, but I kinda don't really remember him at all. 

The things I can remember is that at least he could make decisions (thank God) and that he was more rounded as a character, which made him easier to relate to. Though he is pretty stupid, because the big plot twist in this book has to do with him and I'm sure every single reader sees it coming, but Caleb doesn't. Not even when every other character in the book figures it out. But other than that, there are no real objections to Caleb - he's just there.

School Vandalism

What saved this book for me was the school vandalism storyline. Just like in book one, the school is being ruined and everyone blames Skylar. Though we know Skylar didn't do it, it is a pretty big twist in who did do it. I didn't see it coming and the suspense of figuring that out kept me reading. (Though at some point I wish Skylar did do it so she would have to leave school and Caleb could find a nice little vanilla girlfriend - he deserves it)

Besides that, the writing style makes the book easy and nice to read. Natalie Decker is the perfect writer for Young Adult books, because she doesn't make her stories too easy, but they are still relaxing to read.

Conclusion

Obviously I can't rate the book very high if I despise the way one of the characters was portrayed. Natalie Decker is a good writer, but she somehow seems to have lost the idea of Skylar from book one. This is a shame and I really hope she'll pick it up again in book three, because this Skylar is pretty awful.