Review: Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, edited by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories

Author: Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina Lacour, Stephanie Perkins, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, Jennifer E. Smith

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Date of Publication: May 17th, 2016

Number of Pages: 400

Find it at : Book Depository

Summary

Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

Review

Summertime is upon us and all we have to do is lie around, and of course read. These are also the months for the infamous summer romances and Summer Days & Summer Nights is one of those books that can make you want to fall in love. If you've already read My True Love Gave Me then you can easily understand the tone of the short stories included in the collection.

From 2014 when My True Love Gave Me was first released I thought that it was a brilliant idea to collech short stories from all those authors we all know so well and I'm sure that some of us include them in our favourite authors list. Similarly, in Summer Days & Summer Nights the list of the contributing authors is more than impressive, making it a short story collection that I was eager to read.

This collection was more diverse than the stories in My True Love Gave Me, and so I enjoyed it more. I loved the fact that there were many stories that had science fiction and fantasy elements. I loved the Groundhog Day thing in The Map of Tiny Perfect Things and that an actual demon was giving power to the circus in Brand New Attraction. I adored that there were mysterious sea creatures in Head, Scales, Tongue, Tail and some sort of zombie apocalypse in Last Stand at the Cinegore. Also, the protagonists were more diverse, not only as far as it concerned their sexuality, but also their other physical characteristics. For example, in A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong the guy has Asperger syndrome.

Furthermore, some of the stories were heart-wrenching and others were delightful. Inertia was so sad and depressing that I couldn't read it without being moved. On the other hand, Good Luck and Farewell was so light-hearted and amusing. It almost reminded me of The Grand Budapest Hotel, although this might be because it was set in a hotel. Other short stories, like The End of Love, made me think and I felt that the protagonist really grew up in just a few pages!

Naturally, I didn't enjoy all of the stories that much. To be precise, I couldn't connect with just two of them, Sick Pleasure, and Souvenirs. This might have happened because of their endings, since both of them didn't leave me with a sense of hope. But I have to give it to Sick Pleasure that it featured very good music. Many of the songs in the Play(list) by the Book were from this particular story and I really like the punk sound.

Summer Days & Summer Nights is a delightful collection of short stories that will make you swoon. There is a story for every taste, and so I can safely say that it is a must-have book for your summer reading!

Play(list) by the Book: Summer Days & Summer Nights, edited by Stephanie Perkins

Hello, everyone! What a better way to welcome summer than listening to the Play(list) by the Book of the short story collection edited by Stephanie Perkins, Summer Days & Summer Nights! Plus, I always have so much fun compiling and listening to all those literary playlists. So, turn up your volume and enjoy!

As usual, I've included all the songs and artists mentioned in the short stories. Some of them didn't mention even one, others featured many. This playlist turned out to be more punk than I expected. When only an artist was named I chose the song thay I liked the most. The same applied to the case where only the album was mentioned. In the short story Inertia by Veronica Roth a band called Chase Wolcott plays an important role, and especially their song with the same title as the story. Also, another song is mentiones called Traditional Panic. I couldn't find anything about this band, so I figured that it was a fictional one. In case you know that this is a real music group, please let me know, for I'd like to listen to their songs!

Find more playlists at: Play(list) by the Book

Radio Show: Play(list) by the Book  

The Reading Book Post, May 30th

Hello, everyone! Summer has arrived and I'm trying to compile my summer reading list. There are a couple of books of my favourite authors coming out and some others that I've wanted to read for a while. If you have any suggestions for me, please let me know! Anyway, let's see what happened in the literary world the previous week.

• The V&A Illustration Award 2016 was given to Kate Milner for her picture book My Name is Not Refugee. In this picture book the creator aims to show children what is the refugee crisis.

• One of the first novel to be published in summer that I expect is definitely Stephen King's End of Watch. You can read an excerpt from it before its publication on June 7.

• Which is the first science fiction story? Could it be one of Edgar Allan Poe's, or one of Mary Shelley's? Well, the genre might have appeared even earlier than we thought, as the 1616 The Chemical Wedding is considered the first science fiction story.

• Any fans of the Mortal Instruments series? It seems that Cassandra Clare will publish an adult trilogy about the character we all know (and love) Magnus Bane! But we'll have to wait until November 2017 for the release of the first instalment.

• You all know by now my love for David Mitchell. The author has delivered his manuscript for the Future Library Project, which will be released on 2114. The only thing we know, and we'll ever learn is the it's called From Me Flows What You Call Time. 

• Which Literary Creep Is Your Alter Ego? Take the quiz to find out! It turns out that my alter ego is none other than Cathy Ames from the novel East of Eden. Which one is yours?

Review: Luna the Vampire, Volume 1: Grumpy Space, by Yasmin Sheikh

Title: Luna the Vampire, Volume 1: Grumpy Space

Author: Yasmin Sheikh

Publisher: Idea & Design Works

Expected Date of Publication: July 12th, 2016

Number of Pages: 80

Find it at : Book Depository

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary

Ever wondered how it would be if outer space was populated by monsters? LOOK NO FURTHER! As this is the AMAZING everyday life of Luna the Vampire. Jam packed with awesome adventures, crazy faces, zombie postmen, AND SPACE. By the power of the giant floating god heads, don't miss out!

Review

Luna the Vampire is a quick and fun read. The cartoony art style and the everyday life short stories make this comic so easy to read.

Luna is a vampire that lives in space. This alone is a refreshing view, as I'm used to darker versions of these creatures. Along with Luna space is filled with all kinds of creatures, such as witches and zombies. Even the young vampire's pet is a fat worm, rather than a dog or a cat.

This comic consists of a series of short stories of Luna's everyday life. They don't have a connection, each story can work fine on its own without any context. This means, on the one hand, that we never really get to learn our protagonist really well, and, on the other hand, that Luna becomes really relateable, escpecially to the female readers. She worries about being fat and the way that her body looks, she even freaks out that she doesn't have anything to wear. All of these, are things that we all have felt and this makes it even funnier.

All in all, Luna the Vampire  is a quirky and light read. It doesn't offer anything much, apart from killing a boring afternoon. Another problem is that it's not memorable, funny for reading the first volume but not expecting a second one. I'm not sure what the target audience of this comic really is. I wouldn't consider it for younger readers, but adolescents would surely find it enjoyable.

    

The Reading Book Post, May 23rd

Hello, everyone! The end of spring is slowly approaching, but it doesn't feel like the beginning of summer yet. I can't wait for those long summer days on the beach, enjoying an iced coffee and reading amazing books. Anyway, let's see what happened in the literary world the previous week.

• The Man Book Prize International 2016 was given to the South Korean author Han Kang for her novel The Vegeterian, as well as the translator of the book Deborah Smith. For yet another year there were no grand prize winners for the 7th Kyoto Animation Awards. There were only three judge special awards in the novel category.

• Gabriel Garcia Marquez passed away in 2014. Last week his ashes laid to rest in Cartagena. This Colombian city was important to the much-beloved author, as it was the place where he had begun his writing career.

• The Da Vinci Code is one of the books that we've all heard of (and many of us has read it). Now, younger audiences will get the chance to read it, as Dan Brown will be releasing a YA version of his best-selling novel. The adaptation is due on September 13, 2016. 

• Are you looking books to fill your summer reading list? Well, Bill Gates has some interesting suggestions. I'm already taking notes!

• Which are the most common words used in poetry? Discover which words some of our favourite poets used, like Sylvia Plath and Walt Whitman. I was particularly interesting in finding out which words Edgar Allan Poe used.

• Are you addicted to colouring books? Then you might want to make your hobby more interesting with this 17th century adult colouring book that will be republished. It was first published in 1612 and 1622, in order to accompany Michael Drayton's 15,000-line poem, called Poly-Olbion. 

• Classic Rock Lyrics Or Classic Literature? Test your knowledge with this quiz! How did you do?

Review: I Hate Fairyland, Vol. 1: Madly Ever After, by Skottie Young

Title: I Hate Fairyland, Vol. 1: Madly Ever After

Author: Skottie Young

Colouring: Jean-Francois Beaulieu

Lettering: Nate Piekos

Publisher: Image Comics

Date of Publication: April 26th, 2016

Number of Pages: 128

Find it at : Book Depository

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary

From superstar writer and artist Skottie Young (Rocket Raccoon, Wizard of OZ, Fortunately, The Milk), comes the first volume of an all-new series of adventure and mayhem. An Adventure Time/Alice in Wonderland-style epic that smashes it's cute little face against grown-up, Tank Girl/Deadpool-esque violent madness. Follow Gert, a forty year old woman stuck in a six year olds body who has been stuck in the magical world of Fairyland for nearly thirty years. Join her and her giant battle-axe on a delightfully blood soaked journey to see who will survive the girl who HATES FAIRYLAND. Collecting Issues #1-5.

Review

I Hate Fairyland had definitely one of the most eye grabbing titles I'd come across in a comic book for a while. Indeed, this was the first thing that made me pick it up, and especially the name of the first volume, Madly Ever After. It had something fairytale-ish that I couldn't really resist, despite the unsettling imagery of the cover.

The story at first had something really familiar, like the beginning you'd expect out of a children's book. A young girl, Gertrude, wished to be in Fairyland and suddenly she was sucked into this world where everything was so pink and full of candies. The queen of fairyland gave Gert a quest, to find the key that would open the door that led back to her old life, as well as the minion Larrigon Wentswarth III. And this was the point that everything went wrong. Twenty-seven years had passed and Gert was still wandering in Fairyland desperate to find the key. Although she was a grown woman, she still looked like the little girl that entered the magical kingdom. Along with Gert's mind her temper grew as well, making her a huge problem for the queen. Maybe this was how Alice would end up, if she remained in Wonderland.

Gertrude's temper was the real protagonist in this comic book. She yelled and killed anyone who would get in her way. She even shot the moon because he was narrating her story. Her temper was also what made the story move forward, as the queen couldn't take it anymore. But Gert was resourceful and always managed to survive, with her unpredictable ideas. Furthermore, this exact temper was what made this graphic novel so hilarious!

A big plus of I Hate Fairyland was that it spoke to the inner geek in me! When I first encountered this creature I was screaming "This is Jabba". When a little while later Gert was trying to choke him with her chain I was screaming "This is definitely Jabba". And it became even more entertaining when Gert herself aknowledged it as a Jabba Choke. For a Star Wars fan like myself, this was an amazing nod to the franchise.

The art style of I Hate Fairyland was throughout the comic book like the one in the cover. Gert was violent and so blood was one of the most common sights. A great example was when Gertrude slaughtered a whole village of zombies. But the contrast was great with all the cute images of the background and the pastel colours.

A thing that I didn't quite understand, but was equally funny was the way Gertrude used profanities. All of the words were changed with others, not vulgar at all like son of a biscuit, fudge, hug, but in one instance Gert called some guards dickheads. It didn't really bother me, but it would be funnier if it was replaced with another word.

All in all, i loved I Hate Fairyland. It was an entertaining comic and I would really like to read more of Gertrude's adventures. The ending definitely left me pumped up for the second volume. But Madly Ever After was best described by the queen of Fairyland: Fairyland may be the happiest place on earth for dumb, snot-nose brats, but it's also filled with the blackest of dark-hearted evils. A comic book not to be missed!  

The Reading Book Post, May 16th

Hello, everyone! Another week has come, and so it's time for another Reading Book Post. Let's take a look at what happened in the literary world the previous week.

• The 2015 Nebula Award winners were announced some days ago. It's interesting that this year's awards were dominated by female writers. Moreover, the British Book Industry Awards became public. The big winner was Andrew Michael Hurley, for his novel The Loney, that was named Book of the Year and Debut Fiction Book of the Year. Finally, the Dylan Thomas Prize was awarded to Max Porter, for his debut book Grief is the Thing with Feathers.   

• There were some sad news for the literary world the previous week. The author of Geek Love, Katherine Dunne, passed away at the age of 70. Also, the creator Darwyn Cooke passed away a couple of days ago. 

• It's Roald Dahl's 100th birthday. In order to celebrate this anniversary Puffin will be releasing brand new covers of all of our favourite books he wrote. 

• Are you among the ones that can't wait for the release of The Winds of Winter? Well, until we finally learn the publication date, you can read a chapter from the next instalment of A Song of Ice and Fire that George R. R. Martin gave to the public. 

• World of Warcraft is a very popular game. Cooking in it is really big and so a new World of Warcraft cookbook, will be published this October. All the hardcore fans of the game can now try all the recipes that they are creating in the game!

• William Faulkner is one the great classic writers. But he had another talent. drawing. You can see some of his impressive drawings, which were published between 1919 and 1921.

• Who's Your Book Boy BFF? Take the quiz to find out! I got Tiberias "Cal" Calore VII from Red Queen. Which one did you get?

Infographic - 20 Phrases You Might Not Know that Were Found in Books

Hello, everyone! Today's infogram features 20 quite common phrases, as well as the piece of literature (or generally book) that were first found. I have to admit that some of their origins came as a surprise to me. I also tried not to include more than one phrase that originated from William Shakespeare's plays, which turned out to be a challenging decision. Enjoy!

Which is your favourite phrase?

Create your own infographics

The Reading Book Post, May 9th

Hello, everyone! I'm still back in my hometown, enjoying some more days of rest. Meanwhile, the spring weather is so great that I only want to spend my time outdoors. Anyway, let's see what happened in the literary world the previous week.

• The shortlist for the Desmond Elliot Prize 2016 has been announced. The three books that claim the prize are The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney, The House at the Edge of the World by Julia Rochester, and Mrs Engels by Gavin McCrea. The winner will be announced on June 22, 2016. Also, the shortlist for the RSL Ondaatje Prize has been revealed. The winner will become known on May 23, 2016. The winners for The Best Translated Book Awards are Yuri Herrara's Signs Preceding the End of the World, translated by Lisa Dillman, for fiction, and Angélica Freitas' Rilke Shake, translated by Hilary Kaplan, or poetry. The V&A Illustration Awards 2016 shortlist has been revealed. We might not judge a book by its cover, but these illustrations are just beautiful! The winners will become public on May 23, 2016.

• Hercules Poirot is ready to return in our libraries! You can now read an excerpt from Sophie Hannah's Closed Casket, which will be published on September 6, 2016. I can't wait! 

• Romance novels are a great way to teach AI technologies better conversational skills. Well, at least, Google is using them and the results are evident. 

• Are you as excited as I am about Amy Schumer's book? Well, now you can see its cover, until we can all read it on August 16, 2016. The book is called The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo.

• The Bodleian  Libraries have recently acquired a map of Middle Earth, anotated by the author himself. The map was created by the artist Pauline Baynes.

• Season 6 of Game of Thrones has finally arrived, and already there are so many things going on! Since a certain character has recently come back to life, here is a list of characters that still live on the book series, A Song of Fire and Ice, but not in the TV series.

• Which American Women's Writer Character Are You? Take the quiz to find out! I got Edna Pontellier from the novel The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, what did you get?

Review: Golem, by Lorenzo Ceccotti

Title: Golem

Author: Lorenzo Ceccotti

Publisher: Magnetic Press

Expected Date of Publication: July 12th, 2016

Number of Pages: 280

Find it at : Book Depository

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary

Set in a future, post-Eurozone Italy, entrenched in a culture of hypercapitalism, Golem follows young Steno Critone as he is kidnapped during a political protest gone sour. Taken in by the band of labeled “terrorists”, he learns that things are not as they seem in society, and that he has the power to not only change the city but reality itself.

Review

So, this is another graphic novel with a gorgeously illustrated cover that I couldn't resist on reading. Plus, I don't usually get the chance to read comics from Italy and I was really curious to see what Golem was all about. I mean, stories about post-apocalyptic societies work perfectly in this format! But, in this case, I'm at a loss for words, as my feelings towards this graphic novel are mixed.

The plot of Golem was typical of a post-apocalyptic scenario. It had every important element of such story: an all-knowing government, a rebellious team living on the outskirts of the city and a young boy that possesses the key to a powerful technology. Steno, our young protagonist, had trouble sleeping and that was why he had dark circles under his eyes. This was his most distinctive feature. He was witness to an attack by the rebels and they took him in their hideout. And then everything got complicated. Steno's father was a scientist on the verge of a scientific breakthrough and because he refused to let it be used for military purposes he was murdered by the government. But before dying he had planted this technology on his son. It was a story with great potential, but ultimately it left many things unanswered. Towards the end, things kept happening without a clear reason. How the technology was awakened from Steno is still a mystery to me.

An interesting aspect of Golem that I really want to underline is the fact that the rebels terrorized the society by writing things about the government on the walls. They had created some sort of family and they seemed happier than all of the people that lived in the futuristic society.

As I've already stated, the cover was a significant reason for me to pick up this graphic novel. And from the first pages that I read, I was genuinely impressed. But as I was progressing the story, I found out that the illustrations were suffering. So, on the one hand, there were pages so beautiful that I would want them as posters on my walls, and on the other hand, there were pages that the art was somewhat generic and poorly made. It was a shame, though, because the main plot was under the shadow of Steno's nightmares because I only wanted to look at the latter.

Golem was a graphic novel with great potential. The story had ideas that would guarantee an intriguing plot with plenty room for thought. Also, the talent of the creator was evident, as the nightmares were more than gorgeously illustrated. I only wish that the execution would be better, both storywise and in the illustration. I would recommend it with caution because it was interesting enough, but with a lot of problems.  

Review: As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner

Title: As I Lay Dying

Author: William Faulkner

Publisher: Vintage Books

Date of Publication: 1991 (first published in 1930)

Number of Pages: 267

Find it at : Book Depository

Summary

As I Lay Dying is Faulkner's harrowing account of the Bundren family's odyssey across the Mississippi countryside to bury Addie, their wife and mother. Told in turns by each of the family members— including Addie herself — the novel ranges in mood from dark comedy to the deepest pathos.

Review

As I Lay Dying was the novel that I had to read for the Classics Club Spin #12. I was happy that I would finally read it, as it's one of the books that had been lying on my bookshelf for quite some time. Chance had it that today, that I'm writing this review, is the Easter day in Greece and considering the tone and theme of the novel, I can't imagine a more suitable day for doing so.

Addie Bundren had wished to be buried in her hometown, Jefferson. So, after her passing away, the Bundren family set on a journey in order to grant her final wish. But this journey seemed impossible, as all kinds of problem appear for the family members. The graver ones, in particular, were caused by themselves. And this was the plot, more or less.

What was more prominent in As I Lay Dying was its writing style. Stream of consciousness and the multiple points of view were what characterized this novel. But these two elements were the ones that made it almost unbearable to me. More than once I was confused by the constant babbling of the thoughts of the characters and in some cases, I was never able to figure out if what I was reading was a real or an imaginary event. Nevertheless, having fifteen different points of view made it easier to get a glimpse of the whole picture and not just the perception of one narrator. It was interesting to read the thoughts of so many and be able to distinguish their different ways of interpreting the same events. On the other hand, some narrators, such as Vardaman, were so difficult to follow that confused me even more. For me, it was easier to follow the train of thought of Darl.

None of the characters was even the least likable, but it was evident that they were never meant to be. Anse, the father of the family, was lazy and selfish. He disrespected his late wife in more than one ways, from placing her in her coffin the wrong way and letting her rot before being buried, to finding a new wife literally two minutes after she was put in the ground. What was really bothering was the fact that there wasn't the bonding that ought to be in a family in a hard time such as this one. Darl hated Jewel, and Dewey Dell hated Darl. Anse took advantage of all of his children and especially Cash, who was traveling with his leg broken. Even Addie had a very questionable character. In her chapter, she let us know that she hated her children and only Jewel was her salvation, the only child that wasn't fathered by Anse. Lastly, although there were indications that Darl was indeed crazy, I never understood whether it was necessary for him to be taken to a mental institute.

The 1920's wasn't the best time for a woman to live. But women in As I Lay Dying were more miserable than I could ever imagine. Their sole purpose was to bear children. They were treated like tools, rather than people. Dewey Dell had an unwanted pregnancy, but she wasn't able to get any abortion medication. On the contrary, she was taken advantage of.

All in all, I can understand why As I Lay Dying is considered a great novel, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I had a hard time finishing it as I found it tiring and confusing. I liked that it was filled with irony, but most of the time it was distressing. I don't know if this was the best novel to introduce me to Faulkner's work and I don't know if I'll be easily inclined to read something else written by this author.


This counts as a novel written by a Nobel Prize recipient for the 2016 Reading Challenge. 

The Reading Book Post, April 26th

Hello, everyone! Easter in Greece is celebrated this weekend, and so I'm in festive mood. Comicdom Con was once again a fantastic experience and you can see a photo of my cosplay on my instagram. Anyway, let's see what happened in the literary world the previous week.

• Jonathan Tel received the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award for his short story, called The Human Phonograph. He is the first British recipient of the award.

• David Lagercrantz is planning on writting the fifth novel in the Millenium series in a different style. More specidically, he has informed us that it will be written like a Raymond Chandler novel, or even the biography of Zlatan Ibrahimovic that he has ghostwritten.

• An Ember in the Ashes is a novel that we all loved. And, it's getting a sequel, which will be called A Torch Against the Night. You can now read the first chapter of the long-awaited novel, which will be published on August 30, 2016.

• The next book written by a celebrity that we are going to read is definitely the comedic essay collection that Anna Kendrick will be writing. As the actor has informed us the book will be called Scrappy Little Nobody. 

• Good Omens, the collaboration of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, is getting a TV adaptation. Neil Gaiman himself, has finally agreed on doing it and the script is almost three quarters finished.

• A few days ago, on April 21st, was the 200th anniversary of Charlotte Brontë's birth. Audible released a new audio version of her most popular novel, Jane Eyre, narrated by the actress Thandie Newton. You can listen a clip from the audiobook.

• Another anniversary was a few days ago, on April 23rd: the one that marks the death of William Shakespeare. To celebrate the occasion, there is a new tube map where each stop has the name of one of the bard's characters.

• Jungle Book is one of the most celebrated children's books. 10 artists have recreated their favourite scenes from the novel and the result is marvellous! 

• What Book Series Is Your Life? Take the quiz to find out! I got The Hunger Games, what about you?

Review: Paper Girls, by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang

Title: Paper Girls, Vol. 1

Author: Brian K. Vaughan

Illustrator: Cliff Chiang

Coloring: Matthew Wilson

Publisher: Image Comics

Date of Publication: April 5th, 2016

Number of Pages: 144

Find it at : Book Depository

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary

In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this smash-hit series about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood.

Collects Paper Girls #1-5.

Review

Well, if I want to be honest, the cover of Paper Girls impressed me so much that I simply had to read it. And when I learnt that it was written by Brian K. Vaughan my enthusiasm grew even more. Needless to say that I don't really need an excuse to pick up a comic book.

The dawn after the Halloween, four girls are out in the streets delivering the morning papers. But something strange is happening: alien monsters and humanoid creatures have invaded Earth and the girls are finding themselves going from one danger to the next. 

Honestly, I would never have guessed where the story was going from the comic's summary alone. Before I had started reading it I had the impression that it would be some sort of coming-of-age story. I wouldn't say that I was disappointed, just a little surprised.

Beside this fact, the pace of the comic book was amazing. On each page, there was something different that both moved the story forward and added elements to the suspense. There wasn't a clear indication which creatures were good and which bad, and so every time the girls met with a new one I was literally holding my breath. Of course, this was a little confusing at times, but I expect to find more in the second volume when it comes out.

The problem with Paper Girls was the characters. There wasn't enough character development and I felt that I needed to know more about each girl's past. Maybe we'll get some kind of backstory later on, but for the time being the information we had just wasn't enough. The only character that was instantly distinctive was Mackenzie because she was the tough one. I wonder what made her act like that. Also, I felt that the girls were too young, being just twelve years old. For me, it would be more fitting to the illustrations if they were fourteen or a bit older. 

My very first impression of Paper Girls was quickly confirmed: the are was INCREDIBLE! Both the illustrations and the coloring were so distinctive and memorable. I'm sure that this is an art style that I will remember no matter what. You just have to take a look at it to understand what I mean!

I also really loved that this comic was so 1980's! The clothes the girls were wearing, their hairstyles and everything shouted that we were in this particular decade and it was awesome. So much nostalgia!

Paper Girls was an amazing read! It had great action, many twists and I can't wait to read more. A must-read for the comic book lovers.

The Reading Book Post, April 11th

Hello, everyone! I'm so excited because next weekend I'll be attending Comicdom Con in Athens. If any of you will be there, come say hi. I will be the one dressed as Rin from Fate/Stay Night. Anyway, as usual, let's see what happened in the literary world the previous week.

• The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was given to Meg Rosoff, for the body of her work. Among her novels are How I Live Now and Just In Case. Moreover, the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist for 2016 was revealed earlier today. 

• A very rare Shakespeare folio was discovered in Scotland last week. This is the first published collection of the playwright's works and dates in 1623.

• Kimberley McCreight's next novel, The Outliers, is coming on May 3. But until then you can watch the book trailer, see the cover and read an excerpt from the book!

• A book that explains how all the portal worlds relate to each other? Yes, please! Here is the method of relating the one world to the other and a map created with some of the most known of those worlds, like Narnia, Oz and The Dreaming. 

• What you have when you take the covers of children and young adult paperback editions of the 1980's and change the titles based on the images? Of course, hilarity! Take a look at this Twitter account! 

• Which Childhood Classic Book Best Describes You? Take the quiz to find out! I got The Secret Garden. How cute! what did you get?

Review: When Time Comes, by Cat Nicolaou

Title: When Time Comes

Author: Cat Nicolaou

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Date of Publication: March 8th, 2015

Number of Pages: 114

Find it at: Book Depository

Disclaimer: The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

Summary

Athena can't avert her eyes. Alex Dane is back in Greece. Her mind wanders in time, six years ago, to the island of Rhodes. Three lustful days with him and a precious gift he left her with. All she needs is a leap of faith, but will he fly? Dare they dream again When Time Comes?

Review

We all have celebrity crushes. They might be actors, singer, athletes, or even authors. Athena, our protagonist, was lucky enough to experience a weekend romance with her favourite singer, Alex Dane. Naturally, after this weekend they had to part ways, never to see each other again. But fate had other plans for Athena. She would never forget Alex, not after the gift he gave her. Six years later, there was still hope for our young protagonist, as Alex would visit Greece again for a concert and he also planned to retire from constant touring. 

When Time Comes was a very cute novella. The plot had something of every fangirl's dream, the ending even more so. There is no surprise whatsoever as to what would happen at the end, but this fact didn't take away any of the enjoyment. On the contrary, it felt cozy and sweet. 

My problem with this book laid with the characters. There was very little to none character development, as well as backstory. At the end of the novella, I couldn't really that I knew neither Athena nor Alex. I could relate with Athena at the very beginning when she was desperately searching for a job. I know how it feels and it certainly felt very familiar to me. Another thing that I didn't really like was the fact that Alex offered his apartment to Athena for the weekend, even though he had just met her. It just felt too unreal. It was something that needed to exist to help the plot go forward and nothing more.

But I really loved that the story of When Time Comes took place in Greece and more specifically in Rhodes. I had been there some years ago and it was such a beautiful island and the town of Rhodes was so romantic, that it totally fit the mood of the story. Imagining Athena and Alex there was just perfect!

All in all, When Time Comes was a very enjoyable read. Sure, it had some problems, but if you're looking for something ideal for a cozy night in, then this is the book for you! 

Review: Turbulence: Career, Drugs, Sex; Intertwined, by Edward MacMillan

Title: Turbulence: Career, Drugs, Sex; Intertwined

Author: Edward MacMillan

Publisher: Self-published

Date of Publication: 2015

Number of Pages: 218

Disclaimer: The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

Summary

Hotel executive Kevin Logan was the unsuspecting victim of a Mexican cartel's plot to test a diabolical distribution program using the airline baggage system to smuggle hard drugs into the United States. Discovering this plan by accidentally intercepting his forwarded baggage originally intended for a flight to Asia, Kevin chose to forego law enforcement notification and store the drugs while he continued his travel assignment that was deadline oriented and fraught with consequences to his company and his career. That decision set off a global drug chase halfway around the world threatening him and others, including a romantic interest that became entangled in the chase.

The tale, set in the nineteen seventies, before personal computers, cell phones, the internet and Homeland Security, provided minimum communication tools, but especially, an ability to cope using his experience and wits. Saddled with a stash of drugs worth near a street value of a million dollars, and a criminal enterprise desperate to silence their distribution plans, only that combination of experience and wits, aided by the love of a beautiful woman, could give him any chance of survival.

Review

It's been a while since I read a thriller, a story that would keep me at the edge of my seat and fill me with adrenaline. Well, none of this happened while reading Turbulence.

First of all, the plot started off quite interestingly. Kevin Logan was a hotel executive, who discovered in his luggage some carefully packaged drugs along with a tracking device. Because he had some urgent business matters, he hid the drugs and left the device in the house of a random flight attendant that he had just met and spent the night with. Then, until after the half of the book,  we followed him as he handled his business problems, which totally destroyed any suspense that has been created. Somehow, the storyline returned to the drugs, along with the action. The flight attendant, Alison, also returned to the plot because she had to bring the device to Kevin, and he decided out of nowhere that she was the love of his life. After this, the ending was anticlimactic and to be honest, I didn't really care much about the fate of Kevin and Alison.

The main problem with Turbulence was that the drugs were always in the background during the whole book. They were like a shadow in Kevin's life, that never posed to him a real danger. Instead on focusing on the action, we learnt what an amazing businessman Kevin was, how good looking he was, what an amazingly good lover he was, how many women he got, what luxuries he had, his workout routine, how he stayed in suites while traveling to the hotels he managed, how he traveled only first class, and the custom tuxes he had made. Seriously, I was fed up reading about how good looking, rich, smart, and generally awesome he was!

Furthermore, the romance in the novel came unnaturally and was forced. We never learnt anything about Alison to make us care about her. Kevin only spent a few hours with her, just like a one-night stand. After a couple of weeks that he contacted her, not only she was waiting for him, but he realised that she was the love of his life! How can she act like he is the best things that ever happened to her, only by spending some hours with him? And when they indeed met again, what did they do? Of course, they went on a date and had sex again and again. Meanwhile, the cartel was sending them warnings, but who cared about this little danger?

The story was set in the 1970's. This didn't really affect the story, except for the means of communication. Rather than using e-mail and mobile phones, Kevin used telephones, beepers, and fax. I only spotted a small anachronism: Kevin listened to some music on his CD player, a device that was first released in 1982. But this is just a minor thing.

I won't hide that Turbulence was a disappointment to me. Not only the action was minimum, the story didn't even focus on what it was supposed to be about. If you take the drugs out of the title, then you would have a better description of the novel. The flight had many turbulences.     

Infographic: Most Frequently Challenged Books of the 21st Century

Hello, everybody! 

Here is an infographic concerning the most frequently challenged books of the 21st century. The banning of books is something that I'm very sensitive about, and the facts of this infographic are revealing. Have you read any of the books in this list?  

Most Frequently Challenged Books of the 21st Century
Create your own infographics

From now on, I will try to bring you a new infographic each week.

The Reading Book Post, April 4th

Hello, everybody! These past days, it has finally started to  feel like spring and I couldn't be happier. It's the season to take a book and read in the park! Anyway, let's see what happened in the literary world the previous week.

• The Ted Hughes Poetry Award 2015 was given to David Morley for his poetry collection The Invisible Gift: Selected Poems. Moreover, the 2015 James Tiptree, Jr. Literary Award winners, honor list, and long list were announced. The two winners of the award are Eugene Fischer, for The New Mother, and Pat Schmatz, for Lizard Radio.

• Kurt Sutter along with BOOM! Studios will launch a new comic book series, called Lucas Stand. The comic will be written by Sutter and Caitlin Kittredge and the art will be created by Jesús Hervás. The first issue is due in June, but you can see the cover right now!

• Any Outlander fans here? This Friday, April 8th, an Outlander prequel will be released. The novella will be called Virgins, will be standalone and it will follow Jamie Fraser as a young man.

• Last year, we fell completely in love with the illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This fall, prepare for the release of the illustrated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! I can't wait!

• According to a recent study, the grammar errors and typos affect the reader's perception of the writer differently depending on their personality traits. It's interesting that the level of education didn't affect the readers. Instead traits like introversion and lack of openness were very important.

• Which Strong Female Character Are You? Take the quiz to find out! I got Katniss Everdeen, how about you?

Review: At the End of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier

Title: At the End of the Orchard

Author: Tracy Chevalier

Publisher: Viking

Date of Publication: March 15th, 2016

Number of Pages: 289

Find it at: Book Depository

Summary

1838: James and Sadie Goodenough have settled where their wagon got stuck – in the muddy, stagnant swamps of northwest Ohio. They and their five children work relentlessly to tame their patch of land, buying saplings from a local tree man known as John Appleseed so they can cultivate the fifty apple trees required to stake their claim on the property. But the orchard they plant sows the seeds of a long battle. James loves the apples, reminders of an easier life back in Connecticut; while Sadie prefers the applejack they make, an alcoholic refuge from brutal frontier life.

1853: Their youngest child Robert is wandering through Gold Rush California. Restless and haunted by the broken family he left behind, he has made his way alone across the country. In the redwood and giant sequoia groves he finds some solace, collecting seeds for a naturalist who sells plants from the new world to the gardeners of England. But you can run only so far, even in America, and when Robert’s past makes an unexpected appearance he must decide whether to strike out again or stake his own claim to a home at last.

Review

When it comes to historical fiction, Tracy Chevalier is definitely one of the authors that I particularly like. After reading novels such as The Girl With the Pearl Earring and The Virgin Blue, I anticipated eagerly her latest book, At the End of the Orchard. Indeed, this was the novel that I expected the most in March.

At the End of the Orchard told the story of James and Sadie Goodenough, as well as the story of one of their children, Robert. The Goodenough family was trying to survive the difficult conditions of the Black Swamp, where they had established themselves. One of the most important elements for their survival were the apple trees that they tried to grow, which were the pride of James. But there was a huge difference in opinion between the couple: James wanted to grow apples that were meant for eating while Sadie preferred the trees that grew apples for the production of cider and applejack. The other part of the novel followed Robert as he traveled through America, chased the gold fever and ultimately finding what he wanted from his life.

When we got to know the Goodenoughs, the relationship between James and Sadie was declining. I couldn't stop thinking that I was becoming the witness of a failing marriage, where both of them were completely unhappy. Their argument seemed to be only about the trees, but its roots laid deeper than that, in the Black Swamp itself. Sadie was the worst possible mother I've ever encountered in literature. She was headstrong and hot-blooded, saying things only to hurt James, acting without thinking and wondering about consequences. What she did in the camp, was unforgivable to me. But James was a likable enough character, although I'd like to see the tenderness he showed to his apple trees extend to his own children, as well. He knew that Sadie was miserable, but he didn't do a thing. I'm not quite sure though what he could actually say and not backfire. The characters of both of them depict on Robert's personality later on. Whenever he thought about his father, he was always connected to the trees, and especially those Golden Pippins he loved. But he couldn't even stand thinking about his mother, I can't blame him since the last words he had heard from her before leaving his home hurt him deeply and made him doubt his existence. Despite the trauma that he carried, Robert somehow managed to find himself and grow into a goodenough man.

At the End of the Orchard also had a great variety of secondary characters. First of all, the Goodenough children, from which Martha is the most important since she was closer to Robert. Despite her appearance, she was a strong woman. Another character that I really liked was Molly, the somewhat romantic interest of Robert. His relationship with her made him grow up, take responsibilities and think about the future. But Robert's new life wouldn't even exist without his employer, William Lobb, who offered him a job that he really loved.

With this novel, I was instantly transferred into the US of the Gold Rush era. The research that the author made showed into every detail of the life back then, as well as the descriptions of the sceneries that the characters moved. Moreover, the descriptions of all those apple trees and the grand sequoias were magnificent. It's no wonder that every time I was reading this book I wanted to eat an apple! I mean, how can anyone resist, while reading about apples that taste like lemon, and honey, and have an aftertaste of pineapple?

At the End of the Orchard is a great historical novel. The characters and the relationships between them are the central points of the book and the result is touching and heartwarming. It is definitely one of the most highly recommended books of the year!

Weeckies: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (International Children's Book Day)

Hello, everyone! Today, 2nd of April is the International Children's Book Day and in order to celebrate it I've chosen one of the most beloved children's book! It's none other than Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, which was published on 1963.

Max, a young boy, was dressed in a wolf costume. But he was naughty, so his mom sent him to his room without supper. Soon enough his room began to change and he reached the land where the wild things are. He played and played with the beasts until they were all tired and went to sleep. But then Max felt lonely and sad and wished the he was somewhere with the one that loved him the most.                                                                                                                                                         Max is a naughty boy, but he also has a vivid imagination. He manages to become the king of the wild things, even though they are scary and have terrible claws. In the end of his journey, he learns something important. He wants to be near the ones that love him, his family. There is even hot supper waiting for him in his room.

The illustrations of Where the Wild Things Are are beautiful! I might even say that they outshine the story, which is quite simple. It is safe to assume that Max was dreaming the whole time, but a child would definitely appreciate the journey into this faraway land. If you are looking for a gift for a little reader, then you shouldn't look any further!

Do you like Where the Wild Things Are? Which is your favourite children's book?