I don’t know what I expected this book to be, or my own reactions to it. But this book was nothing but informative, and my reactions were severe. I was quite young when the situation in Rwanda arose, so my memory of it and my learning after the fact is limited. It was a friend who recommended I pick up this book, as I do enjoy non-fiction but haven’t read any in a while.

This is written in such a way, by Philip Gourevitch that you can’t help but be involved in the lives of those whose stories are presented. You also can’t help but consider yourself, and your own emotional reactions to things and what type of person you are.

It is informative, it is visceral and violent, but it is truthful. It’s a truth that we all need to hear though, that sometimes, we need to look outside of ourselves at the people around us and see what might be needed outside of our own cushy existences.

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The Book Thief

October 16, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had actually heard very little about this book before I read it, except for a few mentions about the fact that it was a good one.

Initially, before I picked it up, I was a little bit apprehensive, knowing that it was supposed to be young adult fiction but I am ever so glad that I picked it up. Because I would have been missing out on something in not having read this.

The way it is written, with Death himself as the narrator of the book is something that captured my attention immediately. Where some might have found it too out there, I felt welcomed by the way in which it was written.

Liesel, the main character, or one of two, is a refreshing change from the normal. Sometimes selfish, she is almost always an honest character even in her thievery. Her best friend Rudy, is a delight as well and the innocence of children even when effected by loss is present here.

Hans for me is one of the true heroes of the story, a fully fleshed out character with his own fears concerning his family, but his own convictions, refusing to fall to Nazi Germany’s regime. This book is something that I never could have expected, and while the end did make me sob it was perfect.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

The One You Love by Paul Pilkington

October 15, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

The One You Love by Paul Pilkington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s been a while since I sunk into a mystery as deep as I did this one, perhaps because of how rooted in the characters psychology this was. The characters are what captured me, from Will’s torturous moments, to Emma’s moments of strength and Stuart’s ultimate moment of weakness. I absolutely loved this book, from start to finish.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Haunted by Kelley Armstrong

September 16, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this book to be quite good, having loved the snippets of Eve seen previous to this, not necessarily because I thought she was someone who was inherently good but because she was a mystery. This was an excellent look into who Eve was before she died, and who she became after.

It was great to see that sense of evolution of her, and I loved the mythos behind the nix.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong

September 14, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my favourite book from the series thus far, which is interesting to me considering Paige was actually my least favourite of the female characters so far. I have a leaning toward Elena, but with this book I certainly like Paige a whole lot more. This book made me more fascinated with the cabals, and while I didn’t get all the answers I wanted I really did love the more in depth look.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Dime Store Magic

September 12, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I actually really enjoyed this book in spite of not liking Paige all that much originally. I really did feel for her character and the trials she was going through, both literally and figuratively in this novel. Lucas is just about one of my favourite characters introduced in this series. These books a really well written, and detailed without it being a little too much.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

September 11, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book a lot.

There were parts of it however which seemed to drag on for me, perhaps due to just a little too much detail for my appetite.

I found myself wanting more action, but that does not mean the writing is bad. It’s actually rather fantastic, and as always I am amused to see parts of Canada mentioned as well as the travel between two countries. I did also find the new characters rather interesting, but found myself wanting more of Clay, Jeremy and Elena.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Bitter Blood by Karen E Taylor

September 9, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Bitter Blood by Karen E. Taylor
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I didn’t like Mitch in the first book, so I was displeased to see him back in this one. H

e is a little too possessive of a character and not in a good way. Rather, he makes me nervous for what his attitude could be if he were with a human woman.

The mystery of what happened to him was quite good and I really did enjoy learning more about how Max had become the monster he was. But this book was lacking in so many other spaces, the characters remain unfulfilled it seems, and the nature of their relationship has left me shaking my head in disappointment.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Blood Secrets by Karen E. Taylor

September 8, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Blood Secrets by Karen E. Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I did enjoy this novel it was actually a re-read for me, and I was disappointed in what I’d remembered from the novel versus what was actually there.

The relationship between Mitch and Deirdre to me is barely tolerable, due to the way he acts around her. It comes across as so possessive and perhaps that is supposed to be her draw on him due to her supernatural nature but instead it left me feeling nervous.

While not badly written, the book could’ve used a little more fleshing out, although I did enjoy reading about vampires written as monsters.

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Book List 2013 · Reviews

Blood Price by Tanya Huff

September 7, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Blood Price by Tanya Huff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don’t know what really possessed me to read this book.

I had watched the TV show when it had been on in the past and I suppose I had a hankering for a vampire novel that was most certainly not Twilight.

The main characters in this book are interesting, from Vicki who is stubborn, verging on annoying with how little she allows herself to be helped to Henry, a monster who wants to be anything but. I really did enjoy this novel, but anyone who is reading it expecting something massively detailed and classically written would be disappointed.

It’s a fun ride, and that’s what some novels are meant to be.

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