so powerful, really resonated

Love is a Revolution – Renee Watson

Love, dating, self-acceptance, social action, Jamacian Americans, Harlem, New York, Young Adult, POC representation, fiction. 

Rating 10/10

Nala goes to an open mic night with her cousin for her birthday. When one of the poet activists, Tye, goes on stage her attention is drawn to him. She makes herself more relatable to him by omitting lies and she struggles to keep them straight as she is falling more and more for Tye. Her relationship with her cousin isn’t easy either and Nala learns to stop and reflect. She needs to love herself first and in turn love Tye. 

My heart vibed with what the author wanted to express through this narrative. Love can really change and inspire a person to love themselves better. I loved the place and this felt so real that I was there. I was witnessing everything happening with Nala and her interactions. Everyone needs to go pick up this book and read this novel. I can’t express how much I love this book. I did borrow this from the library and I am definitely going to buy the book. Then most likely read it again because it was so good. I finished this book in one day and it’s that type of book that can be read in one sitting because the pacing is perfect. I do not see enough hype but this book deserves so much more hype.

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bones

The Bone Labyrinth: A Sigma Force Novel – James Rollin

Excavations, archeology, scientific world, voyages to the other world, special operations, military science, action, suspense, fiction.

Rating 8/10

Lena goes to Croatia, to an archeological site where she found the bones of a Neanderthal woman in a closed off chapel. Inside that site, there are artworks as well that depict society and the evolving brain that was humankind. The site is attacked and ransacked, leaving her and a few survivors straggling to get out of the cavern and questioning why the bones of a Neanderthal woman and to destroy the cavern. Commander Grey Peirce is on the case to go rescue and help. Whereas Monk and Kowalski are to talk with Lena’s twin, Maria, about their work. Maria explains that they wanted to know the mystery jump that happened that caused homo sapiens to be very smart and changed their ways of life. She and her sister think it’s a union between homo sapiens and Neanderthals. There’s so much danger that comes with this research because there are others hunting the same answers as Lena and Maria as well as wants them dead. This will take Sigma into the history and evidence of bones of human ancestors.

This was really intriguing and very adventurous. I enjoyed it so much, but it was a bit of a slow read for me personally. At the time of reading this novel I didn’t know that this was a series and I had read another book before this one and not know it was a part of a series. I plan to find out the first book of the Sigma Force series to read in order hopefully in the future. Overall, loved this indepth slow burn of a novel that kept me on my toes as well as kept me leaning towards reading rather than doing anything else. The author really panned out everything in the novel and made it very easy to read to understand the plot narrative.

the festival continues and finishes with a bang

My Hero Academia Vol. 5 – Kohei Horikoshi

Heroes, villains, crime fighting, drama, comedy, manga, school, fiction.

Rating 6/10

Midoriya and his classmates are in the final stages of the tournament. They find out who wins and well as rest after the pretty stressful and strenuous tournament activities. Not everyone rests easily as others do.

As I said in the previous book blog inquiry on the fourth volume, I don’t care for this tournament arc. I understand that others would find this interesting. I don’t but respect others. That’s why I didn’t skip over. I felt that whoever reads the manga, can come to their own conclusion about the arc. I had seen the anime, and this follows the anime.

This Book Is Controversial?

Gone with The Wind – Margret Mitchell

Historical fiction, civil war, romance, action, adventure

Rating 10/10

In this historical fiction tale, “Gone with The Wind” by Margret Mitchell, tells a wind blowing story of how the old south was forever changed in the Civil War. Instead of hearing from the victor’s side, this novel tells a story of how a lifestyle was forever changed through eyes of southerners or as they call themselves, the Confederates. A large focus on the main protagonist, Scarlett O’Hara, goes through trials and tribulations. How to survive and thrive in a fast-changing world. Scarlett does what ever it takes to survive in this environment. Even as far as marrying a man who she does not love to stay rich. After having two husbands die, became a widow twice, her third husband walks out on her. She developed feelings for him and regrets not seeing how she truly loves him. This book left off as a cliff hanger, but the main purpose of this work is telling the other side of the story. Also, on that note this book is controversial for its themes and everyone is entitled to view this book in different opinions and viewpoints.

I had seen the movie during high school, and I thank my history teacher for showing us this movie. I sought out to read the novel. I loved the novel in a weird way. Hearing from the other side is good, not that I am saying what the south did was good, but it is vital to hear both sides of the stories rather than the victor’s side. Scarlett O’Hara is my favorite character and her determined personality is admirable.

Mitchell, Margaret. Margaret Mitchells Gone with the Wind. Avon Books, 1986.

Virtual Reality Future Predictions?

Ready Player One – Ernest Cline

Young adult, science fiction, future, technology, nostalgic, gaming, virtual reality, romance, drama, action

10/10

In “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline, it is a tale of the future where all happens in a virtual world called OASIS. Wade Watts is a teenager on a mission to decipher these riddles that was proposed by the father of OASIS, James Halliday, who died and, in his wake, had left a competition to get ownership of the OASIS. Seems easy just decipher the riddles and collect the three keys. Wrong. They are hidden across the OASIS. In order to understand where Halliday hid the keys, Wade had studied James Halliday’s autobiography and history as well to possibly find the three keys. Wade isn’t the only one trying to find the keys. Everyone wants to own the OASIS. Even a money hungry corporation that threatens OASIS. With the help of his friends Aech, Shoto, Daito, and Art3mis, they successfully find all three keys.

I have to say this book is incredible and well written as well as well thought into. Very detailed and strong story line that keeps one on their toes. A real page turner at that. I continuously reread this book. Really loved how they explained in detail how society became after OASIS was integrated into daily life. Also with that thought, it gave an insight of how technology can become consuming. Even in the now, as I go out and about, I see people always on their phone. That is getting off topic but relates to the book’s theme.

I had went and seen the movie. I was gravely disappointed that they didn’t fully follow the story line of the book. However, movies tend to be that way especially if they were books at first. Damn you Steven Spielberg… We were rooting for you..

Cline, Ernest. Ready Player One: a Novel. Crown Publishers, 2011

Scared Of This Book..

The Marriage Pact – Michelle Richmond

Romance, suspense, drama, action, marriage, fiction

Rating 8/10

In this thrilling romance novel, “The Marriage Pact” by Michelle Richmond, it’s focused on marriage. These two adults, Alice and Jake freshly had gotten married got some fears about what happens after the honeymoon. After receiving a suspicious package labeled, THE PACT, both are highly interested and willing to try this out. It seemed easy, abide by simple rules of marriage and read all handbooks that helps the marriage stay happy and prosperous. This society helps it’s members if they see a marriage slightly gets rocky or uneasy. When they join, they start to regret ever joining this society. As they struggle to maintain a happy marriage, they see how dark this society truly is. Members in the THE PACT interfere in their marriage and purposely sabotage for personal interests. Between marriage prisons and demonic “focus” devices create chaos for the newlyweds. Alice and Jake hunt down information to get out of this dark society and succeeds with persuasion.

When I had saw this book at the book store, the title alone caught my attention. Usually I hardly read romance novels ever, but this storyline intrigued me to read more. Given that there are some morbid scenes and very adult like content I would recommend it to mature audiences. It is very fast paced and keep’s one on their toes as they read. I personally love this book but some of the content described such as a marriage prison and a focus mechanism disturb me greatly. Other than that, pretty good.

Richmond, Michelle. The Marriage Pact: a Novel. Penguin Books., 2018

Who Wants To Live Forever?

The Postmortal – Drew Magary

Sci-fi, romance, adult themes, comedy, action, anti-aging, fiction

Rating: 9/10

In the Postmortal by Drew Magary, it is a post-apocalyptic world where there is a cure to aging, but sadly one can still die, just not peacefully. John Farrell, the main character, goes and gets the cure illegally at a great cost and risk. Shortly after he gets the cure, it is legalized and this is where the chaos starts. Married couples across the world get cures together, then realizing that “till death due us part” would last forever, so they all divorce. Wars between pro-cure and anti-cures result in these men painted green causing crime by finding people and carving their birthday into their skin as well in which John is one of the victims of this. After a couple decades, the government creates a program for euthanasia for those who had got the cure and don’t want to live anymore, they can choose to be put to sleep. John becomes one of these people who does this for a living. In the end, he dies happily knowing that he met his end.

My thoughts on this book is, it’s worth giving it a read. Whether one is into science fiction or not, this truly gives insight about a possibility of a reaction should there be a cure for aging. However among the laughs this book gave me, it did make me question some events and I also cried, I never cry while reading a book unless its really sad. Excellent book and I would forever keep this book in my library and reread it.

Magary, Drew. The Postmortal: a Novel. Penguin Books, 2011.