In this book, Matt Lamy attempts to explain 50 of the world’s most famous mysteries. This book includes information about the Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot, zombies, voodoo dolls and magic, alien encounters, UFO sightings, real-life Men in Black, alchemy, Amityville, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Bible Code. For each topic there are black and white photos and around two pages of facts about that particular mystery.
While this book does state the main facts about these mysteries, there are not enough facts given. For me to give this book a five star rating would mean that this book had little to no problems. This book only has one problem, yes. But it’s a large enough issue that I do not feel I can justify giving this book a five star review. The only problem this book has is a large one - there are not enough facts given to prove or disprove each mystery. Yes, the main facts are given, and the author doesn’t try to state whether or not each mystery really happened - he simply suggests whether or not he personally thinks it might have happened, and at times states he’s not sure if it happened. That part is good - it allows the reader to make up his or her mind about whether or not to believe these mysteries. However, the author does not give enough information about each mystery for me to truly state whether or not I agree. With some mysteries, the author simply states suggestions, and doesn’t really state fact or truth. And considering that the cover states that this book contains “the bizarre truths behind 50 world-famous mysteries”, it’s disappointing. I was hoping the book would live up to its high standards, but alas, it did not.
This book is informative but not informative enough. It is easy to read, and simple to understand. However, not enough fact or truth is given for me to justify giving this book a five star review.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
A new student review of Dead Strange by Matt Lamy
A new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One)
My Ex from Hell is a hilarious take on Greek mythology that borders on cheesy. The main character, Sophie, is witty and entertaining, and has two very realistic and interesting cohorts with whom she can witty-banter the day away. This book was different - the characters seemed realistic in their actions, yet the story had a good dose of mythology at the same time. I enjoyed this book, and it made me laugh quite a bit.
A new student review of The Litigators by John Grisham
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A new student review of Regine's Book: a teen girl's last words by Regine Stokke
I really enjoyed this book. Her story really touched my heart. There was never a time that i wanted to put the book down, a real page turner. I felt like I was in the hospital with her, I could feel the anticipation for the test results, I could feel Regine's pain! I can just imagine what all of the family is going through, what that family had to do now. Although there was a slight bit of swearing, I felt that it was appropriate for what was happening. This was one of the best biographies that I have ever read. To tell you the truth, I have thought of most biographies as boring, but Regine's Story kept me guessing and hoping about what was going to happen next. From parts that made me cry, to parts that made me laugh, this book was over all, GREAT!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
A new student review of Girl The Reaper
I thought that this book was very interesting and was able to keep my interest. But it wasn't a book that made me want to just sit down and read until it was done. Some parts of this book got a little boring but the overall book was interesting.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
A new student review of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
This novel was amazing. Rowell has shaped an entirely new and groundbreaking novel that has taken a normal romance and bent it into such a totally messed-up and random love story that it makes Romeo and Juliet seem like amateurs. And, wouldn’t you know, it worked. While this story was raw and brutally honest, it had a poetic feel to it, it flowed from one line to the next. I felt a connection to each of the characters and truly felt like I was there in the story. I felt the sadness and the pain and the hurt that accompanies young love and its consequences. This book was such an emotional and gripping story that made me bawl and gasp and smile…….it just had the whole package. Sometimes I felt a little bored with the plot and the whole star-crossed lover’s storyline. Just let me speak to all the romance lovers out there—this was not your average love story, and I really believe that you’ll enjoy this book.
“Eleanor could swear she heard five hearts racing. Every one of them was stifling a sob. Crying inside out.”
I would recommend this book for ages fifteen and up, or for very mature readers, because this book did have extreme profanity and sexual references.
So, will the couple that never had a chance make their own destiny, or will they be influenced and let the world break them apart? There is only one way to find out—the choice is yours.
Friday, April 19, 2013
A new student review of Who Is AC? by Hope Larson
Worst Game: Not a whole lot of horrible games on this schedule, but I'm gonna go with the game against the Dolphins for my pick. (The Bills would be a reasonable choice, too.) Unlike a lot of people, I think Miami will disappoint in 2013 and, also unlike a lot of people, I don't think the Ravens are nearly as bad off as people want to act like. $$ testing
A new student review of Maybe I Will by Laurie Gray
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A new student review of Mystic by Alyson Noel
Alyson Noel has a way of making mystical worlds become real in the reader’s mind, and while she does not disappoint in Mystic by “creating” the different dimensions (Middle, Upper, and Lower Worlds), she also makes less “enchanting” places seem quite real as well. She describes the land of Enchantment, New Mexico amazingly; so that you can picture the crumbling adobes and even how the town has been darkly influenced by the evil Richters.
The characters also seemed much more developed then when the Soul Seeker series first started. Daire has grown in her training with her grandmother, Paloma has become a better seeker and now understands the seriousness of the task at hand. Dace has also become a much deeper character. Instead of his world being purely shades of black and white as it used to be, he starts to see that sometimes there can be a shade of gray in between. Xotchl, Daire’s best friend, is a very interesting character. With Xotchl being blind, yet able to see energy, anything in her perspective was a little harder to picture but her character is definitely intriguing. Then, of course, there's the romance. Daire and Dace are perfect together. They're definitely my two favorite characters, and the "love padlock" is now on my list of things to do.
In short, all of the characters are believable, even the otherworldly ones.
Mystic is told mostly from Daire’s perspective, but there are certain chapters in Dace and Xotichl’s (Daire’s best friend) perspectives. I liked Daire’s perspective the most. As the main character, her thoughts are the ones that kept my attention the most. Since Xotichl is blind but sees the “energy” of things it was more difficult to imagine some of the things she sees, so I wasn’t as captivated by her perspective. It was also nice to have some in Dace’s perspective to see how deep his devotion for Daire goes.
I also like this series a lot more than Alyson Noel’s Evermore series. I started the series and fell in love with the first book but then the series had grown so sad and depressing by the second book that I never finished it. Mystic holds all of the happiness and romance that I loved in Evermore without being so depressing that I can’t stand it. (In other words, much better.)
It’s hard to say whether or not I liked the ending of Mystic due to the fact that it’s the third book in a series, and there’s going to be four. So Daire’s journey as a Seeker will continue in the next book called Horizon which comes out in November. The ending was sad, but still a good ending all the same.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful romance. It is a great book with romance, action, & some Native American myths thrown in.
Mystic will be on sale in about a month! ;)
Thursday, April 18, 2013
A new student review of Throne of the Crescent Moon (Crescent Moon Kingdoms)
The prose was electric in its simplicity, monstrosities such as bone ghuls and the ominous Jackal Man illuminated through a writing-style which perfectly skirts the boundary between succinct and Spartan. Ahmed’s deft pacing seamlessly integrates developments in both character and plot, neither of which is marred by stereotyped science-fiction protagonists. On the contrary, Abdulla’s balding visage and corpulent physique, when presented alongside the ferocious self-discipline of his dervish Raseed bas Raseed, makes for a powerful juxtaposition. As our heroes traverse the Crescent Moon Kingdoms, their ensuing escapades- whether against demonic fiends or inner-demons of their own- evoke pity and awe, suspense and angst, glee and wonderment. Imaginative as it is vivid, Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed breaks your heart, only to send it racing back amongst the gleaming temples of Dhamsawwaat.