Telling Christina Goodbye

Telling Christina Goodbye by Lurlene McDaniel


My rating: 4 of 5 stockings


Double date... car crash... only two walk away nearly unharmed. That's basically the best way I can describe what's going without really going too much into detail.



This novel is sadistically cruel, subtlety easing me into a lull. Then BAM the dam holding my tears back breaks. But just as that happens Lurlene McDaniel leans over and whispers into my ear, 'You think I'll give you that satisfaction?' smiling like a crazed woman. Holding my tears back in fear of the repercussions, my eyes blue balled... you read right my eyes blue balled.



Maybe I'm a masochist? I loved this book. I loved the way it made me feel. I hated being toyed with. I will always come for more, and everything will be forgiven after all Lurlene McDaniel never meant to hurt me right?




Then I'll finish her next novel only to realize she hates us all.




The cycle must begin anew.

Saving Jessica

Saving Jessica by Lurlene McDaniel

My rating: 2 of 5 stocking



During Jessica's senior year she had been diagnosed with kidney failure that was cause by a late treatment of strep. The only available option of survival is a dietary change, an extensive variety of medication, and a lifetime of dialysis. But what happens when the medication doesn't take? Jessica is becoming more ill by the day. Will anyone save Jessica, or is she doomed to fall?

This is honestly my least favourite book of Lurlene McDaniel's up to date. The emotional depth of this novel seemed next to none, unless you consider whiny to be an emotion. In my own opinion the characters were less than likable, and the story was to the point. It would have been nice to see some character development and plot twist (before I hear about how Jeremy's parents 'I know, I'm trying for the main characters here').

I give this a whopping 1.5 stars out of 5.

American MaleWhore in Tokyo

American MaleWhore in Tokyo by Rowen Boozewell

My rating: 5 of 5 stockings



John Box is a 33 year old American man who still lives with his parents. After stumbling upon the title of his mothers Accord under the floor board of her bed. He gingerly sold it for a one way ticket to fulfilling his dream of becoming, The Great White Host.

Following The Great White Host in his conquest to become number one in Japan (but seriously just wants to be payed to get drunk and hit on women). We meet a colorful cast of people from Tokyo's underbelly, friends, co-workers, clients, women, and crazy bitches.

From the front cover to the end cover, humor is everywhere. You'll find humor in the reproduction clause, the acknowledgments, the definitions, and so on and so forth. Just read it for yourself you'll see what I mean. I have yet to find a novel that has made me laugh out loud nearly as much as this one has.

Personally I think my friends are getting real sick of me calling them at odd hours just to read them a quote or two. I don't think this is everyone's cup of tea, but I am nearly positive that everyone can find a little bit of humor or joy from this book, ether from a quote, fun fact, or even a character. This has officially become my favorite comedic novel, by far. This book made me freak out and toss it whenever John was faced with a crisis, especially when it involved females... (crazy bitches). But I always went back like Piston Honda to booze, never regret it and not remembering why I stopped.

I hope that this book get more love. I will be looking forward for more books coming out in the future.

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

My rating: 1 of 5 stockings



I read it all the way through, I did not like it. I'm not going to write a formal review because I know many enjoyed this novel. I honestly do not want to start pinpointing everything I disliked in this book (because there's a lot). So I will share what I did like...

"'Lonely, Vaguely Pedophilic Swing Set Seeks the Butts of Children,'" -p123
Page 251

That is all I can honestly say not so much enjoyed but I chuckled.

Before someone tells me it's so deep, well written, and how I have no experience with cancer. I will just say first of all I just finished Flee, Fly, Flown a beautifully written novel about Alzheimer's. So to be fair I went from reading a novel with a great flow, and beautiful story, to a clunky start-stop novel. I'm also a fan of Lurlene McDaniel, so I've read my share of tear jerkers, this unfortunately was not worthy of my tears.

But in all truth I have seen many of my loved ones fight cancers and succeed, but many more fall. Currently my grandfather has been fighting cancer... I have not personally had cancer, but I have nearly died. I've experienced the "sick perks", although I was personally so out of it, it seems like another life.

... if you really want to know what is truly wrong with this novel I think Ayesha actually portrays it pretty well, so check out her review on The Fault in Our Stars.

Flee, Fly, Flown

Flee, Fly, Flown by Janet Hepburn

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



Lillian and Audrey escape their quiet nursing home in Ottawa, to search for an adventurous vacation. Between grand theft auto, picking up a young man, and adopting a dog, this is the vacation that they were hoping for ... if only they could remember it.

Flee, Fly, Flown is an excellent written novel. Janet Hepburn, instills in the reader an understanding of what Alzheimer's is by giving us a first person perspective through Lillian. Lillian and Audrey face hardships that come hand in hand with aging, whether it's Alzheimer's disease, brittle bones, loss of sight, loss of hearing, organ failure.

A quote that really got to me was "Why do we do that? Why do we let the people we love just fade into the background like that?" (page 190).

There's two reasons why this novel falls short of 5 starts, but only one actually counts, the ending. The other reason will stay with me, in my little hometown of Cochrane.

Miunohri to Swan, Vol.1

Miunohri to Swan, Vol.1 by Mi-Ri Hwang (황미리 )


My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



The ugly duckling stars in her very own manga!
Go Mioh is an obese and unattractive young junior high student, with only a few days until graduation. All she has to look forward to is her new life as a high school student with Eunho, the only person that's ever treated her kindly. After a series of unfortunate events Eunho is changing high schools due to his modeling career, Mioh is being shunned, called a "Pig", treated like dirt, bullied, etc. Her final resort was a failed suicide.

In an odd twist of events this resulted in, Mioh making a contract with her dead grandfather to make her beautiful. Although with all contracts there is a catch in the fine print, this one although results her to turn back to her ugly duckling self when drenched in rain for a 10 minutes, and when she kisses someone her contract is annulled.

What will she do? Will she get revenge on Kim Dojin for treating her like a slave? Or will she try to carve her way into Eunho's heart?

This is actually an interesting anime to say the least, I'm actually a fan of Mi Ri Hwang. Yes, this is another girl likes boy, boy is gorgeous, other boy picks on girl manga's, but with a different feel to it. Dojin's an obsessed character with money at the tips of his fingers, Eunho is a model and seems to be a good rounded character, Mioh seems like an obsessed character, with self esteem problems. All in all I'll give it 4 out of 5 stockings. A recommended read.

Crank

Crank by Ellen Hopkins


My rating: 2 of 5 stockings



I can relate to this novel from a thrid person account (one of my immediate family members is a drug addict currently seeking help) and from a first person account (being pregnant at 17). I honestly did not enjoy the writing style, the mother seemed too self absorbed, the broken sentences pissed me off to the point of rants. The story was uncaptivating, I only finished this novel because I like to follow through. I read a few pages to my husband and my mother, to justify my rants on how horrid it was and oddly enough they agreed.

My friends recommended this series to me, and I love them so I took the time. I do see why they liked the novel both those friends have addictions, so I take it, it makes them feel hope that they're not the only ones battling demons. Good book ... just not for me... 2 stockings.