Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
Hi everyone!
I just finished the book Hollow City, and I thought I'd give it a quick review!
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ MISS PEREGRINES' HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, AND ARE PLANNING TO READ IT, THEN PLEASE SKIP OVER THIS REVIEW! Thank you!
Hollow city follows directly from its prequel, when the group of Peculiars are in a boat on their way to the mainland. Throughout their journey to London, they meet other peculiars, including peculiar animals, and learn that the book that they would read as children, Tales of a Peculiar, is in fact a sort of mirror for the peculiar world. With this, they find the next logical steps in their journey.
However, Miss Peregrine is trapped in the form of a bird, and only another imbryne, (or person who can turn into a bird) can help her out of this state. If she stays in a bird form for over three days, she can loose all that makes her human.
First of, I enjoyed this book more than its prequel. Whereas MPHFPC was extremely interesting in all of its strangeness, Hollow City was able to build on its prequel in such a way that it had a more interesting storyline that flowed in a much more coherent way. Now don't get me wrong, the first book was absolutely amazing. I just feel that it was missing something. One major difference was that the end of MPHFPC just... fell flat. The fact that the group of peculiars leave their island on a boat to get to safety felt more like the end of a chapter than the end of a novel. However, Hollow city ended on a combination of a plot twist and a cliffhanger. Now, having to wait an entire year to see what happens is just cruel. =P
Another difference that I noted was that Hollow city helped me understand the characters from the first book in a better way.
Another reason why I enjoyed this book is, of course, its connection to old photography. The way Riggs takes a bunch of black and white, war-time photos and weaves a coherent story with them is amazing, and makes the story just that much more believable
Finally, I highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a different kind of book. Something that is YA yet has that twist that other YA books don't necessarily have.
Can't wait until book 3 comes out!
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Monday, April 27, 2015
Book Courtship Tag
Hey everyone!
I saw some people doing this tag, and I thought it could be fun!
So here it goes!
Phase 1 - Initial Attraction - A book you bought because of the cover
I had to think about this one for a bit before choosing, but I finally settled on Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children. I love how intriguing the cover is, and how it sets the mood for the story right away without spoiling anything in the book.
I also have a few Penguin Classic books with the new, patterned covers that I bought because they just look so nice!
Phase 2 - First Impressions - A book that you bought because of the summary
This one is a bit more difficult because I buy most books based on their summaries. However, I was able to narrow my pile of choices to just 2. The first one is a book that I loved as a younger teenager, called Wings, by Aprilynne Pike.
"Laurel's life is the very definition of normal... until the morning when she wakes up to discover a flower blooming from her back. As it turns out, nothing in Laurel's life is what it seems. Now, with the help of an alluring faerie sentry who holds the key to her true past, Laurel must race to save her human family from the centuries-old faerie enemies who walk among them"
Even though I bought this book a long time ago, the summary still seems completely strange for a fantasy book. I mean, its not every day that you find a book where people have flowers growing out of their backs! I would highly recommend this book just because it has such a sweet story to it!
The second book I chose is less in the fantasy and magic genres. It is I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (yes, he is the same person who wrote The Book Thief).
"Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.
That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.
That's when Ed becomes the messenger.
Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?"
I chose this book for the tag simply because without this summary, I probably would not have read the book. It doesn't say too much, and still holds the suspense about what these aces are all about.
Personally, I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone over 16. It was a great feel-good book in many ways, but also made me think of how small actions can just make someones day that much better. :)
Phase 3 - Sweet Talk - A book with great writing
Simple. Anything John Green, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and Harry Potter
Phase 4 - First Date - A book of a series that made you want to pick up the rest of the series
Since I read a lot of series, I'll just list some of the most catching first books of these series.
City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
City of Masks - Mary Hoffman
Divergent - Veronica Roth
The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
Phase 5 - Late Night phone calls - A book that kept you up all night
umm does every book ever count?
Although it is very difficult to determine just one book for this, I'd have to go for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and City of Heavenly Fire, by Cassandra Clare. I finished both of these books in a day due to all-nighters... no shame ^^
Phase 6 - Always on my mind - A book that you cannot stop thinking about.
For some reason, whenever I finish a series, or a really good book, I will think about that book and compare elements from it to real life situations for at least a week after finishing it. Such books where The Giver, by Lois Lowry, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, I Coriander, by Sally Gardner, and, of course, the Harry Potter Series, by J. K. Rowling. I keep coming back to these books.
Phase 7 - Getting Physical - a book that you love the way it feels
I have a book that wins for this with no contest, and it is the Jane Austin Collection. For my birthday, I received a special edition of the collection, and it looks so beautiful. It is green and gold, with imprinted leaves and text, and looks like a book that you could find in an old library. Only downside, its really heavy =p
Phase 8 - Meeting the parents - a book that you recommend to your family and friends
One of the books that I have recommended the most to both family and friends is The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. On that note, if you are reading this, and haven't read it yet, I challenge you to do so :) Its just that good.
Phase 9 - Thinking about the future - a book that you will re-read many times in the future
Honestly, I have no specific idea. I know that I will re-read Harry Potter for ever, as well as Graceling, by Kristin Cashore. Otherwise, who knows? :)
Phase 10 - Share the Love - Who do you tag?
Anyone and Everyone! :D
Hey everyone!
I saw some people doing this tag, and I thought it could be fun!
So here it goes!
Phase 1 - Initial Attraction - A book you bought because of the cover
I had to think about this one for a bit before choosing, but I finally settled on Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children. I love how intriguing the cover is, and how it sets the mood for the story right away without spoiling anything in the book.
I also have a few Penguin Classic books with the new, patterned covers that I bought because they just look so nice!
Phase 2 - First Impressions - A book that you bought because of the summary
This one is a bit more difficult because I buy most books based on their summaries. However, I was able to narrow my pile of choices to just 2. The first one is a book that I loved as a younger teenager, called Wings, by Aprilynne Pike.
"Laurel's life is the very definition of normal... until the morning when she wakes up to discover a flower blooming from her back. As it turns out, nothing in Laurel's life is what it seems. Now, with the help of an alluring faerie sentry who holds the key to her true past, Laurel must race to save her human family from the centuries-old faerie enemies who walk among them"
Even though I bought this book a long time ago, the summary still seems completely strange for a fantasy book. I mean, its not every day that you find a book where people have flowers growing out of their backs! I would highly recommend this book just because it has such a sweet story to it!
The second book I chose is less in the fantasy and magic genres. It is I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (yes, he is the same person who wrote The Book Thief).
"Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.
That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.
That's when Ed becomes the messenger.
Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?"
I chose this book for the tag simply because without this summary, I probably would not have read the book. It doesn't say too much, and still holds the suspense about what these aces are all about.
Personally, I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone over 16. It was a great feel-good book in many ways, but also made me think of how small actions can just make someones day that much better. :)
Phase 3 - Sweet Talk - A book with great writing
Simple. Anything John Green, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and Harry Potter
Phase 4 - First Date - A book of a series that made you want to pick up the rest of the series
Since I read a lot of series, I'll just list some of the most catching first books of these series.
City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
City of Masks - Mary Hoffman
Divergent - Veronica Roth
The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
Phase 5 - Late Night phone calls - A book that kept you up all night
umm does every book ever count?
Although it is very difficult to determine just one book for this, I'd have to go for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and City of Heavenly Fire, by Cassandra Clare. I finished both of these books in a day due to all-nighters... no shame ^^
Phase 6 - Always on my mind - A book that you cannot stop thinking about.
For some reason, whenever I finish a series, or a really good book, I will think about that book and compare elements from it to real life situations for at least a week after finishing it. Such books where The Giver, by Lois Lowry, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, I Coriander, by Sally Gardner, and, of course, the Harry Potter Series, by J. K. Rowling. I keep coming back to these books.
Phase 7 - Getting Physical - a book that you love the way it feels
I have a book that wins for this with no contest, and it is the Jane Austin Collection. For my birthday, I received a special edition of the collection, and it looks so beautiful. It is green and gold, with imprinted leaves and text, and looks like a book that you could find in an old library. Only downside, its really heavy =p
Phase 8 - Meeting the parents - a book that you recommend to your family and friends
One of the books that I have recommended the most to both family and friends is The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. On that note, if you are reading this, and haven't read it yet, I challenge you to do so :) Its just that good.
Phase 9 - Thinking about the future - a book that you will re-read many times in the future
Honestly, I have no specific idea. I know that I will re-read Harry Potter for ever, as well as Graceling, by Kristin Cashore. Otherwise, who knows? :)
Phase 10 - Share the Love - Who do you tag?
Anyone and Everyone! :D
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Hi all!
I created this blog to share some of my favorite books, recent reads, and more! From time to time, I'll try to participate in bookish tags, as well as events regarding reading and talk about it here!
This year, I have been participating in the 2015 Reading Challenge. It is basically a list of themes, requirements, and settings. Throughout the year, your goal is to read books that fit these points, and tick them off the list as you finish reading. Whilst some themes are fairly easy for a YA reader (such as a book that is set in high school, or a book that was published this year), others are much more challenging (Read a book by an author who has the same initials as you.) However, it is definitely feasible :) I'm running behind on this challenge, having finished only 10 out of the 50 topic so far, but I have university as an excuse, and I'm sure I'll be able to catch up!
Comment if you are participating as well, and let me know how you are doing!
Currently Reading - Hollow City, by Ransom Riggs
I created this blog to share some of my favorite books, recent reads, and more! From time to time, I'll try to participate in bookish tags, as well as events regarding reading and talk about it here!
This year, I have been participating in the 2015 Reading Challenge. It is basically a list of themes, requirements, and settings. Throughout the year, your goal is to read books that fit these points, and tick them off the list as you finish reading. Whilst some themes are fairly easy for a YA reader (such as a book that is set in high school, or a book that was published this year), others are much more challenging (Read a book by an author who has the same initials as you.) However, it is definitely feasible :) I'm running behind on this challenge, having finished only 10 out of the 50 topic so far, but I have university as an excuse, and I'm sure I'll be able to catch up!
Comment if you are participating as well, and let me know how you are doing!
Currently Reading - Hollow City, by Ransom Riggs
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