"The Edge of Falling" & My (Temp) New Job (a falling review by Lexi)

Readers,

Why have I not written? I started a new job that it turns out I don't need, and that I'm allergic to (well, the cleaner they use). Starbucks. Yep. Yes, they started me a week early with long shifts on both Tuesday and Thursday. Thankfully I got today off, but my computer refused to work at my brother's school where I took him and waited for him. Oh, and no, I don't drink or like coffee at all, nor do I know a cappuccino v. an espresso, and I'll never get why people would want so much dang caramel in their drinks... However, the people rock, and I've already made some awesome friends. I just still suck at some drinks, but I rock the frappachinos!

Anywho, today's book was an interesting one. It's The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle.

Summary: "Growing up in privileged, Manhattan social circles, Caggie’s life should be perfect, and it almost was until the day that her younger sister drowned when Caggie was supposed to be watching her. Stricken by grief, Caggie pulls away from her friends and family, only to have everyone misinterpret a crucial moment when she supposedly saves a fellow classmate from suicide. Now she’s famous for something she didn’t do and everyone lauds her as a hero. But inside she still blames herself for the death of her sister and continues to pull away from everything in her life, best friend and perfect boyfriend included. Then Caggie meets Astor, the new boy at school, about whom rumours are swirling and known facts are few. In Astor she finds someone who just might understand her pain, because he has an inner pain of his own. But the more Caggie pulls away from her former life to be with Astor, the more she realises that his pain might be darker, and deeper, than anything she’s ever felt. His pain might be enough to end his life…and Caggie’s as well." (Thank you, Goodreads! You are amazing!)

Caggie has many secrets. She's the everygirl that's trying to hold everything together as a teen while everything is falling apart in her world. Her thinking is reminiscent of myself, and I say this because she can't see what's going on with herself. She thinks that she's standing tall and fooling everybody, but how far can she go with that without people finding out the truth(s)?

The story is complex, and you'll want to read it all the way through to get down to the bottom of everything. This story touched my heart, and I'll never forget the way Caggie's life has been portrayed, because it feels all too real. This also shows how many people grieve, and how everybody has their own way to do so. Also, it shows how families and people can be torn to pieces because they don't get eachother's grieving, and see it as ridiculous or nonexistent. This really is a great novel that is relatable whether you've lost somebody or not. It's one of the best fiction books -- without fantasy -- that I've read. I kept wanting to get through the novel, and noticed that, at the end, I was wrong in thinking the novel was tedious/bad. Just hold on during parts that seem boring, and read the book from beginning to end. I promise you won't regret it.

In Conclusion: Please read this one!


Rating:

4/5 skyscrapers



Till next time, Lovelies!!!

XOXO,
Lexi

"Dream Girl" (a mystical review by Lexi)

Hello, Readers!

Anybody love cameos like I do? They go perfectly with my other love: pearls!!! Now, don't get me wrong here, I dress in jeans and tanks, but pearls? Psh, to me, they go with everything!!! Well, if you are into cameos, or into Agatha Christie, or a mystery, or, you know, YA books, you'll like this one: Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling!!!

I'm sorry to say that I hate the cover, and I think they should have chosen somebody who actually looks like the main character, and not have let a six-year-old loose on Photoshop (I'm pretty sure that's what happened). However, the novel? It's awesome.

Goodreads Summary: "CLAIRE VOYANTE HAS been having strange visions ever since she can remember. But the similarity between her name and her talents is purely coincidental. The name is French, and unlike the psychics on TV, she can’t solve crimes or talk to the dead. Whenever Claire follows her hunches, she comes up empty—or ends up in pretty awkward situations.
But that all changes on Claire’s 15th birthday, when her grandmother, Kiki—former socialite, fashion icon, and permanent fixture at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel—gives her something a little more extraordinary than one of her old cocktail dresses: a strange black-and-white onyx cameo on a gold chain. It’s not long before Claire’s world becomes a whole lot clearer. And a whole lot more dangerous."

So a magical/enchanted/whatever cameo??? Bring it!!!

This novel was another one-night read, but it was because I needed to know how it was going to end, or else there would have been no sleep whatsoever.

Claire Voyante (get it? hehehe) is this lovable character who is fluent in sarcasm. She's not a Mary Sue, but instead this girl who wants to do right not only to herself and her new friend, but also to her grandmother and the legacy of her family. She seems like a fifteen-year-old who is worldly, but still seeing some things in a naive way. So, in other words, like a fifteen-year-old. However, the ages in this novel truly don't matter, so don't discriminate by the age of the main character.

The New York life that Claire lives sounds normal enough, and it makes me want to go live there right now, and find a guy to raise some kids with, cuz my kids would be awesome like Claire and her little brother, Henry. lol... Seriously though, it does want me to seek out the nice kind of life that Claire's family lives (especially her grandmother's, but at The Plaza Hotel in NYC, of course).

The whole story unravels at the perfect speed, and you have the chance to be able to connect certain things together when the mystery presents itself. You;ll love getting to know all of the characters, and following along in this cool girl's life in New York.

In Conclusion: The book reads and unrolls in this unique way, and it's definitely worth the read!

Rating: 

4.8/5 magic crystal balls due to the cover. I'm sorry, but it's seriously just that bad.

An Apology and "Eloise" (love, Lexi)

So, obviously I'm missing Thursday's review, as y'all can see. I was in a lot of pain, and when I decided to take a pain pill, I was out like a light. In other words, I suck, and I'm very sorry. Today, I'm more used to the pain meds, so I'm back in the game!

Today will be a special book near and dear to my heart: Eloise by Kay Thompson. I blame my obsession with the books on the movies, and the movies I blame on Broadway star Gavin Creel, who was the love interest in "Thoroughly Modern Millie," and in "Eloise at Christmastime." The love of that came from an ex-friend. So, see, I have my reasons for reading all of the Eloise books.

Summary (done by Lexi): Eloise is a little girl (opening line: "I am Eloise. I am six.") that lives in the most wonderful place in the world, The Plaza Hotel in New York City. This version of the hotel is the original Plaza, before it was made to look as it does now. Back then, it was so very beautiful and elegant (go watch "Home Alone 2" and you'll see). Now, not so much. However, this little girl causes mischief in the hotel, and to the workers, including the head of the Plaza, Mr. Salamoney. And, of course, Nanny, who is her nanny. However, this naughty little girl who loves to have fun also has a big heart, along with a pug and a turtle. Reading her daily routine is enough of an excuse for a nap.

This is a book marketed to children, but adults and teens should read it, as it is like comfort food in the form of a book. I see the live action movies until I hit about 18, the movies at 20 or so. Now I have an Eloise zip-up hoodie, door hanger, bracelet, keychain, cap, and collection of books (minus the "bawth" one, because Kay didn't ever want that published). My mother even has called me her "little Eloise" at times.

The girl is too much to love. She has a whole back story, a complete and outrageous personality (you would, too, if you grew up with such posh living quarters and so many adults as your friends). Her mother is never shown, but she is a complete character as well, background story and everything. The books are a bit long for kids to handle unless they're older, which is another reason I think this is too perfect for teens and adults. You'll feel like her "mostly companion" once you read the first page and see the little ragamuffin for yourself. This cast of characters and locations to see are all structured and captivating. You'll lose yourself in the book, and want to move to The Plaza and play with Eloise!

Conclusion: These books are actually written much better than many adult and teen novels! The structure, world-building, etc. are all done like a pro. So, if you want to have a fun time, go read Eloise and take some notes from her! After all, a tissue box "makes a good hat."

Rating:

5/5 flags over The Plaza Hotel in NYC, NY!!!!!




Till next time, yours truly,

Lexi

"Blaze (or Love in the Time of Supervillains)" (A Review by Lexi)

Hello, readers!

I am trying to catch up by posting a few this week, as much as I can. I hope this is okay. Then Ash and I are starting a schedule. She wonderfully took care of this blog whilst I was away, and how sweet is was to do so! She's such an awesome person!

Anywho, here's a book that presents itself in a certain way, but really is in disguise.

Look at this cover and title! You'd think it's a superhero book, right? I mean, that's what it alludes to. But is it? Um. No. Not at all.

Barnes & Noble summary: "Blaze is tired of spending her life on the sidelines.

All she wants is for Mark the Soccer Stud to notice her. Not as Josh's weird sister who drives a turd-brown minivan. And not as that nerdy girl who draws comics.

What she gets is her very own arch-nemesis.

Name: Mark Deninger, aka Mark the Shark Occupation: Soccer star and all-around lady killer Relationship Status: Serial dater Group Affiliation: No loyalty Known Superpowers: Anti-girlfriend force field, breaking hearts

Mark may have humiliated Blaze supervillian-style, but what he doesn't know is how geek girls always get revenge.

#GeekGrlzRevenge"

This is the most confusing book ever. You have no clue what she's going to end up doing. One moment, she's her little brother's role model, and then she doesn't take care of a big situation right away like a mature girl would. (I'm close to my little brother, and am a mom figure to him, so I know.) The ending does work as a resolution to part of the book, but you'd never get the main idea of the book. The main idea truly is Blaze finding her own voice. However, you don't get this until the end, and you're wondering what the hell you just read.

It has a good premise, and it's interesting, especially if you relate to being an adult early in life. I like that she was a girl into comic books. That was a great idea for a character, because us nerds needed a character to relate to. However, this book was so odd that I couldn't enjoy it much. Too many characters that came and went, too many things that weren't handled as they should have been (at least in my opinion). So, while I wanted this book to be awesome, and I wanted to see more of the comics and the one she was writing. There were too many things that just had no conclusion to them, and it's sad.

Rating: Two Superheroes...

Suggestion: Skip this one. If you want to buy it, please don't. Library is recommended. Don't spend too much time on it, okay?

Sundays at Tiffany's (A Lexi Review)

Oooh, this is a favorite of mine! As a kid, I was addicted to the movie "Drop Dead Fred." If you don't know what it is about, it involves an imaginary friend coming back to his playmate, who is now a grown woman. This is the same idea, but was executed in a much better fashion, the way I wanted that movie to end when I was older.

Here's the official summary of this book (jacked straight from the ever-amazing Goodreads):

"Anne Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewellery at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's the perfect man in every way. Unfortunately, only Anne can see him. 

But Michael can't stay forever. 

On Jane's ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she'll soon forget him. Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets someone; a handsome, comforting, funny man. He's the perfect man all over again."
This book has you feeling every emotion under the sun. If you had/have an overbearing mother, it'll be empowering, and you won't feel alone. If you had an awesome imaginary friend, I envy you, and you may be thinking about them a bit more after this. If nothing in this book relates to you at all, you'll still love it. I forced myself to wait a few months before rereading the book, and it was extremely difficult.

On to the writing... The imagination that it took to come up with this was great. There are no places where it's lagging; every scene has a purpose. The book is not too long, nor too short (though you may want more in the end anyways). The writing is superb, and, no, this subject is not what you'd expect from James Patterson. The transition from the past to the present is flawless. This book will make you wonder just where imaginary friends go when they're not around kids, and who truly came up with them. The imagery is great and, even if you've never visited New York before, you can see the city and its sites through Michael and Jane's eyes. The feelings evoked from this book are strong, and you may have tears if you connect. If you're upset or depressed and want to wallow for awhile, I understand; just stay away from this book.

With this book, you'll be whisked off with Jane to trying to grab hold of your childhood again, and wondering just when you went from confident to self-loathing.

Rating: 5/5 cute, cliche bookworms :P

Suggestions: Read on a rainy day in a comfy, over-sized sweatshirt/sweater. Make sure you have the day free of any responsibilities or plans, and just get as comfortable as possible. Snuggle in a warm, fuzzy blanket. Grab your favorite stuffed animal, pet, sibling, whatever, and read away. You may need a drink, so go for your favorite. The day you read this is the day you should indulge yourself.

After the Book: You should definitely rent/stream/buy "Drop Dead Fred" after this. It'll be worth your time, and it will make you laugh. Also listen to Savage Garden's "Crash and Burn." Oh, warning: You may want to make up your own imaginary friend. lol


XOXO,
Lexi



Write back!

Did you have an imaginary friend as a kid? What were they like? What would you do if they popped into your life again tomorrow?

Oh, and add on your own review, if you'd like.