Book Review: Choose your own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris/Autobiographies-Memoirs

Hello dear Readers,

Below, my book review of Neil Patrick Harris: Choose your own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris. 

Title: Choose your own Autobiography

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Publication Date: September 15, 2015

Genre: Autobiographies/Memoirs
Author: Neil Patrick Harris 

Publisher: Three Rivers Press

Language: English

Paperback: 304 pages

Buy Me: Amazon 
More Info: Penguin Random House
Meet the Author: Neil Patrick Harris

Book Description

 “Neil Patrick Harris’s Choose Your Own Autobiography is one of the best celeb memoirs I’ve ever read.”—The Phoenix News

Seeking an exciting read that puts the “u” back in “aUtobiography”?  Look no further than Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography! In this entertaining and innovative memoir, Neil Patrick Harris shares intimate and hilarious stories about everything from his early days in LA, life on the How I Met Your Mother set, secrets from backstage at award shows, and family life with David, Harper, and Gideon.  In a fresh spin on the typical celebrity narrative, he lets you, the reader, choose which path you want him to follow.  All this plus magic tricks, cocktail recipes, embarrassing pictures from his time as a child actor, and even a closing song!

My Thoughts

I remember when I was a young girl and we used to watch Neil's show Doogie Howser at home. I'm from Costa Rica, we did not have cable TV and we only got to watch one episode a week. Despite all this I can say this TV show was one of my favorites. After that I never heard of him again until I moved to the United States three years ago and watched How I met your Mother and I learned more about his personal life and his professional career and as many people I liked him hosting the Oscars. I thought it was funny. As an avid reader of Biographies and Memoirs I have to say this is by far one of the best and unique celebrity books I have read in my life. It is a funny, different and clever way to present a life story, giving the readers the chance to pick their own ending makes it an enjoyable reading experience. I like the book, how engaging it is and how entertaining Neil is a narrator. The book helps a lot to see more of him as a person and as a performer. I love his sense of humor and like a said how from the beginning of the book he gives you the choice to make the story your own. 

Wen

Book Review: November 9 A Novel by Colleen Hoover/New Adult-Contemporary

Hello dear Readers,

Below my book review of November 9 A Novel by Colleen Hoover. 

Title: November 9

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Publication Date: November 10, 2015

Genre: New Adult-Contemporary
Author: Colleen Hoover 

Publisher: Atria Books

Language: English

Paperback: 320 pages
Meet the Author: Colleen Hoover

Buy Me: Amazon 

Book Description

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

My Thoughts

My first Colleen Hoover book and I have to say I loved it. This is one of the best books I have ever read. I cried a lot and I laughed a lot. Her writing is amazing and the way she introduces the characters and shows us their world is fantastic. From the very few first pages I connected with the story, with the characters and even thought I did not know how the story was going to end at that moment but I could feel it was going to be great and it was. Definitely was not expecting that twist of events which I wont talk about it because I do not want to spoil the book but wow, I remember when I read that part, I had to put the book down and I told my husband "the author just killed me but I think this book is great". I could not possible say enough words to express how much I like this book and how much I appreciate the Author for sharing it.

 In terms of the story, I think Fallon and Ben are a great couple, they are different people, living in different worlds but the moment they meet, when they find each other I think the way the connect, the way they complement each other only shows how they were meant to be together, in the story, in this book. I also like the role the other characters play in the story. How their friendships and their relationships help Fallon and Ben. I cannot imagine Fallon without a friend like Amber. I like how the book is divided in the six different November 9th Fallon and Ben see each other and how each part is told from both point of view Fallon's and Ben's. I like this because I could see more of each one and how they interact with the other characters. Description is one of the reasons why in my opinion this book is fantastic. Each mayor event is told with such detail but is not boring, this made my reading experience more enjoyable and satisfying. I felt part of the story and I did not want to stop reading.

This book has everything we as readers look for in a book and more. An engaging story, well-developed characters, a big, not expected twist which makes the story even better than it already is, characters and a story that we wont forget. For these reasons I totally recommend this book and finally understand why people love Colleen Hoover books so much. I started reading Slammed and loving it.

Wen

New Release Tuesday #17: November 24, 2015

Hello dear Readers,

This week, a Novel. All of Us and Everything by Bridget Asher.

Title: All of Us and Everything

Genre: Women's Fiction

Author: Bridget Asher
Publisher: Bamtan

Publication Date: November 24 2015

Language: English

Paperback: 352 pages
Meet the Author: Bridget Asher
Buy Me: Amazon 

Book Description

For fans of Eleanor Brown’s The Weird Sisters and Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret comes a smart, wry, and poignant novel about reconciliation between fathers and daughters, between spouses; the deep ties between sisters; and the kind of forgiveness that can change a person’s life in unexpected and extraordinary ways.
 
The Rockwell women are nothing if not . . . Well, it’s complicated. When the sisters—Esme, Liv, and Ru—were young, their eccentric mother, Augusta, silenced all talk of their absent father with the wild story that he was an international spy, always away on top-secret missions. But the consequences of such an unconventional upbringing are neither small nor subtle: Esme is navigating a failing marriage while trying to keep her precocious fifteen-year-old daughter from live-tweeting every detail. Liv finds herself in between relationships and rehabs, and Ru has run away from enough people and problems to earn her frequent flier miles. So when a hurricane hits the family home on the Jersey Shore, the Rockwells reunite to assess the damage—only to discover that the storm has unearthed a long-buried box. In a candid moment, Augusta reveals a startling secret that will blow the sisters’ concept of family to smithereens—and send them on an adventure to reconnect with a lost past . . . and one another.

Wen

NaNoWriMo 2015: Weeks 1 and 2. Update

Hello dear readers and writers,

I just wanted to give a litle update on how Nanowrimo is going for me this year. 

If I were to pick a word to describe these first two weeks it would be fantastic. This is my best Nano so far, not only because of my word count and my story developing really good but also I have enjoyed the Write Ins a lot which I did not do a lot the past two years. It has been such a wonderful experience to get together with other writers and talk a little bit and support each other. Sometimes the only thing needed to keep writing is a kind word or a little support from the people that are going through the same and can understand and relate. Is not only the writing part but the social part of Nanowrimo matters as well, at least that is what I have found out this year. I also love to see how involved my local library is and their efforts to provide the community with the necessary tools to succeed in this writing challenge. 

As far as my writing, cannot be more happy. This year I'm working on a fiction piece, which considering fiction is not my cup of tea but I truly think I just needed it to be in the right time and the right place in my life to write fiction and well also that the story came in the right moment as well. These first two weeks have been very productive. I have worked on my story pretty much the whole time, not a lot of free writing but I have read a lot and that has given me a lot of motivation and inspiration to keep writing.

Overall, two great weeks and a lot of writing done.

Wen

Book Review: Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagán/Women's Fiction-General Fiction Adult/NETGALLEY ARC/Published in 2015

Hello dear Readers,

Below my book review of Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagán. 

Title: Life and Other Near-Death Experiences

Genre: Fiction-Humor-Womens Fiction

Author: Camille Pagán

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: November 03, 2015

Language: English

Paperback: 254 pages
Meet the Author: Camille Pagán
Buy Me: Amazon 

Book Description

Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist—but when her husband drops a bomb on their marriage the same day a doctor delivers devastating news, she realizes her rose-colored glasses have actually been blinding her.

With nothing left to lose, she abandons her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to face an unknowable future. Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to live—and love—a little longer?

From critically acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman choosing between a “perfect” life and actually living.

My Thoughts

From the moment I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read this book but more than that I wanted to like it and I did. I absolutely enjoyed it.

Libby is such a wonderful character and I like how the author portrays her. How she reacts and faces all that is on her way. The same day she finds out she has cancer her husband tells her he is gay. I like how the author manages to present a book that seems to be tragic and not good for the main character Libby but is has humor and is fun. How Libby handles all these situations, Considering the subjects in question, I find this to be a fun read. It felt real to me, the characters, the story. I love the writing and again, considering what the book is about, it was not a heavy read. I think the author accomplishes that balance. A inspirational book which while written in Fiction clearly represents every day struggles and real life situations for real people.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wen

New Release Tuesday #16: Strange Girl by Christopher Pike, November 17, 2015

Hello dear Readers,

This week, a mix of mystery, love and fantasy. Strange Girl by Christopher Pike.

Title: Strange Girl

Genre: Mysteries/Thrillers/Fantasy

Author: Christopher Pike
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication Date: November 17, 2015

Language: English

Paperback: 432 pages
Meet the Author: Christopher Pike
Buy Me: Amazon 

Book Description

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Pike comes a brand-new fascinating and seductive new novel about a girl with a mysterious ability—but one that carries an unimaginable cost.

From the moment Fred meets Aja, he knows she’s different. She’s pretty, soft-spoken, shy—yet seems to radiate an unusual peace. Fred quickly finds himself falling in love with her.

Then strange things begin to happen around Aja. A riot breaks out that Aja is able to stop by merely speaking a few words. A friend of Fred’s suffers a serious head injury and has a miraculous recovery.

Yet Aja swears she has done nothing.

Unfortunately, Fred is not the only one who notices Aja’s unique gifts. As more and more people begin to question who Aja is and what she can do, she’s soon in grave danger. Because none of them truly understands the source of Aja’s precious abilities—or their devastating cost.

Love Aja or hate her—you will never forget her.

In Strange Girl, #1 bestselling author Christopher Pike has created the rarest of novels—a love story that swings between a heart-pounding mystery and a stirring mystical journey.

Wen

New Release Tuesday #15: November 9 by Colleen Hoover, November 10, 2015

Hello dear Readers,

The day is finally here. One of the most anticipated releases of this month. November 9, A Novel by Colleen Hoover.

Title: November 9

Genre: Fiction/New Adul/Contemporary

Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: November 10, 2015

Language: English

Paperback: 320 pages
Meet the Author: Colleen Hoover
Buy Me: Amazon 

Book Description

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

Wen

Book Review: The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra/Fiction-Short Stories

Hello dear Readers,

Below, my book review of The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra. 

Title: The Tsar of Love and Techno

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Publication Date: October 06, 2015

Genre: Fiction-Short Stories
Author: Anthony Marra 

Publisher: Hogarth

Language: English

Hardcover: 352 pages

Buy Me: Amazon 
More Info: Penguin Random House
Meet the Author: Anthony Marra

Book Description

This stunning, exquisitely written collection introduces a cast of remarkable characters whose lives intersect in ways both life-affirming and heartbreaking. A 1930s Soviet censor painstakingly corrects offending photographs, deep underneath Leningrad, bewitched by the image of a disgraced prima ballerina. A chorus of women recount their stories and those of their grandmothers, former gulag prisoners who settled their Siberian mining town. Two pairs of brothers share a fierce, protective love. Young men across the former USSR face violence at home and in the military. And great sacrifices are made in the name of an oil landscape unremarkable except for the almost incomprehensibly peaceful past it depicts. In stunning prose, with rich character portraits and a sense of history reverberating into the present, The Tsar of Love and Techno is a captivating work from one of our greatest new talents.

My Thoughts

I love reading collections of short stories.This one in particular, did not feel like a collection but a whole novel. How the stories interconnect to each other, its fantastic. I love the author's writing style, its beautiful. How description is used. It was a complete pleasure reading this book. I think Anthony Marra's storytelling is brilliant. Too many emotions while reading it, the ones that you get when the book you are reading is perfect. I cannot wait to read his first novel A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.

Wen

New Release Tuesday #14: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories by Stephen King, November 03, 2015

Hello dear Readers,

This week, a collection of stories. The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories by Stephen King

Title: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories

Genre: Fiction/Short Stories

Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Scribner

Publication Date: November 03, 2015

Language: English

Hardcover: 512 pages
Meet the Author: Stephen King
Buy Me: Amazon 

Book Description

A master storyteller at his best—the O. Henry Prize winner Stephen King delivers a generous collection of stories, several of them brand-new, featuring revelatory autobiographical comments on when, why, and how he came to write (or rewrite) each story.

Since his first collection, Nightshift, published thirty-five years ago, Stephen King has dazzled readers with his genius as a writer of short fiction. In this new collection he assembles, for the first time, recent stories that have never been published in a book. He introduces each with a passage about its origins or his motivations for writing it.

There are thrilling connections between stories; themes of morality, the afterlife, guilt, what we would do differently if we could see into the future or correct the mistakes of the past. “Afterlife” is about a man who died of colon cancer and keeps reliving the same life, repeating his mistakes over and over again. Several stories feature characters at the end of life, revisiting their crimes and misdemeanors. Other stories address what happens when someone discovers that he has supernatural powers—the columnist who kills people by writing their obituaries in “Obits;” the old judge in “The Dune” who, as a boy, canoed to a deserted island and saw names written in the sand, the names of people who then died in freak accidents. In “Morality,” King looks at how a marriage and two lives fall apart after the wife and husband enter into what seems, at first, a devil’s pact they can win.

Magnificent, eerie, utterly compelling, these stories comprise one of King’s finest gifts to his constant reader—“I made them especially for you,” says King. “Feel free to examine them, but please be careful. The best of them have teeth.”

Wen

Book Review: The Brontë Plot by Katherine Reay/Fiction-Adult/NETGALLEY ARC/Published in 2015

Hello dear Readers,

Below my book review of The Brontë Plot by Katherine Reay. 

Title: The Brontë Plot

Genre: Fiction-Adult
Rating: 3/5 Stars

Author: Katherine Reay

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: November 03, 2015

Language: English

Paperback: 352 pages
Meet the Author: Katherine Reay
Buy Me: Amazon 

Book Description

“You’re going to love The Brontë Plot.” —Debbie Macomber

When Lucy’s secret is unearthed, her world begins to crumble. But it may be the best thing that has ever happened to her.

Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious liberties to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy’s secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend, James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change.

In a sudden turn of events, James’s wealthy grandmother, Helen, hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy’s predicament better than anyone else.

As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen’s wisdom as Helen confronts ghosts from her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters’ beloved heroines who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of impossible circumstances.

Now Lucy must face her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that’s been waiting for her all along.

My Thoughts

The Brontë Plot was one of these books that as much as I wanted to like it and connect with the characters, it was not the case. I found it to be slow and never got me really interested in the main character Lucy and what was going on in the story. What I did like was the conversations about books between Lucy and Helen but other than that there was nothing really for me to like about this book. The plot was not a good one. I did not like the author's writing style and as I said the characters were not strong or believable. I think the way the story is presented does not allow the reader to really get to know the characters, their feelings, not so much detail given and confusing at times. Unfortunately, The Brontë Plot was a book hard to read and for what we can read in its description, the expectations were high but a little disappointed after reading it

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wen