Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J. K. Rowling

I'd be lying if I said at one point I thought myself to be one of the biggest Harry Potter fans in the world. I remember saying "J. K. Rowling could probably write a book about poop and I'd love it." Boy, was I wrong.

I was excited to finally read THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD after hearing so many people talk about it through the years. It's been sitting on my shelf collecting dust and my Boyfriend finally convinced me I should give it a shot. I had tried numerous times before and always had issues getting through the first story.

I felt like none of the stories meshed well together and it felt very disconnected  Don't get me wrong, I totally understand it's a book of fairy tales, I guess I was expecting something more from Rowling. It took me a few months to finish the book--I can usually read through a hundred pages in a half hour/hour max.

I remember hearing several people mention they were excited to read the fairy tales of wizarding children. However it felt like I had read something rushed and took very little from the book when finished. This book isn't for everyone, as the Quidditch Throughout The Ages & Fantastic Book of Beasts and Where to Find Them aren't mentioned by many people anymore.

This book helped me realize  I won't like everything from my favorite authors and that's okay. (Which was my biggest fear.) It's even okay to blog about it.

Purchase
Publisher: Bloomsbury (UK)
Publication: December 4th, 2008

Bangladesh Activist Comes Out In Live Web Stream

Shawn Ahmed, the Bangladeshi-Canadian blogger behind the Uncultured Project, came out in a series of videos posted over the holiday break. While Ahmed hails from cosmopolitan Toronto, he’s spending most of his time in Bangladesh, which means his coming out could have implications for his safety and the future of the Uncultured Project.

Full story here.

Review: Stage Management - Lawrence Stern

I've been spending my time at our local theater, but while I was away I did have the chance to read a book. A book about stage management ironically enough, so it was an easy theater tie in. I've been slowly learning how to do things at the theater and wanted to conquer stage management next.

I had watched a few people stage manage before me so I knew the general direction of things. What needed the most attention, what didn't deserve stressing out and what I could improve on organization skill wise.

I had mentioned my interest in being a stage manager and was told I'd be a good fit to try a small cast first. Small cast here meaning four people; however the production currently happening was the only one of the season with a small cast.

I was bummed.

And then I was handed a few books and PDF's to read by friends, Stage Management  being one of them. I read the book in less than a week and took extensive notes. I found that a lot of the chapters went a little overboard for the type of theater that work at but it would be great for a traveling stage show or a show on a much larger scale.

The book offers many examples of paperwork that you could use to aid you in your stage managing journey. As well as check off sheets for setting the stage, cleaning the stage and emergency protocols.

I would suggest this book to anyone who has an interest in stage managing. I believe it's a school text book, but very handy to anyone looking to apply a more structured stage management environment.

And apparently my note taking and book reading paid off. I was recently asked to stage manage our next production, 9 to 5 the musical. I know if it wasn't for this book my workstation and binder would be a pigsty and I would be completely lost.

I'm going to make Dolly proud, Y'all!

Purchase
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Publication Date: January 2009

Review: Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli

I've known about the Stargirl books for some time. I even have a friend who was impacted by the novel so much she has Stargirl tattooed on her arm. Initially I rolled by eyes, I mean I roll my eyes at any book inspired tattoo to be completely honest.

Last year I saw Stargirl sitting by itself at a local library book sale, I bought it for a whopping twenty-five cents! It's sat beside my bed since then. “I'll get to it sometime.” I would say, but then again I say that about my one-hundred plus collection of books that I've yet to read.

I signed up for the Goodreads reading challenge again this year, my goal is to read thirty books. I decided why not start with Stargirl after all many people had said it impacted their life... if only I had known what I was getting myself into.

Stargirl is a novel about a very interesting young women in a small town population. She's caring, supportive and outgoing. Everyone seems to love her until the moment when she starts supporting the opposing team as well as her own. I mean after all, what kind of person does that?

The book follows Leo and his complex relationship with Stargirl. It covers several topics. I'd suggest it to the middle grade crowd, especially to children who feel they do not fit in as they should. This novel isn't amazingly written, BUT it hits all of the heart strings all at once, which easily could make it a classic. I think everyone wants to connect with Stargirl when really most of us would end of being the Leo's of the world.

Purchase
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Publication date: 5/11/2004

WITCH EYES - Review

Witch Eyes - Scott TraceyPublisher: Flux
Pages: 332
Release: August 2011

My Rating: 4/5

Description: 
A boy who can see the world's secrets and unravel spells with just a glance.


Braden's witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse.


Compelled to learn about his shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe will use anything--lies, manipulation, illusion, and even murder--to seize control of Braden's powers. To stop an ancient evil from destroying the town, Braden must master his gift, even through the shocking discovery that Jason is his father. While his feelings for an enigmatic boy named Trey grow deeper, Braden realizes a terrible truth: Trey is Catherine Lansing's son . . . and Braden may be destined to kill him.


My Review:


When I first heard about Witch Eyes I knew that the novel would be something special. I wrote up a Waiting on Wednesday post and started sharing the word. It was the first time that I had actually felt excited about the release of a YA LGBT book, not to mention a fantasy novel.


Witch Eyes is easily one of my favorite novels of the year. Tracey has woven a page turning treasure with a touch of snark and an amazing history. This book will not disappoint any fantasy lover, the story is unique as are the characters. 


I'm happy that Tracey introduced Braden as a gay teenager who had already figured out he was as a gay male. I find too often authors wish to focus on romance or sexual discovery when coming to a LGBT novel.


Authors so easily forget to tame down the romance aspect in teen fantasy novels these days which is something I find annoying. That wasn't the issue with Witch Eyes, fantasy took the front seat while hints of romance remained at the back. 


This is an unforgettable debut novel and I'm impatiently waiting the second (Demon Eyes) of the series expected in 2012.


Visit Scott-Tracey.com, follow him on Twitter: @Scott_Tracey and be sure to buy your own copy of Witch Eyes.

While I've been away.....

I figured I'd share a few photos of what I've been up to the last few months, while I work on new content. As most of you know I've been working closely with Mitali Dave and several publishing houses to put together the Teen Author Carnival! The event turned out great--considering a year of planning were changed last minute to fit a new building. Next year everything should be back to normal though (with tables & air conditioning too!) ;)

Here's a snapshot of a few authors at the event, I swiped the photo from Courtney Allison Moulton!

And can we just take a moment to talk about the MASSIVE amount of people that showed up this year? We were blown away! 

Below's a photo from FLUX, this is just ONE ROOM of our event!!

When I wasn't busy with BEA or TAC I was busy enjoying New York and New Jersey with some of my closest friends! I think that's the most important thing about BEA--you should go to CONNECT and talk books. If you talk about how chaotic BEA is all of the time, you're clearly doing something wrong. It means so much more than just BOOKS! :D

That's the main excuse for being away--planning an event like TAC and trying to have a social life is something that causes a challenge at times. However I balanced out TAC, living my life and traveling pretty well. I wouldn't give it up for anything--even if I abandon the blog for spurts at a time know I'm always working on something BIGGER and BETTER. :) 

On a side and final note, last week a few friends and I went to the zoo to see the three week old baby elephant, he's pretty adorable--He's still unnamed. I'm calling him Magnus. ;)

XO

Devyn

JOHN BELUSHI IS DEAD - Review

John Belushi is Dead - Kathy Charles
Publisher: MTV
Pages: 320
Release: August 24, 2010

My Rating: 4/5

Description: 


IN THE END WE ALL FADE TO BLACK.


Pink-haired Hilda and oddball loner Benji are not your typical teenagers. Instead of going to parties or hanging out at the mall, they comb the city streets and suburban culs-de-sac of Los Angeles for sites of celebrity murder and suicide. Bound by their interest in the macabre, Hilda and Benji neglect their schoolwork and their social lives in favor of prowling the most notorious crime scenes in Hollywood history and collecting odd mementos of celebrity death.


Hilda and Benji’s morbid pastime takes an unexpected turn when they meet Hank, the elderly, reclusive tenant of a dilapidated Echo Park apartment where a silent movie star once stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors. Hilda feels a strange connection with Hank and comes to care deeply for her paranoid new friend as they watch old movies together and chat the sweltering afternoons away. But when Hank’s downstairs neighbor Jake, a handsome screenwriter, inserts himself into the equation and begins to hint at Hank’s terrible secrets, Hilda must decide what it is she’s come to Echo Park searching for . . . and whether her fascination with death is worth missing out on life.

My Review: 

It's funny how books find their ways into our lives. I came across JOHN BELUSHI IS DEAD (JBID) because a friend from California had mentioned it to me. However, the book sat around the house for some time. I'd read the description several times over and couldn't work up the courage to crack it open.

That's when my new fascination grew. Death. Having Lupus, death is something that I think about on a daily basis, sometimes even hourly. You'll go mad if you start thinking about it all too much. Luckily for me I had an amazing book on hand JBID.

JBID Follows the story of Hilda, a pink-haired outcast living in California. She, like me, has her own fascination with death. Suicides and murders to be exact. I really enjoyed every aspect of this book. Hilda is one of my favorite characters ever, I'm really proud of how she grew though the story. It was almost like watching a young adult mature before my eyes.

This book made me feel many emotions and to take a look at my own personal demons. It takes a special kind of book to make me sit and think about my life once I finish reading. If you're looking for a fairytale this book isn't for you. If you're looking for a raw story about life, if you've ever taken time to realize the world is so much bigger than you--then this book is for you.

Check out the authors website, buy the book or read about the death of John Belushi here!