Review: Falling For Rapunzel

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Falling For Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Although not quite as funny or clever as Waking Beauty, Leah Wilcox wrote another winner with Falling for Rapunzel. I won't belabor the points I mentioned in my review of Waking Beauty but these books are a brilliant, funny and colorful take on classic princess stories. Since the idea of mentioning anything other than a princess story to my 3 year old is a mortal sin, I am grateful that I discovered these books on my most recent trip to the public library.

I enjoy that these stories don't depict the princesses as helpless as other children's books and will happily admit that these were funny enough to even catch a quick belly laugh from me. I often pretend to laugh at "funny" parts in my kid's books so that they will appreciate the humor but this time I didn't need to pretend.

Falling for Rapunzel is a fantastic children's book that is creative and original. It's a rhyming adventure that I actually enjoyed reading to my own little princess!



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Review: Waking Beauty

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Waking Beauty by Leah Wilcox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I'm always in search of children's books to read to my 3 year old that don't bore me to tears. I have grown tired of the pile of crappy children's books on my kid's shelves that seem to recycle the same thing over and over again. Of course, there are the old classics from my childhood but my children don't seem to latch on to them like I did.

For my daughters, princesses and all things girly is the key but I get a bit annoyed with the silly fairytales and blubbery princess stories that depict weak, helpless females. I'm not a feminazi by any means but I want to raise my daughters to be strong, independent women with minds of their own, not a sideline to a heroic prince.

What I love about this hilarious rhyming take on Sleeping Beauty is that it twists the whole idea of a helpless princess just right. It's clever and funny enough that even I chuckled several times. As I've mentioned in other reviews, I enjoy reading books to my children that rhyme. I delight in the way the words sound coming off my tongue and appreciate the lyrical playfulness of them. I think my kids feel the same way, but then again I've never asked.

This book was a lucky find at the public library and one that I think I may actually buy if I can find it. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed it and if I'm telling the truth, so did I.



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Review: Mind the Gap, Volume 1: Intimate Strangers

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Mind the Gap, Volume 1: Intimate Strangers by Jim McCann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Mind The Gap is one of Image Comics adult-oriented crime dramas. This specific graphic novel collects issues 1-5 in the series and I believe the series ended at #17 or 18 (don't quote me on that) and I haven't seen new issues floating around so I'm assuming the series may have been cancelled. Regardless, Vol 1 is a great start to what seems like a fantastic series! I had seen issues poking around in the past during trips to the comic shop but never picked one up.

The story is very similar to that movie from a few years back where some girl is attacked and in a coma and is trying to solve her own attack and prevent her murder while out of her body. The movie sucked but fortunately this is a slightly different take on that and does a very good job of bringing in interesting characters and plot twists.

I think the artwork is great and the story is well written. If the series is indeed dead then it's a grand shame because I may have actually started investing in this one....



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Review: Stiffs, Skulls & Skeletons: Medical Photography and Symbolism

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Stiffs, Skulls & Skeletons: Medical Photography and Symbolism by Stanley B. Burns

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Stiffs, Skulls and Skeletons is a unique and beautiful book of medical photography that will likely appeal to a very limited number of people. I happen to be one of those people. I was provided with an electronic copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. While my experience looking at these photographs and reading the fascinating histories was extremely enjoyable, I would imagine that the experience would be significantly better with a hard copy in my hands. It's hard to appreciate a book of photography while you scroll through it on your computer.

Other than this small complaint, I think this is a great coffee table book for anyone interested in medical history. It would be a pleasure to place you the desk of a doctor's office. The photographs are stunning and capture a great part of history which I am proud to be involved in.



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Review: Golden Son

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Golden Son by Pierce Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I never ever read more than the first book in a series. I mean never (well, okay, except for the second Hunger Games book which I gave up on part way through). Even if I really love a story, I like it to end. That's why I avoid series. Just like movie sequels, book series generally crush any joy I got from the first book by the time I reach the end. Well, Pierce Brown has just changed my 'no series' policy! In a big way.

Red Rising was one of the best dystopian novels I'd read when I reviewed it last year and I firmly stand by that sentiment. For once we got an adult dystopia that was brutal and gory and chock full of moral dilemmas and ethical quandaries. It read like a superbly crafted book by a veteran author (even though it was his first book) and had fantastic imagery.

Golden Son was no different. For once I may actually go as far as to say that this sequel may have even been better than first book. I'm sure some will argue with me but this book had even more complexity in the characters and I was surprised regularly by plot twists.

Perhaps not everyone will agree, but this is a book that is crafted for someone just like me! It is gritty but lyrical. If you are a person who marks up your books you will have passages highlighted throughout the story. This is definitely a series that must be read in order but trust me that you won't regret the choice to check it out!

I can hardly wait until the final installment hits shelves....

*For full disclosure, I received this book for free from the pulisher in exchange for an honest unbiased review



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Review: The Magician's Lie

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The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The Magician's Lie had all of the ingredients of an awesome story... and just about got there. The premise caught me by the lapels immediately - a female illusionist accused of murdering her husband by chopping him in half with an axe. Anyone who doesn't think that sounds worth looking into obviously didn't watch the movie 'The Illusionist'. The intrigue and mystery of a good magician mixed with a well-written historic fiction is hard to beat and honestly, for most of the book I was hooked.

The story takes place during a single night while the illusionist tells the story of her life to a law-man who arrested her shortly after they found a man dead. I very much enjoyed the tone of the writing and felt that the pace was perfect. There were a few small things in the story which were aggravating such as some of the choices made by Arden... she's a very intelligent girl who makes some oddly silly choices which didn't really fit her character.

Overall I loved the book. It certainly wasn't perfect but I think it is certainly a gem that should get a fair amount of attention this year. For full disclosure, I got a copy from Netgalley for an unbiased review.



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Review: Not the Last Goodbye: On Life, Death, Healing, and Cancer

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Not the Last Goodbye: On Life, Death, Healing, and Cancer by David Servan-Schreiber

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Not the Last Goodbye is a very short but emotionally-packed book. It was written by the author of the Best-Seller 'Anti-Cancer' (a book which I haven't read. I also wasn't aware of this when I started reading it). From what I understand, Anti-Cancer was a diet/self-help book that essentially taught a diet based on scientific evidence that can help prevent cancer increase the longevity of cancer patients. I may be completely wrong about that premise but that is the gist as I understand it. Not the Last Goodbye follows up Anti-Cancer as an end-of-life farewell by Dr. Servan-Schreiber after his cancer returned aggressively.

I can imagine that those who were skeptics and the followers of Dr. Servan-Schreiber's method were shaken a bit by the return of his cancer. In this book, he addresses the skeptics and arguments against his proclamations in Anti-Cancer and his continued support for its teachings. But more than anything, NTLG is a brief recollection of his struggles toward the end of his life and his legacy that he hopes to leave behind.

I think this was a book written for those who hold Dr. Servan-Schreiber dear, including his family, friends and fans, but I think there are also strong lessons that can be picked up by anyone who reads it. It's a bit of a dark read for such a short book and unlike Pausch's 'Last Lecture', I didn't necessarily finish it inspired to pick up and do anything different with life... but it was a decent read and a heart-felt goodbye.

The book was finished just 8 weeks before Dr. Servan-Schreiber's death so I'm sure many will hold these word with great reverence. I'm not sure it spoke enough to those not familiar with his other works but overall it was still a good read.

For full disclosure, I got the book for free from NetGalley for an unbiased review.



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