Review: Gertie's Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley

Gertie's Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley

Amazon  -  Barnes & Noble  -  Booksamillion

Gertie Reece Foy is 100% Not-From-Concentrate awesome. She has a daddy who works on an oil rig, a great-aunt who always finds the lowest prices at the Piggly Wiggly, and two loyal best friends. So when her absent mother decides to move away from their small town, Gertie sets out on her greatest mission yet: becoming the best fifth grader in the universe to show her mother exactly what she'll be leaving behind. There's just one problem: Seat-stealing new girl Mary Sue Spivey wants to be the best fifth grader, too. And there is simply not enough room at the top for the two of them.

Rating: 4 Stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was happy to find this book at the time I did because it was a fast, fun middle grade read that got me through a downswing in reading time after some heavier books. This book has a heroine that you just can't help rooting for. She has you from the first chapter, when she's doing her best to become the best darn fifth grader there is. There are obvious ups and downs, or this wouldn't be a good story, but she's got a lot of the stubbornness that I seem to remember kids having when I was that age, so I'd say the author did a good job portraying the characters accurately.

Gertie was an awesome kid. She was the kind of kid that, if I were a classmate of hers, I would have admired and possibly been a little bit afraid of. She has all these grand ideas and she is not the least bit afraid to try and pull them off.

Mary Sue was a perfect villain for this piece. She wasn't evil, exactly, but she had a lot of the personality traits that I find very annoying and would definitely put her at the top of my list of most hated people. She thinks she's so special because of who her father is (a Hollywood big wig), she's so smart because she learned her state capitals last year. It's the smarmy-ness in her voice, her arrogance, that gets to you and makes you just root for her downfall. Giving a character these little traits that add up to one big annoyance is a great way to make a villain without actually making someone evil.

The atmosphere of the piece felt a bit older than perhaps modern day, but that didn't really effect the story in anyway. If anything, it got me as the reader to focus more on the characters. I think Gertie is someone that middle graders, and even older readers, ought to give a chance to and pick up her Leap to Greatness. It's a good fun read that goes by fast and leaves you with a satisfied feeling at the end, a comfort food book of middle grade literature.







All pictures, quotes, and videos belong to their respective owners. I use them here solely for the purpose of review and commentary.

Top 10 Tuesday: Books On My Fall TBR List

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme that is brought to us by The Broke & the Bookish. Check out the topic list here.

These TBR topics are both really fun and really anxiety inducing because my overall TBR is enormous and it only keeps growing as each week goes by with more and more books being published.

These books are the ones that, while not necessarily the newest of the new, are the ones that I want to read as soon as possible. They're the ones I want to focus on this fall either because it's about time, I'm going to meet the author soon, or a sequel's coming out and I need to actually finish the first/previous book(s).

10. The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

9. Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

8. Iron Cast by Destiny Soria

7. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill 

6. Jerkbait by Mia Siegert

5. Julia Vanishes by Catherine Egan

4. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

3. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

2. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

1. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

All pictures, quotes, and videos belong to their respective owners. I use them here solely for the purpose of review and commentary.

Tokyo Cover Girls Cover Stop

Thank you to Nichole of YAReads Blog Tours for having me on this blog tour for The Tokyo Cover Girls. Here you'll get a chance to check out the cover, get to know a little bit about the story and the author, plus at the end there's the complete tour guide with reviews, guest posts, spotlights, and more.

Just when you thought fashion was all glamour, Jackie Amsden brings us a book that reveals much more in...

The Tokyo Cover Girls by Jackie Amsden

Contemporary YA

Amazon  - Kobo Books - iTunes

Barnes & Noble - Goodreads

New York has Jacobs, Paris has Chanel, Milan has Versace and Tokyo has . . . Hello Kitty toilet plungers? With its cute-obsessed catalogue and magazine market, anyone who is anyone knows that modeling in Japan means being at the bottom of the fashion industry. Blake, Jess, and Hailey are doing their best to survive yet another casting where pigtails and toddler-impressions are a must when they stumble upon the opportunity of a lifetime. The prestigious Satsujin company has selected them to compete for a campaign that will transform the winner from commercial nobody to haute couture superstar faster than you can say Vogue Italia.

   

About the Author

 

 Jackie Amsden worked as a fashion model in China, Japan, and Taiwan before retiring at the age of eighteen after one too many agent threats, nude photo shoot requests, and self-loathing-induced Pocky binges. If you’d like to learn more about her decent into the darker side of Asia’s candy-coated modeling industry sign up for free installments of her upcoming memoir, Toy Girl, at www.jackieamsden.com.

   Follow the rest of the tour! 

  September 15^th 

The Cozy Little Book Nook – Review 

  RoloPoloBookBlog – Spotlight Post 

  September 16^th 

  Book Lover Promo – Spotlight Post 

  Roxy’s Book Reviews – Spotlight Post 

  September 17^th 

  The Phantom Paragrapher – Review 

  September 18^th 

  VampyreLady’s Cover Reveals, Blog Tours, New Releases & All Things Bookish – Spotlight Post Live to Read – Promo Post 

  September 19^th 

  Alice’s Book Vault – Promo Post 

  September 20^th 

  The Procrastinator’s Corner – Review 

  September 21^st 

  Down the Bookhole – Spotlight Post 

  September 22^nd 

  Bookrantings – Review 

  September 23^rd 

  YA Book Divas – Review 

  September 24^th 

  Little Miss Trainwreck – Author Interview 

  Book Lovers Life – Spotlight Post 

  September 25^th 

  YaReads – Author Interview 

  September 26^th 

  Lekeisha the Booknerd – Review 

  September 27^th 

  The Book Beacon – Guest Post 

  Pandora’s Books – Promo Post 

  September 28^th 

  Just One More Chapter – Spotlight Post 

  Noshelfcontrol – Author Interview

All pictures, quotes, and videos belong to their respective owners. I use them here solely for the purpose of review and commentary.

Review: Misty Copeland by Gregg Delman

Misty Copeland by Gregg Delman

Amazon  -  Barnes & Noble  -  Booksamillion

This stunning volume of photographs captures the sculpturally exquisite and iconic ballerina. Misty Copeland has single-handedly infused diversity and personality into the insular world of ballet, creating an unexpected resurgence of appreciation within contemporary popular culture.

Her story is famously what movies are made of, and in 2015 she became an icon and household name when she became the first African-American female principal dancer in the long and prestigious history the American Ballet Theatre. Copeland’s physique is what sculptures are modeled on, heralding the new physical ideal of strength and athleticism, beauty and grace.

Misty Copeland is a collection of gorgeous, artful photographs by celebrated photographer Gregg Delman, taken in many studio visits from 2011 through 2014. Delman’s talent for capturing movement is reflected in these images, which range from formal ballet positions to more athletic poses and candid moments, all together building an intimate portrait of Copeland as an athlete, an artist, and a woman.With striking and vibrant color photographs, this incredibly intimate volume is a visual tribute to the brilliant mystique of Misty Copeland, showcasing both her grace and strength.

With short texts by Copeland and Delman, this book will be beloved by a diverse audience who share a common appreciation of fine photography and the human form.

Rating: 4 Stars

 Misty Copeland is a beautiful dancer, there's no denying that. I don't know much about her, though I have seen articles about her on occasion in the newspaper or online. I wish there were more opportunities for me to attend one of her shows because from the look of things in this photography collection, she is a stunning dancer whose range of motion is something that shouldn't be missed.

Gregg Delman, the photographer that worked with Misty for this collection, had a rather good eye for composition. He managed to capture some positions that I didn't think possible. I'm still not sure how they managed to get some of these shots at just the right moment. It takes a keen eye, or at least a fast shutter speed, to manage that.

Misty was an amazing subject. She's a beautiful woman to begin with and from what I gathered in her forward, she worked with Mr. Delman almost entirely on her on. She did her own makeup, wore her own costumes, etc. She doesn't seem to have had a diva attitude at all and I think her good nature came across in her facial expression in many of the portraits.

As lovely as many of these pictures were, the reason the book gets knocked down a star for me is that the order of the photos and the construction of the book itself leave something to be desired. There are several pictures that get cutoff in the middle because they're spread out across two pages, essentially cutting Misty's pose in two and taking away from the experience.

This was the first book I'd picked up regarding Misty Copeland and I'm curious to see what other books would have to say about her, especially if there was one that combined the artistic nature I saw here and a literary approach to the role she was embodying at the time.







All pictures, quotes, and videos belong to their respective owners. I use them here solely for the purpose of review and commentary.

Top 5 Wednesday: Characters You WOULDN'T Want to Trade Places With

Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Thoughts on Tomes, created by Gingerreadslainey. Check out the Goodreads group here.

There's often speculation as to what character we'd change places with in our favorite books, but what if we take a moment this week to think about the characters we wouldn't want to change places with/ That's the prompt for this week's Top 5 Wednesday and I think I've got some picks you'll agree with wholeheartedly.

Paul Sheldon, Misery

I would love to be a writer. I wouldn't mind being a writer like Paul Sheldon. The man had a super successful romance series that sold millions of copies and made him exceedingly rich. However, I sure as hell wouldn't want to trade place with him in this book because look who he ends up stuck with for the majority of it? Annie freaking Wilkes, that's who. Obsessed fan who kidnaps and maims her favorite author after the death of a beloved character? No thank you, I'll stay poor and a non-writer for now if it keeps me safe from her.

Kamala Khan, Ms. Marvel

I could barely get through high school as a normal kid, but as a super powered kid (she's an Inhuman, right?) it would be damned near impossible. Kamala's got to somehow keep up her normal life while protecting Jersey City from a whole host of problems and then she becomes an Avenger too? Geez Louise, as much as I'd love me some super powers, I would not want the responsibilities that Kamala get along with them.

The Little Boy, The Strange Library

The main character in this book isn't named, if I remember correctly, but that doesn't make his terror any less real. Going to the library, a supposed safe place filled with stories and wonder, only to be kidnapped and held captive with others underground for who knows how long? Um, no thank. Plus, it would ruin my love of reading.

Gigi, Bette, or June, Tiny Pretty Things

I wouldn't want to switch places with any of these girls for a variety of reasons. There's an insane amount of pressure that each faces from different sources, whether it be from a parent, society, or themselves. There is no good for any of them in this book. There's backstabbing, constant self doubt, an insane amount of paranoia. How any of them will make it out of this school alive is beyond me, but I'll have to read the sequel to find out, if I can bear it.

The Small Boy, The Ocean at the End of the Lane

This is another book where the main character is not named, at least not that I can remember. I think that this is a plot device that makes their role even creepier because it makes it that much easier to imagine yourself in their shoes. Now, why would I NOT want to be in the small boy's shoes?

Well, for one thing, his new babysitter is like Dolores Umbridge as a young woman. Oh, and did I mention she nearly incites the boy's father to the murder of his son? And the worm the boy has to pull from a seemingly endless hole in his foot? There are too many psychological horrors in this book and at that age I wouldn't have been sane for long. Heck, I don't think I'd be able to stand his circumstances much at this point in my life either.

The point is, the babysitter character who is some sort of otherworldly creature inflicts all sorts of torture upon a fragile mind and I can say, quite without a doubt, that I would never want to be in that position.

All pictures, quotes, and videos belong to their respective owners. I use them here solely for the purpose of review and commentary.

Top 10 Tuesday: Audio Books You Should Listen To

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme that is brought to us by The Broke & the Bookish. Check out the topic list here.

Audio books are an awesome invention. Ever since I got a subscription to Audible, I've been listening to more of them. I listen to them on my commute to one job, while working at the other, and sometimes when I have trouble sleeping I listen to an old favorite to help.

This week, I'm sharing with you ten of my favorite audio books, all of which are available through Audible for your listening pleasure.

10. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Narrated by Stephen Fry

This was a fun listen because I love Stephen Fry and he did a great job not only on this book but also as the voice of the Guide in the movie version of the book. While I didn't actually like the ending of the book all that much, that's a personal preference that doesn't have a bearing on Fry's performance of the work. He embodied the humor and the wit of Adams with ease; I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick listen that's still really good.

9. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda

This is probably the closest I'll ever get to hearing Lin-Manuel Miranda perform anything since he left Hamilton, but that's just fine. He had a heck of a job bringing two very different characters two life. Aristotle had a lot of anger and confusion to work through and Dante was apologetically himself and all that that entailed. To be able to switch back and forth between these two characters so seamlessly was an amazing thing to listen to.

8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Narrated by Jim Dale

This isn't my favorite Jim Dale work to make this list, as you'll see later, but it is still very good. Not only is this a fantastically magical tale about a circus that appears and disappears in the night, has tents that makes the impossible come true, and performers that defy imagination, it is narrated by a man who has a great deal of experience weaving these magicial words into an invisible net that traps you in the story world. You won't want to leave until the very last word.

7. The Dresden Files Series by Jim Butcher, Narrated by James Marsden

Jim Butcher sure knows his way around supernatural fiction, so not only do you get a good dose of a smartass, whipsmart wizard who knows his stuff, you get the perfect guy to embody this guy. You might know James Marsters as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's also appeared in Warehouse 13, Supernatural, and a whole host of other shows and each time his acting has shown that he can take on any persona. You see the evidence of that in his vocal work for this series.

There were a couple books in the series that he didn't narrate, if I remember correctly, but the ones he does are gems.

6. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, Narrated by the Author

One of the things that I love about Neil Gaiman books are that when they get turned into audio books, the odds are good that he will narrate them. The books often have a creepy element to them and he has the perfect voice to narrate such a story. This and Coraline are two of Gaiman's stories that take the most advantage of his vocal talents.

5. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Narrated by Jay Snyder, Brandon Rubin, Fred Berman, Lauren Fortgang, Roger Clark, Elizabeth Evans, and Tristan Morris

This audio book has one of the largest casts I've ever heard. I started it last week and listened to it quickly because it was so good. Each person brought the personality of the character to life in a bang up way. My favorite was probably Kaz, that insane genius. :)

4. The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer, Narrated by the Author

Not only is Amanda Palmer an all around badass of a person and an author, but she narrated her book wonderfully. The music mentioned in the book is actually in the audio book version which added a whole other level of enjoyment for those of us that don't have the cds.

3. The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye, Narrated By Steve West

This book was magical already, but when Steve West positively nails the Russian accents of all the characters, I fell in love with him as a narrator. I especially loved his portrayal of Ludmila, the baker from Cinderella Bakery.

2. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling, Narrated by Jim Dale

Jim Dale is one of the best narrators I've ever come across. He can slip into any role with ease and boy are there a lot of them, especially in this series.

1. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, Narrated by Kate Burton

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was already one of my favorite books, but hearing Kate Burton bring these characters to life with her narration really put it over the top. I have easily listened to this audio book five times. I finish it and I start it again, she is that good.

Review: Shadowboxing with Bukowski by Darrell Kastin

Shadowboxing with Bukowski by Darrell Kastin

Amazon  -  Barnes & Noble  -  Booksamillion

Shadowboxing with Bukowski (a memoir disguised as fiction, or a fictionalized memoir) is the tragicomic, cautionary tale of a young bookseller who struggles to keep his bookstore afloat in the harbor town of San Pedro, CA, where the infamous Charles Bukowski resides. Pushed to the edge by events beyond his control: his flailing marriage, the curmudgeonly ghost of the former owner, and the community that sees him as an outsider, the intrepid book lover fights the noble battle against mediocrity and apathy while in a moment of desperation his wife enlists Bukowski’s aid.

The full title which was later shorted was: Shadowboxing With Bukowski, or Memoir of a Severed Head. 

Rating: 1 Star

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love to read books about books. Books about libraries, bookstores, bookworks, I'm game. It's fun to see a novel centered around something I'm passionate about (the written word). Generally speaking, reading those books puts me into those settings when otherwise I can't be. If I'm stuck at home at least I can imagine myself surrounded by books, talking about those stories with other people in person, which can sometimes be overwhelming but can also be a lot of fun.

Shadowboxing with Bukowski started out as one of those types of books. The narrator felt like he could be a fellow book loving soul who I as a reader would be able to join on his journey of trying to save his dying bookshop. However, as the book progressed, I found myself disliking him more and more because his voice became more pretentious the further you read. He might have said things to the contrary, but every sentence was loaded with self importance and I couldn't stand it for stretches at a time.

The plot moves slowly enough, which I normally don't mind because that's generally what this sort of book is like. I could have forgiven it once more, but not with a narrator that sounds like he would rather be doing anything else than trying to save his store. I couldn't even finish the book, to be honest, his voice was that grating.

If you think you might like to check out book about book collectors or people who work in bookshops, I'd recommend Used and Rare: Travels in the Book World by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone or Shelf Life: Romance, Mystery, Drama, and Other Page-Turning Adventures From a Year in a Bookstore by Suzanne Strempek Shea.







All pictures, quotes, and videos belong to their respective owners. I use them here solely for the purpose of review and commentary.