A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet #1) (Kairos #1) by Madeleine L'Engle // BOOK REVIEW

“I don't understand it any more than you do, but one thing I've learned is that you don't have to understand things for them to be.”

Book: A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet #1, Kairos #1)

Author: Madeleine L’Engle

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Children’s

Synopsis: It was a dark and stormy night.

Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure—one that will threaten their lives and our universe.

Winner of the 1963 Newbery Medal, A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in Madeleine L'Engle's classic Time Quintet.

What I think about it…

The Story

Lots of traveling – or tessering – and fun adventures, the story revolves around Meg, her youngest brother Charles Wallace and her schoolmate turned friend Calvin to find Meg’s and Charles Wallace’s physicist father who tessered / wrinkled somewhere and was imprisoned by IT. With the guidance of the Mrs. Ws, it is up to Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin to save their father and win the fight against the Black Thing that’s threatening not just earth but the entirety of the universe. 

The Life Lessons

There are lots of life lessons that I picked up in this book. One is to embrace our own uniqueness; then accepting the truth that we can’t know everything; third is that not all things can be expressed in words and that is okay; and lastly, that above everything else and at the end of the day, love will always win.

My Verdict

This is weirdly magical (if ever there is such a feeling) and I don’t know if it’s aimed for kids but I so felt the message of this book. I love how L’Engle inserted bible scriptures here and there. Though it was kinda difficult for me to imagine what kind of world was out there outside of earth, it was still enjoyable and again, pure magic.

MY RATING

★★★☆☆

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe #1) by Benjamin Alire Sáenz // BOOK REVIEW

“I bet you could sometimes find all the mysteries of the universe in someone's hand.”

Book: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe #1)

Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

Synopsis: Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

My Initial Thoughts…

The synopsis didn’t give much. I thought it was too vague and when I read the book, it is in fact vague. What kind of story is this? A story of how Ari adore Dante so much?

I was a few pages away from chapter one when I realized I kinda, sorta don’t like Ari. He is overbearing and I can already tell that early that I’m not gonna like this book because of him. I’ve read countless YA books that deal with teen angst but this one is so annoying and cringey. There’s so much complaining, whining and hatred here that I kinda felt it was absurd. I know right off the bat that I’m not gonna like it as much as my friends and people who I follow on Goodreads do and I know this is an unpopular opinion. For me, Ari has so much hate for everything and I don’t like it that he’s putting Dante and Dante’s family in a pedestal. I hate it when a protagonist hates his family without a reason at all when his family is obviously trying. And his mom is right when she said that Ari doesn’t know how loved he is because he is busy hating everyone. He made up too many things in his head. For a guy who likes trouble and is not afraid to fight people, he is a coward.

The Story

Ari is an angry teen. He has a love-hate relationship with his parents and sisters. Ari’s father was a former soldier who fought in Vietnam and came back with internal battles no one can understand. The first few chapters pretty much narrated how Ari wants his father to communicate with him. They do talk but communicate? Not so. Ari’s hatred towards his family grew because they don’t want to talk about his brother, Bernardo, who is in prison. Not a single photograph of his brother can be seen around the house and no one ever talk about Bernardo as if he’s dead. Because Ari felt like his life is someone else’s idea, he decided to go to the local community pool to be alone and there he met Dante. Two young loners with characters that are polar opposites spent that summer together and discover the secrets of the universe.

Towards the Ending…

I didn’t know that I was halfway through the book until I’m there. It is a very slow book that I can say that there’s really nothing exciting happening. I was still annoyed with Ari because though it is his point of view, I don’t know why he was thinking the way he was thinking even with all those words he’s saying. The book being focused on his mind doesn’t help because he himself is confused so what more am I, right, I’m just a naïve reader.

Anyways, all the feelings in this book were right towards the end. When he started talking about his feelings and his dad and mom started to talk about their feelings. I thought then that if they only just communicated what they’re really feeling, there’s no story (like this book) to tell. As much as I was annoyed with Ari, I kinda tear-up during those intense conversation with his family. See, Ari, this is the life lesson in this story: you’re not the only person who’s struggling. Your father doesn’t talk about Vietnam War for a reason; your family didn’t talk about your brother for a reason. Ari, you’re just a fifteen year old boy who’s busy whining and complaining about life. Sometimes people don’t talk not just because they don’t want to but because there in the silence is comfort.

What didn’t work for me…

It was just so much hatred and confusion here. The first minute Ari is happy then the next he’s mad and I need to back read just to confirm why he suddenly became angry at certain situations. The emotions of the characters in this book is so confusing, absurd and all over the place. There was this one scene where Ari and Dante’s family went to play bowling. Their parents go first and then Ari and Dante met them there and I think they were okay then because Ari picked up Dante at their house and they were okay, they were even laughing. So they played bowling and everything was okay, again, they were laughing and talking. And then when they go home Dante was suddenly angry with no reason at all (or did I just missed it?). I don’t know, maybe Dante was not okay even before that bowling trip but being Dante, he wouldn’t act as if everything is okay when it’s not. I like him more than Ari but I think their roles here are super cringey and cheesy and scripted. This whole book is just so cringey and kinda unbelievable at all. Also, also, it never occurred to Ari that he was gay until his parents told him? I mean, with all that thinking and making up things in his head, he didn’t realized that? Okay, so maybe his life is really someone else’s idea then.

My Verdict

It was a decent read and I thought it was okay although I would say that there are events here that are just too illogical to be believable.

MY RATING

★★☆☆☆

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie // BOOK REVIEW

Book: And Then There Were None

Author: Agatha Christie

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Synopsis: First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. A famous nursery rhyme is framed and hung in every room of the mansion:

"Ten little boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there then there were seven. Seven little boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none."

When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.

What I think about it…

It was just okay.

I was expecting more from this book because I’ve seen all those five stars and good reviews.

The Characters

I didn’t feel anything for them. I feel like I was not engaged in this book as I thought I would be. They are all detestable in their own ways.

The Story

At first I was trying to look for clues and trying to keep up with the story but then I thought that the author didn’t really drop any clues for the readers to know what’s really happening. The confession in the end - the supposedly surprise ending - didn’t surprise me at all because I was already expecting that that’s gonna happen – that someone, most probably the killer, will act as if he was murdered so as not to raise any suspicions from the other guests. What I didn’t guess is who the killer is. But when the killer’s identity was revealed, I didn’t even raise an eyebrow because I actually didn’t care at all.

My Verdict

Fast-paced and quick read and I kinda liked how it was written. I like quick reads but I think the downside is I was not focused and engaged with fast-paced books like this. I mean, okay, I hate slow books but this one is like mega super fast that I didn’t know it was the end until I’m in the About Agatha Christie part.

MY RATING

★★☆☆☆

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (Magic Cleaning #1) by Marie Kondō // BOOK REVIEW

Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (Magic Cleaning #1)

Author: Marie Kondō (Author), Cathy Hirano (Translator)

Genre: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development

Synopsis: Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house "spark joy" (and which don't), this international best seller featuring Tokyo's newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home - and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

What I think about it…

I’m not a filthy person (that sounds bad) but I’m actually not quite tidy as well. I’d like to consider myself in the middle. I clean my clutter every other day or if I’m not feeling lazy. The thing is, I chose to pick up this book because I’ve been seeing Marie Kondō in my YouTube recommendations and one of my favorite tarot readers on YouTube recommended that this is  good read and since I’m quite behind with my reading challenge and this is a quick read, I've decided to give it a try. But it’s quite boring and redundant.

My Verdict

I honestly don’t know if I have the right to give it a review because I just skimmed through the book. Again, because I thought Kondō kept repeating herself throughout the whole thing, I decided to just read the title and skip the discussion. But if you're in for a discussion about how you've been cleaning your home wrong your whole life, read it.

MY RATING

★★☆☆☆

The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater // BOOK REVIEW + RANTS

“You're asking me to define an abstract concept that no one has managed to explain since time began. You sort of sprang it on me," Gansey said. "Why do we breathe air? Because we love air? Because we don't want to suffocate. Why do we eat? Because we don't want to starve. How do I know I love her? Because I can sleep after I talk to her. Why?”

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Book: The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal

Synopsis: All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

What I think about it…

Finally, the conclusion of The Raven Cycle series! I have so much to talk about but I don’t know how to talk about it without spoiling it so I decided this review will contains lots and lots of spoilers… and rants. But to sum up my feelings for the whole series, I will still stand with what I said in the review of the first book (The Raven Boys) that this is going to be a favorite although the book two and three is not much fun for me. I love all the characters here and everything else is solid.

What I liked less…

You see, even if it’s one of my favorites, there are some things here that, I would say, confused the hell outta me and there are questions that sprout on my mind with that ending.

• I personally think that Gansey and Blue’s love story was set aside to give way to Ronan and Adam’s. I mean, of course they’re not the only main characters in the story but given that synopsis in book one and all, I thought that their love story is gonna be the thing.
• I don’t know if I missed the part where Gansey knew that he’s going to die when he is kissed by Blue. I was surprised to read that he already knew that he’s going to die from Blue’s kiss but how did he know that he is Blue’s true love? I know Blue told him that her true love is going to die if she kisses that true love but did Blue told her that it is him (the true love)? Or Gansey just connected the dots?
• So it was mentioned countless of times that there are three sleepers – one being the demon and then Gwenllian and the last one who? When they found Glendower, he is dead. Dead. Dead for so centuries. They can’t wake him up and so I thought that made him not the third sleeper because he’s not sleeping. Again, he’s dead. And then there are events that seemed to tell us that Gansey is the Raven King like (1) In Blue Lily, Lily Blue when he fell in the first cave and then suddenly there are ravens that began to shout, “The Raven King, make way for the Raven King,” and Gansey said he’s coming out of the pit; (2) when the three women who looked like Blue appeared in Cabeswater and they’re walking towards Gansey saying, “Make way for the Raven King”; and (3) they woke him up in the ending and as the last tree from Cabeswater fell, there was something that said, “Make way for the Raven King,” and then Blue said, “Wake up.” So I thought, is he the Raven King? Do Blue, Ronan and Adam know about that? Coincidence? But I’m paying attention when I was reading book one to know that The Raven Boys do not believe in coincidence and so am I.
• That was it for Noah? What? No. Maggie Stiefvater didn’t give his character a justice. He’s one of the Raven Boys and his character was left like that? Also I’m confused with time being a circle or whatever or whatnot and it turned out that it is Noah who whispered something to Gansey and not Glendower but still it’s confusing. So why is Noah’s spirit still with them then? For what other purpose? To poke Blue’s eyes out?
• In my personal opinion, Persephone’s death is completely unnecessary. I mean, why did she die? What reasons? To teach Adam what? I don’t get it. I think Stiefvater killed her just to have some bang in Blue Lily, Lily Blue’s ending.
• Some characters are there for completely no reason at all first one being Malory, I mean, okay he helped Gansey during his search for the ley line abroad but I don’t think his character helped a lot to progress the story when he appeared in book three. Then there are the Laumonier triplets who I thought was really scary and a worthy opponent but then I also thought we’re already in the ending and Stiefvater is still trying to introduce us to problems. What is she up to? And then Jimi – heck I didn’t know about Jimi, Orla’s mother, until this book. We were introduced to Jimi only to know that she and Orla was sent away somewhere to keep them safe. No, I think Stiefvater only wants to get rid of as much characters as she can because it’s the end and there’s really nothing for them.
• Also I need more from Neeve. Her half chapter doesn’t even discuss why she’s that way. I mean, okay, she wants more but what’s up with waking up the demon? And she died just like that? She isn’t even needed in this whole series so why make her character.
• I need to know what happened to other characters like Artemus and Gwenllian, are they gonna stay in this world and not aged? Also, I thought there was something more about why Artemus is acting cowardly but there’s no explanation at all. Why was he so distant? And I don’t like how crazy Gwenllian is like why does Stiefvater made her that way? Just to make it appear like there’s some kind of a mystery and in the end not even addressing it? Heck. What happened to Mr. Gray and Maura’s love life? Declan and Matthew? What happened to the people in the gathering and the demon? When Gansey died, the demon just disappeared like that? No more details?

The Ending

Now let’s talk about that ending. I made my point that I think Gansey is The Raven King but his death was delivered like that. I want more, I was expecting more drama and more tears but there’s none. And I love Gansey. Blue, Ronan and Adam love Gansey and I know that for a fact but it felt like Henry Cheng is more hurt and in pain when Gansey died than those three. The three books build that up – Gansey’s death – and that was it? Again. I. Want. More.

The thing with Glendower is quite satisfying because I don’t know if I can handle it if he is, in fact alive. I didn’t understand that thing with Artemus and Gwenllian but with Glendower, its fine. But what’s sad is that they don’t get to make a wish for Noah to come back to life but I also think that it’s okay. But again, Noah deserves a good ending. Also, I’d like to know where the myth that Glendower is actually alive and that you can ask him for a favor comes from because damn Gansey was expecting so much from it and I was expecting so much more from it.

My Verdict

To sum up my The Raven Cycle experience, I love it. It’s just that I felt like the ending was rushed and I don’t know if I was the only one with so much confusion like that. I didn’t know if it was explained in the book and I just missed it. I love it. Still one of my favorite series. Crazy ride my Raven Boys.

MY RATING

★★★★☆

Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater // BOOK REVIEW

“I'm glad you misdialed."
"Well. Easy mistake to make," she said. Might do it again." A very, very long pause. She opened her mouth to fill it, then changed her mind and didn't. She was shivering again, even though she wasn't cold with the pillow on her legs.
"Shouldn't," Gansey said finally. "But I hope you do.”

Book: Blue Lily, Lily (The Raven Cycle #3)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal

Synopsis: Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things, though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.

Mothers can disappear.

Visions can mislead.

Certainties can unravel.

What I think about it…

The Characters

I believe this book is more focused on Blue, her psychic family (including Calla and Persephone) and Adam.

There’s the introduction to new characters such as the man behind Mr. Grayman and then we get to meet Malory this time. Just a little spoiler, I honestly don’t see the sense of Malory coming to Henrietta. I don’t reckon he did something particularly remarkable while he was there. Also there are deaths here that I don’t think is necessary. It’s just sad and distasteful.

The Story

They are now looking for some caves that might be where Glendower was buried. But the dilemma is there are three sleepers. One who they should wake up, one who they should never wake up and the last is the one in between.

What I liked less…

I used to love history. It was one of my favorite subjects way back in high school and I even topped the history quiz bees for two consecutive years but here I am getting super bored and overwhelmed by how confusing the back story of this book is. I mean I love the idea, the plot of this book and at this point (come on I’m already on the third book) I should have understand everything that is going on and yet I’m so clueless, so lost. I cannot say anything bad about the author’s writing cos I find it quirky and funny at times so I would say that what I didn’t like about the story is that when the characters started to act dumb just like in horror movies when the protagonist is in a house and the lights went off and he should run for his life and yet what he did is to continue entering the said house to locate the light switch and that’s when the serial killer appears. It’s like that dumbness in this book. The characters here know how dangerous scrying is and yet, and yet…

My Verdict

I am confused as ever but and I don’t dwell on my irritation cos I love the characters in this book. There is so much going on and yet I feel like nothing is actually happening. I’m wondering how this story is even progressing and yet here I am in book three.

MY RATING

★★★☆☆

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater // BOOK REVIEW

“I wish you could be kissed, Jane,' he said. 'Because I would beg just one off you. Under all this.' He flailed an arm toward the stars.”

Book: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal

Synopsis: Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…

What I think about it…

The Characters

This book revolves more around Ronan Lynch, one of the Raven Boys and the dream thief, and his family. Ronan is, as usual, the snake and his badass self. Here I got to understand him more and got to know more about his family.

There are also some appearances of Matthew, the youngest of the Lynch siblings, and not much of Declan. 

Joseph Kavinsky, also, has some major parts here and his story is quite interesting but since I’m already reading the Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle Book #3), there’s still not much background of why he was what he was. If there was no explanation whatsoever regarding that then I will be left hanging.

The rest of the Raven Boys are still here (of course!) and still funny as ever. The ever scholarly Gansey, the mysterious Noah and then Adam. Adam, I think this is also his book as much as this is Ronan’s. Sometimes, what annoys me most about him is that he always thinks that people around him pity him but I don’t think that’s the case with Gansey. I think Gansey only want to help Adam and not to rub his wealth in Adam’s face. Adam and his pride is annoying.

Then there’s Blue and her psychic family. It was kinda blurry to me what kind of relationship Adam and she had. I don’t think its mutual understanding or whatever. There are lots of unsaid things between them and it’s scary that once it’s been said it’s gonna hurt one of them real bad – and I think it’s Adam. 

The Story 

In this book we got to see and learn more about Ronan’s family and their secrets and the secrets of some other characters too. Book one showed that the Raven Boys are not the only ones who are after the ley line – because there’s Whelk – and though he is dead there are still others who are after it. There’s this Gray man (the hit man who works for someone) who is after the Greywaren. But what exactly is that Greywaren and why are there so many people who are willing to kill just to get their hands on it?

My Verdict

This is not as fun or interesting as the first book. There are lots of vocabularies and I need to keep up with it and its confusing. Sometimes I have to go back a few paragraphs just to keep up. But I still love the Raven Boys! Them dissing each other, burning each other is so funny to me like they are #SquadGoals! This is still one of my favorite series though it's only three stars. Lol.

MY RATING

★★★☆☆