The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber

Title: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker

Author: Leanna Renee Hieber

Date Read: 21.February.2012

On TBR for: 38 days

Format: Paperback

Source: Gift

Challenges: 2012 Outdo Yourself




The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker starts with six children being called by some mystical creature who has chosen them to be The Guard. Their task is to fight demons and evil spirits and generally save humanity. Oh, and they must also wait and prepare for the coming of a seventh one, someone so powerful that will ensure they win their battle against the evil ones once and for all, The Prophecy (cue to dramatic music and lightning).

Flash forward some time, well, about 18 years, and we have young Percy Parker entering the prestigious Athens Academy (even if she is a little older than the majority of applicants). She is intelligent and a genius when it comes to languages. Maths, however, befuddle the poor girl (this point is so stressed out that I was surprised she could even do sums). And since Miss Percy Parker is the main character in this book, she had to have something else to set her apart, wouldn't she? Well, she does have a lot to set her apart. For starters, she is an albino, which means everyone thinks she is a ghost at first. And then there is the fact that she can see and talk to real ghosts and other unseemingly creatures. All of this means this girl is a pretty much a loner, even if she manages to make a couple of good friends throughout the book.

And all along The Guard are still fighting the evil ghosts and demons, and looking for the The Prophecy (even if they are losing a bit of hope on this part).

This book caught my eye because it combined mythology, gothic elements and Victorian Era, which in itself is not a strange combination but it just appealed to me. However, it turned out to be a disappointing book.

What bugged me most with this book was the writing style. I can't really explain why it didn't work for me, but it just didn't. And then, after reading the prologue, I already had a fairly good idea how the story was going to play out, so the next 300 and so pages seemed a bit pointless.

So, what did I like about this book? The characters did grow on me (eventually), especially Alexi and Percy. I liked to read about their romance, and I did think they deserved each other. And, in a way, the fact that the Big Bad Guy and lackeys seemed like something out of Sailor Moon did score some points with me, just because it made the story as silly as it should have been. I did like the mythology and how it was woven in the story, both Persephone and the Firebird.

But in the end it was not enough to make me like this story much. So, that's it for me regarding Miss Percy Parker and her tales.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

This Book on: LibraryThing | GoodReads | BookDepository UK | Book Depository US | Amazon UK| Amazon US

Ins and Outs: February and March

Spoilers and Nuts has been very sparse in updates lately - I have said before that the new job takes much of my time, and the truth is that when I get home my head is so mushy that I do very little (to say nothing of my eyes, that after hours spent staring at a screen itch and ache and water at will). And so there was no Ins and Outs in February, and almost no reviews in March. That doesn't mean I haven't been getting more books and reading, although the latter has also been going a bit more slowly.

But here are the books I got and read in the last 2 months.

Ins

Bought

February

• El mapa del tiempo [The Map of Time] by Félix J. Palma *already read, but now I have my own copy!*
• Mi nombre es Jamaica [My name is Jamaica] by José Manuel Fajardo
• A storm of swords by George R. R. Martin
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

  

March

• Magic bites by Ilona Andrews
• Firebirds rising by Sharyn November and more
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• Fables. Vol. 2 : animal farm by Bill Willingham
• Breviário das más inclinações [Breviary of evil intents] by José Riço Direitinho

Bookmooch

March
Politically correct bedtime stories by James Finn Garner

Freebies

Won on a giveaway

February
Night reigns by Dianne Duvall
*Thanks to The Book Vixen and Dianne Duvall*

Gift

March
Mundo do fim do mundo [The world of the end of the world] by Luis Sepúlveda
Luis Sepúlveda was in Porto at the beginning of March, and my mum went to the book signing event and got me this book :)

Outs

February
The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko [Review]


Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn
A rather sweet and fun book, lent by Jen7waters. I was surprised to like it as much as I did. Great as a fast read for when you need something sweet.

Rating: 4 out 5


The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
I wanted to like this book, I really did. But the writing just didn't agree with me, and I didn't really care about what most of the characters where doing. I did like that it had some mythology in it, but overall, it was a bit disappointing.

Rating: 3 out of 5


Caravana [Caravan] by Rui Manuel Amaral
A collection of poetry and short fiction that I don't know where I got it from. Not my kind of read, and it felt too pretentious most of the times. Here and there I could find a turn of the phrase that I like, only to be followed either by a) the end, b) something that made no sense in any way, c) something vulgar, d) all of the above

Rating: 1.5 out of 5


The woman in black by Susan Hill
Also lent by Jen7waters, because I wanted to read it before going to see the movie. Not bad, but rather predictable. It does leave a eerie feeling.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5



Fullmetal alchemist. 7 by Hiromu Arakawa
The manga is still as good as the anime! 'Nuff said.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5


March
The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells
It took so long to read this (I blame it for being an ebook), but I'm glad I kept reading. Very cool worldbuilding, and a nice story. I will go on reading this series and this author!

Rating: 4 out 5


Politically correct bedtime stories by James Finn Garner
A collection of retelling of the famous fairy tales, now politically correct. At first it is rather fun, but then it gets repetitive.

Rating: 3.5 out 5


Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Another that I wanted to read before going to see the movie (I have yet to see it). Reminded me a lot of Everything is Illuminated, although maybe not as wacky. At first I was loving it, both the story and the writing style. But as it went on I started to lose a bit of that love. Still, a good book, that really makes you think.

Rating: 4 out of 5


TBR change: +5 (From 220 to 225)

Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko

 


Title: The Night Watch

Author: Sergei Lukyanenko

Date Read: 12-Feb-2012

On TBR for: Way too long, from before I kept any sort of record

Format: Paperback

Source: Gift, I think. Either Bday or Xmas

Challenges: 2012 Outdo Yourself, Off the Shelf 2012




The Night Watch was sitting on my shelf for so long, despite having people telling me it was good, that I had to challenge myself to read it. And read it I did (finally).

First, what put me off this book mostly was the fact it had vampires. And this isn't my dislike for teenage vampire drama, but my relationship with this kind of creatures: it's a love-hate thing, where sometimes I really like them, but most of the times I can't see the fascination with them. I probably should have paid better attention to the back cover and the reviews, because the bloodsuckers are not really the focus of the story.

So, The Night Watch is set in Moscow, which is refreshing as most of the books I have read set in Russia are written by long dead authors, and are pretty depressing (not because they aren't good, it's just the mood of them). But this is a Russia (well, a world) where paranormal creatures and magic exist. Only the general population isn't really aware of them (so it could actually be our world). A world where saying something “Damn you” when someone gets in front of you in a line will actually damn them (even if just a little).

Meet Anton, our (reluctant) hero. He works for the Night Watch, which are actually the good guys, the guys of Light, that keep watch on the evil ones, the ones of Darkness, who operate mainly during the night. On a side note, the Dark ones have a Day Watch to make sure the good guys don't do too much good, upsetting the balance of things and breaking their long-struck deal.

Back to Anton, then. He is really just a programmer, he keeps telling that to his boss throughout the book, but he is required to do some field work as well, and so, like the good employee he is, he puts on his headphones (and his minidisk walkman, that was the height of technology when this book was written but now it just sounds really old – so much I was amazed they had cellphones) and goes on patrolling the streets (and the subway lines as well).

The book starts when he is in a test – he has to identify a threat and solve it. But this guy is good at what he does, and even better at what he normally doesn't do, and identifies two threats, takes care of the one he was supposed to deal with and then goes on to help with the other one.

And then adventures follow. And twists, and an owl appears! (I am not joking, there is sidekick owl in the first story). And you get thrown in this really rich world, where you, like Anton, doubt if the Night Watch boss is really a good guy and has your (Anton's) best interests in mind. You get to meet his co-workers, some with always a story to tell, some mysterious; and get a glimpse of his problems with relationships and his level of magic, and what it means to be good.

I am not sure what I was expecting of this book, but certainly it wasn't this. But I liked it, not just because of Anton, but the entire world and the way magic and goodness (or evilness) works. I'll be reading the next book in the series: Day Watch.


Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Reviews: Floresta de Livros

This Book on: LibraryThing | GoodReads | BookDepository UK | Book Depository US | The Night Watch| Amazon US| Wook | Wook

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'd Give A Theme Song To

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week a theme for a list is suggested. This week's theme is Top Ten Books I'd Give A Theme Song To. Only I'm going to do this a bit different and make it about my relationship with books and music.

About a year ago I made a post about this, so this is a theme to which I have given some thought. When making this top I pondered on using the examples used before or not (I also pondered on whether to do it at all, but that was a matter of having the time), but in the end I decided to include them - I just couldn't find many more examples.

So here it, the soundtrack list:

The obvious

Soundtracks of movies based on the books - self explanatory

North and South

 *Extra: gratuitous scenes of Richard Armitage and Edinburgh*

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind



I wasn't going to put this song (medley?) but it is so good that I have to. But really, I mostly imagine the part at minute 5:30 till 6:30 while reading the mangas.


Everything is Illuminated

Conditioned Response

I was listening to this while reading

Tehanu



It has very little to do with the story, but the all feeling of the song reminds me so much of Tehanu.

They made me think it!

The connection is suggested by the author or the artist

Good Omens

In this case, the authors. Queen plays a major role on this book, or at least in Crowley's Bentley. So, yeah, Queen is always on my mind when I so much as look at this book.

The Silmarillion

Here, the artist is to blame, basing an entire album on the book.

It's all in the name (or the words!)

The Trees: A Collection




I was discovering Korpiklaani, and With Trees was (and still is) one my favourite songs. I immediately had higher expectations of this book because I just associated it with the song.


Daughter of the Forest

The day our house collapsed
I went down stream.
I followed the swans
Like I follow my dreams.

oh! I was living on borrowed time in a
borrowed house for a borrowed crime.

Yeah, I pretty much think of Sorcha at the beginning of this song.


Book of Imaginary Beings

This could also be in the They made me think it category, since IAMX/Sneaker Pimps/Chris Corner [choose the right one] used the book as inspiration. But I didn't know it when I picked the book up, so I associated them because of the similar name.

Later, much Later

White Cat



Some time after I read White Cat, I started to listen to She Wants Revenge again, and it dawned on me how much their songs fit this book, especially Tear You Apart. Maybe not really in theme, but the whole feel of it just reminds me of this book

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Title: Devil in Winter

Author: Lisa Kleypas

Date Read: January 28^th

Format: Physical Book - Mass Trade Paperback

Source: Borrowed from a friend

Challenges: 2012 Outdo Yourself


Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

Sebastian's reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden's good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

But Evie's proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another of the dashing libertine's callously discarded broken hearts -- which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions...or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.


A disclaimer first: Historical Romances are not my thing. I knew this when I started this book. But Jen's reviews made me wonder if I was missing on something good by not giving them a chance, and then the book bingo asked for a romance book, and Jen begged to help me choose one. I gave her carte blanche to pick a book for me (actually, it was three, but she only picked one historical romance).

And now to the review. Devil in Winter is the third in the series of the Wallflowers, and coming mid-way to the party, there were parts of the story that I was missing. But all in all, it stands well on its own. Even if you really don't know why Sebastian St. Vincent is such a bad catch (and such a rascal), in a few pages the author puts you up to speed, while you also get to know Evie, a shy young woman that takes a really bold step to escape the clutches of her family.

The action doesn't take long to happen, soon enough the not-actually-in-love-couple is eloping to Scotland (and finally I understood why everyone elopes to Scotland), and after the consummation of the marriage, they are back again on the road, to return to London. And why do I mention this? Because this long trip London-Scotland-London was the perfect excuse for these two to get to know each other (and myself to get to know them). And I enjoyed that, the initial dislike of one another (well, that was mostly on Evie's part), the realization that the other party was not as bad as they may seem, and the unlikely friendship between them (among other things).

Once in London the story gains more of a plot, losing a bit of its character-driven part. There is a father close to death, and a club in need to be run, as well as family to be dealt with. And Lord St. Vincent does come to the rescue, surprising me, on two accounts. First, because I wasn't expecting it of him, and second, because I hadn't realized I had such a thing as expectations where he was concerned.

But, I'm afraid to say, the plot part was what made me lose a bit of interest on this book – I felt it dragged the drama a bit too long for my liking. It is strange, I usually like ploty books. But I was content with the character-development, with seeing Evie and St. Vincent fall in love, and maybe the whole family trying to get their hands on the naïve girl's money was just too dull for me. To me, the strong points of this book are, without a doubt, Evie and Sebastian, and their growing friendship/love. But that is usually my type of romance, even on non-romance specific books.

So, did I like? Yes, even if there were things in it that bored me. Will I read the other books in the series? Probably not. But this was a light read, good for long train travels (or maybe not, if you are afraid people will read over your shoulder).

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Other Reviews:  Cuidado com o Dálmata

This Book on: LibraryThing | GoodReads | BookDepository UK | Book Depository US | Amazon UK| Amazon US| Wook

Picture Puzzle #2

This is a new meme/contest kind of thing, created by Jen @ Cuidado com o Dálmata, which is really fun.

The rules, are as follows:

1. Choose a book
2. Find pictures to symbolize each word of the title (you can ignore the articles, though). The pictures don't need to be the literal sense of the word - homographs and homonyms can be so much fun!
3. Put it up so people can guess
4. You can provide hints, especially if your book/choice of pictures is too hard to guess.

Another week, another Picture Puzzle (I humbly apologize for the lack of reviews - I'll get on with them). Here are my books (rather easy, I'm afraid):

Book 1:

Book 2:

Picture Puzzle #1

This is a new meme/contest kind of thing, created by Jen @ Cuidado com o Dálmata, which is really fun.

The rules, are as follows:

1. Choose a book
2. Find pictures to symbolize each word of the title (you can ignore the articles, though). The pictures don't need to be the literal sense of the word - homographs and homonyms can be so much fun!
3. Put it up so people can guess
4. You can provide hints, especially if your book/choice of pictures is too hard to guess.

And here are my books:

Book 1:

Book 2:

Both titles in English, both are books that I loved.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books that Broke my Heart

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week a theme for a list is suggested. This week theme is Books that broke my heart a little.

I'm not going to differentiate between a little, a bit and a lot. These books broke my heart in some way - some of them managed to put it back to together, some left the scars still showing, some left it shattered forever more.

It was not easy to pick these books, though. Some were obvious to me, recent reads, those that really changed the way I see things. But like with everything else, time is a great healer, so it was hard to look at a title and figure out if that one broke my heart, and how it did so. With that in mind, this top 10 will not have 10 books. Oh, and it will probably have loads of spoilers. Proceed with care.



The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This is one of the freshest ones in memory, and in heart. It took a while before I had the courage to pick this book up - after all, it's set in Germany during WWII, heartbreak was bound to happen. But the amount of it was just... too much - deaths (oh, Rudy) and tragedy, and the strength of the main character - it all left my heart in pieces, and I'm still nursing it.






Plain Kate by Erin Bow
Plain Kate was another of last year's books that broke my heart. The story was sad, but what broke my heart the most was not what happened to Kate, but the antagonist of this story, whom I loved almost as most as Kate. And then there is Taggle, but at least with him, my heart was able to heal a bit.

Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
This is a book that I read for the first time oh, so long ago, but reread it a countless times since. It still shocks me to see a beloved character go, and Sorcha's departure is simply heartbreaking. But this is a case of a book that helped me grow, and be who I am.

La hormiga que quiso ser astronauta by Félix J. Palma
The way this book broke my heart is different from all the others - it didn't kill some beloved character or made love simply unattainable. It shattered my illusions that life can be magical. Surreality was just part of the main character, a Peter Pan complex of not wanting to grow up. And I can relate to that on so many levels...

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Another one dealing with WWII, and the hatred and prejudice that lead to it. The story is poignant, with silliness in the mix, which doesn't help soften the blow. It breaks my heart, and tries to mend it with laughter, but never intends to hide the scars it leaves behind.

Oath Breaker by Michelle Paver
Oath Breaker is the last in this list, and more of an afterthought. I read it some time ago, so time has helped me forget, but it's also a book that managed to heal my heart along the way. It starts by killing a character I learned to love - Bale - and that was part of why it hurt, it was not an instant-love kind of character, there was time and suspicion and surprise devoted to him. And of course, this death had its consequences - especially with Torak who felt the loss as I did, and the guilt that I wanted (so much) to pin on him. But it made the character grow, and he never once forgot what lead him in his quest, even if he came to realize that guilt and hatred and revenge were not doing him any good.

Liebster blog

This post is in Portuguese.

Recebi este selo vonito da Carla @ Cuidado com o Dálmata e da Ana @ Floresta de Livros. Thanks Girls!

O que fazer:

1 – Link de volta com o blogger que lho deu;

2 – Cole o selinho no seu blogue;

3 – Escolha 5 blogues para repassá-lo, que tenham menos de 200 seguidores;

4 – Deixar um comentário avisando que estão recebendo o selinho.

 

E agora, escolher 5 blogues a quem passar isto? E tenho de ver quantos seguidores!? Bem, 2 escolhas óbvias seriam as meninas que me fizeram tag neste jogo, mas vamos seleccionar outros 5 blogues, shall we?

 

1 - Bookeater/Booklover

2 - Livros, Livros e mais Livros

3 - Cantos Quebrados

4 - Este meu cantinho

5 - Ler e Reflectir

E é tudo! Agora façam o obséquio de ir visitar estes blogues :D