Brightly by Kaye Thornbrugh COVER REVEAL

Title- Brightly
Series- Flicker Series # 2
By- Kaye Thornbrugh
Publication Date- Fall 2013
Genre- YA

Strange Places (Jefferson Smith)

Synopsis:
Spunky and irreverent, 13-year-old Tayna is every villain's worst nightmare: an uncooperative victim who refuses to play by his rules.
After living her entire life in a cruel orphanage, Tayna discovers that she may never have actually been an orphan, and flees from nunnish captivity to search for her real family. But time is running out and she has two entire worlds to search: one filled with shopping malls and televisions, and another filled with Brownies, Djin and magic!

Review:
When the author agreed to send me a copy of this book, I was extremely excited to start reading it, because the premise was so good, yet left me wondering what it meant and how was the story developing around those ideas. When I started this book, back in February, I knew I was holding something special (not my tablet, but what I was looking at in the screen). Unfortunately, life got in the way, school, scouts, exams, reading slumps, so I would like to apologize to the author right now for the long wait for this review. When I was finally able to continue reading this book this month, it was like the world of Tayna had changed completely, because I could not put the book down. It caught my attention from the moment I laid my eyes on the page and I only went to sleep when I had finished the book.
Jefferson Smith has such a lyrical, witty and hilarious writing style, his characters are relatable and compelling and we get so emotionally attached to them that when something happens to one of them we feel it and we suffer with them and we laugh and we think about the meaning they give to this story.
That was something I really enjoyed in 'Strange Places': the phlosophy, the life lessons, the meaning hidden within the words.
There is an adventure around every corner and a new friend to save behind every tree, and in Tayna we find an hilarious and intelligent female main character - one of my favourites, for sure!
Life and death and magic... it all comes together to create a real masterpiece of fiction.
There's something about Jefferson Smith's enormous creativity that just makes us want to absorb every word and even want to live in this world and have Djinn and a Story Uncle as friends to help us out in our ride.
In the end, we are left with a fantastic cliffhanger, that will force everyone to read the sequel when it comes out.
To finish of this review, I will highlight this amazing event that happened from the first page to the last: both Tayna and the author's writing developed as we, readers, got more and more imersed in the story.
So, without any other words in the english language to tell you how I felt about this book, I'll just ensure you that if I ever find a fisical copy of this book in a bookshop, I will definitely buy it to support this incredible writer... and I will definitely want to read the sequel and Smith's other works!



The author with his daughters, who had a very important role in this book.
http://creativityhacker.ca/

Visit the author's website at http://creativityhacker.ca/.

The Fault in Our Stars (John Green)

Título: The Fault in Our Stars

Autor: John Green

Páginas: 324

Capa: Dura

Sinopse:
Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Opinião:
Este livro é o exemplo perfeito de que uma história trágica e emotiva pode ser, simultâneamente, recheada de humor.
É de apontar a escrita cuidada e inteligente de John Green, as suas personagens reais e bem estruturadas e os seus diálogos escritos com tudo o que se pode esperar num livro sobre cancro, perda, amor, vida e morte e, ao mesmo tempo, precisamente o contrário.
Talvez a razão por que  a personagem principal em "The Fault in Our Stars" ( em português "A Culpa é das Estrelas"), Hazel ser tão realista é o facto de provavelmente a maior inspiração para este livro ter sido uma Nerdfighter (fã dos vídeos feitos por John e o seu irmão Hank) de 16 anos que morreu de cancro da tiróide, chamada Esther Earl. Sim, ela foi se dúvida uma grande inspiração para este livro, ainda que o autor negue que Hazel seja a reprodução de Esther no papel.
Este é um conto agridoce de dois adolescentes que vivem a vida ao máximo todos os dias, aproveitando cada um na companhia um do outro, sabendo que esse pode ser o seu último.
Longe de ser um livro mórbido é, no entanto, triste.
Hazel e Gus convidam o leitor a navegar através das suas vidas com humor, sendo inspirações para todos os jovens que possam estar na mesma situação.
Para terminar, quando interrogado se esta história ia fazer quem a lesse chorar, Green respondeu que tinha escrito uma história com o objetivo de nos fazer sentir tanto quanto possível (nas suas palavras: "Feel all the things!").
Assim, sendo este o primeiro trabalho da autoria de John Green que li, posso descrevê-lo como genial, devastador, surpreendente, dramático... uma leitura compulsiva a rondar a perfeição que desafia todo e qualquer outro livro que trate destes temas universais e infinitos.
Qualquer leitor ficará rendido e grato por esta história singular que certamente alterou muitas formas de pensar e olhar e compreender o mundo:

Uma verdadeira obra prima da literatura para jovens adultos do último século.

 

 

Podem ver o autor a ler o primeiro capítulo na página do Youtube 'Vlogbrothers':

 

 

 

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)

Título: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Autor: Stephen Chbosky

Páginas: 224

Capa: Mole

Sinopse:
Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Opinião:
Este não é, a meu ver, um livro de ficção, mas sim uma história real sobre crescer.
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" conta a história de Charlie, um adolescente que descobre as irregularidades do liceu nos inícios da década de 90, de uma maneira algo peculiar: através de cartas que o rapaz envia a um amigo desconhecido.
Para mim, como leitora, é impossível não me identificar com o protagonista - estranho, excluído, pensativo e curioso, ávido de conhecimento e aceitação.
Com o decorrer da história conhecemos a vida de um adolescente de 14 anos, que lida com temas como a sexualidade, amizades singulares, amores não correspondidos, violência doméstica, abuso sexual e o Rocky Horror Picture Show.
As reflexões de Chbosky - através as cartas de Charlie - nestes temas universais são tão reais, inspiradores e comoventes que qualquer um se sentirá como o destinartário dessas cartas.
Um ponto fraco quando começamos a ler, que pode chegar a 'irritante' para alguns, poderá ser a ingenuidade e exagerada juventude da personagem pricipal, o que o leva a apresentar uma escrita modesta e pouco desenvolvida. Isto faz-nos questionar se será esta a escrita real de Stephen Chbosky ou estará este simplesmente a adquirir os comportamentos e pensamentos do seu protagonista, vestindo a sua pele e imitando a sua escrita simples. No entanto, à medida que entramos mais e mais neste livro, reparamos que a escrita de Charlie evolve com a personagem, o que demonstra a flexibilidade do autor, moldando-se (e à sua escrita) para se tornar qualquer personagem que queira imprimir no papel.
Este é, portanto, um livro incrível e inesquecível que deixará uma marca no coração de cada leitor.

Book 3 in Seraphina Parrish Trilogy by Michelle Warren Cover/title Reveal‏

Today we have VERY exciting news! We are revealing the title & cover of the third and final book in the Seraphina Parrish Trilogy by Michelle Warren. Who else is super excited?? 

Ruth Silver Guest Post

I am pleased to present the guest post written by Ruth Silver, author of Aberrant.
Please check out her website at http://writeawaybliss.com.
Aberrant was released on April 17th and on July 9th the paperback version will also be available.
I asked the author to do a guest post about something that as come to fascinate me:

The Ascending Popularity of Dystopian Novels

Dystopian Fiction has been around for a very long time. In college, I read Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. I had no idea it was categorized as Dystopian Fiction. I actually didn't know what to categorize it as, but I loved it. If I'd have known what it was, I'd have sought out similar books. Instead, I read several other novels by Atwood and they just didn't compare. I think this is true for the genre. It has existed but not everyone knew of its existence, until The Hunger Games.

Pop-culture has an effect on stories being produced. After readers finished The Hunger Games trilogy, they wanted other Dystopian novels to read. Many picked up Divergent because they were familiar with the genre. Some Dystopian novels were already written, however, publishers saw the rising success and there was a shift of new novels being produced. Consider it like Harry Potter or Twilight. After Twilight was a success, there was an increase of vampire novels being sold to publishers. It doesn't mean the stories weren't already written but publishers may not have been buying them until it became popular.

So why Dystopian fiction? We root for the underdog. We want the heroine to win but we often witness their change and growth through the story. We watch them endure through whatever hardship they suffer and in most cases, they come out stronger. It makes you connect with the story, the character and the world that they live in.

It's relevant because of our current economic state. The rise in unemployment, the uncertainty that even after you graduate college, you might not have a job. Dystopian stories have become relevant because they feel real. We often wonder how far away we are from taking that next step. Whether it's losing electricity around the globe or a massive pandemic, what's stopping us from no longer existing? It's something we may not even be able to control and yet that's what makes us even more curious to read about it. Then we wonder if the world had changed, what would become of it?  If a few survived, if we were the lucky ones, how would the world behave? Would we be caged like animals or free and alone?

Book Synopsis:

            In the future dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government’s match in marriage and “The Day of the Chosen”, a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn’t existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she’s arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from “The Day of the Chosen.” The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system.
With Joshua’s help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.

Author Biography:

            Ruth Silver attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication in the spring of 2005.  While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with
friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004.  Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.  Her love of writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia.  Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing.  She loves dystopian and fantasy young adult stories.  Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager.  She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois. You can find Ruth by following her on Twitter @writeawaybliss, or on Facebook: writeawaybliss.

 

Goodreads link for the book:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17696943-aberrant

 

'Aberrant' Cover Reveal

Aberrant

 

Book #1 in the Aberrant Trilogy

 

by Ruth Silver

 

Publication date of the ebook (by LazyDay Publishing): April 17, 2013

 



In the future dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government’s match in marriage and “The Day of the Chosen”, a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn’t existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she’s arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from “The Day of the Chosen.” The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system.
With Joshua’s help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.


About the author:

Ruth Silver attended Northen Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication in the spring of 2005. While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first nover, Deuces are Wild, wich she self-published in 2004. Her favourite class was Creative Writing senior year, where she often handed in assingnments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories. Her love for writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing. She loves dystopian and fantasy young adult stories. Her debut novel published by LazyDay Publishing, ABERRANT is scheduled for release April 2013. Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager. She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.

Author links:

Website: http://writeawaybliss.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writeawaybliss

Twitter: https://twitter.com/writeawaybliss

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Silver/e/B008NGH038/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Showtime (Chloe Kayne)

Synopses:

The grandeur of the traveling circus is at its peak in the early 1920s when sixteen-year-old Laila Vilonia is searching for an escape from her bleak future. Behind the gates of the legendary Marvelle Circus, she is thrust into a mysterious world she never knew existed—a paradise populated with outcasts. It’s in this glamorous new home that Laila sparks a controversial romance with notorious sideshow performer, "The Disappearing Man," and learns just how dangerous her new life can be.
Touring the picturesque eastern coast of America, Laila’s immersed in friendship, vaudeville, festivals, sequins, and serial killers. But behind the curtain, a sadistic plan is brewing that will crack the very foundation upon which she’s become so dependent.

Review:

I should start by saying that I love the circus, so when the author agreed to send me an ebook, I didn't need to think twice.
One thing I loved about this book was the writing. Chloe Kane uses a very different, yet understandable kind of writing, which always helps readers really getting into the story.
The plot was also very interesting and when we start reading the very first scenes of  "Showtime", we know it is going to be a very interesting and unique experience. Nevertheless, as we progress further into the story, we realize that there are some aspects readers don't particulary enjoy.
It is sometimes repetitive, confusing and predictable, the characters often overreact, which makes their actions, reactions and thoughts seem unnatural and irrealistic. The romance is very sudden, but as we read more and more into this book, we come to find it very dark and mysterious, as well as beautiful and exciting.
Although these are most of the undesirable parts of the story contained in the middle of the covers of this book, they are minor and easy enough to be ignored.
The only things that kept me from giving Kayne's first book 4 out of 5 stars, were the following:
Primarily, the time period: When I started reading, I thought the narrative was set in today's days. However, we later learn that it is set during the early 1920's. We, as readers, don't get the felling that we are travelling with a circus in that era. Overall, I thought this was a wonderful story to be written in our days, not in it's original time. I would have loved to have read a tale about the Marvelle circus in 1918 if there had been some changes in the way the characters act and think and in the environment the story is wrapped.
Lastly, I felt that some characters were forgotten as the tale progressed and it became a 'four character's story'. I would have loved to see more of Florence and Alysia, for example, towards the end of the book.
Despite all of the weak points quoted above, I can say I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. Most scenes were very well put together and I particularly enjoyed the description of the actual circus scenes, while Laila was on the ring, performing.
I really liked how we, readers, could experience, feel and learn about the relationship between the main character and her mother. Those were the most emotional and heartbreaking scenes in the whole book.
The ending was beatiful and lovely, and really makes us love these characters more than we did in the beginning.
To finish this very, very long review, I ought to acknowledge that the design of the whole book was incredible and that always helps making the reading experience so much more pleasant and enjoyable.
Overall, 'Showtime' is definitely an amazing and magical masterpiece of the circus novels world and I congratulate Chloe Kayne for this fantastic job of wonder and love I would certainly read over and over again. The reason this review is so long and probably exhausting is because I had so much to say about this book, which is a good thing, so I'd like to thank the author for giving me the oportunity to do so.

City of Fallen Angels (Cassandra Clare)

Título: City of Fallen Angels

Autor: Cassandra Clare

Páginas: 424

Capa: Mole

 

Sinopse:

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.
But nothing comes without a price.
Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one.
When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

Opinião:

Depois de ler algumas opiniões sobre este livro que não foram completamente positivas, não pude deixar de ficar um pouco apreensiva. Estaria este quarto volume da saga Caçadores de Sombras à altura dos seus antecessores?

Felizmente, a resposta à pergunta anterior é, na minha opinião, afirmativa. Com uma história imprevisível e dramática, protagonistas memoráveis que nos fazem rir, chorar e questionar as suas desaventuras, vilões novos e ainda mais tenebrosos e, principalmente, um ponto de vista renovado, bem como a escrita inovadora e inteligente e o ritmo rápido utilizado por Cassandra Clare, este livro é, sem dúvida, um forte candidato para um dos melhores da série e do seu ano de lançamento.

Vampiros, feiticeiros, fadas, lobisomens e, claro, caçadores de sombras juntam-se para formar uma história de fantasia sensual, elétrica e romântica que nos leva a novos níveis de luxúria e divertimento.

As cenas de ação descritas por Clare conseguem ser apaixonantes e perigosas ao mesmo tempo.

Ligando todos os pontos apresentados ao longo da narrativa, o final é um que nenhum leitor poderá ter visto chegar.

Nenhum outro mundo de fantasia me tinha parecido tão apetecível desde Harry Potter.
 



Um bónus deste livro foi a carta deixada por Jace a Clary
 no volume anterior, A Cidade de Vidro e que deixaria
qualquer leitora a chorar por mais. Nunca um livro me tinha
apaixonado tanto.

Louca por Compras (Sophie Kinsella)

Título: Louca por Compras

Autor: Sophie Kinsella

Páginas: 336

Capa: Mole

Sinopse:

Quando as coisas se descontrolam - os descontrolados vão às compras. Rebecca Bloomwood é louca por compras, está enterrada de dívidas até aos ossos e passa o tempo a tentar escapar ao seu gerente de conta. A sua única esperança é tentar ganhar mais e gastar menos. O seu único consolo é comprar alguma coisa - só mais uma coisinha…

Opinião:

Este é, claro, um livro muito feminino e de rápida leitura.

Sendo o primeiro volume de uma série, achei-o bastante aborrecido, fútil e não tão bem escrito quando eu esperava.
Devo admitir: existiram muitas cenas que nos deixam agarradas ao livro enquanto duram, mas as restantes deixam muito a desejar.
Algo que gostei bastante nesta história é que é verdadeira e narra a vida de uma viciada em compras: mostra como esse problema pode levar a outros maiores, como relações são destruídas, como vidas são desperdiçadas e como corações são despedaçados.
O romance existente foi bastante repentino, ainda que de uma maneiras pouco óbvia, mas, no geral, foi bem descrito e representado.
Mais um ponto negativo que devo acrescentar - e que mais me parece ser um negativo-positivo - é o fim.
O fim do livro pareceu-me demasiado 'conto de fadas', mas num parágrafo das últimas páginas, podemos ver como o vício de Rebecca Bloomwood ainda não foi completamente destruído e esse pequeno detalhe deixa o leitor a pensar no que poderá acontecer na sequela - que esta primeira parte não me entusiasmou o suficiente para ler, ainda.
Depois do somatório de todos os aspetos positivos e negativos que posso, ou não, ter enumerado acima, digo que, na minha opinião, - e acreditem que odeio admitir o que estou prestes a escrever - o filme foi ligeiramente melhor do que o livro original. Isso não me impediu de gostar um pouco desta história, mas temino dizendo que gostar ou não gostar deste livro é uma questão de gostos, que se irá alterar de individuo para individuo.

Uma Série de Desgraças - Lugar Tenebroso (Lemony Snicket)

Título: Uma Série de Desgraças - Lugar Tenebroso

Autor: Lemony Snicket

Páginas: 184

Capa: Mole

 

Sinopse:

Espero que, para teu bem, não tenhas decidido ler este livro por estares com vontade de ter uma experiência agradável. Se for este o caso, aconselho-te a poisares o livro imediatamente, porque de todos os livros sobre as infelizes vidas dos órfãos Baudelaire, "Lugar Tenebroso" poderá ser o pior até hoje publicado. A Violet, o Klaus e a Sunny Baudelaire são enviados para Paltryville para trabalharem numa serração. O pior é que lá só encontram azares e infelicidade por detrás de cada tronco.
As páginas deste livro, lamento informar-te, contêm coisas tão desagradáveis como uma máquina de tenazes gigante, um homem com uma nuvem de fumo onde deveria ter a cabeça, uma hipnotizadora e um terrível acidente que causa uma lesão grave.
Prometi escrever toda a história destas três pobres crianças. Por felicidade tua, o teu caso é bem diferente. Por isso, se preferires histórias mais agradáveis, está à vontade: podes fazer outra escolha.

Opinião:

O quarto volume da série 'Uma Série de Desgraças' conta a história do quarto lar adotivo dos irmãos Baudelaire e, assim, a quarta aventura destes três pobres órfãos.

Se o leitor ler este livro com tudo o que tem dentro de si, perceberá que a primeira frase que escrevi está errada: sim, Lugar Tenebroso é o quarto volume desta triste série, esta foi a quarta aventura dos três irmãos desde que os seus pais morreram, mas o lugar para onde foram levados mal consegue ser chamado um 'lar'.

Não partilhando demasiadas informações com aqueles que poderão estar a ler esta minha opinião que ainda não tenham lido este livro, digo isto: Os mais estranhos acontecimentos rodeiam Violet, Klaus e Sunny a cada esquina da horrífica fábrica e, claro, o Conde Olaf está de volta, desta feita com mais dos seus malvados ajudantes. Os órfãos vivem uma vida horrível e a única fonte de afeto que encontram são eles próprios e não mais do que duas pessoas que conhecem.

Mas este livros foi, provavelmente, para mim, o mais emocional de ler, até agora, pois, durante a história, os três irmãos são separados pelas desgraças e necessitam de usar os conhecimentos que aprenderam uns com os outros para sobreviver aos terríveis planos do conde, tornando-se, assim, mais próximos e, ao mesmo tempo, mais fortes, juntos e separados.

Esta história constitui uma experiência literária fantástica e muito emotiva para os que se atreverem a lê-la.

There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes (Robert Jacoby)

Synopses:

You need your eyes, don't you?
So does Richard Issych. Two weeks ago he overdosed. Now he's fighting for his life, finding threatening notes like that one on his nightstand.
"There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes" is the story of 19-year-old Richard Issych, who wakes to a harsh new reality inside an inpatient unit. Now Richard's journey turns into one of revelations and struggling through his own reasons for being as he discovers new meanings for redemption, sacrifice, hope, love-and the will to live.
In the end, what are the reasons Noah packed no clothes? Richard can only imagine. But it has something to do with a size 3XL bowling shirt with the name "Noah" stitched over the pocket.
There are reasons . . . everyone uses his own dictionary.
There are reasons . . . some new heavens come from some new hells.
There are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes

Review:

This engaging, disturbing and surprising novel is the story of nineteen-year-old Richard, who tries to commit suicide and, failing, finds himself in a psychiatric hospital. From that point on, the author leads us on an eye-opening journey trough Richard’s mind, using incredible writing, wonderful, real-life-based characters and a world building that is as amazing as it is heart-breaking.

The main character is as real as any of us, readers, and as confusing (and confused) as anyone of his own age, which takes the story to a whole other level of veracity and believability. Richard has very contradictory feelings, which also helps us understanding the reasons behind his thoughts.

This is, for sure, one of the most confusing, emotional and daring books I have ever read, and that is what makes me love it so much. It certainly defies every law of fiction, making you think of your own reasons.

I would also like to congratulate the author for making me not want to put the book down, trying to figure out who Noah was – since he was mentioned for the first time in late pages – and what he represented in the narrative.

Lastly, I want to thank Robert Jacoby for sending me a signed copy of his book, even though I live in a different continent.

A book to read and re-reading over and over.

Uma Série de Desgraças - Janela Larga (Lemony Snicket)

Título: Uma Série de Desgraças - Janela Larga

Autor: Lemony Snicket

Páginas: 192

Capa: Mole

Sinopse:
Se ainda não leste nada sobre os órfãos Baudelaire, então, antes mesmo de leres mais uma linha que seja, devias saber o seguinte: a Violet, o Klaus e a Sunny têm bom coração e são espertos, mas a sua vida, lamento dizê-lo, é dominada pelo azar e pela infelicidade. Todas as histórias sobre estas três crianças são infelizes e desgraçadas e a que tens na mão talvez seja a pior de todas.
Se não tens estômago para uma narrativa que inclui um furacão, sanguessugas esfaimadas, sopa de pepino fria, um vilão horrível e uma boneca chamada Pretty Penny, então este livro talvez te encha de desespero.
Continuarei a registar estas trágicas histórias, pois é esse o meu ofício. Contudo, és tu, leitor, que deverás decidir se consegues aguentar esta narrativa tão triste.

Opinião:
Não tenho dúvidas de que, daqui, a saga dos irmãos Baudelaire só poderá melhorar.
Este terceiro volume não me desiludiu, sendo, talvez, mais cómico do que os anteriores e também o mais sério e entusiasmante, deixando o leitor a roer as unhas e a tentar desvendar todas as pistas deixadas ao longo da história.
É ainda uma narrativa bastante inteligente, demonstrando a imaginação e criatividade do autor, que não conhecem limites, através das atitudes, não só dos órfãos Violet, Klaus e Sunny, mas também do terrível Conde Olaf, do frustrante e céptico Senhor Poe e da medrosa tia Josephine. Esta última, sendo a viciada em gramática que é, deixa aos três irmãos uma mensagem que não me deixou - e sei que não terei sido a única - prosseguir a leitura sem que, primeiro, tivesse desvendado o que esta representava.
Sem sombra de dúvidas que, até este ponto, o melhor livro da série e deixará qualquer um a esperar pelo próximo volume.