The Z's Adventures: August 2013

30 August 2013

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS - CAN'T HOLD US

27 August 2013

11 August 2013

Summary: Blankets chronicles Craig's adolescence and young adulthood, his childhood relationship with his younger brother, and the conflicts he experiences regarding Christianity and his first love. Though written chronologically, Thompson uses flashbacks as a literary and artistic device in order to parallel young adult experience with past childhood experience. Major literary themes of the work include: first love, child and adult sexuality, spirituality, sibling relationships, and coming of age.

I had wanted to give graphic novels a try. I picked this one, because it was one of top graphic novels to start with and it was cheap on Amazon. It didn't take long to read and wasn't at all what I expected, and it kind of left me wanting more... the story didn't feel finished. But still an enjoyable read!!

08 August 2013

Book Review

Summary: Eleven-year-old Sam knows that he is dying from leukemia. He has decided to write a book that includes his thoughts on the matter as well as his lists and his questions, particularly those that no one ever answers like, "Why does God let kids get ill?" The author has drawn a portrait of a family coping with a child's terminal disease. Readers meet Sam's mother, father, and younger sister, each of whom is dealing in a different way with his illness. Sam knows that his father rushes off to work each day because he cannot admit to himself that his son is dying. He knows that his mother keeps Ella home from school during an unexpected snowstorm in March so they can have one last sledding day together. But, he does not verbalize this knowledge, just as his parents and Ella don't speak of his death. Sam is a child whom readers would want as a friend and he will be missed when the book is done.

I picked his book up because I saw the movie trailer (big surprise).... I thought it looked interesting. I had to order it because the local bookstore didn't have it. It was more of a children's book, then young adult like I had thought. So, I pretty much read it in one sitting. The book was very good, but very sad (along the lines of Bridge to Terabithia). But it was still a good read. This is a UK movie, so no idea when it will make it's way here...

05 August 2013

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES

Book Summary: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.

I picked up this book because I saw there was a movie coming out. I really enjoyed it. It took me a bit to get used to this new fantasy world the author was trying to create. After that, it was a pretty easy read. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the ending. It had a big twist at the end that I wasn't prepared for! But the movie should be fun.