Bookish appetites and desires

Author: Heather Morris    Published: 2018   Genre: Historical Fiction   Rating: ★★★★    Special Note: People's Choice for 1000 Views Appreciation   Have you ever wondered what it was like in the concentration camps for the prisoners who were slightly more privileged than the rest? Have you ever considered what it was like for those prisoners who've had to endure a lifetime of guilt for aiding the Nazis in any capacity in order to survive? This incredible, based-on a true story novel is the prefect book to delve into just that. Heather Morris did a wonderful job of presenting Lale, his actions, the actions of those around him, and the consequences of those actions, as incredible and astounding they may have been, in a way that was very easy to digest yet still left one feeling uneasy. She didn't write this novel in a heavy, in your face with shock value sort of manner, but rather in a way that made you empathize with Lale ...

Author: E.L. James    First Published: 2017   Genre: Erotica   Rating: ★★★★   We're back and continuing Christian's journey through his relationship with the intoxicating Anastasia Steele. This week with delayed gratification. -Yes, I've been hiding Easter eggs in my posts for people who've read the books, you're welcome.- Again, which I don't think comes to a surprise to anyone, I've rated it quite highly due to it's entertainment value and how well E.L. James was able to piece together and answer a bunch of the questions that I, and I'm sure many other readers, had from Ana's side of the story. Without getting into spoilers, here's a list of the things -in no particular order- that I was most happy to get answers about: Christian's impulsive behaviour Leila's reappearance  Mrs. Robinson v. Grace fallout To anyone who has read Fifty Shades Darker or even Darker itself, this will make a lot more sense. For those who...

Author: E.L. James First Published: 2015 Genre: Erotica ★★★★ Have you ever wondered what makes the rich tick? What it is that guides their hands in their decisions and their conquests? What if they are lascivious conquests? Intrigued? Then Grey may be the book for you. I'll be the first to admit that some of my book vices are ones that would make people roll their eyes: vampires, werewolves, cheesy romances, and -oh yeah!- Fifty Shades of Grey . I'm not one to read through a series quickly, I like to take my time and absorb the stories before moving on to the next in the series, but for some reason these book suck me in and drag me down with them.  What I enjoyed the most about this book is it is an excellent companion to the original Fifty Shades of Grey novel. Many of the questions that I'd had reading it, mostly "What the Hell is his problem?" or "Why the Hell is he reacting that way?" got answered in this book. It actually makes you e...

Author: Adam Roberts First Published: 2006 Genre: Historical Non-Fiction Rating: ★★★★★ Do you enjoy fast-paced action where governments could topple and riches could be had? How about multi-national coup plots full of chaos, intrigue and deception? What if I told you that you could have all of these things, and it'd be a real event? Welcome to the Wonga Coup. This was not a book that was on my radar because of my vested interest in oil -because that doesn't exist- but because Goodreads recommended it to me since I've enjoyed books in the past about the blood diamond industry -don't get me started, it's a whole thing-. This has been sitting on my to-be-read shelf for a short while, but I decided that since this year I'm trying to clear off my to-be-read shelf -ha!- that I should tackle this one while I have some lighter material to follow up with were it emotionally heavy. Boy, was it not emotionally heavy, but instead it was exhilarating! Adam Ro...

Author: Steve Vernon First Published: 2006 Genre: Folklore Rating: ★★☆ Have you ever stood on a pier or wharf, inhaling the fresh ocean breeze, and wondered to yourself, "Gee, I wonder who haunts these waters?" Well, if you're traveling to Nova Scotia then look no further! This book is packed end-to-end with ghost stories from all over the province, including some of the surrounding islands. As much as I hate horror movies -yes, because I'm a scaredy-cat- I do love a good ghost story, so this book to me, as a native Nova Scotian, held so much promise. That promise fell a bit short. Spooky! What did I enjoy about this book? It was an honest trip around the province, full of rich history and varying locales. From colonial and privateering times to the more recent 20th century, there's plenty of history for everyone. It paints Nova Scotia, which has an admittedly short recorded history in comparison to other areas of the world, as the place to be if y...

Author: Cameron Dokey   First Published: 1997   Genre: Fantasy   Rating: ★★★★    Have you ever met someone who was a fantastic story teller? What was it about them that enchanted you? Was it their ability to potentially save an entire kingdom from utter ruin just by telling a story? If so, your storyteller sounds like our very own Shahrazad, the storyteller's daughter. What a refreshing read this was compared to some of the books I've been reading lately. At times it was quick-witted, at times it was mysterious, and throughout the smaller stories it wove a larger tale all-together. From struggling with accepting who we are, to love, loss and betrayal, with all the heartache and self-doubt to boot, and a few stumbles and surprises along the way, Cameron Dokey has created something to pull on the heart strings. With deep, hidden messages in a larger, easy-to-read format, this is definitely worth the time, especially if you're in...

Author: Nnedi Okorafor     First Published: 2015     Genre: Science Fiction     Rating: ★★☆     Have you ever had the urge to just up and leave it all behind? Your people. Your culture. Your family. Your planet. Binti did, despite it going against the grain of everything she knew and cherished, in the pursuit of higher education. The premise of this novella is fantastic! A young woman from a technologically advanced, yet relatively reclusive and superstitious people, is the first of her people to leave Earth, motivated by the opportunity to study at a prestigious school, all-expenses paid, in the Milky Way galaxy. Despite her family and friends having forbade her from leaving their desert and their community, she snuck off into the night, arriving in time to meet her transporter. This transporter is where her dreams and nightmares collided as disaster struck and surprising events took place. Th...