The Novel Hermit

daydreaming about books

Reviews

REVIEW • Up, Up, and Meh (And We’re Off by Dana Schwartz)

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[note note_color=”#b0d4ad” text_color=”#ffffff”]And We’re Off by Dana Schwartz • May 2, 2017 • Razorbill (Penguin)
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indigo | Library

Seventeen-year-old Nora Holmes is an artist, a painter from the moment she could hold a brush. She inherited the skill from her grandfather, Robert, who’s always nurtured Nora’s talent and encouraged her to follow her passion. Still, Nora is shocked and elated when Robert offers her a gift: an all-expenses-paid summer trip to Europe to immerse herself in the craft and to study history’s most famous artists. The only catch? Nora has to create an original piece of artwork at every stop and send it back to her grandfather. It’s a no-brainer: Nora is in!

Unfortunately, Nora’s mother, Alice, is less than thrilled about the trip. She worries about what the future holds for her young, idealistic daughter and her opinions haven’t gone unnoticed. Nora couldn’t feel more unsupported by her mother, and in the weeks leading up to the trip, the women are as disconnected as they’ve ever been. But seconds after saying goodbye to Alice at the airport terminal, Nora hears a voice call out: “Wait! Stop! I’m coming with you!”[/note]

myreview

[note note_color=”#BFD1D1″ text_color=”#ffffff”]I received this book for free from Penguin for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.[/note]

First sentence: “Stop it, Nora. You have more self-control than this.”

What can go wrong when you have an all-expenses-paid European trip and are headed to the Donegal Colony for Young Artists (DCYA) in Ireland? For Nora, nothing goes her way.

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Discussion

TOO MUCH TBR • May 2017

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In April, I don’t know what happened. I neglected my reading, especially the books on my TBR list. I guess I was focused on the two concerts I was going to and work. :P I did read a bunch of graphic novels, and they filled my heart with a lot of joy.

For those who do not know, Too Much TBR is a way to help me see which books I really need to read and tackle them. Is it effective? Perhaps. It helps a lot seeing a visual of the books on my TBR pile.

Let’s discuss what I read last month, and what I’m reading this month!

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Comics

FROM PANEL TO PANEL • Beware of the Spill Zone (Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld & Alex Puvilland)

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[note note_color=”#2e6c85″ text_color=”#ffffff”]Three years ago an event destroyed the small city of Poughkeepsie, forever changing reality within its borders. Uncanny manifestations and lethal dangers now await anyone who enters the Spill Zone.

The Spill claimed Addison’s parents and scarred her little sister, Lexa, who hasn’t spoken since. Addison provides for her sister by photographing the Zone’s twisted attractions on illicit midnight rides. Art collectors pay top dollar for these bizarre images, but getting close enough for the perfect shot can mean death―or worse.

When an eccentric collector makes a million-dollar offer, Addison breaks her own hard-learned rules of survival and ventures farther than she has ever dared. Within the Spill Zone, Hell awaits―and it seems to be calling Addison’s name.[/note]

Nobody knows what the Spill Zone in Poughkeepsie is. All everybody knows is that you shouldn’t go into there. There are bizarre and dangerous creatures who prowl the streets, dead meat puppets with yellow all-seeing eyes, and things that nobody could’ve imagined happening actually happening. There are talks of the spill being caused by a nanotech accident spilling into a nuclear power plant or something alien-like that came from another planet, but nobody knows for sure.

What destroyed this city of Poughkeepsie? Whatever happened, Addison’s not gonna stick around to find out. Or maybe she will…for a price.

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Monthly Recap

MONTHLY RECAP • British Bands + Bookselling (April 2017)

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I can’t believe it’s the end of April.

Summer is upon us, and that is not okay. My April consisted of concerts, proud bookselling, and a store reset that fucked my sleeping schedule.

WHAT’S UP?

In April—

  • I got to see The xx and BASTILLE in concert! 

AND THEY WERE BOTH FANTASTIC!!! I have so much love for both these British bands.

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Comics

FROM PANEL TO PANEL • April 2017 Graphic Novel Releases To Look Out For

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from panel to panel

I love comics and graphic novels, so what do I do with that love? Well, I turn it into a new feature!

From Panel to Panel is a new feature where I talk about the awesome (and perhaps not-so awesome) comic books and graphic novels I’ve read. Basically, this will be me pushing them onto your laps. You’re welcome.

In April, there were a lot of comic volume 2s and 3s I would drop everything to get my hands on them. Those comics are Green Arrow (and my bb Black Canary), the legendary archer back at it again; Barbara Gordon has reunited with Dinah Lance and Helena Bertenelli to form Birds of Prey; a complete collection of Phonogram, and plenty of awesome comics I need you to put in your TBR list!

Get your shopping carts loaded with all these comics!

GREEN ARROW • VOL. 2: ISLAND OF SCARS

In a tale from happier but no less dangerous times, Green Arrow labors to train a new apprentice who’s every bit as deadly as his fiercest villains: a teenage girl, that happens to be his half-sister! But before Emiko and Ollie can embrace as family, they have to save Seattle from a foe that can see the future of anyone he chooses–anyone, that is, except for Emiko Queen…

DC Universe: Rebirth continues with this fresh take on GREEN ARROW from horror novelist Benjamin Percy and rising star artist Otto Schmidt! Collects GREEN ARROW #6-11.— DC Comics

Publication date: April 5, 2017 by DC Comics

Buy: LCBS · Amazon · Barnes & Noble · The Book Depository · Indigo · Comixology

Why I’m excited: Anything with Dinah in the picture, I will make grabby hands for it. I’ve read a couple issues of this volume, and Green Arrow Rebirth continues to knock my socks off. It’s really one of the top Rebirth titles I’ve read.
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Discussion

CURRENTLY READING • Bette & Joan, Dead Letters, + Live from New York

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I haven’t been great at keeping with my TBR books this past month. (Blame that on all the stress! Ack.) Currently Reading will act as my check-in, letting you guys know what I’m forever reading at the moment, and what I’m enjoying about it. Today, I’m sharing with you three books I’m juggling/reading

Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud by Shaun Considine

They were two of the most talented beauties Hollywood ever produced: the elegant Joan Crawford, a former chorus girl who shot through the ranks at MGM, and the brash, tempestuous Bette Davis, a Broadway star notorious for refusing to bow to the studio bosses.

Their work together in the hit film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? sowed the seeds for a mutual hatred that would consume their lives. As each fading star tried to outshine the other, lives were upended and reputations were destroyed. Glamorous, merciless, and cruel, their feud became the stuff of legends.

Based on interviews the author conducted with both actresses and more than a decade of research, Bette & Joan shows the hard-drinking, hard-fighting duo at their best and worst. The epic story of these dueling divas is hilarious, monstrous, tragic, and the inspiration for the Ryan Murphy TV series Feud starring Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange. Now updated with two new chapters and a sixteen-page photo insert.

Why did I want to read Bette & Joan? It certainly wasn’t because of Ryan Murphy’s TV show about the pair. (No sarcasm.) What’s not to be interested in Old Hollywood feuds? I had always been fascinated by Bette and Joan’s relationship. These divas have been butting heads for decades, and I wanted to know more details about their feud.

What do I like about it so far? Wow, their lives were so fascinating. So many tragedies and affairs and jealousy and whatnot. That’s Old Hollywood for ya. As I read this book, I was honestly more interested in learning more about Bette, even though Joan had more exciting stuff happening to her.

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