Queen of Books

Thursday, 9 March 2017

Weekly Update: 2/27 - 3/5

I have decided to start doing a weekly post called weekly recap where I update you on my life, reading and watching. Plus any posts I have done or will do.

I am slowly getting into the habit of writing posts when I have a sliver of free time so that should show in the next couple of weeks, though it hasn’t yet.

This week wasn’t that productive in terms of posting but I did get to post my first Riverdale episode review and a book review. I also read three books this week which was impressive. I have had so much homework and studying to do lately. I am also trying to keep up my grades which are looking pretty good for right now. [But we’ll see]

Now, let's get into recapping.

New Books

Purchased:

Library:

Received for Review:

Friday, 3 March 2017

Riverdale 1x01 Episode Talk

Hey guys!

Title of Episode: Chapter 1 The River’s Edge

Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Writers: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Rating of Episode: 8.5/10

I am going to do a little bit of a different post. This is going to be an episode talk that I have't done before. I never talk about TV shows in depth on my blog which I am sad about because I watch a lot of TV. This review will have spoilers so beware.

Riverdale is a TV show adaptation of the Archie Comics and it is shown on the network CW at 9/10 central on thursdays. Riverdale has proved to be entertaining in just its one episode that I have seen so far.

Riverdale is compared to the TV shows, Twin Peaks and Gossip Girl, both of which I've never seen. However, I could easily compare it to any TV show that takes place in a small town shrouded with mystery such as Pretty Little Liars or Once Upon a Time.

Riverdale is about a town where nothing bad ever happens or is supposed to happen, but one day a girl, Cheryl Blossom says that her brother has drowned and no body is recovered. The show centers around a group of teenagers, some of them friends with each other and some of them not.

CHARACTERS:

The main character is Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa) who is a popular and attractive sophomore who has worked at his dad’s construction company over the summer which bulked him up. Archie has developed a strong interest in music, (which could be because of his affair with Ms. Grundy) and he wants to develop his skills further this year which puts more things on his plate due to already juggling football and his dad’s construction company with his school duties. [I have a question, when are they doing homework? I mean, I’m in school and homework is basically all I do.] Archie isn;t the best, especially in the first episode but I am hoping that he will get better.

Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) is the sweet, perfect, girl-next-door who has had a crush on Archie, her long time best friend. She is adorable and shy and wears cute clothes but she gets a makeover in this tv series. When Veronica, the new girl, waltzes into the small town of Riverdale, they quickly become the iconic duo, B & V. With help from Veronica, she becomes a part of the River Vixens [Riverdale High’s cheerleaders] and she even invites Archie to go to the dance with her, despite still not telling him her feelings because they always get interrupted. When she finally gets the chance, it's after she runs home because Veronica and Archie spend seven minutes in heaven together and she’s hurt. Archie of course friendzones her saying, “I’ll never be good enough for you,” which broke my heart because poor Betty is such a sweet character.

Veronica Lodge [Camila Mendes] is my favorite character, next to Jughead. She’s one of the best characters on Riverdale, in my opinion. She used to be the queen bee at her old school and she says she wasn't the nicest but she is attempting to improve herself at this new school and town. She has some of the best lines in the show, especially her references to movies. We don't know too much about Veronica Lodge during the first episode, except that she and her mother had to move to Riverdale because her father was involved in some fraud surrounding money and the bank.

Jughead Jones [Cole Sprouse] is the narrator of this television series. He didn't make that much of an appearance in this episode. We just got a few glimpses of him here and there such as typing on a laptop. Then we finally got a better look at him at the end which was nice because he had a conversation with Archie who used to be his best friend. [Hmm. What exactly went down between these two?] I love Jughead because in a town shrouded with mystery, he's one of the ones with the most.

Cheryl Blossom [Madeline Petsch] is the queen bee of the school and she does not want Veronica Lodge to steal her crown [which she very well could with Archie and Betty at her side]. Cheryl is captain of the River Vixens, the cheerleading team, and she basically is playing the pity card this entire episode. And why is that? Why, because her brother happened to drown on the 4th of July and she had to witness it. [Poor thing]. As of the first episode, Cheryl is not being portrayed as a character you would like. She is very much the antagonist.

Kevin Keller [Casey Cott1] is the only gay character on the entire show. He is another one of Bettys best friends and I really like him too. He makes funny, cute comments throughout but he doesn't do much else as of this episode. I feel like they are just putting him in for filler which is really sad. :(

The parents: I don't even want to go here. I don't like most of the parents AT ALL. Well, Fred Andrews seems pretty cool. But Betty’s mom [shudders].

WHAT I LIKED

The narration done by Jughead Jones. I really like how we get a teenagers point of view on the whole story and how he is basically narrating what he is writing. It's so cool and unique.
The budding friendship between Veronica and Betty. I mean the chemistry between these two is so realistic and visible. I already love them together. Especially, when Veronica threatens Cheryl and tells her, “Betty and I come as a matching set. You want one, you take us both.”
The Beronica moment. You know what I’m talking about. That kiss between Betty and Veronica that was totally done for attention and not for real purposes. [que groan]
Archie’s passion for music. His passion for music seems really genuine and I am excited to see where he might go with it. He is determined to try and make it work with all his other responsibilities but I am guessing that it is going to be hard since Josie and his father both aren’t for it.
Screen-time for supporting characters: Okay, I adore the main characters but I also like Kevin and even though Cheryl is a you-know-what, she still has hilarious lines and is entertaining.
The music selections. The music picked fits the show and scenes so well. I actually follow a Riverdale playlist on Spotify because the music is so perfect.
The lines. The lines in this show are hilarious and witty. I am in love with the writing for Riverdale.

Examples:

Veronica: I’m filled with dread.

Archie: And why’s that?

Veronica: Are you familiar with the works of Truman Capote? I’m “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” but this place is strictly “In Cold Blood”

Veronica: Wonderful. Ten minutes in and I’m already the “Blue Jasmine” of Riverdale High

Veronica: What is a ‘Chock’lit Shoppe’ and why does it sell burgers?

Kevin: Game changer - Archie got hot! He’s got abs now. Six more reasons for you to take that ginger bull by the horns tonight.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:

The teacher/student relationship Ms. Grundy and Archie being together just makes me want to throw up in my mouth. It’s gross. Archie is a sophomore!! And he missed something on July 4th to go hang out with his teacher who is probably like ten years older. It’s just disgusting, honestly.
Cheryl Blossom is such a shady character. I have no idea what to do with her but I feel like she is definitely hiding some secrets.
Jughead and Archie not getting along. I want them to get along. I really do. [I know that I am in real life ahead of this episode but still]
Betty’s mom. She freaks out at everything and acts like Betty is something fragile when she really isn’t. I just don’t like her. Another shady character y’all.
Archie Rejecting Betty. This was probably necessary to plot development but he honestly just said he can’t give her what she wants. [Probably because of Ms. Grundy. Let’s be honest] Poor Betty looked so distraught.
Veronica and Archie. I do not ship this. I am sorry. I can’t. Not right now. What Veronica did was wrong. She knows Betty likes him and she just makes out with him in a closet.

Overall, I rate this episode an 8.5/10. It pulled me in and did not let go. Needless to say, I’m addicted to this show now. I’ll see you all soon for more Riverdale recaps and reviews!

Thursday, 2 March 2017

Weekly Update: 1/30 - 2/26

I have decided to start doing a weekly post called weekly recap where I update you on my life, reading and watching. Plus any posts I have done or will do.

I have been MIA for a little while and it is not because I was super busy, but rather because I had no motivation to write anything. I have so many posts half written or ready to post but I just haven’t had the motivation to actually sit down and finish them. I promise that this won’t be how I am forever. I just need to get to a place where I can balance writing with schoolwork and so far, that hasn’t really happened. [Probably because Youtube exists :( ]

I have had a good month, fairly. I’ve been focusing on schoolwork and keeping my grades up which is going pretty well. I saw La La Land which was amazing. I adored the music and the storyline, except the END!!! [Review and thoughts post will come asap!] The soundtrack is practically all I listen to now.

I have also been keeping up on my reading for the most part. I did expect to read more than I did but it is what it is.

Now, let's get into recapping.

New Books

Purchased:

Library:

Received for Review:

Tuesday, 28 February 2017

10 Things I Can See From Here by Carrie Mac - eArc Review

I received this from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! This is a spoiler free review.

10 Things I Can See From Here

Written by Carrie Mac

Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary/LGBT

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: February 28, 2017

Pages: 320

Source: NetGalley and the Publisher. Thank You!

Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository

Recommended Age: 13 and up!

Summary:

Perfect for fans of Finding Audrey and Everything, Everything, this is the poignant and uplifting story of Maeve, who is dealing with anxiety while falling in love with a girl who is not afraid of anything.

Think positive.

Don’t worry; be happy.

Keep calm and carry on.

Maeve has heard it all before. She’s been struggling with severe anxiety for a long time, and as much as she wishes it was something she could just talk herself out of, it’s not. She constantly imagines the worst, composes obituaries in her head, and is always ready for things to fall apart. To add to her troubles, her mom—the only one who really gets what Maeve goes through—is leaving for six months, so Maeve will be sent to live with her dad in Vancouver.

Vancouver brings a slew of new worries, but Maeve finds brief moments of calm (as well as even more worries) with Salix, a local girl who doesn’t seem to worry about anything. Between her dad’s wavering sobriety, her very pregnant stepmom insisting on a home birth, and her bumbling courtship with Salix, this summer brings more catastrophes than even Maeve could have foreseen. Will she be able to navigate through all the chaos to be there for the people she loves?

Review:

I read this in one day and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it. When I downloaded it from NetGalley, I didn’t even remember what it was about so I had to look it up briefly to see what I was dealing with and then I remembered why I was so hooked and pressed the request button. This book deals with a girl with severe anxiety and a LGBT relationship as well as her relationship with her stepfamily. It is an overall wonderful book that just deals with real world things and approaches them well.

COVER

I like the cover. It is simple but eye-catching by using bright colors and a bold font. I also really like the title because it makes you ponder and wonder what exactly it has to do with the story. [BTW, I’m not exactly sure]

WORLD-BUILDING

It is set in modern day, Canada so there really isn’t any world-building.

Then there are the characters.

MAEVE

Maeve struggles with anxiety which is a real life problem for many teenagers and adults. She’s a very sensitive person who feels everything a lot more harshly or fully than the people around her and it often works against her. Her anxiety is almost like a character in the book, which is weaved into the narration. The author, Mac, spends time getting the reader into Maeve’s head in an attempt to experience her struggles. She shows that Maeve’s disorder is tiresome and repetitive and a struggle to live with for both herself and the people around her. I am upset that so many people think that Maeve isn’t likable just because her anxiety gets the best of her at times.

I also really enjoyed how this was not a coming-out story. She was already ‘queer’ when the book started which was refreshing as many of the books that exist about LGBT characters are about them coming out and trying to be accepted by their families and friends. Maeve is already accepted by her family, both her mom’s and her dad’s. Oh and I also want to mention that this has a healthy stepfamily for Maeve. The stepmother is really nice and so are the twins. The only one who really needs work on how to be a good family member, is her father.

SALIX

One thing that I really wish was different in this book is that we would have gotten more time with Salix. I really did enjoy her portryal though. She was a violin player who wanted to be a professional classical musician and Maeve supported her. She was fairly two-dimensional but it actually worked for this story because she and the romance weren’t the main focus of the story.

FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY

This is one of the best descriptions of what it means to be a family which was amazing. Maeve has to go to live with her stepfamily and father for awhile while her mom is with her boyfriend and doing work in some tropical country [I forgot which one]. She is very upset but knows she has to deal with it. Her father is not the best in this book, in fact he is not a responsible adult at all. Her stepmom is pregnant with another child but she is very supportive of Maeve and tries to help her in any way that she can. She also has two younger brothers who are twins and are adorable and hilarious. I love how Maeve’s stepfamily are portrayed as a healthy family [for the most part] for Maeve to rely on.

PLOT

I am not going to say much about the plot for fear of spoilers. That being said, I adored the plot. I loved how it sucked me in immediately and how everything with Maeve was portrayed very well. I usually don’t like contemporaries and I over analyze them because I try to picture myself in the book and if it is hard then I give it a lower rating. Or if the romance is not at all healthy or realistic, then I critique it. But this had so many aspects to enjoy as it is well-rounded and balanced and has a little bit of everything. There are a lot of subplots that are given equal page time in order to be shown completely. I thought it was a wonderful contemporary that has a cute and very realistic plot.

ROMANCE

The relationship was not the main focus of the story which was refreshing. The romance between Maeve and Salix was simple and developed naturally and realistically. Salix was very supportive of Maeve and once she knew about her anxiety, she tried to help the best she could. The romance was healthy and there was no trope of “love-cured-my-illness-yay-I’m-all-better”. I was so so happy because that’s not something that I like at all. Salix didn’t want to cure her illness, she just wanted to help and show Maeve that she would be there for her.

WRITING

I enjoyed the writing. It was refreshing and didn’t shy away from having anything you could hear in a real conversation. It was good writing for a contemporary.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you are on the fence about this book, please pick it up. It has a wonderful portrayal of anxiety as a mental illness. There is a refreshing f/f romance that isn’t a coming out story. And the evil stepmother trope is banished. Her stepfamily is the nicest and it is overall full of everything the YA world needs. Give it a try, and see if you like it. I am very happy that I received this as an eArc and picked it up because I enjoyed it a lot. I may even purchase it sometime to display on my shelf.

Quotes from the Book:

None at this time.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns