Review of a Season for Martyrs by Bina Shah

Many thanks to GoodReads and the publishers of A Season for Martyrs for granting me with a copy of this book.


A Season for Martyrs is a truly beautiful book. Personally, I grew up in DC during 9/11 and had a dear friend pass on one of the planes. After that, I always wondered about life over in the middle east. I always wondered about the victims on Middle Eastern soil. What their lives entailed and how they were (a/e)ffected by bombings in their own country.

This book was a lovely read and gave me insight I had been curious about. To read into a life who was affected on her own soil by the turmoil surrounding her, was truly an appreciated opportunity.

I have no doubt that Shah will be an author to hear more from.

4/5 stars from me. 

Review of Animal Farm by George Orwell

Probably one of the most brilliant books I've read. Though it's a short read (not at all a bad thing), it definitely packs a punch.

While I wont waste time with spoilers, or give any little detail away, I will simply say that it will leave you thinking. Well...one little detail couldn't hurt eh? I nearly crapped my pants when a pig began walking around on his hind legs. Was I the only one who was intensely terrified by this? Seriously, chills up the spine at that moment.

Anywho. It's a grand read for anyone interested in thinking a little bit more deeply on the political and socio-economic happenings....especially given that these things are still relative, even decades after Orwell wrote.

5/5 Stars

Lentil Underground Review

I received this book as a Librarything giveaway and would like to start off by thanking Gotham Books for this copy.

This is a book about lentils....no really it is.

It's actually fairly interesting though and kept my attention much longer than any other non fiction I've read in a while.

Though I admit I didn't want to read 300 some odd pages about lentils and a great lentil farmer, I will say that the overall idea was interesting and was enjoyable given I like the idea of 'real' foods.

So with that being said, I give this book 3/5 stars :)

Review of 'The Pinecone: The Story of Sarah Losh, Forgotten Romantic Heroine--Antiquarian, Architect, and Visionary'

Before reviewing, I'd like to state that I got the book from a GoodReads giveaway and would like to thank the publisher for the copy.

Now to the review....

The best way I can sum this book up is this: It's a beautifully written text book.

I know that may seem silly, but it's quite informative and the writer has written some beautiful sentences to enlighten the audience on Sarah. That being said, I didn't ever truly feel like I new who she was. It gave great detail about the history, her family history, town history, the likes. I never felt as though I knew her.

This is the kind of book I like to call a 'coffee table book'. One you put on a coffee table to glance through on occasion. Personally I likened to the pictures more than the story itself.

All that being said, I will still give the book 3 stars due to the fact that, well, it is a nonfiction book and was well done in that style. I will be passing this book on to my dad though, because he loves history and I think given the fact that he travels abroad often for work that he might find interest in this.

Thanks again GoodReads!

Review of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'

Bah, I loved this book.

Having and having grown up around folks with learning (dis)abilities I feel as though this is so close to what someone with autism (and some aspergers) deal with it almost makes me wonder if Haddon doesn't have a touch of it or has family who does.

To those who were bothered by some of the repetition of his habits and explaining his 'likes' and 'dislikes', this is true to someone who has this disability and Haddon simply allowed Christopher to come to life.

I think this book is beautiful not only in all of the escapades that go on, but I because of the fact that it actually was as though it was the book Christopher wrote. I was beyond surprised to find the appendix at the end (even though I skimmed it as I have dyscalculia and cringe at anything math related lol).

Brilliantly well done, Haddon. Brilliantly done.

Review of Hollow City (Miss Peregrine 2) by Ransom Riggs

As with the first, I really did love this book.

For some reason I do feel as though the first one was better. Errr at least different. This book is just a different adventure. I feel like there was alot of running around and maybe a wee bit dragging out of finding Ms Wren, but alas, I still enjoyed the book.

The ending was quite lovely though. It did make me wonder, why is it that if that one Hollowgast let them slide by, why on Earth didn't the others?

Felt like it was a little silly. I did like it though. Ready for the next. :)

4/5 Stars

Review for Ransom Riggs' ' Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1)

I really enjoyed this book.

I'm not sure what all the hubbub is within the reviews on here about the book not being as 'scary' as the cover. Of course it's a little creepy, but it's also very fitting of the book. Not in the fact that the book is creepy, but because the characters within the book have peculiarities.

Didn't anyone teach people not to judge a book by it's cover? Alas we still do, yet just because you perceive the book as needing to be 'creepy', the cover is actually quite fitting. Don't downgrade the book just because you had different expectations based on the cover.

I digress...


This book captivated my attention from the first page. I thought it was very creative, and a wonderful escape from everyday life. Enjoying photography myself, I adored the fact that Riggs used old photography to enhance his book. Of course some of them are obviously photo manipulated, but they still add something to his novel.

I also have to note the underlying tones of the story. I do have to wonder if Riggs had relatives in WW2, or was trying to replant the memories in the mind of readers because of modern day politics. Am I seriously the only one who caught this? The similarities of the Peculiars being a dying race, even the sheer use of the name Hollowgasts...Holocaust! The fact alone that alot of the story takes place in the 1940s when he time travels is hint enough.

I have to wonder the simplicity of some of these readers, as the ones who give the book one or two stars. I crave books that make me think, and give me something to analyze and wallow in. Was the only big picture most people took from the book the fact that it wasn't 'creepy' enough? If so, please do stick to Twilight and the likes.

All in all, a wonderful story.
Thank gahd Tim Burton picked it up for a film. As I read this last year I was thinking to myself that it would make a great TB film :)

4/5 Stars :)