The Spice Box Letters by Eve Makis | Book Review #170

The Bookish Island's Book Review:

The Spice Box Letters by Eve Makis 

Are there spoilers?

Maybe.

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Title: The Spice Box Letters

Author: Eve Makis

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Pages: 320

Published: 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Adult

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Date Read: September 28, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Goodreads

Katerina inherits a scented, wooden spice box after her grandmother Mariam dies. It contains letters and a diary, written in Armenian. As she pieces together her family story, Katerina learns that Mariam's childhood was shattered by the Armenian tragedy of 1915.

Mariam was exiled from her home in Turkey and separated from her beloved brother, Gabriel, her life marred by grief and the loss of her first love. Dissatisfied and restless, Katerina tries to find resolution in her own life as she completes Mariam's story – on a journey that takes her across Cyprus and then half a world away to New York.

Miracles, it seems, can happen – for those trapped by the past, and for Katerina herself.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Spice Box Letters was a book that got sent to me by the publishers YEARS ago and I never picked it up which always made me feel bad because deep down I thought I wouldn't like it but here I am totally kicking myself for not having read it earlier. Cause damn. It's so not what thought it would be. Every page was heart wrenching and sad and I totally wanted Katarina and her family to find each other and see that they weren't alone in all of what they went through cause they went through so much.

I think this is one of the first Historical Fiction that I actually really liked.

This book isn't scary or anything but the way the author wrote about these characters terrifying stories was so that my heart was racing during certain scenes. And my heart hurt for the suffering of Katrina's grandmother and her brother.
This was such a beautiful story about sacrifice, and family.

 I am happy that I finally got to it. And I just so happen to have read it on a rainy day too.

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The Bookish Island

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Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility by Stacy King | Book Review #161

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (St. Martins Press) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Sense and Sensibility ( Manga Classics)

English Script and Story Adaptation by Stacy King

Original Author: Jane Austen

Artist: Po Tse

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Pages: 308

Published: 2016

Publisher: Udon Entertainment

Genre: Classics, Manga

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Date Read: March 17 > March 18, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Impulsive Marianne Dashwood and cautious Elinor are as different as two sisters could be, yet both are shattered by their father's sudden Death. Elinor's attachment to the reserved Edward Ferrars is torn asunder by family opposition and his own dark secret, while Marianne's brilliant romance with the dashing John Willoughby comes to a tumultuous end in a devastating public betrayal. Can the two sisters overcome these trials to find true, lasting happiness?

Jane Austen's beloved first novel, filled with romance, redemption and social critique, is brought to life for a modern audience in this gorgeous manga-style adaptation!

The Rating:

My Review:

I actually read Sense and Sensibility after I read Jane Eyre so it was something I was excited about.

Not only was the art good but the way the characters were portrayed made me relate and understand everything that was going on so much more than if I were to read it in text only. I think that this way I got to see all the things that I wouldn't have been able to picture otherwise.

Marianne and Elinor were such good characters. They were the complete opposite of each other when it came to love and they both went in different routes but their goal was always true and strong and healthy love. Which is admirable and made me relate to both of them.

Though let's be honest I would have pushed Willoughby aside (hand on face pushing) and went to Colonel Brandon's arms. Cause that man was dashing.

And in the end, I was left with the feeling of wanting to drop everything and watching the movie and whatever other adaptations exist.



Image found in google

Like the 1995 adaptation with Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson. Which I've ever seen.

But I have seen From Prada to Nada and loved it so I will be adding that as the next movie I see as well.

Although I did watch Material Girls a long time ago. Mostly because I was a fan of anything Hilary Duff did. But it wasn't as good as I thought it was gonna be so not watching that again. Or maybe I will?

The question now is.
Do you think there should be a new modern adaptation to Sense and Sensibility like From Prada to Nada and something better than Material Girls? Or do you want another period drama?

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King | Book Review #160

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King

Are there spoilers?

Not really. But this is also based on a classic so it shouldn't matter if I'm the one spoiling this for ya.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (UDON Entertainment) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Jane Eyre (Manga Classics)

English Script by Stacy King
Original Author: Charlotte Brontë
Artist: SunNeko Lee
Story Adaptation: Crystal S. Chan

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Pages: 319

Published: 2016

Publisher:  Udon Entertainment  

Genre: Manga, Romance, Classics

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Date Read: March 5 > March 6, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

As an orphaned child, Jane Eyre is first cruelly abused by her aunt, then cast out and sent to a charity school. Though she meets with further abuse, she receives an education, and eventually takes a job as a governess at the estate of Edward Rochester. Jane and Rochester begin to bond, but his dark moods trouble her. When Jane uncovers the terrible secret Rochester has been hiding, she flees and finds temporary refuge at the home of St. John Rivers.

The Rating:

My Review:

Jane Eyre is one of the books I didn't think I would get to anytime soon but when I saw it on NetGalley I could help but to request it. And I got it.

I've wanted to read Jane Eyre for some time but the heft of the book always scared me off. Because it's such a big book. So reading it in manga for was perfect. I still want to re-read it sometime in the future but I was happy to get to see all the beautiful and detailed illustrations.

The story is still there. The characters are more expressive than in the movie adaptations. Especially the really old ones. I caught the ending of one that was black and white and the guy who was Mr. Rochester was going too strong in being serious.
But the manga managed to capture me for a full day without me having to stop in the middle. I was enamored by it all.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin | Book Review #159

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (St. Martins Press) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Please Send Help

Author: Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Series: I Hate Everyone But You #2

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Pages: 320

Published: July 2019

Publisher:  Wednesday Books 

Genre: Young Adult, New Adult

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Date Read: March 31, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

In this hilarious follow-up novel to the New York Times bestseller I Hate Everyone But You, long distance best friends Ava and Gen have finally made it to the same time zone (although they’re still over a thousand miles apart).

Through their hilarious, sometimes emotional, but always relatable conversations, Ava and Gen are each other’s support systems through internships, relationship troubles, questionable roommates, undercover reporting, and whether or not it’s a good idea to take in a feral cat. Please Send Help perfectly captures the voice of young adults looking to find their place in the world and how no matter how desperate things seem, you always have your best friend to tell it like it is and pick you back up. 

The Rating:

My Review:

Please Send Help is the Sequel to I Hate Everybody But You which I read a while back. And although its the sequel it didn't have the same themes throughout it. And I'm not mad at it. But I'm also not thrilled.

It was good to see that the friendship between Ava and Gen was still going. Despite them now being in two different (and far away states) they still kept texting and emailing each other. Which is also the format of the book.

And through those texts and emails, you could see how they dealt with a lot of things and still managed to stay in constant communication and care about one another. Despite how needy and childish they were to each other at times.
They also contradicted each other in the way they treated each other.

One of the things that bothered me with this story is that nothing really seemed to happen. The hurdles they were thrown in got patched up quick and it didn't seem to leave an effect on the two. Some of the things they did should have had bigger consequences than they got. And it left me not understanding their choices and issues.

I'm not saying that I didn't like the characters and the way they interacted with each other or how the two "worlds" Ava and Gen were living in were created and utilized. What I'm saying is that it seemed to have a lot of little climaxes that had equally little resolutions that didn't really fix anything because some of the situations they were in didn't make that much sense.
And like I wrote above they were not the sort of problems that left the characters changed. Yeah, they seemed to grow as new adults now that they had graduated from college (since in the first book they were freshmen in college [which was a huge leap between the two books]) and were starting their jobs,  but nothing else. They were in the same situations as the first book just a little bit different.

Still, I'm glad I got to read this book. Because I got to see how strong Ava and Gen's friendship is and to see how they are still figuring things out as they go. And didn't magically know how the world work. It was enjoyable although frustrating at times.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer | Book Review #158

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (Nobrow) in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage

Author: Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

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Pages: 184

Published: February 2019

Publisher:  Nobrow

Genre: Nonfiction, Graphic Novel, Biography, Comic

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Date Read: March 30, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The year is 1831. A gifted yet somewhat distracted young man named Charles Darwin has been offered a place aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. The journey will change both his life and the course of modern science…

This is an intelligent and immersive graphic novel from award-winning duo Fabien Grolleau and Jérémie Royer that follows legendary scientist Charles Darwin as he embarks on the voyage that began his career. Join him on a journey of thrilling discovery as he explores remote corners of the natural world and pieces together the very beginnings of his revolutionary theory of evolution.

The Rating:

My Review:

I ended up giving this 3 stars out of five and here are my reasons.

The illustrations/art in this book were incredible. I had the same feelings when I was reading Audubon. And I think I like how the animals were done more than the people but that's just because the animals look beautiful. Nature was also beautiful in this book. The endpapers were cool and the cover with all the animals surrounding Darwin was very beautiful.

These two (the author and illustrator) managed to bring a story I didn't know about come to life through the form of a graphic novel. And it was easy to follow and understand.

I felt something and although it wasn't a good feeling and it left me angry it happened.
And this is all I have to say on that.
In the end, I'm stuck with the same thoughts as I had while reading Audubon. Humans are terrible. And the natives didn't deserve the treatment they were getting. And although Darwin was opposed of the way the natives were treated he didn't do anything. He wasn't a saint despite his contributions to science.

Aside from these three thoughts, I can't seem to feel anything else in regard to this book. Which is why I gave it that rating. So a solid 3 is a good rating with all that in consideration.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Penne Dreadful by Catherine Bruns | Book Review #157

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Penne Dreadful by Catherine Bruns 

Are there spoilers?

None.

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Title: Penne Dreadful

Author: Catherine Bruns

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Pages: 416

Published: July 30, 2019

Publisher:  Poisoned Pen Press

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Food

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Date Read: March 7 to March 13, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Tomato sauce isn't the only thing that runs red...

Local chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on her feet following her husband's fatal accident. And when the police knock on Tessa's door, things just get worse. They've discovered Dylan's death wasn't an accident after all, and they need Tessa to start filling in the blanks. Who would want her beloved husband dead, and why?

With the investigation running cold, Tessa decides it's time to save her sanity by reconnecting with her first love-cooking. And maybe the best way back into the kitchen is to infiltrate Dylan's favorite local pizza parlor, which also happens to be the last place he was seen before he died. But the anchovies aren't the only thing that stink inside the small family business, and with suspects around every corner, Tessa finds that her husband's many secrets might land her in hot water.

The Rating:

My Review:

Penne Dreadful is was a twisty cozy mystery with a food theme.

Tessa's husband had recently passed away in a car accident. But later she finds out that it wasn't an accident after all. She takes a job at her husband's last job in order to snoop around and find out whatever she could. In the process of learning that her husband was keeping a lot of secrets from her. Leaving her with many questions.
Together with her cousin, Gaby, who owns a bookstore, they get themselves into dangerous situations.

This story was a fun, well-crafted cozy mystery. With well-developed characters and a strong plot.
And I totally didn't see who the main suspect was till the end.

The author also included recipes at the end. For pizza, sauce, and stromboli.
🍕🍝🍅

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Yasmina and the Potato Eaters by Wauter Mannaert | Book Review #152

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Yasmina and the Potato Eaters by Wauter Mannaert 

Are there spoilers?

No spoilers.
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Title: Yasmina and the Potato Eaters 

Author: Wauter Mannaert

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Pages: 144

Pub Date: March 20, 2019

Publisher: Europe Comics

Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Cooking, Food

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Date Read: March 11, 2019

Rating: ★★★★★

Eleven‐year‐old Yasmina and her dad lead a modest life in a small city apartment. Luckily, the food-loving Yasmina can whip up just about anything in the kitchen, with an assist from her edible herb books and her friends from the community garden. That is, until the day the garden disappears, bulldozed and replaced by a field of potatoes that are both experimental... and completely addictive! The only solution is for Yasmina to track down and eradicate the source of the problem. A fun and colorful tale for all ages.

The Rating:

My Review:

Yasmina and the Potato Eaters was a very entertaining story. With Yasmina being so into food and cooking and making elaborate meals for her and her father.

Yasmina was such a fun character to follow and the rest of the characters were all so unique and interesting. They all had their roles and colorful personalities.

And the food in this looked so delicious and colorful. Like I wanted to eat after I finished reading this graphic novel.

In the end, I was left wanting to read more about these characters and see what happens next.

What will Yasmina get up to next? What is going on with the Potatoes? I have so many questions.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen | Book Review #150

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen

Are there spoilers?

Yep, a smidgen of spoilers ahead. 

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Disclaimer:
This book was sent to me by the publishing company(Minotaur Books) in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Vanishing Season

Author: Joanna Schaffhausen

Series: Ellery Hathaway #1
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Pages: 274

Published: 2019

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Adult

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Date Read: March 11 to March 12, 2019

Rating: ★★★★★

Ellery Hathaway knows a thing or two about serial killers, but not through her police training. She's an officer in sleepy Woodbury, MA, where a bicycle theft still makes the newspapers. No one there knows she was once victim number seventeen in the grisly story of serial killer Francis Michael Coben. The only victim who lived.

When three people disappear from her town in three years, all around her birthday—the day she was kidnapped so long ago—Ellery fears someone knows her secret. Someone very dangerous. Her superiors dismiss her concerns, but Ellery knows the vanishing season is coming and anyone could be next. She contacts the one man she knows will believe her: the FBI agent who saved her from a killer’s closet all those years ago.

Agent Reed Markham made his name and fame on the back of the Coben case, but his fortunes have since turned. His marriage is in shambles, his bosses think he's washed up, and worst of all, he blew a major investigation. When Ellery calls him, he can’t help but wonder: sure, he rescued her, but was she ever truly saved? His greatest triumph is Ellery’s waking nightmare, and now both of them are about to be sucked into the past, back to the case that made them...with a killer who can't let go.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Vanishing Season is just wow.

The Vanishing Season was is such an excellent read. I took it with me to a dentist appointment. And while I waited for it to be my turn I opened this gem and tried to finish it since I had already read a little less than half of it. And I was so embarrassed because it kept me on edge the whole time. I couldn't put it down for a second. I was worried that if I looked up from the book someone would be staring at me wondering what that crazy lady was doing with all her on edge hand movements. Like I kept gripping my knees and murmuring my disdain for a certain cop. I was all over the place. And I hadn't had that kind of experience with a book since I read The Prettiest One and The Body Reader.

It's well written. The writing style flowed so well chapter after chapter. I liked it so much as I wouldn't say no to another book by the author.

Ellery and Reed's interactions with each other were great. They just worked well together. With how they connected the dots and rounded up any evidence that could help them with their case. The evidence leads them to many suspects. That any of them could be the suspect and at the same time, it seemed like it was none of them.

There isn't an ounce of romance. None at all. Though with Ellery and Reed I would not have hated it if there was something more between them.

The mystery and suspense were SO good. Lots of turns and twists and many strategically placed red herrings. There were some pretty creepy scenes that almost got to me with how gruesome they were. But I'm a girl who listens to Last Podcast on the Left. So I wasn't that faced.

Speaking of wish. 

The number of serial killer references did make me think of Last Podcast so many times. Mostly because I knew of them from listening to the podcast.

I feel like Ellery wanted to be a good cop so much. With how she wanted to solve a crime that seemed to be just a disappearance. How frustrated she got when no one saw what she did.
Despite that, it didn't matter that she had been a cop for years because at times she acted and was treated like a rookie.

I would also like to add that this book is the debut of the author. What?!!
So well done.
*round of applause erupts in a dark theater. lights turn on showing a bunch of well dressed beautiful people who keep applauding and smiling brightly*

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Devilish Lord, Mysterious Miss by Annie Burrows | Book Review #149

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Devilish Lord, Mysterious Miss by Annie Burrows

Are there spoilers?

Yes, there are some spoilers.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (Harlequin) in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Devilish Lord, Mysterious Miss

Author: Annie Burrows

Illustrated by: Naoko Moto
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Pages: 160

Published: 2018

Publisher:  Harlequin / SB Creative

Genre: Romance, Manga

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Date Read: March 3, 2018

Rating: ★★★★☆

Mary has been working as a seamstress ever since she came to London six years ago. The dresses that she embroiders have become very popular in socialite circles, but she doesn’t receive any compensation for her work because her employer rescued her after she lost her memory and had nowhere to go. One day, Mary is pursued by a man in black on her way home. Several days later, that same mysterious aristocrat confronts Mary demanding to know why she ran away from their engagement!

The Rating:

My Review:

Devilish Lord, Mysterious Miss managed to be one thing in the beginning and a whole different thing in the end and I liked it a lot. The was a great mystery weaved in and out of the story and the plot was great too.

I loved the historical setting. It wasn't too obvious what time the story takes place in history which works for me since I don't know a lot about that era in the past. So the historical aspects of this story were great. Even the illustrations made everything look good. From the architecture to the costume design. And every character looked and acted different which is always good.

This is also about a grieving young lord who has been pining over the loss of his love. And keeps seeing her ghost. And a young seamstress who has amnesia who the young lord mistakes as his lost love.
I loved how he treated her. With such respect and adoration and in turn she loved him fierce. Truly a great romance.

Everything about this manga is great. I have nothing bad to say about it.

When I found out that Harlequin made manga I was shocked. So I requested some through NetGalley not expecting to get approved since my percentage is low. But I did get approved. And after I read it I was so into it that I wanted to read more of it. It's such a cool concept.
I have read manga before. My favorites being Josei and Shoujo manga (super faves are School Life ones) but its a Harlequin book adapted into a manga and for some reason that is cooler. Now I'm curious to know if the original story is exactly the same. I'm not going to read it but I'm just curious.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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A High Stakes Seduction by Jennifer Lewis | Book Review #148

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
A High Stakes Seduction by Jennifer Lewis

Are there spoilers?

Yes, there are some spoilers.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (Harlequin) in exchange for an honest review.

Title: A High Stakes Seduction

Author: Jennifer Lewis

Illustrated by: Motoyo Fujiwara

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Pages: 128

Published: 2019

Publisher:  Harlequin / SB Creative

Genre: Manga, Romance

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Date Read: March 1, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

I know I’d lose everything if I fell in love with you.
Meet Constance, a scrupulous and by-the-book accountant. When she's assigned to investigate a casino's finances, she visits the casino with the bad reputation. If there are any illegal activities afoot, she’s confident she’ll uncover them. Then, she meets John Fairweather, the CEO of the casino. Flashing an irresistible smile, he compliments her and plants his lips on hers! Is this the game he’ll play to undermine her work? Bewildered by John’s uninhibited behavior, Constance can’t entirely suppress her desire for him…though she’s acutely aware that she’d lose everything if she ever got involved with him.

The Rating:

My Review:

I am going to mention again that this is a book I received through NetGalley by the publisher. 

I was scrolling through the page when I saw that they had manga available. And then I saw that some of the titles were Harlequin books adapted into the manga format. I nearly lost my mind because I didn't know they did that and found it so cool. 

Then I requested two and was happy to get approved. One of them was this book. A High Stakes Seduction. A book about a businesswoman who is not looking for love or any kind of relationship, she just wants to do her job and do it right. It just so happens that her new assignment at a casino leads her to meet the very handsome playboy owner of said casino. And although this is a romance so obviously their relationship will go through changes.

I felt dumb when the main character's serious personality and passion for her work went out the window when the owner f the casino made a move. It bothered me because she could have kept her seriousness and get affected by the guy. It's possible. But not for Constance.

Although Im not gonna lie their interations were cute and I was rooting for them to end up tgether. Also, I dont know if its just me but was I the only one who suspected the uncle right away. Or have I been reading too many mysteries.

In the end, I felt that it was a quick and easy read, that had good characters and an intriguing ending. I'm just gonna say that they tied things up at the end like they do in telenovelas.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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