2015, discussion, think aloud

[Think Aloud] – #15 – Not All Fictional Men Smell Like The Great Outdoors

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Think Aloud explores book-related discussions encompassing reading, writing, blogging, and perhaps newsworthy content. The focus is to push the boundaries, stretch the mind, and encourage dialogue within this community. Let’s all think out loud.

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Table Topic:
Not All Fictional Men Smell
Like The Great Outdoors

Abstract:

All fictional male characters walk around with the same scent when they shouldn’t be.

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2015, meme, top ten tuesday

[Top Ten Tuesday] – #59 – Top Ten Authors I’d Love To Meet

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. I thought this would be a fun way to share a condensed version of potential rambles and thoughts that I have.

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This Week’s Theme:
Top Ten Authors I’d Love To Meet

Initial Thoughts:

This could turn out to be a fun topic in exposing bloggers to their inner Annie Wilkes (of Stephen King fame). For those who don’t know, she’s a “kind” soul in the Misery novel who’s obsessed with the protagonist, an author (go figure), until he writes something she doesn’t approve of. Cue crazy, villainous bananas. I mean, I wouldn’t torture said author the way Annie did but maybe I’d hide them away in a basement with only a pad of paper and pen, food delivered often enough, give them hope by letting a tiny ray of sunlight through a barred window—wow, I am not as crazy as these words seem. (Although I apologize for nothing.)

This isn’t really a love to meet anymore than a day of necessary tomfoolery. Necessary.

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2015, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] The Alex Crow – Andrew Smith

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Book Title:                 The Alex Crow (Standalone)
Author:                         Andrew Smith
Number of pages:  336

Synopsis:

The Alex Crow - Andrew Smith (Cover)Skillfully blending multiple story strands that transcend time and place, award-winning Grasshopper Jungle author Andrew Smith chronicles the story of Ariel, a refugee who is the sole survivor of an attack on his small village. Now living with an adoptive family in Sunday, West Virginia, Ariel’s story is juxtaposed against those of a schizophrenic bomber and the diaries of a failed arctic expedition from the late nineteenth century . . . and a depressed, bionic reincarnated crow.

 (re: Goodreads @ The Alex Crow – Andrew Smith)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:

— A multilayered story filled with stark humour, intrigue, and unhinging pathos to deliver a witty tip of the hat to a world run amok by testosterone
— Follows four perspectives, each with a different time period, style of writing, and tone. The juxtaposition in narratives doesn’t immediately pay off until later in the story
— A diverse, weird, satirical YA-read exploring boyhood through a migrant experience (Syria) to an American society of “boys being boys”
— Trigger warning: there are a lot of sexual innuendos to last a lifetime but they are completely in character. Teenage boys are keenly represented in this novel
— Rating: 3.8/5

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Initial Thoughts

I’m really unsure how to review a book like this. (I am also so, so sorry that it has taken this long to fully flesh out my thoughts considering this was an ARC I received for early review. Ahh.)

Full disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of The Alex Crow through Goodreads First Reads. I extend thanks to Dutton Books via. Penguin Random House Canada for providing me the opportunity to review this book.

Disclaimer: Limited-to-no spoilers in this review (only to describe the basics of the premise). Other pertinent analyses holds no spoilers.

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book reviews and nonsense