The Ocean at the end of the lane by Neil Gaiman

Category:Fiction, Fantasy,Science Fiction,Coming of age,Contemporary
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 178
Language: English
Published: June 18th 2013 by William Morrow Books
ISBN: 0062255657 (ISBN13: 9780062255655)
About the book: (from Goodreads)

It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed.(more)

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars

I'm so glad I took that trip to the bookstore for this.I waited for quite some time for it to be released.I'm so freakin excited! the suspense is killing me! and now FINALLY! I can actually read it YEY!.I took my time to I read,visualize and absorb everything in it.I can see it clearly being played like a movie inside my head (I truly hope and pray they would make a movie out of it).I really don't know how to convey my feelings after reading this book.Up to now I still can't believe it's over and that it's actually 178 pages long :O It's short,fast paced and such a quick enjoyable read.I noticed that there's like three title pages in it,First just the title,the back with his list of works, Second another title but now along with his name then the Third just the title (yet again) then comes the story.I don't know for some reason it feels so weird![I'm not sure if it's the same with the other copies(perhaps) I haven't check but hey we're talking about Neil Gaiman's work here so extraordinarily weird is noted and I welcome it  haha!] and after some time all the copies are G:ONE!

Anyway,the storyline,plot,twist and characters simple,well written and brilliantly told!I love the cover!the color,metallic like texture,everything! it all makes sense especially towards the end (I like when that happens). I felt like there was some sorta shutter island moment but not really as the kid now a man grown went back to the lane, tried to recall what happened,deviation from what truly happened it was quite like inception the layers of thoughts,the glamour and stuff.Though I must admit that there are some scenes that made me look back and be like what the heck just happened?! in half a page or heartbeat or so something's just...OMG!.I don't know which one's real or not real anymore it's truly a great fantastic mix!

Lots of quotable quotes as well one of which that I liked best:

"You don't pass or fail at being a person dear" ~Ginnie Hempstock (page 175)

and this one too! no matter how many times I read this line after his father's confession it never fails to make me laugh "for a fraction of a moment, my entire childhood felt like a lie". 

I actually learned a lot from this book and I can see some of myself in the kid sometimes being scared and all around his age (7) I love to climb trees around that time as well.He's really bright, nice,read lots of books and had lots of funny thoughts I highly enjoyed those moments.The Hempstocks, quite odd folks but I like them they're nice,talented and I would love to hangout with them,share stories perhaps ask, exchange some recipes and learn their craft(s).I also like the I told you so moments but no regrets in the end.It was worth it! I highly recommend it to everyone!

Don't forget to check out Amanda Palmer's (AFP) blog post: http://amandapalmer.net/blog/20130618/

it has a lot of wonderful infomation you surely don't want to miss! ^_^

Les Misérables (2012, Movie)

Directed by

Tom Hooper

Writing credits:

Book:

Claude-Michel Schönberg & Alain Boublil 

Based from: Victor Hugo (novel)

Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics)

(original: French text) Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel 

James Fenton (additional text)

William Nicholson (screenplay)

Genre: Classic,Musical,Drama,Romance,Coming of Age

Minutes: 157

Release Date: December 25, 2012

Storyline:

In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.(more)

My thoughts,rating and overall movie experience:

Many thanks to Aunt Susan who treated us for this wonderful Christmas movie it's been quite part of the tradition in our family to watch and go to the movies every year well except for last year. But anyway, I got some ideas about the movie I managed to get a glimpse of some parts from the trailer and advertisements etc. it's been a couple of years since I actually watched the other versions so yeah truly looking forward watching them all unfold.

The Child Cosette is so adorable and absolutely perfect for the role then Amanda Seyfried is the perfect grown up match Cosette and Eddie Redmayne (Marius) he's so french they are the perfect couple in this movie ever! Their love triangle in which I feel so sorry for Samantha Barks (Éponine) 

The moment I saw that they cut off Anne's hair I know for sure that she's gonna win an award!

and she did a wonderful job! she sang her heart out,portrayed a vulnerable character,flexible in many ways.

Sacha Baron Cohen (Thénardier) and Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thénardier) these two made me laugh a lot of times! Master of the house is one of my all time favorite number such a Cray cray couple.

Éponine, took number one with her ON MY OWN song (timeless piece ever!)

OMG! look at Samantha Barks's tiny waist :O I wish and would like mine's like that haha! I think that's the first one I noticed and the next would have to be is that she's quite a look a like of the one playing Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) in Once upon a time

I haven't heard or know Samantha until I googled her apparently she's been through a lot of broadway shows or so yeah! amazing voice and lovely too.

The last scene in the movie actually is truly a tear jerker I thought I'm the only one but then I heard quite a number of sniffles here and there so I'm relieved I'm not alone! haha! I'll give this movie a 5 out of 5 stars it made me cry especially towards the end I wouldn't even thought of it but the way the musical goes and spoke to my heart w:Ow I actually got a heart! haha! I would most definitely buy this in Blu-ray!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Category: Young adult,Fiction,Coming of Age
Format: ebook,paperback
Page Count: 232
Published: February 2nd 2009 by Pocket Books (first published February 1st 1999)
ISBN: 1847394078 (ISBN13: 9781847394071)
Language: English
About the book: 
What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age and gender; a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles many face in high school--how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with the devastating fact of his best friend's recent suicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings (more)

My Review: 5 stars
A very good friend of mine recommended me this book she kept on saying she's a wallflower and all that when I told her she's not she might be quite shy yes that's noted but I know deep inside she's more than what she seems or appear to be and that indeed I believe and hold is true!there's a lot of stir and commotion about this book though it's been published long time ago it's just now that it has risen up once again and I saw it listed on the banned/challenged book wow! just look at all these hype lol :))) I received a copy of this very lovely book through Redstarpixie also a very good friend of mine (as seen on my previous posts)if not for her I dunno if I'd have read this one so thank you thank you very much ^_^ Before reading this my thoughts about a wallflower or what people call/"label" as a wallflower is someone who's always on the sidelines especially during occasions/dances they're the ones who are asked last or in the corner,the shy ones,the loner and so on.After reading this story now I know why and I understood what they're all saying now my horizon and perspective broaden I'm truly enlightened with this one of a kind storytelling.

and so I say that Within us or at least a part of us is a wallflower.

The Innocence of this story,Charlie's life journey,his letters,mixed tapes,recommendations I won't forget I saw a bit of myself in him (minus some of the vices ;))all the cast they're really that realistic to me the "participation" yes I did(check) it's quite funny how I could totally relate with all this there's a lot of things going on in a certain amount of time I'm impressed how he handled all those truly a coming of age a must share story.I understood and knows what it feels like to be infinite Oh good days..fun times!The story touched sensitive,serious topics into which all the more people should be open and discuss about! free your mind and read this awesome book! Thank you so much Mr. Stephen Chbosky ^_^


Looking back at my journals public & private ones it's pretty much like my perks in life I'd like to continue on my writing might be a good reference someday especially when my memory fails me lol :)) plus my entries will outlive me anyway so there you go! lol :))) I'm looking forward to the upcoming movie and hopefully they'll do some justice with this wonderful story ^_~

Paradox #1 - The Angels Are Here by Patti Roberts

click the picture to be redirected to the Author's(Patti Roberts) website

Source: Book provided by the Patti Roberts for review
Category: Fiction,Young Adult,Fantasy,Coming of Age
Format: Paperback
Published: June 14th 2011 by CreateSpace (first published October 18th 2010)
Page Count: 194
ISBN: 1463519788 (ISBN13: 9781463519780)
Language: English
About the Book:
Nine hundred years ago, under the complete cover of darkness, the Grigorian army rose silently from their underground lair and attacked the Bulguardian Royal Palace. The bloody and violent battle between the two most legendary houses raged on. All but destroying the majestic Royal City of Altair(more)

My Review: 4 stars
I do think and believe that there are angels among us I’m not just talking about halos and wings I mean a mere act of kindness, an inner light of God that shines within each and every single one of us or just like an imaginary friend we quite like forgot having growing up we’ll later on find out probably pursuit remembering afterwards.

This short novel series I felt is going to be a good one, it has a very beautiful glossy book cover with a bit of dark forest ,title with a touch of light plus a feather that immediately grabs your attention which made it more intriguing, stands out and of course a great synopsis. The Angels Are Here, the first one in the series, is a story that kept me hanging and guessing what comes next.It made me patient yet can’t wait to read book two. I appreciated all the flashbacks and side stories but I would like to find out more about little Grace I wanted her to grow up soon enough and as fast as she could..let her destiny unfold plus more war zone scenes at Altair. Its one of those stories I would like to get hold off there’s also a lot of loss, tragedy, things that happened in real life that I’m not even aware of, a little bit of everything, its characters you’ll love and hate which made them so effective and relatable pretty much up to beat to the present time though there are some parts that I felt that are quite not right..something lacking.. some stories not yet told..still on halt I would surely want to find out. I love how Ms. Patti Roberts(the author) made it simple yet complicated twisted background and plot for the first book, the fact that she definitely took her time to introduce all these set of characters, made them grow, blend and connect to each other within the story, on how she kept and made the waiting game more exciting definitely worth waiting for!