Review - A Tale for The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

Viking | 422 pages | 2013

This magic realism novel had caught my interest by it colourful cover and Japanese source. It follows the story of the author finding a diary from a young Japanese girl describing her life as she lives it.

Review - Contagious by Jonah Berger

Simon & Schuster | 200 pages | 2013

Why things catch on? The secret is STEPPS, which is explained step by step in each chapter of the book. The marketing strategies are explained each with many examples and real life events.  Showing what is hidden in each marketing campaign and indicating the key mechanism that made it work or flop.

Review - Extralife, INC. by Kfir Luzzatto

Pine Ten, LLC | 302 pages | 2013

I accepted to review this book because of it subject. Cancer. This disease has touched one of my family member and I am always curious to know more about it, whether from a a scientific point of view or from a individual or social point of view. The book promised to tell the story of how a researcher found the cure to cancer. Now, if this did not make the novel interesting to me, I don't know what will.

Review - Some Act of Vision by Lori Ann Stephens

Asd Publishing |296 pages | 2013

Why did I wait so long to read this book? If only I knew it was going to be this good! This novel has all the element for me to fall in love with it. It got science as one of the themes, it got a blind character (I'll explain why I love this a bit further), beautiful smooth writing and a logical plot.

Book promotion - The Exile by Eric Buffington - Link to free copies

Amazon | Autographed Copies | Goodreads

In a world where each person is born with a magic ability, the island of Denall is on the verge of an attack from a power hungry sorcerer, Mordyar, as he scours the world in search of the Stones of Power. While the stones are gathering, and their power begins to be revealed, four boys leave their village on a rite of passage into adulthood and are swept into an adventure that will make men and heroes of them, if they can survive.

Revue - Astérix chez les Pictes de Jean-Yves Ferri et Didier Conrad

Albert René | 48 pages | 2013

J'étais vraiment contente quand j'ai pu mettre la main sur une copie d'Astérix chez les Pictes. Astérix est une séries de BD que j'ai lu quand j'étais encore petite. Ah la nostalgie! Maintenant, il faut que j'attend environ 4 ans avant de lire la prochaine.Bon, parlons de chez les Pictes. C'est une histoire vraiment à l'Astérix. Un malheureux picte est trouvé glacé sur la plage du village gaulois. Le druide trouve une potion pour l'aider à retrouver la parole. Astérix et Obélix vont l'aider à vaincre un méchant picte qui voulait devenir le nouveau roi des pictes.Bien sûr, ce n'est pas une BD d'Astérix sans les Romains qui se font battre par un coup de poing.Bien que la BD contenait tous ces éléments typiques qu'on aime tous, l'intrigue manquait un peu de nouveau et de surprise. Je trouve que c'est une répétition de la même intrigue dans des contextes différents. J'ai quand même remarqué que Astérix et Oblélix se disputaient beaucoup durant leur aventure. Cela peut devenir un thème important dans une prochaine BD. Bref, une lecture nostalgique, mais qui manquait un peu de piquant. 

Review - The Waves by Jen Minkman

Self published | 174 pages | 2013

Jen Minkman takes us back to the world of The Island where the foggy past, the current beliefs and the hopeful future intertwine in her new dystopian novella, The Waves.

Review - Man in the Empty Suit by Sean Ferrell

Soho Press | 300 pages | 2013

One of the most twisted story I have read in a while. 

Reading this book was like wanting to solve a puzzle but at the same not wanting to do so because it would be the end of a great adventure. 

Review - The Reason for Dragons by Chris Northrop

Archaia Entertainment | 128 pages | 2013

The Reason for Dragons is one of those graphic novels that not only have unique artwork but also a deep story hiding under a simple plot. The comic book is an easy and fluid read where the eye hopes from one image to the next with ease. The color and the quality of the work is wonderful and eye-catching. The story itself is also amazing in its deep simplicity. The subtle message about the boy coming of age and finding his true self despite all hardship is inspires and bring joy to the reader throughout the book. The shift between reality and imagination was utilized in a smart fashion to bring more from the story and add to it richness without being confusing nor overwhelming. Over all, I enjoyed this comic book and will definitely read any other work the author or the artist produces next.  

Review - The Island by Jen Minkman

Self published | 105 pages | 2013

What would happen if society as we know it would collapse and the only survivors were a handful of kids left on an island? What sort of world would they create for themselves when the only reference they have is a story book?

Review - Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search Part 1

Dark Horse Comics | 80 pages | 2013

The Search surly did not disappointing  It has everything a thirsty Avatar fan would want, a little bit of love, a little bit of family problems and a little of hiding secrets.
As usual, the art is fantastic and unique and it brings fluidity to the story. The method used to indicate flashbacks is clear and simple which helps the reader to keep up with the plot.
The only thing I did not like is the length of the comic. 80 pages is very little in my opinion, but it keeps me on edge and hungry for more.

I will definitely read part two. Recommended to everyone who liked the TV show.

Review - Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman

Self published | 400 pages | 2013

Shadow of Time is a great read. The journey of Hannah's search to find out about her hunting past was captivating.

Review - Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Library Edition

Dark Horse Comics | 240 pages | 2013

The reason I read this comic book is because I  liked the TV series.I watched all the episodes plus the new sequel about Korra. 

I like the world this story creates and the characters are amazing specially Zuko's character. 

I always had a thing for the anti-hero or the bad-turned-good kind of guy. The duality in Zuko's personality, his search for what is right or wrong within him gives him more depth and therefore interest and attraction. His struggle makes him a sympathetic character.

Through this comic book, the story comes back to life once more. Even though it is not in a moving pictures setting, the pages brings out the sense of movement in every scene and recreate the imaginary world in the readers mind. This is not a easy thing to do, specially since the artists have the standard of the TV show to live up to.

The commentary on the side by the authors and artists added another dimension to the comic book. It is their way of giving the reader a VIP access to the backstage of the production and maybe even a couple of hints on what will happen on the rest of the series with the release of The Search which is expected to be available to the public by 20th of march 2013.

All in all, I truly enjoyed the comic and would definitely read the rest of the series. 

If there is any possibility to put my hand on an ARC of the new comic book, please E-mail me. 

Have you read any comic books or manga lately? Do you recommend any?