Tea Time Tuesday #1 - Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Hello lovelies!

Today I am going to reveal the first video in a new series called Tea Time Tuesday. What happens in these videos?

• I talk about the tea I am drinking because tea is freakin' delicious!
• I show a book that I want to talk about because something about it stood out to me
• I talk about 1-2 non-spoiler things from the book in a casual discussion so people that have and haven't read the book can both participate

It is a simple concept, so I hope you will join me!


The first topic is about web design and programming and it is inspired by Lisbeth from the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

To participate, please watch the video below:

Out by Natsuo Kirino

Out by Natsuo Kirino
Published 2005, Vintage
416 Pages

Description:

Nothing in Japanese literature prepares us for the stark, tension-filled, plot-driven realism of Natsuo Kirino’s award-winning literary mystery Out.
This mesmerizing novel tells the story of a brutal murder in the staid Tokyo suburbs, as a young mother who works the night shift making boxed lunches strangles her abusive husband and then seeks the help of her coworkers to dispose of the body and cover up her crime. The coolly intelligent Masako emerges as the plot’s ringleader, but quickly discovers that this killing is merely the beginning, as it leads to a terrifying foray into the violent underbelly of Japanese society. 

At once a masterpiece of literary suspense and pitch-black comedy of gender warfare, Out is also a moving evocation of the pressures and prejudices that drive women to extreme deeds, and the friendships that bolster them in the aftermath. - Amazon.ca

My Review:

Rating: 5/5!

This was a really great read.

The story is about a small group of housewives that work the night shift at a factory. They all have their share of problems at home, and one of them takes it too far by murdering her husband. Together, they try to figure out what to do from there to avoid being caught. So it is a murder mystery but from the perspective of the murderer.

But that's not the whole story. What happens afterwards is more interesting. More people become involved, things change, and the intensity increases. I was impressed by how much story was packed into the book. Initially, I expected the ending to be either "they get caught" or "they escape somehow." There are so many layers that after the halfway point of the book, it feels like another mystery is added. What is going on? That was a constant thought while I was reading this book, trying to fit all the pieces together.

It took me a bit to get through, but that was not because the book was bad. I loved this book and took my time with it. I definitely recommend it if you are interested in murders, Japanese society, and the psychology of those who commit crimes

Girl in Translation

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

304 Pages
Published 2010 by Riverhead

Description:

When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn squalor, she quickly begins a secret double life: exceptional schoolgirl during the day, Chinatown sweatshop worker in the evenings. Disguising the more difficult truths of her life like the staggering degree of her poverty, the weight of her family’s future resting on her shoulders, or her secret love for a factory boy who shares none of her talent or ambition. Kimberly learns to constantly translate not just her language but herself back and forth between the worlds she straddles.

My Review:

Rating: 5/5!!

This was an amazing book. It reminded me of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" except with a mother-daughter Chinese family. Although it wasn't quite to the same caliber as "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," it was an amazing read. 

The characters go through so much in this story, and yet they strive for a positive attitude. In a sense, this is a coming of age novel about Kimberly as she tries to balance her life helping her mother work at a sweatshop, their atrocious apartment, and the American way of life (which includes some teasing at school!). 

I loved how determined Kimberly and her mother are, all the things I learned about Chinese life and immigrant life, and the ending. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in immigrants, other cultures, and those that just want to read an inspiring book!

No Hope for Gomez!

No Hope for Gomez! by Graham Parke

188 Pages

Published by Outskirts Press, January 2010

Description:

It's the age-old tale:

Boy meets girl. 
Boy stalks girl. 
Girl already has a stalker. 
Boy becomes her stalker-stalker.

We've seen it all before, many times, but this time it's different. If only slightly.

When Gomez Porter becomes a test subject in an experimental drug trial, he is asked to keep track of any strange experiences through a blog. What Gomez isn't ready for, is so many of his experiences suddenly seeming strange; the antiques dealer trying to buy his old tax papers, the phone-sex salesman who hounds him day and night, the super sexy research assistant who falls for him but is unable to express herself in terms outside the realm of science.

But when one of the trial participants turns up dead and another goes missing, Gomez begins to fear for his life. No longer sure who he can trust and which of his experiences are real and which merely drug induced delusions, he decides it's time to go underground and work out a devious plan.

Now, years later, his blogs have been recovered from a defunct server. For the first time we can find out firsthand what happened to Gomez as he takes us on a wild ride of discovery. - From Amazon.ca

My Review:
Rating: 3/5
*Note* This book was sent to me to review honestly from the author.


This book is described as being "humourous" which is a genre I haven't specifically tried before. I was a bit nervous, because my sense of humour is a bit dark (e.g. I find Stephen King to be hilarious). The type of humour in this book is quirky - and luckily that is something I liked!

Gomez works at an antique store and becomes a participant in a drug trial for some extra cash. During the trial, someone dies and the book takes on a semi-mysterious edge. In addition, he falls in love with his doctor and starts the stalking of the doctor's stalker.

I thought Gomez' character was really quirky. Actually, all of the characters were a little bit quirky. Gomez makes some rational and irrational decisions, which makes him unpredictable but also difficult to connect with. Once I gave up trying to connect with Gomez, I got more enjoyment out of the story. The characters are the strongest aspects of the book because they are just so weird, but also realistic. His neighbour keeps trying to paw off manuscripts to Gomez to read and critique, but they are terrible. How do you step around a person like that, one that bombards you at the elevator and drills holes in your floor (his ceiling)? These characters are so wacky that you can't help but laugh.

The plot was a bit slow to start and then suddenly everything happened in the last 50 or so pages. So it took me awhile to get into because the beginning was just off the wall quirkiness without any sort of explanation or reason. The writing was Gomez' voice (the book is his blog entries), so normal descriptions of things had a tinge of strangeness to them.


I think this story would make for a funny skit on something like Saturday Night Live because the characters are so impressionable. I thought it was an enjoyable book, but I did find it difficult to connect with Gomez and I'm not sure if this is a genre I would normally enjoy. But if you are looking for a light, quirky read then I think this is a good one to pick up!

November To Be Read (TBR)

Books I will be reading in November include some adult fiction and Asian literature!

Books mentioned:

Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Velveteen by Daniel Marks

October 2012, Delacorte Books for Young Readers

464 Pages

Description:

Readers of Carrie Ryan and Richelle Mead will love this dark revenge fantasy.

At sixteen, Velveteen Monroe was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that's not the problem.
The problem is she landed in the City of the Dead. And while it's not a fiery inferno, it's certainly no heaven either. Grey, ashen and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do there. Which doesn't leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.
Bonesaw.
Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment he deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days.
It'll be brutal...and awesome.
But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting could actually crack the foundation of her new world, not to mention jeopardize her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker. 
Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules . . . or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her. - Amazon.ca



My Review:
4/5 Stars


I was really looking forward to reading Velveteen. I was not disappointed! The story did follow a bit differently than what I expected, but I loved every moment of it.

Velveteen seems to have 3 different story lines. There is the one that is mentioned in the synopsis which is Velveteen's obsession with haunting the man who murdered her, but there is also some shiz happening in Purgatory and a potential romance. The book focuses mostly on what happens in Purgatory, which is a place full of broken buildings, strict rules, Shadowquakes, and ash. It felt like a dystopian type of society, except everyone is already dead. That added an interesting element to the story.

Velveteen's character was one of my favourite aspects of the book. However, I feel like her personality might be hit or miss for some people. I personally adored her sassy character, quick wit, and imperfections. She is a tough girl with an attitude and does whatever she wants. It was refreshing to have a character like Velvet.

The creativity in this book was also incredibly refreshing. We have a serial killer that uses a grater on his victims, the world of Purgatory accessed via "cracks" between it and our world, a plot full of twists and turns, the Salvage team in Purgatory, and of course Velveteen. The main plot felt almost like a mystery novel. We are trying to figure out what the hell is going on and who is behind it all, while things keep happening. 

The pacing of the book is pretty fast, which I really enjoy. I like that there isn't too much downtime, but the downtime we are given is very important and not boring at all. The writing was really good as well. Danny's sassy personality is really amplified in the writing and in Velveteen. I think if he had a daughter, she would be Velveteen. I did notice a pattern to his writing that was purely structural, so that lessened some of the suspense for me but not by much. It was definitely an enjoyable experience.

I loved this book, so why did I only give it 4 stars? Well, I wanted to see more with Bonesaw (Velveteen's murderer). I am a psychology undergrad, so getting into the minds of serial killers is right up my alley. The book spends some time with Bonesaw at the beginning, but quickly the reader realizes he is just a side-plot. There is a more exciting plot happening, but I would have liked to see more of the murderer. You know me - I love nasty gore. So there wasn't too much in this book, but that is just a personal preference. 

Overall, I think Velveteen is a great read. It offers something new in the YA genre and Velvet's character really makes a statement. I can't wait to read more about what happens to her! 

October Summary

October was a good reading month for me. I was able to read a good variety of scary and creepy books. I also watched a movie based on a book, which I haven't done for awhile.

Books Mentioned:



Also Mentioned:

• Daisuki by Hildred Billings (Amazon Kindle Store)
• The Grimm Chronicles (Amazon Kindle Store)
• Chasing the Dragon 

My top picks of the month were The Shining by Stephen King, and Possess by Gretchen McNeil.

Did you read any spooky books this month? Which was your favourite?