Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (book review)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Vintage photography. Dimensional time travel. Hints of horror with strong fantasy themes.

Yes, I love all of these things and that is what drew me so much to this book. It was a great time carefully studying the old photos and I was thrilled to see that they were authentically gathered versus a studio mock-up.

The key theme is the classic X-Men situation where some among us have supernatural (peculiar) skills, which becomes a challenge for those who have them with their own set of monsters and problems. If you want to be teased on how real or not real the Grandfather's stories are, I encourage you to watch Big Fish first, and then watch you argue with yourself throughout the early part of the book :)

I was drawn to this book as a recommendation after reading "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman. I much preferred Gaiman's "Grimms" approach, but seriously, Gaiman is like a god of writing; it's almost unfair to compare. His "young adult" can keep the attention of any age, where this book is truly more honed in for the young adult. Still, it doesn't keep me from buying the next book as it is an enjoyable read ... and I want more vintage photos with stories added!


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Furiously Happy (book review)

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enlightening. Connecting. Hilarious. It's difficult to mix these three incredibly powerful effects, but Jenny Lawson has done it in spades. My eyes have been opened in a human way of storytelling on the hero's journey of not just surviving depression and anxiety disorder ... but giving it the middle finger, and the on-going journey and intentionality it takes to keep doing that.

I learned through her that everybody is different and have different paths, but all of us can embrace life and all that we are. Her Spoon Theory blew me away and so many puzzle pieces fell into place. I suddenly felt tearful and regretful with my assumption with friends who suffer from depression, and am grateful to Jenny for her bravery in sharing such vulnerable stories.

Thank you.

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Coraline (book review)

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When my friend recommended this book, he said, "you will be scared shitless and your daughter will adore it."

Given that my 9-year-old is easily nervous and I adore horror, I had my doubts on this prophesy. While not scared shitless, he was quite right in that my daughter and I had utterly different reactions.

As a great lover of all things creepy fairy tale, I smiled and said "oh dear" at the same time as events unfolded and one could see the trajectory of the story, while at the same time holding my attention in great joy too.

My daughter, though, was mesmerised. Unfazed by what I felt were impediments, there was a sense of "oh course Coraline will get this done" leaving the only question to be how, and joining Coraline in the quest. On the car ride, my daughter wanted a "mid-book break"; however, she was hooked long before then, becoming an enraged dragon if there was any interruption.

Neil Gaiman once again paints a beautiful scene full of imagery that reminded me of similar effects found in the new Alice movies, especially around the cat and, well, other things that I won't spoil.

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