becandbooks's reviews
1118 reviews

I received this book as an Advanced Reading Copy from the publisher in return for an honest review. This has not impacted on my opinion.

I was intrigued by the story line and the art, however I just wasn't sold. I didn't find the story compelling enough. I wanted more grit and depth to the plot.

The artwork was so matching to the story idea, gritty and raw. However the story, to me, just didn't sell. It was too quick and pointed. I felt like there were missed opportunities for outcry from the parents. It was there in the first scene when he was brought home by the police, and yet it didn't follow through when the plot intensified.

It felt like Sons of Anarchy, except the characters involved in the crime are depicted as disgruntled parents upset at their son for flunking a class. It just didn't mesh in my opinion.

I loved the artwork style and the concept, but unfortunately I felt it was conclusively lacking.

I received this book as an Advanced Reading Copy from the publisher in return for an honest review. This has not impacted on my opinion.

This book is worthy of a Pixar movie - it's fun, lighthearted, and humorous. More than once I was laughing at loud as I followed the antics of three simple crabs and their adventures across the beach, while discovering their own potential. And the ending?! Absolutely brilliant and great for a final laugh.

The graphics are gorgeous and simplistic, very fitting to the story and the style of the story. The human characters were brilliantly presented, from the Greenpeace dad, and documentary makers, to the bikini blonde, and the ferry driver.

I loved every moment of it and look forward to more from this talented French author and hopefully the crabs.

The Silver Linings Playbook follows the journey of Pat, who is a mentally unstable 35-year old who has just been released from an in-patient facility. Pat desperately wants to rekindle his relationship with his wife and end their 'apart time' - and with a new therapist, medication, and exercise regime he sets out to do just that.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the message it gave.

I think that books regarding mental health - in their typical and a-typical manifestations - are important and should keep being written. I feel as though books giving the message that recovery is difficult but this is not a reason to give up, are not as widely available as perhaps they should be. And therefore I do applaud Quick for what he set out to accomplish. 

However I did have some issues:

Man speed??? I don't understand Quick's reasoning behind including certain sexist comments within the book. They didn't add to the story or Pat's character development. Pat and his physical accomplishments would not have been damaged in any way or form without these comments. So Quick, why?!

So many classic books are now spoiled for me. This one I understand the reason for inclusion. They were important to the key message of the book. HOWEVER, I would at least have appreciated some sort of warning before hand. So many of these classic book spoilers were just dumped on me out of nowhere and the realization of what had just happened definitely made me tear up more than once. (For a full list of the classics spoiled within this book, see my blog post)

The unethical therapist/client relationship I think there other ways that Quick could have developed this story without including the most unethical therapist relationship I have read about in a book. What was worse was the way it was portrayed as completely normal. I've studied psychological practice and know how damaging this sort of relationship can be.

See my full review at my blog

Note(1): This book discusses death and bodies. It also includes a lot of 'black humour'.
Note(2): This book also includes the use of animals in scientific experiments that may upset some readers

I loved this book. I also love when authors can make me love non-fiction books.

“Cadavers are our superheroes: They brave fire without flinching, withstand falls from tall buildings and head-on car crashes into walls. You can fire a gun at them or run a speedboat over their legs, and it will not faze them. Their heads can be removed with no deleterious effect. They can be in six places at once.”

This book covers a lot of disgusting, cringe-worthy, uncomfortable, and confronting topics. I mean, it's a book about cadavers, so if you haven't braced yourself for that you may be in for a shock.

This book also contains a LOT of super interesting information - information that is historical, experimental, practical, and unthinkable.

When talking about cadavers, it is not surprising that there is a lot of medical and scientific subjects discussed. And yet, Roach's unique injection of dark humour, throughout makes this truly a unique and interesting read.

While some readers may find it inappropriate, gaudy, or cringe-worthy to include humour while discussing such topics, I found it fitting. Dark humour is a common way in which humans make themselves comfortable while dealing with the idea of death, and it makes a unique addition to a piece of writing (not that I know of many other non-textbook writing that covers such topics).

As well as the interesting discussions of the many ways in cadavers live on and participate in the human society, I found Roach's explanations of how those in the cadaver field deal with this day-to-day particularly interesting and revealing. She does a great job in shifting your perception of the cadaver as a dead ex-person, in which one may attach emotions, to a vessel which is and never was the person who once resided in it.

All in all I loved this book, and everything I learnt from it. I love how Roach made such a confronting topic one that is accessible and perhaps even enjoyable to the general public. And it has given me a lot to think about with what may become of my body once I am done using it.

Note(1): I received this book from Netgallery in exchange for an honest review and feedback.
Note(2): This book and review contains content of a sexual nature.

I have mixed feelings regarding this graphic novel.

The issue of consent is by a critical issue that should be discussed and understood among teenagers and young adults. The addition of content that thoroughly looks at these issues in a manner that is familiar to this age group is a wonderful thing.

The book covered a large number of avenues and grey areas related to the issue, covering both male and female stand points, non-heterosexual relationships, and depicting this a discussion between a diverse group of young people. All solid additions.

However;

I feel as though the style of the book and the obvious goal of being an informed resource was not appealing. I felt like I was reading a book geared toward a much younger audience (once you took away the content) or something you picked up in a therapy room.

Perhaps this is partially the aim for the book. But I feel the key audience for the book would be missed in the fact that they just wouldn't see the book as appealing.

All in all I think it is a great starting point for an important conversation, but that it is something that would only be appealing and therefore effective in certain settings.

I got just over halfway. Some of the 'stories' in the book really interested me but unfortunately a lot of the others I just found myself skimming and losing interest. An interesting way to write a dystopian fiction but it just didn't work for me.

I love a solid thriller with a twist and this one nailed it. While some audio books I tend to zone out of and miss bits and pieces, this was captivating and the story kept me intrigue throughout. The tale of a journalist with a horrific past, that has everything in her current life become entwined in the most unexpected and tragic ways.